Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 8th April, 2023

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

PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023

The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) would confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Reason: This award recognizes PM Modi's supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress

It is presented annually on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary.

Other awardees: Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Cyrus Poonawalla, and Manmohan Singh. 

J&K Bank wins award for Best Performance in CASA

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for the Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event was participated by banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.

The function was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta.

India poised to become world’s 2nd-largest economy by 2075: Goldman Sachs

According to the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075.

As per the report, India would cross Japan, Germany, and the US With a population of 1.4 billion people.

India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP projection.

The labour force participation set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy. 

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.