Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
Banking & Finance
1. SEBI launched a new version of SCORES 2.0
 SEBI recently launched a new version of the
SEBI Complaint Redress System (SCORES 2.0).
 What is SCORES?
 It is a web-based centralized grievance redress
system.
 It was launched by SEBI in 2011.
 It enables investors to lodge and follow up on
their complaints.
 It also helps them to track the status of
redressal of such complaints online from
anywhere.
 This enables market intermediaries and listed
companies to receive complaints online from
investors, redress such complaints, and report
redressal online.
 Complaints can be lodged on SCORES for any
issues covered under the Sebi Act, Securities
Contract Regulation Act, Depositories Act, and
rules and regulations and provisions of the
Companies Act, 2013.
 Entities against which complaints are handled
by SEBI include:
o Listed companies / registrar & transfer
agents
o Brokers / stock exchanges
o Depository participants / depository
o Mutual funds
o Portfolio Managers
 Key Features of SCORES 2.0:
 Reduced and uniform timelinesfor redressal of
investor complaints, which is 21 calendar days
from the date of receipt of the complaint.
 An auto-routing of complaints to the concerned
regulated entity.
 Designated bodies will have to monitor the
timely redressal
 There will be two levels of review.
 First review: It will be by the ‘designated body’
if the investor is dissatisfied with the
resolution provided by the concerned
regulated entity.
 Second review: It will be by SEBI if the investor
is still dissatisfied after the first review.
 It will be integrated with the KYC Registration
Agency database.
2. Credit Cards Breach 100 Million Mark in India:
RBI
 Data released by: The Reserve Bank of India
(RBI)
 As of December 2023, India witnessed a surge
in credit card usage, with the total number
crossing the 100 million mark.
 It is fueled by both strategic bank initiatives
and evolving consumer spending habits.
 The total number of outstanding credit cards
reached 97.9 million, with a record addition of
1.9 million cards during the month alone.
 16.71 million credit cards were added, marking
a significant increase from the previous year’s
addition of 12.24 million cards.
 HDFC Bank remains at the forefront with 19.81
million credit cards in circulation as of
December 2023, followed closely by ICICI
Bank, SBI Card, and Axis Bank.
 Credit card transactions in December 2023
reported a substantial 32% year-on-year
increase from the same period in 2022
3. Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Guidelines on
Penal Charges on Loan Accounts
 The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) issued latest
guidelines on penal charges on loan accounts,
come into effect recently.
 The norms prohibit commercial banks and
finance companies from charging borrowers’
penal rates on loan defaults or any other non-
compliance event.
 Under the new rules, if penalty charged, for
non-compliance of the material terms and
conditions of the loan contract by the borrower
should be treated as ‘penal charges.
 It cannot be levied in the form of ‘penal
interest’ that is added to the rate of interest
charged on the advances.
 No capitalisation of penal charges
 No upper limit or cap for penal charges
 These guidelines will not apply to credit cards
4. UPI Ends FY24 with Record Transactions Worth
₹199 Lakh Crore
 Unified Payments Interface (UPI) surged in
March 2024, processing ₹19.78 lakh crore
transactions, a 40% rise from March 2023.
 FY24 witnessed 56.6% growth in transaction.
 Transaction volume reached 1,344 crore,
showing a notable increase from the January
peak of 1,220 crore transactions.
 Volume of transactions increased by 55 per
cent compared to the previous year.
 Value of transactions witnessed a remarkable
40 per cent increase compared to March 2023.
 UPI transactions are expected to surpass 100
crore transactions per day by FY27, according
to a report by PwC India.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 UPI is projected to dominate the retail digital
payments landscape, capturing 90 per cent of
total transaction volumes over the next five
years.
5. Karnataka Bank Raises Rs 600 Crore Through
QIP
 Karnataka Bank has successfully concluded a
Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) to raise
Rs 600 crore.
 Adding to its planned capital raise program of
Rs 1,500 crore announced in September 2023.
 Aim: To enhance the bank’s financial strength,
fueling its growth trajectory while ensuring
stability.
 The QIP was initiated on March 21, 2024, and
concluded on March 27, 2024.
 HSBC Mutual Fund emerged as the largest
allottee, securing a substantial 25% allocation.
 Other significant allottees include SBI Life
Insurance Company, Franklin India Smaller
Companies Fund, Max Life Insurance Company,
Morgan Stanley Asia Singapore PTE, and HSBC
Global Investment Funds.
 NovaaOne Capital acted as the sole advisor to
the entire capital raise of Rs 1,500 crore.
 Ambit and Avendus Capital served as the book
running lead managers for the QIP, facilitating
its successful execution.
 Karnataka Bank has entered into an agreement
with ICICI Lombard General Insurance
Company to distribute their general insurance
products, expanding its product portfolio for
customers.
6. World Bank lifts India's economic growth
forecast for FY25 to 6.6%
 The World Bank upgraded its FY25 economic
growth forecast for the Indian economy by 20
basis points to 6.6%.
 Reason: Upward revisions to investment
growth
 Report Title: Bi-annual South Asia
Development Update
 The multilateral lender pegged India’s FY24
growth rate at 7.5%, a tad lower than the 7.6%
estimated by the National Statistical Office
(NSO).
 South Asia’s growth outlook is somewhat
stronger than in the previous edition of this
report, by 0.4% points for 2024 and 0.3%
points for 2025.
 The growth in services and industry is
expected to remain robust in India.
7. The final rules on surrender value effective from
April 1: IRDAI
 The Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India (IRDAI) has announced the
final set of rules on surrender value, effective
from April 1, 2024.
 The surrender value is expected to remain the
same or even lower if policies are surrendered
up to a period of within three years.
 A surrender value in insurance is the sum
disbursed by the insurer to the policyholder
when terminating the policy prematurely.
 If surrendered during the policy term, the
policyholder receives the earnings and savings
component.
 This provision offers a way to access funds in
case of need before the policy matures.
 If policies are surrendered between the fourth
and seventh years, the surrender value may see
a marginal increase.
 For non-single premium life insurance policies,
a guaranteed surrender value will be provided
upon payment of premiums for at least two
consecutive years.
 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
 IRDAI has also permitted sale of Index Linked
Insurance Products, where the Net Asset Value
(NAV) is linked to publicly available indexes.
8. Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors and Coal India among top
five Index performers in FY24
 The Nifty index, a benchmark for the National
Stock Exchange of India, surged by nearly 30%
in FY24.
 Simultaneously, the Sensex, representing the
top 30 stocks on the Bombay Stock Exchange,
recorded a 25% increase.
 Large caps recorded a hefty 33 per cent return
in FY24, midcaps surged by 56 per cent, and
small caps excelled with 63 per cent return.
 On the global stage, India emerged as the third-
largest gainer, trailing behind Japan's Nikkei,
which witnessed a 44% surge, and the Nasdaq,
boasting a 40% increase during FY24.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Zomato has emerged as markets' best-
performing largecap.
 Zomato was followed by Tata Motors DVR,
Adani Power, Punjab National Bank, and DLF.
 The Bajaj Group firm has emerged as Nifty 50's
best-performing largecap of FY24
 Followed by: Tata Motors, Coal India, Adani
Ports and Special Economic Zone, Hero
MotoCorp, and NTPC
9. CoinSwitch founder launches stock broking app
 PeepalCo, the company that operates
cryptocurrency trading platform CoinSwitch,
launched a stock investing mobile app called
Lemonn.
 The launch marks PeepalCo’s expansion into a
regulated asset class segment.
 Lemonn’s broking services will be provided
through Sebi-registered Nu Investors
Technologies.
 Key features: Zero trading brokerage cost for
the initial three months, zero fees for account
opening, curated industry-based stock
offering, and blogs deciphering equity market
jargons
10. World Bank set to issue up to $1 billion in debut
hybrid note this year
 The World Bank is looking to issue up to $1
billion in a debut hybrid note on capital
markets this year (2024-25).
 The G20 group of major economies has urged
multilateral lenders to explore hybrid
financing structures in a push to try and
maximise balance sheets and increase funding
to help developing economies cope with crises,
including climate change.
 The World Bank would be only the second
multilateral lender to issue such an instrument
after the African Development Bank (AfDB)
sold its hybrid capital note in January - the first
such financing of its kind from a multilateral
lender.
11. CCI clears Axis Bank's proposed acquisition of
stake in Max Life Insurance
 Fair trade regulator Competition Commission
of India (CCI) has approved Axis Bank's
proposed acquisition of a stake in Max Life
Insurance Company Ltd.
 In August 2023, the company announced a
capital infusion by Axis Bank by issuance of
14.25 crore equity shares to help Max Life to
support its future growth ambitions, augment
its capital position and improve solvency
margins.
12. HCLTech arm to divest 49% stake in JV with
State Street Int'l Holdings
 HCL Technologies' step-down wholly-owned
subsidiary HCL Investments UK has entered
into a pact with US company and joint venture
partner State Street International Holdings to
divest its entire 49% holding in their JV
13. Govt meets tax collection target of over Rs
34.37 trn for 2023-24
 The government has broadly met the tax
collection target of over Rs 34.37 trillion for
2023-24 on the back of robust economic
activity and improved compliance
 The government had raised the target for
direct tax collection in FY24 (April 2023 to
March 2024) to Rs 19.45 trillion
 While for indirect taxes (GST+ Customs +
Excise) the target was lowered to Rs 14.84
trillion in the revised estimates (RE) presented
in Parliament on February 1, 2024
 The net direct tax collections (comprising
corporate tax and personal income tax)
reached over Rs 18.90 trillion as of March 17.
 GST remained a high point during the last fiscal
with collections reaching a record high of Rs
1.87 trillion in April 2023 and the second
highest collection coming in at Rs 1.78 trillion
in March 2024.
 The gross tax collection target as per the
revised estimate stood at Rs 34.37 trillion for
FY24.
 India grew above 8 per cent for three
consecutive quarters (April-December) and
various agencies have revised the growth
estimates of India for FY24 closer to 8 per cent.
14. Merger of AU Small Finance Bank and Fincare
Small Finance Bank
 AU Small Finance Bank has merged with
Fincare Small Finance Bank.
 The merger, finalized on April 1, 2024,
through an all-stock deal.
 Aim: To strengthen AU SFB’s presence in
South India and enhance its customer base
and distribution network.
 Fincare SFB shareholders received 579
equity shares in AU SFB for every 2,000
equity shares held.
 RBI granted final approval on March 4, 2024.
 Combined customer base of approximately 1
crore, with 43,500 employees.
 Expanded network of 2,350 physical
touchpoints across 25 states and union
territories.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Deposit base of Rs 89,854 crore and balance
sheet size of Rs 1,16,695 crore.
15. Singapore Tourism Board, PhonePe sign MoU
to boost UPI for Indian tourists
 The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and
fintech major PhonePe entered a two-year
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
 Aim: To promote UPI transactions for Indian
visitors in Singapore.
 The collaboration builds upon the existing
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) linkage
between India and Singapore.
 It allows customers to instantly make cross-
border transactions between the two
countries directly from their existing Indian
bank accounts.
 In January 2024, the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI) launched UPI-
PayNow linkage that will enable Indians to
receive remittances directly into their bank
accounts from Singapore and vice versa.
 PayNow SG provides a peer-to-peer funds
transfer service available to customers of
Banks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions
(NFIs) in Singapore
 About UPI:
o It is an advanced version of
Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)-
round–the-clock funds transfer
service.
o Aim: To make cashless payments
faster, easier and smoother
o NPCI launched UPI with 21 member
banks in 2016.
o Recent News:
o UPI surged in March 2024, processing
₹19.78 lakh crore transactions, a 40%
rise from March 2023.
o FY24 witnessed 56.6% growth in
transaction.
16. SFBs seek glide path from RBI to become
universal banks citing eligibility
 Chief executives of various Small Finance
Banks (SFBs) have urged for a glide path to
become universal banks.
 Reason: As most of them are eligible for such
a conversion having completed five years of
operations.
 The first set of small finance banks – totalling
ten – were granted licenses in 2015.
 Most of them started operations in 2016-17.
 As of end-June 2023, twelve SFBs with 6,589
domestic branches across the country were
operational.
 With the merger of AU Small Finance Bank
and Fincare, there are now 11 SFBs.
 SFBs are differentiated or niche banks with a
minimum net worth of Rs 200 crore, lower
than other SCBs.
 Considering their focus on financial inclusion,
SFBs are required to lend at least 75 per cent
of their adjusted net bank credit (ANBC) to
priority sectors, compared with 40 per cent in
the case of other scheduled commercial
banks.
17. Union Bank raises Rs 42,000 cr from DIFC to
fund overseas business growth
 State-owned Union Bank of India has raised
$500 million (about Rs 4,200 crore) from
foreign markets to fund overseas business
growth.
 The fund was arranged by the Dubai
International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai
Branch.
 A syndicated term loan of $ 500 million ($400
million and Green Shoe of $100 million)
would be drawn in two tranches with tenure
of 3 and 5 years.
 The first tranche of $100 million was drawn
on April 3, 2024.
 This is the maiden syndicated term loan
raised by Union Bank of India at an overseas
centre
 Recently, Bank of India to raise Rs 10,000 cr
through long-term infrastructure bonds.
18. Vodafone Idea receives shareholders'
approval for Rs 20,000 cr fundraising
 Vodafone Idea has got approval from
shareholders for a proposal to raise Rs
20,000 crore through a combination of equity
and equity-linked securities.
 Aim: To bolster the finances for the long-
awaited 5G rollout and fortify its 4G services
19. Canara Bank launches loans for healthcare,
savings accounts for women
 Canara Bank launched the healthcare-
focused loan product, Canara Heal.
 It will meet the shortfall in hospitalization
expenditure while settling through TPA
healthcare insurance claims of self and/or
dependents.
 It has also launched a customized savings
account for women – Canara Angel.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Features like Cancer Care policy, pre-
approved personal loan Canara ReadyCash,
and an Online Loan against term deposit
product Canara MyMoney.
 Canara bank exchanged Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) with both MediAssist
Healthcare Services Ltd and Bajaj Allianz
General Insurance Company Ltd for its
Canara Heal product.
 The event also marked the unveiling of
'Canara UPI 123PAY ASI', a user-friendly
payment interface and 'Canara HRMS Mobile
App for Staff', an HR management solution for
the bank's employees.
20. RBI mulls to set up Digital India Trust Agency
to check illegal lending apps
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is
considering establishing a Digital India Trust
Agency (DIGITA).
 Aim: To combat the proliferation of illegal
lending apps and curb growing cyber fraud
 This proposed agency will verify digital
lending apps, maintain a public register of
verified apps, and promote transparency and
accountability within the digital lending
sector.
 Functions of DIGITA
 Verification of digital lending apps
 Maintaining a public register of verified apps
 Combating financial crimes
 The RBI has provided the IT Ministry with a
list of 442 digital lending apps for Googles
whitelisting.
 From September 2022 to August 2023,
Google removed over 2,200 digital lending
apps from its app store.
 Google now enforces a policy allowing only
apps published by RBI-regulated entities
(REs) or in partnership with REs on the Play
Store, following requests from the RBI and
the Department of Financial Services under
the Finance Ministry.
21. HDFC Bank proposes to sell its subsidiary
HDFC Education
 HDFC Bank has decided to sell its 100% stake
in HDFC Education and Development
Services Private Ltd.
 The transaction will be undertaken through
the Swiss challenge method.
 What is the Swiss Challenge Method?
 It is a method of bidding.
 It is often used in public projects, in which an
interested party initiates a proposal for a
contract or the bid for a project.
 The government then puts the details of the
project out to the public and invites proposals
from others interested in executing it.
 On the receipt of these bids, the original
proposer gets an opportunity to match the
best bid.
 In case, the original proposer fails to match
the bid, the project is awarded to the
proposer of the best bid.
22. Dividend from PSUs exceed revised estimates
target by 26% in FY24
 The Centre's dividend receipts from CPSEs
have exceeded the revised budget estimate by
26% to about ₹63,000 crore, with PSU
behemoths like Coal India, ONGC, Powergrid,
and GAIL making handsome payouts in the
current fiscal.
 The revised estimates of the Budget
presented in Parliament on February 1
pegged dividend receipts from CPSEs at
₹50,000 crore for the current fiscal.
 The actual dividend collections have been
about 26% higher at ₹62,929.27 crores in the
2023-24 fiscal ending March 31, 2024
 Data by: Department of Investment and
Public Asset Management (DIPAM)
 In March, the government received hefty
dividend tranches from ONGC (₹2,964 crore),
Coal India (₹2,043 crore), Power Grid
Corporation of India (₹2,149 crore), NMDC
(₹1,024 crore), HAL (₹1,054 crore) and GAIL
(₹1,863 crore).
23. Income Tax Department Imposes ₹564.44
Crore Penalty on Bank of India
 Bank of India (BoI) has received an order
from the Income Tax Department's
Assessment Unit regarding Assessment Year
2018-19.
 The order imposes a penalty of ₹564.44 crore.
 Bank of India is initiating an appeal process
before the Commissioner of Income Tax,
National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC)
against the order.
 The bank believes it has adequate factual and
legal grounds to substantiate its position in
the matter based on precedence/orders of
appellate authorities.
24. Bank credit growth in India expected at 14-
14.5% in FY25: CareEdge Ratings
 CareEdge Ratings estimates bank credit
growth in India to be in the range of 14-14.5
per cent in financial year 2024-25.
 In 2023-24, credit offtake is anticipated to
close with a growth of around 16 per cent
excluding the HDFC merger.
 On macroeconomy, CareEdge Ratings expects
India's GDP to growth at 7.6 per cent in 2023-
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
24 ending on March 31, and around 7 per cent
in the next financial year 2024-25.
 Prediction of India's GDP for 2024-25: 6.8%
(Upgraded from 6.5%)
 Prediction by: Morgan Stanley
 Reason: Economic strength and stability,
anticipates shallow monetary easing with
robust growth momentum.
 The firm also revised its growth forecast for
FY24 to 7.9%.
 India’s GDP growth is expected to track
around 7% in the fourth quarter of FY23-24
(QE Mar-24).
 Other forecasts:
 S&P Global Ratings:
 Anticipates a repo rate reduction of up to 75
basis points by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) during the fiscal year 2024-25
 India’s GDP To Grow By 6.8% In FY25
 Fitch Raises:
 India’s GDP Forecast For FY25 To 7%
 UBS:
 India’s real GDP growth expected to
moderate to 7% and 6.8% in FY25 and FY26
 Crisil:
 Predicts India’s economy to expand by 6.8%
in FY25
25. IMF to increase Egypt's bailout loan to $8
billion to shore up its economy
 The executive board of the International
Monetary Fund confirmed a deal with Egypt
to increase its bailout loan from USD 3 billion
to USD 8 billion
 It is meant to shore up the Arab country's
economy which is hit by a staggering
shortage of foreign currency and soaring
inflation.
 Egypt has already floated the pound and
sharply increased the main interest rate.
 Commercial banks are now trading the US
currency at more than 47 pounds, up from
about 31 pounds.
26. RBI defers implementing rules on exchange-
traded forex derivatives to May 3
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deferred the
implementation of norms on exchange-
traded currency derivatives (ETCDs) linked
to the Indian rupee until May 3 following
concerns by investors.
 The norms were scheduled to take effect
starting April 5, 2024.
 Now, rupee-denominated currency contracts
traded on the National Stock Exchange (NSE)
and the BSE require underlying exposure.
 Though traders are not required to provide
evidence of underlying exposure for positions
up to $100 million, they must confirm the
existence of such exposure.
27. PhonePe partners with Star Health Insurance
to offer insurance with monthly payment options
 Star Health Insurance partnered with
PhonePe to offer the Star Comprehensive
Insurance Policy on the app.
 Feature: Flexible payments and
comprehensive coverage up to Rs1 crore
 Aim: To make quality health insurance
accessible through PhonePe’s app, offering
the Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy
with monthly and annual payment options
 Flexible Payment Options:
 Monthly and annual payment choices
available.
 Coverage up to Rs.1 crore.
 Enables easier access to quality healthcare
across India
 Convenient Premium Payments:
 Users can pay premiums using UPI AutoPay
mandate with monthly EMI option.
 Alleviates financial strain by allowing smaller
monthly payments
 Comprehensive Coverage
 Includes popular features like OPD and
maternity coverage.
 Maximum sum insured of Rs.1 crore.
 Covers road ambulance, air ambulance
expenses, dental, and ophthalmic treatments.
 Additional Benefits:
 Wellness programs offering premium
discounts and condition management
courses.
 Annual health check-up
 Immediate restoration of sum insured up to
100%.
 Cumulative bonus worth 100% of basic sum
covered.
27. TATA AIG Introduces 'Travel Guard Plus'
 TATA AIG General Insurance Company
Limited has launched "Travel Guard Plus".
 It is a comprehensive travel insurance
product that redefines complete coverage for
travelers with an array of bundle plans.
 Aim: To elevate the overall travel experience
and set new standards in travel protection,
ensuring travelers have access to extensive
coverage tailored to their needs with the ease
of claims.
 TATA AIG's Travel Guard Plus provides
coverage for a range of situations including:
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Loss of Personal Baggage,
 Compassionate Travel / Stay,
 Accommodation extension,
 Up-gradation to Business class,
 Personal Accident in India
28. RBI to allow 3rd-party apps for UPI payments
via PPI wallets
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
proposed to permit the linking of prepaid
payment instruments (PPIs) with third-party
unified payments interface (UPI) applications
to make the digital wallet market
interoperable.
 It means wallet holders will no longer have to
depend on PPI wallet issuers to make UPI
payments.
 Individuals will be able to link their PPI
wallets to third-party apps to conduct these
transactions.
 Currently, PPI wallets can be used to make
UPI transactions only through the application
provided by the PPI issuer.
 This move would boost adoption of digital
payments for small value transactions.
 In January, the banking regulator had come
down heavily on Paytm Payments Bank,
barring it from accepting new deposits or
account top-ups from March 15.
 Enabling UPI for cash deposit facility
 The RBI has proposed to facilitate cash
deposit facility through use of UPI aimed at
enhancing customer convenience and
improving efficiency of the currency handling
process at banks.
 Currently, the facility of cash deposit is
available only through the use of debit cards.
29. RBI to launch Mobile app for retail direct
scheme soon
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to launch a
mobile app for the Retail Direct portal.
 The mobile app will allow investors to invest
in different types of government securities
such as central government bonds, state
government bonds, Treasury bills etc.
 Currently, a retail investor can invest in these
govt securities by logging on the website.
 What is RBI Retail Direct?
 The RBI launched the RBI Retail Direct portal
in November 2021.
 The retail direct portal was launched to bring
access to government bonds within the reach
of of the common man by simplifying the
process of investment.
 The Retail Direct Scheme will allow retail
investors to open pen a Retail Direct Gilt
(RDG) Account with the Reserve Bank of
India, using an online portal
(https://rbiretaildirect.org.in).
 Investments can be made using the following
routes:
 Primary issuance of government securities
 Secondary market
 An individual can invest in Sovereign Gold
Bond via Retail Direct portal as well.
 The RBI Retail Direct Scheme aims to provide
a safe, simple, direct and secured platform to
investors.
 Payments for making investments can be
done conveniently using saving bank account
through internet-banking or Unified
Payments Interface (UPI).
 Who can open Retail Direct Gilt Account with
RBI?
 As per the Retail Direct Scheme, a retail
investor can open the account with the RBI by
satisfying the following conditions:
o Having Rupee savings bank account
in India
o PAN
o Any officially valid document for KYC
such as Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID
etc.
o Valid Email ID
o Valid mobile number
 The RBI Retail Direct Portal allows following
facilities to retail investors:
o Opening and managing of Retail
Direct Gild Account
o Allow participation in bidding for G-
sec auctions in the primary market
o Allow investing in Sovereign Gold
Bonds
o Allow buying and selling of bonds via
secondary market
o Providing investors account
statement, nomination, pledge/lien,
gift transactions, coupon payment
 There are no fees or charges for opening and
maintaining of Retail Direct Gilt Account with
the RBI.
30. RBI proposes to make CBDC-R accessible to
non-bank payments system operators
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)proposed to
make CBDC-R (CBDC-Retail) accessible to a
broader population by allowing non-bank
payment system operators to offer CBDC
wallets.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Non-bank payment system operators include
third-party payment applications like Phone
Pe, Google Pay, etc.
 This move is expected to enhance access and
expand the choices available to the users
apart from testing the system's resilience to
handle multi-channel transactions.
 RBI launched the CBDC pilot programme in
2022.
 The Indian CBDC, also known as Digital
Rupee, is a tokenised digital version of the
33. India's forex kitty jumps $2.9 billion to new
Rupee issued by RBI.
high of $645.6 billion
31. RBI imposes penalty of Rs 1 crore on IDFC
First Bank for violation of norms
 The Reserve Bank has imposed a penalty of
Rs 1 crore on IDFC First Bank and Rs 49.70
lakh on LIC Housing Finance for violation of
certain norms.
 The penalty on IDFC First Bank has been
imposed for non-compliance with certain
directions on Loans and Advances Statutory
and Other Restrictions.
 The penalty on LIC Housing Finance has been
34. India’s Market Cap Likely to Hit $10 Trillion
levied for non-compliance with certain
by 2030
provisions of the Non-Banking Financial
Company - Housing Finance Company
(Reserve Bank) Directions, 2021'.
 In both cases, penalties are based on
deficiencies in regulatory compliance and are
not intended to pronounce upon the validity
of any transaction or agreement entered into
by them with their respective customers.
 Meanwhile, the RBI has cancelled certificate
of registration (CoR) of four NBFCs -- Kundles
Motor Finance, Nithya Finance, Bhatia Hire
Purchase, and Jiwanjyoti Deposits and
Advances.
 The four companies now cannot transact the
business of a non-banking financial
institution.
 Another five NBFCs have surrendered their
CoR.
 These are -- Growing Opportunity Finance
(India), Invel Commercial, Mohan Finance,
Saraswati Properties, and Quicker Marketing.
32. India's demat tally surges past 150 million
mark in March 2024
 The number of dematerialized (demat)
accounts crossed the 150-million mark for
the first time in March 2024.
 In March 2024, 3.12 million new demat
accounts were added despite a spike in
market volatility, taking the total count to
151.4 million.
 The milestone has come 19 months after the
total number of demat accounts hit the 100-
million mark, a sign that more domestic
households are taking to direct equity
investing.
 In FY24 alone, nearly 37 million new accounts
were added and an increase of 32% over the
previous financial year.
 India’s foreign exchange reserves rose to a
new high for the third straight week, reaching
$645.58 billion in the week ended March 29.
 The total reserves rose by $2.95 billion in the
previous week.
 The reserves rose on the back of a rise in
foreign currency assets, which increased by
$2.3 billion in the week.
 The rupee appreciated marginally by 2 paisa
against the US dollar in the previous week.
 Report title: ‘Recap 2024'
 India’s stock market capitalization is
currently the fifth largest globally at $4.5
trillion.
 Crystal Gaze 2025’ by financial conglomerate
Pantomath Group.
 The report predicts that India’s market cap is
likely to hit $10 trillion by 2030, driven by
strong economic growth and favorable
government policies.
 This would make India the third-largest
economy in the world by 2027.
 Current Global Market Cap Rankings
 As of 2024, the top five countries by market
capitalization are:
o United States: $44.7 trillion
o China: $9.8 trillion
o Japan: $6 trillion
o Hong Kong: $4.8 trillion
o India: $4.5 trillion
 Factors Driving Market Growth:
 Strong corporate earnings
 Sector-specific growth
 The report identifies several emerging
industries that are poised for investment-led
growth in 2024:
 Battery energy storage solutions
 Green hydrogen
 Biotechnology
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 AVGC (animation, visual effects, gaming,
comics)
35. India building up gold reserves as part of
forex deployment
 Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das said
India has been building up gold reserves as
part of its forex deployment.
 As per official data, the value of gold in the
forex reserves stood at USD 51.487 billion as
on March 22, which is USD 6.287 billion
higher than the value as at end-March 2023.
 As per a recent news report, RBI bought 8.7
tonnes of gold in January alone which is the
highest in two years.
 The central bank's gold holdings had touched
812.3 tonnes at the end of January from
803.58 tonnes in the preceding month, as per
the World Gold Council.
36. SIDBI Partners with KarmaLife to Offer Micro
Loans for Gig Workers
 SIDBI partners with KarmaLife to provide
streamlined micro-loans for gig workers.
 Aim: To enhance financial inclusion and
support liquidity needs
 The partnership between SIDBI and Onion
Life Private Limited, through its technology
platform KarmaLife.
 SIDBI’s Chairman and Managing Director: S
Ramann
37. Pvt equity firm Bain Capital to sell remaining
Axis Bank holding
 Bain Capital will offload its remaining 1.08%
stake ( 33.37 million shares) in Axis Bank.
 The price range for the share sale has been set
at ₹ 1,071 - ₹ 1,076 per share, a discount of up
to 0.47% to Axis Bank's last close of $₹ 1,076
per share.
 BofA Securities India is the sole investment
bank handling the transaction.
 Axis Bank:
 MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
 Chairperson: Rakesh Makhija
 HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra
38. India's consumer price inflation likely eased
to 4.91% in March
 Survey by: Reuters
 India's consumer price inflation likely eased
to a five-month low of 4.91% in March 2024.
 But, it was still above the Reserve Bank of
India's 4% medium-term target as food price
rises persist.
39. Mobile wallet payments in India to surpass Rs
531 trn in 2028
 Data by: GlobalData – a London-based leading
data and analytics company
 Mobile wallet adoption is surging in India.
 It is swiftly becoming a primary payment
option, surpassing traditional methods like
cash and cards.
 Payments via mobile wallets in India are
likely to surpass the Rs 531.8 trillion mark in
2028.
 It is witnessing a compound annual growth
rate (CAGR) of 18.3% between 2024 and
2028.
 Reason: The government’s concerted efforts
to promote digital payment methods, most
prominent being the mobile wallet-based
instant payment solution—unified payments
interface (UPI)
 UPI was launched in April 2016.
 UPI payments from Prepaid Payment
Instruments (PPIs) can be made only by using
the web or mobile app provided by the PPI
issuer.
 Here is the list of countries that officially
support UPI payment:
o Sri Lanka
o Mauritius
o France
o UAE
o Singapore
o Bhutan
o Nepal
 Bhutan was one of the first countries to adopt
UPI payments outside India back in 2021 in
collaboration with the Royal Monetary
Authority (RMA) of Bhutan.
 France is one of the first countries in the
Europian region to access UPI payments, that
too at the iconic Eiffel Tower in collaboration
with Lyra.
 UAE: Collaboration with Mashreq, a major
bank in UAE.
40. Mudra Loans Surge Past ₹5 Lakh Crore Mark
in FY24
 In FY24, small business loans under the
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)
witnessed a record surge, crossing the ₹5
lakh crore milestone.
 Disbursements of loan: ₹5.20 lakh crore
 A significant increase from ₹4.40 lakh crore in
the previous fiscal year.
 Notably, nearly 70% of the beneficiaries of
these loans are women.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The gross non-performing assets (NPAs) in
PMMY declined from 3.17% in March 2022 to
2.68% in June 2023, demonstrating effective
risk management strategies.
 NPA data for 2023-24 is yet to be released.
41. RBI launches survey of manufacturing
companies
 The Reserve Bank has launched the next
round of quarterly order books, inventories,
and capacity utilization surveys (OBICUS) of
manufacturing companies.
 It is a key input for the monetary policy
formulation.
 The 65th round of surveys is for the reference
period January-March 2024 (Q4:2023-24).
 The Reserve Bank has been conducting
OBICUS of the manufacturing sector every
quarter since 2008.
 The information collected in the survey
includes quantitative data on new orders
received during the reference quarter,
backlog of orders at the beginning of the
quarter, and pending orders at the end of the
quarter.
 It also collects data on total inventories with
a breakup between finished goods (FG),
work-in-progress (WiP) and raw material
(RM) inventories at the end of the quarter,
item-wise production in terms of quantity
and value.
 The level of capacity utilisation (CU) is
estimated from these responses.
 While the survey findings are published by
the RBI, it treats the company-level data as
confidential and never disclosed.
 The next bi-monthly monetary policy is
scheduled to be held from June 5 to 7, 2024.
 List of Surveys launched by the RBI for
Monetary Policy:
o Inflation Expectations Survey of
Households
o Consumer Confidence Survey
o OBICUS survey
o Industrial Outlook Survey of the
Manufacturing Sector
42. RBI Takes Regulatory Actions Regarding
NBFCs’ Registration
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has canceled
the registration certificates of four NBFCs and
has received voluntary surrender of licenses
from 11 other entities.
 Factor: For various reasons, including
business exit, amalgamation, and non-
requirement for registration as per specific
criteria.
 The RBI has cancelled the registration
certificates of four NBFCs, two from
Telangana, and one each from Kerala and
Uttar Pradesh.
 These entities are prohibited from
conducting shadow banking activities as
defined under the RBI Act, 1934.
 Reasons for Surrender of Licenses:
 Exit from NBFC Business:
 Four NBFCs surrendered their licenses due to
their decision to exit the non-banking finance
business.
 These include entities like Sanapala Holdings
Private Limited from Andhra Pradesh and
Samrudhi Finance and Investments Private
Limited from Telangana.
 Corporate Actions:
 Three NBFCs ceased operations due to
corporate actions such as amalgamation,
dissolution, merger, or voluntary strike-off.
 Entities like Unistar Resources and Trades
Pvt Ltd from Kolkata, West Bengal, are among
those affected.
 Non-Requirement for Registration:
 Four NBFCs surrendered their licenses as
they met the criteria prescribed for
unregistered Core Investment Companies
(CICs) and did not require registration.
 Entities like Jamshedpur Securities Limited
from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, fall under this
category.
 Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC):
 A company registered under the Companies
Act 1956.
 Engaged in the business of loans and
advances, acquisition of
shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities
issued by the Government or local authority
or other marketable securities of a like
nature.
 NBFCs also provide a wide range of monetary
advice like chit-reserves and advances.
 Regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
 The RBI has the authority to issue licenses to
NBFCs, regulate their operations, and ensure
that they adhere to the established norms and
regulations.
43. SBI WeCare and Amrit Kalash deadlines
extended to September 30
 State Bank of India (SBI) had introduced a
scheme for senior citizens that will provide a
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
higher interest rate on term deposits to those
older than 60.
 Senior citizens who enroll for the scheme will
get an extra 50 basis points of interest on top
of the 50 bps premium typically given to them
for other tenures.
 They will get an interest rate that is 100 basis
points more than the SBI FD interest rate
provided to other depositors.
 The interest rate offered on SBI WeCare is
7.50 per cent.
 SBI Wecare requires a minimum period of
deposit of 5 years, while the maximum period
of deposit is 10 years.
 SBI has also extended the deadline for Amrit
Kalash to September 30, 2024 from March 31,
2024.
 The fixed deposit scheme runs for 400 days
and the interest on it is 7.10 per cent yearly.
 People can take a loan on the scheme, which
gives senior citizens 7.60 per cent interest.
 The bank has introduced SBI Green Rupee
Term Deposit (SGRTD) to mobilise funds to
support environment-friendly initiatives and
projects, thereby fostering the growth of a
green finance ecosystem in India.
 SGRTD offers investors the flexibility to
choose between three tenors: 1,111 days,
1,777 days, and 2,222 days.
 SBI Green Rupee term deposit interest rate
o 1111 Days- 6.65 per cent
o 1777 Days- 6.65 per cent
o 2222 Days- 6.40 per cent
44. ICRA revises FY25 outlook for banking sector
to 'stable' from 'positive'
 Credit Rating Agency: ICRA
 Revised Status: Stable from Positive
 Financial year: 2024-25
 Expectation:
 Credit growth and profitability to moderate.
 The sector’s overall profile is expected to
remain healthy.
 Challenges in deposit mobilization and
regulatory measures could slow down
growth in consumer credit.
 Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)
are expected to temper expansion to Rs 19.0-
20.5 trillion in FY25 from Rs 22 trillion in
FY24.
 Credit expansion in absolute terms was the
highest ever in FY24.
 The growth in per cent terms year-on-year is
expected to moderate to 11.7-12.5 per cent in
FY25 from 16.3 per cent in FY24.
 The credit to deposit ratio (C/D ratio) for
banks is estimated to have increased to 78
per cent, excluding the merger of HDFC with
HDFC Bank as of March 22, 2024.
 This ratio is the highest since December 21,
2018 (77.9 per cent), and much higher
compared to 75.7 per cent as on March 24 last
year and 71.9 per cent as on March 25, 2022.
45. Fresh NPAs of private, public banks to pick up
in FY25: ICRA
 Credit Rating Agency: ICRA
 Prediction: Gross fresh non-performing asset
(NPA) generation is set to rise for both
private and public sector banks (PSBs) in
FY25.
 The estimated fresh NPA generation rate for
public sector banks is expected to rise to 1.5%
in FY25 from an estimated 1.3% in FY24.
 For private banks, it is likely to rise to 2.2% in
FY25 from an estimated 2% in FY24.
 Despite the rise in fresh NPA generation,
gross NPA of PSBs is projected to decline to
around 2.3 per cent by March 2025, the
lowest since June 2012.
 Similarly, gross NPA of private banks is
projected to decline to around 2.1 per cent by
March 2025, the lowest in more than 15
years.
46. SINE, IIT Bombay and Canara Bank Forge
Partnership for Startup Financing
 Partnership between: SINE (Society for
Innovation & Entrepreneurship), IIT Bombay
and Canara Bank
 Reason: To provide financial support to
startups
 Canara Bank's Start-Up Scheme will offer
funding
 SINE will provide incubation support
 Canara Bank, through its Canara Start-Up
Scheme, will provide financial aid for the
establishment, promotion, and
modernization of industrial units across
India.
47. HDFC Bank opens branch in Kavaratti island,
1st private lender to do so
 Largest private sector lender HDFC Bank
inaugurated a branch in Lakshadweep's
Kavaratti island.
 The bank becomes the first private sector
lender to have a presence in Lakshadweep.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The branch was inaugurated by Captain
Lovekesh Thakur, Commanding Officer,
Indian Navy and K P Muthukoya, a well-
known resident.
48. SBI & Standard Chartered Bank carried out
the First CDS Trade under new RBI Guidelines
 The State Bank of India (SBI) and Standard
Chartered Bank India carried out the Credit
Default Swap (CDS) trade worth Rs 25 crore.
 This marks the 1st CDS transaction since the
RBI issued revised CDS guidelines in 2022.
 The trade involved a 1-year rupee CDS
featuring REC.
 This trade marks a pivotal moment in credit
risk management and underscores the
growing sophistication of financial
instruments in the Indian market.
49. WTO pares down projected merchandise
trade volume growth to 2.6% for FY24
 Report title: Global Trade Outlook and
Statistics
 Released by: World Trade Organization
(WTO)
 Revised downwards its projection for
merchandise trade volume growth to 2.6%
for 2024 from 3.3% estimated in October.
 With a contraction of 1.2% in 2023, demand
for traded goods will rebound in 2024.
 Reason: As inflationary pressures ease and
real household incomes improve.
 High degree of uncertainty associated with
the current forecast due to the large number
of risk factors present in the global economy.
 These include regional conflicts, geopolitical
tensions and rising protectionism.
 Trade volume growth in 2024 could be as
high as 5.8 per cent or as low as -1.6 per cent.
 India’s rank among leading merchandise
exporters (excluding intra-EU trade)
improved by a notch to 13 in 2023 from the
preceding year, though its share remained
unchanged at 2.2 per cent.
 Similarly, its rank among major merchandise
importers (excluding intra-EU trade) rose a
notch to 6, while its share remained the same
at 3.4 per cent.
50. IndiGo pips Southwest to become world's 3rd
most valuable airline by mcap
 IndiGo (India's largest airline) pipped US-
based Southwest Airlines in terms of market
capitalization to become the world's third
most valuable airline.
 IndiGo's share price jumped by 4.73 per cent
to Rs 3,806.
 Therefore, its market capitalisation jumped
to $17.605 billion.
 The world's top two airlines in terms of
market cap are Delta Airlines ($30.442
billion) and Ryanair ($26.941 billion).
 IndiGo is currently operating 14,014 flights
per week, according to Cirium's data.
51. NPS Assets under Management record 30.5%
YoY growth in FY24: PFRDA Data
 Data by: Pension Fund Regulatory and
Development Authority (PFRDA)
 The National Pension System (NPS) Assets
Under Management (AUM) experienced
30.5% Y-o-Y growth during the Fiscal Year
2023-24 (FY24).
 It has reached Rs 11.73 lakh Crore in FY24
from Rs 8.98 lakh crore in FY23.
 This is higher than the 27 y-0-y increase seen
in NPS assets in FY23.
 This growth was largely fuelled by the 9.47
lakh new subscribers who onboarded NPS
from the non-government sector.
 Of these 9.47 lakh new subscribers, 8.10 lakh
were from the ‘all citizen model ‘ and 1.37
lakh were Corporate employees.
 The latest 30.5 per cent jump is also higher
than the 27 per cent year-on-year increase
seen in NPS assets last fiscal.
 The overall growth of NPS assets this fiscal
has been driven by buoyant equity markets
and a widening NPS subscriber base as more
working-age Indians take up retirement
planning seriously.
 The non-government sector—corporates and
retail—saw a 41.67 per cent year-on-year
growth in NPS assets to ₹ 2.27 lakh Crore as
of March 31.
52. ICICI Lombard Partners with Policybazaar to
Expand Insurance Distribution
 ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company
has forged a partnership with Policybazaar.
 Aim: To leverage policybazaar's digital
platform to offer a wide range of insurance
products to approximately 10 million
customers
 The collaboration encompasses various
insurance products, including motor
insurance, health insurance, travel insurance,
home insurance, and business insurance.
 These products will be made accessible to
retail customers, corporates, and channel
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
partners through Policybazaar’s platforms
such as ‘Policybazaar.com’, ‘PB for Business’,
and ‘PB Partners’.
53. NIIF invests $200 million in iBUS for
expansion of digital infrastructure
 The National Investment and Infrastructure
Fund Ltd. (NIIF) has invested $200 million in
iBUS Network and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd., a
connectivity technology firm, to support the
growth of India’s digital infrastructure.
 The investment has been made through
NIIF’s Master Fund.
 This investment aligns with the Digital India
Mission initiated by the Government of India.
 Aim: To transform the country into a digitally
empowered society and a global knowledge
economy
 Avendus was the transaction advisor to iBus
on this investment.
 About NIIF:
 NIIF is a fund manager that invests in
infrastructure and related sectors in India.
 It is India’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund
(SWF), which was set up in 2015.
 An institution anchored by the Government
of India.
 NIIF is a collaborative investment platform
for international and Indian investors with a
mandate to invest equity capital in domestic
infrastructure.
 NIIF invests across asset classes such as
infrastructure, private equity, and other
diversified sectors in India, with the objective
of generating attractive risk-adjusted returns
for its investors.
 It invests in greenfield (new), brownfield
(existing), and stalled projects.
 NIIF is 49% owned by the Indian government
and has more than $4.9 billion in assets under
management, making it the country’s biggest
infrastructure fund.
 It is majority-owned by institutional
investors and managed professionally by a
team with experience in investments and
infrastructure.
54. ADB raises FY25 India growth forecast to 7%
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on
raised India's GDP growth forecast for the
current fiscal to 7 percent from 6.7 percent
earlier.
 India's robust growth will be driven by its
investment in public and private sectors and
an improvement in consumer demand.
 For the 2025-26 fiscal, ADB has projected
India's growth at 7.2 percent.
 Growth will be robust despite moderating in
FY2024 and FY2025.
 ADB's growth forecast for the current fiscal is
in line with the projections made by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
 GDP growth in the current fiscal is projected
at 7% on expectations of normal monsoon,
moderating inflationary pressures and
sustained momentum in manufacturing and
services sectors, by RBI.
55. J&K Bank Introduces Virtual ATM Facility in
Collaboration with Paymart India
 J&K Bank has collaborated with Paymart
India Pvt Ltd to unveil a Virtual ATM (VATM)
facility.
 This innovative service enables cardless cash
withdrawals for customers through local
retailers.
 It is particularly benefiting areas like Jammu
& Kashmir and Ladakh where accessibility to
traditional ATMs may be limited.
 Upon initiating a withdrawal request,
customers receive an OTP for validation,
which they share with the merchant.
 Notably, this facility allows withdrawals of up
to Rs 2000 per transaction, with a monthly
limit of Rs 10,000.
56. RBI Decides to Keep Policy Rates Unchanged
 Highlights of the Monetary Policy Committee
(MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
 Headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
 Decisions were taken in a majority 5:1 voting
 The repo rate is unchanged at 6.5%.
 Maintain the policy stance of ‘withdrawal of
accommodation’
 Interest rates on loans and deposits are
largely likely to remain unchanged as of now.
 All external benchmark lending rates that are
linked to the repo rate will not rise.
 Equated monthly instalments (EMIs) will not
increase.
 RBI: GDP growth forecast at 7% in FY25
 7.1% in the first quarter of FY25
 6.9% in Q2
 7% each in Q3 and Q4
 Projected a retail inflation of 4.5% in fiscal
2024-25
 Projected an inflation of 4.9% in Q1,
 3.8% in Q2,
 4.6% in Q3,
 4.5% in Q4 of FY25
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 RBI projects CPI inflation at 4.5% for FY25
 CPI inflation is expected to drop to 3.8% by
Q2FY25 before rising again towards the end
of the fiscal year.
 Food inflation remains volatile, hindering the
disinflation process, although it decreased
slightly to 7.8% in February.
57. Consumer confidence for yr ahead improves:
RBI survey
 Consumer Confidence Survey
 Conducted by: The Reserve Bank of India
(RBI)
 Survey Conducted in March 2024
 Consumer confidence for the year ahead has
improved further on the back of higher
optimism, which resulted in the Future
Expectations Index (FEI) rising by 2.1 points
to 125.2.
 It is the highest level since mid-2019
 What is the Consumer Confidence Survey?
 The CCI measures what consumers are
feeling about their expected financial
situation, whether that's optimistic or
pessimistic.
58. Public-sector banks may be allowed to
transfer unclaimed shares to IEPF
 Amending the Banking Companies
(Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings)
Act, 1970
 Amendment by: Finance Ministry
 Reason: To make suitable provisions for
allowing PSBs to transfer shares to the
Investor Education and Protection Fund
(IEPF) when dividends of such shares remain
unclaimed by the investors for seven
consecutive years.
 What is Section 10B of the Banking
Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of
Undertakings) Act, 1970?
 It allows the transfer of unclaimed dividends
to the IEPF.
 However, it does not mention a provision for
transferring unclaimed shares and may now
be amended by the next government to allow
such transfers to happen
 What is IEPF?
 Full form: Investor Education and Protection
Fund
 It was established for the promotion of
investor awareness and protection of their
interests.
 Unclaimed dividends and shares transferred
to IEPF can be easily claimed by the investor
by submitting the required documents and
following the verification process.
 Report by IEPF: Companies have transferred
Rs 446 crore to IEPF in 2021-22,
 While the cumulative balance available with
IEPF by the end of 2021-22 is Rs 5,262 crore.
59. Sebi proposes direct reporting of AIFs' PPM
changes to cut compliance cost
 Agenda: Major changes in the private
placement memorandum (PPM) of
alternative investment funds (AIFs).
 Drafted by: SEBI
 Aim: To facilitate the ease of doing business
 Proposal: Sebi has proposed that the PPM of
the AIF can be directly submitted to the
market regulator rather than processed
through a merchant banker.
 It would also rationalise the cost of
compliance for AIFs.
 These included changes in the size of the
fund, information related to affiliates,
commitment period, key investment team of
the manager and key management personnel
of AIF, and reduction in expense or fee or cost
charged to fund/investors.
 Additionally, changes in contact details of AIF,
sponsor, manager, trustee or custodian, risk
factors and track records of investment
manager, among others, are not required to
be filed through a merchant banker.
 Such changes in the terms of PPM and in the
documents of the fund/scheme are required
to be intimated to investors and Sebi on a
consolidated basis within one month of the
end of each financial year.
 PPM is a document used to present details of
an investment opportunity offered by a
company or fund to potential investors.
 It outlines investment terms, risks, and
potential returns to inform investors'
decision-making.
60. India's retail inflation eases to a 10-month low
of 4.85% in March 2024
 India's retail inflation eased to 4.85% on an
annual basis in March 2024 as against 5.09%
in the previous month.
 The figure falls within the 2-6% tolerance
band set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
 Reuters survey had anticipated a decrease to
4.91%.
 Report by: National Statistical Office (NSO)
 The inflation in the food basket was at 8.52%
in March, down from 8.66% in February
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The official data is yet to be released by the
government.
 The data has been delayed as it awaits the
approval of the election commission citing
local financial news service Informist.
 All India Index of Industrial Production has
been released every month with a time lag of
42 days on the 12th of every month (or the
previous working day, if the 12th is a
holiday).
 February 2024:
 Industrial production: 5.7% (Growth)
 The previous high of IIP was recorded at
11.9% in October 2023, which slowed to
2.5% in November, 4.2% in December and
4.1% in January 2024.
 Power generation: 7.5% (Rise)
 Mining production: 8% (Rise)
 Manufacturing sector: 5% (Rise)
 Consumer non-durable goods declined by
3.8%
 Infrastructure/construction goods reported
a growth of 8.5%
61. BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover
ventures into fintech with ZeroPe app
 BharatPe co-founder and former managing
director Ashneer Grover is gearing up for a
new venture in the fintech space with ZeroPe,
an app designed for medical loans.
 ZeroPe, currently in its testing phase, has
been developed by Third Unicorn.
 The ZeroPe app is set to provide instant pre-
approved medical loans of up to Rs 500,000.
 Collaboration with Delhi-based Non-Banking
Financial Company (NBFC) Mukut Finvest.
 The service is exclusively available at
partnered hospitals, as mentioned on the
ZeroPe app website.
62. Moody's Analytics forecasts India's economy
to grow by 6.1% in 2024
 Report title: APAC Outlook: Listening
Through the Noise
 Report By: Moody's
 Projection for 2024: 6.1%, a decrease from
the 7.7% growth recorded in 2023.
 India's output remains 4% lower than it
would have been without the Covid-19
pandemic and its various aftermaths,
including supply disruptions and military
conflicts abroad.
 The report forecasts 3.8% growth for the
APAC (Asia-Pacific) economy in 2024, in
contrast to the global economy's 2.5%
growth.
 The RBI maintained its retail inflation
projection for the current fiscal year 2024-25
at 4.5%.
 The central bank forecasted inflation rates of
4.9 per cent for the June quarter, 3.8 per cent
for the September quarter, and 4.6 per cent
and 4.7 per cent for the December and March
quarters, respectively.
63. Health insurers leave general insurance
industry far behind in growth in FY24
 Data by: General Insurance Council
 India's standalone health insurers grew two
times faster than the general insurance
industry in FY24.
 The general insurance industry recorded an
annual premium of close to Rs 2.9 lakh crore
for FY24, marking a 13% rise from the
previous fiscal year's Rs 2.6 lakh crore.
 Similarly, the five standalone health
insurance companies saw a significant 26.2%
increase in total premium, climbing from Rs
26,243 crore to Rs 33,115 crore during the
same period.
64. PhonePe Partners with eSewa, HAN Pokhara
to Promote UPI in Nepal
 PhonePe is set to promote UPI during the
Fewa New Year Festival in Nepal.
 In collaboration with eSewa and the Hotel
Association of Nepal (HAN) Pokhara
 The festival is a celebrated event attracting
both locals and Indian tourists, offering
cultural experiences and culinary delights.
65. Japan-based MUFG to acquire 20% stake in
HDFC Bank's non-banking arm
 The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG)
will acquire a 20% stake in HDB Financial
Services, a non-banking subsidiary of HDFC
Bank, at a valuation of $9-10 billion.
 HDFC Bank is the country's largest private
lender.
 It currently owns around 95% of HDB
Financial Services, with the remaining 5%
held by employees under an Employee Stock
Ownership Plan (ESOP).
66. India's forex reserves rise for seventh straight
week
 Data released by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI)
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 India's foreign exchange reserves (forex)
increased $2.98 billion to $648.562 billion for
the week ended April 5, 2024.
 This is the seventh consecutive week of a
jump in overall reserves.
 In the previous reporting week, the forex
kitty had increased by $2.951 billion to
$645.583 billion, which was an all-time high.
 Gold reserves increased by $2.398 billion to
$54.558 billion during the week.
 The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up
by $24 million to $18.17 billion.
 Forex reserves also include India's reserve
tranche position in the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).
 India's reserve position with the IMF was also
up by $9 million to $4.669 billion in the
reporting week.
67. Revolut gets RBI nod to issue Prepaid
Payment Instruments in India
 Revolut India has received in-principle
authorization from the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) to issue Prepaid Payment Instruments
(PPI) including prepaid cards and prepaid
wallets in the country.
 This enables it to operate as a domestic player
in the market.
 This approval builds upon the existing
licenses which Revolut India has successfully
obtained from RBI to operate as a Category-II
Authorised Money Exchange Dealer (AD II)
and to be able to provide multi-currency
forex cards and cross-border remittance
services
 Revolut is a London-based neobank and
financial technology company.
68. RBI rejects two applications for small finance
bank
 Rejected banks:
 Dvara Kshetriya Gramin Financial Services
Private Limited (applied in April 2021)
 Tally Solutions Private Limited (applied in
August 2021)
 Reason: RBI was not found suitable for
granting in-principle approval to set up a
small finance bank (SFB)
 The guidelines for 'on tap' licensing of
Universal Banks and SFBs in the private
sector were issued on August 1, 2016, and
December 5, 2019, respectively.
 Eligibility:
 As per the guidelines, the initial minimum
paid-up voting equity capital for a universal
bank should be Rs 500 crore.
 Thereafter, the bank should have a minimum
net worth of Rs 500 crore at all times.
 The minimum paid-up voting capital/net
worth for SFBs should be Rs 200 crore.
 In case of urban co-operative banks desirous
of voluntarily transiting into SFBs, the initial
requirement of net worth is Rs 100 crore,
which will have to be increased to Rs 200
crore within five years.
69. SBI, ICICI may act as third-party liaisons for
European banks
 State Bank of India (SBI) and ICICI Bank are
likely to act as local intermediaries for
European banks seeking a plan for third-
party clearing.
 The proposal for local banks to carry out
third-party clearing for the European banks
comes on the back of a decision by the
European Securities and Markets Authority
(ESMA) in October 2022 to de-recognise the
Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL).
 ESMA's step came after the RBI refused to
permit the foreign body rights of inspection
and audit over the CCIL, which hosts the
trading platform and provides guaranteed
settlement for Indian government bonds and
interest rate derivatives.
 Pending a resolution of the matter, foreign
banks have a deadline of October 2024 to stop
transacting with the CCIL.
70. UPI transactions rise in number but average
ticket size falls: Worldline India report
 Report by: Worldline India (a licensed
payments aggregator)
 Report title: India Digital Payments Report
 Unified Payments Interface continues to
dominate the Indian payments system.
 There were 65,771 million UPI transactions
totaling Rs 99,678 billion in value during
July–December 2023 (H2 2023) implying a
growth of 56 percent and 44 percent,
respectively, compared to the year-ago
period.
 The average ticket size for UPI transactions
has gradually fallen over time.
 It was down 8 percent - from Rs 1,648 in H2
2022 to Rs 1,515 in H2 2023.
 This suggests that UPI is being used for
smaller or micro transactions.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Mobile apps, the second largest digital
payment mode by volume, accounted for
62,958 million transactions with an
aggregate value of Rs 1,52,333 billion during
H2 2023.
71. UPI Rule Change: Money in PPI Wallets Can Be
Spent Using Any UPI
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
proposed allowing the linking of PPIs with
third-party UPI applications.
 Reason: Users have often complained about
the limitation of using wallet money only
through the web or mobile application
provided by the prepaid payment instrument
(PPI) issuer.
 Prepaid payment instruments:
 These are instruments that can be used to
make payments against the monetary value
stored in them.
 These can be wallets or cards.
 Users can load with a certain amount and use
it for making payments through UPI or online
transactions.
 PPIs operate independently of a user’s bank
account, and when a payment is made using a
PPI, the money is deducted from the
associated prepaid account.
 Until now, wallets could only be used to make
UPI payments by using applications provided
by the same PPI issuer.
72. States fiscal deficits for FY24 likely to be close
to 3.1% of GDP: Citi
 Prediction by: Citi Research
 Report title: India Economics, State Finances:
A Tale of Capex, Grants and Borrowings
 Indication: The states are within their
borrowing limits
 Highlights:
 The actual fiscal deficit of states for the
financial year 2023-24 (FY24) is expected to
be closer to the original budgeted estimate of
3.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
instead of the revised estimate of 3.5%.
 Both revenue and expenditure show a lower
growth than estimated
 The report suggested that grants from the
Centre to states were falling due to no GST
compensation funds and lower finance
commission grants.
 Due to this, grants from the Centre which
accounted for 18-19 per cent of total state
revenues, could fall to 15 per cent for FY24-
FY26.
 Besides, of the total Rs 2.95 trillion granted to
states in the FY22-FY26 period by the Finance
Commission, 87 per cent was already
distributed in FY22-FY24.
 Grants would be substantially lower for the
FY25-FY26 period.
73. IPPB Introduces Aadhaar ATM Service for
Convenient Cash Withdrawals
 The Aadhaar Enabled Payment System
(AePS) service offered by India Post
Payments Bank (IPPB) enables cash
withdrawals from the comfort of your home.
 Through the AePS facility, a bank customer
can employ their Aadhaar number as an
identity verification tool to access their
Aadhaar-enabled bank account.
 This service allows for basic banking
transactions such as balance enquiries, cash
withdrawals, and remittances through a
business correspondent.
 The process for using the service as follows:
 Approach a banking correspondent in your
vicinity.
 Enter your Aadhaar number into the Point of
Sale (PoS) machine.
 Choose the transaction type and mention
your bank's name.
 Specify the amount for the transaction.
 Authenticate the transaction using your
biometric data (either a fingerprint or an iris
scan).
 A receipt will be issued upon the successful
completion of the transaction.
 The NPCI has imposed a limit of Rs 10,000 for
a single AEPS financial transaction.
 Minors are permitted to use these services,
although eligibility may vary depending on
the issuing bank.
74. India must grow 8-10% annually to reap
demographic dividend
 Report by: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
 Report title: ‘State of the Economy'
 Suggestion to reap demographic dividend:
India must grow 8-10% annually
 Focus of developmental strategy: On
maximizing the contribution of its young and
growing labor force to the growth of gross
value added (GVA)
 Demographic Dividend in India:
 Working-age population expanding rapidly
 7 million per year (2021-2031)
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 2 million per year (2031-2041)
 Opportunity for accelerated economic
growth
 Focus on labor quality, employability, and
formalization
 India’s demographic dividend started
accruing from 2018 and is expected to last
until 2055.
 Working-age population in India is projected
to expand at a rate of about 9.7 million per
year during 2021-2031 and 4.2 million per
annum during 2031-2041.
 In the past 10 years, the average annual real
GDP growth in India has been less than 6%.
 However, in the post-pandemic years, the
economic growth has been above 7%.
 The RBI said conditions are shaping up for a
sustained increase in real GDP growth, which
has averaged over 8% between 2021 and
2024.
 Inflation risks: The RBI bulletin also warned
that extreme weather events and prolonged
geopolitical tensions could lead to volatile
crude oil prices and pose inflation risks.
75. Climate Strategy 2030 for Green Financing
launched
 Launch of: Climate Strategy 2030
 Launch by: National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD)
 Launch date: Earth Day (22nd April 2024)
 Purpose: To address India’s growing need for
green financing
 It also aims to mobilize resources for climate
change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience
projects in the country.
 As of 2019-20, India garnered only about $49
billion in green financing, with the majority of
funds earmarked for mitigation.
 India requires approximately $170 billion
annually to reach a cumulative total of over
$2.5 trillion by 2030 for green financing.
 About NABARD’s Climate Strategy 2030 is
structured around four key pillars:
 Accelerating green lending across sectors
 Playing a broader market-making role
 Internal green transformation of NABARD
 Strategic resource mobilization
 India’s efforts to sustainable Environment:
 World’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases:
(1) China, (2) United States, and (3) India
 India's renewable energy capacity target: 175
GW by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030
 India’s Nationally Determined Contribution
(NDC) under the Paris Agreement includes
reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by
33-35% by 2030 from the 2005 level.
76. RBI tells Kotak Mahindra Bank to stop issuing
new credit cards
 Penalty imposed on: Kotak Mahindra Bank
 Context: To stop onboarding new customers
through its online and mobile banking
channels and bar it from issuing fresh credit
cards
 Reason: The action was necessary as the bank
failed to plug gaps in its information
technology (IT) systems.
 There were frequent outages in the bank’s
core banking system and online channels in
the last two years which inconvenienced the
customers.
77. OTP fraud: Govt, SBI Card, telcos are joining
hands
 Context: To combat the rising issue of OTP
theft and the broader threat of cyber fraud
targeting the banking sector
 Collaboration: Home Ministry, State Bank of
India (SBI), and Telecom operators
 Working:
 Notifying customers of discrepancies
between their SIM's location and the
geolocation of OTP delivery.
 Blocking OTPs: In cases where fraudulent
activity is suspected, OTPs could be blocked
to prevent misuse.
78. Credit card spends rise 27% to Rs 18.26
trillion in FY24: RBI data
 Context: Credit card spends surged 27 per
cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 18.26 trillion
in financial year 2023-24 (FY24) from nearly
Rs 14 trillion in the year-ago period
 Data by: RBI
 In March 2024, credit card spends rose nearly
10.07 per cent to Rs 1.64 trillion from Rs 1.49
trillion in February.
 Of the total Rs 1.64 trillion credit card
transactions, point of sale (PoS) in the
country rose to Rs 60,378 crore in March
from Rs 54,431.48 crore in February.
 Meanwhile, e-commerce payments inched up
to Rs 1.05 trillion from Rs 95,000 crore.
 Among the top card players, use of HDFC
Bank’s credit card was at Rs 43,471.29 crore
in March, 8.57 per cent higher than Rs
40,288.51 crore in February.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The total number of credit cards issued by
banks in India has increased to 101 million in
March 2024.
 HDFC Bank is the leader in credit card
issuances with the lender’s cards in
circulation standing at 20.59 million.
 Other major players include SBI Card with
18.89 million cards, ICICI Bank (16.95
million) and Axis Bank with 14.21 million
cards.
79. REITs, InvITs mobilise Rs 1.3 trillion in past
four years: RBI data
 Context: Investment vehicles for realty and
infrastructure sectors -- REITs and InvITs --
have garnered Rs 1.3 lakh crore in the past
four years till March 2024
 Data by: RBI
 Report title: 'State of Economy'
 REITs: Real Estate Investment Trusts
 A REIT is made up of a portfolio of
commercial real estate assets, the majority of
which are already leased out
 InvITs: Infrastructure Investment Trusts
 InvITs consist of a portfolio of infrastructure
assets like highways.
 At present, there are 24 registered InvITs and
5 REITs.
79. PayU gets RBI's in-principle approval to
operate as payment aggregator
 Prosus-backed fintech PayU received an in-
principle approval from the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) to operate as a payment
aggregator.
 Recently, Razorpay, Cashfree Payments,
CCAvenue, Digio, and Decentro among others
received RBI's in-principle approval to
operate as payment aggregator
80. Climate shocks pose upside risk to inflation:
RBI Bulletin
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its
April 2024 Economic Bulletin.
 Highlights:
 Extreme weather conditions may pose a risk
to inflation
 Prolonged geopolitical tensions could keep
crude oil prices volatile
 India's monetary policy continues to remain
disinflationary
 The robust economic growth allows the
policy to make space for price stability
 Food price uncertainties continue to weigh
on the inflation trajectory going forward
 A record rabi wheat production would help
temper price pressure and replenish the
buffer stocks
 Early indication of a normal monsoon augurs
well for the kharif season, while international
food prices also remain benign.
81. Razorpay launches UPI switch in partnership
with Airtel Payments Bank
 Launch of: UPI Switch
 Partnership between: Razorpay & Airtel
Payment Bank
 Maximum Transaction: The infrastructure is
designed to handle up to 10,000 transactions
per second, at any given time.
 Claim: It enables five times faster access to
UPI innovations for businesses
 It is hosted by a bank for businesses to use it.
 This infrastructure is powered by technology
service providers (TSPs) for banks.
 Other Razorpay Apps:
 Turbo UPI: To enable customers of online
merchants to make UPI payments directly
without redirection to a third-party UPI app
during checkout.
 UPI Autopay on QR: It was launched in
collaboration with NPCI to simplify
challenges associated with maintaining and
expanding subscription-based businesses.
82. BharatPe launches payment device BharatPe
One with integrated POS
 Launch of: BharatPe One
 Launched by: BharatPe
 BharatPe One: It is an all-in-one payment
product that integrates POS (point of sale),
QR code, and speaker into one device.
 Feature:
 Equipped with a high-definition touchscreen
display,
 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity,
 Powered by the latest Android operating
system
 User-friendly interface
 Caters to the diverse needs of the offline
merchants
 BharatPe CEO: Nalin Negi
83. AU SFB launches multiple products like credit
cards with exclusive features
 AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) launched an
array of products including Rupay credit card
and ATM insurance.
 Among the latest offerings are two innovative
credit cards:
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 AU SPONT Rupay Credit Card
 Secured Credit Card - NOMO (No Missing Out)
 It was developed in collaboration with NPCI
and VISA, respectively.
 The NOMO Credit Card marks AU SFB's debut
into the realm of secured credit cards, backed
by a fixed deposit.
 Additionally,
 AU SFB has unveiled the AU 0101 Business
App, designed to offer customized solutions
for proprietorships and MSMEs,
 AU0101 Version 2.0, engineered to provide
customers with an enhanced mobile banking
experience
84. RBI Imposes Restrictions On Maharashtra-
Based Konark Urban Co-op Bank
 Banking Restriction on: The Konark Urban
Co-operative Bank, Ulhasnagar
(Maharashtra)
 Restriction by: The Reserve Bank of India
 Reason: Bank's deteriorating financial
situation
 The restrictions in the form of Directions
under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation
Act, 1949.
 Restriction:
 The bank cannot grant or renew any loans
and advances,
 Make any investment,
 Incur any liability transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties, among others,
without permission from the RBI
 The eligible depositors will be entitled to
receive a deposit insurance claim amount of
his/her deposits up to ₹ 5 lakh only from the
Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee
Corporation (DICGC).
85. Record Direct Tax Collections Exceed Budget
Estimates in FY 2023-24
 Data released by: Ministry of Finance
(Provisional Figures)
 Year: 2023-24
 Context: Net direct tax collections for FY
2023-24 have surpassed Union Budget
Estimates by a substantial margin of Rs. 1.35
lakh crore
 Remarkable increase of 7.40%
 The provisional direct tax collections stand at
Rs 19.58 lakh crore, showcasing a robust
growth of 17.70% compared to the preceding
FY 2022-23.
 The Budget Estimates (BE) for Direct Tax
revenue in FY 2023-24 were initially set at Rs.
18.23 lakh crore and were later revised to Rs.
19.45 lakh crore.
 The Gross Corporate Tax collection for FY
2023-24 amounts to Rs. 11.32 lakh crore,
demonstrating a commendable growth of
13.06% over the preceding year.
 The Gross Personal Income Tax collection
(including STT) for FY 2023-24 is reported at
Rs. 12.01 lakh crore, exhibiting an impressive
growth of 24.26% over the previous fiscal
year.
 The Net Personal Income Tax collection
(including STT) for the same period is
recorded at Rs. 10.44 lakh crore, reflecting a
remarkable growth of 25.23%.
 In FY 2023-24, refunds totaling Rs. 3.79 lakh
crore have been issued, indicating a
substantial increase of 22.74% compared to
the refunds issued in FY 2022-23.
86. IndusInd Bank pilots cenbank's e-rupee
payments program with farmers
 IndusInd Bank has executed transactions to
pay farmers for carbon credits with a
programmable version of the Reserve Bank of
India's digital currency, or e-rupee.
 The RBI piloted its central bank digital
currency (CBDC) in 2022 and allows banks to
offer these tokens.
 It uses distributed-ledger technology
 IndusInd is providing a platform for farmers
to exchange their carbon credits for CBDCs.
 Earlier, the farmers could only exchange their
credits for fiat rupees.
 The initiative was supported by Varun
Hebbalalu and Savio D'Souza in Bengaluru to
promote digital currency adoption.
87. RuPay Launches ‘Link it, Forget it’ Campaign
at IPL 2024
 Campaign Name: Link it, Forget it
 Launch by: RuPay
 RuPay is an associate partner for TATA IPL
2024
 Aim: To engage with the audience playfully
demonstrating how linking RuPay credit
cards to UPI eradicate the necessity of
carrying a wallet
 Creative concept developed by: DDB Mudra
Group
 Advertisement Strategy: Featuring
prominent personalities like Shankar
Mahadevan
 National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI):
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Incorporated in: 2008
 It is an umbrella organization for operating
retail payments and settlement systems in
India.
 NPCI's Retail payment products such as:
o RuPay card,
o Immediate Payment Service (IMPS),
o Unified Payments Interface (UPI),
o Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM),
o Aadhaar Enabled Payment System
(AePS),
o National Electronic Toll Collection
(NETC)
o Bharat BillPay
88. Airtel Payments Bank Launches NCMC-
enabled Debit and Prepaid Cards
 Introduction of: NCMC-enabled debit and
prepaid cards
 Introduced by: Airtel Payment Bank
 Powered by: RuPay
 Collaboration with: NPCI
 Savings account holders can avail NCMC-
enabled debit cards,
 While wallet users can opt for prepaid cards.
 Benefits:
 All-in-One Travel Solution
 Offline shopping to e-commerce purchases
 Enhanced Security
 Flexible Payment Options: Including pay-per-
ride and purchase passes
 Previously:
o State Bank of India (SBI) has
integrated NCMC cards on its Bharat
BillPay platform in collaboration with
NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd.
o Amounts up to Rs 10,000
88. CRED Secures In-Principle Approval for
Payment Aggregator License
 CRED has recently obtained in-principle
approval for a payment aggregator license.
 It is the Bengaluru-based fintech start-up.
 Payment Aggregator:
o Acts as a facilitator for online
payments, enabling customers and
businesses to transact through
various channels, including credit
cards and UPI.
 The Reserve Bank of India typically takes six
months to grant the payment aggregator
license.
 Recipients of this license: CCAvenue, Innoviti
Payments, and Razorpay
89. IRDAI removes age bar for purchasing health
insurance
 Context: Removes age bar for purchasing
health insurance
 Removed by: IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory
and Development Authority of India)
 Effective from: April 1, 2024
 Age limit fro health inurance (Previous): 65
Years
 Age limit fro health inurance (Current): No
age Limit
 Aim: To bring in extended health benefits to
the elderly
 About IRDAI:
 Statutory body
 Set up by the IRDA Act, 1999
 Regulate and control the Insurance sector in
India
 Recommendations of Malhotra Committee
report of 1994
 Section 4 of IRDAI Act’ 1999, Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of
India has a composition of a Chairman; five
whole-time members; four part-time
members, all appointed by the Government of
India
90. HDFC Bank's Rs 1,500 crore ex-gratia a
gesture of employee appreciation
 Context: Rs 1,500 crore ex-gratia a gesture of
employee appreciation
 Bank Name: HDFC Bank
 Following an impressive Q4FY24
performance
 HDFC Bank board gives nod to Rs 60,000
cr bond renewal for FY25
o HDFC Bank’s board has approved the
annual renewal of bond issuance,
totalling up to Rs 60,000 crore over
the next twelve months through
private placement.
o This marks an increase from last
year’s approval of Rs 50,000 crore.
o The HDFC Bank intends to raise funds
through Long-Term Bonds for
Infrastructure and Affordable
Housing, Perpetual Debt Instruments
(as part of Additional Tier-I capital),
and Tier-II Capital Bonds.
91. Bharat BillPay Enables SBI NCMC Card
Recharge
 Partnership between: NPCI Bharat BillPay
Limited (NBBL) and State Bank of India (SBI)
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Agenda: To enable online recharge of SBI’s
National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC)
through the Bharat BillPay platform.
 Aim: To provide a convenient and seamless
top-up facility to NCMC users while avoiding
long queues.
 Already gone live for SBI NCMC cards for
transit systems like Noida Metro, Nagpur
Metro, MMRDA Line 2A & 7, Chennai Metro,
Kanpur Metro
 It is also available for Parliament Canteen via
SBI’s Bharat BillPay-enabled app called SBI
Unipay.
 Charge limit: up to Rs. 10,000
 Instant reflection of recharge amount
 Multiple payment options supported
 NPCI is an umbrella organization for all retail
payments in India.
 Established in 2008.
 Aim: To facilitate digital payments and
financial inclusion through it’s various
products like Bharat Bill Payment System
(BBPS).
 This initiative is a one-stop platform for
facilitating all recurring bill payments.
92. India's forex reserves decline by $5.4 billion
to hit $643 billion
 Data by: RBI
 Report title: Weekly Statistical Supplement
 Data (as of April 12, 2024): India’s forex
reserves contracted by $5.4 billion to $643.16
billion
 Data (as of April 5, 2024): Forex reserves
surged by $2.9 billion to a record high of
$648.56 billion.
 Foreign currency assets (FCAs):
 Expressed in dollar terms, the FCAs include
the effect of appreciation or depreciation of
non-US units like the euro, pound, and yen
held in the foreign exchange reserves.
 Decreased by $6.51 billion to $564.65 billion.
 Gold reserves expanded by $1.24 billion to
$55.8 billion
 SDRs were down by $93 million to $18.08
billion
 Reserve position in the IMF dipped by $35
million to $4.63 billion
93. Sebi proposes special call auction for price
discovery of holdcos
 Proposal: A new framework for price
discovery of listed holdcos to address the gap
between their traded price and book value.
 Proposed by: SEBI
 Holdcos refer to Investment holding
companies
 Investment holding companies (IHCs) are
firms that only hold investments in different
asset classes including shares of other listed
companies, mostly belonging to group firms.
 These IHCs usually trade at a high discount to
the value of their holdings.
 A special call-auction mechanism without
price band may be enabled for listed ICs and
IHCs, whose shares are trading beyond a
certain discount to their book value.
 Price band refers to thresholds like 5 per cent,
10 per cent, or 20 per cent put in place to keep
volatility in check and place risk management
and surveillance measures in place.
 Under the proposal, stock exchanges will
have to provide a special call auction
mechanism for such companies.
 The exchanges will have to give a seven-day
prior notice before initiating this special call
auction.
 This mechanism will be considered
successful if at least 5 unique buyers and
sellers participate in the call auction.
 Of the 70 listed investment companies and
IHCs, 28 have 25 per cent or more of their
assets invested in shares of other listed
companies.
 Out of these 28 companies, 16 have their six-
month average volume weighted average
price (VWAP) at a discount to their book
value.
94. World Bank plans $1 billion for SBI to back
storage, EVs
 Partnership between: World Bank & State
Bank of India
 Proposal: To provide a $1 billion line of credit
to the State Bank of India (SBI)
 Reason: To support the expansion of Battery
Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and electric
mobility in the country
 The proposal aims to help attract early
investments and mobilize private capital and
commercial financing.
 The amount will be disbursed in tranches.
 Improvement: Air quality, reduce greenhouse
gas (CHG) emissions and reduce dependence
on imported fossil fuel in an unpredictable
global energy market.
 Large battery storages or BESS can help
India's electricity grids, given the
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
intermittent nature of electricity from clean
energy sources such as solar and wind.
 The electricity generated by solar and wind
projects are stored in large batteries and
supplied when required.
 This assumes significance given that the
government's playbook is to add 50 giga watt
(GW) of green energy capacity annually to
reach 500GW renewable capacity by 2030.
95. IFSCA constitutes committee to transform
GIFT City into Climate Finance Hub
 The International Financial Centres
Authority(IFSCA) constituted a standing
committee to prepare a framework for
launching climate finance products.
 Aim: To transform GIFT City (Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City) into a climate
finance hub.
 The committee is expected to submit its
report to the government by the end of May
2024.
 IFSCA is set to launch climate finance
products from GIFT City.
 This could be an Alternate Investment Fund,
transition bond, transition insurance, etc.
 Apart from banks and the bond market, more
climate funds are scheduled to be launched in
GIFT City
 Banks in GIFT City has already set aside 5% of
credit for green and sustainable projects.
 Out of USD 60 billion of outstanding loans,
USD 700 million has been extended as green
and sustainable credit.
 Out of USD 55.5 billion worth of bonds raised
from GIFT City, bonds worth USD14 billion
are green and sustainable-linked bonds.
96. Aditya Birla Capital Launches 'ABCD' Fintech
App
 Launch of: 'ABCD' Fintech App
 Launch by: Aditya Birla Capital Limited
 Aditya Birla Capital Limited is a financial
services arm of Aditya Birla Group
 'ABCD' Fintech App is a omnichannel Direct-
to-Consumer (D2C) Fintech App.
 ABCD refers to 'Aditya Birla Capital Digital
(ABCD)';
 It offers various financial products on a single
digital platform.
 The D2C platform has 22 products and
services that includes Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) payments, multi-account
payments, loans, insurance, and spend
analysis tools.
97. Outward FDI drops 39% to $28.64 billion in
FY24
 India’s outward foreign direct investment
(OFDI), or overseas direct investment,
declined by 39% to $28.64 billion in the year
ended March 2024.
 In the year ended March 2023, outward FDI,
represented by total financial commitment,
stood at $46.96 billion.
 Data by: RBI
 The data released shows overseas direct
investment under the automatic and
approval routes.
 Of the total overseas direct investment,
commitments through the equity route stood
at $9.62 billion in fiscal 2024
 In FY2024, the loan commitments stood at
$5.24 billion as against $7.73 billion made in
FY2023.
 The overseas guarantees issued by the Indian
companies were around $14 billion as against
$20.09 billion in FY2023
98. Sum insured of employees rise by 66% to Rs 5
lakh, preventive healthcare surges by 110%:
Study
 Study by: Plum Insurance, an Insurtech
platform
 The median sum insured in the case of group
health insurance policies of corporates has
risen by 66 per cent from Rs three lakh to Rs
five lakh.
 There has also been a two times uptick in
flexible benefits adoption (insurance
programmes that can be personalised by
employees), a 15 per cent increase in
companies offering maternity benefits and a
110 per cent surge in companies offering
comprehensive healthcare (preventive and
primary).
 The primary concern for most chief human
resource officers (CHROs) this year is the
absolute spending on employee benefits.
 Term life insurance is gaining prominence
with Unicorns covering 75 per cent, global
companies 30 per cent, median among the
rest is 14 per cent
99. RBI imposes Rs 60.3 lakh penalty on five co-
operative banks
 A penalty of Rs 43.30 lakh has been imposed
on Rajkot Nagarik Sahakari Bank.
 Reason: 'Ban on loans and advances to
directors and their relatives, and
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
firms/concerns in which they are interested',
'prohibition on opening of saving bank
accounts in the names of certain
bodies/organizations', and 'maintenance of
deposit accounts'.
 The central bank has imposed a monetary
penalty of Rs 5 lakh each on:
o The Kangra Co-operative Bank (New
Delhi),
o Rajdhani Nagar Sahkari Bank
(Lucknow),
o Zila Sahakari Bank, Garhwal
(Kotdwar, Uttarakhand)
 Besides, a penalty of Rs 2 has been imposed
on District Co-operative Bank (Dehradun).
100. Indian banks among best-performing
lenders versus peers in Asia: S&P Global Market
Intelligence
 Report by: S&P Global Market Intelligence
 Three Indian lenders made it to the list of top
50 banks by assets in the Asia-Pacific region
in 2023.
 These Indian banks are the State Bank of
India, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank.
 Indian banks have been among the best-
performing lenders among peers in Asia.
 Improvement in financial metrics, coupled
with high credit growth in a robust economic
environment, has boosted banks' assets in
recent years.
 The aggregate assets of the lenders rose
sharply by 50.5 per cent to USD 1.510 trillion
in 2023.
 The credit growth was 14.9 per cent a year
ago, according to Reserve Bank of India data,
as reported by S&P.
101. SBI Life Launches IdeationX
 SBI Life Insurance has inaugurated IdeationX
aimed at fostering life insurance innovation.
 This initiative encourages future leaders from
top B-Schools to devise unconventional
solutions that cater to evolving consumer
needs in the insurance sector.
102. RBI Expands Gold Hedging Options for
Residents Amidst Price Surge
 RBI is expected to surpass $2700 per ounce
this year amidst escalating geopolitical
tensions in the Middle East.
 This move allows resident entities to
diversify their hedging strategies against gold
price volatility in overseas markets.
 Effective immediately, residents can now
utilize Over-the-Counter (OTC) derivatives in
addition to derivatives traded on exchanges
in the International Financial Services Centre
(IFSC) for managing gold price risks.
 Previously, resident entities were permitted
to hedge their exposure to gold price risks on
exchanges in the IFSC recognized by the
International Financial Services Centres
Authority (IFSCA), since December 12, 2022.
103. PayTM approved by NPCI for User Bank
Migration
 Paytm has received approval from the
National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI) to migrate its users to other banks for
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based
payment services.
 The company has completed its integration
with four major banks – State Bank of India,
Yes Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank.
 It has started the process of transitioning its
users to these new Payment System Provider
(PSP) banks.
 On March 14, 2024, NPCI allowed Paytm to
migrate into a Third-Party Application
Provider (TPAP) model with the four
aforementioned banks.
 The four banks are now operational on the
TPAP, streamlining the process for Paytm to
shift user accounts to them
 TPAP is a model that allows a third-party
application provider, such as Paytm, to
integrate with multiple banks for UPI
payment services.
 TPAP which is a multi-bank payment service
provider API model introduced by the
National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI) for UPI (Unified Payments Interface)
transactions.
104. EPFO increases auto claims processing limit
to ₹1 lakh
 The retirement fund body EPFO has
increased the auto claims processing limit to
₹ 1 lakh from the current limit of ₹ 50,000.
 Under section 68J of the EPF Scheme 1952.
 Aim: To improve the ease of living for its
nearly 70 million subscribers.
 Under Para 68J of the scheme, the amount
advanced shall not exceed the member's
basic wages and dearness allowance for six
months or his share of contributions with
interest thereon or the cost of the equipment,
whichever is lower.
105. Indian economy likely to register 8-8.3%
growth in current fiscal: PHDCCI
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Predicted by: PHDCCI
 Prediction: India's economy is estimated to
grow at 8-8.3 per cent in the current fiscal
(2024-25)
 The country's GDP will grow at an average of
6.7% over the next 23 years to become a USD
34.7 trillion economy by 2047, with a per
capita income of USD 21,000.
 Recommendation:
 To reduce the cost of doing business and
enhancing the global scalability of promising
sectors like fintech, information technology,
automobile and renewable energy to boost
the economy.
 A special focus on the development of the
semiconductor industry.
 To be focused on to enhance export volumes
in global trade.
 The chamber has suggested reform measures
for the agriculture and food processing
sector.
106. Indian economy projected to grow 6.5% in
2024: UNCTAD report
 Projection by: UNCTAD
 Prediction: India's economy is projected to
grow by 6.5 per cent in 2024
 India will grew by 6.7 per cent in 2023.
 Reason:Multinationals extending their
manufacturing processes into the country to
diversify their supply chains will have a
positive impact on Indian exports
 Global growth is projected to be 2.6 per cent
in 2024, slightly slower than the 2.7 per cent
in 2023.
 China's economy, projected to grow 4.9 per
cent in 2024.
107. PhonePe, Google Pay creating a duopoly in
India's UPI space
 Report by: TechCrunch
 The National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI) will engage with fintech startups.
 Aim: To address the growing market
dominance of PhonePe and Google Pay in the
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem
 NPCI is reaching out amid concerns about the
market share concentration of Google Pay
and PhonePe
 Together (Google Pay & Phone Pe) account
for nearly 86 per cent of UPI transactions by
volume.
 PhonePe has signed several agreements to
promote UPI payments in Nepal, Singapore,
and the United Arab Emirates.
 Google Pay also signed an agreement with
NPCI to expand UPI for international
payments.
 NPCI has advocated for capping the market
share of individual companies in the UPI
ecosystem at 30%, with a deadline extended
to the end of December 2024.
 UPI has also gained momentum abroad with
countries like Singapore, Malaysia, the United
Arab Emirates, France, Nepal, the United
Kingdom, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka also
accepting payments through this format.
108. RBI mandates offline payment aggregators
to verify KYC for merchants
 Draft proposed by: The Reserve Bank of
India’s (RBI)
 Draft for: Payment aggregators (PAs)
 Aim: To enable the latter to manage risks on
their platform with well-defined Know Your
Customer (KYC) norms for merchants
 Guidelines for PA (Draft):
 Outlined KYC procedures for small and
medium-sized merchants.
 PA will need to undertake Contact Point
Verification (CPV) and duly verify the bank
account in which the funds of small
merchants are settled.
 Physical merchants that are undertaking only
proximity or face-to-face transactions with
business turnover less than the threshold
limit of Rs 5 lakh per annum and those not
registered under Goods and Services Tax
(GST) are defined as ‘small merchants’ as per
the draft norms.
 For ‘medium merchants’, PAs shall carry out
the CPV.
 PAs shall also obtain and verify one Officially
Valid Document (OVD) of the proprietor,
beneficial owner or person holding attorney.
 It has defined medium merchants as those
with business turnover less than the
threshold limit of Rs 40 lakh per annum and
those not registered under GST.
 Those entities which are providing services
now need to have a minimum net worth of Rs
15 crore while applying to RBI for
authorisation.
 They should have a minimum net worth of Rs
28 crore by March 2028
109. Payment mechanism for traders importing
pulses from Myanmar simplified: Govt
 Announced by: Indian Government
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Agenda: The payment mechanism for traders
importing pulses from Myanmar has been
eased and simplified.
 The importers have been asked to utilize
Rupee/ Kyat direct payment system using the
Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA)
through Punjab National Bank.
 What is Special Rupee Vostro Account
(SRVA)?
 The settlement of international trade through
Indian Rupees (INR) is an additional
arrangement to the existing system of
settlement that uses freely convertible
currencies and works as a complimentary
system.
 This will reduce dependence on hard (freely
convertible) currency.
 SRVA requires prior approval of RBI before
opening, unlike Rupee Vostro account.
 The framework entails three important
components, namely, invoicing, exchange
rate, and settlement.
 Invoicing entails that all exports and imports
must be denominated and invoiced in INR.
 The exchange rate between the currencies of
the trading partner countries would be
market-determined.
 The final settlement also takes place in Indian
National Rupee (INR).
110. RBI’s Ban on Bank of Baroda World App:
Strengthening Measures Against Cyber Fraud
 In response to rising cyber fraud incidents,
including the Bank of Baroda World app
scam, the RBI has banned Bank of Baroda
from onboarding new customers on its
mobile app in October 2023.
 The Finance Ministry is now proposing
stringent measures to combat such fraud
 Focus: On enhancing cybersecurity and
bolstering financial institutions’ due diligence
practices
 In exercising its authority under Section 35A
of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the RBI
directed Bank of Baroda to cease onboarding
new customers onto the ‘BoB World’ app due
to material supervisory concerns.
 In exercising its authority under Section 35A
of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the RBI
directed Bank of Baroda to cease onboarding
new customers onto the ‘BoB World’ app due
to material supervisory concerns.
111. IMGC and Bank of India Partner to Offer
Mortgage Guarantee-Backed Home Loans
 Agreement between: India Mortgage
Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) and Bank of
India
 Reason: To introduce mortgage guarantee-
backed home loan products
 Target people: Salaried and Self-employed
individuals
 Aim: To enhance accessibility to
homeownership
112. LIC Increases Equity Stake in Hindustan
Unilever by Over 5%
 Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
stake in FMCG major Hindustan Unilever
Limited (HUL) has surpassed 5%.
 The Corporation augmented its shareholding
in HUL from 4.99% to 5.01% of the
company’s paid-up capital by acquiring
additional shares from the open market.
 This increase amounted to a purchase of
3,05,000 equity shares, bringing LIC’s total
shares in HUL to 11,77,18,555.
113. IMF raises India's GDP growth forecast by 30
bps to 6.8% for FY25
 Projection by: International Monetary Fund
(IMF)
 Report title: World Economic Outlook (WEO)
 India’s GDP growth projection for 2024-25
(FY25): 6.8% (raised by 30bps)
 India’s GDP growth projection for 2025-26
(FY26): 6.5%
 Reason: Buoyant domestic demand
114. RBI conducts two-day VRRR as liquidity
surplus nears Rs 1 trillion
 The Reserve Bank of India conducted a two-
day variable rate reverse repo (VRRR)
auction on 16th April 2024.
 Reason: The liquidity surplus in the banking
system neared Rs 1 trillion
 The liquidity in the banking system was in a
surplus of Rs 98,920 crore on 15th April
2024.
 Consequently, the weighted average
overnight money market rates fell to 6.34%
on 16th April 2024.
 The weighted average overnight call rate fell
below the repo rate to 6.48 per cent, against
6.51 per cent on 15th April 2024.
 The repo rate currently stands at 6.50 per
cent.
 What is VRRR?
o It refers to variable rate reverse repo.
o Used by: Central Bank
o Type: Monetary policy tool
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
o Aim: To manage liquidity in the
financial system
o This mechanism plays a vital role in
influencing short-term interest rates
and controlling inflationary
pressures.
115. CBDT signs record number of 125 Advance
Pricing Agreements in FY24
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has
entered into a record 125 Advance Pricing
Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers in
2023-24.
 This includes 86 Unilateral APAs (UAPAs)
and 39 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs).
 This marks the highest-ever APA signings in
any financial year since the launch of the APA
programme.
 The number of APAs signed in 2023-24 also
represents a 31 per cent increase compared
to the 95 APAs signed during the preceding
financial year.
 With this, the total number of APAs since
inception of the APA programme has gone up
to 641, comprising 506 UAPAs and 135
BAPAs.
 APA Scheme:
 Aim: To provide certainty to taxpayers in the
domain of transfer pricing by specifying the
methods of pricing and determining the arm's
length price of international transactions in
advance.
 Tenure (maximum): Five future years
 Further, the taxpayer has the option to
rollback the APA for four preceding years, as
a result of which, tax certainty is provided for
nine years.
 The signing of bilateral APAs additionally
provides the taxpayers with protection from
any anticipated or actual double taxation.
 What is BAPA:
 BAPA refers to Bilateral Advance Pricing
Arrangement.
 This is known as tax coordination.
 One frequently utilized strategy in
international taxation is the collaboration
between two or more tax authorities,
commonly referred to as tax coordination.
 Aim: To establish a harmonious relationship
between different tax systems in order to
ensure fair and efficient taxation practices.
 BAPAs were signed as a consequence of
entering into mutual agreements with India's
treaty partners namely Australia, Canada,
Denmark, Japan, Singapore, the UK and the
US.
116. RBI caps Sarvodaya Bank withdrawals at Rs
15,000
 Bank Name: Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank
(Mumbai Based)
 Withdrawals limit capped: 15,000 rupees
(Customers can withdraw up to Rs 15,000
from their accounts).
 Imposed by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
 Reason: The Bank's deteriorating financial
health
 Deposit insurance assurance: a customer
can claim an insurance amount on deposits
up to a limit of Rs 5 lakh.
 Deposits up to Rs 5 lakh are refunded within
90 days from the start of the moratorium.
 This period is split into two phases:
 The first 45 days for the bank to gather and
submit claim details to the DICGC,
 Followed by another 45 days for DICGC to
process and pay the claims.
 Operational restrictions:
 It falls under Section 35A of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.
 The bank faces strict limitations on its
banking activities.
 No longer permitted to issue or renew loans
and advances.
 Make new investments
 Icur additional liabilities without prior
approval from the RBI
 The bank is also restricted from making any
payments to discharge its liabilities, unless
explicitly approved.
117. India's outward FDI rises to $3.91 billion in
March: RBI data
 Data by: RBI
 India’s outward foreign direct investment
(FDI) commitments rose significantly to
$3.91 billion in March 2024, compared to
$2.63 billion in March 2023.
 Sequentially, they were also higher than
$3.67 billion in February 2024
 Outbound FDI can be expressed as a financial
commitment, and comprises three
components: equity, loans, and guarantees.
 The equity commitments grew more than
twofold to $2.03 billion in March 2024 from
$758.22 million in March 2023.
 Debt commitments almost doubled to $1.04
billion in March 2024, from $517.98 million a
year ago.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Guarantees for overseas units declined to
$839.16 million in March 2024 from $1.36
billion in March 2023.
118. Amazon Pay explores credit on UPI through
collaboration with NPCI
 Collaboration between: NPCI & Amazon Pay
 Agenda: To introduce credit services on the
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform
 Aim: This initiative aims to enhance customer
experience and value propositions
 Recently, Amazon Pay partnered with RBL
Bank for UPI payments, ICICI Bank for
FASTag recharge, and the introduction of the
Amazon Pay ICICI co-branded credit card.
 The platform obtained a payment aggregator
license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
in February 2024.
 NPCI has recently unveiled three new
features for UPI-linked RuPay credit cards,
including EMI facilities, UPI AutoPay for
credit card bill settlements, and enhanced
credit limits, promising further
advancements in digital payments, set to roll
out from May 31.
119. RBI proposes changes in net-worth
guidelines for payment aggregators
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed the
net-worth norms for payment aggregators
(PAs).
 It facilitates face-to-face or proximity
payment transactions.
 Those entities which are providing services
now need to have a minimum net worth of Rs
15 crore while applying to the RBI for
authorization.
 They should have a minimum net worth of Rs
25 crore by March 2028, according to draft
norms.
 The entities currently carrying out this
activity should ensure adherence to the
guidelines on governance, merchant on-
boarding, customer grievance redressal,
fraud prevention, and risk management
within three months from the date of the
circular.
 The RBI has also issued draft amendments to
the existing directions on Payment
Aggregators covering Know Your Customer
(KYC) norms, due diligence, and monitoring
of merchants, operations in escrow accounts,
among others, intended to further strengthen
the payment ecosystem.
 The banking regulator has identified two
major types of PAs as part of the payments
ecosystem in the country.
 This includes PA-Online Point of Sale (PA-O)
and PAs facilitating face-to-face or proximity
payment transactions now known as PA -
Physical Point of Sale (PA-P).
 Banks will be required to close accounts that
are used for PA activity of non-bank PA-Ps by
31 October 2025 unless such PAs produce
evidence regarding the application for
authorisation submitted to the RBI.
120. Fitch affirms ratings of public sector banks
 Global ratings firm Fitch has affirmed ratings
of the public sector banks it rates and
maintained a stable outlook for them.
 The rating firm has affirmed the ratings of
Canara Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of
Baroda New Zealand, Union Bank of India and
Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, and
Bank of India New Zealand at BBB-.
 Fitch has also Fitch has also affirmed the
bank's Viability Rating (VR) at 'bb' and
Government Support Rating (GSR) of 'bbb-'.
121. Karnataka Bank Partners with FISDOM to
Offer Stock Broking Services & 3-in-1 Accounts
 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", the
mobile banking app of Karnataka Bank.
 Focus: To enhance the current value
proposition of enabling customers by
providing seamless access to stocks and
mutual funds.
 It will empower customers to access
investment opportunities and trading
functionalities within a single, user-friendly
interface.
 It also eliminates the need for multiple
platforms, ensuring a smoother investment
journey.
122. CAMS Receives RBI's Nod to Operate as an
Online Payment
 Computer Age Management Services Ltd
(CAMS) has received a Certificate of
Authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) to operate as an online payment
aggregator.
 CAMS obtained in-principle authorisation
from RBI in February 2023.
 CAMS applied for the certificate of
authorisation following the regulatory
guidelines 'Guidelines on Regulation of
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
Payment Aggregators and Payment
Gateways' (Guidelines) issued in March 2020.
 CAMSPay, CAMS's payment business unit,
boasts 15 years of experience in the payment
solutions industry.
123. UCB advances to priority sector up over 27%
in FY23: RBI
 Report title: Primary (Urban) Co-operative
Banks’ Outlook 2022-23
 Report by: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
 The advances of Urban Co-operative Banks
(UCBs) to the priority sector surged more
than 27 per cent in the financial year 2023.
 The RBI report put the advances for UCBs in
FY23 at Rs 2.2 trillion, up from Rs 1.73 trillion
in FY22.
 A majority of the advances of UCBs was given
to MSMEs (micro, small & medium
enterprises), amounting to Rs 1.3 trillion in
FY23 against Rs 1 trillion in FY22.
 Of the total lending by UCBs to the priority
sector, almost 40 per cent was to the MSMEs
in FY23 compared to 34.27 per cent last year.
Within MSMEs, micro enterprises had the
highest share at 17.23 per cent.
 The RBI has set a target of 60 per cent for
priority sector lending by UCBs till FY24.
 However, UCBs had already achieved 66.88
per cent in FY23.
 At the same time, scheduled commercial
banks' achievement under the priority sector
lending as on March 31, 2023, stood at 44.7
per cent.
 As on March 31, there were 1,502 UCBs in
India, with 10,117 branches across the
country.
 It has total deposits of Rs 5.3 trillion and total
advances of Rs 3.3 trillion.
 Maharashtra has the highest number of UCBs
with a total of 475.
 Western region of the country has 693 UCBs
till date.
124. Wholesale price inflation rises to three-
month high of 0.53% in March
 The headline wholesale price index (WPI)-
based inflation inched up to a three-month
high of 0.53 per cent in March from 0.2 per
cent in February.
 It thus remained in positive terrain for the
fifth consecutive month, after it was in
deflationary territory for the major part of
financial year 2023-24 (FY24).
 Data released by the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry
 The uptick in factory gate inflation during
March was driven by increase in prices of
food articles, electricity, crude petroleum and
natural gas, among others.
 The overall FY24 wholesale headline inflation
stood at -0.7 per cent compared to 9.6 per
cent in FY23.
 Within this, the food inflation was at 3.2 per
cent in FY24, down from 6.4 per cent in the
previous financial year.
125. Merchandise trade deficit in March stands at
$15.6 billion
 India's merchandise exports declined
marginally in March to $41.68 billion, while
for the entire 2023-24 it dipped 3.11 per cent
to $437.06 billion.
 Reason: Geopolitical issues continued to
hamper global shipments.
 Imports declined 5.98 per cent to $57.28
billion in March, taking the trade deficit to
15.6 billion during the month.
 The imports during 2023-24 stood at 677.24
billion, down 5.41 per cent from $715.97
billion in the preceding year.
 The trade deficit or gap between imports and
exports worked to be $240.17 billion.
126. India's electronics exports increase 23.6% to
$29.12 billion in FY24
 India exported electronics goods worth
$29.12 billion in 2023-24 (FY24), up 23.6 per
cent.
 According to commerce department officials,
the top five export market of electronics good
are — the US, United Arab Emirates,
Netherland, United Kingdom, and Italy.
127. Govt collects Rs 27k cr in taxes from sr
citizens on FD interest: SBI
 The government has likely mopped up over
Rs 27,000 crore in taxes from senior citizens
on the interest they earned on term deposits
last fiscal
 Report by: SBI researchers
 The total amount of deposits has risen by
143% in the last five years to Rs 34 lakh crore
at the end of FY24 from Rs 14 lakh crore.
 High-interest rates also seem to have led to
higher interest among senior citizens to
invest in fixed deposits
 The total number of term deposit accounts
grew 81 percent to 7.4 crore in the same time
period.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 SBI researchers estimated that at least 7.3
crore of these accounts have a balance of over
Rs 15 lakh, and assuming that the deposits
fetch an interest of 7.5 per cent, senior
citizens have earned Rs 2.7 lakh crore in FY24
as interest alone.
 This includes Rs 2.57 lakh crore from the
bank deposits and the remaining from the
Senior Citizen Saving Scheme.
 Senior citizens' share in the incremental term
deposits has gone up to 30 per cent now from
15 per cent five years earlier
 The government's move to hike the threshold
of TDS (tax deducted at source) on deposits
for senior citizens to Rs 50,000 is working as
an additional fillip for deposit mobilisation
for senior citizens.
128. India's exports shrink 3% in FY24
 Goods exports in March year-on-year (Y-o-Y)
contracted a moderate 0.67% to $41.68
billion due to falling commodity prices and
persistent geopolitical challenges.
 With March being the seventh month when
exports contracted in 2023-24, on a
cumulative basis outbound shipments saw a
3.11% decline at $437.06 billion
 The data released by the commerce
department
 Sectors such as electronic goods, drugs, and
pharmaceuticals had done well despite
adversities.
129. World Bank and IT Ministry join hands for
DPI adoption index
 Context: Development of a state-level Digital
Public Infrastructure (DPI) adoption index
 Collaboration: World Bank and Ministry of
Electronics & Information Technology
 Agenda: To boost the digital economy and
support financial inclusion
 Status: Under preparation
 What is DPI?
 Digital Public Infrastructure
 A set of shared and interoperable digital
systems
 It is built on open standards and
specifications.
 India's DPI is also known as India Stack.
 DPIs are poised to propel India towards a $1
trillion digital economy by 2030
 What is India Stack?
 A set of Application Programming Interfaces
(APIs).
 It provides a unique digital infrastructure to
solve India's challenges
 Challenges: Paperless, cashless service
delivery, etc
 India's DPI consists of:
 Aadhaar: Digital identity
 UPI Payment: Real-time payment
 Fastag
 Digilocket: Digital document storage
 Data Protection Initiatives for India
 Aadhaar Act, 2016: Provides a legal
framework for the Aadhaar
 Personal Data Protection Bill: Aims to protect
the privacy of personal data
 National Cyber Security Policy, 2013:
Provides a framework for the protection of
critical information infrastructure and
prevention of cyber-attacks.
 Cyber Swachhta Kendra: It secures digital
devices and networks through free tools and
security solutions.
130. Crisil’s ESG ratings unit gets Sebi’s approval
for ESG scoring
 Approval to: Crisil ESG Ratings & Analytics
 Approval by: SEBI
 Category: Category 1 provider of
environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
ratings
 Crisil ESG Ratings is a unit of Crisil.
 Incorporated by: SEBI
 Amendment: SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies)
Regulations, 1999 to include provisions on
ESG Rating Providers (ERPs) in 2023.
 ESG scores indicate a company's
sustainability and ethical practices, guiding
asset managers and investors in selecting
companies that meet their ESG criteria.
131. RBI Introduces FEMA Regulations for Direct
Listing on International Exchanges
 Introduced by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
 Regulations under the Foreign Exchange
Management Act (FEMA)
 Agenda: To facilitate the direct listing of
Indian companies on international stock
exchanges
 Aim: To streamline foreign exchange
transactions and reporting procedures,
offering companies greater flexibility in
utilizing funds raised through overseas
listings
 Key Regulations
 Mode of Payment and Reporting
 Foreign Currency Accounts: ADR, GDR, ECB
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
132. RBI Releases New Guidelines for ARCs
 Guidelines for: ARC (Asset reconstruction
companies)
 Issued by: RBI
 Effect from April 24, 2024
 Minimum Capital Requirement: Rs 300 crore
(raised from Rs 100 crore set on October 11,
2022)
 Minimum Net Owned Fund (NOF) of Rs 1000
crore
 Investments in short-term instruments by
ARCs are capped at 10% of their Net Owned
Fund (NOF)
 Short-term instruments must have a rating
equivalent to AA- or above by an eligible
credit rating agency (CRA).
133. RBI plans curbs on suspect bank accounts to
fight cyber fraud: Report
 RBI plans to soon change guidelines to permit
banks to temporarily freeze accounts
suspected of being used to commit cyber
crimes
 The plans come as internal government data
shows individuals have lost funds of nearly
$1.26 billion in financial institutions to cyber
fraud since 2021.
 RBI likely to let banks suspend such accounts,
freeing victims from first having to file police
complaints.
134. Axis Bank snatches the crown of 4th largest
bank from Kotak in market value terms
 Context: Largest market value terms
 New Entrant: Axis Bank (Snatch from Kotak
Mahindra Bank)
 Market Value of Axis Bank: Rs 3.4 lakh crore
 Market Value of Kotak Mahindra Bank: Rs 3.3
lakh crore
 Top Three:
 HDFC Bank (Rs 11.5 lakh crore)
 ICICI Bank (Rs 7.76 lakh crore)
 State Bank of India (Rs 7 lakh crore)
135. SBI Card MILES credit cards with three
variants launched
 Three variants are SBI Card MILES ELITE, SBI
Card MILES PRIME, and SBI Card MILES.
 Aimed at bringing travel benefits to travellers
of all kinds
 The card is available on the Mastercard and
RuPay network.
 SBI Card MILES users can convert travel
credits to air miles and hotel points.
136. Deloitte revises India's FY24 growth forecast
to 7.6%-7.8%
 Consultancy major Deloitte raised its India
GDP growth forecast for FY24 to 7.6-7.8%
from its earlier forecast of 6.9-7.2%,
anticipating higher consumption expenditure
and economic activity.
 The company said it expects India’s GDP
growth to be around 6.6% in FY25 and 6.75%
in FY26.
137. SFBs seeking universal banking license need
at least Rs 1,000 crore net worth: RBI
 SFBs guidelines by: RBI
 Eligibility for SFBs for Universal Banking
License:
 SFBs to explore opportunities for expansion
and diversification after completing five
years of operation.
 Small Finance Banks (SFBs) must maintain
profitability
 Keep their gross non-performing assets ratio
below 3% for at least two financial years
before applying for a universal bank license.
 SFBs must also have a minimum net-worth of
₹1,000 crore at the end of a quarter
 Capital adequacy requirement of 15% to be
considered for a licence.
 RBI has allowed existing promoters of SFBs to
continue once they transition to a universal
bank.
 No new mandatory lock-in requirements of
minimum shareholding for existing
promoters as they transition to a universal
bank.
 SFBs were established in 2016
 Aim of channeling loans to smaller
enterprises, farmers, and underserved
segments.
 These specialized banks were mandated to
maintain a minimum net worth of ₹200 crore.
 They were also required to ensure at least
75% of the loans they provide are below ₹25
lakh.
 Presently, India has 11 SFBs, several of which
originated as microfinance institutions
(MFIs).
138. RBI releases draft regulation for web
aggregation of loan products in digital lending
 The Reserve Bank of India released draft
guidelines for a regulatory framework for the
aggregation of loan products by lending
service providers (LSP).
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Aim: To enhance transparency and give
borrowers prior information about potential
lenders.
 LSPs are third-party entities
 Banks or non-banking finance companies
(NBFCs) engage to perform some of their
functions, such as customer acquisition,
underwriting, and loan recovery, among
others, on digital platforms.
 In some cases, a regulated entity can also act
as an LSP.
 Guidelines:
 Banks and NBFCs should ensure that their
LSPs provide a so-called digital view of all the
loan offers available to the borrower from all
the willing lenders that the LSP has
arrangements with.
 LSP can adopt any mechanism to ascertain
the willingness of the lenders to offer a loan.
 LSPs should follow a "consistent approach"
that must be disclosed suitably on their
website.
 A link to the key facts statement (KFS) must
also be provided in respect of each of the
regulated entities.
 The content displayed by the LSP should be
"unbiased" and should not directly or
indirectly promote or push a product of a
particular lender.
139. SEBI penalises BSE for inadequate fee
payment on options contracts
 Penalty by: SEBI
 Penalty on: BSE
 Reason: Find out discrepancies in fees paid by
BSE to the regulator on derivatives contracts.
 Since the introduction of derivatives
contracts in June 2000, BSE has been paying
the regulatory fee on the annual turnover -
taking into account the premium value for
options contracts.
 Per norms, the fees need to be paid on the
notional value of options contracts.
 In addition, the fees paid to the regulator for
FY07 were for a quarter instead of a full year.
 The exchange will have to now pay up the
differential amount in fees along with 15 per
cent interest for every year.
 The computation of the additional amount
has to be certified by a chartered account and
paid within a month from the date receipt of
SEBI’s letter.
140. NABARD-RBI Innovation Hub Partnership
Accelerates Digital Agri Lending
 Collab: NABARD & RBI Innovation Hub
 Reason: To streamline agricultural lending
through digitalization.
 This collaboration aims to expedite loan
processing and improve accessibility for
farmers nation.
 NABARD will integrate its e-KCC loan
origination system portal with the RBI
Innovation Hub’s Public Tech Platform for
Frictionless Credit (PTPFC), facilitating
seamless credit processing.
 This integration promises faster loan
approvals and improved efficiency for
cooperative banks and Regional Rural Banks
(RRBs).
141. Google parent Alphabet reclaims spot in $2
trillion valuation club
 Alphabet breached the $2 trillion market
value mark for the first time since November
2021.
 The stock was last trading up 11.7% at
$173.55, after hitting a record high moments
after the market opened
142. India’s net household savings declines to
5.3% of GDP : RBI
 Data by: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
 India’s net household savings are at a 47-year
low.
 Household saving in 2023: 5.3% of the GDP
(down from 7.3% in 2022)
 This decline is accompanied by a sharp
increase in household debt reaching the
second-highest level since the 1970s. (5.8%
of GDP)
 What is the Household Saving Rate?
 The percentage of disposable income that
households save instead of spending on
consumption.
 Reflects the propensity of households to save
for the future.
 Household savings consist of three main
parts:
o Financial assets (Cash, bank deposits,
retirement funds, insurance policies,
stocks, and other investments)
o Physical assets (Investments in
tangible assets)
o Gold and silver ornaments (Precious
metals)
 Reasons for declining Household savings
in India:
o Low-interest rates
o Rising inflation
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
o Global Economic uncertainty (such as
the Russia-Ukraine war, and Gaza
Crisis)
o Favouring current consumption
o Lack of adequate financial literacy
o Increasing costs of living
 Reasons for increasing Household Debt in
India:
o Higher borrowing for consumption
o Increased reliance on debt to fund
expenses and investments
o Growth in non-mortgage loans
o Credit widening
143. NIPFP Forecasts India’s FY25 GDP Growth at
7.1%
 Forecast by: National Institute of Public
Finance and Policy (NIPFP)
 For FY25 (2024-25): 7.1%
 Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Fitch
Ratings estimate a growth rate of 7% (FY25).
 International Monetary Fund (IMF): 6.8%
144. RBI Directs Talkcharge to Cease PPI
Operations and Refund Balances
 Context: Instruction to Talkcharge
Technologies, to halt the issuance and
operation of its Prepaid Payment
Instruments (PPIs) or wallets
 Instruction by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
 Reason: RBI’s observation of the firm issuing
wallets without proper authorization.
 Result: Talkcharge must refund the balances
held in these wallets to customers by May 17,
2024.
 Additionally, the RBI flagged Talkcharge’s
issuance of legal notices to customers,
demanding the return of cashback and
implying regulatory enforcement if not
complied with.
145. Mcap of 6 most valued firms rise Rs 1.30
trillion
 Context: The combined market valuation of
six of the top 10 most valued firms increased
to Rs 1,30,734.57 crore
 Biggest Gainer: State Bank of India and ICICI
Bank
 Top 6 gainer:
 State Bank of India (Rs 7,15,218.40 crore)
 ICICI Bank (Rs 7,77,750.22 crore)
 Bharti Airtel (Rs 7,51,406.35 crore)
 ITC (Rs 5,49,265.32 crore)
 Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) (Rs
6,24,941.40 crore)
 Infosys (Rs 5,93,636.31 crore)
 Note:
 Reliance Industries remained the most
valued firm from the top-10 pack
 Followed by Tata Consultancy Services, HDFC
Bank, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, State Bank of
India, LIC, Infosys, ITC and Hindustan
Unilever.
146. India growth may top 7% in FY25: NCAER
 Predicted by: National Council of Applied
Economic Research (NCAER)
 Report: NCAER's monthly economic review
 India's Growth rate: faster than 7%(for FY25)
 According to government data,s the economy
grew 7.6% in FY24
 Predictions by different organizations
o International Monetary Fund: 6.8%
(FY25)
o Reserve Bank of India: 7% (FY25)
o National Institute of Public Finance
and Policy (NIPFP): 7.1% (FY25)
147. Two key surveys will be launched for
upcoming monetary policy: RBI
 Context: Launch of two survey, ahead of bi-
monthly monetary policy released
 Launched by: The Reserve Bank of India
 Name of Survey:
o 'Inflation Expectations Survey of
Households'
o 'Consumer Confidence Survey'
 Reason: To get key inputs for the bi-monthly
monetary policy.
 The next bi-monthly monetary policy is
scheduled during June 5-7, 2024.
 Inflation Expectations Survey of
Households:
o Aim: To capture subjective
assessments on price movements and
inflation
o It is based on individual consumption
baskets
o Launched in 19 cities
 Consumer Confidence Survey
o Aim: To seek qualitative responses
from households, regarding their
sentiments on general economic
situation, employment scenario, price
level, households' income and
spending.
o It is also conducted in 19 cities.
148. Tie-up between HDFC Life and Peerless
Financial Products Distribution Ltd. (PFPDL)
 MoU between: HDFC Life and Peerless
Financial Products Distribution Ltd. (PFPDL)
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Type: Corporate agency tie-up
 Reason: To enable PFPDL to distribute life
insurance products of HDFC Life to its
customers.
 PFPDL is a subsidiary of the Peerless General
Finance & Investment Co. Ltd (PGFI), one of
India's oldest and biggest NBFCs in East India.
149. ADB operations reach USD23.6 billion in
2023
 Report Title: ADB's Annual Report 2023
 Released by: The Asian Development Bank
(ADB)
 Achievement:
o ADB committed $23.6 billion from its
own resources in 2023
o It also include $9.8 billion for climate
action.
 The $23.6 billion comprised loans, grants,
equity investments, guarantees, and technical
assistance provided to governments and the
private sector.
 ADB mobilized an additional $16.4 billion in
cofinancing through its strong partnerships.
 Aim: To help Asia and the Pacific progress on
sustainable development
 Summarize of report:
o ADB supported its developing
member countries (DMCs) to address
the worsening climate crisis as well as
the impacts of conflicts, food
insecurity, and increased debt
burdens, among other challenges.
150. PayU invests $5 million in cross-border
payments start-up BRISKPE
 Context: PayU invested $5 million in a seed
round in cross-border payments platform
BRISKPE.
 Pay U is backed by Prosus
 Reason: To improve its product and service
offerings, expand its team, and scale its
services.
 BRISKPE:
o Launched in 2023.
o Led by Chief Executive Sanjay
Tripathy and Chief Product and
Technology Officer Nilesh Pathak.
 Recently, PayU receives RBI's in-principle
approval for payment aggregator role
 Payment Aggregator:
 It is an intermediary between businesses
and financial institutions.
 Example: Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Phone
pe, and PayPal
 Capital Requirements:
o Minimum net worth of Rs 15 crore at
the time of application
o It must be reached Rs 25 crore by the
end of the third financial year post-
authorisation.
o Authorisation Process: RBI under the
Payment and Settlement Systems Act,
2007 (PSS)
151. ATM withdrawals spike to Rs 1.43 crore in
FY24
 Report by: CMS Consumption Report
 Highlights:
 Monthly average ATM cash withdrawals in
the last year have spiked by 5.51%.
 The withdrawals have risen from Rs 1.35
crore in FY23 to Rs 1.43 crore in FY24.
 Reflection: Spend more cash, Increased
overall consumption
 Average cash withdrawal increased by
10.37% in the metros, followed Semi-urban
and rural (SURU) (3.94%), and Semi-metros
(3.73%).
 The consumption hotspots in ATM
withdrawal in India were led by:
o Two Northern states: Delhi and Uttar
Pradesh
o Two Southern states: Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka
o One Eastern state: West Bengal
 Public Sector Bank:
o 49% of the ATMs are located in
metropolitan and urban areas
o 51% of the ATMs are located in SURU.
 Private Sector Bank:
o 64% of the ATMs are located in
metropolitan and urban areas
o 36% of the ATMs are located in SURU
 Highest annual average withdrawal (FY24):
Karnataka (Rs 1.83 crore), followed by Delhi
and West Bengal at Rs 1.82 crore and Rs 1.62
crore
 14 out of 23 States & UT witnessed 6.45% YoY
growth in the annual average ATM
withdrawal, and 9 States and UT saw an
average 4.14% YoY decline.
152. Tata Motors ties up with South Indian Bank
for commercial vehicle finance
 MoU between: South Indian Bank and Tata
Motors
 Agenda: To offer financing solutions to its
commercial vehicle customers and
dealerships.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
153. Commercial Paper Issuances Surge to Four-
Year High
 Data by: RBI
 Context: Significant uptick in quarterly
commercial paper (CP) issuances
 Background:
o The Reserve Bank of India’s decision
to increase risk weights on bank loans
to higher-rated non-banking financial
companies (NBFCs) has led to a
significant uptick in quarterly
commercial paper (CP) issuances.
o Result: This has propelled CP
issuances by NBFCs to a four-and-a-
half-year high of ₹1.2-lakh crore in
January-March 2024.
International
1. NATO Considers 100 billion Euro Military Fund
for Ukraine
 NATO foreign ministers arrived at strategic
decisions to heighten military support for
war-torn Ukraine.
 This comes as a long-term proposal including
a special standing for a 100 billion Euro fund
extending for five years.
 This is seen as a special gestural support for
Kyiv.
 Amid military aggression and hybrid warfare,
Russia launched well planned attacks on the
Ukrainian zone with its armed military forces.
 About NATO:
o North Atlantic Treaty Organization
o Formation: 4 April 1949
o Secretary General: Jens Stoltenberg
o 32 member states—30 European and
2 North American
o Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
o Finland and Sweden are the newest
members, they joined on 4 April 2023
and 7 March 2024 respectively,
2. Forbes Richest List 2024: Bernard Arnault
retains title as World's richest person
 Bernard Arnault has secured the top spot on
Forbes' World's Billionaires list for the
second consecutive year.
 He is the renowned chairman and CEO of
luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy
Louis Vuitton SA.
 Estimated fortune of $233 billion.
 Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance
Industries, as Asia's wealthiest individual,
with a staggering net worth of $116 billion.
 This significant increase from $83 billion has
placed Ambani as the sole Asian member of
the exclusive $100 billion club.
3. Germany Legalizes Recreational Cannabis
 On April 1, 2024, Germany became the largest
European Union (EU) nation to legalize
recreational cannabis use, despite facing
opposition from politicians and medical
associations.
 Under the new law, adults over 18 are now
permitted to carry up to 25 grams of dried
cannabis and cultivate up to three marijuana
plants at home.
 Germany joins Malta and Luxembourg as
countries with the most liberal cannabis laws
in Europe.
 From July 1, 2024, “cannabis clubs” will be
allowed to distribute up to 50 grams of
cannabis per person per month to their
members, with a maximum of 500 members
per club.
4. Korean Fusion Reactor ‘Artificial Sun’ Sets New
Record
 Scientists in South Korea have set a new
world record using the Korea
Superconducting Tokamak Advanced
Research (KSTAR) device, an "artificial sun"
nuclear fusion reactor.
 During tests conducted between December
2023 and February 2024, they generated
plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees
Celsius for 48 seconds.
 The achieved temperature of 100 million
degrees Celsius is a remarkable seven times
hotter than the Sun’s core, which has a
temperature of approximately 15 million
degrees Celsius.
 Nuclear fusion aims to replicate the reaction
that powers the Sun and other stars, by fusing
two atoms to release immense amounts of
energy.
5. World’s Most Powerful Laser Developed in
Romania
 A research center in Romania has developed
the world's most powerful laser.
 It is a part of the European Union
Infrastructure Extreme Light Infrastructure
(ELI) project.
 The laser is operated by the French company
Thales Group.
 It utilizes Nobel Prize-winning inventions and
promises revolutionary advancements in
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
various fields, including healthcare and space
exploration.
 The laser is housed at a research center near
the Romanian capital, Bucharest.
 The laser technology, known as chirped pulse
amplification (CPA) technique, used in the
Romanian facility is based on the inventions
of Gérard Mourou from France and Donna
Strickland from Canada.
 They were awarded the Nobel Prize in
Physics in 2018
 Reason: For their groundbreaking work in
harnessing the power of lasers for advanced
precision instruments.
6. Russia’s Veto on North Korea’s Sanctions
Monitoring
 The United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
has been monitoring North Korea’s
compliance with sanctions imposed due to its
nuclear weapons and ballistic missile
programs.
 A panel of experts was set up in 2009 to track
and report on any violations of these
sanctions.
 However, in recent developments, Russia has
used its veto power to halt the UN’s
monitoring of sanctions violations by North
Korea.
 Russia claimed that the panel was not doing
its job and was biased towards Western
approaches.
 This veto is seen as a significant win for North
Korea, as it can now potentially evade
sanctions without the UN’s oversight.
7. Museum files lawsuits to ‘protect’ dignity of
Michelangelo’s David
 Recently, the Galleria dell’Accademia in
Florence has filed lawsuits against the
unauthorized commercial use of
Michelangelo’s David statue.
 Aim: To protect the artwork’s dignity and
artistic integrity
 The museum seeks to enforce its rights under
Italy’s Cultural Heritage Code, which allows
cultural institutions to control the
reproduction and use of images of the
artworks they hold.
 Michelangelo’s David is a renowned marble
sculpture.
 It was created by the Italian Renaissance
artist Michelangelo Buonarroti between 1501
and 1504.
 The statue depicts the Biblical figure David, a
young shepherd who fought and defeated the
giant Goliath.
8. EVI, the world’s first conversational AI with
emotional intelligence
 AI startup Hume AI has announced the launch
of EVI, which they claim is the world's first
emotionally intelligent AI.
 Hume calls its innovation Empathic Voice
Interface (EVI) which is essentially an API
that is powered by its proprietary empathic
large language model (eLLM).
 This eLLM reportedly understands and
emulates tones of voices, and word emphasis
to optimise human-AI conversations.
9. OpenAI’s new Voice Engine clones human
speech
 The company behind AI chatbot ChatGPT,
OpenAI introduced a new AI model that can
replicate any voice in any language by simply
using a brief audio sample.
 Known as Voice Engine
 It lets users upload a 15-second audio sample
and use it to generate audio in the same voice
and manner of speaking.
 3 reasons why Voice Engine is
groundbreaking:
 Providing reading assistance: This feature
makes non-readers and children learn or
understand languages through natural-
sounding, emotive voices representing a
variety of speakers.
 Translating content
 Supporting people who are non-verbal,
helping patients recover their voice
 Why is Voice Engine seen as potentially
dangerous?
 There have been numerous instances where
AI voice cloning has been used to dupe
people.
 These AI tools use deep learning algorithms
to analyse voice samples to create speech.
 Owing to refinement in models over time,
they generate realistic voices, making them
dangerous tools.
 Deepfakes and AI cloning tools are already
being used by malicious actors, who assume
the identities of popular figures to sway
political sentiments.
10. F1 owner Liberty Media acquires MotoGP in
€4.2bn deal
 Formula One owner Liberty Media has
purchased MotoGP in a deal worth an
enterprise value of €4.2 billion (US$4.5
billion).
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The US media company will acquire
approximately 86 per cent of Dorna, the
commercial rights holder of the global
motorcycling series.
 Dorna will remain an independently run
company attributed to Liberty Media’s
Formula One Group tracking stock, and long-
time chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta will
remain in his position.
 Dorna will retain around 14 per cent of equity
in the business.
 Drona also holds the exclusive rights to the
World Superbike Championship, the all-
electric MotoE series, and the Moto2 and
Moto3 feeder series,
11. WHO Introduces Digital Health Promoter
Prototype
 The World Health Organization (WHO) has
introduced a digital health promoter
prototype, S.A.R.A.H., set to redefine health
information dissemination.
 Short for Smart AI Resource Assistant for
Health
 This prototype boasts an advanced
empathetic response powered by generative
artificial intelligence (AI).
 This innovation marks a significant
advancement in AI-powered health
education, appealing to a wide range of global
audiences by harnessing cutting-edge
technology and state-of-the-art language
models.
12. QCI and LUB Signed MoU to Boost MSME
Competitiveness
 The Quality Council of India (QCI) has signed
an 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, and state and
district-level consultations.
 Aim: To promote the implementation of lean
concepts and sustainable practices among
LUB members.
 About Quality Council of India (QCI).
 Chairperson: Jaxay Shah
 Secretary General: Rajesh Maheshwari
 Headquarters: New Delhi
 Establishment: 1997
13. India-EFTA agreement aligns tariff
concessions with investment promotion
 India and the four-nation region of EFTA
(European Free Trade Association) have
come together in the newly inked Trade and
Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
 The negotiations took 16 years.
 In exchange for significant tariff reduction,
the EFTA countries will work towards
increasing foreign direct investment in India
by private investors of the EFTA states by $50
billion within 10 years from the entry into
force of TEPA.
 There will be an additional $50 billion
investment in the succeeding 5 years.
 Further, in the same period of 15 years from
the entry into force of TEPA, the four
European countries will also aim to facilitate
generation of 1 million jobs in the form of
direct employment stemming from the
foreign direct investment made.
 The investments routed from outside the
EFTA bloc will also be taken into account, if it
is shown that the investment is being made
by investors of Switzerland, Lichtenstein,
Iceland and Norway.
14. US and UK Sign Agreement on AI Safety
Testing
 The United States and the United Kingdom
have signed an agreement to work together
on developing tests for the most advanced
artificial intelligence (AI) models.
 This agreement is a follow-through on
commitments made at the Bletchley Park AI
Safety Summit 2023.
 The move comes as the world is trying to set
guardrails around the rapid proliferation of
AI systems, which offer opportunities but also
pose significant threats to various societal
set-ups, from misinformation to election
integrity.
15. World Economic Forum Announces 2024
Young Global Leaders Community
 The World Economic Forum (WEF) has
announced the 20th edition of its Young
Global Leaders Community: The Class of
2024.
 The list includes nearly 90 individuals under
the age of 40 from diverse fields, including
politics, business, civil society, the arts, and
academia.
 This year, five Indians have been selected for
the Young Global Leaders program. They are:
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
o Bhumi Pednekar (Art and Culture)
o Adwaita Nayar (Business) – Chief
Executive Officer, Nyka Fashion
o Arjun Bhartia (Business) – Director,
Jubilant Group
o Priya Aggarwal Hebbar (Business) –
Non-Executive Director, Vedanta
Limited
o Sharad Vivek Sagar (Social
Entrepreneurs) – Founder and Chief
Executive Officer, Dexterity Global
16. India Tops WADA’s Doping Offenders List in
2022
 Report by: World Anti-Doping Agency
(WADA) report
 India tops the list of doping offenders in 2022,
with 3.26% of samples testing positive for
banned substances.
 Out of 4,064 samples collected from Indian
athletes, 127 individuals tested positive for
banned substances, constituting 3.26% of the
sample size.
 The report also reveals a 6.4% increase in the
total number of samples analyzed compared
to the previous year.
 Additionally, the percentage of Adverse
Analytical Findings (AAFs) rose to 0.77% in
2022 from 0.65% in 2021, indicating a
growing issue worldwide.
 India’s doping violations surpassed those of
major sporting nations such as Russia, the
United States, Italy, and France.
 China conducted the highest number of
samples testing but had a lower percentage of
adverse findings compared to India.
17. Nepal Army Launches Mountain Cleaning
Campaign 2024 at Mt Everest
 The Nepal Army will collect around 10 tonnes
of garbage and five bodies lying at Mt Everest
as part of the Mountain Cleaning Campaign
2024 in the Everest region.
 Aim: To control human-made pollution in the
Himalayas and address problems related to
climate change.
 A 12-member team led by Major Aditya Karki
will embark on the Everest base camp on
April 14, 2024.
 An 18-member Sherpa team will assist the
army in its cleaning expedition.
 The expedition will be flagged off by Nepal
Army Chief General Prabhuram Sharma in
Kathmandu.
 The team will bring garbage from Mt Everest,
Mt Lhotse, and Mt Nuptse.
 Biodegradable waste will be brought to
Namche Bazaar below the base camp and
handed over to the Sagarmatha Pollution
Control Committee (SPCC) for proper
treatment.
 Non-biodegradable waste and dead bodies
will be brought to Kathmandu.
 The Nepal Army will collaborate with the
Ministry of Forest and Environment, the
Tourism Department, and the Nepal
Mountaineers Association for the Everest
region’s cleaning campaign.
 Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain,
stands at 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above
sea level.
18. ByteDance, OpenAI, Canva: 2024's top 10
global unicorns
 Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2024
 The index provides a ranking for the world's
most valuable start-ups founded in the 2000s,
each worth at least a billion dollars and yet to
be listed on a public exchange.
 Indian founders are establishing more
unicorns abroad than at home, with a
majority in the United States.
 The top 10 unicorns are mainly found in
China and the US, with both countries having
four each.
 The leading unicorns added $198 billion in
value, accounting for 45% of the year's
overall increase in valuation among unicorns
worldwide.
 OpenAI, Canva, and Binance made their debut
among the top ranks in 2024.
 Previous incumbents like Telegram, Revolut,
and Cainiao moved down the ranks.
 With a valuation of $220 billion, ByteDance
has not only retained its position at the helm
but has also outshone Tencent.
 Unicorns now span 53 countries and 291
cities.
 The US and China lead, with India solidifying
its position as a major hub for innovative
startups.
 San Francisco maintains its status as the
world's unicorn capital, with Singapore
emerging as a fast-growing hub for unicorn
companies.
19. Indonesian Delegation Visits India to Learn
Best Practices in Mid-Day Meal Scheme and
Digital Inclusion
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 An Indonesian delegation led by Mochammad
Firman Hidayat, Deputy Coordinating
Minister of Maritime Resources, Coordinating
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment,
visited India.
 Reason: To explore collaboration in various
sectors and learn from India’s best practices
in the mid-day meal scheme and digital
inclusion.
 The visit comes in the context of Indonesia’s
recently concluded elections and the
incoming administration’s plans to introduce
new socio-economic initiatives.
 Indonesia’s President-elect Prabowo has
proposed implementing a mid-day meal
scheme in schools, similar to India’s program,
as part of his election manifesto.
 At the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology, the Indonesian
delegation gained insights into India’s Digital
Public Infrastructure, particularly the Jan
Dhan Aadhar Mobile (JAM) trinity initiative
for financial inclusion and accessibility.
20. 111-Year-Old John Alfred Tinniswood
Becomes World’s New Oldest Man
 Guinness World Records (GWR) has shared a
video of the world's oldest living man, 111-
year-old John Alfred Tinniswood, from
England.
 Tinniswood was born in 1912 in Merseyside,
northern England, and has lived through two
world wars.
21. China Surpasses India as Largest Importer of
Russian Crude
 China has surpassed India as the primary
importer of Russian crude oil via sea routes
 China imported 1.82 million barrels per day
(bpd) in March compared to India’s 1.36
million bpd.
 This shift is attributed to India’s slowdown in
imports due to sanctions and rising prices.
 This trend marks a significant shift, as China
has become the largest buyer of Russian
seaborne crude.
22. Google launches Find My Device for Android
 Google has announced the rollout of Find My
Device for Android devices globally, starting
with the US and Canada.
 The feature uses a crowdsourced network,
essentially a network of Android
smartphones.
 Aim: To help locate misplaced Android
devices and other important items tagged
with compatible accessories such as location
trackers.
23. 57 Companies Responsible for 80% of World’s
Carbon Emissions
 A report released by InfluenceMap
 Highlights: Just 57 companies are responsible
for 80% of the world's carbon emissions from
fossil fuels and cement over the past seven
years.
 These 57 companies are involved in the
production of oil, gas, coal, and cement in the
world.
 The report concludes that the net zero target
set under the Paris Climate Change
Agreement in 2015 has not been achieved.
 Fossil fuels have not been able to have a
significant impact on production.
 The production of cement and fossil fuels has
reached unprecedented levels, and most of
the emissions growth has come from a
relatively small number of large companies.
 The report used the Carbon Majors database
for fossil fuel data from the top 122 oil, gas,
coal, and cement producers.
 The Carbon Measures database was founded
in 2013 by Richard Heed of the Climate
Accountability Institute.
24. India Ranks Second in Hepatitis B and C Cases
Worldwide
 WHO's 2024 Global Hepatitis Report
 India ranks second globally in Hepatitis B and
C cases, trailing behind China.
 Hepatitis, characterized by liver
inflammation, poses significant health risks
and can be fatal.
 The report highlights that 254 million people
are affected by Hepatitis B and 50 million by
Hepatitis C globally.
 The report emphasizes that individuals aged
30–54 bear half the burden of chronic
Hepatitis B and C infections.
25. India Emerges as Fourth Largest Exporter of
Digitally Delivered Services: WTO Report
 Report on Global Trade Outlook and Statistics
released by the World Trade Organization
(WTO)
 India has now become the fourth largest
exporter of digitally delivered services.
 The country’s share in international trade in
services has increased to more than a fifth.
 In 2023, India’s digitally delivered services
exports were estimated at $257 billion, which
is 17% higher than the previous year.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 This growth has allowed India to surpass
Germany in the rankings.
 But, it still lags behind the United States, the
United Kingdom, and Ireland.
 Digitally delivered services, which include
professional services in education, gaming,
and streaming music and videos, have seen a
significant increase over the past two
decades.
 The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an
international organization that regulates and
facilitates global trade between nations.
 Established in 1995.
 It succeeded the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
26. Rare Superman Comic Sells for Record $6
Million at Auction
 A 1938 copy of Action Comics No. 1 has been
sold for a record-setting $6 million at auction.
 The comic introduced Superman to the world.
 The rare comic was purchased by an
anonymous buyer, making it the most
expensive comic book ever sold at auction.
 The previous record was held by another
Superman comic, Superman No. 1, which sold
privately for $5.3 million in 2022.
 Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
27. Justin Trudeau unveils $1.8 billion package
for Canada's AI sector
 Canada is launching a fund to boost its
artificial intelligence sector and creating a
new AI safety institute.
 A C$2.4 billion ($1.8 billion) package of
measures related to artificial intelligence
 The centerpiece is C$2 billion for “computing
capabilities and technological infrastructure”
that can accelerate the work of AI
researchers, startups and other firms
 Other money will be allocated to speed the
adoption of AI in sectors such as agriculture
and healthcare
 Canada has yet to adopt a law to regulate AI.
 The Artificial Intelligence and Data Act was
introduced in 2022
 But it’s still under consideration by members
of parliament
28. UAE’s Masdar to Host World Future Energy
Summit
 UAE’s prominent clean energy company,
Masdar is set to host the World Future Energy
Summit (WFES) from April 16 to 18 at the
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
(ADNEC).
 This summit serves as a pivotal global event
focusing on future energy, clean technology,
and sustainability, featuring various
discussions, forums, and activations.
 It will feature engaging panels and
presentations, including forums by Masdar’s
initiatives such as Y4S (Youth 4
Sustainability) and WiSER (Women in
Sustainability, Environment and Renewable
Energy).
 Masdar will also host the annual Green
Hydrogen Summit.
 Masdar aims to achieve a renewable energy
portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030.
29. World-first “Cybercrime Index” ranks
countries by cybercrime threat level
 An international team of researchers have
compiled the first ever ‘World Cybercrime
Index’.
 It identifies the globe’s key cybercrime
hotspots by ranking the most significant
sources of cybercrime at a national level.
 Russia tops the list, followed by Ukraine,
China, the USA, Nigeria, and Romania.
 The UK comes in at number eight.
 Index developed as a joint partnership
between the University of Oxford and UNSW.
 It has also been funded by CRIMGOV, a
European Union-supported project based at
the University of Oxford and Sciences Po.
30. Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes
Conference
 Conference hosted by: Bhutanese
government
 Conference on: Earth Day 2024
 Aim: To mobilize USD 1 billion over the next
decade for conserving tigers and their
habitats across Asia
 Since 2010, the Global Environment Facility
has provided more than USD 197 million in
financing and mobilized another USD 880
million, in co-finance, for tiger conservation.
31. Asia world's most 'disaster hit' region with
rising climate crisis: Report
 Report by: World Meteorological
Organisation (WMO)
 Report Title: ‘State of the Climate in Asia –
2023’
 Highlight:
 Asia as the world's most "disaster-hit" region
in 2023
 Reason: Casualties and economic losses due
to floods, storms, and heat waves.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 India's severe heat waves in April and June
led to some 110 fatalities.
32. India Calls for Regional Observation Center at
2024 Ocean Decade Conference
 Conference: 2024 Ocean Decade Conference
 Location: Barcelona, Spain
 Organized by: Spanish government and
UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission
 Theme: “Delivering the science we need for
the ocean we want.”
 Aim:
 To assess progress toward the goals of the
United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for
Sustainable Development (2021-2030)
 Foster collaboration among stakeholders
 United Nations Decade of Ocean Science
for Sustainable Development
o Launched by:United Nations
o Launched in: January 2021
o Aim: Provide a framework for global
stakeholders to engage and
collaborate in building science-
informed policies.
o Challenges: Ten challenges outlined,
including understanding marine
pollution, protecting biodiversity, and
developing a sustainable ocean
economy.
 India's stand:
o Led by Earth Sciences Secretary M.
Ravichandran
o India advocated for the establishment
of a region-specific ocean observation
center
o Advocated for people-centered early
warning systems for multiple
hazards.
o Emphasized involving local
communities, NGOs, and industries to
enhance ocean literacy and related
programs.
o Stressed the need for designing
regional projects, such as ocean
forecasting, tailored to user
communities’ needs.
33. UK pledges an additional $620 million in new
military supplies for Ukraine
 The UK pledged an additional $620 million in
new military supplies for Ukraine
 It include long-range missiles and four
millions rounds of ammunition
 It also include 400 vehicles, 60 boats, 1,600
munitions and 4 million rounds of
ammunition.
 The shipment will include British Storm
Shadow long-range missiles, which have a
range of some 150 miles and have proved
effective at hitting Russian targets.
34. India-Kuwait Relations Strengthened with
Inaugural Hindi Radio Broadcast
 The Indian Embassy in Kuwait announced the
launch of the first-ever Hindi radio broadcast
in Kuwait.
 Initiated by: Ministry of Information of
Kuwait
 The program will air every Sunday on FM
93.3 and AM 96.3
 Highlight: Strenthen the bond between India
and Kuwait
 India has been a natural trading partner of
Kuwait, and until 1961, the Indian rupee was
the legal tender in Kuwait.
 The year 2021-22 marked the 60th
anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
35. Microsoft’s VASA-1 Bringing Images to Life
with AI
 Context: Converion of still images into
animated representations with synchronized
speech or song, exhibiting realistic facial
expressions.
 AI tool: VASA-1
 VASA-1 launched by: Microsoft Research Asia
 VASA-1 is an innovative AI application
showcased in a recent paper on arXiv.
 Notably, the system generates high-
resolution (512-by-512 pixels) animations at
45 frames per second, with an average
processing time of two minutes per video
using a Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU.
36. India ranks 4th in global military spending at
$83.6 bn in 2023
 Context: India was the world's fourth-largest
military spender in 2023
 Report by: Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute
 Top Three: The United States (US), China, and
Russia
 India's expenditure: $83.6 billion (To
modernise a range of weapons and combat
systems)
 India's military spending saw a 4.2 per cent
increase compared to 2022
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 India's modernisation efforts include
investments in fighter jets, helicopters,
warships, tanks, artillery guns, rockets,
missiles, unmanned capabilities, and other
combat systems.
 On February 1, India allocated Rs 6.21 trillion
for defence spending in the interim Budget
for 2024-25, 4.72 per cent higher than the
budget estimates for 2023-24.
 This year's defence budget represents 1.89
per cent of India's projected gross domestic
product (GDP) for 2024-25.
 In comparison, China, the world's second-
largest military spender, allocated an
estimated $296 billion to its military in 2023,
a 6 per cent increase from the previous year.
 Globally, total military expenditure reached
$2443 billion in 2023, marking a 6.8 per cent
increase from 2022.
 The US saw a 2.3 per cent increase in military
spending, reaching $916 billion, while
Russia's military expenditure surged by 24
per cent to an estimated $109 billion.
 Top 10 countries with highest military
spending in 2023
 United States: $916 billion
 China: $296 billion (estimated)
 Russia: $109 billion (estimated)
 India: $83.6 billion
 Saudi Arabia: $75.8 billion (estimated)
 United Kingdom: $74.9 billion
 Germany: $66.8 billion
 Ukraine: $64.8 billion
 France: $61.3 billion
 Japan: $50.32 billion
37. Nepal Hosts First International Rainbow
Tourism Conference
 Nepal hosted its first International Rainbow
Tourism Conference in Kathmandu
 Aim: To promote the country as a safe and
inclusive destination for LGBT tourists.
 This conference was organized by the NGO
Mayako Pahichan Nepal in collaboration with
the Nepal Tourism Board.
 The conference’s primary goal was to
establish Nepal as an LGBT-friendly tourism
hub.
 Nepal’s initiative to promote itself as an
LGBT-friendly destination seems to be a
strategic economic move as Rainbow tourism
can drive significant economic growth by
attracting a diverse range of visitors.
38. Israel launches fund to entice institutional
investment in tech firms
 The government of Israel has launched a new
fund called Yozma 2.0.
 Aim: To encourage institutional investors,
such as insurance companies and pension
funds, to increase their investments in high-
tech companies.
 The fund aims to diversify the sources of
funding for Israel’s tech sector, which plays a
crucial role in the country’s economy.
 Tech sector accounts for nearly 20% of
Israel’s output, 12% of jobs, over 50% of
exports, and 25% of tax income
 Traditionally, most investments in Israel’s
tech companies have come from venture
capital funds
 Yozma 2.0 will offer institutional investors a
mechanism to enhance returns on their
investments in tech-focused Israeli venture
capital funds
 Israel Innovation Authority to contribute 30
cents for every dollar of institutional
investment
 Will allocate $160 million in public money to
venture capital funds over 20 months
 Designed to support early-stage Israel’s tech
companies, particularly in deep technology
sectors
 Aims to diversify funding sources for Israel’s
tech sector
 Launched by the Israel Innovation Authority
and the Finance Ministry
40. Bhutan Hosts Tiger Conservation Conference
2024
 Bhutan is hosting the Sustainable Finance for
Tiger Landscapes Conference on Earth Day
2024.
 Aim: To mobilize $1 billion in new funding
over the next decade for the preservation of
tiger landscapes across Asia.
 These landscapes are crucial for maintaining
biodiversity, sequestering carbon, supporting
over 100 million people, and ensuring the
overall health of the planet.
 The two-day conference is being hosted
under the patronage of Bhutan’s Queen,
Jetsun Pema Wangchuck.
 It is co-organized by the Royal Government of
Bhutan and the Tiger Conservation Coalition.
 The conference will include expert panels on
sustainable finance, linkages with the UN’s
Global Biodiversity Framework, and the role
of public-private partnerships in
safeguarding tiger landscapes.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Global Tiger Population
o In 2023, the International Union for
Conservation of Nature announced
that the global tiger population had
stabilized and potentially increased.
o Data suggested a potential 40%
increase in tiger numbers, from 3,200
in 2015 to 4,500 in 2022, despite
extreme threats.
 The status of tiger conservation in India
 India has made significant strides in tiger
conservation, with the latest figures showing
an increase in their numbers.
 Tiger population rose to 3,167 in 2022, up
from 2,967 in 2018
 India hosts around 75% of the global tiger
population
 Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of
tigers
 Project Tiger, launched in 1973, has played a
crucial role
 Challenges include habitat loss, poaching, and
human-animal conflicts
 The Global Environment Facility has
provided more than $197 million in financing
and mobilized another $880 million in co-
finance for tiger conservation since 2010.
41. EU eases Schengen visa rules for Indians
allowing validity up to 5 years
 The EU has eased Schengen visa rules for
Indians allowing frequent travellers multi-
entry visa for a period up to five years.
 Standard rules for Schengen visas allow the
holder to travel freely in the Schengen area,
comprising 29 European countries, for short
stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180
days.
 The visas do not grant the right to work.
 This decision comes in the context of
strengthened relations under the EU-India
Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility,
which seeks comprehensive cooperation on
migration policy between the EU and India,
with facilitation of people-to-people contacts
being of key aspect due to the importance of
India as a partner for the EU.
 The Schengen area includes Belgium,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia,
Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
42. Mauritius tightens over offshore funds
 Context: Stricter scrutiny on offshore fund
structures
 Imposed by: Mauritius
 Recent amendments to the India-Mauritius
tax treaty and tax notices from Indian
authorities to Mauritius-based funds
contribute to the tighter regulatory
environment.
 Emerging alternatives like GIFT City may
deter funds from choosing Mauritius as their
jurisdiction.
 Mauritius, having exited the FATF grey list in
October 2021, seeks to distance itself from its
reputation as a quasi-tax haven.
 Enhanced KYC measures and routine audits
by the Financial Services Commission aim to
align with international tax norms.
 The time required for fund setup has
increased to 6-9 months due to intensified
scrutiny.
 Greater emphasis on beneficial owner
experience, fund sources, commercial
substance, and compliance measures.
 Mauritius emphasizes its commitment to
eliminating the tax haven image but faces
challenges in dispelling this perception.
 Larger funds consider alternative
jurisdictions like GIFT City, Singapore, and
Cayman Islands due to difficulties in setting
up funds in Mauritius.
43. Sweden Becomes 38th Signatory to the
Artemis Accords
 Sweden officially became the 38th nation to
sign the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration(NASA)'s "Artemis Accords".
 It establishes a practical set of guidelines for
peaceful space exploration and the use of
outer space.
 Switzerland became the 37th country to sign
the Artemis Accords.
 The Artemis Accords was jointly launched by
the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) and the US
Department of State in 2020 to advance
bilateral and multilateral space cooperation
between the signatories.
 Signatories of Artemis Accord:
o Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain,
Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada,
Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
India, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands,
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, the
Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda,
Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UAE,
UK, USA, and Uruguay.
44. WHO prequalifies new oral vaccine for
cholera
 The World Health Organization (WHO) has
recently prequalified a new oral vaccine for
Cholera called Euvichol-S.
 It is the inactivated oral vaccine to treat
Cholera.
 This new vaccine is the third product of the
same family of vaccines that are there for
cholera in the WHO prequalification list.
 It is a simplified oral cholera vaccine (OCV)
Euvichol-Plus formulation.
 Other inactivated oral cholera vaccines are
Euvichol and Euvichol-Plus.
 Cholera: It is an acute diarrhoeal disease that
is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
45. World’s First ‘Miss AI’ Beauty Pageant
Features AI Judges
 The World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs) has
announced the world’s first ‘Miss AI’ beauty
pageant.
 It features AI-generated models competing in
a unique event that blends traditional beauty
pageantry with the world of AI creators.
 Contestants will be judged on beauty, tech,
and social media influence, with a focus on
their use of AI tools to craft digital artwork.
 The winner of ‘Miss AI’ will receive a $5,000
cash prize, promotion on the Fanvue
platform, a mentorship program valued at
$3,000, and PR support worth over $5,000.
46. Climate Change to Cost Global Economy in
Trillions: Study
 A report has highlighted alarming economic
consequences of climate change, predicting
that the global economy could face annual
losses of up to USD 38 trillion by 2049.
 The study was conducted by scientists at the
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research (PIK) in Germany.
 It warns that global income could drop by
19% within the next 25 years due to the
impacts of climate change, even if significant
efforts are made to reduce carbon emissions.
 The study, which analyzed detailed weather
and economic data from over 1,600 regions
worldwide spanning the past 40 years,
projects that the majority of regions will
experience substantial income reductions.
 North America and Europe are among the
hardest hit, while South Asia and Africa face
the most severe impacts, primarily driven by
the effects of climate change on agricultural
yields, labor productivity, and infrastructure.
 The United States and European Union are
also expected to incur significant economic
costs due to climate change.
 Climate change is the long-term alteration of
temperature and weather patterns, primarily
caused by human activities such as burning
fossil fuels.
 Global temperatures have risen by 1.1°C since
pre-industrial times.
 Sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate of
3.6 mm per year.
 Extreme weather events like heatwaves,
droughts, and floods are becoming more
frequent and intense.
 The Paris Agreement aims to limit global
warming to well below 2°C.
47. Women in tech workforce in GCCs to rise to
35% by 2027: TeamLease report
 Report by: TeamLease Digital
 Report Title: Women at the Heart of India's
Digital Evolution
 Highlights:
 It examines women's employment in GCCs
and non-tech sectors, city-wise trends in
workforce expansion, and in-demand and
futuristic tech roles for women.
 The proportion of women in technology roles
within global capability centers (GCCs) is
poised to rise from 25% to 35% by 2027.
 Additionally, it addresses the challenges
faced by women in tech.
 Tech roles such as quantum computing
scientist, blockchain developer, AI ethics
officer, AI researcher, cybersecurity analyst,
and many more.
 The report further highlights a significant
gender disparity, with an estimated 2.05
million women compared to 3.61 million men
in the tech industry as of 2024.
 This disparity is attributed to various
challenges women face, including low
educational enrolment, lack of quality
opportunities, gender pay gap, safety
concerns, societal norms, discriminatory
workplace practices, and a lack of upskilling
and reskilling opportunities.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 City-specific statistics reveal that tier-1 cities
lead in women workforce participation, with
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat
expected to be hubs for female hiring.
 In the manufacturing sector, Tamil Nadu
currently employs 43 per cent of the total
female workforce.
 At the hierarchy level, fresher positions have
the highest concentration of women at 34%,
followed by 26% in junior roles (3 to 5 years
experience), 18% in mid-senior roles (5 to 15
years experience), 11% in leadership roles
(15-20 years experience), and only 8% in the
C-suite or boardroom level.
48. Nigeria Rolls Out Men5CV Meningitis Vaccine
 Nigeria has become the first country in the
world to roll out a new vaccine (Men5CV).
 It was recommended by the World Health
Organization (WHO).
 Aim: To protect against five strains of the
meningococcus bacteria.
 Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis hyper-
endemic countries in Africa and experienced
an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis
(meningococcus) serogroup C, leading to a
significant number of cases and deaths.
 The vaccine is funded by Global Alliance for
Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), the
Vaccine Alliance.
 Gavi supports lower-income countries with
routine vaccination against meningitis.
49. USD 4.2 trillion needed in Investments to
close Development Financing Gap in SDGs
 The United Nations Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (UN DESA) released the 9th
edition of 'Financing for Sustainable
Development Report 2024 (FSDR 2024)-
Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for
Development'
 Theme: 'Financing for Development at a
Crossroads'
 To overcome or close the development
financing gap, an estimated USD 4.2 trillion in
investments are required, as compared to
USD 2.5 trillion before the onset of the COVID-
19 pandemic.
 The report highlights the necessity of
economic transitions for achieving
sustainable development goals (SDGs) which
will require investments at unprecedented
scale.
 This report is a joint product of the members
of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing
for Development (IATF).
 Debt servicing costs for Least Developed
Countries (LDCs) are estimated at USD 40
billion between 2023 and 2025, up over 50%
i.e. USD 26 billion from 2022.
50. First Trilateral Summit Meeting of US, Japan,
and Philippines
 American President Joe Biden hosted the
inaugural trilateral summit among the United
States, Japan, and the Philippines at the White
House in Washington D.C.
 The meeting underscored the commitment of
the United States to support its allies, Japan
and the Philippines, amid escalating
territorial disputes with China.
 Prior to the summit, the maritime forces of
the Philippines, Japan, the United States, and
Australia conducted a joint maritime exercise
named Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA).
 It was held in the Philippines’ exclusive
economic zone, in response to Chinese
harassment allegations by the Philippines.
 Dispute with China
 Philippines’ Dispute:
 Focus on the Second Thomas Shoal, situated
about 200 kilometers from Palawan.
 The Philippines grounded a ship, BRP Sierra
Madre, in 1999 to strengthen its claim on the
shoal, leading to ongoing clashes with
Chinese vessels attempting to block or harass
Philippine resupply missions.
 Japan’s Dispute:
 The Senkaku Islands dispute between China
and Japan involves incursions by Chinese
ships into Japanese territorial waters since
2008.
 The United States affirms its defense treaty
with Japan, asserting that Senkaku Island falls
under its protection.
51. Despite uncertainties, services exports grow
11.4% in 2023: UNCTAD report
 Report by: UNCTAD
 Highlights:
 India's services exports jumped 11.4% to
$345 billion in 2023 despite global economic
uncertainties
 Sectors that contribute to India's services
export growth include travel, transport,
medical and hospitality.
 China's shipments from the sector contracted
by 10.1% to $381 billion
 With an 8.9 per cent annual rise in current
dollar value terms, the world services exports
surpassed $7.9 trillion in 2023
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The leading exporters among developing
economies include India, China, Singapore,
Turkiye, Thailand, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.
 India's service exports have historically been
concentrated in North America and Europe,
but there is also significant potential for
growth in emerging markets, such as Asia,
Africa, and Latin America.
52. Passport Affordability Rankings 2024
released
 Ranking By: Australian firm Compare the
Market AU
 Context: Global passport affordability and
accessibility
 UAE passport claiming the top spot for
affordability
 Indian passport ranks as the second cheapest
worldwide
 Most Expensive Passport In The World
 Mexico holds that title, with a passport
costing $ 231.05 for 10 years, followed by
Australia at $ 225.78.
53. Earth Day: Israel Embassy Joins 'Million
Miyawaki' Initiative
 The Embassy of Israel in India has joined the
‘Million Miyawaki’ project.
 Aim: To improve air quality in Indian cities
through mass afforestation in urban spaces
 Collaboration with the Million Miyawaki
Foundation
 The embassy will plant a million trees in
Delhi-NCR, creating forest-like Miyawaki
plantations with up to 30 locally sourced
species (as part of Earth Day celebrations).
 Miyawaki Method: Inspired by Japanese
botanist Akira Miyawaki, and boosts
greenery in compact spaces
54. UK passes bill to deport asylum seekers to
Rwanda
 The UK Parliament passed a bill allowing
asylum seekers arriving irregularly to be
deported to Rwanda.
 A move spearheaded by Chancellor Rishi
Sunak to curb Channel crossings.
 The bill cleared both houses and is set to
become law.
 It will apply to anyone who arrives in the UK
without prior permission, even if they aim to
claim asylum on legitimate grounds.
55. Google plans $3 bln data center investment in
Indiana, Virginia
 Google would invest $3 billion to set up a data
center campus in Indiana and expand sites in
Virginia.
 A boom in artificial intelligence applications
has increased the demand for cloud
computing, prompting Big Tech firms to
expand their data center capacity.
 Amazon.com's cloud computing arm
committed $11 billion toward new data
centers in Indiana and creating 1,000 jobs.
56. EAM attended first-ever ASEAN Future Forum
 Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr.
S. Jaishankar participated in the First ‘ASEAN
Future Forum’.
 About Forum:
 It acts as a platform for ASEAN and its
partners to share new ideas and policy
recommendations.
 It aimed at creating a common platform for
ASEAN member states as well as partner
countries and ASEAN people to contribute to
promoting and shaping the bloc’s
development path.
 It was proposed by Vietnam at the 43rd
ASEAN Summit in 2023.
 Theme: Toward fast and sustainable growth
of a people-centered ASEAN Community.
 It took place in Hanoi, Vietnam.
 ASEAN
 It is a group of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations.
 It was established in 1967 with the signing of
the Bangkok declaration.
 Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
 Presently ASEAN comprises 10 member
states namely Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei,
Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.
58. Venice imposes world's first tourist entry fee
 Venice has become the first city in the world
to charge an entry fee for tourists.
 Effective from April 26, 2024
 The roughly $5.37 (Rs 447.48) fee is in a trial
phase of the reservation-and-fee system
 The fee is applicable only on select dates
between April 25 and July 14, encompassing
busy periods and public holidays.
 Primary reason:
 To mitigate the negative impacts of
overcrowding on Venice's delicate historical
sites
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 To encourage visitors to choose less
congested times for their visits.
 Overnight guests in Venice are exempt from
this fee but must apply for an official
exemption.
 Another reason : UNESCO had threatened to
add Venice to its World Heritage in Danger
list in 2023.
59. World’s First Personalised mRNA Vaccine for
Melanoma Undergoing Trials
 A personalized mRNA vaccine for melanoma
is currently undergoing Phase III clinical
trials in the United Kingdom.
 Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin
cancer.
 Developed by: Moderna and Merck Sharp and
Dohme (MSD)
 Designed: To help a patient’s immune system
recognize and eliminate remaining cancerous
cells after surgical removal of the tumor.
 Vaccine name: mRNA-4157 (V940)
 It is created to match the unique genetic
signature of each patient’s tumour.
 The University College London Hospitals
(UCLH) is leading the UK part of the
international trial, aiming to enroll 60-70
patients across eight centres.
60. UNCTAD rebranded as ‘UN Trade and
Development’
 UNCTAD, the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development, has rebranded as
“UN Trade and Development” to mark its
60th anniversary.
 Aim: To enhance its impact and amplify its
voice on behalf of developing countries
 The rebranding initiative includes a new
visual identity aimed at better reflecting the
organization’s work and values.
 The organization will adopt its new name and
logo across all official channels in the six UN
languages.
 About UNCTAD:
o It is a permanent intergovernmental
organization that promotes the
interests of developing countries in
world trade.
o Established by: United Nations
General Assembly
o Established on: December 30, 1964
o Headquarters: Geneva
o Focuses on: Trade, development,
finance, technology, investment, and
sustainable development
o It collects data, conducts research,
and analyses policies to help
countries frame policies in these
areas.
61. The Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC) 2024
released
 Report Title: 2024 Global Report on Food
Crisis (GRFC)
 Produced annually by the Food Security
Information Network.
 Highlights:
 Nearly 282 million people across 59
countries and territories experienced high
levels of acute hunger in 2023.
 Global increase of 24 million from the
previous year, with 1 in 5 people assessed
requiring critical urgent action.
 36 million children under 5 years of age are
acutely malnourished across 32 countries
 Acute malnutrition worsened in 2023,
particularly among displaced populations
 36 countries have been consistently featured
in GRFC analyses since 2016, representing
80% of the world’s most hungry
 The Gaza Strip accounts for 80% of those
facing imminent famine, along with South
Sudan, Burkina Faso, Somalia, and Mali
 Drivers of Food Crises
o The report identifies three primary
drivers of acute food insecurity:
o Conflict and insecurity (affecting 20
countries, 135 million people)
o Extreme weather events (affecting 18
countries, 77 million people)
o Economic shocks (affecting 21
countries, 75 million people)
62. U.S. Places India on Priority Watch List for IP
Protection
 Report title: 2024 Special 301 Report
 Released by; The U.S. Trade Representatives
(USTR)
 Context: India finds itself on the Priority
Watch List for intellectual property (IP)
protection and enforcement
 This decision comes amidst ongoing concerns
regarding India’s handling of IP security
issues.
 Apart from India, several other countries,
including Argentina, Chile, China, Indonesia,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and Venezuela,
have been placed on the Priority Watch List.
 Additionally, 23 trading partners are on the
Watch List, indicating ongoing concerns
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
about IP protection and enforcement across
various regions.
63. Dubai Approves World’s Largest Airport
Terminal
 Context: Approval to the World’s Largest
Airport Terminal at Al Maktoum
International Airport
 Approved by: Dubai
 Informed by: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and Prime
Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
 Estimated cost: 128 billion AED ($34.85
billion)
 Aim: To create the world’s largest airport
terminal
 Al Maktoum International Airport:
o It is also known as Dubai World
Central.
o It is a major airport in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates.
o Location: Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates
o Designed to be the world’s largest
airport by passenger and cargo
capacity.
o Airport began operations in 2010
o Expected to handle up to 160 million
passengers and 12 million tons of
cargo annually upon completion.
o Runways: 5 (planned)
o Terminal size: 7.2 million square feet
(planned)
 Upon completion, it will surpass other major
airports in terms of passenger capacity:
o Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport (USA): 110.5
million passengers in 2019
o Guangzhou Baiyun International
Airport (China): 73.4 million
passengers in 2019
o London Heathrow Airport (UK): 80.9
million passengers in 2019
64. WHO Launched New Global Malaria Strategy
for 2030
 Report title: Global Technical Strategy for
Malaria 2016-2030
 Report by: The World Health Organization
 Global status of Malaria:
 Estimated 608,000 deaths in 2022
 249 million new cases in 2022
 Africa: Accounting for 95% of malaria deaths
and 94% of cases worldwide
 Key Elements of the Strategy:
o Develop norms and standards
o Introduce new tools and innovations
o Promote strategic information for
impact
o Provide technical leadership
 World Malaria Day 2024:
o Observed on April 25
o 2024 theme: Accelerating the fight
against malaria for a more equitable
world
65. US military’s pier in Gaza to cost $320 million
 The US military’s cost estimate to build a pier
off Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid has risen
to $320 million.
66. Sri Lanka launches new e-visa system
 Sri Lanka has launched a new visa process
and online application portal.
 It is marking a notable advancement in visa
services.
 Effective immediately
 Aim: To enhance the efficiency and
convenience of visa processing for travelers
 Collaboration with: IVS Global Institute and
GBS Technology Service (the department is
launching the e-visa system)
 Replacing the current ETA (Electronic Travel
Authorization) method
 This transition is designed to streamline the
visa application process, providing travellers
with a more user-friendly experience.
 For detailed information and access to the
online visa application portal, individuals can
visit www.srilankaevisa.lk.
 It offers a swift and efficient visa application
process, catering to the needs of tourists and
investors alike.
67. Meta Launches Advanced AI Assistant
Powered by Llama 3
 Launch of: New artificial intelligence (AI)
assistant, Meta AI
 Launch by: Meta Platforms (Parent company
of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp)
 Powered by: Company’s latest AI model,
Llama 3
 Meta AI is integrated into Meta’s popular
social media and messaging platforms
 Aim: To provide users with a highly
intelligent and free-to-use AI experience
 About Llama 3
 At the core of Meta AI is the company’s most
advanced AI model, Llama 3.
 Developed using vast amounts of data.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 It is capable of understanding and generating
human-like responses to a wide range of
queries and prompts.
 The model runs on powerful chips designed
by Nvidia.
National
1. Adani Green becomes first Indian firm with 10K
MW renewable energy capacity
 Adani Green Energy Ltd has commissioned
2,000 MW of solar capacity at the giant
Khavda solar park in Gujarat.
 With this, the firm has become the first
company in India with over 10,000 MW of
renewable energy capacity.
 The company now has an operating portfolio
of 10,934 MW, largest in India.
 It has brought 2,848 MW renewables capacity
on stream in FY24.
 AGEL's operational portfolio consists of 7,393
MW solar, 1,401 MW wind and 2,140 MW
wind-solar hybrid capacity.
 The firm is aiming for 45 GW renewable
energy by 2030.
 AGEL's 10,934 MW operational portfolio will
power more than 5.8 million homes and avoid
about 21 million tonnes of CO2 emissions
annually
2. NHAI executed capex for FY24 increases by
20% to Rs 2.07 trillion
 The National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI) executed capital expenditure of Rs
2.07 trillion in the financial year 2023-24
(FY24).
 It is 20% higher than its expenditure in both
FY22 and FY23.
 During FY24, NHAI achieved the construction
of 6,644 km of national highways against the
target of 6,544 km.
 At 6,644 km, construction increased in FY24
by around 20 per cent compared to 5,544 km
constructed in FY23 and by around 53 per
cent compared to 4,331 km constructed in
FY22.
 The ministry itself is expected to have built
around 12,000 km of highways in the fiscal
year.
 The Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways has been allocated Rs 2.78 trillion
in FY25, according to the interim budget
presented by Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman in February.
3. India to build first commercial crude oil
strategic storage
 India is planning to build its first commercial
crude oil strategic storage as part of efforts to
shore up stockpiles as insurance against any
supply disruption.
 Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd
(ISPRL) has invited bids for constructing 2.5
million tonnes of underground storage at
Padur in Karnataka, according to the tender
document.
 ISPRL is a special-purpose vehicle created by
the government for building and operating
strategic petroleum reserves in the country.
 ISPRL had in the first phase built a strategic
petroleum reserve in underground unlined
rock caverns for storage of 5.33 million
tonnes of crude oil at three locations
Visakhapatnam (1.33 million tonnes) in
Andhra Pradesh and Mangalore (1.5 million
tonnes) and Padur (2.5 million tonnes) in
Karnataka.
 The Phase-I storages were built at
government expense.
 Under Phase-II, it intends to build a
commercial cum strategic petroleum reserve
in underground unlined rock caverns along
with associated above ground facilities,
including dedicated SPM and associated
pipelines (offshore and onshore) for storage
of 2.5 million tonnes of crude oil at Padur-II at
a cost of Rs 5,514 crore.
 India is the world’s third biggest oil consumer
and importer.
4. FSSAI Directs E-commerce Platforms to
Correctly Categorize Energy Drinks
 The Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI) has recently issued a directive
calling all E-Commerce companies to
appropriately categorize beverage drinks.
 The FSSAI refrains E-Commerce platforms
from referring to cereal-based, dairy-based
or malt-based beverages as “Energy Based
Drinks” or “Health Drinks”.
 Within the perspective of the countries food
laws, the directive seeks the correct and
relevant definition of “Health Drinks”.
5. ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ Norm Implemented
 The National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI) has introduced the ‘One Vehicle, One
FASTag‘ norm, which aims to prevent the use
of a single FASTag for multiple vehicles or
linking multiple FASTags to a particular
vehicle.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 This new norm has come into effect from
April 1, 2024.
 NHAI had previously extended the
compliance deadline to the end of March,
considering the issues faced by Paytm
FASTag users.
 FASTag is an electronic toll collection system
operated by NHAI in India.
 It utilizes Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology for making toll payments
directly from a linked prepaid or savings
account.
 With a penetration rate of around 98% and
over 8 crore users, FASTag has revolutionized
the electronic toll collection system in the
country, providing convenience and
efficiency for commuters.
6. Tata Tech-BMW Joint Venture for Auto
Software and Business IT Solutions
 Tata Technologies and BMW Group join
forces to establish automotive software and
IT hubs in Chennai, Pune, and Bengaluru.
 Chennai will specialize in business IT
solutions.
 Aim to establish an automotive software and
IT development hub.
7. New Rs 500 crore scheme to promote electric
mobility kicks in from April 1
 The new Rs 500 crore scheme to promote
electric mobility in India will come into force
from April 1, 2024 and continue till the end of
July.
 Meanwhile, the second phase of FAME, or the
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of
Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-II)
programme, ends on March 31, 2024.
 Subsidies under the FAME scheme will be
eligible for e-vehicles sold till March 31, or till
the time funds are available.
 The Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme
2024 (EMPS 2024) scheme is being
introduced by the Ministry of Heavy
Industries to further accelerate the adoption
of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country.
 Under EMPS 2024, a support of up to Rs
10,000 per two-wheeler will be provided.
 The aim is to provide support for about 3.33
lakh two-wheelers.
 A support of up to Rs 25,000 will be given for
the purchase of small threewheelers (e-
rickshaw and e-carts).
 More than 41,000 such vehicles will be
provided incentives under the scheme.
 The financial support will be up to Rs 50,000
in case of a large three-wheeler.
 The EMPS 2024 is a fund-limited scheme with
a total outlay of Rs 500cr.
 For four months -- from April 1, 2024 till July
31, 2024 -- for faster adoption of electric two-
wheeler (e-2W) and three-wheeler (e-3W) to
provide further mpetus to the green mobility
and development of EV manufacturing
ecosystem in the country announced by the
Heavy Industries Ministry o March 13.
8. Allu Arjun’s Wax Statue at Madame Tussauds
Dubai
 Allu Arjun, the popular Telugu actor has been
honoured with a wax statue at the renowned
Madame Tussauds Museum in Dubai.
 Madame Tussauds Dubai’s caption for the
wax statue read, “Allu Arjun, Icon Star, the
King of Dance, has arrived at Madame
Tussauds Dubai.”
9. Meta Partners with PTI to Expand its Fact-
Checking Program in India
 Meta Platforms has partnered with Press
Trust of India (PTI) 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.
 Meta owns and operates Facebook,
Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, among
other.
 Meta's fact-checking program in India
includes partnerships with independent fact-
checking organisations to prevent the spread
of misinformation on its platforms.
10. MoHFW Mandates Linking of CGHS
Beneficiary ID with Ayushman Bharat Health
Account ID
 The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
mandates the linking of the Central
Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
beneficiary ID with the Ayushman Bharat
Health Account(ABHA) ID
 Effective from 1st April 2024.
 Aim: To create digital health identification for
CGHS beneficiaries and store their digital
health records.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The MoHFW stated that all existing
beneficiaries must complete the linking
process within 30 days.
 About ABHA:
 The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
(ABDM) was launched under the National
Digital Health Mission (NDHM) in 2021.
 It provides a digital health ID to people, which
will contain their health records.
11. 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"
 Aim: To promote sustainability and empower
corporate social responsibility (CSR)
professionals to emerge as leaders in
navigating the intricacies of ESG frameworks.
 100% scholarships will be offered to 75
candidates to pursue advanced education in
ESG.
 Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree
in any discipline and a minimum of five years
of experience in relevant fields to be eligible
for the programme.
12. Ajit Doval Leads Indian Delegation at SCO
Security Council Meeting
 The 19th annual meeting of the secretaries of
the security councils of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member
states was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 2
to 3 April 2024.
 The Indian delegation was led by the National
Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
 He also met Kazakhstan President Kassym-
Jomart Tokayev, the current Chairman of SCO.
 President Tokayev advocated adopting a
Cooperation Programme to counter
terrorism, separatism, and extremism for
2025-2027 and the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy
for 2024-2029.
 He mentioned that countering “three evil
forces” – terrorism, separatism and
extremism – along with transnational
organised crime, drug trafficking and
cybersecurity challenges remain priorities
during Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in the
SCO.
13. India’s First Gene Therapy for Cancer
Launched
 The President of India, Droupadi Murmu,
launched India’s first home-grown gene
therapy for cancer at IIT Bombay.
 This groundbreaking treatment is called
‘CAR-T cell therapy’.
 However, the newly launched therapy is the
world’s most affordable CAR-T cell therapy.
 Gene therapy:
 It is a medical treatment
 Aim: To cure diseases or enhance your body's
ability to combat diseases by replacing a
defective gene or introducing a new one.
 It has the potential to treat various diseases
including cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart
disease, diabetes, hemophilia, and AIDS.
 CAR T-cell therapy is a type of treatment that
involves modifying a patient's T cells, which
are a type of immune system cell, in a
laboratory so that they can recognize and
attack cancer cells.
14. Manohar International Airport in Goa
Launches Digi Yatra System
 The Manohar International Airport in Mopa,
Goa, has become the 14th airport in India to
launch the Digi Yatra system.
 This biometric-enabled system uses facial
recognition technology to automate the entry
and verification of passengers.
 The Digi Yatra system is already operational
in 13 other Indian airports, including Delhi,
Bengaluru, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Kolkata,
and Mumbai, among others.
 The Digi Yatra system allows passengers to
link their Aadhaar number to a Digi Yatra ID
on their mobile app.
 At the airport, they can simply scan their
boarding pass, and the facial recognition
system will confirm their identity, allowing
them to proceed through security and
boarding without manual checks.
 Aim: To reduce waiting times, quicken
processing times, and simplify procedures for
passengers. It is an initiative of the Union Civil
Aviation Ministry to make air travel more
secure and hassle-free.
 The Manohar International Airport is the
second international airport in Goa, after the
Dabolim airport, which is a civil enclave in a
military airbase.
 It is located in Mopa, North Goa, and was
developed by GMR Goa International Airport
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
Limited, a subsidiary of GMR Airports
Limited.
15. India’s Nuclear Energy Roadmap: Achieving 1
Lakh MW by 2047
 Report title: Synchronising Energy
Transitions Towards Possible Net Zero for
India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All
 India aims to ramp up its nuclear power
production significantly, targeting a capacity
of 1 lakh MW by 2047.
16. India's fuel demand up around 5% in FY24
 India witnessed a slight dip in fuel
consumption, falling by 0.6% year-on-year
(YoY) in March 2024.
 However, fuel demand for FY24 surged by
about 5%.
 It is primarily led by increased sales of
automotive fuel and naphtha.
 Data released by the Petroleum Planning and
Analysis Cell (PPAC)
 Consumption of fuel was 21.09m in March,
down from 21.22 mt in March 2023.
17. GAIL Wins 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Award for
Barauni – Guwahati Pipeline
 GAIL (India) Limited has been honored with
the prestigious 15th CIDC Vishwakarma
Award in the ‘Achievement Award for Best
Construction Projects’ category.
 Reason: For its remarkable accomplishment
in the Barauni – Guwahati Natural Gas
Pipeline project (BGPL).
 The project is an integral component of the
Jagdishpur – Haldia & Bokaro – Dhamra
Pipeline project.
 It marks a significant milestone by connecting
North-East India to the National Gas Grid for
the first time.
 The Barauni – Guwahati Natural Gas Pipeline
project spans 718 km.
18. NeGD, MeitY organises 43rd Batch of Chief
Information Security Officers’ Deep Dive Training
Programme
 The National e-Governance Division (NeGD),
under its Capacity Building scheme,
organized the 43rd CISO Deep-Dive training
program from April 8-12, 2024 in Delhi.
 Participants: Assam, Jammu & Kashmir,
Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and National
Capital Territory of Delhi
 Aim: To spread awareness, build capacities as
well and enable Government departments to
take steps to create a cyber-resilient
ecosystem
19. IPEF to organise Clean Economy Investor
Forum in Singapore
 To be held in Singapore
 The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for
Prosperity (IPEF) was launched in May 2022.
 Currently includes 14 partners:
 Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India,
Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, United States and
Vietnam
 It provides a platform for countries in the
region to collaborate on advancing resilient,
sustainable, and inclusive economic growth.
 It aims to contribute to cooperation, stability
and prosperity in the region.
 The IPEF comprises four pillars of
cooperation namely: Trade, Supply Chain,
Clean Economy and Fair Economy.
20. MNRE extends deadline for R&D proposals
under green hydrogen mission
 The New & Renewable Energy Ministry has
extended the deadline until April 27 for the
submission of research and development
proposals under the National Green
Hydrogen Mission.
 The ministry on March 16, 2024, invited R&D
proposals under the mission from the
industry.
 The last date for submission was April 12.
 The National Green Hydrogen Mission was
launched on January 4, 2023, with an outlay
of Rs 19,744 crore up to 2029-30.
 The ministry has issued guidelines for the
implementation of the R&D Scheme under the
National Green Hydrogen Mission.
 The R&D Scheme will be implemented with a
total budgetary outlay of Rs 400 crore till
2025-26.
 The scheme seeks to make the production,
storage, transportation and utilisation of
green hydrogen more affordable.
 It also aims to improve the efficiency, safety
and reliability of the relevant processes and
technologies involved in the green hydrogen
value chain.
 The scheme also aims to foster partnerships
among industry, academia and government
in order to establish an innovation ecosystem
for Green Hydrogen technologies.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The support under the R&D programme
includes all components of the Green
Hydrogen value chain, namely, production,
storage, compression, transportation, and
utilization.
21. India plans to raise steel production capacity
three-fold by 2047
 India aims to triple its domestic steel
production capacity to 500 million tonnes per
year by 2047
 While reducing emission intensity to 2.25
tonnes of CO2 per tonne of crude steel
production by fiscal year 2029, with further
reductions targeted by 2047.
 These targets surpass the goals outlined in
India's Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs) for the steel sector.
22. NTPC launches new edition of Girl
Empowerment Mission
 NTPC Limited is gearing up to launch the
latest edition of Girl Empowerment Mission
(GEM), flagship Corporate Social
Responsibility initiative.
 The program aligns with the Government of
India's Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative
 Aim: To tackle gender inequality by nurturing
girls' imaginations and fostering their ability
to explore opportunities.
 GEM does this through a 1-month workshop
for young girls during summer holidays, by
offering them a platform for their all-round
upliftment and development.
 Starting from April 2024
 The new edition of GEM will add nearly 3,000
meritorious children belonging to
underprivileged sections of the society at 42
identified locations of the power sector PSU.
 With this, the total number of children
benefiting from the Mission will cross 10,000.
 The GEM Mission, initiated as a pilot project
in 2018 with just three locations and 392
participants, has flourished into a nationwide
movement.
23. Road ministry capex utilisation in FY24 closes
at record high 99.93%
 The Ministry of Road, Transport, and
Highways (MoRTH) has reported the highest-
ever capital expenditure (capex) utilisation of
99.93 per cent during the financial year 2023-
24.
 As against the budgetary outlay of Rs 2.645
trillion in FY24, the road ministry has spent
Rs 2.643 trillion.
 By including private investments, the capex
goes up to Rs 3.01 trillion.
 The ministry has constructed 12,349 kms of
national highways in FY24, the second
highest in its history, missing the target of
13,800 kms by a whisker due to higher
scrutiny on the quality of roads.
24. Govt approves 11 EV manufacturers for
receiving incentives under EMPS
 The Ministry of Heavy Industries has
approved 11 electric vehicle (EV)
manufacturers to receive incentives under
the recently introduced Electric Mobility
Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024.
 It includes Ather Energy, Bajaj Auto, Hero
MotoCorp, Ola Electric, and Mahindra.
 The scheme aims to sustain the growth in EV
sales, replacing the former Faster Adoption
and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles – II
(FAME-II) scheme.
 The new scheme, with an allocation of Rs 500
crore, commenced on April 1 and will
continue till July 31.
 The government has streamlined the
certification process for this scheme.
 To manage the increasing demand and lessen
the burden on EV manufacturers, the
government has reduced the maximum
subsidy cap.
 For electric two-wheelers (e2W), the cap is
now Rs 10,000 per vehicle, down from Rs
22,500, and for electric three-wheelers
(e3W), it is Rs 50,000, reduced from Rs
111,505.
 Both categories will receive incentives of Rs
5,000 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
 Though incentives are offered for e2W and
e3W categories, no such benefits are
extended to electric four-wheelers (e4W) and
e-buses under the new scheme.
 EV manufacturers approved for EMPS 2024
o Ather Energy
o Bajaj Auto
o BGauss Auto
o Ola Electric
o TVS Motor
o Quantum Energy
o Hero MotoCorp
o Hop Electric
o Kinetic Green
o TI Clean Mobility
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
o Mahindra
25. QS World University Rankings 2024 released
 World University ranking released by
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
 Based on: Subject
 India is in the second spot in Asia in terms of
the number of universities featured (69),
trailing only mainland China (101).
 It holds the fourth position in the total
number of ranked entries (454) after China
(1,041), Japan (510), and South Korea (499).
 Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
Ahmedabad has been ranked among the top
25 institutions globally for business and
management studies
 IIM-Bangalore and IIM-Calcutta have been
ranked among the top 50.
 Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi is
the highest-ranked university in India.
 JNU is in the 20th position globally for
development studies.
 The Saveetha Institute of Medical and
Technical Sciences in Chennai is another
Indian institution among the top 25 globally
for dentistry studies.
 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati
has secured a global ranking of 51-70 in data
science, and 51-100 in petroleum
engineering.
25. Tesla & Reliance may join hands for EV
manufacturing plant in India
 Tesla is potentially seeking a local partner to
establish its operations in India.
 Tesla is considering the prospect of a joint
venture with Reliance to construct a
manufacturing facility within the country.
 The Indian government had approved an
Electric Vehicle (EV) policy aimed at
promoting the country as a global
manufacturing hub for EVs.
 The policy mandated a minimum investment
of Rs 4,150 crore with no maximum
investment cap, designed to attract
investments from reputable global EV
manufacturers.
 In addition to the minimum investment
requirement of Rs 4,150 crore ($500 million),
the policy stipulated a three-year timeline for
establishing manufacturing facilities in India,
commencing commercial production of EVs,
and achieving 50 per cent domestic value
addition (DVA) within five years at maximum.
 Maximum of 40,000 EVs, with an annual cap
of no more than 8,000 vehicles, would be
allowed if the investment amounts to $800
million or higher. The unused annual import
limits could be carried over.
27. Sangeet Natak Akademi Organizes ‘Shakti – A
Festival of Music and Dance’ in Shaktipeeths
 The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) is
organizing the festival 'Shakti – A Festival of
Music and Dance' from April 9 to 17, 2024.
 The festival is celebrated in seven different
Shaktipeeths (sacred sites) across the
country.
 The Shakti Utsav was inaugurated on April 9,
2024, from the Kamakhya Temple in
Guwahati, Assam.
 After the inauguration, the festival will be
organized in the following seven
Shaktipeeths:
 Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati (Assam)
 Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur
(Maharashtra)
 Jwalamukhi Temple, Kangada (Himachal
Pradesh)
 Tripura Sundari Temple, Udaipur (Tripura)
 Ambaji Temple, Banaskantha (Gujarat)
 Jai Durga Shaktipeeth, Deoghar (Jharkhand)
 Shaktipeeth Maa Harsiddhi Temple, Ujjain
(Madhya Pradesh)
 The festival will conclude on April 17, 2024,
at the Shaktipeeth Maa Harsiddhi Temple in
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
28. Adani Green Energy to become one of the
world's largest renewable power company
 Adani Green Energy Limited is developing 30
GW renewable energy plant on barren land at
Khavda in Kutch of Gujarat.
 Area: 538 sq km
 With this, it would become the planet's
largest power plant regardless of the energy
source.
 The area of project in Khavda is five times the
size of Paris and almost as large as Mumbai.
 The project was started in December 2022.
 The first production was made on December
31, 2023.
 Adani group will invest about Rs 2.3 lakh
crore in renewable energy and
manufacturing capacity by 2030.
 The project at Khavda is Hybrid renewable
energy cluster where during the morning
hours, solar energy is generated and during
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
the evening hours wind generation is
generated.
 It has operationalised capacity of 2,000 MW
solar energy.
 Currently at the Khavda project site, 2 GW
power production is completed and the
company aims to produce 4 GW more in the
ongoing financial year, 2024-25, making it 6
GW by March '25.
 After this the company plans to expand by
minimum of 5GW every year.
 At the Khavda project site there are 30 wind
turbines installed as of now and foundation
for 50 wind turbines had been already laid
and 40 lakh solar panels have been installed.
 Aim: To install 7 cr 50 lakh solar panels till
2029 and aims to produce 45,000 MW by
2030.
29. Citroën becomes the first multinational
carmaker to export EVs from India
 French carmaker Citroën became the first
multinational car manufacturer in India to
export domestically made electric vehicles to
the international market.
 The commencement of exports of locally
manufactured ë-C3.
 Initial shipment of 500 units of the Made-in-
India Citroën ë-C3 to Indonesia was
ceremonially flagged today from Kamarajar
Port.
 The move aligned with Citroën’s global
ambitions of democratizing electric mobility
to increase the adoption of sustainable and
clean modes of transportation.
30. Swiggy introduces 'Paw-ternity Policy',
extending support to pet parents
 Swiggy expanded its existing parenthood
policy to include pet parents, unveiling the
'Paw-ternity Policy' aimed at supporting
employees in their pet care and adoption
journeys.
 This new policy is designed to offer
comprehensive support to employees with
pets, recognising and honouring their pivotal
role in caring for their beloved companions.
 Under the new policy, full-time employees
can avail themselves of several key
provisions:
 New pet/adoption leave
 Sick leave
 Bereavement leave
31. India secures 2nd overseas port with Sittwe
nod
 After Chabahar, India gained the right to
operate a second overseas port, Sittwe, in
Myanmar.
 The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has
approved a proposal for India Ports Global to
take over the operations of the entire port,
located on the Kaladan River.
 IPGL is a company 100 per cent owned by the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
 Sittwe began receiving cargo from India in
May 2023.
 The first consignment of cargo sailed from
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata to
the port in Myanmar's sensitive Rakhine
state.
 It was received by Minister for Ports,
Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda
Sonowal and his Myanmar counterpart
Admiral Tin Aung San.
 The Sittwe deal is a longterm one, to be
renewed every three years.
 Under the agreement, IPGL will raise finance
to develop the port, which was initially built
with a 500$ million grant-in-aid from India.
 The port has the potential to accommodate
deepwater sea vessels.
 The Indian states poised to benefit
immediately are Mizoram and Tripura.
Presently, Indian cargoes travelling to these
destinations have to pass through
Bangladesh, mainly the Chittagong port.
32. States offer up thousands of hectares of
‘degraded’ forest land for green credits
 Recently, the Union Environment Ministry
announced the rules for its Green Credit
Programme (GCP).
 Within a short period, ten States have
identified parcels of degraded forest land,
amounting to about 3,853 hectares.
 Green Credit Programme
 It aims to incentivise environmentally
conscious practices and promote a
sustainable lifestyle through a market-based
mechanism.
 Green credits generated through such actions
can be traded on a domestic market platform.
 In its initial phase, the GCP focuses on two key
activities: Water conservation and
Afforestation
 Implementing Agency:
 Two years after planting — and following an
evaluation by the International Council of
Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
autonomous body of the Environment
Ministry — each planted tree could be worth
one ‘green credit’.
 The Green Credit Registry and trading
35. Indian real estate to be worth $1.5 trn by 2034
platform, being developed by ICFRE along
as demand soars
with experts, would facilitate the registration
and thereafter, the buying and selling of
Green Credits.
33. Mansukh Mandaviya’s Plan to End Urea
Imports by 2025
 India aims to halt 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.
 Urea production has risen steadily, reaching
284.95 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.
 Despite this, 30% of demand is still met
through imports, with key sources being
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
 The government’s approach involves
reviving closed fertilizer plants across
36. India among 12 nations responsible for 60%
various states.
of world’s mismanaged plastic waste
 Plants at Gorakhpur, Ramagundam, Talcher,
Barauni, and Sindri are targeted for revival,
with four already operational.
 PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness,
Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother
Earth’ (PM-PRANAM)
 It was launched in 2023 to incentivizes states
and UTs to promote alternative fertilizers and
balanced fertilizer usage.
 The government heavily subsidizes
fertilizers, with Rs 1.64 lakh crore allocated
for fertilizer subsidy in 2024-25.
 Urea is provided to farmers at a statutorily
notified Maximum Retail Price (MRP) under
the Urea Subsidy Scheme (USS)
 While other fertilizers operate under the
Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy.
34. Adani to invest Rs 2.3 trillion in renewable
energy, manufacturing capacity
 Adani Group will invest about Rs 2.3 trillion
through 2030 in India's most ambitious
renewable energy expansion and solar and
wind manufacturing capacity addition ever as
it shrugs off a short-seller attack to pursue its
trademark rapid growth plans.
 Adani Green Energy Ltd will invest about Rs
1.5 trillion in expanding capacity to generate
electricity from solar energy and wind power
at Khavda in Gujarat's Kutch to 30 gigawatts
from 2 GW currently and another Rs 50,000
crore in 6-7 GW of similar projects elsewhere
in the country.
 Report title: India Real Estate: A Decade From
Now
 Report by: Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) and real estate consultancy Knight
Frank
 India's real estate sector will be worth $1.5
trillion by 2034 as it grows threefold from
$482 billion now as residential and
commercial demand grows.
 The sector’s share in the country’s economic
output is likely to rise to 10.5% in next 10
years from 7.3%.
 In 2015, the sector's share in economic
output was $279 billion.
 The residential market is expected to be
worth $906 billion by 2034 and the office
sector $125 billion.
 Report title: Plastic Overshoot Day report by
Swiss non-profit EA Earth Action
 India is among the twelve countries
responsible for 60% of the planet’s
mismanaged plastic waste.
 12 countries are China, India, Russia, Brazil,
Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt,
Pakistan, the United States and Turkey.
 The fast-developing South Asian nation’s per
capita plastic waste production is among the
lowest in the world.
 Oman tops the list of countries in terms of
mismanaged plastic waste, with a projected
111 kg of mismanaged plastic per person in
2024.
 This is 30 times higher than Norway.
 India is in the bottom 12 countries.
 Global plastic waste generation has risen by
7.11 per cent since 2021.
 The world is estimated to have generated 220
million tons of plastic waste this year, 70
million tons of which will end up polluting the
environment.
 The report comes ahead of the fourth meeting
of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee (INC) in Ottawa,
Canada, as the world leaders attempt to
develop a legally binding instrument to end
plastic pollution.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Though the report classifies India as a “low-
waste-producing” polluter due to its low per
capita plastic waste production (8 kg per
capita per year)
 The country’s expected mismanaged waste in
2024 will be 7.4 million tons, which is “very
high”.
 Still, India’s mismanaged plastic waste will be
less than one-fifth of China and one-third of
the US.
37. Healthcare solution provider Enhanced
Innovations launches 'Pholoton'
 Healthcare solution provider Enhanced
Innovations introduces Pholoton, a portable
cooler designed for vaccine delivery in
remote areas with limited electricity access.
 This cold chain solution aims to tackle the
last-mile delivery challenge by maintaining
the required temperature of vaccines (2-4
degrees Celsius) using integrated solar
panels.
 Enhanced Innovations designed Pholoton
with integrated solar panels.
 This ensures uninterrupted operation even in
areas with frequent power cuts or lacking
consistent electricity.
38. India Lost 2.33 Million Hectares Of Tree Cover
Since 2000: Global Forest Watch
 Report by: Global Forest Watch
 Data from: Global Forest Watch monitoring
project
 India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree
cover since 2000, equivalent to a six percent
decrease in tree cover during this period.
 The Global Forest Watch tracks forest
changes in near real-time using satellite data
and other sources.
 The country lost 4,14,000 hectares of humid
primary forest (4.1 per cent) from 2002 to
2023, making up 18 per cent of its total tree
cover loss in the same period.
 Between 2001 and 2022, forests in India
emitted 51 million tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent a year and removed 141 million
tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year.
 This represents a net carbon sink of 89.9
million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a
year.
 An average of 51.0 million tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent per year was released into
the atmosphere as a result of tree cover loss
in India.
 In total, 1.12 gigatons of carbon dioxide
equivalent was emitted during this period.
 The GFW data showed that five states
accounted for 60 percent of all tree cover
losses between 2001 and 2023.
 Assam had the maximum tree cover loss at
324,000 hectares, compared to an average of
66,600 hectares.
 Mizoram lost 312,000 hectares of tree cover,
Arunachal Pradesh 262,000 hectares,
Nagaland 259,000 hectares, and Manipur
240,000 hectares.
 Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and
Bolivia topped the ranking of tropical
countries with the most primary forest losses.
 Deforestation globally rose by 3.2% in 2023.
39. PVR Inox adopts ad-free movies
 PVR INOX announced, that it would offer an
ad-free viewing experience at its luxury
properties across several major cities.
 With advertisements no longer slicing into
screening time, PVR INOX plans to schedule
additional screenings per day.
 This could attract more viewers and increase
ticket sales.
 The ad-free service will initially be available
in select luxury screens in cities like Delhi,
Gurugram, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune.
 Notable properties include PVR Director’s
Cut at Ambience Mall, both in Delhi and
Gurugram, and Forum Rex Walk in
Bengaluru.
40. DGCA Asks Airlines To Allot Seat To Children
Up To 12 Years Of Age With Their Parents &
Guardians
 Directorate General of Civil Aviation has
asked airlines to ensure that children up to
the age of 12 years are allocated seats with
their parents and guardians who are
traveling on the same PNR.
 DGCA said, that the existing air transport
circular has been suitably modified.
41. 6th Edition Of International Conference On
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Begins
 Location: New Delhi
 The conference's theme is "Investing today
for a more resilient tomorrow".
42. Centre considering widening housing subsidy
scope for urban poor under PMAY
 The Centre is considering an expansion of the
housing subsidy for the urban poor under the
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 In the proposed expansion, self-employed
individuals, shopkeepers, and small traders
are likely to be included.
 The subsidised loan in this broader scheme is
expected to be linked to the price and size of
the housing unit.
 For a house costing Rs 35 lakh, a subsidised
loan of up to Rs 30 lakh is being proposed.
 The interim Union Budget 2024-25,
presented on February 1, allocated Rs 80,671
crore to the flagship housing scheme.
 The PMAY scheme was launched in June 2015
 Aim: To provide pucca houses with basic
amenities to all eligible urban beneficiaries.
 The mission now aims to add another 20
million houses over the next five years.
43. India's first multi-purpose green hydrogen
pilot project inaugurated
 India's first multi-purpose green hydrogen
pilot project at the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri
Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri,
Himachal Pradesh.
 SJVN Chairman and Managing Director Geeta
Kapur inaugurated a 20Nm3/hr electrolyzer
and 25kW fuel cell capacity-based green
hydrogen pilot project.
 The project is the nation's first multi-purpose
(combined heat and power) green hydrogen
generation plant with the capability to cater
to the high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF)
coating facility of NJHPS to meet its
combustion fuel requirements.
 It will produce hydrogen gas by splitting
hydrogen and oxygen from water with the
help of an alkaline electrolyzer of 20 Nm3/hr
capacity by utilising renewable energy
supplied from the 1.31 MW solar power plant
of SJVN located in Wadhal, Himachal Pradesh.
 The pilot project is set to produce 14 kg of
green hydrogen daily during eight hours of
operation, which will be stored in six storage
tanks.
44. Gems & Jewellery Export Trends in FY23-24
 The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion
Council (GJEPC) released provisional data.
 India experienced a significant decline in its
gems and jewellery exports by 14.94%,
amounting to US$32.02 billion in FY 2023-24
compared to US$37.6 billion in the previous
year.
 Import figures also reflected a decrease, with
a decline of 11.09% in rupee terms and
13.84% in dollar terms, amounting to Rs.
184355.48 crores and $22.26 billion,
respectively.
 Gold jewellery exports exhibited a positive
growth rate of 16.97%, amounting to
$11140.780 million.
 Silver jewellery exports experienced a
notable decline of 45%, while platinum
jewellery exports surged by 449.52%.
 Coloured gemstone exports demonstrated a
growth rate of 13.94%, reaching $478.68
million.
45. Jio surpasses China Mobile to become world's
top data traffic operator
 Report by: Global analytics firm Tefficient
 Reliance Jio has become the world's largest
mobile operator in data traffic consumption,
surpassing China Mobile.
 The Indian telecom operator's total traffic
reached 40.9 exabytes in the January-March
quarter, compared to China Mobile's 38.
 Jio also has the second-largest 5G subscriber
base globally, with 108 million users.
 More than 28% of its total wireless data
traffic is now consumed by 5G users.
46. India’s Largest Climate Clock Unveiled at CSIR
HQ
 In celebration of Earth Day (22 April), the
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
(CSIR) recently unveiled India’s largest
Climate Clock at its headquarters in New
Delhi.
 This initiative underscores CSIR’s
commitment to raising awareness about
climate change and its adverse impacts.
 CSIR was founded in 1942 by the Government
of India with the primary goal of fostering
scientific research and industrial
development within the nation
47. India’s pharmaceuticals exports rise 10% to
$28 billion in FY24
 The country’s drugs and pharmaceuticals
exports increased 9.67 per cent year-on-year
to USD 27.9 billion in 2023-24.
 Pharma exports in March grew by 12.73 per
cent to USD 2.8 billion.
 The top five export markets, for the sector
during the last fiscal, are the US, the UK, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South
Africa and Brazil.
 The US accounts for over 31 per cent of
India’s total pharma exports, followed by the
UK and Netherlands (about 3 per cent each).
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 In 2023-24, the outbound shipments also
entered new geographies like Montenegro,
South Sudan, Chad, Comoros, Brunei, Latvia,
Ireland, Chad, Sweden, Haiti and Ethiopia.
 Experts: India’s pharmaceutical business may
exceed USD 130 billion by 2030
48. Great Nicobar Island Development Project
 Project cost: Rs 72,000 crore
 Aim: Holistic development of the Great
Nicobar Island
 The project, piloted by NITI Aayog and
implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands Integrated Development Corporation
(ANIIDCO)
 More than half of the project area lies over the
Tribal Reserve Area, which is currently used
by the Shompen, a particularly vulnerable
tribal group.
 The final environmental clearance was given
by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) in November
2022.
 Concerns Raised by Experts
 Denotification of ‘tribal reserve’
 Lack of consultation
 Clearances granted to the project are riddled
with legal lacunae
 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home
to six indigenous tribes, of which the
Shompen and Nicobarese are found in the
Great Nicobar Island.
 The Shompen are a hunter-gatherer
community with a population of around 200-
300 individuals.
49. Top 10 cities with most billionaires in the
world, Mumbai comes 3rd
 Report title: World of Statistics' Hurun Global
Rich List 2024
 Context: Published a list of the world's
wealthiest cities with the highest number of
billionaires as residents.
 Topped by: New York City (United States)
 List of Top 10:
o New York,
o London,
o Mumbai,
o Beijing,
o Shanghai,
o Shenzhen,
o Hong Kong,
o Moscow,
o New Delhi,
o San Francisco.
 Among these two Indian cities, Mumbai and
Delhi have been ranked in the top10 list.
 The Indian capital of Delhi is home to 57
billionaires.
50. Air India’s Boeing 747 takes its last flight from
Mumbai to the US
 Air India Boeing 747 last flight: From
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
International Airport to the US
 Time: At 10:47 AM
 All about Air India’s Boeing 747:
 Air India got its first Boeing 747 in 1971
 It took its last commercial flight in March
2021 on a domestic route. The aircraft had
423 seats, including 12 First Class, 26
Business Class, and 385 Economy Class seats.
 The first 747 entered service on launch
customer Pan Am Airlines’ New York-London
route on January 21, 1970.
51. India becomes second-largest source country
for new United States citizens
 Data by: Congressional report by the
independent Congressional Research Service
(CRS)
 India emerged as the second-largest source
country for new United States citizens, with
65,960 Indians officially becoming US citizens
in the fiscal year 2022.
 This positions India just behind Mexico, the
leading source country for new American
citizens.
 The US Census Bureau's American
Community Survey data indicates that in
2022, approximately 46 million foreign-born
individuals resided in the United States,
making up around 14 percent of the country's
total population of 333 million.
 Of this foreign-born population, 24.5
million—or about 53 percent—reported
their status as naturalized citizens.
 Mexico accounted for 128,878 new US
citizens, while the Philippines had 53,413,
Cuba had 46,913, and the Dominican
Republic had 34,525.
52. PM Modi Graces 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer
Nirvan Mahotsav
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated
the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan
Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
 The event paid tribute to the 24th Tirthankar,
Bhagwan Mahaveer, whose teachings of:
 Ahimsa (Non-Violence),
 Satya (Truthfulness),
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Asteya (Non-Stealing),
 Brahmacharya (Chastity),
 And Aparigraha (Non-attachment)
53. Central Government Committee on LGBTQ+
Community Welfare
 The government of India has set up a
committee on LGBTQ+ communities' welfare
headed by Union Home Secretary Rajiv
Gauba.
 The committee has been set up by the
government on the suggestion of the
Supreme Court in the Supriyo Chakraborty vs
Union Of India Case.
 In the Supriyo Chakraborty vs Union Of India
Case 2023, the Supreme Court held that the
LGBTQ+ community has no fundamental
right to marry under the Special Marriage Act
1954.
 Under the Special Marriage Act of 1954,
people of different religions can marry.
 The marriage is legally recognised by the
government and is registered before the
designated authority within India or abroad.
 It includes Social Justice and Empowerment
Secretary Saurabh Garg as convenor and
Secretary from the Home Affairs, Women and
Child Development, Health and Family
Welfare, and Law and Justice ministries.
54. Permanent Education Number (PEN)
Required for Students Starting Academic Year
2024-25
 The School Education Department in the state
has made the use of Permanent Education
Number (PEN) mandatory from the academic
year 2024-25.
 PEN is a unique identification number
assigned to every student by the Union
Ministry of Education, through the UDISE+
(Unified District Information System for
Education Plus) portal.
 The School Education Department aims to
ensure a seamless and efficient transition for
students, minimizing hardships for parents
and reducing the risk of dropouts
55. IISc launched Longevity India Initiative
 Name of Initiative: Longevity India Initiative
 Launched by: Indian Institute of Science
(IISc)
 Aim:
 To pioneer ageing research in India.
 To enhance the understanding of ageing
through fundamental and applied research
 It also aims to develop solutions to improve
quality of life, and extend human ‘healthspan’
by tackling ageing-related challenges.
56. IREDA Opens GIFT City Office to Back Green
Energy Projects
 The Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency (IREDA) has set up an office in Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City),
Gandhinagar.
 Aim: To provide foreign currency-
denominated debt financing for green
hydrogen and renewable energy
manufacturing projects.
 It will specialize in offering debt options in
foreign currencies, enabling natural hedging
and substantially reducing financing costs for
green hydrogen and renewable energy
projects.
 This move is particularly crucial in the
context of India’s ambitious National Green
Hydrogen Mission, aims to produce over 5
million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of
hydrogen by 2030.
 Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency (IREDA) is a government-owned non-
banking financial institution (NBFC).
 It promotes, develops, and finances
renewable energy and energy efficiency
projects in India.
 It was established in 1987 under the Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy.
57. Government Forms Panel to Promote Laws for
Efficient Mining of Critical Minerals
 Reason for the formation of panel: To
propose legislative measures and promote
the commercially viable extraction of critical
minerals found in limited quantities.
 Formed by: The Government of India
 Headed by: Vijay Kumar Saraswat (a member
of NITI Aayog)
 Total members: 7
 Objective: To provide judicial measures to
ensure cost-effective and scientific mining of
deeply embedded mineral deposits like
copper, gold and diamond which are typically
developed in the shape of veins and can only
be exploited through underground mining.
 Government has provided a list of 30 critical
minerals for India.
 These minerals are Antimony, Beryllium,
Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium,
Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium,
Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel,
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
platinum group elements (PGE),
Phosphorous, Potash, Rare Earth Elements
(REE), Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium,
Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium,
Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium
and Cadmium.
58. MoA&FW Notifies Specifications of IFFCO's
Nano Urea Plus
 Notification of: Specifications of a new
product Nano Urea (liquid) 16 Nano Urea
Plus fertiliser to be manufactured by Indian
Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited
(IFFCO) in India.
 Tenure: 3 years
 Effective from: 15th April 2024
 Notification by: Ministry of Agriculture
 Nano Urea Plus is a new version of nano urea
meant for meeting crop nitrogen
requirements at critical growth phases.
 Nano Urea (Liquid) 16 Nano Urea Plus:
 It has 16% nitrogen content, pH (Potential of
Hydrogen) value of 4-8.5 and viscosity of 5-
30.
 Commercial production will start at IFFCO's
Kalol plant in Gujarat, Aonla and Phulpur in
Uttar Pradesh (UP).
59. Sany India Launch of its Fully Electric Dump
Truck
 Sany India, a leading manufacturer of mining
and construction equipment, has launched
the SKT105E Electric Dump Truck.
 This remarkable feat marks a significant
milestone in the Indian mining industry, as
the SKT105E becomes the first locally
manufactured electric off-highway dump
truck.
 It is paving the way for a more
environmentally conscious and cost-effective
future.
 It boasts an impressive payload capacity of 70
tonnes.
60. Centre notifies liberalised FDI norms for
space sector to boost foreign investment
 The government has notified amendments to
the foreign direct investment policy in the
space sector.
 Aim: To attract offshore investors in satellite
manufacturing and satellite launch vehicle
segments.
 Amendment made in the FDI policy for the
space sector through a gazette notification
dated April 16, 2024.
 The notification liberalized the entry route
and provided clarity for FDI in satellites,
launch vehicles, and associated systems or
subsystems, creation of spaceports for
launching and receiving Spacecraft and
manufacturing of space-related components
and systems.
 Up to 74% FDI for satellite manufacturing &
operation, satellite data products and ground
segment & user segment are allowed under
automatic route.
 Beyond 74 per cent these activities are under
government route.
 FDI up to 49 per cent is allowed for Launch
Vehicles and associated systems or
subsystems, Creation of Spaceports for
launching and receiving Spacecraft are under
automatic route but beyond 49 per cent
government permission would be required.
 Besides, 100 per cent FDI allowed for
manufacturing of components and systems/
sub-systems for satellites, ground segment
and user segment without government
permission.
61. India's population estimated at 1.4 bn, 24% in
0-14 age bracket: UNFPA
 Report by: UNFPA (United Nations
Population Fund)
 Report title: Interwoven Lives, Threads of
Hope: Ending Inequalities in Sexual and
Reproductive Health and Rights
 India's population is estimated to have
reached 1.44 billion, with 24 per cent in the 0-
14 age bracket.
 India's population is estimated to double in
77 years.
 India leads globally with an estimated
population of 1.44 billion, followed by China
at 1.425 billion.
 India's population was recorded at 1.21
billion during the last census, conducted in
2011.
 The report further detailed that an estimated
24 per cent of India's population is aged 0-14
while 17 per cent is within the 10-19 age
range.
 The segment aged 10-24 is estimated to
constitute 26 per cent, with the 15-64 age
group making up 68 per cent.
 Additionally, 7 per cent of India's population
is aged 65 years and above, with men having
a life expectancy of 71 years and women 74
years.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The report has found that 30 years of
progress in sexual and reproductive health
has mostly ignored the most marginalised
communities worldwide.
64. Government to Establish Cotton Test Labs in 6
 According to the report, the child marriage
States for Kasturi Cotton
percentage in India was at 23 between 2006-
2023.
 The report noted that maternal deaths in
India have fallen considerably, accounting for
8 per cent of all such fatalities worldwide.
62. India Developing Indigenous High-Speed
Bullet Trains
 India has begun developing an indigenous
bullet train that will surpass speeds of 250
kilometres per hour (kmph).
 Aim: To make it faster than any existing train
on the Indian Railways network.
 About Vande Bharat Platform
 High-speed trains are defined as those
capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 250
kmph, such as the French TGV and the
Japanese Shinkansen.
 The Shinkansen E5 series bullet trains, which
India plans to deploy on the Mumbai-
Ahmedabad route, can reach speeds of up to
320 kmph.
 The first Vande Bharat Express was
inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on 15 February 2019, running between
New Delhi and Varanasi.
 As of April 2023, there are 23 operational
Vande Bharat Express trains connecting
various cities across India, such as New Delhi,
Varanasi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and
Hyderabad.
 The train is designed to accelerate from 0 to
100 kmph in just 52 seconds and has a
regenerative braking system that can save up
to 30% of electrical energy.
65. Union Ministry Developing Fabric-Based
 The Vande Bharat trains are manufactured by
Tooth Implants for Cost-Efficiency
the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.
63. Govt likely to construct 5-8% more roads in
2024-25: ICRA report
 Predicted by: ICRA (The Indian arm of the
Fitch ratings agency)
 Prediction: India is expected to maintain
current road construction momentum,
adding up to 13,000 kilometers in the 12
months through March 2025, an annual
increase of 5-8%
 Since 2014, India has built about 90,000
kilometers of national highway, according to
government estimates.
 Capital expenditure on roads increased to 2.4
trillion rupees ($28.72 billion) in 2022/23
from 510 billion rupees in 2013/14.
 The central government is planning to
establish dedicated testing labs for high-
grade Kasturi cotton in six states as part of a
push to promote the Indian cotton brand
globally.
 Currently, the certification of Kasturi cotton
is conducted through a limited number of
NABL-accredited labs.
 The government aims to enhance the quality
standards and global acceptance of Indian
textiles through this initiative.
 The dedicated testing labs for Kasturi cotton
will be set up in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,
Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
 These labs will operate in convergence with
the Bureau of Indian Standards’ (BIS) testing
facilities to ensure alignment with national
quality standards.
 The purpose of establishing these labs is to
ensure the premium quality of Kasturi cotton,
with strict standards such as a 2% cap on
trash content and 100% traceability.
 India aims to position Kasturi cotton as a
global brand that can compete with
renowned cotton brands like Supima and
Giza.
 Kasturi Cotton is a type of cotton known for
its fine texture and high quality.
 It is primarily grown in the regions of Andhra
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
 The cotton is naturally white in color and has
good moisture-wicking properties, making it
ideal for clothing and textiles.
 Union textiles ministry is working on
developing fabric-based teeth to make dental
implants more affordable.
 The plan involves using dental resins made
from polyester to replace expensive ceramic,
polymer, and composite implants, with
research being conducted by institutions like
AIIMS and IITs.
 Fabric-based teeth are already used in some
countries like Germany and the US to cut
costs.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The project falls under the National Technical
Textiles Mission, with a budget of ₹375 crore
allocated for its development.
 The plan involves using dental resins made
from polyester to restore and replace tooth
structure. Research will be conducted by
AIIMS and IITs, with various levels of testing,
including clinical trials on humans.
66. Government Sets Coal Production Target at
170 Million Tonnes for FY25
 The government aims to produce 170 million
tonnes of coal from captive and commercial
coal blocks in the upcoming financial year.
 Reviewed by: M Nagaraju, the additional
secretary of coal
 Representatives from 74 coal mines
participated in the review meeting,
expressing confidence in achieving the set
target.
 Coal block allottees are optimistic about
meeting the 170 million tonnes production
target for 2024-25.
 During the April-February period of FY24, the
country’s coal import increased to 244.27
million tonnes from 227.93 million tonnes in
the corresponding period of the previous
year, according to data compiled by B2B e-
commerce company mjunction.
67. Bha: shoe sizing system proposed specifically
for Indians
 Survey conducted by: Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research–Central Leather
Research Institute (CSIR–CLRI)
 Aim: To address the inadequacies of existing
international sizing standards and cater to
the unique foot characteristics of Indians
 Name: Bha (Short for Bharat)
 Submitted to: Department of Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
 Forwarded for approval: Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS)
 Surveyed Highlights:
 Indian feet tend to be wider than those of
Europeans or Americans.
 Result: Wearing of ill-fitted footwear, often a
size larger than necessary, leading to
discomfort, injuries, and compromised foot
health
 Recommendation of survey:
 ‘Bha’ proposes eight footwear sizes catering
to different age groups, ranging from infants
to adults. They are the following:
 I – infants (0 to 1 year)
 II – babies (1 to 3 years)
 III – small children (4 to 6 years)
 IV – children (7 to 11 years)
 V – girls (12 to 13 years)
 VI – boys (12 to 14 years)
 VII – women (14 years and above)
 VIII – men (15 years and above)
 Implementation: 2025 (Anticipated)
68. Maharashtra: Highest construction of
national highways in the last 10 years
 Data by: RBI & CMIE Economic Outlook
 Total length of national highways: 146,145
km in FY23 (Increased by over 60%)
 Budget: Rs 2.76 lakh crore in FY24 (Surged
879%, over 10 years)
 Interim Budget for FY25: Rs 2.78 lakh crore
 53,668 km of new national highways has
been constructed during this period.
 Maharashtra also tops the list with the
highest length of national highways
constructed
 12,210 km of new highways, as the NH
network in the state increased 195% to
18,459 km from 6,249 km in 2014
 List of top 10 states construction of national
highways:
o Maharashtra
o Uttar Pradesh (4,284 km of new
highways)
o Andhra Pradesh (4,013 km of new
national highways)
o Madhya Pradesh (3989 km of new
national highways)
o Gujarat (3,191 km of new national
highways)
o Rajasthan (3,060 km of new
highways)
o Punjab (2,540 km of new national
highways)
o Arunachal Pradesh (2,258 km of new
national highways)
o Telangana (2,239 km of new national
highways)
o Tamil Nadu (2,025 km of new
national highways)
69. Karnataka, Gujarat best in renewable energy
transition
 Report by: Institute for Energy Economics
and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and Ember
 Report title: Indian States’ Electricity
Transition
 Conducted on: 21 states
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Context: Renewable energy transition
 Sources: Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy (MNRE), the Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation, the NITI
Aayog’s India Climate and Energy Dashboard,
and reports from think tanks Council on
Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW),
OMI Foundation, etc.
 Topped by: Karnataka (37%) and Gujarat
(24%)
 Bottom: Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and
West Bengal
70. IndiGo places first-ever widebody aircraft
order for 30 Airbus A350 jets
 IndiGo (India's top airline by market share)
placed an order with Airbus for 30 A350-900
jets
 Its first-ever order for widebody aircraft.
 Aim: To keep pace with the world's fastest-
growing aviation market, where demand for
air travel has surged post-pandemic, even as
plane manufacturers struggled to meet
output goals.
 The low-cost carrier expects deliveries of the
A350s to start from 2027 and said that they
would use Rolls Royce's Trent XWB engines.
 IndiGo also has purchase rights for an
additional 70 Airbus A350 family aircraft
71. STEM in India sees only 13.5% women faculty
 Study by: BiasWatchIndia
 Highlights: Gender gap exists in Indian
STEM(science, technology, engineering, and
math) faculties
 Study revealed that only 13.5% of faculty
members across 98 universities and
institutes are women.
 Reason behind Gender Gap in Indian STEM
Faculties:
o Social Bias Against Women in Certain
STEM Fields
o Lack of Support During PostDoc to
Faculty Transition
o Toxic Workplace Environment
o Difficulty Accessing Gender
Representation Data
 Government Initiatives to Promote
Women in STEM:
 Women in STEMM (WiS) Program:
o Launched by the Department of
Science and Technology(DST)
o It provides scholarships, fellowships,
and research grants to women in
STEM.
o It also offers mentorship and
networking opportunities.
 Vigyan Jyoti:
o It was introduced in 2019-20.
o Aim: To encourage meritorious girl
students in classes 9-12 to pursue
higher education and careers in STEM
fields, addressing the
underrepresentation of women in
these areas.
 Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN
(WISE-KIRAN):
o It encourages women scientists to
pursue research in frontier areas of
science and engineering
o It also address societal problems
through S&T-based internship and
self-employment opportunities.
 International day for Women and Girls in
Science
o Celebrated every year on February 11
since 2015
o Observed by the United Nation to
promote the full and equal access and
participation of women in Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) fields.
o Theme 2023: Innovate. Demonstrate.
Elevate. Advance. Sustain (I.D.E.A.S.)
o The theme for 2024 is: “Women and
Girls in Science Leadership, a New Era
for Sustainability”
71. INCOIS scientists map Indian Ocean floor to
study currents
 Study by: Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS)
 It is essential to accurately forecast specific
oceanographic parameters, due to its vast
economic benefits.
 INCOIS:
 Established as an autonomous body in 1999
under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
 It is a unit of the Earth System Science
Organization (ESSO).
 Mandate: To provide the best possible ocean
information and advisory services
 Activities:
 Provides round-the-clock monitoring and
warning services for the coastal population
 Provides daily advisories to fisher folk
 Short-term (3-7 days) Ocean State Forecasts
 Deploys and maintains a suite of Ocean
Observing Systems
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Conducts systematic quality checks and
archives all observational, satellite, and other
oceanic data at the ESSO-INCOIS Data Centre
72. Govt expands committee for drugs, medical
devices pricing reforms
 Circular issued by the Ministry of Chemicals
and Fertilisers
 Reason: The government has expanded the
composition of the committee formed to look
into pricing reforms for drugs and medical
devices by admitting various industry bodies
 The committee was constituted by the
Department of Pharmaceuticals
 It will now have representation from industry
bodies such as the Confederation of Indian
Industries (CII), the Organisation of
Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI),
and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum
(USISPF), among others.
 The committee will address several other
tasks, including instituting reforms within the
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
(NPPA).
 The NPPA in 2012 had replaced the "cost-
based" pricing of the Drug Policy of 1994 with
"market-based" pricing, which led to
implementing the DPCO-13.
 The NPPA sets the ceiling price for all
scheduled formulations listed in the National
List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
73. C-CAMP Joins BFI-Biome Virtual Network
Program
 The Centre for Cellular and Molecular
Platforms (C-CAMP) partners with the
Blockchain for Impact (BFI) Biome Virtual
Network Program to advance healthcare
solutions via biomedical innovation.
 Aim: To bring research institutes and
incubators together to foster collaborations.
 The C-CAMP is an initiative of the Department
of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and
Technology.
 It mandates to be an enabler of cutting-edge
life science research and innovation.
 C-CAMP drives biomedical innovations in key
areas like infectious disease diagnostics,
antimicrobial resistance, cell therapy,
immuno-oncology, regenerative tissues, and
digital health technologies.
74. Adani’s Vizhinjam Port Approved as India’s
First Transshipment Hub
 The Indian government has given the green
light for Adani's Vizhinjam Port in Kerala to
operate as the nation's inaugural
transshipment hub.
 Presently, a substantial portion of India’s
transshipment cargo is handled by ports
abroad, such as those in Colombo and
Singapore.
 This designation is significant as it allows
cargo to be transferred from large vessels to
smaller ones, contributing to India’s goal of
becoming a manufacturing hub.
 Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone
Limited (APSEZ) initiated the Vizhinjam
transshipment project in 2015, with a
planned completion by 2019.
 However, it is now slated to commence
operations within the current fiscal year.
 The port aims to capture a significant share of
India’s transshipment market, currently
dominated by foreign ports like Colombo, Sri
Lanka.
75. Ministry of Mines to hold two-day summit on
critical minerals
 The government will hold a two-day summit
on critical minerals.
 Aim: To foster collaboration, share
knowledge, and drive innovation in the field
of critical mineral beneficiation and
processing.
 Collab:
 The Ministry of Mines, Shakti Sustainable
Energy Foundation (Shakti), Council on
Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), and
Indian Institute of Sustainable Development
(IISD)
 Summit Title: Critical Minerals Summit:
Enhancing Beneficiation and Processing
Capabilities
 Date: April 29 to 30th, 2024
 Key features of the summit include
technical sessions on eight key minerals:
o Glauconite (Potash), Lithium - Rare
Earth Elements (Laterite), Chromium,
Platinum Group, Graphite, Tungsten
associated with Graphite, Rare Earths
(RE), and Vanadium associated with
Graphite.
76. Gem and Jewellery Sector Granted AEO Status
by Indian Government
 India’s Gem and Jewellery (GJ) industry
received Authorized Economic Operator
(AEO) status from the Ministry of Finance.
 Informed by: Gem & Jewellery Export
Promotion Council (GJEPC)
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 This status now facilitates smoother export-
import processes, reduces cargo release
times, and lowers bank guarantees by 50%,
aiming to enhance ease of doing business.
 Asian Star emerges as the pioneer, being
granted AEO Status, thereby becoming the
first in the Indian gem and jewellery industry
to receive the certificate.
77. 200 More Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals: Indian
Railways
 Indian Railways plans to set up an additional
200 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs).
 Aim: To boost freight revenue, decongest rail
networks, and enable faster passenger train
movement
 This expansion follows the successful
implementation of the first 100 GCTs
announced in the Union Budget 2022-23.
 GCTs are multi-modal terminals used by
corporates to handle bulk cargo that is
transported via rail.
 They are established under a policy that
allows monetization of vacant Railway land
through public-private partnerships (PPP).
 The first 100 GCTs were to be set up over 5
years from 2022-23.
 77 out of the initial 100 GCTs have already
been commissioned at a cost of around
₹5,400 crore.
 These terminals are located in states like
West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana,
Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
 Major operators include Concor, Reliance,
Adani, JSW, IOCL, and BPCL, among others.
 The remaining terminals are expected to be
operational by the end of FY 2024-25.
 The additional terminals are estimated to
require ₹12,000-14,000 crore in private
investment.
 Each terminal is expected to cost an average
of ₹65-70 crore, with some ranging from ₹50
crore to higher amounts.
78. India takes top rank in world artificial
intelligence race
 Report by NetApp
 India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the
United States (US) are leaders
 Spain, Australia and Germany are among
laggards.
 In leading countries, 60% of companies had
AI projects “up and running”.
 In countries trailing, 36% of companies had
such projects.
Defence
1. Tiger Triumph 2024 Concludes: India-US
Showcase Teamwork in Humanitarian Relief
 The Closing Ceremony of the Bilateral Tri-
Service Humanitarian Assistance and
Disaster Relief (HADR) Amphibious Exercise
between India and US, Tiger Triumph 2024
was held onboard USS Somerset on 30 Mar
2024.
 The exercise signifies the robust strategic
partnership between the two countries and
was aimed at sharing best practices and
Standard Operating Procedures in
undertaking multinational HADR operations.
2. DRDO successfully conducted a flight test of
‘Agni-Prime
 DRDO and India's Strategic Forces Command
(SFC) have successfully conducted a flight
test of the new generation ballistic missile
called 'Agni-Prime'.
 The test occurred at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Island, off Odisha’s coast.
 Agni-P, also known as Agni-Prime, is a
medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM)
developed by DRDO.
 Agni-Prime has a strike range of 1,000 to
2,000 km and incorporates technological
advances from Agni-IV and Agni-V.
 Agni-Prime is a new missile that looks similar
to Agni-III but has reduced weight by half.
 It is designed to replace older generation
missiles like Prithvi-II (350 km), Agni-II
(2,000 km), Agni-III (3,000 km), and Agni-4
(4,000 km) ballistic missiles.
 Agni-P and Agni-V will strengthen India’s
deterrence against countries such as China
and Pakistan.
 While Agni-V can strike all of China, Agni-P
has been developed to counter Pakistan’s
forces.
3. NATO Celebrates 75 Years of Collective Defense
 The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) is marking its 75th anniversary this
year.
 The alliance will hold a special event in
Brussels, Belgium to commemorate this
milestone.
 It was founded in 1949.
 NATO Secretary-General: Jens Stoltenberg
 NATO Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
4. India Gets First Batch Igla-S Man Portable Air
Defence Systems (MANPADS)
 The Indian Army has received the first batch
of 24 Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
Defence Systems (MANPADS) and 100
missiles as part of a larger deal that includes
domestic production in India.
 Aim: To enhance the Army’s Very Short Range
Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities,
particularly in high mountainous terrain
along the northern border
 In November 2022, India signed a contract
with Russia for 120 launchers and 400
missiles.
 The first batch has been delivered from
Russia.
 The remaining systems will be manufactured
in India through Transfer of Technology
(ToT) from Russia by an Indian company.
 The Igla-S is a hand-held defense system that
can be operated by an individual or crew.
6. India-Kazakhstan to Enhance Counter-Terror
 It is designed to bring down low-flying
Cooperation in Response to Moscow Attacks
aircraft and can also identify and neutralize
air targets such as cruise missiles and drones.
 The system comprises the 9M342 missile, the
9P522 launching mechanism, the 9V866-2
mobile test station, and the 9F719-2 test set.
4. 'Steel-Cutting' ceremony of Navy's First Fleet
Support Ship held in Andhra
 The ‘Steel Cutting’ ceremony of the first of the
five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was held at
Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh.
 Contract with HSL for the acquisition of five
Fleet Support Ships was signed in August
2023 and the ships are scheduled to be
delivered to the Indian Navy, commencing
mid-2027.
 On induction, the Fleet Support Ships will
bolster the 'Blue Water' capabilities of the
Indian Navy through replenishment of fleet
ships at sea.
 The ships, with more than 40,000 tonnes
displacement will carry and deliver fuel,
water, ammunition and stores enabling
prolonged operations without returning to
7. Indian Army boosts air defence capabilities
the harbour, thus enhancing the Fleet's
with 'Akashteer Control and Reporting Systems'
strategic reach and mobility.
5. India Expands Strategic Ties and Arms Exports
with New Military Attaches
 India is expanding its strategic ties with key
regions by posting defence attaches in several
countries, including Ethiopia, Mozambique,
Ivory Coast, Philippines, Armenia, and
Poland.
 This move comes amid renewed geopolitical
rivalries and is part of India’s broader policy
initiative.
 New Delhi is appointing a new defence
attaché to Djibouti, a tiny African nation that
serves as a major maritime gateway around
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
 Djibouti is considered a prized location for
military bases, and the new defence attaché
will be the second one to hold the post in the
island nation.
 The decision to appoint defence attaches in
African countries of Ethiopia, Mozambique,
and Ivory Coast is in sync with New Delhi’s
priority to expand its strategic engagement
with the African continent.
 India and its close partner in Central Asia
Kazakhstan have assessed counter-terrorism
challenges, and also exchanged views on
cross-border terrorism in South Asia.
 The meeting was significant in the backdrop
of the recent terror attack in Russia that was
carried out by extremists with Central Asian
origins who may have been influenced by
Pakistan-based seminaries.
 Key Discussion Points
 Regional Terrorist Threats: Both nations
engaged in discussions regarding the
terrorist landscape within their respective
regions.
 Afghanistan-Pakistan Region: The meeting
also delved into the specific challenges posed
by terrorism in the Afghanistan-Pakistan
region
 Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked
country, located in Central Asia, bordered by
Russia to the north, China to the east,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to
the south, and the Caspian Sea to the west.
 The Indian Army has commenced the
induction of the indigenous Akashteer
system.
 It is marking a significant advancement in its
air defence capabilities.
 It is an automated air defence control and
reporting system.
 Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited
(BEL)
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Aims to integrate the army’s air defence units
for enhanced operational efficiency.
 Akashteer enables seamless integration of
radar and communication systems, fostering
a unified network for comprehensive
situational awareness and control.
8. MoD holds first tri-service conference
 The first-ever tri-service planning conference
called the 'Parivartan Chintan'.
 Location: Delhi
 The conference takes place on the backdrop
of the three services combining to set up
integrated theatre commands, containing
elements of the army, navy, and air force.
 Aim: To generate new and fresh ideas,
initiatives and reforms to propel jointness
and integration efforts
9. Israel Deploys C-Dome Defense System Against
Aerial Threat Near Eilat
 Israel deployed its ship-mounted defense
system, the C-Dome, for the first time against
a suspicious aerial target near the southern
city of Eilat.
 The incident occurred following an alert in
the area, which had previously been targeted
by missile fire from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
 C-Dome:
 Mounted on Sa’ar 6-class corvettes.
 It is the naval counterpart of the land-based
Iron Dome.
 Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence
Systems
 It provides a robust defense against rocket
and missile threats.
10. Indian Army Conducts Anti-Tank Guided
Missile Training Exercise in Sikkim
 The Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army
executed a rigorous Anti-Tank Guided Missile
(ATGM) exercise in Sikkim.
 It is operating at an altitude of 17,000 feet.
 The exercise involved missile-firing
detachments from Mechanized and Infantry
Units of the Eastern Command.
 It emphasizes live firing scenarios against
both moving and static targets, simulating
battlefield conditions.
 The exercise reaffirmed the strategic
objective of “Ek Missile Ek Tank”.
11. India, US to reactivate Indian Ocean Observing
System (IndOOS)
 India and the US have recently agreed to
reactivate the Indian Ocean Observing
System (IndOOS).
 It is a network of 36 moored buoys in the high
seas.
 Aim: To collect ocean and atmospheric data
for weather forecasts.
 The system fell into neglect during the
COVID-19 pandemic, leading to gaps in
crucial observational data, particularly
related to the Indian Ocean Dipole
phenomenon and monsoon predictions.
 The decision to reactivate IndOOS was made
during a meeting between Earth Sciences
Secretary M Ravichandran and Rick Spinrad,
Administrator of the US National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
 The moored buoys are part of the RAMA
programme, established in 2008 through
collaboration between India’s Ministry of
Earth Sciences and NOAA.
 The NOAA will provide instrumentation,
while India will provide ship-time starting in
July to restart the RAMA array.
12. HAL Secures Budget for 97 LCA Mark 1A
Fighter Jets
 The government has placed a record Rs
65,000 crore order for 97 LCA Mark 1A
fighter jets with Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL).
 It is the largest ever order for indigenous
military hardware.
 The advanced version of the Tejas aircraft,
LCA Mark 1A will replace the aging MiG fleet
of the Indian Air Force.
 The order is part of the government’s efforts
to boost indigenisation in the defence sector
and support small and medium enterprises.
 The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A is
an advanced variant of the indigenously
developed Tejas fighter jet, manufactured by
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the
Indian Air Force.
 It is a single-engine, fourth-generation,
multirole combat aircraft designed to
undertake various missions such as air
defense, ground attack, and anti-ship
operations.
13. India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise
DUSTLIK 2024
 The fifth edition of the India-Uzbekistan Joint
Military Exercise DUSTLIK is set to
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
commence on April 15, 2024, in Termez
District, Uzbekistan.
 This exercise marks another milestone in the
strategic partnership between the two
nations, fostering mutual cooperation and
enhancing military capabilities.
 The fourth edition of the joint military
exercise took place on February 20 last year
at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh in
Uttarakhand.
14. DRDO & Indian Army conduct successful trials
of indigenous Man Portable ATGM Weapon
System
 Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile
(MPATGM) Weapon System, indigenously
designed and developed by Defence Research
& Development Organisation (DRDO).
 It has been field evaluated in different flight
configurations several times with the
objective of proving the technology with high
superiority.
 The system consisted of the MPATGM,
Launcher, Target Acquisition System, and the
Fire Control Unit.
15. DRDO Develops Lightest Bulletproof Jacket
 The Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) has developed the
lightest bulletproof jacket in India.
 Designed by the Defence Materials and Stores
Research and Development Establishment
(DMSRDE) in Kanpur
 It offers protection against the highest threat
level 6 as per BIS 17051 standards.
 Provides protection against 7.62 x 54 R API
ammunition (Level 6 of BIS 17051)
 Utilizes a new design approach with novel
materials and processes
 Front Hard Armour Panel (HAP) can
withstand multiple hits (6 shots) from sniper
rounds
 Ergonomically designed front HAP made of
monolithic ceramic plate with polymer
backing
 Enhances wearability and comfort during
operations
 Areal density of ICW HAP is less than 40
kg/m2, and standalone HAP is less than 43
kg/m2
 Successfully tested at Terminal Ballistics
Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh
 Tested as per BIS 17051-2018 standards.
16. Indian Army investing Rs 6,800 crore on
shoulder-fired missiles
 The Indian Army is progressing two projects
worth over Rs 6,800 crore to develop
indigenous Very Short Range Air Defence
(VSHORAD) systems.
 These shoulder-fired missile systems are
being developed to counter aerial threats
along the borders with China and Pakistan.
 The Army plans to procure over 500
launchers and around 3,000 missiles through
these indigenous routes.
 The first project, valued at Rs 4,800 crore,
involves the development of a laser beam
riding VSHORADS.
 A Hyderabad-based defense Public Sector
Undertaking (PSU) and a private sector firm
from Pune are collaborating on this project.
 The system will provide protection against
enemy drones, fighter aircraft, and
helicopters.
 The Army will be the lead service for this
project, with the Indian Air Force also set to
receive a portion of the 1,200 missiles and
200 launchers being developed.
 O’s Infra-Red Homing VSHORADS
 The second project is being carried out by the
Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) to develop an infra-red
homing-based VSHORADS.
 DRDO is working with its development and
production partners, Adani Defence and I-
Comm, to create this system.
 The DRDO has already tested the system
using a tripod and is now working on
miniaturizing it for shoulder-launched use.
17. Indian Navy Conducts ‘Poorvi Leher’ Mega
Exercise to Test Maritime Preparedness
 The Indian Navy conducted a mega exercise,
‘Poorvi Leher,’ along the East Coast to
validate its procedures and assess its
preparedness to meet maritime security
challenges in the region.
 The extensive drill witnessed the
participation of ships, submarines, aircraft,
and special naval forces.
 The exercise witnessed participation from
the Indian Air Force, Andaman and Nicobar
Command, and the Coast Guard.
18. General Manoj Pande Inaugurates High-Tech
IT Lab in Uzbekistan
 Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande
visited Uzbekistan from April 15-18, 2024.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Reason: To inaugurate a state-of-the-art IT
Laboratory at the Uzbek Academy of Armed
Forces.
 This initiative stems from a commitment
made during the Defence Ministers’ meeting
in September 2018, highlighting the growing
partnership between the two nations.
19. India delivers BrahMos missiles to
Philippines as part of $375 mn deal
 India delivered the BrahMos supersonic
cruise missiles to the Philippines.
 It is a part of the $375 million deal between
the two sides signed in 2022.
 The Indian Air Force sent its American origin
C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft with the
missiles to the Philippines to deliver the
weapon system to the Philippines' Marine
Corps.
 The export of ground systems for the
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system
along with the missiles started last month
itself.
 The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a
joint venture between the Defence Research
and Development Organisation (DRDO) and
Russian Federation's NPO
Mashinostroyeniya.
 The Indian Army has integrated multiple
BrahMos regiments into its arsenal since
2007.
20. Indian Navy’s Submersible Platform ‘Space’
Inaugurated
 The Indian Navy inaugurated a state-of-the-
art Submersible Platform for Acoustic
Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) in
Kerala’s Idukki.
 This platform was set up by the Naval
Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of
DRDO.
 Aim: To serve as a premier testing and
evaluation hub for sonar systems used by the
Indian Navy on various platforms such as
ships, submarines, and helicopters.
 SPACE will be primarily used for evaluating
complete sonar systems, enabling quick
deployment and easy recovery of scientific
packages like sensors and transducers.
 It will facilitate surveying, sampling, and data
collection of various parameters related to
air, surface, mid-water, and reservoir floors
using advanced scientific instrumentation.
21. IAF Conducts Successful Test of Air-Launched
Ballistic Missile
 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has achieved a
significant milestone by successfully testing a
new version of an air-launched medium-
range ballistic missile.
 The missile was codenamed ROCKS or Crystal
Maze 2.
 It was test-fired from a Su-30 MKI fighter jet
in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
 Strike range exceeding 250 km
 It can hit targets in GPS-denied environments.
 The ROCKS missile offers versatility with
options for either a penetration warhead or a
blast fragmentation warhead.
22. DRDO developing DURGA II laser weapon
 The Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) has sought USD 100
million from the Ministry of Defence.
 Reason: To develop a high-power laser
weapon
 Named Directionally Unrestricted Ray-Gun
Array (DURGA) II
 It is a lightweight directed energy weapon
(DEW)
 It is a 100-kilowatt lightweight DEW and can
be used by armed forces.
 It aims to provide the Indian armed forces
with cutting-edge technology capable of
neutralising various threats, including
drones, missiles, and artillery shells.
23. China launches Hangor-class submarines
built for Pakistan
 The first Hangor class submarine, built by
China for Pakistan, was launched at a Wuhan
shipyard.
 This was the first of eight submarines of this
class that the Pakistan Navy is set to induct
into its fleet by 2028.
 Hangor-class:
o It is an export variant of the Chinese
Type 039A Yuan class.
o It is a diesel-electric attack submarine
o It was named after the now
decommissioned PNS Hangor, which
famously sank Indian frigate INS
Khukri during the 1971 war.
o Pakistan’s Hangor class is the direct
counterpart of India’s Kalavari class
of submarines, based on the French
Scorpene-class.
24. Iran Unveils Kamikaze Drone Similar to
Russian Lancet
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC) has introduced a new kamikaze
drone resembling Russia’s Lancet drone.
 This drone is designed for targeted attacks,
akin to those witnessed in the Ukraine
conflict.
 Boasts flight durations of 30 to 60 minutes
 Can carry payloads ranging from 3 to 6 kg
 Covering distances of up to 40 km.
MoUs
1. SJVN partners with IIT Patna to improve
Tunneling Project Performance
 SJVN Limited has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Indian
Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna) to
use advanced geological models in SJVN's
tunnelling projects., thus significantly
reducing time and cost overruns.
 Chairperson & Managing Director, SJVN:
Geeta Kapur
2. IIM Mumbai and Starburst Collaborate to Boost
ASD Startups
 The Indian Institute of Management Mumbai
(IIM Mumbai) partners with Starburst, a
prominent European Aerospace, New Space,
and Defence (ASD) accelerator.
 Aim: To bolster the ASD startup ecosystem in
India, leveraging the resources and expertise
of both entities.
 By combining the expertise and resources of
both institutions, unparalleled support will
be provided to ASD startups, facilitating their
growth and contribution to India’s ASD
industry.
3. SIA-India and ABRASAT Sign MoU to Boost
Space Sector Advancements
 The SatCom Industry Association of India
(SIA-India) and ABRASAT, the Brazilian
Satellite Communications Association, have
joined forces to propel advancements in the
space sector.
 This strategic partnership aims to foster
collaboration and drive innovative ventures
and technological cooperation between India
and Brazil.
 The MoU facilitates collaboration in satellite
communication, rocket and satellite launches,
payload development, satellite platforms, and
ground instrumentation.
4. Panasonic to form JV with IOCL to make
cylindrical lithium-ion batteries
 Panasonic Group will form a joint venture
with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to
manufacture cylindrical lithium-ion
batteries.
 Aim: To draw a framework for the formation
of a joint venture" to manufacture cylindrical
lithium-ion batteries.
5. 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).
 Aim: To establish an Automotive 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.
6. Air India, BIAL sign agreement to develop
Bengaluru airport as hub
 Air India and Bangalore International Airport
Limited (BIAL) have signed a pact to develop
the Bengaluru airport as an aviation hub.
 It is encompassing the construction of a
dedicated domestic lounge, expansion of
international services, and establishment of a
maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO)
facility.
 Air India is wholly owned by the Tata Group,
while AIX Connect and Air India Express are
its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
 Vistara, a 51:49 joint venture between the
Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is
currently undergoing a merger into Air India.
 The Bengaluru airport is operated by Fairfax-
run BIAL.
7. Hyundai, Kia tie up with Exide for electric
vehicle battery localisation
 South Korean automotive majors Hyundai
Motor Company and Kia Corporation
partnered with Exide Energy Solutions
(EESL), a subsidiary of Kolkata-based battery
manufacturer Exide Industries.
 Reason: To localise electric vehicle (EV)
battery production in India
 Hyundai and Kia plan to focus on the
production of lithium iron phosphate cells.
8. Cochin Shipyard Signs Master Shipyard Repair
Agreement with US Navy
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a state-run
shipbuilding facility in Kochi, has become the
third Indian shipyard to enter into a Master
Shipyard Repair Agreement (MRSA) with the
U.S. Navy.
 This agreement enables CSL to repair U.S.
Navy ships, following in the footsteps of
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL).
 India and the U.S. have been actively seeking
to expand cooperation in ship repair and
maintenance, with the aim of transforming
India into a regional hub for these services.
9. EU-India join forces to promote start-up
collaboration on Recycling of E-Vehicles Batteries
 The European Union (EU) and India launched
an Expression of Interest (EoI) for startups
working in Battery Recycling Technologies
for Electric Vehicles (EVs) for a matchmaking
event.
 The matchmaking aims to enhance the
cooperation between European and Indian
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
and startups in the clean and green
technologies sector.
 The intended exchange of knowledge and
expertise will be instrumental in advancing
the circularity of rare materials and
transitioning towards carbon neutrality in
both India and the EU.
 This initiative takes place under the India-EU
Trade & Technology Council (TTC),
announced by India and the European
Commission in New Delhi on 25th April 2022.
 This event is also part of a broader effort to
promote a sustainable agenda, foster
innovation, and forge stronger economic
relations between the European Union and
India.
10. MG Motor India, Adani TotalEnergies E-
Mobility sign MoU to strengthen EV ecosystem
 Adani TotalEnergies E-Mobility Limited
(ATEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani
Total Gas Limited (ATGL), and MG Motor
India have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the EV
charging infrastructure in India.
 The joint collaboration to develop the
charging solutions for electric vehicle (EV)
and value-added services to MG's EV
customers nationwide.
 It will underpin India's rapidly evolving EV
ecosystem by helping build a robust and
efficient charging infrastructure.
11. KABIL and CSIR-IMMT sign MoU for Technical
and Knowledge cooperation for Critical Minerals
 Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has
signed an MoU with the Council of Scientific
and Industrial Research - Institute of
Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-
IMMT) for Technical & Knowledge
cooperation for Critical Minerals.
 KABIL will leverage the technical expertise
and services of CSIR-IMMT to undertake
various projects, including the design and
analysis of metallurgical test work-plans.
 KABIL is a JV company of three Indian public
sector undertakings - National Aluminium
Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan
Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral
Exploration and Consultancy Limited
(MECL), under the aegis of Ministry of Mines.
 The 30 critical minerals are Antimony,
Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium,
Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium,
Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE,
Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon,
Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin,
Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium,
Selenium and Cadmium
12. Oppo, OnePlus partner with Google to bring
Gemini Ultra AI to smartphones
 Oppo and OnePlus have announced they will
soon integrate Google’s most powerful
Gemini 1.0 Ultra artificial intelligence (AI)
model into their devices.
 The companies have confirmed that features
based on the Gemini Ultra model will start to
roll out on their smartphones later this year.
13. Edelweiss Alt completes acquisition of L&T
Infra Development Projs for Rs 6,000 cr
 Edelweiss Alternatives has completed a Rs
6,000 crore deal to acquire L&T
Infrastructure Development Projects
(LTIDPL).
 LTIDPL is a joint venture owned by L&T and
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
 The acquisition will give Edelweiss 100%
ownership in the joint venture.
 It will include seven road assets and a 960-
circuit km power transmission line.
14. NTPC signs MoU with Indus Towers for green
energy
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Signed between: NGEL & Indus Towers
 Agenda: To address the need for pacing green
energy objectives and the GOI’s efforts
towards carbon neutral economy
 NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) is a
wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC.
 The MoU is to explore a joint development of
grid-connected renewable energy-based
power projects including solar, wind, energy
storage, etc and solutions thereof.
15. CSIR-IICT, BHEL developing tech to make
clean fuel with CO2
 Signed between: CSIR-IICT (Indian Institute
of Chemical Technology) and BHEL corporate
R&D
 Aim: To develop a technology for capturing
and converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into
Dimethyl Ether (DME) through direct
catalytic conversion.
 This clean fuel can be blended with Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG).
 The project is being taken up under Carbon
Capture and Utilisation (CCU), an initiative of
the Department of Science and Technology.
16. Air India enters into codeshare pact with
Japan's All Nippon Airways
 Signed between: Air India & Japan's All
Nippon Airways
 Agenda: Passengers can fly to their desired
destination by combining those flights
between India and Japan with a single ticket.
 Air India will add its 'AI' designator code on
ANA's flights between Tokyo Haneda and
Delhi as well as Tokyo Narita and Mumbai.
 ANA will add its 'NH' designator code on Air
India's flight between Tokyo Narita and Delhi.
17. AFMS & IIT Delhi ink MoU for collaborative
research & training
 Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS)
signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) for collaborative research and training
with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Delhi.
 The MoU was signed by Director General
Armed Forces Medical Services Lt Gen Daljit
Singh and Director IIT Delhi Prof Rangan
Banerjee.
 The scope of this MoU includes undertaking
research and innovation to develop novel
medical devices and focus on solving health
issues specific to serving soldiers in varied
terrains.
18. Russia-India Signs Agreement to Operate
Large Research Hub in New Delhi
 HSE University, a public research university
in St Petersburg, Russia and the University of
Delhi (DU) in New Delhi have signed an
agreement on strategic cooperation and joint
actions
 Under this agreement, a large research hub
will begin operating at DU in India.
19. Ashok Leyland Signed MoU with South Indian
Bank For Dealer Financing
 Ashok Leyland Limited signed a
Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with
South Indian Bank for financing dealers
under the bank's dealer finance program.
 As part of the partnership, the South Indian
Bank will provide competitive dealer finance
options to the dealers of Ashok Leyland
Limited.
 This arrangement is mutually beneficial for
vehicle manufacturers, dealers and South
Indian Bank.
20. BEL signs MoU with IIT Mandi for Co-
operation in Various Fields
 Signed between: Bharat Electronics Limited
(BEL) and Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
 Reason: For cooperation in research and
technology, product development in domains
such as semiconductors, quantum
technologies, and drones.
 Aim: To leverage the strengths and
capabilities of BEL and IIT-Mandi.
 BEL is actively involved in cutting-edge fields
such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud
Computing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
21. IIT Kanpur & BFI Partners to Accelerate
Healthcare Innovation in India
 Partnership between: Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh and
Blockchain For Impact (BFI), Bengaluru
 Signed under the BFI-Biome Virtual Network
Program
 Aim: To nurture innovations and drive
advancements in healthcare in India.
 The BFI will allocate over USD 150,000 across
three years to develop programs specifically
tailored to healthcare-focused startups at IIT
Kanpur's SIIC.
22. IIT Kanpur & AFMS to Develop Tech for
Monitoring Soldiers’ Health in Tough Terrains
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Partnership between: IIT Kanpur & AFMS
(Armed Forces Medical Services)
 Aim: To collaborate on research and
development of technologies to address
health issues faced by soldiers in difficult
terrains.
 Both will work together to conduct research
and develop innovative technologies aimed at
tackling the health challenges encountered by
soldiers operating in tough environments.
23. Apple and CleanMax Collaborate to Advance
Renewable Energy in India
 Apple has partnered with CleanMax to deploy
14.4 megawatts of rooftop solar installations
across six industrial sites in India
 Aim: To reduce emissions associated with its
operations in the country
 The installations are expected to mitigate
approximately 207,000 tons of carbon
emissions throughout their operational
lifespan.
 The additional capacity from the solar
projects will power Apple’s offices, retail
stores, and other operations in India,
contributing to the company’s commitment
to 100% renewable energy globally since
2018.
24. Jio Financial-BlackRock JV to launch wealth
management, broking business
 Jio Financial Services, led by Mukesh Ambani,
plans to venture into the stockbroking and
wealth management business through an
equal joint venture (JV) with US-based
BlackRock.
 Aim: To establish an asset management
business in India
 The company entered into another JV with
BlackRock to incorporate the new businesses.
 The announcement comes at a time when
their earlier JV for a mutual fund (MF) awaits
regulatory approval for a licence.
 The JV submitted its application for the MF
business to the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (Sebi) in October 2023.
25. REC Limited avails SACE-Covered Green Loan
for 60.5 Billion Japanese Yen
 REC Limited has successfully availed a Green
Loan of Japanese Yen (JPY) 60.536 billion to
finance eligible green projects in India.
 The green loan facility benefits from an 80%
guarantee by Italian Export Credit Agency,
SACE (Italy) under their innovative Push
Strategy programme.
 The arrangement between SACE and REC is a
breakthrough and a first-of-its-kind
collaboration between an Indian government
entity and SACE.
26. KABIL inks MoU with CSIR-NGRI for
Advancing Geophysical Investigations in Critical
and Strategic Minerals Sector
 Signed between: Khanij Bidesh India Limited
(KABIL) and Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research - National Geophysical
Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI)
 Reason: To foster a long-term collaboration
in the field of geophysical investigations to
bolster its ongoing projects and activities in
critical and strategic minerals.
27. PE firm Advent to invest $300 million in
Apollo HealthCo
 Private equity firm, Advent International, has
agreed to invest ₹2,475 crore ($300 million)
into Apollo HealthCo.
 Apollo HealthCo is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.
 Concurrently, Keimed Pvt Ltd, a wholesale
distribution company owned by the
promoters of the Apollo group, is to be
merged with Apollo HealthCo.
 Advent will invest in compulsorily
convertible debentures of Apollo HealthCo in
two tranches – ₹1,732 crore (70 per cent) at
first close, and ₹743 crore (30 per cent) in 12
months.
28. The Financial Times and OpenAI strike
content licensing deal
 The Financial Times deal with OpenAI to train
artificial intelligence models on the
publisher’s archived content.
 Under the terms of the deal, the FT will
license its material to the ChatGPT maker to
help develop generative AI technology that
can create text, images and code
indistinguishable from human creations.
State
1. Governor R.N. Ravi Inaugurates Param Vir
Chakra Garden
 Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi inaugurated
the Param Vir Chakra garden and Aikyam
exhibition at the Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya
Mandir in Tambaram.
 The garden showcases the history and
statues of the 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees,
India’s highest military decoration for valor.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The unveiling took place in the presence of
Sub Major and Captain Yogendra Singh
Yadav, PVC, Sub Major Sanjay Kumar, PVC,
relatives of late Major R.Parameswaran, PVC,
and several personnel of the Armed Forces.
2. IIT-Kanpur Alumnus Sandeep Jain takes charge
as new FISME president
 Auto-component manufacturer and alumnus
of IIT-Kanpur, Sandeep Jain, has been
unanimously elected President of the
Federation of Indian Micro and Small &
Medium Enterprises (FISME) for 2024-25.
 Jain takes over the reins of FISME from
Prashant Patel, a manufacturer of dyes and
chemicals having plants in Ahmedabad and
Surat.
3. Miraj’s Sitars and Tanpuras Awarded
Geographical Indication Tags
 The small town of Miraj in Maharashtra’s
Sangli district is known for sitars and
tanpuras, awarded the coveted Geographical
Indication (GI) tags, recognizing their unique
origin and quality.
4. Punjab Launches ‘Booth Raabta’ Website
 Punjab’s Malerkotla district has introduced
the ‘Booth Raabta’ website.
 Spearheaded by District Election Officer and
Deputy Commissioner, Dr Pallavi.
 This platform is accessible via
boothraabta.com and serves as
comprehensive resource hub for voters and
polling personnel alike.
 Aim: To enhance voter engagement and
accessibility to election-related information
5. President’s Greetings on eve of Chaitra Sukladi,
Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh and
Sajibu Cheiraoba
 Chaitra Sukladi is the New Year’s Day
according to the Hindu calendar in parts of
North India.
 It falls on the first day of the Chaitra month
 Ugadi is the New Year’s Day for the states of
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.
 Gudi Padwa is the traditional New Year’s Day
for the people of Maharashtra.
6. BMC Imposes Double Property Tax for Non-
Marathi Signboards
 The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
(BMC) has announced that starting May 1,
2024, shops and establishments in Mumbai
that fail to display signboards in Marathi or
Devanagari script will face double property
tax.
 This move comes as part of the BMC’s efforts
to enforce the use of Marathi language on
signboards, aligning with the Maharashtra
Shops and Establishments Rules and a recent
Supreme Court directive.
 The court had previously given a two-month
window for shops and establishments to
display Marathi language or Devanagari
script on their signboards before the
November 23, 2023 deadline.
7. Ikshvaku-era coins unearthed at Telangana’s
Buddhist heritage site
 Recently, the Department of Archaeology and
Museums have unearthed a coin hoard at the
Phanigiri in Suryapet district, Telangana.
 Coins: Lead coins with the elephant symbol
on one side and the Ujjain symbol on the
other side are found.
 According to the archaeologists, the coins
belong to the Ikshvaku period dated between
3rd century and 4th century Common Era.
 All the cultural material is datable from the
1st century BCE to 4th century CE
 Phanigiri is a famous Buddhist site located
110 km away from Hyderabad.
 This site derived its name from the shape of
the hillock, which appears to be like a snake
hood.
a  The word Phani in Sanskrit means snake and
Giri means hillock.
 It is believed to be one of the important
Buddhist monasteries strategically located on
the ancient trade route (Dakshinapatha)
connecting the west and the east coast of the
Deccan.
8. Madhya Pradesh: Eurasian Otter fitted with
tracking device in Satpura Tiger Reserve
 The first Eurasian otter in India was radio-
tagged in the Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) in
Madhya Pradesh.
 Radio Tagging is jointly carried out by Team
of The Satpura Tiger Reserve and the NGO
Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT).
 The Eurasian otter was first photographed in
the STR in 2016, expanding its known range
to central India.
 Scientific Name of Eurasian Otter: Lutra lutra.
 About :
 It is a captivating semiaquatic mammal
native to Eurasia.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 They are shy and nocturnal and are found
near small streams in the interior forests and
hunt their prey during the night.
 1312 661a8c41f20fcHabitat: The Eurasian
otter lives in a wide variety of aquatic
habitats, including highland and lowland
lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, swamp
forests and coastal areas.
 Distribution: It is distributed throughout
three continents i.e., Europe, Asia and Africa.
In India, it occurs in Northern India, Central
India and southern India.
 Conservation Status:
 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Near
Threatened
 Convention on the International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES): Appendix I
 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
9. Muria tribe lacks access to primary education
 The Muria tribe lacks access to primary
education, safe drinking water and social
welfare benefits also remains a dream and
they are at risk of displacement.
 They are located in the states of Telangana,
Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
 They speak Koya, which is a Dravidian
language.
 The Muria settlements are known as
habitations of Internally Displaced People
(IDPs), whose population is around 6,600 in
AP, and they are referred to as ‘Gutti Koyas’
by the native tribes.
10. Largest Temple Festival Thrissur Pooram
2024 Celebrated
 Observed in Kerala
 The southern Indian state of Kerala is
renowned for its rich cultural tapestry,
encompassing a diverse array of religions,
landscapes, rituals, and histories.
 Thrissur Pooram is a grand temple festival
celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm,
transcending religious boundaries.
 Initiated in 1796 by Shakthan Thampuran,
the ruler of Cochin from 1790 to 1805.
11. 34th Seng Khihlang Festival Concludes in
Wahiajer, Meghalaya
 The 34th Seng Khihlang festival, a revered
event for adherents of the Khasi Indigenous
Faith, recently concluded in Wahiajer,
Meghalaya.
 This year, the esteemed Monolith was
received in Wahiajer from Seng Khasi Shaid
Shaid, located in the West Khasi Hills.
 The Seng Khihlang festival holds immense
significance for the followers of the Khasi
Indigenous Faith.
 The Khasis inhabiting the Jaintia Hills are
often referred to as Jaintias or Pnars.
12. Three New Archaeological Sites Discovered in
Telangana
 A team of archaeologists have discovered a
unique Iron Age Megalithic site at Ooragutta
near Bandala village in SS Tadvai mandal of
Mulugu district, Telangana.
 The team has also discovered two new rock
art sites at Damaratogu Gundala mandal of
Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana.
 One of the sites known as "Devarlabanda
Mula" has only depictions of animals and no
humans.
 It is believed that the paintings dated back to
Mesolithic age (between 8000 3000 BCE)
since no weapons or domestic animals are
shown.
13. Gangaur Festival 2024 observed in Rajasthan
 Gangaur is an important festival celebrated
throughout Rajasthan in various forms.
 The term "Gan" refers to Lord Shiva while
"Gauri" or "Gaur" represents Goddess Parvati,
Shiva's heavenly consort.
 Gangaur is celebrated to commemorate their
union and symbolizes happiness in marriage.
 The festival is observed during Chaitra
(March-April), which is the first month of the
Hindu calendar, marking the transition from
winter to spring.
 During the first day of the Chaitra month, a
worship ceremony begins that culminates on
the 18th day into the Gangaur festival,
celebrated with great religious fervor.
 "Gulabi Gangaur" is celebrated in Nathdwara,
Rajasthan on Chaitra Shukla Panchami.
 In Jaisalmer Gangaur is celebrated without
the idol of Isar.
14. Baranasi's Tricolour Barfi and Dhalua idol
metalcraft get GI tag
 Tiranga Barfi of Varanasi, associated with
India's independence on 16 April 2024, has
been given the status of GI product.
 Besides, another product of Varanasi, Dhalua
Murti Metal Casting Craft, has also been
included in the GI category.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 On April 16, 2024, the Geographical
Indication (GI) Registry Office based in
Chennai has released the list of new products.
 In this way, a total of 34 products in Banaras
region and 75 products in Uttar Pradesh have
now received the GI tag.
 Kashi is also called the most diverse GI city.
15. Kerala to introduce SOPs under One Health
initiative
 The Kerala Health Department is set to
introduce detailed standard operating
procedures (SOPs).
 Reason: For the outbreak investigation and
control of at least eight infectious diseases as
part of its One Health initiative.
 The SOPs aim to establish an early disease
surveillance, prevention, and control
mechanism in districts.
 The SOPs cover several diseases and disease
conditions, including:
o Water-borne diseases like acute
diarrhoeal diseases, Hepatitis A and E
o Food-borne infections
o Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue,
chikungunya, and Zika
o Acute Encephalitis Syndrome
(Japanese encephalitis and West Nile
fever)
o Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)
o Nipah virus infection
o Leptospirosis
o Avian influenza
 The One Health project is currently being
implemented as part of the World Bank-aided
Rebuild Kerala project in four districts of the
state: Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam,
and Idukki.
16. Namma Yatri launches ‘zero commission’
model cab services in Bengaluru
 Bengaluru-based mobility app Namma Yatri
launched its cab services in the tech capital.
 The team of Namma Yatri stressed that it
would follow the prices set by the Karnataka
government through its ‘zero commission’
model.
 Namma Yatri will have non-AC minis, AC
minis, and Sedan and XL cabs in its fleet.
17. Dharamsala to get India’s first ‘hybrid pitch’
 The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association
(HPCA) stadium in Dharamshala has become
the first BCCI-accredited venue to install a
state-of-the-art ‘hybrid pitch’.
 This new technology is set to transform the
game, as future international and IPL matches
will be played on this innovative track.
 The Netherlands-based ‘SISGrass’, a part of
the SIS Pitches group of companies, has been
brought in to install the first-ever hybrid
pitch in India.
18. Mahindra Susten’s ₹1,200 Crore Hybrid
Renewable Energy Project in Maharashtra
 Mahindra Susten, a subsidiary of the
Mahindra Group, enters the hybrid
renewable energy sector with a ₹1,200-Crore
project in Maharashtra, combining 101 MW
wind and 52 MW solar capacity.
 The project aims to generate 460 million kWh
of clean energy and offset 420,000 tonnes of
CO2 emissions.
 Mahindra Susten announces its debut in the
hybrid renewable energy segment,
emphasizing local component utilization and
sustainability.
 The 150 MW hybrid RE project will leverage
over 80% locally manufactured components.
 Target: Providing clean energy to commercial
and industrial customers.
19. Chitrakoot’s Stunning Glass Skywalk Bridge in
Uttar Pradesh
 Uttar Pradesh has unveiled its first-ever glass
skywalk bridge, located at the enchanting
Tulsi (Shabari) Waterfall in Chitrakoot.
 This innovative and visually stunning
structure, shaped like Lord Ram’s bow and
arrow.
 It is poised to become a premier eco-tourism
destination for visitors to the region.
 Constructed at Rs 3.70 crore
20. Longte Festival Celebrated by Arunachal
Pradesh’s Nyishi
 The Nyishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh
enthusiastically celebrates the Longte
festival, one of their biggest cultural events.
 Longte prohibits the sacrifice of animals,
instead adorning altars with decorative white
feathers and bamboo decorations.
 Other Festivals of Arunachal Pradesh
 Losar Festival, Torgya Festival, Saka Dawa,
and Nyokum Yullo
21. Madhya Pradesh Leads in Centre’s Green
Credit Programme Efforts
 Madhya Pradesh is leading the Centre’s Green
Credit Programme (GCP) with over 500 land
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
parcels approved for tree plantation across
10 states in the past two months.
 A total of 10,000 hectares of land have been
identified for the programme by these states.
 The approved degraded forest land for
plantation/greening exercises is reported
highest in MP (954 hectares), followed by
Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Assam.
 Other states where land parcels have been
approved include Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil
Nadu, Maharashtra, and Odisha.
 The Green Credit Programme (GCP) is a
market-based initiative that encourages
voluntary environmental actions from
individuals, companies, communities, and
private sector industries.
 The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and
Climate Change announced the programme
on October 13, 2023.
 Aim: To encourage companies to participate
in environmentally friendly activities like
waste management, water management, and
planting trees.
 The program is part of the government’s
Lifestyle for Environment (LIFE) movement.
 The Green Credit Rules, 2023, were notified
on 12th October 2023 under the
Environment Protection Act 1986.
 The programme allows individuals and
companies to earn and trade green credits for
afforestation on degraded forest land.
22. IIT Guwahati Develops Innovative 3D Printed
Dummy Ballot Unit
 The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
(IIT-G), in collaboration with the Systematic
Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation
(SVEEP) cell of Kamrup election district in
Assam, has developed an innovative 3D
printed dummy ballot unit.
 Unveiled at the IIT-G campus
 Aim: To enhance voter awareness and
participation, particularly among new voters
and senior citizens.
23. Tamil Nadu Conducts Nilgiri Tahr Survey with
IUCN Observer
 The Tamil Nadu government is conducting a
three-day synchronised survey of the Nilgiri
Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)
 It is the State animal of Tamil Nadu.
 Aim: To estimate the population of the
endangered species, which once roamed the
Anamalai and Nilgiris landscape.
 The International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) representative will be an
observer in the exercise.
 The survey is being conducted in
collaboration with the World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF), the Wildlife Institute of India
(WII), and the IUCN.
 The habitats in Tamil Nadu have been divided
into 13 forest divisions, 100 forest beats, and
140 feasible blocks, with more emphasis on
areas along the Kerala border.
 Nilgiri Tahr Facts
o The Nilgiri Tahr is a mountain
ungulate endemic to the Western
Ghats of India.
o It is listed as an endangered species
by the IUCN and protected under
Schedule-I of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972.
Important Dates
1. United Nations Observes International Mine
Awareness Day on 4th April
 The United Nations Observes International
Mine Awareness Day on 4th April.
International Mine Awareness Day is a day
dedicated to raising awareness about the
serious impact of landmines.
 The theme for International Day for Mine
Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action 2024
is ‘Protecting Lives, Building Peace’.
2. 260th Raising Day of Army Medical Corps
 Army Medical Corps celebrated its 260th
Raising Day on 03rd April 2024.
 AMC in its 260th year has set a benchmark in
professionalism, courage & compassion
beyond the call of duty
 Army Medical Corps Founded: 3 April 1943
 Army Medical Corps Lieutenant: General
Daljit Singh
3. International Day of Reflection on 1994
Rwanda Genocide
 On April 7, 2024, Rwanda marked 30 years of
the genocide orchestrated by armed Hutu
extremists.
 The 100-day massacre, which began on April
7, 1994, claimed the lives of approximately
800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate
Hutus.
4. World Homoeopathy Day 2024 observed on
April 10
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 World Homoeopathy Day, observed annually
on April 10th, stands as a pivotal occasion in
the realm of alternative medicine.
 The theme for World Homeopathy Day is
“Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family.
5. National Safe Motherhood Day 2024 observed
on April 11
 National Safe Motherhood Day, observed
annually on April 11th, is a crucial occasion to
highlight the importance of maternal health
and well-being.
6. CRPF’s 59th Bravery Day 2024
 Every year on April 9th, the Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) celebrates its Bravery
Day, or Valour Day, to pay tribute to the brave
soldiers who have selflessly served the
nation.
 This year, 2024, marks the 59th anniversary
of this significant day.
7. National Library Day 2024 observed on April 6
 National Library Day is celebrated every year
on April 6th.
 On this day, people come together to
celebrate the important role that libraries
and librarians play in our society. It's a day to
reflect on the importance of reading and
making books accessible and affordable for
everyone.
8. National Handmade Day 2024 observed on first
Saturday of April
 National Handmade Day is an annual
celebration held on the first Saturday of April,
which this year falls on April 6, 2024.
 The theme for National Handmade Day 2024
is ‘Buy a Handmade Product’.
9. World Health Day 2024 observed on April 7
 World Health Day 2024 is celebrated every
year on April 7.
 The theme of 2024 World Health Day is 'My
health, my rights'.
10. International Day of Sport for Development
and Peace 2024
 Every year on April 6th, the world celebrates
the International Day of Sport for
Development and Peace (IDSDP).
 The global theme for IDSDP 2024 is “Sport for
the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive
Societies”.
11. World Parkinson’s Day 2024 observed on
April 11
 World Parkinson's Day is observed annually
on April 11 to raise awareness about
Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative
disorder that affects millions of people
worldwide.
12. International Day of Human Space Flight 2024
observed on April 12
 The International Day of Human Space Flight
is commemorated every year on April 12 to
mark the beginning of the space era for
mankind.
 The primary reason behind choosing April 12
as the date is rooted in the Russian
cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s achievement to
orbit Earth aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft on
this day.
13. India celebrates World Quantum Day 2024
 India celebrates World Quantum Day 2024 on
April 14, 2024, with aspirations to become a
global leader in various fields of Quantum
Science and Technology.
 Quantum Mechanics, the study of atoms and
sub-atomic particles, has now advanced to
such an extent that it has now moved to the
engineering domain and is leading to novel
and varied applications.
14. Ambedkar Jayanti 2024 observed on April 14
 Ambedkar Jayanti 2024, celebrated on April
14, commemorates the birth anniversary of
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
 BR Ambedkar, born on April 14, 1891, in
Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, overcame caste-
based discrimination to become a staunch
advocate for the rights of Dalits, or
“Untouchables.”
 Despite facing numerous obstacles, he
pursued a remarkable education, including a
doctorate from Columbia University.
15. Siachen Day 2024 Observed
 Siachen Day, observed on April 13,
commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of
Indian Army soldiers serving at the highest
battlefield in the world, the Siachen Glacier.
 ‘Operation Meghdoot’ was launched on the
same day in 1984 to secure the glacier,
strategically located near the Indo-Pak Line of
Control.
16. International Day of Multilateralism and
Diplomacy for Peace 2024
 Every year on April 24th, the world observes
the International Day of Multilateralism and
Diplomacy for Peace.
17. National Panchayati Raj Day Observed on
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
April 24th every year
 National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated
annually on April 24th to commemorate the
establishment of the Panchayati Raj system in
India.
 This decentralized form of governance,
introduced by the 73rd Constitutional
Amendment Act in 1993, aimed to empower
local self-governing bodies, known as Gram
Panchayats, at the village level.
18. International Mother Earth Day 2024
observed on April 22
 On April 22nd, the world united to
commemorate the 54th International Mother
Earth Day.
 The Theme of Earth Day 2024: “Planet vs.
Plastics”
19. National Civil Service Day 2024 observed on
April 21
 National Civil Service Day is celebrated
annually on April 21st in India.
 The first ever National Civil Services Day in
India was celebrated on April 21, 2006.
 It was recognized to commemorate the first
Home Minister of India – Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel.
20. World Liver Day 2024 observed on April 19
 On April 19th, the global community comes
together to observe World Liver Day, an
initiative dedicated to shedding light on the
importance of liver health.
 This year’s theme is “Keep your liver healthy
and disease-free".
21. World Heritage Day 2024 observed on April
18
 World Heritage Day, also known as the
International Day for Monuments and Sites, is
observed annually on April 18.
 For 2024, the theme is “Disasters & Conflicts
Through the Lens of the Venice Charter”
22. World Hemophilia Day 2024 observed on
April 17
 World Hemophilia Day is an annual
observance held on April 17th to raise
awareness about hemophilia, a rare and
inherited bleeding disorder.
 This year, the theme for World Hemophilia
Day 2024 is “Equitable access for all:
recognizing all bleeding disorders.”
23. World Chagas Disease Day Observed by WHO
on April 14
 In 2024, the theme for World Chagas Disease
Day is “Tackling Chagas disease: detect early
and care for life”.
 Chagas disease, also known as American
trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic infection
caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi.
 It is primarily transmitted to humans through
the feces of infected triatomine bugs, also
known as “kissing bugs,” that typically bite
humans on the face at night.
24. World Malaria Day 2024 Observed on 25th
April Annually
 Every year on April 25, World Malaria Day is
observed to raise awareness about the
prevention, treatment, and control of malaria,
a life-threatening disease caused by mosquito
bites.
 The theme for World Malaria Day 2024,
“Accelerating the fight against malaria for a
more equitable world,” aligns with the World
Health Day theme, “My Health, My Right.”
25. International Girls in ICT Day 2024 Observed
on April 25
 Every year on the fourth Thursday of April,
the world celebrates International Girls in
ICT Day.
 This year, International Girls in ICT Day falls
on April 25.
26. World Intellectual Property Day 2024
Celebrates on 26th April
 World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated
annually on April 26th by the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
 2024 theme: ‘IP and the SDGs: Building Our
Common Future with Innovation and
Creativity‘.
 The theme highlights the importance of IP in
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and creating a better future for all.
27. International Chernobyl Disaster
Remembrance Day 2024 Observed on April 26th
 Every year, on April 26th, we observe the
International Chernobyl Disaster
Remembrance Day.
 On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear
Power Plant in Ukraine (formerly part of the
Soviet Union) exploded, releasing a massive
radioactive cloud into the atmosphere.
28. World Book And Copyright Day 2024
observed on April 23
 Every year on April 23, World Book and
Copyright Day is observed. This day
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
celebrates literature in all its forms and
encourages readers to enjoy reading.
 The theme during the current year's World
Book and Copyright Day is 'Read Your Way'
 Since 1995, the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) has designated April 23 as World
Book and Copyright Day.
29. World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024
 The World Day for Safety and Health at Work
is an annual international campaign observed
on April 28th to promote safe and healthy
working conditions for all workers.
 The World Day for Safety and Health at Work
was first celebrated in 2003 by the
International Labour Organization (ILO).
 Theme : “The impacts of climate change on
occupational safety and health.”
30. World Veterinary Day 2024
 This year, World Veterinary Day will be
celebrated on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
 Observed on the last Saturday of April.
 The theme for 2024 is “Veterinarians are
Essential Health Workers.”
31. International Jazz Day 2024 Celebrated
 International Jazz Day, celebrated annually
on April 30th.
 As per the United Nations Organization, this
year, the Morocco city Tangier has become
the global host for International Jazz Day.
 It must be noted that 2024 marks the first
time when a city on the African continent is
hosting International Jazz Day.
Appointments
1. Sanjay Nayar Appointed as New ASSOCHAM
President
 The Associated Chambers of Commerce and
Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), a prominent
industry chamber, has appointed Sanjay
Nayar as its new President.
 He has replaced Ajay Singh, the Co-Founder of
SpiceJet airline, whose tenure has ended.
2. Lt Gen JS Sidana is New Director General of EME
 Lieutenant General JS Sidana has taken over
as the 33rd Director General of the
Department of Electronics and Mechanical
Engineers (DGEME) and Senior Colonel
Commandant of the EME Corps on April 1,
2024.
3. Sharfuddoula Becomes Bangladesh’s First ICC
Elite Umpire
 Sharfuddoula has created history by
becoming the first Bangladeshi umpire to be
appointed to the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
 His appointment was confirmed following the
International Cricket Council’s annual review
and selection process.
 In his career so far, Sharfuddoula has been an
on-field umpire in 10 Men’s Test Matches, 63
Men’s ODIs, and 44 Men’s T20Is.
 He has also featured on-field in 13 Women’s
ODIs and 28 Women’s T20Is.
4. Pavan Davuluri Appointed to Lead Microsoft’s
Windows and Surface Teams
 Microsoft has named Pavan Davuluri as the
new head of its combined Windows and
Surface teams.
 This move comes after the previous leader,
Panos Panay, left for Amazon last year.
5. Dr. Manmohan Singh to Retire from Rajya
Sabha
 Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister
of India, retire from the Rajya Sabha, marking
the end of his three-decade-long tenure in the
Upper House.
 A two-term Prime Minister of India from
2004 to 2014.
 Served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank
of India from 1982 to 1985.
 Minister of Finance in P.V. Narasimha Rao’s
government.
 Credited for introducing significant economic
reforms in India in 1991.
 National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(NREGA) (2005): Introduced to offer a legal
guarantee of a minimum of 100 days of
employment per year to rural households.
 Right to Information Act (RTI) (2005):
Empowered Indian citizens to demand
information from government agencies and
institutions.
6. EC Ropes in Ayushmann Khurrana to Urge
Youth to Vote
 The Election Commission of India (ECI) has
roped in popular actor Ayushmann Khurrana
to encourage the youth to exercise their
franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha
elections.
 The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held
in seven phases from April 19. The counting
of votes will be taken up on June 4.
7. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Sworn in for Third Term
as Egyptian President
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, 69, has
commenced his third term as the leader of the
nation, extending his tenure until 2030.
 Amidst battling economic challenges, Sisi
vows to prioritize national interests and fulfill
the aspirations of the Egyptian people for a
modern, democratic state.
8. Tata International Appoints Rajeev Singhal as
MD
 Tata Group’s global trading and distribution
arm, Tata International, has announced the
appointment of Rajeev Singhal as its new
Managing Director (MD).
 Singhal’s appointment to the new position is
effective from April 1, 2024. He succeeds
Anand Sen, who superannuated (retired) on
March 31, 2024
9. Santosh Kumar Jha Appointed as New CMD of
Konkan Railway Corporation
 Santosh Kumar Jha, an Indian Railway Traffic
Services (IRTS) officer of the 1992 batch, will
assume the role of Chairman and Managing
Director (CMD) of the Konkan Railway
Corporation Ltd. (KRCL).
10. Rakesh Mohan Appointed to World Bank
Economic Advisory Panel
 The World Bank Group has appointed former
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy governor
Rakesh Mohan as a member of its Economic
Advisory Panel.
 This panel will be chaired by Lord Nicholas
Stern, the IG Patel Professor of Economics
and Government at the London School of
Economics.
 World Bank Group Chief Economist Indermit
Gill will co-chair the panel.
 World Bank
o Headquarters: Washington, D.C.,
United States
o Founded: July 1944, Bretton Woods
o World Bank President: Ajay Banga
o World Bank CFO: Anshula Kant
11. Centre appoints Manoj Panda as member of
16th Finance Commission
 The government has appointed Manoj Panda,
former director at the Institute of Economic
Growth as the full-time member of the 16th
Finance Commission.
 He replaces Niranjan Rajadhyaksha,
Executive Director, Artha Global in the
Commission, who quit as a member citing
"unforeseen personal circumstances".
12. Olympic Champion Valerie Adams Named
Ambassador for TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2024
 Iconic shot putter and two-time Olympic
medalist, Valerie Adams, has been named the
International Event Ambassador for the 16th
edition of the Tata Consultancy Services
World 10K Bengaluru.
13. Vinod Francis, new CFO of South Indian Bank
 The Board of Directors of The South Indian
Bank Ltd approved the appointment of Vinod
Francis as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
and Key Managerial Personnel.
 Chithra H, the current CFO and Senior General
Manager, will transition to the role of Chief
Compliance Officer (CCO) as per regulatory
directives issued by the RBI.
14. Paytm Payments Bank CEO Surinder Chawla
resigns
 India's Paytm informed the exchanges that
Surinder Chawla had resigned as the chief
executive officer of its banking unit Paytm
Payments Bank "on account of personal
reasons".
 This comes almost a month after the entity
stopped basic banking services under
instructions from the Reserve Bank of India.
15. USISPF appoints ex-revenue secy Bajaj as
chair of US-India Tax Forum
 The US-India Strategic and Partnership
Forum (USISPF) has appointed former
Revenue Secretary and ex-Secretary of
Economic Affairs Tarun Bajaj as the head of
the US-India Tax Forum.
16. Indian-origin expert Ashwini joins Britain’s
research team on dementia
 Dr. Ashwini Keshavan, an Indian-origin
neurologist, has been selected to be a part of
a world-class research team in the UK.
 This prestigious team has been entrusted
with the crucial task of conducting research
to detect dementia through blood tests and
gathering more evidence to support this
approach.
 Dr. Ashwini Keshavan is part of a team that is
focusing on p-tau217, a promising biomarker
for Alzheimer’s disease.
17. Simon Harris Becomes Ireland’s Youngest
Prime Minister
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Simon Harris, at 37, becomes Ireland's
youngest Prime Minister, succeeding Leo
Varadkar.
 His rapid political ascent within Fine Gael
culminates in a pledge for unity and focus on
core values.
18. Air India Appoints Jayaraj Shanmugam as
Head of Global Airport Operations
 Air India has appointed Jayaraj Shanmugam,
an industry veteran with 25 years of
experience spanning across airlines, airports,
and telecom industries, as the Head of Global
Airport Operations.
19. Justice Aniruddha Bose Appointed Head of
National Judicial Academy
 Justice Aniruddha Bose, known for his
intellectual brilliance and sartorial elegance,
retired from the Supreme Court after a five-
year tenure.
 Later, he has been appointed to head the
National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.
 The National Judicial Academy (NJA) is an
institute located in Bhopal, established in
1993 under the aegis of the Supreme Court of
India.
20. RBL Bank appoints Murali Ramakrishnan as
independent director for 4 years
 Private sector lender RBL Bank appointed
Murali Ramakrishnan as Non-Executive
Independent Director with immediate effect
for four years.
 Earlier, Ramakrishnan served as the
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
of South Indian Bank.
21. Wipro CEO Thierry Delaporte resigns;
Srinivas Pallia named new Chief Executive Officer
 Thierry Delaporte, the CEO of Wipro, has
resigned. Srinivas Palia, who was the CEO for
the company’s Americas 1 region, will take
over as the CEO and managing director from
April 7.
22. Bilquis Mir: The First Indian Woman on the
Paris Olympics Jury
 Bilquis Mir, a canoeist from Jammu and
Kashmir, is set to make history as the first
woman from India to represent the country
as a jury member at the upcoming Summer
Olympics in Paris.
23. Meenesh Shah Elected as Chairman of NCDFI
 The National Cooperative Dairy Federation of
India Ltd. (NCDFI), the national-level apex
dairy cooperative, has elected its new Board
of Directors.
 In the elections held, Dr Meenesh Shah was
unanimously chosen as the new Chairman of
the organization.
24. Former Judge Najmi Waziri to Head
Committee for Delhi Forest Protection
 The Delhi High Court has appointed former
judge Najmi Waziri to lead a committee
focused on safeguarding the forests in the
national capital.
 This decision follows concerns about various
government departments not fully
cooperating with efforts to protect these vital
natural resources.
25. Gopi Thotakura, set to become the 1st Indian
space tourist
 Jeff Bezos-led space startup Blue Origin
revealed the six-person crew that will be
flying on its NS-25 mission.
 This crew includes: Mason Angel, Sylvain
Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, Gopi
Thotakura, and former Air Force Captain Ed
Dwight
 Ed Dwight:
 He was the first Black astronaut candidate in
1961 when then US President John F.
Kennedy selected him to enter training at the
Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS).
 Gopi Thotakura:
 He could become the first Indian space tourist
in history.
25. UK’s First Woman High Commissioner to
India: Lindy Cameron
 Lindy Cameron, an Oxford graduate and
former CEO of the UK’s National Cyber
Security Centre, has been appointed as the
UK's first woman high commissioner to India.
26. Mary Kom steps down as Chef-de-Mission for
Paris Olympics
 Mary Kom resigned as the Chef de Mission of
India’s contingent for Paris Olympics
 Renowned sports medicine expert Dr
Dinshaw Pardiwala has been appointed as the
chief medical officer.
27. Sushil Sharma Appointed CMD of SJVN Limited
 The Public Enterprises Selection Board
(PESB) panel has recommended Sushil
Sharma for the position of Chairman &
Managing Director (CMD) of SJVN Limited.
28. FSIB selects IFCI MD as SIDBI head, Sanjay
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
Shukla for NHB MD
 FSIB has recommended the name of IFCI
Managing Director Manoj Mittal as SIDBI
Chairman and Managing Director.
 Besides, FSIB has suggested name to Sanjay
Shukla as Managing Director of National
Housing Bank (NHB).
29. Jagjit Pavadia Re-elected to International
Narcotics Control Board
 India's Jagjit Pavadia was re-elected for a
third term to the International Narcotics
Control Board (INCB).
 Jagjit Pavadia was re-elected to the INCB by
secret ballot for a third term, from March
2025 to 2030.
 She garnered the highest number of votes in
the highly competitive election.
 India was also elected by acclamation to the
following UN bodies:
 Commission on the Status of Women (2025-
2029)
 Executive Board of the United Nations
Children’s Fund (2025-2027)
 Executive Board of the United Nations
Development Programme, United Nations
Population Fund, and the United Nations
Office for Project Services (2025-2027)
 Executive Board of the United Nations Entity
for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Women (2025-2027)
 Executive Board of the World Food
Programme (2025-2027)
30. India’s Gita Sabharwal Appointed as UN
Resident Coordinator in Indonesia
 The United Nations Secretary-General,
António Guterres, has appointed Gita
Sabharwal of India as the new UN Resident
Coordinator in Indonesia.
 The UN Resident Coordinator is the highest-
ranking representative of the UN
Development System at the country level.
 Resident Coordinators lead UN country
teams and coordinate UN support to
countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development.
31. RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar gets 1
year extension
 The government has extended the term of
RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar for a
period of one year.
 Sankar was appointed as the RBI Deputy
Governor in May 2021 for a period of three
years.
 He joined the RBI in 1990 and worked in
various positions at the central bank.
 He was Executive Director of the Reserve
Bank before being elevated to the post of
deputy governor
32. FSIB recommends Ashutosh Kumar for SBI
MD, Asheesh Pandey for Indian Bank
 FSIB, the headhunter for directors of state-
owned banks and financial institutions
recommended Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh
for the post of Managing Director of State
Bank of India (SBI).
 Singh is currently serving as deputy
managing director at SBI.
 FSIB recommended Asheesh Pandey for the
post of Managing Director of Chennai-based
Indian Bank.
 Pandey, who is currently serving as executive
director of Bank of Maharashtra, will replace
S L Jain on his superannuation.
33. Naima Khatoon becomes first female VC of
AMU in over 100 yrs
 Naima Khatoon has been appointed as the
Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim
University (AMU), making her the first
woman to hold the top post in over 100 years.
 Khatoon was appointed after receiving
approval from President Droupadi Murmu.
 AMU was founded in 1875, and
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College
became AMU in 1920, following the Aligarh
Muslim University Act.
34. HDFC Life appoints Keki Mistry Appointed
Chairman
 Banker Deepak S Parekh has resigned from
his positions as chairman and non-executive
director of HDFC Life Insurance, effective
April 18, 2024.
 Following this, Keki Mistry, who has been
associated with the company since December
2000, has been unanimously appointed as the
new Chairman of HDFC Life Insurance.
 Deepak S Parekh, a highly respected figure in
the banking and financial sector, received the
prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 2006
for his significant contributions.
35. Citroen India Ropes in MS Dhoni as Brand
Ambassador
 French carmaker Citroen has engaged
cricketing legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni as
its brand ambassador.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The Stellantis Group company, which is a
relatively new entrant in the competitive
Indian passenger vehicle market, aims to find
a firm footing and strengthen its brand
identity through this association.
36. Iveco chief Marx quits to become CEO at CNH
Industrial
 Iveco Group Chief Executive Gerrit Marx is
leaving the Italian bus and truck maker to
take the position of CEO of farm and
construction machinery group CNH
Industrial from July 1.
 Olof Persson will succeed Marx as Iveco chief.
37. Nalin Prabhat Appointed as Director-General
of NSG
 Nalin Prabhat, a 1992 batch Indian Police
Service (IPS) officer of the Andhra Pradesh
cadre, has been appointed as the Director-
General of the National Security Guard (NSG),
 while Sapna Tewari, a 1992 batch IPS officer
of the Odisha cadre, has been appointed as
the Special Director in the Intelligence
Bureau (IB).
38. Santosh Viswanathan Appointed India Region
Head of Intel
 Santhosh Viswanathan has been appointed as
the Vice President and Managing Director for
the India region, leveraging his experience to
promote value and customer-centricity.
39. Kaushik Rajashekara Honored with
International Fellowship by the Engineering
Academy of Japan
 Kaushik Rajashekara, a distinguished
professor at the University of Houston’s
Cullen College of Engineering, has been
elected as an International Fellow of the
prestigious Engineering Academy of Japan.
 This honour recognizes his outstanding
contributions to the field of power conversion
and the electrification of transportation.
40. RBI approves appointment of Ajith Kumar KK
as Dhanlaxmi Bank's MD & CEO
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
approved the appointment of Ajith Kumar KK
as the managing director and chief executive
officer of Dhanlaxmi Bank.
 Kumar is set to succeed J.K. Shivan, whose
term was set to end on 29 January 2024.
 Earlier in January, the RBI had approved
Dhanlaxmi Bank's request to extend Shivan's
tenure until a successor was in place.
41. Surbhi Goel to be appointed first female CEO
of Munich Re India
 Munich Re, a global provider of reinsurance,
primary insurance and insurance-related risk
solutions has announced the appointment of
Surbhi Goel as CEO India Branch effective
from October 2024.
 Her appointment is subject to regulatory
approval.
42. Deepak Parekh steps down as HDFC Life
Insurance's chairman
 HDFC Life Insurance's chairman Deepak S
Parekh stepped down from his role.
 Following Parekh's resignation, the company
has appointed Keki M Mistry as the new
chairman of the board.
43. New directors appointed to IIT-Kanpur, BHU,
Guwahati, Dhanbad, Jodhpur, Goa
 Manindra Agrawal, Sukumar Mishra, Avinash
Agarwal, Dr Devendra Jalihal, Dhirendra S
Katti and Amit Patra will take up the position
of directors at IIT-Kanpur, Dhanbad, Jodhpur,
Guwahati, Goa and IIT-BHU, respectively.
44. Saurabh Garg Appointed as Secretary of the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation
 The Central Government has entrusted IAS
officer Saurabh Garg with the additional
charge of Secretary of the Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI).
 The Central Government has also extended
the additional charge of Director of the
Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-India)
to IAS officer Vivek Aggarwal for a period of
six months.
45. Kuwait’s New Prime Minister: Sheikh Ahmad
Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah
 Kuwait’s Emir has appointed Sheikh Ahmad
Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as the new
Prime Minister following the resignation of
Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
46. Kristalina Georgieva Re-appointed as IMF
Managing Director
 Kristalina Georgieva has been re-appointed
as the Managing Director (MD) of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) for
another 5-year term starting October 1, 2024.
47. Central Government Appoints Ashish Kumar
Chauhan, Sridhar Vembu as Members of UGC for 3
year
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 Department of Higher Education, Ministry of
Education has notified the appointment of
Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of
National Stock Exchange (NSE) & Sridhar
Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation, as a
member of the University Grants
Commission(UGC) for a period of 3 years.
48. Prabowo Subianto Declared Indonesia’s
President-Elect Amid Controversy
 Indonesia’s electoral commission has
officially declared Prabowo Subianto as the
president-elect after the country’s highest
court rejected challenges to his landslide
victory lodged by two losing presidential
candidates.
 Subianto, currently serving as the defense
minister, secured 58.6% of the votes
49. Britain PM Rishi Sunak appoints Gen. Gwyn
Jenkins as new National Security Adviser
 U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has
appointed a new National Security Adviser
(NSA), General Gwyn Jenkins, the Vice Chief of
the Defence Staff.
50. Axis Bank approves reappointment of
Amitabh Chaudhry as CEO for three years
 Axis Bank board has approved the
reappointment of Amitabh Chaudhry as MD &
CEO for three years with effect from January
1, 2025.
 This will be his second extension of three
years. His last extension came into effect from
January 1, 2022.
 Chaudhry joined the bank as MD and CEO in
2019.
 Prior to that he was MD and CEO of HDFC Life.
51. Arun Alagappan appointed as executive
chairman of Coromandel International
 Agricultural solutions major Coromandel
International, a part of Chennai-based
Murugappa Group, has appointed Arun
Alagappan as executive chairman of the
company, effective April 26.
52. Narsingh Yadav Elected Chairman of WFI
Athletes Commission
 Former Commonwealth Games gold medalist
Narsingh Pancham Yadav was elected the
Chairman of the Athletes Commission of the
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
 The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has
completed the process mandated by the
United World Wrestling (UWW), the global
governing body for the sport.
53. Randeep Hooda Honoured with Lata
Deenanath Mangeshkar Award
 In a prestigious ceremony held at Mumbai’s
Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagrih, actor
Randeep Hooda was bestowed with the Lata
Deenanath Mangeshkar Award. This honor
recognizes his remarkable contributions to
Indian cinema and his recent film
“Swatantrya Veer Savarkar”.
54. Sana Mir Named Ambassador of ICC Women’s
T20 World Cup Qualifier
 The International Cricket Council (ICC) has
announced the appointment of Pakistan
cricket legend Sana Mir as the ambassador for
the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup
Qualifier.
 The Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier will
witness 10 teams battling it out for two
coveted spots at the ICC Women’s T20 World
Cup 2024 in Bangladesh.
 ICC has announced the appointment of Indian
cricket legend Yuvraj Singh as an ambassador
for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup
2024.
 The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be a
historic event, with co-hosts USA taking on
Canada in the opening fixture at Grand Prairie
Stadium in Texas on June 1.
55. MCA clears appointment of Hitesh Kumar
Sethia as Jio Financial MD for 3 yrs
 The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has
accorded its approval for the appointment of
Hitesh Kumar Sethia as managing director
and chief executive officer of the company.
 The appointment effective from November
15, 2023, is valid for three years.
56. Sunil Kumar Yadav (IRS) Appointed as
Director of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
 The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
(MoHUA) has welcomed a new addition to its
leadership team. Sunil Kumar Yadav, an
officer from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS),
has been appointed as the Director of the
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
Obituaries
1. Legendary Actor Louis Gossett Jr. Passes Away
at 87
 Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win
the Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actor, has sadly passed away at the age of 87.
 His most notable achievement was winning
the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1983 for
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
his role as a Marine drill instructor in the film
“An Officer and a Gentleman.”
2. Maryse Condé, ‘Grande Dame of Caribbean
Literature’, dies
 Maryse Condé, a French-language author
from Guadeloupe who became known as the
grande dame of Caribbean literature while
writing exuberant, lushly descriptive novels
that explored the brutal legacies of slavery
and colonialism, died.
3. Tamil Actor Visheshwara Rao Passes Away at
64
 Veteran Tamil actor Visheshwara Rao passed
away at the age of 64.
 One of his most well-known roles was that of
Laila’s innocent father in the Suriya-starrer
Pithamagan.
4. Veteran Cinematographer Gangu Ramsay
Passed Away at 83
 Gangu Ramsay was one of the seven Ramsay
Brothers known for cult horror films in the
1970s and 1980s.
 He served as a cinematographer on over 50
iconic films under the Ramsay Brothers
banner, including “Purani Haveli,”
“Tehkhana,” “Veerana,” “Purana Mandir,”
“Bandh Darwaza,” “Do Gaz Zameen Ke
Neeche,” and “Khoj” starring Rishi Kapoor.
5. Nobel laureate Peter Higgs, who proposed
existence of ‘god particle’, dies at 94
 Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs,
who proposed the existence of the so-called
“god particle” that helped explain how matter
formed after the Big Bang, has died at age 94.
 Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for
his work, alongside Francois Englert of
Belgium, who independently came up with
the same theory.
6. R.M. Veerappan, the most trusted lieutenant of
late MGR, Passes away
 RM Veerappan, one of the most trusted
lieutenants of the late Chief Minister MG
Ramachandran (MGR), Tamil Nadu, passed
away.
 Veerappan, fondly known as RMV, was a
powerful minister in MGR’s cabinet during
the 1980s and remained a close associate of
the matinee-icon-turned-politician.
7. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission team given
2024 John L. ‘Jack’ Swigert Jr. Award
 Chandrayaan-3 was the first to land on the
uncharted South Pole region of the Moon.
 In recognition of this groundbreaking
accomplishment, the Chandrayaan-3 team
has been honored with the prestigious 2024
John L. ‘Jack’ Swigert Jr. Award for Space
Exploration.
 The award, presented by the Space
Foundation during the annual Space
Symposium in Colorado.
 It acknowledges the extraordinary
achievements of the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) and the Chandrayaan-3
team in the realm of space exploration and
discovery.
 The John L. “Jack” Swigert Jr. Award for Space
Exploration is named after astronaut John L.
Swigert Jr., who served on the famous Apollo
13 lunar mission.
8. Former NFL Star OJ Simpson Dies of Cancer at
Age 76
 OJ Simpson, the former NFL star, has died of
cancer at 76.
 He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1969 as
a No. 1 overall pick.
9. Former New Zealand Legspinner Jack Alabaster
Passes Away at 93
 New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced the
demise of former legspinner Jack Alabaster,
at the age of 93 in Cromwell, United Kingdom.
 During his 17-year international career, he
was part of the team that achieved the
country’s first four Test victories. Alabaster
made 143 first-class appearances for Otago,
claiming 500 wickets.
10. Durai, director of national award-winning
film ‘Pasi,’ dies
 Tamil film director Durai died at the age of 84.
 His film 'Pasi', depicting the life of people on
the fringes of society, including rag pickers
and rickshaw pullers, won the national
award.
11. Franz Beckenbauer Football Player Passed
Away At 78 In Germany
 Franz Beckenbauer, widely regarded among
the greatest football player of all time, has
died at the age of 78 in Germany.
 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a social
media post expressed grief over the death of
Beckenbauer and called him One of the
absolute greats of football.
12. Former England Test Batsman Raman Subba
Row Passes Away at 92
 Raman Subba Row, the former England Test
batsman, has passed away at the age of 92.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
announced the sorrowful news, paying
tribute to England’s oldest living men’s Test
cricketer at the time of his demise.
13. IAF Veteran Squadron Leader Dalip Singh
Majithia Passes Away at 103
 Squadron Leader Dalip Singh Majithia, the
oldest living pilot of the Indian Air Force,
passed away at the age of 103.
 He joined the Indian Air Force (IAF)
volunteer reserve in 1940 during World War
II.
14. Renowned Carnatic Musician KG Jayan Passes
Away at 90
 KG Jayan, a towering figure in Carnatic music
and Malayalam cinema, passed away in
Thripunitura, Kerala.
15. Ram Charan Honored with Honorary
Doctorate in Literature from Vels University
 Vels University in Chennai conferred an
honorary doctorate in literature upon
renowned Indian actor Ram Charan.
 This distinguished recognition celebrates
Charan’s remarkable contributions to the
world of cinema and his profound impact on
audiences across the globe.
16. Kannada film industry veteran Dwarakish
dies of cardiac arrest at 81
 Dwarakish, veteran Kannada film actor,
producer and director, renowned for his
comedy roles, passed away at the age of 81
after suffering a cardiac arrest.
 Dwarakish had acted in around 100 films and
worked as a director and producer on around
50 of them.
 He had made his Kannada film debut in 1966
with the co-production of 'Mamatheya
Bandhana' under the Thunga Pictures
banner.
17. England's legendary spin bowler Derek
Underwood passes away at 78
 Derek Underwood, England's best spinner in
the post-World War II era, who gave a torrid
time to the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, passed
away at Kent.
 He was a practitioner of slow left-arm
orthodox spin.
18. Former Cricket Australia (CA) chair, Jack
Clarke Passes Away at 70
 The Australian cricketing community has lost
a true icon with the passing of former Cricket
Australia (CA) chair, Jack Clarke, at the age of
70 in Adelaide.
 Clarke’s contributions to the sport spanned
decades, and his tenure as the CA chair from
2008 to 2011 was marked by significant
milestones that reshaped the landscape of
Australian cricket.
Awards
1. Vijay Jain Bags Times Power Icon 2024 Award
 Vijay Jain, the Managing Director of Star
Estate, was awarded the prestigious Times
Power Icon 2024 Award.
 Organized by The Times Group.
 The event celebrated and honoured top
industry leaders, gracing the occasion with
the presence of industry leaders and
celebrities, including Cine icon Ada Sharma,
who presented the award to Vijay Jain.
2. Hardik Singh and Salima Tete named the Player
of the Year for 2023
 Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were named
the Player of the Year for 2023 among men
and women respectively at the sixth annual
Hockey India awards.
 India vice-captain Hardik also bagged Ajit Pal
Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year, which
carries a prize purse of Rs 5 lakh.
 India captain Harmanpreet Singh won the
Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year
and took home Rs 5 lakh
 While veteran custodian PR Sreejesh was
honoured with the Baljit Singh Award for
Goalkeeper of the Year.
 Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year
went to young striker Abhishek.
 Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of
the Year (Women, Under-21) was bagged by
Deepika Soreng
 While the recognition in the men's division,
which is in the name of former India drag-
flicker Jugraj Singh, went to Araijeet Singh
Hundal.
 Both the awards carry a prize money of Rs 10
lakh each.
3. Paradip Port Emerges as India’s Top Cargo-
Handling Port in 2023-24
 Paradip Port Authority, Odisha, surpasses
Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, to become
India’s leading cargo-handling major port in
the fiscal year 2023-24, handling 145.38
Million Metric Tons (MMT) of cargo, marking
a 7.4% growth from the previous year.
 Paradip Port was established by the Odisha
government in 1962; taken over by the Indian
government in 1965.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
4. Dr. Karthik Kommuri Honoured at National
Fame Awards 2024
 Dr. Karthik Kommuri is renowned for his
exceptional patient care and commitment to
contemporary practice in orthodontics and
dentistry.
 He was felicitated with the Distinguished
Overseas Dental Specialist (Orthodontics and
Orofacial Pain) title at the National Fame
Awards 2024, held at The Club in Mumbai.
 The chief guest of the ceremony was Dia
Mirza.
5. Aleksei Navalny and Yulia Navalnaya Honoured
with Freedom Prize
 The late Russian dissident Aleksei Navalny
and his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, will receive the
Freedom Prize of the Media from a leading
German forum, the Ludwig Erhard Summit.
 Aleksei Navalny, a prominent Russian
opposition leader and anti-corruption
activist, tragically passed away.
 Yulia Navalnaya, Aleksei’s wife, will accept
the award in person on behalf of her husband,
further highlighting their joint efforts in
advocating for freedom and democracy in
Russia.
6. Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni Honored with
American President’s Volunteer Award 2024
 Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni has become the
first Indian monk to be honoured with the
American President's Gold Volunteer Service
Award.
 The American President’s Volunteer Service
Award was established in 2003 during
George Bush’s presidency.
7. French-Canadian wins 'Oscars of Science' prize
for cancer treatment
 French-Canadian scientist Michel Sadelain
was awarded an "Oscars of Science" prize in
Los Angeles for his research into genetically
modifying immune cells to fight cancer.
 His work has led to the development of a new
form of therapy called CAR-T that has shown
exceptional efficacy against certain blood
cancers.
8. Prestigious John Dirks Gairdner Global Health
Award for Dr Gagandeep Kang
 Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an Indian researcher,
has been awarded the 2024 John Dirks
Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for her
achievements in global health research.
9. Indian students bag NASA awards for Human
Exploration Rover Challenge
 Two Indian students' teams from the New
Delhi area and Mumbai have won awards
from the NASA for the Human Exploration
Rover Challenge.
 The KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR
has won the award in the 'Crash and Burn'
category of the annual Human Exploration
Rover Challenge (HERC) award.
10. Ratan Tata Receives Prestigious KISS
Humanitarian Award 2021
 Renowned industrialist and philanthropist
Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of the Tata
Group, was honored with the esteemed KISS
Humanitarian Award 2021.
 The award, initiated in 2008 by Achyuta
Samanta, recognizes individuals and
organizations epitomizing humanitarian
efforts globally.
11. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal honoured at
Laureus World Sports Awards
 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award:
Novak Djokovic (fifth time)
 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
Award: Aitana Bonmatí
 Laureus World Team of the Year Award:
Spain Women’s Football Team
 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
Award: Jude Bellingham
 Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award:
Simone Biles
 Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the
Year Award: Arisa Trew
 Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with
a Disability Award: Diede de Groot
 Laureus Sport for Good Award: Fundación
Rafa Nadal
12. World Press Photo of the Year 2024
announced
 World Press Photo of the Year:
 Winners:
 Mohammed Salem, Palestine, Reuters
 A Palestinian Woman Embraces the Body of
Her Niece
 World Press Photo Story of the Year
 Winners:
 Valim-babena
 Lee-Ann Olwage, South Africa, for GEO
 World Press Photo Long-Term Project
Award
 Winners:
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The Two Walls
 Alejandro Cegarra, Venezuela, The New York
Times/Bloomberg
 World Press Photo Long-Term Project
Award
 Winner:
 The Two Walls
 Alejandro Cegarra, Venezuela, The New York
Times/Bloomberg
13. Deepika Soreng Honoured with Asunta Lakra
Award
 Deepika Soreng, the promising forward of the
India Women’s Hockey Team, has been
honoured with the prestigious Hockey India
Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of
the Year during the Hockey India 6th Annual
Awards 2023.
14. GMR Hyderabad International Airport
Receives Skytrax Award for ‘Best Airport Staff’
 GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd
(GHIAL) has been honored with the ‘Best
Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’
award by Skytrax.
 The announcement took place during the
Passenger Terminal EXPO 2024 in Frankfurt,
Germany.
15. Ajay Banga, Alia Bhatt, Sakshi Malik on Time's
100 most influential list
 World Bank President Ajay Banga, Bollywood
actor Alia Bhatt, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella,
Olympian wrestler Sakshi Malik and actor-
director Dev Patel are among the Indians who
have made it to the prestigious Times's list of
100 most influential people in the world.
 It also includes US Department of Energy's
Loan Programmes Office director Jigar Shah,
Professor of Astronomy and Professor of
Physics at Yale University Priyamvada
Natarajan; Indian-origin restaurateur Asma
Khan; as well as Russian opposition leader
Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya.
16. World Economic Forum names Nykaa’s
Adwaita Nayar as a 2024 Young Global Leader
 The World Economic Forum has named
Adwaita Nayar, the co-founder of Nykaa and
CEO of Nykaa Fashion, as a ‘2024 Young
Global Leader’.
 This prestigious recognition highlights
Nayar’s remarkable achievements as a
change-maker and entrepreneur, solidifying
her place among the most influential young
leaders in the world.
17. Delhi’s IGI Airport Ranks Among Top 10
Busiest Airports Globally
 The Airports Council International (ACI)
World recently released its rankings for the
busiest airports worldwide in 2023.
 Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI)
Airport secured the tenth position, handling
7.22 crore passengers annually.
 IGI Airport has steadily climbed the ranks,
from 17th in 2019 to 10th in 2023,
showcasing consistent growth in passenger
traffic over the years.
 The ACI report highlights the dominance of
US airports in the top 10 rankings, with
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport maintaining its top position.
 Notable shifts include Dubai International
Airport’s rise to second place and Tokyo
Haneda International Airport’s remarkable
ascent to fifth place from 16th in 2022.
18 Amitabh Bachchan to be honoured with Lata
Deenanath Mangeshkar award 2024
 Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will
be honoured with the Lata Deenanath
Mangeshkar award on April 24, 2024.
 The Mangeshkar family instituted the award
in memory of the late legendary singer Lata
Mangeshkar, who passed away on February
6, 2022.
 The award recognizes individuals who have
made path-breaking contributions to the
nation, its people, and society.
 Previous recipients of the award include:
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2022)
 Lata Mangeshkar’s sister Asha Bhosle (2023).
19. Avantika Vandanapu Honoured as South
Asian Person of the Year by Harvard
 Indian-American actress Avantika
Vandanapu, best known for her role as Karen
Shetty in the 2024 musical comedy “Mean
Girls,” has been honored with the prestigious
“South Asian Person of the Year” award by
Harvard University.
20. Jane Campion to receive Pardo d’Onore Manor
Award at Locarno Film Festival
 Oscar-winning director Jane Campion will be
honoured with the Pardo d’Onore Manor
Award for lifetime achievement at this year's
Locarno Film Festival.
 The New Zealand-born filmmaker will
receive the tribute on August 16 during the
77th edition of the festival.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
21. Sharjah Teacher Gina Justus Wins Regional
Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award
 Gina Justus, an English High School teacher at
the Sharjah Girls Branch in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), has been named the regional
winner for the Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) region at the prestigious 2024
Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards.
Books & Authors
1. Sam Pitroda’s New Book ‘The Idea of
Democracy’
 Renowned author Sam Pitroda has written a
new book titled 'The Idea of Democracy',
which explores the current state of
democracy and its potential challenges in
countries.
2. Sringeri seer releases book written by Goa
Governor
 Shankaracharya of Dakshinamnaya Sri
Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, Jagadguru Sri Sri
Vidhushekhara Bharati Swami released
“Heavenly Islands of Goa”, a book authored by
Governor of Goa P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, in Goa.
3. India’s Commitment to Debris-Free Space
Missions by 2030
 At the 42nd Inter-Agency Space Debris
Coordination Committee (IADC) annual meet,
ISRO Chairman S Somanath announced
India’s pledge to achieve debris-free space
missions by 2030.
 This commitment aligns with global efforts to
ensure the sustainability of space
exploration.
 Additionally, plans for India’s own space
station, ‘Bharatiya Antriksh Station,’ by 2035
are underway, with a focus on ensuring the
sustainability of space in collaboration with
other space actors.
4. European Astronomers Uncover the Largest
Stellar Black Hole in Our Galaxy
 European astronomers have made a
groundbreaking discovery – the largest
stellar black hole in our Milky Way galaxy.
 Named ‘BH-3’, this celestial behemoth has a
staggering mass 33 times greater than our
Sun and is located a mere 2,000 light-years
away from Earth.
 The existence of ‘BH-3’ was unveiled by the
Gaia Space Observatory, a cutting-edge
mission operated by the European Space
Agency (ESA).
 Launched in 2013, the Gaia telescope is
designed to map the positions, motions, and
characteristics of billions of celestial objects
with unprecedented precision.
5. Vinesh, Reetika, Anshu secure Paris Olympics
quotas for India
 Vinesh Phogat secures Paris Olympics quota
in the 50kg category at the Asian Olympic
Qualifier with a dominating performance,
joined by other Indian wrestlers progressing
towards securing quota places for the 2024
Summer Olympics.
 Also punching their tickets to the Paris
Olympics were Anshu Malik (57kg) and U23
world champion Reetika (76kg).
 India now have secured four quota places for
the Paris Games as Antim Panghal had earned
a quota in the 53kg category with her bronze
medal winning show at the World
Championships last year.
6. PM Narendra Modi Presented with a Book
Titled "Sabke Ram"
 PM Narendra Modi was presented with a
book titled "Sabke Ram" by Panchjanya editor
Hitesh Shankar and Managing Director of
Bharat Prakashan Arun Goyal.
 The book was published by Prabhat
Prakashan, which publishes "Panchjanya," a
Hindi weekly magazine.
 The main features of the book is that it can be
read and listened to in Hindi and English.
7. The book, ‘India — the Road to Renaissance: A
Vision and an Agenda’ by Bhimeswara Chall
 The launch of Bhimeswara Challa's book,
"India — the Road to Renaissance: A Vision
and an Agenda," at the Administrative Staff
College of India (ASCI) campus in Hyderabad.
 As a former United Nations official, Challa
brings a unique perspective to the table,
offering a compelling and ambitious vision
for India’s path to renaissance.
8. “Just a Mercenary?”: Duvvuri Subbarao’s
Memoir Unveils the Tensions Between the RBI
and the Government
 In his recently published memoir, “Just a
Mercenary?: Notes from My Life and Career,”
former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor
Duvvuri Subbarao takes readers on a
captivating journey through his distinguished
career, spanning diverse roles from sub-
collector to finance secretary and ultimately,
the helm of the central bank.
9. The Book Titled “The Law and Spirituality:
Reconnecting the Bond” Released
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 The book "Law and Spirituality: Reconnecting
the Bond," edited by Professor Raman Mittal
and Professor Seema Singh.
10. Salman Rushdie unveils his latest work ‘Knife’
 Salman Rushdie released ‘Knife’ recently,
marking his first book since the 2022 attack
that left him hospitalized and partially blind.
 The memoir begins with Rushdie vividly
describing the attack that took place in
upstate New York while he was discussing
writer safety at the Chautauqua
Amphitheatre.
11. Maker of Modern Goa: The Untold Story of
Pratap Singh Rane authored by Vijayadevi Rane
 A book titled "Maker of Goa: The Untold Story
of Pratap Singh Rane" is the biography of
Pratap Singh Rane, the former CM of Goa,
authored by Vijayadevi Rane (Pratap's wife)
 It was published by Rupa publications.
12. EAM Jaishankar Receives Book ‘India’s
Nuclear Titans’
 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
received a copy of the book ‘India’s Nuclear
Titans.’
 Edited by Soumya Awasthi and Shrabana
Barua.
 The book traces the evolution of India into a
nuclear state while highlighting the pivotal
roles played by renowned figures like Homi
Bhabha, Vikram Sarabhai, Abdul Kalam, and
K. Subrahmanyam, among others.
13. A Book Titled “The Winner’s Mindset,”
Authored by Shane Watson
 In his book, "The Winner's Mindset," Watson
shares the insights and strategies that
enabled him to conquer his fears and reach
new heights in his cricketing career.
Science & Technology
1. DRDO Initiates Project for Test Centre in West
Bengal
 DRDO is setting up a new test centre in Junput
village, West Bengal, similar to Chandipur in
Odisha, to accommodate the increasing
workload of weapon system testing.
 The project covers 8.73 acres.
 Aim: To address the saturation of testing
activities at Odisha’s Chandipur Integrated
Test Range (ITR) by providing an additional
operational area.
2. NASA’s WB-57 Jets to Chase Total Solar Eclipse
for Scientific Studies
 NASA is gearing up for the upcoming total
solar eclipse when the moon’s shadow will
traverse a vast swath of North America.
 The space agency will deploy two of its
specialized WB-57 jet planes, equipped with
state-of-the-art instruments, to track the
eclipse and conduct scientific studies of the
Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the
corona.
 The WB-57 is a highly modified version of the
B-57 Canberra bomber, capable of reaching
altitudes up to 60,000 feet (18,300 meters)
and speeds of 760 km/h (470 mph).
 These high-altitude research aircraft are
well-suited for scientific missions due to their
ability to fly above most of the Earth’s
atmosphere and weather.
3. South Korea Successfully Launches Second
Military Spy Satellite
 South Korea has successfully launched its
second domestically developed military spy
satellite into orbit.
 The satellite is carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket.
 It was launched from an American space
centre.
 This achievement follows the successful
launch of South Korea’s first military spy
satellite in December 2022, which was also
carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
4. Tata's military-grade satellite successfully
placed into orbit
 Tata Advanced Systems Limited announced
the "successful deployment" into space of its
sub-metre optical satellite that was
assembled and tested in India.
 SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched TSAT-1A
satellite from the Kennedy Space Center,
Florida, in the US.
 A wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons,
TASL is a significant player for aerospace and
defence solutions in India.
 TSAT-1A was assembled in TASL's Assembly,
Integration and Testing (AIT) plant at its
Vemagal facility in Karnataka
5. GUJCOST Designated as Nodal Centre for ISRO’s
START Programme
 GUJCOST has been appointed as the Nodal
Centre for ISRO’s START programme, aimed
at nurturing aspiring scientists and engineers
in the field of space science and technology.
 The programme, conceptualized by ISRO,
provides an introductory online platform
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
covering various areas of space science
research.
6. IIT Jodhpur Unveils Nano-Sensor for Disease
Tracking
 Researchers at the Indian Institute of
Technology Jodhpur (IIT Jodhpur) have
unveiled a groundbreaking nano-sensor
designed to swiftly detect Cytokines, vital
proteins regulating various cellular functions.
 This innovation aims to combat the high
mortality rates resulting from delayed
diagnoses and the absence of early warnings
in disease progression.
7. NASA's ‘Clipper’ spacecraft to explore Jupiter's
moon Europa in $5 billion mission
 NASA's $5 billion probe bound for Jupiter's
moon Europa aims to uncover
extraterrestrial life, equipped with
instruments to examine layers of frozen
water, potentially harbouring liquid water
below the surface.
 The Clipper is slated to launch from NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida in October
2024.
8. US, Japan Announce Plans to Send Japanese
Astronaut to Moon
 President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime
Minister Fumio Kishida revealed that
Japanese astronauts will join future NASA
lunar missions as part of the Artemis
program.
 This move is seen as a strategic effort to
strengthen economic and defense ties
between the United States and Japan.
 The Artemis program, led by NASA, aims to
return astronauts to the moon as early as
2026
9. Russia’s Successful Angara-A5 Rocket Test
Launch
 Russia successfully tested its Angara-A5
space rocket for the first time on April 11,
2024.
 The test launch was conducted from the
Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East of
Russia.
 The rocket test launches on April 9 and 10
were cancelled due to a malfunction in the
pressurization system and a problem with
the engine launch-control system.
 Russia launched the Angara project in 1991,
shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet
Union, to develop a domestically produced
launch vehicle.
 The first Angara-A5 test flight took place in
2014, and a second test was conducted in
2020 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in
northern Russia.
 A partial test of the Angara project in 2021
was unsuccessful.
10. Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams set
for third space mission
 Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams,
along with Butch Wilmore, will embark on
her third space mission with NASA’s Boeing
Crew Flight Test to the International Space
Station set for launch on May 6.
 The astronauts will lift off aboard Boeing’s
Starliner spacecraft on a United Launch
Alliance Atlas V rocket from the Space Launch
Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral, Florida
 Sunita Williams was selected as an astronaut
by NASA in 1998 and is a veteran of two space
missions — Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33.
 Expedition 14/15 lasted from December 9,
2006 till June 22, 2007.
 Williams established a world record for
female astronauts with four spacewalks,
totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes.
 Her record was later broken by Astronaut
Peggy Whitson in 2008 with a total of five
spacewalks.
 Williams was also part of a long-duration
mission as flight engineer for Expedition 32
and International Space Station commander
for Expedition 33.
 Williams has spent a total of 322 days in
space over the course of her two missions.
11. NASA's futuristic Dragonfly mission will
launch in 2028
 NASA confirmed Dragonfly rotorcraft mission
to Saturn’s organic compound-rich moon
Titan with a budget of $3.35 billion and a
launch date set for July 2028.
 The Dragonfly mission passed all the criteria
of its Preliminary Design Review in early
2023 but it was asked to develop an updated
budget and schedule to fit into the current
budget of the space agency.
 This updated plan was presented and then
conditionally approved in November 2023.
 The car-sized “dual-quadcopter” cover tens of
kilometres on Titan in under an hour, which
is a massive distance as far as currently
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
available extra-planetary rotorcraft are
concerned.
 Titan’s dense and calm atmosphere coupled
with its low gravity makes flying an ideal way
to travel to its different parts.
12. IISc Scientists Develop Sustainable Hydrogel
to Remove Microplastics from Water
 Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science
(IISc) have developed a sustainable hydrogel
to remove microplastics from water,
addressing the global issue of plastic
pollution.
 Microplastics, particles less than 5
millimetres in size, are pervasive in oceans,
soil, and even the air we breathe, posing a
threat to human health.
 The hydrogel, made up of a unique polymer
network, can bind and degrade microplastics
using UV light irradiation.
 Previous methods like filtering membranes
have been unsuccessful due to clogging,
making them unsustainable.
13. Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech
to orbit
 Rocket Lab launched a South Korean Earth-
observation satellite and new NASA solar-
sailing tech to orbit.
 The agency's Advanced Composite Solar Sail
System (ACS3) for short, was one of two
payloads that lifted off atop a Rocket Lab
Electron vehicle from New Zealand.
 The kick stage first moved into a circular orbit
at an altitude of 520 kilometers, deploying the
NEONSAT-1 spacecraft about 50 minutes
after liftoff.
 The stage then moved into a 1,000-kilometer
orbit before deploying the ACS3 satellite one
hour and 45 minutes after liftoff.
 NEONSAT-1, the primary payload of the
mission, is an imaging satellite with a mass of
about 100 kilograms.
 The spacecraft is part of a constellation of 11
spacecraft called New-space Earth
Observation Satellite Constellation for
National Safety, with the other 10 to be
launched by South Korea’s Nuri rocket in
2026 and 2027.
14. China Launches Shenzhou-18 Mission
 China launched the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft
carrying a three-member crew to its orbiting
Tiangong space station.
 The mission is part of China’s ambitious space
program.
 Aim: To put astronauts on the moon by 2030
 The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft lifted off from
the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in
northwestern China atop a Long March 2-F
rocket.
 The crew, consisting of Commander Ye
Guangfu and fighter pilots Li Cong and Li
Guangsu, is expected to reach the space
station about six-and-a-half hours after liftoff.
 China built its own space station after being
excluded from the International Space Station
(ISS)
Sports
1. 6th Shaastra Rapid FIDE Rated Chess
Tournament at IIT Madras
 IIT Madras hosted the prestigious ‘6th
Shaastra Rapid FIDE Rated Chess
Tournament’ on March 30 and 31, 2024.
 The tournament, sanctioned by the
International Chess Federation (FIDE), draw
the participation of esteemed players from
across the globe, including Grandmasters,
International Masters, and Women
Grandmasters.
 With a total prize fund of INR 5,00,000 and
the first prize set at INR 65,000, the
tournament offers substantial rewards,
attracting a wide range of players.
2. Bopanna-Ebden clinch Miami Open title, return
to world No. 1 ranking
 Ace Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna and
his Australian partner Matt Ebden clinched
the men's doubles crown at the Miami Open
here.
 With the win, Bopanna surpassed his record
created last year when he won the Indian
Wells title at the age of 43, and also reclaimed
the top spot in the doubles ranking.
3. Maharashtra Men’s and Women National Kho
Kho Champion
 The Maharashtra team emerged as the
undisputed champion at the 56th National
Kho Kho Championship 2023-24, clinching
both the men's and women's titles.
 The championship was held at Delhi's Karnail
Singh Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor
Stadium.
4. Chess: Arjun Erigaisi moves to No 7 in live
world rankings
 In the latest FIDE rankings released by the
world governing body of chess, India has a
new number 1 chess player – Arjun Erigaisi.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 With a standard rating of 2756, Erigaisi is
ranked ninth in the world. This is his debut in
the top 10 of the Open standard list.
 Following Erigaisi is the five-time world
champion Viswanathan Anand, who is the
second-ranked Indian on the FIDE list.
5. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Dominated the
Japanese Grand Prix
 Triple world champion Max Verstappen of
Red Bull dominated the Japanese Grand Prix,
leading a one-two finish for his team
alongside teammate Sergio Perez.
6. Briton becomes first person to run Africa's
longest distance
 British national Russ Cook, known as the
"Hardest Geezer," has successfully completed
a challenging trek that took him over 352
days to finish.
 During his journey, he covered more than
10,000 miles, passed through 16 countries,
and took over 19 million steps, all while
raising money for charity.
7. Indian veteran Saurav Ghosal bids farewell to
professional squash
 Indian squash Player, Saurav Ghosal, the
nation's premier player, has announced his
retirement from professional squash.
 He won 12 Professional Squash Association
(PSA) titles and multiple medals at the
Commonwealth Games (CWG) and Asian
Games.
 Ghosal etched his name in the history books
as the only Indian man to break into the top
10 in the World rankings, a feat he achieved
in April 2019 and maintained for six months.
8. Casper Ruud wins Barcelona Open, Rybakina
clinches Stuttgart Open
 World No. 6 Casper Ruud of Norway defeated
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, clinching the
ATP Barcelona Open 500 singles title.
 The doubles event at the Barcelona Open
witnessed the Argentine pair of Maximo
Gonzalez and Andres Molteni emerging
victorious.
 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan established
her dominance by defeating Marta Kostyuk of
Ukraine in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to claim the
singles title at the WTA Stuttgart Open.
 In the doubles event at the Stuttgart Open, the
pairing of Chan Hao-Ching (Taiwan) and
Veronica Kudermetova (Russia) emerged
victorious.
9. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Claims Maiden
Chinese Grand Prix Victory
 Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing claimed a
resounding victory at the long-awaited
Chinese Grand Prix, extending his lead in the
2024 World Championship.
 Verstappen’s commanding performance saw
him cross the finish line a staggering 13.7
seconds ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren,
who secured second place.
 Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio
Perez, completed the podium, finishing a
further six seconds behind Norris.
10. Gukesh makes history by becoming youngest-
ever World Championship contender
 D Gukesh, at just 17, has made history by
winning the FIDE Candidates Chess
Tournament 2024, becoming the youngest
player ever to reach the final of the World
Chess Championship.
 His victory, secured with a draw against
Hikaru Nakamura, marks a significant
milestone in Indian chess history.
 Gukesh's unique approach to chess, focusing
on human interaction over computer
analysis, has been key to his success, earning
praise from chess legend Viswanathan
Anand.
11. Indian Girls Shine at 13th European Girls’
Mathematical Olympiad 2024
 The 13th edition of the prestigious European
Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) took
place in the picturesque city of Tskaltubo,
Georgia, from April 11 to 17, 2024.
 The 4-member Indian team clinched a total of
four medals, including two silver and two
bronze, in the 13th EGMO 2024.
 The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
(TIFR) – Homi Bhabha Center for Science
Education (HBCSE) serves as India’s nodal
center for Olympiad programs in various
disciplines, including Mathematics, Physics,
Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, and Junior
Science.
12. Takshvi Vaghani Sets New World Record for
the Lowest Limbo Skating Over 25 Metres
 Takshvi Vaghani (6), has etched her name in
the record books by setting a new world
record for the lowest limbo skating over 25
metres.
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
 She is from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, defied the
boundaries of human agility, gliding across
the 25-meter distance at a mere 16 cm (6.29
in) above the ground.
13. India Wins 9 medals in Asian Wrestling
Championships 2024
 Indian wrestlers won a total of 9 medals ( 4
silver and 5 bronze) in the Asian Wrestling
Championships (Seniors) 2024 held in
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
14. Rohit Sharma Achieves Historic Milestone,
Becomes First Indian to Hit 500 T20 Sixes
 India and Mumbai Indians star batter Rohit
Sharma has become the first Indian cricketer
to smash 500 sixes in the T20 format.
 The highest number of sixes in T20 cricket is
held by the legendary West Indies batter
Chris Gayle, followed by fellow West Indian
all-rounder Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell,
and Colin Munro.
15. Sunrisers Hyderabad Shatter IPL Record with
Mammoth 287-Run Total Against RCB
 Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) took the Indian
Premier League (IPL) 2024 by storm,
crushing their opponents Royal Challengers
Bangalore (RCB) with a record-breaking total
of 287 runs.
 Pat Cummins-led team had scored 277 for 3
in its second match of the ongoing edition
against Mumbai Indians at the Rajiv Gandhi
International Stadium in Hyderabad,
breaking the then record of 263 for 5, set by
RCB against the now-defunct Pune Warriors
India in 2013 in Bengaluru.
16. Lithuanian Discus Thrower Mykolas Alekna
Shatters Longstanding Men’s World Record
 Lithuania’s rising star in the discus throw,
Mykolas Alekna, etched his name in the
annals of athletics history. At the Oklahoma
Throws Series meeting in Ramona, he
shattered the longest-standing men’s world
record in track and field, hurling the discus to
an incredible distance of 74.35 meters.
 He surpassed the previous world record of
74.08 meters, set by the legendary German
thrower Jürgen Schult in 1986.
17. Stefanos Tsitsipas Triumphs at the Monte
Carlo Masters for the Third Time in Four Years
 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece swept aside his
opponent, Casper Ruud of Norway, with a
convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory to win the
prestigious clay-court Monte Carlo Masters
for the third time in four years.
18. England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt named Wisden’s
Top Women’s Cricketer
 Nat Sciver-Brunt has become the first English
woman to be honoured as Wisden’s leading
cricketer in the world in 2024.
 She was recognized for her outstanding
performance in 2023, including hitting three
ODI centuries in five innings and setting a
new English record with a 66-ball hundred
against Sri Lanka.
19. Nepali Cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee Joins
Elite Club with Six Sixes in an Over
 Nepal’s 24-year-old all-rounder Dipendra
Singh Airee etched his name in the history
books by smashing six sixes in a single over
during the ACC Men’s T20I Premier Cup clash
against Qatar in Al Amerat.
 Airee’s incredible display of power and
precision joined the elite company of Yuvraj
Singh and Kieron Pollard, who had previously
achieved the same feat in Men’s T20Is.
20. Rashmi Kumari Wins National Women’s
Carrom Title For The 12th time
 Rashmi Kumari has etched her name deeper
into the annals of Indian carrom history by
claiming her 12th National Carrom
Championship title.
 The three-time World Champion overcame a
tough challenge from K Nagajothi in the
women’s final, emerging victorious with a
scoreline of 25-8, 14-20, 25-20.
21. Saudi company Aramco to sponsor FIFA
World Cup
 The world football governing body FIFA
(Fédération Internationale de Football
Association) announced a major sponsorship
deal with the Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco.
 Under the deal, Aramco company would
sponsor major FIFA tournaments until 2027.
22. Virat Kohli overtakes Shikhar Dhawan,
becomes second player to hit maximum half-
centuries
 Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star
player Virat Kohli surpassed current Punjab
Kings (PBKS) skipper Shikhar Dhawan to
become the second player to hit the most half-
centuries in a run-chase in the Indian Premier
League (IPL) history.
 He achieved this feat while playing against
Gujarat Titans (GT) and scored an unbeaten
 Current Affairs by Kush Pandey: April 2024 Monthly PDF
70 runs from 44 balls at a massive strike rate  In the women’s 49kg category, Indian
of 159.09. weightlifter Mirabai Chanu qualified for the
 David Warner stands in the top spot with 35 Paris Olympics 2024.
half-centuries, Kohli stands at the second spot
27. Indian-American Akshay Bhatia Triumphs in
with 24 half-centuries and Dhawan holds the
Texas Open Playoff Drama
third place with 23 fifty-plus scores.
 Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia
23. India’s Jyothi Surekha Vennam Won Gold At clinched the Valero Texas Open title, after a
Archery World Cup In Shanghai gripping playoff against Denny McCarthy.
 In Archery, India’s Jyothi Surekha Vennam,  Bhatia faced a formidable challenge from
Aditi Gopichand Swami and Parneet Kaur McCarthy, culminating in both players
won gold in the women’s final, beating Italy at finishing at 20 under after 72 holes.
the Archery World Cup in Shanghai.
Scheme
 The pair of Jyothi Surekha Vennam and
1. CDP-SURAKSHA: Govt’s new digital platform to
Abhishek Verma won the compound mixed
disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers
team gold final by defeating Estonia 158-157.
 Government of India has come up with a new
 Men’s team of Abhishek Verma, Priyansh and digital platform called CDP-SURAKSHA to
Prathamesh Fuge beat the Netherlands 238- disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers
231 to win gold in their final. under the Cluster Development Programme
24. Sailor Nethra Kumanan Bags Paris Olympics (CDP).
Quota  System for Unified Resource Allocation,
 India’s Nethra Kumanan has bagged the Paris Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture
Olympics quota at the Last Chance Regatta in Assistance (SURAKSHA) is a platform which
Hyeres, France will allow an instant disbursal of subsidies to
 She secured the Olympic quota as the top farmers in their bank account by utilising the
performer among sailors from the Emerging e-RUPI voucher from the National Payments
Nations Program, ENP. Corporation of India (NPCI).
 Nethra is the second Indian sailor to secure a  Database integration with PM-KISAN, cloud-
ticket to the upcoming Paris Olympics. based server space from NIC, UIDAI
 Earlier in January this year, Vishnu Saravanan validation, eRUPI integration, local
had secured India’s first sailing quota at the government directory (LGD), content
ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship 2024 in management system, geotagging, and geo-
Australia. fencing.
 The platform allows access to farmers,
25 Indian Para-Shooter Mona Aggarwal Claimed vendors, implementing agencies (IA), and
A Gold Medal In Women’s 10m Air Rifle cluster development agencies (CDAs), and
 Indian para-shooter Mona Aggarwal claimed
officials of the National Horticulture Board
a gold medal in women’s 10m air rifle while
(NHB).
Army man Amir Ahmed Bhatt secured a silver
 A farmer can login using their mobile number
in 25m pistol at the World Shooting Para
and place an order for planting material such
Sport tournament in Changwon, Korea.
as seeds, seedlings and plants based on their
26. Bindyarani Devi Wins Bronze, Qualifies for requirement.
Paris Olympics 2024 at IWF World Cup
 The IWF World Cup 2024 was held in Phuket,
Thailand from March 31 to April 11, 2024.
 The event was organized by the International
Weightlifting Federation (IWF), the world
governing body for men’s and women’s
weightlifting.
 Indian weightlifter Bindyarani Devi
competed in the women’s 55kg category and
won a bronze medal.
 She lifted a total of 196kg, including 83kg in
the snatch and 113kg in the clean and jerk.