Daily Current Affairs- October 3, 2023

Scientists who enabled mRNA COVID-19 vaccines win Nobel Prize

• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 was awarded to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their work on mRNA technology.
• Their research paved the way for the development of mRNA vaccines, which have been used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
• mRNA vaccines deliver genetic instructions to cells, instructing them to produce proteins that trigger immune responses against viruses.
• Kariko and Weissman overcame many challenges and setbacks in their quest to harness the potential of mRNA.
• They are the first Nobel laureates to be recognized for their contributions to mRNA science.

Finland launches world’s first digital passport project

• Finland has introduced a mobile app that allows travelers to store and present their passport information on their smartphones.
• The app uses facial recognition and biometric data to verify the identity of the travelers and transmit their data to the border control.
• The project is part of an EU initiative to test digital passports to improve travel technology and security.
• The project involves some Finnair flights from Helsinki to the UK and back and will run until February 2024.
• Other countries such as Poland, South Korea, the US, and the UK are also working on similar projects or have introduced digital health or vaccine passports.

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India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: A new trade route or a counter to China?

• The IMEC is a project to boost connectivity and cooperation between India, the Middle East and Europe through rail and shipping networks.
• The project was announced by India, the US and Saudi Arabia at the G20 summit in Delhi, and is seen as a way to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• The IMEC faces many challenges, such as competing with the Suez Canal, harmonizing customs and trade rules, and managing geopolitical tensions among partner countries.
• The IMEC also aims to include other areas of collaboration, such as energy, cybersecurity and climate change.

Indonesia launches Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway with China’s help

• The 142-kilometer railway connects Jakarta and Bandung, reducing the travel time from three hours to 40 minutes.
• The project is part of China’s Belt and Road initiative and cost $7.3 billion, mostly funded by a Chinese loan.
• The railway uses electric trains that can reach speeds of up to 350 kph and have a capacity of 601 passengers.
• The project faced delays and challenges due to land acquisition, environmental issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The railway is expected to boost connectivity, trade and tourism between the two cities and beyond.

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Zealandia: The hidden continent that was discovered after 375 years

• Zealandia is a submerged continent that covers 4.9 million square kilometres and consists of a group of islands, including New Zealand.
• Zealandia was part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, which broke apart about 105 million years ago.
• Scientists mapped Zealandia by studying rock samples from the ocean floor and using magnetic data to trace its tectonic history.
• Zealandia is the eighth, smallest, thinnest, and youngest continent, and its discovery reveals new insights into Earth’s structure and evolution.

MSME Ministry organizes ‘Shramdaan’ event for a cleaner India

• The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) hosted a ‘Shramdaan’ event on October 1, 2023, to promote cleanliness and garbage disposal.
• The event was inspired by the Prime Minister’s call for “Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath”, meaning “One Date One Hour One Together”.
• Participants from various MSME offices across the country gathered at the Development Facilitation Office in New Delhi and cleaned their surroundings.
• The event aimed to foster a sense of collective responsibility and action for a “Garbage Free India”.

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Nobel Prize 2023 Winners List, Name and Fields

• The Nobel Prize is the world’s most prestigious award for outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace, and economics.
• The Nobel Prize 2023 winners were announced from October 2 to October 9 by various institutions in Sweden and Norway.
• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their work on mRNA vaccines, which have been used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier for their experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economics will be announced in the following days.

Sudha Murty, the First Woman to get Global Indian Award

• Sudha Murty is an author, philanthropist and the wife of Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
• She received the Global Indian Award from the Canada India Foundation (CIF) for her contributions to literature, philanthropy and social welfare.
• The award carries a value of $50,000, which she donated to The Fields Institute at the University of Toronto for mathematics research.
• She and her husband are the first couple to receive the same award, as Narayana Murthy got it in 2014.
• The Global Indian Award is given annually to an outstanding Indian personality who has made a global impact in their field.

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Indian Air Force to induct indigenous Astra missiles by late 2023

• Astra missiles are beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles developed by DRDO and BDL.
• Astra-MK1, the first variant, has a range of 110 km and can be fired from SU-30MKI and LCA Tejas aircraft.
• Astra-MK2, the second variant, is under development and will have a longer range of 160 km.
• Astra missiles will reduce India’s import dependency and enhance its air defense capabilities.
• The IAF has signed a contract worth ₹2,971 crore with BDL for the supply of Astra MK-I missiles and associated equipment.

DST supports 24 agri-tech start-ups with Rs 20 crore fund

• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) organized the ATMAN (Agri sTartup deMo And funding) 2023 program to promote agri-tech innovation and entrepreneurship.
• The program involved four Technology Innovation Hubs under the National Mission on Inter-disciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) at IITs.
• Out of 55 start-ups that participated in the program, 24 were recommended for technical and financial support from a dedicated fund of Rs 20 crore.
• The program also recognized the best pitches, launched several initiatives, and showcased 20 key agri-tech technologies developed by the hubs.
• The program aimed to bridge the gap in deep tech start-ups in agriculture and foster collaboration among research, academia, industry, and government.

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India wins SAFF Under-19 Championship by defeating Pakistan

• India defeated Pakistan 3-0 in the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Championship at Kathmandu, Nepal.
• India scored through Gwgwmsar Goyary, Manglenthang Kipgen and Thomas Kanamoottil Cherian in the second half.
• India clinched its eighth youth title in the SAFF championships, showing its dominance in the region.
• Manglenthang Kipgen was named the most valuable player of the tournament, while Lionel Daryl Rymmei was the best goalkeeper.
• The SAFF Under-19 Championship is a biennial football competition for men’s under-19 teams from South Asia.

Tamil Nadu Govt. awards 9 ISRO scientists for their contributions to space program

• The event was held in Chennai on October 2, 2023, to celebrate the achievements of nine eminent space scientists from Tamil Nadu, including ISRO Chairman K Sivan and Chandrayaan-1 and 2 Project Director Mylswamy Annadurai.
• The Chief Minister MK Stalin announced cash awards of Rs.25 lakh for each of the scientists and unveiled plans for a scholarship program for postgraduate engineering students in the name of renowned scientist.
• The Chief Minister highlighted the remarkable journey of these scientists, who came from humble family backgrounds and studied in government schools, and urged them to inspire the young generation to pursue science.
• The event was part of the government’s efforts to promote scientific innovation and excellence among the people of Tamil Nadu.

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India shines at Asian Games 2023 with record medal haul

• India won 33 medals, including 8 gold, 13 silver, and 12 bronze, at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8, 2023.
• This was India’s best performance at the Asian Games since 1982, when it won 29 medals.
• India’s medal winners represented a diverse range of sports and backgrounds, such as athletics, shooting, boxing, wrestling, badminton, hockey, and kabaddi.
• Some of the notable medalists were Neeraj Chopra (gold in javelin throw), Manu Bhaker (gold in 10m air pistol), Amit Panghal (gold in flyweight boxing), Bajrang Punia (gold in freestyle wrestling), PV Sindhu (silver in badminton singles), Rani Rampal (silver in women’s hockey), and Ajay Thakur (bronze in men’s kabaddi).
• India’s success at the Asian Games was a result of the hard work and dedication of the athletes, coaches, families, and the government.

Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti becomes the new Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff

• Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, AVSM, VSM, took charge as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff on October 1, 2023, succeeding Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, who retired after 38 years of service.
• Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti has a distinguished career of over 35 years in the Indian Navy, specializing in Navigation and Direction.
• He has held various command and staff appointments, both ashore and afloat, including commanding missile boat INS Nishank, missile corvette INS Kora, and guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata.
• He has also served as the Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor at the Indian Naval Academy, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, and the Director General Project Seabird.
• He has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his meritorious and outstanding service to the nation.

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MSME Ministry organizes ‘Shramdaan’ event for a cleaner India

• The event was held on October 1, 2023, to promote cleanliness and garbage disposal in response to the Prime Minister’s call for “Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath”.
• Participants from various MSME offices across the country gathered at the Development Facilitation Office in New Delhi and cleaned their surroundings.
• The event aimed to foster a sense of collective responsibility and action for a “Garbage Free India”.
• The event also launched several initiatives, showcased 20 key agri-tech technologies, and recognized the best pitches by start-ups.

MSME Ministry organizes ‘Shramdaan’ event for a cleaner India

• The event was held on October 1, 2023, to promote cleanliness and garbage disposal in response to the Prime Minister’s call for “Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath”.

• Participants from various MSME offices across the country gathered at the Development Facilitation Office in New Delhi and cleaned their surroundings.
• The event aimed to foster a sense of collective responsibility and action for a “Garbage Free India”.
• The event also launched several initiatives, showcased 20 key agri-tech technologies, and recognized the best pitches by start-ups.

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Indian Navy to Unveil Autonomous Weaponized Boat Swarms and Underwater Vessels

• The Indian Navy is set to reveal two autonomous systems: the Autonomous Weaponized Boat Swarms and the Autonomous Underwater Vessel (AUV) at the second edition of ‘Swavlamban.’
• The event, known as Swavlamban, is scheduled to take place on October 4th and 5th in New Delhi.
• This initiative aims to foster innovation and technology development within the Defense and Aerospace Sector.
• The Indian Navy has entered into an agreement with Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd for the development of Autonomous Weaponized Boat Swarms.
• These swarm boats are equipped with various types of weaponry and sensors, capable of remote or autonomous operation.

World Space Week 2023: Celebrating Space and Entrepreneurship

• World Space Week (WSW) is a global event that takes place from October 4 to 10 every year to promote space science and technology.
• The theme for WSW 2023 is “Space and Entrepreneurship”, which reflects the growing role of commercial ventures in space exploration and innovation.
• WSW aims to inspire students to pursue STEM and business careers, foster collaboration among space stakeholders, and raise awareness about the benefits of space activities for humanity.
• WSW was established by the United Nations in 1999, based on the historic milestones of Sputnik 1 launch and UN Space Treaty.
• WSW is organized by the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

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KVIC Inaugurated A New Khadi India Outlet At IIT Delhi

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) opened a redesigned Khadi India store at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Campus in Delhi on October 2, 2023.
• The store aims to attract young customers with modern and vibrant designs of Khadi apparel, created by the Centre of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK) in collaboration with Khadi Institutions.
• The store also marks the celebration of Gandhi Jayanti, as Khadi was promoted by Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of self-reliance and national pride.
• The store is part of the Ministry of MSME’s initiative to foster innovation and technology development in the Defense and Aerospace Sector.