Daily Current Affairs and GK | 3 and 4 September 2023

Topic: Indian Polity

1. Child born from a void or voidable marriage can inherit parent ancestral property: Supreme Court.

• The Supreme Court ruled that a child born of a void or voidable marriage can inherit the parent’s share in a joint Hindu family property.
• However, such a child would not have the rights in or to the property of any other person in the family.
• This judgment has been passed by a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud.
• A voidable marriage is one that is declared invalid by a decree issued by the husband or wife.
• Except for West Bengal and Assam, the Mitakashara law of succession for Hindu Undivided Families applies to the whole of India.
• The share of the deceased parent in the property can be ascertained through notional partition.
• Their heirs, including his children by means of void or voidable marriage, would be entitled of would be entitled to their share.
• 16(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), 1995 confers legitimacy to children born out of void or voidable marriages.
• The bench was hearing a reference against a two-judge bench judgment in the 2011 Revansidappa vs Mallikarjun case.

Topic: Sports

2. In Durand Cup 2023 final, Mohun Bagan won over East Bengal with a score of 1-0.

• Mohun Bagan won their 17th Durand Cup. It became the most successful team in the history of the Durand Cup.
• Dimitri Petratos scored the only goal of the match in the 71st minute.
• Mohun Bagan won their first Durand Cup title since 2000.
• Mohun Bagan Super Giant is the 1st team in Durand Cup history to win 17 titles.
• East Bengal are the second-most successful team in the Durand Cup with 16 titles.
• Mohun Bagan’s team was reduced to 10 men after Anirudh Thapa was sent off with a red card in the 62nd minute.
• Durand Cup 2023 started on August 3. This was the 132nd edition of the tournament. 24 teams took part in it. The number of teams was four more than last year.
• The Durand Football Tournament is commonly known as the Durand Cup. It is a domestic football competition in India. It is held annually. It was first held in 1888 in Shimla.

Topic: Science and Technology

3. Nabhmitra was successfully tested at Neendakara, Kerala.

• Nabhmitra is a device for the safety of fishermen. It was developed by the ISRO-Space Applications Centre (Ahmedabad).
• It enables two-way messaging services from and to sea for the safety of fishermen.
• Weather and cyclone warnings will be communicated in the local language.
• The boats can send distress messages to the authorities.
• The device has a button, which can be pressed by fishers in emergency situations like capsizing and fire.
• By pressing the button on the device, fishers can get in touch with the control centre.
• The control centre will receive the alert including the location of the boat.
• The device will help to identify fishing fields. It will also provide information about shipping channels and maritime boundaries.
• Neendakara is located in Kollam city in Kerala.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

4. Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger of Vistara and Air India.

• Vistara will be merged with Air India. CCI has also allowed Singapore Airlines to acquire 25.1% stake in Air India.
• With this approval from CCI, AIR India has completed a key regulatory procedure towards becoming a company that includes four airlines.
• These four airlines include AirAsia India, Air India Express and Vistara.
• Singapore Airlines is a co-owner of Vistara alongside Tata Sons. It will get a 25.1% stake in Air India.
• Vistara will be integrated with Air India. AirAsia India will be merged with Air India Express.
• Air India Express and AirAsia India merger will conclude by March 2024.
• The acquisition of AirAsia India by Air India was approved by CCI in June 2022.

Topic: National News

5. Ministry of Education is observing Literacy Week from 1st to 8th September 2023 under ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.

• Government has decided to organise a literacy week from 1st September to 8th September 2023 to celebrate International Literacy Day.
• The aim of the celebration is to generate awareness about the ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
• The literacy week celebration would end with celebration of International Literacy Day on 8th September 2023.
• The literacy week celebration also aim to increase the number of registrations for learners and volunteers on the ULLAS mobile app.
• ULLAS- Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram on Education for All is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Government of India approved it for implementation during FYs 2022-27. Its slogan/tagline is Jan Jan Sakshar.
• It has five components, namely (i) Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, (ii) Critical Life Skills, (iii) Basic Education, (iv) Vocational Skills, (v) Continuing Education.

Topic: Indian Economy

6. Moody’s has increased India’s 2023 GDP growth forecast to 6.7% from 5.5%.

• However, it has lowered its 2024 growth forecast from 6.5% to 6.1%.
• Moody’s said strong services expansion and capital expenditures led to India’s 7.8% real GDP growth in the second quarter from a year ago.
• Moody’s said, that as of August 29, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has estimated a 9% rain deficiency across the country.
• It said agricultural commodity prices could increase if El Niño proves to be strong in the second half of 2023 and early 2024.
• Moody’s noted RBI’s MPC has left the repo rate unchanged for a third time this month.
• It noted monetary policy easing consideration will be delayed until early next year.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

7. 2nd edition of the 2023 Naval Commanders' Conference began in New Delhi on 4 September.

• In this supreme conference held twice a year, Naval Commanders will consider important policy decisions.
• During the three-day conference, senior Navy officers will review the operations, equipment, training, and administrative activities undertaken during the last six months.
• The Commanders will also review various projects of the Navy.
• The conference will provide an opportunity for institutionalized dialogue between naval commanders with senior government officials to take forward several inter-ministerial initiatives towards the development of a secure maritime environment.
• At the event, the Naval Commanders will also review ongoing naval projects with a focus on promoting indigenization through 'Make in India' in consonance with the vision of achieving complete 'self-reliance' by 2047.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Personality in News

8. Zimbabwe's great cricketer Heath Streak died at the age of 49 on 3 August.

• Streak was an excellent fast bowler and capable batsman. He was battling colon cancer.
• He was a key member of that Zimbabwean team which was competitive against cricket's major nations in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
• However, his cricketing career ended in disgrace when he was banned for eight years for breaching the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code.
• The streak took 216 wickets in 65 Tests and scored 1,990 runs.
• Similarly, the streak took 239 wickets in 189 ODI matches and scored 2,943 runs.
• In both Tests and ODIs, he is by far Zimbabwe's leading wicket-taker.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. DIKSHA platform is set to integrate Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL).

• The National eGovernance Division (NeGD) will integrate Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) into Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) platform.
• Under the Personalised Adaptive Learning, each student will have an individualised learning experience.
• DIKSHA under the Ministry of Education provides e-content for schools through an online portal and a mobile application.
• DIKSHA platform has embedded assistive technologies for learners with visual or hearing impairments.
• It has digitalized NCERT textbooks which are used in national and State Boards.
• This platform has teaching videos, explainers, and practice questions contributed by many academicians.
• NCERT sought MeitY’s expertise in facilitating PAL for DIKSHA.
• For PAL, content from different subjects will have to be categorized and different chunks will have to be tagged.
• DIKSHA:
  • It is an initiative of the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
  • It has QR-coded textbooks and various specialized e-contents for classes 1-12 in 33 languages.
  • It was launched on 5th September 2017.

Topic: Art and Culture

10. 3-Days-long Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival ended in Lalitpur, Nepal.

• Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud of Nepal had inaugurated the festival.
• Literature from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka showcased in the Festival.
• The festival showcased literature, music, dance, poetry and other art forms.
• Professor Avadhesh Pradhan, actress and writer Divya Dutta, Prof Madhav Prasad Pokharel and actress Manisha Koirala received the 'Yashaswi Sahitya Samman'.
• ‘Yashaswi Book Prize', started from this year, has been given to writer Bibek Ojha for his book 'Aithan', Dr Nawaraj KC for his book 'Sunyako Mulya', Renuka GC for her book 'Sanesh', Dr Mahendra Malla for collection of poems titled 'Bhasako Bakpatra'.
• Rima KC for her translation of 'Selected Poems by Amrita Preetam' and Narayan Ghimire for his book ‘Raithane Khanpan Ra Chadparva' also received the ‘Yashaswi Book Prize'.
• Lakpa Dendi Sherpa for his autobiography 'Himalayan Maverick' and Sushant Thapa for his anthology of poems entitled 'Means of Merit' received the ‘Yashaswi Book Prize'.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

11. “Adopt a Heritage 2.0 program”, Indian Heritage app and e-permission portal will be launched by ASI on 4th September 2023.

• There are 3696 monuments under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which are spread all over the country.
• These monuments not only showcase the rich cultural heritage of India but also play an important role in promoting economic development.
• To maintain the rich cultural heritage, heritage sites require enhancement of facilities from time to time.
• With this objective and to further enhance the visitor experience, ASI will launch the “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” program on 4 September 2023 at Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA, New Delhi.
• Under this program, ASI invites corporate stakeholders to enhance facilities at the monuments using their CSR funds.
• The program is a revamped version of the previous scheme launched in 2017 and clearly defines the facilities intended for various monuments as per the AMASR Act 1958.
• The 'Adopt a Heritage 2.0' program aims to foster collaboration with corporate stakeholders through which they can contribute towards preserving these monuments for future generations.
• Additionally, a user-friendly mobile app named 'Indian Heritage' will be launched on the same day, which will showcase India's heritage monuments.
• The app will feature state-wise details of monuments along with photographs, a list of public facilities available, geo-tagged locations, and a feedback mechanism for citizens.
• An e-permission portal will also be launched with the URL www.asipermissionportal.gov.in for obtaining permission for photography, filming, and developmental projects at monuments.
• The portal will expedite the process of obtaining various permissions and also remove operational and logistical bottlenecks associated with the same.

Topic: National Appointment

12. Vumlunmang Vualnam has been appointed as a New Civil Aviation Secretary.

• In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the appointments of several bureaucrats in various ministries and departments have been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
• Currently serving as an additional secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Vumlunmang Vualnam replaced Rajiv Bansal, who retired on August 31.
• Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Chanchal Kumar has been appointed as secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
• Some important Appointments:

Topic: National Appointments

13. R Madhavan has been appointed as the president of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Society.

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has decided to appoint actor R Madhavan as the president of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Society and chairperson of the governing council.
• Shekhar Kapur’s tenure as president of FTII society ended on 3 March, 2023.
• The FTII Society has 12 nominees. It is headed by a Chairperson.
• Out of the 12 nominees, eight are nominated under the ‘Persons of Eminence’ category and four are selected from FTII alumnus.
• Madhavan is a renowned actor who has acted in many superhit films such as ‘3 Idiots’, ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, and ‘Rang De Basanti’.
• He also made his directorial debut with ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’. This film won the Best Feature Film Award at the 69th National Awards.
• Film and Television Institute of India (FTII):
  • It is a film institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • It was established in 1960 and was previously known as the ‘Film Institute of India’.
  • It is a center for excellence in audio-visual media.
  • The Governing Council is the apex body which is responsible for making all policies-decision for this institute.
  • It is situated in Pune.

Topic: Art and Culture

14. Archaeologists found a 3,000-year-old priestly tomb in Peru.

• In northern Peru, Archaeologists have unearthed a 3,000-year-old tomb which is believed to be of an elite religious leader.
• The priest was buried under six layers of ash mixed with black earth with decorated ceramic bowls and seals.
• The rock layers indicate that the priest might have been buried around 1200 B.C.
• It indicates that ancient ritual body paint was used for people of the elite class.
• The tomb is nearly two meters (2.2 yards) in diameter and one meter deep.
• Two seals have been also found along the upper edges of the tomb. One of the seals is with anthropomorphic face looking east while the other is having a jaguar design facing west.
• The Pacopampa Archaeological Project has been ongoing since 2005. Yuji Seki is the project leader of this project.