Current Affairs One - Liner : 18th April 2024

• National:
• The government has extended the deadline for linking the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) number with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Beneficiary ID to 120 days from June 30, 2024. Kiosks will be set up at wellness centres to assist CGHS beneficiaries. The ABHA is a unique health ID based on Aadhaar, and all health records will be attached and saved against this unique ABHA number.

• The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) launched India’s first mobile Medical Devices Calibration Facility on 15th April 2024. This mobile facility can calibrate up to 45 different life-saving medical devices. It aims to ensure the accuracy of medical instruments for precise disease diagnosis and treatment effectiveness, reducing the cost of calibration and transportation.
• A study reveals that women constitute only 13.5% of STEM faculty in India. This underrepresentation is more pronounced in top institutes. The reasons cited include lack of awareness, funding, and prevalent biases.
• International:
• The new Men5CV meningitis vaccine was first rolled out in Nigeria in March 2024. The immunization campaign aiming to reach one million people took place from 25th to 28th March 2024. This was a historic move as Nigeria became the first country in the world to introduce this new vaccine.
• Banking:
• In FY 2023-24, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signed a record 125 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs), marking the highest ever in any financial year. This includes 86 Unilateral APAs (UAPAs) and 39 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs). The total number of APAs since the inception of the program has reached 641.
• The “Axis Bank Shoppers Stop Credit Card” is a new co-branded card by Axis Bank and Shoppers Stop. It offers benefits like a complimentary membership to Shoppers Stop’s loyalty program, reward points at Shoppers Stop, dining discounts with Eazy Diner, exclusive offers, and a fuel surcharge waiver. The joining and renewal fee is Rs 500, but the renewal fee is waived for spends of Rs 1 lakh and above.
• BDO India announced the establishment of a Global Capability Centre (GCC) named BDO EDGE in Noida, Uttar Pradesh on 15th April 2024. This GCC is a joint venture of BDO member firms in India, the US, the UK, and Germany. BDO EDGE aims to hire 5,000 professionals in the next 3-4 years and will provide various services including tax, assurance, accounting, outsourcing, advisory, and technology-led services.
• Economy:
• The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) projected on April 17, 2024, that India’s GDP growth will decelerate to 6.5% in FY2024-25, compared to the 6.7% growth recorded in the previous year.
• Defence:
• The Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, inaugurated a state-of-the-art IT Laboratory at the Uzbek Academy of Armed Forces. This lab, equipped with advanced technology, is a significant step in the defense cooperation between India and Uzbekistan. It’s expected to enhance the training resources for Uzbek armed forces and strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations.
• The Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE) was inaugurated in Kerala on April 17, 2024. It’s a state-of-the-art platform set up by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO. The platform will be used for testing and evaluating sonar systems for the Indian Navy.
• Appointments:
• Saurabh Garg, an IAS officer, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. He is currently serving as Secretary of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and will hold this additional role until a regular successor is appointed.
• Awards & Honours:
• The Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award will be presented to the legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan on April 24, 2024. This prestigious award was instituted by the Mangeshkar family in memory of the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on February 6, 2022.
• Books:
• The memoir of former RBI governor Duvvuri Subbarao, titled ‘Just A Mercenary?: Notes from My Life and Career’, was released on April 30, 2024. It was announced by Penguin Random House India. The book recounts his journey from his early career to his tenure as the governor of the RBI.
• Obituaries:
• Bernd Hölzenbein, a former German footballer and 1974 World Cup winner, passed away on 15th April, 2024. He was known for his significant role in West Germany’s victory in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and his successful career with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Questions:

Q.1 What is the full form of SPACE?
a. Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation
b. Submarine Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation
c. Submersible Platform for Acoustic Calibration and Evaluation
d. Submarine Platform for Acoustic Calibration and Evaluation
Q.2 Who will be presented with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award on April 24, 2024?
a. Shahrukh Khan
b. Aamir Khan
c. Salman Khan
d. Amitabh Bachchan