CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 18th APRIL, 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 18^th APRIL, 2023

1. World Heritage Day, also known as International Day for Monuments and Sites is annually observed across the globe on 18 April to create global awareness about the significance of historical, heritage, and cultural monuments, and measures to protect them so that future generations can also witness them and embrace the rich heritage of the world. The theme of World Heritage Day 2023 is “Heritage Changes”.
2. Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the department of science and technology, has joined hands with the Indian Navy to develop secure maritime communications using quantum technologies.
3. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the Union Government plans to introduce ‘Vande Metro’ by December 2023.  
4. The Chennai-based drone start-up Garuda Aerospace, on 11 April 2023, became the first drone company to receive Agri-Drone Subsidy for their agricultural drones.
5. At the 13^th Managing India Awards ceremony hosted by the All India Management Association (AIMA), Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, was presented with the ‘Business Leader of the Decade’ award for his contributions to the Indian industry in the last ten years.
6. Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor, has opened a Tulip Garden spanning over five acres (40 Kanals) in the Jammu region at Sanasar’s Ramban Hill Resort.
7. Shah Rukh Khan and ‘RRR’ director SS Rajamouli are included in Time Magazine’s annual 100 Most Influential People of 2023, becoming the only two Indians on the list.
8. The Philippines and the United States on 11 April 2023, launched their largest-ever joint military exercises, called Balikatan, involving nearly 18,000 troops to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea region.
9. State Bank of India, headquartered in Mumbai announced the launch of its coffee table book titled ‘The Banker to Every Indian’ which celebrates 75 years of Indian independence and SBI’s glorious 200-year history.  
10. MS Dhoni on 12 April, 2023 felicitated for completing 200 matches as Chennai Super Kings captain in the Indian Premier League.
11. In a recent address to the Indian diaspora community in France, Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India is set to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2027.
12. Berlin in Germany has been named the city with the most exceptional public transport system globally, according to a survey conducted by Time Out, a London-based media outlet that specializes in the hospitality industry and identifies itself as a global brand committed to urban life.
13. WhatsApp has initiated a safety campaign called ‘Stay Safe with WhatsApp’ aimed at educating users about the product features that can assist them in maintaining their online safety and improving their messaging experience.
14. Nandini Gupta from Rajasthan has been crowned Femina Miss India World 2023, the 59^th edition of the beauty pageant.
15. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, on 13 April 2023, launched the ‘A-HELP (Accredited Agent for Health and extension of Livestock Production)’ program.
16. National Mission for Clean Ganga has signed an agreement with 49 universities to inspire youth towards water conservation and river rejuvenation.