Tag: UPSC Motivation

NATIONAL NEWS 

RBI to introduce card-less cash withdrawals

The Reserve Bank of India will soon introduce card-less cash withdrawals, under which a customer will not be required to use his or her debit or credit cards to withdraw money from the ATMs. The card-less cash withdrawals will be applicable at any bank’s ATM or third-party ATM

India to issue e-Passports.

India is planning to issue e-passports to its citizens starting from this financial year. The e-passport will be a combined paper and electronic passport. It will have an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip. The critical information of the passport will be printed on its data page and stored in the chip as well.

RBI Monetary Repo rates remain unchanged at 4%, GDP growth projected at 7.2% for FY 23

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted to keep repo and reverse repo rates unchanged for the straight 11th time in a row. India’s real GDP growth has been projected to be 7.2 percent in FY 2022-23.  The inflation is now projected at 5.7% in 2022-23.

Section 144 imposed in Sivasagar in Assam

The administration of the bordering district Sivasagar of Assam has invoked Section 144 of CrPC, as part of a precautionary measure. A night curfew has also been imposed along the state border with Nagaland to prevent any form of anti-social activities. The restrictions in Sivasagar will be in force for the next 60 days until further notice. As per the order, the movement of any person or group or motor vehicle has been prohibited within a radius of 5 km from 6.00 PM to 6.00 AM on the border.

International Energy Alliance’s move for collective oil stock release welcomed by India

The latest announcement by the International Energy Alliance for a collective oil stock release of 120 million barrels has been welcomed by India. Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry said in a statement that India has taken note of the US’s decision to release 180 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserves, over the next 6 months. The latest decision will help in calming the rising global fuel prices. India, being a major consumer of energy, has espoused the significance of affordable, stable, and accessible global energy markets.

Government constitutes AVGC promotion task force

The Central Government has constituted a promotion task force for the Animation, Visual effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) to recommend ways to realize and build the capacity for serving the Indian markets and the global demand. AVGC sector in India has the potential of becoming the torchbearer to create in India and Brand India. The latest Taskforce will be headed by the Secretary, Ministry of I&B. As per the Ministry, India has the potential to capture 40 billion dollars of global market share by 2025. The AVGC promotion task force will also include the State Governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana as well as the heads of the education bodies

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Imran Khan’s Decisions ‘Unconstitutional’: Pak SC

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared Imran Khan’s decision to advise the President to dissolve National Assembly as unconstitutional. The court ruled that Imran Khan was bound by Constitution and therefore could not advise the President to take such an action. The court has also ordered a sitting of the assembly on April 9th to take up the trust-vote against Pak PM. 

Russia suspended from UN Human Rights Council

Russia was suspended from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on April 8, 2022 with 93 votes in favour and 24 against in the 193-member assembly. India was among the 58 countries that abstained from voting. Russia has been suspended over the reports of gruesome violence committed by the Russian troops in Ukrainian cities especially Bucha.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

The Environment Minister announces the launch of the ‘Prakriti’ green initiative

In the presence of Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, the mascotto ‘Prakriti’ was launched today to raise public awareness about small changes that can be made to our lifestyle for a better environment. As well as various green initiatives taken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to ensure effective Plastic Waste Management (PWM) in the country. To combat the problem of plastic pollution, India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, pledged to eliminate single-use plastics (SUPs) by 2022. The Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change also administered the ‘Swachh Bharat Harit Bharat Green Pledge’ to the crowd, carrying the momentum forward and emphasising the importance of active citizen engagement.

President Ram Nath Kovind visits in Amsterdam and names a new yellow tulip variety ‘Maitri’

President Ram Nath Kovind landed in Amsterdam for the final leg of his two-nation journey — his first visit to the Netherlands in 34 years — during which he would hold talks with the Dutch top leadership names a new yellow tulip variety ‘Maitri’. President Kovind arrived from Turkmenistan, where he met with his Turkmen colleague Serdar Berdimuhamedov and pledged to expand bilateral economic and energy cooperation to improve the multifaceted relationship. He is the first Indian President to visit Turkmenistan since its independence. President Ram Nath Kovind will meet with King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima, as well as Prime Minister Mark Rutte, during his visit to the Netherlands from April 4 to 7. His visit is significant since, in 2022, India and the Netherlands will commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations. Later, President Kovind paid a visit to Keukenhof, one of the world’s largest flower gardens,  names a new yellow tulip variety ‘Maitri’, and here  washe was met by Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra. A Strategic Partnership on Water was started in 2021 during the Virtual Summit between the Prime Ministers of the two countries to increase the level of engagement between the two sides in this crucial sector.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister inaugurates 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, inaugurated 13 new districts in the state via video conference on Monday, April 4 in Tadepalli, Guntur district. As a result, there will be a total of 26 districts in the state. The new districts were created using Parliamentary constituencies as a guide. With the addition of 13 new districts, Andhra Pradesh now has a total of 26 districts.  As part of the 26 districts of Andhra Pradesh, there will now be 23 revenue divisions. The CM added that people have accepted and liked the decentralised system of government because the initiatives are given straight to their doorstep, and that the same is now being extended to the districts.

Gangaur festival celebrated in Rajasthan

The Gangaur festival is celebrated in Rajasthan and some parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal. It is one of Rajasthan’s most important festivals and is observed with great fervour across the state. The women worship Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva during the period of this festival which is from March to April. This festival celebrates the harvest, spring, childbearing, and marital fidelity. The unmarried women worship Gauri to seek her blessings for finding a good husband. The married women worship her for health, welfare, happy married life, and long life of their husbands. On the first day of Chaitra, the day following Holi, this festival begins and continues for a period of 16 days.

CM of Uttar Pradesh has launched the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ initiative

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath begins the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ in order to secure 100 per cent enrollment in elementary and upper primary schools in Uttar Pradesh. Citing an official announcement, the state government will make an effort to shape the future of primary education and the holistic development of elementary schools. The ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ is being implemented in Shravasti, which has the lowest literacy rate in the state. Bahraich, Balrampur, Badaun, and Rampur are the other districts in Uttar Pradesh with the lowest literacy rate. Under the initiative, students will receive uniforms, shoes, and socks. Government schools must achieve all of the goals of ‘Operation Kayakalp,’ which aims to give schools a facelift, according to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who told officials that not only will public representatives be involved with the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan,’ but that MLAs must also adopt a school each.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Forbes Billionaires 2022: The Richest People In The World

The Forbes billionaires 2022 list is out, which compiles the list of the world’s richest, who this time was hit by the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, coronavirus pandemic and sluggish markets. Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX founder topped Forbes’ list for the first time ever with a net worth of $219 billion. Elon Musk is leading the Forbes billionaires list with a net worth of $219 billion, followed by Amazon chief Jeff Bezos at $171 billion. America has most number of billionaires at 735 worth a collective net worth of $4.7 trillion, including Elon Musk, who tops the World’s Billionaires list for the first time. China (including Macau and Hong Kong) remains number two, with 607 billionaires worth a collective $2.3 trillion. Forbes uses stock prices and exchange rates from March 11, 2022, to calculate net worths.

World Health Day 2022 Celebrates on 7th April

World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated on the 7th April every year. Every year, World Health Day focuses on contemporary health issues that require immediate attention, with varied themes. On World Health Day 2022, World Health Organisation will focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being. The World Health Organization has done its part to raise awareness about health and health-related concerns, as well as how to address them. The theme for World Health Day 2022 is ‘Our Planet, Our Health’. This year’s theme aims to direct global attention toward the well-being of our planet and the humans living in it. The World Health Organization (WHO) convened the first World Health Assembly in 1948, which called for the establishment of a “World Health Day.” The first World Health Day was held on April 7, 1950, and it has been observed on that date every year thereafter. The main goal of the day is to raise awareness about a certain health topic in order to highlight a World Health Organization priority area of concern.

International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda

International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda is commemorated by UNESCO on April 07, every year. 2022 marks the 28th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, one of the darkest chapters in human history. On April 7th, the date where the genocide against members of the Tutsi began. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003. The day commemorates the beginning of the genocide perpetrated against members of the Tutsi minority by the Hutu extremist-led government. Within just over 100 days, more than 1 million Tutsi were systematically murdered. Moderate Hutu and others who opposed the massacres were also killed during this period.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

AP CM inaugurates 13 New Districts

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated 13 new districts of Andhra Pradesh on April 4, 2022. This takes the state’s total number of districts to 26, double of earlier 13. The Andhra Pradesh CM had promised the creation of new districts before the Assembly election in 2019. The state has a total of 25 Lok Sabha constituencies. 

What is Agnipath scheme?

The centre is currently in the final stages of implementing the Agnipath scheme to recruit the young for the Indian Army for short three-year terms. The scheme will provide an opportunity to those youth who have a desire to serve to the nation but are unable to do so due to the current norms of service. The scheme will allow the youth to enlist in the Army for three years. The young recruits will be called Agniveers. 

Russia-Ukraine War: What is India’s Stand on Bucha Killings?Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar clarified India’s stand on the Ukraine crisis in the Lok Sabha today, saying that India is extremely disturbed by the reports on Bucha and strongly condemns the killings that have taken place there. The EAM also stated that India supports the call for an independent investigation on the brutal killings. As per several reports, hundreds of civilians were found dead on the streets in the Ukrainian town. 

Bill to ban financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction Introduced in Lok Sabha

The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by EAM S Jaishankar on April 5, 2022. The bill seeks to ban financing of any activity in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. It seeks to amend the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005. 

Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2022 passed by Parliament

The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2022 was passed by the Parliament on April 5, 2022. The bill seeks to merge three municipal corporations of Delhi into a single entity. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha through voice vote and had been passed by the Lok Sabha earlier. The bill provides for the appointment of a Special Officer to exercise powers of the Corporation until its first meeting. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Hurun Richest Self-Made Women in the World 2022

According to the list of Hurun Richest Self-Made Women In The World 2022 released by the Hurun Research Institute. According to the list, there are 124 Self-Made Women Billionaires in World and China contributes to two-thirds of the world’s self-made women billionaires with 78 followed by the United States with 25 and the United Kingdom with 5.

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2022

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is observed globally on April 6. To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the UN of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development. The global theme of IDSDP 2022 is, “Securing a Sustainable and Peaceful Future for All: The Contribution of Sport,” which creates an opportunity for the Day’s celebrations to promote the use of sport as a tool to advance human rights and sustainable development. Under this theme, UN Headquarters in New York will recognize the role of sport in addressing the climate crisis and will highlight actions to lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate against climate change.

United Nations International Day of Conscience 2022

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 5 April to be observed as an International Day of Conscience every year. The resolution was adopted on 31 July 2019 by the UN General Assembly. The year 2022 marks the third edition of the celebrations. This day serves to remind people to self-reflect, follow their conscience, and do the right things. This Day is observed every year on the 5th of April and the first International Conscience Day was observed in 2020. Conscience refers to a person’s inner self that is abstract a virtual entity, but it plays an important role in the actions of a person. A human being cannot ignore the mystic side of his personality that usually becomes the chief motivator behind every action a person performs. Psychologists also confess that human beings are highly influenced by thoughts and feelings.

NATIONAL NEWS 

India blocks 22 YouTube Channels, 3 Twitter Accounts

India has blocked 22 YouTube channels for spreading fake news related to India’s national security and foreign relations to mislead viewers and jeopardize India’s foreign relations with other countries. The YouTube channels include 18 Indian YouTube Channels and 4 Pakistan-based YouTube channels. India has also blocked 3 Twitter accounts, 1 Facebook account and one news website. 

Bharat Biotech to temporarily slow down Covaxin production

Bharat Biotech has informed that it is temporarily slowing down Covaxin production for facility optimisation, as it will focus on pending facility maintenance, process and facility optimisation activities. The company said that it will rectify issues raised by WHO regarding its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin. The company though clarified in a statement that there is no impact on efficacy and safety of Covaxin.

Lieutenant General Manoj Pande will be India’s next Army Chief. 

Lieutenant General Manoj Pande is all set to become India’s next Chief of the Indian Army Staff.  This comes as the incumbent Army Chief General MM Naravane is due to retire by the end of April 2022. MM Naravane is seen to be the frontrunner for the post of Chief of Defence Staff, which has been vacant since the untimely demise of Gen. Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in December 2021.

Vinay Mohan Kwatra is the new Foreign Secretary of India

Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who was India’s Ambassador to Nepal, has been named as the new Foreign Secretary of India. He will be succeeding Harsh Vardhan Shringla who will retire from his position at the end of April 2022.  Vinay Kwatra has considerable expertise in dealing with the United States and China and has superseded at least 8 Indian Foreign Service Officers. 

Union Minister Piyush Goyal leaves for Australia for a 3-day visit

Union Minister Piyush Goyal left on April 5, 2022, for a 3-day visit to Australia. His visit has come days after the two countries signed the ‘Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement’. Piyush Goyal, during his visit, will take the significance of ECTA to the people and will interact with the business leaders, Indian diaspora, and Indian students in Australia. Goyal will also hold wide-ranging discussions with his Australian counterpart on carrying forward the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement. ECTA is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Russia punished for Bucha massacre

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of war crimes in the town of Bucha, just outside the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, where hundreds of residents were found dead in a month-long Russian occupation. Bodies of civilians were found lying on the streets of the town, some with their hands tied, some with gunshot wounds and some hastily buried in mass graves after Russians withdrew from the town. The Ukrainian authorities describe it as a ‘scene from a horror movie’ and accused the Russian forces of carrying out a massacre.

President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition loses majority

The ruling coalition of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa lost its majority in Parliament on April 5, 2022, after at least 41 lawmakers walked out of the alliance. However, the President has said that he won’t resign and is ready to hand over the government to whoever proves 113 seat majority. An emergency health situation has been declared in Sri Lanka because of the severe drug shortage in the country. Earlier, the Finance Minister of Sri Lanka Ali Sabry had resigned just a day after he was appointed by the Sri Lankan President as the country suffers a crippling economic crisis.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Gautam Adani becomes India’s richest person, Check World Top 10 Richest People

Gautam Adani has become the richest person in India and Asia, surpassing Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani. Adani has entered the exclusive $100  billion club alongside Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. He has become the 10th richest person in the world with a net worth of $100 billion. Adani’s net worth increased by $23.5 billion in 2022, as Bloomberg Billionaires Index. 

How to Access Broadcast Seva Portal?

The Broadcast Seva Portal was launched by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on April 4, 2022. The portal will enable smooth communication between the applicants and different stakeholders and speed up processing of permissions and licenses for broadcast related activities. The portal has a complete database of broadcast institutions including TV Channels, broadcast channels, local cable operators, DTH operators, OTT Media and satellite TV channels among others.

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban wins the fourth term in Office

The nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary scored a fourth consecutive win in the General Election held on April 3, 2022. The preliminary results had shown the Fidesz Party of Orban leading with 53.1% of the votes versus 35% for Marki-Zay’s Opposition alliance. Fidesz Party was also winning 88 of 106 single-member constituencies. On the basis of the preliminary results, the National Election Office stated that Fidesz would have 135 seats, a two-thirds majority, and the opposition alliance would have 56 seats.

Ministry of Culture launches ‘Temple 360’ website

The Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi has launched a website ‘Temple 360’. During an event organized by the Ministry of Culture at IGNCA Ampitheatre, Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts, New Delhi under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Temple 360 is a digital platform where anyone can visit or do darshan of 12 Jyotirlinga and Char Dham from any location, making everyone’s life convenient while also keeping people connected. The website also allows a devotee to perform e-Darshan, e-Prashad, e-Aarti and several other services. Temple 360 is a website where one can visit a temple of their choice, anytime and from anywhere from India. With the help of this website, one can digitally witness the magnificence of some of the most pious Hindu pilgrimages that exist. The website also allows a devotee to perform e-aarti and several other services.

RPF arrests touts for illegal ticketing under Operation Upalabdh As part of a month-long pan-India operation on illicit ticketing, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) detained 1,459 touts and blocked 366 IRCTC agent IDs and 6,751 personal IDs, the Railways announced on the 2nd of April, 2022. The RPF’s field units gathered information from the field, the digital world, and the cyber world, then consolidated, vetted, and analysed it before launching the campaign across the country on March 1, 2022. The ‘Operation Upalabdh’ push was launched following the reinstatement of long-distance train services, with the expectation that the festival and summer rush would result in a sharp increase in demand for reserved train tickets. In response to the feedback, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) increased its efforts and launched a pan-India offensive against touting practises in March 2022.

SPORTS NEWS 

MS Dhoni becomes second Indian Cricketer to play 350 T20s

MS Dhoni has become the second cricketer from India to play 350 T20s matches after Rohit Sharma in the Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings match being played on April 3, 2022. Cricketer Rohit Sharma leads the way with 372 T20 matches while Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni’s former India and CSK teammate, has played 336 T20s. Out of the 350 T20s, Dhoni has represented India in 98 T20 Internationals while he has played 222 T20 matches in IPL for Rising Pune Supergiants and Chennai Super Kings. In the 350th T20 match of MS Dhoni, CSK was looking to register their first win of the season after facing two consecutive defeats against Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders.

Indian-American singer Falguni Shah wins a Grammy Award

Falguni Shah, an Indian-American Singer, who uses the stage name ‘Falu’, has bagged the Best Children’s Music Album Grammy for ‘A Colorful World’. A self-titled solo album was released by Falguni Shah in 2007, blending the elements of folk from across south-east Asia with western music. Falguni Shah has even collaborated and performed with the music maestro AR Rahman. Falguni Shah is also the only Indian-origin woman to be nominated in the Best Children’s Music Album Category at the Grammy twice.

Indian Shuttler Mithun Manjunath wins Silver at Orleans Masters Super 100

Mithun Manjunath, an Indian Shuttler, had to settle for a silver medal after losing to Toma Junior Popov in the final of the Men’s Singles event at Orleans Masters 2022 in France. The 79th ranked shuttler lost to the home favorite shuttler Popov by 21-11, 21-19 in 50 minutes at the Palais des Sports Arena. Manjunath, who was also playing in his first BWF final, went into the first break trailing by five points. After the resumption, Popov continued his charge and had easily sealed the first game. The second match was much closer as both the shuttlers who were meeting for the first time on tour battled it put till last.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Imran Khan to continue as Pakistan Prime Minister till appointment of Caretaker PM

Pakistan President Arif Alvi informed on April 3, 2022 that Imran Khan shall continue as Prime Minister till a caretaker PM is appointed under Article 224 A (4) of the Pakistan Constitution. This comes after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was de-notified as Pakistan prime minister by the cabinet division after the dissolution of the National Assembly.

Check Grammys 2022 Full Winners List

Jon Batiste won five Grammys at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony including Best Album of the Year for ‘We Are’. The Bruno Mars led Silk Sonic won four Grammys including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for ‘Leave The Door Open’. Olivia Rodrigo won Grammy for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album for ‘Sour.

Axiom Space Mission 1: Know all about First all-private astronaut mission to ISS

The first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station is targeted for launch on April 6th from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This will be the first-ever time that an all-private team will share work space with the ISS crew members. They will be spending eight days aboard the ISS conducting research and science and technology experiments. 

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

India’s Aprajita Sharrma selected for the prestigious ITU position

An Indian official has been selected as vice-chairperson of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Council Standing Committee on Administration and Management, giving India a leadership position. Ms Aprajita Sharma, an IP&TAF Service officer, has been appointed vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Administration and Management at the International Telecommunication Union’s Council sessions in Geneva from March 21 to March 31, 2022. Aprajita will continue to serve as vice-chairperson of the Council Standing Committee in 2023 and 2024, and as chairman in 2025 and 2026. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations’ information and communication specialised organisation. The Plenipotentiary Conference and the Administrative Council manage the ITU.

Axis Bank takes Citibank’s India consumer business in a Rs 12,325 crores

Citigroup has announced that Axis Bank will be acquiring Citibank’s India consumer business for an amount of USD 1.6 billion (Rs 12,325 crores) in an all-cash deal. This transaction will be including Citibank India’s consumer banking businesses, which include retail banking, credit cards, consumer loans, and wealth management. This transaction will also be including the sale of Citibank’s non-banking financial company consumer business, Citicorp Finance (India) Limited, which comprises a financing business that is asset-backed and also includes construction equipment and commercial vehicle loans, and a portfolio of personal loans. It is an exchange of assets or a single asset for cash and no other monetary means, such as exchange of stocks or financing are used. The most common way of settling all-cash deal are wire transfers or check and the physical form of cash is generally avoided.

 

Centre extended foreign trade policy till Sept 30

The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 has been extended by six months, until September 30, 2022. The present Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, which is effective through March 31, 2022, has been extended until September 30, 2022, according to a notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Following the Covid-19 outbreak, the policy was first extended for a year, until the end of March 2020, and subsequently for another year, until September 30. The strategy lays out recommendations for boosting exports to boost economic growth and create jobs, as well as incentives under various programmes like Duty-Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) (EPCG). Tea, steel, chemical, and pharmaceutical exporters to Russia are pleading with the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to intervene, as millions of rupees are at stake.

Meghalaya would be hosting the 83rd National Table Tennis Championship 2022

Meghalaya is geared up to host the 83rd National Table Tennis Championship 2022, which will take place at the SAI Indoor Training Centre, NEHU in Shillong from April 18 to 25. This is the second time the Northeast has hosted the world’s largest table tennis tournament. The State is expecting around 650 people to attend, with 450 of them being players and the rest being coaches and support personnel. He went on to say that the state is expecting a variety of officers from several states, including Haryana’s Deputy Chief Minister. This tournament is being hosted in honour of the State’s 50th anniversary of statehood, he said, adding that the cost of hosting the tournament is projected to be 1.5 crore rupees, with a total of 10 players from the State scheduled to compete.

Chandrapur district of Maharashtra records third hottest place in the world

According to the El Dorado weather website, Chandrapur was the third hottest city in the world, with a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Nagpur was also the hottest city in Vidarbha, with a maximum temperature of 41.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Akola. As per the El Dorado Weather, Kayes city of Mali is the hottest place on earth with 44.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, Segou of Mali is second in the list with 43.8 degrees Celsius whereas Chandrapur is third in the list.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

World’s Biggest Electric Cruise Ship made its maiden voyage in China

The largest electric cruise ship in the world has returned back to port in Yichang in central Hubei province, China after travelling up and down the Yangtze River for its maiden voyage. This cruise ship has been powered by a 7,500-kilowatt-hour massive-sized marine battery. This battery has been provided by Contemporary Amperex Technology, the No. 1 battery manufacturer for electric cars in the world. The developer of this ship, China Yangtze Power has plans to use this electric ship as the starting point for expanding the marine electric vehicle market in China. The name of the ship is Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 and it is a 100 per cent electric cruise ship that has been developed and built in China. This ship is 16 meters wide and 100 meters long and has the capacity to carry around 1,300 passengers.

Iga Swiatek wins Miami Open tennis title 2022

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek defeated Naomi Osaka of Japan, 6-4, 6-0. In the final match to claim the 2022 Miami Open tennis tournament. For Swiątek, this is her fourth career WTA 1000 title and the sixth singles title overall. Also, this is her 17th straight title win. The victory will now place Swiatek to the No. 1 spot in the women’s rankings. With the victory, the 20-year-old Swiatek becomes only the fourth woman to win the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments back-to-back, a feat known as the “Sunshine Double” given the tournaments’ respective locations in California and Florida.