INTERNATIONAL

Virtual summit: India and UK adopted the ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’

• India and the UK on Tuesday adopted the ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’ during the virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson, to elevate bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.

• “The Roadmap will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years in the key areas of people to people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health,”.

• In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, “We welcomed the launch of an Enhanced Trade Partnership as a roadmap to a comprehensive FTA, with a target to more than double the bilateral trade by 2030. We also agreed upon several new initiatives in health, technology, energy, etc.”

NATIONAL

Facebook introduces vaccine finder tool on mobile app

• Facebook has partnered with the GOI to roll out a vaccine finder tool on its mobile app in India, which will help people identify places nearby to get inoculated. The social media giant had, earlier this week, announced a USD 10 million grant for emergency response efforts for the C-19 situation in the country.

• Partnering with the GOI, Facebook will begin rolling out its Vaccine Finder tool on the Facebook mobile app in India available in 17 languages to help people identify places nearby to get the vaccine.

• In this tool, vaccine centre locations and their hours of operation have been provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

• The cumulative number of C-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 15.22 crore.

SPORTS

BCCI granted NOC to 4 Indian Women cricketers

• The BCCI has granted “No Objection Certificates” to four Indian women cricketers, including T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur, to play in the inaugural ‘Hundred’ tournament in the United Kingdom starting on July 21.

• Opener Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma are among the four bound for the 100-ball tournament.

• It is learnt that these four Indian players will extend their stay in the UK following the completion of India’s multi-format tour of England in June-July.

• The tour begins with a one-off Test at Bristol on June 16 and concludes with the third and final T20I on July 15.

OBITUARY

First female IAS officer of Assam, Parul Devi passed away

• Parul Devi Das, the first female IAS officer from Assam, passed away. She was an Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS officer.

• She was the daughter of the former cabinet minister of undivided Assam – Ramnath Das. She was the sister of former Assam Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das.

‘Shooter Dadi’ passed away due to C-19

• Shooter Chandro Tomar, nicknamed ‘Shooter Dadi’, passed away at the age of 89 due to C-19.

• She was hailing from the Baghpat village in Uttar Pradesh, Tomar was 60-plus when she picked up the gun for the first time but went on to win many national competitions for veterans, her feats ultimately inspiring the award-winning Bollywood movie ‘Saand ki Aankh’.

Scientist Manas Bihari Passed Away

• The Indian aeronautical scientist, Manas Bihari Verma, who played an instrumental role in the development of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – Tejas, has passed away. He worked as a scientist at the Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) for 35 years in the aeronautical stream.

• He was given the responsibility for the design of the Tejas aircraft mechanical system, where he led the team responsible for the full-scale engineering development of the Tejas aircraft in the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The noted scientist has conferred the Padma Sri civilian honour in 2018.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of the Midwife 2021: 05 May

• International Day of the Midwife is observed globally on 5 May every year since 1992. This day is celebrated to recognise the work of midwives and raise awareness about the status of midwives for the essential care they provide to mothers and their newborns.

• The theme for 2021 International Day of the Midwife is “Follow the Data: Invest in Midwives.”

• The idea of having a day to recognize and honour midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives conference in the Netherlands. International Midwives’ Day was first celebrated May 5, 1991, and has been observed in more than 50 nations around the world.

World Hand Hygiene Day 2021: 05 May

• Every year, the World Hand Hygiene Day is observed on May 5. The day is organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness among people across the globe about the importance of hand hygiene in warding off many serious infections.

• The theme for 2021 is ‘Seconds Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’. The day recognizes hand washing as one of the most effective actions that can be taken to avoid a huge range of infections including the C-19 virus.

World Asthma Day 2021: 04 May

• World Asthma Day is observed every year on the 1st Tuesday of May. This year, World Asthma Day is observed on May 4, 2021. The day spread awareness about asthma disease and care around the world. Whilst the primary focus is supporting the person with asthma, support may also extend to family, friends and caregivers. The theme for 2021 World Asthma Day is “Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions“.

• World Asthma Day is annually organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). In 1998, the first World Asthma Day was celebrated in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona, Spain.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Ms Ujjwala Singhania has been appointed as the National President of FICCI FLO

• Ms Ujjwala Singhania has been appointed as the National President of FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO), the oldest women-led & women-centric business chamber of Southeast Asia.

• She took over as the 38th President of FLO at the FLO’s 37th Annual Session in presence of eminent personalities including Smt. Smriti Irani, Honourable Minister for Women & Child Development, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Minister for Rural Development, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India among others.

• As the 38th National President of FLO Ms Singhania will focus on empowering women by facilitating an enabling environment that promotes entrepreneurship, industry participation and economic development of women. Under her leadership, FLO will carry out many interventions towards fostering larger contributions of women in India’s Industrial and economic Growth story.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

 RBI imposed monetary penalty of Rs.3 crore on ICICI Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs.3 crores on ICICI Bank for non-compliance with its directions in the matter of shifting of securities from one category to another. The monetary penalty has been imposed on the Bank for contravention of certain directions contained in its Master Circular on ‘Prudential Norms for Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio by Banks.’

• This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (the Act). RBI observed that an examination of correspondence in the matter of shifting of securities from one category to another revealed, inter alia, contravention of the aforesaid directions issued by it. This action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

INTERNATIONAL

World’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge opens in Portugal

• Hidden between rock-strewn mountains covered with lush greenery and yellow flowers inside the UNESCO-recognised Arouca Geopark, the bridge hangs 175 meters above the fast-flowing River Paiva.

• Hugo Xavier became one of the first people to cross the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge when it opened on Thursday.

UK:  World’s First country to allow Driverless cars on roads

• The United Kingdom has become the first country to announce regulation for the use of self-driving vehicles at low speeds. The UK wants to be at the forefront in rolling out autonomous driving technology. The Government of the UK forecasts that around 40% of UK cars will have self-driving capabilities by 2035. This will create 38,000 jobs in the country. The speed limit of the ALKS is to be set at 37 miles per hour. The ALKS shall drive itself in a single lane.

• A self-driving vehicle is fully autonomous. No driver is required for the safe operation of the vehicle. Self-driving technologies have been developed by Uber, Google, Nissan, Tesla. Most of the self-driving systems maintain an internal map. They use lasers, sensors and radars to map their surroundings. Based on the map created, instructions are delivered to the actuators of the vehicle.

NATIONAL

NFAI publishes rich treasure of oral history on the occasion of Dadasaheb Phalke anniversary

• On the occasion of the 151st birth anniversary of the father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) has published a rich treasure of audio recordings in the public domain.

• About 8000 minutes of interviews of veteran film artists from the Indian film industry are now made available on the NFAI website. Starting from the silent era of Indian cinema, these are the fascinating tales of journeys of actors, technicians, producers, directors and studio owners. Conducted mostly in the 1980s, these interviews were recorded as part of the Oral History Project of NFAI’s Research Programme and features long interviews of pioneering film personalities, narrating the experiences about their life, stories and anecdotes from the world of cinema.

Serum institute of India to start vaccine production outside India

• The Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the AstraZeneca C-19 vaccine, is planning to start vaccine production in other countries as it struggles to meet supply commitment.

• Mr. Poonawalla said last week that the Serum Institute would be able to raise its monthly output to 100 million doses by July, later than a previous timeline of end-May. Several states have run out of vaccines against C-19.

Karnal administration (Haryana) rolled out ‘Oxygen on wheels’ to tackle oxygen crisis

• In wake of the acute oxygen shortage across the country, the Karnal administration (Haryana) has rolled out ‘Oxygen on wheels’ to assist hospitals in the fight against the C-19 pandemic and oxygen crisis. The purpose is to ensure a smooth supply of medical oxygen to hospitals treating C-19 patients.

• Under this initiative, a carrier vehicle called a Mobile oxygen bank loaded with 100 Oxygen Cylinders reaches out to any district hospital which requisitions its urgent supply. This Round clock service has been able to cater to the demands of various hospitals in the area. The initiative is functional 24*7 for all hospitals in the Karnal district.

OBITUARY

Former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin passed away

• Former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin passed away on Saturday. He was being treated at the DDU hospital in New Delhi after testing positive for C-19.

• Shahabuddin, serving a life sentence for murder in Tihar jail, had contracted the virus on April 20, after which he was admitted to DDU hospital.

IMPORTANT DAYS

400th Parkash Purab of guru Tegh bahadur

• The auspicious occasion of Guru Tegh Bahadur's 400th Prakash Purab has celebrated on May 1, this year. He was the 9th of the 10 Gurus that founded the Sikh religion.

• He was also considered to be the leader of Sikhs from 1665 until his demise in 1675.

SUMMITS AND MOU’S

Indian Bank signs MoU with BSNL to provide seamless telecom services

• Indian Bank signed an MoU with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited to provide seamless telecom services to the Indian Bank at competitive market rates. This means the telco might be availing its services to the bank for a lower market rate than usual.

• The bank is already using the services of BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited for its Wide Area Network across the country Dr VK Sanjeevi, chief general manager of Chennai Telephones said that BSNL and its subsidiary MTNL is connecting 5,000 branches and ATMs of Indian Bank.

OBITUARY

South Africa's zulu Queen Mantfombi passed away

• The Zulu royal family in South Africa has announced the death of its monarch Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu just a month after she became regent.

• Queen Mantfombi, 65, became interim leader of the country's largest ethnic group last month after the death of her husband, King Goodwill Zwelithini.

American Astronaut Michael Collins Passed Away

• The American astronaut, Michael Collins, who was the command module pilot for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, has passed away, after losing his battle to cancer.

• During the three-man Apollo 11 crew mission in 1969, Collins kept the command module flying while the other two members, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. Collins spent seven years of his career as an astronaut with NASA.

TV Journalist and news anchor Rohit Sardana Passed Away

• Renowned TV journalist and news anchor, Rohit Sardana, has passed away, due to a heart attack, following the deadly C-19 infection. The young journalist was just 41-year-old. Sardana was associated with Zee News since 2004, before moving to AajTak in 2017.

• With Zee News, he hosted Taal Thok Ke, a programme that discusses contemporary issues in India, while with AajTak, he was hosting the debate show ”Dangal.” Sardana was awarded the Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Puraskar by the Indian government in 2018.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Niraj Bajaj Appointed as Bajaj Auto Chairman of the board

• Bajaj Auto has announced the appointment of Neeraj Bajaj as its new Chairman of the Board with effect from May 1, 2021. The automaker has also announced Rahul Bajaj as its Chairman Emeritus. This will be taken up at the ensuing annual general meeting for the approval of the shareholders.

• Rahul Bajaj, Non-executive Chairman of the Company, having been at the helm of the Company since 1972 and the Group for five decades, considering his age, has tendered his resignation as a non-executive director and Chairman of the Company with effect from close of business hours on 30 April 2021.

Amitabh Chaudhry Re-appointed as MD & CEO of Axis Bank for three years

• Amitabh Chaudhry has been re-appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of the private sector lender Axis Bank for three more years by the bank board. His second 3 years term will begin with effect from January 1, 2022, up to December 31, 2024.

• Chaudhry was first appointed as Managing Director (MD) and CEO of Axis Bank for a period of three years, with effect from January 1, 2019 up to December 31, 2021. Prior to that, he was the MD and CEO of HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1st May: Maharashtra day and Gujarat Day

• Each year, the Marathi community celebrates Maharashtra Day all around the world on May 1. Most people are aware that May 1 is Labour Day but not many people know that this day is also celebrated as Maharashtra Day.

• Along with Maharastra Day, Gujarat Day is also celebrated on May 1 each year as the states of Maharashtra and Gujrat were formed on May 1.

International Workers’ Day or May day: 1st May

• International Labour Day (also known as May Day or International Workers’ Day) is celebrated across the world on the 1st of May every year. The day celebrates the struggle, dedication and commitment of the working class and is an annual public holiday in several countries.

• On 1 May 1886, Chicago and a few other cities were the sites of a major union demonstration in support of the eight-hour workday demand. In 1889, the International Socialist Conference declared that in commemoration of the Haymarket affair, 1 May would be an international holiday for the labour force, now known as International Workers’ Day.

SUMMITS AND MOU’S

TRIFED inks MoU with ‘The LINK Fund’ for tribal development

• Tribal Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (TRIFED), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The LINK Fund, for a collaborative project titled “Sustainable Livelihoods For Tribal Households in India”.  Under the project, both the organisations will work together towards.

• Tribal Development and Employment Generation, by providing support to tribals for increasing value addition in their produce and products.

• Sustainable livelihoods and value addition, for the increase in income and employment generation through technological intervention for efficiency in value addition for MFPs, produce and crafts diversification, skill training and enhancement of value additions in minor forest produce.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

SIDBI launched SHWAS and AROG Loan Schemes for MSMEs

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), has launched two loan products for MSMEs to help them with the required financial support in the fight against the C-19. These two new quick credit delivery schemes will facilitate funding for production and services related to the supply of oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, oximeters and essential drugs by MSMEs.

Two new loan products:-

• SHWAS – SIDBI assistance to Healthcare sector in War Against Second wave of COVID19.

• AROG – SIDBI Assistance to MSMEs for Recovery & Organic Growth during COVID19 pandemic.

Brand Finance Insurance report 2021: LIC Among Top Ten Most-Valuable Insurance Brand Globally

• The state-owned insurance behemoth ‘Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)’ has emerged as the third strongest and the tenth most valuable insurance brand globally, in Brand Finance Insurance 100 report for 2021. The annual report is released by London-based brand valuation consultancy firm Brand Finance, to identify the most valuable and strongest insurance brands globally.

• The brand value of LIC increased by almost 7 per cent to $8.65 billion in 2021.

• Chinese firm ‘Ping An Insurance’ emerged as the world’s most valuable insurance brand, despite recording a 26 per cent drop in brand value in 2021 over the previous year.

NATIONAL

Vaishali is the first woman officer to Appointed in BRO

• Vaishali S Hiwase became the first woman officer to be appointed as officer commanding in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) where she will be responsible for providing connectivity through an Indo-China border road.

Odisha government has started ambitious initiative of crop diversification

• Odisha government has started ambitious initiative of crop diversification in mega lift point ( MLIP) ayacut areas of the State.

• The action plan for coming Khariff season towards this effect was discussed in a high level meeting held on digital mode under the chairmanship of chief secretary Suresh Chnadra Mahapatra here in Lokseba Bhawan wherein agriculture secretary Suresh Kumar Vashishth outlined the issues for discussion.

SPORTS

ASBC Asian boxing championship 2021 will be held in Dubai

• In the wake of international travel restrictions to India, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), in consultation with Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC), has decided to conduct the upcoming 2021 edition of the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Dubai.

• The event will now be organised by BFI in association with UAE Boxing Federation.

• The prestigious tournament was earlier scheduled to take place between May 21 to 31 at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi. BFI had also received the NOC from the Sports Ministry to host the tournament and the preparations were in full swing.

OBITUARY

Allahabad high court judge passed away due to C-19

• Justice Virendra Kumar Srivastava of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court died of Covi-19 on Wednesday. He was 59.

• Srivastava, who had tested positive for coronavirus, was undergoing treatment at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (SGPGI) in Lucknow.

Eminent Indian educationist, popular columnist Manoj Das Passed Away

• Eminent Indian educationist, popular columnist and prolific author, who wrote in Odia and English, Manoj Das has passed away.

• The first book of Das was of poetry called ‘Satavdira Artanada’, in Odia, which was published when he was in high school. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2020 for his contributions in the field of literature and education.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Ravindra Jadeja has appointed ASICS brand ambassador

• Japanese Sportswear brand ASICS announced that it has appointed Ravindra Jadeja, the all-rounder of the Indian cricket team and Chennai Super Kings as its brand ambassador. The company, which focuses on sporting gear for the running category.

• ASICS has been working with young and fresh athletic talent across various genres of sports. In India, ASICS is promoted by actor Tiger Shroff. In Asia, ASICS currently has over 55 stores across India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Ayushman Bharat Diwas: April 30

• Ayushman Bharat Diwas is celebrated on April 30 ever year in India. The Ayushman Bharat Diwas is celebrated to achieve twin missions. They are to promote health and wellness to the poor and also to provide insurance benefits to them. The day aims to promote affordable medical facilities in remote areas of the country based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census database. It will also promote health and wellness and provide insurance benefits to the poor.

• The Scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2018.

• According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme has so far operationalised 75,532 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre. It has fixed a target of 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centre by 2022.

International Jazz Day: 30 April

• The International Jazz Day is celebrated on 30 April every year to highlight the importance of jazz and its diplomatic role in uniting people in all corners of the globe. The 2021 celebration marks the 10th Anniversary of International Jazz Day. The day was created on the idea of jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock.

• The musical form of Jazz was developed by African Americans. It was influenced by both European harmonic structure and African rhythms. It originated in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

SUMMITS AND MOU’S

Project Ladakh Ignited Minds: Indian Army signs MoU with HPCL & NIEDO

• Ladakhi youth Army under the aegis of Fire and Fury Corps signed MoU for Ladakh Ignited Minds project with corporate partner Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and executing agency National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO) HQ 14 Corps Leh.

• The project Ladakh Ignited Minds: A Centre of Excellence and Wellness has been conceptualized to secure a better future for the youth of UT of Ladakh.

• The programme under the aegis of Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army would be executed by National Integrity & Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO) a Kanpur-based NGO.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Wild Innovator Award 2021: Krithi Karanth becomes 1st Indian woman

• Dr. Krithi K Karanth, Chief Conservation Scientist at Bengaluru-based Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), has been chosen as the first Indian and Asian woman for the 2021 ‘WILD Innovator Award’. This award given by the ‘‘WILD ELEMENTS Foundation” brings together a coalition of innovators, advocates and partners to “disrupt the status quo and identify solutions to global sustainability and conservation,”.

• The Foundation’s distinctive approach to addressing climate change is the “Power of Three,” recognising the interconnectedness of animal-kind, humankind, and plantkind for the future planetary wellness of our shared home.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

ICICI Bank launched Digital banking Platform ‘Merchant Stack’

• The ICICI Bank has announced the launch of a digital and contactless banking platform, especially for retail merchants. The service, called ‘Merchant Stack’, is targeted at the over 2 crore retail merchants in the country, covering grocers, supermarkets, large retail store chains, online businesses and large e-commerce firms.

• Retail merchants can avail the ‘Merchant Stack’ services on InstaBIZ, the mobile banking application of ICICI Bank for businesses.

• The wide range of banking, as well as value-added services, will enable merchants to meet their banking requirements seamlessly so that they can continue to serve their customers in the challenging times during the pandemic.

INTERNATIONAL

China Launched Robot Prototype ‘NEO-01’ Clear Space Debris

• The Chinese government has launched a robot prototype named as ‘NEO-01’, in the Earth’s low orbit, on its Long March 6 rocket. The 30kg robot prototype has been developed by Shenzhen-based space mining start-up ‘Origin Space’.

• To observe small celestial bodies in deep space and to experiment with space debris removal techniques.

Time magazine's 100 most influential firms

• Two Indian firms, Reliance Industries’ technology arm Jio Platforms and e-learning startup Byju’s have figured in the Time Magazine’s first-ever list of 100 most influential companies. On its website, Time said companies shaping the future are at the heart of the first ever TIME100 Most Influential Companies.

• It listed Jio Platforms under the Innovators category alongside Zoom, Adidas, TikTok, Ikea, Moderna and Netflix. “Over the past few years, Reliance Industries, the Mumbai-based conglomerate, has built India’s largest 4G network.

NATIONAL

Uttar Pradesh Govt. won “E-Panchayat Puraskar 2021”

• The Uttar Pradesh government won the “E-Panchayat Puraskar 2021”, ranking first in Category I. It was followed by Assam and Chhattisgarh at the second position, while Odisha and Tamil Nadu stood third.

• Every year, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj awards those states, which ensure maximum use of information technology to keep a tab on the work done by gram panchayats.

India's first 3d printed house at Madras

• India’s first 3D printed house built by IIT-Madras startup Tvasta was inaugurated on the campus.

• The house, which has a built-up area of 600 square feet, has a bedroom, a hall and a kitchen. The entire house was designed using software and printed using concrete 3D printing technology.

• Using this technology, a new house can be built in five days against four or five months in conventional mode. Further, the cost of the house is reduced by around 30% and life of the building can exceed 50 years.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Arun Raste has appointed new MD & CEO of NCDEX

• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved to the appointment of Arun Raste as MD and CEO of National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) for a period of five years.

• Raste is currently associated with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) as an Executive Director and prior to NDDB, he has worked with organisations like IDFC First Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NABARD, ACC Cement, and a non-profit NGO IRFT.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw joins the board of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

• Biocon Ltd has announced that its Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), a leader in cancer treatment and research, based in New York, US. She will serve for a term of three years.

•  Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is among the 52 members on the board and will serve for a term of three years with effect from April 14, 2021 and she is the first woman of Indian nationality to be appointed for this prestigious role.

T V Soma Nathan new finance secretary

• Expenditure Secretary TV Somanathan has been designated as the Finance Secretary.

• He is a 1987-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved designating Mr Somanathan, Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance as the Finance Secretary, the order said.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Dance Day 29 April 2021

• The International Dance Day is observed globally on 29 April every year. The day celebrates the value and importance of the dance and encourages participation and education in this art form through events and festivals. The day 29 April has been chosen as it marks the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), who is known as the creator of modern ballet.

• The theme of International Dance Day 2021: ‘Purpose of dance’.

• The day was created in 1982, by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO.

RANKING

India Ranked 49th in CGGI 2021

• India has been placed at 49th position among 104 nations in the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) 2021. Finland has topped the CGGI Index 2021 and Venezuela is the last ranked country at 104.

• The Chandler Good Governance Index is released by the Chandler Institute of Governance headquartered in Singapore. The index is prepared based on seven pillars namely leadership and foresight, strong institutions, robust laws and policies, attractive market place, financial stewardship, helping people rise, global influence and reputation.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Oxford Economics has revised downwards the GDP growth forecast for India

• The Global forecasting firm Oxford Economics has revised downwards the GDP growth forecast for India to 10.2 per cent for fiscal 2021-22.

• Earlier it predicted this at 11.8 per cent. The downward revision is based on the country’s serious health burden, weak vaccination rate and lack of a convincing government strategy to contain the pandemic.

Shivalik Small Finance Bank Limited commenced operations as a Small Finance Bank

• The UP-based Shivalik Small Finance Bank Limited commenced operations as a Small Finance Bank (SFB) with effect from April 26, 2021. It must be remembered that the Shivalik Mercantile Co-operative Bank (SMCB) is the first urban co-operative bank (UCB) in India to receive licence from RBI to operate as a Small Finance Bank (SFB).

• The bank has received the licence from RBI under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to carry on the business of small finance bank in India. Shivalik SFB area of operation is Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

INTERNATIONAL

David Beckham the ambassador of UNICEF, leads global vaccination drive

• UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, David Beckham, is fronting a global initiative to inspire confidence in vaccines and encourage parents around the world to vaccinate their children against deadly diseases.

• In a powerful video released ahead of World Immunization Week, Beckham talks about the loss of everyday activities due to C-19, such as hugs with family, spending time with friends, and being with the people we love, and encourages parents to vaccinate themselves so that they can be safe.

SPORTS

Rafael Nadal wins 12th Barcelona Open title

• Rafael Nadal beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 to win his 12th Barcelona Open title. It was Nadal’s 87th career title, and his 61st title on clay.

• This is the second tournament where Nadal has captured 12 or more titles. The 13-time Roland Garros champion will return to No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

Manchester City won League Cup football tournament fourth time

• Manchester City won the League Cup for a record-equalling fourth time in succession with a deserved victory over a disappointing Tottenham Hotspur side at Wembley.

• City’s victory equalled Liverpool’s achievement in the early 1980s of winning the competition four years in a row.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

India retained its position as the third biggest military spender

• India has retained its position as the third biggest military spender in the world in 2020, according to new data titled ‘SIPRI Military Expenditure Database’ published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on April 26, 2021.

• As per the new report, the top five biggest spenders in 2020 were the United States ($778 billion), China ($252 billion), India ($72.9 billion), Russia ($61.7 billion) and the United Kingdom ($59.2 billion) respectively.

• These five nations together accounted for 62 per cent of global military expenditure.

OBITUARY

Renowned Gujarati poet Dadudan Gadhvi Passed Away

• Veteran Gujarati poet and folk singer Dadudan Pratapdan Gadhvi has passed away. He was 80 years old. He was also known as Kavi Dad.

• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contribution in literature and education. Besides, he had written songs for 15 Gujarati films.

Former MD of Maruti Suzuki, Jagdish Khattar Passed Away

• Jagdish Khattar, the former Managing Director of Maruti Suzuki, has passed away. He had served at Maruti Suzuki India Limited from 1993 to 2007. He is credited for establishing Maruti as India’s largest car company.

• Khattar joined Maruti in July 1993 as Director, and was eventually elevated as Managing Director in 1999, first as government nominee, and then in May 2002, as Suzuki Motor Corporation nominee. After his retirement from Maruti in October 2007, Khattar launched an entrepreneurial venture named Carnation Auto.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Amit Banerjee becomes CMD, BEML

• At a Public Enterprise Selection Board meeting that was held on April 26, 2021, Amit Banerjee was selected to be posted as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). Presently, he is serving as Director (Rail & Metro), BEML Limited.

• Banerjee is a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from IIT (BHU), Varanasi. He had joined BEML as an assistant engineer in 1984.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Workers’ Memorial (International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers) Day: 28 April

• The Workers’ Memorial Day, also known as International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers occurs every year on 28 April. The day has been organized worldwide by the International Trade Union Confederation since 1996.

• Theme 2021: ‘Health and Safety is a fundamental workers‘ right.’

• Its purpose is to remember workers killed in incidents at work or by diseases caused by work and honour the victims of occupational accidents and diseases by organizing worldwide mobilizations and awareness campaigns on this date.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work observed every year on 28 April

• World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed globally on 28 April every year. This day is observed to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally and raise awareness to ensure health and safety at the workplace.

• The theme for 2021 is “Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises – Invest Now in Resilient Occupational Safety and Health Systems”.

• The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work. It is persisted 28 April and has been observed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

A new book title “Living Mountain” written by Amitav Ghosh

• “The Living Mountain” is a new story by Jnanpith winner and internationally renowned author Amitav Ghosh, written during the course of the pandemic. It is a fable for the current times: a cautionary tale of how humans have systematically exploited nature, leading to an environmental collapse.

• HarperCollins Publishers India will publish The Living Mountain as a special standalone edition in January 2022 under its prestigious Fourth Estate imprint. The book will also be published simultaneously in Hindi, and as an ebook and an audiobook.

Jhumpa Lahiri’s New Novel ‘Whereabouts’

• Renowned American author Jhumpa Lahiri has launched her new novel titled “Whereabouts”. The book is an English translation of the Italian novel ‘Ias Dove Mi Trovo’ which was written by the author Jhumpa Lahiri itself and published in 2018.

• The novel has been translated into English by the author herself. The book is about an unnamed female protagonist over 45 years as she looks at her life, glancing, sideways, back and forth, chronicling life, relationships and burden of relationships, in short, succinct chapters.

NATIONAL

Government Extended Deadline for making payment under ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme till 30 June 2021

• The government has once again extended the deadline for making payment under the direct tax dispute settlement scheme ‘Vivad Se Vishwas’ by two months till June 30, 2021 to provide relief to the taxpayers facing hardships amid the pandemic. This is the fourth time that the deadline is being extended by the Ministry of Finance, since the launch of the scheme. The deadline was extended for the first time from March 31, 2020, to June 30, 2020, followed by December 31, 2020, and then again till March 31, 2021.

• The ‘Vivad Se Vishwas’ scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2020, as per which a taxpayer would be required to pay only the amount of the disputed taxes and will get a complete waiver of interest and penalty provided he pays by 31st March 2020.

Panchayati Raj Day: PM Modi Launched the distribution of e-property cards under the Extension of ‘SVAMITVA scheme’ Across India

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the distribution of e-property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme on National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24, 2021, through video conferencing. SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas. The launch marked the rollout of the implementation of the SVAMITVA scheme across the entire country. About 4.09 lakh property owners were given their e-property cards during the event, in more than 5 thousand villages.

• The Svamitva Scheme was launched by Prime Minister on 24 April 2020 as a Central Sector Scheme to promote a socio-economically empowered and self-reliant rural India.

• It was launched on pilot basis in the 6 states, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Indian Navy has joined the rescue operation for an Indonesian submarine

• The Indian Navy has joined the rescue operation for an Indonesian submarine and its 53-person crew that went missing more than 4 days ago. 

• Indonesia had sought assistance from India after its 44-year-old submarine, KRI Nanggala-402, went missing while conducting a torpedo drill north of the island of Bali. The Navy’s Deep-Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSVR) left from Visakhapatnam.

OBITUARY

Justice M Shantanagoudar passed away

• Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar passed away. Justice Shantanagoudar was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on February 17, 2017. He would have remained in office till May 5, 2023.

• Shantanagoudar was born on May 5, 1958, in Karnataka and got himself enrolled as an advocate on September 5, 1980. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court on May 12, 2003, and became a permanent judge in the court in September 2004. Later, Justice Shantanagoudar was transferred to the Kerala High Court, where he assumed charge as the acting chief justice on August 1, 2016. He became the chief justice of the Kerala High Court on September 22, 2016, before being elevated as an apex court judge.

Veteran Scientist Krishnamurthy Santhanam Passed away

• Indian nuclear scientist Krishnamurthy Santhanam, who played a noteworthy role in the 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran, has passed away. He was deeply associated with Defence Research and Development Organization(DRDO), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).

• Santhanam was the field director of Defence Research and Development Organization during the tests of Pokhran-II. He was awarded with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award, in 1999 by the Government of India.

Hindustani classical singer Pandit Rajan Mishra Passed Away

• Renowned Hindustani classical singer, from ‘Banaras Gharana’ of India, Pandit Rajan Mishra, has passed away. He was a vocalist in the khyal style of Indian classical singing.

• Mishra was awarded Padma Bhushan in the field of art in 2007. Pandit Rajan Mishra was also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Gandharwa National Award and the National Tansen Samman.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is observed every year on April 26

• The International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is observed every year on April 26 to raise awareness of the consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the risks of nuclear energy in general.

• The United Nations (UN) proclaimed the day on April 26, 2016, that marked the 30th anniversary of the 1986 nuclear disaster. On this day in 1986, a reactor exploded at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine with devastating consequences.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

National Panchayat Awards 2021 conferred by PM Modi

• The National Panchayat Awards 2021 was conferred by PM Modi. Prime Minister will transfer the award money (as Grants-in-Aid) through the click of a button, ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.50 lakh. The amount will be directly transferred to the bank account of the Panchayats concerned in real-time. This is being done for the first time.

The National Panchayat Awards 2021:

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar to 224 panchayats,

• Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar to 30-gram panchayats, Gram

• Panchayat Development Plan Award to 29-gram panchayats, Child-friendly Gram

• Panchayat Award to 30 Gram Panchayats and e-Panchayat Puraskar to 12 states.

93rd Academy Awards 2021 announced in Los Angeles

• The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, also known as the Oscars Award, took place in Los Angeles on April 25, 2021. The award is presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). 2021 Oscars honoured the best films of 2020 and early 2021.

• American drama ‘Nomadland’ won most honours with three awards. Chloe Zhao, who directed “Nomadland”, was crowned best director, and with this, she became the only second woman to claim the title and the first woman of colour to win that award. Indian film personalities Irrfan Khan and Bhanu Athaiya were honoured in the “In Memoriam” montage showcased at the event.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI cancelled licence of Bhagyodaya Friends Urban Co-operative Bank Limited due to inadequate capital

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Maharashtra-based Bhagyodaya Friends Urban Co-operative Bank Limited due to inadequate capital. On liquidation, every depositor is entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakhs from the DICGC subject to the provisions of the DICGC Act, 1961.

• According to the regulator, the bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in the full and public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further. The bank has failed to comply with the requirements and the continuance of the bank is prejudicial to the interests of its depositors.

INTERNATIONAL

Japan declares three months emergency in four major cities

• Japan has declared a state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo from April 25, after a recent surge in C-19 cases. Announcing the emergency till 11th May, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that the emergency is intended to be short and intensive. He said, it is to stop people from travelling and spreading the virus during Japan’s Golden Week holidays from late April through the first week of May.

• This is Japan's third state of emergency since the pandemic began and comes after a month of an earlier emergency in the Tokyo area. The measures include shutdown orders for bars, department stores, malls, theme parks, theatres and museums. Restaurants that do not serve alcohol and public transportation services are asked to close early. Schools will stay open, but universities are asked to return to online classes. Mask-wearing, staying home and other measures for the general public remain non-mandatory requests.

NATIONAL

DRDO to set up covid hospital in Ahmedabad

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that another dedicated 1200 bed Covid hospital will be set up at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. He made a visit to the 900 bed dedicated Covid hospital set up by DRDO and Gujarat Government at Gujarat University Convention and Exhibition Centre in Ahmedabad.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the 1200 bed dedicated Covid hospital will be set up at Helipad ground in Gandhinagar. This hospital will have 600 ICU beds. It will be set up by DRDO in collaboration with Tata Trust. Mr. Shah said that Ahmedabad will also have Isolation centers for which Karnavati club, Rajpath Club, Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank and Umiya Pariwar have given their consent.

Chhattisgarh government announces to deduct one day salary of officers and employees

• The Chhattisgarh Government has announced that it will deduct one day salary of officers and employees in the month of April for contribution to the Chief Minister Relief Fund in order to help the needy people of the state affected by corona infection.

• Meanwhile, efforts are being made by the Chhattisgarh government to increase the number of beds in hospitals and to ensure continuous supply of medical oxygen as well as for the adequate deployment of doctors and para- medical staff in various Covid hospitals. Amidst surge in Covid cases, the Health Department of Chhattisgarh has made the posting of 296 new doctors who have completed their M.B.B.S to address shortage of doctors. These doctors have been posted in various government medical college hospitals, district hospitals as well as community and primary health centers of the state. These doctors have been instructed to join their respective hospitals within ten days.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Justice N. V. Ramana takes oath as 48th Chief Justice of India

• Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana was sworn in as the 48th Chief Justice of India. Justice Ramana’s will hold the post for sixteen months, until August 26, 2022.

• Justice Ramana takes over at a time when the judiciary is going back to a virtual mode, due to the second wave of C-19, and is entrusted with ensuring un-interrupted access to justice. As Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority, Justice Ramana led efforts to ensure training to lawyers and litigants to adapt to e-courts during the pandemic.

RBI approved Atanu Chakraborty as HDFC Bank’s part-time chairman

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of former Economic Affairs Secretary, Atanu Chakraborty, as the part-time chairman and additional independent director of the private sector lender HDFC Bank. He retired as Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs in April 2020. Prior to that, he served as Secretary of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM).

• Chakraborty, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, has been appointed for a period of three years with effect from May 5, 2021 or the date of his taking charge, whichever is later.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day for Laboratory Animals is observed every year on 24 April

• The World Day For Animals In Laboratories (WDAIL)( World Lab Animal Day or World Day for Laboratory Animals), is observed every year on 24 April. The day was instituted in 1979 by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), as an “international day of commemoration” for animals in laboratories.

• WDAIL aims to end the suffering of animals in laboratories around the world and promote their replacement with advanced scientific non-animal techniques. Apart from this, the “World Week for Animals In Laboratories” (Lab Animal Week) is celebrated from April 20 to 26.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Hyderabad’s Rumana Sinha Sehgal won the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021

• Rumana Sinha Sehgal, Software engineer turned entrepreneur from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, won the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021 by the Diplomatic Mission Global Peace. She was virtually awarded for her contribution to the field of developing innovative and functional green products by recycling varied materials and non-biodegradable materials.

• Nationwide Award -under 50- Business Leader 2021 of Social entrepreneurship.

• International Influencer of the year 2021’ at the Influencer Summit in January 2021.

• ReXKarmaveer Chakra (silver) and Global Fellowship award 2019 for her work in the zone of women and child empowerment.

• She was crowned as the ‘Mrs Universe Successful 2018’.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI allows commercial banks to pay up to 50% of pre-Covid dividends

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed commercial banks to pay dividends on equity shares for FY21, from the profits for the fiscal ended March 31, 2021, subject to certain conditions and limits. The new notification of RBI allows commercial banks to pay dividends not more than 50 per cent of the amount determined as per the dividend payout ratio prescribed. This means that banks may pay dividends up to 50% of what they paid before the Covid scenario.

• Earlier, RBI had asked all banks not to make any dividend payment on equity shares for FY20 from the profits due to the ongoing stress and heightened uncertainty on account of C-19. For co-operative banks, all the restrictions on dividends have been removed and they have been permitted to pay the dividend on equity shares from the profits of the financial year ended March 31, 2021. However, RBI has also instructed all banks to continue to meet the applicable minimum regulatory capital requirements after dividend payment.

INTERNATIONAL

Italy launched first ever mega food park in Gujarat

• Italy has launched its first-ever mega food park project in India, at Fanidhar in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. The project aims to create synergy between agriculture and industry of the two countries and focuses on the research and development of new and more efficient technologies in the sector.

• With this Italy also aims to explore the great opportunities offered by the Indian market. This is the first Italian-Indian food park project, an initiative in the food-processing field, which serves as a pillar of the partnership between India and Italy.

NATIONAL

Gender Samvaad event launched by Ministry of Rural Development

• The Ministry of Rural Development recently launched the Gender Samvaad Event. It is a joint initiative between DAY-NRLM and IWWAGE.

• The main objective of the Gender Samvaad event was to create awareness of gender-related interventions under the DAY-NRLM. DAY-NRLM is Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission. IWWAGE is Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy.

SPORTS

Max Verstappen Wins Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix 2021

• Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) won the Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix 2021, in Imola, Italy. This win is his first victory of the season. The race was the second round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship.

• The seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) finished second, following a crash and sustaining damage involving Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Lando Norris (McLaren – Great Britain) took third place.

OBITUARY

Veteran Tamil actor and comedian Vivek passed away

• Renowned Tamil actor and comedian Vivek has passed away. He was launched by legendary filmmaker K Balachander in the late 1980s. He went on to become one of the most sought after comedy actors of Tamil cinema in the 1990s and retained a stronghold in the industry.

• The actor was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 for his excellent work in Tamil cinema. He acted in over 200 movies. He was last seen in Dharala Prabhu, which was the Tamil remake of the Hindi film Vicky Donor.

Marathi filmmaker Sumitra Bhave passed away

• Acclaimed Marathi filmmaker, Sumitra Bhave has passed away. Sumitra Bhave was popular as a duo with filmmaker Sunil Sukthankar in Marathi cinema and Marathi theatre. She was known for her out-of-the-box content and also for the way she handled social issues in her films.

• The duo of Sumitra and Sunil together directed several popular films like Doghi, Dahavi Fa, Vastupurush, Devrai, Badha, Ek Cup Chya, Samhita, Astu, Kaasav, among others. They have won National Film Awards in Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare, Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film, Best Film on Other Social Issues, Best Feature Film categories.

Kannada writer Ganjam Venkatasubbiah passed away

• Veteran Kannada writer Ganjam Venkatasubbiah, who also was a grammarian, editor, lexicographer and literary critic, has passed away. He was 107. He was commonly known as a walking encyclopedia of Kannada language and culture, in his literary circles.

• Professor G Venkatasubbaiah had compiled 12 dictionaries and had authored around 60 books. He received the Padma Shri in 2017 for his proficiency in Kannada literature, poetry, essays and translations. Apart from this, we were also a recipient of the Kannada Sahitya Akademi Award and the Pampa Award among others.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Murali Natarajan re-appointed as DCB Bank MD and CEO

• Private sector lender, DCB Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India for the re-appointment of Murali M. Natrajan as the Managing Director & CEO, for a further period of one year from April 29, 2021.

• He was appointed as MD and CEO of DCB Bank in May 2009. Prior to joining DCB, Natrajan has worked with foreign banks Standard Chartered & Citibank.

IMPORTANT DAYS

UN Chinese Language Day observed on 20 April

• UN Chinese Language Day is observed globally on April 20 every year. The day has been chosen to pay tribute to Cangjie, who is a mythical figure who is presumed to have invented Chinese characters about 5,000 years ago.

• The 1st Chinese Language Day was celebrated in 2010 on the 12th of November, but since 2011 the date has been on the 20th of April. The day celebrates multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as promote equal use of all six of its official working languages throughout the organization.

RANKING

Henley Passport Index 2021 released India stands at number 84

• Amid the rising COVID-19 cases and subsequent restrictions on travel overseas, when many countries are banning individuals from worst-hit nations, the Henley Passport Index on April 17 released its list of the most powerful passports.

• India stands at number 84 on the list, as the Indian citizens can visit Visa-Free or Visa-on-Arrival in over 58 places. Japan, Singapore and Germany, South Korea stand in Top 3 respectively.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI sets up committee to review working of Asset Reconstruction Companies

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a six-member panel to carry out a comprehensive review of the working of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) in the financial sector ecosystem.

• The panel will be headed by former Executive Director of RBI, Sudarshan Sen.

INTERNATIONAL

Microsoft buys AI speech tech company Nuance for $19.7 billion

• Microsoft has made its second-biggest acquisition after LinkedIn. The tech giant has bought AI speech tech firm Nuance for $19.7 billion. The move will help Microsoft’s prowess in voice recognition and will give it a boost in the health care market. Nuance is known for its Dragon software which helps to transcribe speech using deep learning. In 2016, Microsoft had purchased LinkedIn for $26 billion.

• The acquisition will combine solutions and expertise to deliver new cloud and AI capabilities across healthcare and other industries, and represent the latest step in Microsoft’s industry-specific cloud strategy.

• Nuance provides the AI layer at the healthcare point of delivery and is a pioneer in the real-world application of enterprise AI.

• Nuance’s products include multiple clinical speech recognition software as a service (SaaS) offerings built on Microsoft Azure. The firm’s solutions work with core healthcare systems, and are currently used in 77% of U.S. hospitals.

NATIONAL

DRDO to reopen its C-19 Hospital

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will reopen its Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Covid Hospital in Delhi Cantt today. The facility was shut in the first week of February after daily Covid-19 cases came down. The 1,000-bed DRDO medical facility got 250 additional ICU beds last November to provide treatment to patients.

• This took the total number of ICU beds at the hospital to 500. The hospital was built by DRDO in record time of 12 days with assistance from the armed forces, ministry of home affairs, ministry of health and family welfare and Tata Trust. The facility became operational in July last year. 

RT-PCR test mandatory for kumbh returnees: State Government

• The Odisha government has made the RT-PCR test mandatory for people who had travelled to Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela earlier this month. It also said that all Kumbh Mela returnees will have to follow a 14-day quarantine period.

• Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena has shared the list of persons who had registered with the Uttarakhand government to participate in the event, with all district collectors and municipal commissioners and asked them to contact all these persons and find out their location and travel plans.

First ever online exhibition on Ramayana

• Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has inaugurated the first-ever online exhibition on Ramayana. The weblink for the online exhibition is www.nmvirtual.in/Virtual_Tour/Ramayan. Mr Patel addressed a webinar 'India's Heritage: Powering Tourism' on the occasion of World Heritage Day 2021 yesterday.

• The online exhibition showcases forty nine miniature paintings collections of National Museum, New Delhi from different art schools of India.

Railway to run "Oxygen Express" trains

• The Railways will run ‘Oxygen Express’ trains over the next few days to transport liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the country.

• Amid spiralling coronavirus cases in the country, the demand for medical oxygen in the country has gone through the roof.

• Empty tankers will begin their journey from Kalamboli and Boisar railway stations in and near Mumbai on Monday to load liquid medical oxygen from Vizag, Jamshedpur, Rourkela and Bokaro.

SPORTS

Asian Weightlifting Championships: India's Mirabai chanu creates world record

• India's Mirabai Chanu set a new World Record in the women's 49kg Clean and Jerk with an impressive 119 kg lift at Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent yesterday. The 26-year-old lifted 86kg in snatch and a world record of 119kg in clean and jerk for a total of 205kg which also won her the bronze medal at the event.

• The gold medal went to Hou Zhihui of China who created a new world record in snatch and total weight with an effort of 213kg while her compatriot Jiang Huihua clinched the silver, lifting 207kg  in the gold level Olympic qualifier.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NASA Awards $2.9 billion contract to SpaceX

• The United States space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has picked Elon Musk’s SpaceX for its Artemis programme, to develop the first commercial lander and take the next two US astronauts to the moon. The total value of this contract is $2.89 billion.

• SpaceX will develop a spacecraft ‘SpaceX Starship’ to land next to two US astronauts, including a women astronaut at the lunar south pole region, by 2024.

• NASA also aims to bring the first person of colour to the moon’s surface as part of the Artemis programme.

• Between 1969 and 1972, the US brought 12 astronauts to the moon.

OBITUARY

Former Indian Footballer Ahmed Hussain Passes Away

• Former India’s International Football defender, Ahmed Hussain Lala has passed away due to C-19. He represented India in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where India finished fourth. Besides, he was also part of the Indian team that won the gold medal in the 1951 Asian Games.

• Ahmed also took part in the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, in which India finished fourth. In Club Football, Ahmed played for Hyderabad City Police, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting Club. In his career, he had won two Santosh Trophy, three Durand Cups and six Rovers Cups.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Liver Day observed every year on 19 April

• World Liver day is observed on the 19 April every year to spread awareness about the second largest organ in the body. The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, with the exception of the brain.

• Liver diseases can be caused by hepatitis A, B, C, alcohol and drugs. Viral Hepatitis occurs due to consumption of contaminated food and water, unsafe sexual practices and drug abuse.

World Heritage Day observed every year on 18 April

• World Heritage Day observed globally on 18 April every year. The day is observed to raise awareness about the cultural heritage that we see around us. It is also aimed at promoting historical monuments and sites through which we can actually preserve the cultural integrity of a community as well.

• This year’s theme “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures” reflects on the need to acknowledge global calls for greater inclusion and recognition of diversity.

• The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 announced, 18 April as the World Heritage Day. This was approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983, with an aim of enhancing awareness about the importance of cultural heritage, monuments and conserving them.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Rating Agencies downgrade India’s GDP forecasts for financial year 2022

• With the resurgence of C-19 cases posing risks to economic recovery, the leading brokerages have downgraded India’s GDP growth projections for the current fiscal year 2021-22. Current fiscal year to as low as 10 per cent on local lockdowns threatening fragile recovery.

• In the C-19 ravaged 2020-21 fiscal (April 2020 to March 2021), the economy is projected to have contracted by up to 8 per cent. The low base of FY’21 was seen aiding a double-digit growth rate in the current fiscal before moderating to 6.8 per cent in FY’23.