20th January, 2023 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
India’s First School of Logistics, Waterways, and Communication

India’s first School of Logistics, Waterways, and Communication was launched in Agartala. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, SarbanandaSonowal, along with Dr.ManikSaha, Chief Minister of Tripura, jointly inaugurated the school. The school aims to enable the rich pool of talent in the region to become world-class experts in the transportation and logistics sector.
The two countries have renewed and strengthened the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade that outlines new measures to facilitate the inland water trade, develop infrastructure and improve cross-country transport and logistics facilities. In addition to the existing 6 ports of call, five additional ports of call and two extended ports of call on each side have been agreed along with a longer period of 5 years (against the 2 year validity earlier) for protocol renewal.
The Government of India is providing financial assistance under the Central Sector Scheme for development of Inland Waterway in the Northeast including Tripura.

The Annual Status of Education Report

The overall enrolment figures increased from 97.2% in 2018 to 98.4% in 2022,Despite school closures during the pandemic. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022, released by the NGO Pratham, records the impact of school closures in 2020 and 2021, as well as the return to school of children in 2022.
Overall enrolment figures for the 6 to 14 years age group increased from 97.2% in 2018 to 98.4% in 2022.
The proportion of children in this (3-16 years) age group who are not currently enrolled also dropped to its lowest level ever to 1.6% from 2.8% in 2018.
Government schools have seen a sharp increase in children enrolled from 65.6% in 2018 to 72.9% in 2022, reversing another trend of a steady decrease in student enrolments seen since 2006.
The percentage of Class 3 students who were able to do at least subtract dropped from 28.2% in 2018 to 25.9% in 2022.
The proportion of children in Class 5 across India who can carry out division has also fallen slightly from 27.9% in 2018 to 25.6% in 2022.
The performance of Class 8 students in basic arithmetic is more varied.
Nationally, the proportion of children who can do division has increased slightly, from 44.1% in 2018 to 44.7% in 2022.
The ASER 2022 report highlights the widening learning gaps in foundational skills in reading and arithmetic that have emerged as a result of the pandemic and school closures. The report shows that despite an increase in enrollment figures and a decrease in the proportion of children not currently enrolled, there has been a significant decline in basic literacy and arithmetic skills, reversing several years of improvement. The report emphasizes the need for urgent interventions to address these learning gaps and support children’s continued learning and development.

INTERNATIONAL
World Economic Forum Meet 2023!

The 53rd edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Kicks Off in Davos, Switzerland. The meeting will continue from January 15th to January 20th.
The WEF meeting provides a platform for global leaders to share their insights on the prevalent economic conditions across the globe and to discuss the challenges that the world is facing today.It is also an opportunity for leaders to discuss the future of the global economy.
The theme for 2023 meet is “Cooperation in a Fragmented World. The theme of this year is particularly important in today’s political and economic climate. The world is facing multiple challenges such as economic recession, climate change, geopolitical conflicts and many more.
The WEF is an opportunity for leaders to come together and find solutions to these problems.

United States Sri Lanka CARAT or MAREX-2023

Sri Lanka and the United States are to conduct week-long joint military exercises in January 2023 to prepare for disaster relief and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, amid China’s increasing military manoeuvres in the strategic region.
The exercise, named Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) Sri Lanka 2023, will involve participants from the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Maldives National Defence Force.
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (Exercise CARAT) is an annual exercise conducted by the United States Pacific Fleet with member nations of ASEAN in Southeast Asia.

India’s Assurances to IMF backing Sri Lanka

India sends financing assurances to IMF to back Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring program. Sri Lanka’s three largest bilateral lenders are China, Japan, and India. India’s backing is a critical step for Sri Lanka to receive a $2.9 billion package from IMF
Sri Lanka is facing worst economic crisis since 1948
Challenges include shortage of dollars, runaway inflation, and steep recession
Sri Lanka owes India around $1 billion that will come under the debt restructuring plan
Sri Lanka’s chances of swift assistance now depend on similar assurances from Japan.
New Delhi’s backing is critical for Sri Lanka to unlock a $2.9 billion IMF loan
Sri Lanka needs to secure prior financing assurances, put debt on sustainable path, and increase public revenue
IMF stresses importance of joint talks involving China, Japan, and India

The Bhopal Declaration released

The Bhopal Declaration was released after a two-day meeting of Think-20 under G20 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The Declaration was made by more than 300 intellectuals from India and abroad.
The Think 20 (T20) is a forum of think tanks from G20 countries that provides policy recommendations to the leaders of the G20. It was created in 2012 to bring the expertise of think tanks from around the world to bear on the G20’s policy-making process, and it meets annually in the lead-up to the G20 summit.

Bhopal Declaration

Emphasis on promoting traditional medicine systems like AYUSH
Encouragement of value-oriented development in infrastructure
Appeal for more inclusive development and care for all sections of society
Special attention to children and development led by women
Focus on bridging the gap between North and South
Importance of localization in achieving G-20 sustainable development goals
Necessity of triangular cooperation between government, society, and private organizations

Single Largest All-Women Platoon Of Peacekeepers deployed in UN Peacekeeping Mission in Abyei

Recently, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) welcomed the deployment of the single largest all-women platoon of peacekeepers from India. The all-women platoon will join forces serving in Abyei, reaffirming India’s continued commitment to the implementation UN mandate in the region.
The Abyei dispute is a long-standing territorial dispute between Sudan and South Sudan over the Abyei region.
The area is rich in oil and is located on the border between the two countries.
The dispute centers on the question of whether the region should be part of Sudan or South Sudan, and who has the right to administer and control it.
The conflict has resulted in a number of violent clashes over the years, causing significant human suffering and displacement.
Efforts to resolve the dispute, including through mediation by the African Union and other international organizations, have so far been unsuccessful.

ECONOMY
SEBI Proposes Blocking of Funds Facility

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) releases consultation paper proposing to introduce a blocking of funds facility for trading in secondary markets. Aimed at protecting investors’ money from misuse and default by stock brokers. SEBI seeks comments from market participants until February 16 on operational challenges on the proposed concept, associated processes, transaction flow, and risk management.
Allows investors to trade in secondary market based on blocked funds in one’s bank account
Eliminates the need to transfer funds to stock broker
Funds remain in the account of client but will be blocked in favour of clearing corporation till expiry date of the block mandate or till block is released by the clearing corporation
Clearing corporation can debit funds from client account, limited to the amount specified in the block.

India to allow NRIs to Use UPI

The National Payments Corp. of India (NPCI) has made a significant move that allows Indians abroad to use the fast payments network Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as long as their domestic bank accounts are linked to their foreign mobile numbers. This move is a significant step towards wider adoption of the homegrown payments platform UPI and opens up new possibilities for non-resident Indians (NRIs).
So far, only Indian phone numbers were allowed on UPI, leaving out non-resident bank accounts linked to their phone numbers abroad. However, on January 10th, NPCI issued a circular that paved the way for wider adoption of UPI by NRIs. In the first phase, phone numbers from 10 countries including Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, the US, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the UK have been allowed to be used on UPI. NPCI has also stated that it could extend this to other nations as well, in the future.
The CEO of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the organization that operates UPI (Unified Payments Interface), is Mr DilipAsbe. The head office of NPCI is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India and launched in 2016.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Sustainable Flight Demonstrator Project

NASA and Boeing will partner in the development and flight test of a full-scale Transonic Truss-Braced Wing demonstrator aircraft under SFD project. The partnership aims to revolutionize the commercial aviation industry through a much more fuel-efficient design of narrowbody
The project aims to engage with industry, academia, and other government organizations to identify, select, and mature key airframe technologies, such as new wing designs, that have a high probability of transition to the next generation single-aisle seat class airliner
The project is one of the key components of the Sustainable Flight National Partnership
NASA and Boeing will invest over $1 billion to build, test, and fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft this decade
The aircraft, currently known as the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD), will test the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) concept
The TTBW concept involves a plane with extra-long, thin wings stabilized by diagonal struts, resulting in a more fuel-efficient aircraft
The SFD aircraft is scheduled to fly in 2028.

DEFENSE
India and Russia Joint Venture starts production of Kalashnikov AK-203

The Indo-Russian joint venture for the manufacturing of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles is a testament to the strong partnership relations between the two countries. The move to manufacture these rifles in India through a joint venture not only lends greater firepower to the Indian armed forces but also serves as a significant step in strengthening military-technical cooperation between the two nations.
The Kalashnikov AK-203 is now being produced in India through a joint venture between Russia’s Rosoboronexport and India’s government-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) under the brand name “Kalashnikov India” in Korwa, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The facility has the capacity to produce 750,000 rifles per year

SPORTS
Laxman Rawat Clinches NSCI Snooker Open Crown

Laxman Rawat of PSPB emerged victorious in the ‘Baulkline’ NSCI All India Snooker Open, beating fellow PSPB challenger Aditya Mehta 9-6 in a best-of-17-frame final. This was a sweet victory for Rawat, who had finished as the runner-up in the previous edition of the tournament, losing to Sourav Kothari in the final. This win marked Rawat’s first major title after 2-3 years and he was understandably happy with his performance.
The NSCI Snooker Open Crown is a snooker tournament organized by the National Sports Club of India (NSCI). The tournament is open to players from all over India and features a best-of-17-frame final. The tournament is considered as a major title in Indian snooker and the champion of the tournament is awarded the NSCI Snooker Open Crown.

TOPIC OF THE DAY
What is the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) Initiative?

The World Economic Forum, in partnership with over 45 organizations, has launched the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative. The goal of GAEA is to fund and grow new and existing public, private, and philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) to unlock the $3 trillion of financing needed each year to reach net zero, reverse nature loss, and restore biodiversity by 2050.
GAEA’s growing body of philanthropic partners includes organizations such as the African Climate Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Over the next 12 months, GAEA will work with these partners and McKinsey Sustainability as a knowledge partner, to build momentum around three clear objectives:
Convene leaders from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to identify and target climate and nature solutions where they are best positioned to play a catalytic role.
Pilot and refine funding models that can support PPPP interventions.
Scale up funding for targeted climate and nature solutions, leveraging philanthropy as a catalyst for attracting and deploying other forms of financing.
GAEA aims to change this by tapping into the potential of philanthropic funding to catalyze and attract other forms of financing to help unlock the $3 trillion needed annually to reach net zero, reverse nature loss and restore biodiversity by 2050.

What is “Womaniya” initiative?

The Government e Marketplace (GeM) has launched a new initiative called “Womaniya on GeM” to empower women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups (WSHGs) to sell their products directly to various government ministries, departments, and institutions.
The initiative aims to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve gender-inclusive economic growth.It will spur hyper-local economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs and address the goals and objectives of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5.
India has approximately 500 million internet users, and nearly 54% of them are more than 25 years of age with higher discretionary income and likely to transact more online. Half of internet users reside in small towns, presenting new opportunities for e-commerce. Most importantly, women constitute 33% or 143 million internet users and control 44% of household spending in India.

APPOINTMENTS

Renowned IPS Officer Pankaj Kumar Singh appointed as the Deputy National Security Adviser

Retired director general of the Border Security Force (BSF), Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh, was recently appointed as the Deputy National Security Adviser in National Security Council Secretariat for a period of two years.
Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed on a re-employment contract. In this article, we will take a look at the illustrious career of Pankaj Kumar Singh and his recent appointment as the Deputy National Security Adviser.
Pankaj Kumar Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, holds LLB and MPhil degrees, besides an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. He is the son of retired IPS officer of the 1959-batch, Prakash Singh, who also headed the BSF from June, 1993 to January, 1994.

Published date : 20 Jan 2023 06:34PM