Today's Current Affairs 1st April 2023

INTERNATIONAL

IMF approves 15.6 billion dollar support package for Ukraine

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a 15.6 billion US dollar support package for Ukraine to assist with the conflict-hit country’s economic recovery. The loan is part of a broader 115 billion US dollar international support package to help the country meet urgent funding needs. Of the total amount approved by the IMF, 2.7 billion dollar is being made available to Ukraine immediately and the rest of the funds are due to be released over the next four years. Extended Fund Facility is the first major financing programme approved by the IMF for a country involved in a large-scale war.

The Russian invasion has devastated Ukraine's economy, causing economic activity to shrink by about 30 percent last year, War has destroyed capital stock and promoted poverty.

The 48-month Extended Fund Facility program approved by the Fund's Board amounts to approximately $15.6 billion. It is part of the IMF's $115 billion total support package, which includes debt relief, grants, and loans by multilateral and bilateral institutions.

If the current conflict were to continue into 2025, it would raise Ukraine's financial needs from $115 billion to around $140 billion, said the IMF.

Finland Becomes 31st NATO Member After Turkey’s Approval

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey’s unanimous vote allowed Finland to become the alliance’s 31st member. “I welcome the vote by the Turkish Grand National Assembly to ratify Finland’s membership in NATO. All 30 NATO allies have now ratified the accession protocol,” he said on Friday.

“I have just spoken with [Finnish] President Sauli Niinistö to congratulate him on this historic occasion. Finland will formally join our alliance in the coming days,” he added. “Their membership will make Finland safer and NATO stronger.".With Finland joining, Russia failed to prevent a further extension of NATO. Finland shares a border of 1309 kilometers, or 813 miles, with Russia.

Finland ended its neutrality and sought to join NATO, citing security concerns, after Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. Yet Turkey and Hungary have declined to approve Sweden’s application.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claims Sweden protects “terrorists,” but rights activists say they are peaceful political opponents of the Turkish leader.

Ankara seeks the extradition of dozens of Kurdish and other suspects it accuses of ties to outlawed militants and a failed 2016 coup attempt.

NATIONAL

Chhattisgarh's Nagri Dubraj rice variety gets geographical indication GI tag

The Geographical Indication Registry earlier this week granted Chhattisgarh’s aromatic rice, Nagri Dubraj, a geographical indication (GI) tag facilitating the brand to get a unique identity and a wide market. Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar in a tweet, said the Morena and Rewa Mango (both Madhya Pradesh) and Nagri Dubraj have been given GI tags. It will give a new identity to the products in the national and international market, Tomar added.

The authorities in Chhattisgarh have been making efforts to get the GI tag for Nagri Dubraj for a long time. The Indira Gandhi Agricultural University played a crucial role in getting the rights as it has been in constant correspondence with the authorities concerned, a state government spokesperson said. It is produced by a women’s self-help group, the spokesperson added.

The women's self-help group “Maa Durga Swasahayata Samuh” of Nagri in Dhamtari district has been harvesting Dubraj and had applied to the GI tag. Last year, Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel promised to take initiative, stating that he will ensure the “fragrance” of Dubraj returns to the farmers’ fields. The Nagri Dubraj is known as the Basmati of Chhattisgarh because of its fragrance.

PM Modi to flag off Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat Express today : April 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off the new Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat Express on April 1 from the Rani Kamalapati station in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal. “PM Modi will be visiting Madhya Pradesh. During his visit to Bhopal on April 1, he will give a big gift to the people of the state in the form of Vande Bharat Express,” The 11th Vande Bharat Express train is said to cover a 708 km distance in around seven hours, and 45 minutes.

According to reports, the train may run from Bhopal's Rani Kamlapati station to Hazrat Nizamuddin station instead of New Delhi railway station - to save time by half an hour.

The train will depart from Rani Kamlapati Railway Station at 5:55 am, make a five-minute stop at Agra Cantt Railway Station, and proceed to New Delhi at 1:45 pm. During return, the Vande Bharat express will depart from New Delhi at 2.45 pm and will reach the last stop Rani Kamlapati railway station at 10.45 pm. The train will provide a faster, comfortable, and convenient travel experience to rail users, the official release said. It is also set to boost tourism, and promote economic development in the region.

OBITURY

Malayalam novelist and short story writer Sarah Thomas passes away at 88

Renowned Malayalam writer and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award winner Sarah Thomas passed away in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, March 31. The 88-year-old, whose wide repertoire of literary works includes at least 17 novels and more than a hundred short stories, had been suffering from age-related ailments for a while. She was at her daughter’s residence in Nandavanam when she breathed her last.

Condoling the writer’s demise, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “Sarah Thomas raised Malayalam literature to new levels of expressionism. Through her, Malayalam experienced nuanced reflections of the inner lives of people across caste and class hierarchies. Her works had projected and upheld the feminine identity even before the feminist ideology began to gain traction in Malayalam literature.”

Sarah is best known for her novel Narmadipudava, for which she was presented with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979. Narmadipudava is the tale of a Tamil Brahmin widow, tied to the shackles of caste and gender traditions in Kerala. Her 1982 novel Daivamakkal, its protagonist a Dalit medical student, is considered a seminal work in Kerala’s Dalit literature. It has been translated to English as Children of God by Sosanna Kuruvilla. In 2010, Sarah won a second Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for her contribution to Malayalam literature.

INPORTANT DAYS

Odisha Day or Utkala Dibasa

Odisha day or Utkala Dibasa is celebrated on April 1. On this day in 1936, the state of Odisha came into being after its separation from Bengal province. It started with six districts but today it has 30 districts within its boundary.

From that day onwards, Utkala Divas is celebrated to honour the struggle of its people to have a separate state and promote unity among the citizens. Odisha day is celebrated as a restricted holiday and is also known as Vishuva Milan.

The whole state involves itself in the celebration of its foundation day. The celebrations are marked with cultural programs and events across the state. It also includes seminars and exhibitions focusing on the land’s rich heritage and tradition. Odisha day is a very big occasion for all Odias globally. Here are some wishes, quotes, and messages which you can share with your loved ones on this day.

RBI Foundation Day

The Reserve Bank of India was established[ on 1 April 1935 in Kolkata, following the Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934. Though privately owned initially, it was nationalised in 1949 and since then fully owned by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India

The Reserve Bank of India, chiefly known as RBI, is India's central bank and regulatory body responsible for regulation of the Indian banking system. It is under the ownership of Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is responsible for the control, issue and maintaining supply of the Indian rupee. It also manages the country's main payment systems and works to promote its economic development.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

PM Modi addresses joint commanders’ conference in Bhopal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a day’s visit to Bhopal. He is attending the Joint Commanders’ conference of the three services which is being held at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center in Bhopal. The theme of the conference is ‘Ready, Resurgent, Relevant’. Commanders of the three services and senior officials of the Ministry of Defense are participating in the conference. Commanders of the three services and senior officials of the Ministry of Defense are participating in the conference.