Current Affairs 2nd May

National Affairs 

1. MoA&FW and NAFED launched First ever Millets Experience Centre

The first-ever “Millets Experience Centre” (MEC) was opened on April 28, 2023, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) at Dilli Haat, INA (Indian National Airways), New Delhi, in order to raise public awareness of millets and encourage their use.

 

Key Individuals:

 

Rajbir Singh, Managing Director of NAFED, and Union Minister of MoA&FW Narendra Singh Tomar celebrated the MEC’s launch in New Delhi, Delhi.

 

The Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’s mission is to MEC laid out at DilliHaat which, is known as the food marketplace of Delhi is a public and social center for guests from everywhere the world, will additionally give the guests an opportunity to observe India’s ‘Millet Development.

 

The MEC would not only help make India’s thriving millet-based start-up community more visible, but it would also help consumers who are looking for healthier alternatives see a wider range of options.

 

MECs will probably go over Delhi and a few different states in the future through

joint effort with corporate store, inns, and the food and refreshment industry.

 

MEC will provide customers with access to a comprehensive millet menu and an “in-store” shopping experience featuring a wide range of millet-based products, promoting a nutritious and healthy diet.

 

The 2023 International Year of Millets:

 

In response to India’s proposal, which was supported by 72 nations, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023).

 

This announcement made the Public authority of India to chip away at ‘mission mode’ to

advance Millets or Shree Anna as a decent yield for rancher, climate and

buyer.

 

Key Points:

 

The statement of the Public Year of Millets started in 2018, with some visionary

impacts of the Public authority of India, it has been gone on with the IYM 2023 and presently

outfitting towards turning into a ‘Worldwide Center point’ for Millets with this drive.

 

The celebrations of the International Year of Millet in 2023 will include a variety of events aimed at bringing attention to the environmental, health, and financial advantages of millet farming.

2. Indian Navy’s Warships Starts Inducting Indigenous Naval Anti-Drone Systems 

Indian Naval force’s Surface warships are enlisting the Maritime Enemy of Robot Framework

(NADS) created by the Guard Innovative work Association (DRDO)

fully supported by the Indian Naval force and made by the Bharat Gadgets

Restricted (BEL), a Public area undertaking(PSU) under the Service of Guard.

The Indian Armed Forces have now received their first indigenously developed Naval Anti-Drone System (NADS).

 

Background:

 

A contract was signed in 2021 between the Indian Navy and BEL for the supply of the indigenous Naval Anti-drone system. This system is expected to be a good way to deal with the increased threat to the Indian Navy’s strategic installations.

 

Note: Contracts of a similar nature have been reached with the Indian Air Force and Army.

Concerning the Naval Anti-Drone System (NADS), The Naval Anti-Drone System (NADS), which was developed as part of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, will help the Indian Armed Forces locate and deal with new threats from the air.

 

The NADS has the ability to kill softly and hard. The enemy target is destroyed by this system’s kill mechanism, which is based on lasers.

 

Radars, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, and radio frequency (RF) detectors are used in their operation.

 

They can detect and disable miniature drones. After the controller’s frequency is identified by the RF/global navigation satellite system (GNSS), the signals become jammed.

International Affairs

1. Indian Air Force participates in exercise INIOCHOS-23 in Greece

From April 24, 2023 to May 4, 2023, the Greece Air Force will host a multinational air exercise called Exercise INIOCHOS-23 at its Andravida Air Base in the western Peloponnese. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be a participant in this exercise.

 

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) of Greece hosted the event, which the IAF attended with two C-17 aircraft and four Su30 MKIs.

 

In Europe and the Mediterranean, INIOCHOS is a major air exercise that can provide high-level training and a one-of-a-kind experience for participants.

 

Objective:

 

To improve interoperability, synergy, and international cooperation among the participating Air Forces.

 

An AW139 helicopter in Cyprus ii. France with iii Rafales India with 4 Su-30 MKI and two C-17 Airplanes

 

Jordan with F-16s defeated Italy with tornadoes 

 

F-15s in Saudi Arabia.

 

Slovenia with PC-9s Spain’s EF-18s number.

 

Canada has Air Battle Managers, Austria has INTEL personnel, and the United States has F-16s and MQ-9s.

 

Key Points:

 

Detachment Deployment, 18-23 April 2023 Execution Stage, 24 April – 4 May 2023

 

Stage 3: Redeployment of Force, 5-7 May 2023. The Hellenic Army, Navy, and Special Operations personnel will also be a part of INIOCHOS-23 in order to create complex and realistic combat scenarios involving a variety of air and surface assets.

 

The exercise is conducted entirely from a single air base because it is based on the Single Base Concept.

 

Additionally, it will make it possible for the contingents that are participating to engage in professional interactions and exchange best practices.

 

Note: The IAF will be participating in three exercises simultaneously at this time. At Kalaikunda, West Bengal (WB), the United States and India are participating in Exercise Cope India, and France is hosting a multilateral exercise called Orion for four Rafale fighters.

2. UNICEF Report: 9 out of 10 Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Low-income Countries have No access to Internet

The report “Bridging the Gender Digital Divide:” published by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) says Challenges and an Urgent Call for Action on Equitable Digital Skills Development In low-income countries, nine out of ten adolescent girls and young women between ages of 15 and 24 are offline (without internet access). contrasted with the 78% of young men and boys the same age who do not use the internet.

The Report’s Key Findings:

 

The majority of young people in low- and middle-income countries lack access to the Internet, have limited digital skills, and do not own a mobile phone, according to the report.

 

Only eight of the 54 countries and territories analyzed have gender parity in youth internet use.

 

South Asia has the largest disparity among regions, favouring young men and boys by 27% points.

Banking and Finance

1. WhiteOak Capital Mutual Fund launches Multi-asset NFO with Old Tax benefits

The White Oak Asset Management Company (AMC) will launch its new fund offer (NFO) on April 28, 2023. The “White Oak Capital Multi Asset Allocation Fund” is an open-ended scheme that will invest across multiple asset classes, including gold instruments with old tax benefits, debt instruments, and equity-related instruments.

 

From May 3, 2023, to May 10, 2023, subscriptions to the NFO are open.

 

Backdrop: After the Union government announced that mutual fund investments would no longer receive the long-term capital asset benefit beginning on April 1, 2023, investors seeking tax benefits under the Old Income Tax regime launched the NFO.

 

Key Points:

 

The application fee is Rs 500, and subsequent amounts are multiplied by Rs 1. As it

is an unconditional plan, it will return in the future for purchasing later.

 

The weekly, biweekly, or monthly systematic investment plan (SIP) amount is Rs 500. SIP payments can be made quarterly for a total of Rs 1,500 or in multiples of Rs 1 thereafter.

 

Allocations will be determined by the relative attractiveness of various asset classes in the multi-asset allocation strategy.

 

The asset contributes across resource classes like value, unfamiliar values, obligation, gold,

silver and currency market protections powerfully by utilizing the Inner

Restrictive Model.

 

When held for more than three years, the NFO scheme is eligible for Long-Term Capital Gain Tax and an indexation benefit.

 

Over the medium to long term, the Whiteoak Capital Multi Asset Allocation Fund aims to provide investors with a reasonable return with moderate volatility. Using a single mutual fund scheme to invest in a variety of asset classes can be an easier and more tax-efficient option.

2. BOI Launches Shubh Arambh FD Scheme for Senior citizens

The “Shubh Arambh Deposit” retail term deposit program for senior citizens was announced by the Bank of India (BoI).

 

The special FD scheme will offer senior citizens an additional interest rate of 0.50 per cent and super senior citizens an additional interest rate of 0.65 per cent starting on April 1, 2023.

The bank is giving a 7.15% loan fee on a 501-day term for the general

public.

Science and Technology

1. Emirates Airline Unveils World’s First Robotic Check-In Assistant: “Sara”

Emirates, based in Dubai, unveiled “Sara,” the first robotic check-in assistant in the world, on April 27, 2023, at its newly opened City Check-in and Travel Store in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), at the ICD Brookfield Place of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Emirates’ most recent innovation aims to improve the customer experience and streamline and speed up the check-in process.

 

Customers can take advantage of a wide range of services offered by Emirates City Check-in and Travel Store, which include a booking facility, check-in for flights in the centre of the city, luggage drop-off, shopping for travel necessities, and saving time.

 

Sara has facial acknowledgement innovation and can print boarding cards, making the

registration strategy quicker.