Today’s Current Affairs
20th 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 20th 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 20th April 2023 covering the following news headlines: National Quantum Mission, Animal Birth Control Rules, Thawe Festival, Fengyun-3 satellite, Taifa-1, Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar.
National News
1. India Approves National Quantum Mission
The Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission, aimed at propelling India into a leading position in the quantum technology sector and promoting economic growth through its development. The mission seeks to expedite progress in the field and cement India’s position as a major player in the industry. The mission aims to make India a leading nation in the quantum technology sector and promote economic growth.
2. Central Government notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023
The Central government has recently issued the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, which are designed to comply with the guidelines set by the Supreme Court in a writ petition involving the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and the People for Elimination of Stray Troubles. The Supreme Court had issued several orders emphasizing that the relocation of dogs was not permissible.
States News
3. Thawe Festival organised in Bihar
The Department of Tourism and the Department of Art and Culture jointly organized the Thawe Festival on April 15th and 16th in Gopalganj, Bihar. The festival aimed to promote tourism in Gopalganj and attract visitors to the Thawe Durga Temple. The 11th Annual Thawe Festival was recently held in Gopalganj, Bihar. The festival’s objective is to promote tourism in the region and encourage visitors to explore the Thawe Durga Temple.
Bankings News
4. City Union Bank launches India’s 1st Voice Biometric Authentication Banking App
City Union Bank Limited (CUB) has introduced a new feature that allows customers to use voice biometric authentication when logging into the bank’s mobile banking app, aimed at improving security. The bank plans to extend this feature to net banking users as well, and the development process is currently underway. The voice biometric login option will join other existing authentication methods such as User ID/PIN, face ID, and fingerprint authentication, giving customers multiple choices. CUB has stated that customers can select the authentication method that best suits their needs and preferences.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- City Union Bank Limited Headquarters: Kumbakonam;
- City Union Bank Limited CEO: Dr. N. Kamakodi (1 May 2011–);
- City Union Bank Limited Founded: 1904.
Science and Technology News
5. China launched Fengyun-3 satellite
China has achieved a significant milestone on April 16, 2023, by successfully launching the Fengyun-3 meteorological satellite. The satellite was launched using the Chang Zheng-4B carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome, located in Gansu Province. The Fengyun-3 satellite has been primarily designed to monitor and provide crucial information on severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall that can result in natural calamities like landslides and floods. This successful mission marked the 471st launch for the Chang Zheng rocket family, cementing their reputation as one of the most reliable and consistent rocket families globally.
6. ISRO to launch Singapore’s TeLEOS-2 satellite on April 22
ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, is gearing up for its upcoming commercial mission, which is set to launch a Singaporean Earth Observation satellite called TeLEOS-2. The launch is scheduled for April 22 and will take place on board ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), marking the 55th mission for the rocket. ISRO has scheduled the launch of the TeLEOS-2 satellite on April 22, to take place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch, known as the C-55 mission, is planned for 2:19 PM on Saturday.
7. Kenya Launched Its First Operational Earth Observation Satellite “Taifa-1”
Kenya’s first operational Earth observation satellite, “Taifa-1,” was successfully launched into space on April 15th, 2023, using a rocket from Elon Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX. The launch took place from Vandenberg Base in California. The rocket also carried 50 payloads from different countries, including Turkey, under SpaceX’s rideshare program. The Taifa-1 satellite was designed and developed by SayariLabs and EnduroSat over two years at a cost of 50 million Kenyan shillings ($372,000).
8. Apple’s First Store In India Opens In Mumbai
Apple opened its first official store in Mumbai, India. Located at the Jio World Drive mall in the Bandra Kurla Complex area, the store is the first of the two outlets Apple to open in India. Apple CEO Tim Cook threw open the gates to the 28,000 sq ft store. An Apple store is aimed at providing a top-notch experience to customers by functioning as a one-stop destination for product sales, services and accessories. These stores are also architectural marvels, adding to an unrivalled customer experience. The opening of Apple’s two retail stores in India has generated much public excitement, especially among users of the tech giant’s products. People have travelled from as far as Gujarat and Rajasthan to attend the grand opening of the store. 2023 marks 25 years of Apple presence in India.
Sports News
9. FIFA: Argentina to replace Indonesia as under-20 World Cup host
FIFA has selected Argentina to host the under-20 soccer World Cup after revoking the hosting rights from Indonesia. This decision was made after Indonesia’s football association cancelled the draw scheduled to take place in Bali due to the governor’s refusal to host Israel’s team. The South American Football Confederation Congress received the official bid from the Argentine Football Association to host the under-20 soccer World Cup from May 20 to June 11. The tournament’s official draw will take place in Zurich. Argentina, which has won a record six titles, last hosted the under-20 World Cup in 2001. Additionally, it is in the running to jointly host the 2030 World Cup finals alongside Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay.
10. Gary Ballance Retires from All Forms of Cricket
Gary Ballance, a left-handed batsman, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He initially made his debut for Zimbabwe and played for them under a two-year contract. He later went on to play for England and appeared in 23 Test matches. Additionally, he played one Test, one T20I, and five ODIs for Zimbabwe, during which he scored five Test hundreds, including a score of 137 against the West Indies. However, his career took a downturn after 2017, and he was also accused of using racist language against his teammate Azeem Rafiq, which was deemed as ‘institutional racism’ in the Yorkshire County. In an attempt to revive his career, Ballance moved to Zimbabwe.
11. Odisha’s Bhubaneswar to host 2023 Intercontinental Cup in June
Four-team Intercontinental Football Cup will be held in Bhubaneswar from June 9 to 18. This will be the third edition of the tournament with the previous two being held in Mumbai (2018) and Ahmedabad (2019). Host India will be joined by Lebanon, Mongolia and Vanuatu in the tournament. The Indian men’s national team had previously never played against Mongolia and Vanuatu. Against Lebanon, the hosts hold a record of playing six matches.
12. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches SATHI Portal & Mobile App
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, has unveiled a new online platform and mobile application called SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication, and Holistic Inventory) to address the issues of seed production, quality identification, and certification. The platform has been developed under the Uttam Beej – Samriddh Kisan scheme.
Ranks and Reports News
13. Chennai ranks among top 5 in digital payment transactions in 2022: Report
According to a report by payment services firm Worldline India, Chennai has become one of the leading cities for digital payment transactions in 2022 in the country. As per the report, the capital city has made 14.3 million transactions with a total value of USD 35.5 billion. The report by payment services firm Worldline India also stated that Bengaluru has emerged as the top city for digital payment transactions in 2022, with 29 million transactions worth USD 65 billion.
14. MGNREGA: Rajasthan tops in persondays generation for 4th year
For the fourth year in a row, Rajasthan topped the country in terms of persondays generation under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. In 2022-23, Rajasthan generated 35.61 crore persondays at a total cost of Rs 10,175 crore under the scheme. Rajasthan is followed by Tamil Nadu (33.45 crore), (31.18 crore), Andhra Pradesh (23.96 crore) and (23.69 crore) in terms of persondays generation, according to MGNREGA MIS report.
Awards News
15. Asha Bhosle to receive Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar
Asha Bhosle, the renowned singer, will be honored with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award, which was established by the Mangeshkar family and trust in memory of Lata Mangeshkar. The award ceremony will take place on April 24, which is the anniversary of their father’s death. Asha Bhosle, who is Lata Mangeshkar’s younger sister, will be the recipient of the award. The Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar is an annual award given to someone who has made a significant contribution to the nation, its people, and society. The award was first presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Important Days
16. Chinese Language Day 2023 observed on 20th April
The United Nations celebrates Language Days to promote cultural diversity and encourage the use of all six official languages within the organization. The Chinese Language Day is celebrated on the 6th of 24 solar terms called Guyu, which usually falls around April 20th in the Gregorian calendar. This day is dedicated to honoring Cangjie, the inventor of Chinese characters, and his legend of creating the characters amidst cries from deities and ghosts and rain of millet. This year’s Chinese Language Day will focus on the theme of “Chinese Wisdom for a Green World” in order to highlight Chinese solutions and wisdom for promoting green and sustainable development.