Latest Current Affairs For Tuesday 25th April, 2023

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.

India-US launched ‘Operation Broader Sword’

India and the USA, jointly conducted an ‘Operation Broader Sword’ to stop the illegal shipment of drugs through the International Mail System.

It targeted shipments of illicit, potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs, combination medical devices, and synthetic drug precursors shipped through International Mail Facilities.

The operation resulted in the interception of over 500 shipments of illicit and unapproved prescription drugs bound for US consumers.

NLU Delhi launches research affiliate program ‘Eklavya’

The National Law University (NLU), Delhi launched Eklavya, a ‘Research Affiliate’ program, for those who do not have a traditional law degree.

Aim: To emphasize its commitment to actively seek partnerships outside the varsity and draw from their experiences and perspectives to develop quality legal scholarship. 

It is open to those who have at least three years of demonstrable experience working on issues that have a significant interface with the law.

CarTrade Tech to acquire OLX India's auto business for Rs 537 cr

Mumbai-based used cars platform CarTrade Tech Ltd will acquire online marketplace OLX India's auto sales business for Rs 537 crore.

CarTrade will acquire a 100% stake in Sobek Auto India Pvt Ltd, the entity that houses OLX India’s Automotive business, in an all-cash deal.

The acquisition will likely to be completed in 21-30 days.

Sobek is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, of 2013.

It is engaged in the business of running an automotive digital platform.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.