Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 January 2023

Topic: Environment and Ecology

1. According to a UN report, Ozone Layer is recovering slowly.

• According to a United Nations-backed panel of experts, Ozone Layer is expected to recover within four decades.
• The findings of the scientific assessment are published on every four years after the Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987.
• According to scientists the recovery is gradual and will take many years. At the current pace, the ozone layer is expected to recover to 1980 levels before 2040.
• The ozone layer will return to normal in the Arctic by 2045 and by 2066 in Antarctica.
• The global emissions of the chemical chlorofluorocarbon-11, or CFC-11 have declined since 2018.
• The report found that a large portion of CFC-11 emissions comes from eastern China.
• The report has found that ozone-depleting chemicals chlorine and bromine has declined by 11.5% and 14.5% respectively from their peak level of 1999.
• The use of aerosol to artificially cool the Earth could thin the Ozone layer. Scientists said that further research into emerging technologies like geoengineering is necessary.
• The ozone layer protects the Earth from the ultraviolet radiation of the Sun. It is found in the stratosphere layer of atmosphere.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

2. Song Naatu Naatu has won Golden Globe award for Best Original Song.

• Song Naatu Naatu is from director SS Rajamouli’s movie RRR.
• It is composed by MM Keeravani. Its singers are Kaala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj.
• RRR has also been nominated in the Best Non-English Language Film category at the 80th Golden Globes.
• In the Best Non-English Language Film category, RRR lost to film ‘Argentina, 1985’.
• The 80th edition of the Golden Globes were held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was hosted by Jerrod Carmichael. The winners are given in the following list. 

• Golden Globe awards recognize excellence in both American and international film and television. They are presented by Hollywood Foreign Press Association. They were first given in 1944.

Topic: Important Days

3. Road Safety Week is being observed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways from 11th to 17th January 2023, under "Swachhata Pakhwada".

• The aim of the programme is to propagate the cause of safer roads for all.
• During the week, various activities will be organised including various awareness campaigns.
• National Road Safety Week is celebrated every year from January 11 to 17. It was celebrated for the first time in 1989.
• Last year, 33rd Road Safety Week was celebrated with the theme 'Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha'.
• Startup India Innovation Week is being organized by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) from the 10th to 16th of January 2023.
• DPIIT will organize the felicitation ceremony for the winners of National Startup Awards 2022 to commemorate National Startup Day on 16th January, 2023.
• DPIIT organized the ASCEND (Accelerating Startup Calibre & Entrepreneurial Drive) SAMAGAM on 10 January 2023 as part of the Startup India Innovation Week 2023.
• The first-ever Startup India Innovation Week was organized from the 10th -16th of January 2022.

Topic: Space and IT

4. A comet named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will appear in the night sky for the first time in 50,000 years.

• According to NASA, C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will make its closest approach to the Sun on January 12, 2023.
• The comet will subsequently make closest pass from Earth between February 1 and February 2, around 26 million miles (42 million kilometers) away.
• Observers will be able to see it near the Polaris, also called the North Star.
• Astronomers had recently discovered C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on March 2, 2022 using the Zwicky Transient Facility’s wide-field survey camera at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California.
• Comets
  • They revolve around the Sun in highly elliptical orbits.
  • Their period of revolution around the Sun is usually very long.
  • Their tail is always directed away from the Sun.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

5. The use of the world’s first vaccine for honey bees has been approved by the US.

• The vaccine was engineered to stop deaths from American foulbrood disease.
• American foulbrood disease is a bacterial disease. It attacks bee larvae. It has no cure.
• The vaccine contains the bacteria, Paenibacillus larvae that cause American foulbrood disease.
• The vaccine introduces inactive bacteria into the royal jelly, which is fed to the queen bee. The larvae of the queen bee then gain immunity.
• As per the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), factors that threaten honey bees are parasites, pests, diseases and colony collapse disorder.
• In colony collapse disorder, worker bees leave a hive and leave behind the queen.
• In the form of pollinators, bees play an important role in the ecosystem.
• As per United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization, pollinators (bees, birds, bats) are responsible for nearly a third of crop production all over the world.

Topic: Books and Authors

6. Shashi Tharoor's latest book was recently launched at the Kitaab Kolkata event.

• The book is titled “Ambedkar: A Life”. It is a biography of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
• Kitaab Kolkata event was organized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF).
• The event was attended by bibliophiles young and old, members of Ehsaas Women and FICCI FLO (women wing of FICCI).
• Kitab is a signature event of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation. It provides a forum for writers, poets, intellectuals and thinkers to launch their books.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

7. 7th edition of the Global Investors Summit inaugurated by PM Modi in Indore.

• On 11 January, PM Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the two-day Global Investors Summit 2023.
• The inaugural session was also attended by Chandrika Prasad Santokhi, President of Suriname, and Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, President of Guyana.
• ‘Madhya Pradesh - a future-ready state' is the theme of the Global Investors Summit.
• Special attention has been given to environmental protection in this summit, which will be completely based on carbon neutral and zero waste.
• The aim of the summit is to promote state policies, create an investor-friendly environment by formulating industry-friendly policies and consult with industrial associations to promote opportunities for collaboration and export potential.
• Delegations from more than 65 countries are participating in the Global Investors Summit.
• At the same time, 9 partner countries and 14 International Trade Organizations will display different aspects of their respective countries in the International Pavilion.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: National Appointment

8. RBI Deputy Governor Michael Patra's term extended by center for one more year.

• The Central Government has re-appointed Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra as the Deputy Governor of the RBI for one more year, with the effect from January 15, 2023.
• On 15 January 2020, Michael Debabrata Patra took over as the Deputy Governor of RBI.
• Patra, as Deputy Governor, also oversees the Department of Financial Markets Operations, the Department of Financial Markets Regulation, including Market Intelligence, the Department of International Affairs, and the Department of Economic and Policy Research.
• He is also in charge of the Statistics and Information Management Department, the Corporate Strategy and Budget Department, and the Financial Stability Unit.
• He was the Executive Director of the Central Bank of India before being promoted to the post of Deputy Governor.
• Patra is a central banker since 1985 and was Principal Advisor in the Monetary Policy Department from July 2012 to October 2014.
• From December 2008 to June 2012, He worked with the International Monetary Fund as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director.
• MK Jain, M Rajeshwar Rao, and T Rabi Shankar are the three other deputy governors of RBI.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Government launched Aamantran portal for passes of Republic Day and Independence Day events.

• Aamantran portal is an online invitation management portal to issue passes to dignitaries and online sale of tickets for the general public.
• It has been launched by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in New Delhi on January 06, 2023.
• The portal will make the entire process user-friendly, environment friendly and reduce the gap between the government and general public.
• The portal will make the Republic Day celebrations (RDC) more secure and save paper used in printing tickets.
• Features of the Aamantran portal are given below:
  • QR code-based authentication for enhanced security.
  • Digital delivery of passes/tickets through emails/sms.
  • Non-cancellable and non-transferrable tickets.
  • RSVP option for passes to seek acceptance from invitees
  • Post Event Data Analytics for better management of the future events

Topic: Indian Economy

10. NSO's first advance estimates predict India’s GDP growth to be 7% in FY 23.

• According to the latest estimates by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the Indian economy will grow at 7 per cent in FY 23.
• NSO’s projection of growth is higher than the estimate of RBI and the World Bank.
• RBI and the World Bank have projected 6.8 per cent and 6.9 per cent GDP growth respectively for FY23.
• The first Advance Estimates of GDP by NSO has included the factory output data of an additional month (October) as well as some lead indicators until November and December.
• Gross value added (GVA) at basic prices is expected to grow at 6.7 per cent in FY 23.
• The Revised Estimates of annual national accounts for the last three years will be released soon by NSO. It could change the base for FY23 estimates.
• In FY23, agriculture sector is expected to grow at 3.5% after good monsoon.
• Manufacturing is expected to grow at the rate of 9.1% due to high input costs.
• Private consumption is expected to grow at 7.7 per cent in FY23 due to increased spending on high-value items.
• Government spending is likely to be remain at 3.1 Per cent. Tax revenues will be much higher than what had been budgeted.

(Source: MOSPI)

Topic: Miscellaneous

11. Five Indian movies shortlisted for Oscar Awards 2023 in 1st list.

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has released the list of 301 feature films eligible for the Oscars.
• In this, Indian movie Kashmir Files has been selected, which is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the year 1990.
• Apart from this, Kantara, R.R.R., Gangubai Kathiawadi and Chhello Show have also been selected for Oscars 2023.
• "RRR" is in the running for the "Best Film" (Non-English) BAFTA and Golden Globe awards.
• The song "Natu Natu" has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and is also on the Academy of Music shortlist.
• Gujarati film Chhello Show is India’s official entry for the Oscars 2023. Chello Show has been shortlisted in the International Feature Film category.
• Kannada film Kantara has been selected in 'Best Picture' and 'Best Actor' categories.
• Nominations will be announced on 24 January, and the award ceremony is scheduled for 12 March.

Topic: Sports

12. The FIH Men's Hockey World Cup will be held in Odisha from 13^th to 29^th January.

• Odisha will host the 15th edition of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup from January 13.
• For the second time in a row, the state of Odisha is hosting this competition.
• The competition will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and the newly constructed Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela.
• 16 teams will participate in the tournament. These teams are divided into four pools, consisting of four teams each.
• The trophy was last won by India in 1975.
• The FIH World Cup is held every four years under the auspices of the International Hockey Federation.

Topic: National News

13. Centre has adopted new standards for making Digital TV, security systems and chargers.

• BIS under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has issued new country-specific standards for making digital TV receivers, USB Type C receptacles, plug and cables and for Video Surveillance Systems.
• The new standards have been adopted to meet international standards in the field of electronics.
• The digital TVs will now come with in-built satellite tuners under IS 18112:2022 specification. This will allow access to Free to Air TV and radio channels of DD and AIR using a dish antenna.
• The standard, IS/IEC 62680-1-3:2022 USB Type-C Cable and Connector Specification, is an adoption of existing International standard IEC 62680-1- 3:2022. This standard will provide common charging solutions for the smartphones and other electronic devices in India.
• This will also help in reducing e-waste in India.
• IS 16910 series of standards have been adopted for Video Surveillance Systems.
• This standard will help customers, installers and users in establishing their requirements and determine appropriate equipment required for the intended application.
• It will also help in making the surveillance system more secure, robust and cost-effective.  
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
  • It is a statutory body that was established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act of 2016.
  • It is an Indian national standard body that works under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
  • It is involved in the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods.
  • Pramod Kumar Tiwari is the current Director General of BIS.

Topic: International News

14. India and UK have signed and exchange letters to formalise Young Professional Scheme in London.

• Vikram K Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK and Matthew Rycroft signed and exchanged letters for formalising the scheme.
• PM Modi and UK PM Rishi Sunak announced launch of Young Professional Scheme at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.
• The scheme was conceived as part of an India-UK Migration and Mobility MoU signed in May 2021.
• Young Professional Scheme will allow graduates between the age of 18-30 years to get a 2 year visa to study in each other’s countries and help the youth to understand the culture of one another.
• It is for the first time that UK has done such agreement with a visa-national country like India.
• The scheme allows for exchange visas for up to 3,000 individuals per year.
• Rishi Sunak is the first India-origin PM of the United Kingdom.
• India and UK have a multi-dimensional strategic partnership.