NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi Flags off Bhopal-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vande Bharat Express train service between Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi.

• The train will cover a distance of 701 kilometres in 7 hours and 30 minutes and will operate on all days except Saturday. It will stop at Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi, Gwalior, and Agra.

• The Vande Bharat Express is a high-speed train service in India.

• It is the country’s first semi-high speed train service, with a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

• The train was designed and manufactured in India, with 80% of its components being indigenous.

Eravikulam National Park Gets a Fernarium

• Eravikulam National Park in Munnar, Kerala, which is home to the Nilgiri tahr, now features a new attraction: a fernarium located within the park.

• This is the first instance of a fern collection being established in the hill station, according to officials.

• The fern park is located close to the orchidarium and will be accessible to the public starting from 20 April.

•  The Eravikulam National Park is known for its diverse range of flora and fauna, and the introduction of the fernarium is a step towards educating visitors about the park’s biodiversity.

• These plants absorb water and nutrients by leaching them from trees. A significant number of ferns can be found growing on the trees within the park.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India and Malaysia to Trade in Indian Rupee

• The Ministry of External Affairs announced that India and Malaysia have agreed to settle trade in the Indian rupee.

• In July 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed settlement of international trade in Indian currency.

• According to the Ministry of External Affairs, trade between India and Malaysia can now be settled in Indian Rupee (INR) in addition to the existing methods of settlement in other currencies.

• The RBI initiative is aimed at facilitating trade growth and supporting the interests of the global trading community in the Indian Rupee.
• Kuala Lumpur-based India International Bank of Malaysia (IIBM) has introduced this system in India by opening a special Rupee Vostro account through Union Bank of India.

PM Modi Invited to France for Bastille Day Parade

• France has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Paris as a guest at the annual Bastille Day parade in July.

• The National Day of France, also known as Bastille Day, is celebrated every year on 14 July.

• This day is considered as one of the most important days in the history of France.

• It marks the fall of the Bastille, a military fortress and political prison, which was then considered a symbol of the monarchy and the Armory.

Agreement for 'Practical Cooperation Between Armed Forces'

• India and Romania signed a defence agreement during a meeting between Romania's Deputy Defense Minister Simona Cojocaru and India's Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane in New Delhi.

• This agreement is the first defence cooperation agreement between the two countries and is a practical cooperation between the armed forces of India and Romania.

• The defence pact represents the basis for the establishment and expansion of military relations between the two countries.

• It will provide more opportunities to work together in various fields such as military education, training, cyber defence, military medicine, military history and other areas that can benefit both the countries.

BANKING

PFRDA Raises Ombudsman’s Age Limit to 70 Years

• The Centre has increased the upper age limit by 5 years of ombudsman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to 70 years.

• As per the PFRDA (Redressal of Subscriber Grievance) Regulations 2015, the upper age limit was 65 years.

• The ombudsman, which is appointed by PFRDA receives, considers and facilitates resolution of complaints or grievances, which fall within the ambit of the regulations.

• A person appointed as an Ombudsman holds office for a period of 3 years and would be eligible for reappointment for another 2 years.
• Recently, the Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA) has made the mandatory upload of withdrawal/ Know Your Customer (KYC) documents to enable seamless processing of exit and annuity for the benefit of National Pension System (NPS) subscribers.

SBI Announces Donation of ₹48 Lakh for Tree Plantation

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced a donation of ₹48 lakh for the plantation of 32,000 tree saplings at Garden City University, Bengaluru, in association with an NGO, That’s Eco Foundation, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

• The project is being implemented under Miyawaki Technique.

• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SBI, Garden City University, and the Eco Foundation for the project.

• Miyawaki is a technique pioneered by Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki, that helps build dense, native forests.
• This ensures that the plant growth is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than usual.
• The plants that are grown under this method grow in 2-3 years and are self-sustaining.

SPORTS

Miami Opens Title 2023

• Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev claimed his fourth title of the year by defeating Jannik Sinner in final match in Miami Opens 2023.

• Medvedev, who was once the top-ranked player in the world, has now won 24 out of his last 25 matches, including his latest victory at the prestigious Miami Open.

• The win marked his first-ever title win at the Miami Open.

• Medvedev clinched his fifth Masters 1000 title and 19th title overall by beating Sinner, with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-3.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

MD of Hitachi Payment Services

• Hitachi Payment Services has announced the appointment of Sumil Vikamse as the new Managing Director of the company.

• Vikamse was earlier the CEO of Cash Business at Hitachi Payment Services.

• He replaced Rustam Irani, who retires on March 30, 2023.

• During his tenure at Hitachi Payment Services, Vikamse has been responsible for various functions including finance, strategy, development, analysis, white-label ATM program and allied business domains.

DEFENCE

Maritime Exercise SLINEX-2023

• The 10th Edition of the annual India - Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 began in Colombo on 03 April.

• The exercise is being conducted in two phases of three days each, the harbor phase and the sea phase.

• The Indian Navy will be represented by INS Kiltan and INS Savitri, while the Sri Lankan Navy will be represented by SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Samudura.

• In addition, Chetak helicopters and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy as well as Dornier and BEL 412 helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force will also participate in the exercise.
• Special forces of both the navies will also participate in this exercise together.
• The sea phase of the exercise will include exercises in multi-dimensions such as surface and anti-air firing exercises, seamanship evaluation, helicopter.

MISCELLANEOUS

Anjali Sharma Conquer Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa

• Dharamshala's daughter Anjali Sharma has brought glory to Himachal and the country by conquering South Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro peak wearing a Gaddi dress (Luanchadi).

• She has become the first girl from India to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in Gaddi costume.

• Anjali Sharma is working to promote Gaddi culture on the peaks of the mountains.

• Earlier, at the age of 15, Anjali had conquered the peak of 5289 meters in the first attempt.

• Lunachari is a traditional dress of Himachal Pradesh.
• Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.

OBITUTARY

Malayalam novelist Sarah Thomas

• Renowned Malayalam short story writer and novelist Sarah Thomas passed away.

• She was a prolific writer, writing 17 novels and over 100 short stories.

• Sarah Thomas was widely acclaimed for her literary contributions and received several awards throughout her career including the prestigious Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.

• One of his most popular novels, "Muripadukal" was adapted into a film titled "Manimuzhakkam" by PA Bakkar.
• She has received several awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and Padmarajan Award for his contribution to Malayalam literature.