NATIONAL:
1. Digital Highways
Why in news - The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) aims to develop around 10,000 km of Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) across the country by 2024-25.
Key Points –
• Aim –
(a) To provide internet connectivity to remote locations
(b) Expediting the roll-out of new-age telecom technologies like 5G & 6G.
• Implementing Agency - National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), NHAI’s fully-owned special purpose vehicle.
• Pilot Routes –
(a) 1,367 km on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
(b) 512 km on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridor.
• The OFC allotment policy is finalized in consultation with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Value Addition –
• Optical fibres works on the principle of total internal reflection.
2. Vote from Home
Why in news - The Election Commission (EC) has introduced the facility to Vote-from-Home (VFH) in the Karnataka assembly elections.
Key Points –
• Eligibility - For people above 80 years of age and those with disabilities.
• This is for the first time that the ECI has provided the facility to those above 80 years of age.
• Form-12D was used to exercise their franchise.
• Saksham app - For people with disabilities to vote from home.
• Suvidha portal - An online portal for candidates to file nominations and affidavits.
• e-VIGIL app – To lodge complaints relating to election code violations. The response time is 100 minutes.
3. Waterbody Census
Why in news – The first census of waterbodies was released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti recently.
Key Points –
• India has 24,24,540 waterbodies like ponds, tanks and lakes.
• 97.1% (23,55,055) are in rural areas and only 2.9% (69,485) in urban areas.
• Most waterbodies - West Bengal (7.47 lakh), Least - Sikkim (134).
• Waterbodies – Ponds (59.5%) > Tanks (15.7%) > Reservoirs (12.1%) > Check dams (9.3%) > Lakes (0.9%) > Others (2.5%).
• Maharashtra - Leading state with water conservation schemes.
• South 24 Parganas (WB) - Highest (3.55 lakh) number of waterbodies across the country.
• It was done under 6th Minor Irrigation Census (reference year 2017-18), under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – “Irrigation Census”.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Dominic Raab Resigned
Why in news – British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned after an investigation found he bullied civil servants.
Key Points –
• He was also justice secretary.
SECURITY:
1. Exercise INIOCHOS-23
Why in news - The Indian Air Force (IAF) would participate in Exercise INIOCHOS-23 to be hosted by the Greek Air Force.
Key Points –
• Location - Andravida Air Base, Greece (April 24 to May 04, 2023).
• Other nations – Cyprus, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia etc.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Believe Ambassador
Why in news - Star Sports has signed India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as their “Believe Ambassador”.
Key Points –
• Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer are the other “Believe Ambassadors”.
• The “Believe Ambassadors” represent different parts of the country as well as different IPL Teams.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Book and Copyright Day 2023
Why in news - April 23 is celebrated annually as World Book and Copyright Day by UNESCO to honour literature and reading.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Indigenous Languages”.
• World Book Capital 2023 - Accra, Ghana.
• Copyright - Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works enjoy protection for the life time of the author plus 60 years beyond i.e. 60 years after his death.
• The Paris Convention for the protection of industrial property 1883 protects industrial property including industrial designs, patents, trademarks, and geographical indications.
Value Addition -
• Arthashastra (by Kautilya) was translated to English by R. Shamasastry in 1915.
• Charles Darwin published Origin of Species in 1859.
• Book “The Second Sex” (by - Simone de Beauvoir) is considered the Bible of Feminism.
2. National Panchayati Raj Day
Why in news - National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) was commemorated on April 24, 2023.
Key Points –
• Organised by - Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Government of Madhya Pradesh.
• National function was organized at Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
• Theme - Sustainable Panchayat: Building Healthy, Water Sufficient, Clean & Green Villages.
• Year 2023 marked 30 years of Panchayati Raj in India.
• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) Campaign for theme “Inclusive Development” – “Samaaveshi Vikas” was launched by PM Narendra Modi.
• e-GramSwaraj portal (24th April 2020) – Act as a single window solution for all day-to-day functioning of the Panchayats from Planning to Online Payments.
• SVAMITVA Scheme (24th April 2020) –
(a) SVAMITVA - Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
(b) Central Sector Scheme.
(c) Aim - to provide “Records of Rights”/ Property Cards to rural household owners of the inhabited area of the village.
• April 24, 1993 - 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 came into force.
STATES/UTs:
1. One Panchayat, One Playground
Why in news - Kerala launched “One Panchayat, One Playground” to revive sports culture.
Key Points –
• It aims to open quality playgrounds in every panchayat.
2. 12-hour Work Days
Why in news - Tamil Nadu passed a Bill extending the daily working hours from 8 to 12 hours.
Key Points –
• The bill amended the Factories Act, 1948.
• In May 2020, as many as 10 states revised the working hours to 12 hours.
Value Addition –
• To codify 29 sets of labor laws in the nation, the Centre notified 4 broad labour codes –
(a) The Code on Wages, 2019
(b) The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
(c) The Code on Social Security, 2020
(d) The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
• The codes are based on recommendations of the 2nd National Commission on Labour (1999, submit - 2002) headed by Ravindra Verma.
3. 100% Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Why in news - Uttar Pradesh has set a target to convert vehicles used in all government departments into EVs by 2030.
Key Points –
• With this, Uttar Pradesh can become the first state in the country to have 100% EV in government departments.
• To encourage EVs, the government notified the Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy 2022 on October 14, 2023.
BIHAR:
1. “Vijayotsav” of Babu Veer Kunwar Singh
Why in news - The 165th “Vijayotsav” of Babu Veer Kunwar Singh was celebrated as a state ceremony on April 23, 2023.
Key Points –
• Venue - Ramna Maidan, Ara.
• Organised by - State art, culture and youth department.
• It is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Veer Kunwar Singh over the British East India Company troops led by Captain Le Grand on April 23, 1858 near Jagdishpur in Bhojpur district.
2. Ground Water Level Depletion
Why in news - The report on ground water level depletion has been prepared by Public Health Engineering Department.
Key Points –
• The ground water level has gone down in 24 districts of the state.
• The maximum water level has gone down by 13.1 feet in Biharsharif of Nalanda district (2023 - 38.7 feet, 2022 - 25.6 feet).
• The groundwater level has come up in only three district as compared to last year. These include Banka, Muzaffarpur and Saharsa with 0.2, 0.3 and 0.9 feet respectively.
3. State Icon for Election in Bihar
Why in news - Monika Das has been made state icon by the State Election Commission in Bihar.
Key Points –
• Reason - to ensure active participation of transgender community in the election process.
• She is popularly known as Stylish Transgender of Bihar.
• She is India’s first transgender banker.
• In the past, Monika Das became the first transgender presiding officer of the state in Bihar Assembly General Election 2020.
POINTERS:
• Virginia Norwood, who passed away recently, was associated with which field – Aerospace.
• Which country is the host of 'SCO Millets Food Festival' – India.
• Which State/Union Territory recently announced an award in the name of Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar – Telangana.
• Hun Thadou cultural festival kicked off in which state – Manipur.
• Iran has developed a new home-made drone, which can destroy targets within a radius 450 kms kilometers. What is the name of drone? - Meraj-532.
• Indian Navy has tied up with whom to develop "Secure Maritime Communication" - Raman Research Institute.
• Which state government has recently given OBC status to the transgender community - Madhya Pradesh.
• India proposes G20 park in which city featuring sculptures made from waste materials - New Delhi.
• Which ministry will draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for safety and security of journalists - Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Which program of the Union Health Ministry received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2022 under the innovation category - National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.