Daily Current Affairs and GK | 13 March 2021

Topic: Sports

1. Mithali Raj becomes first Indian woman cricketer to score 10,000 runs.

• Mithali Raj has become the first Indian woman cricketer to score 10,000 runs at the international level. She is the second woman cricketer to achieve this milestone.
• She has achieved this milestone in the third ODI against South Africa in Lucknow.
• She has scored 6,974 runs in ODIs and 2,364 runs in T20 Internationals. She has scored 663 runs in 10 Test matches.
• England’s Charlotte Edwards is the first women cricketer to score 10,000 runs.
• Mithali Raj is the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. She is the first player to score seven consecutive 50s in ODIs.
• She has been awarded numerous national and international awards, including Arjuna Award in 2003 and the Padma Shri in 2015.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Agriculture

2. APEDA organized first virtual trade fair to increase export of agricultural products.

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized its first virtual trade fair to boost the export of agricultural and processed food products.
• The virtual trade fair has been organised between 10-12 March with a theme of ‘India Rice and Agro Commodity’.
• The Virtual trade fair was focused on the export of basmati rice, non-basmati rice, millets, wheat, maize, groundnut and coarse grains.
• Many buyers from India and foreign countries have participated in it. In this Virtual trade fair, importer and exporters can interact with each other without any interruption.
• APEDA:
  • It is a government organization established in 1985.
  • It is responsible for the promotion of the export of agro products.
  • It works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. Mera Ration Mobile App launched by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

• Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution have launched Mera Ration Mobile App for migratory ration cardholders.
• The App will benefit those ration cardholders who migrate to new places in search of livelihood.
• One Nation One Ration Card- ONORC –covers only 32 states and Union Territories by December 2020.
• ONONRC system began initially in four States in August 2019.Remaining 4 States/UT (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and West Bengal) will be covered soon.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

4. INS Jalashwa reaches Antsiranana Port of Madagascar.

• INS Jalashwa has reached Antsiranana Port of Madagascar with an Indian Naval training team on board.
• Indian Naval training team will be deployed in Madagascar for capacity building of Malagasy Special Forces.
• Then, INS Jalashwa will leave for Comoros to deliver 1000 metric tonnes of rice.
• It will next leave to Port of Ehoala in Madagascar to deliver 1000 metric tonnes of rice and one lakh tablets of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).
• INS Jalashwa is an amphibious transport dock. It was acquired by Indian Navy in 2007. 

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

5. India’s first dedicated express cargo terminal launched by Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

• India’s first dedicated express cargo terminal has been launched by Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
• Dedicated express cargo is exclusively for the export and import of international couriers. Bangalore International Airport Limited operates Bengaluru airport.
• The terminal was inaugurated by the Chief Commissioner of Customs in Bengaluru zone Mr. M Srinivas. Express Industry Council of India will operate this facility.
• Express Industry Council of India consists of members from international & domestic express companies.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. Final version of Atmanirbhar Niveshak Mitra Portal will be ready for launch by 15 May 2021.

• The final version of the Atmanirbhar Niveshak Mitra Portal will be ready for launch by 15^th May 2021.
• The portal is currently in the testing phase. The webpage of the portal will be made available in regional languages.
• It will be available in the mobile App in due course. The project is under the “Invest India” agency.
• Features of Atmanirbhar Niveshak Mitra Portal:
  • Daily updates on Policies and New Initiatives by Central and State Government.
  • AI-based Chat Bot for resolving queries. It will be One-stop-shop to access all MSME portals like Champions portal, MSME Samadhaan, MSME Sampark, etc.
  • It will give information on Manufacturing Clusters and Land Availability and Search Investment Opportunities across different sectors, subsectors, and states.
  • Information and assistance on Bonded Manufacturing Scheme in India and Linking platform to other initiatives like National Single Window, Startup India, ODOP, PMG, NIP, etc

Topic: National News

7. NITI Aayog submitted first list of 12 PSUs for privatization.

• NITI Aayog submitted the first list of 12 public sector undertakings (PSUs) to be privatized.
• NITI Aayog’s list will be reviewed by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) and the Core Group of Secretaries on Divestment (CGD).
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs will approve the strategic disinvestment in a PSU.
• The public sector banks (PSBs) and insurance companies are also included in this list of privatization.
• In the Budget of FY 2021-22, the government has announced a policy of strategic disinvestment for the growth and better management of Central Government Public Sector Enterprises.
• The government had announced a disinvestment target of ₹2.10-lakh crore for 2020-21. Out of this, ₹90,000 crores will come from the sale of government stakes in public sector banks and financial institutions.

Topic: International News

8. European Parliament declares European Union an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”.

• European Parliament has passed a resolution to declare the European Union an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”. LGBTIQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer.
• The EU Parliament has passed this resolution to give LGBTIQ persons the right to live with freedom and publicly show their sexual orientation. It will promote equality for LGBTIQ persons.
• The European Parliament has passed this resolution against Poland’s move to create more than 100 “LGBTIQ ideology-free zones”.
• Poland doesn’t recognize LGBT ideology and it has passed a resolution to free itself from the LGBTIQ “ideology”.
• Most of the European countries have already given recognition to same-sex unions and same-sex marriage. 
• European Union:
  • It was founded on 1 November 1993.
  • It is a political and economic union of 27 member states which are mainly located in Europe.
  • European Parliament is a legislative body of the European Union.
  • It is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

9. A Japanese-Australian venture has started producing hydrogen from brown coal.

• A joint venture of Australia and Japan have started a pilot project to produce hydrogen from brown coal (Lignite).
• This $500 million project aims to produce liquefied hydrogen and transport it safely to other countries. Its objective is to develop the world’s first international supply chain for liquefied hydrogen.
• Hydrogen will be produced by reacting brown coal with oxygen and steam under high heat and pressure. Brown coal is the lowest grade coal with the least concentration of carbon.
• The project will promote the use of hydrogen as a fuel. It will also help Japan in achieving the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• Green Hydrogen can also be produced from the use of wind and solar energy.
• Benefits of Hydrogen as Fuel:
  • It is a rich source of energy and is abundant.
  • It is a clean source of energy.
  • It has high energy content.

Topic: National News

10. PM Modi addressed the fourth Global Ayurveda Festival.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the fourth Global Ayurveda Festival on 12 March 2021. Twenty-five countries have taken part in the fourth Global Ayurveda Festival.
• Prime Minister said that people across the world had recognized the importance of Ayurveda. The demand for ayurvedic products has steadily increased.
• Ayurveda help in boosting the immunity of the body and it provides a cure for many diseases.
• The Prime Minister said that India offers wellness tourism through Ayurveda. He also talked about the measures taken by the government to promote Ayurveda.
• He also mentioned the government’s national Ayush mission to promote Ayurveda, Siddha, homeopathy and Unani medicines.
• The Ministry of AYUSH is responsible for the research and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems in India. AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

Topic: Miscellaneous

11. Kartik Aaryan is appointed as brand ambassador of Doritos.

• Doritos has appointed Kartik Aaryan as its first brand ambassador in India.
• He will be responsible for increasing the reach of the brand to smaller cities of India.
• Doritos is a Nacho Chip brand from PepsiCo India.
• Bata India has also appointed Kartik Aaryan as their brand ambassador.
• Other Brand ambassador appointed:
  • BL Agro Industries has named Shilpa Shetty as brand ambassador for its brand ‘Nourish’.
  • Sania Mirza is appointed as the brand ambassador of Possible.
  • Glenmark Pharma appointed Rohit Sharma as brand ambassador for its product Candid Powder.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

12. Government will only allow approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) for its solar projects.

• The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had issued an approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) for solar cells and solar modules.
• The government has announced that it will involve only ALMM manufacturers in its solar projects.
• Currently, 85-90% of cells and modules used in Indian solar projects are imported from China.
• Indian government has taken this step to discourage the Chinese import of solar photovoltaic cells in green energy projects. It will also promote the domestic manufacturing of Solar cells and solar modules.
• Earlier, India has imposed 40% basic customs duty (BCD) on solar modules and 25% on solar cells. It will become effective from 1 April 2022.
• At present, India’s manufacturing capacity 3 GW for solar cells is and 15GW for solar modules.
• The government is targeting to install 175 gigawatt (GW) renewable energy capacity by 2022. Out of this 175 GW target, 100 GW will be solar energy and 60 GW will be wind energy.
• Solar cell: It is an electrical device that converts solar energy into electric energy. Silicon is used in the manufacturing of a solar cell.