Daily Current Affairs and GK | 4 March 2023

Topic: Indian Polity

1. SC ruled that the CEC and ECs must be appointed by the President on the advice of a committee.

• A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) should be appointed by the President on the advice of a committee.
• The committee should comprise of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.
• This Constitution Bench was headed by Justice K M Joseph. The Bench also comprised Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and C T Ravikumar.
• SC has given this decision on the public interest petitions filed in 2015 to seek a law governing the appointment of the CEC and ECs.
• At present, CEC and ECs are appointed by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
• According to Article 324(2) of the Constitution, the CEC and ECs shall be appointed by the President, with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, till Parliament enacts a law fixing the criteria for selection, conditions of service and tenure.
• The Constitution has not provided any specific legislative process for the appointment of the CEC and ECs.
• The Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991 states that the EC and CEC can hold the post for six years.
• The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) are currently removed through an impeachment process.

Topic: National Appointments

2. Hockey India has appointed Craig Fulton as chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team.

• Craig Fulton will succeed Graham Reid. Graham Reid resigned after India’s poor performance at the World Cup in January 2023.
• Hockey India president said that Craig Fulton has tremendous experience in coaching. Dilip Tirkey is the Hockey India President.
• Craig Fulton has about 25 years of coaching experience. He earned 195 caps during 10 years for South Africa.
• Craig Fulton is a former South Africa men's field hockey international player.
• He is a former coach of the Ireland men's national field hockey team.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Jharkhand

3. Jharkhand government has presented a Rs 1.16 lakh crore budget for 2023-24 fiscal.

• State Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon presented a budget of Rs 1,16,418 crore for 2023-24 fiscal.
• Jharkhand government had presented a budget of Rs 1.01 lakh crore for the 2022-23 fiscal.
• The Finance Minister also announced that a programme will be launched to promote millet production in the state.
• As per the announcement, the programme would be launched at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
• In 2023-24, the Jharkhand government allocated Rs 25,317 crore for building infrastructure. This is an increase of more than 40%.
• In 2021-22, Rs 10,789 crore was allocated for capital expenditure (capex). In 2022-23, it was Rs 18,017 crore.
• In the year 2023-24, Rs 31,742 crore is proposed under capital expenditure. Rs 84.676 crore is proposed for revenue expenditure.
• The government has fixed target of providing skill training to 1.4 lakh youths under the ‘Mukhyamantri Sarathi Yojana’.
• If the beneficiaries will not get employment, the government would pay Rs 1,000 to men and Rs 1,500 to women and the disabled.
• In the budget, the Jharkhand government has announced that it will set up a pension fund with a proposal of Rs 700 crore. This fund would be set up to reduce the financial burden of pension on the exchequer.
• The government has provisioned Rs 2,131 crore for the Universal Pension Scheme.
• The government has continued the subsidy for the first 100 units of consumption of electricity.
• The government has proposed Rs 180 crore for the setting up of new dairy plants in Giridih and Jamshedpur and a milk product plant and a milk powder plant in Ranchi.
• The government has also brought out a scheme titled Birsa Irrigation Well Promotion Mission. It provides irrigation wells to 1 lakh farmers.
• It has also been proposed that government will start the ‘Women and Kishori Kalyan Yojana’.
• This scheme will be started to provide free sanitary napkins, nutritious food to pregnant women before delivery and maternity care kits after delivery.
• The government will also start ‘Anganwadi Chalo Abhiyan Yojana’ for preschool education for children coming to anganwadi centres.
• Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon said elementary education will be given in Oriya and Bengali in a few selected schools for the first time in the state.

Topic: National News

4. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur launched Yuva Utsava - India@2047 from Ropar in Punjab on 04 March 2023.

• In the first phase, Yuva Utsava is being held in 150 districts across India to promote youth power till 31st March 2023.
• Schools and colleges of the districts are conducting programmes in the first phase.
• Yuva Utsava - India@2047 is being conducted by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan in all districts across India.
• It will be held on three levels. It will begin with a one-day district-level programme. The winners of the District Level will take part at the State level Yuva Utsav.
• State level Yuva Utsav is a 2-day program scheduled to be held during August to September 2023 at State Capitals.
• The winners of all the State level programs shall take part at the National Level Yuva Utsav.
• National Level Yuva Utsav is scheduled to be held in 3rd/4th week of October, 2023 at Delhi.
• Youth of 15 to 29 years are eligible to take part in the programs at District, State and National Levels.
• Across the three levels, many participants will compete and traditional artists will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the India. The theme for the Yuva Utsav will be Panch Pran.

Topic: Art and Culture

5. Temple from the 13th century has been discovered in the Kadapa district's Pushpagiri Kshetram.

• The ruins of a 13th-century Hindu temple have recently been unearthed amid a forest to the northeast of the Durga temple, atop a hill in Pushpagiri Kshetram, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh.
• The hill, also known as Pushpachal, is famous for a series of temples dedicated to deities of the Hindu pantheon such as Chennakesava, Umamaheswara, Rudrapada, Vishnupada, Trikooteswara, Vaidyanatha, Subrahmanya, Vighneswara and Durga Devi.
• There are more than a hundred small and big temples around this hilly area, with the Penna River flowing to the southwest.
• Pushpagiri is called Hari-Hara Kshetra, as there are many temples dedicated to both Shiva and Vishnu.
• The Pushpeswara Swamy shrine is revered as a self-manifested idol, which can be found from the Mackenzie Local Record No. 1211.
• The ruins' architectural features show a style that is similar to a temple in Vallur that was constructed in the 13th century by the Kayastha kings.
• The Kayasthas rulers were subordinate to the rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty. They ruled the region with Vallur as the capital.

Topic: Defence

6. IAF participation in Ex Shinyuu Maitri is another significant milestone in India-Japan defence relations.

• Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in exercise Shinyuu Maitri with Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF).
• This air exercise was conducted simultaneously with the Indo-Japanese joint military exercise Dharma Guardian.
• The air exercise was conducted from March 1 to 2, 2023.
• C-17 Globemaster III aircraft has participated in the air exercise this year to represent the Indian Air Force contingent.
• Meanwhile, JASDF participated in the exercise with C-2 transport aircraft.
• During the two-day exercise, both the air forces participated in a variety of activities divided into two phases.
• The first part of the exercise included discussions on tactical maneuvers and transport operations.
• The second phase of the exercise included flight drills with IAF C-17 and JASDF C-2 cargo aircraft.
• Other military exercises with Japan:
  • Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’:
    • The 4th edition of the exercise between India and Japan was held from February 13 to March 2, 2023, in Komatsu, Japan.
    • The exercise is an annual military exercise between India and Japan. It is being conducted since 2018.
    • This joint exercise includes house interventions drills, raids on terrorist hideouts in semi-urban terrain, combat first aid, unarmed combat, etc.
  • Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX):
    • The JIMEX exercise began in January 2012, with a special emphasis on maritime security cooperation.
    • The Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) engage in the exercise every two years.
    • The aim of the exercise is to improve communication and seamanship protocols and streamline interoperability.
    • The sixth edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22) was held in the Bay of Bengal in September 2022.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Telangana

7. Central government will establish Civil Aviation Research Organization (CARO) at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, Telangana.

• It will be an organization of international standards to keep up with the fast growth the Indian civil aviation sector is experiencing.
• CARO will be established with an estimated cost of Rs 400 crores.
• It will open the door for cutting-edge technology standards in civil aviation.
• CARO Is expected to start operations in July 2023. It will create indigenous technologies.
• It will promote R&D activities in the aviation sector and disseminate them.
• The organization building is being built with ‘Griha-5’ standards. It will be the first Civil Aviation building on such standards.

Topic: Banking System

8. RBI has imposed Rs 3.06 crore penalty on Amazon Pay (India).

• A penalty of three crore six lakh sixty-six thousand rupees has been imposed on Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited.
• RBI has imposed penalty for non-compliance with certain directions related to Prepaid Payment Instruments and Know Your Customer.
• RBI said its action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
• RBI said its action is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any agreement entered into by the entity with its customers.
• Amazon Pay is the digital payment arm of Amazon. It is an online payment processing service owned by Amazon. It was launched in 2007.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. President Droupadi Murmu launched the ‘Catch The Rain 2023 Campaign’ in New Delhi.

• President launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan - Catch the Rain 2023 campaign for the sustainability of drinking water.
• This campaign is an effort to turn conservation of water into a mass campaign in the monsoon season.
• The theme of this year's campaign is ‘Source Sustainability for Drinking Water’.
• President Droupadi Murmu also launched a video on 'Jal Shakti se Nari Shakti' and a commemorative stamp.
• She also released 'Swachh Sujal Shakti Ki Abhivyakti'. It is a collection of case stories of the Swachh Bharat Mission - Grameen, Jal Jeevan Mission and National Water Mission.
• President Droupadi Murmu also conferred the Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023.
• The President conferred 36 Awards under Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen, Jal Jeevan Mission and National Water Mission.
• Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman is given to women achievers and leaders in the water sector for their extraordinary contribution.
• Union Jal Shakti Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Devusinh Chauhan were also present at the event.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. NTPC received the CBIP Award 2022 for ‘Outstanding Contribution in Power Generation’.

• The award has been presented by Union Minister R.K. Singh.
• Shri Ramesh Babu V, Director (Operations) received the award on the behalf of NTPC.
• NTPC is committed to generate power responsibly and sustainably. It plays a key role in the Indian energy sector in terms of size and efficiency.
• OPTCL received the ‘CBIP Award 2022’ for the ‘Best Performing Transmission Power Sector’.
• OPTCL has received the award for the first time for its remarkable Project Execution, Asset Addition, System Availability, Innovative Measures, etc.
• The CBIP Awards is given to institutions/individuals for their outstanding contributions in the development of water, power and Renewable Energy Sectors.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National Appointment

11. Jishnu Barua appointed as new chairperson of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).

• Union Power Minister RK Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to Jishnu Baruah.
• On February 27, 2023, Barua has been appointed chairperson of the CERC.
• Baruah was the Chief Secretary of Assam from October 2020 to August 2022.
• Earlier, he was the Additional Chief Secretary of Assam looking after various departments of the state from August 2017 to October 2020.
• Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC):
  • The Government of India has established CERC under the provisions of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998.
  • CERC is the Central Commission for the purposes of the Electricity Act, 2003, which has repealed the ERC Act, 1998.
  • The commission consists of a chairperson and four other members, including Chairperson of Central Electricity Authority, who is the ex-officio member of the commission.
  • The main function of the CERC under the Act is to regulate the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central Government.

Topic: International News

12. US has imposed new sanctions related to oil and petrochemical sales on Iran.

• The sanctions charge one company in Vietnam, two in China, two in Iran, and one in the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in the transportation or sale of Iranian oil and petrochemicals.
• According to the US State Department, it is determined to significantly reduce Iran's energy exports and will impose sanctions against those who facilitate petroleum and petrochemical trade.
• The US will not hesitate to take action against those who obstruct the sanctions imposed.
• Meanwhile, Iran has accused the US of dishonesty in negotiating a prisoner-for-hire exchange.
• The US has imposed a lot of sanctions on Iran since 2018.
• Relations between the United States and Iran have further deteriorated over Iran's crackdown on anti-government elements and US allegations that Iran supplied Russia with drones that Russia used against Ukraine.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Economy

13. Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) manufacturing declined to 55.3 in February 2023 from 55.4 of January 2023.

• This is the 12th successive month of expansion of PMI manufacturing. However, job situation was almost stagnant.
• PMI services increased to 59.4 in February 2023 as against 57.2 in January 2023. This is 12 years high level.
• Services sector contributes maximum (53%) in Gross Value Added (GVA).
• The share of services and manufacturing together in GVA is around 70%.
• As per PMI report, consumer services were the best-performing area in February.

Topic: International News

14. United States is hosting war planning exercises in Germany.

• The multi-day exercises are being carried out to help Ukrainian military officials to take effective battlefield decisions in the next phase of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• The exercises have been carried out at a war-gaming facility at a US Army Base in Wiesbaden, Germany.
• US Army General reiterated US's support to Ukraine. Prior to this, US and its allies committed billions of military aid to Ukraine including Bradley fighting vehicles and advanced air defence systems.
• Russia had invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Since then, the conflicted has continued between the two countries for more than a year.