National & International News :
1. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Launched National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 & Other Initiatives
On May 26, 2023, the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023, was unveiled and the Export Promotion Council for Medical Devices was launched by Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare. This significant announcement took place during the inauguration of the 8th International Conference on Pharma and Medical Device Sector.
- In addition to these initiatives, Mansukh Mandaviya also introduced a scheme titled 'Assistance for Medical Devices clusters for Common Facilities (AMD-CF).' This scheme aims to establish and enhance common infrastructure facilities within medical devices clusters, as well as strengthen testing facilities for medical devices.
- Here are some key points related to the event :
(i) On May 26, 2023, Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 8th International Conference on Pharma and Medical Device Sector.
(ii) The conference was jointly organized by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Its purpose was to promote India as a manufacturing hub for high-quality medical products in the pharmaceutical and medical device sector.
(iii) The two-day flagship conference was held on May 26 and 27, 2023. May 26th was dedicated to the India Medical Device sector, focusing on the theme 'Sustainable MedTech 5.0: Scaling and Innovating Indian MedTech.' May 27th was dedicated to the Pharmaceutical sector, centered around the theme "Indian pharma industry: Delivering Value through Innovation."
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare :
Union Minister : Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha - Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) : Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar
2. PM Modi flags off Uttarakhand’s 1st Vande Bharat train : Dehradun-Delhi
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually flagged off Uttarakhand’s 1st semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Train connecting Dehradun with Delhi.
- The inaugural run of the train connects Dehradun to Delhi's Anand Vihar terminal.
- This will be the 6th Vande Bharat train connecting Delhi from a different state. This also marks the 18th Vande Bharat train in India.
- The regular operations for the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express will start on 29 May. The train will operate on all days of the week, except Wednesdays. This will reduce the journey time between Dehradun and Delhi to 4 hours 30 min. At present, the Shatabdi Express takes 6 hours and 10 minutes to complete the journey.
About Uttarakhand :
Chief Minister : Pushkar Singh Dhami
Governor : Gen. (Retd.) Gurmit Singh
UNESCO Heritage Site : Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
Festival : Kanwar Yatra; Bissu Mela
3. MoRD Minister Giriraj Singh launches SAMARTH campaign to Promote Digital Transactions at Gram Panchayat Level
The launch of the 'SAMARTH' campaign took place on May 25, 2023, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP). Giriraj Singh, the Union Minister of Rural Development (MoRD), introduced this campaign as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, aiming to promote digital transactions in 50,000 Gram Panchayats.
- The campaign had already commenced on February 1, 2023, initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development, and it will continue until August 15, 2023. The event in Lucknow was graced by the presence of Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of UP.
- The primary objective of the campaign is to encourage digital transactions in rural areas, with a particular focus on empowering women.
- Here are some key points related to the campaign :
(i) In Uttar Pradesh, the BC (Banking Correspondent) Sakhis played a vital role in driving digital transformation. They facilitated over 5 crore 57 lakh transactions, helping rural communities access and encash government DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) funds worth over Rs 75,000 crore. It is noteworthy that the BC Sakhi Yojana was launched in May 2020 by the Chief Minister of UP to generate employment opportunities for women in the state. Through this scheme, BC Sakhis are deployed in rural areas, eliminating the need for residents to travel to banks as the Sakhis deliver money directly to their doorstep.
(ii) The Non-Performing Assets (NPA) of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have significantly decreased from 9.58% in 2013 to below 2% presently.
4. GCC’s Araku Coffee from Andhra Pradesh gets Organic Certificate
The Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) has received the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) certificate for the coffee and pepper GCC purchases from the tribal coffee farmers of the Chintapalli division, Andhra Pradesh(AP).
- The certificate was granted by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).
- This certification would provide scope for the higher price of the coffee and pepper.
- On 2,184.76 acres, 1,900 tribal farmers from the Gondupakalu, Lambasingi, and Kappalu clusters in the Chintapalli division cultivate coffee.
[ Girijana Vikasa Swatchanda Samstha, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), assisted in getting the organic certification for the GCC Araku Valley Coffee. ]
5. Goa & Uttarakhand signs MoU to Enhance Tourism
The Government of Goa and the Government of Uttarakhand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate towards enhancing the tourism landscape of both Goa and Uttarakhand. The MoU was signed in the presence of Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, IT, E&C, Printing and Stationary of the Government of Goa, and Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
- The MoU aims at promoting bilateral cooperation in the travel and tourism sector and facilitating travel between the states to increase the number of tourists visiting Goa and Uttarakhand respectively.
6. Home Minister Amit Shah lays Foundation Stone of NFSU Assam & launches “Assam Police Seva Setu”
On May 25, 2023, Amit Shah, the Union Minister of Home Affairs (MHA), laid the foundation stone for the Guwahati campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU). This campus will be the 11th NFSU campus worldwide and the 10th campus in India.
- During the event, Amit Shah also launched the web portal "Assam Police Seva Setu" to enhance accessibility and transparency in Assam police services for the public. Additionally, he unveiled a book titled "Analysis on Judicial Approach on Forensic Evidence" authored by Dr. J.M Vyas, the vice chancellor of NFSU, which focuses on the use of forensic science in the judiciary.
- The Assam Government has allocated 50 acres of land for the establishment of this Forensic Science University, and the Union government will provide Rs. 500 crore for the education of 3,500 students in undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
- The Guwahati campus, situated in the Changsari suburb of Kamrup's Molong district, will be constructed in two phases. The first phase is scheduled for completion by 2026, followed by the second phase in 2030. The campus will offer over 50 undergraduate, graduate, PhD, and post-doctoral programs in various forensic science disciplines, including wildlife forensics, cyber security, narcotics, digital forensics, drone forensics, forensic psychology, and forensic justice & law. The estimated cost of the campus is Rs. 300 crore.
- Regarding the Assam Police Seva Setu initiative :
It is a digital platform established by the Assam government to facilitate interaction between citizens and law enforcement.
- The portal will be available in both Assamese and Bengali languages.
- Key features of the portal include instant criminal reporting, grievance submission, online registration for senior citizens living alone, verification of candidates for government and private sector jobs, verification of tenants, paying guests, and domestic help, reporting missing persons, child-related issues, and lost and found items, security clearance for commercial constructions and petrol stations, obtaining permissions or No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for fireworks sales and temporary bar licenses, and providing feedback and sharing confidential criminal information.
7. Indian Navy & ISRO Jointly Released ‘Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan’ at WSTF INS Garuda
On May 24, 2023, the Indian Navy along with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released a ‘Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan’ at the state of the art Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) INS (Indian Naval Ship) Garuda, Kochi.
- The training document was jointly released by Vice Admiral Atul Anand, Director General of Naval Operations, Indian Navy, Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), and Dr. Umamaheshwaran R, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO.
About Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) :
Chairman : Dr. K. Sivan
Headquarters : Bengaluru, Karnataka
Establishment : 1969
8. IEA’s World Energy Investment 2023: Clean Energy Investment Rises Fasten Than Investment in Fossil Fuels
According to the World Energy Investment 2023 (WEI 2023) report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), investments in clean energy have surged and now exceed investments in fossil fuels by 70%. When comparing IEA's estimates for 2023 with those from 2021, it is evident that annual investments in clean energy have grown at a faster rate compared to investments in fossil fuels (24% vs 15%).
- Key points from the report include :
(i) The estimated global energy investment for 2023 is around USD 2.8 trillion.
(ii) Of this total, over USD 1.7 trillion will be allocated to clean energy, which encompasses renewable power, nuclear energy, grids, storage, low-emission fuels, efficiency improvement, and electrification. The remaining amount, over USD 1 trillion, will be directed towards investments in fossil fuels. Notably, 15% of the investment in fossil fuels will be allocated to coal.
(iii) The report highlights that for every USD 1 spent on fossil fuels, USD 1.7 will be invested in clean energy. This represents a significant shift from the 1:1 ratio observed in 2018.
(iv) While investments in new coal-fired power plants are declining, investments in coal supply, which have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, are projected to increase by 10% in 2023. In 2022, the approval of 40 GW of new coal plants was recorded, marking the highest figure since 2016. The report predicts that almost all new coal-fired capacity will be constructed in China.
Overall, the report underscores the significant growth in clean energy investments compared to fossil fuels, with a notable rise in renewable energy sources and a concerning trend of continued investment in coal supply.
9. South Korea launched NEXTSat-2, 1st commercial-grade satellite, aboard Nuri
On May 25, 2023, South Korea successfully launched ‘Next Generation Small Satellite 2(NEXTSat-2), the first commercial-grade satellite aboard Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle Two (KSLV-II), nicknamed Nuri, from the launch pad at Naro Space Centre in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, South of Seoul, South Korea.
- NEXTSat-2 is the main payload of Nuri, whose mission is to deploy a total of 8 satellites (NEXTSat-2 and 7 small-sized cube satellites (CubeSats)) into a solar synchronous orbit circling the earth at an altitude of 550 kilometres.
- This also marks the 3rd launch of Korea’s domestically developed Nuri rocket.
- Mission of NEXTSat-2: To verify radar imaging technology and observe cosmic radiation in a near-Earth orbit.
About South Korea :
President : Yoon Suk Yeol
Capital : Seoul
Currency : South Korean won
10. ISA partnered with AISC for Growth and Sustainability in Steel Sector
On May 21 2023, The Indian Steel Association (ISA), the apex steel industry body and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Iron and Steel Council (AISC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to unlock new avenues of growth and sustainability in steel sector.
- The MoU signed for the bilateral cooperation aims to support the strengths, expertise, and resources of both organisations to unlock new avenues for growth, innovation, and sustainability in the steel industry.
About Indian Steel Association (ISA) :
Established in : August 2014
President : Dilip Oommen
Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
11. 3 Indian peacekeepers honoured with UNs Dag Hammarskjold Medal
On May 25, 2023, three Indian peacekeepers were posthumously awarded the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. The recipients of the medal were Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, Head Constables Sanwala Ram Vishnoi and Shishupal Singh, and civilian peacekeeper Shaber Taher Ali.
- Ruchira Kamboj, India's Permanent Ambassador to the UN, received the medals on behalf of the Indian peacekeepers from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
- Here are some details about the three Indian peacekeepers :
(i) Head Constables Shishupal Singh (45) from Rajasthan's Sikar and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi (45) from Barmer, Rajasthan, were part of two BSF platoons deployed for the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo in May 2022. They served in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). Tragically, they lost their lives during armed protests in Butembo city, Congo, on July 26, 2023.
(ii) Shaber Taher Ali served in a civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and was killed on April 17, 2022.
- India has been actively contributing to UN peacekeeping missions since 1950 and has deployed more than 275,000 troops, including a significant number of women peacekeepers, in over 51 missions. The country's commitment to international peacekeeping efforts has been longstanding and commendable.
Economy :
1. SBI’s Ecowrap Report Projects India’s GDP Growth to 5.5% in Q4 FY23 & 7.1% in FY23
According to the Ecowrap report of the State Bank of India (SBI) released on May 26, 2023, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the fourth quarter (Q4) of Financial Year 2022-23 (FY23) is projected to be 5.5%. India’s growth for FY23 is projected at 7.1% due to growth in manufacturing sector.
Key notes :
(i) The State Bank of India (SBI) has projected a growth rate of 7% for the fiscal year 2023, aligning with the advance estimates released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in January 2023. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has estimated the real GDP growth for Q4FY23 to be 5.1%.
(ii) The SBI report highlights that domestic consumption and investment have experienced positive effects due to improved prospects in agricultural and allied activities.
(iii) The GDP growth projection provided by Ecowrap is based on SBI's ANN (Artificial Neural Network) model, which utilizes 30 high-frequency indicators from key sectors. These indicators are fine-tuned and trained to forecast GDP numbers.
2. India to contribute 16% to global GDP growth : Morgan Stanley
According to Morgan Stanley, the Indian economy is a key contributor to Asian economic growth outperformance and India is expected to contribute 16% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) growth over 2023-24.
- The Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) and manufacturing PMI of India are well above than other economies.
- The passenger vehicle sales are at 131% of pre-Covid-19 levels, real goods and services tax collections are 35% higher than pre-Covid-19 and services exports have risen by 84% since October 2020.
Banking & Finance :
1. ADB, India signs US$141.12 million Loan Agreement for industrial corridor development in AP
On May 25, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a US$141.12 million loan agreement to support the development of high-quality internal infrastructure such as roads, water supply systems and electricity distribution network in three industrial clusters in the state of Andhra Pradesh (AP).
- The US$ 141.12 million will be used for the project to build infrastructure in three industrial clusters in the Visakhapatnam and Srikalahasthi-Chittoor nodes in AP.
Key notes :
(i) Under the financing provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the following industrial infrastructure projects are planned for the Visakhapatnam node :
- Development of internal infrastructure within the startup area of the 160-hectare Rambilli industrial cluster and the 441-hectare Nakkapalli industrial cluster.
- Widening of a 13.8-kilometer stretch of the Atchuthapuram–Anakapalli road and improvement of a 4.4-kilometer access road leading to the Nakkapalli industrial cluster.
(ii) In the Srikalahasthi-Chittoor node, the ADB financing will support the following developments:
- Development of the startup area within the 938-hectare Chittoor–South industrial cluster.
- Improvement of a 9.5-kilometer access road to the Chittoor-South industrial cluster.
- Construction of an 8.7-kilometer access road to the Naidupeta industrial cluster.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB) :
President : Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters : Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
Establishment : 1966
Member countries : 68 countries (49 from the Asian and Pacific Region)
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