Daily Current Affairs 28th April, 2023

Daily Current Affairs 28 April 2023 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NOTE: To read complete Current Affairs, subscribe to our plan. All important news are not covered here.

NATIONAL NEWS

IIT-Kanpur launches cybersecurity skilling programme
IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub, a cybersecurity Technology Innovation Hub, has launched a Cybersecurity Skilling Programme with support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).

• The programme, which focuses on models, tools, and techniques for enforcing security, strives to provide students with a greater grasp of the technological fundamentals of cyberspace and cyber problems. 
• It also introduces real-time cybersecurity approaches and procedures. The eight-week-long Cybersecurity Skilling Programme will be offered online, allowing students from anywhere in the nation to enrol.

Scientists object NCERT on removal of Darwin’s theory of evolution
More than 1800 scientists, educators, and scientific enthusiasts in India have criticized the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for their decision to eliminate Darwin’s theory of evolution from science textbooks for classes 9 and 10. 

• NCERT claimed the removal was part of their syllabus rationalization effort following the Covid-19 outbreak, but the scientific community argues that the omission of Darwin’s theory is a “travesty of education” and will hinder students’ critical thinking abilities. 
• This is not the first time significant scientific or historical information has been removed from curriculum, sparking concerns and objections from concerned parties.

Union Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023.

• The medical devices sector in India is an essential and integral constituent of the Indian healthcare sector. The Indian medical devices sector’s contribution has become even more prominent as India supported the domestic and global battle against COVID-19 pandemic through the large scale production of medical devices & diagnostic kits, such as Ventilators, Rapid Antigen Test kits, Real-Rime Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) kits, Infrared (IR) Thermometers, Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) Kits & N-95 masks.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India, Germany sign agreement on setting up quality infrastructure
India’s consumer affairs department and a German ministry signed an agreement on improve quality infrastructure

• The work plan was signed at the ninth annual meeting of the Indo-German working group on quality infrastructure in Berlin. 
• The technical dialogues of the working group address key areas of economic cooperation between the two countries. In addition, they promote systemic harmonisation of quality infrastructure (QI) at an international level,” the department said. 

BANKING & FINANCE

Pakistan is the largest recipient of ADB loans in Asia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Report 2022 revealed that Pakistan received loans of $5.58 billion, making it the largest recipient of ADB-funded programs/projects in the year 2022. 

• Out of the total lending, Pakistan received concessional funding of $2.67 billion from the bank, highlighting the dire economic situation in the country. This significant lending reflects the severity of the economic crisis in Pakistan, which has been compounded by political and geopolitical uncertainties.
• The ADB also provided a combined $2.2 billion, directed through the bank’s countercyclical support facility, for the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. All these countries were severely impacted by the food and energy crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Arya.ag partners Shivalik Small Finance Bank to enable ease of finance to small holder farmers
Grain commerce platform Arya.ag has announced a strategic partnership with Shivalik Small Finance Bank — a scheduled commercial bank in India. 

• With this business correspondent model partnership, Arya.ag will further its mission to drive financial inclusion for farmers and FPOs and offer loans through Shivalik Small Finance Bank under warehouse receipt finance, the company said. 

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Cummins, Tata to manufacture low-to-zero emissions tech products in India
Global power technology major Cummins Inc said it has signed a definitive agreement with Tata Motors Ltd to manufacture a range of low-to zero-emissions technology products in India over the next few years.

• As a part of the agreement, Cummins and Tata Motors Ltd (TML) have set up a new business entity called TCPL Green Energy Solutions Private Ltd (GES), a wholly-owned subsidiary under the existing joint venture. 
• The new entity will focus on the development and manufacturing of sustainable technology products that will include hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, fuel delivery systems, and battery electric powertrains and fuel cell electric systems through the Accelera by Cummins brand. 

IMF predicts Indian economy will grow by nearly 6 per cent this fiscal year
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that India will be the world’s fastest-growing economy, despite facing significant challenges such as financial turbulence, inflationary pressures, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

• According to the IMF’s flagship World Economic Outlook report released, the Indian economy is forecast to grow by 5.9% in the current fiscal year.
• The latest World Economic Outlook report forecasts global real GDP growth at 2.8% for 2023 and 3% for 2024, which represents a slowing of growth from 2022.

AWARDS

Shakira has been named Billboard’s inaugural “Latin Woman of the Year”
Shakira has been named Billboard’s first Mujeres Latinas en la Música “Latin Woman of the Year,” the magazine announced. The singer will accept the award on May 7 in a celebration that will air on Spanish-language TV channel Telemundo.

• Her song “Sessions” currently holds the record for most-streamed Latin track in 24 hours in Spotify history, and the record for the most-viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours with over 63 million views. It broke 14 Guinness World Records, according to the magazine. The superstar has sold more than 95 million records globally, making her one of the best-selling musicians of all time.

Ratan Tata awarded Australia’s highest civilian honour
Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, has been awarded the Order of Australia (AO), which is Australia’s highest civilian honour. 

• The announcement was made by Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell. The award was given to Tata in recognition of his contributions towards strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Australia. 
• Tata has been a strong supporter of the 2022 India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is said to have the largest workforce of any Indian company in Australia, with around 17,000 employees.

Click here to read Daily Current Affairs