20th April, 2024

1. The Higher School of Economics located in Russia, and the University of Delhi (DU) in New Delhi, India, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement.
2. A team of archaeologists claimed to have discovered a unique Iron Age megalithic site at Ooragutta near Bandala village in SS Tadvai mandal of Mulugu district, Telangana.
3. The World Crafts Council International (WCCI) has turned its focus towards Srinagar as a potential candidate for the esteemed title of World Craft City (WCC).
4. The internal committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of School Education and Literacy, the Ministry of Education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training, the Institute of Home Economics, the Delhi University and civil society organisations have finalized the Navchetana – National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation (ECS).
5. A high-powered committee, led by the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India, is crafting a framework for artificial intelligence (AI). This committee comprises representatives from various ministries, academia, industry associations like Nasscom, and think tanks such as iSPIRT.
6. Sweden officially became the 38th nation to sign NASA’s “Artemis Accords,” which set forth guidelines for peaceful space exploration and utilization.
7. A new report by Survival International to mark World Heritage Day (April 18) has accused UNESCO of complicity in the illegal eviction and abuse of Indigenous people.
8. Amazon Pay, in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), plans to launch its credit services on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
9. Airtel Payments Bank, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has launched eco-friendly NCMC (National Common Mobility Cards) debit and prepaid cards.
10. SEBI has proposed a new pricing framework for listed investment holding companies (IHCs) to address the gap between their traded price and book value.
11. National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), a state-run construction and real estate developer, intends to establish its own non-banking finance company (NBFC) later this year to reduce borrowing expenses for infrastructure projects.
12. IMF applauds India for fiscal discipline in election year
13. Tata Group has formally requested a waiver from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to prevent the listing of Tata Sons, its holding company and non-banking finance firm, on stock exchanges.
14. The first international workshop on ‘Emerging Technologies & Challenges for Exoskeleton’ is being held in Bengaluru
15. Intel Corporation has developed ‘Hala Point’, the world’s largest neuromorphic system, to facilitate sustainable Artificial Intelligence (AI) efforts.
16. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has launched the ‘Longevity India’ Initiative to support ageing research in India.
17. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a comprehensive global technical consultation report that addresses the terminology used to describe the transmission of pathogens through the air.
18. The Wisden Cricketers of the Year have been announced in the 2024 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack,
19. Pavuluri Subba Rao, former ISRO scientist and Founder/CEO of Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL), received the prestigious Aryabhata Award from the Astronautical Society of India (ASI).
20. The Skytrax World Airport Awards for the year 2024 were announced.
21. World Liver Day (WLD) is observed annually on April 19 worldwide.
22. Former World No. 1 Badminton player Kento Momota of Japan announced his retirement after the 2024 Thomas & Uber Cup.
23. Ashok Leyland Limited, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, signed a MOU with South Indian Bank for dealer financing.
24. OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, has hired its first employee in India, appointing Pragya Misra as head of government relations.
25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the book “Sabke Ram” by Panchjanya editor Hitesh Shankar and Bharat Prakashan MD Arun Goyal.
26. A 65-year-old patient from France, suffering from Parkinson’s plus syndrome, a neurodegenerative disorder with limited surgical options, has undergone a high cervical spinal cord stimulation at Fortis hospital in Bengaluru.
27. Apple has removed the Meta-owned end-to-end encrypted messaging app WhatsApp from its App Store in China following a government order citing national security concerns.

National News

1. Russia-India Signs Agreement To Operate Large Research Hub In New Delhi
   • What: The Higher School of Economics located in Russia, and the University of Delhi (DU) in New Delhi, India, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement.
   • Tell me more:
     • The agreement was formalized during the Indo-Russian Education Summit hosted by India in New Delhi, which aims to establish a large research hub at DU in India.
     • Hub Details:
       • The hub will serve as a modern platform for fostering academic and cultural ties.
       • The hub offers opportunities for mirror laboratories, educational modules and programs, as well as academic and scientific exchange projects.
         Source: ANI

2. Three new archaeological sites discovered in Telangana
   • What: A team of archaeologists claimed to have discovered a unique Iron Age megalithic site at Ooragutta near Bandala village in SS Tadvai mandal of Mulugu district, Telangana.
     • The site was discovered by a team comprising K.P. Rao, a history professor of the University of Hyderabad, and Ch Praveen Raju, a research scholar from Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, in the forested area of the tribal-dominated district.
   • Tell me more:
     • Additionally, the team discovered two new rock art sites at Damaratogu Gundala mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana.
     • “Devarlabanda Mula,” one of the sites, exclusively depicts animals without any human figures, suggesting a Mesolithic age dating back to 8000-3000 BCE due to the absence of weapons or domestic animals.
     • The newly discovered site at Ooragutta exhibits unique features, differing from the usual ‘Dolmenoid Cists’ prevalent in the region. These monuments are estimated to date around 1000 BCE.
       Source: The Hindu
3. Srinagar vies for global craft city tag
   • What: The World Crafts Council International (WCCI) has turned its focus towards Srinagar as a potential candidate for the esteemed title of World Craft City (WCC).
   • The WCC is dedicated to the recognition and preservation of traditional crafts globally, has dispatched a three-member team to Srinagar for a comprehensive assessment of its craft clusters.
     Source: The Hindu

4. ‘Navchetana – National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation (ECS)’ released
   • What: The internal committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of School Education and Literacy, the Ministry of Education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training, the Institute of Home Economics, the Delhi University and civil society organisations have finalized the Navchetana – National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation (ECS).
     • It is a document which lays down month-by-month activities to be conducted by parents, anganwadi staff and ASHA workers for children from birth to the age of three.

     Tell me more:

     • Titled ‘Navchetana’, the activity-based curriculum follows the National Education Policy 2020 that calls for a continuum of learning. Staff in 14 lakh anganwadis will be given training on the curriculum.
     • The document entails 36 sets of activities for children from months 0 to 36. It encourages the use of household objects like cups, bottles or leftover pieces of fabric.
     • At the age of 18 months, children are encouraged to scribble with a crayon and at 24 months, the recommended activities include shoe sorting and matching. By the age of three, children are introduced to a cycle, asked to say their names and identify colours.
     • The framework says the activities will help identify children with developmental delays. In such a situation, the anganwadi worker or parent can adapt by picking up activities recommended for children a few months younger.
       Source: The Hindu

5. Indian Government Committee Spearheads AI Framework Development
   • What: A high-powered committee, led by the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India, is crafting a framework for artificial intelligence (AI). This committee comprises representatives from various ministries, academia, industry associations like Nasscom, and think tanks such as iSPIRT.
     Source: Business Standard

International News

1. Sweden and Switzerland Join NASA’s Artemis Accords
   • What: Sweden officially became the 38th nation to sign NASA’s “Artemis Accords,” which set forth guidelines for peaceful space exploration and utilization.
   • Also, Switzerland became the 37th country to sign the Artemis Accords.
   • India is also a member of the Artemis Accord.
     Source: NASA

2. Survival International Report Highlights Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites
   • What: A new report by Survival International to mark World Heritage Day (April 18) has accused UNESCO of complicity in the illegal eviction and abuse of Indigenous people.
   • Why: It points to the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are the scene of serious and continuing conservation-related rights abuses.
     • On-the-ground investigations by Survival researchers, in Indigenous communities across Africa and Asia, have uncovered repeated cases of torture, rape, and killings of Indigenous people in and around World Heritage Sites.
   • Tell me more:
     • Survival International Report Highlights Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites on Indigenous
       People’s Land.
       • Sites include Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, Kaziranga National Park, and Chitwan National Park.
     • Indigenous people
       • They are distinct social and cultural groups that share collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources where they live e.g. Maori, Inuit, etc.
       • Considering the divers`ity of indigenous peoples, an official definition of “indigenous” has not been adopted by any UN system body.
         Source: Survival International

Banking and Economy

1. Amazon Pay to Introduce Credit Services on UPI
   • What: Amazon Pay, in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), plans to launch its credit services on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
   • Why: The objective behind this initiative is to enhance customer experience and value propositions.
     • Amazon Pay obtained a payment aggregator license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in February 2024, alongside approval for a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI).
       Source: Business Standard
2. Airtel Payments Bank Introduces Eco-Friendly NCMC Cards
   • Wha: Airtel Payments Bank, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has launched eco-friendly NCMC (National Common Mobility Cards) debit and prepaid cards.
   • These cards, powered by RuPay, are made from environmentally sustainable e-PVC material, aligning with Airtel Payments Bank’s commitment to India’s One Nation, One Card vision.
   • Tell me more:
     • Debit cards can be ordered through the Airtel Thanks App or by visiting nearby banking points. NCMC-enabled prepaid cards will soon be accessible through online and retail platforms, enhancing customer convenience.
       Source: CNBC TV18

3. Sebi Proposes New Framework for Pricing Listed Investment Holding Companies
   • What: SEBI has proposed a new pricing framework for listed investment holding companies (IHCs) to address the gap between their traded price and book value.
   • Why: Investment holding companies, which hold investments in various asset classes including shares of other listed companies, often trade at a significant discount to their actual value.
   • Tell me more:
     • SEBI suggests implementing a special call auction mechanism without price bands for IHCs trading at a substantial discount to their book value.
     • Exchanges would notify seven days in advance before initiating this auction, requiring participation from at least 5 unique buyers and sellers.
     • Eligibility criteria include IHCs with at least 50% of assets invested in listed company shares and a 6-month VWAP trading at less than 50% of the book value.
     • Comments on the proposal are invited until May 10.
       Source: Business Standard
4. NBCC Plans to Establish NBFC to Cut Borrowing Costs
   • What: National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), a state-run construction and real estate developer, intends to establish its own non-banking finance company (NBFC) later this year to reduce borrowing expenses for infrastructure projects.
   • Why: By creating an NBFC, NBCC aims to save approximately $108 million in interest costs over the next two years.
     Source: Economic Times

5. IMF applauds India for fiscal discipline in election year
   Source: Indian Express
6. Tata Seeks RBI Waiver to Avoid Listing Tata Sons
   • What: Tata Group has formally requested a waiver from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to prevent the listing of Tata Sons, its holding company and non-banking finance firm, on stock exchanges.
   • Why: This move comes in response to revised RBI regulations introduced in October 2021. According to these regulations, large non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) are obligated to list their shares on a stock exchange within three years. In order to comply with this regulation, the conglomerate must be listed by September 2025 at the latest
     Source: Business Standard

Defence News

1. DRDO hosted ‘Emerging Technologies & Challenges for Exoskeleton’ in Bengaluru
   • What: The first international workshop on ‘Emerging Technologies & Challenges for Exoskeleton’ is being held in Bengaluru.
   • The workshop, which has been organised by the Defence Bio-Engineering & Electromedical Laboratory of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

Source: PIB

Science and Tech

1. Intel builds, world’s largest neuromorphic system Hala Point to enable more sustainable AI
   • What: Intel Corporation has developed ‘Hala Point’, the world’s largest neuromorphic system, to facilitate sustainable Artificial Intelligence (AI) efforts.
   • Why: The system is designed to foster research into future brain-inspired AI and address challenges regarding AI efficiency and sustainability.
   • Tell me more:
     • It will be initially deployed at Sandia National Laboratories, in USA. It harnesses Intel’s Loihi 2 processor.
     • ‘Hala Point’ builds upon Intel’s first-generation large-scale research system, Pohoiki Springs, featuring architectural enhancements to accommodate over 10 times more neuron capacity and deliver up to 12 times higher performance.
     • Capable of supporting up to 20 quadrillion operations per second, it exhibits exceptional efficiency, surpassing 15 trillion 8-bit operations per second per watt (TOPS/W) when executing conventional deep neural networks.
       Source: Business Today
2. IISc launches Longevity India Initiative to conduct research on healthy ageing
   • What: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has launched the ‘Longevity India’ Initiative to support ageing research in India.
   • Why: The initiative is aimed at increasing human healthspan and overcoming challenges associated with growing older.
   • Tell me more:
     • MS Ramaiah Hospital and Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute (BMCRI) have officially collaborated to conduct a clinical study for identifying biomarkers of ageing.
       Source: Indian Express
3. Global technical consultation report introducing updated terminology for pathogens
   • What: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a comprehensive global technical consultation report that addresses the terminology used to describe the transmission of pathogens through the air.
   • Why: This report aims to establish a common understanding across scientific disciplines, organizations, and the general public regarding how pathogens spread in human populations.
   • Tell me more:
     • During the COVID-19 pandemic, terms like “airborne,” “airborne transmission,” and “aerosol transmission” were used in varying ways by different scientific communities, leading to confusion and misinformation. The report seeks to rectify this by achieving consensus on terminology.
       Source: WHO

Awards

1. The 2024 Wisden Cricketers of the Year
   • What: The Wisden Cricketers of the Year have been announced in the 2024 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack,
     • This year the award has been presented to five cricketers.
   • The awards are presented annually to the players who have given the exceptional performance in the game.
   • Tell me more (Winners)

Other awardees

2. Pavuluri Subba Rao was Honored with the Aryabhata Award
   • What: Pavuluri Subba Rao, former ISRO scientist and Founder/CEO of Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL), received the prestigious Aryabhata Award from the Astronautical Society of India (ASI).
   • ASI also conferred upon him the title of “Distinguished Fellow” in recognition of his exceptional contributions to astronautics in India.
     Source: The Hindu Business Line

3. Skytrax World Airport Awards- 2024
   • What: The Skytrax World Airport Awards for the year 2024 were announced.
   • Why: The awards are announced to recognize and celebrate the airports that deliver the best passenger experiences worldwide. They are considered prestigious honors in the aviation industry.
   • Tell me more (List of winners)

• Indian Airports Shine in 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards (4 airports in top 100 list)
• Kempegowda International Airport (KIA):
• KIA in Bengaluru, Karnataka climbed to the 59th position from 69th in 2023.
• KIA’s Terminal 2 secured the 2nd position globally as the World’s Best New Airport Terminal.
• Terminal 2, operational since 2023, has earned prestigious accolades, including the UNESCO Prix Versailles World’s Most Beautiful Airport award and the LEED platinum certification.
• Other Indian Airports:
• The Delhi International Airport claimed the 36th spot globally and emerged as the Best Airport in India and South Asia.
• Mumbai International Airport in Maharashtra dropped to 95th from 84th in 2023.
• Hyderabad International Airport in Telangana ascended to the 61st position from 65th in 2023 and was named the Best Airport Staff Service in India & South Asia.
• JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity in Delhi was honored as the Best Airport Hotel in India & South Asia.

Source: Skytrax

Important Days

1. April 19: World Liver Day
   • What: World Liver Day (WLD) is observed annually on April 19 worldwide.
   • Why: Its purpose is to raise awareness about liver health and prevent liver diseases.
   • Theme: ‘Keep your liver healthy and disease-free.”
     Source: Business Standard

Sports

1. Badminton Legend Kento Momota Announces Retirement
   • What: Former World No. 1 Badminton player Kento Momota of Japan announced his retirement after the 2024 Thomas & Uber Cup.
   • The BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2024 is scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China, from April 27 to May 5, 2024.
     Source: Indian Express

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Ashok Leyland Partners with South Indian Bank for Dealer Financing
   • What: Ashok Leyland Limited, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, signed a MOU with South Indian Bank for dealer financing.
   • The MOU aims to facilitate competitive dealer finance options through the bank’s dealer finance program to Ashok Leyland’s dealers.
     Source: Money Control

Appointment

1. OpenAI hires Pragya Misra as first employee in India
   • What: OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, has hired its first employee in India, appointing Pragya Misra as head of government relations.
   • Why: With India’s pivotal role in shaping AI regulations, OpenAI’s decision to appoint a government relations head reflects its strategic approach to navigate evolving regulatory landscapes.
     • She will lead public policy affairs and partnerships for OpenAI in India.
       Source: India Today

Miscellaneous

1. PM Modi Receives “Sabke Ram” Book
   • What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the book “Sabke Ram” by Panchjanya editor Hitesh Shankar and Bharat Prakashan MD Arun Goyal.
   • The book was Published by Prabhat Prakashan.
   • The book delves into Ayodhya’s history and provides insights into Lord Ram’s birthplace and birth date.
   • Notably, it offers content that can be read and listened to in both Hindi and English.
     Source: ANI
2. A 65-year-old patient from France receives India’s first high cervical spinal cord stimulation
   • What: A 65-year-old patient from France, suffering from Parkinson’s plus syndrome, a neurodegenerative disorder with limited surgical options, has undergone a high cervical spinal cord stimulation at Fortis hospital in Bengaluru.
     Source: The Hindu

3. Apple removes WhatsApp from China app store
   • What: Apple has removed the Meta-owned end-to-end encrypted messaging app WhatsApp from its App Store in China following a government order citing national security concerns.
   • This action comes after the Chinese government instructed Apple to take down both WhatsApp and Threads, another Meta-owned app, for reasons related to national security.
     Source: New York Times

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