NATIONAL NEWS

Scheme 'Hobby Hubs' in Delhi Government Schools

• The Directorate of Education (DoE) in Delhi plans to set up 'Hobby Hubs' in government schools for the 2022-2023 academic session.

• This project will only be implemented in single shift government schools.

• The idea of the project is to make optimum use of school infrastructure and to use it after school hours to promote extra-curricular activities like dance, music arts and craft activities.
• They will also be allowed to train private students during these sessions and charge them but government school students will have to make up 50 per cent of the total students enrolled and no student of the concerned school will be denied admission into hobby classes being conducted in their own school.

Tata Power Solar Commissions 160 MW Solar Project

• Tata Power Solar, one of India's largest integrated solar companies and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power, commissions a 160MW AC Solar Project at Jetstar, Rajasthan.

• The Jetstar project was completed within a period of 15 months. It is one of the largest solar projects in Rajasthan.

• Around 6,75,000 monocrystalline PV modules were used in this installation and it will produce 387 million units of energy per year.

Meghalaya Government Ties up with NLSIU

• The Meghalaya government has signed an agreement with National Law School of India University (NLSIU) for setting up PA Sangma Fellowship for legal and policy research.

• PA Sangma was the former Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Speaker of Lok Shaba.
• Under agreement, the students of NLSIU will be allowed for undertaking research activities in Meghalaya.
• This association will help students in gaining experience on the present challenges of law and policy and will also provide capacity building programs and training for law officers and officials of other government departments.

Indigo Inks Pact with IIT-Kanpur

• IndiGo co-promoter Rakesh Gangwal signed a pact with IIT-Kanpur to jointly set up a school of Medical Sciences and Technology on the campus.

• The school is envisioned in line with IIT Kanpur’s aim to set example by merging medical research and technological innovations in the country.

• The school will be completed in two phases.
• Phase I will also include setting up Centers of Excellence (CoE) for pursuing R&D activities in futuristic medicine. This phase is tentatively planned to be completed in 3-5 years.
• The Phase II of the project is planned to be completed in 7-10 years.
• He will also be joining the Advisory Board of the School.

‘Kaaval Uthavi’ App by Tamil Nadu Government

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stakin launched 'Kaaval Uthavi' app which contains 60 features that will help seek police assistance during any emergency.

• The app is used to send 'emergency' alert to the police control room to obtain immediate assistance during any distress or emergency by the members of the public.

• The user's live location will be shared with the control room by pressing the emergency red button.
• It can be downloaded from google Play Store.

Stand-Up India Scheme Marks Sixth Anniversary

• The Stand-up India scheme, was launched by the central government on 5th April 2016, has completed six years on 2022.

• The scheme was launched to encourage entrepreneurship at grassroot level to foster economic empowerment and job creation, especially among SC, ST and women entrepreneurs.
• The Scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was extended till 2025.
• Under the initiative, the government has sactioned Rs. 30,160 crore to a total of 1,33,995 accounts.
• The extent of margin money to be brought by the borrower has now been reduced to upto 15% (from upto 25%) of the project cost.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Taliban Bans Cultivation of Narcotics in Afghanistan

• The Taliban has announced a ban on the cultivation of narcotics in Afghanistan.

• As per the order the production, transportation or use of narcotics are banned.
• Afghanistan is the biggest opium producer in the world. The ban by the Taliban has come during the Opium harvesting season in Southern Afghanistan.
• The farmers could also be jailed and their crops burned if they harvested the poppy.
• Drug control has been a major demand of the international community of the Islamist Group, which took over Afghanistan in August 2021.

BANKING

Committee to Strengthen Governance of MIIs

• SEBI constituted a committee for reviewing and making recommendations for further strengthening of governance norms at stock exchange and other market infrastructure institutions (MIIs).

• It is a six-member committee and will be chaired by G Mahalingam, who is the former whole-time member of SEBI.

• The panel will also review the requirements related to appointment of directors on the board.

SPORTS

Orleans Masters Super 100

• Mithun Manjunath, an Indian Shuttler won a silver medal after losing to Toma Junior Popov in the category of the Men’s Singles event at Orleans Masters 2022 in France.

• The score was 21-11, 21-19 in 50 minutes at the Palais des Sports Arena.

• Manjunath, the 79th ranked shuttler was also playing his first BWF final.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

New Foreign Secretary of India

• India’s envoy to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary of India.

• He succeeded Harsh Vardhan Shringla who will be retire at the end of April 2022.

• Prior to his diplomatic posting to Nepal in 2020, IFS Vinay Mohan served as the Ambassador of India to France from August 2017 to February 2020. He has more than 32 years of experience in foreign service.
• He is a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.

United Nations Human Rights Council to Name Climate Expert

• The United Nations top rights body appointed an expert on climate change and human rights for the first time.

• The UNHRC has appointed Dr Ian Fry, who holds both Australian and Tuvaluan nationality as the World’s first independent expert for human rights and climate change.
• He was appointed for a period of three years term.
• He has negotiated on behalf of least developed countries including at the 2015 Paris climate conference where he helped ensure that human rights were part of the final package.

New Army Chief

• Army Vice Lieutenant General Manoj Pande is all set to become Chief of the Army Staff.

• Lt Gen Pande will take over the reign as he is the senior most in the force after General Naravane.

• Lt Gen S.S. Mahal was emerged as the command of Army’s Training Command (ARTRAC) at Shimla.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Maritime Day

• National Maritime Day is celebrated every year on 05 April.

• It is celebrated to raise awareness in the role of maritime trade in the development of the Indian economy and the role of India and its strategic location in global trade.

• The theme of the day 2022 is ‘Sustainable Shipping beyond Covid-19’.
• The day was first celebrated on 1964. On this day NWD Award of Excellence is given during the celebration.

International Day of Conscience

• International Day of Conscience was observed every year on 05 April.

• This year marks the 3rd edition.
• United Nations celebrates the day for the creation of conditions of stability and well-being and peaceful and friendly relations based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
• The first day was celebrated on 2020.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

A New Book by Sreeram Chaulia

• Author Dr Sreeram Chaulia authored a new book titled ‘Crunch Time: Narendra Modi’s National Security Crises’.
• The book was released by Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi at the India India International Centre held in New Delhi.
• The book narrates how political leadership with mass social support can transform a country’s strategic culture.
• This book emphasises the much-required public faith in the state to protect the country form security threats posed by Indias external adversaries.

OBITUARY

Filmmaker John Zaritsky

• Veteran filmmaker John Zaritsky passed away due to heart failure at the age of 79.

• Canadian documentarian filmmaker John Norman Zaritsky was born on 13 July 1943.

• He was well known for winning an Oscar in 1983 for best documentary feature for 'Just Another Missing Kid'.
• Zaritsky's work broadcasted in 35 countries and screened at more than 40 film festivals around the world.