Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 June 2023

Topic: International News

1. World Bank launched its 1^st road safety project in South Asia.

• The project has been launched with the signing of a USD 358 million financing agreement in Dhaka with the government of Bangladesh on 14 June 2023.
• The project attempts to improve road safety. It seeks to reduce fatalities from road crashes in cities, high-risk highways and district roads.
• The project will cover two national highways of Bangladesh, Gazipur-Elenga (N4) and Natore-Nawabganj (N6).  
• The two highways pass through five divisions of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Mymensingh.
• The comprehensive road safety measures under the project will reduce road traffic deaths by over 30% on these two highways.

Topic: Important Days

2. International Day of Family Remittances: 16 June

• International Day of Family Remittances is celebrated every year on 16 June.
• UN General Assembly adopted the International Day of Family Remittances on 12 June 2018.
• It recognizes the contribution of over 200 million migrants to improve the lives of 800 million family members.
• This year, the theme of International Day of Family Remittances is "Digital remittances towards financial inclusion and cost reduction."
• On 16 June 2008, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank organised the first-ever International Day of Family Remittances.
• Family remittances are the money sent by people living in another country to their family members in their home country.

Topic: International News

3. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off the first Agri-SEZ Project of Gabon from New Delhi.

• This project will be implemented by the AOM group with Centurion University as the technical and knowledge partner.
• Under the first phase of the program, 30 farmers and 20 B.Sc./M.Sc. Agri and B.Tech/M.Tech Engineering students from the Gajapati district will travel together as agri-technical and technical consultants for this agriculture SEZ.
• The Agriculture and Food Processing Special Economic Zone in Gabon is a significant milestone towards enhancing food security and self-sufficiency in the country.
• Anti-colonial solidarity, diasporic goodwill, and the principle of 'South-South' cooperation plays a key role in strengthening the partnership between India and the African continent.
• India has extended concessional loans of over US$ 12.3 billion to Africa. It has also provided grant assistance of US$ 700 mn for various development projects in various sectors.
• The India-Africa relationship has strengthened from Cheetah transfers and cooperation on climate change.
• Gabon:
  • It is a country on the west coast of Central Africa.
  • It shares a border with Guinea, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo and the Gulf of Guinea.
  • Ali Bongo Ondimba is the current President of Gabon.
  • Libreville is the Capital and the Central African CFA franc is the currency.

Topic: Books and Authors

4. "The Art of Plunder: A Captivating Tale of Greed, Vengeance, and Historical Relics" book has been launched Worldwide.

• It has been authored by Alekhya Talapatra. It is released by Evincepub Publishing.
• Alekhya Talapatra presented a brilliantly written tragic story that is filled with suspense & thriller.
• The story of the book revolves around some of the main characters and the incidents of their lives.
• Author Alekhya Talapatra is a consultant in the technology industry and has been a professional for the last three decades.
• “Who Killed Her Husband” and “What’s Meant To Be Will Always Find A Way!” are the other books of Alekhya Talapatra.
• The book is available in both Paperback as well as in E-Book format.

Topic: Indian Polity

5. 22nd Law Commission seeks views from public and religious organisations on Uniform Civil Code.

• 22nd Law Commission of India in a notice sought views on the Uniform Civil Code.
• It stated that interested willing persons and organization must give their views within 30 days.
• The 21st Law Commission had examined the subject of UCC and collected views of all stakeholders through its appeal along with a questionnaire in 2016.
• The Law Commission had also released a consultation paper titled "Reform of Family" in 2018.
• In this paper, Law commission said that formulation of UCC was "neither necesasry nor desirable at this stage".
• After more than three years, the 22nd Law Commission has again decided to seek fresh public views on UCC.
• The 22nd law panel was constituted under the chairmanship of Justice Rituraj Awasthi (retd). The Union Cabinet has extended term of 22nd Law Commission till August 2024.
• Uniform civil code:
  • A uniform civil code mean a set of common personal laws for all citizens.
  • At present, personal laws for Hindus and Muslims are different.
  • The constitution has a provision for Uniform Civil Code in Article 44 as a Directive Principle of State Policy.
  • Uniform civil code is required to provide more rights to women and it will also ensure that all Indians are treated same.

Topic: National News

6. About 80 more castes in six states may be added to the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

• National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) chairperson Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said that NCBC is processing the approval for most of them.
• The addition of 16 communities to the Central list of OBCs in Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir has been facilitated by the government.
• More communities from six states are likely to be added to the Central list.
• These states are Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana.
• Telangana government has requested that the 40 communities should be added to the Central list.
• Andhra Pradesh has requested the addition of the Turup Kapu community.
• Himachal Pradesh has requested the addition of Majhra community.
• Maharashtra government has requested the addition of Lodhi, Lingayat, Bhoyar Pawar, Jhandse communities in the State to the Central list of OBCs.
• Punjab has asked for inclusion of the Yadav community. Haryana has asked for the addition of Gosai/Gosain community.
• The NCBC Act, 1993 prescribes following procedure for addition of communities to the central OBC list.
  • The Commission constitutes a Bench to examine proposals of states.
  • It then forwards the decision to the Union government (with dissent, where applicable).
  • The Cabinet then approves the additions and brings legislation to this effect.
  • After this, the President is empowered to notify the change in OBC List.
• Currently, more than 2,650 different communities are listed in the Central OBC list for all States and Union Territories.
• They include the 16 communities that were added since 2014.
• Apart from OBC, since the last census in 2011, four communities have been added to the Scheduled Caste list as main entries.
• As of March 2023, about 1,270 communities were there in the SC list.
• Since 2011, five communities were added to the Scheduled Tribes List as main entries.
• As of March 2023, about 748 communities were there in the ST list. 

Topic: Art and Culture

7. Wihu Kuh Festival has been celebrated by Tangsa tribe.

• The Tangsa tribe resides mainly in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh and in the Sagaing region of Myanmar.
• Different Tangsa communities together celebrate the Wihu Kuh Festival. This shows their unity.
• This also shows their shared reverence for the land that sustains them.
• Wihu Kuh translates to paddy transplantation festival. It marks the beginning of the agricultural season.
• Wihu Kuh Festival is an agricultural as well as cultural celebration. 
• It begins with communal prayer along with the ceremonial sowing of the first rice seeds.
• Ceremonial sowing of the first rice seeds is a ritual led by the village elder or a respected figure.
• The festival is celebrated with the rhythmic beats of the rongker, traditional drums and the tunes of the pangtoi, a bamboo flute.
• The men wear distinctly colored traditional attire and headgears decorated with bird feathers and wild boar tusks.
• They perform dances. The dance movements mimic the sowing and reaping of crops. The women also join the dance.
• Rice beer is a traditional beverage used during the festival. It is locally known as "apong".

Topic: Indian Economy

8. Wholesale inflation declined to -3.48% in May 2023.

• This is the lowest level of 90 months. WPI inflation has remained in the negative zone for the second consecutive month.
• Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation was -0.92% in April 2023.
• The fall in prices of mineral oils, basic metals, food products, textiles, non-food articles, crude petroleum & natural gas, and chemical & chemical products mainly contributed to the fall in the inflation rate in May.
• WPI inflation was at 16.63% in May, 2022. Wholesale inflation was at (-) 3.37% in May 2020.
• Inflation in food articles declined to 1.51% in May 2023. Fuel and power inflation declined to (-) 9.17% in May 2023.
• In manufactured products, the inflation rate was (-) 2.97% in May 2023.
• Retail Inflation declined to 4.25% in May 2023.
• This is the lowest level of 25 months (more than two years). This is the fourth continuous month when retail inflation has declined.
• This is the third continuous month when Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation has been within RBI’s zone of below 6%.
• Food inflation was at 2.91% in May and lower than 3.84% in April.

Topic: National Appointments

9. NHPC Limited, India's premier hydropower company, has appointed Shri Uttam Lal as Director (Personnel).

• Previously, Shri Lal was working as Chief General Manager (HR-CSR/R&R/LA) in NTPC Limited.
• He has vast and rich experience of 35 years in the field of Personnel Management, Industrial Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility.
• He is known for his expertise and vast experience in the power sector.
• Uttam Lal is a leading HR professional for harnessing the HR potential in the service of the mission and vision of the organization.
• National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC):
  • It is an Indian government hydropower body that is owned by the Ministry of Power.
  • It is a Scheduled ‘A’ Mini Ratna Public Sector Enterprise.
  • It was established in 1975. It is headquartered in Faridabad, Haryana.
  • Its Chairman & Managing Director is Shri Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

10. Plenary session at 111th International Labor Conference addressed by Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav.

• On 13 June 2023, the plenary session of the 111th International Labor Conference has been addressed by Union Minister for Labor and Employment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupendra Yadav in Geneva.
• He said that India is moving towards Amrit Kaal with a commitment to provide social security and decent work to its workforce.
• Under the Presidency of G20, India aims to promote tools for assessing skill gaps among countries and move towards convergence and mutual recognition of skills and competencies.
• India aims to work with the world to find ways of sustainable financing mechanisms to provide universal and comprehensive social security coverage to all, including gig and platform workers.
• On the sidelines of International Labor Conference, Shri Yadav also met Director General of International Labor Organization (ILO) Shri Gilbert Hongbo.

Topic: Important Days

11. Global Wind Day 2023 / World Wind Day 2023: 15 June

• Every year on 15 June, Global Wind Day is observed.
• It aims to attract attention towards the wind energy- its potential and possibilities in reshaping our energy systems.
• It is organized by WindEurope and Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
• In 2007, European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) organized the first Global Wind Day.
• In 2009, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and Global Wind Energy Council collaborated to make Wind Day a global event.
• Wind Energy is a non-conventional energy and a clean source that can help in reducing carbon emissions.
• Wind is used to produce electricity using the kinetic energy created by air in motion.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

12. Women 20 Summit began in Mahabalipuram near Chennai.

• On 15 June, the meeting of the W-20 on the third and final working group began at Mahabalipuram near Chennai.
• This year, the theme of summit is ‘Women-Led Development- Transform, Thrive and Transcend’.
• The Women 20 Summit is being organized on 15 and 16 June 2023.
• The first session focused on sustainable development goals, discrimination on women's health, gender equality, measures to achieve social and economic development.
• United Nations Population Fund-India Representative Andrea Wojner said that there are about 270 million people living without family planning in the world, there is a need to prevent maternal deaths.
• Due to premature marriage, the surgeries in the body of women increase the concern. Governments should come forward to address this problem.
• Along with giving importance to women's health, gender empowerment should be included in this.
• Girls in the age group of six years should be given information about sexual misconduct and should be able to talk about it.
• The role of the family in supporting children should be important when it comes to rights.
• In 2015, the Women 20 (W20), official G20 engagement group created under Turkey's presidency of the G20, which aims to focus on gender equality.
• The primary objective of W20 is to advocate for women empowerment and women's rights, to raise the voice of women in the society.
• India’s W20 agenda focuses on five key priorities:
  • Women’s Entrepreneurship
  • Grassroots Women's Leadership
  • Bridging the Gender Digital Divide
  • Education and Skill Development
  • Climate Change

Topic: International News

13. UNGA adopted a resolution moved by India to honour martyred peacekeepers.

• The UN General Assembly has adopted a draft resolution introduced by India to establish a memorial wall in the UN Headquarters to honour martyred peacekeepers.
• India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj introduced the draft resolution titled ‘Memorial wall for fallen United Nations peacekeepers’.
• This resolution was supported by nearly 190 UN members and has been adopted by consensus.
• The resolution was submitted by 18 countries including Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Rwanda and the U.S.
• The resolution calls for the wall to be completed within three years of its acceptance.
• The Permanent Mission of India to the UN had launched a virtual memorial wall in 2015. It was dedicated to Indian Soldiers who made sacrifices as UN peacekeepers.
• Since 1948, more than one million UN peacekeepers have participated in 72 Peacekeeping operations.
• India has played a vital role in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

14. First ever Hindu American Summit held at the US Capitol.

• A group of eminent Indian-Americans hosted the first-ever Hindu-American Summit for Political Engagement.
• It has been organized by the Americans4Hindus political Action committee in association with over 20 other bodies.
• It has been organized to raise the concerns of the Hindu community before the lawmakers.
• Around 130 Indian American leaders from US and California representing 20 Hindu and Indian organisations took part in the summit.
• American Hindu Coalition, American Hindu Federation, Americans for Equality PAC, Ekal Vidyalaya, Federation of Indian Americans, etc. groups were part of this Hindu American Summit.
• Dr Romesh Japra, Founder and Chairman of American4Hindus said that Hindu Americans are being discriminated in the US.
• During the summit, Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar announced plans to form a ‘Hindu Caucus’ in the US Congress.