1. Govt launches 'Sangathan se Samriddhi' scheme to bring marginalised rural women into SHGs network
Tags: Government Schemes National News
Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh launched the 'Organization to Prosperity' campaign on 18 April.
An overview of the news
It will empower marginal rural households by bringing all eligible rural women into Self Help Groups (SHGs).
The government is targeting to bring the existing 9 crore to 10 crore women under the ambit of SHGs.
The number of members, which was only 2.35 crore in May 2014, has now crossed nine crore.
The government has set a target that every woman associated with self-help groups should be able to earn one lakh rupees annually.
What are SHGs?
Self-help groups (SHGs) are informal associations of people who choose to come together to find ways to improve their living conditions.
It can be defined as a self-governing, peer-controlled information group of people having a similar socio-economic background and desiring to collectively serve a common purpose.
SHGs rely on the concept of "self-help" to encourage self-employment and poverty alleviation.
Its objective is to build the functional capacity of the poor and the marginalized in the field of employment and income generating activities.
2. Narendra Modi to inaugurate first Global Buddhist Summit on 20th April
Tags: Summits National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi on 20th April.
An overview of the news
The two-day summit will be hosted by the Ministry of Culture in association with its grantee body International Buddhist Confederation.
Eminent scholars, Sangha leaders and Dharma practitioners from all over the world will attend the Conference.
The theme of the Global Buddhist Summit is ‘Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis’.
For the first time prominent Buddhist monks from different countries will come to India and participate in the summit.
There will be discussions on how to deal with contemporary challenges with the help of Buddhist philosophy and thought.
This global summit will mark the importance of India in Buddhism, as Buddhism originated in India.
This global summit will also be a medium to enhance cultural and diplomatic relations with other countries.
Delegates from around 30 countries will participate in the event and around 171 delegates from foreign countries and 150 delegates from Indian Buddhist organizations will participate.
The main approach of the summit is to reflect on the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, which have been continuously enriched by the practice of Buddhism over the centuries.
Four Themes of Discussions
Buddha Dhamma and Peace
Buddha Dhamma: Environmental Crisis, Health and Sustainability
Preservation of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition
Buddha Dhamma Pilgrimage, Living heritage and Buddha Relics: a resilient foundation to India’s centuries-old cultural links to countries in South, Southeast and East Asia.
Buddhism in India
It is one of the important religions of South and South-Eastern Asian countries.
Buddhism started in India about 2600 years ago.
Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini around 563 BC. He belonged to the Shakya dynasty.
Buddha is considered to be the eighth incarnation of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
The core teachings of Buddhism are contained in the Four Noble Truths and the core concept of the Eightfold Path.
The essence of Buddhism lies in the attainment of enlightenment or nirvana, which can be achieved in this life.
The branches of Buddhism are Mahayana (idolatry), Hinayana, Theravada, Vajrayana (Tantric Buddhism), Zen.
UNESCO heritage site related to Buddhism
Archaeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Mahabodhi Vihara Complex in Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad (Maharashtra)
3. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launches ‘YUVA PORTAL’
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr.Jitendra Singh launched the Youth Portal in New Delhi.
An Overview of the News
It aims to connect and identify potential youth start-ups.
Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh also launched the One Week - One Laboratory programme.
The event emphasises the need for broad-based participation from stakeholders in the industry for startups to remain sustainable.
Each of the 37 CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) laboratories is dedicated to a different specialised area of work.
The One Week - One Lab program will provide an opportunity to CSIR laboratories to showcase their work.
About Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, or CSIR, is an autonomous body established by the Government of India in September 1942.
Its primary goal is to promote scientific and industrial research in India.
Its research activities cover a wide range of fields, including aerospace, biotechnology, chemistry, earth science, electronics, engineering, information technology, materials science and physics.
It operates a network of laboratories and research institutes across India, which conduct cutting-edge research in their respective fields.
Establishment - 26 September 1942
Founder - Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar, Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar
President - Narendra Modi
Director General - Dr. N. Kalaiselvi
Parent Organization - Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India
Motto - CSIR-The Innovation Engine of India
4. India-Russia Business Dialogue 2023
Tags: International Relations
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on 17th April attended the inaugural session of "India-Russia Business Dialogue" 2023 in New Delhi.
An overview of the news
They met representatives of Russian and Indian businesses.
The participants in the business forum discussed issues of further enhancing Russian-Indian practical cooperation, including the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC).
The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India and Russia have crossed the bilateral trade target of 30 billion dollars before the target year of 2025.
S Jaishankar talked about the importance of connectivity initiatives.
The International North-South Transport Corridor as well as the Eastern Maritime Corridor, which is the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor, are being given due consideration.
He said that the issue of payment needs to be worked out clearly.
He also referred to the expansion of the network under the scheme of settlement of international trade in Indian Rupees through the Special Rupee Vostro Account System.
India and Russia are paying special attention to the issues of mutual access of products to the markets of both the countries.
Russia and the Eurasian Economic Commission are trying to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement with India.
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
It is a multi-modal transport established by Iran, Russia and India on 12 September 2000 in St Petersburg.
It is a 7,200 kilometre long multi-mode network of shipping, rail and road transport for freight.
India, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe are involved in the corridor.
Its main purpose is to promote transportation cooperation among the Member States.
It connects the Indian Ocean to the Caspian Sea via the Persian Gulf to Russia and northern Europe.
Significance of INSTC
It aims to reduce the cost of movement of goods between India and Russia by about 30 percent and reduce transit time by more than half.
It will provide an alternative connectivity initiative to countries in the Eurasian region.
It has the potential to transform countries' economies into specialized manufacturing, logistics and transit hubs.
It opens a sustainable alternative route for India to trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
About Russia
Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin
Capital: Moscow
Currency: Russian ruble
President: Vladimir Putin
Official Language: Russian
5. MRF emerges as ‘second strongest tyre brand in the world’
Tags: National News
MRF Ltd has emerged as thesecond-strongest tyre brand in the world according to the latest report by Brand Finance on the 'Most Valuable and Strongest Tyre Brands' in the world.
An overview of the news
MRF has scored high in almost all parameters and is also recognized as the second fastest growing tire brand in the world.
It has scored 83.2 out of 100 in brand strength and has been awarded AAA- brand rating.
MRF scored high in the Sustainability Perception Value and is the only Indian tire manufacturer to feature in the top 10.
Brand Finance's annual report on the Most Valuable and Strongest Automobile, Auto Component, Tire and Mobility 2023 analyzes the value of brands across these industries.
Brand value is understood as the net economic benefit that a brand owner would gain by licensing it on the open market.
A brand's strength is assessed through a balanced scorecard of factors such as marketing investment, stakeholder equity and business performance.
About MRF Ltd
MRF (Madras Rubber Factory) is India’s No.1 tyre manufacturing company.
It was started in 1946 by K M Mammen Mappillai as a small toy balloon unit.
In November 1960 it ventured into manufacturing of tyres.
The company entered into a technical collaboration with Tire & Rubber company, USA.
Currently MRF exports tyres to over 65 countries including America, Europe, Middle East, Japan, and the Pacific region.
It has overseas offices in Dubai, Vietnam and Australia.
6. Sixth meeting of the Steering Committee on the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960
Tags: Summits National News
The sixth meeting of the Steering Committee on matters relating to the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 was held in New Delhi on 17 April.
An Overview of the News
The purpose of the meeting was to take stock of the ongoing amendment process of the Indus Water Treaty.
The meeting was presided over by Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Pankaj Kumar.
About Indus Water Treaty (IWT)
The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, arranged and negotiated by the World Bank, to utilise the water available in the Indus River and its tributaries.
The treaty was signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960by the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then Pakistani President Ayub Khan.
The treaty gives control over the waters of three "eastern rivers' ' – the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej with an average annual flow of 41 billion m3 (33 million acre feet)– while controlling the waters of all three. The "Western Rivers" – the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum, with an average annual flow of 99 billion cubic metres – flow to Pakistan.
India has about 20% of the total water carried by the Indus system while Pakistan has 80%.
The treaty allows India to use the waters of the western river for limited irrigation use and unlimited non-consumptive use for applications such as power generation, navigation, floating of assets, fisheries, etc.
7. Nepal became a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance
Tags: International News
Nepal has become a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance launched by India on 13 April.
An Overview of the News
The alliance was launched under India's initiative, and during the launch event, Nepal's Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet presented a letter indicating Nepal's membership as a founding member to India's Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav. Handed over
The International Big Cats Alliance aims to conserve seven big cat species including tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and pumas.
Nepal's tiger population has seen a significant increase, increasing from 121 in 2010 to 335 in 2022.
Nepal successfully achieved its target of doubling the tiger population by 2022, as done during the first Tiger Summit in 2010 in St. Petersburg.
About the International Big Cats Alliance
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, for the conservation of seven big cat species including tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
The alliance aims to reach 97 range countries covering the natural habitats of these big cats and strengthen global cooperation and efforts for their conservation.
Ministers from Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal, Ethiopia and Malaysia expressed their support for India's efforts in alliance and conservation.
About Nepal
The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.
It is a landlocked country in South Asia.
Prime Minister - Pushpa Kamal Dahal
President - Ram Chandra Paudel
Capital - Kathmandu
Currency - Nepalese Rupee
8. UAE India's second largest export destination and third largest source of imports
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
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According to the annual trade data released by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, UAE is the second most important export destination of India.
An Overview of the News
The US and the UAE retained their first and second positions, respectively, as India's top export destinations during the financial year 2022-23.
India's total exports of goods and services grew by six per cent during the fiscal year that ended last month.
The Netherlands replaced China last year due to higher levels of imports of refined petroleum products through the maritime nation and moved up to the third spot in India's overall export ranking during the same period.
The commerce ministry also released India's trade data for March 2023, which showed UAE as second only to the US among India's export destinations.
The UAE ranked third among India's import sources in March 2023, after China and Russia.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Location: It is located in Western Asia.
Geographical Boundaries: It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Maritime Borders: It also has maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf.
Religion: Islam is the dominant religion in the UAE, with the majority of the population being Sunni Muslim.
Capital - Abu Dhabi
Official language - Arabic
Government - Federal Islamic parliamentary elective semi-constitutional monarchy
President/Crown Prince - Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
9. Union Minister of Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia to inaugurate India Steel 2023 in Mumbai
Tags: Summits Economics/Business National News
Union Minister of Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia will inaugurate India Steel 2023 on 19th April at the Mumbai Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, Mumbai.
An overview of the news
The Union Ministry of Steel, in association with the Department of Commerce, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and FICCI is organising India Steel 2023.
The conference and International Exhibition on the steel industry will be held from April 19-21.
The main objective of the event is to bring together industry leaders, policy makers and experts to discuss the latest developments, challenges and opportunities in the steel industry.
The India Steel 2023 exhibition will showcase advanced technologies, products and solutions from the Indian steel industry.
This biennial event will provide a unique platform for attendees to engage with industry leaders, gain insight into future growth prospects and explore collaboration opportunities in the Indian steel industry.
Topics of sessions
Augmentation of Enabling Logistics Infrastructure.
Demand Dynamics for Indian Steel Industry.
Sustainability Goals via Green Steel: Challenges and Way Forward.
Conducive Policy Framework & Key Enablers for Indian Steel.
Technology Solutions for Enhancing Productivity & Efficiency.
Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
It is a business lobby group of top business houses in India which was founded by Ghanshyam Das Birla.
It was set up in 1927
It articulates the views and concerns of industry and tries to influence the government to make policy which is in favour of the industry and business.
Headquarters: New Delhi
President: Subhrakant Panda
10. Buzi Bridge in Mozambique inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar
Tags: International News
On 14 April, India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar virtually inaugurated the Buzi Bridge built by India in Mozambique.
The bridge is part of the 132 km long Tika-Buzi-Nova-Sofala road project and was constructed by India.
An Overview of the News
The bridge represents the strong bond of friendship and solidarity between India and Mozambique.
Dr Jaishankar took a train ride from Maputo to Machava in an Indian made train and showcased India's contribution to the development of Mozambique's rail infrastructure.
About Mozambique
Mozambique is located in southeastern Africa, with the Indian Ocean to the east and several neighbouring countries to the north, northwest, west, and southwest.
The Portuguese arrived in 1498 and colonised Mozambique for four centuries before the country gained independence in 1975.
Mozambique descended into a civil war from 1977 to 1992, but has since held multi-party elections and become a relatively stable presidential republic.
Christianity is the largest religion in Mozambique, with Islam and African traditional religions also present.
Government - Unitary major-party semi-presidential republic
President - Filipe Nyusi
Prime Minister - Adriano Maleiane
Capital - Maputo
Official language - Portuguese
Currency - Mozambican metical
