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The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) has approved Adani Group’s
Vizhinjam Port in Kerala to operate as India’s 1st transshipment port facilitating the transfer
of cargo between ships. The initial phase targets a capacity of 1 million twenty-foot
equivalent units (TEUs), with subsequent phases aiming to add 6.2 million TEUs.
➢ The proposal to designate it as a customs-notified port has also been made and the
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is expected to provide approval to set
up a customs office here in the next 3 months. Vizhinjam International Seaport is owned
by the Government of Kerala and operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone
Ltd (APSEZ). APSEZ started the international transshipment project in December 2015.
➢ Note: Around 75% of India’s Transshipment cargo is handled at ports outside India. The
Ports of Colombo, Singapore, and Klang handle more than 85% of this cargo.

The first United Nations (UN) Conference on ‘Citizen Stack: Digital Public Infrastructure,
Transformative Technology for Citizens’ was held at UN headquarters in New York, United
States (US) under India’s leadership to harness the technology to propel Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and foster inclusivity. The conference introduced India’s Digital
Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework as a global standard.
➢ In this regard, India shared its ‘Citizen Stack’ initiative, encouraging other nations to
understand and develop their own DPI. The event was a continuum to India’s G20
Presidency in 2023 on the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam/ One Earth, One Family, One
Future’. It was hosted by the Permanent Mission of India and the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with iSPIRT (Indian Software
Product Industry Roundtable).

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced an 8% interest rate on the Floating Rate
Savings Bond (FRSB) 2034. It is a special type of bond issued by Government of India (GoI)
that matures in 2034. This is a variable rate bond as the interest rate will change after every 6
months. The interest rate is based on the average yield of recent auctions for short-term
government debt i.e. Treasury Bills. The interest rate depends on the market conditions.
FRSBs have a maturity period of 7 years.
➢ Minimum investment amount for FRSBs is Rs 1000 and there is no limit on maximum
amount. Interest Rate on FRSB will be 8% (from 30th April, 2024 to 29th October, 2024).
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA
(6) of the RBI Act, 1934 has cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of Delhi-based
Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Acemoney (India) Limited over irregularities in
lending practices. More Details

GoBrisk Technologies Private Limited (BRISKPE), a Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based cross-

border payments platform, secured an investment of USD 5 million in a seed round from

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 Daily Content PDF

PayU, the payments and fintech business of Prosus. This investment focuses on simplifying
global payments for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and exporters.
➢ BRISKPE will use the funding to enhance its product and service offerings, expand its
team, and scale reach to enable more Indian businesses with seamless cross-border
payments. The funding will drive product development, talent acquisition, and business
expansion for cross-border payment startups, empowering Indian businesses for global
success.

Delhi-based National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in its Monthly

Economic Review (MER) April 2024 projected Indian economy to grow faster than 7% in
financial year 2024-2025 (FY25). This will be drive by projected acceleration in both global
growth and trade volumes, as well as the forecast of an above-normal monsoon.
➢ Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing reaches 16-year high at 59.1 in
March 2024 from 56.9 in February 2024, indicating robust expansion. Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) records highest-ever volume, since its inception in 2016, with 13.4 billion
transactions in March 2024, a growth of 55.3% on a YoY (Year-on-Year) basis. Consumer
Price Index (CPI) headline inflation decreases to 4.9% in March 2024 from 5.1% in
February 2024, while core inflation decelerated at 3.2% in March 2024 from 3.4% in
February 2024.

THDCIL – UJVNL Nagar Nigam

Energy Company (municipal To establish a waste-to-green
Limited (TUECO) corporation) Haridwar, energy plant worth Rs 140 crores.
Uttarakhand
➢ This initiative aims to convert 400 tonnes per day of municipal solid waste into 140
tonnes of green charcoal. Nagar Nigam Haridwar has allocated around 10 acres of land at
Sarai for the construction of this plant.

Goldman Environmental Foundation announced the winners of the 35th Goldman

Environmental Prize (2024), which is also known as “Green Nobel Prize”. Alok Shukla,
convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya
Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, won the 2024 Goldman Prize from Asia for his efforts to save the
forests of Hasdeo Aranya in Chhattisgarh.
➢ The 2024 award was presented to seven individuals committed to protecting their
communities and environment. The award ceremony was presented at the War
Memorial Opera in San Francisco in the United States of America (USA). The ceremony
was hosted by Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro. The award includes a bronze
sculpture in the shape of an Ouroboros, a symbol of nature’s power of renewal which
depicts a serpent biting its tail. More Details

Indian-origin teacher Gina Justus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been named the
regional winner 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards from Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region. Gina Justus, a native of Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) is a teacher at

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 Daily Content PDF

Our Own English High School (Girls), Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She has
been working in the UAE since 2005.
➢ India’s Meena Mishra, was named the winner of award from South Asia region. She
works as a teacher at Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan International School in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
➢ Note: Cambridge announced nine regional winners, and out of them, one will be selected
as the overall winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards 2024, which will be
announced on 29th May 2024.

Dr. Mohammad Rihan, a Professor from the Electrical Engineering Department at Aligarh
Muslim University (AMU) in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh has assumed the role of Director General
(DG) at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). He will serve at NISE on deputation for
an initial term of 3 years, with the potential for an extension of up to 2 years.
➢ The former DG Dr. Arun Kumar Tripathi was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand
Ayurved University (UAU), Dehradun, Uttarakhand in 2023. He is also a Scientist G at the
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has approved the appointment of Hitesh Kumar Sethia as
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jio Financial Services Limited
(JFSL) for a period of 3 years (with effect from 15th November, 2023). The approval for the
appointment is in accordance of various provisions of the Companies Act(2013).

Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

released the Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2023 compiled by ISRO
System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM). The report assessed
the vulnerability of space assets in outer space to various environmental hazards such as:
asteroids, comets and artificial objects, to ensure safe and sustainable space operations.
➢ A total of 3143 objects originating from 212 launches and on-orbit break-up events were
added to the space object population in 2023, compared to 2,533 objects from 179 launches
in 2022. The report highlighted an increasing trend in Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres
(CAMs) per year which indicates growing congestion in outer space. In 2023, a total of
3,033 alerts for close approaches within a distance of 1km was detected for ISRO
satellites.

LSAM 20 (Yard 130), the 6th Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge built by
Suryadipta Projects Private Limited (SPPL) for Indian Navy was launched at the SPPL launch
site in Thane, Maharashtra. It is indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules
and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping.
➢ As these Barges are indigenously manufactured, encourage and promote the “Make in
India” Initiative of Government of India (GoI). The induction ceremony was presided over
by Madhusudhan Bhui, Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS), General Manager (GM)
of Naval Armament Depot (NAD) in Karanja, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

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April 30, 2024 Ayushman Bharat Diwas is annually

observed across India to raise awareness
The day aims to promote the about the objectives of the Ayushman Bharat,
importance of providing medical a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Health
facilities to all the remote areas of India and Family Welfare(MoHFW), Government of
and to provide quality healthcare to India. The Day is celebrated as a part of Gram
every citizen in India. Swaraj Abhiyan.

April 30, 2024 The United Nations (UN)’s International Jazz Day
is annually observed across the globe to highlight
jazz and its role in diplomatic relations of uniting
The Global Host of 2024
people around the world. International Jazz Day is
International Jazz Day celebration
chaired and led by the United Nations Educational,
is the city of Tangier, Morocco. This
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
marks the 1st time a city on the
Director-General Audrey Azoulay and legendary
African continent has hosted
jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who
International Jazz Day.
serves as a UNESCO Ambassador for Intercultural
Dialogue

April 19, 2024 Satellite Technology Day (STD) is annually

observed across India to highlight the
achievements made in satellite technology. The
On April 19, 1975, India’s first
Day commemorates the successful launch of
indigenously developed satellite,
India’s first satellite ‘Aryabhata’ into space on 19
Aryabhata, was launched by a Soviet
April 1975. STD-2024 marks the beginning of the
Kosmos-3M rocket from Kapustin
50th year of the Aryabhata Launch. The tradition
Yar, Russia. The satellite re-entered
of celebrating STD annually at the U R Rao Satellite
the Earth’s atmosphere on 11 February
Centre (URSC), Bengaluru (Karnataka) began on
1992.
April 19, 2000.

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Morgan Stanley inaugurates fund management operations at GIFT City

Services exports may rise to $800 bn by 2030: Goldman Sachs report

India's cash withdrawals from ATMs increase by 5.51% in FY24, CMS Infosystems report

Adani Global acquires 49% stake in Adani Esyasoft Smart Solutions, Abu Dhabi

Asian Carrom Championship: Indian Players Captured Both Men’s And Women’s Doubles
Titles At Male, Maldives

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AFFAIRSCLOUD TODAY
Current Affairs 1 & 2 May 2024 : Headlines

Adani’s Vizhinjam Port in Kerala Approved as India’s 1st Transshipment Port

UN’s 1st International Conference on DPI held under India’s Leadership in New York
RBI Announces Interest Rate of 8% on Floating Rate Savings Bond (FRSB) 2034
BRISKPE Raises USD 5 Million in Seed Funding from PayU to Enhance Cross-border
Payments
India Economy to Grow Faster than 7% in FY25: NCAER
TUECO signs a MoU with Nagar Nigam Haridwar to Establish a Waste-to-Green Energy Plant
35th Goldman Environmental Prize: Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan Leader Alok Shukla bags
it
Indian-origin teacher Gina Justus Receives 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award for
MENA region
AMU Professor Mohammad Rihan Took Charge as Director General of NISE
Hitesh Sethia Appointed as MD and CEO of Jio Financial Services Limited for 3 Years
ISRO Released ISSAR 2023 Report on Vulnerability of Space Assets to Collisions
SPPL launched 6th ACTCM Barge – LSAM 20 (Yard 130) in Thane
Ayushman Bharat Diwas 2024 – April 30
International Jazz Day 2024 – April 30
Satellite Technology Day 2024 – April 19

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Adani’s Vizhinjam Port in Kerala Approved as India’s 1st Transshipment Port
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways(MoPSW) has approved Adani
Group’s Vizhinjam Port in Kerala to operate as India’s 1st transshipment port facilitating the transfer
of cargo between ships. The initial phase targets a capacity of 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units
(TEUs), with subsequent phases aiming to add 6.2 million TEUs.
• The proposal to designate it as a customs-notified port has also been made and the Central
Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is expected to provide approval to set up a customs
office here in the next 3 months.
• Vizhinjam International Seaport is owned by the Government of Kerala and operated by Adani
Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ). APSEZ started the international transshipment
project in December 2015.
Note: A transshipment port is a crucial hub facilitating cargo transfer from large vessels to smaller ones
before reaching final destinations. Around 75% of India’s Transshipment cargo is handled at ports outside
India. The Ports of Colombo, Singapore, and Klang handle more than 85% of this cargo.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
UN’s 1st International Conference on DPI held under India’s Leadership in New York
On April 25-26, 2024, the first United Nations (UN) Conference on ‘Citizen Stack: Digital Public
Infrastructure, Transformative Technology for Citizens’ was held at UN headquarters in New York, United
States (US) under India’s leadership to harness the technology to propel Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and foster inclusivity. The conference introduced India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
framework as a global standard.

• In this regard, India shared its ‘Citizen Stack’ initiative, encouraging other nations to understand
and develop their own DPI.
• The event was a continuum to India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 on the theme
‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam/ One Earth, One Family, One Future’.
Hosts:
It was hosted by the Permanent Mission of India and the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with iSPIRT (Indian Software Product Industry Roundtable).
What is India Stack (India’s Citizen Stack)?
It is a name used to describe the collection of technology products and framework. On the other hand,
DPI is a set of digital infrastructure components, Application Programming Interface (API) that enable the
delivery of various digital services to Indian citizens by utilizing Aadhar, eSign, Digilocker, and Unified

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Payments Interface (UPI).

Key Points:
i.Global leaders, tech innovators, and policy experts convened to discuss the global adoption of DPI.
ii.Discussions were also held on how DPI also ensures data protection and privacy in the deployment of
digital infrastructures
ii.India Stack exemplified successful integration of technology into citizen services, fostering international
cooperation for the development of digital infrastructure globally.
iii.The Conference was focused on utilizing technology for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and
inclusivity.
iv.Emphasis were on public-private partnerships driving innovation, with contributions from startups,
MNCs (Multi National Companies), and academia.
v.The conference also showcases examples from Philippines and Ethiopia demonstrating varied paths to
similar national outcomes of delivering services of citizens using digitization.
Key Participants:
Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the UN; G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant; Dennis
Francis, President of the United Nations General Assembly, Achim Steiner, Administrator of UN
Development Programme (UNDP); while Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, MeitY participated virtually.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Announces Interest Rate of 8% on Floating Rate Savings Bond (FRSB) 2034
On 29th April 2024, The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has announced an 8% interest rate on the Floating
Rate Savings Bond (FRSB) 2034. It is a special type of bond issued by Government of India (GoI) that
matures in 2034.

• This is a variable rate bond as the interest rate will change after every 6 months.
Key Points about FRSB:
i.The interest rate is based on the average yield of recent auctions for short-term government debt i.e.
Treasury Bills. The interest rate depends on the market conditions.
ii.Interest on these bonds is paid semi-annually i.e. first installment of interest paid on 1st January and
second installment on 1st July of every year, with no provision for cumulative interest payments.
iii.FRSBs have a maturity period of 7 years.
iv.Minimum investment amount for FRSBs is Rs 1000 and there is no limit on maximum amount.
Note: Interest Rate on FRSB will be 8%(from 30th April, 2024 to 29th October, 2024).
• This rate is calculated by taking an average of the interest rates from the previous 3 auctions of
short-term government debt with a marginal addition of a fixed amount (0.98%).
Benefits:
i.These FRSBs ensures security to investors as these bonds are supported by Government of India(GoI).

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ii.FRSBs provide flexibility as interest rate of the benchmark increases, the interest rate for FRSBs also
increases.
RBI Cancels CoR of Acemoney(India)Limited Over Irregular Lending Practices
The Reserve Bank of India(RBI)in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA(6) of the RBI
Act, 1934 has cancelled the Certificate of Registration(CoR) of Delhi-based Non-Banking Financial
Company(NBFC) Acemoney (India) Limited over irregularities in lending practices.
• As per RBI order, Acemoney(India) Limited is
barred from transacting the business of a Non-
Banking Financial Institution(NBFI), as defined
in clause (a) of Section 45-I of the RBI Act,
1934.
Key Points:
i.The licence of the Acemoney(India) Limited has been
cancelled due to the violation of RBI guidelines on
managing risks and code of conduct in outsourcing
financial services in its digital lending operations
undertaken through 3rd- party apps.
ii.It was also not compliant with the extant regulations
pertaining to charging of excessive interest and ensuring
confidentiality of customer information.
About Acemoney(India) Limited:
It is a financial services company that was incorporated
in 2016. It provides various fee-based services to its clients. It disburses loans and advances to customers
in partnership with digital platforms.
• It has partnership with digital lending apps: ActLoan, AgMoney, NiceCash, CashLender, among
others.
Note: The company received its Certification of Registration(CoR) to work as NBFC by RBI in February,
2017.
About Reserve Bank of India(RBI):
Governor: Shaktikanta Das(25th Governor of RBI)
Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established: 1 April, 1935

BRISKPE Raises USD 5 Million in Seed Funding from PayU to Enhance Cross-border Payments
GoBrisk Technologies Private Limited (BRISKPE), a Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based cross-border payments
platform, secured an investment of USD 5 million in a seed round from PayU, the payments and fintech
business of Prosus.
• This investment focuses on simplifying global payments for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) and exporters.
• BRISKPE will use the funding to enhance its product and service offerings, expand its team, and
scale reach to enable more Indian businesses with seamless cross-border payments.
• The funding will drive product development, talent acquisition, and business expansion for
cross-border payment startups, empowering Indian businesses for global success.

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ECONOMY & BUSINESS

India Economy to Grow Faster than 7% in FY25: NCAER
The New Delhi, Delhi-based National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in its Monthly
Economic Review (MER) April 2024 projected Indian economy to grow faster than 7% in financial year
2024-2025 (FY25).
• This will be drive by projected acceleration in both global growth and trade volumes, as well as
the forecast of an above-normal monsoon.
Key Points:
i.Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing reaches 16-year high at 59.1 in March 2024 from
56.9 in February 2024, indicating robust expansion.

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• PMI for Services increased to 61.2 in March 2024 from 60.6 in February 2024, signaling
economic growth. The composite PMI increased to 61.8 in March 2024 from 60.6 in February
2024
ii.Unified Payments Interface (UPI) records highest-ever volume, since its inception in 2016, with 13.4
billion transactions in March 2024, a growth of 55.3% on a YoY (Year-on-Year) basis.
iii.Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections hit Rs. 1.8 lakh crore in March 2024, second-highest since
2017 rollout. It registered a Y-o-Y growth of 11.5%.
iv.Consumer Price Index (CPI) headline inflation decreases
to 4.9% in March 2024 from 5.1% in February 2024, while
core inflation decelerated at 3.2% in March 2024 from
3.4% in February 2024.
• Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) inflation
slows to 8.5% in March 2024 from 8.7% in
February 2024.
• The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation
accelerates to 0.5% (Provisional Estimates) in
March 2024 from 0.2% in February 2024.
v.Employment indicators are mixed; EPFO sees YoY
increase in new subscribers, while online hiring moderates
overall.
Notes:
i.India poised for economic boost from global GDP growth.
ii.NCAER projects optimistic outlook, exceeding Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 7% Gross Domestic product
(GDP) growth projection for FY25.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts India’s GDP growth for FY25 at 7%, and International
Monetary Fund (IMF) raises its forecast to 6.8%.

TUECO signs a MoU with Nagar Nigam Haridwar to Establish a Waste-to-Green Energy Plant
THDCIL – UJVNL Energy Company Limited (TUECO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with Nagar Nigam (municipal corporation) Haridwar, Uttarakhand, to establish a waste-to-green energy
plant worth Rs 140 crores.
• This initiative aims to convert 400 tonnes per day of municipal solid waste into 140 tonnes of
green charcoal.
• Nagar Nigam Haridwar has allocated around 10 acres of land at Sarai for the construction of this
plant.
• The MoU was signed by Varun Chaudhary, IAS, Municipal Commissioner of Haridwar and
Sandeep Kumar, CEO of TUECO Ltd.

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TUECO is a joint venture (JV) company of THDC India Limited(THDCIL – formerly Tehri Hydro
Development Corporation Limited) and Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL).

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

35th Goldman Environmental Prize: Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan Leader Alok Shukla bags it
On 29th April 2024, Goldman Environmental Foundation announced the winners of the 35th Goldman
Environmental Prize(2024), which is also known as “Green Nobel Prize”. Alok Shukla, convenor of the
Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti,won
the 2024 Goldman Prize from Asia for his efforts to save the forests of Hasdeo Aranya in Chhattisgarh.

• The award ceremony was presented at the War Memorial Opera in San Francisco in the United
States of America(USA). The ceremony was hosted by Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro.
• The 2024 award was presented to seven individuals committed to protecting their
communities and environment.
Winners of 35th Goldman Environmental Prize (2024):

Region Winner Country Category

Asia Alok Shukla India Forest

Nonhle Mbuthuma and

Africa South Africa Oceans & Coasts
Sinegugu Zukulu

Europe Teresa Vicente Spain Oceans & Coasts

Islands & Island

Murrawah Maroochy Johnson Australia Climate & Energy
Nations

North America Andrea Vidaurre USA Climate & Energy

South & Central

Marcel Gomes Brazil Food & Agriculture
America
Trophy & Prize Money :
i.The award includes a bronze sculpture in the shape of an Ouroboros, a symbol of nature’s power of
renewal which depicts a serpent biting its tail.
ii.The winners are awarded USD 200,000 as prize money and are eligible to apply for additional grants to
support their work.

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About Goldman Environmental Prize:

i.The award recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural
environment at personal risk.
ii.The prize recognizes grassroots environmental heroes from world’s six inhabited continental regions –
Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America and South & Central America.
iii.The award founded in 1989 by Richard and Rhoda Goldman and the 1st Goldman Environmental Prize
ceremony was held in April 1990.
About the 2024 Winner:
Alok Shukla
i.Alok Shukla spearheaded a community campaign that prevented 21 planned coal mines from
encroaching upon 445,000 acres of biodiverse forests in Chhattisgarh, India.
ii.The government’s cancellation of these proposed mines in July 2022 preserved the pristine Hasdeo
Aranya forests, which are among India’s largest intact forest regions.
Nonhle Mbuthuma and Sinegugu Zukulu
In September 2022, both activists successfully halted destructive seismic testing for oil and gas off South
Africa’s Eastern Cape, known as the Wild Coast, by organizing their community and asserting their rights
to protect the marine environment, safeguarding migratory whales, dolphins, and other wildlife.
Teresa Vicente
Teresa Vicente led a grassroots campaign to preserve the Mar Menor, Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon,
from collapse.
In May 2020, she launched her campaign proposing the use of a Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP), a
provision that lets citizens propose a law directly to Parliament
In 2022, the lower house of Parliament approved the ILP and later the senate passed it into law which
grants the Mar Menor and its basin the right to conservation of its species and habitats.
Murrawah Maroochy Johnson
She halted the Waratah coal mine, safeguarding the 20,000-acre Bimblebox Nature Refuge and
preventing the release of 1.58 billion tons of CO2. Her precedent-setting case, upheld in 2023, allows other
Indigenous groups to oppose coal projects by connecting climate change to Indigenous rights.
• This marked the first time an Australian coal mine was legally stopped through the linkage of
Indigenous rights and climate change.
Andrea Vidaurre
i.In April 2023, Andrea Vidaurre’s (aged 29) grassroots efforts led to the California Air Resources Board
adopting two landmark transportation regulations: In-Use Locomotive Rule and the California Advanced
Clean Fleets Rule, which significantly limit trucking and rail emissions.
ii.These marks the USA’s first emission standards for trains and a pathway to 100% zero-emission freight
truck sales by 2036.
Marcel Gomes
i.Marcel Gomes led a global campaign exposing JBS, the world’s largest meatpacking company) beef links
to illegal deforestation in Brazil.
ii.His investigative report prompted six major European supermarket chains in Belgium, France, the
Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK) to indefinitely boycott the sale of JBS products in December
2021.
Recent Related News:
i.Union Minister, Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD) honoured Dr Bina Modi, Chairperson of
Modi Enterprises, KK Modi Group, with the “Outstanding Business Woman of the Year – 2023′ Award.
Theaward recognised her contributions to the industry.

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ii.Gurugram (Haryana) based REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) was
awarded with the Best Green Bond – Corporate Award at The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable
Finance 2024. REC was honoured for the issuance of Green Bonds worth USD 750 million in April 2023.
About Goldman Environmental Foundation:
President– John D. Goldman
Executive Director– Michael Sutton
Headquarters– California, USA

Indian-origin teacher Gina Justus Receives 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award for
MENA region
Indian-origin teacher Gina Justus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been named the regional winner
2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
• Gina Justus, a native of Thiruvananthapuram(Kerala) is a teacher at Our Own English High
School (Girls), Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She has been working in the UAE
since 2005.
India’s Meena Mishra, was named the winner of award from South Asia region. She works as a teacher at
Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan International School in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Note: Cambridge announced nine regional winners, and out of them, one will be selected as the overall
winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards 2024, which will be announced on 29th May 2024.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

AMU Professor Mohammad Rihan Took Charge as Director General of NISE
Dr. Mohammad Rihan, a Professor from the Electrical Engineering Department at Aligarh Muslim
University (AMU) in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh has assumed the role of Director General (DG) at the National
Institute of Solar Energy (NISE).
• He will serve at NISE on deputation for an initial term of 3 years, with the potential for an
extension of up to 2 years.
• The former DG Dr. Arun Kumar Tripathi was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Ayurved
University (UAU), Dehradun, Uttarakhand in 2023. He is also a Scientist G at the Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Note: NISE is an autonomous institution under MNRE, and is the apex National Research and Development
(R&D) institution in the field of Solar Energy.

Appointment Process:
i.Dr. Mohammad Rihan’s appointment to the position of DG was endorsed by a selection committee of
experts and senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers.
ii.The selection committee’s recommendation received official approval from the Appointments

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Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

About Dr. Mohammad Rihan:
i.Dr. Mohammad Rihan has worked as a visiting Scientist
at NISE.
ii.He is a member secretary of the Central Project
Implementation and Monitoring Committee of AMU.
iii.He is also the Founder Director and Coordinator of the
Centre for Grid Integrated Green and Renewable Energy at
AMU.
His Pioneering Initiatives:
i.He has led the integration of 6.5-Megawatt peak (MWp)
solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in the AMU campus
distribution grid, the largest in any academic institution in
India.
ii.He also established a Centre for Training on Solar
photovoltaic (PV) cell in collaboration with the Skill Council, Green Jobs, Government of India (GoI).
iii.He has conceptualised and started a Joint M.Tech program on Green Energy and Sustainable
Development with NISE.
iv.He has established a new Virtual Instrumentation and Smart Systems lab in the department.
About National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE):
Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana
Established in– 2013

Hitesh Sethia Appointed as MD and CEO of Jio Financial Services Limited for 3 Years
Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has approved the appointment of Hitesh Kumar Sethia as Managing
Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL) for a period of 3
years(with effect from 15th November, 2023).
• The approval for the appointment is in accordance of various provisions of
the Companies Act(2013).
About Hitesh Kumar Sethia:
i.He is a certified Chartered Accountant and has worked with many reputed companies across Europe,
Asia and North America.

ii.He has an extensive experience of 20 years in banking industry. He worked mostly with ICICI Bank and
handled its operations in Canada, Germany and Hong Kong.
iii.He joined Mc Laren Strategic Ventures in 2022 as head of Europe.
iv.In July 2023, Board of Reliance Industries appointed Hitesh Kumar Sethia as MD and CEO of Reliance
Strategic Investments Limited (RSIL)(later, renamed as Jio Financial Services).

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About Jio Financial Services Limited(JFSL):

It is an Indian financial service company and offers various financial services such as payment services,
insurance broking, among others.
It is registered with Reserve Bank of India(RBI) as non-deposit taking Non-Banking Financial
Company(NBFC).
Independent and Non-Executive Chairman: Kundapur Vaman Kamath
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Formed: 25th July, 2023
About Ministry of Corporate Affairs:
Minister of Corporate Affairs: Nirmala Sitharaman(Rajya Sabha member: Karnataka)
Minister of State(MoS) for Corporate Affairs: Rao Inderjit Singh(Lok Sabha constituency: Gurugram,
Haryana)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO Released ISSAR 2023 Report on Vulnerability of Space Assets to Collisions
Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) released the Indian
Space Situational Assessment Report(ISSAR) for 2023 compiled by ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable
Space Operations Management (IS4OM).

• The report assessed the vulnerability of space assets in outer space to various environmental
hazards such as: asteroids, comets and artificial objects, to ensure safe and sustainable space
operations.
Key Points:
i.A total of 3143 objects originating from 212 launches and on-orbit break-up events were added to the
space object population in 2023, compared to 2,533 objects from 179 launches in 2022.
ii.Since the beginning of Indian Space era, a total of 127 Indian satellites (including the satellites of private
operators/academic institutions) have been launched till 31st December 2023.
• The number of operational satellites owned by government of India is 22 in LEO and 29 in GEO.
iii.8 Indian Satellites re-entered the atmosphere in 2023, among them Megha-Tropiques-1 underwent
controlled re-entry through an immensely challenging exercise.
iv.All 7 launches of ISRO: SSLV-D2/EOS7, LVM3-M3/ONEWEB_II, PSLV-C55/ TeLEOS-2, GSLV-F12 NVS-01,
LVM3-M4/ Chandrayaan-3, PSLV-C56/ DS-SAR, and PSLV-C57/Aditya L-1 in 2023 were successful.
• A total of 5 Indian satellites, 46 foreign satellites, and 8 rocket bodies (including POEM-2) were
placed in their intended orbits.

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Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres:

i.The report highlighted an increasing trend in Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres(CAMs) per year which
indicates growing congestion in outer space.
i.According to the report, around 1,37,565 close approach alerts were received from United States Space
Command (USSPACECOM).
ii.In 2023, a total of 3,033 alerts for close approaches within a distance of 1km was detected for ISRO
satellites.
iii.The report also mentioned that around 2700 close approaches were observed with other operational
satellites within 5km.
iv.As per the report, ISRO carried out 23 CAMs to save its satellites from harm by space debris.
• Out of these 23, 18 were carried out for satellites in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 5 for
spacecraft in Geo-Synchronous Earth Orbit(GEO).
Points to note:
i.The maximum number of on-orbit payload deployments with the maximum number of launches in 2023
shows a consistent growth in the space object population.
ii.IS4OM has been operational since 2022 to safeguard ISRO’s space assets and to improve compliance
with internationally recognised guidelines.
iii.ISRO is active member Inter-Agency Debris Coordination Committee(IADC) with 13 space agencies,
International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) space debris working group, among others..
About Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO):
Chairman- Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established in 1969

SPPL launched 6th ACTCM Barge – LSAM 20 (Yard 130) in Thane

On 29th April 2024, LSAM 20 (Yard 130), the 6th Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile(ACTCM)
Barge built by Suryadipta Projects Private Limited(SPPL) for Indian Navy was launched at the SPPL
launch site in Thane, Maharashtra.
• The induction ceremony was presided over by Madhusudhan Bhui, Indian Naval Armament
Service (INAS), General Manager (GM) of Naval Armament Depot (NAD) in Karanja, Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
About ACTCM Barge:
i.It is indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of
Shipping.

ii.Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) undertakes the
model testing of the barge during design stage.

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Significance:
i.ACTCM Barges would give boost to the operational commitments of Indian Navy(IN) by providing
transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ammunition to IN Ships both alongside
jetties and at outer harbours.
ii.As these Barges are indigenously manufactured, encourage and promote the “Make in India” Initiative
of Government of India(GoI).
Background:
i.On 5th March 2021, Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU)
with SPPL for construction of 11 ACTCM Barges by M/s SPPL.
ii.The other 5 ACTCM Barges were LSAM 15 (Yard 125); LSAM 16(Yard 126); LSAM 17(Yard 127); LSAM
18(Yard128); and LSAM 19(Yard129).
About Indian Navy:
Chief of Naval Staff(CNS)- Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi
Headquarter- New Delhi, Delhi
Founded: 1950

IMPORTANT DAYS
Ayushman Bharat Diwas 2024 – April 30
Ayushman Bharat Diwas is annually observed across India on 30th April to raise awareness about the
objectives of the Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare(MoHFW), Government of India.

• The day aims to promote the importance of providing medical facilities to all the remote areas
of India and to provide quality healthcare to every citizen in India.
• The Day is celebrated as a part of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.
About Ayushman Bharat:
i.Ayushman Bharat was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the
vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
ii.Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched the scheme in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 23rd September
2018.

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iii.This initiative aims to revolutionise healthcare service delivery in India by transitioning from a
segmented and sectoral to a comprehensive approach.
iv.The scheme has 2 inter-related components:
• Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs); and
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs):
i.In 2018, the GoI announced the creation of 1,50,000 HWCs by transforming the existing Sub Centres and
Primary Health Centres.
ii.Objective: Deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) closer to people’s homes
iii.Services Offered:
• Cover maternal and child health services;
• Address non-communicable diseases (NCDs); and
• Provide free essential drugs and diagnostic services.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):
i.Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY aims at providing assured health cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year
for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families that form the
bottom 40% of the Indian population (around 55 crore beneficiaries).
ii.It provides cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service in any
(public and private) impaneled hospitals across India.
iii.This is the world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government.
Note: PM-JAY was earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) before being
rechristened.
Other Dynamics of Ayushman Bharat:
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission:
i.It aims to establish an integrated digitally empowered health infrastructure.
ii.Its components include Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), Health Professional Registry (HPR),
Health Facility Registry (HFR), and ABHA Application.
iii.It empowers individuals with health information and awareness, facilitating a seamless flow of health
data, and aiding monitoring, evaluation, and policymaking.
Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):
i.PM-ABHIM aims to bolster healthcare capacities to combat future public health crises.
ii.It addresses critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure, encompassing both rural and urban areas, and
includes surveillance mechanisms and promotes sectoral research.
iii.Notably, it is the largest pan-India initiative since the early 2000s and underscores the government’s
commitment to enhancing public health infrastructure.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister– Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha Gujarat)
Minister of State– Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar (Constituency: Dindori, Maharashtra)

International Jazz Day 2024 – April 30

The United Nations (UN)’s International Jazz Day is annually observed across the globe on 30th April to
highlight jazz and its role in diplomatic relations of uniting people around the world.
• International Jazz Day is chaired and led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Audrey Azoulay and legendary jazz pianist
and composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Ambassador for Intercultural
Dialogue

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Global host:
The Global Host of 2024 International Jazz Day celebration is the city of Tangier, Morocco.
• This marks the 1st time a city on the African continent has hosted International Jazz Day.
Significance:
i.The day raises awareness of Jazz’s educational virtues facilitating empathy, dialogue, and cooperation
among people.
ii.The day also promotes appreciation for jazz’s heritage, future, and its role in fostering peace, and mutual
and cultural understanding.
Background:
i.In November 2011, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the resolution (UNESCO 36 C/Resolution
39), and proclaimed 30 April of every year as “International Jazz Day”.
ii.The 1st ever International Jazz Day was observed on 30 April 2012.
iii.In December 2012, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) formally welcomed the decision by the UNESCO
General Conference to proclaim April 30 as International Jazz Day.
2024 Events:
Four-Day Celebration:
i.The 4-day celebration from (27-30 April 2024) presented in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of
Morocco and the City of Tangier emphasised Tangier’s jazz heritage and cultural ties between Morocco,
Europe, and Africa.
ii.The event included education programs, events for students of all ages, and conversations about jazz
history and its impact on Tangier.
All-Star Global Concert:
i.On 30 April 2024, the All-Star Global Concert from the new Palace of Arts and Culture of Tangier,
Morocco was led by jazz legend pianist Herbie Hancock.
ii.The event featured performances by an international roster of artists from countries including the
United States of America (USA), Chile, Italy, Sweden, etc.
Note: The 2024 edition of International Jazz Day was celebrated in over 190 countries.
Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) – April:
i.Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) was created by John Edward Hasse curator of the Smithsonian’s National
Museum of American History in 2001.
ii.It is celebrated every April in the USA and Canada to recognize and celebrate the heritage and history of
jazz for the entire month of April.
iii.International Jazz Day is the culmination of JAM, which is intended to stimulate and encourage people of
all ages to participate in jazz – to study the music, attend concerts, and more.

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Satellite Technology Day 2024 – April 19

Satellite Technology Day (STD) is annually observed across India on 19 April to highlight the
achievements made in satellite technology. The Day commemorates the successful launch of India’s first
satellite ‘Aryabhata’ into space on 19 April 1975.

• STD-2024 marks the beginning of the 50th year of the Aryabhata Launch.
• The tradition of celebrating STD annually at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru
(Karnataka) began on April 19, 2000.
Aryabhata Launch:
i.On April 19, 1975, India’s first indigenously developed satellite, Aryabhata, was launched by a Soviet
Kosmos-3M rocket from Kapustin Yar, Russia.
• The satellite re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere on 11 February 1992.
ii.Aryabhata spacecraft was named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata
(5th century AD).
iii.It was built by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to conduct experiments in X-ray
astronomy, aeronomics, and solar physics.
iv.The launch was accomplished under the guidance of Professor Udupi Ramachandra (UR) Rao (1932 –
2017).
Note: U R Rao was the Director of U R Rao Satellite Centre (1972-1985); Chairman of ISRO and Secretary
of the Department of Space (DoS) (1984-1994).
2024 Event:
URSC, Bengaluru commemorated STD 2024, marking the 50th anniversary of India’s 1st satellite,
Aryabhata.
Highlights:
i.The Aryabhata Lecture was delivered by Dr G Sateesh Reddy, former Scientific Adviser to the Defence
Minister, Ministry of Defence and former Chairman of the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO).
ii.A pavilion titled “URSC’s Gateway to 2047” was inaugurated, symbolising the Center’s aspirations for
the future.
iii.Certificates were awarded to paper and poster presenters, acknowledging their contributions to
satellite technology.
iv.Technical papers on satellite technology from various ISRO Centres were released, showcasing
pioneering technological developments.

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Aspirant Queries

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related to examinations?
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examination are covered in Our Daily CA content and Daily CA
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Affairscloud: As some of the major news sites doesn't provide the

required data on the exact day, we take extra time for important
data to be presented to the aspirants on the examination basis to
ensure nothing is missed.
Example: In 'Important Days' topics the International
Organisations publish their reports and Rankings in the evenings, to
make sure every data is covered, we delay the topics to the next day

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