1 Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi appointed as the new Chief of the Indian Navy
Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi has been appointed as the new Chief of the Indian Navy . The central government announced this late Thursday night. Dinesh Tripathi will replace the current Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar . He is retiring on 30 April . Dinesh Tripathi will take charge on the same day. Dinesh Tripathi is currently the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. He has previously been the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command.
2 16th World Future Energy Summit begins in Abu Dhabi
The 16th World Future Energy Summit recently kicked off in Abu Dhabi , bringing together global leaders, policymakers and experts in the field of sustainable energy and climate initiatives . The summit aims to establish itself as a leading platform for discussion on global climate action, renewable energy, energy and water security and sustainable development. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairwoman and CEO of UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, opened the summit by highlighting the urgent need for substantial financial investment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. He stressed the important role of blended finance, which merges public and private money to mobilize the resources needed for climate action. He also called for broader international cooperation and emphasizes that no country can tackle climate change alone. Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, stressed the urgency of increasing renewable energy capacity to at least 11 terawatts by 2030.
3 Varanasi’s Tiranga Barfi and cast metal crafts get GI tag
Tiranga Barfi of Varanasi, associated with India’s independence on 16 April 2024, has been given the status of GI product . Besides, another product of Varanasi, Dhalua Murti Dhatu Shilpa (Metal Casting Craft) has also been included in the GI category. On April 16, 2024, the Geographical Indication (GI) Registry Office based in Chennai has released the list of new products. After this tag, these products of Varanasi will now get a special identity in the market. In this way, a total of 34 products in Banaras region and 75 products in Uttar Pradesh have now received the GI tag. Kashi is the most diverse GI city Kashi is also called . This is believed to be the record for the highest number of intellectual property rights in the name of a particular land area. Apart from this, GI registration has also been issued for Bareilly Zardozi, Cane-Bamboo Craft, Tharu Embroidery, Pilkhua Handblock Print Textile. With this the number of GI products at the state level has now reached 75. There are 58 handicrafts and 17 agricultural and food products. This is the record for most GI tags in the name of any state. During the country’s independence movement, Tricolor Barfi was invented for intelligence meetings of revolutionaries and exchange of secret information. In this, saffron is used for saffron color, pistachio for green color and khoya and cashew nuts are used for white color.
4 UNFPA State of World Population Report
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of the World Population, 2024 report revealed that India’s population is projected to double in 77 years. With an estimated population of 1.44 billion, India is the most populous country in the world, with After China, it is in second place with a population of 1.425 billion. During the 2011 census, India’s population was recorded at 1.21 billion. The report of which revealed that 24% people were in the 0-14 age group, 17% were in the 10-19 age group and 26% were in the 10-24 age group. While 68% people are in the age group of 15-64 years and 7% people are in the age group of 65 years and above. The life expectancy in India is 71 years for men and 74 years for women. The report also highlights that India’s 30 years of progress in sexual and reproductive health have ignored the most marginalized communities globally. It said that the percentage of child marriage in India was 23% between the years 2006-2023. Maternal deaths have declined significantly in India, which accounts for 8% of global maternal deaths.
5 Swiss women in climate change case
The recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in favor of a group of Swiss women has important implications for the climate change issue . The case was brought against the Swiss government by Klimaseniorinen Schweiz (Association of Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland) , a group of female climate activists over the age of 64 . The women argued that the Swiss government’s inadequate climate policies violate their right to life and other guarantees under the European Convention on Human Rights. The petitioners have highlighted their medical vulnerability as senior citizens to extreme heat caused by climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report shows that senior women of the Swiss population, especially women over 75 years of age, are at an increased risk of heat-related medical problems such as ‘dehydration, hyperthermia, fatigue, heat cramps and heat stroke. The risk is higher.
6 Mahindra Sustain launches ₹1,200 crore hybrid renewable energy project in Maharashtra
Mahindra Group subsidiary Mahindra Sustain has entered the hybrid renewable energy sector with a ₹1,200 crore project in Maharashtra consisting of 101 MW wind and 52 MW solar capacity . The project aims to generate 460 million kWh of clean energy and offset 420,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Mahindra Sustain announced its foray into the hybrid renewable energy sector with an emphasis on local component usage and sustainability.
7 These Indians are among the time 100 influential people
Time magazine on Wednesday released the list of the world’s 100 most influential personalities for 2024 . This includes the names of actor Alia Bhatt, wrestler Sakshi Malik, World Bank President Ajay Banga, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and actor-director Dev Patel. The list also includes America’s Energy Loan Program Office Director Jigar Shah , Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Yale University, Priyamvada Natarajan . Apart from these, Indian-origin restaurant owner Asma Khan and Yulia Navalnaya, wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, have also been given place. Ajay Banga of Indian origin took over as World Bank President on June 2 last year. With this he became the first black person to chair two global financial institutions, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
8 Fitch affirms ‘BBB-‘ ratings for SBI and Canara Bank
Fitch Ratings has issued “ BBB” rating for both State Bank of India (SBI) and Canara Bank. retained the Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of . The agency also maintains a “stable” outlook for these state-run lenders. Despite differences in risk appetite and loan growth patterns, both banks demonstrate adequate capacity to meet their financial commitments.
9 Appointment of Sanjana Sanghi as brand ambassador of Space India
Since its inception in 2001 , Space India has been on a mission to integrate astronomy and space science into the school curriculum across the country , inspiring more than 1.5 million students across 1,000 schools. The organization has played an important role in unraveling the mysteries of rocket science and making space education accessible to all. Now, Space India has welcomed rising Bollywood star and UNDP Youth Champion , Sanjana Sanghi as its brand ambassador.
10 RBI bans Bank of Baroda’s ‘BoB World’ app
In exercise of its authority under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 , RBI directed Bank of Baroda to stop onboarding new customers on ‘ BoB World ‘ app due to material supervisory concerns. The direction orders the bank to rectify the deficiencies observed to the satisfaction of RBI and strengthen the related processes before re-engaging the customer.
11 IMGC and Bank of India partner to offer mortgage guarantee-backed home loans
India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Bank of India (BoI) to introduce mortgage guarantee-backed home loan products . The collaboration targets salaried and self-employed individuals in the affordable housing sector, aiming to increase access to homeownership. IMGC’s guarantee expertise combined with BOI’s extensive network of over 5,100 branches across India enables the provision of flexible and secure home loan products.
12 Nalin Negi becomes Chief Executive Officer of BharatPe
BharatPe , the fintech company that is making waves in the Indian payments landscape, has officially appointed Nalin Negi as its Chief Executive Officer . The move comes 15 months after Negi took charge as the company’s interim CEO and Chief Financial Officer, during a period of significant turmoil and change. Under Negi’s leadership, BharatPe has recorded a significant 182% growth in revenue from operations in FY 2023. Additionally, the company achieved its first EBITDA-positive month in October, demonstrating its ability to overcome challenges and emerge stronger.
13 Multi-Mission Airborne Reconnaissance and Surveillance System
An advanced stealth aircraft equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology played a key role in helping Israel detect and defend against a surprise missile attack by Iran . “ Oron ” or “ Multi-Mission Airborne Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (MARS2) . Known as ”, the aircraft is available at a price of around ₹8,200 crore and is one of the most resource-rich and compact stealth aircraft in the world. Oron is a modified business jet equipped with cutting-edge AI technology developed by Israeli and American experts. It is capable of detecting various threats including drones, ballistic missiles and enemy aircraft. During the recent Iranian missile attack on Israel, Oron intercepted data from incoming missiles in real time and transmitted this information to Israeli fighter pilots and operators of the Iron Dome defense system.
14 India got 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in the 13th EGMO 2024.
The 13th European Girls Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2024 was held in Tskaltubo , Georgia from 11 to 17 April 2024. The Indian team has performed quite commendably in this competition. The 4-member Indian team has won a total of four medals including 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in the 13th EGMO 2024 . Gunjan Aggarwal of Gurgaon and Sanjana Philo Chacko of Thiruvananthapuram won silver medals while Larissa of Hisar and Sai Patil of Pune won bronze medals . All four competitors achieved medals at the EGMO.
15 World Heritage Day: 18 April
World Heritage Day is celebrated across the world every year on 18 April . This day is also known as International Day for Monuments and Sites. This day is celebrated to create awareness about the importance of heritage. The day also promotes ways to preserve and protect heritage around the world.