NATIONAL:
1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Scheme
Why in news - Karnataka has bagged the national award for the best implementation of PMFBY for the year 2022-23.
Key Points –
• Rs 687.4 crore of 5.66 lakh farmers have been settled, pending since 2018.
• The Standing Committee on Agriculture (Chairman - Mr. P C Gaddigoudar) submitted its report on “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – An Evaluation” in 2021.
About PMFBY –
• Launch date – February 18, 2016.
• By - Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• A large-scale crop subsidy insurance scheme.
• Aim - to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of natural calamities.
• Coverage - Entire cropping cycle from pre-sowing to post-harvest and midseason adversities.
• Motto - ‘One Nation, One Crop, One Premium’.
• Premium –
• Balance premium - Shared by the Union and state on a 50:50 basis and on a 90:10 basis in the case of northeastern states.
• Exclusion – Loss or damage to notified insured crops due to war, nuclear risks, malicious damage and other preventable risks.
2. Mulapeta Port
Why in news - Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation stone for Mulapeta greenfield port in Srikakulam district.
Key Points –
• He also laid the foundations for –
(a) Fishing harbour at Budagatlapalem,
(b) Life irrigation project from Gotta barrage to Hira Mandalam reservoir.
(c) Taking forward the works of Mahendra Tanaya river.
3. Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute
Why in news - Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu signed an MoU on April 20, 2023 over the border dispute.
Key Points –
• The two states share a roughly 800-kilometre-long border.
• Namsai Declaration (July 15, 2022) - The dispute over 37 of these 123 villages had been resolved.
About the dispute –
• North East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh) was carved out of Assam in 1954.
• In 1951, the Gopinath Bordoloi committee recommended “plain” area of Balipara and Sadiya foothills to be transferred from NEFA to Assam.
• When Arunachal was made a Union Territory in 1972 (Statehood - February 20, 1987), it contended that the plains home to hill tribal chiefs were unilaterally transferred to Assam.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Overseas Office of AIIB
Why in news - Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to establish its first overseas office in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Key Points –
• UAE would host United Nations Climate Change Conference 2023 (COP28) in December, 2023.
About AIIB (2016) –
• Headquarters - Beijing.
• 57 founding Members (37 regional and 20 non regional). India is a founding member.
• It has 105 members.
• Largest shareholder – China (26.06%) > India ( 7.5%) > Russia (5.93%) > Germany ( 4.5%).
• Japan and USA are not members of the AIIB.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. “The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems” Report
Why in news – The report has been released by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Key Points –
• Created by - Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) of FAO.
• It highlights the importance of Gender Equality in the Agricultural Sector.
Highlights –
• Closing the gender gap in farm productivity can increase global GDP by 1% or nearly $1 trillion.
• Women make up around 40% of the global agricultural labor force.
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. Fengyun-3 Satellite
Why in news - China successfully launched the Fengyun-3 meteorological satellite into orbit.
Key Points –
• Use - to measure atmospheric precipitation.
• Fengyun-3 is the second generation of Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellites.
2. Starship Spacecraft Exploded
Why in news - SpaceX's next-generation Starship spacecraft exploded after its launch on April 20, 2023.
Key Points –
• Rocket used - the Booster (Super Heavy rocket).
• Starship is envisaged as a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.
• Starship would be the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed.
• Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is readying the New Glenn rocket for its orbital debut in 2023.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Earth Day 2023
Why in news - April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day every year.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Invest in our planet”.
• First Earth day - April 22, 1970.
• Denis Hayes organized the first Earth Day.
• In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as ‘International Mother Earth Day’.
Value Addition -
• In a 1969 UNESCO conference, John McConnell proposed a day to honour the Earth and the concept of peace.
• Rachel Carson published her book Silent Spring in 1962. It was thought as the “first shot in the war over the environment.”
• Santa Barbara oil spill 1969 (California, USA) - 3rd largest oil spill after Deepwater Horizon (2010) and Exxon Valdez (1989) spills.
• In 1969, the Cuyahoga River in the United States caught fire. Bellandur lake in Bengaluru routinely catch fire.
SPORTS:
1. 3rd Intercontinental Cup 2023
Why in news - 4-team Intercontinental Football Cup to be held in Bhubaneswar from June 9 to 18, 2023.
Key Points –
• Participants - India, Lebanon, Mongolia and Vanuatu.
• Previous two editions - Mumbai (2018) and Ahmedabad (2019).
POINTERS:
• Which state assembly has adopted a resolution urging the Centre to increase the quota for Dalit Christians - Tamil Nadu.
• Which country-based Biofire Technologies has developed the world's first biometric handgun to prevent unauthorized access – USA.
• Who has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Electronics. - Randhir Thakur.
• Which country replaced Indonesia as under-20 FIFA World Cup host – Argentina.
• Who has become the first woman officer to receive the Indian Air Force Gallantry Award - Wing Commander Deepika Mishra.
• Which state government has announced 4% reservation for employees with disabilities – Maharashtra.
• The Indian Army has tied up with which university to impart Chinese language training to military personnel - Tezpur University, Assam.
• The Election Commission has introduced the facility to Vote-from-Home (VFH) for people above 80 years of age in which state – Karnataka.
• Who has won the GREEN4SEA Tanker Operator award for its 'leadership role in global tanker management - Synergy Group.
• Miguel Diaz-Canel has been re-elected as president for a second term of which country – Cuba.