12-05-23 Daily-Gujarat-GPSC Current Affairs

A national study comparing states’biomedical wastegeneration duringCovid-19reveals that Gujarat generated the third largest quantity of biomedical waste in 2020. However, it was also among the states that recorded the sharpest falls in 2021 – 71%, according to the data based on thecentral pollution control board’s (CPCB) reports.

According to the study, ‘An investigation of bio-medical waste produced in India during Covid-19 pandemic and Maharashtra state (pre-Covid-19 and post-Covid-19) analysis: a GIS-based approach’, published inResearch and Health Services& Regions journal indicated that mean biomedical waste generated in tonnes per day was the highest at 25.75 in Maharashtra, followed by 15.72 in Kerala, 14.71 in Gujarat, 13.4 in Nadu and 11.93 in Uttar Pradesh. The number fell to 4 tonnes per day (72.5% drop) year-on-year.

According to the CPCB data, the number of common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facilities (CBWTF) reduced from 20 in September 2020 to eight in August 2022.

Indias Foreign Exchange reserves, which had been steadily increasing over the past few weeks, experienced a decline of $6.1 billion in the week ending on May 19, 2023. This pullback comes after three consecutive weekly increases and affects all components of the reserves, withforeign currency assets (FCA)being impacted the most, according to the latest data from the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI).

Indias total forex reserves reached $593.48 billion during the week ending on May 19, 2023, representing a decrease of $6.052 billion from the previous week. In the previous week, reserves had increased by $3.553 billion, bringing them close to the $600 billion mark at $599.53 billion. Before that, the reserves had surged by $7.196 billion. Notably, in the first week of May, reserves had jumped by $4.532 billion.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare,Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, emphasized the significance ofCapacity Building Plansin promoting focused output by a competent workforce and fostering a Work culture within organizations. These plans serve as highways that enable individuals to work together as a team with shared goals and vision.

Dr. Mandaviyamade these remarks during the launch of the Annual Capacity Building Plan for civil servants of theMinistry of Health and Family Welfare. The event was attended byDr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, who joined virtually.

TheInternational Supercomputing Conference (ISC 2023) in Germany,the AI SupercomputerAIRAWAT,situated at C-DAC, Pune, achieved an impressive global ranking of 75th on the esteemed Top 500 Global Supercomputing List. This accomplishment establishes India as a leading nation in the field of AI supercomputing. AIRAWAT is part of the Government of Indias National Program on AI and represents a significant stride forward in the countrys AI capabilities.

The AIRAWAT PoC of 200 AI Petaflops integrated with PARAM Siddhi AI of 210 AI Petaflops gives a total peak compute of 410 AI Petaflops Mixed Precision and sustained compute capacity of 8.5 Petaflops (Rmax) Double Precision. The peak compute capacity (Double Precision, Rpeak) is 13 Petaflops.

Laosis gearing up to host the annualASEAN Tourism Forumin January 2024, which will take place in the countrys capital city, Vientiane. The theme for the forum is Quality and Responsible Tourism Sustaining ASEAN Future, which reflects the focus on sustainable and responsible tourism practices.

The forum will include a tourism exhibition and is expected to boost tourism in Laos while encouraging service improvement in associated businesses. The Lao News Agency quoted Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket, who stated that the event will promote Laos as a nature-based tourism destination.

The Lao government is keen to promote the countrys potential as a nature-based tourism destination. Many foreign tourists have already visited Laos to explore the countrys scenic attractions, as well as the local lifestyles and traditions.