Current Affairs in English – April 2, 3 2023

April 2-3, 2023

National Events:

jay Jasjit Singh:

• On April 2nd, Vice-Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh assumed the position of Vice-Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) as part of a series of high-level changes in the Indian Navy. Vice Admiral Singh graduated from the National Defence Academy in Pune and joined the Indian Navy’s executive branch in 1986.
• Over his 37-year career, he has served on various types of ships and held many leadership roles, including Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (CSNCO), Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Fleet, Commandant Naval War College, and Controller Personnel Services.Prior to his current position as VCNS, he was Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations).
• In recognition of his distinguished service, he was awarded the Nao Sena Medal in 2009 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.

Captive Employer initiative:

• The Union Minister for Rural Development, Shri Giriraj Singh, has launched an innovative Captive Employer initiative under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in New Delhi.
• This program aims to train rural poor youth and provide employment opportunities through 19 captive employers who will offer training in different sectors, including hospitality, textiles, retail, and telecommunications.
• More than 31,000 rural youth are expected to receive training and employment opportunities through this scheme.

Fernarium:

• Eravikulam National Park in Munnar, Kerala, which is home to the Nilgiri tahr, now features a new attraction: a fernarium located within the park. This is the first instance of a fern collection being established in the hill station, according to officials.
• The fern park is located close to the orchidarium and will be accessible to the public starting from April 20th. The Eravikulam National Park is known for its diverse range of flora and fauna, and the introduction of the fernarium is a step towards educating visitors about the park’s biodiversity.
• Ferns belong to the Epiphytic family and are known to grow naturally in a soilless environment. These plants absorb water and nutrients by leaching them from trees. A significant number of ferns can be found growing on the trees within the park.

Prevention of Blindness Week:

• The Government of India organises the Prevention of Blindness Week from April 1-7 every year to raise awareness about the causes and prevention of blindness. The annual event aims to support individuals with visual impairments, and to promote access to eye care services.
• The Government of India organises several events to highlight many factors that cause blindness. Several departments work towards bringing inclusivity to the blind, and their disability.
• The week-long campaign aims to raise awareness about the causes of blindness, its prevention, and treatment. Various organizations, including government and non-governmental organizations, conduct activities such as eye camps, free eye checkups, and awareness programs during the week.

ISRO:

• ISRO has accomplished the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka. A Chinook helicopter of the Indian Air Force carried the RLV as an underslung load and flew it to an altitude of 4.5 km.
• Once the predetermined pillbox parameters were reached, the RLV was autonomously released mid-air, 4.6 km downrange.
• The RLV then successfully executed approach and landing maneuvers using the Integrated Navigation, Guidance & control system and autonomously landed on the ATR air strip. This achievement marks the successful autonomous landing of a space vehicle by ISRO.

Mahila Samman Savings Certificates-2023:

• The Ministry of Finance has issued gazette notifications for Mahila Samman Savings Certificates-2023 scheme. The scheme has been made available at all the post offices across the country.
• The 2 year tenure scheme offers a fixed interest of 7.5 % interest compounded quarterly with flexible investment and partial withdrawal options with a maximum ceiling of 2 lac Rs.

CBI:

• PM Modi inaugurated the newly constructed CBI offices in Shillong, Pune and Nagpur. He also released a Postage Stamp and Commemorative Coin marking the Diamond Jubilee Celebration year of CBI.
• PM Modi also launched the Twitter handle CBI. The Central Bureau of Investigation was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India dated 1st April 1963.

Neeraj Nigam:

• Neeraj Nigam has been appointed as Executive Director by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He will be responsible for overseeing several departments including Consumer Education and Protection, Financial Inclusion and Development, Legal, and Secretary.
• Before his promotion to ED, Nigam served as the head of the Bhopal Regional Office for the RBI.

Archana Khosla Burman:

• Archana Khosla Burman takes over as the Chairperson of the Mumbai Chapter of the FICCI Ladies Organisation on 1st April 2023.
• She has been awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 by the Indian Women’s Convention. Archana Khosla Burman is a Founder Partner of VERTICES PARTNERS.

Interest rates:

• Centre raises interest rates on small savings schemes except PPF. The rate of interest has been increased by 70 basis points which will be applicable from April 1, 2023. The revised interest rate is not applicable to the Public Provident Fund (PPF) scheme.
• According to the revised rates, interest for the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme has been raised from 8% to 8.2%. Similarly, Kisan Vikas Patra has been hiked from 7% to 7.2%.

Dr. RG Patel:

• Renowned gynecologist and obstetrician, Dr. RG Patel, on 2 April 2023, was appointed as an expert member of the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board by the union health ministry.
• The board functions under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. It was formed under the Assisted Reproductive Technology & Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

Dr. Sheenu Jhawar:

• The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TIE) Rajasthan, on 2 April 2023, announced Dr. Sheenu Jhawar as its new President for the two-year term 2023-2025.
• She is the first woman in the 21 years history of TIE Rajasthan to assume this responsibility. She replaced Dr. Ravi Modani who has been heading the organization since 2021.

International Events:

Brothers of Italy party:

• Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has introduced new legislation which proposes a fine of up to Euro 100,000 for using any foreign language, especially English, in official communication.
• It also prohibits the use of English in official documentation, including “acronyms and names” of job roles in companies operating in the country.

European Union’s population:

• As per the 2023 population projections by Eurostat, the European Union’s population will decrease by 6% between 1 Jan 2022 & 1 Jan 2100.
• The EU’s population is projected to peak at 453 million people in 2026, before decreasing to a projected level of 420 million in 2100.
• The proportion of children and young people is projected to decrease from 20% at the beginning of 2022 to 18% by 2100.

SLINEX-2023:

• The 10th annual SLINEX-2023 bilateral maritime exercise between India and Sri Lanka has commenced in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The exercise is divided into two phases, the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase, each lasting three days.
• The Indian Navy is represented by INS Kiltan and INS Savitri, while the Sri Lanka Navy is represented by SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Samudura.
• In addition, the exercise also includes participation from the Indian Navy’s Chetak helicopter and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, as well as Sri Lanka Air Force’s Dornier and BEL 412 helicopters. The exercise will also feature the Special Forces of both navies working together.

World Autism Awareness Day:

• Autism Speaks, an organization that advocates for individuals with autism, observes World Autism Month every April, starting with World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd.
• This year marks the 16th anniversary of the day, which is recognized by the United Nations and aims to promote awareness and advocacy for the rights of people with autism.
• Autism is a condition that usually begins during childhood and can continue into adulthood.

Sports Events:

Daniil Medvedev:

• Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev claimed his fourth title of the year by defeating Jannik Sinner in a closely-contested final match in Miami Opens 2023.
• Medvedev, who was once the top-ranked player in the world, has now won 24 out of his last 25 matches, including his latest victory at the prestigious Miami Open. The win marked his first-ever title win at the Miami Open.
• Medvedev clinched his fifth Masters 1000 title and 19th title overall by beating Sinner, who has also been in impressive form this season, with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-3. Interestingly, Medvedev has won each of his 19 titles in different tournaments. This was also his first Masters 1000 title since winning in Toronto back in 2021.