1. ISRO successfully conducts Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission in Karnataka
At the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka, the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) was successfully carried out by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
During the test, a winged body was lifted to an altitude of 4.5 km by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopter, released mid-air, and autonomously landed on a runway at high speed (350 kmph) while meeting the landing parameters. This marks the first time that a winged body has been autonomously landed after being released mid-air by a helicopter.
The test was conducted collaboratively by the IAF, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), and Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE).
Important :
(i) The RLV LEX can be described as a space plane with a low lift-to-drag ratio, requiring a high glide angle approach and a landing speed of 350 kmph.
(ii) ISRO developed various indigenous systems for the LEX, including instrumentation, sensor systems, and localized navigation systems based on pseudolite systems.
(iii) The Ka-band Radar Altimeter, which utilized a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the landing site, provided accurate altitude information during the landing.
2. 5th Poshan Pakhwada Celebrated from 20th March - 3rd April , 2023
From 20th March to 3rd April 2023, the Ministry of Women and Child Development will observe the 5th Poshan Pakhwada nationwide to create awareness about the significance of nutrition and promote healthy eating habits through Jan Andolan and Jan Bhagidari.
The Poshan Abhiyaan was launched on 8th March 2018 by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to ensure people's participation and bring the conversation on nutrition to the forefront. It aims to improve nutritional outcomes holistically, and behavioral change at both individual and community levels is a crucial component to achieve the desired goals of a Kuposhan-mukt Bharat.
Each year, Poshan Pakhwada is celebrated for 15 days in March, while the month of September is observed as Rashtriya Poshan Maah across the country.
Important :
(i) In recognition of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the emphasis of Poshan Pakhwada was on promoting 'Shree Anna' (Millets) to combat malnutrition.
(ii) The Ministry of Women & Child Development will act as the nodal Ministry to oversee activities during the Poshan Pakhwada.
In the State/UT, Department of Women & Child Development /Social Welfare Department will be the nodal department for Poshan Pakhwada.
The theme of Poshan Pakhwada 2023 is "Nutrition for All: Together Towards a Healthy India".
Themes focused on Poshan Pakhwada :
(i) Promotion and popularization of Shree Anna / Millets for nutritional- well-being through organization of drives to link Millet-based foods with supplementary nutrition, Home visits, Diet consultation camps, etc.
(ii) Celebration of Swasth Balak Spardha : Celebrated and recognized the ‘Swasth Balak’ or Healthy Child as per defined criteria by generating a healthy spirit of competition for good nutrition good health and well being.
(iii) Popularize Saksham Anganwadis : Campaigns were organized to increase awareness and popularise Saksham Anganwadis with upgraded infrastructure and facilities as centers of improved nutrition delivery and early childhood care and education.
3. CMIE: Unemployment Rate Rises to 3-Month high of 7.8% in March 2023
In March 2023, India's unemployment rate reached 7.8%, the highest in three months, according to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). This was an increase from 7.45% in February 2023 and 7.14% in January 2023.
In March 2023, rural unemployment was 7.47%, while urban unemployment was 8.51%. Among the states, Haryana had the highest unemployment rate at 26.8%, followed by Rajasthan (26.4%) and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) (23.1%).
The states and Union Territories (UT) with the lowest unemployment rates in March 2023 were Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh at 0.8%, followed by Puducherry (1.5%) and Gujarat (1.8%).
4. India become 1st Country in the World to Develop Own Model to Estimated TB Cases
India has achieved a significant milestone by developing a mathematical model to estimate the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the country, making it the first country in the world to do so. This initiative is a departure from the existing mechanism where the World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB Report provides an annual assessment of the TB epidemic and progress made in its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment at the global, regional, and country levels.
According to the Indian mathematical model's data, while the global TB reduction number was around 11%, the reduction in TB cases in India was 18%.
The mathematical model for TB :
The mathematical model for TB cases was developed by taking into account the natural history of diseases, the status of individuals' infection and disease, healthcare seeking behavior, correct and missed diagnosis, treatment coverage, and outcomes like cure and death.
Data from multiple sources, including the Nikshay portal of private sector drug sales and the sub-national certification system, which estimates and ranks the TB-free status of various states, were used to form the TB model.
India’s TB Estimates as per New model :
(i) The TB incidence rate in India was estimated to be 196 per 1,00,000 population, according to the Indian mathematical model, as opposed to the 210 estimated by the WHO.
(ii) In 2021, WHO projected the number of deaths from TB to be 4.94 lakh, whereas the new Indian model suggests it to be about 3.20 lakh.
(iii) The Indian mathematical model estimated the TB incidence rate (per 10,000) in India to be 196 in 2022, as opposed to the 210 estimated by the WHO in 2021.
(iv) The Indian model suggested the absolute number of TB cases to be 27.70 lakh in 2022, while the WHO estimated it to be 29.50 lakh in 2021.
(v) According to WHO, the TB mortality rate (per 10,000) in 2021 was estimated to be 35, which reduced to 23 in 2022 as per the Indian model.
(vi) As per the Indian model’s suggestion, the absolute number of TB deaths was 3.20 lakh in 2022, whereas the WHO estimated it to be 4.94 lakh in 2021.
5.Sudha Shivkumar took over as 40th President of FICCI Ladies Organisation
Chennai(Tamil Nadu)-based lawyer & investment banker Sudha Shivkumar took over as the 40th National
President of the women’s wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) – FICCI
Ladies Organisation(FLO) for the term 2023-2024.
Sudha Shivkumar succeeds Jayanti Dalmia, 39th national president of FICCI FLO (2022-2023).
Prior to this appointment, Sudha Shivkumar was serving as the National Senior Vice President of
FICCI FLO.
About Sudha Shivkumar :
With around 13 years of experience in a leading non-banking finance company, Sudha Shivkumar went on to head the operations of a South-India-based mutual fund with assets under management of Rs 25,000 crores.
Sudha Shivkumar also has experience in managing a Rs 350-crore portfolio of high-net-worth individuals belonging to an international group.
In 2016-17, Sudha Shivkumar served as the Chairperson of FLO Chennai Chapter, showcasing her leadership and management skills.
Important :
Sudha Shivkumar, the 40th President of FICCI-FLO, aims to empower women by creating a supportive environment that encourages women's entrepreneurship, promotes women's participation in the industry and fosters their economic development.
6. RBI appoints Neeraj Nigam as New Executive Director
Neeraj Nigam has been appointed as the new Executive Director (ED) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) effective from April 3, 2023. He will be responsible for four departments, including consumer education and protection.
Prior to his appointment as ED, Neeraj Nigam served as the director of the Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) regional office of the RBI. With over 30 years of experience, he has worked in various areas including Regulation and Supervision, human resource management, premises, currency management, and bank accounts in both the central office and regional offices of the RBI.
Additionally, Neeraj Nigam holds the professional certification of Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (CAIIB).
7. UBI becomes 1st Indian Bank to open SRVA Malaysia for Trade Settlement in rupee
Union Bank of India (UBI) achieved a milestone on April 1, 2023, by becoming the first Indian bank to initiate its 'Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA)' in Malaysia to ease transactions between the two countries in Indian rupee. The UBI's corresponding bank in Kuala Lumpur, India International Bank of Malaysia (IIBM), will facilitate the transactions, allowing traders from India and Malaysia to invoice the trade in Indian Rupee.
The Union Bank of India's move to open a 'Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA)' in Malaysia through its corresponding bank, India International Bank of Malaysia (IIBM), is a part of India's efforts to safeguard its trade from the impact of the Ukraine crisis. Moreover, it is a step towards reducing the reliance on the US dollar as the dominant reserve currency for international trade.
Objective :
The primary objective of the initiative is to promote global trade and cater to the interests of the global trading community by enabling them to transact in Indian Rupee. On April 1, 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that India and Malaysia have been permitted to use the Indian Rupee to settle trade transactions, alongside other currencies such as the Malaysian Ringgit.
This decision comes after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed the settlement of international trade in Indian Rupee in July 2022. The RBI's move is intended to facilitate trade growth and support the global trading community's interests in Indian Rupee.
Important :
(i) According to UBI, the total trade volume between India and Malaysia in FY22 stood at US$19.4 billion.
(ii) As of March 15, 2023, Indian banks, such as HDFC Bank and UCO Bank, had opened 30 Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) in 18 countries. The first foreign lenders to receive approval were Sberbank and VTB, the largest and second-largest banks in Russia, respectively.
(iii) Malaysia is India's third-largest trading partner in the ASEAN region after Singapore and Indonesia, with bilateral trade worth US$30.1 billion and US$26.1 billion, respectively.
About SRVA :
According to RBI’s decision to permit the settlement of India’s international trade in Indian rupees, the
authorized banks in India must establish and maintain Special Rupee Vostro accounts for the foreign banks with which they trade.These accounts hold the foreign bank’s funds in rupees. When an Indian trader needs to make a payment to a foreign trader in rupees, the amount is transferred to the corresponding Vostro account, and vice versa.
The RBI granted permission for banks from 18 countries, including Malaysia, to open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) for this purpose.
8. LIC bought Bata India shares for Rs 108 crore; increased its stake to 5.008%
Life Insurance Corporation of India, based in Mumbai, has acquired 6.88 lakh shares of Bata India Limited, a retail company specializing in footwear, for approximately Rs 108 crore.
This has increased LIC's stake in the company from 4.472% to 5.008%, equivalent to 57,48,071 to 64,36,692 equity shares. The purchase was made through open market purchase between January 3, 2022, and March 29, 2023, at an average price of Rs 1569.33 per share.
9. International Children's Book Day 2023 - 2nd April
Every year, International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated worldwide on or around April 2, which marks the birth anniversary of the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, famous for his fairy tales and stories.
The purpose of this day is to encourage children to read and to promote the significance of books. The theme for International Children’s Book Day 2023, which was observed on 2nd April 2023, was "I am a book, read me". The message for ICBD 2023 was penned by children's writer Vagelis Iliopoulos, while the poster was illustrated by illustrator Photini Stephanidi. IBBY Greece sponsored ICBD 2023.
Important :
(i) The different national sections of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) annually celebrate the day.
(ii) Each year, IBBY selects a theme and invites a renowned author from the host nation to write a message to the children of the world, and a notable illustrator to design a poster.
(iii) Hans Christian Andersen Award :
The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international recognition bestowed upon an author and an illustrator of children's books. It is granted during the biennial IBBY Congress and includes a gold medal and diploma. The awards honor lifetime achievements and are given to an author and an illustrator whose entire body of work has significantly and permanently contributed to children's literature.
The Author's Award has been conferred since 1956, while the Illustrator's Award has been awarded since 1966. The awards are sponsored by Nami Island Inc., and the nominations are submitted by the National Sections of IBBY.
(iv) Every year, the theme of the ICBD poster is chosen as the theme of ICBD.
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