Current affairs 20 March 2023

Global Terrorism Index 2023 released: Afghanistan tops the list.

• According to the tenth Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report, Afghanistan remains the country most impacted by terrorism for the fourth consecutive year, despite the attacks and deaths falling by 75% and 58%, respectively.
• Afghanistan followed by Burkina Faso, Somalia, Mali, and Syria.
• Pakistan has climbed four spots to rank sixth on the index.
• While India ranked 13th on the index.
• South Asia remains the region with the worst average GTI score.

TIME list of World’s Greatest Places of 2023 released.

• TIME Magazine has released its annual list of the 50 greatest places in the world for 2023.
• Among the chosen destinations are two locations from India: Ladakh and Mayurbhanj.
• Ladakh is a high-altitude region, which is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, crystal-clear lakes, and snow-capped mountains.
• On the other hand, Mayurbhanj is a lesser-known destination located in the eastern state of Odisha.
• The list also includes Willamette Valley; Río Grande etc.

Bombay Jayashri selected for Sangita Kalanidhi award 2023.

• Carnatic vocalist, Bombay Jayashri has been selected for the Sangita Kalanidhi award 2023 of the prestigious Music Academy, Chennai.
• Initially, she was trained under her parents and later under T R Balamani and violin maestro Lalgudi G Jayaraman.
• She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021.
• While the Nritiya Kalanidhi award 2023 will be conferred to Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari.
• The awards will be conferred to awardees in January 2023.

Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank opens INR denominated Nostro A/c in Indian Bank.

• Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank has opened an Indian rupee-denominated Nostro account in Indian Bank in Mumbai.
• Aim: To help in setting cross-border transactions using the Indian rupee
• It enables local customers to enter into transactions denominated in the Indian Rupee and eliminates the need to conduct Trade and Remittance transactions in US dollars.
• Nostro account: It is a bank account held in a foreign country by a domestic bank, denominated in the currency of that country.

Agri Legal Aid Clinic inaugurated in Telangana.

• An Agri Legal Aid Clinic has been inaugurated in the Jangaon District of Telangana to provide benefits to the farmer community.
• It was inaugurated by Supreme Court Judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
• It is a Joint initiative of Telangana Legal Services Authority with technical support from NALSAR University of Law, and an NGO, Legal Empowerment and Assistance for Farmers Society.
• Aim: To educate farmers on various agricultural legislations, Welfare Schemes, rights etc.