Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 and 3 July 2023

Topic: Sports

1. Indian pair Dipika Pallikal and Harinderpal Singh Sandhu wins Asian Mixed Doubles Championship.

• Dipika Pallikal and Harinderpal Singh Sandhu won the gold medal at the Asian Mixed Doubles Squash Tournament in Hangzhou, China.
• Dipika and Harinder defeated Ivan Yuen and Rachel Arnold of Malaysia by 2-0.
• Dipika Pallikal participated in the tournament for the first time since the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
• The other Indian duo, Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh also won the Bronze medal.
• The mixed doubles event is being held as a trial event for the Hangzhou Asian Games.
• The trial event started on June 26. 21 teams consisting of 42 athletes from 10 countries and regions took part in the event.
• China will host the 19th Asian Games in September 2023.
• The Squash Mixed doubles event will be included for the first time in the Hangzhou Asian Games.
• China is hosting an Asian-level squash mixed doubles competition for the first time.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated Regional Symposium on Child Protection, Safety and Child Welfare.

• On 2^nd July, Regional Symposium on Child Protection, Safety and Child Welfare was organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).
• Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and UTs of Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have participated in the event.
• More than 2000 representatives from Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), Members of Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) and Anganwadi Workers attended the event.
• It is part of the series of regional symposiums to be held for raising awareness about child protection, safety and welfare issues.
• The main focus of the programme was on amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act, Rules.
• MWCD in collaboration with the LBSNAA, Mussoorie has developed an online Training Module on the JJ Act. It was launched on the Karmayogi Igot platform.
• Under Vatsalya Mission, State CWCs and JJBs have been also formed in every district.
• The amount offered to non-institutional childcare has been also increased from Rs 2000 per month to Rs 4000 per month.
• Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani said that around 3 lakh missing children have been reunited with their parents in the last 9 years by DCPUs and police administration.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

3. International Buddhist Confederation celebrated Ashadh Purnima as Dhammachakra Pravartana Day.

• On 3 July, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, celebrated Ashada Purnima as Dhammachakra Pravartan Divas at National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi.
• It is the annual major event of IBC and the second major sacred day for Buddhists after Buddha Purnima or the Vaishakha Purnima.
• Glimpses of the event were telecast at IBC's special project - "India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage" in Lumbini-Nepal.
• In 2022, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of this center in Lumbini, Nepal on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
• IBC hosted the ceremony where the sacred relics of Sakyamuni are kept.
• In Sarnath, Buddha gave his first sermon and this event is known as Dhammacakkappavattana.
• The auspicious day of Ashadha Purnima is also known as Esala Poya in Sri Lanka and Asanha Bucha in Thailand.
• The day marks the first teaching of the Buddha to the first five ascetic disciples (Panchavargiya) on the full moon day of Ashada at the 'deer park' in present-day Sarnath near Varanasi.
• The rainy season retreat (Varsha vasa) for monks and nuns also begins on this day which lasts for three lunar months from July to October.
• During this, they usually stays in temples dedicated to deep meditation.
• The day is also celebrated as Guru Purnima by both Buddhists and Hindus to pay respect to their gurus.

Topic: Indian Economy

4. Interest rates hiked on some small savings schemes for the July-September quarter.

• On July 30, the government increased interest rates on small savings schemes by up to 30 basis points (BPS) for the July-September 2023 quarter.
• Actually, the government has increased the interest rates on small savings schemes by 0.10 to 0.30%.
• Interest rates on 1-year and 2-year time deposit schemes have been increased by 0.10%. While 5 years recurring deposit schemes will now get 0.30% more interest.
• Interest rates on Time Deposit for one year is now 6.9% against 6.8%, and for two years is now 7.0% against 6.9%.
• While the interest on Recurring Deposits for 5 years will now increase from 6.2% to 6.5%.
• However, there has been no change in the interest rates of the PPF (7.1%), National Savings Certificate (7.7%), KVP (7.5%), Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (8.2%), and Sukanya Samridhhi Account Scheme (8%).
• The new rates has become applicable from July 1.
• These schemes are designed to meet the diverse needs of different sections of society including senior citizens, children, and low-income individuals.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

5. Formation of India's first domestically regulated carbon market approved by the government.

• On 30 June, the union government approved the formation of India’s first domestically regulated carbon market through a gazette notification.
• The 'Carbon Credit Trading Plan 2023', announced for the first time under the Energy Conservation Act, aims to set up a carbon credit trading market in the country.
• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Power has drafted the scheme.
• The scheme will include the formation of a “National Steering Committee, a Technical Committee, an Accredited Carbon Verification Agency, and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) as the carbon market regulator.
• The Grid Controller of India will act as the registry of the Indian carbon market.
• The Steering Committee will be responsible for laying down the rules, procedures, and guidelines for the functioning of the carbon market.
• The technical committee will be responsible for compliance with the above rules and regulations.
• The Bureau has entrusted the existing power exchanges for the carbon credit certificate trading.
• Any project or entity that saves on emissions can issue carbon credits against its savings. These will be usually energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture projects.
• These credits can be purchased by an entity that is a carbon emitter.
• A carbon credit allows its owner to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
• One credit is equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
• However, the notification did not specify the activities that would be eligible under the Carbon Trading Scheme.

Topic: Personality in News

6. The 125th Birth Anniversary of Alluri Sitarama Raju will be celebrated on 4 July.

• President Droupadi Murmu will take part in the valedictory event of the birth anniversary celebrations of legendary freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju to be held in Hyderabad.
• She will preside over the event to be organized at Gachibowli in Hyderabad.
• On July 4, 2022, PM Modi had launched the yearlong 125th birth anniversary celebration of Alluri Sitarama Raju in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh.
• The celebration started with the unveiling of a 30-foot bronze statue of Sitarama Raju by the Prime Minister.
• Alluri Sitarama Raju was born on 4 July 1897.
• He is remembered for his fight against the British to protect the interests of the tribal communities in the Eastern Ghats region (in Andhra Pradesh).
• He had led the Rampa rebellion, which was launched in 1922.
• The local people know him as 'Manyam Veerudu' (Hero of the forests).

Topic: Indian Polity

7. Ajit Pawar takes oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister.

• On 2nd July 2023, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar joined Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP government in Maharashtra.
• Now, Maharashtra will have two deputy chief ministers. Devendra Fadnavis is the other deputy chief minister.
• Along with Ajit Pawar, eight other NCP Leaders also took oath as ministers.
• Earlier, Ajit Pawar resigned as Leader of the Opposition after a meeting with NCP MLAs.
• Ajit Pawar claimed that most of the party MLAs are with him.
• NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said that party MLAs will decide about any action against the rebel leaders.
• Jitendra Awhad was appointed as the new Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly.
• Maharashtra now has a Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP alliance. Ajit Pawar also staked claim over the party.
• He said the party would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections with the 'watch' election symbol, forming a pre-poll coalition with the BJP and its allies.
• Nationalist Congress Party was formed on 10 June 1999. It is a state party. Its election symbol is a watch.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

8. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated a three-day celebration programme for the 108^th ZSI Day.

• The programme of the 108th Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Day with a Special Focus on ‘Mission Life' was inaugurated in Kolkota on 01 July 2023.
• Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey also attended the event.
• Shri Choubey said that ZSI should focus on the research and conservation of wetlands of Gangetic plains as ‘Sarovar Mitra’.
• As part of the celebration, ZSI organised the first two-day Animal Taxonomy Summit.
• In this summit, 400 delegates from across India and abroad including the Natural History Museum, London participated.
• ZSI signed three MoUs with the Royal Government of Bhutan, IIT Jodhpur and the University of Burdwan.
• It signed MoU with the Royal Government of Bhutan to conduct a population assessment of the Red Panda, through a non-invasive method.
• It signed MoUs with the IIT Jodhpur and the University of Burdwan for research collaborations and student exchange programmes.
• Zoological Survey of India:
  • It was established on 1 July 1916. It is the premier taxonomic research organization in India.
  • It works under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
  • Headquarters: Kolkata
  • Director: Dr. Dhriti Banerjee

(Source: PIB)

Topic: International News

9. Canada launched the ‘digital nomad strategy’ for foreign workers.

• Canada launched the "digital nomad strategy" which will make temporary arrangements for foreigners looking for jobs.
• This strategy will allow foreign workers to stay in Canada for up to six months.
• If they get a job offer then an individual can remain in Canada for longer.
• Canada’s government is looking to poach talent from abroad through three new initiatives.
• Canada government will develop an immigration stream, which will allow the world’s most talented people to work for tech companies.
• The government will also create an innovation stream under its international mobility program for skilled workers.
• Government will create an open work-permit stream to allow 10,000 American H-1B visa holders to come and work in Canada.

Topic: Important Days

10. Chartered Accountants Day 2023: 1 July

• Chartered Accountants Day is celebrated every year on 1 July to mark the foundation of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
• It is celebrated to applaud the contribution of Chartered Accountants in society.
• This year, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is celebrating its 75th foundation day.
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 75th Foundation Day celebrations of ICAI on 1 July 2023.
• 'Empowering Financial Excellence' is the theme of Chartered Accountants Day 2023.
• The theme emphasized on the economic growth and financial stability brought by Chartered Accountants across the country.
• ICAI was formed on 1 July 1949 after the passing of the Chartered Accounts Act of 1949.
• The 6th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Day was observed on 1st July 2023. GST was first implemented in India on 1 July 2017.
• This year's GST Day theme is 'Celebrating Simplification and Economic Growth'

Topic: Indian Economy

11. India's external debt increased to $624.7 billion at the end of March 2023.

• According to the data released by the RBI on 30 June, India's external debt rose marginally to USD 624.7 billion at the end of March 2023, although the debt-to-GDP ratio declined.
• External debt stood at US$ 619.1 billion at the end of March 2022, which has increased further by US$ 5.6 billion by March 2023.
• The ratio of external debt to GDP declined to 18.9 per cent at the end of March 2023 from 20 per cent at the end of March 2022.
• The valuation gain stood at US$ 20.6 billion due to appreciation of the US dollar against the Indian rupee and major currencies such as yen, SDR and euro.
• The long-term debt (with an original maturity of more than one year) was stood at US$496.3 billion at end-March 2023, a decline of US$ 1.1 billion compared to end-March 2022.
• The share of short-term debt (with an original maturity of up to one year) in total external debt increased from 19.7% at end-March 2022 to 20.6% at end-March 2023.
• Similarly, the ratio of short-term debt (original maturity) to foreign exchange reserves increased from 20% at end-March 2022 to 22.2% at end-March 2023.
• Loans remained the largest component of external debt with a share of 32.5%, followed by currency and deposits (22.6%), trade loans and advances (19.9%) and debt securities.

Topic: State News/ Tamil Nadu

12. India’s first ‘Police Drone Unit’ launched in Chennai.

• On June 29, the ‘Police Drone Unit’ has been launched by the Greater Chennai City Police (GCP) for aerial surveillance over vast areas and quick detection of criminal activities.
• The newly-created special unit has been inaugurated by the Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force C Sylendra Babu at Besant Avenue, Adyar.
• The unit has been set up at a cost of ₹3.6 crore.
• The unit has been established at a two-storey building, which will function with over 20 trained police personnel.
• Currently, drones have been operated around Marina and Elliot's Beaches.
• In this Drone Police Unit, there are a total of nine drones under three categories as Quick response surveillance drones, Heavy lift multirotor drones, and long-range survey wing planes.
• They are equipped with in-built artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and can be operated up to a distance of 5-10 kilometers from the ground station.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

13. In 2022, India added 664 animal species to its faunal database.

• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav released the details of new discoveries and new records in Kolkata.
• India added 664 animal species to its faunal database, which includes 467 new animal species and 197 new records.
• India has also added 339 new plant species which includes 186 taxa that are new to science and 156 taxa as new distributional records from the country in the year 2022.
• The discoveries details of animal species have been compiled by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in the publication titled ‘Animal Discoveries - New Species and New Records 2023’.
• Floral discoveries are in ‘Plant Discoveries 2022’ published by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
• Out of the total discovered species, there are three new species and one new record of mammals, two new records of birds, 30 new species and two new records of reptiles, six new species and one new record of amphibia and 28 new species and eight new records of fishes.
• Out of total 664 animal species, 583 species are invertebrates while 81 species are vertebrates.
• The maximum number of new discoveries have been recorded from Kerala with 14.6% of new species.
• Tamil Nadu (12.6%) and West Bengal (7.6%) came second and third, respectively.
• In 2022, the highest number of new discoveries has been recorded in the last 10 years.

Topic: Miscellaneous

14. Dream 11 becomes India’s national cricket team lead sponsor for three years.

• Fantasy gaming company Dream11 replaced BYJUs as the Indian team's lead sponsor.
• The Dream11 logo will be seen on India’s jerseys starting from the test series against the West Indies.
• BCCI had invited application for new sponsorship after the contract with BYJUs ended in March.
• The amount for the sponsorship deal has not been revealed.
• Dream 11:
  • Dream11 is an Indian fantasy sports company.
  • It was founded by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth in 2008.
  • It has around 160 million active users in India.