Last Six Months International Current Affairs PDF

Last 6 Months International Current Affairs (Dec 2022 to May 2023)
Page 1 of 145
Get High Standard Mock Test Series for all Bank Exams
If there are any suggestions/ errors in our PDFs Feel Free to contact us via this email: admin@exampundit.in
Last 6 Months International Current Affairs

S. No Topics Page No
1. Dec 2022– International Current Affairs 03
2. Jan 2023– International Current Affairs 28
3. Feb 2023– International Current Affairs 51
4. Mar 2023– International Current Affairs 83
5. Apr 2023– International Current Affairs 104
6. May 2023– International Current Affairs 122
Page 2 of 145
Dec 2022– International Current Affairs

China Holds First China-Indian Ocean Region Forum Without India
China organized the first high-level China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development
Cooperation (IORFDC), with representatives from 19 countries including all countries from
South Asia except India attending this event.
19 countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal,
Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles,
Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Australia, and representatives of three international
organizations were present at the hybrid forum.
The meeting was held in a hybrid manner under the theme of "Shared Development: Theory and
Practice from the Perspective of the Blue Economy" in Kunming, China.
The forum was organized by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA),
China’s new development aid agency.
Key Highlights :
In this forum, China proposed to establish a marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation
mechanism between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).
China also proposed the establishment of a blue economy think tank network for China and countries
in the IOR.
The new China-led forum could be seen as a countermeasure to India’s IORA.
About IORA :
IORA is an intergovernmental organization that was established in March 1997.
It was formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for
Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).
It became an observer to the UN General Assembly and the African Union in 2015.
Members: It has 23 Member States and 9 Dialogue Partners
World’s largest active volcano Hawaii’s Mauna Loa erupts for the first time in nearly 40 years
The world’s largest active volcano, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, erupted for the first time in nearly 40 years.
It is the volcano’s first well-documented historical eruption.
Page 3 of 145
With the eruption of the volcano, the night sky above Hawaii’s largest island glowed a hellish red as
bright, hot lava sprang forth at the Volcano’s summit
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa is the largest (not tallest) volcano in the world.
About Mauna Loa :
Its name means “long mountain” in Hawaiian.

The volcano has erupted for the first time in almost 4 decades.
As per the US Geological Survey, Mauna Loa, which covers half of the island of Hawaii, has erupted
33 times since 1843.
Mauna Loa rises 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above the Pacific Ocean, part of the chain of volcanoes
that had formed the islands of Hawaii.
The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in March and April 1984, at that time lava had come to 5 miles
(13 kilometres) in the city of Hilo.
Lava is still coming out at the summit of the volcano & as of now, there is no danger to the local people.
Volcanic gas, especially sulphur dioxide, is released by this volcano.
Hawaii is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles from
the U.S. mainland
Globally one in eight people are migrants: WHO
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Globally one in eight or over one billion people
are migrants with 281 million international migrants and many million individuals who are
stateless.
Reason :
Climate change, rising inequality, conflicts, trade, and population growth are accelerating these
trends.
Key Highlights :
To support countries & territories to build professional competence and capacity to adequately
address refugee and migrant health issues, WHO is organizing the 3rd edition of its annual Global
School on Refugee and Migrant Health in Dhaka, Bangladesh with a focus on capacity-building.
Page 4 of 145
About WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health :

The WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health is a valuable resource for building the
capacity of health workers to better serve refugees and migrants.”
The yearly Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health is a flagship of the WHO Health and
Migration Programme and an opportunity to strengthen the strategic and operational
collaboration with Regional and country offices on refugee and migrant health towards the
implementation of the Global Action Plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants
2019-2023 (GAP).
About WHO :
Founded: 7 April 1948
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
Director General : Tedros Adhanom
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for
international public health.
A Greener cooling pathway can create a $1.6 trillion investment opportunity in India - World Bank
The World Bank (WB) report, titled “Climate Investment Opportunities in India’s Cooling Sector"
finds that as temperatures steadily rise in India due to climate change, keeping spaces cool using
alternative and innovative energy-efficient technologies can open an investment opportunity of
$1.6 trillion by 2040.
This also has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly and create nearly 3.7
million jobs.
From 2030 onwards, more than 160 to 200 million people could be exposed to a lethal heat wave in
India every year.
Around 34 million people in India will face job losses due to heat stress-related productivity
decline.
Key Highlights :
The current food loss due to heat during the transportation is close to $13 billion annually.
By 2037, the demand for cooling is likely to be 8 times more than current levels.
Page 5 of 145
The report, “Climate Investment Opportunities in India’s Cooling Sector” finds that shifting to a
more energy-efficient pathway could lead to a substantial reduction in expected CO2 levels over
the next two decades.
In 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) launched the India
Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) to provide sustainable cooling measures across various sectors,
including indoor cooling in buildings and cold chain and refrigeration in the agriculture and
pharmaceuticals sector and air-conditioning in passenger transport.
It aims to reduce the demand for cooling by up to 25% by 2037-38.
About World Bank :
Founded: July 1944
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
President: David Malpass
Germany announces €1 billion funding for energy transition projects in India
Germany has unveiled a proposal to provide 1 billion euros (Rs 8440 crore) to India for energy
transition projects across India under a bilateral partnership for green and sustainable
development.
The announcement comes days ahead of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s visit to India
in December 2022.
Background :
In May 2022 after signing the agreement with PM Modi & German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced
support of 10 billion Euro to India by 2030.
The funding of 1 billion euros for the projects in India is part of this pledge.
Key Highlights :
India & Germany agreed on funding for more than 20 development projects over the next 8 years.
The funding, including 10% grants and 90% in the form of lines of credit, will support India’s efforts in
the fields of renewable energy, sustainable urban development in smart cities, and sustainable
use of natural resources.”
The lines of credit will be provided by KfW Development Bank with “very cheap interest” ranging
from 2.75% to 3.25% for development projects across the country.
Page 6 of 145
About Germany :
President: Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Capital: Berlin
Currency: Euro
India & South Korea sign agreement for EDCF loan to develop Nagpur-Mumbai Super
Communication Expressway project
India and South Korea signed an agreement on an Economic Development Cooperation Fund loan
(EDCF) of over 245 billion (approx. Rs. 1,495.68 crores) Korean won for the establishment of
the Intelligent Transport System on the Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway
Project in Delhi.
Objectives of the project :
To enhance the efficiency in traffic management through the establishment of the Intelligent Traffic
Management System (ITMS) and traffic center
To improve the efficiency in toll management through the establishment of the Toll Collection System
(TCS)
To establish a sustainable model of ITS and its O&M through the transfer of technology from the
Republic of Korea.
Key Highlights :
The Republic of Korea was designated as India’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) partner for
development cooperation in October 2016.
This is the first project funded by an EDCF loan by the Government of the Republic of Korea.
The bilateral relationship between the two countries was upgraded to ‘Special Strategic Partnership’
in the year 2015.
About EDCF :
The EDCF was established in 1987 and plays an important role as Korea’s representative aid fund.
The EDCF’s loans are administered by the Export-Import Bank of Korea under the supervision of the
Ministry of Strategy and Finance.
About South Korea :
President: Yoon Suk Yeol
Page 7 of 145
Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean won
CAGs of India & Chile sign MoU to support capacity building
The Comptroller & Auditor General of India and the Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile
signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen institutional and professional
capacities and learn from each other’s best practices.
The MoU was signed at the Chilean capital of Santiago, Chile.
Signatories :
Girish Chandra Murmu, Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Jorge Bermudez Soto, the Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile.
Under the new agreement, both sides agreed to support capacity building and share methodologies
in public audits, and conduct training programs in their respective countries.
About Comptroller & Auditor General of India :
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is the supreme audit institution of India, established
under Article 148 of the Constitution of India.
The CAG is also the statutory auditor of Government-owned corporations and conducts a
supplementary audit of government companies
About Chile :
President : Gabriel Boric
Capital: Santiago
Currency: Chilean peso
Tech Mahindra to Establish its First Global Delivery Center in Egypt
Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-
engineering services and solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) to establish a global delivery
center in Cairo, Egypt.
Tech Mahindra aims to hire more than 1000 employees over the next three years to serve both global
and local customers from its newly inaugurated center in Cairo.
Page 8 of 145
The new facility in Cairo will assist Tech Mahindra’s clients across telecom, oil and gas, BFSI
(Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), energy and utilities, and the public sector by
leveraging artificial intelligence, big data and Analytics, cloud, and 5G technologies.
Note :
CEO of ITIDA : Amr Mahfouz
About Egypt :
President : Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Prime Minister: Moustafa Madbouly
Capital: Cairo
Currency: Egyptian pound
TCS bags Rail Delivery group contract to create UK Rail Data Marketplace
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed a six-year contract with an opportunity for extension
with the United Kingdom-headquartered Rail Delivery Group to build and run the UK
government’s Rail Data Marketplace (RDM).
Background :
In 2021, UK Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris announced the creation of RDM for better
coordination between the government and industry to advance innovation and offer new
products and services.
Key Highlights :
RDM will be used for sharing real-time information with passengers across the UK, simplifying data
sharing across operational bodies, and increasing data access for public and private bodies to
improve transparency.
It would offer access to new data sources as well as present existing data in more accessible formats
to help businesses use rail open data to speed change, reduce costs and create new value for
customers.
TCS Dexam, a controlled data exchange environment for enterprises and their ecosystem partners, will
be used in the development of the RDM.
Apart from preserving the security, privacy, and consent of data and its stakeholder, TCS Dexam will
facilitate the democratization, monetization, and commercialization of data.
Page 9 of 145
Google’s Apigee platform will also be used by TCS for the development and management of APIs,
which partner applications will use to connect with the RDM.
Number of people forcibly displaced crossed 100 million in 2022: UNDP
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report “Turning the tide on
internal displacement: A development approach to solutions”, for the first time, more than 100
million people were forcibly displaced in 2022, most of them within their own countries
This was the highest global figure and more than double the number recorded 10 years ago, the
analysis by UNDP and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) showed.
The data was collected by the IDMC from January 2021 to January 2022.
These internally displaced persons struggle to cover their basic needs, find decent work or have a
stable source of income, among other challenges, the global body highlighted, describing their plight
as an ‘invisible crisis’ due to gaps in development support.
Key Highlights :
At the end of 2021, due to conflict, violence, disasters, and climate change, more than 59 million
people have been forcibly displaced within their own countries.
In Ukraine, due to the war, more than 6.5 million people have been internally displaced.
According to the World Bank, by 2050, around 216 million people will be displaced due to climate chan
In 2021, the direct impact of the internal displacement cost was more than 21.5 billion dollars.
Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of the Americas are the most affected re
the internal displacement linked with conflicts and violence.
48% of internally displaced households earn less money than they did before they were displaced.
Disaster-related internal displacement has been recorded in 130 countries.
Key pathways suggested:
Strengthening governance institutions
Boosting socioeconomic integration through access to jobs and services
Restoring security
Enhancing participation e.g., equal access to rights and basic services
Building social cohesion
About UNDP :
Page 10 of 145
Founded: 22 November 1965

Headquarters: New York City, United States
Administrator : Achim Steiner
UNGA Resolution on International Tax Cooperation Framework
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has unanimously adopted a resolution to develop
an international tax cooperation framework or instrument based on a UN intergovernmental
process.
Nigeria submitted this resolution on behalf of a consortium of 54 African countries.
About UNGA resolution :
With this mechanism, emerging countries in Africa and Asia are expected to have a greater say in the
formulation of global tax regulations.
The proposed UN framework on global tax cooperation will put an end to the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation & Development’s 60-year role as the regulator of taxation across the
world.
These rules were agreed upon in 2021 by 137 countries and jurisdictions under the OECD/G20
Inclusive Framework on BEPS.
Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) refers to corporate tax planning strategies used by
multinationals to shift profits from higher-tax jurisdictions to lower/no-tax jurisdictions, thus
eroding the tax base of the higher-tax jurisdictions.
The OECD defines BEPS strategies as exploiting gaps and mismatches in tax rules.
The rules provide governments with a precise template for taking forward the two-pillar solution to
address the tax challenges arising from digitalization and globalization of the economy.
Pillar 1 deals with the biggest and most profitable multinational enterprises and reallocates a part
of their profit to countries where they sell their products and services.
It is expected to divert more than 125 billion USD in tax to market jurisdiction each year.
Pillar 2 aims to control tax competition on corporate profits by introducing a global minimum tax of
15% from 2023.
The rules specify the scope and mechanism for Pillar Two's so-called Global Anti-Base Erosion
(GloBE) rules.
Page 11 of 145
It is expected to generate some 150 billion in additional global tax revenue each year.
About UNGA :
Established: 1945
President : Csaba Kőrösi
About United Nations :
Established: 26 June 1945

Headquarters: New York, USA
Secretary General : António Guterres
G7 nations establish an international climate club to fight global
warming
The Group of Seven (G7) leading economies have created an open, international climate club for
countries that want to cooperate in the fight against global warming.
This was announced by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Germany holds the presidency of the G-7 until the end of 2022 and then passes it on to Japan in
2023.
Key Highlights :
According to the German government, the climate club aims to support the rapid and ambitious
implementation of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees
Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
The club will work to help accelerate the industrial transition to cleaner forms of energy and to
further develop emission-reduction measures
Dec 12, 2022, marked the 7th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement.
Germany increased its solar capacity by 10% in 2022, and the amount of additional wind power
capacity it installed on land and at sea was only about 3%.
The government aims to increase offshore wind power capacity from about 8 gigawatts to 20
gigawatts by 2030, but this year only 0.2 gigawatts of new capacity were added.
Page 12 of 145
About G7 :
The Group of Seven (G7) is an international forum consisting of the 7 nations with the largest
advanced economies – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the
United States
The European Union has also represented at all G7 meetings.
The presidency rotates each year.
In June 2022, Germany hosted the G7 Summit 2022 at Schloss Elmau in the Bavarian alps,
Germany.
India Signs Agreement For 3 Projects With Nepal Government In Education, Healthcare
Sectors
The Embassy of India and Nepal government’s Ministry of Federal Affairs and General
Administration have signed 3 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) to collaborate on
projects in the education sector.
The collaboration will also focus on the healthcare and drinking water sectors.
The projects shall be implemented at 101.79 million Nepalese rupees (NRs)
The three projects include
The construction of the Shree Janata Belaka Secondary School building in the Udayapur district,
Nepal
The construction of Ngonga Thenchowk Chholing meditation centre in the Soulukhumbu district,
Nepal
The construction of Lisnekhola Tikasung Dangchet Jharlang water supply project in Dhading district,
Nepal.
Since 2003, India has taken up over 532 High Impact Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal and
has completed 476 projects in the areas of health, education, drinking water, connectivity,
sanitation, and the creation of other public utilities.
About Nepal :
President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari

Page 13 of 145
Prime minister: Sher Bahadur Deuba

Capital: Kathmandu
Currency: Nepalese Rupee
FAO Opening Ceremony of International Year of Millets 2023 held in Rome,

Italy
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, organized an opening
ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 (IYM2023) in Rome, Italy.
An Indian delegation led by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State, Agriculture & Farmers
Welfare along with Smt. Shubha Thakur, Joint Secretary (Crops), Department of Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW).
Key Highlights :
Spearheaded by the Prime Minister, the Government of India sponsored the proposal for
International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA).
In March 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution to declare
2023 as the International Year of Millets
The declaration has been instrumental for the Government of India to be at the forefront of
celebrating the IYM.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also shared his vision to make IYM 2023 a ‘People’s
Movement’ alongside positioning India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’.
Recognizing the enormous potential of Millets, which also aligns with several UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), the Government of India (GoI) has prioritized Millets.
A submission on the National Food Security Mission – Nutri Cereals was implemented considering
the high-nutritive value, potential for economic empowerment of small & marginal farmers, and
contribution to maintaining the earth’s biodiversity.
In April 2018, Millets were rebranded as “Nutri Cereals”, and the year 2018 was declared as the
National Year of Millets, aiming at larger promotion and demand generation.
Page 14 of 145
About Millets :
Millets are considered 'Smart Food' as they are easy to cultivate, mostly organic, and contain high
nutritional value
About FAO:·
Founded: 16 October 1945

Headquarters: Rome, Lazio, Italy
Director General: Mr. QU Dongyu
FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat
hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
The FAO is composed of 195 members (including 194 countries and the European Union).
In October 2020, India released a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination to mark the 75th
anniversary of the FAO.
About Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare :
Cabinet Minister: Narendra Singh Tomar

Minister of State: Shobha Karandlaje, Kailash Choudhary
India and Finland sign joint declaration of Intent on migration and mobility
India and Finland have signed a joint declaration of Intent on migration and mobility to arrive at a
mutually beneficial arrangement on migration and mobility between the two countries.
The declaration was signed by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan
and Minister of Employment of Finland Ms. Tuula Haatainen.
India and Finland established diplomatic relations in 1949 after New Delhi became independent in
1947.
The year 2022 marks 73 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Key Highlights :
Page 15 of 145
The declaration underlines the resolve of both countries to work jointly towards developing a common
framework of arrangement and cooperation to facilitate the mobility of students, academics,
researchers, businesspeople, and professionals and to combat irregular migration.
In May 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his Finnish counterpart Ms. Sanna Marin
held a meeting on the margins of the 2nd India-Nordic Summit in Copenhagen and discussed
ways to further cement this partnership in trade, investment, technology, and other such sectors.
About Finland :
President : Sauli Niinistö

Prime Minister: Sanna Marin
Capital: Helsinki
Currency: Euro (€) (EUR)
Finland Ambassador to India : Ritva Koukku-Ronde
EU agrees to grant Bosnia & Herzegovina membership candidate

status
European Union (EU) countries have agreed to offer Bosnia-Herzegovina candidate status to join
the 27-member bloc, during the ongoing meeting in Brussels, Belgium.
The step is to be formally approved by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on December 15, 2022.
Bosnia will join 7 other nations with candidate status: Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro,
Serbia, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
The move came as Kosovo became the latest country to formally apply to apply for membership in
the bloc.
Key Highlights :
Bosnia first voiced its aspiration to join the EU in 2003.

Bosnia now becomes the third country after conflict-ravaged Ukraine and Moldova to be granted
candidate status in the past six months.
Page 16 of 145
Note :
European Council president: Charles Michel
Iran removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women

The 54-member United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted a resolution to
remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the remainder of its four-
year term from 2022 to 2026.
The development comes in the wake of the country’s brutal crackdown on protests calling for justice
for Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman who died in police custody in September 2022.
Key Highlights :
The United States introduced the resolution, which received 29 votes in favour and 8 against, with
16 countries abstaining.
The document expressed serious concern over the Iranian Government’s actions since September
2022 “to continuously undermine and increasingly suppress the human rights of women and
girls”, and “often with the use of excessive force”.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called the CSW the premiere UN body for promoting
gender equality and empowering women.
About the UN Commission on the Status of Women :

Established: 21 June 1946
Headquarters: New York, United States of America (USA)
UNCSW is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC).
CSW has been described as the UN organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of
women.
Its 45 members are elected by ECOSOC, based on equitable geographical distribution, and serve for
four years.
Page 17 of 145
G-7 approves 15.5 billion US dollar energy deal with Vietnam to help cut climate-damaging
pollution
A group of 9 rich industrialized nations has approved a deal to provide Vietnam with 15.5 billion
US dollars to help the Southeast Asian nation move faster from coal power to renewable
energy, cutting its climate-damaging pollution.
The $15.5 billion of funding will come from public and private sources over the coming 3 to 5 years.
Key Highlights :
The Group of Seven major economies, along with Norway and Denmark, stated that the aim is to help
Vietnam reduce its emissions to net zero by 2050.
It is a goal that experts say needs to be met globally to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius
(2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
The Just Energy Transition Partnership with Vietnam is among a series of agreements that
developing and rich nations are negotiating.
The first such deal was signed with South Africa in 2021.
A similar agreement was reached with Indonesia in November 2022.
About G7 :
G7 is an international intergovernmental economic organization of the world’s seven advanced
economies.
Members- Canada, Japan, Italy, France, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
G7 countries meet annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance,
international security, and energy policy.
The G7 does not have a fixed headquarters.
The UK currently chairs the G7 and has invited India along with Australia, the Republic of Korea, and
South Africa as guest countries for the G7 summit.
UAE to host next meeting of World Trade Organization

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the next major meeting of the World Trade
Organization set to take place by March 2024.
Page 18 of 145
The UAE and Cameroon were both vying to host the event known as MC13 (Ministerial Conference
13), a high-level event scheduled every few years where trade ministers aim to fix new global
trade rules.
The two countries reached an “amicable agreement” for the UAE to host the next meeting, known as
MC13, and for Cameroon to host the one after that, citing a letter from the head of the WTO’s
General Council sent to Geneva-based ambassadors.
About WTO :
Founded: 1 January 1995
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Membership: 164 members (160 UN member states, the European Union, Hong Kong, Macao, and
Taiwan)
The WTO is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade.
About UAE :
President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: UAE dirham
India hosts the 1st G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meeting under the G20 India
Presidency in Bengaluru, Karnataka
The First Group Twenty (G20) Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting, under the Indian
Presidency, was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from 23-25 February 2023 under the co-
chairship of Secretary, Economic Affairs, Shri Ajay Seth and Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank
of India, Dr. Michael Patra.
The theme of India’s G20 Presidency, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or “One Earth, One Family, One
Future, will guide the G20 Finance Track discussions.
Aim :
To seek the views of G20 members on India’s G20 Finance Track priorities for 2023 across various
workstreams.
Page 19 of 145
The meeting saw an enthusiastic gathering of over 160 foreign delegates including Deputies from
G20 member countries, invitee countries, and International Organisations.
Key Highlights :
A side event on ‘Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to Address Shared Global
Challenges of the 21st century was held on the sidelines of the Deputy's meeting.
Another side event on ‘Role of Central Banks in Managing Climate Risk and Green Financing’ was
also held.
The discussions focused on issues relating to the global economy and risks, strengthening MDBs,
managing global debt vulnerabilities, financing climate action and Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), and building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities of tomorrow.
Overall, the meeting saw broad support for the proposed priorities of India’s G20 Finance Track
agenda for 2023.
During the first session on the global economy and Framework Working Group priorities, G20
members discussed global economic challenges, including global inflation, food, and energy
insecurity, and the macroeconomic implications of climate change.
In the session on International Financial Architecture, delegates deliberated on various issues,
including strengthening MDBs and exchanged views on work to be undertaken in 2023 on key
topics including global debt distress, capital flows, and global financial safety net.
In the infrastructure session, discussions took place on India's priorities for the Infrastructure Working
Group 2023 including "Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable".
Italy, Japan, UK to jointly launch 6th-generation fighter jet by 2035
The United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy have announced a partnership to build a sixth-generation
warplane scheduled to be ready for deployment by 2035.
It will be called the “Tempest”.
The Tempest is expected to replace Britain's Typhoon, a fighter that served British air defense for
two decades.
The Mitsubishi F-X fighter jet will replace the ageing fleet of F-2s that Japan previously developed
with the United States.
Key Highlights :
Page 20 of 145
The deal will give Japan greater support in countering China’s growing assertiveness and allow Britain
a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
To meet the 5-year spending total of 43 trillion yen (USD 316 billion), the government will need an
extra 4 trillion yen (USD 30 billion) in defense spending annually.
The revised national security strategy is predicted to allow the country to have a pre-emptive strike
capability and to deploy long-range missiles.
It will have the ability to operate manned or unmanned.
It will have the ability to control swarms of attack drones & It will have innovative data systems.
It will be armed with cutting-edge weapons like hypersonic missiles.
This advanced aircraft will be produced through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which is
a partnership between London, Rome, and Tokyo.
Britain and Italy have been developing the Tempest to rival an aircraft being built by a Franco-
German coalition: Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
About Japan :
Prime Minister : Fumio Kishida
Capital: Tokyo
Currency: Japanese yen
Indian govt allows Sri Lankans to hold $10,000 worth of rupees in cash
Sri Lankans can hold $10,000 (Rs 8.14 lakh) worth of the Indian rupee (INR) in a physical
form, though the INR would not be legal tender in Sri Lanka after India approved a Sri Lankan
request to designate the INR as the foreign currency.
Reason :
This is because designating INR as a legal currency in Sri Lanka will provide the country with
much-needed liquidity support to help it tide over its economic crisis amid inadequate
availability of the US dollar.
Key Highlights :
Page 21 of 145
To enable this, Sri Lankan banks must sign an agreement with an Indian bank to open "INR
Nostro accounts" which means the accounts that banks hold in a foreign currency in another
bank.
Another important development is that offshore banking units (OBU) of Lankan banks have
been permitted to accept savings, time, and demand deposits from non-residents.
All current account transactions including exports, imports, and remittances can be
undertaken between Lankan residents and non-residents.
So far, India's central bank has approved banks to open 12 Vostro accounts for trade in rupees
with Russia.
Quadrilateral agreement inked on Black Sea submarine electric cable
Romania, Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed an agreement on the Black Sea submarine
cable for the transport of electricity from the Caspian area to Romania.
The 500 kV submarine cable between Georgia and Romania would be 1,100 km long and have a
capacity of 1 GW.
About the Agreement :
The quadrilateral intergovernmental agreement will provide the financial and technical
framework for the implementation of the project according to which Azerbaijan will supply its
green electricity through power lines to Georgia, and then by the planned submarine cable to
Romania, and from there to Hungary and the rest of Europe, through the European transport
system.
The project also includes a telecommunications cable.
The feasibility study is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023 and the cable could be built in
late 2029.
India announces candidature for UNSC membership for the 2028-29 term
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar announced the candidature of India for non-
permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term.
On 1 December 2022 India got the presidency of the UNSC for December 2022, which rotates
monthly. India will have this presidency till 31 December.
Key Highlights :
Page 22 of 145
This is the second time India got the Presidency after holding the top spot in August 2021, during
which the government focused on maritime security, UN peacekeeping, and counter-
terrorism.
India has become a member of the Security Council for the 8th time.
India's previous seven terms on the council were from 1950–1951, 1967–1968, 1972–1973, 1977–
1978, 1984–1985, 1991–1992, and 2011–2012.
India has been at the forefront of efforts calling for urgent reform of the Security Council, which has
been highly divisive in dealing with current challenges.
India has presided over the Security Council during its two-year tenure as an elected member.
During India’s December Presidency of the UN Security Council, two high-level signature events
took place.
The meetings were held on ‘Reformed Multilateralism and Counter-Terrorism’ and chaired by
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The high-level open debate on the theme – “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: New
Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism” was held on December 14, 2022.
On December 15, 2022, a high-level briefing on the theme – “Threats to International Peace and
Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Global Approach to Counter Terrorism – Challenges and
Way Forward '' sought to build a consensus on the principles of a global counter-terror
architecture.
The high-level briefing aimed to enhance the Delhi Declaration adopted during the special meeting
of the counter-terrorism committee held in October 2022 in India.
About UNSC :
UN Security Council: The UN Security Council is composed of 15 members.
There are 5 permanent members, including China, France, the Russian Federation, the United
Kingdom, and the United States.
There are 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
The UNSC is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions on member states.
UN-Water & WHO Report Points to “Critical” Lack of Funding for WASH
Page 23 of 145
UN-Water and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released the 2022 edition of the Global
Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLAAS) report, which presents the
latest data from 121 countries and territories and 23 external support agencies.
The 2022 GLAAS report seeks to inform commitments, priority settings, and actions during the
second half of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN 2023 Water
Conference.
About the Report :
The report highlights opportunities to accelerate progress in key areas that positively affect the quality
and sustainability of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and delivery, pandemic
preparedness, and resilience to climate change.
Less than one-third of countries reported maintaining enough human resources to manage
essential WASH tasks.
Poor access to WASH claims millions of lives each year.
While 45% of countries are on track to achieve their nationally-defined drinking-water coverage
targets, only 25% of countries are on track to achieve their national sanitation targets.
It provides policy- and decision-makers at all levels with reliable, easily accessible, comprehensive
data on WASH systems, including governance, monitoring, human resources and finance.
It monitors elements of WASH systems that are required to sustain and extend WASH services and
systems to all, especially to the most vulnerable population groups.
About WHO :
Founded : 7 April 1948

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
Director General : Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
The WHO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
About UN-Water :
Founded : 2003
Page 24 of 145

UN-Water Chair : Gilbert Houngbo
UN-Water’s role is to ensure that Members and Partners’ deliver as one’ in response to water-related
challenges.
Urban-20 (U20) event being organised under G20 presidency of India
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates the first Metro rail in Dhaka

Bangladesh Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first metro rail service
in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The PM opened the 11.73-km part of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 of the metro rail project
from Diabari to Agargaon.
The government-owned company Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) is implementing
the metro rail project.
This is part of the ambitious Bangladesh project of Mass Rapid Transit to be completed by 2030.
She also released a commemorative banknote of Taka 50 to mark the metro’s opening.
Key Highlights :
Mariam Afiza became the first operator of the metro & PM Sheikh Hasina became the first
passenger to travel on the metro rail.
It is built with financial and technical support from Japan.
The metro rail network after completion in 2030 will cover a total length of 129 kilometers out of
which 61 kilometers will be underground.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been constructing the metro rail and providing
soft loans for the project.
The construction work of the MRT Line-6 began in 2016.
Ten pairs of trains with 6 six coaches each will run on this route initially for 4 hours carrying about 5
lakh passengers daily.
It is a great achievement for Bangladesh being the first high-speed rail service with a top speed of
110 kilometers per hour.
Page 25 of 145
It is also the first time that Bangladesh will be running an electric train in a country that is
environmentally safe.
About Bangladesh :
President: Mohammad Abdul Hamid
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
Capital: Dhaka
Currency: Taka
India hands over 720 MW Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project to Bhutan
The India-assisted 720 Megawatts (MW) Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Power Project (HEPP) has
been handed to Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) in Bhutan.
The handover was held in Thimphu, in a ceremony that was witnessed by Bhutan's Minister of
Economic Affairs Lyonpo Loknath Sharma, and India's Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar
Dalela.
With the handing over of the project, India and Bhutan have completed 4 mega hydroelectric power
projects.
About Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Power Project :
The Project was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his Bhutanese
counterpart Lotay Tshering in 2019.
The commissioning of the project has increased Bhutan's Electrical Power Generation Capacity by
44% and it is now at 2,326 Mega Watts.
The Project has generated more than 9000 million units of energy since its commissioning, reducing
2.4 million tons of emissions annually.
The commissioning of the Project led to an increase of 31% in hydropower revenues of Bhutan in
2020.
In 2021, the Project exported electricity worth Rs 12.13 billion to India, increasing Bhutan's electricity
exports to Rs 24.43 billion.
About Bhutan :
Prime Minister: Lotay Tshering
Capital: Thimphu
Page 26 of 145
Currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum

In the process to organise the Urban 20 event, Gujarat CM Shri Bhupendra Patel unveiled the logo,
website, and social media handles of Urban-20.
What is Urban 20 (U20) ?
Urban-20 (U20) is one of the Engagement Groups of G20.

Hosted: Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage city will host the U20 event.
Participants - Besides G20 countries, the Mayors and representatives of C40 (Climate 40), UCLG
(United Cities and Local Governments) member cities, and Observer Cities.
Purpose: It provides a platform for cities from G20 countries to facilitate discussions on various
important issues of urban development including climate change, social inclusion, sustainable
mobility, affordable housing and financing of urban infrastructure and propose collective solutions.
Objective - The effort of this cycle will be to move from ‘intention to action’.
It drafts a roadmap for closing the gaps between policy and practice to address critical urban
issues.
Ahmedabad became a member of the C40 in 2022 and has been a member of other global alliances
like the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives(ICLEI).
The first Sherpa meeting of the Urban 20 event is scheduled to be held on February 09-10, 2023.
Priority areas for the Urban 20 event are as follows:
Encouraging environmentally responsive behaviour
Ensuring water security
Accelerating Climate Finance
Leveraging ‘local’ potential and identity
Reinventing urban governance and planning frameworks
Catalysing digital urban futures
About MoHUA :
Cabinet Minister : Hardeep Singh Puri

Minister of State : Kaushal Kishore
Page 27 of 145
Jan 2023– International Current Affairs

IISc Bengaluru to be G20 Science working group’s secretariat
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) of Bengaluru has been chosen as the secretariat for
Science 20 (S20) – the science working group of the G20 summit.
The G20 is being presided over by India and the theme of the S20 in 2023 is ‘Disruptive Science
for Innovative and Sustainable Development’.
The G20 forum is made up of 19 countries and includes the European Union (EU).
About the S20 2023 :
Science 20 (S20) 2023 will work towards resolving global issues like poverty.
It will focus on three key issues:
Universal Holistic Health
Clean Energy for Green Future
Connecting Science to Society and Culture
These three issues will be discussed at the events that will be held in Agartala, Lakshadweep, and
Bhopal throughout the year 2023
The S20 will play a major role in resolving global concerns like the hunger crisis and bring together
the Group of 20 countries in developmental efforts.
The S20 2023 will focus on creating a framework that supports the development of responsible
technologies, encouraging IP sharing and technological transfers, and startup mentorship
programs and funding.
It will also promote global support for large-scale science projects, and a framework for holistic
health programs and mental health programs.
Also, an inaugural conference will be held in Puducherry from January 30 to 31, 2023 and a
summit meeting will be organized in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
S20 will be a platform for addressing issues like climate change and sustainable development in
G20 nations.
International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 kickstarts
Page 28 of 145
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets
(IYM), a proposal sponsored by the Government of India (GoI) to promote these "Nutri-
cereals."
The declaration will be helpful to the Government of India in articulating its goal of making IYM
2023 a "People's Movement" as well as presenting India as the "Global Hub for Millets," as
India produces one-fifth of the world's millets.
About Millets :
Millets are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses that are often referred to as “Nutri-
cereals”.
Millets’ were among the first crops to be domesticated in India with several evidence of their
consumption during the Indus valley civilization.
In India, millets are primarily a Kharif crop, requiring less water and agricultural inputs than other
similar staples.
The main millet-growing states in India are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
and Madhya Pradesh.
Millets are also an integral part of the G-20 meetings and delegates will be given a true millet
experience through tasting, meeting farmers, and interactive sessions with start-ups and
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
Key Statistics :
India is the largest producer of millet in the world.
Currently, India is the fifth largest exporter of millets in the world, according to 2020 data with
exports continuously increasing at around 3% Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the
last five years ending with 2020.
The global market for millets is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period,
2021-2026.
India is the world leader in the production of millet with a share of around 41% of total world
production in 2020.
According to Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare data, India produces around 12 million
MT of millet annually
Page 29 of 145
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations organized the opening
ceremony of the International Millet Year- 2023 on 6 December 2022 in Rome, Italy.
Earlier in April 2018, millet was promoted as a "nutritional grain & after this, the year 2018 was
declared the National Millet Year.
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare sponsored a special "Millet Luncheon" for
the Members of the Parliament in the Parliament House in preparation for the year-long
celebration of IYM 2023.
Activities for the International Year of Millets :
The ministry has planned 15 activities over 15 days in January 2023 which include engaging sports
persons, nutritionists, and fitness experts through video messages.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries will be organizing Millet Fair-cum-exhibitions in
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India (FSSAI) will hold Eat Right Melas in Punjab, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will participate in the trade exhibition
organized in Belgium in January 2023.
Cabinet Minister: Narendra Singh Tomar
Minister of State : Shobha Karandlaje
Secretary: Shri Sanjay Agarwal
UNSC adopts first-ever resolution on Myanmar, demanding an end to violence and release of
political prisoners
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC ) has adopted its first-ever resolution on Myanmar
in 74 years to demand an end to violence and urge the military junta to release all political
prisoners, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar has been in crisis since the army took power from Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb.
1, 2021, detaining her and other officials.
Page 30 of 145
Key Highlights :
The 15-member council has long been split on how to deal with the Myanmar crisis with China
and Russia arguing against strong action.
The remaining 12 members voted in favour.
The resolution urges the junta to immediately release all arbitrarily detained prisoners, including
Suu Kyi and ex-president Win Myint.
It also demands an immediate end to all forms of violence and asks for all parties to respect
human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.
About UNSC :
Headquarters: New York, United States
India's permanent representative to the UN: Ruchira Kamboj (India’s first woman Permanent
Representative to the UN)
Membership: 15 countries (Permanent members- China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United
States)
Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun
Croatia Joins Schengen Zone and Adopts the Euro
Croatia has switched its currency to the euro and joined the European Union’s borderless
Schengen zone.
Croatia first entered the European Union (EU) in 2013 and now becomes the 27th country to join
the Schengen area and the 20th to adopt the euro as its currency.
However, Croatia will continue to impose strict border controls on its eastern boundaries with non-
EU neighbours such as Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
About Schengen Area :
The Schengen Area is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all
passports and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.
Of the 27 EU member states, 23 participate in the Schengen Area & 4 EU members are not part of
the Schengen Area.
Page 31 of 145
The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990 Schengen Convention, both
signed in Schengen, Luxembourg.
About the Euro area :
Euro area or ‘eurozone’ is a bloc of the member states of the European Union (EU) that have
replaced their national currencies with a single currency – the euro.
Before adopting the euro as its currency, Croatia used the kuna with 1 Croatian kuna equalling
about 14 cents in the United States.
Currently, 1 euro equals about $1.06 in the U.S.
The new Croatian euro coin will depict scientist Nikola Tesla on one side.
It will also feature a map of the country and the national checkerboard design.
Both the Croatian kuna and the euro will remain available for making cash payments for 14 days,
after which people can only use euros.
About Croatia :
President : Zoran Milanović

Capital: Zagreb
Currency: Euro
India takes over leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union

India took over the leadership of the Asia Pacific Postal Union (APPU) in January 2023.
Former Member (Personnel) of, the Postal Services Board, Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh will take over
the charge of Secretary General of the Union for a tenure of 4 years.
This is the result of the elections during the 13th APPU Congress held in August-September
2022, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Singh will succeed Mr.Lin Hongliang of China.
This is the first time an Indian is leading an international organization in the postal sector.
About APPU :
Founded: 1 July 1982
Page 32 of 145
Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand

Secretary General : Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh
Membership: 32 state members
India has been a member of APPU since 1973.
The APPU is the only Restricted Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in the region, which
is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Goal :
To extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between member countries and to promote
cooperation in the field of postal services.
The Secretary-General leads the activities of the Union and is also the Director of the Asian
Pacific Postal College (APPC) which is the largest intergovernmental postal training institute
in the region.
The APPU is responsible for overseeing the technical and operational UPU projects in the region
as the regional centre for several UPU activities, enabling the best possible integration of the
region into the global postal network.
India identifies copper and lithium mines in Argentina
India has identified 2 lithium mines and 1 copper mine in Argentina for a possible acquisition or
long-term lease.
The Centre sent a team of 3 geologists to the Latin American nation to assess potential lithium
deposits and possible acquisition opportunities in November 2022.
The team consisted of one geologist from the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL),
KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd), and the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
Key Highlights :
Argentina is ranked among the main mineral reserves across the globe.
Lithium reserves have been found in all the continents but Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia together
are referred to as the “Lithium Triangle”- holding underneath in its salt flats more than 75% of
the world supply.
Argentina is the 4th largest producer of lithium.
It also has the 3rd-largest reserve of minerals in the world.
Page 33 of 145
Australia is the top lithium producer globally.

The US and China, are key producers of the mineral besides the Lithium Triangle.
Lithium is widely used in manufacturing batteries and other electronic products.
About KABIL :
Established: 2019
KABIL is a joint venture formed through the participation of the National Aluminium Company
(Nalco), Hindustan Copper (HCL), and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL).
Aim :
To ensure a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals in the domestic market.
New Members Join United Nations Security Council
Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland officially began their 2-year term as non-
permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC ).
The 5 latest UNSC members - Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland are replacing
India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway, whose terms ended on December 31, 2022.
In a tradition that Kazakhstan started in 2018, the 5 countries' ambassadors installed their national
flags alongside those of other members outside the council chambers.
Malta joined for a 2nd time, Ecuador a 4th, and Japan a record 12th.
The other current two-year members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab
Emirates.
About United Nations Security Council :
Membership: 15 countries (Including 5 permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United
Kingdom, and the United States)
It is responsible for maintaining international peace and security
India & Panama sign agreement on cooperation in training of diplomats
India and Panama signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation for
the training of diplomats.
Page 34 of 145
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Panama's Foreign Minister
Janaina Tewaney Mencomo signed the MoU during the 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD)
Convention 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (MP).
About the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention :
The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the
Madhya Pradesh Government from 08-10 January 2023 in Indore, MP
The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit
Kaal”.
Key Highlights :
During the consultations, both sides comprehensively reviewed their bilateral relations
covering issues such as trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, capacity building, space
cooperation, and consular.
They also discussed the ways to improve the economic, health, financial and people-to-people
ties between India and Panama.
Both leaders have also shared their perspectives on global situations.
About Panama :
President : Laurentino Cortizo
Capital: Panama City
Currency: Balboa
India, and the UK sign & exchange letters to formalize Young Professional Scheme in
London
Page 35 of 145
India and the United Kingdom (UK) signed and exchanged letters of the UK-India Young
Professional Scheme (YPS) at an event in London, UK.
High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram K Doraiswami, and Matthew Rycroft, the
permanent secretary at the Home Office of the UK signed the event.
It is for the first time that the UK has done such an agreement with a visa-national country like
India.
About the Scheme :

The YPS is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Migration and Mobility
Partnership between the two governments which was signed on May 4, 2021.
PM Shri Narendra Modi and UK PM Mr. Rishi Sunak announced the launch of the Young
Professional Scheme at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.
The scheme will allow graduates aged 18 to 30 to stay in the other country for up to 2 -years
without needing to have a job in hand.
The scheme allows for exchange visas for up to 3,000 individuals per year
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the state of the wide-ranging India-UK Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership and progress on the Roadmap 2030 for future relations.
About the UK :
Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak
Capital: London
Currency: Pound sterling
Guyana offers 200 acres of land for the exclusive production of millet
President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali offered 200 acres of
land in Guyana to India for cultivation and production of millets for the private sector after
the United Nations (UN) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millet (IYOM).
The offer was made by Mr. Irfaan Ali to Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri
Narendra Singh Tomar, who called on the visiting foreign dignitary in New Delhi.
Page 36 of 145
Mr. Irfaan Ali also requested Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s presence at the Conference of
Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in February 2023 to present
India’s vision on agriculture and food security.
Key Highlights :
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023
the International Year of Millets (IYM).
The IYM 2023 is an opportunity to raise awareness of, and direct policy attention to the nutritional
and health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under adverse and changing
climatic conditions.
IYM 2023 aims to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 8 (Decent work and
economic growth), SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (Climate
action) and SDG 15 (Life on land).
IYOM -2023 would provide an opportunity to increase global production, efficient processing,
and better use of crop rotation and promote millets as a major component of the food basket.
About Guyana
President: Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Capital: Georgetown
Currency: Guyanese dollar
India and UAE Sign Agreement on Green Hydrogen Development and Undersea Cable
Connectivity
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reached an agreement to collaborate on green
hydrogen development and the laying of an undersea cable connecting India to the UAE
under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s “One Sun, One World, One Grid” initiative.
Page 37 of 145
The Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy Shri RK Singh and UAE’s Minister of
Energy and Infrastructure Mr. Suhail Al Mazrouei signed the agreement during a meeting to
discuss opportunities for cooperation in the field of power and renewable energy.
Key Highlights :
India has undertaken the goal of becoming net zero by 2070 and is working on its way to fulfilling
other commitments underlined under the Paris Climate Agreement.
India is also moving towards the Mission announced by Prime Minister Modi and the UN Secretary-
General in October 2022 called Mission LiFE – Lifestyle for Environment.
Mr. RK Singh will be in charge of the 13th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA).
A 168-nation international organization devoted to renewable energy is called IRENA.
In November 2021, India, which had committed to generating around 40% of its total electricity
from non-fossil sources by 2030, achieved this goal 9 years earlier than expected.
About UAE :
President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: UAE dirham
UN General Assembly Adopts Indian Co-sponsored Resolution On 'Education For
Democracy'
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution titled 'Education for
Democracy,' which reaffirms everyone's right to an education.
The resolution, co-sponsored by India, acknowledges that "education for all" helps to strengthen
democracy.
About the resolution :
The resolution, adopted by consensus, will recognize the importance of ensuring inclusive and
equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The resolution also calls on member states to work on the challenges associated with access,
affordability, digital literacy, and digital skills.
Page 38 of 145
This isn't the first time that an education resolution has been adopted by the UN General
Assembly.
Earlier in 2015, a similar resolution was passed at the Assembly encouraging all UN entities to use
education to promote peace, human rights, and democracy.
The resolution aimed at encouraging member states to integrate education for democracy into
their education standards.
About UNGA :
Established: 1945
President : Csaba Kőrösi
The UNGA is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).
Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi To Be Chief Guest on Republic Day 2023
President of Egypt Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will be the chief guest at India's Republic Day
celebrations on 26 January 2023.
This is the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt will be the Chief Guest on
our Republic Day.
Also, this is the 1st first time India has invited a foreign dignitary to the event after the gap of
the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2020, Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who won the last elections to Luiz Inácio Lula
da Silva in October, was the chief guest.
Key Highlights :
The year 2022 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
Egypt has been invited as a 'Guest Country' during India's Presidency of G20 in 2022-23.
Ties between India and Egypt :
5th India – Egypt Joint Trade Committee meeting held in 2022 & the trade between India and
Egypt increased by 75% in the past year.
In April 2022, Egypt announced the inclusion of India in the list of accredited countries which can
supply wheat to Egypt, thus ending a long pending Non-Tariff Barrier.
Page 39 of 145
The first ever IAF-EAF Joint Tactical Air Exercise, Desert Warrior, was held in October 2021.
The first ever Special Forces exercise “Cyclone 1” between India and Egypt planned in Jodhpur,
Rajasthan in January 2022 stands postponed.
Egypt agreed to import wheat from India in 2022.
About Egypt :
President : Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
Capital: Cairo
Netherlands plans to shut Europe’s largest gas field in October 2023
The Netherlands plans to close Europe’s largest gas field, Groningen in October 2023 because it is
"very dangerous" to continue to manage it.
This was stated by Hans Vijlbrief, state secretary for mining, who is responsible for the
earthquake-prone Groningen gas field.
The Dutch government plans to close the earthquake-prone Groningen gas field by Oct. 1,
2023, but will monitor to see if there’s a gas shortage in Europe after this winter & if needed,
it could remain operating until October 2024.
The gasfield, located in Netherlands’ northeast region close to the German border, has only
been producing a fraction of its capacity.
About Groningen gas field :
The Groningen gas field opened in 1963.
With an estimated 2,740 billion cubic meters of recoverable natural gas, it is the largest natural
gas field in Europe and one of the largest in the world.
About the Netherlands :
Prime Minister: Mark Rutte
Capital: Amsterdam
Currency: Euro
First B20 meet to focus on climate action & resilient global value chains
Page 40 of 145
The first meeting (Three-day meeting) of Business 20 (B20)- G20’s business group, was
organized in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar city.
The meeting will focus on key issues from climate action, innovation, global digital cooperation,
and building resilient global value chains to promoting financial inclusion and raising a
digitally inclusive society.
The B20 India 2023 dialogue will take place under the theme of 'RAISE', an acronym for
Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable, and Equitable Businesses
Attendees :
Senior representatives and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from companies including Tata Sons,
MasterCard, Bajaj Finserv, Citigroup, Volkswagen, TVS, Amazon Web, HCL, and ITC will
attend the B20 India Inception meeting.
Union Commerce Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Gujarat
Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, and India's G20 Sherpa Mr. Amitabh Kant will take part.
Key Highlights :
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is the secretariat for B20 India and Tata Group
Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran is the chairman of B20 India.
This is the first of 15 meetings to be hosted by Gujarat as part of India's G20 presidency.
Gandhinagar will host 10 such meetings, Ahmedabad 2, and one meeting each will be held at
Surat, Kutch, and Ektanagar
Note :
Currently, India holds the presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023,
hosting the 18th edition of the summit.
About B20 :
The B20, established in 2010, is the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business
community.
Page 41 of 145
The mandate of B20 is to represent the voice of the international business community on global
economic issues.
WEF signs pact with Indonesia for Ocean conservation
The World Economic Forum (WEF) signed a new partnership with the Indonesian government to
support its ambitions to scale blue carbon restoration and ocean conservation efforts at the
Annual Meeting 2023.
The partnership is the first of a series being initiated by the Forum’s Ocean Action Agenda to help
meet the rapidly increasing demand for high-quality blue carbon credits and projects around
the world and connect global blue carbon actors from various sectors.
Key Highlights :
Blue carbon - the carbon captured and sequestered by ocean ecosystems, stores up to 5 times
more carbon per acre than tropical rainforests.
Indonesia, the largest archipelago nation in the world, is a leader in blue carbon and the
sustainable ocean economy and is home to the largest blue carbon resources in the world.
In November 2022, the WEF announced the launch of Ocean 20 (O20) with the Indonesian
government, which was then holding the Presidency of the G20, to fast-track sustainable blue
economies in the region.
About WEF :
Founded: 24 January 1971
Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland
Executive Chairman: Klaus Schwab
President : Børge Brende
The WEF is an international non-governmental and lobbying organization.
About Indonesia :
President : Joko Widodo
Capital: Jakarta
Currency : Indonesian rupiah
Page 42 of 145
Govt sets up India’s G20 task force on digital public infrastructure

The Centre has set up a G20 task force on digital public infrastructure for economic
transformation, financial inclusion, and development.
Aim :
To help India achieve its G20 presidency priorities for promoting digital identity, improved and
innovative technology-based services, including digital payments such as UPI along with
governance frameworks.
The task force will be headed by Amitabh Kant, India's G20 sherpa, and Nandan Nilekani,
Infosys co-founder.
Functions of G20 Task Force :

The “G20 Task Force will help achieve the agenda for India’s G20 presidency related to digital
public infrastructure, financial inclusion, digital identity, innovative technology-based services
such as digital payments systems like Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and governance
frameworks
The task force will create a detailed map of India’s digital infrastructure in finance, health,
education, data, taxation, digital commerce, and mobility and shortlist key infrastructure to
be presented within various G20 tracks.
The task force’s work will also facilitate the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI)
working group in G20’s finance track and the Digital Working Group (DEWG) in the Sherpa
track.
It will also assess the Indian ecosystem’s readiness to support global efforts and propose
solutions so that innovations can be taken to other countries promptly.
The focus areas include publicly owned digital goods such as digital identity, access to bank
services, fast retail payment system, data-sharing protocol, market-friendly techno-legal
regulatory frameworks, and involving the private sector for innovation and service delivery.
About G20 :
Established: 1999
Page 43 of 145
G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union (EU).
India to moot energy efficiency pact at G20
In line with New Delhi’s strong focus on energy transition and energy security, India planned to
launch an initiative “ Energy Efficiency partnership for 2030” during its G20 presidency this
year.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
The G20 discussions will focus on accelerating energy efficiency across demand-driven sectors,
including high energy-consuming industries such as cement and steel.
The talks would cover issues such as technology transfer for energy efficiency, promotion of
energy conservation, and adoption of highly efficient appliances.
The G20 Energy Transition Working Group will also work on a declaration from the G20 nations for
industrial transitions to achieve low emissions for high-energy-consuming sectors.
The working group along with sector experts would also identify new technologies and cost-
effective solutions to decarbonize sectors that are highly energy-consuming and where
efficiency is low.
The working group also expects to come up with a strategic plan for advancing energy efficiency
across all demand-driven sectors by the year 2030.
India becomes 1st nation to extend assurance to Sri Lanka for its debt restructuring
India has become the first creditor nation to extend assurance towards restructuring the debt of
Sri Lanka with financial assistance worth $4 billion as the island nation makes efforts to
unlock a bridge financing package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
India will encourage greater investment in core areas of energy, tourism, and infrastructure.
Key Highlights :
Dr. Jaishankar’s visit also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
the High Impact Community Development program on socio-economic development.
Page 44 of 145
He also participated in 3 virtual inauguration ceremonies which included handing over of Kandyan
Dance academy, a hundred houses each in Kandy, Nuwara Elia, and Galle, and 24 houses
each in Badulla and Anuradhapura.
In 2022, India provided $4.5 billion in assistance to Colombo to tide over its dire economic
situation.
About Sri Lanka :
President: Ranil Wickremesinghe

Prime Minister: Dinesh Chandra Rupasinghe Gunawardena
Capital: Colombo
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
India and Egypt reiterate support for Non-Aligned Movement
India and Egypt reiterated support for the Non-Aligned Movement.

In a joint statement issued after the end of bilateral engagements for President Abdel Fateh el-
Sisi, who was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade here, both countries expressed a
desire for an exchange of technology between their defense industries.
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the principles of the United
Nations Charter, international law, the founding values of the Non-Aligned Movement, and
respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states
Mr. Sisi arrived here on January 24 and held restricted and delegation-level talks at the Hyderabad
House on Wednesday, where he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed bilateral diplomatic
relations between India and Egypt.
The two countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
India and Egypt agreed to “initiate new engagements to intensify military-to-military
engagements” and planned more joint exercises between the armed forces of the two
countries.
The ties have been on an upswing in the recent past and both delegations supported reform of the
UN Security Council, where Egypt was a non-permanent member during 2016-17 and India
had a similar stint during 2021-22.
Page 45 of 145
Egypt’s relationship with India was also helped by its display of pragmatism especially in the
backdrop of the Nupur Sharma controversy of 2022 when Cairo maintained silence while certain
Gulf countries were vocal in India’s criticism.
India-Egypt MoU on cultural cooperation signed for 5 years - Culture Ministry
The Ministry of Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cultural

cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the
Arab Republic of Egypt, to strengthen the cultural ties with Egypt.
Under the aegis of the MoU on Cultural Cooperation, both countries look forward to witnessing a
host of cultural activities happening in due course in the realm of Music, Dance, Theatre,
Literature, Library, Organising Festivals in respective countries, and Research and
Documentation, etc.
For continued cultural cooperation, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for
5 years.
The MoU was signed and exchanged by Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy and the Arab
Republic of Egypt Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry.
About the Ministry of Culture :
Cabinet Minister: G. Kishan Reddy

Minister of State: Meenakshi Lekhi
About Egypt :
President : Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Capital: Cairo
Page 46 of 145
Sri Lanka To release Stamp With India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru's Portrait on 75th National
Independence Day
As part of its 75th National Independence Day celebrations, the government of Sri Lanka has
decided to release a commemorative stamp that will include a portrait of the first Indian
Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The main ceremony of the National Independence Day Celebrations will be held on February 4,
2023, at Galle Face Green in Colombo Sri Lanka.
Many cultural and religious programs have been organized throughout the country in conjunction
with the 75th National Independence Festival.
The theme of this year’s Independence day celebration will be “Namo Namo Matha - A Step
towards a Century”.
In the next 25 years, the government will head on towards a new reformist course and intends to
implement stable government policies until the country celebrates its 100th year of
Independence in 2048.
About Sri Lanka :
President: Ranil Wickremesinghe

Prime Minister: Dinesh Chandra Rupasinghe Gunawardena
Capital: Colombo
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
The Rachid Karameh International Fair of Tripoli (Lebanon) inscribed on UNESCO's World
Heritage List
Page 47 of 145
The Rachid Karami International Fair (RKIF) located in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli has
been officially inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger.
The RKIF would receive international attention and continued support from UNESCO, which
contribute to its restoration and preservation.
The World Heritage Committee used an emergency procedure to inscribe the site, due to its
alarming state of conservation, the lack of financial resources for its maintenance, and the
latent risk of development proposals that could affect the integrity of the complex.
Some of the famous UNESCO World Heritage sites in India :
Taj Mahal, Hampi

Ajanta Caves
Ellora Caves
Agra Fort
Kaziranga National Park
About RKIF :
The RKIF was designed in 1962 by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer to house a permanent
international fair capable of accommodating up to 2 million visitors a year, including a grand
exhibition hall, a national pavilion, and an outdoor concert stage.
It is Lebanon's 6th monument to enter the UNESCO World Heritage List
About UNESCO :
Founded: 16 November 1945

Headquarters: Paris, France
Director-General, Audrey Azoulay.
UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Page 48 of 145
Aim :
To promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts,
sciences, and culture.
China's population drops for first time since 1961
According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS), the
population in the Chinese mainland in 2022 is 1.41175 billion which will fall by 850,000 from
2021.
China’s population declined for the first time since 1961 due to a plunging birth rate.
The NBS announcement comes at a time when China’s economic growth fell to its second-lowest
in five decades, registering a paltry 3% increase in 2022.
Key Highlights : ·
China registered about 9.56 million new-borns,2022 down from 10.62 million in 2021.
China’s birth rate stood at 6.77 births per 1,000 people in 2022, down from 7.52 in 2021.
The death rate nationwide stood at 7.37 per 1,000 people,2022 putting the natural growth rate at
negative 0.6 per 1,000 people.
India is projected to have a population of 1.668 billion in 2050, more than China’s 1.317 billion by
the middle of this century.
China implemented a ‘third-child policy’ in May 2021 and rolled out a series of stimulus measures
to boost population growth.
As per the revised policy, Chinese people can now have up to three children.
China conducts a nationwide population census every decade, with the latest being done in 2020.
According to a recent report by the World Population Prospects 2022 by the United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, India is projected to
surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023.
About China :
President : Xi Jinping
Page 49 of 145
Capital : Beijing
Currency : Renminbi
India signs MoU with South Africa to bring 12 more cheetahs in February 2023
India and South Africa have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to bring in dozens
of African cheetahs to India over the next 10 years, in a new development for Project
Cheetah.
An initial batch of 12 cheetahs (7 male and 5 female) is scheduled to be flown from South Africa
to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh (MP), India in February, 2023.
South Africa will provide 12 cheetahs per year to India over the next 8 to 10 years.
This agreement will be reviewed after 5 years.
Key Highlights :
Most of the world's 7,000 cheetahs live in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.
Namibia has the largest population of Cheetahs in the world, earning it the title "The Cheetah
Capital of the World."
As part of the cheetah reintroduction programme, the first batch of 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3
males) were brought to Kuno in 2022.
Cheetahs are being reintroduced after they became extinct in India during the last century due to
overhunting and habitat loss.
On September 17, 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had released 8 cheetahs flown in
from Namibia into the KNP.
Under the ‘Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetah in India’, prepared by the Wildlife Institute
of India, 50 cheetahs will be brought from African countries to various national parks over 5
years.
Cheetah is the only large carnivore that got completely wiped out from India due to over-hunting
and habitat loss.
The last cheetah died in Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was
declared extinct in 1952.
About South Africa :
Page 50 of 145
President : Cyril Ramaphosa

Capitals : Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein
Currency : South African rand
India extends USD 40 mn for bolstering sports infrastructure in Maldives - EAM Jaishankar
India’s External Affairs Minister Shri S. Jaishankar has extended a concessional USD 40 million
Line of Credit for developing sporting infrastructure in the Maldives.
This is part of New Delhi’s efforts to bring PM Narendra Modi’s flagship projects such as “Fit
India” and “Khelo India” into the ambit of the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.
Fit India and Khelo India were introduced by the Modi government to revive sporting and fitness
culture at the grass root level in the country.
Jaishankar inaugurated the community centre with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid.
The community centre in Shaviyani Foakaidhoo is part of 45 high-impact projects that India is
partnering with the Maldives government, of which 23 have been completed.
Foakaidhoo is one of the inhabited islands of the Shaviyani Atoll administrative division and is
geographically part of the Miladhummadulhu Atoll in the Maldives.
Additionally, New Delhi was working with the Male to augment Maldives Industrial Fisheries
Company’s processing and cold storage capacities.
The Maldives and Sri Lanka are India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and
occupy a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All
in the Region) and ‘Neighbourhood First’.
About Maldives :
President : Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

Capital : Malé
Currency : Maldivian rufiyaa
Page 51 of 145
Feb 2023– International Current Affairs

South Africa to host 15th BRICS summit at Durban in August 2023
● Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov & Foreign Minister of the State of Eritrea Osman
Saleh announced that the 15th BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa)
summit is set to take place in South Africa's Durban in late August, 2023.
● The foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, and China met for the first time on the
sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2006, kicking off BRIC
cooperation.
● South Africa participated in the 3rd BRICS summit in China for the first time in April 2011.
● Earlier in 2013, the 5th annual BRICS summit was held in Durban, South Africa.
● Since 2009, the BRICS leaders have convened 14 formal meetings and 9 informal meetings.
Note :
● Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired the 14th BRICS Summit in Beijing, China
● Theme of the 14th BRICS Summit: Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New
Era for Global Development.
About BRICS :
● Established : 2006
● Headquarters : Shanghai, China
About South Africa :
● President : Cyril Ramaphosa

● Capital : Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein
● Currency : South African rand
G-20 International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting to be held in Chandigarh
● The first International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting of G-20 under the
chairmanship of India will be held in Chandigarh on 30-31 January 2023.
Page 52 of 145
● The meeting will be inaugurated by the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri
Narendra Singh Tomar and Food Processing Industries Minister Shri Pashupati Kumar Paras.
About G-20 International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting :
● The International Financial Architecture Working Group is one of the important working groups
under the G-20 finance track, which focuses on strengthening international financial
architecture.
● It will also aim to address various challenges faced by vulnerable countries.
● Around 100 delegates from G-20 member nations, invited countries and international
organisations will participate in the two-day meeting.
● Discussions during the two-day meeting will be jointly moderated by the Ministry of Finance
(MoF) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as well as by the co-chairs of the International
Financial Architecture Working Group, - France and South Korea.
● The meeting will discuss ways to enhance the stability and cohesion of the international
financial architecture and how to make it capable of addressing the global challenges of the
21st century.
● It will also focus on finding ways to maximise aid to poor and vulnerable countries.
● On the sidelines of the G-20 Working Group meeting a G-20 event titled 'Central Bank Digital
Currencies (CBDCs): Opportunities and Challenges' will also be held.
● The first meeting of the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors is scheduled
to be held in Bengaluru on 24-25 February 2023.
● Cabinet Minister : Narendra Singh Tomar

● Minister of State : Shobha Karandlaje, Kailash Choudhary
Bengaluru to host 1st G20 ETWG meeting under India's presidency
• The first G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India's presidency
will be held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from Feb 5 to 7, 2023.
Page 53 of 145
• The meeting will have over 150 participants including G20 member countries and 9 special
invitee guest countries - Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman,
Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Spain.
• In addition, leading international organisations including The World Bank, Asian Development
Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Energy Agency
(IEA) will be part of the meeting.
Key Highlights :
Agenda of the Meeting
• The 3-day meeting will focus on 6 priority areas.

1. Energy transition through addressing technology gaps
2. Low-cost financing for energy transition
3. Energy security and diversified supply chains
4. Energy efficiency, industrial low carbon transitions and responsible consumption
5. Fuels for Future (3F) and
6. Universal access to clean energy and just, affordable, and inclusive energy transition pathway
• The Ministry of Power, the nodal Ministry for ETWG will lead the discussions and negotiations
on focused priority areas.
• On the sidelines, the ETWG meeting will be complemented by a high-level international seminar
on ‘Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).
• The seminar will focus on highlighting the importance of carbon capture, utilisation, and
storage, considered vital for achieving net-zero targets.
• India has assumed the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to 30
November 2023 and over 200 meetings will be held across the country.
• The G20 Leaders' Summit at the level of Heads of State/Government is scheduled to be held
on September 9 and 10, 2023 in New Delhi.
CAG India takes over chairmanship of audit institutions of G20 nations
Page 54 of 145
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has taken over the chairmanship of
Supreme Audit Institutions 20 (SAI20) with India assuming the G20 presidency on December
1, 2022.
• The SAI 20 Engagement Group of G20 nations recognizes the crucial role of SAI in fortifying
governance
• The SAI20 Engagement Group under CAG of India aims to bring together an ecosystem wherein
SAIs are active partners in governance, promoting transparency and accountability.
Key Highlights :
• Under the guiding philosophy for India's Presidency of G20 i.e. Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam, who
sees the world as 'One Earth, One Family, and One Future', Comptroller and Auditor General
(C&AG) of India is proposing collaboration of G20 SAIs on 2 priority areas of Blue Economy and
Responsible Artificial Intelligence.
• Secretary General, SAI Indonesia Bahtiar Arif formally handed over the presidency of SAI20 to
Parveen Mehta, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Deputy CAG) who represented SAI
India in the meeting.
About CAG :
• Current CAG of India : Girish Chandra Murmu

• The CAG is the supreme audit institution of India, established under Article 148 of the
Constitution of India.
• The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India is appointed by the President of India
India, US National Security Advisors launches US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technologies
• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan formally launched
the United States (US)-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in
Washington, US
Key Highlights :
Page 55 of 145
• iCET was announced during bilateral talks between Prime Minister (PM) Shri Narendra Modi
and US President Mr Joe Biden in Tokyo in 2022 on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders
Summit.
• Under iCET, the both countries have identified 6 areas of cooperation which would include
scientific research and development; quantum and artificial intelligence, defense innovation,
space, advanced telecom which would include things like 6G and semiconductors.
About NSA :
• The NSA is the primary advisor to the PM of India.

• He also presides over the National Security Council (NSC).
• NSC operates within the executive office of the PM, liaising between the government’s
executive branch and the intelligence services.
India & US agree to constitute task force to boost cooperation in semiconductor

industry
• The US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and India Electronics and

Semiconductor Association (IESA) plan to strengthen public-private collaboration in the
chip ecosystem by forming a private-sector task force.
Aim :
• To develop a readiness assessment in order to identify near-term opportunities and help in

the longer-term development of semiconductor ecosystems.
• NSA Ajit Doval co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technologies (iCET) with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan at the White House in Washington.
Key Highlights :
• Both sides established a quantum coordination mechanism with participation from industry
and academia.
• In the field of defence manufacturing, the two sides agreed to focus on joint production of
key items of mutual interest.
Page 56 of 145
• A new innovation Bridge will be established to connect defence startups on both sides.
• India and the US agreed to launch a public-private dialogue that will cover 5G and 6G and
Open Radio Access Network (ORAN).
About US :
• President : Joe Biden

• Capital : Washington, D.C
• Currency : U.S. dollar
India to be theme country at 2025 Madrid International Book Fair
• The Ambassador of Spain to the country Jose Maria Ridao announced that India will be
invited as the focal country at the Madrid International Book Fair in 2025.
• Spain is the theme country at the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair which will be held
from 31st Jan, 2023 to 12th Feb, 2023.
• Jose Maria Ridao announced that a football dictionary of Spanish to Bengali will be launched
at the Kolkata Book Fair, containing terms and phrases used in the Spanish league.
• Kolkata book fair has kicked off at Salt Lake.
• More than 950 stalls will be set up at the fair, which has been inaugurated by Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee.
• Eminent Bengali writer Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay was felicitated at the inaugural ceremony
Russian crude oil imports create another record in January 2023
● According to energy cargo tracker Vortexa, India imported a record volume of crude oil from
Russia in January,2023 accounting for 28% of its total imports.
● In January,2023 India received 1.27 million barrels per day (mbd) of Russian crude, 6% more
than in December, while China received 0.98 mbd of seaborne Russian crude and Europe 0.27
mbd.
Key Highlights :
● Russia remained the top crude supplier to India for the fourth month in a row in January,
improving its market share from 26% in December.
Page 57 of 145
● Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE also expanded their share in a month by one percentage point
each to 20%, 17%, and 8%, respectively.
● The share of the US rose from 7% to 9% while that of Africa fell from 9% to 6% in January.
● India's overall crude imports fell 6% over the previous month to 4.6 mbd in January.
● Private sector refiners such as RIL and Russia-backed Nayara Energy accounted for 47% of
the total Russian crude imports in January.
About Russia :
● President : Vladimir Putin

● Prime Minister : Mikhail Mishustin
● Capital : Moscow
● Currency : Russian rouble
Bangladesh drops parboiled rice G2G import deals with Indian co-op agencies
• Bangladesh has cancelled its orders to import 2 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice from 2 Indian
cooperative agencies through government-to-government (G2G) deals after having kept
them in “abeyance” for a few weeks.
• The return of the “bid bonds” is a confirmation of Dhaka cancelling its plans to import the rice
as part of its efforts to buy 5 lakh tonnes for its public distribution system.
• Sheikh Hasina Wajed government decided to suspend the process of buying overpriced rice
from the two agencies NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd) and
Kendriya Bhandar.
Impact on India :
• The impact of the deal is being felt in the Indian domestic market with prices of parboiled rice
dropping at least 10% after having increased 30% in January to ₹29,000 a tonne.
• Prices had surged on expectations of the G2G rice deals with Bangladesh going through.
• Dhaka’s plans to enter into G2G deals to import parboiled rice ran into rough weather after it
faced criticism of paying a higher price than what some private Indian exporters had quoted in a
global tender to import 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice.
Page 58 of 145
What is G2G?
• G2G is a term used to describe interactions between governments, typically at the national
level.
• These interactions can take a variety of forms, including diplomatic relations, economic
cooperation, military alliances and so on
About Bangladesh :
• President : Mohammad Abdul Hamid

• Prime Minister : Sheikh Hasina
• Capital : Dhaka
• Currency : Taka
India & EU set up 3 working groups under Trade and Tech Council
• India and the European Union (EU) announced the formation of 3 working groups under the
‘Trade and Technology Council’ (TTC) with a focus on trade, investment & value chains,
digital economy and clean technology.
• This follows the announcement by President of the European Commission Ursula von der
Leyen and Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on 25 April 2022 in New Delhi.
• The TTC with India is the European Union’s(EU’s) 2nd such technology partnership after the
1st one with the United States(US) that was firmed up in June 2021.
Key Highlights :
• Under the TTC, 3 working groups have been established.

• The 1st working group is on strategic technologies, digital governance and digital
connectivity chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
• The 2nd one will cover green and clean energy technologies chaired by the Principal
Scientific Adviser to the Govt of India.
• The 3rd working group is on trade, investment and resilient value chains chaired by the
secretary, Department of Commerce.
Page 59 of 145
• The group will cover key issues such as strategic technologies, digital governance and
connectivity; green and clean energy technologies; and trade, investment and resilient value
chains
• The TTC will be co-chaired on the EU side by Executive Vice-Presidents Margrethe Vestager
and Valdis Dombrovskis, and on the Indian side by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar,
Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of Electronics and Information
Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw
• It will allow India and the EU to tackle strategic challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted
technology and security, and to deepen their bilateral relationship and help implement political
commitments in these fields.
• The first EU-India ministerial meeting is planned to be held in spring 2023.
About EU :
• Headquarters : Brussels, Belgium

• Membership : 27 members
• President of the European Council : Charles Michel
India, France And UAE Unveil Plans For Cooperation Under Trilateral Framework
• India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unveiled an ambitious roadmap for
cooperation in a wide range of areas including defence, energy and technology under a
trilateral framework, a move that comes amid the geopolitical turmoil triggered by the conflict
in Ukraine.
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a telephonic conversation in
this regard to adopt a roadmap for the implementation of this initiative.
• The three foreign ministers met in September, 2022 for the first time in a trilateral format on
the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Key Highlights :
Page 60 of 145
• The three countries will explore the possibility of creating a project on clean energy,
environment and biodiversity together with the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
• They will ensure harmony between economic, technological and social policies in line with the
Paris Agreement.
• In line with this system, a series of trilateral events will take place this year during the G-20
under the presidency of India and the COP-28 hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in
2023.
• The three countries agreed to expand their cooperation through initiatives such as the
Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) led by the UAE and the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership
led by India and France.
• They also underlined their willingness to cooperate in the field of circular economy under the
Mission LiFE.
About France :
• President : Emmanuel Macron

• Prime Minister : Élisabeth Borne
• Capital : Paris
• Currency : Euro, CFP franc
About UAE :
• President : Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

• Capital : Abu Dhabi
• Currency : UAE dirham
Srilanka celebratesd 75 years of independence
• Sri Lanka celebrated 75 years of Independence on the 4th Feb, 2023 under the theme Namo
Namo Matha – A step towards a century.
• The main celebration of the National Independence Day Celebrations was held at Galle Face
Green in Colombo.
Page 61 of 145
• Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan participated in the

Independence Day celebrations.
• A special cultural arts festival Lankaralanka was held at Independence Square in Colombo.
• The Jaffna cultural centre which was built under an Indian grant will also be opened in a few
days.
Key Highlights :
• Sri Lanka got independence from British rule in 1948.

• It was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon.
• Sri Lanka became a republic on May 22, 1972 and was renamed the Republic of Sri Lanka.
• Its executive and judicial capital is Colombo, and its legislative capital is Sri
Jayawardenepura Kotte.
• The first Prime Minister (PM) of Sri Lanka was Don Stephen Senanayake, who is regarded
as the Father of the Nation.
• In 1972, William Gopalwa became the first President of Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lankan rupee is the official currency of Sri Lanka.
About Sri Lanka :
• President : Ranil Wickremesinghe

• Prime Minister : Dinesh Gunawardena
CAG to host 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SAI Leaders’ Meeting in Lucknow
• The 6th Meeting of the Heads of Supreme Audit Institutes (SAIs) of Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO) Member States is being hosted by the Comptroller and Auditor
General (CAG) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel is the chief guest & inaugurated the meeting.
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu led the discussion on the
theme "Integrating Emerging Technologies in Audit".
Page 62 of 145
• Girish Chandra Murmu has called for global cooperation to protect audit from cyber security
threats.
• Heads of top audit institutions and delegations from 4 of the 8 SCO member states -
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are participating in the three-day
multilateral event.
Key Highlights :
• Shri Murmu informed that the CAG is using Artificial Intelligence technology in the audit
process.
• This provides a more efficient and effective approach to the audit process and improves the
overall quality of the audit.
• India is currently hosting the SCO presidency, which rotates annually among member states.
• India's 2023 theme is 'Towards a Secure SCO'.
About SCO :
• Established : 15 June 2001

• Headquarters : Beijing, China
• Membership : China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,Uzbekistan and
Pakistan.
• In 2005, India was given 'observer' status in the SCO, and in 2017, India became a full
member at the Astana summit
• The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, International security and defence organisation.
About CAG :
• The CAG is the supreme audit institution of India, established under Article 148 of the
Constitution of India.
• The CAG is appointed by the President of India.
• The CAG is also the statutory auditor of Government-owned corporations
Page 63 of 145
India Plans To Promote Green Tourism & Open Up 50 Tourism Destinations During G20
Presidency
• India plans to promote green tourism, open up to 50 new tourism destinations & launch a
publicity campaign in overseas markets during its presidency of the G20 for 2023.
Key Highlights :
• During the year, India will host more than 200 G20 meetings at over 50 locations including key
tourist attractions in Rajasthan, Goa, and Jammu & Kashmir regions, etc.
• India took on the G20 presidency from December 01, 2022, to November 30, 2023.
• The government estimates that foreign tourist numbers could reach 15 million in 2024,
contributing more than $30 billion in earnings.
• While presenting the 2023-24 budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated 24
billion rupees ($290 million) for tourism infrastructure, including 2.42 billion rupees for the
promotion and branding of tourist destinations.
About G20 :
• The G20 or Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the
European Union (EU).
• Members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy,
South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom,
the United States, and the European Union.
108 Buddhist pilgrims from South Korea on a 43-day walking tour
• Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Apurva Chandra announced that 108
Buddhist pilgrims from the Republic of Korea will walk over 1,100 km over 43 days.
• With the slogan ‘Oh, We! Oh, Love! Oh, Life!‘, the pilgrimage, being organized by the Sangwol
Society of South Korea.
• Also, the occasion gains importance as India and South Korea celebrate 50 years of the
establishment of diplomatic ties.
Page 64 of 145
• The walking pilgrimage will start from Varanasi and will end at Shravasti after traveling through
Nepal.
Key Highlights :
• The Buddhist tourism circuit is one of the 15 thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan
scheme.
• It aims to provide travelers with an experience of the teachings of Lord Buddha and traces of
his footsteps during his lifetime.
• There are 4 primary sites of Buddhism pilgrimage:
1. Lumbini (southern Nepal)- the birthplace of Buddha
2. Bodh Gaya (Bihar, India)- the site where Buddha attained enlightenment
3. Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh, India)- First sermon delivered by Buddha
4. Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh, India)- Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana.
About Ministry of Information & Broadcasting :
• Cabinet Minister : Anurag Thakur

• Minister of State : L. Murugan
• Secretary: L. Murugan
About South Korea :
• President: Yoon Suk-yeol

• Prime Minister: Han Duck-soo
• Capital: Seoul
• Currency: Korean Republic won
• Buddhism is the official religion of South Korea.
QUAD Nations Launch 'QUAD Cyber Challenge'
• QUAD countries launched 'Quad Cyber Challenge' for improving cyber security.
Aim :
Page 65 of 145
• To strengthen the cyber security system in the Indo-Pacific region.

• The Quad Cyber Challenge will end on 10 April, 2023.
About 'Quad Cyber Challenge' :
• The National Cyber Coordination Office along with the National Security Council (NSC)
Secretariat is coordinating the Quad Cyber Challenge on behalf of India.
• It is part of continuous efforts of Quad countries to increase cyber security awareness and
create a more secure and resilient cyber ecosystem.
• It will provide basic cybersecurity information and training to all users from corporations,
educational institutions, small businesses and individuals.
Focus of the challenge :
• Multi-factor authentication, routine security updates, identity checks, changing passphrases

regularly, identifying phishing, online scams, etc
About QUAD :
• The QUAD, officially the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a group of 4 countries: the United
States, Australia, India, and Japan.
• The group met for the first time in 2007 on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• The 2022 Quad summit was held in Japan and the next one will be held in Australia in 2023.
India & US to jointly develop UAVs and share IP rights
• India and the United States (US) have moved ahead to jointly develop air-launched
unmanned aerial vehicles (ALUAV) that will be used for surveillance missions, in a massive
boost to Indo-US defence ties
• This is the first UAV project under which common intellectual property (IP) rights will be
generated, giving the Indian ecosystem a significant technology boost.
• A Project Agreement (PA) for this was inked by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and US
Department of Defence under the Joint Working Group Air Systems in the Defence
Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) on July 30, 2021.
Page 66 of 145
About ALUAV :
• The ALUAV prototype, being jointly developed by India and the US, could enter the flight testing
phase by September 2023.
• It is being developed to be launched from an aircraft (C130J aircraft)
• The ALUAV program is taking place under the DTTI and a critical factor is that the IP rights for
the new system will be jointly shared by the two sides.
About DTTI :
• Under DTTI, Joint Working Groups on land, naval, air, and aircraft carrier technologies have
been established to focus on mutually agreed projects in respective domains.
• Aim : To bring sustained leadership focus to promote collaborative technology exchange and
create opportunities for co-production and co-development of future technologies for Indian
and US military forces.
• The PA for co-development of ALUAV has been overseen by the Joint Working Group on Air
Systems and is a major accomplishment for DTTI.
About US :

• Currency : U.S. dollar ($) (USD)
MIIRA: India readies plan to popularise millets on world stage
• During India’s G20 presidency, the top priority in agriculture for India is food security and
nutrition, following which India is planning to propose the launch of a global initiative - MIIRA,
to encourage the consumption and production of millets.
• India is holding the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.
• Draft charter of MIIRA is ready and will be placed for approval at 1st meeting of the G-20
Agricultural Deputies at Indore from 13-15 February 2023.
About MIIRA :
Page 67 of 145
• MIIRA stands for Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness.
• Aim : To coordinate millet research programmes at the international level.
• It will be launched considering the millets’ nutritional value and climate resilient nature.
• India plans to provide “seed money” for this initiative to start off, and each G20 member will be
required to pay a membership fee.
• The secretariat of MIIRA would be in New Delhi and India will ensure flow of investment from
its industry and research bodies.
• It is in line with the UN declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets and the Centre’s
plan to make India a global hub for millets.
About Millets :
• Millets are rich in calcium, iron, and fibres.

• Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat are the varieties of millets exported by India.
• India produces one-fifth of the world’s total millets.
• Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are India’s top 5 millet
producing states.
• Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production.
Recent initiatives to promote Millets :
• In Budget 2023, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed millets as “Shree Anna”
and stated that Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad will act as Centre of
Excellence.
• In 2018, the Agriculture Ministry declared some millets as ‘Nutri Cereals’ for their “high
nutritive value”
Russian arms supplies to India worth $13 billion in past 5 years
• Russia supplied India with around $13 billion of arms during the past 5 years.
• As per Russian state news agencies, New Delhi has orders placed with Moscow for weapons
and military equipment exceeding $10 billion.
Key Highlights :
Page 68 of 145
• India is the world's biggest buyer of Russian arms, accounting for around 20% of Moscow's
current order book.
• Annual arms exports were about $14-15 billion, and the order book has remained steady at
around $50 billion.
• According to data firm Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India was
the top importer of Russian arms from 2017 to 2021, and Russian equipment made up 46% of
India’s arms imports.
• Russia will be presenting about 200 samples of weapons and military equipment at the 14th
international aerospace exhibition Aero India 2023.
About Russia :
• President : Vladimir Putin

• Prime Minister : Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin
• Capital : Moscow
• Currency : Russian ruble
Ministry of Culture to Host 1st G20 Culture Group Meet in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
• The Ministry of Culture is organizing the First G20 Culture Group (CWG) meeting in
Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh (MP) from 22nd to 25th February 2023.
• The theme of the Khajuraho meet is “Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property”.
4 priority areas of India’s CWG include
1. Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property

2. Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future
3. Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries,
4. Creative Economy; Leveraging Digital Technologies for Protection and Promotion of Culture.
About Khajuraho :
• Khajuraho is an ancient city known for its majestic temples and elaborate sculptures
Page 69 of 145
• The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site which was constructed by the Chandela Dynasty
between 950-1050 AD.
• These monuments are built in Nagara-style architecture and ornamented with intricate and
detailed sculptures.
• The monuments include Hindu and Jain
• According to historical records, there were 85 temples in the temple site in Khajuraho, covering
20 square kilometers, in the 12th Century AD.
Key Highlights :
• The 2nd and 3rd meetings under this track will be held at Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Hampi
in Karnataka.
• The overarching theme of G20 is ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’ – One Earth, One Family, One
Future.’
• India's G20 culture track is based on the idea of 'Culture for LiFE' as a campaign for eco-
conscious lifestyle and sustainable living.
• An exhibition titled 'Re(ed) Dress: Return of Treasures' will also be organized on this theme at
the Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Center in Khajuraho.
About the Ministry of Culture :
• Cabinet Minister: G. Kishan Reddy

• Minister of State: Meenakshi Lekhi
Global Sea level Rise a major threat to India, other nations - WMO
● According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) report, titled “Global Sea-Level
Rise and Implications”, Between 2013 and 2022, global mean sea-level rose by 4.5
millimetre (mm).
● WMO stated that human influence was very likely the main driver of these increases since at
least 1971.
Key Highlights :
Page 70 of 145
● The global mean sea level has increased by 0.20m between 1901 and 2018.
● The average rate of increase was 1.3 mm/ year between 1901 and 1971 while it was 1.9
mm/year between 1971 and 2006 & 3.7 millimetre/year between 2006 and 2018.
● As per report, Mumbai, Shanghai, Dhaka, Bangkok, Jakarta, Maputo, Lagos, Cairo, London,
Copenhagen, New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and Santiago are among the cities most
threatened by rise in sea levels.
● Sea level rise is a major threat to Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and other coastal cities of India.
● The Sea level rise is a major threat for India and China along with Bangladesh, the
Netherlands and other countries having coastal populations.
● As per the WMO report, the sea levels will rise by 2-3 metres over the next 2,000 years if the
increase in global temperatures is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius (above pre-industrial levels) till
the end of the century.
● Higher temperatures would mean bigger rise in sea levels, estimating that 2 degrees Celsius
increase would mean a rise of 2-6 metres, while 5 degrees Celsius warming would lead to 19-
22 metre rise in sea levels.
● During 1971-2018, thermal expansion is responsible for 50% of sea level rise. 22% of the rise in
sea level is due to the loss of ice from glaciers.
● According to WMO, the global mean sea level rise by 2100 will be 0.28-0.55 m under the very
low GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions scenario.
● The sea level rise will be 0.44-0.76 m under the intermediate GHG emissions conditions and
0.63-1.01 m under the very high emissions.
● In the Indian Ocean, 50% of the sea level rise is due to the expansion of the volume of water as
the ocean water is warming up rapidly.
About WMO :
● Founded : 23 March 1950

● Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
● President : Gerhard Adrian
● Secretary General : Petteri Taalas
Page 71 of 145
● Member States : 193 countries and territories

● The WMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
India & Spain agree to collaborate on digital infrastructure, climate action and sustainable
development
● India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Mr Pedro
Sanchezagreed to collaborate on issues such as digital infrastructure, climate action, clean
energy and sustainable development.
Key Highlights :
● Both leaders discussed many bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.
● India and Spain leaders reviewed ongoing bilateral initiatives and expressed satisfaction at the
growing cooperation in the defence, economic and commercial sectors.
● PM Modi briefed his Spanish counterpart on India’s priorities for the G-20 Presidency oriented
towards working to promote oneness based on the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam (One
Earth, One Family, One Future).
● "Prime Minister Sánchez extended full support to India’s initiatives under its G-20 Presidency
Bilateral Agreements between India & Spain :
● Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation (1972)

● Agreement on Cultural Cooperation (1982).
● Civil Aviation Agreement (1986).
● Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (1993).
● Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (1997).
● Extradition Treaty (2002)
● MoU on Institutionalisation of Political Dialogue (2006)
About Spain :
● Prime Minister : Pedro Sánchez

● Capital: Madrid
● Currency : Euro
Page 72 of 145
Indian-American Republican Leader Nikki Haley Launches U.S. Presidential Campaign for 2024
● Indian-origin Republican leader Nikki Haley formally launched her U.S. Presidential Campaign
for 2024.
● She has become the first Republican to challenge former US President Donald Trump to
become her party's nominee for the White House in 2024.
● If she wins the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 she will be the first woman and
first Asian-American at the top of the GOP ticket.
● The next US presidential election is scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024.
About Nikki Haley :
● Nikki Haley was born in Bamberg, South Carolina.

● She served as the 116th governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 & she is the first
female governor of South Carolina
● She then served as the 29th United States ambassador to the United Nations from January
2017 to December 2018
Italian PM Meloni chief guest at Raisina Dialogue
• Europe’s right-wing poster girl and Italy’s Prime Minister (PM) Giorgia Meloni will be the
chief guest in the next Raisina dialogue.
• This will be the 2nd year in a row that a major European leader will attend the talks as chief
guest in the midst of the Ukraine war.
• President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was the chief guest in 2022.
• Meloni, who formed Italy’s most far-right government since the days of Mussolini following his
election victory in 2022, is also Italy’s first female prime minister.
About Raisina Dialogue :
• The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier foreign policy conference on geopolitics and
geoeconomics committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global
community.
• It is a multilateral conference held annually in New Delhi, India.
Page 73 of 145
• The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, an independent think tank, in
collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
• The first Raisina Dialogue was held from 1–3 March 2016.
About Italy :
• President : Sergio Mattarella

• Prime Minister : Giorgia Meloni
• Capital : Rome
• Currency : Euro
UAE to host first I2U2 vice-ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to host the first vice-ministerial meeting of the I2U2
in Abu Dhabi from 20-26 February 2023.
• Senior officials from India, Israel, the United States, and the UAE will attend the meeting.
• It is the first vice-ministerial meeting since the grouping (I2U2) was jointly announced by
President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Lapid, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W.
Fernandez will lead the U.S. delegation at the meeting.
About the I2U2 Vice-Ministerial meeting :
• During the meeting, opportunities to advance regional cooperation will be discussed.

• Investment opportunities to build partnerships addressing the region's most pressing issues,
including management of the energy crisis and food insecurity will also be discussed.
• The I2U2 grouping was conceptualised during the meeting of the foreign ministers of the four
countries held on October 18, 2021.
About I2U2 Group :
• The I2U2 Group is a grouping of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United
States.
• The group's first joint statement, released on July 14, 2022.
Page 74 of 145
Aim :
• To cooperate on "joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transportation, space,
health, and food security."
World’s first global summit on Responsible AI in the Military kicks off in The Netherlands
● The world’s first international summit on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in
the military (REAIM) 2023 commenced in The Netherlands.
About REAIM 2023 : ·
● REAIM 2023 brings together governments, corporations, academia, startups, and civil societies
to raise awareness, discuss issues, and possibly, agree on common principles for deploying and
using AI in armed conflicts.
● Themes:
➢ Mythbusting AI: Breaking Down the Characteristics of AI
➢ Responsible deployment and use of AI
➢ Governance frameworks
● India wasn’t part of this summit.
● The conference, co-hosted by South Korea, hosted 80 government delegations (including those
from the US and China), and over 100s of researchers and defence contractors.
● REAIM 2023 brought together governments, corporations, academia, startups, and civil
societies to raise awareness, discuss issues, and possibly, agree on common principles for
deploying and using AI in armed conflicts.
About Nethe therlands :
● Prime Minister : Mark Rutte

● Capital : Amsterdam
● Currency : Euro
UAE & India launch the UAE Chapter of the Business Council to Boost Bilateral Trade &
Investment
Page 75 of 145
● The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India have launched the UAE India Business Council -
UAE Chapter (UIBCUC) to strengthen economic ties and support their joint mission to
increase bilateral trade and investment.
● Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade has launched the
UAE India Business Council - UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) in Dubai.
● The launch of the UAE Chapter coincides with the 1st anniversary of the signing of the Comprehen
Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries on February 18, 2022.
About UIBCUC :
● The UIBC-UC is well positioned to assist the 2 governments in attaining their goals and using the
potential of the UAE-India relationship.
● It has a shared goal of expanding bilateral trade to $100 billion and attracting $75 billion in investm
from the UAE to India.
● The Council brings together key partners and stakeholders from both countries and will provide v
policy guidance while encouraging innovative collaborations between Emirati and Indian businesse
● UIBC-UC will be the counterpart organisation for the UIBC India Chapter.
● UIBC-UC will operate under the supervision of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and
registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce as a legal and financial entity.
● The UIBC-UC will have its office in Dubai.
● Mr. Faizal Kottikollon of Kef Holdings has been appointed as the Chairman of UIBC-UC.
● Major General (Retd.) Sharafuddin Sharaf, the Chairman of the UIBC (India Chapter), will
serve as the Vice Chairman.
About UIBC-UC :
● UIBC-UC was established in New Delhi in 2016 after UIBC was launched by Sheikh Abdullah
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Cabinet Member and Smt Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External
Affairs of India.
Key partners and stakeholders :
Page 76 of 145
● Sovereign Wealth Funds from the UAE and large conglomerates from India such as - TATA
group, Reliance, and Adani,
● Tech innovators - OLA, Zerodha, and EaseMyTrip.
The founding members of the UIBC-UC from the UAE side
● Mubadala - Sovereign Wealth Fund of the UAE, Wizz Financial, DP World, EMAAR, Emirates
Airlines, Emirates NBD Bank.
The founding members of the UIBC-UC from Indthe ian side
● TATA, Reliance, and Adani, OLA, Zerodha, Udaan, and EaseMyTrip.

● Prominent Indian entrepreneur-led corporations based in the UAE such as KEF Holdings,
Buimark Corporation, Apparel Group, EFS and Lulu Financial.
Russia suspends participation in New START treaty for nuclear arms control with the US
• Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia has suspended its participation in the
New START (“Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty”) due to a rise in tension over the Russia-
Ukraine war.
• The New START treaty is the last remaining nuclear arms deal between Moscow(Russia) and
Washington (United States), and it was extended for 5 years in 2021.
• Vladimir Putin stated that if the US conducts a nuclear weapon test, Russia may also resume
nuclear weapons testing.
• After the Covid Pandemic, Russia and the U.S. have suspended mutual inspections under the
New START treaty.
What is the New START treaty?
• The New START Treaty was signed on 8 April 2010 by U.S. President Barack Obama and
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
• It came into force in February 2011 and was extended in 2021 for 5 more years after US
President Joe Biden took office.
Page 77 of 145
• It is the official name of the treaty between the United States of America and the Russian
Federation for further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.
• Under the agreement, Moscow and Washington are committed to the following:
• Deploying no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and a maximum of 700 long-range
missiles and bombers.
• A limit of 800 intercontinental ballistic missiles in deployment.
• Each side can conduct up to 18 inspections of strategic nuclear weapons sites yearly to ensure
the other has not breached the treaty’s limits.
About Russia :
• President: Vladimir Putin

• Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin
• Capital: Moscow
• Currency: Russian ruble
Financial Action Task Force Suspends Russia's Membership
● Global anti-money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has
suspended Russia’s membership for its “illegal, unprovoked and unjustified” full-scale
military invasion of Ukraine.
● Russia’s actions were “unacceptably run” counter to FATF’s core principles that aims to
promote security, safety, and integrity of the global financial system.
● Also FATF added Nigeria and South Africa to its grey list of countries subject to increased
monitoring, and removed Cambodia and Morocco from the grey list category.
Key Highlights :
● As per the statement, the Russian Federation will remain a member of the Global Network as
an active member of the Eurasian Group on Money Laundering (EAG) and retain its rights as
an EAG member.
● The Russian Federation must continue to meet its financial obligations
Page 78 of 145
● FATF will monitor the situation and consider at each of its plenary meetings whether there are
sufficient reasons to remove or modify these restrictions.
About FATF :
● FATF is an inter-governmental policy-making and standard-setting body dedicated to

combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
● It was established in 1989 during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Paris to develop policies
against money laundering.
● Headquarters: Paris, France.
● President : T Raja Kumar
● FATF members include 39 countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia,
Britain, Germany, France, and the EU
● India became a member of FATF in 2010.
FATF has 2 types of lists:
Black List:
● Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put on the

blacklist.
● These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.
● The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.
● Three countries North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar are currently in FATF’s blacklist.
Grey List:
● Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money
laundering are put on the FATF grey list.
● This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.
Criteria for FATF membership:
● The FATF-Style regional Bodies (FSRB) should be a regional group consisting of at least 5 – 6
member jurisdictions.
Page 79 of 145
India Joins the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate
● India became the latest member of Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C), on
the margins of the I2U2 Business Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Aim :
● To accelerate investment and support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems
innovation, the United States (US) and the UAE have launched this global platform.
● India has joined the AIM4C, which was launched by the two nations in November 2021.
● At the I2U2 business forum, a letter was signed by the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of
External Affairs, Dumu Ravi, in which the Indian intention was expressed to join the AIM4C.
● On 22 February 2023 the inaugural I2U2 (Israel, India, United States and United Arab Emirates)
business forum was held in Abu Dhabi.
About AIM4C :
● The AIM4C climate-smart wants to increase investment and support for innovation of
agriculture and food systems.
● The AIM4C initiative has successfully increased these investments to more than USD 8 billion
globally.
● With this announcement, India has joined more than 275 partners including 42 governments,
who are working to collectively pursue the AIM4C mission by supporting investment.
Sri Lanka approves $442 million wind power project of Adani Group
• Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) has issued a letter of approval to India's Adani Green
Energy Limited (AGEL), for the 2 wind power plants to be set up in Mannar and Pooneryn at a
total investment of USD 442 million
Key Highlights :
● The 2 wind power plants of 350 MW are scheduled to be commissioned in 2 years and they will be
added to the national grid by 2025.
● The new project will generate 1500-2000 new employment opportunities.
Page 80 of 145
● The wind power plant in Mannar will operate at a capacity of 250 MW (megawatt) while the wind
power plant in Pooneryn will operate at a capacity of 100 MW.
● Currently, Sri Lanka generates power totaling some 4,200 MW a year, and the annual demand for
energy is estimated to increase by about 5% over the next two decades.
● Authorities have informed that they aim to add about 2,800 MW renewable energy into the national
grid over the next three years.
About AGEL :
● Founded : 2015
● Headquarters : Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
● MD & CEO : Vneet S. Jain
About Sri Lanka :
● President : Ranil Wickremesinghe

● Prime Minister : Dinesh Gunawardena
● Capitals : Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative), Colombo (executive and judicial)
● Currency : Sri Lankan rupee
India to host Permanent Mission Roundtables at UN HeadQuarter as Chair of G- 20
● India, as Chair of the Group-20 (G-20), will host the 62nd Permanent Mission Round Table at
the United Nations (UN) Headquarters ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Summit to be held in New York later 2023.
Key Highlights :
● During the event, India will focus on its growth story and achievements, as well as its goals to
reap the potential benefits of the Global South.
● A roundtable titled 'Gandhian Trusteeship: A panel discussion on Sustainable Lifestyles and
Enduring Pace' will be organised.
● On March 9,2023 a roundtable on 'A world we women and girls want: Technology enabled
social and economic advancement' will be organised.
Page 81 of 145
● On March 16,2023 a roundtable on 'Grassroots leadership and transformation: Charting the

path of empowerment through technology and skill development' will be organized.
● A special event commemorating the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar is being planned on
April 14, 2023.
● The 2023 SDG Summit will be convened in September 2023, under the auspices of the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Italian PM Meloni chief guest at Raisina Dialogue
• Europe’s right-wing poster girl and Italy’s Prime Minister (PM) Giorgia Meloni will be the
chief guest in the next Raisina dialogue.
• This will be the 2nd year in a row that a major European leader will attend the talks as chief
guest in the midst of the Ukraine war.
• President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was the chief guest in 2022.
• Meloni, who formed Italy’s most far-right government since the days of Mussolini following his
election victory in 2022, is also Italy’s first female prime minister.
community.
• It is a multilateral conference held annually in New Delhi, India.
• The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, an independent think tank, in
collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
• The first Raisina Dialogue was held from 1–3 March 2016.
About Italy :
• President : Sergio Mattarella

• Prime Minister : Giorgia Meloni
• Capital : Rome
• Currency : Euro
Page 82 of 145
Mar 2023– International Current Affairs

Uttar Pradesh & Singapore Signs agreement for Economic Cooperation
• For the first time, the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) for economic cooperation with the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government.
• The MoU is in addition to the deals signed at the UP Global Investors Summit.
About the agreement :
• Under the agreement, the governments of Singapore and Uttar Pradesh will cooperate in areas
of mutual interest, including urban development, sustainable development industry and skill
development.
• The agreement also includes a Sustainable Industrial Park, upgradation and digitization of
Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), content development, training pedagogy
(pedagogy training), training of trainers, certification as well as training of government officials.
• A Joint Partnership Committee (JPC) will be formed for planning, monitoring, implementation
and review of cooperative activities of the MoU.
• 6 companies of Singapore have also signed MoU.
• Venture Capitalist Golden State Capital has signed MoU for investment in UP.
• The firm is looking forward to setting up a data centre facility in UP's Greater Noida
• SATS Ltd is eager to begin its second food production facility in Uttar Pradesh.
• SATS LTD is a leading provider of food solutions and SATS Food Solutions India will soon be
opening a Central Frozen Food Production Plant in Bengaluru.
• VANS Chemistry has signed an MoU to build an e-waste collection and pre-dismantling
centre in UP's Greater Noida and it will be the main centre of the company in North India.
About UP :
• Governor : Anandiben Patel

• Chief Minister : Yogi Adityanath
• Capital : Lucknow
• National Park : Dudhwa National Park
Page 83 of 145
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Bird wildlife

Sanctuary, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
About Singapore :
• President : Halimah Yacob

• PM : Lee Hsien Loong
• Currency : Singapore dollar
Bangladesh govt signs agreement with ISA to increase usage of solar energy in
Bangladesh
• The government of Bangladesh signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance
(ISA) to increase the use of solar energy in Bangladesh.
• The agreement was signed between the ISA Director General Ajay Mathur and the
Bangladesh Power Division Secretary Habibur Rahman.
• The agreement is to be implemented by December 2026.
Key Highlights :
• The government has set up a target of generating 40% of its total energy through renewable
sources by 2041.
• Bangladesh aims to produce 4000 MW of solar power by the end of 2030 for which various
projects have been taken up.
• Several projects include 12 trolley mounted solar irrigation systems of 2 kw each for
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), 12 portable solar paddy threshers of 2 kw each,
1.5 kw solar drinking water plant, installation of 2 rooftop solar of 22 KW capacity and any 1
railway installation of rooftop solar projects on platforms will be taken up under the agreement.
About Bangladesh :
• President : Mohammad Abdul Hamid

• Prime Minister : Sheikh Hasina
• Capital : Dhaka
• Currency : Taka
Page 84 of 145
About ISA :
• Founded : 30 November 2015

• Headquarters : Gurugram, Haryana, India
• Director General : Ajay Mathur
• The ISA is an alliance of 123 signatory countries.
Objective :
• To work for efficient consumption of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to be the chief guest at 8th Raisina Dialogue
● Italian Prime Minister (PM) Ms Giorgia Meloni will be the chief guest and keynote speaker at
the 8th Raisina Dialogue.
● India Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 8th edition of the dialogue which
will be held from 2 March to 4 March 2023 in New Delhi.
● Its theme is "Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest.
● The 7th Raisina Dialogue was held from 25-27 April 2022 in New Delhi.
Key Highlights :
● Prime Minister of Italy Ms Giorgia Meloni will be on a 2 day visit to India.

● She will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and a
high-powered business delegation.
● During the visit, a business roundtable will be held on March 2, 2023.
● It will be co-chaired by Antonio Tajan and Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
● India and Italy are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
● The last prime ministerial visit from Italy to India took place in October 2018.
● Ms. Meloni will visit India again in September, 2023 for the G20 summit.
Page 85 of 145
community.
● It is a multilateral conference held annually in New Delhi, India.

● The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), an independent think
tank, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
● The first Raisina Dialogue was held from 1–3 March 2016.
About ORF :
● Established : 5 September 1990

● Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
● ORF is an independent, nonpartisan think tank that conducts policy research on good
governance, foreign policy, and sustainable economic development for India.
About Italy :
● President : Sergio Mattarella

● Prime Minister : Giorgia Meloni
● Capital : Rome
● Currency : Euro
Japan To Provide Loans Worth Rs 2,288 Crore For 2 Projects In India
● Japan will provide loans worth Rs 2,288 crore to India for the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link
Project in Maharashtra and a Super-Specialty Cancer and Research Centre in Mizoram.
● Japan has approved JPY 30.755 billion or about Rs 1,728 crore for the project in Maharashtra
and JPY 9.918 billion or around Rs 560 crore for developing the centre in Mizoram.
About the Projects :
● Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link Project aims to improve connectivity in Mumbai Metropolitan

Region by connecting Mumbai with Navi Mumbai, thereby contributing to the mitigation of
traffic congestion and promoting regional economic development.
Page 86 of 145
● This is a tranche-III loan for the project.

● The project for the centre in Mizoram aims to improve access to cancer prevention, detection,
and treatment as well as human resource development and research that support cancer
control systems.
● This will contribute to achieving universal health coverage through strengthening the
healthcare system of cancer in Mizoram.
About Japan :
● Prime Minister : Fumio Kishida

● Capital : Tokyo
● Currency : Japanese yen
Group of 16 countries led by Vanuatu launched an effort to fight the problem of climate change
at the United Nations
● A group of 16 countries led by Vanuatu - an island country in the South Pacific Ocean,
launched an effort to fight the problem of climate change at the United Nations (UN).
● The group seeks an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the issue
of climate change.
About ICJ :
● The ICJ, also known as the World Court, is the principal judicial organ of the UN.
● It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April
1946.
● The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).
● Of the 6 principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York,
United States.
● French and English are the official languages of the Court.
● The ICJ has two types of jurisdictions: contentious and advisory.
Composition :
Page 87 of 145
● The Court is composed of 15 judges, all from different countries, who are elected for terms of
office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Security
Council (UNSC).
● To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both UNGA and
UNSC.
● One-third of the composition of the Court is renewed every 3 years.
● Once elected, a member of the Court is a delegate neither of the government of his own country
nor of any other State.
Denmark becomes the first country to import CO2 and bury it undersea
• Denmark is the first country in the world to open an underwater burial site for Carbon
dioxide (CO2) and also import the gas from other countries.
• Denmark inaugurated a project to store carbon dioxide 1,800 metres beneath the North Sea.
• The CO2 graveyard, where the carbon is injected to prevent further warming of the atmosphere,
is on the site of an old oil field.
• Led by British chemical giant Ineos and German oil company Wintershall Dea, the
"Greensand" project is expected to store up to 8 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030.
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects aim to capture and then trap CO2 to mitigate
global warming.
• Currently, around 30 projects are operational or under development in Europe.
• But unlike other projects that store CO2 emissions from nearby industrial sites, Greensand
distinguishes itself by bringing in the carbon from far away.
About Denmark :
• Prime Minister : Mette Frederiksen

• Capital : Copenhagen
• Currency : Danish krone
Afghanistan is the world’s most repressive country for women - U.N
Page 88 of 145
• The United Nations (UN) stated that, since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the country
has become the most repressive in the world for women and girls, deprived of many of their
basic rights.
Key Highlights :
• Afghanistan’s new rulers have shown an almost singular focus on imposing rules that leave
most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes.
• About 11.6 million women and girls are no longer receiving vital assistance.
• Women-headed households, which make up almost a quarter of households in Afghanistan,
have nowhere left to turn and no livelihood support.
• Afghanistan is home to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with two-thirds of the
population, or 28 million people, estimated to need aid in 2023.
• According to the International Labour Organization, female employment in Afghanistan was
25% lower in the final quarter of 2022 than during the final quarter of 2021, largely due to
restrictions on where they can work and travel.
About United Nations :
• Established : 1945
• Headquarters : New York City, United States
• Secretary General : António Guterres
• UN Special Representative and head of the UN’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan : Roza
Isakovna Otunbayeva
About Afghanistan :
• Capital : Kabul
• Currency : Afghani
Japan to join alternative Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement - World Trade
Organization
Page 89 of 145
• Japan has become the latest country to join an alternative mechanism, Multi-Party Interim
Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) to resolve the trade dispute mechanism at the World
Trade Organization (WTO).
About MIPA :
• The MPIA is an alternative mechanism for resolving WTO disputes.

• It was set up by the EU and their key partners.
• Including Japan, 26 WTO members currently participate in the MPIA.
• WTO members can resort to the use of the MPIA under Article 25 of the WTO Dispute
Settlement Understanding, as an alternative mechanism for dispute settlement.
• Under MPIA, the first appeal will be heard on anti-dumping duties imposed by Colombia on
frozen fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
• WTO members are committed to place a reformed and fully functioning dispute settlement
system by 2024.
• Generally, disputes are resolved through negotiations, if negotiations fail, then WTO Members
can request the establishment of a panel to settle the dispute.
• The report of the panel can be appealed before the WTO's Appellate Body.
• Any member can join the MPIA by notifying the Dispute Settlement Body and a range of
members have done so.
About WTO :
• Commenced Operations : 1 January 1995

• Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
• Director-General : Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
• Membership : 164 members (160 UN member states, the European Union, Hong Kong, Macao,
and Taiwan)members which represent more than 98% of global trade and global Gross
Domestic Product (GDP).
• The WTO is an intergovernmental organisation that regulates and facilitates international
trade.
Page 90 of 145
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & Islamic Republic of Iran agree to resume diplomatic
relations
• According to the Joint Trilateral Statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the
Islamic Republic of Iran, and the People’s Republic of China, an agreement has been
reached between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, to resume
diplomatic relations.
• It has been agreed to re-open their embassies and missions within a period not exceeding two
months.
About the agreement :
• The agreement includes their affirmation of the respect for the sovereignty of states and the
non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
• They also agreed that the Ministers of foreign affairs of both countries shall meet to implement
this, arrange for the return of their ambassadors, and discuss means of enhancing bilateral
relations.
• Saudi Arabia, Iran and China have also expressed their desire to exert all efforts for enhancing
regional and international peace and security.
• Saudi Arabia and Iran’s relations were suspended after the death of Nimr al-Nimr and an
attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran in 2016.
• Both countries are major oil and gas exporters.
• Energy policy is one of the main reasons for conflict between both countries.
Heads of Delegation :
• The delegation of Saudi Arabia was headed by Dr. Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister
of State and National Security Advisor.
• Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council headed the
delegation of Iran.
About Saudi Arabia :
• Prime Minister : Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud

Page 91 of 145
• Capital : Riyadh
• Currency : Saudi riyal
About Iran :
• President : Ebrahim Raisi

• Capital : Tehran
• Currency : Iranian rial
About China :
• President : Xi Jinping
• Capital : Beijing
• Currency : Renminbi
Bhutan graduated from UN list of Least Developed Country Status
• Bhutan became the 7th nation to graduate from the United Nations (UN) list of Least
Developed Countries (LDC).
About LDC :
• The Least Developed Countries (LDC) are developing countries listed by the UN that exhibit the
lowest indicators of socioeconomic development.
• The concept first originated in the late 1960s and was codified under UN resolution 2768
passed in November 1971.
• Currently, the UN lists 46 countries that qualify as LDCs.
• Of those, 33 are from Africa, 9 from Asia, 3 from the Pacific and 1 from the Caribbean.
• According to the UN, LDCs are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments
to sustainable development.
• They are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks and have low levels of
human assets.
• The UN identifies 3 criteria for a country to be classified as an LDC:
1. Income - Gross National Income (GNI) per capita below the threshold of USD 1,230 over a
three-year average.
Page 92 of 145
2. Human Assets - Perform poorly on a composite human assets index based on indicators
including nutrition, health and education.
3. Economic Vulnerability - Demonstrate economic vulnerability such as being prone to natural
disasters and possessing structural economic constraints.
• The criteria are reviewed on a 3-year basis (triennial) by the UN.
• Botswana achieved graduation in 1994 primarily due to its strong economic performance driven
by its diamond mining industry and investments in education and infrastructure.
Advantages of being an LDC :
• LDCs also enjoy duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) access to the markets of developed
countries.
• LDCs are not restricted by trade restrictions or tariffs when exporting their goods to wealthier
nations
• LDCs are also eligible for loans with special terms for development, which include loans with a
lower interest rate and a longer repayment time than those given to other nations.
India to send 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan
• India will send 20,000metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port in
Iran.
• The decision was made in order to address the current humanitarian situation.
• The announcement was made during the first meeting of the India-Central Asia joint working
group on Afghanistan held in New Delhi.
• The wheat will be supplied in partnership with the UN World Food Programme.
Key Highlights :
• India also discussed the current political, security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan
with the participants.
• During the meeting, India and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes agreed to
partner for the efforts to counter drug trafficking, including the efforts for rehabilitation of
Afghan drug user population.
Page 93 of 145
• Months after the Taliban captured power in Kabul in August 2021, India had announced an
assistance of 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghan people as they were reeling under a
severe food crisis.
• Subsequently, the consignments were sent to Afghanistan using the land route through
Pakistan.
About Chabahar Port :
• The Chabahar Port is a seaport located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman.
• It is a strategic port for India, as it provides a key gateway to landlocked Afghanistan and
Central Asia.
• It is part of a larger transportation corridor project known as the International North-South
Transport Corridor (INSTC), which aims to connect India to Russia via Iran and Central Asia.
South Korea to build ‘world’s largest’ chip centre with $230 billion investment from
Samsung
• Samsung Electronics expects to invest 300 trillion won ($230 billion) over the next 20 years
as part of an ambitious South Korean national project to build the world’s largest
semiconductor manufacturing base near the capital, Seoul.
• The plans were announced by President Mr Yoon Suk Yeol and confirmed by the electronics
giant.
• The chip manufacturing "mega cluster" of facilities will be built in various locations in Gyeonggi
province by 2042.
• The centre will be anchored by 5 new semiconductor plants built by Samsung.
Key Highlights :
• The chip cluster would be located in Gyeonggi province, which is part of the Seoul Metropolitan
area, and the total investment would be completed in about 20 years.
• The vast majority of the world's most advanced microchips are made by just 2 companies:
Samsung, South Korea and Taiwan's TSMC.
Page 94 of 145
• The South Korean government seeks to invest heavily in 6 technology areas including chips,
displays, rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles, robotics and bio-technology.
• In May 2022, Samsung announced a massive 450 trillion won investment blueprint over the
next 5 years aimed at making it a frontrunner in key sectors from semiconductors to biologics.
About South Korea :
• President : Yoon Suk-yeol

• Prime Minister : Han Duck-soo
• Capital : Seoul
• Currency : Korean Republic won
3rd annual edition of International SME Convention 2023 to be organised in New Delhi
• The 3rd annual edition of the International SME Convention 2023 (ISC) to be organised in
New Delhi, India.
• The ISC is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSME) and the Ministry of External Affairs and the India SME Forum.
• The event has the Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) as a major partner state and the
Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) as an associate partner state.
• International Network of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (INSME) and World Union
of Small and Medium Enterprises (WUSME) are the International Partners for ISC 2023, and
Tata AIA is the Insurance Partner.
• Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shri Narayan Rane will inaugurate the
three-day SME Convention.
• The main focus areas of the convention are India's major 4 Sunrise Sectors, which are
1. Cleantech and Green Energy
2. Manufacturing
3. Services Sector
4. Agro Food Processing and Agri Implements sector.
Page 95 of 145
• The 2nd edition of International SME Convention 2019 to be held in New Delhi from 27th -
29th June, 2019 in association with Italy & South Korea as the partner countries, UNIDO,
UNDP & ILO as Institutional partners and the India SME Forum.
About Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises :
• Cabinet Minister : Narayan Rane

• Minister of State : Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma
Cochin Shipyard Ltd bags International Order for World’s First Zero-Emission Feeder Container
Vessel
● India’s leading shipbuilder, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Cochin received an order from
NAVSHUTTLE 1 AS and NAVSHUTTLE 2 AS, Lysaker Norway for the design and construction
of 2 Zero Emission Feeder Container Vessels with an option for 2 more vessels.
● The cost of the project is approximately Rs 550 crore.
Key Highlights :
● The project is one of the world’s first Zero Emission Feeder Container Vessels powered by
Hydrogen Fuel Cells with Green Hydrogen.
● The order was received from companies in Samskip Group, headquartered in the Netherlands.
● The first vessel is expected to be delivered in 28 months and the second in 34 months.
● In zero-emission mode, each vessel is expected to achieve around 25,000 tonnes of CO 2
reduction per year.
● They will also achieve zero emission operations in ports by using green shore power at the
port of call.
● The vessel’s deliveries are scheduled from Q3 of 2025 onwards.
● Recently, CSL has also bagged contracts for construction of Commissioning Service
Operation Vessels (CSOV) for the European renewable offshore wind-farm segment.
● These vessels also employ emission reduction technologies with large capacity Li-ion batteries
and methanol fuelled generators.
About CSL :
Page 96 of 145
● Founded : 29 April 1972

● Headquarters : Kochi, Kerala, India
● Chairman & Managing Director : Shri Madhu S Nair
Belarus Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski sentenced to 10 years in prison
● A Belarusian court sentenced Ales Bialiatski, Belarus’ top human rights advocate and a
candidate for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, to 10 years in prison.
Key Highlights :
● The founder of the human rights organisation Viasna, Ales Bialiatski was among thousands of
Belarusians who were detained amid a brutal crackdown on protests against the continued rule
of strongman Alexander Lukashenko following disputed national elections in 2020.
● 3 years later, a Minsk court found Bialiatski guilty of smuggling money from abroad to finance
the anti-government demonstrations.
● Two other colleagues from Viasna - Valiantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich were
also sentenced to 9 and 7 years, respectively.
● This is not the first time that Ales Bialiatski has found himself behind bars.
● According to the report, he was imprisoned between 2011 and 2014 on a charge of tax evasion
in connection to Viasna’s funding – a charge which he had denied.
● In October,2022 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on human rights and
democracy, sharing it with the Russian rights group Memorial and Ukraine’s Center for Civil
Liberties.
● Bialiatski remained in prison during the Nobel ceremony and his wife accepted the award on his
behalf.
United States & Canada reach a deal on decades-old asylum agreement
• The United States (US) and Canada have reached an agreement on a decades-old asylum
accord that will restrict certain migrants from seeking protection in Canada.
• As part of the deal, Canada will create a new refugee programme for 15,000 migrants fleeing
violence in South and Central America.
Page 97 of 145
• The deal is an amendment in the 2004 Safe Third Country Agreement between the US and
Canada.
• The new arrangement will close the loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement that prevents
Canada from turning away those crossing the border at unofficial crossing points.
• The accord is expected to allow both sides of the border to turn back such asylum seekers
heading in either direction.
• The discussions on the agreement were going on over the years but after the sharp increase of
people crossing into Canada from the US, this decision has been taken.
About US :

• Currency : U.S. dollar ($) (USD)
About Canada :
• Prime Minister : Justin Trudeau

• Capital : Ottawa
• Currency : Canadian dollar
Centre revises MGNREGS wage rates with Haryana being highest at ₹357 per day
• The Centre has notified a hike in wage rates under the rural job guarantee programme for the
2023-24 financial year with Haryana having the highest daily wage at ₹357 per day and Madhya
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh the lowest at ₹221.
• The Union Ministry of Rural Development issued a notification on the change in wage rates under
the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme on March 24.
• The notification was issued under Section 6 (1) of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, which says the Centre may, by notification, specify
the wage rate for its beneficiaries.
• The wage hikes, which range from ₹7 to ₹26, will come into effect from April 1.
• Compared to last year's rates, Rajasthan registered the highest percentage increase in wages.
Page 98 of 145
• The revised wage for Rajasthan is ₹255 per day, up from ₹231 in 2022-23.
• In 2022-23, the two states had a daily wage of ₹204.
• The increases in the wages for states range between two and 10 per cent.
• Karnataka, Goa, Meghalaya and Manipur are among the states to register the lowest
percentage increase.
• The scheme is a flagship programme aimed at enhancing the livelihood security of households in
rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to
every household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work.
Export benefits under RoDTEP extended to certain textile items
• The central government has extended export benefits under the RoDTEP scheme to 18 items
related to the textiles sector, including saari and lungi, intending to boost shipments of these
goods.
• The RoDTEP scheme would refund to exporters the embedded central, state and local duties or
taxes that were so far not been rebated or refunded.
• It was launched in January 2021 as a replacement for the Merchandise Export from India
Scheme (MEIS).
• Under this scheme, a rebate will have to be claimed as a percentage of the Freight On Board value
of exports.
• Rebates will be issued in the form of a transferable duty credit/ electronic scrip (e-scrip) which will
be maintained in an electronic ledger by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
(CBIC).
First Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting (ACWG) of G20 to be held at Gurugram, Haryana
• The first meeting of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) meeting is being
organized in Gurugram, Haryana, India.
• The ACWG was joined by over 90 delegates from 20 member countries, 10 Invitee countries,
and 9 International Organizations.
Aim:
Page 99 of 145
• To strengthen International Anti-corruption mechanisms

• G 20 ACWG meetings have one Chair (Presidency country) and one co-chair country.
• It is under India’s chairmanship, and Italy is the co-chair country.
Key focal areas :
• Enhancing the effectiveness of asset-tracing and identification mechanisms

• Developing mechanisms for rapid restrain of illicit assets
• Promoting effective use of open-source information and asset recovery networks
• The theme of India's G20 Presidency - is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth. One
Family. One Future”
About ACWG :
• The G20 ACWG was set up in June 2010 at the Toronto Summit.
Goal:
• To prepare "comprehensive recommendations for consideration by leaders on how the G20

could continue to make practical and valuable contributions to international efforts to combat
corruption."
• The ACWG actively works with the World Bank Group, OECD, UNODC, IMF, and FATF, as well
as with Business 20 (B20) and the Civil Society 20 (C20).
• India hosted Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi.
• The meeting will be chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
• It will see the participation of Foreign Ministers of Australia and Japan and the Secretary of
State of the US.
• The meeting presented an opportunity for the Ministers to continue their discussions held at
their last meeting in New York in September 2022.
• The meeting is expected to focus on the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of increasing
assertiveness by China in the region
About QUAD :
• Established: 2007.
Page 100 of 145
• Members: Australia, India, Japan, and the United States

• It was initiated by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the support of Australian Prime
Minister John Howard, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and U.S. Vice President Dick
Cheney.
Objective :
• To work for a free, open, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

• The Quad leaders held their first formal summit in 2021.
United Kingdom & European Union start new chapter over Northern Ireland trade pact
• The United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) agreed upon the ‘Windsor Framework’.
• It will replace the Northern Ireland Protocol.
• The deal could resolve the issue of imports and border checks in Northern Ireland, which is the
most controversial aspect after the UK’s split from the EU.
About ‘Windsor Framework’ :
• The ‘Windsor Framework’ will enable the free flow of trade between Great Britain and
Northern Ireland by creating green and red lanes for goods flowing into Northern Ireland.
Aim :
• To fix issues of the Northern Ireland Protocol which was agreed upon by Boris Johnson and the
EU in 2019.
• Goods that have to travel into Ireland will be placed in the red lane & they will face customs
processes and other checks at Northern Ireland ports.
• British goods for Northern Ireland will be placed at the green lane at the ports.
• It will pass through minimal paperwork and checks.
• Northern Ireland is part of the UK but it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU
member state.
• With this deal, the UK and the EU have managed to protect “Northern Ireland’s place in the
union”.
• The UK government can fix the VAT rates applicable in Northern Ireland.
Page 101 of 145
What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?
• Northern Ireland is a British-ruled province and part of the United Kingdom that shares a long
porous border with Ireland, a member of the European Union.
• The protocol came into effect on January 1, 2021.
• The protocol is part of the Brexit deal, which sets Northern Ireland's trade rules.
• It keeps Northern Ireland inside the EU's single market for goods.
• The British Prime Minister also announced a new “Stormont brake”.
About Stormont brake :
• “Stormont brake” allows the democratically elected Northern Ireland Assembly to oppose
new EU goods rules that could have a significant effect on everyday lives in Northern Ireland.
• The brake cannot be used for "trivial reasons" but reserved for "significantly different" rules
UAE announces world’s first free zone dedicated to digital and virtual asset
companies
• The government of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), one of the seven emirates of the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), has announced plans to establish RAK Digital Assets Oasis, the world's first
free zone dedicated to digital and virtual asset companies.
• The announcement was made at the Blockchain Life 2023 conference.
Aim:
• To attract global entrepreneurs by providing them with a supportive, innovative, and quick-to-
adapt environment.
Key Highlights :
• RAK Digital Assets Oasis will be a purpose-built, true innovation-enabling free zone for non-
regulated activities in the virtual assets sector.
• It is intended to be the only free zone in the world solely dedicated to digital and virtual assets
service providers innovating in new and emerging sectors of the future including metaverse,
blockchain, utility tokens, virtual asset wallets, non fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralised
Page 102 of 145
autonomous organisations (DAOs), decentralised applications (DApps) and other Web3-

related businesses.
• RAK Digital Assets Oasis will open for applications in the second quarter of 2023.
• It will offer a unique combination of accessibility and liveability, with Ras Al Khaimah’s
business-friendly infrastructure, progressive policies, and an international lifestyle offering.
Note :
• CEO of RAK Digital Assets Oasis : Dr. Sameer Al Ansari

About UAE :
• President : Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

• Capital : Abu Dhabi
• Currency : UAE dirham
International Ayurvet conclave on ‘Veterinary and Ayurveda’ inaugurated at
Haridwar
• The International Ayurvet conclave on the theme 'Veterinary and Ayurveda' has started at
the Rishikul campus of an Ayurvedic University in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
• Union Minister of State for Animal husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Shri Sanjiv Baliyan
addressing the seminar.
• Ayurveda has been used since ancient times for the treatment of animals.
• The government has taken steps in this direction for proper use of Ayurveda.
Japan commits Rs 7,084 crore for 3 infrastructure projects in India
● Japan has committed Rs 7,084.5 crore to India for 3 infrastructure projects, including
1. Patna (Bihar) Metro Rail Construction Project
2. Rajasthan Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project
3. Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation for Climate Change Response in West Bengal
(WB)
About Patna (Bihar) Metro Rail Construction Project :
Page 103 of 145
● Japan would fund the Patna Metro Rail Construction Project (I) of JPY 98.612 billion (about Rs
5,509 crore).
Aim :
● To cope with the increase of traffic demand in the capital city of Bihar by constructing the
new metro corridor 1 & 2, thereby contributing to the improvement of the urban environment
and development of the economy as well as mitigation of climate change.
About Rajasthan Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project :
● For this Japan will fund JPY 18.894 billion (about Rs 1,055.53 crore).
Aim :
● To improve the livelihoods of farmers as well as promote gender mainstreaming in the

agriculture and irrigation sector in the State, by improving water use efficiency and agriculture
productivity, through the improvement of existing irrigation facilities.
About Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation for Climate Change Response in WB :
● For this Japan will fund JPY 9.308 billion (about Rs 520 crore).
Aim :
● To mitigate and adapt to climate change, conserve and restore ecosystems by ecosystem
based climate change measures, biodiversity conservation and restoration and etc
About Japan :
● Prime Minister : Fumio Kishida

● Capital : Tokyo
● Currency : Japanese yen
Apr 2023– International Current Affairs

India & South Asia could be worst hit if 1.5°C threshold overshot - IPCC
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the final final report of the
sixth assessment cycle.
Page 104 of 145
• As per IPCC report, Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health and
there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for
all.
Key Highlights :
• Human activities have ‘unequivocally’ caused global warming.

• This has warmed the land and oceans by 1.1°C as observed for the period of 2011-2020,
compared with the period 1850-1900.
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) announced by countries till October 2021 make it
likely that warming will exceed 1.5°C during the 21st century and make it harder to limit
warming below 2°C.
• To achieve the 1.5°C goal with 50% likelihood, we need rapid and deep GHG emissions
reductions in all sectors this decade.
• It is a summary of the 5 earlier reports released between 2018 and 2022.
About IPCC :
• Established : 1988
• Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
• The IPCC is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change.
• The IPCC was set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
UK signs deal to join trade pact with 11 Asia and Pacific nations
• The United Kingdom (UK) has signed a deal to join a trade pact with 11 Asia and Pacific
nations, 3 years after it officially left the European Union (EU).
Key Highlights :
• The government's own estimates show being in the bloc will only add 0.08% to the size of the
UK's economy.
• The trade area covers a market of around 500 million people.
Page 105 of 145
• The deal to join the group would boost UK exports by cutting tariffs on goods such as cheese,
cars, chocolate, machinery, gin and whisky.
About Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership ( CPTPP) :

• It was established in 2018.
• It includes 11 countries - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New
Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
• Together, the 11 members account for about 13% of the world’s income and after 21 months
of negotiations, the UK has become the first European country to join.
• Membership of the CPTPP loosens restrictions on trade between member countries and
reduces tariffs, a form of border tax on goods.
• The agreement is expected to be formally signed by the end of the year following final approval
from Parliament and 11 member states.
Finland becomes NATO’s 31st member of military alliance
• Finland becomes the 31st member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), in a
historic strategic shift provoked by Moscow's war on Ukraine, which doubles the US-led
alliance's border with Russia.
• The Finnish flag was raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels,Belgium to mark Russia's
western neighbour becoming the 31st member of the Western alliance.
• The accession of Finland coincides with the 74th anniversary of the Washington Treaty which
established NATO that was signed on April 04, 1949.
• Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and the US Secretary of State joined NATO ministers for a
joining ceremony.
Key Highlights :
• Joining NATO places Finland under the alliance's Article 5, the collective defence pledge that
an attack on one member "shall be considered an attack against them all".
• Finland and Russia share a 1,340-kilometre (832-mile) eastern border, and Finland and
Sweden formally applied to join NATO in May, 2022 as a result of Russia's war.
Page 106 of 145
• Turkey was the last NATO member to ratify Finland’s accession protocol.
About Finland :
• President : Sauli Niinistö

• Prime Minister : Sanna Marin
• Capital: Helsinki
• Currency: Euro.
About NATO :
• Headquarters : Brussels, Belgium

• Secretary General : Jens Stoltenberg
• NATO was set up in 1949 by the United States (US), Canada, and several western European
nations to ensure their collective security against the Soviet Union.
• It was the US’s first peacetime military alliance outside the western hemisphere.
• 30 countries are currently members of NATO.
India & Bhutan plan to set up first Integrated Check Post along border near Jaigaon
• India and Bhutan are considering setting up the first Integrated Check Post along the border
near Jaigaon.
• The bilateral meeting was held between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and King of
Bhutan Mr Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in New Delhi.
• External Affairs Secretary Mr Vinay Mohan Kwatra talked about the outcomes of the meeting.
• He stated that India would step up its support for Bhutan’s upcoming 13th five-year plan.
• He also stated that India and Bhutan will also expedite the proposed Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail
link project.
• It will be the first-ever rail link between India and Bhutan.
• The King of Bhutan is on a 3-day visit to India.
• He is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Dr. Tandi Dorji.
About Bhutan :
• Prime Minister : Lotay Tshering

Page 107 of 145
• Capital : Thimphu
• Currency : Bhutanese Ngultrum
'Kashi' declared first tourism & cultural capital of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
• ‘Kashi’(Varanasi) has been declared the first tourism and cultural capital of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• The declaration was made by a meeting of the SCO heads of Tourism Administrations held in
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• The initiative will garner more attention by highlighting the spiritualism, mysticism, and learning
of Kashi which is also the cradle of Indian civilization.
• The meeting also adopted the Action Plan for “Year of Tourism Development in the SCO
Space in 2023.
• The next meeting of the SCO Heads of Tourism Administrations will be held in Kazakhstan in
2024.
About SCO :
• Founded : 15 June 2001

• Headquarters : Beijing, China
• The SCO currently comprises 8 Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan).
Spouses of H-1B visa holders can work in United States
In a big relief for foreign workers in the United States (US) tech sector, a judge has ruled
that spouses of H-1B visa holders can work in the US.
Key Highlights :
• US District Judge Tanya Chutkan made the ruling while rejecting a petition filed by Save Jobs
USA.
• The petition urged the repeal of an Obama-era rule that gave employment authorization cards
to spouses of certain categories of H-1B visa holders.
Page 108 of 145
• Save Jobs USA is an organization of information technology workers who claim that their jobs
are being lost due to H-1B visa holders.
• Tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft had opposed the lawsuit.
• The US has so far issued nearly 1,00,000 work authorisations to spouses of H-1B workers, a
significantly large number of whom are Indians.
• This provision has existed for a long time with the permission of the US Parliament and is also
recorded in the immigration and citizenship law.
• The Department of Homeland Security has authorized employment not only for students, but
also for their spouses and dependents.
What is an H-1B Visa?
• It is a non- immigrant visa that permits US companies to employ foreign workers in specific
occupations.
• This rule was prompted by Ex-US President Mr Barack Obama in the year 2015, which allowed
work permits for spouses of those having H-1B work visas waiting for their Green Card.
About US :

• Currency : U.S. dollar
India grants $2 million to African Union Transition Mission in Somalia
● India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mr Ruchira Kamboj handed over the
contribution of USD 2 million to the United Nations Trust Fund in support of the African Union
Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
● With this, the Government of India (GoI) reiterates New Delhi's commitment to peace and
stability in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
● Earlier, India had contributed USD 4 million to the African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM).
About ATMIS :
Page 109 of 145
● ATMIS was established on 1 April 2022 pursuant to the Security Council resolution 2628 (2022)
and African Union Peace and Security Council Communique 1068th of 8 March 2022
Aim :
● To support the implementation of the Somali Transitional Plan towards a full handover of
security responsibility to the Somali security forces and institutions by the end 2024.
● The primary role of ATMIS is to reduce the threat posed by the terrorist group Al-Shabaad.
About Somalia :
● President : Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

● Prime Minister : Hamza Abdi Barre
● Capital : Mogadishu
● Currency : Somali shilling
Ghana becomes first country to approve Oxford’s malaria vaccine
• Ghana has become the first country in the world to receive regulatory approval to market the
malaria vaccine R21/Matrix-M developed by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom
(UK).
• Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority has granted clearance for the use of R21/Matrix-M
vaccine.
• The vaccine was manufactured by the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd and submitted
through the local agent DEK Pharmaceutical Ghana.
• The Serum Institute of India, a leading biotechnology company, has the capacity to produce
over 200 million doses of the R21 vaccine on an annual basis.
Key Highlights :
• The vaccine has exceeded the World Health Organization's (WHO) efficacy target of 75%, and
will be given specifically to children aged 5–36 months who are at highest risk of death from
malaria.
• According to the WHO, an estimated 619,000 people died from malaria in 2021, most of them
were children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Page 110 of 145
• Ghana, a country where malaria is both endemic and perennial, has reported an estimated 5.3
million cases and 12,500 estimated deaths due to the disease.
• Phase 3 testing of the vaccine is ongoing, but earlier trials have shown efficacy levels of 77%.
About Ghana :
• President : Nana Akufo-Addo

• Capital : Accra
• Currency : Cedi
Japan, India & France announce common platform for Sri Lanka creditors
• Japan, India and France have announced a common platform for dialogue between bilateral
creditors to coordinate debt restructuring of Sri Lanka.
• This will help in solving the debt crisis of middle-income economies.
• It is historic to start the negotiation process with such a broad-based group of lenders.
• In Mar 2023, Sri Lanka took a 2.9-billion-dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) to deal with the huge debt burden.
Key Highlights :
• Only low-income countries can apply for debt relief under the G-20's general framework.
• Countries with middle income economies cannot take advantage of this arrangement.
• This has put pressure on major economies to come up with an alternative plan, leading to the
creation of new platforms.
• Sri Lanka owes 7.1 billion dollars in debt to bilateral creditors.
• This includes $3 billion from China, $2.4 billion from the Paris Club and $1.6 billion from India.
About Japan :
• Prime Minister : Fumio Kishida

• Capital : Tokyo
• Currency : Japanese yen
About India :
Page 111 of 145
• President : Droupadi Murmu

• Prime Minister : Narendra Modi
• Capital : New Delhi
• Currency : Indian rupee
About France :

• Capital : Paris
• Currency : Euro, CFP franc
About Sri Lanka :
• President : Ranil Wickremesinghe

• Prime Minister : Dinesh Gunawardena
• Currency : Sri Lankan rupee
Cyclone Ilsa hits Western Australia coast
• Cyclone Ilsa hit a remote stretch of coast in Western Australia near Port Hedland.
• The speed of the wind was 218 kilometres per hour-kph (135 mile per hour-mph)on Bedout
Island just off the coast.
• It is the strongest cyclone to hit the region in the last 14 years.
• Australia uses a five-tier system to categorise cyclones.
• Cyclone Ilsa has been kept in category three.
• Cyclones are common on the west coast of Australia.
• Tropical Cyclone Monica was the strongest cyclone to hit Australia.
What is a Cyclone?
Page 112 of 145
• A cyclone is a large air mass that rotates around a strong centre of low atmospheric pressure,
counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
India contributes $500,000 to United Nations entity for women empowerment
• India has made a generous contribution of $500,000 ( ₹4.09 crore) to the United Nations
Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women.
• The cheque was handed over by Ruchira Kamboj, the Permanent Representative of India to
the United Nations, towards the Indian government's contribution to the core voluntary budget
of UN Women.
• The donation was received by Sima Sami Bahous, the Under Secretary General and Executive
Director of UN Women.
• India is currently serving as a member of the Executive Board of the UN Women & Women-led
Development is one of the priorities of India’s G20 presidency.
• India's development model is one that is led by women and focuses on entrepreneurship and
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) education.
• This contribution by India highlights the country's commitment towards gender equality and
empowerment of women, as well as the government's support towards UN Women's
activities.
About United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women :
• Founded : 2 July 2010

• Headquarters : New York, United States
• Executive Director : Sima Sami Bahous
• It is a United Nations entity working for gender equality and the empowerment of women.
G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo held in Japan
• The 2023 Group of 7 (G7) Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment was held
on 15-16 April, 2023 in Sapporo, Japan.
• The meeting considered priority issues in the areas of climate, energy, and the environment.
Page 113 of 145
• Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav attended the plenary session of the G7
minister's meeting.
• The G-7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the United
Kingdom
Key Highlights :
• The Climate and Environment Ministers of the G7 have agreed on a joint statement to tackle
global nature loss.
• The G7 members committed to the effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity
Framework (GBF).
• G7 ministers also agreed to dedicate a significant amount of international climate finance to
nature-based solutions.
• G7 members committed to quitting fossil fuels faster but failed to agree on any new
deadlines.
• In 2022, G7 pledged to largely end fossil fuel use in their electricity sectors by 2035.
• G7 members agreed to reduce gas consumption and increase electricity generation from
renewable sources.
• The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 required enhanced emission descaling by
developed countries.
• As per the "Global Carbon Budget Report - 2022", China, the US and European Union are
responsible for more than half of the world's CO2 emissions.
Syria becomes world's largest ‘narco-state’
• Syria has become the largest 'narco-state' in the world.

• The production and export of Captagon, which is also known as the "poor man's coke," has
become a crucial source of economic sustenance for Syria.
• This highly addictive Captagon has become the primary lifeline of the country's economy,
generating over 90% of its foreign exchange.
What is meant by Nacro State?
Page 114 of 145
• "Narco-State" means a nation where a significant portion of the economy is dependent on

the illegal trade in narcotic drugs.
About Captagon :
• Captagon is a synthetic stimulant that combines amphetamine and caffeine.

• Captagon was classified as an illegal drug by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) in 2021.
• Captagon's widespread presence and profitability in Syria has raised concerns about the
devastating impact of drug trafficking on the country's social fabric, health and security.
• In 1961, a German pharmaceutical company first introduced Captagon to treat health
conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy and depression.
• Later, Captagon was found to be highly addictive and harmful to mental and physical health,
leading to its prohibition.
• It is a highly sought-after recreational drug among young people in the Gulf countries,
commonly known as "party pills".
• The US enacted the Captagon Act in 2022, linking the drug trade to the Assad regime in Syria
and labelling it an "international security threat".
About Syria :
• President : Bashar al-Assad

• Capital : Damascus
• Currency : Syrian pound
India holds 100th G20 meeting under its presidency in Varanasi
• India celebrates a key milestone in its Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency with the hosting of
its 100th G20 meeting, the Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• This is the largest number of meetings ever hosted by any country as G-20 President so far.
• Over 12,300 delegates, from over 110 nationalities have attended G20-related meetings.
Key Highlights :
Page 115 of 145
• Under India’s G-20 Presidency, the 100 G-20 meetings have been held in 41 cities, covering 28
states and union territories of India.
• During the Presidency, India will be hosting foreign delegates for over 200 G20-related
meetings in around 60 cities across India.
Key Statistics :
• The chief coordinator of India’s G20 presidency is Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

• India took over the G-20 Presidency from Indonesia in November 2022.
• The 2023 G20 Summit is the 18th meeting of Group of Twenty (G-20) to be held in New Delhi
in September 2023.
• Under India’s G20 presidency, 3 ministerial meetings have been held till date.
• The 2nd Health Working Group in Goa, the 2nd Digital Economy Working Group in
Hyderabad and the Space Economy Leaders’ Precursor Meeting in Shillong are also being
held.
About G20 :
• The G20 comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany,
India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,
Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States) and the European Union.
• The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and
about two-thirds of the world population.
Nepal became a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance
• Nepal has become a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance initiated by
India (IBCA), an initiative by the Government of India (GoI).
Key Highlights :
• The alliance was launched under India's initiative, and during the launch event, Nepal's Energy
Minister Mr Shakti Bahadur Basnet presented a letter indicating Nepal's membership as a
founding member to India's Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Bhupendra Yadav.
Page 116 of 145
• Nepal's tiger population has seen a significant increase, increasing from 121 in 2010 to 335 in
2022.
• Nepal successfully achieved its target of doubling the tiger population by 2022, as done during
the first Tiger Summit in 2010 in St. Petersburg.
About IBCA :
• The IBCA was launched by Prime Minister (PM) of India Shri Narendra Modi on 9th April
2023, at Mysore, Karnataka, to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger.
Objective :
• To conserve 7 big cats namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and
Puma.
• The Indian Initiative of IBCA was launched in Nepal recently.
About Nepal :
• Prime Minister - Pushpa Kamal Dahal

• President - Ram Chandra Paudel
• Capital - Kathmandu
• Currency - Nepalese Rupee
India & Canada agree to work on making defence an important pillar of bilateral relationship
• India and Canada have agreed to make defence an important pillar of the bilateral
relationship.
• Both countries have agreed to work on taking the defence relationship to the next level.
Key Highlights :
• Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and his Canadian counterpart discussed ways to develop
bilateral defence relations.
• Both Ministers also talked about potential areas of defence cooperation from UN peacekeeping
training to Defence Industrial Cooperation.
• Rajnath Singh invited Canadian defence companies to invest in India.
Page 117 of 145
• India established diplomatic relations with Canada in 1947.

About Canada :
• Prime Minister : Justin Trudeau

• Capital : Ottawa
• Currency : Canadian dollar
IIT Madras to set up its first international campus in Tanzania
• The Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) based Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is set to
establish its first International campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania with plans to start the classes
by October 2023.
• This will be the first IIT to be set up in Africa.
• In February,2023 a team of 5 professors from IIT Madras visited Tanzania and held discussions
with various officials on starting the campus.
• This information was shared by IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti at IIT Madras’ 64th Institute
Day, on April 20, 2023.
Jitgadhi festival is being observed in Butwal
• The Jitgadhi festival is being observed in Butwal in the Rupandehi district of Lumbini
Province.
• The festival is celebrated every year to mark the victory over the British government, then East
India Company, by the Nepal Army.
• A Nepal Army led by Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa conquered the Jitgadhi fort on 7th Baisakh 1872
BS by taking down the British Army.
• The festival is observed in Butwal Sub Metropolitan City every year in celebration of the
conquest of the fort.
• On this occasion, the main celebration committee of Jitagadhi Fort welcomed an army
contingent, which walked 370 kilometres (km) from Gorkha to participate in the festival.
Page 118 of 145
• Jitagadh Fort which represents the victory of the Nepalese Army over the British Army is spread
over an area of 500 square feet, the east-west length of Jeetgarhi is 205 feet and the width is
about 55 feet.
• Vijayutsav has been celebrated every year on 7th Baisakh for 200 years.
‘India-built Mongolia’s first oil refinery to be completed by 2025’
• Mongolia’s first oil refinery, built and funded with Indian assistance, will be completed by
2025.
• The first stage of Mongol Oil Refinery, built with a $1.2 billion Indian soft loan, will be
completed at the end of 2023.
• It is being developed by the Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited, a Hyderabad-
based company.
Key Highlights :
• The development comes with strategic implications as Mongolia is entirely dependent on

Russia for its energy imports.
• It would help Mongolia meet 70% of its demand domestically.
• Mongolia also hopes to attract Indian investment in its mining and metals, with plans to start
shipping coking coal to India by 2024.
• Mongolia also has key rare earth metals, which may be crucial to India’s ambitions to build
cutting edge technological capabilities in semiconductors and green mobility
About Mongolia :
• President : Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh

• Prime Minister : Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erden
• Capital : Ulaanbaatar
• Currency : Mongolian Tugrik
France Macron signs pension reforms into law despite protests
Page 119 of 145
• France's Constitutional Council approved an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age from
62 to 64, in a victory for President Emmanuel Macron after three months of mass protests over
the legislation that has damaged his leadership.
• The council rejected some other measures in the pension bill, but the higher age was central to
Macron's plan and the target of protesters' anger.
• Macron can enact the bill within 15 days.
• The plan to increase the retirement age was meant to be Macron's showcase measure in his
second term.
About France :

• Capital: Paris
• Currency: Euro.
Japan’s Health Ministry approves the country’s first abortion pill Mefeego
• In a significant boost to reproductive rights, Japan’s Health Ministry has approved the
country’s first abortion pill-Mefeego pill pack.
• The approval came from the Health Ministry’s Pharmaceutical Board after it approved the
MeFeego Pack abortion pill manufactured by British pharmaceutical Linepharma.
• While abortion pills are widely available in many countries across the globe, the medication was
not approved by Japan's Health Ministry.
• Japan's abortion laws also allow women to have abortions only with the consent of their
partners which denies women the right to make decisions over their own bodies.
Key Highlights :
• The medication consists of two types of pill, and can be used within 9 weeks of pregnancy.
• The pill pack contains 2 types of medicines, mifepristone and misoprostol, which have been
included by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its list of essential medicines, shown to
be safe and effective for people who are pregnant.
Page 120 of 145
About Japan :
• Prime Minister : Fumio Kishida

• Capital : Tokyo
• Currency : Japanese yen
Australia to host third in-person Quad Summit in Sydney
• Australia is set to host the third in-person Quad Leadership Summit on May 24, 2023 in
Sydney
• This will be the first time that Australia will host the summit.
• The meeting will be attended by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, US President Mr Joe
Biden, Prime Minister Mr Kishida Fumio of Japan and Australian Prime Minister Mr Anthony
Albanese.
• This will be the fourth Quad leaders' summit and the third held in person, with the most
recent in-person meeting hosted by Japan's capital Tokyo in 2022.
Key discussions :
• How to deepen cooperation on issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific, including
critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change,
maritime domain awareness and other pressing issues.
• The leaders will discuss how the Quad can work alongside partners and regional groupings
including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum,
to strengthen cooperation.
• The previous in-person meeting was hosted by Japan in Tokyo in 2022.
About QUAD :
• QUAD stands for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

• It comprises India, the United States (US), Japan and Australia.
• It was set up to develop a strategy to keep critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific region free of
any influence.
Page 121 of 145
• The first in-person meeting of Quad leaders was hosted by US President Mr Joe Biden in
2021.
• It was formalised by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.
About Australia :
• Prime Minister : Anthony Albanese

• Capital : Canberra
• Currency : Australian dollar
May 2023– International Current Affairs

United Kingdom’s first Jagannath Temple to be built in London
An Odisha-born entrepreneur in the United Kingdom (UK), Biswanath Patnaik, has pledged about
Rs 250 crores to a UK-based charitable organisation Shree Jagannatha Society (SJS) UK,
working on constructing the UK’s first temple devoted to Bhagwan Jagannath in London.
The first construction phase is projected to be finished by the end of 2024.
The global Indian investor Biswanath Patnaik made the pledge at the first Shree Jagannatha
Convention held in London.
The investor and chairman of FINNEST Group, Biswanath Patnaik, has pledged to donate the
amount for construction of the temple.
The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath,
a form of Vishnu, in Puri in the state of Odisha on the eastern coast of India.
About UK :
Prime Minister : Rishi Sunak

Capital : London
Currency : Pound sterling
WHO launches new PRET initiative to improve pandemic preparedness
Page 122 of 145
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new Preparedness and Resilience for
Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative to be better prepared for future outbreaks of a similar
scale and devastation as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aim :
To provide “guidance on integrated planning for responding to any respiratory pathogen such
as influenza or coronaviruses”.
It was announced at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held on 24-26
April 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The first module focuses on respiratory pathogens, including influenza, coronaviruses, and
respiratory syncytial virus.
The three-pronged approach includes:
Update preparedness plans that affirm priority actions and that have considered learnings from
past events.
Recognizing the risk posed by respiratory pathogens, planning for a respiratory pathogen pandemic
based on the themes identified in the PRET Module #1: Planning for Respiratory Pathogen
Pandemics is a priority
Increase connectivity among stakeholders in pandemic preparedness planning through
systematic coordination and cooperation.
This includes building equitable systems; conducting joint exercises; and sharing information on
good practices, challenges, and opportunities.
Dedicate sustained investments, financing and monitoring of pandemic preparedness with a
particular focus on addressing the gaps identified during past pandemics and epidemics.
About WHO :
Established : April 7, 1948

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland.
Page 123 of 145
The WHO is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) responsible for international public
health.
76th Cannes Film Festival started in France
The 76th Cannes Film Festival started in France.
The festival officially started with the world premiere of the Johnny Depp starring film Jeanne Du
Barry.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan is leading the Indian delegation
at the 12-day event.
Filmmaker Guneet Monga of The Elephant Whisperers fame, Indian actresses Manushi Chillar,
Esha Gupta and Manipuri actor Kangabam Tomba are accompanying him.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur addressed the inaugural session through a
video message.
Key Highlights :
India’s Cannes pavilion this year will be based on the Saraswati Yantra, an abstract representation
of Goddess Saraswati, drawn from the ancient text of ‘Maha Upanishad’.
The pavilion has been designed by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, with the theme
“Showcasing India’s Creative Economy” to the global community.
The film festival will be held from May 16 to May 27, 2023.
4 Indian films have made it to the official selection in Cannes Film Festival – which include Kanu
Behl’s Agra and Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy.
About Cannes Film Festival :
Cannes Film Festival is an annual film festival.
It is held in Cannes, France.
It is one of the "Big Three" major European film festivals.
It reviews new films of all genres, including documentaries from all over the world.
9 European Countries to Turn North Sea Into Green Power Plant
9 European countries have signed a declaration to transform the North Sea into a green power
plant.
Page 124 of 145
The document, endorsed during the second North Sea Summit held in Ostend, Belgium outlines
a bold vision that encompasses the generation of a minimum of 120 gigawatts (GW) of
offshore wind power within the North Sea region by the year 2030.
This declaration is the successor to the Esbjerg declaration, which resulted from the first summit
in Denmark on May 18, 2022.
Objective :
To make the North Sea the largest green energy centre in Europe by accelerating the deployment
of offshore wind turbines.
The signatory countries will also double their total offshore wind capacity to at least 300 GW by
2050.
Participant countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Norway, and the United Kingdom.
Devendra Fadnavis unveils Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Mauritius
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis unveiled a 12-feet statue of
Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Mauritius to mark the strong bond
between the two nations.
It was his first visit to the island nation.
The sculpture was created in India by a Delhi-based artist and sent to the island nation in a
container ship.
An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Economic
Development Board, Mauritius, and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation
to establish a platform for investment between the Western State and the island nation.
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India.
In April, 2023, the Shinde-Fadnavis government sanctioned an additional ₹8 crore for the second
phase of construction.
About Shivaji :
Shivaji was crowned as King in 1674 C.E.
Page 125 of 145
His coronation took place at Raigadha with pomp and as per the Vedic rites, he took the title
“Chatrapati”.
About Mauritius :
President : Prithvirajsing Roopun

Prime Minister : Pravind Jugnauth
Capital : Port Louis
Currency : Mauritian rupee
Germany & the United Arab Emirates hosted the Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2023 in
Berlin
Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosted the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in
Berlin ahead of Conference of the Parties 28 (COP 28).
Ministers from 40 countries attended the conference.
The main aim of the Dialogue is to discuss the way forward towards COP28.
Key Highlights :
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the need for decarbonisation in
every sector and for reducing the use of fossil fuels.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that to lower global warming to 1.5°C, the
world needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
COP28 President-designate Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber calls on meeting participants to accelerate
renewable energy capacity building.
2023 is the year for the Global Stocktake.
It is the first Global Stocktake year since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.
Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav participated in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue on 3 May,
2023
He stated that the first Global Stocktake should convey a message on sustainable lifestyles as well
as sustainable consumption for the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions.
About Germany :
Page 126 of 145
President : Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Capital : Berlin
Currency : Euro
About UAE :
President/Crown Prince : Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister : Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Capital : Abu Dhabi
Currency : UAE dirham
Pakistan & China agree to extend China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan
Pakistan, China and Afghanistan have agreed to forge closer economic ties by extending the
Beijing-backed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang and
Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi held
the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue.
During the dialogue, foreign ministers of 3 countries underlined the need to prevent any group
from using their territories for terror activities.
The 3 foreign ministers emphasised the importance of current initiatives, including CASA-1000,
TAPI, and Trans-Afghan Railways etc., to improve regional connectivity.
This was the first foreign ministers’ dialogue between Pakistan, China and Afghanistan since
the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
About CPEC :
Established : 20 April 2015
CPEC is officially regarded as the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Aim :
To enhance Beijing’s influence around the world through China-funded infrastructure projects.
The 3,000 km long China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) comprises highways, railways
and pipelines.
About Pakistan :
Page 127 of 145
President : Arif Alvi

Prime Minister : Shehbaz Sharif
Capital : Islamabad
Currency : Pakistani rupee
About China :
President : Xi Jinping
Capital : Beijing
Currency : Renminbi
About Afghanistan :
Prime Minister : Hasan Akhund
Capital : Kabul
Currency : Afghani
First-ever direct international flight connecting Bhubaneswar-Dubai started
First-ever direct international flight service from Bhubaneswar to Dubai has been started.
IndiGo’s direct flight service shows the growing importance of Bhubaneswar as a major destination.
The inaugural flight, carrying a delegation of representatives from the Government of Odisha, civil
society, and members of the business & sports community and self-help groups reached Dubai
International Airport.
The travel to Dubai by the delegation coincides with the upcoming Odisha Dibasa program
showcasing the state’s rich culture and heritage
The Odisha Dibasa program is scheduled to be held on May 16 and 17, 2023.
Operating 3 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the state-of-the-art Airbus A320
aircraft will ensure seamless travel between Bhubaneswar and Dubai, enhancing convenience for both
business and leisure travellers.
The launch of the first international flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai reduces the flying time from
12 to 4 hours.
World Health Organisation launches framework on reducing anaemia in women of reproductive
age
Page 128 of 145
The World Health Organisation (WHO) launches its first-ever comprehensive framework on
reducing anaemia, calling on countries to accelerate action to halve anaemia prevalence in women of
reproductive age by 2025.
Anaemia is a serious global public health problem, affecting 571 million women and 269 million
young children worldwide.
Key Highlights :
The new framework sets forth ways to address the direct causes, risk factors and broad social
inequities that are fundamental drivers for anaemia.
In 2019, anaemia affected 40% of children between 6 months and 5 years of age, 37% of pregnant
women and 30% of women 15–49 years of age.
It is most prevalent in low- and middle-income countries.
Anaemia increases the risk of infections and death, impairs cognitive performance, and causes
extreme fatigue, poor pregnancy outcomes, loss of earnings, and poor growth and development.
It is a strong indicator of overall health.
About WHO :
The WHO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
India & Bangladesh launched '50 Start-ups Exchange Programme'
India and Bangladesh have jointly launched the '50 Start-up Exchange Programme' under which
50 Start-ups from India and 50 Start-ups from Bangladesh will exchange visits to each
other’s countries.
These visits will be for exploring partnerships, expanding business relations, sharing
experience and knowledge and expanding youth and entrepreneurial cooperation.
Objective :
To strengthen bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh by promoting cooperation in start-
up and innovation sectors.
Page 129 of 145
The framework of the programme was decided by the Prime Ministers (PM) of the two countries
i.e. Bangladesh PM Ms Sheikh Hasina & India PM Shri Narendra Modi during their bilateral
summits.
Key Highlights :
The first group of 10 start-up companies as part of the 50 start-ups exchange programme returned
to Bangladesh after completing a successful visit to India from 8-12 May, 2023.
The start-ups belong to e-commerce, health, transport and logistics, energy, education and
skill development sectors.
The startups were introduced to India’s ‘Start-up India’ initiative.
They participated in interactive sessions focused on establishing a Start-up and business model
creation process, role of incubator, marketing of projects and services, cyber security and
artificial intelligence including data protection, start-up evaluation and methods to secure
funding.
About Bangladesh :
Prime Minister : Sheikh Hasina

President : Mohammed Shahabuddin
Capital : Dhaka
Currency : Taka
1st Ministerial meeting of India-EU Trade and Technology Council to be held in Brussels
The first ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will be held
in Brussels, Belgium.
Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution,
Shri Piyush Goyal is one of the co-chairs along with External Affairs Minister (EAM) and Union
Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The EU side is co-chaired by Executive Vice Presidents Mr. Dombrovskis and Ms. Vestager.
The formation of the TTC was announced by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and H.E. Ms.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission in New Delhi in April, 2022.
Page 130 of 145
It has been formed with the aim of creating a high-level coordination platform to deal with
strategic challenges in alliances related to trade, reliable technology and security.
Key Highlights :
The following 3 Working Groups under the mechanism will report on roadmaps for future
cooperation between the two sides:
Working Group on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity
Working Group on Green and Clean Energy Technologies
Working Group on Trade, Investment and Resilient Value Chains.
Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal had a bilateral meeting with EVP Dombrowskis, followed by
Working Group-3 stakeholder consultations in the presence of business leaders from both EU
and India.
The WG3 meeting focused on trade, technology and resilient supply chains and was attended by 6
business leaders from the EU and India
Laos begins to prepare for ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024
Lao tourism authorities are preparing to host the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2024, which
will take place in the Lao capital Vientiane on Jan. 22-27, 2024
The theme of the forum will be "Quality and Responsible Tourism -- Sustaining ASEAN Future".
The forum will include a tourism exhibition and serves to spur tourism and further service
improvement in associated businesses.
Previously, Laos hosted the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2004 and 2013.
The Lao government is working to promote the country’s potential as a nature-based tourism
destination.
Many foreign tourists have visited the Southeast Asian country to explore scenic attractions as well
as local lifestyles and traditions.
In the first three months of 2023, more than 831,000 foreign tourists came to Laos, compared with
just 211,898 overseas visitors in the first 6 months of 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enditem
About Laos :
Page 131 of 145
President : Thongloun Sisoulith

Prime Minister : Sonexay Siphandone
Capital : Vientiane
Currency : Kip
$5 Billion undersea gas pipeline between United Arab Emirates -Gujarat proposed
South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE), an international consortium of companies in deepwater
pipeline projects, has sought the support of the ministry of petroleum and others to develop
an undersea gas pipeline from the Gulf to India.
About the project :
The proposed 2,000-km-long energy corridor connecting the Middle East and India, a $5 billion
project, can lead to an annual saving of about `7,000 crore in comparison with a similar
quantity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.
The undersea transnational gas pipeline project Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP)
was initially conceived between Iran and India (Porbandar) about a decade ago but failed to
take off due to western sanctions.
There have been new large gas discoveries in Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia and the Middle East
plans to spend over $120 billion to increase gas output by 14 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd)
by 2030.
The route being looked at is via Oman and UAE through Arabian Sea to avoid geo-politically
sensitive regions.
It will allow options to import gas from Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkmenistan and Qatar, a
region with 2,500 trillion cubic feet (tcf) gas reserves.
Meeting the needs of the power and fertiliser industry for affordable gas, while moving to a low
carbon economy, and increasing gas share to 15% in energy basket will create a demand of 700
Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter per Day (MMSCMD) gas annually at right prices.
Gas pipelines are more competitive than LNG up to a distance of 2,500-3,000 km due to high cost
of gas liquefaction, transportation and regasification.
It can save $5 to $6 per Metric Million British Thermal Unit (mmBtu).
Page 132 of 145
The proposed pipeline promises to deliver 31 mmscmd gas to India under a 20 year long term
supply contract.
About SAGE :
It is promoted by the New Delhi based Siddho Mal Group, in Joint Venture with a UK-based
Deepwater Technology Company.
SAGE is working with a Global Consortium of some of the most reputed companies in the field of
Deepwater Pipelines, to create a Multi-Billion Dollar "Energy Corridor" that can transport gas
from the Middle East to India, bypassing the land route through Pakistan.
In quest for India's Energy Security, South Asia Gas Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. (SAGE) is undertaking a
path-breaking project, to build the Deepest Underwater Transnational Gas Pipeline.
It is also known as "Middle East to India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP)", this will be a Gas
Highway that will connect the Gas Rich Gulf & Middle East regions to India, for the
transportation of Natural Gas to secure India’s Energy Needs.
In addition, SAGE also plans to supply Natural Gas to Oman/ UAE on its Pipeline Route to India,
and seeks to further build Cooperative Relations with the friendly Gulf and Middle East
countries.
India launches ‘Operation Karuna’ to assist cyclone-hit Myanmar
India launched "Operation Karuna" to provide humanitarian assistance for people in Myanmar,
which is affected by Cyclone Mocha, and three ships carrying relief material reached Yangon.
The ships are carrying emergency food items, tents, essential medicines, water pumps, portable
generators, clothes, sanitary and hygiene items, etc.
Meanwhile, Indian Naval Ships (INS) Shivalik, Kamorta and Savitri were the first Naval ships to
arrive at Yangon with relief material.
India has extended a hand of friendship to the people of Myanmar affected by Cyclone Mocha.
About Cyclone Mocha :
Cyclone Mocha was a tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean.
It affected Myanmar and parts of Bangladesh in May 2023.
Mocha originated in the Bay of Bengal.
It has been classified as a 'Super Cyclone' by the global weather website Zoom Earth.
Page 133 of 145
The name of the storm 'Mocha' has been suggested by Yemen.

It was the first cyclonic storm of the 2023 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.
About Myanmar :
Capital : Naypyidaw
Currency : Kyat
WHO launches global network to detect infectious disease threat
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global network to help swiftly detect the
threat from infectious diseases, like COVID-19, and share the information to prevent their
spread.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) will provide a platform for connecting
countries and regions, improving systems for collecting and analysing samples.
About IPSN :
The IPSN is a global network of pathogen genomic actors.

It is hosted by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence.
Aim :
To help ensure infectious disease threats are swiftly identified and tracked and the information
shared and acted on to prevent catastrophes like the Covid pandemic.
The IPSN supports ongoing disease surveillance and will help detect and fully characterize new
disease threats before they become epidemics or pandemics.
The network will rely on pathogen genomics to analyse the genetic code of viruses, bacteria and
other disease-causing organisms to understand how infectious and deadly they are and how
they spread.
COVID-19 highlighted the critical role pathogen genomics plays when responding to pandemic
threats.
As pointed out by the WHO, without the rapid sequencing of the SARS CoV-2 virus, vaccines
would not have been as effective and would not have become available as quickly.
About WHO :
Page 134 of 145

Germany Unveils 2.7 billion euro military package to Ukraine
Germany announced 2.7 billion euro ($3.0 billion) of military aid to Ukraine, its biggest such
package yet since Russia’s invasion, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as
necessary.
The package will include 30 Leopard 1 tank, 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, over 200
reconnaissance drones and 4 Iris-T anti-aircraft systems.
Germany was initially reluctant to provide heavy arms to Ukraine to help it counter Russia's
invasion, fearing it might escalate the fight.
But in January, 2023 Berlin agreed to send Leopard tanks and would work with allies to send more.
About Germany :

Capital: Berlin
Currency- Euro.
About Ukraine :
President : Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Prime Minister : Denys Shmyhal
Capital : Kyiv
Currency : Hryvnia
2025 to be observed as 'special tourism year' in Nepal
The 2080s of the Bikram Samvat will be marked as ' the Visit Nepal Decade' and the year 2025 as
the special year for tourism.
Nepal's President Ram Chandra Poudel announced this while presenting the policies and programs
for the fiscal year 2080/81 at a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament.
Page 135 of 145
Previously, the government had announced to observe 2020 as a 'visit Nepal year' which was later
cancelled in the wake of the COVID crisis.
Key Highlights :
The tourism sector, which has seen huge losses from the COVID crisis, is slowly recovering.
From the beginning of 2023, about one lakh tourists are visiting Nepal every month.
In addition, the President announced that timely amendments would be made in tourism related
laws.
Tourist destinations will be popularised in the international community and necessary infrastructure
will be created accordingly.
In all the 7 provinces, new tourist destinations will be identified and each province will be a cultural
village.
New mountains will be opened to climb and security arrangements for climbers and tourists will be
made more reliable.
Also With the collaboration of private sectors, 'Samarmatha Special Honour' will be conferred on
foreign nationals considering their role in the promotion of Nepal's art, culture, language, and
literature in the international arena.
About Nepal :
President : Ram Chandra Poudel
Prime Minister : Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Capital : Kathmandu
Currency : Nepalese rupee
Bilawal Bhutto becomes 1st Pakistan foreign minister to visit India in 12 years
Pakistan's foreign minister Mr Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari arrived in Goa, India to attend a conclave
of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), becoming the first senior leader from the
neighbouring country to visit India in almost 12 years.
Bhutto travelled to Goa from Karachi and will attend the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting at Taj
Exotica Resort.
Page 136 of 145
Hina Rabbani Khar, currently minister of state for foreign affairs, was the last Pakistani foreign
minister to travel to India in July 2011 for talks with her Indian counterpart.
India is holding the chairmanship of the SCO for the year 2023.
The 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Leaders'
Meeting, hosted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India was held in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP) from February 6 to 8, 2023.
About SCO :
Established : 15 June 2001

Headquarters : Beijing, China
Secretary General : Zhang Ming
Membership : 8 member states (China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan,
India, Pakistan)
India was granted observer status in 2005 & the status of full member in 2017.
Iran will be the newest member (9th) of the SCO, when it joins the forum in 2023 under the
chairmanship of India.
About Pakistan :
President : Arif Alvi

Prime Minister : Shehbaz Sharif
Capital : Islamabad
Currency : Pakistani rupee
258 Million Needed Emergency Food Aid in 2022: UN
According to a United Nations (UN) report some 258 million people needed emergency food aid
in 2022 because of conflict, economic shocks and climate disasters, a sharp rise from 193
million the previous year.
More than 40% of those in serious need of food lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Yemen.
Page 137 of 145
People in 7 countries faced starvation and destitution, or catastrophe levels of acute hunger at
some point during 2022.
This overall figure has now increased for the 4th consecutive year in a row.
About World Food Programme (WFP) :
Founded : 19 December, 1961

Headquarters : Rome, Italy
The WFP is an international organisation within the United Nations that provides food assistance
worldwide.
It is the world's largest humanitarian organisation and the leading provider of school meals.
About UN :
Established : 1945
Headquarters : New York City, United States
Secretary General : António Guterres
World Health Organisation chief declares end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has ended the global emergency status of COVID-19.
According to WHO’s Coronavirus Dashboard which has collated key statistics since early in the
pandemic, the cumulative cases worldwide now stand at 765,222,932, with nearly 7 million
deaths: the precise figure currently stands at 6,921,614.
As of 30 April,2023 a total of more than 13.3 billion vaccine doses have been administered
worldwide.
On 30 January 2020, after the recommendation of the Emergency Committee, WHO had declared
Covid-19 as a global health emergency.
The WHO issued an updated Covid management plan on 3 May, 2023.
It will guide countries to manage Covid for the next 2 years.
The WHO has assigned the label to 7 outbreaks since 2007: monkeypox, Covid, Zika, H1N1 flu,
polio and Ebola (which has twice been designated an emergency).
About WHO :
Page 138 of 145

Ireland to become first country in the world with Mandatory Health Warnings on Alcohol
Products
Ireland is set to become the first country to introduce mandatory health warnings on alcohol
products.
The new regulation has been signed by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, which will take effect
in three years (May 22, 2026).
However, the labels will not be mandatory until May 2026.
Aim :
To raise awareness about the potential health risks associated with alcohol consumption.
Ireland will introduce mandatory health labelling of alcoholic beverages, with warnings regarding
the risk of cancer, liver disease and drinking while pregnant.
Why these warnings?
The introduction of health warnings on alcohol bottles and cans will serve as a powerful tool for
public health promotion and education.
It will also alert consumers to calorie and alcohol content.
It will provide concise information about the health hazards linked to excessive alcohol
consumption, encouraging individuals to make informed decisions.
South Africa enacted a law requiring stringent alcohol warning labels in 2017, but repealed it in
2020.
Other countries also have warnings on alcohol products, but Ireland's regulations aim to be more
comprehensive.
About Ireland :
President : Michael D. Higgins
Currency: Euro
Capital: Dublin
Savarkar statue to be unveiled in Mauritius
Page 139 of 145
After Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue, the bust of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar
Savarkar also known as Veer Savarkar will be unveiled in the port Luis capital city Mauritius
on May 28,2023 Savarkar’s birth anniversary.
Maharashtra public works department (PWD) minister Ravindra Chavan will attend the
programme which will be graced by Prithviraj Singh Rupan, President of Mauritius, and
Leladevi Dookun-Luchoomun, the Deputy Prime Minister.
This is the second-consecutive function where two icons of Maharashtra from different eras are
being honoured by Mauritius.
In April,2023 a 13-feet-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled by deputy CM
Devendra Fadnavis on the premises of Maharashtra Bhavan.
The latest function will mark the beginning of ‘Veer Savarkar Global Summit’ with the aim to
spread the work, literature and thoughts of the freedom fighter.
About Mauritius :
President : Prithvirajsing Roopun
Prime Minister : Pravind Jugnauth
Capital : Port Louis
Currency : Mauritian rupee
United Kingdom’s first Jagannath Temple to be built in London
An Odisha-born entrepreneur in the United Kingdom (UK), Biswanath Patnaik, has pledged about
Rs 250 crores to a UK-based charitable organisation Shree Jagannatha Society (SJS) UK,
working on constructing the UK’s first temple devoted to Bhagwan Jagannath in London.
The first construction phase is projected to be finished by the end of 2024.
The global Indian investor Biswanath Patnaik made the pledge at the first Shree Jagannatha
Convention held in London.
The investor and chairman of FINNEST Group, Biswanath Patnaik, has pledged to donate the
amount for construction of the temple.
The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath,
a form of Vishnu, in Puri in the state of Odisha on the eastern coast of India.
Page 140 of 145
About UK :
Prime Minister : Rishi Sunak

Capital : London
Currency : Pound sterling
WHO launches new PRET initiative to improve pandemic preparedness
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new Preparedness and Resilience for
Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative to be better prepared for future outbreaks of a similar
scale and devastation as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aim :
To provide “guidance on integrated planning for responding to any respiratory pathogen such
as influenza or coronaviruses”.
It was announced at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held on 24-26
April 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The first module focuses on respiratory pathogens, including influenza, coronaviruses, and
respiratory syncytial virus.
The three-pronged approach includes:
Update preparedness plans that affirm priority actions and that have considered learnings from
past events.
Recognizing the risk posed by respiratory pathogens, planning for a respiratory pathogen pandemic
based on the themes identified in the PRET Module #1: Planning for Respiratory Pathogen
Pandemics is a priority
Increase connectivity among stakeholders in pandemic preparedness planning through
systematic coordination and cooperation.
This includes building equitable systems; conducting joint exercises; and sharing information on
good practices, challenges, and opportunities.
Dedicate sustained investments, financing and monitoring of pandemic preparedness with a
particular focus on addressing the gaps identified during past pandemics and epidemics.
Page 141 of 145
About WHO :
Established : April 7, 1948

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland.
The WHO is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) responsible for international public
health.
Germany & the United Arab Emirates hosted the Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2023 in
Berlin
Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosted the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in
Berlin ahead of Conference of the Parties 28 (COP 28).
Ministers from 40 countries attended the conference.
The main aim of the Dialogue is to discuss the way forward towards COP28.
Key Highlights :
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the need for decarbonisation in
every sector and for reducing the use of fossil fuels.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that to lower global warming to 1.5°C, the
world needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
COP28 President-designate Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber calls on meeting participants to accelerate
renewable energy capacity building.
2023 is the year for the Global Stocktake.
It is the first Global Stocktake year since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.
Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav participated in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue on 3 May,
2023
He stated that the first Global Stocktake should convey a message on sustainable lifestyles as well
as sustainable consumption for the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions.
About Germany :

Page 142 of 145
Capital : Berlin
Currency : Euro
About UAE :
President/Crown Prince : Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister : Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Capital : Abu Dhabi
Currency : UAE dirham
Italy's Mount Etna volcano spewing smoke and ash in new eruption
Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, was erupting, spewing ash on Catania, eastern
Sicily’s largest city, and forcing a suspension of flights at that city’s airport.
Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, or INGV, which closely monitors Etna
with instrumentation on the slopes, noted that cloud cover on a rainy day was impeding views
of the eruption.
In early 2021, an eruption of the volcano lasted several weeks.
About Italy :
President : Sergio Mattarella
Prime Minister : Giorgia Meloni
Capital : Rome
Currency : Euro
Australia To Establish New Consulate General In Bengaluru
Australian Prime Minister (PM) Mr.Anthony Albanese announced that Australia will now open a
new Consul-General in Bengaluru, Karnataka in May, 2023 as part of the efforts of the two
countries to enhance bilateral ties.
The announcement of setting up a new consulate in Bengaluru has been announced after PM Shri
Narendra Modi stated that India will open a consulate in Brisbane.
Key Highlights :
Albanese stated that the opening of the new diplomatic mission in Bengaluru will help in
connecting India's businesses to the fast-growing digital and innovation ecosystem.
Page 143 of 145
In May,2023 the opening of the Consulate General in Bengaluru will be the fifth (5th) diplomatic
mission in India.
The others are in New Delhi (Delhi), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and
Kolkata (West Bengal).
Currently, India has 3 consulates in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Brisbane currently has an Honorary Consulate of India.
Also, both the leaders exchanged Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on the Mobility,
Migration and Green Hydrogen Task Force.
About Australia :
Prime Minister : Anthony Albanese
Capital : Canberra
Currency : Australian dollar
Germany, world’s fourth-largest economy, enters recession
World’s fourth-largest economy and Europe’s largest, Germany, has entered into recession after
the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded its second quarterly contraction.
Key Highlights :
The data released by the Federal Statistical Office shows Germany's gross domestic product
(GDP), declined by 0.3% in the period from January to March, 2023.
This follows a drop of 0.5% in Europe's biggest economy during the last quarter of 2022.
The inflation rate of Germany is more than Europe’s average but below that of the UK's 8.7%.
Household consumption and Government spending also decreased significantly.
Public spending has declined by 1.2% in the first 3 months due to high inflation.
Declined purchasing power, aggressive monetary policy tightening and the slowdown of the US
economy have weakened economic activities.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has raised its interest rate by 375 basis points since July.
What is recession?
A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of declining output.
It is a significant, widespread, and prolonged downturn in economic activity.
About Germany :
Page 144 of 145

Capital : Berlin
Currency : Euro
For More Daily Current Affairs - Click Here
Download Daily Score Booster Practice Questions PDF for Upcoming Bank Prelims Exam
Download Daily Score Booster Practice Questions PDF for Upcoming Bank Mains Exam
Download Daily Score Booster Practice PDFs for Upcoming SSC & Railway Exams
Download Ultra-Bundle PDF for Upcoming Competitive Exams

Special Paid Bundle PDF for Upcoming Exams
Monthly Current Affairs PDF Capsule 2023 | Monthly One Liner Capsule PDF
Last 6 Months Current Affairs PDF | Expected Monthly Current Affairs Questions
THE COMPLETE Static GK Capsule for Upcoming Exams
The COMPLETE Static Banking Awareness PDF
Check Here for Free Reasoning PDFs | Free Quantitative Aptitude Questions PDFs
Join Our What’s App Group & Get Instant Notification on Study Materials & PDFs
Click Here to Join Our Official Telegram Channel
Page 145 of 145

Last Six Months International Current Affairs PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Last Six Months International Current Affairs PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Last 6 Months International Current Affairs (Dec 2022 to May 2023)

Last 6 Months International Current Affairs

1. Dec 2022– International Current Affairs 03

2. Jan 2023– International Current Affairs 28

3. Feb 2023– International Current Affairs 51

4. Mar 2023– International Current Affairs 83

5. Apr 2023– International Current Affairs 104

6. May 2023– International Current Affairs 122

Dec 2022– International Current Affairs

About Mauna Loa :

Its name means “long mountain” in Hawaiian.

About WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health :

Founded: 22 November 1965

About United Nations :

Established: 26 June 1945

President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari

Prime minister: Sher Bahadur Deuba

FAO Opening Ceremony of International Year of Millets 2023 held in Rome,

Founded: 16 October 1945

About Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare :

Cabinet Minister: Narendra Singh Tomar

President : Sauli Niinistö

EU agrees to grant Bosnia & Herzegovina membership candidate

Bosnia first voiced its aspiration to join the EU in 2003.

European Council president: Charles Michel

Iran removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women

About the UN Commission on the Status of Women :

UAE to host next meeting of World Trade Organization

About the Report :

Founded : 7 April 1948

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

Urban-20 (U20) event being organised under G20 presidency of India

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates the first Metro rail in Dhaka

Currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum

What is Urban 20 (U20) ?

Urban-20 (U20) is one of the Engagement Groups of G20.

Cabinet Minister : Hardeep Singh Puri

Jan 2023– International Current Affairs

About the S20 2023 :

Activities for the International Year of Millets :

About the Euro area :

President : Zoran Milanović

India takes over leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union

Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand

Australia is the top lithium producer globally.

About the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention :

About the Scheme :

President: Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Netherlands plans to shut Europe’s largest gas field in October 2023

Govt sets up India’s G20 task force on digital public infrastructure

Functions of G20 Task Force :

India to moot energy efficiency pact at G20

President: Ranil Wickremesinghe

India and Egypt reiterated support for the Non-Aligned Movement.

India-Egypt MoU on cultural cooperation signed for 5 years - Culture Ministry

The Ministry of Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cultural

Cabinet Minister: G. Kishan Reddy

President : Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Currency: Egyptian pound

President: Ranil Wickremesinghe

Taj Mahal, Hampi

Founded: 16 November 1945

China's population drops for first time since 1961

President : Cyril Ramaphosa