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MANTHAN
A General Awareness Weekly
15th April to 21st April, 2024
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A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 1

PREFACE
Dear Students,
The ‘Current Affairs’ section is an integral part of any examination. This edition of Manthan has been developed by our
team to help you cover all the important events of the Week. This comprehensive bulletin will help you prepare the
section in a vivid manner. We hope that our sincere efforts will serve you in a better way to fulfill aspirations.
Happy Reading
Team CL
Page : 2 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
National
Forests a national asset and a major contributor to financial wealth, says Supreme Court
· The Supreme Court has asserted in a judgment that forests in India are a national asset and a major
contributor to the nation’s financial wealth. “It is the spirit of the forest that moves the earth,” a Bench headed
by Justice M.M. Sundresh observed in a judgment based on an appeal filed by the State of Telangana against a
High Court decision “graciously gifting” forest land to a private person.
· The State’s forest officials, expected to preserve the forest, had made matters worse by filing conflicting affidavits
in court about the nature of the land. The apex court ordered ₹5 lakh in costs from both the State government
and the private persons. The State was asked to open an enquiry against its own forest officials.
· The judgment has come at a pivotal time when the controversial Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2023
or the FCAA has attracted widespread criticism. The FCAA is accused of giving a free hand to States to
regularise encroachments in protected forests and determine diversions of forestlands. The Act has been
criticised for paving the way for the commercial exploitation of forests, besides exempting infrastructural projects
from environmental clearance.
The Supreme Court of India came into being on 28 January 1950. It replaced both the Federal Court of India
and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council which were then at the apex of the Indian court system. The
first Chief Justice of India was Sir H J Kania. Originally, the Constitution of India envisaged a supreme court
with a chief justice and seven judges; leaving it to parliament to increase this number. At present, SC is
consisting of the Chief Justice of India and 33 sanctioned other judges. The motto of the Supreme Court is
‘Yato Dharmastato Jayaḥ’, means “whence law (dharma), thence victory”. It is also referred to – as the wheel of
righteousness, encompassing truth, goodness and equity. The Chief Justice of India is the Chief Judge of the
Supreme Court of India as well as the highest-ranking officer of the Indian Judiciary. The Constitution of India
grants power to the president of India to appoint, in consultation with the outgoing chief justice, the next chief
justice, who will serve until they reach the age of sixty-five or are removed by impeachment. As per convention,
the name suggested by the incumbent chief justice is almost always the next senior most judge in the Supreme
Court. However this convention has been broken twice. In 1973, Justice A. N. Ray was appointed superseding 3
senior judges. Also, in 1977 Justice Mirza Hameedullah Beg was appointed as the chief justice superseding
Justice Hans Raj Khanna.
Lac bangles from Hyderabad secure GI tag

· The lac bangles of Hyderabad have been registered with the Registrar of Geographical Indications,
Chennai. This is the second GI tag for a Hyderabad product after haleem. “This is a good development and it will
boost our industry. Currently 4,000-odd families live on this as a source of income. Now that will expand due to
the label of identity. There was an air of anticipation and happiness in the Laad Bazaar area as the businesses and
households involved in lac bangle industry can now charge a premium for their product. The GI tag gives the
identity as provenance and gives the lac bangles an edge over similar products manufactured in Rajasthan and
Uttar Pradesh.

A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific
geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). India, as a member of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
has come into force with effect from 15 September 2003. GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement as: “Indications which
identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given
quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.” The GI tag
ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or at least those residing inside the
geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name. Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged
product in India, in 2004–2005. The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years. It
can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each.
With 954 hectares, MP leads in tree plantation under ‘green credit’ plan
· Madhya Pradesh has taken lead in implementing the Centre’s Green Credit Programme (GCP) which got
over 500 land parcels spanning 4,980 hectares across 10 states approved for tree plantation in the past two
months. These states, along with three others, have together identified more than 10,000 hectares of land for the
programme.
· Madhya Pradesh has, so far, reported the highest 954 hectares of approved degraded forest land for
plantation/greening exercises followed by Telangana (845 hectares), Chhattisgarh (713 hectares), Gujarat (595
hectares) and Assam (454 hectares). Other five states where such land parcels have been approved by the
administrator - Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) - are Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra and Odisha. As many as 14 public sector undertaking (PSUs) and other entities have been registered
to do plantations on degraded forest land and eventually earn green credits. Individuals, industries and other
public/private entities, including philanthropies and local bodies, can voluntarily participate in the GCP.
Green Credit Program (GCP) is an innovative market-based mechanism designed to incentivize voluntary
environmental actions across diverse sectors, by various stakeholders like individuals, communities, private sector
industries, and companies. It is designed to foster a sustainable lifestyle and environmental conservation as part
of the ‘LiFE’ initiative announced by the Prime Minister in United Nations Climate Change Conference of the
Parties (COP26). The GCP is part of India’s efforts to adhere to international commitments, such as those made
during COP26. It complements the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme introduced by the Energy Conservation
(Amendment) Act, 2022, and broadens the scope of tradable credits beyond CO2 reductions to include a range
of sustainable practices. The GCP aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), which
emphasises the scaling up of restoration efforts.
CDP-SURAKSHA, govt’s new digital platform to disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers

· The government has come up with a new platform to disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers under the
Cluster Development Programme (CDP) — the Centre’s initiative to promote horticulture crops. The platform
is known as CDP-SURAKSHA. The move seeks to push the growth of India’s horticulture sector, which
contributes nearly one-third to the agriculture gross value addition (GVA), making a substantial contribution to
the Indian economy.
· The total production of horticulture crops has also spiked in recent years. While in 2010-11, it stood at 240.53
million tonnes, the number rose to 334.60 million tonnes in 2020-21. The CDP-SURAKSHA is essentially a
digital platform. SURAKSHA stands for “System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure
Horticulture Assistance.”
· The platform will allow an instant disbursal of subsidies to farmers in their bank account by utilising the e-RUPI
voucher (more on this later) from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The CDP-SURAKSHA
has features such as database integration with PM-KISAN, cloud-based server space from NIC, UIDAI
validation, eRUPI integration, local government directory (LGD), content management system, geotagging,
and geo-fencing.

Horticulture Cluster Development Programme is a central sector programme aimed at growing and
developing identified horticulture clusters to make them globally competitive. Horticulture cluster is a
regional/geographical concentration of targeted horticulture crops. It is implemented by the National Horticulture
Board (NHB) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The CDP aims to improve exports of
targeted crops by about 20% and create cluster-specific brands to enhance the competitiveness of cluster crops.
Indian Army Contingent Departs For India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise DUSTLIK
· The Indian Army contingent departed to take part in the fifth edition of India-Uzbekistan joint military
exercise DUSTLIK. The exercise conducted from 15th to 28th of this month at Termez in Uzbekistan.
According to the Defence Ministry, the Indian Armed Forces contingent comprises 60 personnel while 100
personnel participated from the Uzbekistan side. The exercise is aimed at fostering military cooperation and
enhancing combined capabilities to execute joint operations in mountainous as well as semi urban terrain.
· Focus will be laid on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills and basics of special
arms skills during the DUSTLIK exercise. The exercise will enable the two sides to share their best practices
and facilitate inter-operability. Exercise DUSTLIK is a yearly event conducted alternatively in India and
Uzbekistan. Last edition was conducted at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand in February last year.
Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country located in Central Asia. It is surrounded by five landlocked
countries: Kazakhstan to the north; Kyrgyzstan to the northeast; Tajikistan to the southeast; Afghanistan to the south;
and Turkmenistan to the southwest. Its capital and largest city is Tashkent. The sum is the official currency of
Uzbekistan. Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been serving as President of Uzbekistan.
General Manoj Pande Inaugurates High-Tech IT Lab at Academy Of Armed Forces in

Uzbekistan
· Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande inaugurated a high-tech IT Laboratory, at the Academy of
Armed Forces in Uzbekistan. The Lab has been established with Indian assistance. The development is in
accordance with the commitment made by India and Uzbekistan to build an IT laboratory, during the Defense
Ministers meeting in September 2018.
· The Lab, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, is expected to enrich the training resources available to
Uzbek armed forces and foster a deeper understanding and cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.
General Pande visited the Armed Forces Museum, Tashkent, which displays Military exhibits belonging to
different historical epochs of Uzbekistan.
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The
President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of
Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general. Two officers have been conferred with the rank of field
marshal, a five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honour. Sam Manekshaw was the first field
marshal of India, and was conferred the rank on 1 January 1973. The second was Kodandera M. Cariappa,
who was conferred the rank on 15 January 1986. The Indian Army was formed in 1895 alongside the long
established presidency armies of the East India Company, which too were absorbed into it in 1903. General
Manoj Pande is an Indian Army General serving as the 29th and the current Chief of the Army Staff. He is the
first officer from the Corps of Engineers to become the Army Chief.
Vice-Admiral Dinesh Tripathi appointed next Navy Chief

· Vice-Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi has been appointed the next Chief of Naval Staff. He is currently the
Vice-Chief of the Navy, and will take over on superannuation of the current chief, Admiral R. Hari Kumar
on April 30. “The Government has appointed Vice-Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi presently serving as Vice-
Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) as the next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from the afternoon of 30th April,
2024”. Born on May 15, 1964, Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi was commissioned into the Executive
Branch of the Indian Navy on July 01, 1985. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he has had a
long and distinguished service spanning nearly 39 years. Prior to taking over as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff,
he had served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme
Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water
navy, it operates significantly in the Persian Gulf Region, the Horn of Africa, the Strait of Malacca, and routinely
conducts anti-piracy operations and partners with other navies in the region. Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar
is the current Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). General Anil Chauhan is a four-star general of the Indian Army,
who is the current and 2nd Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces.
Uttar Pradesh Gets Its First Glass Skywalk Bridge in Chitrakoot

· 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. This
innovative and visually stunning structure, shaped like Lord Ram’s bow and arrow, is poised to become a premier
eco-tourism destination for visitors to the region. The entire area in the vicinity of the waterfall has been
developed as ‘Kodand Van’. It is said that the inspiration for the project has come from Bihar’s skywalk glass
bridge in Rajgir. The construction of the glass skywalk bridge was undertaken by the Pawan Sut
Construction Company of Ghazipur, under the supervision of the Forest and Tourism Department.
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world.
It was created on 1 April 1937 as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh during British rule, and was renamed
Uttar Pradesh in 1950, giving the acronym UP. The state is divided into 18 divisions and 75 districts with the
capital being Lucknow. On 9 November 2000, a new state, Uttarakhand, was carved out from the state’s
Himalayan hill region. The two major rivers of the state, the Ganges and Yamuna, join at Allahabad and flow
further east as Ganges. The state contributes 80 seats to the lower house of the Indian Parliament, Lok Sabha
and 31 seats to the upper house of the Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha. Anandiben Mafatbhai Patel is serving
as the current Governor of Uttar Pradesh. She also served as Governor of Madhya Pradesh. She has served as
the first female Chief Minister of Gujarat. Yogi Adityanath is serving as the current Chief Minister of Uttar
Pradesh.
Following Supreme Court directive, Centre sets up panel to address queer community concerns
· The Centre has constituted a six-member committee to examine and recommend on various issues affecting
queer community. This is in keeping with the Supreme Court’s judgement in which it examined the issue of
same sex marriages. The top court had asked the government to form a committee to address the concerns of the
queer community. The Centre had given an undertaking to create a committee to set out the rights which
will be available to queer couples in unions, when the Supreme Court agreed with the centre’s position and
declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages.
· On October 17, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India D Y
Chandrachud declined to recognise the right to marry as a fundamental right for same-sex couples.
However, in a minority opinion, the SC ruled in favor of civil unions, stopping short of marriage, to grant legal
rights to same-sex couples.
· The order notified in the gazette by the law and justice ministry lays out a detailed mandate for the committee to
make way for measures to ensure queer persons do not face any discrimination, threat of violence and involuntary
medical treatment among other concerns. While the Union cabinet secretary will be chairperson of this
committee, the secretary of the ministry of social justice and empowerment will be the convener. Secretaries
of ministries of home affairs, women and child development, health and family welfare and legislative department
of law and justice will be members.
Centre asks FSSAI to ‘initiate appropriate action’ against Nestle
· Taking cognizance of reports on Nestle selling baby products with higher sugar content in India, the Union
Consumer Affairs Ministry has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to
“initiate appropriate action” against the company. Public Eye, an investigation agency based in Switzerland
has published a report highlighting concerning findings about Nestle’s manufacturing practices in India.
According to the report, Nestle Company has been alleged to add 2.7g of sugar per serving to Nestle Cerelac
baby cereals sold in India while refraining from such practices in other countries such as Germany,
Switzerland, France & UK.”

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body established under the Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statue related to food safety and regulation in India. FSSAI is
responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety. The
FSSAI is headed by a non-executive chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has
held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. The FSSAI has its headquarters
at New Delhi. The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin,
and Chennai.
‘Poorvi Leher’: Indian Navy conducts mega exercise along east coast to test preparedness
· The Indian Navy carried out an extensive exercise along the East Coast as part of efforts to check its
preparedness to meet any maritime security challenges. The exercise ‘Poorvi Leher’ witnessed participation
of ships, submarines, aircraft and special naval forces. “The Indian Navy conducted Exercise Poorvi Lehar on
East Coast under the Operational Control of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command”.
The exercise was conducted in multiple phases, including combat training in a realistic scenario during the tactical
phase and successful conduct of various firings during the weapon phase, towards reaffirming the Indian Navy’s
capability to deliver ordnance on target.
India, EU Launch Initiative for EV Start-Ups
· The European Union (EU) and India launched an Expression of Interest (EoI) for startups working in
Battery Recycling Technologies for Electric Vehicles (EVs) for a matchmaking event. The matchmaking
aims to enhance the cooperation between European and Indian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and
startups in the clean and green technologies sector. The intended exchange of knowledge and expertise will be
instrumental in advancing the circularity of rare materials and transitioning towards carbon neutrality in both
India and the EU.
· This initiative takes place under the India-EU Trade & Technology Council (TTC), announced by India
and the European Commission in New Delhi on 25 th April 2022. This event is also part of a broader effort to
promote a sustainable agenda, foster innovation, and forge stronger economic relations between the European
Union and India. Twelve innovators, six each from India and the EU will be selected and get a pitching
opportunity during the Matchmaking Event, scheduled for June 2024. Six finalists (three from the EU and three
from India) will be selected following their pitching presentations and awarded the possibility to visit India and
the EU, respectively.
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in
Europe. A monetary union was established in 1999, coming into full force in 2002, and is composed of 19
member states which use the euro currency. The union and EU citizenship were established when the
Maastricht Treaty came into force in 1993. The EU traces its origins to the European Coal and Steel Community
(ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), established, respectively, by the 1951 Treaty of Paris and
1957 Treaty of Rome. The original member states of what came to be known as the European Communities were
the Inner Six: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany. The United Kingdom
became the first member state to leave the EU on 31 January 2020. Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a German
politician and physician who has been President of the European Commission since 1 December 2019. Charles
Michel is a Belgian politician serving as President of the European Council.
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International
India delivers first batch of BrahMos to Philippines

· India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Philippines. In January 2022,
Philippines concluded a $375-million deal with India for three batteries of shore-based, anti-ship variant of
the BrahMos becoming the first export customer for the joint venture missile between India and Russia.
· The first batch was delivered onboard transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force which landed in
Philippines. Specifics of the delivery made were not immediately available. Philippines is acquiring the systems
under the Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Programme.
The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Manila is the national capital, while the largest city
is Quezon City. The Philippine peso is the official currency of the Philippines. Bongbong Marcos is the current
President of the Philippines.
Maldives Court Overturns Former President Abdulla Yameen’s 11-Year Prison Sentence;
Orders Retrial
· Maldives High Court has overturned former President Abdulla Yameen’s 11-year prison sentence on
money laundering and bribery charges and ordered a retrial. The development comes two days ahead of
parliamentary elections in this Indian Ocean archipelago nation.
· The judges cited errors in the trial and highlighted Yameen’s deprivation of trial rights. They emphasized that the
prosecution failed to prove the offense pillars outlined in the indictment. In December of 2022, Maldives’
Criminal Court, had sentenced former President Abdulla Yameen to 11 years in prison after being found
guilty of money laundering and bribery. He was accused of abusing his position and taking a 1 million USD
bribe to facilitate the sale of Aarah for resort development to Yoosuf Naeem, a former parliamentary
representative for Felidhoo constituency, and laundering the money.
Maldives is a South Asian country, located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea. Male is the capital
and most populated city, traditionally called the “King’s Island” for its central location. Maldivian rufiyaa is the
currency of the Maldives. Mohamed Muizzu is the President of the Maldives. The Maldives rejoined the
Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular
support.
Singapore PM Lee to step down on May 15, hands over power to deputy Lawrence Wong
· Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down on May 15 after two decades at the helm, and
hand power to his deputy Lawrence Wong. Mr. Lee will formally advise the city-state’s president to appoint
Mr. Wong, who is currently deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, to succeed him. Mr. Wong, who has the
unanimous support of lawmakers in the long-ruling People’s Action Party, will be sworn in at the national palace.
Singapore is a sovereign city-state and island country in Southeast Asia. Singapore dollar is the official currency
of Singapore. Lee Hsien Loong is the current Prime Minister of Singapore. Halimah binti Yacob served as the
first female President in the country’s history. Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been serving as the current
President of Singapore since 2023.

Bankman-Fried appeals FTX fraud conviction, 25-year sentence
· Sam Bankman-Fried, facing the prospect of spending much of his adult life behind bars, appealed his
conviction and 25-year prison sentence for stealing $8 billion from customers of the now-bankrupt FTX
cryptocurrency exchange he founded. Defence lawyer Marc Mukasey had announced plans for the appeal to the
Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals during Bankman-Fried’s March 28 sentencing hearing. The
32-year-old former billionaire crypto wunderkind was convicted in November on seven counts of fraud and
conspiracy in what federal prosecutors have called one of the biggest financial frauds in U.S. history.
Samuel Bankman-Fried also known by his initials SBF, is an American entrepreneur, investor, and former
billionaire. Bankman-Fried was the founder and CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and cryptocurrency
trading firm Alameda Research. FTX experienced a crisis in late 2022, which led to a collapse in FTX’s native
cryptocurrency, FTT. Amid the crisis, Bankman-Fried announced he would wind down operations at Alameda
Research and resigned as CEO of FTX, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Donald Trump faces criminal trial, a historic first for a former president
· Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to stand criminal trial when he appeared in a
Manhattan court to face charges stemming from a hush-money payment that could complicate his bid to win
back the White House. Trump, the 2024 Republican candidate for president, is required to attend the trial, which
is expected to last through May. The selection of 12 jurors and six alternates from a pool of Manhattan residents is
expected to take about a week, followed by witness testimony.
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th
president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump’s political positions have been described as populist,
protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist. He won the 2016 U.S. presidential election as the Republican nominee
against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton despite losing the national popular vote. He became the first U.S.
president with no prior military or government service. Trump is the only American president to have been
impeached twice. In March of that year, a Manhattan grand jury indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of fraud,
making him the first former president to face criminal charges; he pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Pictures reveal scale of world’s first floating theme park on Saudi oil rig
· The Rig, the world’s first floating theme park off the coast of Saudi Arabia, has revealed more about its
true scale. Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as one of the world’s leading tourist hotspots – and The Rig is
the next step in that journey. Sitting 25 miles off the coast, near Al Juraid Island and the Berri oilfield, it’s located
atop a decommissioned oil rig.
Armenia asks World Court to pursue ethnic cleansing case against Azerbaijan
· Armenia urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold Azerbaijan responsible for what it said was
the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The case is part of the fallout from
decades of confrontation between the South Caucasus neighbours, most explosively over the disputed region in
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s armed forces recaptured the mountainous region in September after years of
ethnic Armenian control, prompting most ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia. In a case first filed at the ICJ
in 2021, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of glorifying racism against Armenians, allowing hate speech against
Armenians and destroying Armenian cultural sites.
Armenia is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and
is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani
exclave of Nakhchivan to the south. Yerevan is the capital, largest city and financial center. The Armenian dram
is the currency of the Republic of Armenia. Vahagn Garniki Khachaturyan is the 5th and current President of
Armenia. Nikol Vovayi Pashinyan is serving as the Prime Minister of Armenia since 8 May 2018. Nagorno-
Karabakh is a disputed territory, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, although most of its
territory was governed by ethnic Armenians under the breakaway Republic of Artsakh—also known as the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)—from the end of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in 1994 to the announcement of the pending dissolution of the republic in September 2023.

Intangible Cultural Heritage: the United Kingdom becomes the 183 rd State to join UNESCO’s
Convention
· Created in 2003, UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
recognizes traditional craftsmanship, oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals
and festive events, knowledge and practices related to nature and the universe.
· The United Kingdom is thus committed to an increased inventory of the country’s traditions, including
practices inspired by diaspora communities, and to better safeguarding of the most at-risk. To this end, the
Government of the United Kingdom launched a public consultation in January 2024 on the creation of a
new register onto which communities across the country could “nominate their most cherished local traditions”.
· Over the past seven years, the number of ratifications of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage by Member States has accelerated with 11 additional countries joining the
Convention: Angola, Kiribati, Libya, Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Suriname,
Tuvalu, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Lebanese newspaper launches the world’s first AI President
· Lebanese newspaper Annahar has introduced the world’s first AI designed to perform presidential duties
for Lebanon. The nation hasn’t had a sitting President for the last two years. Following thirteen failed attempts of
the Lebanese parliament to elect one, AnNahar Newspaper in Lebanon built and launched an AI version. The new
AI President of Lebanon has been created by training Large Language Models on 90 years of “impartial
journalism” from AnNahar since the 1930s.
World’s First “Miss AI” Contest to Judge Winner on Beauty and Social Media Clout
· Models and influencers generated through artificial intelligence will compete in a “Miss AI” beauty
pageant with prize money of $20,000. According to Forbes, this is the world’s first AI beauty pageant and
the contestants will be judged based on their looks, the heft they command online and the technical skill that
went into creating them.
· The AI influencers’ social clout will be assessed based on their engagement numbers with fans, rate of
growth of audience and utilisation of platforms, the outlet further said citing a release from World AI Creator
Awards (WAICA). The pageant will see AI-generated ladies go head-to-head in front of a panel of judges,
including two AI influencers. This is the first time such a contest is being organised, and more are planned on
fashion, diversity and computer-generated men.
Belarus’ parliament votes to leave Europe’s conventional forces treaty already abandoned by
Russia
· The Belarusian parliament voted to suspend the country’s participation in the Conventional Forces in
Europe treaty that once was a key security doctrine for the continent, a 1990 agreement that was
abandoned last year by Russia. The bill, introduced by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier
this month, could pave the way for Belarus — Russia’s ally in the war in Ukraine — to expand its military.
Belarus lawmakers unanimously approved the bill calling for the treaty’s suspension; Lukashenko now needs to
sign the bill for it to become law.
· The treaty, signed in 1990, places limits on tanks, combat vehicles, warplanes and heavy artillery that can
be deployed in Europe. It aimed at keeping a military balance between the West and the countries that were part
of the Cold War-era Warsaw Pact.
Croatia’s ruling conservatives win parliamentary vote, but cannot rule alone
· Croatia’s governing conservatives convincingly won a highly contested parliamentary election, but will still
need support from far-right groups to stay in power. The election followed a campaign that centered on a
bitter rivalry between the country’s President and Prime Minister.
· The ballot pitted the ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union, or HDZ, led by Prime Minister
Andrej Plenkovic, against an alliance of centrist and left-wing parties informally led by populist President Zoran
Milanovic and his Social Democratic Party, or SDP.

Croatia is a country at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb.
The kuna is the currency of Croatia. Zoran Milanovic is serving as President of Croatia since 19 February 2020.
Andrej Plenkovic has been serving as the Prime Minister of Croatia.
Scotland ditches 2030 climate target to cut emissions by 75%

· Scotland scrapped its target of cutting climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, but
said it still intends to meet a 2045 net zero target. The move came in response to a critical report published last
month by the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC), which said Scotland was so far behind what was
needed to meet the 2030 target that it was no longer credible.
· “We accept the CCC’s recent re-articulation that this parliament’s interim 2030 target is out of reach,”
Mairi McAllan, the Net Zero Secretary for Scotland’s devolved government. Scotland’s semi-autonomous
government has control over some elements of climate and environmental policy, but others – most notably,
almost all energy policy – remain under the control of the British government in London.
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. Humza
Haroon Yousaf is the current First Minister of Scotland.
Hainan Free Trade Port construction has gained momentum

· Amidst ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan province — the
southernmost and the only tropical island province of China in the South China Sea — said that the
construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) has taken shape and gained momentum, six years after
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s announcement of establishing FTP. Hainan, a lush tropical island, is not very
far from the Philippines and there have been tensions between both countries over the disputed South China Sea.
Abu Dhabi set to build World’s first eSports island
· True Gamers, a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based eSports network, has unveiled plans to build the
world’s first eSports island in Abu Dhabi. The project’s initial investment cost is estimated to be 280 million
dollars, with the cost expected to increase to 1 billion dollars upon completion.
· The “esports Island” project is proposed to be located between Al Bandar and Al Dana developments in Al
Raha Beach. The island will feature a luxurious resort, tournament venues, and training facilities upon
completion. It would also feature The Digital Tower, a hub for meetings, start-up accelerators, animation studios,
TG Arena for esports tournaments, computer club, simulation racing, and console gaming.
Sweden becomes 38th country to join Artemis Accords
· NASA welcomed Sweden as the 38th country to sign the Artemis Accords. The accords are a series of non-
binding arrangements aimed at setting down norms to be followed in outer space. The Artemis Accords were
initially announced by NASA and the US Department of State in 2020 and it now has 38 signatories,
including India and Japan.
· It provides for the implementation of key obligations from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and reinforces
commitment to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement and also best practices of
responsible behaviour, including the public release of scientific data.
The Artemis Accords are a series of non-binding multilateral agreements between the United States
government and other world governments participating in the Artemis Program, an American-led effort to
return humans to the Moon by 2025, with the ultimate goal of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond. As
of December 2022, 23 countries and one territory have signed the accords, including eight in Europe, seven in
Asia, three in North America, two in Oceania, two in Africa, and two in South America. Drafted by NASA and the
U.S. Department of State, the Accords establish a framework for cooperation in the civil exploration and
peaceful use of the Moon, Mars, and other astronomical objects.
---------------

ECONOMY AND FINANCE
NTPC launches new edition of Girl Empowerment Mission

· NTPC Limited, India’s largest integrated power company, is gearing up to launch the latest edition of Girl
Empowerment Mission (GEM), its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. The program aligns
with the Government of India’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative and aims to tackle gender inequality by
nurturing girls’ imaginations and fostering their ability to explore opportunities.
· GEM does this through a 1-month workshop for young girls during summer holidays, by offering them a platform
for their all-round upliftment and development. Starting from April 2024, the new edition of GEM will add
nearly 3,000 meritorious children belonging to underprivileged sections of the society at 42 identified
locations of the power sector PSU. With this, the total number of children benefiting from the Mission will cross
10,000.
NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, is an Indian public sector
undertaking which is engaged in generation of electricity and allied activities. The headquarters of the company
is situated at New Delhi. NTPC’s core function is the generation and distribution of electricity to State Electricity
Boards in India. The body also undertakes consultancy and turnkey project contracts that involve engineering, project
management, construction management, and operation and management of power plants. In May 2010, NTPC was
conferred Maharatna status, one of only four companies to be awarded this status.
Govt asks all gas-based plants to be operational From May 1 to June 30

· The Centre has directed all gas-based power generating stations to operationalise their plants from May 1
to June 30 in view of rise in electricity demand due to an early onset of the heat wave this summer. As a
consequence, gas-based units with combined capacity of 25 gigawatt are likely to be functional during May-
June.
· These units are grappling with high operational costs, and the operations could result in losses. A Power
Ministry statement was silent on whether tariff adjustments would be made for the units to avoid losses. Earlier,
the Power Ministry had issued a similar fiat to imported coal based plants, asking them run at full capacity till
October 15.
· The weather department had warned of more-than-usual instances of heat weaves and above-normal
maximum temperature during the current summer. While the demand for electricity has been rising at a fast
pace in recent quarters, peak demand is expected to reach a record 250 GW in the summer months.
Delhi airport among world’s top 10 busiest airports: ACI
· Delhi airport has been named among the world’s top 10 busiest airports for 2023 in a list topped by
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national
capital is ranked tenth while Dubai and Dallas airports are at the second and third positions, respectively,
according to the Airports Council International (ACI) World.
· Releasing the list the ACI also said the global total passenger forecast for 2023 stands close to 8.5 billion (850
crore), reflecting a remarkable recovery of 93.8 per cent from pre-pandemic levels and 27.2 per cent higher
than 2022.

Zomato Introduces India’s First “Large Order Fleet” For Group Catering
· Zomato announced the launch of a “large fleet order”, a first in India. The new fleet will handle group or
party events for a gathering of up to 50 people. The feature will have “an all electric fleet.” This is an all electric
fleet, designed specifically to serve orders for a gathering of upto 50 people.” Zomato announced the launch of the
“Pure Veg Mode” service for customers who have a 100 per cent vegetarian dietary preference.
Zomato is an Indian multinational restaurant aggregator and food delivery company. It was founded by
Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah in 2008. Zomato provides information, menus and user-reviews of
restaurants as well as food delivery options from partner restaurants.
Indian real estate market to reach $1.5 trillion by 2034: Knight Frank
· The Indian real estate market is expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2034, contributing 10.5% to economic
output, according to a joint study by Knight Frank India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The
report titled ‘Indian Real Estate: A Decade from Now’ has projected that the value of the Indian realty market
would reach an estimated 1.5 trillion by 2034, constituting 10.5% of the total economic output of the country by
then.
India’s First Metaverse Experience Center Launches in Noida
· India is embarking on a revolutionary journey into the future of technology with the inauguration of its
First Metaverse Experience Center in Noida. This pioneering initiative marks a significant leap forward in
India’s technological landscape, introducing the concept of the Immersive (XR) Technologies. The Metaverse
Experience Center aims to foster a vibrant community of seekers, creators and innovators.
· Situated in the bustling city of Noida, the Metaverse Experience Center (MEC), a visionary project
spearheaded by Metaverse911 team, aims to redefine the way Industry leaders learn and explore XR
technologies. Equipped with Immersive (XR) technology, the Center offers visitors an immersive platform to
delve into a multitude of virtual realms, from futuristic cities to Manufacturing floors. MEC plans to host Industry
focussed workshops on a monthly basis.
Power Grid Corporation board approves plan to raise Rs. 12,000 crore via bonds
· State-owned Power Grid Corporation of India board on approved a proposal to rise up to Rs. 12,000 crore
through the issuance of bonds in one or more tranches in 2024-25. Committee of Directors for Bonds in their
meeting has approved the raising of Bonds as Unsecured, Non-convertible, Non-cumulative, Redeemable,
Taxable Powergrid Bonds Issue(s) during FY 2024-25 in one or more tranches/series up to Rs. 12,000 crore.
Power Grid Corporation is the country’s largest electric power transmission utility.
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the ownership
of the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It is engaged mainly in transmission of bulk power across different
states of India. It is headquartered in Gurugram. Power Grid transmits about 50% of the total power generated
in India on its transmission network. It was conferred with the status of “Navratna” by the Government of
India in May 2008 and “Maharatna” status in October 2019.
NPCI arm, SBI introduce NCMC recharge on Bharat BillPay

· NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI), in association with State Bank of India (SBI), has onboarded SBI National Common Mobility
Card (NCMC) on its Bharat BillPay platform for the convenience of travellers.
· The category is already live with SBI NCMC cards for Noida Metro, Nagpur Metro, MMRDA Line 2A & 7,
Chennai Metro, Kanpur Metro, and Parliament Canteen via the bank’s Bharat BillPay-enabled application, SBI
Unipay, and more platforms will go live with the service soon.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and
settlement systems in India. Founded in 2008, the NPCI is a not-for-profit organisation registered under section 8
of the Companies Act 2013, established by Reserve Bank of India & IBA. It is headquartered in Mumbai.

Parekh steps down as HDFC Life chairman
· Deepak Parekh has decided to step down as the Chairman and Non-Executive Director of the HDFC Life
Insurance Company. Mistry has been associated with the company since December 2000 and is currently a Non-
Executive Director on the board.
HDFC Bank Limited (also known as HDB) is an Indian banking and financial services company headquartered
in Mumbai. HDFC Bank was incorporated in 1994 as a subsidiary of the Housing Development Finance
Corporation, with its registered office in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is India’s largest private sector bank by
assets and world’s 4th largest bank by market capitalisation as of July 2023 after its reverse takeover of its
parent HDFC. It is the second largest company by market capitalisation of $172 billion on the Indian stock
exchanges. It is also the sixteenth largest employer in India with nearly 1.77 lakh employees. Atanu
Chakraborty is currently the Chairperson of HDFC Bank, India’s largest lender by market capitalization.
Sashidhar Jagdishan is the current MD and CEO of HDFC Bank.
Raja Infra bags 700 MWp solar project from Greenko

· Amara Raja Infra Pvt. Ltd. (ARIPL) has secured a solar balance of system (BoS) project of 700MWp from
Greenko. A part of Greenko’s integrated renewable energy project, the scope encompasses engineering,
procurement and construction of the entire BoS for the solar component spanning across a 2,200-acre site near
Uyyalavada Town in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.
World’s Best Airports: Singapore’s Changi airport loses the crown to a new king; just 5 Indian
airports in top 100 airports list
· Doha’s Hamad International Airport has dethroned Singapore’s Changi Airport, which had won the
Skytrax World Airport Awards for the 12th year in 2023. Seoul Incheon Airport secured third place and is
named the most family-friendly airport. Dubai Airport and Hong Kong Airport saw significant
improvements in their rankings. Just 5 Indian airports made it to the list of world’s best 100 airports.
· Hamad International Airport, the main airport for the city of Doha, is said to be about a third of the size of
Qatar’s capital city. It is spread over 600,000 square metre that is equal to 75 football fields. While Hamad
International Airport secured the second rank last year, it was described as the most architecturally significant
terminal complex in the world and also the most luxurious one at that. Seoul Incheon Airport secured third
place in the rankings. It was also named the most family-friendly airport of 2024. Tokyo’s Haneda and
Narita airports came in fourth and fifth place.
OpenAI hires first India-based official Pragya Misra
· OpenAI has hired Pragya Misra, its first official in India, in order to handle government relations, reported
Bloomberg. Bloomberg reported that she would serve as the government relations head and is slated to begin her
duties towards the end of April.
-------------

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Inventions/Discoveries
India-born researcher led NASA’s sounding rockets mission during solar eclipse
· NASA’s mission that launched sounding rockets during the recent total solar eclipse was led by Aroh
Barjatya, an India-born researcher who studied in cities across the country before moving to the United States,
his family said. The US space agency on April 8 launched three sounding rockets during the solar eclipse —
visible in North America — to study how Earth’s upper atmosphere is affected when sunlight momentarily
dims over a portion of the planet. “The mission was led by Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering physics
at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, where he directs the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation
Lab”.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the executive branch of
the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and
aerospace research. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established NASA in 1958. Bill Nelson was sworn in as the
14th NASA administrator on May 3, 2021, tasked with carrying out the Biden-Harris administration’s vision for
the agency.
A black hole, 33 times the mass of the Sun, found hiding in Milky Way Galaxy
· In a first, ESA’s Gaia mission researchers have discovered a huge black hole that is of stellar origin, hiding
in plain sight in our very own Milky Way Galaxy. This sleeping giant was found in the constellation Aquila
and that is just under 2000 light-years away from Earth. The intriguing part is that galaxies of such nature have
not been found in the Milky Way before. They were mostly seen in galaxies that are much farther away.
· Most stellar-mass black holes eat up matter from some hapless nearby star companion. However, when a
black hole does not have a companion close enough to steal matter from, it does not have such material at its
disposal and it becomes even tougher to spot and gets termed as a ‘dormant’ black hole.
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, including light or other
electromagnetic waves, has enough energy to escape its event horizon. The theory of general relativity predicts
that a sufficiently compact mass can deform spacetime to form a black hole. The boundary of no escape is
called the event horizon. Although it has a great effect on the fate and circumstances of an object crossing it, it has
no locally detectable features according to general relativity. In many ways, a black hole acts like an ideal black body,
as it reflects no light. Moreover, quantum field theory in curved spacetime predicts that event horizons emit
Hawking radiation, with the same spectrum as a black body of a temperature inversely proportional to its mass. This
temperature is of the order of billionths of a kelvin for stellar black holes, making it essentially impossible to observe
directly.
In world first, Nigeria introduces new 5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis

· In a historic move, Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (called
Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five
strains of the meningococcus bacteria.

· The vaccine and emergency vaccination activities are funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which funds the
global meningitis vaccine stockpile, and supports lower-income countries with routine vaccination against
meningitis. Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries of Africa, situated in the area known
as the African Meningitis Belt. Last year, there was a 50% jump in annual meningitis cases reported across
Africa.
NASA Mars sample return program is expensive and will take too long
· NASA’s Perseverance Rover, nicknamed Percy, in 2023 created the first “sample depot on another world”
by putting down ten rock sample tubes that are slated to be returned to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return
Campaign. One problem, though — that plan is too expensive and will only be executed by the year 2040.
· “The bottom line is that $11 billion is too expensive, and not returning samples until 2040 is unacceptably
too long. It’s the decade of the 2040s that we’re going to be landing astronauts on Mars,”. Nelson attributed this
to the 2025 budget of the space agency as well as additional budget cuts. An independent review of the return
program conducted last year referred to it as a highly constrained and challenging campaign that had unrealistic
budget and schedule expectations from the beginning. For context, the cost of the whole program was
estimated to be around $3 billion in 2020.
Mars is the fourth planet and the furthest terrestrial planet from the Sun. The reddish color of its surface is
due to finely grained iron(III) oxide dust in the soil, giving it the nickname “the Red Planet”. Mars’s radius is
second smallest among the planets in the Solar System at 3,389.5 km. The Martian dichotomy is visible on the
surface: on average, the terrain on Mars’s northern hemisphere is flatter and lower than its southern hemisphere. Mars
has a thin atmosphere made primarily of carbon dioxide, and two irregularly shaped natural satellites: Phobos and
Deimos. Like the other planets in the Solar System, Mars was formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago. The Mars
Orbiter Mission (MOM), unofficially known as Mangalyaan was a space probe orbiting Mars since 24
September 2014. It was launched on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It
was India’s first interplanetary mission and it made ISRO the fourth space agency to achieve Mars orbit, after
Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency. It made India the first Asian nation to reach the Martian
orbit and the first nation in the world to do so on its maiden attempt.
Centre eases FDI norms for space sector to boost offshore investment
· The government has notified amendments to the foreign direct investment policy in the space sector to
attract offshore investors in satellite manufacturing and satellite launch vehicles segments. Amendment
made in the FDI policy for space sector prescribes liberalized entry route and provides clarity for FDI in satellites,
launch vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, creation of spaceports for launching and receiving
Spacecraft and manufacturing of space-related components and systems. Concurrently, approvals for Musk’s
satellite internet project, Starlink, are nearing finalization.
· As per the notification, up to 74 per cent FDI for satellite manufacturing & operation, satellite data products
and ground segment & user segment are allowed under automatic route. Beyond 74 per cent these activities are
under government route.
· FDI up to 49 per cent is allowed for Launch Vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, Creation of
Spaceports for launching and receiving Spacecraft are under automatic route but beyond 49 per cent
government permission would be required. Besides, 100 per cent FDI allowed for manufacturing of
components and systems/ sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user segment without government
permission.
Scientists find ‘pristine’ ocean mountain range with 50 unknown species
· An international team of scientists announced they discovered 160 species when exploring 10 seamounts
and two islands on the 2,900-kilometre-long ocean ridge Salas y Gómez. They suspect that at least 50 of those
species are new to science.
· They discovered squid, fish, corals, mollusks, sea stars, glass sponges, sea urchins, crabs, and squat lobsters, and
other species. They also potentially set a record for sighting the deepest-known photosynthesis-dependent
animal — Leptoseris or the wrinkle coral.

· The findings come from a 40-day expedition across the Salas y Gómez Ridge to Rapa Nui, more commonly
known as Easter Island. The ridge has over 110 seamounts and it supports the migration of many marine
animals like whales, sea turtles, swordfish, tuna and sharks. 78,000 square metres were mapped by the scientists
during the expedition. This includes six seamounts that have not yet been documented in hydrographic surveys.
SPACE, a premier testing & evaluation hub for sonar systems for Indian Navy, set up by DRDO,
inaugurated in Kerala
· A state-of-the-art Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE) was
inaugurated by Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat at
Underwater Acoustic Research Facility, Kulamavu in Idukki, Kerala.
· The SPACE, set up by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO, has been designed as a
premier testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems destined for Indian Navy onboard various platforms
including ships, submarines and helicopters. The SPACE marks a milestone in naval technology advancement.
· It will consist of two distinct assemblages - a platform which floats on the water surface, and a submersible
platform which can be lowered to any depth upto 100 m using winch systems. Upon completion of
operations, the submersible platform can be winched up and docked with the floating platform.
· The SPACE will mainly be utilised for evaluation of complete sonar system, allowing for quick deployment
and easy recovery of scientific packages such as sensors and transducers. It will be suitable for survey, sampling,
and data collection of air, surface, mid-water, and reservoir floor parameters using modern scientific
instrumentation. It will cater to the needs of data processing and sample analyses in modern, well equipped
scientific laboratories heralding a new era of Anti-Submarine Warfare research capabilities.
NASA says its futuristic Dragonfly mission will launch in 2028
· NASA confirmed Dragonfly rotorcraft mission to Saturn’s organic compound-rich moon Titan with a
budget of $3.35 billion and a launch date set for July 2028. The Dragonfly mission passed all the criteria of its
Preliminary Design Review in early 2023 but it was asked to develop an updated budget and schedule to fit into
the current budget of the space agency.
· This updated plan was presented and then conditionally approved in November 2023. Dragonfly was confirmed
with the release of the US President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request, with a two-times cost increase and a
delay of more than two years from its originally intended launch window selected in 2019. But to compensate for
this delay, NASA will provide extra funding for a heavy-lift launch vehicle so that the time spent cruising to the
Saturnian moon is reduced.
Purple is the new green for alien life
· From tiny single-celled algae to the giant sequoias, green is the colour that we most associate with life on
Earth. But a new study suggests that in the search for extraterrestrial life, we should probably look for the colour
purple instead of green. The reason so many plants and life forms are green is because they produce oxygen
with the help of the green pigment chlorophyll. But things could be very different on an Earth-like planet that
orbits another star since bacteria-like life form might be able to live in locations that receive little sunlight and
have no oxygen.
· In fact, there are such locations on Earth, where the bacteria have purple pigments to help absorb the
energy from invisible infrared radiation to power their photosynthesis. If there is a distant world where such
bacteria dominate, they might generate a distinct “light fingerprint” that our cutting edge space telescopes, like
Webb, might be able to detect.
Rocket Lab set to reuse Electron rocket for the first time
· California-based Rocket Lab announced that it is, for the first time, returning a previously flown Electron
rocket’s first stage back into the production line, preparing to launch it again. This will be the first time that
it is reflying the Electron rocket, a big step for a company that aims to make it the world’s first reusable small
orbital launch vehicle. The company has already recovered many first stages of Electron rockets in various ways
— having them return to Earth with a parachute, splashing them down in the ocean, and even trying to catch them
mid-air using a helicopter.

· Rocket Lab analysed the boosters recovered previously but this is the first time one has been moved back
into the standard production line in preparation to be launched again. This first stage was launched as part of
the “Four of a Kind” mission after recovery; it has already passed more acceptance tests than any other recovered
Electron stage. It will now go through a final fit out, along with rigorous qualification and acceptance tests that
will hold it to the same standards as a brand new Electron.
India aims to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030
· India has made a declaration to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030. Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath made the declaration, at the 42 nd Inter-Agency Space Debris
Coordination Committee (IADC) annual meet.
Fossils of massive prehistoric snake found in lignite mine in Gujarat
· Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have reported the discovery of fossils of
one of the largest snakes that ever existed and likely lived 47 million years ago during a period called the
Middle Eocene. The fossils were found in Kutch, Gujarat, and the reptile, named Vasuki Indicus, could have been
anywhere between 10 metres and 15 metres long, or as big as a modern-day school bus. It belonged to the now-
extinct Madtsoiidae snake family but represents a unique lineage from India.
NASA says Artemis 3 astronauts will install moonquake detector
· NASA said its Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland is building a moonquake detector for
astronauts to deploy when they land on the Moon during the Artemis 3 mission. The space agency selected
the instrument, the Lunar Environment Monitoring Station (LEMS) as one of the first three potential payloads of
Artemis 3. LEMS is a compact, autonomous seismometer made to sustain long-term monitoring of ground motion
from moonquakes around the celestial body’s South Pole.
· It is intended to work on the lunar surface from three months up to two years and could become a key station in a
future global lunar geophysical network. Moonquakes were first observed by Apollo missions when they
placed seismometers between 1969 and 1972. These quakes are caused by the same tug of gravity that
causes ocean tides. The Moon’s surface trembles as it expands and contracts due to temperature changes. Seismic
data was collected on the Earth facing side of the Moon near the equator. But scientists do not yet have seismic
data from the lunar South Pole that can help them understand the local and global lunar surface structure.
· The other candidate instruments are the Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora Instrument, which is led by
researchers at Space Lab Technologies, and the Lunar Dielectric Analyser instrument led by researchers at
the Tokyo University and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
The Artemis program is a Moon exploration program that is led by the United States’ NASA and was formally
established in 2017 via Space Policy Directive 1. The Artemis program is intended to reestablish a human
presence on the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The program’s stated long-term goal is to
establish a permanent base on the Moon to facilitate human missions to Mars. Two principal elements of the
Artemis program are derived from the now-cancelled Constellation program: the Orion spacecraft and the Space
Launch System (as a reincarnation of Ares V). Other elements of the program, such as the Lunar Gateway space
station and the Human Landing System, are in development by government space agencies and private spaceflight
companies. This collaboration is bound together by the Artemis Accords and governmental contracts.
---------------

SPORTS
Sports Personalities in News

Rohit Sharma becomes first Indian to achieve this massive feat in T20 cricket
· Rohit Sharma’s ability to hit sixes consistently makes him one of the most prolific hitters in the modern game.
And the Indian skipper owned the record of becoming the first batter from the country to hit 500 sixes in T20
cricket.
Tsitsipas sweeps aside Ruud to win Monte Carlo Masters for the third time
· Stefanos Tsitsipas swept aside Casper Ruud 6-1, 6-4 to win the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters for the third
time in four years, and then wept in his chair.
Dharamsala to get India’s first ‘hybrid pitch’
· The picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium has become the first BCCI-
accredited venue to install a state-of-the-art ‘hybrid pitch’ and future international and IPL matches will be
held on this track. The Netherlands-based ‘SISGrass’, a part of the SIS Pitches group of companies, has been
roped in for the first-ever hybrid pitch installation.
RRU to set up India’s first Olympics study centre
· With India working on a strong bid to host Olympics in the country, the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU)
announced that it would establish India’s first Olympic Studies and Research Centre (OSRC) by June. RRU
officials said that OSRC is a global network of study and research centres organized by the International Olympic
Committee (IOC).
· Currently there are 70 centres in 24 countries with expertise in 24 subjects. “The Bharat Centre of Olympic
Research and Education (B-CORE) is backed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and recognized by
the IOC”.
Mohun Bagan defeated Mumbai City FC 2-1 to win their maiden ISL League Shield.
· This was Mohun Bagan’s first victory over the two-time Shield Winners across four seasons as the Mumbai
heavyweights were also unbeaten over them in previous eight matches, winning six of them. The win also
sealed their berth in the AFC Champions League 2 for the first time as 60,000 chanted ‘Mohun Bagan across the
Salt Lake Stadium stands.
Virat Kohli’s statue unveiled in Jaipur wax museum
· Virat Kohli will now be forever immortalized in Jaipur with the city’s wax museum unveiling a statue of
the cricketer on occasion of World Heritage Day. The statue, weighing 35 kg, has been sculpted. The museum,
located on the Nahargarh fort premises, already has 44 wax statues, including those of cricketers Sachin
Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The museum also has the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru,
APJ Abdul Kalam, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Kalpana Chawala, Amitabh Bachchan and Mother
Teresa.

DD News sports new saffron logo
· Doordarshan News has launched its new saffron-coloured logo by announcing that it is now available in a
refurbished avatar. The logo’s colour has been changed from ruby red to saffron.
· Saffron adorns the top band of the national tricolour, while the colour is also used predominantly in the
ruling BJP’s party flag. The public broadcaster has been allocated an outlay of ₹2,539.61 crore for the upgrade
and expansion of broadcasting infrastructure till 2025-2026. It is also working on its plan to launch an over-the-
top (OTT) platform.
Balraj Panwar bags India’s first Paris Olympics quota in rowing
· India celebrated a historic milestone in the sport of rowing as Balraj Panwar clinched the nation’s first
quota for the Paris Olympics by securing a commendable third-place finish in the men’s single scull event
at the Asian Olympic qualifiers in Chungju, South Korea. Panwar, renowned as India’s ace Single Sculler,
delivered a stellar performance during the Qualification Championships in Chungju, clocking over the 2000m
course.
--------------

MISCELLANEOUS
Traditional Harvest Festivals including Vaisakhi, Vishu and Bohag Bihu being celebrated
· Traditional harvest festivals are being celebrated in various regions of the country for two days beginning in
the form of Vaisakhi, Vishu, Bishub, Bohag Bihu, Poila Boishakh, Vaishakhadi and Puthandu. People of
Punjab call it ‘Vaisakhi’, in Kerala, the day is celebrated as ‘Vishu’, in West Bengal, it is celebrated as
‘Poila Boishakh’, in Assam, as ‘Bohag Bihu’. In Tamil Nadu, it is observed as ‘Puthandu’. The festival of
harvest, Baisakhi is being celebrated in the northern part of the country with full enthusiasm and mutual
brotherhood.
Ladakh Celebrates Apricot Blossom Festival in Different Parts of Kargil and Leh Districts
· The Union Territory of Ladakh celebrates Apricot Blossom festival in the different parts of Kargil and Leh
districts. The events are organised by the Department of Tourism, Ladakh, in collaboration with the local
communities featuring day-long performances to promote tourism in the region.
· The Apricot Blossom Festival includes interactive exhibitions, traditional music and dance performances
and serves as a platform for locals to showcase their artistic skills. This festival is also an opportunity for
tourists to be part of the celebrations with an enthralling landscape of apricot trees in full bloom.
· Famous for apricot production, Ladakh widely grows and transports the fruit beyond the region, and the people
welcome the blooming season since the fruit is also one of the primary sources of income in the entire region. The
festival, locally called Chuli Mentok, is a jubilant occasion for the people as it marks the onset of the spring
season after a long, harsh winter.
Nepal: Bisket Jatra Festival Culminates With Huge Celebration in Bhaktapur District
· Bisket Jatra is an eight-day celebration that culminated with a huge celebration in the district of
Bhaktapur. Thousands of people gathered in Bhaktapur Durbar Square to witness the celebration. People
assembled and pulled the chariot of Bhairava and Bhadra Kali in opposite directions in the city lanes. In the
tug of war, people pulled an unequal number of ropes which were biased toward the forward direction. A tug of
war took place during Jatra to determine to which half of the city the chariot would go first. With unstable wheels,
the heavy chariot trembling with push and pull forces in opposite directions, and people falling to the ground
during tug of war, made this event appear as the most dangerous part of the festival.
70-storey skyscraper temple in Vrindavan would boost Indian tourism: ISKCON leader
· A skyscraper Krishna temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh would emerge as a major display of Indian
culture internationally and would boost tourism in India and local economy. There can’t be a broken
infrastructure for spirituality and temples can’t be in perpetual disrepair. Being built at a cost of USD 80 million,
Vrindavan Heritage Tower will be 70 floors high and 210 metres.
Supreme Court to consider uniform guidelines for advocates’ bodies across the country
· The Supreme Court has decided to consider framing guidelines for advocates’ associations across the
country in a bid to make their admission regulations uniform and democratic. A Bench headed by Justice
Surya Kant has titled the proceedings ‘In Re: Strengthening of the Institution of Bar Associations’. The top court
impleaded major bar associations and bodies, including the Tamil Nadu Bar Council and the Madras High Court
Advocates Association as parties in the case. It issued notice to the Madras Bar Association in March. The court,
in its order, clarified that its limited purpose was to “lay down broad guidelines that may be followed for
strengthening and enhancing the status and streamlining the overall functioning of Bar Associations throughout
the country”.
---------------

PERSONS IN NEWS
Sakshi Malik included in TIME magazine’s list of 100 most influential people of 2024
· Sakshi Malik revealed that she had been included in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential
people for the year 2024. Sakshi, India’s only female Olympic medallist in wresting has been honoured for her
relentless fight against alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers by former Wrestling Federation of India
president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Other Indians to feature in the TIME list include actress Alia Bhatt,
Indo-British actor Dev Patel and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Nalin Prabhat appointed D-G of National Security Guard
· Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Nalin Prabhat has been appointed as the Director-General of
National Security Guard (NSG), the country’s counter-terrorism and counter-hijack force. Mr. Prabhat is a
1992 batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre. He is currently posted as Additional Director-General,
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Salman Rushdie to release ‘Knife’ memoir recounting stabbing
· British-American author Salman Rushdie releases his memoir “Knife”, recounting the harrowing experience
of being stabbed at a public event in 2022 and how he overcame the near-fatal ordeal. Rushdie lost sight in one
eye after the attack by a knife-wielding assailant, who jumped on stage at an arts gathering in New York State.
Sam Pitroda’s New Book ‘The Idea of Democracy’
· Renowned author Sam Pitroda has written a new book titled ‘The Idea of Democracy’, which explores the
current state of democracy and its potential challenges in countries like India and the United States. The book
launch event was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal and other eminent personalities from the literary
industry.
---------------

AWARDS
Amitabh Bachchan, Rahman conferred with Mangeshkar award
· Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan was conferred with the third Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar award in
recognition for his exemplary contribution to the country, people and society. Past recipients of the award
include Prime Minister Narendra Modi and singer Asha Bhosale.
· The Deenanath Mangeshkar Smriti Pratishthan, which instituted the Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar award
after the death Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, also conferred awards on
several other eminent personalities for contributions to their field.
MHU University, Karnal Honoured With Best Horticulture University Award
· Maharana Pratap Horticultural University (MHU), Karnal, has been honoured with the prestigious Best
Horticulture University Award. This accolade was bestowed by ‘Krishi Vyapaar Shikhar Sammelan and
Puraskar Sanstha’ at an event in Hyderabad, underscoring MHU’s exemplary contributions to the remarkable
advancements in horticulture.
· In recent times during research on biological microorganisms MHU scientists have identified many good
microbial-related bio-inputs. These can be successfully used in the field of horticulture to produce safe and quality
crops. Their use will reduce the need for chemical fertilisers by 20 to 25 percent in the fields.
· Due to these achievements, the ‘Krishi Vyapaar Shikhar Sammelan and Puraskar Sanstha’ have honoured
MHU by awarding it the Best Horticulture University Award. The entire team of MHU is continuously
striving to reach the advanced technologies used in the field of horticulture to the farmers and the main objective
of MHU is to boost quality production.
Kannada poet Mamta G. Sagar wins international award
· Mamta G. Sagar, a Bengaluru-based Kannada poet, writer, academic and activist, has recently won the
World Literary Prize from the World Organization of Writers (WOW) for her contributions to the world of
literature. Dr Sagar, a facilitator at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology, known for her
involvement in diverse forms of transdisciplinary creative writing and cultural industries, received the award at a
ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria.
Utsa Patnaik selected for Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023
· Utsa Patnaik, a renowned economist of national and international repute, has been selected for the
Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023. The award is given every year by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust.
The prestigious national award honours outstanding social scientists selected by a national-level jury specially
constituted for this purpose, from the nominations received.
Mathematician wins Turing award for harnessing randomness
· The mathematician Avi Wigderson has won the 2023 Turing award, often referred to as the Nobel prize for
computing, for his work on understanding how randomness can shape and improve computer algorithms.
Wigderson, who also won the prestigious Abel prize in 2021 for his mathematical contributions to computer
science, was taken aback by the award.
---------------

IMPORTANT DAYS
World Heritage Day
· The International Day for Monuments and Sites also known as World Heritage Day is an international
observance held on 18 April each year around the world with different types of activities, including visits to
monuments and heritage sites, conferences, round tables and newspaper articles.
· The International Day for Monuments and Sites was proposed by the International Council on Monuments
and Sites (ICOMOS) on 18 April 1982 and approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983 during the
assembly’s 22nd general conference.
· This year, the theme for World Heritage Day 2024 is ‘Discover and Experience Diversity. ‘ This theme
shines a light on the richness of our history. It also reminds us to explore and appreciate the unique heritage of
different communities.
World Liver Day 2024
· Every year on April 19, we observe World Liver Day to raise awareness of liver-related illnesses. One of the
most important organs in vertebrate species is the liver. It facilitates food digestion, gives the body energy, and
flushes out dangerous substances.
· The theme for World Liver Day 2024 is “Keep your liver healthy and disease-free”. The current year’s theme
focuses on the need of regular well-being check-ups to prevent liver-related disorders.
Chinese Language Day
· The United Nations selected April 20 for Chinese Language Day as the date commemorates Gu Yu (or
“Grain Rain”) one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese culture. During this period, rain brings the rapid
growth of grain.
World Creativity and Innovation Day 21 April
· World Creativity and Innovation Day is a global UN day celebrated on April 21 to raise awareness around
the importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving with respect to advancing the United Nations
sustainable development goals, also known as the “global goals”. The day was created with UN resolution with
the support of 80 countries. The first World Creativity and Innovation Day was celebrated on April 21, 2018.
· This year, the theme of World Creativity and Innovation Day is “step out and innovate.” World Creativity
and Innovation Day has been observed by citizens and organizations in over 50 countries since 2002.
--------------

QUESTIONS
1. Puthandu also known as _________ New Year is the first day of year on the _________ calendar.
(a) Tamil (b) Kannada (c) Telugu (d) Malyalam
2. Name the British-American author who recently released his memoir “Knife”.
(a) Danish Jauhar (b) J K Rowling (c) Salman Rushdie (d) Imran Sultan
3. Which of the following states has taken lead in implementing the Centre’s Green Credit Programme (GCP) which
got over 500 land parcels spanning 4,980 hectares for tree plantation in the past two months?
(a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Uttar Pradesh (c) Assam (d) Maharashtra
4. Name India’s largest integrated power company that is gearing up to launch the latest edition of Girl Empowerment
Mission (GEM), its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
(a) NTPC Limited (b) NHPC Limited (c) Tata Power (d) Reliance Energy
5. Recently, The _________ and India launched an Expression of Interest (EoI) for startups working in Battery
Recycling Technologies for Electric Vehicles (EVs) for a matchmaking event.
(a) World Bank (b) European Parliament (c) European Union (EU) (d) IMF
6. According to a joint study by Knight Frank India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), The Indian real
estate market is expected to reach _________ by 2034.
(a) $0.5 Trillion (b) $1 Trillion (c) $1.5 Trillion (d) $3.75 Trillion
7. Name the Indian Batsman who owned the record of becoming the first batter from the country to hit 500 sixes in
T20 cricket.
(a) Hardik Pandya (b) Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c) Rohit Sharma (d) Virat Kohli
8. The NASA’s mission that launched sounding rockets during the recent total solar eclipse was led by _________, an
India-born researcher.
(a) Anunay Bharadwaj (b) Gautam Barjatya (c) Aroh Barjatya (d) Bimal Khetan
9. Recently, Sam Bankman-Fried, facing the prospect of spending much of his adult life behind bars, appealed his
conviction and 25-year prison sentence for stealing $8 billion from customers of the now-bankrupt _________
cryptocurrency exchange he founded.
(a) Binance (b) Crypton (c) FTX (d) HNX
10. Name the mathematician who has won the 2023 Turing award, often referred to as the Nobel Prize for computing.
(a) Avi Wigderson (b) Thomas Bush (c) Alexiras Duren (d) Mitchell Revman
11. Name the renowned author who has written a new book titled ‘The Idea of Democracy’, which explores the current
state of democracy and its potential challenges in countries like India and the United States?
(a) Sam Pitroda (b) Raghuram Rajan (c) N V Chandrasekhar (d) Colonel GVK Narsimhan
12. Which of the following celebrates Apricot Blossom festival?

(a) Sikkim (b) Ladakh (c) Puducherry (d) Nagaland
13. Who among the following recently won the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters for the third time in four years?
(a) Stefanos Tsitsipas (b) Casper Ruud (c) Andy Murray (d) Thomas Bach
14. Which of the following has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV)
recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of the
meningococcus bacteria?
(a) Nigeria (b) Zimbabwe (c) South Africa (d) USA

15. According to the Airports Council International (ACI) World, what is the ranking of Delhi airport among the
world’s busiest airports for 2023?
(a) First (b) Fifth (c) Tenth (d) Fifteenth
16. Who among the following recently became the first former U.S. president to stand criminal trial?
(a) Donald Trump (b) George W. Bush (c) Barack Obama (d) Bill Clinton
17. The Rig is the world’s first floating theme park off the coast of _________.
(a) Saudi Arabia (b) Canada (c) USA (d) Singapore
18. Which of the following universities has been honoured with the prestigious Best Horticulture University Award?
(a) Visva-Bharati University
(b) Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University
(c) Maharana Pratap Horticultural University
(d) Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry
19. Recently, which of the following cricket stadiums has become the first BCCI-accredited venue to install a hybrid
pitch?
(a) Wankhede Stadium (b) Eden Gardens Stadium
(c) HPCA Stadium (d) M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
20. Who is set to succeed Lee Hsien Loong as the Prime Minister of Singapore?
(a) Teo Chee Hean (b) Lawrence Wong (c) Dr. Ng Eng Hen (d) Heng Swee Keat
21. Who was conferred with the third Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar award for exemplary contribution to the country,
people, and society?
(a) Narendra Modi (b) Amitabh Bachchan (c) Alka Yagnik (d) Udit Narayan
22. Which of the following teams recently won their maiden ISL League Shield football?
(a) Mohun Bagan (b) Chennaiyin (c) Kerala Blasters (d) Odisha
23. Recently, The Indian Army contingent departed to take part in the fifth edition of _________ joint military exercise
DUSTLIK.
(a) India-Afghanistan (b) India-Kazakhstan (c) India-Uzbekistan (d) India-Kyrgyzstan
24. Which of the following countries urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold Azerbaijan responsible for
what it said was the ethnic cleansing from the Nagorno-Karabakh region?
(a) Armenia (b) Poland (c) Georgia (d) Turkey
25. Which of the following recently announced the launch of a “large fleet order”, a first in India?
(a) Ola (b) Pay Later (c) Zomato (d) Swiggy
26. India is embarking on a revolutionary journey into the future of technology with the inauguration of its First
Metaverse Experience Center in _________.
(a) Noida (b) Gurugram (c) Mumbai (d) Pune
27. NASA’s Perseverance Rover, nicknamed _________ in 2023 created the first “sample depot on another world” by
putting down ten rock sample tubes that are slated to be returned to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return Campaign.
(a) Mercy (b) Guama (c) Percy (d) Luthra
28. In a first, ESA’s Gaia mission researchers have discovered a huge black hole that is of stellar origin, hiding in plain
sight in our very own Milky Way Galaxy. This sleeping giant was found in the constellation _________ and that is
just under 2000 light-years away from Earth.
(a) Orion (b) Lyra (c) Aquila (d) Ursa Minor

29. What does SURAKSHA stand for in CDP-SURAKSHA?
(a) Sustainable Urban Resource Allocation for Knowledgeable Horticulture Assistance
(b) Secure Unified Resource Allocation for Knowledgeable Horticulture Assistance
(c) System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance
(d) Sustainable Unified Resource Allocation for Knowledgeable Horticulture Assistance
30. How many countries currently host Olympic Studies and Research Centres (OSRC) as part of the global network
organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)?
(a) 12 countries (b) 24 countries (c) 48 countries (d) 70 countries
31. The International Day for Monuments and Sites also known as World Heritage Day is an international observance
held on _________ each year around the world.
(a) 14 April (b) 16 April (c) 18 April (d) 20 April
32. Bisket Jatra is an eight-day celebration that culminated with a huge celebration in _________.
(a) Bhutan (b) Myanmar (c) Bangladesh (d) Nepal
33. What is the maximum percentage of foreign direct investment (FDI) allowed under the automatic route for satellite
manufacturing and operation, satellite data products, ground segment, and user segment according to the amended
FDI policy in the space sector?
(a) 24% (b) 74% (c) 100% (d) 51%
34. What percentage of Inter-Regional networks does Power Grid Corporation operate?
(a) 64% (b) 76% (c) 86% (d) 92%
35. Which of the following Indians also featured in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people for the
year 2024?
(a) Mahendra Singh Dhoni (b) Priyanka Chopra
(c) Alia Bhatt (d) Virat Kohli
36. Which of the following countries newspaper “Annahar” has recently introduced the world’s first AI designed to
perform presidential duties?
(a) Lebanon (b) Oman (c) Jordan (d) Saudi Arabia
37. Uttar Pradesh got its first glass skywalk bridge in _________.
(a) Chitrakoot (b) Varanasi (c) Mirzapur (d) Pilibhit
38. Recently, Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande inaugurated a high-tech IT Laboratory, at the Academy of
Armed Forces in _________.
(a) Kyrgyzstan (b) Uzbekistan (c) Kazakhstan (d) Turkmenistan
39. Name the 183rd state to join UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage?
(a) United Kingdom (b) France (c) Canada (d) Germany
40. Name the set up by Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO, that has been designed as a premier
testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems destined for Indian Navy.
(a) SPACE (b) OCEAN (c) KNOWN (d) MERIT
41. Every year on _________, we observe World Liver Day to raise awareness of liver-related illnesses.
(a) April 11 (b) April 15 (c) April 19 (d) April 23
42. Recently, The Centre has constituted a _________ committee to examine and recommend on various issues
affecting queer community.
(a) Three-member (b) Four-member (c) Six-member (d) Eight-member

43. Which of the following airports recently dethroned Singapore’s Changi Airport to claim the top spot in the Skytrax
World Airport Awards in 2024?
(a) Hamad International Airport (b) Dubai Airport
(c) Seoul Incheon Airport (d) Hong Kong Airport
44. Who among the following Indian cricketers will now be forever immortalized in Jaipur with the city’s wax museum
unveiling a statue of the cricketer on occasion of World Heritage Day?
(a) Suryakumar Yadav (b) Virat Kohli (c) Rohit Sharma (d) Jasprit Bumrah
45. Recently, Croatia’s governing conservatives convincingly won a highly contested parliamentary election. Name the
capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia?
(a) Minsk (b) Riga (c) Zagreb (d) Sofia
46. Who will take over as the next Chief of Naval Staff on April 30, 2024?
(a) Admiral R. Hari Kumar (b) Vice-Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi
(c) Vice-Admiral K. N. Sushil (d) Rear Admiral Anil Chawla
47. Which of the following countries parliament recently voted to suspend the country’s participation in the
Conventional Forces in Europe treaty that once was a key security doctrine for the continent, a 1990 agreement that
was abandoned last year by Russia?
(a) Croatia (b) Belarus (c) France (d) Portugal
48. Which of the following countries scrapped its target of cutting climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 75%
by 2030, but said it still intends to meet a 2045 net zero target?
(a) Belgium (b) Ireland (c) Russia (d) Scotland
49. Which of the following entities has onboarded SBI National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) on its Bharat
BillPay platform?
(a) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (b) National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
(c) NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL) (d) Visa and Rupay
50. NASA confirmed _________ rotorcraft mission to Saturn’s organic compound-rich moon Titan with a budget of
$3.35 billion and a launch date set for July 2028.
(a) Dragonfly (b) Wagonfly (c) Butterfly (d) Rovershaft
51. Who has been recently selected for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023?
(a) Deena Nayak (b) Utsa Patnaik (c) Vidushi Srivastava (d) Maneka Gupta
52. Name the Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who has been appointed as the Director-General of National
Security Guard (NSG)?
(a) Nalin Prabhat (b) Vipul Bharadwaj (c) Mukesh Chandra (d) Ajeet Raheja
53. The Bhadla Solar Park, the largest solar park in the world is located in _________.
(a) Rajasthan (b) Karnataka (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Madhya Pradesh
54. The United Nations selected _________ for Chinese Language Day.
55. The California-based Rocket Lab announced that it is, for the first time, returning a previously flown _________
rocket’s first stage back into the production line, preparing to launch it again.
(a) Positron (b) Electron (c) Proton (d) Neutron
56. Recently, which of the following courts has asserted in a judgment that forests in India are a national asset and a
major contributor to the nation’s financial wealth?
(a) Madras High Court (b) Delhi High Court
(c) National Green Tribunal (d) Supreme Court

57. We often find the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in news. The Hainan Free Trade Port is in _________.
(a) Japan (b) China (c) Indonesia (d) Malaysia
58. Recently, India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to _________, becoming the first
export customer for the joint venture missile between India and Russia.
(a) Philippines (b) Sri Lanka (c) Maldives (d) Mauritius
59. Recently, the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) to “initiate appropriate action” against _______ company selling baby products with higher sugar content
in India.
(a) Nestle (b) Britannia (c) Godrej (d) Parle
60. Which of the following countries high court has recently overturned former President Abdulla Yameen’s 11-year
prison sentence on money laundering and bribery charges and ordered a retrial?
(a) Mauritius (b) Seychelles (c) Maldives (d) Sri Lanka
61. Recently, The lac bangles of _________ have received the second GI tag of Indian city after haleem.
(a) Bhopal (b) Jaipur (c) Hyderabad (d) Pune
62. World Creativity and Innovation Day is a global UN day celebrated on _________ to raise awareness around the
importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving with respect to advancing the United Nations
sustainable development goals.
63. Name the Indian who clinched the nation’s first quota for the Paris Olympics in the sport of rowing by securing a
commendable third-place finish in the men’s single scull event at the Asian Olympic qualifiers in Chungju, South
Korea.
(a) Muneesh Bajaj (b) Ankit Razdan (c) Bipul Maharaj (d) Balraj Panwar
64. Recently, Researchers at the _________ have reported the discovery of fossils of one of the largest snakes that ever
existed and likely lived 47 million years ago during a period called the Middle Eocene.
(a) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay (b) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur
(c) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi (d) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee
65. Name the exercise launched by Indian Navy that carried out an extensive exercise along the East Coast as part of
efforts to check its preparedness to meet any maritime security challenges.
(a) ‘Poorvi Vayu’ (b) ‘Poorvi Leher’ (c) ‘Union Exercise’ (d) ‘Ekal Prayas’
66. Which of the following has recently decided to consider framing guidelines for advocates’ associations across the
country in a bid to make their admission regulations uniform and democratic?
(a) NALSA (b) National Judicial Academy
(c) Delhi High Court (d) Supreme Court
67. Recently, NASA welcomed _________ as the 38th country to sign the Artemis Accords.
(a) Finland (b) Ireland (c) Sweden (d) Belgium
68. Doordarshan News has recently launched its new _________ coloured logo by announcing that it is now available
in a refurbished avatar.
(a) White (b) Saffron (c) Green (d) Purple
69. Recently, True Gamers has unveiled plans to build the world’s first eSports island in _________.
(a) Dubai (b) Abu Dhabi (c) Wellington (d) Canberra
70. Recently, OpenAI has hired _________, its first official in India, in order to handle government relations.
(a) Deepika Rao (b) Anamika Raheja (c) Deepanita Bakshi (d) Pragya Misra

ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATION
1. a Puthandu also known as Tamil New Year, is the first day of year on the Tamil calendar that is traditionally
celebrated as a festival by Tamils.
2. c British-American author Salman Rushdie releases his memoir “Knife”, recounting the harrowing experience of
being stabbed at a public event in 2022 and how he overcame the near-fatal ordeal.
3. a Madhya Pradesh has taken lead in implementing the Centre’s Green Credit Programme (GCP) which got over 500
land parcels spanning 4,980 hectares across 10 states approved for tree plantation in the past two months.
4. a NTPC Limited, India’s largest integrated power company, is gearing up to launch the latest edition of Girl
Empowerment Mission (GEM), its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
5. c The European Union (EU) and India launched an Expression of Interest (EoI) for startups working in Battery
Recycling Technologies for Electric Vehicles (EVs) for a matchmaking event.
6. c The Indian real estate market is expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2034, contributing 10.5% to economic output,
according to a joint study by Knight Frank India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
7. c Rohit Sharma’s ability to hit sixes consistently makes him one of the most prolific hitters in the modern game. And
the Indian skipper owned the record of becoming the first batter from the country to hit 500 sixes in T20 cricket.
8. c NASA’s mission that launched sounding rockets during the recent total solar eclipse was led by Aroh Barjatya, an
India-born researcher who studied in cities across the country before moving to the United States, his family said.
9. c Sam Bankman-Fried, facing the prospect of spending much of his adult life behind bars, appealed his conviction
and 25-year prison sentence for stealing $8 billion from customers of the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency
exchange he founded.
10. a The mathematician Avi Wigderson has won the 2023 Turing award, often referred to as the Nobel prize for
computing, for his work on understanding how randomness can shape and improve computer algorithms.
11. a Renowned author Sam Pitroda has written a new book titled ‘The Idea of Democracy’, which explores the current
state of democracy and its potential challenges in countries like India and the United States.
12. b The Union Territory of Ladakh celebrates Apricot Blossom festival in the different parts of Kargil and Leh districts.
13. a Stefanos Tsitsipas swept aside Casper Ruud 6-1, 6-4 to win the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters for the third time in
four years, and then wept in his chair.
14. a Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV) recommended by the
World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria.
15. c The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is ranked tenth among the world’s busiest airports for 2023.
16. a Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to stand criminal trial when he appeared in a Manhattan court
to face charges stemming from a hush-money payment that could complicate his bid to win back the White House.
17. a The Rig, the world’s first floating theme park off the coast of Saudi Arabia, has revealed more about its true scale.
18. c Maharana Pratap Horticultural University (MHU), Karnal, has been honoured with the prestigious Best
Horticulture University Award.

19. c The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium has become the first BCCI-accredited venue to install
a state-of-the-art ‘hybrid pitch’, paving the way for future international and IPL matches to be held on this
innovative track.
20. b Lee Hsien Loong, who has been the Prime Minister for two decades, will step down on May 15 and hand over
power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong, who currently holds the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance
Minister.
21. b The correct answer is b) Amitabh Bachchan. He was honored with the third Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar award for
his outstanding contributions.
22. a This was Mohun Bagan’s first victory over the two-time Shield Winners across four seasons as the Mumbai
heavyweights were also unbeaten over them in previous eight matches, winning six of them.
23. c The Indian Army contingent departed to take part in the fifth edition of India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise
DUSTLIK.
24. a Armenia urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold Azerbaijan responsible for what it said was the
ethnic cleansing of Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
25. c Zomato announced the launch of a “large fleet order”, a first in India.
26. a India is embarking on a revolutionary journey into the future of technology with the inauguration of its First
Metaverse Experience Center in Noida.
27. c NASA’s Perseverance Rover, nicknamed Percy, in 2023 created the first “sample depot on another world” by
putting down ten rock sample tubes that are slated to be returned to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return
Campaign.
28. c In a first, ESA’s Gaia mission researchers have discovered a huge black hole that is of stellar origin, hiding in plain
sight in our very own Milky Way Galaxy. This sleeping giant was found in the constellation Aquila and that is just
under 2000 light-years away from Earth.
29. c SURAKSHA stands for “System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture
Assistance” as part of the CDP-SURAKSHA platform.
30. b There are currently 70 centres in 24 countries participating in the global network of Olympic Studies and Research
Centres organized by the IOC.
31. c The International Day for Monuments and Sites also known as World Heritage Day is an international observance
held on 18 April each year around the world.
32. d Bisket Jatra is an eight-day celebration that culminated with a huge celebration in the district of Bhaktapur, Nepal.
33. b Up to 74% FDI for satellite manufacturing & operation, satellite data products, ground segment & user segment are
allowed under the automatic route. Beyond 74%, government permission would be required.
34. c “It operates 86 per cent of Inter-Regional networks” directly indicates the percentage of Inter-Regional networks
operated by Power Grid Corporation.
35. c Alongside Sakshi Malik, other Indians who featured in the TIME list include actress Alia Bhatt, Indo-British actor
Dev Patel, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
36. a Lebanese newspaper Annahar has introduced the world’s first AI designed to perform presidential duties for
Lebanon.

37. a Uttar Pradesh gets its first glass skywalk bridge in Chitrakoot.
38. b Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande inaugurated a high-tech IT Laboratory, at the Academy of Armed
Forces in Uzbekistan.
39. a Intangible Cultural Heritage: the United Kingdom becomes the 183rd State to join UNESCO’s Convention.
40. a The SPACE, set up by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO, has been designed as a premier
testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems destined for Indian Navy onboard various platforms including ships,
submarines and helicopters.
41. c Every year on April 19, we observe World Liver Day to raise awareness of liver-related illnesses.
42. c The Centre has constituted a six-member committee to examine and recommend on various issues affecting queer
community. This is in keeping with the Supreme Court’s judgement in which it examined the issue of same sex
marriages.
43. a Hamad International Airport Doha surpassed Singapore’s Changi Airport to secure the first place in the 2024
Skytrax World Airport Awards.
44. b Virat Kohli will now be forever immortalized in Jaipur with the city’s wax museum unveiling a statue of the
cricketer on occasion of World Heritage Day.
45. c Croatia’s governing conservatives convincingly won a highly contested parliamentary election, but will still need
support from far-right groups to stay in power. Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia.
46. b Vice-Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who is currently serving as the Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff, will take over
as the next Chief of Naval Staff upon the superannuation of Admiral R. Hari Kumar on April 30, 2024.
47. b The Belarusian parliament voted to suspend the country’s participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty
that once was a key security doctrine for the continent, a 1990 agreement that was abandoned last year by Russia.
48. d Scotland scrapped its target of cutting climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, but said it still
intends to meet a 2045 net zero target.
49. c NBBL, a subsidiary of NPCI, in association with SBI, has onboarded SBI NCMC on its Bharat BillPay platform.
50. a NASA confirmed Dragonfly rotorcraft mission to Saturn’s organic compound-rich moon Titan with a budget of
$3.35 billion and a launch date set for July 2028.
51. b Utsa Patnaik, a renowned economist of national and international repute, has been selected for the Malcolm
Adiseshiah Award 2023.
52. a Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Nalin Prabhat has been appointed as the Director-General of National
Security Guard (NSG), the country’s counter-terrorism and counter-hijack force.
53. a The Bhadla Solar Park is a solar power plant located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India. It covers an area of 56
square kilometers and has a total installed capacity of 2,245 megawatts (MW), making it the largest solar park in
the world as of 2023.
54. c The United Nations selected April 20 for Chinese Language Day
55. b California-based Rocket Lab announced that it is, for the first time, returning a previously flown Electron rocket’s
first stage back into the production line, preparing to launch it again.

56. d The Supreme Court has asserted in a judgment that forests in India are a national asset and a major contributor to
the nation’s financial wealth.
57. b The construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) has taken shape and gained momentum, six years after
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s announcement of establishing FTP.
58. a India delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Philippines. In January 2022, Philippines
concluded a $375-million deal with India for three batteries of shore-based, anti-ship variant of the BrahMos
becoming the first export customer for the joint venture missile between India and Russia.
59. a Taking cognizance of reports on Nestle selling baby products with higher sugar content in India, the Union
Consumer Affairs Ministry has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to “initiate
appropriate action” against the company.
60. c Maldives High Court has overturned former President Abdulla Yameen’s 11-year prison sentence on money
laundering and bribery charges and ordered a retrial.
61. c The lac bangles of Hyderabad have been registered with the Registrar of Geographical Indications, Chennai. This is
the second GI tag for a Hyderabad product after haleem.
62. c World Creativity and Innovation Day is a global UN day celebrated on April 21 to raise awareness around the
importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving with respect to advancing the United Nations
sustainable development goals, also known as the “global goals”.
63. d India celebrated a historic milestone in the sport of rowing as Balraj Panwar clinched the nation’s first quota for the
Paris Olympics by securing a commendable third-place finish in the men’s single scull event at the Asian Olympic
qualifiers in Chungju, South Korea.
64. d Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have reported the discovery of fossils of one of the
largest snakes that ever existed and likely lived 47 million years ago during a period called the Middle Eocene.
65. b The Indian Navy carried out an extensive exercise along the East Coast as part of efforts to check its preparedness
to meet any maritime security challenges. The exercise ‘Poorvi Leher’ witnessed participation of ships, submarines,
aircraft and special naval forces.
66. d The Supreme Court has decided to consider framing guidelines for advocates’ associations across the country in a
bid to make their admission regulations uniform and democratic.
67. c NASA welcomed Sweden as the 38th country to sign the Artemis Accords.
68. b Doordarshan News has launched its new saffron-coloured logo by announcing that it is now available in a
refurbished avatar.
69. b True Gamers, a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based eSports network, has unveiled plans to build the world’s first
eSports island in Abu Dhabi.
70. d OpenAI has hired Pragya Misra, its first official in India, in order to handle government relations, reported
Bloomberg.

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1

15th April to 21st April, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 1

Page : 2 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

Lac bangles from Hyderabad secure GI tag

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 3

CDP-SURAKSHA, govt’s new digital platform to disburse subsidies to horticulture farmers

Page : 4 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

General Manoj Pande Inaugurates High-Tech IT Lab at Academy Of Armed Forces in

Vice-Admiral Dinesh Tripathi appointed next Navy Chief

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 5

Uttar Pradesh Gets Its First Glass Skywalk Bridge in Chitrakoot

Page : 6 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 7

India delivers first batch of BrahMos to Philippines

Page : 8 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 9

Page : 10 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

Scotland ditches 2030 climate target to cut emissions by 75%

Hainan Free Trade Port construction has gained momentum

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 11

NTPC launches new edition of Girl Empowerment Mission

Govt asks all gas-based plants to be operational From May 1 to June 30

Page : 12 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

NPCI arm, SBI introduce NCMC recharge on Bharat BillPay

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 13

Raja Infra bags 700 MWp solar project from Greenko

Page : 14 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

In world first, Nigeria introduces new 5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 15

Page : 16 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 17

Page : 18 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

Sports Personalities in News

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 19

Page : 20 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 21

Page : 22 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 23

Page : 24 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

12. Which of the following celebrates Apricot Blossom festival?

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 25

Page : 26 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 27

Page : 28 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 29

Page : 30 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 31

Page : 32 A General Awareness Weekly, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 33

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