4.5/5
Current Affairs 04 May 2024
1.India’s first indigenous bomber UAV unveiled in Bengaluru
- Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace Technologies
launched FWD-200B in Bengaluru, marking India's entry into indigenous UAV manufacturing. - This medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone is designed for both surveillance and precision strikes, boasting a 100 kg payload.
- It reduces dependency on costly imports of UAVs with a 12-20 hour endurance, 370 kmph speed, and 200 km station range.
2. Uttarakhand Tourism Announced India’s First Astro Tourism Campaign Named ‘Nakshatra Sabha’
- The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has
teamed up with Starscapes, an astro-tourism company, to introduce Nakshatra Sabha, a pioneering initiative aimed at offering a comprehensive astro-tourism experience. - This initiative goes beyond mere stargazing, intending to immerse participants in various activities such as special solar observations, astrophotography contests, and camping under the stars. The collaboration seeks to create an engaging platform that brings together astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers, and travellers to marvel at the wonders of the cosmos while enjoying the natural beauty of Uttarakhand.
About Uttarakhand:
Capital: Dehradun
Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami
Governor: Gurmit Singh
3. NHPC & Norway’s Ocean Sun Signed MoU to Implement Floating Solar Energy Technology in India
- NHPC Limited, signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Norway based Ocean Sun AS to explore various facets of cooperation to demonstrate Ocean Sun’s floating solar energy technology based on photovoltaic panels which would be mounted on hydro-elastic membranes, at sites identified by NHPC. - This is in line with NHPC’s efforts towards sustainable development and addition of renewable energy capacity. NHPC Ltd (formerly National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited) is a Miniratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Power;
About NHPC:
Headquarters: Faridabad
Founded: 7 November 1975
Owner: Government of India (70.95%)
CEO: suresh kumar dev
4.In FY24, credit card spending increased by 27% to Rs 18.26 trillion, according to RBI data.
- According to the latest data from the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI), credit card spending surged by 27% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 18.26 trillion in financial year 2023-24 (FY24) from nearly Rs 14 trillion in FY23. - In March 2024, credit card spending rose by nearly 10.07% to Rs 1.64 trillion from Rs 1.49 trillion in February 2024, attributed to financial year closures and festival sales during March. Total credit card transactions in March 2024 amounted to Rs 1.64 trillion, higher by 19.8% Y-o-Y and 10.2% on month.
About RBI:
Founded: 1st April 1935
CEO: Shaktikanta Das
Founder: British Raj
5.RBI launches IESH & CCS to Get Inputs for June’s 2024 Monetary Policy
- The Reserve Bank of India launched two key surveys,
the results of which provide “useful inputs” for the central bank’s bi-monthly monetary policy. One of the surveys is to know inflation expectations of households and the other is to gauze the consumer confidence. - The March 2023 round of Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH), RBI said, aims at capturing subjective assessments on price movements and inflation, based on their individual consumption baskets, across 19 cities.
6. Designer Bhavi Mehta wins Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize 2024 for ‘The Book Beautiful’
- Bhavi Mehta clinched the 9th edition of the Oxford
Bookstore Book Cover Prize (2024) for her design of the book cover for Pradeep Sebastian’s “The Book Beautiful.” The prize includes a trophy, certificate, and a cash award of one lakh rupees. - “The Book Beautiful” was published by Hachette India. Mehta received the honor at a ceremony attended by Alka Pande, an art historian and chair of the jury, author-politician Shashi Tharoor, May-Elin Stener, Norway’s Ambassador to India, and Swagat Sengupta, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Apeejay Oxford Bookstores.
7. Jeremiah Manele Sworn in as New Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
- Jeremiah Manele, the former Foreign Minister of the
Solomon Islands, assumed office as the new Prime Minister following a successful vote in a secret ballot, after no political party secured a majority in the 2024 national election. The 12th national general election in the Solomon Islands took place on April 17, 2024. - Former Prime Minister Sogavare chose not to seek re-election and instead formed a coalition, endorsing Jeremiah Manele as the prime ministerial candidate for the party. Additionally, Sogavare passed on the leadership of the OUR Party to Manele. Manele emerged victorious in the secret ballot held in the 49-seat parliament, securing 31 votes. His opponent, longtime opposition leader Matthew Wale, garnered 18 votes.
About Solomon Islands:
Capital: Honiara
Prime minister: Jeremiah Manele
Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar
8. Shashi Bhushan Singh Appointed Secretary of National Jute Board
- Shashi Bhushan Singh, a 2010-batch Indian Railway
Traffic Service (IRTS) officer, has been appointed as the Secretary (at the Director level) of the National Jute Board in Kolkata under the Ministry of Textiles. The appointment, approved by the Central Government, is effective for a five-year term or until further orders. - The Central Government, via an order from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), has approved the appointment of Shashi Bhushan Singh as Secretary (at Director level) of the National Jute Board.
About National Jute Board:
Headquaters:Kolkata
Founder: Government of India
CMD:Mr. Kushal Bhaduri
9. Former RBI Governor D Subbarao unveiled his latest book titled "Just A Mercenary: Notes from My Life and Career."
- Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao, former Governor of the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), released his memoir titled "Just A Mercenary: Notes from My Life and Career." Published by Penguin Random House India, the book delves into Dr. Subbarao’s professional journey, offering valuable insights for young professionals seeking guidance in their careers. - Serving as RBI Governor from 2008 to 2013, Subbarao also held the position of Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council from 2005 to 2007. It's worth noting that his previous book, "Who Moved My Interest Rate: Leading the Reserve Bank Through Five Turbulent Years," was also published by Penguin Random House India in 2016.
10. World Press Freedom Index 2024 Announced, India Ranked 159th Out of 180 Countries
- In the latest edition of the World Press Freedom
Index published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), India finds itself at a concerning position, ranking 159th out of 180 countries. This marks a slight improvement from its previous rank of 161, yet it still underscores significant challenges faced by journalists in the country. - The World Press Freedom Index evaluates 180 countries based on the freedom and independence journalists have to work and report. The rankings shed light on the varying degrees of press freedom across the globe. In the Asia-Pacific region, which ranks as the world’s second most challenging area for journalism, several countries, including Myanmar, China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, are among the most dangerous for media personnel. Notably, no Asian country made it to the Index’s top 15 this year, indicating a pervasive challenge to press freedom in the region.
1 like |
0 comment
