National NEWS:
ECI Launches ‘Myth vs Reality Register’ to Combat Misinformation in General Elections 2024:
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a ‘Myth vs Reality Register’ to proactively combat misinformation during the General Elections 2024.
- The platform serves as a one-stop resource for credible and authenticated election-related information, easily accessible to the public through the ECI’s official website.
- Launched by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the register will continuously update factual information to counter fake news and FAQs.
Election commission of India:
- Founded: 25 January 1950
- Election Commissioner- Sh. Rajiv Kumar,
MGNREGS Generates 4.8% More Jobs in 2023-24:
- Work generation under MGNREGS increased by 4.81% to 3.1 billion person-days in 2023-24 from 2.96 billion in the previous fiscal year.
- Individual demand for work remained nearly the same at 332.7 million compared to 331.5 million in s
- The number of households benefiting from the rural jobs scheme rose by 5.76% to 230.4 million in 2023-24 from 217.9 million in FY23.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) launched in 2005:
- Objective: Provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to rural households for unskilled manual work.
- Coverage: Encompasses all rural areas in India, prioritizing participation of women and marginalized sections.
- Employment Generation: Aims to create durable assets and infrastructure while offering employment opportunities.
- Wage Payment: Wages disbursed directly to workers’ bank accounts, based on state-set minimum wage rates.
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) has partnered with Panasonic Energy to create a joint venture for producing lithium-ion cells in India:
- This collaboration is in response to the expected increase in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage solutions in the country.
- The partnership was announced in April following an initial understanding between the two companies about lithium-ion cell production.
- The joint venture seeks to take advantage of India’s ambitious net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2070.
- Lithium-ion batteries are critical components in both EVs and renewable energy storage systems.
- India aims to sell over 10 million EVs annually by 2030, according to the Indian government’s Economic Survey, resulting in a significant increase in demand for these batteries.
- By locally producing lithium-ion cells, the IOC-Panasonic Energy joint venture aims to assist India in transitioning to sustainable mobility and energy solutions.
About Indian Oil Corporation:
- Chairperson: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 30 June 1959
International NEWS:
India and Nepal Collaborate to Advance Sanskrit Research and Education:
- The Indian and Nepalese governments, along with scholars, join forces to enhance Sanskrit research and education, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and preserve cultural heritage.
Resolution Highlights:
- Establishment of International Sanskrit Conference: Proposal for an annual conference to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange among Sanskrit scholars from both countries.
- Creation of Sanskrit Study Center: Plan to establish a study center dedicated to researching and publishing Sanskrit scriptures, with a particular focus on Nepal’s extensive collection of unpublished manuscripts.
About Nepal Country:
- Capital: Kathmandu
- President: Ram Chandra Poudel
- Prime minister: Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Economy NEWS:
IREDA Achieves Record Loan Sanctions and Disbursements in FY 2023-24:
- Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) achieved its highest-ever annual loan sanctions and disbursements in FY 2023-24.
- The company sanctioned loans amounting to Rs. 37,354 crores and disbursed loans worth Rs. 25,089 crores during the fiscal year.
- This resulted in a significant growth of 26.71% in the loan book, reaching Rs. 59,650 crores.
- The business performance for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2024, is provisional and subject to audit.
About IREDA:
- Management/ Board Of Directors ; Shri Shabdsharan
- Founded: 1987
Banking NEWS:
SEBI Launches SCORES 2.0 to Enhance Investor Complaint Redressal System:
- SCORES 2.0 strengthens the investor complaint redress mechanism in the securities market through auto-routing, auto-escalation, and reduced timelines.
- Standardized complaint resolution timeline set at 21 calendar days from receipt date; complaints automatically routed to relevant authorities.
- Seamless integration with KYC Registration Agency database simplifies investor registration processes within the platform.
- Investors are no longer able to file new complaints using the old SCORES platform, but can monitor status of previously submitted complaints.
About SEBI:
SEBI, or the Securities and Exchange Board of India, is the regulatory body governing the securities market in India. Here are some key points about SEBI:
- Chairperson:, Madhabi Puri Buch was indeed the Chairperson of SEBI.
- Headquarters: SEBI is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Establishment: SEBI was established in 1992 under the SEBI Act, 1992. It was given statutory powers on April 12, 1992, through the SEBI Act, 1992.
Appointment NEWS:
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi Takes Oath as Egypt’s President for 3rd Term:
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been sworn in for his third term, following his victory in the Presidential election with 89.6 percent of the vote in December.
- Al-Sisi is slated to serve as president until 2030, extending his tenure in office.
Egypt Country:
- Capital: Cairo
- Currency: Egyptian Pound
Axis Capital Appoints Atul Mehra as MD and CEO (Designate):
- Axis Capital, an investment bank, announces the appointment of Atul Mehra as Managing Director and CEO (designate).
- He will replace Salil Pitale, who served as the MD & Co-CEO for five years and has decided to move on
- Atul Mehra brings extensive experience and expertise to the role, enhancing the leadership team at Axis Capital.
- The appointment signifies Axis Capital’s strategic focus on strengthening its leadership and driving growth in the investment banking sector.
About Axis Capital Limited:
- It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Axis Bank
- Chairperson- Amitabh Chaudhry
- Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Establishment- 1984 as Enam Securitie
President Felix Tshisekedi Appoints Judith Suminwa Tuluka as DRC’s First Female Prime Minister:
- President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fulfills campaign promises by appointing Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the country’s first female prime minister.
- The appointment marks a significant milestone towards gender equality in Congolese politics.
About Democratic Republic of Congo:
- President – Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo
- Capital – Kinshasa
- Currency – Congolese Franc
Sports NEWS:
Mirabai Chanu Becomes the Only Indian Weightlifter to Qualify for Paris Olympics:
- Mirabai Chanu, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, secured her qualification for the Paris Olympics by finishing third in Group B of the women’s 49kg category at the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.
- Chanu lifted a total of 184kg at the World Cup, fulfilling the qualification criteria which required participation in two mandatory events and three other qualifiers.
International olympic committee:
- International Olympic Committee/Headquarters- Lausanne, Switzerland
- President is Thomas Bach.
- International Olympic Committee/Founded 23 June 1894, Paris, France
2024 Summer Olympics (Paris 2024):
- Officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad.
- Scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
- Hosted primarily in Paris, France, with events spread across 16 other cities in metropolitan France.
- Additionally, one subsite located in Tahiti, French Polynesia, marking the first time an Olympic event is hosted in an overseas territory.
- Paris previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1900 and 1924, making it the second city to host the games three times.
Novak Djokovic Set to Become Oldest World No. 1 in ATP Rankings History:
- Serbian professional tennis player Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, is poised to become the oldest World No. 1 in ATP Rankings history.
- Djokovic’s continued dominance on the ATP Tour has led him to begin the week at 419 weeks as World No. 1, extending his remarkable record.
- This achievement adds to Djokovic’s long list of records and solidifies his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Science and tech NEWS:
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory Celebrates 125th Anniversary:
A Landmark in Indian Astronomy:
- The Department of Science & Technology (DST), Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) commemorated the 125th anniversary of the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO) on April 1, 2024.
- A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman of the Governing Council of IIA and former Chairman of ISRO, unveiled the 125th anniversary logo and released a booklet detailing the observatory’s history and research achievements.
- KSO, established by the British in 1899, boasts one of the world’s longest continuous daily records of the Sun, with a digital repository of 1.2 lakh solar images recorded daily since the early 20th century.
- The observatory’s unique database has been digitalized and made publicly available to astronomers worldwide, showcasing India’s contributions to global astronomy.
- Planned events in the upcoming months will highlight KSO’s diverse achievements and ongoing research, tracing its rich history back to its establishment by IIA in Madras in 1792.
- Currently functioning as a field station under IIA, KSO underscores India’s commitment to advancing astronomical research and promoting international collaboration in the field.
Important days:
UN World Autism Awareness Day 2024 Highlights Importance of Autistic Individuals’ Rights and Perspectives:
- 2 April 2024 marks the 17th annual observance of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) globally.
- The theme for WAAD 2024 is “Moving from Surviving to Thriving: Autistic individuals share regional perspectives.”
- WAAD aims to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and advocate for the realization of human rights and basic freedoms for autistic individuals.
- This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of considering regional perspectives and experiences to support autistic individuals in thriving, rather than merely surviving.
International Children’s Book Day 2024 Celebrates Imagination and Reading Across Borders:
- International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is observed annually on 2 April, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
- The theme for ICBD 2024, sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Japan (JBBY), is “Cross the Seas on the Wing of your Imagination.”
- The very first International Children’s Book Day happened on April 2, 1967
