NATIONAL NEWS

India Education Summit 2022 in New Delhi

• Union Education and Skill Development Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the India Education Summit 2022.

• The summit is a dialogue platform by Google and Indian Express.

• He estimated that 52.5 crore population are under the age bracket of 3-23 years, out of which around 35 crore have access to education & skilling.
• Discussions on technology intervention in government education, personalized education were held during the summit.

Uttar Pradesh Government with AAI

• The civil aviation department of the Uttar Pradesh government signed a lease agreement with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) pertaining to about 318 acres to build an airport in Ayodhya.

• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Ayodhya District Administration will provide another 86 acres required for the construction of the Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport.

• Once the airport is functional, Uttar Pradesh will have 19 airports, the highest for a State in India.

HAL of India with IAI of Israel

• In line with ‘Make in India’ campaign, HAL has entered into an MoU with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert Civil (Passenger) aircraft to Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) aircraft in India.

• Under the pact signed recently, HAL will convert pre-owned Civil (Passenger) aircraft into air refueling aircraft with cargo and transport capabilities.

• The move will provide India’s defence ecosystem with new capabilities and cost-effective solutions in the market.
• The scope of MoU also covers “passenger to freighter aircraft” conversion along with MMTT conversions.
• The aircraft used in the conversion to tanker is Boeing 767 passenger aircraft.
• The introduction of MMTT aircraft will replace the IL-78 mid-air refueller.

Exercise Khanjar-2022

• The India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise commenced on 25th March at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh ended.

• This year marks the 9th edition.

• During the Exercise India and Kyrgyzstan shared their expertise and best practices of tactics, techniques and procedures to counter existing and emergent threats across the entire spectrum of conflict.
• Combat shooting, sniping, survival in mountains, hostage rescue drills and unarmed combat were practiced extensively.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Madagascar Enters CDRI

• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a global partnership that aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks ensuring sustainable development.
• Madagascar has become the 30th country to join the CDRI that aims to help small island nations develop resilience to deal with the adverse impact of climate change.
• It was launched by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations Climate Action Summit.
• India sees Madagascar not only as an important bilateral partner, but also a vital pole in the collaborative maritime vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region).
• Madagascar will now be able to collaborate with other CDRI members to promote resilient infrastructure.
• Indian poet Abhay Kumar is the Ambassador of India to Madagascar.

AUKUS Defence Alliance

• As part of the new AUKUS alliance- the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia jointly started AUKUS Alliance, collaborating on hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities.
• The leaders of AUKUS are Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and Scott Morrison.
• It will also expand information sharing and deepen cooperation on defence innovation.
• These initiatives will add to our existing efforts to deepen cooperation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
• The AUKUS planned to work together in the area of research and development.

BANKING

Union Bank of India - Digital Bank Within Bank

• The Union Bank of India (UBI) announced to create a “Digital Bank within Bank” as part of its future ready digital transformation project.
• It is announced during the Digital Conclave hosted by UBI at Yashwantrao Chavan centre, Mumbai.
• A host of digital products such as pre-approved personal Loan (PAPL), union cash (pensioner loan), Shishu Mudra loan, MSME loan auto-renewal, agri loan (KCC) auto-renewal, CRM, Soft POS, branch token and mobile app-based deposit module will also be launched in the future.
• This digital initiative is to empower customers with smarter ways of doing banking across all segments.
• It will also enable the setting up of strong digital ecosystem in line with the EASE (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence) reform agenda.

Wastewater Treatment Plant in Nepal

• The Indian embassy in Kathmandu has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Government of Nepal and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Soulukhumbu for the construction of Khumjung Khunde wastewater management project.
• Project will be built under India-Nepal Development Cooperation with the financial assistance of the Government of India at a total estimated cost of Nepali rupees 41.13 million.
• The construction of this project will improve the health and quality of life of the people living in Khumjung village, Solukbumbu providing them with safe water and improved sanitation.

World Bank & AIIB to Gujarat

• The World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will provide a loan of Rs 7,500 crore for the Mission School of Excellence project that aims to improve the quality of education in the state of Gujarat.
• Under the Excellence project, the state government will spend Rs 10,000 crore in the next five years and cover all 35,133 government and 5,847 grant-in-aid schools in the state.
• It is estimated that nearly one crore school students will benefit directly from this ambitious project in the next five years.
• As per an official release, the World Bank and AIIB have approved a loan of Rs 7,500 crore for the ambitious project.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022

• The 12th edition of QS World University Rankings by subjects 2022 have been released. It was released by QS Quacquarell Symonds.

• QS World University Rankings by subjects cover a total of 51 disciplines, grouped into five broad subject areas namely Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences & Medicines, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences & Management.

Top three Universities are listed below:

• Massachusetts Institute of technology
• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• Indian Institute of Technology -Bombay has topped the list among the Indian Universities and ranked 65th among the world under the Engineering and Technology category with score 79.9.
• IIT Delhi Ranked 72nd with score 78.9.
• Arts & Humanities – University of Oxford secured first position.
• Engineering & Technology - Massachusetts Institute of technology secured first position.
• Life Science & Medicine – Harvard University secured first.
• Natural Sciences - Massachusetts Institute of technology.
• Social Sciences & Management – Harvard University.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Saraswati Samman 2021

• Noted poet and literature Ramdarash Mishra will be awarded the prestigious Saraswati Samman 2021, for his collection of poems ‘Mein to Yahan Hun’.

• The award carries a citation, a plaque and reward of Rs. 15 lakhs.

• Instituted in 1991, Saraswati Samman is given every year to an outstanding literary work written in any Indian Language by an Indian Citizen and published within the last 10 years.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

MD & CEO of DCB Bank

• Murli M Natarajan has been re-appointed for another two years by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) of DCB Bank.
• His new term will be effective from 29 April, 2022, and expire on April 28, 2024. Since April 2009, Natrajan has been the bank's MD and CEO.
• The RBI has set a limit of 15 years for bank CEOs and Natrajan will reach that limit in 2024.
• The re-appointment is contingent on shareholder approval at the bank's next annual general meeting.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Birsa Munda-Janjaitiya Nayak

• Birsa Munda-Janjaitiya Nayak is the book authored by Prof. Alok Chakrawal was released by Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan.

• The book narrates the struggle of Bhagwan Birsa Mundra in the freedom movement of India.

• Birsa Munda led this movement in the South region of Ranchi from 1899-1900.