Current Affairs 25 August 2023

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 25 August 2023, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2023 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

India’s First Biodiversity village ‘Atlas’ of Mayem released in GoaPramod Sawant, Chief Minister (CM) of Goa, released the “Mayem Biodiversity Atlas”, India’s 1st Village Atlas during an event held at Mahamaya Devalaya Mandap Mayem Mayem village (Bicholim Town) in North Goa district, Goa.

• Along with the Atlas, the CM also released a dedicated website, Poster, and a logo during the event.
• The event was jointly organised by Mayem Vaigunim Gram Panchayat, Biodiversity Management Committee, Mayem Vaigunim, and Mayem Panlot Sangh.

About Mayem Biodiversity Atlas:
i.The biodiversity atlas is a document of 250 pages which offers details of the  diverse flora and fauna found in the village of Mayem.
ii.The atlas was prepared based on the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) prepared by the village Biodiversity Management Committee.

• Sakharam Pednekar is the Chairman of the Biodiversity Management Committee.

iii.This atlas gives a socio-cultural history of Mayem village that dates back to the 12th century.
Key Highlights:
i.The state government will unveil the biodiversity atlas of all 191 village panchayats in Goa.
ii.This initiative will create awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems.
iii.CM assured about providing necessary assistance to preserve and maintain biodiversity and also appealed to youths to come forward for the protection of biodiversity.

NHA launches India’s 1st ABDM Microsite in Aizawl; Mizoram 1st state to Operationalize MicrositeOn 23rd August 2023, National Health Authority (NHA) launched India’s first Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) microsite in Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram. With this, Mizoram became the 1st State in India to operationalise ABDM microsite project.

• Mizoram has appointed Youth for Action as the Interfacing Agency for implementing the ABDM Microsite in Aizawl.

Note:
Besides Mizoram, other states including Andhra Pradesh(AP), Madhya Pradesh(MP), Uttar Pradesh(UP), Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh have also made significant progress in the  implementation of ABDM microsites.
More microsites are expected to be operational in the next few weeks.
Background:
i.On July 28, 2023, NHA launched the 100 Microsites project under ABDM to promote digital health adoption and enhance healthcare accessibility for all.
ii.In April 2023, the Mission Steering Group(MSG) approved 100 Microsites project. These Microsites will be established across India in various States and Union territories(UTs).

• Click Here to Read

What are Microsites?
Microsites are clusters of ABDM-enabled small and medium-scale healthcare facilities, such as clinics, nursing homes, hospitals (with less than 10 beds), laboratories, and pharmacies, offering digital health services to patients like linking the health records generated at these facilities with their Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs).

• These records can be accessed and shared using ABDM-enabled Personal Health Record (PHR) applications on patients’ phones.

Key Points:
i.The establishment of microsites is a step towards advancing healthcare digitization efforts throughout India.
ii.State Mission Directors of ABDM will oversee the implementation of this project while NHA will provide financial resources and overall guidance for the project.
iii.Collaboration with development partners and interfacing agencies allows States and UTs to establish and manage microsites, with on-ground teams engaging healthcare providers.
About National Health Authority (NHA):
Chief Executive Officer– Ram Sewak Sharma
Headquarter– New Delhi, Delhi

MoD Sets Up a 9-Member Committee to Review and Re-define DRDO
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) has set up a 9-member committee of experts to maintain the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The  committee will be headed by Prof K Vijay Raghavan, former Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India (GoI).

• The 9-member committee has been tasked with the mission to review and redefine the role of various departments within DRDO and submit a report within 3 months.
• Members: Lt Gen (Retd) Subrata Saha; Vice Admiral S N Ghormade;Air Marshal B R Krishna,;Sujan R Chinoy,;Manindra Agarwal;P. Shukla;J D Patil ;Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair, Scientist; and Ms Rasika Chaube.

About the 9 member Committee:
Background:
i.The formation of the 9-member committee was initiated under the direction of Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi.
ii.This development followed the Government of India’s corporatization of the former Ordnance Factory Boards (OFBs) in 2021, which were previously operating under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD).
iii.Corporatisation needed the merger of 41 ordnance factories and other non-production units into 7 new defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs).
iv.This provided greater autonomy and flexibility to the newly created DPSUs.
Terms of Reference:

• Restructuring and Redefining the roles of the Department of Defence (Research & Development (R&D)) and the DRDO, in addition to their relationships with each other and with academia, and industry.
• Enhance academia, Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME), and startup involvement in advanced technology development.
• Establish project-based manpower system with performance accountability.
• Utilize NRI/foreign consultants and inter-country collaborations for tech advancement.
• Modernize administrative, personnel, and financial systems.
• Implement effective performance evaluation and laboratory structure rationalization..

Key Points:
i.This initiative to review and maintain the functioning of the DRDO holds immense significance, as it addresses concerns over lack of accountability and delayed research within the organisation.
ii.DRDO typically works like a government Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), overseeing defence processes from research to development to production.

BANKING & FINANCE

ICC & Mastercard signed global partnership for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023The International Cricket Council (ICC) has signed a global partnership with Mastercard, a global payment-processing corporation, for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 which is scheduled to be held in India from 5th October 2023 to 19th November 2023.

• The tie-up aims to connect cardholders and cricket enthusiasts to priceless experiences throughout the tournament.

Benefits to Mastercard holders:
Exclusive 24-hour pre-sale window, chance to meet cricket players, getting up close to the Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy and a chance for the children of cardholders (aged between 12-18 years) to be a part of the flagbearer programme.
About ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023:
i.ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the most prestigious One-Day International(ODI) cricket tournament, will be the biggest world cup ever featuring 10 teams across 10 different venues.

• The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat will be the venue for the first match and the last match of the tournament.

ii.The other nine venues are Bengaluru(Karnataka), Chennai(Tamilnadu), Delhi, Dharamsala(Himachal Pradesh), Hyderabad(Telangana), Kolkata(West Bengal), Lucknow(Uttar Pradesh), Mumbai(Maharashtra) and Pune(Maharashtra).
Note:
i.Defending champions England will be playing against New Zealand in the first tournament in Ahmedabad on 5th October 2023.
ii.India will be playing  against (five-time winners) Australia in Chennai(Tamil Nadu) on 8 October 2023 and against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on 15th October 2023.
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chief Executive – Geoff Allardice
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates(UAE)
Established in – 1909
About Mastercard
President – Ari Sarker( Asia Pacific)
Headquarters – NewYork, United States of America(USA)
Established in –  1966

HDFC Bank Along With Marriott International Launched India’s First Co-Branded Hotel Credit CardMarriott International, one of the  world’s largest hotel chains, in collaboration with HDFC Bank launched India’s first co-branded hotel credit card in the name Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card.

• The card aims to enhance the travel experiences of cardholders by offering exclusive benefits, rewards, and seamless access to Marriott International’s loyalty program Marriott Bonvoy .
• The co-branded credit card will run on Diners Club, part of the Discover Global Network.

Eligibility:
Salaried Indian National:
i.Must be an Indian national.
ii.Must be between the ages of 21 to 60 years.
Must have a gross monthly income of more than Rs. 1 lakh.
Self Employed Indian National:
i.Must be between the ages of 21 and 65 years.
ii.Must have an Income Tax Return (ITR) of more than Rs. 15 lakhs.
Bonvoy points:
i.The reward points earned by using the credit card are called Marriott Bonvoy points.
ii.These points can be redeemed at participating hotels across the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Cardholders  can also transfer their points to 40 different airlines around the world.
Travel benefits:
i.12 complimentary access to domestic lounges and 12 complimentary access to international lounges.
ii.Insurance facility by HDFC Bank against loss or delayed baggage, loss of passport, ticket and  missed connection along with complimentary personal air accident insurance cover.
Additional info:
HDFC bank has over 100 million customers, and about 18 million of them use credit cards. The bank wants to reach more of its existing customers with this premium product, and it also wants to reach the 180 million plus  customers who are part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.
About HDFC Bank Ltd:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Sashidhar Jagdishan
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established in – 1994

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

India’s Per Capita Income to rise 7.5-times by FY47: SBI ResearchAccording to SBI Ecowrap, research division of the State Bank of India (SBI), India’s per capita income will rise 7.5 times by 2047, reaching Rs14.9 lakh (USD 12,400) annually from the present Rs 2 lakh (USD 2,500) in FY23.

• This aligns with the government’s target of transforming India into a developed economy by 2047.

Key Points:
i.The mean income of tax-filing individuals is projected to increase to Rs 49.9 lakh by FY47 from Rs 13 lakh in FY22, driven by economic shifts, tax trends, and initiatives like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the UDYAM Portal.
ii.State Contributions: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and West Bengal contribute significantly to total tax returns, accounting for nearly half by FY22.
iii.Tax filers increased from 2.1 million in FY13 to 85 million in FY23, projected to reach 482 million by FY47, with the working population subject to taxation rising from 22.4% in FY23 to 85.3% in FY47.
iv.An approx. 25% decrease expected in zero-tax filers by FY47 as many shift to higher income brackets.
v.Notably, 13.6% between FY11 and FY22 moved from lowest income category, with 8.1% reaching Rs 5-10 lakh and 3.8% entering Rs 10-20 lakh range between FY11 and FY22.
vi.Migrating individuals contributed 0.5-2.5% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)  in specific states.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS     

Swachh Vayu Survekshan– 2023; 2 cities of Madhya Pradesh Among Top 5

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan- 2023’,  an initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to rank cities on the basis of air quality.

• The Information Technology (IT) hub of Indore, Madhya Pradesh stood first among 47 cities in Category 1 cities.
• This recognition is a part of the National Mission for Clean Air and takes place annually on the 7th of September, observed as the “International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.”

Criteria for Ranking
The Criteria for Ranking of cities is based on population of 2011 census. 131 cities are divided into 3 categories mentioned below:

• Category 1- covers 47 cities with a population of above 10 Lakh.
• Category 2- covers 44 cities with a population between 3 to 10 lakh.
• Category 3- covers 40 cities with a population of below 3 Lakh.

• In Category 2, Sagar in Madhya Pradesh stands at 10th place in the country.
• In Category 3, Dewas in Madhya Pradesh has secured 6th position in the country.

Note: The two of the top five positions have been secured by Madhya Pradesh.
Swachh Vayu Survekshan:
i.The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has introduced “Swachh Vayu Survekshan,” a novel initiative aimed to rank cities on the basis of air quality and also on implementation of activities approved under city action plan in 131 non-attainment cities.

• Non-attainment cities are areas where air quality does not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set by regulatory authorities.

ii.One of the objectives of Swachh Vayu Survekshan is to achieve the goal of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)’s “Clean air for all”.NCAP aims to reduce air pollution up to 40% by 2025-26.

• National Clean Air Programme was launched in 2019 with an aim to improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States/Union Territories.

iii.The guidelines for ranking of cities under NCAP will be for four years from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26.
iv.Cities also conduct self-assessment for pollution control through the online portal ” PRANA” – Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities, a portal for monitoring of implementation of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS  

Sachin Tendulkar Named as ‘National Icon’ for Election Commission of India Former Indian cricketer and Bharat Ratna awardee Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was named as the ‘National Icon’ for voter awareness and education for the Election Commission of India(ECI).

• Sachin and ECI entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a period of 3 years at the event held in New Delhi, Delhi, in the presence of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar, and Election Commissioners Shri Anup Chandra Pandey and Shri Arun Goel.

About this Partnership:
i.The EC intends to bridge the gap between citizens, particularly youth and urban populations, and the electoral process through this collaboration, thereby addressing the concerns of urban and youth unawareness.
ii.This partnership will be a key step towards utilising Tendulkar’s exceptional influence with the youth in order to increase voter participation in upcoming elections, particularly the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections.
iii.To encourage voters to participate in the festival of democracy, ECI collaborates with eminent Indians from many disciplines and identifies them as ECI’s national icons.

• Actor Pankaj Tripathi was named as the National Icon in 2022.
• Singer Jasbir Jassi and diversity and inclusion consultant Dr. Niru Kumar were named as the National Icons in 2020.
• During the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Aamir Khan and Mary Kom were the ECI National Icons.

About Sachin Tendulkar:
i.He represented India for 24 years, scoring 15,921 runs in Tests and 18,426 runs in one-day internationals(ODI).He holds the record for most runs in international cricket with 34357 runs.
ii.He is the recipient of Bharat Ratna(2014), Padma Vibhushan(2008),  Padma Shri(1999) for his achievement in sports. He has also received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna(1997) and Arjuna Award(1994) for cricket.
iii.‘Playing it my Way’ co-authored by Boria Majumdar and Sachin is the official autobiography of Sachin.
Shubman Gill Becomes the brand ambassador of Tata Capital
Indian cricketer Shubman Gill was named as the brand ambassador of Tata Capital Limited, a subsidiary financial services company of Tata Sons Private Limited.

• He will feature in the multi-media campaign of Tata Capital Limited.
• According to the Tata Capital, Shubman style of play, which combines the qualities of determination, reliability, and trustworthiness, aligns seamlessly with Tata Capital’s brand promise ‘Count on Us’.
• The other brands endorsed by Shubman Gill are BeatXP, Wings, ITC Engage,Fiama Men, MuscleBlaze.   

About Shubman Gill:
Indian batsman Shubman Gill made his international debut in December 2020 against Australia in a Test match.

• He also plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League(IPL) and Punjab in domestic cricket.
  As of August 2023, he scored 2707 runs across all three formats(One Day International (ODI), Twenty20 International(T20I) and Tests).

About Tata Capital Limited:
Tata Capital Limited (TCL) is registered with the Reserve Bank of India as a Systemically Important Non-Deposit Accepting Core Investment Company (CIC).
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Rajiv Sabharwal
Established – 2007        

Justice Prakash Shrivastava Appointed as the NGT ChairpersonAppointments Committee of the Cabinet(ACC), headed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has appointed Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Former Chief Justice(CJ) of Calcutta High Court(HC) as chairperson of the National Green Tribunal(NGT).

• He took charge as chairperson of NGT on 23rd August 2023, succeeding Justice Sheo Kumar Singh-I, acting chairperson of NGT(July 2023- August 2023).

Note:
i.NGT is a statutory body for the disposal of disputes relating to environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.
ii.The last full-time chairperson of NGT was Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel(July 2018- July 2023), who retired on July 3, 2023.
About Justice Prakash Shrivastava:
i.He enrolled as an advocate in 1987 and practiced in tax, civil, and constitutional law at the Supreme Court of India at New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.He was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in January 2008 and he became a permanent judge in January 2010.
iii.He served as the Chief Justice of the High Court at Calcutta from October 2021 to March 2023.
About National Green Tribunal(NGT):
i.Purpose: The National Green Tribunal was established under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) in 2010 as a specialised judicial body with expertise primarily for the purpose of mediating environmental cases.
ii.Functions:The Tribunal is responsible for providing an effective and timely remedy in situations involving environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources, and enforcement of any environmental legal right.
iii.Jurisdiction:The Tribunal’s orders are Court binding, and it has the authority to offer affected persons relief in the form of compensation and damages.

• The Tribunal has powers to review its own decisions and its decision can be challenged before the Supreme Court within 90 days.

Note:
The right to life is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution and it includes the right to the enjoyment of pollution-free water and air for life.
About National Green Tribunal (NGT):
ChairPerson – Prakash Shrivastava
Established – 2010
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Iran Unveils “Mohajer-10” New domestically Built Attack Drone The Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics unveiled Mohajer-10, the new domestically build attack drone (unmanned combat aerial vehicle – UCAV) with enhanced capabilities.

• The drone was unveiled in the presence of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at an exhibition celebrating Defense Industry Day.
• Mohajer-10 is the upgraded version of the “Mohajer-6” and resembles the MQ-9 Reaper drone of the United States of America(USA).

Note:
The word “Mohajer,” originating from Farsi, translates to “immigrant.” This has been the label for the drones series produced by Iran since 1985.
Features:
i.Mohajer-10 can stay in the air for up to 24 hours at an altitude of 7,000 meters.
ii.It has an operational radius of  2,000 kilometres and the maximum fuel capacity of the drone is 450 litres.
iii.The drone can fly at the speed of 210 kilometres per hour(kph) and is equipped with enhanced electronic and intelligence systems.
iv.The drone can carry a maximum payload of 300 kilograms which is  double the capacity of the “Mohajer-6” drone.
Additional info:
The “Mohajer-6” possessed the ability to carry payloads weighing up to 150 kilograms, maintain flight for a duration of 12 hours, and reach a maximum altitude of 5,400 metres.
About Iran(officially the Islamic Republic of Iran)
President – Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi
Capital – Tehran
Currency – Iranian Rial

India’s Chandrayaan-3 Scripts History, Becoming The First Country to Soft Land successfully Near Moon’s South Polei.August 23, 2023 will always be remembered for the successful soft landing near moon’s South Pole by the Vikram(Valour) Lander Module (LM) of ‘Chandrayaan-3 (Moon Craft)’, making India the first country to land spacecraft near Moon’s South Pole at 70 degrees latitude.
ii.With this successful landing, India became the 4th country to soft land on the moon after the United States (US) with its Surveyor 1 in 1966; Soviet Union/Russia’s Luna 9 in 1966, and China with Chang’s 3 in 2013.
iii.Namakkal, a district in Tamil Nadu (TN), played a pivotal role in this achievement. Its unique soil, similar to the Southern Pole of lunar surface’s ‘Anorthosite‘ (a type of intrusive igneous rock) type, was supplied to ISRO for testing purposes.
iv.Now, ISRO is preparing for one more lunar mission, namely ‘LUPEX, or Lunar Polar Exploration’ in collaboration with Japanese space agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for 2024-25
About Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO):
Chairman– Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Establishment –1969
>> Read Full News

LCA Tejas Test-Fires Indigenous ASTRA Air-to-Air Missile off Goa CoastOn 23rd August 2023, India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 aircraft successfully test fired the ASTRA indigenous state–of-the-art Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air missile (AAM) off the coast of Goa.

• The missile release was carried out by Tejas at an altitude of about 20,000 feet(ft).
• It was a flawless text book launch and all test objectives were met.
• This will significantly enhance the combat skills of Tejas and reduce their dependency on imported weapons.

Key Officials to Monitor the Launch:
The test launch was monitored by the Test Director and scientists of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) along with officials from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DG-AQA).
The aircraft was also monitored by a Chase Tejas twin-seater aircraft.
Features of ASTRA:
i.ASTRA is designed to be mounted on a fighter aircraft and engages and destroys highly manoeuvring supersonic aerial targets.
ii.It is designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO.
iii.It is built to function across weather conditions, and during both day and night, the system is being developed to meet specific requirements.
iv.The indigenous Astra BVR firing from homegrown Tejas fighters is a major step towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
Additional info:
The ASTRA Mk-I Weapon System integrated with SU-30 Mk-I aircraft is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Key Points:
i.Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft, with the capability to operate in high-threat air environments.

• It is designed by the ADA in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of HAL for the IAF and Indian Navy.

ii.The indigenously-developed fighter jet has been developed to undertake air defence, maritime exploration and strike operations.

OBITUARY

Renowned Indian-American Statistician CR Rao Passed AwayRenowned Indian-American Statistician and mathematician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (CR Rao) passed away at the age of 102 in Buffalo, New York, the United States of America(USA).

•  C.R. Rao was born on 10 September 1920 in Huvanna Hadagali,  Bellary district, Karnataka.
• He was awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics which is  equivalent of the Nobel Prize in statistics in April 2023.

About CR Rao:
i.He worked in India at the Indian Statistical Institute(ISI) for 40 years (1941-1979).He authored several books in diverse fields including estimation theory, multivariate analysis, and matrix algebra.
ii.He pioneered several fundamental statistical concepts such as the Cramer–Rao inequality and Rao–Blackwellization, concepts that appear in undergraduate textbooks on statistics and econometrics.
iii.He was the founder of CR Rao Advanced Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Sciences (CR Rao AIMCS) at the University of Hyderabad, Telangana.
iv.He served as chairman of the Committee on Statistics (1962-69), and chairman of the Demographic and Communication for Population Control (1968-69).
v.The main road between the International Institute of Information Technology(IIIT)Hyderabad and the Central University of Hyderabad has been named after Prof. CR Rao Road.
Awards:
i.He was honoured with Padma Bhushan(1968 ) and Padma Vibhushan (2001) in the field of science and Engineering.
ii.He was also awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1963) and the India Science Award (2009).
iii.He was awarded the National Medal of Science (2002) by then President George Bush in the USA.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

PS Sreedharan Pillai Released Three New Books on Nature, Trees, and Geopolitics
Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai launched his recently authored three new books namely ‘Heritage Trees of Goa’, ‘When Parallel Lines Meet’, and ‘Ente Priya Kavithakal‘ (‘My Dear Poems’ a collection of poems). Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated the event in Panaji, Goa. Sreedharan Pillai has written over 200 books.

• West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose unveiled the book ‘Heritage Trees of Goa’. Additionally, Goa State Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte and the 2021 Jnanpith winner and Konkani Novelist Damodar Mauzo released the other two books ‘When Parallel Lines Meet’ and ‘Ente Priya Kavithakal’ (a collection of poems).

i.‘Heritage Trees of Goa’ is a book that reveals the importance of ancient heritage trees, some over 100 years old, found in Goan villages and places of worship,adding to the experience of ‘Goa Sampurna Yatra’.
ii.‘When Parallel Lines Meet’ is a contemporary geopolitical book and ‘Ente Priya Kavitakal’ (a collection of poems) represents one of the best depictions of nature, art and literature.
iii.Pillai was the first Governor to undertake and complete the Goa Sampurna Yatra, encompassing over 400 villages across 40 assembly constituencies.

STATE NEWS

UNESCO & Telangana Govt Signed LoI to Implement UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics of AI  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C) Department, Government of Telangana, signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to collaborate and make efforts in order to implement the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• The partnership is focused on raising awareness of ethical AI development and use, creating capacity, and making contributions to the UNESCO Global Observatory on AI Ethics.

Note: UNESCO produced the first-ever global standard on AI ethics, the ‘Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence’ in November 2021.
Key People:
The LoI was signed in the presence of Vakati Karuna, Principal Secretary of the Education Department of Telangana, Dr Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Director of AI and Chief of Executive Office, Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO; and Rama Devi Lanka, Director of Emerging Technologies, Telangana.
About the Partnership:
i.The combined effort signifies a shared commitment to an AI-powered future that prioritises inclusive, sustainable, and equitable development.
ii.The collaboration is set to shape the landscape of the ethical development of and use of AI.
iii.The collaboration gains further significance with the ITE&C Department’s role in shaping the technological environment of Telangana and its commitment to advancing ethical values.
iv.The ultimate goal of this transformative collaboration is to ensure that AI technologies are harnessed for the betterment of society,
v.Recognizing the risks associated with AI, the collaboration will also focus on effective risk mitigation strategies to ensure the responsible use of AI.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister– K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor– Tamilisai Soundararajan
Airports– Ramagundam Airport; Warangal Airport

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