Current Affairs One-Liner : 27th April 2023

• National:
• NASA has successfully extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil in a vacuum environment for the first time.This achievement represents a significant milestone for NASA, bringing them one step closer to the establishment of sustainable human settlements on other planets.

• Sweden’s Research Rocket Accidentally Lands in Norway:A research rocket launched by Sweden Space Corp (SSC) early on Monday from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden malfunctioned and landed 9.32 miles inside neighboring Norway.. The SSC said it was investigating the reason why the rocket flew further north-west than nominal
• Recently, the Supreme Court modified its judgment to have mandatory eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) of a minimum one kilometer around protected forests, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a program marking the completion of 20 years of the State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology (SWAGAT) initiative in Gujarat via video conferencing on Thursday, April 27th
• The Union government has approved the establishment of 157 new government nursing colleges at a cost of Rs 1570 crores in co-location with existing medical colleges in the country.
• The Union government has approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023. The policy is expected to help the Medical Devices Sector grow from the present 11 billion US dollars to 50 billion US dollars in the next five years.
• On April 26, 2023, Union Minister Amit Shah launched the world’s first liquid Nano DAP (Diammonium phosphate) called “IFFCO Nano DAP (liquid)” developed by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) at New Delhi .
• According to a report by Nasscom, India witnessed a significant increase in patent filings in FY22 with a 13.6% YoY growth rate, which is the highest annual increase in the last decade.
• The ‘Study in India Pavilion’ at the Global Education & Training Exhibition (GETEX) in Dubai was inaugurated by the Consul General of India in Dubai, Dr. Aman Puri. The India Pavilion at GETEX 2023 is being held from 26-28 April 2023 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE
• Awards:

• Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammad Abdul Ali received the IAA’s Meritorious Service Award 2023 for his long association to improve communal peace and harmony and patronage of national and international relations.
• 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 1 was held in Antalya, Türkiye from 18 to 23 2023. India won four medals in total: one gold, one silver and two bronze. The gold medal was won by Deepika Kumari in the women’s recurve individual event. She also set a new world record of 692 points in the ranking round.
• Appointments:
• Hari Hara Mishra has been appointed as the new CEO of the Association of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs), the industry body that represents all ARCs in India. He took charge in April 2023 and has been associated with the asset reconstruction sector since 2004.
• Nasscom has appointed Microsoft India’s president Anant Maheshwari as its Chairperson for the year 2023-24. He has taken the reins from Krishnan Ramanujam, who heads business and technology services at Tata Consultancy Services. Nasscom also announced the appointment of Rajesh Nambiar, chairman and managing director of Cognizant India as its vice-chairperson for 2023-24
• Obituary:

• Parkash Singh Badal, who was the five-time Chief Minister of Punjab and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch, passed away at a private hospital in Mohali on Tuesday evening. He was 95. Badal was suffering from bronchial asthma and was shifted to the intensive care unit on Sunday.
• Himangshu Mohan Choudhury was a former IAS officer and a social activist who was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his role in providing relief and shelter to thousands of refugees who took refuge in Tripura during the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh. He died at the age of 80, at a private hospital in Agartala. He also received the “Friends of the Liberation War” title from the Bangladesh government in 2012 for his contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh.

• Books:
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the book ‘Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamprashastih’ by Shree Somnath Sanskrit University during the closing ceremony of ‘Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam’ on April 26
• Important days:
• World Intellectual Property Day is observed on April 26th every year as an initiative of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The day is celebrated to promote awareness about the influence of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and design on daily life. The theme for 2023 is “Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity” and celebrates the “can do” attitude of women inventors, creators and entrepreneurs around the world and their ground-breaking work
• International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is annually observed on April 26th to mark the anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. The day aims to raise awareness of the long-term consequences of the Chernobyl disaster
• Banking:

• NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) has launched the NOCS platform to provide reconciliation and settlement services for transactions undertaken on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network. The services will enable smooth, secure and timely transfer of funds to network participants
• SBI General Insurance has launched a fully customizable digital-only health product called Health Edge Insurance. The entire process right from purchase to claims will be completely digital and shall require minimal paperwork
• Sports:

• HS Prannoy and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty of the Men's Doubles progress to the pre-quarterfinals of the Dubai Badminton Asia Championship