Daily Current Affairs and GK | 12 May 2023

Topic: State News/Gujarat

1. PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects in Gujarat.

• These projects are worth Rs 4,400 crore at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
• PM also attended the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sangh Adhiveshan in Gandhinagar.
• PM also visited GIFT City. He also took part in the 29th Biennial Conference of All India Primary Teachers’ Federation in Gandhinagar.
• He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various developmental works worth over 2,450 crore rupees at a programme held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
• Multi village drinking water supply schemes in Banaskantha district, river overbridge in Ahmedabad, drainage collection network at Naroda GIDC and sewage treatment plants in Mehsana are the projects inaugurated by PM.
• PM also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of PMAY projects of around 1,950 crore rupees.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

2. Pakistan and China have agreed to extend China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.

• 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue was held recently.
• During the dialogue, foreign ministers of three countries underlined the need to prevent any group from using their territories for terror activities.
• This was the first foreign ministers’ dialogue between Pakistan, China and Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
• The aim of the USD 60 billion CPEC is to connect Pakistan’s Gwadar port in Balochistan with the Xinjiang province of China.
• India has raised concerns about the CPEC because it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
• CPEC is officially regarded as the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• The three foreign ministers emphasized the importance of current initiatives, including CASA-1000, TAPI, and Trans-Afghan Railways etc., to improve regional connectivity. 
• Central Asia-South Asia power project is commonly known by the acronym CASA-1000.
• It will make possible the transport of surplus hydroelectricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and finally to Pakistan.
• Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) Pipeline:
  • It is also known as Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline.
  • It is a natural gas pipeline. It is being developed with the participation of the Asian Development Bank. 
  • It will transport natural gas from Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh Gas Field through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India.

Topic: Science and Technology

3. IIT Madras and DRDO develop sensor technology for underwater communications.

• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed sensor technology for underwater communications.
• This sensor technology will be used by Indian Navy for underwater communications.
• This technology will enable the fabrication of devices at a relatively lower cost as International foundries' costs are high.
• Researchers have developed piezoelectric MEMS (micro electro- mechanical system) technology where they fabricated 100mm diameter piezoelectric thin films.
• These piezo thin films are a vital component of piezo MEMS devices.
• Piezoelectric materials are capable of transforming mechanical strain and vibration energy into electrical energy.
• The piezo thin film and the MEMS process technology will support the next-generation sonar programme of DRDO for the Indian Navy
• The DRDO Industry Academia - Ramanujan Centre of Excellence and IIT Madras both have fabrication facilities.

Topic: Indian Polity

4. Supreme Court gave the Delhi government the power to exercise control over the bureaucrats.

• On the issue of who controls the bureaucracy in the national capital, Supreme Court ruled in the favour of Delhi Government.
• The five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud ruled that the legislature has control over bureaucrats in the administration of services, except in areas outside the legislative powers of the National Capital Territory (NCT).
• Public order, police and land are three areas which are outside the control of the Delhi government.
• Supreme Court constitution bench said that the lieutenant governor (LG) is bound by the advice of the elected government in everything other than public order, police, and land.
• SC said that in a democratic form of government, the real power of administration must lie in the hand of the elected government.
• The bench said that if an officer is not responding to the government then collective responsibility will get diluted.
• This case was referred to the constitutional bench in May 2022.
• Article 239AA delineates the legislative and executive powers of the Delhi government.

Topic: National News

5. 50% of Villages in India achieved ODF Plus status under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) Phase II.

• According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti half of the villages in India have attained ODF Plus status under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) Phase II.
• More than 2.96 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus.
• India is on track to reach its SBM-G Phase II targets by 2024-25.
• Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh are top- performing states among big states.
• In small states, Goa and Sikkim are on the top in achieving ODF status.
• The central government has allocated a total of Rs. 83,938 crore to Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen between 2014-15 and 2021-22.
• The SBM-G program has positively impacted the health and well-being of millions across India.
• ODF plus village is defined as “A village which sustains its ODF status and ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean”.
• Criteria for ODF Plus is given below:
  • All households in the village have access to a functional toilet facility.
  • All schools/ Panchyat Ghar/ Anganwadi centres should have access to the functional toilet.
  • The villages should have arrangements for Solid waste management and liquid waste management.
  • All public places have minimal litter, minimal stagnant wastewater and no plastic waste dump.

Topic: National Appointments

6. The name of Parminder Chopra has been recommended for the post of next CMD of Power Finance Corporation (PFC).

• The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) has recommended her name for the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of PFC.
• Chopra will be the first woman to be appointed as the CMD of the Maharatna Company.
• She will be the first woman to lead India’s largest NBFC.
• Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is India’s largest non-banking financial company (NBFC) by networth (all reserves).
• Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC):
  • Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) was formed in 1986. It is headquartered in New Delhi.
  • Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) is its subsidiary.
  • PFC is the largest infrastructure finance company dedicated to the power sector.
  • It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

7. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Ministry of AYUSH have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).

• MoA is to enhance collaboration and cooperation in health research in the field of Integrated Medicine.
• V.K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog said, this step will help Ayush departments in AIIMS evolve into departments of Integrative Medicine.
• Integrative Health Research is a transdisciplinary, holistic approach in which the benefits of co-administering conventional and non-conventional medical practices are investigated.
• Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that ICMR and AYUSH will work together to boost Ayurveda’s identity based on scientific evidence.
• A joint working group will be created between the Ministry of AYUSH and ICMR.
• The joint working group will meet quarterly for exploring further areas of collaboration.
• Both organisations will also work towards developing mutual cooperation for facilitating scientific validation and providing evidence for AYUSH systems. 

Topic: Art and Culture

8. Buddham Saranam Gacchami exhibition was inaugurated in New Delhi.

• Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi inaugurated the exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Arts, New Delhi.
• The exhibition was based on the life of Lord Buddha. It was organized in the week succeeding Buddha Purnima.
• It showcased the voyage of Buddhist art and culture around the world.
• It also showcased paintings from countries like Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
• It is open for public till 10th June at the National Gallery of Modern Arts.

Topic: Government schemes and Initiatives

9. Credit Trading Scheme will be developed by Ministry of Power and Ministry of Environment for Decarbonisation.

• A national framework will be set up with the aim of decarbonizing the Indian economy by pricing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions through the trading of Carbon Credit Certificates.
• For this purpose, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are jointly developing a carbon credit trading scheme.
• On 11 May, a 'Stakeholder Consultation on Accredited Carbon Verifiers under ICM' was organized in New Delhi.
• The event was organized with participants from key stakeholders including Accredited Energy Auditors, Carbon/Energy Verifiers, Sector Experts.
• As India currently has an energy savings-based market mechanism, the new avatar Carbon Credit Trading Scheme will enhance energy transmission efforts with an enhanced scope that will cover potential energy sectors in India.
• For these sectors, GHG emissions intensity benchmarks and targets will be developed, which will be aligned with India's emissions graph against climate targets.
• Carbon credits will be traded based on the performance of this regional graph.
• In addition, it is envisaged that a voluntary mechanism will concurrently develop to encourage GHG reductions from non-obligatory areas.
• India has been at the forefront of climate action to meet climate goals through its ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• The government is developing the ICM to facilitate the achievement of India's enhanced climate targets and to meet future targets.
• ICM will help achieve the NDC target of reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 percent by 2030 relative to 2005 levels by accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings  

10. On 12 May, 6th Indian Ocean Conference started in Dhaka.

• The 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) is being hosted by Bangladesh and is being held in Dhaka on 12 and 13 May.
• High-level government delegations and think tanks from around 25 countries are expected to participate in the IOC.
• The conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
• Aspects of strengthening cooperation among the countries of the Indian Ocean region were discussed in the meeting.
• About 150 foreign guests are participating in the conference, including representatives from D8, SAARC and BIMSTEC.
• Minister for External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar delivered the keynote address at the opening session in Dhaka.
• India Foundation in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies are organising the 6th edition of the Conference.
• The Conference endeavours to bring critical states and principal maritime partners of the region together on a common platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: International Appointment

11. Badminton Asia appointed Omar Rashid as Chair of the Technical Officials Committee.

• On May 9, Omar Rashid, Joint Secretary of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), has been appointed as the Chair of the Technical Officials Committee of Badminton Asia for the term 2023-2025.
• Rashid will oversee the development and implementation of rules and regulations as the chair of the Technical Officials Committee, raising the standards of functioning in badminton competitions across the country.
• In addition, Omar Rashid is the General Secretary of the Assam Badminton Association and has been associated with badminton administration for more than two decades.
• Badminton Asia:
  • It is the governing body of badminton in Asia.
  • In 1959, the confederation was established, with its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • It aims to maintain Asia as the benchmark of world badminton for many years to come.
  • It now has 43 member associations.
  • In 2006, Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) name was changed to Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC).

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award has been given to UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

• The award has been given by former president of India Ram Nath Kovind for creating a "fear-free Uttar Pradesh".
• On behalf of Yogi Adityanath, UP Legislative Council Member (MLC) Dr. Lalji Prasad Nirmal received the prestigious award.
• Film actors Prem Chopra, Udit Narayan and Rajpal Yadav among other dignitaries were also honored with the 13th Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award on the occasion.

Topic: Art and Culture

13. A five-day-long festival 'Monlam Chenmo' began in Leh.

• An annual five-day-long Festival, "Ladakh Monlam Chenmo," by Buddhist monks and nuns began in Leh for world peace and happiness.
• It has resumed after three years of discontinuation due to Covid. It is being organized since 1991.
• It is being organised by the All Ladakh Gonpa Association.
• Smonlam Chenmo is an annual prayer of the Sangha Community.
• The "Seva for Sangha’ camp will be organized from May 11 to 16 at Leh in collaboration with the district administration Leh.
• Different government departments are offering the benefit of 20 schemes of the government to the monks and nuns at this camp.
• During the five-day-long camp ‘Seva for Sangha’, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has also joined hands with the organisers to set up medical camps.
• Hemis Festival, Losar Festival, Sindhu Darshan, Phyang Tsedup Festival, Dosmoche Festival, Saka Dawa Festival are some important festivals of Ladakh.

Topic: Important Days

14. International Nurses Day: 12 May

• International Nurses Day is observed every year on 12 May.
• It is observed to recognise the tireless and invaluable contribution of nurses to health care and global health security.
• The theme for the International Nurses Day 2023 is “Our Nurses. Our Future”.
• The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is celebrating this day since 1965.
• In 1974, 12 May was chosen to celebrate this day to mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. She is the founder of modern nursing.
• In 1998, 8 May was announced as the annual National Student Nurses' Day.
• According to WHO, an additional 9 million nurses and midwives are needed if the world is to achieve UHC by 2030.