1 “Just a Mercenary?”: The Memoir of Duvvuri Subbarao
In his recently published memoir, “ Just a Mercenary?: Notes from My Life and Career ”, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Duvvuri Subbarao takes readers on a captivating journey through his distinguished career, including The various roles involved range from sub-collector to finance secretary and ultimately, the head of the central bank.
2 Cluster Development Program-Security
Recently, the Central Government has launched a new platform called CDP-Suraksha to provide subsidy to the farmers of horticulture sector under the Cluster Development Program (CDP) . This will boost India’s horticulture sector, which contributes about one-third to agricultural gross value added (GVA). Security here means “system for integrated resource allocation, knowledge and support for safe horticulture”. This platform will allow prompt disbursement of subsidy into the bank accounts of farmers using E-RUPI vouchers from National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It includes features like database integration with PM-Kisan, cloud-based server space through NIC, UIDAI verification, eRUPI integration, Local Government Directory (LGD), content management system, geotagging and geo-fencing.
3 Famous Indian actor Ram Charan received honorary doctorate in literature from the University of Wales
The University of Wales , Chennai , honored renowned Indian actor Ram Charan with an honorary doctorate in literature . This distinguished honor celebrates Charan’s remarkable contribution to the world of cinema and his profound impact on audiences around the world. The event was attended by eminent personalities including Chandrayaan Project Coordinator Dr P Veeramuthuvel, Trivitron Healthcare Founder and CMD Dr GSK Velu and table tennis player and Padma Shri awardee Achanta Sharath Kamal.
4 Tiantong Project
Recently, Chinese engineers and scientists have created the world’s first satellite with the help of which calls can be made from smartphones without a mobile tower . It is designed for use in emergency situations where mobile connectivity is disrupted, allowing people to get help by directly connecting to the Overhead Communication Orbiter . The Tiantong Satellite Initiative is a strategic initiative in view of the advances in telecommunications and the increasing demand for connectivity, especially in remote and disaster-prone areas. Each Tiantong satellite designed has a life cycle of 12 years and its antenna is capable of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves in 800 different frequency bands as well as withstanding daily temperature changes of up to 160 degrees Celsius. The first satellite of the Tiantong-1 series was launched in August 2016 , followed by the second and third satellites in 2020 and 2021 respectively. 36,000 km. The three satellites, in a geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 1500 m, connect into a network that covers the entire Asia-Pacific region from the Middle East to the Pacific Ocean. In September 2023, Huawei Technologies launched the world’s first smartphone to support satellite calls, directly connected to the Tiantong network of satellites, followed by other companies launching similar models. The concept of this type of satellite arose after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake , which resulted in the loss of more than 80,000 lives due to communication disruptions.
5 NASA’s Mars Sample Return Program
Recently NASA ‘s Perseverance rover, nicknamed Percy , made the first ” Sample Depot on Another World ” with ten rock sample tubes , to be returned to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign . However the plan is very expensive, costing $11 billion , and will only be implemented until the year 2040. It is a robotic explorer part of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission. It was launched in July 2020 and landed in Jezero Crater on Mars in February 2021. It is a Mars rover the size of a car, but with all the equipment it weighs only 1,025 kg. It collects rock and soil samples and puts them in tubes to send to Earth in the future. A multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator, which uses the heat generated from plutonium to generate electricity, serves as the power source for the rover.
6 Fourth global mass coral bleaching begins
Coral Reef Watch (CRW) of the United States and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) have confirmed the fourth global mass coral bleaching event in the year 2023–2024 . This is the second such incident in the last 10 years , which has happened at a time when unprecedented temperatures have been recorded in the global oceans in the year 2023 and 2024. The El Niño phenomenon in the equatorial Pacific Ocean has seen an increase in the temperatures of land and oceans. During El Niño events, warm ocean currents from the central and eastern Pacific Ocean move into the western Pacific Ocean, causing sea surface temperatures to rise in many areas. Among long-term patterns, ocean warming and macro-scale coral bleaching are closely linked to El Niño events. This warming effect of El Nino contributes to ocean warming, which puts pressure on coral reefs. Various factors responsible for coral bleaching include rising sea surface temperatures, widespread marine heatwaves, ocean acidification and pollution. When sea surface temperatures and ocean temperatures in general increase, algae on hard corals die. Due to this the corals turn white. This process is known as ‘coral bleaching’. Once bleached, corals can become vulnerable to diseases and eventually die.
7 Apple and CleanMax collaborate to advance renewable energy in India
Apple has partnered with CleanMax to install 14.4 MW of rooftop solar power at six industrial sites in India , aiming to reduce emissions associated with its operations in the country. These installations are expected to reduce approximately 207,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over their entire operational lifetime.
8 SBI Life introduces IdeaX for life insurance innovation
SBI Life Insurance , one of the country’s most trusted private life insurance companies, launched the first edition of ‘ IdeationX ‘. This is a pioneering initiative that can revolutionize the future of the insurance sector . This innovative platform aims to sensitize future leaders from B-schools (business schools) across the country about unconventional life insurance solutions . Also to encourage thinking, innovation and presentation. It addresses the growing insurance needs of consumers. Also contribute to reshaping the landscape of India’s life insurance sector. The main objective of this initiative is to harness the innovation of the youth who will lead the country in the future. So that various insurance needs can be identified and product solutions can be conceptualized to meet those needs.
9 Dhanlaxmi Bank appoints Ajit Kumar KK as managing director
Private sector Dhanlaxmi Bank said it has appointed Ajit Kumar KK as the managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the bank for a period of three years . Dhanlaxmi Bank said in the information given to the stock market that after this the approval of the shareholders will be obtained as per the regulatory provisions.
10 Top Indian Banks in Asia-Pacific: S&P Global Report
According to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence released on April 18, 2024, three Indian banks, SBI, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, have been included among the top 50 banks in the Asia-Pacific region . Chinese banks are again dominating this list . In this list, banks were ranked on the basis of their assets (loans given to customers). In the list, SBI has been ranked 20th, HDFC Bank 33rd and ICICI Bank 48th. Chinese banks dominated the list. Of the top 10 banks in the Asia-Pacific region, 6 were Chinese banks. The world’s largest bank , Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited , remained the largest bank in the region at the end of 2023. Agricultural Bank of China Limited was in second place. China Construction Bank Corporation was in third place. According to the S&P report, assets of the top four Chinese banks are expected to grow by 10.2 percent to $21.91 trillion in 2023, with the Agricultural Bank seeing the biggest increase at 14.3 percent.
11 Adani family invested Rs 8339 crore in Ambuja Cement.
Ambuja Cements Limited, the cement manufacturing company of Adani Group, has made a big announcement related to its future. The company has said that the Adani family has fully subscribed to the warrant program with an additional investment of Rs 8,339 crore in the company. With this, the total investment of Adani family in the company has increased to Rs 20,000 crore. With the latest investment, the Adani family’s stake in Ambuja Cements increased to 70.3% . Earlier, the Adani family had invested Rs 5,000 crore on October 18, 2022 and Rs 6,661 crore on March 28, 2024 in Ambuja Cements in exchange for stake in shares.
12 Vinesh Phogat and Anshu Malik secured Paris Olympic quota by making it to the final of Asian Olympic Wrestling Qualifier
Vinesh Phogat and Anshu Malik have secured Paris Olympic quota by making it to the final of the Asian Olympic Wrestling Qualifier . In the semi-final match held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Phogat defeated Laura Ganikizi of Kazakhstan and Anshu defeated Lelokhon Sobirova of Uzbekistan to reach the final.
13 Pat Cummins and Sciver-Brunt named as Wisden’s top cricketers
In the 2024 edition of the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack , two extraordinary talents – Australian captain Pat Cummins and England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt , have been crowned as the Wisden Leading Cricketers in the World. Australian captain Pat Cummins has cemented his place as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers, leading his team to remarkable achievements over the past year. On the women’s side, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt has been recognized as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World, a testament to her exceptional performances in the Ashes series.
14 World Liver Day 2024
World Liver Day (WLD) is celebrated every year on 19 April to increase awareness about the liver and its importance in the human body . According to the World Health Organization (WHO), liver diseases are the 10th most common cause of death in India. According to the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, the liver is the second largest and most complex organ in the body after the brain. It is a major part of the digestive system of the body. This year the theme of 2024 World Liver Day has been kept , ‘ Keep your liver healthy and disease -free ‘ .