Current Affairs

On June 7, 2023, the first edition of the India, France, and UAE Maritime Partnership Exercise started, in the Gulf of Oman.

• Aim: To enhance trilateral cooperation between India, France, and the UAE.
• It seeks to adopt measures to address traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime environment.
• INS Tarkash from India, French Ship Surcouf with integral helicopters, French Rafale aircraft, and UAE Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating in the exercise.
• The exercise will enhance collaboration in ensuring the safety of mercantile trade and freedom of navigation on high seas in the region.

On June 8, 2023, the first Round Table Joint Meeting between India and New Zealand, involving industry and industry associations from both countries, was held in New Delhi.

Key Highlights

• Acknowledging the Partnership Potential: Both sides acknowledged the significant potential in the India-New Zealand partnership and the need for synergy to enhance economic relations in areas of mutual interest.
• Exploring Beyond Free Trade Agreements: It was agreed that there is a need to explore areas beyond free trade agreements where both countries can complement each other.
• Advancing the Objectives of the JTC: The discussions focused on advancing the objectives of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) established under the Bilateral Trade Agreement of 1986.
• Emphasizing Collective Efforts and Principles: The New Zealand emphasized collective efforts based on principles of mutual benefit, proportionality, trade facilitation, and association with the private sector.
• Areas of Potential Cooperation Explored: Areas of potential cooperation explored included the promotion of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) system, carbon credit cooperation, sectoral arrangements for economic cooperation.
• Strengthening the Institutional Mechanism: Strengthening the institutional mechanism for bilateral trade was emphasized, including the creation of a structure for cooperation and collaboration, potentially through the establishment of a working group at the Joint Secretary level.
• Tentative Areas of Cooperation Identified: Tentative areas of cooperation identified included UPI system facilitation, carbon credit, package proposal on Kiwi fruits, trans-shipment hub, prioritization of bilateral trade issues, collaboration on technology, cooperation in work visa-related issues, and improving banking relations.

On June 7, 2023, the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy jointly launched the Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR) in the power sector.

• Aims: To quickly identify emerging technologies, develop them indigenously, and deploy them within and outside India.
• Objectives: The objectives of the mission include identifying emerging technologies, creating a platform for collective brainstorming, supporting pilot projects, leveraging foreign alliances, and making India a leading country in power system technology development
• Facilitating Indigenous Research and Development: MAHIR will facilitate indigenous research, development, and demonstration of the latest and emerging technologies in the power sector.
• Funding: The mission will be funded by pooling financial resources from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Central Public Sector Enterprises under these ministries.
• Technology Life Cycle Approach: MAHIR will follow the technology life cycle approach of Idea to Product and will have an initial duration of five years.
• Areas Identified for Research: Eight areas have been identified for initial research, including alternatives to Lithium-Ion storage batteries, green hydrogen for mobility, and carbon capture.
• Two-Tier Structure: The mission will have a two-tier structure consisting of a Technical Scoping Committee and an Apex Committee to identify research areas, approve proposals, and monitor progress.
• Support for Indian Start-ups: Pilot projects by Indian start-ups will be funded, and international collaboration will be sought for knowledge exchange and technology transfer.

राष्ट्रीय प्रसारक दूरदर्शन पर भारत की पहली अंग्रेजी महिला समाचार प्रस्तुतकर्ताओं में से एक गीतांजलि अय्यर का 7 जून, 2023 को निधन हो गया।

• गीतांजलि 1971 में दूरदर्शन में शामिल हुई थीं और उन्हें चार बार सर्वश्रेष्ठ एंकर से सम्मानित किया गया था।
• 1989 में गीतांजलि को उत्कृष्ट महिलाओं के लिए इंदिरा गांधी प्रियदर्शिनी पुरस्कार भी प्रदान किया गया है।
• गीतांजलि ने श्रीधर क्षीरसागर के टीवी नाटक ‘खानदान’ में भी अभिनय किया था।

स्वदेशी रूप से डिजाइन और विकसित भारी वजन वाले टारपीडो (एचडब्ल्यूटी) वरुणास्त्र का 6 जून, 2023 को भारतीय नौसेना द्वारा समुद्र के नीचे के लक्ष्य के खिलाफ लाइव वारहेड के साथ सफलतापूर्वक परीक्षण किया गया।

• 'वरुणास्त्र' देश में विकसित किए गए हेवीवेट टॉरपीडो का नाम है। यह स्वदेशी नौसेना की पनडुब्बी रोधी युद्ध क्षमताओं को बढ़ाएगी।
• टॉरपीडो को एक पनडुब्बी से दागा गया और 40 किलोमीटर की दूरी पर लक्ष्य को सफलतापूर्वक भेदा गया।
• 'वरुणास्त्र' को नेवी के लिए डिफेंस रिसर्च एंड डिवेलपमेंट ऑर्गनाइजेशन (DRDO) की नेवल साइंस एंड टेक्नोलॉजिकल लैबोरेटरी (NSTL) ने बनाया है।

वरुणास्त्र टारपीडो :- यह अत्याधुनिक एंटी-सबमरीन टॉरपीडो है जिसका नाम समुद्र के देवता 'वरुण' के नाम पर रखा गया है। डेढ़ टन वजनी और करीब 8 मीटर लंबे 'वरुणास्त्र' की रेंज 40 किलोमीटर तक हो सकती है। यह अधिकतम 600 मीटर की गहराई तक 40 नॉट्स (74kmph) की स्पीड में टारगेट को शिकार बना सकता है।

केंद्रीय मंत्री स्मृति ईरानी ने 8 जून, 2023 को बताया कि अब तक महिला सुरक्षा के लिए देश भर में 733 वन स्टॉप सेंटर स्थापित किए गये हैं , ऐसे 300 और केंद्र स्थापित किये जाएंगे।

• इन वन स्टॉप सेंटर महिलाओं के लिए पुलिस, चिकित्सा, क़ानूनी सहायता और परामर्श प्रदान करने की व्यवस्था करता है।
• देश में आंगनबाड़ी सेवाओं को मजबूत किया गया है और सभी आंगनबाड़ी केंद्रों को स्मार्ट फोन मोबाइल के माध्यम से जोड़ा गया है।
• आंगनबाड़ी कार्यकर्ताओं को अब तक 11 लाख स्मार्टफोन वितरित किये हैं।
• पोषण ट्रैकर नामक एक प्रणाली स्थापित की गई है जिससे 9करोड़ से अधिक लाभार्थी इसका लाभ उठा रहे हैं।
• मातृत्व लाभ योजना-प्रधानमंत्री मातृ वंदना योजना के अन्तर्गत देश में लगभग तीन करोड़ 32 लाख महिलाओं के बैंक खातों में प्रत्यक्ष लाभ भुगतान के माध्यम से 13650 करोड़ रुपये अंतरित किए गए हैं।
• सरकार ने देश में 1023 फास्ट ट्रैक अदालतें स्थापित की हैं, जिनमें से 418 ऐसी अदालतें विशेष रूप से यौन अपराधों के खिलाफ बच्चों की सुरक्षा संबंधी कानून-पॉक्सो अदालतें हैं।

उत्तर प्रदेश को दुग्ध विकास और दुग्ध उत्पादन के क्षेत्र में अग्रणी राज्य बनाने के लिए राज्य सरकार ने 6 जून, 2023 को 1,000 करोड़ रुपये की लागत से नंद बाबा दुग्ध मिशन योजना शुरू की है।

• यह मिशन दुग्ध उत्पादकों को डेयरी सहकारी समितियों के माध्यम से गांवों में उचित मूल्य पर अपना दूध बेचने की सुविधा प्रदान करने के लिए लागू किया गया है।
• इस मिशन के तहत, उत्पादकों के गांवों में ही दूध की बिक्री की सुविधा के लिए डेयरी किसान उत्पादक संगठन बनाने का प्रस्ताव है।
• वित्तीय वर्ष 2023-24 में पायलट प्रोजेक्ट के तौर पर प्रदेश के 5 जिलों में 5 डेयरी एफपीओ स्थापित करने की योजना है, जिसमें महिलाओं की भी प्रमुख भूमिका होगी।

भारत ने 5 जून, 2023 को चेन्नई से श्रीलंका के लिए देश का पहला अंतरराष्ट्रीय क्रूज जहाज लॉन्च किया। 750 यात्रियों को लेकर एमवी एम्प्रेस (MV Empress) अपने 5 दिवसीय दौरे पर श्रीलंका के तीन बंदरगाहों का दौरा करेगी।

• एमवी एम्प्रेस श्रीलंका में तीन बंदरगाहों हंबनटोटा, त्रिंकोमाली और कांकेसंतुरेई का दौरा करेगी जिसके बाद यह वापस चेन्नई लौट आयेगी।
• सरकार 2024 तक 3 नए अंतरराष्ट्रीय क्रूज बंदरगाहों का निर्माण करने वाली है, जिसमें क्रूज जहाजों की संख्या 2023 में 208 से बढ़कर 2030 में 500 हो जाएगी।

Recently, the World Bank released its Global Economic Prospects report, which provides insights into the state of the global economy.

Key Findings

• India Remain the Fastest-Growing Economy: India will remain the fastest-growing economy among the largest emerging markets & developing countries (EMDE) although the country’s gross domestic product growth is expected to slow to 6.3 per cent in 2023-24
• Negative Shocks: The global economy is still dealing with the aftermath of multiple negative shocks. These include the ongoing effects of the pandemic, the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine, and the tightening of monetary policy to control high inflation.
• Projected Slowdown: Global growth is expected to slow significantly in the second half of the current year, with weakness continuing into 2024. Inflation pressures persist, and tight monetary policy is likely to weigh heavily on economic activity.
• Banking Sector Stress: Recent stress in the banking sectors of advanced economies is expected to dampen activity due to more restrictive credit conditions. Further banking turmoil and tighter monetary policy could result in even weaker global growth.
• Rising Borrowing Costs: Rising borrowing costs in advanced economies may lead to financial disruptions in more vulnerable EMDEs.
• Fiscal Challenges: Fiscal positions in low-income countries are becoming increasingly precarious. Comprehensive policy action is needed at both the global and national levels to foster macroeconomic and financial stability.
• International Cooperation: Continued international cooperation is necessary to address climate change, support crisis-affected populations and combat hunger, and provide debt relief where needed.
• Long-Term Growth Reforms: Reversing the projected decline in potential growth for EMDEs will require reforms to enhance physical and human capital and labor-supply growth.
• Regional Prospects: Growth prospects vary across different regions of EMDEs. East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) and Europe and Central Asia (ECA) are expected to experience growth in 2023, while other regions like Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and the Middle East and North Africa (MNA) may see a slowdown. Geopolitical tensions, social unrest, and climate change pose additional risks.
• Financial Spillovers: The rapid rise in U.S. interest rates presents challenges for EMDEs. Adverse financial market effects and a higher risk of financial crises have been observed, particularly in EMDEs with greater economic vulnerabilities.
• Fiscal Policy Challenges in Low-Income Countries: Low-income countries face limited fiscal maneuverability due to growing debt, persistent revenue weakness, and widening deficits. Generating higher revenues, improving spending efficiency and enhancing debt management practices are necessary.

On June 6, 2023, Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023 was jointly released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The report provides important insights into the progress and challenges related to Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7).

Key Findings

• Impediments to SDG 7: Factors such as an uncertain macroeconomic outlook, high levels of inflation, currency fluctuations, debt distress in many countries, and lack of financing, supply chain bottlenecks, tighter fiscal circumstances, and soaring prices for materials are hindering the realization of SDG 7 globally.
• Insufficient Progress in Universal Access to Electricity & Clean Cooking: The report highlights that universal access to electricity and clean cooking facilities in developing economies is progressing inadequately. Projections indicate that SDG 7 will not be achieved by 2030, particularly in terms of universal access to electricity and clean cooking.
• Renewable Energy Growth: While the uptake of renewable energy (target 7.2) has increased since 2010, there is a need for substantial scaling up of efforts to meet the targets set by SDG 7. The current rate of improvement in energy efficiency (target 7.3) is falling short of the targeted increase of 2.6% annually between 2010 and 2030.
• To compensate for the slower progress, the trend of improvement in energy intensity must exceed 3.4% globally from 2020 to 2030.
• Decline in Financial Flows: Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, financial resources were more than a third lower since 2020 compared to the average of the previous decade (2010-2019). This decreasing trend in financial flows, coupled with concentration in a few countries, may delay the achievement of SDG 7, particularly for the least-developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states.
• Global Access to Electricity and Clean Cooking: The global access to electricity increased from 84% in 2010 to 91% in 2021, with the number of people without electricity nearly halving during that period. However, the pace of growth slowed to 0.6 percentage points annually during 2019-21.
• Access to clean cooking improved from 2.9 billion people in 2010 to 2.3 billion in 2021, but achieving universal access by 2030 remains a challenge.
• Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: The report projects that if current trends continue, nearly six out of ten people without access to clean cooking in 2030 would be residing in Sub-Saharan Africa. The ongoing impact of COVID-19 and soaring energy prices may lead to a reversal in the transition to clean cooking, with an estimated 100 million people reverting to using traditional biomass.
• Insufficient Share of Renewable Energy: In 2020, the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption was only 19.1% (or 12.5% excluding traditional use of biomass), which is only slightly higher than the 16% recorded a decade earlier.
• The report emphasizes the need for increased attention to enhancing renewables-based electricity supply in developing countries.