21st-23rd April, 2023

1. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the Global Buddhist Summit at Hotel Ashok in New Delhi.
2. Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCC) has operationalised the Rewari Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.
3. A two-days National Conference on Female Infertility ‘Srijana’ is being organized by All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under the Ministry of AYUSH at New Delhi.
4. India-Russia Business Dialogue 2023 was held in New Delhi.
5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is returning 15 antique sculptures to the Government of India after having learned that these were “illegally removed” from India.
6. As of March 2023, the Ministry of Education had shortlisted around 9,000 schools from across the country for its flagship Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI).
7. For the first time, the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi organised the “Spring Fiesta” 2023.
8. Ministry of Education has launched the New India Literacy Programme, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with a financial outlay of over Rs 1,000 crores for implementation during the financial year 2022-23 to 2026-27.
9. Ministry of Railways has identified 1275 railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station scheme.
10. 1st G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRWG) meeting took place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from March 30 to April 1, 2023.
11. IIT-Madras developed a three-dimensional paper-based portable device to detect adulteration of milk in 30 seconds.
12. The Second G20 Sherpas meeting, chaired by India’s G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant, was held at the village of Kumarakom, Kerala, from March 30 to April 2, 2023.
13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the implementation of a uniform tariff by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in the energy and natural gas sector.
14. National Institute of Urban Affairs (under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) organized the first Urban Climate Film Festival through the CITIIS program under U20 engagement events.
15. Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav announced to release one tigress each to Kota’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and Bundi’s Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
16. Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Investment Fund I has raised Rs 15,530 crore as of March 2023.
17. The first edition of India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave was organised on the side lines of 2nd Africa-India Joint Exercise ‘AFINDEX’ in Pune, Maharashtra.
18. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has congratulated Anjali Sharma of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh for conquering Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari.
19. ISRO Chairman S Somanath has inaugurated the Space Systems Design Lab of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) at Bopal in Ahmedabad.
20. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, has launched three new resources aimed at fostering innovation and creativity among India’s youth.
21. Central Govt aims to bring over 50,000 more villages under Open Defecation Free (ODF)+ of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) by 2024.
22. Department of Posts has released a special cover on the Mahila Samman Savings scheme.
23. Kerala Forest Department has launched “Mission Arikompan” to control a rogue elephant named “Arikompan” from ravaging the fields.
24. Anji Khad Bridge (built on Anji river) is the second most important bridge of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Project after Chenab Bridge (world’s highest rail bridge).
25. The 800-year-old Mahim fort in Mumbai has now opened as a tourist spot.
26. Central Government has estimated that over 341 lakh metric tonnes wheat will be procured during Rabi Marketing Season 2023-24.
27. Ministry of Commerce & Industry has released the data on agriculture exports for April 2022-January 2023.
28. The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal has produced India’s first cloned female calf of the desi breed Gir which can produce more than 15 litres of milk per day.
29. The first batch of 2,585 Agniveers, including 273 women of the Indian Navy passed out from the portals of INS Chilka in Odisha in a first of its kind- ceremonial night passing out parade held under the aegis of Southern Naval Command.
30. Ministry of Defence signed three contracts – two with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad and one with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) – at a total cost nearly Rs 5,400 crore.
31. Defence Ministry has signed contracts with Indian shipyards for the acquisition of the 11 next generation offshore patrol vessels (OVPs) at an overall cost of nearly Rs 19,600 crore.
32. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the signing of contract for procurement of Akash Weapon System and 12 Weapon Locating Radars, WLR Swathi (Plains) for the Indian Army, at an overall cost of over Rs 9,100 crores.
33. INS Sumedha was docked at Port Algiers, Algeria in March 2023.
34. The Combined Commanders’ Conference was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on the theme of ‘Ready, Resurgent, Relevant’.
35. The 3rd General Sundarji Memorial Lecture was organised by the Indian Army at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment to commemorate the memory of one of India’s foremost military thinkers.
36. UK has organized ‘Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture’ exhibition to shed light on the Indo-Caribbean culture that exists in Museum of London Docklands, London.
37. UK and nine other partner countries are providing training to Ukrainian soldiers under its “Operation Interflex”.
38. Russia’s navy fired supersonic anti-ship missiles named “P-270 Moskit Missile” on a mock target in the Sea of Japan.
39. Saudi Arabia has agreed to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a “dialogue partner”.
40. International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence was hosted by IUCN in Oxford, UK.
41. IMF has approved a new four-year extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of around USD 15.6 billion as part of a USD 115 billion total support package for Ukraine.
42. Proba-3 is a technological demonstration mission by the European Space Agency.
43. NASA researchers have developed a new computer model, called the Deep Learning Geomagnetic Perturbation (DAGGER) model.
44. USA, along with the 10 other nations, issued the first-ever significant anti-spyware declaration for recognising the threat posed by the misuse of commercial spyware and the need for strict domestic and international controls on the proliferation and use of such technology.
45. International Seabed Authority has approved the deep-sea mining of ocean’s floor for extracting cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese – key battery materials – from potato-sized rocks called “polymetallic nodules” on the ocean’s floor at depths of 4 to 6 km (2.5 to 4 miles).
46. Paris banned rental electric scooters from the streets of its city.
47. Red squirrels of Wales have contacted squirrel pox.
48. Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a loan of USD 230 million to Bangladesh to help the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the north-eastern in May–June 2022.
49. Wholesale Price-based Inflation (WPI) for March 2023 declined to a 29-month low of 1.34%.
50. Central Govt, in consultation with the RBI, has planned to borrow Rs 8.88 lakh crore (57.55%) in the first half of 2023-24.
51. The Indian Banks’ Association has published the EASE Reforms Index for Q3 FY 2022-23.
52. March 28 – Universal Acceptance Day
53. April 5 – First Merchant Navy Flag
54. April 21 – Civil Services Day (16th edition); Theme – “Viksit Bharat: Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”
55. India won the Tri-nation International Football competition by defeating Kyrgyzstan at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, Manipur.
56. Lionel Messi (Argentinian player) scored his 100 international goals in Santiago del Estero, city in Argentine.
57. Nitu Ghanghas won Gold in 48 kg category at the IBA Womens World Boxing Championship held at the K.D. Jadhav Hall, IG Stadium, New Delhi.
58. Indian weightlifters Dhanush Loganathan and Jyoshna Sabar won bronze medals in their respective categories in the IWF World Youth Championships in Durres, Albania.
59. Nevado del Ruiz is a stratovolcano located in the central part of Colombia.

National News

1. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the Global Buddhist Summit at Hotel Ashok in New Delhi.
   • Theme – “Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis”
     Source: PIB
2. Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCC) has operationalised the Rewari Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.
   • This becomes the first operational GCT with complete investment from a private player and zero revenue-sharing on account of the Indian Railways.
   • The Rs 8-crore GCT in Haryana will be operated by Pristine Mega Logistics Park.
     Source: Business Standard
3. A two-days National Conference on Female Infertility ‘Srijana’ is being organized by All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under the Ministry of AYUSH at New Delhi.
   • According to WHO reports, in 37% of the infertile couple, female infertility was the cause.
   • In India, the cases of female infertility are rising and affect approximately 15% of couple.
   • Chair of the Conference – Prof. Tanuja Nesari (Director AIIA)
   • Chief Guest – Prof. Abhimanyu Kumar, Former VC, DSRRAU Jodhpur
   • Guest of Honour – Prof. (Dr) Pooja Bhardwaj
     Source: PIB

4. India-Russia Business Dialogue 2023 was held in New Delhi.
   • India and Russia have crossed the bilateral trade target of $30 billion before the target year of 2025.

     Source: News on Air

5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is returning 15 antique sculptures to the Government of India after having learned that these were “illegally removed” from India.
   • The list includes Madhya Pradesh’s sandstone Celestial Dancer (Apsara) valued at more than $1 million, West Bengal’s Yakshi Terracotta, a ceramic pot from Chandraketugarh, a stone bust of Kamadeva, the God of Love, from the second half of the 8th century C.E, a Svetambara enthroned Jina among other things.
   • These artifacts range in date from the 1st century BCE to the 11th century CE.
     Source: Hindustan Times

6. As of March 2023, the Ministry of Education had shortlisted around 9,000 schools from across the country for its flagship Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI).
   • They were assessed based on six broad parameters: curriculum, pedagogy and assessment; access and infrastructure; human resources – leadership; inclusive practices and gender equity; management, monitoring and governance and beneficiary satisfaction.

7. For the first time, the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi organised the “Spring Fiesta” 2023.
   • Purpose – to celebrate 69 years of the museum, which was officially inaugurated on March 29, 1954, by Vice President Dr S Radhakrishnan
     Source: PIB
8. Ministry of Education has launched the New India Literacy Programme, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with a financial outlay of over Rs 1,000 crores for implementation during the financial year 2022-23 to 2026-27.
   • The scheme aims to cover a target of 5 crore non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above.
   • Estimated outlay – Rs.1037.90 crore, which includes Central share of Rs.700 crore and State share of Rs.337.90 crore for a period of 5 years from 2022 -27

9. Ministry of Railways has identified 1275 railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station scheme.
   • Of these, 55 are in Karnataka, 87 in Gujarat, 123 in Maharashtra, 82 in Rajasthan,49 in Assam, 4 in Tripura and 1 each in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim.
   • Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh has been commissioned through PPP model.
     Source: PIB

10. 1st G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRWG) meeting took place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from March 30 to April 1, 2023.
    • National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), under M/o Home Affairs, led the discussions.
    • As a prelude to the main event, a Curtain Raiser: ‘Learning from Disasters: Memorialising disasters, learning, building back better, investing in resilience’ took place on the 29th of March 2023 at the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM).
      Source: G20’s website
11. IIT-Madras developed a three-dimensional paper-based portable device to detect adulteration of milk in 30 seconds.
    • The research paper was published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Nature’.
      Source: Times of India
12. The Second G20 Sherpas meeting, chaired by India’s G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant, was held at the village of Kumarakom, Kerala, from March 30 to April 2, 2023.
    • India’s G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant will also lead discussions with the G20 Troika comprising India, Indonesia and Brazil.
      Source: PIB
13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the implementation of a uniform tariff by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in the energy and natural gas sector.
    • This tariff mechanism will help India to achieve the “One Nation One Grid One Tariff” model and, also propel the gas markets in distant areas.

14. National Institute of Urban Affairs (under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) organized the first Urban Climate Film Festival through the CITIIS program under U20 engagement events.
    • Partners in the Festival – French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Union
    • A curated selection of 11 films from 9 countries were showcased to create wider awareness of the impact of climate change on life in cities and engage the public in the dialogue on sustainable urban development.
    • The selected films will be screened at the festival in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad over subsequent months.
    • 1st screening – M.L. Bhartia Auditorium, Alliance Française, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi. The inaugural session will be chaired by Shri Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa.

15. Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav announced to release one tigress each to Kota’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and Bundi’s Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
    • Apart from the two tigresses, Gaurs and wild dogs and some other wild animals will also be released in the reserve area.
    • National Chambal Sanctuary is in Madhya Pradesh.
      Source: News on Air
16. Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Investment Fund I has raised Rs 15,530 crore as of March 2023.
    • Purpose – to provide priority debt financing for the completion of stressed, brownfield and Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA)-registered residential projects that fall in the affordable, mid-income housing category
    • SWAMIH has so far provided final approval to about 130 projects with sanctions worth over Rs 12,000 crore.

17. The first edition of India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave was organised on the side lines of 2nd Africa-India Joint Exercise ‘AFINDEX’ in Pune, Maharashtra.
    • Theme of India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave – ‘Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity – AMRUT’
      Source: PIB
18. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has congratulated Anjali Sharma of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh for conquering Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari.
    • She is the first Indian woman to achieve this feat while wearing the Gaddi costume, and she aims to promote Gaddi culture on mountain peaks.

19. ISRO Chairman S Somanath has inaugurated the Space Systems Design Lab of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) at Bopal in Ahmedabad.
    • This state-of-the-art design lab will enable space sector start-ups to transform their innovative ideas into implementable models at a faster pace.
    • IN-SPACe had already announced a Rs 1 crore seed fund scheme for early-stage space start-ups.
      Source: Economic Times
20. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, has launched three new resources aimed at fostering innovation and creativity among India’s youth.
    • The launch event introduced the ATL Tinkering Curriculum, Equipment Manual, and the Calendar of Activities for 2023-24.
      Source: PIB
21. Central Govt aims to bring over 50,000 more villages under Open Defecation Free (ODF)+ of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) by 2024.
    • So far, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have got the ODF plus status with a coverage of 100%, 96% and nearly 94%, respectively.
    • Centre will provide ₹14,030 crore fund in FY24 to achieve the target.
    • More than 40% of Indian villages have declared themselves as ODF plus.
      Source: LiveMint

State News

1. Department of Posts has released a special cover on the Mahila Samman Savings scheme.
   Source: News on Air
2. Kerala Forest Department has launched “Mission Arikompan” to control a rogue elephant named “Arikompan” from ravaging the fields.
   Source: The Hindu

3. Anji Khad Bridge (built on Anji river) is the second most important bridge of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Project after Chenab Bridge (world’s highest rail bridge).
   • The bridge connects Katra-Reasi section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line.
   • Anji Khad is India first “cable-stayed” railway bridge.
     Source: Times of India
4. The 800-year-old Mahim fort in Mumbai has now opened as a tourist spot.

   Source: Economic Times

Agriculture And Rural Development

1. Central Government has estimated that over 341 lakh metric tonnes wheat will be procured during Rabi Marketing Season 2023-24.
   • The wheat has been procured from Madhya Pradesh in the areas of Ujjain, Dewas, Indore, Shajapur and Sehore.
     Source: News on Air
2. Ministry of Commerce & Industry has released the data on agriculture exports for April 2022-January 2023.
   • The agricultural exports have amounted to USD 43.37 billion, registering an increase of 6.04% over the exports of USD 40.90 billion during the corresponding period of the previous financial year (April 2021 to January 2022).
   • During the 2021-22, India’s agricultural export touched the highest ever level of USD 50.21 billion.
     Source: PIB
3. The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal has produced India’s first cloned female calf of the desi breed Gir which can produce more than 15 litres of milk per day.
   • India’s first cloned Gir female calf named ‘Ganga’ weighing 32 kg was born and is growing well.
   • India’s indigenous cattle breeds are Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Red-Sindhi etc.
   • NDRI started its work on cloning high-yield desi breeds like Gir, Red Sindhi and Sahiwal in 2021, in collaboration with Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board (ULDB), Dehradun.

Source: Economic Times, NDDB’s website, and Down to Earth

Defence News

1. The first batch of 2,585 Agniveers, including 273 women of the Indian Navy passed out from the portals of INS Chilka in Odisha in a first of its kind- ceremonial night passing out parade held under the aegis of Southern Naval Command.
   Source: Indian Express
2. Ministry of Defence signed three contracts – two with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad and one with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) – at a total cost nearly Rs 5,400 crore.
   • BEL –
     • First – to procure Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System ‘Project Akashteer’ worth Rs 1,982 crore for the Indian Army.
     • Second – to acquire Sarang Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems along with associated Engineering Support Package from BEL, Hyderabad at an overall cost of Rs 412 crore for the Indian Navy.
   • NSIL –
     • To procure an advanced Communication Satellite, GSAT 7B for the Indian Army at an overall cost of Rs 2,963 crore.

3. Defence Ministry has signed contracts with Indian shipyards for the acquisition of the 11 next generation offshore patrol vessels (OVPs) at an overall cost of nearly Rs 19,600 crore.
   • The contract also includes the next six generations of missile vessels.
   • Of the 11 ships, seven will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and four by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
   • Ministry of Defence has also signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore for procurement of 13 Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems for Indian Navy at a total cost of over Rs 1,700 crore under Buy {Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)} category.
   • These fire control systems will be deployed on the offshore patrol vessels.
     Source: Economic Times and PIB
4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the signing of contract for procurement of Akash Weapon System and 12 Weapon Locating Radars, WLR Swathi (Plains) for the Indian Army, at an overall cost of over Rs 9,100 crores.
   • The contract for WLR Swathi (Plains) was signed with Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) at a cost of over Rs 990 crore.
     Source: News on Air
5. INS Sumedha was docked at Port Algiers, Algeria in March 2023.
   • INS Sumedha is an indigenously built stealth offshore patrol vessel that is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors.
     Source: PIB
6. The Combined Commanders’ Conference was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on the theme of ‘Ready, Resurgent, Relevant’.

   Source: PIB

7. The 3rd General Sundarji Memorial Lecture was organised by the Indian Army at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment to commemorate the memory of one of India’s foremost military thinkers.
   • The lecture remembered the dynamic and visionary General K Sundarji, the 13th Chief of the Army Staff, who is also fondly called as the ‘Father of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment’.
     Source: PIB

International News

1. UK has organized ‘Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture’ exhibition to shed light on the Indo-Caribbean culture that exists in Museum of London Docklands, London.
   Source: Indian Express

2. UK and nine other partner countries are providing training to Ukrainian soldiers under its “Operation Interflex”.
   • The other nations involved in the initiative are Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, and the Netherlands.
   • Venue of Training – four locations in the U.K. (Yorkshire, Kent, Wiltshire, and Northumberland)
   • UK has also announced to send a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.
     Source: The Hindu and The Guardian
3. Russia’s navy fired supersonic anti-ship missiles named “P-270 Moskit Missile” on a mock target in the Sea of Japan.
   Source: Economic Times
4. Saudi Arabia has agreed to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a “dialogue partner”.
   • At present, Iran is an Observer State. Although, the country has received the approval to join the grouping as a member. The procedure of its accession is under progress.

5. International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence was hosted by IUCN in Oxford, UK.
   • The Conference is a response to the Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at the UN Biodiversity Conference in December 2022.
     Source: IUCN’s website
6. IMF has approved a new four-year extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of around USD 15.6 billion as part of a USD 115 billion total support package for Ukraine.
   Source: IMF’s website
7. Proba-3 is a technological demonstration mission by the European Space Agency.
   • It consists of two small satellites – Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC).
   • The two small satellites will be launched together in 2024 into the Earth’s orbit.
     Source: ESA’s website
8. NASA researchers have developed a new computer model, called the Deep Learning Geomagnetic Perturbation (DAGGER) model.
   • The model integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with satellite data to forecast geomagnetic disturbances and provide a warning for impending solar storms.
     Source: NASA’s website
9. USA, along with the 10 other nations, issued the first-ever significant anti-spyware declaration for recognising the threat posed by the misuse of commercial spyware and the need for strict domestic and international controls on the proliferation and use of such technology.
   • Other countries – Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
     Source: Wion
10. International Seabed Authority has approved the deep-sea mining of ocean’s floor for extracting cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese – key battery materials – from potato-sized rocks called “polymetallic nodules” on the ocean’s floor at depths of 4 to 6 km (2.5 to 4 miles).

11. Paris banned rental electric scooters from the streets of its city.

    Source: Indian Express

12. Red squirrels of Wales have contacted squirrel pox.
    Source: BBC

Banking and Economy

1. Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a loan of USD 230 million to Bangladesh to help the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the north-eastern in May–June 2022.
   • The assistance under the Flood Reconstruction Emergency Assistance Project will help in the reconstruction, improvement of resilience, and economic recovery of northeastern districts Bangladesh.
     Source: News on Air
2. Wholesale Price-based Inflation (WPI) for March 2023 declined to a 29-month low of 34%.
   • Retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), fell to a 15-month low of 5.66% in March, due to ease in the food and fuel baskets.
     Source: News on Air
3. Central Govt, in consultation with the RBI, has planned to borrow Rs 8.88 lakh crore (57.55%) in the first half of 2023-24.
   • Total borrowings planned for FY24 – Rs 15.43 lakh crore
   • RBI has fixed the Ways and Mean Advances (WMA) limit for H1 of FY 2023-24 at Rs 1,50,000 crore.
   • In the second half of FY24, the govt will issue the Sovereign Green Bonds.
     Source: PIB
4. The Indian Banks’ Association has published the EASE Reforms Index for Q3 FY 2022-23.
   • The performance of PSBs is measured on five themes under EASE 5.0,
   • Union Bank of India has ranked at the top in this index.
   • Union Bank of India has set the benchmark under the four themes i.e., “Digitally – enabled customer offerings”, ‘Big data and analytics’, ‘Modern Technology Capabilities’ and “Employee development and Governance” by securing 1st rank amongst PSBs.

Source: Indian Bank’s Association’s website

Important Days

1. March 28 – Universal Acceptance Day
   • National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), a non-for-profit company, under the aegis of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), organized a two-day event on this day.
     Source: PIB

2. April 5 – First Merchant Navy Flag
   • To mark the importance of the day government is celebrating by organising the National Maritime Week from 30.03.2023 to 05.04.2023.
   • Maritime Excellence Awards 2023 given by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways-

1. April 21 – Civil Services Day (16th edition); Theme – “Viksit Bharat: Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”
   • The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar unveiled an e-book on ‘National Good Governance Webinar Series’ during the event.
     Source: PIB

Sports

1. India won the Tri-nation International Football competition by defeating Kyrgyzstan at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, Manipur.
   • The competition took place among India, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar.
     Source: The Hindu Sportstar
2. Lionel Messi (Argentinian player) scored his 100 international goals in Santiago del Estero, city in Argentine.
   • He achieved this feat in a match against Curaçao (an Island country and a Constituent country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands).
   • Curaçao Capital – Willemstad and Currency – Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
     Source: CNN and Wikipedia
3. Nitu Ghanghas won Gold in 48 kg category at the IBA Womens World Boxing Championship held at the K.D. Jadhav Hall, IG Stadium, New Delhi.
   •  Nitu defeated Mongolia’s Altantsetseg Lutsaikhan.
   • She became the only sixth Indian boxer, male or female, to win a World championship.
     Source: News on Air

4. Indian weightlifters Dhanush Loganathan and Jyoshna Sabar won bronze medals in their respective categories in the IWF World Youth Championships in Durres, Albania.
   • Jyoshna (aged 14) lifted 115kg. She competed in the category of 40kg event.
   • Dhanush (aged 16) lifted a total weight of 200 kg, in the men’s 49kg event. He also won a silver medal in the snatch category.
     Source: News on Air

Miscellaneous

1. Nevado del Ruiz is a stratovolcano located in the central part of Colombia.
   Source: BBC

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