UN English Language Day & UN Spanish Language Day
The UN English Language Day and UN Spanish Language Day is observed annually on 23 April. For English, 23 April has been chosen to mark both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. For the Spanish Language, the Day was chosen because the day is also observed as Hispanic Day in Spain, meaning the Spanish speaking world.
Why is the Day observed?
- They are one of the six official languages used by the United Nations throughout the Organization. These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
- Each language has been assigned a day of celebration by the UN’s Department of Public Information in 2010 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.
Renowned Qawwali Singer Farid Sabri Passes Away
Qawwali singer Farid Sabri, of the famous Sabri Brothers duo, has passed away. Sabri Brothers (Farid Sabri and Amin Sabri) were known for their evergreen numbers like ‘Der Na Ho Jaye Kahin Der Na Ho Jaye’ and ‘Ek Mulakat Zaruri Hai Sanam’. The brothers and their father Saeed Sabri performed qawwali at several events held in Indian and abroad.
Fitch Ratings Affirms India’s Sovereign Rating at ‘BBB-‘
Rating agency Fitch Ratings has kept the sovereign rating of India unchanged at ‘BBB-‘ with a negative outlook. Earlier, Fitch had estimated GDP contraction of 7.5 per cent in 2020-21 and growth of 12.8 per cent in the fiscal year FY22, followed by 5.8 per cent in FY23.
India Ranks 87th in WEF Global Energy Transition Index 2021
India is placed at the 87th position among 115 countries in the 2021 Energy Transition Index (ETI). The report is published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), prepared in collaboration with Accenture to track nations on the current performance of their energy systems across various aspects.
Index
- Sweden
- Norway
- Denmark
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Finland
- The United Kingdom
- New Zealand
- France
- Iceland
- Zimbabwe (115) is the last ranked country in the index.
About the index:
The index benchmarks 115 countries on the current performance of their energy systems across three dimensions — economic development and growth, environmental sustainability, and energy security and access indicators — and their readiness to transition to secure, sustainable, affordable, and inclusive energy systems.
Padma awardee winning Indian Islamic Scholar Maulana Wahiduddin passes away
Noted Indian Islamic scholar, spiritual leader and author Maulana Wahiduddin Khan has passed away due to Covid-19 complications. He has written over 200 books on several aspects of Islam and is best known for having written a commentary on the Quran and its translation in English, Hindi and Urdu. He was the recipient of several notable honours like Padma Vibhushan (2021), Padma Bhushan (2000) and the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award (2009).
S&P Projects India’s GDP Growth Forecast at 11% in FY22
The S&P Global Ratings has estimated the Indian economy to grow at 11 per cent in the current fiscal, i.e. 2021-22 (FY22). In terms of the sovereign rating, S&P currently has a ‘BBB-‘ rating on India with a stable outlook. Earlier, for 2020-21, the S&P estimated the Indian economy to contract 8 per cent.
PM Modi Participates in Leaders’ Summit on Climate
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the “Leaders’ Summit on Climate”, hosted by the President of the U.S.A. Joe Biden. The two-day conference has been organised virtually on 22-23 April 2021, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Paris Agreement on climate change for signature.
About the summit:
- The theme of the summit: Our Collective Sprint to 2030.
- A total of 40 national leaders have been invited by Biden to attend this two-day virtual climate summit.
- The Summit is being held in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) that will take place in November 2021 in Glasglow.
CAG GC Murmu selected as external auditor for Hague
India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), GC Murmu has been chosen as the external auditor by the Hague-based Conference of State Parties of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), for a three-year term starting 2021.
India was also selected as a member of the executive council of the OPCW representing the Asia group for another two-year term.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to Cancel Licence of Sambandh Finserve
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a show-cause notice prior to cancelling the licence of fraud-hit Sambandh Finserve Pvt Ltd. after its networth eroded below the regulatory minimum and financial situation worsened beyond redemption over the recent months. Sambandh is registered as an NBFC-MFI.
The Managing Director and CEO of Sambandh, Deepak Kindo, who was allegedly the main perpetrator of the fraud, has been arrested by Economic Offence Wing, Chennai. According to the RBI norms, NBFC is required to maintain minimum capital levels consisting of Tier-I and Tier-II capital, of not less than 15 per cent of their aggregate risk-weighted assets.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Sambandh Finserve Private Limited founded: 1992;
- Sambandh Finserve Private Limited Headquarters: Odisha.
Rekha Menon takes over as first woman chairperson of Nasscom
Accenture India’s chairperson, Rekha M Menon has been appointed as chairperson of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), becoming the first woman to take the top role in the software lobby group’s 30-year history. She succeeds U B Pravin Rao, chief operating officer of Infosys as Nasscom’s chairperson. TCS President Krishnan Ramanujam will be the vice-chairperson.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- NASSCOM Headquarters: New Delhi.
- NASSCOM Founded: 1 March 1988.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover extracts first oxygen from Red Planet
According to NASA a toaster-size experimental instrument aboard Perseverance called the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) accomplished the task. Mars’ atmosphere is 96 per cent carbon dioxide. MOXIE works by separating oxygen atoms from carbon dioxide molecules, which are made up of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. MOXIE is expected to extract oxygen at least nine more times over the course of a Martian year (nearly two years on Earth).
This technology demonstration was designed to ensure the instrument survived the launch from Earth, a nearly seven-month journey through deep space, and a touchdown with Perseverance on February 18. The growing list of “firsts” for Perseverance, NASA’s newest six-wheeled robot on the Martian surface, includes converting some of the Red Planet’s thin, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere into oxygen.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Acting Administrator of NASA: Steve Jurczyk.
- Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States.
- NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.
Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 held
The opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 was held in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province. The theme of the conference – “A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation”.
The forum, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has not only played a unique role in pooling consensus and putting forward valuable “Boao proposals,” but also engaged countries in addressing global issues and promoting world development and prosperity.
