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MANTHAN
A General Awareness Weekly
8th April to 14th April, 2024
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A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 1

PREFACE
Dear Students,
The ‘Current Affairs’ section is an integral part of any examination. This edition of Manthan has been developed by our
team to help you cover all the important events of the Week. This comprehensive bulletin will help you prepare the
section in a vivid manner. We hope that our sincere efforts will serve you in a better way to fulfill aspirations.
Happy Reading
Team CL

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
National
Right against adverse effects of climate change part of rights to life, equality: SC
· The Supreme Court has expanded the scope of Articles 14 and 21 to include the “right against the adverse
effects of climate change”. “Article 48A of the Constitution provides that the State shall endeavour to protect
and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
· Clause (g) of Article 51A stipulates that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve
the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living
creatures. Although these are not justiciable provisions of the Constitution, they are indications that the
Constitution recognises the importance of the natural world,” a three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of
India D Y Chandrachud has said.
· “The importance of the environment, as indicated by these provisions, becomes a right in other parts of the
Constitution. Article 21 recognises the right to life and personal liberty while Article 14 indicates that all
persons shall have equality before law and the equal protection of laws. These Articles are important sources
of the right to a clean environment and the right against the adverse effects of climate change”.
· These Articles are important sources of the right to a clean environment and the right against the adverse
effects of climate change. Despite governmental policy and rules and regulations recognising the adverse effects
of climate change and seeking to combat it, there is no single or umbrella legislation in India which relates to
climate change and the attendant concerns.
· The bench was hearing a plea to protect the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) from losing its habitat due to
power transmission lines. The April 2021 order of the SC imposed restrictions on setting up of overhead
transmission lines in certain areas of Rajasthan for conservation of GIB.
Important SC Judgements of Constitutionalising Environmental Problems: MC Mehta v. Kamal Nath, 1996: The
Supreme Court made it clear that any disturbance of basic environmental elements namely air, water and soil
which are necessary for life would be hazardous to life and can’t be polluted. Virendra Gaur vs State Haryana
(1995): The Supreme Court emphasized that Article 21 protects the right to life, extending it to sanitation for the
enjoyment of life with dignity.
Kathia wheat from Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand gets Geographical Indication (GI) tag
· Kathiya Gehu (wheat) from the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh has received the first Geographical
Indication (GI) tag for a farm produce in the area. Bundelkhand wheat variety gets GI tag. Kathiya wheat, also
known as Durum wheat, is indigenous to the region and is rich in nutrition. Additionally, it is gluten-free, making
it a healthier option for consumers.
· The GI tag will help in promoting Kathiya wheat as an indigenous brand. Its unique qualities, including its
ability to thrive in harsh climatic conditions with minimal water requirement, will enhance its brand value and
contribute to the prosperity of farmers in the region.

· Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a leader in acquiring GI tags, becoming the first state to achieve a
remarkable 69 GI tags. These tags highlight India’s rich cultural diversity and agricultural heritage. The process
for GI certification of Kathiya Gehu was initiated by the Khatiya Wheat Bangra Producer Company Limited, a
local Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), with support from entities like NABARD in January 2022. After a
two-year journey, the GI tag, bearing certificate number 585, was officially awarded on March 30, 2024.
A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific
geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). India, as a member of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
has come into force with effect from 15 September 2003. GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement as: “Indications which
identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given
quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.” The GI tag
ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or at least those residing inside the
geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name. Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged
product in India, in 2004–2005. The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years. It
can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each.
Indian Railways on course to 100 per cent electrification, becoming world’s largest green
network
· Railways will achieve 100 per cent electrification of its broad gauge network in the next few months, much
before the end of this fiscal. The interim budget has allocated Rs. 6,500 crore for further electrification
projects. With 100 per cent electrification, Indian Railways will become the largest green railways of the
world. Already many regions in India are 100 per cent electrified.
· The Railways electrified 7,188 kilometres of rail network in 2023-24. Routes that were electrified last year
include Ahmedabad-Rajkot-Okha (499 km), Bengaluru-Talguppa (371 km), and Bhatinda-Firozpur-Jalandhar
(301 km). The shift to electric traction is likely to cut 24 per cent carbon emissions by 2027-28. Since 2014-
15, Railways have electrified over 40,000 route km on the broad gauge network compared to only 21,80 km in all
the years before 2014.
Indian Railways (IR) is the fourth-largest railway network in the world by size. There are a total of 18 Railway
zones. South Coast Railway Zone is the newest and 18th railway zone, headquartered at Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh. Ashwini Vaishnaw is currently serving as the Minister of Railways and Commerce in the
Government of India. In June 2019, he became a member of the Parliament of India representing Odisha State in
the Rajya Sabha. The practice of a separate Railway Budget was started by the British in 1924 under the
recommendation of a 10-member Acworth Committee headed by British economist William Mitchell Acworth
in 1920-21. On 21 September 2016, Government of India approved the merger of the Railway Budget with the
Union budget of India, and thus came to end — a 92-year-old practice of separate rail and general budgets.
Pamban Bridge: India’s first vertical lift bridge over sea in Rameswaram faces ‘curve’ test
· A sharp curve in the upcoming Pamban railway bridge, India’s first vertical-lift bridge connecting the
country’s mainland with Rameswaram island, has become an additional challenge for the Railways besides
its mechanical peculiarity and a rough sea.
· The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which is constructing this 2.08-km-long bridge, is facing a huge
challenge in moving a lift span, which is 72.5-m-long, 16-m-wide and weighs 550 tonne, from the
Rameshwaram end to 450 m in the sea to fix it to the bridge. This lift span can be lifted up automatically up to
17 m for ships to pass. It will take 5 minutes to go up and the same time to come down and will be scheduled in
such a way so that train services shouldn’t be disrupted. The train services between Mandapam in the
mainland and Rameswaram Island were suspended on December 23, 2022 after the existing rail bridge,
which was built in 1913, was declared non-operational from the safety point of view. Presently, trains
terminate at Mandapam and road routes are used to reach Rameswaram.

Delhi becomes the first state in India to offer these services on WhatsApp
· WhatsApp has introduced a new QR-based ticketing service for DTC commuters across the Delhi NCR
region. This ticketing system aims to simplify the transit experience for commuters, enabling them to book and
purchase tickets from anywhere. The ticketing service will be available within a chatbot of the Meta-owned
instant messaging platform.
· It is also important to note that DTC is the first state bus network in India that has implemented this
solution for riders across the region. WhatsApp introduces QR-based ticketing for DTC commuters in Delhi
NCR within Meta chatbot. DTC is the first in India with this solution. Riders can access English, Hindi options
and use Quick purchase with UPI payment.
Delhi officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India
containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank,
Delhi shares borders with the state of Uttar Pradesh in the east and with the state of Haryana in the remaining
directions. Delhi’s urban agglomeration, which includes the satellite cities Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and
Noida in an area known as the National Capital Region (NCR), has an estimated population of over 28 million,
making it the largest metropolitan area in India and the second-largest in the world (after Tokyo). In 1911, New
Delhi, a southern region within Delhi, became the capital of the British Indian Empire. Vinai Kumar Saxena is
the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi since 26 May 2022. Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician, former
bureaucrat and activist who is serving as the 7th and current Chief Minister of Delhi since 2015.
Navy Chief inaugurates new facilities at Karwar naval base
· Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar inaugurated a 350m long major pier for Offshore Patrol Vessels
(OPVs) and a residential accommodation at Naval Base Karwar. These infrastructure developments are part of
the ongoing Phase IIA of Project Seabird, which will accommodate 32 ships and submarines, 23 yardcraft, a dual-
use Naval Air Station, a full-fledged naval dockyard, four covered dry berths and logistics for ships and aircraft.
· “The Pier 3 OPV Pier is 350m long, capable of berthing OPVs, large survey vessels and mine counter measure
vessels. The pier would also provide various shore-based services, such as electrical power, potable water, chilled
water for air conditioning, 30 tonnes mobile crane and other domestic services to the ships,”.
The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme
Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water
navy, it operates significantly in the Persian Gulf Region, the Horn of Africa, the Strait of Malacca, and routinely
conducts anti-piracy operations and partners with other navies in the region. Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar is
the current Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). General Anil Chauhan is a four-star general of the Indian Army, who
is the current and 2nd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces.
India among 12 nations responsible for 60 pc of world’s mismanaged plastic waste: Report
· According to a recent report of Switzerland’s nonprofit group EA Earth Action, India is among the top
twelve countries in the world responsible for 60 percent of the planet’s mismanaged plastic waste. The report
Plastic Overshoot Day was released by EA Earth Action on 12 April 2024. Eritrea topped the Mismanaged
Waste Index while Bermuda was at the bottom. The higher the rank of the country in the Index means greater
waste mismanagement in the country. Mismanaged plastic waste refers to plastic that is not properly recycled,
incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills. It is mainly thrown in the open, polluting soil, land, water or air.
· India is among the twelve countries responsible for 60 percent of the planet’s mismanaged plastic waste
though the fast-developing South Asian nation’s per capita plastic waste production is among the lowest in
the world, according to a new report. The Plastic Overshoot Day report by Swiss non-profit EA Earth Action also
said global plastic waste generation has risen by 7.11 per cent since 2021.
· The world is estimated to have generated 220 million tons of plastic waste this year, 70 million tons of which
will end up polluting the environment. The report comes ahead of the fourth meeting of the United Nations’
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in Ottawa, Canada, as the world leaders attempt to
develop a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.
· “Twelve countries are responsible for 60 per cent of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste: China, India,
Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, the United States and Turkey,” it said.

Though the report classifies India as a “low-waste-producing” polluter due to its low per capita plastic waste
production (8 kg per capita per year), it said the country’s expected mismanaged waste in 2024 will be 7.4 million
tons, which is “very high”. Belgium is the top generator of per capita plastic waste in the world, with a yearly
waste production of 147.7 kg per person. Oman topped the list of countries having the highest per capita
mismanaged plastic waste. Oman’s per capita mismanaged plastic waste in 2024 is expected to be 111 kg.
Plastic Overshoot Day refers to the expected Day when the volume of plastic waste generated will be more than
the waste management system can manage. According to the report, the world is likely to overshoot the plastic
waste management on 5th September 2024 this year. The report said that almost half of the world’s population
will be living in areas where plastic waste has already exceeded the capacity to manage it, by April 2024. India
is expected to reach its Plastic Overshoot Day on April 23.
3 IIMs, JNU among 69 Indian universities in top 500 QS rankings

· Indian universities have made significant progress in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world
university rankings by subject, with 69 institutions featured in the top 500 list, a 19.4% increase from the
previous year’s entries. Among the standout performers, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) in
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta ranked among the top 50 globally for business and management
studies.
· Jawaharlal Nehru University also made its debut in development studies, securing the 20th spot worldwide.
Ranked entries refer to the number of times a university appears in any of the 55 subject rankings. For example, if
a university is ranked in 10 different subject areas, it would have 10 ranked entries. The 69 institutions refer to
universities that are included in the rankings --- in other words, these are institutions that are included somewhere
in the rankings, either in the overall rankings, subject rankings, or faculty area rankings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to become first PM after Indira Gandhi to feature on
Newsweek cover
· Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to become the first Prime Minister of India to feature on the cover of
Newsweek after Indira Gandhi. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi featured on the cover of Newsweek’s
April 1966 issue. The New York-based magazine has interviewed PM Modi who addressed Newsweek’s written
questions and followed up with a 90-minute conversation.
India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000: Global Forest Watch
· India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, equivalent to a six per cent decrease in tree
cover during this period, according to the latest data from the Global Forest Watch monitoring project. The
Global Forest Watch, which tracks forest changes in near real-time using satellite data and other sources, said the
country lost 4,14,000 hectares of humid primary forest (4.1 per cent) from 2002 to 2023, making up 18 per
cent of its total tree cover loss in the same period.
· Between 2001 and 2022, it said, forests in India emitted 51 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year
and removed 141 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. This represents a net carbon sink of 89.9
million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. An average of 51.0 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per
year was released into the atmosphere as a result of tree cover loss in India. In total, 1.12 gigatons of carbon
dioxide equivalent was emitted during this period. Forests are both a sink and a source for carbon, removing
carbon dioxide from the air when standing or regrowing and emitting it when cleared or degraded. Loss of forests,
thus, accelerates climate change.
· Tree cover loss is not always deforestation, which typically refers to human-caused, permanent removal of
natural forest cover. It includes both human-caused loss and natural disturbances, and loss that is permanent or
temporary. Examples of tree cover loss that may not meet the definition of deforestation include loss from
logging, fire, disease or storm damage. The data showed that 95 per cent of the tree cover loss in India from 2013
to 2023 occurred within natural forests. The maximum tree cover loss of 189,000 hectares occurred in 2017. The
country lost 175,000 hectares of tree cover in 2016 and 144,000 hectares in 2023, the highest in the last six years.
· The GFW data showed that five states accounted for 60 per cent of all tree cover loss between 2001 and
2023. Assam had the maximum tree cover loss at 324,000 hectares compared to an average of 66,600

hectares. Mizoram lost 312,000 hectares of tree cover, Arunachal Pradesh 262,000 hectares, Nagaland 259,000
hectares, and Manipur 240,000 hectares.
· The tree cover loss data featured on the Global Forest Watch represents the best available spatial figures
on how forests are changing around the world. However, changes have occurred to the data over time due to
algorithm adjustments and improved satellite data. Therefore, the GFW cautions users against comparing old and
new data, especially before/after 2015.
· According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the rate of deforestation in India was 668,000 hectares
per year between 2015 and 2020, the second highest worldwide. The data showed India lost 35,900 hectares of
tree cover due to fires from 2002 to 2022, with 2008 recording the maximum tree cover loss due to fires (3,000
hectares). From 2001 to 2022, Odisha had the highest rate of tree cover loss due to fires with an average of 238
hectares lost per year. Arunachal Pradesh lost 198 hectares, Nagaland 195 hectares, Assam 116 hectares, and
Meghalaya 97 hectares.
· The Global Forest Watch refers to tree cover when talking about forest extent, loss and gain. Tree cover is a
convenient metric for monitoring forest change because it is easily measurable from space using freely available,
medium-resolution satellite imagery. This means that tree cover can be monitored frequently, at low cost,
and over large geographic scales. However, the existence of tree cover does not always make a forest, tree cover
loss does not always imply forest loss or deforestation, and tree cover gain does not always imply forest gain or
restoration. Measuring these variables directly poses technical challenges, since most definitions of forest involve
a combination of tree cover and land use. The latter is much more difficult, if not impossible in some cases, to
monitor using satellite imagery, the GFW says.
World Designing Forum to set up handloom cluster and apparel designing hub in Agra
· The World Designing Forum, one of the world’s largest global fashion community, has announced the
setting up of India’s first Handloom Cluster and Apparel Designing Park in Agra. This initiative is poised to
redefine the landscape of fashion by showcasing designer garments made from handlooms across India,
particularly targeting the influx of foreign tourists visiting Agra each year. The World Designing Forum said that
a World Couture League has been formed to promote handloom on an international scale. It will organize annual
competitions in handloom designing among 20 Indian states.
Govt directs e-commerce firms to remove drinks, beverages from ‘health drinks’ category
· The government has asked all the e-commerce companies to remove drinks and beverages, including
Bournvita, from the health drinks category from their portals. “National Commission for Protection of
Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body constituted under section (3) of the Commission of Protection of
Child Rights (CPCR) Act 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CRPC Act 2005 concluded that there is no
‘health drink’ defined under FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India
Food Pvt Ltd,” the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in an advisory to all e-commerce companies.
· The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has noted that instances of food products licensed
under ‘Proprietary Food’ with the nearest category Dairy-Based Beverage Mix or Cereal-Based Beverage
Mix or Malt-Based Beverage being sold on e-commerce websites under the category Health Drink, Energy
Drink, etc, it added.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body established under the Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statue related to food safety and regulation in India. FSSAI is
responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety. The
FSSAI is headed by a non-executive chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has
held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. The FSSAI has its headquarters
at New Delhi. The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin,
and Chennai.
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International
Zimbabwe’s new ZiG currency starts trading, credibility doubts linger

· Zimbabwe’s new gold-backed currency started trading amid doubts that the country’s third such re-
launch in a decade will have any more success in ending repeated, crippling bouts of high inflation. The
Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) was announced by the central bank with an initial rate of 13.56 to $1, replacing the
Real Time Gross Settlement Dollar (RTGS), which had lost about 80% of its value this year and had been
trading at 28,720 to $1 before the change.
· The RTGS, also known as the Zimdollar, was launched in 2019 after a decade of dollarisation, which
included so-called bond coins and bond notes, notionally pegged to the U.S. dollar and introduced in 2014 and
2016 respectively. The Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) has been the official currency of Zimbabwe since 8 April
2024, backed by US$575 million worth of hard assets: foreign currencies, gold, and other precious metals.
It replaced the Zimbabwean dollar, which suffered from rapid depreciation, with the official exchange rate
surpassing 30,000 Zimbabwean dollars per U.S. dollar on 5 April 2024, whilst the parallel market rate reached
40,000 per U.S. dollar. Annual inflation in Zimbabwe hit 55.3% in March 2024.
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers. The
capital and largest city is Harare. The Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) dollar or RTG (Zimdollar or
zollar, now abbreviated as ZWL or ZWL$) was the official currency in Zimbabwe from June 2019 to April
2024. The Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) has been the official currency of Zimbabwe since 8 April 2024, backed by
US$575 million worth of hard assets: foreign currencies, gold, and other precious metals. Emmerson
Dambudzo Mnangagwa is serving as President of Zimbabwe since 24 November 2017.
Peter Pellegrini to be Slovakia’s President as ex-Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok concedes defeat
· A close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico beat a pro-Western career diplomat to become
Slovakia’s new President, and succeed Zuzana Caputova, the country’s first female head of State.
Parliamentary Speaker Peter Pellegrini received 53.85% of the vote with the ballots from over 98% polling
stations counted by the Statistics Office in runoff election, topping former Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok who had
46.14%.
Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east,
Hungary to the south, Austria to the southwest, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. The capital and largest city
is Bratislava and currency is Euro. Robert Fico is a Slovak politician currently serving as the Prime Minister of
Slovakia since 2023, having served previously from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018.
US, UK, Australia consider Japan’s cooperation in AUKUS security pact

· Britain, the U.S. and Australia are considering working with Japan through their AUKUS security pact,
despite U.S. export-control restrictions that challenge the existing partners’ efforts to counter China’s power in the
Indo-Pacific region.
· Britain said consultations on future cooperation between the three AUKUS partners and other nations including
Japan were set to begin this year. AUKUS, formed by the three countries in 2021, is part of efforts to push
back against China’s growing influence.
· coercion”.

AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, announced
on 15 September 2021 for the Indo-Pacific region. Under the pact, the US and the UK will help Australia to
acquire nuclear-powered submarines. The pact also includes cooperation on “cyber capabilities, artificial
intelligence, quantum technologies and additional undersea capabilities”. The pact will focus on military
capability, separating it from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance that also includes New Zealand and
Canada. On 17 September 2021, France, which is an ally of the three countries, recalled its ambassadors from
Australia and the US; French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the pact a “stab in the back” following
Australia’s cancellation of a French–Australian submarine deal worth €56 billion (A$90 billion) without notice,
ending efforts to develop a deeper strategic partnership between France and Australia.
China conducts military drills in South China Sea

· China conducted military “combat patrols” in the disputed South China Sea, the same day as joint drills by
the Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia. The announcement comes one day after defence chiefs
from four countries including the Philippines which have been engaged in several contentious maritime disputes
with Beijing said they would conduct joint drills in the area.
China is a country in East Asia and the world’s most populous country, with a population of around 1.404
billion. Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. Xi Jinping is serving as president of the People’s
Republic of China. National People’s Congress is the national legislature of the People’s Republic of China. With
2,980 members in 2018, it is the largest parliamentary body in the world. China’s currency yuan joins the
International Monetary Fund’s basket of reserve currencies. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China
Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons. However, several ASEAN member countries, including Vietnam, Philippines
and Brunei, have made counterclaims. Chinese claims in the South China Sea are described in part by the
nine-dash line. China and India are the two neighbouring countries in Asia. India shares 3488 km of border
with China that runs along the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and
Arunachal Pradesh. The Belt and Road Initiative, known in Chinese and formerly in English as One Belt One
Road or OBOR for short, is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in
2013 to invest in nearly 70 countries and international organizations.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) to organise Clean Economy Investor
Forum in Singapore
· The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was launched in May 2022 and currently
includes 14 partners – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.
· It provides a platform for countries in the region to collaborate on advancing resilient, sustainable, and
inclusive economic growth, and aims to contribute to cooperation, stability and prosperity in the region. The
IPEF comprises four pillars of cooperation namely: Trade, Supply Chain, Clean Economy and Fair Economy.
· The IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum is one of the initiatives under the IPEF. It brings together the
region’s top investors, philanthropies, financial institutions, innovative companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs.
The Forum aims to mobilize investments into sustainable infrastructure, climate technology and renewable energy
projects.
· The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is an economic initiative launched by U.S.
President Joe Biden on May 23, 2022. The framework launched with fourteen participating founding member
nations in the Indo-Pacific region with an open invitation for other countries to join.
Pakistan’s ex-PM and PPP leader Gillani becomes Senate chairman
· Senior Pakistan People’s 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. 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.

Simon Harris elected new Irish Prime Minister
· Simon Harris became Ireland’s youngest ever prime minister pledging to bring new ideas and energy to the
less than 12 months he has boost the coalition government’s bid to halt a first electoral victory by left-wing
Sinn Fein. The 37-year-old former health and higher education minister, best known for helping steer the initial
response to COVID-19, was elected unopposed as leader of Fine Gael, all but assuring he would succeed Leo
Varadkar as the 16th person to lead the country following his predecessor’s shock exit.
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel,
the Irish Sea, and St George’s Channel. Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in
Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth. The capital and largest city is Dublin. Simon Harris has served as
Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael since 2024. Ireland currency is euro.
Iceland picks Bjarni Benediktsson as next Prime Minister

· Bjarni Benediktsson will become the Iceland’s next prime minister. Benediktsson, head of the pro-business,
right-wing Independence Party, now serves as foreign minister in a broad three-party coalition and was previously
prime minister in a short-lived government from January to November of 2017.
· He takes the helm at a time of uncertainty in Iceland after recent volcanic eruptions triggered the indefinite
evacuation of thousands of people, adding to pressures on an economy already facing high inflation and soaring
interest rates. Benediktsson’s tenure as prime minister in 2017 was cut short after less than a year when a coalition
partner quit the government, triggering a snap election.
In a first, India to send military attaches to African states, Armenia, Philippines
· Africa is a focus area in a move by India to bolster and rationalise its military diplomacy in key regions
across the world, with defence attachés being sent for the first time to Mozambique, the Ivory Coast and the
Philippines. As part of this move, India will also post defence attachés for the first time to Poland, whose
importance as a security partner in Europe has increased in recent years, and to Armenia, with which the Indian
side recently concluded a big-ticket arms deal, the people said on the condition of anonymity.
· After a gap of several decades, India will also post a defence attaché in Ethiopia. India had a military officer at
the mission in Addis Ababa during the term of Mengistu Haile Mariam, who came to power in the mid-
1970s. A new military attaché is also being posted to Djibouti and will be only the second officer to hold the post.
South Korea opposition wins landslide parliamentary vote in resounding blow to Yoon
· South Korea’s liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory in a parliamentary election held, dealing
a resounding blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his conservative party but likely falling just short of a
super majority. The Democratic Party (DP) was projected to take more than 170 of the 300 seats in the new
legislature, data by the National Election Commission and network broadcasters showed with more than 99% of
the votes counted.
Vietnam property tycoon sentenced to death in multi-billion dollar fraud case
· A top Vietnamese property tycoon was sentenced to death in one of the biggest corruption cases in history,
with an estimated $27 billion in damages. A panel of three hand-picked jurors and two judges rejected all
defence arguments by Truong My Lan, chair of major developer Van Thinh Phat, who was found guilty of
swindling cash from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) over a decade.
Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam.
The dong has been the currency of Vietnam since May 3, 1978.
UK appoints its first woman high commissioner to India

· Lindy Cameron, the former CEO of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, will take over as the
country’s first-ever woman high commissioner to India. Cameron’s appointment comes 70 years after India
appointed Vijaylakshmi Pandit as its high commissioner in London in 1954.

· The sister of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Pandit served in that capacity until 1961.
Cameron, a graduate of Oxford University, has previously served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and held senior
positions in the UK’s international development department, including director general for country programmes.
India is the UK’s 12th-largest trade partner. Trade has increased even as the two countries negotiate a free-
trade agreement that could be signed this year.
The top 10 largest economies in the world in 2024
· The United States of America, China, Germany, Japan, and India are the largest economies in the world in
2024, as per their GDP data. GDP serves as a key metric for assessing the magnitude of a nation’s economy.
The conventional approach for gauging a country’s GDP involves the expenditure method, wherein the total is
derived by aggregating expenditure on fresh consumer goods, new investments, government outlays, and the net
value of exports. The United States upholds its status as the major global economy and richest country, steadfastly
preserving its pinnacle position from 1960 to 2023. Its economy boasts remarkable diversity, propelled by
important sectors, including services, manufacturing, finance, and technology.
· The United States enjoys a substantial consumer market, fosters innovation and entrepreneurial spirit,
possesses resilient infrastructure, and experiences advantageous business conditions. India is ranked 5th in
world’s GDP rankings in 2024. India’s economy boasts diversity and swift growth, fuelled by key sectors such as
information technology, services, agriculture, and manufacturing. The nation capitalises on its broad domestic
market, a youthful and technologically adept labour force, and an expanding middle class.
Russia test-launches an intercontinental ballistic missile
· The Russian military reported a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Russia’s
Defence Ministry launch took place at the Kapustin Yar testing range in the south of the country as part of “state
testing of prospective missile systems, as well as confirmation of the stability of missiles in service”. The test
launched achieved its results “in full”, and confirmed “high reliability of Russian missiles to ensure (Russia’s)
strategic security”. Russia regularly carries out test launches of ICBMs and other missiles as it seeks to modernise
its weapons.
IMF confirms Kristalina Georgieva for second 5-year term
· The IMF executive board confirmed that it had reappointed Kristalina Georgieva to serve for a second
five-year term running the international financial institution. The decision means that Ms. Georgieva, who
was the sole candidate to lead the International Monetary Fund, will continue in office when her current term ends
on September 30, 2024.
· The decision was taken by consensus. Under a controversial, decades-old agreement between Europe and the
United States, the International Monetary Fund has historically been led by a European, and the World
Bank by a U.S. citizen. This arrangement was reaffirmed last year when the Biden administration nominated
Ajay Banga, an Indian-born, naturalized U.S. citizen, to run the World Bank, which sits just across the street from
the IMF in Washington.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 190 countries, working to foster global monetary
cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable
economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and
accountable to the 190 countries that make up its near-global membership. Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, from
Bulgaria, is Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Board of International Monetary Fund (IMF)
from October 1, 2019. Prominent Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath is the first woman to occupy the
post of chief economist of the International Monetary Fund. The latest currency that was added to the basket
of currencies by the International Monetary Fund to determine the value of XDR is the Chinese renminbi in
2016. The other international currencies in the basket of currencies are British Pound, Japanese Yen, US Dollar,
and Euro. XDR is the currency code of Special Drawing Rights. Andorra has joined the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), to become its 190th member.
---------------

ECONOMY AND FINANCE
ADB Announces ASEAN Climate Finance Policy Platform to Spearhead Regional Climate
Action
· The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to establish a pioneering ASEAN Climate Finance Policy
Platform aimed at bolstering the fight against climate change in Southeast Asia. Announced by ADB
President Masatsugu Asakawa, the initiative seeks to empower finance ministry leaders within the ASEAN region
to enhance collective climate action efforts.
· Designed to foster cooperation and knowledge exchange among finance ministries, the platform aims to
facilitate the sharing of experiences, enhancement of capacities, and development of evidence-based policy
measures against the backdrop of climate adversity. The initiative will benefit from technical support provided by
the ADB.
· Through this endeavor, the ADB reiterates its commitment to fostering a prosperous, inclusive, resilient,
and sustainable Asia-Pacific region, while continuing its longstanding mission to eliminate extreme poverty.
The bank, established in 1966 and comprising 68 members, with 49 from within the region, continues to be at
the forefront of addressing the pressing challenges facing Asia and the Pacific.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which
is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. The
bank also maintains 31 field offices around the world to promote social and economic development in Asia. The
bank admits the members of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP,
formerly the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE) and non-regional developed countries.
From 31 members at its establishment, ADB now has 68 members. The ADB was modeled closely on the World
Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital
subscriptions. As of 31 December 2020, Japan and the United States each holds the largest proportion of shares
at 15.571%. China holds 6.429%, India holds 6.317%, and Australia holds 5.773%. The current president of
ADB is Masatsugu Asakawa.
R Games, world’s first AI and gaming token is set to launch on Top Exchanges
· R Games is marking a significant milestone in the gaming world with the launch of its RGAME token. This
major step for R Games will launch on platforms like DAOMaker, Poolz Finance, Finceptor, and Paragen,
followed by listings on top exchanges such as Gate.io, MEXC Global, PancakeSwap, Raydium, and BingX.
· R Games is a highly tailored platform offering a diverse range of gaming modes, aimed at creating the largest
blockchain-based racing ecosystem. R Games team comes from a successful studio venture Gyros Studios LCC
Formerly Known as Fabwelt Studios LLC built numerous successful Blockchain Games.
Rakesh Mohan on the World Bank Group’s Economic Advisory Panel
· President Emeritus and Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP),
Rakesh Mohan has been appointed by the World Bank Group to serve on the World Bank Group’s
Economic Advisory Panel.

· Ajay Banga, World Bank President invited Rakesh Mohan to join the World Bank Group’s Economic
Advisory Panel. The panel will support the World Bank Group by focusing on the strategic issues for the Group,
regarding their objectives, research agenda and actions.
The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the
world. The World Bank Group comprises five institutions managed by their member countries. It was established
in 1944, the World Bank Group is headquartered in Washington, Ajay Banga is an Indian-born American
business executive. He is currently the President of the World Bank Group, and vice chairman at General
Atlantic.He was executive chairman of Mastercard, after having previously served as president and chief
executive officer (CEO) of the company from July 2010 until December 31, 2020. Together, IBRD and IDA
form the World Bank, which provides financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to governments of
developing countries. IDA focuses on the world’s poorest countries, while IBRD assists middle-income and
creditworthy poorer countries. The International Development Association (IDA) is a multinational financial
institution providing aid to poor countries in the form of loans. It is also referred to as soft loan window of the
World Bank. IBRD and IDA have 189 and 174 member countries, respectively. The U.S., Japan, China,
Germany and the U.K. have the most voting power.
RBI defers exchange traded currency derivatives norms

· The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deferred the implementation of its new norms for exchange traded
currency derivatives (ETCD) market to May 3 from April 5. This comes after market participants raised
concerns over participation in the ETCD market and the run up to the April 5 deadline saw a sharp rise in
volatility in the forex market.
· The RBI released a new framework for hedging of foreign exchange risks, which was to be implemented
from April 5, 2024. The new norm allowed users to take positions (long or short) in foreign exchange derivatives
market, without having to establish existence of underlying exposure, up to a single limit of $100 million
equivalent across all currency pairs involving the rupee, put together, and combined across all recognised stock
exchanges.
· The RBI said the regulatory framework for participation in ETCDs involving the rupee (INR) is guided by
the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 and regulations framed thereunder
which mandate that currency derivative contracts involving the rupee — both over-the-counter (OTC) and
exchange traded — are permitted only for the purpose of hedging of exposure to foreign exchange rate risks.
The Reserve Bank of India was founded on 1 April 1935 to respond to economic troubles after the First World
War. RBI was conceptualised as per the guidelines, working style and outlook presented by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
in his book titled “The Problem of the Rupee – Its origin and its solution” and presented to the Hilton Young
Commission. The bank was set up based on the recommendations of the 1926 Royal Commission on Indian
Currency and Finance, also known as the Hilton–Young Commission. In 1969, the Indira Gandhi-headed
government nationalised 14 major commercial banks. Upon Indira Gandhi’s return to power in 1980, a further
six banks were nationalised. The first Governor of the RBI was British banker Osborn Smith and C.D.
Deshmukh was the first Indian Governor of RBI. Shaktikanta Das is the current Governor of RBI.
Manoj Panda is new member of the XVI Finance Commission

· The Centre has notified the appointment of 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.
The Finance Commissions are commissions periodically constituted by the President of India under Article 280
of the Indian Constitution to define the financial relations between the central government of India and the
individual state governments. The First Commission was established in 1951 under The Finance Commission

(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951. Fifteen Finance Commissions have been constituted since the promulgation
of Indian Constitution in 1950. Individual commissions operate under the terms of reference which are different for
every commission, and they define the terms of qualification, appointment and disqualification, the term, eligibility
and powers of the Finance Commission. As per the constitution, the commission is appointed every five years and
consists of a chairman and four other members. The Finance Commission was established in 1951 by Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar, the then-incumbent law minister, to address these imbalances. The First FC was constituted in 1951
with Shri Kshitish Chandra Neogy as the Chairman; it submitted its reports in 1953. The 15th Finance
Commission constituted in 2017 and is chaired by N. K.Singh.
Number of unicorns in India declines for first time in four years

· The number of unicorns -- companies worth over $1 billion -- in the country has declined for the first time
in four years to 67. The country, however, maintained the tag of being the third biggest hub for unicorns across
the world, according to the Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2024.
· Food delivery platform Swiggy and fantasy sports-focused Dream11 are the most valuable unicorns from India
valued at $8 billion each, and are followed by Razorpay at $7.5 billion. The unicorn list was led by 2012-
founded Bytedance, owner of Tiktok, with a valuation of $220 billion, and was followed by billionaire Elon
Musk’s SpaceX at $180 billion and Microsoft-backed OpenAI worth $100 billion.
In business, a unicorn is a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion. The term was first
popularised in 2013 by venture capitalist Aileen Lee, choosing the mythical animal to represent the statistical rarity
of such successful ventures. According to CB Insights, there are more than 803 unicorns as of August 2021. The
largest unicorns included ByteDance, SpaceX and Stripe.
Thomas Cook launches eco-friendly forex corporate card

· India is now a US $30 billion business travel market and is expected to triple by 2030 (KPMG). Thomas
Cook’s forex prepaid card data reiterates that the corporate/business traveller is its fastest-growing segment with
over 50% share.
· In a strategy to rapidly grow its market share while supporting corporates in reducing their carbon footprint,
Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel forex services company, has launched
EnterpriseFx – a pioneering, environment-friendly prepaid forex corporate card. In partnership with Visa
and Mastercard, the innovative product has been thoughtfully designed, offering a range of premium benefits to
empower business travellers across India Inc., multinationals, and SMEs.
India market cap hits Rs. 400 lakh crore for first time
· On a day when both the Sensex and Nifty scaled fresh all-time peaks, the combined market capitalisation of all
listed stocks on BSE hit the Rs. 400 lakh crore milestones for the first time ever. With retail investors shifting
their savings from traditional investment avenues, BSE’s m-cap has seen a growth of Rs. 100 lakh crore in just 9
months. The Rs. 300 lakh crore mark was touched on 5 July 2023 when Nifty was at 19,400-level. Since then the
index is up over 16% and scaled a fresh peak of 22,623.90. The rally has been much sharper in smaller stocks
with hundreds of small and midcap stocks giving multibagger returns.
NBFCs’ co-lending book set to touch Rs. 1 lakh crore’
· Five years after the launch, the co-lending book of non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) is expected to
reach Rs. one lakh crore by June 2024 in the wake of interest from partner banks and the benefit of access to
funding and diversification, according to CRISIL Ratings.
· Over the medium term, growth momentum is seen healthy at 35-40 per cent annually, amidst rising interests
of partners – NBFCs as well as banks, it said. The partners, however, may increase their focus on other asset
classes such as loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and home loans given higher risk weights
for personal loans.
· Crisil said a study of 100 NBFCs, accounting for over 90 per cent of the sector’s AUM, indicates these
trends. Interestingly, only about a third of these have active co-lending books at present

NBFC is a company incorporated as per the Companies Act,2013, or any other previous act. NBFC is governed
by both the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the RBI. Though NBFC provides financial services, it is different
from Banks in many ways. It cannot accept public deposits by allowing people to open savings/current accounts
with it. However, NBFCs can receive deposits under any arrangement or scheme in one lump sum or regular
contributions or some similar method. An NBFC, also, cannot issue cheques and drafts, drawn on itself. NBFCs
provide credit and loans at the micro-level. That is mainly to small, medium scale enterprises, to help them overcome
their liquidity cash insufficiency. Through its Personalized Customer Services, Implementation of Advance
technology, and Customized Loan Product, NBFC helps in providing finance to the economically weaker section of
the society.
Sanjay Shukla appointed as Managing Director of National Housing Bank

· Sanjay Shukla will be the Managing Director (MD) of the National Housing Bank (NHB). The decision
comes after an evaluation process conducted by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau, which scrutinised 16
candidates for the post.
· NHB intends to garner up to Rs. 3,000 crore through bonds with a unique maturity period of three years,
two months, and twenty days. The bonds, with a base issue size of Rs.1,000 crore and a greenshoe option of
Rs. 2,000 crore, are set to undergo bidding, facilitated by the electronic bidding platform of the National
Stock Exchange of India.
National Housing Bank (NHB) is the apex regulatory body for overall regulation and licensing of housing
finance companies in India. It is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It was set up
on 9 July 1988 under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987. NHB is the apex financial institution for housing.
NHB has been established with an objective to operate as a principal agency to promote housing finance
institutions both at local and regional levels and to provide financial and other support incidental to such
institutions and for matters connected therewith. The Finance Act, 2019 has amended the National Housing Bank
Act, 1987. The amendment confers the powers of regulation of Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) to the
Reserve Bank of India.
Citroen becomes the first multinational carmaker to export EVs from India
· French carmaker Citroen became the first multinational car manufacturer in India to export domestically
made electric vehicles to the international market. The company announced the commencement of exports of
locally manufactured e-C3.
· Initial shipment of 500 units of the Made-in-India Citroen e-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.
HDFC first private bank to open branch in Lakshadweep
· HDFC Bank has recently established a branch in Kavaratti Island in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
This has made HDFC the only private sector bank with a branch in the region. HDFC bank aims to upgrade
the banking infrastructure in the UT by offering a wide range of services, with a focus on personal and digital
banking. With the opening of a branch in Lakshadweep, HDFC Bank has now established its branches in all
corners of the country. HDFC Bank has established branches in the cold regions of Kashmir, the southern tip of
Kanyakumari and now in Lakshadweep. All these are known as major tourist destinations.
HDFC Bank Limited (also known as HDB) is an Indian banking and financial services company headquartered
in Mumbai. HDFC Bank was incorporated in 1994 as a subsidiary of the Housing Development Finance
Corporation, with its registered office in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is India’s largest private sector bank by
assets and world’s 4th largest bank by market capitalisation as of July 2023 after its reverse takeover of its
parent HDFC. It is the second largest company by market capitalisation of $172 billion on the Indian stock
exchanges. It is also the sixteenth largest employer in India with nearly 1.77 lakh employees. Atanu
Chakraborty is currently the Chairperson of HDFC Bank, India’s largest lender by market capitalization.
Sashidhar Jagdishan is the current MD and CEO of HDFC Bank.

India, Mauritius sign protocol to amend tax treaty; principal purpose test introduced
· India and Mauritius have signed a protocol to amend the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA),
which included a principal purpose test (PPT) to decide whether a foreign investor is eligible to claim treaty
benefits. Tax experts said a new article has been added to the protocol “Article 27B Entitlement to Benefits”.
· The amended protocol was signed on March 7 and made public now. The introduction of the PPT aims to
curtail tax avoidance by ensuring that treaty benefits are only granted for transactions with a bona fide
purpose. The amendment represents a move by India to align with global efforts against treaty abuse, particularly
under the BEPS Action 6 framework.
A Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) is a bilateral agreement between two countries aimed at
eliminating the possibility of double taxation on the same income or financial transaction. Such agreements are
crucial for promoting international trade and investment by ensuring that individuals and businesses do not face
excessive tax burdens when conducting cross-border activities. DTAA typically outlines the rules for allocating taxing
rights between the two countries involved, along with mechanisms for resolving disputes and exchanging information
to prevent tax evasion. These agreements provide clarity and certainty for taxpayers, encouraging economic
cooperation and facilitating the flow of capital across borders. In the era of globalization, where investors operate
across borders, the objective of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) is to prevent the occurrence
of double taxation. Double taxation arises when the same income or profit is taxed by two or more countries,
leading to financial disincentives and unfairness.
IndiGo becomes world’s 3rd most valuable airline by market cap

· IndiGo Airlines, run by Interglobe Aviation, became the world’s third most valuable airline as its market
capitalisation surpassed that of Southwest Airlines. The domestic airline is currently valued at Rs. 1,762 crore.
While Delta Air Lines stands as the second most valued airline at Rs. 3,044 crore, the Irish company Ryan Air
stands firmly as the world’s no. 1 in terms of market capitalisation at Rs. 3,375 crore. IndiGo Airlines, one of
India’s leading airlines, has demonstrated resilience and growth in the market despite challenges.
India-UAE to work on IME Economic Corridor protocols
· Notwithstanding the war in Gaza and its fall-out in Middle-East, India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have
begun work on the first stage of the pathbreaking India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
(IMEEC). The IMEEC links India, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel with Europe and US through
trade and merchandise exports with ports in Europe being the final destination.
· The IMEEC has full support of the Biden administration and is designed to integrate the markets of these
countries. The IMEEC will not only link India with Europe via the Middle-East but also increase the
bilateral trade with UAE, which is currently pegged at USD 85 billion and growing by the day.
CoinGames Builds World’s First Fully Decentralized Gambling Platform
· CoinGames, the first fully Licensed decentralized gambling platform, has launched and is offering users a
safe, secure, and streamlined online casino service powered by the latest in blockchain and smart contract
technology.
· The CoinGames web3 casino allows for instant withdrawals, access to daily promotions, and 24/7 live
support for their 10,000+ offered games. Through the implementation of these technologies, players are able to
enjoy an easy-to-access platform that is built with optimization, transparency, and entertainment at its core.
Coingames addresses the largest challenge facing the online casino industry, which is conversion rate.
· As the only true Web3 casino, players do not need to deposit funds to play because the whole game session
is handled through the smart contract, removing a major barrier to participation. This innovative approach
has led to a 380% improvement in conversion rates and a 200% increase in customer Lifetime Value (LTV).
Pakistan has highest living cost in all of Asia with a 25% inflation rate: ADB
· Pakistan has the highest living cost in all of Asia with a 25 per cent inflation rate and its economy may grow
at the fourth lowest pace of 1.9 per cent in the region, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB)
report.

· The Asian Development Outlook also painted a gloomy picture for the next fiscal year as well, projecting a 15 per
cent inflation rate for the next fiscal year — again the highest among 46 countries and a 2.8 per cent growth
rate — the fifth lowest for FY 2024-25.
· The Manila-based lending agency stated that the inflation rate in Pakistan is expected to be 25 per cent in
the current fiscal year — the highest in all of Asia. This makes Pakistan the most expensive nation in Asia.
Earlier, the cost of living in Pakistan used to be the highest in South Asia.
India ranks number 10 in cybercrime, Russia tops list followed by Ukraine
· India ranked number 10 in cybercrime, with frauds involving people to make advance fee payment being the
most common type, according to a 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 seventh position, while the UK and Brazil were at the eighth and ninth positions, respectively.
Moody’s maintains stable outlook for India
· Rating agency Moody’s maintained outlook for the government of India to be stable. The long-term and
short-term ratings of the government of India is pegged at Baa3 and P-3, respectively. The stable outlook
incorporates the likelihood that India’s fiscal metrics will continue to gradually improve amid robust growth
prospects compared with peers.
· Maintaining stable outlook, Moody’s noted India balances its large and diversified economy with high
growth potential, a relatively sound external position, and a stable domestic financing base for government
debt against high general government debt, weak debt affordability and low per capita income.
A credit rating agency (CRA) assesses an entity’s (group, company, government, etc.) creditworthiness in
general terms or relating to particular debt or financial obligation. These agencies help lenders and investors
determine the potential risk involved in lending money to a particular borrowing entity and gauge the entity’s
repayment ability based on its past credit behaviour. SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)
authorizes and regulates all credit rating agencies in India as per SEBI Regulations, 1999 of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. There are seven credit rating agencies in India including CRISIL, ICRA,
CARE, India Ratings and Research Pvt Ltd, Acuite Ratings & Research, Brickwork Ratings India Pvt. Ltd.
and Infomerics Valuation and Rating Pvt. Ltd. that are authorised by SEBI to assess credit ratings.
Vi to raise Rs. 18,000 cr via India’s largest ever FPO

· Vodafone Idea, which has been struggling financially for a long time and trying to raise funds to stay
afloat, it plans to raise up to `18,000 crore through share sale in India’s biggest follow-on public offer till
date. The company’s shares will be issued, under the FPO, in a price band of Rs. 10-11 apiece against closing
price of Rs. 12.96 on the BSE.
· The higher end of the price band of Rs. 11, is at a discount of 26% compared to recently approved
preferential issue price to the promoter entity at Rs. 14.87. Vodafone Idea, which is the country’s third-largest
telecom service provider, said in a stock exchange filing.
Vi or Vodafone Idea Limited is an Indian telecom operator with its headquarters based in Mumbai and
Gandhinagar. It is a pan-India integrated GSM operator offering 2G, 3G, 4G, 4G+, VoLTE, and VoWiFi
services. As of 31 October 2021, Vi has a subscriber base of 269.03 million, making it third largest mobile
telecommunications network in India and 10th largest mobile telecommunications network in the world. Ravinder
Takkar, Ex-CEO of Vodafone Romania is the current CEO of the company. On 7 September 2020, Vodafone
Idea unveiled its new brand identity, ‘Vi’ which involves the integration of the company’s erstwhile separate
brands ‘Vodafone’ and ‘Idea’ into one unified brand. Vodafone Idea reappoints Kumar Mangalam Birla non-
executive director.
-------------

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Inventions/Discoveries
Gravitational waves reveal neutron star merging with mystery object in ‘mass gap’
· Northwestern University announced that an international team of astrophysicists has used gravitational waves
to discover for the first time a merger between a potential neutron star and a mysterious object in the
“mass gap.” The “mass gap” is the range between the heaviest known neutron star and the lightest known black
home and that is where the mass of the mystery object puts it.
· It is between 2.5 to 4.5 times the mass of our Sun and is located about 650 million light-years away from
our planet but we cannot find out what it is just using gravitational wave signals. “While previous evidence for
mass-gap objects has been reported both in gravitational and electromagnetic waves, this system is especially
exciting because it’s the first gravitational-wave detection of a mass-gap object paired with a neutron star. The
observation of this system has important implications for both theories of binary evolution and electromagnetic
counterparts to compact-object mergers”.
Gravitational waves are waves of the intensity of gravity generated by the accelerated masses of an orbital
binary system that propagate as waves outward from their source at the speed of light. They were first
proposed by Oliver Heaviside in 1893 and then later by Henri Poincaré in 1905 as waves similar to
electromagnetic waves but the gravitational equivalent. Gravitational waves were later predicted in 1916 by
Albert Einstein on the basis of his general theory of relativity as ripples in spacetime. Later he refused to accept
gravitational waves. Gravitational waves transport energy as gravitational radiation, a form of radiant energy
similar to electromagnetic radiation. Newton’s law of universal gravitation, part of classical mechanics, does not
provide for their existence, since that law is predicated on the assumption that physical interactions propagate
instantaneously (at infinite speed) – showing one of the ways the methods of Newtonian physics are unable to explain
phenomena associated with relativity. The first indirect evidence for the existence of gravitational waves came in
1974 from the observed orbital decay of the Hulse–Taylor binary pulsar, which matched the decay predicted by
general relativity as energy is lost to gravitational radiation. In 1993, Russell A. Hulse and Joseph Hooton Taylor
Jr. received the Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery. The first direct observation of gravitational waves
was made in 2015, when a signal generated by the merger of two black holes was received by the LIGO
gravitational wave detectors in Livingston, Louisiana, and in Hanford, Washington. The 2017 Nobel Prize in
Physics was subsequently awarded to Rainer Weiss, Kip Thorne and Barry Barish for their role in the direct
detection of gravitational waves.
New generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime successfully flight-tested

· The new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime was successfully flight-tested by the Strategic Forces
Command (SFC) along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Dr APJ
Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
· The launch aligns with India’s strategic goals, as part of its ’Mission Divyastra’ program, further solidifying its
position among nations with formidable strategic capabilities. It is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of
missiles. It is equipped with the Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

· Agni-P is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and
guidance system, according to DRDO. It has a range of 1,000-2,000 km and was tested for the first time in
June 2021. It is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.
Agni class of missiles are the mainstay of India’s nuclear launch capability, which also includes the Prithvi
short-range ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft. Agni missiles are long
range, nuclear weapons capable surface to surface ballistic missile. The first missile of the series, Agni-I was
developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and tested in 1989. After its
success, Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance. Agni-P is a
two-stage canisterised solid propellant missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system. It has a
range of up to 2000 km. It is a canisterised surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Agni I: It is a Medium Range
Ballistic Missile with a Range of 700-800 km. Agni II: It is also a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range
more than 2000 km. Agni III: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range of more than 2,500
Km. Agni IV: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire
from a road mobile launcher. Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
with a range of over 5,000 km. Agni- VI: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile
(ICBM) with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km (Under development).
India Gets Its First AI Engineer ‘Devika’

· Following buzz around ‘Devin’, the world’s first AI engineer created by a US-based company, India has
emerged as a competitor with its own contender ‘Devika’. This open-source project, a passion project by
Mufeed VH (Hamzakutty) of Lyminal and Stition.AI, aims to rival Devin’s capabilities.
· Devika, much like Devin, leverages machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) to
understand human instructions. However, Devika focuses on taking those instructions and breaking them down
into actionable tasks. It then conducts its own research and autonomously writes code to achieve the set goals.
Devika translates instructions into code, aids developers, and aims for advanced capabilities like website
generation and internet interaction, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Russia launched Angara rocket for first time from Vostochny Cosmodrome
· The Russian space agency Roscosmos conducted a successful orbital test launch of its new Angara A5
heavy-lift rocket, helping to open a new chapter of spaceflight for the nation. The Angara A5 lifted off April
11 on its fourth orbital test launch, and its first from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East. The 179-
foot-tall (54.5 meters) rocket is produced entirely from Russian components and uses a more environmentally
friendly fuel than the nation’s previous heavy-lift rocket, the Proton-M.
· The first launch of the Angara A5 space rocket from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome took place, in what
could be a milestone for President Vladimir Putin’s space ambitions. This marks the fourth time Roscosmos
has launched the Angara A5. Its first test flight took place in 2014, and its second in 2020. In 2021, Russia’s
space agency launched the rocket on its third test mission, but it missed its intended orbit when its second stage
experienced an anomaly.
Scientists await huge star explosion in constellation Corona Borealis
· Sometime between now and September, a massive explosion 3,000 light years from Earth will flare up in the
night sky, giving amateur astronomers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness this space oddity. The binary
star system in the constellation Corona Borealis -- “northern crown” -- is normally too dim to see with the naked
eye. But every 80 years or so, exchanges between its two stars, which are locked in a deadly embrace, spark a
runaway nuclear explosion. The light from the blast travels through the cosmos and makes it appear as if a
new star -- as bright as the North Star, according to NASA -- has suddenly just popped up in our night sky
for a few days.
· It will be at least the third time that humans have witnessed this event, which was first discovered by Irish
polymath John Birmingham in 1866, then reappeared in 1946. The appropriately named Sumner Starrfield, an
astronomer at Arizona State University, told AFP he was very excited to see the nova’s “outburst”. After all, he
has worked on T Coronae Borealis -- also known as the “Blaze Star” -- on and off since the 1960s. Starrfield is
currently rushing to finish a scientific paper predicting what astronomers will find out about the recurring nova
whenever it shows up in the next five months.

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), along with 100 missiles, as part of a larger deal that includes domestic production in India.
· The Igla-S system is being acquired to enhance the Indian Army’s Very Short Range Air Defence
(VSHORAD) capabilities. This procurement is a significant one, as opposed to the smaller emergency purchase
made in 2021. 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.
Tata co launches India’s 1st privately-built sub-metre resolution surveillance satellite
· Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons that specializes in aerospace
and defense solutions, in collaboration with Satellogic, a leading provider of high-resolution satellite imagery
in the world, announced the successful launch and deployment in low-earth orbit of India’s first private sector-
built sub-metre resolution earth observation or surveillance satellite, TSAT-1A.
· TSAT-1A, assembled at TASL’s Vemagal facility in Karnataka, will deliver high-resolution optical satellite
images with increased collection capacity and low-latency delivery through its multispectral and hyperspectral
capabilities. The Indian armed forces are expected to be one of its major customers in the near future.
Gopichand Thotakura, the 2nd Indian citizen in space after Rakesh Sharma
· Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin has announced that Indian national Gopichand
Thotakura will be part of a six-member crew that will blast off into space on the next New Shepard mission.
A successful launch will make the US-based wellness entrepreneur and pilot the second Indian citizen in
space after wing commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984 and the country’s first civilian astronaut.
· Astronauts Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams, Raja Chari and Sirisha Bandla were US citizens of Indian
origin. The date of the launch of the NS-25 suborbital mission has not been announced but is likely to take place
within the next few weeks. NS-25 will be Blue Origin’s first crewed launch after the failure of the uncrewed
NS-23 in September 2022.
· The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had grounded all Blue Origin launches until an
investigation into the failure was completed. It recommended 21 corrective actions, including redesigning
certain engine components. NS-24, the first mission since the failure, was launched successfully in December
2023. Until now, Blue Origin has flown six astronaut missions, taking 31 humans above the Kármán line. That’s
the boundary between earth and space and is between 80 and 100 km above sea level. Blue Origin’s pitch for the
flight is simple: “On your 11-minute flight, you’ll travel over 3x the speed of sound to pass the Kármán Line at
100 km, float weightless for several minutes, and witness life-changing views of earth before descending gently
under parachutes.”
India, US to reactivate observation system for Indian Ocean
· India and the US have decided to reactivate the Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS), a network of
36 moored buoys in the high seas to collect high-resolution ocean and atmospheric data for weather
forecasts. The IndOOS array of buoys fell into neglect and disrepair during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic,
leading to gaps in observational data considered crucial by weather forecasters, particularly since the links
between the Indian Ocean Dipole phenomenon and monsoon were established.
· The reactivation of IndOOS was discussed last month during a meeting of Earth Sciences Secretary M
Ravichandran with Rick Spinrad, Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of
the US. The moored buoys are part of the Research Moored Array for African-Asian-Australian Monsoon
Analysis and Prediction (RAMA) programme that was born out of a collaboration between the Ministry of
Earth Sciences and NOAA in 2008. RAMA moored buoys are usually replaced once a year because sensors fall
out of calibration and batteries run down. This servicing is typically done using research vessels primarily from
Indonesia, India and South Korea in partnership with NOAA.

Scientists are grasping at straws while trying to protect infant corals from hungry fish
· South Florida researchers trying to prevent predatory fish from devouring laboratory-grown coral are
grasping at biodegradable straws in an effort to restore what some call the rainforest of the sea. South Florida
researchers trying to prevent predatory fish from devouring laboratory-grown coral are grasping at biodegradable
straws in an effort to restore what some call the rainforest of the sea.
· Scientists around the world have been working for years to address the decline of coral reef populations. Just last
summer, reef rescue groups in South Florida and the Florida Keys were trying to save coral from rising
ocean temperatures. Besides working to keep existing coral alive, researchers have also been growing new coral
in labs and then placing them in the ocean.
· Marine researcher Kyle Pisano said one problem is that predators like parrot fish attempt to bite and
destroy the newly transplanted coral in areas like South Florida, leaving them with less than a 40% survival
rate. With projects calling for thousands of coral to be planted over the next year and tens of thousands of coral to
be planted over the next decade, the losses add up when coral pieces can cost more than $100 each.
Army successfully conducts field trials of anti-tank guided missile system
· 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. The weapon
system has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
· The overall system consisted of the MPATGM, launchers, target acquisition device and a fire control unit.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO and the Indian Army for the successful trials of the
system, terming it as an important step towards achieving self-reliance in advanced technology-based defence
system development.
India Celebrates World Quantum Day 2024 - Aspires to lead in Quantum Science and
Technology
· India celebrates World Quantum Day 2024 on April 14, 2024, 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. Considerable attention is now being paid to
controlling and manipulating quantum systems for Quantum Computing, Quantum Communications, and
Quantum Sensing applications. To advance the awareness and appreciation of quantum science and
technology among the public worldwide, an international initiative was taken in 2022, commemorated
annually as the World Quantum Day on April 14th.
Study of brightest explosion in space deepens mystery of gold, platinum’s origin
· Northwestern University confirmed that the brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded, GRB 221009A, was
caused by the collapse and explosion of a massive star. But the study also found no evidence of heavy elements
like gold and platinum, meaning that we still don’t know where and how they are formed.
· Gamma-ray bursts are the most powerful and violent explosions we know in the universe. These explosions
can send out light with up to quintillion times (that is 10 followed by 18 zeroes) the brightness of the Sun.
GRBs was discovered by accident, but current scientific consensus suggests they signal the birth of black holes.
GRB 221009A was recorded in October 2022 and is also called B.O.A.T or the “brightest of all time,”
because it is.
· Researchers from Northwestern University and other institutions used the James Webb Space Telescope to
confirm that it was caused by the collapse and explosion of a massive star. But having solved one mystery, it
seems like they have thrown open another one.
---------------

SPORTS
Sports Personalities in News

Indian Shuttlers Anupama Upadhyaya, M Tharun Clinch Their Singles Titles At Kazakhstan
International Badminton Challenge Tournament
· Indian shuttlers Anupama Upadhyaya and M. Tharun have clinched Women’s and Men’s singles titles, at
Kazakhstan International Badminton Challenge tournament in Astana. Anupama defeated Isharani Baruah in
all-Indian women’s singles final. In the Men’s final, Tharun beat eighth-seeded Malaysian Soong Joo Ven.
However, in mixed doubles, Sanjai Srivatsa Dhanraj and Maneesha K pair lost to Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and
Lim Chiew Sien in the summit clash.
Sumit Nagal created history, becoming the first Indian to record a main-draw win at Monte
Carlo Masters
· The unseeded 93rd-ranked Nagal, who is only the third Indian to feature in the main draw in Monte Carlo
after Vijay Amritraj (1977) and Ramesh Krishnan (1982). Nagal is also the first Indian to win an ATP Masters
1000 match on clay since the series began in 1990. The Indian will next face seventh-seeded Dane and last year’s
runner-up Holger Rune.
--------------

MISCELLANEOUS
Pin code MH-1718: In Antarctica, a post office with Indian address
· India’s two research bases on 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.
Within the first year, as many as 10,000 letters and mail had been posted and ‘cancelled’ at the historic post
office.
· And so began what officials describe as a “unique experiment” for India’s postal fraternity. Dakshin Gangotri
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 on Antarctica.
World’s first carbon-absorbing concrete used to make a house in Japan
· CO2-SUICOM is short for CO2-Storage and Utilization for Infrastructure by COncrete Materials. Jointly
developed by Kajima, The Chugoku Electric Power Co., Denka, and Landes Co., is the world’s first carbon-
capturing concrete. It is located beside a road on a property extending 110m in length. 70 minutes from Tokyo,
Karuizawa is one of Japan’s oldest and most famous mountain resort towns. It is known for its mild summers,
with forests in the surrounding area that offer cycling and walking paths.
Assam’s Charaideo Maidam nominated for UNESCO world heritage tag
· The nomination will make Assam’s Charaideo Maidam the sole historical site in India for consideration for
this prestigious recognition. Following the submission of the proposal, a team from UNESCO conducted site
inspections to assess the historical significance and preservation of Charaideo Maidam.
Indian Army completes 40 years of presence in world’s highest battlefield, the Siachen glacier
· The induction of heavy-lift helicopters and logistic drones, deployment of all-terrain vehicles and laying of
an extensive network of tracks are among a host of measures that have enhanced India’s combat prowess in
Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield. Under its “Operation Meghdoot”, the Indian Army established its
full control over the glacier on April 13, 1984.
· The Siachen glacier at the height of around 20,000 feet in the Karakoram mountain range is known as the
highest militarised zone in the world where soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds. Under its
“Operation Meghdoot”, the Indian Army established its full control over the glacier on April 13, 1984.
---------------

PERSONS IN NEWS
Taylor Swift becomes world’s first billionaire from music
· Pop superstar Taylor Swift has joined the ranks of the world’s billionaires, according to Forbes’ World’s
Billionaires list. Forbes stated that her fortune includes more than $500 million in estimated wealth gained from
royalties and touring, plus a music catalog worth $500 million and some $125 million in real estate. While
reporting the musician’s growth in net worth over the years, it highlighted that the musician’s net worth increased
from $280 million in 2017, $365 million in 2020, $740 million in 2023, to $1.1 billion in 2024.
Indian-American actor and ‘Mean Girls’ star Avantika Vandanapu was named the South Asian
Person of the Year by Harvard University
· Indian-American actor Avantika Vandanapu was named the South Asian Person of the Year by Harvard
University. The 19-year-old was recognised for her outstanding achievements and impact on both the
international and Indian entertainment industries.
· “Being honoured by such a prestigious institution as Harvard University is truly humbling and incredibly
motivating. This award not only acknowledges my efforts but also underscores the significance of narratives
transcending borders and the crucial role of Indian representation in global media,”.
· The young actor has recently faced backlash after rumours she was being cast as Princess Rapunzel in a
live-action version of the 2010 animated Disney film “Tangled.” Several Disney fans and critics took to social
media to share their displeasure over an actor of South Asian heritage portraying the fictional character.
NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu appointed UGC members for 3 years
· The central government notified the appointment of National Stock Exchange CEO and managing director
Ashish Kumar Chauhan and Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu as members of the University Grants
Commission (UGC), India’s regulator for higher education, taking the body’s strength to eight members from
just four.
· The Department of Higher Education in the Education Ministry also appointed Sachidananda Mohanty, former
vice chancellor of the Central University of Odisha and serving vice chancellor of the National Institute of
Educational Planning and Administration Shashikala Gulabrao Wanjari to the Commission, with a tenure
of three years, or till further orders.
Justice Aniruddha Bose to Head National Judicial Academy Post Retirement as Supreme Court
Judge
· The Supreme Court has appointed Justice Aniruddha Bose as the Director of The National Judicial
Academy (NJAC), Bhopal. The Chief Justice, DY Chandrachud announced the decision of appointment during
the ceremonial bench conducted honoring the retiring justice. Justice Bose will now be heading the NJAC,
Bhopal.
Ram Charan Receives Honorary Doctorate from Vels University
· Ram Charan was recently conferred with an honorary doctorate by Vels University during its 14th Annual
Convocation at the Pallavaram campus in Chennai. The actor has now joined the ranks of recipients like
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Director Shankar. Ram Charan received the honour for his
contribution to the entertainment industry and entrepreneurship. Ram Charan, Indian actor, film producer,
and entrepreneur, received an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Vels University at their 14th Annual
Convocation (sic).”
---------------

AWARDS
Prestigious John Dirks Gairdner global health award for Dr Gagandeep Kang
· Dr Gagandeep Kang, Director of Global Health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been
selected for the prestigious John Dirks Award in global health. It is the most well-recognised global health
award.
· The John Dirks Award in global health is awarded by the Gairdner Foundation in Canada. The awards
were announced and Dr Kang’s initial reaction was one of surprise. “There are so many people doing outstanding
work in global health. So to have the work my colleagues and I have done in India is recognition of our
contributions to the health of children in India and assesses our efforts and the resulting impact,” Dr Kang said.
· She is the first Indian woman to get this award and says it is a huge honour for all the work that she and
her colleagues did while at Christian Medical College, Vellore. The focus of Dr Kang’s work has been on
childhood diarrhoea disease and comprehensive studies, including the work on vaccines.
· Dr Kang previously was a Professor at the Department of Gastrointestinal Science at CMC, Vellore and
later executive director of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Faridabad. After her
superannuation from CMC, Dr Kang continues to work on diarrhoea in children and making better vaccines. She
also became the first Indian woman to be elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
Nobel laureate Peter Higgs, who proposed existence of ‘god particle’, dies at 94
· Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of the so-called “god particle” that
helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang, has died at age 94. Higgs predicted the existence of a
new particle — the so-called Higgs boson — in 1964. But it would be almost 50 years before the particle’s
existence could be confirmed at the Large Hadron Collider.
· Higgs’ theory related to how subatomic particles that are the building blocks of matter get their mass. This
theoretical understanding is a central part of the so-called Standard Model, which describes the physics of how the
world is constructed. Edinburgh University said his groundbreaking 1964 paper demonstrated how
“elemental particles achieved mass through the existence of a new sub-atomic particle″ which became
known as the Higgs boson.
· In 2012, in one of the biggest breakthroughs in physics in decades, scientists at CERN, the European
Organization for Nuclear Research, announced that they had finally found a Higgs boson using the $10
billion particle collider built in a 17-mile (27-kilometer) tunnel under the Swiss-French border. Higgs won the
2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium, who independently came up
with the same theory.
Chandrayaan-3 team receives 2024 John L. ‘Jack’ Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration
· India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission team has been presented with the prestigious 2024 John L. ‘Jack’ Swigert
Jr. Award for Space Exploration in recognition of it raising the bar for space exploration. The award was
received by India’s Consul General on behalf of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) during the
opening ceremony of the annual Space Symposium in Colorado. As the first nation to land on the Moon’s South
Pole, Chandrayaan-3, a mission developed by the ISRO, extends humanity’s space exploration aspirations to new
and fertile areas for understanding and cooperation.
---------------

IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day of Sports for Development and Peace
· The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), which takes place annually on 6
April, presents an opportunity to recognize the positive role sport and physical activity play in communities and
in people’s lives across the globe. The global theme for 2024 is “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and
Inclusive Societies”.
World Homoeopathy Day
· World Homeopathy Day is celebrated annually to honour the work of German physician and chemist Dr
Samuel Hahnemann on his birth anniversary - April 10. Homeopathy, an alternative medicinal practice claims
to treat diseases and disorders applying the principle of curing ‘like with like’.
· It is believed that the origin of homeopathy dates back to 5th century BC but it was not before 19th century that
homeopathy gained popularity in Europe and spread to North America. The theme for World Homeopathy Day
is “Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family.
National Safe Motherhood Day 2024
· Every year on April 11, National Safe Motherhood Day is observed in India to raise awareness about the
importance of proper healthcare and maternity services for expectant mothers. It’s a day to honour
motherhood and advocate for safe pregnancy and childbirth practices, ensuring the well-being of both the mother
and the child. This occasion serves as a reminder of the significant strides made in maternal healthcare while
highlighting the challenges that still exist.
National Pet Day
· National Pet Day, celebrated on April 11 every year, serves as a special occasion to cherish the unique bond
shared between pets and their owners. It’s a day when pet lovers come together to celebrate the unconditional
love, comfort, and joy that pet brings into their lives, all while raising awareness about the importance of animal
welfare.
· The theme for National Pet Day 2024 is “Don’t Shop! Adopt!” This poignant theme, observed annually on
April 11th, advocates for prospective pet owners to opt for adoption from shelters rather than purchasing from
breeders or pet stores.
World Chagas Disease Day
· Chagas disease, also known as “silent or silenced disease”, affects mainly poor people without access to health
care or people without a political voice. The disease progresses slowly and often shows an asymptomatic clinical
course. Without treatment, Chagas disease can lead to severe cardiac and digestive alterations and become fatal.
Raising awareness of the disease is essential to improve the rates of early treatment and cure, together with
the interruption of its transmission. 14 April is World Chagas Disease. The World Chagas Disease Day was
celebrated for the first time in 2020.
· The theme for 2024 is Tackling Chagas disease: detect early and care for life, to increase public awareness of
Chagas disease and secure greater funding and support for early diagnosis and life-long, comprehensive follow-up
care initiatives.
--------------

QUESTIONS
1. The Supreme Court has expanded the scope of _________ to include the “right against the adverse effects of
climate change”.
(a) Articles 12 and 18 (b) Articles 11 and 17 (c) Articles 14 and 21 (d) Articles 16 and 24
2. Who is to be new President of Slovakia?

(a) Peter Pellegrini (b) Ivan Korcok (c) Robert Fico (d) Zuzana Čaputová
3. Which of the following countries is not associated with territorial claims over the South China Sea?
(a) Taiwan (b) Indonesia (c) New Zealand (d) Vietnam
4. Who has been recently appointed by the World Bank Group to serve on the World Bank Group’s Economic
Advisory Panel?
(a) Deepak Mohanthy (b) Amritpal Singh (c) Rakesh Mohan (d) Mukesh Dhhingra
5. Which of the following is set to establish a pioneering ASEAN Climate Finance Policy Platform aimed at
bolstering the fight against climate change in Southeast Asia?
(a) AIIB (b) ADB (c) Reserve Bank of India (d) World Bank
6. Recently, The _________ deferred the implementation of its new norms for exchange traded currency derivatives
(ETCD) market to May 3 from April 5.
(a) Ministry of Finance (b) Reserve Bank of India
(c) NITI Aayog (d) Bank of Singapore
7. Recently, The new generation ballistic missile _________ was successfully flight-tested by the Strategic Forces
Command (SFC) along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Dr APJ
Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
(a) Agni-Union (b) Agni-Unique (c) Agni-One (d) Agni-Prime
8. The First AI Engineer of India is _________.

(a) Devika (b) Yogita (c) Anika (d) Namita
9. Name the Indian shuttler who recently clinched the Men’s singles titles, at Kazakhstan International Badminton
Challenge tournament in Astana.
(a) M Arun (b) K Shitraj (c) L Lathigaraj (d) M. Tharun
10. The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) takes place annually on _________.
(a) 3 April (b) 6 April (c) 9 April (d) 12 April
11. Which region in Uttar Pradesh has recently received the first Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its wheat produce?
(a) Bundelkhand (b) Awadh (c) Rohilkhand (d) Purvanchal
12. With 100 per cent electrification, which of the following railways will become the largest green railways of the
world?
(a) Russian Railways (b) US Railways (c) Indian Railways (d) British Railways
13. Which of the following countries recently launched new gold-backed currency that started trading amid doubts
about the country’s third such re-launch in a decade?
(a) South Africa (b) Zimbabwe (c) Angola (d) Chad
14. Which of the following countries are involved in the AUKUS security pact?
(a) Britain, Canada, and China (b) Britain, the U.S., and Australia
(c) China, Japan, and Australia (d) Britain, Russia, and the U.S.

15. Name the pioneering, environment-friendly prepaid forex corporate card recently launched by Thomas Cook
(India) Limited.
(a) EnterpriseFx (b) GradeOnFx (c) GreenFx (d) EnergyFx
16. What milestone did the combined market capitalization of all listed stocks on the BSE achieved recently?
(a) Rs. 200 lakh crore (b) Rs. 300 lakh crore (c) Rs. 400 lakh crore (d) Rs. 500 lakh crore
17. The first launch of the Angara A5 space rocket is related with which of the following countries?
(a) Russia (b) USA (c) Canada (d) Japan
18. The Igla-S MANPADS is being acquired to enhance the _________ Army’s Very Short Range Air Defence
(VSHORAD) capabilities.
(a) British (b) Indian (c) US (d) Russian
19. Who has been recently appointed as a full-time member of the Sixteenth Finance Commission by the Centre?
(a) Vipul Jha (b) Manoj Panda (c) Ajay Narayan Singh (d) Vikram Ahuja
20. India’s two research bases on Antarctica — Maitri and Bharati — are located 3,000 km apart. Notably, both
branches are part of the _________ postal division.
(a) Kerala (b) Goa (c) Tamil Nadu (d) Maharashtra
21. World Homeopathy Day is celebrated annually to honour the work of German physician and chemist Dr Samuel
Hahnemann on his birth anniversary - _________.
(a) April 5 (b) April 7 (c) April 10 (d) April 13
22. What position did Bjarni Benediktsson assume in Iceland?

(a) Foreign Minister (b) Prime Minister (c) Minister of Finance (d) Minister of Environment
23. Who among the following recently became Ireland’s youngest ever prime minister?
(a) Simon Harris (b) Sinn Fein (c) Alex Tsipiras (d) Drek Later
24. Which of the following countries is NOT a partner in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity
(IPEF)?
(a) China (b) Japan (c) New Zealand (d) Philippines
25. Who was recently elected unopposed as the chairman of the Senate in Pakistan?
(a) Saidal Khan Nasir (b) Yusuf Raza Gilani
(c) Bilawal Zardari Bhutto (d) Hina Khar Rabbani
26. India’s first vertical-lift bridge connecting the country’s mainland with Rameswaram Island is _________.
(a) Kambhat railway bridge (b) Shiva railway bridge
(c) Palk Strait railway bridge (d) Pamban railway bridge
27. Which of the following statements accurately reflects the status of unicorns in the country according to the Hurun
Global Unicorn Index 2024?
(a) The number of unicorns has increased significantly to 100.
(b) The number of unicorns has declined for the first time in four years to 67.
(c) The country has maintained its position as the leading hub for unicorns globally.
(d) The valuation of unicorns has decreased by 50% compared to the previous year.
28. What is the expected size of the co-lending book of non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) by June 2024
according to CRISIL Ratings?
(a) Rs. 50,000 crore (b) Rs. 75,000 crore
(c) Rs. 1 Lakh crore (d) Rs. 1.5 Lakh crore

29. Which of the following companies collaborated to develop and launch TSAT-1A, India’s first private sector-built
earth observation satellite?
(a) SpaceX and NASA
(b) Boeing and Lockheed Martin
(c) Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Satellogic
(d) ISRO and DRDO
30. Which of the following organizations was recently presented with the 2024 John L. ‘Jack’ Swigert Jr. Award for
Space Exploration?
(a) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
(b) European Space Agency (ESA)
(c) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
(d) China National Space Administration (CNSA)
31. Who was recently named the South Asian Person of the Year by Harvard University for her significant
contributions and impact on both the international and Indian entertainment industries?
(a) Avantika Vandanapu (b) Radhika Burman
(c) Sushmita Rangasami (d) Nivedita Narvekar
32. Which of the following countries will have a defence attaché posted by India for the first time, indicating their
growing importance as a security partner?
(a) Brazil (b) Japan (c) Poland (d) Russia
33. Recently, In which country liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory in a parliamentary election held
recently?
(a) South Korea (b) Vietnam (c) Taiwan (d) Thailand
34. Recently, Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar inaugurated a 350m long major pier for Offshore Patrol Vessels
(OPVs) and a residential accommodation at Naval Base _________.
(a) Kunwar (b) Karanj (c) Karwar (d) Kasauti
35. Who has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of the National Housing Bank (NHB)?
(a) Sanjay Shukla (b) Rajesh Kumar (c) Priya Gupta (d) Ankit Patel
36. Which of the following countries carmaker Citroën recently became the first multinational car manufacturer in
India to export domestically made electric vehicles to the international market?
(a) France (b) Germany (c) US (d) Japan
37. Which of the following banks recently established a branch in Kavaratti Island in the Union Territory of
Lakshadweep, becoming the only private sector bank in the region?
(a) ICICI Bank (b) HDFC Bank (c) Axis Bank (d) Kotak Mahindra Bank
38. Who among the following has been recently appointed as member / members of the University Grants Commission
(UGC) by the central government?
(a) Ashish Kumar Chauhan (b) Sachidananda Mohanty
(c) Sridhar Vembu (d) All of the above
39. Which of the following currently holds the top position as the world’s most valued airline in terms of market
capitalization?
(a) Delta Air Lines (b) Ryan Air (c) Southwest Airlines (d) IndiGo Airlines
40. Who will be the second Indian citizen to travel to space?

(a) Kalpana Roberts (b) Gopichand Thotakura
(c) Ankur Raizada (d) Sumit Reymond

41. Which of the following Indian institutions achieved a significant milestone by securing the 20th spot globally in
developmental studies according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world university rankings?
(a) Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (b) Delhi University
(c) Jadhavpur University (d) Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
42. Who was the first Prime Minister of India to feature on the cover of Newsweek?
(a) Indira Gandhi (b) Jawaharlal Nehru (c) PV Narsimaharao (d) Manmohan Singh
43. Which of the following state / union territories becomes the first state in India to offer a new QR-based ticketing service?
(a) Delhi (b) Lakshadweep (c) Assam (d) Puducherry
44. Which of the following countries top property tycoon was recently sentenced to death in one of the biggest
corruption cases in history, with an estimated $27 billion in damages?
(a) Vietnam (b) Singapore (c) Thailand (d) Laos
45. Who will take over as the UK’s first-ever woman high commissioner to India?
(a) Lindy Cameron (b) Alberta Maurice (c) Alexa Zerito (d) Nathan Ellis
46. How many Indian institutions were featured in the top 500 list of the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world
university rankings by subject?
(a) 55 (b) 69 (c) 78 (d) 89
47. Which country along with India have signed a protocol to amend the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA),
which included a principal purpose test (PPT) to decide whether a foreign investor is eligible to claim treaty?
(a) Maldives (b) Mauritius (c) Sri Lanka (d) Seychelles
48. Where is the National Judicial Academy (NJAC) located in India?

(a) Pune (b) Bhopal (c) Udaipur (d) Surat
49. The National Safe Motherhood Day in India is observed on _________ to raise awareness about the importance of
proper healthcare and maternity services for expectant mothers.
50. Who has been recently selected for the prestigious John Dirks Award in global health?
(a) Dr Gagandeep Kang (b) Dr Mishika Jain (c) Dr Anudeep Rohilla (d) Dr Sukirti Kandpal
51. Name the operation under which the Indian Army established its full control over the Siachen glacier on April 13,
1984.
(a) Operation Meghdoot (b) Operation Sarthak (c) Operation Singhnaad (d) Operation Fateh
52. Name the actor who was recently conferred with an honorary doctorate by Vels University during its 14th Annual
Convocation at the Pallavaram campus in Chennai.
(a) Ram Charan (b) Ajay Devgan (c) Chiranjeevi (d) Pawan Kalyan
53. India celebrates World Quantum Day 2024 on _________, with aspirations to become a global leader in various
fields of Quantum Science and Technology.
54. According to the latest data from the Global Forest Watch monitoring project, India has lost _________ hectares of
tree cover since 2000, equivalent to a six per cent decrease in tree cover during this period.
(a) 1.87 million (b) 2.07 million (c) 2.33 million (d) 2.58 million
55. As per their GDP data, India is ranked _________ in world’s GDP rankings in 2024.
(a) 1st (b) 3rd (c) 5th (d) 7th

56. Name the first fully Licensed decentralized gambling platform, has launched and is offering users a safe, secure,
and streamlined online casino service powered by the latest in blockchain and smart contract technology?
(a) Coinmarket Cap (b) Zebpay (c) Uno Unicorn (d) CoinGames
57. According to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report, which of the following countries has the highest
living cost in all of Asia with a 25 per cent inflation rate?
(a) Bangladesh (b) Nepal (c) Bhutan (d) Pakistan
58. The Indian Army has successfully carried out field trials of indigenously-developed _________ weapon system,
paving way for its induction into the force’s armoury.
(a) MPATGM (b) SUNDAR (c) MODEM (d) UNIQUE
59. National Pet Day is celebrated on _________ every year.

60. Which of the following Indian state’s Charaideo Maidam was recently nominated for UNESCO world heritage tag?
(a) Assam (b) Manipur (c) Mizoram (d) Nagaland
61. The World Designing Forum, one of the world’s largest global fashion community, has announced the setting up of
India’s first Handloom Cluster and Apparel Designing Park in _________.
(a) Ahmadabad (b) Surat (c) Agra (d) Kanpur
62. Recently, The government has asked all the e-commerce companies to remove drinks and beverages, including
_________ from the health drinks category from their portals.
(a) Coca Cola (b) Dettol (c) Bournvita (d) Beckitt Benkiser
63. The IMF executive board had recently confirmed that it had reappointed Kristalina Georgieva to serve for a second
_________ term running the international financial institution.
(a) Two-year (b) Three-year (c) Four-year (d) Five-year
64. Recently, The _________ military reported a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
(a) Russian (b) French (c) German (d) American
65. Recently, India ranked number _________ in cybercrime, with frauds involving people to make advance fee
payment being the most common type, according to a new research that surveyed cybercrime experts around the
world.
(a) 5 (b) 8 (c) 10 (d) 13
66. Recently, Rating agency Moody’s maintained outlook for the government of India to be _________.
(a) Unstable (b) Stable (c) Negative (d) Extreme Positive
67. Which of the following telecom service providers is to raise Rs. 18,000 cr via India’s largest ever FPO ?
(a) Vodafone Idea (b) Airtel (c) Reliance Jio (d) BSNL
68. Recently, Northwestern University confirmed that the brightest _________ burst ever recorded, GRB 221009A,
was caused by the collapse and explosion of a massive star.
(a) Alpha-ray (b) Beta-ray (c) Gamma-ray (d) Neurons
69. World Chagas Disease is observed on _________.

(a) 11 April (b) 12 April (c) 14 April (d) 17 April
70. Who among the following joined the ranks of the world’s first billionaire from music, according to Forbes’?
(a) Madonna (b) Lady Gaga (c) Katy Perry (d) Taylor Swift

ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATION
1. c The Supreme Court has expanded the scope of Articles 14 and 21 to include the “right against the adverse effects of
climate change”.
2. a Peter Pellegrini to be Slovakia’s President as ex-Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok concedes defeat. A close ally of
populist Prime Minister Robert Fico beat a pro-Western career diplomat to become Slovakia’s new President, and
succeed Zuzana Čaputová, the country’s first female head of State.
3. c China conducted military “combat patrols” in the disputed South China Sea, the same day as joint drills by the
Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia. Several countries have made competing territorial claims over
the South China Sea.
4. c President Emeritus and Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), Rakesh
Mohan has been appointed by the World Bank Group to serve on the World Bank Group’s Economic Advisory
Panel.
5. b The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to establish a pioneering ASEAN Climate Finance Policy Platform
aimed at bolstering the fight against climate change in Southeast Asia.
6. b The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deferred the implementation of its new norms for exchange traded currency
derivatives (ETCD) market to May 3 from April 5.
7. d The new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime was successfully flight-tested by the Strategic Forces Command
(SFC) along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Island off the coast of Odisha.
8. a India Gets Its First AI Engineer ‘Devika’.
9. d Indian shuttlers Anupama Upadhyaya and M. Tharun have clinched Women’s and Men’s singles titles, at
Kazakhstan International Badminton Challenge tournament in Astana.
10. b The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), which takes place annually on 6 April,
presents an opportunity to recognize the positive role sport and physical activity play in communities and in
people’s lives across the globe.
11. a Kathiya Gehu (wheat) from the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh has received the first Geographical Indication
(GI) tag for a farm produce in the area.
12. c With 100 per cent electrification, Indian Railways will become the largest green railways of the world. Already
many regions in India are 100 per cent electrified.
13. b Zimbabwe’s new gold-backed currency started trading amid doubts that the country’s third such re-launch in a
decade will have any more success in ending repeated, crippling bouts of high inflation. The Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)
was announced by the central bank with an initial rate of 13.56 to $1
14. b Britain, the U.S., and Australia are considering working together through the AUKUS security pact.
15. a Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel forex services company, has launched EnterpriseFx – a
pioneering, environment-friendly prepaid forex corporate card.
16. c The c combined market capitalisation of all listed stocks on BSE hit the Rs. 400 lakh crore milestones for the first
time ever.”

17. a The first launch of the Angara A5 space rocket from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome will take place, in what
could be a milestone for President Vladimir Putin’s space ambitions.
18. b The Igla-S MANPADS is being acquired to enhance the Indian Army’s Very Short Range Air Defence
(VSHORAD) capabilities.
19. b The Centre has notified the appointment of economist Manoj Panda as a full-time member of the Sixteenth Finance
Commission.
20. b India’s two research bases on Antarctica — Maitri and Bharati — are located 3,000 km apart. Notably, both
branches are part of the Goa postal division.
21. c World Homeopathy Day is celebrated annually to honour the work of German physician and chemist Dr Samuel
Hahnemann on his birth anniversary - April 10.
22. b Bjarni Benediktsson has become the Iceland Prime Minister. While he currently serves as foreign minister, he
assumed the role of prime minister.
23. a Simon Harris became Ireland’s youngest ever prime minister pledging to bring new ideas and energy to the less
than 12 months he has boost the coalition government’s bid to halt a first electoral victory by left-wing Sinn Fein.
24. a The IPEF partners include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam. China is not part of this
partnership.
25. b Yusuf Raza Gilani was elected unopposed as chairman of the Senate amidst protests from lawmakers of Imran
Khan’s party.
26. d A sharp curve in the upcoming Pamban railway bridge, India’s first vertical-lift bridge connecting the country’s
mainland with Rameswaram island, has become an additional challenge for the Railways besides its mechanical
peculiarity and a rough sea.
27. b The number of unicorns in the country has declined for the first time in four years to 67, indicating a decrease
rather than an increase in their number.
28. c CRISIL Ratings expects the co-lending book of NBFCs to reach Rs. one lakh crore by June 2024.
29. c Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Satellogic. TASL, a subsidiary of Tata Sons specializing in aerospace and
defense solutions, collaborated with Satellogic, a leading provider of high-resolution satellite imagery, to develop
and launch TSAT-1A.
30. c The award was received by India’s Consul General on behalf of ISRO during the Space Symposium in Colorado.
31. a Avantika Vandanapu was named the South Asian Person of the Year by Harvard University for her significant
contributions and impact on both the international and Indian entertainment industries.
32. c India’s decision to post a defence attaché in Poland reflects the increasing significance of Poland as a security
partner in Europe. This move signifies India’s recognition of Poland’s role in regional security dynamics and the
need to strengthen bilateral military cooperation between the two countries.
33. a South Korea’s liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory in a parliamentary election held, dealing a resounding
blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his conservative party but likely falling just short of a super majority.
34. c Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar inaugurated a 350m long major pier for Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and a
residential accommodation at Naval Base Karwar.

35. a The decision to appoint Sanjay Shukla as the MD of NHB comes after an evaluation process conducted by the
Financial Services Institutions Bureau, which scrutinized 16 candidates for the post.
36. a French carmaker Citroën became the first multinational car manufacturer in India to export domestically made
electric vehicles to the international market.
37. b HDFC Bank recently established a branch in Kavaratti Island, making it the only private sector bank in the region.
This move aims to upgrade banking infrastructure in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
38. d The central government appointed Ashish Kumar Chauhan, Sridhar Vembu, Sachidananda Mohanty, and
Shashikala Gulabrao Wanjari as members of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Therefore, all options are
correct.
39. b The Irish company Ryan Air holds the top position as the world’s most valued airline with a market capitalization
of Rs. 3,375 crore, surpassing both Delta Air Lines and IndiGo Airlines.
40. b Gopichand Thotakura will be part of a six-member crew on the next Blue Origin mission, becoming the second
Indian citizen to go to space after Rakesh Sharma.
41. d Jawaharlal Nehru University made its debut in development studies and secured the 20th spot worldwide, indicating
its notable achievement in this field.
42. a Narendra Modi is set to become the first prime minister of India to feature on the cover of Newsweek after Indira
Gandhi, who was featured on the cover of Newsweek’s April 1966 issue.
43. a Delhi becomes the first state in India to offer these services on WhatsApp. WhatsApp has introduced a new QR-
based ticketing service for DTC commuters across the Delhi NCR region.
44. a A top Vietnamese property tycoon was sentenced to death in one of the biggest corruption cases in history, with an
estimated $27 billion in damages.
45. a Lindy Cameron, the former CEO of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, will take over as the country’s first-
ever woman high commissioner to India.
46. b Indian universities saw a significant increase in representation, with 69 institutions featured in the top 500 list of the
latest QS world university rankings by subject, marking a 19.4% increase from the previous year’s entries.
47. b India and Mauritius have signed a protocol to amend the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA), which
included a principal purpose test (PPT) to decide whether a foreign investor is eligible to claim treaty.
48. b NJAC is located in Bhopal, as mentioned in the context of Justice Aniruddha Bose’s appointment as its Director.
49. c National Safe Motherhood Day in India is observed on April 11 to raise awareness about the importance of proper
healthcare and maternity services for expectant mothers.
50. a Dr Gagandeep Kang, Director of Global Health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been selected for the
prestigious John Dirks Award in global health.
51. a Under its “Operation Meghdoot”, the Indian Army established its full control over the glacier on April 13, 1984.
52. a Ram Charan was recently conferred with an honorary doctorate by Vels University during its 14th Annual
Convocation at the Pallavaram campus in Chennai.
53. d India celebrates World Quantum Day 2024 on April 14, 2024, with aspirations to become a global leader in various
fields of Quantum Science and Technology.

54. c India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, equivalent to a six per cent decrease in tree cover
during this period, according to the latest data from the Global Forest Watch monitoring project.
55. c India is ranked 5th in world’s GDP rankings in 2024.
56. d CoinGames, the first fully Licensed decentralized gambling platform, has launched and is offering users a safe,
secure, and streamlined online casino service powered by the latest in blockchain and smart contract technology.
57. d Pakistan has the highest living cost in all of Asia with a 25 per cent inflation rate and its economy may grow at the
fourth lowest pace of 1.9 per cent in the region, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.
58. a 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.
59. c National Pet Day, celebrated on April 11 every year, serves as a special occasion to cherish the unique bond shared
between pets and their owners.
60. a Assam’s Charaideo Maidam nominated for UNESCO world heritage tag.
61. c The World Designing Forum, one of the world’s largest global fashion community, has announced the setting up of
India’s first Handloom Cluster and Apparel Designing Park in Agra.
62. c The government has asked all the e-commerce companies to remove drinks and beverages, including Bournvita,
from the health drinks category from their portals.
63. d The IMF executive board confirmed that it had reappointed Kristalina Georgieva to serve for a second five-year
term running the international financial institution.
64. a The Russian military reported a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
65. c India ranked number 10 in cybercrime, with frauds involving people to make advance fee payment being the most
common type, according to a new research that surveyed cybercrime experts around the world.
66. b Rating agency Moody’s maintained outlook for the government of India to be stable. The long-term and short-term
ratings of the government of India is pegged at Baa3 and P-3, respectively.
67. a Vi to raise Rs. 18,000 cr via India’s largest ever FPO
68. c Northwestern University confirmed that the brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded, GRB 221009A, was caused
by the collapse and explosion of a massive star.
69. c 14 April is World Chagas Disease.
70. d Pop superstar Taylor Swift has joined the ranks of the world’s billionaires, according to Forbes’ World’s
Billionaires list.

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1

8th April to 14th April, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 1

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 2

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 3

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 4

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 5

3 IIMs, JNU among 69 Indian universities in top 500 QS rankings

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 6

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 7

Zimbabwe’s new ZiG currency starts trading, credibility doubts linger

US, UK, Australia consider Japan’s cooperation in AUKUS security pact

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 8

China conducts military drills in South China Sea

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 9

Iceland picks Bjarni Benediktsson as next Prime Minister

UK appoints its first woman high commissioner to India

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 10

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 11

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 12

RBI defers exchange traded currency derivatives norms

Manoj Panda is new member of the XVI Finance Commission

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 13

Number of unicorns in India declines for first time in four years

Thomas Cook launches eco-friendly forex corporate card

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 14

Sanjay Shukla appointed as Managing Director of National Housing Bank

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 15

IndiGo becomes world’s 3rd most valuable airline by market cap

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 16

Vi to raise Rs. 18,000 cr via India’s largest ever FPO

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 17

New generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime successfully flight-tested

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 18

India Gets Its First AI Engineer ‘Devika’

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 19

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 20

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 21

Sports Personalities in News

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 22

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 23

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 24

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 25

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 26

2. Who is to be new President of Slovakia?

8. The First AI Engineer of India is _________.

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 27

22. What position did Bjarni Benediktsson assume in Iceland?

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 28

40. Who will be the second Indian citizen to travel to space?

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 29

48. Where is the National Judicial Academy (NJAC) located in India?

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 30

59. National Pet Day is celebrated on _________ every year.

69. World Chagas Disease is observed on _________.

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 31

8. a India Gets Its First AI Engineer ‘Devika’.

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 32

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 33