Current Affairs April 2023

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

  • The Ministry of Heavy Industries  Rs 800 crore under FAME India Scheme Phase II has been sanctioned to three PSU oil marketing companies i.e. Indian Oil Corp. Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd., and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd, for setting up 7,432 public fast charging EV stations across the country.
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India’s defence exports have reached an all-time high of 15 thousand 920 crore rupees in Financial Year 2022-2023. India exported military hardware worth Rs 8,434 crore in 2020-21, Rs 9,115 crore in 2019-20 and Rs 10,745 crore in 2018-19.
  • Researchers from Europe and the United States calculated the national contribution to warming due to greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4 and N2O from the 1850s to 2021.
Carbon Dioxide (CO 2) is responsible for 1.11 °C of warming
Methane (CH 4) is responsible for 0.41 °C of warming
Nitrous oxide (N 2O) is responsible for 0.08 °C of warming

Top five countries in contribution of global warming:

1. United States with a 0.28 °C (17.3%) rise in temperature.
2. China with 0.20 °C (12.3 %) rise in temperature.
3. Russia third at 0.10 °C (6.1%) rise in temperature.
4. Brazil fourth at 0.08 °C (4.9%) rise in temperature.
5. India fifth at 0.08 °C (4.8%) rise in temperature.

The following table shows various meeting and its place with respect to G-20 summit in India.

Name of Meeting/ Conference Place
Inception meeting of the G-20 empower group of the Ministry of Women and Child Development Agra
1st Agriculture Representatives Meeting of the Agriculture Working Group under the G20 chairmanship Indore Indore
1st Culture Working Group meet Madhya Pradesh’s temple town Khajuraho
2nd Tourism Working Group meeting Siliguri, West Bengal
2nd Sherpa meeting of the G20 Summit village of Kumarakom Kerala
2nd Agriculture representative meeting of the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) Chandigarh
2nd Meeting of the Working Group on Environment and Climate Sustainability Gandhinagar, Gujarat
2nd Startup 20 Engagement Group Gangtok, Sikkim
2nd G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group (SFWG) meeting Udaipur, Rajasthan
1st G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group (SFWG) meeting Guwahati, Assam
1st Supreme Audit Institution 20 (SAI20) Senior Officers' Meeting (SOM) Guwahati, Assam
4th Y20 consultation meeting Pune, Maharashtra
Inception meeting of Civil20 (C-20), a working group of the G-20 summit Nagpur, Maharashtra
1st Meeting of the W20 (Women 20) Aurangabad, Maharashtra
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the implementation of a uniform tariff by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) as a noteworthy reform in the energy and natural gas sector.

❱ By "One Nation, One Grid and One tariff", the government aims to boost the consumption of natural gas in the country and increase its share in India's energy basket from current 6.2 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030.

  • India has slammed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for its “anti-India” agenda after the group issued a statement expressing concern about violence and vandalism targeting the Muslim community in several Indian states during Ram Navami processions.
  • India has been elected as a member of the UN Statistical Commission, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) by the Economic and Social Council ECOSOC of the United Nations.

❱ The Statistical Commission is the highest body dealing with international statistical activities and is responsible for standards setting in the field of statistics. India was a member of the Statistical Commission last in 2004 and it is returning to the Commission after a gap of two decades.

  • The latest draft of the National Electricity Plan (NEP), which covers the period 2022-27, marks a significant departure from its previous edition, which had focused primarily on renewable energy.

❱ The NEP is a crucial document that guides the development of the power sector in India. It is formulated by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) every five years under the Electricity Act, 2003.

❱ The first NEP was notified in 2007, the Second Plan in December 2013.

  • The Government has sanctioned loans of more than 40,600 crore rupees to over 1.8 lakh women entrepreneurs under the Stand Up India Scheme. Stand Up India Scheme launched in April 5, 2016.The purpose of Stand-Up India is to:

❱ Promote entrepreneurship amongst women, SC & ST category;

❱ Provide loans for greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and activities allied to agriculture;

❱ Facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.100 lakh to at least one Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks.

  • According to a report by the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India is expected to become the world’s second-largest solar manufacturer by 2026. The report states that India’s solar manufacturing capacity is expected to increase from 10 GW in 2020 to 50 GW by 2030.
  • The Bangladesh Power Development Board received 450 MW of electricity from Adani Power, a subsidiary of the Indian Adani Group, on a trial basis. Power is supplied from Adani's power plant in Godda, Jharkhand.
  • Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) has launched a solar-powered tourist boat called Sooryamshu that can produce 27 KW of energy.The boat was built in Sri Lanka for Rs. 3.95 crores.
  • Sooryamshu- a solar-powered tourist boat has been launched by Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation. This can produce 27 KW of energy.
  • The government fixed natural gas price at $7.92 per MMBTU (million British thermal units) for the rest of April under the new pricing formula suggested by the Kirit Parekh Committee.
  • The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has created a committee to tackle the problem of incomplete real estate projects. The committee, consisting of 14 members and chaired by Amitabh Kant, will focus on stalled legacy projects and make recommendations on how to complete them.
  • Expert panel to probe the regulatory failure on the Adani issue-Former Supreme Court judge A M Sapre.
  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) celebrated the 5th Poshan Pakhwada nationwide from 20th March to 3rd April 2023 to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and promote healthy eating habits through Jan Andolan (People’s Movement) and Jan Bhagidari (People’s Participation). The theme of Poshan Pakhwada 2023 is “Nutrition for All: Together Towards a Healthy India”.
  • The Government of India has given the Geographical Indication (GI) to 33 new product from different states, including Bihar (1), Uttar Pradesh(10), Madhya Pradesh (1), Chhattisgarh (1), and Tamil Nadu (11) as well as the Union Territories of Ladakh (1) and Jammu & Kashmir (8). Some important are as follow:

❱ Marcha Rice (Mircha Rice) - Agricultural product of Bihar.

❱ Adamchini chawal (Rice) - Agricultural product of Uttar Pradesh.

❱ Bakhira Brassware - handicraft product of Uttar Pradesh.

❱ Nagina wood Craft - handicraft product of Uttar Pradesh.

❱ Nagri Dubraj (Rice) - Chhattisgarh

❱ Mushqbudji Rice – Jammu & Kashmir

  • For the first time India will host the Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi. The two-day Summit is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation on 20-21 April. The theme of the Global Buddhist Summit is “Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis”.
  • Ministry of Textiles announced the launch of 02 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 31 items consisting of 19 Geo Textiles and 12 Protective Textiles in the Phase-I, following due process of notification of Technical Regulations. These QCOs mark the first technical regulation from India for the Technical Textiles industry
  • The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Purushottam Rupala has launched the Animal Epidemic Preparedness Initiative and World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for One Health to enhance India's preparedness and response to potential animal pandemics, in line with the One Health approach.

❱ This initiative aims to enhance India's preparedness and response to animal pandemics, with a focus on zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to both animal and human health.

❱ Zoonotic diseases are caused by harmful germs like viruses, bacterial, parasites, and fungi. These germs can cause many different types of illnesses in people and animals, ranging from mild to serious illness and even death. Animals can sometimes appear healthy even when they are carrying germs that can make people sick, depending on the zoonotic disease.

  • Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) on 10thApril, 2023. A communication to this effect has been issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India.
  • India will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Young Authors' Conference (YAC) on April 12-13 in New Delhi, by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, under the current Chairmanship of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
  • India released the 1st edition of the Dogri version of the Indian Constitution. The release of this version is a significant step towards promoting linguistic diversity and preserving the cultural heritage of the country.

❱ Dogri is an Indo-Aryan language primarily spoken in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and is one of the 22 official languages recognized by the Indian Constitution.

  • Recently, the Ministry of Education released a pre-draft version of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education and has sought feedback from diverse stakeholders. The pre-draft was formulated by a committee led by K Kasturirangan, a former head of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
  • The National Securities Depository has released the Assets Under Custody (AUC) report for the financial year 2022-23. The report highlights the major countries from which maximum Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) has been received - 1st United State of America, 2nd Singapore, 3rd Luxembourg, 4th Mauritius, and 5th the UK.

❱ The report also shows that the Assets Under Custody from Mauritius are expected to decline by about 42%, while Norway and Singapore registered an increase in AUC of 13% and 5%, respectively.

❱ Foreign Portfolio Investment refers to investing in the financial assets of a foreign country, such as stocks or bonds available on an exchange.

  • With the aim to curb poaching and illegal wildlife trade, Prime Minister Modi launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in Karnataka. He also inaugurated the program to mark the ‘Commemoration of 50 Years of Project Tiger' .

❱ During the programme, he released the publication ‘Amrit Kaal Ka Vision for Tiger Conservation’, a summary report of 5th cycle of Management Effective Evaluation of Tiger Reserves.

❱ The IBCA will focus on the protection and conservation of seven  major big cats of the world – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and Cheetah

  • The eastern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a stay on the Rs.72,000 crore Great Nicobar Island (GNI) project and constituted a committee to revisit the environmental clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
  • Government aims to sequence 10,000 genomes by the end of the year 2023 under the Genome India Project (GIP). The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology has sequenced close to 7,000 genomes and 3,000 of these are already available for public access.
  • President Droupadi Murmu has attended the function to mark the completion of 75 years of the Gauhati High Court in Guwahati. On the occasion, she launched a mobile app 'Bhoroxa' made for the safety of women and elderly people. Which has been developed by the Gauhati High Court.
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed agreement with Tata Power Delhi Distribution to enhance power distribution.
  • Detailed dossiers on these villages covered under the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar programme will be made available from May on a web portal. In a bid to harness the unique cultural heritage of rural India, the government has identified and documented distinctive features of more than one lakh villages across the country.
  • Doordarshan will broadcast a documentary named ‘DHAROHAR BHARAT KI – Punruthaan ki Kahaani' showcasing the achievements of the government in the last few years.
  • Recently India and Vietnam discussed the importance of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was adopted in 1982 governs world ocean and sea.
  • India-Japan-Bangladesh will organise a mega meet in Tripura on April 11-12to put in place connectivity initiatives to harness commercial potential of the region.
  • SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App has been launched by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry. To deal with the challenges of seed production, quality seed identification, and seed certification.
  • Union Cabinet on 19th April approved the National Quantum Mission to nurture and scale up scientific and industrial research and development in quantum technology. It will be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology.

❱ The mission planned for 2023-2031 aims to seed, nurture, and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).

❱ With the launch of this mission,India will be the seventh country to have a dedicated quantum mission after the US, Austria, Finland, France, Canada and China.

  • Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah has inaugurated the first National Conference of Heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Force of States and Union Territories. He also launched a mobile app and web portal - 'Map Drugs' which will help in identifying and destruction of illegal farming in the country. He informed that the government is committed to “build a drug-free India by 2047”, the year in which India will celebrate 100th year of independence.
  • Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has organized the Digital Health Summit 2023 in Goa in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The theme of the event was “Building One Health Together – Improving Health Equity”.
  • India is the fourth highest donor to the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), which funds at least 68 projects worldwide linked to George Soros's Open Society Foundation.
  • During the Commonwealth Finance MinistersHigh-Level Working Group Meeting held in Washington D.C., finance ministers from several Commonwealth nations have urged for a comprehensive overhaul of the global financial architecture to improve the availability of development financing for countries that are vulnerable. They have also agreed to appoint India as the chair and Nigeria as the deputy chair of the Finance Ministers Working Group for a Commonwealth Call for Reform of the Global Financial Architecture. 
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the 5th phase of Regional Air Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) to further enhance connectivity in remote and regional areas of the country and achieve last mile air connectivity.

✔ Bilateral

  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to French President Emmanuel Macron for the Bastille Day parade, which is scheduled for July 14th.
  • Bilateral meeting between CAG of India and Auditor General of New Zealand on the side-lines of the IMPACT 2023 (the International Meeting of Performance Audit Critical Thinkers) on 20 April 2023, in Canberra, Australia.
  • The Bangladesh Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a 5-point guideline for the import of films made in the languages of ‘Indian subcontinent’ on a limited scale. The guideline for the import of films from the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) countries was issued based on the application of Sammilita Chalachitra Parishad with the consent of the Finance Ministry under its import policy rules of 2022-24.
  • India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar launched the 'TulsiGhat Restoration Project' of Varanasi during his three-day visit to Kampala, Uganda.
  • Nepal and India will sign cross-border digital payments deal to boost Trade & Tourism.

✔ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Ultra Dimensions Private Limited (UDPL), Visakhapatnam for the modernisation of Naval Aircraft Yards (NAYs) at Goa and Kochi (Kerala), at a cost of approximately Rs 470 crore.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has partnership with Amazon India. In the field of media, entertainment and public awareness.

India and Romania signed the defence cooperation agreement during the bilateral meeting on defence cooperation.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The initiative proposes a FASTag based payment system at forest entry points to avoid long queues and delays.

Indian multinational pharmaceutical company Cipla has entered into a perpetual licence agreement with Switzerland based pharmaceutical company Novartis Pharma AG. To produce and market the Galvus range, which is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, effective from January 1, 2026.

An MoU between Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) with the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay to develop a robust touchless biometric capture system for easier usage by people anytime, anywhere.

Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Raman Research Institute (RRI) has partnered with the Indian Navy to develop secure maritime communications using quantum technologies.

✔ Defence

  • India and Sri Lanka are holding the 10th edition of SLINEX-23, the bilateral maritime exercise, in Colombo.
  • The South Korean, U.S., and Japanese navies began their first anti-submarine drills in on April 3 to boost their coordination against increasing North Korean missile threats.
  • India-U.S. air exercise 'Cope India' to be held at Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal.
  • Exercise 'KAVACH' was a joint military exercise conducted by the Andaman & Nicobar command, which is the only tri-services unit in India.
  • The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu took a historic sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station in Assam.
  • US and the Philippines have started their annual "Balikatan" military exercises and it aims to improve the respective armies' ability to jointly respond to threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • The INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, was presented with a special gift in the form of its original bell from the first carrier of the same name.
  • Indian Air Force participates in multilateral international exercise Orion in France. Indian Air Force participates in multilateral international exercise Orion in Mont de Marsan, France. This is the first-ever overseas exercise of IAF's Rafale fighter jets.
  • Greek-Indian Air Forces will conduct Massive Joint Exercise ‘Iniochos- 2023’ over Mediterranean Sea from 18th April 2023.
  • INS Tarmugli is being transferred to Maldives in line with India’s SAGAR Mission The vessel was commissioned on May 23, 2016 and was based at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command. It is an indigenously built highly manoeuvrable water jet fast attack craft.
  • The Indian Navy conducted the offshore security exercise Prasthan to control contingencies that may occur in oil production platforms. The current exercise was conducted on the Greatdrill Chaaya platform about 30 nm South West of Mumbai harbour.

✔ Rank

  • According to the India Justice Report (IJR) 2022, released on 4 April 2023, the state of Karnataka has secured the top rank among 18 large and mid-sized states with a population of over 1 crore. The state of Tamil Nadu has secured the 2nd position in the ranking, while Telangana has secured the 3rd position. The list of seven small states with less than one crore population- Sikkim is at the top followed by Arunachal Pradesh

❱ The India Justice Report (IJR) was intiated by the Tata Trusts in 2019, and is in its third edition. The first ranking was published in November 2019.

  • Airports Council International (ACI) has been released the list of top 10 busiest airports in the world.

❱ Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson international airport topped the list as the world's busiest airport for the second year in a row.

❱ New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has been ranked as the 9th busiest airport in the world.

  • The 6th edition of Stanford University's AI Index Report-2023 has been released. This time the assessment of 127 countries has been given in this index whereas in the year 2022 it was limited to 25 countries. India ranks 5th in terms of investments received by startups offering AI-based products and services in 2022. USA has been ranked top followed by China, Britain, Israel.
  • World of Statistics has shared the ranking of the world's "most criminal countries". On the list, Venezuela has been ranked top, followed by Papua New Guinea (2), Afghanistan (3), South Africa (4), Honduras (5). India stood at 77th position while the US and UK were ahead of India in the criminal ranking country.
  • According to a survey published by London based global magazine ‘Time Out’, India’s Financial Capital Mumbai has been ranked as 19th in the list of ‘Best public transport in the world 2023’. Mumbai is the only Indian city to feature in the list. Top three city: 1st Berline (Germany), 2nd Prague (Czech Republic), 3rd Tokyo (Japan).
  • The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) reports that 29 out of 30 chief ministers (97%) are Millionaires, with an average asset of Rs 34 crore for each chief minister.
  • The State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22 has been released by the Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy.

❱ Front Runner Category- Andhra Pradesh topped the list and followed by  Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana.

❱ Achiever Category- Assam topped the list and followed by Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

  • Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party has introduced new legislation which proposes a fine of up to Euro 100,000 for using any foreign language, especially English, in official communication.
  • Italy has become the first western country to ban advanced ChatGPT. The Italian data-protection authority stated that there were privacy concerns related to this model.
  • Experts gather for first global human-wildlife conflict summit at Oxford, UK. Hundreds of representatives from conservation organisations, academia, governments, businesses and indigenous and local communities from 6 continents and 70 countries will meet for the International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence, hosted by IUCN between 30 March and 1 April 2023.
  • A constitutional referendum was held in Uzbekistan on 30 April 2023. It was to be held on proposed constitutional amendments. Parliament approved the referendum on 15 March 2023. The amendments were accepted in the referendum with over 90% in support.

❱ President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was re-elected in 2021 for a second term in elections which were noted for a lack of competition. However, he is ineligible to run for the office in 2026, in accordance with the current constitution, since it limits presidents to two terms of five years each.

  • The US and 10 other nations issued the first-ever significant anti-spyware declaration. Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States all “recognise the threat posed by the misuse of commercial spyware and the need for strict domestic and international controls on the proliferation and use of such technology.
  • Georgia, United States of America (USA) passed a resolution condemning “Hinduphobia” and “antiHindu bigotry”- becoming the first state in the country to do so
  • Norwegian company Norled has successfully launched the world's 1st ferry that runs on liquid hydrogen. The vessel, called MF Hydra, is a hybrid that uses both batteries and liquid hydrogen fuel cells.
  • According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, ‘Infertility prevalence estimates 1990- 2021’ released on April 03, 2023, around 17.5% of the adult population (roughly 1 in 6) worldwide experience infertility in their lifetime.
  • According to the World Bank (WB) report “Striving for Clean Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South Asia,” concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM) like soot and small dust (PM 2.5) in some of South Asia’s most densely populated and underdeveloped areas are up to 20 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Bahrain has taken a significant step towards incentivizing investments and job creation by launching a new initiative, the Golden Licence. The Golden Licence is designed to provide streamlined services and benefits to local and foreign businesses with large-scale investment projects in Bahrain.

❱ The Golden Licence offers various benefits, including prioritized land allocation for investments, infrastructure services, utilities, and streamlined access to government services like business licensing and building permit approval, as well as support from Tamkeen and Bahrain Development Bank.

  • 'Ofek-13'- is new spy satellite launched by Israel into the space. The satellite is meant to provide advanced intelligence capabilities to the Israeli military and intelligence agencies.
  • Accession Working Group (AWG) of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreed on the accession of the United Kingdom (UK) as the 12th member of CPTPP.  With this UK became the first European nation and the first non-founding country to join CPTPP
  • The “World Energy Transitions: Outlook (WETO) 2023: 1.5°C Pathway” released by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Berlin(Germany), shows that the global energy transition is off-track, aggravated by the effects of global crises and calls for a fundamental change of course in the energy transition
  • The Kenya Space Agency is set to launch the country’s 1st operational earth observation satellite- Taifa-1 which is  scheduled to be launched on board the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
  • Ghana has created history by becoming the first country to approve a high-efficiency malaria vaccine developed by scientists at the University of Oxford. Oxford has entered into an agreement with the Serum Institute of India to produce up to 200 million doses of the vaccine.
  • South Korea plans to conduct its first launch of a commercial-grade satellite aboard a domestically built rocket next month as part of its space development program. It will carry one main satellite ‘Next Generation Small Satellite 2’ and seven other smaller cube-shaped satellites.
  • New York City appointed Kathleen Corradi as its inaugural "Rat Czar" to tackle the city's serious rodent issue. Koradi was given the responsibility of reducing the rat population and creating a clean environment for the residents.
  • The 3rd  Regional Symposium on Greening the Judiciaries in Africa was organized by the Africa Judicial Education Network on Environmental Law (AJENEL) in Nairobi, Kenya. It was held based on the theme ‘Strengthening the Role of Judiciaries in Addressing Climate Change in Africa’.
  • The Turkish Navy has received the TCG Anadolu, its first aircraft carrier, which is expected to house the world’s first air wing made primarily of unmanned aircraft.

❱ The TCG Anadolu is a landing helicopter dock (LHD) type amphibious assault ship based on Spain's flagship, the Juan Carlos I. It is 32 meters broad and 231 meters long, with a displacement of 27,436 tonnes.

  • Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) said international law enforcement agencies have seized "Genesis Market", a huge dark web marketplace and cybercrime site popular with cybercriminals, in what has been dubbed "Operation Cookie Monster".
  • Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative was launched by the US to increase Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself from Russia’s aggression. Under this initiative, USD 2.6 billion military aid package was announced by the US.
  • Salar de Atacama is Chile’s largest salt flat. Much of the country’s lithium deposits are found in this region. Chile is planning to collaborate with India to tap into the lithium value chain.
  • Iran has unveiled another one-way Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) dubbed 'Me’raj-532' a new domestically-build suicide drone which can destroy targets within a range of 450 kilometers for Iran Revolutionary Guards Ground Forces
  • Recently Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease is prevalently spreading in New Zealand. Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus is a contagious and deadly viral hepatitis that affects adult domesticated as well as wild rabbits.
  • Paris (France) have voted to ban rental electric scooters in their city, dealing a blow to scooter operators and a triumph for road safety campaigners.
  • Kenya has launched its first operational Earth observation satellite “Taifa-1” on 15 April 2023 from Vandenberg Base in California on a rocket of Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX. The launch rocket carried 50 payloads from Turkey, among other countries, under SpaceX's 'rideshare program'.
  • Nepal has become a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance. The International Big Cats Alliance aims to conserve seven big cat species including tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and pumas.

BANKING/ FINANCE/ ECONOMICS

  • Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Limited (ABHICL) has entered into a partnership with UCO Bank to distribute health insurance products through the bank's branches across India. Bank's customers and employees will have access to ABHICL's health-first insurance solutions, including incentive wellness benefits and chronic management programs.
  • The government introduced the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, which aims to increase the country’s exports to USD 2 trillion by 2030. Will take effect from April 1, 2023.

❱ The new policy is different from the previous 5-year FTP announcements as it has no specific end date and will be revised as needed.

❱ The policy identifies 4 new Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) – Faridabad, Moradabad, Mirzapur, and Varanasi – in addition to the existing 39 TEEs. The policy extends FTP benefits to e-commerce exports and increases the value limit for exports through courier services.

  • Airtel-India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has launched WhatsApp banking services in New Delhi. This allows customers to conveniently access banking services on their mobile phones.
  • PhonePe, a Walmart-owned fintech firm, has announced the introduction of ‘Pincode,’ an ecommerce consumer app that would be integrated into India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) framework.
  • The State Bank of India (SBI) has extended the term of “WECARE” special fixed deposit (FD) scheme for senior citizens, which was introduced in May 2020.
  • Axis Bank, has collaborated with Visa and announced the launch of “Digital Dukaan”, a comprehensive digital offering that would allow merchants to accept payments through a number of digital modes and conduct day-to-day business digitally.
  • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide Rs 5,509 crore for the metro rail project being built in Patna, the capital of Bihar. The loan amount has been sanctioned for repayment tenure of 10 years with a grace period of 30 years.
  • Godrej Capital Limited and State Bank of India (SBI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their partnership, where the bank would provide various financial products and offerings.
  • The BharatPe Group and Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) partnership will focus on the development of a first-of-its-kind aggregator platform for women entrepreneurs, to provide access to peer support, mentorship, networking channels, and a wide range of learning resources.
  • Regulator IRDAI said Life Insurance Corporation of India, General Insurance Corporation of India, and New India Assurance Co. continues to remain as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) and perceived as "too big or too important to fail".

❱ D-SIIs refer to insurers of such size, market importance and domestic and global interconnectedness whose distress or failure would cause a significant dislocation in the domestic financial system.

  • Union Bank of India (UBI) became the 1st Indian Bank to open its ‘Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA)’ in Malaysia to facilitate transactions between India and Malaysia in the Indian rupee.
  • DBS Bank India has launched a new investment solution called ‘digiPortfolio’, which uses technology and human expertise to provide customised investment options for investors.
  • ‘PRAVAAH’- a secured web-based centralised portal will be launched by RBI, to simplify and streamline application processes. The portal will show time limits for deciding on the applications/approvals sought. This measure will bring greater efficiencies into regulatory processes and facilitate ease of doing business for the regulated entities of RBI.
  • Canara Bank has introduced a “Premium Payroll Package” for Salary account holders with competitive features. This product has been designed to meet all Banking requirements of Salaried Customers.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a new framework for offering green deposits to customers with the objective of developing a Green Finance Ecosystem (GFE) in India.

❱ The framework will come into effect from June 1, 2023.

❱ A green deposit refers to an interest-bearing deposit received by an RE (Regulated Entity) for a fixed period, with the proceeds earmarked for allocation towards green finance.

❱ The framework is applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks,including Small Finance Banks, excluding Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks and Payments Banks and all deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), including Housing Finance Companies.

  • "Master Inter Bank Credit Agreement" has been signed between HDFC and Export Import Bank of Korea, with a total value of US $300 million.

❱ The signing ceremony took place in GIFT City, Gujarat, and aims to help HDFC Bank raise foreign currency funds, which will be used to support Korea-related businesses.

  • Capital markets regulator SEBI (Security and Exchange Board of India) on Wednesday unveiled a new logo on the occasion of its 35th Foundationtion day.
  • Canara Bank and NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) in co-ordination with Musandam Exchange, Oman have launched cross-border inward bill payment services for Indians based in Oman.
  • NSE Indices Ltd, a subsidiary of NSE, has launched India's first Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) index. The objective of Nifty REITs and InvITs Index is to track the performance of real estate or infrastructure assets which are publicly listed and traded on NSE.
  • TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS) won the contract from the United Kingdom(UK) Ministry of Defence (MOD), acting through its agent, Babcock Land Defence Ltd, for the supply of spares, consumables and accessories for the Land Rover Wolf Platform.
  • Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), presented USD 2 million to the United Nations Trust Fund (UNTF) in support of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
  • An agreement between IIT-Kanpur and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) to provide financial support to the startup ecosystem and promote the incubation of new technology, knowledge, and innovation-based startups under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy of AW&EIL.
  • According to Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), India’s exports increased 6% to a “record” USD 447 billion in financial year 2022–23 (FY23), up from USD 442 billion in FY22, while imports increased 16.5% to USD 714 billion from USD 613 billion in FY22
  • The Citi Union Bank inTamil Nadu, has launched India’s 1st Voice Biometric Authentication for logging into its mobile banking app at an event held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
  • The Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) will be established by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), in the form of an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with an initial corpus of Rs 3,000 crore.

❱ The ‘Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) is a backstop facility for specified debt funds during market dislocations. The fund is intended to provide liquidity support in the event of a financial crisis. It aims to instil confidence amongst the participants in the corporate bond market and to generally enhance secondary market liquidity.

❱ This fund is guaranteed by the National Credit Guarantee Trust Company (NCGTC) and the backstop facility will be managed by SBI Mutual Fund.

❱ A backstop is an act of providing last-resort support or security in a securities offering for the unsubscribed portion of shares.

  • State Bank of India (SBI) announced the launch of its coffee table book titled “The Banker to Every Indian” which celebrates 75 years of Indian independence and the 200-year history of SBI. The coffee table book details the Bank’s history ever since independence.
  • The provisional figures of Direct Tax collections for the Financial Year (FY) 2022-23 show that Net collections are at Rs. 16.61 lakh crore, compared to Rs. 14.12 lakh crore in the preceding Financial Year i.e. FY 2021-22, representing an increase of 17.63%.
  • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved a framework for an Application Supported by a Blocked Amount (ASBA)-like facility for trading in the secondary market.

APPOINTMENTS

  • Renowned gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr RG Patel, has been appointed as an expert member of the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board by the Union Health Ministry.
  • Rajib K Mishra takes over as Chairman & Managing Director of Power Trading Corporation of India (PTC ) Limited.
  • Amit Kshatriya, an Indian-American engineer with expertise in software and robotics, has been appointed as the inaugural head of NASA's newly-established Moon to Mars Programme.
  • The United States Senate on March 30 confirmed the appointment of Indian American Richard Verma as Deputy Secretary of State, Management and Resources.
  • The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Rajasthan has appointed Dr. SheenuJhawar as the new President for a term of two years, from 2023 to 2025.This marks a historic moment as Dr. Jhawar becomes the first woman to hold this position in the 21-year history of TiE Rajasthan.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that Neeraj Nigam has been appointed as the new executive director.
  • Vice-Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh assumed the position of Vice-Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) as part of a series of high-level changes in the Indian Navy.
  • Rudrendra Tandon appointed India's next Ambassador to Greece.
  • Sudha Shivkumar has been appointed as the 40th president of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), which is the oldest women-led and women-centric business chamber in Southeast Asia. The appointment took place during the 39th annual session.
  • British-Hindu Murugesvaran ‘Subby’ Subramaniam has been appointed as Warrant Officer of the UK’s Royal Air Force, the aerial warfare and space force announced.
  • Krithivasan as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of TCS with effect from June 1, 2023.
  • Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has announced the appointment of Ratnakar Patnaik as the new Chief Investment Officer, replacing PR Mishra.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • An Indian-American physician and professor Dr. Nitya Abraham has been honoured with the Young Urologist of the Year Award conferred by the American Urological Association (AUA). Dr. Abraham is an Associate Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Program Director for the Montefiore Urology residency programme.
  • The highest decoration of Poland, the Order of the White Eagle, was presented to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, during a meeting between the two leaders at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.
  • Two CBI officers posted in Chandigah were given President's Police Medals for Distinguished Service during the Diamond Jubilee Celebration. The two officers were Joint Director, Vineet Vinayak, Chandigarh Zone, CBI, and Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Seema Pahuja, CBI, Chandigarh.
  • Brazilian artist Dante Akira Uwai has won the medal design competition for the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024.
  • Calayampudi Radhakrishna Rao, a prominent Indian-American mathematician and statistician, will be awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in the field.
  • The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) bestowed the SAARC Literature Award 2023 (Special Literary Award) to Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
  • Kiran Nadar, Philanthropist and an art collector, was conferred with “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion Honour), the highest French civilian award, by Emmanuel Lenain, French Ambassador to India in a ceremony held at the Residence of France in New Delhi, Delhi.
  • Pathsala (Assam)-based Tapoban, a nongovernment organisation (NGO), which supports children with special needs has been honoured with the prestigious Children’s Champion Award 2023.
  • Tripura has been declared as the Best Performing State in the North-Eastern Region in the implementation of e-procurement jointly by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • Anjana Vasan, a Chennai-born Singaporean actress and singer-songwriter based out of London, United Kingdom (UK), won Best Supporting Actress in the Play at the 47th edition of Olivier Awards (2023) held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK.
  • Aaliya Mir, a wildlife conservationist working for India-based charity Wildlife SOS, has been honoured with the Wildlife Conservation Award for 2023 by the administration of the Union Territory (UT) Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), for her conservation efforts in the region.
  • Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, the recipient of the Maharashtra Bhushan award at the recent government event, is known for his remarkable contributions to society.
  • India’s Bollywood Actor Shah Rukh Khan won the 2023 TIME100 Reader Poll, the 100th edition of TIME’s readers’ poll in which readers voted for the individuals/groups that they think deserve a spot on the Time’s annual list of the most influential people.
  • Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (CR Rao), a prominent Indian-American Statistician, has been awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, the statistics’ equivalent of the Nobel Prize, for his monumental work 75 years ago that revolutionised statistical thinking.
  • Kumar Mangalam Birla honored with 'Business Leader of the Decade' award by AIMA( All India Management Association)
  • National Panchayat Awards 2023 were conferred recently by Panchayati Raj Ministry to recognize best performing Panchayats in the areas that align with the 17 SHGs.

❱ Telangana state has bagged 13 out of the 27 National Panchayat Awards 2023 for 2021-22. Under which 8 from the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP).

❱ It was followed by Kerala with 4, Jammu and Kashmir with 3, and Maharashtra with 3.

  • Chennai-born Singaporean actress Anjana Vasan has won the best supporting actress in a play at the 47th edition of Olivier Awards, which celebrate the best of London theatre, opera and dance.
  • Nilesh Bhagwan Sambre, the founder of Jijau Educational and Social Foundation, honoured with the “Maratha Udyog Ratna” award at the “Maratha Entrepreneurs Conference 2023”.
  • At the World Vaccine Congress 2023 held in Washington, USA from April 3-6, Bharat Biotech was awarded the Best Production/Process Development award as a part of the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released images of Earth captured by the EOS-06 satellite in 13 distinct wavelengths to provide information about global vegetation cover on Land and Ocean Biota for global oceans.

❱ The images are a mosaic generated by the ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

❱ EOS-06, also called OceanSat-3, is a nanosatellite which was launched by ISRO, as part of the PSLV-C54 mission in 2022.

Science and Technology
  • NASA has announced a team of four astronauts for the lunar mission Artemis-2, which will fly around the Moon for a 10-day mission next year. Artemis-2 will be the first manned flight test and an important step toward establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon.
  • Indian private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has tested 3D printed cryogenic engine Dhawan-II for a record 200 seconds for its heavy vehicle Vikram-II.
  • The European Space Agency has launched the 'Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission' to study Jupiter and its icy moons namely Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. It was launched from French Guiana through Ariane 5 launcher, this mission will enter the orbit of Ganymede in the year 2034.
  • Chennai-based Garuda Aerospace has become the first company in the country to receive subsidy for making agri-drones. Under this, Garud Kisan Drones were given to 8 farmers in a program organized in Pune.
  • WhatsApp launches ‘Stay Safe’ campaign, which highlights the several privacy safety features that are pre-built on the messaging app.
  • India's first Rapid Rail Transit System to run between Delhi and Meerut, earlier known as the RRTS trains has been named 'RAPIDX', by National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
  • 35th CISO Deep Dive Training Program has been organised by National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY)at the School of Planning and Architecture in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

❱ The programme, Cyber Surakshit Bharat, an initiative of MeitY was conceptualised with the mission to spread awareness about cyber-crime and build capacities of CISOs and frontline IT officials, across all government departments, for ensuring adequate safety measures to combat the growing menace.

❱ NASA launches air pollution monitoring instrument TEMPO on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket NASA noted that TEMPO would be the first space instrument that will be able to measure air pollution levels in North America during the daytime.

  • Sanjay Malhotra, Revenue Secretary, Ministry of Finance (MoF), launched the Unified Portal of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), which will instil efficiency and transparency and reduce the time taken by the pharma industry to get a trade licence.
  • The Union Cabinet cleared Rs 2,600-crore project to construct and set up a Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory- India (LIGO-India), which is likely to be completed by 2030. Gravitational wave observatory will come up in Hingoli in Maharashtra.

SPORTS

  • ‘Miami Open title'-2023: Petra Kvitova and Daniil Medvedev won in women's and men's category respectively.
  • Madrid Spain Masters 2023- Kenta Nishimoto of Japan has won the men's singles title Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, an Indonesian badminton player, emerged victorious in the Women's singles category.
  • India emerged as the winners in both men’s and women’s categories at the 4th Asian KhoKho Championships held in Tamulpur, Assam.
  • Marylebone Cricket Club, the London-based prestigious club, known for framing the rules of the game of cricket, awards top-class cricketers from around the globe with their Honorary Life Membership to five Indian cricketers-  Mahendra Singh Dhoni., Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami have been given this honour.
  • New Zealand’s Kim Cotton became the first woman on-field umpire in a full-member men’s T-20 during New Zealand’s second match against Sri Lanka in Dunedin.
  • Indian weightlifter and two-time Commonwealth Games winner Sanjita Chanu has been banned for four years by India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
  • FIFA announced that it had withdrawn Peru's hosting rights to the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023. The decision was made following extensive discussions between FIFA and the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF).
  • The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) released the latest rankings of international football teams and Argentina topped the FIFA rankings for the first time in six years. Top five ranking:  1st Argentina, 2nd France, 3rd Brazil, 4th Belgium and 5th England.
  • Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat won the gold medal in the men's 57 kg freestyle category at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023 held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

❱ Iran topped the medal tally with 11 medals (6 gold). India place at 7th position having 13 medals (1 gold, 3 silver, 9 bronze).

  • David Warner became the fastest batsman to reach 6000 runs in the Indian Premier League with a boundary during a match against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Warner took 165 innings to reach this milestone.
  • The first-ever Women’s Blind Cricket Team will represent India in a bilateral series against Nepal which will be played at Pokhara and Kathmandu in Nepal. Sushma Patel will be the captain of India's first blind women's cricket team
  •  Indian badminton player Priyanshu Rajawat won the Orleans Masters 2023 men's singles title on 9th April, 2023 was held in France.
  • Chennai to host the 2nd edition of the ‘Street Child Cricket World Cup’ in september 2023.

OBITUARY

  • Renowned Malayalam writer - Sarah Thomas, a two- time Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awardee, passed away in Trivandrum, Kerala, at the age of 88.
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto, Oscar-winning Japanese pop singer, who was best known for his soundtrack work, passed away in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 71.
  • Salim Aziz Durrani, a former Afghan-born Indian Cricketer, passed away.
  • Jagarnath Mahto, Minister of Education in Jharkhand, passed away at the age of 56.
  • Former Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu(TN), Naresh Gupta, an IAS officer of the 1973 batch hailing from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) at the age of 72.
  • National Award-winning actress and noted theatre artist Uttara Baokar passed away in Pune, Maharashtra, at the age of 79.
  • Keshab Mahindra: Former Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra , passed away at the age of 99.
  • Benjamin Ferencz, last surviving Nuremberg prosecutor, dies age 103.

BOOKS AND AUTHOR

Name of Book Author
Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire Nandini Das.
The Great Bank Robbery: NPAs, Scams and the Future of Regulation Pattabhi Ram & Sabyasachee Dash
Gandhi: Siyasat aur Sampradaiykta Piyush Babele

IMPORTANT DAYS

  • Earth Hour annually observed across the globe on the last Saturday of March. Earth Hour 2023 was observed on 25th March 2023.
  • World Autism Awareness Day annually observed across the globe on April 2. It is an International Day recognized by the United Nations (UN). Theme of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) 2023: “Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking”.
  • World Autism Awareness Day annually observed across the globe on April 2. It is an International Day recognized by the United Nations (UN). Theme of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) 2023: “Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking”.
  • International Children’s Book Day annually observed across the globe April 2. We also celebrate this day as birth anniversary of a Danish novelist and writer Hans Christian Andersen. Theme of International Children’s Book Day “I am a book, read me”.
  • International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action annually observed across the globe on April 4. It is an International Day recognized by the United Nations (UN). Theme for 2023 is “Mine Action Cannot Wait”.
  • National Maritime Day annually observed across India on April 5. The theme of National Maritime Day 2023 is “Amrit Kaal in Shipping” (Golden Era in Shipping).
  • International Day of Conscience annually observed across the world on 5th April. It is an International Day recognized by the United Nations (UN).
  • International Day of Sport for Development and Peace annually observed across the globe on April 6. The global theme for 2023 is “Scoring for People and the Planet”.
  • World Health Day annually observed across the globe on April 07. 7th April 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Theme for 2023 is “Health for All”.
  • Prevention of Blindness Week annually observed across India from 1st to 7th April (the first week of April).
Other Important Days Date
International Romani Day April 8
World Homeopathy Day April 10
58th CRPF Valour Day April 9
International Day of Human Space Flight April 12
National Safe Motherhood Day April 11
International Day for Street Children April 12
104th anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre April 13

STATE AFFAIRS

  • With the aim of ensuring 100 % enrolments in primary and upper primary schools under Uttar Pradesh Basic Shiksha Parishad, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched "School Chalo Abhiyan" from April 1, 2023.
  • Z-morh tunnel (2-lane road tunnel)length of 6.5 km is being built under the mountain glacier Thajiwas Glacier between Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Kashmir.
  • Haryana Police was awarded the 1st position among all major state police in the implementation of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) released at all India levels.
  • According to data shared by the GI Registry, Kerala received the highest number of Geographical Indication (GI) tags for products among all states in India in the fiscal year 23.
  • DRIISHYA scheme  (Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Scheme) launched by Haryana government for monitoring of agriculture and horticulture crops and survey of sensitive areas for security purposes etc.
  • The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) has developed a mechanism called Tamil Nadu Regional Aerial Connectivity through Helicopters (TN REACH), which aims to utilize over 80 unused helipads across the state to provide intercity and town connectivity.

❱ TN REACH would establish an intra-state network of aerial routes to enable people to travel between cities and towns using helicopters.

❱ TN REACH would establish an intra-state network of aerial routes to enable people to travel between cities and towns using helicopters.

  • Rajasthan government has  approved a proposal for giving 8% interest subsidy on loans obtained by the members of women’s self help groups (SHGs) from Mahila Nidhi, the State’s first-ever women’s cooperative fund. The financial institution has been extending timely loan facility for women enterprises.
  • The Himachal Pradesh recently repealed the Loktantra Prahari Samman Act. The Act provides a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 and Rs 12,000 to the people who lodged in jails during the Emergency from 1975 to 1977.
  • 'Vibrant Villages Programme' has been launched by Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah  in Arunchal Pradesh. Under the programme, 2967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts along the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh were identified for comprehensive development.

❱ The Union Home Minister has also inaugurated 9 micro hydroelectric projects of the Arunachal Pradesh government built under the "Golden Jubilee Border Lighting Programme" at Kibithu.

❱ The Union Home Minister has also inaugurated Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) projects to enhance infrastructure at Likabali (Arunachal Pradesh), Chhapra (Bihar), Nooranad (Kerala) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

  • The 924 meters long Tube 1 of the Peeda-Kunfer Tunnel would bypass 2.9 km congested, zigzag, and the accident-prone area between Nashri and Ramban. The tunnel is a part of the ongoing four-lane project of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) between Udhampur and Ramban on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
  • Kolkata Metro created history, when its rake ran through a tunnel under a river for the first time in the country. The Metro rake which had only officials and engineers on board ran under the Hooghly from Kolkata to Howrah on the other side of the river.
  • The Periyar Tiger Reserve (kerala) has once again been declared the best managed tiger reserve in the country in the 'Excellent' category, according to the 5th cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) released by the Government of India.

❱ It was followed by Satpura Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) and Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) at the second position (93.18%), while Nagarhole Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) stood third.

  • Maharashtra Government will celebrate V D Savarkar’s 140th birth anniversary as ‘Swatantryaveer Gaurav Din’.
  • According to a recent census report on tigers in the country, Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary has been identified as a new area where photographic evidence of tigers has been captured for the first time.

❱ The sanctuary was established in 1988 and is located in Shravasti, Balrampur, and Gonda districts of Uttar Pradesh. It spans across 452 sq km and is positioned on the border of India and Nepal.

  • World's 1st Asian King Vulture Conservation and Breeding Center to be inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has set up a state-of-the-art Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Center (JCBC) for the critically endangered Asian king vulture.
  • The 'Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project' is to be implemented in collaboration with the French Development Agency, which will increase the green area of the state.
  • 'AtalBihari Vajpayee Powerloom Electricity Flat Rate Scheme’ has been approved by Uttar Pradesh Government, Rs 400 crore will be spent on this scheme. 80 percent subsidy will be given on handloom and 60 percent subsidy will be given on installation of powerloom.

❱ The 'Jhalkari Bai Kori Handloom and Powerloom Development Scheme' has been launched to link the unemployed with employment opportunities. Weavers will be given a grant of Rs 50,000 and Rs 80,000 on two estimated prices of handlooms.

  • The Odisha government received investment intents worth around Rs 26,000 crore during the Odisha Business Meet, 2023 held in Tokyo, Japan. Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha, led the high-level delegation to Japan to attract investment in Odisha.
  • The Tamil Nadu Government approved the ‘Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gaming and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022’ to ban online gambling, including online rummy and poker with stakes.
  • Uttarakhand Government launched “A-HELP” (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) program.
  • 5-day ‘Sang Festival' being has been organized in Haryana, Sang is the most ancient and traditional art in the state.
  • The Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh has received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
  • Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently unveiled a 125-feet tall bronze statue of BR Ambedkar in Hyderabad.
  • Himachal Pradesh government will start “Project Sanjeevani” or National Animal Disease Control Program to provide quality veterinary services to the livestock farmers.
  • Rajasthan Government will provide free coaching to civil services aspirants under “Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Yojana”.
  • 3D-printed post office is being built in Bengaluru, India, which will be the first of its kind in the country.
  • Punjab government launched Punjab’s ‘CM diYogshala’ programme.
  • The Maharashtra government set up a 6-member committee headed by Sudhir kumar Shrivastava to formulate rules for app and web-based taxi service aggregators.
  • National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) have found Rare-Earth Elements (REEs) in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh.
  • In Jammu and Kashmir, the Food & Drugs Administration of the Union Territory, in collaboration with the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is going to organise an Eat Right Millet Mela (ERMM).
  • The Telangana government has scheduled the Food Conclave-2023 on April 28 and 29 in Hyderabad, which is a yearly gathering of 100 experts in the agri-food industry to discuss and exchange ideas.
  • Tripura’s recent award as the best-performing state in the North Eastern region for e-Procurement is a significant achievement for the state.
  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a 54 feet tall statue of Lord Hanuman at Sarangpur temple in Botad district of Gujarat.
  • President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a two-day 'Gaj Utsav-2023' at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

❱ Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRl) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Government of India

❱ It will cover 14,500 existing schools, which will be redeveloped to reflect the key features of the National Education Policy, 2020.  The institutions developed under this will become 'model schools' under NEP.

  • The Union government has identified four pilgrim centers for development under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme in Karnataka.
  • Prime Minister Modi virtually inaugurated the Jal Jan Abhiyan in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan on 16 February.

❱ Under the nationwide campaign, people associated with the Brahmakumaris Sansthan and the Ministry of Jal Shakti will run a public awareness campaign for eight months to preserve more than five thousand water bodies across the country and to build new water bodies.  A target has been set to reach 10 crore people by organizing ten thousand programmes through the campaign.

  • The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of the 4.1-km Shinkun La tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road link to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh.

❱ The tunnel will be completed by December 2025 at Rs 1,681 crore

  • The Boeing Company, an aerospace company based in the United States of America(USA), launched its first Global Support Center (GSC) in India at Gurugram, Haryana, which will offer customized operational efficiency and safety improvement projects for Boeing’s airline customers, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders.
  • Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), has partnered with The Green Billions Limited(TGBL), to set up India’s first solid waste-to-hydrogen plant in Pune, Maharashtra.
  • Stalin, Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu (TN), has unveiled the new e-vehicle policy “Tamil Nadu Electric Cars Policy 2023” to establish Tamil Nadu as the ideal destination for manufacturing electric vehicles (EV) in Southeast Asia. The policy is valid for 5 years from the date of announcement or until a new one is announced.
  • Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the sixth phase of Sujalam-Sufalam Jal Abhiyan in Gandhinagar. The objective of this campaign is to raise the groundwater level and make maximum use of rainwater.
  • Delhi has allocated 23.5% of its total expenditure for education in 2022-23. This is higher than the average allocation (15.2%) for education by all states (as per 2021-22 budget estimates).

❱ Assam has allocated 20.1% of its total expenditure for education in 2022-23. Himachal Pradesh has allocated 18.9% of its total expenditure for education in 2022-23.

  • India's first frozen-lake marathon 'Last Run' at Pangong Tso in Ladakh has been organized on 20 February 2023 and the responsibility has been given to the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

❱ There will be a 21 km marathon in Ladakh, its starting point will be Lukung and the endpoint will be Maan village. 75 selected athletes from India and abroad are participating in the race.  This marathon will also be applying for the 'Guinness World Record' for the marathon held on the world's highest frozen lake

  • The Kollam district (Kerala) panchayat has been awarded the Swaraj Trophy as the State’s top district panchayat for the financial year 2021–2022. The Kannur district panchayat stood second in the rankings.
  • On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Manipur state hosted the B20 conference. The theme of the conference was Sustainable Growth and Development. It was in line with the theme of the G20 summit, whichØ is One Earth One Family One Future.
  • North India's first nuclear power plant will come up in Haryana in the village of Gorakhpur in Fatehabad district, 150 km north of the national capital, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has said.
  • Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 'Suposhit Maa Abhiyan' in his constituency Kota's Ramganj Mandi area of Rajasthan. This initiative aims to keep every mother and child healthy.
  • Odisha Government has launched India's first AI chatbot 'Ama KrushAI' for the agriculture sector at the concluding session of 'Krishi Odisha'-2023. Ama KrushAI chatbot will help farmers with best farming practices, and inform them about government schemes and loan products from over 40 commercial and cooperative banks.
  • World Health Organisation will set up an mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine hub in Telangana. mRNA is becoming a promising technology to address a growing number of infectious diseases. Informed by Minister for IT and Industries KT Rama Rao.
  • The “World Interfaith Harmony Week 2023”, an event recognised by the United Nations (UN), concluded at SCD Government College, Ludhiana on 16 February.
  • The First G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka under India’s G20 Presidency.
  • The 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Supreme Audit Institutes (SCO SAI) Leaders’ meeting was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
  • PM Narendra Modi launched a year-long commemoration of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati’s 200th birth anniversary at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi.
  • The 23rd edition of the India International Seafood Show (IISS) will be held in
  • The Odisha govt approved in February 2023, a proposal to amend rules for single dependent transgender persons to avail of family pension.
  • Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the National Aadi Mahotsav on 16th February 2023 at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi.
  • For the first time, an agreement was signed between the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Singapore for economic cooperation. Under the agreement, the governments of Singapore and Uttar Pradesh will cooperate in areas of mutual interest, including urban development, the sustainable development industry and skill development
  • On the central government on 17 February declared Khalistan Tiger Force, and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force as terrorist organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
  • India's Income Tax Department has claimed it has uncovered irregularities in the accounting books of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
  • Divya Kala Mela 2023 has been organised in Mumbai.
  • Ministry of Textiles has organized the 10th ‘Technotex 2023: Envisioning Indian Technical Textiles@ 2047’ event, to be held from 22nd to 24th February 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • The first Prime Minister Gati Shakti regional workshop for the Western and Central Zone was held in Goa.
  • A noted writer, V Madhusoodanan Nair has been selected for Jnanappana Puraskaram 2023 for his contribution to the field of literature.
  • India’s first Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Framework was launched in Puducherry as a part of a pact under the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative.
  • On the occasion of International Mother Language Day (21st February 2023), West Bengal(WB) Chief Minister(CM) Mamata Banerjee launched the Apan Bangla (Own Bengal) portal for non-resident Bengalis residing in other Indian states and other countries to communicate with the WB government during an emergency.
  • The International Khajuraho Dance Festival 2023 (49th edition) began on February 20, 2023, at the world-famous tourist destination of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Kerala Tourism, Government of Kerala has signed an MoU with the UN (United Nations) Women. To boost women-friendly activities in the tourism sector of Kerala.
  • The Kerala High Court published two of its recent judgments in Malayalam on 21 February 2023. The 21 February is also observed as International Mother Language Day. With this, the Kerala High Court became the first high court in the country to publish judgments in the regional language.
  • The National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease (ICAR), Bhopal has confirmed Avian Influenza (H5N1) in samples received from Government Poultry Farm in Bokaro, Jharkhand. The presence of the H5N1 variant was confirmed in a protein-rich breed of chicken known as 'Kadaknath' at a farm in Lohanchal.
  • The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given in-principle approval to the proposal to declare Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve following a notification by the Odisha state government. Debrigarh will become the third tiger reserve in the state and the first in western Odisha. Similipal and Satkosia are currently the only two notified TRs in the state.
  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is building the 'Keeladi Site Museum' at the Sangam Age site in the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu. More than 18,000 important artefacts discovered so far will be displayed in this museum.
  • The 20th edition of Asia's largest biology and healthcare conference "BioAsia" was held in Hyderabad, Telangana. This year's theme is "Advancing for One: Shaping the Next Generation of Humanized Healthcare".
  • The Kerala government has launched a robotic scavenger, "Bandicoot", to clean sewage in the temple town of Guruvayur, becoming the first state in the country to use robotic technology to clean all its operational manholes.
  • India’s first to induct robotic elephant for ritual duties. The Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Kerala‘s Thrissur district has become the first in the country to use a mechanical, lifelike elephant for temple rituals. The temple priests performed ‘Nadayiruthal’ or ceremonial offering to the deity, of Irinjadappilly Raman, a magnificent, lifelike mechanical or “robotic” elephant.
  • Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 26 Feb 2023, inaugurated North East India’s first-ever compressed biogas plant project at Sonapur in the Kamrup district of Assam.

❱ The plant will have a production capacity of five tonne-per-day of compressed biogas that would be produced from raw materials such as cattle dung, municipal solid wastes, etc.

  • The Karnataka Government will build the country's first Marina or a boat basin offering dockage, at Byndoor in Udupi district to promote coastal tourism in Karnataka.
  • The Uttarakhand government has signed a contract to construct a 38 km ropeway from Janki Chatti in Kharsali to Yamunotri Dham. To be built at a cost of Rs 166.82 crore, the ropeway will cut down the travel time from the current 2-3 hours to just 20 minutes.
  • A 'Grand Startup Conclave' was organized in Hyderabad by the Central Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department for current and emerging startups in livestock, dairy and animal husbandry areas.
  • The Coconut Development Board in association with the International Coconut Community (ICC) organised a 2-day International Conference at Hyderabad, Telangana, on Trade and Marketing of Coconut Products with the participation of world stakeholders from February 27 to 28, 2023. The theme of the conference is “Global Coconut Industry - Cruising to the Pinnacle”.
  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found approx 1,300-year-old stupa in the middle of a mining site in Odisha’s Jajpur district from where Khondalite stones were excavated for the project around the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

❱ Khondalite is a foliated metamorphic rock. In India, it is also called Bezwada Gneiss and Kailasa Gneiss. It was named after the Khond tribe of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh because well-formed examples of the rock were found in the inhabited hills of these regions of eastern India.

  • As part of the G20 (Group of Twenty) Indian Presidency, the first G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) and 2nd Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) Meeting was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

❱ First G20 FMCBG Meeting was co-chaired by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Dr Shaktikanta Das, Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) DrJitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology inaugurated the “International Bio-resource Conclave” along with the 22nd Congress of the International Society for Ethno-pharmacology and the 10th Congress of Society for Ethno-pharmacology (ISE SFEC-2023) has been held from February 24-26, 2023 at the City Convention Centre, Imphal, Manipur with the theme “Reimagine Ethnopharmacology: Globalisation of Traditional Medicine''.

❱ The events were organized by the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) in collaboration with Society for Ethno-pharmacology, India and the International Society for Ethno-Pharmacology, Switzerland.

  • Uttar Pradesh Government signed a 10-year Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Tata Technologies to Upgrade 150 ITIs across 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu. The investments include setting up of world’s largest Electric Vehicle (EV) hub with an integrated two-wheeler, electric car and lithium-cell Gigafactories with a capacity of 20 GW in SIPCOT Bargur, Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu.
  • Bihar Government approved USD 50,000 to develop an early warning system for dense fog and cold wave conditions in collaboration with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center of the National Science Foundation, United States of America.
  • The Three Day- Ellora -Ajanta International Festival 2023 held in Chatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad), Maharashtra, from 25th to 28th February 2023.
Table Of Contents−

❱ The Asian king vulture is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, is localized primarily to northern India and has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

❱ In June 2022, the TN government formed a committee led by Justice K. Chandru, Former Chief Justice of Madras High Court, to examine the negative effects of online gambling.

❱ An Application Supported by a Blocked Amount (ASBA) is an authorisation used to block the application money in the bank account through Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Typically, it is used for subscribing to an initial public offering

General Knowledge Book For Competitive Exams
current-affairs-strip
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
  • The School of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology (SNOM) and the Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC) jointly organized Meghayan-24, a Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC) seminar, at the Southern Naval Command.
    • The seminar, organized as part of World Meteorological Day (WMD) 2024, centered around the theme "At the Frontline of Climate Action."
    • An indigenous mobile application named INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis) was launched to provide weather-related information and forecasts, enhancing quick decision-making in naval operations.
  • GI tag- are issued in accordance with the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. These tags are granted by the Geographical Indication Registry, which operates under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
    • Recently Indication Registry granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags to 19 traditional crafts of Assam, 2 from Tripura (Pachra/Rignai Textile; Matabari Peda), and 4 from Meghalaya.
    • Assam:

  • Bihu Dhol
  • Jaapi
  • Sarthebari Metal Craft
  • Pani Mateka Craft
  • Mising Handloom Products
  • Asharikandi Terracotta
  • Craft

Thirteen additional items associated with the Bodo people

  • Dokhona (traditional attire)
  • Eri Silk / Indi Silk (fabric of peace)
  • Jwmgra (scarf)
  • Gamsa (traditional dress for men)

Three agricultural products:

  • Gongar Dunjia
  • Keradapini (plant, shrub)
  • Khardwi

Six musical instruments:

  • Kham
  • Serja
  • Thorkha
  • Jotha (Bodo Musical Instrument)
  • Gongona
  • Sifung
    • Meghalaya

  • Garo Dakmanda Textile
  • Lyrnai Pottery
  • Chubitchi
  • Lakadong Turmeric
  • Geographical indication (GI) tags to Miraj Tanpura and Miraj Sitar of Maharashtra and Bundelkhand Kathiya Gehu (Wheat) of Uttar Pradesh (UP).
  • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)'s 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' policy, has come into effect from 1 April 2024.  Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced that a new satellite-based toll collection system will be introduced to replace the existing toll collection system in India.
  • NMDC Limited has launched "Samman," a website for its former employees. Through this portal, they can manage medical claims, check their personal profiles, view details about their dependents, and see the status of their applications online. This website is designed to make sure they get reimbursements on time and have easy access to all the services, bringing comfort and convenience to them.
  • START- Space Science and Technology Awareness Training, online training programme, has been launched by Indian Space Research Organisation to encourage youngsters to choose the field of space science and technology.
  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started a 10-day war exercise called 'Gagan Shakti-2024' from April 1 to April 10, 2024. This exercise is to show how powerful and capable the IAF is in carrying out high-intensity operations across India. The exercise has been conducted in various locations, including the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan; Bhuj in Gujarat; Ladakh; Arunachal Pradesh; and other places across the country.
  • A report  “Synchronizing Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net-Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All” was recently launched. This report was prepared by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and approved by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The report was launched by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
  • India, the world’s third largest oil importer and consumer, plans to build its first privately managed Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2029-30. The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL), a special company created by the government under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2004, was set up to maintain these reserves.
    • ISPRL was set up in two phases. In the first phase, ISPRL built strategic petroleum reserves in three locations: Visakhapatnam (1.33 million tonnes) in Andhra Pradesh, Mangalore (1.5 million tonnes) in Karnataka, and Padur (2.5 million tonnes) in Karnataka.
  • The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, launched India's first home-grown Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy called 'NexCAR19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel)' for cancer treatment. With this launch, India has become one of the first developing countries to have its own CAR-T and gene therapy platform.
  • Meta Platforms, has been Partnered with Press Trust of India (PTI), the largest news agency in India, to create a special fact-checking team for Fact-Checking Program. Through this partnership, PTI will find, check, and rate information on Meta platforms to ensure it's accurate and not misleading.
  • Sagar Kavach, a two-day coastal security exercise, was held in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep from April 1st to 2nd, 2024. This exercise involved all the maritime security agencies.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) helped rescue many Indians from Cambodia who were trapped in cyber slavery.
    • Cyber slavery is when people are exploited and abused through digital means, often involving forced labor or human trafficking with the help of technology. In this situation, individuals are forced, tricked, or pressured into doing tasks or services against their will, usually for the benefit of others. It is a serious and large-scale crime.
  • India’s Pratyush Telescope is one of the telescopes that astronomers are thinking about placing around the moon. They hope to use high-resolution telescopes on and around the moon to explore the universe in new ways. The Pratyush Telescope, also known as PRATUSH (Probing Reionization of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen), is a radio telescope that will be located on the far side of the moon.
  • Bharat Aluminum Company Limited (BALCO), has earned the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard V3 certification. BALCO is the first Indian company to receive this certification, showing its dedication to sustainable practices in the aluminum industry.
  • In a report called "Synchronizing Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net-Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All," AK Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), shared that India plans to produce 100 GigaWatts (GW) of nuclear power by 2047.
  • The Technology Development Board (TDB), which is part of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Government of India (GoI), has partnered with Remine India Private Limited to set up a plant in Sitarganj, Uttarakhand. This plant will use local technology to recycle lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and e-waste.
  • India aims to half, urea imports by the end of 2025 by boosting domestic production and promoting alternative fertilizers. This is in response to the nation’s significant reliance on imports, which currently satisfy around 30% of its annual urea demand.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved a plan for India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to manage the Sittwe port on the Kaladan River in Rakhine, Myanmar. This is the second port outside of India that India operates, the first one being the Chabahar Port in Iran.The European Union(EU) and India launched an
  • The Government of India and the Government of Mauritius have changed the India-Mauritius Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). The new focus is on stopping tax evasion rather than encouraging investment between the two countries.
  • NTPC Limited (formerly National Thermal Power Corporation) has started a new edition of its Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM), a key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. This new edition will help about 3000 underprivileged children at 42 NTPC locations, increasing the total number of girls benefiting from the mission to 10,000.
  • The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched a digital platform called CDP-SURAKSHA (Cluster Development Programme – System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance). This platform helps give subsidies to horticulture farmers under the CDP program.
  • Sany Heavy Industry India Private Limited, a company that makes construction and mining equipment, has launched the SKT105E, which is India's first fully electric mining truck made in the country.
  • The Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has launched India's first mobile medical devices calibration facility. This facility on wheels aims to provide affordable and high-quality calibration services across the country, helping to improve healthcare in both urban and rural areas.
  • The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps held a training exercise with Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) at a super-high altitude of 17,000 feet in Sikkim. This exercise, named "Ek Missile Ek Tank," demonstrated the accuracy and effectiveness of the ATGM system in high-altitude environments.
  • The Ministry of Finance has updated the Foreign Exchange Management Rules 2019 to set new foreign direct investment (FDI) limits for satellite-related activities. According to the new FDI Policy, 100% FDI is now allowed in the space sector. For manufacturing components and systems for satellites, ground segments, and user segments, up to 100% FDI is permitted automatically.
  • The government has created a seven-member panel led by Vijay Kumar Saraswat to suggest laws and promote the extraction of important minerals found in small amounts.
    • The main goal of the panel is to suggest ways to ensure that mining for minerals like copper, gold, and diamonds, which are found deep underground, is done cost-effectively and scientifically. These minerals are usually found in veins and can only be mined through underground methods.
  • The Government of India’s Geographical Indication Registry has given Geographical Indication (GI) tags to 13 new products from Uttar Pradesh (UP), including Banaras Tirangi Barfi and Banaras Metal Casting Craft. This brings the total number of GI products from UP to 75, making UP the state with the most GI tagged products in India.

List of New GI Products of UPGoods
Pilkhuwa Home FurnishingHandi Crafts
Banaras Lal Bharwamirch (Red Pickel)Agriculture
Lakhimpur Kheri Tharu EmbroideryHandi Crafts
Jaunpur Imarti (Sweet)Food Stuffs
Banarasi TablaMusical Instrument
Banaras Lal Peda (Sweet)Food Stuffs
Chiraigaon Karonda of VaranasiAgriculture
Bareilly Zardoji CraftHandi Crafts
Banaras Tirangi BarfiUdaipur, Rajasthan
1st G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group (SFWG) meetingFood Stuffs
Banaras ShehnaiMusical Instrument
Bareilly FurnitureHandi Crafts
Banaras Mural PaintingHandi Crafts
Banaras Metal Casting CraftHandi Crafts
  • A team of archaeologists found a unique Iron Age Megalithic site at Ooragutta near Bandala village in Mulugu district, Telangana. They also discovered two new rock art sites in Damaratogu Gundala mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana.
    • One of these sites, called "Devarlabanda Mula," only has paintings of animals and no humans. It is believed these paintings are from the Mesolithic age (between 8000-3000 BCE) because they do not show any weapons or domestic animals.
  • Russia and India have signed an agreement to start a large research center in New Delhi. HSE University from St. Petersburg, Russia, and the University of Delhi (DU) in New Delhi, India, will work together on this project. This agreement will allow the research hub to operate at DU in India.
  • Poorvi Lehar (XPOL 2024): Exercise Poorvi Lehar (XPOL 2024) is a coordinated exercise involving the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard. The exercise aims to test and improve the Indian Navy’s readiness for maritime security challenges in the region and to show how well these forces can work together. Participating Forces: Eastern Naval Command; Indian Air Force (IAF); Andaman & Nicobar Command; Coast Guard.
  • On the special occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event honored Bhagwan Mahaveer, the 24th Tirthankar, and celebrated his teachings of Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Non-Stealing), Brahmacharya (Chastity), and Aparigraha (Non-Attachment). These teachings guide us towards peaceful coexistence and universal brotherhood.
  • SJVN Limited has started India’s first multipurpose (combined Heat and Power) green hydrogen pilot project at the 1,500 megawatt (MW) Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh (HP).
  • The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance, has given Navratna status to two companies: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA) and Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO). This status recognizes them as important and powerful companies in India.
  • The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) announced a big achievement for India's Gem and Jewellery (GJ) industry. The industry has received Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status from the Ministry of Finance. This status, which was not given before, now makes it easier to export and import goods, speeds up cargo release times, and reduces bank guarantees by 50%, making it easier to do business.
  • To connect more with customers, the biscuit brand Britannia NutriChoice has launched a health app called ‘NutriPlus’. This app was created with Aktivo Labs and helps people keep track of their health and wellness.
    • The app gives users a daily "NutriScore," which is a single score that shows their health status based on factors like how long they exercise and sleep.
  • At a meeting in Turin, Italy, G7 energy ministers discussed phasing out coal-fired power plants to transition away from fossil fuels, following the UN’s COP28 climate summit.
    • G7 ministers are close to agreeing on shutting down coal-fired power plants by the first half of the 2030s, possibly by 2035.
    • The aim is to phase out unabated coal power generation to maintain the 1.5°C temperature rise limit.
    • The G7 is an informal group of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, plus the EU.
  • A recent geochemical study has confirmed that the Luna crater in the Banni Plains grassland of Gujarat, India, was created by a meteorite impact around 6,900 years ago. The crater, named after the nearby village of Luna, is 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) wide, with an outer rim that rises about 6 meters (20 feet) above the crater floor.
  • India and the United Kingdom are talking about sharing their technical knowledge and experience in maritime Electric Propulsion Systems for future Indian warships. They are also considering a training agreement to improve cooperation between their armed forces.
    • Currently, Indian naval warships do not have electric propulsion systems.
    • The Indian Navy wants to include this technology in its future warships.
    • The UK’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers already use full electric propulsion systems.
  • On Earth Day, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) released its Climate Strategy 2030 document. This plan is to help India get more green financing for projects that deal with climate change.
  • The government has formed a three-member committee of gynecologists to create a list of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that can be sold at general stores without a prescription. The committee, led by the Directorate General of Health Services Atul Goel, plans to finish the list within two weeks.
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IMPORTANT DAYS
  • Earth Hour annually observed across the globe on the last Saturday of March. Earth Hour 2023 was observed on 25th March 2023.
  • World Autism Awareness Day annually observed across the globe on April 2. It is an International Day recognized by the United Nations (UN). Theme of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) 2023: “Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking”.
  • International Children’s Book Day annually observed across the globe April 2. We also celebrate this day as birth anniversary of a Danish novelist and writer Hans Christian Andersen. Theme of International Children’s Book Day “I am a book, read me”.
  • International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action annually observed across the globe on April 4. It is an International Day recognized by the United Nations (UN). Theme for 2023 is “Mine Action Cannot Wait”.
  • National Maritime Day annually observed across India on April 5. The theme of National Maritime Day 2023 is “Amrit Kaal in Shipping” (Golden Era in Shipping).
  • International Day of Conscience annually observed across the world on 5th April. It is an International Day recognized by the United Nations (UN).
  • International Day of Sport for Development and Peace annually observed across the globe on April 6. The global theme for 2023 is “Scoring for People and the Planet”.
  • World Health Day annually observed across the globe on April 07. 7th April 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Theme for 2023 is “Health for All”.
  • Prevention of Blindness Week annually observed across India from 1st to 7th April (the first week of April).

 
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