Daily Current Affairs and GK | 28 and 29 August 2022

Topic: Defence

1. India- USA Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2022 concluded at Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh on 28 August 2022.

• This was the 13th edition of India- USA Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR.
• India and the United States alternatively host this annual exercise.
• The 21-day joint training provided an opportunity for the Special Forces from both nations to train in different kind of operations in a joint environment under United Nations Charter.
• These different kind of operations are Air Borne Operations, Special Operations and Counter-Terrorism operations.
• The 12^th edition of Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR was conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord, Washington (USA) in October 2021.

Topic: Defence

2. Indian Navy get the first-ever fully indigenous AK-630 gun ammunition.

• The first-ever completely made-in-India 30mm ammunition has been received by the Indian Navy. The ammunition will be used in AK-630 guns.
• CMD of Economic Explosives Limited handover the first consignment of the ammunition to the Navy’s Chief Vice Admiral SN Ghormade.
• The Indian Navy had for the first time given the order to the Indian private industry for delivering gun ammunition. It has been successfully completed within a record time of 12 months.
• The Indian Navy provided technical assistance in terms of drawings, design instructions, inspection equipment, and testing of ammunition to industries.
• AK-630 gun:
  • It is a fully automatic naval, rotary cannon, close-in weapon system.
  • AK-630 guns are used to be mounted on warships.
  • It is mainly used to provide defence against aircraft and helicopters.

Topic: National News

3. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) celebrated its silver jubilee (25^th anniversary) in New Delhi on 29 August, 2022.

• On the occasion, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0.
• Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0 is an integrated responsive cloud-based application.
• It provides a single window for submissions of various forms as mandated under Drug Price Control Order, 2013.
• It also enables the paperless functioning of NPPA. It facilitates the stakeholders to connect with NPPA from across the country.
• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA):
  • It is a government regulatory agency that regulates the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in India.
  • It was established on 21 August 1997. Its headquarters is located in New Delhi. Shubhra Singh is its current chairperson. 

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

4. PM Modi inaugurated India’s first earthquake memorial, Smruti Van at Bhuj in Gujarat.

• He also launched and laid the foundation stone for various developmental projects worth 5000 crore rupees.
• Smruti Van is a memorial carrying the names of over 12 thousand people who lost their lives in the earthquake that struck Bhuj in January 2001.
• Smruti Van is spread across 470 acres of land. It is built atop Bhujiyo hill.
• Bhujia Hill or Bhujiyo Dungar is a hill situated in the outskirts of the town of Bhuj in Kutch district, Gujarat, India.

Topic: State News/ Nagaland

5. Nagaland gets its second Railway station after a gap of over 100 years.

• Nagaland’s second railway station, ‘Shokhuvi’, is part of the Dimapur-Zubza Railway project.
• The Dhansari-Shokhuvi railway line became an alternative train route for Nagaland and Manipur passengers to Guwahati.
• Dimapur station is the first railway station in Nagaland, which was opened in 1903.
• Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio flagged off the Donyi Polo Express passenger train on the occasion.
• Indian Railways is working continuously to connect all the state capitals of the states in a time-bound manner.
• Indian railway is working to connect the capital cities of Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland by March 2023.

Topic: New Developments

6. IIT Guwahati researchers developed a new method to produce the sugar substitute 'Xylitol’.

• A new ultrasound-assisted fermentation method has been developed by researchers at IIT Guwahati to produce a safe sugar substitute called "Xylitol" from bagasse.
• The research has been published in Bioresource Technology and Ultrasonics Sonochemistry journals.
• Due to the adverse effects of white sugar, the consumption of safe alternative sweeteners has increased.
• Xylitol is a sugar alcohol derived from natural products. It has anti-diabetic and anti-obesogenic effects.
• Xylitol is produced through a chemical reaction in which D-xylose is treated with nickel catalyst at very high temperatures and pressures.
• In this method, only 8-15 percent of the xylose gets converted into Xylitol.
• The use of ultrasound reduces the time of fermentation from 48 hours to 15 hours. It also increased the yield of the product by almost 20 percent.
• At present, research is on the laboratory scale, and scaling up the process to the commercial level may face several challenges.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. Government organized 'Meet the Champion' initiative in 26 schools on the occasion of National Sports Day.

• Some prominent athletes like Nikhat Zareen, Bhavina Patel, and Manpreet Singh took part in this initiative.
• Last year, the 'Meet the Champion' initiative was launched by Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra.
• During the school visit, the athletes share their experiences, life lessons, and tips.
• Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also virtually interacted with the few Sports and Fit India Fitness Icons.
• National Sports Day:
  • It is celebrated every year on 29th August to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.
  • This day is dedicated to sports heroes and champions. It aims to raise awareness about the values of sports.
  • The theme of this year’s National Sports Day is "Sports as an enabler for an inclusive and fit society."

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

8. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the third Positive Indigenisation List.

• To promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) approved the third Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 780 strategically important Line Replacement Units (LRUs), sub-systems and components.
• These will be procured from the domestic industry and this is in line with two other positive indigenization lists.
• Earlier, two PILs of LRUs, sub-systems, assemblies, sub-assemblies, and components were published in December 2021 and March 2022.
• These lists contain 2,500 items, which are already indigenized and 458 (351+107) items which will be indigenized within the given timelines.
• Indigenization of items will be done through different routes under the ‘Make’ category.
• The indigenous development of the LRUs/Sub-systems/components will boost the economy and reduce the dependence on DPSUs.
• The DPSUs will soon release the Expression of Interest (EoIs)/Request for Proposal (RFPs).

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. AAI and Sweden signed an MoU for collaboration in aviation technology.

• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Sweden’s LFV Air Navigation Services signed an agreement in the field of smart and sustainable aviation technology.
• Under the MoU, both will work to find smart aviation solutions.
• It will pave the way for the bilateral exchange of aviation expertise and technology between India and Sweden.
• It will help Indian companies in their growth by using Swedish innovation and expertise.
• Both parties gave consent to the elements of the MoU, which are as follows:
  • Exchange of aviation knowledge and technical transfer program.
  • Promote close and friendly relations between the two agencies.
  • Aim to expand technical cooperation in airports.
  • Support the development of a secure, sustainable, and efficient aviation sector.
  • Positive contributions in promoting bilateral and international trade.
• A joint working group will also be formed to prioritize interest areas and collaboration between India and Sweden.
• Sweden:
  • Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes.
  • Its capital is Stockholm and the currency is Swedish Krona.
  • It is the largest country in Northern Europe.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

10. Largest made-in-India liquid hydrogen tank has been dispatched to South Korea.

• Inoxcva, a manufacturer of cryogenic equipment and solutions, has despatched the largest made-in-India liquid hydrogen tank to South Korea.
• This hydrogen tank has a storage capacity of 238 m³. It has been exported from Kandla.
• This cryogenic storage tank has been built to meet the requirements of Korean Gas Safety (KGS) and as per European Standards.
• This hydrogen tank has been built at the Kandla facility of the company. It will support the vision of making India a Green Hydrogen Hub.
• In 2020, Doosan Corporation announced the construction of South Korea’s first hydrogen liquefaction plant with a capacity of five tons per day.
• The plant is set to start commercial operations in 2023. South Korea is one of the leading countries to use hydrogen as a clean source of fuel.
• Doosan Corporation of South Korea and Air Liquide Engineering & Construction had signed an agreement to provide support in the construction of a liquid hydrogen plant.

Topic: National News

11. National Cancer Grid established the Koita Centre for Digital Oncology (KCDO).

• To promote the use of digital technologies and tools in cancer care, the Koita Centre for Digital Oncology (KCDO) has been established.
• The Tata Memorial Centre and the Koita Foundation signed an MoU.
• The Koita Centre for Digital Oncology will help in creating an innovative ecosystem across hospitals, healthcare technology companies, academic institutions, and research organizations.
• KCDO will support NCG hospitals in adopting digital health tools and sharing best practices in digital health. It will also help NCG hospitals in adopting Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) platform.
• KCDO will also join hands with academic and research organizations to promote research and development in cancer care.
• National Cancer Grid (NCG):
  • It is an initiative of the Department of Atomic Energy and Tata Memorial Centre.
  • Its main aim is to create a network of cancer centres, research institutes, patient groups, and charitable institutions.
  • Its main aim is to create uniform standards of patient care, treatment of cancer, and specialized training and education in oncology.
• Koita Foundation:
  • It is a not-for-profit organization focused on two areas: NGO Transformation and Digital Health.
  • The Koita Foundation has partnered with IIT Bombay to establish the Koita Centre for Digital Health.

Topic: Art and Culture

12. Marbat celebrated in Nagpur with full fervour and enthusiasm.

• For more than a century, people have been celebrating the Marbat festival. It started in the year 1885.
• The main aim of the festival is to safeguard the city from the attack of vicious evil spirits. It is celebrated only in Nagpur.
• On this occasion, big statues of evil spirits are taken out in rallies.
• People take out the processions of 'kali' (black) and 'pivli' (yellow). The Kali and Pivli Marbat (idol) represent Putna.
• After the statues are taken around all the areas, they are burnt in the presence of the area’s people. The ritual of burning signifies the burning of evil.
• Tarhane Teli Samaj used the Marbat procession to promote Mahatma Gandhi’s 'Chale Jao' call against the Britishers.
• The main attractions of this festival are the big statues of evil spirits. It is celebrated every year, a day after the bullock festival 'Pola'.

Topic: India and its neighbours

13. India will construct two hydroelectric plants in Nepal after China withdraw from projects.

• India will develop the West Seti Hydroelectric Project and the Seti River Hydroelectric Project in Nepal.
• An MoU was signed between the Investment Board of Nepal and India's NHPC Limited to develop the two projects on the Seti River.
• The overall cost of these projects is projected to be around $2.4 billion.
• The projects will result in total production of 1,200 MW and will be spread over four districts Bajhang, Doti, Dadeldhura and Achham.
• By selling electricity to India, Nepal can earn Rs 31,000 crore per year by 2030 and up to Rs 1 trillion per year by 2045.
• Chinese companies have withdrawn from the West Seti Project twice.
• In 2009, Chinese companies signed an MoU with the Nepal government to develop the project and stepped back within two years.
• In 2017, China's Three Gorges International Corporation established a joint venture to complete the project and withdrew from the project in 2018.
• River Seti or Seti Khola or Seti Gandaki river is a left bank tributary of the Trishuli river that drains western Nepal. It rises from the base of the Annapurna massif, and flows south and south-east past Pokhara and Damauli to join the Trishuli River near Devghat.

Topic: Miscellaneous

14. Bust of Mahatma Gandhi unveiled by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar in Paraguay.

• Asuncion Municipality has established it at the prominent waterfront of the city.
• He also visited the historic Casa de la Independencia, where the South American country's independence movement began more than two centuries ago.
• Mr. Jaishankar visited in Brazil on the first phase of his six-day trip to South America, which aimed to strengthen bilateral ties with the region.
• Mr. Jaishankar was on his first official visit to South America, and also visited Paraguay and Argentina.

(Source: News on AIR)