Current Affairs One - Liner : 19th April 2024

• National:
• The Indian government has formed a seven-member panel, chaired by NITI Aayog member V K Saraswat, to propose legislative measures for efficient and scientific mining of critical minerals like copper, gold, diamond, and lithium. The panel will also formulate a strategy to popularize the impact of mining reforms among states.

• The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) notified the specifications of IFFCO’s Nano Urea Plus on April 17, 2024. This product is a new version of nano urea, designed to meet crop nitrogen requirements at critical growth phases. It will be manufactured by IFFCO for three years, and commercial production will start soon at IFFCO’s plants in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
• On April 17, 2024, six products from Uttar Pradesh, including the ‘Tirangi Barfi’ and ‘Banaras Metal Casting Craft’, were awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) certification. This brings the total number of GI tagged items in Uttar Pradesh to 75, the highest in India. The other products that received the certification are ‘Lakhimpur Kheri Tharu Embroidery’, ‘Bareilly Cane and Bamboo Craft’, ‘Bareilly Zardozi Craft’, and ‘Pilkhuwa Hand Block Print Textile’.
• The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is investigating claims that Nestle has been adding sugar and honey to its infant milk and cereal products sold in low- and middle-income countries. The claims were made by a Swiss investigative group, Public Eye. Nestle India has responded by stating that it has reduced added sugars by up to 30% in its infant cereal range over the past five years.
• The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in Dharamshala is the first BCCI-accredited venue to install a ‘hybrid pitch’. This technology, provided by Netherlands-based ‘SISGrass’, combines natural turf with a small percentage of polymer fibre. The hybrid pitch is more durable, consistent, and high-performing.
• International:
• The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the term ‘infectious respiratory particles’ or IRPs on April 18, 2024. This term is used to describe pathogens that transmit through the air, including those causing COVID-19, influenza, measles, MERS, SARS, and TB. The introduction of this term aims to improve understanding and communication about how these pathogens spread.
• Banking:
• On April 14, 2024, BNP Paribas agreed to acquire a 9% stake in the Belgian insurer Ageas from Fosun Group. The acquisition, valued at approximately 730 million euros, will be carried out in two tranches. Initially, 4.8% of the issued shares will be acquired, with the remaining shares to be purchased upon receipt of mandatory regulatory approvals.
• Mous:
• The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) and Blockchain For Impact (BFI) announced a strategic partnership on April 16, 2024. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at IIT Kanpur. This partnership aims to nurture healthcare innovations in India by supporting entrepreneurial initiatives through the Startup Incubation & Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), a Navratna Defence PSU, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi on April 16, 2024, at IIT Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India. The purpose of this MoU is to establish a strategic collaboration in research and technology, particularly in semiconductors, quantum technologies, and drones.
• Committee:
• The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has set up a committee chaired by K. Rajaraman on April 17, 2024, to transform Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) into a climate finance hub. The committee aims to develop a framework for launching climate finance products, including climate-focused alternative investment funds, transition bonds, and transition insurance.
• Science & Technology:
• An international team of scientists discovered 160 marine species near the Salas y Gómez underwater mountain chain in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. They suspect that at least 50 of these species are new to science. The expedition took place from 24th February to 4th April 2024, and the discovery was announced on 17th April 2024.
• Defence:
• The Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), developed by India’s DRDO, was successfully tested on April 18, 2024. The test demonstrated the missile’s low altitude sea-skimming flight and the reliable performance of the indigenous propulsion system. This marks a significant milestone for Indian defence R&D.
• Sports:
• Takshvi Vaghani, a 6-year-old from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, set a new Guinness World Record for the lowest limbo skating over 25 meters on 10th March 2024. She achieved this by maintaining a height of just 16 centimeters above the ground, surpassing the previous record. Her achievement gained widespread recognition and popularity.
• The Indian team won 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals at the 13th European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2024 held in Tskaltubo, Georgia. The medalists are Gunjan Aggarwal and Sanjana Philo Chacko (Silver), and Larissa and Saee Vitthal Patil (Bronze). This marks the second instance of all four contestants securing medals at EGMO since India’s debut in 2015.
• Important Days:
Satellite Technology Day 2024 was celebrated on April 19th, marking the 50th anniversary of India’s first satellite launch, Aryabhata. The event was organized by the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. It highlighted URSC’s achievements and recent missions like Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and X-ray Polarimeter Satellite. A pavilion, titled “URSC’s Gateway to 2047” was also inaugurated.
• World Liver Day is observed annually on 19th April to raise awareness about liver health. The theme for World Liver Day 2024 is “Keep your liver healthy and disease-free”. This theme emphasizes the importance of regular health check-ups, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding harmful habits like excessive alcohol consumption for maintaining liver health.
• Appointments:
• Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi has been appointed as the next Chief of the Indian Navy. He will assume the position from the afternoon of April 30, 2024, succeeding Admiral R Hari Kumar. Vice Admiral Tripathi has had a distinguished service spanning nearly 39 years and has held various important operational and staff appointments.
• Awards & Honours:
• Utsa Patnaik, a renowned economist, has been selected for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023. The award recognizes significant contributions to development studies. The date for the award ceremony, is to be held in Chennai.
• The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) has won the ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’ award by Skytrax. The award was announced on 17th April 2024 at the Passenger Terminal EXPO 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany. This award is based on the quality of staff service across front-line positions at an airport. Skytrax is a globally renowned air transport rating organization.
• Books:
• The book ‘India — the Road to Renaissance: A Vision and an Agenda’ is authored by Bhimeswara Challa, a retired IAS officer and former UN official. It was published by Gyan Publishing House. The book addresses issues that could determine India’s future society and proposes radical reforms. The launch event took place at the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Bella Vista campus.
• Obituaries:
• Raman Subba Row, former England Test batsman, passed away at the age of 92 on 17th April 2024. He had a significant career in cricket, playing for the national team, Cambridge University, Surrey, and Northamptonshire.

Questions:

Q.1 What is the purpose of IFFCO’s Nano Urea Plus?
a. To meet crop nitrogen requirements at critical growth phases
b. To increase the yield of crops
c. To reduce the use of water in agriculture
d. To control pests in crops
Q.2 What does the term ‘infectious respiratory particles’ or IRPs refer to?
a. Pathogens that transmit through water
b. Pathogens that transmit through the air
c. Pathogens that transmit through food
d. Pathogens that transmit through physical contact