National and International News :
1. India's target of blending 20% ethanol in petrol advanced from 2030 to 2025-26
India advances ethanol blending target to 20% in petrol from 2030 to 2025-26 and aims to increase the share of gas in the energy mix up to 15% in 2030 to become a Gas based economy, according to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Production of Compressed BioGas :
Indigenous biofuel production is crucial for net zero and import reduction goals, and ethanol blending in petrol has increased from 1.53% in 2013-14 to 10.17% in July 2022, resulting in forex savings, payments to farmers, and CO2 emission reduction. The Program aims to reduce import dependence, save foreign exchange, boost agriculture, and provide environmental benefits.
About Ethanol blending :
Ethanol blending involves mixing ethyl alcohol derived from agricultural products with petrol, resulting in a blended motor fuel with a higher octane number than petrol, leading to complete combustion and reduced vehicular emissions. Ethanol is a biofuel produced naturally by yeast fermentation of sugars or petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.
2. MoTA Minister Arjun Munda launches CSS 'Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from NER' in Manipur
(a) Union Minister Arjun Munda from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched a new Central Sector Scheme on April 18, 2023.
The scheme is called 'Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region (PTP-NER)' and was launched at an event in Imphal, Manipur.
(b) The scheme has an outlay of Rs 143 crore.
(c) The objective of the scheme is to improve the livelihood opportunities of artisans from Scheduled Tribes in the North Eastern states by enhancing efficiency in the procurement, logistics, and marketing of tribal products.
(d) The scheme is applicable to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.
(e) The scheme partners with the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), India Post under the Department of Posts, and North Eastern State Government Departments/Agencies.
(f) PTP-NER Insights :
(i) The scheme aims to increase the revenue of tribal craftsmen by providing them with incubation support, aggregation, skill and entrepreneurial development, sourcing and procurement, marketing, transportation, and publicity. Design and skill development training sessions tailored to market needs will be provided to tribal recipients regularly.
(ii) The scheme includes the organization of 68 Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) in various districts of the NER, starting on April 18, 2023, to begin empanelling tribal artisans from the region. All empanelled tribal artisans will receive direct exposure through exhibitions such as Purvotar Aadi Mahotsav, Purvotar Aadi Bazaar, Exclusive North East Craft Mela, etc.
(iii) The scheme provides national and international marketing linkages through various online and offline modes for the tribal products of the NER.
(iv) India Post will provide logistics support to meet the scheme's goals.
3. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s Visit to Uganda, Ethiopia, & Mozambique
From April 10 to 15, 2023, Union Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) visited Uganda, Ethiopia, and Mozambique for six days to enhance India's bilateral ties with these African nations.
(a) Visit to Uganda :
(i) During a 3-day visit to Uganda from April 10 to 12, 2023, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar launched the 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, which was funded by the Indian community in Uganda. He also praised the OFBJP-Uganda's efforts to enhance the beauty of Varanasi, the oldest living city in the world.
Additionally, S. Jaishankar participated in a virtual groundbreaking event of a solar-powered piped drinking water supply system in Uganda along with Sam Cheptoris, the Minister of Water and Environment, which will provide safe drinking water to 5 million people across 20 rural districts. The project is being funded by India Exim Bank.
(ii) The External Affairs Minister inaugurated India’s National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) first foreign campus in Jinja, Uganda.
This marks the first time an Indian government university has opened a campus abroad.
(iii) India has established regular training and exchange programs with the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) as part of its Economic and Technical Cooperation Programme.
Each year, about 50 UPDF officers travel to India to participate in defence courses lasting from several months to a year.
(b) Visit to Mozambique :
The External Affairs Minister , S. Jaishankar, visited Mozambique from April 13 to 15, 2023, marking the first visit by an Indian external affairs minister to the country since 2010.
During his visit, the External Affairs Minister , rode a 'Made in India' train, which was procured under an Indian Line of Credit (LoC), from Maputo to Machava, and discussed with the Mozambican Minister of Transport & Communication and Chairman of the Mozambican Port & Rail Authority, Mateus Magala, about expanding train networks, electric mobility, and waterway connectivity.
Additionally, the EAM virtually inaugurated the Buzi Bridge, which was constructed as part of the 132 km Tica-Buzi-Nova-Sofala Road project and is being built by India through an Indian LoC.
(c) Visit to Ethiopia :
On April 13, 2023, External Affairs Minister , S Jaishankar made a brief transit visit to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, where he had discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen. They exchanged their perspectives on robust multilateral collaboration between India and Ethiopia, both within the African Union and the UN.
4. UNFPA’s SOWP 2023: India’s population pegged at 142.8 crore, becomes World’s most populous nation
(i) As per the recently released State of World Population (SOWP) 2023 report titled "8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: the case for Rights and Choices" by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India has surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation.
The report states that India's population has grown by 1.56% in the past year and is now estimated to be 1.4286 billion, whereas China's population is estimated to be 1.4257 billion.
(ii) The global population surpassed 8 billion in November 2022, and experts suggest that population growth is not as rapid as before and is currently at its slowest rate since 1950.
(iii) (a) India's total fertility rate is 2.0 and the average life expectancy for males is 71 and for females is 74, as per the report.
(b) India has 254 million youths aged between 15-24 years, the largest youth cohort in the world.
(c) The report highlights that 44% of women and girls in 68 countries lack the right to make informed decisions about their bodies, and 257 million women globally have an unmet need for safe contraception.
Important :
The UNFPA commissioned a public survey, asking 7,797 people across eight countries about their views on population issues.
The sample size for India was 1007, and 63% of respondents identified economic issues as the top concern, followed by environmental concerns at 46%. Around 30% of respondents were concerned about sexual and reproductive health and rights and human rights.
5. Sabarimala Greenfield Airport Project gets Site Clearance from MoCA
The Sabarimala Greenfield Airport project at Kottayam in Kerala has been granted site clearance by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
The project is proposed by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIC) and is expected to be built on 2,250 acres of land using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 4,000 crore and the airport will have a runway length of at least 3.5 kilometres on the 08/26 alignment.
The project aims to enhance infrastructure and connectivity to Sabarimala and once completed, the airport will become the 5th International Airport in Kerala.
6. India gives USD 500,000 to UN Women for Women Empowerment
India has donated USD 500,000 (Rs 4.09 crore) to UN Women to support women empowerment. Ruchira Kamboj, the Permanent Representative of India to the UN, handed over the cheque to Sima Sami Bahous, the Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, to support UN Women's core voluntary budget.
Banking and Finance :
1. UPI remains Preferred Medium for Digital Payments in 2022; Bengaluru tops with Rs 6,500cr digital transactions: Worldline Report
(i) The 'India Digital Payments Annual Report 2022' by Worldline India reveals that Unified Payments Interface (UPI) remained the most popular digital payment mode in India in 2022, with a 70% surge in the number of transactions to 74 billion and a 54% growth in the value of transactions to Rs 126 trillion.
The report analyzed both transactions available in public databases and those processed by Worldline India in 2022 (January-December), providing some exclusive insights. A total of 8,792 crore digital payments were made in 2022, valued at Rs 149.5 lakh crore.
(ii) Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminals grew 37% YoY, reaching 7.55 million by the end of 2022. Private Sector Banks hold 74% market share, Public Sector Banks hold 18%, and Payments Banks and Foreign Banks have 7% and 1% respectively. HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, RBL Bank, Paytm Payments Bank, and IndusInd Bank cover 92% of the POS market. Credit card transactions at POS were 1.47 billion and e-commerce transactions were 1.29 billion, while debit card transactions at POS were 2.38 billion and e-commerce transactions were 1.26 billion.
(iii) In 2022, the total number of credit and debit cards in circulation was 1.02 billion, contributing to 7% of transaction volume and 14% of transaction value. Credit card issuance grew by 18% to 81.1 million, while the number of debit cards slightly increased by 0.2% to 939.4 million from 938 million.
The volume of credit card transactions was 2.76 billion, with a value of Rs 13.12 trillion. Out of this, Rs 5.1 trillion were spent at POS, and Rs 8.1 trillion on e-commerce.
The volume of debit card transactions was 3.64 billion, with a value of Rs 7.4 trillion. Out of this, Rs 4.85 trillion were spent at POS, and Rs 2.56 trillion on e-commerce.
The leading users of UPI (as of 2022)
Key points :
(i) In 2022, physical merchants accounted for 43% of transactions by volume and 40% by value, while e-commerce, gaming, and financial services made up 85% of online transactions by volume and 25% by value. Education, travel, and hospitality comprised 15% of online transactions by volume and 75% by value. The number of prepaid payment instruments was 16.23 billion by December 2022, with 13.34 billion being wallets and 288.8 million being cards. The total prepaid cards transactions volume and value was 1.61 billion and Rs 765.5 billion respectively.
(ii) In 2022, the number of transactions through mobile wallets was 5.87 billion and its value was Rs 2.25 trillion. National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) processed about 3.25 billion transactions worth Rs 509.11 billion, registering a 31% increase in volume and 37% in value as compared to 2021. Transactions volume passing through Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU) in 2022 stood at 985.7 million, while the transactions value was Rs 1.70 trillion, registering 75% growth in volume and 83% in value as compared to 2021.
(iii) Aadhar enabled Payment Service (AePS) transactions recorded over 2.63 billion transactions in volume and Rs 3.42 trillion in value, registering a 24% growth in volume and 20% in value over 2021.
2. HDFC Bank launches Regalia Gold Credit Card
HDFC Bank has launched its super-premium Regalia Gold Credit Card, which is part of its Regalia range of credit cards.
The card is designed to cater to the travel and lifestyle needs of high-income individuals and offers a range of benefits, including rewards for global travel and premium brands via the Regalia Gold catalogue.
Cardholders can also enjoy complimentary airport lounge access globally and convert larger spending into EMI.
The card is also equipped for contactless payments, making it fast, convenient and secure.
3. AU SFB partnered with BBPS to Enable Bill Payment Via Video Banking
AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has become the first commercial bank in India to connect with the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) and offer bill payment services through video banking.
This move is aimed at promoting digital accessibility, enhancing economic capability, and fostering greater financial inclusion. With this service, customers can conveniently pay their bills through video banking without having to visit a bank branch, making it particularly beneficial for senior citizens and individuals with mobility difficulties residing in remote locations.
Customers of AU SFB can access the bill payment service on video banking through -
https://www.aubank.in or AU 10101 app.
4. Sekhar Rao appointed as interim MD and CEO of Karnataka Bank
Sekhar Rao has been appointed as the interim Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karnataka Bank, after the completion of M S Mahabaleshwara's tenure as the current CEO.
Other News :
1. Economist Utsa Patnaik selected for Malcolm Adiseshiah Award - 2023
Utsa Patnaik, a well-known economist, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2023 Malcolm Adiseshiah Award by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust (MEAT) based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The prize, which includes a citation and a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh, will be presented to her at a ceremony in Chennai.
About Utsa Patnaik :
Utsa Patnaik, a Marxian economist from India, completed her Ph.D. in economics from Somerville College, Oxford, UK.
She was a professor of economics at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning (CESP) in the School of Social Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, Delhi, from 1973 to 2010 when she retired.
Awards :
She had won the V.V. Giri Memorial Award 2011 for her outstanding contribution to labour studies, instituted by the V.V Giri National Labour Institute, Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
2. Indian-American FedEX CEO Raj Subramaniam awarded with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman
Indian-American Raj Subramaniam, President and CEO of FedEx Corporation, has received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023 on April 16, 2023, for his contribution to business.
The award was presented by India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, as part of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on January 10, 2023.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is the highest civilian award bestowed by the Indian government on individuals of Indian origin and the Indian diaspora.
27 Indians living abroad received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2023.
3. World Liver Day 2023 - 19th April
World Liver Day is celebrated every year on April 19th to promote awareness about the significance of liver health and educate people about ways to maintain a healthy liver. This day also aims to provide information on the risk factors of liver diseases, such as alcohol consumption, obesity, viral hepatitis, and certain medications.
The theme for World Liver Day 2023, observed on April 19th, was “Be Vigilant, Do Regular Liver Check-Up, Fatty Liver Can Affect Anyone”.
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