Current Affairs 27 April 2023

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

PM Dedicated Various Projects Worth Rs 4850 cr in Dadra and Nagar HaveliOn April 25, 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various development projects related to health, housing, tourism, education and urban development, worth more than Rs 4850 crore in Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Key Points:
i.PM inaugurated the new campus of NAMO Medical Education & Research Institute, the first and only medical college in the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. He was accompanied by Praful Patel, the Administrator of Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep.
ii.The PM laid the foundation stone and dedicated 96 projects worth more than Rs. 4850 crores to the nation at Sayli ground, Silvassa.
iii.As per the statement of PM, work has been done on the physical and social infrastructure in the UT with an allocation of Rs 5500 crores in the last few years.
iv.Referring to the International Year of Millets, the Prime Minister mentioned the UT’s local millets like Nagali and Nachni.
>> Read Full News

Rajasthan Gets 3 New Conservation Reserves: Sorsan in Baran, Khichan in Jodhpur, & Hamirgarh in BhilwaraOn the occasion of International Mother Earth Day (Earth Day) 2023 (22nd April 2023), the Forest Department, Government of Rajasthan announced 3 new conservation reserves that will protect the rare and endangered wildlife of Rajasthan.

• The 3 new wildlife conservation reserves are Sorsan in Baran, Khichan in Jodhpur, and Hamirgarh in Bhilwara.
• With the declaration of 3 new conservation reserves, the total number of reserves in Rajasthan has now reached 26.

About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister(CM)– Ashok Gehlot
Governor– Kalraj Mishra
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary; Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
Zoological Park– Nahargarh Biological Park (Jaipur Zoo); Machia Biological Park (Jodhpur Zoo)
>> Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI granted NBFC licence to Neobanking Jupiter; Cancels Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank’s banking licence, allows to operate as NBFCi.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a non-banking financial company (NBFC) licence to the Neobanking platform Jupiter enabling the latter to scale up its lending business.
ii.Earlier, Jupiter was lending in partnership with an NBFC under the Loan Service Providers (LSP) model.
iii.On April 25, 2023, RBI has cancelled the banking licence of the Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd, Adoor, Kerala (initiated on January 3, 1987)  to carry on banking business in India under Section 22 read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act,1949 with effect from the close of business on April 24, 2023.
iv.However, it is allowed to function as non-banking institution under Section 36 A(2) read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Governor – Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors – Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
Establishment – 1st April 1935
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
>> Read Full News

NPCI Bharat BillPay launches NOCS platform to process ONDC transactionsNPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) has developed and launched the NOCS platform to provide reconciliation and settlement services for transactions undertaken on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network.

• NOCS will help ONDC by providing a population-scale solution for the challenges of high transaction volume among different entities on the network.

What is ONDC Platform?
The ONDC platform was set up to facilitate the rapid adoption of e-commerce, and boost the growth of startups in India by facilitating scalable and cost-effective e-commerce through the open protocol.
Key Points:
i.The services, provided under the guidance of RBI, will serve as the foundation for the ONDC network and enable smooth, secure and timely transfer of funds to network participants.
ii.The NOCS platform is integrated with banks, fintechs and e-commerce players, and will soon go live with the first set of five banks on ONDC–AU Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC First Bank, and YES Bank.
About NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL):
NBBL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) which came into effect in April 2021.
CEO– Noopur Chaturvedi
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra

SBI General Insurance Launched Digital-only Health Insurance Plan – Health Edge InsuranceOn April 2023, SBI General Insurance Company Limited announced the launch of a fully customizable digital-only health insurance plan named ‘Health Edge Insurance’. It is a Single Comprehensive Plan variant with 9 Basic indemnity Covers and 18 Optional covers to stand in need of medical exigency.
Key Features:
i.Premium & Sum Insured: Multiple Sum Insured options under the policy range from 3 to 25 lakhs. Long term Policy options are available for up to 3 years and offer customers value with premiums starting from less than Rs.15/day
ii.Entry Age: The entry age to purchase the Health Edge plan is 18 years to 65 years for adults and 91 days to 30 years for children.
iii.Being a truly digital-only product from SBI General, the entire process of the policy from purchase to claims will be digital.
iv.The planned treatment under this cover shall be claimed on a Reimbursement basis in Indian currency only.
v.On availing of the co-payment option of the policy, 10% or 20% Co-Payment shall be applied on every admissible claim wherever applicable under this Policy.
vi.No pre-policy medical checkup was required before issuance of Health Edge policy till 55 years of age.
vii.The insurance plan includes covers such as the Global Treatment cover which takes care of the medical expenses incurred towards inpatient care outside India, and OPD (Out Patient Department) cover which guarantees the medical expenses incurred for allopathic OPD expenses including Diagnostics and Pharmacy.
Additional info:
i.SBI General Insurance reported a 17.6% growth in Gross Written Premium (GWP) in FY23 and the GWP stood at Rs 10,888 crore.
ii.It has been awarded ‘Insurer of the Year’ in the non-life category at FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) Insurance Industry Awards, for two consecutive years in 2020 & 2021.
About SBI General Insurance Company Limited:
MD&CEO – Kishore Kumar Poludasu
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment –  2009

Reliance General Becomes 1st Insurer to Accept eRupee in Partnership with Yes BankReliance General Insurance, a subsidiary of Reliance Capital, has become the first company to accept eRupee(e₹)/ Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) for premium payments.

• Reliance General Insurance accepts the eRupee through a partnership with Yes Bank to enable its customers to make premium payments digitally using the bank’s platform.
•  The partnership will provide customers with a safe, easy, instant, and green payment solution, enhancing the customer experience.

Key Points:
i.Currently, the Reliance General Insurance made availability of the physical eRupee QR code at their select branches for walk-in customers to scan and pay instantly.

• Customers with an active eRupee wallet with any bank can scan Reliance General Insurance’s eRupee QR code to make an immediate payment.

ii.The company also plans to make it available at all branches nationwide, on its website, and on the Reliance Self-i app within a few months.
Benefits: 
i.A CBDC or Digital Rupee is a digital version of currency notes issued by RBI and it is equal to the legal tendar
ii.The use of eRupee will eliminate the handling of physical cash and offers the same anonymity as a banknote.
About Reliance General Insurance
Executive Director & CEO – Rakesh Jain
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

India’s FIEO sign MoU with Business Russia to promote trade & FDIFederation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), Apex body of Indian Exporters, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Business Russia, to promote trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between the two countries.

• The MoU was signed during the visit of 50-member delegation of the agriculture and food processing sector from India, led by N K Kagliwal, Board Member of FIEO, to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia.

Note: Business Russia is an All-Russia Public Organization which represents the interests of private non-resource businesses local industry leaders.

Purpose of Delegation Visit:
The delegation explored trade opportunities in diverse business ventures of Russia such as ready-to-eat meals, fish meal, animal feed, soyabean apart from conventional products, to establish business tie-ups with the Russian companies, including large departmental stores in the agro and food processed sector.

About the MoU:
Under this MoU, FIEO and Business Russia will cooperate to arrange exhibitions, buyers-sellers’ meetings, workshops, seminars and encourage enterprises to work in tandem with their counterparts for joint ventures.

Key Points:
i.Exporters are looking to increase agro and processed food exports from about $750 million to over $3 billion in the next three years.
ii.FIEO aims to take exports to Russia to USD 5 billion in FY24.

• Exports to Russia stood at USD 2.8 billion during April-February 2022-23, while imports aggregated at USD 41.6 billion during the same period.

About Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO):
Director General & CEO– Ajay Sahai
Headquarter– New Delhi, Delhi
Establishment– 1965

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS        

Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammad Abdul Ali receives IAA’s Meritorious Service Award 2023

On 24th April 2023, the Indo-Australian Association (IAA) conferred the Meritorious Service Award 2023 to His Excellency Nawab Mohammad Abdul Ali, the current and eighth titular Prince of Arcot, at Amir Mahal in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
The award was given by Sara Kirlew, Australian Consul General to South India, and Dr Susan Verghese, president of the Indo-Australian Association.

• The award is given in recognition of Nawab’s long-standing efforts to uphold communal peace, harmony, and international relations between the 2 countries (Indo-Australia).

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS         

Hari Hara Mishra becomes CEO of the Association of ARCHari Hara Mishra takes charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARC)s.

• Association of ARCs, a Non-government, a Non-profit organization, Indian ARC Association (“IAA”) is voice of all ARCs in India is a Representative Body of 28 ARCs registered with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and it has been active for more than eight years.

About Hari Hara Mishra:
i. Hari Hara Mishra joined India’s largest bank- State Bank of India (SBI) in 1982 as a Probationary Officer.
ii. He worked in various areas of banking for more than two decades in the areas of Business Development, NPA (Non-Performing Assets) Management, Customer Service, and promotion of Quality Circle etc.
iii. He has been associated with ARC Sector more than a decade (from 2004 to till date) in various ARCs in executive and director level roles.
iv. He has been associated with holding the Annual ARC Conference ARCON and is an honorary advisor to the Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) National Council in New Delhi, Delhi for ARCs, Banking and Financial Services.
v. He is one of the four member working groups on ARCs,constituted by the Indian Banks Association (IBA) to operate continuously on various issues and take them up with the IBA, the RBI and the government.
About Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARC)s:

• It is a specialized financial institution that buys the NPAs (Non-Performing Assets) or bad assets/loans from banks and financial institutions and helps them to recover the NPAs.
• The ARCs are registered under the RBI and regulated under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act, 2002).

Nasscom appoints Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari as ChairpersonOn April 25 2023, The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) appointed Anant Maheshwari, who is the President of Microsoft India, as its Chairperson for the year 2023-24.

• Anant Maheshwari, who was Nasscom’s vice-chairperson, succeeds Krishnan Ramanujam, the President of Business and Technology Services at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
• Krishnan Ramanujam was served as Chairperson of Nasscom for 2022-23.
• NASSCOM has announced its new executive council for 2023-25, the list includes one-third representation by women leaders, and aims to initiate India’s goal of doubling the technology industry to US$500 billion by 2030 from a current valuation of US$245 billion.

Other Appointment:
Nasscom has also announced the appointment of Rajesh Nambiar, chairman and Managing Director, Cognizant India as its Vice Chairperson at a group that represents India’s IT services sector for 2023-24.
Rajesh Nambiar serves on the Executive Council (EC) of NASSCOM, he chairs the Cognizant Foundations in the United States (US) and India. He is a member of the global board of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).
About Anant Maheshwari
i. AnantMaheshwari has served on NASSCOM’s EC since 2017, he is India Advisory Committee member of USIBC (US-India Business Council) in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. He is National Council member of CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), Ex Chairperson CII IT/ITeS (Information Technology/Information Technology Enabled Services) committee and is a fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C (District of Columbia), US.
iii. Prior to Microsoft, Anant Maheshwari was the president of Honeywell India in Gurgaon (Haryana).
About The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM):
It is an Indian non-governmental trade association and advocacy group, focused mainly on the technology industry of India.
Chairperson– Anant Maheshwari
President– Debjani Ghosh
Founded– 1 March 1988

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NASA Successfully Extracts Oxygen from Simulated Lunar Soil

Scientists at the Johnson Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Houston, Texas, United States of America (USA), have successfully extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil- the fine-grained material that blankets the Moon’s surface.

• The extraction, which occurs in a vacuum environment, represents the 1st time this has been achieved and opens the door for astronauts to eventually harvest and utilise resources in a lunar environment through in-situ resource utilisation.
• The Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) team of NASA utilized a special spherical chamber with a 15-foot diameter known as the Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber to recreate the conditions found on the Moon.

Sweden’s Research Rocket Accidentally Lands in Norway

On 24th April 2023, TEXUS-58, a microgravity research rocket, launched by Sweden Space Corp (SSC) from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden malfunctioned and landed in a mountain range 15 kilometres (km) inside Norway.

TEXUS-58 is part of a European initiative commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA).

• The rocket was part of a research programme in which experiments are carried out in zero gravity at 250km (155.34  miles) above the Earth.
• It landed in the mountains at 1,000 meters altitude and 10 km from the closest settlement.

SPORTS

2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 1 – Antalya: India finished 2nd with 4 medalsIndia finished 2nd in the overall medal tally at the 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 1 held in Antalya, Türkiye, with 4 medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze). The United States of America (USA) topped the medal tally with 4 medals(2 gold and 2 silver).

• 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 1, held from 18th to 23rd April 2023, is a part of the 2023 Archery World Cup (Officially Hyundai Archery World Cup).
• 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup is the 17th edition of the international archery circuit organised annually by World Archery.

Indian Winners:
i.Indian archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam wins individual gold in Compound Women in World Cup Stage 1 in Turkey by defeating Colombia’s Sara Lopez 149-146.

• She also won Compound Mixed Team Event with her partner Ojas Pravin Deotale (India) with a 159-154 win over Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yi Hsuan and Chem Chieh Lun.

ii.The Indian Men’s Recurve Team clinched a silver medal after losing to China in the final. The men’s recurve team comprised of Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das and Dhiraj Bommadevara.
iii.Dhiraj grabbed bronze medal in his World Cup debut by defeating Ilfat Abdullin of Kazakhstan 7-3 (28-28, 29-26, 28-29, 29-27, 29-27) in individual  men’s recurve section.
About Türkiye:
President– Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Capital– Ankara
Currency– Turkish lira
>> Read Full News

OBITUARY

Five-time Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal passed away On April 25 2023, Five-time Punjab Chief Minister (CM) and veteran Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Parkash Singh Badal passed away at the age of 95 in Mohali, Punjab. He was born on 8th December 1927 at Abul Khurana, near Malout in Punjab.
Political Career:
i. Parkash Singh Badal started his political career in 1947, he was elected to Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1957 for the first time from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a Sikh-centered regional political party, in Punjab.
ii. He has served as the CM of Punjab and holds the record for being Punjab’s youngest CM, at the age of 43 and for being the state’s oldest CM, at the age of 90.

• Parkash Singh Badal held the CM post for five terms: Between 1970 and 1971; from 1977-1980; from 1997-2002; from 2007-2012 and from 2012-2017.
• He also served as the leader of the opposition from 1972 to 1977, 1980 to 1983, and from 2002 to 2007.
• In his career, Parkash Singh Badal contested 13 state assembly elections and won 11. Between 1969 and 2017, he won ten polls back-to-back.

iii. He briefly held the position of 11th Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare under the Morarji Desai-headed government in 1977.
iv. He was also the patron of the SAD political party, and served as the president of the party from 1995 to 2008.
v.The Government of India awarded him the second-highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, in 2015(public affairs), however he returned his award in 2020 to support the 2020–2021 Indian farmers’ protest against the farm laws.
About Punjab:
Capital– Chandigarh
Chief Minister– Bhagwant Singh Mann
Governor– Banwarilal Purohit

Tripura’s 1st Padma Shri awardee, Himangshu Mohan Choudhury, Passed Away On 25th April 2023, former Indian Administrative Services (IAS) Officer, Himangshu Mohan Choudhury, who was the first recipient of Padma Shri from Tripura, passed away in Agartala, Tripura.
He was born into a family hailing Feni district (now in Bangladesh). His family migrated to Tripura in 1930.
About Himangshu Mohan Choudhury:
i. Himangshu Mohan Choudhury, an Indian civil servant, is recognised for his work in providing relief efforts for army deserters and refugees during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
ii. When the Liberation War broke out in Bangladesh, he was the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) at Sonamura, Tripura.
iii. He oversaw the provision of shelter, food, and logistics to 2.5 lakh Bangladeshi people, who took shelter in Sonamura, Tripura, as refugees.

• He had set up tents and temporary kitchens for the refugees, ensuring food and shelter.

Awards:
i. Himangshu Mohan Choudhury was honoured by the Government of India in 1972 with Padma Shri for Civil Service, the 4th highest Indian civilian award.
ii. The Government of Bangladesh honoured him with the Outstanding Friend of Bangladesh honour in 2013 for the moral and material support provided to the people of Bangladesh during the 1971 Liberation War.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

PM Narendra Modi launches a Book ‘Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamprashastih’ 

On 26th April 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched the 113-verse book titled “Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamprashastih”(सौराष्ट्र-तमिलसङ्गमप्रशस्तिः) – Saurashtra Tamil Sangam Praise) prepared by Shree Somnath Sanskrit University, Gujarat.
The book was launched via video conferencing during the closing ceremony of a 10-day Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam, which was held from 17th April 2023 to 26th April 2023 in Somnath, Gujarat.

• The book is an amalgamation of renowned poets composing verses related to the emotions and sentiments of Saurashtra Tamil Sangam.
• The book will provide readers with a unique experience to understand the feelings and sentiments of poets and artists and keep the memories of the momentous Saurashtra Tamil Sangam alive.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Intellectual Property Day 2023 – April 26World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day) is annually observed across the globe on 26th April to recongise the importance of intellectual property (IP) rights such as, patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, in encouraging innovation and creativity.

• The World IP Day also marks the anniversary of the establishment of World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO).

The theme of World Intellectual Property Day 2023, is “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity”.
Background:
In 2000, the member states of WIPO designated April 26 of every year as the  as World IP Day, with the aim of increasing general awareness and understanding of IP.

• The first-ever World IP Day was observed on 26th April 2001.

Why April 26?

• 26th April marks the day on which the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970.

About World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO):
Director General– Daren Tang
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
>> Read Full News

International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day 2023 – April 26United Nations (UN)’s International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is annually observed across the globe on April 26 to mark the anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster.

• 26th April 2023 marks the 37th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster, which took place on 26th April 1986.

Aim: The day aims to raise awareness of the long-term consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.
i. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/71/125 on 8th December 2016 and proclaimed April 26 of every year as an International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day.
ii. The 1st ever International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day was observed on 26th April 2017.
About the United Nations: 
Secretary-General- António Guterres
Headquarters- New York, USA
Establishment- 1945
>> Read Full News

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