National NEWS:
India’s 2nd Global Port in Sittwe, Myanmar:
- The Ministry of External Affairs has approved India Ports Global (IPGL) ‘s proposal to take over the entire operation of the Sittwe port, located on the Kaladan River in the Rakhine province of Myanmar. Thus, the Sittwe port of Myanmar became the second international port after the Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar of Iran to come under the control of India Ports Global Limited.
- However, unlike the Chabahar port, where India controls only two terminals, India has full control over the Sittwe Port.
- India Ports Global Limited is a subsidiary of Sagarmala Development Company Limited, which is under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Sittwe Port of Myanmar:
- Sittwe Port development in the Rakhine Province of Myanmar is part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project signed between India and Myanmar. The multimodal transit connectivity on the Kaladan River will connect the Sittwe port in Myanmar with the state of Mizoram in India. The port was built with a grant of $ 500 million from India to Myanmar.
- The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal formally inaugurated the project on 9 May 2023. He received the first Indian cargo ship, which sailed from the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata to the Sittwe Port.
Myanmar:
- Capital: Naypyidaw
- Currency: Myanmar Kyat
- Prime minister: Min Aung Hlaing
About ministery:
- Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is as the Minister of External Affairs of the Government of India
- He is from Gujurat constituency
India Aims for 100 GW Nuclear Power by 2047: Atomic Energy Commission Chairman:
- AK Mohanty, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, announces India’s ambition to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power production by 2047.
- This declaration was made during the launch of the report “Synchronizing energy transitions towards possible Net-Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All.”
- Estimates suggest India’s emissions to range between 0.56 billion and 1.0 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (btCO2) by 2070.
- The government anticipates financial funding requirements of approximately Rs 150-200 lakh crore (USD 40 to 50 billion per year) between 2020 and 2070 for energy transition initiatives.
TDB Collaborates with Remine India for Indigenous Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Plant:
- Technology Development Board partners with Remine India to establish a commercial plant for recycling lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and e-waste using indigenous technology.
- The project will be located in Sitarganj, Uttarakhand, with a total cost of Rs 15 crore and will be set up at Eldeco in SIIDCUL Industrial Area.
- Aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable practices, the plant will contribute to reducing e-waste and enhancing resource efficiency in India’s industrial landscape.
Uttarakhand state:
- Capital: Dehradun (Winter)
- Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami
- Governor: Gurmit Singh
International NEWS:
Zimbabwe Introduces Gold-Backed Currency ZiG:
- Zimbabwe launches its gold-backed currency, ZiG, for trading, replacing the depreciating Zimbabwe dollar.
- Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and national payment platform Zimswitch implement ZiG for trading and transactions.
- The new currency, backed by a basket of foreign exchange reserves and primarily gold, aims to stabilize the economy.
- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Mushayavanhu states initial reserves of $285 million will support the new currency.
About Zimbabwe:
- Capital: Harare
- President is Emmerson Mnangagwa,
Banking NEWS:
SIDBI Partners with Onionlife for Gig Worker Micro-loans:
- SIDBI collaborates with Bengaluru fintech startup Onionlife for a pilot project utilizing KarmaLife platform to provide micro-loans for gig workers.
- Aims to bolster financial inclusion within India’s gig economy, supporting freelancers and independent contractors.
- KarmaLife, powered by Onionlife, stands as India’s Largest Earned Wage Access Platform, facilitating convenient access to funds for gig workers.
SIDBI: Small Industries Development Bank of India
- SIDBI headquarters: Lucknow
- HEAD: Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann,
Appointment NEWS:
Wipro CEO Resigns; Srinivas Pallia Named Successor:
- Thierry Delaporte, CEO of Wipro, resigns effective 6th April 2024, set to depart the company by 31st May 2024.
- Srinivas Pallia appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director with immediate effect, following Delaporte’s resignation.
- Announcement made through company’s filing, marking a significant leadership transition in the tech giant.
Peter Pellegrini Wins Slovakia’s Presidential Election:
- Peter Pellegrini, nationalist-left candidate and ally of Prime Minister Robert Fico, secures victory over liberal, pro-western opposition candidate Ivan Korčok in Slovakia’s presidential election.
- Pellegrini clinches 53.85% of the vote in the runoff election, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining Slovakia’s stance for peace over war
About Slovakia:
- Capital: Bratislava
- Prime minister: Robert Fico
Award NEWS:
GAIL Wins 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Award for Barauni – Guwahati Pipeline:
- GAIL (India) Limited receives the prestigious 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Award in the ‘Achievement Award for Best Construction Projects’ category for its successful implementation of the Barauni – Guwahati Natural Gas Pipeline project.
- The project, part of the Jagdishpur – Haldia & Bokaro – Dhamra Pipeline, connects North-East India to the National Gas Grid, a significant milestone.
- The 718 km pipeline facilitates the delivery of natural gas to the North-East region through Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL), benefiting prominent customers including IOCL refineries and City Gas Distribution areas across Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
GAIL: Gas Authority of India Limited
- Founded: 1984
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Formerly: Gas Authority of India Limited (1984–2002)
- Chairman & MD: Sandeep Kumar Gupta;
Sports NEWS:
Olympic Champion Valerie Adams Named Ambassador for TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2024:
- Iconic shot putter and two-time Olympic medalist, Valerie Adams, has been named the International Event Ambassador for the 16th edition of the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru, to be held on April 28, 2024.
- The 39-year-old from New Zealand is arguably the most successful female shot putter of all time. Across her five Olympic appearances, she has won two gold medals (in 2008 and 2012), a silver (in 2016), and a bronze medal (in 2020)
Books and Author NEWS:
Sam Pitroda Launches New Book ‘The Idea of Democracy:
- Renowned author Sam Pitroda debuts ‘The Idea of Democracy,’ delving into the state and challenges of democracy, particularly in nations like India and the United States.
- Book launch attended by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal and other distinguished figures from the literary realm, highlighting its significance and resonance within intellectual circles.