NATIONAL NEWS

'One Panchayat, One Playground' Project

• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the 'One Panchayat, One Playground' project in Kallikkad with the goal of reviving the sports culture in the state.

• The project aims to establish high-quality playgrounds in every panchayat, a local self-government in India, to promote community gatherings and social interaction.

• The playgrounds will be constructed within three years, with 113 panchayats identified for the initial phase of the project.

• Each playground is expected to cost around Rs one crore, with the sports department covering half of the cost and the remaining funds raised from various sources such as legislative and local body funds, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and public-private partnerships.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Asia Pacific Malaria Leaders Conclave 2023

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised the Asia Pacific Leaders’ Conclave on Malaria Elimination in New Delhi on 24 April in partnership with the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA).

• The purpose of the conclave is to reaffirm political commitment to inspire action to eliminate malaria by 2030.

• The conclave will provide a forum for leaders from the Asia Pacific region to discuss ongoing efforts towards malaria elimination and revive national and regional momentum towards the goal of a malaria-free Asia Pacific by 2030.

• The conclave was presided over by Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.

Air Services Agreement

• India and Guyana signed an Air Services Agreement (ASA) to facilitate easier travel between the two nations.
• The agreement's signing is consistent with the government's objective to establish ties between Guyana and the rest of the world.
• It will also complement the more than 50 air service agreements Guyana has negotiated with other ICAO governments for the advancement of interstate air travel.
• The agreement encourages the development of international air services between the two countries and the global airline market.
• Air Services Agreement (ASA) provides the legal framework for air operations between two countries.

BANKING

Federal Bank Signs Agreement with Agri Fintech Kivi

• Federal Bank has entered into a Banking Correspondent agreement with Chennai-based KiVi, an agri fintech start-up operated by Agrosperity Tech Solutions, with a view to scaling and expanding its agri lending portfolio in Tamil Nadu (TN).

• Federal Bank launched the instant KCC platform in September 2022.

• It is claimed to be the first of its kind in agriculture lending, it offers farmers convenience and turnaround time.

• It is to provide small-value loans to small and marginal farmers, and is designed to facilitate efficient credit flow to underserved rural populations.
• In the initial phase of this partnership, KiVi aims to serve 10,000 farmers in Tamil Nadu.

SPORTS

Archery World Cup 2023

• Indian men's recurve team comprising Atanu Das, Dheeraj Bommadevra and Tarundeep Rai won the silver medal at the Archery World Cup 2023 Stage 1 held in Antalya, Turkey.
• The Indian trio lost 4-5 to China's Li Zhongyuan, Qi Jiangshuo and Wei Shaoxuan in the final.
• Dheeraj Bommadevra defeated Ilfat Abdullin of Kazakhstan 7–3 to win the bronze medal in the men's individual recurve event.
• India ended the competition with four medals, including two gold, one silver and one bronze.

Kiptom Wins London Marathon

• Kelvin Kiptum, a 23-year-old Kenyan athlete, won the London Marathon and set the second fastest time in history for the distance.
• Kiptum finished the race with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds, breaking the course record but only 16 seconds short of Eliud Kipchoge's world record.
• It is an annual long distance running competition that takes place in London, UK. It was first organised in 1981.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI)

• India secured 38th rank in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) released in 2023 by the World Bank.

• India's improvement in ranking can be attributed to its significant investments in both hard and soft infrastructure, as well as technology.

• India's current ranking shows a significant improvement from its 44th rank in 2018 and its 54th rank in 2014.

• The Logistics Performance Index ranks 139 countries based on factors such as the efficiency of customs clearance processes, the quality of transportation infrastructure and the ease of arranging shipments.

• Singapore and Finland have been identified as the most efficient and highest ranked countries in terms of logistics performance as per LPI 2023.

First Ever Census on Water Bodies in India

• For the first time in the country's history, the Ministry of Jal Shakti recently released the first census report of water bodies, providing important insights into the country's water resources.

• The census provides a comprehensive list of India's water resources, which includes natural and man-made water bodies such as ponds, tanks, lakes, etc.

• It has collected data on encroachment of water bodies.

• The census also highlighted disparities between rural and urban areas and different levels of encroachment and revealed important insights into the country's water resources.

• Top 05 States in terms of number of water bodies - West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Assam which constitute around 63% of the total water bodies in the country.
• Top 05 States in terms of number of water bodies in urban areas- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura.
• Top 05 States in terms of number of water bodies in rural areas - West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Assam.

AWARDS & PRIZES

India Gem and Jewellery Awards

• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal attended the 49th edition of India Gem and Jewellery Awards in Mumbai.

• Organized by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the event felicitates top exporters from the sector.

• The Union Minister felicitated 28 top exporters and facilitators during the award ceremony, which also had Frank Geerkens, Consul General of Belgium in Mumbai, as the guest of honour.

• The GJEPC chairman expressed hope that the free trade agreements with the UK, Canada and the European Union that are being negotiated will help exporters reach US$1 trillion in exports.

DEFENCE

‘Locked Shields’ Cyber-Defense Exercise 2023

• The 2023 edition of the annual exercise ‘Locked Shields’ was hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence in Tallinn (Estonia).
• More than 3000 participants from 38 countries including NATO alliesand partners took part in the exercise.
• The exercise simulates real-time attacks and tests strategic decision making in critical situations.
• The exercise highlights the importance of international collaboration and cooperation in the field of cyber defence.
• The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence helps participating countries and organisations improve their cyber defence capabilities.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Biofire Launches World’s First Smart Gun with Fingerprint Unlock

• Biofire Technologies, a Colorado-based company, has launched the world’s first-ever biometric handgun, the Biofire Smart Gun.

• The Biofire Smart Gun is the first and only biometric firearm on the market.

• It is a 9mm handgun that uses fingerprint and facial recognition biometrics to ensure only authorised users can fire it.

• Designed for home defense, the Biofire Smart Gun enables firearm owners to defend themselves against external threats while preventing unauthorised access and misuse.
• Identification systems have been integrated with its firing mechanism.
• The smart gun is powered by a battery.
• Some recent models of smart guns were simply based on adding sensors to existing weapons.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Panchayati Raj Day

• Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated every year on 24th April to commemorate the enactment of the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 of the Constitution in the year 1993.

• The day is celebrated to acknowledge national local self-governance and democratic decentralisation.

• The theme of National Panchayati Raj Day 2023 is 'Sustainable Panchayat: Building Healthy, Water Sufficient, Clean & Green Villages.'
• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is the nodal ministry responsible for empowering, enabling and ensuring accountability of Panchayati Raj Institutions for achieving inclusive growth with social justice and efficient service delivery.