NATIONAL:
1. National Quantum Mission
Why in news - The Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM).
Key Points –
• By - Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Total cost - Rs.6003.65 crore.
• Period - 2023-24 to 2030-31.
• Aim - to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).
• It put India among the top 6 leading nations involved in the research and development in quantum technologies. (6 nations - US, Canada, France, Finland, China and Austria).
Provisions –
• To develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in superconducting and photonic technology.
• To develop magnetometers with high sensitivity in atomic systems and Atomic Clocks for precision timing, communications and navigation.
• To support design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors and topological materials for fabrication of quantum devices.
• 4 Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) to be set up in top academic and National R&D institutes
(a) Quantum Computing
(b) Quantum Communication
(c) Quantum Sensing & Metrology
(d) Quantum Materials & Devices.
2. World Population Report
Why in news - The annual State of World Population report was released by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
Key Points –
• India’s population is expected to surpass that of China by the middle of this year.
• It has pegged India’s mid-2023 population at 142.8 crores, marginally ahead of China’s 142.5 crores.
• Reason - Relatively sharp drop in China’s population (reduction of 2.3 crores in just one year).
• The global population will hit 8.045 billion by mid-2023.
• Contrary to the alarm bells about exploding numbers, population trends everywhere point to slower growth and ageing societies.
3. Oil Jetty at Deendayal Port, Kandla
Why in news - Ministry for Ports, Shipping & Waterways approved the project of Development of Oil Jetty at Deendayal Port, Kandla, Gujarat.
Key Points –
• Purpose - to handle all types of liquid cargo at Kandla on BOT basis under PPP mode.
• Build-operate-transfer (BOT) – Government grants a concession to a private company to finance, build, and operate a project (20 to 30 years) after which the project is returned to the public entity that originally granted the concession.
About Kandla Port –
• Location - Kandla Creek, 90 kms from the mouth of the Gulf Of Kachch in Gujarat.
• Protected natural harbour.
• One of the major ports in India.
• Constructed in the 1950s after the partition left the port of Karachi in Pakistan.
• India’s biggest state-owned cargo handler by volume. (Mundra Port, Gujarat - India’s largest private port).
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023
Why in news - Utsa Patnaik has been chosen for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023.
Key Points –
• She is a renowned economist with national and international acclaim.
• The award is granted to exceptional social scientist for outstanding contributions to Development Studies.
• Malcolm Satyanathan Adiseshiah (1910-1994) was an Indian development economist and educator.
2. Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Award
Why in news - Asha Bhosle, Pankaj Udhas and Vidya Balan are to be honored with the award on April 24, 2023.
Key Points –
• The award is given in the field of arts and society at large.
• It is given in the memory of Lata Mangeshkar, who died on February 6, 2022
• First recipient - PM Narendra Modi.
3. Grand Cross Award
Why in news - Former Chancellor Angela Merkel has been honored with the prestigious award.
Key Points –
• She is the first woman to take the post of chancellor.
• It is Germany’s highest possible honour.
• The award has only been given twice before, to former chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Digital Health Summit 2023
Why in news – It was organized by the Confederate of Indian Industry (CII) at Goa on April 17, 2023.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Building One Health Together – Improving Health Equity”.
• Digital Health includes biosensors, portable x rays, handheld ultrasounds, smartphone based POCD (Point-of-Care Diagnostics), Virtual health assistants and e-Pharmacies.
• World health organization (WHO) adopted Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025 in 2020.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2023
Why in news – The list was compiled by London-based consultancy Henley & Partners.
Key Points –
• It ranked the cities by taking into account the number of resident millionaires.
• From India (rank) - Mumbai (21), Delhi (36), Bengaluru (60), Kolkata (63) and Hyderabad (65).
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. NASA’s Lucy Mission
Why in news – The Lucy spacecraft used its L’LORRI high-resolution camera to capture the first views of the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.
Key Points –
• Trojan asteroid names - Eurybates, Polymele, Leucus and Orus.
About Lucy Mission (NASA):
• It is on an epic 6 billion km long journey to study the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.
• Launch - October 26, 2021.
• First spacecraft sent to study the Trojan asteroids.
• Trojan asteroids – They orbit the Sun in the same path that the planet Jupiter takes.
BIHAR:
1. 11th Thawe Festival
Why in news – The Thawe festival took place in Gopalganj, Bihar.
Key Points –
• Organised by - Department of Tourism and the Department of Art and Culture.
• Thawe Durga Temple is located in Gopalganj, Bihar.
POINTERS:
• India has made a generous contribution of what amount to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) - $500,000 (₹4.09 crore).
• Which country will chair the Finance Ministers Working Group for a Commonwealth Call for Reform of the Global Financial Architecture – India.
• Multilateral exercise Orion in which the Indian Air Force is also taking part, began at which airbase in France - Mont-de-Marsan.
• In which state, the Department of Posts has released a special cover on the Mahila Samman Savings scheme – Telangana.
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission launched which campaign to mobilize 10 Crore Rural Women into Self Help Groups - “Sangathan se Samriddhi”.
• Staff Selection Commission, SSC MTS and CHSL exams have been approved to be conducted in how many regional languages other than Hindi and English – 13 regional languages.
• NTPC and which other body aim to collaborate on Feasibility Study for setting Bamboo-based Bio-Refinery at Bongaigaon, Assam - Chempolis India.
• India will host the first-ever International Surf Open as a part of World Surf League in which city - Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.
• Who hit the first century of IPL 2023 - Harry Brook.
• Which country has switched off its three remaining nuclear power plants as part of a long-planned transition toward renewable energy – Germany.