NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. YS
Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister inaugurates 13 districts in Andhra
Pradesh: YS
Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, inaugurated 13 new
districts in the state via video conference in Tadepalli, Guntur district. The
new districts were created using Parliamentary constituencies as a guide. With
the addition of 13 new districts, Andhra Pradesh now has a total of 26
districts. The following is a list of the new districts and their
headquarters:
1)
Alluri
Sitharama Raju District – Paderu;
2)
Annamayya
District – Rayachoty;
3)
Anakapalli
– Anakapalli;
4)
Bapatla
– Bapatla;
5)
Eluru
– Eluru;
6)
Kakinada
– Kakinada;
7)
Kona
Seema – Amalapuram;
8)
Manyam
District – Parvathipuram;
9)
Nandyal
– Nandyal;
10) NTR District –
Vijayawada;
11) Palnadu –
Narsaraopeta;
12) Sri Balaji District
– Tirupati;
13) Sri Satyasai
District – Puttaparthy
As part of the 26 districts of Andhra Pradesh,
there will now be 23 revenue divisions. The CM added that people have accepted
and liked the decentralised system of government because the initiatives are
given straight to their doorstep, and that the same is now being extended to
the districts. The CM further mentioned that previously, one district served 38
lakh 15 thousand people, but today, with the establishment of 26 districts,
each district will serve 19 lakh 7 thousand people.
2.
GoI appoints Vinay Mohan Kwatra as new foreign secretary: The Government of
India has appointed IFS Vinay Mohan Kwatra as the new Foreign Secretary of
India. He is currently serving as India’s envoy to Nepal, from March 2020. He
will replace the current foreign secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who will
superannuate on April 30, 2022. Kwatra is a 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service
(IFS) officer, having more than 32 years of experience in Foreign Service. He
has also worked in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office (PMO) from 2015 to
2017, as well as India’s ambassador to France from August 2017 to February
2020.
3. In
Leh villages of Gya – Sasoma, a community museum is established: In Ladakh, a
community museum opened in the Gya – Sasoma villages of the Leh district to
preserve and promote the region’s rich cultural history. Tashi Gyaltson,
Chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh,
inaugurated the Community Museum. Traditional utilitarian items, fabrics,
clothing, and artefacts from Gya-everyday Sasoma’s life are the main
attractions of the Museum. The museum is housed in a traditional house with a
variety of architectural spaces and features. Key Points:
a)
Ladakh
culture is predominantly found in its settlements, which are among the world’s
highest inhabited. The rich culture is still alive and well in its close-knit
communities.
b)
Gya
– Sasoma villagers in Leh have donated a range of artefacts and collections to
construct the Community Museum in a typical Ladakhi house, making it the first
of its sort in India.
c)
Gya
is thought to be Upper Ladakh’s earliest village and oldest settlement. Along
with the Gya-Sasoma villagers, the women’s groups in the villages, the
Department of Museology at the National Museum Institute in New Delhi, and the
Leh Area Housing Development Corporation (LAHDC) all contributed to the
creation of the Community Museum.
4.
Ministry of Ayush’s Yoga Mahotsav begins at the Red Fort in Delhi: On World Health Day
and the 75th day of the countdown to International Day of Yoga, the Ministry of
Ayush is hosting a magnificent programme for the presentation of the Common
Yoga Protocol in the backdrop of 15th August Park, Lal Quila, (Red Fort) Delhi.
The program’s Chief Guest is slated to be Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla.
Several Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, Ambassadors of several nations
stationed in Delhi, famous Sports Celebrities, and Yoga Gurus are expected to
attend the event. Key Points:
a)
The
Ministry, in collaboration with its numerous stakeholders, has devised a
100-day countdown programme for the 8th International Day of Yoga, in which 100
organisations promote yoga in 100 different locations/cities.
b)
The
Ministry of Ayush is the nodal ministry for the International Day of Yoga’s
commemoration. The primary event of IDY is a Mass Yoga Demonstration, which is
led by Prime Minister Modi every year. The IDY-2022 preparations are well
underway.
c)
It’s
worth noting that the 75-day countdown is an important part of the annual
celebration of International Yoga Day. In the 75 days leading up to IDY-2022,
the Ministry intends to create a Mass Movement for Health and Wellbeing through
Yoga.
d)
Because
the 8th International Day of Yoga falls within the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
year, the Ministry advises commemorating IDY at 75 iconic locations around the
country. This countdown effort is already underway, and IDY-2022 observation is
gathering traction.
5. A
new book titled “Decoding Indian Babudom” authored by Ashwini Shrivastava: A new book titled
‘’Decoding Indian Babudom’’ authored by Ashwini Shrivastava and published by
Vitasta Publishing Private Limited launched. This is a first-of-its-kind book
by a journalist covering the bureaucratic system of India. It highlights
India’s administrative system and functioning of governance from a common man’s
point of view. The author recommended “15 Sutras” to achieve good and effective
governance that can bring in investment by boosting businessmen’s confidence in
the administration.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Viktor Orban wins Fourth Term as Prime Minister of Hungary: Hungarian Prime
Minister, Viktor Orban won a fourth successive term in office by a landslide
victory in the country’s general elections for 2022. His right-wing Fidesz
party secured 53.1% of the total 98% of the count complete. The 58-year-old is
already the longest-serving head of government in the EU, since assuming the
role of Prime Minister in May 2010. The 58-year-old, already the
longest-serving head of government in the EU, was challenged by six united opposition
parties seeking to roll back the “illiberal” revolution Orban’s Fidesz party
has pursued during 12 consecutive years in office.
Note: Hungary Capital: Budapest; Hungary
Currency: Hungarian forint.
2.
President Ram Nath Kovind visits in Amsterdam and names a new yellow tulip
variety ‘Maitri’: President
Ram Nath Kovind landed in Amsterdam for the final leg of his two-nation journey
— his first visit to the Netherlands in 34 years — during which he would hold
talks with the Dutch top leadership names a new yellow tulip variety ‘Maitri‘. Key
Points:
a)
President
Kovind arrived from Turkmenistan, where he met with his Turkmen colleague
Serdar Berdimuhamedov and pledged to expand bilateral economic and energy
cooperation to improve the multifaceted relationship. He is the first Indian
President to visit Turkmenistan since its independence.
b)
President
Ram Nath Kovind will meet with King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima, as well
as Prime Minister Mark Rutte, during his visit to the Netherlands from April 4
to 7.
c)
His
visit is significant since, in 2022, India and the Netherlands will commemorate
75 years of diplomatic relations.
d)
Later,
President Kovind paid a visit to Keukenhof, one of the world’s largest flower
gardens, names a new yellow tulip
variety ‘Maitri‘, and here washe was met
by Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra
e)
A
Strategic Partnership on Water was started in 2021 during the Virtual Summit
between the Prime Ministers of the two countries to increase the level of
engagement between the two sides in this crucial sector.
f)
Agriculture,
health, urban development, science, and technology cooperation are all
important pillars of the bilateral relationship. The Netherlands is also an
important economic and commercial partner of India since it is the country’s
fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment. It is also home to the
continent’s largest Indian diaspora.
3. UN
Human Rights Council names Tuvalu negotiator Dr Ian Fry as climate expert: The United Nations
Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has appointed Dr Ian Fry as the world’s first
independent expert for human rights and climate change. Dr Fry has been
appointed for a period of three years. He holds dual citizenship of Tuvalu and
Australia. He has negotiated on behalf of least developed countries including
at the 2015 Paris climate conference where he helped ensure that human rights
were part of the final package.
The position of Special Rapporteur for
human rights and climate change was created by UNHRC in October 2021. The new
independent expert will have the mandate to “study and identify how the adverse
effects of climate change, including sudden and slow-onset disasters, affect
the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and make recommendations on
how to address and prevent these adverse effects”.
Note: United Nations Human Rights Council
President: Federico Villegas; United Nations Human Rights Council Headquarters:
Geneva, Switzerland; United Nations Human Rights Council Founded: 15 March
2006.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
SBI tie-up with BSF to offer curated benefits through CAPSP Scheme: The State Bank of
India (SBI) has tied up a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Border
Security Force (BSF) to provide solutions for financial security to BSF
personnel through the Central Armed Police Salary Package (CAPSP) Scheme. The
MoU will offer a bouquet of benefits to the serving security forces, retired
personnel as well as family pensioners. These may include complimentary
Personal and Air Accidental Insurance (Death) cover, additional cover in case
of on-duty death, and Permanent Total Disability / Partial Disability cover,
support in child education and the marriage of girl children of deceased BSF
personnel among other benefits.
Note: SBI Founded: 1 July 1955; SBI Headquarters:
Mumbai; SBI Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara.
2.
The merger of HDFC Bank and HDFC Ltd has been announced: The Boards of
Directors of HDFC Ltd. and HDFC Bank Ltd. approved a composite scheme for the
amalgamation of HDFC Investments Ltd. and HDFC Holdings Ltd with and into HDFC
Ltd; and HDFC Ltd with and into HDFC Bank, as well as their respective
shareholders and creditors. As a result, when the scheme takes effect, public
shareholders would control 100% of HDFC Bank, while existing HDFC Ltd. shareholders
will own 41%. Key Points:
a)
Closing
conditions for the Scheme and the Proposed Transaction are standard. Multiple
approvals are required for the programme to be implemented.
b)
The
subsidiaries/associates of HDFC Ltd. shall become subsidiaries/associates of
HDFC Bank once the scheme takes effect.
c)
Shareholders
of HDFC Ltd. as of the record date will receive 42 HDFC Bank shares (each with
a face value of 1) in exchange for 25 HDFC Ltd. shares (each with a face value
of 2), and HDFC Ltd.’s equity share(s) in HDFC Bank would be extinguished as
per the scheme.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
March 2022: GoI had collected an all-time high of Rs 1.42 lakh crores as GST: The greatest ever
GST was collected in March, which is a very good for the economy. The Goods and
Services Tax (GST) collection totaled Rs 1,42,095 crore, breaking the previous
high of Rs 1,40,986 crore set in January 2022. Key Points:
a)
The
March 2022 revenues are 15% greater than the same month last year and 46%
higher than the March 2020 revenues.
b)
Revenues
from imports of products were 25% higher during the month, while revenues from
domestic transactions (including imports of services) were 11% higher than in
the same month last year.
c)
In
the month of March 2022, the gross GST revenue collected was Rs 1,42,095 crore,
with Central GST at Rs 25,830 crore, state GST at Rs 32,378 crore, integrated
GST at Rs 74,470 crore, including Rs 39,131 crore collected on imports of
goods, and cess at Rs 9,417 crore, including Rs 981 crore collected on imports
of goods.
2.
Flipkart Foundation launched for growth of rural area and women: Homegrown
e-commerce giant, The Flipkart Group has constituted and launched the Flipkart
Foundation, a new platform with a focus on development in rural areas and
providing equitable access to growth opportunities for women and other
disadvantaged communities. The Flipkart Foundation aims to positively influence
20 million lives directly and indirectly in the coming decade across a wide
array of areas by utilising Flipkart’s learnings over the years.
About the operation: The operations of
the Flipkart Foundation will be grant-based. The contributions will come from
the Flipkart Group and through the ‘Charity Checkout’ feature available on
Flipkart platforms. The Flipkart Foundation will engage with diverse
stakeholders to enable transformational development work for society and the
economy, by offering support to underprivileged sections of society and making
them a part of the country’s growth story.
Note: Flipkart headquarters: Bengaluru,
Karnataka; Flipkart CEO: Kalyan Krishnamurthy.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Journalist Aarefa Johari awarded Chameli Devi Jain Award 2021: A journalist from
Mumbai, Aarefa Johari was awarded the Chameli Devi Jain Award for an
Outstanding Woman Media person 2021. It was announced by the Media Foundation.
Aarefa Johari works for ‘Scroll. in’ in Mumbai, Maharashtra. In 2020, Neetu
Singh got this award. She is associated with ‘Goan Connection’ media house.
Jury: Nirupama Subramania, Githa Hariharan and Ashutosh.
About the Chameli Devi Jain Award: Chameli
Devi Jain Award is the annual prestigious recognition in the field of
Journalism for women media persons journalist in India who have reported on
themes such as social development, politics, equity, gender justice, health,
war and conflict, and consumer values. The award was instituted in 1980 by
Verghese and the family of Chameli Devi.
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