Current Affairs – April 20 2023
Current Affairs – April 20 2023. Read and Download daily, monthly latest Current Affairs Daily Digest 2023 for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI etc,. Download month wise Current affairs 2023 PDF and Current affairs quiz PDF .
Current Affairs – April 20 2023
1. India retains third spot as a unicorn hub, shows Hurun report
After the United States and China, India has retained the third-highest number of unicorns in the world. India trails behind China and the US, which have 316 and 666 unicorns, respectively. Since the start of the pandemic, India has gained 14 new unicorns.
The report claims that BYJU’s is the most valuable unicorn in India, with a valuation of US$ 22 billion, followed by Swiggy and Dream11, each with a projected value of US$ 8 billion. BYJU’S is also one of the top ten unicorns with the largest valuation rise since pre-Covid.
The research also noted that China and India are the two nations that produce the most unicorns outside. Founders from India co-founded 70 unicorns outside of China, whereas China co-founded 32 outside of China, compared to 316 in China.
2. Participation of Indian Air Force in EXERCISE INIOCHOS-23
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. The exercise will be conducted at the Andravida Air Base in Greece from 24 Apr 2023 to 04 May 2023. The Indian Air Force will be participating with four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft.
The objective of the exercise is to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability amongst the participating Air Forces.
It will also enable the participating contingents to engage in professional interactions, providing valuable insight into each other’s best practices.
3. MGNREGA: Rajasthan tops in persondays generation for 4th year
For the fourth year in a row, Rajasthan topped the country in terms of persondays generation under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. In 2022-23, Rajasthan generated 35.61 crore persondays at a total cost of Rs 10,175 crore under the scheme.
Rajasthan is followed by Tamil Nadu (33.45 crore), Uttar Pradesh (31.18 crore), Andhra Pradesh (23.96 crore) and Bihar (23.69 crore) in terms of persondays generation, according to MGNREGA MIS report.
4. China launched Fengyun-3 satellite
China has achieved a significant milestone on April 16, 2023, by successfully launching the Fengyun-3 meteorological satellite. The satellite was launched using the Chang Zheng-4B carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome, located in Gansu Province.
The Fengyun-3 satellite has been primarily designed to monitor and provide crucial information on severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall that can result in natural calamities like landslides and floods.
This successful mission marked the 471st launch for the Chang Zheng rocket family, cementing their reputation as one of the most reliable and consistent rocket families globally.
5. City Union Bank launches India’s 1st Voice Biometric Authentication Banking App
City Union Bank Limited (CUB) has introduced a new feature that allows customers to use voice biometric authentication when logging into the bank’s mobile banking app, aimed at improving security.
The bank plans to extend this feature to net banking users as well, and the development process is currently underway. The voice biometric login option will join other existing authentication methods such as User ID/PIN, face ID, and fingerprint authentication, giving customers multiple choices.
CUB has stated that customers can select the authentication method that best suits their needs and preferences.
6. Thawe Festival organised in Bihar
The Department of Tourism and the Department of Art and Culture jointly organized the Thawe Festival on April 15th and 16th in Gopalganj, Bihar. The festival aimed to promote tourism in Gopalganj and attract visitors to the Thawe Durga Temple.
About Thawe Festival:
The Thawe Festival is an annual event that takes place in Gopalganj, Bihar. The festival’s objective is to promote tourism in the region and encourage visitors to explore the Thawe Durga Temple, which is a prominent attraction in the area.
7. Chennai ranks among top 5 in digital payment transactions in 2022: Report
According to a report by payment services firm Worldline India, Chennai has become one of the leading cities for digital payment transactions in 2022 in the country. As per the report, the capital city has made 14.3 million transactions with a total value of USD 35.5 billion.
Bengaluru topped the list with 29 million transactions worth USD 65 billion, followed by New Delhi with 19.6 million transactions worth USD 50 billion, Mumbai with 18.7 million transactions worth USD 49.5 billion, and Pune with 15 million transactions valued at USD 32.8 billion.
8. Asha Bhosle to receive Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar
Asha Bhosle, the renowned singer, will be honored with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award, which was established by the Mangeshkar family and trust in memory of Lata Mangeshkar.
The award ceremony will take place on April 24, which is the anniversary of their father’s death. Asha Bhosle, who is Lata Mangeshkar’s younger sister, will be the recipient of the award.
9. Chinese Language Day 2023 observed on 20th April
The United Nations celebrates Language Days to promote cultural diversity and encourage the use of all six official languages within the organization.
The Chinese Language Day is celebrated on the 6th of 24 solar terms called Guyu, which usually falls around April 20th in the Gregorian calendar. This day is dedicated to honoring Cangjie, the inventor of Chinese characters, and his legend of creating the characters amidst cries from deities and ghosts and rain of millet.
10. India Approves National Quantum Mission
On April 19, the Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission, aimed at propelling India into a leading position in the quantum technology sector and promoting economic growth through its development. The mission seeks to expedite progress in the field and cement India’s position as a major player in the industry.
