NATIONAL NEWS
Union Cabinet clears Silk Board-Airport metro line, to complete in 54 monthsThe Union Cabinet cleared Bangalore Metro Rail's ambitious Silk Board to international airport line project, which is estimated to cost about Rs 14,788 crore.
- The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) is implementing the project in two phases. While phase 2A covers Central Silk Board Junction to K.R. Puram, the phase 2B runs from K.R. Puram to Airport via Hebbal Junction. The two phases cover a length of 58.19 km.
- Once completed in the estimated 54 months, this project will play a key role in decongesting the city which contributes 40% to India's IT exports & is home to a large number of IT parks, hubs and industries.
Central government has extended the insurance scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers for a period of one year.
- Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harshvardhan said that Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package has provided a safety net to the dependents of corona warriors who lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Cabinet approved a fresh Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, (CA ANZ).
- It intends to develop mutually beneficial relationships in the best interest of members, students and their organizations and is expected to provide an opportunity to the ICAI members to expand their professional horizons and to foster working relations between the two accounting institutes.
The Cabinet gave ex post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding MoU between the Director General of Trade Remedies, India and the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission on the establishment of a framework of cooperation in the area of trade remedial measures signed at Dhaka.
- The primary objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the two countries in the area of Trade Remedies, covering the broad activities related to exchange of information, undertaking capacity building activities and activities in accordance with various provisions of World Trade Organization in the area of anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures in bilateral trade.
Cabinet approved the MoU between Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Administrative Council for Economic Defense of Brazil, (CADE).
- Section 18 of the Competition Act, 2002 permits CCI to enter into any Memorandum or arrangement with any agency of any foreign country for the purpose of discharging its duties or performing its functions under the Act.
- CCI has entered into the MoUs with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice of USA, Director General Competition of European Union, Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Competition Bureau of Canada and BRICS Competition Authorities.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India retains 142nd rank on World Press Freedom Index, among most dangerous nations for journalistsIndia has been listed under countries considered “bad” for journalism and is among the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders, which published its 2021 World Press Freedom Index.
- For the second successive year, India has ranked 142 among 180 countries on the Index.
- Among India’s neighbours, Nepal is at 106, Sri Lanka at 127, and Myanmar, before the military coup, features at 140. However, Pakistan and Bangladesh secured 145 and 152 ranks on the index, respectively.
- Yet again, Norway, followed by Finland and Denmark, have emerged at the top, securing the first three spots respectively. Eritrea in the horn of Africa is at the bottom, ranked 180. Other countries at the bottom are China (177), North Korea (179) and Turkmenistan (178).
Indian Army chief General MM Naravane attended the Army Chiefs' Conclave held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on the sidelines of a multinational military exercise.
- During the event, the Army chief also interacted with the senior officers of the participating nations and military observers from the other nations.
BANKING & FINANCE
Gramcover and AICI tie-up to enhance rural insurance penetrationThe Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited has partnered with Gramcover , to collectively enhance rural insurance penetration.
- Under this MoU, Gramcover will focus on market analysis and identification of widely grown crops, as well as need-based rural insurance products.
- It will also work on the feasibility study, which will evaluate the suitability, demand, and affordability of insurance products in each aspirational district.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Icra cuts its FY22 GDP estimate by 0.5%, sees economy expanding by 10.5%Domestic rating agency Icra cut its 2021-22 growth estimate by 0.5 per cent on the upper end, as a newer spate of lockdowns and restrictions get imposed in pockets to arrest the rising COVID-19 cases.
- The agency now expects the economy to grow 10-10.5 per cent in 2021-22, against the 10-11 per cent estimated earlier.
India's pharma exports jumped over 18 percent to 24.4 billion dollars during the last financial year in comparison to the 2020 fiscal year.
- According to the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India data, North America was the largest exporting region for Indian pharmaceuticals companies with more than 34 percent exports to the region.
- Country-wise, exports to Canada registered the highest growth of 30 percent, followed by South Africa at 28%. US and Mexico also recorded a healthy growth of 12.6, and 21.4 percent respectively.
SPORTS
India clinches 14 medals at 2021 Senior Asian Wrestling ChampionshipThe 2021 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. India received 14 medals to stand in the 1/3 spot on the medal table.
- The medals include five Gold, three Silver & six Bronze Medals. Kazakhastan and Iran topped the medal tally with 17 medals each.
In what is being billed as a game changer for professional boxing in the country, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has endorsed the Indian Championship fight between Chandni Mehra and Suman Kumari on May 1 in Jalandhar.
- The fight for the Lightweight 140lb belt is scheduled to take place as part of the LZ Promotions India Unleashed-Fight Night -- the country's first ever Professional USA boxing event.
- This is the first time ever that India will be hosting a title card sanctioned by the global body and contested by the two female fighters.
Stefanos Tsitsipas won the Monte Carlo Masters without dropping a set, beating Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-3 for his first title this year and sixth overall.
- The Greek 22-year-old world number five took just one hour and 11 minutes to beat the Russian, ranked eighth, for the biggest victory in his career, after his triumph in the year-end ATP Finals in 2019.
APPOINTMENTS
Uma Chigurupati takes over as new Chairperson of FICCI FLOUma Chigurupati, businesswoman, marathoner is the new Chairperson of the FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO) Hyderabad Chapter.
- She will be in the office for one year 2021-2022. She takes the reins of the biggest and the most vibrant Chapter under FICCI FLO across India.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Iran launches advanced IR-6 uranium enrichment centrifuges to mark Day of Nuclear TechnologyPresident Hassan Rouhani reiterated Iran's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation while overseeing the launch of advanced centrifuges at the underground Natanz nuclear plant to mark National Nuclear Technology Day.
- Iran has breached many restrictions imposed by a 2015 deal on its atomic activities in response to former president Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the deal in 2018.
- The two nations have laid out tough stances at indirect talks in Vienna this week on how to bring both back into full compliance with the accord.
OBITUARIES
Former Union Minister Bachi Singh Rawat passes awayFormer Union minister and senior BJP leader Bachi Singh Rawat died at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. He was 71.
- Bachi Singh Rawat was a four-time MP from the Almora-Pithoragarh constituency and had defeated former chief minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat thrice in consecutive elections.
- Rawat was a Union minister of state for science and technology in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Renowned hockey statistician and historian Baboolal Goverdhan Joshi died owing to COVID-19 related complications and his demise was mourned by the game`s governing body. He was 67.
- A passionate lover of the game, Joshi has been maintaining records of the sport since the early 1970s and also contributed hockey statistics to several national dailies.
Popular Marathi and Hindi film actor Kishore Nandlaskar passed away after battling a week Maharashtra due to coronavirus complications. The 81-year-old veteran actor has starred in several Marathi and Bollywood films.
- Along with Marathi, his acting has also left an indelible mark in the Bollywood industry.
Former US Vice President Walter Mondale, a liberal icon who famously told voters to expect a tax increase should he win the presidency, died. He was 93 years old.
- Mondale served as vice president under President Jimmy Carter, from 1977-1981.
- Prior to his stint at the White House, Mondale had served as attorney general to his home state of Minnesota from 1960-1964, and then as US senator from that state from 1964-1976.
Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor M Narasimham passed away in Hyderabad after battling Covid-19.He was 94.
- Narasimham was the first and only governor to be appointed from the Reserve Bank cadre. He served as the 13th RBI governor for seven months between May and November, 1977.
- After his stint at the RBI, Narasimham joined the International Monetary Fund where he served as Executive Director and later at the World Bank. He also served as the Finance Secretary in 1982.
- Narasimham is considered as the father of banking reforms. He headed two committees in 1991 and 1997 that had critical influence on the country's banking sector.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
"The Cursed Inheritance" book by Sutapa BasuSutapa Basu, a TOI Write India winner and AutHer Award for Best Fiction 2020 winner, released her seventh book ‘The Cursed Inheritance’.
- ‘The Cursed Inheritance’ follows a young protagonist Anahita Sarkar, who has always lived in London. After losing her father, Anahita discovers that she and her brother Robin have inherited their family’s palatial mansion in Kolkata which they have never seen before.
"Wanderers, Kings, Merchants: The Story of India through its Languages", published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI), is written by noted linguist Peggy Mohan.
- The book, through an incisive study of languages, such as the story of early Sanskrit, the rise of Urdu, language formation in the North-east, presents the argument that "all Indians are of mixed origins".
IMPORTANT DAYS
Jharkhand govt announces "Health Safety Week" beginning from April 22 to 29 to break chain of growing COVID-19 infection rateIn Jharkhand, the State Government has announced to follow a "Health Safety Week" beginning from April 22 to 29, to break the chain of growing COVID-19 infection rate in the State. People have been advised to stay home and do not move without unnecessary work.
- Essential services and medical services continue to function and all identified offices of private sector, central and state government offices shall remain open.
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