Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 15th April, 2023

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.

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.