Current Affairs of 12th June 2023 For IAS And WBCS Examination

Art and Culture

Gilgit Manuscripts

• Context: Recently, the Minister of State for Culture opened an exhibition titled “Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat” as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) and mentioned Gilgit Manuscripts to commemorate the 75th International Archives Day at the National Archives of India in New Delhi.
• Gilgit Manuscripts:
• It was written between the 5″  -6″ centuries CE and it is India’s oldest surviving manuscript collection.
• It was written on birch bark folios documents written on pieces of the inner layer of birch bark were discovered in Kashmir region.
• It includes canonical and non-canonical Jain and Buddhist works that throw light on the evolution of numerous religious-philosophical works.
• Manuscripts:
• A manuscript is a handwritten composition on paper, bark, cloth, metal, palm leaf or any other material dating back at least seventy-five years that has significant scientific, historical or aesthetic value.
• Lithographs and printed volumes are not manuscripts.
• These are found in hundreds of languages and scripts. A same language is often written in a variety of scripts.
• For example, Sanskrit is written in Oriya script, Grantha script, Devanagari script and many other scripts.
• These are different from historical records such as epigraphs on rocks, farmans, revenue records which provide direct information on events or processes in history.

Neolithic Age:

• Context: A neolithic celt was recently discovered in in Poothinatham village in Tamil Nadu.
• Neolithic Age:
• The Neolithic Period is the last period of the Stone Age.
• The Neolithic period is notable for its megalithic architecture, agricultural practice spread, and usage of polished stone tools.
• This era was a pivotal period in human culture history, when humans were no longer completely reliant on nature and began to utilize it for their own advantage.
• Neolithic settlements have been discovered in India’s eastern (Bihar and Odisha), southern (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh), north-eastern (Meghalaya), and north-eastern (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh) regions.
• Mehrgarh (in Balochistan, Pakistan), Burzahom, Gufkral, Chirand, and Utnur in Kashmir (Andhra Pradesh) are some important Neolithic sites.
• Mehrgarh, located in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, is the oldest Neolithic village on the Indian Subcontinent.
• Jerf el Ahmar and Tell Abu Hureyra in Syria are the two most important Neolithic sites in Asia.
• Features:
• Agriculture:
• The Neolithic Revolution concept refers to the beginning of agriculture, animal domestication, and a settled way of life.
• It denotes society’s transition from a food gathering (hunting-gathering) economy to a food producing (agropastoral) economy.
• Ragi, horse gramme, cotton, rice, wheat, and barley were the main crops grown. Cattle, sheep, and goats were domesticated during this time period.
• They also domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats.
• Tools:
• Along with tools made of polished stones and bones, the people also used microlithic blades.
• Axes, adzes, chisels, and celts were among the tools used.
• Living:
• The domestication of plants and animals led to the production of a significant amount of grains and animal food.
• Because the food they produced needed to be kept, pottery-making emerged.
• They needed to live in open regions away from caves, thus houses were built.
• Large settlements grew up, and permanent residences were constructed.
• Housing:
• Residents of the Neolithic Age lived in rectangular or circular mud-and-reed homes.
• While the Neolithic site of Burzahom in Kashmir has evidence of pit living, the Mehrgarh residents lived in mud-brick houses.
• Pottery:
• The Aceramic or Pre-Pottery Neolithic phases of the Neolithic period are identified by the use of vessels made of unfired clay, leather, wood, stone, straw, and other materials.
• The earliest magnificent  examples of hand-made pottery come from the Early Neolithic and were burnished or monochromatic with painted, incised, or impressed decoration.
• However, the best examples of painted ornamentation are from the Middle Neolithic.
• Furthermore, huge civilizations would have required grain surpluses such as sorghum, rice, and wheat, and pottery would have been essential for preserving these surpluses.
• The pottery of the time was divided into three categories: grey ware, black-burnished ware, and mat-impressed ware.
• Architecture:
• The Neolithic Period is notable for its Megalithic Architecture.
• Megalithic means “large stone,” and in general, the term refers to any massive, man-made or assembled structure or collection of stones or boulders.
• Community Life:
• Furthermore, surplus food production was a major influence in the subsequent development of early urban cultures.
• Furthermore, Neolithic people shared property rights.
• The Neolithic period marks the end of the Stone Age and is characterized by a wide range of advances that appear to have developed independently in various parts of the world. It was present in India between approximately 6,000 and 1,000 B.C. Copper metallurgy emerged near the end of the Neolithic period, establishing in the Bronze Age, also known as the Chalcolithic or Eneolithic Era.

Science and Technology

JATAN virtual museum builder

• Context: The Central Government intends to complete 3D digitalization of all museums under its administrative authority by the end of the year in order to improve artefact conservation.
• JATAN:
• JATAN is a virtual museum builder program that allows the building of digital collection management systems for Indian museums. It is deployed in numerous national museums throughout India.
• It was developed by the Human Centres Design and Computing Group at the Centre for Development of Smart Computing in Pune.
• Its goal is to create a digital imprint of all museum objects in order to assist academics, curators, and others interested in the field.
• It is a client-server application that includes image cropping, watermarking, unique numbering, and the management of digital assets with multimedia representations.
• It can create 3D virtual galleries and make them available to the public via online, mobile, or touchscreen kiosks.
• 3D scanning: It is the process of analyzing a real-world object or or environment to collect three-dimensional data on its shape and possibly its appearance. Digital 3D models are then constructed using the collected data.
• C-DAC :
• It is the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s top research and development organization.
• It was founded in the year 1988.
• Its primary mission was to do research and development in the fields of electronics, information technology, and other related fields.
• In 1991, C-DAC developed India’s first indigenously built supercomputer, the Param 8000.

Indian Economy

Wilful Defaulter

• Context: As per a recent circular by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Wilful defaulters and companies involved in fraud can go for a compromise settlement or technical write-offs by banks and finance companies.
• Wilful defaulter:
• They are considered as entities that refuse to repay loans even when they have the ability to do so.
• The term “Wilful Defaulter” was first introduced when the RBI, acting in accordance with its authority under Sections 21 and 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, issued the Master Circular, which defined the term and outlined the steps that banks and financial institutions (FIs) should take to determine whether a default is wilful or not.
• Any entity is considered a wilful defaulter when:
• Despite having the financial ability to do so, the unit has failed to meet its payment/repayment commitments to the lender.
• The unit has failed to satisfy its payment/repayment commitments to the lender and has failed to use the lender’s funds for the specific objectives for which they were obtained, instead diverting the funds to other uses.
• The unit has failed to satisfy its payment/repayment commitments to the lender and has siphoned off the funds, resulting in the funds neither being used for the purpose for which credit was received, nor being available in the form of other assets with the unit.
• When the asset purchased by the lenders’ funds have been sold off without the knowledge of the bank/lender.
• Consequences:
• The RBI may impose the following sanctions on a person or company that has been identified as a wilful defaulter:
• A willful defaulter loses access to all credit channels and he or she is unable to borrow from any institution again.
• It also suffocates any new enterprises, because a wilful defaulter is prohibited from acquiring institutional financing for five years in order to start a new company.
• Lenders have the authority to pursue criminal charges against borrowers.
• Additionally,  banks are required to submit a list of wilful defaulters with outstanding loan balances of over 25 lakh (where suits have been filed) to credit information companies such as Credit Information Bureau of (India) (CIBIL), Experian Credit Information, Equifax Credit Information, and High Mark Credit Information at the end of each quarter to earn off prospective lenders.
• Banks also provide credit information firms, such as the Credit Information Bureau of India, with the names of both current and former directors of the company.
• Laws dealing with Wilful Defaulters:
• Banking Regulation Amendment Act of 2017: Under the Banking Regulation Amendment Act of 2017, the RBI has the authority to issue instructions to banks for the settlement of stressed assets. Additionally, the RBI has the authority to appoint authorities or committees to help these banks in resolving stressed assets.
• SARFAESI Act of 2002: If a borrower fails to provide asset information and the lender does not take control of the mortgaged property within 30 days, it was revised to include a three-month sentence.
• Companies Act of 2013: Sections 447 and 448 of the Companies Act of 2013 would apply to wilful defaulters. Section 447 states that anyone convicted of fraud faces a minimum of six months in jail and a maximum of ten years in prison, as well as a fine of three times the amount involved in the fraud, or both.False statements are punishable under Section 448.
• Sections 415 and 403 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) can be used to prosecute a willful defaulter. Typically, financial institutions are the ones that file criminal complaints under these laws. Section 403 typically deals with dishonest misappropriation of property and indicates that anyone found guilty of this violation faces a sentence of up to two years in jail, a fine, or both.Section 415 also concerns the crime of cheating.
• According to the 2018 Fugitive Economic Offenders Act: This act’s main objective was to develop an entirely new framework for handling such a circumstance.
• According to SEBI, willful defaulters are also prohibited from holding board positions, raising money, or participating in capital market activities.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code: The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of 2016 describes the creditor-in-saddle strategy, in which the interim resolution expert assumes control of the company’s operations.The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of 2016 prohibits willful defaulters from taking part in the insolvency resolution process.

Urban Co-Operative Banks

• Context: The government has taken initiatives to strengthen 1,514 urban co-operative banks (UCBs) by implementing four key measures, as notified by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• RBI has announced the following measures:
• New Branches:UCBs can open new branches up to 10% (maximum 5 branches) of the previous year’s branch count. UCBs have to get the policy approved by their board and comply with the Financially Sound and Well Managed (FSWM) Norms
• One-Time Settlement: UCBs, like commercial banks, can perform One-Time Settlements. Technical write-offs and settlements with borrowers might be regulated by board-approved policies at UCBs.
• PSL (Priority Sector Lending):To meet PSL targets, the deadline has been extended by two years (until March 31, 2026). To attain the PSL objective of 60%, the deadline has been extended from March 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
• Designating Nodal Officer in RBI: Appointment of a Nodal Officer in the RBI to enhance coordination and interaction

International News

Kosovo-Serbia tensions

• Context: The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron intervened to convince Kosovo to organize fresh elections in the north of the country in order to de-escalate tensions with Serbia.
• About Kosovo-Serbia Conflict:

• Geography: Serbia is a landlocked country in eastern Europe that shares borders with Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.Kosovo is a small landlocked region that lies to Serbia’s southwest, sharing borders with North Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro. Serbia does not accept Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence as a separate state.
• Ethnic Background: For generations, Serbs and Albanians of various ethnicities and religious backgrounds have lived together in Kosovo. Kosovo has 1.8 million residents, 92% of whom are Albanian and only 6% are Serbian. The rest are Bosniaks, Gorans, Turks and Roma.
• The majority of Serbs in Kosovo are Eastern Orthodox Christians, while the majority of Albanians are Muslims. Bosnians and Turks are two further minority groups. Serbs form the majority in Serbia, while Albanians are the majority in Kosovo.
• Battle Of Kososvo:
• Serbian nationalists consider the Battle of Kosovo, which took place in 1389 between the Serbian prince Lazar Hrebeljanovic and the Ottoman Sultan Murad Hudavendigar, to be a turning point in their quest for independence.
• On the other hand, the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo believes that the country is their own and accuses Serbia of occupying and oppressing them.
• Breakup of Yugoslavia:
• The region of the Balkans that presently includes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia was formally known as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) with Belgrade as its capital from 1945 following the end of World War II until 1992. Serbia included autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina.
• Yugoslavia broke up as the Soviet Union fell apart, with each republic becoming a separate nation.
• The first to break away was Slovenia in 1991.
• In Yugoslavia, the central government began to lose strength in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and nationalism began to reawaken.
• Political leaders took advantage of nationalist rhetoric, weakening Yugoslav unity and fostering distrust and fear among ethnic groupings.
• To oppose Serbian control, ethnic Albanian separatists established the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in 1998.
• Intervention of NATO:
• NATO’s intervention in 1999 followed Serbia’s brutal retaliation, which sparked a 78-day air campaign against Kosovo and Serbia.
• Serbia agreed to pull back its troops from Kosovo, which led to the  the return of Albanian refugees and the displacement of many Serbs who feared reprisals.
• Kosovo was placed under international administration in June 1999, although its ultimate status has not been decided. The UN tribunal has indicted several Serbian officials, including President Miloevi, for war crimes.
• About the latest flare-up:
• Kosovo’s riot police assisted newly elected ethnic Albanian mayors to move into their offices after Serbs boycotted last month’s local elections held in northern Kosovo, where Serbs represent a majority.
• Serbs attempted to stop them from occupying the space, but police used tear gas to scatter them.
• In front of the municipal buildings, Serbs staged a protest, setting off a tense standoff that led to violent fights between the Serbs and the Kosovo peacekeepers and local police.
• India’s Position Regarding the Kosovo Staus:
• India claims that Kosovo does not meet the three criteria for recognition:
• a clearly defined territory,
•  a lawfully elected government, and
•  effective control over the area of government.
• The membership of Kosovo in organizations like UNESCO, the Apostille Convention, the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units has been opposed by India.
• The reason India does not recognize Kosovo is because it has a long-standing relationship with Serbia and supports its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Defence News

Y-9DZ Electronic Warfare Aircraft

• Context: Over the Pacific Ocean, Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) recently intercepted PLA’s Y-9DZ electronic-warfare aircraft.
• Y-9DZ Electronic Warfare Aircraft:
• The Y-9DZ is China’s newly developed electronic warfare version of the Y-9 aircraft.
• The Shaanxi Aircraft Company manufactures this medium-range, medium-sized tactical transport aircraft.
• The Y-9DZ was first seen in 2017, and China unveiled it in 2019, along with another electronic warfare derivative known as the Y-9G.
• The Y-9DZ version is China’s most advanced intelligence-gathering aircraft.
• This aircraft could be used for various kinds of specific missions, such as electronic intelligence, communication jamming, psychological operations, and even surveillance missions during search and rescue operations.
• Features:
• It is equipped with cutting-edge sensors and communication technologies.
• The Y-9DZ features two enormous rectangular-shaped ESM/ELINT antennae on each side of the rear fuselage, as well as a range of other antennas strategically placed throughout the aircraft.
• A SATCOM antenna resides on the mid-fuselage, while an oval dish-shaped ESM antenna stands atop the vertical fin.
• The presence of pipe-shaped antennae on the fuselage side suggests that they are used for PSYOP (psychological operations).

Important One-Liner:

• World Day Against Child Labour, observed on June 12th, aims to inspire a global movement against child labour. The theme for World Day Against Child Labour 2023 is “Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!” This theme emphasizes the connection between the problem of child labor and social justice.
• With his victory over Casper Ruud in the French Open Final, Novak Djokovic won his men’s record-tying 23rd Grand Slam title. Iga Świątek won womens’ singles in French Open Final.
• India and Serbia have set an ambitious target of achieving a bilateral trade volume of one billion euros by the end of the decade. Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, and Droupadi Murmu, the president of India, have both stated a desire to develop their bilateral ties and look for new opportunities for collaboration.
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, officially began the Ladli Behna Yojana 2023 by depositing the first installment of Rs 1,000 into the accounts of Jabalpur-based beneficiaries. CM Chouhan gave the women assurance that the scheme was not limited to a monthly support of Rs 1,000 and that he intended to gradually increase the amount as funds became available, with plans to raise the support to Rs 1,200, Rs 1,500, Rs 1,700, and Rs 2,000 per month.
• In cooperation with the Central Government, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has put out four significant initiatives to strengthen the nation’s 1,514 Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs). These initiatives were announced following detailed discussions between Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and RBI Governor, with the objective of achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahakar se Samridhi.’
• The INS Trishul, a leading battleship of the Indian Navy, sailed to Durban port in South Africa to commemorate the 130th anniversary of an event that happened on 7 June 1893 at the Pietermaritzburg railway station. The event marked the eviction of Mahatma Gandhi from a train, which further prompted his fight against discrimination.
• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME) joined forces to launch the NBFC Growth Accelerator Program (NGAP). This collaborative initiative seeks to alleviate the funding challenges faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by focusing on capacity building for smaller Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). The program’s main objective is to support NBFCs that lend to MSMEs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
• With the completion of the most powerful wind tunnel in the world, China has made significant progress toward its goal of developing hypersonic technology. This ground-breaking facility, known as the JF-22, is expected to be essential for China’s hypersonic goals and allow the nation to make substantial advancements in the development of hypersonic vehicles. The JF-22 wind tunnel, located in Beijing’s Huairou district, boasts impressive capabilities, including the ability to simulate hypersonic flight conditions at speeds up to Mach 30.
• India’s economy, which is among the fastest-growing in the world, primarily depends on coal and lignite as its main energy sources. The ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite Scheme’ has been extended by the Indian government from 2021–2022 to 2025–2026 in order to ensure a continuous and sustainable supply. This core sector plan, which is expected to cost $2,980 crore, intends to explore and assess the nation’s coal and lignite resources in order to establish the groundwork for informed decision-making and future coal mining endeavors.
• Amit Agrawal and Subodh Kumar Singh, senior IAS officers, have been appointed as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India and director general of the National Testing Agency, respectively.
• In a thrilling World Test Championship Final at The Oval, Australia defeated India by a score of 209 runs to claim the title of World Test Champions.
• IndiGo announced that its CEO, Pieter Elbers, has been elected as the chair-elect of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors.
• The Indian insurance regulator has issued a mandate to all insurers operating in the nation to create unique 14-digit identities known as Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs for all individuals resident in India. This new rule applies to both new and existing insurance applicants and policyholders.
• As part of the “Modified Semicon India Programme,” the Indian central government declared on May 31 that it will begin accepting applications for the establishment of semiconductor and display fabrication facilities in India on June 1. Applications for this program will be accepted until December 2024.
• During India’s G20 presidency, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, Shri Girish Chandra Murmu, serves as Chair of the Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group. Delegates from SAI20 member SAIs of G20 countries, Guest SAIs, Invited SAIs, International Organizations, Engagement Groups, and other invitees will attend the SAI20 Summit in Goa from June 12th to 14th, 2023. Sixteen countries will take part in person.