Daily GK Update- 13th Apr, 2024

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sachidananda Mohanty appointed as member of UGC: Sachidananda Mohanty has been appointed as Member, University Grants Commission (UGC) for three years with immediate effect. Mohanty is the former Professor and Head of the Department of English, University of Hyderabad and former Vice Chancellor of Central University of Odisha. Winner of many national and international awards such as the Katha, British Council, Fulbright(twice), Charles Wallace and the Salzburg, he has published extensively in the field of British, American, gender, translation and post-colonial studies. His books have appeared in Oxford, Sage, Routledge and Orient Ĺongman, among other notable publishing houses.

 

2. Election Commission Eases Voting Process for Kashmiri Migrant Voters: The Election Commission of India has eliminated the requirement for Kashmiri migrant voters in Jammu and Udhampur districts of J&K to fill out ‘Form M’ to vote in the Lok Sabha polls. This decision comes after years of demand from ..

 

3. Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti 2024: Ambedkar Jayanti 2024, celebrating the birth anniversary of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the “Father of Indian Constitution,” was observed on April 14, 2024. This year marks the 134th birthday of the iconic figure, who dedicated his life to eradicating discrimination

 

4. Siachen Day 2024 Observed: Siachen Day, observed on April 13, commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of Indian Army soldiers serving at the highest battlefield in the world, the Siachen Glacier. ‘Operation Meghdoot’ was launched on the same day in 1984 to secure the glacier, .”

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Former Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gillani elected Senate Chairman: Senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was elected unopposed as chairman of the Senate amidst protest from lawmakers from jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party. Saidal Khan Nasir of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was elected as the deputy chairman. No one had filed nomination papers against the two candidates supported by the ruling alliance led by the PML-N. The Senate is the upper house of Pakistan’s bicameral Parliament. The senators are elected for six-and-a-half-year with half of the house up for election every three years. They are elected by the provincial and National Assemblies.

 

2. Plastic Overshoot Day Report: According to the Plastic Overshoot Day report by Swiss non-profit EA Earth Action, India has one of the lowest per capita plastic waste production rates globally. However, global plastic waste generation has increased by 7.11% since 2021, with an estimated.

 

3. South Korea Opposition wins Landslide Parliamentary Vote: Legislative elections were held in South Korea recently, to elect all 300 members of the National Assembly. The main opposition Democratic Party and its satellite party won a combined 175 seats, while another small liberal opposition party obtained 12 seats. ..

 

4. Taliban to Restore Land Rights to Afghan Hindus, Sikhs: India has welcomed the Taliban regime’s decision to restore private land rights to Afghan Hindus and Sikh minorities as a positive development. The Taliban administration has set up a commission to ensure the return of property rights to the Hindu ..

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Ministry issues 65,000cr tender to HAL for buying 97 LCA Mark 1A Fighter Jets: The Defence Ministry has issued a tender to the public sector firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for purchasing made-in-India 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets expected to be worth over Rs 65,000 crore.

This is set to be the largest order for indigenous military hardware to be placed by the Indian government ever. The programme will help the IAF to replace its fleet of MiG- 21s, MiG-23s and MiG-27s which have been either phased out or are set to be phased out or are set to be phased out in near future. The last order for LCA Mark1A was for 83 aircraft and the first plane is poised to be delivered in a few weeks from now. LCA Mark 1A is the advanced version of Tejas aircraft.

 

2. HAL Secures Budget for 97 LCA Mark 1A Fighter Jets: The government has placed a record Rs 65,000 crore order for 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the largest ever order for indigenous military hardware. The advanced version of the Tejas aircraft, LCA Mark 1A ..

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Pilot Gopi Thotakura becomes first Indian space tourist to fly with Blue Origin: Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and a pilot, is set to become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. Thotakura was selected as one of the six crew members for the mission, making 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. Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and a pilot, is set to become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. Thotakura was selected as one of the six crew members for the mission, making 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.

 

2. Indian Entrepreneur Gopichand Thotakura to Join Blue Origin Space Mission: Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, has announced that Indian national Gopichand Thotakura will be part of a six-member crew on the next New Shepard mission. If successful, Thotakura will become the second Indian citizen in space ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. BharatPe to launch ZeroPe app: BharatPe co-founder and former Managing Director Ashneer Grover will launch a new app called ‘ZeroPe’, an app designed for medical loans. ZeroPe, currently in its testing phase, has been developed by Third Unicorn, according to its Google Playstore listing. The ZeroPe app is set to provide instant pre-approved medical loans of up to Rs 500,000 in collaboration with Delhi-based Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Mukut Finvest. The service is exclusively available at partnered hospitals.

 

2. Japan-based MUFG to acquire 20% stake in HDFC Bank’s non-banking arm: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG) will to acquire a 20 per cent stake in HDB Financial Services, a non-banking subsidiary of HDFC Bank, at a valuation of $9-10 billion. HDFC Bank, the country’s largest private lender, currently owns around 95 per cent of HDB Financial Services, with the remaining 5 per cent held by employees under an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The acquisition will be executed at a valuation of around five times the book value of HDB Financial Services. HDB Financial Services is expected to fetch a valuation in the range of USD 9 billion to USD 12 billion (₹75,000 crore to ₹1 lakh crore) during its upcoming initial public offering (IPO)

 

3. UPI Rule Change: Money in PPI Wallets Can Be Spent Using Any UPI:
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and wallets have become an integral part of our daily lives in recent years, thanks to the efforts of companies like Paytm, PhonePe, and Amazon. However, users have often complained about the limitation of using wallet ..

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Lokesh Muni honoured with American President’s Volunteer Award 2024: Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni has become the first Indian monk to be honoured with the American President’s Gold Volunteer Service award in recognition of his contribution to the public good and humanity. Acharya Lokesh Muni is the founder of a non-governmental organisation, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharat and the World Peace Center in India. Jain Acharya Lokesh received the Presidential award, a Certificate of Honour, a Golden Shield, and a citation bearing the signature of American President Joe Biden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily GK Update- 12th Apr, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. KABIL and CSIR-IMMT sign MoU for Technical and Knowledge cooperation for Critical Minerals: Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) for Technical & Knowledge cooperation for Critical Minerals. Under the MoU, KABIL will leverage the technical expertise and services of CSIR-IMMT to undertake various projects, including the design and analysis of metallurgical test work plans, development and review of process flowsheets, and the selection of process technologies for mineral processing, beneficiation, and metal extraction.

 

2. NTPC launches latest edition of Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GEM): NTPC Limited has launched a new edition of its flagship corporate social responsibility initiative, Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GEM). This program aligns with the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) campaign launched by the Government of India. GEM aims to nurture the imaginations of girls. And also, to eliminate gender inequality by promoting their ability to explore opportunities. Girl Child Empowerment Mission provides a platform for young girls for their all-round development through a month-long workshop during summer vacations.

 

3. Citroën becomes the first multinational carmaker to export EVs from India: French carmaker Citroën became the first multinational car manufacturer in India to export domestically made electric vehicles to the international market. Initial shipment of 500 units of the Made-in-India Citroën ë-C3 to Indonesia was ceremonially flagged from Kamarajar Port. The move aligned with Citroën’s global ambitions of democratising electric mobility to increase the adoption of sustainable and clean modes of transportation. The ë-C3, crafted with modern design and innovation, offers a 320 km range certified by ARAI MIDC, along with 100 per cent DC Fast Charge and 15 AMP Home Charging options for convenience. It is available in 13 exterior colour combinations and 47 customisation options.

 

4. RBL Bank appoints Murali Ramakrishnan as independent director: Private sector lender RBL Bank has appointed Murali Ramakrishnan as Non-Executive Independent Director with immediate effect for four years. Earlier, Ramakrishnan served as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of South Indian Bank. He has 37 years of experience in the Banking and Financial Service Industry (BFSI) sector.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IPEF to organize Clean Economy Investor Forum in Singapore: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) will host its first clean economy investor forum in Singapore on June 5-6. The IPEF provides a platform for countries in the region to collaborate on advancing resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth. Further, it aims to contribute to cooperation, stability and prosperity in the region. Launched in May 2022, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) comprises 14 partners: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.

 

2. 12 April – International Day of Human Space Flight: The International Day of Human Space Flight is commemorated every year on April 12 to mark the beginning of the space era for mankind. The day is celebrated to honour the first person, Yuri Gagarin, to go to space. The United Nations General Assembly, on April 7, 2011, passed a resolution to establish the International Day of Human Space Flight on a particular day every year. On October 4, 1957, a human-made satellite named, Sputnik I, was sent to space. This was the first ever human effort to explore space.

 

3. 12 April – International Day for Street Children: The International Day for Street Children is observed on April 12 every year. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of street children and to promoting their inclusion and well-being. Street children are defined as children under the age of 18 who live on the streets or in makeshift camps and are not given adequate protection or supervision. They often experience hunger, homelessness, and violence and face various social and environmental challenges. Street children are also more likely to drop out of school and engage in illegal activities.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. 11 April- National Submarine Day: National Submarine Day is observed every year on 11 April.

This day is significant as it marks the beginning of the modern submarine era. The day also serves as a reminder of the contributions made by submarines to the nation’s defence and security. The first modern commissioned submarine, the USS Holland VI, was purchased by the United States Navy in 1900. It was later commissioned on 12 October 1900, and remained in service for almost a decade.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Rashmi Kumari wins national women’s carrom title: Three-time World Champion Rashmi Kumari beat K Nagajothi 25-8, 14-20, 25-20 in the women’s final of the 51st National carrom championship organized by the Madhya Pradesh Carrom Association. It was a record 12th national women’s singles title for Rashmi, employed as the Chief Manager at the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The men’s title was bagged by K Srinivas as he beat S Aditya 25-0, 19-6 in the final. It was the fourth national men’s singles title for Srinivas who was brilliant in the tournament, executing seven white slams.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. GUJCOST designated as Nodal Centre for ISRO’s START programme: The Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) has been designated as the Nodal Centre for the ‘Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START) programme by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The START programme, a brainchild of ISRO, offers an introductory-level online training platform. Encompassing a vast spectrum of space science research areas, including planetary exploration, astronomy, heliophysics, atmospheric science, and microgravity research.

 

2. Dr Reddy’s launches migraine management wearable device ‘Nerivio’: Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has launched the drug-free, non-invasive migraine management wearable device ‘Nerivio’ in Germany through its step-down subsidiary, betapharm. The launch marks the company’s entry into digital therapeutics in Europe. Nerivio is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and is CE-mark certified in Europe. Nerivio was presented in 2023 by Dr Reddy’s at the DGN Kongress organised by the German Association of Neurology in Berlin and the 17th European Headache Congress held in Barcelona, Spain.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC becomes first private bank to open branch in Lakshadweep: Private lender HDFC Bank has opened a branch at Kavaratti Island in Lakshadweep, making it the only private sector bank to have a branch in the Union Territory. This branch is aimed at upgrading the banking infrastructure in the Union Territory by offering a wide range of services with a focus on personal banking, and digital banking which also includes customised digital solutions including QRbased transaction to retailers.

 

2. L&T completes sale of entire stake in L&T Infrastructure Development Projects: Larsen & Toubro Ltd has completed the sale of its entire equity stake in L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Ltd (L&T IDPL) to Epic Concesiones Pvt Ltd. It is a joint venture between L&T and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) holding 51 per cent and 49 per cent shares, respectively. The transaction is the culmination of a long journey for L&T that started in the early 2000s in the Developmental Projects business and I have no doubt that the portfolio of good quality assets and team of IDPL will add value to the Infrastructure Yield Strategy of Edelweiss Alternatives platform going forward.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Gagandeep Kang awarded for work on 2 enteric diseases in children: India’s Dr Gagandeep Kang has been awarded the 2024 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for her achievements in global health research. This was part of the Gairdner Foundation’s announcement of its 2024 Canada Gairdner Award winners, that recognised some of the world’s most significant biomedical and global health research and discoveries. Dr Kang was awarded for “extensive cohort-based epidemiological, environmental and clinical trial research on enteric diseases in children and their effects on life course, with significant impact on vaccine development and health policy in India and internationally.

 

Daily GK Update- 11th Apr, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ‘Experimental Licence Module for 100 5G Labs’ launched at IIT Madras: In a move to smoothen the processes for 100 5G Labs across academic institutions in India, one of the “Experimental Licence module for 100 5G Labs” was launched during a 5G workshop at IIT Madras. This initiative aims to simplify the experimental licence requirements for these institutions, facilitating smoother operations and fostering innovation in the 5G domain. The primary objective behind this initiative is to cultivate competencies and engagement in 5G technologies among students and start-up communities. These labs will be using 5G frequency bands for carrying out various experiments.

 

2. Sushil Sharma selected as CMD of SJVN: Sushil Sharma has been appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SJVN Limited by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB). He is currently serving as Director (Projects) at SJVN Limited (formerly Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam). Sharma did his B.E. (Mechanical) from VNIT, Nagpur. He has more than 30 years of rich and varied experience in various organizations including SJVN.

 

3. Siddharth Rajsekar released ‘I Can Coach’ book: Bestselling author and digital coaching leader Siddharth Rajsekar has released of volumes 2 and 3 of his transformative book series, ‘I Can Coach’. The books were launched at the Freedom Business Retreat 2024, a two-day event at the Leela Palace, Chennai, attended by over 800 trainers, coaches, and leaders from across India.

Building on the success of the first volume, “I Can Coach, Stories of Transformation,” volumes 2 and 3 showcase inspiring stories of commitment and aspiration within the digital coaching revolution.

 

4. 11 April – National Safe Motherhood Day: National Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated every year on April 11 in India. The day is observed to educate the masses about the challenges faced by new mothers and to spread awareness around safe pregnancy and postpartum support. The Government of India officially recognised the day as National Safe Motherhood Day in 2003. The day also marks the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi. Pregnancy is a life-transforming journey and maternal health during this time can impact safe and complication-free childbirth. From good nutrition to regular checkups, there are different aspects of a pregnancy that an expectant mother has to take into consideration.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India ranks third with 67 unicorns:  Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2024: India ranked third on the global list of unicorns but was far behind the US and China who had 703 and 340 high growth start-ups respectively. UK and EU ranked No 4 and No 5 in the list, respectively. India has a total of 67 unicorns in the list, as per a report by The Hurun Research Institute, according to which drop-outs from the chart in 2023 were Byju’s and PharmEasy. In total, there are a total of 1,453 unicorns in the world as one unicorn is made every two days over the last year.

 

2. Simon Harris elected youngest PM of Ireland: Simon Harris was elected the youngest prime minister of the Republic of Ireland. At the age of 37, he is the youngest prime minister in Ireland

In Ireland, the prime minister is called Taoiseach. He will succeed Leo Varadkar, who resigned in March 2024. Before him, the Indian-born prime minister Leo Varadkar was the youngest prime minister of Ireland. Leo Varadkar became prime minister at the age of 38 in 2017.

 

3. USISPF appoints Tarun Bajaj to head US-India Tax Forum: The US-India Tax Forum, an US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) initiative, has appointed Tarun Bajaj as the new head of the Forum. Bajaj is the former Revenue Secretary and Secretary of Economic Affairs to the Government of India. Joined USISPF as an advisor to the Board of Directors in January 2024 his appointment is a testament to his significant experience and expertise in economic affairs and taxation matters.

 

4.11 April – World Parkinson’s Day: World Parkinson’s Day is celebrated every year on 11 April.

World Parkinson’s Disease Day aims to support people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers, who often face severe difficulties in managing the Parkinson’s disease’s physical, emotional, and social effects. Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that mainly targets the nervous system and affects the parts of the body controlled by nerves. Nerve cell damage in the brain leads to decrease in Dopamine levels – this leads to Parkinson’s Disease. Some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease are tremors, slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance. Parkinson’s Disease usually start slow, with tremors that are hardly visible.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Mendis and Bouchier named ICC Players of the Month for March 2024: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month award winners for March 2024. Kamindu Mendis claims the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award after his historic efforts at the crease helped Sri Lanka comfortably win the first Test in their ICC World Test Championship showdown against Bangladesh in Sylhet. England’s Maia Bouchier won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month prize thanks to a sparkling series of scores in New Zealand as the tourists secured a statement 4-1 T20I series win in March.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Lombard ties up with Policybazaar to offer insurance products: ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company has partnered with Policybazaar to offer products on the platform. The collaboration aims to provide insurance solutions to Indian consumers through Policybazaar’s reach. The partnership grants access to nearly 10 million customers, offering insurance products including motor, health, travel, home and business insurance.

 

2. General Insurance industry grows 12.78% in FY24: The general insurance industry reported a growth of 12.78% in FY24, the pace of expansion slowing from a year before on a decline in agri insurance. In FY23, the insurance industry had reported a growth rate exceeding 16%. However, there was a slowdown in FY24 largely due to the performance of crop insurance. Specialised insurer AIC reported a decline of 32% in growth due to the slowdown in agriculture insurance. Excluding specialised insurers like AIC, the industry saw a growth rate of 16.22%. The total industry premium reached Rs 2.89 lakh crore, an increase from Rs 2.56 lakh crore in the previous period.

 

3. PhonePe partners with eSewa to promote UPI in Nepal: Fintech firm PhonePe has partnered with Nepal’s digital wallet service eSewa and the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Pokhara to promote digital payments through UPI on the Himalayan country’s payment processor Fonepay Network. The partnership is a part of the Fewa New Year Festival which will be held from April 11-14 in Nepal. Over 3,000 merchants will participate in the festival with more than 1,00,000 visitors expected to visit. It will run on-ground activation aimed at raising awareness about digital payments among local merchants while demonstrating the convenience of digital payments for customers.

 

4. ADB raises India’s FY25 GDP growth forecast to 7%: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal to 7 percent from 6.7 percent earlier. ADB said, India’s robust growth will be driven by its investment in public and private sectors and an improvement in consumer demand. For the 2025-26 fiscal, ADB has projected India’s growth at 7.2 percent. The growth estimates for the current fiscal is lower than 7.6 percent estimated GDP expansion in 2022-23 fiscal.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Chandrayaan 3 team of ISRO receives John L Jack Swigert Jr Award: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chandrayaan -3 mission team was awarded 2024 John L “Jack” Swigert, Jr, Award for Space Exploration by the US-based Space Foundation. This award is given by the US-based non-profit organisation Space Foundation to honour a space agency, company, or consortium of organisations in the realm of space exploration and discovery. The Indian Consul General of India in Houston, D C Manjunath, received the 2024 John L “Jack” Swigert, Jr, Award for Space Exploration Award on behalf of the ISRO’s Chandrayaan -3 team.

 

Daily GK Update- 10th Apr, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India eyes 100 GW nuclear power by 2047: AEC: India aims to increase its nuclear power production to 1 lakh MW by 2047, a significant jump from the current 8,000 MW. This goal was highlighted by Atomic Energy Commission Chairman A K Mohanty at the release of a report on energy transitions. He said the breeder reactors would contribute 3 GW of nuclear power, while 17.6 GW would come from light water reactors built with international cooperation and another 40-45 GW would come from the pressurized heavy water reactors.

 

2. India secures second overseas port: Sittwe agreement approved by MEA: After Chabahar, India has gained the rights to operate a second overseas port, Sittwe, in Myanmar. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved a proposal for India Ports Global (IPGL) to take over the operations of the entire port located on the Kaladan River. IPGL is a company 100 per cent owned by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

 

3. Manoj Panda appoints as member of 16th Finance Commission: The Centre has appointed economist Manoj Panda as a full-time member of the Sixteenth Finance Commission, tasked with formulating recommendations on the revenue sharing formula between the Centre and States for the five-year period beginning April 2026. The Government had constituted the Commission on December 31, and named former Niti Aayog vice chairman and Columbia University professor Arvind Panagariya as its chairman. Other members of the Commission — Ajay Narayan Jha, Annie George Mathew, Niranjan Rajadhyaksha and Soumya Kanti Ghosh — were notified a month later.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 57 companies account for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions since 2016: According to a report released by thinktank ‘InfluenceMap’. Just 57 companies are responsible for 80% of the world’s carbon emissions from fossil fuels and cement since 2016. These 57 companies are involved in the production of oil, gas, coal and cement in the world. Although governments pledged in Paris to cut greenhouse gases, the analysis reveals that most mega-producers increased their output of fossil fuels and related emissions in the seven years after that climate agreement, compared with the seven years before. In the database of 122 of the world’s biggest historical climate polluters, the researchers found that 65% of state entities and 55% of private-sector companies had scaled up production.

 

2. Zimbabwe launched new gold-backed currency to tackle inflation: Zimbabwe’s central bank has launched a new “structured currency” backed by gold to tackle sky-high inflation and stabilise the country’s long-floundering economy. The new currency – called Zim Gold (ZiG) – will be backed by foreign currencies, gold and precious minerals, John Mushayavanhu, the governor of Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank. The move is aimed at fostering “simplicity, certainty, predictability” in Zimbabwe’s financial affairs, and he also presented the new banknotes that come in eight denominations ranging from one to 200 ZiG.

 

3. EU and India join hands to nurture startups in EV battery recycling field: The European Union (EU) and India have launched an Expression of Interest (EoI) for startups working in Battery Recycling Technologies for Electric Vehicles (EVs) for a matchmaking event. The matchmaking aims to enhance the cooperation between European and Indian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the clean and green technologies sector. The intended exchange of knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in advancing the circularity of rare materials and transitioning towards carbon neutrality in both India and the EU.

 

4. 10 April – World Homeopathy Day: World Homeopathy Day is observed every year on April 10. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr Samuel Hahnemann. Objective – To raise awareness about homeopathy by bringing practitioners, and supporters together from all around the world. Theme 2024 – Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family The name homeopathy is derived from the Greek ‘homeo’, which denotes similar, and ‘pathos’ means suffering or disease. It is a practice that believes in curing the disease based on the principle of ‘like cures like’.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army gets portable Igla-S Air defence system: The Indian Army has received the first batch of 24 Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) and 100 missiles as part of a larger deal that includes domestic production in India. This procurement aims to enhance the Army’s Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities, particularly in high mountainous terrain along the northern border. The Igla-S is a hand-held defence system that can be operated by an individual or crew. It is designed to bring down low-flying aircraft and can also identify and neutralise air targets such as cruise missiles and drones.

 

2. Coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ conducted off Lakshadweep Islands: A two-day exercise involving all maritime security agencies of the country was conducted off the Lakshadweep Islands. The primary objective of the exercise was to validate the effectiveness of the coastal security mechanism in dealing with asymmetric threats emanating from the sea. The exercise involved the participation of all maritime security agencies, including the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs, and other security agencies.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Harendra Singh appointed as national women’s hockey coach: 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. He will be appointed coach until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Harendra Singh will replace Janneke Schopman of Holland Janneke Schopman. Schopman is a former Dutch hockey player, resigned last month as the coach of the national women’s team after the Indian team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Tata launches India’s first private earth observation satellite: Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), Tata Sons’ wholly-owned subsidiary, has launched India’s first private sector-built sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, TSAT-1A, in collaboration with Satellogic. The satellite was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, by SpaceX. The satellite was assembled at TASL’s facility in Karnataka. Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched a total of 11 satellites in its maiden Bandwagon flight. TSAT-1A will provide high-resolution satellite images with low-latency delivery. The Indian armed forces are expected to be one of its major users.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. REC sanctions record Rs 3.59 lakh crore loan in FY24: State-owned REC Limited has made record loan sanctions worth Rs 3.59 lakh crore during 2023-24, posting a year-on-year rise of 33.66 percent. It had sanctioned Rs 2.68 lakh crore as loan during the preceding 2022-23 fiscal. Of the total Rs 3.59 lakh crore, Rs 1.36 lakh crore were “renewable energy sanctions” for green projects.

The disbursements were 66.72 percent higher as compared to Rs 96,846 crore worth of loans disbursed in FY’23.

 

2. SINE, IIT Bombay Collaborates with Canara Bank for Financing of Startups: The Society For Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay and Canara Bank entered into a MoU to provide financial support to startups. Under its Canara Start-Up Scheme, Canara Bank is providing financial support for the creation, promotion, diversification, and modernization of industrial units across India. SINE, as a technology business incubator, offers comprehensive incubation and acceleration support from start to finish for technology startups.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital wins ‘Best Scientific Poster Award’ 2024: Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital’s research team have been honoured with the prestigious ‘Best Scientific Poster Award’ at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). This recognition comes in light of their groundbreaking study on ‘The efficacy of RevitalVision vision-training software in improving best-corrected vision in stable keratoconus patients post Crosslinking surgery.’

 

2. Neeraj Sharma receives prestigious “Medal of Honour” at Consular Day 2024: Neeraj A Sharma, the Honorary Consul General of The Republic of Palau in India, was honored with the esteemed “Medal of Honour” by the Honorary Consular Corps Diplomatique-India (HCCD-India) during the annual Consular Day event held at the ITC Grand Chola in Chennai. The Consular Day 2024 event, organized by HCCD-India, was a gathering of distinguished guests, representing elite individuals and the international fraternity. The award was presented by Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi during the ceremony.