Daily Current Affairs April 23 & 24 2023 | Latest News | Download PDF

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

AIIB to Open First Overseas Office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a host member agreement to officially open in Abu Dhabi the Bank’s first overseas office, an Interim Operational Hub (the Hub).
• Jin Liqun, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of AIIB, joined His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Governor of AIIB, during the signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi.

Key Highlights : 

• The office would serve as a strategic destination in the Middle East and the world, supporting AIIB’s development agenda and financing infrastructure projects to achieve sustainable economic growth.
• It also enhances client and member engagement, project monitoring and implementation services across the globe.
• The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development was mandated to represent the UAE on the bank’s board and to actively participate in its periodic meetings.
• As of today, AIIB has approved 212 projects amounting to over USD 40 billion in 33 member countries, which have contributed to economic development and improved the quality of life for communities in beneficiary countries.

About AIIB : 

• Established : 16 January 2016
• Headquarters: Beijing, China
• President :  Jin Liqun
• Membership : 106 Member States
• The AIIB is a multilateral development bank that aims to improve economic and social outcomes in Asia.
• It is the world’s second largest multilateral development institution.

About UAE : 

• President/Crown Prince : Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Prime Minister : Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
• Capital : Abu Dhabi
• Currency : UAE dirham

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Bengal tops the list of States with the most ponds and reservoirs

• The First Census of Water Bodies has been conducted in association with the 6th Minor Irrigation (MI) Census under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Irrigation Census”.
• In this census, 24,24,540 water bodies have been recorded out of which 97.1% (23,55,055) are in rural areas and only 2.9% (69,485) are in urban areas.
• 5% (14,42,993) of water bodies are ponds while 15.7% (3,81,805) of water bodies are tanks.
• West Bengal has the highest number of ponds & reservoirs while Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of tanks.
• Tamil Nadu has the highest number of lakes and Maharashtra is the leading state in the water conservation scheme.
• Maximum Water bodies are used in pisciculture, followed by irrigation, groundwater recharge and domestic/drinking purpose.
• 13,38,735 water bodies are owned by private entities while 10,85,805 water bodies are under public ownership.
• Out of the total water bodies, 78% (18,90,463) are man-made while 22% (5,34,077) are natural water bodies.
• 7% (3,06,960) of all water bodies have storage capacities greater than 10,000 cubic metres, whereas 50% (12,12,283) have storage capacities between 1,000 to 10,000 cubic metres.
• 2,29,889 water bodies are covered in District Irrigation Plan/State Irrigation Plan.

Health Ministry proposes 100 Food Streets across India to promote hygienic, safe food practices

• The Ministry of Health in association with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs urged States and Union Territories to develop 100 food streets in 100 districts across India.
• This initiative has been started as a pilot project for ensuring hygienic and safe food practices across the country.
• The initiative’s main aim is to encourage safe and healthy food practices among food businesses and community members.
• Safe and healthy food practices will help reduce foodborne illnesses and improve people’s overall health.
• This initiative will be implemented through National Health Mission (NHM) in association with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The technical support will be provided by FSSAI.
• For this initiative, States/UTs will be given financial assistance of Rs 1 crore per food street/districts to address critical deficiencies. 100 food streets will be opened up in 100 districts across the country.
• The financial assistance will be provided under National Health Mission (NHM) in the ratio of 60:40.
• Financial assistance will be provided in the ratio of 90:10 with the condition that standard branding of these food streets will be done as per FSSAI guidelines.

MeitY proposes rules to enable Aadhaar authentication by entities other than Government Ministries and Departments

• To make Aadhaar people-friendly, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has proposed rules to enable Aadhaar authentication by entities other than Government Ministries and Departments.
• In 2019, entities were allowed to perform authentication through an amendment in the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
• Entities were only allowed to authenticate after UIDAI get satisfied with their privacy and security standards.
• As of now, Government Ministries and Departments are allowed to undertake Aadhaar Authentication in the interest of good governance.
• MeitY has now proposed that any entity other than Government Ministry or Department has to prepare a proposal and prove that authentication sought is in the state’s interest.
• The proposal should be for promoting ease of living and enabling better access to services, preventing dissipation of social welfare benefits, innovation and spread of knowledge, etc.
• If the Ministry/Department believes that the proposal submitted fulfils the purpose and is in the state’s interest, then it could forward the proposal to MeitY.
• The proposed amendments has been posted for the feedbacks of stakeholders and the general public.

Govt to release new ₹100 commemorative coin for the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat

• New ₹100 commemorative coin will be released by the government for the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat.
• The coin will be in the denomination of ₹100.
• It will be circular, with a diameter of 44 millimetres and 200 serrations.
• Its weight will be 35-gram.
• Coin’s metal composition will be a quaternary alloy, with silver having a share of 50%, copper 40%, nickel 5%, and zinc 5%.
• The coin’s obverse face will bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with the legend “Satyamev Jayate” inscribed below.
• The Lion Capitol will be flanked on the left periphery with the word “Bharat” in Devnagri script and on the right periphery with the word “INDIA” in English.
• The coin’s reverse face will have the logo for the 100th Episode of Mann Ki Baat.
• The logo will have an image of a microphone with sound waves and year ‘2023’ written on it.
• ‘Mann Ki Baat 100’ in Devnagri and in English will be written above and below of the microphone image,
• Commemorative coins are not released for general circulation.
• They are considered legal tender.
• They can be sourced from specified agencies.
• The 100th episode will be broadcasted on 30 April.
• Mann Ki Baat programme started on 3 October, 2014.
• It is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month.

FAO has released a report titled- “The Status Of Women In Agrifood Systems

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) has released a report titled- “The Status Of Women In Agrifood Systems” highlighting the importance of Gender Equality in the Agricultural Sector.
• Women make up a significant proportion of the agricultural workforce, accounting for around 40% of the global agricultural labor force.
• However, women often face significant gender-based barriers that limit their access to resources, technology, and markets, which can impact their productivity and income.
• Closing the gender gap in agri-food systems could increase agricultural productivity by up to 4% in developing countries, which could, in turn, boost global GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by up to 2%.
• This increase in productivity and income could help to reduce poverty and hunger and improve Food Security and nutrition.
• Closing the gender gap and empowering women would: Increase global GDP by 1%/ nearly USD 1 trillion.
• Women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men and closing these gaps would greatly improve food security, nutrition and increase economic growth.

About FAO:

• FAO Headquarters: Rome, Italy,
• Founded: 16 October 1945.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

IIT Madras to set up its first international campus in Tanzania

• The Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) based Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is set to establish its first International campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania with plans to start the classes by October 2023.
• This will be the first IIT to be set up in Africa.
• In February,2023 a team of 5 professors from IIT Madras visited Tanzania and held discussions with various officials on starting the campus.
• This information was shared by IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti at IIT Madras’ 64th Institute Day, on April 20, 2023.

Jitgadhi festival is being observed in Butwal

• The Jitgadhi festival is being observed in Butwal in the Rupandehi district of Lumbini Province.
• The festival is celebrated every year to mark the victory over the British government, then East India Company, by the Nepal Army.
• A Nepal Army led by Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa conquered the Jitgadhi fort on 7th Baisakh 1872 BS by taking down the British Army.
• The festival is observed in Butwal Sub Metropolitan City every year in celebration of the conquest of the fort.
• On this occasion, the main celebration committee of Jitagadhi Fort welcomed an army contingent, which walked 370 kilometres (km) from Gorkha to participate in the festival.
• Jitagadh Fort which represents the victory of the Nepalese Army over the British Army is spread over an area of 500 square feet, the east-west length of Jeetgarhi is 205 feet and the width is about 55 feet.
• Vijayutsav has been celebrated every year on 7th Baisakh for 200 years.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Assam & Arunachal Pradesh sign agreement to resolve boundary dispute

• The Chief Minister (CM) of Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister (CM) Shri Pema Khandu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the settlement of an inter-state boundary dispute between the two States in New Delhi, Delhi.

What was the dispute : 

• Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km-long border which has been in dispute since the latter was made a union territory in 1972.
• The agreement will end the dispute relating to 123 villages along the border.
• After the agreement, the Survey of India will conduct a detailed survey to determine the boundaries of both states.
• With the signing of this agreement over a 700-kilometre-long border dispute between these two States which was pending for decades, has now been completely resolved.

About Assam : 

• Governor : Gulab Chand Kataria
• Chief Minister : Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Capital : Dispur
• National Park : Kaziranga National Park, Nameri National Park, Manas National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary

About Arunachal Pradesh : 

• Governor : Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
• Chief Minister : Pema Khandu
• Capital : Itanagar
• National Park : Namdapha National Park, Mouling National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Himachal becomes India’s ‘1st state’ to create DNA database of unidentified bodies

• Himachal Pradesh (HP) has become the first Indian state to develop a DNA database for unidentified bodies.
• The process of creating this database had started in April 2022.
• So far, the database holds records of 150 DNA samples of unidentified bodies.

Key Highlights : 

• The Directorate of Forensics Services, Junga had procured DNA profile databasing and matching technology (Smallpond TM software from USA) at a price of Rs. 55 lakh in 2022.
• The State forensic science laboratory, Junga was the first lab to acquire this technology and the facility is at par with the international standards.
• The database is still being filled and prepared.
• It has a capacity of about 20,000 DNA profiles which can be scaled further.
• The database would help in identification of bodies which would turn out to be a big relief for the families searching for their loved ones and running from pillar to post with photographs and other details, Assistant Director (DNA).
• Earlier, AIIMS Delhi, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), had started a pilot project called UMID (unidentified bodies and missing persons’ identification and DNA database) and created a database of over 400 unidentified/missing persons.

About HP : 

• Governor : Shiv Pratap Shukla
• Chief Minister : Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
• Capital : Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Daranghati Sanctuary, Kanwar Sanctuary,Rupi Bhawa Sanctuary

Meghalaya- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Shillong to be the largest multipurpose indoor stadium in Northeast

• Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma inspected the ongoing renovation, upgradation and expansion of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Polo in Shillong and it would be the largest multipurpose indoor stadium in the northeastern region.

About the Stadium : 

• It will be a multi-purpose indoor stadium which will provide state-of-the-art facilities for various disciplines such as basketball, squash, badminton, table tennis, volleyball and many more.
• The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Polo Ground in Shillong is being renovated, upgraded and expanded to include a football field with natural grass turf and a state-of-the-art facility to host track and field events.
• The stadium is being constructed to high-quality standards, ensuring it will be fit to host international sporting events.
• It would have a seating capacity of close to 30,000 and would be completed by December, 2023.

About Meghalaya : 

• Governor : Fagu Chauhan
• Chief Minister : Conrad Sangma
• Capital : Shillong
• Festival : Nongkrem Dance, Wangala Festival, Ahiya
• National Parks : Balpakram National Park, Nokrek National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries : Baghmara Pitcher Plant Wildlife Sanctuary, Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, Siju Bird Sanctuary

Haryana Chief Minister announces 3 online services to digitally empower beneficiaries

• The Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Shri Manohar Lal Khattar launched 3 online initiatives-Pro-active Divyang Pension Service, ‘Tau se pucho’ WhatsApp chatbot and an online room booking facility at PWD (B&R) rest houses.
• These initiatives have been launched under the state government’s vision of paperless and transparent governance.

About Pro-active Divyang Pension Service : 

• It will enable automated pension benefits for persons with disabilities (PwDs).
• The data of persons with more than 60% disability is available with the Parivar Informatics Data Repository that will be certified by the Haryana Parivar Pehchan Authority every month.

About ‘Tau Se Pucho’ : 

• It is a bilingual chatbot integrated with WhatsApp and is designed to give quick responses to the queries raised by the citizens.
• A Portal has also been launched for room booking at PWD (B&R) rest houses.
• Haryana government is committed to providing all services to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) at their doorsteps.
• PwDs will now get their pensionary benefits at home.
• They don’t have to visit the offices to get their benefits.

About Haryana : 

• Governor : Bandaru Dattatreya
• Chief Minister : Manohar Lal Khattar
• Capital : Chandigarh
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary, Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary
• National Park : Kalesar National Park, Sultanpur National Park

Kerala launches ‘One Panchayat, One Playground’ to revive sports culture

• The Kerala government launched the ‘One Panchayat, One Playground’ project for reviving the sports culture in Kerala by opening quality playgrounds in every panchayat of Kerala.
• The project was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan at Kallikkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• The playgrounds would serve as a hub of local gatherings and social interactions.
• The project will address the lack of quality playgrounds in around 450 local bodies in Kerala.
• Within 3 years, the playgrounds will be built and for the 1st phase of the project, a list of 113 panchayats has been prepared.
• Each playground would cost around Rs 1 crore, half of which would be footed by the Sports department and the rest would be raised from the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and local body funds, through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), public private partnerships (PPP).

About Kerala : 

• Governor : Arif Mohammad Khan
• Chief Minister : Pinarayi Vijayan
• Capital : Thiruvananthapuram
• National Park : Eravikulam National Park, Silent Valley National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Tata Steel Honored With Sustainability Champion Status For 6th Consecutive Time By World Steel Association

• Tata Steel has been recognised as 2023 Steel Sustainability Champion by the World Steel Association.
• The Sustainability Champions were announced today at the worldsteel Special General Meeting of the Board of Members held in Vienna, Austria.
• Recognised for the sixth consecutive year this year, Tata Steel has been a champion every year since the programme’s launch in 2018.
• This prestigious award acknowledges Tata Steel’s efforts to maintain its leadership as a world-class steel producer that is fully committed to the principles of sustainability.
• The World Steel Association (World Steel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world, with members in every major steel-producing country.
• World steel represents steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes.
• V. Narendran, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Steel.

Toyota launches ‘Wheels on Web’, company’s first-ever online retail sales platform

• Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) made an announcement of a new digital platform for customers residing in Bangalore state.
• This will create smooth and comfortable transactions just by sitting at their homes as they can look, buy and order their preferred vehicle.
• Named ‘Wheels on Web’, a Business to Customer (B2C) platform is the first-of-its-kind in the Bangalore region.
• This is launched to prompt online sales to give an uninterrupted experience.

About Toyota Kirloskar Motor

• Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited is an Indian joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and Kirloskar Group, for the manufacture and sales of Toyota cars in India.
• The headquarters are located in Bidadi, Karnataka, near Bengaluru.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

NTPC and Chempolis India to collaborate on Feasibility Study for setting up Bamboo-based Bio-Refinery at Bongaigaon.

• NTPC Ltd, the largest power-generating utility in India, and Chempolis India, a Fortum group associate company and a Finnish bio-refining technology provider, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the feasibility of setting up a bamboo-based bio-refinery in Assam’s Bongaigaon.
• Chempolis will work with NTPC to conduct the feasibility study for the project which shall utilise bamboo for the production of 2G ethanol, bio-coal for thermal power plant and other value-added products.
• The bio-coal produced by the bio-refinery shall partly replace coal in the power plant, effectively converting 5 percent of the generation of the power plant to green.

IIT Roorkee signs pact with Taiwanese centre for developing tech solutions for earthquakes, floods

• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and the National Science and Technology Centre for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), Taiwan have signed an agreement with an aim to develop technology solutions to natural hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, floods, debris flow, and compound disasters.
• The researchers aim to co-establish an early warning sensor network equipped with P-Alert sensors at selected locations in Uttarakhand.
• The signing ceremony was followed by a technical workshop on Earthquake Early Warning Systems (EEWS).
• India’s first Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS), namely Uttarakhand Earthquake Early Warning System (UEEWS), is established at the IIT Roorkee.
• At present, the alert system is active only within Uttarakhand, India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Virat Kohli appointed as brand influencer of HSBC India

• HSBC India has appointed former Indian men’s cricket team captain Virat Kohli as brand influencer.
• Kohli will help to amplify HSBC’s purpose of ‘Opening up a world of opportunity’ as it strives to support the ambitions of an aspirational India going global.
• Additionally, HSBC India is set to launch a multimedia campaign featuring Kohli, aimed at re-establishing the value proposition of banking with the company.

About HSBC India : 

• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• CEO : Hitendra Dave
• The bank has been incorporated in India since 1 January 1983.
• It is a foreign bank under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and thus is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Madhav Pai appointed as new CEO of WRI India

• The WRI India has appointed Madhav Pai as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the institute.
• Pai succeeds former CEO O P Agarwal.
• In his new role, Pai will lead and oversee WRI India’s strategy, operations and activities.

About WRI India : 

• WRI India is an independent policy think tank focussed on developing a low carbon economy.

WRI India’s mission : 

• To move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
• It is legally registered as the India Resources Trust.
• The India Resources Trust has a licence from WRI to use the trademark “WRI India”.
• WRI India is associated with the Washington DC-based World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organisation to provide cutting edge analysis to address global environment and development challenges.

About WRI : 

• Established : 1982
• Headquarters : Washington, D.C. United States
• President & CEO : Ani Dasgupta

Starr

          Star Sports signs Rishabh Pant as brand ambassador 

• The Walt Disney Company-owned Star Sports has signed cricketer Rishabh Pant as its latest brand ambassador.
• The company also has other cricketers as its ‘Believe Ambassadors’ like Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer.
• Star Sports only had two ambassadors in 2017.
• Cricketer Virat Kohli is also part of this association.
• The ambassadors will represent different parts of the country as well as different IPL Teams.
• The ‘Believe Ambassadors’ represent different parts of the country as well as different IPL Teams.

Rohit Sharma joins JioCinema as brand ambassador for IPL 2023

• JioCinema, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Viacom18, has signed up Rohit Sharma, captain of the men’s cricket India, as its brand ambassador.
• The cricketer will build on the OTT platform’s vision of making sports viewing synonymous with digital.
• In Mar 2023, The Walt Disney Company India-owned channel Star Sports has signed Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as its brand ambassador.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Air Force to participate in exercise INIOCHOS-23 in Greece

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force.
• The exercise will be conducted at the Andravida Air Base in Greece from 24 Apr 2023 to 04 May 2023.

Aim of the exercise : 

• To enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability amongst the participating Air Forces.

Participants : 

• 4 Su-30 MKI and 2 C-17 aircraft will participate in the exercise.
• Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russia while the C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic transport aircraft.
• Additionally, the USA with F-16s and MQ-9s, Austria with INTEL personnel and Canada with Air Battle Managers will also take part in the exercise.
• Cyprus with an AW139 Helicopter; France with Rafales; Italy with Tornados; Jordan with F-16s; Saudi Arabia with F-15s; Slovenia with PC-9s will participate in the exercise.
• The exercise will be conducted in a realistic combat scenario involving multiple types of air and surface assets.
• It will also enable the participating contingents to engage in professional interactions, providing valuable insight into each other’s best practices

About Ministry of Defence : 

• Defence Minister :  Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State : Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary : Giridhar Aramane

About IAF : 

• Established : 1932
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chief of the Air Staff : Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari

8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue to be held in Bangkok        

• The 8th Defense Dialogue between India and Thailand was held in Bangkok.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Nivedita Shukla, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and General Nuchit Sribunsong, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Defense of Thailand.
• Defense cooperation between the two countries reviewed in the dialogue and new initiatives sought to strengthen bilateral relations.
• The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of common interest.
• India and Thailand have an important partnership and the defense sector is a major pillar of this cooperation.

India-Thailand relations :

• India is a member of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) initiated by Thailand in 2002 and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) grouping of six countries.
• The India-AESAN Agreement on Trade in Goods was implemented in January 2010.
• Since 2015, India has been participating in the largest Asia Pacific military exercise X-Cobra Gold.
• Exercise MAITREE (Army) and exercise SIAM BHARAT (Air Force) are Bilateral exercises between both countries.
• It includes Defence Dialogue meetings, military-to-military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity building and training programmes and bilateral exercises.

About Thailand : 

• Prime minister : Prayuth Chan-ocha
• Capital : Bangkok
• Currency : Baht

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Book and Copyright Day: April 23

• Every year World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated on April 23 and it is also known as World Book Day.
• The theme for World Book Day 2023 is “Indigenous Languages.”
• The theme is focused on the native languages of a country.
• The day is celebrated by United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations and other related organizations across the world to honor authors, books, and to promote the art of reading etc..,
• United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations has selected 23rd April as World Book Day to pay tribute to great literary figures including William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega who died this day.
• In 1995 this date was finalised by the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations general conference, held in pairs, to pay tribute and honour authors and books worldwide.
• Idea to celebrated a day of books came originally the Catalans day of books called as Dia del Llibere.
• Dia del Llibere was celebrated in Catalonia every year on April 23.

National Panchayati Raj Day: April 24

• In India 24th April is designated as National Panchayati Raj Day.
• The day is held to remember the passing of the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution on June 17, 1992, and on April 24, 1993, the law went into force.
• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh designated the first National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24, 2010.
• The constitution of the 73rd Amendment act of 1992 that came into force with effect on April 24, 1993, has vested constitutional status on Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• This marks the moment in the history of decentralization of political power to the grassroots level.
• As a result, it was determined to delegate democracy’s authority.
• For this reason, a panel headed by Balwantrai Mehta was established in 1957 to meet the demand.
• And for the first moment in decades, Panchayati Raj was established in India.

Daily CA One-Liner: April 23 & 24

• The First Census of Water Bodies has been conducted in association with the 6th Minor Irrigation (MI) Census under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Irrigation Census”
• The Ministry of Health in association with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs urged States and Union Territories to develop 100 food streets in 100 districts across India
• To make Aadhaar people-friendly, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has proposed rules to enable Aadhaar authentication by entities other than Government Ministries and Departments
• New ₹100 commemorative coin will be released by the government for the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) has released a report titled- “The Status Of Women In Agrifood Systems” highlighting the importance of Gender Equality in the Agricultural Sector
• Tata Steel has been recognised as 2023 Steel Sustainability Champion by the World Steel Association
• Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) made an announcement of a new digital platform for customers residing in Bangalore state
• NTPC Ltd, the largest power-generating utility in India, and Chempolis India, a Fortum group associate company and a Finnish bio-refining technology provider, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the feasibility of setting up a bamboo-based bio-refinery in Assam’s Bongaigaon.
• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and the National Science and Technology Centre for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), Taiwan have signed an agreement with an aim to develop technology solutions to natural hazards, including earthquakes, landslides, floods, debris flow, and compound disasters
• Every year World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated on April 23 and it is also known as World Book Day
• In India 24th April is designated as National Panchayati Raj Day.
• The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a host member agreement to officially open in Abu Dhabi the Bank’s first overseas office, an Interim Operational Hub (the Hub).
• The Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) based Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is set to establish its first International campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania with plans to start the classes by October 2023.
• The Jitgadhi festival is being observed in Butwal in the Rupandehi district of Lumbini Province.
• The Chief Minister (CM) of Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister (CM) Shri Pema Khandu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the settlement of an inter-state boundary dispute between the two States in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Himachal Pradesh (HP) has become the first Indian state to develop a DNA database for unidentified bodies.
• Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma inspected the ongoing renovation, upgradation and expansion of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Polo in Shillong and it would be the largest multipurpose indoor stadium in the northeastern region.
• The Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Shri Manohar Lal Khattar launched 3 online initiatives-Pro-active Divyang Pension Service, ‘Tau se pucho’ WhatsApp chatbot and an online room booking facility at PWD (B&R) rest houses.
• The Kerala government launched the ‘One Panchayat, One Playground’ project for reviving the sports culture in Kerala by opening quality playgrounds in every panchayat of Kerala.
• HSBC India has appointed former Indian men’s cricket team captain Virat Kohli as brand influencer.
• The WRI India has appointed Madhav Pai as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the institute.
• The Walt Disney Company-owned Star Sports has signed cricketer Rishabh Pant as its latest brand ambassador.
• JioCinema, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Viacom18, has signed up Rohit Sharma, captain of the men’s cricket India, as its brand ambassador.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force.
• The 8th Defense Dialogue between India and Thailand was held in Bangkok.