Latest Current Affairs For Thursday 2nd March, 2023

Kerala temple deploys life-size ‘robotic elephant’ for festival

A Kerala temple, Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple (Thrissur district), has introduced a life-size motorized model of an elephant for performing rituals such as carrying processional deities.

The 11-foot-tall robotic elephant, weighing 800 kg and made of an iron frame and rubber coating, was donated by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

Film actor Parvathy Thiruvothu joined hands with PETA in donating the robotic elephant, which cost 5 lakh rupees.

First Anti-Corruption G20 Working Group meeting organizes in Gurugram

The first Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) meeting of the G20 is being organized in Gurugram, Haryana from 1st - 3rd March 2023.

The ACWG was joined by over 90 delegates from 20 member countries, 10 Invitee countries, and 9 International Organizations.

Aim: To strengthen International Anti-corruption mechanisms

G 20 ACWG meetings have one Chair (Presidency country) and one co-chair country.

The co-chair for the G20 ACWG 2023 is Italy.

8th Edition of Raisina Dialogue to be held on March 2 in New Delhi

The 8th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be organized from 2-4 March 2023 in New Delhi.

The Dialogue will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi and joined by the PM of Italy, Giorgia Meloni as the Chief Guest.

Theme 2023: Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest

It is a flagship conference of India on geopolitics and geo-strategy.

It is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with Observer Research Foundation.

Credit growth of banks accelerates 16.8% in December quarter: RBI

According to the data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the credit growth of Indian banks has doubled to 16.8% in the October-December quarter (2022-23) from a year earlier.

Bank credit had expanded by 8.4% in the quarter that ended December 2021 and 17.2% in the quarter that ended September 2022.

The aggregate deposits of banks increased by 10.3% year-on-year in the December quarter.

Banks' credit-deposit ratio rose further to 75.9% in the December quarter.

India's GDP registers growth of 4.4% in Oct-Dec of the current fiscal

According to the Union ministry of statistics, India's Gross Domestic Production (GDP) growth has been registered at 4.4% in the October-December third quarter of the current fiscal (2022-23).

GDP in the third quarter of 2022-23 is estimated at Rs 40.19 lakh crore, as against Rs 38.51 lakh crore in the third quarter of 2021-22.

The real GDP is estimated to grow at 7% for the current FY compared to 9.1% in 2021-22.

While Nominal GDP is estimated to grow at 15.9 percent.

ISRO successfully conducts flight test of cryogenic engine for Chandrayan-3

ISRO has successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine for the Chandrayan-3 mission.

The test was successfully conducted on February 24 at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

The hot test was carried out for a planned duration of 25 seconds at the High Altitude Test Facility.

The engine will power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle of the mission.

Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third moon mission.

Purushottam Rupala launched National Surveillance Programme phase 2

Union Minister for fisheries and animal husbandry, Purushottam Rupala, has launched phase 2 of the National Surveillance programme.

Reason: For aquatic animal diseases and genetic improvement programme. 

Aim: To help the farmers to identify and report the disease and also offer solutions. 

The government has allocated 33 Crore rupees for a period of three years for the implementation of the programme.

The crop insurance scheme for shrimp-growing farmers was also launched.

India wins GSMA Government Leadership Award 2023

India has been awarded the prestigious GSM Association (GSMA) Government Leadership Award 2023 at Mobile World Congress Barcelona on 27 February 2023.

Reason: For implementing best practices in telecom policy and regulation. 

Minister for Communications, Ashwini Vaishnaw has also informed that the Right of Way (RoW) permissions which used to take more than 230 days, now get approval within 8 days.

More than 85% of mobile tower clearances are now instantaneous.

NSDC, HTMi sign MoU to empower youth for the hospitality & tourism Sector

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has signed two MoUs with HTMi, and Lamrin Tech Skill University.

NSDC and HTMi: It aims to provide certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, and certification courses in hospitality trades to aspiring students.

NSDC, HTMi, and LTSU: LTSU as an implementation partner for the first phase of this partnership,  NSDC & HTMi envisage similar such partnerships as the program gets scaled up.

India and Lithuania agreed to work in the areas of deep tech Start-Ups

India and Lithuania have agreed to work in the areas of deep tech startups and forge lasting ties in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips.

Minister Jitendra Singh and Economy and Innovation Vice Minister of Lithuania, Karolis Aemaitis discussed ways and means to revive the 2010 agreement in the area of science and tech.

In 2010, a revised Indian counter-draft with a few modifications was formally submitted to the Lithuanian and its formal response is still awaited.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launches VAIBHAV Fellowships

Union MoS (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh has launched the VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme for the Indian Diaspora abroad. 

Aim: To improve the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Educational Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian Institutions and the best institutions in the world

Eligible applicant:

Should be NRI, PIO, or OCI.

Must have obtained Ph.D/M.D/M.S degree from a recognized University.

MeitY launched Grievance Appellate Committee

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched a digital platform - Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC).

It was established by Union MoS Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

It is a faceless dispute-resolution mechanism that would make all platforms (big and small) accountable to digital citizens.

In accordance with the modified IT Regulations, 2021, the IT Ministry announced that three GACs must be established.

Rajesh Malhotra appointed as Principal DG of PIB

Rajesh Malhotra, a 1989-batch IIS officer, has been appointed as the Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), with effect from March 1, 2023.

He succeeded Satyendra Prakash, who was superannuated on February 28, 2023.

He was associated with the ECI as in-charge of media and communication for 21 years (1996-2017).

While Priya Kumar was named the Director General of Doordarshan News (DD News).

She will succeed Mayank Agrawal.

PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023

The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) would confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Reason: This award recognizes PM Modi's supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress

It is presented annually on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary.

Other awardees: Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Cyrus Poonawalla, and Manmohan Singh. 

J&K Bank wins award for Best Performance in CASA

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for the Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event was participated by banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.

The function was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta.

India poised to become world’s 2nd-largest economy by 2075: Goldman Sachs

According to the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075.

As per the report, India would cross Japan, Germany, and the US With a population of 1.4 billion people.

India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP projection.

The labour force participation set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy. 

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.