NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi Inaugurates and Lays Foundation of Development Projects

• PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of different projects in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
• He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various projects worth 4 thousand 800 crore rupees at Silvassa.
• He dedicated to the nation NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute in Silvassa.
• He addressed a gathering at Sayli village near Silvassa.
• He launched multiple developmental works.
• He also held a 16-kilometer-long roadshow in Daman town of the UT.
• He also inaugurated the Devka Seafront at Daman.

INOX Air Products Commissions 21.3 MWp Solar Power Plant

• INOX Air Products (INOXAP), India’s largest manufacturer of industrial and medical gases, has commissioned a 21.3 MWp Open Access Captive Solar Power Plant at Bangarmau in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• INOXAP’s first dedicated Solar Power Plant is also the largest investment made by the Company in renewable energy.
• The plant has been commissioned by one of India’s leading solar energy power developers, Sunsure Energy.
• It is built with an investment of ₹100 crore, the solar power plant will supply over 3.1 crore units of green power to INOXAP’s units in Uttar Pradesh, enabling an offset of 28,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, for the next 25 years.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India-UK NET Zero Innovation Virtual Centre

• India and the United Kingdom have agreed to create an India-UK Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre.
• The center will provide a platform for stakeholders from both countries to work together in areas such as manufacturing processes, transportation systems and decarbonization of green hydrogen as a renewable source.
• This was announced by Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at a meeting of the India-UK Science and Innovation Council meeting in the presence of United Kingdom Minister George Freeman.
• India is fast marching towards becoming an economic powerhouse driven by its extraordinary technology and innovation.
• India is committed to achieve its climate change and environment goals.

BANKING

NPCI Bharat Billpay Introduces the NOCS Platform

• NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) has launched the NOCS platform to provide reconciliation and settlement services for transactions undertaken on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network.
• The services, provided under the guidance of RBI, will serve as the foundation for the ONDC network and enable smooth, secure and timely transfer of funds to network participants.
• The NOCS platform is integrated with banks, fintechs and e-commerce players, and will soon go live with the first set of 5 banks on ONDC-AU Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC First Bank and YES Bank.
• The ONDC platform was set up to facilitate the rapid adoption of e-commerce, and boost and strengthen the growth of startups in India by facilitating scalable and cost-effective e-commerce through the open protocol.

Hindujas Get In-Principal Approval to Raise Stake in IndusInd Bank

• Hinduja Group, Promoters of India’s IndusInd Bank have received in-principal approval from the country’s central bank Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase their stake in IndusInd Bank.

• The promoters have filled out a form to increase the stake and the due diligence process takes about 90-180 days as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms.

• IndusInd’s promoters currently hold a stake of about 16.5% in the bank. In 2021, the RBI raised the cap on the stake promoters can hold in a bank to 26% from 15%.
• IndusInd International Holdings Ltd, an entity belonging to promoters Hinduja Group, have a 12.57% stake in the lender, while IndusInd Ltd has a 3.93% stake as per the company’s latest shareholding pattern available with the Indian stock exchange BSE.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Australia's Highest Civilian Honour

• Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata has received the Order of Australia (AO), Australia's highest civilian honour.
• The award was announced by Barry O'Farrell, Australia's High Commissioner to India.
• The award was given to Ratan Tata for his contribution in strengthening bilateral relations between India and Australia.
• Ratan Tata has been a strong supporter of the 2022 India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.
• Ratan Tata was recently named an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for his contribution to promoting trade, investment and philanthropy between India and Australia.
• It is an honour awarded to Australian citizens and other individuals in recognition of their exceptional achievements and services.

TAL Presents Lifetime Achievement Award

• Breast surgeon Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Telugu Association of London.
• Dr. Raghu Ram is one of the few persons to have received this prestigious award. He is also the only Indian living outside the UK to have been given this honour.
• The Telugu Association of London (TAL) recognized the extraordinary achievements of Dr. Raghu Ram by presenting him with the award during the Ugadi 2023 celebrations.
• TAL is the largest Telugu charity organisation in the UK and represents a Telugu speaking community of around 10,000 people in and around London.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Amitav Ghosh's Non-Fiction Book 'Smoke and Ashes'

• Amitav Ghosh's new non-fiction book, ‘Smoke and Ashes: A Writer's Journey Through Opium's Hidden Histories’, will be published by HarperCollins Fourth Estate on 15 July 2023.
• The book is a combination of memoir, travelogue, and cultural and economic history, which explores the often-overlooked effects of opium on society and history.
• Based on Ghosh's extensive research conducted while writing his trilogy of novels between 2005 and 2015, ‘Smoke and Ashes’ takes a personal look at the author's engagement with the hidden history of opium.
• This book explores how opium has shaped the modern world and continues to play an important role in making it now.

Ashish Kundra’s New Book ‘A Resurgent Northeast: Narratives of Change’

• A new book ‘A Resurgent Northeast: Narratives of Change’ launched.
• This book is written by Ashish Kundra, who is an IAS officer and senior bureaucrat.
• This book is on the history of Northeast India and its people.
• The book was launched in the presence of Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Pema Khandu, Amitabh Kant and others.
• The book was launched at an event in New Delhi.
• The event began with a performance by the famous vocal quartet of Tetseo sisters.
• In this book, senior bureaucrat-author Ashish Kundra has written about the transformational changes that are happening in the remotest parts of the Northeast.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day for Safety and Health at Work

• World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed every year on 28 April.

• The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting workers against occupational hazards, diseases and accidents.

• The International Labor Organization (ILO) selects the theme for the day each year, and the theme for 2023 is ‘A safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work.’

• The main goal of the event is to find viable ways to implement this essential human right in workplaces around the world.
• The International Labor Organization (ILO) established the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2003.