Today's Current Affairs 17th April 2023

INTERNATIONAL

China's first satellite offering high-precision rainfall monitoring launched

China's first satellite allowing scientists to monitor the Earth's precipitation from space, Fengyun-3G (FY-3G), was sent into space on April 16. It is one of only three such satellites in the world. The satellite, which is dedicated to measure precipitation on Earth, will help Chinese scientists to predict precipitation more accurately

With a lifespan of six years, the FY-3G is developed by an institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and its ground system will be built and operated by the China Meteorological Administration.

The 20th member of the Fengyun series, the FY-3G will highlight the strength of China's low-orbit meteorological satellite constellation and significantly improve the early warning capability for global rainstorms, said Chen Zhenlin, head of the central meteorological observatory.

Qian Bin, the chief designer of the FY-3G, said the satellite adopts a low-inclination orbit, with an inclination of 50 degrees. It will provide precipitation data mainly within the range of 50 degrees north latitude to 50 degrees south latitude.

In the next six months, FY-3G will undergo in-orbit tests and meet the challenges of meteorological disasters such as rainstorms and typhoons in the upcoming flood season, according to the meteorological administration.

China currently has eight Fengyun meteorological satellites in orbit, providing data and services to 126 countries and regions.

NATIONAL

Bihu makes it to the Guinness Book of World Record

Assam’s Bihu dance on Thursday made it to the Guinness World Records with a performance by 11,304 dancers dancers and drummers performing the traditional ‘Bihu’ dance and playing the ‘dhol’ at a single venue, the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati.

The Guinness World Records adjudicator handed over both certificates to the chief minister in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening, when the dance performance was repeated at the same venue. Sarma’s office tweeted with the hashtag ModijiCelebratesBihu, “A sight to behold! Hon PM Shri @narendramodi Ji joins the beautiful cultural extravaganza as many dance together on the beats of #Bihu in #Assam. LARGEST BIHU DANCE IN A SINGLE VENUE.”

Bihu is a vibrant folk dance form and symbolises Assam’s culture and identity. The attempt to enter the record book for the largest Bihu at one venue was initially scheduled for April 14 with the Prime Minister in attendance but since the Guinness certificate would be handed over a day later, the mega dance performance was organised on Thursday,

President Murmu inaugurated the National Panchayat Awards Week

As India advances towards National Panchayati Raj Day 2023, which is celebrated on April 24, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is celebrating National Panchayat Awards Week during April 17- 21, 2023, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 2.0.

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated ‘National Conference on Incentivization of Panchayats-cum-Award Ceremony’ on April 17 and flagged off the National Panchayat Awards Week. The five-day event is expected to witness the participation of more than 1,500 delegates from across the country.

The Awardee Panchayats will be felicitated, and the award money will be transferred digitally to the Awardee Panchayats on this occasion. The various categories of National Panchayat Awards–2023 are as followed:

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP) for the performance under individual LSDG themes
• Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (NDSPSVP) for the aggregate performance under all 9 LSDG themes and green initiative related Special Categories
• Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar
• (iv) Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar

A booklet on ‘Best Practices on Works of Awardee Panchayats’ would be released by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and the first copy of the booklet will be presented to the President.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Hemophilia Day

World Hemophilia Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on the 17th of April every year, started by the World Federation of Haemophilia (WHF) with the intention to raise a call for the government authorities and local policymakers for the provision of a better treatment and care in addition to promote better control and prevention with haemophilia.

A rare severe, inherited haemorrhagic disorder, haemophilia is caused by malfunction of factor VIII and factor IX protein (factors required for blood clotting/ coagulation), leading to an abnormality in blood coagulation. Although people of all races and ethnicities can be diagnosed with haemophilia, men are more likely to be affected because the ailment is connected to the X chromosome. There is a 50% probability that a boy whose mother carries the haemophilia gene will also be affected by haemophilia, and her daughter being 50% risk of being carrier. Hence, haemophilia is more common in males, despite the fact that it can affect females causing difficulties with menstruation and childbirth.

This year 2023, World Hemophilia Day 2023 Theme is "Access for All: Prevention of bleeds as the global standard of care”, a call to local authorities and healthcare policymakers to emphasise the prevention, protection and availability of effective treatment care to all the persons affected with haemophilia.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

2nd Health Working Group meeting commence in Goa

The second Health Working Group meeting under the Indian G20 presidencyl begin today in Goa. The three-day meeting will be concluded on Wednesday.

More than 180 delegates from 19 G20 member countries, 10 invited states, and 22 International Organizations are participating in the meeting.

Shri Lav Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, briefed the media ahead of the 2nd Health Working Group Meeting. He highlighted health priorities and India’s leadership role in the Global South. The 2nd Health Working Group meeting of G20 will have discussions on the Priorities which include Health Emergencies Prevention, Preparedness and Response, Strengthening Cooperation in Pharmaceutical Sector with a focus on Access and Availability to safe, effective, quality, and Affordable Medical Countermeasures and Digital Health Innovations and Solutions to Aid Universal Health Coverage and Improve Healthcare Service Delivery.

Several cultural programmes infused with flavours of Goan culture have been planned for the event to showcase India’s rich diversity and culture based on the Indian philosophy of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’.

In a significant milestone, India assumed the presidency of the G20 on 1st December 2022. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, based on India’s philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and reiterated that G20 India Presidency will be inclusive, action-oriented and decisive.

5-day Army Commanders’ Conference to discuss emerging security scenarios and other matters begins

The first edition of the biannual Army Commanders conclave 2023 will be conducted in Hybrid format from today. The five-day conference will continue till the 21st of April. On the first day, today, Army Commanders and other senior functionaries will meet virtually. They will then travel to Delhi for balanced physical meetings on matters which require detailed deliberations. Our Correspondent reports that the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff, and the Chief of the Air Staff will also address the Army Commanders conference.

Army Commanders Conference is an apex-level biannual event that is an institutional platform for conceptual-level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The forum will review the progress on the activities charted out as part of ‘Year of Transformation-2023’ along with progress on Agnipath Scheme and digitisation and automation initiatives. During the conference, apex leadership will also brainstorm current and emerging security scenarios and review the operational preparedness of the Indian Army. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the conference on Wednesday.

India to hold G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi from 17-19 April

The first three-day G20 summit of the Agriculture Working Group under India’s G20 Presidency begins at Varanasi from 17-19 April. The event will be witnessing participation of representatives from the 20 leading countries of the world and delegates from other partner countries.

In order to ensure a grand rollout of the G20 events, the government of the state of Uttar Pradesh has made complete arrangements. The three-day event will send out a message endorsing nutritious foods, food security and environment-friendly farming to keep the entire world healthy,

The G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) is being organized at Varanasi by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Global Conference on Compressed Biogas In New Delhi, to highlight on green fuel

A two-day ‘Global Conference on Compressed Biogas (CBG)’ under the theme “Towards Progressive Policy Framework for a Robust CBG Foundation and Growth” is being held on April 17 and 18, 2023, in New Delhi. The Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) and CBG Producer Forum are organising the event with support from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Union Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, will inaugurate the conference. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, will also take part as the chief guest

The objective of the CBG Conference is to apprise the industry of the initiatives taken by the government for the development of Compressed Biogas Industry and to identify the areas where policy modifications are required.

CBG has a higher calorific value and properties similar to CNG and can be utilised as an alternative green renewable that can replace CNG in automotive, industrial, and commercial areas, given the abundance of biomass availability within the country.