Current Affairs One - Liner : 24th April 2024

• National:
• JSW Neo Energy Limited, a subsidiary of JSW Energy, secured a 700 MW solar power project from NTPC Ltd on April 20, 2024. This has increased JSW Energy’s total generation capacity to 13.3 GW. The company aims to reach 20 GW generation capacity and 40 GWh of energy storage capacity by 2030, and achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050.

• Banking:
• On April 22, 2024, the Hinduja Group’s CELERITYX partnered with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation (MAFCOCS) to deploy a unified network-as-a-service solution called OneX. This initiative aims to enhance banking connectivity for over 40,000 branches in Maharashtra.
• Mous:
• The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 19, 2024, in New Delhi. The collaboration aims to provide vocational training to tribal and underprivileged youth across multiple states. The trained individuals will have the opportunity to be employed at the upcoming Maha Kumbh Kitchen in Prayagraj in 2025.
• Science & Technology:
• NASA’s Dragonfly mission is a rotorcraft mission to Saturn’s moon, Titan. The mission is confirmed with a total lifecycle cost of $3.35 billion. The launch is planned for July 2028, with the rotorcraft expected to arrive at Titan in 2034. The Dragonfly rotorcraft, which flies like a large drone, will explore Titan, looking for prebiotic chemical processes common on both Titan and early Earth.
• Reports:
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) released a “Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate” report on 22nd April 2024, highlighting the impact of climate change on workers’ health and safety. It stated that each year, approximately 22.85 million workers experience occupational injuries, and 18,970 succumb to excessive heat. The report also emphasized that over 2.4 billion workers globally are likely to face excessive heat exposure during their work, a figure that has risen from 65.5% to 70.9% since 2000.
• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a report “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator “on April 23, 2024, revealing that the total number of internet subscribers in India increased by 1.96% in the last quarter of 2023. The subscriber count rose from 918.19 million in September 2023 to 936.16 million in December 2023
• Sports:
• Garbine Muguruza, the former World No. 1 tennis player from Spain, has announced her retirement from professional tennis. She won 10 singles career titles, including the French Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017.
• Indian squash icon Saurav Ghosal announced his retirement from professional squash on 22nd April 2024. Despite retiring from the professional circuit, he hopes to continue playing for India. His career highlights include four Asian Games medals, three Commonwealth Games medals, and 10 PSA titles. He was also the only Indian squash player to reach the world’s top 10 in the men’s rankings.
• Defence:
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India developed the country’s lightest bulletproof jacket on April 23, 2024. The jacket, designed for protection against high-level threats, was developed by DRDO’s Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) in Kanpur. It successfully passed tests at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
• Important Days:
• The United Nations (UN) Spanish Language Day is celebrated annually on April 23 to raise awareness about the history, culture, and use of Spanish as an official language. The day also marks the death anniversary of the renowned Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, known for his novel Don Quixote.
• National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated in India every year on April 24. It marks the day the Panchayati Raj System was introduced in India in 1993 by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. This system empowered local bodies, or Gram Panchayats, to govern themselves. The day reaffirms India’s commitment to promoting grassroots democracy and empowering people in rural areas.
• Appointments:
• Colonel Edison Napyo was appointed as the first Defence Advisor of Papua New Guinea to India on April 22, 2024. This marks a significant diplomatic move between the two countries.
• Shri Narpat Singh, an Indian Railway Traffic Service officer, has been appointed as the Railway Adviser at the High Commission of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The appointment was announced on April 18, 2024, and he will serve in this role for three years from the date he assumes charge.
• Gita Sabharwal from India has been appointed as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Indonesia. This appointment was made by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. She assumed her role on 22 April 2024. Ms. Sabharwal has nearly 30 years of experience in development.
• Professor Naima Khatoon was appointed as the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on April 22, 2024. She has previously served as a Professor/Principal at the Women’s College and has a rich academic and administrative background.
• Awards & Honours:
• Renowned Bangladeshi singer Rezwana Choudhury Bannya received the prestigious Padma Shri Award on April 22, 2024. She is recognized for her significant contributions to the field of Art, particularly Rabindra Sangeet. The award was presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
• The 25th Laureus World Sports Awards 2024 was held on April 22, 2024. Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic clinching the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for a record fifth time. Spanish footballer Aitana Bonmati also had a remarkable night, winning the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award. Furthermore, Bonmati’s team, the Spanish national team, was honored with the Laureus World Team of the Year Award.
• Obituaries:
• National Award-winning Tamil director Durai, known for his film ‘Pasi’, passed away at the age of 84 due to age-related complications. He was a significant voice in the late 70s and 80s, with poverty being a common theme in his works.

Questions:

Q.1 Who developed India’s lightest bulletproof jacket?
a. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
b. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
c. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
d. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Q.2 Who was appointed as the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)?
a. Professor Naima Khatoon
b. Professor Maryam Khan
c. Professor Fatima Begum
d. Professor Ayesha Siddiqua