Daily Current Affairs Notes for 07 March 2023

As part of the Airport Council International (ACI)'s annual service quality award, the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) operated by DIAL, has received recognition for being one of the cleanest airports in the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, IGIA has been awarded the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Best Airport for 2022 in the category of over 40 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA).

How It has been determined:

The assessment for the airport service quality award is conducted by conducting passenger surveys that evaluate the level of customer satisfaction during their travel experience.

Coverage of this survey:

During the surveys, more than 30 performance indicators are taken into consideration to assess various aspects of a passenger's airport experience, including but not limited to the ease of navigation, check-in process, as well as the quality of shopping and dining options available.

ACI has reported that a total of 144 awards have been granted to 75 airports around the world. These awards were determined based on the results of over 465,000 surveys that were conducted in 2022.

The new categories in this survey:

In 2022, aside from the recognition for the best airports by size and region, four new categories were included in the awards selection process. These categories are for the airport with the most dedicated staff, the airport with the easiest journey, the most enjoyable airport, and the cleanest airport.

No other Indian airports in the list:

Despite Delhi airport's ranking as one of the cleanest airports, no other Indian airports were included in the list of winners for the other new award categories.

The airports were evaluated for their level of cleanliness by collecting feedback from passengers. This feedback includes ratings on the cleanliness of washrooms/toilets, as well as health and safety measures implemented within the airport premises.

About Airports Council International (ACI):

ACI is a non-profit organization comprised of airport operators who seek to standardize industry practices to improve airport standards. Founded in 1991, its headquarters are located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and it boasts a membership of almost 2000 airport operators.

5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is collaborating with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), as well as various states and union territories to celebrate the 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023 under PMBJP. To raise awareness about the Jan Aushadhi Scheme, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has planned several events across different cities from March 1st to March 7th, 2023. The theme for this year's celebration is "Jan Aushadhi - Sasti bhi Acchi bhi," and it will be observed throughout India.

Each year, during the first week of March, 'Jan Aushadhi Saptah' or Generic Medicine Week is observed, while March 7th is designated as 'Jan Aushadhi Diwas' or Generic Medicine Day. The purpose of these observances is to raise awareness among the public about the benefits of using generic medicines. The first 'Jan Aushadhi Diwas' was observed on March 7, 2019, following the declaration of this day by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

About the 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas

During this event, more than 34 Pratigya Yatras have been organized across India, with 8 of them being led by Members of Parliament on the first day. Over 5,000 citizens, including doctors, have pledged to use generic medicines on the MyGov platform. Additionally, a Jan Aushadhi Pratidya Yatra and Pad Yatra were also conducted. The primary goal of this event is to raise awareness about generic medicines and the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana was initiated by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers in November 2008. As of January 31, 2023, there are 9,082 PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras operating across the country.

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana: Objectives

The primary goal of the PMBJP is to provide citizens with easy access to quality medicines and promote awareness about generic medicines. In India, there is a longstanding tradition among doctors of not recommending generic medicines. The current government aims to change this, and the PMBJP is one of the initiatives to achieve this objective. Furthermore, PMBJP Kendras create employment opportunities by establishing new centers.

2022 ’BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year’ award

Mirabai Chanu, the weightlifter who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, has won the 2022 'BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year' award through public voting. This 28-year-old athlete from Manipur has now become the first sportsperson to win the award two years in a row, having won it previously in 2021. The BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award was introduced in 2019 to recognize and honor the achievements of Indian sportswomen who have excelled on the global stage.

Other awardee’s in different Categories:

• The category of 'BBC Para Sportswoman of the Year' was introduced this year and was won by table tennis player Bhavina Patel. She made history by becoming the first Indian paddler to win a silver medal at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Additionally, she also won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
• Pritam Siwach, the former captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, received the 'BBC Lifetime Achievement Award' for inspiring generations of players and her significant contribution to Indian sports. Siwach was the first female hockey coach to be honored with the Dronacharya Award, the highest national award for coaches.
• Nitu Ghanghas, a boxer, was named the recipient of the 'BBC Emerging Player of the Year' award. She has won two youth world championships and a medal at the Commonwealth Games. In the minimum weight category, she won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
• The 'BBC Changemaker of the Year Award' was given to the women's lawn bowls team comprising Lovely Choubey, Rupa Rani Tirkey, Pinki, and Nayanmoni Saikia. The team made history by winning India's first-ever medal in the sport by clinching gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.