1. Ministry of Defence approves fourth positive indigenization list
Tags: Defence National News
The Defence Ministry approved the fourth positive indigenization list, which includes 928 strategically important line replacement units, sub-systems, spares and components.
An Overview of the News
The list aims to promote self-reliance ('self-reliance') in the defence sector and reduce imports by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
The import substitution value of the approved list is Rs 715 crore.
The Defence Public Sector Undertakings will indigenize these items through various routes including 'Make'category and in-house development through the capabilities of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and private Indian industry.
Ministry of Defence (India):
Formed - 1776
Predecessor Ministry -Department of Defence (1938–47)
Headquarters - Secretariat Building Raisina Hill, New Delhi
Defence Minister - Rajnath Singh
2. MInister of State Dr L Murugan to lead delegation to Cannes Film Festival
Tags: Festivals International News
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan will lead the Indian delegation to the Cannes International Film Festival from May 16 to 27.
An overview of the news
They will also be joined by filmmaker Guneet Monga of The Elephant Whispers fame, Indian actresses Manushi Chhillar, Esha Gupta and acclaimed Manipuri actor Kangabam Tomba.
The India Pavilion is being conceptualised and designed by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad with the theme - ‘Showcasing India’s Creative Economy’ to the global community.
The pavilion design has been inspired by the Saraswati Yantra, the abstract representation of goddess Saraswati.
Four Indian films,including Kanu Behl’s Agra and Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy, have made it to the official selection in the Cannes Film Festival.
Apart from these, many Indian films will be screened in Marche du Films.
A Manipuri film ‘Ishanhou’ will be showcased in the ‘Classics’ section.
About Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious international film festivals held annually in Cannes, France.
History and significance
The festival was first established in 1946 and has since become a prominent event in the global film industry.
It serves as a platform for showcasing and promoting a wide range of films from different countries and cultures.
Film screenings and competitions
The festival includes various competitive sections, such as the Palme d'Or for the best film, which is one of the most coveted awards in the industry.
Impact on filmmakers and films
The Cannes Film Festival serves as a launching pad for many acclaimed films and emerging talents.
Winning an award or receiving critical acclaim at Cannes can significantly boost a filmmaker's career and bring global recognition to their work.
3. G7 Ministerial Meeting on Health Innovation in Nagasaki, Japan
Tags: Summits International News
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the G7 Health Ministerial meeting on Global Health Architecture in Nagasaki, Japan on 13th May.
An overview of the news
The meeting was organized to discuss the global health challenges and ways to ensure preparedness, prevention and response to future health emergencies.
The health ministers of the G7 countries and the "Outreach 4" countries of India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand were invited to the meeting.
Objectives of the meeting
To foster collaboration and exchange ideas on health innovation.
Addressing global health challenges, and promoting advancements in healthcare research, technology, and policies.
Topics discussed
The G7 health ministers discuss various pressing health issues such as infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development, healthcare accessibility, digital health, and the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Sharing best practices
The meeting provides an opportunity for G7 countries to share best practices, success stories, and lessons learned in healthcare innovation and delivery.
About G7
The G7 is a group of seven major industrialized countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The G7 holds annual meetings to discuss various global issues, but these meetings are usually held in different locations each year.
The 48th G7 summit was hosted by Germany in 2022.
4. PM Modi visits ‘Jana Shakti Art Exhibition’ at National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi
Tags: National National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14th May visited 'Jana Shakti Art exhibition' at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi.
An overview of the news
Amazing samples of art based on some episodes of Mann Ki Baat have been displayed in the exhibition.
This is an exhibition of wonderful samples of art based on some episodes of Mann Ki Baat. He congratulated all the artists who have enriched the exhibition with their creativity.
Artists who have contributed to Jan Shakti include top names like Manu and Madhavi Parekh, Atul Dodiya, Paresh Maity, Iranna GR, Jagannath Panda and others.
About National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)
NGMA is a prominent art museum located in New Delhi, India.
NGMA aims to preserve, document, and promote modern and contemporary art in India.
It serves as a platform for showcasing and appreciating various forms of artistic expression.
NGMA houses an extensive collection of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, and installations.
NGMA organizes regular exhibitions and educational programs to engage visitors and promote art appreciation.
Apart from the main gallery in New Delhi, NGMA has regional branches in Mumbai and Bengaluru. These branches showcase regional art and provide a platform for local artists.
5. RINL launches "Open Challenge Program (OCP) 2.0"
Tags: National National News
On 11th May 2023 Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) launched “Open Challenge Program (OCP) 2.0” as part of a series of OCP programs by Kalpataru-CoE (Center for Entrepreneurship).
An Overview of the News
The objective of this program is to select startups specialising in Industry 4.0 technologies for collaboration with RINL.
The startups' technologies are expected to provide faster return on investment for RINL, contribute to energy savings and enhance process safety.
The "Center of Excellence (CoE) on Industry 4.0" project involves collaboration between STPI (Software Technology Parks of India), MeitY (Ministry of Electronics & IT), RINL and Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Over a period of 5 years, the CoE plans to incubate around 175 startup companies, of which 50 are incubated in physical mode and 125 are incubated in virtual mode.
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL):
It is a government body that oversees the operations of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), India's first shore-based integrated steel plant.
The VSP plant was commissioned in 1992 and initially had a capacityto produce 3.0 MTPA of liquid steel.
Establishment -18 February 1982
Headquarters - Visakhapatnam, India
CMD - Atul Bhatt
6. UAE's Sharjah Police launches 'Stay in your lane' campaign
Tags: International News
On 11 May, theUAE's Sharjah Police launched a traffic campaigncalled "Stay in Your Lane"to tackle road violations.
An Overview of the News
The campaign aims to improve traffic culture among drivers and other road users by increasing awareness and promoting adherence to traffic rules and instructions.
The campaign includes the dissemination of awareness messages in three different languages through the social networking sites of Sharjah Police.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Location:It is located in Western Asia.
Geographical Boundaries: It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Maritime Borders: It also has maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf.
Religion: Islam is the dominant religion in the UAE, with the majority of the population being Sunni Muslim.
Capital - Abu Dhabi
Official language -Arabic
Government - Federal Islamic parliamentary elective semi-constitutional monarchy
President/Crown Prince - Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
7. MyGov, IHM, Pusa launch 'Young Talent - Culinary Talent Hunt'
Tags: National National News
MyGov and IHM, Pusa collaborated to launch 'Yuva Pratibha - Culinary Talent Hunt' on 12th May, 2023.
An Overview of the News
The primary objective of this competition is to celebrate and promote the rich culinary heritage of India to a global audience.
It strives to revive lost recipes and to highlight the culinary talents of young chefs and home cooks.
The United Nations designated 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets'in response to India's proposal to establish itself as a global millet hub.
The objective of the competition is to increase the production and consumption of millets while creating awareness about the versatility and health benefits of millets.
Institute of Hotel Management Catering and Nutrition (IHM) Pusa:
It is a renowned hospitality management institute in New Delhi, India.
It is located in Pusa Institutional Area, New Delhi.
IHM Pusa has been consistently ranked as the top hotel management institute in the country for the last 10 years.
IHM Pusa is governed by the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Establishment - 1962
8. RBI invites firms to participate in Greenwashing TechSprint
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
RBI has announced its participation in the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN) greenwashing techsprint.
An overview of the news
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has invited firms to participate in the Greenwashing TechSprint to develop technology solutions to detect incidents of greenwashing in financial products.
TechSprint is part of RBI's efforts to promote sustainable finance and ensure that financial products marketed as green or sustainable are actually aligned with environmental objectives.
TechSprint is open to firms and individuals who can provide innovative technology solutions to detect greenwashing in financial products using technologies such as natural language processing and artificial intelligence.
Techsprint can provide a platform for collaboration between tech firms, financial institutions and regulators to develop solutions that can increase transparency and trust in the market for sustainable finance.
The RBI has identified sustainable finance as a key priority area, and has taken several initiatives to promote green finance and integrate environmental considerations into financial decision making.
What is Greenwashing?
Greenwashing refers to the practice of making false or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or service.
It is a marketing tactic used by companies to make their products appear more environmentally friendly or sustainable.
Greenwashing can take various forms, such as using vague or exaggerated language, making unsubstantiated claims, or highlighting minor environmental benefits while ignoring significant environmental harms.
Greenwashing can be harmful as it can mislead consumers into making purchasing decisions based on false or incomplete information, leading to negative environmental impacts.
About Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN)
This is an international network of financial regulators that seeks to foster innovation in the financial services sector.
It was established in 2018 by a group of 12 financial regulators, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
It aims to provide a platform for regulators to collaborate and share best practices on innovative financial products and services, as well as regulatory approaches to innovation.
9. DGCA slaps Rs 30 lakh fine on Air India
Tags: National National News
DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India for violating the rules.
An overview of the news
In the violation in question, an Air India pilot allowed a female friend into the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight.
The aviation watchdog had issued a show cause notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson for lapse in reporting the incident.
Air India has been fined ₹30 lakh for not promptly and effectively addressing a safety-sensitive issue.
The incident took place on February 27, 2023 when a cabin crew member lodged a complaint with the DGCA.
The DGCA has suspended the pilot's license for three months for violating regulations and "misuse of his authority."
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
It is a statutory body and formed under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
It is headquartered in New Delhi and functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
It investigates aviation accidents and enforces all regulations related to aviation.
It registers and provides certificates to civil aircrafts.
It coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
About Air India
Establishment of Air India -1932
Air India Headquarters- New Delhi
Founder of Air India- Ratan Tata
President of Air India- N Chandrasekaran
10. 728 Railway Stations across States and UTs covered under One Station One Product
Tags: National National News
Under the One Station One Product’ (OSOP) scheme of Indian Railways, 728 stations are covered with 785 OSOP outlets in 21 States and 3 Union Territories across the country so far.
An overview of the news
Its aim is to promote the government’s ‘Vocal for Local’vision.
Under this scheme, OSOP stalls at railway stations offer a diverse range of unique products related to handicrafts, textiles, traditional wear and local agricultural produce and processed food items.
The stalls have been uniformly designed through the National Institute of Design to ensure sustainability and promote visibility and accessibility of the scheme.
About One Station One Product Scheme
The scheme was launched with a vision to promote 'Vocal for Local'.
This will help local manufacturers sell their products and create additional income opportunities for the marginalized sections of the society.
Under the scheme, allotment is made to all the eligible applicants on a rotation basis.
The scheme was launched on25 March 2022 in pilot mode.
This scheme is doing welfare of local artisans, potters, weavers, tribals etc.
The products under the OSOP scheme
Food items (Seasonal or Processed or semi processed foods)
Handicrafts
Artefacts
Textiles
Handlooms
Traditional Garments
Local agricultural produce
Local toys
Leather products
Local Gems and Jewellery
