Current Affairs One - Liner : 5th April 2024

• National:
• The new Model Rules by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs require the religion of both parents to be recorded separately during a child’s birth registration. This also applies to adoptions. The aim is to create a comprehensive database for efficient delivery of public services and social benefits. These rules will be in force once adopted by State governments.

• The Delhi High Court recognized ‘Haldiram’ as a well-known trademark on April 2, 2024. The ruling came after Haldiram filed a case against ‘Haldiram Restro Private Ltd’ for using their mark. The court also awarded Haldiram Rs 50 lakh in damages and Rs 2 lakh as costs.
• Odisha is utilizing the rice fallow initiative to promote climate-resilient agriculture. The initiative capitalizes on the uncropped land left after rice harvest, known as rice fallow, a significant issue in eastern India. By cultivating short-duration crops in these fallow lands, Odisha is efficiently using resources, enhancing crop coverage, reducing soil degradation, and improving nutrition security.
• Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India, retired from the Rajya Sabha on April 3, marking the end of his 33-year-long parliamentary career. His economic reforms and contributions to India’s growth were widely recognized. His retirement coincided with former party chief Sonia Gandhi’s entry into the Rajya Sabha.
• On April 4, 2024, India’s President, Smt Droupadi Murmu, launched the country’s first home-grown gene therapy for cancer, named “CAR-T cell therapy”, at IIT Bombay. This affordable and accessible therapy is expected to provide a new lease of life to numerous patients. Developed through a partnership between IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Hospital, and Immune ACT, this therapy is a testament to the ‘Make in India’ initiative and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
• The Supreme Court of India has denied the state of Kerala’s request for additional borrowing during the current fiscal year. The court attributed Kerala’s financial struggles to its monetary mismanagement and refused to grant interim relief for more borrowing.
• International:
• Singapore officially declined the offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games on April 3, 2024. The decision was made after considering the feasibility of hosting the games. This was despite the Commonwealth Games Federation’s offer of financial and strategic support.
• Romania and Bulgaria partially joined the Schengen Area on 31st March 2024, lifting controls at air and sea borders. However, land border checks remain due to concerns over illegal migration. Full accession of Bulgaria is expected by the end of 2024.
• Banking:
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on IDFC First Bank and LIC Housing Finance due to non-compliance with certain norms. IDFC First Bank was fined ₹1 crore for not adhering to directions on ‘Loans and Advances - Statutory and Other Restrictions’. LIC Housing Finance was penalised ₹49.7 lakh for non-compliance with the ‘Non-Banking Financial Company - Housing Finance Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2021’.
• Science & Technology:
• Astronomers consider placing high-resolution telescopes on the moon and in orbit around it. One such project is the PRATUSH Telescope from India. Its main roles will be to detect signals from the first stars and galaxies, revealing the cosmic dawn of the universe. This could potentially open up new avenues for astronomical research.
• Important Days:
• National Maritime Day is celebrated in India on April 5th to honor the maritime industry’s significant contributions to the nation’s economy and trade. It also commemorates the maiden voyage of the first Indian-owned ship, SS Loyalty, in 1919. The theme for the year 2024 is “Navigating the Future: Safety First!” which emphasizes the importance of safety in the maritime sector.
• Appointments:
• Ousmane Sonko, a Senegalese politician and former tax inspector, has been serving as the Prime Minister of Senegal since 2024. He was appointed as Prime Minister shortly after the inauguration of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on 2 April 2024.
• Ms. Sheyphali B. Sharan, an officer of the 1990 batch of the Indian Information Service, has assumed charge as the Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on April 1, 2024. She took over the position from Shri Manish Desai.
• Rakesh Mohan, currently a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), was appointed to the World Bank Group’s Economic Advisory Panel on April 4, 2024. The panel is headed by Nicholas Stern and co-chaired by Indermit Gill.
• Obituaries:
• Tamil actor Visheshwara Rao, known for his roles in films like Pithamagan and Evano Oruvan, passed away at the age of 64 due to complications from cancer. He had a long career in the Tamil film industry, starting as a child artiste and acting in about 300 films.

Questions:

Q.1 What is the name of India’s first home-grown gene therapy for cancer?
a. Immune ACT
b. CAR-T cell therapy
c. GeneX
d. Cancer Cure
Q.2 Who was appointed to the World Bank Group’s Economic Advisory Panel on 4th April 2024?
a. Nicholas Stern
b. Indermit Gill
c. Rakesh Mohan
d. None of the above