PIB_Compilation_1_to_31_May_B_W_lyst1717826878047_240731_072312.pdf

Crack Grade B 1 PIB Compilation 1st to 31st May, 2024 INDEX Ministry of Education Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation Ministry of Finance Miscellan...

Crack Grade B 1 PIB Compilation 1st to 31st May, 2024 INDEX Ministry of Education Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation Ministry of Finance Miscellaneous Ministries Phase 1 News www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 2 Ministry of Education Capacity Building on Design and Entrepreneurship (CBDE) program Why in News? - Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy today virtually launched the program. Capacity Building on Design and Entrepreneurship (CBDE) program - It is designed to equip identified Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and faculty members to focus on Design and Entrepreneurship development in their institution with the support of mentors from industry. - Nodal Centre: IIITDM, Kancheepuram, a Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Center (MMTTC) - At this stage, 30 HEIs have been selected through a process anchored by the IIITDM, Kancheepuram. - Objective: o It aims to instill problem-solving approach among students that encourages creative and innovative solutions to complex challenges. It will ultimately result in concrete steps in scaling up their ideas through stage- wise hand-holding support provided by mentors from the industry Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Tele-MANAS Helpline receives over 10 lakh calls since its launch in October 2022 Why in News? - The National Tele-Mental Health Programme in India has reached a significant milestone, receiving over 10 lakh calls on its Tele-MANAS toll-free number, averaging 3,500 calls per day. - There are 51 operational Tele MANAS cells functioning across all 36 States and UTs, offering services in 20 different languages. Tele-Manas: Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (14416 24/7) - It is a National Tele-Mental Health Programme. - It is the digital extension of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). - It was launched on 10 October 2022 on World Mental Health Day. - It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. - Tele-MANAS aims to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly catering to people in remote or under-served areas. - National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore will work as its nodal centre. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 3 - International Institute of Information Technology- Bangalore (IIITB) will provide the necessary technological support. - It will include 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Provisional Estimates of Annual GDP for 2023-24 and Quarterly Estimates of GDP for Q4 of 2023-24 Why in News? o The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the Provisional Estimates (PE) of Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 and Quarterly Estimates of GDP for the Fourth quarter (January-March) of 2023-24 along with its expenditure components both at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices. Key Highlights of Annual Estimates and Growth Rates: GDP - Real GDP has been estimated to grow by 8.2% in FY 2023-24 as compared to the growth rate of 7.0% in FY 2022-23. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 4 o Real GDP or GDP at Constant Prices is estimated to attain a level of ₹173.82 lakh crore in the year 2023-24, against Rs.160.71 lakh crore in 2022-23. - Nominal GDP has witnessed a growth rate of 9.6% in FY 2023-24 over the growth rate of 14.2% in FY 2022-23. o Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices is estimated to attain a level of ₹295.36 lakh crore in the year 2023-24, against ₹269.50 lakh crore in 2022-23. GVA - Real GVA is estimated at ₹158.74 lakh crore in the year 2023-24, against the ₹148.05 lakh crore in FY2022-23: o Registering a growth rate of 7.2% as compared to 6.7% in 2022-23. - Nominal GVA is estimated to attain a level of ₹267.62 lakh crore during FY 2023- 24, against ₹246.59 lakh crore in 2022-23. o Showing a growth rate of 8.5%. Annual Expenditure Components at Constant Prices for FY24 Per Capita GDP: Rs.1,24,600 in FY24, shown a growth rate of 7.2%. Per Capita GNI: Rs.1,22,766 in FY24, shown a growth rate of 7.2%. Per Capita NNI: Rs.1,06,744 in FY24, shown a growth rate of 7.4%. Per Capita Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE): Rs.69,528 in FY24, shown a growth rate of 3.1%. Annual Expenditure Components at Current Prices for FY24 Per Capita GDP: Rs.2,11,725 in FY24, shown a growth rate of 8.6%. Per Capita GNI: Rs. 2,08,633 in FY24, Shown a growth rate of 8.5%. Per Capita NNI: Rs.1,84,205 in FY24, shown a growth rate of 8.7%. Per Capita PFCE: Rs.1,27,760 in FY24, shown a growth rate of 7.6%. Composition and Growth rates of Annual GVA in Broad Sectors Primary Sector: 19.6% of Nominal GVA in FY24 Secondary Sector: 25.7% of Nominal GVA in FY24 Tertiary Sector: 54.7% of Nominal GVA in FY24 Primary Sector: Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry & Fishing and Mining & Quarrying Secondary Sector: Manufacturing, Electricity, Gas, Water supply & Other Utility Services and Construction Tertiary Sector: Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and Services related to Broadcasting, Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services and Public Administration, Defence & Other Services. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 5 www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 6 www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 7 Key Highlights of Quarterly Estimates and Growth Rates GDP - Real GDP or GDP at Constant Prices in Q4 of 2023-24 is estimated at ₹47.24 lakh crore, against ₹43.84 lakh crore in Q4 of 2022-23. o Showing a growth rate of 7.8%. - Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in Q4 of 2023-24 is estimated at ₹78.28 lakh crore, against ₹71.23 lakh crore in Q4 of 2022-23. o Showing a growth rate of 9.9%. GVA - Real GVA in Q4 of 2023-24 is estimated at ₹42.23 lakh crore, against ₹39.74 lakh crore in Q4 of 2022-23. o Showing a growth rate of 6.3%. - Nominal GVA in Q4 of 2023-24 is estimated at ₹70.97 lakh crore, against ₹65.74 lakh crore in Q4 of 2022-23. o Showing a growth rate of 8.0%. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 8 Composition and Growth Rates of Quarterly GVA in Broad Sectors Primary Sector: 20.3% of Nominal GVA for Quarter 4 of FY24. Secondary Sector: 27.3% of Nominal GVA for Quarter 4 of FY24. Tertiary Sector: 52.4% of Nominal GVA for Quarter 4 of FY24. Ministry of Finance www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 9 Accounts of the Government of India (Provisional/Unaudited) for the Financial Year 2023-2024 Why in News? o The Accounts of the Government of India (Provisional/Unaudited) for the Financial Year 2023-24 has been consolidated and reports published. Key Highlights for the FY24 are: o Total Receipts: Rs.27,88,872 crore. ▪ Tax Revenue: Rs.23,26,524 crore ▪ Non-Tax Revenue: Rs.4,01,888 crore ▪ Non-Debt Capital Receipts: Rs.60,460 crore. - Recovery of Loans: Rs.27,337 crore - Miscellaneous Capital Receipts: Rs.33,122 crore. o Total Expenditure: Rs.44,42,542 crore. ▪ Revenue Account: Rs.34,94,036 crore. ▪ Capital Account: Rs.9,48,506 crore. o Out of the Total Revenue Expenditure: ▪ Interest Payments: Rs.10,63,871 crore. ▪ Major Subsidies: Rs.4,13,542 crore. Miscellaneous Ministries Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Government organizes workshop on Quality Control in Green Hydrogen; deliberations held on Quality Standards, Testing Infrastructure and Ease of Doing Business Why in News? - Workshop organized to create a homogeneous ecosystem for Green Hydrogen production processes through clear quality standards. Location: Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi Portal for the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) launched: https://nghm.mnre.gov.in/. Launched by: Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It will serve as a one-stop location for information on the Mission and steps taken for the development of the green hydrogen ecosystem in India. Report on “Green Hydrogen Standards and Approval Systems in India” launched Aim- To streamline the safety and performance standards as well as approval systems in India related to Green Hydrogen Projects. Knowledge Partner: The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). Standards related to the Green Hydrogen value chain are broadly split into four categories: - Production www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 10 - Storage and transportation - End-use applications - General safety. Across these categories, 87 standards are already adopted or developed in India, and 59 are under development. Further, there are 52 standards that exist globally, which could be considered for adoption in India. For three components, there are no Indian or international standards available for reference. Standards related to the Green Hydrogen value chain are developed or adopted by five entities in India: - Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is the National Standards Body of India - The Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) - The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), - The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) - Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) These entities had issued 53 standards before the launch of the NGHM. In collaboration with the MNRE, 34 new standards have been issued since the launch of the NGHM in a short span of 14 months. Approval required for Green Hydrogen Standards and Approvals in India: - Setting up a Green Hydrogen project requires 73 approvals from the Central Government, State Governments, and local bodies. - Out of the total 73 approvals required for Green Hydrogen projects: o State Government entities hold jurisdiction for 43. o Central Government entities hold jurisdiction for 23 approvals. o Seven approvals fall under local government bodies. - It is seen that 27 out of the 73 approvals are general and legal approvals, 14 approvals are related to renewable energy use, 13 are related to fire safety, pollution control and labour contain eight approvals each and three approvals are for land allocation and use. Report on “India’s Green Hydrogen Revolution”: An ambitious approach launched: Prepared by: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Renewable Energy (RE) Sources are: - Solar - Wind - Hydro - Pumped Storage - Tidal - Biomass India’s Progress in RE: - 4th globally for total Renewable Power capacity additions. - 4th in Wind Power Capacity and - 5th in Solar Power Capacity globally. - India assumed the presidency of the 13th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 11 Progress in RE additions: - India saw the highest year-on-year growth in Renewable Energy additions of 9.83% in 2022. - The installed Renewable Energy capacity (including large hydro) has increased by around 128% since 2014. - Solar: o The installed solar energy capacity has increased by more than 30 times in the last 9 years and stands at 88 GW as of 31 March 2024. o India’s solar energy potential is estimated to be 748 GWp as estimated by National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). - Wind: o The potential now assessed for onshore projects is 1,163 GW. o However, the potential sites having high-Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of 36% and above (which is necessary for financial viability of the project) is 163 GW. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 12 o India has already utilized sites of total capacity of 42 GW and now a balance 120 GW would be available for new development. Phase 1 News GST Revenue Collection for April 2024 Why in News? - The Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections hit a record high in April 2024 at ₹2.10 lakh crore. This represents a significant 12.4% year-on-year growth, driven by a strong increase in domestic transactions (up 13.4%) and imports (up 8.3%). After accounting for refunds, the net GST revenue for April 2024 stands at ₹1.92 lakh crore, reflecting an impressive 15.5% growth compared to the same period last year. Breakdown of April 2024 Collections: - Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST): ₹43,846 crore; - State Goods and Services Tax (SGST): ₹53,538 crore; - Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST): ₹99,623 crore, including ₹37,826 crore collected on imported goods; - Cess: ₹13,260 crore, including ₹1,008 crore collected on imported goods. 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection in 2024 Why in News? www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 13 - The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), will host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26) from May 20 to 30, 2024. Location: Kochi, Kerala Antarctic Treaty: - Signed in 1959. - Came into force in 1961 - India has been a Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty since 1983. - It established Antarctica as a region dedicated to peaceful purposes, scientific cooperation, and environmental protection. - India’s first Antarctic research station, Dakshin Gangotri, was established in 1983. At present, India operates two year-round research stations: Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2012). - In 2022, India enacted the Antarctic Act, reaffirming its commitment to the Antarctic Treaty. - The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (ATS) serves as the administrative hub for the Antarctic Treaty System. Established in 2004 CEP: - The CEP was established under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol) in 1991. Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo system successfully flight-tested Why in News? - Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system was successfully flight-tested from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. SMART is a next-generation missile-based light-weight torpedo delivery system, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It aims to enhance the anti-submarine warfare capability of the Indian Navy far beyond the conventional range of lightweight torpedo. #PlayTrue Campaign Why in News? - The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), India concluded #PlayTrue Campaign. Objective: The campaign commemorated WADA’s Play True Day and aimed at fostering awareness about the importance of clean sport and anti-doping practices in India. Event “Localizing the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way” Why in News? - The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 14 (UNFPA), is organizing the side event during the 57th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD57). Location: UNs HQs in New York. It will shed light on the key role of Indian women in grassroots political leadership, emphasizing their significant contributions to sustainable development at the grassroots level. Ministry of Panchayati Raj has endeavoured to localize the SDGs through Panchayati Raj Institutions, consolidating the 17 SDGs into nine overarching themes. Notably, ‘Theme 9: Women-Friendly Panchayat’ underlines the pivotal objective of safeguarding and promoting the interests of women, while ensuring their survival, protection, development, and participation rights at the grassroots level. Launch of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Technology/Product Booklet and ToT of Thermal Camera to Industry Why in News? - Under InTRanSE program of R& D group, Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), technologies/product/solution developed for Traffic control, Public Transit, Road Safety, Sensors for traffic Applications etc. have been compiled in a booklet form which was launched for awareness creation. The Indigenous Technologies of Thermal camera, designed and developed by CDAC Thiruvananthapuram under InTranSE Program of MeitY, was transferred to M/s Aditya Infotech (CP Plus). - It is a step towards Innovation, Science and Technology theme of Vikshit Bharat @2047. International Sun Day Why in News? - International Sun Day is celebrated in New Delhi by hosting ‘Run for Sun Marathon’. International Sun Day is celebrated on 3rd May. The 12 captivating installations have been set up at prominent malls in six Indian cities, namely Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Vadodara, Guwahati, Varanasi and Chennai. Mining Sector Registers Record Production Why in News? - The index of mineral production for the month of March 2024 was 156.1, which is 1.2% higher as compared to the level in the month of March 2023. The index for the entire FY 2023-24 has increased by 7.5% over FY 2022-23. Iron ore and Limestone together account for about 80% of the total Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR) mineral production by value. India: - 2nd largest Aluminium producer - 3rd largest lime producer - 4th largest iron ore producer in the world. Base year of Index of Mineral Production- 2011-12=100 www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 15 India-Australia Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) Why in News? - Recently, first joint committee meeting under India-Australia Economic Co- operation and Trade Agreement held. JCM also adopted the Rules of Procedure for the Joint Committee and established an institutional mechanism, first of its kind for FTAs, for regular exchange of preferential import data on monthly basis. India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement - It entered into force on 29th December 2022. Arabian Travel Mart 2024 Why in News? Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is participating in Arabian Travel Mart 2024. Location: Dubai. Ministry of Tourism has launched the ‘Cool Summers of India’ campaign at Arabian Travel Mart. This digital campaign challenges the notion of India being too hot for summer travel, emphasizing its offerings in hill resorts, including the Himalayas. The campaign seeks to promote India as a holistic destination throughout the year. First President of GST Appellate Tribunal Why in News? Sanjaya Kumar Mishra is appointed as the first president of GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT). o He was the former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. GSTAT The GSTAT is the Appellate Authority established under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. It was established to hear various appeals under the said Act and the respective State/Union Territories GST Acts against the orders of the first appellate authority. Principal bench: New Delhi State Benches: 31 state benches at various locations across the country. Benefits: o To ensure swift, fair, judicious and effective resolution to GST disputes, besides significantly reducing the burden on higher courts. o It will enhance the effectiveness of the GST system in India and foster a more transparent and efficient tax environment in the country. 4th Session of India-Ghana Joint Trade Committee held in Accra Why in News? www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 16 - India, Ghana agree to operationalise UPI on Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GHIPSS) in six months. Both sides explore possibility of MoUs on Digital transformation Solutions and Local Currency Settlement System; opportunities under African Continental Free Trade Agreement also discussed. 5th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) meeting between India and Bhutan was held in Leh, Ladakh Why in News? - The 5th JGC meeting discussed a host of bilateral issues for further enhancing cooperation between the two countries. India and Bhutan Trade Relations - India is Bhutan’s top trade partner both as an import source and as an export destination. - Since 2014, India’s trade with Bhutan has more than tripled from $484 million in 2014-15 to $1,615 million in 2022-23, accounting for about 80% of Bhutan’s overall trade. One-Day Workshop on State Mining Index Why in News? - Ministry of Mines, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology – Indian School of Mines (IIT-ISM), Dhanbad organized a one-day workshop in Delhi. To discuss the draft framework of the State Mining Index. The ambit of the index will be non-fuel major minerals and minor minerals. Ministry of Mines has commissioned IIT-ISM, Dhanbad to conduct a study for designing the framework, collecting data and formulating the index. India’s social security agreements Why in News? - Specific provisions for International Workers outlined in Paragraph 83 of the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 and Paragraph 43A of the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995, which were deemed to be inconsistent with Article 14 of the Constitution. India’s socials security agreements: - India presently has social security agreements with 21 countries. - These agreements aim to guarantee the uninterrupted social security coverage of employees during international employment. Note- You can use social security agreement in your descriptive questions related to migration. CISCE empowers students with convenient access: Declaration of 2024 real-time examination results and availability of marksheets and certificates through DigiLocker www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 17 Why in News? - The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) integrated with DigiLocker platform to declare the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) examination results for 2024 digitally via DigiLocker platform. MEDITECH STACKATHON 2024 Why in News? - Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) launched this stackathon. Location: New Delhi International Thalassemia Day Why in News? - It is celebrated every year on 8th May. Theme: “Empowering lives, Embracing progress: Equitable and Accessible Thalassaemia Treatment for All”. Thalassaemia is a genetic disorder that affects the production of haemoglobin, leading to a shortage of red blood cells and anaemia. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare initiative: - Inclusion of compulsory Thalassemia testing in the existing reproductive and child health (RCH) programs under National Health Mission (NHM) as a means to curtail the prevalence of the disease. Indian Coast Guard inks MoU with private sector Why in News? - Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Jindal Steel & Power (JSP), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Purpose: It is for the supply of indigenous marine grade steel to enhance the indigenous content in shipbuilding. AWPO SUMMIT 2024 Why in News? - The Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO), organised the AWPO Summit 2024. Location: Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. The aim of the Summit was to bring together different stakeholders on a common platform, to bridge the gap between requirements of enterprise and core competencies possessed by the veterans. The subjects were discussed across three main themes: - Theme 1: Harnessing Veterans' Potential & Experience. - Theme 2: Skills Required to Meet Public and Private Sector Needs. - Theme 3: Unveiling Opportunities for Veterans in India’s Growth Story. At this summit, there was a mention of Project KAUSHALVEER. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 18 - It helps serving personnel in acquiring certification for skill sets as per established industry standards thereby meeting the requirements of both stakeholders National Symposium on Advancements in Composites, Specialty Fibers and Chemicals Why in News? - National symposium on advancements in composites, specialty fibers and chemicals organized. Organizer: - Ministry of Textiles - Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - Ahmedabad Textiles Industries’ Research Associations (ATIRA) Location: New Delhi. India’s Technical Textiles market has a huge potential backed by a significant growth rate of 10% and placement as the 5th largest technical textiles market in the world. IREDA open its new subsidiary Why in News? - Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) located in GIFT City, Gujarat. Named "IREDA Global Green Energy Finance IFSC Limited," the subsidiary was officially incorporated. The Reserve Bank of India gave its No Objection letter to set up the finance company in IFSC GIFT City. National Symposium & Industry Meet on ‘Emerging Technologies in Infrastructure Development’ Why in News? - A National Symposium and Industry Meet on ‘Emerging Technologies in Infrastructure Development’, organised by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Location: New Delhi. India's Index of Industrial Production grows Why in News? - For the month of March 2024, the Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 2011-12 stands at 159.2. The IIP growth rates for the month of March 2024 over the corresponding period of previous year is 4.9 percent. Index of Industrial Production Base Year: 2011-12 www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 19 This index gives the growth rates of different industry groups of the economy over a specified time period. The industry groups that it measures are classified under the following: - Broad sectors like manufacturing, mining, and electricity. - Use-based sectors like capital goods, basic goods, intermediate goods, infrastructure goods, consumer durables, and consumer non-durables. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship signs MoU with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Why in News? - Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd to conduct two Pilot Projects under the Drone Didi Yojana. Two centres of National Skill Training of Institute, situated at Hyderabad and Noida, have been chosen for the Pilot Projects, to empower rural women in agriculture. Under this partnership, MSDE and M&M will conduct two Pilot Projects at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), situated in Hyderabad and Noida, to skill 500 women in exclusive batches of 20 women each. The 15-day curriculum, approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), will be delivered through Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) instructors at these Centres. National Technology Day Why in News? - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)- Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) celebrated the 'National Technology Day. India celebrates its National Technology Day on 11th May each year to signify the technical prowess India achieved. OMCs' FY24 combined profit rose over 25-times year-on-year Why in News? - The state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) have had a fabulous financial year 2023-24. The combined profit of OMCs for FY 2023-24 stood at Rs 86,000 crore, over 25 times higher than the extraordinarily difficult previous fiscal year. ICG signs MoU with private sector for manufacturing & supply of indigenous marine-grade aluminum for construction of ships Why in News? - Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Hindalco Industries inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi for the manufacturing and supply of indigenous marine-grade aluminium to Indian public and private shipyards for the construction of ships. India to participate at 77th Cannes Film Festival www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 20 Why in News? - First time that India will host a “Bharat Parv” at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, for eminent dignitaries and delegates from around the world participating in the Festival, to engage with film celebrities, filmmakers, directors, producers, buyers and sales agents from across the world and showcase the myriad creative opportunities and a rich bank of creative talent. The official poster & trailer of the 55th India International Film Festival (IFFI) to be held in Goa on 20-28 November, 2024. Bharat Pavilion: - The Pavilion will be organized by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) as industry partner. - Designed by: National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad - It is christened on ‘The Sutradhara’ for depicting this year’s theme of “Create in India”. Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine as Light’ is an Indian film in the competition section after 30 years. International Nurses Day Why in News? - International Nurses Day is celebrated across the world, every year on the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale to mark the contributions of nurses towards society. International Nurses Day is celebrated every year on 12th May. Theme: ‘Our Nurses Our Future, The Economic Power of Care’. 19th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests Why in News? - India participated in the 19th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). Location: UN Headquarters in New York. Globally, India ranks third in the net gain, in average annual forest area, between 2010 and 2020. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS ON BASE 2012=100 FOR RURAL, URBAN AND COMBINED FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2024 Why in News? - The annual inflation rate based on all India Consumer Price Index (CPI) number is 4.83% (Provisional) for the month of April, 2024 (over April, 2023). Corresponding inflation rate for rural and urban is 5.43% and 4.11%, respectively. CPI for the months of January, February and March 2024 are 5.10, 5.09 and 4.85 respectively. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 21 About CPI (Combined): - Base Year: 2012 - Released by: NSO, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. - All-India General Group for CPI (Combined): o Food and Beverages (45.86% weightage) o Pan, Tobacco and intoxicants (2.38% weightage) o Clothing and Footwear (6.53% weightage) o Housing (10.07% weightage) o Fuel and Light (6.84% weightage) o Miscellaneous (28.32% weightage) Long-term Main Contract for development of Shahid Beheshti Port Terminal, Chabahar Why in news? - India and Iran are set to sign the long-term agreement for the operation and management of Chabahar Port. The contract was signed between India Port Global Limited (IPGL) and Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) of Iran. The Chabahar Port is a vital link connecting Mumbai to Eurasia via different corridors of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) INSTC route takes 15 days less than the Suez Canal route for shipments to be transported. India currently operates the Chabahar Port on a short-term agreement (Periodically renewed). CHABAHAR PORT: Chabahar Port- Chabahar is a deep-water port, located on the Makran Coast of Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province. It is next to the Gulf of Oman and at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 22 EPFO introduces auto claim settlement for education, marriage and housing Why in News? - To facilitate "Ease of living", the auto claim solution has now been extended for all claims under para 68K (education & marriage purpose) and 68B (housing purpose) of EPF Scheme, 1952. The limit has been doubled from earlier Rs. 50,000/- to Rs.1,00,000/-. Auto mode of claim settlement was introduced in April, 2020 for the purpose of advance for illness. - Now this limit has been enhanced to Rs.1,00,000/-. As a result of this, the periodicity of claim settlement is reduced significantly from 10 days to within 3-4 days for such advances. CBDT releases new functionality in Annual Information Statement (AIS) for taxpayers to display status of information confirmation process in real-time Why in News? - The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has now rolled out a new functionality in AIS to display the status of information confirmation process. This will display, whether the feedback of the taxpayer has been acted upon by the Source, by either, partially or fully accepting or rejecting the same. The following attributes shall be visible to the taxpayer for status of Feedback confirmation from Source: o Whether feedback is shared for confirmation: This will let the taxpayer know if the feedback has been shared with the Reporting Source for confirmation or not. o Feedback Shared On: This will let the taxpayer know the date on which the feedback has been shared with the Reporting Source for confirmation. o Source Responded On: This will let the taxpayer know the date on which the Reporting Source has responded on the feedback shared with it for confirmation. o Source Response: This will let the taxpayer know the response provided by the Source on the taxpayer's feedback (if any correction is required or not). SENIOR NATIONALS SAILING CHAMPIONSHIP – 2024 Why in News? - The Yachting Association of India (YAI) Senior Nationals - 2024 is being conducted from 12 – 18 May 24. Conducted by: Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC), Mumbai supported by Indian Naval Sailing Association (INSA), Naval Headquarters. INDIA- FRANCE JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE Why in News? - The 7th edition of India- France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI commenced. Location: Umroi, Meghalaya. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 23 Exercise SHAKTI is a biennial training event conducted alternatively in India and France. Last edition was conducted in France in November 2021. ‘UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register’ Why in News? - The Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana have been included in ‘UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register’. Ramcharitmanas authored by Goswami Tulsidas. Panchatantra authored by Pt. Vishnu Sharma. Sahrdayaloka-Locana authored by Acharya Anandvardhan. These three entries from India effectively defended the nominations at the UllanBatar convention. This marks the first time Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has submitted nominations to the Regional Register since its inception in 2008. Ministry of Tourism participates in IMEX, Frankfurt 2024 Why in News? - To showcase the strengths of India as a leading Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination to the global market and to act as a catalyst to bring forth greater number of Conferences and Conventions to be hosted in the country. Ministry has introduced 'Meet in India' as a specialized sub-brand within the 'Incredible India' campaign. o This sub-brand aims to enhance promotional initiatives, showcasing India as an appealing MICE destination equipped with top-tier connectivity, cutting-edge infrastructure, a vibrant knowledge hub, and a plethora of distinctive tourist attractions. India is positioned at rank 9 in the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) ranking of countries in the Asia Pacific region, in 2022. IndiaSkills 2024: India’s Biggest Skill Competition to Commence Why in News? - The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has organised an inauguration ceremony at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi. WorldSkills Competition is scheduled to take place in Lyon, France. All skills showcased in both the WorldSkills and IndiaSkills Competitions are meticulously aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). The 4th Technology Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems (TIPS) workshop Why in News? - Bi-annual worshop organised at IIT, Bombay. Each of the 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) demonstrates the progress and achievements made. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 24 World Hydrogen Summit 2024 Why in News? - For the first time, India has set up its own pavilion, at the World Hydrogen Summit 2024. Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands. The India Pavilion, set up by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, is one of the largest pavilions at the Summit. Index Numbers of Wholesale Price in India for the Month of April, 2024 (Base Year: 2011-12) Why in News? - The annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 1.26 % (Provisional) for the month of April, 2024(over April, 2023) and the index stands at 153. About WPI Base Year: 2011-12 Released by: Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Components: 1. Manufactured Products (64.23%) 2. Primary Articles (22.62%) 3. Fuel and Power (13.15%) Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) - Quarterly Bulletin (January- March 2024) Why in News? - Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the PLFS quarterly bulletin. Key Highlights: o Unemployment Rate (UR) in urban areas decreased from 6.8% to 6.7% during January – March 2023 to January – March 2024 for persons of age 15 years and above. o Female UR decreased from 9.2% in January – March 2023 to 8.5% in January – March 2024. o Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in urban areas has shown an increasing trend from 48.5% to 50.2% during January – March 2023 to January – March 2024 respectively for persons of age 15 years and above. o Female Labour Force Participation Rate in urban areas rises from 22.7% to 25.6% during January – March 2023 to January – March 2024, reflecting Overall Increasing Trend in LFPR. o Increasing Trend in Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for persons of age 15 years and above from 45.2% in January – March 2023 to 46.9% in January – March 2024. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 25 o Female Worker Population Ratio in urban areas rises from 20.6% to 23.4% during January – March 2023 to January – March 2024, reflecting Overall Increasing Trend in WPR. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population. Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population. Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force. Power Finance Corporation (PFC) announces Financial Results for 2023-24, registers Highest Annual Profit Why in News? - PFC is now the highest profit making NBFC in India, with 24% remarkable increase registered in Standalone Profit After Tax from Rs. 11,605 crores in FY’23 to Rs. 14,367 crores in FY’24. PFC Group continues to be the largest NBFC Group in India with total balance sheet size crossing more than Rs.10 lakh crore in FY’24 – The current balance sheet size is 10.39 lakh crores. ONDC Startup Mahotsav Why in News? - Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) organised the ‘ONDC Startup Mahotsav’, a first of its kind event. Location: Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The event symbolized the celebration and collaboration of two of DPIIT’s flagship initiatives – the Startup India initiative and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). Unique Collaboration: Between ONDC and Startup India Initiative. Letter of Intent has been signed with ONDC by: - EaseMyTrip - OfBusiness - Winzo - Livspace - GlobalBees - Pristyn Care - Cars24 - Physics Wallah - PolicyBazaar - Zerodha, ONDC - Launched: 2021 www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 26 - It was incorporated as a Section 8 company with the Quality Council of India and Protean eGov Technologies Limited as Founding Members. - It aims to create an inclusive ecosystem for e-commerce. - More than 5 lakh sellers have been onboarded on the platform, of which more than 70% are small or medium sized sellers. Two New initiatives launched at World Telecom and Information Society (WTISD) Day Why in News? - World Telecom and Information Society Day is celebrated on 17th May. - The WTISD is celebrated globally to mark the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and to raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as ways to bridge the digital divide. - Theme: “Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development” Special Initiatives “NIDHI” & “STAR Program” for the development of indigenous telecom solutions & technologies. NIDHI Program - Launched by: C-DOT - Aim: It aims to increase participation of women led start-ups for the development of indigenous telecom solutions and technologies for Indian and Global ICT market. - Eligibility: The applications, under “NIDHI” are open to DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) recognized start-ups led by women. - Offerings to Top 10 selected start-ups: o Initial grant of 10 lakh INR each. o Well-furnished space for 6 months. o Mentorship from C-DOT Technical Leaders o Use and access to C-DOT Lab Facilities. o Future Collaboration opportunity under C-DOT Collaborative Research Program. STAR Program - Aim: It also aims to promote the development of indigenous telecom solutions and technologies. - C-DOT offers scholarship to PhD student one each from the top 20 NIRF (National Institute Ranking Framework) ranking engineering institute. - Scholarship amount of INR 6 Lakh per annum to the selected scholar for a period of up to four years. - Mentorship from research leaders of C-DOT and access to lab facilities. Workshop on “Bridging the Standardization Gap” Why in News? www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 27 - A two-day workshop on “Bridging the Standardization Gap” at NTIPRIT, Ghaziabad. Hosted by: - National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research, Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT), Ghaziabad under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) - International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area office and Innovation Centre, New Delhi. It underscored the importance of collaborative standard-setting processes and highlighted the proactive steps being taken by India to contribute to global ICT standardization efforts. Book launched at Bhagat Memorial Lecture Why in News? - During the event, a book titled “The Victoria Cross Icon: Vision and Legacy” on the rich legacy of Lieutenant General PS Bhagat launched. Authored by: Major General Shashikant G Pitre (Retired) SECOND INDIA – AUSTRALIA – INDONESIA TRILATERAL MARITIME SECURITY WORKSHOP Why in News? - Security workshop was conducted at INS Dronacharya, Kochi. The Theme of the workshop was ‘Indian Ocean Region: Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Regional Maritime Security’ National Workshop on "Forging Sustainability in the Steel Sector" Why in News? - The Ministry of Steel organized a National Workshop on "Forging Sustainability in the Steel Sector". Location: Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. International Day for Women in Maritime Why in News? - The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) celebrated the International Day for Women in Maritime, on 18th May. Theme: " Safe Horizons: Women in Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety," UMEED NIKETAN Why in News? - Inauguration of UMEED NIKETAN by President of Air Force Family Welfare Association at Base Repair Depot Air Force Palam. Umeed Niketan, is an advanced Therapy Centre for children with special needs. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 28 The Umeed Niketan has been conceived and conceptualized to create a nurturing environment where children with special needs can think, grow and learn to develop life skills through recreational activities tailored to their unique abilities. The Umeed Niketan would cater to nearly 55 specially-abled children who are helped by a dedicated team of trained special educators. MoU on Digitalization of Vaccine Cold Chain Management, Capacity Building, and Communication Planning Why in News? o The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India on Digitalization of Vaccine Cold Chain Management, Capacity Building, and Communication Planning. Vaccine cold chain management process will be monitored through: o Animal vaccine Intelligence Network (AVIN) developed by UNDP. Advantages of this MOU: o Real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows and storage temperatures. o Increase in Vaccine availability o It will address the infrastructure gaps. o UNDP will support and strengthen India’s first animal vaccine supply chain management system ensuring communities and animals are protected and further mitigating the risks at the human-animal- environment interface. o Strengthening of Animal Health with One Health approach at centre. Technical assistance will be extended to Centre of Excellence of Animal Husbandry (CEAH) to enhance its capabilities in animal husbandry practices. DAHD is supplying FMD (Foot and Mouth diseases) vaccine worth approximately Rs. 900 Crore this year and aims to cover 50 Crore large animals and 20 Crore small animals in FMD vaccination programme. International Museum Day Why in News? o Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) organized a symposium on the topic ‘Museums & Archives: A Public Space for Education’ at UMANG Auditorium to commemorate International Museum Day 2024. It is celebrated every year on 18th May. Theme: Museums for Education and Research. This year the IMD 2024 theme connects to Goal 4: Quality education, and Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure. ULIP Workshop Brings States Together to Enhance India’s Logistics www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 29 Why in News? o This workshop was organized to recognize the lead of ULIP in transforming India’s logistics sector. About Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) o Launched: September, 2022 as part of the ‘National Logistics Policy’ o Objective: To enable the industry players to get secure access to the information related to logistics and resources available with various ministries. o It is designed to enhance efficiency and reduce the cost of logistics in India by creating a transparent, one window platform that can provide real-time information to all stakeholders. o There are three key components which are defining the ULIP platform- - Integration with existing data sources of ministries - Data exchange with private players - Unified document reference in the supply chain o Currently, the platform integrates with 37 systems from 10 ministries via 118 APIs, covering over 1800 data fields. o Private Participation: Over 900 companies registered on the ULIP portal. - Additionally, these companies have developed over 90 applications, leading to more than 35 crore API transactions. Seminar-cum-exhibition on ‘Historical Patterns of Indian Strategic Culture Why in News? o As part of ‘Project Udbhav’, a seminar-cum-exhibition on ‘Historical Patterns of Indian Strategic Culture’ was held at the National Museum in New Delhi. Project Udbhav: o Launch: 21 October 2023. o It aims to explore the country’s ancient texts and oral traditions to unearth invaluable insights into its strategic culture. o It not only enrich our understanding of strategic culture, but also provide valuable insights into unconventional warfare strategies, diplomatic practices and ethical considerations in warfare. o It acts as a guiding light for a future where India is self-reliant, and deeply rooted in its cultural heritage. Udbhav Compendium: o The ‘Udbhav Compendium (2023-2024)’ is designed to be a record for future scholarship and education on India’s ancient wisdom for military affairs in particular and statecraft in general. o It comprises six chapters & multiple appendices encompassing the key findings and takeaways from the activities & events organised as part of Project Udbhav. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 30 Jointness 2.0 Why in News? o Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan has called upon the three services to create a Joint Culture as they move towards forming Joint Operational Structures. Jointness 1.0 was about better bonhomie (Friendliness) and consensus among the services. Jointness 2.0 to develop joint culture in Armed Forces. Inter-ministerial workshop on ‘Responsible Business Conduct in India’ Why in News? o Workshop was organised by the School of Business Environment, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) along with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Govt. of India, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Location: New Delhi. The objective of the workshop was to map the policies of different ministries aligned with responsible business, to share the progress made against the policies and schemes related to responsible business, to deliberate the need for collaborative action, and to seek inputs for documenting initiatives pertaining to responsible business leading towards Viksit Bharat. ATD BEST Awards 2024 Why in News? o NTPC has achieved an impressive milestone by securing the 3rd rank globally at the ATD BEST Awards 2024, for talent development, this being the highest ranking among all Indian companies. NTPC is the only PSU to have received this prestigious award seven times in the past eight years. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has been conferred the prestigious ATD BEST Awards 2024 for the third time for its strategic approach to talent development driving business results. o This year’s accolade highlights POWERGRID’s innovative approach to adopting latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, for the efficient maintenance of extensive power transmission network and the successful execution of large-scale projects. o This is the third time POWERGRID has been honoured with the ATD BEST Award, having previously received it in 2021 and 2023. The ATD BEST Awards, established by the Association for Talent Development (ATD), USA, is one of the most esteemed international recognitions in the field of Learning and Development (L&D). Chakshu facility on Sanchar Saathi Portal Why in News? www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 31 o Action taken against fraudsters reported through Chakshu facility by Department of Telecommunication (DoT) were discussed. About Chakshu Facility o It is available on the Sanchar Saathi Portal of the DoT. o It facilitates citizens to report suspected fraud communication received over call, SMS, or WhatsApp with the intention of defrauding like KYC expiry or update of bank account/payment wallet/SIM/gas connection/electricity connection. Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024 Why in News? o Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan attended ‘Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024’. Conducted by: Defence Cyber Agency. It aims to further develop Cyber Defence Capability of all Cyber security organisations and promote synergy amongst all stakeholders. It focusses on enhancing collaboration and integration among participants from various military and prominent national organizations. FIRST- EVER EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM (EMRS) OF Indian Air Force (IAF) Why in News? o An Emergency Medical Response System (EMRS), was inaugurated by Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force Location: at Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore (CHAFB) The EMRS is a first of its kind 24/7 telephonic medical helpline for serving IAF personnel and their families across India. The system aims to provide prompt response by a team of medical and paramedical professionals to the caller experiencing the emergency anywhere across the country. Defence Sector ICT Conclave Why in News? o Defence Sector ICT Conclave inaugurated. Organizer: o Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) o Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications o Ministry of External Affairs. Location: New Delhi. Government appoints Shri Ramesh Babu V as Member in Central Electricity Regulatory Commission Why in News? o Shri Ramesh Babu V. has taken oath of office and secrecy as Member, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission: www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 32 o It was established under the provisions of the Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERC) Act, 1998. o CERC is the Central Commission for the purposes of the Electricity Act, 2003 which has repealed the ERC Act, 1998. o The Commission consists of a Chairperson and three other Members. o Additionally, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority is the ex- officio Member of the Commission. o It regulates the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central Government, to regulate the tariff of other generating companies having a composite scheme for generation and sale of electricity in more than one State, to regulate the inter-State transmission of electricity and to determine tariff for inter-state transmission of electricity. DoT aims to disconnect mobile connections taken fraudulently Why in News? - Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has identified approximately 6.80 lakh mobile connections are suspected to fraudulent, have been obtained using invalid, non-existent, or fake/forged Proof of Identity (PoI) and Proof of Address (PoA) KYC documents. All Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) are mandated to re-verify the flagged connections within 60 days. Failure to complete re-verification will result in the disconnection of the concerned mobile numbers. National Finales of Power Quiz 2024 and Medha Pratiyogita 2024 Why in News? - NTPC hosted the National Finales of the Power Quiz 2024 and Medha Pratiyogita 2024. Location: At the Power Management Institute (PMI), Noida. Both the quizzes were conducted by the esteemed quizmaster Shri Gautam Bose from M/s Greycells. Power Quiz 2024: - Shri Prag Sood from NTPC Telangana and Shri Harmeet Bagga from NTPC Ramagundam are winners. Medha Pratiyogita 2024: - It featured quizzes in four different categories: Junior (Class IV to VI), Middle (Class VII to IX), Senior (Class X to XII), and Employees (including spouses). - The winners of the Medha Pratiyogita 2024 final round are: o Neel Goswami and Avyan Garg from PUVNL, ER 1 (Junior) o Rishabh Raj and Ishan Snehi from Vindhyachal, NR (Middle) o Tanmay Verma and Shaurya Deep from Vindhyachal, NR (Senior) o Arindam Dhar and Satya Ranjan Mahapatra from North Karanpura, ER 1 (Employee) category. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 33 ‘The Economic Times HR World Future Ready Organization Award 2024-25’ Why in News? - NHPC, India’s premier hydropower company, has been conferred with the prestigious ‘The Economic Times HR World Future Ready Organization Award 2024-25’. The Award has been given to NHPC in recognition of its preparedness in the areas of upskilling of employees, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) interventions, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives, constant technological upgradations, Employee Engagement processes, robust Corporate Governance strategies etc. FTII student bags ‘La Cinef’ Award at 77th Cannes Film Festival Why in News? - “SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW”, a course end film by Chidanand Naik, a student of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), received the Cannes’ La Cinef Award for Best Short at 77th Cannes Film Festival in France. The current recognition comes four years after another FTII student film ‘CATDOG’ won an award at 73rd Cannes. This is the first time a film by a student from 1-year Television course of FTII has been selected and won at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. ‘La Cinef’ is an official section of the festival aimed at encouraging new talents and recognises films from film schools across the world. About “SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW”: - It is a story of an elderly woman who steals the village's rooster, which throws the community into disarray. - This FTII film is a production of the TV Wing’s One-year. - The film was among 18 shorts (14 live-action and 4 animated films) selected from a total of 2,263 films submitted by 555 film schools all over the world. - The film is directed by Chidananda S Naik, shot by Suraj Thakur, edited by Manoj V and sound by Abhishek Kadam. - Chidanand S Naik was also selected as one of the 75 Creative Minds at 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), an initiative of Ministry of I&B to recognize and support budding young artists in the field of Cinema. Cyber Security Conclave 2024 Why in News? - Cyber Security Conclave was jointly organized by Common Service Centre (CSC) and United Service Institution (USI) in New Delhi. MoU was signed between CSC and USI to strengthen Cyber Security. Cyber Rakshak Program: - It is launched by the CSC. - It is launched in rural and remote areas in collaboration with leading IT infrastructure service provider companies across the world. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 34 - This cyber security training initiative has equipped women with new technology skills and helped them emerge as cyber security ambassadors. About CSC: - Common Services Centers (CSC) are an integral part of the Digital India mission. - They are access points for the delivery of Digital India services to rural and remote areas across the country and contribute towards the fulfilment of the vision of Digital India and the Government’s mandate for a digitally and financially inclusive society. - The CSCs offer assisted access to e-services in India, focusing on enhancing governance. - CSCs also deliver a range of social welfare schemes, financial services, educational courses, skill development courses, healthcare, agriculture services, and digital literacy. ICG takes preparatory measures in view of Cyclone Storm ‘Remal’ originating from Central Bay of Bengal Why in News? - Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated comprehensive preparatory measures to ensure minimal loss of life and property at sea due to Cyclonic Storm ‘Remal’ originating in the central Bay of Bengal. Cyclone Remal: - Naming: The name 'Remal' in the list of tropical cyclones is given by Oman. It will be the first cyclone to hit the region this 2024 pre-monsoon season. - 'Remal,' meaning 'sand' in Arabic. 'Doordarshan': In the era of Artificial Intelligence Why in News? - Doordarshan Kisan is going to become first government TV channel to launch two AI anchors that is AI Krish and AI Bhoomi. The AI anchors can speak in fifty languages of the country and abroad. The farmer viewers will be able to see these anchors in all the states of the country from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and from Gujarat to Arunachal. These AI anchors will provide every necessary information about agricultural research happening in the country and global level, trends in agriculture mandis, changes in the weather or any other information of government schemes. About Doordardhan Kisan (DD Kisan): - It is the only TV channel in the country, which has been established by the Government of India and dedicated to the farmers. - This channel was established on 26 May 2015. - DD Kisan channel is strengthening the three-dimensional concept of agriculture which includes balanced farming, animal husbandry and plantation. IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championship Why in News? www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 35 - JSSPS Cadet Secures Two Bronze Medals at IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championship. Babulal Hembrom, a Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society (JSSPS) cadet, secured two bronze medals. Babulal clinched third place in 49 kg Snatch and Clean & Jerk categories at the championship. Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society (JSSPS) is supported by Central Coal Fields Ltd, in its endeavour to promote sports facilities in coal bearing states. IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championship held at Lima, Peru. Wheat procurement in full swing, crosses last year’s total procurement figure Why in News? - Procurement of Wheat during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2024-25 is going on smoothly in the major procuring States across the country. 262.48 LMT of wheat has already been procured so far this year in Central Pool surpassing last year’s total procurement of 262.02 LMT. MSP: - A total of 22.31 lakh farmers have been benefitted during RMS 2024-25 with total MSP outflow to the tune of Rs. 59,715 crores. Major contribution in the procurement: - Punjab - Haryana - Madhya Pradesh - Rajasthan - Uttar Pradesh Rice procurement during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24: - 728.42 LMT paddy equivalent to 489.15 LMT of rice has been so far procured directly from 98.26 Lakh farmers. - Total MSP outflow of approx. Rs.1,60,472 crores. With above quantity of procurement, the combined stock of wheat and rice at present in Central Pool surpassed 600 LMT. Commandant, National Defence Academy Why in News? Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh assumed the appointment of Commandant, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. INS Kiltan, one of the P28 (Project 28) Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvettes, recently visited Brunei and the Philippines. Why in News? - The visit is part of Operational Deployment of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet to South China Sea. About P28: www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 36 - P28 aimed to build four indigenous ASW corvettes or Kamorta class corvettes, namely, INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan, and INS Kavaratti. - Built by: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. - They can be deployed in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare conditions and have been constructed using high-grade DMR 249A steel produced in India. - The ships are equipped with a Combat Management System, Torpedo Tube Launchers, and an Infra-Red Signature Suppression System, among other features. Launch of Electric Tiller Why in News? - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Mechanical Engineering Research institute launched Electric Tiller. It is tailored to meet the requirements of small to marginal farmers, who constitute over 80% of the nation’s farming community. It comes equipped with a 2-inch water pump and a trolley attachment capable of carrying up to 500 kg, further enhancing its versatility. Electric tiller benefits: - It enhances torque (twisting force that tends to cause rotation) and field efficiency. - It reduces hand-arm vibration, operates quietly, and produces zero exhaust emissions compared to traditional tillers. - It reduces cost. ‘All We Imagine as Light’- an Indo-French co production creates history at Cannes Why in News? - Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine as Light’ movie won the Grand Prix, the second-most prestigious prize of the festival after the Palmed’Or (It is won by American director Sean Baker for Anora). First Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. It was nominated for the Palme d'or, the highest award in the festival but won the second most prestigious prize that is Grand Prix. First Indian film in 30 years to win this award. - The last Indian movie to be selected for the main competition was Shaji N Karun’s 1994 movie Swaham. About ‘All We Imagine as Light’: - It is a Malayalam-Hindi feature on revolves around two Malayali nurses, played by Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha, who are trying to explore their life and find a connection in metropolitan Mumbai. - 3- Leading ladies of the film: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 37 - Movie is about friendship, about three very different women. - It is an Indo-French production, bankrolled by Petit Chaos from France and Chalk and Cheese Films from India. It was the first Indian film to win an eight-minute standing ovation at the Cannes. - Payal’s film was granted official Indo-French co production status by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, under the signed Audio-Visual treaty between India and France. - Permission for shooting of the film was also granted by the Ministry in Maharashtra (Ratnagiri and Mumbai). - The film received Interim approval for 30% of the Qualifying Co-production expenditure under the Incentives Scheme of the Government of India for Official Co-production. Other awards at the 77th Cannes Film Festival: - India Benegals’ Manthan showcased at Cannes in the Classic Section. o Director: Shyam Benegal. o It was preserved at the National Film Archives of India (NFDC-NFAI under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and restored by the Film Heritage Foundation. - Pierre Angénieux Tribute award: o Renowned Cinematographer Santosh Sivan, became the first Asian to be awarded this prestigious award in recognition of his "career and exceptional quality of work". - Best Actress award: o Anasuya Sengupta as she became the first ever Indian to win the Best Actress award for her performance in ‘The Shameless’ in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ category. - ACID Cannes sidebar programme o Maisam Ali’s film “In Retreat” was screened at the ACID Cannes sidebar programme. o It was the first time an Indian film was screened in the section run by the Association for the Diffusion of Independent Cinema, since its inception in 1993. - “SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW”: o 15-minute short film based on a Kannada folklore. Director (Personnel) of SJVN Why in News? - The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Shri Ajay Kumar Sharma for the post of Director (Personnel) of SJVN, a leading Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Power. Treaty on Intellectual Property (IP), Genetic Resources (GR) and Associated Traditional knowledge (ATK) Why in News? www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 38 - The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) approved the treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. About the Treaty: o Aim: It seeks to enhance transparency, prevent biopiracy, and promote sustainable use of genetic resources, thereby recognizing and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities over their genetic resources and traditional knowledge, fostering equitable benefit-sharing. o Negotiations for this Treaty began at WIPO in 2001, initiated in 1999 with a proposal by Colombia. o For the first time, the connection between local communities and their GRs and ATK is recognised in the global IP community. o The first WIPO Treaty to include provisions specifically for Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities. o Now, it will be mandatory for patent applicants to disclose country of origin or source of genetic resources if the claimed invention is based on those materials or associated traditional knowledge. o Once 15 countries agree to the Treaty, it will become an official part of international law. o The treaty on ratification and entry into force will require contracting parties to put in place, mandatory disclosure obligations for patent applicants to disclose the country of origin or source of the genetic resources when the claimed invention is based on genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge. At present, only 35 countries have some form of disclosure obligations, most of which are not mandatory and do not have appropriate sanctions or remedies. The new treaty was adopted on at the WIPO headquarters in Geneva after 192 countries and 86 observers participated in the negotiations. Genetic resources (GRs) are present in things like medicinal plants, agricultural crops, and animal breeds. While genetic resources themselves cannot be directly protected as intellectual property, inventions developed using them can, most often through a patent. Some genetic resources are also associated with traditional knowledge (ATK) through their use and conservation by indigenous peoples as well as local communities, often over generations. This knowledge is sometimes used in scientific research and, as such, may contribute to the development of a protected invention. About WIPO www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 39 It’s mandate, governing bodies and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention, which established WIPO in 1967. It is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation. It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 193 member states. 77th World Health Assembly Why in News? - 77th World Health Assembly co-hosted by WHO Regional Office for Southeast Asia (SEARO) and Government of India. Location: Geneva, Switzerland. Theme: All for Health, Health for All, with the core values and the ethos of India, that is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which means “the world is one family” The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. WHA comprises of sessions in three main committees, which are Plenary, Committee A and Committee B. o Committee A will be chaired by India. o It will facilitate discussion on various programmatic topics covering Universal Health Coverage, Public Health Emergency preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, sustainable financing for WHO etc. WHO- States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Report (SPAR) - India has a core capacity score of 86% to detect, assess, report and respond to any health emergencies, which exceeds the Southeast Asia Region and Global average. World Health Assembly: - It is the main decision-making body of WHO. - Member states: 194 Member States. - At the Health Assembly, country delegates make decisions on health goals and strategies that will guide their own public health work and the work of the WHO Secretariat to move the world towards better health and well-being for all. Centre for Carbon Fiber and Prepregs (CCFP) Why in News? - The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Laying foundation stone of Centre for Carbon Fiber and Prepregs (CCFP). Location: at National Aerospace Limited, Bengaluru. PRAGATI-2024 Why in News? - The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, is hosting "Pharma Research in AyurGyan And Techno Innovation (PRAGATI- 2024). www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 40 Location: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Objective: This interactive meeting focuses on exploring research opportunities and fostering collaboration between CCRAS and the Ayurveda drug industry. Term of the chairman of DRDO is extended for a period of one year Why in News? - The Appointment Committee of Cabinet, approved the extension in service of Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat for a period of one year, beyond his normal age of superannuation (May 31, 2024), i.e. up to May 31, 2025. “Olive Green- Going Green” Indian Army Receives First Hydrogen Bus Why in News? - To resolve towards finding green and sustainable transport solutions, the Indian Army has collaborated with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for demonstration trials of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus technology. The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus has a seating capacity of 37 passengers. It promises an impressive mileage of 250-300 km on a full 30 kg onboard tank of Hydrogen fuel. Other important MOU signed by the Indian Army: - In 2023, Indian Army became the first government entity to ink an MoU with National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy Limited for installation of Green Hydrogen based Microgrid Power Plants along the Northern Borders. - A pilot project is being setup at Chushul. Strategic Partnership To Enhance Skill Development And Lifelong Learning Why in News? - Advancing the Skill Mission, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and International Labour Organization (ILO) forge strategic partnership to enhance Skill Development and Lifelong Learning in India and globally. This collaboration aims to empower individuals across the globe, by equipping them with essential competencies and qualifications, thereby enhancing employability and sustainable economic growth. It will also facilitate public-private partnerships and knowledge exchange to enhance Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), develop micro-credentials, and promote Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through a global knowledge- sharing platform. Key aspect of this partnership: - Implementation of the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 41 - Governments, workers’ and employers' organizations in ILO’s member countries will be able to use SIDH to digitize systems, processes, skills delivery, and job matching, based on a cost-effective model. Future endeavours: - NSDC is planning to work with ILO to develop regional qualification frameworks such as the South Asian Qualification Framework which will help youth from the neighbouring countries also. Workshop on ‘Powering Transformation through UI/UX for Digital Governance’ Why in News? - Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has organised a National Workshop on ‘Powering Transformation through UI/UX for Digital Governance’ for setting up the guidelines for enhancing user experience of using websites/portals/applications. Signing of MoU between Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Common Service Centres. - To Recognize the best practices and exceptional leadership and dedication in crafting intuitive and visually stunning user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) in product design. Awareness Workshop for Sanchar Mitras Why in News? - Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in collaboration with National Telecommunications Institute, Ghaziabad (NTIPRIT) conducted an Awareness Workshop for Sanchar Mitras. Sanchar Mitra Programme: - Aim: To enhance mobile users' security; clarity on radiation myths; raise awareness about DoT’s initiatives and prevent mobile-related fraud. - Under this programme, students are engaged as volunteers to empower citizens with respect to their safe & smooth journey in digital world, by raising awareness about various citizen centric services of Department and dangers of cyber fraud. - Sanchar Mitras are the students identified from universities to whom 100 5G use case labs have been awarded. - This spreads over educational institutions across 28 states and 4 UTs. Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024 Why in News? - The Award ceremony was organised by Outlook Group, in collaboration with IIT Goa at Goa. ‘Sustainability Champion – Editor’s Choice Award’: www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 42 - REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has been honoured with this award. “CSR Champion Award”: - Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC) has been honoured with this award. RudraM-II air-to-surface missile successfully flight-tested Why in News? - Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight- tested the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile from Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF) off the coast of Odisha. RudraM-II is an indigenously-developed solid-propelled air-launched missile system meant for Air-to-Surface role to neutralize many types of enemy assets. 76TH INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UN PEACEKEEPERS Why in News? - The Indian Army commemorated the 76th International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers, by paying homage to the fallen comrades by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi. International Day of UN Peacekeepers: - It is every year celebrated on 29th May. - On this day, the first UN Peacekeeping Mission, “UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) began in 1948 in Palestine. India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeepers Operations: - India has contributed services of approximately 2,87,000 troops to peacekeeping missions. (One of the largest troops contributions) - The Indian Army has established a Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi to impart niche training in peacekeeping operations. “Military Gender Advocate of the Year 2023” by the UN Headquarters: - Major Radhika Sen has been conferred with this award. Summer Fiesta 2024 at National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi Why in News? - Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, today inaugurated the month-long "Summer Fiesta 2024" at the National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi. National Bal Bhawan: - It was established in 1956. - It is an autonomous body under the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education. - It was founded with the vision of fostering learning through thinking, imagination, creativity, and entertaining activities for children. MEA, MeitY and CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd sign MoU Why in News? - A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is entered into between Ministry External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, Ministry of Electronics and www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 43 Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India and Common Service Centres (CSC) eGovernance Services India Limited. Purpose: To create a synergy between CSC Special Purpose Vehicle & MEA to provide the eMigrate services through CSCs in the country. eMigrate Project: - It is undertaken to assist mainly the blue-collar workers going to Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries. - The project was conceptualized to address issues faced by the migrant workers by making emigration process online seamless and also to bring foreign employers and registered recruitment agents and insurance companies on one common platform aimed at promoting safe and legal migration. NATIONAL HEALTH CLAIM EXCHANGE (NHCX) PORTAL IS TO BE LAUNCHED VERY SOON: · Why in News? - Government is planning to launch a Unified portal- The National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX) one-stop-portal that will process health insurance claims across hospitals all over the country. o new portal will use a common data collection format that will contain all the information needed by different insurance companies. Designed to streamline the claim settlement process for everyone involved. It has been developed as part of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Aim- Speed-up the pre-authorisation time and discharge approvals, and bring down insurance premiums in the future. Union Health Secretary addresses BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly at Geneva Why in News? - Shri Apurva Chandra highlighted that the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre was virtually launched during India’s presidency. Coordinating Agency for BRICS vaccine and R&D centre activities: - Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) -National Institute of Virology (NIV). National Action Plan on Anti-Microbial Resistance: - It was launched in 2017. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON STEEL: FOCUS ON CAPITAL GOODS (ICONS24) Why in News? - MECON Limited along with SAIL, under the aegis of Ministry of Steel, Government of India is organizing this conference. Location: Ranchi. National Steel Policy: - It was launched in 2017. - It aims to increase the crude steel capacity to 300 MT by 2030-31. - It aims to increase per capita consumption of steel to 160 kgs by 2030-31. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 44 India hosts side event on Women, Children and Adolescent Health at the 77th World Health Assembly at Geneva Why in News? - India hosted a side event on Women, Children and Adolescent Health in collaboration with: o Norway o United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) o United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) o Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH). The purpose of the event was to share emerging evidence and discoveries, fostering dialogue on pivotal opportunities for investment in maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and well-being. Armed Forces Medical Services & IIT Hyderabad ink MoU Why in News? - The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad to collaborate on research and training. It aims to foster innovation and research in developing novel medical devices and addressing health issues specific to soldiers serving in varied terrains. Key areas of collaboration discussed include drone-based patient transport, telemedicine innovations, the application of Artificial Intelligence in the medical field, and advancements in nanotechnology. Department of Telecommunication (DoT) allots separate numbering series exclusively for service and transactional voice calls Why in News? - Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced a new numbering series, 160xxxxxxx for making service/transactional calls. This initiative is a step towards providing citizens with a way to easily identify such legitimate calls. Service Call: A service call in telecommunications is a phone call made to a customer for specific purposes related to a business transaction. This can include: o Helping complete or confirm a purchase the customer has agreed to. o Providing important information about product warranties, recalls, or safety. These calls are made with the customer's consent or follow a pre-approved script. Transactional Call: It means a voice call which aims to alert its own customers or account holders and information to be communicated by the voice call is time critical in the nature. Combined Index of Eight Core Industries for April, 2024 Why in News? www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 45 o The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) increased by 6.2 per cent (provisional) in April, 2024 as compared to the Index in April, 2023. About Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) o Base Year: 2011-12. o Prepared and released by: The Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), Department of Promotion of Industry and internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. o It measures the collective and individual production performances of eight selected core industries. o These industries comprise a total of 40.27% of the total weight of the overall items that are included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). o In the decreasing order of the weightage of these industries, the list is stated as below: - Refinery Products Industry (28.04%) - Electricity Industry (19.85%) - Steel Industry (17.92%) - Coal Industry (10.33%) - Crude Oil Industry (8.98%) - Natural Gas Industry (6.88%) - Cement Industry (5.37%) - Fertilizers Industry (2.63%) Implementation Manual of Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (Tofei) On World No Tobacco Day, 2024 Why in News? o On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2024, the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, launched an Implementation Manual of Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) at New Delhi in collaboration with Socio Economic and Educational Development Society (SEEDS). o The manual aims to assist schools in adhering to the ToFEI guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, thereby creating a healthier, tobacco-free environment for students. Indian badminton maestro Ms. PV Sindhu was designated as the brand ambassador for Tobacco Control. Operational Guidelines for Establishing Tobacco Cessation Centres in Medical Institutions was also unveiled: o It aims to educate and sensitize medical students about tobacco cessation, aligning with the guidelines set by the National Medical Commission to train graduates in holistic medicine. World No Tobacco Day 2024 o Celebrated on: 31st May o Theme: "Protecting children from tobacco industry interference. www.crackgradeb.com | [email protected] | 9310558455  Crack Grade B 46 o India is the first country globally to regulate anti-tobacco warnings on streaming or OTT media platforms. 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM-46) and the 26th Committee on Environmental Protection (CEP-26) Why in News? o India successfully concluded hosti