Latest Current Affairs For April, 2023

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023: 28th April

World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed every year on April 28 to promote safe and decent work environments across the globe. 

2023 theme: A safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work. 

It coincides with the anniversary of the 1971 adoption of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention by the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

It was first observed in 2003 after the ILO declared it an annual international campaign.

MoHUA launches the ‘City Beauty Competition’

The MoHUA has launched ‘City Beauty Competition’ portal (https://citybeautycompetition.in).

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the country can participate in this competition through an online process.

Objective: To encourage and recognize the transformational efforts made by cities and wards across the country to create beautiful, innovative and inclusive public spaces. 

Five broad pillars: (i) accessibility (ii) amenities (iii) activities (iv) aesthetics and (v) ecology. 

Summit on Farm Machinery Technology inaugurated

Union Minister of Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated the Summit on Farm Machinery Technology in New Delhi.

Organized by: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tractor and Mechanisation Association in New Delhi

During the event, the minister informed that, about 85% of small farmers in the country, who should get the benefit of technology and machinery.  

It was attended by stakeholders including Original Equipment Manufacturers and design firms.

Dima Hasao insurgent group signs peace pact with Assam, Centre

A tribal insurgent group, Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) signed the tripartite agreement with the Centre and the state government of Assam to avoid the violence and join the mainstream.

According to the MoU, the DNLA will lay down its arms and abide by the Constitution.

It was decided to set up a Dimasa Welfare Council and grant a special financial package of Rs. 1,000 crores (Rs. 500 crores each by the Centre and Assam government).

India’s first cable-stayed bridge Anji Khad will be ready in May 2023

India’s first cable-stayed bridge, the Anji Khad bridge will be completed by May 2023.

It connects Katra and Reasi via tunnels T2 and T3 on the Katra-Banihal section.

Aim: To connect J&K to the rest of the country with all-weather rail connectivity. 

The cables weigh 848.7 MT and the total length of cable strands involved is 653km.

The asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge crosses the deep gorges of Anji river, a tributary of river Chenab.

Total length of the bridge: 725m

India, UK to jointly create India-UK 'NET Zero' Innovation Virtual Centre

India and the United Kingdom have agreed to create India-UK NET zero innovation virtual centre.

Aim: To provide a platform for stakeholders of both countries to work together in areas like the decarbonization of manufacturing processes, transport systems, and green hydrogen as a renewable source. 

Both countries will also join to launch the first-ever UK-India scientific 'deep sea voyage' and 'space parks' partnership.

Minister Narayan Rane launches the revamped CGTMSE Scheme

Union Minister for MSME, Narayan Rane has launched the revamped Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) Scheme.

Modifications:

Reduction in guarantee fees for loans upto ₹1 crore by 50% bringing the minimum guarantee fee to the level of 0.37% pa only.

Raising of ceiling for guarantee from ₹2 crore to ₹ 5 crore. 

Enhanced the threshold limit for claim settlement without initiation of legal action to ₹10 lakh.

Russian poet Maria Stepanova wins Leipzig Book Prize 2023

A Russian poet, Maria Stepanova has been awarded the prestigious Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in 2023.

She was honored in Leipzig for her volume of poetry "Mädchen ohne Kleider" (Girls Without Clothes).

It is described as a sensitive and highly poetic study of often hidden violence against the female body and the power imbalance that drives this oppression.

About Leipzig Book Award:

Literary prizes in Germany

Prize money: 20,000 euros

India, UK joint military exercise ‘Ajeya Warrior 2023’ commenced in the UK

The seventh edition of a joint military exercise between India and the UK, 'Ajeya Warrior 2023' has been started in the Salisbury Plains, UK.

The biennial training event started on 27 April and continues till May 11.

The Indian Army has participated with indigenous weapons and equipment.

Scope of exercise: It involves a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at the battalion level and company level field training exercise (FTX). 

Last edition (October 2021): Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. 

World Intellectual Property Day 2023: 26th April

The world commemorates World Intellectual Property Day on April 26 for promoting awareness of intellectual property and its safeguarding.

The theme for the 2023 celebration of World Intellectual Property Day is "Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity".

This day was initially proposed during the 33rd Assembly Session of the WIPO Member States in September 1988, and it was officially established on August 9th, 1999.

RINL wins Ispat Rajbhasha Samman for 2021-22

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (RINL) has bagged Steel Ministry’s "Ispat Rajbhasha Samman" for the year 2021-22.

The award was presented by the MoS for Steel and Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste to CMD, RINL Atul Bhatt, in the meeting of Hindi Salahkar Samiti held at Srinagar.

The minister also released RINL's March issue of Hindi In-house Magazine "Rashtriya Ispat Sugandh".

The members of Hindi Salahkar Samiti appreciated various activities being undertaken by RINL.

Centre inks MoU with Art of Living as part of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has signed an MoU with Art of Living as part of its Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

The signing ceremony was held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.

This campaign will get a boost towards achieving a drug-sensitized India.

The Ministry of   Social  Justice and     Empowerment (MoSJE) has been implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) to curb the menace of drug demand.

Veteran Malayalam actor Mamukkoya passes away

Veteran Malayalam actor-comedian Mamukkoya passed away at 77 due to cardiac arrest.

He started his acting career by doing theatre in 1979, then he went on to become an actor by doing comic roles and was popular for playing characters that spoke Malabar accent.

He acted in around 500 films, including comedies like Sandesam, Nadodikkattu, Innathe Chintha Vishayam, and Varavelpu.

He won several awards and honours for his various roles during his extensive career.

Reliance General to accept CBDC e-Rupee through Yes Bank

Reliance General Insurance has become India's first general insurance company to accept the RBI's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) e-Rupee for premium payments.

Aim: To provide customers with an easy, safe, instant, and green payment solution. 

The company has partnered with Yes Bank to enable premium collection.

Customers with an active e-wallet with any bank can scan Reliance General Insurance's e-Rupee QR code to make immediate payments.

Dalai Lama received 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award in person after 64 years

The Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama has received the 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award by members of the award foundation personally after 64 years.

It was the first international award given for his Community Leadership in recognition of his leadership of the Tibetan community's gallant struggle in defense of the sacred religion that is the inspiration of their life and culture.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often called the Nobel Prize of Asia.

IIT Bombay secures second place in ‘Solar Decathlon’ Build Challenge

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay’s SHUNYA team has secured second place in Solar Decathlon Build Challenge in the United States.

Reason: For their innovative zero-energy house designed to address air quality challenges in Mumbai's hot and humid climate.

SHUNYA refers to Sustainable Housing for Urbanizing Nation by its Young Aspirants.

It is a student-driven technical team of IIT Bombay working to build a sustainable future.

US President, South Korean President secured a landmark deal

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol have secured a landmark deal.

It includes plans to periodically deploy US nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea.

This deal will be known as the Washington Declaration and strengthen the allies' cooperation in deterring a North Korean attack.

The declaration comes amid rising concerns about nuclear threats from North Korea as the country carries out a record number of ballistic missile tests.

International Girls in ICT Day 2023: 27 April

International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of April to encourage and empower girls and young women to explore and pursue careers in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

In 2023, it is being observed on April 27.

2023 theme: Digital Skills for Life. 

It raised awareness about the gender gap in the tech industry and inspires women to consider careers in ICT.

This day was declared by ITU on April 8, 2011.

NITI Aayog released report titled Promoting Millets in Diets

NITI Aayog has released a report titled Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States and Union Territories of India.

The report was released by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K. Bery.

Report's theme:

State Missions and initiatives to promote millets;

Inclusion of millets in ICDS;

Research and development and use of technology for innovative practices. 

It will serve as a guiding repository to revive and mainstream millets in our diets.

Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy, 2023

The Union government has approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 to reduce India’s heavy import dependence on the medical sector.

It will help the Medical Devices Sector, grow from the present 11 billion USD to 50 billion USD in the next five years.

It also aims to facilitate orderly growth of the medical device sector to meet the public health objectives of access, affordability, and innovation.

The Cabinet has also approved establishing 157 nursing colleges. 

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched IFFCO's nano DAP

Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah has launched IFFCO's nano liquid Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer for commercial sale at Rs 600 per 500 ml bottle.

Aim: Farmers to use nano urea and DAP extensively to make the country self-reliant and reduce import dependence. 

One bottle (500 ml) of nano-liquid DAP is equivalent to one bag (50kg) of conventional granular DAP, which is currently being sold at Rs 1,350.

In 2021, IFFCO launched the world's first nano urea fertilizer.

RBI approves reappointment of N Kamakodi as MD and CEO of City Union Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of N Kamakodi as Managing Director and CEO of City Union Bank.

The tenure of his re-appointment would be for a period of three years with effect from May 1, 2023.

He joined the bank as deputy general manager in 2003 and was elevated to general manager in 2005.

In 2006, he was appointed as executive director.

From May 2011, he was serving the bank as its managing director and chief executive officer.

Australia to host Quad leadership summit in Sydney

Australia will host the third in-person Quad Summit in Sydney on May 24, 2023.

It will be the first time when Australia will host the meeting.

The meeting will be attended by PM Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Kishida Fumio, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese.

The leaders will discuss issues on critical and emerging technologies and high-quality infrastructure, etc.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan, and Australia.

SBI fourth startup branch opens in Mumbai BKC

The State Bank of India (SBI) has opened an exclusive branch for startups at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

This is the fourth startup-focused branch, after Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram.

In Mumbai, the bank has entered into multiple MoU with the Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at IIT-Bombay, Centre for Incubation and Business Acceleration, and S.P Jain Institute of Management & Research. 

Aim of MoU: To boost the startup ecosystem in the region. 

Y-20 Pre-Summit Meeting under G20 held in Leh

The Y 20 Pre Summit Meeting under G20 hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs is being organized from 26th to 28th April 2023 in Leh.

Five Y20 themes:

Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance. 

Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation & 21st Century Skills. 

Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life. 

Peace Building and Reconciliation: Ushering in an era of No War. 

Health Wellbeing & Sports: Agenda for Youth. 

Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal passes away

Former CM of Punjab and senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal, Parkash Singh Badal passed away at 95 in Mohali, Punjab.

He became the CM of Punjab for the first time in 1970.

Later, he became the Chief minister four times, from 1977 to 1980, 1997 to 2002, 2007 to 2012, and from 2012 to 2017.

He briefly joined Morarji Desai's government as the Agriculture minister at the Centre in 1977.

He was awarded the second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan in 2015.

India to host SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on April 28

The Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), India will host the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 28 April 2023 in New Delhi.

Aim: To discuss amongst other issues matters concerning regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO, and effective multilateralism.

SCO 2023 theme under India’s Chairmanship: SECURE-SCO

SCO was established in 2001.

Members: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, India, and Uzbekistan. 

PM Modi to attend 20th anniversary of SWAGAT initiative in Gujarat

PM Modi will attend the 20th anniversary of the State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology (SWAGAT) initiative in Gujarat via video conferencing on April 27.

This scheme was started by PM Modi in April 2003 during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Aim: To act as a bridge between the citizens and the government using technology by solving their day-to-day grievances in a quick, efficient, and time-bound manner. 

DRDO organizes Conference on Optimising Human Capital of Armed Forces

The Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), a Delhi-based laboratory DRDO, has organized a four-day International Conference on ‘Optimising Human Capital of Armed Forces: Psychological Perspective’ in Delhi on April 25, 2023.

Aim: To deliberate recent advances, emerging trends, and challenges of psychology with respect to the human capital of the Armed Forces upon world over. 

The conference has participation from the three Services, DRDO labs, and academia.

RBI cancels Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank’s banking licence

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has canceled the banking license of Kerala-based Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank, with effect from the close of business on April 24, 2023.

RBI has allowed Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank to function as a non-banking institution.

RBI has also stopped to conduct the banking business, including acceptance of deposits from non-members with immediate effect.

The bank shall ensure to repay unpaid and unclaimed deposits of non-members held by it.

Shreekant Bhandiwad appointed as Chairman of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank

Shreekant M Bhandiwad has taken charge as the new chairman of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB).

KVGB is an Indian RRB sponsored by Canara Bank headquartered in Dharwad, Karnataka.

He has replaced the current chairman P Gopikrishna, who was repatriated to Canara Bank as Circle Head, Bengaluru, in Karnataka.

He has an experience of 29 years in Canara Bank, having worked across India (Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Karnataka) in various capacities.

Neobank Jupiter secures NBFC licence

Neobanking platform Jupiter has received a non-banking financial company (NBFC) license from the Reserve Bank of India to enter into the lending business.

The startup, Jupiter will be offering the loan under Amica Financial Technologies.

Jitendra Gupta (founder of Jupiter) has informed that there will be an equity infusion of Rs 100 crore from Jupiter to develop the NBFC product.

The startup will be looking to raise a loan from banks for an additional Rs 100 crore.

PGCIL wins Global Gold Award for CSR work

Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), a Maharatna CPSU of the Ministry of Power, has been awarded the Global Gold Award 2023 by The Green Organization.

Reason: For improving Agriculture Productivity and Rural Livelihood through watershed management, community participation, and better crop management practices in 10 villages of Jaipatna Block of Kalahandi, Odisha. 

The Director (Personnel) of POWERGRID, Dr. V. K. Singh received the award.

Uttar Pradesh received HUDCO award for cleanliness drive

The Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Uttar Pradesh has been awarded the country’s prestigious HUDCO Award for 2022-2023.

It was awarded in the Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment 2022-23 category for cleanliness.

The award was presented by the secretary of MoHUA, Manoj Josh to Neha Sharma (State mission director, UP).

Cash Prize: 1 Lakh Rupees

This campaign was organized by the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Uttar Pradesh from January 14 to 24, 2023.

Microsoft India head, Anant Maheshwari appointed as chairperson of Nasscom

Microsoft India President, Anant Maheshwari has been appointed as the chairperson of Nasscom for 2023-24.

Earlier, he served as the vice-chairperson of Nasscom'.

He has succeeded the president of business and technology services at TCS, Krishnan Ramanujam.

Meanwhile, Nasscom has also appointed chairman and managing director of Cognizant India, Rajesh Nambiar as its vice-chairperson for 2023-24. 

Nasscom refers to National Association of Software and Service Companies. 

SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant sign MoU with Telecommunications Consultants India

SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) has signed a Memorandum of understanding with Telecommunications Consultants India (TCIL) to explore the potential of the application of 5G/ IT/ telecom and other wireless communication technologies in SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant.

This project would include SAIL's Mines and Collieries, Central Coal Supply Organization, and the SAIL refractory unit in Jharkhand.

SAIL Chairperson: Soma Mondal

Former MP Trilochan Kanungo passes away

Former MP and three-time MLA, Trilochan Kanungo passed away in Bhubaneswar.

Kanungo was elected to the assembly in 1971, 1974, and 1985.

In 1999, he was elected from the Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seat on a BJD ticket.

He was a former chairman of Cuttack Municipality and ex-chairperson of the state finance commission.

He was born on November 24, 1940, in Badamulei village in Cuttack district, Odisha.

MoPNG Successfully completed Barauni Guwahati pipeline

The Ministry of Petroleum has successfully completed the Bihar portion of the Barauni Guwahati pipeline (BGPL) under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project.

It will connect six districts in Bihar to the National Gas Grid.

Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project is also known as Jagdishpur – Haldia & Bokaro – Dhamra Pipeline Project (JHBDPL) project.

Launched: 2016

Aim: Caters to the energy requirements of five states (UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and WB).

National Panchayati Raj Day 2023: 24 April

India celebrates National Panchayati Raj Day every year on April 24 to commemorate the constitutional change that established the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

PRIs are considered the third tier of the government.

It manages the local-level administration in rural areas.

The first Panchayati Raj system was initiated in the year 1993.

2023 theme: Sustainable Panchayat: Building Healthy, Water Sufficient, Clean & Green Villages. 

A new book ‘A Resurgent Northeast: Narratives of Change’ launched

A new book titled, ‘A Resurgent Northeast: Narratives of Change’ has been released in New Delhi.

The book was authored by an IAS officer, and senior bureaucrat Ashish Kundra.

The book was launched in the presence of Kiren Rijiju (Union Minister of Law and Justice); Hardeep Singh Puri (Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas), Pema Khandu (CM of Arunachal Pradesh), and Amitabh Kant.

Senior bureaucrat-author Ashish Kundra served in the Northeast for eight years.

UIDAI, NPCI to set up eKYC aggregator, fin entities

The Unique Identification Authority of India and the National Payments Corporation of India are setting up an aggregator platform for eKYC (electronic know-your-customer).

The process of Aadhaar-based eKYC is used for paperless verification of a customer’s credentials to get a mobile connection or open a bank account.

The process can be completed using biometrics or through the use of OTP.

It is being used by financial services players, and government agencies.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated National Technology Centre

Union Minister of Ports, Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts, IIT - Discovery Campus at Chennai.

Under the Sagarmala Programme, the centre has been established in IIT Chennai at a cost of 77 Crore rupees.

The institute acts as a technological arm of the Ministry and develops cutting-edge technologies and application products to provide solutions to various challenges faced by the Ports and Shipping Sector.

Centre conducts first-ever census of water bodies across the country

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has conducted the first-ever census of water bodies across the nation.

Aim: To provide a comprehensive inventory of India's water resources, including natural and man-made water bodies like lakes. 

Over 24.24 lakh water bodies have been enumerated in the country out of which more than 23 lakh water bodies are in rural areas and nearly 69,000 are in urban areas.

Top 5 (number of water bodies): WB, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Assam. 

PM Modi dedicates to nation projects worth Rs 17,000 crore in MP

PM Modi has laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth more than 17,000 crores in Madhya Pradesh.

He has also inaugurated the integrated e-Gram Swaraj and GeM portal for public procurement at the Panchayat level.

Objective: To enable Panchayats to market their goods and services through GeM. 

With the handing over of around 35 lakh Swamitva Property Cards, about 1 crore 25 lakh property cards have been distributed under this scheme in the country.

Kenya's Kiptum wins London Marathon in 2nd fastest time

Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya has won the London Marathon and recorded the second-fastest time in history over the distance.

He set the course record with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 25 seconds.

He just missed out on Eliud Kipchoge's world record by 16 seconds.

In the women's race, Ethiopian-born Dutch athlete, Sifan Hassan won her marathon debut in 2:18:34.

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won the elite men’s wheelchair race with a time of 1:23:44.

Gallantry Medal presented to Wing Commander Deepika Misra.

On 20 April, Wing Commander Deepika Mishra made history by becoming the first female officer in the Indian Air Force to be honored with a gallantry award.

In 2022, Deepika was among the awardees announced for the Vayu Seva Medal for Gallantry on Independence Day.

On April 20, 2023, the medal has been conferred on Deepika by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari at an investiture ceremony held in New Delhi.

In August 2021, Deepika Mishra was deployed to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in response to flash floods in northern Madhya Pradesh.

She was the first and only responder to reach the affected area and saved the lives of 47 people.

IAF chief presented the award to two IAF officers were awarded Yudh Seva Medal, 13 officers, and air warriors received Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 13 officers Vayu Sena Medal and 30 Vishisht Seva Medal.

The IAF chief awarded a total of 58 personnel with gallantry awards, of which 57 are from the IAF and the remainder from the Indian army.

L Murugan becomes 1st Union Minister to visit India’s first village

Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry L Murugan on 22nd April became the first central minister to visit  India’s first village Avangkhu, a village along the India-Myanmar border in Nagaland’s Phek district.

An overview:

The Union Minister visited the International Trade Center at Awangkhu, Phek.

He recalled the Centre’s commitment towards developing the north-east, including the border areas of the region.

Highlighting India’s seriousness towards the Act East Policy, the Minister announced that the two lane road upto Avangkhu border has already been sanctioned and work will start soon.

He hoped that the International Trade Center at Awangkhu would witness an increase in business activities due to increase in trade volume and better connectivity.

On the development of piggery in the state, Dr. Murugan said that the National Livestock Mission (NLM) is supporting the entrepreneurs of the state and strengthening the agriculture infrastructure and technology.

He also announced that a grant of Rs 14.99 lakh has been allocated to Phek district for screening children's films in the district.

About Nagaland:

Nagaland is a state located in Northeast India, bordering Myanmar.

Formation - 1 December 1963

Capital - Kohima (Executive Branch)

Language - English

River - Longleng, Peren, Varkha, Kiphire, Mokokchung, Phek, Zunheboto, Kohima, Mon, Tuensang

Festivals - Hornbill Festival, The Motsu Mong Festival

National Park - Intanki National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries - Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, Puli Baij Wildlife Sanctuary, Rangapahar Reserve Forest

Chief Minister - Neiphiu Rio

Governor - La Ganesan

Official Bird -Blyth's Tragopan

Official Animal -Gayal

Official Flower - Rhododendron Arboreum

Legislative Assembly - 60 seats

Rajya Sabha -1 seat

Lok Sabha - 1 seat

Largest city - Dimapur

District -16

NHAI to develop 10,000 kms of ‘Digital Highways’ in India by 2025

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is preparing to develop around 10,000 km of optic fiber cable (OFC) infrastructure across India by the financial year 2025.

An overview:

This move is aimed at providing internet connectivity to remote locations and expediting the roll-out of new-age telecom technologies like 5G & 6G.

The NHAI’s fully-owned special purpose vehicle, the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), will be implementing the network of digital highways by developing integrated utility corridors along the national highways to develop OFC infrastructure. 

The pilot routes for the ‘digital highway’ development have been identified as 1,367 kilometres on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and 512 km on the Hyderabad-Bangalore corridor.

3-meter utility corridor on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. 

Recently, the 246-km Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was inaugurated, with a dedicated utility corridor of three meters used for laying optical fiber cables.

It will serve as the backbone for the roll-out of 5G networks in the region.

OFC laying along National Highways has started and is targeted to be completed in about a year.

Importance of 'Digital Highway'. 

The creation of a 'Digital Highway' will not only have a positive impact on the country's growth and development, but will also contribute to its digital transformation.

The OFC network will facilitate internet connectivity in remote areas across India and help the country move towards modern age telecom technologies like 5G and 6G.

About National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):

It is an independent organisation established in 1995 by the Government of India.

NHAI manages and maintains a vast network of more than 50,000 km of National Highways across India, which represents about 40% of the total length of National Highways in the country.

NHAI is responsible for maintaining and upgrading the quality of National Highways in India and ensuring their smooth operation for the benefit of road users.

As a nodal agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI plays a vital role in formulating policies related to highways and implementing them effectively.

Establishment -1988

Headquarters - New Delhi

Chairman - Santosh Kumar Yadav

12-hour duty bill passed in Tamil Nadu assembly

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed the Factories (Amendment) Act 2023 on 21 April.

An overview:

The Bill seeks to increase the daily work shift of factory workers from the current 8 hours to 12 hours, meaning they can choose to work four days a week.

'The rest three days will be paid leave and the existing rules on leave, overtime, pay etc. will not change.

The revised 12 hours of daily work has not been extended to all companies and factories, but will be implemented 'only where workers prefer it'.

The Bill will have no impact on the current 48-hour work-week.

The law was passed amid strong opposition from various opposition political parties.

In May 2020, 10 states – Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand, Assam, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh – had amended labor laws to propose 12-hour working hours during the pandemic.

TheUttar Pradesh government had also issued an order increasing the daily working hours from 8 hours to 12, but withdrew it in May 2020.

About Tamil Nadu State:

The state was formed on 26 January 1950 but its boundaries were redrawn on 14 January 1969.

Tamil Nadu is located at the mouth of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

Bharatanatyam is a very popular and famous dance form of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of bananas and flowers, the second largest producer of mango, rubber, groundnut, coconut and the third largest producer of coffee.

Governor- Ravindra Narayan Ravi

Chief Minister- M.K.Stalin

Assembly seats 235 seats

Rajya Sabha Seats -18

Lok Sabha seats- 39

Air Marshal Sandeep Singh appointed Military Advisor to National Security Council

Former Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep Singh (Retd) has been appointed as the new Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). He will assume charge on April 24.

An overview:

He will replace General Anil Chauhan, who was appointed Chief of Defense Staff in October last year.

Sandeep Singh retired as the Vice Chief of the Air Force on January 31, 2023, after a military career of four decades.

Sandeep Singh, an alumnus of the National Defense Academy, who was appointed as the new military advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat, was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in December 1983 as a fighter pilot.

He has flown a number of aircraft, and has close to 4,900 hours of operational and test flying experience on Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, MiG-21, AN-32, Avro, Jaguar and Mirage 2000.

He also played a key role in the induction, production and arming of the Su-30 MKI aircraft in India.

In recognition of his services of an exceptionally high order, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2013 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.

Satinder Kumar Lambah's book 'In Pursuit of Peace' launched

The memoir of the late Satinder Kumar Lambah, ‘In Pursuit of Peace: India-Pakistan Relations Under Six Prime Ministers’ was launched by Nina Lambah.

It was forwarded by former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Satinder Kumar Lambah had served two tenures in Pakistan as Deputy Chief of Mission and High Commissioner and was Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board.

He also served as a Special Representative for Afghanistan under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Country’s first Mangrove Pitta Bird census undertaken in Bhitarkanika

The first-ever census of Mangrove Pitta Bird was conducted by the Odisha forest officials in the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary.

In the first census, 179 mangrove pitta birds were sighted.

The habitats of these beautiful birds are confined to mangrove forest areas in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika and Sundarban in West Bengal.

Mangrove pitta is a colorful bird that has a black head with a brown crown.

It feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, and insects.

Kerala adopts Water Budget to tackle summer water shortage

Kerala has become the first state to adopt a water budget in a bid to come up with a solution to water scarcity in certain regions.

The first phase would cover 94-gram panchayats and 15-block panchayats.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan released Public Water Budget.

The third phase of the Ini Njan Ozhukatte (Let me flow now) project for the rehabilitation of irrigation networks in the Western Ghats was also launched.

The idea of a water budget was first mooted by the state in 2019.

Utsa Patnaik selected for Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023

A renowned economist of national and international repute, Utsa Patnaik has been selected for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023.

It is granted for outstanding contributions to Development Studies.

The award consists of a citation and a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh.

The award is given every year by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust.

It is annually given to an outstanding social scientist selected from nominations received by a specially constituted national jury.

Karnataka Bags National Award For Fasal Bima Yojana

Karnataka has bagged the national award for the best implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in the country.

The state has recorded a 47.74% increase in the enrolment of farmers under the scheme, between the Kharif season 2021 and 2022.

While the area covered under the scheme increased by 41.80%.

The common service centers have also seen an enrolment of 4.66 lakh non-loanee farmers over the last six years.

AU Small Finance Bank launches bill payments via video banking

AU Small Finance Bank has become the country's first commercial bank to connect with the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) and deliver bill payment services via video banking.

Aim: To increase digital accessibility and economic capabilities, which will lead to greater financial inclusion. 

Customers can use this platform to pay their bills without having to go to a branch, which is especially useful for senior persons and others with mobility challenges.

India contributes $500,000 to UN entity for women empowerment

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj has handed over the cheque of USD 500,000 (Rs 4.09 crore) to the UN Women - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

The cheque was received by Sima Sami Bahous, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women.

The Indian government is committed to the goals of gender equality, the empowerment of women, and gender mainstreaming.

Govt launches 'Sangathan se Samriddhi' scheme

Union Minister of Rural Development, Giriraj Singh has launched the ‘Sangathan Se Samriddhi’ campaign to empower marginalized rural households by bringing all eligible rural women into the fold of Self Help Groups (SHGs).

The govt is targeting to bring 10 crore women under the purview of SHGs (existing nine crores).

The govt has also set a target that every woman associated with SHGs should be able to earn 1 lakh rupees per annum.

He also urged women to produce millet.

World Liver Day 2023: 19 April

World Liver Day is observed annually on April 19 to raise awareness about liver-related diseases.

Theme 2023: Be vigilant, do a regular liver check-up, fatty liver can affect anyone. 

This day educates the public on lifestyle modifications that can help prevent liver diseases, such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting vaccinated against hepatitis.

As per the WHO, liver ailments amount to the 10th most common reason for death in India.

India violated global trading rules in IT tariff dispute: WTO

A World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel has ruled that India has violated global trading rules in a dispute against the European Union, Japan, and Taiwan.

The case pertains to import duties for a wide range of products.

In 2019, the EU, Japan, and Taiwan challenged the import duties on certain IT products.

The EU had challenged India’s introduction of import duties between 7.5% and 20% for products such as mobile phones, mobile phone components, and accessories.

Ganga mission clears projects worth ₹638 crore

Eight projects worth ₹638 crore (approx) were approved in the 48th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

Chaired by: Director General, G Asok Kumar

In an initiative to clean River Hindon, four projects worth Rs 407.39 crore were approved for pollution abatement in the Shamli district.

As part of preparations for the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj in 2025, one project for the development of seven ghats was approved.

New York Senate appoints Rowan Wilson as state's first Black chief judge

The New York Senate has confirmed Judge Rowan Wilson (62) as the new chief judge of the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.

He is also New York’s first Black chief judge.

He was appointed by the 57th governor of New York, Kathy Hochul.

Since 2017, he has been an associate judge of the Court of Appeals, New York's highest court.

He studied at Harvard College, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1984.

Vice Admiral Swaminathan becomes Controller of Personnel Services in Navy

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as Controller of Personnel Services on April 17, 2023.

He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, and is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare.

Earlier, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command, Flag Officer Defence Advisory Group, and Flag Officer Sea Training.

He was the second Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

Confederate of Indian Industry (CII) co-organizes Digital Health Summit 2023

Confederate of Indian Industry (CII) has co-organized a Digital Health Summit 2023 with the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on April 16, 2023.

The theme of the event was ‘Building One Health Together – Improving Health Equity’.

Objective: To bring together the policy makers, industry leaders, and global healthcare experts and thought leaders to deliberate upon key issues confronting the digital health space. 

G20 MACS meeting in Varanasi to feature the MAHARISHI Initiative

A three-day Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) under India's G20 presidency has been started on April 17, 2023, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

They will discuss sustainable agriculture and food systems for healthy people and the planet, Agriculture research and development, including food security and nutrition, public-private partnership etc.

The 'Millets And Other Ancient GRains International ReSearcH Initiative (MAHARISHI)' is also proposed.

World Hemophilia Day 2023: 17th April

World Hemophilia Day is celebrated every year on April 17th to honor the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, who established the World Federation of Hemophilia.

Aim: To raise awareness and provide information about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. 

It is a rare medical condition where the blood fails to clot correctly due to the lack of specific clotting factors.

Theme 2023: Access for All: Prevention of Bleeds as the Global Standard of Care

DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence inaugurated at IIT Hyderabad

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) has been inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology -Hyderabad.

DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat inaugurated the facility at the campus of the IIT-Hyderabad at Sangareddy in Telangana.

The government is taking up futuristic projects towards long-term directed research needed for DRDO.

The DIA CoE IITH is the largest centre among all 15 CoEs in the country.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj to Celebrate National Panchayat Awards Week

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is celebrating the National Panchayat Awards Week from 17th – 21st April 2023 as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 2.0.

The ministry has conceptualized a series of Thematic Conferences for the National Panchayat Awards Week on the theme “Panchayaton ke Sankalpon ki Siddhi ka Utsav”.

Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh has released a booklet on ‘Best Practices on Works of Awardee Panchayats’.

Russia’s Gazprombank deepens ties with Indian banks for bilateral trade

Russia’s Gazprombank has expanded its ties with banks in India to expedite trade between the two countries in national currencies, as Russia this year has become the biggest supplier of oil to India.

It is the third-largest lender of Russia by assets and a key conduit of the Russian energy trade.

In 2022, India implemented a broader framework to facilitate overseas trade in rupees, and since then many Russian institutions have opened vostro accounts with Indian banks.

Syria becomes world's largest 'narco-state'

Syria has become the world's foremost narco-state, as its economic survival now depends heavily on the production and export of Captagon.

Captagon is a banned illicit drug recognized by the UNODC (2021) and is a synthetic stimulant that combines amphetamine and caffeine.

According to the Collins Dictionary, "narco-state" refers to a nation where a significant portion of the economy is reliant on the illicit trade of narcotic drugs.

WPI inflation eases to a 29-month low of 1.34% in March 2023

According to the government data, India's annual Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation has declined to a 29-month low of 1.34% in March 2023, as input prices continued to moderate.

This is the 10th straight month of decline in WPI-based inflation.

The WPI inflation data was 3.85% in February, 4.73% in January 2023, and 14.63% in March 2022.

While the food index inflation eased to 2.32% in March 2023 from 2.76% in February 2023.

The US emerges as India's biggest trading partner in FY23

According to the provisional data, released by the Commerce Ministry, the bilateral trade between India and the US increased by 7.65% to USD 128.55 in 2022-23 as against USD 119.5 billion in 2021-22.

The US has emerged as India's biggest trading partner in 2022-23.

During 2022-23, India's two-way commerce with China declined by about 1.5% to USD 113.83 billion.

In 2022-23, the UAE (USD 76.16 billion) was the third largest trading partner, followed by Saudi Arabia.

Nandini Gupta of Rajasthan crowned Femina Miss India World 2023

Nandini Gupta (19) of Rajasthan has been crowned the 59th edition of the beauty pageant, Femina Miss India World 2023.

Meanwhile, Shreya Poonja from Delhi and Thounaojam Strela Luwang from Manipur were announced as the first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.

She hails from Kota, Rajasthan, and holds a Business Management degree.

Femina Miss India 2023 was held at Indoor Stadium, Khuman Lampak, Imphal, Manipur.

Environment Ministers agree to make efforts to reduce vehicle emissions

The meeting of G7 (Group of seven) energy and environment Ministers ended on 16th April at Sapporo city in Japan.

An overview:

The major focus in the meeting is on reducing the carbon footprint of automobiles.

The G-7 summit will be hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Hiroshima in May 2023.

Joint Statement of the Meeting:

The ministers agreed to make efforts to reduce vehicle emissions.

Agreement to halve carbon dioxide levels recorded in 2000 by 2035.

A major focus was placed on how to reduce the carbon footprint of automobiles.

Each country will check its progress every year to meet the target.

The agreement called on countries to help reduce emissions across a wide range of vehicles.

A new target was also set to prevent ocean pollution by plastic waste by 2040.

About G7:

The G7 is a group of seven major industrialized countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The G7 holds annual meetings to discuss various global issues, but these meetings are usually held in different locations each year.

The 48th G7 summit was hosted by Germany in 2022.

Army Commanders’ Conference to be organized in Hybrid format

The first Army Commanders’ Conference (ACC)  for the year 2023 will be held on the 17th of April in Hybrid format. 

An overview:

The conference is scheduled from 17 to 21 April 2023.

For the first time, the ACC is being held in a hybrid format using available technology for secure communication, with the Army Commander and other senior officers meeting virtually on the first day.

On the first day of the conference, the agenda points sponsored by various Command Headquarters will be discussed.

The Forum will also review the progress on the Agneepath plan, digitization and automation initiatives, Combat Engineers tasks and budget management as well as activities drawn up as part of the 'Year of Transformation-2023'.

The top leadership will also brainstorm on the current and emerging security scenarios and review the operational preparedness of the Indian Army.

Defense MinisterRajnath Singh will address the conference on 19 April.

He will also review the performance of equipment focused on niche technology, innovation, solutions for surveillance, artificial intelligence, training, robotics and operational logistics.

About Army Commanders' Conference (ACC):

It is an apex-level biannual program which is an institutional platform for conceptual level discussions.

In this, important policy decisions are taken for the Indian Army.

Bangladesh's capital Dhaka recorded the highest temperature in 58 years

Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka had its hottest day on 15 April in 58 years with the temperature rising to 40.4 degrees Celsius. 

An overview:

This is the highest temperature since 1965 when the highest temperature was recorded at 42 degree Celsius.

The mid-western city of Chuadanga recorded a maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees on 15th April.

Bangladesh experienced its highest temperature of 44.5 degrees at Jashore in 1964.

On 15th April, a severe heatwave was experienced in several districts of Bangladesh including Dhaka, Faridpur, Manikganj, Bagerhat, Pabna, Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia.

The extraordinary heat wave in Bangladesh continues over large parts of the country. 

People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Capital: Dhaka

Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed

President: Mohammad Shahabuddin

Currency: Taka

India, Peru hold 2nd Joint Commission Meeting

The 2nd India-Peru Joint Commission Meeting was held in New Delhi on 15th April.

An overview:

In the meeting both sides reviewed their traditionally friendly relations and discussed ways to take forward cooperation in areas of mutual interest including trade and investments.

The meeting was co-chaired by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs and Ignacio Higueras, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru.

They also discussed regional and multilateral issues of current relevance and underlined cooperation between the two countries in multilateral fora and international organizations.

The two sides also agreed to exchange visits and hold a series of business, cultural, educational and other bilateral events as part of celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

About Peru:

Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina.

The world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon covers nearly half of Peru.

Capital: Lima

President: Dina Boluarte

Currency:Nuevo Sol

Official Language :Spanish, Quechua

First AIIMS inaugurated in the Northeast at Changsari near Guwahati

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Changsari near Guwahati on 14th April. It is the first AIIMS in the Northeast.

An overview:

He announced three other medical colleges in Assam.

The three medical colleges at Nalbari, Nagaon and Kokrajhar have been built at a cost of around Rs 615 crore, Rs 600 crore and Rs 535 crore, respectively.

He also laid the foundation stone of Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute (AAHII) at IIT-Guwahati. 

The Prime Minister also launched a healthcare scheme to provide free medical treatment of Rs 5 lakh each year to 11 million beneficiaries.

The AIIMS campus, built at a cost of Rs 1,123 crore, is a one-of-a-kind healthcare facility in the entire northeastern region. 

It will have an annual intake capacity of 100 medical students every year.

The foundation stone for the institute was laid by PM Modi in 2017.

He distributed Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards in all districts.

About Northeast India:

Northeast India comprises seven states : Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

The northeast is bordered by Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh with a total length of over 2000 km and is connected to the rest of India by a narrow 20 km wide corridor of land.

Northeast India is also known as the “Seven Sisters”.

Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari has been awarded the "Maharashtra Bhushan" for the year 2022

Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the "Maharashtra Bhushan" award for the year 2022 to Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari at Raigarh, Maharashtra on 16th April.

An overview:

On this occasion, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were present.

About Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari:

Appasaheb Dharmadhikari is a famous social reformer. His father Nanasaheb was Dharmadhikari.

Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan undertakes many social welfare activities like health camps, blood donation camps, de-addiction, cleaning of area, tree plantation, environment protection, distribution of educational material.

His work continues unabated. In view of his work, Appasaheb was also honored with Padma Shri.

Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari established the Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Foundation, Revdanda to expand the scope of social work.

Social activities started being conducted through the institution. As these activities started being implemented with public participation, their scope increased.

The work of tree plantation was done by the Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Foundation keeping in view the effect of climate change and temperature.

A total of 36,61,611 trees have been planted by the Foundation from 2015 to 2021.

Awards given to Dharmadhikari:

Keeping this social work of Appasaheb in mind, DY Patil University awarded Dharmadhikari with an honorary doctorate.

Former Governor Vidyasagar Rao appointed him as the cleanliness ambassador of the state.

In 2017, the Central Government conferred the civilian honor of Padma Shri.

The European International Institute honored Appasaheb with the Living Legend Award.

Looking at his career so far, the state government has selected him for the Maharashtra Bhushan Award.

India's economic growth projected to decelerate to 6% in 2023: UN

According to the United Nations, India's economic growth is projected to decelerate to 6% in 2023 from 6.6% in 2022.

The UNCTAD in its latest Trade and Development Report Update released, expects global growth in 2023 to drop to 2.1%, compared to the 2.2% projected in September 2022.

UNCTAD expects the South-Asian region to expand at a still fast pace of 5.1 percent in 2023.

Recently, IMF lowered India's economic growth projection for the current fiscal to 5.9%.

National Award-winning actress Uttara Baokar passes away

Veteran film and television actress Uttara Baokar passed away at 79 in Pune, Maharashtra.

In 1984, she won India's National Academy for Acting, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

She also appeared in Marathi films like Doghi (1995) with Sadashiv Amrapurkar and Renuka Daftardar, Uttarayan (2005), Shevri (2006), and Restaurant (2006), with Sonali Kulkarni.

She has played various roles in different plays such as Padmavati in Mukyhamantri and Mena in Mena Gurjari.

World Chagas Disease Day 2023: 14th April

World Chagas Disease Day is observed every year on April 14th to raise awareness about a life-threatening illness that can cause severe heart and digestive problems.

It is also known as American trypanosomiasis, silent disease, or silenced disease.

It is more common in regions like Central America, Mexico, and South America.

The theme for 2023 is Time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care.

World Chagas Disease Day was established in 2020.

India employment rate increases to 36.9% in the March quarter

According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India's labor market has witnessed an improvement with over 15 million people entering the workforce in the last three quarters.

The country's employment rate increased to 36.9% in March 2023 from 36.6% in December 2022.

The labor participation rate (LPR) declined from 40.5% in December to 39.8% in March 2023.

While the unemployment rate saw a small decrease from 8.3% to 7.8% during this period.

TIME Most Influential People of 2023 list released

TIME Magazine has published a list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2023, which includes Jennifer Coolidge (Actor), Doja Cat (Recording Artist), Bob Iger (CEO of The Walt Disney Company), and Salman Rushdie (Writer).

There is no particular order to the rankings.

Six categories: Artists, Icons, Pioneers, Leaders, Titans, and Innovators. 

Indian Actor Shahrukh Khan and Indian Director S.S. Rajamouli were listed in Icon and Pioneer categories, respectively.

Tamil Nadu govt formed a panel to assess the functioning of juvenile homes

The Tamil Nadu government has formed a one-man committee to recommend measures for the effective administration of the homes functioning as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2015.

Headed by: Retired judge K. Chandru

The committee will look into various aspects including infrastructure, health, and medical facilities, and the qualification of staff.

The committee will also provide recommendations to the government for improvement.

India and WFP signed MoU for sending wheat to Afghanistan

The Indian government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Food Programme (WFP) for sending 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the people of Afghanistan.

The MoU was signed between the Ministry of External Affairs and the United Nations WFP.

This MoU marks the fifth tranche, to be shipped through the Chabahar Port in Iran, of humanitarian food assistance that India committed in 2020.

In 2022, India has contributed 40,000 metric tons of wheat.

Fasal ties up with SBI to help farmers get easy access to loans

Agri-tech company Fasal signed a partnership agreement with the State Bank of India (SBI) to provide farmers with easy access to capital.

The partnership will help to solve the cash-flow constraints during key cycles in farming by providing quick, easy, and collateral-free loans at very competitive rates.

These ties will help to fulfill Fasal’s larger objective of solving the many challenges across the entire horticulture value chain.

ATL linked with KVK and Agricultural Technology Management Agency

AIM, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Agriculture signed to promote innovation in the agricultural sector among school students across India.

The Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency agreed to connect.

KVKs work as a Single Window Agricultural Knowledge Resource and Capacity Development Centre.

KVKs, in partnership with ATMA, will collaborate with nearby ATLs to support agricultural-related innovation.

YES Bank becomes first Indian company with over 50 lakh shareholders

YES Bank has become the first Indian company to have over 50 lakh shareholders.

The bank had 50.6 lakh shareholders as of March 31, 2023, all of whom were public shareholders.

While Tata Power was a far second with 38.5 lakh shareholders, followed by Reliance Industries with 33.6 lakh shareholders, according to the December 2022 shareholding disclosures.

Since then, the total number of shares held has also more than doubled from 1,255 crores to 2,875 crores.

Festival of Vishu, Rongali Bihu, and Puthandu Pirappu celebrated

The festivals of Vaisakhi, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsha, Vaisakhadi, Meshadi, Naba Barsha, and Puthandu Pirappu are being celebrated in different parts of the country on April 14, 2023.

Baisakhi is celebrated with pomp in the North region, especially in Punjab.

Rongali Bihu is marked as Assamese New Year.

Poila Baisakh falls on April 15, marking the beginning of the Bengali New Year.

Vishu marks the new year in Kerala, while Puthandu marks the Tamil New Year. 

IAF to participate in Multilateral International Exercise Orion in France

An Indian Air Force contingent is participating in the multinational international Exercise Orion, organized at Mont-de-Marsan in France from 17 April to 5 May 2023.

The IAF Contingent is joining the exercise with four Rafael, two C-17, two ll-78 aircraft, and 165 air warriors.

It would be the first overseas exercise for the IAF's Rafale aircraft.

Other participants: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States of America.

Aman Sehrawat wins India’s first gold medal at Asian Wrestling C'ships

Indian wrestler, Aman Sehrawat won India’s first gold medal in men’s 57 kg freestyle category at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023, held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

He defeated Kyrgyzstan's Almaz Smanbekov 9-4.

Among the other Indian wrestlers, Deepak (79kg) won bronze while Deepak Nehra (97kg) lost his bronze medal match.

The Greco-Roman wrestlers won four medals while the women’s wrestlers bagged seven.

India's first semi-high-speed regional rail service named 'RAPIDX'

India's first semi-high-speed regional rail services have been named 'RAPIDX' by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).

The trains will run on the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, being implemented to connect key urban nodes across NCR.

It is a joint venture company of the Union government and Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

The NCRTC will commission the entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor by 2025.

ADR report: Jagan Mohan Reddy is the wealthiest CM

According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR),  Andhra Pradesh’s CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has the highest assets totaling Rs 510 crore, followed by Arunanchal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu (over Rs 163 crore) and Odisha’s Naveen Pattnaik (over Rs 63 crore).

While West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee has the lowest total assets of about Rs 15 lakh.

Out of the 30 CMs analyzed, 29 are crorepatis with the average assets being Rs 33.96 crore for every CM.

Canara Bank, Bharat BillPay tie up for cross border bill payments

Canara Bank and NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) have launched cross-border inward bill payment services for Indians based in Oman.

NRIs can now leverage the robust platform offered by the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to make bill payments on behalf of their families through the Musandam Exchange.

With this, Canara Bank becomes the first public sector bank in India to offer inbound cross-border bill payments through BBPS.

Karnataka Bank authorized to collect direct and indirect taxes

RBI has authorized the Karnataka Bank to collect direct and indirect taxes on behalf of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

The RBI authorized on the recommendation from the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

Customers are enjoying seamless online payments for custom duty by selecting Karnataka Bank in the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway 'ICEGATE' portal of CBIC.

HDFC Bank signs with Export-Import Bank of Korea for $300 million

HDFC Bank has signed a "Master Inter Bank Credit Agreement" with the Export-Import Bank of Korea for a USD 300 million line of credit.

The pact was signed by the two entities at GIFT City in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

It will help bank to raise foreign currency funds which it would extend to Korea-related businesses.

It can be utilized towards funding requirements of consumers for the purchase of cars manufactured by Korean companies.

Freedom fighter, public health pioneer Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passes away

Veteran Liberation War fighter and legendary public health activist Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away at 81 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

He was a vascular surgeon and a pioneer in public health.

He won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Community Leadership category in 1985 and the Right Livelihood Prize in 1992 for his outstanding work in the public health sector.

In 1971, he left his medical studies in the UK to join the liberation war of Bangladesh.

National Museum of Natural History and State Museum, Lucknow sign MoU

The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and State Museum, Lucknow signed an MoU to work together toward environmental conservation and education among the masses.

The multi-dimensional efforts will be made in organizing programs for school and college students to create awareness about nature.

NMNH was established to portray and promote awareness of the country's Natural Heritage.

It is an institution devoted to environmental education.

NMCG signs agreement with 49 Universities for water conservation

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has signed an agreement with 49 Universities to inspire youth towards water conservation and river rejuvenation.

Aim: To bring the student community to the forefront of the mass movement for creating a sustainable ecosystem of rivers.

This also ensures the cleanliness and purity of River Ganga with the rejuvenation of rivers being the prime objective of the Namami Gange Mission.

Jal Shakti Minister: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. 

RBI to stop banks from capitalizing penal charges on loans defaults

The RBI has proposed to prohibit the capitalization of penal charges and additional interest levied by banks on customers for loan defaults.

Aim: To streamline divergent practices followed by lenders. 

As per the draft circular on 'Fair Lending Practice - Penal Charges in Loan Accounts', the quantum of penal charges should be proportional to the defaults/non-compliance of material terms and conditions of loan contracts up to a threshold.

Uttarakhand government launched A HELP Program

Uttarakhand CM, Pushkar Singh Dhami has launched a program named A-HELP (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production).

Women have been chosen to strengthen livestock-related activities in remote rural areas, keeping in mind their important role under the A-HELP scheme, envisioned by Govt. of India.

Trained A-HELPs will help to prevent the various infectious diseases of animals, and artificial insemination under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative to launch on 14th April 2023

Union Minister of Fisheries, Parshottam Rupala will be launched the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI) on April 14, 2023.

He will also launch the World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) project.

Aim: To create an ecosystem for a better animal health management system using the One Health approach. 

It will be implemented over a five-year as a Central sector scheme with a financial provision of Rs. 1228.70 Cr.

Industrial output of the country rises 5.6 percent in February 2023

According to the data, released by the Ministry of Statistics, the index of industrial production (IIP) has expanded as the manufacturing sector's output increased by 5.3% in February 2023.

While the mining output increased by 4.6 % and Power generation raised to 8.2%.

In January 2023, the IIP growth was revised to 5.5% from 5.2 percent.

The industrial output of the country in February 2023 rose 5.6 percent, on a year-on-year basis.

RBI re-appointed Sanjay Agarwal as Chief of AU SFB for three years

RBI has approved the reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal as Managing Director (MD) & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank (SFB) for the next three years, till 2026.

He was first appointed as MD of AU Financiers on 14 February 2008. Later, he became the Managing Director & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank.

Meanwhile, RBI has also approved the appointment of Uttam Tibrewal as Whole Time Director of AU SFB.

Uttam Tibrewal joined the board of AU Small Finance Bank in 2005.

NSE Indices launches India's first-ever REITs and InvITs index

NSE Indices Ltd, an arm of the National Stock Exchange, has launched the country's first-ever Real Estate Investment Trusts and Infrastructure Investment Trusts index -Nifty REITs and InvITs Index.

Aim: To track the performance of REITs and InvITs that are publicly listed and traded on the NSE. 

A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) or an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) is an investment vehicle that owns revenue-generating real estate or infrastructure assets.

Central University of Kerala awards its first Honorary D.Litt to P.T. Usha

Retired Indian track and field athlete, PT Usha has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Central University of Kerala at Sabarmati Hall, Periya Campus.

She was conferred by Vice Chancellor Prof. H. Venkateshwarlu.

She has won 33 medals including 19 gold in the Asian Games and Asian Championship. 

She was the first Indian athlete to win medals in four consecutive Asian Games and also won six medals including five gold in the Jakarta Asian Athletic Meet in 1985. 

Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh to be the Chief Justice of Tripura HC

The Ministry of Law and Justice has notified the elevation of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh as Chief Justice of Tripura High Court.

He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Jharkhand on 24th January 2012 and confirmed as a permanent Judge on 16th January 2014.

He has also served as the Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court from the 20th of December, 2022 to the 19th of February, 2023.

India set to grow by 5.9% this fiscal: IMF

The annual World Economic Outlook of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered India's economic growth projection for the current fiscal (2023-24) to 5.9% from 6.1% earlier.

Yet India will continue to be the fastest-growing economy in the world.

It has also lowered the forecast for 2024-25 to 6.3% from the 6.8% it had predicted in January 2023.

IMF growth forecast is lower than projections by the RBI, which predicted a 6.4% in the current fiscal.

South Korea to conduct first launch of commercial-grade satellite

South Korea is planning to conduct its first launch of a commercial-grade satellite aboard a domestically built rocket as part of its space development program.

It will blast off from the space launch center on a southern island in May 2023.

It will carry one main satellite 'Next Generation Small Satellite 2' and seven other smaller cube-shaped satellites.

The main satellite will verify imaging radar technology and observe cosmic radiation in near-Earth orbit.

Former Mahindra Group chairman, Keshub Mahindra passes away

The former chairman of the Mahindra & Mahindra Group of companies, Keshub Mahindra passed away at 99 in Mumbai.

He served as chairman of the conglomerate from 1963 to 2012.

He joined the Board of the company in 1948 and was elected chairman in 1963.

He was awarded Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'honneur by the French Government in 1987.

He re-entered the Forbes list of India’s Richest Billionaires for 2023 with a net worth of $1.2 billion.

JICA, Citi to provide USD 125 mn to IndusInd Bank

JICA (Japanese lender) and Citibank will provide a USD 125 million funding line to India's IndusInd Bank.

Reason: For co-finance funding for on-lending to the agricultural sector in the country.

The funding includes a JPY 13 billion (approx USD 97.45 million) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and another USD 30 million from Citi to IndusInd Bank.

In the past, Citi has committed USD 1 trillion to sustainable finance by 2030.

ICICI Bank introduces EMI facility for UPI payments

The ICICI Bank has introduced an EMI facility for UPI payments made by scanning a QR code.

Those customers, who are eligible for the PayLater facility, can avail of the EMI facility using the Bank’s ‘buy now, pay later’ option.

Customers can pay amounts above Rs 10,000 in easy installments for 3, 6, and 9 months.

The ICICI Bank's PayLater facility was introduced in 2018 to enable customers to buy small ticket items in a completely paperless manner.

RBI announces framework for Acceptance of Green Deposits

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the framework for acceptance of Green Deposits of regulated entities (RE).

Aim: To foster and develop a green finance ecosystem in the country. 

The framework will come into effect from June 1, 2023.

It is applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks including SFB excluding RRBs, Local Area Banks, and Payments Banks.

It also includes all deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), including Housing Finance Companies.

WhatsApp launches ‘Stay Safe’ campaign

WhatsApp has launched a new campaign named 'Stay Safe with WhatsApp' to highlight the several safety features that are pre-built on the messaging app.

It will run for three months with a focus on several safety-centric features like ‘Block and Report,’ ‘Two-Step Verification,’ and ‘Privacy and group settings.’

The campaign highlights why it is important to add two-step verification to WhatsApp, which requires a 6-digit pin and an OTP to authenticate a user.

Nisha Dahiya wins Silver in Asian Wrestling Championship in Kazakhstan

India wrestler, Nisha Dahiya has secured the silver medal in the women's 68kg category at the Asian wrestling championships 2023, held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

She reached the final but fell to Japan’s Ami Ishii 10-0 and finished as a runner-up.

She had defeated China's Feng Zhou 7-6 in the semi-finals.

Another Indian wrestler, Priya Malik clinched a bronze in the 76 kg category after defeating Japan's Mizuki Nagashima.

International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated a three-day International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics in New Delhi on April 12, 2023.

Through this platform, policymakers, academicians and government officials can share their insights and experiences on Defence Finance and Economics for evolving security challenges.

Delegates from the USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya will participate in the conference.

PM Modi flagged off Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express

PM Narendra Modi has flagged off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train on April 12, 2023.

It is the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory.

It will make its inaugural journey between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations.

It will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt, with stops at Jaipur, Alwar, and Gurgaon.

It will complete the Ajmer-Delhi Cantt journey in 5 hours and 15 minutes.

I-T dept notifies Cost Inflation Index for current fiscal

The Income Tax Department has notified the Cost Inflation Index (CII) for the current fiscal beginning April 2023, for calculating long-term capital gains arising from the sale of immovable property, securities, and jewelry.

CII is used by taxpayers to compute gains arising out of the sale of capital assets after adjusting for inflation.

The Cost Inflation Index for FY 2023-24 relevant to AY 2024-25 stood at 348.

It is notified under the Income-tax Act, 1961 every year. 

SBI to launch new current accounts and savings accounts in FY24

SBI is planning to launch new variants of the current a/c (with balances of ₹50,000 and ₹50 lakh) and the “Parivar” (family) savings a/c in FY24.

Aim: To minimize the gap between deposit growth and credit growth.

Domestic deposits of SBI grew 8.86% year-on-year (y-o-y) by the end of 2022.

While domestic advances were up 16.9% y-o-y.

SBI also expects that it's domestic deposits and domestic advances will grow about 12% and 16% y-o-y, respectively, in FY24.

Sixteenth Finance Commission will be constituted in November 2023

The government official has informed that the union government may set up the 16th finance commission this FY 2023-24.

Aim: To suggest the ratio in which tax is to be divided between the Centre and states for five years, beginning April 1, 2026.

Finance Commission is a constitutional body that gives suggestions on Centre-state financial relations.

The 15th Commission, under NK Singh, had kept the tax devolution ratio at 42%.

World Bank chief raises 2023 global growth outlook

World Bank Group President David Malpass has informed that the lender has revised its 2023 global growth outlook slightly upward to 2% from a January 2023 forecast of 1.7%.

But the slowdown from stronger 2022 growth will increase debt distress for developing countries.

Reason: The upward revision was due to an improved outlook for China's recovery from Covid-19 lockdowns, with growth now pegged at 5.1% this year compared to 4.3%.

David Warner becomes fastest to score 6000 runs in IPL

Delhi Capitals skipper, David Warner became the quickest batter to reach the 6000-run mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during a match against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

He is the third batter to enter the elite club after Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli and skipper of Punjab Kings, Shikhar Dhawan.

He took 165 innings to reach the mark of 6000 runs, while Kohli had taken 188 and Dhawan 199 to achieve the same.

India releases first edition of Dogri version of Indian Constitution

Union Minister of Law, Kiren Rijiju has released the first edition of the Dogri version of the Constitution of India at the University of Jammu.

During the event, he informed that the government is digitizing about 65,000 words of the legal glossary to frame a core vocabulary for the understanding of all citizens.

About Dogri Language:

It is one of the 22 official languages of India.

It is widely spoken in the Jammu region of J&K, India.

Google fined $32 million in South Korea for anti-competitive behaviour

The Anti-trust regulator of South Korea has fined Alphabet Inc.’s Google 42.1 billion won ($32 million) for blocking its rival from releasing video games.

Korea’s Fair Trade Commission informed that Google is using its clout in the mobile app market to squeeze out a rival.

The Korean regulator has ordered Google LLC, Google Korea, and Google Asia Pacific to cease offering support to mobile game companies in exchange for promises of exclusivity.

EAM Jaishankar launches 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' in Uganda

During External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Kampala (Uganda), he has launched the 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi.

He has appreciated the initiatives of Overseas Friends of BJP-Uganda's initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world.

He has also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, energy, defense, health, digital and agricultural domains.

UIDAI, IIT Bombay join hands to develop touchless biometric capture system

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-Bombay) to develop a robust touchless biometric capture system.

They will carry out joint research to build a mobile capture system for fingerprints along with a liveness model integrated with the capture system.

The touchless biometric capture system will allow fingerprint authentication from home alike face authentication.

Former IAS officer, Naresh Gupta passes away

A former IAS officer and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Naresh Gupta passed away at 72 after a prolonged illness.

He was a native of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

He was the CEO during the DMK regime between 1998 and 2000. Subsequently, late chief minister J Jayalalithaa appointed him as home secretary.

He was again posted as the CEO between 2005 and 2010 and held the post during the 2006 assembly election and 2009 general elections.

ECI recognizes Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as National Party

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has granted the national party status to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

AAP was recognized as a state party in the NCT of Delhi.

While ECI has withdrawn the national party status of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Communist Party of India (CPI).

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has received recognition as a state party in Nagaland.

Tipra Motha Party got recognition as a state party in Tripura.

State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22 released

According to the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) report 2021-22, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana are the front-runners in the SEEI 2021-22.

Achiever category (score between 50-60): Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab. 

Based on their efforts and achievements, states have been classified into four categories: Front runner, Achiever, Contender, and Aspirant.

This report was released by Power Minister R. K. Singh in New Delhi.

Exercise Cope India 23 kicks off in Panagarh, Kalaikunda, and Agra

A bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) named Cope India 23 is being started on April 10, 2023.

It is being held at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda, and Agra.

Aim: To enhance mutual understanding between the two Air Forces and share their best practices. 

This exercise was started in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Air Station Gwalior, India.

PM Jan Dhan Yojana sees record ₹50,000 crore surge in balance

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) scheme has achieved a significant milestone in the financial year ending March 31, 2023.

The basic bank accounts under the scheme have registered a record surge of ₹50,000 crores, with the total balance reaching ₹1.99 lakh crore, an increase from ₹1.49-lakh crore in the previous financial year.

Additionally, there has been an addition of 5 crore new accounts under the scheme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 48.65 crores.

Bharat Biotech wins award at World Vaccine Congress 2023

At the World Vaccine Congress 2023 held in Washington, USA from April 3-6, Bharat Biotech was awarded the Best Production/Process Development award as a part of the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards.

NASA’s High-Resolution Air Quality Control Instrument Launches

NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument has successfully launched, marking a significant step forward in the monitoring of major air pollutants.

The instrument will provide unprecedented resolution, allowing scientists to observe air quality from space with accuracy down to just four square miles.

The TEMPO mission aims to revolutionize the way air quality is monitored, helping to improve life on Earth.

Indian GM Gukesh wins title at World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania ev

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has stunned former world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania event.

Gukesh emerged winner in a topsy-turvy summit clash.

The first game of the ‘new’ match was a draw after a perpetual check from Gukesh.

An Armageddon game is a variant of blitz chess to determine a winner after a series of a drawn game.

A drawn game in Armageddon is counted as a win for Black.

Ukraine first Deputy Minister Emine Dzhaparova begins 4-day visit to In

The first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova is on a four-day visit to India from April 9, 2023.

During the visit, she will hold talks with Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations.

They will also exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest.

Both shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation.

VP inaugurates scientific convention on World Homoeopathy Day

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the scientific convention on the occasion of World Homoeopathy Day on April 10, 2023, in New Delhi.

The Convention has been organised by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy under the Ministry of AYUSH.

This year, the theme is "One Health, One Family."

It aims to promote homoeopathic treatment among the people through the neighbourhood family physicians.

HM Amit Shah launched Vibrant Villages Programme in Arunachal Pradesh

Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in Kibithoo, a border village in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.

He has also inaugurated nine Micro Hydel Projects of the AP government constructed under the “Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme” in Kibithoo.

These electricity projects will empower people living in border villages.

In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority coverage.

PM Modi launches global bloc to save 7 big cat species

PM Narendra Modi has launched a 97-nation International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) in Karnataka on April 9, 2023.

Aim: To focus on the protection and conservation of seven big cat species in the wild.

Seven big cat species are tiger, leopard, jaguar, lion, snow leopard, puma, and cheetah.

The launch of the alliance follows the clarion call given by the Prime Minister in July 2019.

He also visited Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

India's Tiger population increases to 3,167

PM Narendra Modi has released the latest Tiger census data, which shows the country's big-cat count increased by 200 in four years to 3,167 from 2,967 in 2018.

This report revealed that the Western Ghats showed a significant decline in numbers from 981 in 2018 to 824 in 2022.

While the Sundarbans is threatened by the effects of climate change and the rise of sea levels.

India hosts some 75% of the global tiger population living in forests.

C R Rao will be awarded 2023 International Prize in Statistics

An Indian-American mathematician and statistician, Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (102) will be awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics in July 2023.

Reason: For his monumental work 75 years ago that revolutionized statistical thinking.

He is currently a professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and Research Professor at University at Buffalo.

He will receive the prize, with an $80,000 award.

It is awarded every two years to an individual or team.

Third edition of the Jammu Film Festival begins

In Jammu and Kashmir, the third edition of the Jammu Film Festival, sponsored by the J&K Tourism Department, began with a grand opening at Abhinav Theatre on 8 April.

President of India takes a historic sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu took a historic sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam on April 8, 2023.

Joint Military Exercise ‘Ex KAVACH’ concludes at Andaman and Nicobar Command

The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a large-scale joint military exercise 'X Kavach' involving assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

भारतीय खेल प्राधिकरण डिजिलॉकर के साथ खेलो इंडिया गेम्स प्रमाणपत्रों को एकीकृत करता है

Sports Authority of India has integrated Khelo India Games certificates with DigiLocker for the first time.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to attend the Spring Annual Meetings of IMF- World Bank

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is on a visit to the USA to attend the Spring Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - World Bank.

Prevention of Blindness Week -2023

Prevention of Blindness Week is organized from 1st to 7th April 2023.

Overview:

The Government of India organizes it to raise awareness about the blind.

Blindness is a serious problem and only the blind can understand the pain.

This campaign is organized to raise awareness to remind all the citizens of the country about the value of eyes for the blind.

The aim of the week is to educate people about various eye injuries, and visual impairment and bring awareness about the ways to avoid them.

Prevention of Blindness Week 2023: Theme

WHO is celebrating the week with the theme "The Right to Sight" in collaboration with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and other non-governmental organizations with the goal of eliminating preventable blindness.

Background of the week:

Prevention of Blindness Week was organized in 1960 by the first Health Minister Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

He established the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness in 1960 under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

The National Society for the Prevention of Blindness is a voluntary organization working to prevent blindness in collaboration with other organizations such as Sight Savers, Rotary International.

Its main areas of work are creating blindness awareness, ensuring effective treatment and timely diagnosis.

Ladakh’s wood carving gets GI Tag

Exquisite Ladakh wood carvings, also known as 'Ladakh Shingskos', have been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Overview:

This is the first time in the history of GI registration that Jammu region has got GI tag for handicrafts.

Wood carving is a traditional art form in the handicraft sector and is part of the five major areas of knowledge in the traditional education system of Ladakh.

The traditional knowledge system in Ladakh is classified into ten areas of knowledge.

The craft of woodcarving is an integral part of the social and religious spheres of life.

The process of GI tagging of nine products from the Jammu region was initiated by NABARD in December 2020 in consultation with the Department of Handicrafts and Handlooms.

After a long legal process, finally these products have been given GI tag.

What is GI Tag?

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a name or sign given to products coming from a specific geographical location. 

GIs certify that products have been made using traditional methods or have specific qualities due to their origin.

GI is used for food, handicrafts and industrial products.

GI tag ensures that only authorized users can use the name of the product.

Who grants and regulates Geographical Indications?

Geographical Indications (GI) are a type of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) recognized and protected under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) provides a framework for the protection of GIs at the international level.

In India, the registration and protection of GI is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into effect in September 2003.

The first product in India to receive the GI tag was Darjeeling tea, which was awarded the GI tag in the year 2004-05.

Over Rs 23.2 lakh crore loans sanctioned in eight years under Mudra Yojana

Since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) eight years ago, more than 40.82 crore loans worth Rs 23.2 lakh crore have been sanctioned so far.

Overview:

According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, since the launch of the scheme on April 8, 2015, till March 24, 2023, about Rs 23.2 lakh crore has been sanctioned in 40.82 crore loan accounts.

About 68 per cent accounts under the scheme are for women entrepreneurs and 51 per cent accounts are for SC, ST and OBC categories of entrepreneurs.

This shows that easy availability of credit to budding entrepreneurs of the country has encouraged innovation and sustained growth in per capita income.

He said that Mudra Yojana has helped in generating massive employment opportunities at the grassroots level and proved to be a game changer along with boosting the Indian economy.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana:

It was launched on 8 April 2015.

Under the scheme, the people of the country are given loans up to a maximum of 10 lakhs to start their own small business.

Any person who wants to further his business can take a loan under this scheme.

Mudra card is issued to the people for taking loans under this scheme.

Loans are provided through banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), micro financial institutions (MFIs) and other financial intermediaries.

More than 64 per cent of the loan accounts opened under the scheme are of women.

Three types of loans under Mudra Yojana

Shishu- Loan up to Rs.50,000.

Kishor - Loan above Rs.50,000 and less than Rs.5 lakh.

Tarun – Rs. 5 lakhs and above Rs. Loan up to 10 lakhs.

Tamil Nadu CM inaugurates IIT Madras initiative

The Tamil Nadu CM, M K Stalin has inaugurated the Indian Institute of Technology Madras’ (IIT-M) initiative which connects one lakh government school students to electronic devices.

This outreach programme on STEM, which is part of the ‘Anaivarukkum IITM’ (IITM for all) initiative, aims to connect one lakh rural Tamil Nadu students.

The CM also distributed electronic kits to government school students which were developed by IIT Madras.

Centre declares Tripura best state in NE for e-procurement

Tripura has been given the best state award in the northeastern region by the Centre for the successful implementation of e-procurement.

To maintain transparency, the state has made it mandatory to go for e-procurement if the value of any government purchase or contract goes beyond Rs 25,000.

The total value of payments made through e-procurement and Government eMarketplace (GeM) portals increased from Rs 4,451 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 7441 crore in 2021-22.

FY23 bank credit growth highest since FY12, up 15%,: RBI data

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the Bank credit rose by 15% year-on-year (YoY) in 2022-23 (FY23), against 9.6% YoY in 2021-22 (FY22).

FY23 credit growth is the highest since 2011-12, when it was 19.3%.

Bank deposits expanded 9.58% YoY in FY23, against 8.9% YoY growth seen in the previous financial year (FY22).

The outstanding credit stood at Rs 136.75 trillion at the end of the last fortnight of FY23 (March 24, 2023).

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport ranked 9th busiest in the world in 2022

According to the data shared by the Airports Council International (ACI) World, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has secured the ninth position in the list of the world's busiest airports in 2022.

As per the data, this airport is handling 59.5 million passengers annually.

IGI Airport has improved its ranking from 2021 (13th).

Top: Georgia’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (93.6 million passengers). 

Telangana's Kanti Velugu programme screens 1 crore for eye problems

A flagship initiative of Telangana government to prevent controllable blindness, 'Kanti Velugu program', has achieved a milestone by screening 1 crore people for eye problems.

The second phase of the programme started on 19th January and will continue till 15th June.

Health staff is screening all individuals over 18 years old at Kanti Velugu camps set up in all Gram Panchayats in the State.

A total of 1,500 teams are working towards creating a Guinness World Record.

World Health Day 2023: April 7

World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7 to spread awareness about health-related issues that affect people all over the world.

On this day, World Health Organisation (WHO) was founded in 1948 and this year marks the 75th founding anniversary of WHO.

This year, the theme for World Health Day is ‘Health for All’.

The theme highlights an opportunity for the world to look back at public health successes that have helped improve the quality of life.

Cabinet approves revised domestic gas pricing guidelines

The CCEA has approved the revised domestic natural gas pricing guidelines for gas produced from nomination fields of ONGC/OIL, New Exploration Licensing Policy blocks, and pre-NELP blocks.

The price of natural gas shall be 10% of the monthly average of Indian Crude Basket and shall be notified on a monthly basis.

For the gas produced by ONGC & OIL from their nomination blocks, the Administered Price Mechanism (APM) price shall be subject to a floor and a ceiling.

Cabinet approves Indian Space Policy 2023

The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the Indian Space Policy, 2023.

Under this policy roles and responsibilities of ISRO, NewSpace India Limited, and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) have been laid down.

It enables the ISRO to channelize its focus on research and development of advanced space technologies.

This policy would increase the participation of private players in the space sector.

ISRO Chairman: S Somanath

Jharkhand minister Jagarnath Mahto passes away

Jharkhand minister Jagarnath Mahto passed away at 56 in Chennai.

He was the four-time JMM MLA from Dumri in the Giridih district, Jharkhand.

He was also known as Tiger Mahto or Tiger Jagarnath Da.

He was born on January 1, 1967, in the Alargo village of Bokaro District in Jharkhand and dropped out of high school and attended Nehru High School in 1995 before leaving his studies to pursue a career in politics.

WTO: Global trade expected to grow 1.7% in 2023

According to the Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report, released by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the global merchandise trade volume is expected to grow by 1.7% in 2023 as compared to an earlier estimate of 1% in October 2022.

It would be lower than 2.7% growth in 2022.

The expectation would be ‘subpar’ due to multiple factors, including Russia-Ukraine conflict, high inflation, tighter monetary policy, and financial uncertainty.

WTO DG: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Aleksander Ceferin re-elected UEFA president until 2027

A Slovenian lawyer, Aleksander Ceferin has been re-elected unopposed as UEFA president for a four-year term (2023-27).

He was elected as the seventh president of UEFA in 2016 to replace Michel Platini, who was banned from the football administration due to ethics violations.

The UEFA Champions League is an annual club football competition.

It is organized by the Union of European Football Associations and contested by top-division European clubs.

Dr.Nitya Abraham awarded young urologist of the Year award

An Indian-American physician and professor, Dr. Nitya Abraham was honored with the Young Urologist of the Year Award by the American Urological Association (AUA).

She is an Associate Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Program Director for the Montefiore Urology residency program.

Other honorees: Rena Malik, Jesse D. Sammon, Sarah Vij, Alexander J.Ernest, Kerri Thurmon, Zachary Klaassen, and Yahir Santiago- Lastra. 

AUA HQ: Linthicum, Maryland

Government approves the appointment of Kalikesh Singh Deo as NRAI president

The government of India has approved the appointment of NRAI's senior vice-president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo as president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).

According to the Sports Ministry directive, the heads of national sports federations (NSFs) cannot hold office for more than 12 years as per the National Sports Code.

The incumbent president of NRAI, Raninder completed 12 years as president on December 29, 2022.

NRAI Headquarters: New Delhi

Kiran Nadar conferred with France's highest civilian award

Kiran Nadar was conferred “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain in April 2023.

Reason: In recognition of her contribution to the field of art, her commitment to providing greater access to culture both nationally and internationally, and her leading role in fostering Indo-French cultural ties. 

She is a chairperson of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art.

PM applauds GI Tag for Ladakh's Wood Carving

The world-famous Basohli Paintings from the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir and the Ladakh Wood Carving of Ladakh have received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.

The process for GI Tagging of these products was started by NABARD in consultation with and support from the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom in December 2020.

A GI tag is a sign used on a product that has a special geographical origin.

Telangana announces ‘cool roof’ policy to reduce heat impact on buildings

Telangana govt has launched India’s first Cool Roof Policy 2023-2028 at the CDMA office in Telangana.

It is jointly launched by the state's municipal administration and urban development department.

The policy aims to drive state-wide adoption of cool roofs by making it mandatory to install cool roofing materials, such as solar reflective paints, tiles, or sheets.

It is a five-year policy, that came into force on April 1, 2023, and continues till March 31, 2028.

India US to sign Rs 2400 crore deal for missiles, torpedoes for Indian Navy

The Indian government will sign a weapons deal with the United States government to buy American weapons, including the Hellfire missiles and Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes.

Aim: Towards strengthening their military hardware cooperation. 

These weapons will be fitted on the 24 MH-60 helicopters that are going to be fully inducted into the Navy in the near future.

The deal would be inked under the Foreign Military Sales route.

PhonePe's e-commerce app Pincode live on ONDC network

PhonePe has launched a new consumer-facing application named Pincode, which will be a part of India's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) framework.

Aim: To strengthen its e-commerce forays

Pincode is a buyer app that focuses on hyperlocal commerce and is available for download on both Google Play and the App Store.

It will launch in six major categories including grocery, food, pharma, electronics, home decor, and fashion.

Govt approves Army proposal to induct woman officers in Artillery

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt informed the Lok Sabha that the central government approved the induction of women in the Regiment of Artillery.

In January 2023, the proposal to induct woman officers in the Regiment of Artillery was sent to the government.

The exact number of woman officers who will be inducted into the Artillery will only be known at the time of the commission of the next batch from the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.

Mukesh Ambani regains Asia's richest person spot: Forbes

According to the Forbes Billionaire 2023 list, Mukesh Ambani has regained his spot as Asia's richest person after rival Gautam Adani (USD 47.2 billion) tumbled to No. 24.

Ambani (65) was ranked at No. 9 on the world billionaire list with a net worth of USD 83.4 billion.

Bernard Arnault (CEO of LVMH) topped the Forbes Billionaires 2023 Rankings with an estimated net worth of a whopping 211 billion.

Elon Musk placed second, followed by Jeff Bezos and Lary Ellison.

Govt withdraws windfall gains tax on crude oil production

The government has removed the windfall tax on crude oil production to nil from 3,500 rupees ($42.56) per tonne and on diesel has been slashed to Rs 0.5 per litre from Re 1 per litre, effective from April 4, 2023.

Windfall tax: It is levied by governments when an industry unexpectedly earns large profits.

The tax was levied in July 2022 as high energy prices led to soaring profits for oil producers.

The decision comes at a time when OPEC+ decided to cut production.

National Maritime Day 2023: April 5

India observed the 60th National Maritime Day on April 5, 2023, to commemorate the sailing of the first Indian commercial vessel, SS Loyalty.

The ship sailed from Mumbai to London.

This day was started by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways in 1964.

The theme for 2023 has not yet been announced.

The theme for National Maritime Week 2023 is 'Amrit Kaal in Shipping'.

World Maritime Day is observed on 28 September.

IIT Kanpur host Y20 Consultation under G20 Presidency of India

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur is being hosted the Youth20 (Y20) Consultation under the G20 Presidency of India on April 5, 2023.

The two-day event was attended by more than 1,200 youth delegates from across India and abroad.

It is a platform that brings young people together to connect and share ideas on finding innovative solutions to pressing global concerns.

It is a pan-India activity in the run-up to the final Y20 Summit to be held in Varanasi, UP. 

ADB cuts India GDP growth forecast to 6.4% for FY24

According to the latest edition of ADB's flagship economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2023, India's GDP would grow to moderate to 6.4% in FY24 (2023-24).

Reason: Risks arising from global and domestic factors

ADB has also highlighted that India's GDP will rise in FY25 to 6.7%.

While inflation will likely moderate to 5% in 2023-24, assuming moderation in oil and food prices.

Inflation will be at 4.5% in FY25.

Canara Bank launches Premium Payroll Account

Canara Bank has introduced a “Premium Payroll Package” for Salary account holders with competitive features.

This product has been designed to meet all Banking requirements of Salaried Customers.

Features: Free Term Life Insurance, Insta over Draft, free Personal & Air Accident Insurance coverage, Premium Cards, etc.

Eligibility:

All employees of a firm/company with a minimum of 5 employees.

Age: 18-65 years

Salary Band: Rs. 50,000-Rs.1,00,000

Skyroot Aerospace successfully test-fires 3D-printed cryogenic engine

Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test-fired a fully 3D-printed 'Dhawan II' cryogenic engine for 200 seconds.

The company developed the engine for its heavier vehicle, Vikram II.

This engine will be used as the upper stage of the updated version of Vikram-II.

A cryogenic upper stage instead of a solid fuel stage enhances the payload-carrying capacity of a rocket.

In 2022, Skyroot Aerospace became the first Indian private company to send a rocket into space.

इंस्टीट्यूट फॉर एनर्जी इकोनॉमिक्स एंड फाइनेंशियल एनालिसिस (IEEFA) और JMK रिसर्च एंड एनालिटिक्स की नई संयुक्त रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, भारत 2026 तक चीन के बाद दुनिया का दूसरा सबसे बड़ा सौर फोटोवोल्टिक निर्माता बन सकता है। भारत की संचयी मॉड्यूल निर्माण नेमप्लेट क

According to the new joint report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and JMK Research and Analytics, India could become the world’s second-largest solar photovoltaic manufacturer by 2026, after China.

India’s cumulative module manufacturing nameplate capacity more than doubled from 18GW in March 2022 to 38GW in March 2023.

In terms of upcoming PV manufacturing installations, Gujarat would be the leading state in India.

India, US to begin major air combat exercise in Kalaikunda, West Bengal

The Indian Air Force and the US Air Force started the joint exercise ' Cope India' at Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal from April 10 to 21, 2023.

This exercise will enhance operational capability and interoperability between the two air forces.

While Japan will also join as an “observer” in the exercise and witness “air combat and mobility elements” operating from multiple air bases like Kalaikunda, Panagarh, Agra, and Hindon.

Oscar-winning Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passes away

Veteran composer and green activist Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away at the age of 71 due to cancer.

He was a Japanese composer, record producer, and actor who pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO).

As a film-score composer, he won an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and two Golden Globe Awards.

He won an Academy Award with his score for the 1987 period epic “The Last Emperor".

Sudha Shivkumar becomes 40th President of FICCI Ladies Organisation

Chennai-based Sudha Shivkumar has assumed the charge as the 40th president of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) at the 39th annual session.

FLO is the oldest women-led and women-centric business chamber in Southeast Asia.

She is a lawyer and investment banker by profession and presently serving as a director at auto ancillaries.

She was the Chairperson of the FLO Chennai Chapter in 2016-17.

FLO is the women's wing of the FICCI

World Bank: India's economy to slow in FY24, GDP growth seen at 6.3%

World Bank has predicted India's economy to slow in the current fiscal (2023-24) to 6.3% on the back of shrinkage in consumption due to slower income growth.

The report estimates India's inflation to moderate from 6.6% to 5.5% in the current fiscal.

The Current Account Deficit (CAD) is expected to be 5.2% in FY24.

The Economic Survey had projected a growth of 6.5% for the current fiscal while RBI's latest projection pegs growth for FY24 at 6.4%.

Max Verstappen wins F1 Australian Grand Prix

Red Bull's driver, Max Verstappen, won his first Australian Grand Prix 2023, held at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia.

While Seven-time world champion, L. Hamilton (Mercedes driver) finished second followed by F. Alonso (Aston Martin) and L. Stroll (Aston Martin).

The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually in Australia since 1928.

The next F1 Azerbaijan GP will be held in Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan on April 30, 2023.

International Day Of Mine Awareness And Action 2023: 4th April

International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed every year on April 4 to raise awareness against explosive mines and gather assistance towards their eradication.

Theme 2023: Mine Action Cannot Wait

The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) leads the mine action community, which plays an important role in achieving the goals of mine action.

On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April to observe as this day.

Gregoria Tunjung won 2023 Spain Masters women's title

Gregoria Mariska Tunjung from Indonesia has clinched the Women's title in the 2023 Spain Masters, held in Madrid, Spain from 28 March-2 April 2023.

She defeated Indian Badminton player, PV Sindhu.

While Japanese badminton player, Kenta Nishimoto won the men's title.

Other winners:

Men's doubles: He Jiting and Zhou Haodong (China)

Women's doubles: Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning (China)

Mixed doubles: Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje (Denmark)

Bhutan king arrives in India for a two-day visit

Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived in India for a two-day visit and was received by EAM S Jaishankar in New Delhi.

Both countries will discuss hydro-power cooperation, economic and trade partnership, space cooperation, scholarships, youth-centric and STEM-based initiatives, and establishing digital infrastructure matters.

The defense and security ties between the two countries have seen significant growth in the last few years.

Axis Bank launches business management solution for merchants

Axis Bank and VISA jointly launched a mobile application, 'Digital Dukaan' to empower merchants to accept payments through various digital modes.

It is designed to address business requirements such as accepting digital payments, inventory management, and billing.

This Android Smart POS application has an in-built camera with an LED flashlight to enable scanning of product barcodes and allow a tap-and-pay option for transactions up to Rs 5,000.

Public sector banks transfer ₹35,012 cr unclaimed deposits to RBI

The Public sector banks (PSBs) have transferred unclaimed deposits of ₹35,012 crore as of February 2023 to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

These deposits have not been operated for 10 years or more.

SBI tops the list with an unclaimed amount of ₹8,086 crore, while PNB has ₹5,340 crore and Canara Bank has ₹4,558 crore.

These unclaimed deposits belong to 10.24 crore accounts transferred to the RBI.

MoS for Finance Bhagwat Karad shared this information in Lok Sabha.

Bahrain launches Golden Licence to attract large-scale investment projects

Bahrain's government has launched a new initiative called 'Golden Licence' to incentivize investments and the creation of jobs.

It is designed to provide streamlined services and benefits to local and foreign businesses with large-scale investment projects in Bahrain.

Eligibility for the Licence: Companies with significant strategic projects and investments exceeding US$50 million or those creating more than 500 jobs in Bahrain.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch becomes the first woman to go around the moon

The American Space Agency, NASA has selected the first woman astronaut, Christina Koch for its Artemis II mission.

Other crew members: Victor Glover (First Black Astronaut) and Reid Wiseman of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

It will involve a fly-by of the moon and a 10-day journey back to Earth.

It is part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024.

Odisha CM disburses Rs 877 crore KALIA assistance to farmers

The Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has released Rs 877 crore to 43 lakh farmers through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode on the occasion of Utkal Divas (April 1).

The state government has extended another round of funds to Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) for undertaking the Kharif operation.

About KALIA scheme:

It was launched in December 2018.

Aim: To reduce poverty and accelerate agricultural prosperity. 

PM Modi invited to France for Bastille Day parade

France has invited PM Narendra Modi to visit Paris as a guest at the annual Bastille Day parade, which will be held in July 2023.

The PM and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to discuss several major agreements including those on the Indo-Pacific region, nuclear power, and defense, as the two countries mark the 25th year of their strategic partnership.

Earlier, Manmohan Singh was invited as the b Day parade guest in 2009.

Anjali Sharma conquered Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari

Anjali Sharma of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh has conquered Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari.

She is working to promote Gaddi culture on the peaks of the mountains.

Lunachari is a traditional dress of Himachal Pradesh.

Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters) is the tallest mountain in Africa and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.

It has three main volcanic peaks namely Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.

Former Indian Cricketer, Salim Durani passes away

Former India all-rounder Salim Durani passed away at the age of 88 in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

He played 29 Tests for India from 1960 to 1973, scoring 1,202 runs at an average of 25.04, with one century (104 against West Indies in 1962) and seven fifties.

He was a left-arm spinner and claimed 75 wickets at 35.42 apiece.

In first-class cricket, he played for Saurashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.

He was born in Kabul (Afghanistan) in 1934 and was raised in Jamnagar.

India's forex reserves rise $5.98 billion to $578.78 billion

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, India's foreign exchange reserves increased by $5.98 billion to $578.78 billion on March 24, 2023.

Data for the previous week showed that India's foreign exchange reserves rose to $572.8 billion, the highest level since early February 2023.

India's foreign currency assets (FCA) also increased from $4.38 billion to $509.72 billion.

India's gold reserves rose by $1.37 billion to $45.48 billion.

OPEC members announce cut in oil production

OPEC members including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, and Algeria have announced voluntary oil production cuts exceeding one million barrels per day from May 2023 until the end of the year.

Reason: It is a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market.

OPEC slashed its collective output by two million barrels per day last year.

OPEC is a group of 23 oil-producing countries.

Former CJ of Calcutta HC Thottathil B Radhakrishnan passes away

Former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court Thottathil B Radhakrishnan passed away in Kochi at the age of 63.

He also served as the Chief Justice of Telangana and Chattisgarh HC and was a  judge of the Kerala HC.

He was an expert in civil, constitutional, and administrative matters.

He also chaired the expert committee formed by the Kerala Forest Department to record details of houses and commercial establishments that surround wildlife sanctuaries.

RBI appoints Neeraj Nigam as executive director

The Reserve Bank of India has appointed Neeraj Nigam as executive director (ED) who will look after four departments, including consumer education and protection.

Before being promoted to ED, he was heading the Bhopal regional office of the RBI as director.

During his long career, he served in Regulation and Supervision, human resource management, premises, currency management, bank accounts, and other areas in the Reserve Bank.

Vice-Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh is new Vice-Chief of Navy

Vice Admiral, Sanjay Jasjit Singh assumed the charge of the vice chief of naval staff on April 2, 2023.

He succeeded Vice Admiral SN Ghormade who retired after over 39 years of service.

He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Pune, and was commissioned in 1986 in the executive branch of the Indian Navy.

In his career, he has served on most classes of ships of the Indian Navy and has held a range of command, training, and staff appointments.

Israel's former envoy to India Ron Malka appointed as Haifa Port Chairman

Adani Group has appointed the former envoy of Israel to India, Ron Malka as the Executive Chairman of the Haifa Port Company.

He served as the ambassador of Israel to India from 2018-2021.

It is the second-largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers.

The Adani Group officially took over this port in January 2023.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone and Israel's Gadot Group won the tender in July 2022 to privatize the Port of Haifa for USD 1.18 billion.

US Senate confirms Indian-American Richard Verma to top State Department post

The United States Senate on March 30 confirmed the appointment of Indian American Richard Verma as Deputy Secretary of State, Management and Resources.

An overview of the news:

This position is normally seen as the CEO of the powerful State Department in the US Government.

Richard Verma served as the US Ambassador to India from January 2015 to January 2017 and is currently the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at MasterCard.

He also served as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs during the Obama administration.

Prior to this he was National Security Advisor to United States Senator Harry Reid.

Verma has also served as Vice Chairman of The Asia Group, Partner and Senior Counselor at Steptoe and Johnson LLP, and Senior Counselor at the Albright Stonebridge Group.

Verma holds a BS degree from Lehigh University, an LLM with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, and a PhD from Georgetown University.

He was appointed to the President's Intelligence Advisory Board and he is a former member of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism Commission.

Georgia became first American state to pass resolution condemning Hinduphobia

The Assembly of the US state of Georgia has passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia (Prejudice towards Hinduism). Georgia has become the first US state to implement such a legal measure.

An overview of the news:

The resolution condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry and states that 'Hinduism is the world's largest and oldest religion' and 1.2 billion people in more than 100 countries of the world follow this religion.

The resolution said that this religion incorporates diverse traditions and faith with values of acceptance, mutual respect and peace.

The resolution states that the American-Hindu community has been a major contributor to fields as diverse as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, education, manufacturing, energy and retail.

The proposal was introduced by Representatives Lauren McDonald and Todd Jones from Atlanta's Forsyth County.

A large number of Hindu and Indian-American communities live in Atlanta.

The resolution also states that the contribution of the Hindu community in the fields of yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music and art has enriched the cultural fabric.

What is Hinduphobia?

Hinduphobia is a set of hostile, destructive and derogatory attitudes towards Hinduism and Hindus that may manifest as prejudice, fear or hatred.

It is true that Hindu Americans have faced discrimination across America.

About Georgia:

Prime Minister - Irakli Garibashvili

President - Salome Zurabishvili

Capital -Tbilisi

Currency - Georgian lari (GEL)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Foundation day - 1st April

The Foundation Day of the Reserve Bank of India is celebrated on 1st April every year.

About Reserve Bank of India:

RBI was established on April 1, 1935 as per the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

It started functioning from 1 April 1935.

The central office of the Reserve Bank was established in Kolkata which was permanently shifted to Mumbai in the year 1937.

It was nationalized in 1949 and now the government of India is the owner of RBI.

It has the power to regulate Banks under the Banking Regulation Act 1949.

It has the power to regulate the Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) under the RBI act 1934.

RBI is also the regulator of the digital payment system under the Payment and settlement act 2007.

Before independence till 1942 RBI used to issue currency not only for India but also for Myanmar which was then known as Burma. However, it was discontinued after 1947.

Headquarters of RBI: Mumbai

Governor of RBI : Shaktikanta Das

Major functions of RBI:

Formulation, implementation and monitoring of monetary policy.

To maintain price stability keeping in view the objective of growth.

Sir Osborne Smith was made the first Governor of RBI.

To lay down broad norms for banking operations.

To protect the interests of the depositors and to provide affordable banking services to the general public.

Administration of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

Issuance and exchange of currency.

Role of merchant bank for central and state governments.

World Autism Awareness Day 2023

World Autism Awareness Day is observed every year on 2 April to raise awareness about autism disorder.

An overview of the news:

The purpose of this day is to make people aware of autism and to support those who are struggling with this disorder.

According to the United Nations General Assembly, the day aims to "highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of autistic people so that they can live full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society."

People with autism are very dependent on others. That's why the United Nations has urged people to come together and support autistic people.

World Autism Awareness Day 2023 theme is "Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking".

What is Autism?

Autism is a neurological condition that lasts a lifetime in a person.

It usually appears for the first time in infancy.

This condition can develop early in life, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status.

The exact cause of autism is still unknown.

The term autism spectrum refers to a number of characteristics.

A child who suffers from autism mainly includes social impairment, difficulty in talking, restricted behavior, repetition of behavior and showing a pattern.

Background of the day:

At the 76th plenary meeting held on 18 December 2007, the United Nations designated 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day.

It is celebrated every year since 2008.

ISRO successfully conducts landing experiment of the Reusable Launch Vehicle

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 2 April successfully conducted the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX). 

An overview of the news:

The test was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka.

A Chinook Helicopter of the Indian Air Force carried the launch vehicle to a height of 4.5 kms and released it in mid-air. 

The RLV took off at 7.10 am and landed at the ATR airstrip at 7.40 am.

It is noteworthy that the rocket can be launched again with the help of a reusable launch vehicle.

This has successfully achieved the autonomous precise landing of the Space vehicle.

ISRO had developed the navigation system, instrumentation and sensors on its own.

With this successful test, the dream of developing a reusable spacecraft in India can become a reality.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). 

It was established on 15 August 1969.

It is the national space agency of India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Headquarters: Bengaluru

Chairman: S Somnath

Former cricketer Salim Durani passes away at the age of 88

Former India all-rounder cricketer Salim Durani passed away on 2 April after a prolonged illness. He was 88 years old.

An overview of the news:

Salim Durrani was living in Gujarat’s Jamnagar with his younger brother, Jahangir Durani. 

He was born on 11 December 1934 in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

Later Durrani's family settled in Karachi. During the India-Pakistan partition, Durani's family had settled in India.

He was known as a brilliant all-rounder.

He made a significant contribution in the series against England in 1961-62. In the last two Tests, Salim led India to victory.

He took 8 wickets in Kolkata and 10 wickets in Chennai Test. India won the 5 match test series 2-0.

He was the first cricketer to be honored with the Arjuna Award. He was given this honor in 1961.

He played the last Test match for India in February 1973 against England at Brabourne Stadium Mumbai.

After this he retired from cricket. After retirement, he also tried his hand in the film industry. He worked in the Bollywood film 'Charitra'.

Durani played 29 Tests for India and scored 1202 and took 75 wickets.

In first-class cricket, Durani has 8545 runs and 484 wickets in 170 matches.

GST revenue collection increases 13% to ₹1.60 lakh crore in March 2023

India’s GST revenue collection for March 2023 stood at 1.6 lakh crore rupees, which is 13% higher than the GST revenues in March 2022.

It is for the fourth time, in the current financial year that the gross GST collection has crossed 1.5 lakh crore rupees, since the implementation of GST.

Out of the total collection, CGST is 29,546 crore rupees, SGST is 37,314 crore rupees and IGST is 82,907 crore rupees.

The gross revenues in 2022-23 were 22% higher than in 2021-22.

Govt hikes interest rates of small savings schemes

The Government has raised interest rates on post office saving schemes for the April-June 2023 quarter.

The interest rate of the National Savings Certificate will now attract 7.7% up from 7%.

The rate for Sukanya Samriddhi has increased to 8% from 7.6%.

The interest rates for PPF and savings deposits have been retained at 7.1% and 4%.

Senior citizen savings scheme: 8.2%.

Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP): 7.5%

KVP will now mature in 115 months as against 120 months earlier.

Fino Payments Bank and Rajasthan Royals ties up for Digital Banking Partner

Fino Payments Bank has renewed its association with Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Season 16 of the Indian premier cricket competition, IPL.

Fino Bank will be RR’s official digital banking partner.

The bank made its maiden foray with the mega sporting event last season by partnering with RR as the digital payments partner.

The newly launched FinoPay digital savings account is expected to get more traction through this engagement.

India's unemployment rate rises to 3-month high of 7.8% in March 2023

According to the data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India's unemployment rate increased to 7.8% in March 2023.

The unemployment rate in the country surged in December 2022 to 8.30% but declined in January to 7.14%.

It edged up again in February 2023 to 7.45%.

In March 2023, the unemployment rate in urban areas of India reached 8.4%, while in rural areas it stood at 7.5%.

In March 2023, unemployment was the highest in Haryana at 26.8%.

NASA appoints Indian-origin Amit Kshatriya to head 'Moon To Mars' Programme

Amit Kshatriya, an Indian-American software and robotics engineer was appointed as the first head of NASA's Moon to Mars Programme, with immediate effect.

The new office aims to carry out the agency’s human exploration activities on the Moon and Mars for the benefit of humanity.

He will be responsible for planning and executing human missions to these celestial bodies for the betterment of humanity.

NASA Administrator: Bill Nelson

World Bank approves $363 million loan to Karnataka for rural water supply

The World Bank's Executive Board of Directors has approved a USD 363 million loan to the Indian state of Karnataka.

Reason: To provide a clean drinking water supply to two million rural households in the state through a piped water connection in their homes. 

The USD 363 million loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

The loan has a maturity of 13.5 years including a grace period of two years.

India falls 6 spots to rank 144 in Passport Index 2023

According to the Passport Index 2023, released by Arton Capital, the India passport ranking for 2023 has slipped to 144 with a mobility score of 70.

In 2023, India ranked 138th out of 199 countries.

The ranking was topped by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a mobility score of 181, followed by Sweden, Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Austria.

Note: India ranked 85th out of 199 countries in the Henley Passport Index 2023.

Ambit Finvest, Bajaj Finserv join hands for digital lending platform

Ambit Finvest has partnered with SKALEUP (digital technology services arm of Bajaj Finserv Direct) to develop a D2C (direct-to-customer) instant loan application.

Under this partnership, they will provide give business loans to MSME business owners through a completely paperless and automated digital onboarding process.

Ambit Finvest is the NBFC of the Ambit Group.

CEO of Bajaj Finserv Direct: Ashish Panchal

Axis Bank, Shriram Housing Finance enter into co-lending pact

Axis Bank and Shriram Housing Finance Limited (SHFL) signed a partnership agreement under the co-lending model through the Yubi Co.Lend platform.

Both lenders will offer secured MSME loans and home loans to the middle and low-income segment borrowers based in rural and semi-urban regions.

It will leverage the financial expertise of bank, and the loan processing technology of SHFL to assess the credit profile of borrowers and provide loans at competitive interest rate. 

SBI, Godrej Capital sign MoU to offer banking products, services

Godrej Capital has signed a strategic MoU with the State Bank of India (SBI) for various financial products and offerings.

Both organizations joined together to make financial solutions more accessible and affordable, unlocking opportunities for financial inclusion.

The association leverages the strengths of both groups by facilitating a gamut of financial services provided by the bank such as banking products, credit cards, and wealth management.

India targeting defence exports worth Rs 40,000 crore by 2026

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the ‘Rising India Conclave’ in New Delhi on March 30, 2023.

During the event, he informed that India aims to achieve defence equipment exports target worth 40 thousand crore rupees by 2026.

In the last few years, defence exports have witnessed a quantum jump from 900 crore rupees to 14 thousand crore rupees (FY23).

He also highlighted the progress made by the country in all sectors.

PNGRB approves unified tariff for natural gas pipeline

Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board approved a unified tariff for a natural gas pipeline of Rs 73.93 per metric million British thermal units (MMBtu), effective from April 1, 2023.

Aim: To boost the consumption of natural gas and increase its share in India’s energy basket from 6.2% to 15% by 2030. 

Three zones for unified tariff:

1st: Up to the distance of 300 km from the source

2nd: More than 300 km and up to 1,200 km

3rd: Remaining length of the grid system

Aditya Birla Health Insurance, UCO Bank sign bancassurance pact

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd. (ABHICL) has signed a bancassurance pact with UCO Bank for the distribution of health insurance products.

This partnership enables ABHICL to expand its national footprint by leveraging UCO Bank’s widely distributed network of 3,164 branches.

ABHICL now has 17 bancassurance partners with over 80,000 direct-selling agents, across the country.

CEO, Aditya Birla Health Insurance: Mayank Bathwal

Justice T S Sivagnanam appointed as acting Chief Justice Of Calcutta HC

The central government has approved the appointment of Justice TS Sivagnanam as Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court with effect from March 31, 2023.

He succeeded the current Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava who retired.

He enrolled in the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu in September 1986.

He was appointed as an additional judge of the Madras High Court in March 2009.

He was transferred to the Calcutta High Court in October 2021.

BharatPe, NITI Aayog' WEP ties up to support women entrepreneurs

BharatPe, under its corporate social responsibility initiative BharatPe Cares has joined hands with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) to extend its support to women entrepreneurs in the country.

Focus area: To facilitate the development of a first-of-its-kind aggregator platform that gives access to peer support, mentorship, networking channels. 

According to the 6th economic census, women comprise only 13.76% of the total entrepreneurs in India.

Praveer Sinha re-appointed as CEO and MD of Tata Power

Tata Power has approved the reappointment of Praveer Sinha as CEO and MD for four years, effective from May 1, 2023.

His present tenure as a CEO and MD is scheduled to conclude on April 30, 2023.

Currently, He is also serving as the Chairman of the CII Western Region Council and co-chairs the CII National Committee on Power.

He has also contributed to setting up the first international incubator in India for promoting innovations in the clean energy space.

World Bank announces $100 million as loan for Odisha

The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank has approved a $100 million loan to Odisha.

Reason: To robust its early forecasting systems for improved response to disasters and enhance its social protection coverage for poor and vulnerable households through digital platforms. 

Odisha is vulnerable to natural disasters with cyclones hitting the state every 15 months on average.

The Program has a maturity of 12.5 years with a grace period of 3 years.

Hero MotoCorp's Board appoints Niranjan Gupta as new CEO

The board of Hero MotoCrop has appointed Niranjan Gupta as the new CEO with effect from May 1, 2023.

He has been elevated from his current designation of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Head-Strategy and Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A).

He has played an important role in Hero Motocorp’s partnerships with Harley Davidson and Zero Motorcycles.

While Pawan Munjal will continue as Executive Chairman and Whole-Time Director on the company's Board.