Home » Current Affairs Date: 01 June 2023

Current Affairs Date: 01 June 2023

National

MeitY launches Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0)

⇒ The Secretary, MeitY, Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma has launched the Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0) developed under MeitY supported projects on 17 January 2023.

Developed by:

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata in collaboration with TeXMIN, ISM, Dhanbad under the ‘National programme on Electronics and ICT applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)’ has developed an outdoor air quality monitoring station.

Key Points:
    • It is developed to monitor environmental pollutants which includes parameters like PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10.0, SO2, NO2, CO, O2, ambient temperature, relative humidity etc., for continuous air quality analysis of the environment.
    • The Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0), was also transferred to the selected industry J.M. EnviroLab Private Limited for further commercialization of the same technology for deployment at different mine and cement industries.

MeitY launches Technology for Biosensing system

⇒ The Secretary, MeitY, Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma has launched the Technology for Biosensing system for the detection of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in aquatic ecosystems (MEAN) developed under MeitY supported projects on 17 January 2023.

Developed by:

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata in collaboration with ICAR-CIFRI, Baraackpore under the ‘National programme on Electronics and ICT applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)’ has developed a biosensing system.

Key Points:
    • Biosensing system has been developed for detection of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) in aquatic ecosystems, for qualitative and quantative analysis of EDC content in water bodies.
    • The Biosensing based EDC detection system (MEAN), was also transferred to the selected industry Arogyam Medisoft Solution Private Limited for further commercialization of the same technology for deployment at different locations of North-East.

41st session of the Network Planning Group (NPG)

⇒ The Network Planning Group (NPG) held its 41st session in New Delhi on 18 January 2023.

Chaired by the Special Secretary of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the meeting saw active participation of senior officials from key member ministries/departments.

Discussion:

The meeting saw deliberations on a 4 Lane Accessed Controlled Greenfield Highway as part of the Nagpur-Vijaywada corridor and new rail connectivity projects connecting Barejadi Nandej to Sanand in Gujarat, and Barbil, Barsuan and Nayagrah in Odisha.

4 Lane Accessed Controlled Greenfield Highway:
    • The 4 Lane Accessed Controlled Greenfield Highway, covering a distance of 306 kms, will connect Mancherial to Vijawada.
    • The project proposed will improve connectivity to 21 economic nodes such as Mega Food Parks, Fishing Seafood Clusters, Pharma and Medical Clusters, SEZs and Textile Clusters across the 11 districts and more than 27 social nodes across 3 States.
Barejadi Nandej to Sanand railway project:
    • Ahmedabad Station has been one of the busiest stations on the Western Railway Corridor for freight movement between the Viramgam-Sabaramati-Ahmedabad-Geratpur sections.
    • Therefore, to achieve overall operational efficiency, the construction of a 4th line connecting was felt essential.
    • This 4th Line would feature two new stations in Barejadi Nandej to Sanand and detour all freight trains to this route while bypassing the Ahmedabad section.
Barbil-Barsuan-Nayagarh Railway line:
    • The proposed Barbil-Barsuan-Nayagarh Railway line, covering a distance of 181 kms, will connect major iron mines in the region and boost trade in steel plans of Eastern India.
    • The proposed alignment will see 15 new stations being built in the vicinity of major mining sights such as Sundergarh and Keonjhar.
    • With connectivity to major rail networks such as Tata, Dhamra, Bokaro and eastern ports such as Vishakapatnam and Paradip, it is estimated that the project will see an increase in about 37% traffic in the first 5 years itself.

International

1st G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meeting under G20 India Presidency

⇒ The First G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting, under the Indian Presidency, was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, during December 13-14, 2022.

    • The meeting was conducted with the aim of seeking the views of G20 members on India’s G20 Finance Track priorities for 2023 across various workstreams.
Co-chairship:

The meeting was held under the co-chairship of Secretary, Economic Affairs, Shri Ajay Seth and Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Dr. Michael Patra.

Participation:

The meeting saw an enthusiastic gathering of over 160 foreign delegates including Deputies from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and International Organisations.

Sessions:

Over the course of two days, seven discussion sessions and two side events were organised.

Side event:
    • A side event on ‘Strengthening MDBs to Address Shared Global Challenges of the 21st century’ was held on the sidelines of the Deputies meeting.
    • Another side event on ‘Role of Central Banks in Managing Climate Risk and in Green Financing’ was also held.

Reflecting the theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, the discussions focused on issues relating to the global economy and risks, strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), managing global debt vulnerabilities, financing climate action and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities of tomorrow.

2-Day Finance & Central Bank Deputies meeting oversaw 7 discussion Sessions on following issues:
    • Session 1: Global Economy
    • Session 2: International Financial Architecture
    • Session 3: Infrastructure
    • Session 4: Sustainable Finance
    • Session 5: International Taxation
    • Session 6: Global Health
    • Session 7: Financial Sector and Financial Inclusion

» Overall, the meeting saw a broad support on the proposed priorities of India’s G20 Finance Track agenda for 2023.

Sports

First-ever six-nation Cycling Expedition 2023

⇒ Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt flagged-in the first ever Six-Nation Cycling Expedition 2023 in New Delhi on March 15, 2023.

    • The Cycling Expedition was flagged off from New Delhi by Additional Secretary MoD on January 16, 2023 in the presence of NIMAS Secretary.
About ‘Six-Nation Cycling Expedition 2023’:
    • The ‘Six-Nation Cycling Expedition 2023’ was carried out by a team of Dirang-based National Institute of Mountaineering & Adventure Sports (NIMAS).
    • A team of four Service personnel, presently posted with NIMAS, was led by Director, NIMAS Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal.
    • The 4-member team undertook the first-ever cycling expedition in six South East Asian Nations – Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore – from January 16, 2023 to March 06, 2023.
    • To commemorate “Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, a 4-member team of NIMAS commenced the cycling expedition from Hanoi, Vietnam on January 18, 2023.
    • The cycling expedition culminated at Esplanade Park (INA War Memorial) in Singapore.
    • In the process, it created a national record in cycling by covering 5,374 kms in just 37 days in six South East Asian Nations.
    • The team visited over 10 monuments/memorials and interacted with the heroes of Azad Hind Fauj, revisiting the stories of sacrifice and bravery of Indian National Army.
    • In addition, the team scaled the highest peak of Vietnam Mount Fansipan (3,143m).

» Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh had approved the expedition in the meeting of the Executive Council of the Institute held under his Chairmanship last year (18/4/2022).

Previous record:
    • NIMAS team had created a Record in India Book of Records by becoming first of its kind expedition, covering all the seven North Eastern states by cycle.
    • It also climbed the highest point of all 7 states of North East region.
    • The expedition cycled 1098 kms through Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura and interacted with Youth Associations of these States.

Source: PIB & Other News Reports

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