Current Affairs April 2024

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

  • The School of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology (SNOM) and the Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC) jointly organized Meghayan-24, a Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC) seminar, at the Southern Naval Command. 

❱ The seminar, organized as part of World Meteorological Day (WMD) 2024, centered around the theme "At the Frontline of Climate Action." 

❱ An indigenous mobile application named INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis) was launched to provide weather-related information and forecasts, enhancing quick decision-making in naval operations.

  • GI tag- are issued in accordance with the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. These tags are granted by the Geographical Indication Registry, which operates under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

❱ Recently Indication Registry granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags to 19 traditional crafts of Assam, 2 from Tripura (Pachra/Rignai Textile; Matabari Peda), and 4 from Meghalaya.

❱ Assam:

  • Bihu Dhol
  • Jaapi
  • Sarthebari Metal Craft
  • Pani Mateka Craft
  • Mising Handloom Products
  • Asharikandi Terracotta
  • Craft
    •
    Thirteen additional items associated with the Bodo people
  • Dokhona (traditional attire)
  • Eri Silk / Indi Silk (fabric of peace)
  • Jwmgra (scarf)
  • Gamsa (traditional dress for men)
    •
    Three agricultural products:
  • Gongar Dunjia
  • Keradapini (plant, shrub)
  • Khardwi
    •
    Six musical instruments:
  • Kham
  • Serja
  • Thorkha
  • Jotha (Bodo Musical Instrument)
  • Gongona
  • Sifung
    •

    ❱ Meghalaya:

  • Garo Dakmanda Textile
  • Lyrnai Pottery
  • Chubitchi
  • Lakadong Turmeric
    •
    • Geographical indication (GI) tags to Miraj Tanpura and Miraj Sitar of Maharashtra and Bundelkhand Kathiya Gehu (Wheat) of Uttar Pradesh (UP).
    • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)'s 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' policy, has come into effect from 1 April 2024.  Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced that a new satellite-based toll collection system will be introduced to replace the existing toll collection system in India.
    • NMDC Limited has launched "Samman," a website for its former employees. Through this portal, they can manage medical claims, check their personal profiles, view details about their dependents, and see the status of their applications online. This website is designed to make sure they get reimbursements on time and have easy access to all the services, bringing comfort and convenience to them.
    • START- Space Science and Technology Awareness Training, online training programme, has been launched by Indian Space Research Organisation to encourage youngsters to choose the field of space science and technology.
    • The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started a 10-day war exercise called 'Gagan Shakti-2024' from April 1 to April 10, 2024. This exercise is to show how powerful and capable the IAF is in carrying out high-intensity operations across India. The exercise has been conducted in various locations, including the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan; Bhuj in Gujarat; Ladakh; Arunachal Pradesh; and other places across the country.
    • A report  “Synchronizing Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net-Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All” was recently launched. This report was prepared by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and approved by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The report was launched by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
    • India, the world’s third largest oil importer and consumer, plans to build its first privately managed Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2029-30. The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL), a special company created by the government under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2004, was set up to maintain these reserves.

    ❱ ISPRL was set up in two phases. In the first phase, ISPRL built strategic petroleum reserves in three locations: Visakhapatnam (1.33 million tonnes) in Andhra Pradesh, Mangalore (1.5 million tonnes) in Karnataka, and Padur (2.5 million tonnes) in Karnataka.

    • The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, launched India's first home-grown Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy called 'NexCAR19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel)' for cancer treatment. With this launch, India has become one of the first developing countries to have its own CAR-T and gene therapy platform.
    • Meta Platforms, has been Partnered with Press Trust of India (PTI), the largest news agency in India, to create a special fact-checking team for Fact-Checking Program. Through this partnership, PTI will find, check, and rate information on Meta platforms to ensure it's accurate and not misleading.
    • Sagar Kavach, a two-day coastal security exercise, was held in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep from April 1st to 2nd, 2024. This exercise involved all the maritime security agencies.
    • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) helped rescue many Indians from Cambodia who were trapped in cyber slavery.

    ❱ Cyber slavery is when people are exploited and abused through digital means, often involving forced labor or human trafficking with the help of technology. In this situation, individuals are forced, tricked, or pressured into doing tasks or services against their will, usually for the benefit of others. It is a serious and large-scale crime.

    • India’s Pratyush Telescope is one of the telescopes that astronomers are thinking about placing around the moon. They hope to use high-resolution telescopes on and around the moon to explore the universe in new ways. The Pratyush Telescope, also known as PRATUSH (Probing Reionization of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen), is a radio telescope that will be located on the far side of the moon.
    • Bharat Aluminum Company Limited (BALCO), has earned the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard V3 certification. BALCO is the first Indian company to receive this certification, showing its dedication to sustainable practices in the aluminum industry.
    • In a report called "Synchronizing Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net-Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All," AK Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), shared that India plans to produce 100 GigaWatts (GW) of nuclear power by 2047.
    • The Technology Development Board (TDB), which is part of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Government of India (GoI), has partnered with Remine India Private Limited to set up a plant in Sitarganj, Uttarakhand. This plant will use local technology to recycle lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and e-waste.
    • India aims to half, urea imports by the end of 2025 by boosting domestic production and promoting alternative fertilizers. This is in response to the nation’s significant reliance on imports, which currently satisfy around 30% of its annual urea demand.
    • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved a plan for India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to manage the Sittwe port on the Kaladan River in Rakhine, Myanmar. This is the second port outside of India that India operates, the first one being the Chabahar Port in Iran.The European Union(EU) and India launched an
    • The Government of India and the Government of Mauritius have changed the India-Mauritius Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). The new focus is on stopping tax evasion rather than encouraging investment between the two countries.
    • NTPC Limited (formerly National Thermal Power Corporation) has started a new edition of its Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM), a key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. This new edition will help about 3000 underprivileged children at 42 NTPC locations, increasing the total number of girls benefiting from the mission to 10,000.
    • The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched a digital platform called CDP-SURAKSHA (Cluster Development Programme – System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance). This platform helps give subsidies to horticulture farmers under the CDP program.
    • Sany Heavy Industry India Private Limited, a company that makes construction and mining equipment, has launched the SKT105E, which is India's first fully electric mining truck made in the country.
    • The Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has launched India's first mobile medical devices calibration facility. This facility on wheels aims to provide affordable and high-quality calibration services across the country, helping to improve healthcare in both urban and rural areas.
    • The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps held a training exercise with Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) at a super-high altitude of 17,000 feet in Sikkim. This exercise, named "Ek Missile Ek Tank," demonstrated the accuracy and effectiveness of the ATGM system in high-altitude environments.
    • The Ministry of Finance has updated the Foreign Exchange Management Rules 2019 to set new foreign direct investment (FDI) limits for satellite-related activities. According to the new FDI Policy, 100% FDI is now allowed in the space sector. For manufacturing components and systems for satellites, ground segments, and user segments, up to 100% FDI is permitted automatically.
    • The government has created a seven-member panel led by Vijay Kumar Saraswat to suggest laws and promote the extraction of important minerals found in small amounts.

    ❱ The main goal of the panel is to suggest ways to ensure that mining for minerals like copper, gold, and diamonds, which are found deep underground, is done cost-effectively and scientifically. These minerals are usually found in veins and can only be mined through underground methods.

    • The Government of India’s Geographical Indication Registry has given Geographical Indication (GI) tags to 13 new products from Uttar Pradesh (UP), including Banaras Tirangi Barfi and Banaras Metal Casting Craft. This brings the total number of GI products from UP to 75, making UP the state with the most GI tagged products in India.
    List of New GI Products of UP Goods
    Pilkhuwa Home Furnishing Handi Crafts
    Banaras Lal Bharwamirch (Red Pickel) Agriculture
    Lakhimpur Kheri Tharu Embroidery Handi Crafts
    Jaunpur Imarti (Sweet) Food Stuffs
    Banarasi Tabla Musical Instrument
    Banaras Lal Peda (Sweet) Food Stuffs
    Chiraigaon Karonda of Varanasi Agriculture
    Bareilly Zardoji Craft Handi Crafts
    Banaras Tirangi Barfi Udaipur, Rajasthan
    1st G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group (SFWG) meeting Food Stuffs
    Banaras Shehnai Musical Instrument
    Bareilly Furniture Handi Crafts
    Banaras Mural Painting Handi Crafts
    Banaras Metal Casting Craft Handi Crafts
    • A team of archaeologists found a unique Iron Age Megalithic site at Ooragutta near Bandala village in Mulugu district, Telangana. They also discovered two new rock art sites in Damaratogu Gundala mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana.

    ❱ One of these sites, called "Devarlabanda Mula," only has paintings of animals and no humans. It is believed these paintings are from the Mesolithic age (between 8000-3000 BCE) because they do not show any weapons or domestic animals.

    • Russia and India have signed an agreement to start a large research center in New Delhi. HSE University from St. Petersburg, Russia, and the University of Delhi (DU) in New Delhi, India, will work together on this project. This agreement will allow the research hub to operate at DU in India.
    • Poorvi Lehar (XPOL 2024): Exercise Poorvi Lehar (XPOL 2024) is a coordinated exercise involving the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard. The exercise aims to test and improve the Indian Navy’s readiness for maritime security challenges in the region and to show how well these forces can work together. Participating Forces: Eastern Naval Command; Indian Air Force (IAF); Andaman & Nicobar Command; Coast Guard.
    • On the special occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event honored Bhagwan Mahaveer, the 24th Tirthankar, and celebrated his teachings of Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Non-Stealing), Brahmacharya (Chastity), and Aparigraha (Non-Attachment). These teachings guide us towards peaceful coexistence and universal brotherhood.
    • SJVN Limited has started India’s first multipurpose (combined Heat and Power) green hydrogen pilot project at the 1,500 megawatt (MW) Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh (HP).
    • The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance, has given Navratna status to two companies: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA) and Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO). This status recognizes them as important and powerful companies in India.
    • The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) announced a big achievement for India's Gem and Jewellery (GJ) industry. The industry has received Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status from the Ministry of Finance. This status, which was not given before, now makes it easier to export and import goods, speeds up cargo release times, and reduces bank guarantees by 50%, making it easier to do business.
    • To connect more with customers, the biscuit brand Britannia NutriChoice has launched a health app called ‘NutriPlus’. This app was created with Aktivo Labs and helps people keep track of their health and wellness.

    ❱ The app gives users a daily "NutriScore," which is a single score that shows their health status based on factors like how long they exercise and sleep.

    • At a meeting in Turin, Italy, G7 energy ministers discussed phasing out coal-fired power plants to transition away from fossil fuels, following the UN’s COP28 climate summit.

    ❱ G7 ministers are close to agreeing on shutting down coal-fired power plants by the first half of the 2030s, possibly by 2035.

    ❱ The aim is to phase out unabated coal power generation to maintain the 1.5°C temperature rise limit.

    ❱ The G7 is an informal group of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, plus the EU.

    • A recent geochemical study has confirmed that the Luna crater in the Banni Plains grassland of Gujarat, India, was created by a meteorite impact around 6,900 years ago. The crater, named after the nearby village of Luna, is 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) wide, with an outer rim that rises about 6 meters (20 feet) above the crater floor.
    • India and the United Kingdom are talking about sharing their technical knowledge and experience in maritime Electric Propulsion Systems for future Indian warships. They are also considering a training agreement to improve cooperation between their armed forces.

    ❱ Currently, Indian naval warships do not have electric propulsion systems.

    ❱ The Indian Navy wants to include this technology in its future warships.

    ❱ The UK’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers already use full electric propulsion systems.

    • On Earth Day, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) released its Climate Strategy 2030 document. This plan is to help India get more green financing for projects that deal with climate change.
    • The government has formed a three-member committee of gynecologists to create a list of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that can be sold at general stores without a prescription. The committee, led by the Directorate General of Health Services Atul Goel, plans to finish the list within two weeks.

    STATE AFFAIRS

    • CELERITYX, has announced its partnership with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation. This collaboration will involve deploying the OneX platform across 40,000 bank branches in Maharashtra.
    • Cumbum valley—grapes city of south India—is very popular for Muscat Hamburg (panneer thiratchai) cultivation. It is noteworthy that the valley contributes up to 85% of panneer
      thiratchai production in the country. Nearly 90% of the grapes grown in Tamil Nadu belong to the seeded variety of Muscat Hamburg.
    • Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi inaugurated the Param Vir Chakra garden and Aikyam exhibition at the Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir in Tambaram.
    • ‘Booth Raabta’- a website has been launched in Malerkotla district, Punjab to improve voter engagement and access to election information. this platform, available at boothraabta.com, serves as a comprehensive resource hub for both voters and polling personnel.
    • The state government of Uttarakhand has started proactive measures to assess and reduce the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Two expert panels have been formed to conduct risk assessments and monitor five high-risk glacial lakes in the region. These lakes
      have been identified as being in immediate danger, requiring urgent attention and action.
    • The Seng Khihlang festival, an important event for followers of the Khasi Indigenous Faith, recently ended in Wahiajer, Meghalaya. Starting on April 19, 2024, the festival celebrated
      the unity and traditions of the indigenous community.
    • The southern Indian state of Kerala is famous for its rich culture, including many different religions, landscapes, rituals, and histories. Among all the festivals, the Thrissur Pooram stands out as a true example of Kerala’s deep cultural heritage.
    • In Manipur, Khongjom Day is celebrated on April 23 to honor the brave people who fought against the British in the Khongjom Battle during the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.
    • The government of Tamil Nadu has started a three-day survey of the Nilgiri Tahr, the state's famous animal. This project aims to learn more about this endangered species and find ways
      to protect it from various challenges, including habitat loss.

    INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

    • As part of the Mountain Cleaning Campaign 2024, the Nepal Army will collect around 10 tonnes of garbage from Mt. Everest. This campaign aims to reduce human-made pollution in
      the Himalayas and tackle climate change issues. A 12-member team, led by Aditya Karki, will set off for Everest base camp on April 14, assisted by an 18-member Sherpa team.
    • Armenia and Azerbaijan have installed their first border marker following a long-standing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. As part of the peace process, experts from both countries are collaborating to demarcate their boundaries.
    • The 6th edition of the  " Global Unicorn Index 2024, "  published by Hurun Institute, ranks India 3rd with 67 unicorns, a decrease of 1 from 2023. The United States maintains the top position with 703 unicorns, representing 48% of the global total.
    • The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has unanimously selected Saudi Arabia to chair its 69th session in 2025. Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN, will represent for the new chair.
    • Sweden has officially joined as the 38th country to sign NASA’s “Artemis Accords,” which set practical guidelines for peaceful space exploration and the use of outer space. Peru and Slovakia officially became the 41st and 42nd nation to sign the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s ‘Artemis Accords’, which establish a practical set of guidelines for peaceful space exploration and use of outer space.
    • Nigeria has become the first country globally to introduce the new Men5CV vaccine, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect against five strains of meningococcus bacteria. (Note: This vaccine is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which aids lower-income countries)
    • Recently Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel are a major increase in their long- standing hidden conflict. It all started when Israel struck Iran’s consulate in Damascus which killed several members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Now, the situation has turned into open fighting, which is a serious threat to stability in the region and could affect global politics.
    • Nepal hosted its first International Rainbow Tourism Conference in Kathmandu, with an objective to promote the country as a safe and inclusive destination.
    • An advanced stealth aircraft “The Oron” or “Multi-Mission Airborne Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (MARS2),” equipped with artificial intelligence technology is important
      to help Israel to detect and counter a surprise missile attack from Iran. Its valued at around ₹8,200 crore and is among the most advanced and compact stealth planes globally.
    • Mount Ruang, a volcano in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi region, recently erupted and send a plume of ash 400 meters (1,312 feet) into the air above its peak.
    • On Earth Day 2024, Bhutan has hosted the Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference to raise $1 billion in new funding over the next ten years for the conservation of tiger habitats across Asia.
    • The U.S. Department of State has announced plans to withdraw about 1,000 American troops from Niger because Niger has been seeking closer military and strategic ties with
      Russia, moving away from its previous alliances with Western nations. This decision represents a major change in U.S. foreign policy and military strategy in Africa, especially in the Sahel region, which is known for extremist activities and geopolitical tensions.
    • The Canadian government has unveiled a major investment package of C$2.4 billion ($1.8 billion) to strengthen the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector. This funding is intended to support AI researchers, startups, and other companies working in the field.
    • On April 7, 2024, Rwanda remembered the 30th year of the genocide by Hutu extremists. The 100-day massacre, starting on April 7, 1994 which led to the deaths of about 800,000 people.
    • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has authorized the immediate release of the final $1.1 billion installment of a $3 billion bailout for Pakistan. This move comes as Pakistan faces one of its worst economic crises, raising concerns about a possible default on foreign debt payments.
    • Recently India and Kuwait has signed an MoU to exchange information on technologies and innovations in the financial and regulatory sectors. The event brought together key stakeholders from both nations, including delegations from India's Gujarat International
      Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), InvestIndia, and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
    • The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has launched Climate Resilience Fund to raise USD 100 million by 2025. The fund aims to protect refugees and displaced communities from the effects of climate change and support their involvement in climate-
      related initiatives.
    • Since mid-December 2023, attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, have caused hundreds of ships to change their routes that leads to more carbon emissions. Instead of going through the Suez Canal, ships are now traveling around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, which adds at least a week to their trip from South Asia to northern Europe.
    • The 26th World Energy Congress was held in Rotterdam (Netherlands) in April 2024, with the theme "Redesigning Energy for People and Planet." In this conference the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also announced its commitment to a better and more sustainable Asia-Pacific region through its Strategy 2030. This plan focuses on seven key areas: Education, Energy, Finance, Health, Transport, Urban Development, and Water.
    • In April 2024, health officials from 14 Eastern African countries gathered in Kenya to launch two major public health projects: RISLNET (the Eastern Africa Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Network) and the Eastern Africa Regional Cholera Taskforce;
      with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

    INDEX/ REPORT

    • India Employment Report 2024: The India Employment Report 2024, the third in a series by the Institute for Human Development in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), explores youth employment challenges within India' s changing economic, labor market, educational, and skills landscape over the past 20 years.
    Category Details
    Unemployment Rates - Fell from 2019-2022 after rising from 2000-2019
    - Lowest: Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, UP
    - Highest: Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Gujarat
    Employment Quality - Informal employment increased, with ~50% of formal jobs being informal
    - Regular employment: 21.5% in 2022 (23.8% in 2019, 14.2% in 2000)
    - Casual employment: 22.7% in 2022 (33.3% in 2000)
    Women’s Labor Force Participation - Female LFPR: 32.8% in 2022, increased 8.3 points since 2019
    - Declined 14.4 points from 2000-2019
    - 2022 female LFPR below global average (47.3%), above South Asia’s (24.8%)
    Sectoral Employment Shifts - Agriculture’s share fell from 60% in 2000 to ~42% in 2019
    - Shift to construction and services
    - Stagnated or reversed since 2018-19
    - Manufacturing employment: 12-14%
    Youth Employment - Increased from 2000-2019, decreased during the pandemic
    - Higher unemployment among educated youth, especially graduates
    - 2022 unemployment: secondary educated youth 18.4%, uneducated youth 3.4%
    - Graduate unemployment: 29.1% overall, 34.5% for women, 26.4% for men
    - Educated youth unemployment: 23.9% in 2000, 30.8% in 2019,dropped to 18.4% in 2022
    • According to the World Trade Organization' s (WTO) Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report, India is now the fourth largest exporter of digitally delivered services, overtaking Germany. Despite this growth, it still ranks behind the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. India's share of global services trade has increased to over one-fifth, compared to 14% in 2005.
    • According to the reports of Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) have indicated the detection of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, in several Indian spice products. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ethylene oxide as a Group-1 carcinogen, due to its potential to cause cancer when humans are exposed to it.
    • Researchers have developed the first "World Cybercrime Index" to identify the leading sources of cybercrime globally. India ranked 10th on the index, while Russia and Ukraine held the top two positions, while China and the United States ranked 3rd and 4 th .
    • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported that over 27% of the glacial lakes in the Himalayas have significantly expanded since 1984, according to long-term satellite
      observations. This expansion is linked to the rapid retreat and thinning of glaciers, driven by human-induced climate change.
    • World Hepatitis Summit 2024 was held in Lisbon, Portugal in April 2024, under the theme 'Integrate, Accelerate, Eliminate'. During this summit World Health Organization (WHO)
      released its 'Global Hepatitis Report 2024: Action for Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries'
    • According to EA Earth Action’s 2024 report called “Plastic Overshoot Day - September 5, 2024,” India is one of the top 12 countries that contribute to about 60% of the world' s poorly managed plastic waste. Despite this, India has one of the lowest per capita plastic waste production rates in the world, at 8 kg per person per year. The 12 countries are China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, the United States, and Türkiye.
    • 'Top 10 Busiest Airports Worldwide for 2023' report released by Airports Council International. Delhi Airport (Indira Gandhi International Airport - IGIA) secured the 10th spot. Hartsfield-
      Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the United States regained the title of the world' busiest airport.
    • The Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024 were held at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 17, 2024. Doha’s Hamad International Airport in Qatar was named the
      World’s Best Airport for 2024. The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru has been honored as the Best Regional Airport in India and South Asia.
    • The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its report in April 2024, titled ’Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023’. The top five military spenders in 2023 were the United States (1st), China (2nd), Russia (3rd), India (4th), and Saudi Arabia (5th), together accounting for 61% of global military spending. India’s military spending increased by 4.2% from 2022 and by 44% from 2014.

    BANKING/ FINANCE/ ECONOMICS

    Main Events Detailed Explanation
    SIDBI partners with Onionlife Private Limited for micro-loans for gig workers The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has partnered with the Bengaluru-based fintech startup Onionlife Private Limited to use its technology platform KarmaLife for a pilot to offer micro-loans for gig workers.
    SIDBI partners with Onionlife Private Limited for micro-loans for gig workers The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has partnered with the Bengaluru-based fintech startup Onionlife Private Limited to use its technology platform KarmaLife for a pilot to offer micro-loans for gig workers.
    Karnataka Bank partners with FISDOM Karnataka Bank Ltd partnered with FISDOM to offer stock broking services and 3 in 1 Accounts (Savings, Demat, and Trading accounts) through the " KBL Mobile Plus" mobile banking app.
    Air India and Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) agreement Tata-Group-owned Air India and Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) have entered into an agreement to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for southern India, aiming to boost air travel connectivity.
    Jio Financial Services and BlackRock form Joint Venture Jio Financial Services and BlackRock signed an agreement to form a 50:50 Joint Venture to set up a wealth management and broking business in India, with each committing an initial investment of USD 150 million.
    SBI Life Insurance launches IdeationX SBI Life Insurance Company launched its 1st edition of IdeationX, aiming to transform the future of the insurance industry.
    Axis Bank collaborates with Shoppers Stop Axis Bank Limited collaborated with Shoppers Stop Ltd to launch the “Axis Bank Shoppers Stop Credit Card," enhancing the shopping experience for cardholders.
    SIDBI signs MoU with Women's World Banking and other organizations Axis Bank Limited collaborated with Shoppers Stop Ltd to launch the “Axis Bank Shoppers Stop Credit Card," enhancing the shopping experience for cardholders.
    Amazon Pay partners with NPCI for credit services on UPI Amazon Pay, in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is set to introduce its credit services on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), aiming to improve customer experience and value propositions.
    IRDAI celebrates Silver Jubilee The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) marked its Silver Jubilee (25 years) on 19th April 2024, having been formed under the IRDAI Act, 1999 and incorporated on 19th April 2000.
    IIT Kanpur partners with Blockchain For Impact The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and Blockchain For Impact announced a strategic partnership to nurture innovations and drive advancements in healthcare in India.
    ReNew and JERA sign agreement for green ammonia project ReNew Energy Global PLC and JERA Co. Inc. have signed an initial agreement to assess a green ammonia production project in Odisha.
    IREDA establishes new office in GIFT City The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has established a new office in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
    NTPC Green Energy and Indus Towers sign MoU NTPC Green Energy Limited and Indus Towers Limited signed an MoU to pace green energy objectives and support the Indian government ' s efforts towards a carbon-neutral economy.
    Rail Vikas Nigam Limited partners with TUMAS India Rail Vikas Nigam Limited signed an MoU with Turkish Engineering Consulting & Contracting - TUMAS India Private Limited for collaboration in public transportation and infrastructure projects across India.
    NSDC and ISKCON sign MoU to establish ECO villages The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) signed an MoU to establish ECO villages inspired by Govardhan EcoVillage in Maharashtra.
    NABARD releases Climate Strategy 2030 document The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) released its Climate Strategy 2030 document to promote and boost green financing in India.
    IndusInd Bank executes RBI's CBDC pilot IndusInd Bank became the first bank to execute the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) programmable Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot to compensate farmers for carbon credits.
    Razorpay launches UPI infrastructure with Airtel Payments Bank Razorpay launched its own Unified Payments Interface (UPI) infrastructure with “UPI Switch,” in partnership with Airtel Payments Bank.
    BharatPe launches BharatPe One BharatPe launched BharatPe One, India’s first all-in-one payment product that integrates POS, QR code, and speaker into one device to simplify transactions for merchants.
    SBI Cards introduces travel-focused credit card SBI Cards and Payment Services introduced its first travel-focused credit card, 'SBI Card MILES,' with three variants: SBI Card Miles Elite, SBI Card Miles Prime, and SBI Card Miles.
    Hitachi Payment Services launches upgradable ATM Hitachi Payment Services launched India’s first upgradable Automated Teller Machine (ATM) that can be converted to a cash recycling machine (CRM) as needed by banks.
    Cred launches offline UPI- based ‘Scan and Pay’ service Fintech company Cred launched an offline Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based ‘Scan and Pay’ service, enabling users to scan QR codes for payments directly from their bank accounts.
    SBI enters five-year agreement with HCLSoftware The State Bank of India (SBI) entered a five-year agreement with HCL Software to digitally transform its customer interaction framework using the HCL Unica platform.
    HAL signs ToT agreement with CSIR-NAL Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) to manufacture the Bismaleimide (BMI) Engine Bay Door for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A aircraft.
    Air India and ANA sign codeshare agreement Tata-owned Air India and All Nippon Airways (ANA) signed a codeshare agreement to enhance flight selections and simplify travel between India and Japan.
    RBI to set up Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will establish the Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) to combat illegal lending apps, serving as a crucial checkpoint to address this issue.
    SEBI launches SCORES 2.0 The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new version of SCORES, called SCORES 2.0, to more efficiently resolve investor complaints in the securities market. It sets a uniform timeline of 21 calendar days for complaint resolution.
    TATA AIG introduces "Travel Guard Plus " The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new version of SCORES, called SCORES 2.0, to more efficiently resolve investor complaints in the securities market. It sets a uniform timeline
    RBI celebrates 90th anniversary The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new version of SCORES, called SCORES 2.0, to more efficiently resolve investor complaints in the securities market. It sets a uniform timeline
    J& K Bank partners with Paymart India for Virtual ATM service Jammu & Kashmir Bank Limited (J& K Bank) signed an agreement with Paymart India Pvt Ltd to launch a Virtual Automated Teller Machine (ATM) service, allowing customers to withdraw cash without a card through local merchants.
    RVNL and Salasar Techno Engineering win Rwanda project Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Salasar Techno Engineering Limited (STEL) have won the " Rwanda Transmission System Reinforcement and Last Mile Connectivity project (TSRLMC) " to enhance Rwanda's transmission system.

    AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

    • Indian field hockey player Hardik Singh, received the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2023 (Men) at the Hockey India 6th Annual Awards 2023 event in New Delhi.

    ❱ Indian field hockey player Salima Tete was honoured with the same award for Player of the Year 2023 (Women).

    ❱ Ashok Kumar won the prestigious Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.

    • SJVN Limited, a hydroelectric power company, won the Achievement Award for Creating Social Development and Impact at the 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards (2024). These awards are organized by the Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC).
    • Mamta G. Sagar received the WOW World Literary Prize from the World Organization of Writers (WOW) for her outstanding contributions to literature.
    • The 2024 John L.  "Jack " Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration has been awarded to the Chandrayaan-3 mission team of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). D.C. Manjunath, Consul (Indian Space Research Organisation), accepted the award on behalf of the team.
    • Winners of Sagar Samman Awards:
    Category Winner
    Sagar Samman Varun Award Dhirendra Kumar Sanyal
    Sagar Samman Award for Excellence Captain Kamal Kant Choudhary
    Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry Captain Subir Saha and Captain OM Dutta
    • Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), awarded the  "On the Spot Unit Citation 23-24 " to Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sharda for its successful conduct of antipiracy operations.
    • The Indian-American actress Avantika Vandanapu has been honored as the ‘South Asian Person of the Year'  by the South Asian Association (SAA).
    • Indian microbiologist and virologist Gagandeep Kang has been awarded the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award 2024 by the Toronto-based Gairdner Foundation for her achievements in global health research. She is the first Indian woman to receive this award.
    • Avi Wigderson, an Israeli computer scientist and mathematician, has been named the recipient of the 2023 ACM A.M. Turing Award by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Computing."
    • Pavuluri Subba Rao( former ISRO scientist) has been conferred the prestigious Aryabhata Award by the Astronautical Society of India (ASI).
    • Dr Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, President of 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been awarded with the Global Energy Transition Impact Award for his leadership in advancing energy transition.
    • Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group has been awarded with the esteemed Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Humanitarian Award for 2021

    APPOINTMENTS

    • Judith Tuluka Appointed as First Female Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    • Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has been sworn in as the President of Egypt for the third term.
    • Sanjay Nayar, appointed as President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and
      Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
    • Former Indian track and field athlete Shiny Kurisingal Abraham Wilson was nominated as a member of the Athletic Commission of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) for four years (2024–2028).
    • Ousmane Sonko has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Senegal.
    • Sheyphali B. Sharan took charge as the Principal Director General (PDG) of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), succeeding Manish Desai.
    • António Guterres, Secretary-General (SG) of the United Nations (UN), appointed Astrid Schomaker of Germany as the 8th Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). She is the first Executive Secretary from Germany.
    • The World Bank has appointed Rakesh Mohan, Former Deputy Governor (DG) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as a member of the Economic Advisory Panel of the World Bank Group (WBG).
    • The Ministry of Finance has appointed Justice PS Dinesh Kumar, the former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, as the Presiding Officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) for 4 years or until he turns 70 years old.
    • Dr. Meenesh kumar Champaklal Shah has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Ltd.

    Other important appointment:
    Name Position/Role
    Peter Pellegrini Become the President of the Slovak Republic
    Bilquis Mir Become the first Indian woman jury member at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France
    Ingmar De Vos Elected President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)
    Manoj Mittal Selected as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SIDBI
    Justice Aniruddha Bose Retired SC Judge, appointed Director of the National Judicial Academy
    Manoj Panda Appointed full-time member of the 16th Finance Commission of India
    Simon Harris Elected as the new Taoiseach (Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland)
    Jagjit Pavadia Re-elected as a member of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
    Sushil Sharma Selected as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SJVN Limited
    Bjarni Benediktsson Took office as Prime Minister (PM) of Iceland
    Kristalina Georgieva Reappointed as Managing Director (MD) of IMF for a second term
    Admiral DK Tripathi Appointed as the 26th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy
    Nalin Prabhat Appointed as Director-General (D-G) of National Security Guard (NSG)
    Narpat Singh Appointed as Railway Adviser in the High Commission of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh
    Narsingh Pancham Yadav Elected Chairman of the Athletes' Commission of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)
    Gita Sabharwal Took charge as the UN Resident Coordinator (UN RC) in the Republic of Indonesia

    SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    • The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced S.A.R.A.H. (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health), its first digital health assistant powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) with empathetic responses.
    • Venturi Astrolab Inc (U.S.A based startup) has successfully tested a new lunar rover prototype called the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover in California' s Mojave Desert. It is designed for NASA' s Artemis program.
    • The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a flight test of the new generation ballistic missile Agni-
      Prime (Agni-P) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
    • South Korea' s superconducting fusion device, called the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) and also known as the "artificial sun", set a new world record in nuclear fusion by maintaining a plasma loop at 100 million degrees Celsius for 48 seconds.
    • The Indian Air Force (IAF) received its first indigenously designed and developed Crash Fire Tender (CFT), manufactured in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
    • ‘Bandwagon-1’ has been launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), the first rideshare mission to low-Earth orbit.
    • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Japan signed an agreement to advance sustainable human exploration of the Moon. Under this agreement, the USA will send two Japanese astronauts to the lunar surface as part of its mission.
    • The Russian space agency, ROSCOSMOS, has successfully launched the first Angara-A5 space rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome launch pad in the far eastern Amur region of Russia.
    • Aditya Birla Capital Limited, the financial services arm of Aditya Birla Group, has launched the ' Aditya Birla Capital Digital (ABCD)'  Fintech app, offering various financial products on a single digital platform.
    • Defence Research and Development Organisation has been conducted flight-test of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile from the Integrated Test Range which is located at Chandipur , Odisha.
    • Intel Corporation, an American technology company that manufactures semiconductor computer circuits, has built the world' s largest neuromorphic system code named ' Hala Point'  to enable more sustainable Artificial Intelligence (AI).
    • India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. This delivery marks a significant milestone in defense cooperation between the two nations.
    • NASA has confirmed its Dragonfly rotorcraft mission to Titan, Saturn' s largest moon, with a lifecycle cost of USD 3.35 billion. The mission is set to launch in July 2028 and arrive at Titan in 2034.
    • The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO) in Tamil Nadu, established in 1899, is one of the oldest solar observatories in the world, leading solar research for over 125 years.
    • A report highlighted the ancient origins of Coffea arabica, the world' s most popular coffee species, through genome sequencing. Arabica coffee developed over 600,000 years ago in the forests of Ethiopia via natural hybridization between Coffea canephora and Coffea
      eugenioides. Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer.
    • Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed a high-energy, high-power hybrid sodium-ion battery capable of charging in seconds, potentially revolutionizing the energy storage industry.
    • Microsoft introduced VASA-1, an AI that can create very realistic talking faces from just one photo and an audio clip. It makes lifelike animations that match the sound perfectly.
    • China launched the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft with three astronauts to their Tiangong space station. They plan to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.
    • Microsoft unveiled Phi-3-mini, the smallest AI model in its new series. Despite its small size, it works better than larger models in many tests.
    • Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) launched India’s first military-grade satellite, TSAT-1A, built entirely by the private sector with help from Satellogic.
    • Researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad found strong evidence of ozone on Callisto, one of Jupiter’s largest moons.
    • Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta AI, powered by the Llama 3 language model, to improve user experience on Meta’s apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and
      Messenger.
    • A research center in Romania, part of the European Union’s Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project, developed the world’s most powerful laser, operated by Thales Group.
    • The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) warned about "juice jacking attacks," where hackers use public charging ports to steal data from devices.
    • 2024 marks 100 years since German psychiatrist Hans Berger discovered the
      electroencephalogram (EEG), a crucial tool for studying the brain and diagnosing brain disorders.
    • South Korea launched its second military spy satellite using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from an American space center.
    • Researchers from Utrecht University and Sogang University developed artificial synapses using water and salt, bringing us closer to computers that work like the human brain.
    • Google fired employees protesting against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli government.
    • Scientists from Germany and the UK proposed a new explanation for the Hubble tension, the difference in measurements of the universe’s expansion rate.
    • India is considering a deal with Nvidia to get GPUs (graphics processing units) for local startups, researchers, and academic institutions at lower prices.

    SPORTS

    • 25th Laureus World Sports Awards 2024:
    • The 25th Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony was held in Madrid. It was a grand celebration of the world' s best athletes and their achievements.
    • Novak Djokovic: The world' s top-ranked tennis player, Novak Djokovic, was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time.
    • Simone Biles: American artistic gymnast Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in history with 37 World and Olympic medals.
    • Aitana Bonmatí: Aitana Bonmatí, a football star from Barcelona and Spain, made history as the first footballer to win the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.
    • Neeraj Chopra, an Indian Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, is the third Indian after Vinesh Phogat and Sachin Tendulkar who was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards.
    • The Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar won the Laureus Sporting Moment Award (2000 - 2020).
    Category Winner Sport
    Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Tennis
    Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Aitana Bonmatí (Spain) Football
    Laureus World Team of the Year Spain’s Women’s Football Team Football
    Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Simone Biles (United States of America) Gymnastics
    Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Diede De Groot (Netherlands) Wheelchair Tennis
    Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Arisa Trew (Australia) Skateboarding
    Laureus Sport for Good Fundación Rafa Nadal (Spain) Global
    • Miami Open 2024: A professional hardcourt tennis tournament played from March 19 to March 31, 2024 on the grounds of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
    Category Winner(s)
    Men’s Singles Jannik Sinner (Italy)
    Women’s Singles Danielle Collins (USA)
    Men’s Doubles Rohan Machanda Bopanna (India) and Mathew Ebden (Australia)
    Women’s Doubles Sofian Kennis (USA) and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)
    • List of the Winners at the Badminton Asia Championships 2024 held in Ningbo (China) in 2024.
    Championship Winner
    Men’s Singles Jonatan Christie (Indonesia)
    Women’s Singles Wang Zhi Yi (China)
    Men’s Doubles Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang (China)
    Women’s Doubles Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee (South Korea)
    Mixed Doubles Feng Yan Zhe and Huang
    • Winners of Kazakhstan International Challenge (Badminton) 2024
    Men’s Singles Tharun Mannepalli (India)
    Women’s Singles Anupama Upadhyaya (India)
    Men’s Doubles Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar (France)
    Women’s Doubles Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe (Japan)
    Mixed Doubles Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien (Malaysia)
    • Other Important Sport news at a glance
    Event Player/Athlete Details
    Weightlifting Mirabai Chanu Became the only Indian weightlifter to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024.
    Orlen Polish Open 2024 Anupama Upadhyaya Defeated Tanya Hemanth to win the women’s singles title in Warsaw, Poland.
    Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024 Max Verstappen Won the race at the Suzuka International Racing Course in Suzuka, Japan.
    Asian Athletics Championships 2023 Aishwarya Mishra Her bronze medal in the women's 400m sprint event is set to be upgraded to silver after the original silver medalist failed a dope test.
    Monte Carlo Masters 2024 Stefanos Tsitsipas Won the Singles title by defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud, marking his third Monte Carlo Masters title.
    FIDE Candidates 2024 Dommaraju Gukesh 17-year-old chess Grandmaster (GM) from Chennai won the Open category by defeating Hikaru Nakamura of the United States, scoring 9 points.

    IMPORTANT DAYS

    Important Days Events Theme/Important Information
    2nd April World Autism Awareness Day The theme for 2024 - "Empowering Autistic Voices "
    2nd April International Children' s Book Day Birth anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen
    4th April International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action The Theme for 2024- “Protecting Lives, Building Peace.”
    5th April International Day of Conscience The 1st ever International Day of Conscience was observed on 5 April 2020
    6th April International Day of Sport for Development and Peace The Theme for 2024- “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”
    8th April International Romani Day Promote awareness of Romani culture, history, and the challenges faced by Europe's largest ethnic minority.
    10th April World Homeopathy Day The theme for 2024 is “Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family.”
    11th April National Safe Motherhood Day Promote awareness of maternal health, enhance maternal wellness, and reduce maternal mortality rates in India..
    11th April World Parkinson' s Day Promote awareness and advance research for better therapies and a cure for Parkinson's disease.
    12th April International Day for Street Children The theme for 2024 is, “Belonging.”
    14th April World Chagas Disease Day The theme for 2024 is "Tackling Chagas Disease: Detect Early and Care for Life.”
    17 April World Hemophilia Day The theme of 2024 is “Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders”
    18th April International Day For Monuments and Sites The theme of 2024 is “Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders”
    19th April World Liver Day The theme of 2024 “Be Vigilant, Get Regular Liver Check-Ups and Prevent Fatty Liver Diseases.”
    21st April World Creativity and Innovation Day To raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development
    22nd April International Mother Earth Day (or Earth Day) The theme of Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics.
    23rd April World Book And Copyright Day The annual observance of the Day is led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
    24th April National Panchayati Raj Day To recognise and honour the establishment of the Panchayati Raj System and its pivotal role in decentralised governance at the grassroots
    4th Thursday of April (25 th April this year) The International Girls in ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Day The theme for International Girls in ICT Day 2024 is “Leadership”.
    25th April World Malaria Day The theme 2024 is “Accelerating the fight. against malaria for a more equitable world”.
    26th April World Intellectual Property Day The theme 2024 is “Accelerating the fight. against malaria for a more equitable world”.
    27th April World Veterinary Day The theme of 2024 is “Veterinarians are essential health workers".
    28th April World Day for Safety and Health at Work The theme of 2024 is “Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate”
    30th April Ayushman Bharat Diwas Ayushman Bharat was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

    BOOK AND AUTHOR

    • Salman Rushdie, released his new memoir "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder’’.
    • Shane Robert Watson launched his new book titled ‘The Winner’s Mindset’.

    OBITUARY

    • Tim McGovern, the renowned Oscar winning American Visual Effects(VFX) pioneer passed away at the age of 68.
    • Veteran American actress Barbara Rush passed away at the age of 97 in Los Angeles.
    • Joseph Patrick Kinnear, former Irish footballer and manager, who served as head coach of the Indian National Men' s Football Team in 1983, passed away at the age of 77.
    • British Physicist Peter Higgs, Nobel prize-winner, passed away at the age of 94.
    • Padma Shri Awardee KG Jayan, a renowned Carnatic musician from Kerala passed away at the age of 89.
    • Former German footballer Bernd Hölzenbein, who won the 1974 World Cup with West Germany, passed away at the age of 78.
    • J F C Durai, National Award winning veteran Tamil director, passed away at the age of 84.
    • Venkataiah Sreenivasa Prasad, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Member of Parliament (MP- Lok Sabha) from Chamarajanagar constituency (Karnataka) passed away at the age of 76.

    DEFENCE

    • The Indian Army has received the first batch of 24 Russia-made Igla-S Man
      Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) and 100 missiles as part of a larger deal. The Army&' s defensive actions will depend on these systems, expected to arrive by the end of May or early June.
    • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army have successfully conducted trials of the Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) system in Rajasthan. The indigenously designed MPATGM system includes the Man Portable
      Launcher, Target Acquisition System (TAS), and Fire Control Unit (FCU).
    • SPACE- Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation, a state-of-the-art was inaugurated by Secretary of Defence (R&D) and Chairman of DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat at the Underwater Acoustic Research Facility, Kulamavu, in Idukki, Kerala. This facility is a center for testing and evaluating sonar systems used by the Indian Navy on different types of vessels, including ships, submarines, and helicopters.
    • The Indian Air Force (IAF) reached a significant milestone by successfully test-firing an air- launched ballistic missile known as ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2.
    • The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and IIT Kanpur have signed an MoU to collaborate on developing technologies to address health issues faced by soldiers in difficult terrains.
    • North Korea has tested the Pyoljji-1-2, a new "super-large" warhead for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile, as well as a new type of anti-aircraft missile.
    • The 5th edition of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise ' DUSTLIK 2024'  is being conducted from 15th to 28th April 2024 in the Termez District of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
    • Israel has deployed its ship-mounted defence system ' C-Dome'  for the first time in Eilat, the southernmost city of Israel. The C-Dome, a naval version of the Iron Dome air defence system, is designed to protect against rocket and missile attacks.
    Table Of Contents−

    ❱ An Application Supported by a Blocked Amount (ASBA) is an authorisation used to block the application money in the bank account through Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Typically, it is used for subscribing to an initial public offering

    current-affairs-strip
    NATIONAL AFFAIRS
    • The School of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology (SNOM) and the Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC) jointly organized Meghayan-24, a Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC) seminar, at the Southern Naval Command.
      • The seminar, organized as part of World Meteorological Day (WMD) 2024, centered around the theme "At the Frontline of Climate Action."
      • An indigenous mobile application named INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis) was launched to provide weather-related information and forecasts, enhancing quick decision-making in naval operations.
    • GI tag- are issued in accordance with the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. These tags are granted by the Geographical Indication Registry, which operates under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
      • Recently Indication Registry granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags to 19 traditional crafts of Assam, 2 from Tripura (Pachra/Rignai Textile; Matabari Peda), and 4 from Meghalaya.
      • Assam:
    • Bihu Dhol
    • Jaapi
    • Sarthebari Metal Craft
    • Pani Mateka Craft
    • Mising Handloom Products
    • Asharikandi Terracotta
    • Craft

    Thirteen additional items associated with the Bodo people

    • Dokhona (traditional attire)
    • Eri Silk / Indi Silk (fabric of peace)
    • Jwmgra (scarf)
    • Gamsa (traditional dress for men)

    Three agricultural products:

    • Gongar Dunjia
    • Keradapini (plant, shrub)
    • Khardwi

    Six musical instruments:

    • Kham
    • Serja
    • Thorkha
    • Jotha (Bodo Musical Instrument)
    • Gongona
    • Sifung
      • Meghalaya

    • Garo Dakmanda Textile
    • Lyrnai Pottery
    • Chubitchi
    • Lakadong Turmeric
    • Geographical indication (GI) tags to Miraj Tanpura and Miraj Sitar of Maharashtra and Bundelkhand Kathiya Gehu (Wheat) of Uttar Pradesh (UP).
    • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)'s 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' policy, has come into effect from 1 April 2024.  Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced that a new satellite-based toll collection system will be introduced to replace the existing toll collection system in India.
    • NMDC Limited has launched "Samman," a website for its former employees. Through this portal, they can manage medical claims, check their personal profiles, view details about their dependents, and see the status of their applications online. This website is designed to make sure they get reimbursements on time and have easy access to all the services, bringing comfort and convenience to them.
    • START- Space Science and Technology Awareness Training, online training programme, has been launched by Indian Space Research Organisation to encourage youngsters to choose the field of space science and technology.
    • The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started a 10-day war exercise called 'Gagan Shakti-2024' from April 1 to April 10, 2024. This exercise is to show how powerful and capable the IAF is in carrying out high-intensity operations across India. The exercise has been conducted in various locations, including the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan; Bhuj in Gujarat; Ladakh; Arunachal Pradesh; and other places across the country.
    • A report  “Synchronizing Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net-Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All” was recently launched. This report was prepared by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and approved by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The report was launched by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
    • India, the world’s third largest oil importer and consumer, plans to build its first privately managed Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2029-30. The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL), a special company created by the government under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2004, was set up to maintain these reserves.
      • ISPRL was set up in two phases. In the first phase, ISPRL built strategic petroleum reserves in three locations: Visakhapatnam (1.33 million tonnes) in Andhra Pradesh, Mangalore (1.5 million tonnes) in Karnataka, and Padur (2.5 million tonnes) in Karnataka.
    • The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, launched India's first home-grown Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy called 'NexCAR19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel)' for cancer treatment. With this launch, India has become one of the first developing countries to have its own CAR-T and gene therapy platform.
    • Meta Platforms, has been Partnered with Press Trust of India (PTI), the largest news agency in India, to create a special fact-checking team for Fact-Checking Program. Through this partnership, PTI will find, check, and rate information on Meta platforms to ensure it's accurate and not misleading.
    • Sagar Kavach, a two-day coastal security exercise, was held in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep from April 1st to 2nd, 2024. This exercise involved all the maritime security agencies.
    • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) helped rescue many Indians from Cambodia who were trapped in cyber slavery.
      • Cyber slavery is when people are exploited and abused through digital means, often involving forced labor or human trafficking with the help of technology. In this situation, individuals are forced, tricked, or pressured into doing tasks or services against their will, usually for the benefit of others. It is a serious and large-scale crime.
    • India’s Pratyush Telescope is one of the telescopes that astronomers are thinking about placing around the moon. They hope to use high-resolution telescopes on and around the moon to explore the universe in new ways. The Pratyush Telescope, also known as PRATUSH (Probing Reionization of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen), is a radio telescope that will be located on the far side of the moon.
    • Bharat Aluminum Company Limited (BALCO), has earned the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard V3 certification. BALCO is the first Indian company to receive this certification, showing its dedication to sustainable practices in the aluminum industry.
    • In a report called "Synchronizing Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net-Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All," AK Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), shared that India plans to produce 100 GigaWatts (GW) of nuclear power by 2047.
    • The Technology Development Board (TDB), which is part of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Government of India (GoI), has partnered with Remine India Private Limited to set up a plant in Sitarganj, Uttarakhand. This plant will use local technology to recycle lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and e-waste.
    • India aims to half, urea imports by the end of 2025 by boosting domestic production and promoting alternative fertilizers. This is in response to the nation’s significant reliance on imports, which currently satisfy around 30% of its annual urea demand.
    • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved a plan for India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to manage the Sittwe port on the Kaladan River in Rakhine, Myanmar. This is the second port outside of India that India operates, the first one being the Chabahar Port in Iran.The European Union(EU) and India launched an
    • The Government of India and the Government of Mauritius have changed the India-Mauritius Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). The new focus is on stopping tax evasion rather than encouraging investment between the two countries.
    • NTPC Limited (formerly National Thermal Power Corporation) has started a new edition of its Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM), a key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. This new edition will help about 3000 underprivileged children at 42 NTPC locations, increasing the total number of girls benefiting from the mission to 10,000.
    • The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched a digital platform called CDP-SURAKSHA (Cluster Development Programme – System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance). This platform helps give subsidies to horticulture farmers under the CDP program.
    • Sany Heavy Industry India Private Limited, a company that makes construction and mining equipment, has launched the SKT105E, which is India's first fully electric mining truck made in the country.
    • The Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has launched India's first mobile medical devices calibration facility. This facility on wheels aims to provide affordable and high-quality calibration services across the country, helping to improve healthcare in both urban and rural areas.
    • The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps held a training exercise with Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) at a super-high altitude of 17,000 feet in Sikkim. This exercise, named "Ek Missile Ek Tank," demonstrated the accuracy and effectiveness of the ATGM system in high-altitude environments.
    • The Ministry of Finance has updated the Foreign Exchange Management Rules 2019 to set new foreign direct investment (FDI) limits for satellite-related activities. According to the new FDI Policy, 100% FDI is now allowed in the space sector. For manufacturing components and systems for satellites, ground segments, and user segments, up to 100% FDI is permitted automatically.
    • The government has created a seven-member panel led by Vijay Kumar Saraswat to suggest laws and promote the extraction of important minerals found in small amounts.
      • The main goal of the panel is to suggest ways to ensure that mining for minerals like copper, gold, and diamonds, which are found deep underground, is done cost-effectively and scientifically. These minerals are usually found in veins and can only be mined through underground methods.
    • The Government of India’s Geographical Indication Registry has given Geographical Indication (GI) tags to 13 new products from Uttar Pradesh (UP), including Banaras Tirangi Barfi and Banaras Metal Casting Craft. This brings the total number of GI products from UP to 75, making UP the state with the most GI tagged products in India.

    List of New GI Products of UPGoods
    Pilkhuwa Home FurnishingHandi Crafts
    Banaras Lal Bharwamirch (Red Pickel)Agriculture
    Lakhimpur Kheri Tharu EmbroideryHandi Crafts
    Jaunpur Imarti (Sweet)Food Stuffs
    Banarasi TablaMusical Instrument
    Banaras Lal Peda (Sweet)Food Stuffs
    Chiraigaon Karonda of VaranasiAgriculture
    Bareilly Zardoji CraftHandi Crafts
    Banaras Tirangi BarfiUdaipur, Rajasthan
    1st G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group (SFWG) meetingFood Stuffs
    Banaras ShehnaiMusical Instrument
    Bareilly FurnitureHandi Crafts
    Banaras Mural PaintingHandi Crafts
    Banaras Metal Casting CraftHandi Crafts
    • A team of archaeologists found a unique Iron Age Megalithic site at Ooragutta near Bandala village in Mulugu district, Telangana. They also discovered two new rock art sites in Damaratogu Gundala mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana.
      • One of these sites, called "Devarlabanda Mula," only has paintings of animals and no humans. It is believed these paintings are from the Mesolithic age (between 8000-3000 BCE) because they do not show any weapons or domestic animals.
    • Russia and India have signed an agreement to start a large research center in New Delhi. HSE University from St. Petersburg, Russia, and the University of Delhi (DU) in New Delhi, India, will work together on this project. This agreement will allow the research hub to operate at DU in India.
    • Poorvi Lehar (XPOL 2024): Exercise Poorvi Lehar (XPOL 2024) is a coordinated exercise involving the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard. The exercise aims to test and improve the Indian Navy’s readiness for maritime security challenges in the region and to show how well these forces can work together. Participating Forces: Eastern Naval Command; Indian Air Force (IAF); Andaman & Nicobar Command; Coast Guard.
    • On the special occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event honored Bhagwan Mahaveer, the 24th Tirthankar, and celebrated his teachings of Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Non-Stealing), Brahmacharya (Chastity), and Aparigraha (Non-Attachment). These teachings guide us towards peaceful coexistence and universal brotherhood.
    • SJVN Limited has started India’s first multipurpose (combined Heat and Power) green hydrogen pilot project at the 1,500 megawatt (MW) Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh (HP).
    • The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance, has given Navratna status to two companies: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA) and Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO). This status recognizes them as important and powerful companies in India.
    • The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) announced a big achievement for India's Gem and Jewellery (GJ) industry. The industry has received Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status from the Ministry of Finance. This status, which was not given before, now makes it easier to export and import goods, speeds up cargo release times, and reduces bank guarantees by 50%, making it easier to do business.
    • To connect more with customers, the biscuit brand Britannia NutriChoice has launched a health app called ‘NutriPlus’. This app was created with Aktivo Labs and helps people keep track of their health and wellness.
      • The app gives users a daily "NutriScore," which is a single score that shows their health status based on factors like how long they exercise and sleep.
    • At a meeting in Turin, Italy, G7 energy ministers discussed phasing out coal-fired power plants to transition away from fossil fuels, following the UN’s COP28 climate summit.
      • G7 ministers are close to agreeing on shutting down coal-fired power plants by the first half of the 2030s, possibly by 2035.
      • The aim is to phase out unabated coal power generation to maintain the 1.5°C temperature rise limit.
      • The G7 is an informal group of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, plus the EU.
    • A recent geochemical study has confirmed that the Luna crater in the Banni Plains grassland of Gujarat, India, was created by a meteorite impact around 6,900 years ago. The crater, named after the nearby village of Luna, is 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) wide, with an outer rim that rises about 6 meters (20 feet) above the crater floor.
    • India and the United Kingdom are talking about sharing their technical knowledge and experience in maritime Electric Propulsion Systems for future Indian warships. They are also considering a training agreement to improve cooperation between their armed forces.
      • Currently, Indian naval warships do not have electric propulsion systems.
      • The Indian Navy wants to include this technology in its future warships.
      • The UK’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers already use full electric propulsion systems.
    • On Earth Day, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) released its Climate Strategy 2030 document. This plan is to help India get more green financing for projects that deal with climate change.
    • The government has formed a three-member committee of gynecologists to create a list of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that can be sold at general stores without a prescription. The committee, led by the Directorate General of Health Services Atul Goel, plans to finish the list within two weeks.
    STATE NEWS
    • CELERITYX, has announced its partnership with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation. This collaboration will involve deploying the OneX platform across 40,000 bank branches in Maharashtra.
    • Cumbum valley—grapes city of south India—is very popular for Muscat Hamburg (panneer thiratchai) cultivation. It is noteworthy that the valley contributes up to 85% of panneer thiratchai production in the country. Nearly 90% of the grapes grown in Tamil Nadu belong to the seeded variety of Muscat Hamburg.
    • Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi inaugurated the Param Vir Chakra garden and Aikyam exhibition at the Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir in Tambaram.
    • ‘Booth Raabta’- a website has been launched in Malerkotla district, Punjab to improve voter engagement and access to election information. this platform, available at boothraabta.com, serves as a comprehensive resource hub for both voters and polling personnel.
    • The state government of Uttarakhand has started proactive measures to assess and reduce the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Two expert panels have been formed to
      conduct risk assessments and monitor five high-risk glacial lakes in the region. These lakes have been identified as being in immediate danger, requiring urgent attention and action.
    • The Seng Khihlang festival, an important event for followers of the Khasi Indigenous Faith, recently ended in Wahiajer, Meghalaya. Starting on April 19, 2024, the festival celebrated the unity and traditions of the indigenous community.
    • The southern Indian state of Kerala is famous for its rich culture, including many different religions, landscapes, rituals, and histories. Among all the festivals, the Thrissur Pooram
      stands out as a true example of Kerala’s deep cultural heritage.
    • In Manipur, Khongjom Day is celebrated on April 23 to honor the brave people who fought against the British in the Khongjom Battle during the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.
    • The government of Tamil Nadu has started a three-day survey of the Nilgiri Tahr, the state' famous animal. This project aims to learn more about this endangered species and find ways to protect it from various challenges, including habitat loss.
    INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
    • As part of the Mountain Cleaning Campaign 2024, the Nepal Army will collect around 10 tonnes of garbage from Mt. Everest. This campaign aims to reduce human-made pollution in
      the Himalayas and tackle climate change issues. A 12-member team, led by Aditya Karki, will set off for Everest base camp on April 14, assisted by an 18-member Sherpa team.
    • Armenia and Azerbaijan have installed their first border marker following a long-standing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. As part of the peace process, experts from both countries are collaborating to demarcate their boundaries.
    • The 6th edition of the "Global Unicorn Index 2024, "published by Hurun Institute, ranks India 3rd with 67 unicorns, a decrease of 1 from 2023. The United States maintains the top position with 703 unicorns, representing 48% of the global total.
    • The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has unanimously selected Saudi Arabia to chair its 69th session in 2025. Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Permanent
      Representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN, will represent for the new chair.
    • Sweden has officially joined as the 38th country to sign NASA’s “Artemis Accords,” which set practical guidelines for peaceful space exploration and the use of outer space. Peru and Slovakia officially became the 41st and 42nd nation to sign the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s ‘Artemis Accords’, which establish a practical set of guidelines for peaceful space exploration and use of outer space.
    • Nigeria has become the first country globally to introduce the new Men5CV vaccine, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect against five strains of meningococcus bacteria. (Note: This vaccine is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which aids lower-income countries)
    • Recently Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel are a major increase in their long- standing hidden conflict. It all started when Israel struck Iran’s consulate in Damascus which killed several members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Now, the situation has turned into open fighting, which is a serious threat to stability in the region and could affect global politics.
    • Nepal hosted its first International Rainbow Tourism Conference in Kathmandu, with an objective to promote the country as a safe and inclusive destination.
    • An advanced stealth aircraft “The Oron” or “Multi-Mission Airborne Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (MARS2),” equipped with artificial intelligence technology is important to help Israel to detect and counter a surprise missile attack from Iran. Its valued at around ₹8,200 crore and is among the most advanced and compact stealth planes globally.
    • Mount Ruang, a volcano in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi region, recently erupted and send a plume of ash 400 meters (1,312 feet) into the air above its peak.
    • On Earth Day 2024, Bhutan has hosted the Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference to raise $1 billion in new funding over the next ten years for the conservation of
      tiger habitats across Asia.
    • The U.S. Department of State has announced plans to withdraw about 1,000 American troops from Niger because Niger has been seeking closer military and strategic ties with
      Russia, moving away from its previous alliances with Western nations. This decision represents a major change in U.S. foreign policy and military strategy in Africa, especially in the Sahel region, which is known for extremist activities and geopolitical tensions.
    • The Canadian government has unveiled a major investment package of C$2.4 billion ($1.8 billion) to strengthen the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector. This funding is intended to support AI researchers, startups, and other companies working in the field.
    • On April 7, 2024, Rwanda remembered the 30th year of the genocide by Hutu extremists.
      The 100-day massacre, starting on April 7, 1994 which led to the deaths of about 800,000 people.
    • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has authorized the immediate release of the final $1.1 billion installment of a $3 billion bailout for Pakistan. This move comes as Pakistan faces one of its worst economic crises, raising concerns about a possible default on foreign
      debt payments.
    • Recently India and Kuwait has signed an MoU to exchange information on technologies and innovations in the financial and regulatory sectors. The event brought together key stakeholders from both nations, including delegations from India' s Gujarat International
      Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), InvestIndia, and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
    • The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has launched Climate Resilience Fund to raise USD 100 million by 2025. The fund aims to protect refugees and displaced communities from the effects of climate change and support their involvement in climate- related initiatives.
    • Since mid-December 2023, attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, have caused hundreds of ships to change their routes that leads to more carbon emissions. Instead of going through the Suez Canal, ships are now traveling around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope,
    • The 26th World Energy Congress was held in Rotterdam (Netherlands) in April 2024, with the theme  " Redesigning Energy for People and Planet." In this conference the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also announced its commitment to a better and more sustainable Asia-Pacific region through its Strategy 2030. This plan focuses on seven key areas: Education, Energy, Finance, Health, Transport, Urban Development, and Water. which adds at least a week to their trip from South Asia to northern Europe.
    • The 26th World Energy Congress was held in Rotterdam (Netherlands) in April 2024, with the theme  " Redesigning Energy for People and Planet." In this conference the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also announced its commitment to a better and more sustainable Asia-Pacific region through its Strategy 2030. This plan focuses on seven key areas: Education, Energy, Finance, Health, Transport, Urban Development, and Water.
    • In April 2024, health officials from 14 Eastern African countries gathered in Kenya to launch two major public health projects: RISLNET (the Eastern Africa Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Network) and the Eastern Africa Regional Cholera Taskforce; with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
    INDEX/ REPORT
    • India Employment Report 2024: The India Employment Report 2024, the third in a series by the Institute for Human Development in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), explores youth employment challenges within India's changing economic, labor market, educational, and skills landscape over the past 20 years. 
    CategoryDetails
    Unemployment Rates- Fell from 2019-2022 after rising from 2000-2019
    - Lowest: Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, UP
    - Highest: Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Gujarat
    Employment Quality- Informal employment increased, with ~50% of formal jobs being informal
    - Regular employment: 21.5% in 2022 (23.8% in 2019, 14.2% in 2000)
    - Casual employment: 22.7% in 2022 (33.3% in 2000)
    Women’s Labor Force Participation- Female LFPR: 32.8% in 2022, increased 8.3 points since 2019
    - Declined 14.4 points from 2000-2019
    - 2022 female LFPR below global average (47.3%), above South Asia’s (24.8%)
    Sectoral Employment Shifts- Agriculture’s share fell from 60% in 2000 to ~42% in 2019
    - Shift to construction and services
    - Stagnated or reversed since 2018-19
    - Manufacturing employment: 12-14%
    Youth Employment- Increased from 2000-2019, decreased during the pandemic
    - Higher unemployment among educated youth, especially graduates
    - 2022 unemployment: secondary educated youth 18.4%, uneducated youth 3.4%
    - Graduate unemployment: 29.1% overall, 34.5% for women, 26.4% for men
    - Educated youth unemployment: 23.9% in 2000, 30.8% in 2019,dropped to 18.4% in 2022
    • According to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report, India is now the fourth largest exporter of digitally delivered services, overtaking Germany. Despite this growth, it still ranks behind the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. India's share of global services trade has increased to over one-fifth, compared to 14% in 2005.
    • According to the reports of Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) have indicated the detection of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, in several Indian spice products. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ethylene oxide as a Group-1 carcinogen, due to its potential to cause cancer when humans are exposed to it.
    • Researchers have developed the first "World Cybercrime Index" to identify the leading sources of cybercrime globally. India ranked 10th on the index, while Russia and Ukraine held the top two positions, while China and the United States ranked 3rd and 4 th .
    • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported that over 27% of the glacial lakes
      in the Himalayas have significantly expanded since 1984, according to long-term satellite observations. This expansion is linked to the rapid retreat and thinning of glaciers, driven by human-induced climate change.
    • World Hepatitis Summit 2024 was held in Lisbon, Portugal in April 2024, under the theme 'Integrate, Accelerate, Eliminate'. During this summit World Health Organization (WHO) released its 'Global Hepatitis Report 2024: Action for Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries'
    • According to EA Earth Action’s 2024 report called “Plastic Overshoot Day - September 5, 2024,” India is one of the top 12 countries that contribute to about 60% of the world's poorly managed plastic waste. Despite this, India has one of the lowest per capita plastic waste production rates in the world, at 8 kg per person per year. The 12 countries are China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, the United States, and Türkiye.
    • 'Top 10 Busiest Airports Worldwide for 2023' report released by Airports Council International. Delhi Airport (Indira Gandhi International Airport - IGIA) secured the 10th spot. Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the United States regained the title of the world' busiest airport.
    • The Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024 were held at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 17, 2024. Doha’s Hamad International Airport in Qatar was named the World’s Best Airport for 2024. The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru has been honored as the Best Regional Airport in India and South Asia
    • The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its report in April 2024, titled 'Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023'. The top five military spenders in 2023 were the United States (1st), China (2nd), Russia (3rd), India (4th), and Saudi Arabia (5th), together accounting for 61% of global military spending. India's military spending increased by 4.2% from 2022 and by 44% from 2014.
    BANKING AND FINANCE
    Main Events Detailed Explanation
    SIDBI partners with Onionlife Private Limited for micro-loans for gig workers The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has partnered with the Bengaluru-based fintech startup Onionlife Private Limited to use its technology platform KarmaLife for a pilot to offer micro-loans for gig workers.
    SIDBI partners with Onionlife Private Limited for micro-loans for gig workers The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has partnered with the Bengaluru-based fintech startup Onionlife Private Limited to use its technology platform KarmaLife for a pilot to offer micro-loans for gig workers.
    Karnataka Bank partners with FISDOM Karnataka Bank Ltd partnered with FISDOM to offer stock broking services and 3 in 1 Accounts (Savings, Demat, and Trading accounts) through the " KBL Mobile Plus" mobile banking app.
    Air India and Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) agreement Tata-Group-owned Air India and Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) have entered into an agreement to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for southern India, aiming to boost air travel connectivity.
    Jio Financial Services and BlackRock form Joint Venture Jio Financial Services and BlackRock signed an agreement to form a 50:50 Joint Venture to set up a wealth management and broking business in India, with each committing an initial investment of USD 150 million.
    SBI Life Insurance launches IdeationX SBI Life Insurance Company launched its 1st edition of IdeationX, aiming to transform the future of the insurance industry.
    Axis Bank collaborates with Shoppers Stop Axis Bank Limited collaborated with Shoppers Stop Ltd to launch the “Axis Bank Shoppers Stop Credit Card," enhancing the shopping experience for cardholders.
    SIDBI signs MoU with Women's World Banking and other organizations Axis Bank Limited collaborated with Shoppers Stop Ltd to launch the “Axis Bank Shoppers Stop Credit Card," enhancing the shopping experience for cardholders.
    Amazon Pay partners with NPCI for credit services on UPI Amazon Pay, in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is set to introduce its credit services on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), aiming to improve customer experience and value propositions.
    IRDAI celebrates Silver Jubilee The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) marked its Silver Jubilee (25 years) on 19th April 2024, having been formed under the IRDAI Act, 1999 and incorporated on 19th April 2000.
    IIT Kanpur partners with Blockchain For Impact The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and Blockchain For Impact announced a strategic partnership to nurture innovations and drive advancements in healthcare in India.
    ReNew and JERA sign agreement for green ammonia project ReNew Energy Global PLC and JERA Co. Inc. have signed an initial agreement to assess a green ammonia production project in Odisha.
    IREDA establishes new office in GIFT City The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has established a new office in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
    NTPC Green Energy and Indus Towers sign MoU NTPC Green Energy Limited and Indus Towers Limited signed an MoU to pace green energy objectives and support the Indian government ' s efforts towards a carbon-neutral economy.
    Rail Vikas Nigam Limited partners with TUMAS India Rail Vikas Nigam Limited signed an MoU with Turkish Engineering Consulting & Contracting - TUMAS India Private Limited for collaboration in public transportation and infrastructure projects across India.
    NSDC and ISKCON sign MoU to establish ECO villages The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) signed an MoU to establish ECO villages inspired by Govardhan EcoVillage in Maharashtra.
    NABARD releases Climate Strategy 2030 document The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) released its Climate Strategy 2030 document to promote and boost green financing in India.
    IndusInd Bank executes RBI's CBDC pilot IndusInd Bank became the first bank to execute the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) programmable Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot to compensate farmers for carbon credits.
    Razorpay launches UPI infrastructure with Airtel Payments Bank Razorpay launched its own Unified Payments Interface (UPI) infrastructure with “UPI Switch,” in partnership with Airtel Payments Bank.
    BharatPe launches BharatPe One BharatPe launched BharatPe One, India’s first all-in-one payment product that integrates POS, QR code, and speaker into one device to simplify transactions for merchants.
    SBI Cards introduces travel-focused credit card SBI Cards and Payment Services introduced its first travel-focused credit card, 'SBI Card MILES,' with three variants: SBI Card Miles Elite, SBI Card Miles Prime, and SBI Card Miles.
    Hitachi Payment Services launches upgradable ATM Hitachi Payment Services launched India’s first upgradable Automated Teller Machine (ATM) that can be converted to a cash recycling machine (CRM) as needed by banks.
    Cred launches offline UPI- based ‘Scan and Pay’ service Fintech company Cred launched an offline Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based ‘Scan and Pay’ service, enabling users to scan QR codes for payments directly from their bank accounts.
    SBI enters five-year agreement with HCLSoftware The State Bank of India (SBI) entered a five-year agreement with HCL Software to digitally transform its customer interaction framework using the HCL Unica platform.
    HAL signs ToT agreement with CSIR-NAL Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) to manufacture the Bismaleimide (BMI) Engine Bay Door for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A aircraft.
    Air India and ANA sign codeshare agreement Tata-owned Air India and All Nippon Airways (ANA) signed a codeshare agreement to enhance flight selections and simplify travel between India and Japan.
    RBI to set up Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will establish the Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) to combat illegal lending apps, serving as a crucial checkpoint to address this issue.
    SEBI launches SCORES 2.0 The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new version of SCORES, called SCORES 2.0, to more efficiently resolve investor complaints in the securities market. It sets a uniform timeline of 21 calendar days for complaint resolution.
    TATA AIG introduces "Travel Guard Plus " The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new version of SCORES, called SCORES 2.0, to more efficiently resolve investor complaints in the securities market. It sets a uniform timeline
    RBI celebrates 90th anniversary The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced a new version of SCORES, called SCORES 2.0, to more efficiently resolve investor complaints in the securities market. It sets a uniform timeline
    J& K Bank partners with Paymart India for Virtual ATM service Jammu & Kashmir Bank Limited (J& K Bank) signed an agreement with Paymart India Pvt Ltd to launch a Virtual Automated Teller Machine (ATM) service, allowing customers to withdraw cash without a card through local merchants.
    RVNL and Salasar Techno Engineering win Rwanda project Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Salasar Techno Engineering Limited (STEL) have won the " Rwanda Transmission System Reinforcement and Last Mile Connectivity project (TSRLMC) " to enhance Rwanda's transmission system.
    AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
    • Indian field hockey player Hardik Singh, received the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2023 (Men) at the Hockey India 6th Annual Awards 2023 event in New Delhi.
      • Indian field hockey player Salima Tete was honoured with the same award for Player of the Year 2023 (Women).
      • Ashok Kumar won the prestigious Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award.
    • SJVN Limited, a hydroelectric power company, won the Achievement Award for Creating Social Development and Impact at the 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards (2024). These awards are organized by the Construction Industry Development
      Council (CIDC).
    • Mamta G. Sagar received the WOW World Literary Prize from the World
      Organization of Writers (WOW) for her outstanding contributions to
      literature.
    • The 2024 John L. "Jack" Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration has been awarded to the Chandrayaan-3 mission team of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). D.C. Manjunath, Consul (Indian Space Research Organisation), accepted the award on behalf of the team.
    • Winners of Sagar Samman Awards:
    CategoryWinner
    Sagar Samman Varun AwardDhirendra Kumar Sanyal
    Sagar Samman Award for ExcellenceCaptain Kamal Kant Choudhary
    Sagar Samman Award for GallantryCaptain Subir Saha and Captain
    OM Dutta
    • Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), awarded the "On the Spot Unit Citation 23-24" to Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sharda for its successful conduct of antipiracy operations.
    • The Indian-American actress Avantika Vandanapu has been honored as the ‘South Asian Person of the Year'  by the South Asian Association (SAA).
    • Indian microbiologist and virologist Gagandeep Kang has been awarded the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award 2024 by the Toronto-based Gairdner Foundation for her achievements in global health research. She is the first Indian woman to receive this award.
    • Avi Wigderson, an Israeli computer scientist and mathematician, has been named the recipient of the 2023 ACM A.M. Turing Award by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Computing."
    • Pavuluri Subba Rao( former ISRO scientist) has been conferred the prestigious Aryabhata Award by the Astronautical Society of India (ASI).
    • Dr Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, President of 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been awarded with the Global Energy Transition Impact Award for his leadership in advancing energy transition.
    • Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group has been awarded with the esteemed Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Humanitarian Award for 2021
    APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
    • Judith Tuluka Appointed as First Female Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    • Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has been sworn in as the President of Egypt for the third term.
    • Sanjay Nayar, appointed as President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
    • Former Indian track and field athlete Shiny Kurisingal Abraham Wilson was nominated as a member of the Athletic Commission of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) for four years (2024–2028).
    • Ousmane Sonko has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Senegal.
    • Sheyphali B. Sharan took charge as the Principal Director General (PDG) of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), succeeding Manish Desai.
    • António Guterres, Secretary-General (SG) of the United Nations (UN), appointed Astrid Schomaker of Germany as the 8th Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). She is the first Executive Secretary from Germany.
    • The World Bank has appointed Rakesh Mohan, Former Deputy Governor (DG) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as a member of the Economic Advisory Panel of the World Bank Group (WBG).
    • The Ministry of Finance has appointed Justice PS Dinesh Kumar, the former Chief Justice of
      Karnataka High Court, as the Presiding Officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) for 4
      years or until he turns 70 years old.
    • Dr. Meenesh kumar Champaklal Shah has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Ltd.

    Other important appointment:

    NamePosition/Role
    Peter PellegriniBecome the President of the Slovak Republic
    Bilquis MirBecome the first Indian woman jury member at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France
    Ingmar De VosElected President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)
    Manoj MittalSelected as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SIDBI
    Justice Aniruddha BoseRetired SC Judge, appointed Director of the National
    Judicial Academy
    Manoj PandaAppointed full-time member of the 16th Finance Commission of India
    Simon HarrisElected as the new Taoiseach (Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland)
    Jagjit PavadiaRe-elected as a member of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
    Sushil SharmaSelected as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SJVN Limited
    Bjarni BenediktssonTook office as Prime Minister (PM) of Iceland
    Kristalina GeorgievaReappointed as Managing Director (MD) of IMF for a second term
    Admiral DK TripathiAppointed as the 26th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy
    Nalin PrabhatAppointed as Director-General (D-G) of National Security Guard (NSG)
    Narpat SinghAppointed as Railway Adviser in the High Commission of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh
    Narsingh Pancham YadavElected Chairman of the Athletes' Commission of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)
    Gita SabharwalTook charge as the UN Resident Coordinator (UN RC) in the Republic of Indonesia
    SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
    • The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced S.A.R.A.H. (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health), its first digital health assistant powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI)
      with empathetic responses.
    • Venturi Astrolab Inc (U.S.A based startup) has successfully tested a new lunar rover prototype called the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover in California's Mojave Desert. It is designed for NASA' s Artemis program.
    • The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and Defence Research and Development Organisation
      (DRDO) successfully conducted a flight test of the new generation ballistic missile Agni- Prime (Agni-P) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
    • South Korea' s superconducting fusion device, called the Korea Superconducting Tokamak
      Advanced Research (KSTAR) and also known as the "artificial sun", set a new world record in
      nuclear fusion by maintaining a plasma loop at 100 million degrees Celsius for 48 seconds.
    • The Indian Air Force (IAF) received its first indigenously designed and developed Crash Fire Tender (CFT), manufactured in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
    • ‘Bandwagon-1’ has been launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), the first rideshare mission to low-Earth orbit.
    • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Japan signed an agreement to advance sustainable human exploration of the Moon. Under this agreement, the USA will send two Japanese astronauts to the lunar surface as part of its mission.
    • The Russian space agency, ROSCOSMOS, has successfully launched the first Angara-A5 space
      rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome launch pad in the far eastern Amur region of Russia.
    • Aditya Birla Capital Limited, the financial services arm of Aditya Birla Group, has launched the ' Aditya Birla Capital Digital (ABCD)'  Fintech app, offering various financial products on a single digital platform.
    • Defence Research and Development Organisation has been conducted flight-test of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile from the Integrated Test Range which is located at
      Chandipur , Odisha.
    • Intel Corporation, an American technology company that manufactures semiconductor
      computer circuits, has built the world' s largest neuromorphic system code named ' Hala
      Point'  to enable more sustainable Artificial Intelligence (AI).
    • Intel Corporation has built ' Hala Point,'  the world' s largest neuromorphic system, to enable more sustainable Artificial Intelligence (AI).
    • India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. This delivery marks a significant milestone in defense cooperation between the two nations.
    • NASA has confirmed its Dragonfly rotorcraft mission to Titan, Saturn' s largest moon, with a lifecycle cost of USD 3.35 billion. The mission is set to launch in July 2028 and arrive at Titan in 2034.
    • The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO) in Tamil Nadu, established in 1899, is one of the oldest solar observatories in the world, leading solar research for over 125 years.
    • A report highlighted the ancient origins of Coffea arabica, the world' s most popular coffee species, through genome sequencing. Arabica coffee developed over 600,000 years ago in the forests of Ethiopia via natural hybridization between Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides. Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer.
    • Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed a high-energy, high-power hybrid sodium-ion battery capable of charging in seconds, potentially revolutionizing the energy storage industry.
    • Microsoft introduced VASA-1, an AI that can create very realistic talking faces from just one photo and an audio clip. It makes lifelike animations that match the sound perfectly.
    • China launched the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft with three astronauts to their Tiangong space station. They plan to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.
    • Microsoft unveiled Phi-3-mini, the smallest AI model in its new series. Despite its small size, it works better than larger models in many tests.
    • Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) launched India’s first military-grade satellite, TSAT-1A, built entirely by the private sector with help from Satellogic.
    • Researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad found strong evidence of ozone on Callisto, one of Jupiter’s largest moons.
    • Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta AI, powered by the Llama 3 language model,
      to improve user experience on Meta’s apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger.
    • A research center in Romania, part of the European Union’s Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project, developed the world’s most powerful laser, operated by Thales Group.
    • The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) warned about "juice jacking attacks," where hackers use public charging ports to steal data from devices.
    • 2024 marks 100 years since German psychiatrist Hans Berger discovered the electroencephalogram (EEG), a crucial tool for studying the brain and diagnosing brain disorders.
    • South Korea launched its second military spy satellite using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from an American space center.
    • Israel launched the Yozma 2.0 fund to encourage big investors to put more money into high- tech companies.
    • Researchers from Utrecht University and Sogang University developed artificial synapses using water and salt, bringing us closer to computers that work like the human brain.
    • Google fired employees protesting against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli government.
    • Scientists from Germany and the UK proposed a new explanation for the Hubble tension, the difference in measurements of the universe’s expansion rate.
    • India is considering a deal with Nvidia to get GPUs (graphics processing units) for local startups, researchers, and academic institutions at lower prices.
    SPORTS
    • 25th Laureus World Sports Awards 2024:
    • The 25th Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony was held in Madrid. It was a grand celebration of the world' s best athletes and their achievements.
    • Novak Djokovic: The world' s top-ranked tennis player, Novak Djokovic, was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time.
    • Simone Biles: American artistic gymnast Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in history with 37 World and Olympic medals.
    • Aitana Bonmatí: Aitana Bonmatí, a football star from Barcelona and Spain, made history as the first footballer to win the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.
    • Neeraj Chopra, an Indian Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, is the third Indian after Vinesh Phogat and Sachin Tendulkar who was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards.
    • The Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar won the Laureus Sporting Moment Award (2000- 2020).
    CategoryWinnerSport
    Laureus World Sportsman of the YearNovak Djokovic (Serbia)Tennis
    Laureus Sportswoman of the YearAitana Bonmatí (Spain)Football
    Laureus World Team of the YearSpain’s Women’s Football TeamFootball
    Laureus World Breakthrough of the
    Year    		Simone Biles (United States of
    America)    		Gymnastics
    Laureus World Sportsperson of the
    Year with a Disability    		Diede De Groot (Netherlands)Wheelchair Tennis
    Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the YearArisa Trew (Australia)Skateboarding
    Laureus Sport for GoodFundación Rafa Nadal (Spain)Global
    • Miami Open 2024: A professional hardcourt tennis tournament played from March 19 to March 31, 2024 on the grounds of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
    CategoryWinner(s)
    Men’s SinglesJannik Sinner (Italy)
    Women’s SinglesDanielle Collins (USA)
    Men’s DoublesRohan Machanda Bopanna (India) and Mathew Ebden (Australia)
    Women’s DoublesSofian Kennis (USA) and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)
    • List of the Winners at the Badminton Asia Championships 2024 held in Ningbo (China) in 2024.
    ChampionshipWinner
    Men’s SinglesJonatan Christie (Indonesia)
    Women’s SinglesWang Zhi Yi (China)
    Men’s DoublesLiang Wei Keng and Wang Chang (China)
    Women’s DoublesBaek Ha-na and Lee So-hee (South Korea)
    Mixed DoublesFeng Yan Zhe and Huang
    • Winners of Kazakhstan International Challenge (Badminton) 2024
    Men’s SinglesTharun Mannepalli (India)
    Women’s SinglesAnupama Upadhyaya (India)
    Men’s DoublesLucas Corvee and Ronan Labar (France)
    Women’s DoublesKaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe (Japan)
    Mixed DoublesWong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien (Malaysia)
    • Other Important Sport news at a glance
    EventPlayer/AthleteDetails
    WeightliftingMirabai ChanuBecame the only Indian weightlifter to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024.
    Orlen Polish Open 2024Anupama UpadhyayaDefeated Tanya Hemanth to win the women’s singles title in Warsaw, Poland.
    Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024Max VerstappenWon the race at the Suzuka International Racing Course in Suzuka, Japan.
    Asian Athletics Championships 2023Aishwarya MishraHer bronze medal in the women's 400m sprint event is set to be upgraded to silver after the original silver medalist failed a dope test.
    Monte Carlo Masters 2024Stefanos TsitsipasWon the Singles title by defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud, marking his third Monte Carlo Masters title.
    FIDE Candidates 2024Dommaraju Gukesh17-year-old chess Grandmaster (GM) from Chennai won the Open category by defeating Hikaru Nakamura of the United States, scoring 9 points.
    IMPORTANT DAYS

     

    Important DaysEventsTheme/Important Information
    2nd AprilWorld Autism Awareness DayThe theme for 2024 - "Empowering Autistic Voices "
    2nd AprilInternational Children' s Book DayBirth anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen
    4th AprilInternational Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine ActionThe Theme for 2024- “Protecting Lives, Building Peace.”
    5th AprilInternational Day of ConscienceThe 1st ever International Day of Conscience was observed on 5 April 2020
    6th AprilInternational Day of Sport for Development and PeaceThe Theme for 2024- “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”
    8th AprilInternational Romani DayPromote awareness of Romani culture, history, and the challenges faced by Europe's largest ethnic minority.
    10th AprilWorld Homeopathy DayThe theme for 2024 is “Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family.”
    11th AprilNational Safe Motherhood DayPromote awareness of maternal health, enhance maternal wellness, and reduce maternal mortality rates in India..
    11th AprilWorld Parkinson' s DayPromote awareness and advance research for better therapies and a cure for Parkinson's disease.
    12th AprilInternational Day for Street ChildrenThe theme for 2024 is, “Belonging.”
    14th AprilWorld Chagas Disease DayThe theme for 2024 is "Tackling Chagas Disease: Detect Early and Care for Life.”
    17 AprilWorld Hemophilia DayThe theme of 2024 is “Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders”
    18th AprilInternational Day For Monuments and SitesThe theme of 2024 is “Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders”
    19th AprilWorld Liver DayThe theme of 2024 “Be Vigilant, Get Regular Liver Check-Ups and Prevent Fatty Liver Diseases.”
    21st AprilWorld Creativity and Innovation DayTo raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development
    22nd AprilInternational Mother Earth Day (or Earth Day)The theme of Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics.
    23rd AprilWorld Book And Copyright DayThe annual observance of the Day is led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
    24th AprilNational Panchayati Raj DayTo recognise and honour the establishment of the Panchayati Raj System and its pivotal role in decentralised governance at the grassroots
    4th Thursday of April (25 th April this year)The International Girls in ICT (Information and Communications Technology) DayThe theme for International Girls in ICT Day 2024 is “Leadership”.
    25th AprilWorld Malaria DayThe theme 2024 is “Accelerating the fight. against malaria for a more equitable world”.
    26th AprilWorld Intellectual Property DayThe theme 2024 is “Accelerating the fight. against malaria for a more equitable world”.
    27th AprilWorld Veterinary DayThe theme of 2024 is “Veterinarians are essential health workers".
    28th AprilWorld Day for Safety and Health at WorkThe theme of 2024 is “Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate”
    30th AprilAyushman Bharat DiwasAyushman Bharat was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
    BOOKS & AUTHORS
    • Salman Rushdie, released his new memoir "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder’’.
    • Shane Robert Watson launched his new book titled ‘The Winner’s Mindset’. 
    OBITUARIES
    • Tim McGovern, the renowned Oscar winning American Visual Effects(VFX) pioneer passed away at the age of 68.
    • Veteran American actress Barbara Rush passed away at the age of 97 in Los Angeles.
    • Joseph Patrick Kinnear, former Irish footballer and manager, who served as head coach of the Indian National Men' s Football Team in 1983, passed away at the age of 77.
    • British Physicist Peter Higgs, Nobel prize-winner, passed away at the age of 94.
    • Padma Shri Awardee KG Jayan, a renowned Carnatic musician from Kerala passed away at the age of 89.
    • Former German footballer Bernd Hölzenbein, who won the 1974 World Cup with West Germany, passed away at the age of 78.
    • J F C Durai, National Award winning veteran Tamil director, passed away at the age of 84.
    • Venkataiah Sreenivasa Prasad, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Member of Parliament (MP-
      Lok Sabha) from Chamarajanagar constituency (Karnataka) passed away at the age of 76.
    DEFENCE
    • The Indian Army has received the first batch of 24 Russia-made Igla-S Man
      Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) and 100 missiles as part of a larger deal. The Army's defensive actions will depend on these systems, expected to arrive by the end of May or early June.
    • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army have successfully conducted trials of the Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) system in Rajasthan. The indigenously designed MPATGM system includes the Man Portable Launcher, Target Acquisition System (TAS), and Fire Control Unit (FCU).
    • SPACE- Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation, a state-of-the-art
      was inaugurated by Secretary of Defence (R&D) and Chairman of DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat at the Underwater Acoustic Research Facility, Kulamavu, in Idukki, Kerala. This facility is a center for testing and evaluating sonar systems used by the Indian Navy on different types of vessels, including ships, submarines, and helicopters.
    • The Indian Air Force (IAF) reached a significant milestone by successfully test-firing an air- launched ballistic missile known as ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2.
    • The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and IIT Kanpur have signed an MoU to collaborate on developing technologies to address health issues faced by soldiers in difficult
      terrains.
    • North Korea has tested the Pyoljji-1-2, a new "super-large" warhead for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3
      strategic cruise missile, as well as a new type of anti-aircraft missile.
    • The 5th edition of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise ' DUSTLIK 2024'  is being conducted from 15th to 28th April 2024 in the Termez District of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
    • Israel has deployed its ship-mounted defence system 'C-Dome' for the first time in Eilat, the southernmost city of Israel. The C-Dome, a naval version of the Iron Dome air defence system, is designed to protect against rocket and missile attacks.