Daily GK Update- 22nd Apr, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India is placed at 38th spot on World Bank's Logistics Performance Index: India has improved its ranking in the World Bank's Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023 by six places from 44 in 2018 to 38 in 2023, among 139 countries. LPI is an interactive benchmarking tool created to help countries identify the challenges and opportunities on trade logistics and scope of improvement.

·       India’s category wise ranking:

·       International shipments: 22

·       Logistics competence and equality: 48

·       Timeline: 17

·       Tracking and tracing: 38

 

2. DRDO & Indian Navy Conduct Successful Trial of BMD Interceptor: Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Navy has successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha in Bay of Bengal

Aim: To engage and neutralize a hostile ballistic missile threat thereby elevating India into the elite club of Nations having Naval BMD capability Prior to this, DRDO has demonstrated land-based BMD system with capability to neutralize ballistic missile threats.

 

3. ISRO's PSLV-C55 successfully places two Singaporean satellites into orbit: Indian Space Research Organisations (ISRO) has successfully launched the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C55 (PSLV-C55) mission carrying two Singaporean satellites titled, Singapore’s TeLEOS-2 as the primary satellite and LUMELITE-4 from Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh They are co-passenger satellites precisely into their intended 586 km circular orbit PSLV-C55 is a commercial PSLV mission of NSIL, which is the commercial arm of ISRO.

 

4. Centre launches over 250 network towers in border areas of Arunachal: The Centre has launched over 254 network towers to provide 4G mobile connectivity in border areas of Arunachal Pradesh. It will provide 4G coverage in uncovered villages of the state, thereby bringing digital connectivity to 336 villages, including several areas which have remained unconnected since Independence. Over 70,000 subscribers are expected to benefit from the service.

 

5. Maharashtra Govt decides to constitute a new Commission: The government of Maharashtra has decided to constitute a new Commission to decide the backwardness of the Maratha Community. Its government will file a curative petition in the Supreme Court for Maratha (Social and Economic Backward Class) Reservation. It will ensure all the lapses in the Maratha Reservation law will be overcome and assured that Candidates from Maratha Community will be given all the benefits like other communities.

 

6. Govt launches fifth round of regional air connectivity scheme 'UDAN 5.0': Government has launched the fifth round of the regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN 5.0 to further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas. Under this scheme, viability gap funding (VGF) will be capped at 600 km stage length for both priority and non-priority areas, which was earlier capped at 500 km. Besides this, no pre-determined routes would be offered and only network and individual route proposals by airlines will be considered.

 

7. Solar Industries to Supply UAV ‘Nagastra’ To Indian Army: Solar Industries Nagpur has recently bagged an order to supply the UAV 'Nagastra' to the Indian Army, beating competitors from Israel and Poland. Nagastra is India's first indigenous loitering munition which can strike enemy targets with precision. It has been designed and developed by Economics Explosives Ltd (EEL), a 100 per cent subsidiary of Solar Industries Nagpur, in association with Z-Motion, Bangalore. It has an indigenous content of more than 75% 

 

8. NMC approves Nagaland to set up its first medical college: The National Medical Commission (NMC) approved the setting up of the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research which will become the first medical college in the northeastern state of Nagaland. The first medical college will be set up in the northeastern state since it got statehood 60 years ago in 1963. The academic session of the medical college will start from 2023-24. The medical college will have a capacity of 100 seats for MBBS students and 85 seats will be reserved for Nagaland-origin students, while the remaining 15 seats will be open for applicants from other states.

 

9. PFC sanctions Rs 633 crore loan to Gensol Engg for purchase of Electric Vehicles: Gensol Engineering Ltd (GEL) has been sanctioned a loan worth Rs 633 crore by Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), a Maharatna company for the purchase of 5,000 passenger electric vehicles (EVs) and 1,000 cargo EVs. PFC is a leading NBFC in the Indian power sector. The purchased passenger EVs will be leased to Blusmart Mobility Pvt. Ltd (BMPL) to expand its fleet of ride-hailing cabs. The first tranche of the loan has already been disbursed, and the first lot of EV cabs have hit the Delhi roads. 5000 Passenger E4W (Electric Four-Wheelers) funded by PFC are being deployed in Delhi and will result in CO2 emission reduction. With a view to accelerate India’s net-zero target, PFC is exploring opportunities in debt financing of EVs (OEMs and Fleet Acquisition), battery OEMs and EV charging infrastructure, apart from large-scale renewable energy financing.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Asia-Pacific Leaders’ Conclave on Malaria Elimination to commence at Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be organizing Asia Pacific Leaders’ Conclave on Malaria Elimination in New Delhi on 24th April 2023, in partnership with Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) It will be held under the guidance of Union Minister. Aim: to reaffirm political commitment to galvanize action for malaria elimination by 2030. It will revitalize national and regional momentum towards the goal of an Asia Pacific Free from Malaria by 2030.

 

2. Earth Day: 22nd April: Earth Day is being celebrated every year on 22nd April to honor the environmental movement and raise awareness to protect natural resources. Theme for Earth Day 2023: "Invest in Our Planet". American senator Gaylord Nelson founded the Earth Day for environmental education in 1970. Generally, Earth Day is either celebrated on 22nd April or on the day when the spring equinox occurs around the world.

 

3. IIT Madras to set up its first international campus in Tanzania: The first Indian Institute of Technology to be set up in Africa will come up in October in Tanzania. IIT Madras will set up its first international campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania, with plans to start the classes by October 2023.

In February 2023, a team of five professors from IIT Madras visited Tanzania and held discussions with various officials on starting the campus. This information was shared by IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti at IIT Madras’ 64th Institute Day.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Jyothi Surekha Vennam clinches two gold medals at Archery World Cup: India has won two gold medals, one each in the mixed team event and women's individual Compound, at the 2023 Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Antalya, Turkey. Indian mixed team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Pravin Deotale outclassed Chen Yi Hsuan and Chem Chieh Lun of Chinese Taipei by 159-154 to win the mixed team gold. The second gold came in the women's individual Compound event after Jyothi Surekha Vennam defeated Sara Lopez of Columbia by 149-146.

 

2. Rohit Sharma Announced as JioCinema’s brand ambassador: ioCinema, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Viacom18, has signed up Rohit Sharma, captain of the men’s cricket India, as its brand ambassador. The cricketer will build on the OTT platform’s vision of making sports viewing synonymous with digital. As part of this collaboration, Rohit will be working with the JioCinema team to promote their digital-first approach towards sports viewing.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IIB to open its first overseas office in Abu Dhabi: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a host member agreement to officially open the bank’s first overseas office, an Interim Operational Hub (the Hub), in Abu Dhabi. The new foreign office in Abu Dhabi will support the AIIB’s development agenda by funding sustainable economic development projects, primarily in areas where it is most needed. The AIIB is a multilateral development bank that prioritizes financing infrastructure projects focused on sustainability.

 

2. Royal Sundaram launches add-on covers for vehicle insurance policies: Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co. Ltd has introduced three add-on covers for its vehicle insurance policies – Smart Save, Roadside assistance, and Return-to-invoice. It has announced a ‘Smart Save’ add-on cover for private cars. This comes at a zero cost and will help the customer to get an upfront discount in Own Damage (OD) insurance premium, for repairing their vehicles at Royal Sundaram’s identified repair shops and garages in the event of a claim. It has also introduced two add-on covers for two-wheeler policies. The add-on ‘Roadside Assistance’ will cover 11 emergency services, which can rescue an immobilized two-wheeler. The services can be requested for electrical, mechanical, or accidental breakdown. Return to Invoice’ add-on cover comes with two plans which will seek to protect the two-wheeler insurance customers to get their invoice value of the vehicle in case of a total loss, including theft of the vehicle. As per the plan chosen, road tax, registration charges, and insurance costs are also covered by the customer.

 

3. Kaizad Bharucha appointed as deputy MD of HDFC Bank: Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Kaizad Bharucha as Deputy Managing Director and Bhavesh Zaveri as Executive Director of the HDFC bank for three years. This appointment reinforces Bharucha’s position as number two in the bank after Sashidhar Jagdishan, who was appointed CEO in October 2020. The bank’s board recommended Jagdishan for another three-year term last month.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Deepika Misra becomes 1st woman IAF officer to get Gallantry Award: Wing Commander Deepika Misra has become the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force to be presented a gallantry award. Wing Commander Mishra, a Rajasthan-based helicopter pilot, has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for “extraordinary courage” displayed during a flood relief operation in Madhya Pradesh. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari presented the Yudh Seva Medal and other awards to several officers and air warriors at an Investiture Ceremony held at the Air Force Auditorium in Subroto Park here. While two IAF officers were awarded Yudh Seva Medal, 13 officers, and air warriors received Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 13 officers Vayu Sena Medal and 30 Vishisht Seva Medal. A total of 58 persons, 57 from the IAF and one from the Army received the awards.

 

2. Shanti Lakra selected as finalist for Global Nursing Award 2023: Shanti Lakra, a nurse from India, has been selected as a finalist for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2023. The winner of the award will receive a cash prize of $25,000 and will be announced in May 2023. The award recognizes and honors exceptional nurses from around the world who have made significant contributions to patient care. Lakra works as a nurse in a hospital in Port Blair.

Daily GK Update- 21st Apr, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Tier 2, 3 Indian cities saw 162% growth in loan applications in 2022: According to Prodigy Finance’s Study Abroad Insights Report 2022, its services have received significant growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions in India, where they saw an uptick of 162%. Cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Chennai have the highest number of loan applications in 2022.

In Tier 1 cities, Delhi saw a massive increase of 237% followed by Hyderabad. Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities witnessed a growth of an average of 53% and 109% respectively.

 

2. National Civil Services Day 2023: 21 April: India has observed National Civil Services Day every year on April 21 to honour the contributions of the officers who work for the nation’s numerous public service departments. On this day, the PM will award the officers from the central and state governments for their outstanding contributions to public administration On April 21, 1947, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel (Home Minister) gave a speech to the first group of civil servants in Independent India at the Metcalf House

 

3. ISRO, Moon Village Association tie up for Chandrayaan-3 outreach: The Moon Village Association (MVA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have joined hands for global outreach activities in connection with the proposed Chandrayaan-3. Aim: To increase the impact of Isro’s lunar program at a global level and ensure further international cooperation It will focus on the global aspect of lunar exploration and identify communication, and encourage the youth to focus on the benefits of every lunar mission.

 

4. Haryana CM Khattar launches 3 online services: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has launched three online services to digitally empower people. These online services are Pro-active Divyang Pension Service, ‘Tau se Poochho’ WhatsApp chatbot, and online booking of government rest houses. The Pro-active Divyang Pension Service for the physically challenged is committed to delivering all services for them at their doorsteps. The Haryana Parivar Pehchan Authority has created a WhatsApp Chatbot Tau Se Poochho.

 

5. Kerala launches 'One Panchayat, One Playground': The Kerala government has launched a project 'One Panchayat, One Playground' project to revive the sports culture in the State by opening quality playgrounds in every panchayat. It was inaugurated by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan at Kallikkad. For the first phase of the project, the state government has prepared a list of 113 panchayats. Each playground would cost around Rs 1 crore, half will be paid by the Sports department and the rest would be raised from other sources

 

6. Pune to get the biggest international school in Maharashtra: Wellington College, one of the top UK schools with a 170-year-old heritage, has set up a K-12 School in Pune with its academic year beginning in September 2023. Wellington College International Pune, with its extensive academic facilities totalling more than 4,00,000 sq. ft., It is one of the biggest International Schools to open in Maharashtra. The school will be built in collaboration with a Singapore-based education company and will follow international standards. It will offer a range of programs, including the International Baccalaureate and Cambridge International.

 

7. Maharashtra Govt has announced 4% reservation for disabled employees: Maharashtra Government has announced a 4% reservation for Divyang employees in promotions. The state cabinet has decided that this reservation will apply for those cadres in which the proportion of recruitment through direct service is not more than 75 percent. The state cabinet has also decided to clear all pending dues as per the Seventh Pay Commission for non-teaching staff serving across all non-agricultural universities. The arrears will be paid in five installments on 1st July every year, over the next five years. The Cabinet has further decided that women belonging to the Open and the backward categories will no longer be needed to produce the non-creamy layer certificate for posts reserved for them.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Air Force will participate in exercise INIOCHOS-23 held in Greece: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has informed that it will take part in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, which will be held at the Andravida Air Base in Greece from April 24 to May 4. It is a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. The Indian Air Force will participate with four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft. Other Nations: Cyprus, Italy, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, and the USA. Aim: To enhance international cooperation and interoperability

 

2. IIT Madras to set up its first international campus in Tanzania: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras will set up its first International campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania in October 2023. In February 2023, a team of five professors from IIT Madras visited Tanzania and held discussions with various officials on starting the campus. It will be the first IIT campus in Africa and classes are to start from October. This information was shared by IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti at IIT Madras’ 64th Institute Day.

 

3. India shown more confidence in children's vaccines: UNICEF Report: According to a report published by UNICEF, India is among the three countries out of 55 studied for popular perception of the importance of vaccines for children that have shown improvement. The other two countries are China and Mexico. The data was collected by The Vaccine Confidence Project (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine). Countries showed low confidence: The Republic of Korea, Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Senegal, and Japan

 

4. AIM, NITI Aayog, and UNCDF Team Up to Make India a Global Agri-tech leader: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) jointly launched a whitepaper to make India a global leader in Agri-Tech innovation. They also aimed at expanding these innovations to the least developed countries in Asia and Africa. The whitepaper offers actionable steps to overcome challenges faced by Agri-Tech start-ups and facilitate their growth at national and international levels.

 

5. New York City tops the list of world’s wealthiest cities 2023: New York City topped a new list of the world’s wealthiest cities in 2023, with Japan’s Tokyo and Silicon Valley’s Bay Area claiming the second and third spots. Mumbai featured at 21st while Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad too found a mention. The list, compiled by London-based consultancy Henley & Partners, ranked the cities by taking into account the number of resident millionaires (rounded off to the neared 100) as of December 31, 2022. It was dominated by cities in the United States and China — not one European city featuring in the top 10, with the exception of London. Bengaluru got a special mention as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Asia Pacific. The report said: “Also known as the “Garden City” and the “Silicon Valley of India”, Bengaluru has a booming tech sector.” The World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2023 covered 97 cities across the world, using data from wealth intelligence firm, New World Wealth, which tracks the movements and spending habits of high-net-worth individuals with the work titles like Founder, Chairperson, CEO, and Director. It also considered the number of highly-priced homes in the area, said Henley & Partners.

 

6. Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel wins second term: President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel has clinched a second five-year term in a parliamentary vote for which he was the sole candidate in the country. Diaz-Canel’s bid was confirmed by 97.66 percent of votes cast in the Communist Party of Cuba-aligned National Assembly, its president Esteban Lazo announced in the chamber. He took over the reins in 2018 as the first civilian leader of Cuba. His first five years in office were marked by the worst economic crisis in three decades.

 

7. ISRO to launch Singapore’s TeLEOS-2 satellite on April 22: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch a Singaporean Earth Observation satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on April 22. The satellite namedTeLEOS-2 will be launched aboard ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which will take off on its 55th mission. The TeLEOS-2 is an Earth Observation Satellite, designed to capture round-the-clock, all-weather satellite imagery of the Earth and it will provide a host of data to help with various operations. The ISRO will use the XL variant of PSLV in the upcoming C-55 mission.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Harmanpreet Kaur named among Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year: In the 2023 edition of the Wisden Cricketer's Almanack, New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell, England wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes, India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur, NZ all-rounder Daryl Mitchell and England pacer Matthew Potts have been named Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year. Harmanpreet is the first India Women’s cricketer to be named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. She was chosen primarily for her ODI century against England at Canterbury.

 

2. Odisha’s Bhubaneswar to host 2023 Intercontinental Cup in June: A four-team Intercontinental Cup will be held in Bhubaneswar from June 9 to 18. This will be the third edition of the tournament with the previous two being held in Mumbai (2018) and Ahmedabad (2019). Host India will be joined by Lebanon, Mongolia and Vanuatu in the tournament. The Indian men’s national team had previously never played against Mongolia and Vanuatu. Against Lebanon, the hosts hold a record of playing six matches. The Indian men’s national team had previously never played against Mongolia and Vanuatu. Against Lebanon, the hosts hold a record of playing six matches.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Federal Bank sign with KiVi as Banking Correspondent: Federal Bank has signed with an agri fintech start-up, KiVi as Banking Correspondent. Aim: To scale and expand its agri-lending portfolio in Tamil Nadu. Federal Bank launched the instant KCC platform in September 2022 and claimed to be the first of its kind in agriculture lending, it offers farmers convenience and turnaround time. Aim: At providing small loans to small and marginal farmers, and to facilitate efficient credit flow to underserved rural populations

 

2. Royal Sundaram launches add-on covers for vehicle insurance policies: Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co. Ltd has introduced three add-on covers for its vehicle insurance policies -Smart Save, Roadside assistance, and Return-to-invoice. Smart Save: This is for private cars, comes at a zero cost and will help the customer to get an upfront discount in OD insurance premium, for repairing their vehicles at Royal Sundaram’s identified repair shops. Roadside Assistance: It is for two-wheeler policies and will cover 11 emergency services.

 

3. South Indian Bank debuts 2 flexible savings accounts for NRIs: For NRI customers, South Indian Bank has introduced SIB SEAFARER and SIB PULSE, two flexible saving accounts. With these products, NRIs now have the option to keep either deposits or the required minimum amount in their savings accounts. Healthcare personnel and mariners both now have access to flexible savings accounts, which proves that South Indian Bank has been working to streamline banking requirements and offer top-notch customer service. Flexibility to maintain a minimum balance of Rs. 10,000/- in linked accounts No minimum balance is required for the maintenance of the NRI Term Deposit of Rs.2 lakh and above

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Asha Bhosle to receive Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar: Legendary singer Asha Bhosle will be felicitated with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award on April 24, the Memorial Day of theatre-music veteran Deenanath Mangeshkar. The family and the trust have instituted the award in memory of Lata Mangeshkar, who died on February 6, 2022. This award was aimed to honor people from various fields such as music, drama, art, medicine, and social work.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was its first recipient

 

2. Angela Merkel receives Germany’s highest Order of Merit: Former Chancellor Angela Merkel received the highest Order of Merit of Germany from the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The award has only been given twice before, to former chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl. All three former leaders belong to the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The Order of Merit entails no financial reward. Merkel led Germany from 2005 to 2021, totaling four terms in office.

Daily GK Update- 20th Apr, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Randhir Thakur appointed as CEO & MD of Tata Electronics: Tata Group has appointed Dr. Randhir Thakur as the CEO and managing director of Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd (TEPL). Before this, he was associated with the global electronic chip and circuits manufacturing giant Intel. He has also held leadership and technical positions at Applied Materials Inc., SanDisk Corp, and Micron Technology Inc. TEPL was founded in 2020 as a greenfield venture of the Tata Group with expertise in manufacturing precision components.

 

2. Assam, Arunachal signs MoU on the border dispute: Assam government has signed an MoU with the Arunachal Pradesh government to resolve the long pending border dispute between both states. The MoU was signed in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on April 20. The Assam cabinet has approved the recommendations of 12 Regional Committees formed by the state government to resolve the decades-long border dispute issues with Arunachal Pradesh. Assam shares an 804 km long boundary with Arunachal Pradesh.

 

3. HSBC India ropes in Virat Kohli as their brand influencer: Former Indian men's cricket team captain, Virat Kohli has been appointed as the brand influencer of HSBC India. HSBC India is also set to launch a multimedia campaign featuring Kohli, aimed at re-establishing the value proposition of banking with the company. Virat Kohli will help to amplify HSBC’s purpose of opening up a world of opportunity as it strives to support the ambitions of an aspirational India going global. HSBC India CEO: Hitendra Dave 

 

4. Agriculture Minister launched SATHI Portal & Mobile App: Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar launched the SATHI Portal and Mobile App to deal with the challenges of seed production, quality seed identification, and seed certification. SATHI refers to Seed Traceability, Authentication, and Holistic Inventory. It has been developed on the theme of Uttam Beej - Samriddh Kisan. The minister highlighted that the government is constantly trying to overcome the challenges and difficulties faced by farmers.

 

5. NHAI to create around 10,000 km of Digital Highways by FY 2024 – 25: NHAI is working towards the development of around 10,000 km of Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) infrastructure across the country by FY2024-25. The network of Digital Highways will be implemented by the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a fully owned SPV of NHAI. Under the pilot routes for the Digital Highway development, around 1,367 km on Delhi - Mumbai Expressway and 512 km on Hyderabad - Bangalore Corridor have been identified.

 

6. IIT Roorkee signs pact with Taiwanese centre: IIT Roorkee has signed an MoU with the National Science and Technology Centre for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), Taiwan. Aim: To develop scientific and academic cooperation and scientific research to promote relations and mutual understanding between NCDR and the Centre of Excellence in Disaster Mitigation and Management of IIT Roorkee The main objective is to develop a technological solution to natural hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, and compound disasters. 

 

7. Kerala adopts Water Budget to tackle summer water shortage: Kerala has become the first state to adopt a water budget in a bid to come up with a solution to water scarcity in certain regions. The first phase would cover 94 gram panchayats and 15-block panchayats. The Public Water Budget was released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with the launch of the third phase of the Ini Njan Ozhukatte (Let me flow now) project, for the rehabilitation of irrigation networks in the Western Ghats. The idea of a water budget was first mooted by the state in 2019. The current Budget was prepared based on the availability and consumption of water in the state. The state has recovered hundreds of water bodies and will be using satellite data to assess the status of water bodies in 230 gram panchayats in its third phase. During the first and second phases, around 7,290 km of irrigation networks had been rejuvenated. Though the state has around 44 rivers and several other water bodies, some parts face severe water shortages during the summer season.

 

8. Manipur CM inaugurates Hun Thadou cultural festival: The 5th edition of HUN- a Thadou Cultural Festival 2023 kicked off at Thomas Ground in Kangpokpi district of HUN festival is an annual cultural festival and a civilizing act of the Thadous community of Manipur and it is celebrated at the arrival of the new year according to the community. The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Hun Thadou tribe, one of the major ethnic groups in the state. The festival features traditional dance performances, music, food, and handicrafts.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel wins second term in polls: President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel (62) has clinched a second five-year term in a parliamentary vote for which he was the sole candidate in the country. His bid was confirmed by 97.66% of votes cast in the Communist Party of Cuba-aligned National Assembly. He took over the reins in 2018 as the first civilian leader of Cuba. His first five years in office were marked by the worst economic crisis in three decades. Cuba Capital: Havana; Currency: Cuban Peso

 

2. India surpasses China as world’s most populous nation: UN: According to the UN data, India has surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation with 142.86 crore people. China has a population of 142.57 crore. In 2016, China ended its strict "one-child policy" and started letting couples have three children in 2021. According to the UN data, the global population will have hit 8.045 billion by mid-2023. Factors Influencing population growth: Fertility rate, Increasing longevity, International migration

 

3. World's Wealthiest Cities Report 2023 released: According to the World's Wealthiest Cities Report 2023, published by Henley & Partners and New World Wealth, New York City has emerged as the wealthiest city in the world, with 340,000 resident millionaires. Tokyo with 290,300 resident millionaires, ranked second, followed by The Bay Area, London, and Singapore. While the US has topped the list in the number of wealthy cities, with 10 out of the top 50 cities in the world, followed by China, and Australia.

 

4. India overtakes China as world’s most populous country: India has become the world’s most populous country, overtaking China, according to the United Nations. According to UN estimates, India’s population is 142.86 crore against China’s 142.57 crore. This is the first time that India has topped the UN list of most populous countries since it started collecting population data in 1950. Nearly 1/4th of India’s population is under the age of 14, according to the UN data. 68 percent of the population is in the 15 to 64 age group, while 7 percent is above the age of 65. Estimates by different agencies have suggested that India’s population is expected to keep rising for nearly three decades before it peaks at 165 crore and then would start declining. The new UN report also estimated that the global population will have hit 8.045 billion by mid-2023. The United States is a very distant third, with an estimated population of 340 million. By 2050, eight countries will account for half the projected growth in global population: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania.

 

5. 20 April – Chinese Language Day: The United Nations (UN) is celebrating the 13th annual Chinese Language Day on 20 April 2023. Theme 2023 – Chinese Wisdom for a Green World This day is dedicated to honoring Cangjie, the inventor of Chinese characters, and his legend of creating the characters amidst cries from deities and ghosts and rain of millet. Chinese was recognized as one of the official languages of the United Nations in 1946. In 1973, the General Assembly designated Chinese as a working language, which was later followed by the Security Council in 1974. Since then, an increasing number of UN offices and staff members have been working with the Chinese language.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Cricketer Faf du Plessis's autobiography is to be released in May 2023: South African cricketer, Francois ‘Faf’ du Plessis's memoir 'Faf Through Fire' is all set to release in India in May 2023. The book is published by Penguin Random House India. Presently, he is the captain of the Indian Premier League’s Royal Challengers Bangalore team. He is also the former Captain of the South African National Cricket team. In his upcoming memoir, he has shared his journey as a cricketer, love for the game, and also reveals his struggles and triumphs.

 

2. Chennai to host 2023 Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy: The Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2023 will be hosted in Chennai, India. The seventh edition of the prestigious continental event, which was inaugurated in 2011, will serve as a precursor to the Asian Games hockey competition in Hangzhou, China in September. Chennai last hosted an international hockey event in 2007 when the Asia Cup was held at Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium where India clinched the title after beating Korea 7-2 in the final. India have also won the tournament three times (2011, 2016 and joint winner with Pakistan in 2018) while South Korea clinched the last edition title in 2021 in Dhaka.

 

3. Gary Ballance announces retirement from all forms of cricket: Former England cricketer Gary Ballance has announced his retirement from all forms of the game. He had recently moved to Zimbabwe, his country of birth, and played a few matches for them. Ballance played 1 Test, 1 ODI and 5 T20 Internationals for Zimbabwe and also scored a Test ton (137*) during his stint with the team. Overall, Gary Ballance played 24 Tests (23 for England), 21 ODIs and 1 T20I in his international career. He was well known for his contribution in red-ball cricket scoring 1653 runs at an average of 40.32 with five tons to his name.

 

4. Argentina to replace Indonesia as under-20 FIFA World Cup host: Argentina will host the under-20 soccer World Cup. Argentina has replaced Indonesia, which was supposed to host it earlier. FIFA announced the decision to remove Indonesia as host after the country’s FA cancelled the draw to be held in Bali as its governor refused to host Israel’s team. The Argentine FA formally submitted its bid to host the May 20-June 11 tournament one day later at the South American Football Confederation Congress. Argentina hosted the under-20 World Cup in 2001 when they won the fourth of their record six titles. They are also seeking to jointly host the World Cup finals in 2030 with Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI allows AU SFB, Equitas Bank to deal with foreign exchange: RBI has approved the AU Small Finance Bank and Equitas Bank to deal in foreign exchange.bAU SFB informed that RBI has granted the Licence to act as Authorized Dealer Category-I (AD-I) under section 10 of FEMA, 1999 to deal in foreign exchange. The permission is subject to compliance with applicable regulations. Equitas Small Finance Bank has also received Authorized Dealer Category-I (AD-I) License from RBI. AU Small Finance Bank CEO: Sanjay Agarwal

 

2. South Indian Bank debuts 2 flexible savings accounts for NRIs: South Indian Bank has introduced SIB SEAFARER and SIB PULSE, two flexible saving accounts, for NRI customers.

 

SEAFARER:

Flexibility to maintain a minimum balance of Rs.10,000/- in linked accounts No minimum balance is required for the maintenance of the NRI Term Deposit of Rs.2 lakh and above

 

PULSE:

Flexibility to maintain a minimum balance of Rs.10,000/- in linked accounts NR Term Deposit above Rs.2 Lakh or RD with minimum monthly installment above Rs.20,000/-

 

3. AU Small Finance Bank launches bill payments via video banking: AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has integrated with the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to launch bill payment services through video banking. The primary aim of this initiative is to promote digital accessibility and enhance economic capability, leading to greater financial inclusions. Customers can use this platform to pay their bills without having to go to a branch, which is especially useful for senior persons and others with mobility challenges. AU SFB’s video banking service underscores its commitment to providing innovative solutions to its customers. This platform enables customers to pay bills without the need to visit a branch, which is particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues or residing in remote areas and senior citizens.

 

3. Chennai ranks among top 5 in digital payment transactions in 2022: Report: Chennai has emerged as one of the top digital payment transactions cities in 2022 in the country, a report by payment services firm Worldline India. The capital city in terms of volume has made 14.3 million transactions with a value of USD 35.5 billion. Bengaluru emerged on top with 29 million transactions worth USD 65 billion followed by New Delhi 19.6 million transactions worth USD 50 billion, Mumbai (18.7 million transactions worth USD 49.5 billion), Pune (15 million transactions valued at USD 32.8 billion). According to the report, in 2022, frequently visited physical merchant categories like grocery stores, restaurants, clothing and apparel, pharmacey, household appliances together accounted for over 43 percent in terms of volume and about 40 percent in terms of value, across the country.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Angela Merkel receives Germany's highest Order of Merit: Former Chancellor Angela Merkel received the highest Order of Merit of Germany from the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The award has only been given twice before, to former chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl. All three former leaders belong to the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The Order of Merit entails no financial reward. Merkel led Germany from 2005 to 2021, totalling four terms in office

 

2. Karnataka bags National Award For Fasal Bima Yojana: Karnataka has bagged the national award for the best implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in the country. According to the authorities, between the kharif season 2021 and 2022, the state recorded a 47.74% increase in the enrolment of farmers under the scheme. while the area covered under the scheme increased by 41.80%. In the Kharif season 2021, 16.15 lakh farmers had enrolled under the scheme. It increased to 23.86 lakh in 2022. The extent of areas covered under the scheme increased from 13.35 lakh hectares to 18.94 lakh hectares. For Kharif 2022 season, 5.60 lakh farmers whose fields were affected by natural calamities have already been compensated within the same year itself (which was not being done in the previous years) with crop insurance claims being settled to the tune of Rs 298.57 crore under add-on coverages such as prevented sowing, localized calamities, mid-season adversity and post-harvest loss claims.

 

1. Sonam Wangchuk conferred with Prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award: Sonam Wangchuk has been awarded the prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award for his contributions to society. The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 1 crore, has been instituted in memory of SRK and SRKKF’s Founder Chairman Govind Dholakia’s mother Late Santokbaa Dholakia. The award was presented to Shri Sonam Wangchuk on the death anniversary of Santokbaa on April 10, 2023, at an award ceremony at Hotel Zen in Ladakh. He is best known for his work on the Ice Stupa project, which aims to address water scarcity in the Himalayas. The Santokbaa Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society in the areas of education, healthcare, and social welfare.

 

2. Asha Bhosle to be honoured with Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar: Legendary singer Asha Bhosle will be awarded the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award on 24 April 2023. This award, known as the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar, is given every year to an individual who has made a path-breaking contribution towards the nation, its people and society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was its first recipient. Veteran ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas will receive the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for his contribution to Indian music.