Latest Current Affairs For Monday 20th March, 2023

Nepal, India agree to formulate modality to supply electricity to Indian states via Bihar

Nepal and India have agreed to formulate a modality to supply electricity from Nepal to multiple states of India through central transmission line via Bihar grid.

An overview of the news:

The 14th meeting of the Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee concluded on March 17 in New Delhi.

It was decided in the meeting to work out modalities for export of power from Nepal to various states of India via Bihar within a month.

Kulman Ghising, Executive Director, Nepal Electricity Authority, and Ashok Kumar Rajput, Power System Member, Central Electricity Authority of India, agreed to finalize the modalities within a month.

The agreement has ensured the additional market for the sale of surplus electricity during the rainy season.

Under the power exchange agreement in the meeting, the price of electricity per unit has been fixed at Rs 11.54 for the financial year 2022-23.

Kataiya (Bihar)-Kushaha (Nepal) and Raxaul-Parawanipur 132-KV transmission line are connected with Bihar.

Nepal imports power from India when needed through the Power Exchange Agreement and competition with the Mahakali Treaty.

Power is being imported into Nepal through the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border 400 KV double circuit transmission line and other transmission lines.

The Nepal Electricity Authority has been importing electricity from India’s Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as per the electricity exchange agreement.

Only Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are connected to Nepal through 132 KV transmission lines.

Indian Higher Education Meet 2023 inaugurated in Dhaka

High Commissioner Pranay Verma and Minister of Education of Bangladesh Dr Dipu Moni on 18 March jointly inaugurated the Indian Higher Education Meet 2023 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

An overview of the news:

It is being organized under the aegis of the Study in India program in Dhaka.

Top ranking higher educational institutions from different parts of India participated in the event.

A large number of Indian students are pursuing higher education in each other's country.

The Indian High Commissioner invited Bangladeshi students to take advantage of India's globally prestigious higher education system and build new bridges of friendship and understanding between the youth of the two countries.

Bangladesh Education Minister Dr. Deepu Moni recognized the important role of education in promoting better understanding between India and Bangladesh and thanked Study in India for taking the initiative to organize the event in Dhaka.

Study in India programme:

It is a flagship project launched by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in 2018.

Its main goal is to increase the number of international students in the country and improve the global reputation and ranking of Indian educational institutions.

The programme provides meritorious foreign students fee waiver and scholarship.

The program is designed to encourage and invite the global student community to pursue their higher education in India.

Since its inception, the Study in India program has attracted students from over 150 countries, including Bangladesh.

International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine

The International Criminal Court on 17 March issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes.

An overview of the news:

The move mandates 123 member states to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he steps onto their territory.

It was immediately rejected by Moscow while Ukraine on the other hand welcomed the decision.

Why did the International Criminal Court issue the warrants?

The International Criminal Court says Putin committed war crimes in Ukraine.

He is responsible for the crime of kidnapping and deportation of Ukrainian children.

According to the court, these crimes were allegedly committed from 24 February 2022 on Ukrainian-occupied territory.

The court also issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights.

International Criminal Court (ICC):

It was set up in July 2002 under the Rome treaty of 1998.

It is the only permanent court to prosecute persons for crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and crimes of agression. 

At present 123 countries are its members. The United States, China, and Israel are not its members.

The court's jurisdiction  extends to offences that occurred after July 1, 2002, that were committed either in a state that has ratified the agreement or by a national of such a state or the case which was referred to it by the United Nations Security Council.

The Headquarters of ICC: The Hague, Netherlands. 

ICC is different from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

ICJ is a United Nations court which hears disputes involving the member states of the United Nations.

Sagar Parikrama Phase-IV begin in Karnataka

The fourth phase of Sagar Parikrama began on March 18 covering three coastal districts of Karnataka.

An overview of the news:

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the fourth phase of the Sagar Parikrama program took place from March 18-19.

It covered three districts Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Purushottam Rupala and concerned state ministers and stakeholders were present at the event.

During the event, progressive fishermen were awarded certificates/acknowledgements related to Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), KCC and State Scheme.

Sagar Parikrama Phase-I:

It was started on March 5, 2022 from Mandvi, Gujarat to Okha-Dwarka, and concluded at Porbandar on 6 March covering 3 locations.

The programme was a huge success, with more than 5,000 people physically attending the event.

Sagar Parikrama Phase-II:

It was held on September 23-25 2022 and covered seven locations.

Sagar Parikrama Phase-III:

Phase-III was held on February 18-21 2022 and covered coastal districts of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

About Sagar Parikrama:

It is a maritime evolutionary journey tour to be organized in all coastal states/UTs through sea route to show solidarity with all fishermen, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders.

It aims to address the issues of fishermen and other stakeholders and facilitate their economic upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs likePMMSY.

Amit Shah inaugurated APMC Kisan Bhavan at Krishi Shivir in Junagadh, Gujarat

Union Home and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the District Bank Headquarters and inaugurated the APMC Kisan Bhavan at Krishi Shivir in Junagadh, Gujarat on 19 March.

An overview of the news:

He said that natural farming is the future of agriculture today. Natural agricultural products will be promoted with the Amul brand, which will benefit the farmers.

The government is planning to expand this network to every district in the coming five years.

Strong cooperative infrastructure is the only solution for the welfare of the farmers in the country.

National level multi-state cooperatives, recently approved by the Union Cabinet to promote organic products and exports, will help farmers multiply their income over the next 10 years.

The farmer of any village of the country can easily sell his produce in the world market through the Multi State Cooperative Export Society and get a fair price for his produce.

Multi-state Cooperative Societies:

The Union Cabinet in January 2023 gave its approval for the creation ofthree new multi-state cooperative societies under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002. These are-

National multi-state cooperative export society, 

National multi-state cooperative organic society. 

National multi-state cooperative seed society. 

These societies will act as national nodal points for production, procurement, processing, branding, labelling, packaging, storage, marketing and distribution of quality seeds.

Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. 

Co-operative is a state subject, but there are many societies such as sugar and milk, banks, milk unions etc. whose members and areas of operation are spread over more than one state.

This act was passed to govern the multi state cooperative societies.

For example, the Karnataka-Maharashtra border has most of the sugar mills that procure sugarcane from both the states.

Maharashtra has the highest number of such cooperative societies followed by Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi.

Rohan Bopanna becomes oldest tennis player to win ATP Masters 1000 title

India's Rohan Bopanna becomes the oldest tennis player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title.

An overview of the news:

Rohan Bopanna, 43, and Matthew Ebden, 35, defeated Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Neil Skupski of Britain 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 in the final in California, United States.

.Before Bopanna, Canadian Daniel Nestor was the oldest player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title after he clinched the 2015 Cincinnati Masters at the age of 42.

Bopanna has so far won 24 ATP titles, including five ATP Masters 1000 titles.

It was his second title this year after winning the Qatar Open with Ebden last month.

Earlier in the Indian Wells semi-finals, the unseeded pair of Bopanna-Ebden defeated defending champions John Isner and Jack Sock of USA 7(8)-6(6), 7(7)-6(2) in the hard court event.

Bopanna, a former world No. 3 in men’s doubles, was 15th in the ATP doubles rankings ahead of the tournament.

The Indian Wells Masters win lifted him to 11th in the live doubles tennis rankings.

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.