Today's Current Affairs 27th April 2023

NATIONAL

Indo – UK joint military exercise “AJEYA WARRIOR-23 being conducted at Salisbury Plains

The 7th edition of joint military exercise “AJEYA WARRIOR-23” between India and the United Kingdom is being conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom from 27 April to 11 May 2023. Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR is a biennial training event with the United Kingdom which is conducted alternatively in the United Kingdom and India, the last edition was held at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand in October 2021.

Soldiers of the 2 Royal Gorkha Rifles from the United Kingdom and Indian Army soldiers from the BIHAR Regiment are participating in the exercise. The Indian Army contingent arrived at Brize Norton on 26 April 2023 by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft with indigenous weapons and equipment.

Aim - The aim of the exercise is to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking company-level sub-conventional operations in urban and semi-urban environments under UN mandate, in addition to developing inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie, and friendship between the two armies.

The scope of this exercise involves a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at the Battalion level and Company level Field Training Exercise (FTX). During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of missions testing their operational acumen in various simulated situations; showcasing and refining their tactical drills, and learning from each other’s operational experience.

CCEA approves ₹1,570 crore for 157 new nursing colleges

In a move aimed at strengthening the country’s nursing workforce, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), on Wednesday approved setting up of 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with the existing medical colleges established since 2014. The government will spend ₹1,570 crore on the initiative.

This will further ensure quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in India, particularly in underserved districts and states/union territories ,

Aim - The initiative aims to address the geographical and rural-urban imbalances in the healthcare sector, which have led to the skewed availability of nursing professionals and impacted healthcare services in underserved areas. The establishment of these nursing colleges will provide a significant boost to the availability of qualified human resources in healthcare. This is also being done as a part of the national mandate for Universal Health Care (UHC) and will help in attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Reforms in regulatory structure for nursing education to meet with the emerging requirements in the sector are also under consideration,

The government has been focusing on ensuring quality healthcare workforce with substantial increase in their numbers. The government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats in the last few years. There is a substantial increase of around 71% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 as of now.

J&K LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates newly constructed 576 residential accommodations for PM Package Employees

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated newly constructed 576 residential accommodations for PM Package Employees at Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Shopian yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor said, the inauguration is a testimony to government’s commitment to create adequate facilities for the prosperity of employees.

Mr. Sinha said, the Government is sensitive to the issues of the Kashmiri migrant families and understands their pain. He said, the government is working with the right intent to complete the construction of residential accommodations on priority. He said, the administration has taken various initiatives to expedite the process of construction of housing units for PM Package employees and two thousand more flats will be completed by December this year.

OBITURY

Malayalam actor Mamukkoya passes away at the age of 76

Popular Malayalam actor Mamukkoya passed away on Wednesday, April 26, at a private hospital in Kozhikode. According to reports, he breathed his last at around 1.10 pm. He was 76 years old. On Monday, April 24, he collapsed at a football tournament in Malappuram district. He was rushed to the hospital and was put on a ventilator.

On April 24, Mamukkoya was in Malappuram where he inaugurated the Poongod Janakeeya Sevens Football Tournament. The actor complained of uneasiness and, reportedly, collapsed on the football field.

Mamukkoya was rushed to the hospital and was being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He was put on a ventilator. On April 26, Mamukkoya breathed his last an hour ago, according to hospital authorities. Mamukkoya's sudden demise left the entire Malayalam film industry in a state of shock.

About: Mamukkoya - Mamukkoya made his acting debut in the theatre in 1979. Before that, he worked in a timber mill in Kozhikode. In his four-decade-long career, Mamkukkoya acted in over 450 Malayalam films. He also appeared in a French film titled Flammens of Paradise.

The veteran actor was known for the use of the Mappila dialect and his impeccable comedy timing. He won two Kerala State Film Awards for his performances in Perumazhakkalam and Innathe Chintha Vishayam.

Ex Odisha MP And 3 Time MLA Trilochan Kanungo passes away at 82

Veteran politician and former Jagatsinghpur MP Trilochan Kanungo passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar He was 83. and is survived by his wife, son and three daughters. His younger brother Panchanan Kanungo is a Congress politician.

The three-time MLA and one-time MP was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar since March 30. After battling for life for over three weeks, Kanungo breathed his last

Trilochan Kanungo was a former chairman of Cuttack Municipality and ex-chairperson of the state finance commission.

Born on November 24, 1940 at Badamulei village in Cuttack district, Mr Kanungo was residing in Sheikh Bazaar area of Cuttack city for the last few years.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

International Girls in ICT Day

International Girls in ICT Day is an annual event celebrated on the fourth Thursday of April to encourage and empower girls and young women to explore and pursue careers in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This year, it is being observed on April 27 with the theme “Digital Skills for Life". Despite the significant role of ICT in our lives, a relatively small percentage of women globally opt for higher education in ICT-related fields, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

International Girls in ICT Day was declared by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on April 8, 2011, to encourage women to pursue careers in information and communication technologies. The Day has been celebrated globally since its inception, with over 11,400 events held in 171 countries and more than 3,77,000 girls and young women participating.

Freedom Day : in South Africa

Freedom Day is an annual celebration held on April 27 in South Africa. The day reminds South Africans of the immeasurable sacrifices made by individuals and nations to break them away from the chains of unjust segregation by a selected few. It reminds them of the efforts of their national heroes, particularly Nelson Mandela. He is regarded as a champion of freedom, not only in South Africa but the entire world. It is a day that not only marks the emancipation of South Africans from apartheid but also returned their essential human rights in 1994.

Following the abolition of the decades-long segregation in South Africa, Freedom Day was marked on April 27, 1994, as a multiracial election. Until then, basic human rights and privileges were denied to black South Africans by the few ruling Whites. From then on, April 27 became a symbol of freedom for South Africans. It also commemorates the efforts of national heroes like Nelson Mandela. The struggles and sacrifices of Mandela, other key figures like Desmond Tutu, and many others, brought South Africans the freedom they were long deprived of in their land.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts of SCO member countries in New Delhi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, SCO member countries in New Delhi today. During the meeting, bilateral defence-related issues and other matters of mutual interest will be discussed. Mr Singh will chair the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting in New Delhi tomorrow. Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will participate in the meeting. India has invited Belarus and Iran, currently observers in SCO, to participate in the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting. Defence Minister of Pakistan would be participating virtually. The Ministers will discuss matters related to regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO and an effective multilateralism.

India has ancient civilizational, cultural and spiritual ties with the SCO member countries. India’s membership of SCO in 2017, was therefore, a reaffirmation of New Delhi’s keenness to deepen these historic ties. India considers SCO as an important regional group to promote multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region.

About: SCO -  Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001. The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan besides India.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) UP honoured with HUDCO Award

Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Uttar Pradesh has been awarded the country’s prestigious HUDCO Award for the year (2022-2023).

Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, presented the award to Neha Sharma, State Mission Director, Uttar Pradesh, at a program organized on the 53rd Foundation Day of Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO). New Delhi

This award has been given in the Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment 2022-23 category for cleanliness. One lakh rupees was also given to the UP government as a reward.

It is noteworthy that this campaign was conducted by the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Uttar Pradesh from January 14 to 24. In this, 75 tourist and historical places of the state were included. A special cleanliness drive was launched at these places.

Breast surgeon Dr Raghu Ram receives Telugu Association of London award

Leading surgeon Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti has received lifetime achievement award by the Telugu Association of London.

Dr Raghuram is the founding director of AKIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases in Hyderabad. He is one of the youngest recipients of the award and the only person of Indian origin living outside of the UK to have been conferred the honour.

The award was presented to him during the glittering Ugadi 2023 celebrations organised by the Telugu Association of London (TAL) in London. Representing over 10,000 Telugu speaking people in and around London, TAL is the largest Telugu Charity Organisation in the UK