Currrent Affairs

3^rd January 2023

Top 16 Daily Current Affairs: National & International News:

Here is the Daily Current Affairs of the 03rd January 2023 covering the following news headlines:  Central Detective Training Institute, ‘SMART’ program, Croatia, DRDO, Indian Space Research Organization.

National News

1. Coffee Export From India Rose Almost 2% to 4 Lakh tonne

Coffee shipments from India, Asia’s third-largest producer and exporter, rose 1.66 per cent to 4 lakh tonne in 2022 on rise in instant coffee exports and re-exports. Exports stood at 3.93 lakh tonne in 2021. In value terms, coffee export was higher at Rs 8,762.47 crore in 2022 as against Rs 6,984.67 crore in the previous year. India ships both Robusta and Arabica varieties, besides instant coffee.

According to the Board’s latest data, shipment of Robusta coffee declined marginally to 2,20,974 tonne in 2022 from 2,20,997 tonne in the previous year.

Similarly, export of Arabica fell 11.43 per cent to 44,542 tonne from 50,292 tonne. However, export of instant coffee increased 16.73 per cent to 35,810 tonne in 2022 from 29,819 tonne in the previous year. About 99,513 tonne of coffee was re-exported in 2022, higher than 92,235 tonne in the previous year.

2. Amit Shah lays the foundation stone of the Central Detective Training Institute in Karnataka

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah has laid the foundation stone of the Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI) at Devanahalli in Karnataka and inaugurated the residential and administrative complexes of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

The residential complexes of ITBP inaugurated by Shri Amit Shah include Residential Quarters, Joint Building, Barracks for 120 Jawans, Staff Officers’ Mess and Officers’ Mess. On this occasion, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Shri Prahlad Joshi and many other dignitaries were present.

CDTI would help in fulfilling all these objectives for the CAPFs as well as the police of neighboring States, which has been running since 1956. Shri Amit Shah said the centers built in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ghaziabad and Rajasthan have made huge contributions and now the Government of India will work towards bringing equality among all these centers through coordination and support of BPR&D.

3. ‘SMART’ program for Ayurveda professionals launched to regulate and boost R&D in Ayurveda

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India for regulating medical education and conducting scientific research respectively, have launched ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals).

The program aimed to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.

The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)”.

4. In 4:1 Majority Verdict, Supreme Court Finds no Flaw in Demonetisation Process

A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the Modi government’s 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, saying the decision was about executive policy and could not be reversed. The court rejected the 58 petitions challenging demonetisation and said the decision-making process of the government was not flawed.

The judgment, authored by Justice B R Gavai, was agreed to by judges S Abdul Nazeer, A S Bopanna, and V Ramasubramanian. Justice B V Nagarathna faulted demonetisation in her dissenting judgment but did not quash it.

The judgment said there was consultation between the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for six months, indicating a “reasonable nexus between the measures undertaken and the object sought to be achieved” and, therefore, the demonetisation notification passed the test or doctrine of “proportionality”. 

International News

5. Croatia Adopts Euro and Entered Europe’s Borderless Zone

Croatia has switched to the euro and entered Europe’s passport-free zone – two important milestones for the country after joining the European Union (EU) nearly a decade ago. At midnight, the Balkan nation bid farewell to its kuna currency and became the 20th member of the eurozone.

It is now the 27th nation in the Schengen zone, the world’s largest passport-free travel area, which enables more than 400 million people to move freely around its members. Croatia, a former Yugoslav republic of 3.9 million people that fought a war of independence in the 1990s, joined the EU in 2013.

6. Qin Gang Appointed As China’s New and Youngest Foreign Minister

China has appointed Qin Gang, its ambassador to the United States and a trusted aide of President Xi Jinping, to be its new foreign minister, as Beijing and Washington seek to stabilize rocky relations.

This decision was made by the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Qin, 56, replaces Wang Yi, who has been foreign minister for the past decade. Wang, 69, was promoted to the politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and is expected to play a bigger role in Chinese foreign policy.

State News

7. Indian Library Congress Inaugurated by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in Kannur

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated Indian Library Congress in Kannur, Kerala. The inauguration event of the Indian Library Congress was organized by the People’s Mission for Social Development and Library Council.

The event was hosted by Kannur University, Kerala from 1st January to 3rd January 2023. Higher Education Minister Dr. R. Bindu will inaugurate 100 new libraries in the district as part of the event.

Ramachandran Gadnapally MLA, Kannur District Panchayat President PP Divya, Kasaragod District Panchayat President Baby Balakrishnan, MV Jayaranjan, Prabir Purkayastha, TK Govindan, PK Vijayan, Dr. KV Kunhikrishnan, Pramod Vellachal, and others were also present during the inauguration ceremony.

It was established in 1996 to the provide development of higher education in the Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad districts of Kerala.

It was inaugurated after the passing of Act no. 23 of 1996 of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Banking News

8. RBI Keeps SBI, ICICI, HDFC as Domestic Systemically Important Banks

The Reserve Bank of India said SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank remain domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs). D-SIBs are those interconnected entities whose failure can impact the whole of the financial system and create instability.

In addition to the usual capital conservation buffer, D-SIBs will need to maintain additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1). As per the RBI’s latest press release, SBI will have to maintain an additional 0.6 per cent CET1 as a percentage of its risk-weighted assets. Similarly, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank need to maintain additional 0.2 per cent each.

The Reserve Bank had announced SBI and ICICI Bank as D-SIBs in 2015 and 2016. Based on data collected from banks as on March 31, 2017, HDFC Bank was also classified as a D-SIB, along with SBI and ICICI Bank. The current update is based on the data collected from banks as on March 31, 2022.

Economy News

9. UPI Processes Record 7.82 bn Transactions in December, ends 2022 on a High

India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed a record 7.82 billion transactions in December, worth a total of INR 12.82tn ($174.6bn). This represents an increase of 7.12% in volume and 7.73% in value compared to November. On a year-on-year basis, volume and value increased by 71% and 55% respectively.

In 2022, UPI processed over 74 billion transactions worth INR 125.94tn. In 2021, it processed 38 billion transactions worth INR 71.54tn.

This represents a YoY increase of 90% in volume and 76% in value.

UPI reached 1 billion transactions in October 2019, 2 billion in October 2020, and 3 billion in January 2021.

Defence News

10. DRDO’s celebrated its 65th foundation day

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Headquarters in New Delhi has marked the 65th Foundation Day of the Organisation, which is celebrated on 1st January every year.

DRDO Chairman Dr S V Kamat addressed the DRDO fraternity on the occasion. He reaffirmed DRDO’s commitment towards R&D excellence and briefed about the development of cutting edge technologies for self-reliance in defence.

On the occassion of the day, a DRDO monograph ‘Infrared Signatures, Sensors and Technologies’ authored by Dr Kamal Nain Chopra, a former DRDO Scientist, was also released by the Chairman DRDO. DRDO calendar 2023 was also released. In addition, Secretary DD R&D and Chairman DRDO felicitated all the employees who have completed 25 years of their service in DRDO.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

DRDO Date founded: 1958;

DRDO Agency executive: Dr Sameer V Kamath, Chairman, DRDO;

DRDO Headquarters: DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi;

DRDO Parent agency: Ministry of Defence.

11. CRPF celebrated Jashn-e-Chillai-Kalan’ with students in Srinagar

On the occasion of Chillai Kalan in the Kashmir Valley, 44 Bn CRPF organized a function “Jashn – e – Chillai Kalan” on 26/12/2022 at HMT Complex, Zainakote, Srinagar. During this competition, 54 participants (including 12 Female participants) from Schools/colleges & other educational institutions were present along with their guardians & teachers.

All the participants were awarded with appreciation certificates, prizes and the winners and runner ups of each event were awarded with the trophies. Further winners and runner ups from each event will be nominated for grand competition that is to be organized subsequently. Rishi Raj Sahay, Commandant 44 Bn, CRPF inaugurated the event.

Science and Technology News

12. Biggest Space Missions in 2023- Chandrayaan-3 to Gaganyaan

In 2022, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) reached new heights as it experimented with new tests to confirm its human spaceflight mission, built new facilities to train its astronauts, and created a new connection with the private sector by putting India’s first privately made rocket to the test.

The year 2023 won’t be any different. Instead, since the roster is set, it might be a year of bigger, bolder, and braver expeditions from India to space.

In 2023, ISRO will also carry out the first test flight of its most ambitious mission, Gaganyaan.

The crewed launch has been delayed until 2024, although the Indian space agency may launch the unmanned “G1” mission in the final quarter of 2023 and the “G2” mission in the first half of 2024.

Sports News

13. BCCI Announced Yo-Yo Test and Dexa to be a Part of India Selection Criteria

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Yo-Yo Test and Dexa will be a part of the selection criteria. BCCI has also discussed the player’s availability, workload management, and fitness parameters in the team review meeting along with the roadmap of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. ICC Cricket World Cup is scheduled in October and November, and it is to be hosted by India.

BCCI has shortlisted 20 players who will be rotated for proper preparations for the ODI World Cup 2023.

The BCCI will give preference for international cricket while making sure the IPL is not diluted.

The Men’s FTP and preparations for ICC CWC 2023, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) will work in tandem with the IPL franchisees to monitor the targeted Indian players participating in the IPL 2023.

Books and Authors News

14. Author Manu S. Pillai on his new book, The World: A Family History

Simon Sebag Montefiore, a British historian, discussed his recent book “The World: A Family History of Humanity” in an interview with an Indian historian Manu S. Pillai. In the book, Simon Sebag Montefiore explores how people and families have played a role in the convergences and divergences in world history.

The two-part book was originally published on 27th October 2022, published by Hachette India. Montefiore, the internationally bestselling author of prize-winning books, has been published in 48 languages.

Both book, published by Hachette India, claims to capture the story of humankind in “a ground-breaking, single narrative that will forever shift the boundaries of what history can achieve”. Beginning with the footsteps of a family walking along a beach 9,50,000 years ago, Montefiore takes the readers on an epic journey through the families that have shaped the world, including the Caesars, Medicis, Incas, Ottomans, Mughals, Bonapartes, Habsburgs, Zulus, Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Krupps and Churchills.

15. Former IAS Kaki Madhava Rao Authored a New Book “Breaking Barriers”

Former IAS officer Kaki Madhava Rao has authored a new book titled “Breaking Barriers: the Story of a Dalit Chief Secretary” which addresses the details about the dynamics of civil services at the ground level and also fills the gap in the knowledge about micro policies and governance.

The book is published by Emesco Books Private Limited. K Madhava Rao is a 1962 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, who retired as Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh (AP). He was born in Pedamaddali village of Krishna district, AP in 1939. He also served in the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) as a Director and as a member of a sub-committee, the Board for Financial Supervision.

Important Days

16. Global Family Day 2023 celebrates on January 1st

Global Family Day is celebrated on January 1, each year. The day creates a sense of unity, community and brotherhood across nations and cultures through the idea of families. This day is celebrated to discourage unwarranted negative attitudes towards other cultures, nations, which may breed hatred, encourage social aloofness and lead to violence.

The day highlights the need for all nations to exist in harmony, regardless of cultural or religious differences. The day highlights the importance of family and urges the extension of the idea to a universal scale.

Global Family Day had its origins in two books. The first was a 1996 children’s book named ‘One Day in Peace, January 1, 2000,’ by American authors Steve Diamond and Robert Alan Silverstein. The story imagines an ideal scenario where the entire world decides to work together to create a peaceful and prosperous planet Earth.