Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 14th March 2023

Oscars 2023:

Indians erupted in celebration on Monday after ‘Naatu Naatu’, the breakout hit from the action movie ‘RRR’, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, brought home the Best Documentary Short award.

• Producer Guneet Monga and director Kartiki Gonsalves won the Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Film category for their film ‘The Elephant Whisperers’.
• The 95th Academy Awards was a ceremony held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
• It honored films released in 2022.
• The event was televised in the U.S. by ABC and was produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss.

Best Movie :

• Everything Everywhere All at Once
  • Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, .

The Academy Awards:

• Better known as the Oscars,are awards for artistic and technical merit for the global film industry.
• The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment industry in the United States.
• Given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the awards are a recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements of primarily American films, as assessed by the Academy’s voting membership

Moon Time Zone:

The European Space Agency highlighted the the need of a universal timekeeping system for the moon .

• MOON TIME ZONE is to streamline contact among the various countries and entities, public and private, that are coordinating trips to and around the moon
• The Moon has its own day and night cycle, which lasts about 29.5 Earth days.
• Currently, the time on the Moon is measured using Universal Time Coordinated (UTC), which is the same timekeeping system used on Earth.
• However, since the Moon’s day is much longer than Earth’s day, it would be difficult to use UTC for day-to-day activities on the Moon.
• To address this issue, scientists and researchers have proposed creating a lunar time zone that would be based on the Moon’s day and night cycle
• This would make it easier for lunar settlers to keep track of time and coordinate activities.
• Having a lunar time zone would also make it easier for scientists and researchers to conduct experiments and collect data on the Moon.
• It would also help to prevent confusion and errors that could arise from using different timekeeping systems on Earth and the Moon.

Post Budget Webinar On PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samma:

The Prime Minister addressed a Post Budget Webinar on ‘PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman.

• The launch of PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023.
• PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman scheme is a new scheme for artisans and craftsmen.
• Objectives: –
  • improving skills of artisans
  • ensuring easy credit
  • help them in brand promotion so that their products reach the market quickly.
  • seeks to handhold artisans and people associated with small businesses.
  • to develop traditional artisans and craftsmen while preserving their rich traditions.

Ram Chandra Poudel : New President Of Nepal

Ram Chandra Poudel, a veteran Nepali Congress leader and former Deputy Prime Minister, was elected as the new President of Nepal.

• He secured vote of 214 lawmakers of Parliament and 352 provincial assembly members.
• Poudel is the 3rd President of the country, succeeding Bidhya Devi Bhandari, whose tenure ended on March 12th.
• This is the third presidential election in Nepal since the country became a republic in 2008.
• The President of Nepal is elected by an electoral college, which consists of Members of Parliament and Members of the Provincial Assembly.
• The tenure for the post of President is 5 years from the date of the election.

Merapi Volcano Erupted:

Merapi (Mountain of Fire) is the most active of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has repeatedly erupted with lava and gas clouds recently.

• It rises to 2,911 metres and has steep slopes with dense vegetation on its lower sides.
• It is located near the centre of the island of Java and Indonesia’s cultural capital, Yogyakarta.
• Its last major eruption in 2010 killed 347 people and displaced 20,000 villagers.
• Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity because it sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

ESG Regulations:

People across the world are embracing the idea that business should be measured on the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) metric, however ESG laws and Regulations are still at a nascent stage in India, and much further to go in this direction.

• ESG goals are a set of standards for a company’s operations that force companies to follow better governance, ethical practices, environment-friendly measures and social responsibility.
• Environmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature.
• Social criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates.
• Governance deals with a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights.
• It focuses on non-financial factors as a metric for guiding investment decisions wherein increased financial returns is no longer the sole objective of investors.
• Ever since the introduction of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (UNPRI) in 2006, the ESG framework has been recognised as an inextricable link of modern-day businesses.

Glow Scope : Fluorescence Microscope

At Winona State University, Minnesota, have created a design for a Glow Scope, a Fluorescence Microscope.

• With this setup, they were able to image the creatures’ brain, spinal cord, heart, and head and jaw bones.
• They were able to zoom in and out using the smartphone camera and the clip-on lens.

Fluorescence Microscopy:

• An optical microscope views an object by studying how it absorbs, reflects or scatters visible light.
• A fluorescent microscope views an object by studying how it reemits light that it has absorbed, i.e., how it fluoresces.
• This is its basic principle.
• The object is illuminated with light of a specific wavelength.
• Particles in the object absorb this light and reemit it at a higher wavelength.
• These particles are called fluorophores; the object is infused with them before being placed under the microscope.

Bobbili Veena : To Be Presented To The Delegates Of The G-20 Conference

The famous Bobbili Veena is likely to be presented as part of a cultural exchange to the delegates of the G-20 conference scheduled to be held in Andhra Pradesh.

• Bobbili veena, also known as ‘Saraswati veena,’ is a large plucked string instrument used in Carnatic classical music.
• The home of the Bobbili veena is the town of Bobbili, about 120km from Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
• It is famed for its fine tune and distinctive notes.
• It earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2012 for its unique design and high-quality craftsmanship.
• It is made from a single piece of jackwood tree, unlike other veena which are made by joining two pieces of wood. This is
• The central part has a lion’s head carved at the tapering end.
• The frets of this veena are made of bell metal.
• These Veenas are also remarkable for the exquisite designs etched on the body, making each piece exclusive.
• The decorative inlay work, which used to be done on elephant tusks, is now replaced by plastic.

18th Meeting Of The Chief Justices/Chairpersons Of The Supreme Courts Of The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States:

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) recently addressed the 18th meeting of the Chief Justices/Chairpersons of the Supreme Courts of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.

• The conference provided an opportunity for member and observer states to reflect upon the challenges that are common to their jurisdictions and emphasised the need for mutual cooperation and sharing of experiences and wisdom gathered.
• The CJI highlighted the need for judicial cooperation and adoption of new mechanisms to simplify and make the court processes more smart and accessible to the common people.
• The CJI also stressed the importance of technology in bridging the gap between citizens and the justice system.
• The CJI shared recent endeavours made by the Supreme Court of India, such as launching an e-version of Supreme Court reports, artificial intelligence-based live transcription of court proceedings, and translation of judgments in multiple regional languages, among others.
• Also, various issues such as the overly populated prisons, access to quality legal representation, modern public judicial services, court work overload, limited judicial resources, high pendency of cases, and the need for adequate infrastructure facilities were highlighted.

SCO:

• The SCO is a regional intergovernmental organisation that promotes cooperation between its member states in the areas of security, economy, and culture.

High-Powered Committee On Wild Animals : Increased The Jurisdiction And Powers

The Supreme Court has increased the jurisdiction and powers of a high-powered committee to conduct necessary checks and undertake fact-finding exercises concerning the import, transfer, procurement, rescue, and rehabilitation of wild animals, including those in captivity, across India.

• It was initially constituted to oversee the transfer of captive wild elephants from the northeastern States.
• The ambit of the committee was earlier restricted to Tripura and Gujarat.
• It will now have a wider responsibility and will cater to all wild animalsin need of rehabilitation or rescue anywhere in India

High-Powered Committee on Wild Animals:

• It is set up under the chairmanship of former judge Justice Deepak Verma.
• Mandate: To consider approval, dispute, or grievance concerning the transfer or import of wild animals into India or their procurement or welfare by any rescue or rehabilitation center or zoo.
• All State and Central authorities shall report the seizure of wild animals or abandonment of captive wild animals to the Committee.
• The Committee shall be at liberty to recommend the transfer of ownership of captive animals or of seized wild animals to any willing rescue center or zoo for their immediate welfare, care, and rehabilitation.

National Youth Conclave 2023:

National Youth Conclave’ is being organized by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) Affairs on 13-14 March 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

• National Youth Conclave is organized under the aegis of India’s G20 presidency in 2023, aligning with the Urban20 and Youth20 engagement groups.
• The National Youth Conclave, which brings together the country’s youth and government leadership, is an opportunity for cross-learning.
• Urban 20 is a city diplomacy initiative launched on December 12, 2017, at the One Planet Summit in Paris.
• Urban-20 (U20) provides a platform for cities from G20 countries to facilitate discussions on various important issues of urban development including climate change, social inclusion, sustainable mobility, and affordable housing, and propose collective solutions.
• C40 Cities (C40) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) convene the U20 under the leadership of a Chair city that rotates annually, based in the G20 host country.
• The U20 2023 Cycle was chaired by the City of Ahmedabad.
• Ahmedabad will showcase its unique urban development and climate change initiatives and rich culture and heritage to the participants.
• Youth20 (Y20) is the official youth engagement group for the G20 (Group of 20), the forum for the world’s largest and most advanced economies.

INS Sahyadri:

Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri joined two frontline warships of France in carrying out a two-day maritime partnership exercise in the Arabian Sea.

• The INS Sahyadri is a Shivalik class multi-role stealth frigate.
• It is equipped with cutting-edge weapons and sensors, enabling her to identify and eliminate threats from the air, the surface, and the subsurface.
• The vessel is a member of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy, which is located in Visakhapatnam.
• The maritime partnership exercise witnessed a wide spectrum of evolutions at sea which included cross-deck landings, boarding exercises and seamanship evolutions.
• The seamless conduct of the exercise reaffirmed the interoperability and high level of cooperation between the two navies.
  Stealth Frigates under the Shivalik class series namely INS Shivalik, INS Sahyadri, and INS Satpura are the first stealth warships built in India (by Mazagon Dock Limited).

Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal Birth Anniversary:

The Prime Minister of India recently paid his respect to Sri Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal on his birth anniversary.

• He was born to Lord Narayana and his consort Goddess Lakshmi at the Sea of Tiruchendur on the 20th of Masi, 1008 K.E (1 March 1833 CE).
• Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal was the pioneer of the social revolutionaries of south India and Kerala.
• Research scholars regard Vaikundar as a teacher, healer and also miracle worker.
• His teachings also affected many social changes in southern India.
• It resulted in the emergence of a series of social and self-respect movements such as Upper cloth agitation, Temple entry movement and other movements including those of Narayana Guru, Chattampi Swamikal, Vallalar and Ayyankali.
• Narayana Guru was a philosopher, spiritual leader and social reformer in India.
• He was born into a family that belonged to the Ezhava caste.
• He led a reform movement against injustice in the caste-ridden society of Kerala to promote spiritual enlightenment and social equality.
• Shri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (also known as SNDP Yogam)is an Indian spiritual organization that was formally founded by Dr Padmanabhan Palpu in 1903, with the guidance of Shri Narayana Guru.
• The main aim of SNDP Yogam was to spiritually uplift the people of the Ezhava/Tiyyar communities.
• Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25) was a social protest in erstwhile Travancore against untouchability and caste discrimination in the Hindu society of Kerala.
• Sree Narayana Guru involved himself with the Vaikom Satyagraha and extended much cooperation.
• He published 45 works in Malayalam, Sanskrit and Tamil languages which include Atmopadesa Śatakam, a hundred-verse spiritual poem and Daiva Dasakam, a universal prayer in ten verses.