Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 July 2023

Topic: National News

1. Product Design Centre (PDC) has been inaugurated at C-DAC, Kolkata.

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Additional Secretary Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar has inaugurated Product Design Centre (PDC) at C-DAC, Kolkata.
• This center has prototyping and system designing facilities with all the software and printing technologies for system designing, prototyping, ideation and fabrication.
• This facility will be beneficial for startups, entrepreneurs and MSME’s of the eastern region of India.
• On this occasion, an appearance-based detection system i.e., Grain-Ex through machine vision technology for pulses developed under ‘National programme on Electronics and ICT applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)’ was also launched.
• This appearance-based e-Quality detection system will be for 14 types of pulses (Grain-Ex). It would bring transformative change in the e-NAM markets for quality-based pricing.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

2. Max Verstappen Wins Formula 1 2023 British Grand Prix.

• Max Verstappen of Red Bull wins the 2023 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
• It is Red Bull's 10th consecutive win this season and their 11th consecutive F1 win.
• Lando Norris of McLaren completed the race in second position.
• Red Bull equals McLaren’s record of 11 consecutive race victories in 1988.
• L. Hamilton and O. Piastri ended the race in the third and fourth spots respectively.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

3. India’s first Vedic-themed park opened in Noida.

• India’s first Vedic-themed park has been opened to the public. It has been inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.
• It is also known as the Ved Van Park. More than 50,000 plants have been planted in this park.
• The construction of this park was started in January 2021. It has been built at a cost of Rs 27 corers.
• Laser and sound shows, wall paintings and sculptures featuring excerpts from the four Vedic literary works are the main attraction of the park.
• The park’s aim is to achieve the dual objective of educating and entertaining its visitors.
• It is divided into seven zones- Kashyap, Agastya, Vishvamitra, Vasishtha, Atri, Gautam, and Bharadwaj. There were sages of the Vedic period.
• The walls of the park are adorned with paintings depicting scenes from the Vedas.
• The park has also a Vedic Knowledge Centre. It will serve as a hub for delving into the depths of Vedic literature.

Topic: International News

4. 'Operation Broader Sword' conducted by India and USA to stop international shipments of illegal and dangerous drugs.

• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in collaboration with the Indian Government's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), has conducted 'Operation Broader Sword'.
• Operation Broader Sword is a specialized bilateral multi-agency enforcement operation targeting illegal pharmaceuticals, devices, or precursor chemicals shipped using the international mail system.
• It was conducted in June 2023 to stop over 500 shipments of illicit, and potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs, and synthetic drug from reaching American consumers.
• The operation targeted packages entering the US from India through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport International Mail Facilities (IMFs) from June 12-23.
• During the operation, investigators examined over 1500 shipments arriving in India and processed around 500 products.
• Operation Broader Sword was run on the success of Operation Broadsword, which also targeted mail parcels containing illegal medical products from India in 2020.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. India is poised to become the world's second largest economy by 2075.

• According to the Investment bank Goldman Sachs, India will become the world's second-largest economy by 2075, leaving behind Japan, Germany, and the US.
• With a population of 140 crores, India's GDP is estimated to grow to $52.5 trillion, which is higher than the US GDP estimate.
• In report, India's progress is forecasted due to a growing population, innovation and technology, high capital investment and increasing productivity of workers.
• This is the right time for the private sector to increase the capacity of services and manufacturing by bringing in a large labor force and creating more jobs.
• Increasing labor force participation, a huge talent pool, and a working-age population are some of the factors that will make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.
• India is now the top emerging market for investment, according to 85 sovereign wealth funds and 57 central banks.
• India has now overtaken China as the most attractive emerging market for investment in emerging market debt.

Topic: National Appointments

6. Government has appointed K. Rajaraman as the new chairperson of IFSCA.

• The senior bureaucrat and telecom secretary K Rajaraman has been appointed as the next Chairperson of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
• He has replaced the first IFSCA Chairperson Injeti Srinivas who led the authority since 2020.
• Rajaraman will have a tenure of three years from the date of assumption of charge of his post or till he attains the age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):
  • It was set up in April 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019, at GIFT City, Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
  • It was established to regulate all financial services in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs).
  • Presently, GIFT IFSC is the first International Financial Services Center in India.
  • Prior to the establishment of IFSCA, RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, and IRDAI regulate the business in IFSC.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

7. This year, the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award will be conferred on PM Narendra Modi.

• On 10 July, the presidents of Tilak Memorial Trust, Dr. Deepak Tilak and Rohit Tilak made this official announcement at a press conference in Pune.
• PM Modi has been selected as the 41st recipient of this award in recognition of his exceptional leadership and his efforts to promote the spirit of patriotism among the citizens.
• On August 1, on the 103rd death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh), will honor the Prime Minister with the award.
• Lokmanya Tilak National award:
  • Lokmanya Tilak was a prominent figure in India's freedom struggle in the early 20th century.
  • It was started in 1983.
  • The award comprises a cash prize of ₹1 lakh as well as a memento.
  • Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, NR Narayana Murthy and Cyrus Poonawalla are some of the recipients of this award.

Topic: Summit/Conference/Meeting

8. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met the Defense Minister of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

• On July 10, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held wide-ranging discussions with Malaysian Defense Minister Shri Dato' Seri Mohd Hassan in Kuala Lumpur.
• They discussed to further promoting India's 'Act East Policy' and strengthening bilateral relations with Malaysia.
• Both sides discussed the expansion of bilateral defense ties focusing especially on finding ways to strengthen industrial cooperation.
• They reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the upgraded strategic partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, shared interests, and shared values of democracy and the rule of law.
• Both ministers agreed to hold the next Malaysia-India Defense Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) meeting, which is planned to be held in India in late 2023.
• Both the Ministers approved the amendment to the MoU on Defense Cooperation between India and Malaysia signed in 1993 through the Exchange of Letters (EOL).
• This amendment will serve to further enhance bilateral defense cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
• This is the first bilateral visit after the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between India and Malaysia was announced in 2015 during the visit of PM Modi to Malaysia.

Topic: National News

9. Government brought Goods and Services Tax Network under the ambit of PMLA.

• The Government has decided to bring the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act (PMLA).
• It will facilitate sharing of information between the GSTN, Enforcement Directorate and other investigative agencies.
• The GSTN is now one of the organisations mandated by the PMLA Act to exchange information with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
• Goods and Services Tax Network has been brought under PMLA after the rise in cases of GST fraud and fake registrations.
• Under the money laundering provisions, tax authorities will get more power to trace the original beneficiary in case of fraud.
• Now, Crimes under GST like fake input tax credits, fake invoices etc. will be included in the PMLA Act.
• The government has made changes in section 66 of the PMLA.
• Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) is an information technology system which manages the GST portal.
• It provides common IT infrastructure and services to Central and State governments, taxpayers and other stakeholders for the implementation of GST.
• PMLA’s main aim is to tackle terror funding and drug trafficking.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate a mega conclave “Strengthening PACS through FPOs” in New Delhi.

• On 14th July, the “Strengthening PACS through FPOs” conclave will be inaugurated by Amit Shah in New Delhi.
• The main aim of the conclave is to discuss ways to strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
• The mega conclave is being organized by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Cooperation.
• The government has decided to form 1100 New FPOs in Cooperative Sector.
• The government is providing financial assistance of Rs 33 lakh to each FPO under the FPOs scheme.
• FPOs are playing a key role in making farming sustainable and in improving the overall quality of life of people dependent on agriculture.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

11. Uttar Pradesh government is planning to set up micro diaries of Indian cow breeds.

• The micro dairies will be set up to promote indigenous industries, crops, and livestock.
• The aim of the scheme is to increase milk production and preserve indigenous cow breeds such as Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Gir and raise the income of economically weak cattle herders.
• Under the Nand Baba Milk Mission, Rs. 40,000 will be provided for the purchase of indigenous cow breeds. The Nand Baba Milk Mission has the aim of augmenting dairy production.
• This subsidy is applicable on the purchase of a maximum of two indigenous cow breeds per cattle owner.
• The financial help will cover the cost of transportation of cattle, transit insurance, and animal insurance.
• In addition, the government will give incentives to indigenous cow rearers under the Mukhyamantri Pragatisheel Pashupalak Protsahan Yojana, subject to a maximum of two cows of the indigenous breed.
• The government has spent a total of about Rs 1,700 crore to provide shelter to over 11 lakh stray cattle, mostly cows.
• Over 900,000 cows were kept in about 6,000 temporary cow shelters in UP, while 280 cow protection centers and Kanha Gaushala housed about 140,000 and 86,000 cows, respectively.

Topic: Space and IT

12. China released its first open-source computer operating system on 5 July.

• The open-source desktop operating system has been named "OpenKylin" aimed at helping the country step up efforts to cut dependence on US technology.
• A community of about 4,000 developers built "OpenKylin" based on the existing open-source Linux operating system.
• It will be used in space program and industries such as finance and energy.
• In 2022, China's massive market for operating systems was worth 15.5 billion yuan ($2.1 billion).
• Developing an operating system independent of US technology has been an important goal for China's tech industry in recent years.
• Many companies and organizations have contributed to the development of the OpenKylin system.
• To replace Microsoft's Windows and Apple's macOS operating systems, more than a dozen Chinese companies are trying to develop operating systems.
• One Chinese company, UnionTech Software Technology Co., Ltd., is developing an Operating System called "Unity Operating System".

Topic: Space and IT

13. ISRO decided to transfer SSLV to the private sector.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will transfer its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to the private sector.
• ISRO will fully transfer the SSLV to the private sector after conducting two development flights of the rocket.
• ISRO has decided to opt for the bidding route to transfer the mini-rocket to the industry.
• SSLV is the sixth launch vehicle developed by the ISRO.
• As per a report of EY, India's domestic space industry will contribute $13 billion to the economy by 2025.
• SSLV injected the ISRO's EOS-07 satellite, US-based firm Antaris' Janus-1 and Chennai-based space start-up Space Kidz's AzaadiSAT-2 satellites into orbit.
• mall Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV):
  • It is a three-stage Launch Vehicle.
  • It is capable of launching satellites weighing up to 500kg in orbit.
  • It is very cost-effective and has low turn-around time and is flexible in accommodating multiple satellites.

Topic: Sports

14. Parth Salunkhe becomes the first Indian to win Youth World Championship in recurve category.

• He defeated Song In Jun of Korea by 7-3 in the finals.
• India also won a bronze medal in the Under-21 women's recurve individual section. Bhajan Kaur defeated Su Hsin-Yu of Chinese Taipei.
• The 24-member Indian contingent won 11 medals.
• India finished the tournament with six gold, one silver and four bronze medals, highest in terms of total number of medals.
• Of the 11 medals, India won six in the U21 category.
• India finished second in terms of ranking. Korea remains in first spot with six gold and four silver medals.

(Source: News on AIR)