- National:
- On April 9, 2024, the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) announced a partnership to enhance the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) healthcare experience. The collaboration aims to deliver a more robust, efficient, and transparent CGHS system.
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) constructed 12,349 km of national highways in FY24, marking the second-highest achievement in a fiscal year. The highest was in FY21 with 13,327 km. Additionally, a pilot project for cashless treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh for road accident victims has been launched.
- The Supreme Court of India ruled that election candidates have a right to privacy, and voters don’t have an absolute right to know every asset of a candidate. Non-disclosure of insignificant or irrelevant assets is not considered a substantial defect. The ruling came in a case filed by MLA Karikho Kri, whose election was declared void due to non-disclosure of three vehicles.
- Banking:
- ICRA revised the banking sector outlook from Positive to Stable on April 10, 2024 due to expected moderation in credit growth, potential compression in net interest margins, and challenges in deposit mobilisation. Despite these, the sector is expected to maintain steady operating profits. The credit to deposit ratio is estimated to have increased to 78% as of March 22, 2024, and a decline in gross NPAs and net NPAs is anticipated by March 2025.
- Economy:
- The National Pension System (NPS) saw a 30.5% growth in assets under management (AUM) in FY 2023-24, reaching ₹11.73 lakh crore. This was largely due to increased participation from the non-government sector, which experienced a 41.67% YoY growth. Government employees’ assets also grew by 28% YoY.
- Mous:
- The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and PhonePe signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 3rd, 2024, in Singapore. This partnership aims to promote Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments for Indian visitors in Singapore. This will allow Indian travellers to use the PhonePe app for instant, seamless, and secure payments across more than 8,000 merchants in Singapore.
- Reports:
- According to the Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report released by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on April 11, 2024, India has emerged as the fourth largest exporter of digitally delivered services. The report highlighted a 17% increase in India’s digital services exports, reaching a total of $257 billion. This growth rate surpassed that of other major economies such as China and Germany, underscoring India’s significant role in the global digital services sector.
- Important Days:
- The 59th Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Valour Day was commemorated on April 9, 2024. This annual observance honors the extraordinary courage displayed by CRPF personnel during the Battle of Sardar Post in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, in 1965. The day serves as a tribute to the fallen heroes and their dedication to protecting the security and integrity of India.
- World Parkinson’s Day, observed on April 11th, raises awareness about Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. The day also honors Dr. James Parkinson, who first identified the disease. The 2024 theme emphasizes the role of physical activity and sports in managing the disease, highlighted by a “#SummerOfSport” campaign.
- Appointments:
- Justice Aniruddha Bose has retired from the Supreme Court and is now appointed as the Director of The National Judicial Academy (NJAC), Bhopal. His tenure at the Supreme Court was marked by his commitment to justice and his ability to maintain professional commitment amidst personal challenges.
- On April 9, 2024, Jagjit Pavadia of India was re-elected for her third term to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). She will serve this term from 2025 to 2030. This achievement was marked by her receiving the highest number of votes among all the elected member states.
- Tarun Bajaj, the former Revenue Secretary of India, was appointed as the Chair of the US-India Tax Forum by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) on April 9, 2024. He joined the USISPF as an Advisor to the Board of Directors in January 2024.
- Harendra Singh, a seasoned coach, was appointed as the head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team on April 9, 2024. He replaced Dutch coach Janneke Schopman after the team failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The official announcement is awaited due to the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
- Awards & Honours:
- On National Maritime Day 2024, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways awarded the Sagar Samman Awards. Shri. Dhirendra Kumar Sanyal won the Sagar Samman Varun Award, Captain Kamal Kant Choudhary won the Sagar Samman Award for Excellence, and Captain Subir Saha and Captain OM Dutta won the Sagar Samman Award for Gallantry.
- Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital won the ‘Best Scientific Poster Award’ at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) on April 8, 2024. The award-winning research was on ‘The efficacy of RevitalVision vision-training software in improving best-corrected vision in stable keratoconus patients post Crosslinking surgery’.
Questions:
Q.1 How many kilometers of national highways did the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) construct in FY24?a. 10,000 km
b. 12,349 km
c. 13,327 km
d. 15,000 km
Q.2 What position does India hold in the export of digitally delivered services according to the Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report released by the World Trade Organisation (WTO)?
a. First
b. Second
c. Third
d. Fourth
