Current Affairs 08,09& 10 OCT 2023

Daily Current Capsules

08,09 and 10 October 2023

CHAKRAVAT 2023

 

• It is an Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)Exercise (AJHE)
• First Edition – 2015
• Outcome of PM’s directive promulgated during Combined Commanders’ Conference-2015.
• The exercise has been conducted by Indian Army, Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF) in rotation since 2016. The last edition of the exercise was conducted at Agra by IAF.
• The 2023 edition of the exercise is being hosted by the Indian Navy at Goa from 09 to 11 Oct 23.
• CHAKRAVAT, has transformed itself into a multi-agency endeavour involving participation of all three Services, Paramilitary Forces, as well as several disaster response organisations, NGOs, academic institutions and international organisations.
• Developing collective and coordinated effective response mechanisms to address humanitarian crises and natural disasters are one of the most visible elements in India’s inclusive vision for the oceans – SAGAR, or Security And Growth for All in the Region.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1965929

Agriculture Science Congress

• Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurate the 16th Agricultural Science Congress (ASC)
• The primary aim of the ASC is to generate a scientific discourse around transforming India’s agri-food systems into sustainable enterprises to facilitate its benefit for generations to come.
• Organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), the Agricultural Science Congress is being held for the first time in Kerala, hosted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)

• NAAS is a Government of India-funded agency, established in 1990, and is a research platform in the fields of crop husbandry, animal husbandry, fisheries, and agro-forestry.
• It acts as a research base for agro-scientists to formulate their advice to the policymakers in discussion with the agricultural and agro-industrial communities.
• The Academy is located at the National Agricultural Science Centre Complex, Pusa, in New Delhi, India.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1965905

World Dyslexia Day

• World Dyslexia Awareness Day is a global initiative that seeks to shed light on dyslexia, a learning difference that affects millions of individuals worldwide.
• World Dyslexia Awareness Day is observed annually on October 8th.

Know! about Dyslexia

• Dyslexia is a common learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to read and write properly.
• Persons with Dyslexia are often unable to read quickly and write without committing errors. Persons with Dyslexia might struggle with reading, writing, vocabulary, and tasks that require hand-eye coordination.
• World Dyslexia Day raises awareness about these issues and what can be done to manage such a disorder.
• The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India is the nodal department to look after all the development agenda of Persons with Disabilities of the country.

Source

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=World-Dyslexia-Awareness-Day-2023&id=469100#:~:text=Today%20is%20World%20Dyslexia%20Awareness,from%202nd%20to%208th%20October.

State Visit of the President of Tanzania to India

 

Highlights of the Visit

• India and Tanzania are maritime neighbours with a long history of trade and people-to-people linkages therefore Tanzania has an important place in India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region).
• Both Nations expressed satisfaction over the first ever India-Tanzania Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance exercise conducted in July 2023
• India and Tanzania held bilateral maritime exercise in October 2022
• The Tanzanian side appreciated the hydrographic surveys of Tanzanian major ports done by India in recent years.
• The conduct of the maiden trilateral maritime exercise involving India, Tanzania and Mozambique in the Mozambique Channel during the visit of the Indian Naval Ship Tarkash in October 2022.
• The two leaders commended the signing of the Technical Agreement on sharing White Shipping Information between India and Tanzania.
• India and Tanzania agreed to cooperate under the framework of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
• India is amongst the top five investment sources for Tanzania
• Reserve Bank of India (Indian Central Bank) has cleared the way for trade using local currencies i.e. Indian Rupee (INR) & Tanzanian Shilling by allowing the authorized banks in India to open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVA) of correspondent banks of Tanzania
• 98% of agriculture product lines from Tanzania are imported tariff-free using India’s Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme
• Lines of Credits (LoCs) extended by India to Tanzania that amount to over USD 1.1 billion covering fields of drinking water infrastructure, agriculture and defence.
• Water Projects in 24 towns of Tanzania worth USD 500 Million through a Line of Credit scheme are presently being implemented. Once completed, it would provide easy access to safe drinking water to about 6 million residents of these regions.
• India offers 450 Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scholarships for capacity building and 70 Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships for long term programmes in 2023-24.
• The Indian side announced the decision to increase the number of Long term scholarships (ICCR) from 70 to 85 for the year 2023-24.
• As part of its commitment to the Global South, India also announced 1000 additional ITEC slots for Tanzania to be used over a 5-year period in new and emergent fields like Smart Ports, Space, Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence, Aviation Management, etc.
• The Indian side offered collaboration in areas of space technologies and digital public infrastructure under India Stack including Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Digital Unique Identity (Aadhar).
• The Tanzanian side welcomed Indian support for establishing a Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in Pemba, Zanzibar and designing courses based on the demands of the local market.
• The Indian side offered to set up vocational training institutions on the lines of Vocational Skilling Centres of India to provide training and skill enhancement to the Tanzanian youth.
• Tanzania commended the decision by India to set up two ICT Centres at Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology and at Nelson Mandela African Institute for Science & Technology (NMAIST) in Arusha.
• Both leaders affirmed the significance of establishing the first overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras in Zanzibar.
• They also agreed that IIT in Zanzibar has the potential to become the premier centre for technical education in the African continent.
• Both sides agreed to heighten cooperation in cultural exchanges and appreciated the signing of the Cultural Exchange Program for the 2023-27 periods.
• The Indian side extended an invitation to Tanzania to be a partner country in the upcoming Surajkund Mela to be held in February 2024 in Surajkund, Faridabad, National Capital Region of Delhi.
• The Tanzanian side thanked the Government of India for the deployment of two Kabaddi Coaches from India considering the rising popularity of the sport in Tanzania.
• The Indian side welcomed Tanzania’s decision to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA)

Source

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=World-Dyslexia-Awareness-Day-2023&id=469100#:~:text=Today%20is%20World%20Dyslexia%20Awareness,from%202nd%20to%208th%20October.

World Post Day

• World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October.
• The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) creation in 1874.
• The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post’s role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.
• The theme for World Post Day 2023 is Together for Trust : “Collaborating for a Safe and Connected Future”

Source

https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-post-day

Cotton Corporation of India launches “Bale Identification and Traceability System”

• The Ministry of Textiles marked World Cotton Day 2023 by hosting a conference centered on the theme of “Enhancing Quality & Productivity of Indian Cotton through Policy, Innovation, & Technology Upgradation.”
• This event was conducted in collaboration with the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and the EU-Resource Efficiency Initiative, an initiative by GIZ.
• The conference held on the eve of World Cotton Day, highlighted best practices and sustainable farming methods throughout the cotton value chain, spanning from Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.

Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS)

• To ensure that the quality, variety, origin, and other vital parameters of cotton are transparent to both Indian and international buyers, CCI launched the “Bale Identification and Traceability System” (BITS) using Blockchain Technology.
• Each cotton bale now carries a QR code that allows easy tracking of its original source, processing factory, storage details, and associated cotton quality information, including timestamps.

Kasturi Cotton program

• Additionally, the Ministry of Textiles introduced the Kasturi Cotton program, a premium certified quality cotton with traceability.
• TEXPROCIL, in collaboration with CCI on behalf of the Ministry of Textiles, is overseeing the implementation of this program.
• All ginners in the country are empowered to produce Kasturi Cotton following quality protocols.

Know! about

Cotton Corporation of India Limited

• The Cotton Corporation of India Limited or CCI is a central public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, engaged in diverse activities related to trade, procurement, and export of cotton.
• CCI is a public sector agency responsible for equitable distribution of cotton among the different constituents of the industry and aid imports of cotton.
• It was incorporated on 31 July 1970 under the Companies Act 1956.
• CCI is governed by Textile Policy 1985 issued by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

Know! about EU-REI

• The European Union – Resource Efficiency Initiative (EU-REI) is implemented on behalf of the European Union by a consortium led by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII) and Adelphi.
• The EU-REI aims to facilitate partnerships between Indian and European businesses and stakeholders on Resource Rfficiency (RE) and Circular Economy economy in sectors of interest.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1965490

India Art Architecture Design Biennale (IAADB ‘23)

• Ministry of Culture organized the curtain raiser event for the India Art Architecture Design Biennale (IAADB ‘23) at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi along with the Logo launch for the Biennale.
• The Ministry of Culture is hosting its inaugural India Art Architecture Design Biennale in December 2023

Know! about India Art Architecture Design Biennale

• The event will explore various themes through exhibitions and panel discussions, with each day centred around a specific theme, curated by experts in the field.
• The themes encompass topics such as doors and gateways, enchanting gardens, awe-inspiring stepwells, majestic temple architecture, modern wonders of independent India, the contemporary face of indigenous design, and the role of women in architecture.
• The India Art Architecture Design Biennale 2023 will serve as a precursor to India’s participation in the Venice Biennale 2024, fostering a comprehensive dialogue among practitioners and professionals in the realms of art, architecture, and design.
• The Biennale aims to bring traditional grassroots artists and contemporary designers, curators, architects, and thought leaders to the forefront, transcending age, gender, and genre boundaries.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1965635

World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day

• On the eve of World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, celebrated annually on October 8th, the Government of India held a half-day event to explore and leverage the boundless possibilities of hydrogen as a source of green and sustainable energy.
• The event, organized in New Delhi by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, in association with Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited, brought together hydrogen experts from the industry, academia, and government.

World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day

• It is a global initiative aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source, along with the versatile technology of fuel cells.
• This day serves as a platform to acknowledge the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells in addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, energy security, and environmental sustainability.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1965759#:~:text=Rs.%20400%20Crores%20R%26D%20Roadmap%20for%20National%20Green%20Hydrogen%20Mission%20unveiled&text=On%20the%20eve%20of%20World,of%20green%20and%20sustainable%20energy.

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri addressed 89^th General Council meeting of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

Know! about NCDC

• National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), a statutory corporation under the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India was established under an Act of the Indian Parliament on 13 March 1963.
• NCDC is involved in planning, promoting, coordinating and financing of cooperative development programmes at the national level.
• It provides financial and technical support to cooperative institutions of farmers and other weaker sections associated with agriculture and allied rural economic activities.

Source

https://www.ncdc.in

Nobel Prizes 2023

• The prizes in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, a wealthy Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite. The first awards were handed out in 1901, five years after Nobel’s death.
• Between 1901 and 2023, the Nobel Prizes and the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel were awarded 621 times to 1,000 people and organisations.
• With some receiving the Nobel Prize more than once, this makes a total of 965 individuals and 27 organisations.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023

• Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter”

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023

• Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman “for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19”

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

• Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov “for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots”

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2023

• Jon Fosse “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable”

The Nobel Peace Prize 2023

• Narges Mohammadi “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all”

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023

• Claudia Goldin “for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes”

Source

https://www.nobelprize.org/all-nobel-prizes-2023/

Scheme for Residential Education For Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA)

• The objective of SHRESHTA is to enhance the reach of development Intervention of the Government and to fill the gap in service-deficient SCs dominant areas, in the sector of education through the efforts of grant-in-aid institutions (run by NGOs) and residential high schools offering high quality education and to provide environment for socio economic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs).
• The Scheme is further modified to provide easier access to the meritorious SC students in the best schools in the Country for their Educational and Holistic Development, thereby securing their future opportunities.

The scheme is being implemented in two Modes:

• One is SHRESHTA schools, (Best CBSE/State Board affiliated Private Residential Schools), Under this, each year a specified number of meritorious SC students in States/UTs will be selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and admitted in the best private residential schools affiliated by CBSE/State Board in classes 9^th and 11^th for completion of education till 12^thstandard.
• Second Mode is NGO/VO operated Schools/Hostels (EXISTING COMPONENT), (Guidelines hereinafter applicable only for Mode 2 of the Scheme), Schools/Hostels run by VOs/NGOs and other organizations having higher classes (up to class 12) and who have been receiving Grant-in-aid will be continued, subject to satisfactory performance.

Source

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1965868#:~:text=The%20objective%20of%20SHRESHTA%20is,high%20quality%20education%20and%20to

3rd Global Maritime India Summit 2023

• GMIS 2023 is scheduled from 17th to 19th October at MMRDA Grounds, BKC, Mumbai.
• The 3rd edition of the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 is going to be much bigger and more inclusive than the previous two summits organized in 2016 and 2021 in terms of scale and participation.
• GMIS 2023 is expected to draw participation from more than 70 countries. A host of senior ministers from the UAE, South Africa, Armenia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Bangladesh, and Madagascar will be attending.
• The summit will host over 250 national and international speakers and CEOs
• Discussions are planned on regional cooperation in BIMSTEC countries, Chabahar and INSTC (International North–South Transport Corridor), Africa, Indo Pacific, Europe and the newly launched IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor).

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1965985

10^th India-Sweden Innovation Day meet

 

• India and Sweden recently celebrated the ’10th India Sweden Innovation Day’ with a special focus on the theme “Accelerating Green Growth” on October 9, 2023.
• This event marked a significant milestone in strengthening the bilateral ties between these two nations.

India-Sweden Innovation Day

• The India-Sweden Innovation partnership is built on a shared commitment to driving prosperity and tackling global challenges like climate change and sustainable development through innovation. Guided by the principles of co-funding, co-development, and co-creation, we aim to harness our complementary strengths for mutual benefit.
• This partnership builds upon the Joint Statement issued by our Prime Ministers in Mumbai in 2016, the Joint Action Plan agreed in Stockholm in 2018, and the India-Sweden Virtual Summit held on March 5, 2021.

Other Highlights

• Recently, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with the Swedish Government Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA), has announced the INDIA–SWEDEN Collaborative Industrial Research & Development call.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1965882#:~:text=A%20Memorandum%20of%20Cooperation%20(MoC,and%20Higher%20Education%20(STINT).

Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children 

• The ‘Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children’ has been launched during a national event at Vigyan Bhawan under the Chairpersonship of  Union Minister of Women and Child Development
• Malnutrition is a complex challenge necessitating collective action. Towards this objective, convergent efforts are required for achieving desired outcomes.
• Under the aegis of ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0’ of the MWCD, interventions to combat malnutrition are being orchestrated through a multi-sectoral approach in collaboration with key Line Ministries/Departments and with unwavering support and commitment from States/Union Territories.
• Identification of malnourished children and their treatment is an integral aspect of Mission Poshan 2.0.
• Identifying, treating and managing malnourished children at Anganwadi Centres and within communities and understanding when to refer them to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) or for medical help, are decisions highlighting the importance of close collaboration between the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare .

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1965940

Workshop on Art of Leadership Communication organized by Karmayogi Bharat

• Karmayogi Bharat, DoPT organized a workshop on ‘The Art of Leadership Communication’ for senior government officials from various Ministries/Departments
• Catering to one of the key skills needed for senior civil servants – ‘Effective Communication’ – the workshop was conducted with the objective to complement the Communication courses on iGOT Karmayogi Platfrm.

Know! about iGOT Karmayogi

• iGOT Karmayogi (https://igotkarmayogi.gov.in/), managed, governed, and operated by Karmayogi Bharat-DoPT, is a comprehensive online portal to guide government officials in their capacity building journey.
• The portal combines 6 functional hubs for online learning, competency management, career management, discussions, events and networking.
• More than 24 lakh learners from across the government spectrum are currently registered on the iGOT Platform having access to over 740 courses.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1965959#:~:text=Karmayogi%20Bharat%2C%20DoPT%20organized%20a,on%209%20th%20October%202023.

National Cyber Security Exercise ‘Bharat NCX 2023’

• Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, inaugurated the ‘Bharat NCX 2023’
• The 2^nd Edition of the National Cyber Security Exercise 2023 ‘Bharat NCX 2023’ will be conducted as a hybrid exercise over a period of twelve days from 09 to 20 October 2023 with the aim to train senior management and technical personnel of Government/Critical Sector organizations and Public and Private agencies on contemporary cyber threats and handling cyber incidents and response.
• The program is being conducted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Govt. of India in strategic partnership with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU).
• This flagship event serves as an unifying platform for over 300 participants, representing a diverse spectrum of government agencies, public organizations, and the private sector, all resolutely committed to the safeguarding of critical information infrastructure through training sessions, Live Fire and Strategic exercises.
• The participants will be trained on various key cyber security areas such as Intrusion Detection Techniques, Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP), Vulnerability Handling & Penetration Testing, Network Protocols & Data Flows, Digital Forensics, etc.
• Bharat NCX India will help strategic leaders to better understand cyber threats, assess readiness, and develop skills for cyber crisis management and cooperation.
• This will also help develop and test cybersecurity skills, teamwork, planning, communication, critical thinking, and decision-making.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1966198

ABHA-based Scan and Share service

 

• The National Health Authority (NHA) crossed a major milestone of generating more than 1 crore tokens for OPD registrations using ABHA-based Scan and Share service.
• The paperless service launched in October 2022 under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) allows patients to scan the QR code placed at the Out-Patient Department (OPD) registration counter and share their ABHA profile for instant registration.
• This service is currently active in more than 2,600 health facilities across 419 districts in 33 States and Union Territories of India.

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1966198

Pharmacopoeial Standards Harmonization

• The Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG) announced the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) as a PDG member during PDG Stakeholder’s meeting in Hyderabad.
• IPC officially joined as a member in the PDG at the PDG’s Annual Meeting which was held on October 3-4, 2023 in Hyderabad.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) also continues to serve as observer of the PDG.

Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG)

• The PDG, will now bring together the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP), the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) to harmonize global pharmacopoeial standards.
• The objective is to reduce manufacturers’ burden of having to perform analytical procedures in different ways, using different acceptance criteria, in order to satisfy pharmacopoeial requirements that vary across regions.
• PDG has defined harmonization of a pharmacopoeial monograph or general chapter as follows:

IPC’s Participation in PDG Pilot for Global Expansion

• IPC was only Pharmacopoeia body in the world to be selected for pilot phase initiated in September 2022.
• After reviewing each application, the PDG agreed by consensus, to start the pilot phase with the IPC, the only applicant that met all the requirements in the entry criteria for the pilot.
• This represented IPC’s continued commitment and capability to develop world class quality standards for drugs and pharmaceuticals.

Global Impact of IPC as PDG Member

• Inclusion of IP in PDG will significantly increase the visibility of the Indian Pharmacopoia on international platform.
• IPC’s inclusion in PDG will help in effort towards its recognition by other countries.
• Harmonization of Standards
• International Recognition
• Improved Regulatory Compliance
• Access to Global Markets
• Global Health Impact

Source

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1966349#:~:text=“A%20pharmacopoeial%20general%20chapter%20or,%2Freject%20decision%20is%20reached.”

New facilities at NIMHANS and new logo of Tele-MANAS launched

World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It

• National Mental Health Conclave organized by the Health Ministry to mark World Mental Health Day
• The Health Minister also virtually inaugurated new facilities at NIMHANS and launched the logo of Tele-MANAS.

Highlights

• The National Mental Health Survey was published in the year 2015-16 was a pioneering initiative that brought to light that 10 percent of the population is  affected by mental health issues
• The Union Health Minister emphasized that “use of technology in mental health care is a force multiplier, citing the example of National Tele-Mental Health Program (Tele-MANAS).”
• The Tele Manas Seva, launched last year on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, has counseled more than 3,50,000 people till date and currently provides counseling to 2000 people through 44 Tele Manas Cells.

Source

https://telemanas.mohfw.gov.in/#/home

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