Daily Current Affairs : 15 April 2023 | Daily GK & Current Affairs Tests - Bank Exams PDF Download

US, Philippines Launch Largest Joint Military Exercises

The United States and the Philippines have commenced their largest joint military exercises in decades. The annual drills, known as Balikatan, involve over 17,600 military personnel and will continue until April 28. These exercises include live-fire drills, such as a boat-sinking rocket assault in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Experts view these drills as a challenge to China's dominance in the region.
The goal of the exercises is to enhance inter-operability, increase proficiency, and strengthen capabilities through collaboration between the Philippine and US forces. Major-General Eric Austin, commander of the First US Marine Aircraft Wing, emphasized the importance of the drills in preparing for real-world challenges.
The participating forces consist of 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces, and 111 Australian soldiers. The drills will showcase various equipment, including America's warships, fighter jets, Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers, and anti-tank Javelins. The Balikatan exercises will focus on combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between maneuver units, logistics operations, and amphibious operations.
Notably, military helicopters will be landing on a Philippine island located approximately 300 kilometers (180 miles) from Taiwan. Philippine military officials have clarified that the exercises are intended to bolster coastal defense and are not directed at any specific country.

China Conducts Mid-Course Missile Interception Test

China recently announced the successful execution of a ground-based mid-course missile interception test. This achievement signifies progress in China's ability to intercept weapons entering its airspace from space. The Defence Ministry clarified that the test, carried out within Chinese territory, was defensive in nature and not aimed at any particular country.
However, specific details about the test, such as whether it struck an object, the number of interceptors fired, and their landing location, were not disclosed. Ground-based mid-course defense systems, referred to as GMD by the United States, are complex and costly systems that aim to intercept ballistic missiles, including those carrying nuclear warheads, while they are in mid-flight towards their targets.

US, Japan, South Korea to Hold Missile Defense Exercises

The United States, Japan, and South Korea have jointly announced discussions on the regularization of missile defense and anti-submarine exercises. The objective of these exercises is to deter and respond to the nuclear and missile threats posed by North Korea.
The announcement was made during the 13th Defense Trilateral Talks held in Washington DC. The participating countries exchanged assessments of the security environment on the Korean Peninsula and the broader region. They also discussed concrete ways to enhance trilateral security cooperation.

Andhra Pradesh's Jagan Mohan Reddy Wealthiest CM in India

According to the analysis of poll affidavits by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 29 out of the 30 incumbent Chief Ministers in India are crorepatis (individuals with assets worth at least ₹1 crore). The highest assets were declared by Andhra Pradesh's Jagan Mohan Reddy, totaling ₹510 crore. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reported the lowest total assets, amounting to approximately ₹15 lakh.
The average assets of the 29 crorepatis CMs were calculated to be ₹33.96 crore. The top three Chief Ministers in terms of assets are Jagan Mohan Reddy, Pema Khandu from Arunachal Pradesh (₹163 crore), and Naveen Patnaik from Odisha (₹63 crore). The three CMs with the lowest declared assets are Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan from Kerala (₹1 crore), and Manohar Lal from Haryana (₹1 crore).

Aman Sehrawat Clinches India's First Gold Medal at Asian Wrestling Championships

Aman Sehrawat secured India's first gold medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023 held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Sehrawat emerged victorious in the men's 57 kg freestyle category, defeating Kyrgyzstan's Almaz Smanbekov with a score of 9-4. This win ensured that India retained the gold medal in the men's freestyle 57 kg category for the fourth consecutive year.
Sehrawat had previously won gold at the Under-23 World Championships in Spain last year, making this his second podium finish in 2023. Overall, India's medal tally in the competition reached 13, with four medals in Greco-Roman wrestling and seven medals in women's wrestling.

PTC India Appoints 3 Former IAS Officers as Independent Directors

Power trading solutions provider PTC India has appointed three retired officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) as independent directors. Rashmi Verma, Jayant Dasgupta, and Narendra Kumar have been appointed as independent directors, effective from Thursday, pending shareholder approval. PTC India also named Mahendra Kumar Gupta as a nominee director of NHPC.
The Chairman & Managing Director of PTC India, Rajib K Mishra, expressed delight in welcoming the three new independent directors, acknowledging their extensive experience and impeccable careers. Rashmi Verma, a 1982-batch retired IAS officer, has 36 years of experience in sectors such as tourism and textiles. Jayant Dasgupta, a 1981-batch retired IAS officer, has over 37 years of experience and has served in various advisory and ambassadorial roles. Narendra Kumar, from the 1988 batch of retired IAS officers, has held positions such as Financial Commissioner in the Government of NCT of Delhi and Managing Director of Delhi State Financial & Development Corporation.

World Art Day

Every year on April 15, World Art Day is celebrated to reinforce the connections between artistic creations and society. The occasion aims to raise awareness of the diverse forms of artistic expressions and highlight the contributions of artists to sustainable development. World Art Day also emphasizes the importance of arts education in schools, as culture plays a vital role in fostering inclusive and equitable education.
The celebration of World Art Day originated from UNESCO's General Conference in 2019, where it was proclaimed to promote the development, diffusion, and enjoyment of art. Art encompasses a wide range of creative skills and imaginations, such as painting, sculpting, drawing, photography, calligraphy, and more. It extends to professional applications like architecture, fashion design, wood crafts, and jewelry design. Additionally, performing arts such as dance, theater, and music are integral parts of artistic expression.

Himachal Pradesh Celebrates its 75th Formation Day

Himachal Pradesh is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its formation on April 15. The State level function is being held in Kaza, located in the tribal Lahul-Spiti district. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu presided over the event, which marks the first time in 75 years that the State level function has been hosted in Kaza. The Chief Minister hoisted the national flag, inspected the parade, and received the salute from the march past.
Colorful programs, including Spiti's Chham dance, were presented by cultural teams from various districts of the State. During the ceremony, the Chief Minister honored individuals who have rendered excellent services in various fields. Himachal Pradesh was established as a Chief Commissioner's State on April 15, 1948. It became a 'C' category State on January 25, 1950, and a Union Territory on November 1, 1956. In 1971, Himachal Pradesh became a full-fledged State and the 18th State of the country.

12th Session of India-Spain Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation

The 12th Session of the India-Spain Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) was held on April 13 in New Delhi. During the meeting, both sides discussed various issues related to economic cooperation between the two countries. The session marked the Golden Jubilee edition of the India-Spain Joint Commission, which was established in 1972. Over the past 50 years, bilateral trade and investment between the two nations have witnessed significant growth. Currently, 250 Spanish companies are active in India, with a total investment of USD 3.7 billion.
Similarly, 40 Indian companies operate in Spain across sectors such as IT, Pharma, Renewable Energy, Automobiles, and Infrastructure. The Spanish side expressed the importance of the India-Spain relationship and emphasized their partnership in India's development.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in sectors including civil aviation, high-speed railways, renewable energy, shipping, ports, tourism, infrastructure, food processing, pharmaceuticals, technology, innovation, and defense. The status of various Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) was also reviewed, including those related to migration and mobility, social security, and cybersecurity.