Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of Apr 08th to 14th Apr 2023. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBI Clerk 2023 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• World Homeopathy Day 2023 is celebrated on the 10th of April every year
• National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated on the 11th of April every year
• Every year April 13th is observed as Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

• The ministry of heavy industries said Rs 800 crore under FAME India scheme Phase-2 has been sanctioned to three PSU oil marketing companies (OMC) for setting up 7,432 public fast charging EV stations across the country
• The National Gallery of Modern Art organised “Spring Fiesta” to celebrate its foundation day
• Bandipur Tiger Reserve recently completed 50 years as a Project Tiger Reserve.
• The Union Cabinet approved a project to build an advanced gravitational-wave detector in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore
• To achieve saturation under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), the Finance Ministry launched a three-month campaign
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Rs 1.18 lakh crore Budget for Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2023-24 with a thrust on providing housing in rural areas and water tap connections to 18.36 lakh households
• The Ministry of Finance said that around 41 crore loans amounting to ₹2-lakh-crore were sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) in the last eight years of existence of the scheme
• The eastern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a stay on the ₹72,000 crore Great Nicobar Island project and constituted a committee to revisit the environmental clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• Bengaluru will soon have India’s first post office constructed using 3D printing technology.
• The Hon’ble Prime Minister on 5th January, 2015 launched Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP), which is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture company of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of Ministry of Power to replace conventional Street Lights with smart and energy efficient LED Street Lights across India
• The Cabinet gave its nod for inking an agreement with the German development bank, KfW, for securing a loan for the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) project being implemented by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB)

• Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has formed a committee to examine issues related to stalled real estate projects
• The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has elected India as member to the UN Statistical Commission, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the UN HIV/AIDS Program Coordinating Board (UNAIDS)
• On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a 54-feet tall statue of Lord Hanuman at Sarangpur temple in Botad district of Gujarat
• The Ministry of Cooperation has approved and released a one-time grant-in-aid of 30 crore rupees to establish the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management

• The Union government is likely to set up the 16th Finance Commission this year to suggest, among other things, the ratio in which tax is to be divided between the Centre and states for five years, beginning April 1, 2026
• The Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala is the country's best-maintained tiger reserve, according to the 5th cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) carried out by the Centre
• Total balance in bank accounts under PMJDY has reached to a record level of ₹50,000 crore in the financial year ended March 31, 2023
• Four infrastructure projects have been approved by the Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM Gati Shakti initiative
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a scheme that envisages monetary aid to poor inmates who cannot afford the penalty or the bail amount.
• PM Modi released the latest census data of the tigers in the country at Mysuru, Karnataka
• Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R. K. Singh released the report of State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22
• The government is planning to rehaul the livestock insurance scheme and will launch a comprehensive livestock insurance scheme just like Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana
• Union Minister of Law Kiren Rijiju has released the Dogri version of the Constitution of India
• 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi has been launched by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to Uganda's Kampala
• The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCR TC) has announced that the country’s first semi-high-speed regional rail services will be named ‘RAPIDX’

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Finland becomes the 31st member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), in a historic strategic shift provoked by Moscow's war on Ukraine, which doubles the US-led alliance's border with Russia.
• India and Bhutan are considering setting up the first Integrated Check Post along the border near Jaigaon.
• ‘Kashi’(Varanasi) has been declared the first tourism and cultural capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• In a big relief for foreign workers in the United States (US) tech sector, a judge has ruled that spouses of H-1B visa holders can work in the US.
• India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mr Ruchira Kamboj handed over the contribution of USD 2 million to the United Nations Trust Fund in support of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

• According to the data from Geographical Indication (GI) Registry, Kerala has topped the list of states in India with the most number of products securing the GI tag in the financial year 2022-23.
• Bihar's West Champaran's 'Mircha' rice has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the grant of the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Ladakh wood carving also known as ‘Ladakh Shingskos’
• The Banarasi Paan, celebrated in Amitabh Bachchan's iconic song ‘Khaike paan banaras wala’ received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• India’s first listed power sector infrastructure investment trust,India Grid Trust has commissioned its first battery energy storage system (BESS) project coupled with its solar panels at the Dhule substation in Maharashtra.
• Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister (CM) Shri M K Stalin launched Anaivarukkum IITM' (IIT-M for All) the initiative of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai, to connect the institution with one lakh government school students in TN studying in rural locations to electronic science.
• The Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) has introduced its first solar-powered tourist vessel named 'Sooryamshu' in Kochi backwaters, Kerala.
• The Union Cabinet gave its nod for inking an agreement with the German development bank, KfW, for securing a loan for the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) project being implemented by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).
• The second Meeting of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) under G20 (Group of Twenty) India Presidency concluded in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• The Yaoshang festival is celebrated every year on the full moon of Lamta month (February-March) of the Meitei lunar calendar.
• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Mr Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Mr Bhagwant Mann jointly launched the 'CM di Yogshala' programme.
• Uttar Pradesh's(UP) Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre (JCBC) in Maharajganj district, the world's first conservation and breeding centre built and designed exclusively for the conservation of Asian king vulture, is ready to be inaugurated by UP Chief Minister (CM) Shri Yogi Adityanath.
• Tamil Nadu (TN) Governor Shri RN Ravi approved a Bill to ban online gambling, including online rummy and poker with stakes.
• Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant Governor(LG) Shri Manoj Sinha, who inaugurated the Jammu’s first Tulip garden, spread over 5 acres and having 2.75 lakh bulbs of 25 different varieties, was opened to the public in Sansar, Ramban district, J&K.

• The Government of Himachal Pradesh (HP) has launched a project named Sanjeevani to empower the livelihood of small dairy farmers and livestock owners.
• Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane inaugurated the third production line of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) set up by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) at Nashik in

• The Himachal Pradesh (HP) Legislative Assembly passed the Himachal Pradesh Sukhashraya (Care, Protection and Self-Reliance of the Children of the State) Bill, 2023.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

• ArcelorMittal SA said its Indian steelmaking joint venture with Asian peer Nippon Steel Corp has entered into a $5 billion loan deal with a consortium of Japanese lenders
• Reliance Industries Ltd and its telecom arm Jio Infocomm have raised a total of USD 5 billion in back-to-back foreign currency loans, the largest syndicated loan in India's corporate history
• Apple has officially announced its first-ever flagship retail store in Mumbai called ‘Apple BKC’
• Jakson Green has won a project from state-run NTPC to set up a methanol synthesis facility at its Vindhyachal thermal power plant (TPP) in Madhya Pradesh
• As per fresh estimates made by the WTO Global trade in goods is likely to grow by 1.7 per cent in 2023, following a 2.7 per cent growth in 2022, hit by the effects of the long-drawn war in Ukraine, high inflation, tighter monetary policy and financial market uncertainty
• Paradip Port has handled a record annual traffic of 135.36 million metric tonnes in 2022-23 against 13 million metric tonnes in the last financial year
• United Nations, India's economic growth is projected to decelerate to 6 per cent in 2023 from 6.6 per cent in 2022

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND ECONOMY

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has developed a software application, known as ‘APConnect’ for processing applications related to licencing of Full-Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs), non-bank Authorised Dealers (AD) Category-II, authorisation as Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) Agent, renewal of existing licences/authorisations, for seeking approval and submission of various statements/returns.
• As part of its ease of banking initiative for customers, Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has launched a digitised personal loan for customers in select regions & enhanced its WhatsApp banking with the addition of “apply for loan” and “loan balance inquiry features”
• The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as the second most preferred method of repaying digital loans, coming at 27%, only after e-NACH or electronic National Automated Clearing House which was the preferred route for 36% of the borrowers.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stated that the “Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC” (ADCB) has been excluded from the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934.
• The Reserve Bank of India has revised the regulatory framework for urban co-operative banks (UCBs), prescribing minimum net worth of ₹2 crore for Tier-1 banks and ₹5 crore for all other banks

• Axis Bank, India’s third largest private sector bank, in partnership with Visa announced the launch of an app ‘Digital Dukaan’, a comprehensive digital offering that will empower merchants to accept payments through various digital modes and also enable them to manage their day-to-day business digitally.
• India's homegrown payments system, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), recorded its highest-ever number of transactions at 8.7 billion in March 2023.
• Canara Bank has introduced “Premium Payroll Package” for the Salary account holders with competitive features.
• South Indian Bank Limited (SIB) has announced partnership with Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Ltd (Chola MS) to offer health and general insurance products.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released data on India’s International Investment Position (IIP) for the end of December 2022.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹6.77 crore on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited for non-compliance with the “Non-Banking Financial Company-Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company and Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016”.
• The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) governor Mr Shaktikanta Das proposed to expand scope of United Payments Interface (UPI) by permitting operations of pre-sanctioned credit lines by banks through UPI.
• Fairfax-backed, leading Mumbai-based non-banking financial company (NBFC), IIFL Finance Limited (IIFL), has secured USD 100 million in long-term funding, jointly, from Export Development Canada (EDC) and Deutsche Bank.
• According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data India’s Bank credit rose by 15% year-on-year (YoY) in 2022-23 (FY23), against 9.6% YoY in 2021-22 (FY22).
• Indian Bank, a public sector bank, launched a new retail term deposit named “IND SUPER 400 DAYS” with 0.05% higher interest rate to women investors & fixed maturity tenor of 400 days in the form of FD/MMD (Fixed Deposits/Money Multiplier Deposits)
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has planned to launch a secured web-based centralised portal named ‘PRAVAAH’ (Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation AndAutHorisation) to simplify and streamline application processes.
• The State Bank of India (SBI) is planning to launch new variants of current account (with balances of ₹50,000 and ₹50 lakh) and “Parivar” (family) savings account in FY24 to minimise the gap between deposit growth and credit growth.
• Multilateral funding agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) proposes to subscribe non-convertible debentures worth ₹ 150 crore of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL), to enhance Delhi's power distribution through grid enhancements.

• NSE Indices Limited, a subsidiary of National Stock Exchange (NSE), has launched India’s first ever Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) called Nifty REITs and InvITs Index.
• Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Co. Ltd (Kotak General Insurance) has partnered with ai to offer bite-sized insurance products to new-age Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) companies.
• The Japanese lender, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has teamed up with Citibank to provide a $125 million funding line to domestic private sector lender Indusind Bank.
• As per Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) Monetary Policy report for April,2023 banks have kept savings deposit rates unchanged in the current tightening period.
• ICICI Bank has introduced an easy EMI facility for UPI payments made by scanning QR code.
• To ensure a hassle-free purchase of motor insurance policies, SBI General Insurance has partnered with Bajaj Finance to offer one-of-its-kind car and bike insurance policies.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the framework for the acceptance of green deposits of regulated entities (RE).
• To bring transparency in expenses and curb mis-selling, Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has asked alternative investment funds (AIFs) to provide an option of “direct plan” for investors and introduced a trail model for distribution commission.
• The latest bi-annual World Economic Outlook Report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecast for the financial year 2023-24 (FY24) to 5.9% from 6.1% projected earlier.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• Volodymyr Zelensky has been awarded Poland's highest Order of the White Eagle award
• Bharat Biotech has won the `Best Production /Process Development’ award as part of the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards at the World Vaccine Congress 2023
• The Indian-American statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao has been awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, which is statistics’ equivalent of the Nobel Prize
• Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of Aditya Birla Group, won the prestigious 'Business Leader of the Decade' award at All India Management Association's (AIMA) 13th Managing India Awards ceremony

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• Iran had appointed an ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time since 2016, amid a realignment of relations between Gulf states and Iran.
• One of the leading two-wheeler makers, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) appointed Tsutsumu Otani as the President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD).
• The Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA) has appointed Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, one of the largest fully integrated Assurance, Tax and Advisory firms in India, to assist in the formulation of an Annual Capacity Building Plan (ACBP)
• The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has extended the term of Chandra Shekhar Rajan as non-executive chairman of IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited) up to September 30, 2023.
• Senior Vice President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo assumed charge as the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
• India has been elected to the United Nations (UN) Statistical Commission for a four-year term starting from 1st January 2024.
• Tommy Hilfiger, the premium fashion brand owned by NYSE-listed PVH Corp, has signed on Tollywood star heroine Samantha Ruth Prabhu as the new brand ambassador for their women watches category.
• The board of members of Wind and turbine manufacturer Suzlon Energy has appointed J P Chalasani as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has appointed K Krithivasan as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of the company.
• In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President of India appointed Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Judge of Jharkhand High Court as the Chief Justice of Tripura High Court.
• Anshuman Singhania, the Managing Director of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has been elected as the new Chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA).
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has appointed Vishal Anand Kanvaty as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

• Slipping six ranks from last year, the Indian passport has registered the largest global fall in the Passport Index 2023 — ranking at the 144th position this year, with a mobility score of 70
• Elon Musk titled as the Most Followed Twitter User
• India is home to the fifth highest number of female billionaires in the world
• Tripura became the best-performing state among North Eastern States in implementing e-Procurement
• Mumbai, Maharashtra's capital has featured in the list of top twenty cities with best public transport in the world
• Shah Rukh Khan the man that gave Bollywood its biggest hit "Pathaan' since the industry seemed to have been suffering in box office collections in the post-covid era, has now ranked highest in TIME 100 Reader Poll
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) inducted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and national vice president of BJP youth wing Madhukeshwar Desai to the list of world’s most promising public figures under the age of 40
• India's commercial capital Mumbai has been included in the World Tree City 2022 list, for the second consecutive year

• According to Airports Council International (ACI) list, Delhi Airport with more than 5.94 crore passenger traffic has become the ninth busiest airport in the world in 2022
• International Renewable Energy Agency released ‘World Energy Transitions: Outlook 2023’ report

• MRF Limited has emerged as the second strongest tyre brand in the world according to the latest report by Brand Finance on the Most Valuable and Strongest Tyre Brands in the world
• Twenty-nine of the 30 incumbent Chief Ministers are crorepatis with Andhra Pradesh's Jagan Mohan Reddy having the highest assets totalling ₹510 crore, according to poll affidavits analysed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITION AND MERGERS

• The National Company Law Tribunal has approved the acquisition of Karaikal Port (KPPL) by the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), the largest transport utility in India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

• Godrej Agrovet has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government on the sidelines of the Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit (APGIS) 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

• India’s only tri-services Andaman & Nicobar Command conducted a joint military exercise ‘EX-KAVACH’.
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD), signed a contract for procurement of 6 Dornier-228 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a cost of Rs 667 crore.
• The Extended Range Anti Submarine Rocket (ER-ASR) designed by two Pune-based facilities of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully test-fired for the 1st time from Navy’s INS Chennai.
• Indian Navy conducted the offshore biannual security exercise 'Prashthan' in the offshore development area (ODA) off Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The Chinese military successfully held three days of military drills dubbed Operation Joint Sword, around Taiwan Island.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced the 4 astronauts crew for the Artemis II mission which includes 3 American nationals and 1 Canadian astronaut.
• The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) is set to launch its first operational Earth observation satellite "Taifa-1" or "Nation-1" in Swahili, on April 10, 2023.
• Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has successfully tested a homemade long-range, high-precision kamikaze drone named Meraj-532, equipped with a 50-kg warhead.
• The Chinese space startup ‘Space Pioneer (also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Company Limited)successfully launched ‘Tianlong-2 rocket (TL-2) into orbit from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centerlocated in the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia.
• The classic blue bird logo of the social media giant Twitter, has been replaced with the “doge” meme.
• Turkey launched its first amphibious assault ship aiming to extend its drone capabilities from land-based to naval operations amid increased regional tensions as war rages in Ukraine on the other side of the Black Sea.
• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-Bombay), to develop a touchless biometric capture system for easier use, anytime and anywhere.
• Chennai-based drone startup Garuda Aerospace Private Limited has become the first company to receive the government's agri-drone subsidy for the agricultural drones.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• The city of Chennai has always welcomed the sport of cricket with open arms, and has played the perfect host to several national and international tournaments

• The two-time Olympic medallist and former World Badminton Champion P.V. Sindhu has lost to Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the summit clash of the Madrid Spain Masters

• Royal Enfield has partnered with the Indian women’s Ice Hockey team to strengthen its Olympic ambitions
• Sony Sports Network, has extended its collaboration with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the governing body of football in Europe
• Teenaged Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh stunned former world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania event

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS

• A New Book Titled ‘The Great Bank Robbery’ is authored by V Pattabhi Ram and Sabyasachee Dash

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

• Jharkhand Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto passed away at the age of 56 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
• Former Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu (TN) Naresh Gupta passed away at the age of 72 in Chennai, TN.