Daily Current Affairs 16 June 2023 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Odisha Celebrates ‘Raja’ Agricultural Festival
Raja or Raja Parba or Mithuna Sankranti is a three-day-long festival of womanhood celebrated in Odisha, India.On this occasion, people enjoy by cooking traditional delicacies, relishing paan, playing cards and other games with family and friends.
- First day of the festival is called “Pahili Raja” which marks the beginning of the festival in which people do all types of preparations for the festival.
- Second day is called “Raja/Mithuna Sankranti” which signifies beginning of the solar month of Mithuna(June/July) from which the season of rains starts.
- Third day is called “Bhumi Dahana or Basi Raja” which signifies the middle day of the festival in which people take a break from their routine work to relax and enjoy.
- On the fourth day called “Basumati snana”, people give bath to mother earth with turmeric paste and adore it with flower, sindoor etc.
Defence Ministry approves ‘predator drone’ deal ahead of PM Modi’s US visit
In anticipation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the United States, the Defence Ministry of India has granted approval for the acquisition of ‘Predator (MQ-9 Reaper) drones’ from America.
- The deal, which was approved during a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is estimated to be worth around USD 3 billion. The final decision on the procurement will be made by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
- The announcement of the mega procurement deal is expected to take place after discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Joe Biden at the White House.
Dharmendra Pradhan flags off Gabon’s first Agri-SEZ Project
Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, flagged off Gabon’s inaugural Agri-SEZ project from New Delhi, as stated by the Education Ministry.
- In the first phase of the program, 30 farmers and 20 B.Sc./M.Sc. Agri and B.Tech/M.Tech Engineering students from Gajapati district, which is an Aspirational district of Odisha, will be travelling together as agri-technical and technical consultants for the agriculture SEZ which is being developed under this project.
Warkari community celebrated Palkhi festival in Maharashtra
Palkhi festival is an annual yatra to Pandharpur – the seat of the Hindu god Vithoba in Maharashtra, in honour of the deity.The Palkhi starts in the month of Jyeshth (June)
- Every year on the eleventh day of the first half of the month of Ashadh (July), the Palkhi reaches Pandharpur( a pilgrimage town on the banks of Candrabhagā River in Solapur District, Maharashtra)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US to rejoin UNESCO in July
UNESCO has announced that the United States will rejoin the agency in July, four years after leaving due to allegations of bias against Israel.
- The move to rejoin will require a vote by member states, but is expected to pass easily. UNESCO promotes educational, scientific and cultural causes, and designates World Heritage Sites globally.
- The US stopped funding UNESCO, worth millions of dollars, in 2011 after Palestine became a member of the agency.
SPORTS
Pakistan’s Nahida Khan announces retirement from international cricket
Pakistan women’s cricketer Nahida Khan has announced her retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable career that spanned over a decade.
- The 36-year-old opening batter made her debut for the national team in February 2009 against Sri Lanka and went on to represent Pakistan in over 100 matches across formats. With numerous records and achievements to her name, Nahida leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered in women’s cricket in Pakistan.
- In a career spanning 66 ODIs, Nahida accumulated 1410 runs, showcasing her ability as a reliable and consistent opening batter. In addition, she showcased her skills in the T20I format, accumulating 604 runs in 54 matches.
APPOINTMENTS
Reliance Tira set to sign Suhana Khan, Kiara Advani & more as brand ambassadors
Reliance Retail’s beauty retail venture, Tira, is making strategic moves to enhance its presence in the booming beauty retail industry in India. With a focus on an omni-channel retail strategy and a range of products across different price segments, Tira is set to launch a nationwide marketing campaign.
- As part of this initiative, the company has signed popular Bollywood actresses Suhana Khan, Kiara Advani, and Kareena Kapoor Khan as its first brand ambassadors. This move aims to leverage their star power and capture the attention of consumers across the country.
UK appoints Jane Marriott as first woman envoy to Pakistan
The United Kingdom has announced the appointment of senior diplomat Jane Marriott as the next British High Commissioner to Pakistan, making her the first female British envoy to Islamabad.
- Prior to this appointment, Jane Marriott, 47, was the high commissioner to Kenya since September 2019. She would be replacing Dr Christian Turner, who left Pakistan in January after serving as the envoy since December 2019.
- Ms Marriott brings a wealth of thematic and regional experience to her new role having joined the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2001, following roles in the Cabinet Office and Home Office.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
IIT Madras researchers develop Data Science, IoT-based method for Mobile Pollution Monitoring
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have made significant progress in the field of air pollution monitoring by developing a low-cost mobile air pollution monitoring framework.
- This innovative approach utilizes data science, Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and low-cost pollution sensors mounted on public vehicles to dynamically monitor air quality at a high spatial and temporal resolution.
- The project, known as Kaatru (meaning “air” in Tamil), aims to address the limitations of traditional stationary monitoring stations and provide valuable insights for policy-making and mitigation strategies.
INS Dega upgrades its Naval Airfield Security Systems
Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command inaugurated the indigenously designed and developed state-of-the-art Naval Airfield Integrated Security System (NAISS) and the Naval Anti-Drone System (NADS) at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.
- NAISS, developed by Bharat Electronics Limited, (BEL), is an AI-enabled multi-layered area security system while NADS, also developed by BEL, is an Anti-Drone System with the capability to detect, track, and destroy hostile drones in the vicinity of the airfield.
- The indigenously developed NAISS and NADS highlight Indian Navy’s focus towards innovative solutions and manufacturing that are aligned with the Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.