Today's Current Affairs 11th May 2023

NATIONAL

PM Modi lay foundation stone, dedicate to nation multiple scientific projects worth over Rs 5,800 cr in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple scientific projects of over 5 thousand 800 crore rupees on the occasion of National Technology Day

During a function in New Delhi, Mr. Modi released a commemorative stamp and coin and also inaugurated the Expo showcasing scientific and technological advancements made in India in the recent past.

The projects whose foundation stones were laid by the Prime Minister include Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory – India (LIGO-India), Hingoli, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jatni in Odisha and Platinum Jubilee Block of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

The LIGO-India will be one of the handful Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave observatories in the world.  It will work in synchronisation with two such observatories operating in the United States.

During the function, the projects related to  Fission Molybdenum-99 Production Facility in Mumbai, Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Visakhapatnam, National Hadron Beam Therapy Facility and Women and Children Cancer Hospital Building in Navi Mumbai were dedicated to the nation.

Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launches ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines 2023

To meet the larger vision of achieving Zero Carbon Emission Goal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has launched ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines. The guidelines were launched by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH in the august presence of Shri Shripad Y. Naik, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism and other senior officials of the Ministry today in New Delhi.

Harit Sagar Guidelines - 2023 envisages ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation and maintenance while aligning with ’Working with Nature’ concept and minimizing impact on biotic components of harbor ecosystem. It lays emphasis on use of Clean / Green energy in Port operation, developing Port capabilities for storage, handling and bunkering Greener Fuels viz. Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia, Green Methanol / Ethanol etc.

These Guidelines provides a framework for the Major Ports for drawing out a comprehensive action plan for achieving targeted outcomes in terms of quantified reduction in carbon emission over defined timelines, through focused implementation and close monitoring of Green Initiatives and to achieve Sustainable Developmental Goals

OBITURY

Famous corporate lawyer Rajiv Luthra passes away at 67

Veteran corporate lawyer and founder of the law firm Luthra & Luthra, Rajiv Luthra passes away at the age of 67 due to a brief illness , The veteran lawyer is survived by his wife Gayatri and two daughters.

He started his career as a chartered accountant, pursued Law and was an alumnus of University of Delhi. In the year 1989, he established his own firm Luthra & Luthra Law offices at the age of 31. After setting up his firm, he opted for courses at the Harvard Law School for the period of seven years. He studied several spheres of law and it helped him in developing a niche in practicing acquisitions, mergers, finance with specialization in public private partnership and in project finance.

Luthra & Luthra Law Offices has over 350 lawyers and has branches in Mumbai and Bangalore.

Former AIFF vice-president AR Khaleel passes away

The former All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice-president, treasurer and executive committee member AR Khaleel passed away after a brief illness. He was 91. Khaleel is survived by his wife and four daughters.

AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey condoled the demise of Khaleel, who was also the former president of the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA).

A prominent face in the Indian football administration for nearly six decades, Khaleel was also active at the continental level, and on occasions was a member of Asian Football Confederation Standing Committees. A president of the KSFA for 28 years till 2018, Khaleel had worked for the game in various capacities. He was a footballer, who ran Jawahar Union FC, one of Bengaluru’s traditional clubs, was an administrator par excellence, and served Karnataka football as an office bearer for many years.

He also donned managerial roles for the Indian national teams in various age groups. In Karnataka football, Khaleel will always be remembered for the exemplary work he did in acquiring land and building the Bangalore Football Stadium, owned by the KSFA.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

NIIF appoints Rajiv Dhar as interim CEO

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), a quasi-sovereign wealth fund, board has appointed Rajiv Dhar as interim Managing Director and CEO.

The planned succession follows Sujoy Bose's request to relieve him from his current responsibilities as MD and CEO, Dhar, executive director and chief operating officer, has been part of NIIF since 2017.

The government had set up the Rs 40,000-crore NIIF in December 2016 as an investment vehicle for funding commercially viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled projects. It was envisioned as a mother fund with several sectoral feeder funds.

The corpus of NIIF is proposed to be Rs 40,000 crore wherein the government intends to invest 49 per cent. It will raise third-party capital for the remaining Rs 20,000 crore from long-term international investors, such as sovereign wealth funds, insurance and pension funds, and endowments.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Technology Day: India

National Technology Day is celebrated every year on May 11. This day commemorates India's successful nuclear tests that were conducted on May 11th, 1998, at Pokhran, Rajasthan. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of Indian scientists and engineers who have contributed to the development of technology in various fields.

On this day, different government organisations, institutes, schools, and colleges hold programmes in honour of India's scientists and their achievements. India is one of the fastest developing nations in the world, and much of the credit goes to technological advancement.

Theme -  Every year, the Technology Development Board (TDB) selects a theme for each year's event. This year the theme of the National Technology Day 2023 is 'School to Startups-Igniting Young Minds to Innovate.'

National Technology Day is a reminder of the important role that technology plays in our lives, and the need for continued investment and innovation in this field to ensure progress and growth.

Note - This term was coined by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to recognise the contributions of Indian scientists.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

Ministry of AYUSH and ICMR sign MoU for integrative health research

In a significant development a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Ayush and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to promote and collaborate on integrative health research. This cooperation will focus on identified areas of national importance in healthcare for promoting high impact research to generate evidence utilizing modern scientific methods. This MoU will also strengthen research capacity through training of Ayush researchers.

MoU was signed by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, secretary, Ministry of Ayush and Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, ICMR & secretary, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

This MoU will enable both parties to jointly establish Ayush-ICMR Centers for Advanced Research in Integrative Health at all AIIMS with co-funding. Further, they will explore possibility to work on public health research, take initiatives for addressing diseases of national importance and look at possibilities of conducting high-quality clinical trials jointly on identified areas/disease conditions of national importance with promising therapies of Ayush system to generate evidence for wider acceptance.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

UP CM Yogi Adityanath honoured with Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar award

Former president of India Ram Nath Kovind honoured Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on with the Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award for creating a fear-free Uttar Pradesh. The award ceremony was organized at Shri Shanmukhananda Auditorium in Mumbai where member of UP legislative council Dr. Lalji Prasad Nirmal received the award on behalf of Yogi Adityanath. Buddhanjali Research Foundation organized the award ceremony which was graced by Ramnath Kovind as the chief guest

About the Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award - The Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award is an annual award presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to society in the areas of education, social welfare, and economics, in the spirit of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.