Daily GK Update - 20th April 2023 Current Affairs

                                                         Current Affairs

                                                         National Affairs

Report: World Population Report,2023 has been released by UN Population Fund (UNFPA)

• India has become the most populous country on the planet surpassing China.

The population of India and China:

• India= 142.86 crore
• China = 142.57 crore

Total fertility Rate per woman:

• South Africa= 2.3
• India= 2
• Brazil = 1.3

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), a Mini Ratna company celebrated its 64th Raising Day.

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a Mini Ratna Category 1 Defence PSU, and India's leading warship building company celebrated its 64th Raising Day on April 19.

NHAI is working towards the development of around 10,000 kilometers of Digital highways i.e Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) infrastructure across the country by FY2024-25.

• Road Ministry to construct 12,500 kms of highways in FY24.

The government is planning to develop more than 250 projects with a ropeway length of over 1,200 kilometers in five years under Parvatmala Pariyojana.

• The government is planning to develop more than 250 projects with a ropeway length of over 1,200 km in five years under Parvatmala Pariyojana.

Union Cabinet gives nod for ₹6,003 crore National Quantum Mission (NQM).

• National Quantum Mission (NQM) will fund research and development of quantum computing technology and associated applications.“Four Thematic Hubs (THubs) would be set up in top academic and National R&D institutes on the domains of ‘quantum computing’, ‘quantum communication’, ‘quantum sensing and metrology’ and ‘quantum materials and devices.“Only six countries so far have some capability in this domain.

                                                      International Affairs

Fox News, A media group in the USA, has agreed to pay $787.5 over a defamation case.

• Fox News aired fake news regarding US Presidential Elections 2020.

                                                               Economy

The government has brought back the windfall profit tax on domestically produced crude oil, while the levy on the export of diesel has been cut to nil.

• The government has brought back the windfall profit tax on domestically produced crude oil after international prices firmed up while the levy on the export of diesel has been cut to nil, according to an official order.

Report: Hurun’s Global Unicorn Index 2023.

Number of Unicorns in Different Countries:

• 1st- USA-666
• 2nd- China-316
• 3rd- India -68(added 14 new unicorns)

What is a Unicorn?

A unicorn is a startup that has a valuation of more than 1 billion dollars.

Report: Best Places to Work released by Linkedin.

1st- TCS (top place to work)

2nd- amazon

3rd- Morgan Stanley

The government of India targets to achieve 20% of Ethanol Blending in Petrol by 2025-26.

• Earlier, the Government aimed to achieve this target by 2030.
• This target was decided under the National Policy of Biofuels which was launched in 2018.
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                                                   Awards and Honours

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.

Angela Merkel receives Germany’s highest honor.

• Former Chancellor Angela Merkel received Germany's highest Order of Merit. The Grand Cross award was handed to her by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

                                                            Sports

Two Kenyan players Chebet and  Obiri won Boston Marathon.

• Evans Chebet and Hellen Obiri stormed to victory in the men's and women's races at the Boston Marathon to complete a third straight Kenyan double in the 127th edition of the long-distance-running show.