Daily GK Update- 6th April, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Haryana govt launched crop insurance portal of ‘Mukhya Mantri Bagwani Bima Yojana’: The Haryana Agriculture Minister J P Dalal launched the portal of Mukha Mantri Bagwani Bima Yojana’ with an initial corpus of Rs 10 crore for the scheme. Under this the farmers will be compensated for the damage caused to their crops due to adverse weather and natural calamities.

About the scheme:

a)      The scheme compensates a sum of Rs 30,000 per acre for vegetables and Spices and Rs 40,000 per acre for fruits, which will be compensated to the farmers upon claim via four categories such as 25 per cent, 50 per cent, 75 per cent and 100 per cent based on the survey.

b)      The farmer’s contribution will be only 5 per cent of the insured amount i.e., Rs 750 per acre for vegetables and Spices and Rs 1000 per acre for fruits.

c)       The Scheme covers 21 crops – 14 vegetables, 2 spices, and 5 fruits. The scheme will be optional for all those farmers who will get registered under ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ (a web portal through which the problems of the farmers of the state will be resolved).

Note: Haryana Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya; Haryana Capital: Chandigarh; Haryana Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar.

 

2. Andhra Pradesh’s First ‘She Auto’ Stands Set Up: In a move to provide safe transport to women and girl students, the police in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor have set up three ‘She Auto’ stands, the first of its kind in the state. The three ‘She Auto’ stands have been set up in RTC Bus Stand, Mahila University, and Ruia Hospital in Tirupati.

Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, MLA, along with city Mayor Dr R Sireesha and Urban Superintendent of Police Venkata Appala Naidu inaugurated the dedicated auto stands at the RTC Bus Stand, Mahila University and Ruia Hospital. Tirupati is the first city in the state to set up special auto stands for women like this. Proved that women have a special place in society by setting up auto stand in RTC bus stand in Tirupati, Women’s University and Rua Hospital. Earlier, women, auto drivers used to keep their vehicles with men at other auto stands.

Note: Andhra Pradesh Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan; Andhra Pradesh Chief minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

 

3. Vikas Kumar named as Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation: Vikas Kumar has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). He succeeds Mangu Singh, whose tenure ended on March 31, 2022. Singh was the managing director of DMRC since January 1, 2012, and his famed tenure ended. Kumar is the third managing director of the DMRC after E Sreedharan and Mangu Singh. He will hold the post for a term of five years.

Note: DMRC Opened: 24 December 2002.

 

4. A new book “Crunch Time: Narendra Modi’s National Security Crises” by Sreeram Chaulia: Dr Sreeram Chauliahas authored a new book titled “Crunch Time: Narendra Modi’s National Security Crises”. The book was released by Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs at the India International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi. The book highlights the much needed public faith in the state to protect the country from security threats posed by India’s external adversaries. The book analyses PM Modi’s series of decision-making moves during the crises with China and Pakistan.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Four agreements and launch multiple projects signed between India- Nepal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese colleague Sher Bahadur Deuba met in New Delhi, initiating a number of projects and signing four important agreements across a variety of fields. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and Nepal Oil Corporation Ltd. signed agreements on Nepal becoming the 105th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), technical cooperation in railways, petroleum product delivery, and technical experience sharing in the petroleum sector.

Key Points:

a)      The two Prime Ministers also observed the first passenger train service between India’s Jayanagar and Nepal’s Kurtha, the handover of India’s Solu corridor transmission project to Nepal, and the progress of 132 health facilities being built across 10 districts in Nepal under a GoI grant.

b)      The two countries announced the debut of the Indian RuPay card in Nepal, with the domestic variation of the RuPay card (about 83 percent of all RuPay cards issued) being compatible with approximately 1400 POS machines in Nepal.

c)       After Bhutan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, Nepal is now the fourth country outside of India to accept RuPay.

Jaynagar- Kurtha Railway: The Jaynagar-Kurtha railway line is part of the Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas train link, which is being built with a grant of INR 548 crore from the Indian government. It’s a 35-kilometre rail stretch, with 3 kilometres in Bihar, India, and the rest in Nepal. The project will be the first broad-gauge passenger rail link between the two countries, bringing a whole new level of cross-border connectivity to the region.

Solu Corridor: One of the biggest projects in Nepal under the Government of India’s Line of Credit is the Solu Corridor 132 kV power transmission line and substation (LoC). The 90-kilometre 132-kV Double Circuit line connects Nepal’s national electrical system to the remote Solukhumbu, Khotang, and Okhaldhunga districts in North Eastern Nepal. The transmission line will transmit electricity from existing and upcoming hydro projects in the area into the national grid, as well as supply power to adjacent districts’ rural electrification networks, once it is operational.

 

2. Arunabha Ghosh appointed by UN Chief to high-level expert group on net-zero emissions commitments: United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres appointed Arunabha Ghosh (India) to a High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities. Arunabha Ghosh is the CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), a climate and energy think tank. He has been appointed to the Government of India’s G20 Finance Track Advisory Group for India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. In 2021, he was appointed as Co-Chair of the T20 Task Force on climate and energy for Indonesia’s G20 2022.

The group was launched by Antonio Guterres on 31 March 2022. Dr Ghosh will be among three Asians (and the only South Asian) serving on the expert group. It will be chaired by former Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna. The 16-member expert group comprises independent experts, drawn from different countries.

 

3. International Day of Sport for Development and Peace: 6th April: The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is observed globally on April 6. To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the UN of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.

The global theme of IDSDP 2022 is, “Securing a Sustainable and Peaceful Future for All: The Contribution of Sport,” which creates an opportunity for the Day’s celebrations to promote the use of sport as a tool to advance human rights and sustainable development.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Iga Swiatek wins Miami Open tennis title 2022: Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek defeated Naomi Osaka of Japan, 6-4, 6-0. in the final match to claim the 2022 Miami Open tennis tournament. For Swiątek, this is her fourth career WTA 1000 title and the sixth singles title overall. Also, this is her 17th straight title win. The victory will now place Swiatek to the No. 1 spot in the women’s rankings.

With the victory, the 20-year-old Swiatek becomes only the fourth woman to win the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments back-to-back, a feat known as the “Sunshine Double” given the tournaments’ respective locations in California and Florida.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI fixed WMA limit for States/UTs at Rs 47,010 crores: The Reserve Bank reduced the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) for states and union territories to Rs 47,010 crore from Rs 51,560 crore on Friday, citing an improvement in the economic scenario. WMAs are short-term loans provided by the RBI to the government to help it deal with any discrepancies between receipts and payments.

Key Points:

a)      Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, the RBI increased the WMA limit for all states to Rs 51,560 crore. The new WMA was in effect until March 31, 2022.

b)      RBI stated it has decided to revert to the WMA limitations and deadlines for Over Draft (OD) for state governments / UTs, as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Ways and Means Advances to State Governments, following a review of the limits and in light of the gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

c)       The Special Drawing Facility (SDF) used by state governments and UTs would continue to be linked to the amount of marketable securities issued by the government of India, such as Auction Treasury Bills, according to the RBI (ATBs).

d)      The interest rate on SDF, WMA, and OD will continue to be linked to the Reserve Bank’s policy rate, the repo rate.

e)      The central bank further stated that interest will be charged for all days the advance is outstanding.

f)        The Government of India’s WMA limit for the first half of fiscal year 2022-23 has been set at Rs 1,50,000 crore.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. SEBI has announced an ideathon Manthan to foster innovation in the securities business: As she launched an ideathon to promote innovation, Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch said that India is ideally positioned to harness technology in the securities market to give bespoke solutions at a very low cost to individuals across the country.

Key Points:

a)      Buch stated at the start of the ideathon ‘Manthan’ that the implementation of financial technology (FinTech) in the securities market offered tremendous prospects for all parties involved.

b)      Sebi, in collaboration with BSE, NSE, NSDL, CDSL, KFintech, CAMS, LinkInTime, and MCX, is hosting a six-week ideathon called Manthan. According to a press release released by Sebi, it will promote the formation of a pool of ideas and creative solutions centred on the securities market.

c)       Through a hackathon, workable ideas from Manthan, which was unveiled at an event in Mumbai on Wednesday, may be turned into possibilities and prototypes.

d)      With a long history of entrepreneurship and creativity, India is well positioned to use technology in the securities market to give tailored solutions at a cheap cost to individuals in all corners of the country, according to Buch.

 

2. The Tata Group is preparing to unveil its super app: On April 7, the Tata Group will launch Neu, its much-anticipated super app. This software will be available for download through the Google Play Store. The Tata Group’s key goal is to expand its digital division so that it can compete with market leaders like Amazon, Flipkart, and Reliance Group’s JioMart.

It is said that Tata’s neu app will bring together aeroplanes, hotels, medicines, and groceries on a single platform. The Tata Neu app UI has also been revealed in a photo. Along with the gloomy background, this app features a variety of icons that can be used for a variety of purposes. You’ll be able to hire a car using the app as well.

Features:

a)      Tata Neu is an all-in-one platform that brings together all of the company’s services into a single app.

b)      Exclusive offers, incentives, and more will be available through the app. It’s a one-stop-shop for a hassle-free buying and payment process.

c)       Tata Pay allows users to pay for items and bills both online and in-store in real-time.

d)      According to the information provided on the Play Store, the Tata Neu app pays users for shopping, booking flights and hotels, and other activities.

e)      Tata Neu App gives Neu Coins as an incentive for spending, which can be exchanged for other services.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Pulitzer Prize winning American poet Richard Howard passes away: Pulitzer Prize awardee American poet, Richard Howard passed away at age of 92. Richard Joseph Howard was born on 13 October 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (US). He was an American poet, literary critic, essayist, teacher, and translator. Howard won the Pulitzer Prize in 1970 for ‘’Untitled Subjects’’ and was a National Book Award Finalist in 2008 for ‘’Without Saying’’. His translation of Charles Baudelaire’s “Les Fleurs du Mal” won the National Book Award (then called the American Book Award) in 1983.

Daily GK Update- 5th April, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ministry of Culture launches ‘Temple 360’ website: The Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi has launched a website ‘Temple 360’. During an event organized by the Ministry of Culture at IGNCA Ampitheatre, Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts, New Delhi under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

About the Temple 360:

a)      Temple 360 is a digital platform where anyone can visit or do darshan of 12 Jyotirlinga and Char Dham from any location, making everyone’s life convenient while also keeping people connected.

b)      The website also allows a devotee to perform e-Darshan, e-Prashad, e-Aarti and several other services. Temple 360 is a website where one can visit a temple of their choice, anytime and from anywhere from India.

c)       With the help of this website, one can digitally witness the magnificence of some of the most pious Hindu pilgrimages that exist. The website also allows a devotee to perform e-aarti and several other services.

 

2. RPF arrests touts for illegal ticketing under Operation Upalabdh: As part of a month-long pan-India operation on illicit ticketing, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) detained 1,459 touts and blocked 366 IRCTC agent IDs and 6,751 personal IDs, the Railways announced on the 2nd of April, 2022. The RPF’s field units gathered information from the field, the digital world, and the cyber world, then consolidated, vetted, and analysed it before launching the campaign across the country on March 1, 2022.

Key Points:

a)      The operation was a huge success, resulting in the arrest of 1,459 touts, 341 of whom were authorised IRCTC agents who were also hawking train tickets.

b)      The process of blacklisting these IRCTC agents is currently underway, with 366 IRCTC agent IDs and 6,751 personal IDs being blocked.

c)       The number of arrests is almost 3.64 times that of the previous month.

d)      Future voyage tickets worth more than Rs 65 lakh that were illegally seized by these touts were recovered and blocked, making these seats available for the bonafide passengers.

About Operation Upalabdh: The ‘Operation Upalabdh’ push was launched following the reinstatement of long-distance train services, with the expectation that the festival and summer rush would result in a sharp increase in demand for reserved train tickets. In response to the feedback, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) increased its efforts and launched a pan-India offensive against touting practises in March 2022.

 

3. Government extends Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by one year until March 2023: Central Government has extended the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by one year, beyond March 2022 until March 2023. The total amount to be sanctioned under the ECLGS 3.0 scheme has also been increased from Rs 4.5 lakh crore to Rs 5 lakh crore. As on March 25, 2022, Rs 3.19 trillion loans has been sanctioned under the ECLGS scheme.

 

4. Rs 40,009 crore released under Jal Jeevan Mission in 2021-22; Rs. 60,000 crore budget allocated for 2022-23: As per the government data, Rs. 40,009 crore grant was released to States/ UTs under Jal Jeevan Mission in the financial year 2021-22. The total allocation under the scheme in FY2021-22 was Rs 50,000 crore. Further, the Cenral Government has enhanced the budget under Jal Jeevan Mission for financial year 2022-23 to Rs. 60,000 Crore. Since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission on August 15, 2019, more than 6 Crore households have been provided with tap water connections, so far. The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.

 

5. 4th edition of India Boat & Marine Show (IBMS) concludes in Kochi: The 4th edition of the India Boat & Marine Show (IBMS) was held at Bolgatty Palace in Kochi in Kerala. IBMS is India’s only and most influential Boat and Marine industry related exhibition. The event is organised by Kochi-based Cruz Expo. The IBMS 2022 showcased leading international brands as well as indigenous boat manufacturers from across the country. Around 45 exhibitors from all over India and two international exhibitors participated in the expo. The focus of the IBMS expo 2022 was the requirements for MSME in the marine and boating sector.

The event showcase leading international brands as well as indigenous boat manufacturers from across the country. In addition to marinas, engines, navigational and other systems and equipment, mainstream craft such as motorboats, speed boats, jet skies, kayaks, water scooters, scuba diving and fishing boats & trawlers and other marine equipment will be on display.

 

6. National Maritime Day: 5th April: National Maritime Day in India is observed on 5 April every year. This year is the 59th edition of the National Maritime Day. The National Maritime Day is celebrated every year day to illustrate the awareness in supporting intercontinental commerce and the global economy as the most well-organized, safe and sound, environmentally responsive approach of transporting goods from one corner to another corner of the world. The theme of the National Maritime Day is “Sustainable Shipping beyond Covid-19’’.

History of National Maritime Day of India: National Maritime Day was first celebrated on April 5, 1964. The saga of Indian shipping first started on April 5, 1919, when the SS Loyalty, the first ship of The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd travelled from Mumbai to the United Kingdom (London). On this day an award called “Varuna” is conferred to those who made an outstanding contribution to the Indian maritime sector.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement signed by India-Australia: India and Australia signed an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA), hailing it as a watershed moment and one of the biggest economic doors there is to open in the world. It will provide zero-duty access to 96 per cent of India’s exports to Australia, including shipments from key sectors like engineering goods, gems and jewellery, textiles, apparel, and leather.

Highlights of the Trade Agreement:

a)      The pact will increase bilateral trade to $45-50 billion in five years and create over one million jobs in India.

b)      Many labour-intensive Indian exports currently face a tariff disadvantage of 4-5 percent compared to competitors — those with FTAs with Australia — such as China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Officials claim that removing this barrier would greatly boost merchandise shipments.

c)       In FY2021, bilateral goods and services trade between India and Australia was $27.5 billion. In FY2022, merchandise exports to Australia grew at a quicker rate than exports to any other country.

d)      Exports of Indian goods and services to Australia are predicted to hit $20 billion in FY2027 and $35 billion in FY2035, up from around $10.5 billion in FY2021.

Advantage of the Agreement:

a)      Duty reductions on Australian wines would be phased gradually over time dependent on pricing. Wines with a minimum import price of $5 per 750 ml bottle will see a reduction of 150 per cent to 100 per cent when the agreement goes into effect and a further 50 per cent reduction over the next ten years. When the deal takes effect, tariffs on wine priced above $15 per 750 ml bottle will be reduced to 75%, and over the next ten years, they will be reduced to 25%.

b)      The deal will also help Australian authorities to approve Indian medications more quickly because they have agreed to use inspection reports and approvals from Canada and the EU in their examination of Indian pharmaceuticals and manufacturing facilities.

c)       Australia has also agreed to alter local taxation regulations to avoid the taxation of offshore revenue of Indian enterprises providing technical services to Australia, addressing a long-standing complaint of Indian IT firms about double taxation.

 

2. United Nations International Day of Conscience: 5th April: The United Nations General Assembly has designated 5 April to be observed as an International Day of Conscience every year. The resolution was adopted on 31 July 2019 by the UN General Assembly. The year 2022 marks the third edition of the celebrations. This day serves to remind people to self-reflect, follow their conscience, and do the right things. This Day is observed every year on the 5th of April and the first International Conscience Day was observed in 2020.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Women’s World Cup 2022 schedule: Australia wins ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022: Australia beat England by 71 runs in the finals to claim their seventh Women’s World Cup on April 03, 2022, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand. Australia posted a record of 356 on the board. In reply, Nat Sciver waged a lone battle and remained unbeaten on 148 but it was not enough as England was bowled out for 285 in 43.4 overs. Alyssa Healy of Australia scored 170 runs in the match, the highest individual score made by any cricketer, male or female, in the World Cup Final. She was also the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 509 runs.

Key points of Women’s World Cup:

Most Successful team Australian (7th)

Player of the Match (Finals) 2022: Alyssa Healy

Player of the tournament 2022: Alyssa Healy

Most runs (All time): Debbie Hockley (1,505), New Zealand

Leading wicket-taker in the tournament: Sophie Ecclestone (England, 21 dismissals)

Most wickets (All time): Jhulan Goswami (45), India

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. CBDT signed 62 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2021-22: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signed 62 Advance Pricing Agreements (APA) with Indian taxpayers in FY 2021-22. This included 13 Bilateral APAs (consequent to Mutual Agreement between India and its treaty partners) and 49 Unilateral APAs. With this, the total number of APAs has gone up to 421, since inception of the APA program. In the previous two years, total APAs signed included 31 APAs in FY 2020-21 and 57 APAs in FY 2019-20.

 

2. ADB and HSBC India partners to establish $100 million Partial Guarantee Program for Microfinance in India: Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement with HSBC India to establish a USD 100 million partial guarantee programme to support micro-borrowers with special weightage to women-run micro-enterprises across India. Under the deal, HSBC will expand its lending to microfinance institutions (MFIs) and non-bank finance companies, while multilateral funding agency, ADB will provide partial guarantee to the loans. The initiative will support more than 4 lakh borrowers. It has also been decided that an aggregated financing equivalent to $30 million will be disbursed to three MFIs across India by April 2022.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. FICCI estimate India’s GDP growth rate for FY23 at 7.4%: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has estimated India’s GDP to grow at 7.4 per cent in the financial year 2022-23 (FY23). The Ficci’s Economic Outlook Survey was released on April 03, 2022. The report has stated that rising prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict is the biggest challenge to the global economic recovery.

According to the survey, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to start a rate hike cycle in the second half of 2022, while a repo rate hike of 50-75 bps is expected by the end of the current fiscal. The RBI is expected to continue supporting the ongoing economic recovery by keeping the repo rate unchanged in its April policy review.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Grammy Awards 2022: The 64th annual Grammy Awards are being held for the first time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with Trevor Noah as host. The 64th GRAMMY Awards recognizes recordings (including musical artists, compositions and albums) released between September 01, 2020, to September 30, 2021. Jon Batiste received the most nominations with eleven and Batiste also received the most awards with five.

Here is the list of winners of the 64th annual Grammy Awards:

 

S.No	Category	Winners
1	Album Of The Year	‘We Are’ by Jon Batiste
2	Record Of The Year	‘Leave the door open’ by Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak
3	Best New Artist	Olivia Rodrigo
4	Best Rap Album	“Call Me If You Get Lost,” Tyler, the Creator
5	Best R&B Album Winner	“Heaux Tales,” Jazmine Sullivan.
6	Best Rap Song	“Jail,” Kanye West featuring Jay-Z
7	Best Country Album	“Starting Over,” Chris Stapleton
8	Song Of The Year	“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic (Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars)
9	Best Rock Album	“Medicine at Midnight,” Foo Fighters
10	Best Rock Song	“Waiting On a War,” Foo Fighters
11	Best Dance/Electronic Album	“Subconsciously,” Black Coffee
12	Producer of the Year, non-classical:	Jack Antonoff
13	Best Music Video	“Freedom,” Jon Batiste
14	Best Country Song	“Cold,” Chris Stapleton
15	Best Folk Album	“They’re Calling Me Home,” Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi
16	Best Comedy Album	“Sincerely Louis CK,” Louis C.K.
17	Best rap performance:	“Family Ties,” Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar
18	Best rock performance:	“Making a Fire,” Foo Fighters
19	Best music film:	“Summer of Soul”
20	Best musical theater album:	“The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical”
21	Best global music:	“Mohabbat,” Arooj Aftab
22	Best global music album:	“Mother Nature,” Angélique Kidjo
23	Best historical album: “Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1:	The Early Years (1963-1967)
24	Best Pop Duo / Group Performance:	Doja Cat and SZA for “Kiss Me More”
25	Best American roots performance:	“Cry,” Jon Batiste

 

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.