The Central Government has sanctioned more than Rs. 40,700 crore to more than 1,80,630 accounts during the last seven years under the Stand-Up India (SUPI) scheme.

Scientists of the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) here have achieved new milestone by producing country's first indigenous Gir calf clone.

• The female calf named Ganga was born on March 16, but the achievement was disclosed on Sunday after observing her health for around 10 days.
• The weight of the calf at the time of birth was 32kg and the newborn is keeping good health.
• The institute had also produced the world's first cloned buffalo.

Every year on April 5, India observes National Marine Day, symbolising the necessity of protecting, safeguarding, and defending our maritime zone. A secure navigational channel and routes are crucial for a nation’s growth and trade.

•  Since April 5, 1964 the NMD has been observed on this day each year.
• The “NMD Award of Excellence,” which includes a trophy and citation, is often presented on this day as part of the festivities to honour and acknowledge individuals for their distinguished and extraordinary lifetime efforts in the Indian Maritime sector at a senior level.
• World Marine Day is observed annually on the last Thursday in September, which occurs on the 29th of this year, to honour the dedication of individuals who work in the maritime sector. 

The International Day of Conscience is observed on every April 5. It is a day started by the United Nations General Assembly commemorating the importance of the human conscience.

• This is a day to promote the importance of self-reflection and doing the right thing. This day also helps to improve society’s collective good by identifying the corrections that need to be done.
• The theme of the International Day of Conscience 2023 is “Building a Culture of Peace,” emphasizing the need to establish a culture of peace inseparable from culture as a whole, taking root in people’s hearts and minds. 
•  It came into existence on July 25th, 2019, when the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution entitled “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience” and designated April 5th as the International Day of Conscience.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ladies Organisation FLO said investment banker and lawyer Sudha Shivkumar has taken over as its 40th National President.

•  Sudha Shivkumar would focus on empowering women by facilitating an enabling environment promoting entrepreneurship, industry participation and economic development of women.
•  Sudha Shivkumar, an alumni of University of Madras, specialised in corporate and bankruptcy laws.
• She also completed her Masters in applied finance with specialisation in investment banking from Macquarie University, Sydney. 

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has handed a four-year ban on CWG champion weightlifter Sanjita Chanu for failing a dope test.

• The two-time Commonwealth Games champion Sanjita had tested positive for an anabolic steroid — Drostanolone Metabolite. This drug is on the World Anti-doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list.
• Sanjita will also be stripped of the National Games silver medal as a result of the dope test.
• Sanjita Channu had won gold in 48 kg ahead of Mirabai Channu at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She was crowned champion in the 53 kg category at the 2018 edition in Gold Coast.

The Benarasi Paan, celebrated in Amitabh Bachchan's iconic song ‘Khaike paan benaras wala’ received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The celebrated paan along with langda mango was awarded the GI tag on 3 April. 

• The Benarasi Paan is famous for its delicious taste and make which involves several ingredients. 
• Further, Banarasi Langda Mango, Ramnagar Bhanta (Brinjal), and Adamchini Rice also received the GI tag for the riverine city in the Bhojpur-Purvanchal region of India. 

A new Hindi book titled  "Gandhi: Siasat Aur Sampradaya" has been authored by journalist-turned-author Piyush Babele, who currently heads the media department of the Madhya Pradesh Congress.

• The book quotes from Dr. Ambedkar's book Pakistan or the Partition of India and other sources to refer to the events leading up to the partition of India in 1947.

• The book aims to break the myth spread by the Hindu right wing that Mahatma Gandhi was responsible for the partition.

• The book is published by New Delhi based Genuine Publications & Media Private Limited.

Chile, the country endowed with most lithium reserves and home to SQM, the second largest global lithium producer, is keen to partner with India on tapping into the lithium value chain.

• This includes potentially extending technical expertise in exploiting the newly established “inferred” lithium resources of 5.9 million tonnes in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Chile is the world’s largest producer of lithium, accounting for nearly 48% of the world’s total lithium reserves.

Israel successfully launched the “Ofek-13” spy satellite into space early Wednesday morning, the Defense Ministry said.

• The satellite, the latest in a line of Israeli observation assets in space, will provide the military with better-quality images than its predecessors.
• “The ‘Ofek-13’ satellite is a [synthetic-aperture radar] observation satellite with advanced capabilities,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement after the launch.

•  Shavit launch vehicle shot the satellite into space from the Palmachim Airbase and spaceport at 2:10 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

   

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) will hire RS Sodhi, the former MD of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which is behind Amul the leading milk brand of India. GDMMF sells milk and other value-added milk products under the brand Amul.

• According to the report, the former GCMMF MD will join Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) to help the Isha Ambani-led business to grow in India's grocery space with a focus on fruits and vegetables.
• He will also lead the brand and ensure its strengthened presence in consumer brands.

The Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kanpur will host the Youth20 (Y20) Consultation under the G20 Presidency of India, from today, April 5.

• More than one thousand two hundred youth delegates from across India and abroad will attend the two-day event.
• The Y20 Consultation is a platform that brings young people together to connect, share ideas and experiences, and deliberate on finding innovative solutions to pressing global concerns.
• The Y20 Consultation, under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is a pan-India activity in the run up to the final Youth-20 Summit to be held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.