Current Affairs 17th April

National Affairs

1. NHAI & Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Sign a MoU to Enable FASTag-Based Payments at Forest Entry Points 

The Indian Thruways The executives Organization Restricted (IHMCL) marked an Update

of Figuring out (MoU) with the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Hold,

which traverses the territories of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, to advance a consistent and productive entry process for vehicles entering the backwoods region.

 

At forest entry points, the initiative intends to develop a payment system based on FASTag.

 

The Ecosystem Management Coordination (EMC) fee that FASTag collects at various Tiger Reserve entry points would benefit more.

 

IHMCL was established by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to implement electronic tolling.

 

Key Points:

 

In order to enable automatic toll payments at toll plazas, the FASTag system, which makes use of RFID technology, has been mandated to be installed on all vehicles with four wheels or more across the entirety of India.

 

If FASTag-based payments are made available at forest entry points, visitors won’t have any trouble enjoying the area’s wildlife and natural beauty.

 

This cooperation among IHMCL and the Timberland Division is a urgent step

towards empowering supportable the travel industry and protecting normal assets by

diminishing engine discharges at backwoods passage focuses.

2. Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Launches Projects: APPI & World Bank Funded AHSSOH 

Under the auspices of the National One Health Mission, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launched the “Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative” (APPI) and the “Animal Health System Support for One Health” (AHSSOH) projects on April 14, 2023, with the goal of increasing India’s preparedness and response to potential animal pandemics.

 

AHSSOH is India’s most memorable creature pandemic reaction plan as a team with the

World Bank.

 

Regarding AHSSOH:

 

As a central sector scheme with a funding allocation of Rs 1228.70 crore, the collaborative project will be carried out in five states over the course of five years.

 

The project aims to improve 75 district/regional laboratories and 300 veterinary hospitals/dispensaries in 151 districts across the five states that are participating.

 

Additionally, the project intends to educate 5500 veterinary professionals and 9,000 para-veterinarians/diagnostic professionals.

3. CMIE: India’s Employment Rate rose to 36.9% in March 2023 from 36.6% in December 2022

The data provided by the Centre of Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE) Private Limited indicate that India’s employment rate increased from 36.6% in December 2022 to 36.9% in March 2023.

 

About 15 million people entered the labor force between July and September 2022 and January and March 2023.

 

11.2 million of these people, or slightly more than 75%, got jobs during this time.

 

Key Features:

 

In March 2023, there were 410.1 million employed in India, up from 404.3 million in December 2022. The labor force has expanded by around 5.8 million accordingly.

 

In India, employment increased as a result of a rise in labor force participation and a decrease in unemployment.

 

This quarter saw a significantly lower number of people enter the workforce than in previous quarters, according to CMIE data. 444.3 million people were employed in March 2023.

To 39.96 percent, the rate of labor participation slightly increased by 0.2 percent.

 

However, from 36.1 million in December 2022 to 34.2 million in March 2023, there was a decrease of nearly 2 million people without jobs. India’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.7% as a result.

 

In general, employment in India has increased for the past three quarters. This shows that more individuals who will work can find

work.

4. Atal Tinkering Labs linked with KVKs & ATMA to involve students in Agri Innovation

On April 13, 2023, the Atal Advancement Mission (Point), NITI Aayog (Public

Establishment for Changing India), and the Service of Agribusiness and Ranchers Government assistance (MoA&FW) consented to interface Atal Fiddling Labs (ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and Agrarian Innovation The executives Organization (ATMAs)

under the drive.

 

Objective: to encourage agricultural innovation among schoolchildren across India.

 

Key Points:

 

KVKs and ATMA will work with nearby ATLs to support innovation in the agricultural sector.

 

Based on the list of KVKs and ATMAs shared by MoA&FW, AIM has mapped and shared a list of 55 ATLs, including mapping each of the 11 KVKs and ATMAs with up to 5 ATLs.

5. India signs MoU with UN WFP for sending wheat to Afghanistan

 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of India (GoI) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been signed, paving the way for the delivery of 10,000 metric tonnes (the fifth tranche) of wheat to the Afghan people.

 

The fifth tranche, which will be delivered via Iran’s Chahbahar port, builds on the WFP’s assistance for Afghans in need.

 

The Indian declaration that 20,000 metric tons of wheat would be transported via the Iranian port of Chahbahar made at the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Afghanistan led to this memorandum of understanding.

 

The World Food Program (WFP) states that there is a significant issue in Afghanistan, with at least 20 million Afghans in imminent danger of starvation and nine out of ten families unable to purchase sufficient food at the present time.

International Affairs

1. Ghana becomes 1st Country to Approve Oxford Malaria Vaccine

The highly effective malaria vaccine “R21/Matrix-M,” developed at Oxford University in the United Kingdom (UK), has been approved for the first time by the Republic of Ghana.

The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) of Ghana granted approval to the vaccine.

 

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has been approved for use in children between the ages of 5 and 36 months, who are most vulnerable to malaria-related death.

 

The first vaccine to surpass the WHO’s goal of 75 percent efficacy is this one.

The immunization R21 contains Network M, a saponin-based adjuvant from Novavax that

increments invulnerable framework reaction and builds the inoculation’s intensity and

sturdiness.

 

In 2021, according to WHO estimates, malaria caused the deaths of 619,000 people, the majority of whom were children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

An estimated 5.3 million cases and 12,500 deaths were reported in Ghana, where the disease is endemic and ongoing.

Banking and Finance

1. Chennai Metro launches Singara Chennai Card in association with SBI 

The “Singara Chennai Card”—also known as the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)—was introduced by Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) in conjunction with its banking partner, State Bank of India (SBI) in order to make it easier for passengers to move around without any problems.

 

In the stations, SBI gives out the card for free, but passengers have to show proof of identity and pay a fee of 1.8% of the amount they use to recharge it.

 

The Singara Chennai cards are currently accessible in Chennai metro stations as well as

different metros that take RuPay NCMC cards, for example, the MMRDA Mumbai Line 2A and 7, Bangalore Metro, Delhi Metro Air terminal Line, Kanpur Metro, BEST Transports in Mumbai, and Kadamba Transport Transports in Goa.

 

The technology behind the RuPay NCMC cards was developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

 

National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) 

 

Singara Chennai Card At first, the Singara Chennai cards are accessible for buy in 7 stations, counting Koyambedu, Chennai Focal, Chennai Air terminal, High Court, Alandur, Thirumangalam and Guindy, and can be utilized at the programmed doors of all the metro stations.

 

The unique “Stored Value Area” feature of the NCMC card can hold up to Rs. 2,000 and can be used to purchase tickets offline.

 

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is in charge of developing the NCMC, an interoperable transport card.

 

Eventually, commuters in most of India will be able to use these cards to use MTC buses, suburban trains, tolls, parking, smart cities, and shops.

2. HCAL Receives SEBI Approval for Control Transfer in Merger Process

In a letter dated April 10, 2023 to HDFC Capital Consultants Restricted (HCAL), the

market controller Protections and Trade Leading group of India (SEBI) supported the

proposed change in charge of HCAL subject to a couple of conditions.

HCAL is an auxiliary of HDFC Restricted and a co-speculation portfolio supervisor.

 

The final approvals from SEBI for the transfer of control of specific HDFC Limited subsidiaries are necessary for the proposed merger to proceed.

 

HDFC Investments Limited and HDFC Holdings Limited, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC Limited), will first be combined into HDFC Limited and then into HDFC Bank under the proposed composite amalgamation scheme.

 

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the shareholders of HDFC and HDFC Bank, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) have all given HDFC their consent already.

By the second or third quarter of FY24, completion of the merger is anticipated.

 

The proposed company’s total asset base will be close to Rs. 18 lakh

crore.

 

HDFC Bank will be owned entirely by public shareholders following the completion of the transaction, with existing shareholders holding 41% of the company.

Each HDFC investor would get 42 portions of HDFC Bank for each 25

shares claimed.

Economy and Business

1. Indian Oil & US-based LanzaJet to set up India’s 1st Green Aviation Fuel Firm 

For the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) plans to form a joint venture (JV) with LanzaJet Inc., a clean energy technology company based in the United States, and multiple domestic airlines.

 

At a cost of Rs 3,000 crore, the proposed venture will construct a plant to produce SAF using alcohol-to-jet technology at the Panipat refinery in Haryana. LanzaJet and IOCL will each contribute Rs 750 crore to the project.

 

IOCL will hold a half stake while LanzaJet Inc will hold 25%. The leftover 25%

the stake would be proposed to a lot of carrier organizations.

Science and Technology

1. Russia Conducts Test Launch of ‘Advanced’ Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

On the eleventh of April 2023, the Russian Guard Service executed a fruitful test send-off

of a “high-level” Intercontinental Long-range Rocket (ICBM). The Strategic Missile Forces’ combat crew took part in the tests at the Kapustin Yar test site in Russia’s southern Astrakhan region.

 

The reason for the send off was to test the high-level battle hardware of

intercontinental long-range rockets.

 

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the missile struck the target at the SaryShagan training ground in Kazakhstan. This launch confirmed the accuracy of the design and technical solutions utilized in the development of new strategic missile systems.