Daily Current Affairs and GK | 7 April 2023

Topic: International News

1. Rental electric scooters have been banned in Paris, France.

• Parisians have voted to ban rental electric scooters in the city.
• In the referendum, 90 per cent of votes were cast in the favour of banning battery-powered devices.
• The referendum has been done due to many people being injured and killed on e-scooters.
• Paris was one of the first cities where e-scooters were introduced in 2018 to promote non-polluting forms of urban transport.
• In the last year, three people died and 459 were injured in e-scooter accidents in Paris.
• Paris has almost 15,000 e-scooters across its streets. These are operated by different companies.
• The operators argued that e-scooters account for a small proportion of overall traffic accidents in the city.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Committees/ Commissions/Taskforces

2. Ministry of Steel approved 13 task forces for ‘Green Steel’.

• For defining the roadmap for ‘Green Steel’, the Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia has approved 13 Task Forces.
• The task force comprising experts and industry stakeholders will look into various aspects of 'Green Steel' production.
• It will work on the terminology, definition, benchmarks, scoping, certification and others aspects of ‘Green Steel’.
• The task force for “Monitoring of Carbon Emission of Steel Plants” will work on formulating standards for carbon dioxide emission monitoring.
• It will also work for the development of methodology and institutional mechanisms for monitoring.
• The demand side taskforce will work on making a framework for creating demand for green steel across different sectors.
• The Supply-side taskforce will focus on improving energy efficiency, renewable energy transition, material efficiency, Green Hydrogen, etc.
• The finance task force will work on innovative financing mechanisms to fulfil the capital requirement for green steel.
• The skill development Task force will provide a framework for up-skilling people for green steel production.

Topic: Space and IT

3. Union Cabinet has approved the Indian Space Policy 2023.

• Its aims to boost the role of the country's Department of Space and give greater participation to research, academia, startups and industry.
• The policy sets out the roles and responsibilities of organizations such as the ISRO, NewSpace India Limited and private sector companies.
• The number of startups in ISRO has reached 150 within three years of the opening up of the space sector for private participation on the initiative of the Prime Minister.
• The Indian Space Policy 2023 is expected to provide a framework for the country's space sector for the next decade.
• At present, in the space sector, FDI up to 100 per cent is permitted only through the government route in the field of satellite-establishment and operations.
• The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) being the regulatory and promotional body for space activities was involved in the revision of the FDI policy which is currently under consideration of the government.
• The specific role of IN-SPACe for channelizing FDI will evolve after approval of revised FDI policy by the Government.

Topic: Committee/Commission/Taskforces

4. Kirit Parikh panel recommendations approved by Govt on natural gas pricing.

• On 6 April, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the revised domestic natural gas pricing guidelines.
• The guidelines have been revised for gas produced from nomination fields of ONGC and OIL, New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) blocks and pre-NELP blocks.
• In 2022, the Kirit Parikh Committee on Fair Pricing of Natural Gas had recommended.
• The price of such natural gas shall be notified on a monthly basis and would be 10 per cent of the monthly average of the Indian crude basket.
• In addition, this price will be subject to a floor of $4 per mBtu and a ceiling of $6.5 per mBtu.
• The Administered Price Mechanism (APM) price of gas produced by ONGC and Oil India from their nomination blocks will be subject to floor and ceiling.
• After two years the floor and ceiling prices would increase by 25% per year.
• The new guidelines are aimed at ensuring a stable pricing regime for domestic gas consumers, while providing adequate protection to producers from adverse market fluctuation along with incentives to increase production.
• The reforms will lead to a significant reduction in the prices of piped natural gas (PNG) for households and compressed natural gas (CNG) for transportation.
• Lower prices will also reduce the burden of fertilizer subsidy and help the domestic power sector.
• Revised pricing guidelines will also promote low carbon footprint through development of gas-based economy.

Topic: Important Days

5. World Health Day 2023: 7 April

• Every year on 7 April, World Health Day is celebrated.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on this day in 1948.
• The theme of World Health Day 2023 is "Health for All."
• This year the world health body is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
• It is celebrated to educate people, spread awareness about health issues, new medicines, research and to ensure availability of healthcare facilities to everyone, everywhere.
• In 1950, the first World Health Day was celebrated on 7 April.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: National Appointments

6. Tsutsumu Otani appointed as President, CEO, MD of the Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India.

• On 5 April, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has appointed Tsutsumu Otani as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
• He is also a Vice President at Honda Motor Company, Japan.
• He has succeeded Atsushi Ogata, who headed Honda's Indian two-wheeler operations for three years.
• Atsushi Ogata has been appointed as Executive General Manager at Honda Motor (China) Investment Co Ltd, Shanghai Branch, which effected from April 1, 2023.
• Vinay Dhingra has now been promoted as Senior Director-HR & Administration, Corporate Affairs, Information Technology and Honda India Foundation.
• Additionally, Yogesh Mathur and Sanjiv Jain have now been promoted to the Board of Directors of HMSI.
• As the new director, Mathur will be responsible for the premium motorcycle business along with customer service, logistics planning and control, sales and marketing.
• HMSI is a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Honda Motor Company, Limited, Japan. It was established in 1999 at Manesar, District Gurgaon, Haryana.

Topic: National News

7. Centre has extended ceasefire agreements with three Naga groups for one year.

• These three groups are the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-NK (NSCN-NK), National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Reformation (NSCN-R) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-K-Khango (NSCN-K-Khango).
• All these groups signed ceasefire agreements with the government over the years.
• Ceasefire agreements with NSCN/NK and NSCN/R have been extended for one year with effect from April 28, 2023, to April 27, 2024.
• Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the ceasefire agreement with NSCN/K-Khango has been extended from April 18, 2023 to April 17, 2024.

Topic: National News

8. Kerala achieved the first rank in the GI tag list in FY23.

• Attappady Aattukombu Avara (beans), Attappady Thuvara (red gram), Onattukara Ellu (sesame), Kanthaloor Vattavada Veluthuli (garlic), and Kodungallur Pottuvellari (snap melon) were selected for GI tag.
• Mithila Makhana (aquatic fox nut) from Bihar was chosen for GI recognition.
• Alibag white onion from Maharashtra was selected for GI recognition.
• Other products selected for GI tag are Tandur Redgram from Telangana, Ladakh Raktsey Karpo Apricot from Ladakh, and Gamosa handicrafts from Assam.
• Between April 2022 and March 2023, 12 products were chosen for GI tag. Two of them were from overseas.
• Brandy De Jerez from Spain and Provolone Valpadana from Italy received GI tag.
• In FY22, 50 products from domestic and overseas markets were chosen for GI tag. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with seven GI tags.
• Handcraft products such as Chunar Glaze Pottery, Banaras Zardozi, Mirzapur Pital Bartan, Banaras Wood Carving, Banaras Hand Block Print, Rataul Mango, and Mau saree were chosen for the GI tag from Uttar Pradesh.
• Kanniyakumari Clove, wood carving from Kallakurichi, Karuppur Kalamkari paintings, and Narsinghapettai Nagaswaram (a wind instrument) were selected from Tamil Nadu between 2021-22.

Topic: State News/ Jammu and Kashmir

9. Jammu and Kashmir Food & Drugs Administration organized Eat Right Millet Mela (ERMM).

• The Food & Drugs Administration of Jammu and Kashmir in association with the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will organize an Eat Right Millet Mela (ERMM) in Jammu.
• The Eat Right Millet Mela will be organized at Government Women College, Gandhi Nagar Jammu on 8th April.
• A Walkathon has been also organized in Katra and Jammu towns.
• Cultural programs, painting and poster competitions, rangoli and food stalls will be the main attractions of the Eat Right Millet Mela.
• These events will promote the inclusion of millet in daily meals to prevent lifestyle non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, etc.
• The use of Millet will reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Millet is a good source of protein, fibre, key vitamins, and minerals.
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared 2023 as the "International Year of Millet-2023 (IYOM-2023)".

Topic: State News/ Himachal Pradesh

10. Himachal Pradesh government repealed the Himachal Pradesh Loktantra Prahari Samman Act 2021.

• The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to repeal the Himachal Pradesh Loktantra Prahari Samman Act, brought by the previous BJP government.
• This act provides a monthly pension of Rs 20000 and Rs 12000 to the people who were lodged in Jails during the emergency from 1975 to 1977.
• The opposition BJP is protesting against the repeal of the Act.
• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that the previous BJP government has misused funds.
• The Emergency in India was imposed for 21-month from 1975 to 1977.
• The final decision to impose an emergency was proposed by Indira Gandhi and ratified by the Cabinet and the Parliament.
• National emergency:
  • Under Article 352 of the Constitution of India, the President can declare a national emergency.
  • A National emergency can be declared on the grounds of war, external aggression and armed rebellion.

Topic: National News

11. Government approved grant of Rs 30 crore to Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management.

• Ministry of Cooperatives has approved and released one time grant-in-aid amounting to Rs.30 crore to establish Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) as a Centre of Excellence for Cooperative Education and Training.
• This amount will be used to create the necessary infrastructure for the students and trainees.
• The ministry said that the government is committed to the overall development and prosperity of the cooperative sector and the people associated with it.
• Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management was established in 1967.
• It is an apex center for cooperative management training, research and consultancy under the aegis of the National Cooperative Training Council, which is promoted by the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India.
• The Institute conducts cooperative training programs for the Presidents/Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers/Members of the Board of Directors of State and National Cooperative Federations and high-level officials of the State and Central Government.
• It also organizes training programs for cooperative sector officials from SAARC countries Ethiopia, Mauritius and other countries.

Topic: Sports

12. Peru has been removed as the host of the 2023 FIFA U-17 Men's World Cup.

• On 3 April, Peru was pulled out of hosting the men's Under-17 World Cup after FIFA said the country is not ready to hold the tournament later this year.
• FIFA has not named a replacement host for the 24-team tournament, which will be played from 10 November to 2 December.
• The decision comes one week after FIFA took the men’s Under-20 World Cup from Indonesia because it did not want to host Israel at its tournament in May.
• FIFA said it was showing that Peru was unable to meet the infrastructure needed to organize the tournament.
• In 2019, FIFA chose both Peru and Indonesia to host the respective 2021 editions of the tournament.
• Argentina wants to organize the Under-20 World Cup. This week, FIFA is expected to confirm a host nation.

Topic: Defence

13. Andaman & Nicobar Command conducted Joint Military Exercise ‘KAVACH’.

• India’s only tri-services Andaman & Nicobar Command conducted joint military exercise ‘EX-KAVACH’ on 5 April 2023.
• Various drills including amphibious landing, air landing operations, heliborne operations by soldiers were carried out during the exercise.
• Weapon systems of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, as well as Coast Guard, were deployed during the exercise.
• The main aim of the exercise is to improve joint warfighting capabilities and operational synergy.
• Assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard were involved in the exercise.
• Joint activities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance were also conducted during the exercise.
• This exercise was previously conducted in 2021 as AMPHEX-21.

Topic: Sports

14. New Zealand’s Kim Cotton becomes first woman on-field umpire in full-member men's international cricket.

• Kim Cotton became the first-ever female umpire to stand in a men`s international cricket match.
• Kim Cotton achieved this feat in the second T20I match between New Zealand (NZ) and Sri Lanka (SL) at the University Oval in Dunedin.
• She is a New Zealand cricket umpire. She was born in Auckland.
• She was named as one of the 12 on-field umpires for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20.
• She was also named as one of the on-field umpires for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.
• She has umpired in 16 women's ODIs and 44 T20Is.
• Claire Polosak is the first female umpire to stand in a men's international cricket in 2019 between Oman and Namibia.