Current Affairs 1st May

National Affairs

1. MoHUA launches the ‘City Beauty Competition’ and Portal

On April 27, 2023, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the City Beauty Competition portal. All Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in India can participate in the competition online through this portal. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the online “City Beauty Competition” portal on April 26, 2023, inviting all national urban local bodies (ULBs) to participate. Regarding the City Beauty Contest: The City Magnificence Contest was sent off by the MoHUA in December 2022. The City Beauty competition guidelines can be found here.

 

To empower and perceive the groundbreaking endeavors made by urban areas and wards

the nation over to make lovely, creative and comprehensive public spaces.

Information accomplice:

 

As the knowledge partner, the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) will assist the States, ULBs, and Wards in this exercise.

 

Five wide points of support: The wards and public spaces in urban areas under the City Excellence Rivalry’ would be decided against five wide points of support like: Aesthetics, ecology, accessibility, amenities, and activities would all be a part of the competition, which would honor the cities’ most exquisite public spaces and wards. Shortlisting: At the city and state levels, celebrations would be held for the selected wards.

 

The top most gorgeous public spaces in the urban communities would be chosen under four classifications like: Waterfronts, green spaces, places for tourists and heritage, and markets and commercial areas

 

The shortlisted entries would then be considered for awards at the national level, while the selected wards would first be honoured at the state level. Web-based portal: The last date for participating in the ‘City Magnificence Rivalry’ is July 15, 2023.

International Affairs

1. 7th Edition of India, UK Bilateral Training Exercise ‘Ajeya Warrior 2023’ Begin at Salisbury Plains of UK

The seventh release of India and the Unified Realm (UK) reciprocal preparation work out

‘Ajeya Hero 2023’ was wanted to be directed at Salisbury Fields, UK, from 27 April to 11 May, 2023. The Ajeya Warrior workout:

 

It is a biennial preparation exercise of India and UK, which is led on the other hand in

the UK and India, the sixth version was held at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand in October 2021.

 

The exercise is being carried out by British soldiers of the 2 Royal Gorkha Rifles and Indian soldiers of the BIHAR Regiment.

 

The Indian Armed Force contingent showed up at RAF (Imperial Flying Corps) Brize Norton, the primary working base in Oxfordshire, Britain on 26 April 2023 by an Indian Flying Corps C-17 aeroplane with native weapons and gear.

 

Objective: to promote the ability to cooperate in company-level sub-conventional operations in urban and semi-urban environments, to learn each other’s best practices, and to foster positive military relations. v. The Indian Army and the British Army collaborated on the military exercise, which will further strengthen ties between the two nations. vi. A Command Post Exercise (CPX) at the Battalion level and a Company Level Field Training Exercise (FTX) are part of the exercise’s benefits.

Banking and Finance

1. SCBs end FY23 with 15.4% Credit Growth: RBI Data

Scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) reported strong credit growth of 15.4% in FY23, compared to 9.7% in FY22, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) titled “Sectoral Deployment of bank Credit- March 2023.”

 

The advancement is driven by development in private endlessly credits to administrations

area, and farming and unified exercises.

 

Assessment: The information for the equivalent was gathered by RBI from 40 select SCBs representing around 93% of the complete non-food credit conveyed by all SCBs. Highlights:

 

Compared to 12.6% growth in FY22, personal loans increased by 20.6% in FY23, driven by housing loans.

 

Due to improved credit to trade and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), credit growth in the services sector increased to 19.8% in FY23 from 8.7% in FY22.

 

Credit to horticulture and partnered exercises rose by 15.4% in FY23 as contrasted and 9.9% in FY22.

 

In FY23, credit to industry increased by 7.5%, compared to 5.7% in FY22. 

 

Credit to large industry increased by 3% in FY23, compared to 2% in FY22, in terms of size. 

 

Credit development of medium enterprises was 19.6% as against 54.4% in FY22. 

 

In comparison to FY22, credit to MSEs experienced growth of 11.3 per cent, or 23%. 

 

Credit growth in the industries of “basic metal and metal products,” “chemical and chemical products,” and “petroleum, coal products, and nuclear fuels” increased more quickly in March 2023 than in March 2022. Credit growth in the industries of “food processing,” “infrastructure,” and “textiles” decreased.

2. Arya.ag Partners with Shivalik SFB to Lend Farmers & FPO

Arya.ag, the largest grain trading platform in India operated by Aryatech Platforms Private Limited, partnered with Shivalik Small Finance Bank (SFB) to provide loans to farmers and FPOs (Farmers Producers Organizations) under warehouse receipt finance. Key Points:

 

Objective: The joint effort is framed with an expect to advance impartial development

in horticulture and furthermore offer more open doors for the littlest partners to

access monetary assets and drive positive change in the horticulture business.

 

The digitized processes, AI-enabled systems, and customized solutions provided by Arya.ag will provide the Shivalik SFB with an additional layer of professional assurance while lending.

 

Shivalik SFB will focus on small and underserved segments as part of the partnership by providing digitally focused, affordable products and a unique customer experience.

Economy and Business

1. ADB Annual Report 2022: Pakistan is the Largest Recipient of ADB Loans in Asia

Pakistan received loans totaling $5.58 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2022, making it the largest recipient of ADB-funded programs and projects that year.

The report, which was made public on April 24, 2023, says that the ADB gave over $31.8 billion to 40 countries in 2022.

 

Key Features:

 

In 2022, Pakistan, which is experiencing a severe economic crisis, received USD 2.67 billion as concessional funding from the ADB out of a total lending of $5.58 billion.

 

Pakistan has used these loans to avoid default. Additionally, they were contingent on Pakistan receiving loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which had its own set of requirements.

 

The report featured the effect of outrageous floods in Pakistan that killed more than 1,700 individuals, impacted 33 million individuals and harmed north of 33% of the mid year

occasional editing region, prompting food supply interruptions and cost climbs.

 

The ADB committed USD 3.7 billion from the program in 2022 to address this issue, which includes essential food assistance for those in need, particularly women and girls in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

2. NLCIL signs MoU with TNC India for Repurposing Mined-Out Lands for RE Projects

The Nature Conservancy Centre India (TNC India) and NLC India Limited (NLCIL), a central public sector undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Coal, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research on the repurposing of mined-out lands for the establishment of Renewable Energy (RE) projects.

 

Rajasekhara Reddy, Executive Director (Mines) of NLCIL, and Annapurna Vancheswaran, Managing Director (MD) of TNC India, signed the MoU in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu (TN), in the presence of Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NLCIL.

 

In accordance with India’s CoP-26 commitment to transition to a low-carbon economy and prioritize increased use of renewable energy sources, the MoU would strengthen these efforts.

Science and Technology

1. MIT Engineers developed Injectable Synthetic nanoparticles and a polymer to Stop Internal Bleeding

Engineers at the Massachusetts Foundation of Innovation (MIT), Massachusetts, US of America (USA), has planned a two-part framework – a mix of Manufactured nanoparticles and a polymer that can be infused into the body and help structure blood clumps at the destinations of interior injury.

 

Both the actions of platelets and fibrinogen, a protein that helps form clots, are simulated by these materials. Platelets are recruited by the nanoparticle, and a polymer imitates fibrinogen.

 

The study’s paper was published in the journal “Advanced Healthcare Materials.”

It can be injected into the body to assist in the formation of blood clots at the sites of internal injuries, which can save individuals from sustaining severe internal injuries.

 

Compared to earlier hemostatic nanoparticles, the two components performed significantly better.

 

Two Parts:

 

These particles are made of a biocompatible polymer called PEG-PLGA (polyethene glycol-polylactide-co-glycolide), and a peptide called GRGDS gives them the ability to bind to activated platelets, making them biocompatible. Note: Spread cells are rounded and separated by the synthetic peptide GRGDS (Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser), which mimics the cellular binding site of numerous adhesive proteins in the extracellular matrix.

 

These nanoparticles have also been optimized to be between 140 and 220 nanometers in size, preventing their accumulation in organs like the lungs, where clots can be harmful. 

 

Note: The researchers used particles similar to those they reported in a 2022 study for the platelet-recruiting particles. Better Outcomes:

 

Subsequent to being infused into the body, the two parts permit particular gelation of

the hemostatic framework, as the fixation is upgraded in the injury, mirroring the

end impact of the normal thickening fountain.

 

It worked twice as well as the targeting particle on its own to stop bleeding, and they don’t break down as quickly as naturally occurring clots do. The Department of Defense and the U.S. Army Research Office provided funding for the study.