Daily Current Affairs and GK | 7 March 2023

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Mirabai Chanu won the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award for the second time.

• Mirabai Chanu has won the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year (ISWOTY) award for the second consecutive time.
• She is the first person to win this award twice.
• For this year’s award, PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Nikhat Zareen were the other shortlisted contenders.
• Table tennis player Bhavina Patel received the BBC Para Sportswoman of the Year award. This category of the award has been introduced first time.
• Boxer Nitu Ghanghas has been selected as the ‘BBC Emerging Player of the Year’.
• ‘BBC Lifetime Achievement Award’ was conferred to Pritam Siwach, former Indian women’s hockey team captain.
• The women’s lawn bowls team of Lovely Choubey, Rupa Rani Tirkey, Pinki and Nayanmoni Saikia received the ‘BBC Changemaker of the Year Award’.
• The BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award was launched in 2019. It honours sportswomen in India who have made a significant contribution.

Topic: State News/ Chhattisgarh

2. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel presented a budget for the next financial year.

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel presented a budget of Rs 1,21,500 crore.
• The budget has been introduced with a motto of ‘Gadbo Nava Chhattisgarh’.
• The state government has made the highest allocation of 16.1 percent for education.
• Rs 19000 crore have been allocated to the school education department and 10, 379 crore has been allocated for the panchayat and rural development.
• The government has allocated Rs 25 crore for the "Naveen Yojana" for the welfare of the unemployed youth.
• The state government has announced to give financial assistance of Rs 2500 per month allowance to unemployed youths.
• It will be provided to those youths who have passed class 12 and are in the age group of 18-25 years.
• The government has increased pension from Rs 300 to Rs 500 for elders, widows and specially-abled under the Samajik Suraksha Pension Yojana.
• The government has increased Honorarium for employers at Anganwadi Kendras from Rs 6,500 per month to 10,000 per month.
• The government has allocated Rs 6,800 for the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana.
• Financial assistance under the Mukhiya Mantri Kanya Vivah Yojana has been increased from Rs 25,000 to 50,000.
• The government has allocated Rs 26 crore for the Nivesh Protsahan Yojana.
• 101 Naveen Swami Atmanand English medium schools to be opened. Rs 870 crore has been allocated for this purpose.
• Four new medical colleges will be opened in Manendragarh, Geedam, Janjgir Champa and Kabirdham districts.
• The government has also announced Rs 990 crore for the Dr Khoobchand Baghel Health Assistance Scheme.
• Rs 1,000 crores has been allocated for various infrastructure construction work in Urban Areas.
• Light metro service will be also launched from Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar to the Durg district.
• Under the Journalist Housing Loan Grant Scheme for the construction of townhouses, CM announced an interest subvention on housing loans up to Rs 25 lakh.

Topic: Banking System

3. RBI launched a mission to popularize digital payments among masses.

• On the occasion of Digital Payments Awareness Week 2023, the Reserve Bank of India has launched the mission 'Har Payment Digital' on 6 March.
• It aims to make every citizen a digital payment user.
• The awareness week will continue till March 12.
• The theme of the campaign is – “Digital Payment Apnao, Auron ko bhi Sikhao” (Adopt digital payments and also teach others).
• Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das said that the objective of “Har Payment Digital” is to make digital payments easier and more convenient for new users.
• He said that this would encourage people to adopt digital payments.
• He informed that from December 2022, more than one thousand crore transactions have taken place every month through payment systems in the country.
• He said that under the G-20 theme of promoting digital public infrastructure, the Regional Offices of the Reserve Bank will organize public participation programs to promote the acceptance and use of digital payments.
• The Reserve Bank will also launch '75 Digital Villages' program to mark the completion of 75 years of independence.
• Launching the Mission “Har Payment Digital”, the Governor appealed to – Banks, Non-Banking Financial Institutions, Payment System Operators, Digital Payment Users to adopt digital payments and educate others about the features of digital payments.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. A new programme, 'FinEMPOWER', launched by BSE & UN Women India at the Bombay Stock Exchange on 6 March.

• This is a one-year joint capacity building program between BSE and UN Women to empower women towards financial security.
• In commemoration of International Women's Day, BSE and UN Women India collaborated to organise the 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality ceremony,' which aims to accelerate BSE's investment in women leaders and entrepreneurs.
• Mr. Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD & CEO, BSE, along with Ms. Susan Ferguson, Country Representative of UN Women India, jointly rang the bell for gender equality.
• Corporates need to broaden their approach and look at diversity from different angles such as age, demographics, gender and geographies to meet the diverse needs of different sections of the society.
• More support is needed for women to become or remain financially independent and access much-needed funds.
• As economies begin to re-emerge, supporting women's businesses becomes essential.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Kerala

5. 'Attukal Pongala' festival celebrated in Thiruvananthapuram.

• 'Attukal Pongala' was organized at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala.
• Thousands of women devotees offered 'Pongala' to Maa Bhagwati on this occasion.
• The 'Attukal Pongala' festival is counted as the largest religious gathering of women in the world.
• Street-brick stoves are set up at various places in Thiruvananthapuram to cook 'pongala' (mixture of grated coconut, rice and jiggery) in earthen or metal pots.
• It is also known as the 'Women's Sabarimala', and making 'Pongala' is considered a sacred ritual in the annual festival of this temple.
• Only women are allowed to participate in it.
• In the year 2009, 25 lakh women took part in this festival. After which, this event got the distinction of being the world's largest religious gathering.
• For this reason, 'Attukal Pongala' was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records that year.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News /Madhya Pradesh

6. Tehsil Mauganj of Rewa became the 53^rd district of Madhya Pradesh.

• On March 4, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan declared Tehsil Mauganj of Rewa district as the 53rd district of Madhya Pradesh.
• It will be developed by including four tehsils of the Rewa district.
• The four tehsils include Mauganj, Hanumana, Nai Garhi, and Deotalab.
• Now there will be 8 districts in Vindhya region of the Madhya Pradesh.
• The residents of Mauganj had been raising the demand for a separate district for a long time when the Chief Minister announced in 2013 to develop Mauganj as a separate district.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the construction works to be done in the newly formed district and announced Rs 784 crore for the work.
• Shri Chouhan also transferred assistance amounting to Rs.605 crore to 27,000 beneficiaries of the Sambal scheme in the fund distribution program under the Sambal scheme.

Topic: National News

7. As per ACI, Delhi airport is one of the best and cleanest airport in Asia Pacific region.

• Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has won the award for Air Service Quality (ASQ) best airport for 2022 in the category of more than 40 million passengers per annum (MPPA).
• Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu has been adjudged as the best airport in Asia Pacific region by ACI in the category of 2 million passengers per annum.
• Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is operated by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) which is a GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd-consortium.
• Airports Council International (ACI) has named it as the cleanest airport in the Asia Pacific region.
• ACI is a not-for-profit organisation of airport operators. It was established in 1991. Its headquarters is in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Luis Felipe de Oliveira is the director general of ACI World.
• ASQ programme is world’s leading airport consumer experience measurement and benchmarking programme.

Topic: National Appointments

8. S S Dubey takes over as the 28^th Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance.

• S S Dubey is a 1989 batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer.
• Prior to this, he was Additional Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
• He has previously served as Chief Controller of Accounts in Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and as Controller/Deputy Controller of Accounts in Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of External Affairs, etc.
• Controller General of Accounts (CGA):
  • He is the Principal Advisor on accounting matters to the Government of India.
  • He is responsible for establishing and managing a technically sound Management accounting system and preparation and submission of accounts of the union government.
  • He is responsible for exchequer control and conduct of internal audits for the central government.

Topic: Indian Economy

9. India's per capita income has almost doubled since 2014-15.

• According to National Statistics Office (NSO) data, India’s per capita income has reached ₹1.72 lakhs in 2022-23 from ₹86,647 in 2014-15.
• India's per capita income has increased with a growth rate of 15.8%.
• For the years 2020-21 and 2021-22, Per capita income at the current prices was estimated at ₹1,27,065 and ₹1,48,524 respectively.
• After adjusting for inflation (constant prices), the per capita income has increased by 35 per cent from Rs 72,805 in 2014-15 to Rs 98,118 in 2022-23.
• From 2014 to 2019, the average growth of India's per-capita income was 5.6% per annum.
• Health, Education, and Economic and Social mobility have seen improvements.
• As per the NSO, the per capita income in both real and nominal terms have declined during the Covid period. It has improved in the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23.
• India has become the world's fifth-large economy by overtaking the United Kingdom.

Topic: Defence

10. Indian Navy’s INS Trikand is taking part in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 23 (IMX/CE- 23).

• More than 50 countries and international maritime agencies are taking part in International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23).
• It is being held from February 26 to March 16, 2023, in the Gulf Region.
• Indian Navy is participating in the IMX for the first time. Earlier, in Nov 22, INS Trikand had participated in the CMF led Operation Sea Sword 2.
• IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest maritime exercise in the world. It was hosted by the U.S Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT).
• 7,000 soldiers, 35 ships, and 30 unmanned and artificial intelligence systems are taking part in the exercise.
• It provided participants an opportunity to cooperate and highlight regional maritime security cooperation.
• The aim of exercise is to enhance ties with maritime partners in the Indian Ocean Region.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News /Uttar Pradesh

11. UP government announced exemption of road tax and registration fee in the state for buyers of electric vehicles.

• The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to exempt road tax and registration fees on purchase of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for three years from the 14th of October, 2022.
• According to the Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy 2022, 100 percent tax exemption will be given on electric vehicles (EVs) sold and registered in Uttar Pradesh till 13 October 2025.
• Even if the purchased electric vehicle is made in Uttar Pradesh, then also this benefit will be valid for five years.
• On behalf of the government, orders have been issued to all district RTOs to ensure compliance of the instructions with immediate effect.
• This facility will be available for all two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers, Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).
• The exemption given by the Uttar Pradesh government on electric vehicles is in addition to the subsidy given by the central government.
• The exemption being given by the Central and State Governments will bring down the cost of two-wheelers by up to Rs 20,000 and that of a car by up to Rs 1 lakh.
• With this decision of the government, the difference in registration of EVs in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will end and the rates will be the same in the state and union territory.
• As per the policy, a subsidy of 15% will also be given on the factory price of electric vehicles purchased in the state.

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

12. Ladli Bahna scheme launched to make women financially independent in Madhya Pradesh.

• On March 5, the ambitious Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana has been launched by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the occasion of his 65th birthday.
• Under the scheme, women will be given an amount of ₹1000 per month, which does not come under the purview of income tax.
• He also launched the theme song of the scheme.
• Under the scheme, women in the age group of 23 to 60 years will be given ₹1000 per month.
• This scheme will benefit only to those women whose annual family income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh or who have less than five acres of land.
• The scheme aims to increase the economic independence of women, improve their health and nutritional status.
• In Madhya Pradesh budget 2023 presentation in the assembly, a provision of Rs 8,000 crore has been made for this scheme.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

13. Vinod Kumar Shukla received 2023 PEN/ Nabokov Lifetime Achievement Award in International Literature in New York.

• He has won the award for lifetime achievement in literature. Some of his acclaimed novels and poetry include Naukar Ki Kameez and Sab Kuch Hona Bacha Rahega.
• Vinod Kumar Shukla is considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in the Hindi language. He is a senior writer from Chhattisgarh.
• He is the first Indian-Asian origin writer to win this prestigious award.
• He has earlier won the Sahitya Akademi award and the Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize.
• PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature is given annually by PEN America to an author whose work represents the highest level of literary achievement.
• It was founded in 2016 in collaboration with the Vladimir Nabokov Literary Foundation.
• The winner is given an amount of 50,000 dollars.
• Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (2022), Anne Carson, M. NourbeSe Philip, Sandra Cisneros, Edna O’Brien, and Adonis are some of the previous winners of PEN Award.

Topic: National News

14. Centre launched a first of its kind National Survey of Enemy Properties.

• The survey is being conducted on enemy properties spread across 20 states and 3 Union Territories.
• The purpose of the survey is to identify and eventually monetize all enemy properties left by people who acquired Pakistani or Chinese citizenship after war with these nations.
• The survey is being conducted by the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) and will assess the current condition and value of more than 12,000 properties recognised by the Office of Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI).
• Office of Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI) is a statutory authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs which is empowered to appropriate property in India owned by Pakistani nationals. It was transferred to Ministry of Home Affairs in 2007.
• The survey of properties has started with properties in Uttar Pradesh. Majority of enemy properties are located in Uttar Pradesh, followed by West Bengal and Delhi.
• There have been cases of encroachment or false claims over the enemy properties therefore, the government has decided to fast track the process of monetising these properties.
• Post Indo-Pakistan war of 1965, the Enemy Property Act was promulgated in 1968.
• Directorate General, Defence Estates (DGDE) is the headquarters of the Indian Defence Estates Service. It provides advisory inputs on all Cantonments and Land matters to the Ministry of Defence and other organizations under Ministry of Defence. It also ensures implementation of Cantonments Act 2006, Policies, Rules & Regulations and Executive instructions.