Current Affairs 20th April 2024
Fast-paced world got you reeling? Fret not, for we’ve got you covered! This blog post is your comprehensive guide to staying informed about the most significant events that transpired on April 20th, 2024. Whether you’re interested in the latest advancements in education policy or keeping an eye on regulatory actions in the food industry, we’ve got you covered. Buckle up as we explore the key news stories shaping Current Affairs 20th April 2024.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1) Three New Archaeological Sites Discovered in Telangana
Archaeologists have uncovered a rare Iron Age Megalithic site at Ooragutta near Bandala village in the SS Tadvai mandal of Mulugu district, Telangana.
The crew also uncovered two new rock art sites in Damaratogu Gundala mandal, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana.
One of the places known as “Devarlabanda Mula” solely depicts animals, not people. Because no weapons or domestic animals are depicted, the paintings are thought to have been created during the Mesolithic period (8000-3000 BCE).
About the Iron Age Megalithic site
- These new sites contain novel types of monuments that have not been identified in any other part of India.
- The New Archaeological site identified at Ooragutta has unique characteristics that differ from the typical megalithic structure known as ‘Dolmenoid Cists’ seen in this region.
- The side slabs are laid in the shape of the cap-stone, therefore the ‘dolmenoid cist’ has a distinct shape defined by the cap-stone.
- Monuments in this region date back to circa 1,000 BCE and are typically squarish or rectangular in form.
About the Archaeologists Team:
The team comprises K.P. Rao, a History Professor at the University of Hyderabad, and Ch Praveen Raju, a Research Scholar at Yogi Vemana University in Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh).
About Telangana:
- Chief Minister(CM)- Anumula Revanth Reddy
- Governor- C.P. Radhakrishnan
- Zoological park– Nehru Zoological Park; Vana Vigyan Kendra Mini Zoo (Kakatiya Zoological Park)
- Airport– Rajiv Gandhi International Airport; Begumpet Airport
Click here to read from source
2) Russia-India Signs Agreement to Operate Large Research Hub in New Delhi
HSE University (officially the National Research University Higher School of Economics), a public research university in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the University of Delhi (DU) in New Delhi, Delhi (India), have signed an agreement on strategic collaboration and cooperative initiatives.
This partnership would establish a huge research cluster at DU in India.
Convening in New Delhi, Delhi, from April 11 to 13, the Indo-Russian Education Summit provided the platform for the signing of the agreement.
Signatories:
- HSE University Rector Nikita Anisimov took the lead in signing the collaboration agreement, acting as the coordinator for the entire university’s partnership with the University of Delhi.
- Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, representing the University of Delhi, joined him in signing the agreement.
About the Hub:
- The center will evolve into a cutting-edge platform for fostering intellectual and cultural collaboration.
- The hub also contains a fully equipped HSE University office on the core campus of DU.
This may be done by all HSE University research groups, lecturers, and students as part of collaborative initiatives.
This would also open up a variety of options for the construction of mirror laboratories, teaching modules and programs, as well as academic and scientific exchange projects.
About Indo-Russian Education Summit
- The summit was organized by Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian state agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Russian House in New Delhi and the Russian Embassy in India. This was the most significant event in bilateral relations between India and Russia.
- The summit brought together important stakeholders from both nations, including university rectors, diplomats, lawmakers, scientists, and business executives, to discuss potential collaborations in education, science, creative technologies, and professional training.
Click here to read from source
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
3) Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024: Hamad International Airport of Doha (Qatar) Named World’s Best Airport
Doha’s (Qatar) Hamad International Airport (HIA) has been selected the World’s Best Airport 2024 at the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards, which will take place on April 17, 2024, at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Frankfurt, Germany.
Singapore Changi Airport (Singapore), the 2023 Airport of the Year and a 12-time winner, finished second, earning Best Airport in Asia and World’s Best Airport Immigration Service.
Incheon Airport (Seoul, South Korea) was ranked third and named the World’s Most Family Friendly Airport for 2024.
Note:
Skytrax is an international aviation research firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom (UK).
About Skytrax:
- Headquarters– London, UK
- Established in– 1989
- Skytrax is a professional research and quality advisor to the airline sector.
Click here to read from source
4) Sweden Becomes 38th Signatory to the Artemis Accords
Sweden became the 38th nation to sign the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s “Artemis Accords” on April 16, 2024, which create a realistic set of standards for peaceful space research and utilization.
Signatories: Mats Persson, Sweden’s Minister for Education, and Erik D. Ramanathan, the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden, signed the agreement in Stockholm, Sweden.
Switzerland became 37th nation to sign Artemis Accords:
On April 15, 2024, Switzerland became the 37th country to join the Artemis Accords. Guy Parmelin, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs and Education, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Switzerland in the presence of NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at NASA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
About Artemis Accord:
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Department of State together introduced the Artemis Accords in 2020 with the goal of enhancing bilateral and multilateral space collaboration among signatories.
- The Artemis Accords were formally signed on October 13, 2020, by the eight founding countries: Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States.
- It is a non-binding agreement that contains no financial obligations.
- It established the basis for implementing major responsibilities under the Outer Space Treaty (1967).
Signatories of Artemis Accord(as of 20th April 2024):
Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay.
Click here to read from source
BANKING & FINANCE
5) Airtel Payments Bank unveils NCMC Debit and Pre-Paid Cards in Collaboration with NPCI
On April 18, 2024, Airtel Payments Bank collaborated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch eco-friendly NCMC (National Common Mobility Cards) debit and prepaid cards.
RuPay powers these cards, which are furthermore made of ecologically friendly e-PVC material.This aligns with Airtel Payments Bank’s commitment to India’s One Nation, One Card goal.
Key Points:
- Customers may use these cards to make contactless payments at merchant locations both online and offline, including NCMC transportation purchases at metros, buses, and parking lots around the country.
- It removes the necessity for ticket waits. They also make it easier to issue concession and monthly passes, which simplifies transit transactions between different transport carriers.
- To enhance user convenience, Airtel Payments Bank is now offering debit cards directly through the Airtel Thanks App.
- Additionally, local banking locations will continue to provide debit cards for those who prefer that method. NCMC-enabled prepaid cards will soon join the lineup, becoming available for purchase through both online and retail channels.
About Airtel Payments Bank:
- MD & CEO– Anubrata Biswas
- Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana
- Establishment– 2017
Click here to read from source
6) Amazon Pay ties up with NPCI to introduce credit services on UPI (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
According to Financial Express, Amazon Pay is partnering with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to provide credit services via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
This effort attempts to enhance the customer experience and value offerings.
Note: UPI is an Indian instant payment system established by the NPCI in 2012 and adopted by the RBI in 2016.
Key Points:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gave AmazonPay a payment aggregator license in February 2024. It also acquired license from the RBI to operate a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI).
- The research noted factors that hampered the expansion of credit for UPI transactions, including several questions about the interchange charge structure around UPI transactions and poor adoption among small retailers.
Amazon Pay partners with different financial entities:
- AmazonPay partnered with RBL Bank to offer UPI payments on its platform. It has partnered with ICICI Bank for FasTag recharges and the launch of Amazon Pay ICICI co-branded credit cards.
- Amazon Pay partners with about 8.5 million brick-and-mortar sellers in 350 metropolitan and rural locations, as well as 10,000 online businesses.
- Amazon Pay has partnered with businesses such as Axio, IDFC FIRST Bank, and Karur Vysya Bank to provide “Buy Now Pay Later” services.
Note:
- Currently, Amazon Pay has over 100 million consumers that utilize Amazon Pay UPI for a variety of transactions. It provides quick credit through the Amazon Pay Later option.
- NPCI has released three new features for UPI-linked RuPay credit cards, including EMI options, UPI Auto Pay for credit cards, and enhanced credit limits. These features will become effective on May 31, 2024.
About Amazon Pay:
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington D.C.(U.S.A.)
- Founded in: 2007
About National Payments Corporation of India(NPCI):
The NPCI is an Indian organization that oversees the retail payment and settlement system in India. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association joined forces to introduce this initiative, which was subsequently established under the mandates set forth in the Payment and Settlement Systems Act (2007).
- Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO): Dilip Asbe
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Established in: 2008
Click here to read from source
7) Ashok Leyland Signed MoU with South Indian Bank For Dealer Financing (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
On April 18, 2024, Ashok Leyland Limited, a commercial vehicle manufacturer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Indian Bank to finance dealers through the bank’s dealer financing program.
As part of the agreement, South Indian Bank will provide Ashok Leyland Limited dealers with attractive dealer financing alternatives.
This agreement benefits both automobile makers and dealers, as well as South Indian Bank.
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
8) 8 Indian Origins Featured in the Annual TIME100: Most Influential People in the World 2024 (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
TIME, the 101-year-old worldwide media brand, has announced the 21st edition of its annual “TIME 100 most influential people 2024” list.
The list includes eight persons of Indian origin: Alia Bhatt, Dev Patel, Sakshi Malik, Satya Nadella, Ajaypal Singh Banga, Jigar Shah, Asma Khan, and Priyamvada Natarajan.
The American magazine TIME compiles the TIME100 list, which recognizes the impact, invention, and achievement of the world’s most significant people.
About TIME magazine:
- CEO– Jessica Sibley
- Headquarters– New York, USA
- Created in– 1923
Click here to read from source
9) Mitchell Starc, Usman Khawaja, Harry Brook Among Five Wisden Cricketers of the Year 2024 (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
The 2024 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack has named its Five Wisden Cricketers of the Year, recognizing outstanding efforts in the sport.
They are Mitchell Starc, Usman Khawaja, and Ash Gardner from Australia, as well as Harry Brook and Mark Wood from England.
- Australian cricketer Travis Head won the 2023 Wisden Trophy with an excellent 163 against India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Oval in London, UK.
- Arjun Singh’s photograph depicts players Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, and Dhruv Jurel battling for a catch during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match.
About United Kingdom (UK):
- Prime Minister– Rishi Sunak
- Capital– London
- Currency– Pound sterling
Click here to read from source
10) Ananth Technologies Founder Pavuluri Subba Rao Conferred with ASI’s Aryabhata Award (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
Pavuluri Subba Rao, a former ISRO scientist and the founder and CEO of Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL), has received the Astronautical Society of India’s (ASI) renowned Aryabhata Award. ASI further honored him with the title of “Distinguished Fellow”.
In recognition of his extraordinary lifetime contributions that significantly advanced the field of astronautics in India, he was awarded the prestigious prize.
About Pavuluri Subba Rao:
- He was a former scientist of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He quit ISRO in 1991, while he was the division leader.
- Leveraging his expertise in aerospace technologies, he founded Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL) in 1992.
- Headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana, the company now manufactures some of the advanced avionics integral to ISRO and the defence industry’s operations.
- ATL operates satellite manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Aryabhata Award:
- The Astronautical Society of India (ASI) establishes the Aryabhata Award, named after the 5th-century Indian astronomer and mathematician and India’s first satellite launched in 1975.
- Every year, the award is given to an individual for extraordinary lifetime contributions to the advancement of astronautics in India. The recipient receives a citation and a monetary prize of Rs 1,000,000.
About Astronautical Society of India(ASI):
It was founded in 1990 to promote the growth of astronautics in the country.
- President: Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
- Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
11) DRDO conducts successful flight-test of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) off Odisha Coast
On April 18, 2024, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully performed a flight test of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM):
- DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, along with other laboratories and Indian industry, developed the missile.
- To ensure superior and dependable performance, they outfitted the ITCM with modern avionics and software.
- The successful flight test demonstrated the reliable performance of the indigenous propulsion system developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Key Points:
- To ensure comprehensive flight path coverage, the ITR deployed a variety of Range Sensors, including Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking System (ETOS), and Telemetry, at various locations to closely monitor the missile’s performance.
- Additionally, the Indian Air Force’s Su-30-Mk-I aircraft actively tracked the missile’s flight.
ADE is a DRDO facility that conducts research and development in the realm of military aviation.
- Director: Y Dilip
- Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Established: 1959
Click here to read from source
12) Intel Builds ‘Hala Point’, World’s Largest Neuromorphic System To Enable Sustainable AI (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
Intel Corporation, an American technology corporation that makes semiconductor computer circuits, has created ‘Hala Point’, the world’s biggest neuromorphic system code, to allow more sustainable Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Sandia National Laboratories originally implemented the system, leveraging Intel’s Loihi 2 CPU for its operation.
It intends to fund research into future brain-inspired artificial intelligence (AI) and address issues concerning the efficiency and sustainability of present AI.
Hala Point improves Intel’s first-generation large-scale research system, Pohoiki Springs, with architectural enhancements that result in over ten times more neuron capacity and up to twelve times greater performance.
This system achieves a processing powerhouse! It can handle a staggering 20 quadrillion operations per second while executing standard deep neural networks. Moreover, it boasts exceptional efficiency, exceeding 15 trillion 8-bit operations per second per watt (TOPS/W).
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
SPORTS
13) Former World No. 1 Badminton Player Kento Momota announces Retirement (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
On April 18, 2024, former World No. 1 badminton player Kento Momota of Japan announced his retirement from badminton after representing Japan at the 2024 Thomas & Uber Cup.
Kento Momota sits at 52nd
In 2018 and 2019, he won both the World Championship and the Asian Championship. He won 67 of the 73 matches he played in 2019, including 11 championships.
In 2021, he also competed in the Tokyo (Japan) 2020 Olympics, an international multi-sport event that was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Games were originally scheduled for 2020, but ultimately held from July 23 to August 8, 2021.
Note: The BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2024 will be held in Chengdu, China, from April 27 to May 5, 2024.
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
BOOKS & AUTHORS
14) PM Narendra Modi Presented with a Book Titled “Sabke Ram” (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
Hitesh Shankar, editor of Panchjanya, and Arun Goyal, Managing Director of Bharat Prakashan, presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the book “Sabke Ram”.
Prabhat Prakashan, the publisher behind the Hindi monthly magazine “Panchjanya,” also published the book.
It describes the history of Ayodhya and includes information regarding Lord Ram’s birthplace and date of birth.
This unique book offers the flexibility of being read in Hindi or listened to in English.
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
IMPORTANT DAYS
15) World Liver Day 2024 – April 19 (Current Affairs 20th April 2024)
Each year, on April 19th, World Liver Day springs into action to raise awareness about the importance of liver health. This global observance strives to both prevent and treat liver illnesses by promoting public education.
To preserve liver function, WLD promotes a better lifestyle, including adequate food, frequent exercise, and the avoidance of hazardous drugs.
The theme for World Liver Day 2024 is ‘Be Vigilant, Get Regular Liver Check-ups, and Prevent Fatty Liver Diseases.
Click here to read from source
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