Today's Current Affairs - 22nd October 2022

NATIONAL

PM Modi launches Mission LiFE movement at Kevadiya in Gujarat

• Mission LIFE movement is launched by PM Modi in order to protect the environment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning. After the global launch of Mission LiFE at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat in the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the PM addressed the crowd and asserted that lifestyle changes can help to mitigate climate change.
• The PM noted, reiterating India’s commitment to combating the threat of climate change, that a circular economy and reduce, reuse, recycle principles have been ingrained in Indian culture for thousands of years.
• India is the best example of economic progress and environmental protection.
• The PM referred to Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of trusteeship and said that the Mission LiFE invites us to be environmental trustees.
• PM Modi praised Gujarat’s initiatives in the fields of environmental preservation and renewable energy.

Windergy 2023 to be Held in Chennai in Next Year

• The 5th edition of India’s only comprehensive International Trade Fair and Conference, Windergy India 2023 will be held from 4th October to 6th October 2023. The Windergy India 2023 will be organized by the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) and PDA Ventures Pvt Ltd, the three-day trade fairs and conference will provide a vibrant platform to meet and interact with policymakers, regulatory authority, international and domestic technology, solution and services providers from the wind power industries.
• Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) was established in 1998 and is the apex business association and voice of the Indian wind Industry. IWTMA has been at the forefront of the policy framework and regulatory intervention with proactive engagement with Central and State policymakers, Investors, and Stakeholders.

Indian, US militaries conduct "Tiger Triumph" humanitarian assistance exercise

• The Indian and US militaries carried out a three-day joint humanitarian assistance exercise in Vishakhapatnam in line with the growing strategic cooperation between the two countries. The Tiger Triumph exercise was the second collaboration between the Indian and US Militaries to coordinate disaster relief in the region.
• The first exercise took place over the course of nine days in November 2019 and featured more than 500 US Marines and sailors.The first exercise included 1200 Indian sailors, soldiers, and Airmen.
• This year, the military exercise involved fifty combined participants, and it focused on staff planning, with an emphasis on processes for streamlining diplomatic, operational, and logistical coordination.
• Tiger Triumph marked the third time in 2022 that Indian and US militaries have worked together in Vishakhapatnam.

‘Diye jalao, patake nahin’: Delhi govt kicks off campaign for green Diwali

• Delhi government has launched the ‘Diye Jalao, Patake Nahin’ (light up lamps, not firecrackers) campaign at Central Park in New Delhi. The Delhi government on Friday lit 51,000 diyas at Central Park in Connaught Place here to mark the launch of its campaign for a pollution-free Diwali. The campaign aims at promoting a quieter and pollution-free Diwali.
• Volunteers take part in the Delhi government’s campaign for a pollution-free Diwali. Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in India. People across the country mark the festival in special ways by making rangolis, organising Diwali parties and preparing delicious dishes and sweets. However, air and noise pollution have been a cause of concern on this auspicious occasion. Bursting crackers is a major cause for pollution.

India successfully testfires new-gen nuclear-capable 'Agni Prime' ballistic missile off Odisha Coast

• The Agni Prime New Generation Ballistic Missile was successfully tested by India on October 21 off the coast of Odisha. Around 9.45 this morning, a test launch of the ballistic missile took place. The missile successfully completed the test, covering its full range, and all of its test goals were achieved.
• The Agni Prime, also known as “Agni-P,” is a two-stage canisterized missile from the Agni class that is nuclear-capable and has a maximum range of 2,000 kilometres.
• The Agni Prime missile has updated guidance and propulsion technologies and weighs 50% less than the Agni 3 missile.
• This test has demonstrated the system’s accuracy and dependability.
• Agni Prime underwent its first test on June 28, 2021, and it underwent its second test on December 18, 2021.

 SPORTS

Fifth Khelo India Youth Games-2022 to be held in Madhya Pradesh in January-February next year

• The 5th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Madhya Pradesh from 31st January to 11th February 2023. The event was felicitated by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur, and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• Indigenous games will be a part of the upcoming Khelo India Youth Games. Madhya Pradesh has made the sport of Mallakhamb their state sport for supporting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support Olympics sports and indigenous sports in the same manner.
• Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur announced that the 5th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Madhya Pradesh.Khelo India Youth Games will be held in eight locations.
• More than 8500 athletes and sportspersons are expected that participate in the KIYG 2023.Khelo India Youth Games started in 2016 and since then, it has provided an effective platform for the youth of India to showcase their talents in sports.

 SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

Chandrayaan-3 pushed to 2023, launch to Moon likely in June

• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) plans to launch its third lunar mission in the month of June 2023. The more capable lunar rover that will be carried by Chandrayaan-3, which is essential for future interplanetary explorations, according to S. Somnath, Chairman of the Indian Space Agency, ISRO.
• According to S Somnath, the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV Mk-III) will launch Chandrayaan-3 (C-3) in June of next year.
• ISRO is also working on the Gaganyaan mission, and the first abort test is scheduled for the new year.
• The mission will rely on the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, which is already circling the Moon; the Chandrayaan-3 rover is not a clone of its predecessor, according to the head of ISRO. “C-3 is now prepared.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

14th Edition of World Spice Congress to be held in Mumbai

• The 14th World Spice Congress will take place in the CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Centre in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, from February 16 to 18, 2023. Spices Board India in conjunction with a number of trade and export forums is hosting the World Spice Congress during India’s G20 presidency.
• The 14th edition of the World Spice Congress (WSC) is going to be all about and only about ‘SPICES,’ after announcing the subject. Vision 2030: SPICES (Sustainability- Productivity- Innovation- Collaboration- Excellence and Safety) has been selected as the subject for the current World Spice Congress (WSC).
• Over a thousand delegates from more than fifty nations are anticipated to attend the 14th WSC.
• Regulatory authorities from significant importing nations, ministers of trade, and industry associations from G20 member nations will all attend the event.
• The World Spice Congress (WSC) event will also host an expo showcasing the advantages and skills of the Indian spice sector in addition to the business workshops.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Karnataka Bank wins digital transformation award

• Karnataka Bank has bagged the National Digital Transformation Awards, “DX 2022 Awards” instituted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for best practices in digital transformation under the BFSI segment. The awards in recognition of the “Innovative Excellence” in ‘KBL HR NxT – Employee Engagement’, ‘KBL Operations NxT – Operational Excellence’ and ‘KBL Customer NxT – Customer Experience’ were presented to senior executives of the bank at New Delhi.
• KBL NxT concept was launched in 2021 under KBL Vikas 2.0 focusing on digitisation of its various verticals, including operations, human resources, customer experience, digital marketing etc.
• In 2017, KBL launched its Transformation Journey ‘KBL Vikaas’, partnering with the Boston Consulting Group (India) Private Ltd, (BCG) in Mangaluru, Karnataka.
• In 2021, KBL launched the ‘KBL NxT’ concept to emerge as the ‘digital bank of the future’.

Hyderabad Haleem wins ‘Most Popular GI’ food award

• Telangana’s Hyderabadi Haleem has won the ‘Most Popular GI’ award after beating other food items including Rasgulla, Bikaneri Bhujiya, and Ratlami Sev. In a rigid competition with more than 15 food items across the country with Geographical Indication (GI) status, the famous Hyderabadi Haleem has bagged the ‘Most Popular GI’ award.
• GI tag is given to products to ensure that authorised users can only use the popular product name. For the first time, GI status was accorded to Hyderabadi Haleem in 2010. It expired in December 2019. However, later, the registrar of Geographical Indicator renewed the tag for the dish for 10 years.
• Other Telangana items that were accorded GI tag include Nirmal toys and crafts, Nirmal furniture, Nirmal Paintings, Gadwal sari, and Banaganapalle Mangoes.