Current Affair Study Note on National & International

West Champaran District of Bihar gets GI tag ‘Mircha’ rice

Bihar’s West Champaran was awarded the GI tag for its ‘Mircha’ rice. The size and shape of the grain appear like that of black pepper, hence it is known as Mircha or Marcha Rice. This rice is famous for its aroma, palatability, and its aromatic chura (rice flakes) making qualities.

The cooked rice is fluffy, non-sticky, sweet, and easily digestible with a popcorn-like aroma. The GI tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.

Current Affair: MCC honorary life membership

Former Indian cricket team captain, MS Dhoni was named among the five Indians to have been inducted with the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) honorary life membership. Other four Indian Cricketers: Yuvraj Singh, Maithali Raj, Suresh Raina, and Jhulan Goswami.

MS Dhoni had featured in 538 international games across formats, scoring over 17,000 runs during the same. Yuvraj Singh was an integral part of the Indian team that won the first T20 World Cup in 2007.

India has been elected to the UN Statistical Commission

India has been elected to the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) for a four-year term beginning on 1 January 2024. India received a resounding 46 out of 53 votes, ahead of South Korea (23), China (19), and UAE (15).

India was elected by secret ballot while Argentina, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Ukraine, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the United States of America were elected by acclamation. UNSC is the highest body of the global statistical system.

Suzlon Energy Board members appoints J P Chalasani as the new CEO

The board of members of Suzlon Energy has appointed J P Chalasani as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company with immediate effect, i.e. from 5th April 2023. He has replaced Ashwani Kumar, who resigned from the post on account of personal reasons.

He had been Group CEO of Suzlon from April 2016 to July 2020 and continued as Strategic Advisor to the Suzlon Group thereafter. He was also the Group CEO and Managing Director of Punj Lloyd.

India Bhutan plans to set up first Integrated Check Post

Indian PM Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in New Delhi on April 5. The two sides will set up the first integrated check post (ICP) along the border near Jaigaon and Phuntsholing.

The two sides agreed to find a technically sound and cost-effective way forward for the Punatsangchhu-I plant. They also agreed to expedite the operationalization of the third international internet gateway for Bhutan.

RBI announced repo rate unchanged at 6.50%

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced its bimonthly monetary policy and kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.50%. The GDP is expected to jump 6.5% in the current financial year.

Retail inflation is expected to moderate to 5.2% in FY2023-24. The standing deposit facility (SDF) would remain unchanged at 6.25%, and the MSF rate and the bank rate at 6.75%.

In Q1FY24, CPI-based inflation is expected to be 5.1%. The real GDP growth in 2022-23 was 7%.

Govt unveils plans to add 250GW renewable energy capacity in next five

The government has announced a plan to add 250 GW of renewable energy capacity in the next five years to achieve its target of 500 GW of clean energy by 2030.

The government has decided to invite bids for 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually for the next five years (2023-28).
These annual bids of ISTS (Inter-State Transmission) connected renewable energy capacity will also include setting up of wind power capacity of at least 10 GW per annum.