Daily Current Affairs May 25 2023 | Latest News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

Aditya Birla Capital Launches ‘Udyog Plus’ For Indian MSMEs

• Aditya Birla Capital through its lending arm, Aditya Birla Finance has started Udyog Plus, an one-stop business platform designed for Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) customers.
• Udyog Plus”, is a dedicated offering for small businesses, under which it will be providing finance and an array of other services to MSMEs.
• This new Business to Business (B2B) digital platform offers solutions for MSMEs, including financing, protection, investments, advisory and value-added services for managing and growing their businesses.
• The platform is an open marketplace that can be accessed through the financing section of the Aditya Birla Capital website by both existing as well as new customers of Aditya Birla Finance.
• Under the initiative, the company will be giving unsecured loans of up to Rs 10 lakh using digital technology for quicker turnarounds.
• CEO of Aditya Birla Capital : Vishakha Mulye
• MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Finance : Rakesh Singh

IRDAI proposes to tighten norms for media campaigns by insurers

• The Regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) proposed to tighten norms for insurance advertisements by assigning higher responsibility on senior management of insurers in designing and approving media campaigns for product promotion.
• In this context, the IRDAI has proposed an amendment in the 2021 regulations on insurance advertisements and disclosure.

Key Highlights :

• Under the proposed amendment, each insurer will be required to constitute an advertisement committee comprising at least three members mandatorily from marketing, actuarial and compliance functions of the insurer.

Objective of the amendment :

• To assign higher responsibility on the senior management while designing and approving the advertisements for the consumption of the customers.
• Product management committee and advertisement committee shall be accountable and fully responsible for releasing the approved advertisements.
• The draft also asks insurers to set up proper robust systems to upload advertisements on their website within three days of release.
• The procedure for accepting the advertisements is currently based on the approved ‘File and Use’ applications and compliance to IRDAI advertisement regulations and circulars.

About IRDAI :

• Established : 1999
• Headquarters : Hyderabad, Telangana
• Chairperson : Debasish Panda
• The IRDAI is a statutory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Government of India (GoI) and is tasked with regulating and licensing the insurance and reinsurance industries in India.

Gift City ponders trade in Indian shares via depository receipts

• The International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA), the regulatory body overseeing GIFT City’s international financial services centre, is considering permitting unsponsored depositary receipts (UDRs) for Indian shares.

Key Highlights :

• This move would offer investors the opportunity to invest in Indian stocks and avail of tax benefits.
• By introducing Indian UDRs, the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gift City aims to boost liquidity, attracting foreign funds seeking offshore alternatives to the Mumbai stock markets
• Currently, Gift City offers derivatives, debt products, and UDRs of foreign companies such as Apple and Google.
• Depository receipts allow investors exposure to equities of foreign companies, with custodian banks facilitating the transactions by purchasing shares and issuing receipts.
• In the past, Indian companies such as Infosys, Wipro and HDFC Bank sold American Depository Receipts (ADRs), which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
• Currently, investors through IFSC, Gift City, can avail of a number of tax benefits, including exemption from securities transaction tax and stamp duty.
• Foreign funds can also avail of lower tax rates on capital gains at Gift City.

About IFSCA :

• Founded : April 27, 2020
• Headquarters : GIFT City, Gujarat
• Chairman : Injeti Srinivas (1st Chairman Of IFSCA)
• IFSCA is the regulatory body for the Indian special economic zones such as the GIFT International Financial Services Centre for International Financial Services and commodity markets under the ownership of the Government of India (GoI).

IRDAI forms task force to facilitate ease of doing KYC using Aadhaar

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted a task force to facilitate ease of doing Know Your Customer (KYC) by insurers using Aadhaar, the 12-digit individual identification number.
• Among other things, the task force will suggest measures to allow agents and other intermediaries to facilitate both eKYC and physical KYC to onboard new clients.
• Presently, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) framework allows insurance companies to identify the customer by using his/her Aadhaar with consent management.
• In the absence of Unique Customer Identification in the insurance sector, insurance companies are facing various issues while providing the services and claims apart from ease of onboarding the customers, circumventing possible frauds etc.
• The insurance regulator has constituted a 12-member task force headed by IRDAI Chairperson Debashish Panda.
• The panel has been asked to suggest measures to ease the onboarding of customers using Aadhaar, and steps for fraud management at underwriting and claims stages.
• It has also suggested measures for improving the traceability of customers/beneficiaries to reduce unclaimed amounts of policyholders.
• The 12-point terms of reference also seek panel’s suggestion on linking of ABHA ID (Ayushman Bharat), and facilitating insurers to access annuity life certificates (jeevan pramaan).
• IRDAI has made KYC norms mandatory for the purchase of all new insurance policies, irrespective of their premiums, starting January 1, 2023.
• This rule will apply to all types of insurance – life, general and health insurance.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Ministry of Civil Aviation organizes Curtain Raiser event for Wings India 2024

• Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are organizing the upcoming edition of ‘Wings India 2024’.
• Asia’s largest commercial, general, and business aviation event to be held in January 2024 at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, India.

About FICCI

• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) was established in 1927 as a non-government, not-for-profit organization.
• It is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India.

About AAI:

• The Airports Authority of India, or AAI, is a Statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
• Airport Authority of India (AAI) was constituted by an Act of Parliament and came into being on 1st April 1995 by merging the erstwhile National Airports Authority and the International Airports Authority of India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1 April 1995
• Chairman: Sanjeev Kumar

Livestock and fishing sector see highest decadal GVO growth

• A recent report by the Ministry of Statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) reiterates the growing importance of the livestock and fishing sector in India’s agriculture mix.
• Livestock, fishing and aquaculture saw the highest increase in gross value of output (GVO) between 2011-12 to 2020-21.
• Livestock and fishing sector is dominated by private players and has little or no government intervention.
• Share of GVA of agriculture and allied activities (FY2021): it was 20.3 percent, and it was the highest in a decade in the country’s total GVA.
• It can be because of Covid when other sectors fared poorly.
• The share of the crop sector dropped from 62.4 per cent to 54.9 per cent in the total GVO between 2011-12 to 2020-21.
• Within the crop sector, fruits and vegetables account for the highest share of GVO, followed by cereals.
• Among the fruits, output was the highest for mangoes, followed by bananas.
• Among the vegetables, potato and tomato together saw the highest production, accounting for about 14 per cent of the group.
• West Bengal reported the highest output in fruits and vegetables in all these years (2011-12 to 2020-21).
• The GVO of cereals, at 3.36 trillion, was the highest among all crop groups in 2011-12.
• Uttar Pradesh (UP) recorded the highest output of cereals in all the years (2011-12 to 2020-21).

Ministry of Education and World Bank organise a one of its kind workshop on School-to-Work Transition

• Ministry of Education and World Bank organised a one of its kind workshop on School-to-Work Transition under the STARS Program in Mumbai.
• School-to-Work Transition workshop under the STARS Program was co-chaired by Secretaries of School Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) Project was approved by the Cabinet in October 2020 and to be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme.
• It became effective in 2021 for a period of five years i.e. up to FY: 2024-25.
• STARS project would be implemented under the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education with the financial support of the World Bank.
• It is being implemented in six identified states Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.
• These states will be supported for various interventions to improve education quality.
• It is carved out of Samagra Shiksha, with a focus on those elements of the scheme that will most directly support school education enhancement.
• The overall focus and components of the STARS project are aligned with the objectives of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 of Quality Based Learning Outcomes.
• The STARS project also aims to focus on initiatives of PM e-Vidya, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission and National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

India Achieves 47 % growth in Coal Production during last Nine Years

• India’s coal supply has reached 877.74 Million tonnes in the last nine years.
• It has recorded 45.37% growth in the last nine years.
• India’s coal production has achieved 47% growth in the last nine years.
• Overall coal production has increased up to 893.08 Million tonnes in Financial Year 2023.
• This is the highest in the history of the country.
• The Coal Ministry said that according to the Action Plan for 2023-24, the coal production target for the financial year 2023-24 is 1,012 Million tonnes.
• The coal Ministry has signed agreements for 23 coal mines having a cumulative peak-rated capacity of 33.224 MT per annum during the Financial Year 2022-23.
• The Ministry said it is expected that 25 coal mines will be allocated during Financial Year 2023-24 for commercial mining.
• The Ministry focuses on enhancing coking coal production from 52 Million tonnes (MT) in Financial Year 2022 to 140 MT in Financial Year 2030.
• The government launched Mission Coking Coal in August 2021.
• It was launched with a roadmap suggesting ways to augment the production and utilization of domestic coking coal in India by 2030.

Parshottam Rupala launches Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-V

• Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launched the Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-V at Karanja (Raigad Dist.).
• More than 6000 fishermen, fish farmers and other dignitaries participated in the program at Karanja (Raigad Dist.).
• The Sagar Parikrama fifth phase will be organized at Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg Districts in Maharashtra and Vasco, Mormugao, and Canacona in
• From a mere 7.5 lakh tons in 1950-51, India’s total fish production has reached a record 162.48 lakh tons per annum in 2021-22, with a 10.34% growth in fish production in 2021-22 in comparison to 2020-21.
• India is the 3rd largest fish producing country with about 8% share in global fish production.
• It stands 2nd in aquaculture production and one of the top cultured shrimps producing nation in the world,
• From mere 28.23 lakh tons per annum in 2000-01, the inland fish production stood at 121. 21 lakh tons per annum in 2021-22, a staggering 400 percent increase.

About “Sagar Parikrama”:

• “Sagar Parikrama” is an evolutionary journey envisaged in the sea across the coastal belt demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders as a spirit of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav aiming to resolve the issues of the fishers and other stakeholders and facilitate their economic upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs being implemented by the Government of India such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and KCC.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

2025 to be observed as ‘special tourism year’ in Nepal

• The 2080s of the Bikram Samvat will be marked as ‘ the Visit Nepal Decade‘ and the year 2025 as the special year for tourism.
• Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel announced this while presenting the policies and programs for the fiscal year 2080/81 at a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament.
• Previously, the government had announced to observe 2020 as a ‘visit Nepal year’ which was later cancelled in the wake of the COVID crisis.

Key Highlights :

• The tourism sector, which has seen huge losses from the COVID crisis, is slowly recovering.
• From the beginning of 2023, about one lakh tourists are visiting Nepal every month.
• In addition, the President announced that timely amendments would be made in tourism related laws.
• Tourist destinations will be popularised in the international community and necessary infrastructure will be created accordingly.
• In all the 7 provinces, new tourist destinations will be identified and each province will be a cultural village.
• New mountains will be opened to climb and security arrangements for climbers and tourists will be made more reliable.
• Also With the collaboration of private sectors, ‘Samarmatha Special Honour’ will be conferred on foreign nationals considering their role in the promotion of Nepal’s art, culture, language, and literature in the international arena.

About Nepal :

• President : Ram Chandra Poudel
• Prime Minister : Pushpa Kamal Dahal
• Capital : Kathmandu
• Currency : Nepalese rupee

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Vizag launches Andhra Pradesh’s health insurance scheme for Special Children – Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme

• In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Andhra Pradesh (AP), Visakhapatnam district launched the Niramaya Health Insurance scheme.

Objective :

• To provide affordable health insurance for children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, and others .
• District collector Dr A Mallikharjuna launched the free health insurance scheme.

Key Highlights :

• The beneficiaries can claim up to Rs 1 lakh per year towards medical reimbursement as a part of the scheme initiated by the Central government with the support of the National Trust under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The premium required for the health insurance to the tune of Rs 1.34 lakh in 4 different categories was supported through Sanjeevani Nidhi District Relief Fund
• The money for the scheme was arranged from Sanjivani Nidhi, funds for which were donated by government employees on New Year’s Day (January 01).
• Employees donated around 15 lakh to Sanjivani Nidhi.
• The fund would be utilised for the poor, under privileged and persons with special abilities.
• Also, a plan was being prepared for payment of premium for ‘Sukanya Samruddhi Yojana’ scheme for girls, who have lost their mother or father & provide wheelchairs, tricycles and other aids to physically challenged persons in the district with ₹60 lakh from the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), in the next couple of months.

About AP :

• Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
• Chief minister: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
• Capital: Amaravati
• National Park : Papikonda National Park, Rajiv Gandhi (Rameshwaram) National Park, Sri Venkateswara National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries : Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary

Madhya Pradesh becomes India’s first state to provide free air travel to pilgrims

• Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM) Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan flagged off a batch of 32 senior citizens comprising 24 men and 8 women on pilgrimage to Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Prayagraj from Bhopal, MP via flight under the scheme of ‘Mukhya Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana’
• MP has become the 1st state in India to organise government-funded air travel for pilgrimage purposes.
• So far, 7, 82,000 elderly people have undertaken pilgrimage in 782 special trains under the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria for Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojna:

• Applicant must be resident of Madhya Pradesh state
• Applicant should be completed 60 years of age
• Applicant should not be taxpayer
• Applicant should not have taken any benefit of Teerth- Darshan Scheme earlier
• Pilgrim should be physically and mentally fit for the journey

Key Highlights :

• He prepared an effective action plan for the month of May to July to make the benefits of Mukhya Mantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana by air easily available to the elders of the state, which will be launched on May 21, 2023 from Bhopal to Prayagraj.
• In the same sequence, on May 23, 2023 pilgrims of Agar-Malwa district, Uttar Pradesh (UP) will leave from Indore airport for Shirdi, Maharashtra.
• On May 25,2023 pilgrims of Betul district, MP will leave from Bhopal airport via Agra airport for Mathura-Vrindavan, UP.
• On May 26,2023 pilgrims of Dewas, MP will leave from Indore airport for Shirdi, Maharashtra and on June 3, 2023 pilgrims of Khandwa, MP from Indore airport via Kolkata, West Bengal (WB) for Gangasagar, WB.

About MP :

• Governor : Mangubhai C. Patel
• Chief Minister : Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Capital : Bhopal
• National Park : Satpura National Park, Kanha National Park,Bandhavgarh National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary

Andhra Pradesh CM inaugurates Machilipatnam port construction works for economic growth

• Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister (CM) Shri YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the Machilipatnam Port works, at Manginapudi in Krishna district, AP emphasising its potential for accelerated development and job creation.
• With an estimated cost of ₹5,156 crore, this project aims to transform Machilipatnam into a thriving port city, fostering economic growth and connectivity.

Key Highlights :

• It is one of the three non-major ports (Ramayapatnam in Nellore and Moolapeta in Srikakulam district are the other two), being developed by the AP Maritime Board (APMB) at an estimated cost of ₹11,465 crore (₹5,253 crore and ₹6,212 crore in the first and second phases respectively), on a total extent of 3,700 acres.
• The project is being implemented by Machilipatnam Port Development Corporation Limited, a special purpose vehicle floated by the State government.
• The Power Finance Corporation Limited sanctioned ₹3,940 crore as a loan for the construction of the greenfield port.
• The debt-equity ratio has been pegged at 75:25 (₹3,940 crore through debt and ₹1,314 crore as equity by the APMB and the Government of A.P.).

About Machilipatnam Port :

• Machilipatnam Port is a proposed deep sea port on the coast of Bay of Bengal.
• It is located at Machilipatnam, the District Headquarters of Krishna district in AP.
• The port has been developed by the state government under the landlord model at a cost of Rs 5,156 crore.
• The Machilipatnam port is targeted to be built in two phases with a total cargo handling capacity of approximately 116 Million Tons Per Annum (MTPA).
• It will have 4 berths in the first phase handling 35 MTPA and 12 additional berths handling 81 MTPA in the next phase.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Tata Consumer Products to delist GDRs from June 23

• Tata Consumer Products recently said that it will delist its global depository receipts (GDRs) from the London Stock Exchange and Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
• It is a foreign currency-denominated negotiable financial instrument issued by a depositary bank.
• GDRs are certificates issued by a depository bank, which purchases foreign company shares and deposits them in the account.
• GDRs are commonly used to raise capital from international investors through public stock offerings or private placement.
• Indian companies can only get their shares listed on foreign exchanges through Global Depository Receipts (GDR).
• GDRs help Indian companies get foreign funds and gain access to international capital.
• Only companies with a three-year sound financial record can get access to GDRs.
• Thus, Indian companies should get clearance from the Ministry of Finance and Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to obtain GDRs.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

Plastic pollution can be reduced by 80% by 2040:

• Global plastic pollution can reduce by 80 per cent by 2040 if countries and companies make deep policy and market shifts using existing technologies and shift to a circular economy, according to a new report launched by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• The report “Turning Off The Tap” was released ahead of the negotiations resuming in Paris seeking a global agreement to beat plastic pollution.
• The report highlights the magnitude and nature of changes required to end plastic pollution and to create a circular economy to replace the widespread use of single-use plastics and their inappropriate disposal.
• According to the report, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year.
• In total, half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes, the UNEP confirms.
• About 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated every year.
• Countries need to eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic use
• They need to make three market shifts — reuse, recycle, and reorient and diversify.
• It further adds that reuse systems provide the highest opportunity to reduce plastic pollution (a reduction of 30 per cent by 2040) by replacing some of the most problematic and unnecessary products.
• ‘Recycling’ can help reduce plastic pollution by an additional 20 per cent, if only it becomes a more stable and profitable venture.

About UNEP

• The United Nations Environment Programme is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.
• Founded: 5 June 1972,
• HQ: Nairobi, Kenya
• Head: Inger Andersen

Born too soon: decade of action on preterm birth

• The report ‘Born too Soon: Decade of Action on Pre-term Birth” was recently released by World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund and Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH).
• As many as 152 million babies were born too soon in the world over the last decade.
• In the pandemic year of 2020, that number was 13.4 million.
• That year, India was among the top five countries where babies were born too soon, or preterm – babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy (as opposed to full-term pregnancy that runs to at least 39 weeks) – as per a United Nations-backed report published May 10.
• India was at the fourth position in terms of preterm birth rates in 2020.
• Almost half (45%) of all preterm babies in that year were born in just five countries: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China and Ethiopia.
• The birth rate of preterm babies in India is 13.
• Bangladesh, however, leads this list, with a birth rate of 16.2, followed by Malawi (14.5) and Pakistan (14.4).
• The “four Cs” are further adding to the issue of preterm births, the report noted. Conflict, climate change, COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis “heighten threats for the most vulnerable women and babies in all countries”.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

India’s Defence production crossed US$ 12 billion for the first time ever 

• India’s defence production rose more than 12% in FY 2022-2023 and crossed the 1 trillion rupee ($12 billion) threshold for the first time.

Objective :

• To promote domestic defence manufacturing and has set a target of achieving a turnover of USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing by 2024-25, including an export target of USD 5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore) worth of military hardware.
• The current value stands at Rs 1,06,800 crore and is expected to rise further as data is received from additional private defence industries.
• This marks a growth of over 12% compared to the previous year when the value of defence production was Rs 95,000 crore.

Key Highlights :

• The government has been working in close collaboration with defence industries and their associations to address challenges and promote defence production in India.
• Policy reforms, including the integration of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups into the supply chain, have been implemented to enhance the ease of doing business.
• Over the past 7 to 8 years, the number of defence licenses issued to industries has increased by almost 200%, demonstrating the growth of the sector.
• With an estimated expenditure of approximately USD 130 billion in capital procurement over the next 5 years, the Indian armed forces (IAF) are poised to significantly contribute to the growth of the domestic defence industry.
• India’s defence exports have risen too, jumping 24% to about 160 billion rupees last fiscal year.
• It exports Dornier-228 aircraft, artillery guns, Brahmos missiles made under a joint venture (JV) with Russia, radars, armoured vehicles, rockets and Launchers, ammunition and other equipment.

About Ministry of Defence : 

• Defence Minister :  Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State : Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary : Giridhar Aramane

Indian Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Force Collaborate for Maiden Afloat Training of Saudi Cadets                    

• In a major move aimed at enhancing cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Force, the Saudi Arabian Armed forces collaborated for the first ever Maiden Afloat Training of Saudi Cadets.
• 55 cadets from the King Fahd Naval Academy, Saudi Arabia arrived in Kochi,Kerala, the headquarters of India’s Southern Naval Command, as part of their first-ever training with the Indian Navy.
• Along with this 5 Directing Staff from King Fahd Naval Academy, Saudi Arabia arrived onboard First Training Squadron (1TS) ships, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tir and INS Sujata at Kochi as part of afloat training with the Indian Navy.
• The cadets would be undergoing 24 days of afloat training on various aspects of seamanship, navigation, fire fighting and emergency drills onboard.
• To provide first-hand experience of life onboard a sailing ship, the cadets would also be attached onboard Sail Training Ship, INS Sudarshini during this period.
• The maiden afloat training of cadets from the Royal Saudi Naval Force onboard the Indian Navy’s Training Squadron is a major stride towards mutual cooperation between the two Navies.

About Indian Navy :

• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral R Hari Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Gatka martial art included in 37th National Games

• Indian Olympic Association (IOA) approved the inclusion of Gatka in the 37th National Games-2023.
• The traditional game Gatka and Lagori have been included as demonstration sports.
• The 37th national game is scheduled to be held in Goa in October 2023.
• A total of 43 games will be organized at the national game in collaboration with the Government of Goa.
• For the first time, beach football, roll ball, golf, sepaktakraw, sqay martial arts, kalliyarapattu and pencak silat will be medal sports at the 37th National Games.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Renowned British novelist Martin Amis Passed away                                

• Renowned British novelist Martin Amis has passed away at the age of 73 in Lake Worth, Florida,United States of America (USA).

About Martin Amis :

• Amis was born on 25 August 1949 in Oxford, England, United Kingdom (UK).
• He was the son of the well-known novelist Kingsley Amis, who came to fame with his book Lucky Jim.
• He was an English novelist, essayist, memoirist, and screenwriter.
• He is best known for his novels Money (1984) and London Fields (1989).

Awards & Honors :

• He received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his memoir Experience and was twice listed for the Booker Prize (shortlisted in 1991 for Time’s Arrow and longlisted in 2003 for Yellow Dog).

Daily CA One- Liner: May 25

• Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are organizing the upcoming edition of ‘Wings India 2024’
• A recent report by the Ministry of Statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) reiterates the growing importance of the livestock and fishing sector in India’s agriculture mix
• Ministry of Education and World Bank organised a one of its kind workshop on School-to-Work Transition under the STARS Program in Mumbai
• India’s coal supply has reached 877.74 Million tonnes in the last nine years.
• Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launched the Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-V at Karanja
• Tata Consumer Products recently said that it will delist its global depository receipts (GDRs) from the London Stock Exchange and Luxembourg Stock Exchange
• The International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA), the regulatory body overseeing GIFT City’s international financial services centre, is considering permitting unsponsored depository receipts (UDRs) for Indian shares
• Global plastic pollution can reduce by 80 per cent by 2040 if countries and companies make deep policy and market shifts using existing technologies and shift to a circular economy, according to a new report launched by United Nations Environment Programme
• The report ‘Born too Soon: Decade of Action on Pre-term Birth” was recently released by World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund and Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
• Indian Olympic Association (IOA) approved the inclusion of Gatka in the 37th National Games-2023.
• Aditya Birla Capital through its lending arm, Aditya Birla Finance has started Udyog Plus, an one-stop business platform designed for Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) customers.
• The Regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) proposed to tighten norms for insurance advertisements by assigning higher responsibility on senior management of insurers in designing and approving media campaigns for product promotion.
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted a task force to facilitate ease of doing Know Your Customer (KYC) by insurers using Aadhaar, the 12-digit individual identification number.
• The 2080s of the Bikram Samvat will be marked as ‘ the Visit Nepal Decade‘ and the year 2025 as the special year for tourism.
• In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Andhra Pradesh (AP), Visakhapatnam district launched the Niramaya Health Insurance scheme, to provide affordable health insurance for children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, and others .
• Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM) Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan flagged off a batch of 32 senior citizens comprising 24 men and 8 women on pilgrimage to Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Prayagraj from Bhopal, MP via flight under the scheme of ‘Mukhya Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana’
• Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister (CM) Shri YS Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the Machilipatnam Port works, at Manginapudi in Krishna district, AP emphasising its potential for accelerated development and job creation.
• India’s defence production rose more than 12% in FY 2022-2023 and crossed the 1 trillion rupee ($12 billion) threshold for the first time.
• In a major move aimed at enhancing cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Force, the Saudi Arabian Armed forces collaborated for the first ever Maiden Afloat Training of Saudi Cadets.
• Renowned British novelist Martin Amis has passed away at the age of 73 in Lake Worth, Florida,United States of America (USA).