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1. ISRO launches observation

satellite EMISAT

district received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.  Kandhamal turmeric, originally grown by

 The Indian Space Research tribal people in Kandhamal, is famous for Organisation (ISRO) has successfully its medicinal properties. launched 29 satellites including the primary  Kandhamal haldi is organic by default being payload EMISAT from Satish Dhawan Space cultivated by more than 60,000 families. Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh,  Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for India. Marketing had moved for registration  The main satellite EMISAT and the 28 „Kandhamal Haldi‟ which was accepted customer satellites will be led into two under sub-section (1) of Section 13 of the different orbits. Geographical Indications of Goods  The foreign satellites include 24 from the (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. United States, two from Lithuania and one 3. Scientist discovered a new each from Switzerland and Spain.  An ISRO release says EMISAT (weighing enzyme to arrest bacteria cell 436 kg) is intended for electromagnetic growth spectrum measurement, developed for monitoring radar network by India.  Scientists from the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), the Research 2. Kandhamal haldi (turmeric) gets Institute in Hyderabad, Telangana have GI tag discovered Murein EndopeptidiaseK, a new enzyme which helps in breaking cell walls  Kandhamal haldi (turmeric) produced by of bacteria. the tribal farmers in Odisha's Kandhamal

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 The enzyme Murein EndopeptidiaseK  As part of the carbon-positive village would act on the protein of the cell wall of project, Phayeng will receive a grant the bacteria and it can be a potential drug of Rs10 crore in phases to facilitate target. This discovery of a new enzyme will afforestation in the catchment of river ensure the cell wall synthesis would not Maklang that flows along the village. occur. This discovery offers the potential for  Phayeng is a scheduled caste village of the a new drug delivery system to arrest the Chakpa community in Imphal West district antibacterial and its conservation efforts are mainly linked to the belief that the forest is a sacred grove.  It is surrounded by three densely forested hillocks with fruit trees at centre and a stream flowing through I‟

5. Revolt Intellicorp announces

4. Phayeng Village of Manipur India’s first AI-enabled e- becomes Indias first carbon- motorcycle positive settlement

 A village is given the Carbon-Positive Tag if it sequesters more carbon than it  Rahul Sharma (Micromax co-founder) has emits, slowing the accumulation of announced his new venture Revolt greenhouse gases and mitigating the effects Intellicorp Pvt Ltd that will be making smart of climate change. electric two-wheelers & connected devices.

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 The e-motorcycle is supposed to be child‟s early education by creating short, launched in June this year. friendly audio content that is sent to them  As per some crucial specifications, the bike via their mobile phones. will be able to cover over 150 km on a  The software, single charge. audio content, and tool kits of 6. Former Kerala Finance Minister Dost Education K M Mani passes away makes it easy fun and addictive for parents to boost their  Former Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani child‟s early development, so low-income (86-years) passes away at a private hospital. families need no longer send their children  He is credited with the record of presenting to primary school behind and without a the State Budget 13 times as Finance chance to catch up. Minister. 8. RailWire Wi-Fi

 Mani (Chairman of the Kerala Congress (M)  RailWire Wi-Fi by RailTel is now live at party) had been an MLA of Pala assembly 1600 railway stations across the country, constituency for nearly five decades. with Santacruz railway station in Mumbai  Kerala Congress(M) is a key ally of the becoming the 1600th station to become a Congress-led UDF in the state. RailWire Wi-Fi zone.  RailWire is a retail Broadband initiative of 7. India’s education technology the RailTel. It envisages extending startup bags global tech prize broadband and application services to the public. RailTel is working to establish  Dost was awarded for its ability to bringing fast and free Wi-Fi at all stations empower parents to take charge of their (except the halt stations) within a year.

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 Wi-Fi connections at 200 stations were provided with support from the Universal Service Obligatory Fundof the Government 9. India’s Official Secrets Act of India.

8. Namami Gange gets global  Supreme Court has rejected the Centre‟s recognition at world summit twin arguments and ruled that classified

 The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was awarded the distinction of “Public Water Agency of the Year” by Global Water Intelligence at the Global Water Summit in London. documents accessed by the media on the  The Global Water Awards are presented at Rafale fighter jet deal can be admitted as the Global Water Summit, the major evidence and agreed to review its own business conference for the water industry order that the government had interpreted worldwide. as a clean chit.  The court upheld the right of The Hindu newspaper to publish documents that the government had described as “stolen”. “The right of such publication would seem to be in consonance with the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech.  Official Secrets Act:The law meant for ensuring secrecy and confidentiality in  The awards recognise excellence across governance, mostly on national security and the international water industry and reward espionage issues. those initiatives in the water, waste water, and desalination sectors, which bring 10. E-cigarettes

remarkable improvements in the lives of  The Commerce Ministry has asked the people. Health Ministry to frame a law banning manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes in

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the country as in the absence of a domestic legislation, it would not be  According to the National Sample Survey possible to put a blanket ban on its Office‟s (NSSO‟s) annual survey, as many as imports.‟ 11 states had an unemployment rate higher  An electronic cigarette (or e-cig) is a than the pan-Indian average in 2017-18. battery-powered vaporizer that mimics  As per the report, Haryana, Assam, tobacco smoking. It works by heating up Jharkhand, Kerala, Odisha, Uttarakhand, a nicotine liquid, called “juice.”  Nicotine juice (or e-juice) comes in various flavors and nicotine levels. e- liquid is composed of five ingredients: vegetable glycerin (a material used in

Bihar, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh face higher unemployment rates than the national average. all types of food and personal care  While nine states, including Kerala, have products, like toothpaste) and been part of the list even back in 2011-12, propylene glycol (a solvent most states such as Punjab, Tamil Nadu, commonly used in fog machines.) Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh have also propylene glycol is the ingredient that become part of the list. produces thicker clouds of vapor.  The survey was conducted during the 2017-  Proponents of e-cigs argue that the 18 period. practice is healthier than traditional cigarettes because users are only 12. Mamata Banerjee's welfare inhaling water vapor and nicotine. schemes win UN award

11. Unemployment in 11 states  Bengal has won the United Nations World exceeds the national average, Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) shows NSSO report awards.

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 The “Utkarsh Bangla” project aims at  Ambedkar Jayanti honours the Dalit icon creating a pool of skilled candidates who who dedicated his life working for the are industry ready. upliftment of untouchables, women and  Under the “Sabooj Sathi” scheme, bicycles labourers. are distributed to students between class  Dr BR Ambedkar not just gave India its IX and XII studying in government-run and Constitution, but also played a key role in government-aided schools and madrashas the formation of Reserve Bank of India - the country's central banking institution.

14. India successfully test fires Sub-

Sonic cruise missile ‘Nirbhay

 India Defence Research and Development of the state. Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired  The Bengal government has distributed indigenously designed and developed nearly 1 crore bicycles since the inception Long Range Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile of this project. 'Nirbhay' from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur Odisha. 13. 14 April: Ambedkar Jayanti  It is the sixth development flight trial with the objective to prove the repeatability of

 Ambedkar Jayanti is an annual festival observed on 14th April to commemorate

the memory of B. R. Ambedkar, the „Father boost phase, cruise phase using waypoint of The Indian Constitution‟. navigation at very low altitudes.  It marks Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's  The missile took off vertically turning birthday who was born on 14th April 1891. horizontally into the desired direction, booster separated, the wing deployed, the APRIL 2019 | Page 6 | Subscribe our Youtube Channel for Inspiring Talks & Classes

engine started, cruised all the intended communication and meteorological waypoints. satellites.

15. Union Cabinet approves the 16. First-Of-Its-Kind ‘Voter Park’ continuation of GSLV Phase - 4 programme

Inaugurated in Gurugram

 Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Rajeev  The Union Cabinet has approved the Ranjan has inaugurated India‟s first-of- continuation of the GSLV Phase - 4 its-kind „Voter Park‟ in Gurugram, programmes consisting of five GSLV Haryana. flights during the period from 2021 to 2024.  At the park, voters will get information  The Phase - 4 will enable the launch of two about the polling process and the tonne class of satellites for Geo-imaging, history of elections in the country. Navigation, Data Relay Communication and  The objective of establishing Voter Park Space Sciences. was to motivate eligible people to vote  The programme will meet the launch in the Lok Sabha election so that they requirement of satellites for providing can contribute to the progress of the critical Satellite Navigation Services, Data country. Relay Communication for supporting the Indian Human spaceflight programme and 17. Supreme Court bans mining the next interplanetary mission to Mars. activities along Kaziranga park  The operationalization of GSLV has made  The Supreme Court has banned all mining the country self-reliant in the launching activities along the „Kaziranga National capability of 2 tonne class of satellites for Park’ and catchment area of rivers originating in Karbi Anglong Hills in Assam. APRIL 2019 | Page 7 | Subscribe our Youtube Channel for Inspiring Talks & Classes

 A bench comprising Justices Arun  The civil services day is not being Mishra and Deepak Gupta issued a notice observed due to the general elections. to the Assam government and sought its  The civil services day is celebrated reply within three weeks. on 21st April every year when bureaucrats  The mining activity in this area was rededicate themselves to public service, resulting in environmental degradation and and awards for excellence in public habitat destruction in an important elephant administration are also conferred. and tiger habitat.  It was on this day that Sardar Vallabh Bhai  It is famous for one-horned rhinoceros. Patel, addressed the first batch of civil servants in Independent India at the Metcalf House where he referred to civil servants as the 'steel frame of India'.

19. Indian Navy launches Guided-

 Kaziranga located on the edge of the missile destroyer 'Imphal' Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high species diversity and visibility

18. Civil Services Day not being observed due to general

elections'

 The Indian Navy launched guided missile destroyer Imphal at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai.  Imphal is the third ship to be launched under a project in which ships are built to carry and operate two multiple role

helicopters.

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 According to enhanced stealth features have been achieved through the shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck 21. Nirmala Sitharaman attends SCO fittings which make the ships difficult to Defence Ministers' conclave at detect. Bishkek  Navy has become a builder from a buyer and was slated to excel in coming years.

20. RBI to issue new Rs 20

denomination banknotes

 Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the Shanghai Co- operation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' conclave (16th) at Bishkek

in Kyrgyzstan.  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon  During the conclave, ways to further boost release new banknotes of Rs 20 defence and security cooperation among denomination in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) the member countries in the wake of Series. evolving security challenges in the region  The base colour of the note is greenish were discussed. yellow and bear the signature of Shaktikanta  The SCO was founded at a summit Das (RBI Governor). in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of  The new denomination Rs 20 (dimension: 63 Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, mm x 129 mm) has the motif of the Ellora Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Caves on the reverse.  Along with India, Pakistan was also granted  All the banknotes in the denomination of Rs membership of the SCO in 2017. 20 issued by the RBI in the earlier series will continue to be legal tender

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

23. Hump-backed Mahseer, a 22. UNDPs 2019 HDR to focus on large freshwater fish added in inequality 'Critically Endangered' list

 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is to publish the Human Development Report (HDR)  Hump-backed Mahseer, also called the 2019 with its focus on inequality. tiger of the water and found only in  HDR 2019 will provide a comprehensive the Cauvery river basin (including picture of the many forms of Kerala‟s Pambar, Kabini and Bhavani inequality that are shaping the 21st rivers) - is now “Critically Endangered”, as century. per the International Union for  The report will use a framework that looks Conservation of Nature‟s (IUCN) Red List beyond income and of Threatened Species. considers inequalities in health,  There are about 16 species of mahseer in education, tech, and exposure to India. economic and climate-related shock and  The fish is considered as one of the 229 will look beyond averages to paint a more species from recent Red List which accurate and timely picture of the state of updated in November 2018. inequality.

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24. China launched 2nd Generation data relay satellite, Tianlian II-01

 Anti-corruption activist 'Zuzana Caputova' has been confirmed as the first female President of Slovakia.  She defeated Maros Sefcovic, a candidate

nominated by Slovakia's ruling party.  The Tianlian II-01 satellite was launched  According to Xinhua News Agency by a Long March-3Bcarrier rocket from reported, Caputova received 58.40% of the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in votes, while Sefcovic got 41.59% of votes, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

 This is the first of China's second- generation data-tracking and relay 26. US approves sale of 24 MH 60 satellites, which will provide services like Romeo Seahawk helicopters to data relay, measurement and control, and India transmission to manned spacecraft, satellites, carrier rockets and non- spacecraft users.

25. Zuzana Caputova becomes Slovakia's first female President

 The US government has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60 Romeo Seahawk

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helicopters to India at an estimated cost  Three top telecom providers SK Telecom, of 2.4 billion US dollars. KT, and LG Uplus launched the 5G  It is considered the world's most advanced services. maritime helicopter.  5G will provide smartphones with near-  The choppers will provide the Indian instantaneous connectivity, 20 times faster defence forces with the capability to than 4G. perform anti-surface and anti-submarine

warfare missions.

27. Algeria's president Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigns amid mass protests

29. ICC to join hands with Interpol  Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (82-year) has resigned from the post with to fight corruption in sport immediate effect.  Bouteflika (in power for 20 years) has come under mounting pressure to step down since his decision to seek a fifth term despite rarely being seen in public after suffering a stroke in 2013.  The powerful Algerian army had called for

to be declared incapable of carrying out

his duties.  The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought closer working relations with 28. South Korea launched the the Interpol to widen the scope of its fight world’s first Nationwide 5G against corruption in the sport. Mobile Network  The cooperation was discussed during ICC Anti-Corruption Unit General Manager,  South Korea has launched the world‟s first Alex Marshall's visit to the Interpol nationwide 5G mobile networks headquarters in Lyon, France. services two hours ahead of the US.  Marshall said the idea is to ensure that players are better educated about the APRIL 2019 | Page 12 | Subscribe our Youtube Channel for Inspiring Talks & Classes

corruptors and Interpol's vast network  According to Ministry of Ayush, India is would be helpful in this hosting a two-day convention to mark the „World Homeopathy Day‟(10th- April) at Dr 30. Japan space probe drops Ambedkar International Centre in New explosive on asteroid to make Delhi (9-10th April 2019). crater  The day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of

 Japan's space agency has said its Hayabusa2 spacecraft released an explosive onto an asteroid to make a crater on its surface and collect underground samples to find possible clues to the origin of the solar system.  The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Tokyo that Hayabusa2 dropped a Homoeopathy, Dr. Christian Fredrich "small carry-on impactor" made of copper Samuel Hahnemann. onto the asteroid and safely evacuated and  AYUSH awards relating to Homoeopathy for remained intact. JAXA is analyzing further Life Time Achievement, Best Teacher, details. Young Scientist and Best Research paper

will be conferred on this occasion. 31. World Homoeopathy Day

convention organised in New 32. 10th April: World Delhi Homoeopathy Day

 The World Homoeopathy Day 2019 is being observed across the world on 10th April to commemorate the birth anniversary (264th) of the founder of Homoeopathy (Dr

Christian Fredrich Samuel Hahnemann).

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 Homoeopathy is a system of medicine (the  As per the agreement, the Singapore second most widely used system) was military would undergo training and developed by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in participate in firing exercise with their India. 34. Emirates Islamic becomes the world's first Islamic bank to launch banking via WhatsApp

Germany in 1796.  It is one of the major medical practices used to cure diseases worldwide 33. India-Singapore Joint Military

Exercise ‘Bold Kurukshetra–2019’  Emirates Islamic has announced the launch of Chat Banking services for customers via  Military forces of India and Singapore got WhatsApp, marking a global first in the together to participate in a joint exercise Islamic banking sector.  The bank‟s customers will now able to conduct daily banking activities via WhatsApp in a seamless and hassle-free manner.  The Chat Banking solution, supported by Infobip, further enhances Emirates Islamic‟s suite of digital banking channels „Bold Kurukshetra–2019‟ in Babina and allows customers to use features such Cantonment in Jhansi. as checking account balances and  The three-day exercise is being conducted temporarily blocking or unblocking of an to develop military technology, boost existing card. maritime security and bolster the nations‟ fight against terrorism.

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35. International Day of Human  India finished with 5 medals in the Boxing Space Flight: World Cup, concluded at Cologne, Germany.

 Meena Kumari Maisnam continued her fine run to win gold in the 54 kg.  Reigning youth world champion Sakshi (57 kg) and India Open champion Pwilao Basumatary (64 kg) settled for the silver.  India had sent a seven-member team to the tournament this time following a healthy haul of six medals from the erstwhile Chemistry Cup held at Halle city in central Germany last year.  The International Day of Human Space

Flight was observed across the world on 37. Giant six-engine aircraft lands April 12, 2019. The day celebrates the anniversary of the first ever human space its first flight in California flight undertaken by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet Union citizen then. The spacecraft was launched by Vostok-K launch vehicle.

36. Meena Kumari Maisnam clinches gold in Boxing World

Cup  The world's largest aeroplane designed by Stratolaunch with two fuselages and six Boeing 747 engines, made its first test flight in California, USA.  The mega jet carried out its maiden voyage over the Mojave Desert.  It is designed to carry into space and drop a rocket that would ignite to deploy satellites.

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 The aircraft is so big its wingspan is longer 39. The Overstory’ by Richard than a football field, or about 1.5 times that Powers wins Pulitzer Prize 2019 of an Airbus A380. for fiction 38. John Moore wins World Press Photo Awards 2019  The winners of the 2019 Pulitzer Prizes has announced from the World Room at Columbia University‟s School of Journalism by Administrator Dana Canedy.  The Overstory (by Richard Powers) a sprawling epic about the wonderful life and alarming death of trees, has won this year‟s Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

 The Washington Post won two prizes, as did The New York Times.  An image of a two-year-old little girl crying,  The Wall Street Journal won one and the as she and her mother have been taken into Sun-Sentinel won its second Pulitzer custody by US-Mexico border officials in for Public Service. Texas won the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year 2019.  Veteran Getty photographer John Moore took the picture in the Rio Grande Valley in June 2018.  Dutch-Swedish photographer Pieter Ten Hoopen won the “World Press Photo Story  The late American singer- of the Year Award” for the image of 2018 songwriter Aretha Franklin (known as mass-migrant caravan to the US border „The Queen of Soul‟) posthumously  The photos are judged for their accurate, awarded the Pulitzer Prize Special fair, and visually compelling insights about Citation honour for her contribution to our world the American music and culture,  Drama: Fairview, by Jackie Sibblies Drury.

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 History: Frederick Douglass: Prophet of the community together on 17th April in Freedom, by David W. Blight (Simon honour of WFH founder Frank Schnabel‟s birthday 40. 17 April: World Haemophilia Day . 41. Historic Mujibnagar day being observed today in Bangladesh

 Today, the historic Mujibnagar day is being observed in Bangladesh.  The day marks the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh's first government in 1971 at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur.  On this day in 1971, senior leaders of the liberation movement of Bangladesh had  The World Haemophilia Day is being assembled at Baidyanathtala to form the observed worldwide on 17th April to provisional government of independent increase awareness of Haemophilia and Bangladesh. other inherited bleeding disorders.  Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was  The theme of WHD 2019 is „Reaching out - declared the President in absentia as he connect to your community‟. was arrested and flown to Pakistan after the  Haemophilia is a mostly inherited genetic Pakistan military crackdown on the then disorder that impairs the body's ability to „East Pakistan‟ on the night of March 25, make blood clots, a process needed to stop 1971. bleeding.  The declaration was followed by a nine- month-long struggle culminating in the independence of Bangladesh on December 16, 1971

42. Mohammad Ishtayyeh Sworn in as new Prime Minister of  World Haemophilia Day was started in Palestine 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) which chose to bring APRIL 2019 | Page 17 | Subscribe our Youtube Channel for Inspiring Talks & Classes

heritage and encourage people to conserve our rich past.  The theme of this year is „Rural Landscapes‟.  The day aims to spread awareness of the importance of protecting and preserving various sites around the world that have achieved world heritage status.

 The President of the State of Palestine,  There are over 1000 World Heritage Sites Mahmoud Abbas has confirmed the (man-made and natural) recognized by appointment of Dr. Mohammad UNESCO. Ishtayyeh (61 year) as the new Prime  In the year 1982, the International Council Minister of the country. on Monuments and Sites declared 18th  Mr. Ishtayyeh will succeed Rami April as World Heritage Day to raise Hamdallah. awareness about monuments and other  The Prime Minister of the State of sites which form a part of our history and Palestine is the head of government of culture. the State of Palestine. 44. World Liver Day being 43. World Heritage Day

observed

 The World Liver day is observed on the 19th April every year to spread  The 'World Heritage Day' is being observed across the globe on 18th awareness about the second largest organ April every year to celebrate cultural „liver‟ in the body.

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 The theme of World Liver Day 2019 is 'Love  Google also supports graduate programs in Your Liver and Live Longer‟. machine intelligence at the African Institute  Liver diseases can be caused by hepatitis A, for Mathematical Sciences in Rwanda. B, C, alcohol, and drugs. 46. Indo-Pacific Wing Set up in the  According to WHO (World Health Foreign Office Organization), liver diseases are the 10th most common cause of death in India.  The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body (first-brain).

45. Google Opens its First African

 The Ministry of External Affairs has set up an Indo-Pacific Wing in the foreign office.  This new division is intended to give a coherent architecture to the policy, which AI lab in Ghana was articulated by the PM Modi at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018.  Currently, this division will be headed by  Google has opened its first joint secretary Vikram Doraiswam African artificial intelligence (AI) centre  The Indo-Pacific division is intended to in Accra, Ghana. give a coherent architecture to the Indo-  The research laboratory will host software Pacific policy articulated by PM Narendra engineers and research scientists to work Modi at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018 on projects dedicated to next-generation technology.  The centre engages directly with African 47. Bajrang regains top spot in universities by providing grants and PhD world wrestling rankings scholarships to students interested in AI.

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 India's Bajrang Punia has regained the  The World Creativity and Innovation world number one spot in the men's 65- Day (WCID) has been celebrated on kilogram freestyle category rankings. 21st April to raise awareness of the role of  Punia secured 58 points ahead of Akhmed creativity and innovation in problem- Chakaev of Russia. solving and by extension, in the  The rankings were released by United implementation of the Sustainable World Wrestling. Development Goals.  Punia won Gold in the Asian Games and  On this day the world is invited to embrace Commonwealth Games as well as a silver in the idea that innovation is essential for harnessing the economic potential of nations.  The Day is a part of the United Nations resolution entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

the World Championships last year. 49. The World Book & Copyright  He won gold at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov Day being observed today tournament in Bulgaria last month.

48. 21 April: World Creativity and Innovation Day

 The „World Book and Copyright Day‟ (WBCD) is being observed every year on 23rd April to raise awareness about the

importance of reading and promote

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publishing and the protection of copyright  English has an official or special status in at around the globe. least 75 countries that have a total  The aim is to make books accessible to the population of over two billion. city‟s entire population, including migrants and refugees. 51. Mount Agung volcano in Bali  It is on this date (in 1616) that Cervantes, resort Island erupted Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la  Mount Agung on Indonesia's resort island Vega all passed away. of Bali has erupted again (last eruption in  UNESCO at its General Conference held in 1963). Paris chose 23rd of April to celebrate  The volcano's status remains on alert, or World Book Day as it is a highly symbolic level three of four possible levels and date for world literature in 1995. authorities continue to impose a 4-kilometre

exclusion zone. 50. 23rd April: United Nations  Thousands of masks have been distributed English Language Day

 The United Nations English Language

Day is being observed annually on 23 to the communities amid the fears of the April across the world to entertain as well ashes impacting human respiratory. as inform people about the culture, history,  Mount Agung is situated in Karangasem and achievements associated with the district and about 70 km from tourist hub English language. Kuta.  It is the date traditionally observed as both 52. the birthday and date of death of the Pakistan’s ‘Dawn’ journalist greatest writer ever known in the English Cyril Almeida named IPI’s World language „William Shakespeare‟. Press Freedom Hero

 The International Press Institute has declared Cyril Almeida (Dawn editor and

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columnist in Pakistan) the recipient of its  The faint seismic signal, detected by the 71st World Press Freedom Hero award. lander's Seismic instrument, was recorded  The institute lauded Almeida for his „tenacious coverage of the Pakistani state‟s patronage of militant groups‟.  In 2016, the government imposed a travel ban on Almeida after he reported on an “extraordinary verbal confrontation”

on 6th April this year.  This is the first recorded trembling that appears to have come from inside the planet, as opposed to being caused by forces above the surface, such as wind.  Scientists still are examining the data to determine the exact cause of the signal

between the country‟s civilian government and military.  The awards will be presented in a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on 5th June 2019.  Almeida is a Rhodes Scholar with a law degree from Oxford University. 54. China removes BRI map that  He had a short stint as a lawyer before he showed J-K, Arunachal Pradesh joined journalism. as part of India 53. NASA's InSight detects first likely 'quake' on Mars  A map hosted on Chinese government‟s MOFCOM (Ministry of Commerce‟s

website) displaying routes under China‟s  US space agency NASA's robotic Mars flagship Belt and Road Initiative at odds with InSight lander has recorded a likely China‟s own stand on these areas. marsquake for the first time ever.  Though India is boycotting the second Belt and Road Forum taking place in Beijing, the APRIL 2019 | Page 22 | Subscribe our Youtube Channel for Inspiring Talks & Classes

map also incorrectly showed India to be  The drills are scheduled to take place from part of the BRI. 29 April to 2 May in South Korea, following  The map did not clearly distinguish Pakistan which they will be held in Singapore from Occupied Kashmir which is a core part of May 9 to May 13. the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor  The maritime exercise involves 18 (CPEC). countries of the ASEAN Defence Ministers'  The display of the map on a prominent Meeting plus six other countries are slated Chinese government site at a time when the to send military personnel. Second Belt and Road Forum is ongoing is at  Naval forces from India, Brunei, China, odds with China‟s stance. Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and  China destroyed nearly 30,000 world maps the United States are scheduled to practice printed in the country for not showing rescuing ships hijacked by armed groups, Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory. amongst other maritime security operations 55. South Korea set to hold ASEAN 56. Microsoft becomes World’s maritime drills third Company to be Worth USD 1 Trillion

 Microsoft has reached a valuation of one trillion dollars for the first time after posting an increase in profits.  It makes the software giant only the third publicly-traded company in history to

 A two-part maritime exercise by the 10- member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its partnering countries is slated to start in South Korea's port city of Busan.  The exercise aims to counter maritime

crime, including illicit transactions of reach the threshold after Apple and weapons and other banned items. Amazon passed it in 2018.

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Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)

Brief History of IRAS

Indian railway finances were initially overseen by the railway branch of the Public Works Department of the Indian Government, headed by the Accountant General, Public Works Department. In 1921, on the recommendations of the Acworth Committee, a Financial Commissioner for Railways was appointed in 1923. In 1924, railway finances were separated from the general finances of the GOI. This process of separation was finished in 1929. This was the beginning of the IRAS cadre.

Functions of IRAS

 Maintaining of accounts of the Indian Railways.

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 Giving financial advice to the executive in matters related to railways.

 Scrutinising all investment and expenditure proposals of the various departments in railways.

 Preparation of the budget.

 Carrying out periodical financial reviews.

 Engaging in fund raising and funds management.

 Maintaining accounts and book keeping for railways.

 Conducting stock inventory control.

 Settling claims and recovering dues.

 Management accounting.

 IRAS officers are also sent on deputation to various PSUs to hold finance portfolios.

Training of IRAS

 IRAS officers undergo training for a period of 90 weeks. Initially, they are trained at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy for Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.  Then they are trained in other institutes like the National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), Vadodara, National Academy for Direct Taxes (NADT), Nagpur, National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), Faridabad, etc.  A 12-week executive general management programme has also been started in association with the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta for the IRAS probationers. Here, they are taught topics in marketing, operations management, human resource management, economics, public policy, management information systems, behavioural sciences, management information systems, finance and accounting, ethics and strategic management. The IRAS probationers also attend an eight-week Management Development Programme at Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon. APRIL 2019 | Page 25 | Subscribe our Youtube Channel for Inspiring Talks & Classes