Daily GK Update- 4th April, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UP become India’s top vegetable producer: Uttar Pradesh has become the top producer of vegetables, getting back its first position by demoting West Bengal to the second position, with a difference of a million tonnes in production in 2021–22 Crop Year (CY) (July–June), after two years since 2020.

Key points:

a)      Vegetable production in Uttar Pradesh is expected to be 29.58 million tonnes (mt) in the 2021–22 crop year (July–June), down from 29.16 mt in 2020–21, while West Bengal output is expected to dip to 28.23 mt in 2021-22 from 30.33 mt in 2020-21.

b)      Other top producers of vegetables as per the data in the current year 2021-22 include Madhya Pradesh at 20.59 mt, Bihar at 17.77 mt and Maharashtra at 16.78 mt.

Top fruit producer:

a)      Andhra Pradesh remains the top fruit producer. India’s horticulture output is likely to drop marginally by 0.4% to 333.25 mt in 2021–22 from the previous year (2020–21) as production of vegetables, spices, and plantation crops is set to decline.

b)      In 2021–22, Andhra Pradesh is expected to produce 18.01 million tonnes of fruit, up from 17.7 million tonnes in 2020–21. Maharashtra is anticipated to produce 12.3 million tonnes of fruit, up from 11.74 million tonnes in 2020–21.

 

2. India’s unemployment rate falls to 7.6% in March from 8.1% in Feb 2022: As per the data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the overall unemployment rate in India fell to 7.6 per cent in March 2022. This rate was 8.10 per cent in February 2022. The report also stated that though the overall unemployment rate in the country is falling, it is still high for a “poor” country like India. The decrease in the ratio shows that the economy is getting back on track after being hit by COVID-19 for two years.

Haryana recorded the highest unemployment rate in March 2022, at 26.7 per cent. It was followed by Rajasthan (25%) and Jammu and Kashmir (25 %), Bihar (14.4%), Tripura (14.1%) and West Bengal (5.6%). Chhattisgarh has registered an unemployment rate of 0.6 per cent this March, which is the lowest so far. CMIE is a Mumbai-based independent non-government entity that serves both as an economic think-tank as well as a business information company.

 

3. Chandrapur district of Maharashtra records third hottest place in the world: According to the El Dorado weather website, Chandrapur was the third hottest city in the world, with a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Nagpur was also the hottest city in Vidarbha, with a maximum temperature of 41.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Akola.

As per the El Dorado Weather, Kayes city of Mali is the hottest place on earth with 44.4 degrees Celsius, Segou of Mali is second in the list with 43.8 degrees Celsius whereas Chandrapur is third in the list.

 

4. Dr. S Raju takes charge as DG of Geological Survey of India: Dr S Raju has taken over as the Director-General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) with effect from April 01, 2022. He succeeds R. S. Garkhal who superannuated on March 31, 2022. Prior to this, Dr Raju was holding the post of Additional Director General and National Head, Mission-III & IV at GSI HQ.

 

5. Mahesh Verma named as chairperson of NABH: Vice-Chancellor of Indraprastha University, Mahesh Verma has been appointed as the new chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH). NABH is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI). This is responsible for setting benchmarks for quality and certifying hospitals and other health facilities. NABH is also a member of the board of the Asian Society for Quality in Healthcare (ASQua).

Note: NABH Founded: 2006, India; NABH Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s Aprajita Sharrma selected for the prestigious ITU position: An Indian official has been selected as vice-chairperson of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Council Standing Committee on Administration and Management, giving India a leadership position. Ms Aprajita Sharma, an IP&TAF Service officer, has been appointed vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Administration and Management at the International Telecommunication Union’s Council sessions in Geneva from March 21 to March 31, 2022. Aprajita will continue to serve as vice-chairperson of the Council Standing Committee in 2023 and 2024, and as chairman in 2025 and 2026.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations’ information and communication specialised organisation. The Plenipotentiary Conference and the Administrative Council manage the ITU. The Union’s top organ is the Plenipotentiary Conference. It is the decision-making body that determines the Union’s and its operations’ direction. During the time between Plenipotentiary Conferences, the Council serves as the Union’s governing body.

Note: International Telecommunication Union Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; International Telecommunication Union Founded: 17 May 1865; International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General: Houlin Zhao.

 

2. International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action: 4th April: The United Nations’ International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is celebrated every year on the 4th of April. The day aims to raise awareness about landmines and progress toward their eradication. “Mine action” refers to a range of efforts to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war and to mark and fence off dangerous areas. In 2022 the United Nations Mine Action Service marks the Day under the theme “Safe Ground, Safe Steps, Safe Home.” The focus of the observance is on the impressive achievements of the global mine action community, starting with the work of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).

History of the day: On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. It was first observed on 4 April 2006.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Anurag Thakur launches logo, mascot jersey & anthem of Khelo India University Games 2021: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur and Governor of Karnataka, TC Gehlot launched the logo, jersey, mascot and anthem of the Khelo India University Games 2021 (KIUG 2021) on April 01, 2022, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. The theme song has been composed by Kannada rapper Chandan Shetty. The KIUG 2021 will be held in Karnataka between April 24 and May 3, 2022.

This will be the second edition of KIUG. The first edition was hosted by Odisha in 2020. KIUG 2021 was postponed for 2022 due to the Covid crisis. A Khelo India App for live updates on the Games has also been launched by Karnataka. Around 4500 athletes, representing 20 sports from across the country will participate in the KIUG 2021.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank takes Citibank’s India consumer business in a Rs 12,325 crores: Citigroup has announced that Axis Bank will be acquiring Citibank’s India consumer business for an amount of USD 1.6 billion (Rs 12,325 crores) in an all-cash deal. This transaction will be including Citibank India’s consumer banking businesses, which include retail banking, credit cards, consumer loans, and wealth management.

After acquiring:

a)      This transaction will also be including the sale of Citibank’s non-banking financial company consumer business, Citicorp Finance (India) Limited, which comprises a financing business that is asset-backed and also includes construction equipment and commercial vehicle loans, and a portfolio of personal loans.

b)      It is an exchange of assets or a single asset for cash and no other monetary means, such as exchange of stocks or financing are used. The most common way of settling all-cash deal are wire transfers or check and the physical form of cash is generally avoided.

Note: Axis Bank Founded: 3 December 1993; Axis Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; Axis Bank MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhary; Axis Bank Chairperson: Shri Rakesh Makhija; Axis Bank Tagline: Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Centre extended foreign trade policy till Sept 30: The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 has been extended by six months, until September 30, 2022. The present Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, which is effective through March 31, 2022, has been extended until September 30, 2022, according to a notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Following the Covid-19 outbreak, the policy was first extended for a year, until the end of March 2020, and subsequently for another year, until September 30.

Key Points:

a)      The strategy lays out recommendations for boosting exports to boost economic growth and create jobs, as well as incentives under various programmes like Duty-Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) (EPCG).

b)      Tea, steel, chemical, and pharmaceutical exporters to Russia are pleading with the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to intervene, as millions of rupees are at stake.

c)       According to industry sources, tea, steel, chemical, and pharmaceutical exporters to Russia are seeking government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intervention because millions of dollars in payments are stuck due to sanctions imposed by the West, which have isolated Russian banks from the global financial system.

d)      According to them, the interruption in Indian companies’ cash flows might cause them to delay payments to workers and suppliers, as well as skip payments to lenders.

e)      As part of the restrictions, Russian firms have been barred from using the global Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or SWIFT, platform.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. IAF celebrates 60 years of Glorious Service by Chetak Helicopters: The Indian Air Force organised a conclave at Air Force Station, Hakimpet on 02 April 2022, to commemorate 60 years of glorious service by Chetak Helicopter in IAF. The conclave was inaugurated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh. Raksha Mantri released a Special Cover, a Coffee Table Book and a Commemorative Movie on Chetak Helicopters during the conclave.

About the chetak helicopter: The Chetak helicopter is the oldest operational flying machine with the Indian Air Force. It has been made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the licence agreement. The Chetak Helicopter was inducted into the Indian Air force in 1962.

Celebrating the event: A remarkable fly-past by 26 aircraft including Chetaks, Pilatus, Kirans, Hawks, Advanced Light Helicopters and a Light Combat Helicopters was an eye-catcher for everyone. The finale was a diamond formation flypast by eight Chetak helicopters, the machine which continues to render yeomen service across the length and breadth of the country. This magnificent machine still operates across all the terrains and is the basic training helicopter for pilots of the three Services.

Daily GK Update- 3rd April, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Maharashtra launches scheme to offer personal loans for prisoners: The Maharashtra government has introduced a scheme that allows prisoners to obtain personal loans from banks of up to Rs. 50,000 to help their families improve their living conditions and meet expenses related to their legal matters. It will be a first of its kind initiative in our country. The Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank would provide loans up to 50,000 under the scheme at a 7% interest rate. The scheme would be implemented in Yerawada Central Jail in Pune, Maharashtra, on a pilot basis. This type of loan is called a “khavti” loan, and benefits approximately 1,055 prisoners.

Under the scheme, the loan facility will be decided on the basis of the prisoner, prisoner’s loan limit, duration of punishment, possible relief from it, age, estimated annual working day and minimum daily income. The loan will not require a guarantor. There will be no need for a guarantor. It will be disbursed on a personal bond. The bank will decide the amount based on earnings, skill, and daily wages.

Note: Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai; Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Maharashtra Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray.

 

2. NV Ramana, the Chief Justice, launches a software named FASTER: Chief Justice of India NV Ramana unveiled the ‘Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records’ (FASTER), a digital platform that allows the supreme court to send interim orders, stay orders, and bail orders to the appropriate authorities via a secure electronic channel. The online introduction of the FASTER programme was attended by CJI Ramana, Justices AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud, and Hemant Gupta, as well as Chief Justices and Judges of High Courts.

Key Points:

a)      The CJI has launched software to convey court orders quickly and securely via electronic means, a measure that will aid in judicial order transmission.

b)      He emphasised the importance of court orders issued by higher courts being safely communicated without tampering by outside parties.

c)       The initiative ‘FASTER‘ was initiated when a bench led by CJI Ramana took suo motu notice of delays in convicts’ release even after they had been granted bail, citing reasons such as non-receipt or non-verification of legal orders.

d)      The Registry, in partnership with the NIC, created the FASTER system on a war footing, according to a Supreme Court press release.

e)      So far, 73 Nodal Officers have been selected at various levels to ensure that this system reaches all of India’s districts. By constructing a safe conduit, all Nodal Officers have been connected through a specific judicial communication network JCN.

 

3. Manipur govt tie-up with Samsung to start Sports Digital Experience Centre: The state government of Manipur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Samsung Data System India Pvt Ltd and Abhitech IT Solutions Pvt Ltd for setting up a world-class “Sports Digital Experience Centre” as a domain of Manipur Olympian Park and Khuman Lampak Sports Complex. The MoU was exchanged in the presence of chief minister N Biren Singh at the cabinet hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

With the setting up of the Digital Experience Centre, various achievements of Olympians from Manipur will be digitally displayed making the public aware about their achievements. Such initiatives will help in improving and enhancing the performance of sporting talents through the latest technologies like sports analytics, virtual reality and mixed reality among others, he maintained, adding that it will also motivate younger generations to opt for sports as a career.

Note: Manipur Capital: Imphal; Governor: La. Ganesan.

 

4. Vishwas Patel re-elected as chairman of Payments Council of India: Vishwas Patel has been re-elected as the Chairman of Payments Council of India (PCI) for the second time in 2022, previously he was elected as a Chairman of PCI in the year 2018. In 2013, he served as Co-Chairman of PCI. PCI is a payment ecosystem industry body and is a part of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

About the Payments Council of India: The Payments Council of India works to promote the growth of the Indian payment industry and promote a cashless economy in the country. It works with other important financial and banking Institutions and Organisations to turn India into a ‘cashless society. This industry body for digital operators in the country is said to be in its final stages of submitting its independent application to become a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) for digital payments, under the mandate of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World’s Biggest Electric Cruise Ship made its maiden voyage in China: The largest electric cruise ship in the world has returned back to port in Yichang in central Hubei province, China after travelling up and down the Yangtze River for its maiden voyage. This cruise ship has been powered by a 7,500-kilowatt-hour massive-sized marine battery. This battery has been provided by Contemporary Amperex Technology, the No. 1 battery manufacturer for electric cars in the world.

The developer of this ship, China Yangtze Power has plans to use this electric ship as the starting point for expanding the marine electric vehicle market in China. The name of the ship is Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 and it is a 100 per cent electric cruise ship that has been developed and built in China. This ship is 16 meters wide and 100 meters long and has the capacity to carry around 1,300 passengers.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Renminbi; China President: Xi Jinping.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Meghalaya would be hosting 83rd National Table Tennis Championship 2022: Meghalaya is geared up to host the 83rd National Table Tennis Championship 2022, which will take place at the SAI Indoor Training Centre, NEHU in Shillong from April 18 to 25. This is the second time the Northeast has hosted the world’s largest table tennis tournament.

Key Points:

a)      During a press conference, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma stated that the tournament is one of the largest sports events that the state has hosted to date, among others.

b)      The State is expecting around 650 people to attend, with 450 of them being players and the rest being coaches and support personnel. He went on to say that the state is expecting a variety of officers from several states, including Haryana’s Deputy Chief Minister.

c)       This tournament is being hosted in honour of the State’s 50th anniversary of statehood, he said, adding that the cost of hosting the tournament is projected to be 1.5 crore rupees, with a total of 10 players from the State scheduled to compete.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI extended the deadline for banks to utilise lockable cassettes in ATMs by a year: The Reserve Bank of India has delayed the deadline for banks to use lockable cassettes in their ATMs that can be swapped during cash replenishment by a year, till March 31, 2023. The decision was made after the RBI received representations from various banks and the Indian Banks’ Association noting difficulty in achieving the deadline, according to a notification released yesterday.

Key Points:

a)      It has instructed the banks to establish an internal roadmap that has been approved by the Board in order to meet the extended deadline and submit a quarterly status report, and it has requested the banks’ boards to monitor progress to assure compliance.

b)      Most ATMs are currently replenished via open cash top-ups or by placing cash into the machines on the spot. The RBI requested that this approach be replaced by guaranteeing that lockable cassettes are swapped when currency is replenished in ATMs.

c)       Previously, banks were expected to begin using lockable cassettes in a gradual way, with at least one-third of their ATMs protected by March 31, 2021. The deadline was later extended until March 31, 2022.

 

2. HDFC ERGO launched “VAULT” digital customer engagement and rewards program: HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company has launched its VAULT program. It is India’s first industry-based digital customer engagement and rewards program. This program is an experiment to test a new idea under the Regulatory Sandbox of IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India). The testing period will be till 14th May 2022 and further continuance of the product beyond the testing period will be subject to IRDAI approval.

About the VAULT program: VAULT program is a customer engagement-based membership program. Under the program, eligible customers will be incentivized by way of reward points on meeting the specified criteria or actions. Maximum customer enrolments under this program will be 10,000. This reward program will cover Optima Restore health insurance customers.

Note: HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company CEO: Ritesh Kumar; HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Headquarters: Mumbai; HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Founded: 2002.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. GoI keeps interest rates on Small Savings Schemes unchanged for Q1 (April-June 2022): The Ministry of Finance has decided to keep the interest rates unchanged on small savings schemes or post office schemes for the Quarter -1 of FY2022-23 (April-June 2022). The interest rates on the various instruments for April-June 2022 range from 4.0 per cent to 7.6 per cent. It must be noted that the Government notifies the Interest rates for small savings schemes on a quarterly basis. This is the eighth consecutive quarter when the interest rates on small savings instruments remained unchanged.

Interest Rates for Quarter-1 (April-June) of 2022-23 are listed below:

 

Small Savings Instruments	Interest Rate For Apr-June 2022	Compounding frequency
Savings deposit	4.00%	Annually
One-year time deposit	5.50%	Quarterly
Two-year time deposit	5.50%	Quarterly
Three-year time deposit	5.50%	Quarterly
Five-year time deposit	6.70%	Quarterly
Five-year recurring deposit	5.80%	Quarterly
Senior Citizen Savings Scheme	7.40%	Quarterly and Paid
Monthly Income Account	6.60%	Monthly and Paid
National Savings Certificate	6.80%	Annually
Public Provident Fund Scheme	7.10%	Annually
Kisan Vikas Patra	6.90%	Annually
Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme	7.60%	Annually

 

2. Microsoft launches ‘Startups Founders Hub’ platform: Microsoft launched a new digital and inclusive platform for startup founders in India. The platform called as ‘Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub’ in India, will support startup founders in India at every stage of their startup journey. This platform will offer over USD 300,000 worth of benefits and credits to startups, including free access to the technology, tools, and resources from the tech giant and partners. The initiative will help the Startups to gain mentorship and skilling opportunities with industry experts and Microsoft Learn. Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is designed specifically for early-stage startups to lower the barriers of business creation, act as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation, and contribute to easing the journey from an idea to a unicorn.

Note: Microsoft CEO and Chairman: Satya Nadella; Microsoft Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Two battalions of the Dogra regiment were presented with the President’s Colours by the army chief: During an amazing Color Presentation Parade held at the Dogra Regimental Centre, Faizabad (UP), General MM Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff, gave the prestigious President’s Colours to two battalions of the Dogra Regiment, namely 20 DOGRA and 21 DOGRA.

Key Points:

a)      General NC Vij (retd), former COAS and Honorary Colonel of The Dogra Regiment, Army Commanders of Southern Command and Central Command, as well as a large number of active and retired people, were present at the Color Presentation Parade.

b)      Following the parade, the Army Chief praised the Dogra Regiment‘s long traditions in all aspects of military life, including operations, training, and sports.

c)       The COAS also praised the newly raised units for their outstanding performance in such a short period of time, and wished all ranks well in their efforts to serve the country with pride.

Daily GK Update- 2nd April, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet approves increase in Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief by 3% to 34%: The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has approved a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners by 3 per cent to 34%, over the existing rate of 31% of the Basic Pay/Pension. The hike announced will be effective from January 1, 2022, to compensate for the price rise.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs. 9,544.50 crore per annum. This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. The hike will benefit about 47.68 lakh Central Government employees and 68.62 lakh, pensioners.

 

2. The government of Karnataka has introduced the Vinaya Samarasya initiative: The Basavaraj Bommai government announced the Vinaya Samarasya Yojana as a public awareness campaign against caste prejudice in the state’s gramme panchayats. It will be formally launched on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Key Points:

a)      The initiative was named after Vinay, a three-year-old Dalit kid who strayed into a temple in Miyapur hamlet in Karnataka’s Koppal district to seek shelter from the rain in September 2021. His family has faced even greater hostility since being fined Rs 25,000 by village elders.

b)      The area’s 1,500 members, largely from the Ganiga group, had intensified their persecution of the Dalit family in the meantime, forcing Vinay’s family to leave the village and abandon possessions, including agricultural land.

c)       All of the accused who were imprisoned for caste prejudice in the aftermath of the incident were also released on bail, and they continue to control the village, according to Vinay’s relatives and family.

                                                  

3. Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya included tentative list of World Heritage Sites:  ‘Jingkieng Jri or Living Root Bridge’, found in over 70 villages in Meghalaya highlighting the socio-cultural, social and botanical links between people and nature, has been included in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Villagers grow the living root bridges by training the ‘ficus elastica’ tree on both sides of water bodies over a period of about 10 to 15 years where the roots form the bridge. At present, there are about 100 known living root bridges spread across 72 villages in the state. Villagers, (especially Khasi and Jaintia tribal communities) build and maintain these bridges from the past for more than 600 years.

Other sites included in the list: The Geoglyphs of the Konkan region of Maharashtra, Sri Veerabhadra Temple and Monolithic Bull (Nandi) at Lepakshi of Andhra Pradesh have made it to the Tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites in 2022.

Note: UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945; UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Members: 193 countries;UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay

 

4. Virat Kohli tops in Duff & Phelps Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2021: According to the Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2021 (7th Edition) titled “Digital Acceleration 2.0.” released by Duff & Phelps (Now Kroll), Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli was ranked as the most valued celebrity for the 5th consecutive time in 2021. The brand value of Virat Kohli has dropped from USD 237.7 million in 2020 to USD 185.7 million in 2021.

Alia Bhatt has ranked 4th with a brand value of USD 68.1 million and has become the most valued female celebrity. She is the youngest celebrity among the top 10 and she is the most valued brand amongst female Bollywood actors.

 

Rank	Name	Brand Value (In Millions)
1	Virat Kohli	USD 185.7
2	Ranveer Singh	USD 158.3
3	Akshay Kumar	USD 139.6
4	Alia Bhatt	USD 68.1
5	MS Dhoni	USD 61.2
6	Amitabh Bachchan	USD 54.2
7	Deepika Padukone	USD 51.6
8	Salman Khan	USD 51.6
9	Ayushmann Khurrana	USD 49.3
10	Hrithik Roshan	USD 48.5

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Children’s Book Day: 2nd April: The International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is organised annually on the 2nd of April since 1967, by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). IBBY is an international non-profit organization, to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books.

In 2022, Canada is hosting International Children’s Book Day with this chosen theme: “Stories are wings that help you soar every day.” Every year, a different international section of IBBY hosts a children’s books event on or around April 2 (which is the birthday of classic children’s book author Hans Christian Andersen). The host country picks a theme and invites a well-known author and illustrator to create a message for children around the world.

Note: International Board on Books for Young People Founder: Jella Lepman; International Board on Books for Young People Founded: 1953, Zürich, Switzerland; International Board on Books for Young People Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland.

 

2. World Autism Awareness Day: 2nd April: World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on 2nd April by the member states of the United Nations. The day is observed to raise awareness among its citizens about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the world. World Autism Awareness Day is organized by the UN Department of Global Communications and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with the support of civil society partners including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the Global Autism Project and the Specialisterne Foundation. The theme for ‘World Autism Awareness Day 2022’ is “Inclusive Quality Education for All”. Access to education that was made easy for years, especially for autistic persons was disrupted after 2020 with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

History of the day: The United Nations General Assembly designated a resolution (A/RES/62/139). The council passed ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ on November 1, 2007, and adopted it on December 18, 2007. The purpose was to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of autistic people. The very first World Autism Day was observed in the year 2008 on April 2. World Autism Day is one of only seven official health-specific UN Days.

Note: World Autism Organisation: 1998; World Autism Organisation President: Dr Samira Al Saad; World Autism Organisation Founded: Luxembourg.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Adidas Unveils Official Al Rihla FIFA World Cup Ball for Qatar 2022: Al Rihla – the Official Match Ball for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has been revealed by Adidas. It is Adidas’ 14th World Cup ball, and it is designed to accommodate the fastest game speeds possible, since it flies quicker in flight than any other World Cup ball.

Key Points:

a)      Al Rihla provides the highest level of precision and reliability on the field of play, having been designed from the inside out utilising data from extensive testing in Adidas labs, wind tunnels, and on-pitch.

b)      The ball was also created with the environment in mind, with all components carefully considered, and Al Rihla being the first World Cup ball to be constructed entirely of water-based inks and glues.

c)       The game’s ever-increasing pace is reflected in the strong, vibrant colour and visuals placed on a pearlescent background, with speed revealing the spectrum of colour to excite players and fans from grassroots to elite levels throughout the world.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Central Bank of India partnered with Kwik.ID to digitize customer onboarding: Central Bank of India partnered with ID to implement digital Know Your Customer (KYC), video KYC and eKYC for its network across India. The aim of the partnership is to bring seamless onboarding and provide efficient digital facilities to the customers across India.

ID is India’s fastest and first-ever AI-based fully compliant Video KYC solution and a flagship product by Think360.ai. It has the target to digitize 10 million customers’ onboarding annually and streamline its end-to-end processes. Central Bank of India had an eight-month-long gruelling evaluation process on technology and product experience followed by a reverse auction commercial round for this selection. This partnership will support the bank in driving its digital transformation agenda and supporting digital finance initiatives championed by the government.

Note: Central Bank of India Founded: 21 December 1911; Central Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Central Bank of India MD & CEO: Matam Venkata Rao; Central Bank of India Tagline: ‘Central’ to you since 1911.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India Ratings lowers India’s FY23 GDP growth forecast to 7-7.2%: India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has revised downwards the GDP growth forecast for India in FY23 to 7-7.2 per cent. Earlier in January, the rating agency Ind-Ra had forecast this rate at 7.6 per cent.

According to Ind-Ra, in scenario one, the crude oil price is assumed to be elevated for three months, and in scenario two, the assumption is for six months, both with a half cost pass-through into the domestic economy. Since the duration of the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to be uncertain, Ind-Ra has created two scenarios with respect to the FY23 economic outlook basis certain assumptions.

 

2. Google Pay, Pine Labs tieup to offer ‘Tap to Pay’ for UPI users: Google Pay has launched ‘Tap to Pay for UPI’, new functionality to bring the seamless convenience of Tap to Pay to Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The initiative has been launched in collaboration with Pine Labs. To complete a payment, all a user will need to do is tap their phone on the POS terminal and authenticate the payment from their phone, using their UPI PIN, making the process virtually instantaneous, as compared to scanning a QR code or entering the UPI-linked mobile number.

The functionality will be available to any UPI user who wants to use their NFC-enabled Android smartphone to transact using any Pine Labs Android POS terminal across the country. This was piloted with Reliance Retail and will now be available at other large merchants such as Future Retail and Starbucks.

Note: Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google Founded: 4 September 1998; Google Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Mirabai Chanu bagged ‘BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year’ award 2021: Olympic silver medallist weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu won the 3rd edition of the BBC Indian Sportswoman of The Year award 2021. Chanu created history last year when she became the first Indian weightlifter to clinch a silver medal at the Summer Olympics. Chanu won the gold medal in the 48kg division at the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim and followed up with Commonwealth Games gold in 2018.

Other awardees:

a)      The BBC Emerging Player award was presented to 18-year-old cricketer Shafali Verma, who has recently been playing at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. In 2021, Verma became the youngest Indian cricketer, male or female, to play in all three formats for the national team.

b)      The first Indian woman to have won a medal at the Olympics in 2000, former weightlifter Karnam Malleswari was presented the ‘BBC Lifetime Achievement’ award. Olympians and the Paralympians from the Tokyo Games were also honoured in this edition of BBC ISWOTY.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 20th India-France Bilateral Naval Exercise ‘VARUNA -2022’ kicks-off: The 20th edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between the Indian Navy and French Navy named ‘VARUNA’ is being conducted in the Arabian Sea from March 30 to April 03, 2022. The Bilateral Naval Exercises between the two Navies is being held since 1993 and the exercise was christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001. Various ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, fighter aircraft and helicopters of the two navies will be participating in the VARUNA-2022 exercise.

About the exercise: VARUNA series of exercises continue to provide both the navies opportunities to learn from each other’s best practices. The exercise has been a principal driver for operational-level interactions between the two navies and has underscored the shared commitment of both nations to security, safety and freedom of the global maritime commons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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