The value of Current Affairs in Civil Service Examinations is enormous. This is the most critical part of both Prelims and Mains Exam. Aspirants should study in depth to understand the significance of current affairs for the Union Public Service Commission. In fact, all the questions in Civil Service Exams are framed around current affairs. Questions are not asked directly for current news and information in the exam. Questions are framed by combining current affairs with practical knowledge. The primary motive behind this type of strategy is to check the ability of correlation a candidate can make to the fact.
Current Affairs
Artificial Reef under PMMSY for rejuvenating coastal fisheries
Sep 23, 2023
To promote sustainable practices, Department of Fisheries has sanctioned 732 artificial reef units for 10 coastal states with a total investment of Rs 126 crore as a sub-activity under “Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages” of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
The projects are being implemented with the technical support of Fishery Survey of India (FSI) and ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
All the states have completed their site selection process while states of Kerala and Maharashtra have completed the tendering process for execution of work. Thus all projects are expected to be completed by January 2024.
Installation of artificial reefs in coastal waters and undertaking sea ranching programs across in all coastal states is expected to rejuvenate of coastal fisheries and re-build fish stocks.
Artificial reefs are engineering technology interventions used to rehabilitate and/or improve natural habitats, increase productivity and manage aquatic resources including habitat enhancement . Installation of artificial reefs is advantageous in many forms as below:
Similar to natural reefs, ARs used for aggregating fish and provide a home for fish to live and grow, reduce wave damage on coasts, helps regeneration of marine ecosystem and act as a carbon sink. As per CMFRI, two to three-fold increase in catch rates and efficiency can be realized Thus saving fuel and energy costs leading to increased income.
Provide a firm substrate for marine life such as corals, algae and plankton to attach to and grow They provide favorable conditions for sea ranching and serve as spawning and nursery grounds for fish.
Enhance recreational fisheries, snorkeling, eco-tourism, creating suitable areas for diving and reducing conflicts.
Artificial reef structures restrict bottom trawling in the near shore areas thus helping the marine environment to regenerate and small-scale fishers get higher catch
One artificial reef of 300m3 is expected to support 25-30 non-mechanized boats (CMFRI).
PMMSY was launched in May 2020 with the highest ever investment of Rs. 20,050 crore to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector.
India-US armies to Begin war game in Alaska
Sep 25, 2023
The 19th edition of “EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS” will be conducted from 25th September to 8th October 2023 in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA.
EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS is an annual exercise conducted jointly by the Indian Army and the United States Army. The previous edition of the Exercise was conducted in Auli, Uttarakhand, India in November 2022.
Indian Army contingent comprising of 350 personnel will participate in this edition of the Exercise. The lead battalion from Indian side is affiliated to MARATHA Light Infantry Regiment. 1-24 Infantry Battalion of 1st Brigade Combat Team will participate from the US side. Both sides will practice a series of tactical drills to enhance interoperability in conducting UN peacekeeping operations. Personnel from both sides will also hold detailed discussions to share their experiences and best practices. The theme of the Exercise is ‘Employment of an Integrated Battle Group in Mountain/ Extreme Climatic Conditions’ under Chapter VII of United Nations mandate.
A Command Post Exercise and Expert Academic Discussions on selected topics will also form part of the schedule. The scope of the Field Training Exercise includes validation of Integrated Battle Groups against hostile forces at the Brigade level, Integrated Surveillance Grid at the Brigade/ Battalion level, employment of Heliborne/ Airborne elements and Force Multipliers, validation of logistics and casualty management during operations, evacuation and combat medical aid and other aspects as applicable to High Altitude Areas and Extreme Climatic Conditions.
The Exercise will also involve exchange of views and best practices in drills on a wide spectrum of combat skills including combat engineering, obstruction clearance, mine and Improvised Explosive Devices warfare. “EX YUDH ABHYAS-23” will facilitate both Armies to mutually learn from each other and further strengthen the bonds between the two armies.
Chief of Defence Staff visits Karwar Naval Base
Sep 25, 2023
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan visited the Naval Base at Karwar in Karnataka and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya on September 23, 2023.
He assessed the progress of critical infrastructure, accommodation and other strategic initiatives at the Naval Base.
INS Kadamba or Naval Base Karwar or Project Seabird is an Indian Navy base located near Karwar in Karnataka.
The Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is based at Karwar. The Indian Navy is expanding the strategically crucial naval base in Karnataka's Karwar as part of project 'Seabird'.
Karwar is the home base of the only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya
Key Takeaways
- Karwar Naval Base is also known as Project Seabird
- Karwar is a premier base of Indian Navy on the western seaboard.
Indian Standards on Biofuel to Aid GBA’s Clean Energy Goals
Sep 26, 2023
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) commits to complement the green initiatives of the country through development of relevant standards.
BIS is the National Standards Body of India.
BIS also announced that the Indian Standards will significantly complement the objectives of Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), the multilateral forum announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during G20 leaders’ summit held recently in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) is an India-led initiative to develop an alliance of Governments, International organizations and Industry to facilitate adoption of biofuels.
Aims of the GBA
- The GBA aims to position biofuels as a key to energy transition and contribute to jobs and economic growth.
- It aims to bring together the biggest consumers and producers of biofuels to drive biofuels development and deployment,
- This new initiative will support worldwide development and deployment of sustainable biofuels by offering capacity-building exercises across the value chain, technical support for national programs and promoting policy lessons-sharing.
GBA will help accelerate India's existing biofuels programs such as PM-JIVANYojna, SATAT, and GOBARdhan scheme, thereby contributing to increased farmers' income, creating jobs and overall development of the Indian ecosystem.
The GBA will also help strengthen India's position globally as the GBA will focus on collaboration and will provide additional opportunities to Indian industries in the form of exporting technology and exporting equipment.
India Smart Cities Conclave 2023 Underway In Indore
Sep 26, 2023
India Smart Cities Conclave 2023 is being held at the Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh on 26-27th September 2023.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India is organizing the India Smart Cities Conclave 2023
The Conclave is witnessing participation of all 100 smart cities who are leading a paradigm shift in the practice of city development by being at the forefront of urban innovation.
The event will provide a platform for the cities to showcase their exemplary work done under the Mission to help crystallize roadmap for future of urban transformation in the country.
The President, Smt. DroupadiMurmu will be felicitating the winners of the fourth edition of the India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) 2022 on 27th September 2023.
The ISAC is being organized under the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India since 2018. This is one of the important activities initiated under the Mission, where pioneering city strategies, projects and ideas are recognized to award exemplary performance, enable peer-peer learning and disseminate best practices.
Smart Cities Mission was launched in 2015. It is aimed at providing core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
It is a transformational mission aimed to bring about a paradigm shift in the practice of urban development in the country.
As on date, 6,000+ projects worth more than Rs.1 lakh crore have been completed and the remaining projects will be completed by 30 June 2024.
Sports
Asian Games 2023: India’s Equestrian Dressage team clinches gold
Sep 27, 2023
India won its gold medal in Equestrian, with the dressage team securing a historic top-podium finish, beating the likes of China and Hong Kong, China. In dressage, the horse and rider are judged on how they perform a series of movements.
The quartet of Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Vipul Chheda, and Anush Agarwalla scored a total of 209.205 to win gold.
It was India's third gold medal of the Asian Games 2023.
It is the first time in 41 years that the India won a medal in equestrian.
It last happened in 1982, when India topped the equestrian podiums in not one but three events - -individual eventing, team eventing and individual tent pegging.
In the 1982 edition in New Delhi, the Indian team had grabbed three gold medals in Eventing and Tent Pegging competitions.
Raghubir Singh had won a gold in individual Eventing in 1982 and then added another yellow metal in Team Eventing alongside Ghulam Mohammed Khan, Bishal Singh and Milkha Singh.
Rupinder Singh Brar won the third gold medal in individual tent pegging.
Science & Technology
MoU Between Indian Navy and IISC
Sep 23, 2023
A Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Navy (IN) and Indian institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru was signed at New Delhi for technical collaboration and joint research & development.
The MoU is aimed to promote academic cooperation in the varied field on Engineering, enhance scientific understanding of technologies related to defence sector and undertake new development.
IN and IISc share common interest in academic exchange of scientific research activities in the field of Engineering related to defence technologies.
The MoU would serve to provide a broader frame work and enable both sides to enhance capacity building, solution to field level issues, expanding of equipment vendor base and effective training through exchange of faculty/ guest lectures.
IN in collaboration with IISc has undertaken development of future-ready Transcritical carbon dioxide (CO2) based AC plant working on natural refrigerant. The technology is a major breakthrough for phasing out halon synthetic refrigerants and is indigenously designed & developed. This MoU is the formal basis for the continued collaboration to develop such technologies solutions in the near future.
Art and Culture
Waheeda Rehman to be conferred with Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Sep 27, 2023
One of India's finest actors, Waheeda Rehman will be honoured with this year's Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest recognition in the field of cinema in India.
The veteran actor is best known for her roles in films like "Pyaasa", "CID", "Guide", "Kaagaz Ke Phool", “Chaudhvin Ka Chand”,” Neel Kamal”, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam”, "Khamoshi" and "Trishul".
-Waheeda Rehman made her acting debut with the 1955 Telugu films "Rojulu Maraayi" and "Jayasimha".
-She made her Hindi cinema debut with "CID", the 1956 film headlined by Dev Anand.
-In a career spanning over five decades, the legendary actor has worked in more than 90 films across languages.
-Earlier, she has also received National Film Award for her role as a clanswoman in "Reshma and Shera" (1971).
-She has been conferred with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan award.
