Daily Current Affairs and GK | 17 June 2023

Topic: Defence

1. Indian Navy launched “Julley Ladakh" outreach programme.

• Indian Navy has launched the “Julley Ladakh" programme to increase awareness about the Indian Navy service in Ladakh and to engage with youth and civil society.
• Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Sanjay Jasjit Singh also flagged off a five thousand kilometre Motorcycle Expedition from the National War Memorial.
• This outreach programme includes a Motor Cycle Expedition, a band concert at City Centre with the famous Navy Band, Medical Camp and a Football Match between the Navy and the Ladakh Football Club.
• The main objective of this initiative is to create awareness drives at Schools and Colleges in the Ladakh region about the career opportunities Indian Navy.
• A total of 35 Indian Navy personnel, including Officers, sailors, and family members are participating in this Motorcycle Expedition.
• It will also aware of students about the Agnipath Scheme and motivate them to join the Indian Navy.
• It will promote Nari Shakti, an initiative of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
• The Navy had previously made similar efforts in the North East which were highly successful.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

2. Gopichand Hinduja becomes the new chairman of Hinduja Group.

• After the death of Srichand Hinduja, Gopichand Hinduja has taken over as chairman of the $34.5 billion-worth Hinduja Group.
• Srichand Hinduja died on May 17 at his home in London due to a prolonged illness.
• Gopichand Hinduja was earlier the co-chairman of the Hinduja Group. He was overseeing a diverse global business empire spread to several sectors such as automotive, oil and chemicals, etc.
• Srichand Hinduja was the eldest son of Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja.
• Srichand Hinduja and his brother Gopichand moved to London in 1979 to develop the export business.
• Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja founded the company in 1914. Its headquarters is located in Mumbai.

Topic: State News/ Karnataka

3. BJP-proposed anti-conversion law in Karnataka has been withdrawn by the state cabinet.

• In September 2022, the law was passed in the Legislative Assembly but was not introduced in the Legislative Council.
• The law proposed imprisonment of three to five years with a fine of Rs 25,000 for forced conversions and employing fraudulent means to marry Hindu girls in the state.
• On 15 June, the cabinet also decided to remove chapters from school textbooks on RSS founder KB Hedgewar, Veer Savarkar and Chakraborty Sulibele.
• At this place, the education department will come out with a supplementary booklet containing letters written by Indira Gandhi to her father Pandit Nehru, a chapter on Savitri Bai Phule and a chapter on BR Ambedkar.
• Besides this, the cabinet decided to introduce reading of the Preamble to the Constitution in all schools and colleges.
• Also decided to withdraw the APMC Act introduced by the previous BJP government.

Topic: Important Days

4. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2023: 17 June

• Every year on 17 June, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is celebrated.
• It is celebrated to create awareness regarding the presence of desertification and drought and also to highlight the international efforts to combat desertification.
• The theme of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2023 is ‘Her Land. Her Rights.’
• In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared 17 June "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought".
• In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2010–2020 as the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification.
• The global focus for Desertification and Drought Day 2023 is on women's land rights, which are critical to achieving the worldwide objectives of gender equality and land degradation neutrality.
• SDG 15: Protect, Restore And Promote Sustainable Use Of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Sustainably Manage Forests, Combat Desertification, And Halt And Reverse Land Degradation And Halt Biodiversity Loss.

Topic: Banking System

5. On 15 June, the European Central Bank raised borrowing costs to its highest level in 22 years.

• The ECB raised interest rates to the highest level in 22 years to curb elevated inflation levels.
• The ECB has left the door open for more hikes to fight against inflation, which remains high.
• The ECB raised its key interest rate - the rate one banks pay for safely keeping cash at the central bank - for the eighth time in a row, by 25 basis points to a 22-year high of 3.5%.
• ECB interest rates will be brought down to levels sufficiently restrictive to achieve a timely return of inflation to the 2% medium-term target and will be held at those levels for as long as necessary.
• The central bank of the 20 countries that share the euro also said it expects inflation to stay above its 2% target until 2025 and once again hinted at more rate hikes in the coming months.
• The ECB now expects the economy to grow 0.9% this year.
• Higher borrowing costs are pulling down credit demand from households and companies as well as banks' willingness to lend.

Topic: Defence

6. Defence ministry approved procurement of 31 MQ-9B armed drones from US.

• On 15 June, Ministry of Defense of India has approved the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B armed drones from the US.
• The approval for the purchase of the drone made by General Atomics was given at a meeting of the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
• India is expected to buy the drones in a deal worth a little over $3 billion. 15 drones will be for the Navy and eight each for the Army and the Air Force
• The drones have an endurance of over 27 hours and can operate up to 50,000 feet.
• The deal is expected to be announced during Modi's meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on June 22.
• India and the US have been negotiating the acquisition of drones for nearly eight years, primarily to enhance the surveillance capabilities of the Indian armed forces.
• Currently, the Indian Navy is operating two MQ-9 drones leased from the US in November 2020.

Topic: National News

7. The government of India-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 has been signed in New Delhi.

• NITI Aayog and the United Nations office in India signed GoI-UNSDCF on 16 June 2023.
• CEO NITI Aayog B V R Subrahmanyam and UN Resident Coordinator India Shombi Sharp signed GoI-UNSDCF in the presence of the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Suman Bery and others.
• GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 represents the UN development system’s collective offer to the Government of India for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Suman Bery said the GoI-UNSDCF will contribute towards the achievement of national development priorities.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • These are 17 goals designed to achieve a better and more sustainable future.
  • These were formulated in 2015 by the UNGA and these have to be achieved by 2030.
  • 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development officially came into force on 01 January 2016.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

8. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla officially inaugurated the National Legislators' Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat) in Mumbai on 16 June 2023.

• National Legislators' Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat) started in Mumbai on 15 June 2023.
• The APJ Abdul Kalam expo pavilion was also inaugurated. It reflects the theme of Bharat's 75th year of independence.
• Mr. Birla addressed the gathering of legislators and said that this conference gives a platform to engage in discussions.
• He said that this conference gives a platform to contemplate strengthening our legislative institutions.
• National Legislators' Conference Bharat is taking place in Mumbai from 15th to 18th June 2023.
• It is an avenue for Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs) all over India to gather for the first time ever at one place.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

9. Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have emerged as leading states in Wind Energy adoption.

• On the occasion of Global Wind Day, Rajasthan has been felicitated for achieving the highest wind capacity addition during the financial year 2022-23.
• Gujarat has been felicitated for achieving the highest wind capacity addition through open access while Tamil Nadu for initiating repowering of wind turbines.
• On this occasion, Wind Atlas prepared by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has been also launched.
• The country's onshore wind potential is now estimated to be 1,164 GW at 150 meters above ground level.
• Central and state government authorities, wind turbine manufacturers and developers, international and domestic financial institutions participated in Global Wind Day celebrations.
• The celebration was organized in association with the National Institute of Wind Energy, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association and Wind Independent Power Producers Association.
• India is committed to achieving the target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

10. Prisons of UP to be known as “Reform Homes”.

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that establish prisons as places for reform.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave important guidelines for prison reform after reviewing the conditions of prisons.
• He also issued directions regarding the preparation of the new Prison Act of state.
• Uttar Pradesh cabinet has recently approved a new Jail Manual. It is important for prison reforms.
• CM Yogi Adityanath also directed to create a formal proposal for establishing an open jail. A semi-open jail is currently operational in Lucknow.
• Currently, the Jail Act of 1894 and the Prisoners Act of 1900 are in effect.
• The main objective of the Prison Act 1894 is to maintain discipline and control over offenders in custody.
• The Central government has recently prepared the Model Prison Act-2003. It will be very useful in the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners.

Topic: Art and Culture

11. Raja festival celebrated in Odisha.

• Raja festival is a three-day festival celebrated by girls and women in both urban and rural areas in Odisha.
• It is also known as Mithun Sankranti.
• The first day of the festival is called ‘Pahili Raja’. The second day of the festival is called ‘Majhi Raja’, ‘Raja Sankranti’ or ‘Mithuna Sankranti’.
• The third day of the festival is called ‘Bhudaha’ or ‘Basi Raja’ or ‘Sesha Raja’.
• Notably, ‘Pahili Raja’ falls on the last day of month ‘Jyestha’ and ‘Raja Sankranti’ on the first day of month ‘Asadha’.
• This festival is observed to celebrate womanhood and people worship Bhudevi (Earth Goddess) as it is believed that Bhudevi menstruates and prepares herself for future agricultural activities.
• The word 'Raja' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Rajas' which means menstruation. As menstruation is considered a sign of fertility.

Topic: Defence

12. A contract worth Rs 500 crore signed by Defence Ministry to strengthen communication system of Indian Army.

• On June 15, 2023, the Ministry of Defense entered into a contract with ICOMM Tele Limited, Hyderabad in New Delhi for procurement of 1,035 numbers of 5/7.5 Ton Radio Relay Communication Equipment Containers.
• The MoU has been signed to further promote indigenous manufacturing of defense equipment and encourage private sector to realize the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• The value of the contract under the Under Buy (Indian) category is approximately Rs 500 crore.
• The distribution of containers will start in the current financial year 2023-24.
• The Radio Relay Containers will meet the long awaited requirement of mobile communication troops of the Indian Army.
• These containers will be used to provide a protected environment for communications equipment to function more reliably.
• The containers will be placed on authorized special vehicles and moved as per operational requirements.
• The company will produce the containers with all components and sub-systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers.
• The development of such state-of-the-art equipment will also help in increasing exports with friendly countries.

Topic: International News

13. BIMSTEC member to adopt Bangkok Vision 2030 in next summit.

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit is going to be held at the end of 2023.
• Bangkok Vision 2030 will be adopted at this summit which will give direction to the organization.
• The 19th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting hosted by Thailand in March discussed and approved the draft of BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030.
• The goals of Vision 2030 are also in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Thailand’s bio-circular-green economic model.
• A marine transport cooperation agreement is likely to be signed at the summit.
• Thailand has put forth the Bangkok Vision 2030. It will help in making the BIMSTEC region more prosperous, resilient and open.
• The BIMSTEC charter was adopted in 2022, which laid the foundation to function it as a full-fledged organization.
• BIMSTEC:
  • It was formed on 6 June 1997 and its headquarters is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • It is an international organization of South Asia and Southeast Asian countries.
  • Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are members of BIMSTEC.
  • Thailand is chairing the chairmanship of BIMSTEC for 2022 – 2023.

Topic: National News

14. Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society renamed as Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society.

• The government has decided to rename Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society as Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society.
• The renaming comes more than a year after the ‘Pradhanmantri Sanghralaya’ was inaugurated at the historic Teen Murti Complex.
• The decision of renaming has been taken at a special meeting of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society. It was headed by presided by Rajnath Singh.
• The idea for a dedicated museum for all Prime Ministers was given by PM Narendra Modi in 2016.
• The proposal of constructing a Museum dedicated to all Prime Ministers was taken at 162nd meeting of NMML in 2016.
• The ‘Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya’ was opened to the public on April 21, 2022.
• Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML):
  • It was established in the memory of Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • It is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
  • It is located in the Teen Murti House, the official residence of the first Prime Minister of India.