Today's Current Affairs 19th April 2024

INTERNATIONAL

The India-Russia Business Dialogue 2023 kicked off in New Delhi  

• The inaugural session of the "India-Russia Business Dialogue" 2023 convened in New Delhi on April 17th, with the presence of S Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, and Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia. At this event, representatives from Russian and Indian businesses gathered to discuss strategies for strengthening practical cooperation between the two nations, with a focus on initiatives such as the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC).

About Russia:

Capital and largest city: Moscow

Official and national language: Russian

President: Vladimir Putin

Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin

NATIONAL

Jyotiraditya Scindia is scheduled to inaugurate India Steel 2023 at the Mumbai

• India Steel 2023 is set to commence at the Mumbai Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, Mumbai, on April 19th, with Union Minister of Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia leading the inauguration. This event is organized jointly by the Union Ministry of Steel, the Department of Commerce under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry).

Mangrove Pitta bird found in Odisha

• During a groundbreaking census in Odisha's Bhitarkanika region, forest officials spotted 179 Mangrove Pitta birds renowned for their vivid colors. These unique avians are only found in the mangrove forests of Bhitarkanika in Odisha and Sundarbans in West Bengal. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated the species as "Near Threatened" after evaluation.

About Odisha:

Founded: 1 April 1936

Area: 155,707 km²

Chief minister: Naveen Patnaik

Capital: Bhubaneswar

AWARDS

Utsa Patnaik Wins Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023

• Utsa Patnaik, a highly esteemed economist with recognition at both national and international levels, has been selected as the recipient of the esteemed Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023. This award is an annual honor presented by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust, acknowledging exceptional social scientists chosen by a national-level jury from the submitted nominations. The award ceremony, where the recipient will be presented with a citation and a cash prize of ₹2 lakh, is slated to take place in Chennai. The specific date for the ceremony will be announced by the Trust shortly. Notably, in 2022, the award was conferred upon the Indian economist Prabhat Patnaik.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Liver Day 2023 Observed globally on 19 April

• It is observed on 19 April to spread awareness about the diseases related to the liver. The liver is the second largest organ in the body. After the brain, it is also the second most complex organ in the body. It performs various crucial functions associated with digestion, immunity, metabolism, and the storage of nutrients within the body.

APPOINTMENT NEWS

Tata Electronics appoints Randhir Thakur as CEO & MD

• The Tata Group has appointed Dr. Randhir Thakur as the CEO and Managing Director of Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd (TEPL) to enhance its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, aiming to outpace competitors in the nation's flourishing precision machining sector. Until recently, Dr. Thakur held a position at Intel, a global leader in electronic chip and circuit manufacturing, serving as the President of Intel Foundry Services. With his extensive experience in the manufacturing domain, Dr. Thakur is poised to lead TEPL into a new era of innovation and growth.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI imposes Rs.60.3 lakh penalty on five co-operative banks

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has levied penalties totaling Rs. 60.3 lakh on five co-operative banks for violating various regulatory norms. Among these, Rajkot Nagarik Sahakari Bank faced a penalty of Rs. 43.30 lakh for non-compliance with RBI directives related to 'ban on loans and advances to directors and their relatives, and firms/concerns in which they are interested', 'prohibition on opening saving bank accounts in the names of certain bodies/organizations', and 'maintenance of deposit accounts'. Furthermore, The Kangra Co-operative Bank (New Delhi), Rajdhani Nagar Sahkari Bank (Lucknow), and Zila Sahakari Bank, Garhwal (Kotdwar, Uttarakhand) were each penalized Rs. 5 lakh by the central bank. Additionally, the District Co-operative Bank (Dehradun) incurred a penalty of Rs. 2 lakh.

About RBI:

Established: 1 April 1935

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governor: Shaktikanta Das