10th August, 2023 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduces CEC and other EC (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 was today introduced in the Rajya Sabha amid din. When the house met after the first adjournment at 2 PM, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Bill.
The bill has provisions that the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a selection committee.
The committee will comprise the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition or leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
In March this year, the Supreme Court had given a judgment in which it had said that Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners must be appointed on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. The apex court had also clarified that the norms provided by it will continue to hold till a law is made by the Parliament.

Rajouri’s chikri wood craft, Anantnag’s Mushqbudji rice receive GI tag

In a significant recognition of local craftsmanship and agricultural heritage, the Geographical Indication (GI) Tags have been bestowed upon Rajouri Chikri Wood Craft from Rajouri district and the prized Mushqbudji Rice variety from Anantnag district.
Hailing from the elevated landscapes of Kashmir, particularly Anantnag district, Mushqbudji Rice takes center stage as a premium aromatic short bold rice variety.
Nestled within the hill ranges of Jammu province’s Rajouri district, the exquisite Chikri Wood Craft stands as a testament to intricate artistry. Admired for its pale, honey-colored softwood, Chikri is brought to life through meticulous carving and fine detailing. The GI tag endorses the unique essence of this craft, reflecting the region’s rich heritage and masterful skills.

Srinagar Tops JJM Implementation Among Har Ghar Jal Certified Districts

The Srinagar district has become the highest-performing district under the Jal Jeevan Survekshan (JJS-2023), outshining 114 Har Ghar Jal certified villages across India. This remarkable recognition solidifies Srinagar’s commitment to the successful implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a visionary initiative aimed at ensuring universal access to clean and safe drinking water.
The Srinagar District achieved this honor through its exceptional performance in the assessment of the Jal Jeevan Survekshan conducted from October 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
This assessment methodology, introduced by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), Government of India, scrutinizes districts and states based on their implementation of JJM and ranks them on a national scale every month.
Under this formidable competition, Srinagar District has not only emerged as the top-ranked district under Jal Jeevan Survekshan but has also excelled in vital areas.
The district’s achievements include Har Ghar Jal certification, meticulous water quality testing through laboratories and Field Test Kits (FTKs), specialized training for women to effectively utilize FTKs, and comprehensive skill training for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) staff.

INTERNATIONAL
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un replaces its Chief of General Staff, Pak Su Il

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has replaced its Chief of General Staff, Pak Su Il. Pak was replaced by General Ri Yong Gil, who previously served as Defence Minister. According to reports, North Korean leader has instructed military to be prepared in case of war. Kim has also directed to conduct drills with country's latest weapons and equipment.
This comes after Kim Jong Un visited a weapons factories last week where he called for more missile engines, artillery and other weapons to be built at a large scale. North Korea is set to stage a parade on 9th September which marked 75th anniversary of Foundation of the Republic. Meanwhile, the US accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine. However, Russia has denied these claims.

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio kill during rally in capital Quito

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed during a rally in the capital Quito, yesterday. Current President Guillermo Lasso has confirmed the incident. According to reports, Mr Villavicencio was getting into a car when a gunman stepped forward and shot him in the head.
The incident comes amid violence in the South American nation, with drug trafficking and violent killings on the rise. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled to take place on 20 August.
A recent rise in violent crime in Ecuador has been a central issue in the presidential campaign. Last month, President Guillermo Lasso had declared states of emergency and night curfews in three provinces following a number of killings linked to organised crime.

ECONOMY
RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent

Reserve Bank of India has kept the key interest rate unchanged for third time in a row. Announcing the bi-monthly monetary policy, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent.
Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks. Mr Das said, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate remains at 6.25 percent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.75 per cent.
The MPC also decided to remain focused on withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation progressively aligns with the target, while supporting growth. RBI has revised the CPI inflation target for current fiscal to 5.4 per cent. RBI Governor projected real GDP growth for 2023-24 fiscal at 6.5 percent.

Central Bank raises per transaction limit for UPI to promote digital transactions

Reserve Bank of India has proposed to launch an innovative payment mode viz., “Conversational Payments” on UPI. It will enable users to engage in a conversation with an Artificial Intelligence-powered system to initiate and complete transactions in a safe and secure environment.
This channel will be made available in both smartphones and feature phones-based UPI channels, thereby helping in the deepening of digital penetration in the country. Initially the facility will be available in Hindi and English and will subsequently be made available in more Indian languages.
Central Bank has also proposed to use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in UPI transaction. RBI has also increased offline transaction limit from 200 rupees to 500 rupees but overall limit of small value digital transaction limit is kept unchanged at 2,000 rupees.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Russia set to make historic return to Moon with Luna-25

Russia is to launch its first lunar landing spacecraft, Luna-25, on August 11, marking a significant step in its renewed lunar exploration efforts. This mission follows closely after India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander launch, reflecting a global interest in exploring the moon’s south pole, potentially rich in resources like ice for future human habitation.
Luna-25, launching from the Vostochny cosmodrome, aims to explore the moon’s south pole region, believed to hold substantial ice deposits.
Despite the proximity in timing, Roscosmos assures no interference between Luna-25 and Chandrayaan-3 missions due to different landing areas.
The spacecraft, weighing 1.8 tons and carrying 31 kg of scientific equipment, will orbit the moon for five to seven days before descending to one of three potential landing sites near the pole.

SPORTS
India beat Pakistan 4-0 in final group stage match to enter semi-finals of Asian Champions Trophy

India defeated Pakistan 4-0 in the final game of the group stage to enter the semi-finals of Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai last night. Indian Skipper Harmanpreet Singh struck twice, while Jugraj Singha and Mandeep Singh scored one each as India finished the group stage as the only unbeaten team in the tournament. India now leads the standings with 13 points after four wins and one draw while Pakistan are eliminated from the tournament.
Earlier yesterday, Malaysia beat Korea 1-0 and secured their semifinal berth. India will face Japan in the semifinals, while Malaysia will face Korea.

REPORTS
India ranks 6th in South Asia region for Internet Resilience

India, a rapidly developing nation in the realm of technology and connectivity, has achieved an overall score of 43 percent in the Internet Resilience Index (IRI). This achievement positions India as the sixth-ranked country in the South Asian region.
The IRI, developed by the global non-profit organization Internet Society, provides a comprehensive assessment of a country’s internet ecosystem, taking into account factors such as security, performance, infrastructure, and market readiness.
While India’s commendable internet resilience is noteworthy, several neighboring countries have exceeded it in the IRI ranking. Within the South Asian region, countries like Bhutan (58 percent), Bangladesh (51 percent), Maldives (50 percent), Sri Lanka (47 percent), and Nepal (43 percent) have achieved higher positions. These rankings offer valuable insights into the region’s advancement and highlight areas where India has the potential to enhance its internet resilience.

Published date : 12 Aug 2023 11:18AM