CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 16th APRIL, 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 16^th APRIL, 2023

1. World Voice Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 16 April to recognize and appreciate the significance of the human voice in our everyday lives. The day also raises awareness of issues affecting the health of the voice.  
2. On 16 April every year, people across the globe observe Save the Elephant Day, which aims to promote awareness of the issues faced by elephants and inspire efforts to protect these majestic animals. The theme of Save the Elephant Day 2023 is “Safeguarding Elephant Habitats for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.  
3. The well-known Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which safeguards and acknowledges the work of tribal artists and requires approval from a committee for non-tribal artists to use the art.
4. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 16 April, 2023 conferred the Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2022 to spiritual leader and social activist Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, also known as Appasaheb Dharmadhikari at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai.  
5. Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of frog from deep inside a cave in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills district.
6. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on 10 April, 2023 launched the ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ of Varanasi, during his visit to Uganda’s Kampala.
7. The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur has entered into a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agreement with Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited.
8. The Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao, unveiled a 125-foot tall bronze statue of BR Ambedkar in Hyderabad to commemorate the 132^nd birth anniversary of the architect of the Indian Constitution.
9. The Telangana Government has scheduled the Food Conclave-2023 on 28 and 29 April, which is a yearly gathering of 100 experts in the agri-food industry to discuss and exchange ideas.
10. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced its plans to invest in non-convertible debentures valued at Rs 150 crore in Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL) which aims to improve Delhi’s power distribution through grid enhancements.
11. The Uttar Pradesh Government, on 11 April 2023, announced to plant 35 crore saplings in a single day in July 2023.
12. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on 10 April, 2023 gave his assent to a bill that bans online gambling games and regulates them. The bill was passed by the Tamil Nadu Government for the second time on 23 March, 2023.
13. The foundation stone for the Greenfield International Airport in Bhogapuram is set to be laid on 3 May, 2023 by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.  
14. Nepal and India are preparing to sign an agreement to allow cross-border digital payments through e-wallets, a move that is expected to boost trade and tourism between the two countries by eliminating currency exchange issues.
15. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu organised a three-day ‘Baisakhi Mahotsav 2023’ from 13-15 April, 2023 to celebrate Dogra culture and heritage.
16. Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, a renowned public health activist and veteran fighter of the Liberation War, passed away on 11 April, 2023 in Dhaka, Bangladesh at the age of 81.