Daily Current Affairs, 24th April 2019

1) National Panchayati Raj Day : 24 April

•National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated every year on 24th April by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh declared the first National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2010. This day marks the passing of Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24 April 1993.

•The Constitution of India recognizes Panchayats as ‘Institutions of self-government’. It permits states to take steps to organize village panchayats and provide them with necessary powers and authority to help them to function as units of self-government.

2) Israel To Name Town In Golan Heights After Donald Trump

•Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he would name a new community in the Golan Heights after US President Donald Trump, who officially recognised the disputed area as Israeli territory.

•Israel has also stated that in appreciation of the U.S. president, it intends to name a proposed train station near Jerusalem’s Western Wall after him.

3) Indonesia Releases Special Stamp On Theme of Ramayana

•Indonesia has released a special commemorative stamp on the theme of Ramayana to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of its diplomatic ties with India.

•The stamp is designed by renowned Indonesian sculptor Padmashri Bapak Nyoman Nuarta, featured a scene from Ramayana in which Jatayu valiantly fought to save Sita. A specially signed version of the stamp will be on display at the Philately Museum in Jakarta.

4) Government Raises Authorised Capital of Allahabad Bank To Rs 8,000 Crore

•State-owned Allahabad Bank stated that the government has increased its authorised capital by Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 8,000 crore. The central government after consultation with the Reserve Bank of India increased the authorised capital of the bank.

•The increase in authorised capital will help enable the bank to raise further fund up to a maximum ceiling of Rs 8,000 crore.

5) Deposits In Jan Dhan Accounts Are Set To Cross Rs 1 Lakh Crore Mark

•The total deposits in Jan Dhan Account are set to cross Rs 1 lakh crore soon. The scheme was launched on 28th August 2014 by the Modi-government with an aim to provide universal access to banking facilities to all households.

•On 3rd April, the total balance in the Jan Dhan accounts was at Rs 97,665.66 and the total number of Jan Dhan accounts crossed 35.39 crores. Also, more than 27.89 croresaccount holders have been issued the Rupay debit cards.

6) Bajrang Punia Wins Gold In Asian Wrestling Championship

•World number one Bajrang Punia won gold at Asian Wrestling Championship in China’s Xian. He defeated Kazakhstan’s Sayatbek Okassov in a nail-biting 65kg men’s freestyle final.

•It is Bajrang’s second gold at this championship, having won one in 2017. Parveen Ranasecured a silver medal. Satywart Kadian picked a bronze medal defeating Haobin Gao of China.