Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 April 2023

Topic: Science and Technology

1. UIDAI joined hands with IIT Bombay to develop a touchless biometric capture system.

• A robust touchless biometric capture system for easier use will be developed by IIT Bombay in association with UIDAI.
• UIDAI and IIT Bombay will jointly conduct research to create a mobile capture system for fingerprints with a liveness model integrated with the capture system.
• The National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security (NCETIS) a collaboration between UIDAI and IIT Bombay, will lead this joint research and development.
• When this touchless biometric capture system becomes operational, it will also enable fingerprint authentication like facial authentication from home.
• This touchless biometric capture system will capture multiple fingerprints at one go and will help in improving the authentication success rate.
• This system will use a combination of signal/image processing and machine learning/deep learning. It is a step towards making Universal authenticator a reality.
• National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security (NCETIS):
  • It is a joint initiative under the Digital India Programme by the IIT Bombay and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • Its main aim is to develop indigenous technology solutions for Internal Security forces in the field of Electronic System Design and Manufacturing.

Topic: Sports

2. Priyanshu Rajawat won the men’s singles trophy at the Orleans Masters Super 300 tournament.

• Priyanshu won the tournament by defeating Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen in France on 09 April 2023.
• This is the first Super-300 final for Priyanshu Rajawat.
• Priyanshu was part of the India team that won the 2022 Thomas Cup.
• Priyanshu is the first Indian to win a singles title on Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour in 2023.
• Priyanshu Rajawat is an Indian badminton player born in Madhya Pradesh.
• Orleans Masters Super 300 tournament took place in Orleans, France from 4 to 9 April 2023. It was the tenth tournament of the 2023 BWF World Tour. 

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

3. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has successfully tested kamikaze drone with 50-kg warhead.

• Kamikaze drone is an indigenous long-range and high-precision drone.
• The domestically-build suicide drone developed by IRGC can destroy targets within a range of 450 kilometers.
• As per IRGC General Kouhestani, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), called Me’raj 532, has a one-way range of 450 kilometers.
• The kamikaze drone can fly up to a height of 12,000 feet for 3 hours.
• It can hit the desired targets with high accuracy. It is designed and manufactured by young Iranian experts.

Topic: Indian Economy

4. Foreign capital flows into Indian capital markets from Mauritius fell the most sharply in FY23 as per National Securities Depository data.

• Total assets under custody from Mauritius fell about 42% to Rs 6.66 trillion at the end of March 2023. 
• Total assets under custody (AUC) from Norway and Singapore saw a 13% and 5% increase, respectively during FY23.
• Singapore is presently the second largest jurisdiction for FPI flows behind the United States.
• Mauritius' ranking has fallen to 4 (from 2) at the end of 2021-22.
• Overall, foreign portfolio investor (FPI) AUC declined 4.44% in FY23.
• Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI):  It is an investment in a foreign country's financial assets, either stocks or bonds.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranks

5. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana lead in the State Energy Efficiency Index.

• On 10 April, Energy Minister R.K. Singh released the SEEI report in New Delhi.
• The SEEI was released during the RPM (Review, Planning and Monitoring) meeting of states and state utility companies in New Delhi.
• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE) have jointly developed the State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22.
• The index assesses the annual progress of states and union territories in energy efficiency implementation for the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22.
• Program-specific indicators have been included this year to monitor the outcomes and impacts of state-level energy efficiency initiatives.
• In the SEEI 2021-22, 5 states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana – are in the top category (>60 points).
• While 4 states – Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra and Punjab – are in the achiever’s category (50-60 marks).
• Besides, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Chandigarh are the top performing states in their respective state-groups.
• Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have registered the most improvements since the last index.
• SEEI improves data collection, enables cross-state collaboration and develops energy efficiency program ideas.
• It helps states identify areas for improvement, learn from best practices and adopt an economy-specific approach to energy efficiency implementation.
• By prioritizing energy efficiency, it aims to drive carbon reduction efforts and achieve a more sustainable future.
• Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):
  • The Government of India established the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on 1 March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
  • The mission of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to assist in developing policies and strategies under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 with an emphasis on self-regulation and market principles.
  • Its primary objective is to reduce the energy intensity of the Indian economy.

Topic: Important Days

6. National Safe Motherhood Day 2023: 11 April

• Every year on 11 April, National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated in India.
• It is observed to raise awareness about the proper health care and maternity facilities for pregnant and lactating women.
• The Government of India declared Kasturba Gandhi's birthday, April 11, as National Safe Motherhood Day in 2003 at the request of the White Ribbon Alliance.
• India was the first country to declare 11 April as National Safe Motherhood Day.
• India is making significant progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to 70 per lakh live births by 2030.
• The Indian government has launched several initiatives, including Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA).

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Indian Polity

7. Election Commission of India has given national party status to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

• It withdrew the national party status of the three parties.
• These parties are the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Communist Party of India and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
• According to Election Commission, AAP has become a recognized state party in four states (Delhi, Punjab, Goa and Gujarat).
• It has fulfilled the eligibility conditions for recognition as a national party.
• Election Commission withdrew the state party status of All India Trinamool Congress in the States of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
• It also withdrew state party status NCP in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya.
• The state party status of the Communist Party of India in West Bengal and Odisha has also been withdrawn by the Election Commission.
• Tipra Motha Party got recognition as a state party in Tripura.
• Election Commission has granted recognition to Voice of the People Party as a state party in Meghalaya.
• It also granted recognition to Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) as a state party in Nagaland.
• Bharat Rashtra Samithi has been de-recognised as a state party in Andhra Pradesh. It was formerly known as Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
• Rashtriya Lok Dal's state party status has been withdrawn. State party recognitions of following parties have also been withdrawn.

Topic: National News

8. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has released the draft ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’ for Stakeholder Consultation.

• The draft policy aims at nurturing start-ups to co-create the future of India’s growing maritime sector.
• It also aims to harness new technology developed by Indian Start-ups.
• The draft policy proposes a digital portal based selection of startups to ensure a transparent process.
• It also proposes grants to create a minimum viable product and creation of Launch pads at ports.
• These Launch pads will be for conducting trials, facilitating pilot projects, etc.
• As part of the draft policy, government has also proposed annual Start-up Awards in the maritime sector.
• As per the draft policy, buyer-Seller Meetings will be organized and Non Registered Start-ups and Individuals with promising ideas in Maritime Sector will be provided guidance.
• According to the draft policy, start-ups will be provided legal and accountancy back up for IP-Patent filing.
• The draft policy proposes promotion of start-ups through development of Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIH).
• MIH shall develop incubators and accelerators with state of the art facilities. It shall develop centralized repository containing all pertinent information to assist emerging entrepreneurs.
• MIH shall also attract investment, perform the function of entrepreneur development and collaborate with stakeholders for mentorship, knowledge sharing, etc.

Topic: Agriculture and allied sectors

9. Government is planning to launch a comprehensive livestock insurance scheme.

• The government is planning to rehaul the livestock insurance scheme and will launch a comprehensive livestock insurance scheme just like Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana.
• At present, less than 1% of India’s cattle population is insured and the average yearly premium is 4.5% of the insured amount.
• Recently, a Parliamentary Standing Committee raised concern in front of the Animal Husbandry Ministry for zero insurance coverage of livestock in 2022-23.
• According to the report of the panel, 174,061 animals were insured in 2021-22 while not a single livestock insurance was done in 2022-23.
• The central government is planning to launch the scheme before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
• The government is considering waving premiums of cattle rearers from Scheduled Caste (SC)-Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities.
• The main focus of the revamped scheme will be to reduce the premium to attract more farmers to enroll in the insurance scheme.
• The current Centrally-sponsored livestock insurance scheme is functional in 100 districts. It is managed by the respective State Livestock Development Boards. 

Topic: Space and IT

10. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope revealed "never-before-seen" detail of Cassiopeia A.

• James Webb Space Telescope captured an image of the remnant of a massive star that exploded around 340 years ago.
• Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is a supernova remnant located about 11,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cassiopeia.
• Scientists would learn more about the origins and production of cosmic dust by studying Cas A.
• The investigation of the Webb program was led by Danny Milisavljevic of Purdue University. He is responsible for the mid-infrared image.
• Cas A is the youngest remnant of a massive star in our galaxy known to mankind.
• Cas A is a prototypical type of supernova remnant. It has been studied by many ground-based and space-based observatories.
• This new image by Webb Space Telescope has now inspired scientists and researchers to solve more mysteries of star explosions.
• Supernova phenomenon occurs when a star has reached at the end of its life and explodes with burst of light.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

11. Bharat Biotech has won an award at the World Vaccine Congress.

• The award has been given for the "Best Production/Process Development" category as part of the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards at the World Vaccine Congress 2023.
• Bharat Biotech is a leading biotechnology company based in Hyderabad.
• The World Vaccine Congress was held in Washington, USA, from April 3-6.
• Among the various categories of awards at the ViE, Bharat Biotech was the only Indian company in the list of VIE awards.
• It includes the best clinical trial company, the best clinical trial network, the best central/specialty laboratory award, the best contract research organisation, and the prestigious best production/process development award.
• Bharat Biotech, a pioneering biotechnology company, has developed the world's first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine called iNcovacc.
• Bharat Biotech's intramuscular COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, has been an integral part of India's public vaccination program and has also been exported to other countries.
• The World Vaccine Congress is recognized as the largest global conference solely dedicated to vaccines.
• It encompasses all aspects of the vaccine value chain, ranging from basic research to commercial manufacturing.
• In addition to uniting vaccine professionals, the World Vaccine Congress has been instrumental in sharing groundbreaking knowledge and insights in the ongoing global efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. C.R. Rao awarded a top international prize for theory of vital statistics.

• Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, a renowned Indian-American statistician, has been awarded the prestigious 2023 International Prize in Statistics.
• He was born in Karnataka in 1920 and now he is 102 years old.
• The prize is often referred to as the Nobel Prize in Statistics.
• The prize is awarded biennially in association with the five major international statistical organizations and recognizes a major achievement by an individual or a team.
• In July, at the biennial International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress in Ottawa, Canada, Rao will be honored with the prize, which includes a cash award of $80,000.
• In a research paper published in the Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society in 1945, Rao demonstrated three fundamental results that have had a significant impact on the modern field of statistics.
• These results have provided statistical tools that are widely used in science today.
• In 1968, he was conferred with the Padma Bhusan and Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
• Rao received the SS Bhatnagar prize in 1963 and was elected as “fellow of the Royal Society” in 1967.
• He also received the American Statistical Association's Wilkes Medal in 1979 and the US National Medal of Science in 2002.

Topic: State News/ Himachal Pradesh

13. Himachal Pradesh launched project Sanjeevani to support dairy farmers.

• The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a project named Sanjeevani to empower the livelihood of small dairy farmers and livestock owners.
• This project will help in improving the lives of farmers by providing them convenient and quality care for livestock at their doorsteps.
• Telemedicine and technology will help in reducing the turnaround time of services. It will also help in controlling the outbreaks of diseases.
• The Animal Husbandry Department has signed an agreement with Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd. (BFIL) in this regard.
• This collaboration under National Animal Disease Control Programme-Mobile Veterinary Van (NADCP-AHD-MVU) will improve the delivery of livestock care at doorsteps at just a phone call.
• The toll-free telephone number for livestock care will become operational very soon.
• The doorstep veterinary services will be provided in 44 blocks of all 12 districts.
• This initiative will save additional expenses for farmers. The doctor and the farmer can connect through a mobile app.
• Apart from veterinary services, farmers will also be given guidance on nutrition care for the livestock.

Topic: Banking System

14. Disbursement under MUDRA reached 98.65% in FY23.

• The gap between sanctioned and disbursed under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) has declined to an all-time low level of 1.35% at end of FY23.
• Earlier, the gap between sanctioned and disbursed under PMMY stood at 2.2% and 3.3%.
• As on 31 March 2022, NPA (Non-Performing Assets) in MUDRA stood at 3.17%.
• During FY23, sanctions were made amounting to ₹4.48-lakh crore.
• Out of this, ₹4.42-lakh crore were disbursed. This is 98.65% of the total sanctions.
• As per Finance Ministry, about 41 crore loans amounting to ₹23.2-lakh-crore were sanctioned under PMMY in the last eight years.
• Under the scheme, no collateral is required. Loans are extended to eligible micro units under the scheme.
• On April 8, the scheme completed eight years since its launch. It was launched on April 08, 2015.
• According to Finance Minister, Nearly 68% of the accounts under the scheme belong to women entrepreneurs.
• The aim of the scheme is to facilitate easy collateral-free micro credit of up to ₹10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro- entrepreneurs.
• It aims to fulfill one of the three pillars of financial inclusion — ‘Funding the Unfunded’.
• ‘Banking the Unbanked’ and ‘Securing the Unsecured’ are other two pillars.