Daily Current Affairs for State Exams 2 June 2023

दैनिक करंट अफेयर्स 2 जून 2023

Important News: International

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Why in news:  As the world comes together to celebrate the beginning of Pride Month, the UN agency dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS, issued a declaration of solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) communities around the globe.

1. UNAIDS is an innovative joint venture of the UN family founded in 1996, bringing together the efforts and resources of 11 UN system organisations to unite the world against AIDS.
2. UNAIDS is an innovative joint venture of the UN family founded in 1996, bringing together the efforts and resources of 11 UN system organisations to unite the world against AIDS.
3. UNAIDS is a problem-solving organization. It puts individuals living with HIV and those impacted by the virus at the table of decision-making and at the center of creating, administering, and monitoring the AIDS response.
4. UNAIDS offers the strategic direction, advocacy, coordination, and technical assistance required to catalyze and link leaders from governments, the business sector, and communities in order to deliver life-saving HIV services.
5. It lays forth a plan for governments and communities to embark on the Fast Track to end AIDS and is an outspoken champion for removing legal and legislative impediments to AIDS response.
6. The joint programme is coordinated by the UNAIDS Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

 (SOURCE – THE INDIAN EXPRESS )

India has recently become a member of the Centralized Laboratory Network (CLN)

Why in news : The new members of the CLN now are Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) (Senegal), KAVI Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI ICR) & University of Nairobi Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID) (Kenya), Synexa Life Sciences (South Africa) and Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) (Uganda). 

1. India has joined the Centralized Laboratory Network (CLN) which currently has 15 partner facilities in 13 countries that works to test vaccines which can be used during pandemic, epidemic disease outbreak.
2. CLN is a part of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Network is the largest global group which has standardised methods and materials for testing.
3. CEPI-funded network aims to identify the most promising vaccine candidates rapidly and accurately against emerging infectious diseases and the expanded network is working at supporting sustainable regional outbreak preparedness infrastructure also.
4. First, it aims to identify vaccine candidates with the highest potential for combating emerging infectious diseases.
5. Second, the network supports the development of sustainable regional outbreak preparedness infrastructure. By promoting collaboration and coordination, the network strengthens global readiness to respond effectively to future outbreaks.

(SOURCE – THE INDIAN EXPRESS )

Xian declaration

Why in news: China hosted what was called the “C+C5 summit”, in the city of Xi’an which saw the participation of the leaders of five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).

1. The six countries jointly signed the ‘Xi’an Declaration’ and issued a blueprint for the future development of China-Central Asia relations.
2. The China-Central Asia Summit mechanism was officially inaugurated, which paves the way for future biennial summits between these countries. The next summit will be held in Kazakhstan in 2025.
3. C+C5 summit:
   • The countries focused on the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road cooperation to be a ‘new starting point’.
   • In focus also were people-to-people exchanges, a ‘Cultural Silk Road’ programme, and issues of regional terrorism and extremism.
   • The China-Central Asia Summit mechanism was officially inaugurated, which paves the way for future biennial summits between these countries. The next summit will be held in Kazakhstan in 2025.

 (SOURCE – THE INDIAN EXPRESS )

Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK)

Why in news:  The Asia-Pacific region has seen an increase in tensions, leading to increased military exercises and diplomatic maneuvers by various countries. A notable event on the horizon is the multilateral naval exercise Komodo (MNEW) hosted by Indonesia.

A.China, a major player in the region, will send warships to the multilateral naval exercise Komodo. China's naval involvement underscores the country's commitment to military diplomacy and its willingness to assert its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

B.The naval exercise organised by Indonesia has attracted attention due to the inclusion of countries like North Korea and Russia. The presence of these nations emphasizes the multi-dimensional nature of geopolitical alliances and reflects the complex relationships in the region.

C.The multilateral naval exercise Komodo is scheduled to take place from June 4 to 8, 2023 in Makassar, Indonesia. The event will be the fourth iteration of the exercise since its inception in 2014.

D.Indonesia has extended invitations to a total of 47 countries, highlighting the desire for greater international engagement and cooperation. The exercise provides an opportunity to the participating countries to enhance their interoperability and build strong diplomatic relations.

E.China has also planned a joint exercise called Exercise Amana Yuyi-2023 with the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Such collaborations emphasize the complex dynamics at play in this area.

(SOURCE – THE HINDU )

Important News: National

India conducts successful training launch of Agni-1 ballistic missile

Why in news : India on Thursday "successfully test-fired" its medium-range Agni-I missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast and conducted another test of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, amid the ongoing military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh.

A.The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the three services carried out a "training launch" of Agni-I, which has a strike range of 700 km. 

B."The missile is already a proven system inducted into the SFC and is capable of striking targets with a very high level of accuracy. The user launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile," a Defence Ministry official said. 

C.Formed in 2003 to handle the country's nuclear arsenal, the SFC currently has Prithvi-II (350 km range), Agni-I (700 km), Agni-II (2,000 km), Agni-III (3,000 km) and Agni-IV (4,000 km) ballistic missiles. 

D.The country's most formidable nuclear-capable missile, the over 5,000-km Agni-5, which also brings the northernmost part of China in its strike envelope, is in the stage of joining the SFC. Agni-V was tested by the SFC in October 2021 and December 2022.

E.In June 2021, for the first time, a new generation missile 'Agni-Prime' with a strike range of 1,000 to 2,000 km was also tested. Developed with new propulsion system and composite rocket motor casing as well as advanced navigation and guidance system, the canister-launched Agni-Prime will gradually replace Agni-I missiles in SFC's arsenal.

(SOURCE – THE PRINT )

Junior Men's Asia Cup Hockey 2023: India beat Pakistan 2-1 to win the title

Why in news : India had previously won the titles in 2004, 2008 and 2015. Runners-up Pakistan too have three won the Aisa Cup title in 1987, 1992 and 1996.

1. The 2023 Men's Hockey Junior Asia Cup is the 10th edition of the Men's Hockey Junior Asia Cup, the men's international under-21 field hockey championship of Asia organized by the Asian Hockey Federation. Its taking place from 23 May to 1 June 2023 in Salalah, Oman.
2. Angad Bir Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal scored the goals for the Indian hockey team. India overtook Pakistan in winning the most titles at the Men's Junior Asia Cup.
3. Araijeet Singh Hundal, India’s top-scorer at Men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey 2023 with eight goals, doubled the lead five minutes into the second quarter.
4. This was India’s fourth title at Men's Junior Asia Cup, having won it previously in 2004, 2008 and 2015. Pakistan are the second-most successful team in the tournament with three titles but their last win came 27 years ago in 1996.
5. In the semi-finals, India trounced the Republic of Korea 9-1 while Pakistan defeated Malaysia 6-2.

(SOURCE – HINDUSTAN TIMES )

UNESCO’s global geoparks get 18 new sites

Why in news: The UNESCO Global Geopark designation was established in 2015 to recognize "internationally significant geological heritage". Geoparks benefit local communities by combining conservation with public outreach and a sustainable development approach.

1. The addition of 18 additional designations brings the total number of geoparks to 195, with a total surface area of 486,709 km2, or twice the size of the United Kingdom. For the first time, two UNESCO member states have joined the network: New Zealand and the Philippines.
2. The new geoparks include Brazil's Kakapawa Geopark and Quarta Colonia Geopark. The Kakapawa Geopark is of great importance to guaraní, an indigenous people in Brazil. It is called "the place where the forest ends" in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil.
3. Its geological heritage, including sulfide metal and marble quarrying, has been crucial to the economic prosperity of the region. Geopark is home to endangered cactus, bromeliads, rare flowers and bee species in addition to its geo-diversity.
4. Indonesia's Izhaan Geopark is also included in this list. Located in the Banuvangi and Bondovosso regencies of East Java province between the strait and the sea, it has become a hub for people's migration and business. Igen is a very active volcano in the Eigen caldera system.
5. Others include Greece's Lavyotiki Geopark, famous for the abundance and diversity of its mineral specimens; Indonesia's Maros Pangcape Geopark is located along the southern arm of Sulawesi Island in Maros and Pangcape Regency; and the Merangin Jambi Geopark which is home to unique fossils of "Jambi flora", which are the only exposed fossil plants of its kind in the world today.

 (SOURCE – THE QUINT )

PM Savnidhi scheme

Why in news : A total of 42.7 lakh loans worth about Rs 5100 crore were disbursed to street vendors under the PM SVANidhi scheme.

1. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs launched a scheme PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) to empower Street Vendors by not only extending loans to them, but also for their holistic development and economic upliftment. The scheme intends to facilitate collateral free working capital loans of up to INR10,000/- of one-year tenure, to approximately 50 lakh street vendors, to help resume their businesses in the urban areas, including surrounding peri-urban/rural areas.
2. The Scheme is available for beneficiaries belonging to only those States/UTs which have notified Rules and Scheme under Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
3. The PM SVANidhi scheme offers incentives in the form of:
   • interest subsidy @ 7% per annum on regular repayment of loan
   • cashback upto INR1200/- per annum on undertaking prescribed digital transactions
   • eligibility for enhanced next tranche of loans
4. The scheme offers up to Rs 50,000 in the third tranche on timely repayment of up to Rs 20,000 loan in the second tranche. Similarly, the eligibility for the second tranche is based on the timely repayment of up to Rs 10,000 in the first tranche. The first tranche is repayable in 12 monthly instalments. For the second tranche, the minimum repayment period is six months and a maximum of 18 months to be eligible for the third tranche.
5. Among the top lenders under the scheme were State Bank of India with 14.37 lakh loan applications disbursed followed by Union Bank of India (5.09 lakh), Bank of Baroda (4.80 lakh), Bank of India (3.52 lakh) and Punjab National Bank (3.39 lakh).

 (SOURCE – BUISNESS STANDARD )