NATIONAL NEWS

Union Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy, 2023

• The Union Cabinet approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 and the Indian medical device sector has come into prominence due to its contribution in the fight against COVID-19.
• The policy aims to bring the medical device sector on an accelerated path of growth with a patient-centric approach to meet the growing healthcare needs of the patients.
• The market size of the medical device sector in India is estimated to be $11 billion in 2020.
• The policy is expected to help the medical device sector grow from the current $11 billion to $50 billion by 2030.
• The policy outlines six strategies to boost the medical device sector: regulatory streamlining, enabling infrastructure, facilitating R&D and innovation, attracting investments into the sector, human resource development and brand positioning and awareness building.

5th Edition of Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival at Kangpokpi

• Manipur Chief Minister (CM) Shri N Biren Singh inaugurated the 5th edition of the state-level HUN Thadou Cultural Festival, at Thomas Ground in Kangpokpi district of Manipur.
• HUN festival is an annual cultural festival and a civilising act of the Thadous community of Manipur.
• It is celebrated at the arrival of the new year according to the community.

NSE Comes Up with New Migration Policy for SMEs

• The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has revised the eligibility criteria for SMEs looking to switch from its SME platform to the main board.
• The new guidelines require SMEs to list on the SME platform for at least three years along with a minimum net worth of Rs 50 crore and at least 1,000 public shareholders on the last day of the preceding quarter from the date of application before moving to the main board.
• Effective from April 20, the applicant company should also have positive cash accruals (earnings before interest, depreciation and tax) from operations for each of the three financial years preceding the migration application.
• In addition, the company should have positive PAT (profit after tax) in the immediate financial year of making the migration application to the exchange.
• Moreover, the paid-up equity capital (amount received by the company from shareholders in exchange for shares of stock) of the applicant should not be less than Rs 10 crores and the market capitalisation shouldn’t be less than Rs 25 crores.

BANKING

Emkay Global Gets SEBI’s In-Principle Approval

• Emkay Global Financial Services has received in-principle approval from the capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch a mutual fund business in India.

• It offers services such as institutional equity, portfolio management services, wealth management, investment banking and global investing.

• At present, there are 44 MF players with total assets under management of about ₹40 lakh crore with top 10 players accounting for a lion’s share of business.
• MF sponsors subject to having a net-worth of ₹100 crore for contribution towards the net-worth of the Asset Management Company.
• This net-worth of the AMC has to be maintained till the time it posts profit for 5 consecutive years.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to Launch Gold-Pegged Digital Currency

• The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, or RBZ, plans to introduce a gold-backed digital currency as legal tender in Zimbabwe.

• It is believed that the government took this step to stabilizing the local currency after its continuous devaluation in comparison to the United States (US) dollar.

• This initiative taken by Zimbabwe will allow the exchange of Zimbabwean dollars with digital gold tokens and secure Zimbabweans against currency volatility.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Dalai Lama Receives Ramon Magsaysay Award

• Dalai Lama personally received the 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award from members of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.

• President of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Susanna B. Affan, along with Foundation Trustee Emily A. Abrera, presented the award to the Dalai Lama.

• The award was given in August 1959 by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation in the Philippines.

• It is an annual award that recognizes individuals and organisations in Asia for exceptional courage, integrity and service to their communities.

• The award is given in six categories: government service, public service, community leadership, journalism, creative arts, and peace and international understanding.

Global Gold Award for CSR Work

• Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a Maharatna CPSU of the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has been conferred with the Global Gold Award by The Green Organisation.

• The award was given at the Green World Awards 2023 ceremony held in Miami, USA.

• Dr. V.K. Singh, Director (Personnel), POWERGRID received the award on behalf of the organization.

• The award has been given to POWERGRID for improving agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods through watershed management, community participation and better crop management practices in 10 villages of Jayapatna block of Kalahandi district in Odisha.

Highest Order of Merit of Germany

• Former German chancellor Angela Merkel received the highest order of Merit of Germany.

• She has been honoured with this award for her achievements in office, despite growing criticism of her decisions on Russia and her energy policy.

• President Frank-Walter Steinmeier handed over her the Grand Cross award.

• Former chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl have received this award twice.

• Germany’s Order of Merit is the only federal decoration of Germany.
• It is given for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellectual or honorary fields.

DEFENCE

Bilateral Training Exercise 'Ajeya Warrior 2023'

• India and the United Kingdom will start the seventh edition of the bilateral training exercise Ajeya Warrior 2023.
• The exercise is part of an initiative to develop interoperability and share expertise with friendly foreign nations.
• Military forces of both countries participate in this joint military exercise.
• It is a bilateral training exercise between the armies of India and UK.
• The exercise will see the participation of an infantry company from India and a unit of equal strength from the British Army.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

President of Indian Cycling Federation

• Pankaj Singh was elected as the President of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI).

• The election was held during the Annual General Body meeting in Nainital, and Pankaj Singh was elected unopposed.

• Maninder Pal Singh was elected general secretary for the second time in a row.

• Sudesh Kumar from Kerala was elected as the treasurer.

• It is the national governing body for cycling in India and was established in 1946.
• It is recognized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for the sport of cycling.
• The main responsibilities of the CFI include promoting, developing and regulating cycling activities in India.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Girls in ICT Day

• International Girls in ICT Day is observed on the fourth Thursday of April every year to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in ICT.

• This year it is celebrated on 27 April.

• The day promotes gender equality and diversity in the tech industry by raising awareness of the gender gap and inspiring women to pursue ICT careers.

• The theme for the year is ‘Digital Skills for Life’, which highlights the importance of digital skills in daily life.
• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) proclaimed International Girls in ICT Day on 8 April 2011, and has since been celebrated globally with thousands of events and hundreds of thousands of participants.

World Intellectual Property Day

• World Intellectual Property Day is observed every year on 26 April.

• It is to raise awareness about the role of patents, copyrights, trademarks and designs in our daily lives.

• The theme for World Intellectual Property Day 2023 is ‘Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity’.
• The 2023 theme aims to highlight the importance of overcoming the challenges faced by women in the field of intellectual property and unlocking their full potential.
• Intellectual property refers to intangible assets that are generated by the mind, including literary and artistic works, designs, inventions, symbols, names and images used in commerce.