NATIONAL NEWS

Skill India International Centre

• India’s first Skill India International Centre will be set up in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• It is for training youths with an aim to enhance overseas opportunities for the skilled workforce.
• Under Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan a memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Skill Development Institute (SDI).
• Under this collaboration, the Centre will be set up for high-quality training of the youth, especially the aspirants from Odisha aiming to work overseas.
• The centre will host training facilities to provide skills as per the demand of the international employers in countries like Canada, Australia and the Gulf nations.

EX KRIPAN SHAKTI

• The Trishakti Corps conducted EX KRIPAN SHAKTI, an Integrated Fire Power exercise at Teesta Field Firing Ranges (TFFR) near Siliguri in West Bengal.
• The exercise was aimed at coordinating and synergizing the capabilities of the Indian Army and the Central Armed Police Forces to fight an integrated battle.
• The firing involved employment and firing of all arms and weapon systems including guns, mortars, infantry combat vehicles, helicopters.
• It also involves the employment of Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance platforms to execute the ‘Sensor to Shooter’ concept.

National Conference on Poverty Free Village

• Ministry of Panchayati Raj organized National Conferences on Poverty free and Enhanced livelihood village and Self-Sufficient infrastructure Village as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav from 11th -17th April 2022.
• The conclave focuses that the nation has to fight against poverty and corruption. Poverty is the root cause of slow pace of development of any nation.
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj emphasised on the infrastructure that were developed in the recent days.
• He stated that infrastructure plays an important role in the development of society and eradication of poverty.
• During the conclave, Joint Statement of Understanding was signed between Ms. Shoko Noda Resident Representative, UNDP-India and Shri. Sunil Kumar Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj for the eradication of poverty and development of infrastructure in rural India.

Hunar Haat Held in Mumbai

• Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur inaugurated the 40th edition of Hunar Haat that being held in Mumba.
• Hunar Haat” in Mumbai is being organised from 16th to 27th April, where 1000 artisans and craftsmen from more than 31 States/UTs participated in the event.
• It is to strengthen the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Vocal for Local” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken various effective steps for preservation, protection and promotion of the ancestral heritage of indigenous artisans and craftsmen.

BANKING

PhonePe Partners with Extreme IX

• PhonePe, a digital payments platform has joined hands with an internet exchange point, Extreme IX.
• It is to enable faster digital payments experience for 370 million PhonePe users.
• PhonePe has become the first digital payments platform to participate in an Internet Exchange in India. This industry first partnership will help decrease time for PhonePe users irrespective of their location.
• The partnership will allow PhonePe customers across India to swiftly administer their day-to-day financial transactions.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2022

• The award is annually given by the Malcolm and Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust to an outstanding social scientist for Distinguished Contributions to Development Studies.

• Prabhat Patnaik, renowned Indian economist and political commentator has been named the recipient of the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award for the year 2022.

• He has served as Vice-Chairman of the Kerala State Planning Board.
• Malcolm Sathiyanathan Adiseshiah (1910 – 1994), was an Indian development economist and educator.
• The award comprises a citation and prize money of Rs. 2 lakh.

Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration

• Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) flagship Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) has been selected for Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2020 under the category “Innovation (General) – Central”.
• Government of India has initiated this award to acknowledge, recognize and reward innovative work done by Districts and Organizations of Government.
• This scheme emphasises on Good Governance and Qualitative achievements.
• The award consists of a trophy, scroll and an incentive of Rs 10 lakhs.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation will receive the award on 21stApril, which is a Civil Service Day.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Non-Executive Director of HDFC Bank

• The HDFC Bank board of directors approved the re-appointment of Renu Karnad as Non-Executive Director for a period of five years with effect from September 3, 2022.

• Ms. Renu Sud Karnad joined HDFC Ltd. in 1978.

• She was inducted onto its Board in 2000 and currently hold the position of Managing Director.
• She has been instrumental in building the retail distribution network at HDFC and has played key role in introducing several innovative & customer friendly products and services in the mortgage market.
• She is a Post Graduate of Economics from the University of Delhi and holds a degree in Law from the University of Mumbai.

SPORTS

Danish Open Swimming Tournament in Copenhagen

• 16-year-old swimmer Vedaant Madhavan has won a silver medal for India at the Danish Open Swimming Meet in Copenhagen.

• Vedaant Madhavan finished second in the 1,500-metre freestyle swimming event.

• He had earlier won a bronze medal at Latvia Open in March 2021.
• Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash won the gold medal in the category of men's 200m butterfly.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Voice Day

• World Voice Day is celebrated every year on 16 April.
• The theme for the day 2022 is ‘Lift your voice’.
• The day aims to raise awareness about the need of preventing vocal issues and rehabilitating people with vocal problems.
• The celebration of World Voice Day was initiated by a group of vocal care professionals in Brazil.
• In 1999, the Brazilian Society of Laryngology and Voice under the chairmanship of Dr Nedio Steffen first celebrated the day as Brazilian Voice Day on 16 April. The day was also observed in Portugal and Argentina.

World Hemophilia Day

• World Hemophilia Day is celebrated every year on 17 April.

• The theme for this year's World Hemophilia Day is ‘Access for All: Partnership. Policy. Progress Engaging your government, integrating inherited bleeding disorders into national policy.’
• The aim of the day is to sensitize people and governments on the disease and achieve better diagnosis by providing people with access to healthcare.
• The also aims to commemorate the birthday of Frank Schnabel, the founder of the World Federation of Hemophilia.

Save the Elephant Day

• Save the Elephant Day is celebrated every year on 16 April.

• Save the Elephants Day is created to raise awareness about the danger’s elephants face and the various difficulties they have to overcome to live.

• The day is established by the Thailand based Elephant Reintroduction Foundation.

OBITUTARY

Odia Musician and Singer Prafulla Kar

• Eminent musician, singer, lyricist, writer and columnist Prafulla Kar passed away at the age of 83.

• Kar was awarded Padma Shri in 2015 for his contribution to the field of arts.

• He was also the recipient of the Jayadeva Award in the year 2004.
• He was born on 16 February 1939 in Puri, Odisha. He will be remembered for his pioneering contribution to Odia culture and music.