NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Village Palli: India’s 1st carbon-neutral panchayat in J&K: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi dedicated a 500 KV solar plant to the nation in the unassuming
hamlet of Palli in Jammu and Kashmir’s border region of Samba making it the
country’s first ‘carbon neutral panchayat.’
Officials added that under the national
government’s ‘Gram Urja Swaraj’ programme, 1,500 solar panels with a total area
of 6,408 square metres will provide clean electricity to 340 homes in the model
panchayat. As India’s first carbon-neutral solar village, the village has made
history. Officials said the project was finished in record time for a cost of
2.75 crore. The electricity generated will be distributed to the village
through the local power grid station, which has a daily need of 2,000 units.
2.
Karnataka govt launched Social Awareness Campaign “SAANS”: Health and Medical
Education Minister of Karnataka, Keshava Reddy Sudhakar has launched the ‘Social
Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully’ (SAANS) Campaign.
SAANS is a campaign that has been launched to ensure early detection and
greater awareness of pneumonia in children under the age of five. As per SRS
2018, Karnataka’s under-five mortality is at 28 per 1000 live births.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that is
caused due to viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. By 2025, the state’s goal
is to reduce the under-five mortality to 23 per 1,000 live. Also, to achieve
the National Health Policy goals, pneumonia mortality has to be reduced to less
than 3 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Note: Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru;
Karnataka Chief Minister: Basavaraj S Bommai; Karnataka Governor: Thawar Chand
Gehlot.
3.
Tamil Nadu govt to observe Minorities Rights Day every year on 18 December: Tamil Nadu
government has announced that December 18, every year will be observed as
Minorities Rights Day at the state level. The government, being the saviour of
minorities, is striving tirelessly to promote the upliftment and economic
advancement of the minorities through effective implementation of various
development schemes and welfare measures. This day is being observed at the
district level of Tamil Nadu under the concerned collectors. Henceforth, it
will also be observed at the state level. Overview:
a)
Education aid to minority girl students: The minority girl
students in rural areas to pursue their studies would provide education aid of
Rs 500 to the students of Classes 3 to 5 and Rs 1,000 to the wards of Class 6.
b)
Establishment of e-libraries: In the state,
e-libraries will also be established in 275 department-run college hostels at a
cost of Rs 2.20 crore. This will be benefiting a large number of students who
resides in these hostels.
c)
Medical assistance to hostellers: An amount of Rs
1000 towards medical assistance for the hostellers is being provided for three
medical check-ups in a year and it will be increased to Rs 3,000.
d)
Setting-up of ready-made garment units: In an initiative
that has been aimed to improve the economic conditions of the Most Backward
Classes, Backward Classes, and Denotified Tribes, the government of the state
will be forming 25 groups comprising 10 members (women and men) each and they
will be encouraged set up ready-made garment units. For this purpose, they will
be provided with an assistance of Rs 75 lakh.
Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister: K. Stalin; Tamil Nadu Governor: N. Ravi.
4. N
Chandrasekaran takes charge as Tata Digital Chairman: Tata Sons
executive chairman N Chandrasekaran has formally taken charge as chairman of
Tata Digital. At present, Tata’s digital strategy is being spearheaded by its
CEO Pratik Pal along with Mukesh Bansal, founder of Cultfit. Chandrasekaran’s
formal appointment is of significance considering its future plans of raising
funds from external investors. For Chandrasekaran, who was reappointed as the
chairman of Tata Sons for another five years in February, Tata Digital has been
his brainchild since he took charge as Tata Sons chairman. He has been closely
involved in its growth plans from the beginning as the Mumbai-based
conglomerate eyes to make a dent in the Indian eCommerce universe.
5. first Amrit Sarovar established in UP’s
Rampur:
India’s first ‘Amrit Sarovar’ has been completed at Rampur’s Gram Panchayat
Patwai, thanks to the efforts of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government in
Uttar Pradesh. As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 75 water bodies will be
developed and regenerated as part of the Amrit Sarovar initiative.
In just a few weeks, a pond in Rampur was
cleaned and revived. This pond has now become a major tourist attraction in the
rural area. Work on the pond in Gram Panchayat Singan Kheda with the largest
area (1.67 hectare) has also begun. In the next three months, this
garbage-strewn pond will be transformed into ‘Amrit Sarovar’, a rural tourism
destination.
6.
India made Guinness Record for synchronic Waving of More than 78,000 National
Flags: According
to the Ministry of Culture, India entered the Guinness Book of World Records by
simultaneously waving 78,220 flags at the ‘Veer Kunwar Singh Vijayotsav’
programme in Bhojpur, Bihar. India made history and entered the Guinness Book
of World Records by simultaneously waving the largest number of national flags.
Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, was present at the historic event. The
Guinness World Records certificate says, “The most people waving flags was
accomplished by Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Culture, Government of
India (India), to commemorate Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ at Jagdishpur, Bhojpur,
Bihar, India on April 23, 2022.”
Background:
a)
Pakistan
had previously established a world record when 56,000 Pakistanis hoisted their
national flag at an occasion in Lahore roughly 18 years ago.
b)
On
April 23, 1858, Veer Kunwar Singh fought his final fight near Jagdishpur,
defeating the East India Company. After removing the Union Jack flag from
Jagdishpur Fort, Kunwar Singh died in the service of the motherland.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Robert Golob elected as Prime Minister of Slovenia: Robert Golob has
defeated three-time Prime Minister Janez Janša in the Slovenia Prime Minister
election. State election authorities have confirmed that the Freedom Movement
won nearly 34% of the votes as compared to around 24% for the governing
conservative Slovenian Democratic Party. The New Slovenia party with 7%, followed
by the Social Democrats with more than 6%, and the Left party with just 4%. The
55-year-old former power company manager has promised to restore “normality”,
having billed the elections as a “referendum on democracy”.
Note: Slovenia Capital: Ljubljana; Slovenia
Currency: Euro; Slovenia President: Borut Pahor.
2.
World Stationery Day: 27th April: World Stationery day is celebrated every
year on the last Wednesday of April. This year World Stationery Day 2022 is
observed on the 27th of April. The day is celebrated to mark the importance of
stationery and writing on paper than using computers. It is celebrated around
the world by enthusiasts to protect and encourage the use of Stationery.
History of World Stationery Day: World Stationery
Day is celebrated every year since 2012 to honour the 800th anniversary of the
creation of the Magna Carta which is one of the most important written
documents in British history. It stands as an excellent example to show the
longevity of handwritten documents. Magna Carta was created in 1215. This day
was designed to encourage the art of writing all around the world. Writing is a
fundamental aspect of communication that deserves to maintain an active
presence in people’s lives around the world. Celebrating World Stationery Day
will preserve a special artform while helping participants grow closer with
loved ones.
3.
World Immunization Week: 24th to 30th April: World Immunization Week is
celebrated worldwide in the last week of April, to highlight the collective
action required and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all age
groups against disease. This year, WHO is going to celebrate World Immunization
Week from April 24 to April 30. To commemorate the day, WHO has decided the
theme of this year’s Immunization Week as “Long Life for All”.
History of the day: In May 2012, the
World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, endorsed World
Immunization Week. The world’s first “World Immunization Week” was observed in
2012, which witnessed the simultaneous participation of more than 180 countries
and territories worldwide.
Note: World Health Organization
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization Founded: 7 April
1948; World Health Organization Director-General: Tedros Adhanom.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Asian Wrestling Championships 2022: India finished with 17 medals: The 30-member
Indian contingent participated at the 35th Edition of Asian Wrestling
Championships 2022 held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Indian wrestlers secured a
total of 17 medals, that includes (1-Gold, 5-Silver, and 11-Bronze medals).
Gold Medalist: Ravi Kumar Dahiyais the only Gold medalist representing India,
in the men’s 57kg freestyle category, beating Kazakhstan’s Rakhat Kalzhan on
technical superiority.
Ravi Kumar became the first Indian to win 3
Gold medals in Asian Wrestling Championships which includes 2020 in New Delhi,
India, 2021 in Almaty, Kazakhstan and 2022 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
respectively.
2022 Asian Wrestling Championships
Medals Table:
|
Rank |
Country |
Total |
|
1 |
Japan |
21 |
|
2 |
Iran |
15 |
|
3 |
Kazakhstan |
21 |
|
5 |
India |
17 |
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Airtel Payments Bank tie-up with IndusInd Bank to offer FD Facility: Airtel Payments
Bank has partnered with IndusInd Bank to offer fixed deposit (FD) facilities to
its customers. A customer can open FD of Rs 500 up to Rs 190,000 on the Airtel
Thanks app. With this partnership, customers of Airtel Payments Bank savings
account will get an interest rate of up to 6.5 %p.a. and senior citizens will
get an additional 0.5% on all fixed deposits.
Customers of the Airtel Payments Bank will
be able to book several FDs for a fixed term of one, two, or three years.
Customers can dissolve an FD before its maturity date via the Airtel Thanks app
without incurring any penalties or processing fees for early withdrawals.
Within minutes, the invested amount will be paid back to the associated
account.
Note: IndusInd Bank Founded: 1994; IndusInd
Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; IndusInd Bank MD & CEO: Sumant
Kathpalia; IndusInd Bank Tagline: We Make You Feel Richer.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Prasar Bharati signed MoU with Public Broadcaster of Argentina: Prasar Bharati has
signed an MoU with the Public Broadcaster of Argentina Radio Television
Argentina (RTA) for collaboration in the field of broadcasting. The MoU
encompasses a range of fronts in Media and Broadcasting that is set to
exemplify the communication and transmission networking of both nations. India
and Argentina share cordial relations and developmental partnerships in the
areas of political, economic, scientific and technological cooperation. The
Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, Shashi Shekhar Vempati and the
president of RTA, Rosario Lufrano, signed the agreement in the presence of the
Indian Ambassador to Argentina Dinesh Bhatia.
About this MoU:
a)
The
MoU will allow expanding cooperation between both media systems, with the
exchange of programs, formats and cultural initiatives and share knowledge and
experiences in the fields of culture, education, science, entertainment, sports
and news.
b)
It
also opens the doors for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as
audiovisual platforms, documentaries, animation, comedies, series,
installations and incentives for TV production, among others. It also has the
possibility of developing personnel exchange for training.
Note: Prasar Bharati CEO: Shashi Shekhar
Vempati (2017–); Prasar Bharati Founded: 23 November 1997, New Delhi; Prasar
Bharati Headquarters: New Delhi; Prasar Bharati Subsidiary: Doordarshan.
2.
Aditya Birla Capital named Vishakha Mulye as next CEO: Vishakha Mulye has
been appointed as the next Chief Executive Officer of Aditya Birla Capital. The
company said in its stock filing that the board of directors approved the
appointment based on the recommendations of the Nomination, Remuneration and
Compensation Committee. She replaces Ajay Srinivasan, who is taking up other
responsibilities within the group, as per the exchange filing.
Mulye, currently the Executive Director of
ICICI Bank, will join Aditya Birla Capital on June 1, 2022, and will operate as
the CEO with Srinivasan for a month to ensure a smooth transition of
leadership. She will take charge of her role as the CEO of Aditya Birla Capital
Limited post this period
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Sir David Attenborough earns UN ‘Champion of the Earth Lifetime Achievement
award’: United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has named Sir David Attenborough, English
natural history broadcaster and naturalist, as the recipient of the Champions
of the Earth Award 2021 under the Lifetime Achievement category. This award is
given to him for his dedication to research, documentation, and advocacy for
the protection of nature and its restoration.
Sir David Attenborough is well known for
his innovative educational television programs, especially the nine-part Life
series forming the Life collection. His well-known documentaries include The
Green Planet and A Plastic Ocean. He was knighted twice by Queen Elizabeth II
in 1985 and again in 2020. He has won 3 Emmy Awards and 8 British Academy of
Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards.
Other Winners of 2021 Champions of
the Earth Awards:
|
Category |
Winners |
Country |
|
Policy Leadership |
Mia Mottley |
Barbados |
|
Inspiration And Action |
Sea Women of Melanesia |
Papua New Guinea and
the Solomon Islands |
|
Science And Innovation |
Dr Gladys
Kalema-Zikusoka |
Uganda |
|
Enterpreneurial Vision |
Maria Kolesnikova |
Kyrgyz Republic |
Note: United Nations Environment Programme
Founded: 1972; United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters: Nairobi,
Kenya; United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director: Inger Andersen
(Denmark).
2.
Commonwealth Points of Light Award won by Kishore Kumar Das: The founder of the
educational charity ‘Bidyanando’ Kishore Kumar Das from Bangladesh has been
chosen for the United Kingdom’s Commonwealth Points of Light Award for his
exceptional work in improving access to education for children from
marginalised backgrounds. UK’s Commonwealth Point of Light Awards recognises
outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community.
About Kishore Kumar Das:
a)
Kishore
Das set up Bidyanando in 2013 with just 22 students. It now runs five primary
schools which provide free education as well as academic coaching sessions and
scholarship programmes to help children continue into higher education.
b)
Kishore
has also started a meal programme, ‘Ek takay aahar’ (Meal for one Taka), which
has provided more than 10,000 nutritious meals for vulnerable people,
particularly children and those who are homeless.
c) During the Corona pandemic, Bidyanondo ramped up its effort to distribute relief across the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment