NATIONAL NEWS
Indian, Sri Lankan scientists to undertake joint researchNine teams of scientists from India and Sri Lanka will undertake research with bilateral support from the two countries’ governments, the Ministry of Science & Technology said.
- The scientists will work on areas such as food technology, plant-based medicines, metrology, space research and applications, robotics and automation, industrial electronics, renewable energy, waste management, and information and communication technology.
India has operationalised 75,532 Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres so far despite the COVID-19 pandemic and is on track to functionalise 1.5 lakh HWCs by December 2022, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.
- Over 23.8 crore women (53.7 per cent) have accessed care at these centres, which saw a footfall of over 44.24 crore, a health ministry statement said.
Noting that about 1.5 million people in India die annually due to air pollution, the National Green Tribunal has formed an eight-member National Task Force (NTF) to monitor remedial steps to improve the status of air quality.
- A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel observed that a holistic and coordinated effort at all levels in the government was required.
- The NTF will comprise senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Petroleum, Transport, Power, Agriculture, Health and the Central Pollution Control Board.
Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has inaugurated the first-ever online exhibition on Ramayana. The weblink for the online exhibition is www.nmvirtual.in/Virtual_Tour/Ramayan.
- Mr Patel addressed a webinar 'India's Heritage: Powering Tourism' on the occasion of World Heritage Day 2021.
- The online exhibition showcases forty nine miniature paintings collections of National Museum, New Delhi from different art schools of India.
Noting that about 1.5 million people in India die annually due to air pollution, the National Green Tribunal has formed an eight-member National Task Force (NTF) to monitor remedial steps to improve the status of air quality.
- A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel observed that a holistic and coordinated effort at all levels in the government was required.
- The NTF will comprise senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Petroleum, Transport, Power, Agriculture, Health and the Central Pollution Control Board.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
BANKING & FINANCE
ETMONEY launches India's first Aadhaar based SIP paymentsETMONEY, an investment app, has launched India's first Aadhaar-based SIP payments feature, in line with its aim to make investments more seamless and open to the widest segment of Indian society.
- With this, anyone can now start a SIP online and set up automatic payments using a simple Aadhaar based OTP verification.
- In a country like India, digital banking services including net banking have a limited reach and face obstructions like failed login attempts and the hassle of remembering passwords.
A Corporate Agency Agreement has been signed between SBI General Insurance (one of the leading General Insurance companies in India) and Uttarbanga Kshetriya Gramin Bank (one of the key Banks in North Bengal) recently.
- This association will enable distribution of SBI General’s retail products through Uttarbanga Kshetriya Gramin Bank’s extensive network in the state of West Bengal.
- Under this strategic tie-up agreement, SBI General Insurance will offer a comprehensive range of general insurance products.
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank announced its collaboration with fintech NIRA as part of its strategy of leveraging its API Banking platform for fintech partnerships.
- This is Ujjivan Small Finance Bank’s first Digital Lending partnership with many more on the way.
- Through this partnership, salaried customers can apply for a Personal Loan by using the NIRA app which is available in the play store.
State-run Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has appointed homegrown payments player Paytm to facilitate its digital payments.
- Following a tie-up with another payment gateway earlier, the country's largest life insurer has sought a new deal as the majority of its payments have moved to digital modes.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
Facebook signs first deal to buy renewable energy in IndiaFacebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm's wind power project, the social media giant's first such deal in the South Asian nation.
- The 32 megawatt wind power project, located in southern Karnataka state, is part of a larger portfolio of wind and solar projects that Facebook and Mumbai-based CleanMax are working together on for supplying renewable power into India's electrical grid.
- CleanMax will own and operate the projects, while Facebook will buy the power off the grid using environmental attribute certificates, or carbon credits.
AWARDS
SPORTS
Asian Weightlifting Championships: India's Mirabai Chanu creates a new Clean and Jerk world record in TashkentIndia's Mirabai Chanu set a new World Record in the women's 49kg Clean and Jerk with an impressive 119 kg lift at Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent.
- The 26-year-old lifted 86kg in snatch and a world record of 119kg in clean and jerk for a total of 205kg which also won her the bronze medal at the event.
- The gold medal went to Hou Zhihui of China who created a new world record in snatch and total weight with an effort of 213kg while her compatriot Jiang Huihua clinched the silver, lifting 207kg in the gold level Olympic qualifier.
Max Verstappen won the Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix 2021, in Imola, Italy. This win is his first victory of the season. The race was the second round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship.
- The seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton finished second and Lando Norris (McLaren – Great Britain) took third place.
APPOINTMENTS
TECNO ropes in Ayushmann Khurrana as its brand ambassadorSmartphone brand TECNO has announced Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana as its brand ambassador for the current calendar.
- With this partnership the brand hopes to drive visibility for TECNO's brand philosophy 'Stop at Nothing' to and bolster its position among smartphone consumers.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Goa gets Advanced Antiquities Management System for preservation of historical objectsThe Directorate of Archives and Archaeology (DAA) of the Goa government inaugurated the Advanced Antiquities Management System, first such system in the country for storage of antiquities.
- The system that catalogues 83 antiquities at present is aimed at providing quick information about an antiquity linked to the software, saving storage space and ensuring improved preservation of the objects of historical significance.
- The AAMS is a software-driven automated storage used for the storage of various objects. So far it has been used for storage of industrial equipment.
Lunar exploration firm iSpace said it will transport a United Arab Emirates unmanned rover to the Moon next year, as the Gulf state seeks to expand its space sector.
- The UAE — made up of seven emirates including the capital Abu Dhabi and freewheeling Dubai — announced in September 2020 that it planned to launch the "Rashid" rover by 2024.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the Online Grievance Management Portal of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
- The new mechanism has been introduced to handle the complaints in online mode from the victim.
- The portal will make it easier for the Scheduled Castes population to register their complaint from any part of the country. The portal will enable them to file their application and other atrocity and services related grievances online and to get them addressed in a time bound manner.
OBITUARIES
Legendary footballer and 1956 Melbourne Olympics hero Ahmed Hussain passes awayFootball Olympian Ahmed Hussain Lala passed away in Bengaluru, aged 89.Ahmed represented India in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
- Ahmed represented India at various other international tournaments including the 1958 Asian Games and the Merdeka Tournament in 1959.
- He was the coach of the Indian team for the President Cup in Seoul while P.K. Banerjee was the chief coach.
A senior officer of the Indian Information Service Narendra Kaushal passed away following COVID-19 infection.
- Mr Kaushal served in different departments of the Ministry of I&B including All India Radio, Doordarshan, ROB and RNI in senior positions.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Art DayWorld Art Day is celebrated every year on April 15, to promote the development, diffusion, and enjoyment of art.
- The day was adopted by the International Association of Art, a partner of UNESCO, to create awareness of creative activity worldwide.
Every year, the United Nations marks April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, in many countries also celebrated as World Heritage Day.
- The theme for 2021 is ‘Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures’.
- India is home to 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, out of the 1121 such spots identified around the world. So far, only China, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France have more locations on the list than India.
World liver day is observed on every 19 April, to spread awareness about liver related disease. The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, with the exception of the brain.
- The theme for this year is ‘Keep your liver healthy and disease-free.’
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