Daily Current Affairs Analysis Today : 31 – March-2023 Daily current affairs analysis is a practice that helps individuals prepare for various competitive exams. It involves staying updated on recent and important events around the world, which is essential for answering questions in these exams. This analysis helps aspirants track global developments, keeping them informed and increasing their chances of success.
Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed as Vice-President of UAE
The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has appointed Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his brother, as the Vice President of the country.
The incumbent Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will remain in the same role.
Sheikh Mansour has been a vital part of the UAE’s political landscape since 2004, when he was appointed as Minister of Presidential Affairs.
He has played a key role in overseeing the Presidential Court and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, as well as chairing several government institutions, including the Ministerial Development Council and the Emirates Investment Authority.
The new Vice-President is also the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and a member of the Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council.
He was appointed as the deputy prime minister in May 2009, and later became the minister of Presidential Court in July 2022.
United Arab Emirates:
President: Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: Dirham
Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Who has been appointed as the Vice-President of UAE? Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Defence Ministry signs three contracts worth about 5400 crore rupees to bolster defence capabilities
The Defence Ministry has signed three contracts at a total cost of nearly 5400 crore rupees with domestic producers to bolster the defence capabilities of the country.
The first contract has been signed with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and pertains to the procurement of Automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System Project Akashteer worth 1982 crore rupees for the Indian Army.
The second contract with BEL relates to the acquisition of Sarang Electronic Support Measure systems at an overall cost of 412 crore rupees for the Indian Navy.
Sarang is an advanced Electronic Support Measure system for helicopters of the Indian Navy.
Both will empower the Air Defence units of the Indian Army to effectively operate in an integrated manner.
The third contract with New Space India Limited pertains to the procurement of an advanced Communication Satellite, GSAT 7B for the Indian Army at an overall cost of 2963 crore rupees.
The satellite will considerably enhance the communication capability of the Indian Army by providing mission-critical beyond-line-of-sight communication to troops and formations as well as weapon and airborne platforms.
Recently the Ministry of Defense has signed three contracts with BEL and New Space India Limited at a total cost of approximately __ to enhance the country’s defense capabilities. Rs 5400 crore
United Arab Emirates Launches National Genome Strategy
The UAE has launched its National Genome Strategy, which aims to provide a comprehensive legislative and governance framework to support the development and implementation of genomic programs.
The strategy will last ten years and will focus on delivering public health priorities while improving the country’s well-being.
The Emirates Genome Council, which was established in 2021, will oversee the National Genome Strategy.
The council has made significant progress in laying the groundwork for regulatory, research, technological, and medical institutions to connect, collaborate, and develop high-quality medical applications and services.
The Emirati Genome Program is considered one of the most comprehensive genomic initiatives in the world and will advance the nation’s preventive and personalized healthcare agenda as it collaborates with research and medical institutions across the UAE.
The program aims to collect one million samples nationwide and currently contains whole genome sequencing data from around 400,000 citizens.
The National Genome Strategy will support efficiency in the country’s healthcare sector through preventive medicine programmes that will focus on genetic risk and precision medicine programmes that target genetic and rare diseases.
National Genome Strategy is the recently launched initiative of which country? United Arab Emirates
New India Literacy Programme launched to cover target of 5 crore non-literates in age group of 15 years and above
The Government has launched a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, New India Literacy Programme with financial outlay of over one thousand crore rupees for implementation during the financial year 2022-23 to 2026-27.
The scheme aims to cover a target of five crore non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above.
The beneficiaries under the scheme are identified through door to door survey on Mobile App by the surveyors in the States and union Territories.
The non-literate can also avail the benefit of the scheme through direct registration from any place through mobile app.
Objective:
To impart not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of the 21st century.
Other components include:
Critical life skills (including financial literacy, digital literacy, commercial skills, health care and awareness, child care and education, and family welfare).
Vocational skills development (with a view towards obtaining local employment).
Basic education (including preparatory, middle, and secondary stage equivalency).
Continuing education (including engaging holistic adult education courses in arts, sciences, technology, culture, sports, and recreation, as well as other topics of interest or use to local learners, such as more advanced material on critical life skills).
Which scheme has been recently launched by the Government of India to meet the target of 5 crore non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above? New India Literacy Program
Russia’s Rosneft signs deal with IOC to hike oil supplies to India
Russian oil producer Rosneft has signed an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation to increase oil supplies and diversify oil grades delivered to India.
IOC had in December 2021 signed a deal to buy up to 2 million tonnes of crude oil from Rosneft in 2022.
Deal was signed during the visit of company’s chief executive Igor Sechin to India.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, Russia for the first time in history has become one of the five largest trading partners of India — the volume of trade between the two countries in 2022 reached USD 38.4 billion.
Rosneft:
Founded: 1993
Headquarters: Moscow, Russia
Chairman: Taieb Belmahdi
CEO: Igor Sechin
Indian Oil Corporation:
Founded: 30 June 1959
Headquarters: New Delhi
Chairman: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
Which Russian Oil Company has signed an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation to to hike oil supplies to India? Rosneft
PhonePe calls off deal to acquire BNPL platform ZestMoney: Report
After three months of discussions, PhonePe has called the deal to acquire buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform ZestMoney.
This will be a big blow to ZestMoney when the sector struggles with a cash and funding crunch.
The main reasons the deal fell out were lapses in due diligence, disagreement over valuation, sustainability of the business and the platform’s shareholding structure.
Reports also said that ZestMoney’s valuation of $200-300 million might also be a reason for the deal not fructifying.
In September 2021, the company raised $50 million from Zip and was expecting to raise $100 million more.
But it could not go ahead with the deal due to the global slowdown.
Founded in 2015, Bengaluru and Mumbai-based ZestMoney is backed by PayU, Ribbit Capital and Goldman Sachs.
The BNPL platform focuses mainly on large-ticket transactions and checkout of various e-commerce websites.
PhonePe
Founders: Sameer Nigam, Burzin Engineer, Rahul Chari
Subsidiaries: WEALTH TECHNOLOGY & SERVICES PVT. LTD, etc.
Parent organization: Flipkart
Headquarters: Maharashtra
Founded: 2015
CEO: Sameer Nigam
Which Indian digital payments and financial technology company has called the deal to acquire buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform ZestMoney? PhonePe
JSW Energy acquires 1,753 MW green assets of MEIPL for over Rs 10,000 crore
JSW Energy has completed the acquisition of 1,753 MW of renewable energy assets from Mytrah Energy (India) Private Limited (MEIPL) for over Rs 10,000 crore.
JSW Neo Energy Limited (JSW Neo), a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Energy Limited, in a two-step process has completed the acquisition of 1,753 MW of renewable energy assets from Mytrah Energy.
The portfolio comprises 1,331 MW of wind capacity and 422 MW (487 MWp DC) of solar capacity operating primarily in the southern, western and central parts of India.
The assets have a proven operational track record and long-term PPA with an average remaining life of 17 years.
This is the largest acquisition made by JSW Energy since inception and will leapfrog the current operational capacity by over 36 per cent — from 4,811 MW to 6,564 MW.
JSW Energy
CEO: Prashant Jain
Subsidiaries: JSW Hydro Energy Limited, etc.
Founded: 1994
Headquarters: Maharashtra
Parent organization: JSW Group
Founder: Sajjan Jindal
Which Indian power company has completed the acquisition of 1,753 MW of renewable energy assets from Mytrah Energy (India) Private Limited (MEIPL) for over Rs 10,000 crore? JSW Neo Energy Limited
FIFA strips Indonesia of U-20 World Cup hosting rights
FIFA has decided to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 after protests against Israel’s participation led to the cancellation of the tournament’s main draw.
A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged.
Potential sanctions against the PSSI may also be decided at a later stage.
Global football’s governing body announced its decision following a meeting with the Indonesian football federation’s (PSSI) President Erick Thohir.
PSSI had cancelled the draw for the tournament after the governor of the largely Hindu island of Bali refused to host Israel’s team.
Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation and does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, while publicly supporting the Palestinian cause.
Economic loss and fear of sanctions
The PSSI said losing hosting rights would harm Indonesian football teams’ chances of taking part in other FIFA tournaments, while the economic losses would amount to “trillions of rupiah”.
The Indonesian football federation could be further disciplined by FIFA.
A suspension could remove Indonesia from Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which starts in October.
FIFA
President: Gianni Infantino
Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland
Founded: 21 May 1904
Subsidiaries: Confederation of African Football, Early Warning System GmbH, U.S. Soccer
Indonesia
Speaker: Puan Maharani
Capital: Jakarta
President: Joko Widodo
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
Recently FIFA has decided to remove which country as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 after protests against Israel’s participation held? Indonesia
Pakistan’s National Assembly adopts bill to curtail powers of Chief Justice
Pakistan’s National Assembly adopted a bill aimed at curtailing the discretionary powers of the chief justice.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented ‘The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023’ in parliament, which was approved by the Cabinet.
The development comes two days after two Supreme Court judges questioned the suo motu (on its own) powers of the country’s top judge.
Earlier in the day, the Standing Committee on Law and Justice approved the cabinet’s proposed amendments.
Regarding suo motu powers, the draft states that any matter invoking the exercise of original jurisdiction under Article 184 (3) shall be first placed before the committee of three senior-most judges.
The legislation also allows appeals within 30 days of a verdict being issued on a suo motu case and enforces that a bench be constituted to hear such an appeal within 14 days.
The bill as presented aimed to reduce the discretionary powers of the chief justice to take suo motu action and also set up benches for hearings of cases.
Pakistan
Prime minister: Shehbaz Sharif
President: Arif Alvi
Chief Justice: Umar Ata Bandial
Capital: Islamabad
Recently Pakistan’s National Assembly adopts bill to curtail powers of Chief Justice. In context to same who is the incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan? Umar Ata Bandial
Humza Yousaf officially elected as Scotland’s sixth First Minister
Humza Yousaf has been officially elected as Scotland’s sixth First Minister, with a majority of 71 out of 128 votes in Parliament.
The 37-year-old is Scotland’s youngest-ever head of government, first from an ethnic minority background as well as the first Muslim to lead a major UK party
Shona Robison, the current Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, will be Yousaf’s Deputy First Minister.
He replaces Nicola Sturgeon, who announced her resignation last month.
Sturgeon formally stepped down as the longest-serving First Minister in Scotland, after more than eight years in office.
She was also the first woman to hold the position.
Note: The first minister of Scotland is the head of the Scottish Government and keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. The first minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy.
Who has been officially elected as Scotland’s sixth First Minister, with a majority of 71 out of 128 votes in Parliament? Humza Yousaf