Latest Current Affairs For Saturday 29th April, 2023

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023: 28th April

World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed every year on April 28 to promote safe and decent work environments across the globe. 

2023 theme: A safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work. 

It coincides with the anniversary of the 1971 adoption of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention by the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

It was first observed in 2003 after the ILO declared it an annual international campaign.

MoHUA launches the ‘City Beauty Competition’

The MoHUA has launched ‘City Beauty Competition’ portal (https://citybeautycompetition.in).

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the country can participate in this competition through an online process.

Objective: To encourage and recognize the transformational efforts made by cities and wards across the country to create beautiful, innovative and inclusive public spaces. 

Five broad pillars: (i) accessibility (ii) amenities (iii) activities (iv) aesthetics and (v) ecology. 

Summit on Farm Machinery Technology inaugurated

Union Minister of Agriculture, Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated the Summit on Farm Machinery Technology in New Delhi.

Organized by: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tractor and Mechanisation Association in New Delhi

During the event, the minister informed that, about 85% of small farmers in the country, who should get the benefit of technology and machinery.  

It was attended by stakeholders including Original Equipment Manufacturers and design firms.

Dima Hasao insurgent group signs peace pact with Assam, Centre

A tribal insurgent group, Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) signed the tripartite agreement with the Centre and the state government of Assam to avoid the violence and join the mainstream.

According to the MoU, the DNLA will lay down its arms and abide by the Constitution.

It was decided to set up a Dimasa Welfare Council and grant a special financial package of Rs. 1,000 crores (Rs. 500 crores each by the Centre and Assam government).

India’s first cable-stayed bridge Anji Khad will be ready in May 2023

India’s first cable-stayed bridge, the Anji Khad bridge will be completed by May 2023.

It connects Katra and Reasi via tunnels T2 and T3 on the Katra-Banihal section.

Aim: To connect J&K to the rest of the country with all-weather rail connectivity. 

The cables weigh 848.7 MT and the total length of cable strands involved is 653km.

The asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge crosses the deep gorges of Anji river, a tributary of river Chenab.

Total length of the bridge: 725m

India, UK to jointly create India-UK 'NET Zero' Innovation Virtual Centre

India and the United Kingdom have agreed to create India-UK NET zero innovation virtual centre.

Aim: To provide a platform for stakeholders of both countries to work together in areas like the decarbonization of manufacturing processes, transport systems, and green hydrogen as a renewable source. 

Both countries will also join to launch the first-ever UK-India scientific 'deep sea voyage' and 'space parks' partnership.

Minister Narayan Rane launches the revamped CGTMSE Scheme

Union Minister for MSME, Narayan Rane has launched the revamped Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) Scheme.

Modifications:

Reduction in guarantee fees for loans upto ₹1 crore by 50% bringing the minimum guarantee fee to the level of 0.37% pa only.

Raising of ceiling for guarantee from ₹2 crore to ₹ 5 crore. 

Enhanced the threshold limit for claim settlement without initiation of legal action to ₹10 lakh.

Russian poet Maria Stepanova wins Leipzig Book Prize 2023

A Russian poet, Maria Stepanova has been awarded the prestigious Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in 2023.

She was honored in Leipzig for her volume of poetry "Mädchen ohne Kleider" (Girls Without Clothes).

It is described as a sensitive and highly poetic study of often hidden violence against the female body and the power imbalance that drives this oppression.

About Leipzig Book Award:

Literary prizes in Germany

Prize money: 20,000 euros

India, UK joint military exercise ‘Ajeya Warrior 2023’ commenced in the UK

The seventh edition of a joint military exercise between India and the UK, 'Ajeya Warrior 2023' has been started in the Salisbury Plains, UK.

The biennial training event started on 27 April and continues till May 11.

The Indian Army has participated with indigenous weapons and equipment.

Scope of exercise: It involves a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at the battalion level and company level field training exercise (FTX). 

Last edition (October 2021): Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. 

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.