ROY’S INSTITUTE OF COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION

Current Affairs
(26th MARCH 2024 to 25th APRIL 2024)

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BOOKS AND AUTHORS :

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Name of the Book Author
Knife: Meditations after Attempted Murder Salman Rushdie
The Winner's Mindset Shane Watson

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Just a Mercenary?: Notes from My Life and Career Duvvuri Subba Rao

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Phool Bahadur Abhay K
From A Car Shed To The Corner Room & Beyond S. Raman
Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI Madhumita Murgia
The Idea of Democracy Sam Pitroda
India — the Road to Renaissance: A Vision and an Bhimeswara Challa
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Agenda
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS :
 Nigeria, the African nation has become the first country in the world to introduce a new 5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis
named Men5CV.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay jointly inaugurated a modern hospital in
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the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu. The Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk Mother and Child Hospital is a shining example
of the strong development cooperation between India and Bhutan.
 Rumi Alqahtani, a 27-year-old model and influencer from Saudi Arabia, announced on Instagram that she will be the
first participant from the country in the Miss Universe competition.
 Thailand’s lower house of Parliament has passed a groundbreaking bill to legalize same-sex marriage, marking a
significant step towards equality in Southeast Asia. The legislation, an amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code,
garnered overwhelming support in the House of Representatives.
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 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that prohibits minors under 14 from having social media accounts.
The law requires parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds to create accounts on platforms like Meta, TikTok, and
others. All social media users in Florida must submit identification documents to verify their ages.
 According to the Forbes 38th Annual World’s Billionaires List 2024, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director
(CMD) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), is the only Indian to make it to the list of the top 10 billionaires in the
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world. Ambani was ranked 9th on the list, which was topped by Bernard Arnault & family, owner of the French luxury
giant LVMH.
Top 3 Billionaires in the World
1. Bernard Arnault & family (France): $233 billion
2. Elon Musk (USA): $195 billion
3. Jeff Bezos (USA): $194 billion
Top 3 Indian Billionaires
1. Mukesh Ambani: $116 billion (9th globally)
2. Gautam Adani: $84 billion (17th globally)
3. Shiv Nadar: $36.9 billion (39th globally)
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 Saudi Arabia has been chosen to chair the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), despite widespread criticism
due to its poor record on women’s rights. The appointment of Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil has sparked outrage
from human rights groups, given the stark disparity between the kingdom’s actions and the commission’s mandate to
promote gender equality.
 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.

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 Katchatheevu, an Indian island with a tumultuous past, has been a focal point of contention between India and Sri Lanka
since its cession in 1974.
 On April 1, 2024, Germany became the largest European Union (EU) nation to legalize recreational cannabis use, despite

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facing opposition from politicians and medical associations. Under the new law, adults over 18 are now permitted to
carry up to 25 grams of dried cannabis and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home.
 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. During tests conducted between December 2023 and February

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2024, they generated plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius for a duration of 48 seconds.

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 A research center in Romania has revealed the world’s most potent laser, based on the groundbreaking inventions of
Nobel Physics Prize winners Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland.
 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.
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 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.
 In a landmark achievement, French automaker Citroën has become the first multinational car manufacturer to export
electric vehicles (EVs) produced in India to the international market. The company announced the commencement of
exports of its locally manufactured ë-C3, sending an initial shipment of 500 units to Indonesia from the Kamarajar Port.
 India has donated 35 ambulances and 66 school buses to various organizations in Nepal, bolstering infrastructure in the
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crucial sectors of health and education.

 In a groundbreaking move, Nigeria has become the inaugural nation to introduce the innovative Men5CV vaccine,
recommended by the WHO, targeting five strains of meningococcal bacteria.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS :
 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA) has been conferred the Navratna status by the Department
of Public Enterprises.
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 Ms. Naima Khatoon the Professor of Psychology has become the first woman Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim
University.
 In an innovative move aimed at enhancing voter engagement and accessibility to election-related information, Punjab’s
Malerkotla district has introduced the ‘Booth Raabta’ website. Spearheaded by District Election Officer and Deputy
Commissioner, Dr. Pallavi, this platform, accessible via boothraabta.com, serves as a comprehensive resource hub for
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voters and polling personnel alike.

 The place in Kerala at which a premier testing & evaluation hub for sonar systems for Indian Navy, named SPACE
(Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation) has been established by DRDO is Kulamavu in
Idukki.
 New GI Tags
Asharikandi terracotta craft, Pani Meteka craft, Sarthebari metal craft, Jaapi (bamboo headgear of rural Assam), Mishing
handloom products, the Bihu dhol, Bodo Dokhona, the traditional attire of Bodo women; and Bodo Eri silk, referred to
as the fabric of peace or ahimsa (non-violence), Bodo Jwmgra (a traditional scarf), Bodo Gamsa (traditional dress of
Bodo men), Bodo Thorkha (a musical instrument), and Bodo Sifung (a long flute) from Assam.
Banaras Thandai, a drink made by blending milk with a nutritious mix of nuts, seeds and spices, Banaras Tabla, Banaras
Shehnai, Banaras Lal Bharwamirch and Banaras Lal Peda from Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

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Pachra-Rignai, a traditional dress worn on special occasions, and Matabari Peda, a sweet preparation from Tripura.
Meghalaya Garo Textile’ weaving, ‘Meghalaya Lyrnai Pottery’ and ‘Meghalaya Chubitchi’ from Meghalaya.
Sitars and tanpuras of Miraj, from Sangli district of Maharashtra.
Bundelkahnd wheat variety from Uttar Pradesh.
Tiranga Barfi and Dhalua Murti Dhatu Shilpa (Metal Casting Craft) from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
 The Election Commission of India (ECI) is keeping a close watch on the election process through the cVIGIL app. The
app allows citizens to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct and election expenditures by capturing photos

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and videos. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that cVIGIL empowers citizens to report violations, with
assured action within 100 minutes.
 The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is conducting excavations at two mounds in Nachne village, located in the

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Panna district of Madhya Pradesh. The goal of these excavations is to uncover what could potentially be the oldest
temple in India.
 The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench has declared the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act of 2004 as

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unconstitutional. The court ruled that the act violated the principle of secularism, as well as several articles of the
Constitution, including Articles 14, 21, and 21-A. Additionally, the court found that the act also contravened Section 22

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of the University Grants Commission Act of 1956.
 The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early on March 26 after a container ship collided with a pylon,
resulting in the presumed death of six individuals who fell into the cold waters below. The incident has halted operations
at one of the busiest ports on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.
 In response to the urgent need to protect the endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) population from extinction caused
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by collisions with high-powered power cables in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Supreme Court of India has taken decisive
action. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra has appointed an expert
committee to address this critical issue while balancing conservation efforts with renewable energy goals.
 Amidst the growing buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI), the trailer and song launch event for India’s first Hindi
film on this subject, “IRAH,” took place in Mumbai. The movie boasts an impressive cast, including Rohit Bose Roy,
Rajesh Sharma, Karishma Kotak, and Rakshith Bhandarry in prominent roles.
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 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. This
new norm has come into effect from April 1, 2024.
 The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, launched India’s first home-grown gene therapy for cancer at IIT Bombay
on April 4, 2024. This groundbreaking treatment, called ‘CAR-T cell therapy’, is a major breakthrough in the battle
against cancer.
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 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.
 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.
 In response to requests from friendly nations including Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Mauritius, and
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Bhutan, the Indian government has granted approval for the export of onions. India, a significant global exporter of
onions, had enforced a ban on onion exports in December 2023, leading to soaring prices in these nations.
 Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi inaugurated the Param Vir Chakra garden and Aikyam exhibition at the Kanchi
Mahaswami Vidya Mandir in Tambaram.
 Saudi Arabia has been chosen to chair the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), despite widespread criticism
due to its poor record on women’s rights. The appointment of Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil has sparked outrage
from human rights groups, given the stark disparity between the kingdom’s actions and the commission’s mandate to
promote gender equality.

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 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.
 The Manohar International Airport in Mopa, Goa, has become the 14th airport in India to launch the Digi Yatra system.
 India has removed export restrictions on essential commodities for the Maldives, including items like eggs, potatoes,
onions, rice, wheat flour, sugar, and dal, for the fiscal year 2024-25. This move comes despite strained diplomatic
relations between the two countries since November last year

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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to make history as the first Indian Prime Minister since Indira Gandhi to grace
the cover of Newsweek. In a comprehensive interview, PM Modi discussed a spectrum of topics, including China,
economic reforms, the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Quad alliance, and the role of democracy in India.

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 In a remarkable feat of engineering and tourism development, the state of Uttar Pradesh has unveiled its first-ever glass
skywalk bridge, located at the enchanting Tulsi (Shabari) Waterfall in Chitrakoot.
 The Nyishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh enthusiastically celebrates the Longte festival, one of their biggest cultural events.

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Unlike many other tribal festivals, Longte prohibits the sacrifice of animals, instead adorning altars with decorative
white feathers and bamboo decorations.

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APPOINTMENTS :
National
Name Post
Abhay Thakur Ambassador of India to Myanmar
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Neeraj Chopra Brand Ambassador of Eveready Industries India
Hansha Mishra Director of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi New Judicial Member of Lokpal
Sadanand Vasant Date Director General of the NIA
Piyush Anand Chief of NDRF
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Girija Subramanian CMD of New India Assurance

Bhupesh Sushil Rahul CMD of United India Insurance
Joyshree Das Verma National President of the FICCI Ladies Organisation
Atul Mehra Managing Director of Axis Capital
Sheyphali B. Sharan Principal Director General of Press Information Bureau
Sanjay Nayar President of ASSOCHAM
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Sandeep Jain President of FISME

Harendra Singh Coach of the Senior National Women’s Hockey team of India
Vandita Kaul Secretary of the Department of Posts
Aniruddha Bose Director of the National Judicial Academy
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Anurag Kumar Joint Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

Nalin Negi CEO of BharatPe
Nalin Prabhat Director-General of the National Security Guard (NSG)
International
Name Post
Luis Montenegro Prime Minister of Portugal
Bassirou Diomaye Faye President of Senegal
Kamal Kishore Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the
Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction of UN
Pavan Davuluri Head of combined Windows and Surface teams of Microsoft

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Name Post
Judith Suminwa Tuluka Prime Minister of Democratic Republic of Congo
Srinivas Pallia MD and CEO of Wipro
Tarun Bajaj Head of the US-India Tax Forum
Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as Prime Minister of Kuwait
Kristalina Georgieva Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund

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(IMF)

OBITUARIES NEWS :

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 Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, has sadly passed away at
the age of 87. His cousin, Neal L Gossett, confirmed his demise on March 29, stating that he died at a rehabilitation
center in Santa Monica, California.

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 Juan Vicente Pérez was a man from Venezuela who lived a very, very long life. He was born on May 27, 1909, in a town
called El Cobre. This means he was alive for 114 years.

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 Veteran Tamil actor Visheshwara Rao passed away on April 2 at the age of 64.
 British physicist Peter Higgs died at the age of 94. Peter Higgs gained fame for the discovery of ‘Higgs-Boson Particle’
i.e. ‘God Particle’.
AWARDS & HONOURS :
International
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 Laureus Sports Award 2024
World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic (Tennis)
World Sportswoman of the Year: Aitana Bonmati (Footballer)
World Team of the Year: European Ryder Team (Golf)
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World Breakthrough of the Year: Jude Bellingham (Football)

World Comeback of the Year: Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
 Goldman Environmental Prize 2024:- Alok Shukla, the renowned Indian environmental activist and convenor of
Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan.
 Ms Mamta G. Sagar, the Kannada poet, writer, academic and activist has been awarded the World Literary Prize 2024
by World Organization of Writers.
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 Abel Prize 2024 : Michel Talagrand of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris, France. It Is
the highest award of Mathematics in the world.
 Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital’s research team has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Best Scientific Poster Award’ at
the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).
 Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an Indian researcher, has been awarded the 2024 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health
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Award for her achievements in global health research. (

 The Indian-American actress Avantika Vandanapu, best known for her role as Karen Shetty in the 2024 musical comedy
“Mean Girls,” has been honored with the prestigious “South Asian Person of the Year” award by Harvard University.
 Kaushik Rajashekara, a distinguished professor at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, has been
elected as an International Fellow of the prestigious Engineering Academy of Japan.
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 Shri Ratan Tata, the noted industrialist and philanthropist has been awarded the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences
Humanitarian Award 2021.
 Amitabh Bachchan has been chosen to be awarded the third Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar Award.
 At a glittering event recently held in Noida, organized by The Times Group, Vijay Jain, the Managing Director of Star
Estate, was awarded the prestigious Times Power Icon 2024 Award.
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 Allu Arjun, the popular Telugu actor, has achieved a new milestone in his career. He has been honoured with a wax
statue at the renowned Madame Tussauds Museum in Dubai.
 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.
 On March 29, 2024, Prime Minister 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. This marked the beginning of the

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National Maritime Week celebrations, which span from March 29 to April 5.
 Professor Meena Charanda, Principal of Kalindi College, Delhi University, has been awarded the prestigious ‘International
Culture Award’ for the year 2024.

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 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.
 Dr. Kommuri was felicitated with the Distinguished Overseas Dental Specialist (Orthodontics and Orofacial Pain) title

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at the National Fame Awards 2024, held at The Club in Mumbai.

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 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 (BGPL).
 Vels University in Chennai conferred an honorary doctorate in literature upon renowned Indian actor Ram Charan.
 Alia Bhatt’s inclusion in TIME Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024’ underscores her remarkable ascent
as a global icon.
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 GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) has been honored with the ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South
Asia 2024’ award by Skytrax.
SPORTS NEWS :
 The IPL team which has set a new IPL record of highest ever IPL score of 287 runs while playing against Royal
Challengers Bangalore is Sunrisers Hyderabad.
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 Rashmi Kumari has etched her name deeper into the annals of Indian carrom history by claiming her 12th National
Carrom Championship title
 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’. This new technology is set to transform the game, as future international and
IPL matches will be played on this innovative track.
 Mykolas Alekna, the Lithuanian athlete has set a new world record in discus throw by achieving a throw of 74.35 meters
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at an event in USA.
 The Indian professional tennis player Sumit Nagal has become the first Indian to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on
clay courts by defeating Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi.
 Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis player has become the oldest to be ranked as Number 1 by ATP at the age of 36years
and 321 days (beating the record of Roger Federer).
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 The former Indian cricket captain and wicketkeeper M.S. Dhoni has become the first-ever wicketkeeper in the world
to claim 300 dismissals with the dismissal of Prithvi Shaw in an IPL match.
 Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian cricketer to score 12,000
runs in the T20 format. Kohli accomplished this remarkable feat during the opening match of the 2024 Indian Premier
League (IPL) between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram
Stadium
 In a historic move, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host a day-night Test match between the Australian and
English women’s cricket teams. This will be the first time a pink-ball Test is played at the iconic venue. The four-day
match is scheduled from January 30 to February 2, 2025.
 Veteran Kenyan allrounder Collins Obuya has announced his retirement from cricket following Kenya’s defeat to Uganda
in the third-place play-off match at the African Games.

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 The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed former Indian men’s hockey team captain and goalkeeper PR
Sreejesh and Chile’s Camila Caram as co-chairs of the FIH Athletes Committee.
 Sharfuddoula has created history by becoming the first Bangladeshi umpire to be appointed to the ICC Elite Panel of
Umpires. His appointment was confirmed following the International Cricket Council’s annual review and selection
process.
 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. In an exciting final, they defeated the second seeds Ivan

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Dodig and Austin Krajicek with a score of 6-7(3), 6-3, [10-6].
 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

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Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
 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), the world governing body for men’s and women’s weightlifting.

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25-year-old Indian weightlifter Bindyarani Devi competed in the women’s 55kg category and won a bronze medal.

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 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.
 The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Sri Lankan cricketer Kamindu Mendis as the ICC Men’s Player of
the Month for March 2024. Mendis’ historic batting performances in the first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet were
instrumental in Sri Lanka’s comfortable victory. On the women’s side, England’s Maia Bouchier has been awarded the
ICC Women’s Player of the Month for March 2024.
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 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.
THEME OF IMPORTANT DAYS :
Day Theme
International Mine Awareness Day (04 April)
Protecting Lives, Building Peace
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World Health Day (07 April) My Health, My Right

National Maritime Day (05 April) Navigating the future: safety first!
World Haemophilia Day (17 April) Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders
World Malaria Day (25 April) Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable
world
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National Handmade Day (First Saturday of Buy a Handmade Product

April)
SUMMITS, CONFERENCES AND FESTIVALS :
Event Location
1st Army Commanders’ Conference 2024 New Delhi
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19th Annual Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 2024 Astana, Kazakhstan

World Future Energy Summit 2024 Abu Dhabi National Exhibition
Centre
Yoga Mahotsav 2024 Pune, Maharashtra
European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad 2024 Tskaltubo, Georgia
16th World Future Energy Summit 2024 Abu Dhabi
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY :
 The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu launched India’s first home-grown anti-Cancer CAR-T cell therapy and
dedicated it to the Nation in the presence of the Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Ramesh Bais at the Indian Institute of
Technology, (IIT) Bombay in Mumbai.

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 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will conduct the Space Science and Technology Awareness Training
(START) 2024 program during April and May. ISRO is inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) from educational
institutes, universities, and colleges within India offering UG and PG courses in physical sciences and technology to
host START-2024.
 Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has extended its third-party fact-checking initiative
in India by partnering with the Press Trust of India (PTI).
 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Chandrayaan-3 mission team has been awarded the 2024 John L.

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“Jack” Swigert, Jr. Award for Space Exploration by the US-based Space Foundation.
 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath has revealed that the upcoming phase of the Chandrayaan
project is in progress, aiming to advance India’s lunar exploration efforts. He indicated that Chandrayaan-4 marks the

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initial stride towards India’s aspiration of landing an astronaut on the moon by 2040.
APPS, PORTALS, SCHEMES :
 In a determined effort to ensure accessibility and inclusivity in the electoral process, the Election Commission has

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introduced the Saksham App. This initiative aims to address the needs of voters above 85 years of age and Persons-
with-Disabilities (PWDs) with a 40 percent benchmark disability, allowing them to cast their votes from the comfort of

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their homes.
 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.
 NTPC Limited, India’s largest power company, is set to unveil a new version of its flagship corporate social responsibility
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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.
AGREEMENT/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
 State-owned power giant NTPC has finalized an agreement with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to
obtain foreign currency loans totaling USD 200 million (JPY 30 billion or approximately Rs 1,650 crore). This financing
arrangement signifies a significant step in NTPC’s endeavor to augment its renewable energy initiatives.
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 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.
 India and Mauritius recently signed an amendment to their Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) on March
7, 2024. The amendment includes a principal purpose test (PPT) aimed at combating tax avoidance by ensuring that
treaty benefits are granted only for transactions with a genuine purpose.
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 Apple has partnered with CleanMax to deploy 14.4 megawatts of rooftop solar installations across six industrial sites
in India, aimed at reducing emissions associated with its operations in the country.
IMPORTANT INDEXES AND REPORTS
 In a landmark shift, Mumbai has overtaken Beijing as Asia’s billionaire capital, according to the latest report from the
Shanghai-based Hurun Research Institute.
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 In the latest Brand Finance Insurance 100, 2024 report, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) solidifies its position
as the strongest insurance brand worldwide, maintaining a stable brand value of Rs 816 billion. With a Brand Strength
Index score of 88.3 and an AAA brand strength rating, LIC showcases its unparalleled prominence in the industry.
 In 2023, India emerged as a frontrunner in digital services exports, surpassing China, as outlined in the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) report.
 The Airports Council International (ACI) World recently released its rankings for the busiest airports worldwide in 2023.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport secured the tenth position, handling 7.22 crore passengers annually.
This marks a significant progression from its 2019 ranking of 17th place, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19
pandemic.

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DEFENCE NEWS AND EXERCISES

 In response to escalating tensions along the northern borders with China, the Indian Army has initiated significant
enhancements to its air defence capabilities. Central to this strategic maneuver is the deployment of cutting-edge
Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems (IDD&IS), developed domestically in collaboration between the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics. (
 The METOC seminar ‘Meghayan-24’ was conducted by the School of Naval Oceanology & Meteorology (SNOM) and
the Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC) at the Southern Naval Command on March 28, 2024. It was

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organized in commemoration of World Meteorological Day, with the theme ‘At the Frontline of Climate Action’ set by
the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for 2024.
 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that India’s defence exports surged to a record Rs 21,083 crore in the fiscal

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year 2023-24, marking a remarkable growth of 32.5% from the previous year.
 The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has commenced a project in Junput village, West Bengal,
to establish a test centre for the country’s weapon systems.

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 Indian Coast Guard Director General Rakesh Pal inaugurated the Indian Coast Guard Aquatic Centre at ICGS Mandapam

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near Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu
 In a significant milestone for India’s defense capability, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)
and the Indian Army have successfully conducted trials of the indigenously designed and developed Man Portable Anti-
tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Weapon System.
Name of Exercise Participating Countries Location Type
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Exercise Gagan Shakti-2024 Indian Air Force Pokhran, Air Force
Rajasthan
Exercise Sagar Kavach 2024 Indian Navy, Indian Lakshadweep Navy
Coast Guard etc.
Exercise DUSTLIK 2024 India and Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Army
Exercise IMT TRILAT 2024 India, Mozambique and Mozambique Navy
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Tanzania
ECONOMY AND BANKING AWARENESS
 S&P Global released its Economic Outlook Asia-Pacific Q2 2024 report. S&P Global raises India’s GDP growth forecast
for FY25 to 6.8%, a 40 basis points increase.
Morgan Stanley has increased its GDP growth forecast for India for the financial year 2024-25 (FY25) to 6.8%, up from
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the previous estimate of 6.5%. Also revised growth forecast for the ongoing financial year, FY24, to 7.9%.
The World Bank has revised India’s GDP growth projection for FY25 to 6.6%. FY24 GDP estimated at 7.5%.
The ADB has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year (FY25) to 7% from the previous estimate
of 6.7%.
Moody’s Analytics projects India’s economic growth for 2024 estimating at 6.1%.
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IMF has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for 2024-25 upwards by 30 basis points to 6.8%. For FY24, the IMF raised
its GDP growth projection to 7.8%.
UNCTAD forecasts India’s GDP growth at 6.5% in 2024, a slight deceleration from the previous year’s 6.7%.
 India’s current account balance showed a deficit of US$ 10.5 billion, in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24,
equivalent to 1.2 per cent of GDP.
This marked a decrease from US$ 11.4 billion (1.3 per cent of GDP) in the previous quarter and US$ 16.8 billion (2.0
per cent of GDP) in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.
FDI recorded a net inflow of US$ 4.2 billion, compared to US$ 2.0 billion in the corresponding quarter of the previous
fiscal year.
India’s merchandise trade deficit reached a low of $15.60 billion annually in March, marking a significant reduction in
the yearly deficit to $240.2 billion in FY24.
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 In the latest Brand Finance Insurance 100, 2024 report, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) ranks as the strongest
insurance brand worldwide, maintaining a stable brand value of Rs 816 billion.
With a Brand Strength Index score of 88.3 and an AAA brand strength rating.
LIC India, recording the highest first-year premium collection of Rs 39,090 crore in the fiscal year 2022-23.
 The Indian government intends to borrow Rs. 7.5 lakh crore from the market through auctions of bonds with maturities
ranging from 3 years to 50 years. The borrowing will be completed through 26 weekly auctions.

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This amount represents approximately 53% of the total borrowing target for FY25, which is set at Rs. 14.13 lakh crore.
The fundraising will include issuance of sovereign green bonds worth Rs. 12,000 crore.
In line with global market practices a new dated security with a tenor of 15 years will be introduced.

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The fiscal deficit for FY25 is estimated at 5.1% of GDP, down from 5.8% in the current fiscal year.
Weekly borrowing through Treasury Bills for the first quarter of FY25 is expected to be Rs 27,000 crore for the initial
seven auctions and Rs 22,000 crore for the subsequent six auctions.

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The RBI has set the Ways and Means Advances limit for the first six months of FY25 at Rs 1.5 lakh crore to address

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temporary mismatches in government accounts.
 IRDAI has designated three insurers as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) for the year 2023-24. Namely
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), and New India Assurance
Co Ltd. These insurers are considered “too big or too important to fail” (TBTF).
 India's forex reserves - $640.33 billion as of April 19. Previously, for the week ended on April 12, 2024 - $643.16. Forex
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reserves, or foreign exchange reserves (FX reserves), are assets held by a nation’s central bank, primarily in reserve
currencies such as the US Dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, and Pound Sterling.
 In March 2023, Union Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia sanctioned the formation of 13 task forces aimed at delineating
action plans for various facets of green steel production and the adoption of sustainable manufacturing methodologies.
The 14th Task Force on Biochar Implementation was established on December 5, 2023, in recognition of biochar’s role
as a pivotal lever in carbon reduction practices within the steel sector.
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With the steel sector contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, this initiative aims to reduce carbon intensity
and promote sustainability in steel manufacturing processes.
 In March 2024, the GST collection in India witnessed a notable surge, marking the 2nd highest since its inception in
July 2017. The month’s collection amounted to Rs 1.78 lakh crore, reflecting an 11.5% increase year-on-year.
 CPI inflation for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25) stands at 4.5%.
India’s retail inflation dropped to a 10-month low of 4.85% in March.
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The annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 0.53% (Provisional) for the month
of March, 2024 (over March, 2023). With the overall index value of 151.8.
 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.
 State Bank of India (SBI) and Standard Chartered Bank India conducted a Credit Default Swap (CDS) trade valued at
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₹25 crore.
Credit default swaps are a type of insurance against default risk by a particular company. It is a contract between two
parties, called protection buyer and protection seller.
Under the contract, the protection buyer is compensated for any loss emanating from a credit event in a reference
instrument. In return, the protection buyer makes periodic payments to the protection seller.
 The Indian government has launched CDP-SURAKSHA, a digital platform aimed at streamlining the distribution of
subsidies to horticulture farmers under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP).
CDP-SURAKSHA stands for “System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance,”
is designed to ensure swift subsidy disbursal to farmers’ bank accounts via the e-RUPI voucher system provided by the
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Seamlessly integrates databases with PM-KISAN and UIDAI for efficient validation.
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Enables precise tracking of delivery and verification through geo-tagged media, ensuring authenticity and preventing
misuse.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India, has launched a new programme
for Horticulture Cluster Development to enhance the global competitiveness of the Indian horticulture sector.
The National Horticulture Board has been designated as the Nodal Agency for implementation of Cluster Development
Programme as a component of Central Sector Scheme of NHB.
The Cluster Development Programme (CDP) is designed to leverage the geographical specialisation of horticulture

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clusters and promote integrated and market-led development of preproduction, production, post-harvest, logistics,
branding, and marketing activities.
MoA&FW has identified 55 horticulture clusters, of which 12 have been selected for the pilot launch of the Programme.

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Based on the learnings from the pilot project, the programme will be scaled up to cover all 55 clusters.
 Ministry of Finance reveal that net direct tax collections for the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 have surpassed Union
Budget Estimates by a substantial margin of Rs. 1.35 lakh crore, marking a remarkable increase of 7.40%.

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The Budget Estimates (BE) for Direct Tax revenue in FY 2023-24 were initially set at Rs. 18.23 lakh crore and were

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later revised to Rs. 19.45 lakh crore.
 SEBI has granted approval to CRISIL ESG Ratings & Analytics as a Category 1 provider of ESG ratings, marking a
significant development in the realm of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) assessments in India.
 The IRDAI (Bima Sugam – Insurance Electronic Marketplace) Regulations, 2024, aim to establish a digital public
infrastructure named Bima Sugam.
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The primary objectives of this marketplace are:
Universalization and democratization of insurance
Empowering and safeguarding policyholders’ interests
Achieving the vision of “Insurance for all by 2047”
 Meme coins, also known as “memetic tokens” or “community coins,” are digital currencies created as a form of satire
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or humorous tribute to internet culture.

Popular Meme Coins
Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), Retik Finance (RETIK).
 Union Minister of Roads, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced plans to introduce a satellite-based toll
collection system for the country’s highways.
The proposed system will utilize the global navigation satellite system, including India’s own GAGAN (GPS Aided
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GEO Augmented Navigation) satellite navigation system, which has an accuracy of approximately 10 meters.
FASTags, the radio frequency identification-based toll collection system made mandatory by the government on February
16, 2021, will continue to operate alongside the new satellite-based system.
 Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) have introduced trading in the T+0 rolling
settlement cycle in the equity segment on an optional basis. This new settlement cycle allows for same-day settlement
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of trades, in addition to the existing T+1 settlement cycle.

The stock exchanges have announced a set of 25 scrips which are allowed for trading on the T+0 settlement cycle.
All investors are eligible to participate in the T+0 trade settlement cycle if they can meet the timelines, process, and risk
requirements as prescribed by the Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs).
For the optional T+0 settlement cycle, there will be one continuous trading session from 09:15 AM to 1:30 PM. The
settlement of funds and securities will be completed on the same day by 4:30 PM.
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is considering establishing a Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA) to combat the
proliferation of illegal lending apps and curb growing cyber fraud.
The RBI has provided the IT Ministry with a list of 442 digital lending apps for Googles whitelisting. From September
2022 to August 2023, Google removed over 2,200 digital lending apps from its app store.

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 India’s stock market capitalization is currently the fifth largest globally at $4.5 trillion, according to a report titled ‘Recap
2024. Crystal Gaze 2025’ by financial conglomerate Pantomath Group. The report predicts that India’s market cap is
likely to hit $10 trillion by 2030.
As of 2024, the top five countries by market capitalization are:
United States: $44.7 trillion
China: $9.8 trillion

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Japan: $6 trillion
Hong Kong: $4.8 trillion

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India: $4.5 trillion
 The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which met recently, decided to keep the repo
rate – the main policy rate – unchanged at 6.5 per cent and maintain the policy stance of ‘withdrawal of accommodation’.

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Current Rates

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Policy Rates
Policy Repo Rate : 6.50%
Standing Deposit Facility Rate : 6.25%
Marginal Standing Facility Rate : 6.75%
Bank Rate : 6.75%
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Fixed Reverse Repo Rate : 3.35%
Reserve Ratios
CRR : 4.50%
SLR : 18.00%
Indian Government has announced a Rs. 496 crore scheme (until 2025-26) to support pilot projects testing the viability
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of green hydrogen as a fuel for cars and heavy vehicles.
The scheme, under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), aims to validate the technical feasibility,
evaluate economic viability, and demonstrate safe operation of hydrogen-powered vehicles and refuelling stations.
Types of Hydrogen
Grey Hydrogen: Produced from natural gas through energy-intensive processes, with high carbon emissions. Currently,
most hydrogen produced for industrial consumption is grey hydrogen.
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Blue Hydrogen: Sourced from fossil fuels, but by products such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are captured
and stored, making it better than grey hydrogen.
Green Hydrogen: Produced using electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar to electrolyse
water. It is considered an end-to-end green fuel with water or water vapour as the only by product.
 HDFC Bank has become the first private sector bank to establish a branch in Kavaratti Island, part of the Union Territory
of Lakshadweep.
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 On April 5, 2024, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das announced a new rule permitting the linking of PPIs through third-
party UPI applications.
Customers can now use their wallet balance seamlessly on other UPI-enabled apps, expanding its utility beyond the
wallet’s platform.
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has achieved a significant milestone by entering into a record number of 125
Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers in the financial year 2023-24. This includes 86 Unilateral
APAs (UAPAs) and 39 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs).
The total number of APAs signed since the launch of the APA programme has reached 641.
 Paytm has received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to migrate its users to other banks
for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based payment services.
The company has completed its integration with four major banks – State Bank of India, Yes Bank, HDFC Bank, and
Axis Bank – and has started the process of transitioning its users to these new Payment System Provider (PSP) banks.
All @paytm handle users will now be migrated to these banks.
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The new VPAs will be in the format of @ptsbi, @pthdfc, @ptaxis, and @ptyes, corresponding to the respective partner
banks.
 National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI) wholly-owned subsidiary NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) has
partnered with State Bank of India (SBI) to enable online recharge of SBI’s National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC)
through the Bharat BillPay platform.
National Common Mobility Card is an inter-operable transport card conceived by the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs of the Government of India.
It enables seamless travel by different metros and other transport systems across the country besides retail shopping and

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purchases.
The NCMC recharge facility has already gone live for SBI NCMC cards for transit systems like Noida Metro, Nagpur
Metro, MMRDA Line 2A & 7, Chennai Metro, Kanpur Metro, and also for Parliament Canteen via SBI’s Bharat BillPay-

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enabled app called SBI Unipay.
 The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a framework for price discovery of shares of listed
Investment Companies (ICs) and Investment Holding Companies (IHCs) whose market price is trading at a significant

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discount to their book value.
These companies typically lack day-to-day operations and primarily hold investments, including shares of other listed

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companies. Despite holding high-value investments, the market value of an IC or IHC can differ significantly from its
book value.
 NABARD unveiled its Climate Strategy 2030 document on Earth Day to address India’s growing need for green financing.
India requires approximately $170 billion annually to reach a cumulative total of over $2.5 trillion by 2030 for green
financing.
The country has set an ambitious target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by
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2030. India is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China and the United States.
 According to the recent report of RBI, the Indian economy must grow at a rate of 8-10% per annum over the next decade
to reap the benefits of its demographic dividend.
Requires focus on labour quality, employability, and formalization.
The 'demographic dividend' results from an increase in the proportion of workers relative to non-workers in the population.
In terms of age, the working population is roughly that between 15 and 64 years of age.
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 In a strategic collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Federal Bank introduces ‘Flash
Pay, facilitating contactless NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) payments.
 Axis Bank has announced the introduction of digital US dollar fixed deposits (FDs) for NRI customers at the IFSC
Banking Unit (IBU) at GIFT City, Gujarat. The bank has become the first to offer a digital journey for opening deposits
at GIFT City.
 Airtel-India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has launched WhatsApp banking services in New Delhi. This allows customers
to conveniently access banking services on their mobile phones.
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To empower customers pan-India to access banking services on their mobile phones in just a few clicks.
Delivered on Airtel IQ, the messaging solution will augment the Govt.’s Digital India mission by enabling IPPB customers
across the country to seamlessly connect with their bank on WhatsApp.
 The Institute for Human Development (IHD) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) have released a report titled-
‘India Employment Report 2024’.
 The Union government recently announced revised wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
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Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Haryana offers the highest wages at Rs 374 per day, whereas Uttar Pradesh has one of the lowest at Rs 237.
The revised rates will come into effect from 1st April 2024.
 The Union Agriculture Minister inaugurated a Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).
Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre is a tech-based solution involving multiple IT applications and platforms,
housed in the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
It provides information on crop yields, production, drought situation, cropping patterns (geographic region-wise and
year-wise) in map, timeline and drill-down views.
It will then generate a customised advisory in the local language of the farmer.
 The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified the Patents Amendment Rules, 2024.
The timeline for filing the Request for Examination (RFE) is now reduced from 48 months to 31 months from the priority
date.
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 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently announced the finalisation of the Omnibus Framework for recognising
Self-Regulatory Organisations (SRO) for its Regulated Entities (RE).
The Omnibus Framework is a comprehensive set of guidelines and regulations for recognising Self-Regulatory
Organisations (SROs). It also establishes membership criteria and terms for SROs to follow in order to be recognised
by the RBI. Aims to foster transparency, professionalism, and independence within SROs to build confidence in the
integrity of the sectors they regulate.
 Financing Agrochemical Reduction And Management Programme (FARM): Seven countries – Ecuador, India, Kenya,

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Laos, Philippines, Uruguay, and Vietnam – have initiated a program called the Financing Agrochemical Reduction and
Management Programme (FARM) to address pollution from pesticides and plastics in agriculture.
This initiative aims to combat the release of toxic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the environment caused by
the use of harmful chemicals in farming.

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FARM, led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF),
intends to shift financial incentives towards farmers to adopt low- and non-chemical alternatives, promoting sustainable
practices.

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 The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced the introduction of derivative contracts on the Nifty Next 50 index,
set to commence from 24th April 2024.

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The Nifty Next 50 Index represents 50 companies from Nifty 100, excluding the Nifty 50 companies.
There are two main types of derivatives:
Futures, which involve a binding agreement to buy or sell the underlying security on a future date.
Options, which give the holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy or sell the underlying asset at a predetermined
price within a specified period.
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 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the latest global financial stability report. In 2023, India was the
second-largest recipient of foreign capital after the U.S.
 The Finance Ministry has notified amended rules under the Foreign Exchange Management Act to operationalise its
earlier decision to allow up to 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) for the space sector. The new rules came
into effect from April 16.
India gets FDI through two routes:
(a) Automatic route: Under this route, the non-resident or Indian company does not require a prior nod from the Reserve
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Bank of India (RBI) or the government of India for FDI.

(b) Government route: Under this route, the government’s approval is mandatory.
 The Asian Development Bank recently warned that India could face imported inflation as the rupee could depreciate
amid the rise in interest rates in the West.
Imported Inflation is a general and sustainable price increase due to an increase in the costs of imported products.
It is also referred to as cost inflation.
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Changes in trade policies, such as tariffs and quotas, can influence the cost of imported goods.
Fluctuations in transportation costs, influenced by factors like fuel prices and logistical challenges, can affect the final
cost of imported goods.
 The Indian government has simplified the payment mechanism for traders importing pulses from Myanmar by
implementing the Rupee/Kyat direct payment system through the Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA) via Punjab
National Bank.
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Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA) is an account that domestic banks hold for foreign banks in the former’s domestic
currency, which, in this case, is the Indian Rupee (INR).
 Shrinkflation is becoming a topic of concern within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. Shrinkflation
refers to the practice of reducing the size of a product while maintaining its sticker price. In macroeconomic context
shrinkflation can also refer to a situation where the economy contracts while experiencing rising prices.
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently released the Asia Development Outlook Report in April 2024.

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