Daily GK Update- 6th Apr, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. BEML, BEL join hands to develop indigenous train control management system: Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed an MoU to jointly develop an indigenous Train Control Management System (i-TCMS), aimed at what they called “revolutionising” rail communication technology in the country. The primary objective of this partnership is to identify potential areas of cooperation between BEML and BEL, with a focus on exploring the joint development of high-value products and solutions tailored to the requirements of Indian Railways and Metro systems.

 

2. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port registers record cargo handling in 2023-24: In its 154-year history, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata) including Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), achieved a milestone in the just-concluded financial year 2023-24 by handling 66.4 million tonnes of cargo. It marked a 1.11 per cent increase from the previous record of 65.66 million tonnes moved in 2022-23. The complex handled 49.54 million tonne in 2023-24, marking its highest cargo volume ever since its inception and surpassing the previous record of 48.608 million tonne in 2022-23, representing an increase of 1.91 per cent.

 

3. Meenesh Shah elected as Chairman of NCDFI: The National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Ltd. (NCDFI) elected Meenesh Shah as the Chairman. The election process was conducted by Praveen Chaudhary, IAS, the District Collector of Anand, who served as the Returning Officer.

Prior to the Board elections, the NCDFI General Body had elected eight directors to the Board in an unopposed process on April 04, 2024.

 

4. 6 April 2024 – National Handmade Day: National Handmade Day is celebrated every year on the first Saturday in April. This year falls on April 6. It is a day dedicated to honoring, celebrating, and recognizing the skill and dedication of people who create handmade goods. The day also serves as a reminder of the importance of small businesses and their contributions to the economy. Theme 2024 – Buy a Handmade Product

 

5. 6 April – National Library Day: National Library Day is celebrated every year on April 6th. On this day, people come together to celebrate the crucial roles that libraries and librarians play in our society. It’s also the day to reflect on the importance of reading and how essential it is to make books accessible and affordable for every reader. Libraries aren’t a new concept — it dates back millennia. The first systematically organized library was founded in the 7th century B.C. by Assyrian ruler Ashurbanipal in Nineveh, in contemporary Iraq. It contained approximately 30,000 cuneiform tablets sorted by subject.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 6 April – International Day of Sport for Development and Peace: The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is celebrated annually on April 6. Objective – To recognize the importance of sports and physical activity in our personal lives and communities around the world. Theme 2024 – Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies On August 23, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted Resolution 67/296, declaring April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

 

2. Japan launches e-Visa for Indian Tourists: Japan has officially launched its e-Visa program for several countries, including India. This single-entry visa grants a validity of up to 90 days and is specifically designed for travellers planning to enter Japan by air and holding an ordinary passport. For individuals seeking short-term tourism in Japan, the process of obtaining a visa has been streamlined through the introduction of electronic visas (e-Visas) via the Japan e-Visa system.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Army inducted ‘Akashteer’ Systems to enhance air defence postue: The Army has started the induction of control and reporting systems under ‘Project Akashdeep’ to bolster its air defence capabilities. The deployment of the systems began with flagging off of the first batch of Control Centres from BEL Ghaziabad. Developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the project is aimed at significantly enhancing the operational efficiency and integration of the Army’s air defence mechanisms.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bandhan Mutual Fund launched Bandhan Innovation Fund: Bandhan Mutual Fund has launched the Bandhan Innovation Fund, an open-ended thematic fund dedicated to investing in companies at the forefront of innovative breakthroughs. The new fund offers or the NFO of the scheme will open for subscription on April 10 and will close on April 24. The scheme will be benchmarked against Nifty 500 TRI. The scheme will be managed by Manish Gunwani (equity investments), Brijesh Shah (debt investments), and Ritika Behera (overseas investments).

 

2. RBI penalizes IDFC First Bank, LIC Housing Finance for non-compliance: RBI has imposed a penalty of ₹1 crore on IDFC First Bank for non-compliance with certain directions on ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions’. The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation for FY22 revealed that the bank had sanctioned term loans to a public sector undertaking for financing infrastructure projects without undertaking due diligence on the viability and bankability of the projects to ensure that revenue streams from the projects were sufficient to take care of the debt servicing obligations. Further, the repayment/servicing of the term loans was made out of budgetary resources.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. SJVN honoured with 15th Vishwakarma Awards 2024: SJVN Limited has won two prestigious awards at the 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2024, instituted by the Construction Industry Development Council. SJVN has been conferred with ‘Achievement Award for Creating Social Development & Impact’ and ‘CIDC Partners in Progress Trophy’. These awards demonstrate SJVN’s commitment to driving positive change through innovative and concrete CSR initiatives.