NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Narendra Singh Tomar launches Madhukranti portal: The Union Minister
of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar launched a portal
‘Madhukranti’ and Honey Corners on April 07, 2021, with the aim to bring an
increase in income of farmers, employment generation and increase in exports.
Madhukranti portal is an initiative of the National Bee Board (NBB). The portal
is being developed for online registration to achieve traceability source of
Honey and other beehive products on a digital platform. The portal will also
check the source of adulteration and contamination in honey. It will have an
end-to-end record to track the source of honey. Honey Corner is a specially
designed space in National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of
India Ltd (NAFED) stores dedicated to the sale of honey.
2.
India contributes USD 500,000 to UN Trust Fund for counter-terrorism: India has
contributed an additional $500,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for
Counter-Terrorism, taking the country’s donation to the UN office set up to
combat terrorism to over $1 million. With this amount, India’s total
contribution to it so far is $1.05 million. The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism,
established in 2017, enhances coordination and coherence across the Global
Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced
implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
In line with General Assembly resolution 71/291 that established UNOCT in June
2017, the UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism was transferred to UNOCT.
3.
Labour Ministry forms panels to review standards under OSH&WC Code: The labour ministry
has set up expert committees to review the standards under the Occupational
Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code, 2020. The central
government has constituted expert committees comprising industry and subject
experts from both public and private sector across the country to review the
existing rules and regulations on safety, health and working conditions
standards, pertaining to factories, docks and construction work. Heads are:
(1) The expert committees for Factories and
Dock Works will be chaired by Dr RK Elangovan, director general, DGFASLI,
Mumbai.
(2) The expert committees for the Building
& Other Construction Works will be headed by PLN Murthy, vice president and
head (domestic operations), L&T Hydrocarbon, Chennai
(3) The Fire Safety committee under the chairmanship
of DK Shami, fire advisor to the government of India, MHA.)
4. A
book titled exam warriors updated version released by PM Modi: The updated
version of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s book named ‘Exam Warriors’ was
launched. The book gives out various suggestions to both students and parents
to deal with the examination pressure and stress. The book raise the awareness
on topics like mental health, the role of technology and time management. The
book has new Mantras and a range of interesting activities. The book reaffirms
the need to remain stress-free before an exam.
About the book: Exam Warriors,
first published in 2018. It was written by PM Modi to help young students deal
with the stress of exams. Published in 15 languages, its Braille version was
launched on World Braille Day (January 4) in 2020.
5. PM
Modi to release Hindi version of ‘Odisha Itihaas’ by DrHarekrushnaMahtab: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi will release the Hindi translation of the book ‘Odisha Itihaas’,
written by UtkalKeshariHarekrushnaMahtab, on 9th April at the Ambedkar
International Center. The event marking the release of the Hindi version has
been organised by the HarekrushnaMahtab Foundation.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1.
India-Japan signed MoU for Academic and Research Cooperation: The Union Cabinet
recently apprised an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed between India and
Japan. The MoU was signed between the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory
(NARL) that operates under the Department of Space, GoI and the Research
Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere called the RISH that operates under the
Kyoto University of Japan.
The main objectives of the MoU are
as follows:
(1) According to the MoU signed, the NARL
and RISH will continue their cooperation in the areas of technology,
atmospheric sciences, collaborative scientific experiments and other related
modelling studies.
(2) They will exchange scientific
materials, information, publications, students, faculty members and
researchers.
(3) The MoU will allow the countries to
utilize the facilities such as Middle and Upper atmosphere radar in Japan,
Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere radar, Equatorial Atmosphere Radar in
Indonesia.
Note: Japan Capital: Tokyo; Japan Currency:
Japanese yen; Japan Prime minister: YoshihideSuga.
2.
Nirmala Sitharaman attends 2nd Virtual G20 Finance Ministers: Union Minister
for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman has participated
virtually in the Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
(FMCBG) meeting. This meeting held under the Italian Presidency to discuss
policy responses to global challenges to restore strong, sustainable, balanced
and inclusive growth. About the meeting:
(1) The G20 Finance Ministers and Central
Bank Governors discussed Updates of the G20 Action Plan in response to
COVID-19.
(2) They also discussed supporting the
financing needs of the most vulnerable economies, the progress on the
international taxation agenda, promoting greener transitions and the pandemic
related financial regulation issues.
(3) Smt. Sitharaman urged all G20 members
to ensure equitable access and widespread distribution of vaccines.
(4) Smt. Sitharaman reflected on the global
growth projections and underlined the need for continued coordination amidst
the persistence of uncertainties associated with the virus.
(5) The Finance Minister said that the G20
Action Plan has served as a good guidance tool and shaping recovery is the
mainstay of its current update.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
The Great Khali formally inducted in WWE Hall of Fame 2021: The Great Khali
has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2021. The Great Khali went
on to battle many of WWE’s most legendary Superstars, including John Cena,
Batista, Shawn Michaels and fellow 2021 Inductee Kane, whom he defeated to pick
up his first win on The Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania. Standing
7-foot-1 and tipping the scales at 347 pounds, Khali made his titanic presence
felt from the moment he first entered the WWE Universe in 2006, standing
toe-to-toe with the legendary Undertaker and bulldozing over The Deadman, a
rare sight between the ropes. The official name of “The Great Khali” is Dalip
Singh Rana.
2.
Vivo Ropes in ViratKohli as Brand Ambassador: Chinese smartphone
major Vivo has appointed Indian cricketer ViratKohli as its brand ambassador.
With this association, Vivo aims to reach the millennials and technologically
driven consumers. Apart from this, associating with a sports figure will help
the company reach a wider audience, ahead of the IPL 2021.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
RBI raise G-SAP for orderly G-Sec market: The Reserve Bank of India has
announced to conduct the open market purchase of government securities of Rs 1
lakh crore under the G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 1.0) in the first
quarter of 2021-22. The objective of this is to have a stable and orderly
evolution of the yield curve. Under this scheme the first purchase of
government securities for an aggregate amount of Rs. 25,000 crore under G-SAP
1.0 will be conducted on April 15, 2021.
About G SAP: The GreenSock
Animation Platform (GSAP) is a popular set of JavaScript tools for building
animations on the web. Anything you see in your web browser can be animated
with GSAP. You simply write short snippets of JavaScript code that define how
elements should animate and what the timing should be.
2.
RBI decides to open up RTGS, NEFT facilities for payment system operators: In a major move
in the online payments segments, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to
allow payment system operators to take direct membership of Centralised Payment
Systems (CPS), such as RTGS and NEFT. Membership in Centralised Payment Systems
(CPS) RTGS and NEFT for entities other than banks are so far limited to banks,
with a few exceptions, such as specialised entities like clearing corporations
and select development financial institutions.
The RBI noted that over the last few years,
the role of non-bank entities in payment space such as prepaid payment
instrument (PPI) issuers, card networks, white label ATM (WLA) operators, Trade
Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platforms, has grown in importance and
volume, as they have innovated by leveraging technology and offering customised
solutions to users.
3.
Govt Appoints S Ramann as SIDBI CMD: The government has appointed S Ramann as
Chairman and Managing Director of Small Industries Development Bank of India
(SIDBI). Ramann, a 1991-batch Indian Audit & Accounts Service officer, is
currently the CEO of National E-Governance Services Ltd, India’s first
Information Utility. The appointment is for a period of three years from the
date of his assuming the charge or until further orders. Banks Board Bureau,
the headhunter for state-owned banks and financial institutions, had
recommended his name for the post.
Note: SIDBI set up on 2nd April 1990; SIDBI
Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Mastercard to invest about Rs 733 cr in Airtel Africa’s mobile money business: Airtel Africa
announced that Mastercard would invest USD 100 million (about ₹733 crore) in
its wholly-owned subsidiary Airtel Mobile Commerce BV (AMC BV). Mastercard
would hold a minority stake in AMC BV on completion of the deal, with Airtel
Africa continuing to hold the majority stake. AMC BV is currently the holding
company for several of Airtel Africa’s mobile money operations and is intended
to own and operate the mobile money businesses across all of Airtel Africa’s 14
operating countries.
2.
Govt Extends Current Foreign Trade Policy Till September Due to Covid-19: The government
extended the existing foreign trade policy (FTP) for six more months up to
September 30 this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. FTP provides guidelines
for enhancing exports to push economic growth and create jobs. The commerce
ministry said that in view of the unprecedented situation arising out of the
pandemic, which is persisting, the government has decided to continue benefits
under various export promotion schemes by extending the existing policy.
3.
Power Finance Corporation pays interim dividend of Rs 1,182 crore to government
for ’20-’21: Power
Finance Corporation, a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry
of Power and India’s leading NBFC for the Power Sector has paid an interim
dividend of Rs 1182.63 crore to Government of India for the financial year
2020-21 on March 31st, 2021 on 1,47,82,91,778 number of equity shares (56%)
held by the government. The interim dividend for FY2020-21at the rate of Rs 8/-
per equity share of face value of Rs 10 each was declared by the Board of
Directors of PFC in its meeting held on 12th March 2021.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
DevishankarAwasthi Award 2020 awarded to Ashutosh Bhardwaj: The famous
DevishankarAwasthi Award has been awarded to the prolific Hindi prose,
journalist, and critic Ashutosh Bhardwaj. This honour has been given to him for
his work ‘Pitra-Vadh’. He was elected by the selection committee of Ashok Vajpayee,
Nandkishore Acharya, and Rajendra Kumar. Ashutosh Bhardwaj has been a native
English journalist and his experiences of Bastar have been well discussed in
both Hindi and English. This book has been published in English under the name
of ‘The Death Trap’. Apart from this, his work on important topics like
modernism and nationalism has been well-known in Indian novels. He has also
been a fellow of the Shimla Institute of Advanced Studies and is writing
independently.
OBITUARIES
1. Renowned journalist, Padma awardee Fatima RafiqZakaria passes away: Fatima RafiqZakaria, a Padma Shri awardee, renowned journalist, academician and chairman of Maulana Azad Educational Trust and Khairul Islam Trust Mumbai, passed away. She was awarded the Padma Shri in recognition of her work in education in 2006. MsZakaria, who had played an eminent role in the field of education, was also honoured with the Sarojini Naidu Integration Award for Journalism in 1983.
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