Current Affairs One - Liner : 17th April 2024

• National:
• SANY India launched the SKT105E, India’s first locally manufactured electric mining truck. This truck is designed for open-cast mining operations and is known for its high energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It has a payload capacity of 70 tonnes. The launch took place in Bharat, India on April 11, 2024.

• Jio Financial Services and BlackRock formed a joint venture on July 26, 2023, to set up a wealth management and broking business in India. The services were expanded on April 15, 2024. Both companies are planning an initial investment of US$150 million each. The announcement led to a 5% surge in Jio Financial Services shares.
• Adwaita Nayar, co-founder of Nykaa and CEO of Nykaa Fashion, has been named a 2024 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She was recognized for her significant contributions as an entrepreneur in the e-commerce and retail sectors. Under her leadership, Nykaa Fashion reported a gross merchandise value of Rs 1,013 crore for Q3 of the 2024 financial year.
• Ram Navami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama. In 2024, it fell on Wednesday, April 17. The festival is marked by various rituals and customs, including recitations from the Ramayana, prayers, fasting, and singing devotional songs. In Ayodhya, the birthplace of Rama, many take a dip in the sacred river Sarayu and visit the Rama temple. In 2024, a special ‘Surya tilak’ ceremony was held at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
• Banking:
• On April 15, 2024, the Bank of India (BOI) and the India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) announced a partnership to offer mortgage guarantee-backed home loan products. This collaboration aims to provide more flexible and secure home loan products, particularly in the affordable housing segment.
• IdeationX is an initiative launched by SBI Life Insurance on April 15, 2024. It’s a competition for B-School students across India to innovate in the life insurance sector. The grand prize is INR 10 Lakhs, and participants receive feedback, certifications, rewards, and digital exposure.
• On April 9, 2024, Jana Small Finance Bank and Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd announced a partnership. This collaboration aims to provide Jana Bank’s 52 lakh customers with a variety of life insurance products, including long-term savings and retirement solutions. The goal is to enhance the financial security of the bank’s customers.
• The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) increased its stake in Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) from 4.99% to 5.01%. This change occurred on April 15, 2024, following the acquisition of shares on April 12. The increase in LIC’s stake was disclosed in a regulatory filing by LIC.
• Economy:
• In March 2024, India’s goods trade deficit, which is a measure of a country’s imports exceeding its exports, narrowed to an 11-month low of $15.6 billion. This reduction could be attributed to various factors such as an increase in exports, a decrease in imports, or a combination of both. The data was released on April 15, 2024.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised India’s growth forecast for FY25 from 6.5% to 6.8%. This change was announced in the IMF’s World Economic Outlook report on April 16, 2024. The forecast for FY26 remains unchanged at 6.5%.
• Science & Technology:
• The largest stellar black hole in the Milky Way galaxy, named Gaia BH3, was discovered by astronomers using the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope. The black hole is located 2,000 light years away in the Aquila constellation and is 33 times more massive than our sun. The discovery was announced on 16 April, 2024. Despite its size, Gaia BH3 is still much smaller than the supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy, Sagittarius A*.
• ISRO developed a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines, announced on April 15, 2024. This innovation by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is expected to improve rocket engine performance and increase launch vehicle payload capacity. The C-C nozzle can withstand high temperatures and has an anti-oxidation coating for better performance in oxidizing environments.
• A new species of garden balsam, Impatiens neo-uncinata, was discovered in the Western Ghats of Kerala on April 13, 2024. This plant, which grows up to 20 cm in height, is similar to Impatiens uncinata but has distinct differences in flower size, lobes, dorsal petal, and pollen. It’s found in a single locality at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,250 m and prefers open areas of evergreen forests, particularly wetlands.
• Defence:
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) hosted the first international workshop on ‘Emerging Technologies and Challenges for Exoskeletons’ in Bengaluru on April 16-17, 2024. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO. The workshop aimed to brainstorm the technologies for the development of futuristic exoskeletons for various applications.
• Important days:
• World Voice Day is celebrated on April 16th annually. The theme for 2024 is “Resonate, Educate, Celebrate!” It’s a day to highlight the importance of our voices and encourage people to take care of them. Various global events are organized, including performances and health improvement activities.
• Appointments:
• On April 15, 2024, Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, appointed Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as the new Prime Minister of Kuwait. This appointment followed the resignation of the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah. The new Prime Minister is now tasked with forming a new government.
• Sanjana Sanghi, a renowned Indian actress, was appointed as the Brand Ambassador for SPACE India on April 15, 2024. This partnership is aimed at promoting Astronomy and Space Science education among students in India.
• Nalin Negi, who had been serving as the interim CEO of BharatPe since January 2023, was appointed as the full-time CEO on April 16, 2024. His focus will be on profitability, scaling lending businesses, and launching new merchant-centric products.
• Awards & Honours:
• Indian actor Ram Charan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature by Vels University on April 13, 2024 for his contributions to the entertainment industry and entrepreneurship. This was a significant milestone in his career. He shared this proud moment with his fans on Instagram the following day.
• Obituaries:
• Renowned Indian Carnatic singer, musician, and music director K.G. Jayan passed away at 89 on 16th April 2024. He was known for his devotional songs and composed over 1,000 songs for Tamil and Malayalam films. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019.
• Squadron Leader Dalip Singh Majithia, India’s oldest combat pilot, passed away at the age of 103. He served in the Indian Air Force from 1940 to 1947, flying various aircraft and contributing significantly to the nation. His service will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace.

Questions:

Q.1 Which space telescope was used to discover Gaia BH3?
a. Hubble Space Telescope
b. Kepler Space Telescope
c. Gaia Space Telescope
d. James Webb Space Telescope
Q.2 What is the name of the electric mining truck launched by SANY India?
a. SKT105B
b. SKT105E
c. SKT105A
d. SKT105D