Current Affairs One - Liner : 28th & 29th April 2024

• National:
• The Bru migrants, displaced since 1997, voted in the Lok Sabha elections as voters of Tripura for the first time on April 26, 2024.

• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) launched a corporate governance charter for startups on April 28, 2024. The charter provides voluntary guidelines for startups at different stages of their lifecycle. It includes an online self-evaluative governance scorecard for startups to assess their governance practices.
• On April 26, 2024, the Indian gem and jewellery sector was granted Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status by the finance ministry. This status simplifies export-import processes and is expected to foster industry growth.
• Vizhinjam Port in Kerala received approval from the shipping ministry to operate as India’s first transshipment port on 27th April 2024. This will help India become a manufacturing hub and reduce dependency on foreign ports for cargo transshipment.
• Banking:
• On April 25, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowed Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to pledge their shares in investee companies in the infrastructure sector. This move is aimed at facilitating ease of doing business and providing additional flexibility to AIFs and their investor.
• On April 25, 2024, HDFC Life and Peerless Financial Products Distribution Ltd. (PFPDL) entered into a corporate agency tie-up. This partnership allows PFPDL to distribute HDFC Life’s insurance products to its customers. The collaboration aims to provide financial protection to PFPDL’s customers and strengthen HDFC Life’s presence in the eastern part of India.
• On April 26, 2024, ATC Telecom Infrastructure Pvt Ltd sold its entire 2.87% stake in Vodafone Idea for Rs 1,840.32 crore. The shares were bought by Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius and others. After the transaction, Vodafone Idea’s shares fell 0.36%.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed $23.6 billion in 2023 to help Asia and the Pacific progress on sustainable development, including $9.8 billion for climate action. This announcement was made on 25th April 2024. The commitment focused on addressing climate crisis, conflicts, food insecurity, and increased debt burdens, among other challenges.
• Economy:
• The National Pension System (NPS) is a crucial investment tool for retirement planning in India. The strong year-over-year growth of 27.85% to ₹ 11.73 lakh crore in Assets Under Management (AUM) as of April 20, indicates the increasing trust and participation of investors in this system.
• The Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) is expecting a 35% increase in gas trading in FY25. This is due to the expected increase in demand from various sectors like power plants, city gas distribution networks, and industry. Reducing international spot prices for gas is also expected to boost gas consumption.
• Science & Technology:
• A rare butterfly species, Neptis philyra or long-streak sailor, was discovered for the first time in India in the Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. A team discovered butterfly enthusiasts on June 2, 2023. The butterfly has serrated wings with rich brownish-black on the upper side and yellow brown on the underside. The discovery has been published in the journal, “Tropical Lepidoptera Research”.
• China has successfully launched the Shenzhou-18 mission to its Tiangong space station. The crew, consisting of three astronauts - Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, arrived at the space station on April 25, 2024. The mission, which will last approximately six months, involves the crew conducting over 90 experiments.
• Reports:
• The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) reported on April 28, 2024, that China’s share in India’s industrial goods imports has risen to 30% over the last 15 years. In the fiscal year 2023-24, China contributed USD 101.8 billion to India’s total merchandise imports of USD 677.2 billion.
• Sports:
• India’s men’s recurve team, comprised of Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav, and Dhiraj Bommadevara, clinched the gold medal at the 2024 Archery World Cup held in Shanghai, China on 28th April 2024.
• Important Days:
• World Veterinary Day 2024 is celebrated on April 27 with the theme ‘Veterinarians are essential health workers’. This day emphasizes the importance of veterinarians in promoting public health and food safety. It’s celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April to recognize the work of veterinarians globally.
• The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed on April 28 every year. It was initiated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2003 to promote safe and healthy work environments. The theme for 2024 is “The impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health”.
• International Sculpture Day is a global event celebrated last Saturday of April, aiming to appreciate and raise awareness about sculpture art. In 2024, it falls on April 27. The day often emphasizes artistic collaboration under the hashtag #ISDay 2024.
• Appointments:
• Sunil Kumar Yadav, an IRS officer, was appointed as the Director of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs on April 27, 2024. His tenure will last for five years from the date of assuming charge.
• Awards & Honours:
• Gina Justus, an English High School teacher at the Sharjah Girls Branch in the UAE, has won the regional award for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at the 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards. She has been recognized for her exceptional contributions to education and charity work.
• Books:
• “The Winner’s Mindset” is a book authored by Shane Watson, one of cricket’s greatest allrounders. In this book, Watson shares the secrets that helped him tap into his skillset at will. He uses his own in-game experiences, scientific methodology, and an easy-to-understand mental skills framework to make you performance-ready for every situation, eliminating stress and anxiety.

Questions:

Q.1 Who were the members of India’s men’s recurve team at the 2024 Archery World Cup?
a. Rahul Banerjee, Jayanta Talukdar, and Tarundeep Rai
b. Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav, and Dhiraj Bommadevara
c. Rahul Banerjee, Pravin Jadhav, and Dhiraj Bommadevara
d. Tarundeep Rai, Jayanta Talukdar, and Dhiraj Bommadevara
Q.2 Who is the author of the book “The Winner’s Mindset”?
a. Ricky Ponting
b. Brian Lara
c. Sachin Tendulkar
d. Shane Watson