1. Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff appointed as new President of BRICS New Development Bank
Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been elected as the new head of the New Development Bank (NDB) . The NDB is a financial institution established by the BRICS countries (Brazil, India, Russia, China and South Africa), also known as the BRICS Bank. Rousseff, 75, will replace Marcos Troyjo. This was announced by the Shanghai-headquartered bank.
2. 30th anniversary of Project Elephant
Government of India is going to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Project Elephant with Gaja Utsav 2023 . The two-day event aims to promote elephant conservation, protect their habitats and corridors, and prevent human-elephant conflict. Gaja Utsav 2023 inaugurated by President Draupadi Murmu at Kaziranga National Park, Assam on 9th April Will be done by The event is significant as Kaziranga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the highest density of tigers in the world. Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 1991–92 to protect elephants and their habitats in India. With an estimated population of 30,000–40,000 elephants, India is home to more than 60 percent of the global wild elephant population. Elephants are considered a national heritage animal protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
3. Approval for doubling of Gooty-Pendekallu railway line
Ministry of Railways has recently approved doubling of railway line between Gooty and Pendekallu stations in Andhra Pradesh . The railway line between Gooty and Pendekallu stations covers a distance of 29.2 km and the doubling will cost an estimated Rs 352 crore. This section comes under South Central Railway (SCR) zone and handles the busy train traffic between Hyderabad and Bengaluru. It plays an important role in connecting cities and beyond as most of the trains pass through this section. Over the years there has been a steady increase in both passenger and goods trains, leading to traffic in this section. Due to this the doubling of the railway line has become necessary.
4. International Conference on Cooperation in Trade Finance among G-20 member countries held in Mumbai
International Conference on Cooperation in Trade Finance among G-20 member countries was held in Mumbai . It has been organized by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the sidelines of the first meeting of the G-20 Working Group on Trade and Investment. The delegates and experts from industry and academia engaged in a constructive dialogue and exchange of ideas. In his address, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal highlighted the importance of deliberating on the issues affecting trade finance and its solutions.
5. First meeting of G-20 Trade and Investment Working Group begins in Mumbai
The first meeting of the G-20 Trade and Investment Working Group began in Mumbai . It was attended by more than 100 delegates from member countries, invited countries, regional groups and international organizations. During two panel discussions, the delegates deliberated on ways to increase global trade and investment. The delegates also visited Bharat Diamond Bars located in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai for a better understanding of India’s gems and jewelery industry.
6. Israeli PM announces suspension of judicial reforms after nationwide protests
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to postpone planned judiciary reform until the next parliament session following nationwide protests. Mr Netanyahu made the announcement after two days of massive protests against the plan. In his nationally televised address, Israel’s prime minister said he wanted to give himself and his political opponents time to decide on the controversial reform. Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu’s initiative and said it was time for a frank, serious and responsible discussion that would surely reduce anger.
7. Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar to host 3-day first roundtable of G20- Chief Science Experts
Ramnagar in Uttarakhand is hosting the three-day meeting of the first roundtable of G20- Chief Science Experts . Representatives from nearly 70 countries will discuss four agenda items such as One Health opportunities for better disease control and pandemic preparedness. The meeting is being held to synergize global efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion of scholarly scientific information, and access and inclusion of science and technology, a sustained and action-based global science and technology policy dialogue.
8. Center approves Rs 800 crore for setting up more than seven thousand public electronic vehicle charging stations across the country
The central government has given eight hundred crore rupees to set up seven thousand four hundred and 32 quick charging stations for electric vehicles across the country. has been approved. Its approval has been given under the second phase of the FAME scheme related to early adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles. The government launched the FAME India scheme in 2015 with a view to improve infrastructure for large-scale use of electric vehicles. Heavy Industries Minister Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey has informed that oil marketing companies will soon set up a wide network of charging stations for electric vehicles across the country. These companies are Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. He said that the installation work is expected to be completed by March next year. Presently there are about six thousand 586 charging stations across the country. With the introduction of seven thousand 432 new charging stations, the charging system of electric vehicles will get a significant boost.
9. New textbooks of NCERT will be prepared/developed in 22 languages included in the Eighth Schedule
After nearly two decades, school students at all levels will learn from the updated National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks to be introduced in the 2024-25 academic year . This is in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) which was released in August 2022. Textbooks in 22 languages will be developed in At present, the government has issued NCF for children between the ages of three to eight years, from pre-school to class 2. The framework for other sections is yet to be prepared. The NCF, in its guidelines, emphasizes that student learning should be planned keeping in mind the Indian tradition and proposes a five-stage learning process or Panchadi for children at the pre-school or foundational level. Have given. Panchadi consists of Aditi (Introduction of a topic), Bodha (Conceptual understanding), Abhyasa (Practice), Prayog (Application) and Prasar (Expansion).
10. Government constitutes committee to monitor stock of Arhar Dal
The Central Government has constituted a committee to monitor the stocks of Arhar Dal in the country. The central government, in collaboration with the state governments, will monitor the stocks held by importers, millers and traders. The decision was taken following reports that traders were not selling the pigeon pea stock in the market despite good quantity of imports. This committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Nidhi Khare , Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution .
11. Port visit of INS Sumedha at Algiers
INS Sumedha, currently deployed in the Mediterranean Sea , entered Algiers, Algeria on 26 March 2023 for operational turnaround . The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two navies. It also shows the Indian Navy’s outreach to friendly maritime nations. During the visit both the navies will share best practices and experiences of each other through cross deck visits, professional interactions, sporting events and cultural visits. Indigenously built, INS Sumedha is a stealth Offshore Patrol Vessel built at Goa Shipyard Limited and fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensor package.
12. Last date for linking PAN-Aadhaar extended
To give taxpayers some more time, the last date for linking PAN and Aadhaar has been extended to June 30, 2023, so that people can inform the prescribed authority to link their Aadhaar with PAN without any hassle. Under the provisions of the Income Tax Act 1961 (‘Act’) every person who has been allotted a PAN card as on 1st July 2017 and is eligible to obtain an Aadhaar number, shall have to surrender his Aadhaar to the prescribed authority on or before 31st March 2023 on payment of the prescribed fee. It is necessary to inform with Failure to do so will lead to certain consequences under this Act with effect from 01 April 2023. The date for intimation of Aadhaar to the prescribed authority for the purpose of linking PAN and Aadhaar has now been extended to 30 June 2023.
13. Chhattisgarh passes bill for protection of media persons
The Chhattisgarh Assembly has passed a bill to protect media persons and prevent violence against them . Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel presented the Chhattisgarh Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023 for discussion in the House and expressed happiness over its passing and described it as a historic day. The bill calls for registration of all media persons, including journalists, media houses, and mass media such as news gatherers, freelancers, trainees, and interns. Its objective is to provide a comprehensive classification of media persons and provide them better protection.
14. Triple Threat Report released
A new report released by UNICEF highlights a key factor driving water insecurity in the world’s most affected countries . The report titled “ Triple Threat ” reveals that a third of developing countries lack access to water and sanitation (WASH) programs., Lack of monitoring of projects and policies is causing the problem. This lack of monitoring makes mitigation more challenging, and it is affecting 10 African countries where children are most affected by a convergence of three water-related threats: insufficient water, sanitation-related diseases and climate-related threats. 10 African countries facing a triple burden of inadequate WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), related diseases, and climate threats are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Somalia. These countries have a combined population of 190 million children and are the most water-insecure and climate-affected countries in the world, according to the Children’s Climate Vulnerability Index 2021 by UNICEF. They are in the top 25% of developing countries in terms of exposure to climate and environmental hazards, shocks and stressors.
15. Technology and Innovation Report 2023 released
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned that green technologies , such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and electric vehicles , could deepen global economic inequality . According to the Technology and Innovation Report 2023 , published on March 16, 2023 , developed countries stand to benefit most from these technologies, while developing countries may miss out on economic opportunities if decisive action is not taken.
16. Tanzania confirms Marburg virus outbreak
Tanzania recently confirmed its first outbreak of Marburg virus , a highly contagious and deadly virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that five people died in the northwest Kagera region after Tanzania’s national public laboratory confirmed they developed symptoms including fever, vomiting, bleeding and kidney failure. Marburg virus is an Ebola-like virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever. The virus is the causative agent of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a disease with a fatality ratio of up to 88%, but with good patient care this can be greatly reduced. Both Marburg and Ebola viruses are members of the Filoviridae family (filoviruses), and the two diseases are clinically similar.
17. India’s highways will be at par with America by 2024: Nitin Gadkari
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that India’s highway infrastructure will be at par with the US by 2024 , for which work is going on in a time-bound ‘mission mode’ and construction of green expressways and rail over bridges. Nitin Gadkari said that Bharatmala 2 is likely to get cabinet approval soon and thereafter it will meet the requirements of a strong infrastructure in the country.
18. Amit Shah unveils idols of Lord Basaveshwara and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in Bengaluru
The Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation , Shri Amit Shah, through the Rajya Sabha of Karnataka , paid tribute to two prominent historical figures of Karnataka, Lord Basaveshwara ji and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. unveiled the statues of Lord Basaveshwara and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda are two prominent historical personalities from the state of Karnataka. Lord Basaveshwara was a philosopher and social reformer in the 12th century. He is considered the founder of the Lingayat religion, a major religious group in Karnataka. Basaveshwara worked to promote social justice and equality, especially for women and lower castes. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda was a feudal ruler who was the founder of the city of Bangalore in the early 16th century. He is considered the founder of modern Bangalore and is revered as a hero in Karnataka. Kempegowda built many temples, tanks and other infrastructure in and around Bangalore, and is known for his administrative skills and governance.
19. First Citizens buys Silicon Valley Bank for $119 billion
American bank Silicon Valley Bank has been bought by First Citizens Bank . In this deal, First Citizens bought the deposits and loans of SVB. The deal between the two banks was done for around $119 billion. The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation gave this information. To get the bank out of the financial crisis, First Citizen Bank has bought it from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation- FDIC. The FDIC has agreed to the sale of troubled Silicon Valley Bank to North Carolina-based First Citizens Bank & Trust Company.
20. IDFC First Bank partners with Crunchfish to showcase offline retail payments
IDFC First Bank has announced a collaboration with Swedish company Crunchfish to launch a pilot project of offline retail payments . The bank will participate in a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) pilot project that aims to enable offline payments. The project aims to provide digital payment services to customers and merchants even without network connectivity. The project will provide support for offline retail payments based on India’s payments ecosystem on a digital cash platform. IDFC FIRST Bank will be one of the first few banks to be a part of this pilot project by HDFC Bank.
21. S&P keeps India’s economic growth forecast unchanged at 6% for 2023-24
S&P Global Ratings has retained its earlier forecast for India’s economic growth rate at 6% in the fiscal year beginning April 1 , with the agency projecting it to rise to 6.9% in the next fiscals 2024-25 and 2025-26. Also expressed the hope of In its latest report for Asia-Pacific, S&P has predicted that the inflation rate will decline from 6.8% to 5% during the 2023-24 fiscal year.
22. Glaciologist Claude Lorius passed away
Claude Lorius , a leading glaciologist passed away recently at the age of 91 . He was best known for his research into climate change , particularly his work in Antarctica which helped prove that humans are responsible for global warming. Were. Lorius was born in 1932 in Besançon, France. In 1956, just out of university, Lorius joined an expedition to Antarctica. This trip sparked his fascination for the continent and its mysteries. It was during his 1965 expedition to Antarctica that Lorius made his most important discovery. One evening, after drilling into the ice, he and his team enjoyed a glass of whiskey with ice cubes made from the ice samples they had just collected. As he watched the air bubbles glisten in his glass, Lorius realized that the air bubbles were samples of the atmosphere trapped in the ice. This revelation led him to study ice cores, which act as frozen time capsules. Lorius’s research into air bubbles trapped in ice was published in 1987. This shows that for the long term, Carbon dioxide levels varied slightly, but after the Industrial Revolution, concentrations of the greenhouse gas skyrocketed as temperatures rose. His research brought him international fame and allowed scientists to look into the glacial record for more than 160,000 years.
23. Female cheetah Sasha brought from Namibia to Kuno National Park dies
A female cheetah ‘ Sasha ‘ , one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia six months back in Madhya Pradesh ‘s Kuno National Park (KNP), died due to kidney ailment . The death of a female cheetah, more than four and a half years old, is considered a major setback for ‘ Project Cheetah ‘. Under this project, there is a plan to rehabilitate cheetahs after seven decades of extinction in the country. In September last year, eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia and kept at KNP in Sheopur district. Recently, another batch of 12 cheetahs were brought to Kuno from South Africa. The government had planned to release 50 cheetahs into the wild over the next few years.
