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Contents
1 GA IN NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 3
FIRST IN NEWS ..................................................................................................................................... 3
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES ................................................................................................................ 11
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES........................................................................................................... 38
MOUs AND AGREEMENTS.................................................................................................................. 48
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 54
DEFENCE ............................................................................................................................................. 55
ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................................................. 57
SPORTS ............................................................................................................................................... 71
AWARDS ............................................................................................................................................. 73
APPOINTMENT ................................................................................................................................... 78
PERSONS IN NEWS ............................................................................................................................. 80
BOOKS AND AUTHORS ....................................................................................................................... 83
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS......................................................................................................................... 83
PLACES IN NEWS ................................................................................................................................ 85
DAYS IN NEWS .................................................................................................................................... 86
MISCELLANEOUS ................................................................................................................................ 89

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1 GA IN NEWS
FIRST IN NEWS

Place / Developed by /
[Link] News Key Facts
Launched

India’s 1st of its kind Drone with Developed by: Eminent Air Private Aim: To improve the safety and
1.
Parachute Integrated System Limited reliability of the goods being delivered

Organized by: Madhya Pradesh Tourism

Asia’s 1st floating festival – Board (MPTB)
2. ‘Gandhisagar Floating Festival Held at: Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh Aim: To promote Gandhisagar as a
2023’ tourist destination in both the domestic
and international markets

Place: Chennai International Airport,

India’s 1st Multiplex within Chennai
3. --
Airport Complex
Launched by: PVR Cinemas

1st Female Prime Minister of

She succeeds Francisco Pascual Obama
4. Equatorial Guinea – ‘Manuela Place: Equatorial Guinea
Asue
Roka Botey’

1st woman fighter pilot of the

She participated in an air combat
Indian Air Force (IAF) to take
exercise with the Japan Air Self Defence
5. part in an aerial wargame Place: Japan
Force (JASDF) at the Japanese airbase
abroad – ‘Squadron Leader
of Hyakuri
Avani Chaturvedi’

First Indian-American President

She has been elected as the 137th
6. of Harvard Law Review- Apsara --
President of the Harvard Law Review
Iyer

India’s first Hydrogen Internal Developed by: Reliance Industries Limited

Combustion Engine (H2ICE) (RIL) under its Net carbon Zero vison. The truck was unveiled at India Energy
7.
technology solution for heavy- Week in Bengaluru, Karnataka
duty trucks Vehicle Partner: Ashok Leyland

Yaya Tso to be declared BHS under the

Proposed by: Biodiversity Management Biological Diversity Act.
Ladakh’s first proposed
Committee, the panchayat of
8. biodiversity heritage site (BHS)- Altitude of Yaya Tso: 4,820 metres
Chumathang village, and SECURE
Yaya Tso Lake
Himalaya Project Yaya Tso is also known as birds'
paradise

First Chief Executive Officer Gujarat Maritime Cluster (GMC) is the

9. (CEO) of the Gujarat Maritime -- first Commercial Maritime Cluster of
Cluster- Madhvendra Singh India

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 India’s First Voice, Visual, Aim: To provide banking access to
Vernacular Banking App for Launched by: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank people with limited reading and writing
10. skills
Digitally Challenged – ‘Hello (SFB)
Ujjivan’ Accessible in: 8 regional languages

Held at: Gurugram, Haryana

Organized by: Apparel Export Promotion This initiative in the form of a series of
First edition of ‘Upnext India
11. Council (AEPC) and Ministry of Reverse Buyer Seller meet under the
2023’
Commerce & Industry name of “UPNEXT INDIA” that kick starts
with Japan

India's first Artificial Intelligence

12. (AI) chatbot integrated with Launched by: Velocity --
OpenAI's ChatGPT – ‘Lexi’

First Hindu Girl from Pakistan

posted as assistant
13. -- --
commissioner- ‘Sana Ramchand
Gulwani’.

World’s first ‘super’ magnet to

14. test nuclear fusion power plant- Developed by: UK based Tokamak Energy --
‘Demo4’

India’s first electric air- Inaugurated by: Brihanmumbai Electric

15. conditioned (AC) double-decker Inaugurated at: Mumbai, Maharashtra Supply and Transport Undertaking
bus (BEST)

India’s first solid waste-to- To be set up at: Pune, Maharashtra

16. --
hydrogen plant To be setup by: TheGreenBillions Ltd

First Global Support Centre of

17. Location: Gurugram, Haryana ---
Boeing set up in India

World’s first satellite-based

two-way capable messaging
Introduced by: Qualcomm Technologies, The product was introduced at CES 2023
18. solution for premium
Inc at Las Vegas, USA.
smartphones- ‘Snapdragon
Satellite’

India's first fully automated

19. escrow management solution Launched by: Cashfree Payments --
for co-lending- 'Co-lend'

To be built by: GA Infra

India’s first National Metro Rail
20. Location: Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station --
Knowledge Centre
in Delhi

India’s 1st mobility focused Aim: To attract investments of around

21. cluster – ‘Telangana Mobility Launched by: Government of Telangana Rs 50,000 crore and generate more than
Valley (TMV)’ 4 lakh jobs in the next 5 years

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 Aim: To allow drone operators to plan
India’s First Traffic Management routes, make flight plans and assess
22. Launched by: Skye Air
System for Drones – ‘Skye UTM’ risks before running drone-based
operations in India

Launched by: Government of Uttar

First VFS Global Joint Visa Pradesh
23. Application Centre (JVAC) and Launched at: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
the VFS Global Academy Aim: To ease the process of visa
applications

First-ever ‘International Organized at: New Delhi SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated

Conference on Communication
Organized by: CSIR-National Institute of Societal Traditional Knowledge of
24. and Dissemination of
Science Communication and Policy India) Brochure was also released in the
Traditional Knowledge (CDTK -
Research (CSIR-NIScPR) conference
2023)’

Recently, the President of the United

States has nominated him for the role of
President of World Bank.
First Indian American
He presently serves as the Vice
25. nominated to lead World Bank- --
Chairman of General Atlantic, a US
Ajay Banga
private equity firm.

He previously served as the CEO of

Mastercard.

Kerala HC has passed two of its recent

First High Court (HC) in India to judgements in Malayalam.
26. publish judgement in vernacular -- The judgements were passed by a
language- Kerala High Court division of Chief Justice S Manikumar
and Justice Shaji P Chaly.

It has been officially registered in the

Guinness Book of World Records as the
world's highest Frozen Lake marathon.
India's first frozen-lake Organized at: Pangong Tso (lake), Leh
27.
marathon- ‘Last Run’ District, Ladakh The 21 Km Marathon started from
Lukung & ended at Maan village.

Height of Pangong Tso: 13,862 feet

First City in the United States to

28. ban caste discrimination- -- --
Seattle

The satellite was developed &

manufactured with Antaris’ end-to-end
cloud platform.
World’s first cloud-built
Launched from: Satish Dhawan Space The satellite was launched with the
29. demonstration satellite- JANUS-
Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh help of the Small Satellite Launch
1
Vehicle (SSLV)-D2 rocket developed by
the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO).

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 First heterogeneous swarm It is the world’s first operational high
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Delivered by: Bengaluru based NewSpace density swarming UAS (Unmanned
30.
(UAV)/ drone system delivered Research & Technologies Aerial System) induction for military
to Indian Army applications

India’s first indigenously

developed quadrivalent Human Developed by: Serum Institute of India
31. Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine (SII) and the Department of Biotechnology --
to prevent cervical cancer- (DBT)
CERVAVAC

North India’s first nuclear plant-

Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant Location: Gorakhpur village, Fatehabad The plants comprise two units of 700
32.
or the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu district in Haryana MWe capacity
Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP)

First company to enable Unified

Payments Interface (UPI) The facility has been initially extended
33. transactions for foreign -- to travelers from G-20 countries arriving
nationals visiting India- at select international airports.
‘EbixCash Limited’

The diving team of INS NIREEKSHAK

recently conducted the salvage
First ship to be awarded 'on the operations at a depth of 219 meters in
34. spot' Unit Citation in Indian -- the Arabian Sea.
Navy- ‘INS NIREEKSHAK’
It is the deepest salvage carried out in
the country's waters.

She will join fellow Saudi male

First Saudi Arabian Women astronaut Ali Al-Qarni on a mission to
35. Astronaut to go on a space -- the International Space Station (ISS).
mission - Rayyana Barnawi The astronauts will join the crew of the
Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) by Axiom Space

First Arab astronaut to spend six He is fondly known as "Sultan of Space".

36. months in space- Sultan al- --
Neyadi He is from United Arab Emirates (UAE)

India's first indigenously Developed by: Delhi Metro Rail

developed Train Control & Corporation(DMRC) & Bharat Electronics Developed under: ‘Make in India’ and
37. Supervision System- Indigenous Limited (BEL). ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives for
- Automatic Train Supervision (i- metro rail transit systems
ATS) System Launched at: Shastri Park, Delhi

Organized by: Sundarban Tiger Reserve

145 bird species spotted during the
38. First bird festival in Sundarbans (STR) division, West Bengal Forest
festival
Department

First Indian Cricket Team

Skipper to score century in all He achieved this milestone at the 2023
39. --
three formats of the game- Border-Gavaskar Test series.
Rohit Sharma

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 Launched as a part of Dr. APJ Abdul
Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission-
2023.
India’s first hybrid sounding Launched at: Pattipulam Village, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch
40.
rocket by private players Chengalpattu District of Tamil Nadu Vehicle Mission- 2023 was launched by
Martin Foundation, in association with
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International
Foundation and Space Zone India

First Indian president of

International Basketball He is the President of Basketball
41. --
Federation (FIBA) Asia- Dr K Federation of India (BFI).
Govindaraj

Organized by: Responsible Tourism

1st Global Responsible Tourism
42. Venue: Kumarakom, Kerala Mission of the Department of Tourism,
Summit
Government of Kerala.

INS Sindhukesari has been docked at

Jakarta for expanding military
First Indian Navy submarine cooperation with South East Asian
43. docked in Indonesia- INS -- nations.
Sindhukesari The submarine travelled through Sunda
Strait, which is between Java and
Sumatra

First temple to perform rituals

The temple performed the
with robotic elephant-
‘Nadayiruthal’ ceremony of the
44. Iringadanpally Sree Krishna --
mechanical elephant named
Temple in Thrissur district,
‘Irinjadapilli Raman’.
Kerala

Organised by: Ministry of Tourism in

association with Real Sports India,
45. 1st Snow Marathon in India Place: Bhaderwah (Guldanda), Jammu
Amazing Bhaderwah Tourism
Association (ABTA).

Participants: Ministry of Ayush,

Ministry of Ayush to organize Education, Health and Family welfare.
46. At Kaziranga National Park, Assam
its first ‘Chintan Shivir’ Focus areas: Digital health, Technology
and research

Azad Engineering located in Hyderabad

India’s first supplier of parts for Azad Engineering along with General
47. Parts will be assembled in Belfort,
nuclear turbines Electric (GE) steam power
France

Ministry of Science and Technology Venue: Manipur

International Biotech Conclave Organized by: Institute of Bio-resources

48. and Sustainable development (IBSD)
(1st ever in North east region)
Other events to be held along: 22nd
Congress of the international society for

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 Ethno-Pharmacology and 10th Congress
of society for Ethno-Pharmacology
Theme: “Reimagine Ethnopharmocology
: Globalization of traditional Medicine”

Additional information: India has developed four indigenous Vaccines - ZyCoV-D

World’s 1st and India’s indigenously developed DNA Vaccine, CORBEVAXTM- India’s
first protein subunit vaccine, GEMCOVAC™-19 - World’s 1st and India’s indigenously
developed mRNA vaccine and iNCOVACC-World’s 1st and India’s indigenously
developed intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine.

Technology Used: Bhutan National

Bhutans 1st digital citizen: Royal Digital Identity (NDI) mobile wallet.
49. Highness The Gyalsey (Prince) Country: Bhutan
Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck It will provide secure and verifiable
digital identities to citizens of Bhutan

It is set up by entrepreneurs Pankaj

North East India’s first-ever Place: Domora Pathar in Sonapur under Gogoi and Rakesh Doley under the
50.
compressed biogas plant project Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, Assam. banner of Redlemon Technologies
Private Limited

Kerala Government has achieved this

feat by launching Bandicoot- the
world's first robotic scavenger.
--
Bandicoot has been launched at
First state to use robotic
Guruvayur, Thrissur District.
51. scavengers to clean manholes-
Kerala Developer of Bandicoot: Genrobotics

Additional Information: Bandicoot, has won the 'Kerala Pride' award at the Huddle
Global 2022 conclave organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) at Kovalam,
Thiruvananthapuram.

1.1 1st Meeting of G20 Digital Economy Working Group

Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has organised the1st Meeting
of G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• Chairman: Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, MeitY.
• Co-chair: Shri Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary, MeitY

Key details
• Invited Countries (9) other than G20 Members: Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria,
Oman, Singapore, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Invited International Organisations (5): ITU, OECD, World Bank, UNESCO, and UNDP (These are also
knowledge partner).
• MeitY has launched various initiatives as a precursor to the first DEWG meeting:
o Stay Safe Online Campaign: To raise awareness among citizens of all ages about cyber risks and
how to protect oneself online.

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 o G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G20-DIA): To support and recognize innovative digital
technologies developed by startups from G20 countries.
o Digital India Mobile Van: Launched in February 2023 (By CM of Uttar Pradesh).
▪ Objective: To showcase the Digital India’s key initiatives to the citizens of India to relive
the Digital India journey.
▪ The van’s first tour will be in Lucknow in 45 pre-identified destinations.
• An exhibition along with virtual reality experience centre has been set up to showcase, how Digital India
has transformed the lives of people in India.
About DEWG
• It was formed in 2017 as Digital Economy Task Force (DETF) as part of the German G20 presidency with
the aim of promoting the implementation of a secure, interconnected, and inclusive digital economy.
o In 2021, it is raised to the Working Group Level.
• 3 priority areas identified by India: Digital Public Infrastructure, Cybersecurity in the Digital Economy
and Digital Skilling.
Additional information
• Global digital economy is estimated to be worth USD 11 trillion and It is expected to reach USD 23 trillion
by 2025.
• As per NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) and UNESCO, Global
economy could lose up to USD 11.5 trillion by 2028 due to the Digital Skills gap.

1.2 First meeting of Culture Working Group (CWG) of G20

Why in News?
• Recently, it was organised by Ministry of Culture at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
• Knowledge Partner: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Key details
• A consensus has emerged for 4 main themes proposed by India for Culture Working Group meeting of
G20. These are:
o Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property.
o Harnessing Living Heritage of Sustainable Future.
o Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy.
o Leveraging of Digital Technology for Protection and Promotion of Culture.
• As a part of the meeting, an exhibition “Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” has been organised by the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and National Museum Institute (NMI).
o Focus: On voicing repatriation stories of objects from across the globe.
• One of the important things displayed:
o The ‘Parrot Lady’ repatriated to India in 2015 by Canada.
About Culture Working Group
• Launched in 2021
• Aim: To strengthen international cooperation to support cultural and creative industries.
• It is one of the working groups of G20 under Sherpa Track.

Additional information
• G20 delegates also visited the following places:

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 o Adivart Tribal and Folk Art Museum in Khajuraho.
o Western Group of Temples, which is a UNCESCO World Heritage Site in Khajuraho.
o Panna Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)

1.3 1st Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG)
Why in News?
• Recently, it was organised by Ministry of Finance in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• It is the first Minister-level dialogue under India's G20 Presidency.
• Chair: Union Finance Minister and Governor of Reserve Bank of India.
Key details and outcomes
• Discussions in the meeting are intended to provide a clear mandate for the various workstreams of the
G20 Finance Track in 2023.
• FMCBG group agreed to enhance the international policy cooperation and steer the global economy
towards securing strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth.
1.4 First Meeting of Employment Working Group (EWG) of G20
Why in News?
• Recently, the first meeting of Employment Working Group (Under Sherpa Track) of G20 was organised
by Ministry of Labour & Employment at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Co-Chaired by: Indonesia & Brazil.

Key Details
• 3 Priority area for the meeting: Addressing Global Skills Gaps, Gig & platform economy and Sustainable
Financing of Social Security.

About EWG
• It was started as the G20 Taskforce on Employment in 2011 under the French Presidency.
• It was raised to Working Group level following the Leaders’ Declaration under the Australian Presidency
in 2014.
• It mainly discusses labour, employment and social issues to further develop strong, sustainable, balanced,
inclusive and job-rich growth.

1.5 Youth20 (Y20) Inception Meeting

Why in News?
• Recently, the first Y20 Inception Meeting was organised in IIT Guwahati, Assam.
• The White Paper on the five themes of Y20 was launched by the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and
Sports.
Key details about Y20 Group
• Established in 2012.
• It is one of the Engagement Groups Under G20.
• It provides a platform that allows youth to express their vision/ideas on the G20 priorities, and provide a
series of recommendations which are submitted to the G20 Leaders.
• it is the only officially recognized platform for young people to engage with the G20.

1.6 South India’s 1st Industrial Corridor Project, Tumakuru

Why in news?

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 • Honourable Prime Minister lays foundation stone to south India’s 1 st Industrial Corridor Project, the
Tumakuru Industrial Township, as a part of National Industrial Corridor programme .
Key details
• This project is a part of Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
• Project planned with holistic and integrated approach, in line with the principles of PM-Gatishakti.
• This will help in tackling the issue of last mile multi-modal connectivity to the economic zone.
• Tumakuru node will generate employment for around 88,000 people and attract investment of around
Rs. 7,000 crore over a period of 5-6 years.

Implementing Agencies
• National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) and Karnataka Industrial
Area Development Board, along with Special purpose vehicles (SPV).

National Industrial Corridor Development Programme

• Nodal agency: DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industries.
• Aim: To develop Greenfield manufacturing hubs and new industrial cities as “Smart Cities”.
• It includes 32 Projects in 4 Phases under 11 Corridors. (Delhi-Mumbai Industrial corridor was the 1st
corridor taken up for development in 2011).

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Initiatives / Programs in
[Link] Launched by / Developed by Key Facts
News

Digi Yatra is to be implemented at

Kolkata, Pune, Vijayawada and
Hyderabad Airports by March 2023
1. Digi Yatra policy Ministry of Civil Aviation This initiative has been launched for
biometric boarding system using Facial
Recognition Technology (FRT) built by
M/s Dataevolve Solutions

Launched Under: ECI’s Systematic

Election Commission of India (ECI) in Voter's Education and Electoral
collaboration with Subhash Ghai Participation (SVEEP) programme
Foundation Aim: To appeal to voters to cast their
'Main Bharat Hoon, Hum
2. vote and fulfil their Constitutional duty
Bharat ke Matdata Hain' Song

About SVEEP: It is the flagship voter education programme focused on inclusion

strategies and action plans for enhancing participation from all categories of voters
under ECI's motto of 'No Voter to be Left Behind.’

'Swasth Drishti Smriddh Kashi' Aim: To offer free cataract operations to

3. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
campaign the patients of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

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 Estimated cost: Rs. 80 crores per train
Indian Railways and ground infrastructure of Rs. 70
crores per route
35 Hydrogen trains under
4. “Hydrogen for Heritage”
About Hydrogen for Heritage: As a plan to modernize the heritage lines of Railway
initiative
with the latest technology, Ministry of Railways announced a plan to introduce
hydrogen power trains on its heritage lines in the 2nd half of 2023, calling it the
Hydrogen for Heritage plan

Chairman of the committee: PK Malhotra

(former law secretary)

Working Committee to draft Aim: To provide suggestions for setting

5. Ministry of Law and Justice various standards including,
rules for Mediation in India
certifications, accreditation, grading,
criteria etc, for various stakeholders
under the Mediation Bill, 2021

Aim: To enable two-way communication

Delhi Commission for Protection of Child
6. WhatsApp Chatbot ‘Bal Mitra’ between people and the child rights
Rights (DCPCR)
panel and eliminate the information gap

‘Mero Rukh Mero Santati’ Under this, 100 trees will be planted for
7. Government of Sikkim
(Plant a Tree, Leave a Legacy) every child born in Sikkim

Launched at: Indira Gandhi National

Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi

Ministry of Development of North Yuva Sangam is an initiative of Prime

8. YUVA SANGAM Portal Minister to build close ties between the
Eastern Region
youth of North East Region and rest of
India under the spirit of Ek Bharat
Shreshtha Bharat

Under the programme, training will be

offered to 2000 teachers on basic visual
Government of Goa, in partnership with acuity tests for the children in their
Vision for All School Eye Health
9. OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and respective schools.
program
Prasad Netralaya
It is an extension of Vision for All Goa
eye health program launched in 2021

Aim: to ensure safety and security of girls

Aarohini Initiative Training
10. Government of Uttar Pradesh in all 746 Kasturba Gandhi Balika
Programme
Vidyalayas (KGBV) in Uttar Pradesh.

Aim: To bring learning in the areas of

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and
IEEE C-DOT Certified Telecom Telecom including 5G, Cyber Security and
11. Electronics Engineers) and C-DOT (Centre
Expert Program (ICCTEP) Quantum Communication to bridge the
for Development of Telematics)
skill gap

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 It is a humanitarian assistance initiative
12. Operation Dost Government of India to aid earth quake-hit Turkiye (Turkey)
and Syria

It is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)/

Machine Learning (MI) based chatbot.
Unique Identification Authority of India It can be used to check Aadhaar
13. Aadhaar Mitra
(UIDAI) enrollment/update status, tracking of
Aadhaar PVC card status, and information
on enrollment centre location

It is a national level hackathon launched

All India Council for Technical Education to identify innovative ideas and
14. KAVACH-2023 (AICTE) and Bureau of Police Research technological solutions for addressing the
and Development (BPRD) cyber security and cybercrime challenges
of the 21st century

The app has been launched to fast track

the passport verification process.
15. mPassport Police App Union Ministry of External Affairs
The app will reduce the verification time
from 15 days to 5 days

Under the campaign, resources will be

shared in multiple Indian languages to
spread awareness on how to stay safe
online.
In addition, Meta has separately
launched DigitalSuraksha campaign to
Meta & Ministry of Electronics and offer a safer and more inclusive internet
16. G20 stay safe online campaign
Information Technology (MeitY) to everyone.
Under Phase I of DigitalSuraksha, Meta
has partnered with Delhi Police to
provide digital literacy to users in Delhi.
Both the campaigns have been launched
on the sidelines of safer internet day.

Recently, under the Mission, Indian

Railways has completed the
electrification of entire broad-gauge
network in Uttar Pradesh.
This milestone has been achieved
through the completion of electrification
17. Mission 100% Electrification Indian Railways of Subhagpur-Pachperwa Broad Gauge
(BG) route in North Eastern Railway.

With this, Six Zonal Railways. have been

fully electrified.

Also, Highly Utilized Network (HUN-5),

Jhansi-Muzzaffarpur-Katni has been fully
electrified

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 85% of Route Kilometers (RKMs) have
been electrified.
With this, Indian Railways became the
become the largest green railway
network in the world

Target of Mission 100% electrification: to electrify all of the broad-gauge routes by

December 2023.

Organized by: National Museum of

Natural History, New Delhi, a subordinate
Bringing the Cheetah Back to
18. office of Ministry of Environment, Forest --
India Awareness Programme
and Climate Change and its Regional
Museums

Organized by: Administrative Staff College

Capacity Building Programme
of India (ASCI), Hyderabad, in
19. for Senior Scientists in Effective --
collaboration with Capacity Building
Leadership and Creativity
Commission (CBC)

World’s largest Divyang park

Divyang Park- Anubhuti Ministry of Social justice and
In the city of Nagpur
inclusive park Empowerment
Contains facilities for all 21 disabilities.
20.
Vision: Inclusivity

Funding: Rs. 12 crore.

Indian Railways (IRCTC) Tour to take place during baisakhi.

Guru kripa yatra
Visit to famous Sikh shrines.
Through Bharat Gaurav tourist train
21. Duration: 11 days/10 Nights.
Starts from Lucknow on 5th April
Cost: 19,999/- per person

Union Ministry of Power, U.S. Agency for Aim: to modernise distribution of utilities
South Asia Distribution Utility
22. International Development (USAID) and in South Asia via knowledge sharing
Network (SADUN)
PFC among the region's discoms

Aim: To strengthen people-to-people

Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat connect and build empathy between
23. Ministry of Education
(EBSB) Yuva Sangam tour youth of the North Eastern States and
other States of our country.
Aim: To strengthen the people to people
connect, To build empathy between
Ministry of Development of North
24. Yuva Sangam youth of north eastern states and other
Eastern Region states, to organize exposure visits of
students/youths

Helps students in remote areas to access

25. Digital Library Gyan Kendra Ministry of education
to study material for competitive exams

During January,2023
26. Operation Narcos and AAHT Railway Protection Force (RPF) Authority to arrest traffickers: NDPS
Act,1984

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 [Link]: rescue victims of human
trafficking
[Link]: tackling the issue of narcotic
smuggling on railway network
1.7 Initiatives for Health Systems in Rural and Tribal Areas
Why in News?
• Recently, Union Minister of State for Health
and Family Welfare informed about the
health systems in Rural and Tribal Areas.

Key details shared

• Government of India has approved to
establish 22 AIIMS in various part of country
• Government has launched Indian Public
Health Standards (IPHS), 2022.
o It is the set of uniform standards to
provide norms and benchmarks for
delivering health services at health
facilities.
• Initially, IPHS were published in 2007.
• 15th Finance Commission has recommended grants aggregating to Rs. 70,051 Crores over the period of
five years (2021-2026) through local government to strengthen the healthcare system in states.

1.8 Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Disease

Why in News?
• Recently, the initiatives to eliminate Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) were mentioned in Parliament Budget
Session.

Key Information Shared

[Link] Particulars Key Information

Announced in: Union Budget FY 2023-24
Target year to eliminate SCD: 2047
1. Mission to eliminate SCD Focus Areas: awareness creation, universal screening of
approximately seven crore people in the 0-40 years age group in
affected tribal areas and counselling
2. State Haemoglobinopathy Mission Launched in Madhya Pradesh to tackle SCD

Integrated Centre for Hemophilia and Launched by the Madhya Pradesh Government in 22 Tribal Districts in the
3. Heoglobinopathies state.

1.9 Digital Portal for Crowd funding and voluntary donations for patients of Rare Disease
Why in news?
• An update on status of digital portal for crowd funding and voluntary donations for patients of rare
disease has been released by Department of Health and Family Welfare.

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Key details of the Update:
• 120 patients suffering from rare disease are financially supported under the programme.
• 11 Centers of Excellence identified to receive financial assistance from institutions under Corporate
Social Responsibility scheme.

Digital Portal:
• Lunched by: Department of Health and Family Welfare.
• Launch year: 2021.
• Under the mandate of: National Policy for Rare Disease, 2021.
• It is registered under section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

National Policy for Rare Disease: 2021

• Categorisation: policy has categorised rare disease in 3 groups.
• Group 1- Disease which need one time treatment.
• Group 2- These require lifelong treatment.
• Group 3- Treatment is available, but selection of beneficiary is challenging.

Financial support:
• Upto 20Lakh for Group 1 diseases.
• Assistance extend not just to BPL families, but to about 40% of the population who are covered under
Pradhan Manti Jan Arogya Yojana.
• Financial support will be provided under the umbrella scheme of Rastriya Arogya Nidhi and NOT PM-
JAY.

Additional information:

Rare disease:
• WHO defines rare disease as, <1/1000 number of people affected by a disease. In case of India this
number is, 1/2500.
• Prevalence in India: 7-8 crore people are affected.
• Top affected states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar.

1.10 Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme

Why in news?
• An update has been released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on status of the programme.
• Key details:
• A total of 17.27 lakh beneficiaries availed dialysis services till 31st December 2022.
• 1350 Dialysis Centers established in the country.

Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme:

• Launch year: 2016-17
• It ensures the availability of dialysis services free of cost to Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries at
the district hospitals.
• Implementing Agency: National Health Mission (NHM).
• Dialysis covered: Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis services.
• Identification of beneficiaries: done by States/UT through the annual Programme Implementation
Plans (PIP).

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 • Programme has implemented in all the 36 States/UTs in 641 districts at 1350 dialysis centres by
deploying 8871 haemodialysis machines as on 31st December 2022.
• National PMNDP portal: to ensure accessibility and portability under ‘Nation-One Dialysis’ concept.
• Launch year: May 2022.

1.11 National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular
Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)
Why in news?
• An update on status of Treatment of Lifestyle Ailments has been submitted by Department of Health
and Family Welfare.

Key details of the update:

• A population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common Non-Communicable
Disease (NCD) rolled under NHM (National Health Mission).
• Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres expanded services to include Comprehensive Primary
Health Care that caters to NCDs.
• 707 Districts NCD Clinics, 193 Districts Cardiac Care Units, and 5541 Community Health Centre NCD
Clinics set up under NPCDCS.

NPCDCS:
• Launch year: 2010
• Launched as a part of: National Health Mission (NHM).
• Technical and financial support to States by: Department of Health and Family Welfare.

Focus areas:
o Health promotion.
o Early diagnosis.
o Management and referral of cases.
o Strengthening the infrastructure.
o Targeted Population: Age of 30 Years and above

Funding:
• The funds are being provided to States under NCD Flexi-pool through State PIPs (programme
implementation plans) of respective States/UTs, with centre to state share in the ratio of 60:40
(except for North-Eastern and Hilly states, where the share is 90:10).

Initiatives to create awareness about Lifestyle Diseases:

• Observation of National and International Day.
• Promotion of Healthy eating through Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Fit India movement by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Various Yoga Initiatives by Ministry of Ayush.

Additional information:
Non-Communicable Disease (NCD)
• As per the India, ‘Health of the Nation’s states’ (ICMR study), Heart diseases were top cause of death in
India (28% of total deaths)
• Diseases includes: Cancer, Heart related issues, Diabetes and others.
• According to WHO, over 60 lakh people died due to NCDs in India in 2019.

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1.12 National Action Plan on containment of Antimicrobial Resistance
Why in news?
• AMR surveillance network of state medical college labs (NARS-Net) been established to generate quality
data on AMR.

Key details:
• NARS-Net has been launched to generate quality data on AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) for priority
bacterial pathogen of public health importance.

National Action Plan on containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR)

• Launch Year: 19th April, 2017.
• Launched by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Features:
• Antibiotics are included in schedule H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, and required be sold by retail
only under the prescription of a registered medical practitioner.
• Container of the medicine for treatment of food producing animals shall be labelled with the
withdrawal period of the drug for the species on which it is intended to be used.
• Sales and distribution of drugs are regulated under Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and rules by
respective states.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance?

• It occurs when Microbes change (mutate) and become resistant to the drugs and antibiotics used to
treat them.
Causes of AMR:
• Over-prescribing of antibiotics.
• Patients not finishing their treatment.
• Over-use of antibiotics on livestock and fish farming.
• Poor infection control in hospitals
• Lack of hygiene and poor sanitation

1.13 Tele-MANAS Scheme

Why in news?
• An Update has been submitted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding Tele-MANAS.

Key details of the Update:

• Rs. 120.98 crore has been allocated for National Tele-Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) for the year
2022-23.
• Tele-MANAS services are available in 20 languages, based on language opted by states.
• (Hindi, English, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Konkani, Marathi, Gujarati, Assamese, Bengali,
Odia, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Bodo, Dogri, Urdu, Manipuri, Mizo and Rajasthani.)
• Services under the Programme provided through 130 mental health professionals, 173 District mental
health program personnel and 580 Tele-MANAS counsellors.

Tele-MANAS:
• Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS).
• Objective: To provide free tele-mental health services all over the country, particularly to people in
remote or under-served areas.

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 • Launch year: October, 2022.
• Launched by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Nodal implementing Agency: NIMHANS, Bengaluru.
• Technology support by: National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC), IIT Bengaluru and IIT
Bombay.
• It includes network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence.
• Implementation: in 2 tiers.
o Tier-1- State Tele-MANAS cells, consists of trained counsellors and mental health specialists.
o Tier-2- Comprises specialists at District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) medical college
resources for Physical consultation and e-Sanjeevini for Audio-Visual consultation.

1.14 Sarva Dawa Sevan Campaign

Why in News?
• Recently, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched the Sarva Dawa Sevan or Mass Drug
Administration (MDA) campaign.
• Aim: to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in India by 2027 three years ahead of the global target.
• Launched in: High Burden Districts in Ten Focus States.
o Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha,
Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Under the campaign, Health workers will go door-to-door to administer anti-filaria medicine.

1.15 Swastha Mann, Swastha Ghar Campaign

Why in News?
• Recently, the following initiatives have been announced under the Swastha Mann, Swastha Ghar
campaign:
o Health Melas - will be organized
on 14th of every month in 1.56
lakh Ayushman Bharat – Health
and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs)
across India.
o Mega Cyclathon Event:
organized at all AB-HWCs.
o Cyclathon in Delhi: organized
under the theme ‘Cycle for
Health’ at Lady Hardinge Medical
College.

1.16 “eSanjeevani” crosses milestone of 10 crore consultations

Why in news?
• Recently, the eSanjeevani registered another landmark by providing teleconsultation services to 10 crore
beneficiaries.
Key details:
• More than 100 million patients are being served on the platform.
• Over 57% of Sanjeevani beneficiaries are women, around 12% beneficiaries are senior citizens.
• More than 1, 15,234 Health and wellness centres are operational.

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 • More than 5 lakh patients provided teleconsultation services in a day.
• eSanjeevani 2.0 will be rolled out, this version will include dimension of telediagnosis.
• This includes the integration of vast spectrum of Point of Care Diagnostic devices (PoCDs).

eSanjeevani:
• It is an integrated TeleMedicine solution.
• Aim: To provide specialized healthcare services through audio and video in rural and remote areas.
• Launch year: 2019 (as a part of Ayushman Bharat Scheme)
• Modes of Introduction: 2 modes
1. eSanjeevani AB-HWC: a provider-to-provider telemedicine platform.
o This connects the health workers and medical officers on health and wellness centres.
2. eSanjeevani OPD: a patient to provider telemedicine platform.
o It empowers citizens to access outpatient services in the confines of their homes through
smartphones of laptops etc.
• Top States in terms of Adoption of eSanjeevani: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttar
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat.

1.17 Suposhit Maa Initiative

Why in News?
• Recently, the Prime Minister has praised the initiative of ‘Suposhit Maa’, launched by Lok Sabha speaker
to keep every mother and child healthy.
• It also provides nutritional support to pregnant women and adolescent girls.

Key details
• It was launched in March, 2020 (1st Phase) in Kota, Rajasthan.
o In first phase, 1000 women were identified for nutritional support.
• nd
2 Phase was launched in May 2022.
o In this, 3,000 women will be given nutrition kits for 9 months with the help of public support and
health check-up will be done every month.

1.18 Global patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030

Why in news?

20 | P a g e
 • Recently Minister of state for Health and Family Welfare inaugurated the National workshop on
Accelerating Patient Safety in India.

Key details:
• Venue: New Delhi, Conducted By: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with World
Health Organization (WHO).

Global Patient Safety Action Plan: 2021-2030

• When: In 74th World Health Assembly meeting.
• Goal: To achieve the maximum possible reduction in avoidable harm due to unsafe health care globally.
• Seven strategic Objectives:
• Policies to eliminate avoidable harm in health care.
• High-reliability systems.
• Safety of clinical processes.
• Patient and family engagement.
• Health workers education and safety.
• Information, research and risk management.
• Synergy, partnership and solidarity.
• Involved agencies - Governments, Healthcare facilities and services, Stakeholders and The WHO
secretariat.

1.19 Regional Epidemiology Training Program National Conference of Southeast Asian Region
Why in News?
• Recently, Regional Epidemiology Training Program National Conference of Southeast Asia Region was
held at Rudraksh Convention Center, Sigra, Varanasi.
• Organized by: Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE).
• Apex co-ordinator for the programme: National Control of Disease Center (NCDC)

Key Highlight
• One India Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) Roadmap Document and CD Alert on Ebola Virus
Disease was released during the programme.

1.20 Jadui Pitara: A Teaching Material

Why in News?
• Recently, the Union Education Minister launched the Jadui Pitara.

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 Additional information
• The Department of School Education & Literacy has constituted a National Steering Committee to
develop the National Curriculum Framework for each of the stages.
o Chairman: Prof. K. Kasturirangan
Note: National curriculum framework has been covered in CurrentTap-December 2022 (Article: 2.14)

1.21 Age Alignment for Foundational Stage

Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of Education has directed states/UT to align their age of admission of children for
Grade-I to 6+ years.
Key details
• The foundational stage consists of 5 years (between 3 to 8 years of age) of learning opportunities for all
children that includes:
o 3 years of pre-school education (from age 3 to 6).
o 2 years of early primary Grade-I and Grade-II (from age 6-8).
• The National Education Policy 2020 recommends strengthening of learning of children at the
‘foundational stage’ as a national priority for the country
Additional information
• States have also been advised to initiate the process of designing and running a two years Diploma in
Preschool Education (DPSE) course in their State and UT.
o It is expected to be designed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).

22 | P a g e
 • Implementation through District Institute of Education & Training (DIETs) under supervision and hold of
SCERTs.

1.22 Sagar Parikrama

Why in News?
• Recently, Sagar Parikrama was mentioned in the Parliament Budget Session.

1.23 Jal-Jan Abhiyan

Why in News?
• Recently, the Prime Minister of India has virtually launched the Jal Jan Abhiyan in Abu Road in Sirohi
district of Rajasthan
• Initiative of: Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Brahma Kumaris Organization.
• Objective: to connect individuals with water conservation issues.
• Duration: The campaign will run for eight months to preserve more than 5,000 water bodies & construct
new water bodies across India.
• Target: to reach 10 crore people by organising 10,000 programmes through the campaign.

1.24 Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR)

Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has informed about the inter-living of Rivers in India.

Key details shared

• The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with the work of inter-linking of
rivers under National Perspective Plan (NPP).
• National Perspective Plan (NPP) for development of water resources was formulated by Government of
India in 1980.

23 | P a g e
 • NPP has two components, viz., Himalayan Rivers Development Component and Peninsular Rivers
Development Component.
o 30 link projects have been identified under NPP (16 under Peninsular component and 14 under
Himalayan component).
• First river interlinking project: Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP).
o States Involved: Uttar Pradesh (Betwa River) and Madhya Pradesh (Ken River).
o Budget allocation in FY 23 from Central Government: Rs. 1,100 crore.
o Implementation: By Centre and both the States jointly through a Special Purpose Vehicle (Ken-
Betwa Link Project Authority).
o The Government of India and Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed the
Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the joint implementation of the project in March 2021.
o The total amount spent on the project till 31.12.2022 is ₹ 7,665 crore (major funding coming from
Central Government).
o Estimated cost of Project: Rs 44,605 crore (year 2020-21 price level).
✓ It includes central support of Rs 39,317 crore through a Special Purpose Vehicle [Ken
Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA)].
o The project is planned to be completed in period of 8 years.
• The Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers (SCILR) in its 20th meeting approved the proposal of
integration of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) with the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link and
the Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link.
• It will particularly help in the drinking water needs of 13 districts of Rajasthan and 7 districts of Madhya
Pradesh.

1.25 SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA, 2023

Why in News?
• Recently, the first SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA for the year 2023 was organized at Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Information Shared

• The Government of India has proposed to create a Women Self Help Group (SHG) bank to fund the
innovative ideas and products of Didis (SHG Members).
• The Government of India has set a target to achieve 10 Crore SHG members by 2024.

About Saras Aaajeevika Mela

• Initiative of: Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY- NRLM).
• Objective: to bring the rural women SHG members in one platform to showcase their skills.

1.26 Initiatives for Female Workers

Why in News?
• Recently, the Initiatives by the Government of India for the welfare of female workers were discussed in
the Parliament Budget Session.

Key Information Shared

[Link] Particulars Key Details

1. Paid Maternity Leave Increased to 26 weeks from 12 weeks

24 | P a g e
 2. Creche Facility Mandatory for establishments having 50 or more employees

Working Hours for women workers in the For mines above ground- 7 pm to 6 am
3. above/ground mines including opencast
For mines below ground- 6 am to 7 pm

1.27 E-Shram Portal

Why in News?
• Recently, E-Shram Portal was mentioned in the Parliament Budget Session.

Key Information Shared

[Link] Particulars Key Details

1. Female workers registered on e-SHRAM Portal More than 15 crores

2. Percentage of female workers registered 52.80 %

1.28 Representation of OBC & ST

Why in News?
25 | P a g e
 • Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has shared the data on representation of Other
Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Caste (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Central Government & Higher
Education Institutions

Key Information Shared

• Representation of OBC against total appointment made through direct recruitment has been
consistently above 27% during 2014-2021.
• ST female enrolment in universities and colleges registered 63.4% increase in 2020-21 as compared to
2014-15.

1.29 Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA)

Why in News?
• Recently, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) dedicated a batch of 25 Addiction
Treatment Facilities (ATFs) to the nation under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

Key Details

Additional information
• The Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) programme is being coordinated nationally by the National Drug
Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, New Delhi.

26 | P a g e
 o The Ministry plans to have at least 125 districts covered under the ATF programme.
• Ministry has a budget of Rs.200 crore for the current year for Drug Demand Reduction.

1.30 Aadhaar for Electoral roll

Why in News?
• Recently, Union Minister of Law and Justice has informed about the role of Aadhaar in purification process
of the electoral roll.
Key details
• As per the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, the electoral registration officer may also require the
Aadhaar number for the purposes of authentication of entries in electoral roll.
• Therefore, Aadhaar is only one of several documents (Not Mandatory) for authentication and
identification for the purposes of purifying the electoral rolls.

1.31 Twenty Second Law Commission

Why in news?
• Recently cabinet chaired by the prime minister extended the term of 22nd Law commission, upto 31st
August, 2024.
• Term of present law commission was supposed to end on 20th February, 2023.

Law Commission:
• Law Commission of India is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body, it is an executive body
established by an order of the Government of India.
• Works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice.
• The first Commission was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833
• 1st time constituted in (Post Independence): 1955.
• Composition:
o A full-time Chairperson.
o Four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary)
o Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio Member.
o Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member.
o Not more than five part-time Members.
• Functions of Law commission:
o Repealing the obsolete laws.
o Suggest enactment of new laws to implement directive principles and objectives in preamble.
o Suggesting legal view to Government on various issues.
o Preparing and submitting the reports of the studies done on various issues.
1.32 PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)
Why in news?
• Recently Prime Minister chaired the meeting of 41st edition of PRAGATI.

Key details:
• PM reviews nine key infrastructure projects spread across 13 states having cumulative worth over Rs.
41,500 crores.
• He advises on using PM Gatishakti portal for planning and reviewed Mission Amrit Sarovar as well.
27 | P a g e
 PRAGATI:
• It is a platform which enables the Prime Minister to discuss the issues with the concerned Central and
State officials with full information and latest visuals of the
ground-level situation. Union
• It is also a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e- Governm
accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the ent
key stakeholders. Secreteri
• Launch year: 2015 PM es
• Launched by: Prime Minister Office (PMO) in collaboration with O
National informatics centre (NIC).
Chief
Secretarie
• PRAGATI Day- On 4th Wednesday of every month.
s of the States
• It is a three tier system.
• It uses three latest technologies: Digital data management,
video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology.
Objectives of PRAGATI:
• Grievance Redressal.
• Programme Implementation.
• Project Monitoring.
• It strengthens the Cooperative federalism.
• It is a multi-purpose and multi-modal platform that is aimed at addressing common man’s grievances,
and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects.

1.33 New security mechanism for Aadhaar authentication

Why in News?
• Recently, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Ministry of Electronics & IT has
successfully rolled out a new security mechanism for Aadhaar based fingerprint authentication, and
faster detection of spoofing attempts.

Key details
• It is based on artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)
• It is a two factor/layer authentication using a combination of both finger minutia and finger image to
check the liveness of the finger print captured.
Additional information
• By the end of December 2022, cumulative number of Aadhaar authentication transactions had crossed
88.29 billion (an average per day transactions of 70 million).

1.34 Initiatives of Defence Production

Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of Defence informed about the production and initiatives for self-reliance in
Defence manufacturing.
• Target of Government: Achieving defence manufacturing worth Rs. 1,75,000 Crore including defence
exports of Rs. 35,000 Crore by the year 2024-25.
Key Initiatives

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 • Notification of 4 ‘Positive Indigenization Lists’ of total 411 items of Services and 3 ‘Positive
Indigenization Lists’ of total 3738 items of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
• Liberalization of Foreign Direct Investment policy allowing 74% FDI under automatic route.
• Launch of SRIJAN Portal to facilitate indigenisation by Indian Industry including MSMEs.
• Opening up of Defence Research & Development (R&D) for industry, startups and academia with 25%
of defence R&D budget.

Key Figures
• Value of production undertaken by private companies, DPSUs and other PSUs in defence sector in 2021-
22 is Rs 94,846 crore.
• Value of indigenous procurement of defence equipment (both Capital and Revenue) by the three Services
(Army, Navy & Air Force) in 2021-22 is Rs 86,078.06 crore.

1.35 Textile Advisory Group for Manmade Fibre (MMF)

Why in News?
• Recently, the Union Minister for Textiles hosted the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Textile
Advisory Group for MMF at New Delhi.
• Members: Senior Officials from the Ministries of Textiles, Commerce and Petroleum & Natural Gas;
industry associations and councils.

1.36 National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT)

Why in news?
• A reply has been submitted by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry regarding projects under
National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust.
Key details:
• In total 8 projects have been sanctioned under NICDIT.
• National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT)
o Under the aegis of: Department for promotion of Industry and internal trade (DPIIT).
o Function: Act as implementing agency for National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
o Objectives: To expand the industrial output, Increase employment opportunities, Provide better
living and social facilities.

1.37 Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

Why in news?
A reply has been submitted by Minister of state for Commerce and Industry regarding industrial growth.
Key details:
• As per IIP the Industrial growth during 2021-22 was 11.7 per cent over the corresponding period of the
last year, Whereas during:
2009-14 (Base year: 2004-05) 2014-19 (Base year: 2011-12)

3.4 3.2

IIP (Index of Industrial Production)

• Released by: National Statistical office (NSO).

29 | P a g e
 • IIP is an Indicator that measures the changes in volume of production of Industrial products during a given
period.
• Measures Industry Groups classified as, Broad Sectors: Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.
• Use-based Sectors: Basic goods, Capital goods, and Intermediate Goods.
• Base year: 2011-12 (Changed in 2017, from 2004-05 to 2011-12).

Additional information:
• Index of Eight Core industries (ICI): released by Office of Economic Advisor (OEA), Department of
Industrial Policy and promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It measures combined and individual performance of production in 8 core industries.
• These comprise 40.27% of weight of items included in the IIP.
• Eight core industries in Decreasing order of their weightage:
o Refinery products > Electricity > Steel > Coal > Crude Oil > Natural Gas > Cement > Fertilizers

1.38 Occupational Safety, Heath and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020
Why in news?
• Recently a reply has been submitted by Minister of state for Labour and Employment regarding status of
Migrant workers.
Key details:
• Inter-State Migrant workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 has now
been subsumed in Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020.

Key-Provisions of OSH Code, 2020:

• Only one registration for one establishment.
• Improve ease of doing business.
• Grievance redressal mechanism, protection from abuse and exploitation.
• Appointment letter made statutory.
• Free of cost annual health checks-up for employees.
• Decent working conditions and Minimum wages.
• Women permitted to work in night shifts, after their prior consent.

1.39 Information Technology Exports from India

Why in news?
• Recently an information is shared by Minister of state for Electronics and IT about the growth in exports
of information technology from India, which is provided by NASSCOM.
Key details:
• As per the Data shared by National Association of Software and services Companies (NASSOM), total
amount of IT export from the county during last 3 years is as follows,
FY 2019-20 $ 150 Billion

FY 2020-21 $ 151 Billion

FY 2021-22 $ 178 Billion

Government measures to increase the Information Technology export:

30 | P a g e
 1. Software Technology parks in India (STP) Scheme:
o Under the Aegis of: Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)
o It is a 100% export oriented.
o Objective: Development & export of computer software, including export of professional services.
2. Special Economic Zones (SEZ):
o Launch year: by SEZ Act, 2005. And supported by SEZ Rules.
o Objective: Promotion of export of goods and services, creation of employment opportunities and
generation of additional economic activities.
3. Future skills PRIME (Programme for Re-skilling/Up-skilling if IT Manpower for Employability):
o Launch by: MeitY in collaboration with NASSCOM.
o It is an ‘Aggregator of aggregators’ Platform comprising various online skills providers for digital
skill training.
o Re-skilling and up-skilling of IT professionals in 10 new emerging technologies, like 3D Printing
and others.
4. National Policy on Software Products-2019:
o Objective: To develop India as global software product hub and creating robust Indian software
product development ecosystem.

Additional information:
• IT sector contributes 7.4% to the GDP of India.

1.40 Ease of Doing Business in India

Why in news?
• Recently a reply has been submitted by Minister of state for commerce and Industry about the initiatives
taken up by the government to improve the ease of doing business.

Key details:
• Aim: To extend the benefits to all entities/sectors/industries and startups.
• Focus areas:
o Simplified procedure for application,
renewals, inspection, record filing, etc.
o Rationalizing the laws by repealing,
amending or subsuming the redundant
ones.
o Digitization by creating online interfaces
eliminating manual forms and records.
o Decriminalization of minor technical or
procedural defaults.

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 Regulatory reforms specific to Startups:
• 53 Key regulatory reforms outlined for startups.

1.41 Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo Service

Why in news?
Recently Indian Railways and Indian Post have formally launched Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo
Services.

Key details:
• Joint initiative by Indian Railways and Indian Post.
• It is a part of Budget Announcement of 2022-23.
• Pilot mode: March 2022, from Surat to Varanasi.
• Initial phase: Services are to start in 15 sectors, launching at 4 locations.
i. Delhi to Kolkata
ii. Bengaluru to Guwahati.
iii. Surat to Muzaffarpur.
iv. Hyderabad to Hazrat Nizamuddin.
• Salient Features of the Services:
o For the first time tariff on the basis of per Kg of the goods per Kilometre has been determined.
o Door-step pick-up and delivery.
o Flexibility of Quantum of Load.
o Time tabled Services.
o Safe Transmission.
o Insurance (at 0.03% of cargo value).
o Affordable tariff.
o Single point of contact.
• Mobile Application (Facilitates online payment, tracking status of consignment, booking the
consignments).
•

Note: National Geospatial Policy has been covered in CurrentTap- December 2022 (Article: 2.129).

1.42 National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET)

Why in News?
• Recently, the transfer of technology has taken place of indigenously developed Smart Energy Meter &
Electric Vehicle Charger under NaMPET.

About NaMPET
• It is a National level Research & Development (R&D) Programme.
• Launched in 2004.
• Launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Vision: To provide the country with capability to become a dominant player in Power Electronics
Technology at the global level
• Nodal Agency: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Ministry has initiated the NaMPET Phase-III in January 2019 for five years.

About Smart Energy Meter

• Developed by: C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram under NaMPET as per Indian Standards

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 • This technology was transferred to Shri Anil Mahashur, Chairman & Shri Virendra Kumar, Managing
Director, Pragati Electrocom Private Limited.
About Electric Vehicle Charger
• Developed by: C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram under NaMPET as per Bharat EV AC Charger (BEVC-AC001)
specifications and AIS-138 standards.
• This technology was transferred to Shri Nimish Swadia, Director, M/s Electronic System and Shri S.
Nagarajan, Founder & MD, M/s Vellore Electronics and Systems Private Limited, Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

1.43 Initiatives for Aviation Sector

Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation shared about the various initiatives and important figures of
Aviation Sector.

Key details shared:

• National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP 2016):
o Target:
▪ Domestic ticketing to 30 crore by 2022 and 50 crore by 2027.
▪ International ticketing to 20 crore by 2027.
▪ Cargo volumes to 10 million tonnes by 2027.
• New MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) guidelines: Released in September, 2021.
o It provides for the allotment of land at AAI (Airport Authority of India) airports through call of
open tenders without levy of any royalty or cess of whatsoever nature to MRO operators.
• Liberalised Flying Training Organisation (FTO) guidelines:
o The Airport royalty (revenue share payment by FTOs to AAI) has been abolished.
o Land rentals have been rationalised to encourage setting up of FTOs to address the shortage of
pilots in the country.
• Capital expenditure of approximately Rs 98,000 crore in the next 5 years have been taken up by AAI and
other airport developers.
o Objective: For development of new and existing airports.
• Under Greenfield Airport Policy, 2008 of the Government, 'in principle' approval has been accorded for
setting up of 21 Greenfield airports across the country.
o So far, 10 airports have been operationalized.

1.44 Government-e-Marketplace (GeM)

Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of commerce has shared information about GeM portal.

Key details
• As on 1st February 2023, GeM has achieved a milestone of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore of Gross Merchandise Value
(GMV) in FY23 alone.
o By this rate, it can achieve its ambitious target of Rs. 1.75 lakh crore.
o Cumulatively, GeM has surpassed the Rs. 3 lakh crore GMV since inception.
• The total number of transactions on GeM: Over 1.3 crore.
• GeM has over 66,000 government buyer organisations and more than 58 lakh sellers and service
providers.

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 o Over 13 lakh sellers are registered on the GeM to sell their products directly to various
Government departments and organizations.
• Based on various studies, the minimum savings on the platform are about 10%, which translates into a
savings of over Rs. 30,000 crore worth of public money.
News 2
• Recently, the Ministry of Textiles has informed that, so far, about 1.50 lakh handloom agencies/weavers
and 26,644 artisans have been on-boarded on the GeM portal.

1.45 Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030

Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has informed about the Maritime India Vision
(MIV) 2030 in Rajya Sabha.

Key details shared:

• MIV 2030 estimates the investments to the tune of Rs. 1,00,000–1,25,000 crore for capacity
augmentation and development of world-class infrastructure at Indian Ports.
• At present, India does not have ports to deal with Ultra-large container ships.
• The upcoming ports at Vizhinjam (Kerala) and Vadhavan (Maharashtra) have natural drafts in excess of
18m that would deal with ultra large container and cargo vessels.

About MIV 2030

• Formulated by: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Aim: To ensure coordinated and accelerated growth of maritime sector in the next decade.
• It has identified 150+ initiatives across 10 themes which will propel Indian maritime sector.
• It will work across 6 key guiding principles.
• It envisions an overall investment of Rs 3,00,000-3,50,000 Cr.
• It will help in unlocking Rs. 20,000+ Cr worth of potential annual revenue for Indian Ports.
• it is expected to create an additional -20,00,000+ jobs in the Indian maritime sector.

1.46 Operation SADBHAVANA (Goodwill)

Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of Defence has informed about the Operation Sadbhavna.

Additional information
• ‘Kargil Ignited Minds’: It is an initiative of Ministry of Defence in Collaboration with Hindustan Petroleum
Corporation Ltd (HPCL) exclusively for girl students of Kargil.
o Objective: For preparation for various competitive examinations for admissions into various

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1.47 Best Tourism Village Competition Portal and Rural Tourism Portal
Why in News?
• Recently, the Union Minister for Tourism launched the ‘Best Tourism Village Competition Portal’ and
‘Rural Tourism Portal’.
Key details
• Competition Portal is launched to select the best tourism village across the country.
o It will be held in three stages (district level, state level, national level).
o The evaluation criteria have been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key information shared by Union Minister at the occasion

• Over 1 crore foreign tourists had come to India in 2019 before covid.
• In 2022, Jammu & Kashmir received around 1.84 crore tourists breaking all previous records since
Independence.
• The Ministry of Tourism has been working with Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs
for easing of the Visa Regime in the country to facilitate seamless travel.
o e-Visa regime was launched in 2014 (subsequently e-Tourist Visa).
o At present, the e-Tourist visa facility is available for the nationals of 165 countries.
• The Ministry had introduced National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI), a technology
driven system for providing services to Hospitality and travel industry.
• The Government introduced International Tourism Mart (ITM) in 2014 with focus on promoting tourism
in North Eastern region.
• Dekho Apna Desh initiative was launched in January 2020.
• Ministry has also launched a program for Yuva Tourism Club across the country to provide youth with
better understanding of their culture, heritage and tourism by engaging in a variety of activities.
• Target: To make India USD 1 trillion tourism economy by 2047 with 100 million international visitors.
Additional Information

35 | P a g e
 • Tourism Ministry will be organizing 1st Global Tourism Investors’ Summit in May 2023 in New Delhi.
o Aim: To showcase investible projects and opportunities in tourism and hospitality sector in India
to domestic and international investors.

1.48 Mission Antyodaya Survey, 2022-23

Why in news?
• Recently Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj inaugurated the “Mission Antyodaya
Survey” (MAS) at Delhi.

Key details of the Event:

• Launch year: 2017-18 under the aegis of Ministry of Rural Development.
• The Mission will ensure effective utilization of resources through convergence of various government
schemes with a focused Micro plan for sustainable livelihood for each marginalized household.

Where will the survey be conducted?

• In all 2,69,253-Gram panchayats and equivalent, whose profile has been created on e-Gram Swaraj.
• The Survey-2022 Questionnaire has 183 indicators and 216 data points covering 21 areas and has been
translated in 13 regional languages.
• A total of 26 Central Government Ministries/Departments have been consulted for finalization of
questionnaire.

Details of Survey:
• Questions are categorized into 5 stream:
1. Panchayat infrastructure.
2. Panchayat Services.
3. Village infrastructure.
4. Village Services.
5. Village practices.
• 21 Sectors Covered under Survey.
• Survey is in line with SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), 2030. It will help in attaining the UN goal of
“No one is left behind”.

1.49 Mission Amrit Sarovar

Why in news?
• Recently more than 30,000 Amrit Sarovars dedicated to the country in a short span of Nine months.

Key details:
• 60% of targeted 50,000 Sarovars by 15th August 2023 completed.
• Significant achievement of Ministry of Rural Development with ‘Jan Bhagidari’ as its core.
• Excavated soil/silt being used to raise infrastructure projects in the vicinity.

Mission Amrit Sarovar:

• Launch year: April 2022 on the occasion of 75th year of Independence, as a part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit
Mahotsav’.
• Target: Construct/Rejuvenate at least 75 Amrit Sarovars in each district across the country. In total
50,000 Amrit Sarovars by August, 2023.
• Aim: To overcome the water crisis in rural areas of the country.
• ‘Whole of Government’ approach is the soul of this mission.
• Convergence of 6 Ministries.

36 | P a g e
 1. Ministry of Rural Development.
2. Ministry of Railways.
3. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
4. Ministry of Jal Shakti.
5. Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
6. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change.
• Technical support by: National Institute of Space Application and Geo-Informatics (BISAG-N).
• Various Public and CSR Bodies have also been participating in the mission.

Additional information:
• India contains 17% of the world population but only 4% of the world’s fresh-water resources.
o Components of water stress/scarcity: Availability, Quality, Accessibility.
o Composite water management Index by NITI Ayog: talks about water stress at state level.
• According to NITI Ayog’s Index, 54% of India faces High to Extremely high water stress situation.

1.50 AirSewa Portal

Why in News?
• Recently, AirSewa Portal was mentioned during the Parliament Budget Session

About AirSewa Portal

• A grievance redressal portal managed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

1.51 National Diagnostics Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0)

Why in News?
• Recently, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) launched the National Diagnostics
Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0).
• Aim:
o To boost India's preparedness for current and future pandemics and scale up diagnostics space
for infectious diseases (Including Covid 19).
o To set a global model for capacity building in the diagnostics domain in lower- and middle-income
countries to meet the twin goals of affordability and accessibility in the United Nations vision for
universal health coverage.
Key details
• Anchored by: C-CAMP with support from the Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster (BLiSc).
• Funded by: The Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and FIND, a global alliance for
diagnostics.
Additional information
• Indigenisation of Diagnostics (InDx) initiative was launched in July 2020.
• C-CAMP was conceptualised by Department of Biotechnology in 2009 as an enabler for research and
innovation in the life sciences.

1.52 National Emergency Life Support (NELS) modules

Why in news?
• A reply has been submitted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding paramedical force in India.

Key details of modules:

37 | P a g e
 • Targeted Group: Doctors, Nurses and Paramedics.
Aim:
• Capacity building of doctors, nurses and paramedics integrated under Central Sector scheme, Human
Resource Development for Emergency Medical Services.
• Hands-on skill-based training of paramedical personnel and emergency medical technicians.
• Modules are in line with the Standardized norms approved by National Health Mission (NHM).
• Modules are being developed under the provisions of National Commission for Allied and Healthcare
professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021.

NCAHP Act, 2021.

• Act provides for creation of National commission for allied and healthcare professionals (NCAHP).
Functions of the commission:
• Creation and maintaining an online and live central register with details of academic qualifications.
• Training, skill and competencies of Allied and healthcare professionals related to their professions as
specified in the schedule.

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

INTERNATIONAL SUMMITS

[Link] Focus Area Venue Key Facts

10th International Indian Kochi, Kerala Organizer: Material Recycling

Material Recycling Conference Association of India (MRAI)
1. (IMRC 2023)
Key Information Shared: Scrap usage in
primary steel production in India to
increase from 15% to 50% by 2047

World Government Summit

2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates Theme: “Shaping Future Governments”
2023

Organizers: Union internationale des

chemins de fer (UIC) or International
Union of Railways (UIC) & Railway
Protection Force (RPF)
Theme: "Railway Security Strategy:
Responses and Vision for Future"

Sub-themes: “Protecting Critical Assets

& Freight”, “Human Security Approach”,
3. 18th World Security Congress Jaipur, Rajasthan
“Best Railway Security Tools & Practices
across the World” and “Vision 2030”.
Sanjay Chander Director General of
RPF, has taken over as the Chairman of
the International UIC Security Platform
from July 2022 to July 2024.

Jaipur declaration was adopted at the

Congress.

38 | P a g e
 The declaration highlighted the
commitment of UIC to work towards
providing a more safe and secure rail
network across the globe, by also fully
activating the Asia-Pacific, Latin America
and African regional assemblies by 2025

Organized by: Union Ministry of

th
12 World Hindi Conference External Affairs & Government of Fiji
4. Fiji
(Vishwa Hindi Sammelan) Theme: “Hindi – Traditional Knowledge
to Artificial Intelligence”

Hosted by: Times Group

Economic Times Global
5. Delhi Theme: "Resilience. Influence.
Business Summit
Dominance”

Organized by: India’s G20 Secretariat &

the United Nations India Country Office
G20 Model Meeting for school
6. New Delhi
students Theme: “Youth for LiFE”

It is the first official Model G20 event

BioAsia 2023 (20th Edition) Hyderabad, Telangana It is Asia's largest Life Sciences and
Healthcare Convention.
Host: Government of Telangana
7.
Theme: 'Advancing for One to celebrate
the spirit of collaboration and
promoting human prosperity'.

Materials for Sustainable Deliberation between G20 countries and Future roadmap on G20 cooperation
Energy other International organizations and knowledge sharing
8.
Focus on: Solar energy, photovoltaic
technology and materials.

NATIONAL SUMMITS

[Link] Focus Area Venue Key Facts

14th Aero India International Organized by: Defence Research and

Seminar – ‘‘Aerospace and Development Organization (DRDO) in
9. Bengaluru, Karnataka
Defence Technologies-Way association with the Aeronautical
Forward’ Society of India (AeSI)

Organized by: Department of Posts,

Ministry of Communications
Roundtable Conference and Theme: Postal Services - a tool for
10. Panel Discussion on Postal New Delhi Global Socio-Economic development
Services and Connect
Aim: To recollect the critical role the
postal sector is playing to drive socio -

39 | P a g e
 economic development around the
world

19th Annual Zone III Gangtok, Sikkim --

Conference of Commonwealth
11.
Parliamentary Association
(CPA) India Region

Chintan Shivir on 'Drugs: Hyderabad, Telangana Organized by: Ministry of Health and
12. Quality Regulations & Family Welfare
Enforcements'

Organized by: Union Ministry of Health

National Organ & Tissue & Family Welfare
Transplant Organisation
13. New Delhi Key information shared: India has
(NOTTO) Scientific Dialogue
2023 witnessed a 27% annual increase in
organ transplantation.

SemiconIndia Conference of
Organized by: Ministry of Electronics &
14. Electronics Manufacturing Delhi
Information Technology
Supply Chain Ecosystem

Aim: To strengthen their defence

Washington DC, United States of America partnership with an emphasis on co-
Inaugural Meeting of US-India
production and co-development
initiative on Critical and
15.
Emerging Technologies (iCET)
About iCET: Indian Prime Minister and US President jointly announced the iCET in
2023
2022 to strengthen and broaden the strategic technology partnership and defence
industrial cooperation

1.53 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

News 1
• Recently, the 2nd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Young Scientist Conclave was hosted by
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Event Organizer: Department of Science & Technology (DST)

Key Information Shared

• The Prime Minister of India has coined the term ‘HEALTH’, which means-
o Health-care cooperation, Economic cooperation, Alternate Energy, Literature and Culture,
Terrorism free society, Humanitarian Cooperation.
• India ranks 3rd in the world in terms of number of Start-Ups & number of publications respectively.

News 2
• Recently, a seminar on “Building capacities among Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) partner
nations through skill training and new generation of entrepreneurs” was organised in New Delhi.

Key details
• Organised by: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

40 | P a g e
 • Objective: To strengthen the capacities of aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses through skill-
based capacity building on the usage of IT platforms.
Additional information
• India began its association with SCO as an observer state in 2005.
• India became a member state of SCO in 2017.
Note: SCO has been covered in CurrentTap- January 2023 (Article: 2.29)

1.54 G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill

Why in News?
• Recently, the Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), inaugurated the
G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill under India’s G20 presidency.
• Objective: To counter cyber challenges/ Cyber-attacks.

Key details
• Conducted by: Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
• Participants: More than 400 domestic and international participants.
• Strategic Table-Top Exercise (TTX) and Operational Drill were also conducted using CERT-In Exercise
Platform.
• Two TTX was conducted are on the following themes:
o Synergy to counter Global Cyber Crisis: It is for Board & Top Management focused on Crisis
Management & Crisis Communication.
o Building Collective Cyber Resilience: It was for CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) and Mid-
management.

About CERT-In
• It was established in 2004.
• As per the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008, It is the national Nodal Agency for responding
to Cyber Security Incidents.

1.55 G-20 Education Working Group (EdWG)

Why in News?
• Recently, the first G-20 Education Working Group (EdWG) Meeting was organised in Chennai, Tamil
Nadu.
• Chairman of EdWG: Shri. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary Higher Education.

Key details
• The EdWG was established in 2018 during Argentina’s Presidency.

1.56 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER9)

Why in News?
• Recently, India hosted the 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER9) in association with the
International Energy Forum (IEF) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Theme: Mapping new pathways for energy security, inclusive growth and energy transitions.
• It was organised on the sidelines of India Energy Week 2023.

41 | P a g e
 Key details
• It is a platform for dialogue between producers, consumers & International Organizations to join and
debate energy issues which confront the Asian and the global energy sector.

Key information shared by Union Minister at the event

• The share of Asian Economy in global GDP has risen from 38% to 45% and is likely to exceed 50% by 2030.
• Asian Economy has grown at the average rate of 5.5% over the preceding two decades and registered
growth of 6.5% in 2021.
o it is expected to moderate to 4% in 2022 amid an uncertain global environment and rise to 4.3%
in 2023.
• India has met its commitment of 40% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy sources
by 2030 in November 2021.
• India will support battery energy storage system with capacity of 4,000 MWH through Viability Gap
Funding.
About IEF
• It is the world's largest international organization of energy ministers from 72 countries (Including India)
and includes both producing and consuming nations.
• Established in 1991 (Headquarter/ Secretariat: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).

1.57 Negotiating round of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

Why in News?
• Recently, India hosted the special negotiating round (2nd) for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
for Prosperity in New Delhi.
• The round covered IPEF Pillars II (Supply Chains), III (Clean Economy), and IV (Fair Economy).
• Chief Negotiator of India: Shri Rajesh Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce.

Additional information
• Previous round (1st) was held in Brisbane, Australia, in December 2022.
Note: IPEF has been covered in CurrentTap-December 2022.

1.58 G-20 Tourism Working Group Meeting

Why in News?
• Recently, the Union Ministry of Tourism has organized the first G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting
from in Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.
• The meeting was organized as a part of India’s G20 Presidency.

Key Information Shared

• Five Priority Areas in the Tourism Sector during India’s G-20 Presidency
o Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs & Destination Management.
• Three Mega Events to be organized under G20 Tourism track
o First Global Tourism Investors’ Summit (GTIS) by Ministry of Tourism at New Delhi
o G20 CEO Forum alongside the Ministerial Meeting by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)
and WTTC (India initiative) at Goa.

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 o MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) Global Conference by Ministry of
Tourism.
About G20 Tourism Working Group
• Established in: 2020.

1.59 Agriculture Deputies Meeting of Agriculture Working Group

Why in News?
• Recently, the 1st Agriculture Deputies Meeting (ADM) of Agriculture Working Group (AWG) under
India’s G20 Presidency was held at Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• Organized by: Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Key Information Shared

• Demand for food grains will increase to 345 million tonnes by 2030.
• The Prime Minister of India has named Millets as Sri Ann.
• United Nations declared 2023 as International Year of Millets.

About G20 Agriculture Deputies Group

• Established in: 2011.

1.60 G-20 EMPOWER Inception Meeting

Why in News?
• Recently, the G20 Alliance for the Empowerment and Progression of Women’s Economic
Representation (EMPOWER) Inception Meeting was held at Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• Theme: Empowering Women to Lead Across Sectors: Role of Digital Skilling and Future Skills.

About G20 EMPOWER 2023

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development; Chair: Dr Sangita Reddy
• Three Focus Areas:
o Women's Entrepreneurship: A win-win for Equity and Economy
o Partnership for promoting women's leadership at all levels including at grassroots
o Education, the key to women’s empowerment and equal workforce participation.
• Aim: to accelerate women’s leadership and empowerment in the private sector.

1.61 Environment & Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting

Why in News?
• Recently, the first G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting was
held at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Meeting Led by: Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Key Outcome: G20 members agreed to work towards three priority areas:
o Arresting Land Degradation, Accelerating Ecosystem Restoration and Enriching Biodiversity
o Promoting a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Blue Economy
o Encouraging Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy.
Key Highlights

43 | P a g e
 • Inception report of the technical study on ‘Accelerating the transition to Sustainable & Climate
Resilient Blue Economy’ was presented by the Indian G20 Presidency.
• Indian G20 Presidency, in collaboration with Japan, will be publishing the 5th report on actions against
marine plastic litter under the G20 Framework for Marine Plastic Litter.
• India has proposed to convene an Ocean 20 dialogue.

1.62 Urban 20 Inception Meeting

Why in News?
• Recently, the inaugural City Sherpa Meeting of the 2023 Urban 20 (U20) Engagement Group /6th U20
Cycle was held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• Organized by: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
• Six Priority Areas
o Encouraging environmentally responsive behaviour
o Ensuring water security
o Accelerating Climate Finance
o Leveraging ‘local’ potential and identity

About U20
• It is an engagement group under the G20.
• It brings together city sherpas, mayors and representatives from cities in G20 countries, to deliberate key
urban challenges and inform the G20 negotiations.
• Chair city for U20 2023: Ahmedabad

1.63 ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) Meeting

Why in News?
• Recently, the 3rd Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Digital Ministers (ADGMIN)
meeting with India was held
virtually.
• Theme: “Synergy Towards a
Sustainable Digital Future”.
• Key Outcome: India-ASEAN
Digital Work Plan 2023 was
approved in the Meeting.

1.64 NIELIT's International

Conference on
Communication, Electronics
and Digital Technologies (NICE-DT 2023)
Why in News?
• Recently, the 1st International conference on Communication, Electronics and Digital Technologies (NICE
DT 2023) was organised by the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) in
New Delhi.

44 | P a g e
 o Aim: To prepare strategy for developing “Global Future Ready Workforce”.
• As a precursor to the DEWG (Digital Economy Working Group) meeting, 1 st international conference on
Digital Skilling was also organised under NICE-DT 2023.
o It is a lead of event of G20.
About NIELT
• Established in 1994 (Headquarter: New Delhi).
• It is an autonomous Scientific Society of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Objective: To carry out Human Resource Development and related activities in the area of Information,
Electronics & Communications Technology (IECT).
o NIELIT has trained around 8 million candidates in the last ten years.
• Courses on technologies like Robotics, Data Science, Blockchain, Information System Security, VLSI, Cyber
Forensics etc. are delivered through NIELIT Virtual Academy.

Additional information
• 1st International Journal of Digital Technologies was also unveiled at the occasion.

1.65 MoU for Maritime Security between India and Seychelles

Why in News?
• Recently, the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC),
Seychelles.
• Aim: To promote collaboration between the two centres towards enhancing maritime domain
awareness, information sharing and expertise development.

About IFC IOR

• It was established in 2018 by Government of India at Gurugram, Haryana.
o Hosted by: Indian Navy.
• Aim: To enhance collaborative maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean Region in line with
India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
• It has established linkages with several multinational maritime security centres.
• IFC-IOR also hosts International Liaison Officers (ILOs) from partner nations.
o Till date, the Centre has hosted ILOs from 12 partner nations.

Additional information
• The Maritime Security Architecture in the Western Indian Ocean is implemented by the Indian Ocean
Commission (IOC).
o It is supported by the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC), the RCOC and the
national centres of the 7 signatory countries (Comoros, Djibouti, France, Kenya, Madagascar,
Mauritius, and Seychelles).

1.66 G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) Meeting

Why in News?
• Recently, the 2nd G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) Meeting has been organised in
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Co-chaired by: Shri Ajay Seth, and Dr Michael D. Patra, Deputy Governor, RBI.

45 | P a g e
 Key details
• It is under the finance track of G20, which focuses on economic and financial issues.
• The finance track is led by Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of G20 countries.

Additional information
• The 1st meeting was organised in December 2022 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Hosted jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India.

1.67 Womens 20 (W20) Inception Meeting

Why in News?
• Recently, it was organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) under India’s
G20 presidency in Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar), Maharashtra.
• Theme: ‘Pursuit of gender equality, equity and dignity for women-led development’.
About W 20 group
• It is an official engagement group under the G20.
o It was established during the Turkish presidency in 2015.
• Objective: To realize Gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in G20 discussions and G20
Leaders’ Declarations.
• W20, 2023 aims to ensure that the W20 communique is representative and comprehensive and will
provide solutions to enhance the status of women across the globe.
• Five priority areas of W20 under India’s Presidency include:
o Women in Entrepreneurship,
o Women Leadership at Grassroots,
o Bridging the Gender Digital Divide,
o Education & Skill Development
o Women & Girls as change makers Climate Resilience Action.
• W-20 India has adopted the 4C strategy of Collaboration, Cooperation, Communication to build
consensus and Call to Action to achieve its mission and goals.
• Chair of W20 India: Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Additional information
• As per Union Minister of MoWCD:
o Out of the 3 million women across the world who are appointed to political offices at the
grassroots level, 1.4 million women are from India.
o Around, 100 million women in India are also part of the workforce in the agricultural sector.
o A coffee table book called “Avvaya" highlighting the contribution of women to the heritage city
of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar was also launched.

1.68 UAE-India Business Council (UIBC)

Why in News?
• Recently, India & the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have launched the UAE India Business Council - UAE
Chapter (UIBC-UC).

46 | P a g e
 • The launch of UIBC-UC
coincides with the first
anniversary of the
signing of the
Comprehensive
Economic Partnership
Agreement (CEPA)
between India & UAE.
• Target: to increase non-
oil bilateral trade to USD
100 billion and attract
USD 75 billion in
investment from the UAE
to India.
• UIBC-UC will be the counterpart organization for the UIBC India Chapter.

1.69 15th edition of ELECRAMA

Why in News?
• Recently, it was organised by the Indian Electrical and Electronics
Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA) in Greater Noida.

Key details
• ELECRAMA is the flagship showcase of the Indian Electrical Industry ecosystem and the largest
standalone show in the electrical and allied equipment arena.
• Theme: Reimagining Energy for Sustainable Future.

Key information shared by Union Minister at the occasion

• Electrical Industry Target: To achieve exports worth USD 25 billion in next 5 years.

Additional Information
• IEEMA was established in 1948.
o It is the apex association of manufacturers of electrical, industrial electronics and allied
equipment in India.

1.70 National Conference on “Geospatial Policy for National Development”

Why in News?
• Recently, it was organised by Department of Science and Technology in New Delhi.

Key details shared by Union Minister at the Occasion

• The Troika of Space, Drone and Geospatial Policy will propel India as a pre-eminent Technological Power
in a few Years from now.
• Indian Geospatial economy provided employment to around 5 Lakh people in 2021.
o It is expected to rise over 10 lakhs by 2025.
• The Survey of India will provide the baseline for collection and collation of Data by the private sector for
strengthening the Geospatial Infrastructure.

47 | P a g e
 MOUs AND AGREEMENTS

BANKING/INSURANCE

[Link] Focus Area Signed Between Key Facts

Work order to provide 4G LTE

(Long-Term Evolution) Work Order issued by: State Bank of India Order Cost: Rs 253.35 crore
1. connectivity to offsite Work Order issued to: RailTel Corporation Operation & Maintenance Period: 5
Automated Teller Machines of India Ltd. years
(ATMs)

Partnership to train for a virtual

2. HDFC Bank & NIIT --
relationship

Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) and Aim: To allow users to link their RuPay
Partnership to introduce ‘RuPay
3. National Payments Corporation of India credit cards to the Unified Payments
Credit Card on UPI’
(NPCI) Interface (UPI) infrastructure

MoU to provide financial Aim: To cater to the banking

services to corporate customers requirements of European corporates
4. ICICI Bank and BNP Paribas
operating in the India – Europe operating in India and Indian
corridor companies in the European Union

Support self-employment and New Delhi NSDC (National skill development

augment entrepreneurial skills corporation) partnered with HDFC Life
and opportunities, and
It is under the Skill India Mission
5. strengthen the last mile reach
NSDC work under the aegis of Ministry
of skill development and
entrepreneurship

Project: Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link

Project (III)
Loan Amount: JPY 30.755 billion (Rs.
1,728 crore approx.)
Official Development Provided by: Japan
6. Assistance (ODA) to India Project: Establishment of Mizoram State
Super-Specialty Cancer and Research
Centre
Loan Amount: JPY 9.918 billion (Rs. 560
crore approx.).

OTHERS

[Link] Focus Area Signed Between Key Facts

MoU to enable Primary Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Aim: To increase the business activities
7. Agricultural Credit Societies Electronics and Information Technology, of PACS and help them to become self-
(PACS) to provide services National Bank for Agriculture and Rural sustaining economic entities

48 | P a g e
 offered by Common Service Development (NABARD), and CSC e-
Centres (CSC) Governance Services India Limited

MoU to build training modules

for Indian Spaceflight Program, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
8. using augmented reality (AR), & Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), --
virtual reality (VR) & mixed Madras
reality (MR) technologies

Department of Agriculture and Farmers

Aim: To explore the opportunities to
MoU to tackle climate change Welfare (DA&FW) under the Ministry of
harness innovation to improve food
9. and support India’s small holder Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and The
security, address climate change, and
farmers Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the
allow farmers to increase their incomes
University of Chicago

Australian Trade and Investment Aim of both MoUs: To collaborate on

MoU for Technical Vocational
10. Commission (Austrade) and Technical and Vocational Education and
Education and Training Courses
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Training (TVET) programmes

Austrade and Leather Sector Skill Council

11.
(LSSC)

Aim: To develop Palm Oil Cultivation in

Government of Nagaland and Patanjali
12. MoU on Palm Oil Cultivation the state as per the National Mission on
Foods Limited
Edible Oil- Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

MoU to open Bihar’s 1st Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna UAV Training centre approved by:
13. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Delhi-based Drone Destination Directorate General of Civil Aviation
training centre Private Limited (DGCA)

Trilateral partnership for The trilateral initiative is to work as a

India, France, and the United Arab
14. cooperation in defence, energy, forum to encourage the creation and
Emirates (UAE)
and technology implementation of joint projects

The platform will host a digital library of

curated content to farmers on time and
MoU for developing a National Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers upskill the extension workers for
15.
Interactive Digital Platform Welfare and Digital Green agriculture, horticulture, fisheries,
livestock and rural livelihood missions
through certified online courses

Aim: To establish digital forensic

Directorate General of GST Intelligence
MoU for setting up of digital laboratories as well as collaborate in
16. (DGGI) and the National Forensic Sciences
forensic laboratories research and training programmes and
University (NFSU)
provide technical assistance

Statement of Intent (SoI) to

Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell
strengthen cooperation in field Aim: To enhance global energy security,
17. (PPAC) and International Energy Agency
of data and research in energy stability, and sustainability
(IEA)
sector

Partnership to deploy
18. Council of Scientific and Industrial --
technologies for
Research (CSIR) and National Council of
implementation by industry and

49 | P a g e
 facilitating the entrepreneurs in Scientific and Technical Research
Argentina (CONICET) of Argentina

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)

Aim: To promote the adoption of
Partnership to promote energy and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth
19. energy efficiency and sustainable
efficient practices Triangle Joint Business Council (IMT-GT
practices in the region
JBC)

Contract to procure 41 Modular Bridges designed and developed by:

Ministry of Defence and Larsen & Toubro
20. Bridges for the Corps of Defence Research & Development
(L&T)
Engineers of the Indian Army Organization (DRDO)

MoU for development of NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) and Aim: To collaborate for Development of
21. renewable energy-based Hindustan Petroleum Corporation grid connected and/ or off-grid
projects Limited (HPCL) Renewable Energy based Power Projects

MoU for imparting Post

Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy
Graduate Diploma in
(IGNFA), Dehradun and National Law
22. Environmental Law (PGDEL) to --
School of India University (NLSIU),
Indian Forest Service (IFS)
Bengaluru
Officer Trainees

MoU to set up'hPod'- health Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) & India MoU signed under InvestUP
ATMs in Uttar Pradesh Health Link programme.

23.
Additional Information: India Health Link would be establishing a manufacturing
plant in the UP’s first Medical Device Park at Yamuna Expressway Industrial
Development Authority

Loan Approval to increase Loan Approved by: Asian Development Loan Amount: USD 130 million (over Rs
agricultural productivity and Bank (ADB) 1,072 crore).
24. promote horticulture
agribusinesses to raise farmers'
income in Himachal Pradesh.

MoU to set up 'Industrial Department of Collegiate and Technical Under the MoU, IoT Innovation Labs will
Internet of Things Labs' (IoT Education (DCTE), Karnataka and be established across in 35 Government
25.
Innovation Labs) Samsung Semiconductor India Research Polytechnics across Karnataka.
(SSIR)

Partnership to promote
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and
research and development in
26. Samsung Semiconductor India Research --
the field of on-chip electrostatic
(SSIR)
discharge (ESD) protection.

MoU to supply Liquefied

NOVATEK (Russia) & Deepak Fertilisers
27. natural gas (LNG) & low-carbon --
(India)
ammonia

Partnership to Train Rural Reliance Jio and GSM (Groupe Speciale Aim: To train rural women to use
28.
Women in Digital Skills Mobile) Association (GSMA) internet services for several tasks

50 | P a g e
 A Chile-India Agricultural Working
MoU for cooperation in the field
Group will be constituted which will be
29. of Agriculture and Allied India and Chile
responsible for the supervision, review
Sectors
and assessment of the implementation

Aim: To encourage cooperation

between the Department of
MoU for cooperation in Empowerment of Persons with
30. India and South Africa
Disability Sector Disabilities, Government of India and
Government of South Africa through
joint initiatives in the disability sector

Aim: To provide recognition of the

Institute of Chartered Accountants of
MoU for qualification & training qualification, training of each-others’
31. India (ICAI) and The Institute of Chartered
of members members and admit the members in
Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW)
good standing

Aim: For the integrated development of

Security Printing and Minting Corporation
MoU under Corporate Social village for Social Development – Model
32. of India Limited (SPMCIL) and The Energy
Responsibility (CSR) Village - Siroliya, District - Dewas,
Resources Institute (TERI)
Madhya Pradesh

Aim: To create nutritional supplement

Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Food testing capacity in India, provide
Safety & Standards Authority of India information & build awareness about
MoU to deal with problem of
33. (FSSAI) and National Institute of the risks associated with use of
doping in sports
Pharmaceutical Education & Research, nutritional supplements, increase
Hyderabad (NIPER Hyderabad) research opportunities in the clean sport
& anti-doping domain

Aim: To work together to eliminate

MoU to eliminate Plastic United Nations Development Programme
34. plastic pollution in the world’s oceans
Pollution in the oceans (UNDP) and The Ocean Cleanup
and rivers

BEML Limited(formerly Bharat Earth

MoU for constructing the The project involves the construction of
Movers Limited) and Delhi Metro Rail
35. Bahrain Metro Rail Project a 30km network with 20 stations in
Corporation (DMRC)-led Special Purpose
Phase-1 Bahrain
Vehicle (SPV)

The AMCA is a 5th generation, multi-

MoU for the Advanced Medium
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and role, all-weather fighter aircraft
36. Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) designed with high survivability and
program
stealth capability

Aim: For long-term strategic co-

MoU for networking and operation in the areas of networking,
37. BEL and Cisco
security collaboration and security, among other
associated services

CSC Academy and National Institute of

MoU to Enhance Digital Literacy CSC Academy is a subsidiary of Common
38. Electronics and Information Technology
and skill development in India Service Centres.
(NIELIT)

51 | P a g e
 NIELIT is affiliated with the Ministry of
Electronics and Information
Technology.

MoU to enhance cooperation in ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) & YPF SA, MoU signed on the sidelines of India
39.
the energy sector Argentina Energy Week 2023

MoU to develop co-develop

niche technology and end
Indian Army & Advanced Data Processing
40. products duly aligned to the --
Research Institute
dynamic requirements of Indian
Army

Under the MoU, Renault-Nissan Alliance

MoU to collaborate on six new
Government of Tamil Nadu & Renault- will invest Rs 5,300 crore in Tamil Nadu
41. vehicles for domestic and
Nissan Alliance to manufacture six new models at its
international customers
plant near Chennai.

Tata Steel and Central Building Research

MoU to collaborate on
Institute (CBRI), a constituent of the
42. research, academic growth, and --
Council of Scientific and Industrial
sustainable solutions in mining
Research (CSIR)

MoU on visa exemption for

Under the MoU, the exemption would
43. holders of diplomatic and India and Fiji
be provided for 90 days.
official passports

MoU signed at Aero India 2023

MoU for domestic manufacture
Under the MoU, the weapon system will
and supply of LORA Weapon Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) & Israel
44. be manufactured by BEL.
System for the Indian Tri- Aerospace Industries (IAI)
services. LORA is a sea-to-ground and ground-to-
ground system.

Under the agreement, NSE can list and

settle rupee-denominated NYMEX WTI
45. Data Licensing Agreement NSE & CME Group Crude Oil and Natural Gas (Henry Hub)
derivatives contracts for Indian market
participants.

University of Auckland (Waipapa Taumata

MoU to engage in long-term The MoU envisages to explore ways to
46. Rau) & Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH),
cooperation in cancer care enhance cancer care using digital health
Mumbai

Rolls-Royce Marine North America and Objective: to indigenously develop

MoU for naval marine
47. Kalyani Strategic Service Limited (KSSL), a niche naval propulsion technologies and
propulsors
subsidiary of Bharat Forge products for the Indian Navy

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) with IIT Under the MoU, BIS Standardization
MoU to establish BIS
48. Guwahati, IIT Gandhinagar and NIT Chair will be established in each of these
Standardization Chair Professor
Calicut institutes.

It provides the legal framework for air

49. Air Services Agreement India and Guyana
operations between two countries.

52 | P a g e
 Under the MoU, rural women will be
onboarded as online sellers.
Key Targets Announced:

Ministry of Rural Development and The Government of India has set a

MoU to drive digital inclusion target to have 10 Crore Self Help Group
Meesho
of all women registered under (SHG) sakhis or members by 2024
50.
State Rural Livelihood Missions
(SRLMs) Meesho has set a target to enable 100
million small businesses to succeed
online

Additional Information: Number of SHG members has reached over nine crore from
2.35 crore in the last nine years

Under the MoU, Ola with be setting up

an EV cell plant & EV four-wheeler plant
on the State Industries Promotion
Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited
MoU to set up world’s biggest Government of Tamil Nadu & Ola (SIPCOT) premises in Bargur, Krishnagiri
51. Electric Vehicle (EV) hub Electric district.
Ola has committed an investment of Rs
7,614 crore

Additional Information: In 2022, Ola Electric unveiled India's first indigenously

developed lithium-ion cell- NMC 2170.

Memorandum of Agreement Central Water Commission (CWC), ICED Roorkee will be developed under
(MoA) develop International Department of Water Resources, River the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement
52. Centre of Excellence for Dams Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Project (DRIP) Phase II and Phase III.
(ICED) Ministry of Jal Shakti & Indian Institute of
It will offer specialized services to Indian
Technology (IIT), Roorkee
and overseas dam owners.

MoU to work towards Government of Kerala & United Nations The MoU was signed at 1st Global
promoting women-friendly (UN) Women Responsible Tourism Summit.
53.
tourism & gender-inclusive
tourism sites in Kerala

Collaboration to accelerate Microsoft & Infosys Under the partnership, Infosys Cobalt
industry adoption of cloud and Microsoft Cloud solutions will help
54.
businesses to accelerate enterprise cloud
transformation.

Collaboration to develop early Government of Bihar & US National The Government of Bihar has approved
warning system for dense fog Center for Atmospheric Research (US- USD 50,000 towards the project.
55. and cold wave conditions NCAR).
In this regard, Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra
(BMSK) is developing an app.

Export promotion of Millets in New Delhi It is a part of promotional activities for

GCC (Gulf cooperation council) International Year of Millers,2023
56. countries.
UAE is the major millet importing country
Between APEDA with Lulu for India.
Hypermarket

53 | P a g e
 Deep tech start-ups and At New Delhi Discussion of revival of 2010 Agreement
Semiconductor chip in Science and tech.
57. manufacturing
Areas of cooperation: Life science,
Between India and Lithuania Biotech and STEM field.

Empower youth for the New Delhi Provide certificate, diploma and
hospitality and tourism sector certification courses in hospitality
and provide apprenticeship
Implementation by: LTSU
58. Between NSDC (National skill
Course: 3 modules, 6 months
development corporation) and
HTMi, Switzerland In 2nd phase LTSU will join

It will upgrade the ITIs in accordance with

To upgrade 150 state- run the requirements of Industry 4.0.
Uttar Pradesh Government and Tata
59. industrial training institutes Investment amount: Rs 5,472 crore (Rs
Technologies.
(ITIs) 4,282 crore by TATA group and Rs. 1,190
crore by UP Government)

Signed at the IDEX 2023 defence

Transfer-of-Technology (ToT) to ICOMM (Company of Megha engineering
exhibition, UAE.
locally manufacture small arms and infrastructure ltd) and CARACAL,
60.
for the domestic market under UAE
the ‘Make in India’ Initiative

Signed at 6th edition of pulses conclave,

To establish co-operative The India Pulses and Grains Association
Mumbai
61. actions to contribute to the (IGPA) and IBRAFE, Brazil.
food security of both countries.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Initiatives / Programs in
[Link] Launched by / Developed by Key Facts
News

Introduction of Drone
Technology ‘Robotic Nozzle The portal allows an authorized person to
1. Water Sprayer’ and Latest Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) access real time drone video from the
Safety Equipment through a mine
web- based portal ‘VIHANGAM’

Electronics and Radar Development

UnFurlable Reflector Antenna Aim: To have a cost-effective option for
2. Establishment (LRDE), Defence Research
(UFRA) small radar missions or constellations
and Development Organization (DRDO)

It is a Low-Earth orbit (LEO) observatory

being developed jointly by National
‘NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture To be launched by: Indian Space Research
3. Aeronautics and Space Administration
Radar (NISAR)’ Organization (ISRO)
(NASA), United States (US) and ISRO,
India

54 | P a g e
 Recently, Astronomers have discovered
12 new moons around Jupiter, taking the
Planet with most number of total count to 92.
4. --
moons- Jupiter
Saturn, with 83 moons now takes the
second spot.

Chandrayaan-3 lander has completed the

EMI-EMC (Electro - Magnetic
Chandrayaan-3 Interference/ Electro - Magnetic
5. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Compatibility) test at the U.R. Rao
(India’s third mission to the
Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.
moon)
The mission will be launched this year by
Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LMV3)

DEFENCE

DEFENCE EXERCISES

[Link] Exercise Countries / Forces Involved Key Facts

Held at: Nashik, Maharashtra

Major highlight: Display and firing of

Made in India Artillery equipment
1. Exercise Topchi 2023 Indian Army
It is the annual firepower
demonstration and training exercise of
Indian Army

Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF) and

2. Exercise Trishakti Prahar Held at: North Bengal
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)

Exercise Dharma Guardian (4th Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Conducted at: Camp Imazu in Shiga
3. annual edition) Defence Forces province, Japan.
It is a Joint Military Exercise

Venue: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

TARKASH ( Indo-US joint National Security Guard (NSG) and US Chemical, Biological, Radiological and
4.
exercise) Special Operations Forces (SOF) Nuclear (CBRN) terror response
included in the drill for the first time.

Venue: New Delhi

7th Annual Defence Dialogue Co-Chairs: Giridhar Aramane, Defence
5. --
between India and Sri Lanka Secretary, India & Kamal Gunaratne,
Defence Secretary, Sri Lanka

Indian Army field hospital saves dozens

OPERATION DOST Indian Army and NDRF in Turkey
of lives in quake hit turkey.
Treated over 3600 earthquake victims in
6.
Hatya province, turkey.

55 | P a g e
 Scheduled from 20 to 24th February
IDEX and NAVDEX 23 INS Sumedha (Indian Navy) and UAE
It showcase the strengths of India’s
Indigenous ship building, i.e, ‘Atma
Nirbhar Bharat’
7.
INS Sumedha- Indigenously built Saryu
class, built at Goa shipyard limited.
Inaugural edition was held in 2018.

Joint military exercise at Pitorgarh,

‘DUSTLIK’ India-Uzbekistan
Uttarakhand.
It is the 4th edition.
Duration: 14 days
8. Focus on: counter-terrorist operation in
mountainous and semi-urban scenario
under UN mandate.

Place: WADDINGTON IN UK
India, Finland, Sweden, South Africa,
9. Exercise Cobra Warrior United States of America, Singapore and It is a multilateral Air exercise in which
United Kingdom Air Forces of different country
participates.

DESERT FLAG VIII It is a Multilateral exercise involves: At Al Dhafra Air base, UAE

Indian Air Force, UAE, France, Kuwait, LCA Tejas and C-17 Globemaster taking
10. Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, part in the exercise
Republic of Korea and USA.
1st international exercise outside India
for LCA Tejas

DEFENCE INITIATIVES AND TECHNOLOGIES

Initiative / Missile /
[Link] Launched / Developed by Key Facts
Technology
Slogan: She’s Unstoppable

Indian Navy in association with Navy Tagline: Soar High

11. All-women Car Rally Wellness and Welfare Association Promoting Nari Shakti as part of ‘Amrit
(NWWA) and M/s Jeep India kaal’.

Distance to be covered: 2300km

Theme: Cybersecurity
DISC 9 is the first collaboration of
9th edition of Defence India Innovations for Defence Excellence
12. Launched by: Ministry of Defence
Start-up Challenge (DISC-9) (iDEX) with Indian Cyber Crime
Coordination Centre (i4C) division of
Ministry of Home Affairs

It is an ad-hoc data link communication

system
13. ‘Vayulink’ Platform Indian Air Force (IAF)
It helps pilots to deal with bad weather
conditions.

56 | P a g e
 It would provide jammer-proof
uninterrupted communication with the
base station.

LCA (Navy) on INS Vikrant Indian Navy This LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) is
indigenously developed
(push to Atmanirbhar)
INS Vikrant is India’s 1st indigenous
14.
Aircraft Carrier
LCA’s landing on INS Vikrant will be 1st
landing on that.

MoU between Abu Dhabi HAL and EDGE (UAE) Venue: IDEX (Defence Expo), UAE
defence firm and India’s HAL
15. Focus areas: Joint design and
development of missile systems and
Drones

ENVIRONMENT

[Link] Topic Country / State / Organization Key Facts

Organized by: Himalaya project and the

Department of Wildlife Protection of
Ladakh in collaboration with the Ladakh
1. Asian Waterbird Census-2023 Ladakh Biodiversity Council

52 avian species were observed in the

Census in Ladakh

Organized by: Hindustan Petroleum The Prime Minister of India flagged off
2. Green Mobility Rally
Corporation Limited (HPCL) the rally from India Energy Week

New Catfish Species with no The discovery was published in th

3. Discovered in: Kerala
Eyes – ‘Horaglanis populi’ ejournal journal ‘Vertebrate Zoology’

It is a severe tropical cyclone that

recently hit New Zealand & parts of
4. Cyclone Gabrielle -- Australia.
Auckland & North Island in New Zealand
were the severely affected areas.

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has

approved USD 442-million wind power
Adani Group's Wind Power projects of Adani Green Energy.
5. --
Projects in Sri Lanka Two wind power plants will be set up at
Mannar (250 MW) & Pooneryn (100 MW
) areas in Sri Lanka.

Name: Thyreus narendrani (named after

A new species of Cuckoo Bee
6. State: Kerala late T.C. Narendran, Professor of
has been discovered
Zoology)

57 | P a g e
 Found at: Kole wetland ecosystem of
Srayilkadavu, Malappuram district,
Kerala.

This is the part of a 2-lakh crore green

transition plan

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Target year to cover all its refineries is
IOC plans to set up Green
7. 2047, 1st in Panipat
hydrogen plants
Company plans to set up a 7,000 tonnes
per annum green hydrogen-producing
facility

It is a newly discovered beetle species.

Omorgus Khandesh (Keratin Discovered by: Scientist from Zoological
8. --
Beetle) Survey of India, Western Regional Centre
(WRC), Pune.

Proposal to release oriental White-

Vulture conservation and Ministry of Environment, forest and
backed vultures during 2023-24.
breeding centre, Pinjore climate change.
Jatayu conservation breeding centre for
vulture breeding in Haryana, in
collaboration with Bombay natural
9. history society.
Aim: to establish population of 25 pairs
of 3 species of vultures.
Monitoring for adaptation and mortality
of released vulures.

Programme Co-Ordinator’s:

Indian Side: Ministry of Environment,

Translocated to: Kuno National Park, Forest and Climate Change, the High
Sheopur District, Madhya Pradesh. Commission of India, the National Tiger
Translocated from: Phinda Game Reserve Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife
, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, the Waterberg Institute of India (WII) and Madhya
Biosphere, Kwandwe Game Reserve and Pradesh Forest Department.
Mapesu Game Reserve. South African Side: Department of
Translocated through: : Indian Air Force. Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Translocation of Twelve (DFFE), the Department of International
With this, the total number of Cheetahs
10. Cheetahs from South Africa to Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in
in Kuno NP increased to 20.
India collaboration with the South African
In 2022, 8 cheetahs from Namibia were National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI),
released in Kuno National Park. South African National Parks (SANParks),
The Cheetah Metapopulation Initiative,
the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the
University of Pretoria and the
Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)

Additional Information: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatu) is the world’s fastest mammal; It

is considered vulnerable under Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is listed in Appendix I; cheetah was
declared extinct in India in 1952

58 | P a g e
1.71 Indo-French Workshop on Clean and Sustainable Energy Technologies (INFINITE)
Why in News?
• Recently, Indo-French Workshop on Clean and Sustainable Energy Technologies (INFINITE) was organized
at Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) – National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi.
• Organized by: CSIR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), Dhanbad, and the French
National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France.

Key Information Shared

• Using Thar Desert as a site for solar power generation, India is estimated to generate up to 2,100 GW of
solar energy.
• The Government of India had set a target to install 100 GW of solar energy in 2022.
Indian renewable sector ranks 4th on the list of the world’s most attractive renewable energy sectors

1.72 DHARA 2023: Annual Meeting of RCA

Why in News?
• Recently, the annual meeting of the members of the River Cities Alliance (RCA): DHARA 2023 was
organised in Pune, Maharashtra.
Key details
• Organised by: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in association with National Institute of Urban
Affairs (NIUA), New Delhi.
• Organised for: Municipal
Commissioners of member cities to
come up with possible learning
solutions for urban river
management.
• Objective: To co-learn and discuss
solutions for managing local water
bodies.
• ‘Ghat Par Yoga’ session was
organised on a Ghat of Mulla Mutha
River in Pune.
• ‘Ghat Par Yoga’ is an initiative under
Namami Gange Programme.
o Aim: Mobilizing people to use
ghats along Ganga and its
tributaries for beneficial and
recreational activities such as
Yoga.

59 | P a g e
Additional information
• Urban River Management Plan for Ayodhya and Aurangabad and ‘75 River Initiatives’ – a Compendium
were also launched at the event.
• The target has been set to make 250 cities as members of the RCA before the next annual meeting of
RCA.
• DHARA 2024 will take place in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

1.73 India Energy Week (IEW) 2023

News 1
• Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the India Energy Week (IEW) 2023 in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
• Duration: 6th to the 8th of February 2023.
• Organised by: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
• Theme: ‘Growth Collaboration Transition’.
Key details shared by the PM on the occasion
• India’s share in the global oil demand is 5% which is expected to rise to 11%, whereas the gas demand
of India is expected to rise up to 500%.
• India has become the 2nd largest manufacturer of mobile phones (Largest: China).
• 6 Lakh kilometres of optical fibers have been laid in the country for internet access.
• In the last 9 years, the number of broadband users in the country has gone up thirteen times and internet
connections have gone up three times.
• India is the fourth largest country for its refining capacity.
o Aim: To increase the capacity to 450 MMTPA (current capacity: 250 MMTPA)
• Government is targeting to increase the consumption of natural gas in our energy mix from 6% to 15%
by 2030 where all the needed infrastructure will be provided by ‘One Nation One Grid’.
• The LNG terminal regasification capacity of 21 MMTPA has doubled in 2022.
• Number of CGDs (City Gas Distribution) in the country has gone up 9 times from 2014.
• Number of CNG stations has gone up to 5000 from 900 in 2014.
• Gas pipeline network has increased to 22,000 kilometres from 14,000 in 2014.
o It will expand to 35,000 kilometres in the next 4-5 years.
• In the last 9 years, renewable energy capacity increased from 70 gigawatts to about 170 gigawatts (Solar
power increased by 20 times).
• Government is aiming to have 50% non-fossil fuel capacity by the end of this decade.
• The Prime Minister also launched the uniforms under the ‘Unbottled’ initiative of Indian Oil.
o Indian Oil has adopted uniforms for retail customer attendants and LPG delivery personnel made
from recycled polyester (rPET) & cotton.

News 2
• Recently, the Prime Minister also launched the E20 fuel at 84 retail outlets of Oil Marketing Companies
in 11 States/UTs along the lines of the ethanol blending roadmap.

Key Details shared

• 15 cities will be covered under phase 1.
• Target: Rollout of E20 in the entire country between now and April 2025 (Next Two years).
• The Government aims to achieve a complete 20% blending of ethanol by 2025.

60 | P a g e
 • Ethanol production capacity has increased 6 times since 2013-14.
• E20 fuel is a 20% blend of ethanol and 80% of fossil-based fuel.

MoUs/ Agreements signed during IEW

• An MoU has been signed between Directorate General of Hydrocarbon, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural
Gas and University of Houston, Texas, USA
o Objective: For establishing a data center with University of Houston.
• A Statement of Intent (SoI) has been signed between Petroleum Planning and Analysis cell (PPAC) and
International Energy Agency (IEA)
• Objective: To strengthen cooperation in the field of data and research in the energy sector to enhance
global energy security.

1.74 Global Biofuel alliance launched by India

Why in News?
• Recently, it was announced by the Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas during India Energy Week
(It is one of the priorities under India’s G20 Presidency).
• Aim: Facilitating cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels and facilitating global
biofuels trades.

Key details
• Key stakeholders: United States, Brazil, India, European Union, IEA (International Energy Agency), Bio
Future Platform, SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), ISMA (Indian Sugar Mills
Association).
• This alliance shall work in collaboration with relevant existing regional/international agencies as well as
initiatives in the bioenergy, bioeconomy, and energy transition fields.
o Which includes the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform, the Mission Innovation
Bioenergy initiatives, and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).

Additional information
• India is the third-largest consumer and importer of oil in the world.

1.75 Gyaan Vigyan Aur Hum’- Online Green Talk Series

Why in News?
• Recently, "Gyan Vigyaan Aur Hum" - an online Green talk series on Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for
Environment) was organized by National Museum of Natural History under the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• The event was organized as a part of MISSION LIFE Awareness Programme.

1.76 Common But Differentiated Responsibilities & Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)

Why in News?
• Recently, CBDR-RC was mentioned in the Parliament Budget Session.
About CBDR-RC
• Introduced in: 1992
• It is a principle within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

61 | P a g e
 • It acknowledges the different capabilities and differing responsibilities of individual countries in
addressing climate change.

1.77 Enhancing Circularity and Sustainability Project

Why in News?
• Recently, Enhancing Circularity and Sustainability Project was mentioned in the Parliament Budget
Session
About Enhancing Circularity and Sustainability Project
• Implemented by: Government of India in collaboration with United Nations Environmental Programme
(UNEP).
• Objective: to minimize the negative environmental impacts of Indian Textile by promoting sustainable
practices and mainstreaming knowledge on circular production based practices in the Textiles and
Apparel sectors.

1.78 India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A)

Why in News?
• Recently, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to join the India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A).
• EIB would be supporting large-scale green hydrogen hubs and projects with an indicative funding of 1
billion euros.
o EIB is the lending arm of the European Union (EU).
About IH2A
• It is an industry coalition of global and Indian companies committed to the creation of a hydrogen value-
chain and economy in India.
• Secretariat: New Delhi.

1.79 National workshop on LiFE

Why in News?
• Recently, the Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme
(EIACP) organised a ‘National workshop on LiFE’ in association with National Museum of Natural
History.
• Objective: To come up with ideas to align the activities of the government with ‘Mission LiFE (Lifestyle
for the Environment).

About Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP)

• The pilot project was launched in June, 2017.
• Launched by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
• Objective: For skill development in the environment and forest sector to enable India's youth to get
gainful employment and/or self-employment.
o The first GSDP course was formulated for skilling of Biodiversity Conservationists and Para-
taxonomists on a pilot basis in ten selected districts of the country (covering nine bio-geographic
regions).

About EIACP
• The ENVIS (Environmental Information System) has been renamed as EIACP by the MoEF&CC in October
2022.

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o ENVIS was established in 1982.

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1.80 Initiatives to address climate change
Why in News?
• Recently, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has informed about the various
initiatives to address climate change.

Key details
• State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC):
o 34 States /Union Territories (UTs) have prepared and some have updated their SAPCC in line with
NAPCC (National Action Plan on Climate Change) taking into account the State-specific issues
relating to climate change.
• National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC)
o Established in August 2015.
o Objective: To support adaptation activities in the States/UTs of India that are vulnerable to the
adverse effects of climate change.
o National Implementing Entity (NIE) for implementation of adaptation projects under NAFCC:
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
o Till date, 30 projects have been sanctioned in 27 States and UTs.
• Green Grids Initiative—One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG):
o OSOWOG is an initiative, first proposed by the Prime Minister of India at the first assembly of the
International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2018.
▪ Objective: To introduce a transnational electricity grid that supplies power worldwide.
o GGI was launched by the United Kingdom (UK).
▪ Objective: To create a framework for international collaboration on the optimal use of
renewable resources to ensure that clean and efficient energy is a reliable alternative for
all countries to meet their energy requirements by 2030.

Additional information
• India has achieved reduction of 24% in emission intensity of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) between
2005 and 2016.
Note: NAPCC will be covered in SchemesTap of February 2023.

1.81 Electric Vehicles (EVs) Data

Why in News?
• Recently, the Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries informed about the number of EVs sold in India
(as per Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) in Lok Sabha.
Key details

[Link] Category 2020-21 2021-22

1. Passenger Vehicles (e-4W) 5,000 19,000

2. Three Wheelers (e-3W) 88,000 1,78,000

3. Two Wheelers (e-2W) 41,000 2,31,000

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1.82 Initiatives for Green Steel
Why in News?
• Recently, the Ministry of Steel has informed about various initiatives taken for the production of Green
Steel and decarbonization in steel industry.

Key details Shared

• For the medium term (2030-2047):
o Green Hydrogen and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies are the focus
areas to reduce carbon emission.
• For long term (2047-2070):
o Disruptive alternative technological innovations can help in achieving the transition to net-zero
by 2070.
• However, following 2 pilot projects on CCUS have been undertaken:
o Tata Steel commissioned a 5 tonnes per day (TPD) carbon capture plant at Jamshedpur,
Jharkhand.
o Jindal Steel Works (JSW) has CCUS facility with 100 tonnes per day (TPD) capacity at its Direct
Reduced Iron (DRI) plant at Dolvi, Maharashtra.
Additional information
• Recently, Saarloha (Kalyani Group) has pioneered the production of green steel and launched its two
green steel brands.
o KALYANI FeRRESTA and KALYANI FeRRESTA PLUS.

1.83 Initiatives to Incentivize Private Sector Investment in RE Industry

Why in News?
• Recently the initiatives taken by the Government of India to incentivize private sector investment in
Renewable Energy (RE) Industry was mentioned in the Parliament Budget Session.
Key Initiatives
• 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) allowed under the Automatic Route.
• Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power
for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025.
o It includes a provision for gradual phasing out of waiver for projects commissioned from 1st July
2025 onwards.
• Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to 2029-30.
• Project Development Cell setup to attract and facilitate investments.
• Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) launched to facilitate sale of RE Power through exchanges.

1.84 Don’t Choose Extinction campaign

Why in News?
• Recently, the ‘Don’t Choose Extinction’ campaign has won gold & silver at the 2nd Annual Anthem
Awards under the following categories:
o Gold for Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Non-Profit Campaign,
o Silver for Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Global Awareness Campaign.
About Don’t Choose Extinction campaign

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 • Launched in: 2021; Launched by: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Objective: to raise awareness about the climate emergency.

1.85 Green Ports and Green Shipping

Why in News?
• Recently, the consultative committee for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) had
a discussion on ‘Green Port and Green Shipping’ in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Key details shared
• Under the Green Ports and Green Shipping initiative of MIV (Maritime India Vision) 2030, Major ports
are taking various initiatives that would help in reducing the GHG (Green House Gases) emissions from
the Port and Shipping sector.
o MIV 2030 is a 10 Year blueprint on India’s vision of a sustainable Maritime sector and vibrant
blue economy.
• Targets:
o To increase the share of renewable energy to 60% of the total power demand of each of its major
Ports from a present share of less than 10%.
o To reduce Carbon emissions, per ton of cargo handled, by 30% by the year 2030.
• As envisaged in the National Hydrogen Mission:
o The ministry has nominated Paradip Port (Odisha), Deendayal Port (Gujarat) and V.O.
Chidambarar Port (Tamil Nadu) for developing them as Hydrogen Hubs by 2030.

1.86 Capital subsidy for setting up of pelleting and briquetting plants

Why in News?
• Recently, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) declared a financial
assistance model through Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for capital subsidy for setting up of
pelleting/ briquetting plants for different ex-situ projects.
Key details

• It was announced at a workshop “पराली – एक पज

ूँ ी (Paraali – ek Punji)”, organised at Chandigarh.
o Organised by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) in
association with Government of Punjab and Haryana.
o Organised under the guidance of MoEF&CC.
o Aim: To maximize management/ utilization of paddy stubble to reduce the incidences of paddy
stubble burning.

1.87 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Why in news?
• An information is shared by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change regarding amount of
plastic covered under the EPR.
Key details:
• A total of 2.26 million tonnes of plastic packaging has been covered under Extended producer
responsibility (EPR) for the year 2022-23.

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 • A National level Taskforce constituted to take coordinated efforts to eliminate single use plastic and
effective implementation of plastic waste management rules, 2016.
• All 36 States and UTs constituted State level taskforce.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
• Concept where manufacturers and importers of products should bear a significant degree of
responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products throughout the product life-cycle
• 1st time introduced for: e-waste management rules 2011.
• Recently from July, 2022 introduced for Plastic waste management as well, through Plastic waste
management rules, 2016.
• Guidelines: (EPR Targets)
• Plastic packaging is categorized into 4 categories.
• Producers to manage 35% of their waste in 2021-22, targets will be increased to 70% in 2022-23 and 100%
from 2023-24 onwards.
• Recycling Obligations: 50% of rigid plastic in 2024-25, 60% in 2025-26, 70% in 2026-27, and 80% from
2027-28 onwards.
• Registration and filing of returns on centralized portal of CPCB.
• Trading in EPR certificates is allowed.

Additional information:
• According a report by CPCB (Central pollution control board), Only 9% of total plastic is recycled, 12%
incinerated and 79% is left undecomposed.

1.88 United Nation’s Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS)

Why in news?
• Recently India urged the member states to stay dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the
oceans and support the UNCLOS.

Key details:
• India supported freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded commerce in line with UNCLOS.

UNCLOS:
• It is an international agreement that establishes the legal framework for marine and maritime activities.
• It is also called as Law of the sea of treaty.
• Opened for signature: 1982, Came into force: 1994 (India is a party)
• Sector: Guidelines for the use of world’s oceans and marine resources.
• Functions:
o It divides marine areas into five main zones namely- Internal Waters, Territorial Sea,
Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas.
o Stipulates a framework for state jurisdiction in maritime spaces.
o The backbone for offshore governance by coastal states and those navigating the oceans.
o Provides specific guidance for states’ rights and responsibilities in the five concentric zones.

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1.89 Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)
Why in news?
• Recently Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Science in a draft statement supported the
High ambition coalition.

Key details:
• What is it?
• It is an international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of
areas beyond national jurisdiction.
• It is also known as the “Treaty of the High Seas”
• BBNJ is a legally binding statement.
• Convened under: UNCLOS.
• Launched at: the One Ocean Summit in February 2022,
• Currently under negotiation at the United Nations.
• Encompasses the high seas, beyond the exclusive economic zones or national waters of countries.
• Framework Addresses:
• Conservation
• Sustainable utilization.
• Equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the same.

Additional information:
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), High seas account for “almost
half of the Earth’s surface”.
• These areas are hardly regulated and also least understood or explored for its biodiversity - only 1% of
these areas are under protection.

1.90 Green Window Programme for Green Energy

Why in news?
• Recently Green Energy Open Access web portal has been launched by Ministry of Power.
Key details:
• Green Energy Open Access web portal launched to submit all the application on Green Energy Open
Access.
• Nodal Agency: Grid controller of India Limited (Grid-India) is a central nodal agency to set up and operate
a single window green energy open access system.
Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022.
• Notified by: Ministry of Power.

Features:
• These rules aim at promoting generation, purchase and consumption of green energy including waste-
to energy plants.
• Reduction in the limit of open access transaction from 1MW to 100 kW for green energy, this enabled
small consumers to purchase renewable power through open access.
• No Minimum limit on Captive consumers.
• Simplified, transparent and streamlined process with time bound approvals within 15 days.
• Facilitates RPO (Renewable energy Purchase Obligation).

68 | P a g e
Additional information:
Status of Green Energy in India:
• According to REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status report, India stands 4th globally in Renewable
Energy Installed Capacity, 4th in Wind power capacity and 4th in solar power capacity.
• India pledged to meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030 at COP 26.
• Present status share of various sources: Wind> Solar> Bio Energy>Small hydro.

1.91 Save Wetland Campaign

Why in news?
• Recently Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the ‘Save Wetland
Campaign’ as a “Whole of Society” approach for wetland conservation.
Key details of the event:
• Launched ‘Whole of Society’ approach, which means enabling affirmative actions for wetland
conservation at all levels of the society and involving all strata of the society.
• Venue: Nanda Lake, Goa.
• Nanda Lake is Goa’s 1st Ramsar site.
Focus areas of campaign:
• Sensitizing people about the value of wetlands.
• Increasing the coverage of wetland mitras.
• Building citizen partnership for wetland conservation.
• Publications released:
• India’s 75 Amrit Dharohar- ‘India’s Ramsar sites Factbook’
• Managing Climate Risks in Wetlands- A Practitioner’s Guide.
Various green initiatives taken in Budget 2023:
• Amrit Dharohar: for optimal usage of wetlands.
• MISHTI: mangrove conservation.
• PM-PRANAM: to promote alternative fertilizers.
• Green Credit Programme: to incentivize sustainable actions.
Mission Sahbhagita
• Launch year: 2022.
• Launched by: MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change)
• Objectives:
o A healthy and effective management of network of 75 wetlands of national and international
significance which support water and food security, buffer from various natural calamities.
o Employment generation.
o Conservation of species of importance.
o Climate change mitigation and adaptation.
o Recognition, conservation, and celebration of cultural heritage.
World Wetlands Day
• Observed on: 2nd February
• To commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convection on Wetlands of International Importance in
1971.
• Ramsar is a city in Iran, where convention was singed.

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 • Theme for the year 2023: ‘Wetland Restoration’.
• India became member in 1983.
Additional information:
• Status of Wetlands in India:
o Number of Wetlands: 75 (23 States and UTs)
o India has the largest network wetlands in Asia.
o According to The National Wetland inventory and assessment compiled by ISRO, wetlands
covers 4.63% of the total area of the country.
o Highest Number of wetlands in: Uttar Pradesh.
o Renuka wetland (Himachal Pradesh) smallest wetland in India.
o Sunderban (West Bengal) is the largest wetland in India.
1.92 International Solar Alliance
News 1
• Recently, the Republic of Congo became the latest country to sign the International Solar Alliance
Framework Agreement.

News 2
• Recently, the government of Bangladesh signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
to increase the use of solar energy in the country.
o It is to be implemented by December 2026.

Additional Information
• Bangladesh has set up following targets:
o To generate 40% of its total energy through renewable sources by 2041.
o To produce 4000 MW of solar power by the end of 2030.

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 SPORTS

[Link] Tournament Venue Winner / Looser Key Facts

Organized by: J&K Sports Council and

Medal Tally- Top 3 Winter Games association of the J&K.
states
Games supported by: Ministry of Youth
1. Jammu & Kashmir Affairs and Sports
2. Maharashtra
3rd Khelo India Winter Gulmarg, Jammu 3. Himachal Pradesh Mascot: Snow Leopard depicting
1.
Games 2023 and Kashmir heritage of Himalayas

Additional Information: Khelo India Winter Games started in

2020. It is a part of Khelo India Abhiyan, a thought of Prime
Minister of India to encourage youth towards games and make
India an emerging soft sports power on the global stage

2027 Asian Football

2. Confederation (AFC) Asian Host: Saudi Arabia -- --
Cup

Best Goalkeeper of the Tournamanet:

National Beach Soccer Winner: Kerala Santhost Kasmeer (Kerala)
3. Championships [Inaugural Surat, Gujarat
Edition] Runner-Up: Punjab Best Player of the Tournament: Siju S
(Kerala)

Kenya Ladies Open 2023 Vipingo Ridge, Winner: Aditi Ashok This is her fourth Ladies European Tour
4.
golf tournament Kenya (India) title.

5. 2023 FIFA Club World Cup Host: Saudi Arabia -- --

Aman Sehrawat (India)

won the bronze medal
in the men’s 57 kg
2023 Grand Prix Zagreb category
6. Zagreb, Croatia --
Open
Ashu (Greco-Roman)
won the bronze in
men’s 67 kg

Medal Tally:
1st: Maharashtra (90
medals) Official Sponsor of KIYG 2023: State
5th Khelo India Youth Bank of India (SBI)
7. Madhya Pradesh 2nd: Madhya Pradesh
Games (KIYG), 2023
(59 medals)
3rd: Haryana (59
medals)

Real Madrid (Spain)

FIFA Club World Cup won the World cup by
8. Rabat, Morocco --
Morocco 2022 defeating Al Hilal
(Saudi Arabia)

71 | P a g e
 Jean-Eric Vergne of DS
2023 Greenko Hyderabad Hyderabad,
9. Penske (France) won --
E-Prix Telangana
the championship

Saurashtra cricket
Kolkata, West team won the Trophy
10. Ranji Trophy 2022-2023 --
Bengal by defeating Bengal
cricket team

Highlights of the Auction:

Participating Teams: Mumbai Indians
(MI) , Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants (GG)
, Lucknow Warriors and Royal
Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
First player to be sold at the WPL
auction: Smriti Mandhana
Top 3 buys at the auction:
1. Smriti Mandhana (India)- RCB,
st
1 Women’s Premier Rs 3.4 crore
11. -- --
League (WPL) 2. Ashleigh Gardner (Australia) –
GG & Natalie Sciver (England) –
MI.
3. Deepti Sharma (India)-
Lucknow Warriors
Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) has awarded the title
sponsorship rights of the WPL seasons
2023-2027 to TATA Group
Tennis player Sania Mirza appointed as
the mentor of the RCB team

ISSF World Cup

Cairo, Egypt Tilottama sen wins Seonoid of Great Britain won Gold.
12. (Women’s) bronze medal in 10m
Air Rifle.

ISSF World Cup

Cairo, Egypt Rudrankksh Patil won This was his 2nd Gold, 1st one was in
(Men’s)
13. Gold medal in 10m Air mixed double category with Narmada
Rifle raju.

Argentina Open Winner: Carlos Alcaraz

Buenos Aires, Carlos became youngest player to top
14. Argentina Looser: Cameron the world ranking at 19 years.
Norrie

Australia won the title for the sixth

time.
Winner: Australia
ICC Women's T20 World
15. South Africa Australia won by 19 runs.
Cup 2023 (Cricket) Runners-up: South
Africa Player of the Tournament: Ashleigh
Gardner (Australia).

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 Player of the final: Beth Mooney
(Australia)

Winner: Daniel
Medvedev (Russia)
16. Qatar Open (Tennis) Doha, Qatar Runners-up: Andy --
Murray (United
Kingdom)

Winner: Madhya
13th Hockey India Senior Pradesh
Kakinada, Andhra
17. Women National --
Pradesh Runners-up:
Championship 2023
Maharashtra

Winner: Tejaswin Tejaswin won gold in High Jump event,

New Balance Indoor Grand Shankar by leaping 2.26m height
18. Prix 2023 Boston, USA
Runner: Donald Donald Thomas is 4 times Olympian and
(World Athletics Indoor) Thomas (Bahamas) 2007 world champion

Both of them qualified for Paris

Olympics and World Championship
National Race Walking Winners: Akshdeep and
19. Ranchi, Jharkhand
Championship Priyanka Goswami Akshdeep set a new national record

Duration: 3 days

It has been organized to mark the 50

years of India-Korea diplomatic relations
All-India Taekwondo IG Stadium, New Special performance by Korea National
20. -
Championship Delhi sport university and MoU signing
ceremony for Taekwondo
Event competition in 2 parts: poomsae
and sparring

AWARDS

[Link] Award/Milestone Category Awardee Key Facts

Lifetime
India UK Achievers
1. Achievement Dr. Manmohan Singh He is the former Prime Minister of India
Honours 2023
Honour

25th FORTUNE magazine’s List topped by: Apple

Tata Consultancy
2. list of the “World’s Most --
Services (TCS) 2nd place: Amazon and Microsoft
Admired Companies”, 2023

65th Annual Grammy Best Immersive Stewart Copeland &

3. Ricky Rej is an Indian musician
Awards, 2023 Audio Album Ricky Kej – Divine Tides

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 Beyoncé has broken the records of
Best Traditional Beyoncé – Plastic Off
Grammy wins of all time with 32
R&B Performance the Sofa
awards

Harry Styles – Harry’s

Album of the Year --
House

Lizzo – About Damn

Song of the Year --
Time

The Award recognises individuals or

FIH (International Hockey V.K Pandian, Private
National Associations or other
4. Federation) President’s -- Secretary to the Chief
organisations for services towards the
Award Minister of Odisha
development of hockey

Dr Peggy Mohan for Awarded at: Mathrubhumi

Mathrubhumi Book of The
5. -- her book ‘Wanderers, International Festival of Letters (MBIFL
Year
Kings and Merchants’ 2023) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

This is the 6th time that NTPC Ltd. has

Association for Talent
won this award for demonstrating
6. Development (ATD) Best NTPC Ltd.
enterprise success in the field of talent
Awards 2023
development

Public Enterprise Forum of Women in

Best Enterprise Award Management Public Sector (WIPS) of
7. It has won the 3rd place
2023 (under the Navratna Rashtriya Ispat Nigam
Category) Limited (RINL)

She has been awarded for her open-

Felix Houphouet-Boigny door refugee policy
United Nations
Angela Merkel (Former Award was presented at
8. Educational, Scientific and --
Chancellor of Germany) Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)Peace Prize Award named after former President of
Ivory Coast.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy

National Award for Dr ABK Prasad (Andhra
9. -- Awarded by: Press Council of India
excellence in Journalism- Pradesh)
2020

Award Instituted by: Sangeet Natak

Akademi
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva
Instituted in: 2006
10. Puraskar (UBKYP) [2019, -- Total Awardees: 102
2020, 2021] The award honours outstanding young
performers (upto 40 years of age) in the
fields of music, dance, and drama

K.M. Mammen Awarded at: Automotive Tyre

ATMA Lifetime
11. -- (Chairman & MD of Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA)
Achievement Award
MRF) Annual Conclave 2023 in New Delhi

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 1. Lionel Messi
(Football,
Argentina)
2. LeBron James
Compiled by: Total Earnings of Lionel Messi during
Highest Paid Athletes 2021- (Basketball,
12. Genuine Impact the mentioned period stood at USD 130
22 USA)
Newsletter million.
3. Cristiano
Ronaldo
(Football,
Portugal)

He is the Managing Director and Chief

The Hurun Industry
13. -- A. VP Nandakumar executive officer of Manappuram
Achievement Award 2022
Finance Limited

The award has been given to those who

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva
102 artists (including have made a mark as young talents in
14. Puraskar 2019, 2020 and --
three joint awards) their respective fields of performing
2021
arts

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam 13 members of Parliament (MP), 5

th
15. 13 Sansad Ratna Awards Lifetime T K Rangarajan from Rajya Sabha and 8 from Lok Sabha
Achievement Award have been selected for the awards

Awarded by: Union Ministry of

Electronics and Information Technology

Karnataka Bank has received the award

Digidhan Awards 2021-22 Prathista Puraskar Karnataka Bank for achieving target with highest
16.
percentage in Bharat Inferface for
Money (BHIM)- Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) transactions in private
sector bank category.

Niyati Totala and Neel

Kalpeshkumar Parikh Awarded by: UAE government as part
17. M-Gov Award -- of The Indian Institute of the World Government Summit
of Technology (IIT) Awarded for: Developing block bill app
Indore

PSU Leadership Sumit Deb, CMD of

Award 2022 NMDC

CSR Leadership
NMDC won awards in five categories.
Governance Now 9th PSU CSR Commitment The Awards recognizes the efforts of
18.
Awards (Overall) Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
NMDC towards the growth of the country.
HR Excellence
(Overall)

Nation Building

75 | P a g e
 Outstanding
Contribution in The Rekha
Film Industry

Outstanding
Contribution in The Hariharan
Music Industry

Ranbir Kapoor
Best Actor
(Brahmastra: Part 1)

Alia Bhatt (Gangubai

Best Actress
Kathiawadi)

Varun Dhawan
Critics Best Actor
(Bhediya)

Critics Best Actress Vidya Balan (Jalsa)

Most Promising
Rishab Shetty (Kantara)
Actor
Dadasaheb Phalke
Most Versatile Anupam Kher (The
19. International film festival The award ceremony held in Mumbai.
Actor Of The Year Kashmir Files)
awards 2023

Best Actor in
Dulquer Salman (Chup)
Negative Role

Best Film The Kashmir Files

Film of The Year RRR

R Balki (Chup: Revenge

Best Director
of The Artist)

Rudra: The Edge of

Best Web Series
Darkness

Best Actor in a Web

Jim Sarbh (Rocket Boys)
Series

Best Actress in a Shefali Shah (Delhi

Web Series Crime – Season 2)

Television Series of
Anupamaa
The Year

All Quiet On The

Best Film
Western Front
76th British Academy Film
20. --
Awards (BAFTAs) Leading Actress Cate Blanchett (Tár)

Leading Actor Austin Butler (Elvis)

76 | P a g e
 Edward Berger (All
Best Director Quiet at the Western
Front)

Best Documentary Navalny (Daniel Roher)

EE Bafta Rising star

Emma Mackey
Award

Film Not in the All Quiet On The

English Language Western Front

Sangeet Natak Akademi’s

Fellowships (Akademi
Awarded for the years 2019, 2020 and
21. Ratna) and Sangeet Natak -- --
2021
Akademi Awards (Akademi
Puruskar)

Award was honoured by Prime Minister

International Mother Promotion of [Link] Mishra
Hasina in Dhaka.
Language Award Indigenous
For the work promotion of indigenous
languages
languages in odish.
22. Award was instituted by UNESCO in
2021.
Bangladesh national awards to: Habibur
Rahman and Ranjit Singh.

Award Instituted by: Guruvayur

Devaswom.
V. Madhusoodanan
23. Jnanappana Award - 2023 -- The awardee is a poet from Kerala
Nair
He has been awarded for his overall
contribution in the field of literature.

Sajjan Jindal is known as Man of Steel.

Sajjan Jindal, Chairman
Entrepreneur of the He will be representing India at EY
and Managing Director,
Year World Entrepreneur of the Year Award
JSW Group
EY Entrepreneur of the (WEOY) at Monte Carlo
24.
Year Award 2022
Lifetime
K P Singh, Chairman
Achievement --
Emeritus, DLF Group
Award.

Best International
Film

Best Action Film

th
6 Hollywood Critics RRR Awarded by: HCA
25. Association (HCA) Film Best Stunts
Awards Venue: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, USA
Honorary HCA
Spotlight Award

Best Original Song Naatu Naatu (RRR)

77 | P a g e
 Everything Everywhere
Best Picture
All At Once

Brendan Fraser (The

Best Actor
Whale)

Michelle Yeoh
Best Actress (Everything Everywhere
All At Once)

Daniel Kwan & Daniel

Best Director Scheinert (Everything
Everywhere All At Once)

Awarded by: India Today Tourism

Survey.
Best Adventure Tourism Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) J&K tourism has been awarded for its
26. --
Award Tourism efforts in promoting Gulmarg as an
adventure destination of international
order.

Lionel Messi
Men's Player
Best FIFA Football Awards (Argentina) The award ceremony was held at Paris,
27.
2022 France
Women's Player Alexia Putellas (Spain)

He is a professor in MIT (Massachusetts

Institute of Technology)
Award given by U.S based Marconi
28. Marconi Prize, 2023 Computer Scientist Hari Balakrishnan Foundation
For his work on ‘Fundamental
contribution to wired and wireless
networking, mobile sensing.

Venue: Mobile world congress

Barcelona
GSMA Government Telecom policy and
29. India
leadership Award 2023 regulation Given by: GSM Association
For: Reforms in telecom sector

Awards sponsored by: Wings

Outstanding fiction, publication International
30. Golden Book Awards,2023 non-fiction, poetry -
and literary works Jury: Dr Kailash Pinjani (President Indian
Author Association)

APPOINTMENT

Organization /
[Link] Person Position Country / State / Key Facts
Company

78 | P a g e
1. Harmanpreet Kaur Brand Ambassador Puma India --

Arun Kohli (replaced Sanjay

2. Country Head for India Morgan Stanley --
Shah)

Economic Advisory
3. Shamika Ravi Member Council to Prime Chair of EAC-PM: Bibek Debroy
Minister (EAC-PM)

Additional Director
Meenakshi Nevatia
4. and Managing Pfizer --
(replaced S Sridhar)
Director

Mohammad Shahabuddin
He has been elected as the 22nd
5. Chuppu (to replace President Elect Bangladesh
President of Bangladesh
Mohammad Abdul Hamid)

6. H. E. Nikos Christodoulides President Cyprus --

Managing Director
K Satyanarayana Raju (MD) and Chief
7. Canara Bank --
(succeeded L V Prabhakar) Executive Officer
(CEO)

Mahindra &
8. Raul Rebello MD & CEO Mahindra Financial --
Services Limited

Institute of Chartered
9. CA. Aniket Sunil Talati President Accountants of India --
(ICAI)

Institute of Chartered
10. CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal Vice President Accountants of India --
(ICAI)

Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Hyundai Motor India Both of them are Indian Women Cricket
11. Brand Ambassadors
Singh Thakur Limited (HMIL) players

Scaling Up Nutrition
Appointed by: United Nations
(SUN) Movement

Afshan Khan (succeeded

12. Coordinator About SUN: The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement is a
Gerda Verburg)
country-driven initiative, led by 65 Countries and 4 Indian States
(Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh),
which aims to eradicate all types of malnutrition by 2030.

Associated Chambers
of Commerce and
13. Sanjay Nayar Vice-President --
Industry
(ASSOCHAM)

Neal Mohan (replaced Chief Executive Officer

14. YouTube Neal Mohan is an Indian American
Susan Wojcicki) (CEO)

79 | P a g e
 Managing Director Jaguar Land Rover
15. Rajan Amba --
(MD) India

Lt Gen MV Suchindra
Vice Chief of Army
16. Kumar (replaced Lt Gen B S Indian Army --
Staff
Raju)

Brand Ambassador
17. Ayushmann Khurrana (United Nations UNICEF India --
Children's Fund)

Advisory Panel to
advise the
The appointment was made by the
18. Vikramaditya Singh Khichi Member administrator of
Reserve Bank of India.
crisis-ridden Reliance
Capital

Chairman and
19. Rajesh Rai ITI Limited --
Managing Director

He has been selected to role for a

International Labour tenure of four years (2024 to 2027).
20. Girish Chandra Murmu External Auditor
Organization (ILO) He is the Comptroller and Auditor
General of India.

21. Eknath Shinde Chief Shiv Sena He is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam Chief Executive Officer

22. NITI Aayog -
(CEO)

Federation of Indian
Chambers of
23. Shailesh Pathak Secretary General -
Commerce and
Industry (FICCI)

Director General Dept. of Defence DGQA is responsible for second party

24. Lt Gen RS Reen Quality Assurance Production, Ministry quality assurance of all defence stores
(DGQA) of Defence and equipments.

PERSONS IN NEWS

[Link] Personality Profession Key Facts

1. K. Viswanath Telugu Filmmaker He recently passed away

He recently passed away

2. Parimal Dey Former Indian Footballer
He was also known as “Jangla-da”

He recently announced his retirement

3. Joginder Sharma Indian Cricketer
from all forms of Cricket

80 | P a g e
 He has recently been announced as the
most popular leader in the world for the
4. Narendra Modi Indian Prime Minister
2nd consecutive year by ‘Morning
Consult’

He passed away recently

5. Pervez Musharraf Politics & Defence
He was the former President of Pakistan

He announced retirement from

6. Aaron Finch Sports international cricket recently
He is an Australian

She has been recently banned failing a

7. Dipa Karmakar Sports (Gymnast)
dope test

She passed away recently.

8. Elena Fanchini Sports (alpine skiing)
She was from Italy.

He passed away recently,

9. Burt Bacharach Music He was a famous American pop
composer, songwriter, and pianist.

He recently announced retirement from

10. Kamran Akmal Sports (Cricket) all forms of cricket.
He is a famous Pakistani wicketkeeper.

He recently scored four goals for Al-Nassr

Football Club in the Saudi Pro League.
11. Cristiano Ronaldo Sports (Football) With this, he has crossed the 500-league
goal mark in his club career.
He is from Portugal

He recently became the second fastest

bowler to take 450 Test wickets in terms
of Tests played after Muttiah
Muralitharan (Sri Lanka).
He achieved the feat in 89 matches as
compared to 80 matches by Muttiah
12. Ravichandran Ashwin Sports (Cricket) Muralitharan.
He also broke the Indian record for the
fastest to 450 wickets which was earlier
held by Anil Kumble (93 tests)
He achieved the feat at the Border-
Gavaskar Trophy

He recently became the second player to

13. Gary Ballance Sports (Cricket) score centuries for two different
nations.

81 | P a g e
 He previously represented England &
now represents Zimbabwe.
The first player to create such record was
Kepler Wessels, who played for Australia
& South Africa.

He recently played his 100th Test match

at Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
14. Cheteshwar Pujara Sports (Cricket) He also became the 2nd player to hit
winning runs in 100th test match after
Ricky Ponting.

She passed away recently.

15. Lalitha Lajmi Painter
She hails from Kolkata, West Bengal.

Director (Finance) and Chairman and Appointments Committee of the Cabinet

16. C B Ananthakrishnan Managing Director (CMD), Hindustan (ACC) approved to extend his tenure as
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) CMD for a period of 6 months

He recently became India’s 80th

17. N.R. Vignesh Indian Chess player from Tamil Nadu
Grandmaster (GM)

He currently serves as the President of

the World Bank Group.
18. David Malpass Economic analyst
He would be stepping down from the role
in June 2023.

He passed away recently

He was the former Governor of Gujarat.
19. Om Prakash Kohli Politics
He also held the additional charge as
Governor of Madhya Pradesh & Goa

He passed away recently

He served as the honorary chairman of

20. Shoichiro Toyoda Business
Toyota.

He was from Japan.

He recently retired from all forms of

21. Eoin Morgan Sports (Cricket) cricket.
He is from Ireland.

He passed away recently.

He was part of 1960 Rome Olympics
22. Tulsidas Balaram Sports (Football)
Indian Football Team.
He was from Secunderabad, Telangana.

He passed away recently.

23. Balipa Narayana Bhagawatha Music He is a Yakshagana playback singer and
scriptwriter.

82 | P a g e
 Yakshagana is a theatrical dance-art
performed in Coastal Karnataka

Classic Dancer She recently passed away

Kanak Rele
She was conferred with Padma bhushan
Mohiniyattam exponent
in 2013
24.
Awarded with first guru gopinath
National Puraskaram of Kerala
Government

He recently announced retirement from

25. Sergio Ramos Sports (Football) international football.
He is from Spain

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

[Link] Book Title Author Key Facts

The Last Heroes- Foot Soldiers Sainath is an Indian

1. Palagummi Sainath
of Indian Freedom Columnist/Journalist

Published by: Penguin Random House Satyajit Ray was a renowned Indian
2. The Best of Satyajit Ray
India Filmmaker

The book highlights the unique status of

‘Savdhaan: A Chronicle of Lt Gen Vivek Kashyap and Vikram D
3. the Central Command in the Indian
Central Command’ Souza
Army

Salman Rushdie is British Indian Author.

4. Victory City Salman Rushdie Midnight's Children, Satanic Verses,

Quichotte are some of his other famous
books

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

[Link] Festival Country / State Key Facts

36th Surajkund International Inaugurated by: Vice President of India

1. Faridabad, Haryana
Crafts Mela Organized by: Haryana Tourism

Madrid International Book Fair, India will be invited as the Theme

2. To be held at: Madrid, Spain
2025 Country in the fair

The festival is celebrated by Assam’s Tai

3. ‘Me-Dam-Me-Phi’ Festival 2023 Hosted at: New Delhi Ahom community to worship and pay
respect to the ancestors

14th edition of Asia’s biggest Theme: The runway to a billion

4. Bengaluru, Karnataka
aero show – ‘Aero India 2023’ opportunities

83 | P a g e
 A commemorative stamp was also
released by the Prime Minister on the
occasion.

5. Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Mumbai, Maharashtra Organized by: Kala Ghoda Association

Rann Utsav Tent City, Dhordo Village in Kutch district, It is an annual crafts, art, music, dance,
6.
Gujarat food, and nature festival.

Organized by: Ministry of Social Justice

and Empowerment
7. Divya Kala Mela 2023 Mumbai, Maharashtra Aim: To provide a platform to Divyang
craftsmen, entrepreneurs and artists
for marketing their skills and products

Inaugurated by: President of India

International Engineering and Aim: To celebrate India’s growth story in
8. New Delhi
Technology Fair 2023 the engineering and manufacturing
sector

The festival was held at Khajuraho

9. Khajuraho dance festival Madhya Pradesh
Temple Complex at Chhatarpur district.

Organized by: Ministry of Culture

14TH Rashtriya Sanskriti Objective: To preserve, promote and
10. Organised at: Bikaner, Rajasthan
Mahotsav popularize the rich cultural heritage of
the country.

Theme: A Celebration of the Spirit of

Tribal Entrepreneurship, Crafts, Culture,
Cuisine and Commerce.
Aadi Mahotsav – National
11. Organised in New Delhi It is an annual initiative of the Tribal
Tribal Festival
Cooperative Marketing Development
Federation Limited (TRIFED) under the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

It is a spring festival marking the

12. Siang Unying Festival Boleng, Arunachal Pradesh beginning of the spring season & new
year of Adi community.

World Book Fair 2023 New Delhi Guest of Honor: France

Organized by: National Book Trust (NBT)
along with ITPO (Indian Trade
13. Promotion Organization)
This is one of the largest book fair in the
world
Unique: G20 and NEP pavilion.

Barisu Kannda Dim Dimava Karnataka Venue: New Delhi

14.
(Cultural festival) Inaugurated by: PM [Link]

84 | P a g e
 Held under aegis of ‘Azadi of Amrit
Mahotsav’ to celebrate Karnataka’s
culture, tradition and history and 75
years journey of Karnataka Sangha

Venue: Soneri Mahal in Dr. Babasaheb Organised by: Maharashtra Tourism

Ambedkar Marathwada University, Development corporation.
Ellora Ajanta International Chatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad),
15. it was first launched in 1985
Festival 2023 Maharashtra.

Additional Information: Ellora Ajanta caves are UNESCO world heritage site.

Kol Janjati Mahakumbh Venue: Satna, Madhya Pradesh Organized on the occasion of Shabri
Mata Janm Jayanti.

About Kol Tribes: Kol tribes are Indigenous tribal community from Chotanagpur in
16. Eastern Parts of India. They are settled northern districts of Madhya Pradesh. &
also in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra.

Additional Information: The Government of India is setting up tribal freedom fighters

museums across India.

PLACES IN NEWS

[Link] Place Why in News Key Facts

Listed by: United Nations Educational,
Historic centre of Odesa, It was recently listed as a World Heritage
1. Scientific and Cultural Organization
Ukraine Site in Danger
(UNESCO)

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited The factory is India’s largest helicopter

It was recently dedicated to the nation by
2. (HAL) Greenfield Helicopter manufacturing facility and will initially
Prime Minister of India
Factory, Tumakuru (Karnataka) produce Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

Rajwada (Holkar Palace),

3. --
Indore, Madhya Pradesh The delegates of the G-20 Agriculture
Working Group Meeting visited these
Mandu Fort, Dhar District, historical sites.
4.
Madhya Pradesh

It is a Harappan city & United

Dholavira, Kutch District, The delegates of Tourism Working Group Nations Educational, Scientific and
5.
Gujarat Meeting visited the historical site Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Heritage Site
6. Sculpture Park Inaugurated at: Bikaner House in Delhi --

Neerasagar Dam, Neerasagar The village has been benefited from Jal
7. --
Village, Dharwad, Karnataka Jeevan Mission.

According to the Guinness World

Records report, the team of
Recently, World’s highest weather station
8. Mount Everest mountaineers and scientists installed a
has been rebuilt on Mount Everest
record-breaking weather station at an
altitude of 8,810 metres (28,904 ft).

85 | P a g e
 The reinstallation is part of National
Geographic and Rolex's ‘Return to
Everest Expedition’ in May 2022.
The group was led by mountain guide
Tenzing Gyalzen Sherpa.

Recently, 'Bipin Bell' was installed at this

Shree Muktinath Temple,
9. temple as a tribute to India's late Chief of --
Mustang, Nepal
Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat.

New campus of Aljamea-tus- Recently inaugurated at Marol in

10. --
Saifiyah Arabic Academy Mumbai.

Shiv Srishti theme park, Pune, First phase of the theme park has been The theme park is based on the life of
11.
Maharashtra inaugurated recently. Shivaji Maharaj

The bridge is built over the

The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping &
Brahmaputra River.
12. Jorhat Majuli bridge, Assam Waterways recently reviewed the work
It connects Majuli (Kamalabari) and
progress of the bridge
Jorhat (Nimati Ghat).
This tunnel will provide all-weather
Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved
connectivity to the border areas of
13. Shinkun La tunnel, Ladakh the construction of this tunnel on the
Ladakh.
Nimu-Padam-Darcha road link.
length: 4.1-km

World Health Organisation (WHO) will be

mRNA (messenger ribonucleic
14. setting the mRNA vaccine hub in --
acid) vaccine hub
Telangana

It was recently inaugurated by the Prime

Airport is designed like a lotus flower.
Minister
15. Shivamoga Airport, Karnataka
Additional Information: As per Union Civil Aviation minister, in 2014, there were 74
airports. In last 9 years, it has reached to 148 (100% increase).

DAYS IN NEWS

[Link] Days Date Themes & Misc.

NCW organized a panel discussion on the

theme 'Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat' to
National Commission for provide a platform with diverse and
1. January 31
Women (NCW) foundation day varied exchange of dialogue focusing on
gender equality in decision-making and
leadership roles of women

The week focusses on creating mutual

World Interfaith Harmony understanding and interreligious
2. February 1 – February 7
Week dialogue to promote harmony between
people regardless of their faith

3. World Wetlands Day February 2 Theme: Wetlands Restoration

86 | P a g e
 Aim: To honour the principles of
rd
3 International Day of Human compassion, religious understanding,
4. February 4
Fraternity and mutual respect to keep humans
united

Campaign theme of World Cancer Day

2022-2024: “Close the care gap”
5. World Cancer Day February 4
For 2023: Close the care Gap: Uniting our
voices and taking action

India delivered fifty more buses of Ashok

February 4
Leyland to Sri Lanka

75th Independence Day of Sri

6. Additional Information: Ashok Leyland had bagged the contract for supplying 500
Lanka
buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board as a part of a Line of Credit extended by the
Export-Import Bank of India, under the Economic Assistance Scheme of the Indian
government

7. Safer Internet Day 2023 February 7 Theme: Together for a better internet

8. World Pulses Day 2023 February 10 Theme: “Pulses for a sustainable future”

Theme: ‘Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate.

Advance. Sustain. (I.D.E.A.S.): Bringing
International Day of Women communities Forward for sustainable and
9. February 11
and Girls in Science 2023 equitable development’.

Implemented by: UNESCO & UN Women

10. World Radio Day February 13 Theme: Radio and Peace

The day is observed every year in

11. Safer Internet Day February 7 February.
Theme: "Together for a better internet".

National Productivity Day is celebrated as

part of National Productivity Week, which
is observed annually from February 12-18
12. National Productivity Day February 12 Theme of the National Productivity
Week: Productivity, Green Growth, and
Sustainability: Celebrating India’s G20
Presidency

The Prime Minister of India inaugurated

the year-long celebrations
commemorating the 200th birth
anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand
200th birth anniversary of
13. February 12 Saraswati.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was born
in 1824
He founded Arya Samaj in 1875

87 | P a g e
 Observed by: Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare.
Launch year: 2015
Aim: to raise awareness about the
importance of deworming, mainly for
children from 1 to 19 years of age.
14. National Deworming Day February 10
The day is celebrated to reduce the
prevalence of Soil-Transmitted
Helminths (STH), or parasitic intestinal
worms.
Some states/UTs also conduct a bi-annual
round on 10 August, depending on worm
prevalence in their state/UT.

International Childhood Cancer Theme (2021-2023): ‘Better Survival’ is

15. February 15
Day achievable #throughtheirhands

It is observed annually on on the third

16. World Pangolin Day February 18
Saturday in February

International Mother Language Theme: “Multilingual education – a

17. February 21
Day 2023 [24th edition] necessity to transform education".

Theme: ‘Our World, Our Peaceful Future.’

Celebrated by: World Association of Girl

18. World Thinking Day February 22 Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), the
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., and other
WAGGGS member organizations

Theme: “Our World: Our Equal Future:

The Environment and Gender Equality,”

19. World Scout Day February 22 The day commemorates the birth
anniversary of the founder of the Boy
Scouts Movement, Lord Robert Baden-
Powell

This day is celebrated to commemorate

the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu,
20. National Women’s Day February 13
who was referred to as the “Nightingale
of India”

The Campaign of International Epilepsy

21. International Epilepsy Day February 13
Day 2023 is #StampOutStigma of epilepsy

PM greeted people of the state on

Statehood day of Mizoram February, 20
statehood day.
22.
Year of statehood status: 1987

PM greeted people of the state on

Statehood day of Arunachal February, 20
23. statehood day.
Pradesh
Year of statehood status: 1987

88 | P a g e
 Celebrated by Department of
World Social Justice day February, 20
Empowerment of persons with
Disabilities in collaboration with Change
24. Inkk.
In a conclave at Ambedkar International
centre, New Delhi.

Celebrated annually to commemorate the

establishment of the Central Excise and
25. Central Excise Day 2023 February 24 Salt Act in 1944.
Celebrated by: Central Board of Indirect
Taxes and Customs (CBIC)

Theme: "role and influence of NGOs in

World Non-Governmental advancing human rights, addressing social
26. February 27
Organization (NGO) Day 2023 and environmental challenges, and
achieving sustainable development goals"

Theme: “Easy Access to Protein for All”.

February 27 India launched its first Protein Day in
27. th
4 National Protein Day 2020.

Additional information: The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8
grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.

Theme: ‘Global Science for Global

Wellbeing’
Celebrated to mark the discovery of
28. National Science Day 28th February
Raman effect (1928) by C.V Raman
DRDO celebrated the by conducting
Lectures and open house activities.

MISCELLANEOUS

[Link] Miscellaneous News Key Facts

Held at: New Delhi

Organized by: Office of Development Commissioner for

‘Wool Fab’ - an exclusive handloom exhibition of Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles through National Handloom
1.
woolen product Development Corporation (NHDC) Ltd.
Aim: To provide direct access to the handloom woolen weavers
to market their products to consumers in various cities of India

Launched by: United States (U.S.)-India Strategic Partnership

U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Forum (USISPF)
2. Empowerment in Science, Technology, Engineering, Aim: To increase the number of women in Science, Technology,
and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative in India Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and the
workforce in India

89 | P a g e
3. New Capital declaration of Andhra Pradesh New Capital: Visakhapatnam

Organized at: Ahmedabad, Gujarat

4. 30th National Child Science Congress Organized by: Gujarat Council on Science and Technology
(GUJCOST), the Gujarat Council of Science City, and SAL
Education

‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’ declared as the State

5. The song’s two stanzas have a total duration of 1.41 minutes
song of Maharashtra

Ministry of Electronics and Information

6. Digital lending platforms blocked: LazyPay and Kissht
Technology’s (MeitY) banned 94 mobile apps

Google launches an experimental conversational Bard is powered by a language model developed by Google
7.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) service called Bard called Language Model of Dialogue Application (LaMDA)

Google invests USD 300mn to acquire 10% stake in Anthropic is developing Claude- an AI assistant tool that could
8.
Artificial Intelligence start-up Anthropic compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT

The Government of India has approved the

After the conversion of dues into equity, the Government of
9. conversion of Rs 16,133 crore interest dues of
India will get around 35% stake in the company.
Vodafone Idea into equity,

Organized at: Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

G20-theme based workshop on Women
Theme: One Earth, One Family, One Future
10. participation in the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
(AIF) and Madhya Pradesh (MP) Farm Gate Aim: To seek participation of more women entrepreneurs in
agricultural sector

11. An article titled ‘A Day in the Parliament and PMO’ Written by: Lopoli Melo (a student of

Bengaluru Open Tennis Tournament has signed

12. --
DafaNews as its title sponsor

Announced by: Hillary Clinton, former United States (US)

secretary of state
USD 50 million from the Clinton Global Initiative
13. Aim: To support women in the fight against climate change in
(CGI) to support women
collaboration with the Self-Employed Women’s Association
(SEWA)

Organized by: India Post under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at New

Delhi
14. National Philatelic Exhibition ‘AMRITPEX2023’
Aim: To create children’s and people’s interest in philately and
letter writing

Developed by: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL)

Indigenously developed Cockpit Voice Recorder HAL recently received the Indian Technical Standard Order
15.
(CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) (ITSO) authorization from Directorate General of Civil Aviation
for these 2 devices

External Affairs Minister unveiled the bust of Sardar

16. --
Patel at the India House in Suva, Fiji.

90 | P a g e
 Zepto launches Zepto’s farmer engagement The app will help digitize supply chains for farmers.
17.
programme & 'Zepto Bloom' app

Celebration held at Nagpur, Maharashtra

Birth centenary celebrations of Jawaharlal Darda &
18. Jawaharlal Darda was the founder of Lokmat group of
completion of 50 years of 'Lokmat Nagpur Edition'
newspapers.

Philips Domestic Appliances globally renamed as The rebranding follows the sale of domestic appliance business
19.
Versuni to Hillhouse Capital

Team of Doctors from Central Command of the India

Army has used advanced 3D printing technology for
20. --
titanium cranioplasty repair to rehabilitate a young
patient's skull defect

Ship leasing RBB ship chartering becomes GIFT city’s (Gandhinagar) first ship
leasing operator.
21. Singapore based RBB ship chartering comes to GIFT
city

Mumbai’s Churchgate railway station to renamed 1st governor: CD Deshmukh. (1st Indian to be appointed as
after first RBI Governor Governor of RBI)
22.
He represented in IMF and IBRD during Bretton woods
conference 1944.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has roped
23. in Adidas as the kit sponsor for the Indian cricket Adidas will replace Kewal Kiran Clothing Ltd.
team.
Optical fibre has been provided at the village level across all 20
24. Bhutan's flagship programme 'Digital Drukul'
districts of Bhutan with the help of India.

Tagline: ‘Envisioning Indian Technical Textile @2047’

Under aegis of: Ministry of Textiles
25. Technotex 2023
This is the 10th edition, Venue: Mumbai

Release of ‘Knowledge Report’ on global best practices in

technical textile and Seven BIS standards.

Venue: Pune
26. Asia Economic Dialogue
Addressed by Minister of Commerce and Industry.

It completed its maiden trip from Varanasi to dibrugarh

MV Ganga Vilas makes history in India’s River
27. Duration: 50 days (3200+ km)
Cruise sector
This is world’s longest river cruise, passed 27 river system

Venue: Pune
Conducted by: Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment
2 Day regional workshop on various acts, rules and
Participants: 12 States/UTs
28. schemes of : Ministry of Social justice and
Empowerment Aim: to promote education and economic interest of vulnerable
sections of society (SC,ST,OBC,Senior citizen)

36th Inter-University North Zone Youth Festival

29. Venue: University of Jammu
(Antarnad)

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 Under the aegis of: Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
18 Universities participated
Chief guest: Anurag Thakur

[Link] Mineral blocks:51

Where? : Salal-Haimama, Resai District of JK

Geological Survey of India (GSI) finds Lithium and GSI (1st in 1851) is under Ministry of Mines, HQ: Kolkata
30.
Gold Deposits
Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) is discussion
platform of GSI

Additional information: Lithium is called as ‘White Gold’

Ranking by: S&P Global Commodity Insights Top 250 Global

Energy company ranking-2022
Ranking based on 4 key metrics: Asset worth, revenue, profits
NTPC ranked as the top independent power and return of investments.
31.
producers and energy traders Globally
NTPC contributes 24% of total electricity produced in India.
It targets 50% of companies portfolio to be non-fossil based by
2032

Letter of Intent (LoI) signed between Dept of

Focus areas: Hydrogen and clean energy technologies for energy
32. science and technology (DST) and Fraunhofer ISE,
transition
Germany

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