Today’s Current Affairs
04th April 2023 Current Affairs are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking, UPSC or other competitive exams. Daily Current Affairs is the complete bag of important news that is held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the Top News of the Day for 04th March 2023 to help you prepare the Latest Current Affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.
Here is the Current Affairs 04th April 2023 covering the following news headlines: Bastille Day parade, TiE Rajasthan, World Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Rajasthan Royals, Cope India, Artemis II Moon Mission.
National News
1. PNGRB amends regulation to allow unified tariff for natural gas pipelines
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has introduced amendments to the PNGRB (Determination of Natural Gas Pipeline Tariff) regulations to include regulations related to a unified tariff for natural gas pipelines, with a vision of “One Nation, One Grid and One Tariff.” As per the regulations, PNGRB has established a levelised unified tariff of Rs 73.93/MMBTU and created three tariff zones for the unified tariff. The first zone covers a distance up to 300 km from the gas source, the second zone is 300-1,200 km, and the third zone is beyond 1,200 km. These zonal unified tariffs will take effect from April 1, 2023.
International News
2. PM Modi invited to France for Bastille Day parade
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to France for the Bastille Day parade, which is scheduled for July 14th. The invitation was extended by French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed his desire to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries. The Bastille Day parade is a significant event in French history, commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14th, 1789, which was a turning point in the French Revolution. The parade is a celebration of the nation’s military and its achievements.
3. After ChatGPT, Italy plans to ban English language
In a startling move, the Italian government has announced that it plans to ban the English language and impose heavy fines on individuals and organizations that continue to use it. The announcement comes just weeks after the ban on ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. The decision has been met with widespread criticism and has raised questions about Italy’s commitment to international cooperation and its position in the global economy. According to the government’s statement, the ban on English language use will be enforced with fines of up to Rs 89.3 lakh. The decision is part of a broader effort to promote the Italian language and culture and to reduce the influence of foreign languages, particularly English, which is widely used in international business and diplomacy.
4. China announces ‘renaming’ of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh
China’s Civil Affairs Ministry published a list of standardized names for 11 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “Zangnan,” the southern region of Tibet, and using Chinese, Tibetan, and pinyin characters. This move is seen as an attempt by China to stake a claim on the Indian state, in line with their regulations on geographical names. China’s Civil Affairs Ministry has disclosed the precise coordinates and official names of 11 locations in Arunachal Pradesh. These places include two residential areas, two land areas, five mountain peaks, and two rivers. Additionally, the ministry has listed the categories of the places’ names and their subordinate administrative districts.
5. OPEC members announce cut in oil production exceeding one million barrels per day from next month
In a sudden announcement, OPEC members, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, and Algeria, have declared voluntary oil production cuts of more than one million barrels per day from May to December. They have stated that this is a preventive action to support the stability of the oil market. The group, which consists of 23 oil-producing countries, had reduced its collective output by two million barrels per day in the previous year and is expected to maintain the agreed-upon production levels at their upcoming virtual meeting.
Appointments News
6. Sheenu Jhawar becomes the first woman President of TiE Rajasthan
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Rajasthan has appointed Dr. Sheenu Jhawar as the new President for a term of two years, from 2023 to 2025. This marks a historic moment as Dr. Jhawar becomes the first woman to hold this position in the 21-year history of TiE Rajasthan. She takes over from Dr. Ravi Modani, who had been leading the chapter effectively since 2021.
7. RBI appoints Neeraj Nigam as executive director
On April 3, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that Neeraj Nigam has been appointed as the new executive director (ED). Nigam was previously the regional director of the Bhopal office of the bank, and will now assume his new role as ED. The RBI made this announcement through a press release. With over thirty years of experience, Neeraj Nigam has worked in various roles such as regulation and supervision, human resource management, premises, currency management, and bank accounts at both the central office and regional offices of the RBI. In his new role as executive director, he will be responsible for managing the departments of financial inclusion and development, consumer education and protection, and the legal and secretary units.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- RBI Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
8. India GDP growth likely to moderate to 6.3% in FY24: World Bank
According to a recent report by the World Bank, India’s GDP growth is predicted to slow down on April 1 to 6.3% from 6.6% in the fiscal year 2024. This decline is attributed to a reduction in consumption due to decreased income levels. However, experts believe that India’s high level of services exports, which reached a new peak in the last quarter of 2021, will help to protect the economy from external risks since the global economy is slowing down and is expected to have a negative impact on the country’s merchandise exports.
9. Bank of Maharashtra inaugurated its first dedicated Branch for Start-ups in Pune
State-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has opened its first dedicated branch for startups in Pune, Maharashtra. The dedicated branch will provide all kinds of support to a startup during its growth journey. Asheesh Pandey, Executive Director, Bank of Maharashtra, was present in the inaugural ceremony. Sadashiv Survase, Joint Director, Industries, Govt. of Maharashtra, Sajit Kumar, Senior VP SIDBI venture capital, General Managers of the bank, entrepreneurs from start-ups along with customers were present at the event. During the event Bank of Maharashtra signed an MoU with SIDBI venture capital for proactive financing of start-ups. Start-ups are an entrepreneur venture in early stage of business operation, which if properly nurtured becomes an integral pillar of economic growth, employment generation while satisfying evolving needs of its clients with innovation.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Bank of Maharashtra CEO: A. S. Rajeev (2 Dec 2018–)
- Bank of Maharashtra Headquarters: Pune
- Bank of Maharashtra Founders: D. K. Sathe, V. G. Kale
- Bank of Maharashtra Founded: 16 September 1935
10. UPI processes 8.7 bln transactions in March, highest ever since inception
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India’s flagship digital payment platform, set a new record at the end of the fiscal year 2022-23. In March 2023, the UPI processed a historic high of 8.7 billion transactions, worth Rs 14.05 trillion. This achievement marks yet another milestone for the UPI since its inception. As per the National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI) data, UPI transactions in March 2023 witnessed a 60% increase in volume and a 46% increase in value compared to the same period in the previous year. In March 2022, the UPI had processed 5.4 billion transactions worth Rs 9.6 trillion.
11. RBI releases data on India’s International Investment Position for the end of December 2022
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has shared details on India’s International Investment Position (IIP) at the end of December 2022. According to the data, non-residents’ net claims in India dropped by US$ 12.0 billion between October and December 2022, settling at US$ 374.5 billion by the end of December 2022. The increase in India’s foreign liabilities was mainly driven by trade credits and loans. Additionally, reserve assets made up 64.3% of India’s international financial assets as of December 2022.
12. Fino Payments Bank and Rajasthan Royals ties up for Digital Banking Partner
Fino Payments Bank has renewed its association with Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the season 16 of IPL. Fino Bank will be RR’s official Digital Banking Partner. The bank made its maiden foray with the mega sporting event last season by partnering with RR as the Digital Payments Partner. The newly launched FinoPay digital savings account is expected to get more traction through this engagement.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Fino Payments Bank Founded: 4 April 2017;
- Fino Payments Bank Headquarters: Juinagar, Navi Mumbai;
- Fino Payments Bank MD & CEO: Rishi Gupta.
13. US and Indian Air Force to engage in ‘Cope India’ fighter training exercise
Next week, India’s Sukhoi-30s, which are made in Russia, will participate in an exercise named ‘Cope India’ that involves dogfighting with American F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets. The exercise was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is taking place after a four-year gap. The upcoming Cope India series of wargames will feature India’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft engaging in dogfights with the US Air Force’s F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets. The exercise, which was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will take place after a gap of four years.
14. Closest Black Hole to Earth Discovered in Our Cosmic Backyard: A New Era Begins
Scientists have made a noteworthy discovery in astronomy by identifying the nearest black hole to our planet, which is located nearby in space. This remarkable discovery presents new prospects for studying these mysterious entities and comprehending their impact on the structure of the cosmos. Astronomers have utilized the Gaia satellite of the European Space Agency to detect a black hole called BH1. The black hole has been located within a distance of only 1,000 light-years from Earth, which is the closest proximity that any black hole has ever been found. The Gaia satellite has been created to accurately measure the movements and positions of stars present in the Milky Way galaxy.
15. NASA Selects First Woman and Black Man for Artemis II Moon Mission
After a 50-year break, NASA has announced the names of the four astronauts who will be taking humans back to the Artemis II Moon Mission. For the first time, a woman astronaut, Christina Koch, and a black astronaut, Victor Glover, will be part of a lunar mission. The team, along with Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen, will orbit the Moon in a capsule in late 2022 or early 2025. While they will not land on the Moon, their mission will prepare the way for a future crew to make a touchdown.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- NASA Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States;
- NASA Founded: 29 July 1958, United States;
- NASA Administrator: Bill Nelson.
16. Indian men, women bag 4th Asian Kho Kho titles
India emerged as the winners in both men’s and women’s categories at the 4th Asian Kho Kho Championships held in Tamulpur, located in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of north-central Assam’s Baksa district. In the finals, the Indian men’s team beat Nepal by a margin of 6 points and an inning, while the Indian women’s team outscored their Nepalese opponents by 33 points and an inning.
17. Madrid Spain Masters 2023: Check the complete list of winners
Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, an Indonesian badminton player, emerged victorious in the Women’s singles category at the Madrid Spain Masters 2023 finals. She defeated PV Sindhu from India, marking her first BWF World Tour title and her first win over PV Sindhu in eight matches. The tournament took place at Centro Deportivo Municipal Gallur in Madrid, Spain from March 28th to April 2nd, 2023, as part of the Spain Masters championship. The 2023 Spain Masters was the eighth event of the 2023 BWF World Tour.
18. International Day for Mine Awareness 2023 observed on 4th April
Every year on April 4, the world observes the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, with the aim of creating awareness about the dangers of explosive mines and generating support for efforts aimed at eliminating them. The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) leads the mine action community, which plays a crucial role in achieving the goals of mine action.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- United Nations Mine Action Service Headquarters: United Nations Headquarters; New York, USA;
- United Nations Mine Action Service Founded: October 1997;
- United Nations Mine Action Service Head: Ilene Cohn.
19. Anjali Sharma conquer Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari
Anjali Sharma has made her state and country proud by successfully scaling the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in South Africa while wearing a traditional Gaddi dress (Luanchadi). She is the first Indian woman to achieve this feat while wearing the Gaddi costume, and she aims to promote Gaddi culture on mountain peaks. Anjali had previously conquered a peak of 5289 meters at the age of 15 and also climbed Hanuman Tibba and Pahar Deo, both over 6001 meters in height. The Gaddi dress, or Luanchadi, is a traditional costume from the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
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