• International

Japan unveils the name of Its New Imperial Era ‘Reiwa’

• Japan’s government has unveiled an era name, “Reiwa,” for soon-to-be Emperor Naruhito, who will succeed the Chrysanthemum throne on 1st May.
• The name ‘Reiwa’ which consists two Chinese characters, the first meaning ‘good’ or ‘beautiful’ as well as ‘order’ or ‘command’ and the second meaning ‘peace’ or ‘harmony’.
• The country’s current era, Heisei, will end in April.

• Economy and Business

Paytm Money receives Sebi approval to start stock broking services

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has given approval to Paytm Money to start offering broking services.
• Paytm Money is the investment and wealth management platform of the mobile payments company.
• The broking services will allow investors to trade in the cash segment, derivatives, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), among other listed entities.
• Paytm Money has also received membership of NSE and BSE.

• Sports

India’s first professional Kho-Kho league “Ultimate Kho-Kho” launched

• The Kho-Kho Federation of India (KKFI) has launched a franchise-based league for the sport named ‘Ultimate Kho-Kho’.
• It will conduct the 21-day league ((IPL-style)), which will see eight franchise teams playing a total of 60 matches in a double round-robin format
• KKFI has partnered with Dabur India for this event.
• Tenzing Niyogi (former sports advisory leader at Ernst and Young) has been appointed as the CEO of the league.
• Former KKFI president Rajeev Mehta is the Chairman of the league.

• Appointments

Eicher Motors appoints Vinod Dasari as Royal Enfield CEO

• Eicher Motors Ltd. has appointed ‘Vinod K. Dasari’ as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Royal Enfield.
• Dasari will also join the board of Eicher Motors as an executive director with immediate effect.
• Mr Dasari takes over from Siddhartha Lal, who will continue as the MD of Eicher Motors Ltd.
• Earlier, Mr. Dasari was the CEO and managing director (MD) of Ashok Leyland, a position he held since 2011.

• Science and Tech

ISRO to launch defence satellite

• Starting May 2019, ISRO plans to send up at least eight earth observation (EO) satellites of varied hues and at the rate of almost one a month.
• Communication satellite GSAT-32 is also in the offing next year to replace GSAT-6A, which was lost in a failed launch and was meant to mainly serve the ground forces.

• Science and Tech

1st organism with chlorophyll that doesn't photosynthesise found

• In a first, scientists claim they’ve found an organism dubbed ‘corallicolid’ that can produce chlorophyll but doesn’t engage in photosynthesis.
• Having chlorophyll without photosynthesis can be dangerous, as without the process to release the trapped energy slowly, it’s like living with a bomb in your cells, a scientist said.
• The organism is found in 70% of corals around the world.

• Science and Tech

Indian army builds longest suspension bridge

• The Indian Army has successfully built the longest suspension bridge ‘Matiri Bridge’ over the Indus River in the Leh-Ladakh region.
• Built in a record time of 40 days ‘Maitri Bridge’ is longest Suspension Bridge over Indus River.
• The 260-feet long suspension bridge was built by the combat engineers belonging to the ‘Sahas aur Yogyata’ regiment of Indian Army’s Fire & Fury Corps.

• Defence

US approved sale of 24 helicopters

• The US approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60 Romeo Seahawk helicopters to India at an estimated cost of 2.4 billion US dollars.
• It is considered the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter.
• The choppers will provide the Indian defence forces with the capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.

• Miscellaneous

Kandhamal haldi (turmeric) gets GI tag

• Kandhamal haldi (turmeric) produced by the tribal farmers in Odisha’s Kandhamal district received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Kandhamal turmeric, originally grown by tribal people in Kandhamal, is famous for its medicinal properties.
• Kandhamal haldi is organic by default being cultivated by more than 60,000 families.
• The colour of Kandhamal haldi is golden yellow being well distinguished from other varieties.
• Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing had moved for registration ‘Kandhamal Haldi’ which was accepted under sub-section (1) of Section 13 of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

• Miscellaneous

Garuda Prakashan launches ‘Saffron Swords’

• The Indian Publishing company, Garuda Prakashan Private Limited, launched its book ‘Saffron Swords- Centuries of Indic Resistance to Invaders’.
• Written by Manoshi Sinha Rawal, it is a book on 52 unsung warriors of India from the last 1300 years.

• Agreements

India signed agreement with IAIARD

• India signed an agreement with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Consultancy Service, NABCONS for setting up India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development (IAIARD) in Malawi.
• IAIARD will be a Pan-African Institute wherein trainees from Malawi and other African countries, will receive training to develop their human resources and build their capacity.