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DEFENCE EXPRESS

CURRENT AFFAIRS INDEX

SERIAL
NO.
TOPIC PAGE
NO.
1 3
DEFENCE
2 6
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
3 8
SPORTS
4 10
AWARDS
5 12
REPORTS
6 13
NATIONAL
7 14
INTERNATIONAL
8 19
PLACES IN NEWS
9 20
PERSONS IN NEWS
10 22
BOOKS
11 23
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
13 25
ECONOMY
14 26
ENVIRONMENT
15 27
IMPORTANTS DATES
16 28
MISCELLANEOUS

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DEFENCE
❖ The Indian Army has successfully carried out field trials of indigenously-
developed man-portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) weapon system,
paving way for its induction into the force’s armoury. Man Portable Anti-tank Guided
Missile (MPATGM) Weapon System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence
Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). MPATGM which has a range of 2.5
kilometers, with fire-and-forget and top attack capabilities for infantry use. It
consists of MPATGM, the Man Portable Launcher, the Target Acquisition System
(TAS), and the Fire Control Unit (FCU).

❖ The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) signed a MoU for collaborative
research and training with IIT Kanpur. Under this MoU, AFMS and IIT Kanpur will
team up to undertake research and develop new technologies to address health
problems faced by soldiers in difficult terrains.

❖ ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has achieved a significant
milestone with the successful test firing of an air-launched ballistic missile capable
of hitting targets over 250 kilometers away. The missile, known as ROCKS or Crystal
Maze 2, is of Israeli origin and was test-fired from a Su-30 MKI fighter jet in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Crystal Maze 2 is an extended stand-off range
air-to-surface missile designed to strike high-value stationary and relocatable
targets, including long-range radars and air defense systems. It is specifically effective
in GPS-denied environments.

❖ TSAT-1A satellite: Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Satellogic

officially announced the successful launch of India’s first privately built sub-metre
resolution military grade geospatial optical satellite, TSAT-1A. The satellite was
launched from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, US, as part of Bandwagon-1 mission
of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The TSAT-1A weighs less than 50 kg and is in low-
earth orbit which is manufactured at TASL’s Vemagal facility in Karnataka. The
satellite will provide military grade imagery with high resolution of less than one
metre per pixel that will be downloaded and processed at a ground centre in India
that is being built by TASL.

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❖ Trishakti Corps of Indian Army, conducted a training exercise of Anti-Tank

Guided Missile (ATGM) firing at a Super High-Altitude Area of 17,000 Feet in Sikkim.
Missile Firing Detachments from Mechanized and Infantry Units of the entire
Eastern Command participated in the training exercise. The ATGM system’s
performance in high-altitude environments reaffirms the aim of “Ek Missile Ek
Tank”.

❖ The Indian Army is progressing two cases worth Rs 6,800 crore for developing
Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Systems indigenously, amid lack of
inventory of shoulder-fired missiles to tackle aerial threats from Pakistan and
China borders. Army plans to develop and get over 500 launchers and around 3,000
missiles from 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 second project is being carried out by the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop an infra-red
homing-based VSHORADS.

❖ A state-of-the-art Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and

Evaluation (Space) was inaugurated by Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D)
and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat at Underwater Acoustic Research Facility,
Kulamavu in Idukki district of Kerala. The Space, set up by the Naval Physical &
Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO, has been designed as a premier testing and
evaluation hub for sonar systems destined for the Indian Navy onboard various
platforms including ships, submarines and helicopters.

❖ The Indian Army has received the first batch of 24 Russia-made Igla-S Man
Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), along with 100 missiles to enhance its
Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities. While the first batch has
come from Russia, the rest of these systems will be made in India through Transfer
of Technology (ToT) from Russia by an Indian company.

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❖ The Oron or MARS2: The aircraft, known as 'The Oron' or Multi-Mission Airborne
Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (MARS2) is an AI-equipped jet that is
capable of detecting drones, ballistic missiles, aircrafts. The aircraft intercepted
data around the incoming missiles on Israel and passed the information at real-time
to fighter pilots of Israel along with operators of Israel's Iron Dome, which is a
defense system that blocks enemy missiles and attacks on Israel's land. The tech
available on the multi-million-pound aircraft tracked down all the incoming 320
missiles and drones launched from Iran.

❖ Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), The State-run shipbuilding facility in Kochi is

the third shipyard in the country after Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) to enter into a Master Shipyard Repair Agreement
(MRSA) U.S. Navy, which will enable to repair U.S. Navy ships. The MSRA is a non-
financial agreement and is effective from April 05, 2024. This will facilitate repair
of U.S. Naval vessels under Military Sealift Command in Cochin Shipyard Limited
(CSL) U.K. deploying its fleet- The U.K.’s Littoral Response Group (LRG) arrived in
Chennai as the first engagement of its deployment to the Indian Pacific region.

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GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

❖ The Saksham App: The Election Commission has made arrangements to ensure
that the upcoming Lok Sabha election is a disability-friendly exercise. The Saksham
App, developed by the commission, provides various services from registering voters
with disabilities to making wheelchairs available for them on election day.

❖ In a strategic move to bolster its maritime presence and enhance regional

connectivity, India has gained operational control over the Sittwe Port in
Myanmar, following approval from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The
agreement allows India Ports Global (IPGL), a company fully owned by the Ministry
of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, to manage the entire port on the Kaladan River,
marking India’s second overseas port acquisition after Chabahar in Iran.

❖ The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduces the myCGHS app for iOS,
delivering enhanced healthcare accessibility and digital experiences to Central
Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries.

❖ NTPC Limited, India's largest integrated power company, is gearing up to launch

the latest edition of its flagship CSR initiative, the Girl Empowerment Mission
(GEM), starting from April 2024.

❖ The 34th Seng Khihlang festival, a revered event for adherents of the Khasi
Indigenous Faith, recently concluded in Wahiajer, Meghalaya

❖ French automaker Citroen has become the first multinational carmaker in

India to export electric vehicles from the country to international markets. The car
manufacturer shipped its first batch of 500 made-in-India e-C3 electric cars to
Indonesia from the Kamarajar Port near Chennai

❖ The Supreme Court held that an election candidate has a right to privacy from
voters and need not lay out every scrap of his or her personal life and possessions,
past and present, for the electorate to examine with a magnifying glass.

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❖ Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), as a part of the Earth Day
Celebrations, installed and activated India's biggest Climate Clock on the CSIR
Headquarters Building in Rafi Marg, New Delhi. he events signifies CSIR's aim to
spread awareness about climate change and its ill effects.

❖ According to the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), The

Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund,
backed by the central government, has played a crucial role in the completion of
over 28,000 homes since its inception in 2019. The fund, managed by SBI Cap
Ventures Ltd, has also contributed to the growth of various ancillary industries in the
real estate and infrastructure sector.

❖ The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, launched India’s first home-
grown gene therapy for cancer at IIT Bombay. This groundbreaking treatment,
called ‘CAR-T cell therapy’, is a major breakthrough in the battle against cancer

❖ The Supreme Court of India for the first time, recognised the right against the
adverse impacts of climate change, saying it is intertwined with the right to life
and equality that are embedded in the Indian constitution. The arguments were a
part of a verdict by a three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India DY
Chandrachud hearing a case on the conservation of the great India bustard and the
lesser florican. The Supreme Court of India reversed a 2021 blanket ban against
overhead powerlines over an area of 99,000 square kilometers covering parts of the
states of Gujarat and Rajasthan that had been put in place to protect the birds.

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SPORTS
❖ Legendary sprinter Usain Bolt has been named the official ambassador for the
upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and the United
States.

❖ The International Cricket Council (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 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.

❖ 56th National Kho Kho championships: Maharashtra emerged champions in

both men's and women's categories at the 56th National Kho Kho
championships. In the men's final, Maharashtra defeated Railways 52-50 in a nail-
biting contest. In the women's category, the team from Maharashtra defeated
Airport Authority of India 18-16 in the summit clash. The championship was held
at Delhi’s Karnail Singh Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

❖ Triple world champion Max Verstappen romped to victory at the Japanese

Grand Prix, leading team-mate Sergio Perez to a dominant one-two finish for Red
Bull.

❖ Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing claimed a resounding victory at the long
awaited Chinese Grand Prix.

❖ Former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Narsingh Pancham Yadav was

elected the Chairman of the Athletes Commission of the Wrestling Federation of
India (WFI). With Narsingh Yadav's election to this post, the process mandated by
the world governing body of sports was completed.

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❖ MS Dhoni also broke another record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper
in the T20 format, reaching 300 during the game.

❖ The top-seeded duo of Rohan Bopanna from India and Matthew Ebden from
Australia won the Men’s Doubles Title at the Miami Open, a prestigious ATP
Masters tennis tournament. In an exciting final, they defeated the second seeds Ivan
Dodig and Austin Krajicek.

❖ Sumit Nagal became the first Indian man to win a match in a ATP Masters 1000
tournament on clay courts. The top-ranked Indian singles player produced a
spectacular comeback effort to defeat Italy's Matteo Arnaldi.

❖ Indian squash Player, Saurav Ghosal, the nation’s premier player, has
announced his retirement from professional squash.

❖ 17-year-old GM Gukesh Dommaraju has won the 2024 FIDE Candidates

Tournament and is the youngest player in history to win a Candidates Tournament.
He will play GM Ding Liren for the world championship title later this year.

❖ The Laureus World Sports Awards 2024, Madrid: Novak Djokovic becomes
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time. Novak Djokovic match the
Roger Federer’s record of achieving this award. Aitana Bonmatí became the first
footballer to be named the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year.

❖ Yuzvendra Chahal, the wily leg-spinner from Rajasthan Royals, stands tall as the
highest wicket- taker (200 wickets) in IPL history.

❖ Novak Djokovic officially became the oldest World No. 1 in ATP Rankings
history, a record previously held by one of his greatest rivals in Roger Federer.
Serbia's Djokovic, the most decorated male tennis player in the Open era with 24
Majors, is 36 years and 321 days old.

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AWARDS
❖ Hockey India Awards 2023: Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were named the
Players of the Year for 2023 in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, at
the sixth annual Hockey India Awards.

❖ Chhattisgarh-based environment and forest activist Alok Shukla has been

honoured with the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for his efforts and
exemplary community campaign in safeguarding the forests in the mineral-rich state.
Shukla’s recognition stems from his relentless efforts to safeguard the Hasdeo Arand
Forest, considered the lungs of Chhattisgarh This award also known as Green Nobel
Prize.

❖ The famous kathak Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award (pending for 10 years i.e. from
2014) will be bestowed upon noted Hindi film celebrities Hema Malini (2018) and
Saira Banu (2019), as well as other notable figures in the arts and culture. The award
ceremony will take place in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Pandit Rajendra Gangani from
Jaipur received the Lacchu Maharaj Award 2024.

❖ Professor Meena Charanda, Principal of Kalindi College, Delhi University, has

been awarded the prestigious ‘International Culture Award’ for the year 2024.
Prof. Charanda received this honour in recognition of her remarkable work in the
field of education and social service.

❖ 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.

❖ Ananth Technologies Founder, CEO and Chairman Pavuluri Subba Rao has been
conferred with the ‘Aryabhatta Award’ instituted by the Aeronautical Society of
India (ASI). This honour recognizes Rao’s “tremendous lifetime contribution to the
promotion of astronautics in India.”

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❖ Renowned industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of

the Tata Group, was bestowed with the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award
2021 in a private ceremony held at his residence in Mumbai.

❖ SKOCH ESG Award 2024: REC Limited has been bestowed with the SKOCH ESG
Award 2024 in the 'Renewable Energy Financing' category.
o REC is a 'Maharatna' Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of
Power, and is registered with RBI as Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), and
Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC).
o REC Ltd. provides loans of various maturities to State, Central and Private
Companies for creation of infrastructure assets in the country.
o It has been a nodal agency for Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana
(SAUBHAGAYA), Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), National
Electricity Fund (NEF) Scheme.

❖ John L. 'Jack' Swigert Jr. Award 2024: ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission team was
recently awarded the prestigious 2024 John L. 'Jack' Swigert Jr. Award for Space
Exploration, acknowledging their efforts to elevate the standards of space
exploration. The award was received by India's Consul General in Houston D C
Manjunath on behalf of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
o John L ‘Jack’ Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration is an honour bestowed by the
United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in
recognition of outstanding contributions to space exploration.

❖ Nat Sciver-Brunt has become the first English woman to be honoured as

Wisden's leading cricketer in the world in 2024. Australian captain Pat
Cummins to be honoured as Wisden's leading cricketer in the world in 2024.

❖ Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was honoured with the Lata Deenanath

Mangeshkar Award. The 81year-old star, whose career spans over five decades in
films and known for movies such as "Zanjeer", "Deewar", "Chupke Chupke",
"Mohabbatein", and "Piku". The music maverick A R Rahman also received the
Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for contribution to Indian music at the
event.

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REPORTS
❖ Plastic Overshoot Day report: India ranks among the top twelve countries
responsible for 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste, as highlighted in
the recent Plastic Overshoot Day report by Switzerland’s EA Earth Action. Despite
having the lowest per capita plastic waste production globally, India is expected to
generate 7.4 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in 2024, a figure the report
deems “very high.” Oman ranks highest in per capita mismanaged plastic waste,
with an expected figure of 111 kg per person in 2024. Belgium leads in per capita
plastic waste production, with 147.7 kg per person annually.

❖ Atul Goel Panel: A three-member committee of gynaecologists has been formed to

finalize a list of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that will be available in regular stores
without the need for a prescription. The committee, chaired by Directorate
General of Health Services Atul Goel, aims to complete the list within two weeks.

❖ According to the recently released Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC), nearly
282 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 59 countries in 2023.
GRFC is released annually by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and
launched by the Global Network Against Food Crises.

❖ Najmi Waziri committee: The Delhi High Court has appointed former judge Najmi
Waziri to lead a committee focused on safeguarding the forests in the national
capital.

❖ Uttar Pradesh leads with 75 Geographical Indication (GI) products, including

Kashi's Tirangi Barfee and metal casting craft in the country surpassing Tamil Nadu’s
58.

❖ QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Jawaharlal Nehru University

(JNU) has secured the top position among Indian universities in the prestigious
rankings released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). Globally, the university has clinched
20th spot for its excellence in development studies.

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NATIONAL
❖ Ocean Decade Conference 2024: India delegation , led by Earth Sciences Secretary
M. Ravichandran, advocated for the establishment of a region-specific ocean
observation center during the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference held in Barcelona,
Spain. The conference, organized by the Spanish government and UNESCO’s
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

❖ Megha Engineering and Infrastructure (MEIL), a Hyderabad-based

infrastructure firm, has bagged the 2,000-megawatt Sharavathi pumped storage
power project in Karnataka. The project, which is set to be the largest pump storage
power generation unit in the country, is estimated to cost over Rs 8,000 crore and
aims to help Karnataka address its power crisis.

❖ India is set to receive the remaining two regiments of S-400 Triumf surface-to-
air missile systems from Russia by next year.
o This new timeline comes after some delays in supplies due to the war in Ukraine.
o India is also expected to take delivery of the warship Tushil, the first of the two
Russian-built frigates, in September.
o The second warship, Tamal, will be supplied by Russia in January. Originally, the ships
were supposed to be delivered by 2022, but the delays were attributed to Russia's war
in Ukraine.
o The Indian Air Force (IAF) has acquired the S-400 Triumf from Russia, renowned as
the world's most advanced air defense system.
o Concurrently, on the indigenous front, the Defense Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) is spearheading Project Kusha. Set for deployment by 2028-
29, Project Kusha aims to equip the air force with a long-range air defense system.

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INTERNATIONAL
❖ Israel deploys ship-mounted C-Dome defense system against suspicious aerial
target near Eilat, successfully intercepting it. The land-based Iron Dome has been
used countless times to intercept rockets fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
That defence system costs roughly $50,000 per launch. The C-Dome is a naval
version of the Iron Dome air defence system used to shield against rocket and
missile attacks.

❖ Pyoljji-1-2 and Hwasal-1 Ra-3: North Korea has conducted tests on a new “super-
large” warhead designed for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile, as well as
a new type of anti-aircraft missile called the ‘Pyoljji-1-2’. Hwasal-1 Ra-3 is a strategic
cruise missile developed by North Korea. It is designed to carry a “super-large”
warhead and can likely strike targets across South Korea and Japan. The Pyoljji-1-
2 is a new type of anti-aircraft missile recently tested by North Korea. It is likely
designed to target enemy aircraft, drones, and incoming missiles.

❖ Nepal is hosting its first International Rainbow Tourism Conference to promote

the Himalayan nation as a safe and attractive destination for tourists from the sexual
minority community. The two-day tourism event 'Yatra 2 Happiness: First Rainbow
Tourism International Conference' will be held in Kathmandu. The event is being
organized at the joint initiative of the Nepal Tourism Board and Maya ko Pahichan
Nepal (MKPN).

❖ The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has
expressed disappointment and criticism towards Moderna Inc.’s decision to
reconsider its plans for building a $500 million vaccine manufacturing facility in
Kenya. Moderna, known for its COVID-19 vaccine, had announced the investment
in October 2021 to support the production of its mRNA vaccine portfolio in Africa.
However, two years later, the company has put the plans on hold, citing a decline in
demand for COVID-19 vaccines on the continent.

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❖ Niger and the United States have reached an agreement on the withdrawal of
American troops from the West African country, a process that has already begun
and will be finished by Sept. 15.

❖ Yozma 2.0 fund: Israel's government has launched a new Yozma 2.0 fund to
encourage institutional investors to boost investments in high-tech companies

❖ 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.

❖ Project Nimbus: Google has recently made headlines due to its handling of employee
protests against Project Nimbus, a lucrative cloud computing contract with the
Israeli government. Project Nimbus, signed in 2021, involves a $1.2 billion
agreement where Google, alongside Amazon, provides advanced cloud services
and AI capabilities to Israel. The controversy particularly spirals around
accusations that these technologies might be supporting military actions during the
ongoing conflict in Gaza.

❖ Armenia and Azerbaijan have placed the first border marker, following a bitter
conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The two nations are working towards
a peace treaty after Azerbaijan regained full control of the Nagorno-Karabakh
region that had been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces since the 1990s.

❖ Energy Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies agreed to
end the use of coal in power generation "during the first half of (the) 2030s".
The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of seven of the world's advanced
economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom,
and the United States, as well as the European Union.

❖ VASA-1 model: Microsoft has introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) model
that can generate hyper-realistic videos of talking human faces. Dubbed VASA-1, the
AI image-to-video model can generate videos from just one photo and a speech
audio clip.

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❖ Nepal Army will collect around 10 tonnes of garbage and five dead bodies lying
at Mt. Everest as it launches ‘Mountain Cleaning Campaign’ 2024 in the Everest
region. The army has been launching the cleaning campaign in the Everest region
since 2019 and this will be the fourth such campaign led by the Nepal Army.

❖ South Korea has launched its second military spy satellite into space, days after
North Korea reaffirmed its plan to launch multiple reconnaissance satellites
this year. South Korea’s second spy satellite was launched from the Kennedy Space
Center in Florida. The second launch comes months after the first one put South
Korea’s spy satellite into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California in
December 2023. South Korea will launch five spy satellites by 2025 under a
contract with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. South Korea in 2022 became the world’s 10th
nation to successfully launch a satellite with its own technology by using a
homegrown rocket to place what it called a “performance observation satellite” in
orbit.

❖ The Chief of Greece National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis
received the Guard of Honour at South Block Lawns in Delhi, laying a wreath at
the National War Memorial and signing the visitors' book.

❖ Indonesian delegation explores collaboration with India on various initiatives

under President-elect Prabowo, including mid-day meal scheme and digital
inclusion. The visit aimed at fostering cooperation in biotechnology, agriculture, and
digital infrastructure for mutual growth and development.

❖ South Korea's liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory in a

parliamentary election. The main opposition Democratic Party, which already
holds majority control, won 175 seats in the 300member single-chamber parliament
of South Korea.

❖ The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has introduced a new
kamikaze drone resembling Russia’s Lancet drone.

❖ Prabowo Subianto has been officially declared the winner of Indonesia’s

presidential election by a wide margin, paving way for him to take the helm at
Southeast Asia’s largest economy later this year.

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❖ Russia test-launched its Angara-A5 space rocket for the first time from the
Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East, successfully putting a test load in low orbit
as part of an effort to develop a new post-Soviet launch vehicle.

❖ Zimbabwe has introduced a new gold-backed currency called ZiG - the name
stands for "Zimbabwe Gold". It is the latest attempt to stabilise an economy that has
lurched from crisis to crisis for the past 25 years.

❖ The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) unanimously

appointed Saudi Arabia to chair its 69th session in 2025. The decision by the
United Nations to appoint Saudi Arabia as the chair of a gender equality forum has
been criticized by women's rights advocates.

❖ Katchatheevu, an Indian island with a tumultuous past, has been a focal point of
contention between India and Sri Lanka since its cession in 1974.

❖ 2024 marks 75 years since the conception of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), which was signed on 4 April, 1949. Sweden is the latest
country to join NATO as 32 member, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted it
to leave 200 years of neutrality behind. Foreign ministers from member countries met
in Brussels to mark the moment the alliance’s founding treaty was signed on 4 April,
1949 in Washington.

❖ Slovakia’s nationalist-left government candidate Peter Pellegrini emerged

victorious in the country’s presidential election, solidifying the influence of pro-
Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico over Slovakia.

❖ Germany becomes largest EU country to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

Under the first step in the much-debated new law, adults over 18 are now allowed
to carry 25 grams of dried cannabis and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at
home.

❖ Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn for his third term as leader of
the Arab world's most populous nation.

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❖ In the control room of a research centre in Romania, part of the European

Union’s Infrastructure ELI project, engineer Antonia Toma activates the world’s
most powerful laser, which promises revolutionary advances in everything from the
health sector to space. The laser at the centre, near the Romanian capital Bucharest,
is operated by French company Thales, using Nobel prize-winning inventions.

❖ State of Emergency declared by Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi: A severe

drought associated with El Niño is currently affecting Southern Africa, with
extremely dry and warm conditions since October 2023, leading the governments of
Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi to declare a state of emergency.

❖ China has surpassed India as the primary importer of Russian crude oil via sea
routes, with China importing 1.82 million barrels per day (bpd) in March compared
to India’s 1.36 million bpd.

❖ Ireland's parliament has elected Simon Harris as the nation's youngest-ever

prime minister at 37. Harris steps into the shoes of his predecessor Leo Varadkar,
who resigned in a surprise move last move.

❖ China successfully launched the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft or Divine vessel from

the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located on the fringes of the Gobi Desert in
north western China. A crew of three astronauts comprising China's Shenzhou-18
mission took off onboard a rocket bound for the Tiangong space station.

❖ After a 13-year wait, Bulgaria and Romania have partially joined Europe’s
Schengen area of free movement, marking a new step in the two countries’
integration with the European Union. After years of negotiations to join the Schengen
area, there is now free access for travellers arriving by air or sea from both countries.
However, land border checks will remain in place due to opposition primarily from
Austria which has long blocked their bid over illegal migration concerns.

❖ The Schengen Area: It was established in 1985. Before Bulgaria and Romania’s
admission, it was comprised of 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

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PLACES IN NEWS
❖ The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop
an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the
marine environment (INC-4) of the United Nations Environment Agency (UNEA)
took place from 23 to 29 April 2024 at the Shaw Center in Ottawa, Canada. The INC-
4 for a global plastics treaty failed to reach an agreement. Negotiators aim to reach a
consensus by the end of 2024 at INC-5 which is scheduled for November 2024 in
South Korea. The INC is a committee established by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) in March 2022 to develop an international
legally binding agreement on plastic pollution.

❖ Ocean Decade Conference 2024: India delegation , led by Earth Sciences Secretary
M. Ravichandran, advocated for the establishment of a region-specific ocean
observation center during the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference held in Barcelona,
Spain. The conference, organized by the Spanish government and UNESCO’s
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

❖ The 19th annual meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states was held in Astana,
Kazakhstan. The Indian delegation was led by the National Security Advisor (NSA)
Ajit Doval.

❖ Masdar, the UAE’s prominent clean energy company, is set to host the World
Future Energy Summit (WFES) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
(ADNEC).

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PERSON IN NEWS
❖ The Supreme Court has appointed Justice Aniruddha Bose as the Director of The
National Judicial Academy (NJAC), Bhopal after Justice Aniruddha Bose has retired
from the Supreme Court.

❖ Former Indian hockey player and Dronacharya awardee Harendra Singh has
been selected by Hockey India as the coach of the senior national women’s hockey
team.

❖ Gopichand Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot, has been selected as one of

the six crew members for Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin New Shepard -25 (NS-25)
mission. This makes him the “first Indian space tourist” and the second Indian to
venture into space after the Indian Army's Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in
1984. He reportedly hails from Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada. He co-founded
Preserve Life Corp, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health near
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

❖ The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has appointed Gita

Sabharwal of India as the new UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia.

❖ Lieutenant General JS Sidana has been appointed as the 33rd Director General
of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DGEME) and Senior Colonel
Commandant of the EME Corps.

❖ The Centre has appointed Manoj Panda, former director of the Institute of
Economic Growth, as a fulltime member of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
This fills up the vacancy at the finance panel, which was till now functioning with only
three full time members and Chairperson Arvind Panagariya.

❖ The central government has appointed Naima Khatoon as the Vice Chancellor
of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), making her the first woman to hold the
top post in over 100 years.

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❖ British national Russ Cook, known as the “Hardest Geezer,” has successfully
completed a challenging trek that took him over 352 days to finish.

❖ Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has been roped in by the Election Commission of

India to urge the youngsters to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

❖ Mr Sanjay Nayar, a well-known name in the global financial markets and

Founder and Chairman, Sorin Investment Fund has taken over as President of the
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

❖ 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.

❖ Ms Sheyphali B. Sharan has assumed charge as the Principal Director General,

Press Information Bureau, upon the superannuation (retirement) of Shri Manish
Desai.

❖ Lindy Cameron has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic
of India, becoming the first woman to serve this role for the UK in India.

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 DEFENCE EXPRESS

BOOKS

Sr. No. Book Author

1 The Winner’s Mindset Shane Watson

2 India the Road to Renaissance: A Vision Bhimeswara Challa

and an Agenda
3 Just a Mercenary? Notes from My Life Duvvuri Subbarao
and Career
4 Knife Salman Rushdie

5 The Idea of Democracy Sam Pitroda

6 Heavenly Islands of Goa P.S. Sreedharan Pillai

7 India’s Nuclear Titans Soumya Awasthi and

Shrabana Barua.

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 DEFENCE EXPRESS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

❖ India may strike a deal with Nvidia to source graphics processing units (GPUs)
from the US manufacturer, and offer them to local startups, researchers, academic
institutions and other users at a subsidised rate under its ₹10,000 crore Artificial
Intelligence Mission, people in the know of the matter said. Graphics Processing
Units (GPUs) allow parallel processing of data for faster computation compared to
CPUs (Central Processing Unit). GPUs are crucial components in the AI ecosystem,
enabling faster and more efficient processing of complex mathematical operations
required for training and running AI models.

❖ Euvichol-S: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified a new
oral vaccine for Cholera called Euvichol-S. It is manufactured by EuBiologics Co., Ltd.
in South Korea. The development of Euvichol-S is a collaboration between
EuBiologics, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation. It is the inactivated oral vaccine to treat Cholera. It is the third product
of the same family of vaccines which are there for cholera in WHO prequalification
list. It is a simplified formulation of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) Euvichol-Plus.
Other inactivated oral cholera vaccines are Euvichol and Euvichol-Plus.

❖ Scientists in Romania successfully created the world's most powerful laser light
emission - one-tenth of the power emanating from the Sun that is received on Earth,
based on the groundbreaking inventions of Nobel Physics Prize winners Gerard
Mourou and Donna Strickland. The heart of this groundbreaking laser lies in
Chirped-Pulse Amplification (CPA) technology, developed by Mourou and
Strickland. The laser, installed at a centre near the Romanian capital Bucharest, is
operated by French company Thales.

❖ An international team of scientists, including from India, has discovered strong

evidence indicating the presence of ozone on Jupiter’s moon Callisto, shedding
light on the complex chemical processes taking place on icy celestial bodies in the
Solar System. Previously thought of as a barren celestial body, scientists now consider
that this icy moon could harbour conditions conducive to supporting life.

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❖ Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have designed a sustainable

hydrogel to remove microplastics from water. The material has a unique
intertwined polymer network that can bind the contaminants and degrade them
using UV light irradiation. The IISc hydrogel, composed of three polymer layers and
nanoclusters of a material called copper substitute polyoxometalate, has shown high
efficiency in removing polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene microplastics from
water.

❖ Scientists from Germany and the U.K. have proposed a radical explanation for
the discrepancy in measurements of the universe’s expansion rate, known as
the Hubble tension. The Hubble Constant, denoted as H0, is a fundamental
parameter in cosmology that describes the current expansion rate of the Universe.
The Hubble Constant is expressed in units of kilometers per second per
megaparsec (km/s/Mpc)

❖ Men5CV vaccine: Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out the
revolutionary new Men5CV vaccine against meningitis. It is the world's first
vaccine to provide protection against all five strains (A, C, W, Y, and X) of the
meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis. Meningitis is a serious infection of
the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The disease
can be caused by many different pathogens including bacteria, fungi or viruses, but
the highest global burden is seen with bacterial meningitis. The Men5CV vaccine,
also known as MenFive, was developed through a 13-year partnership between PATH
and the Serum Institute of India.

❖ Scientists from Utrecht University in the Netherlands have successfully

developed a device that can mimic the brain’s synapses with the help of basic
ingredients like salt and water. This device is only 150 to 200 micrometres which
relies on salt and water to process the information, much like our brains. The details
regarding the creation of this unique device have been published in the journal,
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Even though artificial
synapses exist with the ingredients of solid materials, this is the first time an
aqueous memristor has been used to create a neuromorphic (brain-like) computer.

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ECONOMY
❖ India has implemented measures to prevent the contamination of spices
exported from the country with EtO (ethylene oxide), a carcinogenic chemical,
following reports of recall of products from Indian spice India brands MDH and
Everest in Singapore and Hong Kong. Mandatory sampling and testing for EtO
residues have been enforced for all spice shipments to Singapore and Hong Kong
since May 7, 2024, along with reiterated guidelines for EtO treatment for exporters.

❖ DIGITA: The Reserve Bank of India is considering establishing a Digital India Trust
Agency (DIGITA) to combat cyber fraud and illegal lending apps.

❖ Paradip Port Authority (PPA’s) remarkable journey has reached new heights with
the recent record breaking achievement of clocking incredible 145.38 MMT cargo
throughput in FY 2023-24 and thus-by nudged passed Deendayal Port, Kandla to
emerge as the highest cargo handling major port of the country. For the first time
in the 56 years history of operation, PPA has surpassed previous records, set by
Deendayal Port.

❖ Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report: India has become the world's fourth-
largest exporter of digitally delivered services, constituting over a fifth of global
trade in services. According to the latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics
report from the World Trade Organisation (WTO), India's exports of digitally
delivered services stood at $257 billion in 2023 registering a 17 percent increase from
the previous year. India to surpass China & Germany in the rankings, but it still lags
behind the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

❖ SCORES 2.0: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched
SCORES 2.0, an upgraded version of its Complaint Redress System (SCORES), to
strengthen mechanisms for addressing investor complaints.

❖ Adani Green Energy Ltd plans to invest about ₹1.5 trillion through 2030 to
develop the world’s largest renewable energy plant with 30-gigawatt capacity at
the Khavda renewable energy park in Gujarat.

❖ The Government of India has granted the coveted 'Navratna' status to the Indian
Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a public sector enterprise.

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ENVIRONMENT
❖ Forest fire: Close to 100 hectares of forest were destroyed in a fire in the Sulthan
Bathery forest range under the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS). It is located
in Wayanad, Kerala, in the southern trenches of the Western Ghats. It is a part of the
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is bordered by
the protected areas of Nagarhole and Bandipur in Karnataka on the northeastern
side and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu on the southeastern side.

❖ India and the US plan to restart the Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS), a
network of 36 buoys stationed in the high seas. These buoys will collect detailed data
on ocean and atmospheric conditions to help improve weather forecasts.
Established in 2006, the Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS) comprises moored
buoys strategically placed across the Indian Ocean.

❖ Indonesia's Mount Ruang volcano erupted for a second time in two weeks,
spewing ash almost 2 kilometers (more than a mile) into the sky. The 725-metre
(2,378-foot) volcano in North Sulawesi province is about 95 kilometers (59 miles)
northeast of Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, the provincial capital.

❖ The Bhutanese government is hosting the Sustainable Finance for Tiger

Landscapes Conference on Earth Day 2024 to mobilise the funding. Bhutan hosts
summit targeting $1 billion USD for the conservation of tiger landscapes. The two-
day conference will be hosted by Bhutan under the patronage of the country’s queen,
Jetsun Pema Wangchuck. It is co-organised by the Royal Government of Bhutan
and the Tiger Conservation Coalition. The Tiger Conservation Coalition was
formed ahead of the 2022 Year of the Tiger.

❖ The government of Tamil Nadu has launched a three-day survey of the Nilgiri
Tahr, the state animal. The aim of this survey is to better understand and conserve
this endangered species. The survey is being carried out in collaboration with
organizations such as the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the World-Wide Fund
for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). The Nilgiri Tahr is an endemic species that is listed as endangered on IUCN
list.

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IMPORTANT DATES
World Autism Awareness Day April 2
Theme: Empowering Autistic Voices.
International Mine Awareness Day April 4

International Conscience Day April 5.

Theme: Promoting a Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience
National Maritime Day April 5
Theme: Navigating the future: safety first!
International Day of Sport for April 6
Development and Peace Theme: Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive
Societies.
National Library Day April 6

World Health Day April 7

Theme: My Health, My Righ
World Homoeopathy Day April 10
Theme Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family
World Quantum Day April 14

World Chagas Disease Day April 14

Theme- Tackling Chagas disease: detect early and care for life.
World Art Day April 15
Theme: A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community
Through Art.
International Mother Earth Day April 22
Theme- Planet vs. Plastics
International Day of MultilateralismApril 24
and Diplomacy for Peace
National Panchayati Raj Day April 24

World Malaria Day April 25

World Intellectual Property Day
Theme: Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more
equitable world.
April 26
Theme: ‘IP and the SDGs: Building Our Common Future with
Innovation and Creativity.

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MISCELLANEOUS
❖ Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is ready to fly into space for the third
time as the pilot aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for its the first crewed test
flight. Boeing’s Starliner will blast off for the International Space Station from Cape
Canaveral in Florida. If it is successful, it will become the second private firm able to
provide crew transport to and from the ISS, alongside Elon Musk's SpaceX.

❖ Pin code MH-1718: India establishes second post office in Antarctica at Bharati
research station, introducing new PIN code MH-1718, while maintaining the
tradition of collectors sending blank envelopes for 'cancellation' from the Antarctic
post office, renowned for its 'Maitri North Goa' mark. India’s two research bases in
Antarctica -Maitri and Bharati - are located 3,000 km apart. Notably, both branches
are part of the Goa postal division. In 1984, shortly after India’s first foray to
Antarctica, its first post office on the icy continent was set up at Dakshi Gangotri —
the nation’s first scientific base there. Dakshin Gangotri was submerged in ice in
1988-89 and was subsequently decommissioned. On January 26, 1990, a post office
branch was set up at India’s Maitri research station in Antarctica.

❖ The union government is planning to set up dedicated labs for testing high-
grade cotton in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and
Karnataka as part of a push to establish the Indian Kasturi cotton as a global
brand.

❖ ‘Miss AI’ beauty pageant: The World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs) has announced
the world’s first ‘Miss AI’ beauty pageant, featuring AI-generated models
competing in a unique event that blends traditional beauty pageantry with the world
of AI creators. Entrants must be entirely AI-generated, with no restrictions on the
tools used. The judging panel includes two AI-generated judges, Aitana Lopez and
Emily Pellegrini.

❖ A study published in "Nature" has sounded the alarm on the dire economic
consequences of climate change, revealing that the global economy is poised to
suffer staggering losses, with damages estimated at a whopping 38 trillion dollars
annually by 2050. Led by scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact
Research (PIK), the study paints a bleak picture of the economic toll of climate
change, surpassing even the costs of mitigation efforts to limit global warming.

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