DAILY GK 4,5 APRIL

DAILY GK 4,5 APRIL

 1.       WB REPORT - AIR POLLUTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN SOUTH ASIA’

·         According to the World Bank (WB) report “Striving for Clean Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South Asia,” concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM) like soot and small dust (PM 2.5) in some of South Asia’s most densely populated and underdeveloped areas are up to 20 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/mᶾ).

·         According to the report, South Asia is home to 9 of the top 10 polluted cities in the world, including Dhaka (Bangladesh).

·         It is estimated that it causes 2 million premature deaths in South Asia each year and imposes huge economic damages.

·         World Bank (WB)President– David Robert Malpass

·         Establishment – 1944, Headquarters – Washington D.C

 

2.       SAARC LITERATURE AWARD 2023

·         In its 63rd Literature Festival, the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) bestowed the SAARC Literature Award 2023 (Special Literary Award) to Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

·         The SAARC Literary Award for 2023 was bestowed to him for his great literary excellence through his trilogy: The Unfinished Memoirs, The Prison Diaries, and The New China as I Saw It (1952).

·         The award was handed over to his daughter, Bangladesh Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina.

·         FOSWAL’s three-day regional literary conference was held in New Delhi, Delhi.

 

3.       PRESIDENT OF FICCI LADIES ORGANISATION

·         SudhaShivkumar took over as the 40th National President of the women’s wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) – FICCI Ladies Organisation(FLO) for the term 2023-2024.

·         SudhaShivkumar succeeds Jayanti Dalmia, 39th national president of FICCI FLO (2022-2023).

·         FLO is a division of FICCI, the apex body of industry and commerce in India.

·         FLO is the oldest women-led and women-centric business chamber of Southeast Asia.

 

4.       VICE-CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF

·         Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singhtook over as Vice-Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) of the Indian Navy

·         Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, assumed charge as Chief of Personnel (COP) of the Indian Navy.

·         Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral R Hari Kumar

 

5.       RBI NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

·         The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Neeraj Nigam as the new Executive Director (ED) with immediate effect.

·         He will be incharge of 4 departments, including that consumer education and protection.

 

6.       ISRO CONDUCTS REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE AUTONOMOUS LANDING MISSION

·         The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) at the Aeronautical Test Range(ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

·         The mission was performed in collaboration with the Defence Space Research Organisation (DRDO), and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

·         The test involved a winged body lifted to an altitude of 4.5 km by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopter, subsequently freed to execute an independent high-speed (350 kmph) landing on a runway, and achieved the landing parameters.

·         RLV LEX is essentially a space plane with a low lift-to-drag ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph.

 

7.       INDIA DEVELOP OWN MODEL TO ESTIMATED TB CASES

·         India becomes the first country in the world to estimate tuberculosis (TB) burden in-country and launch its country-level mathematical model to estimate the prevalence of TB cases in India.

·         As per the Indian mathematical model’s data, the global TB reduction number was about 11% while the reduction in TB cases in India is 18%.

·         India’s TB incidence rate stands at 196 per 1,00,000 population, instead of the 210 estimated by the WHO.

·         In2021, WHO projected estimated deaths from the communicable disease at 4.94 lakh, whereas it was now about 3.20 lakh under the new India’s model.

·         The Indian mathematical model estimated the TB incidence rate (per 10,000) in India to be 196 in 2022 instead of the 210 estimated by the WHO (in 2021).

 

8.       AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2023

·         Red Bull’s Max Verstappen(Belgian-Dutch racing driver) won his first ever Australian Grand Prix (GP) Title held in Melbourne, Australia.

·         Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton(British racing driver) secured 2nd position

 

9.       MADRID SPAIN MASTERS BADMINTON 2023

·         Indonesian badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung won the Women’s singles title at the Madrid Spain Masters 2023 finals defeating India’s PV Sindhu.

·         Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto won the men’s singles title defeating compatriot KantaTsuneyama in the finals.

 

10.    WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY 2023 – APRIL 2

·         United Nations (UN)’s World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) is annually observed across the globe on April 2 to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and promote the livelihood of people having autism.

·         Theme “Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking”.

 

11.    INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY 2023 – APRIL 2

·         International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is annually observed across the globe on or around April 2, the birth anniversary of the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, known for his fairy tales and stories.

·         Theme “I am a book, read me”.

·         The message for ICBD 2023 was written by Children’s writer Vagelis Iliopoulos.

·         The poster for ICBD 2023 was illustrated by Illustrator PhotiniStephanidi.

·         International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)is a non-profit organisation representing an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together.

·         Headquarters- Basel, Switzerland

 

12.    SLINEX 2023- INDIA-SRI LANKA BILATERAL MARITIME EXERCISE

·         The 10th edition of annual India-Sri Lanka bilateral maritime exercise – SLINEX(Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise) 2023, between Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and India Navy (IN) commenced in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

·         The exercise is divided into two phases, namely the Harbour Phase, which will be held from April 3-5, 2023, in Colombo followed by the Sea Phase from April 6-8, 2023, off Colombo.

 

13.    KIRAN NADAR CONFERRED WITH FRANCE’S HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD

·         Kiran Nadarwas conferred with “Chevalier de la Légiond’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion Honour), the highest French civilian award, by Emmanuel Lenain, French Ambassador to India in a ceremony held at the Residence of France in New Delhi, Delhi.

·         Kiran Nadar was honouredfor her outstanding contribution to the arts, her dedication to providing greater access to culture both nationally and internationally, and her leading role in establishing cultural ties between France and India.

 

14.    CHILDREN’S CHAMPION AWARD 2023

·         Pathsala (Assam)-based Tapoban, a non-government organisation (NGO), which supports children with special needs has been honoured with the prestigious Children’s Champion Award 2023 in the Health and Nutrition category at Delhi.

·         This award is given to honour individuals and organisations who have significantly enhanced the lives of children in many areas, including education, justice, health, nutrition, sports, and the artistic arts.