Current Affairs Quiz 20th April 2023 Quiz

Exp. Kerala adopts Water Budget to tackle summer water shortage

Kerala has become the first state to adopt a water budget in a bid to come up with a solution to water scarcity in certain regions.

The first phase would cover 94 gram panchayats and 15-block panchayats.

The Public Water Budget was released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with the launch of the third phase of the Ini Njan Ozhukatte (Let me flow now) project, for the rehabilitation of irrigation networks in the Western Ghats.

The idea of a water budget was first mooted by the state in 2019. The current Budget was prepared based on the availability and consumption of water in the state.

The state has recovered hundreds of water bodies and will be using satellite data to assess the status of water bodies in 230 gram panchayats in its third phase.

During the first and second phases, around 7,290 km of irrigation networks had been rejuvenated. Though the state has around 44 rivers and several other water bodies, some parts face severe water shortages during the summer season.

About Kerala

• Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor – Arif Mohammad Khan

Exp. J&K Agriculture Production Department launches Kisan Sampark Abhiyan

The Agriculture Production Department of Jammu and Kashmir launched the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan programme.

The Abhiyan has launched across 3565 panchayats in J&K.

The programme aims to involve Panchayati Raj Institutions in the scheme and celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav as part of the programme

The programme will be launched across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir and will focus on providing farmers with information, training, and guidance on various aspects of agriculture and allied activities.

Exp. Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering conference of G-20 begins in Himachal Pradesh

The Research and Innovation Initiative gathering conference of G-20 begins at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

Delegates from the G-20 Member States, international organizations and experts from the scientific community will attend the two-day conference.

The main theme of the RIIG conference during India’s G20 presidency in 2023 is Research and Innovation for Equitable Society’ with its four priority areas being Materials for Sustainable Energy, Circular bioeconomy, Eco-Innovations for Energy Transition and Scientific Challenges and Opportunities towards Achieving a Sustainable Blue Economy.

This interactive event will further promote active engagement between all key stakeholders, including the 3Ps (people, policies and places) and lead towards an inclusive policy-making approach providing a conceptual framework to mainstream energy transition models across different sectors and collaborations and partnerships among G20 members.

G20 in News (Note – All Meetings are Under the Presidency of G20 by India)

• G20 Space Economy Leaders Meet – Shillong, Meghalaya (17-18 April 2023)
• 2nd G20 Health Working Group Meeting – Goa (17 – 19 April 2023)
• G20 MACS Meeting of Agri Chief Scientists – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (17 – 19 April 2023)
• 2nd Women 20 (W20) international Meeting – Jaipur, Rajasthan (13 – 14 April 2023)
• 2nd meeting of G20 Development Working Group – Kumarakom, Kerala (7 April 2023)

Exp. Manipur CM inaugurates Hun Thadou cultural festival

The 5th edition of HUN- a Thadou Cultural Festival 2023 kicked off at Thomas Ground in Kangpokpi district of Manipur.

HUN festival is an annual cultural festival and a civilizing act of the Thadous community of Manipur and it is celebrated at the arrival of the new year according to the community.

The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Hun Thadou tribe, one of the major ethnic groups in the state.

The festival features traditional dance performances, music, food, and handicrafts.

About Manipur

• Capital – Imphal
• Chief Minister – Biren Singh
• Governor – Anusuiya Uikey

Festivals of Manipur

• Yaoshang Festival
• Gaan Ngai Festival
• Imoinu Eratpa festival
• Sangai Festival
• Amur Falcon Festival
• Lai Haraoba

Exp. India overtakes China as world’s most populous country

India has become the world’s most populous country, overtaking China, according to the United Nations.

According to UN estimates, India’s population is 142.86 crore against China’s 142.57 crore.

This is the first time that India has topped the UN list of most populous countries since it started collecting population data in 1950.

Nearly 1/4th of India’s population is under the age of 14, according to the UN data. 68 percent of the population is in the 15 to 64 age group, while 7 percent is above the age of 65.

Estimates by different agencies have suggested that India’s population is expected to keep rising for nearly three decades before it peaks at 165 crore and then would start declining.

The new UN report also estimated that the global population will have hit 8.045 billion by mid-2023.

The United States is a very distant third, with an estimated population of 340 million.

By 2050, eight countries will account for half the projected growth in global population: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania

About United Nations (UN)

• Founded – 24 October 1945
• Headquarters – New York, US
• Official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian & Spanish
• Membership – 193 member states & 2 observer states
• 1st Secretary General – Trygve Halvdan Lie (Norway)
• 9th Secretary‑General – António Guterres (Portugal)
• Deputy Secretary-General – Amina J. Mohammed (Nigeria)
• United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24 every year

Exp. AU Small Finance Bank launches bill payments via video banking

AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has integrated with the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to launch bill payment services through video banking.

The primary aim of this initiative is to promote digital accessibility and enhance economic capability, leading to greater financial inclusions.

Customers can use this platform to pay their bills without having to go to a branch, which is especially useful for senior persons and others with mobility challenges.

AU SFB’s video banking service underscores its commitment to providing innovative solutions to its customers. This platform enables customers to pay bills without the need to visit a branch, which is particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues or residing in remote areas and senior citizens.

About AU Small Finance Bank Limited

• Founded – 1996
• Founder – Sanjay Agarwal
• Headquarters – Jaipur, Rajasthan
• MD & CEO – Sanjay Agarwal
• Tagline – Chalo Aage Badhein

Recent Facilities Launched in Banks & Insurance Sector

• City Union Bank launches India’s 1st Voice Biometric Authentication Banking App
• Karnataka Bank launched a special home loan campaign ‘KBL Centenary Mahotsav’
• SIDBI launches new financing solution “Mission 50K-EV4ECO” for electric vehicle space
• ICICI Bank introduced easy EMI facility for UPI payments made by scanning QR code.
• DBS Bank India launched DigiPortfolio  

Exp. Chennai ranks among top 5 in digital payment transactions in 2022: Report

Chennai has emerged as one of the top digital payment transactions cities in 2022 in the country, a report by payment services firm Worldline India.

The capital city in terms of volume has made 14.3 million transactions with a value of USD 35.5 billion.

Bengaluru emerged on top with 29 million transactions worth USD 65 billion followed by New Delhi 19.6 million transactions worth USD 50 billion, Mumbai (18.7 million transactions worth USD 49.5 billion), Pune (15 million transactions valued at USD 32.8 billion).

According to the report, in 2022, frequently visited physical merchant categories like grocery stores, restaurants, clothing and apparel, pharmacey, household appliances together accounted for over 43 percent in terms of volume and about 40 percent in terms of value, across the country.

Exp. New York Senate appoints Rowan Wilson as state’s first Black chief judge

New York’s Senate has confirmed Judge Rowan Wilson (62) as the new chief judge of the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.

Wilson has been an associate judge of the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, since 2017.

He is also New York’s first Black chief judge. He was appointed by the 57th governor of New York, Kathy Hochul.

He studied at Harvard College and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1984.

Exp. Karnataka bags National Award For Fasal Bima Yojana

Karnataka has bagged the national award for the best implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in the country.

According to the authorities, between the kharif season 2021 and 2022, the state recorded a 47.74% increase in the enrolment of farmers under the scheme. while the area covered under the scheme increased by 41.80%.

In the Kharif season 2021, 16.15 lakh farmers had enrolled under the scheme. It increased to 23.86 lakh in 2022. The extent of areas covered under the scheme increased from 13.35 lakh hectares to 18.94 lakh hectares.

For Kharif 2022 season, 5.60 lakh farmers whose fields were affected by natural calamities have already been compensated within the same year itself (which was not being done in the previous years) with crop insurance claims being settled to the tune of Rs 298.57 crore under add-on coverages such as prevented sowing, localized calamities, mid-season adversity and post-harvest loss claims.

About Karnataka

• Capital – Bengaluru
• Chief Minister –Basavaraj Bommai
• Governor – Thawar Chand Gehlot

Recent Awards

• Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023 – Utsa Patnaik
• Pravasi Bharatiya Samman – Raj Subramaniam
• Business Leader of the Decade – Kumar Mangalam Birla
• Maratha Udyog Ratna 2023 Award – Nilesh Sambare
• Young Urologist of the Year Award by the American Urological Association (AUA) – Indian-American Dr. Nitya Abraham

Exp. Sonam Wangchuk conferred with Prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award

Sonam Wangchuk has been awarded the prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award for his contributions to society.

The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 1 crore, has been instituted in memory of SRK and SRKKF’s Founder Chairman Govind Dholakia’s mother Late Santokbaa Dholakia.

The award was presented to Shri Sonam Wangchuk on the death anniversary of Santokbaa on April 10, 2023, at an award ceremony at Hotel Zen in Ladakh.

He is best known for his work on the Ice Stupa project, which aims to address water scarcity in the Himalayas.

The Santokbaa Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society in the areas of education, healthcare, and social welfare.

Recent Awards

• Poland’s highest honour ‘Order of the White Eagle’ – Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky
• ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by University of Texas – Naveen Jindal
• Wildlife Conservation Award 2023 – J&K’s Aliya Mir
• Conferred Special Literary Award – Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
• Abel Prize for Maths – Luis Caffarelli
• Kerala’s highest civilian honour Kerala Jyothi– M T Vasudevan Nair

Exp. Asha Bhosle to be honoured with Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle will be awarded the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award on 24 April 2023.

This award, known as the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar, is given every year to an individual who has made a path-breaking contribution towards the nation, its people and society.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was its first recipient.

Veteran ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas will receive the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for his contribution to Indian music.

Exp. Chennai to host 2023 Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy

The Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2023 will be hosted in Chennai, India.

The seventh edition of the prestigious continental event, which was inaugurated in 2011, will serve as a precursor to the Asian Games hockey competition in Hangzhou, China in September.

Chennai last hosted an international hockey event in 2007 when the Asia Cup was held at Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium where India clinched the title after beating Korea 7-2 in the final.

India have also won the tournament three times (2011, 2016 and joint winner with Pakistan in 2018) while South Korea clinched the last edition title in 2021 in Dhaka.

Exp. Gary Ballance announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Former England cricketer Gary Ballance has announced his retirement from all forms of the game.

He had recently moved to Zimbabwe, his country of birth, and played a few matches for them.

Ballance played 1 Test, 1 ODI and 5 T20 Internationals for Zimbabwe and also scored a Test ton (137*) during his stint with the team.

Overall, Gary Ballance played 24 Tests (23 for England), 21 ODIs and 1 T20I in his international career.

He was well known for his contribution in red-ball cricket scoring 1653 runs at an average of 40.32 with five tons to his name.

Recently Retired Players

• Shaun Marsh – First-class cricket – Australia
• Sergio Ramos – International football – Spain
• Eoin Morgan – All forms of cricket – England
• Kamran Akmal – All forms of professional cricket – Pakistan
• Aaron Finch – International Cricket – Australia
• Raphael Varane – International football – France

Exp. Argentina to replace Indonesia as under-20 FIFA World Cup host

Argentina will host the under-20 soccer World Cup.

Argentina has replaced Indonesia, which was supposed to host it earlier.

FIFA announced the decision to remove Indonesia as host after the country’s FA canceled the draw to be held in Bali as its governor refused to host Israel’s team.

The Argentine FA formally submitted its bid to host the May 20-June 11 tournament one day later at the South American Football Confederation Congress.

Argentina hosted the under-20 World Cup in 2001 when they won the fourth of their record six titles.

They are also seeking to jointly host the World Cup finals in 2030 with Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.

Exp. 20 April – Chinese Language Day

The United Nations (UN) is celebrating the 13th annual Chinese Language Day on 20 April 2023.

Theme 2023 – Chinese Wisdom for a Green World

This day is dedicated to honoring Cangjie, the inventor of Chinese characters, and his legend of creating the characters amidst cries from deities and ghosts and rain of millet.

Chinese was recognized as one of the official languages of the United Nations in 1946.

In 1973, the General Assembly designated Chinese as a working language, which was later followed by the Security Council in 1974. Since then, an increasing number of UN offices and staff members have been working with the Chinese language.