1. TAL Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Breast Surgeon Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti
Tags: Awards Person in news
On 24 April, breast surgeon Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisettiwas presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Telugu Association of London.
An Overviews of the News
Dr. Raghu Ram is the founder and director of AKIMS-Ushalakshmi Center for Breast Disease, located in Hyderabad.
Dr. Raghu Ram is one of the few persons to have received this prestigious award. He is also the only Indian living outside the UK to have been given this honour.
The Telugu Association of London (TAL) recognized the extraordinary achievements of Dr. Raghu Ram by presenting him with the award during the Ugadi 2023 celebrations.
TAL is the largest Telugu charity organisation in the UK and represents a Telugu speaking community of around 10,000 people in and around London.
Founder President of TAL - Dr. Ramulu Dasoju
Current President of TAL - Bharati Kandukuri
Councillor, Mayor of the London Borough of Hounslow - Raghvinder Sidhu
About United Kingdom
It is a sovereign state located in northwestern Europe and consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Capital - London
Additional Information
On 26 April, Infosys co-founder and chairman Nandan Nilekani was honoured with the 'Lifetime Achievement' award in the Business Today-PwC India Best CEO rankings.
2. Pankaj Singh elected president of Indian Cycling Federation
Tags: Sports Person in news Sports News
BJP MLA from Noidaand son of Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Pankaj Singh was elected as the President of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI).
An Overview of the News
The election was held during the Annual General Body meeting in Nainital, and Pankaj Singh was elected unopposed.
Maninder Pal Singh was elected general secretary for the second time in a row.
Sudesh Kumar from Kerala was elected as the treasurer.
Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Kerala and Telangana elected two members each to the Executive Council.
Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar elected one member each to the Executive Council.
About Cycling Federation of India (CFI)
It is the national governing body for cycling in India and was established in 1946.
It is recognized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for the sport of cycling.
The main responsibilities of the CFI include promoting, developing and regulating cycling activities in India.
The CFI organises various national and international cycling events including road races, track cycling, mountain biking and BMX events.
It also oversees the selection and training of Indian cyclists for major international competitions such as the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.
3. 1st woman Rafale pilot in IAF team for multi-nation drill being held in France
Tags: Defence Person in news
Shivangi Singh, the first woman pilot of the Indian Air Force to fly the Rafale fighter jet, is part of the Indian Air Force (IAF) team that will take part in the multinational exercise 'Orion' in France.
An overview of the news
She is the first woman fighter pilot of the Rafale squadron, and is all set to create history by flying the multi-role air dominance aircraft.
Shivangi Singh joined the Indian Air Force in 2017 and was inducted into the second batch of IAF's women fighter pilots.
Prior to flying Rafale, Shivangi had also flown the MiG-21 Bison aircraft.
She hails from Varanasi and is currently undergoing conversion training and will soon be a part of the Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force based at Ambala, Haryana.
Shivangi Singh became the first woman fighter pilot to fly Rafale after being selected as a Rafale pilot in 2020 after a rigorous selection process.
4. Shreekant M Bhandiwad appointed as the new Chairman of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank
Tags: Person in news
Shrikant M Bhandiwad has taken charge as the new chairman of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB).
An overview of the news
Prior to joining KVGB as Chairman, Bhandiwad was heading the Patna circle of Canara Bank.
A Post Graduate in Agriculture, he has worked as Agricultural Extension Officer in Rural Branches of Canara Bank and also as Consultant in Agricultural Consultancy Services of Canara Bank at Head Office.
He has worked in various positions like branch in-charge, regional head and circle head in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar and Karnataka.
In addition, he was the Deputy Managing Director of Canfin Homes Limited for a period of three years.
5. Microsoft India president Anant Maheshwari appointed Nasscom chairperson
Tags: Person in news
IT Industry body NASSCOM has appointed Anant Maheshwari, president of Microsoft India, as its chairperson for 2023-24 on 25th April.
An overview of the news
Maheshwari, who was NASSCOM's vice-chairperson, succeeds Krishnan Ramanujam, the president of business and technology services at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
Nasscom also announced the appointment of Rajesh Nambiar, chairman and managing director of Cognizant India as its vice-chairperson for 2023-24.
In addition, NASSCOM also announced its Executive Council for 2023-2025.
The council will aim to play a key role in driving India's tech sector at a time when macroeconomic challenges have significantly dampened growth prospects for the current financial year.
The newly appointed leadership will lead the industry to meet its broad objectives of achieving the vision of becoming a $500 billion industry by 2030. Currently, the size of the industry is $245 billion.
National Association of Software and Services Companies- NASSCOM
It is a non-profit industry association which is the apex body for the IT industry in India.
It wasestablished in 1988.
Its significant efforts are providing great support to India's IT (Information Technology) and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry.
NASSCOM has made phenomenal contribution to India's GDP, exports, employment, infrastructure and global visibility.
6. Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal passed away
Tags: Person in news
Former Chief Minister of Punjab and senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Parkash Singh Badal passed away at the age of 95 on 25 April 2023.
An Overview of the News
Parkash Singh Badal was born on 8 December 1927 at Abul Khurana near Malot.
He entered the state assembly from Malout in 1957 as a Congress candidate.
In 1969, entered the Vidhansabha from Gidderbaha seat on SAD ticket and was elected MLA 11 times, lost only twice.
He became the Chief Minister of Punjab in 1970, leading a coalition government for the first time. However, the government did not complete its term.
Badal was the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1977 to 1980, 1997 to 2002, 2007 to 2012 and 2012 to 2017.
He was known for his role in the Punjab insurgency and peace talks with militants in the 1990s.
He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, in 2015.
About Punjab
It is a state located in northern India, which shares its border with Pakistan. It is known for its rich cultural heritage.
The city of Amritsar is located in Punjab and was founded by the Sikh Guru Ram Das in the 1570s. It is a major religious and cultural centre for the Sikh community.
The Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, is located in Amritsar and is the holiest Gurdwara for the Sikh community.
Capital - Chandigarh
Governor - Banwarilal Purohit
Chief Minister - Bhagwant Mann (AAP)
Assembly - Punjab Legislative Assembly (117 seats)
Rajya Sabha - 7 seats
Lok Sabha -13 seats
Districts -23
Official animal -Blackbuck
Official bird -Northern goshawk
Official river -Indus River
7. Mahavir Singh Phogat appointed as President of MMA-1 Federation
Tags: Person in news Sports News
Renowned wrestler and coach Mahavir Singh Phogat was appointed as the President of MMA-1 Federation.
An Overview of the News
Phogat's appointment as the President of the MMA-1 Federation is aimed at developing and promoting MMA in India.
Phogat's role as president will primarily involve identifying and nurturing young talent in the sport of MMA in India.
About Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
It is a full-contact combat sport involving striking, grappling and ground fighting.
It incorporates techniques from various combat sports around the world.
The term "mixed martial arts" was first used in1993 by a television critic reviewing UFC 1.
Valle Tudo in Brazil and interstylistic competition in Asia were precursors to modern MMA.
The Gracie family brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to America in the 1990s, which led to the founding of the UFC in 1993.
About Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
UFC is a major American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company and is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings.
As of 2022, the UFC is the world's largest MMA promotion by events held globally.
The company follows the unified rules of mixed martial arts and has 12 weight classes, including eight for men and four for women.
Dana White has been the president of the UFC since 2001 and has been instrumental in its success.
Established -1993
Founders - Art Dewey, Bob Meyerowitz, Ryan Troutsdale, Campbell McLaren, David Isaacs, John Milius, and Rorian Gracie
Headquarters - Las Vegas, Nevada, US
MMA-1 Federation President -Mohammed Ali Budhwani
8. Pakistani-Canadian journalist Tarek Fatah passed away
Tags: Person in news
On 24 April, Pakistani-Canadian journalist Tarek Fatah died of cancer at the age of 73.
An Overview of the News
Fatah was born in 1949, shortly after Pakistan's independence, and described himself as "Midnight's Child".
He was known for his criticisms of Islamic extremism and the Pakistani establishment, and was also a supporter of gay rights.
About Tarek Fatah's Career:
Tarek Fatah began his career in journalism in Pakistan in 1970 as a reporter for the Karachi Sun. He later worked as an investigative reporter for Pakistan Television.
In 1977, Fatah was accused of treason by the Zia-ul-Haq government, which forced him to flee to Saudi Arabia. He later settled in Canada in 1987.
Fatah began his broadcasting career in Canada as a broadcaster for Toronto radio station CFRB Newstalk 1010. He then worked for several other media organisations across Canada.
Fatih has won several awards for his work, including the Donner Prize, the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Book Award.
Tarek Fatah wrote two books -
Which deals with issues related to Islam and its relationship with other religions.
The first book, "Chasing a Mirage", is critical of modern Islam and analyses the ways in which political and social factors have influenced its development.
The second book, "The Jew Is Not My Enemy," explores the history of relations between the Muslim and Jewish communities.
9. Rajesh Kumar Singh takes charge as DPIIT secretary
Tags: Person in news
Senior IAS officer Rajesh Kumar Singh on 25th April assumed the charge of secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
An overview of the news
Singh has replaced Anurag Jain, who was appointed secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Prior to this, Singh was the Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Singh is an Indian Administrative Service officer of 1989 Batch from Kerala cadre.
He has held many important positions in the Union Government as Commissioner - DDA, Joint Secretary - Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Joint Secretary - Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare and Chief Vigilance Officer – Food Corporation of India.
About Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
In the year 2019, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) was renamed as Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
It is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
It is a nodal government agency to formulate and implement development strategies for the industrial sector, along with other socio-economic objectives and national priorities.
10. Kiptom wins London Marathon in 2nd fastest time
Tags: Sports Person in news Sports News
Kelvin Kiptum, a 23-year-old Kenyan athlete, won the London Marathon and set the second fastest time in history for the distance.
An Overview of the News
Kiptum finished the race with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds, breaking the course record but only 16 seconds short of Eliud Kipchoge's world record.
Kiptum finished behind elite runners Amos Kipruto, Tamirat Tola and Mo Farah, who finished ninth at age 40 with a time of 2 hours 10 minutes and 28 seconds.
About the London Marathon
It is an annual long distance running competition that takes place in London, UK. It was first organised in 1981.
The event attracts elite athletes and amateur runners from around the world. Participants walk 26.2 miles (42.2 km) through the streets of London, passing famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge.
In addition to elite men's and women's races, there are also wheelchair races and mass participation events for amateur runners.
London:
It is the capital of England and the United Kingdom and is a city with a rich history that dates back to Roman times.
The iconic 'Big Ben' clock tower is home to Westminster Abbey in the centre of London as well as the site of the British Monarchy's coronation.
Across the River Thames from the centre of London is the London Eye observation wheel, which provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural precinct and the entire city.
