Daily Current Affairs and GK | 28 January 2023

Topic: Corporates/Companies

1. 120 Startups and Innovators have been shortlisted for the XR Startup Program.

• MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) and Meta have selected 120 Startups and innovators for the XR Startup Program.
• It is a program to nurture and promote Extended Reality (XR) technology startups and innovators.
• The XR Startup Program’s aims to boost the emerging tech ecosystem in the country.
• Among the selected startup, nearly 30% are from tier 2/3 cities while more than 20% of the cohort has women innovators and startups with women founders/ co-founders.
• Under the Accelerator Program, 40 early-stage start-ups working in XR technologies will get a grant of Rs 20 lakhs each.
• The innovators will receive the support to upscale from the R&D phase to developing workable products and services.
• MeitY Startup Hub (MSH):
  • It is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
  • It is focused on building and strengthening the startup ecosystem.
• Meta Platforms Inc:
  • It builds technology that helps people to connect, find communities and grow businesses.
  • It is working towards augmented and virtual reality to build the next evolution in social technology.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. 3rd INTERPOL Young Global Police Leaders Programme began in New Delhi.

• It began on 25th January and will continue till 2nd February. About 59 participants from 44 countries are taking part in the programme.
• It is being organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
• CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal said that the Young Global Police Leaders Programme is an inspirational platform for not only young police officers but also for youth in general.
• Rich professional capabilities, innovations and best practices developed by police in India can be a template for other countries to emulate.
• This event brings young police leaders from different countries to one place. It help them in understanding the international perspective.
• International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL):
  • It is the world's largest international police organization with 195 members.
  • It was formed in 1923.
  • Its motto is connecting police for a safer world.
  • It is headquartered in Lyon, France.
  • Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi is the current president.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

3. India signed an MoU with South Africa to translocate 12 cheetahs to the country.

• Under the MoU, a dozen cheetahs will be transported from this African country to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in February.
• South Africa will provide 12 cheetahs per year to India over the next eight to ten years.
• This agreement will be reviewed after five years.
• Out of 12 cheetahs, seven male and five female cheetahs will be brought to India.
• Most of the world's 7,000 cheetahs live in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.
• Namibia has the largest population of cheetahs in the world.
• As part of the cheetah reintroduction programme, the first batch of eight cheetahs (five females and three males) were brought to Kuno in 2022.
• Cheetahs are being reintroduced after they became extinct in India during the last century due to overhunting and habitat loss.
• In 1948, the last spotted cheetahs died in the Sal forests of the Koriya district of Chhattisgarh.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. EPFO has launched a massive outreach program in all districts across the country.

• Employees' Provident Fund Organization has launched a massive outreach program in all districts through 'Nidhi Aapke Nikat' program to expand its presence across the country.
• The objective of this program is to reach out to all the districts on 27th of every month and strengthen the relationship between the organization and its stakeholders.
• If the 27th of the month is a holiday, program will be conducted on the following working day.
• For this purpose, the organization organized camps in 685 districts on 27 January.
• Labor and Employment Secretary Aarti Ahuja e-launched the program from the EPFO Headquarters.
• More than 850 participants, including Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, CBT Members, Regional Committee Members, District Collectors and others, participated online in the event.

Topic: India and Its Neighbour

5. India has issued a notice to Pakistan for amendment in the Indus Water Treaty.

• India has informed Pakistan about its intention to amend the 62-year-old Indus Waters Treaty for the management of trans-border rivers.
• On 25 January, the Indian side conveyed the "notification of amendment" of the treaty through the commissioners of the Indus waters of both sides.
• India has called upon Pakistan to enter into inter-governmental talks within 90 days to rectify material violations of the treaty.
• For the first time since the treaty's signing in Karachi on September 19, 1960, this notice has started the process of amendments.
• The treaty was signed by then Pakistan president Mohammad Ayub Khan, Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru, and William A. B. Illif of the World Bank.
• The treaty was signed after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan and mediated by the World Bank.
• It is the most durable treaty between the two countries, but has come under considerable strain in recent years, as bilateral relations have come to an all-time low due to terrorism and tensions related to Jammu and Kashmir.
• The notice has been issued as per provisions of Article XII (3) of the treaty regulating sharing of waters of cross-border rivers.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Important Days

6. Data Privacy Day 2023: 28 January

• Every year on 28 January, Data Privacy Day (also known as “Data Protection Day”) is celebrated.
• It is celebrated to raise awareness about the protection of personal data and privacy.
• This year 17th Data Privacy Day has been celebrated.
• The theme of Data Privacy Day 2023 is "Think Privacy First."
• It is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the “Convention 108”, which was signed on 28 January 1981. It is the first legally binding treaty for data privacy and protection.
• The Council of Europe started celebrating Data Protection Day from 2006. Now, it is celebrated globally as Data Privacy Day.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated National Logistics Portal (Marine).

• NLP-Marine is a single-window portal to reduce logistics costs.
• The Union Minister called the portal a one-step platform aimed at connecting all the stakeholders of the logistics community using Information Technology.
• He said NLP will be a single window for all trade processes of the logistics sector spread across the country.
• It covers all modes of transport in the waterways, roadways, and airways along with an e-marketplace to provide a seamless end-to-end logistic service coverage.
• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has developed NLP (marine) as an open platform. It allows the coexistence of multiple service providers to provide EXIM-related services.
• The implementation of the NLP-Marine had been started in July 2021.
• It can integrate with various Port Operating Systems, Terminal Operating Systems, ICEGATE, other regulatory agencies and stakeholder systems in the ecosystem.
• It aims to reduce regulatory complexities. It aims to enhance the ease of doing business by moving towards paperless trade.
• The NLP Marine has the ‘Latch On Feature’. This feature facilitates the trade by providing the needed features that are not directly embedded into NLP Marine.

Topic: Defence

8. The inaugural edition of the air defence exercise 'Veer Guardian 2023' concluded in Japan on 26 January 2023.

• Veer Guardian 2023 was a joint air defence exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF).
• Japan Air Self Defence Force took part in the exercise with its F-2 and F-15 aircraft.
• The IAF contingent took part in the exercise with the Su-30 MKI aircraft.
• One IL-78 Flight Refueling Aircraft and two C-17 Globemaster strategic airlift transport aircraft were also present with the IAF fighter contingent.
• IAF and JASDF carried out air combat manoeuvring, interception and air defence missions, both in Visual and Beyond Visual Range settings.
• Exercise 'Veer Guardian 2023' provided the IAF and JASDF with an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding.

Topic: MoUs/ Agreements

9. NITI Aayog, CBSE, Atal Innovation & Intel joined hands to promote education through AI.

• Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Central Board of Secondary Education-Ministry of Education and Intel India have collaborated to bring revolution in the education sector through AI in the formal curriculum.
• The main aim of this collaboration is to bridge the future skills gap and to utilise the available Atal Tinkering Laboratories infrastructure.
• It also aims to support National Education Policy 2020’s recommendations of speeding up technology adoption.
• AIoT integration in the school curriculum has been launched in September 2022 under a pilot project.
• Compendium is a collection of lesson plans prepared by teachers.
• Each lesson provides a holistic view of how the integration of AIoT can be used to enhance the learning process in the classroom.
• The AIoT integration in school curriculum empowers educators with relevant skill sets, mindsets and toolsets.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines to learn from experience, adjust to new inputs, and perform human-like tasks.

Topic: State News/ Chhattisgarh

10. Chhattisgarh government announced monthly allowance for unemployed people.

• Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said that monthly allowance will be provided to unemployed youths of the state from the next financial year (2023-24).
• It was one of the election promises made by Congress during its 2018 election campaign.
• The government is currently working on the criteria and the amount of allowance.
• Chhattisgarh government has a debt of 26.2% of the state GDP.
• Apart from this, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced that aid of ₹ 10,000 will be provided every year to each gram panchayat for organising festivals of tribal communities.
• Chhattisgarh State Innovation Commission will be formed to promote innovation for the development in the state.
• An aerocity will be also developed near the Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur.
• Rajasthan government is also giving unemployment allowances under the 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Sambal Yojna'.

Topic: Sports

11. Indian pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna finished second in mixed doubles at Australian Open.

• On 27 January, Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos won their first Grand Slam title by defeating Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna in the final at Melbourne Park.
• Sania Mirza, playing her final Grand Slam with Rohan Bopanna, has won two Grand Slam tournaments so far at the Australian Open.
• She won the Australian Open Women's Doubles title in 2016 with Martina Hingis and the Australian Open Mixed Doubles title in 2009 with Mahesh Bhupathi.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Banking System

12. Markets has shifted to T+1 settlement system from January 27.

• On January 27, India became the first major economy to move to a T+1 market settlement cycle.
• This move will help to complete all stock settlements the next day, resulting in faster financial transactions in the stock market. 
• The current market follows T+2 settlement cycle, meaning that investors receive shares, dividends, and bonus shares in their accounts two days following the transaction.
• T refers to the trading day. Starting January 27, all large-cap and blue-chip companies switched to the T+1 system.
• Both NSE and BSE, the domestic stock markets, were currently following the T+2 settlement cycle.
• In September 2021, the SEBI allowed stock exchanges to introduce T+1 settlement cycle from January 1, 2022.
• In February 2022, SEBI introduced the changes in a phased manner, which eventually ended in January 2023.
• In July 2001, SEBI introduced a rolling settlement cycle.
• Earlier, all settlements were done on a fixed day - Friday on BSE and Tuesday on NSE.
• The system was riddled with several problems, such as poor delivery, excessive liquidity and frequent defaults, etc.
• In 1996, after demat accounts became operational, SEBI introduced the rolling settlement cycle.
• Initially, the T+5 settlement cycle was being followed, which meant settlement within 5 days from the trading day.
• In 2002, the market regulator shortened it to a T+3 cycle, and then, from April 2003, it was reduced to a T+2 cycle, which was followed until now.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

13. Police Medals were given to 901 police personnel on the occasion of Republic Day, 2023.

• 140 personnel have been awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), 93 the President's Police Medal (PPM) and 668 the Police Medal (PM) for Meritorious Service.
• Out of 140 personnel awarded for their gallant action, 80 personnel are from Left Wing Extremism affected areas and 45 personnel from the J&K region.
• Among the personnel who received gallantry awards, 48 are from CRPF, 31 from Maharashtra, 25 from J&K Police, 09 from Jharkhand, 7 each from Delhi, Chhattisgarh and BSF and the rest from other States/UTs and CAPFs.
• Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) is awarded on the basis of conspicuous gallantry in saving life and property or preventing crime or arresting criminals.
• The President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM) is awarded for a particularly distinguished record in police service.
• Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM) is awarded for valuable service characterized by resourcefulness and devotion to duty.

Topic: Personality in News

14. Veteran actress and former MP Jamuna passed away at the age of 86 in Hyderabad.

• She was a contemporary of prominent and popular actors N T Ramarao and Nageswar Rao, and she featured in over 200 Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films.
• She started her career as a stage performer, debuting on the silver screen with Puttilu.
• In 1989, she won the Lok Sabha seat from Rajahmundry from the Congress.
• She was recognized by her role in 'Satyabhama' and became a household name for the mythological character.
• She won an award at the Filmfare Awards and Filmfare Awards South.

(Source: News on AIR)