NATIONAL:
1. Underwater Hydrocarbon Pipeline
Why in news - Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (ICGL) completed Asia’s longest underwater hydrocarbon pipeline across river Brahmaputra.
Key Points –
• It connected Jorhat and Majuli in Assam.
• It is part of the Northeast Gas Grid (NEGG) connecting the Northeast to the National Gas Grid.
• Dimension - 4,080 metres, 24-inch diameter.
• Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (ICGL), a joint venture company of 5 major oil PSUs viz. IOCL, ONGC, GAIL, OIL & NRL.
2. Parkash Singh Badal
Why in news - Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal aged 95 died on April 25, 2023.
Key Points –
• He was patriarch of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
• He was Punjab's youngest (age of 43), and oldest CM (age of 90).
• He held the chief ministerial post for 5 terms.
• He briefly held the position of Union agriculture minister, under the Morarji Desai-headed government in 1977.
3. Kochi Water Metro
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Kochi Water Metro on April 25, 2023.
Key Points –
• It is a first of its kind public boat service in India integrated with a metro rail network.
• Implemented by - Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRL).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Oliver Dowden
Why in news - Oliver Dowden has been named United Kingdom's new deputy Prime Minister.
Key Points –
• His appointment came after the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab in the wake of bullying allegations.
2. Gold-Pegged Digital Currency
Why in news - Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to launch a gold-pegged digital currency and legalize them in the country.
Key Points –
• Reason - For stabilizing the local currency after its continuous devaluation in comparison to the U.S. dollar.
• Zimbabwean gold coins - Mosi-oa-tunya.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. eShram Portal
Why in news - Bhupender Yadav launched new features on eShram portal to enhance coverage for unorganised workers.
Key Points –
• New features –
(a) Capturing family details of migrant worker to provide child education and women-centric schemes.
(b) Sharing of data of construction workers with the concerned Building and Other Construction Workers’ (BOCW) welfare board.
About eShram Portal (August 26, 2021):
• By - Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• Aim - to create a comprehensive national database of unorganised workers.
• As on 21st April 2023, over 28.87 crore unorganised workers have registered on portal.
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. Heavy lift Logistics Drone “RM001”
Why in news - Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched heavy lift logistics drone (can transport 50kg over 10kms) at Odisha Skill Conclave 2023.
Key Points –
• Made by - Start-up BonV Aero (backed by - IIT Mandi, AIC CV Raman Global University Odisha and NITI Aayog).
ECONOMY:
1. Biodiesel Project in Ayodhya
Why in news – Belgian company Vito is expected to launch a project to generate biodiesel from waste in Ayodhya.
Key Points –
• Ayodhya was selected as it is expected to witness a surge in devotees’ footfall after the Ram temple opens for devotees in January 2024.
• Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) would carry out a study on crowd management in Ayodhya.
2. NBFC Licence
Why in news - Neobanking platform Jupiter has secured a non-banking financial company (NBFC) licence from the Reserve Bank of India.
Key Points –
• It would enable it to enter into the lending business.
• Private entity Amica Financial Technologies operates Jupiter.
SECURITY:
1. Exercise Locked Shields 2023
Why in news - NATO allies and partners participated in the cyber defense exercise “Locked Shields”.
Key Points –
• Host - NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn (Estonia).
• World’s largest cyber defence exercise.
2. Military Spending
Why in news – The data was released by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Key Points –
• Highest spending –
A. USA ($877 billion)
B. China ($292 billion)
C. Russia ($86.4 billion)
D. India ($81.4 billion) (6% increase)
E. Saudi Arabia ($70 billion).
• Total military spending in 2022 - $2,240 billion (3.7% increase).
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Immunization Week
Why in news – It is celebrated from April 24 to April 30.
Key Points –
• Theme - The Big Catch-Up.
• Immunization - A person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine.
Value addition –
Immunisation Agenda 2030 (2021):
• Aims - to address the unmet targets of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP).
• GVAP aim- to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through more equitable access to existing vaccines (Decade of vaccines (2011–2020)
• To reduce the number of zero-dose children by 50%.
• Based on a framework of 7 strategic priorities for attainment of universal health coverage.
Indias’ Steps for Immunization –
• Universal Immunization Programme (1978).
• Mission Indradhanush
• Mission Indradhanush (December 25, 2014).
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) (October 2017)
• Intensified mission Indradhanush 2.0 (December 2, 2019)
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 (2021)
• Vaccine Maitri (M/o External Affairs) - to supply Covid-19 vaccines to different nations across the globe.
• The full immunization coverage among children aged 12-23 months of age has increased from 62% (NFHS-4) to 76.4%(NFHS-5).
2. International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed on April 26.
Key Points –
• The infamous Chernobyl disaster took place on April 26, 1986.
• Location - Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (official name - Vladimir Lenin Nuclear Power Plant) former Soviet Union.
• The malfunction led to the release of massive amounts of radioactive material into the surrounding environment.
• Liquidators - Civil and military personnel who came to contain the disaster.
BIHAR:
1. Post Matric Scholarship Scheme
Why in news – Bihar government has implemented a new scholarship scheme for post matriculation.
Key Points –
• Eligibility - Backward and extremely backward families whose annual income is not more than Rs 3 lakh.
• Streams covered - Medical, Engineering, Management and Law etc.
• Benefit - Annual scholarship ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.
• Priority to be given to the students studying in government educational institutions over students studying in recognized non-government educational institutions.
POINTERS:
• Who has been appointed as the military advisor to the National Security Council - Air Marshal Sandeep Singh.
• Indian Army has tied up with which university to impart Chinese language training to military personnel - Tezpur University, Assam.
• Who will be the next CMD of Bharat Dynamics Limited - A. Madhavrao.
• Who has sanctioned Rs 663 crore loan to Gensol Engineering for purchase of EVs - PFC (Power Finance Corporation).
• Indian Navy and who has successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha – DRDO.
• India's 'Jyothi Surekha Vennam' has won how many gold medals in Compound Mixed Team and Individual Competition in Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Turkey - Two gold medals.
• Which country has topped the “Global Unicorn Index” released by Hurun – USA.
• Which bank has launched India's first Voice biometric authentication Banking App - City Union Bank.
• Where will the 'India Thailand Defense Dialogue' be held – Bangkok.
• Which player holds the record of taking the fastest 100 wickets in ODI cricket - Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal).