Weekly News One Liners 17th April to 23rd of April 2023

Harmanpreet Kaur & Suryakumar Yadav named Wisden T20I player of 2022

The Indian duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Harmanpreet Kaur has added another feather to their outstanding crown after bagging the Wisden Almanack’s leading cricketer in the World awards. Suryakumar won the honour of Wisden Almanack’s leading T20I cricketer while Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian woman to win the Cricketer of the Year award.

Overview of the news:

The year 2022 in T20Is was almost like a net session for Suryakumar. Wherever he went, he amassed runs for fun: a total of 1164 of them at a stunning strike rate of 187.43. This included 68 sixes, something no T20I batter has ever done in a calendar year. His two centuries and nine half-tons — including three in the 2022 T20 World Cup alone — helped India win 28 of their 40 games last year. His standout knock in 2022 of the 55-ball 117 at Nottingham, his maiden T20 hundred.
As for Harman, she is one of the five Cricketers of the Year announced in the 2023 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. A well-deserved honour for the champion of Indian women’s cricket in 2022, having led the Women in Blue to a 3-0 ODI series win on English soil, the first since 1999, and a Silver medal finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She piled on 754 ODI runs, including an unbeaten 143 in the England ODIs and 524 T20I runs — spoke for itself as she continues to make history and rewrite it with her talent and commitment to the sport.

Asha Bhosle to receive Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar

Asha Bhosle, the renowned singer, will be honored with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award, which was established by the Mangeshkar family and trust in memory of Lata Mangeshkar. The award ceremony will take place on April 24, which is the anniversary of their father’s death. Asha Bhosle, who is Lata Mangeshkar’s younger sister, will be the recipient of the award.

The Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar is an annual award given to someone who has made a significant contribution to the nation, its people, and society. The award was first presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Other Awardee’s

According to the press note issued by the Mangeshkar family, veteran ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas will receive the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for contribution to Indian music; Gauri Theaters of Prashant Damle fan foundation for Best Drama of the Year (“Niyam Va Ati Lagu”); Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust for yeoman Social Service; Granthali Prakashan with the Vagvilasini Puraskar for contribution to literature; actor-director Prasad Oak with the Vishesh Puraskar for contribution to cinema and and drama; and actor Vidya Balan with the Vishesh Puraskar for contribution to cinema.

New York City tops the list of world’s wealthiest cities 2023

According to a recent report by London-based consultancy Henley & Partners, New York City has been ranked as the world’s wealthiest city in 2023. The second and third spots were claimed by Tokyo in Japan and Silicon Valley’s Bay Area, respectively. Notably, Mumbai made it to the 21st spot while Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad were also mentioned in the report.

India and World’s wealthiest cities 2023:

The rankings were based on the number of resident millionaires (rounded off to the nearest 100) as of December 31, 2022. Interestingly, the top 10 cities were dominated by those in the United States and China, with no European city featuring in the list, except for London.

According to the report, Bengaluru has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Asia Pacific region. The city is commonly referred to as the “Garden City” and the “Silicon Valley of India” due to its thriving technology sector.

World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2023:

Henley & Partners compiled the World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2023, covering 97 cities worldwide. The report utilized data from wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth, which tracks the financial activities of high-net-worth individuals holding designations like Founder, Chairperson, CEO, and Director. The report also took into account the number of expensive homes in each city, as stated on the Henley & Partners website.

Here are the top 15 cities ranked in the World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2023, along with the number of high-net-worth individuals:

New York City, United States – 340,000
Tokyo, Japan – 290,300
The Bay Area, United States – 285,000
London, United Kingdom – 258,000
Singapore, Singapore – 240,100
Los Angeles, United States – 205,400
Hong Kong, SAR China – 129,500
Beijing, China – 128,200
Shanghai, China – 127,200
Sydney, Australia – 126,900
Chicago, United States – 124,000
Toronto, Canada – 105,200
Frankfurt, Germany – 102,200
Zurich, Switzerland – 99,300
Houston, United States – 98,500

In terms of Indian cities, Mumbai ranked 21st with 59,400 high-net-worth individuals, while Delhi ranked 36, Bengaluru is at 60, Kolkata is at 63, and Hyderabad is at 65.

National Affairs

The 16th Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Bangladesh was inaugurated by High Commissioner Pranya Verma in Kushtia town. The opening ceremony was attended by Mahbubul Alam Hanif, a Member of Parliament from Kushtia-3. The IVAC is expected to provide more convenience and accessibility to the residents of Kushtia and nearby areas who need to apply for visas to travel to India.
Neeli Bendapudi, an academic of Indian origin, has been selected as one of the five co-chairs of an Association of American Universities (AAU) task force that aims to enhance research and academic collaborations among higher education institutions in the United States and India.
Geothermal energy is a valuable renewable resource that has been harnessed to meet the electricity demands of several countries, including Iceland, El Salvador, New Zealand, Kenya, and the Philippines. Unlike non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, geothermal energy is sustainable and does not deplete over time. It is a reliable source of power that has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Geothermal energy is a valuable renewable resource that has been harnessed to meet the electricity demands of several countries, including Iceland, El Salvador, New Zealand, Kenya, and the Philippines. Unlike non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, geothermal energy is sustainable and does not deplete over time. It is a reliable source of power that has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.

India Steel 2023 will be inaugurated at the Mumbai Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, Mumbai, with Union Minister of Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia presiding over the event. The Union Ministry of Steel, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and FICCI, is organizing India Steel 2023.
Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the YUVA PORTAL in New Delhi, which aims to connect and identify potential young Start-Ups. The minister also introduced the One Week – One Lab programme during the event.
India has surpassed China to become the world’s most populous nation with 142.86 crore people, according to the latest United Nations data. With the latest statistics, China now has a population of 142.57 crores, becoming the second most populous country.
The Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission, aimed at propelling India into a leading position in the quantum technology sector and promoting economic growth through its development. The mission seeks to expedite progress in the field and cement India’s position as a major player in the industry.
The Central government has recently issued the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, which are designed to comply with the guidelines set by the Supreme Court in a writ petition involving the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and the People for Elimination of Stray Troubles. The Supreme Court had issued several orders emphasizing that the relocation of dogs was not permissible.

The Ministry of Finance has issued an official notification stating that a new Rs 100 coin will be minted by the Central Government to commemorate the 100th edition of the radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The notification specifies that the One Hundred Rupees denomination coin will only be minted at the Mint and issued under the authority of the Central Government on the occasion of the 100th Episode of Mann Ki Baat.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced plans to develop an integrated network of around 10,000 kilometers of optic fiber cables (OFC) infrastructure across India by the fiscal year 2025. The project will be implemented by NHAI’s special purpose vehicle, National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), which will create utility corridors along the national highways to develop the OFC infrastructure.

States in the News

Assam made a historic achievement by entering the Guinness Book of World Records with over 11,000 dancers and drummers performing the traditional ‘Bihu’ dance and playing the ‘dhol’ at a single venue. The performers, comprising both dancers and drummers, participated in the event at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati as part of the State Government’s initiative to set a new world record in the Guinness Book.
The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, inaugurated the newly renovated Shar Nyima Tsho Sum Namyig Lhakhang (Gonpa) at Gyangkhar, his native village in Tawang district. The Gonpa has great historical significance for the well-being of humans, particularly for the people of Shar Nyima Tsho Sum and all Buddhists in general. The 11-12th century Gonpa was on the verge of collapse, but it has now been renovated, and all the necessary rituals and blessings have been performed to restore it to its former glory. During a special public function for Buddhist followers held at Gyangkhar village after the inauguration, the Chief Minister felicitated top-ranked monks and dignitaries.
An abundance of rivers, streams, backwaters and a good amount of rainfall contribute to the lush greenery in Kerala, many parts of which yet face acute water scarcity when it comes to the summers. And this has led to the state adopting a Water Budget — the first of its kind in the country. The details of the first phase of the Water Budget in the state covering 94 grama panchayats in 15 block panchayats were unveiled by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

In a first-ever census of its kind in the country, forest officials in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika have sighted 179 mangrove pitta birds, which are known for their exotic and vibrant colours. These beautiful birds are found exclusively in the mangrove forest areas of Bhitarkanika in Odisha and Sundarban in West Bengal. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species has been assessed and classified as “Near Threatened”. (Click here to read the article)
The famous Cumbum Panneer Thratchai or Cumbum grapes from Tamil Nadu have recently been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The Cumbum valley in Tamil Nadu is popularly known as the ‘Grapes City of South India’ and is known for cultivating the Panneer Thratchai or Muscat Hamburg variety, which constitutes around 85% of the grape-growing regions in Tamil Nadu.
The Department of Tourism and the Department of Art and Culture jointly organized the Thawe Festival on April 15th and 16th in Gopalganj, Bihar. The festival aimed to promote tourism in Gopalganj and attract visitors to the Thawe Durga Temple.
In a significant development, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted approval for the establishment of the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, which will become the first medical college in the northeastern state since it gained statehood 60 years ago in 1963.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that a multipurpose indoor stadium is currently under construction in Shillong, which is set to become the largest of its kind in the northeastern region. The Chief Minister also revealed that the stadium will offer state-of-the-art facilities for various disciplines, including basketball, squash, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, and many more.
The Maharashtra Government has introduced a 4% quota for employees with disabilities in promotions. This reservation will apply to cadres where the recruitment through direct service is less than 75%. The state cabinet has also decided to pay all outstanding dues for non-teaching staff serving in non-agricultural universities as per the Seventh Pay Commission.
The government of Uttar Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has launched an ambitious plan to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state. As part of this initiative, the government has set a target to convert all vehicles used by government departments into EVs by 2030, in a phased manner.
The passage of the Factories (Amendment) Act 2023 in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, which provides for flexible work hours for employees in factories, is reportedly facing opposition from political parties, including DMK allies. The Act’s provisions to extend the mandatory working hours from 8 hours to 12 hours have been the main point of contention for the opposition, with concerns raised about worker welfare, safety, and work-life balance.

International Affairs

Dr Jaishankar inaugurated the Buzi Bridge virtually, which is a part of the 132 km Tica-Buzi-Nova-Sofala Road project. The bridge has been constructed by India and is a symbol of the solidarity and friendship between India and Mozambique. According to the Indian High Commission in Mozambique, the bridge will make a difference to the lives of many people in Mozambique.
Nepal has become a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance. During the launch of the alliance under India’s initiative, Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet handed over the letter mentioning Nepal will be associated with the alliance as a founding member to Indian Minister for Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav.
According to reports, Syria has now become the world’s largest narco-state, with the majority of its foreign currency earnings coming from the production and export of Captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine commonly referred to as “poor man’s coke”. In line with the definition provided by Collins Dictionary, Syria can be classified as a narco-state as the illegal trade of narcotics, specifically Captagon, forms a significant portion of its economy, accounting for over 90 percent of the country’s foreign currency earnings.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has found that India has breached global trading regulations in a dispute over import duties on IT products with the European Union (EU), Japan, and Taiwan. The WTO panel’s report recommended that India should modify the measures to conform with its obligations. The dispute began in 2019 when the EU objected to India’s introduction of import duties of between 7.5% and 20% on various IT products, including mobile phones, integrated circuits, and components, stating that the tariffs exceeded the maximum rate. Japan and Taiwan also lodged similar complaints that year.
China has yet to experience a full-blown financial crisis despite being one of the most indebted countries in the world. While there have been close calls, such as the government seizing a regional bank in 2019 to prevent a run on deposits and a wave of real estate developer defaults last year, the fear of these events has diminished. Beijing’s tightening of regulations on unregulated local banks and aggressive home builders has contributed to making China a safer place for investors. However, there is still a looming issue with borrowing from local government financing vehicles (LGFVs).
Cuba’s National Assembly has confirmed President Miguel Díaz-Canel for a new five-year term, as the country grapples with a severe economic crisis. The decision to maintain continuity in leadership was made by more than 400 representatives who were elected in March and took office on Wednesday, 19 April.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has recently signed an agreement to create its first Interim Operational Hub in Abu Dhabi Global Market, marking its initial foray into establishing an overseas office. AIIB is a multilateral development bank that focuses on financing infrastructure projects that prioritize sustainability. As the host country for COP28 later this year, the UAE has emphasized the importance of climate finance, a key concern for nations as they strive to increase their efforts and commitments towards climate action.
Dominic Raab, the British Deputy Prime Minister, has resigned after an independent investigation found that he acted in an intimidating manner toward colleagues. The 48-page report by lawyer Adam Tolley investigated more than a dozen complaints about Raab’s behavior, with Tolley concluding that Raab did act in an intimidating way with colleagues in two of the three sets of complaints against him.

Agreements/MoUs Signed

On 19th April 2023, the Indian Army and Tezpur University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for providing Chinese language training to the Indian Army personnel. The duration of the course will be 16 weeks, and it will be conducted at Tezpur University. The signing of the MoU was done by HQ 4 Corps on behalf of the Indian Army and the registrar of Tezpur University in the presence of the Vice Chancellor, Prof SN Singh.

Books and Authors

Boria Majumdar, a renowned sports historian and popular TV show host, unveiled a new book called ‘Sachin@50 – Celebrating A Maestro’ on the occasion of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th birthday. The book has been conceptually designed and curated by Majumdar, with a special back cover note written by Gulzar. It will be officially released on Tendulkar’s 50th birthday, which falls on April 24, 2023. The book covers Tendulkar’s journey to success, starting from his teenage debut where he became globally recognized after his bloodied nose incident in Pakistan in 1989. It also highlights how he became the greatest batting sensation, transcending boundaries of sport.
Jaidip Mukerjea, a renowned tennis player, launched his autobiography titled “Crosscourt” in the presence of prominent Indian tennis players such as Ramesh Krishnan and Somdev Devvarman. The book chronicles Mukerjea’s journey and provides insight into his life as a successful tennis player. “Crosscourt” is not just about tennis but also covers various aspects of his personal life, including his triumphs, disappointments, relationships, and behind-the-scenes moments. Mukerjea’s wife, Sharmin, played a crucial role in encouraging and assisting him in writing the book. According to her, the book is a collection of memories that will captivate readers beyond just the sport of tennis.

Banking/Economy/Business News

According to provisional data from the commerce ministry, the bilateral trade between India and the United States has risen by 7.65% to reach $128.55 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23, making the United States India’s largest trading partner. This represents an increase from $119.5 billion in the previous year and $80.51 billion in 2020-21, indicating a growing economic relationship between the two countries.
India’s International Aviation Safety Assessment rating has been reaffirmed as Category One, indicating that the country satisfies global standards for aviation safety oversight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States conducted an audit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the domains of aircraft operations, airworthiness, and personnel licensing, following which India was granted Category One status.
According to a recent report by Brand Finance, a U.K.-based brand valuation consultancy, MRF Ltd. has been ranked as the second-strongest tyre brand in the world. The report evaluated various parameters, and MRF scored high on most of them, including being the second fastest-growing tyre brand globally.
The Finance Ministry has released time series data indicating a significant increase in net direct tax collections, which rose by 160% to reach Rs 16,61,428 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 6,38,596 crore in 2013-14. Gross direct tax collections also saw a massive increase of 173% to Rs 19,68,780 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 7,21,604 crore in 2013-14
State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest lender by assets, has announced the re-introduction of its retail term deposit scheme, Amrit Kalash. The scheme offers a special tenor of 400 days and provides an interest rate of 7.6% for senior citizens and 7.1% for others. This deposit scheme had previously been launched by SBI on February 15, 2023, and was valid till March 31, 2023. The reintroduction of this scheme provides customers with another opportunity to avail themselves of the attractive interest rates offered by SBI.

India’s wholesale-price based inflation eased in March 2023, as input prices continued to moderate. According to government data released on Monday, 17 April 2023. The annual wholesale price inflation (WPI) was recorded at 1.34% year-on-year, which is a significant decrease from the previous month’s reading of 3.85%. The figure is also lower than the Reuters poll estimate of 1.87%, indicating that the Indian economy is showing signs of stability.
India is set to appeal against the recent ruling by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) trade dispute settlement panel, which found that the country’s import dues on certain information and technology products are inconsistent with global trade norms. The dispute was filed by the European Union, Japan, and Taiwan, which argued that the import duties imposed by India on certain informational and technology products violated WTO rules.
Karnataka Bank, a private lender based in Mangaluru, announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval for the appointment of Sekhar Rao, the bank’s executive director, as the interim managing director and chief executive officer. The duration of the appointment is for three months, starting from April 15, 2023, or until the appointment of a regular managing director and chief executive officer, whichever comes first, as stated in a filing with the stock exchange. This appointment is necessary due to the conclusion of the term of office of Mahabaleshwara M S, the bank’s managing director and chief executive officer, on April 14, 2023.
According to recent figures released by the Indian Ministry of Commerce, the UAE remains the second most significant export destination for India. The US and UAE held onto their first and second positions, respectively, during the financial year 2022-23. The ministry’s figures, released two weeks into the new fiscal year, indicate a six percent increase in India’s overall exports of goods and services during the financial year that concluded last month
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is reportedly set to replace the existing fortnightly notification system for currency exchange rates with a daily publishing system on the integrated customs portal. The move is expected to capture daily fluctuations in exchange rates, enabling importers and exporters to calculate customs duties with greater precision.
The Rupee Vostro Account system is a financial arrangement that enables foreign banks to conduct transactions in Indian rupees with domestic banks. The term “vostro” is derived from the Latin phrase “in nostro vostro,” which translates to “in our account, in your account.” In this context, the domestic bank is referred to as the “vostro” bank, and the foreign bank is the “nostro” bank.
City Union Bank Limited (CUB) has introduced a new feature that allows customers to use voice biometric authentication when logging into the bank’s mobile banking app, aimed at improving security. The bank plans to extend this feature to net banking users as well, and the development process is currently underway. The voice biometric login option will join other existing authentication methods such as User ID/PIN, face ID, and fingerprint authentication, giving customers multiple choices. CUB has stated that customers can select the authentication method that best suits their needs and preferences.
India’s central bank is reportedly willing to ease its stance on signing an agreement with European regulators on market infrastructure, provided the latter drop their demand to scrutinize and penalize Indian intermediaries like the Clearing Corp of India (CCIL). The RBI and European banks held a meeting in March, which marked the beginning of lengthy discussions about the de-recognition of CCIL by foreign regulators. Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, and Deutsche Bank, which operate in India, will be the most affected by the outcome of the negotiations.
Sebi, India’s main securities market regulator, has always prioritized empowering investors and promoting fair practices in the country’s securities market. One of its latest initiatives that have gained significant attention is the Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) facility for secondary market trading. ASBA is a payment mechanism that allows investors to block their funds in their savings accounts instead of transferring the money to the broker’s account during IPO subscriptions. This ensures the safety of investor funds and streamlines the process of applying for shares in an IPO, with a reduction in the time taken for refunds and providing greater liquidity to investors.
Tata Steel plans to set up a 10-tonnes-per-day pilot plant at its Kalinganagar facility in Odisha to produce methanol using blast furnace flue gases. The success of this pilot plant could pave the way for significant methanol production in India. The project aims to explore the possibility of combining carbon dioxide from steel mill blast furnaces with hydrogen from electrolysers to produce methanol. This will enable Tata Steel to test the feasibility of this process and potentially pave the way for a more sustainable approach to methanol production in the country.
HDFC Bank has recently appointed two senior executives and their appointments have been approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Kaizad Bharucha has been appointed as Deputy Managing Director while Bhavesh Zaveri has been appointed as Executive Director for a three-year term starting from April 19, 2023. The bank has shared this information through a regulatory filing.
AU Small Finance Bank has announced that it has been granted permission by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to act as an authorized dealer in foreign exchange. The bank has received a license to operate as an Authorized Dealer Category-I (AD-I) under section 10 of FEMA, 1999. As a result, the bank will be able to deal in foreign exchange going forward, provided it adheres to all relevant regulations. This announcement was made by the bank in a SEBI filing.
According to the sources, the biggest financial institution in the country, State Bank of India (SBI) is anticipated to begin discussions with investment banks next week regarding a proposed offering. The size of the offering may be increased based on investor interest. The offering is expected to be arranged by banks from Europe, Japan, and the United States. (Click here to read the article)

Appointments/Resignations

Tata Group, appointed Dr. Randhir Thakur, as the CEO and managing director of Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd (TEPL), as the group has drawn a strategy to strengthen its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in an attempt to gain an edge over rivals in the country’s thriving precision machining business. Till recently, Thakur was associated with global electronic chip and circuits manufacturing giant Intel. Thakur, a veteran in the manufacturing space, was serving as the president of Intel Foundry Services before taking charge at the helm of TEPL.
Rowan Wilson became New York’s first Black chief judge after being confirmed by the State’s Senate. His appointment comes two months after Governor Kathy Hochul’s initial nominee for the position was rejected by lawmakers. Wilson has been an associate judge of the Court of Appeals since 2017, and his appointment as chief judge was made by Hochul earlier this month. The confirmation process was marked by a political struggle between Hochul and the Democrats who control the Senate over the future of the state’s judiciary.
JioCinema, a digital streaming platform, has announced India cricket team captain Rohit Sharma as their new brand ambassador. As part of this collaboration, Rohit will be working with the JioCinema team to promote their digital-first approach towards sports viewing. Together, they will work towards expanding the fan base for sports properties nationwide by introducing a series of initiatives.
The appointment of Arun Sinha as the new Chairman of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) has finally been announced by the government, after a prolonged delay. Sinha, who has served as an advisor in NTRO for two years, belongs to the 1984 batch Kerala cadre.
HSBC India has recently announced Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, as its brand ambassador. The financial services company issued a press release on April 19 to confirm the partnership. According to the release, the association with Kohli will involve a multi-media campaign that will showcase the benefits of banking with HSBC. The campaign will highlight the value proposition of the bank and demonstrate how HSBC can help customers achieve their financial goals.
A Madhavarao, who currently serves as the Director (Technical) at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence, has been recommended as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the company. (Click here to read the article)
The Walt Disney Company-owned Star Sports has signed cricketer Rishabh Pant as its latest brand ambassador. The company said it also has other cricketers as its ‘Believe Ambassadors’ like Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer.
Shantanu Roy has been recommended as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BEML Limited, a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Defence. The Public Enterprises Selection Board
(PESB) panel selected him for the position from a list of three candidates, all of whom were from BEML Limited. Roy is presently serving as Director (Mining & Construction Business) in the same organization and has over 30 years of extensive experience in capital goods sectors for defense, mining & construction, transportation, transmission, renewable, and large power projects.

Defence News

The UK and India are discussing the sharing of technical expertise and experience on maritime electric propulsion systems to meet the future requirements of Indian warships. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff of the UK, stated that both nations are exploring increased cooperation in logistics, technology, and information sharing, and are also in talks regarding a training pact that would enable their armed forces to share common ethos and basis. During his three-day visit to India, the top UK military officer met with top Indian military officials to discuss these issues, amidst a series of high-level military interactions between the two nations.
Wing Commander Deepika Misra has made history as the first female Air Force officer to receive a gallantry medal. She was awarded the Vayu Seva Medal for gallantry by the President of India on Independence Day in the previous year, and recently received the award from the Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force at an investiture ceremony in New Delhi.

Awards and Recognitions

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is celebrates National Panchayat Awards Week from 17th to 21st April, 2023, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) 2.0, leading up to National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April, 2023. In order to commemorate this occasion in a meaningful manner and to align with the AKAM 2.0 guidelines of taking a “whole-of-society” and “whole-of-government” approach, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has developed a series of Thematic Conferences centered around the theme “Panchayaton ke Sankalpon ki Siddhi ka Utsav” to increase the reach of AKAM 2.0 and positively impact the lives of all Indians.
Raj Subramaniam, the CEO of FedEx, a renowned global transportation company, and an Indian-American, was recently honored with the distinguished Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. This award is the highest civilian recognition bestowed by India upon individuals of Indian descent and Indian diaspora. Due to travel restrictions, Subramaniam, aged 55, received the award from Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s Ambassador to the US, at a ceremony held at India House on Saturday instead of receiving it in India earlier this year.

Utsa Patnaik, a well-known economist of both national and international acclaim, has been chosen for the prestigious Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023. The award is presented annually by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust, with outstanding social scientists being recognized by a national-level jury from the nominations received. The recipient of the award will receive a citation and a cash prize of ₹2 lakh at a ceremony to be held in Chennai, the date of which will be announced by the Trust soon. In 2022, the award was presented to the Indian economist, Prabhat Patnaik.
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel received Germany’s highest Order of Merit. The Grand Cross award was handed to her by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The award has only been given twice before, to former chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl. All three former leaders belong to the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
Sonam Wangchuk, a distinguished engineer, innovator, educationist, and sustainable development reformist, has been honored with the prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award. The award has been initiated by Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK), a leading company in diamond crafting and exports, and its philanthropic arm Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF). Wangchuk is the Founder-Director of Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL).

Summit and Conference

During the Commonwealth Finance Ministers High-Level Working Group Meeting held in Washington D.C., finance ministers from several Commonwealth nations have urged for a comprehensive overhaul of the global financial architecture to improve the availability of development financing for countries that are vulnerable.
On April 17th, the inaugural session of the “India-Russia Business Dialogue” 2023 took place in New Delhi, and it was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
The recent G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy, and Environment in Sapporo, Japan focused on how advanced economies can make a significant impact on addressing the climate crisis. As these economies have a major contribution to the problem, their timely actions are crucial. The meeting aimed to tackle key issues such as steering the global agenda on climate action and proposing solutions for the same.
The Special Secretary of India’s Ministry of Defence, Smt Nivedita Shukla Verma, has been invited by the Government of Thailand to visit Bangkok on April 20-21, 2023. During her visit, she will co-chair the 8th meeting of the India-Thailand Defence Dialogue with General Nuchit Sribunsong, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence of Thailand’s Ministry of Defence. The meeting aims to review the defence cooperation between India and Thailand and explore new initiatives to strengthen bilateral engagements. The two co-chairs will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Special Secretary will also call on General Sanitchanog Sangkachantra, the Permanent Secretary for Defence of the Ministry of Defence, Thailand.
The India-UK Financial Markets Dialogue’s second meeting took place in London with the aim of discussing the possibility of cooperation in financial regulation between the two countries. During the financial markets dialogue between India and the UK, there was a primary focus on six themes, which included banking, payments, insurance, capital markets, asset management, and sustainable finance. Delegates from India and the UK shared their views on the respective areas of responsibility and identified emerging areas for collaboration, including knowledge exchange on regulatory frameworks for pension funds and the development of ecosystems for Social Stock Exchange.

Ranks and Reports

According to a report by payment services firm Worldline India, Chennai has become one of the leading cities for digital payment transactions in 2022 in the country. As per the report, the capital city has made 14.3 million transactions with a total value of USD 35.5 billion
For the fourth year in a row, Rajasthan topped the country in terms of persondays generation under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. In 2022-23, Rajasthan generated 35.61 crore persondays at a total cost of Rs 10,175 crore under the scheme. Rajasthan is followed by Tamil Nadu (33.45 crore), Uttar Pradesh (31.18 crore), Andhra Pradesh (23.96 crore) and Bihar (23.69 crore) in terms of persondays generation, according to MGNREGA MIS report.
This report, created by the Inclusive Rural Transformation
and Gender Equality Division (ESP) of FAO, is the first of its kind since the State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2010-11 report on women in agriculture. It offers a comprehensive overview of the situation of women working in agri-food systems, including aspects from production to distribution and consumption, surpassing the scope of agriculture alone

Sports News

During a match between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans at IS Bindra Stadium, Kagiso Rabada achieved a significant milestone by taking his 100th wicket in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He became the fastest bowler to reach this milestone in terms of matches played, completing it in his 64th IPL match. Rabada, who is a right-arm pacer, surpassed Lasith Malinga, who reached the 100-wicket mark in his 70th match. The wicket that led to Rabada’s achievement was that of Wriddhiman Saha.
Aman Sehrawat, a freestyle wrestler, won India’s 1st gold medal, under the men’s 57kg freestyle category, at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023. 36th edition of Asian Wrestling Championships was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 9 April to 14 April 2023.
Evans Chebet of Kenya crosses the finish line and takes first place in the professional Men’s Division during the 127th Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts. Evans Chebet and Hellen Obiri stormed to victory in the men’s and women’s races at the Boston Marathon to complete a third straight Kenyan double in the 127th edition of the long distance-running showpiece. Chebet finished in a time of 2hr 5min 54sec, with Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay second in 2:06:04, and Chebet’s training partner and fellow Kenyan Benson Kipruto third in 2:06:04.
Four-team Intercontinental Football Cup will be held in Bhubaneswar from June 9 to 18. This will be the third edition of the tournament with the previous two being held in Mumbai (2018) and Ahmedabad (2019). Host India will be joined by Lebanon, Mongolia and Vanuatu in the tournament. The Indian men’s national team had previously never played against Mongolia and Vanuatu. Against Lebanon, the hosts hold a record of playing six matches.
Gary Ballance, a left-handed batsman, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He initially made his debut for Zimbabwe and played for them under a two-year contract. He later went on to play for England and appeared in 23 Test matches. Additionally, he played one Test, one T20I, and five ODIs for Zimbabwe, during which he scored five Test hundreds, including a score of 137 against the West Indies. However, his career took a downturn after 2017, and he was also accused of using racist language against his teammate Azeem Rafiq, which was deemed as ‘institutional racism’ in the Yorkshire County. In an attempt to revive his career, Ballance moved to Zimbabwe.
FIFA has selected Argentina to host the under-20 soccer World Cup after revoking the hosting rights from Indonesia. This decision was made after Indonesia’s football association cancelled the draw scheduled to take place in Bali due to the governor’s refusal to host Israel’s team.
David Warner became the most capped overseas captain in Indian Premier League (IPL) history when he walked out for the toss for Delhi Capitals against Kolkata Knight Riders during an IPL 2023 game in Delhi. The 36-year-old Warner surpassed compatriot Adam Gilchrist with his 75th appearance as captain in the IPL.

Schemes and Committess News

Arjun Munda, the Minister of Tribal Affairs, will launch the Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region (PTP-NER) scheme in Manipur. This scheme has been designed to benefit the Scheduled Tribes residing in the North-Eastern Region by enhancing procurement, logistics, and marketing efficiency of tribal products.
The Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) chaired by Director General G Asok Kumar, approved eight projects worth approximately Rs 638 crore. The focus of these projects is to reduce pollution in River Hindon, which is a tributary of River Yamuna. As part of the comprehensive ‘Hindon Rejuvenation Plan’, four projects costing Rs 407.39 crore were approved for pollution reduction in the Shamli district. These projects aim to prevent the flow of contaminated water into the Krishni River.
The ‘Sangathan Se Samriddhi’ campaign was launched by Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh, with the aim of empowering marginalized rural households. The campaign seeks to achieve this objective by ensuring that all eligible rural women are included in Self Help Groups (SHGs). During the launch event, the Minister stated that the government’s goal is to expand the coverage of SHGs to include 10 crore women, up from the current nine crore.
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, has unveiled a new online platform and mobile application called SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication, and Holistic Inventory) to address the issues of seed production, quality identification, and certification. The platform has been developed under the Uttam Beej – Samriddh Kisan scheme.
In the financial year of 2022-23, India has constructed 5.28 million houses as part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), a rural housing initiative, which represents a 25% increase from the previous year. The country aims to build 5.73 million houses under this program to achieve the overall goal of constructing 29.5 million houses, thereby fulfilling the objective of providing “housing for all” by the end of the financial year 2023-24.
During a national conference in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka was recognized as the leading state in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) scheme. The award was accepted by Shivayogi Kalasad, the Secretary to the government, Department of Agriculture. As per officials from the agriculture department, a sum of Rs. 687.4 crore has been settled for 5.66 lakh farmers, who had pending claims since 2018.

Science and Technology News

SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, is preparing to conduct an unprecedented test flight of its groundbreaking Starship, which is currently the most powerful rocket in existence. Ahead of the launch, Elon Musk has set modest expectations.
The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission (Juice) on Friday, 14 April, at 8:14 a.m. ET using an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Juice aims to explore Jupiter and three of its largest moons. Following a successful separation from the Ariane 5 rocket, the ESA received a signal from Juice about an hour after launch, confirming that communication between the vehicle and Earth-based mission control is established.
The inauguration of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) took place at the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad, making it the largest facility of its kind in the country. DRDO Chairman, Dr Samir V Kamat, inaugurated the facility at the IIT-Hyderabad campus in Telangana, and stated that the centre will take on futuristic projects for long-term research needed by DRDO. He also highlighted that the DIA-CoE IITH is the largest among all 15 CoEs in the country, and the DRDO team will collaborate with IIT-H to identify target projects in each domain and execute them within a period of 3-5 years.
IIT Indore, in partnership with NASA-Caltech and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, has designed an inexpensive camera setup that can capture multispectral images of four chemical species in a flame using a single DSLR camera. Previously, capturing such images required a complicated system with four cameras, but this new setup can simultaneously capture multiple spectral three-dimensional images of four chemical species in a flame using only one DSLR camera.
On Monday, Elon Musk announced his plan to launch an AI platform called “TruthGPT” to compete with Microsoft and Google’s current offerings. In an interview with Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson, Musk criticized Microsoft-backed OpenAI for “training the AI to lie” and accused Larry Page, co-founder of Google, of not taking AI safety seriously. Musk plans to launch an AI that seeks maximum truth and understands the nature of the universe, which he believes is the best path to safety. Musk, OpenAI, and Page have yet to respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Elon Musk announced his plan to launch an AI platform called “TruthGPT” to compete with Microsoft and Google’s current offerings. In an interview with Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson, Musk criticized Microsoft-backed OpenAI for “training the AI to lie” and accused Larry Page, co-founder of Google, of not taking AI safety seriously. Musk plans to launch an AI that seeks maximum truth and understands the nature of the universe, which he believes is the best path to safety. Musk, OpenAI, and Page have yet to respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. (
Elon Musk announced his plan to launch an AI platform called “TruthGPT” to compete with Microsoft and Google’s current offerings. In an interview with Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson, Musk criticized Microsoft-backed OpenAI for “training the AI to lie” and accused Larry Page, co-founder of Google, of not taking AI safety seriously. Musk plans to launch an AI that seeks maximum truth and understands the nature of the universe, which he believes is the best path to safety. Musk, OpenAI, and Page have yet to respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

NASA’s Lucy mission is on a 12-year journey to observe nine Jupiter Trojans and two main belt asteroids, making it the first-ever mission to visit them. Despite being more than 330 million miles (530 million kilometers) away from the spacecraft, Lucy was able to capture views of four Jupiter Trojan
asteroids recently. The asteroids are relatively small in size, but Lucy used its highest resolution imager, L’LORRI, to take the images, which will help the team choose exposure times for close-up observations of the targets.
Kenya’s first operational Earth observation satellite, “Taifa-1,” was successfully launched into space on April 15th, 2023, using a rocket from Elon Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX. The launch took place from Vandenberg Base in California. The rocket also carried 50 payloads from different countries, including Turkey, under SpaceX’s rideshare program.
ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, is gearing up for its upcoming commercial mission, which is set to launch a Singaporean Earth Observation satellite called TeLEOS-2. The launch is scheduled for April 22 and will take place on board ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), marking the 55th mission for the rocket. (
China has achieved a significant milestone on April 16, 2023, by successfully launching the Fengyun-3 meteorological satellite. The satellite was launched using the Chang Zheng-4B carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome, located in Gansu Province. The Fengyun-3 satellite has been primarily designed to monitor and provide crucial information on severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall that can result in natural calamities like landslides and floods. This successful mission marked the 471st launch for the Chang Zheng rocket family, cementing their reputation as one of the most reliable and consistent rocket families globally. (
Apple opened its first official store in Mumbai, India. Located at the Jio World Drive mall in the Bandra Kurla Complex area, the store is the first of the two outlets Apple to open in India. Apple CEO Tim Cook threw open the gates to the 28,000 sq ft store. An Apple store is aimed at providing a top-notch experience to customers by functioning as a one-stop destination for product sales, services and accessories. These stores are also architectural marvels, adding to an unrivalled customer experience.

Important Days News

World Hemophilia Day is celebrated every year on April 17th to honor the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, who established the World Federation of Hemophilia. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness and provide information about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
April 18th marks the observance of World Heritage Day, also referred to as International Day for Monuments and Sites. The primary objective of this day is to raise awareness of the significance of safeguarding cultural heritage, including historical structures, landmarks, and archaeological locations, and to celebrate the variety of global heritage.
World Liver Day is observed on April 19 in order to raise awareness about liver-related diseases. The liver is one of the most complex organs in the human body. It plays a pivotal role in our body’s immunity, digestion and metabolism. The theme for this year’s World Liver Day is “Be vigilant, do a regular liver check-up, fatty liver can affect anyone.” (Click here to read the article)
The United Nations celebrates Language Days to promote cultural diversity and encourage the use of all six official languages within the organization. The Chinese Language Day is celebrated on the 6th of 24 solar terms called Guyu, which usually falls around April 20th in the Gregorian calendar. This day is dedicated to honoring Cangjie, the inventor of Chinese characters, and his legend of creating the characters amidst cries from deities and ghosts and rain of millet. This year’s Chinese Language Day will focus on the theme of “Chinese Wisdom for a Green World” in order to highlight Chinese solutions and wisdom for promoting green and sustainable development.
In India, April 21 is celebrated as National Civil Service Day, to recognize and appreciate the vital role played by civil servants in the advancement and betterment of the nation. This day offers a chance to express gratitude towards the contributions made by civil servants to society. The theme of this year’s Civil Service Day is very apt- Viksit Bharat (विकसित
भारत) aimed at ‘Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile’. (Click here to read the article)
International Mother Earth Day was introduced by the United Nations on April 22, 2009, following a resolution proposed by the State of Bolivia and supported by more than 50 member countries. The resolution recognizes the Earth and its ecosystems as our home and emphasizes the importance of promoting harmony between humans, other living beings, and the planet.
World Creativity and Innovation Day is celebrated annually on April 21 to raise awareness about the crucial role that innovation and creativity play in human development. Creativity is the use of imagination, thinking, and skills to create new ideas, while innovation is the process of using creativity, knowledge, and skills to improve existing ideas or develop new products.
Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the rapidly-rising levels of pollution, climate change, and other circumstances that contribute to damaging the environment and threaten the survival of our planet. The day is marked by various activities such as tree planting, recycling drives, clean-up campaigns, and environmental education programs. (

Obituaries

Telugu actor and comedian Allu Ramesh passed away. He suffered cardiac arrest in his hometown, Visakhapatnam. Allu Ramesh started off his career as an actor by doing theatre performances. After that, he made his debut in Tollywood with Tarun’s Chirujallu and starred in almost 50 films. Allu Ramesh acted in movies like Napoleon, Tholubommalata, Madhura Wines, and Ravana Desam. Over a two-decade-long career, Ramesh went on to appear in several popular and successful films and was last seen in Rajendra Prasad’s Anukoni Prayanam on the big screens. (

Miscellaneous News

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that several states in the country, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Delhi-NCR, are currently experiencing heatwave conditions. According to the IMD, these conditions are likely to persist for the next few days. The weather agency has also predicted that Punjab and Haryana may experience a rise in temperatures over the next two days, with the situation expected to improve thereafter.
Marriage, a common cultural relationship, has traditionally been recognized only between individuals of different genders, despite the use of gender-neutral terminology in most marriage laws. While society is slowly becoming more accepting of same-sex marriages, there are still many constitutional bans on such marriages in various states, leading to the denial of legal and financial rights that are granted to married couples. This includes access to jobs, shared tax returns, health benefits, and inheritance rights, which are typically granted only to patriarchal de facto couples, leaving same-sex couples excluded from these advantages. Despite recent legal reform, same-sex relationships are still not recognized in many countries, including India, reflecting the need for continued progress in the acceptance of all types of relationships.

Static Takeaways

Mozambique Capital: Maputo;
Mozambique Currency: Mozambican metical;
Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi.
Assam Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma;
Assam Capital: Dispur;
Assam Folk Dance: Bihu;
Assam Governor: Gulab Chand Kataria.
MRF Ltd Founder: K. M. Mammen Mappillai;
MRF Ltd Founded: 1946, Chennai;
MRF Ltd Headquarters: Chennai.
International Council on Monuments and Sites Founded: 1965
International Council on Monuments and Sites President: Teresa Patricio
International Council on Monuments and Sites headquarters in Paris.
Karnataka Bank Founded: 18 February 1924;
Karnataka Bank CEO: Mahabaleshwara M. S (15 Apr 2017–);
Karnataka Bank Headquarters: Mangaluru.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor: Dr B. D. Mishra;
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM): Pema Khandu;
Arunachal Pradesh National Parks: Mouling National park, Namdapha National Park;
Arunachal Pradesh Wildlife Sanctuaries: Talle Wildlife Sanctuary, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary.
Bangladesh Capital: Dhaka;
Bangladesh Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina;
Bangladesh Currency: Bangladeshi Taka.
DRDO founded: 1958;
DRDO Agency executive: Dr Sameer V Kamath, Chairman;
DRDO Headquarters: DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi.
Kerala Capital: Thiruvananthapuram;
Kerala Official bird: Great hornbill;
Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan;
Kerala Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan.
City Union Bank Limited Headquarters: Kumbakonam;
City Union Bank Limited CEO: Dr. N. Kamakodi (1 May 2011–);
City Union Bank Limited Founded: 1904.

Current Affairs Weekly 17th April to 23rd April News