Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 March 2024

Topic: International News

1. US, UK & Australia signed a new agreement to build Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines.

• This agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia is a significant milestone in the endeavour of defence cooperation.
• Australia’s ASC and UK-based BAE Systems will build the SSN-AUKUS submarines for the Royal Australian Navy under the new trilateral Security partnership.
• These submarines will be capable of intelligence, surveillance, underwater warfare and strike missions. It will provide maximum interoperability among AUKUS partners.
• SSN-AUKUS will strengthen military capabilities and promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
• The leaders of Australia, the UK, and the US announced the Optimal Pathway in March 2023.
• It has been designed to create a stronger, more resilient trilateral submarine industrial base, which will support submarine production and maintenance in all three countries.
• AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US for the Indo-Pacific region.

Topic: Important Days

2. World Tuberculosis Day: 24 March

• World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on 24 March.
• It is observed to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) and to advocate more efforts to eliminate it.
• World Health Organization (WHO) celebrated the first World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March 1982.
• The theme of World TB Day 2024 - ‘Yes! We can end TB!’.
• Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. It caused 1.3 million deaths in 2022.
• It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads through the air.
• Tuberculosis can be treated by a combination of antibacterial medications for a period of six to 12 months.

Topic: Important Days

3. Martyrdom Day/ Shaheed Diwas 2024: 23 March

• Martyrdom Day is observed every year on 23 March to pay tribute to the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.
• The British rulers hanged Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev for their revolutionary activities against British rule on 23 March 1931.
• On 8 April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs at the Central Legislative Assembly in protest of the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Bill.
• Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were hanged on the charge of assassinating British officer John Saunders in 1928.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

4. INS Tir and INS Sujata participated in the second edition of the India–Mozambique–Tanzania (IMT) Tri-Lateral (TRILAT) exercise.

• This joint maritime exercise is being conducted from 21-29 March.
• The first exercise of IMT TRILAT took place in October 2023, in which INS Tarkash participated with the navies of Tanzania and Mozambique.
• This current exercise is being conducted in two phases.
• The first phase is being conducted as part of the port phase scheduled from 21-24 March, in which Naval Ships Tir and Sujata will engage with the respective navies at the ports of Zanzibar in Tanzania and Maputo in Mozambique.
• This phase began with a planning conference followed by joint port training activities, which included damage control, firefighting, visit board search and seizure procedures, medical lectures, disaster evacuation, and diving operations.
• The sea phase of the second phase of the exercise will be conducted from 24-27 March.
• This will include practical aspects of countering asymmetric threats, visit board search and seizure procedures, boat operations, manoeuvres, and firing exercises.
• A joint EEZ monitoring is also planned during the sea phase. The exercise will conclude with a joint briefing in Nacala (Mozambique).

Topic: Space and IT

5. First Resolution on Artificial Intelligence was approved by the UN General Assembly.

• The resolution gives global support to an international effort to ensure that powerful new technologies benefit all countries, and respect human rights.
• The resolution was adopted unanimously without a vote, which was sponsored by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 countries.
• This means that the resolution has the support of all 193 UN member states.
• To negotiate the text of the resolution adopted on March 22, the United States worked with more than 120 countries at the United Nations, including Russia, China, and Cuba over the past few months.
• The resolution aims to bridge the digital divide between developed rich countries and poor developing countries and ensure they are all at the table in discussions on AI.
• Additionally, it also aims to ensure that developing countries have the technology and capabilities to reap the benefits of AI.
• This includes detecting diseases, predicting floods, helping farmers, and training the next generation of workers.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs and Agreements

6. A pact signed between NCC and NPCIL to raise awareness of the peaceful use of nuclear power.

• On March 21, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) joined hands to conduct awareness programs across the country.
• This will help in spreading scientific information about nuclear energy's peaceful uses.
• The MoU will also facilitate a unique opportunity for cadets to visit various facilities of NPCIL, thereby giving a "first-hand experience" on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and its technical and technological aspects.
• The MoU was signed between Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh, Director General, NCC, and BVS Shekhar, Executive Director (Corporate Communications and Corporate Planning), NPCIL, in New Delhi.
• The agreement will include "organizing various awareness programs across the country to enhance public perceptions on peaceful uses of nuclear energy and disseminate scientific and authentic information.
• The NPCIL will be providing resource persons in this initiative for field engagements with the NCC.

Topic: National Appointments

7. FSIB has chosen Girija Subramanian as CMD of the New India Assurance Company.

• Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has chosen Bhupesh Sushil Rahul as chairman and managing director (CMD) of United India Insurance Company.
• Since Satyajit Tripathy's retirement in February 2024, the position of CMD of United India has been unfilled.
• Neerja Kapur's tenure at New India Assurance will end in April 2024.
• Girija Subramanian is currently serving as the Agriculture Insurance Company of India’s CMD.
• B S Rahul is the general manager of the Agriculture Insurance Company of India.
• For the CMD positions, six general managers were shortlisted.
• BS Rahul, Hitesh Joshi, Jayshree Bala, V Balkrishna, Sunita Gupta, and Rekha Solanki were shortlisted for the position at United India Insurance.
• Joshi and Subramanian were the candidates shortlisted for the post in New India Assurance.
• In addition, the FSIB has chosen nine executive directors for general insurers in the public sector for the first time.
• Rashmi Bajpai and Amit Misra have been chosen as executive directors for the Oriental Insurance Company.
• H J Joshi and Radhika C S have been chosen as executive directors for the GIC Re.
• T Babu Paul and C G Prasad have been chosen as executive directors for the National Insurance Company.
• Sunita Gupta and P C Gothwal have been chosen for the post of executive directors for the United India.
• Dasarathi Singh has been chosen for the position of executive director of the Agriculture Insurance Company of India.
• These names will be further sent to the Department of Financial Services (DFS).
• The names will then be sent to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval.

Topic: International News

8. 1^st Foreign Office Consultations between India and Mauritania was organised in Nouakchott.

• During the consultations, a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest were discussed.
• India and Mauritania agreed to hold the next Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi at a mutually convenient date.
• Over the past three years, there has been a consistent increase in the bilateral trade between India and Mauritania.
• From 108 million US dollars in 2021–2022, it increased to nearly 378 million US dollars in 2022–2023.
• In June 2021, the Indian Resident Mission in Nouakchott was opened.
• India has given Mauritania a Line of Credit (LOC) totaling USD 21.8 million for projects related to drinking water and agro-industries, including a plant that processes milk.
• Cereals (and related products), extracts from tanning and dyeing, plastics, cotton, ceramics, iron and steel articles, boilers and related mechanical appliances, non-railway vehicles, etc. are among India's top exports to Mauritania.
• Iron and steel, ores, slag, ash, cotton and copper-made goods, aluminum, electrical machinery, etc. are among Mauritania's top exports to India.
• Nouakchott is Mauritania’s capital and largest city. Mauritania is a country in Northwest Africa.
• It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and Western Sahara to the north and northwest.
• It is bordered by Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest.  

Topic: India and its Neighbours

9. India will double its financial support for Bhutan in the next five years.

• India has decided to double Bhutan’s assistance from ₹5,000 crore in 2019-2024 to ₹10,000 crore till 2029.
• India and Bhutan inked seven agreements, on cooperation in energy, food safety, sports, space and research.
• India and Bhutan will work on initiatives for better air connectivity and rail links between Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse and waterways navigation through Brahmaputra.
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had received permission from the Election Commission to announce the grant of ₹10,000 crore for Bhutan.
• The financial assistance also includes India’s support for Bhutan’s economic stimulus package.
• India-Bhutan decided to boost the developmental partnership as well as deepen cultural linkages.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

10. International Telecommunication Union elected India as co-chair of its Digital Innovation Board.

• India’s telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal has been unanimously elected as the Co-Chair of the Digital Innovation Board of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• The Digital Innovation Board of ITU has been formed under the aegis of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development.
• United Nations (UN) started the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development to fulfil the needs of ITU members in the field of innovation.
• Digital Transformation Lab, Network of Acceleration Centres, and the Digital Innovation Board are the three main vehicles of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance.
• The Coalition has established a Digital Innovation Board to provide strategic guidance, expertise and support to its campaign to build critical local supporters and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in digital development to create a more inclusive and equitable digital future for all. Can be provided.
• 17 organizations from around the world have been selected by the International Telecommunication Union to host the Network of Acceleration Centres with the Global Innovation Centre at the ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre.
• Neeraj Mittal also invited ITU to host the next meeting of the Digital Innovation Board in India alongside the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Environment and Ecology

11. A study shows that India's solar waste could reach 600 kilotons by 2030.

• According to a new study released March 20, India's solar waste could reach 600 kilotons by 2030, the equivalent of filling 720 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
• The study is released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the independent think tank Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), titled "Enabling a Circular Economy in India's Solar Industry: Assessing the Solar Waste Quantum."
• The study said that about 67% of this waste will come from five states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
• Currently, India's installed capacity of 66.7 GW (by FY 2023) has already generated about 100 kilotonnes of waste, which will increase to 340 kilotonnes by 2030.    
• This will include about 10 kilotonnes of silicon, 12-18 tonnes of silver, and 16 tonnes of cadmium and tellurium, most of which are important minerals for India.
• Recycling solar waste to recover these materials will reduce import dependence and increase India's mineral security.
• The study said solar waste will increase to about 19,000 kilotonnes by 2050, of which 77% will be generated from new capacities.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. Aviation Week Laureates Award was presented to ISRO for its achievements in the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission.

• Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Ambassador at the Indian Embassy in the US, received the award on behalf of ISRO.
• The Aviation Week Laureates Award is known for recognizing exceptional achievements within the aerospace industry.
• With a cost of a modest $75 million, this mission achieved a historic milestone by making a successful landing at the lunar South Pole.
• Chandrayaan-3 confirmed the presence of water in this region, a discovery that has profound implications for future lunar exploration and the possibility of sustaining life on the Moon.
• The recognition by Aviation Week reflects international appreciation and respect for ISRO's contribution to space exploration.
• Earlier, the Leif Erikson Lunar Prize was given to ISRO from the Husavik Museum for its unwavering commitment and significant contribution to lunar exploration.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

13. PM Modi to receive Bhutan’s highest civilian award.

• The Order of the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan’s highest civilian award, will be presented by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to PM Narendra Modi.
• PM Modi has arrived in Bhutan on March 22 for a 24-hour State visit.
• Bhutan's highest civilian award was announced in 2021 in recognition of PM Modi's efforts towards strengthening India-Bhutan relations, particularly India's effort to provide 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
• PM Modi also held talks with Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and exchanged MoUs on which they have agreed upon cooperation on energy conservation and food safety standards.
• Both leaders also discuss Bhutan’s boundary talks with China including plans for the disputed parts of Doklam in Bhutan’s West.
• Bhutan's plans for its 13th Five Year Plan (FYP 2024-2029) and India’s development assistance for various projects were also discussed.
• He also inaugurated a “Mother and Child Hospital” in Thimphu
• India is Bhutan’s top trading partner. India contributed 73% of the total external grants of Bhutan.

Topic: Personality in News

14. Vaughan Gething became the first Black leader of a government in the UK.

• Vaughan Gething has been elected the first minister of Wales. He became the first Black leader of a government in the U.K.
• He is elected government leader by members of the Welsh parliament. He secured 27 of 51 votes in the Legislature.
• He is the son of a Welsh father and a Zambian mother. He will take oath after the approval of King Charles III.
• Now, three of the UK’s four governments have nonwhite leaders.
• Wales has a population of about 3 million. It is one of the four parts of the United Kingdom, along with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• The British government is responsible for defence, foreign affairs and other UK-wide issues for these parts.