Current Affairs [Monthly]

Notes:
The Second Edition of ICAR-CIBA’s Shrimp Farmers Conclave-2023 was inaugurated by Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, in Navsari, Gujarat.
Key highlights include the signing of MoU between CIBA and the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) for aquaculture crop insurance and technology support for Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPO). A shrimp crop insurance product by Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited was also launched.

Notes:
IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Ltd (IndiaFirst Life), one of the private life insurers of the country, became the first Indian life insurance company to get the Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) Registration.
It obtained registration from the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) in September 2023 following approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in August of the same year.

Notes:
Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has been sworn in as the eighth President of the Republic of Maldives in a ceremony held at Male.
Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju represented India at the swearing-in ceremony. Dr. Muizzu had defeated outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the runoff elections held in September.

Notes:
India’s debutant Sai Sudharsan was awarded the ‘Impact Fielder of the Series’ medal by India’s fielding coach Ajay Ratra after the KL Rahul-led side clinched the 3-match ODI series against South Africa 2-1.

Notes:
Close to 100 hectares of forest were recently destroyed by fire in the Sulthan Bathery forest range within the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS), located in Wayanad, Kerala. Established in 1973, the sanctuary spans approximately 344.44 sq. km and is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It shares borders with protected areas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary is home to various tribes and boasts diverse flora, including teak, rosewood, eucalyptus, and silver oak.

Notes:
The RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) scheme is extended for domestic tariff area (DTA) units until September 30, 2025. Launched in January 2021 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, RoDTEP refunds un-reimbursed taxes, duties, and levies to exporters. It replaced the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), which was challenged at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for non-compliance with global trade rules. RoDTEP ensures that exporters receive compensation for costs incurred during production and distribution.

Notes:
A new jumping spider species, Okinawicius tekdi, was discovered on Baner Hill in Pune, emphasizing the area’s biodiversity. The name “tekdi” comes from the Marathi word for hill. This discovery brings the total number of jumping spider species in India to 326. The spider was first described by Atharva Kulkarni, an MSc student at MIT-World Peace University. Pune last recorded a new spider species over 30 years ago. Spiders are arthropods with segmented bodies, eight legs, and a hard exoskeleton. They spin webs to trap their prey.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh has recently become the top state in India for Amrit Sarovar construction with 16,630 ponds built or rejuvenated. This is three times the original target of 5,550 set at the start of the programme in 2022. Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched on 24 April 2022 under “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” to celebrate 75 years of Indian independence. The mission aims to build or rejuvenate at least 75 ponds in every district to address rural water scarcity. It plays a key role in promoting local water sustainability and groundwater recharge.

Notes:
A rare bird White-cheeked Partridge (Arborophila atrogularis) was recently rescued near Dehing Patkai National Park in Assam. It belongs to the Phasianidae family, which includes pheasants and partridges. It inhabits dense undergrowth of evergreen forests, along with scrub, bamboo, and grassland areas. In India, it is found below 750 meters altitude, and up to 1,220 meters in Southeast Asia. It is found mainly in Northeast India. Its IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) status is Near Threatened.

Notes:
North Korea confirmed testing new cluster-warhead systems on Hwasong-11A short-range ballistic missiles, designed to destroy wide targets. The Hwasong-11A (also known as KN-23) is a short-range ballistic missile developed by North Korea. The tests demonstrated the ability to disperse bomblets over a 6 to 7-hectare area using Hwasong-11 missiles, aiming to maximize damage against soft targets and infrastructure.