Latest Current Affairs For Friday 21st April, 2023

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.

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.