NATIONAL:
1. List of Richest CMs
Why in news – A poll affidavit was analyzed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Election Watch (NEW).
Key Points –
• 29 (97%) of the 30 incumbent chief ministers are crorepatis.
• Average assets - Rs 33.96 crore for every CM.
• Out of the 30 CMs, 13 (43%) have declared serious criminal cases like murder, kidnapping and criminal intimidation.
• Only non-crorepati CM - Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal CM, total asset – Rs 15 lakh).
2. Agri-Drone Subsidy
Why in news - Garuda Aerospace became India’s first company to receive a subsidy for making agri-drones.
Key Points –
• Garuda Aerospace is a Made in India drone startup.
• It is a part of the government’s efforts to promote the use of agricultural drones.
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation approved Type Certified Garuda Kisan Drone.
3. 125-ft Statue of Dr B R Ambedkar
Why in news – Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao unveiled a 125-foot tall bronze statue of Dr. B R Ambedkar on his 132nd birth anniversary.
Key Points –
• Location - Hussain Sagar lake, Hyderabad.
• This is the tallest statue of Dr Ambedkar in India.
• Chief guest - Prakash Ambedkar (Ambedkar's grandson).
4. Uttaramerur Inscription
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi referred to the Uttaramerur inscription in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, while discussing India’s democratic history.
Key Points –
• It is from the reign of Chola king Parantaka I (907-953 AD).
• These provide a detailed description about the village’s self-governance (sabha).
• It is like a local constitution for the gram sabha.
• It details how members were selected, the required qualifications, their roles and responsibilities, and even the circumstances in which they could be removed.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Ambedkar Circuit
Why in news – The Bharat Gaurav tourist train tour on Ambedkar Circuit flagged off from New Delhi on April 14, 2023.
Key Points –
• The Yatra would include visit to prominent places associated with BR Ambedkar like Mhow, Nagpur and sacred Buddhist sites like Sanchi, Sarnath, Gaya and Rajgir and Nalanda.
• Mhow - Birthplace of Dr. BR Ambedkar.
• Nagpur (Deekshabhoomi) - A consecrated monument of Navayana Buddhism.
• Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train launch is in line with the Government of India initiative “Dekho Apna Desh” to promote special interest circuits in domestic tourism.
ECONOMY:
1. Trading Partner in FY23
Why in news – Recently, provisional data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry was released.
Key Points –
• India’s top trading partners – USA > China > UAE ($76.16 billion) > Saudi Arabia ($52.72 billion) > Singapore (USD 35.55 billion).
• India's biggest trading partner in 2022-23 - United States (bilateral trade - $128.55 billion, 7.65% increase).
• Exports to USA - $78.31 billion. Imports - $50.24 billion (trade surplus of $28 billion).
• India – China trade - $113.83 billion (declined by about 1.5%).
• India – China trade deficit - $83.2 billion.
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice)
Why in news - The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice Mission on April 14, 2023.
Key Points –
• Rocket used - Ariane 5.
• It is planned to reach Jupiter in 2031.
• Aim - to carry out a detailed exploration of Jupiter and its icy moons.
• Juice was constructed by an industrial consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space.
• NASA’s Europa Clipper is scheduled to be launched in October 2023 (reach Jupiter in 2030) to study Jupiter’s Europa moon.
• Juice isn’t equipped to detect life. It can find out places where water, biological essential elements, energy, and stability, to sustain life are present.
• Only two other spacecraft have ever examined Jupiter: the Galileo probe (1995 – 2003) and Juno (since 2016).
About Jupiter –
• Jupiter has 80 to 95 moons.
• Juice mission would study Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. They are large ocean-bearing moons.
• Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System. It is the only one to generate its own magnetic field.
• Ganymede, Callisto and Europa are believed to hold immense amounts of water, which could be around six times more than the volume of water in Earth’s oceans.
REPORT & INDICES:
1. “Banking on Climate Chaos” Report
Why in news - Treport released by environmental organizations like Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International etc.
Key Points –
• The world’s 60 largest banks have spent $5.5 trillion or Rs 4,49,36,265 crore on financing fossil fuel projects since 2016 (after Paris Agreement).
• Top banks (2016-2022) –
(a) J P Morgan Chase & Co ($434.15 billion)
(b) Citibank NA ($332.9 billion)
(c) Wells Fargo & Company ($318.2 billion),
• Top countries - United States, Canada, China, Japan, France.
• In 2022, banks from the US contributed 28% of the entire financing in the fossil fuel industry.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. 59th Miss India 2023
Why in news - Nandini Gupta from Rajasthan's Kota has been crowned Femina Miss India 2023.
Key Points –
• Nandini Gupta would represent India at the 71st Miss World contest in UAE.
• Venue – Imphal, Manipur.
• First runner-up - Shreya Poonja (Delhi).
• Second runner-up - Thounaojam Strela Luwang (Manipur).
2. TIME 100 Most Influential 2023
Why in news - TIME 100 most influential 2023 list has been released.
Key Points –
• Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) and SS Rajamouli have made to the list.
• Shah Rukh Khan’s net worth is estimated to be over $725 million or over Rs 5800 crore.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Hemophilia Day 2023
Why in news - It is celebrated on April 17 every year.
Key Points –
• Theme 2023 – “Access for All: Prevention of bleeds as the global standard of care”.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, the founder of the World Federation of Hemophilia (established - 1963).
• Haemophilia - A genetic disorder that affects the body's ability to control blood clotting.
• It primarily affects males. Mutation or change in genes are located on the X chromosome.
• Treatment - Replacement Therapy.
POINTERS:
• Which city has appointed its first-ever "rat czar" to reduce the number of rodents roaming the city - New York.
• Which state with more than 11,304 folk dancers and drummers set a Guinness World Record for the largest ever 'Bihu' dance performance – Assam.
• Who won India's first gold medal in the Asian Wrestling Championship 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan - Aman Sehrawat.
• Who unveiled new logo on its 35th Foundation Day reflecting the “aspiration of a new and modern nation that works for the prosperity of every Indian” – SEBI.
• India has signed an MoU with UN World Food Programme (WFP) for humanitarian food assistance of 10,000 tonnes of wheat for which country – Afghanistan.
• Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar virtually inaugurated the Buzi Bridge in which country – Mozambique.
• Tropical Cyclone Ilsa battered which country – Australia.
• India, Japan and France have announced a common platform for talks among creditors to address the debt restructuring programme of which country - Sri Lanka.
• Who became the fastest to take 100 wickets in IPL and registered the record in just 64 innings - Kagiso Rabada.
• Which country signed a deal with the India's Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to develop the 679MW Lower Arun Hydro project – Nepal.