April 2024 Current Affairs MCQ Questions and Answers

1. Rabi Sankar was appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has strengthened the security of the
National Pension System (NPS) by introducing a new security layer, two-factor Aadhaar-based authentication,
which will be mandatory for all password-based users logging into the CRA system starting on April 1, 2024.

In a significant move towards bolstering India’s capabilities in critical minerals, Khanij Bidesh India
Limited (KABIL) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT). The collaboration is aimed at enhancing technical and knowledge cooperation in the
domain of critical minerals, crucial for the nation’s mining industry and its growth.

Eveready Industries India (EIIL), India’s battery brand, has announced its collaboration with Neeraj Chopra, the
Olympic gold medallist as its new brand ambassador. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Eveready as it seeks to strengthen its commitment towards excellence and innovation via the launch of the new Ultima Alkaline battery series.

The world’s largest ‘tent city’, covering 4,000 hectares, is currently being developed in Uttar Pradesh.

India plans to establish its first privately managed crude oil storage facility by the financial year 2029-30.

India will by the end of 2025 stop importing urea as a massive push for domestic manufacturing has helped
bridge the gap between supply and demand, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. India, the top importer of the crop nutrient, currently meets 30% of its demand for urea through imports from
countries such as Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) said it has inked a contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi for
supply of 6 sets of LM2500 gas turbines (GT) and GT Auxiliaries (GTAE), spares, tools for Indian Navy Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) Project.

The Russian space agency Roscosmos conducted a successful orbital test launch of its new Angara A5 heavylift rocket, helping to open a new chapter of spaceflight for the nation. The Angara A5 lifted off April 11 on its
fourth orbital test launch, and its first from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east.

Atul Goel will lead the government committee tasked with finalizing the list of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs available without a prescription.

SBI Life Insurance, one of the most trusted private life insurance companies in the country, recently launched the 1st edition of ‘IdeationX’, a pioneering initiative that promises to revolutionize the future of the insurance industry.

The World Health Organization’s “Global Hepatitis Report 2024” reveals that viral hepatitis caused 1.3 million deaths worldwide in 2022.

Nalin Prabhat was recently appointed as the Director-General of the National Security Guard (NSG).

State-owned power giant NTPC said it has inked a pact with a Japanese agency for sourcing foreign currency
loans of USD 200 million (JPY 30 billion or around Rs 1,650 crore). Japan Bank for International Cooperation
(JBIC), a government policy-based financial institution, will provide 60 per cent of the facility amount and the
balance amount will be provided by other commercial banks under JBIC guarantee.

The Indian Army has begun the induction of ‘Akashteer Control & Reporting Systems’ to strengthen its air defense capabilities.

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) signed a Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the United States Navy.

The initiative ‘My Health, My Rights’ was launched by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to support the healthcare needs of medical students and professionals.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has entered into an agreement with a fintech Onion Life
Private Limited to use the latter’s technology platform KarmaLife for a pilot to provide micro loans to gig
workers. This is expected to support the gig workers’ financial inclusion to formal institutional credit.

India’s youth continue to grapple with soaring unemployment rates, with nearly 83 percent of the jobless population belonging to this demographic, as per
the India Employment Report 2024 jointly published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the
Institute of Human Development (IHD).

IIT Madras collaborated with Vellon Space to showcase ‘AsteriX Lab,’ a miniature space laboratory.

Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A. successfully completed a transoceanic expedition on the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini.

The National Power Training Institute (NPTI) and Power Trading Corporation of India Limited (PTC) have signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Research and Development (R&D). This collaboration aims to address pressing challenges in the energy domain while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr Gagandeep Kang, Director of Global Health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been selected for the
prestigious John Dirks Award in global health. She is the first Indian woman to get this award and says it is a huge
honour for all the work that she and her colleagues did while at Christian Medical College, Vellore.

ISRO is developing a new spaceport at Kulasekharapatnam, Tamil Nadu, to optimize the launch of payloads to polar orbits.

Peter Higgs, who passed away recently, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013 for his theoretical discovery of the Higgs boson.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the ‘Aadharshila’ curriculum, designed for early childhood care and education in anganwadis.

 Bulgaria has recently partially joined the Schengen travel zone, enhancing its travel and security agreements within Europe.

The first international workshop on ‘Emerging Technologies & Challenges for Exoskeleton’ was held in Bengaluru on April 16-17, 2024. The workshop was
organised by the Defence Bio-Engineering & Electromedical Laboratory of Defence Research &
Development Organisation (DRDO).

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was recognized as the Outstanding Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Year.

The People’s National Congress (PNC) achieved a significant victory in the Maldives parliamentary elections. This win highlights the shifting political
dynamics in the Maldives and represents a major gain for the party, impacting the country’s future legislative and governance direction.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras secured the top position by filing 435 patents in FY 2023-24.

 Maharana Pratap Horticultural University (MHU), Karnal, was honored with the Best Horticulture University Award.

Russia topped the first-ever ‘World Cybercrime Index,’ highlighting its prominent role in global cyber activities.

 Dr. Gagandeep Kang was honored with the 2024 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for her contributions to global health.

Avi Wigderson received the 2023 ACM A.M. Turing Award, an honor regarded as the “Nobel Prize of Computing.”

Citroën became the first multinational car manufacturer to export electric vehicles produced in India to Indonesia.

The Indian Historical Records Commission (IHRC) is headed by the Union Minister of Culture, who recently oversaw the adoption of a new logo and motto for the commission.

SJVN Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT Patna) to use advanced geological
models in SJVN’s tunnelling projects, thus significantly reducing time and cost overruns.

The Government of India launched the CDP-SURAKSHA digital platform to efficiently disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers.

State-owned Union Bank of India said it has raised USD 500 million (about Rs 4,200 crore) from foreign markets
to fund overseas business growth. The fund was arranged by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC),
Dubai Branch, Union Bank of India said in a regulatory filing.

Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army conducted a training exercise, involving the firing of anti-tank guided missiles.
The exercise was conducted at a super high-altitude area of 17,000 feet in Sikkim on April 12. “The training
exercise encompassed comprehensive continuity training and live firing from different platforms on moving as well as static targets depicting battlefield
conditions,” defence ministry said.

OpenAI introduced its latest innovation, the Voice Engine, designed to enhance voice interaction technology.

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to protect the rights of intersex people, the first of its kind.

A joint venture of state-owned RVNL and private steel player Salasar Techno Engineering has bagged a
transmission project worth around Rs 60 crore in central African nation Rwanda. The order has been secured from Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) and to be executed in 18 months.

At a time when Nepal is facing a power crisis, India has renewed the agreement to export electricity to Nepal for the next three months. Under the agreement, which was
to expire on March 31, Nepal can import a total of 554 MW electricity from India between 6 am and 6 pm.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released the second edition of its global sodium benchmarks, providing updated reference values for sodium content.

The 5th edition of Joint Military Exercise “DUSTLIK” will be conducted between India and Uzbekistan, focusing on strengthening military cooperation.

Mahindra Aerostructures Private Limited (MASPL) signed a significant USD 100 million deal with Airbus Atlantic to supply various metallic components.

Kitum Cave, identified as the origin point for Ebola and Marburg viruses, is located in Kenya.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has lifted the age cap on health insurance policies, making it easier for older individuals to get coverage.

The Indian Navy recently conducted the Poorvi Lehar exercise on the East Coast to evaluate its preparedness for maritime security threats.

The Indian Coast Guard Aquatic Centre was recently inaugurated in Mandapam, Tamil Nadu.

 India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, according to the Global Forest Watch monitoring project.

Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto has been elected as president of the world’s third-biggest democracy, the elections commission said, decisively beating two rivals who have vowed to file a legal complaint about the vote.

To forecast drought and to enable better water management based on water availability, water resources department (WRD) minister Suresh Singh
Rawat inaugurated the State Water Resources Information System Dashboard at Sinchai Bhawan. Rajasthan is the first state in the country to launch this portal.

The “Tagore on the Padma Boat” program was recently held in Bangladesh, celebrating the legacy of the famous poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore.

NTPC Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) for the supply of 9 lakh metric tonnes of limestone.

Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi was sworn in as judicial member of Lokpal. The oath was administered by Justice AM Khanwilkar, Chairperson, Lokpal of India. Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Tirkey took oath as members of Lokpal. The oath ceremony was organised at Lokpal of India office in New Delhi.

 India ranks 4th globally in military expenditure according to the ‘Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023’ report.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has extended the deadline for geotagging of properties on its portal till June 30. The move is aimed at giving an opportunity to taxpayers to submit all specifications of their properties.

The Government of India set a target of $9.1 billion for marine exports in the financial year 2023-24.

 Hindustan Zinc has emerged as the third-largest producer of silver globally.

The first indigenously developed gene therapy, “CAR-T cell therapy,” for cancer was launched in collaboration with Tata Memorial Hospital, ImmunoACT, and IIT Bombay.

Meta has launched its latest large language model, Llama 3, as part of its ongoing advancements in AI technology.

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) achieved a milestone by surpassing 10,000 MW of operational portfolio, providing sustainable power to the national grid.

Amitabh Bachchan will receive the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award for his outstanding dedication to the nation and society.

Neeraj A Sharma was awarded the “Medal of Honour” by Palau for his efforts in enhancing bilateral relations between India and Palau.

Grid Controller of India Limited (GRID-INDIA) achieved a significant milestone by being conferred with the status
of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE). This recognition, bestowed upon by the Ministry of Power, Government of India, underscores GRIDINDIA’s pivotal role in the nation’s power landscape.

Bharat Biotech partnered with Bilthoven Biologicals, a subsidiary of Serum Institute of India, to produce and supply oral polio vaccines globally.

The European Union (EU) and India launched an Expression of Interest (EoI) for startups working in
Battery Recycling Technologies for Electric Vehicles (EVs) for a matchmaking event. The matchmaking aims to enhance the cooperation between European and Indian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the clean and green technologies sector.

Researchers at IIT Jodhpur developed a nano-sensor for the rapid detection of Cytokines, crucial for monitoring immune responses.

Indian economy is likely to carry forward the momentum in 2024, growing 6.5% compared with 6.7% in the previous year, United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) noted in its latest report, revising India’s growth forecast by 0.3 percentage points.

A special ₹90 denomination coin was unveiled by the finance ministry to celebrate 90 years of central bank.
Crafted with 99.99% pure silver, the unique commemorative coin weighs approximately 40 grams. The coin serves as a symbol of the RBI’s extensive history and achievements over the course of nine decades.

NASA confirmed the Dragonfly rotorcraft mission to Titan, Saturn’s moon.

The Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre (BSRC) will have a regional center at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

Command Hospital, Southern Command, Pune, became the first government hospital in India to successfully conduct piezoelectric bone conduction hearing implants.

 Meta AI is powered by Llama 3, a new technology introduced by Meta Platforms.

The ‘Matabari Peda,’ a traditional sweet from Tripura, was recently awarded a geographical indication (GI) tag.

Bhimeswara Challa authored the book titled ‘India – the Road to Renaissance: A Vision and an Agenda’.

National Fertilizers Ltd. was recently awarded “Navratna” status, recognizing its performance and autonomy in the public sector.

The Centre’s fiscal deficit widened in April 2023-February 2024 to ₹15.01 lakh crore, which is about 86.5 per cent of Revised Estimate of ₹17.35-lakh crore, official data showed. The fiscal deficit in the same period a year ago stood at ₹14.53-lakh crore, which was 82.8 per cent of revised estimate.

 The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in Dharamshala became the first BCCI-accredited venue to install a state-of-the-art hybrid pitch.

As many as 19 traditional products and crafts of Assam, including ‘Bihu Dhol’, ‘Jaapi’ and several items of the
Bodo community, have been accorded the geographical indication (GI) tag, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
said. Thirteen of these products are specifically linked to the Bodos, who form the largest tribal group in the state.

 Duvvuri Subbarao, the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, authored the memoir titled “Just a Mercenary?: Notes from My Life and Career”.

Bilquis Mir is poised to create history as the first Indian woman to serve as a jury member at the Paris Olympics 2024.

With the government showing optimism on the growth scenario, S&P Global has upped India’s growth forecast by 40 basis points to 6.8 per cent during Fiscal Year 2024- 25. However, it is still lower than the 7.6 per cent growth
forecast for the current fiscal.

Bayer Leverkusen clinched their first-ever Bundesliga title, marking a significant achievement in their football history.

Rakesh Mohan was appointed as a member of the Economic Advisory Panel by the World Bank Group.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently introduced the Patient Safety Rights Charter to promote patient safety globally.

UNESCO’s Executive Board has endorsed the addition of 18 sites to the UNESCO Global Geoparks network. This brings the total number of geoparks to 213 in 48 countries. The new geoparks are situated in Brazil, China, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati developed a 3D printed dummy ballot unit aimed at increasing voter awareness and participation.

Acharya Lokesh Muni became the first Indian monk to receive the US President’s Gold Volunteer Service award for his contributions to social and humanitarian causes.

Tamil Nadu filed the highest number of patents in FY23, as per the ‘Patenting Trends in India Report 2024’ by NASSCOM.

Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), presented Gallantry and Distinguished Service awards to
Naval personnel on behalf of the Hon’ble President of India. The CNS Trophy for Best Green Practices 2023 was awarded to Naval Dockyard, Mumbai and INS Valsura in the industrial and non-industrial categories respectively.

The Bengaluru-based Mahindra Aerostructures has signed a $100-million multi-year contract with an Airbus group entity. Under the contract, Mahindra Aerostructures will supply close to 2,300 varieties of
metallic components to Airbus Atlantic in France from its manufacturing base in India

Axis Bank has announced the introduction of digital US dollar fixed deposit (FD) for NRI customers at the IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at GIFT City, Gujarat. With this introduction, Axis Bank becomes the first bank to offer a
digital journey for GIFT City Deposits, the bank said in a statement.

The WTO has projected that the world merchandise trade volume will grow by 2.6 per cent in 2024 and 3.3 per cent in 2025. In merchandise trade, where exports are concerned, India ranked 17th globally, with a 1.8 per cent share in world trade, amounting to USD 432 billion, a 5 per cent decrease from 2022.

Israel deployed its C-Dome defense system for the first time, enhancing its coastal defense capabilities.

The Andaman & Nicobar Command carried out the first all-women maritime surveillance mission in celebration of the 40th anniversary of INAS 318.

The Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) service offered by India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) enables cash
withdrawals from the comfort of your home. Through the AePS facility, a bank customer can employ their
Aadhaar number as an identity verification tool to access their Aadhaar-enabled bank account

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched India’s First “medical devices calibration facility
on wheels”. This facility has been developed by IIT Madras under its ‘Anaivarukkum IITM’ (IITM for all)
Initiatives. Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, launched this facility.

The Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) has developed the lightest Bullet Proof Jacket in India, designed to protect against specific high-caliber ammunition.

India and the United States of America decided to reactivate the Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS) to enhance ocean monitoring and research.

The Asian Wrestling Championships (Seniors) 2024 were hosted in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Chhattisgarh-based Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, has emerged as
the first Indian company to achieve the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard V3
Certification for the manufacture and supply of a wide range of primary aluminium products at its facility in
Korba

 Ratan Tata received the KISS Humanitarian Award 2021 for his remarkable contributions to social welfare and philanthropy.

India’s current account deficit (CAD) narrowed in the third quarter (Q3FY24) with a rise in services exports and
secondary income offsetting the marginally higher merchandise trade gap. CAD narrowed to $10.5 billion
(1.2 per cent of GDP) in Q3 (October-December) FY24, lower than $11.4 billion (1.3 per cent of GDP) in the
preceding quarter.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) will collaborate with Japan’s Panasonic Energy to produce cylindrical lithium-ion cells in India.

Narsingh Pancham Yadav was elected as the chairman of the Wrestling Federation of India’s Athletes’ Commission.

The public sector insurance companies – Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), General Insurance
Corporation of India (GIC Re) and the New India Assurance Company continue to be identified as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

The World Bank Group has appointed former Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Rakesh Mohan member of the Economic Advisory Panel, according to a statement released by New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP).

Zimbabwe’s central bank has launched a new “structured currency” backed by gold, as it seeks to tackle sky-high
inflation and stabilise the country’s long-floundering economy. The new currency – called Zim Gold (ZiG) – will
be backed by foreign currencies, gold and precious minerals.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) marked its 25th anniversary on April 19, 2024.

 The University of Kerala researchers discovered the ‘Air-breathing Magnesium – Copper / Cupric Oxide Fuel Cell,’ a breakthrough in energy research.

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) was awarded the ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’ by Skytrax.

Lindy Cameron was appointed as the United Kingdom’s first woman high commissioner to India.

Nat Sciver-Brunt was recognized as the leading cricketer in the world by Wisden, making her the first English woman to receive this honor in 2024.

 The ‘Tirangi Barfi’ from Uttar Pradesh was recently granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Kristalina Georgieva has been reappointed as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Adani Enterprises has commissioned the first unit of its copper refinery at Mundra in Gujarat, marking its debut
in the metals space through subsidiary Kutch Copper. Copper demand is India is likely to be driven by renewable energy, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and the development of power transmission and distribution networks, Adani Enterprises said in a statement.

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is the developer of the Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) system, which was tested in Rajasthan.

The Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru is constructing the PRATUSH radio telescope on the far side of the moon.

Dr Ashvini Keshavan, Senior Clinical Research and Honorary Consultant Neurologist Fellow at University
College London (UCL), is part of the team that will focus on the most promising biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease called p-tau217. A second team made up of researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge will test various proteins to detect a variety of dementia-causing diseases.

Yuvraj Singh was appointed as an ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram developed a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines.

India plans to cease importing urea by the end of 2025, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency in fertilizer production.

India’s GDP growth is expected to moderate to 7 per cent in 2024-25 from the estimated 7.6 per cent this fiscal
even as the country will likely remain as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the Swiss Wealth Management major UBS has said.

The ‘Suvidha platform’ was developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to streamline election-related processes.

Bhutan hosted the Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference, focusing on raising $1 billion for tiger conservation over the next decade.

Pavuluri Subba Rao was honored with the Aryabhata Award by the Astronautical Society of India for his significant contributions to space technology.

The Asian Wrestling Championship 2024 was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. In this event, India’s Udit won the silver medal in men’s freestyle 57 kg. Abhimanyu got India’s second medal in the 70 kg category. Anju and Harshita settled for silver. India’s Olympic quota for Paris
2024 was secured by Antim Panghal in 2023.

HDFC Bank inaugurated the first branch of a private sector lender on Lakshadweep’s Kavaratti Island.

The central government approved the appointment of Nidhu Saxena as the managing director & chief executive
officer (MD & CEO) of the Bank of Maharashtra for a period of three years effective from 27 March 2024. Prior to joining Bank of Maharashtra, he was the Executive Director of Union Bank of India.

Bernard Arnault and his family topped the “Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2024: The Top 200.”

DBS Bank India announced a lending commitment of $250 million for new-age startups. The initiative is part of the bank’s focus on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the country’s thriving startup ecosystem.

ndia is among the twelve countries responsible for 60 percent of the planet’s mismanaged plastic waste though the fast-developing South Asian nation’s per capita plastic waste production is among the lowest in the world, according to a new report.

INS Sharda was honored with the ‘On the Spot Unit Citation’ for its exemplary conduct during anti-piracy operations.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced the myCGHS app to improve access to Electronic Health Records for CGHS beneficiaries.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on March 20 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi on Artificial Intelligence. The MoU was signed and exchanged between Additional Deputy CAG A. M. Bajaj
and IIT Delhi Director, Prof. Rangan Banerjee, in the presence of CAG Girish Chandra Murmu.

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is testing the DURGA-2 prototype, a Directionally Unrestricted Ray Gun Array system.

Rohit Sharma achieved the milestone of becoming the first Indian cricketer to hit 500 sixes in T20 format.

Telecom Secretary Dr. Neeraj Mittal has virtually launched an experimental licence module for 100 5G Labs during a workshop at IIT Madras, an official
statement said. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has granted around 1,500 experimental licences for 5G labs
since the launch of the programme for carrying out trials and testing use cases for 5G services, the statement said.

A state-of-the-art Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE) was inaugurated by Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat at Underwater
Acoustic Research Facility, Kulamavu in Idukki, Kerala on April 17, 2024.

 ISRO received the 2024 John L ‘Jack’ Swigert Jr. Award for its successful Chandrayaan-3 mission

The World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled S.A.R.A.H. (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health), a digital health promoter prototype with an enhanced empathetic response.

The new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime was successfully flight-tested by the Strategic Forces
Command (SFC) along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Dr APJ
Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

Shiny Kurisingal Abraham Wilson was nominated as a member of the Athletic Commission of the Asian Athletics Association.

OpenAI’s recent advancements include technology that transforms static images into lifelike talking videos. This technology utilizes artificial intelligence to animate photographs in a realistic manner, creating dynamic video content from still images, which has implications for entertainment, media, and communication technologies

Ashok Kumar was honored with the ‘Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award 2023.’

Mirabai Chanu has qualified as the only Indian weightlifter for the Paris Olympics 2024.

In a meeting held in New Delhi, on April 3, 2024, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (GoI) sanctioned the release of a
report titled ‘Synchronizing Energy Transitions Toward Possible Net Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy
for All’, which was prepared by IIM-A (Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad), Gujarat. It was introduced by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Government of India’s Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA).

 India plans to accomplish debris-free space missions by 2030, as shared during the 42nd Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) annual meeting.

Rajiv Gauba will lead the 6-member committee formed by the Ministry of Law and Justice to address issues concerning the queer community.

 India ranks 3rd globally in the number of unicorns, as per the “Global Unicorn Index 2024” report.

General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, inaugurated a high-tech IT Laboratory in Uzbekistan.

‘Kathiya Gehu,’ a variety of wheat from Uttar Pradesh, was recently awarded a geographical indication (GI) tag.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has conducted a 10-day exercise from 01 April to test its capabilities and
preparedness for high-intensity operations. The exercise known as ‘Gagan Shakti-2024,’ was conducted at various locations across the country, including the Pokhran Field
Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

India has emerged as the country with the highest percentage of doping offenders, according to the 2022
testing figures released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The report revealed that out of 4,064 samples collected from Indian athletes (including urine, blood, and athlete biological passports), 127 individuals tested positive for banned substances, constituting 3.26 per cent of the sample size

Dommaraju Gukesh became the youngest player in history to win the FIDE Candidates Tournament.

India plans to build its first privately managed strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) by 2029-30, granting the
operator the freedom to trade all of the stored oil. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) estimates the
Padur SPR and linked pipeline and oil import facility would cost about 55 billion rupees ($659 million).

Astrid Schomaker was appointed as the 8th Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach 01/24’ was conducted in Lakshadweep to assess and enhance maritime security.

The Indian Air Force deployed helicopters equipped with Bambi Buckets to combat the severe forest fires in the Nainital district, showcasing an effective use of aerial firefighting technology.

According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India, HDFC Bank emerged as the leader in credit
card issuances, with 20.40 million cards in circulation in February 2024. Other major players in the market
included SBI Card with 18.75 million cards, ICICI Bank with 16.84 million, and Axis Bank with 13.90 million.

Hamad International Airport in Qatar was awarded the title of the World’s Best Airport in 2024 by the Skytrax World Airport Awards.

 Professor Elisa Morgera was appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights.

Sangeet Natak Akademi organized the ‘Shakti – a festival of music and dance’ to revitalize Temple Traditions across India.

The Reserve Bank of India-led Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent for the seventh consecutive time, said RBI governor Shaktikanta Das while announcing the decisions of the bimonthly policy meet.

PayU, one of India’s leading digital financial services providers, has announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind Downpayment EMI solution that enables customers to make a partial payment upfront while remaining can be
converted into easy EMIs, making high-ticket purchases more affordable & accessible.

 Harendra Singh was appointed as the coach of the senior national women’s hockey team

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Madras launched India’s first mobile medical devices calibration facility.

The book ‘India’s Nuclear Titans,’ received by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, was edited by Soumya Awasthi.

The Defence Minister’s meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) took place in Asthana, Kazakhstan, reflecting ongoing defense and security collaborations among member states.

 Mount Ruang, located in Indonesia, recently began erupting.

Members of the Shompen tribe from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands exercised their voting rights for the first time.

According to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), migrants who entered India before December 31, 2014, are eligible for citizenship.

Every year, on April 15, people come together to celebrate World Art Day. It is a special occasion dedicated to honouring the contributions of artists and highlighting the importance of art in our lives. Interestingly, the date coincides with the birthday of the
legendary artist Leonardo da Vinci.

 Israel’s operation to intercept and counter drones and missile attacks by Iran is officially named Iron Shield.

Jio Financial Services announced an agreement with BlackRock Inc. and BlackRock Advisors Singapore Pte.
Ltd. to establish a 50:50 joint venture. The aim is to launch wealth management and broking services, as
disclosed by the company in its filing to the exchanges.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it successfully conducted the landing experiment of Pushpak Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) at Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga district in Karnataka. The winged vehicle called Pushpak landed precisely on the
runway after being released from 4.5 km altitude.

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry constructed 12,349 km of national highways in 2023-24, the second highest in its history, a senior government official said. Previously, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had constructed a record 13,327 kilometers of national highways in 2020-21.

Marking the first such transaction after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued fresh guidelines for the instrument,
State Bank of India and Standard Chartered Bank India has carried out a Credit Default Swap (CDS) trade worth
₹25 crore. Credit default swaps are derivative instruments that provide a form of insurance against the risk of default of the issuer of a bond.

Computer Age Management Services Ltd said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted authorisation to the company to operate as an online payment aggregator. The company received an in-principle authorisation from RBI in February 2023, according to a statemen

 IBM Consulting and Microsoft introduced the IBM-Microsoft Experience Zone in Bengaluru, marking a significant collaboration between the two tech giants.

The Defence Ministry issued a tender to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets made in India.

India has started Operation Indravati to evacuate its nationals from Haiti to the Dominican Republic, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said and asserted that it was “fully committed” to the security and well-being of Indians abroad.

Vijay Kumar Saraswat will head the seven-member panel established by the Government to promote the extraction of critical minerals.

The first clean economy investor forum under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) will be hosted in Singapore.

ICICI Lombard has announced its partnership with Policybazaar to offer insurance products to the latter’s
platform, which has access to almost 10 million customers. The private insurer will offer a comprehensive range of products, including motor, health, travel, home, and business insurance.

The book titled ‘Knife’ was authored by Salman Rushdie.

The White House directive instructs NASA to establish a ‘Coordinated Lunar Time’ (LTC) by 2026, essential for
synchronizing activities on the Moon. LTC will standardize timekeeping for secure data transfers and communication, addressing challenges posed by the Moon’s unique rotation and gravity.

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber was honored with the Global Energy Transition Impact Award for his leadership in promoting energy transition.

Microsoft has unveiled the VASA-1 AI model, which can create hyper-realistic talking faces using just one portrait image.

The 6th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure was held in New Delhi.

The grand finale of the 61st National Maritime Day, centered around the theme “Sustainable Shipping:
Opportunities and Challenges,” unfolded at the prestigious Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Nariman Point, Mumbai on 5 April. The Recipient of the Sagar Samman Varuna Award was the Dhirendra Kumar Sanyal for his outstanding and sustained contributions to the Indian maritime sector.

The Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, where a tissue culture laboratory is being established, is located in Delhi.

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) developed ‘OptiDrop,’ a platform that simplifies and reduces the cost of studying single cells.

Manoj Panda was appointed as a full-time member of the 16th Finance Commission.

The ‘Steel Cutting’ ceremony of the first of the five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was held at Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched ‘SCORES 2.0’ to strengthen the process of addressing investor complaints.

Manoj Mittal was appointed as the next Chairman and Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Jagjit Pavadia was re-elected as a member of the International Narcotics Control Board.

The Quality Council of India (QCI) and Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) have collaborated to enhance awareness
and participation in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Competitive Lean Scheme (MCLS) of
the Ministry of MSME among the members of Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB), typically MSMEs.

The book “The Law and Spirituality: Reconnecting the Bond” was authored by Prof. Raman Mittal.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has secured the 45th rank in Engineering and Technology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for 2024. With an overall score of 79.1 out of 100, the institute has
improved on its 2023 performance in the same subject by two places.

Vizhinjam Port received government approval to become India’s first transshipment port.

Meta has joined hands with the Press Trust of India (PTI) to mitigate viral misinformation on its platforms
including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Threads. As part of the collaboration, PTI will become an
independent fact-checker for the company and help in identifying, reviewing, and rating misinformation.

The TATA Group and Taiwan’s PSMC are setting up a 300 mm wafer fabrication plant in Gujarat, strengthening India’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs collaborated with ISRO to pilot V-SAT stations for better communication infrastructure in remote areas.

The space economy is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) report.

 Microsoft introduced the Phi-3-mini, a lightweight artificial intelligence model designed to improve efficiency in AI applications.

AMPIN Energy Transition said it has received 25-millioneuro investment from OeEB, the Development Bank of
Austria, in long-term financing to support the company’s renewable energy expansion plans and establishing a local 1-GW solar cell and module production facility in Odisha.

The International Sanskrit Conclave was recently organized in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The market capitalization of all listed companies on the BSE crossed Rs 400 lakh crore for the first time.

The UN’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) unanimously appointed Saudi Arabia to chair its 69th session in 2025, according to the Saudi Arabia Mission to the UN. Saudi ambassador to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, was elected as chair.

Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) released its ‘Food Waste Index Report 2024′, which tracks countries’ progress toward halving food
waste by 2030. According to the report, the world has wasted an estimated 19% of global food production in
2022, or approximately 1.05 billion metric tons. This equates to 132 kilos per person, or about one-fifth of total available food.

Mamta G. Sagar was awarded the WOW World Literary Prize for her significant contributions to literature.

India has released the second tranche of Rs 500 crore to Bhutan for the development of infrastructure related to
the GyalSung Project. This comes less than a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 23 concluded a
fruitful two-day state visit to Bhutan during which he assured Thimphu of New Delhi’s firm support in its quest
for development and agreed to provide Rs 10,000 crore to the Himalayan nation over the next five years.

India received the first batch of Russia-made Igla-S Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), boosting its defense capabilities.

Greece, Qatar and India have improved the most globally in providing the best environment to businesses in the past one year, according to a report by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). India came third on the list of most improved countries as a result of its youthful
demographic, which promises strong demand and availability of good labour, the report said.

BEML Limited collaborated with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to jointly develop an indigenous Train Control Management System (i-TCMS).

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has installed and activated the largest Climate Clock in India on its headquarters.

Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and a pilot, is set to become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist
on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. Mr. Thotakura was selected as one of the six crew members for the mission, making him the first Indian space tourist and the second Indian to venture into space after the Indian Army’s Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984.

The management of Sri Lanka’s strategic airport, MRIA in Hambantota, was awarded to a joint venture between an Indian and a Russian firm, highlighting the continuing international interest and collaboration in Sri Lanka’s
infrastructure.

 RuPay teamed up with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch the ‘Link it, Forget it’ campaign.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bulgaria to enhance collaboration and exchange auditing expertise.

A new plant for manufacturing forged wheels for Vande Bharat trains is being established in Gummidipoondi, Tamil Nadu.

Project Nimbus, associated with Google, was in the news for its significance in cloud computing and cybersecurity.

The government announced plans to sell up to 7% of its stake in NLC India.

Denmark, Ireland, and Switzerland all featured prominently in the top rankings of the 2023 Global
Competitiveness Index, demonstrating their strong economic performance and competitive environments.

Intel Corporation launched a new version of its AI chip called ‘Gaudi 3,’ designed to enhance artificial intelligence processing.

Indian defense exports reached a record high of Rs 21,083 crore in the financial year 2023-2024.

Singapore topped the ‘Business Environment Rankings (BER) 2024’ by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), reflecting its robust business environment.

The Reserve Bank of India informed that a penalty of Rs 1.31 crore has been imposed on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for non-compliance with certain directions issued by it on ‘Interest Rate on Advances’ and ‘Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC) –
Revision in Reporting’.

India and Mauritius have signed a protocol to amend the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA), which
included a principal purpose test (PPT) to decide whether a foreign investor is eligible to claim treaty benefits. The
amended protocol was signed on March 7 and made public now.

South Korean scientists set a world record by achieving plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius for 48 seconds using an “artificial sun” nuclear fusion reactor.

The second branch of the post office in Antarctica has been assigned the new pin code MH-1718.

Canara Bank has launched a healthcare-focused loan product, Canara Heal, designed to meet the deficit in hospitalization expenses while settling through TPA healthcare insurance claims. Additionally, it has
launched a customized savings account for women, Canara Angel, with unique features like a Cancer Care policy, pre-approved personal loan Canara ReadyCash, and an online loan against term deposit product, Canara MyMoney.

Justice Aniruddha Bose was appointed as the Director of the National Judicial Academy (NJA).

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research in Kozhikode developed three new microbial formulations to assist farmers in boosting agricultural productivity.

Hume has launched the world’s first emotionally intelligent voice AI, designed to enhance human-machine interactions.

Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, during his visit to Southern Naval Command, Kochi, awarded ‘On the Spot Unit Citation’ to INS Sharda for successful conduct of anti-piracy operations. The ship was involved
in the safe release of all 19 crew members (11 Iranian & 08 Pakistani) of Iranian fishing vessel Omari which was
held hostage by pirates off East coast of Somalia.

India’s Sreeja Akula won the women’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024 table tennis tournament at the
Al Kawthar Secondary School in Lebanon. Akula, the world No. 47, beat Luxembourg’s Sarah De Nutte 3-1 (6-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9) to win what was her second WTT singles career title.

The International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) has formed a standing committee to develop a framework for climate finance products.

India’s defence exports have soared to a record-breaking Rs 21,083 crore (approximately $2.63 billion) in the
financial year 2023-24, marking a significant growth of 32.5% over the previous year’s figure of Rs 15,920 crore, according to the ministry of defence.