NATIONAL NEWS
India hosts summit of BRICS Finance Ministers, central bank heads virtuallyFinance minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised the key role the BRICS group was playing in responding to the current global crisis through policy support and by enhancing international policy coordination.
- She was addressing the first meeting of BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors meeting virtually from New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by Sitharaman and RBI governor Shaktikanta Das.
- Issues discussed in the meeting included global economic outlook, new development bank, social infrastructure, IMF reforms, fintech for SME and financial inclusion, customs cooperation, BRICS bond fund and BRICS information security.
The Centre has approved 28 highway projects worth Rs 1,210.17 crore in Uttarakhand, union Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
- These projects are for building 231.04 kms of highways.
- These include strengthening work of National Highway-309B on EPC (engineering, construction and procurement) mode in Uttarakhand under State Public Works Department (PWD) with a budget of Rs 48.19 crore.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India contributes $500,000 to UN Trust Fund for counter-terrorismIndia has contributed an additional $500,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism, taking the country's donation to the UN office set up to combat terrorism to over $1 million.
- With this amount, India's total contribution to it so far is $1.05 million.
- India said it was keen to continue working with the UN office to further the common objective of combatting terrorism.
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI extends RTGS, NEFT money transfer facilities beyond banksReserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) facilities to non-bank payment system operators.
- Till now, only banks were allowed to use RTGS and NEFT payments facilities. Now, Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) issuers, card networks, White label ATM operators and Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platforms can use NEFT and RTGS modes.
- The aim is to encourage participation of non-banks across payment systems, the central bank said. This facility is expected to minimise settlement risk in the financial system and enhance the reach of digital financial services to all user segments.
The Reserve Financial institution of India has enhanced the momentary liquidity restrict for states and union territories by about 46% to assist them tide over their money movement mismatches.
- The revision of the restrict was really helpful by an advisory panel fashioned by the central financial institution to assessment the matter.
- The restrict was final enhanced in February 2016 beneath the methods and means advance (WMA) mechanism.
Airtel Payments Bank announced its new savings account ''Rewards123'' that offers benefits and value to customers when they transact digitally using the bank account.
- Customers can get ''Rewards123'' at an annual fee of Rs 299 and avail benefits ranging from certain cashback per month on payments for prepaid recharges, post-paid, broadband, landline, and DTH bill payments, load money benefits and shopping rewards.
- Other benefits include zero minimum balance, and free Platinum Online Mastercard Debit Card.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
India's fuel consumption contracts 9.1 per cent in FY21; first since 1998-99India's fuel demand contracted by a massive 9.1 per cent in the financial year ended March 31, the first in more than two decades, as a stringent lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the pandemic pummelled economic activity, government data showed.
- India consumed 194.63 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2020-21 as compared with 214.12 million tonnes demand in the previous year, according to the latest data released by the oil ministry's Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).
- This the first time that the fuel consumption has contracted since 1998-99, the most historical year for which government data is available.
- The demand contraction was led by diesel, the most-consumed fuel in the country. Diesel consumption fell 12 per cent to 72.72 million tonnes while petrol demand shrank 6.7 per cent to 27.95 million tonnes.
The net direct tax collection for the fiscal ended March 31 stood at Rs 9.45 lakh crore, an increase of 5 per cent over the revised estimates in the Union Budget.
- Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman P C Mody said the income tax department has exceeded the revised estimates despite issuing substantial refunds in the 2020-21 fiscal.
- During the fiscal, the net corporate tax collection stood at Rs 4.57 lakh crore, while net personal income tax was Rs 4.71 lakh crore. Another Rs 16,927 crore came from securities transaction tax (STT). The direct tax collection target set in the revised estimates (RE) for 2020-21 was Rs 9.05 lakh crore.
APPOINTMENTS
Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou appointed as new Prime Minister of NigerThe Newly elected President for Niger Mohamed Bazoum appointed former minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou as the country’s Prime Minister.
- Mahamadou, aged 69 served in the government of Niger as Minister of Mines, Energy, and Industry from 1991 to 1993 and as Minister of Finance from April 2011 to April 2012.
- He has been Director of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou’s Cabinet since 2015.
Chinese smartphone brand Vivo announced that it has onboarded Virat Kohli as the company's brand ambassador.
- Kohli will be seen spreading awareness and promoting the launch of Vivo's upcoming products series in the pipeline.
AWARDS
Devishankar Awasthi Award 2020 awarded to Ashutosh BhardwajThe famous Devishankar Awasthi Award has been awarded to the prolific Hindi prose, journalist, and critic Ashutosh Bhardwaj.
- This honour has been given to him for his work ‘Pitra-Vadh’.
- He was elected by the selection committee of Ashok Vajpayee, Nandkishore Acharya, and Rajendra Kumar.
The Great Khali has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
- Khali, who had gone toe-to-toe with some of the greatest WWE stars, won the the World Heavyweight Championship in 2007.
- Former WWE wrestler Dilip Singh Rana, alias The Great Khali, took his place in sports-entertainment history during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
LG Manoj Sinha launches online portal to strengthen e-Governance in J-KStrengthening the e-Governance structure and bringing transparency in the system, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched two mobile applications -- 'Hamari Sadak' and 'Tameer Taraqqi' which will allow residents to register and track their grievances and enable effective supervision of development projects through data updated by field staff.
- Jammu and Kashmir Public Works- Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (JKPW-OMMAS), and the two said apps of Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department have been developed through the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
- The portal would facilitate complete online management and monitoring of infrastructure with various functionalities including geo-tracking and dynamic update.
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched NanoSniffer, the world’s first Microsensor-based Explosive Trace Detector (ETD).
- The Nanosniffer has been developed by NanoSniff Technologies which is an IIT Bombay incubated startup.
- It is being marketed by Vehant Technologies, a spin-off from a former IIT Delhi incubated startup Kritikal Solutions.
- NanoSniffer is a step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India. NanoSniffer is a 100 per cent Made in India product in terms of research, development & manufacturing.
IMPORTANT DAYS
CRPF Valour DayCentral Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Valour Day (Shaurya Diwas) is observed on 9 April every year, as a tribute to the brave men of the Force. 2021 marks the 56th CRPF Valour Day.
- It was on this day in 1965, a small contingent of CRPF created history by defeating an invading Pakistani army, several time larger, at the Sardar Post located in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.
Every year, the International Day of Drug Checking takes place on March 31.
- The aim of the day is to promote harm reduction initiatives and reduce drug-related risks, but also to ensure people are educated on drugs and aware of their effects.
April 6 is the United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which recognizes the power of sport in promoting peace and erasing cultural barriers worldwide.
- The day is an opportunity for individuals to recognise the role of sports in communities, individuals lives, building resilience and in recovery from the global pandemic.
International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda observed globally on 7 April every year.
- The date marks the beginning of the genocide perpetrated against members of the Tutsi minority by the Hutu extremist-led government.
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