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 2024 National Affairs
Table of Contents

2024 National Affairs - April ....................................................................................................................................... 5

2024 National Affairs - May ....................................................................................................................................... 13

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 2024 National Affairs - April
PARLIAMENT
Finance Ministry notifies a new FDI limits for satellite related activities under FEMA
The Ministry of Finance notified the amendment to Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt
Instruments) Rules 2019 to operationalise the new foreign direct investment (FDI) limits for satellite-
related activities. The new rules will be known as Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt
Instruments) (3rd Amendment) Rules, 2024.
✓ The new rules will come into effect from 16th April, 2024. Under the amended FDI Policy, 100%
FDI is allowed in the space sector.
✓ For manufacturing of components and systems or sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and
user segment, up to 100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route.
✓ For Satellites-Manufacturing and Operations; Satellite Data Products; and Ground Segment and
User Segment up to 74% FDI is allowed under automatic route and FDI over 74% will require
government approval.

STATEWISE NATIONAL NEWS

Assam
Ravi Kota IAS Takes Charge as New Chief Secretary of Assam
Ravi Kota, Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS)Officer took charge as the new Chief Secretary of
Assam, succeeding Paban Kumar Borthakur.

Bihar
Bihar Postal Circle Released a Special Cover to Commemorate 250 years of ‘Copper Ticket’
The Department of Posts in Bihar has released a ‘Special Cover’ to commemorate 250 years of the
release of ‘Copper Ticket’, the world’s first postal ticket from Patna, Bihar. It was released by Anil
Kumar, Chief Postmaster General of Bihar Postal Circle.
Note: The Copper ticket was first issued from Azimabad, Patna (Bihar) in March 1774

Maharashtra
Hinduja Group’s CELERITYX and MAFCOCS Deploys ‘OneX’ to improve Maharashtra’s Bank
Connectivity
CELERITYX, the enterprise networking solutions business of OneOTT Intertainment Limited (OIL)
announced its collaboration with Maharashtra State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation
(MAFCOCS) for the deployment of OneX platform across 40,000 bank branches in Maharashtra

LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

UNICEF India with IIHMR Delhi & IIT Mumbai Launches ‘Digital Health Enterprise Planning
Course’ to Bridge Tech-knowledge Gaps
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) India, International Institute of Health Management
Research (IIHMR) Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
have jointly launched, ‘Digital Health Enterprise Planning Course’, a comprehensive 10-week health
course.
➢ The course aims to enhance healthcare delivery by utilising digital technologies in line with the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the GIDH.

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 ➢ The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at the IIT-Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh-UP), inked a
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agreement with Gliders India Limited, a Public Sector
Undertaking (PSU), under the Ministry of Defence(MoD), to spearhead innovation in the
healthcare sector.

Central Coalfields Limited Unveils New Logo

The Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) unveiled its official brand-new logo with the tagline “Fuelling
Sustainable Growth.” CCL, formerly National Coal Development Corporation Ltd., is a Category-I Mini-
Ratna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) company situated in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Experimental Licence Module for 100 5G Labs virtually launched at IIT Madras
“Experimental Licence Module for 100 5G Labs” was virtually launched by Dr. Neeraj Mittal,
Secretary, Department of Telecommunication(DoT), Ministry of Communications during a 5G workshop
at the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT)-Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN).
✓ The DoT has introduced a simplified mechanism for the issuance of licenses through a specific
Approval Type “Experimental Licence for 100 5G Labs” on NSWS portal.

NTPC Launches New Edition of Girl Empowerment Mission

NTPC Limited (formerly National Thermal Power Corporation) launched the latest edition of the Girl
Empowerment Mission (GEM), its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The new
GEM will add around 3000 underprivileged children at 42 locations of NTPC. With this, the mission will
expand to benefit a total of 10,000 girls.

Sany India Launches SKT105E, India’s 1st Locally-Made Electric Mining Truck
Sany Heavy Industry India Private Limited(SANY India), a construction and mining equipment
manufacturer, launched the SKT105E, India’s first locally manufactured fully electric opencast mining
truck.

NexCAR19: President Murmu Launched India’s 1st Indigenous CAR-T Cell Therapy
On April 4, 2024, the President of India Droupadi Murmu launched India's first home-grown Chimeric
Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy namely 'NexCAR19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel)’ for cancer
treatment during the event held at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
✓ India is now one of the first developing countries to have its indigenous CAR-T and gene therapy
platform.
✓ It developed through collaboration between IIT, Bombay and Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH),
Mumbai in association with industry partner Immunoadoptive Cell Therapy Private Limited
(ImmunoACT).

PM Modi Inaugurated 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav on Mahaveer

Jayanti
On April 21, 2024, i.e. on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra
Modi inaugurated the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi,
Delhi.
PM Modi also released a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer
Nirvan Mahotsav.

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 The coin with denomination Rs 100 weigh 35 grams. The reverse of the coin features the image of the
Nalanda Pawapuri Jal Mandir and "Bhagwan Mahaveer 2550th Nirvan Kalyanak" in both Devanagari
script and English with year 2023 at the bottom

SJVN Limited inaugurates India’s 1st Multipurpose Green Hydrogen Pilot Project
Geeta Kapur, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of SJVN Limited(formerly known as Satluj Jal
Vidyut Nigam) inaugurated India’s 1st multipurpose(combined Heat and Power) green hydrogen pilot
project at the 1,500 megawatt (MW) Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in Jhakri, Himachal
Pradesh(HP).

OTHER NATIONAL NEWS

India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000: Global Forest Watch
According to the Global Forest Watch (GFW) monitoring project data, India has lost 2.33 million
hectares (Mha) of tree cover since 2000 which is equivalent to a 6% decrease in tree cover during
2001-2023.
✓ Assam saw the most tree cover loss at 3,24,000 hectares(324kha) compared to average of 66.6kha,
followed by Mizoram(312kha), Arunachal Pradesh(262kha), Nagaland(259kha) and
Manipur(240kha).
✓ Arunachal Pradesh had the most tree cover at 6.11million hectares(6.11Mha) compared to an
average of 957 kha, then followed by Assam(2.57Mha), Chhattisgarh (2.28 Mha), Kerala(2.28Mha)
and Odisha(1.92Mha).

Adani Green Energy Becomes India’s First Company to Surpass 10,000 MW of

Renewable Energy
Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has become the country's first company to surpass 10,000
megawatts (MW), or 10 gigawatts (GW), of renewable energy capacity in its operational portfolio. AGEL
has achieved this feat after it commissioned 2,000 MW of solar capacity at Khavda in Kutch, Gujarat.

IIT Madras Launches India's 1st Mobile Facility for Medical Devices Calibration
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) launched India's 1st medical
devices calibration facility on wheels, developed by IIT Madras under its 'Anaivarukkum IITM' (IITM
for all) Initiatives. The mobile facility aims to provide affordable, quality calibration services
nationwide; bridging the healthcare gap between urban and rural areas;

India, Mauritius amends Double Tax Avoidance Agreement

The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Mauritius have amended the India-
Mauritius Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) to focus on preventing tax evasion instead of
promoting bilateral investment flows.
✓ In February 2024, the Mauritius Cabinet of Ministers approved an amendment to the DTAA with
India to align with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s
proposal on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).
✓ Aim: To exclude encouragement of mutual trade and investment and to include the intention of
not providing treaty benefit that creates a situation of reduced taxation or non-taxation.

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MoA&FW Introduced ‘CDP-SURAKSHA’, a Digital Platform to Disburse Subsidies to
Horticulture Farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) introduced a digital platform called CDP-
SURAKSHA (Cluster Development Programme – System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge,
and Secure Horticulture Assistance) to disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers under the CDP.
The CDP-SURAKSHA will allow an instant disbursal of subsidies to farmers in their bank account by
utilising the e-RUPI (electronic rupee/e-Rupee) voucher from the National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI).

UP’s 13 Products Including Tirangi Barfi & Banaras Metal Casting Craft Gets GI Tag
The Government of India’s (GoI) Geographical Indication Registry granted Geographical Indication (GI)
tags to 13 new products of Uttar Pradesh (UP). This includes Banaras Tirangi Barfi and Banaras Metal
Casting Craft. With this the total number of GI products from UP becomes 75. UP has retained its
position as the state with most number of GI tagged products in India.
List of New GI products of UP:
GI product Goods
Banaras Tirangi Barfi Food Stuffs
Banaras Lal Peda (Sweet)
Jaunpur Imarti (Sweet)
Banaras Metal Casting Craft Handi Crafts
Lakhimpur Kheri Tharu Embroidery

Bareilly Furniture
Bareilly Zardoji Craft
Pilkhuwa Home Furnishing
Banarasi Tabla (Musical Instrument)

Banaras Shehnai (Musical Instrument)

Banaras Mural Painting

Chiraigaon Karonda of Varanasi Agriculture

Banaras Lal Bharwamirch (Red Pickel Chilli)

More than 27% of identified Glacial Lakes in Himalayas Expanded since 1984: ISRO
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s long-term satellite imagery covering the catchments
of Indian Himalayan river basins from 1984 to 2023 shows that more than 27% of the identified glacial
lakes in the Himalayas have expanded since 1984.
Among the 2,431 lakes larger than 10 hectares identified during 2016-17, around 676 glacial lakes have
notably expanded since 1984.

GI Tags Awarded to 19 Goods from Assam; 2 from Tripura and 4 from Meghalaya
The Government of India’s (GoI) Geographical Indication Registry granted Geographical Indication (GI)
tags to 19 traditional crafts of Assam, 2 from Tripura, and 4 from Meghalaya.
✓ Assam Bihu Dhol, Assam Jaapi, Sarthebari Metal Craft, Assam Pani Mateka Craft, Assam Mising
Handloom Products, Assam Asharikandi Terracotta Craft.

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 ✓ Thirteen other Assamese items, associated with the Bodo people, the state’s largest indigenous
population, have also been granted GI tags. These include,
✓ Dokhona (traditional attire), Eri Silk / Indi Silk (fabric of peace), Jwmgra (scarf), and Gamsa
(traditional dress for men).
✓ Among these 13 items, three are agricultural products viz. Gongar Dunjia, Keradapini – (Plant,
Shrub), and Khardwi while six are musical instruments viz. Kham, Serja, Thorkha, Jotha – Bodo
Musical Instrument, Gongona, and Sifung.
✓ Meghalaya secured 4 GI tags Meghalaya Garo Dakmanda Textile, Meghalaya Lyrnai Pottery,
Meghalaya Chubitchi, Lakadong Turmeric
✓ Tripura’s Pachra/Rignai Textile and Tripura Matabari Peda gets GI tag.

Maharashtra’s Miraj Tanpura and Miraj Sitar; UP’s Bundelkhand Kathiya Gehu got GI
Tag
The Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-headquartered Geographical Indications Registry under the Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry awarded
geographical indication (GI) tags to Miraj Tanpura and Miraj Sitar of Maharashtra and Bundelkhand
Kathiya Gehu (Wheat) of Uttar Pradesh (UP).
List of Goods received GI tags:
S.No GI Product State Goods
1 Miraj Tanpura Maharashtra Handi Crafts

2 Miraj Sitar
3 Bundelkhand Kathiya Gehu (Wheat) Uttar Pradesh Agriculture

Adani Group's Kutch Copper Limited Commences Phase-1 Operations in Mundra

Kutch Copper Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) led by Gautam Adani,
commissioned the first unit of its greenfield copper refinery project at Mundra, Gujarat, by
dispatching the maiden batch of cathodes to customers.
✓ Adani Enterprises invested nearly USD 1.2 billion to set up a 0.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA)
copper smelter in the first phase.
✓ Upon completion of the second phase, capacity doubles (1 MTPA), making Kutch Copper the
world's largest single-location custom smelter, adhering to Environmental, social, and governance
(ESG) standards. The plant is set to achieve a full-scale capacity (1 MTPA) by Financial Year 2028-
29 (FY29) (March 2029).

MNRE Reimposes ALMM Order on Solar PV Modules from 1st April 2024
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has re-imposed ALMM [Approved List of Models &
Manufacturers] for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Modules with effect from 1st April 2024. MNRE issued the
Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar PV Modules (Requirements for compulsory Registration)
Order (ALMM Order), 2019 on 2 January 2019.

NHAI's One Vehicle, One FASTag' Rules Come into Force on 1 April 2024
The National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI)'One Vehicle, One FASTag' norm to discourage the
practice of using a single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to one vehicle has
come into force from 1 April 2024.

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 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced a new
satellite-based toll collection system will be introduced to replace the existing toll collection system in
India.

ISRO launches ‘START’ Online Training Program for Space Science Enthusiasts
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched ‘Space Science and Technology Awareness
Training (START)’, a new introductory-level online training programme to encourage youngsters to
choose the field of space science and technology.

RECPDCL Handed Over Kallam Transco Limited SPV to Indigrid & Jalpura Khurja Power
Transmission Limited SPV to Tata Power
REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of REC
Limited, handed over 2 project-specific Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) namely, Kallam Transco
Limited and Jalpura Khurja Power Transmission Limited to their successful bidders.

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.

MoRTH Constructed 12,349 km of National Highways in FY24, the 2nd highest so far
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), a total of 12,349 km of National
Highways(NHs) were constructed in the Financial Year 2023–24 (FY24). This is the 2nd highest figure
in the history of the construction of national highways. FY21 stands in first place with a length of
13,327km of national highways.
Pilot Program for Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims
The Government of India (GoI) launched a pilot program in March 2024 to provide cashless treatment
to the victims of road accidents due to the use of motor vehicles.
Significance: It aims to reduce fatalities due to road accidents by providing timely medical care
including golden hour. It provides legal mandate under section162 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

India's Gem and Jewellery Sector Receives AEO Status from Finance Ministry
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has assigned the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status to the
gem and jewellery sector. The AEO program was introduced as a pilot project in 2011 by the Customs
Department aimed at promoting ease of doing business, saving time, and reducing costs for export-
oriented industries.
Asian Star, a leading diamond and diamond jewellery manufacturer, became the 1st recipient of AEO
status in the Indian gem and jewellery industry.

MoHFW Mandates Linking of CGHS Beneficiary ID with Ayushman Bharat Health

Account ID
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) mandates the linking of the Central Government
Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiary ID with the Ayushman Bharat Health Account(ABHA) ID, with effect
from 1st April 2024.

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 The MoHFW stated that all existing beneficiaries must complete the linking process within 30 days.

MCD Extends Deadline for Geo-tagging of Properties Till 30 June 2024

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), a civic body of Delhi, has extended the last date for geo-
tagging of properties until 30th June 2024 to provide taxpayers another opportunity to register their
properties with MCD.
✓ It is a process that involves assigning a unique latitude-longitude coordinate to a property on a
Geographic Information System (GIS) map. This is done by associating the property's location with
a Unique Property Identification Code (UPIC).

Central Government Expands Committee for Drug and Medical Device Pricing Reforms
As per the official order of Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers, Government of India (GoI) has approved the expansion of the committee formed to look into
pricing reforms for drugs and medical devices by admitting representatives from various industry
bodies.

India to Build First Strategic Petroleum Reserve with Private Company by 2029-30
India, the world’s third biggest oil importer and consumer, plans to build its first privately managed
Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2029-30. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL), a
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), was created by the government of India under the Ministry of Petroleum
and Natural Gas in 2004 to maintain strategic petroleum reserves in the country.
It was set up in two phases : The first phase, ISPRL constructed a strategic petroleum reserve in three
locations: Visakhapatnam (1.33 million tonnes)Andhra Pradesh, Mangalore (1.5 million
tonnes)Karnataka, and Padur (2.5 million tonnes) Karnataka.

GoI to develop Plant for recycling LIBs & E-waste in Uttarakhand

The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST),
Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Government of India (GoI) entered into an agreement with
Remine India Private Limited to establish a commercial plant for recycling lithium-ion (Li-ion)
batteries (LIBs) and e-waste using indigenous technology in Sitarganj, Uttarakhand, with a total project
cost of Rs 15 crore
The new recycling plant will be set up at Eldeco in State Infrastructure & Industrial Development
Corporation Uttarakhand Ltd. (SIIDCUL) Industrial Area in Sitarganj, Udham Singh Nagar district.

India becomes Net Importer of Finished Steel in FY24: Ministry of Steel’s JPC
According To Provisional Government Data by Ministry of Steel's Joint Plant Committee (JPC), India was
a net importer of finished steel during the FY24 (April 2023 and March 2024). India imported 8.319
Million Metric Tons (MnT) of finished steel in FY24, up 38.1% from FY23 when it was 6.022 MnT amid
strong demand from construction and automotive sectors.
✓ Steel consumption in India jumped 13.4% to 136 million metric tons in FY24, reflecting buoyant
demand for the alloy.
✓ Finished steel exports from India increased to 7.48 MnT in FY24, up 11.5% from FY23.

IREDA & HUDCO granted ‘Navratna status’ by Department Of Public Enterprises

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance has granted Navratna status to Indian
Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA). The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE)
has also granted the Navratna Status to Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited
(HUDCO).

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 ✓ Navratna status is granted by the Indian government to top-tier Public Sector Undertakings
(PSUs), allowing them to make investments up to Rs 1,000 crore without central approval.

MEA Approves Taking Over the Operations of Sittwe Port in Myanmar

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved a proposal for India Ports Global Limited (IPGL)
to take over the operations of the Sittwe port located on the Kaladan River estuary in Rakhine,
Myanmar. It was the second foreign port operated by India, following the Chabahar Port in Iran.

Govt extends Deadline for Linking ABHA ID with CGHS ID

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has extended the dealine for linking the Ayushman
Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Beneficiary ID
to 120 days with effect from 30th June 2024. The deadline for creating ABHA ID has been extended for a
time period of 90 days w.e.f. 30th June 2024.

MoA&FW Notifies Specifications of IFFCO's Nano Urea Plus

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW), Government of India notified
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 for a period of 3 years with effect
from 15th April 2024.
✓ Nano Urea Plus is a new version of nano urea meant for meeting crop nitrogen requirements at
critical growth phases.

DPE granted Navratna status to National Fertilizers Limited

On 18th April 2024, the Department of Public Enterprise(DPE) under the Ministry of Finance has
granted the Navratna status to National Fertilizers Limited(NFL). The upgradation of NFL from
Miniratna-I to Navratna status was done under Regulation 30 read with schedule III of SEBI(Listing
Obligations and Disclosure Requirements(LODR))Regulations, 2015.

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 2024 National Affairs - May
STATEWISE NATIONAL NEWS
Chhattisgarh
SAIL-Bhilai To Install a 15 MW Floating Solar Plant in Chhattisgarh
Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), the flagship unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has decided to
install the first 15-megawatt (MW) floating solar project in its Maroda-1 reservoir located in Durg
district, Chhattisgarh to improve its carbon footprint.
The project is being implemented through NTPC-SAIL Power Supply (NSPCL), a 50:50 joint
venture (JV) between National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and SAIL. NTPC Limited
(formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation) is the consultant for the project.

Uttar Pradesh
MHA grants NoC to Rename 8 Railway Stations in UP
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted No Objection Certificate (NoC) to change the
names of eight railway stations in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh (UP). The renaming of railway
stations were proposed by the government of UP

Uttarakhand
IAF Conducted 'Bambi Bucket' Operation To Combat Forest Fires in Uttarakhand
The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Bambi Bucket operations in collaboration with the
Uttarakhand government by utilising the Mi-17 V5 helicopter to combat forest fires in
Nainital, Uttarakhand. The Uttarakhand government has launched the "Pirul Lao-Paisa
Pao'' campaign to combat the forest fires and forest devastation.

LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

C-DAC developed Thermal Camera transferred to CP Plus; Meity launched ITS Booklet
The Indigenous Technologies of Thermal camera, designed and developed by the Centre for
Development of Advanced Computing(C-DAC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala under the Program of
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), was transferred to CP PLUS, a division
of M/s Aditya Infotech Limited.
MeitY launched the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Technology/Product Booklet during the
event.

DoP Secretary, Dr. Arunish Chawla launches the Meditech Stackathon 2024 in
collaboration with CII at New Delhi
On May 7, 2024, Dr. Arunish Chawla, Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry
of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F), launched the Meditech Stackathon 2024 in New Delhi, Delhi, in
collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
✓ India's MedTech industry is projected to grow at 28% annually, reaching USD 50 billion by 2030.
India ranks 4th in Asia and top 20 globally in the medical devices market.

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IAF Chief Inaugurates First-Ever EMRS in Karnataka
Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of Indian Air Force (IAF) has
inaugurated the first-ever Emergency Medical Response System (EMRS) at Command Hospital Air
Force (CHAF) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
✓ The EMRS is a 24/7 telephonic medical helpline for serving IAF personnel and their families
across India.

IITK DRDO Jointly Inaugurates Centre of Excellence in Defence Technologies

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has partnered with the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and inaugurated the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence
(DIA CoE) on IITK campus for interdisciplinary research in next-generation defence technologies.

GAIL Inaugurated its First 10MW Green Hydrogen Plant in MP

Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has inaugurated its first largest Green Hydrogen (GH2) Plant at
Vijaipur complex in Madhya Pradesh (MP). It has been installed in line with the National Green
Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
The plant has a capacity to produce 4.3 tonnes per day (TPD) of hydrogen through
10 MegaWatt (MW) Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolyzer by using renewable
power to perform electrolysis of water.

OTHER NATIONAL NEWS

Adani’s Vizhinjam Port in Kerala Approved as India’s 1st Transshipment Port
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways(MoPSW) has approved Adani Group’s Vizhinjam Port
in Kerala to operate as India's 1st transshipment port facilitating the transfer of cargo between ships.
Vizhinjam International Seaport is owned by the Government of Kerala and operated by Adani Ports
and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ).

Indian Army & Punit Balan Group Partnered to develop India’s 1st Constitution Park in
Pune
India’s first Constitution Park, jointly developed by Indian Army and Punit Balan Group,
was inaugurated by Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh, General Officer-Commanding-in-
Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army's Southern Command, in Pune, Maharashtra.

Mindgrove Launches India’s 1st Commercial SoC For IoT Devices

Mindgrove Technologies Private Limited, a semiconductor startup backed by Indian Institute of
Technology Madras (IITM) Pravartak Technologies Foundation and IIT Madras Incubation Cell,
launched India's first commercial System on Chip (SoC) named Secure Internet of Things (IoT).

India’s 1st Commercial Utility-Scale BESS Project Received Regulatory Approval

India’s 1st commercial standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project has received
the regulatory approval from the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). The project
is being developed by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) in partnership with India Grid
Trust (IndiGrid) , and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP).

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Army Dental Centre Research and Referral Releases Special Postal Cover for "Silver
Jubilee" Celebration
On May 1, 2024, the Army Dental Centre of Research & Referral (ADC R&R), Delhi, a specialist dental
care raised on May 1, 1999, commemorated its 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee). During the event, a
Special Postal Cover by the Army Postal Service was unveiled by Lieutenant General MK Katiyar,
General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-in-C), Western Command.

FIEO Projected India’s Merchandise to Grow USD 500 to 510 Billion in FY25
According to the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex body for exporters in
India, merchandise exports from India is expected to increase around 14% i.e. to USD 500-510 billion
in FY25(2024-25).
✓ India’s merchandise export saw a contraction of 3% with USD 437 billion in FY24 (2023-24).
India’s total exports stood at USD 788 billion in FY24.
✓ Further, it also estimated that services exports will reach to USD 390-400 billion in FY25. Thereby,
net worth of total exports from India will be around USD 890-910 billion.

EPFO created 11.4% more formal jobs in FY24

According to the Provisional Payroll Data, released by the Employees’ Provident Fund
Organisation (EPFO), Ministry of labour and employment, formal job creation under the EPFO
rose by 11.4% in 2023-24 (FY24) to 15.4 million compared to 13.85 million in FY23.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd celebrates 250th Foundation Day

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) celebrated its 250th Foundation Day with a series of events
in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The celebration, presided over by Secretary Giridhar Aramane from the
Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Following are the launches and inaugurates made MoD Secretary:
✓ Midget Submarine: Launch of platform design and hull of the indigenous midget submarine
'Arowana' as a proof of concept for future full-scale conventional submarines.
✓ Solar Electric Hybrid Boat: Commissioning of a solar electric hybrid boat with a top speed of 11
knots, significantly reducing running and maintenance costs compared to diesel boats.
✓ Fuel Cell Electric Ferry: Commissioning of 'SUCHI', a 24-passenger fuel cell electric ferry with
zero emissions and low acoustic signatures.
✓ Technical Seminar & Commemorative Coin: Inauguration of a technical seminar on emerging
shipbuilding technologies and release of Rs 250 commemorative coin by the Giridhar to honor
MDL's 250-year legacy.

MoWCD Officially Dissolves Food & Nutrition Board

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) has officially dissolved the Food and
Nutrition Board (FNB), as part of a government rationalisation plan. FNB is a technical support wing of
the MoWCD, headquartered in Delhi.
✓ The FNB ceased operations effective 1 December 2023, following the formal dissolution approval
on 30 November 2023.
✓ The FNB was originally established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. In
1993, it was transferred to the MoWCD.

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MoRTH releases New Driving License Rules w.e.f. June 1, 2024; Makes Driving Tests at
RTO Optional
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced new regulations aimed at
simplifying the process of obtaining a driving license (DL) with effect from 1st June 2024.
✓ Under the new regulations, applicants now have option to take their driving tests at privately
operated driving training centres.
✓ Prospective drivers can choose to apply for a driver’s licence either online through the official
website (https://parivahan.gov.in/) or by visiting an RTO in person.
✓ If minors are found driving, a fine of Rs 25,000 will be imposed. The vehicle owner’s registration
will be canceled, and the minor will be ineligible for a license until the age of 25.

IFFCO Receives FCO Approval for Nano Zinc Liquid, Nano Copper Liquid Fertilisers
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited(IFFCO) has received FCO (Fertiliser Control
Order) approval to launch its IFFCO Nano Zinc (Liquid) and IFFCO Nano Copper (Liquid)
fertilisers which will mitigate zinc and copper deficiencies in agriculture crops and boost
productivity.

Infosys Receives ISO 42001:2023 Certification for Artificial Intelligence Management

System
Infosys received ISO (the International Organization for Standardization)/ IEC (the International
Electrotechnical Commission) 42001:2023 Certification for its Artificial Intelligence Management
System (AIMS), making it among the first IT services companies globally to earn this recognition.
This certification is the world's first international standard on AI management systems by TUV
India (part of TÜV Nord Group), a leading provider of technical quality and safety services.

DoT organized 'Telecom Design Collaboration Sprint’ in Bengaluru

On May 9, 2024, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) organized 'Telecom Design
Collaboration Sprint', first-of-its-kind initiative, at International Institute of Information Technology
Bangalore(IIIT-B), Karnataka. This collaboration is focused on deep-Tech rapid ideation and innovative
solution developing a future-ready telecom stack.

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