NATIONAL NEWS

4 NH Projects Worth Rs 1466 Crore in Maharashtra's Raigad

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated four National Highway Projects worth 1466 Crore rupees in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

• Raigad district is one of the major junction points from Mumbai to Goa and other southern states and hence consistent development work is being undertaken here in the district.

• He also assured to build advanced technology rope ways for all the forts in Maharashtra.

Anti-Human Trafficking Cell

• The National Commission for Women launched an Anti-Human Trafficking Cell.

• It aims to improve effectiveness in tackling cases of human trafficking, raising awareness among women and girls, capacity building and training of Anti Trafficking Units and to increase responsiveness of law enforcement agencies.

• The Cell will also help survivors of trafficking in rebuilding their lives by providing them with need-based training and by organizing capacity building programs for them to prevent re-traumatization of victims.

Extension of Foreign Trade Policy

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced the existing Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 which is valid upto March 31, 2022 is extended by six months upto September 30, 2022.

• The policy provides guidelines for enhancing exports to push economic growth and create jobs and incentives under different schemes such as Duty-Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG).

• It will enable exporters to pursue the incentives under some existing schemes including the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) and the government has budgeted Rs. 13, 000 crore for the RoDTEP scheme for FY22.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Bangladesh Signs Deal with Adani Group

• The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) signed an agreement with the Indian company Adani Ports and SEZ Limited to set up an Indian Economic Zone at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN) in Mirsarai of Chattogram.

• The Indian Economic Zone will provide facilities for Indian investors in Bangladesh.

• The project involves land development, construction of connecting roads, security system, water supply, telecommunication, and water treatment plant facilities for the Indian companies investing in Bangladesh.
• Among the Government-to-Government economic zones being set up in Bangladesh, the Indian Economic Zone is going to be the second largest one after the Japanese Economic Zone.
• The Indian Economic Zone is being built on 857 acres of land with an estimated cost of Taka 964 crore supported by an Indian Line of Credit worth USD 115 million.

India Contributes USD 500,000 to UN Women's Core Budget

• India has contributed USD 500,000 to the UN Women, the United Nations agency for gender equality and women empowerment for their core budget.

• India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti granted the amount to UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous.

• India is looking forward to work with the UN Women to further augment the relationship and India reaffirmed its support for gender equality and women empowerment and development.

BANKING

RBI reduces WMA for States and Union Territories

• The Reserve Bank of India announced to reduce the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) for states and Union Territories to Rs 47,010 crore from Rs 51,560 crore.

• WMA are temporary advances given by the RBI to the government to tide over any mismatch in receipts and payments.

• Due to the uncertainties related to COVID-19, the RBI had raised the WMA limit to Rs 51,560 crore for all states which is the higher WMA was applicable till March 31, 2022.
• The limit for WMA for the Government of India for the first half of the financial year 2022-23 has been set at Rs 1,50,000 crore.
• The RBI said the Special Drawing Facility (SDF) availed by state governments/ UTs shall continue to be linked to the quantum of their investments in marketable securities issued by the Government of India, including Auction Treasury Bills (ATBs).

IOB with STPI & STPINEXT

• Public sector Indian Overseas Bank signed a memorandum of understanding with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and STPINEXT (a company of STPI) for leveraging innovation through the financial technologies under the FinBlue initiative.

• It provides access to the financial technology ecosystem that consists of bankers, financial institutions, mentors, investors among others.

• It offers an integrated program for start-ups to scale up through its incubation facility.

IFSCA Signs MoU with IRDAI

• International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) signed a MoU at IRDAI’s head office located at Hyderabad.

• This MoU focuses on strengthening of inter regulatory exchange of information, technical cooperation, supervisory collaboration and opens avenues towards developing innovative insurance solutions for the evolving global trends.

• It specifically enables mechanism for Inter Operable Regulatory Sandbox through FinTech Bridge to facilitate Indian InsurTech start-ups to explore foreign jurisdiction.
• IFSCA aims to develop a strong global connect and focus on the needs of the Indian economy as well as to serve as an international financial platform at regional or global level.
• It was signed between IFSCA chairperson Injeti Srinivas and IRDAI chairman Debasish.

GrainBank Loyalty Cards for Farmers

• Tech platform 'GrainBank' is the the commodity market was developed by Ergos Business solutions private Ltd.

• This is the first time in India where farmers have direct access to a cutting-edge technology platform 'GrainBank' for getting valuable information and income on their farm produce.

• GrainBank is farmer relationship-based post -harvest solutions for farmers to digitize its grain, which is directly accessible to lenders and processors, and can buy online directly from them.
• It has several features like options for delaying sales, loans at minimal interest rates directly from the bank, etc.

SPORTS

National Table Tennis Championship

• Meghalaya will host the 83rd National Table Tennis Championship 2022.

• It is scheduled to begin from 18^th April to 25^th April, 2022 at SAI Indoor Training Centre, NEHU in Shillong.

• This is the second time the biggest table tennis event is being hosted in the Northeast.
• The tournament is being conducted as the state is celebrating 50 year’s statehood day.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Best Performing Bank in SHG Linkage by NRLM

• HDFC Bank has been adjudged Best Performing Bank in SHG Linkage by National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), under the Ministry of Rural Development.

• The award was presented by Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of Rural Development to Mr. K Venkatesh, Head – Sustainable Livelihood Initiative, HDFC Bank.

• HDFC Bank was the only Private Bank to be felicitated for remarkable work in SHGs – by the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
• The HDFC Bank has offered advances of more than Rs.1000 crore under the NRLM till February 2022.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Shakuntala – Private Commercial Imaging Satellite

• Indian Space tech startup Pixxel launched India’s First private commercial Imaging Satellite ‘Shakuntala’.

• It hosts one of the highest resolution hyperspectral commercial cameras ever flown to space through the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket under its Transporter 4 mission.

• It is a part of Pixxel’s 36-satellite planned constellation.
• It is capable of capturing orbital images in more than 150 bands of colour from the visible and infrared spectrum with a resolution of 10-metres per pixel and weigh less than 15kg.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Director-General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI)

• Dr. S Raju has been named Director-General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

• He succeeded R. S. Garkhal, who retired on March 31, 2022.
• Dr. Raju was previously the Additional Director General and National Head, Missions III and IV at GSI Headquarters.
• In 1988, Dr. S. Raju joined the Geological Survey of India.

chairperson of National Accreditation Board for Hospitals

• Mahesh Verma has been appointed as the next chairperson of NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers).

• Dr. Verma has received the Padma Shri and the Dr. B. C. Roy awards. He is also been honored with the National Science and Technology Award.
• NABH is a Quality Council of India constituent board (QCI). This organization is in charge of establishing quality standards and certifying hospitals and other health care institutions.
• NABH is also a member of the Asian Society for Quality in Healthcare's board of directors.

India Secures Leadership Position in ITU

• Ms Aprajita Sharma, an IP&TAF Service officer has been appointed as the vice-chairman of Standing Committee on Administration and Management at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

• India has secured a leadership position in Council Standing Committee on Administration and Management of International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication.

OBITUARY

Pulitzer Prize Winner Poet Richard Howard

• American-Jewish poet Richard Howard passed away at the age of 92.

• Along with his poetry, Howard was acclaimed for his translations of French literature, including a version of Baudelaire’s “Les Fleurs du Mal’ that won a National Book Award.

• He was celebrated for his monologues of historical figures and a prolific translator who helped introduce readers to a wide range of French literature.
• Over a 50-year period, Howard’s poetry, essays and translations over 200 books established him as a vital literary creator, commentator and interpreter.
• He won the poetry Pulitzer in 1970 for “Untitled Subjects” and was a National Book Award finalist in 2008 for “Without Saying.”