1. The Prime Minister addressed the program organized on the completion of 20 years of the Swagat initiative
The Prime Minister , Shri Narendra Modi, through video conferencing, addressed a gathering on the occasion of completion of 20 years of Swagat , a program for redressal of grievances using technology in Gujarat . The Gujarat government is organizing a welcome week to mark the successful completion of 20 years of the initiative . Swagat initiative means State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology i.e. State wide resolution of grievances with the use of technology. welcome initiative It was done when Shri Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The main objective of the scheme is to act as a bridge between the government and the citizens to deal with everyday grievances in a quick, effective and time-bound manner using technology. It was launched by Modi on 24 April 2003 for the first time at district and state level and was later taken to village and taluka level. Over the two decades, the Swagat initiative has been instrumental in promoting good governance in Gujarat. It has a success rate of 99.91 percent. Out of 5,63,806 complaints, 5,63,314 complaints have been resolved through this. The ‘Welcome Day’ is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every month.
2. PM lauds Northeast Gas Grid Project for achieving a significant milestone
The Prime Minister has praised the North East Gas Grid Project for achieving a significant milestone. In this project, 24 inch diameter natural gas pipeline will be laid under the river Brahmaputra using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method . has been constructed. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the pipeline holds the record for being the longest river crossing hydrocarbon pipeline in Asia and the second longest in the world. The Northeast Gas Grid Project aims to provide clean and affordable energy to the northeastern states of India, and is a significant step towards achieving the country’s goal of reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources. The project is part of the government’s vision to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix and develop a national gas grid.
3. Global Partners Announce a New Initiative – “The Big Catch-Up”
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major disruption in healthcare services, with over 100 countries reporting a decline in vaccination levels. This has resulted in a crisis where nearly 75% of children have missed out on essential vaccinations against preventable but serious diseases in 2021. A targeted global initiative called The Big Catch-up is implemented by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and Immunization Agenda 2030 , a consortium of other public health organisations. It aims to increase the level of vaccination among children, as the level has fallen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Indo-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce will be established
To strengthen business ties, an India-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce will be set up in the coming months. The chamber will work with the Ukrainian government to expand opportunities for investment and cooperation in areas such as infrastructure and energy. The incident took place after the first deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, Emine Japarova, visited India. Japarova suggested during the visit that Indian infrastructure companies should participate in the construction work of Ukraine warring Russia. In the absence of a Chamber of Commerce, the private sector of both the countries were not able to communicate with each other and search for opportunities.
5. RBI harmonizes asset provisions of urban co-operative banks
RBI said in a circular that it has been decided to harmonize the standard asset provisions applicable to all categories of urban co-operative banks . The Reserve Bank in December last classified urban cooperative banks into four tiers for regulatory purposes. was classified into Earlier these banks were divided into Tier-I and Tier-II categories only. As per the revised provisions, now all types of urban co-operative banks will be required to make a provision of 0.25 per cent of the financed portion of the portfolio for direct loans to agriculture and SME sectors. Apart from this, a provision of one per cent of the outstanding loans financed to the commercial real estate sector will be made. The provisioning requirement will be 0.75 per cent and 0.4 per cent in the case of commercial real estate and residential building sector and all other loans and advances, respectively. placed in the category. Co-operative banks with deposits of more than Rs 100 crore and up to Rs 1,000 crore are placed in the second tier. Tier-3 has deposits ranging from Rs 1,000 crore to 10,
6. Agriculture Machinery Technology Summit in Delhi
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Summit on Agricultural Machinery Technology in New Delhi . The conclave was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Tractor and Mechanization Association . Shri Tomar said that from 2014-15 to 2022-23, an amount of six thousand 120 crore and 85 thousand rupees has been released to the states under the Agricultural Mechanization Sub-Mission.
7. India and UK agree to create Zero Innovation Virtual Center
India and the UK have agreed to set up a Zero Innovation Virtual Centre . The center will provide a platform to work together in areas such as decarbonization of renewable energy, transportation systems and green hydrogen. This was announced by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh while chairing a meeting of the India-UK Science and Innovation Council in the presence of UK Minister George Freeman. Jitendra Singh is currently on a six-day visit to Britain. He is leading a high level official Indian delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
8. Historic defense agreement signed between US and South Korean President
US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yu Suk Yeol have sealed a historic defense agreement. Under this , there is a plan to deploy American submarines equipped with nuclear weapons to South Korean territories from time to time. With this, the US has now agreed to include South Korea in the plan to use nuclear weapons in the event of any conflict with North Korea . In return, South Korea has agreed not to develop its nuclear weapons. Washington Declaration on this Defense Agreement The name of the letter is given. The agreement will strengthen cooperation between the two countries to prevent North Korean aggression. The declaration comes amid growing concern over North Korea’s threats of nuclear attack as North Korea has tested a record number of ballistic missiles.
9. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Makes City Beauty Contest Portal Live
The recently launched city beauty pageant portal by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is now live. Urban local bodies of the country now www.citybeautycompetition.in Through this, you will be able to participate in this competition. The aim of the competition is to encourage transformative efforts by wards and cities across the country to create beautiful, innovative and cohesive public spaces. The ministry has said that under this competition, city wards and public places will be judged on five broad pillars such as accessibility, amenities, activities, aesthetics and ecology. The most beautiful wards and public places of the cities will be awarded in this competition. While selected wards will be awarded at city and state level. The honor will include the top most beautiful public spaces in cities in four categories.
10. Bangladesh Army Chief General Shafiuddin Ahmed arrives in Delhi on India tour
Bangladesh Army Chief General Shafiuddin Ahmed arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India. He met the Chief of the Army Staff , General Manoj Pandey . During the meeting, various issues related to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, military training and strengthening cooperation against terrorism were discussed between the two countries. Later he also met Army Chief Lt Gen Anil Chauhan , Navy Chief Hari Kumar, Defense Secretary and Foreign Secretary.
11. Shri Narayan Rane Launches Revised CGTMSE Scheme
The Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Narayan Rane launched the Revised Credit Guarantee Fund Trust Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises in Mumbai . CGTMSE has been provided with an additional safeguard fund support of 9000 crores in the Union Budget for the financial year 2023-24, to improve the scheme to provide an additional guarantee of 2,00,000 crores to micro and small enterprises.
12. Joint military exercise ‘Ajeya Warrior-2023’ of India and United Kingdom held at Salisbury Plain, United Kingdom
The 7th edition of joint military exercise “ AJEYA WARRIOR-23 ” between India and United Kingdom (England) is being conducted from 27 April to 11 May 2023 at Salisbury Plain, United Kingdom . ‘Exercise Ajay Warrior’ is a biennial training program of India with the United Kingdom, which is conducted alternately in the United Kingdom and India. The previous edition of this exercise was conducted in October 2021 at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand. Troops from the 2nd Royal Gorkha Rifles from the United Kingdom and troops from the Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army are participating in the exercise.
13. State of the World’s Children 2023 report released
UNICEF recently released its flagship global report, ‘ The State of the World’s Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination‘ unveiled. This report provides a comprehensive overview of vaccine trust and coverage around the world. The report highlights some worrying trends, including declining vaccine trust in more than a third of the 55 countries studied, with some notable exceptions. According to this report, China, India and Mexico were among the countries that registered an improvement in vaccine perception. This positive trend reflects the success of political and social commitment to the vaccination campaign. The pandemic disrupted childhood vaccinations almost everywhere. Factors such as access to misleading information and declining confidence in vaccine efficacy have contributed to the increased risk of vaccine hesitancy. UNICEF report revealed that 67 million children missed out on vaccination between 2019 and 2021. Coverage levels are declining in 112 countries. The number of measles cases doubled in 2022 compared to the previous year, and the number of children paralyzed by polio increased by 16% year-on-year in 2022.
14. The Dalai Lama was awarded the 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award after 64 years.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation awarded the 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama after 64 years. (Ramon Magsaysay Award). He was selected for this award in 1959, but then because of China, he fled from Tibet and came to India, due to which he could not go to receive the award. Now Foundation President Susana B. Affan and Foundation Trustee Emily A. Abrera personally presented the award to him at his residence in McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh. The award is significant as it is the first international award ever given to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was presented with the Ramon Magsaysay Award by the Foundation in the Philippines in August 1959. The award recognizes the Dalai Lama’s unwavering commitment to the Tibetan people and their culture. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is given in memory of Ramon Magsaysay, the 7th President of the Philippines. It was established in 1957.
15. 3rd G20 Education Working Group meeting begins in Bhubaneswar
The third Education Working Group meeting under G20 began with a seminar on Capacity Building for Lifelong Learning in the Context of the Future of Work at the CSIR-IMMT campus in Bhubaneswar, Odisha . This meeting follows on from two previous meetings of the working group held in Chennai and Amritsar, which aimed to discuss and implement innovative ideas and policies to transform education across the world. Over 60 delegates from G20 member states, invited countries and international organizations are participating in the three-day meeting.
16. Mars’ core less dense than Earth’s: Study
A new study has revealed important information about the innermost layer of Mars . The radius of the core of Mars is estimated to be around 1,780–1,810 km. According to research published in the journal PNAS , it is likely to be in a liquid state. To gain insight into the composition of Mars, an international team of scientists examined seismic information collected by NASA ‘s InSight Mars lander , which was sent into orbit in May 2018 . The lander placed a seismometer and other geophysical instruments on the planet’s surface. Planted. Seismometers detect seismic waves and measure the shockwaves produced after an earthquake. As seismic waves pass through different materials, they behave differently, slowing down when they pass through liquids or hotter areas. This research found that the lighter elements, sulfur and oxygen, make up about a fifth of the core’s weight. Although both Earth and Mars are composed mostly of iron, Mars’ core is less dense than Earth’s .
16. More than five crore 20 lakh accounts in Atal Pension Yojana by March 31, 2023
The Finance Ministry has announced that the total enrollment under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has crossed the 5.2 crore mark as on March 31 this year . The scheme has seen a significant increase in enrollment with over 1.19 crore new subscribers in the financial year 2022-23 as compared to 99 lakh in the previous financial year. It has registered a growth of more than 20%. It shows that this scheme is gaining popularity among the people all over the country. Atal Pension Yojana was launched by the Government of India in May 2015 to encourage the unorganized sector to save for their retirement. The scheme is open to all Indian citizens in the age group of 18 to 40 years and it provides a fixed monthly pension after the age of 60 years.
17. Researchers identify shugosine which plays an important role in formation of X shape of chromosome
Chromosomes are an essential part of our DNA , and they have been the subject of much scientific research over the centuries. Researchers have recently identified shugosine , a protein that plays an important role in the formation of the X shape of the chromosome . Chromosomes were discovered in the late 1800s after the development of the light microscope. They act as fundamental components of DNA, which is responsible for transferring hereditary data from parents to their offspring. Recently, scientists have identified the protein shugosin as the key protein that “locks” the X chromosome into its famous X shape. Shugosin is also known as SGO1 and is responsible for holding together two identical long DNA threads, which make up a chromosome.
18. Assam government introduced a scheme for the development of Rang Ghar
Rang Ghar is located in Assam. It was recently in limelight as the Government of Assam has come up with a plan for its development. Rang Ghar is a two-storey building located in the northeastern state of Assam, India. The building has a rich history and dates back to the reign of Ahom kings and nobles. It served as a royal sports pavilion during the . This amphitheater is located three kilometers from the Sivasagar city center along the Assam Trunk Road. Rang Ghar is considered to be one of the oldest amphitheatres in Asia that has managed to survive through time. It was originally built during the era of Swargadeo Rudra Singha, and the primary building materials used in its construction were bamboo and wood. Later, Swargadeo Pramatta Singha rebuilt the structure with brick between 1744-1751 AD. The unique construction techniques and prominent architectural features of Rang Ghar showcase the rich heritage of Assamese culture and architecture.
19. Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked, mountainous region in the South Caucasus that has been divided between Armenia and Azerbaijan for decades. has been a source of conflict between It is mainly inhabited by ethnic Armenians, but the region is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh is mainly inhabited by ethnic Armenians. In 1923, the Soviet government granted the region autonomy within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. However, in the 1980s, the Armenian population started demanding integration with Armenia. The First Karabakh War took place from 1988 to 1994, resulting in the deaths of approximately 30,000 people. The war ended with a truce that left Nagorno-Karabakh and some surrounding areas under Armenian control. But the international community still recognizes it as part of Azerbaijan. The second Karabakh war broke out in 2020 and Azerbaijan emerged as the winner. One of the main reasons for Azerbaijan’s success was the use of drones bought from Turkey and Israel.
20. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur congratulated athletes Aarti and Khushbu Yadav
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has congratulated Indian athletes Aarti and Khushbu Yadav for standing third and fourth in the women’s 5000 meter race walk at the Asian Under-18 Athletics Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan .
