National & International Appointments
1. Suzlon board appoints J P Chalasani as Chief Executive Officer
- The board of members of Suzlon Energy has appointed J P Chalasani as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company with immediate effect, i.e. from 5th April 2023.
- He has replaced Ashwani Kumar, who resigned from the post on account of personal reasons.
- He had been Group CEO of Suzlon from April 2016 to July 2020 and continued as Strategic Advisor to the Suzlon Group thereafter.
- He was also the Group CEO and Managing Director of Punj Lloyd.
National Affairs
2. India Justice Report 2022 released
- According to the India Justice Report (IJR) 2022, an initiative of Tata Trusts, Karnataka emerged at the top among the 18 large and mid-sized states with a population of over one crore.
- Tamil Nadu ranked second, followed by Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Small States (population less than 1 Crore): Sikkim (top), followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram
- Four core pillars of the justice system: Police, Prisons, Judiciary, and Legal aid
National & International Organizations
3. India elected to UN Statistical Commission
- India has been elected to the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) for a four-year term beginning on 1 January 2024.
- India received a resounding 46 out of 53 votes, ahead of South Korea (23), China (19), and UAE (15).
- India was elected by secret ballot while Argentina, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Ukraine, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the United States of America were elected by acclamation.
- UNSC is the highest body of the global statistical system.
Honours & Awards
4. Bihar West Champaran ‘Mircha’ rice gets GI tag
- Bihar's West Champaran was awarded the GI tag for its 'Mircha' rice.
- The size and shape of the grain appear like that of black pepper, hence it is known as Mircha or Marcha Rice.
- This rice is famous for its aroma, palatability, and its aromatic chura (rice flakes) making qualities.
- The cooked rice is fluffy, non-sticky, sweet, and easily digestible with a popcorn-like aroma.
- The GI tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
Honours & Awards
5. MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh to receive MCC honorary life membership
- Former Indian cricket team captain, MS Dhoni was named among the five Indians to have been inducted with the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) honorary life membership.
- Other four Indian Cricketers: Yuvraj Singh, Maithali Raj, Suresh Raina, and Jhulan Goswami
- MS Dhoni had featured in 538 international games across formats, scoring over 17,000 runs during the same.
- Yuvraj Singh was an integral part of the Indian team that won the first T20 World Cup in 2007.
National Affairs
6. India Bhutan plans to set up first Integrated Check Post
- Indian PM Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in New Delhi on April 5.
- The two sides will set up the first integrated check post (ICP) along the border near Jaigaon and Phuntsholing.
- The two sides agreed to find a technically sound and cost-effective way forward for the Punatsangchhu-I plant.
- They also agreed to expedite the operationalization of the third international internet gateway for Bhutan.
Agreement
7. I&B Ministry, Amazon collaborate to boost India’s creative economy
- The Information & Broadcasting Ministry and Amazon India have signed a collaboration agreement to boost India's creative economy.
- Amazon Prime Video will sponsor scholarships, create internship programs and job opportunities for students of the FTII and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.
- International Film Festival of India Award-winning films and films produced as part of India’s international co-production treaties will be onboarded by Amazon Prime Video.
Banking & Finance
8. RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.50%
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced its bimonthly monetary policy and kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.50%.
- The GDP is expected to jump 6.5% in the current financial year.
- Retail inflation is expected to moderate to 5.2% in FY2023-24.
- The standing deposit facility (SDF) would remain unchanged at 6.25%, and the MSF rate and the bank rate at 6.75%.
- In Q1FY24, CPI-based inflation is expected to be 5.1%.
- The real GDP growth in 2022-23 was 7%.
National Affairs
9. Govt forms panel to examine stalled real estate projects
- The Ministry of Union Housing and Urban Affairs has set up a 14-members committee to examine stalled real estate projects and recommend ways to complete them.
- Headed by: Amitabh Kant (India’s G20 Sherpa and the former CEO of NITI Aayog)
- Other members: NOIDA CEO, Finances Services secretary of the Union Finance Ministry, Corporate Affairs secretary, chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, and other officials.
National Affairs
10. Govt unveils plans to add 250GW renewable energy capacity in next five
- The government has announced a plan to add 250 GW of renewable energy capacity in the next five years to achieve its target of 500 GW of clean energy by 2030.
- The government has decided to invite bids for 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually for the next five years (2023-28).
- These annual bids of ISTS (Inter-State Transmission) connected renewable energy capacity will also include setting up of wind power capacity of at least 10 GW per annum.
State Affairs
11. Punjab government launched Punjab's 'CM di Yogshala' programme
- The Punjab government has launched the 'CM di Yogshala' program and portal in Punjab.
- Aim: To create a mass movement to carve out a healthy and prosperous Punjab
- The initiative was initially launched for four cities of the state: Patiala, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Phagwara
- The formation of these Yogshalas will be under a pilot project.
- Trained Yoga instructors will impart free Yoga training to people in open parks and other public places.
- Punjab CM: Bhagwant Mann
National Affairs
12. India plans green hydrogen incentives of at least 10% of cost
- India plans to give green hydrogen fuel producers incentives worth at least 10% of their costs under a $2 billion scheme by the end of June 2023.
- The govt has approved a 174.9 billion rupee incentive plan to promote green hydrogen to cut CO2 emissions and become a major exporter in the sector.
- The cost of manufacturing green hydrogen in India is about Rs 300/ kg and the government will give incentives worth at least Rs 30/kg for the production of green hydrogen fuel.
Important Dates
13. International Day of Sport for Development and Peace: April 6
- The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) takes place on April 6 to celebrate the role of sports and physical activity in our lives across the globe.
- 2023 theme: Scoring for People and the Planet
- On August 23, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 67/296 to proclaim April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
- This day was supported by the International Olympic Committee.
Comments
write a comment