Tag: motivation

NATIONAL NEWS 

Anurag Thakur launches logo, mascot jersey & anthem of Khelo India University Games 2021 

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur and Governor of Karnataka, TC Gehlot launched the logo, jersey, mascot and anthem of the Khelo India University Games 2021 (KIUG 2021) on April 01, 2022, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. The theme song has been composed by Kannada rapper Chandan Shetty. The KIUG 2021 will be held in Karnataka between April 24 and May 3, 2022. This will be the second edition of KIUG. The first edition was hosted by Odisha in 2020. KIUG 2021 was postponed for 2022 due to the Covid crisis. A Khelo India App for live updates on the Games has also been launched by Karnataka. Around 4500 athletes, representing 20 sports from across the country will participate in the KIUG 2021.

 

UP become India’s top vegetable producer

Uttar Pradesh has become the top producer of vegetables, getting back its first position by demoting West Bengal to the second position, with a difference of a million tonnes in production in 2021–22 Crop Year (CY) (July–June), after two years since 2020. Vegetable production in Uttar Pradesh is expected to be 29.58 million tonnes (mt) in the 2021–22 crop year (July–June), down from 29.16 mt in 2020–21, while West Bengal output is expected to dip to 28.23 mt in 2021-22 from 30.33 mt in 2020-21. Other top producers of vegetables as per the data in the current year 2021-22 include Madhya Pradesh at 20.59 mt, Bihar at 17.77 mt and Maharashtra at 16.78 mt.  Andhra Pradesh remains the top fruit producer. India’s horticulture output is likely to drop marginally by 0.4% to 333.25 mt in 2021–22 from the previous year (2020–21) as production of vegetables, spices, and plantation crops is set to decline. In 2021–22, Andhra Pradesh is expected to produce 18.01 million tonnes of fruit, up from 17.7 million tonnes in 2020–21. Maharashtra is anticipated to produce 12.3 million tonnes of fruit, up from 11.74 million tonnes in 2020–21.

Dr. S Raju takes charge as DG of Geological Survey of India 

Dr S Raju has taken over as the Director-General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) with effect from April 01, 2022. He succeeds R. S. Garkhal who superannuated on March 31, 2022. Prior to this, Dr Raju was holding the post of Additional Director General and National Head, Mission-III & IV at GSI HQ. Dr.S. Raju joined the Geological Survey of India in 1988. During the initial period of his career, he was instrumental in geological mapping of Bundelkhand Granitic Complex in Uttar Pradesh and also executed an investigation on gold mineralization and carried out a geo-environmental appraisal of Jhansi district of Bundelkhand Region, Uttar Pradesh. With his expertise, he has also supplemented in the geology of Tamil Nadu especially, establishing the metamorphic and techtono-magmatic history of the Satyamangalam Group of rocks.

Mahesh Verma named as chairperson of NABH

Vice-Chancellor of Indraprastha University, Mahesh Verma has been appointed as the new chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH). NABH is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI). This is responsible for setting benchmarks for quality and certifying hospitals and other health facilities. NABH is also a member of the board of the Asian Society for Quality in Healthcare (ASQua). Dr Verma is a recipient of Padma Shri as well as Dr. B. C. Roy award. He has also received the National Science and Technology award. He is currently the vice-chancellor of Delhi’s Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, and Professor Emeritus at Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences. He is the president of the India chapter of the International Association for Disability and Oral Health and the Indian Academy of Restorative Dentistry. He is also the president-elect of the International Association of Dental Research, India Division, and the Indian Society of Dental Research.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

International Children’s Book Day celebrates on 02 April

The International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is organised annually on the 2nd of April since 1967, by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). IBBY is an international non-profit organization, to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books. In 2022, Canada is hosting International Children’s Book Day with this chosen theme: Stories are wings that help you soar every day. Every year, a different international section of IBBY hosts a children’s books event on or around April 2 (which is the birthday of classic children’s book author Hans Christian Andersen). The host country picks a theme and invites a well-known author and illustrator to create a message for children around the world.

 

World Autism Awareness Day Observed on 2nd April 2022

World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on 2nd April by the member states of the United Nations. The day is observed to raise awareness among its citizens about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the world. World Autism Awareness Day is organized by the UN Department of Global Communications and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with the support of civil society partners including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the Global Autism Project and the Specialisterne Foundation. The theme for ‘World Autism Awareness Day 2022’ is Inclusive Quality Education for All. Access to education that was made easy for years, especially for autistic persons was disrupted after 2020 with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Bank Holidays in April 2022

Reserve Bank of India has released a bank holiday calendar according to which all the private and public sector banks will remain closed for 15 days in April 2022. Bank holidays in April 2022 will also include the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays. Check the full list of Bank Holidays in April 2022 here.

What is Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022?

The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, introduced in Lok Sabha is pursuant to India’s accession to Antarctic Treaty, 1959 as well as the Protocol on Environment Protection (Madrid Protocol) to the Antarctic Treaty. It aims at providing national measures to protect the Antarctic environment, and the dependent and associated ecosystems.

Russian Foreign Minister visit to India

India is an important country and if it sees to play a role that provides resolution of problems, it can support such process, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on India. He further added that no pressure will affect our partnership.

New Income Tax Rules 2022

New income tax rules have come into effect with the start of the new financial year from April 1, 2022. Some of the major changes in income tax include a tax on cryptocurrencies, filing of updated returns, and tax rules of EPF interest. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Gianni Infantino to stand for re-election as FIFA President

Gianni Infantino announced on March 31, 2022, that he will stand for re-election for a third time as the President of FIFA. A 52-year old Infantino who is a Swiss-Italian lawyer was the secretary-general of the European governing body UEFA before becoming the President of FIFA in 2016. Infantino again won a second term when he stood up unopposed for re-election at a congress in Paris in 2019.

Sri Lankan Crisis 2022

Sri Lankans faced up to almost 10-hour of power cuts on March 30th and there were warnings of longer blackouts on March 31st. Sri Lanka also ran out of diesel on March 31st, crippling the country’s transportation system. Sri Lanka has been facing is a forex shortage and protests of this nature will hurt tourism and have economic consequences.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Anandi Gopal Joshi 157th Birth Anniversary observed

The 157th birth anniversary of Anandi Gopal Joshi, one of India’s first female doctors of western medicine, was observed on March 31, 2022. She secured a degree in medicine at the age of 21 from Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. She was married at the age of 9 years to a widower Gopalrao Joshi, who was twenty years older than her.  Gopalrao was a progressive thinker and supported education for women. He encouraged Anandibai to study medicine and create her own identity in the world. 

Government to reduce disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur

The central government has decided to reduce disturbed areas under AFSPA Act in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur after decades. AFPSA will be completely removed from 23 districts of Assam and partially from one district with effect from April 1st. In Manipur, in 15 police stations of six districts will be excluded from AFSPA Act with effect from April 1st

CCS approves procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters

The Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the procurement of 15 indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopters at a cost of Rs 3,887 crore on March 30, 2022. Out of the total 15 helicopters, 10 will be for the Indian Air Force and 5 will be for the Indian Army. The Light Combat Helicopter has one of the highest operating altitudes among the combat helicopters in the world. The indigenous production of the LCH will reduce import dependence on Combat helicopters in the country.

Dearness Allowance for central government employees hiked by 3 percent

The Dearness allowance for central government employees has been hiked by 3 percent from the existing 31 percent to 34 percent of basic pay.  Dearness Allowance is the cost-of-living adjustment allowance that the government pays to its employees. The central government had last increased DA by 3 percent from 28 percent to 31 percent of basic pay and pension in October 2021.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Bruce Willis retires from acting following aphasia diagnosis

Die Hard star Bruce Willis has announced retirement from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a disease that is impacting his cognitive abilities. The 67-year-old has appeared in around 100 films in his career spanning through 4 decades. Bruce Willis had begun his career on the off-Broadway stage in the 1970s. Later from 1985 to 1989, Willis achieved fame with a leading role in the comedy-drama series Moonlighting and has since then appeared in over a hundred films.

 

Tom Parker, ‘The Wanted’ Singer, passes away at 33

Tom Parker, one of the five members of the British-Irish boy band ‘The Wanted’, passed away at the age of 33, after two years of announcing that he was suffering from an inoperable brain tumor. Parker, from Northwest England, announced the diagnosis back in October 2020, and after undergoing treatment, joined the rest of the band on a reunion tour in March. Formed back in 2009, The Wanted had number-one singles in Britain with ‘All-Time Low’ and ‘Glad You Came’, the latter also reaching number on the US Billboard Chart.

NATIONAL NEWS

PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline is March 31st 2022

The last for linking Pan card with Aadhaar card in March 31st failing which, the PAN card will become inoperative and there will be a fine up to Rs 1000. You can check if you have linked your PAN with Aadhaar by visiting the official website of the Income Tax Department. There is an option to check Pan-Aadhaar link status. The deadline for linking Pan-Aadhaar has been extended multiple times previously but it is not expected to be extended further this time. 

What is National Land Monetisation Corporation?

The Union Cabinet approved setting up of the National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) on March 9, 2022. The corporation will be set up as a wholly-owned Indian Government company with an initial authorized share capital of Rs. 5,000 crores.  The corporation will undertake the professional and orderly monetization of the land and other non-core assets referred to it.

Orleans Masters 2022 Tournament Date and Time

The Orleans Masters 2022 began on March 29, 2022 in France and will conclude on April 3rd. Top-ranked Indian badminton players including PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen and Saina Nehwal will not be taking part in the Orleans Masters, as they were recently participating in the Swiss Open 2022. India’s PV Sindhu had won the women’s singles title at Swiss Open 2022, while HS Prannoy was the runner up in the men’s singles event. The top-ranked Indian badminton player to participate in Orleans Masters 2022 is Sai Praneeth. 

Rajasthan Day 2022: Why do we Celebrate Rajasthan Diwas?Rajasthan Foundation Day is celebrated every year on March 30th to commemorate the formation of the state. Rajasthan, India’s largest state, was formed on March 30, 1949 when Rajputana was merged into the Indian Union. Rajputana was Rajasthan’s old name, which was adopted by the British Raj for its dependencies in the region. Rajasthan has the seventh-largest state economy in India with a GDP of Rs 10.20 lakh crore.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Why is World Bipolar Day Celebrated?

World Bipolar Day is observed every year on March 30 to spread awareness about the mental disorder that affects several people across the globe. The day is observed on the birth anniversary of world-renowned Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, who was one of the most influential artists in the history of western art.  The day encourages people to talk about the problem and bring attention to the symptoms that often go missing. 

Filmmaker Jeff Darling, known for ‘Young Einstein’, passes away

Filmmaker Jeff Darling who is best known for his work on projects like ‘The Crossing’ and ‘Young Einstein’ passed away. Reportedly, Darling died at the age of 60 while surfing in North Palm Beach in Sydney. He was taken by the lifeguards unconscious from the ocean, and paramedics were unable to revive him. Jeff Darling became the youngest person to earn the Australian Film Institute’s best achievement in cinematography award. He was awarded for his work on George Ogilvie’s ‘The Crossing’ starring Russel Crowe. He also helmed music videos for the songs ‘Instinct’.

Belgian footballer Miguel Van Damme passes away after long battle with Leukemia

Miguel Van Damme, a Belgian footballer, passed away at the age of 28 after a long battle with Leukemia. The news was announced by Damme’s club, Cercle Brugge. The goalkeeper from Belgium was first diagnosed with the disease over 5 years ago during a medical ahead of the 2016/2017 season. The deadly disease returned in 2019 and then again in 2020. Damme and his wife Kyana Dobbelaere became parents in 2021.

Foreign Minister of Russia to visit India from March 31 to April 1

The Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to India from March 31 to April 1. The visit has come amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. This will also be Russian Foreign Minister’s first visit to India since Moscow commenced its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine. He is currently holding multinational meetings in Tunxi, China. Lavrov is also taking part in two multinational meetings on Afghanistan along with representatives from Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Sergey Lavrov will also attend a separate meeting of the ‘Extended Troika’ with special Afghan envoys from the US and China.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Full list of 3rd National Water Awards Winner

President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the 3rd National Water Awards at a special ceremony today, on March 29, 2022. Uttar Pradesh won first position in the ‘Best State Category’, followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh was awarded the first prize in the ‘Best District-North Zone’ category. The National Water Awards recognizes the exemplary work and the efforts made by the States, individuals, districts across the country in attaining the government’s vision of ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’.

Raj Subramaniam named new FedEx CEO

IIT Bombay Alumni, Indian American Raj Subramaniam has become the Chief Executive Officer-designate of FedEx. He will replace the Founder and Chairman of FedEx, Frederick W Smith, who will be stepping down from the position on June 1.  Raj Subramaniam will now be FedEx’s new Executive Chairman. He was earlier serving as the President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Corporation. 

What is Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill 2022?

Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022 on March 28, 2022. The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 for the inclusion of the Darlong community in the list of Tripura Scheduled Tribes. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022 proposes the “Darlong” community as a sub-tribe of “Kuki” in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Tripura.

UP Cabinet Minister List 2022 with Portfolios

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath allocated portfolios to 53 Cabinet Ministers on March 28, 2022. The Chief Minister has kept the Department of Home, Vigilance and Personnel along with 34 other crucial departments with him, while Suresh Kumar Khanna has been named state Finance Minister, Surya Pratap Shahi has been named Agriculture Minister, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak has been given Medical and Health Department and the other deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya has been given Rural development, Rural Engineering, Entertainment Tax, Food Processing, National integration and public enterprise.

Indian Navy’s second Air Squadron (INAS) 316 commissioned at INS Hansa

Indian Navy commissioned the second Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 316 into service at INS Hansa on March 29, 2022. The second squadron will comprise 4  Boeing P-8I multi-role anti-submarine warfare aircraft with twin jet engines. The squadron has been named ‘The Condors’ after one of the largest flying birds in the world. The first batch  of 8 P-81 aircraft were acquired by the Indian Navy in 2013. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to India to be rescheduled

The visit of the Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett to India has been postponed and will be rescheduled. The news was shared by the spokesperson of the Israel Embassy Muhamed Heib on March 29, 2022. Earlier on March 28, it was reported that Naftali Bennett had tested positive for COVID-19. Israeli Prime Minister was scheduled to visit India during April 3-5, on the occasion of the commemoration of 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. He had planned to visit India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. Both the leader had met earlier on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in November 2021. India and Israel had elevated their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership during the visit of PM Modi to Israel in July 2017.

Foreign Minister of Mexico to visit India tomorrow

The Foreign Minister of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon will be on a two-day official visit to India from March 30 to April 1, 2022. He will visit the country at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. This will also be the first time that Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon will be visiting India in his capacity as the Foreign Minister. Casaubon will also visit Mumbai. Both the Foreign Ministers will undertake a comprehensive review of the bilateral relations and will also discuss the international issues with mutual interest. The visit by the Mexican Foreign Minister follows EAM S. Jaishankar’s visit to Mexico City in September 2021. Mexico is also India’s second-largest trade partner in Latin America.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti passes away

Former Chief Justice of India Ramesh Chandra Lahoti passed away at the age of 81 years. Justice Lahoti was appointed as the 35th chief justice of India on June 1, 2004. He retired on November 1, 2005. After serving in the post for a year, Justice Lohati resigned in May 1978 and returned to the Bar to practice mainly in the High Court. He was appointed an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on May 3, 1988, and made a permanent judge on August 4 the next year. He was transferred to Delhi High Court on February 7, 1994, and later appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court on December 9, 1998.

PFRDA and Irdai granted licence to FinMapp to sell NPS, insurance

FinMapp, a financial services firm, announced that it has been granted a licence under the National Pension Scheme by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). It has also obtained a registration certificate as a corporate agent from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai). On its app, the organisation offers a variety of financial goods, from mutual funds to bank accounts. A one-stop marketplace for all financial products made digitally available by prominent banks, NBFCs, insurance companies, mutual funds institutions, and capital markets, according to the company.

PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana extended by half a year

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) scheme for another six months, till September 2022, in order to show care and compassion towards the underprivileged and vulnerable parts of society (Phase VI). The PM-GKAY scheme’s Phase-V was set to finish in March 2022. It should be noted that the PM-GKAY has been in effect since April 2020, making it the world’s largest food security programme. So far, the government has spent over Rs. 2.60 lakh crore, with another Rs. 80,000 crore set to be invested over the next six months through September 2022, bringing the total expenditure under PM-GKAY to roughly Rs. 3.40 lakh crore. This will benefit over 80 million people across India and, like before, will be totally sponsored by the Indian government. Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has largely subsided and economic activity is picking up, this PM-GKAY extension would ensure that no impoverished family goes to bed hungry during this period of recovery. In addition to his normal NFSA quota of foodgrains, each beneficiary under the extended PM-GKAY will receive an additional 5 kg free ration per person each month. This means that each disadvantaged family would receive roughly double the usual allotment.

An auspicious celebration of spirit of the Tribe culture: Aadi Bazaar

In keeping with the sequence of Aadi Bazaars – A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture and Cuisine, a new one opened on March 26th, 2022 in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Narmada district. The 11-day exhibition, which began on March 26 and ended on April 5, was inaugurated by Smt. Nimishaben Suthar, Minister of State for Tribal Development, Health, Family Welfare, and Medical Education, Government of Gujarat, in the august presence of Dr. Kuberbhai Manshukhbhai Dindor, Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Gujarat; Shri Ramsinh Rathwa, Chairperson, TRI. More than 100 exhibitors will represent more than 10 states from throughout the country at the bright 11-day exhibition offering organic tribal goods and handcrafted wares at the landmark monument, Statue of Unity. The efforts of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s First Deputy Prime Minister, are largely responsible for the country’s unity. As a result, one of his key goals for the country was for it to be inclusive and united. This magnificent monument, the world’s tallest statue, is a homage to the values that Sardar Patel preached and upheld. In addition, this district is predominantly a tribal region.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Creator of the GIF format, Stephen Wilhite passes away

Stephen Wilhite, the creator of the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) format passed away at the age of 74 years due to Covid-19 related issues. Wilhite devised the Graphics Interchange Format, or GIF, in 1987 while working at Compuserve. The Oxford American Dictionary named GIF the word of the year in 2012. He was honoured with a Webby Lifetime Achievement award in 2013.

Mario Marcel wins the Governor of the year award 2022

Mario Marcel, the Governor of the Central Bank of Chile, has won the Governor of the year award at the Central Banking Awards 2022. Banco Central de Chile is the name of the central bank of Chile. When Mario Marcel was named governor of the Central Bank of Chile (BCCh) in October 2016, he took over the leadership of an institution that had secured a reputation as one of the most independent and well-run central banks in Latin America.

A Children’s Book ‘The Little Book of Joy’ authored by Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu

A picture book edition co-authored by Nobel Peace Prize winners 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) & Archbishop Desmond Tutu, titled The Little Book of Joy will be released in September 2022. The illustrations provided by artist Rafael López and Rachel Neumann & Douglas Abrams collaborated on the text. This book focuses on the meaning of true happiness, which is not in the materialistic world but lies in the nature of human beings. In 2016, they also co-authored the book titled The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, which became a bestseller & sold more than 1 million copies and translated into more than 40 languages.