26th May, 2023 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
Foodgrain production estimated to be over 3305 lakh tonnes in current agricultural year 2022-23

Foodgrain production is estimated to be over three thousand 305 lakh tonnes in the current agricultural year 2022-23.
The estimated record production is higher by 149.18 lakh metric tonnes as compared to the previous year 2021-22.
According to the third advance estimate of production of major crops for the agricultural year 2022-23 released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, record production of rice is estimated to be over one thousand 355 lakh tonnes, and wheat production of over one thousand 127 lakh tonnes in the current agriculture year.
Production of coarse cereals is estimated to be over 547 lakh tonnes and pulse production is estimated to be over 275 lakh tonnes. Oilseeds production would be over 409 lakh tonnes which is higher by 30.33 lakh tonnes in comparison to the previous year’s oilseeds production. The total production of sugarcane is estimated at a record four thousand 942 lakh tonnes.
The Agriculture sector is witnessing growth due to the hard work of farmers, the proficiency of scientists and farmers' friendly policies of the Government.

PCIM&H e-Office and Online Portal

The E-Office portal of Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) was inaugurated by SarbanandaSonowal, the Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways. This portal aims to revolutionize the way pharmacopoeia monographs are accessed and shared among stakeholders worldwide.
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy, which operates under the Ministry of Ayush, plays a crucial role in standardizing and ensuring the quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy (ASU&H) drugs. The commission publishes standards in the form of pharmacopoeias, providing guidelines and specifications for these traditional medicinal practices.
The standards published by PCIM&H primarily focus on Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy (ASU&H) drugs. These pharmacopoeias provide guidelines for the standardization, quality control, and proper use of these traditional medicines. By establishing standards, the commission promotes the safety, efficacy, and uniformity of these medicinal practices.

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says Sceptre gifted by ThiruvaduthuraiAdheenam to be placed near seat of Lok Sabha Speaker in New Parliament building

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said that the Sceptre gifted by ThiruvaduthuraiAdheenam will be sanctified by 20 adheenams from the State and will be placed near the seat of the Lok Sabha Speaker in the New Parliament building on the 28th of this month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This was a unique event which gives Tamil Nadu a special place. The sceptre does not signify monarchy, instead it signifies the just rule for the people of the country.
The Finance Minister told that the Sceptre which is to be installed in Parliament represented a civilizational link and referred to Indonesia's currency having Hindu God in them.

India to soon acquire its fastest Supercomputer worth Rs. 900 crores & it is expected to start functioning by March 2024

Union Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju today said that India will soon acquire its fastest Supercomputer worth nine hundred crore rupees and it is expected to start functioning by March next year.
With its acquisition India will acquire the weather monitoring mechanism with the highest resolution of probabilistic forecast.
Mr. Rijiju was addressing the media during his visit to the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh.
The new computer can improve forecasting from twelve to six kilometres. It is compared to the Cray XC-40 supercomputer ‘Mihir’, India’s fastest supercomputer at present, the new supercomputer will have nearly thrice the capability. India’s weather forecasting capability is improving day by day.
India has made significant advances in the application of Science and Technology. India is also extending weather forecasts to countries in the neighbourhood and beyond.

Ministry of Civil Aviation launches 5.1 version of RCS- UDAN to enhance connectivity to remote areas of India

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the 5.1 version of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UdeDesh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) to enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through helicopters. This round has been designed specifically for helicopter routes.
The Ministry highlighted that airfare caps have been reduced by as much as 25 percent to make flying in helicopters more affordable for passengers. It further said that Viability Gap Funding (VGF) caps for the operators have been increased substantially for both single and twin-engine helicopters to enhance financial viability for operating the awarded routes.
The latest round of UDAN scheme is a testament to two emerging phenomena in Indian civil aviation. First, a deeper democratisation of air travel with a focus on last-mile connectivity. Second, a growing appetite for helicopters in aiding tourism. He said that greater helicopter penetration through such efforts will help boost tourism, hospitality, and thus, the country's local economies. The Minister said that UDAN 5.1 heralds a new dawn not just for civil aviation, but also for India’s remote and unserved regions.
As of now, 46 helicopter routes have been operationalized under previous rounds of the scheme benefitting a number of hilly and North East states. The Ministry said that under the UDAN scheme passengers have received the benefit of air connectivity, airlines have received concessions for operating regional routes, and unserved regions have received the direct and indirect benefits of air connectivity for their economic development.

INTERNATIONAL
Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

The National Human Rights Commission, India (NHRC-India), a vital institution for safeguarding human rights, recently faced challenges regarding its accreditation by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
The NHRC-India has experienced a deferral of its accreditation by GANHRI on two occasions. GANHRI raised concerns regarding several aspects of NHRC-India’s functioning, including political interference in appointments, involvement of the police in human rights violation investigations, poor cooperation with civil society, lack of diversity in staff and leadership, and insufficient action to protect marginalized groups. These objections prompted a reevaluation of NHRC-India’s adherence to international human rights standards.
GANHRI consists of 16 NHRIs with ‘A’ status accreditation, representing different regions worldwide. ‘A’ status accreditation grants participation in the decision-making processes of GANHRI, the Human Rights Council, and other U.N. mechanisms. NHRC-India has held ‘A’ status accreditation since the accreditation process began in 1999, reaffirming its recognition and participation in human rights advocacy.

EAM S Jaishankar meets Russian envoy, asserts taking Intergovernmental Commission for Trade framework talks to higher level

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has asserted to take the discussions on bilateral cooperation in the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific & Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) framework to a higher level. Dr. Jaishankar said this during his meeting with Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov last evening.
The two leaders also spoke about the ensuing BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in South Africa. South Africa will host the meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers in Cape Town.
Dr. Jaishankar also met the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Md Mustafizur Rahman. They discussed ways and means to further deepen India-Bangladesh Maitri.
The EAM also appreciated the successful organisation of the 6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka.
Dr. Jaishankar also met the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti and Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar P Sharma to discuss the progress of the relationship between India-US and India-Nepal. He also discussed views on Quad, a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an alliance between India, US, Japan and Australia.

Saudi Arabia, Canada Reconcile After 2018 Conflict, Restore Full Diplomatic Relations

Saudi Arabia and Canada have reached an agreement to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new ambassadors, bringing an end to a dispute from 2018.
The decision was made following discussions between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok in November of the previous year, as stated in a Saudi Foreign Ministry announcement. According to a Canadian government source, punitive trade measures will be lifted as part of this resolution.
Recognizing the importance of engaging with Saudi Arabia as a significant global player, the Canadian government emphasized that empty chairs and strained relations do not serve the interests of either country or promote human rights. The Saudi government has been instrumental in evacuating Canadians in Sudan and is actively involved in seeking a resolution to the conflict in that region.
As part of the restoration of ties, Canada will appoint Jean-Philippe Linteau as its new ambassador to Riyadh. The rift between the two countries began when Canada's embassy in Riyadh published a tweet in Arabic, calling for the immediate release of women's rights activists who were detained in Saudi Arabia.
At the time, Saudi Arabia considered this tweet a violation of its sovereignty, leading to the expulsion of Canada's ambassador, the recall of Saudi Arabia's ambassador from Ottawa, and the suspension of trade, flights, and scholarships between the two nations.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces bid for 2024 US Presidential Elections

In the United States, the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has officially declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the country.
DeSantis rolled out the news with a campaign video and a glitch-riddled hour-long live interview on Twitter with the owner of the social media site, Elon Musk. Before his planned event, DeSantis filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.
DeSantis has for months been seen as the most serious challenger to former President Donald Trump, who is also seeking to become the Republican nominee to take on President Joe Biden of Democratic party in the US Presidential elections next year. Other Republican candidates include Senator Tim Scott, former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served under Trump is also likely to launch a presidential campaign. The first Republican primaries will take place in Iowa early in 2024.

Japan to not Join NATO but acknowledges security alliance's plan to open a liaison office

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said today the country had no plans to become a NATO member but acknowledged the security alliance's plan to open a liaison office in Japan.
Kishida's comments came after Japan's ambassador to the US Koji Tomita, earlier this month said Tokyo and NATO were working towards opening an office - the first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region.
After Kishida's statement not ruling out the possibility of opening a NATO office, China reacted sternly. Beijing said Asia-Pacific does not welcome NATO's plan.
Japan hosted the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima over the weekend, where the leaders of rich democracies agreed to “de-risk, not decouple” economic engagement with China and reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Russia's PM signs set of agreements with China today during trip to Beijing, describing bilateral ties at an unprecedented high

Russia's Prime Minister signed a set of agreements with China today during a trip to Beijing, describing bilateral ties at an unprecedented high. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
The memorandums of understanding signed included an agreement to deepen investment cooperation in trade services, a pact on export of agricultural products to China, and another on sports cooperation. Russia's energy shipments to China are projected to rise 40% this year.
Xi told Mishustin that China and Russia should find ways to upgrade the level of economic, trade and investment cooperation. The secretary of Russia's Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev said deepening of ties with China is a strategic course for Moscow.

Bahrain Parliament Abolishes Law Exempting Rapists from Punishment upon Marriage

In a significant step, Bahrain's parliament has voted to eliminate a law that granted rapists exemption from punishment if they married their victims. The decision has been hailed by women's rights activists, who tirelessly campaigned against this legislation for several years.
The unanimous vote to remove Article 353 from Bahrain's penal code was carried out by the Shoura Council, the upper house of parliament. This article had previously allowed perpetrators of rape or sexual assault to evade legal consequences by marrying their victims.
Bahrain is a country with a traditional Muslim culture that respects multiple religions."
Bahrain joins a growing list of countries in the Middle East and North Africa region that have either abolished or amended their penal codes to prevent rapists from evading prosecution through marriage. Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia took similar strides in 2017, rescinding comparable laws within their respective nations. The move is anticipated to have a far-reaching impact on societal norms and the advancement of women's rights in the region.

ECONOMY
Oil prices fall after Russian played down OPEC production cuts

Oil prices fell today after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak played down the prospect of further OPEC production cuts at its meeting next week.
In intra-day trade, Brent crude was trading at 76 dollars and 95 cents a barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude price was at 72 dollars and 88 cents per barrel when reports last came in.

India to have 65 percent of its power generation capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030

India will have 65 percent of its power generation capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.
Country’s per capita energy consumption and per capita carbon emission are one of lowest in the world.Net zero is important but what is more important is that there is a need to provide enough electricity to make sure that the country does not run short of electricity when one wants to set up an industry.
There will be no compromise on ensuring round the clock energy supply even though it is a challenge.
The addition of capacity is a challenge, but also an opportunity because India is one of the fastest growing countries with one of the largest energy demands.
The government has transformed the sector and the loss of power discoms has been reduced to 17 percent.
The government is giving a huge push to Hydro energy.
India has launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission because the country believes in the environment.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
India to Launch 18 New petaFLOP Supercomputers

Supercomputers have revolutionized various fields of science and technology, and weather forecasting is no exception. India is currently planning to launch 18 new petaFLOP supercomputers for weather forecasting this year. The deployment of powerful supercomputers enables meteorologists to make more accurate predictions, leading to enhanced disaster preparedness and better understanding of climate patterns.
The introduction of a new supercomputer brings several expected benefits to weather forecasting. Firstly, it is anticipated to improve forecasts at the block level, providing more localized and precise information. This is particularly useful in regions with diverse microclimates and varying weather patterns. With higher resolution ranges, meteorologists can analyze and predict weather phenomena with greater detail and accuracy.
FLOPs (Floating-Point Operations per Second) is a metric used to measure computational performance. It quantifies the processing power and efficiency of computing systems, especially in high-performance computing and artificial intelligence domains. FLOPs involve mathematical calculations using real numbers with fractional parts.
India’s weather forecasting efforts are supported by the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). NCMRWF primarily focuses on medium-range forecasts, providing information for the upcoming three to seven days.

India to eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of global Sustainable Development Goal

India is striving to eliminate Tuberculosis from the country by 2025, five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal. This was stated by Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya while addressing the Quad Plus Side Event on Tuberculosis during the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva. India is the only country in the world to have developed its own mechanism for estimating its TB burden. He added that the country has witnessed a 13 percent reduction in TB incidents from 2015 to 2022, surpassing the global reduction rate of 10 percent.
TB mortality in India has decreased by 15 percent during the same period, compared to the global reduction rate of 5.9 percent.
By employing a mathematical model based on local evidence, the country can now determine the true burden of the disease well ahead of the annual World Health Organization report.
Recognizing the importance of early diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures.
India has taken diagnostics and treatment to the patients at the last mile to identify all missing cases and reach the unreached.
The country has established over 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres which provide TB diagnostics and care to all patients, along with a host of other primary healthcare services to ensure Universal Health Coverage to each and every patient.
India's successful collaboration with the private sector, enabling quality care for TB patients through their preferred centers, clinics, and doctors. As a result, notifications from the private sector have increased more than seven fold over the past nine years.

AWARDS
Georgi Gospodinov Wins International Booker Prize

Georgi Gospodinov, a prominent Bulgarian writer, has gained international acclaim for his thought-provoking works that delve into the complexities of human existence. He recently became the first Bulgarian to receive the International Booker Prize.
His literary achievements have transcended language barriers, with his books being translated into several languages.
Alongside Gospodinov’s success, the skilled translator Angela Rodel has played a pivotal role in bringing his works to an English-speaking audience.
The Italian translation of Gospodinov’s novel “Time Shelter” was honored with the prestigious Premio Strega Europeo prize. This recognition speaks to the universality of Gospodinov’s storytelling, transcending borders and resonating with readers across cultures.
Additionally, Gospodinov’s literary contributions have garnered him several international accolades. He was shortlisted for the PEN Literary Award for Translation, a testament to the significance and impact of his work on a global scale.

Published date : 26 May 2023 06:37PM