Daily Current Affairs : 12 April 2023 | Daily GK & Current Affairs Tests - Bank Exams PDF Download

Prime Minister Modi flags off Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express train

Today, on 12th April 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express train through a video conference. The event was attended by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra. The inaugural train will operate between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt. railway station. Starting tomorrow, on 13th April, the regular service of the train will commence between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt., with stops at Jaipur, Alwar, and Gurgaon.
The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express will enhance connectivity to Rajasthan's prominent tourist destinations, including Pushkar and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, which attract a large number of visitors throughout the year. This new train will cover the distance between Delhi Cantt. and Ajmer in just 5 hours and 15 minutes, whereas the Shatabdi Express, currently the fastest train on the same route, takes 6 hours and 15 minutes. Therefore, the Vande Bharat Express will reduce travel time by 60 minutes compared to the existing fastest train.
Notably, the Ajmer-Delhi Cantt. Vande Bharat Express will be the world's first semi-high-speed passenger train operating on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory. As part of the inaugural run, more than 500 school students will have the opportunity to travel free of cost on the special Vande Bharat train.

Sehore Sharbati wheat and handicraft products from Madhya Pradesh receive GI tag

Madhya Pradesh's renowned Sharbati wheat, also known as The Golden Grain, has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The endeavor to obtain the GI tag for Sharbati wheat has been a long-standing effort. Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of Sharbati wheat in the country, and the state itself is the largest producer and exporter.
Flour made from Sharbati wheat is considered to be of the highest quality in India, and farmers receive the highest prices for this productive variety in the district. The slightly sweeter taste of Sharbati wheat is attributed to the presence of slightly higher levels of simple sugars such as glucose and sucrose.
Additionally, several handicraft products from Madhya Pradesh have also received GI tags. These include wrought iron crafts of Dindori, batik prints of Ujjain, handmade carpets of Gwalior, stone crafts of Bhedaghat in Jabalpur, and handloom sarees and fabrics of Waraseoni.

Nisha Dahia wins Silver in Asian Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan

Nisha Dahia, representing India, secured the silver medal in the women's 68kg category at the Asian wrestling championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan. This achievement marks the most significant medal of her career. 
Despite reaching the final, Nisha was defeated by Japan's Ami Ishii with a score of 10-0, earning her the runner-up position. In the semi-finals, Nisha triumphed over China's Feng Zhou with a close score of 7-6. Another Indian wrestler, Priya Malik, won a bronze medal in the 76 kg category by defeating Japan's Mizuki Nagashima in the repechage round. So far, India has secured a total of six medals in the championship.

LIGO India, a major breakthrough initiative to probe Gravitational Wave

The Indian government has given approval for the establishment of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in India. This groundbreaking initiative aims to probe the universe by detecting gravitational waves. Science and technology play crucial roles in a nation's progress and development, and LIGO represents a significant step toward a major scientific breakthrough in India.
Gravitational waves are disturbances in space-time caused by some of the most powerful and destructive processes in the Universe, such as colliding black holes, exploding massive stars, and colliding neutron stars. Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity predicted the existence of gravitational waves, providing insights into the nature of gravity.
About LIGO: LIGO is the world's most powerful observatory and a large-scale physics experiment designed to detect gravitational waves. It operates as part of a global network dedicated to capturing and measuring gravitational waves originating from space.

Keshub Mahindra passes away at the age of 99

Keshub Mahindra, the former chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra, passed away at the age of 99 on 12th April 2023. He served as the chairman of the Mahindra Group's flagship company for 48 years, from 1963 to 2012, and later held the position of chairman emeritus. Keshub Mahindra was recognized as India's oldest billionaire with a net worth of $1.2 billion, according to Forbes. Under his leadership, the company underwent extensive diversification. When he joined the company in 1947, their primary business was manufacturing the iconic Willys Jeeps. Today, the Mahindra Group is a conglomerate with interests in automobiles, energy, software services, real estate, hospitality, and defense.
About Keshub Mahindra: Born on October 9, 1923, in Shimla, Keshub Mahindra completed his graduation from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. His father, JC Mahindra, co-founded the company in 1945, and Keshub joined in 1947, eventually assuming the role of chairman in 1963.

Aparesh Kumar Singh appointed as Chief Justice of Tripura High Court

Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, currently a justice of the Jharkhand High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. The appointment will be effective from the date he assumes charge of his office. Previously, Justice Jaswant Singh, a judge of the Orissa High Court, had been nominated as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, but he announced his retirement from service shortly after his appointment. 
As a result, the collegium recommended Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh for the position. The Tripura High Court has been without a Chief Justice since the retirement of Justice Indrajit Mahanty on November 10th of the previous year.
About Tripura High Court: The Tripura High Court was established in March 2013, along with full-fledged High Courts in Meghalaya and Manipur. Previously, the northeastern states, excluding Sikkim, were under the jurisdiction of the Guwahati High Court.

International Day for Human Space Flight

Every year on April 12th, the International Day for Human Space Flight commemorates the anniversary of the first human space flight. This day serves as a reminder of the significance of space science and technology. On April 12th, 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen, pilot, and cosmonaut, successfully completed the first human space flight. Gagarin's space capsule, Vostok 1, completed one orbit around the Earth, marking a significant milestone in the Space Race.
The event lasted for over 108 minutes. This historic achievement was preceded by the launch of the first human-made satellite, Sputnik I, by the Soviet Union in 1957. Other notable milestones in space exploration include Valentina Tereshkova becoming the first woman to orbit the Earth on June 16th, 1963, Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon on July 20th, 1969, and the first international human mission in space by the United States and the Soviet Union on July 17th, 1975.

RRI signs MoU with Indian Navy for developing secure maritime communications using Quantum Technology

The Raman Research Institute (RRI) and the Indian Navy have joined forces to develop secure maritime communications using Quantum Technology. RRI, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), the Indian Navy's R&D establishment.
The MoU, valid for five years, was signed by Professor Tarun Souradeep, Director of RRI, and Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani, Chief of Materiel, Indian Navy. Under this collaboration, RRI's Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab will lead research efforts to develop quantum key distribution techniques that can enhance the security of free space communications for the Indian Navy.

Three-day International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics to begin in New Delhi: April 12

The Defence Minister of India, Mr. Rajnath Singh, will inaugurate a three-day International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics in New Delhi, starting from April 12th. The conference will serve as a platform for policymakers, academicians, and government officials to share their insights and experiences on defence finance and economics amidst the evolving security challenges. 
Delegates from countries including the USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Kenya will participate in the conference. The objective of the conference is to disseminate best practices, experiences, and expertise from various countries and facilitate collaborations with foreign governments, international institutions, and global leaders to promote the Indian government's vision of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the defence sector.

Nilesh Sambare receives Maratha Udyog Ratna Award 2023

Nilesh Bhagwan Sambre, the founder of Jijau Educational and Social Foundation, was honored with the Maratha Udyog Ratna (Maratha Industry Gem) Award at the Maratha Entrepreneurs Conference 2023. The conference was organized by the Maratha Entrepreneurs Development and Guidance Institute Maharashtra State. Nilesh Sambre received the award in recognition of his notable achievements in the industry sector and dedicated work in remote areas, particularly Palghar. The award ceremony included the presence of prominent entrepreneurs from Maharashtra, including Suresh Haware, Purushottam Khedekar, Nirmalkumar Deshmukh, Dr. Sachin Bhadane, and Vijay Ghogare.
About Jijau Educational and Social Organization: The Jijau Educational and Social Organization is a non-profit group that focuses on uplifting underprivileged communities in five districts of India: Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. Nilesh Sambre founded the organization in 2008, and for the past 14 years, it has been providing education, healthcare, employment, and agricultural assistance using its own funds without accepting any donations.