Daily Current Affairs – 01 April 2023

This post contains the current affairs for 01 April 2023. These current affairs are important for banking exams, insurance exams and other competitive exams like IBPS PO and Clerk, SBI PO and Clerk, RBI Assistant and Grade B, etc. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.

National

PM Modi flags off Rani Kamlapati – New Delhi Vande Bharat Express in Bhopal

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express train between Bhopal and New Delhi on April 01, 2023, from Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• The Rani Kamlapati – New Delhi Vande Bharat Express is the 12th Vande Bharat train in the country and 11th Vande Bharat in service.
• However, this will be the first Vande Bharat Express for Madhya Pradesh.
• It is also the second fastest Vande Bharat Express to operate in India. The New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express is the fastest.

Kangra Tea of Himachal Pradesh grabs European geographical indication (GI) tag

• The European Commission (EC) has officially granted protected geographical indication (PGI) for the Kangra tea, which is grown in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
• The Kangra Tea received the PGI recognition on March 22, 2023 and will come into effect from April 11, 2023. 
• The PGI tag will help tea farmers of Kangra to get better prices for their produce in the European countries.
• Kangra tea, which is grown since the mid-19th Century, is known for its unique flavour and taste. It is available as black and green teas. 

International

Georgia becomes first US state to pass resolution condemning Hinduphobia

• In the United States, Georgia Assembly has passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry.
• With this Georgia has become the first American State to take such a legislative measure.
• The resolution was introduced by Representatives Lauren McDonald and Todd Jones from Forsyth County in the suburbs of Atlanta, which is the home to one of the largest Hindu and Indian-American diaspora communities in Georgia.
• The resolution observed that the American-Hindu community in the state has been a major contributor to diverse sectors such as medicine, science and engineering, information technology, hospitality, finance, academia, manufacturing, energy, and retail trade, among others.

Finland becomes 31st member of NATO

• Finland has received the green light to join NATO, after Turkey unanimously voted to allow Finland to become the 31st member of the alliance on March 31, 2023.
• Turkey was the only country among the 30-member Western military alliance to sign off for the membership of Finland in the NATO alliance.
• It is necessary that all NATO members must vote unanimously to rope in a new country as the member of NATO.
• With this, Finland will now be able to formally attend the NATO Summit 2023, which will be held in July in Lithuania.
• Nato Secretary General – Jens Stoltenberg
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

NASA Appoints Indian-Origin Engineer Amit Kshatriya to head ‘Moon To Mars Programme’

• An Indian-origin software and robotics engineer, Amit Kshatriya, has been appointed as first head of NASA’s newly-established Moon to Mars programme, with immediate effect.
• The Moon to Mars Program Office will reside within the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and help to prepare NASA to carry out the human exploration of the Moon and land the first humans on Mars.
• Amit Kshatriya will be responsible for programme planning and implementation for human missions to the Moon and Mars.

Business

Adani Ports acquires Karaikkal Port in Puducherry

• The Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has acquired the Karaikal Port.
• Karaikal Port is an all-weather deep-water port on the eastern coast of India in Karaikal District of Puducherry. It was commissioned in 2009.
• The port is around 300 km south of Chennai Port and around 360 km north of Tuticorin Port.
• With this acquisition, APSEZ now operates 14 ports in the country.
• APSEZ is the subsidiary and port unit of Gautam Adani’s conglomerate Adani Group.

Insurance

IRDAI designates LIC, GIC Re and New India Assurance as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has retained the following insurers as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) for 2022-23:
  • Life Insurance Corporation of India;
  • General Insurance Corporation of India; and
  • The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.
• Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) are the insurance companies that are considered “Too Big (or Too Important) to Fail”. i.e its failure will impact the economy and insurance sector to a great extend.
• IRDAI has chosen these three insurers on the basis of their size, market importance and domestic and global interconnectedness whose distress or failure would cause significant dislocation in the domestic financial system.

Sports

India’s Nonagenarian (95) athlete Bhagwani Devi Dagar wins three gold medals at 2023 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championship in Poland

• India’s 95-year-old player Bhagwani Devi Dagar has won three gold medals for the country at the 9th World Masters Athletics Indoor Championship at Torun in Poland. The championship was held from 25 to 31 March 2023.
• The veteran athlete from Haryana won the three gold medals in 60m running, shot put and discus throw categories in the 95-99 age division.
• Bhagwani Devi Dagar is nicknamed as “Sprinter Dadi”. Her athletic career began at the age of 94.

Important Days

Utkal Dibasa (Odisha Day) 2023: April 01

• Every year, Odisha Day is celebrated on 1st April, to commemorate the foundation day of the state.
• The day is also known as Utkala Dibasa.
• It was on 1st April 1936, that the state of Odisha came into existence.
• Odisha was separated from the Bengal province.
• The day is celebrated to honour the struggle of the people of Odisha for a separate state and to promote unity among the citizens.

Prevention of Blindness Week 2023: April 01-07

• The Government of India observes the Prevention of Blindness Week every year from 1st April to 7th April, to raise awareness about the causes and prevention of blindness.
• The week aims to raise awareness among citizens about the value of taking care of one’s eyes; support individuals with visual impairments, and promote access to eye care services.
• The public are educated on the matter through NGOs, various departments of the government and publication houses.

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