1 Manohar International Airport in Goa inaugurates Digi Travel system
Manohar International Airport in Mopa , Goa has become the 14th airport in India to launch Digi Travel system . This biometric-enabled system uses facial recognition technology to automate the entry and verification of passengers at various airport checkpoints, making the travel experience more seamless and convenient. The Digi Yatra system is already operational at 13 other Indian airports including Delhi, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
2 INS Sharda awarded On the Spot Unit Citation for anti-piracy operations
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, during his visit to Southern Naval Command, Kochi, awarded the ‘ On the Spot Unit Citation ‘ to INS Sharda for successfully conducting anti-piracy operations . The ship was involved in the safe release of all 19 crew members (11 Iranians and 08 Pakistanis) of the Iranian fishing vessel Omari, which was taken hostage by pirates off the east coast of Somalia.
3. World Future Energy Summit to be hosted in Masdar, UAE
Masdar, the UAE ‘s leading clean energy company, is set to host the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) from 16 to 18 April at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) . The summit serves as an important global event focusing on the future of energy, clean technology and sustainability, featuring various discussions, forums and activations.
4 Ajit Doval led the Indian delegation at the SCO Security Council meeting
The 19th annual meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Astana, Kazakhstan from 2 to 3 April 2024 . The Indian delegation was led by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval . He also met President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the current chair of the SCO. President Tokayev advocated the adoption of a cooperation program to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2025–2027 and the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024–2029.
5 Actor Ayushmann Khurrana will motivate the youth to vote with the Election Commission.
The Election Commission has given a big responsibility to Ayushmann Khurrana . The Commission has released a video of the actor, in which he is seen motivating the youth to vote . In this video he says, ‘ There are 101 excuses for not voting, but only one reason is enough to vote. ‘ Ayushmann is also the National Ambassador of UNICEF in India along with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar . He is also the face of UNICEF’s global campaign EVAC (Ending Violence Against Children) alongside football icon David Beckham .
6 Bundelkhand wheat varieties get GI tag
The indigenous wheat variety of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh , locally known as Kathia wheat , has been granted the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This is the first agricultural produce of Uttar Pradesh to receive this honour. Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a leader in achieving GI tag and has become the first state to achieve 69 GI tags. These tags highlight India’s rich cultural diversity and agricultural heritage.
7 5,200 year old Harappan settlement discovered in Kutch, Gujarat
In a collaborative project of researchers from the University of Kerala and various other institutions, an important archaeological excavation has revealed a 5,200-year-old Harappan settlement at Padta Bet near Khatiya village in Kutch district of Gujarat . Abhayyan G, Assistant Professor, Department of Archeology, Kerala University . S. And Rajesh S. Under the leadership of V. , the expedition uncovered important evidence shedding light on the cultural formation of early Harappan settlements in the region. Excavations have revealed evidence of Harappan settlement dating from approximately 3200 BCE to 1700 BCE, including circular and rectangular structures made from locally available sandstone and shale. Unique pottery traditions, semi-precious stone beads, terracotta spindle whorls, copper, lithic tools and animal bone fragments were found.
8 Yoga Mahotsav held in Pune, Maharashtra to commemorate the 75-day countdown to International Yoga Day- 2024
People in large numbers participated in the ‘ Yoga Mahotsav ‘ organized at Wadia College Sports Ground in Pune, Maharashtra to commemorate the 75-day countdown of International Yoga Day . It was jointly organized by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga and National Institute of Naturopathy under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. Thousands of participants gathered in this grand event and actively participated in the practice of Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). This remarkable display of enthusiasm and participation during the program underlines the growing importance of yoga in promoting personal and social improvement.
9 Uttarakhand assesses GLOF risks in Himalayas
The state government of Uttarakhand recently constituted two expert panels to conduct a risk-assessment and monitor five glacial lakes that face immediate threat. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods ( GLOFs) are threatening them, leading the government to designate them as high-risk areas. The government is taking measures to mitigate the potential risks resulting from the danger associated with these lake bodies.
10 issues related to OpenAI’s voice engine
Recently, OpenAI has introduced a new AI model called Voice Engine . The model can replicate any voice in any language using a short audio sample , allowing users to create audio content with the same voice and manner of speaking as the original sample . Despite its potential applications, the company has not yet released the voice engine for public use , reportedly due to security concerns. A voice engine is a text-to-audio tool that produces new audio using voice samples and the user’s written prompts. Users can upload a 15-second audio sample, and the model will analyze it to produce output in the same voice based on the given text. The model can also create audio clips of the same speaker in another language, showcasing its multilingual capabilities.
11 RBI fine on IDFC First Bank and LIC Housing Finance
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalty on two financial institutions – IDFC First Bank and LIC Housing Finance – for non-compliance of various regulations. RBI has imposed a penalty of ₹1 crore on IDFC First Bank for non-compliance with certain directions on ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions’. The statutory inspection for supervisory assessment for FY 2022 revealed that the bank had sanctioned term loans to a public sector undertaking for financing infrastructure projects without due diligence on the feasibility and bankability of the projects. It was also found that these term loans were being repaid and disbursed from budgetary resources, rather than from expected revenue sources from the projects.
12 Tata International appointed Rajeev Singhal as MD.
Tata International, the global trading and distribution arm of the Tata Group , announced the appointment of Rajeev Singhal as its Managing Director (MD). Tata International said in a statement that Singhal’s appointment became effective from April 1. He has replaced Anand Sen.
13 Dr. Karthik Kommuri honored with National Fame Award 2024
Dr. Karthik Kommuri is renowned for his exceptional patient care and commitment to contemporary practice in orthodontics and dentistry . He is known for his unwavering dedication towards the well-being of patients, his pursuit of excellence and creating brighter smiles. In recognition of his efforts, Dr. Kommuri was awarded the title of prestigious Overseas Dental Specialist (Orthodontics and Orofacial Pain) at the National Fame Awards 2024 held at The Club , Mumbai . The chief guest of the function was Dia Mirza.
14 Bilkis Mir, first Indian woman jury member at Paris Olympics
Jammu and Kashmir ‘s canoeist Bilkis Mir is set to create history as the first woman from India to represent the country as a jury member at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris . This prestigious appointment was officially informed through a letter from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
15 Chess: India gets new number 1
In the latest FIDE rankings released by the world governing body of chess , India has a new No. 1 chess player, Arjun Erigaysi . With a standard rating of 2756, Erigaceae is ranked ninth in the world. This is his first appearance in the top 10 of the Open Standard List. Anand is at 11th position with a rating of 2751. Anand is followed by the Candidates trio of 18-year-old Praggnanand R, 17-year-old Gukesh D and Vidit Santosh Gujarati (29), who will all be in action at the prestigious Candidates Tournament this weekend.