Current Affairs 23 April 2022

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 23 April 2022, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2022 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

NITI Aayog Signs SoI with UNICEF India On SDGs Focusing on Children

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, India’s leading policy think tank, has inked a Statement of Intent (SoI) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with an emphasis on children with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India.

• The SoI intends to formalize a framework of cooperation in order to launch the first report on the “State of India’s Children: Status and Trends in Multidimensional Child Development,” emphasizing a mutual commitment to achieving children’s rights in India.
• It focusses on multidimensional aspects of child development such as health, education, nutrition, protection, and other relevant areas.

The SoI was signed by Ms. Sanyukta Samaddar, Nodal Officer-SDGs, NITI Aayog, and Ms. Hyun Hee Ban, Chief of Social Policy, UNICEF India.
Key Points:
i.In order to achieve the SDGs’ child development priorities, UNICEF India and NITI Aayog are developing a comprehensive measure to understand the multidimensional attainments and deprivations among children.
ii.This initiative will assist India in achieving its commitments under the 2030 Agenda by offering a set of policy suggestions for concerted action on the SDGs in order to “leave no child behind” and achieve holistic development.
iii. It will employ a whole-of-society approach, incorporating all stakeholders such as Union Ministries, State Governments, Civil Society Organizations, and child rights organisations.
iv.This SDG project for children relies on efforts to track progress through the SDG India Index and Dashboard, a one-of-a-kind data-driven initiative for policy action.
About NITI Aayog:
The NITI Aayog was established by a Union Cabinet resolution with the purpose of providing directional and policy inputs to the Government of India.
CEO -Amitabh Kant
Establishment – 2015
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Gujarati.On April 18 – 20, 2022, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi was on a three-day visit to Gujarat to attend programs in Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Jamnagar and Dahod, covering different sectors, and to boost Ease of Living for people.
ii.PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat in the presence of WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus and PM of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. It is the 1st and only global outpost centre for traditional medicine across the world. 
iii.He also laid the foundation stone for manufacturing of 9000 HP (Horsepower) Electric Locomotives at the Production Unit in Dahod. The cost of the project is around Rs 20,000 crore. 
iv.PM Narendra Modi attended the Adijati Maha Sammelan in Dahod where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth around Rs 22,000 crore.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister– Bhupendrabhai Patel
Stadium– Bilakhia Stadium, CB Patel International Cricket Stadium, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Stadium
Dance– Tippani, Hudo, Padhar
>> Read Full News

ISRO arm NSIL & OneWeb inks Pact for Satellite Launches

On April 21, 2022, The New Space India Limited (NSIL), a commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and OneWeb, inked an agreement to complete oneweb’s Satellite Launch Programme. 
Key Points:
i.The pact was signed in the mutual interest of NSIL and Oneweb, for developing Satellite Constellation Network, delivering industry-grade secure Internet connectivity. 
ii.The first launch with the NSIL is expected to be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) formerly called as Sriharikota Range (SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh by 2022
iii.The new launches will add oneweb’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communication satellites, in-orbit constellation network to 428 satellites, which is 66 percent of the planned total fleet to deliver a high-speed, low latency connectivity. 
iv.The current contract was the follow up of a separate agreement between oneWeb and SpaceX,  an American aerospace manufacturer in March 2022, to enable the company to resume satellite launches.
Note: OneWeb has active service at the 50th parallel and above latitudes with its existing network.
About OneWeb:
i.OneWeb is co-owned by India’s Bharti Group and the United Kingdom (UK) Government, with Eutelsat Communications, SoftBank, Hughes Network Systems, Hanwha among major shareholders.
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom
Chief Executive Officer – Neil Masterson

IIT-D inks MoU with POSOCO to Conduct R&D on India’s Power Sector

On April 20, 2022, The Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC) of Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO) and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage research and development on issues related to India’s power sector and strengthen interaction between the academia and industry.
Objectives:
i.The MoU  aimed at strengthening industry-academia interaction with goals of knowledge sharing and capacity building through collaboration.
ii.It also encourages research on issues related to India’s power sector such as ancillary services for grid operations, short term demand and Renewable Energy forecasting using artificial intelligence and machine learning, dynamic security assessment, phasor measurement, unit analytics etc.
Signatories:
i.The MoU was signed by Rajiv Kumar Porwal, Head of NRLDC (POSOCO) and Retd. Colonel Naveen Gopal, Chief Operating Officer, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FIIT) at IIT-D campus and Officers from NRLDC (POSOCO).
Note: IIT-D had earlier also partnered with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to conduct research and development initiatives on water supply and distribution such as wastewater conveyance, treatment, recycle, reuse and disposal.
About Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO):
i.The POSOCO is a wholly owned Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy, responsible to ensure the integrated operation of the National Electricity grid in a secure manner.
ii.Under Electricity Act, 2003, it consists of five Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) and the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC).
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Chairman & Managing Director – S R Narasimhan

IAF, Indian Navy inks Pact with DRDO to Acquire CHAFF to Shield Warships, Fighter Aircrafts

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy have partnered with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to use CHAFF Technology in the Indian Airforce Aircrafts and Indian Naval Ships (INS) in order to protect from enemy radar-guided missiles during hostile situations.

• This makes India the second country to induct such technology only after the United States.

What is CHAFF Technology?
CHAFF is a passive expendable electronic countermeasure technology used worldwide to protect naval ships and fighter aircrafts from enemy’s radar and Radio Frequency (RF) missiles. 
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Chairman – G. Satheesh Reddy
>> Read Full News

President Ram Nath Kovind Gives Assent To Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022

 President, Ram Nath Kovind gives assent to Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Hereon the bill will be termed as Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Act, 2022.The Act provides “Darlongs” a small community of around 11,000 people in Tripura to officially get included in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST).

• The Darlong community is a sub-tribe of the Kuki tribe in the list of STs in Tripura.  
• The Act amended the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.

Darlong Community:
i.The community excels in education, public service, music, art and culture.
ii.Thanga Darlong of Darlong Community has received Padma Shri Award in 2019 in the category of art, music, flute by the Government of India. 
iii.Darlong were handed their tribal certificates as members of ‘Kuki’ community.
iv.Requisition – The excluded Darlongs, sub-tribe of Kuki in the excluded ST list should be included with the Darlong community.
Tripura’s Tribal Communities: 
Tripura consists of 19 tribal communities which includes Tripuri or Debbarma, Reangs or Brus, Jamatia, Noatia, Uchoi, Chakma, Mog, Lushai, Kuki, Munda, Kour, Oram, Santhal, Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimar or Sermai, Garo, Khasi, Lepcha and Halam.
About Tripura:
Chief Minister – Biplab Kumar Deb
President of Darlong Hnam Inzom (DHI) – SK Darlong

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Navy Chief Unveiled Joint Navigation Chart in The Maldives

In his first overseas visit since assuming the office of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral R Hari Kumar held several high-level bilateral meetings during a three-day visit to the Maldives on April 18-20, 2022.

• The CNS met with President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamad Solih; Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi and Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) Major General Abdulla Shamaal during his visit.

His visit strengthened the two maritime neighbours’ strong and long-standing bilateral relations, driven by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s “Five S” Vision: Sammaan (Respect), Samvaad (Dialogue), Sahyog (Cooperation), Shanti (Peace), and Samriddhi (Prosperity).
Highlights Of the Visit:
The India-Maldives hydrographic cooperation:
i.Admiral Kumar hosted a reception on board Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sutlej on 18 April 2022 in honour of the Maldives’ Defence Minister and the leadership of the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF), with the goal of exploring new pathways for expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation in the defence and maritime domains.

• Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on hydrographic cooperation, INS Sutlej is presently deployed to the Maldives to conduct a joint hydrographic survey.

ii.The Navy Chief also unveiled the first ‘Navigation Chart,’ co-produced by India and the Maldives, and handed over hydrography equipment to the Maldivian National Defence Forces (MNDF) to help them consolidate their capabilities.
Mission Sagar: During the COVID-19 pandemic, India and the Maldives collaborated closely under the Indian Navy’s outreach campaign “Mission SAGAR” and ‘Operation Samudra Setu’, which focused on resource mobilisation and people transportation.
Developing Defence Partnerships: India and the Maldives have partnered extensively in a number of bilateral, mini-lateral, and multilateral fora, including the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and the Colombo Security Conclave, on maritime security concerns in the Indian Ocean.
Note:

• In November 2021, Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi was the Chief Guest at the Indian Naval Academy’s Passing Out Parade.
• Colonel Ibrahim Hilmy, Commandant of the Maldives Coast Guard, led the Maldives Delegation at MILAN-2022, India-led multilateral naval exercise, which was held by India in Visakhapatnam in February 2022.

BANKING & FINANCE

IFSCA Issues Framework for Investment Funds

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), has notified ‘International Financial Services Centres Authority (Fund Management) Regulations, 2022’, a comprehensive regulatory framework for Investment Funds in the official gazette on April 19, 2022.
Key features of the regulations:
i.Registering the Fund Management Entity: A Fund Management Entity will be registered with IFSCA and will be allowed to manage various types of funds and schemes if they match the eligibility criteria.
ii.Green Channel:Venture Capital Schemes or non-retail schemes that solicit money only from authorised investors qualify for the green channel.

• It implies that after filing with the IFSCA, investors will be able to subscribe to the schemes that have been registered.

iii. Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): As ETFs offer a low-cost option to get exposure to specific markets or asset classes, registered fund managers in the IFSC will be permitted to create not only index-based ETFs, but also Active ETFs and Commodity-based ETFs.
About International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):
It is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.
>> Read Full News

RBI mandates Borrowers with Exposure of Rs 5cr and above to obtain LEI; UCBs to Eliminate Honorary Positions within 1 year

i.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandates non-individual borrowers with aggregate exposure of Rs 5 crore and above from Banks and Financial Institutions (FIs) should obtain Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) codes.
ii.These directions are issued under sections 21, 35A and 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949, sections 45JA and 45L of the RBI Act, 1934, section 30A of the National Housing Bank (NHB) Act, 1987 and section 6 of the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011.
iii.RBI in exercise of its powers conferred under Section 35A and Section 36(1)(d) of the BR ACT, 1949 barred Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) from creating honorary position or title such Chairman Emeritus and Group Chairman at the board level.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
i.The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
ii.The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Calcutta but was permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937.
iii.Though originally privately owned, since nationalization in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned by the Government of India.
>> Read Full News

BHIM UPI Becomes Operational at NEOPAY Terminals In The UAEThe National Payment Corporation of India’s (NPCI) international arm, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), has announced that BHIM UPI (Bharat Interface for Money-Unified Payments Interface) has gone operational at NEOPAY terminals across the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

• This initiative will empower Indian tourists to pay at NEOPAY terminals using BHIM UPI, which has become the preferred means of payment for Indian citizens.

In 2021, NIPL and NEOPAY collaborated to build the acceptance infrastructure in the UAE.
NOTE: NEOPAY is the payment subsidiary of Mashreq Bank, the UAE’s oldest bank and a leading financial institution in the Middle East.
Key Points:
i.The introduction of BHIM UPI in the UAE will be a significant step toward boosting digital payments in the country.

• Indian tourists can now make seamless payments using BHIM UPI throughout NEOPAY enabled shops and merchant outlets in the UAE.

ii.The NIPL & NEOPAY collaboration plays an essential role in transforming the P2M (person-to-merchant) payment experience for Indian visitors to the UAE.
iii. With cutting-edge technologies, NIPL works consistently to simplify digital payments and drive digital public goods around the world.
About NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL):
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). NIPL is devoted for deployment of RuPay (domestic card scheme) and UPI (mobile payment solution) outside of India.
CEO – Ritesh Shukla
Establishment – 2020
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

SEBI Issued Rs 2.06 Crore Recovery Notice to Former NSE Chief Ravi Narain 

The Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) issued a fine of Rs 2.06 crore on  Ravi Narain, former Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of National Stock Exchange (NSE) in a case related to governance issues over the appointment of the chief strategic officer at NSE in 2013. 

• In two separate orders, SEBI imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh each on  Rexon Strips Ltd and Ritika Enclave Pvt Ltd  for non-genuine trades in illiquid stock options on BSE.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS   

UNEP Named Sir David Attenborough as Recipient of Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award 2021The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has named Sir David Attenborough, English natural history broadcaster and naturalist, as the recipient of the Champions of the Earth Award 2021 under the Lifetime Achievement category, for his dedication to research, documentation, and advocacy for the protection of nature and its restoration.
About Sir David Attenborough:
i.Sir David Attenborough is well known for his innovative educational television programs, especially the nine-part Life series forming the Life collection. 
ii.His well-known documentaries include The Green Planet and A Plastic Ocean.
iii.His noted works include the Life series: Life on Earth (1979), The Living Planet (1984), The Trials of Life (1990) and others. 
Awards & Honours:
i.He was knighted twice by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 and again in 2020. 
ii.He has won 3 Emmy Awards and 8 British Academy of Film and Television Arts(BAFTA) awards.
Note:
i.The year 2022 marks the 50 years since the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, which was one of the first international meetings on the environment.
ii.This conference led to the creation of UNEP, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022. 
UNEP’s Champions of the Earth Awards:
i.The UNEP’s Champions of the Earth Awards honours individuals, groups, and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. 
ii.This is the United Nations(UN)’s highest environmental honour. 
iii.Since its foundation in 2005, the Champions of the Earth award has honoured 101 laureates, including 25 world leaders, 62 individuals and 14 organizations.
Award Categories:

• Lifetime Achievement
• Policy Leadership
• Inspiration And Action
• Science And Innovation
• Enterpreneurial Vision

Other Winners of 2021 Champions of the Earth Awards:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy & 4 US Officials Received John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award 2022

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, for the first time ever, awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award 2022 to five individuals — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, United States (US) Representative Liz Cheney, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Arizona Representative Russell “Rusty” Bowers, and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss — each for their courage to protect and defend democracy.
Key Points:
i.The award will be presented by Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack Schlossberg on May 22, 2022 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston, USA.
ii.Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President is named for his valour to protect Ukrainian people during Russia-Ukraine Conflict.
iii.Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Republican US Representative, stood up with honour in defence of her conviction even though she was ousted from her post last year (2021) for her criticism of former President Donald Trump and statements blaming him for the violence at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
iv.Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State was awarded for her act of defending the Certification of the results and fulfilling the duties of her office and continues to speak out about the risks to free and fair elections during the protest done by Trump supporters for recounting the votes.
v.Russell Rusty Bowers, Arizona House Speaker for their act of rejecting the request from Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani for the Arizona Legislature, to step in and replace electors legally pledged for Joe Biden with others who would support Donald Trump.
vi.And finally, to Georgia elections worker, Wandrea Shaye Moss, she has been falsely accused of manipulating the results against Donald Trump, however she worked remotely and does her counting duty.
About John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award:
i.The award was created by the family of the late president John Fitzgerald Kennedy to honour public figures who risk their careers by embracing unpopular positions for the greater good, and is named after Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, ”Profiles in Courage.”      

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS          

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate José Ramos-Horta Declares victory in East Timor’s Presidential Election

On 21st April 2022, Independence leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate José Ramos-Horta has been declared victory in the 2022 Presidential Elections of Timor-Leste, or East Timor (former Portuguese colony). He will be sworn into office on 20th May 2022, which marks the 20th anniversary of East Timor’s independence. 

• According to the Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), he has secured 62.09%, against incumbent President Francisco Guterres, popularly known as Lú-Olo, who secured 37.91% of the vote. 
• The total turnout in the March 19 election was 77.26% which is 6% higher than in 2017. 

About José Ramos-Horta:
i.José Ramos-Horta was born on 26th December 1949 in Dili, East Timor. 
ii.He has served as the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of East Timor from 2006 to 2007 and served as the President of East Timor from 2007 to 2012.
iii.He has also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from 2002 to 2006.
iv.He has been a Member of the Global Leadership Foundation since 2013.
Awards:
i.He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 for their work toward a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor. He shared the prize with Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.

• Between 1975 and 1999, José Ramos-Horta travelled extensively lobbying governments and creating networks of supporters for the cause of East Timor. 

ii.He has also won several awards including the Order of Timor-Leste (2012) and the Order of Dom Boaventura (2006). 
About East Timor:
Timor-Leste or East Timor is a Southeast Asian nation which occupies around half the island of Timor.
President– Francisco Guterres
Capital– Dili
Currency– United States Dollar

GoI Appoints C Muhammed Faizi as a member of the Haj Committee of India

In the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3, 4, 5 and 6 read with Section 15 (1) of the Haj Committee Act 2002(35 of 2002), The Government of India (GoI) has appointed C Muhammed Faizi as a member of the Haj Committee of India (HCoI), a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, under sub-section (11), of Section 4 of Haj Committee Act 2022, for a period of 3 years up to 31st March 2025 with effect from 21st April 2022. 

• Ministry of Minority Affairs is the nodal ministry to conduct the Haj pilgrimage in India.
• Haj pilgrimage for the Indian pilgrims is conducted either through HCoI or the Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) approved by the Ministry. 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik released 2 books: “The Magic of Mangalajodi” & “The Sikh History of East India”

On 21st April 2022, the Chief Minister(CM) of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, released 2 books; 
i.The coffee table book titled “The Magic of Mangalajodi” by Avinash Khemka 
ii.A compilation of the Sikh history of eastern India titled “Sikh History of Eastern India” by Abinash Mohapatra. The book is published by Punjabi Global Foundation, Odisha Chapter in Balasore, Odisha. 
About The Magic of Mangalajodi: 
i.The coffee table book “The Magic of Mangalajodi” provides a bird’s eye view of Mangalajodi in Chilika lake through various images and descriptions. 
ii.Mangalajodi is well known for its story of successful nature conservation where the local community members have renounced their traditional bird hunting practices and pledged for the protection of wildlife and habitat. 

• Avinash Khemka is a veteran wildlife photographer and conservationist. 

About the Sikh History of Eastern India:
i.The book is a result of the meticulous research work on Sikh history and philosophy by Abinash Mohapatra. 
ii.This is a compilation of 8 books authored by Abinash Mohapatra, which includes a Sikh history of Bihar, Assam, Bangladesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
iii.The preface of this book is written by Sardar Gurbax Singh, Junior Vice-President, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Sri Amritsar Sahib.

• Abinash Mohapatra is a scholar of Sikh history based in Odisha. 
• He has authored around 38 books on Sikh history, theology and principles. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Mother Earth Day 2022 – 22 April

The United Nations(UN)’s International Mother Earth Day (also known as World Earth Day) is annually observed across the globe on 22nd April to honour the Earth and the concept of peace. The day also reminds the need for a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet.

• Earth Day (22nd April) marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
• 22nd April 2022 marks the observance of the 52nd Earth Day. 

The theme of Earth Day 2022 is “Invest In Our Planet”. 
Background:
i.Peace activist John McConnell proposed to observe the Earth Day, at the 1969 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) Conference held in San Francisco, United States of America (USA). 
ii.22nd April has been observed as Earth Day since 1970 by the EARTHDAY.ORG in more than 190 countries.
iii.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/63/278 on 22nd April 2009 and proclaimed the 22nd April of every year as International Mother Earth Day. 
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

West Bengal Has Received Proposals Worth Rs 3.42 Lakh Crore During BGBS 2022

2 day 6th edition of Bengal Global Business Summit – 2022 (BGBS) held in Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, New Town, Kolkata, West Bengal (WB) on April 20-21, 2022.During the summit, WB received investment proposals of Rs 3.42 lakh crore & the WB state has signed a total of 137 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and Letters of Intent (LoI).

•  BGBS took place from 20 April 2022 to 21 April 2022.

 Bengal Global Business Summit – 2022 (BGBS)

• The two days’ summit was attended by 4,300 participants from 42 countries.
• The summit also creates 40 lakh new jobs across sectors.
• Setting up of a task-force under the Chief Secretary for speedy implementation of projects.

Developments Discussed On Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS):
i.Set up of a deep sea port and a shale gas exploration policy would be framed in the near future.
ii.Sessions held on ease of doing business, launched portals on Silpa Saathi (for industries), export facilitation and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), along with a book on Geographical Indications (GI)-tagged products from West Bengal.
About West Bengal:
Chief Minister – Mamata Banerjee
Wildlife sanctuaries –  Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary, Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary
>> Read Full News

Apple Inc Announced Partnerships to Protect Mangroves in Raigad, Maharashtra

Apple Inc has partnered with Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) and the Conservation International to protect the crucial mangrove ecosystem and the livelihoods that depend on it in Raigad district of Maharashtra. 

• This is a part of Apple’s ongoing work to support communities most affected by climate change. 
• This project is also a part of Apple’s USD 200 million Restore Fund launched in 2021 with Conservation International and Goldman Sachs.

Objective:

• To help the transition the local economy to one that relies on keeping mangroves intact and healthy.
• To help protect the mangrove ecosystem in India and the livelihoods that depend upon it.

Features of the partnership:
i.AERF will enter into conservation agreements with local community members, offering support in exchange for conserving and protecting the mangroves on their land.
ii.The conservation agreements will provide sustained support to villagers in exchange for conserving the land. 
iii.AERF will engage with Conservation International to verify the climate benefits of the mangroves, accounting for the carbon sequestered in both the trees and soil. 
iv.AERF will also apply learnings from Conservation International’s pilot blue carbon project in Cispatá, Colombia, launched in 2018.
v.The blue carbon project was the first in the world to adequately and accurately measure the carbon that mangrove trees store in their trunk and leaves and what they sequester in their soil
Key points:
i.In 2021, Apple awarded a grant to AERF to explore the area with a plan to safeguard the future of 2,400 hectares of mangrove forests in Raigad by creating alternative, sustainable industries in the local communities that cultivate and benefit from the biodiversity and resilience of the mangrove ecosystems. 
ii.The grant also supports the restoration of mangroves across a 50-hectare area where they have degraded and it will also overlook the purchase and distribution of portable bio-stoves that prevent the cutting down of mangroves for firewood. 
Importance of Mangroves in Raigad:
i.The mangroves protect the coastal communities from climate impacts like the unpredictable monsoons and rising tides.
ii.They also act as carbon sinks that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their soil, plants, and other sediment known as blue carbon. 
About Apple Inc.:
Chief Executive Officer– Tim Cook
Headquarters– Cupertino, California, United States of America(USA)
Founded in 1976

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