National:
1. India's GDP Growth
Why in news - India's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.1% in the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2022-23.
Key Points –
• For the entire fiscal 2022-23, the economy's growth rate came in at 7.2%.
• Real GDP (GDP at Constant price 2011-12) 2022-23 estimate – Rs 160.06 lakh crore ($3.3 trillion).
• Nominal GDP (GDP at current prices) 2022-23 – Rs 272.41 lakh crore.
• Fiscal deficit for FY23 - 6.4% of GDP.
• Growth in 8 core infrastructure industries - 3.5% in April 2023.
• Data released by - National Statistical Office.
Value Addition –
• Domestic Territory –
(a) Political frontiers of the country including its territorial waters,
(b) Ships, aircrafts, fishing vessels operated by the normal residents of the country
(c) Its embassies, consulates located abroad.
• GDP potential - Maximum output that a country can produce using the available labour and capital (at a constant inflation rate).
• GDP gap - Difference between potential GDP and real GDP.
• 8 core industries - Refinery Products > Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.
• 8 core industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
2. Largest Grain Storage Plan
Why in news - Union Cabinet approved the constitution of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for facilitation of the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in
Cooperative Sector”.
Key Points –
• To be implemented by - Ministry of Cooperation.
• Method – by converging 8 ongoing schemes of 3 ministries.
• Aim - to increase foodgrain storage capacity by 700 lakh tonne in the cooperative sector.
• Ministries Involved -
(a) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(b) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
(c) Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
• Pilot project - In at least 10 selected Districts of different States/ UTs in the country.
• Chairman of IMC - Minister of Cooperation.
• Outlay - Rs 1 lakh crore (Rs 1 trillion).
Value Addition –
• Sahakar-se-Samriddhi - To achieve overall prosperity in the country by strengthening cooperatives.
• Current storage capacity - 1,450 lakh tonne. (to expand to 2,150 lakh tonne in next 5 years).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)
Why in news - United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its withdrawal from the U.S.-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
Key Points –
• It is a maritime coalition responsible for securing Gulf waterways crucial to global oil trade.
About CMF (2001) –
• Hq – Manama, Bahrain.
• Initially, it aas a partnership between 12 nations.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. India-EU Connectivity Conference
Why in news - India and the EU are holding India – EU Global Gateway Conference: Connectivity for Asia and beyond.
Key Points –
• It is based on 3 pillars: Digital, Energy and Transport.
• Organized by – M/o External Affairs, EU Delegation to India and the Asian Confluence.
• Venue - Meghalaya (June 1 – 2, 2023).
• Aim - to explore possibilities of boosting connectivity investments in India’s North Eastern States and with India’s neighbours (Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh).
• Meeting was held under India – EU Connectivity partnership (launch - May 2021).
Value Addition –
• Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) - Triangular Development Cooperation projects in Third Countries between India and Germany.
• Global Gateway - EU’s €300 billion infrastructural and connectivity investment project.
• NDICI-Global Europe, InvestEU and European Fund for Sustainable Development commited upto €135 billion for guaranteed investments for infrastructure projects between 2021 and 2027.
2. 15th BRICS FM Meeting
Why in news - BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Key Points –
• South Africa is the current chair of BRICS.
• South Africa is hosting a Friends of BRICS meeting with 15 foreign ministers from Africa and the Global South.
• 15th BRICS summit venue - Durban, South Africa (August 2023).
• BRICS theme 2023 - “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism”.
• The idea of a common currency was proposed by Russia at the Beijing BRICS summit 2022.
About BRICS –
• BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• In 2001, the British Economist Jim O’Neill coined the term BRIC.
• 1st BRIC summit -Yekaterinburg, Russia (June 16, 2009).
• South Africa was admitted as a full member at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in September 2010.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. Hunger Hotspots
Why in news – “Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity” was released recently.
Key Points –
• Highest concern level - Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
• Indian neighbourhood - Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
• Causes - Conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks.
• Released by - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Environmental Airline of the Year 2023
Why in news - Etihad Airways has been named Environmental Airline of the Year 2023 for the second consecutive year.
Key Points –
• Etihad Airways is the national airline of the UAE.
• The awards ranks airlines on their innovation, route networks and safety score.
• Etihad took third in Airline Ratings’ “Top 10 Airlines” award.
• Top 3 –
(a) Air New Zealand (1st)
(b) Qatar Airways (2nd)
(c) Etihad Airways (3rd)
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book “Ringside”
Why in news - Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor released the book "Ringside".
Key Points –
• Author - Dr. Vijay Darda.
• Books by Shashi Tharoor - India: From Midnight to the Millennium (1997), The Hindu Way: An Introduction to Hinduism (2019) and Thaurosaurus (2020).
POINTERS:
• The Jammu and Kashmir government has made 'life jackets' mandatory for Shikara boats in Dal and which lake - Nigeen Lake.
• Which country enacted one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws, including the death penalty – Uganda.
• Which state government has launched the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana – Maharashtra.
• Which company has developed ethanol diesel blend to reduce emissions – BPCL.
• Which day is observed all over the world on 2nd June 2023 - International Sex Workers Day.
• Which country has sent 3 astronauts to Tiangong Space Station – China.
• Farmers of which state will get Rs 12000 annually under 'Kisan Samman Nidhi' – Maharashtra.
• Who has received the prestigious "Greentech Safety Award 2023" - Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).
• Which state's Bandra-Versova sea bridge will be named after Veer Savarkar – Maharashtra.
• In which state was the 'Hamar Sughghar Laika Abhiyan' launched – Chhattisgarh.