Current Affairs Weekly PDF – April 2024 – 1st Week
(1–8)
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Adani Group's Kutch Copper
Limited Commences Phase-1 Operations
in Mundra
Kutch Copper Limited, a subsidiary of Adani
Enterprises Limited (AEL) led by Gautam Adani,
commissioned the first unit of its greenfield
copper refinery project at Mundra, Gujarat, by
dispatching the maiden batch of cathodes to
customers.
✓ Adani Enterprises invested nearly USD 1.2
billion to set up a 0.5 million tonnes per
annum (MTPA) copper smelter in the first
phase.
✓ Upon completion of the second phase,
capacity doubles (1 MTPA), making Kutch
Copper the world's largest single-location
custom smelter, adhering to Environmental,
social, and governance (ESG) standards. The
plant is set to achieve a full-scale capacity (1
MTPA) by Financial Year 2028-29 (FY29)
(March 2029).
'Meghayan-24': SNOM & INMAC
Organised METOC Seminar at Southern
Naval Command
Meghayan-24, the Meteorological and
Oceanographic(METOC) seminar was organised by
the School of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology
(SNOM) and the Indian Naval Meteorological
Analysis Centre (INMAC) at the Southern Naval
Command.
✓ The seminar, organised as a part of the
World Meteorological Day (WMD) 2024,
was based on the theme “At the Frontline of
Climate Action” (the theme of WMD 2024).
✓ The seminar witnessed the launch of
INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource
for Weather Analysis), an indigenous
mobile application developed by BISAG
(Bhaskaracharya National Institute for
Space Applications and Geo-informatics).
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✓ The aim will disseminate weather-related
information and forecasts empowering
optimal & quick decision making The app
was developed in coordination with
Directorate of Naval Oceanology and
Meteorology, Indian Navy.
UNICEF India with IIHMR Delhi & IIT
Mumbai Launches ‘Digital Health
Enterprise Planning Course’ to Bridge
Tech-knowledge Gaps
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
India, International Institute of Health
Management Research (IIHMR) Delhi, and the
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay
(Mumbai, Maharashtra) have jointly launched,
‘Digital Health Enterprise Planning Course’, a
comprehensive 10-week health course.
✓ The course aims to enhance healthcare
delivery by utilising digital technologies in
line with the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and the GIDH.
✓ The Startup Incubation and Innovation
Centre (SIIC) at the IIT-Kanpur (Uttar
Pradesh-UP), inked a Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) agreement with
Gliders India Limited, a Public Sector
Undertaking (PSU), under the Ministry of
Defence(MoD), to spearhead innovation in
the healthcare sector.
GI Tags Awarded to 19 Goods from
Assam; 2 from Tripura and 4 from
Meghalaya
The Government of India’s (GoI) Geographical
Indication Registry granted Geographical Indication
(GI) tags to 19 traditional crafts of Assam, 2 from
Tripura, and 4 from Meghalaya.
✓ Assam Bihu Dhol, Assam Jaapi, Sarthebari
Metal Craft, Assam Pani Mateka Craft,
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 Assam Mising Handloom Products, Assam
Asharikandi Terracotta Craft.
✓ Thirteen other Assamese items, associated
with the Bodo people, the state’s largest
indigenous population, have also been
granted GI tags. These include,
✓ Dokhona (traditional attire), Eri Silk / Indi
Silk (fabric of peace), Jwmgra (scarf), and
Gamsa (traditional dress for men).
✓ Among these 13 items, three are
agricultural products viz. Gongar Dunjia,
Keradapini – (Plant, Shrub), and Khardwi
while six are musical instruments viz.
Kham, Serja, Thorkha, Jotha – Bodo Musical
Instrument, Gongona, and Sifung.
✓ Meghalaya secured 4 GI tags Meghalaya
Garo Dakmanda Textile, Meghalaya Lyrnai
Pottery, Meghalaya Chubitchi, Lakadong
Turmeric
✓ Tripura’s Pachra/Rignai Textile and Tripura
Matabari Peda gets GI tag.
MNRE Reimposes ALMM Order on Solar
PV Modules from 1st April 2024
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE) has re-imposed ALMM [Approved List of
Models & Manufacturers] for Solar Photovoltaic
(PV) Modules with effect from 1st April 2024.
MNRE issued the Approved Models and
Manufacturers of Solar PV Modules (Requirements
for compulsory Registration) Order(ALMM Order),
2019 on 2 January 2019.
NHAI's One Vehicle, One FASTag' Rules
Come into Force on 1 April 2024
The National Highways Authority of India's
(NHAI)'One Vehicle, One FASTag' norm to
discourage the practice of using a single FASTag for
multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to
one vehicle has come into force from 1 April 2024.
✓ Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of
Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
announced a new satellite-based toll
collection system will be introduced to
replace the existing toll collection system in
India.
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NPTI & PTC India Ltd Signed MoU to Set
up CoE for R&D in Energy Domain
National Power Training Institute (NPTI), under
the Ministry of Power and PTC India Ltd. Signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish
a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Research &
Development (R&D) in the Energy Domain.
✓ The collaboration aims to address pressing
challenges in the energy domain while
aligning with Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
HAL & CSL Signed Contract for Indian
Navy’s NGMV Project
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a
contract worth Rs 1,173 .42 crore with Cochin
Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi(Kerala), to supply 6
sets of LM2500 gas turbines (GT) and GT
Auxiliaries (GTAE), spares, tools for Indian Navy’s
Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) project.
NMDC Launches “Samman” Portal for
Former Employees
NMDC Limited launched “Samman” a portal for its
former employees to manage medical claims, view
personal profiles, dependent details and application
status online. The portal is designed to ensure on-
time reimbursements and easy access to all
services, bringing comfort and convenience to the
former employees.
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ISRO launches ‘START’ Online Training
Program for Space Science Enthusiasts
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has
launched ‘Space Science and Technology Awareness
Training (START)’, a new introductory-level online
training programme to encourage youngsters to
choose the field of space science and technology.
Defence exports touch record Rs.21,083
crore in FY24: MoD
As per the data released by Ministry of Defence
(MoD), Indian defence sector has recorded the
highest ever defence exports of Rs21,083 crore i.e.
approximately USD2.63 billion in FY (2023-2024).
The data shows the growth of 32.5% compared to
last fiscal (FY2022-2023), when defence export was
recorded Rs15,920 crore.
GoI Introduced new EMPS 2024 scheme
from 1st April, after FAME-II
The new Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme
2024(EMPS 2024) under Ministry of Heavy
Industries, Government of India came into effect on
1st April, 2024 and will continue till the end of July
2024. Meanwhile, the 2nd phase of FAME-II (Faster
Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in
India) scheme ends on 31st March, 2024.
✓ The scheme has set the budget outlay of
Rs500 crore and will replace FAME-II
scheme. As of now, the scheme will be
implemented for 4 months i.e. from 1st
April,2024 to 31st July,2024.
Indian Air Force Begins 10-Day War
Exercise "Gagan Shakti 2024" in
Pokhran
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a 10-day
war exercise named 'Gagan Shakti-2024' from
April 1 to April 10, 2024, to display its prowess in
executing high-intensity operations across India.
The Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer,
Rajasthan; Bhuj in Gujarat; Ladakh, Arunachal
Pradesh; and other locations nationwide will host
the exercise.
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QCI and LUB Signed MoU to Boost MSME
Competitiveness
The Quality Council of India (QCI) has signed
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) to enhance the
awareness and participation in the Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSME) Competitive Lean
Scheme (MCLS) among the members of LUB.
✓ The MoU lays out a roadmap for joint
activities, encompassing awareness
campaigns, training sessions, state and
district level consultations, with the aim of
promoting the implementation of lean
concepts and sustainable practices among
LUB members.
Meta Partners with PTI to Expand its
Fact-Checking Program in India
Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook, Inc.) has
partnered with Press Trust of India (PTI), India’s
largest news agency, under its third-party fact-
checking program in India, to establish a dedicated
fact-checking unit. Under this partnership PTI will
identify, review, and rate content for
misinformation across Meta platforms.
✓ With this collaboration, Meta now has 12
fact-checking partners in India, the highest
in any country, covering 16 Indian
languages (besides English) through
existing fact-checking partners.
MoHFW Mandates Linking of CGHS
Beneficiary ID with Ayushman Bharat
Health Account ID
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MoHFW) mandates the linking of the Central
Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiary ID
with the Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA)
ID, with effect from 1st April 2024.
The MoHFW stated that all existing beneficiaries
must complete the linking process within 30 days.
MCD Extends Deadline for Geo-tagging of
Properties Till 30 June 2024
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), a civic
body of Delhi, has extended the last date for geo-
tagging of properties until 30th June 2024 to
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provide taxpayers another opportunity to register Mangalore (1.5 million tonnes)Karnataka,
their properties with MCD. and Padur (2.5 million tonnes) Karnataka.
✓ It is a process that involves assigning a
unique latitude-longitude coordinate to a
property on a Geographic Information
System (GIS) map. This is done by
associating the property's location with a
Unique Property Identification Code (UPIC).

IICA & HP India launch ESG Professional

Programme
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) has
partnered with HP India to launch the “HP Future
Impact Leaders - IICA Certified Environmental –
Social - Governance (ESG) Professional
Programme” to promote sustainability and
empower corporate social responsibility (CSR)
professionals to emerge as leaders in navigating the
intricacies of ESG frameworks.
Report on Energy Transitions to achieve
India’s net-zero Targets by IIM-A
Launched
On April 3, 2024, a report titled 'Synchronizing
Energy Transitions Toward Possible Net Zero for
India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All' prepared
by IIM-A (Indian Institute of Management-
Ahmedabad) Gujarat, under the sanction of the
Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the
Government of India (GoI) was launched during a
meeting held in New Delhi, Delhi.
India to Build First Strategic Petroleum
Reserve with Private Company by 2029-
30
India, the world’s third biggest oil importer and
consumer, plans to build its first privately managed
Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2029-30.
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL), a
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), was created by the
government of India under the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2004 to maintain
strategic petroleum reserves in the country.
✓ It was set up in two phases : The first phase,
ISPRL constructed a strategic petroleum
reserve in three locations: Visakhapatnam
(1.33 million tonnes)Andhra Pradesh,
NexCAR19: President Murmu Launched
India’s 1st Indigenous CAR-T Cell
Therapy
On April 4, 2024, the President of India Droupadi
Murmu launched India's first home-grown
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell
therapy namely 'NexCAR19
(Actalycabtagene autoleucel)’ for cancer treatment
during the event held at Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Bombay in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
✓ India is now one of the first developing
countries to have its indigenous CAR-T and
gene therapy platform.
✓ It developed through collaboration between
IIT, Bombay and Tata Memorial Hospital
(TMH), Mumbai in association with industry
partner Immunoadoptive Cell Therapy
Private Limited (ImmunoACT).
Adani Green Energy Becomes India’s
First Company to Surpass 10,000 MW of
Renewable Energy
Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has become
the country's first company to surpass 10,000
megawatts (MW), or 10 gigawatts (GW), of
renewable energy capacity in its operational
portfolio. AGEL has achieved this feat after it

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commissioned 2,000 MW of solar capacity at
Khavda in Kutch, Gujarat.
Sagar Kavach 01/24: Coastal Security
Exercise Conducted in Lakshadweep
Sagar Kavach 01/24, a two-day coastal security
exercise involving all maritime security agencies
was conducted in the Union Territory (UT) of
Lakshadweep from 1st to 2nd April 2024. The
assets of the Indian Navy(IN), Indian Coast
Guard(ICG), Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs and
other security agencies were involved in the
exercise.
BEML & BEL partners to Develop
Indigenous Train Control Management
System (i-TCMS)
BEML Limited (formerly Bharat Earth Movers
Limited) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with Bharat Electronics Limited(BEL) to
jointly develop an indigenous Train Control
Management System (i-TCMS). The partnership
between BEML and BEL aims to promote
innovation and foster self-reliance in the domain of
train control management systems.
IFFCO & ACME Signed MoU To Boost
Sustainability in Agriculture and
Renewable Energy Usage In India
The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited
(IFFCO), the world’s largest fertilizer cooperative,
has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with ACME Cleantech Solutions Private
Limited (ACME) for the purchase and supply of
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
WHO Launches CoViNet, a Network of
Laboratory to Monitor Emerging
Coronaviruses
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has
launched the Coronavirus Network (CoViNet), a
global network which will ensure timely detection,
monitoring, and assessment of coronaviruses of
public health importance.
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about 200,000 Metric Ton (MT) of ammonia
produced using renewable energy.
Maharashtra’s Miraj Tanpura and Miraj
Sitar; UP’s Bundelkhand Kathiya Gehu
got GI Tag
The Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-headquartered
Geographical Indications Registry under the
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT), the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry awarded geographical indication (GI) tags
to Miraj Tanpura and Miraj Sitar of Maharashtra
and Bundelkhand Kathiya Gehu (Wheat) of Uttar
Pradesh (UP).
List of Goods received GI tags:
S.No GI Product State Goods
1 Miraj Tanpura Handi
Maharashtra
2 Miraj Sitar Crafts
Bundelkhand
Uttar
3 Kathiya Gehu Agriculture
Pradesh
(Wheat)
SJVN & IIT Patna inks MoU to Use
Advanced Geological Models in
Tunnelling Projects
SJVN Limited has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of
Technology Patna (IIT Patna), Bihar, to utilise the
advanced geological models in tunnelling projects
of SJVN. Under this partnership, predictive analytics
algorithms leveraging integrated geotechnical data
will be developed. This will predict potential risks
and offer early warning systems tailored for
tunnelling projects.
✓ CoViNet includes 36 laboratories from 21
countries across all 6 WHO regions. This
includes 3 Indian laboratories.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research-National Environmental
Engineering Research Institute
(CSIR-NEERI), Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 9
 • Indian Council of Medical Research-
National Institute of Virology
(ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra.
• Translational Health Science and
Technology Institute (THSTI),
Faridabad, Haryana.
Bernard Arnault Tops Forbes World's
Billionaires List 2024, Mukesh Ambani
Tops in India
Forbes released its 38th annual World's Billionaires
list - ‘Forbes World’s Billionaires List: The Richest
in 2024' in partnership with J.P. Morgan Bank.
Bernard Arnault (France), Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
(LVMH ) topped the list with a net worth of USD
233 Billion.
✓ He is followed by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla
Motors with a net worth of USD 195 Billion
and Jeff Bezos, founder & Former CEO of
Amazon with USD 194 Billion at 3rd place.
✓ Mukesh Ambani, Chairman And Managing
Director(CMD) of Reliance Industries
Limited (RIL), ranked 9th globally with a
net worth of USD 116 Billion, becomes the
richest man in India. He is the only Indian
to feature among the top 10.
✓ Gautam Adani became the 2nd richest
Indian with a net worth of USD 84 billion
followed by Shiv Nadar as 3rd richest with a
net worth of USD 36.9 billion.
Romania & Bulgaria Partially Join
Europe's Schengen Travel Zone
Romania and Bulgaria became the newest
Member States to partially join the Schengen area,
the Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone. With this
any person crossing the internal air and sea
borders will no longer be subject to checks. With
this, the Schengen area now has 29 members.
Singapore, Denmark and U.S. are the
Best Places in the world to Conduct
Business: EIU’ BER 2024
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its
Business Environment Rankings (BER) 2024,
assessing 82 countries across 91 crucial indicators
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across 11 categories to determine the best places
for conducting business. Singapore retains its top
position for the 16th consecutive year, followed by
Denmark and the United States (US) at 2nd and
3rd place respectively in the world to conduct
business. India ranked 51 in the list with a score of
1.08.
List of Top 5 Countries to Conduct Business
Rank Country Score
1 Singapore 8.56
2 Denmark 8.41
3 US 8.4
4 Germany 8.35
5 Switzerland 8.33
51 India 1.08
Greece, Qatar, and India have made significant
strides in providing favorable business
environments globally. India ranks third among the
most improved business environments globally,
projecting strong economic growth and heightened
foreign investment.
India to lose 5.8% of daily working
hours amid heat stress in 2030 as
UNESCAP report
United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) released a
report titled “Economic and Social Survey of Asia
and the Pacific 2024: Boosting affordable and
longer-term financing for Governments”.
✓ As per the report, India is expected to lose
approximately 5.8% of daily working hours
due to increasing temperatures
by 2030. This would lead to decrease in
productivity and lower collection of fiscal
revenues.
UNDP Report on Small Island Digital
States Highlights Digital Transformation
for Small Island Developing States
The United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) released a report, " Small Island Digital
States: How Digital Can Catalyse SIDS
Development," highlighting the transformative
potential of digital for Small Island Developing
States (SIDS). The report emphasises the pivotal
role of digitalization in the development of SIDS.
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 10
 ✓ SIDS is a distinct group of 39 States and 18
Associate Members of the UN regional
commissions that face unique social,
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI: Reserve assets surge by USD34.8
billion, net claims of NRI declined by
USD12.2 billion
As per the latest data released by RBI, India’s
International Investment Position (IIP) as of
December 2023 showed a decline in net claims of
Non-Residents on India by USD12.2 billion during
the period from October to December 2023 to
USD370.4 billion as the end of December 2023.
GoI approved Bonus for PLI & RPLI
Scheme for FY25
The Government of India (GoI) has approved a
simple reversionary bonus for the Postal Life
Insurance (PLI) Scheme and Rural Postal Life
Insurance (RPLI) Scheme for the fiscal year 2024-
25 (FY25) without changing the bonus rate. The
rates of bonus for the FY25 will be applicable from
1st April 2024.
✓ For Whole Life Assurance
(WLA/Suraksha), the rate of bonus will be
at Rs.76 per thousand of sum assured.
Karnataka Bank Raises Rs 600 cr
Through Qualified Institutional
Placement
Karnataka Bank has approved the allotment of
shares pursuant to the Qualified Institutional
Placement (QIP), at a price of Rs 227 per equity
share, which includes premium of Rs 217 per share.
This amounts to an aggregate of up to Rs 600
crores.
AmpIn Energy Gets 25 million euro
Funding from OeEB, Development Bank
of Austria
AmpIn Energy Transition Private Limited
received 25 million Euro investment from OeEB -
Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG
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economic, and environmental
vulnerabilities.
(Development Bank of Austria) in a long term
financing to support the energy expansion plans of
AmpIn Energy. This will also support the AmpIn to
establish a local 1-Gigawatt(GW) solar cell and
module production facility in Odisha.
L&T Finance Holdings Renamed as “ L&T
Finance Limited”
L&T Finance Holdings Ltd (LTFH), a subsidiary of
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited, has received
approval from Registrar of Companies (RoC) to
change its name to “L&T Finance
Limited(LTF)” with effect from 28th March 2024.
✓ In December 2023, LTFH(now LTF)
completed the merger of its subsidiaries,
namely L&T Finance Ltd., L&T Infra Credit
Ltd., and L&T Mutual Fund Trustee Ltd.,
with itself to creates a "Single Lending
Entity".
RBI to set up Digital India Trust Agency
to Check Illegal Lending Apps
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will establish a
Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) to combat the
proliferation of illegal lending apps. DIGITA would
serve as a crucial checkpoint to tackle the issue of
illegal lending apps.
✓ Apps lacking the 'verified' mark from
DIGITA would be deemed unauthorized for
law enforcement purposes. The agency aims
to vet digital lending apps for compliance
and maintain a public register of verified
apps.
IRDAI Announces Final Rules on
Surrender Value from April 1 2024
The Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India (IRDAI) announced final rules on
surrender value for traditional endowment policies
effective from April 1, 2024.
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 11
Surrender value %:
The proposed slabs for the surrender value
percentages are:
✓ 30% of total premiums paid if surrendered
during the second year.
✓ 35% of total premiums paid if surrendered
during the third year
✓ 50% of total premiums paid if surrendered
between the fourth and seventh years
✓ 90% of total premiums paid if surrendered
during the last two years.
Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors and Coal India
among Top 5 Index Performers in FY24
Indian financial markets finished the Financial year
2023-24(FY24) on a positive note with domestic
equity indices: Nifty50 and Sensex achieving their
most robust performance in three fiscal years. Bajaj
Auto, Tata Motors and Coal India Limited emerged
as the Top 3 Index Performers in FY24.
✓ The top 5 best performers in largecaps for
FY24 are, Zomato, TATA Motors - DVR Ltd,
Adani Power, Punjab National Bank & Delhi
Land & Finance (DLF Limited).
Prestige Group signs strategic deal
worth Rs 2,001 crore with ADIA & Kotak
AIF
Prestige Group through its subsidiaries has
entered into a strategic deal worth Rs 2,001 crore
with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority(ADIA) and
Kotak AIF(Alternative Investment Fund) to
develop residential projects in prominent locations
across 4 cities in India.
✓ The investment will be made in developing
Greenfield residential projects across cities
like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Goa and Delhi
NCR(National Capital Region) with a
combined Gross Development Value(GDV)
of over Rs 18,000 crore.
SEBI launches SCORES 2.0 to Strengthen
Complaint Redressal System
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
launched the new version of SCORES (SEBI
Complaint Redressal System), i.e., SCORES 2.0.
This will enhance investor complaint resolution in
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the securities market by auto routing and auto
escalation, monitoring by designated bodies, and
reducing timelines.
✓ The website URL for SCORES 2.0 from April
01, 2024 is http://scores.sebi.gov.in
✓ Note -SCORES is an online system
where investors in securities
market can lodge their complaints through
web URL and an App.
✓ It establishes uniform timelines for
complaint resolution across the securities
market: 21 calendar days from complaint
receipt.
TATA AIG General Insurance Company
Introduces 'Travel Guard Plus'
Insurance Product
TATA AIG General Insurance Company Limited,
a leading general insurance provider, has launched
“Travel Guard Plus“, a comprehensive travel
insurance product aimed at redefining complete
coverage for travellers. Customers can choose from
3 add-on bundles: Cruise Bundle, Travel Plus
Bundle, and Accident Bundle, catering to specific
needs.
PM Modi addresses RBI@90
Programme; RBI marks 90 years
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi addressed the
opening ceremony of RBI@90, as the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) marked its 90th year on April 1,
2024. The ceremony took place at National Centre
for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
✓ A special Rs 90 coin was unveiled by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate
90 years of RBI. RBI was established on 1st
April,1935, based on the recommendation
of Hilton Young Commission (formed in
1926).
UPI Transactions Volume Increased by
56% in H2 2023: Worldline
According to Worldline India Digital Payments
Report H2 2023 the Unified Payments Interface
(UPI) transactions volume in the second half (H2)
of 2023 (July 2023 - December 2023) increased by
56% to 65.77 billion from 42.09 billion in H2 2022.
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The value of transactions increased by 44% from Rs
69.36 Lakh Crore to Rs 99.68 lakh crore.
✓ The payments acceptance infrastructure
channels have developed between July 2022
and December 2023, Point of Sale (PoS)
terminals grew by 26% to 8.56 million
while Bharat QR (BQR)s grew by 32% to
5.96 million and UPI QR transactions grew
by 57% to 317 million.
Click here to read full News
Canara Bank launches Loan Products to
meet Hospitalization Expenses
On 3rd April 2024, Canara Bank launched a range of
innovative products aimed at enhancing financial
inclusivity and addressing healthcare needs.
Details of the New Products:
✓ Canara Heal: A healthcare loan product to
cover hospitalization expenses beyond
insurance limits, available at competitive
interest rates.
✓ Canara Angel: A custom savings account
for women with unique features like cancer
care policy
✓ Canara ReadyCash, a pre-approved
personal loans
✓ Canara MyMoney, an online loan against
term deposit product.
PhonePe & Star Health Insurance
Partners to Offer ‘Star Comprehensive
Insurance Policy’
PhonePe has partnered with Star Health and Allied
Insurance Company Ltd. (Star Health Insurance),
India’s largest retail health insurance Company, to
offer customers health insurance with a monthly
and annual payment option.
✓ This will enable users to avail ‘Star
Comprehensive Insurance Policy’ on the
PhonePe app with coverage up to Rs 1
Crore.
RBI Delays Currency Derivative
Regulations to Curb Speculative Trading
to May 3, 2024
On 4th April 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has deferred the implementation of Exchange
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Traded Currency Derivatives (ETCD) regulations
by a month to May 3, 2024 to curb speculative
trading. This is in view of the feedback received
from the market and the recent developments.
✓ As per the regulations, only traders with
underlying forex exposure are permitted to
trade in currency derivatives, such as
futures contracts, aiding companies in
hedging against currency risk.
Highlights of RBI's 1st Bi-monthly
Monetary Policy of FY25; India’s real
GDP to grow at 7% in FY25
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy
Committee (MPC) met on April 3-5, 2024, and
released 1st Bi-monthly Monetary Policy of FY25
i.e. 'Monetary Policy Statement, 2024-25 Resolution
of the MPC' which kept India’s real Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth at 7% for FY25 (2024-25)
with FY25’s Q1 (April-June) at 7.1%, Q2 (July-
September) at 6.9%, Q3 (October-December) at
7%, and Q4 (January-March) at 7%.
✓ RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5%
for 7th consecutive time.
✓ Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation or
retail inflation is projected
at 4.5% (unchanged vis-a-vis February
2024 projection) for FY25, with FY25’s Q1
at 4.9%, Q2 at 3.8%, Q3 at 4.6%, and Q4
at 4.5%.
✓ RBI has decided to allow Small Finance
Banks (SFBs) to use permissible rupee
interest derivative products. At present,
SFBs are permitted to use only Interest Rate
Futures (IRFs) for proprietary hedging.
✓ With a view to facilitating wider non-
resident participation in Sovereign Green
Bonds (SGrBs), a scheme for investment
and trading in these bonds is available at
the IFSC (International Financial Services
Centre) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
✓ RBI would launch a mobile app for
accessing the Retail Direct portal to widen
the reach of the RBI Retail Direct
Scheme which was launched in November
2021.
Click here to read full News
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 13
RBI Cancels CoR of 4 NBFCs; Imposes
fine on IDFC First Bank & LIC Housing
Finance
The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has cancelled the
Certificate of Registration(CoR) of Four Non-
Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in the
exercise of powers conferred on it under Section
45-IA (6) of the RBI Act, 1934.
✓ The 4 NBFCs are, Kundles Motor Finance
Private Limited (Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh-
UP), Nithya Finance Limited (Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu-TN), Bhatia Hire Purchase
Private Limited (Bathinda, Punjab) and
Jiwanjyoti Deposits and Advances Limited
(Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh).
✓ RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1
crore on IDFC First Bank Limited for non-
compliance with certain directions issued
by RBI on ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory
and Other Restrictions’.
✓ RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs
49.70 lakhs on LIC Housing Finance Limited
for non-compliance
J&K Bank Partners with Paymart India
to Launch Virtual ATM Facility
Jammu & Kashmir Bank Limited (J&K Bank) signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with Paymart India Pvt Ltd to launch an
innovative Virtual Automated Teller Machine
(ATM)(VATM) facility. The collaboration aims to
introduce cardless cash withdrawals for the Bank’s
customers through local merchants in the
neighbourhood.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Tejas Networks and Telecom Egypt
Announces Strategic
Cooperation Projects in Egypt
Tejas Networks Limited signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Telecom Egypt (TE),
ITIDA (Information Technology Industry
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SEBI gets ISO/IEC 27001:2022
Certification for Information Security
Management Systems
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
has received the International Organization for
Standardization/International Electrotechnical
Commission(ISO/IEC) 27001:2022 certification
for its
✓ Information Security Management
System(ISMS) at the Primary Data Centre,
✓ ISMS at the Disaster Recovery site, and
✓ Security Operations Control (SOC) and Ne
twork Operations Control (NOC)
Operations.
Sebi received this certification following an audit by
the certification body under the accreditation of the
National Accreditation Board for Certification
Bodies (NABCB), a member of the International
Accreditation Forum(IAF).
UBI Raises Rs 4,200 Crore from DIFC To
Fund Overseas Business
The Union Bank of India (UBI), has raised USD 500
million (about Rs 4,200 crore) from foreign
markets to fund overseas business growth. The
fund was arranged by Dubai International Financial
Centre (DIFC), Dubai Branch, United Arab Emirates
(UAE).
American Express Launches New Metal
Corporate Platinum Card
On April 5 2024, American Express launched the
new Metal Corporate Platinum Card, designed to
meet the changing needs of business owners and
entrepreneurs in India. The card offers best-in-class
advantages including Taj Epicure Plus Membership
and Gold Elite Status at Marriott Bonvoy.
Development Agency), and NTI (National Telecom
Institute) to replicate its experience of
implementing the Bharatnet (Rural Broadband
Project) and NKN (National Knowledge Network)
projects in Egypt.
✓ The MoU also includes, Establishing local
manufacturing and Research and
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 14
 Development (R&D) facilities for Fibre-to-
the Home (FTTH) products.

SIA-India & Brazil's ABRASAT signed

MoU to Boost Advancements in Space
Sector
The SatCom Industry Association of India (SIA-
India) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding(MoU) with the Brazilian Association
of Satellite Telecommunications Companies
(ABRASAT -Associação Brasileira das Empresas de
Telecomunicações por Satélite ) to boost
advancement in the space sector.
✓ The MoU will explore new market
dynamics, infrastructure development,
technological advancements,
entrepreneurship, funding sources, and GoI Raises Rs 16,500 Cr by Selling
private investments. Stakes in Companies in FY23-24
In the fiscal year 2023/24, the Indian government
RVNL-Salasar JV Bags Rs 60 crore has raised Rs. 16,500 crores through stake sales in
Transmission Project in Rwanda about 10 state-run companies. This amount
however fell short by about 9% compared to the
A Joint Venture (JV) between the Rail Vikas Nigam
internal target of Rs 18,000 crore.
Limited (RVNL) and Salasar Techno Engineering
Note: The government has not set a target for the
Limited (STEL), the private steel manufacturer, has
current financial year (2024–25) as of April 1,
bagged “Rwanda Transmission System
2024, marking a departure from usual practice.
Reinforcement and Last Mile Connectivity project
(TSRLMC)”, a transmission project of Rwanda in
Central Africa. Indian Oil & Panasonic Energy Signed
Note: RVNL owns 51% stake in the joint venture, Binding Term Sheet for Manufacturing
while STEL owns the remaining 49%. Lithium-ion Cells
State-owned refiner Indian Oil Corporation Ltd
Mahindra Aerostructures signs USD100 (IOCL) and Japan's Panasonic Energy Co. Ltd., a
million deal with Airbus Atlantic for Panasonic Group company have signed a binding
component production term sheet for a proposed joint venture (JV) to
manufacture cylindrical lithium-ion cells in India
Mahindra Aerostructures Private Limited (MASPL)
for 2-and 3-wheel vehicles and energy storage
has signed multi-year deal worth USD 100 million
systems.
with an Airbus Atlantic group entity. As per the
deal, Mahindra Aerostructures will supply nearly
2300 varieties of metallic components to Airbus World Bank projects Indian Economy to
Atlantic in France from its manufacturing unit in grow at 7.5% in 2024; EAP is projected
India. to ease to 4.5% in 2024
✓ The contract between MASPL and Airbus World Bank(WB)’s South Asia Development Update
Atlantic aligns with “Make in India” April 2024 - Jobs for Resilience, stated that India’s
initiative of Government of India(GoI), economy is projected to grow by 7.5% in 2024, a
which aims to transforms India into a global revision of 1.2% from 6.3% estimated in the
manufacturing hub. October 2023 report. India's output growth is
forecasted to reach 7.5% in FY 2023-24 (FY24)

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before moderating to 6.6% in FY25, primarily due
to a deceleration in investments.
✓ The WB in its semi-annual economic
outlook titled 'East Asia and Pacific April
2024 Economic Update, April 2024: Firm
Foundations of Growth' projected East Asia
and Pacific’s (EAP) growth to ease to 4.5%
in 2024 from 5.1% in 2023, with developing
EAP excluding China expected to pick up to
4.6% from 4.4% in 2023.
BMW Group and Tata Tech Signed JV
Agreement to Develop Automotive
Software and IT Hub
The Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) Group, and
Tata Technologies Limited, a subsidiary of Tata
Motors Limited, have signed an agreement to form
a Joint Venture (JV) to establish an Automotive
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Hockey India 6th Annual Awards:
Hardik Singh & Salima Tete Wins Balbir
Singh Sr. Award for Player of Year 2023
Indian Field Hockey Player & Vice- captain of the
Indian Hockey men’s team, Hardik Singh was
honored with the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr.
Award for Player of the Year 2023 (Men) at the
Hockey India 6th Annual Awards 2023 event held
in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ Indian field hockey player Salima Tete was
honoured with Hockey India Balbir
Singh Sr. Award for the Player of the year
2023 ( women).
✓ Ashok Kumar won the prestigious Hockey
India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime
Achievement Award, with a cash prize of Rs
30 Lakh and a trophy.
Goenka among Seven Indians Named in
‘Young Global Leaders Community: The
Class 2024’ by WEF
World Economic Forum (WEF) released the 20th
edition of “Young Global Leaders Community: The
Class 2024” in Geneva, Switzerland. This year, a
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Software and Information Technology (IT)
development Hub in Pune(Maharashtra), Bengaluru
(Karnataka) and Chennai(Tamil Nadu).
✓ The JV will supply automotive software,
including Software-defined Vehicle (SDV)
solutions for the premium vehicles in the
BMW Groups and digital transformation
solutions for its business IT.
NTPC Shuts 220 MW Barauni Thermal
Power Station Stage-I Project in Bihar
NTPC Limited (formerly known as National
Thermal Power Corporation), India's leading power
utility, officially declared the permanent closure
of its Barauni Thermal Power Station Stage-I
(2x110 megawatt (MW)) in Bihar from March 31,
2024.
total of 11 members were named in the South Asia
category, of which 7 were Indians.
✓ Arjun Bhartia, Director,Jubilant Group in
the “Business”category.
✓ Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive
Director, Vedanta Limited, and also the
Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc, are named
in the “Business Category."
✓ Adwaita Nayar, Chief Executive
Officer(CEO), FSN E-Commerce Ventures
Private Limited in the “Business” category.
She is CEO of Nykaa Fashion and is Co-
Founder of Nykaa.
✓ Sharad Vivek Sagar, Founder and CEO,
Dexterity Global in the “Social
Entrepreneur” category.
✓ Bhumi Pednekar, Actress in the “Arts,
Culture and Sports” category.
✓ Richa Bajpai, Founder and CEO, Campus
Fund. It is India’s first and only Dorm Room
Fund. She was named under the “Social
Entrepreneur” category.
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 16
SJVN Ltd Won 15th CIDC Vishwakarma
Awards 2024 for its CSR Contribution
SJVN Limited, a hydroelectric power generation
company, received the Achievement Award for
Creating Social Development and Impact at the
15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards (VKA) (2024)
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Axis Capital Limited appoints
Atul Mehra as MD & CEO
Axis Capital Limited (Erstwhile
ENAM Securities Private
Limited) has appointed Atul
Mehra as its Managing
Director (MD) and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO),
succeeding Salil Pitale, who
held the interim MD & CEO position from 2018-
2024.
Rajeev Singhal Appointed as MD of Tata
International Limited
The Tata International Limited
(TIL), the global trading and
distribution arm of Tata Group,
appointed Rajeev Singhal as its
Managing Director (MD). Rajeev
Singhal succeeded Anand Sen,
who attained retirement on
March 31, 2024.
He served as the Managing Director of Tata Steel
BSL Limited (Now Tata Steel, formerly known as
Bhushan Steel Limited).
Judith Tuluka Appointed as First Female
Prime Minister of DR Congo
Felix Tshisekedi, President of
the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC), appointed Judith
Suminwa Tuluka as the first
woman Prime Minister of the
DRC. She succeeded Jean-
Michel Sama Lukonde who
served as the Prime Minister of DRC since 2021.
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instituted by the Construction Industry
Development Council(CIDC).
✓ SJVN also received the CIDC Partners in
Progress Trophy 2024.
Complete list of winners of 15th CIDC VKA (2024) &
Complete 15th CIDC VKA - List of Partner In
Progress
✓ Judith also served as the national expert in
a Community Support Project in Eastern
DRC at the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP).
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi sworn in as Egypt's
President for the 3rd Term
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has taken
oath as the President of Egypt
for the third term in the New
Administrative Capital of the
country. The 69-year-old former
army chief will continue with his
presidential powers until 2030
that followed constitutional amendments that
extended presidential terms to six years allowing
him to stand for a third election.
Sorin Investment Fund Chairman Sanjay
Nayar takes over as ASSOCHAM
President for 2024-25
Sanjay Nayar, the Founder and Chairman of Sorin
Investment Fund has taken over as President of
the Associated Chambers of Commerce and
Industry of India (ASSOCHAM),
India’s oldest apex Industry
chamber, for 2024-25.
Previously, he served as the Vice
President of ASSOCHAM.
✓ Sanjay Nayar replaced
Ajay Singh, Chairman &
Managing Director(CMD)
of Spicejet, who served as ASSOCHAM's
President for 2023-24.
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 17
Shiny Wilson Nominated as a Member of
Athletic Commission of Asian Athletics
Association
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). She was
nominated as a member in a
virtual meeting led by the
Chairman of the Athletic
Commission, Mohammad
Suleiman (Qatar).
✓ Shiny Wilson won a silver medal in the
women’s 400m race event at the 1986 Asian
Games in Seoul, South Korea. In the same
tournament, she won the gold medal in the
women’s 4x400m relay event, along with
P.T. Usha, M. D. Valsamma, and Vandana
Rao.
✓ Shiny Wilson was awarded the Padma Shri
in 1998 in the field of sports. She also
received the Arjuna Award in 1985.
Ousmane Sonko Appointed as the Prime
Minister of Senegal
The Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye
appointed Ousmane Sonko as the Prime
Minister(PM) of Senegal in his first act as
President. Ousmane Sonko replaced Sidiki Kaba as
the new prime minister. Sidiki Kaba was appointed
as the prime minister by former President Macky
Sall in March 2024.
Sheyphali B Sharan Takes Charge as
Principal Director General of PIB
On April 1, 2024, Sheyphali B. Sharan took charge
as the Principal Director General (PDG) of the Press
Information Bureau (PIB) by succeeding Manish
Desai, who attained retirement on March 31, 2024.
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Astrid Schomaker of Germany
Appointed as Executive Secretary of CBD
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). With this appointment, She becomes the
CBD’s first Executive Secretary from Germany.
✓ David Cooper of the United Kingdom (UK),
Acting Executive Secretary of CBD (since
February 2023), will continue his role until
Schomaker assumes her functions.
Former Deputy Governor of RBI, Rakesh
Mohan, Appointed to WBG’s Economic
Advisory Panel
World Bank has appointed
Rakesh Mohan, Former
Deputy Governor (DG) of
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as
a member in Economic
Advisory Panel of World Bank
Group (WBG).
✓ Nicholas Stern, IG
Patel Professor of Economics and
Government at the London School of
Economics, United Kingdom (U.K.) will be
the chairman of Economic Advisory Panel
of WBG
✓ Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World
Bank Group (WBG) and Senior President for
Development Economics will co-chair the
panel. The panel members will have a
tenure of two years.
Fin Min appoints Justice PS Dinesh
Kumar as Presiding Officer of SAT;
Dheeraj Bhatnagar as Technical Member
The Ministry of Finance has appointed Justice
Pratinidhi Srinivasacharya (PS) Dinesh Kumar,
former Chief Justice (CJ) of Karnataka High
Court(HC) as the Presiding Officer of the
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 18
Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) for 4 years, or
until he attains the age of 70 years.
✓ PS Dinesh Kumar succeeds Justice Tarun
Agarwala, Who served as the Presiding
Officer of SAT from December 2018 to
December 2023.
✓ Dheeraj Bhatnagar, former Principal Chief
Commissioner of Income Tax (Delhi), was
appointed as a Technical Member of SAT
for 4 years, or until he attains the age of 60
years. Dheeraj Bhatnagar succeeds Justice
MT Joshi, who served as member of SAT
from March 2019 to February 2023.
CMD of NDDB, Dr. Meenesh Shah Elected
as Chairman of NCDFI
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB),
Dr. Meenesh kumar Champaklal Shah has been
unanimously elected as the Chairman of the
National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Ltd.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
CCI approvals on 2nd April 2024
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has
approved the following proposals on 2nd April
2024.
✓ Acquisition of shares of MG Motor India
Private Limited by IndoEdge India Fund-
Large Value Fund (LVF) scheme.
✓ Acquisition of CCPS in Northern Arc Capital
Limited by International Finance
Corporation (IFC).
✓ Acquisition of Nagarjuna Fertilizers and
Chemicals Limited (NFCL) Assets and 100%
shareholding of Greenko ZeroC Private
Limited (ZeroC) by AMG India.
✓ Acquisition of 10.39% of Annapurna
Finance and subscription to its certain
debentures by Piramal Alternatives Trust.
✓ Acquisition of 100% equity stake of
Sharekhan Limited and Human Value
Developers Pvt. Ltd collectively by Mirae
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(NCDFI) in the Board elections
held on 5 April 2024. He
represents the Jharkhand Milk
Federation on the board.
✓ Dr. Meenesh
Shah replaced Mangal Jit
Rai, who served as
Chairman of NCDFI for 2 terms from 2017
to 2024.
MCA Appoints Two Part-Time Members
to IBBI Governing Board
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has
appointed M.P. Ram Mohan, a Professor at the
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
Ahmedabad(Gujarat), and Dinabandhu
Mohapatra, a Non-Executive Independent Director
at Indiabulls Housing Limited, as part-time
members of the Governing Board of the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
Asset Capital Markets (India) Pvt. Ltd. and
Mirae Asset Securities Co. Ltd. respectively.
✓ Subscription of CCPS of Pritam
International Pvt. Ltd. by India Advantage
Fund S5 I, HCL Corp, Mirabilis Investment
Trust, Aashil Apurva Shah and Ansh Ashit
Shah.
✓ Subscription to 14,25,79,161 equity shares
of Max Life Insurance Company Limited by
Axis Bank Limited.
F1 owner Liberty Media acquires
MotoGP owner Dorna Sports
The Liberty Media Corporation(Liberty Media) has
signed an agreement to acquire approximately
86% of Dorna Sports, S.L.(Dorna), the exclusive
commercial and television rights holder of
MotoGP(Grand Prix motorcycle racing), from
Bridgepoint and Canada Pension Plan Investment
Board (CPP Investments).
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 19
 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft and OpenAI forge USD 100bn
plan for Stargate Supercomputer
Microsoft and OpenAI announce a joint plan for
Stargate, an AI (Artificial Intelligence)
supercomputer data center project in the United
States (US), estimated to cost over USD 100 billion
and set for launch in 2028.
✓ Microsoft and Open AI signed multibillion
dollar partnership in 2019 and has steadily
expanded as part of Microsoft’s AI
supercomputing collaboration. Microsoft
and OpenAI are currently in the middle of
phase 3 of a five-phase plan for
supercomputing development.
✓ Stargate will be the fifth phase of a
supercomputer series, a smaller fourth-
phase supercomputer is in development
and planned to launch in 2026.
WHO’s unveils S.A.R.A.H, its 1st AI-
Powered Digital Health Promoter
The World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled
S.A.R.A.H. (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health),
its first digital health promoter prototype with
enhanced empathetic response powered by
generative artificial intelligence (AI).
S.A.R.A.H., also known as Sarah, is supported by
Biological AI technology of Soul Machines Limited.
MoHFW Launched myCGHS iOS app for
CGHS Beneficiaries
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
launched the myCGHS app for the iPhone
Operating System (iOS) devices to advance in
healthcare accessibility for Central Government
Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries. The myCGHS
iOS app is developed by the technical teams of the
National Informatics Centre (NIC) Himachal
Pradesh and the NIC Health Team.
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‘FLEX’ lunar rover successfully tested in
California's Mojave Desert by
Venturi Astrolab Inc
Venturi Astrolab Inc, a Los Angeles, United States
(US)-based startup, has successfully tested a
groundbreaking lunar rover prototype, the Flexible
Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover, in
California's Mojave Desert. It is designed for
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA)’s Artemis program.
HAL Delivers Two Dornier 228 Planes
To Guyana Defence Force
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivers two
Dornier 228 planes to Guyana Defence Force (GDF)
via Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport
planes at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
The delivery follows Guyanese President Mohamed
Irfaan Ali's visit to an HAL facility in India over a
year ago.
SFC & DRDO Successfully Flight-Tests
New Generation Ballistic Missile “Agni-
Prime”
On 3rd April 2024, Strategic Forces Command (SFC)
and Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO)successfully conducted the
flight test of the New Generation Ballistic missile
Agni-Prime (Agni-P) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Island off the coast of Odisha.
✓ It is a two-stage surface-to-surface,
canisterised solid propellant ballistic
missile. It has a range between 1000km to
2000km.
Indian Army begins Induction of
Akashteer Control & Reporting Systems
The Indian Army has commenced the induction of
the indigenous 'Akashteer Control & Reporting
Systems' to enhance its air defence capabilities.
this will enable the Indian Army’s defence units to
operate in an integrated manner.
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 20
 ✓ The project was developed by Bharat
Electronics Limited (BEL) under the
Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Korea’s 'Artificial Sun' Sets Record For
Sustaining Plasma At 100 Million Degree
Celsius
South Korea's superconducting fusion device, the
Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced
Research (KSTAR), also known as the “artificial
sun” at the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE),
set a new world record in the nuclear fusion
ENVIRONMENT
------
SPORTS
Badminton: India’s Anupama Upadhyaya
Wins Women's Singles Title at Orlen
Polish Open 2024
India’s Anupama Upadhyaya defeats Tanya
Hemanth (India) to win the women’s singles title of
the Orlen Polish Open 2024, held from 20th to 24
March 2024 in Wilanow Sports Centre, Warsaw,
Poland.
✓ The Indian pair M.R. Arjun and Dhruv
Kapila won the men’s doubles title by
defeating Denmark's William Kryger Boe
and Christian Faust Kjær in the finals.
✓ Denmark’s Victor Ørding Kauffmann won
the men’s singles title by defeating Jia Heng
Jason Teh (Singapore) in the finals. India’s
Darshan Pujari lost in the semifinals against
Jia Heng Jason Teh.
Indian Contingent Wins 26 Medals at
Youth Boxing World Cup 2024
The Indian boxing contingent won 26 medals (5
gold, 9 silver, and 12 bronze) in the Youth World
Boxing Cup 2024 (33rd Adriatic Pearl
tournament) held at the Hotel Splendid Conference
& Spa Resort in Budva, Montenegro, from 3rd to
11th March 2024.
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experiment by sustaining a plasma loop to 100
million degrees Celsius for 48 seconds.
IAF Receives First Indigenous Crash Fire
Tender
On 3rd April 2024, The Indian Air Force (IAF)
received the delivery of the first indigenously
designed and developed Crash Fire Tender (CFT).
It was manufactured by a Noida(Uttar
Pradesh-UP)-based Indian Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises (MSME) firm, against the contract
worth Rs 291 crores. The CFT was delivered within
14 months of contract.
✓ Russia topped the medal tally with eight
gold medals. India finished second with five
gold medals, while Poland was in the third
position with three gold medals.
Click here to view full list of Indian Medal
Winners
Tennis: Italy’s Jannik Sinner won the
Men’s Singles title at Miami Open 2024
Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner won the Men’s
Singles title at the Association of Tennis
Professionals (ATP) Miami Open 2024 by
defeating Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the finals
held at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens,
Florida, the United States of America(USA). He
became the first Italian to win the Miami Open.
Daniel Collins of the USA won the Miami Open
2024 Women’s singles title by defeating World
No. 4 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.
India’s Rohan Bopanna and Australia’s Matthew
Ebden won the 2024 Miami Open men’s doubles
title defeating Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and USA’s
Austin Krajicek.
Winners & Runner-ups of Miami Open 2024:
Category Winner Runner-Up
Men’s Jannik Sinner Grigor Dimitrov
Singles (Italy) (Bulgaria)
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 21
 Women’s Danielle Collins Elena Rybakina Mirabai Chanu Becomes the Only Indian
Singles (USA) (Kazakhstan) Weightlifter to Qualify for Paris
Rohan Machanda Ivan Dodic
Olympics
Men’s Bopanna (India) (Croatia) and
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu became the only Indian
Doubles and Mathew Austin Krajicik
weightlifter to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024
Ebden(Australia) (USA)
after finishing third in Group B of the women’s 49kg
Gabriela
Sofian Kennis division and 12th overall with a total lift of 184kg
Dabrowski
Women’s (USA) and (81kg snatch + 103kg clean and jerk) at the
(Canada) and Erin
Doubles Bethanie Mattek- International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World
Routliffe (New
Sands (USA) Cup 2024.
Zealand)
✓ Indian weightlifter Bindyarani Devi
Sorokhaibam won a bronze medal in the
non-Olympic women’s 55kg category at the
IWF World Cup 2024.

OBITUARY

Oscar Winning American VFX Pioneer

Tim McGovern Passed Away
Tim McGovern, the renowned Oscar winning
American Visual Effects(VFX) pioneer passed away
at the age of 68 in Washington, the United States of
America(USA). He was born on 24th June 1955 in
Chicago, Illinois, USA.
✓ Tim McGovern won the Academy Award
(Oscar) – Special Achievement Award
(Visual Effects) in 1991 for the film ‘’Total
Recall’’. He shared the award with Eric
Brevig, Rob Bottin and Alex Funke.
Golden Globe-winning American actress
Barbara Rush Passed Away
Veteran American actress Barbara Rush passed
away at the age of 97 in Los Angeles, California, the
United States of America (USA). She was born on
4th January 1927, in Denver, Colorado, USA. She
won a Golden Globe Award in the ‘New Star of The
Year’ (actress) category in 1954 for her role in 'It
Came from Outer Space'.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

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IMPORTANT DAYS

International Transgender Day of a licensed psychotherapist, and the

Visibility 2024 - March 31 Executive Director and co-founder of
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) Transgender Michigan, in 2009.
is annually observed across the globe on 31 March ✓ The 1st ever International Transgender Day
to celebrate transgender, nonbinary, and gender of Visibility was observed on 31 March
expansive/gender non-conforming individuals and 2009.
the contributions of trans people and the nonbinary
community.
✓ The Day was created by Rachel Crandall
Crocker, an American transgender advocate,

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World Autism Awareness Day 2024 -
April 2
The United Nations (UN) World Autism
Awareness Day (WAAD) is annually observed
across the globe on 2 April to raise awareness
about Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and
promote the realisation of human rights and basic
freedoms for autistic individuals on an equal basis
with others.
✓ The 2024 theme of WAAD is,
"Empowering Autistic Voices"
✓ The first-ever World Autism Awareness
Day was observed on 2 April 2008. 2 April
2024 marks the observance of the 17th
annual World Autism Awareness Day.
International Children's Book Day 2024
- April 2
International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is
annually observed across the globe on 2 April, the
birth anniversary of Danish author Hans
Christian Andersen, known for his fairy tales, to
foster a love for reading among children and
highlight the importance of children's books.
260th Raising Day of the Army Medical
Corps - 3rd April 2024
On 3 April 2024, the Indian Army celebrated the
260th Raising Day of the Army Medical Corps
(AMC), a specialist corps in the Indian Army that
provides medical services to all serving and veteran
army personnel, as well as their families.
International Day for Mine Awareness
and Assistance in Mine Action 2024 -
April 4
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for
Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
is annually observed across the globe on 4th April
to raise awareness and encourage the
establishment and development of national mine-
action capacities in affected countries.
✓ The theme for International Day for Mine
Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action
2024 is 'Protecting Lives, Building Peace.'
✓ The 1st ever International Day for Mine
Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com
was observed on 4th April 2006. 4th April
2024 marks the observance of the 19th
International Day for Mine Awareness and
Assistance in Mine Action.
61st National Maritime Day - April 5
2024
National Maritime Day (NMD) is annually
observed across India on 5 April to highlight the
significance of the national maritime sector in the
development of the Indian economy, global trade,
and economic exchange across countries.
Theme: The theme of National Maritime
Day/Merchant Navy Week 2024 is “Sustainable
Shipping: Challenges and Opportunities.”
• The day also commemorates the maiden
voyage of SS Loyalty, India’s first Swadeshi
Ship(owned by Scindia Steam Navigation
Company) from Mumbai (Maharashtra) to
London (United Kingdom) on 5th April
1919.
• Merchant Navy Week 2024 (National
Maritime Week) is celebrated alongside
National Maritime Day 2024 from 30th
March 2024 to 5th April 2024.
• The 1st ever National Maritime Day was
observed on 5 April 1964. 5 April 2024
marks the observance of the 61st National
Maritime Day.
International Day of Conscience 2024 -
April 5
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of
Conscience (IDC) is annually observed across the
globe on 5 April to raise awareness about the
importance of building a culture of peace with love
and conscience, through the customs of the local,
national, and regional communities.
✓ The 1st ever International Day of
Conscience was observed on 5 April 2020.
5 April 2024 marks the observance of the
5th International Day of Conscience.
International Day of Sport for
Development and Peace 2024 - April 6
The United Nations (UN) International Day of
Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 23
annually observed across the globe on 6 April, to
recognise the positive roles of sport and physical
activity in global communities and the lives of
people worldwide.
✓ The global theme for IDSDP 2024 is “Sport
for the Promotion of Peaceful and
Inclusive Societies”.
✓ The 1st ever International Day of Sport for
Development and Peace was observed on 6
April 2014. 6 April 2024 marks the
observance of the 11th edition of the
IDSDP.

STATE NEWS

Ravi Kota IAS Takes Charge as New Chief
Secretary of Assam
Ravi Kota, Senior Indian Administrative Service
(IAS)Officer took charge as the new Chief
Secretary of Assam, succeeding Paban Kumar
Borthakur.
Bihar Postal Circle Released a Special
Cover to Commemorate 250 years of
‘Copper Ticket’
The Department of Posts in Bihar has released a
‘Special Cover’ to commemorate 250 years of the
release of ‘Copper Ticket’, the world’s first postal
ticket from Patna, Bihar. It was released by Anil
Kumar, Chief Postmaster General of Bihar Postal
Circle.
Note: The Copper ticket was first issued from
Azimabad, Patna (Bihar) in March 1774.

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