NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Mahindra to invest nearly Rs 1,200 crore in renewable energy projects: Mahindra Group will invest 12 billion rupees to set up solar and wind energy projects of 150 megawatt (MW) hybrid capacity in India. The projects will be developed by the group's renewable energy unit Mahindra Susten with Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board. Mahindra & Mahindra will also acquire a 26% stake in its solar power generating unit Gelos Solren for Rs 40.08 crore taking the combined investment to nearly $150 million.
2. Nyishi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh celebrates Longte festival: Nyokum is a festival celebrated by the Nyishi tribe of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Word Nyokum has been derived from the combination of two words – Nyok means land (earth) and Kum means collectiveness or togetherness. The festival is commonly celebrated by the people from all class and walk of life for better productivity, prosperity and happiness of all human beings.
3. Swiggy launches ‘Swiggy Pawlice’ initiative for finding missing pets: Swiggy has launched a new initiative ‘Swiggy Pawlice’ for finding missing pet. This feature empowers pet parents to report a missing pet directly on the Swiggy app, harnessing the network of Swiggy’s delivery partners as compassionate allies in the search efforts. Pet parents can report their missing pets directly through the Swiggy app, providing all necessary details and pictures. Swiggy’s vast network of over 3.5 lakh delivery partners plays a crucial role in this initiative. If a delivery partner spots a missing pet, they simply need to inform a dedicated team at Swiggy, providing details and location.
4. Suryoday SFB appoints Deepak Kumar Sharma as Additional Director: The Board of Directors of Suryoday Small Finance Bank have appointed Deepak Kumar Sharma as an Additional Director (under the independent category) on the Board of the Bank. This appointment, which is on the basis of the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and subject to the approval of Shareholders of the Bank, is for a period of five consecutive years per the Bank’s regulatory filing. The Bank said Sharma has nearly three decades of proven track record in building successful ventures within banking, telecom, and service sectors. He has spent 20+ years in Banking in different leadership positions.
5. Justice Aniruddha Bose appointed as head of National Judicial Academy: Supreme Court Justice Aniruddha Bose has been appointed as the new director of the National Judicial Academy (NJC) Bhopal. Supreme Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud announced the decision to appoint him during a ceremonial bench held in honour of the retired judge.
6. 14 April – Ambedkar Jayanti: Ambedkar Jayanti, also known as Bhim Jayanti, is celebrated on April 14 every year to honor the memory of “Father of Indian Constitution” Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. This year, Ambedkar Jayanti 2024 marks 134th birthday of Baba Shaeb. Ambedkar was not only the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, but the first Law Minister of Independent India, a jurist, economist, and a social reformer. He dedicated his life to eradicate discrimination against the untouchables and fight for the rights of women and labour. Hence, his birth anniversary is also known as ‘Equality Day’
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. World Art Day 2024: 15th April: World Art Day is celebrated every year on 15 April. This day is dedicated to promoting the development, distribution, and enjoyment of art worldwide. The theme for World Art Day 2024 is "A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community Through Art.”
2. Iran launches operation ‘True Promise’ against Israel: Iran has launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Israel. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have stated that Operation ‘True Promise’ is a response to Israeli actions and is part of their strategy to punish Israel for its perceived crimes.
The attack was in response to the April 1 Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that killed seven IRGC members, including two generals in charge of leading operations in Syria and Lebanon, along with six other people.
3. World Cybercrime Index: India at 10th; topped by Russia: India ranked number 10 in cybercrime, with frauds involving people to make advance fee payment being the most common type, according to new research that surveyed cybercrime experts around the world. An international team of researchers has compiled the ‘World Cybercrime Index’ that ranks roughly 100 countries and identifies key hotspots according to various categories of cybercrime, including ransomware, credit card theft and scams. Russia topped the list, and was followed by Ukraine, China, the US, Nigeria and Romania. North Korea was at the 7th position, while the UK and Brazil were at the 8th and 9th positions, respectively, according to the research published in the journal PLoS ONE.
4. 13 April – International Turban Day: International Turban Day is celebrated every year on 13 April. 13 April is dedicated to honoring Sikh heritage and values. The day acknowledges the importance of the turban in Sikh culture and promotes religious harmony and inter-cultural understanding. On this day on 13 April 1699, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib which made it a meaningful date for Sikhs around the world. International Turban Day has been celebrated on 13 April since 2004 in Sikh culture to bring awareness about the need to wear a turban as an essential part of their religion.
5. 14 April – World Quantum Day: India celebrates World Quantum Day 2024 on 14 April 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. Researchers worldwide have utilized its principles to develop technologies such as LEDs, lasers, and ultra-precise atomic clocks used in the Global Positioning System.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise ‘Dustlik’ to commence from today: The fifth edition of the ‘Dustlik’ joint military exercise between India and Uzbekistan is scheduled to begin in Uzbekistan’s Termez district from today. During the 14-day exercise, soldiers from the Indian Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan will undergo comprehensive joint training sessions. The fourth edition of the joint military exercise between the two countries was held on February 20 last year at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Russia successfully launches Angara A5 rocket: Russia has successfully launched the Angara-A5 rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The Angara family of rockets, developed to replace the Soviet-designed Proton rockets, is central to Russia’s strategy to secure its independence in accessing outer space and to reduce reliance on the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. According to mission control that launched the rocket, it reached an altitude of more than 25,000 kilometers (15,500 mi) per hour within minutes as it blasted off into space.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI rejects two applications for small finance bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has rejected two more applications for setting up small finance banks: Dvara Kshetriya Gramin Financial Services Private Limited and Tally Solutions Private Limited. So far, the regulator has received 13 applications to set up banks under the guidelines for ‘on tap’ licensing of Universal Banks and Small Finance Banks. In January 2024, Fino Payments Bank applied to the RBI for a small finance bank licence. Bhubaneswar-based micro-lending Annapurna Finance Private Limited applied for a universal bank licence in January last year. Both applications are still under consideration.
2. Karnataka Bank collaborates with FISDOM to provide 3-in-1 accounts via Mobil app: The private lender Karnataka Bank has partnered with FISDOM to offer 3-in-1 accounts (savings, demat, and trading) through its mobile banking app, KBL Mobile Plus. This strategic partnership will strengthen the present value proposition by allowing users to invest in equities and mutual funds. The 3-in-1 facility enables customers to streamline their investment journey by consolidating their demat and trading accounts. This integration eliminates the need for multiple platforms, simplifying account management and enhancing overall user experience.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Avantika Vandanapu named South Asian Person of the Year by Harvard: Indian-American actress Avantika Vandanapu, who is best known for playing Karen Shetty in the musical comedy Mean Girls (2024), has been honoured with the “South Asian Person of the Year” award and title by Harvard University. The 19-year-old actress was recognised for her outstanding achievements and contributions to the arts and society. As one of the key leads in the new adaptation of Mean Girls, Avantika proved her acting prowess. She also recently made her OTT debut with the Indian series Big Girls Don’t Cry.
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