UPSC Daily Current Affairs-17th June 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Why in News?

The Union Culture Ministry announced that the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) would now be called the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society.

• The name change came nearly a year after a Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (Prime Ministers’ Museum) was inaugurated on the premises of the Teen Murti Bhavan, which also hosted the NMML.

Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML)

• The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) was established in the memory of Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964).
  • It was named after Nehru almost six decades ago, after being turned into a memorial dedicated to him in 1964 by then President S Radhakrishnan.
• It is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• It is located in the majestic Teen Murti House, the official residence of the first Prime Minister of India.
• It has four major constituents, namely, a Memorial Museum, a library on modern India, a Centre for Contemporary Studies and the Nehru Planetarium.

Features of NMML

• Museum
  • The NMML houses a museum that showcases various exhibits related to the life and times of Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • It displays personal artifacts, photographs, letters, and documents that highlight his role in India's freedom struggle and his contributions as a statesman.
• Library
  • The NMML has an extensive library that serves as a repository of knowledge on modern Indian history, politics, and related fields.
  • It houses a vast collection of books, journals, documents, and manuscripts.
  • The library is open to researchers, scholars, and the general public.
• Archives
  • The institution has archival facilities that preserve and maintain a wide range of historical records, including official documents, private papers, and photographs related to the Indian independence movement.
  • It also has documents related to Nehru's political career, and other significant events in Indian history.
• Research Center
  • The NMML serves as a research center, encouraging scholarly studies and research on Indian history, Nehruvian thought, and related subjects.
  • It provides fellowships and research grants to scholars and organizes seminars, conferences, and lectures on various topics.
• Nehru Planetarium
  • Adjacent to the NMML is the Nehru Planetarium, which is a popular attraction for astronomy enthusiasts.
  • It offers shows and exhibitions on astronomy and space science, providing educational and recreational experiences.
• Publications
  • The NMML publishes books, journals, and research papers on various aspects of Indian history, politics, and culture.
  • These publications contribute to academic discourse and disseminate knowledge to a wider audience.

The building: Teen Murti House

• Built in 1929-30 as part of Edwin Lutyens’ imperial capital, Teen Murti House was then known as Flagstaff House.
• It was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British armed forces in India.
• In August 1948, it became the official residence of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (Prime Ministers’ Museum)

• About
  • Inaugurated by PM Modi in April 2022, the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya is a tribute to every Prime Minister of India since Independence.
  • It is a narrative record of how each PM has contributed to the development of our nation over the last 75 years.
    • It recognises contributions of all the 14 PMs so far, irrespective of ideology or tenure in office.
    • It has ample space for future leaders as well.
• What happened to the erstwhile Nehru Museum building?
  • The erstwhile Nehru Museum building is now seamlessly integrated with the new museum building.
  • The Nehru Museum is designated as Block I, and has a completely updated, technologically advanced display on the life and contribution of the first prime minister.

Source: The Hindu

Cyclone Biparjoy

Why in News?

 Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was predicted over Kutch, north Gujarat, and south Rajasthan regions recently as Cyclone Biparjoy moved northeastwards.

About Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy:-

• A deep depression over the southeast Arabian Sea intensified into a cyclonic storm Biparjoy.
• Origin:  southeast Arabian Sea
• Naming: Bangladesh gave a tropical cyclone the name “Biparjoy,” which is Bengali for “calamity” or “disaster. 
  • Cyclone: a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters.
  •  Usually, a high temperature anywhere means the existence of low-pressure air, and a low temperature means high-pressure wind.

Frequency of Cyclones in the Arabian Sea

• Frequency: It has fewer cyclones compared to the Bay of Bengal.
  • This is because the Bay of Bengal is warmer.
• Favorable Month: June
• Factors Influencing Cyclone Formation: Cyclones form due to low-pressure systems over warm waters.
• The Arabian Sea is getting warmer due to climate change, leading to an increase in cyclones. 

Tropical Cyclones

• Intense circular storm over warm oceans with low pressure.
• It brings high winds and heavy rain.
• Conditions for formation: Warm sea surface temperatures, anticlockwise rotation of low-level air, favourable atmospheric conditions.

Tropical Cyclones in India:-

• Origin: Tropical cyclones striking India generally originate in the Bay of Bengal.
• Frequency: Cyclones occur in the months of May–June and October–November.

Source: AIR

GS-II

Bangkok vision 2030

Why in News?

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit end of this year will adopt a Bangkok Vision 2030 as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)recently.

About Bangkok Vision 2030:-

• The Bangkok Vision 2030 was proposed by Thailand.
• Objective: to propel BIMSTEC towards a prosperous, resilient, and open region, fostering sustainable and balanced growth. 
• Vision: to advance BIMSTEC as a prosperous, resilient, and open region.
• It emphasizes sustainable and balanced growth, adapting to rapid changes in regional and global architecture.
• It aims to further promote BIMSTEC as a region of peace, stability, and economic sustainability.
• The goals are in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Thailand’s bio-circular-green economic model.

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit

• It is a regional organization.
• Objective: Creating an enabling environment for the rapid economic development of the sub-region.
• Established: 1997, by the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
• Member countries: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.
• Initially, it was formed with four Member States with the acronym ‘BIST-EC’ (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).
  • It became renamed ‘BIMST-EC’ in 1997, following the inclusion of Myanmar.
  • With the admission of Nepal and Bhutan in 2004, the name of the grouping was changed to ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC).
• Chairmanship of BIMSTEC: rotates according to the alphabetical order of the English names of the Member States.
• Current chair: Thailand.
• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • It was established during the third BIMSTEC Summit(2014).

Source: The Hindu

GoI-UNSDC framework

Why in News?

Recently, NITI Aayog and the United Nations in India signed the Government of India - United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027.

About the GoI-UNSDC framework:

• It represents the UN development system’s collective offer to the Government of India, in line with the national vision for development, for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting gender equality, youth empowerment and human rights. 
• It is built on four strategic pillars derived from the 2030 Agenda – People, Prosperity, Planet and Participation.
• The four interlinked pillars have six outcome areas focusing on Health and Well Being; Nutrition and Food Security; Quality Education; Economic Growth and Decent Work; Environment, Climate, WASH and Resilience; and Empowering People, Communities, and Institutions.
• It will have a specific focus on SDG localisation and South-South cooperation, in line with India’s leadership towards the implementation and acceleration of the SDGs; and India’s championing of South-South cooperation.
• The implementation and monitoring: It will be co-led by the Government of India and the United Nations, India through a Joint Steering Committee.

Source: PIB

GS-III

Enceladus

Why in News?

Recently, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft discovered ‘phosphorous’, a key element for life, on Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

About Enceladus:-

• Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn.
• Discovery: it was discovered in 1789, by the English astronomer William Herschel.
• Origin of the name: it was named for one of the Giants (Gigantes) of Greek mythology.
• Surface features: ranging from old, heavily cratered regions to young, tectonically deformed terrains.
• It is mostly covered by fresh, clean ice, making it one of the most reflective bodies of the Solar System.
• It is the second nearest to the major regular.
• It is the brightest of all moons of Saturn. 
• It is an active moon that hides a global ocean of liquid salty water beneath its crust. 

Major Revelations:-

• 2005: the Cassini spacecraft discovered water-rich plumes venting from the south polar region.
  • According to NASA scientists, the plumes are similar in composition to comets.
• 2014: NASA reported that Cassini found evidence for a large south-polar subsurface ocean of liquid water.
  • It had a thickness of around 10 km.
• 2021: astronomers reported detecting substantial amounts of methane.
  • It could be a possible sign of microbial life, on Enceladus.

Cassini spacecraft

• Launched in 1997 
• Launched by: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • It is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
• Time Period of mission: It orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017, circling the planet 294 times.
• It measured the structure of Saturn’s atmosphere and rings, as well as how they interact with the planet’s moons.
• It also discovered six named moons and revealed Enceladus and Titan as promising locations to search for extraterrestrial life.
  • Titan: Saturn’s largest moon.
  • It is the only moon in the solar system with a substantial atmosphere.

Source: Hindustan Times

Why in News?

Recently, the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) has raised ₹10,000 crores via the maiden issuance of listed bonds.

About NaBFID:

• It was set up in 2021, by an Act of the Parliament (The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021).
• It is a specialized Development Finance Institution in India.
• Objectives: Addressing the gaps in long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure development, strengthening the development of bonds and derivatives markets in India, and sustainably boosting the country’s economy.
• It shall be regulated and supervised by RBI as an All-India Financial Institution (AIFI) 

What is a Development Finance Institution (DFI)?

• These are organizations owned by the government or public institutions to provide funds for infrastructure and large-scale projects, where it often becomes unviable for large banks to lend.
• They provide two types of funds- Medium (1-5 years) and Large (< 5 years).

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Recent reports suggest that India’s future Lines of Credit (LoCs) to Africa could focus on defence exports to meet the requirements of the continent.

About Lines of Credit (LoCs):-

• It is a credit facility extended by a bank or any other financial institution that enables the customer to draw the maximum loan amount.
• Lender: it can be given by a bank or any other financial institution.
• Borrower: it can be given to a government, business or individual customer.
• Time limit: the set borrowing limit can be tapped into at any time.
• Transaction Limit: the borrower can take money out until the maximum limit is reached.
• Usage in international relations: it is a soft loan provided on concessional interest rates to developing countries.
  • It is not a grant and has to be repaid by the borrowing government.
• Types of credit lines:  personal, business, and home equity, among others.
• Advantages: it has built-in flexibility, which is its main advantage.
  • Borrowers can request a certain amount, but they do not have to use it all.
  •  They can tailor their spending from the LOC to their needs.
  • They owe interest only on the amount that they draw, not on the entire credit line.
• Disadvantages: high-interest rates, penalties for late payments, and the potential to overspend.

India-Africa Relations:-

Historical Ties

• India’s trade relations with Africa date back several centuries.  
• The presence of Indians in East Africa is documented in the ‘Periplus of the Erythraean Sea’ or Guidebook of the Red Sea by an ancient Greek author written in 60 AD.
• Mahatma Gandhi: he began his political career in South Africa.
• Non-Alignment Movement (NAM): India was a forerunner as a champion of the interests of the developing countries from Africa among other third-world countries. 

Importance of Africa

• Africa is home to over half a dozen of the fastest-growing countries in the world.
• African continent has a population of over one billion with a combined GDP of 2.5 trillion dollars making it a huge potential market.
• Africa is a resource-rich nation dominated by commodities like crude oil, gas, pulses and lentils, leather, gold and other metals, all of which India lack in sufficient quantities.
  • India is seeking diversification of its oil supplies away from the Middle East and Africa can play an important role in India’s energy matrix.

India’s Initiatives in Africa

• India Africa Forum Summit ) is the official platform for African-Indian relations.
  • It was launched in 2008.
• India is investing in capacity building providing more than $1 billion in technical assistance and training to personnel under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program.
  • ITEC: is the leading capacity-building platform of the Ministry Of External Affairs.
  • Instituted in 1964.
  • Have trained more than 200,000 officials from 160+ countries in both the civilian and the defence sectors.
• India has invested $100 million in the Pan-African E-Network.
  • Objective: to bridge the digital divide in Africa, leveraging its strengths in information technology.
• Indian military academies offer training to military officers from a number of African states.
• Asian Africa Growth Corridor: jointly prepared by Indian and Japanese think tanks.
  • The corridor will focus on Developing Cooperation Projects, Quality Infrastructure and Institutional Connectivity, skill enhancement, and People-to-People Partnerships.

Source: The Economic Times