NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Union Cabinet clears Silk Board-Airport metro line, to complete in 54 months: The Union Cabinet
cleared Bangalore Metro Rail’s ambitious Silk Board to international airport
line project, which is estimated to cost about Rs 14,788 crore. The Bangalore
Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) is implementing the project in two phases. While
phase 2A covers Central Silk Board Junction to K.R. Puram, the phase 2B runs
from K.R. Puram to Airport via Hebbal Junction. The two phases cover a length
of 58.19 km. Once completed in the estimated 54 months, this project will play
a key role in decongesting the city which contributes 40% to India’s IT exports
& is home to a large number of IT parks, hubs and industries.
2.
Centre extends insurance scheme for health workers under Pradhan
MantriGaribKalyan Package for one year: Central government has extended the
insurance scheme under the Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Package for health workers
for a period of one year. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harshvardhan
said that Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Package has provided a safety net to the
dependents of corona warriors who lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic
3.
ISRO to support eight joint research projects of IIT-D: Indian Institute
of Technology, Delhi said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
has announced that it will support eight joint research projects mooted by the
Space Technology Cell (STC), IIT-Delhi. The ISRO will support the projects
under its RESPOND programme with varying duration of 1-3 years, it added. Some
of the projects include developing a system for drought and flood forecasting
and understanding land-atmosphere interactions, a project that aims to
understand the plasma dynamics in electrode-less thrusters, which are used for
electric propulsion and have a longer lifespan than their electrode-based
counterparts, an indigenous sensor based real time flood warning smart system
and other projects.
4.
AakashRanison launches his E-Book “Climate Change Explained – For One And All”: The climate
activist-author, AakashRanison has come out with a new e-book titled “Climate
Change Explained – for one and all”, on the occasion of Earth Day. Through the
e-book, the author explains the impact of climate change and aims to motivate
readers to reduce its outcome with the help of simple sustainable solutions.
The book is a mix of facts, data, and information about climate change, having
topics like “Greenhouse effect, global warming, Carbon footprint” and their
effects on earth in the near future.
5.
National Panchayati Raj Day: 24th April: Nation celebrates National Panchayati Raj
Day on 24 April every year. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organizes the
National Panchayati Raj day or the National Local Self Government Day. India
celebrates the first National Panchayati Raj Day or the National Local
Government Day on April 2010.
History of Panchayat Raj: 24th April 1993
marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of power to the
grassroots, with the institutionalization of Panchayati Raj, through the
Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 which came into force with effect from
that day. Rajasthan was the first state that carried the Panchayati Raj System
in 1959 during the times of late Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1. PM
Modi Participates in Leaders’ Summit on Climate: Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi participated in the “Leaders’ Summit on Climate”, hosted by
the President of the U.S.A. Joe Biden. The two-day conference has been
organised virtually on 22-23 April 2021, which coincides with the fifth
anniversary of the opening of the Paris Agreement on climate change for
signature.
About the summit: The theme of the
summit: Our Collective Sprint to 2030. A total of 40 national leaders have been
invited by Biden to attend this two-day virtual climate summit. The Summit is
being held in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference
(COP26) that will take place in November 2021 in Glasglow.
2.
Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 held: The opening
ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 was held in Boao,
south China’s Hainan Province. The theme of the conference – “A World in
Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road
Cooperation”. The forum, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has not only
played a unique role in pooling consensus and putting forward valuable “Boao
proposals,” but also engaged countries in addressing global issues and
promoting world development and prosperity.
3.
World Veterinary Day 2021: 24th April: The World Veterinary Day is observed on
the Fourth Saturday of April every year. In 2021, the day falls on April 24,
2021. The theme of the 2021 World Veterinary Day is ‘Veterinarian response to
the COVID-19 crisis.’ The day was created by the World Veterinary Association
(WVA) in 2000 to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of
animals and society.
4.
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace: 24th April: The International
Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace observed globally on 24 April.
‘International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace’ was first
observed by the United Nations (UN) on April 24, 2019. The day aims to spread
knowledge about the advantages of multilateralism and diplomacy for peace,
including through educational and public awareness-raising activities. The
Assembly proclaimed the day while considering that preserving the values of
multilateralism and international cooperation is fundamental to promote and
support the three pillars of the UN – Peace and Security, Development and Human
Rights.
5.
World Day for Laboratory Animals: 24th April: The World Day For Animals In
Laboratories (WDAIL); also known as World Lab Animal Day or World Day for
Laboratory Animals, is observed every year on 24 April. The day was instituted
in 1979 by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), as an “international
day of commemoration” for animals in laboratories. WDAIL aims to end the
suffering of animals in laboratories around the world and promote their
replacement with advanced scientific non-animal techniques. Apart from this,
the “World Week for Animals In Laboratories” (Lab Animal Week) is celebrated
from April 20 to 26.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
India Claims Historic Win with 11 Medals at 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing
Championships: The
2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships was held in Kielce, Poland, from 13
to 23 April 2021. A 10-day biennial event witnessed 414 boxers from 52
countries. From India, eight boxers competed in the finals, including 7 female
players and one male. Eight out of the eight boxers created history by claiming
top spot in their respective category. With this, India ended the tournament
with 11 medals (8 gold & 3 bronze) to finish top in the medal table.
List of Winners:
Gold Medal Winners:
(1) Gitika – 48kg Light flyweight
(2) NaoremBabyrojisanaChanu – 51kg
Flyweight
(3) Poonam Pinia – 57kg Featherweight
(4) Vinka – 60kg Lightweight
(5) Arundhati Choudhary – 69kg Welterweight
(6) ThokchomSanamachaChanu – 75kg
Middleweight
(7) AlfiyaPathan – +81kg Heavyweight
(8) Sachin – 56kg Bantamweight
Bronze Medal Winners:
(1) BishwamitraChongtham – 49kg
(2) Ankit Narwal – 64kg
(3) Vishal Gupta – 91kg
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI
allows commercial banks to pay up to 50% of pre-Covid dividends: The Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) has allowed commercial banks to pay dividends on equity shares
for FY21, from the profits for the fiscal ended March 31, 2021, subject to
certain conditions and limits. The new notification of RBI allows commercial
banks to pay dividends not more than 50 per cent of the amount determined as
per the dividend payout ratio prescribed. This means that banks may pay
dividends up to 50% of what they paid before the Covid scenario.
Earlier, RBI had asked all banks not to
make any dividend payment on equity shares for FY20 from the profits due to the
ongoing stress and heightened uncertainty on account of Covid-19. For
co-operative banks, all the restrictions on dividends have been removed and
they have been permitted to pay the dividend on equity shares from the profits
of the financial year ended March 31, 2021. However, RBI has also instructed
all banks to continue to meet the applicable minimum regulatory capital requirements
after dividend payment.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Fitch Ratings Affirms India’s Sovereign Rating at ‘BBB-‘: Rating agency
Fitch Ratings has kept the sovereign rating of India unchanged at ‘BBB-‘ with a
negative outlook. Earlier, Fitch had estimated GDP contraction of 7.5 per cent
in 2020-21 and growth of 12.8 per cent in the fiscal year FY22, followed by 5.8
per cent in FY23.
2.
Ind-Ra Projects India’s GDP Growth Rate at 10.1% in FY22: India Ratings and
Research (Ind-Ra) has revised downwards the GDP growth forecast of India in
FY22 (2021-22) to 10.1 per cent. Earlier Ind-Ra estimated this at 10.4 per
cent. The downward revision is due to the second wave of COVID-19 infections
and the slower pace of vaccination. For FY21 (2020-21), the economy is
estimated to have contracted by 7.6 per cent. Ind-Ra is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Fitch Group.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Rumana Sinha Sehgal won the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021:Rumana Sinha
Sehgal, Software engineer turned entrepreneur from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh,
won the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021 by the Diplomatic Mission
Global Peace. She was virtually awarded for her contribution to the field of
developing innovative and functional green products by recycling varied
materials and non-biodegradable materials. Other Awards:
-Nationwide Award -under 50- Business
Leader 2021 of Social entrepreneurship.
-International Influencer of the year 2021’
at the Influencer Summit in January 2021.
-ReXKarmaveer Chakra (silver) and Global
Fellowship award 2019 for her work in the zone of women and child empowerment.
-She was crowned as the ‘Mrs Universe
Successful 2018’.
OBITUARIES
1.
Padma awardee winning Indian Islamic Scholar MaulanaWahiduddin passes away: Noted Indian
Islamic scholar, spiritual leader and author MaulanaWahiduddin Khan has passed
away due to Covid-19 complications. He has written over 200 books on several
aspects of Islam and is best known for having written a commentary on the Quran
and its translation in English, Hindi and Urdu. He was the recipient of several
notable honours like Padma Vibhushan (2021), Padma Bhushan (2000) and the Rajiv
Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award (2009).
2. Music Composer Shravan Rathod of “Nadeem-Shravan” Fame Passes Away: Veteran music composer Shravan Rathod of Nadeem-Shravan fame has passed away due to coronavirus complications. The iconic composer duo Nadeem-Shravan (Nadeem Saifi and Shravan Rathod), were among the most sought-after composers of the 90s. Together they composed some of the iconic hits for movies such as Aashiqui (1990), Saajan (1991), Hum Hain RahiPyarKe (1993), Pardes (1997) and Raja Hindustani (1996), among others. The Nadeem-Shravan duo parted ways in the 2000s, however, they again reunited to compose for David Dhawan-directed Do Knot Disturb in 2009.
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