Current Affairs (19th April, 2023)

Current Affairs

On April 18^th every year, World Heritage Day or International Day for Monuments and Sites is observed, which highlights the significance of cultural heritage and emphasizes the preservation of historical monuments and locations worldwide.
The day serves as a reminder of the value of cultural heritage and encourages people to cherish and safeguard it for future generations. It also celebrates the distinct and diverse cultural heritage across the globe.
"Heritage Changes" is the chosen theme for World Heritage Day 2023, which concentrates on the critical matter of climate action and its impact on cultural heritage. The theme highlights the relationship between climate change and cultural heritage.

During an event in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, the union home minister, Amit Shah bestowed the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan Award upon the celebrated social worker, Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, who is widely known as Appasaheb Dharmadhikari.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Cabinet ministers were present at the function attended by a mammoth gathering comprising Dharmadhikari followers.
Amit Shah felicitated the 76-year-old social worker by gifting him a shawl, a citation, a memento, and a cheque worth Rs. 25 lakhs. In a kind gesture, the social worker donated the entire amount to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

The discovery of a rare freshwater fish in the Koraput district was made recently by researchers from the Central University of Odisha (CUO) and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), which is a significant finding.
A new species of cyprinid fish belonging to the Garra genus has been discovered in the Kolab River.

Garra Laishrami Fish

These fish are identified by the existence of a gular disc, which is made up of tissues from the gular region, and the snout tubercles differ in size, shape, and arrangement.
They are typically found underneath rocks, stones, and boulders in fast-flowing streams and rivers.
The geographical distribution of this species ranges from Borneo, southern China, and southern Asia through the Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa to West Africa.

It is also known as Sabari River and is one of the main tributaries of the Godavari River.
It originates from the Sinkaram hill ranges on the western slopes of the Eastern Ghats in the state of Odisha.
It serves as the boundary between the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha before flowing into Andhra Pradesh, where it eventually joins the Godavari River.

Provisional data released by the Commerce Ministry on Monday indicated that India's wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation decreased from 3.85% in February to 1.34% in March, based on an annual comparison.
March is the 10^th straight month when wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation has declined.
In March, the drop-in wholesale inflation rates can be primarily attributed to reduced prices of basic metals, food products, textiles, non-food articles, minerals, rubber and plastic products, crude petroleum and natural gas, as well as paper and paper products.

Sources from India's commerce ministry have confirmed that the country will challenge a decision made by the World Trade Organization's (WTO) dispute settlement panel regarding import tariffs on specific information and technology products, which the panel deemed to be in violation of international trade regulations.
The European Union, Japan, and Taiwan initiated the dispute, contending that India's import tariffs on specific information and technology products breached regulations set forth by the WTO.

Karnataka Bank, a private lender based in Mangaluru, announced that Sekhar Rao, who currently serves as the bank's executive director, has been appointed as the interim managing director and chief executive officer following approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Reference Link: https://www.cnbctv18.com/market/rbi-approves-appointment-of-sekhar-rao-as-interim-md-and-ceo-of-karnataka-bank-16392311.htm

The Bhavanapadu Port in Srikakulam district was renamed as the Mulapeta Port by the Andhra Pradesh government, in order to show respect towards the sentiments of the local villagers.
Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will lay the foundation stone for the greenfield port on April 19.
According to Karikal Valaven, the Special Chief Secretary for Infrastructure and Investments (Ports), the Andhra Pradesh government made the decision to rename the Bhavanapadu Port to Mulapeta Port after receiving a request from farmers belonging to Mulapeta and Vishnuchakram villages.
The farmers suggested the name change as Bhavanapadu village does not fall within the proposed port area, while all the lands of Mulapeta and some from Vishnuchakram have been earmarked for acquisition.

The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, inaugurated the Shar Nyima Tsho Sum Namyig Lhakhang (Gonpa) located in Gyangkhar village.
The Gonpa holds immense historical significance, not just for the people of Shar Nyima Tsho Sum, but also for all Buddhists, as it is believed to contribute to human well-being. Although the Gonpa, which dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries, was on the verge of collapse, it has now been restored to its former glory after undergoing renovation and receiving necessary rituals and blessings.
After inaugurating the Gonpa, a special public function was held for Buddhist followers at Gyangkhar village, where the Chief Minister honoured esteemed monks and dignitaries.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is expected to replace its current system of notifying currency exchange rates every two weeks with a new system that publishes the rates daily on the integrated customs portal.
By implementing this new system, importers and exporters will be able to accurately calculate customs duties based on daily exchange rates, as the system will enable the capture of daily exchange rate fluctuations.

As per the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India's annual trade figures, the UAE remains the second most significant export market for India.
The figures revealed that during the 2022-23 financial year, the US and UAE held the first and second spots, respectively, in this category.
The Ministry simultaneously released India’s trade figures for March 2023, immediately after the end of the month. The figures reveal that the UAE was ranked second, after the US, as India's top export destination, while for imports, the UAE was in third place after Russia and China.
Among the GCC countries, only Saudi Arabia featured as one of India's major export destinations and import sources, ranking eighth for exports and fifth for imports.