Excellence by Saikat Sir: Current Affairs 27th April 2021| Current Affairs News

Current Affairs 27th April 2021| Current Affairs News

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Revised COVID-19 guidelines released for Ayurveda, Unani practitioners by Ministry of Ayush

Responding to the need of fresh guidelines in the face of the emergence of the second wave of the pandemic, Ministry of Ayush released revised guidelines for Ayurveda and Unani Practitioners for COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation and Ayurveda and Unani Preventive Measures for self-care during COVID-19 Pandemic.
These Guidelines and Advisories were developed through an extensive consultative process by the Empowered Committee within the Interdisciplinary Ayush Research and Development Task Force setup by the Ministry of Ayush.
The Ministry of Ayush issued an advisory on 29th January last year on how to protect oneself from COVID-19 and how to stay healthy.
In this context, the Ministry of Ayush has also promoted use of ready-made formulation like AyushKwath Ayurveda which is a simple admixture of four herbal ingredients.

Sichuan Airlines does a “U-Turn” – plan to resume cargo services to India

China’s state-run Sichuan Airlines retracted its announcement to suspend the cargo flights to India taking crucial supplies like oxygen concentrators to India after it created controversy.
In a “U-Turn” within hours of the cancellation, it said that it was working out a new plan to resume the services as reported by the state media.
A logistics arm under Sichuan Airlines said that it was discussing a new plan to resume cargo services to India, as the country has been going through COVID-19 resurgence, state media reported.
The sudden cancellation by Sichuan Airlines against the backdrop of China’s offer for assistance to India in COVID management caused embarrassment for Chinese government.
Prasar Bharati Correspondent in Beijing reported that, Chinese Foreign Ministry did not comment on the cancellation at the regular press briefing.
Instead, it suggested checking with the company concerned.

US President Joe Biden announced to provide assistance to India to deal with COVID-19 pandemic

US President Joe Biden assured to provide assistance to India to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Biden said he spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pledged America’s full support to provide emergency assistance and resources in the fight against COVID-19.
He said, India was there for America, and America will be there for India.

Ministry of Steel said that Over 3,130 MTs of Liquid Medical oxygen supplied by steel Plants to various states

Ministry of Steel has said that over 3,130 Metric Tonnes of Liquid Medical oxygen was supplied by steel Plants to various states.
It said that steel plants have been able to enhance the supply of liquid medical oxygen by taking various initiatives.
This includes reduction in the production of Nitrogen and Argon and production of only liquid medical oxygen in most plants.
The Ministry said that through continuous engagement with steel producers, safety stock of liquid medical oxygen of steel plants has been reduced to 0.5 days instead of the earlier 3.5 days.
To facilitate faster movement of liquid medical oxygen, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has directed that a certain number of nitrogen and argon tankers be converted to carry oxygen.
The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization has issued permission for conversion.
This will remove a major bottleneck in transporting oxygen to states.
Bhilai Steel Plant is enhancing liquid oxygen production by 15 MT.
The Steel Ministry has said that similar directions have been given to other Central Public Sector Enterprises owned steel plants to explore the possibility of enhancing their capacity.

Indian Army inaugurates Ladakh Ignited Minds project

To provide better educational opportunities for Ladakhi students, the Indian Army has initiated the project Ladakh Ignited Minds.
A Centre of Excellence and Wellness.
On behalf of Indian Army, Fire and Fury Corps has signed a couple of MoUs with partner Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and executing agency, a Kanpur based NGO, National Integrity and Educational Development Organization (NIEDO), in Leh.
Our correspondent reports that the project is aimed at providing better training facilities to disadvantaged Ladakhi students to give them opportunity to study in niche educational institutes.
In its continuous efforts to maintain cordial Civil and Defence relations and better future for Ladakhi youth, the Indian Army began a project called, Ladakh Ignited Minds: A Centre of Excellence and Wellness, in Ladakh.
Fire and Fury Corps of Indian Army with the support of HPCL and execution agency NIEDO will provide a holistic training for Ladakhi youth.
In the first batch, comprising 20 girls, 45 students from Leh and Kargil districts, would get training for JEE and NEET entrance examinations.
Fire and Fury signed MoUs with HPCL’s J&K Chief Regional Manager Mr. Prince Singh and NIEDO’s CEO Dr. Rohit Srivastav in the presence of the 14 Corps GoC Lt.Gen PGK Menon, Member of Parliament Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and Advisor to Ladakh UT, Umang Narula.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WHO Launches global immunization strategy to save 50 million lives by 2030

A UN-led global immunization strategy was unveiled to reach more than 50 million children who have missed lifesaving jabs against measles and other diseases because of COVID-19 disruption.
WHO, along with UNICEF and the vaccine alliance Gavi, said their new global strategy has the potential to save 50 million lives within less than a decade.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, to avoid multiple outbreaks of life-threatening diseases like measles, yellow fever and diphtheria, it must be ensured that routine vaccination services are protected in every country in the world.
A WHO survey showed more than one third of countries were still seeing disruptions to their routine immunization services.
The joint statement said, around 60 mass vaccination campaigns were currently postponed in 50 countries, putting 228 million people, mostly children, at risk of diseases such as measles and polio.

PM Modi thanked Japan for provide the Covid-19 assistance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga discussed cooperation in key areas, including creating resilient supply chains and ensuring reliable supply of critical materials, to overcome challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
During a phone conversation, the two leaders discussed the Covid-19 situation in each other’s country and close India-Japan cooperation to overcome regional and global challenges due to the pandemic.
Such bilateral cooperation includes “working together to create resilient, diversified and trustworthy supply chains, ensuring reliable supply of critical materials and technologies, and developing new partnerships in manufacturing and skill development”, the external affairs ministry said in a readout.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Punjab CM assured ex-gratia, govt job for family members of martyr sepoys Prabhjit and Amardeep Singh

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has announced ex-gratia compensation of 50 lakh rupees, along with a government job each to the family of Sepoy Prabhjit Singh and Sepoy Amardeep Singh of 21 PUNJAB, who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
Both the soldiers were reported killed in an avalanche in Siachen glacier.
Captain Amarinder Singh said that their utmost dedication to defend the country’s unity and integrity, even putting their lives at risk, would inspire their fellow soldiers to perform their duties with far more devotion and commitment.
Sepoy Prabhjit Singh hailed from Village Hakamwala in Mansa district and is survived by his parents and one elder brother.
While Sepoy Amardeep Singh, a native of village Karamgarh in Barnala District, is survived by his father and a younger sister.

Gujarat CM encourages use of Ayurvedic, Homeopathic medicines to COVID-19

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has encouraged the state health and Ayush department for maximum use of Ayurvedic and Homeopathic medicines to win the war against Covid19.
He said that these will also help in increasing immunity of the people against the Coronavirus pandemic in the state.
Presiding over the state-level Core Committee meeting at Gandhinagar, Rupani has directed the administration to order and distribute about 60 thousand kilogram of ‘Amrit peya Ukala’ and ‘Sanshamani-vati’ and 10- lakh doses of Homeopathic Arsenicum album-30 medicines.
Meanwhile, Gujarat has recorded 14340 new cases.
According to the state health department, 7727 patients recovered during the last 24 hours.
Maximum 5619 new cases of Covid19 reported from Ahmedabad, while Surat recorded 1472 new cases.
158 patients lost their lives.
With these, the death toll due to Covid19 in the state has reached up to 6486.
Gujarat has now 1 lakh 21 thousand 461 active cases at present, out of which 412 patients are on ventilator.
Meanwhile, 1 lakh 59 thousand 93 persons were vaccinated in the state.
Now, Gujarat has vaccinated 1 crore 14 lakh 54 thousand 629 persons till now.

Tamil Nadu govt planned to reopen Vedanta’s oxygen manufacturing plant at Tuticorin

Tamilnadu Government after considering the urgent need for increased oxygen production has decided to reopen Vedanta’s oxygen manufacturing plant at Tuticorin.
The Vedanta group approached the Supreme Court to allow production of oxygen through its plant in Tuticorin.
In an all party meeting headed by Chief Minister Palanisamy at the State Secretariat, Five resolutions including reopening of Vedanta production plant were passed.
The all party meeting has resolved to allow the plant to manufacture the much needed requirement of oxygen in the State.
The Government will render power supply to the plant for the manufacture of 1050 tonnes of oxygen for a period of four months.
All parties also resolved to prioritise the requirement of oxygen for the State and the remaining oxygen would be sent to other states.
The government also said that members of different groups which oppose the industry will be given a place in the expert group to monitor oxygen production along with the District administration.
The resolution states that according to the requirement the period of four months would be increased however the copper smelting plant will not be allowed to reopen.
According to the State Government in the High Court, only 35 tonnes of oxygen out of the 1050 tonnes of oxygen manufactured everyday in the plant is for medical use.
The oxygen manufactured from the plant would be given for medical purposes to the hospitals free of cost.

Odisha government announces free vaccination to above 18 years of age

The Odisha government has announced free vaccination for people above 18 years of age.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the State Government will incur an expenditure of two thousand crore rupees to meet the goal.
Ahead of the phase three of the nationwide vaccination drive to be rolled out from the first of May, the state government has geared up to inoculate about 1.93 crore people in the age group of 18 to 44 years.
Accordingly, it has placed orders before the Serum Institute of India for supply of 377 lakh doses of Covishield and Bharat Biotech for supply of a little more than 10 lakh doses of Covaxin, while designating Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited as the nodal agency for vaccine procurement.

Gujarat govt declared free vaccinations for all above 18 years of age from May 1

Gujarat government will provide free vaccinations for all above 18 years of age from 1st of May.
This decision was taken during the high level core committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupnai at Gandhinagar.
State government has placed the order for one and half crore doses of vaccines for the third phase of vaccination in the state starting from 1st May.
These include the order for one crore doses of covishield vaccine from Pune based SII and 50 lakh doses of Covaxin vaccine from Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech.
Gujarat has 6 thousand government and private vaccination centers.
Meanwhile, Gujarat has recorded 14,296 new cases of Covid19.
6727 patients recovered during the last 24 hours and were discharged from the hospitals.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Xiaomi launches Rs 1.2 lakh TV, flagship Mi 11 Ultra phones

The Indian market’s largest smartphone-seller Xiaomi introduced its flagship smartphone, the Mi 11 Ultra (5G), for the local market with a Rs 69,999 price tag.
At this price band, Mi’s new offering will compete against the likes of the Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S series.
The Chinese company also launched another premium segment product in a 75-inch smartTV the QLED TV 75 at Rs 1, 19,999.
Mi’s pricey TV offering features a 75-inch QLED 4K UHD panel with 3,840 x 2,160 resolutions and a 178-degree viewing angle for wide visibility, according to the specifications.
The model also runs an Android 10 operating system and bundles Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube apps.
The Mi 11 Ultra has two displays: a 6.81-inch WQHD alongside a Samsung E4 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

Neobank Fi partnership with Federal Bank to open instant savings account

The savings account, to be issued in three minutes, is aimed at digital-first millennials.
Fi, the Bengaluru-based neobankfor salaried millennials, has announced its partnership with Federal Bank to issue an instant savings account equipped with a debit card, in three minutes.
Founded in 2019, Fi is the brainchild of ex-Googlers who pioneered Gpay, Sujith Narayanan and Sumit Gwalani.
It offers an interactive, personalized, and transparent digital banking experience.
Users gain access to a new-age savings account and money management tools with features that help users know their money, grow their money and organize their funds.
Fi aims to assist a consumer’s financial journey beyond digital payments to other services — insurance, lending, and investment opportunities.
Commenting on the launch, Sujith Narayanan, CEO& Cofounder, Fi, said, “We are excited to introduce a proposition that reimagines the way digital-first millennials perceive and interact with their money.
Fi aims to be a meaningful partner in their money aspiration journey, enabling them to simplify finances and de-mystify savings.
Our platform leverages cutting-edge tech and data science for deriving actionable insights that empower users to take control and do more with their finances.
We look forward to delivering a first-of-its-kind, personalized, flexible and transparent banking experience and building long-term customer relationships.”

RBI : article for monitoring movement of funds between banks and ARCs

Introduction of a bad bank may help “shape the operations” of the existing asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), an RBI paper said, noting that a sizable bulk of assets bought by such entities has not been resolved for a long time.
The paper, published in the central bank’s monthly bulletin for April, also flagged risks of an excessive reliance on banks by the ARC industry.
It said banks supply nonperforming assets (NPAs) to the ARCs, hold shareholding in these entities and also lend to them, which makes it necessary to monitor if there is a “circuitous movement of funds between banks and these institutions (ARCs)”.
In her Budget speech for FY22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had declared that a new ARC will be created to hold the sour assets of the state-run lenders and resolve such assets professionally.

Punjab Govt pays Rs.10,085 cr online directly to farmers for buying wheat

With wheat harvesting in full swing in Punjab and Haryana, farmers, for the first time, have started receiving minimum support price (MSP) payment directly in their bank accounts under the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme (DBT).
The government data shows 5,385 crore has been transferred so far in the ongoing procurement season by the Central and State procurement agencies to farmers against purchase of their crops in both the States.
In Punjab, 2,600 crore has been paid to accounts of farmers till April 20 under the scheme.
In Haryana, 2,785 crore have been transferred directly to the accounts of farmers.
Punjab Food Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said “under the DBT scheme payments more than Rs.2,600 crore has been paid to the accounts of farmers till April 20”.

RBI allows 15-year tenure for MD & CEO for private banks

In a major reform step, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has capped the tenure of bank MD and CEOs with immediate effect.
In a circular to all the commercial banks, the RBI said that the posts of Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Whole Time Director (WTD) cannot be held for more than 15 years.
Further, the MD and CEO or WTD who is also a promoter or a major shareholder, cannot hold these posts for more than 12 years.
Banks will have to comply with the instructions by October 1, 2021.
The central bank further said that the extant instructions on upper age limit for MD & CEO and WTDs in the private sector banks would continue and no person can continue as MD & CEO or WTD beyond the age of 70 years.

UP-based Shivalik SFB came up for operations

Uttar Pradesh-based Shivalik Small Finance Bank has commenced operations as a small finance bank with effect from April 26, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
The Reserve Bank had issued a licence to the bank under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to carry on the business of small finance banks in India, the RBI said.
Shivalik Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd. was granted an in-principle approval for transition into a small finance bank, as announced in the press release on January 6, 2020, under the “Scheme on voluntary transition of Urban Co-operative Bank into a Small Finance Bank” issued on September 27, 2018.

RBI issued guidelines: UCBs and NBFCs to appoint auditors for 3 years

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines for appointment ofStatutory Central Auditors (SCAs)/Statutory Auditors (SAs) in commercial banks, urban co-operative banks and non-banking finance companies from FY22 onwards, whereby they will have to appoint SCAs/SAs for a continuous period of three years.
A Circular on ‘Guidelines for Appointment of Statutory Central Auditors (SCAs)/ Statutory Auditors (SAs) of Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), UCBs and NBFCs (including HFCs)’ has been issued.
These guidelines provide necessary instructions for appointment of SCAs/SAs, the number of auditors, their eligibility criteria, tenure and rotation, etc. while ensuring the independence of auditors.
However, non-deposit taking NBFCs with asset size below Rs 1,000 crore have the option to continue with their extant procedure.
As the guidelines are being implemented for the first time for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) and NBFCs from 2021-22, “they shall have the flexibility to adopt these guidelines from the second half of FY 2021-22, in order to ensure that there is no disruption”.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: PERSONS IN NEWS

Social worker in Odisha opens oxygen bank to lend cylinders for free to needy patients

In the midst of a dangerous second wave, a city-based social worker Atif Alam has opened a medical oxygen bank to lend oxygen cylinders to needy patients free of cost.
The 33-year-old man who runs a social organization ‘Social Star Club’, started the oxygen bank earlier this month and it currently has 45 cylinders in stock.
Last year in May when the Covid cases were on the rise, Atif through his organization had started providing oxygen cylinders, medicated beds, air beds and wheelchairs to patients in need on a rotation basis.
He had five oxygen cylinders then.
When people came to know about Atif’s philanthropic works, some of his well-wishers and patrons offered to donate oxygen cylinders.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Kovai.co bags Bootstrapped Saas startup award

co, Coimbatore-based software as a service (SaaS) start-up, was named “Bootstrapped SaaS startup of the Year” by SaaSBoomi, at the inaugural edition of SaaSBoomi awards.
It is a first-of-its-kind annual awards ceremony that facilitates a platform to recognize and laud most deserving SaaS start-ups in India.
For the current edition, eight different categories were introduced.
Each company’s self-nominated applications were reviewed by the jury, and the top five finalists were selected.
Later, through a voting mechanism, winners were selected and announced.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

China names first Mars rover ‘Zhurong’

On April 24, 2021, China’s first Mars rover will be named Zhurong after a traditional fire god.
The rover is aboard the Tianwen-1 probe that arrived in Mars orbit on February 24 and is due to land in May to look for evidence of life.
It is part of Chinese space plans that include launching a crewed orbital station and landing a human on the moon.
China in 2019 became the first country to land a space probe on the little-explored far side of the moon and in December returned lunar rocks to Earth for the first time since the 1970s.
Tianwen-1’s goals include analysing and mapping the Martian surface and geology, looking for water ice and studying the climate and surface environment.

Note :

China would become the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to put a robot rover on Mars.

About China National Space Administration :

Founded: 22 April 1993
Administrator: Zhang Kejian
Headquarters: Haidian District, Beijing, China

About China :

Capital: Beijing
President: Xi Jinping
Currency: Renminbi

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

Rafael Nadal Wins 12th Barcelona Open Title

On April 25, 2021, Rafael Nadal defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7(6), 7-5.
He collected a record-extending 12th Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell trophy.
The Barcelona Open Title 2021 held from April 17 to 25, 2021, at Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, Spain.

About Barcelona Open :

The Barcelona Open is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players.
The event has been held in Barcelona, Spain every year from 1953, and is played on clay courts at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

SC judge Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar passes away

On April 25, 2021, Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar Passed away.
He was 62.

About Mohan M. Shantanagoudar :

Justice Shantanagoudar was born in 1958 in Karnataka.
He was enrolled as an advocate in 1980.
He specialised in Civil, Criminal and Constitutional matters.
Justice Shantanagoudar had served as State Public Prosecutor of Karnataka from 1999 to 2002.
He was appointed permanent judge of the Karnataka High Court in September 2004.
He was appointed Chief Justice of Kerala High Court in 2016 and was elevated to the Supreme Court on February 17, 2017 and was scheduled to retire only on May 4, 2023.
He was the ninth senior most judge of the Supreme Court.

Former Chief of SSB Arun Chaudhary passes away

On April 25, 2021, Former Sashastra Seema Bal chief Arun Chaudhary Passed away.
He was 66.

About Arun Chaudhary :

He is a 1977-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre.
Chaudhary served for nearly two decades in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) he headed the Jammu and Kashmir desk.
He was once also tipped to become the chief of the Intelligence Bureau.
In December 2012, he was appointed director general of the SSB and retired from service on April 30, 2014.

About Sashastra Seema Bal :

Sashastra Seema Bal is a border guarding force of India deployed along its border with Nepal and Bhutan.
It is one of the Central Armed Police Forces under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Headquarters: New Delhi
Founded: 1963
Minister responsible: Amit Shah

Doyen of Indian Classical Music Pandit Rajan Mishra Passes Away

Renowned classical music singer Pandit Rajan Mishra passed away.
He was 70.

About Pandit Rajan Mishra :

Pandit Rajan Mishra was born in 1951 into a family of classical music enthusiasts in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.
He was a vocalist in the khyal style of Indian classical singing.

Achievements :

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India, in 2007.
He was also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Gandharva National Award and the National Tansen Samman.

Former Maruti Suzuki MD Jagdish Khattar passes away

On April 26, 2021, Former managing director of Maruti Suzuki India, Jagdish Khattar, passed away.
He was 79.

About Jagdish Khattar :

He had served at Maruti Suzuki India Limited from 1993 to 2007.
He joined Maruti in 1993 as director of marketing and went on to become its MD in 1999, first as a government nominee and then in May 2002 as the Suzuki Motor Corporation nominee.
In October 2007 Khattar launched an entrepreneurial venture named Carnation Auto.

About Maruti Suzuki India Limited :

CEO: Kenichi Ayukawa
Headquarters: New Delhi
Chairman : R C Bhargava

Veteran Indian Nuclear Scientist Krishnamurthy Santhanam Passes away

Indian nuclear scientist Krishnamurti Santhanam Passed away.

About Krishnamurthy Santhanam :

Dr Santhanam was a nuclear scientist and the field director of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) during the tests of Pokhran-II
He was associated with institutions like DRDO, DAE and IDSA.
His role in successful 1998 nuclear tests was noteworthy.
He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1999 by the Government of India.

Daily CA On April 25 & 26 :

National DNA Day is a United States holiday celebrated on April 25. It commemorates the day in 1953 when James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, Rosalind Franklin and colleagues published papers in the journal Nature on the structure of DNA.
World Malaria Day is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria.
The International Delegate’s Dayis observed on April 25, to raise awareness of the role of representatives and delegates of the Member States to the United Nations.
World Intellectual Property Dayis observed annually on 26 April. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000.
Indian Navy ships under Headquarters, Southern Naval Command at Kochi are progressing with the mission of OXYGEN EXPRESS in order to render support to the local administration of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep (UTL).
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has expressed grief over the demise of an Indian nuclear scientist Krishnamurthy Santhanam.
Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre and Hospital at Chhatarpur in South Delhi will start functioning. Standard Operating Procedure for admission of patients will be strictly followed and all laid down protocols will be adhered to.
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, five Gram Panchayats have bagged prestigious National Panchayat Awards-2021.
Bharat Biotech has announced the cost of COVAXIN for State governments and Private Hospitals. It will cost 600 rupees per dose for State Governments and 1200 rupees per dose for Private Hospitals.
Government has extended certain timelines in order to give respite to taxpayers in difficult COVID times. It has extended the deadline for making payment under tax dispute resolution scheme Vivad Se Vishwas by two months till 30th of June.
Home-grown digital financial services platform Paytm has launched a new video-based wealth community called the Paytm Wealth Community.
Optimistic about the outlook for the life insurance industry, NS Kannan, Managing Director and CEO, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, said as of now Covid-related claims for the sector are under control.
Blackstone said that the private equity funds managed by it have entered into definitive agreements to acquire a majority stake in Mphasis Ltd.
“Talks with DBS Bankis at an advanced stage and they are keen to take up the entire consumer banking operation,” said a person familiar with the development.
Actor-filmmaker Emerald Fennell, “Another Round” and Daniel Kaluuya were the early winners at the 93rd Academy Awards.
The election-fraud film “Absolute Proof”, singer Sia’s heavily panned directorial debut “Music” and Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor, were the top winners at the 2021 Razzie Awards, given to the worst movies and performances of the year.
Theatre and film director Pramod Payyannur has been selected for the Thilakan Smarakavedi’s “Thilakan Award”, named after the late actor, for overall contribution.
From April, 25 to 27 2021, The 19th edition of the Indian and French Navy bilateral exercise ‘Varuna-2021’ has started in the Arabian Sea.
On April 23, 2021, NASA and Elon Musk’s commercial rocket company SpaceX launched a new four-astronaut team on a flight to the International Space Station the first crew ever propelled into orbit by a rocket booster recycled from a previous spaceflight.
Professor Halil Ibrahimi has discovered a new insect species named Potamophylax coronavirus found in Kosovo’s western Bjeshket e Nemuna (Accursed Mountains) national park.
The Living Mountain is a new story by Jnanpith winner and internationally renowned author Amitav Ghosh. It will be Published by HarperCollins Publishers India.
The ITTF World Table Tennis Championships, the Harris County Houston Sports Authority has announced that it will host the event November 23–29, 2021, at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
On April 20, 2021, Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor M Narasimham passed away.

Daily CA On April 27 :

The Ministry of Ayush released revised guidelines for Ayurveda and Unani Practitioners for COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation and Ayurveda and Unani Preventive Measures for self-care during COVID-19 Pandemic.
China’s state-run Sichuan Airlines retracted its announcement to suspend the cargo flights to India taking crucial supplies like oxygen concentrators to India after it created controversy.
US President Joe Biden assured to provide assistance to India to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ministry of Steel has said that over 3,130 Metric Tonnes of Liquid Medical oxygen was supplied by steel Plants to various states.
To provide better educational opportunities for Ladakhi students, the Indian Army has initiated the project Ladakh Ignited Minds.
A UN-led global immunization strategy was unveiled to reach more than 50 million children who have missed lifesaving jabs against measles and other diseases because of COVID-19 disruption.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga discussed cooperation in key areas, including creating resilient supply chains and ensuring reliable supply of critical materials, to overcome challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has announced ex-gratia compensation of 50 lakh rupees, along with a government job each to the family of Sepoy Prabhjit Singh and Sepoy Amardeep Singh of 21 PUNJAB, who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has encouraged the state health and Ayush department for maximum use of Ayurvedic and Homeopathic medicines to win the war against Covid19.
Tamilnadu Government after considering the urgent need for increased oxygen production has decided to reopen Vedanta’s oxygen manufacturing plant at Tuticorin.
The Odisha government has announced free vaccination for people above 18 years of age. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the State Government will incur an expenditure of two thousand crore rupees to meet the goal.
Gujarat government will provide free vaccinations for all above 18 years of age from 1st of May. This decision was taken during the high level core committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupnai at Gandhinagar.
The Indian market’s largest smartphone-seller Xiaomi introduced its flagship smartphone, the Mi 11 Ultra (5G), for the local market with a Rs 69,999 price tag.
Neobank Fi partnership with Federal Bank to open instant savings account
RBI article for monitoring movement of funds between banks and ARCs
Punjab and Haryana, farmers, for the first time, have started receiving minimum support price (MSP) payment directly in their bank accounts under the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme (DBT).
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has capped the tenure of bank MD and CEOs with immediate effect.
Uttar Pradesh-based Shivalik Small Finance Bank has commenced operations as a small finance bank with effect from April 26, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines for appointment ofStatutory Central Auditors (SCAs)/Statutory Auditors (SAs) in commercial banks, urban co-operative banks and non-banking finance companies from FY22 onwards, whereby they will have to appoint SCAs/SAs for a continuous period of three years.
In the midst of a dangerous second wave, a city-based social worker Atif Alam has opened a medical oxygen bank to lend oxygen cylinders to needy patients free of cost.
co, Coimbatore-based software as a service (SaaS) start-up, was named “Bootstrapped SaaS startup of the Year” by SaaSBoomi, at the inaugural edition of SaaSBoomi awards.
On April 24, 2021, China’s first Mars rover will be named Zhurong after a traditional fire god. The rover is aboard the Tianwen-1 probe that arrived in Mars orbit on February 24 and is due to land in May to look for evidence of life.
On April 25, 2021, Rafael Nadal defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7(6), 7-5. He collected a record-extending 12th Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell trophy.
On April 25, 2021, Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar Passed away.
On April 25, 2021, Former Sashastra Seema Bal chief Arun Chaudhary Passed away.
Renowned classical music singer Pandit Rajan Mishra passed away.
On April 26, 2021, Former managing director of Maruti Suzuki India, Jagdish Khattar, passed away.
Indian nuclear scientist Krishnamurti Santhanam Passed away.

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