Daily Current Affairs and GK | 29 April 2023

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Gangubai Kathiawadi and Badhaai Do were among the big winners at the Filmfare Awards 2023.

• On 28 April, the 68th Hyundai Filmfare Awards was held at Jio Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai.
• Gangubai Kathiawadi won 10 trophies including some of the biggest awards.
• The full list of Filmfare Awards 2023 winners:

Topic: Awards and Prizes

2. Goldman Environment Prize awarded to Munduruku leader Alessandra Korap.

• She has been awarded for fighting against illegal mining and large-scale projects aimed at facilitating soybean exports in the Tapajós River Basin.
• The Goldman Environmental Prize honors the achievements and leadership of grassroots environmental activists around the world.
• In 2023, the grassroots award recognized activists from Zambia, Indonesia, Turkey, Finland, the United States and Alessandra from Brazil.
• Other Goldman Environment Prize recipients for this year:

• Goldman Environmental Prize:
  • It is an award given annually to grassroots environmental activists from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America.
  • San Francisco based Goldman Environmental Foundation gives this award every year.
  • The award is also known as the Green Nobel.
  • In 1989, philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman instituted the Goldman Environmental Prize.

Topic: International News

3. WHO launched the PRET initiative to better prepare for future pandemics.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Initiative.
• This initiative has been launched to better prepare the world for future outbreaks of pandemics.
• The current focus of PRET will be on respiratory viruses.
• This initiative was launched at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held on 24-26 April 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The PRET monitoring framework is a list of actions of countries to work to be achieved by December 2025.
• The PRET Initiative will help in pandemic preparedness and it will support countries in strengthening health emergency preparedness, prevention, and response capacities and capabilities.
• Discussions are also underway to amend the International Health Regulations.

Topic: International News

4. UAE and Cambodia finalised the terms of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

• The negotiations have got completed with the signing of a joint statement by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and PAN Sorasak, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce.
• The CEPA will increase bilateral trade between both countries by removing tariffs and reducing non-tariff trade barriers. It will promote trade in goods, services, and investment.
• The non-oil trade between both countries was US$401 million in 2022, more than 31 percent compared to 2021.
• In terms of investments, bilateral FDI had reached US$3.8 million by the end of 2020.
• This deal will give a new opportunity to Cambodia to export grains, fruits, meats, processed foods, apparel, footwear, and leather goods.
• The UAE will benefit from new export opportunities in machinery, oils and lubricants, and cars and automotive parts.
• The agreement will act as the catalyst for greater connectivity between ASEAN, India, and the Arab World.
• The UAE has signed CEPAs with India, Israel, Indonesia, and Turkiye.
• The Cambodian economy is one of the emerging countries in South-East Asia. It has grown by 5.1 percent growth in 2022.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. Index of Eight Core Industries increased by 3.6% in March 2023 as against the Index of March 2022.

• The production of coal, fertilizers, steel, natural gas, and refinery products increased in March 2023 over March 2022.
• In March 2023, crude oil, power and cement output fell by 2.8%, 1.8% and 0.8% respectively.
• However, coal, fertilisers, steel, natural gas and refinery products output recorded growth by 12.2%, 9.7%, 8.8%, 2.8% and 1.5%, respectively.
• Government has revised final growth rate of ICI for December 2022 to 8.3% from its provisional level 7.4%.
• The cumulative growth rate of ICI during 2022-23 is reported 7.6% (provisional) in comparison with the corresponding period of last year.
• Index of Eight Core Industries measures performance of the production of eight core industries.
• These eight core industries are Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity.
• The eight core industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Topic: Important Days

6. World Dance Day: 29 April

• World Dance Day (International Dance Day) is celebrated annually on 29 April around the world.
• It encourages and educates people across the world about different dance forms.
• It is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet.
• Jean-Georges Noverre was a French dancer. He is recognized as the father of contemporary ballet.
• The Dance Committee of International Theatre Institute (ITI) founded this day in 1982.
• The theme for International Dance Day 2022 was “Dance for Life”.
• International Theatre Institute:
  • It is the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO.
  • It was founded in 1948. It is headquartered in Paris, France.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. Union Minister Narayan Rane launched the revamped CGTMSE Scheme.

• In the Union Budget for FY 2023-24, additional corpus support of Rs 9000 crore has been allocated to revamp Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) Scheme.
• CGTMSE has issued guidelines regarding reduction of annual guarantee fee from the high rate of 2 per cent per annum to as low as 0.37 per cent per annum for loans up to Rs 1 crore.
• It has reduced guarantee fees for loans to bring down the cost of credit.
• The limit for guarantee has been increased from ₹2 crore to ₹ 5 crore and the threshold limit for claim settlement without initiation of legal action has been increased to ₹10 lakh.
• During the launch of the revamped scheme, it is announced that CGTMSE will collaborate with the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ni-msme), Hyderabad for setting up a Centre of Financial Inclusion for MSME.
• Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGMSE):
  • The government of India launched it to make available collateral-free credit to the micro and small enterprise sectors.
  • The CGMSE was formally launched on August 30, 2000, and is operational with effect from 1 January 2000.
  • The credit guarantee is provided for loans given by banks and financial institutions to MSMEs.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

8. Industrialist Ratan Tata honoured with Australia's highest civilian award.

• Australia's highest civilian award Order of Australia (AO) has been conferred to Ratan Tata.
• Australia's High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell, presented the award to Ratan Tata.
• He received the award for his efforts to strengthen the India-Australia bilateral relations.
• He played a key role in the 2022 India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement.
• Earlier, Ratan Tata was appointed as an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) for his effort to strengthen Indo-Australia ties.
• He is also a 2008 recipient of India’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.
• Tata Group is India’s third largest employer after the Indian Railways and Indian Defence Forces. It was founded by Jamsetji Tata.
• Order of Australia:
  • It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II.
  • It is given to Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. Chennai Metro Rail Limited wins Green World Award 2023.

• The Green Organisation of the United Kingdom presented the Green World Award 2023 to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).
• The award has been presented in a ceremony held in Miami.
• The CMRL won Global Silver in the carbon reduction category of the Green World Awards 2023.
• The award has been given to CMRL for its initiatives to cut down energy use and carbon emissions.
• CMRL is contributing towards improving energy efficiency and water management.
• Power Grid Corporation of India won the Gold in the CSR category.
• VEDANTA won the Gold in the Environmental Policy & Management category.
• Green Organisation recognises, honours, and promotes best practices for the environment all over the world.
• The Green Organisation is collaborating with the Incredible Husk International Group (IHIG) in the active research and development.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

10. Globally the number of migrants reached 184 million: World Development Report.

• The World Development Report 2023 claimed that the income of Indians going abroad to work has increased by 120%. In the case of internal migration, income rises to 40%.
• The report estimate that low-skilled Indians migrating to the US incomes increases by 500%, followed by UAE at almost 300%.
• The increase in income is much greater for highly skilled workers.
• Around 184 million people are living outside of their country of nationality.
• World Development Report 2023 proposes an integrated framework for better migration management in destination, transit and origin countries.
• The report recommends that Origin countries should make labour migration part of their development strategy.
• The destination countries should promote migration and facilitate inclusion and resolve the social impacts that raise concerns among their citizens.
• World Bank has requested international cooperation and multilateral efforts to match the migrants’ skills with the needs of destination countries.
• Countries like Mexico, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkiye required foreign workers because their population is no longer growing.
• Migration is becoming more prevalent due to severe divergences between countries in terms of real wages, labour market opportunities, demographic patterns and climate costs.
• World Development Report is an annual report which is being published by World Bank since 1978.

Topic: National News

11. ‘Millets Experience Centre’ launched by Narendra Singh Tomar.

• On 28 April, the first of its kind ‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ has been launched by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at Dilli Haat in New Delhi.
• The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, has established the Millets Experience Centre.
• It aims to increase awareness about millet and encourage its adoption among the general public.
• The United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023), acting on India's proposal, supported by 72 countries.
• This announcement by the United Nations has established India as the leader of the event and the Government of India is working on a 'mission mode' to make millets a winner for farmers, the environment and the consumer.
• This initiative led by the Ministry will popularise millets (Sri Anna) as a nutritional powerhouse by providing a variety of dishes like millets dosa, millets pasta, etc.
• The MEC offers customers not only a distinctive dining experience but also an opportunity to buy a variety of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products from local millet start-ups.

Topic: Miscellaneous

12. World's First Robotic Check-In Assistant unveiled by Emirates.

• The world's first robotic check-in assistant, named Sara, has been unveiled by Dubai-based airline Emirates as its latest innovation.
• The system is part of a new City Check-in and Travel Store that is set to launch in Dubai's Financial District.
• Sara will utilize facial recognition technology to match customers' faces with their scanned passports, provide check-in services, and assist them in finding the baggage claim area.
• On 27 April, the facility was opened, allowing customers to drop off their luggage as early as 24 hours and up to 4 hours before their flight, to arrive at the airport at their leisure.
• Passengers can check-in with the help of Emirates agents at dedicated desks or with the help of Sara.
• Sara is also portable and can move around to help those in need.
• The future iterations of the Sara will also have arms that can carry goods.
• Along with the newly introduced check-in facility, Emirates passengers holding valid boarding passes will be granted free access to select lifestyle facilities at the ICD Brookfield Place, and will also receive exclusive discounts and special offers at various luxury stores, gyms, and restaurants.

Topic: National News

13. Kashi Telugu Sangam-Ganga Pushkara Aradhana addressed by PM Modi.

• On April 29, Kashi Telugu Sangam-Ganga Pushkara Aradhana has been organized in Varanasi.
• The daylong event, which was held at Mansarovar Ghat, highlighted the ancient civilisational ties between Kashi, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• On the 22nd of April, Ganga Pushkaralu began in Varanasi and will continue till 3 May.
• During the 12-day event, a large number of pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have reached to Kashi to offer prayers to their ancestors.
• After every 12 years, this festival is celebrated.
• This is the second event to be held in Varanasi in recent times after the Kashi-Tamil Sangam.

Topic: State News/ Jammu and Kashmir

14. Sinthan Snow Festival-2023 started at Kishtwar, J&K.

• A two-day Sinthan Snow Festival-2023 started at Sinthan Maidan, Kishtwar on 29 to 30 April by the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu and Kishtwar Tourism Development Authority (KTDA).
• In collaboration with the District Administration Kishtwar, the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL), and the Army, the snow festival is being organised.
• Locals as well as tourists are excited about the event, which includes musical performances, adventure activities and various competitions.
• Various activities like bike rally, paragliding, snow kayaking, fun snow activities, local cultural performances and much more will be organized in this festival.
• Sinthan Top is the highest motorable mountain pass which connects Kishtwar district of Jammu division to Anantnag district of Kashmir division and is 12,414 feet above sea level.
• 'Sinthan Top' one of the most liked tourist destinations offers 360-degree views of both the Jammu and Kashmir region.