NATIONAL NEWS

e-Library ‘e-Kitab Kosh’

• On 19 April 2022, The Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta launched the e-Kitab Kosh, an e-library initiative of the Information Technology Department.
• The e-Kitab Kosh is visualized as an online library for providing access to a virtual repository of learning resources in five languages which include English, Hindi, Urdu, Dogri and Kashmiri.
• The Department will make available all e-books of JK BOSE and NCERT on the website for assisting students with easy access to the learning material in the spirit of Digital India Mission.
• The e-Library is easily accessible on ‘anytime-anywhere’ basis through both computer and mobile devices.
• The e-Kitab Kosh can be accessed at www.elibrary.jk.gov.in.

‘NATPOLREX-VIII’

• On April 19 2022, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar inaugurated two-day National Level Pollution Response Exercise, ‘NATPOLREX-VIII’ conducted by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) off Mormugao harbour, Goa.
• This year marks the 8th edition.
• The objective of NATPOLREX-VIII is to enhance the preparedness and response capability of all the stakeholders in combating marine spills.
• During the exercise, various components of National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) were invoked to validate and improve the plans and evaluate preparedness of the resource agencies as well as stakeholders to meet any marine spill disaster at sea.

Mobile App Launched for Khelo India University Games 2021

• Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka launched ‘Khelo India University Games 2021’ mobile app.
• In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the second edition of Khelo India University Games to be held in Bengaluru.
• It will have its own mobile application which is free-to-download on Play Store and App Store.
• The mobile app has features like ‘my food’ which will provide everyday menu and ‘my-pass’ for every participant has also been created on the app.
• The unique ‘Khelo India University Games 2021’ mobile app promises to be a one-stop-shop for all information regarding the event scheduled to begin on 24th April.
• The app will also have information about accommodation, food, transport service and timings, emergency contacts, maps to reach various venues where the events are being held.

Telangana's SpaceTech Framework

• The IT Minister of Telangana government Rama Rao launched 'SpaceTech Framework' to support the participation of private industry in the space tech sector and the framework's vision is to establish the state as a ''globally recognised one-stop destination'' in the technology.

• During the meeting, he also announced the launch of the governments SpaceTech NFT (Non-Fungible Token collection).

• The event was held on Metaverse.

• Metaverse is a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users.

Industry Conclave 2022

• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras organized two-day Industry Conclave 2022 on April 16 and April 17, 2022 to showcase research and innovations of the institute to the government, industry and corporate firms.
• The objective of the conclave was to bridge the gap between industry and academia and facilitate Institute collaborations with industries for research projects, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and start-ups.
• This event was also intended to help IIT Madras students and researchers gain an industry perspective.

GE Partners with TIDCO

• US based aircraft engine manufacturer GE has partnered with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) to set up a center of excellence in Tamil Nadu on emerging aviation engine technologies.
• An investment of about Rs. 141.26 crore over five years was proposed to be funded by TIDCO and GE in two phases.
• The center of excellence will work towards technology development of aviation engine parts such as compressor heat exchangers, combustor components, casing, frames, gears and splines.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Indo-Finnish Virtual Network Centre

• India and Finland announced to establish an Indo-Finnish Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing.

• Finland Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintila, who is currently in India and Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh signed an agreement.

• The bilateral collaboration between the two countries is an attempt to stimulate innovative research and development projects that demonstrate high industrial and commercial potential and aim to deliver benefits to both the nations.
• For Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing, India has identified three premier institutes IIT- Madras, IISER, Pune and C-DAC, Pune.
• The decision to establish Virtual Network centre was taken in the last Joint Committee meeting held in November 2020.
• Finnish Minister Lintila also assured that Finnish companies will partner with India for Carbon-neutral technologies and enhance cooperation for Sustainability in Climate Change.

Qatar Airways and IndiGo

• Qatar Airways and IndiGo have announced to reactivate their strategic cooperation in the codeshare partnership.

• The reactivation of strategic partnership with IndiGo is another milestone in the development of aviation between the State of Qatar and India.

• Both Qatar Airways and IndiGo will offer over 340 flights per week to 13 destinations in India.
• Qatar Airways will place its marketing code on IndiGo operated flights between Doha and Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
• Qatar will operate 190 flights per week to and from 12 destinations in India and IndiGo, on the other hand, will operate 154 flights per week between Doha and India.

BANKING

Poonawalla Fincorp Enters Digital Consumption Loans Space

• Poonawalla Fincorp Limited, has entered the digital consumption loans space through a tie-up with KrazyBee.
• Under this partnership, Poonawalla Fincorp will offer small ticket personal loans to individuals. It also focuses on consumer and small business finance as a part of its stated strategy.
• The partnership provides complete end-to-end digital consumer loans across the country.
• KrazyBee Services Private Limited is a non-deposit taking Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) registered with the Reserve Bank of India.
• KrazyBee along with KreditBee which is its technology platform and India's largest consumption-based personal loan platform commands more than 20% market share of NBFC.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Revises MCLR

• Kotak Mahindra Bank has increased the marginal cost of lending rate (MCLR) across loan tenors. The revised new rates are effective from April 16 2022.
• The bank has increased MCLR by five basis points.
• The latest overnight MCLR is at 6.65% whereas it's one month, three month and six-month MCLR rates are 6.90%, 6.95% and 7.25%, respectively.
• And the one year, two year and three-year rates are at 7.40%, 7.70% and 7.90%, respectively.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Ukraine Journalist to be Honoured PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award

• PEN America announced Vladyslav Yesypenko, a Ukrainian journalist imprisoned in Crimea as the recipient of the 2022 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award.
• He will be honored the 2022 PEN America Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History on May 23, where the award will be accepted by his wife Kateryna Yesypenko.
• The PEN award was emerged in the year 1987 and is given to writers and artists imprisoned for their work.
• He was arrested in 2021 and sentenced to six years in a Russian labor camp for transport of explosives.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Director (Finance) and CFO of ONGC

• Government-owned oil and gas producer Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has appointed Pomila Jaspal as the Director (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
• Prior to this, Jaspal served as the Director (Finance) at MRPL, which is an arm of ONGC. She was the first-ever woman Functional Director on the Board of MRPL.
• Jaspal has been working with ONGC since 1985. She has also served as Director on the Board of ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Limited (OMPL), Petronet, Mangalore Hassan Bangalore Limited (PMHBL) and ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL).
• Jaspal is a Fellow Member and Gold Medalist of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India has 36 years of experience in various segments of the oil and gas Industry.

MD and CEO of Digit Insurance

• Digit Insurance has appointed Jasleen Kohli as the new managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company with effect from 20 April 2022.
• She will succeed Vijay Kumar who held the position since the company was founded in 2017.
• Prior to this appointment, Kohli held the position of chief distribution officer (CDO) in Digit Insurance and overlooked all sales and distribution channels of the company.
• The 42-year-old, Kohli will become one of the youngest CEOs in the insurance industry.

Executive Secretary and Defence Advisor to Kamala Harris

• Indian-American US Navy veteran Shanti Sethi has been appointed as executive secretary and defence advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris.

• Sethi commanded the guided-missile destroyer, USS Decatur, from December 2010 to May 2012.
• She was also the first female Indian-American commander of a US naval vessel.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

A new book by Prem Rawat

• Author Prem Rawat has released his new book titled ‘Hear Yourself: How to find peace in a Noisy World’ for India.
• Renowned author released his book in Mumbai, Maharashtra and was organized by Harper Collins India in association with TimelessToday. The book was published by HarperOne, which is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
• The book is available in five languages namely English, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.
• The book aims to develop better self-understanding and to uncover the wisdom and the potential that we already have. To find peace, one needs to leave the world of believing and enter the world of knowing.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Liver Day

• World Liver Day is celebrated every year on 19 April.

• It is to raise awareness about liver-related disorders and diseases.
• World Liver Day is observed to motivate people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, avoid eating oily and greasy food and spread awareness about liver diseases.
• As reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Liver problems amount to the 10th most common reason for death in India.