Daily Current Affairs For BPSC as on 20.04.2023

NATIONAL:

1. National Quantum Mission

Why in news - The Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM).

Key Points –

• By - Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• Total cost - Rs.6003.65 crore.

• Period - 2023-24 to 2030-31.

• Aim - to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).

• It put India among the top 6 leading nations involved in the research and development in quantum technologies. (6 nations - US, Canada, France, Finland, China and Austria).

Provisions –

• To develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in superconducting and photonic technology.

• To develop magnetometers with high sensitivity in atomic systems and Atomic Clocks for precision timing, communications and navigation.

• To support design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors and topological materials for fabrication of quantum devices.

• 4 Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) to be set up in top academic and National R&D institutes

(a) Quantum Computing

(b) Quantum Communication

(c) Quantum Sensing & Metrology

(d) Quantum Materials & Devices.

2. World Population Report

Why in news - The annual State of World Population report was released by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

Key Points –

• India’s population is expected to surpass that of China by the middle of this year.

• It has pegged India’s mid-2023 population at 142.8 crores, marginally ahead of China’s 142.5 crores.

• Reason - Relatively sharp drop in China’s population (reduction of 2.3 crores in just one year).

• The global population will hit 8.045 billion by mid-2023.

• Contrary to the alarm bells about exploding numbers, population trends everywhere point to slower growth and ageing societies.

3. Oil Jetty at Deendayal Port, Kandla

Why in news - Ministry for Ports, Shipping & Waterways approved the project of Development of Oil Jetty at Deendayal Port, Kandla, Gujarat.

Key Points –

• Purpose - to handle all types of liquid cargo at Kandla on BOT basis under PPP mode.

• Build-operate-transfer (BOT) – Government grants a concession to a private company to finance, build, and operate a project (20 to 30 years) after which the project is returned to the public entity that originally granted the concession.

About Kandla Port –

• Location - Kandla Creek, 90 kms from the mouth of the Gulf Of Kachch in Gujarat.

• Protected natural harbour.

• One of the major ports in India.

• Constructed in the 1950s after the partition left the port of Karachi in Pakistan.

• India’s biggest state-owned cargo handler by volume. (Mundra Port, Gujarat - India’s largest private port).

AWARDS & HONOURS:

1. Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023

Why in news - Utsa Patnaik has been chosen for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023.

Key Points –

• She is a renowned economist with national and international acclaim.

• The award is granted to exceptional social scientist for outstanding contributions to Development Studies.

• Malcolm Satyanathan Adiseshiah (1910-1994) was an Indian development economist and educator.

2. Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Award

Why in news - Asha Bhosle, Pankaj Udhas and Vidya Balan are to be honored with the award on April 24, 2023.

Key Points –

• The award is given in the field of arts and society at large.

• It is given in the memory of Lata Mangeshkar, who died on February 6, 2022

• First recipient - PM Narendra Modi.

3. Grand Cross Award

Why in news - Former Chancellor Angela Merkel has been honored with the prestigious award.

Key Points –

• She is the first woman to take the post of chancellor.

• It is Germany’s highest possible honour.

• The award has only been given twice before, to former chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.

SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:

1. Digital Health Summit 2023

Why in news – It was organized by the Confederate of Indian Industry (CII) at Goa on April 17, 2023.

Key Points –

• Theme - “Building One Health Together – Improving Health Equity”.

• Digital Health includes biosensors, portable x rays, handheld ultrasounds, smartphone based POCD (Point-of-Care Diagnostics), Virtual health assistants and e-Pharmacies.

• World health organization (WHO) adopted Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025 in 2020.

RANKS & INDICES:

1. World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2023

Why in news – The list was compiled by London-based consultancy Henley & Partners.

Key Points –

• It ranked the cities by taking into account the number of resident millionaires.

• From India (rank) - Mumbai (21), Delhi (36), Bengaluru (60), Kolkata (63) and Hyderabad (65).

SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:

1. NASA’s Lucy Mission

Why in news – The Lucy spacecraft used its L’LORRI high-resolution camera to capture the first views of the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.

Key Points –

• Trojan asteroid names - Eurybates, Polymele, Leucus and Orus.

About Lucy Mission (NASA):

• It is on an epic 6 billion km long journey to study the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.

• Launch - October 26, 2021.

• First spacecraft sent to study the Trojan asteroids.

• Trojan asteroids – They orbit the Sun in the same path that the planet Jupiter takes.

BIHAR:

1. 11th Thawe Festival

Why in news – The Thawe festival took place in Gopalganj, Bihar.

Key Points –

• Organised by - Department of Tourism and the Department of Art and Culture.

• Thawe Durga Temple is located in Gopalganj, Bihar.

POINTERS:

• India has made a generous contribution of what amount to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) - $500,000 (₹4.09 crore).

• Which country will chair the Finance Ministers Working Group for a Commonwealth Call for Reform of the Global Financial Architecture – India.

• Multilateral exercise Orion in which the Indian Air Force is also taking part, began at which airbase in France - Mont-de-Marsan.

• In which state, the Department of Posts has released a special cover on the Mahila Samman Savings scheme – Telangana.

• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission launched which campaign to mobilize 10 Crore Rural Women into Self Help Groups - “Sangathan se Samriddhi”.

• Staff Selection Commission, SSC MTS and CHSL exams have been approved to be conducted in how many regional languages other than Hindi and English – 13 regional languages.

• NTPC and which other body aim to collaborate on Feasibility Study for setting Bamboo-based Bio-Refinery at Bongaigaon, Assam - Chempolis India.

• India will host the first-ever International Surf Open as a part of World Surf League in which city - Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.

• Who hit the first century of IPL 2023 - Harry Brook.

• Which country has switched off its three remaining nuclear power plants as part of a long-planned transition toward renewable energy – Germany.

 

Click here to download Current Affairs English PDF

Click here to download Current Affairs Hindi PDF

Enquiry Us