Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 and 22 May 2023

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

1. ‘Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Seher’ Campaign of MoUHA gained momentum in many cities.

• ‘Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Seher’ Campaign was launched by Union Minister Hardeep S. Puri on 15^th May 2023.
• Every city is adopting the mantra of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) for transforming ‘Waste to Wealth’.
• This campaign aims to set up Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) Centres for collecting clothes, shoes, old books, toys and used plastic from people.
• The Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar will conclude on 5th June, 2023 with the Pledge for LiFE.
• So far, 7000 RRR Centres have been established across the country. The new RRR centres have been opened in Agra, Rewa, and Indore.
• RRR on Wheels collects old clothes, books, electronic items, etc. from door-to-door. Lakhs of citizens have participated in this mega campaign.
• Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has planned to set up 67 RRR Centres while Chandigarh has initiated plans to set up 35 RRR Centres.
• RRR centre in Indore has become a hub for children to come and play with toys or read books.
• This three-week campaign will strengthen the resolve of citizens to reduce, reuse and renew waste under the SBM-U 2.0.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav took part in G20 Mega Beach Clean-Up campaign at Juhu Beach.

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav along with Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais and Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde participated in G20 Mega Beach Clean Up campaign at Juhu Beach in Mumbai.
• G20 Mega Beach Clean Up campaign is being organized as part of India’s G-20 Presidency events.
• Bhupender Yadav also administered the pledge to keep the seas clean and healthy as part of the G20 Mega Beach Cleanup campaign.
• The main purpose of the Mega Beach Clean Up event is to raise awareness about the impact of marine waste on the environment.
• 3 coastal states and 9 Union Territories are also organizing beach clean-up activities.
• India under its G-20 presidency promoted the concept of ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE). It promotes behavioural change in individuals for tackling environmental issues.
• The Mega Beach Clean Up event has been launched during the third meeting of the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group, which is being organized from 21st- 23rd May, 2023.
• Representatives from G-20 countries, State Government officials, and International Organization delegates attended the 3rd ECSWG meeting.
• The meeting will witness extensive deliberations on the Ocean20 dialogue - a platform for sharing best practices on science, technology, and innovation, policy, governance, participation, and blue finance mechanisms.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Environment and Ecology

3. A Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management has been inaugurated at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education in Dehradun.

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management at Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education in Dehradun on 20 May 2023.
• CoE-SLM’s main aim is to promote South-South Cooperation and to address land degradation issues through sustainable land management practices.
• It will help in controlling land degradation and improving soil quality for sustainable development.
• It will facilitate the restoration of degraded land through technical support, capacity building, and Knowledge sharing.
• It will collaborate with developing countries that are party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It will contribute to SDG.
• CoE-SLM has set several specific objectives including assessing land degradation, capacity building on sustainable land management frameworks aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and strengthening the assessment, monitoring, and reporting of land-based indicators outlined by the UNCCD.
• This centre will set LDN targets, develop drought risk and early warning systems, and promote good governance of land tenure and rights.
• On this occasion, Shri Yadav also released two publications “Technical Paper on Pathway to achieve LDN in India” and “Compendium of Sustainable Land Management Practices”. 

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

4. Proposal to set up PM MITRA Park in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh received formal approval.

• PM MITRA Park will be established in Bhensola village of the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.
• On 21 May, in this regard, the Ministry of Textiles and the Government of Madhya Pradesh signed an MoU in Dhar.
• The PM MITRA Park will be spread over 1563 acres of land. The entire land is under the possession of MPIDC.
• It will have common facilities such as roads, electricity as well as other ancillary facilities such as incubation centres, warehousing and logistics, etc.
• PM MITRA Park will generate direct employment for 5000 people and indirect employment for 1.5 lakh people. It will benefit the entire region of Dhar, Jhabua and Ratlam districts.
• It will increase the competitiveness in the Indian textile sector and attract investment from across the world.
• PM MITRA Park Bhensola has already attracted more than Rs. 6000 crore of investment for promoting textiles and garments across India.
• Madhya Pradesh has emerged as an attractive market for apparel manufacturing. The garment manufacturing plant has increased from 11 in 2003 to 53.
• Under the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme, the government has announced to set up seven mega textile parks.
• These PM MITRA Parks will be established in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Topic: Important Days

5. International Day for Biological Diversity: 22 May

• International Day for Biological Diversity is observed every year on 22 May to promote consciousness regarding biodiversity concerns.
• It gives an opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues.
• ‘From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity’ is the theme of this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came into force on December 29, 1993.
• In 2000, the UN General Assembly officially proclaimed May 22 to be the International Day for Biodiversity (IDB).

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

6. On 20 May, PM Modi participated in the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

• On the sidelines of the G-7 summit, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with world leaders including the French, US, Ukrainian presidents and the Japanese PM.
• During the summit, PM Modi gave a 10-point 'call to action' to address food, health and development issues plaguing the world.
• Mr. Modi suggested that the world leaders create inclusive food systems that safeguard the most vulnerable, such as marginal farmers.
• He said there is a need to promote digital health to ensure global universal health coverage and develop flexible health care systems.
• Shri Modi said that it is important to work together for the betterment of the planet and to solve the challenges that the countries are facing.
• The G7 Summit's broad terms priorities include nuclear disarmament, economic resilience and security, regional issues, climate and energy, food and health and development.
• Japan has also invited Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam, and some international organizations including the United Nations.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: State News/ New Delhi

7. The Central Government promulgated the National Capital Delhi Territory Amendment Ordinance.

• Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 has been promulgated by Centre to constitute National Capital Civil Services Authority.
• Now the same authority will make recommendations regarding transfer and posting of Group-A and DANICS officers working in Delhi territory.
• The Chief Minister of Delhi will be the chairman of this authority.
• The Chief Secretary of Delhi and the Principal Home Secretary will be members of this committee.
• All decisions in the Authority shall be taken by a majority of the members present.
• In case of no consensus, the decision of the Lieutenant Governor will be final.

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

8. Foundation stone of National Academy of Coastal Police laid in Dwarka, Gujarat by Home Minister Amit Shah.

• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah was on a two-day visit to Gujarat.
• On May 20, Shri Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the permanent campus of the National Coastal Police Academy (NACP) at Dwarka in Gujarat,
• It will be built at a cost of Rs 470 crores.
• The total strength of Coastal Police personnel across the country is around 12,000 and once this academy becomes fully operational, there will be provision for training of 3,000 people in a year.
• In this way, within 4 years, 100% training of all the personnel engaged in coastal security of India will be completed.
• During the function, he also virtually inaugurated five coastal posts of BSF located on the Jakhau coast of Kutch district.
• Various developmental projects of Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation were inaugurated and foundation stone laid by Shri Shah.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: National News

9. Cashless treatment facility will be available for all CGHS beneficiaries in 6 AIIMS.

• Cashless treatment facility will now be available to all serving and pensioner beneficiaries of Central government health scheme (CGHS) at 6 AIIMS located at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Jodhpur, Raipur and Rishikesh.
• On 20 May, this important decision was taken and an MoU was signed between these six AIIMS and CGHS of Union Health Ministry.
• This will be particularly beneficial for retired pensioners of CGHS who find it difficult to submit individual reimbursement claims and follow up on approvals.
• CGHS beneficiaries will get the benefit of state-of-the-art treatment facilities available in these AIIMS without the hassle of first paying and then seeking reimbursement from CGHS.
• This initiative will save time, reduce paper work and also reduce individual claims.
• As of now, CGHS pensioner beneficiaries undergoing treatment at AIIMS have to make the payment first and claim reimbursement from CGHS later.
• The salient features of this initiative are as follows:
  • The CGHS Pensioners and other entitled categories of CGHS beneficiaries will be eligible for cashless treatment in OPD, investigations and Indoor treatment at these 6 AIIMS.
  • These 6 AIIMS shall raise credit bills of CGHS Pensioners and other categories of eligible beneficiaries to CGHS and CGHS shall preferably make payment within 30 days of receipt of the bills.
  • Admission of the CGHS beneficiary shall be made only against production of valid CGHS Beneficiary ID Card for the treatment at AIIMS.
  • AIIMS shall create a separate Help Desk and a separate accounting system for CGHS beneficiaries. 
  • Medicines prescribed by the doctors at AIIMS, for OPD treatment or at the time of discharge from AIIMS, will be collected by the beneficiaries through CGHS.
• Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), 22 new AIIMS have been set up across the country and are in various stages of operation.
• These premier institutes provide specialized patient care healthcare services in various specialties and super specialties.

Topic: India and Its Neighbours

10. In Nepal, 2025 to be observed as 'Special Tourism Year'.

• The 2080s of the Bikram Samvat will be marked as ' the Visit Nepal Decade' and the year 2025 as the special year for tourism.
• Nepal's President Ram Chandra Poudel announced this while presenting the policies and programs for the fiscal year 2080/81 at a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament.
• The tourism sector, which has seen huge losses from the COVID crisis, is slowly recovering.
• From the beginning of 2023, about one lakh tourists are visiting to Nepal every month.
• In addition, the President announced that timely amendments would be made in tourism related laws.
• Tourist destinations will be popularized in the international community and necessary infrastructure will be created accordingly.
• In all the seven provinces, new tourist destinations will be identified and each province will be a cultural village.
• New mountains will be opened to climb and security arrangements for climbers and tourists will be made more reliable.
• Considering the role of foreign nationals in promoting Nepal's art, culture, language and literature in the international arena, 'Samarmatha Special Honour' will be awarded in collaboration with private sectors.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

11. India’s first commercial passenger flight with Sustainable Aviation Fuel flew from Pune to Delhi.

• Air Asia flight with indigenously produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) successfully flew from Pune to Delhi.
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) was supplied by Indian Oil Corporation Limited in association with a private firm.
• Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri received the special flight at New Delhi airport.
• He said that it is a significant milestone in India’s effort towards Net Zero emissions by 2070.
• He said that India is aiming to make mandate the use of 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2025.
• SAF production technology has improved significantly in recent years.
• India doesn’t have any policy for governing sustainable aviation fuel like the United States and the European Union.
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF):
  • SAF is produced from renewable sources such as agricultural waste, municipal solid waste, and forestry residues.
  • SAF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent as compared to conventional jet fuel.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

12. PM Modi will attend the inaugural function of the Khelo India University games in Lucknow.

• On 25th May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at the inaugural function of the Khelo India University games in Lucknow. It is the third edition of the Khelo India University games.
• Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and the Minister of State for Sports Nishith Pramanik will also take part in the event.
• The inaugural function will be organized in the Babu Banarasi Das stadium.
• On this occasion, many cultural programs will be also organized. More than 4,000 athletes in 21 sports disciple will participate in the event.
• The KIUG 2022 Games will be held in Varanasi, Noida, Lucknow and Gorakhpur. The mascot of the University Games is Jitu Barasingha.
• 'Shakti' is the official torch of Khelo India University Games, Uttar Pradesh.
• It is being organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in association with the Association of Indian Universities, the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federation.
• Khelo India University Games: 
  • It is the largest university-level sports competition in India.
  • The first edition of the Khelo India University Games was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020.
  • The main aim is to identify athletes in the age group of 18 to 25 years for the Olympics and the Asian Games.
  • Jain University, Karnataka secured first sport in the 2022 edition of the Khelo India University Games.

Topic: International News

13. Iran issued warning to Afghanistan’s Taliban for violating water rights on the Helmand River.

• Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned Taliban rulers of Afghanistan for violating water rights over the Helmand River.
• President Ebrahim Raisi stated that his government is committed to defending Iran's water rights over the Helmand River.
• He urged the Taliban government to allow Iranian hydrologists to check the water levels of the river in Afghanistan.
• Iranian officials have consistently emphasised the importance of implementing the 1973 Helmand River treaty between Iran and Afghanistan regarding the sharing of Helmand River water.
• Drought has emerged as a major problem for Iran in the last 30 years. According to the Iran Meteorological Organization, 97% part of Iran is facing the problem of drought.
• Helmand River:
  • It flows from Afghanistan into Iran. It is the longest river in Afghanistan.
  • It originates from the northeastern part of Maidan Wardak Province in the Hindu Kush Mountains.
  • Helmand River is used extensively for irrigation and is the lifeline for farmers of Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran.
  • Arghandab River is the main tributary of the Helmand River.

Topic: State News/ Arunachal Pradesh

14. 1000-yrs old Handmade Paper-making art of Tawang has been revived by KVIC.

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) played an important role in conserving and reviving the Handmade Paper-making art of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Monpa Handmade Paper of Arunachal Pradesh has been revived with the committed efforts of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
• The art of making Monpa handmade paper started around 1000 years ago. It gradually becomes an integral part of local customs and culture in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
• This handmade paper was the source of living for the local people of Tawang. This handmade paper was almost disappeared in the last 100 years.
• KVIC implemented its revival plan and this paper has become functional since 2020.
• KVIC Chairman Mr Manoj Kumar said that there is good demand for traditional handmade Monpa papers in the international markets.
• KVIC revival plan helped Monpa handmade paper to get recognition in the international market. It will also help in generating more employment.
• KVIC is also executing other activities for the growth of various village industries like pottery, chemical-based polymer, bee-keeping, etc.