Daily Current Affairs and GK | 14 September 2023

Topic: State News/ Bihar

1. Patna Municipal Corporation launched a Cash for Waste scheme for common people.

• The Patna Municipal Corporation has started a Cash for Waste scheme for common people at the recently established Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
• Under this scheme, people will be paid for their dry waste as per a prescribed price list for each item.
• This is called the Pink Material Recovery Facility as it is run by women workers.
• This facility has a capacity of processing 2 tonnes of dry garbage and 1.5 tonnes of wet waste per day.
• Pink MRF has been set up by Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) in association with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, German institution GIZ and other organizations.
• Now, People will not have to wait for the trash vans to come and dump the garbage.
• With the help of this scheme, the Patna Municipal Corporation is looking forward to having a clean and sanitized city and encouraging people not to throw away waste.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

2. Union Cabinet has given approval to the signing of a MoU between India and Armenia.

• The MoU is on cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at the Population Scale for Digital Transformation.
• Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the MoU on 12th June 2023 between India’s Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry.
• The MoU comes into effect from the date of signature of the Parties. It shall remain in force for three years.
• The MoU envisages better cooperation promoting employment opportunities in the field of IT.
• The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences in the implementation of digital transformational initiatives of both the country.
• It also intends to promote the exchange of digital technologies-based solutions (viz. INDIA STACK).
• India Stack Solutions are Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) developed & implemented by India at a population scale to provide access & delivery of public services.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched Skill India Digital (SID).

• Skill India Digital (SID) is a comprehensive digital platform.
• It is aimed at synergizing and transforming the skills, education, employment, and entrepreneurship landscape of India.
• SID is the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystem of India.
• It is also a comprehensive information gateway for all government skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives.
• The SID platform aligns with the vision articulated in the G20 framework for building DPI and the digital economy.
• Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Electronics, IT also attended the launch event.
• Skill India Digital has introduced Digitally Verified Credentials, which is a secure way to showcase skills and qualifications.
• Skill India Digital also offers Digital CVs through personalized QR Codes.
• The SID platform also integrates government training programmes from both Central and State governments. Thus, it creates a unified hub for skill development initiatives.

Topic: National Appointments

4. Joshit Ranjan Sikidar has assumed charge as Director (Finance) of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).

• He was working as Group General Manager (Finance) and the Company Secretary of RITES Ltd.
• He joined SECI on 12 September 2023. The SECI is a miniratna company.
• He has worked with RITES for more than four years.
• He has worked for over 16 years in NSPCL, a joint venture of NTPC & SAIL.
• Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI):
  • It was founded on 9 September 2011 to promote solar energy in India.
  • It was set up to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar Mission (NSM).
  • It is the only PSU dedicated to the solar energy sector.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

5. A case of Nipah virus has been reported from Kozhikode, Kerala.

• Another 24-year-old health worker from a private hospital in Kozhikode has been infected with Nipah virus.
• With this, the total number of persons found infected with the deadly virus has increased to five.
• On September 14, 13 persons were admitted to the isolation ward of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where 75 isolation beds have been earmarked for the treatment of Nipah patients.
• The number of people who came in contact with people infected with the virus has risen to 789, of which more than 150 were health workers.
• ICMR has also sent the monoclonal antibody medicine to the state on September 14.
• In view of the Nipah infection, district authorities in Kozhikode have issued instructions to stop all public gatherings for the next ten days.
• Nipah virus (NiV):
  • Nipah virus (NiV) is classified as a “highly pathogenic paramyxovirus”. Its natural reservoirs are large fruit bats of the Pteropus genus.
  • The virus may pass on to pigs if pigs eat fruits that are bitten on by infected bats. The virus takes from 6 to 21 days to incubate and manifest as a disease.
  • Two main modes of spread of the virus are- drinking of raw date palm sap contaminated with NiV and close physical contact with Nipah-infected patients.
  • The main associated symptoms are fever, delirium, severe weakness, headache, respiratory distress, cough, vomiting, muscle pain, convulsion, and diarrhoea.
  • In infected people, the virus causes severe illness characterized by inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or respiratory diseases.
  • Currently, there is no known treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals.
  • Ribavirin, an antiviral may have an important role in reducing the mortality of patients with encephalitis caused by Nipah virus disease.
  • Immunotherapeutic treatments (monoclonal antibody therapies) for the treatment of NiV infections are in the development phase.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh launched a special campaign 3.0 Portal on 14 September.

• A dedicated web portal-https://scdpm.nic.in launched at the National Media Centre, New Delhi for monitoring the Special Campaign 3.0.
• The government has announced Special Campaign 3.0 from October 2 to 31 this year.
• It is being launched to focus on cleanliness and reduce the pendency of cases in government offices with a saturation approach.
• An initial phase will be launched from 15 September to 30 September 2023 before Special Campaign 3.0. During this period, the Ministries/Departments will identify the pending cases in the selected categories and finalize the campaign sites.
• Special Campaign 3.0 will focus on Ministries/Departments and their attached/subordinate offices as well as regional/field offices having service delivery or public interface.
• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances is the nodal department for the implementation of this campaign.
• The Special Operations 3.0 Guidelines and Special Operations Progress for December 2022-July 2023 and Monthly Report on Secretariat Reforms for June- July 2023 were also released.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

7. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Bharat Electronics Limited have signed a MoU.

• The purpose of the MoU is to develop an indigenous Communication Based Train Control System. 
• This partnership is in line with the Make in India initiative. It will transform rail transportation in India.
• It will foster self-reliance in the field of train control signaling systems.
• The Communication-Based Train Control System will optimise train operations, and enhance passenger services.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL):
  • It is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence.
  • It was established in 1954. It is headquartered in Bengaluru. 

Topic: Space and IT

8. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope discovered the presence of carbon dioxide and methane.

• James Webb Space Telescope discovered carbon dioxide and methane in its study of K2-18 b, an exoplanet.
• This shows that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one that has the potential to have an atmosphere rich in hydrogen and a surface covered in water oceans.
• Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars, other than our sun.
• Planet K2-18 b is 120 light years from Earth. It orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 a.
• It is 8.6 times as massive as Earth. Its size lies between Earth and Neptune.
• The idea that there might be a water ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere is supported by the planet's abundance of methane and carbon dioxide and lack of ammonia.
• James Webb's observations also led to the potential detection of the chemical dimethyl sulphide (DMS).
• Dimethyl sulphide can only be created by life on Earth.
• Marine phytoplanktons emit the majority of the DMS that is present in the Earth's atmosphere.
• NASA now plans to carry out more analysis using the telescope's MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) spectrograph in an effort to further validate their findings.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Union Cabinet approved the expansion of Ujjwala Yojana to 7.5 mn more connections.

• The Union government has decided to expand the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) till the financial year 2026.
• 7,500,000 new Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections will be allocated in three years.
• This expansion will increase the total number of PMUY beneficiaries to 103.5 million with a cost of 1650 crore.
• It will increase the total number of PMUY beneficiaries to 103.5 million.
• The government has recently reduced the price of cooking gas by Rs 200 across all markets.
• A Subsidy of Rs 200 per 14.2 kg cylinder was sent to 90 million PMUY beneficiaries till May 2022.
• This subsidy was later extended for another year in March, costing an additional Rs 7,680 crore.
• According to the data from the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell LPG penetration has reached 99.9 per cent in 2022.
• There were 314 million households in India with LPG connections as of 1 April 2023.
• In FY23, 29.34 million metric tonnes of LPG were sold by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.
• The main objective of the scheme is to provide deposit-free LPG connections to women from poor households.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Government of India will collaborate to strengthen the One Health Approach for Pandemic Preparedness.

• The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, India and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) successfully organized a multi-sectoral workshop "Risk-based management of spillover events in wildlife in India" in Hyderabad from 11-12 September.
• The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner and Dr. Hirofumui Kugita, Regional Representative of the World Organization for Animal Health for Asia Pacific.
• 25 participants from the Animal Husbandry, Human Health, and Wildlife sectors representing six Indian states have participated in the event.
• Observers from WHO, FAO, USAID Rise, and the One Health Support Unit (OHSU) also participated in the event.
• The workshop was focused on enhancing stakeholder knowledge about wildlife-origin disease risk analysis, conducting a thorough gap analysis of India's risk assessment and management, simulating disease spillover scenarios, and fostering communication and awareness among relevant stakeholders.
• The workshop concluded with discussions on emphasizing the importance of a One Health approach, cross-sectoral collaboration, and pandemic preparedness.
• One Health approach will ensure a safer and more sustainable future for wildlife, ecosystems, and human and domestic animal health.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Summits/Conference/Meetings

11. The 12th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) is being organized from 13 to 14 September 2023 in Sharjah.

• It is being organized under the theme Today's Resources, Tomorrow's Assets.
• Former US Chief Justice Frank Caprio, author and motivation guru Robin Sharma, and Indian environmental activist Dr. Vandana Shiva are among the prominent speakers at the forum.
• Former Chief Justice of America Frank Caprio is famous across the world as the ‘The Nicest Judge in the World.’
• This program will discuss the important role of media in raising awareness about sustainability issues and finding solutions to it.
• As part of the event there will be an insightful panel discussion on media coverage and the role of media in highlighting issues of climate change and sustainability and a media seminar with leading media personalities.
• Prominent media personalities are in favour of exclusive coverage.
• The media symposium is being attended by media experts including Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, managing editor of The Adam, and South African Broadcasting Corporation-SABC TV news and current affairs presenter Moshoeshoe Gagga Monare.
• Sharjah's International Government Communications Forum provides a platform for leaders and experts to discuss best government communications practices.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

12. Hindi Diwas 2023: 14 September

• Every year, Hindi Diwas is observed on 14 September.
• On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of Indian union (Article 343).
• Since 1953, it was announced to celebrate 14 September every year as Hindi Diwas throughout the country.
• The day also marks the birthday of Beohar Rajendra Simha. He was born on 14 September 1900.
• He played a crucial role in getting Hindi in the Devanagari script approved as an official language of India.
• Hindi is one of the most spoken languages and is spoken by 600 million people globally.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

13. Indian Air Force received its first C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus at Seville in Spain.

• Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhari attended the formal handing over ceremony of the first C-295 transport aircraft at Seville in Spain.
• The aircraft is the first of the 56 such planes ordered by the Indian Air Force under a ₹21,935-crore project.
• India is acquiring 56 Airbus C-295 aircraft to replace the Indian Air Force AVRO fleet.
• Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in fly-away condition as per the contractual agreement.
• The second C-295 will be delivered in May 2024 followed by seven aircraft in 2024 at the rate of one per month.
• As part of an industrial partnership forty aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems in India.
• The partnership between Airbus and Tata Advanced System will help in the development of the industrial ecosystem in the aviation sector in India.
• All the C-295 aircraft will be handed over in transport configuration and will be equipped with an indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite.
• Manufacturing, assembly, testing, qualification, delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft will attract investment and create more jobs.
• In September 2021, the Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from M/s Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain.
• C-295 Aircraft:
  • It is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment.
  • It has a capacity of 9 tonnes and can carry up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers.
  • It can conduct logistic operations to locations that are not accessible for heavier aircraft.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Economy/Financial Market 

14. India’s factory output grew 5.7% in July 2023 and retail inflation declined to 6.8% in August 2023.  

• India’s industrial growth increased to a five-month high level of 5.7% in July.  
• Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by 3.7% in June 2023. It was 2.2% in July 2022. 
• According to the IIP data, output of manufacturing sector grew 4.6% in July 2023 against 3.1% a year ago.  
• Mining output increased 10.7% in July 2023 against a 3.3% contraction a year ago. Electricity output grew by 8% for July 2023. 
• According to the use-based classification, capital goods output increased 4.6% in July 2023.  
• Consumer durables output declined by 2.7%. Consumer non-durable goods output increased by 7.4%.  
• Retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined from 7.4% in July to 6.8% in August.  
• The prices of vegetables and edible oil have fallen. However, cereal prices are still high.  
• Core inflation came down to around 5% from 5.1%. It recorded 3rd consecutive month of decline.  
• Rural areas saw a slightly higher inflation rate at 7.02% than urban areas at 6.59%.  
• The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for August 2023 stood at 9.94%. It stood at 11.51% in July 2023.