NATIONAL NEWS
Govt simplifies process to re-issue OCI cardsGovernment has decided to simplify the process to re-issue Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. Currently, the OCI card is required to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age.
- A person who has got registration as OCI cardholder prior to attaining the age of 20 years will have to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after completing 20 years of age. If a person has obtained registration as OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, there will be no requirement of re-issue of OCI card.
- With a view to update the data regarding new passports obtained by the OCI cardholder, it has been decided that they will upload a copy of the new passport containing their photo and also a latest photo on the online OCI portal, each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age.
- However, in the case of those who have been registered as OCI cardholder as spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or an OCI cardholder, the person concerned will be required to upload a copy of the new passport.
Centre has approved over 50 crore rupees for developing all-weather ROPAX, Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger Jetty and allied infrastructure connecting Kaninali in Bhadrak district and Talachua in Kendrapara district, Odisha under the Sagarmala initiative.
- 110 crore rupees ROPAX Jetty project will come up on river Dhamra in Odisha.
- This project will reduce travel time for passengers from 6 hours by road to one hour by waterway. It will facilitate safe movement of passengers and vehicles.
Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched World 1st affordable and long-lasting hygiene product DuroKea Series.
- This next generation DuroKea antimicrobial technology starts at 189 rupees, kills 99.99 per cent of germs instantly and leaves behind the long-lasting protective nanoscale coating up to 35 days till next wash.
- Researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad has developed this innovative technologies to combat COVID-19 virus spreading.
India has extended Nepali rupees 42.95 million (26.98 million INR) grant assistance to Nepal for a new building of a secondary school in Udayapur district, the Indian embassy said.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian embassy, Nepali Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) and Triyuga Municipality for the construction of a new building for Shree Bal Mandir Secondary School, Triyuga Municipality.
- The project will be taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDPs) at an estimated cost of NRs 42.95 million under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Development Partnership programme.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India ranked very low in Inclusive Internet Index: Facebook-Economist Intelligence Unit studyEven though India has the cheapest data plans, and nearly 700 million internet users, the country is at a dismal 49th spot globally when it comes to internet inclusion and gender equality in accessing the world wide web, according to a Facebook-Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) study.
- India is tied with Thailand in 49th place this year on the scores of internet availability (77th position globally), affordability (20th spot), relevance (49th position) and readiness (29th) categories.
- India is set to reach one billion internet users by 2025. There were over 687.6 million internet users in India in 2020.
BANKING & FINANCE
Citi to exit retail banking operations in IndiaCitigroup has announced that it will exit the retail banking business in India and 12 other countries.
- It marks the end of an era as it was the first foreign bank that started operations in India in 1985.
- The US banking group said it has already started the process to look for buyers, following which it will exit retail banking operations in India.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
CSC, Tata Power tie-up to provide solar-powered micros grids in rural areasThe government's e-governance services arm CSC announced a collaboration with Tata Power to set up solar-powered micro grids and water pumps in rural areas across the country.
- To begin with, Tata Power proposes to set up 10,000 micro grids to support rural consumers and under the partnership, over 3.75 lakh CSCs, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
- The partnership is in line with the government’s focus on providing solar water pumps and micro-grid connected to solar power for small and marginal farmers to provide them with financial and water security.
E-commerce giant Amazon India has launched $250 million Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund (the venture fund) to invest in startups and entrepreneurs focusing on technology innovations in SMB (small and medium business) digitization, agriculture and healthcare.
- The venture fund will invest in technology-led startups that are passionate about unlocking the possibilities of a digital India.
- The fund will specifically focus on encouraging the best ideas to digitize SMBs (small and medium businesses).
SPORTS
APPOINTMENTS
Haiti's Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe resignsHaitian Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe announced that he has resigned, as the country faces a spike in killings and kidnappings and prepares for an upcoming constitutional referendum and a general election later this year.
- Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise accepted the resignation of Mr Jouthe and his cabinet and announced foreign minister Claude Joseph had been appointed as Haiti’s interim prime minister.
AWARDS
Marathi movie Puglya bags Best Foreign Language film award at Moscow International Film FestivalMarathi film Puglya directed by Vinod Sam Peter has won the best foreign language feature at the Moscow International Film Festival 2021, continuing its immensely successful international stint.
- The movie portrays various emotions of children and their attachment towards something they love. So far, this movie has attracted over 45 awards and recognitions at various international film festivals.
Virat Kohli has been named Wisden Almanack’s ODI player of the 2010s, while England all-rounder Ben Stokes was declared the ‘Cricketer of the Year’ for a second successive time.
- To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first One-Day International, five ODI cricketers of the decade have been named in the 2021 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack,” the reference book stated.
- Sachin Tendulkar was named the ODI Cricketer of the 1990s and Kapil Dev the best for the 1980s.Sir Vivian Richards claimed the prize in the 1970s while Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan got the nod for the 2000s.
- Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, West Indian Jason Holder, Mohammed Rizwan and Darren Stevens were named ‘Cricketers of the Year’. Australia’s Beth Mooney was awarded ‘Leading Women’s Cricketer in the World’ while West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard was named the ‘Leading T20 Cricketer in the World’.
OBITUARIES
Renowned Bangladeshi actor Kabori passes awayRenowned Bangladeshi actor Sara Begum Kabori passed away in Dhaka. She was 70.
- Sara Begum Kabori was honoured with the National Film Award for her role in the film Sareng Bou in 1978. She got the lifetime achievement award in 2013.
- She was also a freedom fighter and former member of parliament. Kabori was fondly known as the ‘Mishti Meye’, the ‘Sweet Girl’ of Bangladesh cinema for her role in the films.
Renowned radiologist and former Director of Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao passed away while undergoing treatment at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Secunderabad. He was 96.
- Known for his efforts to transform NIMS into a super-speciality hospital, Dr. Rao was its first director between 1985 and 1990 and later between 1997 and 2004, before retiring.
- In recognition to his valuable contributions in the field of medicine, the Government of India honoured him with a Padma Shri in 2000.
Famous Tamil film actor and Padma Sri awardee Vivek passed away in Chennai. He was 60 years.
- An incredible comedian, Vivek had entertained people of Tamil Nadu for over three decades through his 200 plus films.
- Vivek made his mark as a comedian and was known to infuse social themes and messages in his comic roles. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2009.
Former CBI director Ranjit Sinha passed away at the age of 68 due to Covid-related complications.
- Sinha, a 1974 batch (Bihar cadre) Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, headed the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Railway Protection Force before his CBI tenure.
- His two-year term as the CBI head from 2012 to 2014 was marred by the controversy over entries in the visitors’ diary at his official residence.
Former Chief Election Commissioner G.V.G. Krishnamurty passed away due to age-related ailments. He was 86.
- He was appointed as Election Commissioner of India which he held for 6 long years(1993 to 1999 ) , laying and strengthening the foundations for the highest democratic functioning of an independent Constitutional office.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
PM Modi released 4 books based on the life of Bhimrao AmbedkarPM Narendra Modi has paid tribute to India’s first law minister and the architect of the Indian Constitution Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary and released four books based on his life, written by Kishor Makwana. The four books to be released by the prime minister are:
- Dr Ambedkar Jivan Darshan,
- Dr Ambedkar Vyakti Darshan,
- Dr Ambedkar Rashtra Darshan, and
- Dr Ambedkar Aayam Darshan.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Hemophilia DayEvery year, April 17 is observed as World Hemophilia Day to raise awareness about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
- 'Adapting to change: sustaining care in a new world' is this year's theme. The day is about bringing together the global bleeding disorders community.
The International Day for Street Children is celebrated every year on 12th April. The day provides a platform for the millions of children on the streets around the world – and their champions – to speak out so that their rights cannot be ignored.
- The theme of International children day 2021 is,” Investing in our future means investing in our children”.
World Voice Day is observed globally on April 16 and celebrates the phenomenon of voice.
- It encourages people irrespective of their sex to assess their vocal health and take action to improve or maintain their good voice habits.
- The theme for this year is One World Many Voices.
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