Daily GK Update - 17th April 2023 Current Affairs

                                                      Current Affairs

                                                      National Affairs

Nandini Gupta has won the Femina Miss India Competition.

• Nandini Gupta belongs to Rajasthan and She is the winner of the 40th edition of the Femina Miss India competition.
• Shreya Poonja from Delhi was the first runner-up.
• Thounaojam from Manipur was the second runner-up.

Shahrukh Khan and SS Rajamouli have been included in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.

• Shah Rukh Khan and 'RRR' director SS Rajamouli is included in Time Magazine's annual 100 Most Influential People of 2023, becoming the only two Indians on the list.

NDAI and Nagarjuna Sagar- Srisalam Tiger Reserve have signed an MOU to enable fastag based payments at forest entry points.

• This MoU between the two parties will pave the way to facilitate seamless and efficient travel in the forest area.

India has signed an MoU with the UN WFP to supply wheat to Afghanistan.

• India will supply 1,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through the UN WFP.

What is the UN WFP?

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is an international organization within the United Nations that provides food assistance worldwide. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school meals.  UN WFP was Founded in 1961, WFP is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 80 countries.

SIDBI has launched ‘Mission 50k-EV4ECO’ to unlock the electric vehicle market by providing better financing.

• The Mission 50K-EV4ECO initiative will fund the purchase of 50,000 EVs in the country to spur the local ecosystem. Under the scheme, SIDBI will offer attractive financing terms for the sale of two-wheeler, three-wheeler, and four-wheeler EVs through direct and indirect lending.

Indian Oil and US-based Lanzajet have decided to set up India’s 1st Green Aviation Fuel Firm.

• Indian Oil and LanzaJet to set up India's first green aviation fuel firm. Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) is planning to set up a joint venture (JV) with US-based clean energy technology company LanzaJet Inc, and domestic airlines for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

                                                   International Affairs

Russia has conducted a test launch of an advanced intercontinental ballistic missile.

• Russia has conducted what it said was the successful test launch of an "advanced" intercontinental ballistic missile, weeks after it suspended participation in its last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States.

Poland and Hungary have banned grain imports from Ukraine.

• Poland and Hungary have agreed to temporarily ban imports of grain and dozens of other food products from Ukraine, in a move they say will protect struggling local farmers amid a glut of Ukrainian grain on the market.

The Sudanese Army has started attacking the Civil Para Military in Sudan.

• A power struggle between Sudan's army and a notorious paramilitary force has rocked the country, with more than 50 civilians reported dead.
• Both the army and its opponents, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claimed they had control of the airport and other key sites in Khartoum, where fighting continued overnight.

                                                             Economy

The Indian Government has set a target of constructing 45 km of roads daily.

• The Ministry of road transport and Highways (MoRTH) has internally set a goal to construct at least 45 km of highways a day this year, according to two people privy to the development. A record 16,000 km of roads will be developed at this pace in a year.

The USA has become India’s largest trading partner.

• The amount of Current Trade between India and the USA is $128.5 billion.
• China is the second largest trading partner of India.