National
e-SANTA, an Electronic Marketplace
- Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal on 13 April 2021 virtually inaugurated e-SANTA, an electronic marketplace providing a platform to connect aqua farmers and the buyers.
This electronic marketplace will enable the farmers to get a better price. Apart from this, it will also enhance traceability, so that exporters will be able to purchase quality products directly from the farmers. Traceability is an important factor in international trade.
The term e-SANTA is coined for the web portal, it means— “Electronic Solution for Augmenting NaCSA farmers’ Trade in Aquaculture”.
Infant Toddler and Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhoods (ITCN) Training and Capacity Building Programme
- The “Infant Toddler and Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhoods (ITCN) Training and Capacity Building Programme” was launched virtually on 13 April 2021 by National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF).
The Programme is designed to help build capacities of city officials and young professionals for developing young children and family-friendly neighbourhoods within cities in India.
Chairman and Managing Director of the SIDBI
- Sivasubramanian Ramann from Tamil Nadu has taken charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) on 19 April 2021. He is appointed for a period of three years. SIDBI is headquartered in Lucknow.
Acquisition of 89.6% of equity shareholding of GPL by APSEZ
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition of 89.6% of equity shareholding of Gangavaram Port Limited (“GPL”) by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones Limited (“APSEZ”) on 13th April 2021.
APSEZ is an integrated port infrastructure services provider. It is currently present across 11 domestic ports in six maritime states of Gujarat, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
Haryana and Odisha presented their Jal Jeevan Mission Annual Action Plan
- On 13 April 2021, Haryana and Odisha presented their Jal Jeevan Mission Annual Action Plan for the financial year 2021-22 as well as the saturation plan for the States.
Thereby ensuring every rural household in these States will get household tap water connection.
Target:
During the presentation, the State of Haryana reiterated their commitment to achieve the JJM target by 1st November 2022 i.e. Haryana Day, much ahead of the national deadline. Odisha plans for 100% saturation by 2024.
Achievement under JJM:
Haryana State has 31.03 lakh rural households, out of which 26.93 lakh (86.8%) rural households are provided with tap connections as on 31st March, 2021.
Odisha State has 85.66 lakh rural households, out of which 23.25 lakh (27.15%) rural households are provided with tap connections.
International
Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief visited to France
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal, RKS Bhadauria, on 19 April 2021 went to France on an official five day visit. The visit of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) from April 19 to 23 was aimed to enhance potential avenues for strengthening the level of interaction between the two Air Forces.
Bhadauria held meetings and discussions with senior military leadership of France and visited operational facilities and airbases. The visit of CAS was a significant step in further enhancing mutual cooperation.
Important Day
34th Foundation Day of C-DAC
- Shri Sanjay Dhotre, Union Minister of State for Education, Electronics & Information Technology and Communications, inaugurated 34th Foundation Day of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) on 13 April 2021.
On the occasion of 34th foundation day, three novel innovative technologies were launched by C-DAC:
- Cyber Security Operation Centre (CSoC): As a Cyber Security Service
- Parallel Development Environment (ParaDE): C-DAC’s indigenous High-Performance Computing software solutions
- Automatic Parallelizing Compiler (CAPC): Effective solution for code parallelization
Death
Kannada lexicographer Professor, Ganjam Venkatasubbaiah
- Kannada lexicographer Professor Ganjam Venkatasubbaiah passed away in Bengaluru on 19 April 2021. He was 107.
Venkatasubbiah was conferred with the Pdma Shri award in 2017. He had received the various prestigeous awards such as Kannada Sahitya Akademi Award, the Pampa Award.
He had compiled 12 dictionaries, which included three volumes of Igo Kannada (A Socio-Linguistic Dictionary of Kannada). He also authored four seminal works on dictionary science in Kannada, edited over sixty books, and published several papers.
He was best known for his work on Kannada dictionary science titled ‘Kannada Nighantu Shastra Parichaya’.
In the literary circles, Venkatasubbaiah was commonly known as a walking encyclopedia of Kannada language and culture.
Filmmaker, Sumitra Bhave
- Filmmaker, Sumitra Bhave died in Pune on 19 April 2021. She was 78.
In 1995, Sumitra Bhave and Sukthankar made their directorial debut with ‘Doghi’, which received the National Film Award.
She was known for her work in the Marathi cinema and theatre. Her some works includes Devrai (2004), GhoMala Asala Hawa, Ha Bharat Maza, Astu – So Be It, Samhita, Welcome Home, Vaastupurush, Dahavi Fa and Kaasav, a National Award-winning film.
Karnataka Yakshagana Academy president, M A Hegde
- Karnataka Yakshagana Academy president, scholar and author M A Hegde died in Bengaluru on 18 April 2021. He was 73.
Hegde wrote over 15 Yakshagana prasangas (scripts), which includes ‘Dharma Durantha’, ‘Seetha Viyoga’, ‘Jagruti’,’ Trishanku Charitre’ and ‘Sabarimale Ayyappan’.
He had also written books on the issues of Alankara Tatwa, Indian philosophy and Brahma Sutra.