NATIONAL:
1. IOC Pilot Project of Methanol-blended Petrol
Why in news - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) rolled out M15 petrol on a pilot basis in Assam’s Tinsukia district.
Key Points –
• In Assam Methanol is produced by Assam Petrochemical Ltd in the vicinity of Digboi refinery.
• Blending 15% methanol in petrol would bring down GHG emissions by 20%.
• Blending 15% methanol in petrol can result in at least a 15% reduction in the import of crude oil.
• Methanol is produced from Coal, agricultural residue, Natural Gas, Biomass, Municipal Solid Waste and CO2 from thermal power plants.
• NITI Aayog is running a program called ‘Methanol Economy’ to promote the use of methanol.
2. Jute Industry
Why in news - West Bengal is experiencing a crisis that has led to the closure of several Jute Mills.
Key Points –
• India is the largest producer of jute followed by Bangladesh and China.
• Major jute producing states include West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.
• It is known as golden fibre.
• Temperature: Between 25-35°C
• Rainfall: Around 150-250 cm
• Soil Type: Well-drained alluvial soil.
3. Atal New India Challenge 2.0
Why in news - Atal Innovation Mission launched phase 1 of the 2nd edition of the Atal New India Challenge (ANIC 2.0).
Key Points –
• ANIC 1.0 was launched in 2018 to bring innovations and technologies relevant to the people.
• Atal New India Challenge is a flagship program of Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
• The 1st phase of ANIC 2.0 will see 18 challenges being thrown open from 7 sectors.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Japan-Thailand defence deal
Why in news - The leaders of Japan and Thailand announced a new defence agreement as well as plans to upgrade their economic relations.
Key Points –
• It would facilitate the transfer of defence hardware and technology from Japan to Thailand.
• Japan is Thailand's biggest investor.
• Japan would be extending a 50 billion yen ($385 million) loan to support Thailand's COVID mitigation efforts.
• Among ASEAN nations, only Singapore has joined sanctions against Moscow.
• Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha.
• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
2. Apple hit with EU antitrust charge
Why in news - The European Commission sent a ‘statement of objections’ to Apple, detailing how the company had abused its dominant position in markets for mobile wallets on iOS devices.
Key Points –
• Apple blocked rivals from its popular “tap-as-you-go” iPhone payment system.
• EU regulators last year accused the company of distorting competition in the music streaming market following a complaint from Spotify.
• Apple's anti-competitive practices dated back to 2015 when Apple Pay was launched.
• Apple was also the main target of the EU’s Digital Markets Act which intends to ensure a higher degree of competition in the European Digital Markets.
3. Declaration for the Future of the Internet
Why in news – 60 countries join hands for the open, free and secure global internet.
Key Points –
• It includes the US, all the EU members and 32 non-EU countries that have signed the declaration.
• It calls for an "open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure" internet.
• Large countries that are not part of the declaration include India, China and Russia.
ECONOMY:
1. India among worst-hit in pandemic
Why in news – According to the “Currency and Finance Report” by RBI, it will take up to 13 years (by 2034-35) for the Indian economy to fully recover from pandemic scars.
Key Points –
• Theme of the report - “Revive and Reconstruct”.
• The pre-Covid growth rate from 2012 to 2020 was 6.6%.
• Taking a growth rate of 8.9% for 2021-22 and assuming a growth rate of 7.2% for 2022-23 and 7.5% beyond that, India is expected to overcome Covid losses by 2034-35.
• 6.5-8.5% is the feasible range for medium-term steady state GDP growth in India.
• Output losses - Rs 19.1 lakh crore, Rs 17.1 lakh crore and Rs 16.4 lakh crore for 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively.
2. India accounts for the largest number of real-time transactions in the world
Why in news - According to a report by ACI Worldwide, at 48 billion, India accounted for the largest number of real-time transactions in the world in 2021.
Key Points –
• It is nearly three times that of China (18 billion transactions) and 6.5 times that of the US, Canada, the UK, France and Germany combined.
• Real-time payments accounted for 31.3% of the overall payments transaction volume in India in 2021.
• India’s real-time payments share of total global payments volume is expected to exceed 70% by 2026.
SCI TECH:
1. ICICI Bank launched 'open-for-all' for MSMEs
Why in news - ICICI Bank has launched a digital ecosystem for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Key Points –
• Anyone can use the benefits of digital solutions on the InstaBIZ app.
• It provides sanctions of instant and paperless overdraft facility up to Rs 25 lakh through ‘InstaOD Plus’.
• The bank partnered with India Filings, IndiaMART, Airtel, ClearTax, Zoho Books, Global Linker, Sherlock etc.
SPORTS:
1. Asian Badminton Championships 2022
Why in news - In Asia Badminton Championships, India’s P.V. Sindhu won her second Asian bronze medal.
Key Points –
• She lost to world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the women’s singles semi-finals.
• Sindhu had also clinched the bronze in 2014.
• Dinesh Khanna is the only Indian to win gold at the Asian Championships in 1965.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Ayushman Bharat Diwas 2022
Why in news - Ayushmaan Bharat Diwas was observed on April 30 as a part of gram Swaraj Abhiyan.
Key Points –
• Ayushmaan Bharat-Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY) was launched by PM Modi in Ranchi, Jharkhand on September 23, 2018.
• It provides affordable healthcare facilities in the country’s remotest area.
• Beneficiaries are identified on the basis of the Socio-Economic Caste Census database.
• It provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family every year.
• The beneficiaries of PM-JAY belong to the bottom 40 percent of the Indian population.
• It also covers the expenses of three days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days post-hospitalisation which include costs of tests and medicines.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Semicon India conference
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated India's first Semicon conference in Bengaluru.
Key Points –
• It aims to make India a worldwide semiconductor hub and to nurture the chip design and manufacturing ecosystem.
• Theme - “Catalyzing India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem"
• Last year government authorised a Rs 76,000-crore to expand semiconductor manufacturing in the country.
About semiconductors –
• It conducts electricity more than an insulator, such as glass, but less than a pure conductor, such as copper or aluminum.
• The bulk of semiconductor manufacturing is concentrated in Taiwan, South Korea, U.S., Japan and China.
INDEX AND RANKING:
1. Official Airline Guide (OAG) report
Why in news - According to OAG report Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport (36.11 lakh seats) emerged as the world’s second busiest in March 2022.
Key Points –
• Atlanta Hartsfield-¬Jackson International Airport (ATL) (44.22 lakh seats) retained the top position.
• Dubai International Airport (35.54 lakh seats) ranked 3rd and London’s Heathrow ranked 4th.
• The top 10 busiest airport rankings by the OAG are based on the total domestic and international seat capacity and the frequency of flights.
• In February 2022, Delhi was ranked third, behind Atlanta and Dubai.
STATES/UTs:
1. Maharashtra Gene Bank Project
Why in news - Maharashtra cabinet has approved the 'Maharashtra Gene Bank', a first-of-its-kind project in India.
Key Points –
• It aims to document native natural resources and conserve them with the help of the local community.
• The ‘Maharashtra Gene Bank Project’ will work on seven themes.
• An amount of ?172.39 crores will be spent in the next five years.
• The project will be implemented by the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB).
• Madhav Gadgil had conceptualised the project.
PLACES IN NEWS:
1. Transnistria
Why in news - Transnistria, the tiny breakaway region of Moldova, risks being dragged into the Russia-Ukraine War.
Key Points –
• It lies between Moldova to its west and Ukraine towards its east.
• Moldovan troops attempted to take over the territory in 1990-¬1992 but Transnistria was able to resist them.
• It has remained free of Moldovan control. However, most countries see Transnistria as part of Moldova.
BIHAR:
1. ISKCON Temple Patna
Why in news - The largest Shri Radha Banke Bihari ISKCON temple in the state has been completed in 12 years.
Key Points –
• This temple is located on Buddha Marg, Patna.
• It is the 60th ISKCON temple in the country.
• This temple has been built on 84 pillars on the lines of the famous and historical Dwarkadhish temple.
• The marble used in the temple is from the world famous Markana, from which the Taj Mahal has been made.
• 108 feet high temple has 84 pillars whose length and width are also 84 feet.
2. ‘Virat Ramayana Mandir’ in Bihar
Why in news - Majestic Ramayana temple being built in Bihar on the lines of Rameshwaram would be completed in two and a half years.
Key Points –
• The concept of ‘Tower of Temples’ in Kaithwalia located East Champaran would be built as ‘Virat Ramayana Mandir’ on the lines of Rameshwar temple.
• It will have 15 shikhara (towers) with the highest being 270 feet.
• The construction of this temple is being done by Shri Mahavir Sthan Trust Committee Patna.
3. New flight service started from Patna Airport
Why in news - The flight of the new airline ‘Flybig Airlines’ has started operations from Patna Airport.
Key Points –
• First flight by ‘Flybig Airlines’ have been started from Guwahati to Patna.
• This is the third direct flight service between Patna and Guwahati after Indigo and SpiceJet.
• At present, more than 50 pairs of aircraft are being operated from Patna Airport daily.
4. Tap water reaches 98.11% homes in Bihar
Why in news - The data of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti showed that 98.11% of the households in the state are getting drinking water supply through taps.
Key Points –
• Public health engineering minister Dr. Rampreet Paswan said that we have achieved 100% target.
• At present the Ministry of Jal Shakti has given the credit of achieving 100% target to the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
• Karnataka has achieved 99.47% and Meghalaya has achieved 98%.
• In Uttar Pradesh this figure is 85.46%.
• The national average for ‘Har Ghar Jal’ is 86.3%.
5. 'Navbharat Literacy Program'
Why in news - New literacy scheme would be started in Bihar, Internet media will be used.
Key Points –
• This scheme named 'Nav Bharat Literacy Program' is centrally sponsored. 60% would be spent by the central government and 40% by the state government.
• The target is to make 9 lakh 40 thousand literate of 15 years and above in the current financial year.
• Under the scheme, students of classes V and above will teach illiterate members of their families.
• The entire scheme will be implemented in online mode.
POINTERS:
• What is the new name of Mian Ka Bada Railway Station of Rajasthan - Mahesh Nagar Railway Station.
• Who topped the Asia Pacific Head Office Rent Index - Hong Kong.
• Which became the first public sector bank to go live on Account Aggregator Framework -Union Bank.
• In which city the ambulance service for sick and injured cows was inaugurated – Dibrugarh.
• In which city 12 national highway projects worth Rs 8000 crore were inaugurated – Hyderabad.
• Which organization launched Mandate document for National Curriculum Framework - Union Ministry of Education.
• Which former chairman of SBI has been appointed as the new advisor to EDP Technology recently - Rajnish Kumar.
• Which state education board has banned 3 books of Sikh history - Punjab School Education Board.
• Where will the Women's T20 Challenge 2022 be organized – Lucknow.
• In which city the national level workshop on innovative agriculture was organized - New Delhi.