Current Affairs Daily Digest – 5 March 2024

Cabinet approvals on 29 February 2024The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on 29th February 2024
i.Approves three more semiconductor units, northeast to get its first facility in Assam.
ii.Approves Rs 75,000 crore rooftop solar scheme for 1 crore households.
iii.Approves creation of the post of Director of National Institute of One Health, Nagpur at the level of Scientist ‘H’ (pay level-15) to spearhead the National One Health Mission for integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness.
iv.Approves royalty rates for mining of 12 critical and strategic minerals – Beryllium, Cadmium, Cobalt, Gallium, Indium, Rhenium, Selenium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Titanium, Tungsten, and Vanadium.
v.Approves nutrient-based subsidy for P&K fertilizers for Kharif Season 2024
vi.Approves establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

MSME Minister Narayan Rane Launched Three Initiatives to Promote Women Entrepreneurship On 1st March 2024, Union Minister Narayan Rane, Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) launched 3 new Initiatives to promote women entrepreneurship in India during the 9th Annual Shakti International Women Entrepreneurs Summit held in New Delhi, Delhi.
The 3 new initiatives are,

Panjikaran Se Pragati.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) Unnati _ Udyamita se Pragati tak.
Mentorship Platform.

About Panjikaran Se Pragati.
i.This national campaign is a joint initiative by the Ministry of MSME and the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).
ii.It encourages women entrepreneurs nationwide to register under Udyam and unlock vast opportunities.
About WEP Unnati _ Udyamita se Pragati tak:
i.It is a joint program of the Ministry of MSME and WEP.
ii.This MSME-WEP Award-to-Reward (ATR) program is an initiative to take Women MSMEs to the next level through comprehensive capacity-building support via WEP.
About Mentorship Platform:
An initiative fostering mentorship opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
About the Summit:
i.The “9th Shakti International Women Entrepreneurs Summit 2024” is an annual Conference, aligning with International Women’s Day (8 March 2024).
ii.It was organised by the India SME Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of MSME, and the Women Entrepreneurs Forum.
iii.The summit aims to inspire and promote entrepreneurship among women and catalyses empowering women in entrepreneurship by providing a platform for knowledge exchange and inspiration.
Highlights:
The summit celebrated the success of women entrepreneurs, including beneficiaries of the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme, and better-performing women entrepreneurs were also honoured.
Points to Note:
i.More than 1.40 crore MSMEs are now led by women.
ii.Notably, Zed Certification for women-owned MSMEs is now provided free of charge.
Key People:
Subhas Chandra Lal Das, Secretary of the Ministry of MSME; Ms. Anna Roy, Advisor National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), among others.

Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi Launches “Coal Logistics Plan and Policy”Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Coal, launched the “Coal Logistics Plan and Policy” in an event organized by the Indian National Committee World Mining Congress(INC/WMC) with the patronage of the Ministry of Coal in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Points to note:
i.The Coal Logistics Plan and Policy was developed with an approach to develop a technologically advanced, integrated, cost-effective, resilient, sustainable and trusted logistics ecosystem for coal evacuation.
ii.This will play a major role in the efforts of India towards modernizing coal transportation, enhancing efficiency, and promoting sustainability.
Note: The Ministry of Coal has undertaken various initiatives to produce 1.5 Billion tonnes (BT) of coal by 2030.
About Coal Logistics Plan and Policy:
i.The plan proposes a strategic shift towards a railway-based system in First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects. This will assist in reducing around 14% in rail logistic costs and an annual cost saving of Rs 21,000 crore.
ii.This will also minimize air pollution, reduce traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions by around 100,000 tonnes per annum.
iii.This is also expected to result in a 10% saving in the average turnaround time of wagons across India.
Other Highlights:
i.During the event, a panel discussion on holistic approaches towards coal transportation was held under the chairmanship of M Nagaraju Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal.
ii.The discussion witnessed the participation of industry leaders like Anil Kumar Jha, Chairman of Jindal Power Limited (JPL); Subrat Tripathy, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Adani Ports, and others.
About Indian National Committee World Mining Congress(INC/WMC):
INC-WMC is affiliated with World Mining Congres(WMC), an International Non-Government Organization(NGO) affiliated with the United Nations(UN). Chairman– Amrit Lal Meena(Secretary Coal)
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi.

Samudra Laksamana 2024: 3rd edition of India-Malaysia Maritime Exercise held in Visakhapatnam, APExercise Samudra Laksamana 2024, the third edition of the India-Malaysia maritime exercise, was held at/off the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP) from February 28, 2024 to March 2, 2024 between the Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Malaysian Navy.
Aim:
To enhance interoperability and relationships between Indian and Royal Malaysian Navies
Participants:
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kiltan and the Royal Malaysian Ship KD Lekir
Key Points:
i.The exercise involves harbor professional interactions, such as sports fixtures and expert exchanges, to enhance knowledge, share best practices, and promote maritime cooperation.
ii.Crews engage in various professional interactions at the harbor to improve knowledge and cooperation.
iii.Sea phase focuses on joint skill development and diverse operations.
About INS Kiltan:
i.INS Kiltan, launched in March 2013, was handed over to the Indian Navy in 2017 by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE).
ii.It is propelled by a Combination of Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) system, achieving speeds over 25 knots and a range of 3,500 nautical miles.
iii.With over 80% indigenous components, it features advanced Nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare systems.
iv.It is the first major warship with entirely composite material superstructure.
v.It is armed with heavy-weight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rockets, a 76mm Medium Range gun, and Close-in-Weapon System (CIWS). It also carries an ASW-capable helicopter.

First-ever USA-India Cyber Security Initiative launched to strengthen IT Connections
United States of America (USA) Consulate and the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) have launched the first-ever USA-India Cyber Security Initiative to strengthen Information technology (IT) connections between the two countries.

It also aims to bring together leading global cybersecurity experts to create jobs and develop innovative solutions.
The initiative develops a mentorship model in cyberspace and also encourages people-to-people ties in cyberspace.
The initiative was launched at the MCCIA Pune Business International Business Summit which was held in Pune, Maharashtra.
The launch event was attended by Mike Hankey, USA Consul General.

PM Modi & Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth jointly Inaugurate New Airstrip & a Jetty at Agaléga Island in MauritiusOn February 29, 2024, the Prime Minster (PM) of India, Narendra Modi and PM of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, jointly inaugurated an Airstrip and a Saint James Jetty at the Agaléga Island in Mauritius via video conferencing.

They also inaugurated the six community development projects in Agaléga that were implemented with financial assistance from India.

Points to note:
i.These inaugurations will fulfil the demand for better connectivity between mainland Mauritius and Agalega, strengthen maritime security and foster socio-economic development.
ii.This will also expand India’s strategic outreach in the Southern Indian Ocean region (IOR).
iii.Jetty will facilitate operation of India’s Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance planes for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, bolstering India’s security role in IOR.
iv.Both nations cooperate in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) monitoring, joint patrolling, and hydrography.
Additional info:
i.Inauguration of projects follows the launch of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) systems and RuPay card services in Mauritius.
ii.PM Modi noted that Mauritius will be the 1st nation to join India’s Jan Aushadi Scheme for affordable medicines. This allows the sourcing of about 250 high-quality medicines from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India, and establishment of Jan Ayushadhi Kendras in Mauritius.
iii.Over the past 10 years, India extends USD 1 billion credit line and USD 400 million assistance to Mauritius.

Comoros, Timor-Leste Becomes New Members of WTO at MC13 held in Abu DhabiOn 26th February 2024, The Union of the Comoros and the Democratic Republic of Timor–Leste have formally became the members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The signing ceremony was held during the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Abu Dhabi.

With the accession of Comoros and Timor-Leste, the total number of WTO members becomes 166.
The MC13 was held from 26th to 29th February 2024 and the conference was chaired by H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

Key points:
i.WTO implemented an agreement on new disciplines on domestic services regulations benefiting all members, including non-signatories like India.
ii.It was signed by 72 members, including the United States of America (USA), 28 members of the European Union (EU), China, and Japan.
About World Trade Organization (WTO):
Director-General– Okonjo-Iweala
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment– 1995

REC Listed Two Bonds worth Rs 5,375 crore in BSE & NSE
REC Limited has successfully listed two bonds worth Rs 5,375 crore on the NSE India (National Stock Exchange of India Ltd) and BSE Limited (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange).

The first bond is worth Rs.2,500 crore and has a maturity period of 10 years (matures on 28th February 2034). It offers a yield of 7.47%.
The second bond is worth Rs.2,875 crore and has a maturity period of 3 years and 2 months (matures on 30th April 2027). It offers a yield of 7.64%.
These bonds are rated IND AAA by India Ratings and Research Private Limited (IRPL) and ICRA AAA by Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA).
The proceeds raised through this private placement will be used for REC Limited’s regular business activities and not for any specific project.

Note:
i.REC Limited is a ‘Maharatna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Power (MoP)
ii.It is registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC).

C-DOT & Qualcomm Signed MoU to Encourage Innovation in India
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage innovation in India and support India-based developers and start-ups working on innovative products and use cases.

The MoU was signed at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 held in Barcelona, Spain.
As per the MoU, Qualcomm will provide foundational chip technologies and domain experts to Indian startups, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and academia.
The MoU also paves a path to build indigenous telecom products and solutions.

Note:
C-DOT is the Research and Development (R&D) centre of the Department of Telecommunications(DoT) under the Ministry of Communications (MoU).

‘Staliner Divan’ Translated by Pankaj Kumar Chatterjee Won the Romain Rolland Book Prize 2024The 7th edition of the Romain Rolland Book Prize(2024) has been awarded to “Staliner Divan”, the Bengali translation of Jean-Daniel Baltassat’s French novel “Le Divan de Staline” (Stalin’s Couch), by Pankaj Kumar Chatterjee.

The Romain Rolland Book Prize is annually presented by the French Institute in India (IFI – Institut Français en Inde) in collaboration with Apeejay Trust.
The original French novel was published in 2013. The Bengali translation of the book was published by New Bharat Sahitya Kutir in 2023.

Note: IFI has invited the publisher and translator of Staliner Divan to participate in the Paris Book Market in May 2024 and Paris Book Fair in April 2024 respectively.
Points to note:
i.This is the 2nd Bengali book to win the Romain Rolland Book Prize.
ii.Previously, the Romain Rolland Book Prize 2022 was won by Myorso Birudhyo Saksho, the Bengali translation of the Meursault, contre-enquête, the 1st novel by Algerian writer and journalist Kamel Daoud, by Trinanjan Chakraborty. The book was published by Patra Bharati.
About the Book:
i.The novel ‘Le Divan de Staline’ is about ‘Soviet leader’ Joseph Stalin, who was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953.
ii.In 2016, the book was adapted into a movie of the same name by Fanny Ardant, with Gérard Depardieu playing Stalin.
iii.Previously, the book was longlisted for the prestigious Goncourt Prize in 2013.
About Romain Rolland Book Prize:
i.Romain Rolland Book Prize was created in 2017 to recognise the best translation of a French title (francophone area) into any Indian language, including English.
ii.The award aims to encourage the efforts by Indian translators and Indian publishers to bring the best of Francophone(French) literature
iii.The winning publisher and the translator are awarded a curated trip to France for their professional exchanges.
Note: The inaugural award(2018) was won by Rue des boutiques obscures (Main Gumshuda) by Patrick Modiano, published in Hindi by Rajpal and Sons, and translated by Monica Singh.

SpaceX launched NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission to ISS
On 3rd March 2024, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has launched the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission
from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States of America (USA).

Crew-8 mission is NASA’s eighth commercial crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the International Space Station (ISS).

Crew Members:
i.Matthew Dominick (Mission Commander, USA) – A USA Navy test pilot making his first spaceflight.
ii.Michael Barratt (Mission Pilot, USA) – A veteran NASA astronaut with two previous spaceflight experiences.
iii.Jeanette Epps (Mission Specialist, USA) – A NASA astronaut making her first trip to space.
iv.Alexander Grebenkin (Flight Engineer, Russia) – A Roscosmos cosmonaut is flying on his first mission.

Khelo India University Games 2023: Chandigarh University Tops Medal TallyChandigarh University won the overall championship of the 4th edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2023) held in the North East region from 9th -29th February 2024. Chandigarh University topped the medal tally of KIUG 2023 with a total of 71 medals (32 gold, 18 silver, and 21 bronze).

Lovely Professional University (Punjab) with 42 medals (20 gold, 14 silver, and 8 bronze), and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (Punjab) with 51 medals (12 gold, 20 silver, and 19 bronze) were ranked in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.
The KIUG 2023 was held from 17th to 29th February 2024, in 07 States of North East namely, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
The Mascot of the KIUG 2023 is ‘Ashtalakshmi’, a butterfly.
Swimmer Pratyasa Ray of Odisha’s Utkal University, who won 6 medals (four gold, one silver, and one bronze) was the most successful female athlete at KIUG 2023.
Swimmer Xavier Michael Dsouza of Karnataka’s Jain University, who won four gold medals was the most successful male athlete at KIUG 2023.

About the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS):
Union Minister– Anurag Singh Thakur (Constituency- Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)– Nisith Pramanik (Constituency- Coochbehar, West Bengal)

World Wildlife Day 2024 – March 3The United Nations (UN) World Wildlife Day (WWD) is annually observed across the globe on 3rd March to celebrate and raise awareness about world’s wild fauna (animals) and flora (plants). WWD serves as a global acknowledgment of the incredible diversity in our ecosystems.
The theme of WWD 2024 is “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation“.
Background:
i.On 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) at its 68th session, proclaimed 3 March of every year as UN World Wildlife Day.
ii.The UNGA resolution designated the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance.
iii.The 1st ever WWD was observed on 3 March 2014.
About Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
Secretary-General– Ms Ivonne Higuero
Headquarters– Genève, Switzerland

World Hearing Day 2024 – March 3World Hearing Day (WHD) is annually observed across the globe on 3rd March to raise awareness regarding hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care. The day also call for action to address hearing loss and related issues.

3rd March 2024 marks the observance of the 18th WHD.

The theme of WHD 2024 is ‘Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!’

Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) decides the theme of WHD.

Background:
i.The “Beijing Declaration”, which was adopted during the first international conference on the prevention and rehabilitation of hearing impairment in Beijing, China in 2007, suggested the establishment of “International Ear Care Day”, for promoting global actions on hearing care.
ii.The first-ever International Ear Care Day was observed on 3rd March 2007.
iii.International Ear Care Day was renamed as World Hearing Day in 2016.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment- 1948