Current Affairs One - Liner : 21st & 22nd April 2024

• National:
• The Department of Public Enterprise (DPE) granted Navratna status to National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) on April 18, 2024. This status provides NFL with greater autonomy and financial powers. NFL can now invest up to Rs1000 crore without prior Central Government approval. The Central Government holds 74.71% of NFL’s total paid up capital.

• Mahavir Jayanti, celebrated on April 21, 2024, marks the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the founder of Jainism. It’s a significant festival for Jains, emphasizing principles like non-violence and compassion. Celebrations include charity, prayers, fasting, and temple visits.
• Banking:
• Aegon Life Insurance was officially renamed Bandhan Life by Bandhan Financial Holdings Limited (BFHL) on April 19, 2024. This change came after BFHL acquired the shareholdings of Aegon India Holding B.V. and Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited.
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) celebrated its 25th anniversary on 19th April 2024. They launched Bima Trinity, a comprehensive insurance product, and aim to increase rural insurance coverage by the end of 2024. IRDAI has removed the age limit for purchasing health insurance from 1st April 2024 and has reduced the waiting period for health insurance from 48 to 36 months.
• On April 18, 2024, the NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL) and the State Bank of India (SBI) introduced the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) recharge on the Bharat BillPay platform. This allows SBI NCMC cardholders to recharge their cards online conveniently.
• The fintech firm CRED received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the payment aggregation business on April 19, 2024. This approval allows CRED to expand into the payment aggregation business, potentially rivaling other companies. Once the final approval is granted, CRED can expand its merchant payments business.
• Economy:
• A 17.7% rise in net direct tax collections indicates a strong economic performance and robust revenue generation. This increase to 19.58 lakh crore rupees for the fiscal year 2023-2024 could be due to various factors such as improved compliance, economic growth, or changes in tax policy.
• India’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) declined by 39% to $28.64 billion in FY24 from $46.96 billion in FY23. The equity route contributed $9.62 billion and loan commitments were $5.24 billion in FY24. Overseas guarantees issued were around $14 billion. Despite the decline in total commitment, the actual OFDI slightly increased to $13.75 billion in FY24 from $13.49 billion in FY23. The data was reported on April 22, 2024.
• Science & Technology:
• A new species of tiger cat, the Clouded Tiger Cat (Leopardus pardinoides), was discovered in the rainforests of Brazil. The discovery was published in January 2024 and announced to the public in April 2024. This small wildcat is already facing threats due to deforestation and habitat destruction. Urgent conservation action is needed for its survival.
• Sports:
• Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing clinched a dominant victory at the Chinese Grand Prix held at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 21, 2024. Starting from pole position, Verstappen led the race throughout, marking his fourth win in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
• On April 22, 2024, Gukesh Dommaraju, a 17-year-old from Chennai, India, became the youngest challenger for the World Chess title at the Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto, Canada. He achieved this by winning the tournament, breaking a 40-year-old record set by Garry Kasparov. He will face China’s world champion Ding Liren for the title later this year.
• Military Exercise:
• Exercise Poorvi Lehar was conducted by the Indian Navy on the East Coast on 20th April 2024 in Visahkapatnam. The exercise assessed the Navy’s preparedness to meet Maritime Security challenges. It involved combat training, weapon firings, and participation from Ships, Submarines, Aircrafts, and Special Forces. Assets from the Indian Air Force, Andaman & Nicobar Command, and the Coast Guard also participated, indicating high interoperability amongst the Services.
• Summits & Conferences:
• The first International Rainbow Tourism Conference was held in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 20, 2024. Organized by the NGO Mayako Pahichan Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board, the conference aimed to promote Nepal as a safe and inclusive destination for LGBT tourists. The event saw participation from around 120 individuals, including representatives from sexual minorities, NGOs, activists, writers, and media personnel from various countries
• Reports:
• The Lancet Commission on Breast Cancer report, published on 15th April 2024, estimates that by 2040, breast cancer will cause about a million deaths annually and the number of cases will rise from 2.3 million in 2020 to over 3 million. The report emphasizes better patient-health professional communication and highlights the unseen burden and inequities due to breast cancer.
• Important Days:
• The United Nations Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20 to celebrate and promote the Chinese language. The date was chosen to honor Cangjie, the inventor of Chinese characters. The theme for the UN Chinese Language Day 2024 is “Youth Together for a Better World”, emphasizing the role of youth in fostering positive change.
• National Civil Service Day is celebrated every year on 21st April in India to honor the dedication and commitment of civil servants towards public service. In 2024, the day will be observed on the same date, 21st April. The themes for the year 2024, as per different sources, are “Public Service in a Changing World” and “Empowering Citizens, Enhancing Governance”.
• Appointments:
• On April 19, 2024, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointments of two IPS officers. Nalin Prabhat was appointed as the Director-General of the National Security Guard (NSG) and will serve in this position until his superannuation on August 31, 2028. Sapna Tiwari was appointed as the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and her tenure will last for two years or until her superannuation on April 30, 2026.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Ajith Kumar K.K. as the Managing Director and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank. He will replace JK Shivan and his tenure will be for three years. Ajith Kumar has over 36 years of banking experience and is currently the chief human resources officer at Federal Bank Limited. The bank’s board will meet soon to approve this appointment.
• Keki M Mistry took charge as the new Chairman of HDFC Life Insurance on April 18, 2024. This appointment was made after Deepak Parekh stepped down from his role as chairman and non-executive director. The appointment is subject to the approval of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.
• Citroen India appointed the famous cricketer MS Dhoni as its brand ambassador on April 22, 2024. This move is part of Citroen’s strategy to strengthen its brand identity in the Indian market. Dhoni’s popularity and influence are expected to enhance Citroen’s connection with the Indian audience.

Questions:

Q.1 Who organized the first International Rainbow Tourism Conference?
a. The Indian Tourism Board and Pahichan India
b. The Indian Tourism Board and Mayako Pahichan Nepal
c. The Nepal Tourism Board and Pahichan India
d.The Nepal Tourism Board and Mayako Pahichan Nepal
Q.2 Who became the youngest challenger for the World Chess title at the Candidates Chess Tournament in 2024?
a. Garry Kasparov
b. Ding Liren
c. Gukesh Dommaraju
d. Vishwanathan Anand