21st-22nd April, 2024

1. The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has inaugurated a new office in GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
2. India’s pulses imports in fiscal 2024 surged 84% year-on-year to their highest level in six years after lower production prompted India to allow duty-free imports of red lentils and yellow peas.
3. For the first time in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, seven members of the Shompen tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTGs) of Great Nicobar Islands, exercised their voting rights for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the union territory.
4. WHO launched a Patient Safety Rights Charter at the Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety. It is the first Charter to outline patients’ rights in the context of safety, and will support stakeholders in formulating the legislation, policies and guidelines needed to ensure patient safety.
5. Fintech company CRED has been granted in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the payment aggregator (PA) licence.
6. Bandhan Financial Holdings has officially taken over Aegon Life Insurance and the latter will now be called Bandhan Life.

vNPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), in association with the State Bank of India (SBI), has onboarded SBI National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) on its Bharat BillPay platform for the convenience of travelers.

7. The Insurance regulator, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has removed the age limit of 65 years for individuals buying health insurance policies
8. Hero MotoCorp has inaugurated an assembly facility in Nepal in collaboration with its distributor CG Motors. The facility, with an annual capacity of 75,000 units, aims to drive new investments and generate employment opportunities in the region.
9. Net direct tax collection for the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24) exceeded the revised estimates (RE), driven by personal income tax revenues. However, corporation tax receipts fell short of the RE.
10. Logistics businesses are now prioritizing cost and speed for last-mile delivery of goods, according to the Last-Mile Trends Report 2024. This marks a shift from the previous focus on cost and satisfaction.
11. India completed the delivery of the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, marking a significant step in defense collaboration between the two nations, following a USD 375 million deal signed in January 2022.
12. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has delivered the initial batch of indigenous Leading Edge Slat Actuators and Airbrake Control Module to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for integration into the LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft.
13. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing DURGA-2 as per reports.
14. NASA’s Juno captures closest views of erupting volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io.
15. NASA has announced that Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s massive moon Titan will be launched in 2028.
16. Fossil of massive snake, Vasuki Indicus, discovered in Gujarat, India.
17. April 20: UN Chinese Language Day 2024
18. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) celebrated its Silver Jubilee on April 19.
19. ReNew Energy Global (ReNew) and JERA Co. Inc., Japan’s largest power generation company, signed an initial agreement to evaluate a green ammonia production project in Odisha, aligning with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and Japan’s clean energy transition objectives.
20. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in a step towards fostering
    International Cooperation signed a MoU with the Bulgarian National Audit Office (BNAO), Bulgaria, in Sofia.
21. State-owned National Fertilizers Ltd was granted the “Navratna” status by the Department of Public Enterprise.
22. HDFC Life Insurance’s chairman Deepak S Parekh stepped down as the Chairman and Non-Executive Director of the Company.
23. The RBI conveyed its approval under Section 35B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, for Ajith Kumar K.K. to take charge as the MD & CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank for a tenure of three years.
24. Nalin Prabhat, a 1992 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG).
25. Sapna Tewari has been appointed as the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
26. The Government has appointed Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, presently serving as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, as the next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from April 30, 2024.
27. Supreme Court observed this in the State Of Telangana vs Mohd. Abdul
    Qasim judgment case.
28. A new oral vaccine for cholera has received prequalification by the World Health Organization (WHO).
29. The World Bank is set to unveil its new flagship report, Business Ready (B-READY), replacing the Ease of Doing Business Index. The Indian government is proactively preparing to ensure its initiatives to enhance business prospects are adequately represented in the report.

National News

1. IREDA sets up office in GIFT City to support green hydrogen and renewable energy projects
   • What: The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has inaugurated a new office in GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
   • Why: To offer debt assistance in foreign currencies to facilitate natural hedging and thereby reduce financing costs for renewable energy and green hydrogen projects.
   • Tell me more:
     • This initiative is crucial for the implementation of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets producing over 5 million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of hydrogen by 2030.
     • India’s storage capacity is projected to reach around 400 GigaWatts-hour (GWh) by 2030-32, with an estimated investment of Rs 3.5 lakh crore.
       Source: PIB

2. India’s FY24 pulses imports hit 6-year high as red lentil purchases jump
   • What: India’s pulses imports in fiscal 2024 surged 84% year-on-year to their highest level in six years after lower production prompted India to allow duty-free imports of red lentils and yellow peas.
   • Why: This happened due to lower production that prompted India to import red lentils and yellow peas.
   • Tell me more:
     • Higher imports by India, the world’s biggest importer, producer and consumer of protein-rich pulses, have been supporting global prices and helping bring down stocks in exporting countries such as Canada, Australia, and Myanmar.
     • India imported 4.65 million metric tons of pulses in the year ended March 31, 2024, the highest since fiscal 2018, and up from 2.53 million tons imported a year ago.
       • In value terms, imports in the year jumped 93% to $3.75 billion.
   • India’s red lentil’s imports from Canada more than doubled in the year to around 1.2 million tons.
   • Yellow peas imports from Russia and Turkey have been rising in recent months.
     Source: The Hindu

3. Members of the Shompen tribe, exercised their voting rights for the first time
   • What: For the first time in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, seven members of the Shompen tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTGs) of Great Nicobar Islands, exercised their voting rights for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the union territory.
   • Not only did they vote, but they also posed for selfies at polling station 411, aptly named “Shompen Hu.
     Source: Times Now

International News

1. WHO launched Patient Safety Rights Charter at Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety
   • What: WHO launched a Patient Safety Rights Charter at the Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety. It is the first Charter to outline patients’ rights in the context of safety, and will support stakeholders in formulating the legislation, policies and guidelines needed to ensure patient safety.
     • Patient safety refers to the processes, procedures and cultures established in health systems which promote safety and minimise the risk of harm to patients.
     • Charter was developed within framework of World Patient Safety Day 2023 under theme “Engaging patients for patient safety”.
     • The Sixth Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety is hosted by the Government of Chile in Santiago, Chile
   • Tell me more:
     • The Charter covers 10 patient safety rights crucial to mitigate risks and prevent inadvertent harm.

• Assuring patient safety in health care is a critical component in delivering the right to health. 1 in every 10 patients experience harm in healthcare; about 50% of this harm is preventable.
• Improving patient safety through systemic and systematic action is a global priority identified in the World Health Assembly resolution – Global action on patient safety and the Global Patient Safety (GPS) Action plan 2021-2030.
• India has signed GPS Action Plan 2021-2030.
• The Charter will provide healthcare workers, healthcare leaders and governments with the tools to build patient-centred healthcare systems, improving patient safety and reducing the risk of harm.

Source: WHO

Banking and Economy

1. CRED Granted In-Principal Approval for RBI Payment Aggregator Licence
   • What: Fintech company CRED has been granted in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the payment aggregator (PA) licence.
   • Typically, it takes about six months after the in-principle nod for a company to obtain the final approval from the RBI.
   • Payment aggregators offer secure online payment systems and solutions to merchants.
     Source: The Hindu Business Line
2. Aegon Life Insurance Rebranded as Bandhan Life by BFHL
   • What: Bandhan Financial Holdings has officially taken over Aegon Life Insurance and the latter will now be called Bandhan Life.
   • Alongside the renaming, a new logo featuring a growing ‘bud’ and the tagline ‘Bharat Ki Udaan, Bandhan Se’ has been unveiled.
   • BFHL concluded the acquisition of Aegon Life Insurance from Aegon India Holding B.V. and Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL) in February 2024.
     • Aegon Life is a joint venture between Aegon NV, of Dutch origin, and BCCL, which is the owner and publisher of The Economic Times.
   • Bandhan Life will recruit 1,000 new employees in its immediate phase of an “aggressive growth strategy,” reinforcing its commitment to expanding its customer base and service Excellence, says the company.
     Source: Economic Times
3. NBBL and SBI Introduce NCMC Recharge on Bharat BillPay
   • What: NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), in association with the State Bank of India (SBI), has onboarded SBI National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) on its Bharat BillPay platform for the convenience of travelers.
     • The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) is an inter-operable transport card introduced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Government of India. It was launched in 2019 as part of the “One Nation, One Card” initiative.
   • With the introduction of NCMC Recharge as a biller category on Bharat Bill Pay, customers can now recharge or top up their NCMC cards online.
   • Users can conveniently top up their NCMC cards with amounts up to Rs. 10,000 online through Bharat BillPay-enabled platforms, supporting various payment methods including prepaid, debit, and credit cards.
   • SBI NCMC cardholders can instantly and securely top up their wallets via SBI Unipay and all other Bharat Bill Pay-enabled digital front-end platforms.
     Source: Economic Times
4. IRDAI removes age limit of 65 years for buying health insurance policies
   • What: The Insurance regulator, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has removed the age limit of 65 years for individuals buying health insurance policies.
   • Why: By abolishing the maximum age restriction on purchasing health insurance plans, the IRDAI aims to foster a more inclusive and accessible healthcare ecosystem, ensuring adequate protection against unforeseen medical expenses.
     Source: Business Standard
5. Hero MotoCorp inaugurates assembly unit in Nepal
   • What: Hero MotoCorp has inaugurated an assembly facility in Nepal in collaboration with its distributor CG Motors. The facility, with an annual capacity of 75,000 units, aims to drive new investments and generate employment opportunities in the region.
     Source: Zee Business

6. Net direct tax collection surpasses RE in FY24
   • What: Net direct tax collection for the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24) exceeded the revised estimates (RE), driven by personal income tax revenues. However, corporation tax receipts fell short of the RE.
   • Tell me more:

Source: Business Standard

Report and Indices

1. Last-Mile Trends Report 2024,
   • What: Logistics businesses are now prioritizing cost and speed for last-mile delivery of goods, according to the Last-Mile Trends Report 2024. This marks a shift from the previous focus on cost and satisfaction.
     • The emphasis on cost and speed reflects the evolving demands of consumers and the need for efficient and timely delivery services to drive sector growth.
       Source: India Times

Defence News

1. India Delivers BrahMos Missiles to the Philippines
   • What: India completed the delivery of the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, marking a significant step in defense collaboration between the two nations, following a USD 375 million deal signed in January 2022.
   • Tell me more:
     • BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles are produced by BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
     • It was named after two rivers in India and Russia respectively – the Brahmaputra and the Moskva.
     • In this Joint Venture, India holds 50.5% and Russia holds 49.5%.
     • The deal positioned the Philippines as the first export customer for the BrahMos missile, under its Horizon 2 of the Revised Armed Forces Modernization Programme.
     • The agreement includes three batteries of shore-based, anti-ship variant BrahMos missiles, along with operator training and integrated logistics support.
     • The missile boasts a speed of 2.8 Mach and a flight range of 290 kilometers, extendable to 450km, with ongoing efforts to further extend it to 600 Km.
     • The Indian Air Force (IAF) utilized its C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft for the transportation of the BrahMos missiles to the Philippines.
     • Operator training for 21 personnel of the Philippine Navy was successfully conducted in February 2023 in Nagpur, India.
     • BrahMos missiles utilize Transport Launch Canister (TLC) for transportation, storage, and launch.
       Source: Indian Express
2. DRDO Provides Indigenous Flight Control Systems for HAL’s LCA Tejas Mk1A
   • What: The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has delivered the initial batch of indigenous Leading Edge Slat Actuators and Airbrake Control Module to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for integration into the LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft.
   • Note: Actuators in aircraft are utilized to regulate and limit velocity and engine speed by adjusting levers and flaps.
     Source: PIB
3. DURGA-2 ( Directionally Unrestricted Ray Gun Array)
   • What: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing DURGA-2 as per reports.
   • DURGA-2 is a directed energy weapon (DEW). It’s to be integrated with land, sea and air-based platform.
     Source: DRDO

Science and Tech

1. NASA’s Juno captures closest views of erupting volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io
   • What: NASA’s Juno captures closest views of erupting volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io.
     • Moon Io is the most volcanically active world in the solar system.
       Source: NASA
2. NASA’s Dragonfly Rotorcraft Mission to Saturn’s Moon Titan Confirmed
   • What: NASA has announced that Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s massive moon Titan will be launched in 2028.
   • It is fourth mission of NASA’s New Frontiers Program. The other three are NewHorizons, Juno, and OSIRIS-Rex (also OSIRIS-APEX).
   • About Dragonfly Mission
     • Goal: To explore the chemistry and habitability of multiple surface sites covering a large area. It will help in investigating Titan’s habitability.
     • It will reach Titan in 2034.
       Source: NASA
3. Fossil of massive snake, Vasuki Indicus, discovered in Gujarat, India.
   • What: Fossil of massive snake, Vasuki Indicus, discovered in Gujarat, India.
   • Paleontologists have discovered a fossil of a massive snake in Gujarat, India, which they claim could be the largest snake ever existed on the planet.
   • The snake, named Vasuki Indicus, is estimated to be up to 15 meters long and attacked its prey anaconda-style.
   • The discovery sheds light on the evolution of snakes and their role in the ecosystem, as well as the geological history of the Indian subcontinent
     Source: First post

Important Days

1. April 20: UN Chinese Language Day 2024
   Source: The Quint
2. 19th April: IRDAI completes 25 years of inception
   • What: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) celebrated its Silver Jubilee on April 19.
     • The organization was established on 19th April 1999.
   • Insurance for All by 2047:
     • In alignment with its vision of “Insurance for All by 2047,” IRDAI introduced Bima Trinity, an all-in-one insurance product covering health, life, property, and accident risks.
     • IRDAI is set to deploy “Bima Vahaks” in every Gram Panchayat across India by December 31, 2024, to enhance insurance penetration in rural areas.
       Source: Business Outlook

Memorandum of Understanding

1. ReNew Energy and JERA Partner for Green Ammonia Project
   • What: ReNew Energy Global (ReNew) and JERA Co. Inc., Japan’s largest power generation company, signed an initial agreement to evaluate a green ammonia production project in Odisha, aligning with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and Japan’s clean energy transition objectives.
   • About the Partnership:
     • ReNew, through its subsidiary ReNew E-Fuels Private Limited, and JERA will collaboratively assess a green ammonia production project in Paradip, Odisha.
     • The project will harness 500 Mega Watt (MW) of high-capacity utilization factor (CUF) renewable energy to generate green hydrogen, a key feedstock for green ammonia.
     • By 2030, the project aims to produce approximately 100,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually, with JERA having the right to import this green ammonia for Japan, supporting its clean energy transition.
       Source: The Hindu Business Line

2. CAG OF INDIA SIGNS MoU WITH SAI BULGARIA
   • What: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in a step towards fostering
     International Cooperation signed a MoU with the Bulgarian National Audit Office (BNAO), Bulgaria, in Sofia.
   • Why: The agreement, aims to enhance collaboration and the exchange of expertise in the field of auditing between the two nations.
   • Tell me more:
     • Through this MoU, a platform will be established for the exchange of knowledge and experience among auditing professionals and technical teams through collaboration in training programs, and mutual assistance in conducting audits.
       Source: CAG
3. National Fertilizers limited (NFL) gets Navratna status
   • What: State-owned National Fertilizers Ltd was granted the “Navratna” status by the Department of Public Enterprise.
   • The term ‘Navratna’ refers to a select group of top-performing Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) that have been granted greater autonomy and financial powers by the Centre in recognition of their performance.
     Source: CNBC TV18

Appointment

1. HDFC Life Chairman Deepak Parekh Resigns; Keki Mistry To Chair The Board
   • What: HDFC Life Insurance’s chairman Deepak S Parekh stepped down as the Chairman and Non-Executive Director of the Company.
   • Also the company has appointed Keki M Mistry as the Chairman of the Board with immediate effect subject to approval of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.
     Source: News18
2. RBI approves appointment of Ajith Kumar K.K. as new Dhanlaxmi Bank MD & CEO
   • What: The RBI conveyed its approval under Section 35B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, for Ajith Kumar K.K. to take charge as the MD & CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank for a tenure of three years.
     Source: Live Mint
3. Nalin Prabhat named Director General of NSG
   • What: Nalin Prabhat, a 1992 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG).
   • Prior to this appointment, he was working as an Additional Director General in the CRPF.
   • The appointment has been made for a period up to August 31, 2028 i.e. the date of his superannuation.
     Source: Telangana Today
4. Odisha cadre IPS officer Sapna Tewari appointed Special Director in IB
   • What: Sapna Tewari has been appointed as the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
   • Tewari, a 1992 batch IPS officer of Odisha cadre, is currently working as Additional Director in the IB.
   • She has been appointed as the Special Director, IB for a tenure of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or up to the date of her superannuation i.e. April 30, 2026.
     Source: Odisha TV
5. Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi appointed as the next Chief of the Naval Staff
   • What: The Government has appointed Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, presently serving as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, as the next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from April 30, 2024.
     • The present Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM retires from service on April 30, 2024.
       Source: PIB

Miscellaneous

1. Forests a national asset and a major contributor to financial wealth, says Supreme Court
   • What: Supreme Court observed this in the State Of Telangana vs Mohd. Abdul
     Qasim judgment case.
     Source: The Hindu
2. WHO prequalifies new oral simplified vaccine for Cholera named “Euvichol-S”
   • What: A new oral vaccine for cholera has received prequalification by the World Health Organization (WHO).
   • The inactivated oral vaccine Euvichol-S has a similar efficacy to existing vaccines but a simplified formulation, allowing opportunities to rapidly increase production capacity.
     Source: WHO

3. Centre begins early prep for new World Bank Biz inde
   • What: The World Bank is set to unveil its new flagship report, Business Ready (B-READY), replacing the Ease of Doing Business Index. The Indian government is proactively preparing to ensure its initiatives to enhance business prospects are adequately represented in the report.
     Source: Business Standard

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