NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi to Unveil 108-Feet Statue

• On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 108-feet statue of Lord Hanuman in Morbi, Gujarat through video conferencing.
• As part of Hanuman ji Chaar Dhaam Project, this statue is the second of the four statues being set up in the four directions across the country.
• It has been set up in the west, at the Ashram of Bapu Keshvanand ji in Morbi.
• The first statue of the series was set up in the north in Shimla in 2010.

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Awards to Weaker Sections

• As part of the 131st birth anniversary celebrations of Dr Ambedkar Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday presented Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar awards.

• He also highlighted the subsidies for the scheduled castes and tribes in the state.

• The SC, ST communities would be provided free power upto 75 units.
• A subsidy of Rs. 20 lakh is being given for the purchase of land, under the skills development programme training would be provided for 75,000 youth.
• The subsidy for self-employment has been raised from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh, loans would be provided at a lower rate of interest.

TCS to Drive Digital Transformation

• India’s largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been chosen as a strategic partner by UKs Financial Ombudsman Service to accelerate digital transformation.

• The ombudsman provides free and easy-to-use services that help resolve complaints between consumers, small businesses and financial services businesses.
• TCS will design and implement a new greenfield digital customer portal to significantly improve the experience for complainants and respondents.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India as a Wheat Supplier to Egypt

• On 15 April 2022, Egypt approves India as a wheat supplier.
• Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced Egypt, which is one of the largest importers of wheat from Ukraine and Russia, has approved India as a wheat supplier.
• There is a sharp decline in the availability of wheat in the global markets.
• Egypt imported wheat worth about USD 1.8 billion from Russia and USD 610.8 million from Ukraine in 2020. The African nation Egypt is looking to import 1 million tonne of wheat from India and would need 2,40,000 tonne in April.
• India’s wheat exports increased to USD 1.74 billion in April – January 2021-2022.

Climate Action Grants for Local Innovators

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) announced USD 2.2 million in climate action grants for 22 local innovators across 19 countries.
• AFCIA was launched in November 2020 by the Adaptation Fund together with UNDP, UNEP and the Climate Technology Centre and Network.
• The grant will enhance local climate action and accelerate the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

SPORTS

Street Child Cricket World Cup 2023

• India will host the Street Child Cricket World Cup in 2023.
• It is organised by Street Child United and Save the Children India.
• The Street Child Cricket World Cup 2023 allows 22 teams from 16 countries to India next year.
• In 2019, this championship was held in London with eight teams and Team India South lifted the cup after defeating England.
• This event will take place in September ahead of the ICC World Cup.

Logo of 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup

• The logo for the 2023 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup was unveiled by Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the Kalinga Stadium.
• The 15th edition of the Men’s Hockey World cup will be played in two host cities from 13 January to 29 January, 2023– Bhubaneshwar and Rourkela.
• The reveal of the logo is one of the important milestones on the road to the 2023 FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup, Bhubaneswar – Rourkela.

Reykjavik Open Chess Tournament

• Young Indian Grandmaster, R Pragganandhaa won the Reykjavik Open chess tournament in Reykjajvik, Iceland with 7.5 points from nine rounds.
• The 16-year-old Pragganandhaa defeated Grand Master D Gukesh in the final round to emerge sole winner.

Hamish Bennett Announces Retirement

• New Zealand pacer Hamish Bennett announces retirement from all forms of cricket.

• Hamish Bennett made 31 appearances for New Zealand across all formats, taking 43 wickets and was selected in the Blackcaps' squad for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

• The 35-year- old has represented the New Zealand U-19 side, the senior men's team and domestic teams.

AWARDS & PRIZES

International Gandhi Award for Leprosy, 2021

• Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu conferred the International Gandhi Award for Leprosy, 2021 to Dr. Bhushan Kumar of Chandigarh and Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust of Gujarat in New Delhi.

• The award was instituted by Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation.

• Dr. Bhushan Kumar and Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust have been working to raise awareness about leprosy and in providing care to those afflicted with it.
• Mr. Naidu urged the people and civil society organizations to join the campaign to eradicate leprosy.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Chairman of India Pulses and Grains Association

• India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the apex body for India's pulses trade and industry announced Bimal Kothari as the new Chairman of the sector.
• He succeeded Jitu Bheda.
• Bimal Kothari takes over as the third chairman of the association after Pravin Dongre and Jitu Bheda.
• Kothari is one of the key founding members of the association, has been the Vice Chairman of IPGA since 2011.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Iron Beam

• Israel has successfully test fired a laser missile defence system called as ‘Iron Beam’.
• Iron Beam is a directed-energy weapon air defense system which was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow and deployed by Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
• The test took place in the Negev Desert, Israel.
• It ranges up to 7 km.
• Iron Beam will constitute the fifth element of Israel's integrated air defense system. The Israel forces have planned to deploy Iron Beam on land, air and sea.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

The Boy Who Wrote a Constitution

• A new book "The Boy Who Wrote a Constitution" was released on the occasion of 131st birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar.
• It is written by noted playwright and author Rajesh Talwar
• It is published by Ponytale Books.
• The book is to inform children of the challenging boyhood and growing up years of India's first law minister.
• The fact-based drama is based largely on Ambedkar's own recollection of his childhood.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Art Day

• World Art Day is celebrated every year on 15 April.

• The day is celebrated and observed to promote the enjoyment and development of art.

• The day was announced by UNESCO’s partner International Association of Art (AIA), in order to promote fine arts and spread awareness about fine arts in the world.
• World Art Day is also celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of art in an individual's life.
• It is celebrated to honour the birth anniversary of the greatest artist Leonardo da Vinci.
• The day was first celebrated in the year 2012 at the 17th General Assembly in Guadalajara.