Current Affairs April 21st 2023| Current Affairs News

Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Read Current Affairs Today here and stay updated with current news. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this and try the Current Affairs Quiz to test your knowledge level.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

IndusInd Bank signs $100 million loan agreement with JBIC  

• IndusInd Bank’s GIFT City IBU (IFSC Banking Unit) branch has entered into a $100 million long-term loan agreement with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to foster the growth of Japanese construction equipment companies in India.
• The funds raised will be used to provide need-based credit facilities to upstream and downstream companies that comprise the supply chain of Japanese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India,
• This is the first of its kind lending by JBIC through any IFSC Banking unit at GIFT City.
• The loans will be further co-financed by Mizuho Bank, Japan, the Shizuoka Bank, Singapore, and Joyo Bank, Japan.

Key Highlights : 

• Currently, the program will cover the component suppliers and dealers of the selected Japanese OEMs, as well as the final buyers of the construction machinery manufactured by those companies.
• MD and Group CEO, GIFT City : Tapan Ray

About IndusInd Bank : 

• Founded : April 1994
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Sumant Kathpalia.
• Tagline : We Make You Feel Richer

About JBIC : 

• Headquarters : Tokyo, Japan
• President & CEO : Tadashi Maeda
• JBIC, is a Japanese public financial institution and export credit agency .
• It was created on October 1, 1999, through the merger of the Japan Export-Import Bank (JEXIM) and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF)

SBI board approves fund raise of up to $2 billion for FY24 via long-term debt

• The board of the country’s biggest lender State Bank of India (SBI) approved long term fund raising of up to $2 billion (about Rs 16,000 crore) for FY24 through bonds.
• The fund – raising will be in single/multiple tranches under ‘Reg-S/144A’, through a public offer and/or private placement of senior unsecured notes.
• In March 2023, SBI raised Rs 3,717 crore by issuing a Tier 1 bond at a coupon rate of 8.25%
• Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of Bank of India (BoI) approved the raising of capital aggregating up to ₹6,500 crore in FY24 via issue of fresh equity capital and Basel III compliant Tier-2 bonds.
• The equity capital raise could be in the form of follow-on public offer/qualified institutional placement/rights issue/preferential Issue and/or Basel III compliant Additional Tier-1 (AT-1) bonds (domestic and foreign currency).
• It will also issue Basel III compliant Tier-2 bonds up to ₹2,000 crore.

 IBA sets up 4 member working group on ARCs

• The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has constituted a 4 member working group on asset reconstruction companies (ARCs).
• The 4-member group comprises

1. Hari Hara Mishra, CEO of Asset Reconstruction Companies Association
2. Purshotam Agarwal, chief investment officer of National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL)
3. Mythili Balasubramanian Executive Director of Edelweiss
4. Tarun Kumar, director of Encore Asset Reconstruction Company.

• The group will operate continuously on various issues and take them up with the IBA, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the union government.

What are ARCs?

• An ARC is a specialised financial institution that buys the Non Performing Assets (NPAs) or bad assets from banks and financial institutions so that the latter can clean up their balance sheets.
• The ARCs are registered under the RBI and regulated under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act, 2002).

About IBA : 

• Established : 26 September 1946
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Chief Executive : Sunil Mehta
• Chairman : Atul Kumar Goel

Indian Bank signs MoU with TN e-Governance agency to offer payment aggregator services

• Indian Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tamil Nadu (TN) e-Governance Agency (TNeGA), a state nodal agency under the Information Technology & Digital Services (IT&DS) Department Government of Tamil Nadu, for integrating Indian Bank Payment Aggregator for the e-Governance Applications of various departments in TN.

Key Highlights : 

• With this MoU, all TN Government departments can avail plug and play platform for any payment related needs.
• The Indian Bank Payment Aggregator platform services shall offer timely and cost effective solutions to these departments besides providing citizens and businesses with a seamless payment experience.
• This payment aggregator solution platform facilitates integrated payment mechanisms for online payment and collection through aggregation and reconciliation services with various payment channels like all debit/credit cards, UPI payment wallets and net banking.

About Indian Bank : 

• Established : 1907
• Headquarters : Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• MD & CEO : Shanti Lal Jain

RBL Bank launches unique digital fixed deposit scheme for new-to-bank customers

• RBL Bank has launched an innovative Digital Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme available to new-to-bank customers.
• Customers can book the Digital FD within minutes without having to visit a branch or opening a savings account with the Bank.

Key Highlights : 

• With an interest rate of up to 7.8% for a tenure of 15 months to 725 days, the digital FD provides investors with an interesting investment option.
• The online FD comes with several additional benefits, such as embedded insurance cover, seamless savings account opening process, ability to track and manage FD digitally, etc.
• The FD holders can opt for insurance cover under a Hospital Daily Cash Benefit policy which offers daily cash benefit for hospital expenses.
• The Digital FD is enabled through a quick online KYC process, making it easy and hassle-free for customers to open an FD within minutes.

About RBL Bank : 

• Founded : 6 August 1943
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : R. Subramaniakumar
• Tagline : Apno Ka Bank

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

President has inaugurated the five-day National Panchayat Awards Week

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the five-day National Panchayat Awards Week.
• It began with the ‘National Conference on Incentivization of Panchayats-cum-Award Ceremony’ in New Delhi.
• Droupadi Murmu said that Villages are the basic units to develop the entire country.
• She distributed National Panchayat Awards to best-performing panchayats selected from across the country.
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj is celebrating National Panchayat Awards Week from 17th April to 21st April 2023.
• The Theme of the National Panchayat Awards Week Celebrations is “Panchayaton ke Sankalpon ki Siddhi ka Utsav”.
• The various categories of the National Panchayat Awards–2023 are:
• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar
• Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar
• Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar
• Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar
• To further strengthen Gram Sabha for ensuring participatory democracy and making empowered people and accountable Panchayats, a new mobile application GS NIRNAY, National Initiative for Rural India to Navigate, InnovAte and Resolve PanchaYat decisions has been developed to record and upload Gram Sabha proceedings open for public view.
• The app Gram Sabha NIRNAY would be launched on this occasion by Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj.
• The recordings made through the GS NIRNAY app will provide a means of verification of facts where necessary or in case of queries that may arise regarding the resolutions undertaken during the Gram Sabha.
• Best Gram Panchyats – Mullusoge (Karnataka), Ngopa (Mizoram), MilakAmawti (Uttar Pradesh)
• Best Block Panchyats – Hinjilicut (Odisha), Thimmapur (Telangana), Kumarghat Bac (Tripura)
• Best District Panchyats – Ganjam (Odisha), Mulugu (Telangana), Dadar and Nagar Haveli (Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)

PM Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit

• PM Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi.
• The two-day summit will be hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation.
• The conference will be attended by eminent scholars, Sangha leaders and Dharma practitioners from all over the world.
• “Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis” is the theme of the Global Buddhist Summit.
• According to Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy, for the first time, eminent Buddhist monks from various nations would visit India and participate in the Summit.
• The Minister said that delegates from almost 30 countries will take part in the event and 150 delegates from Indian Buddhist organizations will participate.
• The summit’s main vision is to look into the teachings of the Shakyamuni Buddha (Gautama Buddha).
• International Buddhist Confederation is the biggest religious Buddhist confederation.
• It is based in Delhi.
• Lama Lobzang is its architect.

‘YUVA PORTAL’ has been launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh in New Delhi

• ‘YUVA PORTAL’ has been launched by Union Minister Jitendra Singh in New Delhi.
• The portal will help in connecting and identifying potential young start-ups.
• From 17-21 April 2023, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is organising the One Week- One Lab program.
• The objective of the event is to create awareness among the potential stakeholders about the technologies and services available at NPL to provide solutions to societal problems.
• There will also be three days of Startup-MSME-Industry Meet from 18-20 April.
• The objective of the event is to showcase the various services provided by NPL to the industries.
• A one day skill convention will be organized on 21st April to create awareness/educate the public about the skilling program of CSIR-NPL and motivate the local people by hosting various expert lectures.
• On January 6, 2023, Mr Singh had launched ‘One Week-One Lab’ campaign.
• Dr Jitendra Singh, highlighting India’s global leadership in technology, innovation and start-ups, said that each of the 37 CSIR laboratories is dedicated to a different specialized area of work.
• The One Week – One Lab program will provide an opportunity to CSIR laboratories to showcase the work they are doing so that others can take advantage of it.

AIIA has organized a two-day national conference ‘SRIJNA’ on infertility in women in New Delhi.

• The All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under the Ministry of AYUSH, has organized a two-day national conference ‘SRIJNA’ on infertility in women in New Delhi.
• Female infertility affects millions of people and affects their f amilies and communities.
• According to the WHO report, in 37 percent of the cases of childless couples, the reason was the inability of women to have children.
• The incidence of infertility in women is on the rise in India and about 15 percent of couples are affected by it.
• To address this problem, AIIA is sharing clinical research and knowledge through a national conference followed by a panel discussion in which over 100 delegates have registered to attend.
• In this conference, many gynaecologists associated with modern medical science have been also invited to share the latest information on this subject.

CJI Chandrachud-led five-judge bench to hear same sex marriage case

• SC set up a five-judge Constitution bench to hear same-sex marriage petitions.
• Five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has been formed to hear petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
• Besides the CJI, the bench comprises Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha
• In March 2023, the Supreme Court had sent the petitions to the constitution bench.
• The petitions involve the conflict between constitutional rights and specific legislative enactments, including the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
• Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioners said that the LGBTQ community should have the right to a life of dignity and marriage and family.
• Abhijit Iyer Mitra, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies, raised the issue for the first time in the Delhi High Court in November 2020.
• On September 6, 2018, the SC decriminalised consensual gay sex between adults in the Navtej Singh Johar verdict.
• As per Article 145 (3), cases that involve a substantial question of law relating to the interpretation of the Constitution should be heard by at least five judges.
• At present, Same-sex marriages are legal in 32 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada and France.
• Taiwan is the only Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Syria becomes world’s largest ‘narco-state’

• Syria has become the largest ‘narco-state’ in the world.
• The production and export of Captagon, which is also known as the “poor man’s coke,” has become a crucial source of economic sustenance for Syria.
• This highly addictive Captagon has become the primary lifeline of the country’s economy, generating over 90% of its foreign exchange.

What is meant by Nacro State?

• “Narco-State” means a nation where a significant portion of the economy is dependent on the illegal trade in narcotic drugs.

About Captagon : 

• Captagon is a synthetic stimulant that combines amphetamine and caffeine.
• Captagon was classified as an illegal drug by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2021.
• Captagon’s widespread presence and profitability in Syria has raised concerns about the devastating impact of drug trafficking on the country’s social fabric, health and security.
• In 1961, a German pharmaceutical company first introduced Captagon to treat health conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy and depression.
• Later, Captagon was found to be highly addictive and harmful to mental and physical health, leading to its prohibition.
• It is a highly sought-after recreational drug among young people in the Gulf countries, commonly known as “party pills“.
• The US enacted the Captagon Act in 2022, linking the drug trade to the Assad regime in Syria and labelling it an “international security threat”.

About Syria : 

• President : Bashar al-Assad
• Capital : Damascus
• Currency : Syrian pound

India holds 100th G20 meeting under its presidency in Varanasi

• India celebrates a key milestone in its Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency with the hosting of its 100th G20 meeting, the Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• This is the largest number of meetings ever hosted by any country as G-20 President so far.
• Over 12,300 delegates, from over 110 nationalities have attended G20-related meetings.

Key Highlights : 

• Under India’s G-20 Presidency, the 100 G-20 meetings have been held in 41 cities, covering 28 states and union territories of India.
• During the Presidency, India will be hosting foreign delegates for over 200 G20-related meetings in around 60 cities across India.

Key Statistics : 

• The chief coordinator of India’s G20 presidency is Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
• India took over the G-20 Presidency from Indonesia in November 2022.
• The 2023 G20 Summit is the 18th meeting of Group of Twenty (G-20) to be held in New Delhi in September 2023.
• Under India’s G20 presidency, 3 ministerial meetings have been held till date.
• The 2nd Health Working Group in Goa, the 2nd Digital Economy Working Group in Hyderabad and the Space Economy Leaders’ Precursor Meeting in Shillong are also being held.

About G20 : 

• The G20 comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States) and the European Union.
• The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

Nepal became a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance

• Nepal has become a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance initiated by India (IBCA), an initiative by the Government of India (GoI).

Key Highlights : 

• The alliance was launched under India’s initiative, and during the launch event, Nepal’s Energy Minister Mr Shakti Bahadur Basnet presented a letter indicating Nepal’s membership as a founding member to India’s Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Bhupendra Yadav.
• 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 IBCA : 

• The IBCA was launched by Prime Minister (PM) of India Shri Narendra Modi  on 9th April 2023, at Mysore, Karnataka, to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger.

Objective : 

• To conserve 7 big cats namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.
• The Indian Initiative of IBCA was launched in Nepal recently.

About Nepal : 

• Prime Minister – Pushpa Kamal Dahal
• President – Ram Chandra Paudel
• Capital – Kathmandu
• Currency – Nepalese Rupee

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Sabarimala greenfield airport receives clearance from Ministry of Civil Aviation 

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has granted site clearance for the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport Project in Kottayam, Kerala. 

Aim : 

• To enhance the connectivity to Sabarimala.
• It is being developed by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). 
• KSIDC, a body under the Government of Kerala, is the project proponent for the airport which will enhance connectivity to Sabarimala.

Key Highlights : 

• The Kottayam Greenfield Airport project is proposed to be developed on roughly 2,250 acres of land, and KSIDC aims to undertake the project in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• The estimated cost of the entire development project has been pegged at Rs 4,000 crore.
• The airport will have a runway length of at least 3.5 kilometres on 08/26 alignment.
• Once completed, it will be the 5th International Airport in Kerala.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Utsa Patnaik wins Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023

• Utsa Patnaik has been chosen for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023.
• Utsa Patnaik is a renowned economist of national and international repute.
• The Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust gives this award every year.
• The prestigious national award honours outstanding social scientists.
• Utsa Patnaik will be given the award with a citation and prize money of ₹2 lakh at a function that will be held in Chennai.

Indian-American CEO Raj Subramaniam presented with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman

• Raj Subramaniam, the Indian-American CEO of glob al transportation giant FedEx, has been presented with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest civilian award given by India to persons of Indian origin and Indian diaspora.
• Subramanian, 55, was presented with the award by India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu at a ceremony at the India House since he could not travel to India early this year to receive the award.
• The other awardee, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, was also present at the event.
• Subramanian is the president and CEO of FedEx Corporation, one of the world’s largest transportation companies.
• His international leadership experience and keen business insights have contributed immensely to the success of FedEx.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND INDEX

Bengaluru logs highest digital transactions in 2022

• Bengaluru with 29 million transactions worth USD 65 billion emerged on top in digital payment transactions.
• New Delhi with 19.6 million transactions worth USD 50 billion and Mumbai with 18.7 million transactions worth USD 49.5 billion are in second and third spots.
• Pune and Chennai are also among the top 5 in digital payment transactions in 2022
• According to the report, physical merchants like grocery stores, restaurants, clothing and apparel, pharmacy, etc. accounted for over 43 per cent of digital transactions in terms of volume and about 40 per cent in terms of value.
• Around 85% of digital transactions in terms of volume are related to E-commerce space, gaming, utility and financial services.
• Education, travel and hospitality sector contributed 15 per cent in digital transactions volume and 75 per cent in terms of value.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Navy Conducts Offshore Biannual Security Exercise ‘Prasthan’ In Mumbai

• Indian Navy conducted the bi-annual coordinated exercise Prasthan along with other defence, state and civilian agencies in the offshore area development off Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Aim : 

• To integrate the efforts of all maritime stakeholders involved in offshore defence.
• About 30 nautical miles southwest of Bombay Harbour, on the Greatdrill and Chaaya platform, the practice was carried out.
• The previous edition of the exercise was held in October 2022 in the Krishna Godavari Basin Offshore Development Area (ODA) under the aegis of headquarters, Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

About Prasthan exercise : 

• The exercise is held every 6 months, to verify the policies and methods for handling potential emergencies on oil production platforms.
• The Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Coast Guard (ICG),Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), and Directorate General of Shipping all sent ships and helicopters for the drill.
• Personnel from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Mumbai Port Trust (Mbpt), Customs, Fisheries Department, and other relevant state and federal civilian agencies also took part.

About Indian Navy : 

• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral R Hari Kumar

Indian Air Force participated in multilateral international exercise Orion in France   

• An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will depart for France, to participate in Multilateral Military exercise, Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan, an Air Force base of the French Air and Space Force (FASF).
• The exercise will be conducted from 17 April 2023 to 05 May 2023, with the IAF Contingent comprising 4 Rafale, 2 C-17, 2 ll-78 aircraft and 165 air warriors.
• This would be the first overseas exercise for the IAF’s Rafale aircraft.
• Air Forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain and the United States of America (USA) are also participating in the exercise.
• Participation in this exercise would further enrich the employment philosophy of the India Air Force, by imbibing the best practices from other Air Forces.

About Ministry of Defence : 

• Defence Minister : Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State : Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary : Giridhar Aramane

India Acquires Weapons Worth $300 Million From US For Indian Navy

• The Indian Navy is procuring weapons and equipment worth more than USD 300 million (over Rs 2,400 crore) from the United States of America (USA). 
• The weapons will arm naval helicopters which will enhance their capabilities to counter enemy warships and submarines.
• The weapons are for the MH 60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters, the most advanced multi-role helicopters currently in service with the Indian Navy.
• As part of the deal, the fleet of 24 choppers that the Indian Navy has will get additional Hellfire missiles and MK 54 lightweight torpedoes

About MH 60 Romeo Helicopters : 

• The deal to procure the MH 60 choppers was signed on February 24, 2020, at an estimated cost of USD 2 billion (over Rs 16,300 crore).
• The MH-60 Romeo has been in service since 2022 when the first batch of these choppers was delivered in Kochi, Kerala.
• These helicopters have been acquired to fill a critical gap of choppers in the navy.
• The delivery is expected to be completed by 2025.
• These naval choppers are manufactured by Lockheed Martin and bring transformational anti-Submarine (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities to navies around the world.
• The MH-60R is equipped with digital sensors including multi-mode radar, electronic support measures system, electro-optical/ infrared measures system, electro-optical/ infrared camera, datalinks, aircraft survivability systems, dipping Sonars and sonobuoys.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IIT Indore in collaboration with NASA-Caltech develops low-cost camera for multispectral imaging of flame

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore in collaboration with NASA-Caltech from the United States (US) and Sweden’s University of Gothenburg has developed a low-cost camera setup which can provide multispectral imaging of 4 chemical species in a flame using a single DSLR camera.
• The low-cost DSLR camera device named “CL-Flam” has been developed after 3 years’ research.
• The cost of the development of the device was around Rs. 50,000.

Objective : 

• To study the combustion of fuels and improve the efficiency of engines and burners while reducing carbon emissions.

Key Highlights : 

• The set up can simultaneously capture multiple spectral 3D images of 4 chemical species in a flame using a single DSLR camera.
• Earlier, such scientific imaging required a complex system with 4 cameras.
• The device uses the method of Structured illumination that allows for simultaneous imaging of multiple species.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Suryakumar Yadav named Wisden’s leading T20I cricketer

• The Indian duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Harmanpreet Kaur has added another feather to their outstanding crown after bagging the Wisden Almanack’s leading cricketer in the World awards.
• Suryakumar won the honour of Wisden Almanack’s leading T20I cricketer while Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian woman to win the Cricketer of the Year award.
• England captain Ben Stokes has been named Wisden’s leading cricketer in the world.
• Australia batter Beth Mooney was named the world’s top women’s cricketer for the second time in three years, having led her country to World Cup triumphs in the 50-over and 20-over tournaments and winning gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
• England batter Jonny Bairstow received the new Wisden Trophy for outstanding individual Test performance of the year after twin hundreds in a record-breaking win over India in July.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

National Civil Service Day 2023: April 21

• Every year April 21st is celebrated as National Civil Service Day.
• National Civil Service Day is known as the spine of the administration of the country.
• In 1947 on 21st April Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Home minister of independent India addressed the Probationary Officers at the all Indian Administrative Service Training School at Metcalfe House in New Delhi.
• Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel delivered a powerful speech and empowered the civil servants to adopt the role of national service leaving behind the experience.
• In his speech he referred to civil servants as the “Steel frame of India”.
• The first such function was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 21st April 2006.
• So, since 2006 it has been celebrated as National Civil Service Day on the 21st of April.
• On this day Prime Minister was awarded for excellence in public administration.

Daily CA One-Liner: April 21

• IndusInd Bank’s GIFT City IBU (IFSC Banking Unit) branch has entered into a $100 million long-term loan agreement with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to foster the growth of Japanese construction equipment companies in India.
• The board of the country’s biggest lender State Bank of India (SBI) approved long term fund raising of up to $2 billion (about Rs 16,000 crore) for FY24 through bonds.
• The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has constituted a 4 member working group on asset reconstruction companies (ARCs).
• Indian Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tamil Nadu (TN) e-Governance Agency (TNeGA), a state nodal agency under the Information Technology & Digital Services (IT&DS) Department Government of Tamil Nadu, for integrating Indian Bank Payment Aggregator for the e-Governance Applications of various departments in TN.
• RBL Bank has launched an innovative Digital Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme available to new-to-bank customers.
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the five-day National Panchayat Awards Week.
• PM Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi.
• ‘YUVA PORTAL’ has been launched by Union Minister Jitendra Singh in New Delhi.
• The All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under the Ministry of AYUSH, has organized a two-day national conference ‘SRIJNA’ on infertility in women in New Delhi
• SC set up a five-judge Constitution bench to hear same-sex marriage petitions
• Utsa Patnaik has been chosen for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023
• Raj Subramaniam, the Indian-American CEO of glob al transportation giant FedEx, has been presented with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest civilian award given by India to persons of Indian origin and Indian diaspora
• Bengaluru with 29 million transactions worth USD 65 billion emerged on top in digital payment transactions
• The Indian duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Harmanpreet Kaur has added another feather to their outstanding crown after bagging the Wisden Almanack’s leading cricketer in the World awards
• Syria has become the largest ‘narco-state’ in the world.
• India celebrates a key milestone in its Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency with the hosting of its 100th G20 meeting, the Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• Nepal has become a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance initiated by India (IBCA), an initiative by the Government of India (GoI).
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has granted site clearance for the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport Project in Kottayam, Kerala. 
• Indian Navy conducted the bi-annual coordinated exercise Prasthan along with other defence, state and civilian agencies in the offshore area development off Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will depart for France, to participate in Multilateral Military exercise, Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan, an Air Force base of the French Air and Space Force (FASF).
• The Indian Navy is procuring weapons and equipment worth more than USD 300 million (over Rs 2,400 crore) from the United States of America (USA). 
• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore in collaboration with NASA-Caltech from the United States (US) and Sweden’s University of Gothenburg has developed a low-cost camera setup which can provide multispectral imaging of 4 chemical species in a flame using a single DSLR camera.
• Every year April 21st is celebrated as National Civil Service Day.