Current Affairs 2023

Bharat becomes the 13th country in world that can issue Internationally Accepted OIML Certificates [14 Sep 2023]

OIML is an Intergovernmental organization which was established in 1955. Bharat became its member in 1956. It has 63 Member States and 64 Corresponding Members. Bharat has now become an authority for issuing internationally accepted OIML certificates for selling weights & measures anywhere in the world. To sell a weight or measure in the International market an OIML Pattern Approval certificate is mandatory, which the Department of Consumer Affairs can issue now.

Bharat follows OIML recommendations and procedures for testing and calibration of weights and measures. The reports prepared by the Legal Metrology’s Regional Reference Standards Laboratories are now acceptable to the OIML issuing authorities. Now, Bharat is an authority for issuing OIML pattern approval certificates and can act as a support system for indigenous manufacturers. Domestic manufacturers can now export their weighing and measuring instruments worldwide without incurring additional testing fees, resulting in significant cost savings.

Bharat can also support foreign manufacturers by issuing OIML pattern approval certificates from our certified RRSLs. By issuing the OIML approval certificates of weighing & measuring instruments to the foreign manufacturers Bharat will also generate forex in terms of fees etc.

Bharat may now influence the OIML's policies and provide input to the OIML Strategy. This system allows OIML Certificates issued by OIML Issuing Authorities in OIML Member States to be accepted by other participants as the basis for issuing national or regional type approvals for measuring instruments. The other OIML Members can thus issue national-type approval certificates without the need for expensive test facilities by relying on these certificates.

SAP Labs India MD Sindhu Gangadharan appointed as Nasscom Vice-Chairperson [12 Sep 2023]

IT industry body Nasscom has appointed Sindhu Gangadharan, SAP Labs India’s Managing Director, as its vice-chairperson. Gangadharan’s appointment comes after Cognizant India MD Rajesh Nambiar, who was the vice-chair, was appointed as the Chairperson earlier this month following Anant Maheshwari’s exit.

Smt Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates ‘First Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights’ in New Delhi [12 Sep 2023]

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated first 'Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights' (GSFR) today, in a ceremony held at ICAR Convention Centre, National Agricultural Science Centre, New Delhi. President Murmu conferred the ‘Plant Genome Saviour Communities’ Award (6) and ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmers Reward’ (16) and ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmers Recognition’ (4) awards to the invited Indian farmers. These awards are instituted by the PPVFR Authority as per the provisions of the PPVFR Act, 2001. She also inaugurated the newly constructed ‘Plant Authority Bhawan’, the office of the PPVFR Authority, and an online plant variety ‘Registration Portal’.

21st edition of Varuna (Varuna-23) bilateral exercise between Indian and French Navy was conducted in the Arabian Sea [08 Sep 2023]

Phase II of the 21st edition of Varuna (Varuna-23) bilateral exercise between Indian and French Navy was conducted in the Arabian Sea. The exercise witnessed participation of guided missile frigates, tanker, Maritime Patrol Aircraft and integral helicopters from the two sides. The exercise was conducted over three days and witnessed joint operations, underway replenishment and various tactical manoeuvres. Units of both navies endeavoured to enhance and hone their war fighting skills, improve interoperability and demonstrate their ability to promote, peace, security and stability in the region. The first phase of 'Varuna-2023' was conducted off India's Western Seaboard from 16 to 20 Jan 23.

Indian & French Navy bilateral naval exercise was initiated in 1993. The exercise was later christened as 'Varuna' in 2001 and has since become a hallmark of robust India-France strategic bilateral relationship. Having grown in scope and complexity over the years, this exercise provides an opportunity to learn from each other's best practices and procedures. The exercise also facilitates operational level interaction between the two Navies to foster mutual cooperation for good order at sea, underscoring the shared commitment to ensuring security, safety and freedom of the global maritime commons.

20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Jakarta [07 Sep 2023]

At the ASEAN-India Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive discussions with ASEAN partners on further strengthening of ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and charting its future course. Prime Minister reaffirmed ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific and highlighted the synergies between India's Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). He also emphasized the need to complete the review of ASEAN-India FTA (AITIGA) in a time bound manner.

PSLV-XL launches India’s first Solar Mission [02 Sep 2023]

ISRO’s trusted workhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) launched India’s first Solar Mission, Aditya L1 from Sriharikota Range. Earlier, ISRO confirmed the launch of Aditya-L1 by PSLV-C57 is accomplished successfully with the satellite placed “precisely” into its intended orbit. With this, India’s first solar observatory has begun its journey to the destination of Sun-Earth L1 point. Aditya L1 is the first space-based Indian mission to study the Sun. Through various orbit raising manoeuvres and the cruise phase over about the next four months, the spacecraft shall be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. A satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses. This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time.The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors.

Smt. Jaya Varma Sinha takes charge as Chairperson and CEO, Railway Board [01 Sep 2023]

Smt. Jaya Varma Sinha took over the charge of the new Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) today in Rail Bhavan. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Smt. Jaya Varma Sinha as Chairperson & CEO of Railway Board. She is the first woman to be appointed to this Apex post of Indian Railways. Prior to this, Smt. Jaya Varma Sinha has worked as a Member (Operations and Business Development) of the Railway Board. Smt. Sinha was responsible for the overall transportation of freight and passenger services on Indian Railways. Smt. Jaya Varma Sinha joined the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) in 1988. In her career of over 35 years in Indian Railways, she has worked on various important posts like Member (Operations & Business Development) of the Railway Board, Additional Member, Traffic Transportation, and Railway Board. She has worked on diverse verticals spanning operations, commercial, IT, and vigilance. She was also the first woman to be appointed as the Principal Chief Operations Manager of South Eastern Railway. She had worked as the Railway Advisor in the High Commission of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh during which the famous Maitri Express from Kolkata to Dhaka was inaugurated.

Singapore's Indian-origin ex-minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam wins presidential election [01 Sep 2023]

Tharman Shanmugaratnam, an Indian-origin Singapore-born economist, won Singapore's presidential election on Friday, defeating two other Chinese-origin contenders in the country's first contested presidential polls since 2011. Shanmugaratnam, 66, who served as Singapore's Deputy prime minister from 2011 to 2019, got 70.4 percent votes while his rivals Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian bagged 15.7 percent and 13.88 percent respectively.

Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest [27 Aug 2023]

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra wrote his name in the history books yet again after winning the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He became the first-ever Indian athlete to achieve this feat, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletics. This was Chopra's second medal at the championships, after he had won the silver medal at Eugene, United States in 2022.

PM conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by the President of Greece [25 Aug 2023]

The President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou conferred PM Narendra Modi with The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour. The Order of Honour was established in 1975. The head of the goddess Athena is depicted on the front side of the Star with the inscription “ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS SHOULD BE HONOURED”. The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour is conferred by the President of Greece to Prime Ministers and eminent personalities who by reason of their distinguished position, have contributed to enhancing the stature of Greece.

The citation says- "In the person of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an honour is bestowed upon the friendly people of India".

It also says, "On the occasion of this visit, the Greek State Honours the Prime Minister of India, a statesman who has tirelessly promoted the global reach of his country and who works systematically for India’s economic progress and prosperity, bringing about bold reforms. A statesman who has brought environmental protection and climate change among the top priorities of international activity".