Current Affairs One - Liner : 27th April 2024

• National:
• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) launched a fund to protect refugees and displaced people from climate shocks. It aims to raise money for projects that build resilience and promote sustainable solutions in vulnerable areas.

• The Supreme Court of India has dismissed all petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) data with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) records. The verdict was delivered by a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. The court emphasized that it cannot intervene in elections solely based on doubts about EVM efficacy.
• During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan on April 26, 2024, a significant protocol was signed by the Defence Ministers of all SCO Member States. In the Joint Communique issued after the meeting, the SCO Defence Ministers collectively agreed to develop the idea of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.
• International:
• India has been placed on the U.S. Priority Watch List for intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement in the 2024 Special 301 Report by the U.S. Trade Representatives (USTR). This decision reflects ongoing concerns about India’s handling of IP security issues, including patent-related challenges and inconsistencies in overall progress.
• Germany has lifted restrictions on the sale of small arms to India, allowing the National Security Guard (NSG) to purchase spare parts and accessories for MP5 submachine guns. This decision reflects the growing strategic and military ties between the two countries. Additionally, Germany has eased export licensing rules, and both nations are collaborating on various defense-related matters, including aircraft and naval exercises.
• Banking:
• Hitachi Payment Services launched India's first Upgradable ATM on April 24, 2024. This innovative ATM can be transformed into a high-performance Cash Recycling Machine (CRM) whenever needed, providing banks with greater flexibility and efficiency in managing their ATM networks.
• During the fiscal year 2022–23, the savings from the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) program surpassed ₹63,000 crore, a notable increase compared to the ₹50,000 crore saved in FY22. This substantial growth reflects the effectiveness and impact of the DBT initiative in providing targeted financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries.
• Groww Mutual Fund got approval from SEBI to launch India's first Nifty Non-Cyclical Consumer Index Fund. The launch is expected in the first week of May. This new fund offering (NFO) will be an open-ended scheme that tracks the Nifty Non-Cyclical Consumer Index (TRI).
• CRISIL's subsidiary, CRISIL ESG Ratings & Analytics, was approved by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) to operate as a Category 1 ESG Ratings Provider (ERP) in July 2023. This approval allows CRISIL ESG Ratings to officially offer ESG ratings to companies.
• Economy:
• India’s services exports increased by 11.4% in 2023, reaching a total of $345 billion. This growth outpaced China, whose services exports from the sector contracted by 10.1% to $381 billion during the same period. Key sectors driving India’s growth include travel, transport, medical, and hospitality services. The world’s services exports exceeded $7.9 trillion in 2023.
• Mous:
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NTPC Limited and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), on April 25 2024, in New Delhi for the supply of 9 lakh metric tonnes of limestone (lime chips, a by-product of the RINL, for the NTPC units across the country for five years.
• Science & Technology:
• China recently launched the Shenzhou-18 crewed spacecraft as part of its Tiangong space station program. The mission aims to transport crew members to the space station for a planned duration of 180 days. The crew consists of Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu. The launch occurred on April 25, 2024, and the spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station.
• Reports:
• India witnessed a remarkable surge in patent filings, with 83,000 patents being filed. This growth rate of 24.6% represents the highest annual increase in the last two decades, according to the Patenting Trends report released by Nasscom. Notably, the number of patents granted also experienced significant growth, rising over 2X between FY2019 and FY2023.
• Important Days:
• On April 26, 1986, a catastrophic nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Reactor Four exploded, releasing massive amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. Millions of people were exposed to radiation, leading to health risks and long-term consequences. The disaster remains a somber reminder of the dangers of nuclear technology.
• International Delegate's Day was indeed celebrated on Thursday, April 25th, 2024. The day commemorates the opening of the San Francisco Conference in 1945, which led to the formation of the United Nations.
• April 27 is World Tapir Day, a celebration dedicated to raising awareness about these fascinating creatures that have roamed the Earth for millions of years. Tapirs inhabit Central and South America as well as Southeast Asia. The first World Tapir Day was held in 200812.
• Appointments:
• Sana Mir has been unveiled as the ambassador of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024. Sana Mir, who represented Pakistan in 226 international games, 137 of them as skipper, has been appointed as the ambassador for this prestigious tournament.
• Yuvraj Singh, the legendary Indian cricketer, has been appointed as the Ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. With just 36 days remaining until the pinnacle global event for T20 cricket kicks off, Yuvraj’s role will be to promote and celebrate the tournament.
• Arun Alagappan has been appointed as the Executive Chairman of Coromandel International Limited, a fertilizer company within the Murugappa Group. This significant leadership change comes as A. Vellayan, the previous Chairman and Non-Executive Director, retired effectively from his position on April 25, 2024.
• Books:
• “India’s Nuclear Titans” is an insightful book edited by Soumya Awasthi and Shrabana Barua. It delves into the lives and contributions of Indian scientists who played pivotal roles in shaping the nation’s nuclear program. The book traces India’s evolution into a nuclear state, highlighting the significant roles played by renowned figures such as Homi Bhabha, Vikram Sarabhai, Abdul Kalam, and K. Subrahmanyam.
• Obituaries:
• Subrahmanya Dhareshwar, a renowned Yakshagana artist and ‘Bhagavata Shrestha’, passed away in Bengaluru at the age of 67. He was known for his scintillating voice and had served 46 years in the field of Yakshagana. 

Questions:

Q.1 Who edited the book “India’s Nuclear Titans”?
a. Dr. Homi J. Bhabha
b. Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar (retd.)
c. Soumya Awasthi and Shrabana Barua
d. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Q.2 What idea did the SCO Defence Ministers collectively agree to develop?
a.‘ Military Modernization’
b. ‘Global Security and Prosperity’
c. ‘Regional Stability and Cooperation’
d. ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’