PM launches ‘Mudra’ bank to finance small entrepreneurs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency “MUDRA” Bank under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. This will provide credit of up to Rs 10 lakh to small entrepreneurs and act as a regulator for ‘Micro-Finance Institutions’ (MFIs). There are three category:  “Shishu” would cover loans up to Rs 50,000 while “Kishor” above Rs 50,000 and up to Rs 5 lakh. “Tarun” category will cover loans of above Rs 5 lakh and upto Rs 10 lakh.

Dr. Mayilsamy Annadura took charge as Director of ISRO satellite centre

Mayilsamy Annadurai, who led two of the country’s much celebrated space projects — the Mars mission and the Chandrayaan-1  is the new Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, Bengaluru. He replaced Dr. S.K. Shivakumar, who had retired on 31 March 2015.

India’s first Scorpene submarine INS Kalvari launched

First indigenously-built Scorpene Submarine was undocked at the Mazagaon Dockyard Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Kalvari is the first of the six Scorpene class stealth submarines to be built under the ambitious ‘Project 75’ of the Indian Navy. This programme is undertaken in collaboration with French firm DCNS.

April 7: World Health Day Observed 

World Health Day (WHD) 2015 was observed globally on 7 April 2015. Theme for year 2015 was “food safety” with the slogan from farm to plate, make food safe. Every year on April 7, World Health Day is celebrated under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO).

BCCI appoints Rajeev Shukla as chairman of IPL governing council

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has re-appointed Rajeev Shukla as chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council. Previously, he was IPL chairman till 2013 but had resigned from the post after the IPL ‘spot-fixing’ scandal. Former Indian Cricket team Captain Sourav Ganguly was also selected in the IPL Governing Council.

Dronavalli Harika wins bronze in World Women’s chess championship

Indian Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika won the bronze medal along with Swedish Grandmaster Pia Cramling by virtue of making it to the semi-finals of World Women’s chess championship. Harika lost to the eventual winner Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine in the semi-finals.

World Women’s chess championship’s winners:-

Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine) – Won Gold medal along with US $ 60,000 by 2.5 points.

Natalija Pogonina (Russia) – Won Silver medal along with US $ 30,000 by 1.5 points.