Today's Current Affairs 9th June 2023

INTERNATIONAL

India, France, UAE joint maritime exercise held at Gulf of Oman

The first-ever India-France-UAE Maritime Partnership Exercise recently took place in the Gulf of Oman   from 07 -08 Jun 23. This exercise marked a significant milestone in strengthening trilateral cooperation among the navies of India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With the objective of improving joint strategies and ensuring maritime security, the exercise witnessed the participation of several naval assets and the execution of various operations.

During the maiden edition of the exercise, a wide spectrum of operations at sea such as surface Warfare involving tactical firing and drills for Missile engagements, close quarter manoeuvres, Advanced Air Defence Exercise with French Rafale and UAE Dash 8 MPA, Helicopter Cross Landing Operations, Drills for Replenishment at sea were undertaken by the participating units. The exercise also saw cross embarkation of personnel that facilitated exchange of best practices.

India & Serbia agree to set bilateral trade of 1 Billion Euros by end of this decade

President Droupadi Murmu and her Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic agreed to set a target for bilateral trade from the present 320 million euros to one billion euros by the end of the decade,

President Droupadi Murmu was on a three-day State visit to Serbia from the 7th to the 9th of June.  President Droupadi Murmu highlighted that the relations between both sides have a shared understanding of each other’s core interests.

Apart from the trade agreement, President of Serbia, Mr. Alecsandar Vucic also promised simplification of the issue of Visa to Indians. He hoped that direct flights between the two countries will begin soon. It will promote tourism and business between the two countries,

NATIONAL

Uttar Pradesh Government launches Nand Baba Milk Mission scheme

in a bid to make Uttar Pradesh a leading State in the field of milk development and milk production, the State Government has launched the Nand Baba Milk Mission scheme at a cost of ₹1,000 crore.

The Nand Baba Milk Mission scheme, which was launched on June 6, has been implemented to provide milk producers the facility of selling their milk at a reasonable price in villages through dairy co-operative societies.

Besides the opening of office of the Nand Baba Milk Mission at Kisan Gomtinagar, a 'Dairy Development Portal' and logo of Nand Baba Mission has also been unveiled.

Objective - The primary objective of the Nand Baba Milk Mission is to empower milk producers in Uttar Pradesh. By establishing dairy co-operative societies, the mission aims to provide producers with a fair and reasonable price for their milk, thereby ensuring their economic well-being.

Karnataka announces free bus travel ‘Shakti’ scheme for women

The 'Shakti' scheme was a promise made by the Congress party in its manifesto during the Karnataka Assembly elections. It guarantees free bus travel for women in the state. After assuming office, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave in-principle approval for the scheme, along with four other guarantees. The Karnataka cabinet officially announced the implementation of the 'Shakti' scheme starting June 11.

Who is Eligible, and other conditions ? - All women residents of Karnataka, including students, are eligible for the 'Shakti' scheme. Additionally, members of the transgender community can also benefit from this scheme using Shakti smart cards. The government has already issued a set of guidelines on the ‘Shakti’ scheme, which is one of the major poll promises by the Congress party in Karnataka. According to the transport department of Karnataka, women can apply for Shakti smart cards through sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in.

The Shakti scheme applies only on the ordinary state run bus services of Karnataka. Airavat, Airavat Club Class, Airavat Gold Class, Ambari, Ambari Dream Class, Ambari Utsav, Fly Bus, Vayu Vajra, Vajra, Non-AC Sleeper, Rajahamsa and EV Power Plus AC buses are excluded in this scheme.

Haryana CM launched integrated Water Resources Action Plan-2023-25

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal will inaugurate the integrated Water Resources Action Plan-2023-25 under the Amrit Jal Kranti initiative. This plan, aimed at conserving water resources, represents a significant and proactive step in addressing water conservation in the state.

Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, a two-day water conservation seminar was conducted in Panchkula on April 26-27. The seminar witnessed the participation of various departments from Haryana, along with experts from India and abroad, who shared their research and insights on water conservation. Taking into account the suggestions and inputs received during the water conservation seminar, all the departments have collaborated to prepare an action plan for water conservation, This plan reflects the collective efforts and expertise of multiple departments in tackling the challenges related to water resources.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal in the past has taken several initiatives towards water conservation which have drawn significant results. Under his guidance, the concept of Mera Pani-Meri Virasat Yojana was effectively implemented which is being highly acknowledged by the other states.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Jagdish Sudhakar Bakan , first Indian to receive UNESCO’s Michel Batisse Award

Having made a laudable contribution in the field of conservation, Bakan Jagdish Sudhakar, an Indian Forest Officer who is the Wildlife Warden and Director of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu, has made the country proud. He has been selected as the first Indian for the prestigious UNESCO’s Michel Batisse Award for effective biosphere reserve management.

On June 14 Sudhakar will receive the $12,000 award and deliver a lecture on his case study in Paris. The award which is bestowed once in two years in memory of Dr Michel Batisse was instituted in 2004 by the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO.

The IFS official’s name was recommended for his case study titled “Development of Sustainable Livelihood and Community Based Biodiversity Conservation and Environment Protection”.

Indian origin Joyeeta Gupta awarded ‘Dutch Nobel Prize’

Indian-origin professor Joyeeta Gupta has been awarded the Spinoza Prize, the highest distinction in Dutch science, for her scientific work focusing on a “just and sustainable world”.

Gupta, Professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam since 2013, was chosen by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) selection committee for her “incredibly broad and interdisciplinary” research.

Also referred sometimes as the ‘Dutch Nobel Prize’, the award will give Gupta 1.5 million euros to spend on scientific research and activities related to knowledge utilisation.

Gupta’s research involves solution to issues arising from climate change through good governance. At the core of her research is an attempt to unravel the connections between the climate crisis, global water challenges, possible solutions and justice,

 RANKING

J&K maintains first rank in UT category in Food Safety Index 2022-23

In a significant achievement, Jammu and Kashmir has maintained its first rank in the Union Territory (UT) category in Food Safety Index 2022-23. The Department of Food and Drugs Administration J&K has received the award third time in a row for 2021, 2022, and 2023.

The index is released annually by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to measure the performance of states and UTs on various parameters of food safety.

The award was received by Food Safety Commissioner Shakeel-ul-Rehman from Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in the presence of Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar and Professor Satya Pal Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Chairman FSSAI, Rajesh Bhushan and CEO FSSAI, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao.

Jammu and Kashmir also won first prize for having the maximum number of Eat Right Mela districts in the country. These districts have implemented various initiatives of FSSAI to promote healthy and safe food habits among consumers.