Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 11 May 2023, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
So, here is the Top News of the Day for 11 May 2023 to help you prepare the Latest Current Affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 11 May 2023
India among Seven Countries to Benefit from Saudi Arabia’s New E-Visa System
Saudi Arabia has implemented a new e-visa system to replace old passport visa stickers. The programme, which began in May 2023, aims to digitise consular services and develop a new method of issuing work, residency, and travel visas in seven countries: Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The move comes as part of efforts to automate consular services and “develop a mechanism for granting different kinds of visas”.
Growing Tourism in Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia first introduced e-visas in late 2019 to accommodate growing tourism. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to develop a visa-issuing mechanism for work permits, residence and visit visas using the latest technology. Last year, the ministry announced that visitors could apply for a “personal visit” visa to visit friends who are Saudi citizens by using the e-visa services form on its website. The visa is valid for 90 days, allowing visitors to travel throughout the kingdom, including offering prayers in the two holy cities and making Umrah.
Benefitting Seven Countries:
Saudi missions in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines can now issue electronic visas with QR codes that can be used to obtain visitor details. This initiative will allow the Saudi Foreign Ministry to digitize consular services and make visa processing more efficient. The ministry aims to streamline the process of granting work, residency, and visit visas, as part of efforts to automate consular services.
Saudi Arabia’s Plans for the Future:
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in its hospitality, tourism, and travel industries to diversify its economy away from oil. By 2030, the country intends to add 315,000 new hotel rooms at a cost of $37.8 billion. Projects such as the futuristic city of Neom are leading the way in this expansion, as Saudi Arabia continues to build its reputation as a major tourist destination.
About Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia is a country located in the Middle East, with a population of over 34 million people. It is ruled by a monarchy, with the King serving as the head of state and government.
Here are some key points about Saudi Arabia, its leadership, and its capital:
King: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the current King of Saudi Arabia, having come to the throne in 2015 following the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah. King Salman is the monarch of Saudi Arabia and wields considerable power in the country.
Prince: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the next in line for the throne and holds a significant amount of power in the country. He has implemented a number of significant reforms in the country, including allowing women to drive and relaxing strict social restrictions.
Capital: Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia and is home to over 7 million people. It is the largest city in Saudi Arabia and serves as the center of government and commerce.
Religion: Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and is home to the two holiest sites in Islam, Mecca and Medina. The country is governed by strict Islamic law, and adherence to the religion is a key aspect of Saudi culture.
Economy: Saudi Arabia is the Middle East’s largest economy and is primarily reliant on oil exports. In recent years, the government has undertaken steps to diversify its economy, with a focus on boosting its tourism industry.
Currency: The currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi riyal (SAR). The Saudi riyal is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 1 USD = 3.75 SAR.
National Technology Day 2023 Observed On 11th May
National Technology Day 2023
Every year on May 11th, India celebrates National Technology Day to recognise and honour the outstanding achievements and contributions of its scientists, engineers, and technicians to the country’s development. This day holds great cultural and historical importance, underscoring India’s dedication to innovation and its quest for technological progress. ‘School to Startups- Igniting Young Minds to Innovate’ is the theme for this year.
National Technology Day 2023-Significance
National Technology Day is an occasion to commemorate the outstanding achievements of Indian scientists, engineers, and technologists in different areas such as defense technology, agriculture, healthcare, communication, and space exploration. This day offers an opportunity to acknowledge and express gratitude towards the contributions of these experts towards the advancement of the country.
Furthermore, it inspires the next generation to pursue employment in STEM subjects and fosters a research and innovation culture across the country. Apart from highlighting India’s nuclear capabilities, National Technology Day also celebrates the country’s advancements in areas such as space research, defence technology, agriculture, healthcare, and communication.
National Technology Day- History
Every year on May 11th, India observes National Technology Day to honour India’s successful nuclear test in Pokhran, Rajasthan, in 1998. On May 11, 1998, India conducted a series of five nuclear tests, code-named Pokhran-II, in the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan. The Indian government declared May 11th as National Technology Day to honour the scientists and engineers who conducted the nuclear tests and to celebrate India’s technological advancements.
These tests included a thermonuclear device, also known as a hydrogen bomb, which was detonated for the first time in India’s history. The successful tests made India a nuclear power, and the country joined the elite group of nations possessing nuclear weapons.
The Indian government designated National Technology Day in honour of the scientists and engineers who helped the nuclear testing succeed. The day also celebrates India’s technological advancements in various fields, including space research, defense technology, agriculture, healthcare, and communication. Since then, National Technology Day is observed annually to promote the growth and development of science and technology in India.
Ministry Of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Launches ‘Harit Sagar’ Green Port Guidelines 2023
To attain its aim of zero carbon emissions, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has released the ‘Harit Sagar’ Green Port Guidelines 2023. The guidelines were launched in New Delhi by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, in the presence of other senior ministry officials. The guidelines aim to align with the ‘Working with Nature’ concept, minimize the impact on the biotic components of harbor ecosystems, and promote the use of clean/green energy in port operations.
Envisaging Ecosystem Dynamics in Port Development, Operation and Maintenance:
The ‘Harit Sagar’ Guidelines 2023 provides a comprehensive framework for the major ports to create a comprehensive action plan aimed at achieving quantifiable reductions in carbon emissions over defined timelines. The guidelines focus on the use of cleaner fuels such as green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol/ethanol, and the development of port capabilities for storage, handling, and bunkering of these fuels. They also intend to reduce waste by reducing, reusing, repurposing, and recycling, as well as to increase monitoring based on environmental performance indicators and to adopt worldwide Green Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
Contributing to the Panchamrit Commitments:
During the launch event, Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the green initiatives undertaken by ports and their contribution to the fulfillment of the “Panchamrit” commitments announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The guidelines empower the major ports to draw out a comprehensive action plan for achieving targeted outcomes in terms of quantified reduction in carbon emission over defined timelines, through focused implementation and close monitoring of green initiatives, and to achieve Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG).
Awarding Major Ports for Exceptional Achievements:
The ‘Sagar Shreshtha Samman’ awards were also presented at the inaugural event to major ports for their excellent achievements in several operational aspects. The ports were recognised for their all-time best performance on select operational and financial indicators for fiscal year 2022-23. The major ports were ranked on the basis of their overall performance during 2022-23, and the ports having registered the highest incremental improvements were also honored.
Paradip Port was conferred with the award for the best incremental performance for attaining the highest cargo growth rate of 16.56% last year. The port also received the performance shield for Ship Berth Day Output. The award for the best Absolute Performance for the year 2022-23 was conferred on Deendayal Port, Kandla, for handling the highest cargo of 137.56 MMT. Other ports, such as Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Paradip Port, Kamarajar Port, and Cochin Port, were also recognized for their exceptional achievements.
Promoting Environmental Friendly Practices Across All Ports:
Shri Shripad Naik, MoS, MoPSW, stated that the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines are an important step towards the ministry’s sustainability goals. He emphasized that the guidelines have been formulated with the aim of promoting environmental-friendly practices across all ports, and they cover aspects of the National Green Hydrogen Mission pertaining to ports, development of green hydrogen facility, LNG bunkering, offshore wind energy, etc. The guidelines also provide provisions for ports to evaluate themselves on environmental indicators to know their capability in the environmental aspects.
“The Indian Metropolis: Deconstructing India’s Urban Spaces” Book by Feroze Varun Gandhi
The Indian Metropolis: Deconstructing India’s Urban Spaces is a book by Feroze Varun Gandhi, published in 2023. The book investigates the issues confronting India’s urban settings, such as poverty, inequality, crime, and environmental degradation. Gandhi contends that India’s cities must be modified to become more inclusive and sustainable.
Overview of the book:
The book is divided into nine parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of India’s urban challenges. The first part, “The Indian Metropolis: A Brief History,” provides a historical overview of urban development in India. The second part, “The Challenges of Urban India,” discusses the major challenges facing India’s cities, including poverty, inequality, crime, and environmental degradation. The final section, “The Future of Indian Cities,” presents Gandhi’s vision for urban transformation in India.
The book is based on Gandhi’s own experiences as a politician and urban planner. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, and as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Planning Commission. He is also the author of several books on rural development and urban planning.
The Indian Metropolis: Deconstructing India’s Urban Spaces is an important book that provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing India’s cities. Gandhi’s insights are valuable for policymakers, urban planners, and anyone who is interested in the future of India’s urban spaces.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the book:
- India is urbanizing rapidly, and by 2050, it is projected that more than half of the country’s population will live in cities.
- Poverty, inequality, crime, and environmental degradation are all problems brought on by urbanisation.
- India’s cities need to be transformed in order to be more inclusive and sustainable.
- Gandhi’s vision for the transformation of India’s cities includes a focus on affordable housing, public transportation, and green spaces.
The Indian Metropolis: Deconstructing India’s Urban Spaces is an essential book that provides an in-depth look at the issues confronting India’s cities. Gandhi’s ideas are valuable for policymakers, urban planners, and everyone interested in India’s urban areas in the future.
Santiniketan In Tentative List For UNESCO World Heritage List
Santiniketan, a cultural site in West Bengal, India, has been proposed for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The suggestion was issued by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a French-based international non-governmental organisation. The ICOMOS is an advisory body to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, comprising experts, representatives from local authorities, heritage organizations, and companies. Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy has expressed hope that the site would be formally inscribed on the World Heritage List in the World Heritage Committee meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September 2023.
A Proud Moment for India:
Visva-Bharati, the living university in Santiniketan built by Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, would be the first university in India to receive this honour. Bidyut Chakraborty, the university’s vice-chancellor, called it “great news and a matter of pride for everyone – every stakeholder of Visva Bharati, in fact, every citizen of the land.” The President of India is the University’s ‘Paridarsaka’ (visitor), the Prime Minister is the ‘Acharya’ (chancellor), and the Governor of West Bengal is the ‘Pradhana’ (rector).
The Significance of Santiniketan:
Santiniketan is a cultural site in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, known for its historical and cultural importance. It was originally an ashram built by Rabindranath Tagore’s father, Debendranath Tagore, and later developed into a university by Rabindranath Tagore himself. The site has various structures built by the Maharshi, such as the Santiniketan Griha and the Mandir, which are important in their association with the founding of Santiniketan and the universal spirit associated with the revival and reinterpretation of religious ideals in Bengal and India. Degree programmes are available in the humanities, social sciences, science, visual arts, music, performing arts, teaching, agricultural science, and rural reconstruction.
India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
India has a total of 40 sites that have been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage tag. These include 32 cultural sites such as Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Harappan-era site in Dholavira, Elephanta Caves, Red Fort complex in Delhi, and Mahabodhi Temple complex in Bodh Gaya in BiharTemples in Bishnupur in West Bengal, Mattanchery Palace in Kerala, and Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat are among the 52 sites on the provisional list. The preliminary list is an inventory of the properties that each State Party wants to nominate.
Govt Panel Recommends Banning Diesel 4-Wheeler Vehicles By 2027
Govt Panel Recommends Banning Diesel 4-Wheeler Vehicles by 2027: Report
A Report initiated by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in India has proposed prohibiting the usage of diesel-fueled four-wheeled vehicles in cities with a population exceeding 10 lakhs by 2027, and instead, promoting electric and gas-based vehicles. The panel, led by former Oil Secretary Tarun Kapoor, also suggested gradually phase out internal combustion engine motorcycles, scooters, and three-wheelers by 2035.
The report suggested a ban on adding diesel city buses in urban areas in roughly a decade. The panel proposed that passenger cars and taxis, categorized as four-wheelers, should partly transition to electric and partly to ethanol-blended petrol, with an approximately 50 percent share in each category.
Govt Panel Recommends Banning Diesel 4-Wheeler Vehicles by 2027: Key Points
- The report proposed several recommendations to help India achieve its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
- In addition to prohibiting diesel-powered cars, the report proposed that only electric-powered city delivery vehicles be permitted beginning in 2024, with no non-electric city buses added after 2030.
- The report also recommended increasing the use of natural gas, which is less polluting than diesel, in industries and automobiles, and increasing its share in the energy mix to 15 percent by 2030.
- The paper advocated for a transition to electric vehicles, with compressed natural gas (CNG) serving as a bridge fuel for the next 10-15 years.
- The report recommended promoting the use of railways and gas-powered trucks for cargo transportation.
- The report also recommended extending the FAME scheme to accelerate electric vehicle production and adoption in the country.
- The report suggested that EVs be promoted as the optimal solution for phasing out internal combustion engine two/three-wheel vehicles by 2035, with policy support for increasing the blend ratio of ethanol-blended fuel in the intermediate period.
- While the Indian government has not yet accepted the report, these recommendations may be helpful in achieving India’s emissions reduction goals.
According to the paper, the adoption of electric vehicles in the automotive industry will drive the rate of change in the use of fossil fuels. If there is a rapid shift towards electric vehicles, which is enforced by policies, it will lead to a faster conversion of refineries to produce renewable energy and biofuels, and result in a decrease in the overall amount of carbon emissions.
PM Modi Launches Various Projects In Rajasthan
PM Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth over 5,500 crore rupees in Nathdwara, Rajasthan.
The Prime Minister said that in the past priority was not given to infrastructure development. “If a sufficient number of medical colleges had already been built, then there would have been no shortage of doctors,” he said. Without naming anyone, the Prime Minister said, “Some people in the country have become victims of such a distorted ideology; they are so full of negativity that they do not want to see anything good happen in the country”. “They only like to create controversy. History is witness that for sustainable development and rapid development, it is necessary to create modern infrastructure along with a basic system,” he said. In a veiled attack on Opposition parties, the Prime Minister said, some people are so full of negativity that they don’t want to see anything good happen in the country.
The Prime Minister also said those who measure everything with votes are unable to devise plans keeping the country in mind. Later addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Abu Road, he alleged that an “ugly form of political battle” has been on for the last five years in the State and instead of working in people’s interest, Congress leaders were busy in “the game of looting and saving the chair”. Referring to the 2008 Jaipur serial blasts that claimed 71 lives and left 185 others injured, the Prime Minister alleged that the Congress Government in the State did not fight the case strongly, leading to the acquittal of all the accused. Modi claimed that during the coronavirus pandemic, the Congress “wanted more people to die so that they could get a chance to grab my neck”. However, the Prime Minister said that he would not kowtow to the threats and conspiracies of these people. “If Modi bows down, then he bows down before 140 crore countrymen,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi said that Rajasthan is also facing the consequences of Congress’s politics of selfishness. “What kind of Government is this where the Chief Minister does not have faith in his own MLAs and they also do not have faith in their Chief Minister. Everyone is competing to humiliate others,” he said at the rally in Sirohi district, around 400 km from the State capital Jaipur. PM Modi visits Shrinathji temple in Rajasthan: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday offered prayers at the Shrinathji temple in Nathdwara town of Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district. The Prime Minister also spent some time in the temple. People lined up on both sides of the road and showered flowers on the Prime Minister’s cavalcade en route to the temple.
50% Villages Are ODF Plus under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase ii
The country has achieved yet another major milestone under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) with 50% of villages achieving ODF Plus status under phase II of the Mission. An ODF Plus village is one which has sustained its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status along with implementing either solid or liquid waste management systems. As on date, more than 2.96 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus, which is a significant step towards achieving the SBM-G phase II goals by 2024-25.
Top performing states (percentage of ODF Plus villages):
Big States: Telangana (100%), Karnataka (99.5%), Tamil Nadu (97.8%) & Uttar Pradesh (95.2%).
Small states: Goa (95.3%) and Sikkim (69.2%).
UTs: A&N Islands, Dadra Nagar Havelli & Daman Diu and Lakshadweep (100%).
Health Ministry Launches Saksham Learning Management Information System
Rajesh Bhushan (Union Health Secretary) has launched the Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management (SAKSHAM).
According to the Health Ministry, this digital learning platform will ensure inclusive capacity building of health professionals. Presently, the platform is hosting more than two hundred public health and 100 clinical courses through online mode. Health professionals can register for these courses through lmis.nihfw.ac.in and get certification after undergoing requisite training and qualifying the required assessment criteria. The platform has been developed by the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.
IIT Madras, DRDO Develop Sensor Technology for Underwater Communications
IIT Madras and DRDO have developed cutting-edge sensor technology for underwater communications. The Indigenous technology will enable the fabrication of devices at a relatively lower cost.
The indigenous development of this technology enables the nation to fabricate the devices at a relatively lower cost than the internationally-available foundries where the cost of fabrication is high and the number of foundries is also limited, the IIT Madras said in a statement on Tuesday (9 May).The ‘Piezoelectric MEMS technology’ is required to develop high-performance thin films and convert ‘piezo thin film’ into state-of-the-art futuristic naval sensors and devices for underwater applications.
The Piezo Thin Films are one of the vital components of piezo MEMS devices.