Today's Current Affairs 24th April 2023

NATIONAL

NHAI to develop 10,000 kms of ‘Digital Highways’ in India by 2025

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to develop around 10,000 kilometres of Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) infrastructure across India by the fiscal year 2025, an official statement has said.

State-owned NHAI’s special purpose vehicle National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) will be handling the project of implementing the network of “digital highways” by developing integrated utility corridors along the national highways to develop Optic Fibre Cables infrastructure.

As per the report, around 512 km on the Hyderabad-Bangalore corridor and 1,367 kms on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway have been identified by the authority to carry out the pilot tracks for the development if digital highways.

The OFC network will facilitate internet connectivity to remote regions across India and will assist in accelerating country’s shift to the modern-age telecommunication technologies like 5G & 6G. The 246-km Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was recently inaugurated. The track features 3-meter dedicated utility corridor which will be used for the purpose of laying optical fibre cables. This will play the key role for rolling-out 5G facility in the region.

DRDO, Indian Navy conducts successful trial of interceptor missile from naval platform

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of a sea-based interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha in Bay of Bengal,

The purpose of the trial was to engage and neutralise a hostile ballistic missile threat, thereby elevating India into the elite club of nations having Naval BMD capability,

Note: An interceptor missile is a light high-speed fast-climbing fighter missile designed for defense against raiding bombers or missiles.

SPORTS

SCG unveils gates named after Tendulkar and Lara

The Sydney Cricket Ground has unveiled a set of gates named after Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara on Monday. They join Donald Bradman, Alan Davidson and Arthur Morris, all New South Wales (and Australia) legends in being honoured thus at the iconic SCG.

April 24 was chosen as the date to unveil the gates to mark Tendulkar's 50th birthday, and also the 30th anniversary of Lara's 277 at the SCG, his first Test century, though that Test was played in January 1993.

The gates were unveiled by SCG and Venues NSW Chairman Rod McGeoch AO, and CEO Kerrie Mather, as well as Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.

Sachin Tendulkar's record at the SCG is simply remarkable, while Brian Lara's maiden Test century remains one of the most celebrated innings by a visiting player, Both players continue to hold a deep affection for the SCG and they remain hugely popular whenever they visit Sydney.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Panchayati Raj Day: India

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh is commemorating National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) on 24th April, 2023 at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh as a major event as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) – Samaaveshi Vikaas (Inclusive Development) adopting Whole-of-the-Government approach.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the Chief Guest at the national function to be organised at Special Armed Forces Ground, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. He will address all the Gram Sabhas and Panchayati Raj Institutions of the country today at National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate projects worth more than 17 thousand crores.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually attend the house warming ceremony of 4 lakh 11 thousand beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana at the function.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Central Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh, several Union ministers and MP government ministers will also participate in the programme.

International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace

The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is celebrated annually on 24 April. It seeks to reaffirm the UN Charter and its principles of resolving disputes among countries through peaceful means. The Day acknowledges the use of multilateral decision making and diplomacy in achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts among nations, It was established on 12 December 2018 through resolution A/RES/73/127 and was first observed on 24 April 2019.

What is multilateralism: Multilateralism is a philosophy or approach to international relations that emphasizes the need for cooperation and coordination among multiple countries and international organizations to address global issues and achieve common goals. It involves the idea that no single country can solve complex global problems such as climate change, international trade, or terrorism on its own, and that collective action and shared responsibility are necessary.

World Immunization Week 24-30 April 2023

World Immunisation Week (WIW) is a global healthcare event, typically celebrated every year in the last week of April between 24th and 30th, intending to promote vaccine usage and protect people of all ages from infectious diseases.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), in association with various international and local groups, joined hands together in this worldwide event to protect local communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and provide education by conducting various campaigns and activities. The WIW 2023 activities focus on emphasising the importance of having vaccines and immunisation in addition to aiding the governments in providing the necessary technical assistance and information required to launch effective immunisation programmes.

Infectious diseases caused by viruses or bacteria that can be prevented through vaccination are known as vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). These VPDs are still one of the major culprits for causing deaths in children under the age of 5 years. Immunisation can help curb VPDs in children and other infectious diseases in adults, including polio, diphtheria, tetanus, COVID-19 etc.

World Immunization Week 2023 Theme: This year 2023, the World Immunisation Week theme is “The Big Catch-Up” where the World Health Organization is collaborating with its partners to swiften the progress in countries' back to on track, so that more people, especially children, are shielded from avoidable diseases. 

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank governors meeting to begin in Bengaluru: April 24

The First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting begin today in Bengaluru. The two-day meeting, under the G20 Indian Presidency, is jointly chaired by Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman and Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Dr Shaktikanta Das.

The 1st G20 FMCBG meeting will see the participation of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the G20 members, invitee members and heads of International Organisations. The meeting will be deliberated on issues such as strengthening multilateral development banks to address shared global challenges of the 21st century, financing for resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities of tomorrow. Issues of Digital Public Infrastructure for advancing financial inclusion and productivity gains will also be discussed. The sessions will also cover issues related to global economy, global health, and international taxation.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Canara Bank has partnered with Reserve Bank of India innovation hub

Canara Bank, in collaboration with Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), has announced the launch of "Digitalised Submission of Form 15G/15H" as one of customer friendly services adding to our pursuit of "Customer Delight".

Form 15G (Individual and HUF) and Form 15H (Individual-Senior Citizen) are self-declaration forms that an individual submits to the bank requesting not to deduct TDS on interest income as their income is below the basic exemption limit. For this, providing PAN is compulsory.

At the start of every financial year, especially in the first few weeks of April, several citizens - especially senior citizens - make their 15G & 15H submissions to their banks. Presently, our Bank is accepting submission of these forms through online Banking/ Mobile banking which requires knowledge and access to Mobile / Internet Banking.

Many Senior citizens are not conversant with Internet / Mobile banking applications. They stand in long queues all day to make submissions of these Tax waiver forms in the bank branches.

RBIH (Reserve Bank Innovation Hub) identified the problem, consulted several Banks for potential solutions and then, conceptualised and created a blueprint to address the above issue.