- National:
- On 30 April 2024, India and Croatia held the 11th session of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi. The session was led by Shri Pavan Kapoor from India and Dr. Petar Mihatov from Croatia. They reviewed bilateral relations and discussed strengthening cooperation in various areas. They also stressed the importance of cultural exchanges and international cooperation.
- The Post Investment Summit India-Nepal B2B Meet was organized by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN), and the Nepal India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) on April 30, 2024. The meeting aimed to strengthen economic ties and foster business relationships between India and Nepal.
- IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with the SVEEP of Kamrup Election District, launched a 3D-printed dummy ballot unit on April 22, 2024. The eco-friendly unit, made from PLA, is designed to familiarize new voters and senior citizens with the voting process through interactive features.
- A three-day synchronised survey of the Nilgiri Tahr was conducted from April 29 to May 1, 2024. This survey was a collaborative effort between the Tamil Nadu government, Kerala Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India, World Wildlife Fund, and International Union for Conservation of Nature. The aim was to estimate the population of this endangered species and provide baseline data for future conservation efforts.
- Banking:
- BRISKPE, a Mumbai-based cross-border payments platform, has raised USD 5 million in seed funding from PayU. The funds will be used to enhance its product and service offerings, expand the team, and scale its reach. The startup was founded by ex-HDFC Life CMO Sanjay Tripathy, former Nium CTO Nilesh Pathak, and banking veteran Indunath Chaudhary.
- Economy:
- India’s core sector growth slowed to 5.2% in March 2024. This data was released on April 30, 2024. The slowdown was impacted by various industries and is likely to lead to slower industrial growth. Cement was the only sector with double-digit growth, while electricity production also increased.
- The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) released its monthly economic review projecting that India’s economy could grow faster than 7% in the financial year 2024-25 on Monday, April 29, 2024.
- Mous:
- NHPC Limited, India’s largest hydropower development organization, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Ocean Sun, a Norwegian company, on 29th April, 2024. The MoU is for the demonstration of Ocean Sun’s floating solar energy technology in India. The technology involves photovoltaic panels mounted on hydro-elastic membranes. The signing ceremony took place in a hybrid mode, with representatives joining from the Embassy of Norway in New Delhi, India, and Oslo, Norway.
- Reports:
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific on April 29, 2024. In this report, the IMF raised its growth forecast for the Asia-Pacific region in 2024 to 4.5%, up from the previous forecast. Despite the overall slowdown, India is expected to be the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The growth forecast for 2025 remains unchanged at 4.3%.
- Sports:
- The 16th edition of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, held on May 1st, 2024, was dominated by Kenyan runners. Peter Mwaniki won the men’s category with a time of 28:15, and Lilian Kasait won the women’s category with a time of 30:56. In the Indian elite categories, Kiran Matre set a new event record for men with a time of 29:32, and Sanjivani won the women’s elite field.
- Defence:
- The 6th Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 20 (Yard 130), was launched by Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd (SPPL) in Thane for the Indian Navy on April 29, 2024. The barges are designed to facilitate the transportation of ammunition to Indian Navy ships. They are indigenously designed and built under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
- Important Days:
- Maharashtra Day, celebrated annually on May 1, commemorates the formation of the state of Maharashtra from the division of the Bombay State on May 1, 1960. This day marks the successful movement led by the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti to create a separate state where Marathi would be the official language.
- Gujarat Day, celebrated on May 1st, marks the formation of the state of Gujarat in 1960. It’s a day to honor the state’s cultural heritage, history, and progress. Various events are organized across the state to celebrate this day.
- Appointments & Resignations:
- Professor Mohammad Rihan of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) took charge as the Director General of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) on April 27, 2024. He brings a wealth of experience in smart grid and solar energy from his tenure at AMU.
- Humza Yousaf, the first Muslim First Minister of Scotland, announced his resignation on 29th April 2024 after serving for 13 months. His decision came after the collapse of the SNP’s power-sharing deal with the Greens. He intended to continue in his role until a successor was elected.
- Justice Dinesh Kumar, a retired Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, has been appointed as the Presiding Officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT). He took charge on 29th April 2024 for a term of four years. Alongside him, Dheeraj Bhatnagar, a retired Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax Delhi, has taken charge as the technical member of the tribunal.
- Obituaries:
- Vinay Vir, the renowned journalist and editor of the Daily Hindi Milap, passed away at the age of 72. He was known for his dedication to promoting Hindi journalism in South India and was a respected figure in the journalism community.
Questions:
Q.1 What is the IMF’s growth forecast for the Asia-Pacific region in 2024?a. 3.5%
b. 4.0%
c. 4.5%
d. 5.0%
Q.2 When is Gujarat Day celebrated?
a. March 1
b. April 1
c. June 1
d. May 1
