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 2 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 2 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 – 2 May 2023
World Tuna Day 2023 Observed On 2nd May
World Tuna Day 2023: Every year on May 2nd, World Tuna Day is commemorated to raise awareness about the importance of tuna fish and to promote sustainable fishing practices. Tuna is a popular fish species that is widely consumed around the world, and it plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem. This anniversary represents the accomplishment of fishing communities, scientists, and environmentalists who worked together to protect tuna schools around the globe and build a model for sustainable fishing.
Here are some reasons why World Tuna Day is significant:
- Tuna is an important source of food: Tuna is a valuable source of protein and nutrients for millions of people around the world, particularly in coastal communities where fishing is a major industry.
- Tuna supports local economies: Tuna fishing and processing provide employment opportunities for thousands of people in many countries, particularly in the Pacific Islands, where tuna is a major export.
- Tuna is under threat: Overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices have put many tuna species at risk of extinction. World Tuna Day aims to raise awareness about the need to conserve tuna populations and promote sustainable fishing practices.
- Tuna plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem: Tuna is a top predator in the ocean, and its existence aids in the regulation of smaller fish populations. Tuna also helps to maintain the balance of the ocean ecosystem, and its decline could have far-reaching consequences.
In summary, World Tuna Day is significant because it highlights the importance of tuna as a source of food and income for many people, while also raising awareness about the need to protect this valuable species and promote sustainable fishing practices.
World Tuna Day: History
Canned tuna has been a great ally in our pantries during the pandemic. But, regardless of the market exceptionalities caused by the pandemic, we cannot ignore that, for a long time, this product has been a victim of its nutritional success. Tuna is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and also contains minerals, proteins, and vitamin B12.
As a result of the amazing qualities of tuna, the fish are threatened by overwhelming demand. According to the latest data, among the seven principal tuna species, 33.3 percent of the stocks are estimated to be fished at biologically unsustainable levels.
That is why in December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly voted to officially observe World Tuna Day.
The move underlines the importance of conservation management to ensure that we have systems in place to prevent tuna stocks from crashing. Many countries depend heavily on tuna resources for food security and nutrition, economic development, employment, government revenue, livelihoods, culture, and recreation.
India’s GST Revenues Hit Record High In April At ₹1.87 Lakh Crore
Record-high GST Revenue Collected in India for April 2023:
India’s gross GST collections for April 2023 reached a new high of 1,87,035 crore, a 12% increase over the same month last year’s highest tax tally of 1.67 lakh crore. This article discusses the breakdown of the revenue collected and highlights the key factors contributing to the rise.
Increase in Domestic GST Revenues:
Domestic GST revenues, including service imports, increased 16% year on year in April. Although the figures for goods imports were not disclosed, the Finance Ministry reported that they had increased by 8% in March.
Record-Breaking GST Compensation Cess Collections:
GST Compensation Cess collections hit a new high of 12,025 crore in April, including 900 crore from imports, breaking the previous high of 11,931 crore in February.
Highest Ever Single-Day GST Collection:
On April 20, taxpayers made a record-breaking GST contribution of 68,228 crore through 9.8 lakh transactions, the biggest ever single-day GST collection.
Breakdown of GST Revenue Collection:
The gross GST revenue collected in April 2023 was ₹1,87,035 crore, of which CGST was ₹38,440 crore, SGST was ₹47,412 crore, IGST was ₹89,158 crore (including ₹34,972 crore collected on import of goods), and cess was ₹12,025 crore, according to the Finance Ministry.
Comparison with Last Year’s Figures:
The previous high was 1.68 lakh crore in April of last year. According to the ministry, the April 2023 revenues are 12% more than the same month last year’s GST receipts. Moreover, the revenues from domestic transactions (including import of services) during the month were 16% higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year.
Overall Fiscal Year Collection:
The total gross collection for the 2022-23 fiscal year stood at ₹18.10 lakh crore, 22% higher than the previous year.
UPI Transactions Decline In Volume & Value Terms In April
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Transactions Decline in April 2023:
The National Payments Corporation of India’s “UPI Monthly Product Statistics” show a drop in the volume and value of UPI transactions in April 2023, following a peak the previous month. The transaction volume fell 7.96% month on month (m-o-m) to 796.29 crore, while the transaction value fell 9.51% month on month (m-o-m) to 12.71 lakh crore.
UPI – A Game-Changer in Retail Payments:
UPI is a single mobile application that allows users to access different bank accounts and conduct various transactions. The platform’s features include immediate money transfer through mobile devices, utility bill payments, over-the-counter payments, and QR code-based payments.
UPI has changed retail payments in India, according to RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. The platform’s robustness has led to the development of new products and features from time to time. He further noted that RuPay credit cards have been linked to UPI, and the platform has already been linked with deposit accounts.
Expansion of UPI’s Scope:
Governor Das announced that the scope of UPI will be expanded by permitting the operation of pre-sanctioned credit lines at banks through the platform. This move will enable UPI to offer a broader range of services and benefit users who require credit.
The expansion of UPI’s scope will bring significant changes to the retail payment ecosystem in India. With the ability to operate pre-sanctioned credit lines, UPI users will have greater access to credit, which will, in turn, boost the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, the move will promote financial inclusion by providing users with easy access to credit.
King Charles III Awarded Britain’s Honorary Mbe To Uk-Based Sanskrit Scholar
Dr. M.N. Nandakumara, a prominent Sanskrit scholar and Executive Director of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan facility in London, has received an honorary MBE from King Charles III for his services to Indian classical arts in the United Kingdom. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed the award.
Dr M.N. Nandakumara, who is originally from Mattur village in Karnataka, has been associated with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan centre in London for 46 years. He has hosted Prince Charles at the institution, which promotes Indian culture, on multiple occasions. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office recently revealed that King Charles III will give him an honorary MBE for his achievements to promoting Indian classical arts in the UK. The honorary award is given to foreign nationals for their services to public life, and will be presented to Dr Nandakumara at a later date.
His association with the Bhavan dates back to the 1970s, when he joined as a Sanskrit teacher while completing his PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, and has been its Executive Director since 1995.
India To Join International Climate Action In Civil Aviation From 2027
India has announced that it will participate in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and the Long-Term Aspirational Goals (LTAG) from 2027. The decision was made at a meeting of the Parliament’s Consultative Committee on Civil Aviation, which was held in New Delhi and presided over by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
ICAO’s Focus on Reducing Carbon Emissions:
ICAO has been tasked with reducing carbon emissions from international civil aviation. To achieve this goal, the global body has adopted several key aspirational goals, including a two per cent annual fuel efficiency improvement through 2050, carbon neutral growth, and net zero by 2050. These goals are clubbed under CORSIA and LTAG.
Implementation of CORSIA:
CORSIA is to be implemented in three phases, and financial implications due to offsetting have to be borne by individual airlines, depending upon their international operations. It is applicable only to flights originating from one country to another.
Why India is Joining ICAO’s Climate Action Measures from 2027?:
According to the Indian Ministry, “this will give airlines in developing countries like India more time to grow so that they do not face any adverse financial consequences as a result of CORSIA.” The financial implications of offsetting would have had a significant impact on airlines in developing countries. Joining the initiative in 2027 will give Indian airlines time to expand their operations and avoid any adverse financial consequences.
About International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO):
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is an intergovernmental specialised agency affiliated with the United Nations (UN) that was founded in 1947 by the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944). The headquarters of ICAO is located in Montreal, Canada.
Functions of ICAO:
ICAO is dedicated to developing safe and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes and ensuring a reasonable opportunity for every state to operate international airlines. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security and facilitation, efficiency, and economic development of air transport, as well as to improve the environmental performance of aviation. It also serves as a centre for civil aviation cooperation and discussion among its 193 member states. ICAO promotes regional and international agreements aimed at liberalizing aviation markets. It helps to establish legal standards to ensure that the growth of aviation does not compromise safety, and encourages the development of other aspects of international aviation law.
What is Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)?:
CORSIA is a global market-based measure designed to offset international aviation CO2 emissions in order to stabilize the levels of such emissions. Offset of CO2 emissions will be achieved through the acquisition and cancellation of emissions units from the global carbon market by aeroplane operators. It does not apply to domestic aviation. Under it, aircraft operators will begin monitoring their emissions from international flights and begin acquiring offsets for their emissions growth.
Minister Of State For Science And Technology Dr Jitendra Singh Visits Science Museum
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inspected the operations of the 175 year old London Science Museum.
An Overview of the News
The goal of establishing such museums in India is to help residents, particularly young people, to find their latent potential and abilities and to enhance their scientific temper, creativity, and invention. The Science Museum, established in 1857, is located in South Kensington, London and is a major museum on Exhibition Road.
The museum management was impressed by India’s success in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Science Museum became one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, with 3.3 million visitors in 2019. As a publicly funded national museum in the UK, the Science Museum does not charge admission, but visitors are encouraged to make a donation if possible. The Science Museum is part of a group of five museums known as the Science Museum Group.
About the United Kingdom (UK)
It is a country in Europe made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It has a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy with the monarch as the head of state and the prime minister leading the government. The UK has a mixed economy and is known for its strengths in the service sector, manufacturing and technology.
Prime Minister- Rishi Sunak
Capital- London
Currency- Pound Sterling (GBP)
Emperor- Charles III
Government- Parliamentary System, Unitary State, Constitutional Monarchy.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023, Won By Sergio Perez
Sergio Pérez won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the fourth round of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship held in Baku.
An Overview of the News
Pérez won the race beating Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a Formula One race held annually since 2017 at the Baku City Circuit in the capital city of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a country located in both Asia and Europe, bordered by the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains.
The country’s capital is Baku, known for its mediaeval walled Inner City. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is located within the inner city of Baku. It was built in the 15th century as a royal residence.
About Azerbaijan
Capital – Baku
Currency – Azerbaijani manat
Official language – Azerbaijani
Government -Republic, Unitary State, Presidential System, Constitutional Republic, Semi-Presidential System
Continent – Europe, Asia
President -Ilham Aliyev
Vice President – Mehriban Aliyeva
Prime Minister -Ali Asadov
National Assembly Speaker -Sahiba Gafarova
National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22
Dr. S. Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, released the “National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22: Summary for Policymakers” on April 27, 2023.
Major Findings of the report
25.01% of the 8,074 firms surveyed were considered innovative. The 25% of firms that reported innovation in the survey saw 83% increase in turnover and 80% opening up new opportunities in the market. Only 15% of micro firms are innovative while it is 56% in large firms.
Over 45% of firms reported that lack of funding within the firm or group was the most common constraint, followed by high innovation costs (40.30%) and lack of finance from external sources (39.52%). The most important constraints were thelow demand for innovations in the market (71.23%).
What is the NMIS survey?
It is a joint study by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to evaluate the innovation performance of manufacturing firms in India. The study is a follow-up to DST’s first National Innovation Survey conducted in 2011. The survey had two distinct components: the firm-level survey and the Sectoral Systems of Innovation (SSI) survey. The study was not designed to assess the effectiveness of specific policies individually or collectively.
Tiger At Kalesar National Park In Yamunanagar Caught On Camera
A tiger has been spotted in a camera trap at Kalesar National Park in Yamunanagar district of Haryana.
An overview of the news
Recently tiger sightings in the Kalesar area have happened after a gap of 110 years. Kalesar Park is adjacent to the Simbalbara National Park in the Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. Both these parks are connected to Rajaji National Park through dense forest. It appears that tigers are using this corridor for roaming.
About Kalesar National Park
It is located in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana. It is situated at the foothills of the Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas. It was declared a National Park on 8 December 2003. It shares boundary with three States viz., Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal & U.P. It was named after a temple (known as Kalesar Mahadev temple) located inside the premise of the park.
In earlier times, rulers under the Mughal and British Raj used the park as hunting grounds. The park is also famous for its Dak bungalows – the administrative architectural bungalows built in colonial times.
Flora – Most of the forest is covered by tall and dense sal trees. Other trees that are found in the forest are Semul, Bahera, Amaltas, Shisham, Khair, Sain, Chhal and Jhingan.
Fauna: It houses many animals like leopards, Ghoral, Barking deer, Sambar, Chital, Python, King Cobra, Monitor lizard etc.
Science 20 Engagement Group Meeting Under India’s G20 Chairmanship Begins In Lakshadweep
On 1 May, the Science 20 Engagement Group meeting on Universal Holistic Health began under India’s G20 chairmanship in Lakshadweep, Bangaram Island.
An Overview of the News
The focus of the two-day event is to work towards better agricultural practices, greater access to nutritious food, healthier eating habits and more opportunities for ecologically conscious and sustainable food products. The meeting will address the interconnectedness of physical, mental and emotional well-being, recognizing that all aspects of health are equally important.
The aim of the event is to develop a holistic approach to health that focuses on promoting wellness and preventing diseases rather than merely treating them. It is an effort to bring together scientists, experts and policy makers from different countries to exchange ideas and knowledge on health related issues.
The Engagement Group will also explore the role of technology in promoting health and wellness, such as the use of telemedicine and digital health solutions. The event is a significant step towards achieving India’s vision of universal health coverage and promoting the Sustainable Development Goals.
About Lakshadweep
Formation- 1 November 1956
Capital- Kavaratti
Administrator- Praful Khoda Patel
Largest city- Andrott
High Court- Kerala High Court
Bird- Brown Noddy
