Today's Current Affairs 20th April 2023

NATIONAL

EC first time introduces Vote from Home option in Karnataka Assembly election

In Bengaluru, the Vote from Home option has been chosen by around 8900 persons who are above 80 years old or people with disability. The Election Commission has introduced this option for the first time in the Karnataka Assembly election to encourage electoral participation in Urban areas.

AIR correspondent reports, this is a first of its kind initiative by the Election Commission to introduce the Vote from Home option for those who cannot visit the polling booth due to age factor or due to disability. Such citizens had to submit a 12D form before April 17th at the booth-level office to avail the option. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike will create a temporary polling booth at the residences of such voters opting to vote from home.

The officials will visit such homes four or five days in advance before the polling day of May 10. A Presiding officer, booth level officer, police personnel, and a videographer will visit such homes under intimation to the candidates contesting the election in such constituencies in Bengaluru. An envelope with the ballot paper will be given to the voter who votes in secrecy and puts it in the envelope. The envelope is sealed with the videographer recording the entire exercise. There are over two lakh voters in Bengaluru above the age of 80 or with a disability but not all have opted to vote from home.

Two-day Millet Mahotsav to begin in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, a two-day Millet Mahotsav will begin at Jodhpur today, April 20. During this period there will be interactive sessions between industry experts and micro food processing enterprises, SHGs, and FPOs engaged in food processing.  Agri-food processing business opportunities, various schemes, incentives, and millets will also be discussed at the event.

An exhibition is also being set up at the Millets Fair being organized by the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries at CAZRI  in which various millet-based products besides processing machinery will be displayed. Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Prahlad Singh Patel, and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Chaudhary will be present at the closing ceremony tomorrow.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches SATHI Portal & Mobile App

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has launched the SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App to deal with the challenges of seed production, quality seed identification, and seed certification. It has been developed on the theme of Uttam Beej - Samriddh Kisan.

On this occasion, Mr. Tomar said that the government is constantly trying to overcome the challenges and difficulties faced by agriculture sector through various schemes and programmes and SATHI portal is a revolutionary step. Mr. Tomar said that seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation play a major role in agriculture. Inferior quality or spurious seeds affect the growth of agriculture and it also affects production.

SPORTS

Gary Ballance Retires from All Forms of International Cricket

The former England Test batter Gary Ballance has announced his retirement from cricket, just three months after resuming his international career with Zimbabwe.

Ballance, 33, played 23 Tests and 16 one-day internationals for England but last featured for the team in 2017 as he battled loss of form and struggles with mental health.

He was also caught up in the Yorkshire racism scandal, apologising last year to Pakistan-born Azeem Rafiq for “racist" language he had used towards his former team-mate at the county club.

He initially made his debut for Zimbabwe and played for them under a two-year contract. He later went on to play for England and appeared in 23 Test matches. Additionally, he played one Test, one T20I, and five ODIs for Zimbabwe, during which he scored five Test hundreds, including a score of 137 against the West Indies.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Chinese Language Day

Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20. The event was established by the UN Department of Public Information in 2010, seeking "to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six of its official working languages throughout the organization"

Language Days at the United Nations seek to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world celebrate six separate days, each dedicated to one of the Organization's six official languages.

Why 20th April: The date for the Chinese day was selected from Guyu ("Rain of Millet"), which is the 6th of 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendars, to pay tribute to Cangjie.

Facts –

• Chinese is one of the oldest languages still in use
• Chinese is the most commonly used mother tongue
• It's the only modern pictographic language
• It's considered one of the hardest languages to learn
• Chinese has different calligraphy styles

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

PM Modi inaugurated The first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modz inaugurated the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi today, April 20. The Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation will host the two-day Summit. The theme of the Summit is Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis. This global Summit will mark the significance and importance of India in Buddhism, as Buddhism was born in India.

The prime vision of the Summit is to look into the teachings of the Shakyamuni Buddha that have been continuously enriched over the centuries with the practice of Buddha Dhamma. Delegates from about 30 countries will participate in the event and around 171 delegates from foreign countries and 150 delegates from Indian Buddhist organizations will take part. Eminent scholars, Sangha leaders, and Dharma practitioners from all over the world will attend the Conference. For the first time, prominent Buddhist monks from various countries will visit India and take part in the Summit. The discussions will be held on how to deal with contemporary challenges, with the help of Buddhist philosophy and thought. The summit will also be a medium to enhance the cultural and diplomatic relationships with other countries.

Prime Minister highlighted that in this Amrit Kaal, India has taken new initiatives on many subjects and the biggest inspiration for this is Lord Buddha. He said India has given Buddha to the world, and not war. He further stated that Buddha had given the solution centuries ago to the war and unrest that the world is suffering from today. He said Lord Buddha's way is the way for the future.   

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBL Bank launches digital fixed deposit for New- to-Bank customer

RBL Bank has launched an innovative Digital Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme available to new-to-bank customers. Now customers can book the Digital FD within minutes, without visiting the bank branch or opening a savings account with the bank. The digital FD offers investors an interest rate of up to 7.8% and a duration of 15 months to 725 days,

Benefits of the digital FD:

• The ability to track and administer FD digitally is just one of the many advantages of the online FD, which also includes inbuilt insurance coverage and a simple method for starting a savings account.
• The investor of FD may choose to purchase insurance protection through a Hospital Daily Cash Benefit policy, which provides daily cash benefits for medical costs.
• To access their fixed deposit receipts online, customers should download the RBL Bank MoBank App.

South Indian Bank introduces 2 flexible savings accounts for NRIs

For NRI customers, South Indian Bank has introduced SIB SEAFARER and SIB PULSE, two flexible saving accounts. With these products, NRIs now have the option to keep either deposits or the required minimum amount in their savings accounts. Healthcare personnel and mariners both now have access to flexible savings accounts, which proves that South Indian Bank has been working to streamline banking requirements and offer top-notch customer service.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Murali Ramakrishnan, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), South Indian Bank, said, “It has been our constant endeavour to provide our customers with banking products that fulfil their needs. Accordingly, our flexible savings products will offer targeted NRI segments with convenient avenues to park their savings. We are confident that SIB SEAFARER & SIB PULSE will lay the foundation for more such products in the banking domain. I’m sure these products will create a new & universal template for the way NRI depositors transact with banks."

About: SIB - eading private sector bank South Indian Bank is located in Kerala and has a presence across the country. There are 932 branches, 1154 ATMs, 121 CDMs/CRMs, and a representative office for South Indian Bank in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A leader in technology-based banking, South Indian Bank provides a wide range of digital products and services.