The Granth Magazine April 2024 PDF

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT A WORD OF I, SAGAR GUPTA (DIRECTOR) wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the people stood by me in my journey and for the impact you have made. Your support, guidance, and encouragement have been instrumental in ou...

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT A WORD OF I, SAGAR GUPTA (DIRECTOR) wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the people stood by me in my journey and for the impact you have made. Your support, guidance, and encouragement have been instrumental in our growth. I am indebted to my father LATE. SANTOSH GUPTA, my role model and whose life is my source of inspiration and My Mother MRS. SADHANA GUPTA for all the love, care and motivation during my hard times. Your belief in Desire To Learn has given us the confidence to do more for you in all possible ways. Your trust has constantly inspired us to share knowledge in powerful way. We are grateful for the opportunities you have provided us. We also want to thank you for your patience and understanding during the challenging times. Your unwavering support and belief in us have helped us stay focused and motivated, even when things seemed difficult. Also this book would not have been possible without the support and hard work of our Co-founder SHRASTI JAIN. We hope this book will prove to be very useful to our readers. FOUNDER/DIRECTOR CO-FOUNDER SAGAR GUPTA SHRASTI JAIN  THE GRANTH CATALOGUE April-2024 EDITION ❑Important Days Of- 05 APRIL THROW LIGHTS ON GI TAGS 38 BOOKS & AUTHORS THE HINDU 09 FIRST IN NEWS 40 Decrypt Defense FESTIVALS 41 ❖ Military Exercise INITIATIVES 42 11 ❖ Achievements APPS & PORTALS 43 ❖ Indian Naval Ships AWARDS 44 BHARAT BULLITENS 14 ❖THOMAS CUP ❖LAUREUS CUP LETS TRAVEL WORLD 21 SPORTS AT GLANCE 24 CONFERENCE & APPOINTMENT 29 SUMMIT 49 RANKS & INDEX 31 SCIENCE & TECH OBITUARIES 35 51 DOWNLOAD OUR IMPORTANT OPERATION 36 APP FROM PLAY STORE NEW SPECIES 37 DESIRE TO "Aim high, fly high, and never LEARN stop reaching for the skies. A BRIEF TIMELINE 01 APRIL- ODISHA FOUNDATION DAY Utkal Divas is commemorated each year to commemorate the establishment of the state of Odisha on April 1, 1936. 02 APRIL- RBI FOUNDATION 05 APRIL- INTERNATIONAL DAY CONSCIENCE DAY The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the to commemorate the value of human nation’s central banking institution, is conscience and celebrate the aspiration entering its 90th year on April 1st, 2024. for a better world. Sir Osborne Smith was the first THEME- ‘Promoting a Culture of Peace Governor of RBI. with Love and Conscience’. 05 APRIL- NATIONAL MARITIME DAY to spread awareness about international trade and economy. On this day, the "NMD Award of Excellence" is also presented. THEME- “Navigating the Future: Safety First 06 APRIL- NATIONAL HANDMADE DAY This day is dedicated to honoring, appreciating, and recognizing the skilled individuals who create handmade goods. THEME- Buy a handmade product. 07 APRIL- NATIONAL HEALTH DAY To draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. THEME- My Health, My Right. 10 APRIL- WORLD HOMEOPATHY DAY celebrated to honor the birth anniversary of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy and a German physician. Theme- “Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family. APRIL/05  A BRIEF TIMELINE 11 APRIL- NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY to highlight the importance of maternal health and well-being and to prioritize the care and support for mothers, ensuring a safe and healthy journey through pregnancy and childbirth. THEME- Equity in Maternal Healthcare: Leaving No Mother Behind 13 APRIL- JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in Amritsar, Punjab, which is remembered as a tragic event and a symbol of the atrocities committed against the Indian people during the British colonial era. 14 APRIL- WORLD QUANTUM DAY a global initiative to raise awareness and appreciation of quantum science and technology. THEME- “Quantum Leap 2024. 15 APRIL- WORLD ART DAY a tribute to the enduring impact of art across various cultures and societies and to honor the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci. THEME- “A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community Through Art,” 17 APRIL- WORLD HOMEOHPILIA DAY is commemorated to increase awareness about hemophilia and similar bleeding disorders. The day aims to disseminate knowledge about the condition and recognize the efforts of volunteers supporting the hemophilia community. THEME-Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders' 18 APRIL- WORLD HERITAGE DAY 19 APRIL- WORLD LIVER DAY also known as the International Day for To spread awareness about the causes of Monuments and Sites. liver disease and tips for its prevention so THEME- “Discover and Experience as to take holistic care of the liver. Diversity ” THEME- Keep your liver healthy and disease-free” APRIL/06 A BRIEF TIMELINE 22 ARPIL- WORLD EARTH DAY 24 APRIL – PANCHAYATIRAJ DAY event aims to promote awareness India celebrates the about the well-being of our first National environment and the challenges it Panchayati Raj Day or faces the National Local THEME- Planer vs Plastic Government Day on April 2010. 25 APRIL- WORLD MALARIA DAY to raise awareness about the prevention, treatment, and control of malaria, a life- threatening disease caused by mosquito bites. THEME- Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world 26 APRIL- WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY to raise awareness about the crucial role that intellectual property rights play in fostering innovation and creativity. THEME- ‘IP and the SDGs: Building Our Common Future with Innovation and Creativity‘. 29 APRIL- INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY is a yearly celebration of dance that aims to increase awareness about its importance in diverse cultures and societies worldwide. 30 APRIL- WORLD VETERINARY DAY Observed on the last Saturday of April every year with an objective to provide global leadership for the veterinary profession and promote animal health. THEME- “Veterinarians are Essential Health Workers,” 30 APRIL- AYUSHMANN BHARAT DIWAS to commemorate the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) by the Government of India. This day marks the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar APRIL/07 ACHIEVEMENTS AKASHTEER SYSTEM The Indian Army has commenced the induction of the indigenous Akashteer system. This automated air defence control and reporting system, developed by Bharat Electronics Limited, aims to integrate the army’s air defence units for enhanced operational efficiency. General Manoj Pande Inaugurates High-Tech IT Lab at Academy of Armed Forces in Uzbekistan In a significant move, the Indian Army has acquired Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) from Russia to enhance its Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) capabilities. India Delivers First Batch of the Department of Defense (R&D) and the BrahMos Missiles to Philippines the DRDO have inaugurated a state-of-the-art deepening military cooperation facility called the Submersible Platform for between India and the Philippines Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation amid rising tensions in the South (SPACE) at the Underwater Acoustic China Sea, Research Facility in Kulamavu, Idukki, Kerala. DURGA-2 SYSTEM DRDO is reported to be testing a prototype of its DURGA-2 (Directionally Unrestricted Ray Gun Array) system. Other countries which have this system: Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Israel, and China. BAMBI BUCKET Recently, Indian Air Force’s MI 17 V5 helicopter was deployed to extinguish the raging forest fires in Nainital and the helicopter used a “Bambi Bucket”. It is also known as helicopter bucket or a It is a specialised aerial firefighting tool which has been in use since the 1980s. INDIGENEOUS TECHNOLOGY CRUISE MISSILE DRDO conducted a successful flight-test of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM). It is equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and reliable performance. APRIL/8 THE HINDU April/09 40 YEARS OF OPERATION MEGHDOOT LAUNCHED ON 13th April 1984 LAUNCHED BY Indian Army & Indian Air Force AIM take full control of the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh The operation involved the airlifting of Indian Army soldiers and supplies by the IAF and dropping them on the Siachen glacier. The operation resulted in India gaining 70 kilo-metres long Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as three main passes of the Saltoro Ridge namely Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La. Gyani Zail Singh was the President of India. SIACHEN CONFLICT The Siachen conflict, sometimes referred to as the Siachen Glacier conflict or the Siachen War, was a military conflict between India and Pakistan) over the disputed 1,000-square-mile (2,600 km2). Siachen Glacier The conflict was started in 1984 by India's successful capture of the Siachen Glacier as part of Operation Meghdoot, and continued with Operation Rajiv in 1987. India took control of the 70-kilometre-long (43 mi) Siachen Glacier EXERCISES 1. EXERCISE GAGAN-SHAKTI The Indian Air Force (IAF) 10-days ‘Gagan Shakti-2024‘ exercise “ begins from April 1-10. The exercise involves all air force bases and assets scattered across the country. 2 3 The fifth edition of the India-Uzbekistan The Indian Navy conducted a mega Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK is set to exercise, 'Poorvi Leher,' along the East commence in April in Termez District, Coast to validate its procedures and Uzbekistan. assess its preparedness to meet maritime security challenges in the region 4. EXERCISE SAGAR KAVACH A two-day coastal security exercise called Sagar Kavach was conducted off the Lakshadweep Islands. The exercise involved the participation of all maritime security agencies, including the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs, and other security agencies. The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps conducted an Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) exercise in Sikkim, demonstrating their capability to neutralize armoured threats at 17,000 feet altitude 5. EXERCISE DOSTI-16 Against the backdrop of the recent terrorist India, Maldives & Sri Lanka’s ‘Dosti-16’ Held in Maldives attack in Moscow, India Indian Coast Guard ship Samarth and ICGS Abhinav along and Kazakhstan with Sri Lanka Naval Ship Samudura are participating in the convened in Astana to exercise ‘DOSTI-16’ while Bangladesh is participating as an bolster their counter- observer. terrorism collaboration. The Philippines will hold joint naval drills ALON with the United States, Japan and Australia, two diplomatic sources said on Thursday, as the four countries deepen military ties to counter China's expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region. APRIL/11 INS IN NEWS INS TARINI The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini has returned triumphant to her base port at Goa after a historic transoceanic expedition of nearly two months duration INS TALWAR INS Talwar of the Indian Navy recently seized drugs in the Arabian Sea as part of an operation led by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). It is a multi-national naval partnership based in Bahrain INS VIKRAMADITYA & INS VIKRANT Recently, both aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, showcased “twin carrier operations” with MiG-29K fighter jets taking off simultaneously from both and landing cross deck. INS SHARDA awarded 'On the Spot Unit Citation' for anti piracy operations APRIL/12  MISSILES TOUCHING SKY | DEFENCE GLORY | CRYSTLE MAZE-2 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing a new version of an air-launched medium-range ballistic missile. The missile, codenamed ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2, was test-fired from a Su-30 MKI fighter jet in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. AGNI PRIME MISSILE ANGARA MISSILE PYOLJIJI-1-2 MISSILE Russia successfully The Defence Research and Development tested its Angara-A5 Organisation (DRDO) and North Korea revealed space rocket for the first India’s Strategic Forces the testing of a new anti- time on April 11, 2024. The Command (SFC) have aircraft Pyoljji-1-2 missile test launch was conducted and a super large strategic successfully conducted a from the Vostochny cruise missile Hwasal-1 Ra- flight test of the new Cosmodrome in the Far 3 warhead in the West Sea generation ballistic missile East of Russia. of Korea. called ‘Agni-Prime’ Israel recently used the Rampage, an efficient air-to-surface missile, in an attack on an Iranian military base. It is a long-range, supersonic, air- to-ground, seeker less, precision strike missile. DID YOU KNOW: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy have bolstered their combat capabilities with the induction of the Rampage long-range supersonic air-to-ground missile. The missile, known as the High-Speed Low Drag-Mark 2 within the Indian Air Force, offers a striking range of up to 250 kilo-meters. APRIL/13 BHARAT BULLETINS 1. UTTAR PRADESH Jaunpur, a city in Uttar Pradesh, celebrated for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance, is often referred to as "City of Imarti." Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh derives its nickname, the "Land of Tigers," from its historical roots and geographical attributes. Thousands of devotees participated in consecration ceremony on The Hindu temple in Sri Lanka conducted with sacred water of River Saray flown from Ayodhya 2. GOA The Manohar International Airport in Mopa, Goa, has become the 14th airport in India to launch the Digi Yatra system. This biometric-enabled system uses facial recognition technology to automate the entry and verification of passengers at various airport checkpoints DID YOU KNOW Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes first PM after Indira Gandhi to feature on Newsweek cover. DD News adopts new saffron logo before polls. 3. UTTARAKHAND The state government of Uttarakhand has initiated proactive measures to assess and mitigate the risks associated with Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Two expert panels have been established to conduct risk assessments and monitor five high-risk glacial lakes in the region. APRIL/14  BHARAT BULLETINS 4. WEST BENGAL DRDO is setting up a new test centre in Asansol, a city in the West Bengal Junput village, West Bengal, similar to state of India, is known as the "City of Chandipur in Odisha, to accommodate Brotherhood, stands as a melting pot the increasing workload of weapon of cultures, traditions, and religions. system testing. The project, covering 5. PUNJAB 8.73 acres. Punjab’s Malerkotla district has introduced the ‘Booth Raabta’ website. This platform, accessible via boothraabta.com, serves as a comprehensive resource hub for voters and polling personnel alike aimed at enhancing voter engagement and accessibility to election-related information, 6. MADHYA PRADESH PepsiCo India announces a massive investment of ₹1,266 crore to establish a cutting-edge flavour manufacturing facility in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Leads Implementation of Centre’s Green Credit Programme (GCP) Madhya Pradesh excels in implementing the Green Credit Programme, facilitating tree plantation across 10 states 7. TAMIL NADU Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi inaugurated the Param Vir Chakra garden and Aikyam exhibition at the Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir in Tambaram. Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu, the iconic Indian Coast Guard Director General Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO) inaugurates Aquatic Centre at recently commemorated a remarkable Mandapam, Tamil Nadu milestone its 125th anniversary. The government of Tamil Nadu has launched a three-day survey of the Nilgiri Tahr, the state's iconic animal. APRIL/15 BHARAT BULLETINS 8. KARNATAKA The Lakshmana Tirtha River, in Kodagu District of Karnataka, has succumbed to severe drought and intense heat. Originating from the forests in Kutta, it extends about 180 km before merging into the Cauvery River. Recently, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) in Bengaluru has developed a new platform called OptiDrop. 9. KERALA 10. JAMMU & KASHMIR The GoI has given the green light for The state High Court quashes the Adani's Vizhinjam Port in Kerala to detention of Jaffar Ahmad Parray under operate as the nation's inaugural trans- the Public Safety Act, emphasizing India's shipment hub, signaling a significant adherence to the rule of law and step towards reducing reliance. rejecting arbitrary interrogation. 11. GUJARAT Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) recently established the world’s largest renewable energy park in Gujarat’s Khavda region. The Khavda Park, at its peak, is projected to generate 81 billion units of electricity The Mahatma Gandhi Setu, towering as the Longest bridge in Bihar, stretches over the majestic Ganges River, India's longest, connecting the vibrant regions of North Bihar and South Bihar. Excavation Unearths 5,200-Year-Old Harappan Settlement in Kachchh, Gujarat Archaeologists from Kerala University, in collaboration with various institutions, have unearthed a significant Harappan settlement at Padta Bet in Gujarat near Khatiya village in Kachchh district, Gujarat. Led by assistant professors Abhayan G.S. and Rajesh S.V. from Kerala University’s Department of Archaeology, APRIL/16  BHARAT BULLETINS India has invoked the peace clause at the WTO for the fifth time, exceeding rice subsidy limits for the 2022-23 period. Despite breaching the 10% support ceiling, India faces no immediate penalties. The Union rural development ministry announced the revision of wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme on March 27, following clearance from the Election Commission amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha polls and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in force. Indian Historical Records Commission (IHRC) Adopts a New Logo and Motto. HDFC Bank, is pursuing the sale of its entire stake in HDFC Education and Development Services. This move comes as the bank seeks to maintain transparency and regulatory compliance while selecting a buyer through the Swiss challenge method. In celebration of Earth Day, CSIR recently unveiled India’s largest Climate Clock at its headquarters in New Delhi. India with the total India aims to halt urea The Indian government has mango production of imports by the end of granted approval for onion 25 million metric tons, 2025 by boosting exports to Bangladesh, the holds the title of largest domestic production and UAE , Bahrain, Mauritius, mango producer in the promoting alternative and Bhutan in response to world. fertilizers. their requests. NABARD teams up with the RBI Innovation Hub to streamline agricultural lending through digitalization. This collaboration aims to expedite loan processing and improve accessibility for farmers nation. India's dependence on Chinese industrial goods has risen sharply over 15 years, reaching 30% from 21%. This escalating import reliance poses economic and security risks. APRIL/17 BHARAT BULLETINS Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) has collaborated with Panasonic Energy to establish a joint venture aimed at producing lithium-ion cells in India. This strategic partnership comes in response to the anticipated surge in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage solutions within the country. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) Varanasi, nestled along the banks of announced that India’s defence exports the Ganges River, stands as a surged to a record Rs 21,083 crore in the testament to the timeless allure of fiscal year 2023-24, marking a India's ancient traditions which is remarkable growth of 32.5% from the often referred to as the "City of previous year. Ghats." India’s engineering exports soared by 15.9% year over year in February 2024, marking the third consecutive month of growth and reaching a record high of $9.94 billion for the fiscal year 2023–2024. Notably, this growth surpassed December 2023 figures. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced the ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag‘ norm, which aims to prevent the use of a single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a particular vehicle. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has roped in popular actor Ayushmann Khurrana to encourage the youth to exercise their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated a two-day Homoeopathy Symposium organized by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy in New Delhi on World Homoeopathy Day (April 10, 2024). In February 2024, Indian engineering exports hit a record high of $9.94 billion, led by strong growth in the UAE, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Despite a 7% drop in exports to the UAE. APRIL/18 BHARAT BULLETINS India aims to ramp up its nuclear power production significantly, targeting a capacity of 1 lakh MW by 2047. This objective, outlined in a report titled ‘Synchronising Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All,’ highlights the nation’s commitment to expanding its nuclear energy sector IIT Guwahati and SVEEP collaborated to unveil a 3D-printed dummy ballot unit, aiming to educate citizens about voting intricacies, boost confidence, and enhance democratic participation. India has decided to remove export restrictions on essential items for the Maldives for the fiscal year 2024-25, despite strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in Gandhinagar, India, and Starburst Aerospace of France have signed a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing innovation in aerospace, defence, and homeland security. The country is gearing up to launch an indigenous bullet train capable of reaching speeds exceeding 250 kilo-metres per hour (km/h). India is currently leveraging Japanese technology for the bullet trains that will operate on the Ahmedabad to Mumbai line. The Indian government has taken proactive steps to address carbon emissions in the steel industry by establishing a task force to investigate the potential use of biochar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event paid tribute to the 24th Tirthankar, Bhagwan Mahaveer. APRIL/19  BHARAT BULLETINS India has achieved its target to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, commonly known as kala-azar, according to data from the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). Kala azar, or visceral leishmaniasis, is the second deadliest parasitic disease in the world after Malaria. India is embarking on establishing its first privately managed strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) by 2029-30. This initiative aims to allow the operator the liberty to trade all stored oil, aligning with models seen in countries such as Japan and South Korea. Delhi’s oldest surviving Satpula dam, which was built during 14th-century still stands strong. It was constructed during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Shah Tughlaq (1325-1351) Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India, retire from the Rajya Sabha, marking the end of his three-decade-long tenure in the Upper House. Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaborative research and training with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur on 18 April 2024. Archer Aviation, backed by Stellantis and Boeing, aims at starting trials of its electric air taxi in India next year, ahead of a planned commercial launch in 2026, DID YOU KNOW? India stands as the largest country in terms of milk production with the total milk production of 208,984,430 tones. APRIL/20  LETS TRAVEL WORLD China has become the largest importer of Russian seaborne crude, surpassing India, due to India's slowdown in imports amidst sanctions and rising price. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is marking its 75th anniversary this year. The alliance, founded in 1949, will hold a special event in Brussels, Belgium to commemorate this milestone. Zimbabwe, along with Zambia and Malawi, has declared a state of disaster due to a severe drought sweeping across southern Africa. President Emmerson Mnangagwa cited an “El Nino-induced drought” causing below-normal rainfall, affecting over 80% of the country. Microsoft and OpenAI unveil plans for 'Stargate,' a $100 billion AI supercomputer. Scheduled for completion by 2028, it marks the culmination of a six-year endeavor. Challenges include chip scarcity. Romania and Bulgaria have taken a significant step in their integration with the European Union by partially joining the Schengen travel zone. While travelers arriving by air or sea now enjoy ID-check-free access, land border checks persist due to opposition from Austria. Amidst its transfer from India to Sri Lanka in 1974, Katchatheevu became a battleground during the Sri Lankan civil war, fueling conflicts between Indian Tamil fishermen and the Sri Lankan navy. Israel utilized its ship-mounted defense system, the C-Dome, for the first time to intercept a suspicious aerial target near Eilat. Zimbabwe has launched a new gold-backed currency called ZiG, an abbreviation for “Zimbabwe Gold.” This move comes as the country grapples with hyperinflation and a volatile financial landscape. APRIL/21  LETS TRAVEL WORLD British national Russ Cook, known as the “Hardest Geezer,” has successfully completed a challenging trek that took him over 352 days to finish. During his journey, he covered more than 10,000 miles, passed through 16 countries, and took over 19 million steps, all while raising money for charity. The Indian and Nepalese governments, along with scholars from both countries, have collaborated to advance Sanskrit research and education. This partnership aims to strengthen bilateral relations and preserve the cultural heritage shared by India and Nepal. IRAQ CRIMINALIZING SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIP India and Mauritius Iraq’s parliament recently passed a stringent law updated their Double criminalizing same-sex relationships, imposing a maximum Taxation Avoidance 15-year prison sentence. The legislation, titled the Law on Agreement, adding a Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality, reflects a principal purpose test to concerning trend of increased scrutiny and persecution of curb tax evasion. LGBT individuals in Iraq. Dubai is constructing Al Maktoum International Airport to be the largest globally, with 400 gates, five runways, and a capacity for 260 million passengers. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised India's GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year (FY25) to 7% from the previous estimate of 6.7%. China with the 134.792 million tonnes production of wheat, holds the title of largest country in terms of wheat production The U.S. and Britain have forged a partnership to enhance AI safety, aiming to address risks posed by advanced AI models. Nigeria has become the inaugural nation to introduce the innovative Men5CV vaccine, recommended by the WHO, targeting five strains of meningococcal bacteria. APRIL/22  LETS TRAVEL WORLD According to IFL Science, Mount Erebus, Mount Ruang initiated its eruption one of the largest active volcano in recently, propelling an ash cloud Antarctica, has been in the news for upwards of a mile into the sky. It is a spewing gold dust worth $6000 every stratovolcano located in Indonesia’s single day. North Sulawesi province The World Crafts Council International (WCCI) has picked Srinagar for mapping its craft clusters before its final nomination as the World Craft City (WCC) from India this year. It is a Kuwait-based organization. PM Modi spoke to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, thanking her for an invitation to the G-7 meeting in June, if he is re-elected. China National Space Administration (CNSA) recently said its launch of the Queqiao-2 satellite was a "complete success". It is a relay satellite launched by China to serve as a communications bridge between ground operations on earth. Sierra Leone’s President recently declared a national emergency on substance abuse to crack down on the rising use of synthetic drugs known as kush. NATO MARKS 75 YEARS Foreign Ministers gathered at NATO Headquarters on Thursday (4 April 2024) to mark 75 years since the signing of the Alliance’s founding document, the North Atlantic Treaty. Since 1949, the Alliance has ensured peace, democracy and prosperity for its members, now counting 32 Allies and one billion people on both sides of the Atlantic. This year’s NATO Day comes just weeks after Sweden joined as the thirty-second member of the Alliance The U.S., Britain and Australia are set to begin talks on bringing new members into their AUKUS security pact. It is a trilateral security partnership between the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia agreed in 2021. APRIL/23  Indian chess prodigy Dommaraju Gukesh, aged just 17, has made history by winning the FIDE Candidates tournament, becoming the youngest-ever challenger in the history of the World Chess Championship. EUROPEAN GIRLS MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD The 13th edition of the prestigious European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) took place in the picturesque city of Tskaltubo, Georgia, from April 11 to 17, 2024. ✓ Gunjan Agarwal from Gurgaon, Haryana won Silver Medal ✓ Sanjana Philo from Chacko, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala won Silver Medal ✓ Larissa from Hisar Haryana clinches Bronze Medal ✓ Saee Vitthal Patil from Pune, Maharashtra holds Bronze Medal Takshvi Vaghani, has etched her name in the record books by setting a new world record for the lowest limbo skating over 25 metres. The first-ever Asian River Rafting Championships, officially opened by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took place on a Sutlej River. Spain secured a historic triumph, winning 2-0 in Seville against France to capture the inaugural UEFA Women's Nations League title. Christie and Marin claim All England Badminton Open titles Sumit Nagal achieves a groundbreaking milestone, In a historic moment for Indian tennis, by becoming the first Indian to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay courts at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters. The top-seeded duo of Rohan Bopanna from India and Matthew Ebden from Australia won the Men’s Doubles Title at the Miami Open, a prestigious ATP Masters tennis tournament APRIL/24 SPORTS Triple world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull dominated the Japanese Grand Prix. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing claimed a resounding victory at the long-awaited Chinese Grand Prix, extending his lead in the 2024 World Championship. Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia clinched the Valero Texas Open title on April 8, 2024, after a gripping playoff against Denny McCarthy The Indian hockey landscape is set to witness a groundbreaking event with the inaugural season of the National Women's Hockey League 2024 – 2025 Lithuania's rising star in the discus throw, Mykolas Alekna, etched his name in the annals of athletics history. The Maharashtra team emerged as the undisputed champion at the 56th National Kho Kho Championship 2023-24, clinching both the men’s and women’s titles. The championship was held at Delhi’s Karnail Singh Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece win the prestigious clay-court Monte Carlo Masters for the third time in four years. Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were named the Players of the Year for 2023 in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, at the sixth annual Hockey India Awards. Rashmi Kumari Wins National Women’s Carrom Title For The 12th time DID YOU KNOW? The IWF World Cup 2024 was held in Phuket, Thailand from March 31 to April 11, 2024. The event was organized by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) APRIL/25 SPORTS 25-year-old Indian weightlifter Bindyarani Devi competed in the women’s 55kg category and won a bronze medal. Former Indian hockey player and Dronacharya awardee Harendra Singh has been selected by Hockey India as the coach of the senior national women's hockey team. The Indian athletes continued their impressive medal-winning spree at the 21st U- 20 Asian Athletics Championship 2024, with Harshit Kumar clinching a gold medal in the highly competitive Hammer throw. Iconic shot putter and two-time Olympic medalist, Valerie Adams, has been named the International Event Ambassador for the 16th edition of the Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru FIFA TIED UP WITH ARAMCO In a groundbreaking announcement, Saudi Arabia’s oil behemoth, Aramco, and the international football governing body, FIFA, Aramco and FIFA have teamed up in a major partnership, with Aramco becoming FIFA's exclusive energy partner until 2027. This collaboration extends sponsorship rights to prestigious events. Bilquis Mir, a canoeist from Jammu and Kashmir, is set to make history as the first woman from India to represent the country as a jury member at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris. India won two gold, one silver and a bronze in the World cadet rapid and blitz chess championships held in Dures, Albania. A.S.. Sharvaanica bagged a gold (rapid girls' under-10) and silver (blitz girls' under-10) India won the women's 4x400m gold on the concluding night of the 21st Asian under-20 athletics championships in Dubai M.C. Mary Kom on Friday stepped down as the Chef-de-Mission for the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics citing "personal reasons". APRIL/26 SPORTS MP's Prachi Yadav Mirabai Chanu opening ceremony Uganda name wins two gold at Becomes The Only of the 1st Youth Abhay Sharma 2024 ACC Indian Weightlifter GCC Games UAE as Head coach Paracanoe Asian To Qualify For Paris 2024 was held on ahead of T20 Championship Olympics. at the Dubai Opera World Cup Karnataka'S nandini dairy to sponsor Ireland and Scotland team in T20 World Cup 2024 Sreeja Akula surpasses Manika as India No.1 TT player India's Tharun Mannepalli and Anupama emerged the men's and women's champions of the Kazakhstan International Challenge badminton in Uralsk on Saturday. Novak Djokovic breaks Federer's record to be Oldest No.1 Player Indian women wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Reet (76kg), earned three quota places in the Asian Olympic Games qualifier in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan India beat Korea 2-1 in its penultimate league match of the Asia-Oceania group-1 Billie Jean King Cup women's tennis tournament on the clay courts of Changsha, China, on Friday. Anita Raina and Chia Yi Tsao of Taiwan beat Madeleine Brooks and Eudice Wong Chong in the doubles final the $40,000 ITF women's tennis tournament in Kashi-wa, Japan. Italy’s Jannik Sinner won the ATP Miami Open Masters 1000 title on Sunday with a dominant victory over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the final at Hard Rock Stadium Indian boxers Vishvanath Suresh, Akash Gorkha and Preet Malik progressed into the men’s U-22 semi-finals with convincing victories at the ASBC Asian U-22 & Youth Boxing Championships 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan on Tuesday. APRIL/27  HIGHLIGHTS FOR CRICKETLovers During an IPL match between Delhi Capitals (DC) THALA and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Dhoni becomes the first wicketkeeper to record 300 dismissals in T20 cricket. Nepal's 24-year-old all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee etched his name in the history books by smashing six sixes in a single over during the ACC Men's T20I Premier Cup clash against Qatar. Punjab Kings set world record in 262 chase vs Kolkata Knight Riders India international Dinesh Karthik on Saturday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 15 broke their record of scoring the highest runs in the IPL as they hammered 287 runs in 20 overs Indian squash Player, Saurav Ghosal, the nation's premier player, has announced his retirement from professional squash. In the 2024 edition of the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, two exceptional talents have been crowned as the Wisden Leading Cricketers in the World, Australian captain Pat Cummins and England all-rounder Nat Sciver- Brunt. INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL Sri Lankan cricketer Kamindu Mendis as England’s Maia Bouchier has been the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for awarded the ICC Women’s Player of March 2024 the Month for March 2024. APRIL/28  APPOINTMENTS Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi Appointed as Next Chief of the Naval Staff. He is An alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa, and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Love Kumar has been appointed as the Inspector General (IG) in the Special Protection Group (SPG) for a period of two years. The FSIB has recommended Rana Committee of the Cabinet has Ashutosh Kumar Singh for the Managing approved the appointment of senior Director position at SBI and Asheesh IPS officer Anurag Kumar as the Joint Pandey for the same role at Indian bank. Director of the CBI. President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Professor Naima Khatoon as the first woman Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), breaking a century-old glass ceiling. BharatPe, has officially elevated Nalin Negi as its chief executive officer. Jagjit Pavadia Re-elected to International Narcotics Control Board Nalin Prabhat, a 1992 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director-General of the National Security Guard (NSG) Central Government has entrusted IAS officer Saurabh Garg with the additional charge of Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) SPACE India has welcomed rising Bollywood star and UNDP Youth Champion, Sanjana Sanghi, as its Brand Ambassador Narsingh Yadav Elected Chairman of WFI Athletes Commission The appointment of Manoj Panda fills a vacancy in the Sixteenth Finance Commission, APRIL/29 APPOINTMENTS INDIA’s GITA SABHARWAL The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has appointed Gita Sabharwal of India as the new UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia. LINDY CAMERON Lindy Cameron, an Oxford graduate and former CEO of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, has been appointed as the UK's first woman high commissioner to India. KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA has been re-appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for another 5-year term Durga Bai Majhwar, 36, who claims to be India’s first sarpanch (village head) from the transgender or Kinnar community, is now in the fray as an Independent Lok Sabha candidate from M.P.’s Damoh constituency. Sheyphali Sharan takes charge as Principal Director General, Press Information Bureau The Sahitya Akademi after Malayalam author C. Radhakrishnan resigned from the membership of the premier literary body's general council, citing political interference. MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI JACK GREALISH Appointed as the brand Appointed as the Brand ambassador of Citroen India. Ambassador of Pepsi Asian Athletic Commission nominates Shiny Wilson as member. She became the first Indian women to be the flagbearer for the Indian contingent. APRIL/30 RANKS & INDEX 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2024 Alia Bhatt’s inclusion in TIME Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024’ underscores her remarkable ascent as a global icon. Renowned director Tom Harper, lauding her as a “truly international star,” HURUN GLOBAL UNICORN INDEX 2024 In 2024, the global unicorn landscape witnessed significant developments and challenges, as outlined in the Hurun Global Unicorn Index. While the United States maintained its lead with 703 unicorns and China followed with 340, India ranked third with 67 unicorns. Bernard Arnault stands at the top position on the list of richest man in the world by April 2024 with the net worth of $233 billion. QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING BY SUBJECT INDEX Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has secured the top position in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, reaffirming its status as India’s premier academic institution. INDIA’s TOP CARGO HANDLING PORT Paradip Port Authority, Odisha, become India’s leading cargo-handling major port in the fiscal year 2023-24, handling 145.38 Million Metric Tons (MMT) of cargo, marking a 7.4% growth from the previous year. AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL RANKING Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has risen to the tenth position in the Airports Council International's (ACI) global rankings for 2023, handling 7.22 crore passengers annually. In the latest FIDE rankings released by the world governing body of chess, India has a new number 1 chess player – Arjun Erigaisi. With a standard rating of 2756 APRIL/31 RANKS & REPORTS India has emerged as the fourth largest military spender globally in 2023, allocating $83.6 billion for defense, following the United States, China, and Russia. China, as the world’s second-largest military spender, allocated an estimated $296 billion to its military in 2023, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. WORLD CYBERCRIME INDEX A new World Cybercrime Index, based on surveys among top experts, reveals Russia and Ukraine as primary hubs of cybercrime. The 23rd session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recently commenced in New York, United States. Portugal holds the title of the friendliest Greenland with the population density of country in the world, known for its 0.14 people per square kilometer, stands hospitality and welcoming atmosphere as the least densely populated country. A recent study ranks the Indian passport In 2024, India sees its first decline in as the second cheapest globally, with the unicorn creation due to under- UAE passport being the most affordable. investment despite stock market peaks. While the Indian passport offers low Indian founders excel in offshore unicorn acquisition and yearly costs creation. an international team of researchers has compiled the first ever 'World Cybercrime Index'. Russia tops the list, followed by Ukraine, China. India ranks 10 in overall ranking The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced the 20th edition of its Young Global Leaders Community: The Class of 2024. The list includes nearly 90 individuals under the age of 40 from diverse fields, including politics, business, civil society, the arts, and academia. APRIL/32  MAJOR REPORTS Forbes' latest '2024 Billionaires List' sees Mukesh Ambani topping as Asia and India's richest individual, with a wealth surge to $116 billion. UNFPA REPORT ON POPULATION The United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) latest report, titled “Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights,” sheds light on India’s population dynamics and the persistent disparities in sexual and reproductive health. According to a report released by the think tank 'InfluenceMap', just 57 companies are responsible for 80% of the world's carbon emissions from fossil fuels and cement over the past seven years. PLASTIC OVERSHOOT DAY REPORT- India, despite its low per capita plastic waste production, ranks among the top global contributors to mismanaged plastic waste, generating 7.4 million tons in 2024. The Global Forest India ranks second B/W 2000 and 2023, India Watch reveals that globally in Hepatitis B witnessed a 6% decrease in India has experienced and C cases, trailing tree cover, with 4,14,000 significant tree cover behind China, hectares of humid primary loss since 2000, according to the WHO's forest lost, comprising 18% totaling 2.33 million 2024 Global Hepatitis of the total tree cover loss hectares. Report.] during this period. A recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and Ember evaluates the progress of India’s clean electricity transition at the state level. While Karnataka and Gujarat maintain strong performances, states like Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh lag behind RBI announced the launch of 'Inflation Expectations Survey of Households' and 'Consumer Confidence Survey’. It aims at capturing subjective assessments on price movements and inflation, based on their individual consumption baskets. APRIL/33  MAJOR REPORTS The Lancet study reveals a global increase in life expectancy by 6.2 years since 1990, with India showing an eight-year rise. Reduced deaths from various ailments drove this trend, though covid-19. Recently, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) published the State of the Climate in Asia, 2023, report. More than nine million people across Asia were affected by 79 extreme climate disasters reported on the continent in 2023. 2024 SPECIAL 301 REPORT In the recently released 2024 Special 301 Report by the U.S. Trade Representatives (USTR), India finds itself on the Priority Watch List for intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement. This decision comes amidst ongoing concerns regarding India’s handling of IP security issues. UNFPA's report spotlights India's population boom to 1.44 billion, with 24% under 14. Doubling expected in 77 years. Despite maternal health strides, disparities persist, notably in marginalized. India has emerged as the country with the highest percentage of doping offenders, according to the 2022 testing figures released by the WADA. Reliance Jio surpasses China Mobile as the world's top telco in data traffic consumption, boasting a subscriber base of 481.8 million, including 108 million on its 5G network. According to Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report by World Trade Organization (WTO) , India has become the world’s 4th largest exporter of digitally delivered services, constituting over 1/5th of global trade in services. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced the launch of 'Inflation Expectations Survey of Households' and 'Consumer Confidence Survey'. APRIL/34  World’s Oldest Man, Juan Vicente Pérez, Dies at 114 The world lost Sudhir K.G. Jayan, a towering Kakar, a renowned figure in Carnatic music writer, cultural critic, and Malayalam and the "Father of cinema, passed away Indian Psychology," on April 16, 2024, at who passed away at his residence in the age of 85. Thripunitura, Kerala. DALIP SINGH MAJITHAI Squadron Leader Dalip Singh Majithia, the oldest living pilot of the Indian Air Force, passed away at the age of 103. Majithia’s life was a testament to a lifetime of service, adventure, and a deep love for aviation. Subrahmanya Dhareshwar, a senior and well-known Yakshagana 'bhagavatha' (background singer), passed away. Barbara Rush, a Golden Globe-winning actress, embarked on her journey in the entertainment industry in the 1950s Yakshagana Exponent Subrahmanya Dhareshwar Passes Away Legendary Cinematographer Gangu Ramsay Passes Away at 83. Nobel prize-winning British physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of a mass-giving particle, which became known as the Higgs boson or the "God particle", has died aged 94. The cricket world is in mourning as it bids farewell to one of its most revered figures, Derek Underwood, who has passed away at the age of 78. APRIL/35  IMPORTANT Operations Project Committees OPERATIONS the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched Operation Meghdoot, a daring and unprecedented military operation to secure the heights dominating the Northern Ladakh region. COMMITTEES UNIFORM GUIDELINES FOR ADVOCATES The Supreme Court has decided to consider framing guidelines for advocates. associations across the country in a bid to make their admission regulations uniform and democratic. A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant has titled the proceedings "In Re:Strengthening of the Institution of Bar Associations. CENTRAL GOVT COMMITTEE ON LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY WELFARE the landmark Supriyo Chakraborty vs. Union Of India Case 2023, the Special Marriage Act of 1954 was challenged for its exclusion of same- sex marriages, citing a violation of Article 14 of the fundamental rights. COMMITTEE FOR DELHI FOREST PROTECTION Former judge Najmi Waziri has been appointed by the Delhi High Court to head a committee tasked with protecting the forests in the national capital, addressing concerns over lack of cooperation INTER-AGENCY SPACE DEBRIS COORDINATION COMMITTEE At the 42nd Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) annual meet,ISRO Chairman S. Somanath announced India’s pledge to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030. APRIL/36 NEW SPECIES DISCOVERED Researchers discovered a new species of garden balsam in Kerala and named it as Impatiens neo-uncinata. A new tiger species has been recently discovered in the dense rainforests of Brazil, named clouded tiger cat (Leopardus pardinoides). Researchers at the IIT Roorkee have reported the discovery of fossils of one of the largest snakes called the Middle Eocene in Kutch. Gujarat A rare butterfly species named Neptis philyra has been recently discovered for the first time in India in Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located near the Apatani cultural landscape in the Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. DID YOU KNOW Researchers discovered a new species of Lizard in Tamil Nadu aptly named Cnemaspic Vangoghi APRIL/37  TAGS MAHARASHTRA The small town of Miraj in Maharashtra's Sangli district is known for its craftsmanship in making musical instruments, particularly sitars and tanpuras. Three traditional products from Tripura have received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The products are Matabari pera prasad, Rignai pachara textiles and Risa. The renowned textile craft UTTAR PRADESH Ajrakh, of Gujarat, has been granted the 1. Tiranga Barfi of Varanasi prestigious GI tag 2. Kathiya Gehu of Bundelkhand Six traditional items from Assam, including Assamese Dhol and Jaapi, have received prestigious GI tags, granted by the Government of India’s Geographical Indication Registry The northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has taken the lead in having the highest number of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products in the country. With the recent addition of 15 new products, Uttar Pradesh now boasts a total of 69 GI-tagged products, surpassing Tamil Nadu’s 58. APRIL/38  BOOKS & AUTHORS THE IDEA OF DEMOCRACY Renowned author Sam Pitroda has written a new book titled 'The Idea of Democracy', which explores the current state of democracy and its potential challenges in countries. INDIA-THE ROAD TO RENAISSANCE Bhimeswara Challa launch book, "India — the Road to Renaissance: A Vision and an Agenda," at the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) campus in Hyderabad. The book "An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy," authored by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. THE WINNER’S MINDSET In his book, "The Winner's Mindset," by Shane Watson shares the insights and strategies that enabled him to conquer his fears and reach new heights in his cricketing career. LAW & SPRITUALITY: RECONNECTING THE BOND The book "Law and Spirituality: Reconnecting the Bond," edited by Professor Raman Mittal and Professor Seema Singh. HEAVENLY ISLANDS OF GOA KNIFE A book Launched by Goa Governor Celebrated British-American author PS Shreedharan Pillai has embarked Salman Rushdie is set to release his on a mission to unveil the state's memoir "Knife", recounting the rich natural heritage through a chilling experience of being stabbed series of captivating books. at a public event in 2022. INDIA’s NUCLEAR TITANS External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar received a copy of the book ‘India’s Nuclear Titans,’ edited by Soumya Awasthi and Shrabana Barua. APRIL/39  The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in Dharamshala has become the first BCCI-accredited venue to install a state-of-the-art 'hybrid pitch’. www.desiretolearn.in India’s First Gene Therapy for Cancer Launched at IIT Bombay. FIRST in news Gopi Thotakura is making history as the first Indian pilot to venture into space as a tourist, joining Blue Origin’s NS- 25 mission. Shompen tribe, one of India's Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), exercised their democratic right for the first time by casting votes in the Andaman and Nicobar Lok Sabha constituency. India's first Hindi film on this subject, "IRAH," took place in Mumbai. India's inaugural multi-purpose green hydrogen pilot project at Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station signifies a HDFC Bank becomes leap in renewable energy. only private bank to have presence in Uttar Pradesh has unveiled its first-ever glass skywalk Lakshadweep bridge, shaped like Lord Ram’s bow and arrow. located at the enchanting Tulsi (Shabari) Waterfall in Chitrakoot. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait announced the launch of the first-ever Hindi radio broadcast in Kuwait, a significant step to deepen ties between the two nations. Vedanta’s BALCO: First Indian Company Certified with ASI Performance Standards Takshvi Vaghani, has etched her name in the record books by setting a new world record for the lowest limbo skating over 25 metres. APRIL/40 FESTIVALS Ugadi 2024, falling on April 9th, marks the New Year for states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Rooted in Hindu mythology, it celebrates the creation of the world by Lord Brahma. The Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh joyously celebrates the Longte festival, a significant cultural event that stands out for its prohibition of animal sacrifice The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) is organizing the festival ‘Shakti – A Festival of Music and Dance’ from April 9 to 17, 2024. The festival is celebrated in seven different Shakti peeths (sacred sites) across the country. Khasi Tribe’s 34th Seng Hinglaj Yatra In Pakistan: Hindu Khihlang Festival Concluded Pilgrims Climbed Mud Volcanoes in Wahiajer, Meghalaya As Part Of A Three-Day Pilgrimage Eid-ul-Fitr, also known as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world. § It marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The ‘Yoga Mahotsav’ was held in Pune, Maharashtra, to mark the 75- day countdown to the International Day of Yoga. Organized by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga and the National Institute of Naturopathy, Ministry of Ayush. DID YOU KNOW? Nigeria has taken a historic step in the fight against meningitis, becoming the first country in the world to introduce a new, highly effective vaccine called Men5CV recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of meningococcus bacteria. APRIL/41  MAJOR INITIATIVES The European Union (EU) and India have embarked on a collaborative effort to nurture startups in the field of Electric Vehicle battery recycling. This initiative is a direct outcome of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council ,aimed at enhancing cooperation in clean and green technologies. NTPC Limited, India’s largest power company, is set to unveil a new version of its flagship corporate social responsibility initiative, the Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GEM). This program aligns with the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) campaign launched by the Government of India. The RBI is contemplating the establishment of the Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) to combat the proliferation of illegal lending apps. This initiative aims to bolster cybersecurity measures and clamp down on fraudulent activities in the digital lending sector. PM compliments ‘Koti Gita Lekhana Yajna’ initiative. Koti Gita Lekhana Yajna is an initiative where over 1 Crore people from across the Globe are expected to write the entire Bhagavad Gita by hand in the language of their choice, over the next two years and offer it at the feet of Lord Sri Krishna at Udupi. The Embassy of Israel in India, in collaboration with the Million Miyawaki Foundation, has officially joined the ‘Million Miyawaki’ project, a community-led initiative aimed at improving air quality in Indian cities through mass afforestation in tight urban spaces DID YOU KNOW? Recently, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) made an announcement regarding the launch of Bima Vistaar. It is an ambitious all-in-one affordable mass product aimed at the rural areas of the India which is priced at Rs 1,500 per policy. APRIL/42  APPS & PORTALS SARAH PROTOTYPE Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of S.A.R.A.H., a digital health promoter prototype. Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health(S.A.R.A.H.) is a digital health promoter prototype with enhanced empathetic response powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI). The Indian government has launched CDP-SURAKSHA, a groundbreaking digital platform aimed at streamlining the distribution of subsidies to horticulture farmers under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP). The Election Commission recently said its Suvidha portal has received over 73,000 applications since the Lok Sabha polls were announced. It is developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure a level playing field upholding the democratic principles of free, fair and transparent elections. Prime minister of India Shri Narendra Modi launched PM – SURAJ Portal. The acronym stands for ‘Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan and Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan’. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduces the myCGHS app for iOS, delivering enhanced healthcare accessibility and digital experiences to Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries AADHARSHILA The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) recently released the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education 2024 titled ‘Aadharshila’. Aadharshila (translated as foundation stone) is a detailed 48-week curriculum meant for learning in the age group of three to six-year-olds in Anganwadi's. APRIL/43  Professor Meena Charanda, Principal of Kalindi College, Delhi University, has been awarded the prestigious ‘International Culture Award’ for the year 2024. Prof. Charanda received this honour in recognition of her remarkable work in the field of education and social service. AWARDS & HONOURS Deepika Soreng, the promising forward In a prestigious ceremony, Vels of the India Women's Hockey Team, has University in Chennai conferred an been honoured with the prestigious honorary doctorate in literature upon Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award renowned Indian actor Ram Charan. Amitabh Bachchan to be Honored with the Prestigious Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group, receives the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2021 at a private ceremony in Mumbai, recognizing his global humanitarian efforts. Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an Indian researcher, has been awarded the 2024 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for her achievements in global health research. President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law by the University of Mauritius. This prestigious honor demonstrates the depth of bilateral ties between India and Mauritius. Dr. Pradeep Mahajan has been awarded the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024. Noted Hindi film superstars Hema Malini and Saira Banu, along with other prominent personalities from the fields of art and culture, will be honoured with the prestigious Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award. Dr. Karthik Kommuri Honoured at National Fame Awards 2024 APRIL/44  AWARDS & HONOURS PM Narendra Modi was honoured with the ‘Merchant Navy Flag’, pinned on his lapel by Secretary T.K. Ramachandran of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The World Economic Forum has named Adwaita Nayar, the co-founder of Nykaa and CEO of Nykaa Fashion, as a ‘2024 Young Global Leader’. GAIL (India) Limited has been honored with the prestigious 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Award in the ‘Achievement Award for Best Construction Projects’ category for its remarkable accomplishment in the Barauni – Guwahati Natural Gas Pipeline project. The KIET Group of Institutions from Delhi-NCR bagged the “Crash and Burn” award, while the Kanakia International School from Mumbai received the “Rookie of the Year” award. In a prestigious ceremony held at Mumbai's Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagrih, actor Randeep Hooda was bestowed with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award. Vineet Jain, the managing director of the Times Group, received the prestigious Exchange4Media News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA) Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 for his significant contributions to Indian television news. Sana, the AI-powered news anchor developed by the India Today Group, has achieved remarkable success at the prestigious International News Media Association (INMA) Global Media Awards held in London. Indian-American actress Avantika Vandanapu, has been honored with the prestigious "South Asian Person of the Year" award by Harvard University. Hamad International Airport (DOH), located in Doha, Qatar, has been awarded the “World’s Best Airport” title by the esteemed Skytrax World Airport Awards. Surinder S. Jodhka, professor at School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, has been chosen for the Malcom Adi-seshiah Award 2024. APRIL/45  AWARDS & HONOURS Mamta G. Sagar, a renowned Kannada poet, writer, academic, and activist based in Bengaluru, has added another feather to her cap by winning the prestigious World Literary Prize. The late Russian dissident Aleksei Navalny and his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, will receive the Freedom Prize of the Media from a leading German forum, the Ludwig Erhard Summit. Pavuluri Subba Rao, the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Ananth Technologies, has been conferred with the prestigious 'Aryabhatta Award' by the Aeronautical Society of India (ASI). Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light on Thursday scripted history by becoming the first Indian movie in over 40 years to feature in the prestigious Competition section of the Cannes Film Festival. Mohammed Salem is a Palestinian photographer who works for the news agency Reuters. In 2024, he won a very important award called the World Press Photo of the Year award. Alok Shukla, a renowned environmental activist and convenor of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, has been selected for the prestigious 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize. REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has been bestowed with the SKOCH ESG Award 2024 in the 'Renewable Energy Financing' category. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Chandrayaan-3 mission team has been awarded the 2024 John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr. Award for Space Exploration by the US-based Space Foundation. The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has been awarded the best regional airport in India and South Asia at the 2024 Sky-trax World Airport Awards. APRIL/46  33 rd THOMAS CUP HOST COUNTRY 1ST TOURNAMENT COUNTRIES CHINA 1949(TC), 1957(UC) BWF Nation Members George Alan Thomas was the founder of Thomas Cup Mrs. H.S. Uber was the founder of Uber Cup This year it is 33rd edition of THOMAS CUP and 30th edition of UBER CUP The biennial international badminton championship contested by the men and women's national teams of the member associations of Badminton World Federation (BWF). China women’s both men (Thomas Cup) and women title (Uber cup) China has won the title 11 times. Malaysia has won it 5 times, Japan has won it once, and India has won it once in 2022. SOME INTERESTING FACTS : The silver glit trophy , 28 inches in height and 16 inch span consist of Plinth, Cup and lid; the lid is summoned by the figure of players. India has reached 3 Thomas semi-finals (1951-52, 1954- 55, 1978-79) India is the sixth nation overall to win the Thomas Cup, after beating title holders Indonesia 3–0 in the 2022 edition.  LAUREUS MOST SACHIN 25th Established Meaning AWARD- TENDULKAR edition in the year Victory in Roger won the cup was Held 1999 Athletics Federer in 2000 in Madrid LAUREUS CUP 2024 NOVAK DJOKOVIC Laureus World Sportsman of the year for the 5th time AITANA BONMATI Laureus World Sportswoman of the year. SIMONE BILES Comeback of the year JUDE BELINGHAM Breakthrough of the year Team of the Year Award: Laureus Sport for Good Award: Spain Women's Football Team Fundación Rafa Nadal Action Sportsperson of the Sportsperson of the Year with a Year Award: Arisa Trew Disability Award: Diede de Groot Usain Bolt and Tom Brady are the presenter of the award  CONFERENCE & SUMMITS INTERNATIONAL 19TH NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT The 19th annual meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Indian delegation was led by the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. Nepal hosts inaugural Rainbow Tourism the French capital, Paris, hosted an Conference, promoting diversity and International Humanitarian Conference inclusivity. Organized by Mayako for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries, Pahichan Nepal and the Nepal Tourism organized in response to the United Board, the event aims to position Nepal. Nations' funding appeal. The United States recently confirmed providing long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine to aid its war effort against Russia. It is a conventional surface-to-surface artillery weapon system American President Joe Biden hosted the inaugural trilateral summit among the United States, Japan, DID YOU KNOW? and the Philippines on April 11, 2024, at the White House in Washington D.C. , reaffirming support in Bhutan's Earth Day their territorial disputes with China. Conference aims to raise $1 billion for tiger conservation WORLD ENERGY FUTURE SUMMIT over a decade, emphasizing Masdar, the UAE’s prominent clean energy company, is sustainable finance and set to host the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) global partnerships to from April 16 to 18 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition safeguard vital habitats and Centre (ADNEC). biodiversity. SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Kazakhstan endorses ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future APRIL/49  CONFERENCE & SUMMITS INTERNATIONAL 26TH WORLD ENERGY CONGRESS 26th World Energy Congress held in Rotterdam, Netherlands Theme- ‘Redesigning Energy for People and Planet. The CMD highlighted India’s ambitious goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil-fuel energy capacity by 2030, and to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070. India’s External Affairs Minister participated in the First ‘ASEAN Future Forum’. It was proposed by Vietnam at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023. Theme of the first forum: Toward fast and sustainable growth of a people-centered ASEAN Community. The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting Prosperity (IPEF) is scheduled to host its first in Kazakhstan endorses ‘One clean economy investor forum in Singapore. Earth, One Family, One Future NEW DELHI The inaugural Tri-Service Planning Conference, dubbed ‘Parivartan Chintan,’ convened in New Delhi, orchestrated by the Ministry of Defence. This landmark event aimed to foster jointness and integration among the Indian Armed Forces. The Ministry of Mines will hold a two day “Critical Minerals Summit: Enhancing Beneficiation and Processing Capabilities” in New Delhi. 6th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure held in New Delhi. PM Modi addressed via video conferencing. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure has seen impressive growth since its inception in 2019, it is now a global coalition of 39 countries and 7 organizations. APRIL/50  SCIENCE & TECH China's Shenzhou-18 mission sends three astronauts to the Tiangong space station for a six-month tenure, focusing on scientific research and space station maintenance. Romania unveils the world's most potent laser, employing Nobel-winning Chirped-Pulse Amplification. This breakthrough technology promises revolutionary applications in healthcare and space. IIT Jodhpur researchers have developed a nano-sensor to swiftly detect Cytokines, crucial proteins in disease progression. Scientists in South Korea have set a new world record using the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device, an "artificial sun" nuclear fusion reactor. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg The world is set to Comet Pons-Brooks, currently has announced the launch witness the first-ever near Jupiter, will reach its of the company’s advanced beauty pageant closest point to the Sun on AI assistant, Meta AI, exclusively for AI- April 21, 2024. Visible to the powered by the state-of- generated models naked eye, its brightness the-art language model and influencers. increases as it approaches, Llama 3. Dubbed “Miss AI,” peaking on April 21. Recently, Microsoft unveiled the latest version of its ‘lightweight’ AI model – the Phi-3-Mini. & TECH. Astronomers are looking forward to posting high-resolution telescopes on the moon and in orbit around it, including one from India called PRATUSH. Probing Deionization of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen (PRATUSH) is a radio telescope to be sited on the moon’s far side TSAT-1A Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), in collaboration with Satellogic, has successfully launched India’s inaugural private sector-built sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, TSAT-1A. APRIL/51  WHAT NASA SAID? Recently, NASA confirmed Dragonfly rotorcraft mission to Saturn’s organic compound-rich moon Titan with a budget of $3.35 billion and a launch date set for July 2028. It is a "dual quadcopter" designed to fly across the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon NASA recently launched a groundbreaking space mission from New Zealand, deploying the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System spacecraft aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. This innovative spacecraft utilizes solar energy for propulsion, marking a significant leap in space exploration technology. Sweden is the newest nation to sign onto NASA's Artemis Accords for peaceful and responsible exploration. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida revealed that Japanese astronauts will join future NASA lunar missions as part of the Artemis program. Japanese Astronauts will become the first Non-American to land on the moon ISRO HIGHLIGHTS ISRO has achieved a major milestone in the area of Reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology, through the RLV LEX-02 landing experiment, the second of the series, conducted at Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga in Karnataka Somanath said ISRO will carry out an uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, a test vehicle flight mission and an airdrop test in 2024. India's solar probe Aditya L1 will track the behavior and rays of the Sun, during the total solar eclipse. During this time, the Sun will briefly get completely cloaked by the Moon, creating a moment of complete darkness in several countries. APRIL/52 NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENTS & PRIME MINISTERS SIMON HARRIS, becomes Ireland's youngest Prime Minister, succeeding Leo Varadkar. PRABAWO SUBIANTO Indonesia officially declared Prabowo Subianto as the president-elect after the country JEREMIAH MANELE Solomon Islands elects Jeremiah Manele as new prime minister PETER PELLEGRINI LAWRENCE WONG OUSMANE SONKO LUIS MONTENEGRO Slovakia’s Prime Singapore’s Prime Senegal’s Prime Portugal’s Prime Minister Minister Minister Minister ` The Democratic Republic of Congo has appointed Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the country's first female Prime Minister. Kuwait's Emir appoints Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah as Prime Minister. INDIA-World’s third largest E-COM Market India’s ecommerce sector will skyrocket to $325 billion by 2030, with rural India driving much of the growth. India's market is driven by factors like increased internet penetration, affordable services, and a surge in rural smartphone users. This growth coincides with a digital economy expected to reach a staggering $800 billion in the same timeframe. Canara Bank introduces Canara Heal, addressing healthcare expenses, and Canara Angel, a tailored savings account for women with unique benefits. Additional launches include Canara UPI 123PAY ASI The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on two financial institutions – IDFC First Bank and LIC The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a public sector enterprise, has been granted the coveted 'Navratna' status by the government. OUR PREVIOUS EDITIONS CONTACT NO- 7471173895, [email protected] Connect us on- upsc_cds_desire_to_learn DESIRE TO LEARN 56