Current Affairs in English – February 1 2023

February 1, 2022

National Events:

Samatha Kumbh:

• Samatha Kumbh will be held on the premises of the Statue of Equality at Muchintal, Telangana from 2-14 Feb 2023. The Statue of Equality was inaugurated at the Samatha Moorti Spoorthi Kendram in Telangana by PM Narendra Modi in 2022.
• On Feb 5, kalyanotsavam will also be held for all 108 Divya Deshas. The program will commence with the offering of abhisheka to the Ramanujacharya statue.

Union Budget 2023:

1) Mahila Samman Saving Certificate announced:

A new saving scheme ‘Mahila Samman Saving Certificate’ for women and girls was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. The one-time small saving scheme ‘Mahila Samman Saving Certificate’ will be available for 2 years up till March 2025. Certificate will allow maximum deposit of up to Rs 2 lakh at 7.5 percent interest to the beneficiaries.

2) PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM VIKAS) announced:

PM VIKAS is a package of assistance for traditional artisans and craftspeople. The scheme will enable them to improve the quality, scale and reach of their products, integrating them with the MSME value chain.Components of scheme include financial support, skill training, knowledge of modern digital techniques, promotion, market linkage, digital payments, and social security.

3) ‘Saptarishi, 7 priorities of the budget announced:

Budget adopted following 7 priorities. They complement each other and act as ‘Saptarishi’ guiding us through the Amrit Kaal. They are supposed to guide the country toward a better future and handle challenges it is currently experiencing.

Inclusive Development.

Reaching the Last Mile.

Infrastructure and Investment.

Unleashing the Potential.

Green Growth.

Youth Power.

Financial Sector.

4) Government to set up Agriculture Accelerator Fund:

In Union Budget, government announced that it will set up an Agriculture Accelerator Fund to encourage agri- startups by young entrepreneurs in rural areas. Fund will aim at bringing innovative and affordable solutions for challenges faced by farmers. It will also bring in modern technologies to transform agricultural practices, increase productivity and profitability.

5) India to become global hub for millets (Shree Anna):

Budget highlighted importance of millets as means of sustainable cultivation that can raise income of small farmers in arid regions. To make India a global hub, Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad will be made into a center of excellence for sharing best practices, research and technology at international level. India is largest producer of millets in the world.

6) Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission announced:

It was announced in Union Budget that a Mission to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047 will be launched.It will entail awareness creation, universal screening of 7 crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal areas. It will also perform counselling of people through collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments.

7) Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission announced:

This mission aims to provide basic necessities such as housing, water, roads, telecom, education, and health in areas inhabited by PVTGs. Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) are the most vulnerable and backward tribes among Scheduled Tribes. An amount of 15,000 cr will be made available to implement the Mission in next 3 years under Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes.

8) Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF):

Government announced that it will set up an Rs.10000 crore per year UIDF, to be used for creating infrastructure in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. It would be established through the use of priority sector lending shortfall. It will be managed by National Housing Bank. States will be encouraged to leverage resources from grants of 15th Finance Commission, as well as existing scheme.

Trishakti Prahar:

• Indian Army carries out military exercise Trishakti Prahar in Bengal. A joint training exercise “Exercise Trishakti Prahar” was conducted in North Bengal from 21 to 31 January 2023.
• The aim of exercise was to practice battle preparedness of Security Forces using latest weapons and equipment in a networked, integrated environment, involving Army, the Indian Air Force and CAPFS.
• It culminated with an Integrated Fire Power Exercise in Teesta Field Firing Ranges.

MoU:

• Nagaland government and Patanjali Foods Limited have signed MoU for development and area expansion under palm oil cultivation and processing.
• The MoU was signed for Zone-II (Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts) of Nagaland, under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). It will bring a big boost for the oil palm growers in the state of Nagaland and the region.

GEM:

• Government e-Marketplace (GEM) informed that in 2022, the Ministry of Defense emerged as the largest buyer through MSME sellers. In 2022, the Ministry of Defense envisages procurement of goods and services worth Rs 16,747 crore from the MSME sector.
• Among the states, Uttar Pradesh procured the maximum. Uttar Pradesh procured goods and services worth Rs 9,642 crore through GeM.

46th International Kolkata Book Fair:

• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair at Salt Lake on January 30, 2023.It is the world’s largest non-trade book fair.
• It is also the world’s third-largest annual conglomeration of books after the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair. Spain is the theme country at the fair.

RCS:

• Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on 31 January 2023, inaugurated IndiaOne Air’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) Flight Operations for Jamshedpur-Kolkata under the UDAN scheme.
• As per Aviation Ministry, 1.15 crore people who have never undertaken flight service have been benefited through the UDAN Yojana. UDAN 4.2 round devoted completely to regional and last-mile connectivity.

DCGI:

• The Union Public Service Commission has recommended the name of Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi as the new Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
• He will replace Dr. VG Somani who was appointed as the Drugs Controller General of India in August 2019. DCGI heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), which is responsible for ensuring the quality of drug supply in India.

Indian Coast Guard Day: 1 February:

• Every year on February 1, Indian Coast Guard Day is observed. The Indian Coast Guard was founded on February 1, 1977, and the day is recognized as Indian Coast Guard Day.
• In 2023, the Indian Coast Guard is celebrating its 46th Raising Day. The current Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is Virender Singh Pathania.

Headquarters: New Delhi.

Ladli Bahna Yojana:

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the implementation of Ladli Bahna Yojana on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti on 29 January 2023.
• Through this scheme, ₹1000 per month will be given to the sisters of poor and middle class families of Madhya Pradesh. To get the benefit of the scheme, the woman must be a resident of Madhya Pradesh.

INSA:

• The science 20 Inception Meeting was held on 30 January 2023 at Puducherry. Indian National Science Academy (INSA) President Dr. Ashutosh Sharma was the country’s chair of the deliberations.
• It was focused on scientific and technological aspects that would help the growth of nations. The theme of the meeting is “disruptive science for innovative and sustainable development”.

International Events:

World Interfaith Harmony Week begins on 1 Feb 2023:

• World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February (1-7), after United Nations General Assembly designation in 2010.
• The week was started by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan. These celebrations focus on creating mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue to promote harmony between people regardless of their faith.

US-India:

• US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology launched. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan formally launched US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (ICET) in Washington.
• It reflects India-US convention of strategic, commercial & scientific approaches in field of technology. They also decided to launch a new Innovation Bridge. Innovation Bridge will connect both countries’ defence startups.

‘Hind City’:

• The Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, renamed the Al Minhad district and its surrounding areas as ‘Hind City’ in January 2023.
• The city is divided into four zones and spans an area of 83.9km. The Hind City will be served by major roads including Emirates Road, Dubai-Al Ain Road, and Jebel Ali-Lehbab Road.

Sports Events:

Tata Steel Masters 2023:

• Dutch player Anish Giri, five times the runner-up in Wijk aan Zee, has won Tata Steel Masters 2023. Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023 is the 85th edition of annual chess tournament held in Wijk aan Zee.
• It was held from 13 to 29 January 2023. The field of 14 players in the Masters section included the numbers 1 and 2 of FIDE World ranking, Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren.

Prajnesh Gunneswaran:

• Prajnesh Gunneswaran has won the final of the $25,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament in Al Zahra, Kuwait, on 29 Jan 23.
• It was first title in 5 years for Prajnesh, who had won two $150,000 Challengers in 2018 in Bengaluru and Anning. It was 11th title in professional circuit for Prajnesh, who was ranked a career-high 75th in 2019.