NATIONAL:
1. Ambedkar Jayanti 2023
Why in news – It is observed on April 14 in honour of civil rights activist and the chief architect of India's Constitution BR Ambedkar.
Key Points –
About BR Ambedkar –
• Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Father of the Indian Constitution and India's first Law Minister.
• Mahad Satyagraha 1927 - To allow untouchables to use water in a public tank in Mahad, Maharashtra.
• His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• On October 14, 1956, B R Ambedkar embraced Buddhism.
• His journals - Mooknayak (1920), Bahishkrit Bharat (1927), Samatha (1929) and Janata (1930).
• His organisations - Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923), Independent Labor Party (1936) and Scheduled Castes Federation (1942).
• His books - The Problem of the Rupee (1923), The Annihilation of Caste (1936), Thoughts on Pakistan (1940), Pakistan Or Partition Of India (1945), Buddha Or Karl Marx (1956) etc.
2. 3D-Printed Post Office
Why in news - India’s first post office constructed using 3D printing technology would come up in Bengaluru at Ulsoor.
Key Points –
• Being implemented by Larsen & Toubro.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. MPLADS Funds Utilization
Why in news - Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) presented data in Parliament for the financial year 2022-23 (FY23).
Key Points –
• Highest utilization-to-released-funds ratio –
(a) Gujarat (145.11%)
(b) Jharkhand (128.45%)
(c) Karnataka (127.76%).
• Uttar Pradesh had spent 99% of the funds it received in FY23 by March 27, 2023.
• Amount of money received by each state is proportional to the number of MPs elected in that state.
• Highest Allocation –
(a) Uttar Pradesh (Rs 427.5 crore).
(b) Maharashtra (Rs 341.34 crore)
(c) Bihar (Rs 219.95).
• Sikkim got the least amount of Rs 2 crore among the states.
About MPLADS (December 1993) –
• By - Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• Central Sector Scheme.
• Aim - To enable MPs to suggest and execute developmental works of a capital nature based on locally felt needs.
• Annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency - Rs. 5 crores.
• Lok Sabha MPs - Can recommend works within their Constituencies
• Elected Rajya Sabha MPs - Can recommend works within the State of Election.
• Nominated Rajya Sabha MPs - Can recommend works anywhere in the country.
ECONOMY:
1. REITs and InvITs Index
Why in news - NSE Indices Ltd launched India’s first-ever Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) index.
Key Points –
• The index aims to track the performance of REITs and InvITs that are publicly listed and traded on the NSE.
• REITs invest in real estate projects, whereas InvITs invest in infrastructure projects with a long gestation period.
• REITs and InvITs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
• NSE Indices Ltd is a subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
2. “Miniratna Category-I” Status
Why in news - Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
Key Points –
• Criteria –
(a) Profit in the last 3 years continuously
(b) Pre-tax profit is Rs.30 crores or more in at least one of the three years and
(c) A positive net worth.
• SECI is the primary implementing agency of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, for Renewable Energy schemes/projects towards the fulfillment of India's international commitments.
• SECI enjoys highest credit rating of AAA by ICRA.
• India aims to achieve the 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. 5th Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE)
Why in news - The 5th cycle of MEE was carried out by the Centre and released alongside the Tiger Census.
Key Points –
• Best-Maintained Tiger Reserves –
(a) Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala.
(b) Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
(c) Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka.
(d) Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka.
• Result –
(a) “Excellent” category - 12 tiger reserves.
(b) “Very Good” category – 20.
(c) “Good” category – 14.
(d) “Fair” category – 5.
• None of the country’s tiger reserves was graded as “Poor”.
• MEE is used to assess tiger reserves across the country since its inception in 2006.
• At present, India has 998 Protected Areas covering 1,73,629 sq km or 5.28% of India’s geographical area.
(a) 106 National Parks
(b) 567 Wildlife Sanctuaries
(c) 105 Conservation Reserves
(d) 220 Community Reserves.
• 53 Tiger Reserves have been notified, which serve as an additional layer of protection around PAs.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. World’s Best Cities for Public Transport
Why in news - The list that has been released by Time Out, the publisher of global city guides.
Key Points –
• Top 3 Cities –
(a) Berlin, Germany
(b) Prague, Czech Republic
(c) Tokyo, Japan
• Only one Indian city (Mumbai, rank - 19) made it to the list.
• Chalo Pay app – It made it easier to travel and pay for tickets on buses.
• M-indicator app – It allows Mumbaikars to stay on schedule and easily track local trains.
2. “Most Criminal Countries” Ranking
Why in news - World of Statistics has shared the ranking of the world's "most criminal countries".
Key Points –
• India’s rank – 77.
• USA - 55th and the UK - 65th.
• Least Criminal –
3. AI Index Report
Why in news - Stanford University released its annual AI Index report.
Key Points –
• It ranks countries in terms of investments received by startups offering artificial intelligence (AI)-based products and services.
• India’s rank - 5th.
• Uniphore is a conversational AI firm based in Chennai.
4. Freedom in the World 2023 Report
Why in news - Freedom House has released the report.
Key Points –
• World's least-free country – Tibet, South Sudan and Syria.
• Three Consciousness Campaign - Latest step taken by the Chinese Communist Party to control the Tibetan population.
STATES/UTs:
1. Ban on Online Gambling
Why in news - Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi approved a bill to ban online gambling, including online rummy and poker.
Key Points –
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had notified new gaming-related amendments to the IT Act 2021 on April 6, 2023.
• Tamil Nadu had set up a five-member committee led by retired Justice K Chandru to make recommendations for a new law prohibiting "online gambling games" on June 10, 2022.
BIHAR:
1. Earthquake in Bihar
Why in news - Earthquake tremors were felt in Bihar having intensity of 4.3 on the Richter scale.
Key Points –
• Worst earthquakes in Bihar – 1934, 1988 and 2011.
Bihar’s Scenario in Earthquake –
• Bihar is located in the high seismic zone that falls on the boundary of the tectonic plate joining the Himalayan tectonic plate near the Bihar-Nepal Border and has six sub-surface fault lines moving towards the Gangetic planes in four directions.
• 8 districts fall in seismic zone V while 24 districts fall in seismic zone IV and 6 districts in seismic zone III.
• 2 districts (Madhubani and Supaul) fall entirely in seismic zone V.
POINTERS:
• Which city will host Asian Hockey Men's Championship after 15 years – Chennai.
• Which state assembly has passed a bill for the welfare of orphans - Himachal Pradesh.
• UIDAI has joined hands with which IIT to develop a Touchless Biometric Capture System - IIT Bombay.
• Which medal has been won by Nisha Dahiya in "Asian Wrestling Championship" in Kazakhstan - Silver Medal.
• The sales of electric two-wheelers in India have increased two-fold in 2022-23 as compared to the previous financial year - 8,46,976.
• Bowenpally Vegetable Market of which state generated electricity from vegetable waste – Telangana.
• Which ministry notified the final rules for online gaming - The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Which country has passed Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 – Australia.
• Who has inaugurated the National Climate Conference 2023 in Lucknow - Yogi Adityanath.
• Who will take over from Gopinathan as CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) from June 1, 2023 - K Krithivasan.