NATIONAL:
1. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
Why in news – Ministry of Finance gave its approval to upgrade Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
Key Points –
• Previous category - Category-I Miniratna.
• It became the 13th Navratna amongst CPSEs.
• RVNL is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways.
Navratna Company Criteria –
• Must have Miniratna status.
• 4 independent board directors.
• The company must get a score of 60 out of 100 in parameters like net worth, net profit, total production cost, manpower cost, service cost, capital employed and PBDIT.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Markets in Crypto Act (MiCA)
Why in news - European Parliament lawmakers have approved the world’s first comprehensive package of rules to regulate cryptocurrency industry.
Key Points –
• Aim - to reduce risks for consumers buying crypto assets.
• Stable coins like tether and Circle’s USDC will be required to maintain ample reserves to meet redemption requests in the event of mass withdrawals.
• “Travel rule” - It requires financial companies to screen, record and communicate information on both sender and recipient, to crypto transactions to help combat money laundering.
Value Addition –
• World’s largest crypto exchange – Binance.
• Cryptocurrency –
(a) It is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography (encryption) for security. It difficult for anyone to manipulate the currency or the transactions
(b) Decentralized currency i.e., not controlled by any government or institution.
(c) Examples - Bitcoin, Ethereum, dogecoin and Litecoin.
• Transactions with cryptocurrency are recorded on a public digital ledger called blockchain.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Developing 100 Food Streets
Why in news - Union Health Ministry and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has requested states/UTs to develop 100 food streets in 100 districts across the country.
Key Points –
• Aim - to encourage safe and healthy food practices among food businesses and community members.
• To be implemented through National Health Mission (NHM) in convergence with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs & with technical support from FSSAI.
• Financial assistance – Rs 1 crore per food street/districts.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also taken up Schemes like "Support to Urban Street Vendors (SUSV)", a component of DDY - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAYNULM).
Value addition -
“Eat Right India” movement –
• By - Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) (autonomous statutory body under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006).
• Aim - to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.
• Tagline – “Sahi Bhojan. Behtar Jeevan”.
• An integrative or ‘whole of the government’ approach.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 3rd QUAD Summit
Why in news - Australia is set to host the 3rd in-person QUAD Summit on May 24, 2023 in Sydney.
Key Points –
• This would be the 1st time Australia will be hosting the meeting.
• Overall, it is 4th QUAD leaders' summit.
• Last in-person meeting – Tokyo (Japan) in 2022.
About QUAD (2017) –
• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) - India, the US, Japan and Australia.
• Aim - to keep critical sea routes open and free for navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
SECURITY:
1. UAV “Nagastra”
Why in news - Solar Industries Nagpur bagged an order to supply unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) “Nagastra” to the Indian Army.
Key Points –
• Designed and developed by - Economics Explosives Ltd (EEL), a 100% subsidiary of Solar Industries Nagpur.
• It is India’s first indigenous Loiter Munition (LM).
• Loitering munition (suicide drone) – It is an aerial weapon in which the munition can loiter (wait passively) around the target area for some time and attack only once a target is located.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Immigrant Achievement Award 2023
Why in news - Neeli Bendapudi to be honored with Immigrant Achievement Award for her contributions to higher education in the US.
Key Points –
• She is the Indian American president of Penn State University.
2. Sachin Tendulkar Stand
Why in news - Sharjah stadium stand named after Sachin Tendulkar on his 50th birthday.
Key Points –
• It also coincided with the 25th anniversary of his “Desert Storm” back-to-back centuries against Australia in 1998 in a packed stadium.
• CEO of the Sharjah Stadium - Khalaf Bukhatir.
3. Ramon Magsaysay Award 1959
Why in news - The 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award was presented to the Dalai Lama personally after 64 years.
Key Points –
• Given for - Community Leadership of the Tibetan community's gallant struggle in defense of the sacred religion.
• His elder brother Gyalo Thonden had received the Magsaysay Award on his behalf in Manila, the Philippines in August 1959.
Value addition -
• The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 and has lived in India in exile since then.
• He was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.
• He is the 14th Dalai Lama with name Tenzin Gyatso.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Girls in ICT Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of April (2023 – April 27).
Key Points –
• Theme - “Digital Skills for Life".
• It was declared by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on April 8, 2011.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Pankaj Singh
Why in news - Pankaj Singh has been elected unopposed as Cycling Federation of India (CFI) president.
Key Points –
• The Annual General Body meeting was held in Nainital.
• Secretary general - Maninder Pal Singh.
BIHAR:
1. Kisan Credit Card Scheme (KCC)
Why in news - In the current financial year, the government has doubled the target of loan distribution under the KCC Scheme.
Key Points –
• Loan distribution of five billion rupees has been approved in the entire state.
• Bihar State Cooperative Bank is preparing to distribute loans among 150000 registered farmers in all 38 districts.
• Beneficiaries - PACS, Vegfed, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry among other farmers.
• In the last year 2021-22, a loan of Rs 133 crore 52 lakh was distributed among about 50,000 farmers.
2. Divya Prakash
Why in news - NASA has included Divya Prakash of Muzaffarpur in its Artemis Moon mission.
Key Points –
• He would work with the rover team.
• Divya gave the idea to install a caterpillar track in the Perseverance rover due which rover does not get trapped.
• He gave the idea to install an advanced air pneumatic spring system which was selected by NASA.
POINTERS:
• The central government has approved the establishment of how many new government nursing colleges in the country at a cost of 1570 crore rupees – 157.
• Nasscom has appointed whom as its new chairperson - Anant Maheshwari.
• HSBC India has appointed whom as its brand influencer - Virat Kohli.
• In which state school, AI machine has been installed to assess the quality of food – Maharashtra.
• Which country has conducted tests on a new emergency alert system on millions of phones – England.
• Which country's health ministry has approved the country's first abortion pill – Japan.
• Which company become the first European company to cross the market capitalization of US$ 500 billion – LVMH.
• Which country has launched “1 Billion Meals Endowment” campaign - United Arab Emirates.
• Where is the 6th edition of One Earth One Health, Advantage Healthcare India 2023 organized - New Delhi.
• Which state's Van Vihar National Park has banned single use plastic - Madhya Pradesh.