05th-07th May, 2023

1. Union Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala launched Veterinary Council of India (VCI) portal on World Veterinary Day.
2. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Maldives and handed over two ‘Made in India’ – Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault Ship.
3. Union Minister for MSME Shri Narayan Rane launched the India Health Dialogue (IHD) platform at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in New Delhi.
4. Dhruva Space has announced the successful test of its ‘3U and 6U Satellite Orbital Deployers’ and ‘Dhruva Space Orbital Link’ on board the ISRO’s PSLV-C55 mission.
5. On the World Intellectual Property Day, Dr Chintan Vaishnav, Chair Startup20, along with Ms. Durga Jasraj founder of Pandit Jasraj Cultural Foundation, launched the “UPAJ: A Festival of Innovations in Arts” in NITI Aayog, New Delhi.
6. Union Minister Nityanand Rai inaugurated the Dawki Land Port in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district to promote trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.
7. A cargo vessel named MV-ITT LION (V-273) was flagged off from Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata to Sittwe Port in Myanmar at a ceremony held in Kolkata.
8. Union Cabinet Minister for Fisheries, Animal husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala will officially launch the Nationwide AHDF KCC Campaign for 2023-24.
9. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed the post-mission disposal (PMD) operation of the communication satellite GSAT-12.
10. Ministry of Rural Development announced that 28 states and Union Territories have adopted the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) for land records.
11. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) organised the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) in 200+ districts across the country under Skill India Mission.
12. Border-Haat between India and Bangladesh was inaugurated in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
13. Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Education, is creating dictionaries in 10 Indian languages with technical and scientific terminology.
14. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian has launched TN Food Safety Consumer App and Website (www.foodsafety.tn.gov.in).
15. President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu launched the ‘Addiction Free Odisha’ campaign of Brahma Kumaris Centre at Hatbadra, Mayurbhanj.
16. The Centre for Innovation Incubation Research and Entrepreneurship (C-i2 RE) was inaugurated at the Kakatiya Institute of Technology & Science (KITS) Warangal campus in Telangana.
17. Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved to provide Rs 1,500 per month under the Indira Gandhi Mahila Samman Nidhi to all the women aged 18-60 years in Spiti valley.
18. Nagaland government has recently established a new Directorate of Minority Affairs under its Planning & Transformation Department.
19. Nagaland government has set up a high-level powered committee, headed by DGP Nagaland Rupin Sharma, to investigate the restructuring and re-organisation of Nagaland Police.
20. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has set the foodgrain production target at 332 million tonnes (MT) for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June), a 2.6% increase from the previous year.
21. Indian Army organized an integrated surveillance and firepower training exercise named ‘BULAND BHARAT’ in the recently operationalised longest High-Altitude Artillery Ranges of Eastern Theatre.
22. Indian Navy decommissioned INS Magar, the oldest Landing Ship Tank (Large) after 36 years of service at the Naval base in Kochi.
23. A new Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS) under Project Sanjay is in the process of being deployed, after extensive validation carried out in the plains, deserts, and mountains last year.
24. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has signed an MOU with RITES Limited for technical assistance in solid waste management (SWM) and used water management (UWM) under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
25. An MoU was signed between the Embassy of India, Nepal and Sushila Thakur Memorial Health Foundation (STMHF) for the distribution of LPG gas stoves and cylinders in Mahottari District, Nepal with the Indian grant assistance of Rs 50 million (approx.) under India-Nepal Development Cooperation.
26. UAE has organized the ‘Machines Can See 2023’ Summit at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
27. The coronation of King Charles III and his wife Camilla took place in London.
28. 14th edition of Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) is an annual high-level political and international forum that took place from 2 -3 May 2023 in
29. New York has become the first state in the country to ban natural gas and other fossil fuels in most new buildings.
30. Russia has deployed the world’s largest bomber Tu-160 in the Ukraine war.
31. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted the first South Asia Clean Energy Forum (SACEF) for South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Nepal.
32. Ubhauli, the most important festival of the Kirant community in Nepal, was celebrated.
33. Food and Agriculture Organization has launched the Agriculture Market Information System.
34. UK will launch a low-cost radar satellite named CarbSar for espionage next year.
35. China has approved the safety of a gene-edited soybean to boost the food production.
36. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and C-Voter International, an Indian international polling agency in Delhi, have released the Global Warming’s Four Indias 2022 report.
37. Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) for 2023 was released by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and the Global Network against Food Crises (GNAFC).
38. UNESCO has released the “Defending Creative Voices”
39. PwC India and US-India Chamber of Commerce (USAIC) have released the “Clinical Trial Opportunities in India”
40. Axis Bank and India Shelter Finance Corporation Ltd (IndiaShelter), a Gurgaon based Housing Finance Company, have announced a co-lending partnership.
41. Cashfree Payments and Yes Bank have launched ‘Global Collections’, an international collection service for exporters, who are account holders of Yes Bank.
42. RBI has released its annual “Report on Currency and Finance 2022-23″.
43. HDFC Bank launched ‘Vishesh’ its retail banking programme to onboard around 1 lakh new customers from semi-urban and rural areas.
44. India and Russia have announced plans to explore the possibility of accepting RuPay and Mir cards in each other’s country for hassle-free payments amid sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow.
45. Max Life Insurance Company and Capital Small Finance Bank have partnered to offer life insurance to the bank’s customers.
46. Bank of International Settlements’ (BIS) Innovation Hub, in collaboration with RBI, has launched the 4th edition of the “G20 TechSprint 2023”.
47. RBI has instructed banks and other financial institutions to ensure cross-border as well as domestic wire transfers contain complete information about the originator and beneficiary.
48. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has approved the merger of Griha Pte, a wholly owned subsidiary of HDFC Investments in Singapore with HDFC Bank.
49. ai has announced a partnership with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance to offer insurance products its customers.
50. Canara Bank, in collaboration with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), launched the “Digitalised Submission of Form 15G/15H” as one of our customer-friendly services, furthering our commitment to “Customer Delight.”
51. Ministry of Labour & Employment has announced that the additional 1.16% which the employees had to pay to receive higher EPS pension, will now be subsumed under the 12% contribution made by the employees.
52. Ministry of Finance has widened the scope of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, to include transactions facilitated by Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Cost and Works Accountants.
53. SEBI has released the “Testing Framework for IT Systems of Market Infrastructure Institutions” (MIIs).
54. Ajay Banga has been appointed as the President of the World Bank for a five-year term beginning June 2, 2023.
55. Santiago Peña has been elected the President of Paraguay.
56. Arun Sinha has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).
57. April 24 – World Day for Laboratory Animals; Theme – Compassion for Animals in Research
58. April 25 – World Penguin Day
59. April 25 – International Delegate’s Day
60. May 4 – International Firefighters Day
61. May 5 – World Cartoonist Day
62. May 5 – African World Heritage Day
63. May 5 – World Hand Hygiene Day; Theme – Accelerate action together. SAVE LIVES – Clean Your Hands
64. May 5 – International Day of the Midwife
65. May 7 – World Athletics Day; Theme – ‘Athletics for All – A New Beginning’
66. 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize (aka Green Nobel Prize) has been announced to recognise individuals who contribute towards environmental conservation.
67. Third edition of the Khelo India University Games 2022 will be organized in Uttar Pradesh from May 25-Jun 03, 2023.
68. Indian Olympic gold medallist and star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won at the Doha Diamond League 2023.
69. Indian archery men and women teams won 5 Gold medals, 5 Silvers and 2 bronze at Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournament, Stage II in Tashkent.
70. Sound Running Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour-Silver event, was held in
71. Former world and Olympic sprint champion Tori Bowie passed away.
72. Legendary tennis player Jaidip Mukerjea launched his autobiography titled “Crosscourt”.
73. Tarek Fatah (Pakistani-Canadian journalist and author) passed away.
74. Fuego Volcano has erupted in Guatemala.

National News

1. Union Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala launched Veterinary Council of India (VCI) portal on World Veterinary Day.
   • Last Saturday of April (April 29) – World Veterinary Day; Theme – promoting diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in the veterinary profession

2. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Maldives and handed over two ‘Made in India’ – Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault Ship.
   • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Didi have also laid the foundation stone for the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) Coast Guard ‘Ekatha Harbour’.
     Source: Hindustan Times and The Hindu
3. Union Minister for MSME Shri Narayan Rane launched the India Health Dialogue (IHD) platform at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in New Delhi.
   • The India Health Dialogue (IHD) is a global initiative of India Chamber of Business and Commerce, in partnership with Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Medical Association (IMA), and supported by the Ministry of MSME.
   • Purpose – to promote AtmaNirbhar Bharat / self-reliance in the healthcare sector
     Source: PIB
4. Dhruva Space has announced the successful test of its ‘3U and 6U Satellite Orbital Deployers’ and ‘Dhruva Space Orbital Link’ on board the ISRO’s PSLV-C55 mission.
   • The launch took place from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
     Source: The Hindu
5. On the World Intellectual Property Day, Dr Chintan Vaishnav, Chair Startup20, along with Ms. Durga Jasraj founder of Pandit Jasraj Cultural Foundation, launched the “UPAJ: A Festival of Innovations in Arts” in NITI Aayog, New Delhi.
   • April 26 – World Intellectual Property Day; Theme – “Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity”
   • The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has organized the celebrations of World IP Day 2023 in India.
     Source: PIB
6. Union Minister Nityanand Rai inaugurated the Dawki Land Port in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district to promote trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.
   • The corresponding Land Port in Bangladesh is Tamabil, located in the Sylhet district.
   • It is the 10th landport between India and Bangladesh.

7. A cargo vessel named MV-ITT LION (V-273) was flagged off from Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata to Sittwe Port in Myanmar at a ceremony held in Kolkata.
   • This is the first shipment to operationalise the Sittwe Port in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
   • The port has been developed with Indian assistance as part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP).

8. Union Cabinet Minister for Fisheries, Animal husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala will officially launch the Nationwide AHDF KCC Campaign for 2023-24.
   • Purpose – to extend the KCC facility to all small landless farmers engaged in animal husbandry and fisheries activities
   • AHDF KCC – Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries farmers
   • The campaign will run from 1st May 2023 to 31st March 2024.
   • During this Campaign, District Level KCC Camps were organized in every week by KCC Coordination Committee coordinated by Lead District Manager (LDM).
     Source: PIB
9. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed the post-mission disposal (PMD) operation of the communication satellite GSAT-12.
   • GSAT-12 is the 23rd GEO satellite to undergo PMD before decommissioning.
   • The satellite was launched in 2011 with a mission life of 8 years.
     Source: The Hindu
10. Ministry of Rural Development announced that 28 states and Union Territories have adopted the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) for land records.
    • 26 states have adopted the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhar, with pilot testing underway in seven additional states.
    • Some states have also integrated ULPIN with the SVAMITVA portal.
    • The Department of Land Resources is implementing the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) as a central sector scheme, with 100% funding from the central government.
    • The department has reached its expenditure target of ₹239.25 crore for the DILRMP in 2022-23.

11. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) organised the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) in 200+ districts across the country under Skill India Mission.
    • Individuals can register for the mela by visiting https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/.
    • The candidates who are Class 5 to Class 12 pass outs or have skill training certificates or are ITI certificate holders or Diploma holders or graduates can apply in this apprenticeship mela.
    • Through this Mela, the candidates will also earn National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)-recognized certifications, improving their employability rate after the training sessions.
      Source: PIB
12. Border-Haat between India and Bangladesh was inaugurated in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
    • The first Border Haat was inaugurated in 2011 in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya at Kalaichar and Kurigram in Bangladesh.
      Source: News on Air
13. Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT), under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Education, is creating dictionaries in 10 Indian languages with technical and scientific terminology.
    • It will create fundamental (basic) dictionaries with 5,000 words per language, in three to four months.
    • The CSTT, which was set up in 1961, has the mandate of evolving technical terminology in all Indian languages.
      Source: The Hindu

State News

1. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian has launched TN Food Safety Consumer App and Website (www.foodsafety.tn.gov.in).
   • Separately, the state increased the sum insured value from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh under the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.
     Source: The Hindu
2. President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu launched the ‘Addiction Free Odisha’ campaign of Brahma Kumaris Centre at Hatbadra, Mayurbhanj.
   Source: PIB
3. The Centre for Innovation Incubation Research and Entrepreneurship (C-i2 RE) was inaugurated at the Kakatiya Institute of Technology & Science (KITS) Warangal campus in Telangana.
   Source: News on Air
4. Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved to provide Rs 1,500 per month under the Indira Gandhi Mahila Samman Nidhi to all the women aged 18-60 years in Spiti valley.
   • In the state budget, the CM had already announced to increase the pension of 2.31 lakh women to Rs 1,500 per month who are getting a pension of Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,150 at present.
   • It decided to amend Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy, 2021 to make transfer of land for setting up solar power and new and renewable energy projects on lease/ purchase/ acquisition basis, subject to the applicable provisions of the various Acts pertaining to the matter.
     Source: Indian Express
5. Nagaland government has recently established a new Directorate of Minority Affairs under its Planning & Transformation Department.
   • The Directorate of Minority Affairs will implement –
   • Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes;
   • Maulana Azad National Fellowship,
   • Naya Savera,
   • Padho Pardesh;
   • Nai Udaan;
   • Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan,
   • Nai Manzil
   • Concessional credit through National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation
   • Pradhan Mantri Jan Yikas Karyakram for development of infrastructure projects in all districts
   • Nai Roshni,
   • Hamari Dharohar, and
   • Haj management

     Source: News on Air

6. Nagaland government has set up a high-level powered committee, headed by DGP Nagaland Rupin Sharma, to investigate the restructuring and re-organisation of Nagaland Police.
   Source: News on Air

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has set the foodgrain production target at 332 million tonnes (MT) for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June), a 2.6% increase from the previous year.
   • The foodgrains production in 2022-23 crop year ending June is pegged at 323.5 MT.
   • Different crop targets –
   • Pulses – 29.25 MT
   • Oilseeds – 44 MT
   • Millets – 17 MT
   • Sugarcane – 468.8 MT
   • The agriculture sector has witnessed an average annual growth rate of 4.6% over the past six years.
   • To support farmers, the government also plans to convert over 325,000 fertilizer shops into Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras, offering fertilizers, seeds, soil testing, and farming technique information.
   • These announcements were made during the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign- 2023 at National Agricultural Science Complex, Delhi.
     Source: LiveMint, and PIB

Defence News

1. Indian Army organized an integrated surveillance and firepower training exercise named ‘BULAND BHARAT’ in the recently operationalised longest High-Altitude Artillery Ranges of Eastern Theatre.
   • Indian Army, in close coordination with Special Forces, Aviation and Central Armed Police Forces participated in the exercise, which took place in West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
     Source: ANI
2. Indian Navy decommissioned INS Magar, the oldest Landing Ship Tank (Large) after 36 years of service at the Naval base in Kochi.
   • INS Magar was commissioned in 1987.
     Source: Economic Times
3. A new Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS) under Project Sanjay is in the process of being deployed, after extensive validation carried out in the plains, deserts, and mountains last year.
   • Under BSS, the aim is to have surveillance centres for all field formations by December 2025.
   • Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) Ghaziabad is the project’s system integrator. Project Sanjay aims at developing modern systems for battlefield.
     Source: The Hindu

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has signed an MOU with RITES Limited for technical assistance in solid waste management (SWM) and used water management (UWM) under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
   • The technical support unit (TSU) of RITES will assist SBM-U for a period of three years.
     Source: Economic Times
2. An MoU was signed between the Embassy of India, Nepal and Sushila Thakur Memorial Health Foundation (STMHF) for the distribution of LPG gas stoves and cylinders in Mahottari District, Nepal with the Indian grant assistance of Rs 50 million (approx.) under India-Nepal Development Cooperation.
   • The project is inspired by the India’s Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
     Source: ANI

International News

1. UAE has organized the ‘Machines Can See 2023’ Summit at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
   Source: News on Air
2. The coronation of King Charles III and his wife Camilla took place in London.
   • King Charles III is the monarch and head of state for fourteen sovereign countries, collectively known as the Commonwealth Group.

3. 14th edition of Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) is an annual high-level political and international forum that took place from 2 -3 May 2023 in
   • The PCD series was co-hosted by the Germany and the United Arab Emirates (COP28 President).
   • The COP28 of UNFCCC will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December 2023.
     Source: UN
4. New York has become the first state in the country to ban natural gas and other fossil fuels in most new buildings.
   • Separately, the US senators have approved a new legislation called the China Competition 2.0 bill to counter China’s growing influence in various areas.
   • The bill would broaden “Chips and Science” Act of 2022.
     Source: CNN and Reuters
5. Russia has deployed the world’s largest bomber Tu-160 in the Ukraine war.
   • The Tu-160 bomber, also known as the Blackjack in NATO countries, is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, strategic bomber developed by Russia in the 1980s.
   • It is one of the largest and heaviest military aircraft ever built, and its impressive size has earned it the nickname “White Swan.”
     Source: Wion
6. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted the first South Asia Clean Energy Forum (SACEF) for South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Nepal.
   • Purpose – to foster regional cooperation and advance clean energy initiatives
   • Asian Development Bank, along with its co-organizers the USAID and the Korea Energy Agency (KEA), will organize the 18th Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) from 13–16 June 2023 in Manila, Philippines.
   • ACEF 2023 will be guided by the theme “Navigating Toward a Carbon-Neutral Future through Clean Energy Solutions.”
     Source: USAID and ADB
7. Ubhauli, the most important festival of the Kirant community in Nepal, was celebrated.
   • Ubhauli festival is celebrated every year on the full moon day of the month of Baishakh in the Lunar calendar.
     Source: News on Air

8. Food and Agriculture Organization has launched the Agriculture Market Information System.
   Source: AMIS
9. UK will launch a low-cost radar satellite named CarbSar for espionage next year.
   Source: BBC
10. China has approved the safety of a gene-edited soybean to boost the food production.
    Source: Business Today

Reports and Indices

1. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and C-Voter International, an Indian international polling agency in Delhi, have released the Global Warming’s Four Indias 2022 report.
   • As per the report, 82% Indians are either “alarmed” or “concerned” about global warming, and favour India’s participation in the Paris Agreement.
   • The remaining 18% are either “cautious” or “disengaged” about these issues.
     Source: The Print
2. Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) for 2023 was released by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and the Global Network against Food Crises (GNAFC).

3. UNESCO has released the “Defending Creative Voices”
   Source: UNESCO
4. PwC India and US-India Chamber of Commerce (USAIC) have released the “Clinical Trial Opportunities in India”
   Source: PwC

Banking and Economy

1. Axis Bank and India Shelter Finance Corporation Ltd (IndiaShelter), a Gurgaon based Housing Finance Company, have announced a co-lending partnership.
   • With this partnership, both lenders will be offering secured MSME loans to middle and low-income segment borrowers based in the semi-urban regions.
     Source: Axis Bank
2. Cashfree Payments and Yes Bank have launched ‘Global Collections’, an international collection service for exporters, who are account holders of Yes Bank.
   • Under this partnership, the Bank’s account holders will be able to collect payments in over 30 foreign currencies using the Global Collections service.
   • The funds so received can then be converted into INR and settled into their local bank account in India within one business day.
     Source: Economic Times
3. RBI has released its annual “Report on Currency and Finance 2022-23″.
   • The theme of Report on Currency and Finance 2022–23 is ‘Towards a Greener Cleaner India’.
   • It focuses on the challenges and opportunities of climate change for India and the role of the financial sector in achieving a low-carbon and climate-resilient development path.
   • As per the report, green finance comprises financing of green investments and policies that promote mitigation or adaptation.
   • The cumulative total expenditure for adapting to climate change in India is estimated to be Rs 85.6 lakh crore (at 2011-12 prices) by the year 2030.
   • India needs to reduce its energy intensity of GDP by about 5% annually.
   • India needs to increase its green finance spending up to at least 2.5% of GDP annually till 2030.
     Source: RBI’s official report
4. HDFC Bank launched ‘Vishesh’ its retail banking programme to onboard around 1 lakh new customers from semi-urban and rural areas.
   • HDFC Bank will look to add 675 branches in semi urban and rural areas in FY24 to take the total number to nearly 5,000.
   • As of March 31, 2023, 52% of the bank’s 7,821 branches are in rural and semi urban locations.
   • HDFC Bank already has a ‘Classic’ programme for High-Net-Worth-Individuals where it has customer base of 9 lakh, of which 3 lakhs are in semi urban and rural locations.
     Source: Hindu Business Line
5. India and Russia have announced plans to explore the possibility of accepting RuPay and Mir cards in each other’s country for hassle-free payments amid sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow.
   • The plan was announced during the high-level Internal Governmental Commission meeting on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).
   • The mutual acceptance of RuPay (India) and Mir cards (Russia) will help Indian and Russian citizens to make hassle-free payments in Indian Rupees and Russian Ruble in their respective countries.
   • They also planned the collaboration of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of National Payment Corporation of India and the Faster Payments System (FPS) of the Bank of Russia.
     Source: The Hindu
6. Max Life Insurance Company and Capital Small Finance Bank have partnered to offer life insurance to the bank’s customers.
   • Capital Small Finance Bank Ltd (CSFB) started operations as India’s first Small Finance Bank in 2016.
   • MD & CEO, Capital Small Finance Bank – Sarvjit Singh Samra
     Source: Hindu Business Line
7. Bank of International Settlements’ (BIS) Innovation Hub, in collaboration with RBI, has launched the 4th edition of the “G20 TechSprint 2023”.
   • 2023 edition focuses on three problem statements related to cross-border payments, which are
     • Technology solutions to reduce illicit finance risk around anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and sanctions.
     • Foreign exchange and liquidity technology solutions to enable settlement in emerging market and developing economy currencies.
     • Technology solutions for multilateral cross-border central bank digital currency platforms.
   • Previous three editions were organized on the themes of
   • Regulatory compliance (regtech) and supervision (suptech),
   • Green and sustainable finance and,
   • Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)

8. RBI has instructed banks and other financial institutions to ensure cross-border as well as domestic wire transfers contain complete information about the originator and beneficiary.
   • RBI has updated instructions in the Master Direction on Know Your Customer (KYC) related to wire transfers and aligned the same with the relevant recommendation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
   • For the Domestic Wire Transfers of Rs 50,000 and above, the regulated entity would ask for the details of the originator (customer who initiated the payment) and beneficiary information, in case the originator does not have any account with the said regulated entity.
     Source: Economic Times
9. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has approved the merger of Griha Pte, a wholly owned subsidiary of HDFC Investments in Singapore with HDFC Bank.
   • Last year, the HDFC Bank had agreed to take over the HDFC Ltd in a deal valued at about USD 40 billion.
   • The proposed entity will have a combined asset base of around Rs 18 lakh crore.
   • Every HDFC Ltd’ shareholder will get 42 shares of HDFC Bank for every 25 shares they hold.
     Source: Economic Times and HDFC Bank Shareholding
10. ai has announced a partnership with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance to offer insurance products its customers.
    • Actyv.ai is a Singapore-headquartered enterprise SaaS (software-as-a-service) platform with embedded B2B BNPL (buy now, pay later) and insurance.
      Source: Economic Times
11. Canara Bank, in collaboration with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), launched the “Digitalised Submission of Form 15G/15H” as one of our customer-friendly services, furthering our commitment to “Customer Delight.”
    • Form 15G (Individual and HUF) and Form 15H (Individual-Senior Citizen) are self-declaration forms that an individual submits to the bank to request that TDS on interest income not be deducted because their income is less than the basic exemption limit. It is necessary to provide PAN for this.
      Source: BFSI
12. Ministry of Labour & Employment has announced that the additional 1.16% which the employees had to pay to receive higher EPS pension, will now be subsumed under the 12% contribution made by the employees.
    • The 1.16% contribution will be added to the employer’s contribution and therefore, the employer’s contribution towards EPF will rise from 8.33% to 9.49%.

13. Ministry of Finance has widened the scope of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, to include transactions facilitated by Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Cost and Works Accountants.
    • The professionals will now be responsible for activities on behalf of clients such as buying and selling of any immovable property, managing assets, creation, operation or management of companies, limited liability partnerships or trusts, and buying and selling of business entities.
      Source: LiveMint
14. SEBI has released the “Testing Framework for IT Systems of Market Infrastructure Institutions” (MIIs).
    • MIIs are Stock Exchanges, Clearing Corporations and Depositories etc.
    • The Framework has been developed on the recommendation of the Technology Advisory Committee (TAC).
      Source: SEBI

Appointments

1. Ajay Banga has been appointed as the President of the World Bank for a five-year term beginning June 2, 2023.
   • Ajay Banga most recently served as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic. Previously, he was President and CEO of Mastercard (2010-2021).

2. Santiago Peña has been elected the President of Paraguay.
   Source: Al Jazeera
3. Arun Sinha has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).
   • The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) is a technical intelligence agency under the National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office, India.
   • It was set up in 2004.
     Source: India today

Important Days

1. April 24 – World Day for Laboratory Animals; Theme – Compassion for Animals in Research
   Source: All World Day
2. April 25 – World Penguin Day
   Source: Penguin International
3. April 25 – International Delegate’s Day
4. May 4 – International Firefighters Day
   Source: The Quint
5. May 5 – World Cartoonist Day
   Source: News18
6. May 5 – African World Heritage Day
   Source: UNESCO
7. May 5 – World Hand Hygiene Day; Theme – Accelerate action together. SAVE LIVES – Clean Your Hands
   Source: WHO

8. May 5 – International Day of the Midwife
   • According to UN Population Fund, the theme is “Actioning Evidence: Leading the Way to Enhance Quality Midwifery Care Globally.”
   • According to the International Confederation of Midwives, the theme is “Together again: from evidence to reality.”

9. May 7 – World Athletics Day; Theme – ‘Athletics for All – A New Beginning’
   Source: News on Air

Awards

1. 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize (aka Green Nobel Prize) has been announced to recognise individuals who contribute towards environmental conservation.

Source: Goldmanprize.org

Sports

1. Third edition of the Khelo India University Games 2022 will be organized in Uttar Pradesh from May 25-Jun 03, 2023.
   • The KIUG 2022 Games will be held in Varanasi, Noida, Gorakhpur, and Lucknow.
   • Total – 21 sports

2. Indian Olympic gold medallist and star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won at the Doha Diamond League 2023.
   Source: Times of India
3. Indian archery men and women teams won 5 Gold medals, 5 Silvers and 2 bronze at Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournament, Stage II in Tashkent.
   Source: News on Air
4. Sound Running Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour-Silver event, was held in California
   • Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary set new marks in the 5,000m.
   • Praveen Chithravel broke the triple jump national mark.
     Source: Hindustan Times

Miscellaneous

1. Former world and Olympic sprint champion Tori Bowie passed away.
   Source: The Guardian
2. Legendary tennis player Jaidip Mukerjea launched his autobiography titled “Crosscourt”.
   Source: Hindu Sportstar
3. Tarek Fatah (Pakistani-Canadian journalist and author) passed away.
   Source: Indian Express
4. Fuego Volcano has erupted in Guatemala.

Source: CBS News and Wikipedia

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