Today's Current Affairs 26th May 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Ireland to label alcoholic drinks with detailed health warnings

Ireland says it will become the world’s first country to label alcoholic drinks with comprehensive health warnings, These health warnings, which include information about risks like cancer, have received support from the World Health Organization and have been approved by both the European Union and the World Trade Organization. The new policy, which will be implemented starting from May 22, 2026. This three-year period aims to allow businesses enough time to adjust to the new public health guidelines.

Ireland made progress in implementing the health warning labels after overcoming two major obstacles at the European Union and the World Trade Organization.

Although the alcohol industry has made significant efforts to hinder the introduction of health warning labels on alcohol products due to their reluctance to disclose the dangers associated with their products to the public. For instance, key members of the European Commissioner for Agriculture’s cabinet met with the alcohol giant Diageo shortly after the proposal for health warnings was submitted to the EU.

NATIONAL

Amit Shah lays the foundation stone of Guwahati campus of National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Assam

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Guwahati campus of National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Assam. Along with this, Shri Amit Shah also launched the web portal 'Assam Police Seva Setu' to make the services of the Assam Police more accessible and transparent for the people. A book written by Dr. J.M Vyas on the use of forensic science in judiciary was also released. Several dignitaries including the Chief Minister of Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma were present on the occasion.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India is establishing a network of National Forensic Science University across the country, the goal of the country in the direction of criminal justice is very clear that the conviction rate is to be taken ahead of the rate of developed countries, It is the world's 11th and the country's 10th NFSU centre, NFSU- Guwahati will benefit North-East India as well as many countries along the eastern border like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia.

Arunachal Pradesh government to set up Institute for Transforming Arunachal with NITI Aayog

Arunachal Pradesh government will set up Institute for Transforming Arunachal (ITA) with the help of NITI Aayog to take the development of the state to the next level. This was disclosed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu in a social media post. Mr Khandu held a meeting in Itanagar yesterday to discuss the formation of the ITA in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein. Mr Khandu said that the Institute for Transforming Arunachal would act as transformation leader for the state, provide assistance to various departments to advance their development strategies and unlock their potential.

This will further boost the ease of living for the people and will have hassle-free access to various services. He said that leakages and spillovers will also be checked by bringing in more transparency and accountability in the system and service delivery mechanism.

MoCA launches UDAN 5.1, designed for helicopter routes

Following four successful rounds of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) and with the version 5.0 of the fifth round underway, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched UDAN 5.1 to further enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through helicopters.

In a first for RCS-UDAN, this round specifically focuses on helicopter routes, offering new opportunities for operators to expand their operations. One notable change is that routes will now be permitted even if only one of the origin or destination locations is in a priority area, compared to the previous requirement of both points being in priority areas.

To make helicopter travel more affordable, airfare caps have been reduced by up to 25 percent for passengers. Additionally, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) caps for operators of both single and twin-engine helicopters have been significantly increased, aiming to enhance the financial viability of operating the awarded routes.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan declares Kerala as total e-governance state

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared the state as a total e-governance state. The chief minister made the declaration at an event organised by the Kerala IT Mission held in Thiruvananthapuram. district, Kerala has achieved this milestone through a series of policy initiatives aimed at transforming the state into a digitally-empowered society. With a focus on a knowledge-based economy and 100% digital literacy, the government has digitized the delivery of vital services across various domains, ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and accessibility for all citizens.

Under the comprehensive e-governance framework, Kerala has successfully digitized the delivery of all vital services. Key domains such as health, education, land revenue, documentation of properties, public distribution system, and social security payouts have been integrated into the digital ecosystem.

Kerala’s total e-governance initiative emphasizes the inclusion of all sections of society, including the less privileged and marginalized. By digitizing service delivery, the government has made it easier for citizens, regardless of their socio-economic background, to access essential services.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Harsh Jain, founder of start-up Dream11, elected IAMAI chairperson

Harsh Jain, co-founder, and CEO of Dream Sports, has been elected the chairman of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) for 2023-25. He replaces Sanjay Gupta, vice president and country manager of Google India.

IAMAI has also announced that Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO of MakeMyTrip, and Satyan Ganjwani, vice chairman of Times Internet, have been elected the vice chairman and the treasurer of the association. The two will replace Shivnath Thukral, Meta's director and head of India public policy, and Harshil Mathur, CEO and co-founder Razorpay,

The new 24-member Governing Council and the new Executive Council of the IAMAI will take charge from the present councils at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. The IAMAI Governing Council election is held every two years.  Eighty-three members of the IAMAI contested the elections this year following the end of the two-year tenure of the previous council. 

BANKING AND ECONOMY

India, ADB sign $141.12 million loan for industrial corridor development in Andhra Pradesh

The Indian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed a $141.12 million loan agreement aimed at supporting the development of high-quality internal infrastructure in three industrial clusters in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The loan will be utilized to enhance road networks, water supply systems, and electricity distribution networks, fostering industrialization and job creation in the targeted areas.

The funds will be utilized to strengthen industrial infrastructure in the Visakhapatnam node, including the development of internal infrastructure in the Rambilli and Nakkapalli industrial clusters spanning 160 hectares and 441 hectares, respectively.

By adopting a multi-sectoral approach, the ADB financing aims to boost manufacturing, improve competitiveness, and increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to Andhra Pradesh’s gross domestic product.

Axis Bank launches Sarathi platform for easy PoS onboarding of merchants

Axis Bank launched 'Sarathi,' a first-of-its-kind digital onboarding journey for merchants to adopt Electronic Data Capture (EDC) or Point of Sale (PoS).

Unlike the time-consuming traditional onboarding process, which can take several days, Sarathi offers merchants a streamlined and hassle-free experience, the company,

The system enables merchants to finish the onboarding process in four simple steps, which are as follows:

• Real-time database checks for speedier application processing.
• 2) Live video verification to authenticate merchant information at his/her convenience.
• 3) It removes the field verification procedure, allowing for quick decision-making.
• 4) PoS installation is completed immediately.

he paperless onboarding procedure eliminates the need for merchants to fill out documents or wait to have their PoS terminals installed, Sarathi's features include immediate status updates, eliminating the need for follow-up visits, and the ability to transact on the same day their application is processed.