Latest Current Affairs For Wednesday 19th April, 2023

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.

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.