Current Affairs 13th , 14th &15th April 2024
This blog post Current Affairs 13th, 14th & 15th April 2024 is your one-stop shop for deciphering the top news stories that unfolded between April 13th and 15th, 2024. We’ll delve into a compelling mix of international affairs, scientific breakthroughs, and business ventures that captured the world’s attention during this period.
So, whether you’re a news aficionado or simply seeking a concise update on the week’s happenings, buckle up and get ready to explore the most impactful events that made headlines from April 13th to 15th, 2024.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1) NTPC Launches New Edition of Girl Empowerment Mission
On April 9, 2024, NTPC Limited (previously National Thermal Power Corporation) inaugurated the latest edition of the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM), the company’s main Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
The new GEM will add around 3000 impoverished youngsters to NTPC’s 42 sites. With this, the project will be expanded to help 10,000 females.
Note: This is consistent with the Government of India’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” initiative, which strives to empower girls by fostering their potential and offering chances for advancement while also addressing gender inequity.
Key Points:
- To far, the initiative has served 7,424 females, and participation is expanding year after year.
- In 2023, 2,707 females attended seminars at 40 NTPC facilities throughout 16 states in India.
- GEM began as a trial initiative in 2018 with three locations and has now grown nationally. Despite the hurdles created by the COVID-19 epidemic, GEM continues to provide participants with comprehensive skill development, confidence building, and mentorship.
- The program’s goal is to enable girls to be change agents in their own lives, families, communities, and the nation.
About NTPC Limited:
NTPC Limited is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Power.It achieved Maharatna rank in 2010.
- Chairman & Managing Director– Gurdeep Singh
- Headquarter– New Delhi, Delhi
- Establishment– 1975
Click here to read from source
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
2) USD 4.2 trillion needed in Investments to close Development Financing Gap in SDGs: UN DESA’s FSDR 2024
- On April 9, 2024, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) published the 9th edition of the ‘Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2024 (FSDR 2024)-Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development’, with the topic ‘Financing for Development at a Crossroads’,
- According to it, a projected USD 4.2 trillion in investments are required to bridge or close the development funding gap, up from USD 2.5 trillion before to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The study emphasizes the importance of economic changes in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which would necessitate unprecedented expenditures.
- Members of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development collaborated to create this study.
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are projected to see their debt payment expenses rise significantly, reaching USD 40 billion between 2023 and 2025. This marks a substantial increase of more than 50%, or USD 26 billion, compared to 2022.
About United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA):
The UN Secretary-General, after careful selection, appoints the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Economic and Social Affairs, who then takes the lead in guiding UN DESA.
- Head– USG Li Junhua
- Headquarters– New York, United States (US)
- Establishment– 1948
Click here to read from source
BANKING & FINANCE
3) Karnataka Bank Partners with FISDOM to Offer Stock Broking Services & 3-in-1 Accounts
Karnataka Bank Ltd, a renowned private sector bank, has teamed with FISDOM to provide stock broking services as well as three-in-one accounts (savings, demat, and trading) via the “KBL Mobile Plus” mobile banking app.
The alliance aims to improve the present value proposition of allowing clients by offering seamless access to equities and mutual funds.
It will allow clients to access investment possibilities and trading capabilities through a single, user-friendly interface.
The 3-in-1 facility consolidates savings, demat, and trading accounts, which simplifies account administration.
It also removes the need for numerous platforms, resulting in a more seamless investing journey.
Note: FISDOM is Finwizard Technology Private Limited’s digital wealth management platform. It provides investors with a comprehensive wealth management platform, including mutual funds and insurance.
Click here to read from source
4) CAMS Receives RBI’s Nod to Operate as an Online Payment Aggregator
Computer Age Management Services Ltd (CAMS), India’s largest mutual fund transfer provider, has acquired a Certificate of Authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online payment aggregator.
CAMS received in-principle approval from the RBI in February 2023.
CAMS applied for the certificate of authorisation in accordance with the regulatory guidelines ‘Guidelines on Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways’ (Guidelines) released in March 2020.
CAMSPay, CAMS’ payment business unit, has over 15 years of expertise in the payment solutions sector.
It serves a varied range of clients, including mutual funds, insurance firms, banks, and non-banking financing companies (NBFCs).
Note: As of March 2024, CAMSPay has over 1.2 million mandates for Unified Payment Interface (UPI) autopay.
Click here to read from source
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
5) Moody’s Analytics forecasts India’s GDP to grow 6.1% in 2024
According to Moody’s Analytics’ research “APAC Outlook: Listening Through the Noise,” India’s GDP (GDP) is anticipated to fall to 6.1% in 2024 from 7.7% growth in 2023.
Key Points:
- According to the research, output in India remains 4% lower than it would have been without the COVID-19 epidemic and its multiple repercussions, which include supply shortages and armed conflicts overseas.
- According to the analysis, economies in South and South-East Asia will see some of the highest output growth in 2024; but, their performance will be hampered by a delay in the post-pandemic recovery.
- The analysis anticipated that the total APAC (Asia-Pacific) area will expand by 3.8% in 2024, while the world economy will rise by 2.5%.
- According to the research, China and India face higher uncertainty about inflation.
- According to the research, India’s consumer price inflation rate is approximately 5%, which is close to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) inflation target range of 2%-6%. It provides no indication of a downward trend in pricing pressures.
Click here to read from source
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
6) Indian Microbiologist Gagandeep Kang Honoured with John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award 2024
On April 11, 2024, the Toronto (Canada)-based Gairdner Foundation presented Indian microbiologist and virologist Gagandeep Kang with the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award 2024 for her contributions to global health research. She is the first Indian woman to receive this honor.
Reason for Award: She was honored for her substantial cohort-based epidemiological, environmental, and clinical trial research on enteric infections in children and their implications on life course, which had a significant impact on vaccine development and health policy in India and beyond.
This was part of the 2024 Canada Gairdner Awards, which recognize the world’s top biomedical and global health researchers.
About Gagandeep Kang:
- Gagandeep Kang is an adjunct professor at Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
- She also serves as Director of Enteric, Diagnostics, Genomics, and Epidemiology at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- She helped develop and introduce two Indian rotavirus vaccines, Rotavac and Rotasiil, into the National Immunization Program.
About John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award:
The John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award is given yearly to researchers who have employed logical, scientifically based research to promote the health and well-being of people living in health disparities throughout the globe.
About Canada Gairdner Awards:
- The Gairdner Foundation was founded in 1957 with a grant from billionaire James A Gairdner. It is a non-profit organization that recognizes excellent achievements in biomedical research across the world.
- The Gairdner Foundation (Canada) has been presenting the Canada Gairdner Awards on an annual basis since 1957. Each recipient also receives a Canadian Dollar (CDN) 100,000 and a medal.
- Each year, eight prizes are given: Five Canada Gairdner International Awards for biomedical research; one John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for effect on global health challenges; and two Canada Gairdner Momentum Awards for mid-career Canadian investigators.
Click here to read from source
7) Mathematician Avi Wigderson Wins the 2023 ACM A.M. Turing Award (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has announced Israeli mathematician and computer scientist Avi Wigderson as the recipient of the 2023 ACM A.M. Turing Award, also known as the “Nobel Prize of Computing”.
He is the Herbert H. Maass Professor of Mathematics at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.
His fundamental contributions to computation theory, particularly revolutionizing our understanding of randomness in both computing and mathematics, alongside his continued intellectual leadership in theoretical computer science, earned him this recognition.
The award includes a monetary reward of USD 1 million.
About Avi Wigderson:
- Starting at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, Avi Wigderson rose through the ranks quickly.
- In 1986, he was named Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, and just one year later, he was appointed Associate Professor.
- His accomplishments continued to be recognized, eventually leading to a full Professorship at the university’s Computer Science Institute.
- In 1993, he became the Chairman of Hebrew University’s Computer Science Institute.
- In 1999, he became a Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Princeton, NJ.
Awards/Honours:
- In 1994, he received the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize for Computer Science, which is given by the International Mathematical Union every four years.
- He also received the Levi L. Conant Prize (2008), the Gödel Prize (2009), and the Donald E. Knuth Prize (2019). and the Abel Prize (2021).
- In 2021, he was awarded the Abel Prize, which is a significant prize for lifetime achievements in mathematics. He received the honor alongside László Lovász of Hungary.
About ACM A.M. Turing Award:
- The prize was named after Alan M. Turing, a British mathematician who is regarded as the founder of contemporary computer technology.
- The prize has recognized important achievements to the computer sector since its inception in 1966.
- It recognizes computer scientists and engineers who developed systems and theoretical underpinnings critical to the progress of information technology (IT).
- It is ACM’s most prestigious honor, recognizing long-term and significant technological contributions to the computer profession.
- Google Inc. provides financial support for the prize.
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
8) Central Government Appoints Ashish Kumar Chauhan, Sridhar Vembu as Members of UGC for 3 year (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, has announced the appointment of Ashish Kumar Chauhan, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), and Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation, as members of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for three years.
Other Key appointments:
- It has also appointed Retd. Professor Sachidananda Mohanty, former Vice Chancellor (VC) of Central University of Odisha.
- Professor Shashikala Gulabrao Wanjari, VC of National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi, Delhi as members of UGC for a period of three years or until further instructions.
Note: With these appointments, the total number of UGC members grows from four to eight.
About Ashish Kumar Chauhan:
- Ashish is the acting chancellor of the University of Allahabad in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
- In July 2022, SEBI named him as NSE’s MD and CEO for five years.
- He was among the founding members of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
- In 2009, he served as Deputy CEO of the BSE (previously Bombay Stock Exchange). In 2012, he was named CEO of the BSE.
During his reign, the BSE was listed in 2016.He was instrumental in the establishment of India foreign Exchange (India INX), India’s first foreign exchange, which opened in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in 2017.
About Sridhar Vembu:
- He began his work as a wireless engineer at Qualcomm in San Diego, California, United States of America (USA).
- In 1996, he founded AdventNet, which was later renamed Zoho Corporation in 2009.
- He was designated a member of the National Security Advisory Board in 2021.
- In 2021, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian decoration, for trade and industry.
About University Grants Commission(UGC):
For the first time, the Sargent Report of 1944 advocated establishing India’s national educational system.
The UGC was formed by an Act of Parliament in 1956.
- Chairman: Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar
- Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
Click here to read from source
9) Vo Thi Anh Xuan Appointed as Interim President of Vietnam (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
On March 21, 2024, Vietnam’s Vice President, Vo Thi Anh Xuan (54), was appointed Interim President of Vietnam.
Vo Thi Anh Xuan replaces Vo Van Thuong, who resigned from the presidency on March 20, 2024. He has been President of Vietnam since March 2023.
She will serve as acting president until the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) elects a new president.
Note: Previously, in the 2021-2026 period, Vo Thi Anh Xuan served as Vietnam’s Interim President in January 2023, until Vo Van Thuong was elected President, succeeding Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who resigned on January 17, 2023.
About Vo Thi Anh Xuan :
- Vo Thi Anh Xuan is from Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, Vietnam.
- She serves as an alternative member of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s (CPV) 11th Party Central Committee, as well as the 12th and 13th Party Central Committees and as a delegate to the 14th and 15th National Assembly.
- In April 2021, she was elected Vice President of Vietnam. At the age of 51, he became Vietnam’s youngest vice president.
About Vietnam:
- Prime Minister– Pham Minh Chinh
- Capital– Hanoi
- Currency– Vietnamese dong
Click here to read from source
Click here to read: 12th April 2024
10) Bjarni Benediktsson Took Office as PM of Iceland; PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir Resigned (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
Bjarni Benediktsson, chairman of Iceland’s Independence Party, assumed office as Prime Minister (PM) of Iceland on April 9, 2024. He replaces Katrín Jakobsdóttir, who resigned as Prime Minister of Iceland to run for President of Iceland.
Benediktsson has been serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs from October 2023.
He previously served as Prime Minister of Iceland from January to November 2017.
Note: Katrín Jakobsdóttir has been the Prime Minister of Iceland since 2017. She also resigned as Chair of the Left-Green Movement.
About Bjarni Benediktsson:
- Bjarni Benediktsson began his profession as a District Court attorney in 1998.
- He was initially elected to Iceland’s parliament, Althingi, as a member of Southwest Iceland in 2003.
- He has led the Independence Party since 2009.
- He was the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from 2013 to 2017, and again from November 30 to October 14, 2023.
Know about Katrín Jakobsdóttir:
- Katrín Jakobsdóttir became Iceland’s second female prime minister, succeeding Jóhanna Sigurðardótti.
- She has been a member of Althingi representing the Reykjavík North constituency since 2007.
- Between 2009 until 2013, she also served as Minister of Education, Science, and Culture, as well as Minister of Nordic Cooperation.
- She served as Chairman of the Left-Green Movement from 2013 until her resignation in 2024.
About Iceland:
- President– Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
- Capital– Reykjavík
- Currency– Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
11) IndusInd International Holdings Acquires 60% Stake in Invesco Asset Management India (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
IndusInd International Holdings Limited (IIHL), the Hinduja Group’s Mauritius-based investment holding company, has purchased a 60% share in Invesco Asset Management India (IAMI).
IAMI is the local branch of Invesco, a worldwide investment management corporation located in the United States (USA).
This transaction is part of an agreement to construct a Joint Venture (JV) in which IIHL will control 60% and IAMI will hold 40%, with both serving as sponsors.
Note: IIHL is the promoter of IndusInd Bank, India’s fifth-largest private-sector bank.
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
12) Russia Launched 1st Angara-A5 Heavy Lift Space Rocket from Vostochny Cosmodrome (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
On April 11, 2024, Russian space agency Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (ROSCOSMOS) successfully launched the first Angara-A5 space rocket from the launch pad at Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east Amur region.
This will replace Russia’s heavy-lift rocket, the Proton M, which has been operational since the mid-1960s.
Key Points:
- The rocket was launched into orbit, reaching speeds of almost 25,000 kilometers per hour (km/hr) in minutes.
- The rocket successfully deposited the test cargo in low orbit.
Significance:
In anticipation of Russia’s Cosmonaut Day on April 12, 2024, which marks the 63rd anniversary of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human in space for the Soviet Union, the Angara-A5 was launched.
On April 12, 1961, Gagarin launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Vostok 3KA-3 (Vostok 1) spacecraft.
About Angara-A5:
- Angara-A5 is a 54.5-metre, three-stage heavy lift space rocket weighing approximately 773 tonnes. It is capable of transporting payloads weighing up to 24.5 tonnes into lower orbit.The rocket utilizes oxygen and kerosene as fuel rather than poisonous heptyl, making it more ecologically benign than its predecessors.
- The Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center in Moscow, Russia, stepped up to the plate by designing and constructing the Angara Rocket Series.
- This series, named after the mighty Angara River that flows from Siberia’s Lake Baikal, honors a geographical landmark while showcasing the center’s engineering prowess.
Notably, the first and second test flights of the Angara-A5 specifically took place from the northern Plesetsk Cosmodrome in 2014 and 2020, respectively.
Project Angara:
- After the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, Russia conceived of the Angara Project.
- In an effort to wean itself off its dependence on the Baikonur Cosmodrome, leased from Kazakhstan until 2050, Russia initiated a project aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in space launches.
About Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities(ROSCOSMOS):
- Director-General(DG)- Yuri Ivanovich Borisov
- Headquarters- Moscow, Russia
- Established in 1992
Click here to read from source
13) Israel Deploys C-Dome Defence System for First time
(Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
Israel has deployed its ship-mounted defensive system ‘C-Dome’ for the first time at Eilat, Israel’s southernmost city.
The C-Dome is a naval variant of the Iron Dome air defense system, designed to protect against rocket and missile strikes.
On April 8, 2024, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) successfully intercepted a suspected aerial target traveling into Israeli territory with the C-Dome defense system.
Rafael Advanced military Systems, a state-owned military corporation, created the C-Dome Defence System.
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
SPORTS
14) Badminton: India’s Anupama and Tharun Win Singles Titles at Kazakhstan International Challenge 2024 (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
Anupama Upadhyaya and Tharun Mannepalli of India won the women’s and men’s singles championships in the Kazakhstan International Challenge 2024 Badminton event, which took place in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, from April 2nd to April 6th, 2024.
Indian Winners:
Tharun Mannepalli of Telangana beat Malaysia’s Soong Joo Ven in the men’s singles final.
This is Tharun’s first senior circuit championship. He finished second in the 2023 national badminton championship.
Anupama Upadhyaya (Uttarakhand), the former Junior World No. 1, defeated Isharani Baruah in the all-Indian women’s singles final. This is her second international trophy in 2024, following her victory in the Polish Open.
She has previously won the India International Challenge 2021, the Tajikistan International Series 2023, and the Polish Open in 2022 and 2024.
Indians Sanjai Srivatsa Dhanraj and Maneesha K finished second in the mixed doubles after losing to Malaysians Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien.
Winners of the Kazakhstan International Challenge 2024:
|
Championship |
Winner |
Runner |
|
Men’s Singles |
Tharun Mannepalli (India) |
Soong Joo Ven |
|
Women’s Singles |
Anupama Upadhyaya (India) |
Isharani Baruah |
|
Men’s Doubles |
Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar (France) |
Kakeru Kumagai and |
|
Women’s Doubles |
Kaho Osawa and Mai Tanabe (Japan) |
Polina Buhrova and |
|
Mixed Doubles |
Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien (Malaysia) |
Sanjai Srivatsa Dhanraj and |
About Kazakhstan International Challenge:
- The Kazakhstan International Challenge 2024 (formally known as Condensate Kazakhstan International Challenge) is the Badminton World Federation’s Continental Level (Grade 3) tournament.
- The Kazakhstan National Badminton Federation arranged the event with BWF approval.
Please keep in mind that BWF main events are under Grade 1, whilst BWF world tour events are classified as Grade 2.
Click here to read from source
(Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
IMPORTANT DAYS
15) International Day of Human Space Flight 2024 – April 12 (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
Every year on April 12th, the United Nations observes International Day of Human Space Flight. This day celebrates not only humanity’s first steps into space, but also underscores the vital role that space science and technology plays. It emphasizes how these advancements contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ultimately improve the well-being of both countries and individuals.
It also emphasizes the need to preserve outer space for peaceful reasons.
Background:
- The UN General Assembly (UNGA) approved resolution A/RES/65/271 on April 7, 2011, declaring April 12 of each year as International Day of Human Space Flight.
- The first International Day of Human Space Flight was commemorated on April 12, 2011.
About United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA):
- Director– Aarti Holla-Maini
- Headquarters– Vienna, Austria
- Established in– 1958
Click here to read from source
16) International Day for Street Children 2024 – April 12 (Current Affairs 13/14&15 April 2024)
The Consortium for Street Children (CSC) organizes the International Day for Street Children (IDSC) every year on April 12th. This day serves to raise awareness about the struggles faced by millions of children living on the streets worldwide.
Every year, the CSC selects a subject for IDSC to raise awareness about the problems of street children across the world.
The theme for International Day of Street Children 2024 is “Belonging.”
Background:
- CSC sponsored the first-ever International Day for Street Children on April 12, 2011.
-
Following its launch in 2011, the International Day for Street Children has been embraced worldwide since 2012, specifically to recognize the compassion, dignity, and resistance that street children demonstrate in the face of adversity.
Click here to read from source
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