1. 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.
2. Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal passed away
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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
3. Mahavir Singh Phogat appointed as President of MMA-1 Federation
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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
4. Pakistani-Canadian journalist Tarek Fatah passed away
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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.
5. Rajesh Kumar Singh takes charge as DPIIT secretary
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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.
6. 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.
7. Tata Electronics appoints Randhir Thakur as CEO and MD
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Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd (TEPL) on 18 April appointed Dr Randhir Thakur as CEO and Managing Director to strengthen its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
An Overview of the News
Dr. Thakur is a veteran in the manufacturing sector with significant contributions in the development of advanced semiconductor technologies.
He has expertise in ecosystem leadership, process technology tools, driving mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, product development, while working closely with ecosystem partners and customers.
Prior to joining TEPL, Dr. Thakur was associated with global electronic chip and circuit manufacturing giant Intel, serving as President of Intel Foundry Services.
TEPL's primary manufacturing facility is located in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, India.
List of new appointments in India in April 2023 -
Vishal Kavati- Chief Technology Officer, National Payments Corporation of India
Anshuman Singhania - President of the Automotive Tire Manufacturers Association
Sanjay Agarwal - MD/CEO of AU Small Finance Bank
Aparesh Kumar Singh - Chief Justice of Tripura High Court
Amit Kshatriya -Head of NASA's 'Moon to Mars Program'
Rajeev K Mishra - Chairman and Managing Director of PTC India
Niraj Nigam- Executive Director of RBI
Sudha Shiv Kumar -President of FICCI Women's Organization (FLO)
Kenichi Umeda- MD, Suzuki Motorcycle India
Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo - takes charge as the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)
Subrahmanyam - Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force of the UK
Aleksandar Ceferin - President of UEFA
Kalikesh Singh - President of NRAI (National Rifle Association of India)
8. Star Sports signed Rishabh Pant as its 'Believe Ambassador'
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On 21 April, The Walt Disney Company owned Star Sports signed Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant as its latest 'Believe Ambassador'.
An Overview of the News
The company has cricketers including Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer as 'Believe Ambassadors'.
Star Sports had only two ambassadors in 2017 and Virat Kohli is also a part of this association.
The 'Believe Ambassadors' represent different parts of the country as well as different IPL teams.
Star Sports will work closely with cricketers to develop new campaigns and properties to increase the popularity of the sport and drive fandom, especially among the youth.
Viacom18-owned a JioCinemhas signed men's cricket India captain Rohit Sharma as its brand ambassador.
Rishabh Pant - Brand Ambassador of JSW Steel, Himalaya Drug Company, Uttarakhand
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar - Brand Ambassador of BMW in India
Virat Kohli - Brand Ambassador of Audi in India
9. Air Marshal Sandeep Singh appointed Military Advisor to National Security Council
Tags: Defence Person in news
Former Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep Singh (Retd) has been appointed as the new Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). He will assume charge on April 24.
An overview of the news
He will replace General Anil Chauhan, who was appointed Chief of Defense Staff in October last year.
Sandeep Singh retired as the Vice Chief of the Air Force on January 31, 2023, after a military career of four decades.
Sandeep Singh, an alumnus of the National Defense Academy, who was appointed as the new military advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat, was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in December 1983 as a fighter pilot.
He has flown a number of aircraft, and has close to 4,900 hours of operational and test flying experience on Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, MiG-21, AN-32, Avro, Jaguar and Mirage 2000.
He also played a key role in the induction, production and arming of the Su-30 MKI aircraft in India.
In recognition of his services of an exceptionally high order, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2013 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.
10. Arun Sinha appointed as new chairman of NTRO
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Arun Sinha was appointed as the new chairman of the National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) by the Government of India.
An Overview of the News
Arun Sinha, a 1984 batch IPS officer of Kerala cadre, was the acting chairman of NTRO before becoming the chairman.
NTRO is a technical intelligence agency based in India.
It works under the National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister's Office and was established in 2004.
The agency follows the same "norms of conduct" as other intelligence agencies in India such as the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing.
As a technical intelligence agency, NTRO specialises in the interception and analysis of electronic communications.
The agency also conducts research and development of technology to support its intelligence gathering activities.
About National Technical Research Organization (NTRO)
Formed - 2004
Headquarters - New Delhi, India
Motto - Aano Bhadra Kritvo Yantu Vishwatah (Meaning - May good thoughts come to me from all four directions)
Responsible Minister - Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
Agency Executive - Anil Dhasmana
Parent Agency - Cabinet Secretariat
