On the occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event paid tribute to the 24th Tirthankar, Bhagwan Mahaveer, whose teachings of Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Non-Stealing), Brahmacharya (Chastity), and Aparigraha (Non-attachment) have illuminated the path of peaceful coexistence and universal brotherhood.
- Archaeologists in Telangana have made significant discoveries, including over 200 megalithic monuments, an exceptional Iron Age megalithic site, and two rock art sites. These findings shed light on Telangana’s ancient history and emphasize the need for continued exploration and preservation efforts.
D Gukesh, a 17-year-old Indian Grandmaster from Chennai, has made history by winning the 2024 FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament in Toronto, Canada. India’s Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest-ever winner of Candidates. 17-year-old Gukesh will face Ding Liren in the match for World Championship title in 2024. Gukesh drew against Hikaru Nakamura of USA in the final round in Toronto.
- The Indian Army is actively pursuing indigenous Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Systems worth Rs 6,800 crore. These systems aim to address the shortage of shoulder-fired missiles for countering aerial threats along the Pakistan and China borders. The Army intends to manufacture over 500 launchers and approximately 3,000 missiles domestically. The new indigenous VSHORAD system promises enhanced capabilities to neutralize low-altitude aerial threats.
- On April 20, 2024, Nepal hosted its first International Rainbow Tourism Conference in Kathmandu. The conference aimed to promote Nepal as a safe and inclusive destination for LGBT tourists. Organized by the non-governmental organization Mayako Pahichan Nepal in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board, this pioneering event emphasized diversity and inclusivity within the tourism industry.
- Ethylene oxide, known for its carcinogenic properties, heightens the risk of breast cancer and causes DNA damage, affecting brain and nervous system function in humans. Recent findings reveal its presence in four products from two major spice brands in India—three from MDH and one from Everest—exceeding permissible limits.
On April 22, 2024, Bhutan hosted the Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference in Kathmandu. Co-organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Tiger Conservation Coalition, the conference aimed to mobilize $1 billion in new funding over the next decade for the preservation of tiger landscapes across Asia. These landscapes are crucial for maintaining biodiversity, sequestering carbon, supporting over 100 million people, and ensuring the overall health of the planet. Expert panels discussed sustainable finance, linkages with the UN’s Global Biodiversity Framework, and the role of public-private partnerships in safeguarding tiger habitats. The conference received patronage from Bhutan’s Queen, Jetsun Pema Wangchuck.
- Project Nimbus is a lucrative cloud and AI computing contract that Google has with the Israeli government. Valued at up to $1.2 billion, it involves Google’s Cloud division and Amazon Web Services (AWS) providing AI and cloud computing infrastructure to Israel. However, due to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Palestine, the deal has sparked controversy and protests.
- Dr. Naima Khatoon, a professor and principal at the Women’s College of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has made history by becoming the first female Vice Chancellor in over 100 years. She holds a PhD in Psychology from AMU and began her journey as a lecturer in the Department of Psychology in 1988. Her appointment was approved by President Droupadi Murmu, and she will serve a five-year term at AMU.
The Rwanda asylum plan, officially known as the UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership, is an immigration policy proposed by the British government in April 2022. Under this plan, individuals identified by the United Kingdom as illegal immigrants or asylum seekers would have been relocated to Rwanda for processing, asylum, and resettlement. In return, the UK would have accepted an unspecified number of the “most vulnerable refugees” currently residing in Rwanda. The plan aimed to decrease migrant crossings in the English Channel, curb human smuggling, and boost Rwandan investment and development. However, legal challenges and court rulings impacted its implementation.
- On April 22nd, the world unites to commemorate the 54th International Mother Earth Day. This annual event serves as a poignant reminder of the critical need to address the mounting environmental challenges threatening our planet, including rapidly rising pollution levels, deforestation, and global warming. This year’s theme, “Planet vs. Plastics,” aims to shed light on the detrimental effects of plastic pollution on human and environmental health.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently dissolved the Strategic Support Force (SSF), which was established in 2015. The SSF, once a cutting-edge unit integrating cyber and space warfare capabilities, was restructured into three separate entities: Information Support Force (ISF), Aerospace Force, and Cyber Force. This reform was conducted under the aegis of the Central Military Commission (CMC), emphasizing direct control and streamlined command lines. The ISF focuses on the coordination, construction, and application of network information systems, crucial for achieving information superiority in modern warfare. These changes are part of Xi’s broader military reforms initiated in 2015, aiming to modernize the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and enhance its capabilities1. By restructuring the SSF into new divisions under direct CMC oversight, Xi Jinping is tightening the Party’s grip over the military, ensuring strict adherence to commands from the central leadership, and enabling the military to better respond to modern security challenges.
- India’s jewellery exports, particularly in plain gold, witnessed a remarkable surge during the 2023-24 financial year. The Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) reported a 61.72% increase in plain gold jewellery exports, reaching $6,792.24 million compared to $4,199.96 million in the previous year. The UAE and Bahrain accounted for over 85% of India’s plain gold jewellery exports. Additionally, Australia saw a 37% growth in plain gold jewellery exports, attributed to the India-Australia ECTAPlatinum gold jewellery exports also showed robust growth, reaching $163.48 million in FY24.
- The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini has returned triumphantly to her base port in Goa after a historic transoceanic expedition of nearly two months. This remarkable feat was achieved by Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A., who undertook the journey in double-handed mode. They are the first women from India to accomplish such an extraordinary voyage, marking a significant milestone for the Indian Navy.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has collaborated with the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Cell (SVEEP) to create an ingenious 3D printed dummy ballot unit. Crafted using advanced 3D printing technology and PLA (a biodegradable material derived from corn starch), this unit aims to educate citizens, especially first-time voters and senior citizens, about the voting process. It features interactive elements such as sound and light indicators to guide users during voting. Remarkably, the IIT Guwahati team designed and produced this practical tool within a mere 48 hours. This initiative fosters voter awareness and encourages greater participation in democratic practices.
- India’s home ministry, in collaboration with SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd (SBI Card) and telecom operators, has devised an innovative solution to combat the rising menace of cyber fraud and phishing attacks within the banking ecosystem. This solution involves tracking the geolocation of customers during OTP delivery, ensuring secure transactions and thwarting potential phishing attempts.
- A three-member committee of gynecologists, led by Directorate General of Health Services Atul Goel, has been established to finalize a list of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that will be available in regular stores without the need for a prescription. The committee aims to complete the list within two weeks. This move is part of India’s new OTC policy for drugs, which seeks to reduce treatment costs and promote self-care while ensuring safety1. The list will be based on factors such as safety, availability, and non-habit-forming nature of the drugs1. Unlike other countries, India currently lacks a comprehensive policy to regulate the distribution, marketing, and consumption of OTC drugs1. Soon, the list of OTC drugs will be notified, considering evidence of their safety and other relevant criteria.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported that more than 27% of the identified glacial lakes in the Himalayas have significantly expanded since 1984, based on long-term satellite monitoring. Out of the 676 expanding glacial lakes, 130 are located within India, primarily in the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river basins. This expansion is attributed to the unprecedented rates of glacier retreat and thinning due to human-induced climate change.
NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) is a technology demonstration mission designed to characterize solar sail structures for future small spacecraft in deep space missions. Launched on April 23, 2024, ACS3 will deploy a sail about the size of a small apartment from a toaster oven-size spacecraft12. The primary mission objective is to deploy and characterize an 80-m² composite boom structure solar sail technology in low Earth orbit. Extended mission goals include demonstrating controlled solar sailing flight through orbit raising and lowering maneuvers. The unfurled solar sail, approximately 30 feet (about 9 meters) on a side, harnesses sunlight pressure for propulsion, eliminating the need for conventional rocket propellant. This innovative technology could revolutionize future space exploration by providing efficient, low-thrust propulsion systems.
- Russia has already supplied three units of the S-400 missile systems to India. The remaining two regiments are set to be delivered by 2025, following some delays due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The original timeline aimed to complete deliveries by 2024. The first regiment of S-400 systems was delivered by Russia in December 2021 and has been deployed to cover parts of India’s borders with China in the northern sector and the frontier with Pakistan. The acquisition significantly enhances India’s air defense capabilities.
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully test-firing an air-launched ballistic missile known as ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2. This missile, of Israeli origin, was launched from a Su-30 MKI fighter jet in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is capable of hitting targets over 250 kilometers away. The successful test underscores India’s commitment to enhancing its defense capabilities and highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing the defense industry. The Crystal Maze 2 is designed to strike high-value stationary and relocatable targets, including long-range radars and air defense systems. It is particularly effective in GPS-denied environments, similar to the conditions faced by India during the Kargil War. Plans are underway to acquire Israeli missiles in large numbers through the Make in India initiative, further emphasizing the significance of such collaborations.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is advancing its Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human spaceflight program. A second uncrewed test flight is planned for April 2024. This milestone follows the successful In-flight Abort Demonstration of the Crew Escape System in October 2023. The project aims to demonstrate human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission. If all goes well, the manned mission will be conducted by the end of 2025. The mission will make India the fourth country to send humans to space, after the United States, Russia, and China. The crew module will have a diameter of 3.7 meters and a height of 7 meters, with a mass of around 7 tonnes. ISRO has developed new technologies such as the Crew Escape System, which ensures the crew’s safety in case of an emergency during launch or ascent phase.
- NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) has unveiled its Climate Strategy 2030 document on the occasion of World Earth Day. This strategic initiative is structured around four key pillars to address the demand for sustainable development:
Accelerating Green Lending across sectors
Playing a broader Market-Making Role
Internal Green Transformation of NABARD
Strategic Resource Mobilization.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved a significant milestone by creating India’s lightest bulletproof jacket. This innovative jacket, developed by the Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) in Kanpur, provides protection against the highest threat level 6 of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Specifically, it can withstand 7.62 x 54 R API ammunition. The jacket’s front Hard Armour Panel (HAP) is designed to withstand multiple hits (up to 6 shots) from sniper rounds. It utilizes a novel design approach with monolithic ceramic plates and polymer backing, enhancing both wearability and comfort during operations.
- The Great Nicobar Island Development Project is a mega-infrastructure initiative planned for the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman Sea, India. The project, estimated to cost ₹75,000 crore (approximately US$9.4 billion in 2022), aims to enhance geostrategic importance for defense, logistics, commerce, and eco-tourism. Key components include:
Galathea Bay International Container Transhipment Terminal (Galathea Bay ICTT)
with a capacity of 14.2 million TEUs (cargo units).
Great Nicobar International Airport (GNIA),
a greenfield airport with a peak hour capacity of 4,000 passengers.
Great Nicobar Gas and Solar Power Plant (Great Nicobar GSPP)
with a 450-MVA capacity, spread over 16,610 hectares.
Two new greenfield coastal cities
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has emphasized that the Indian economy needs to grow at a rate of 8-10% per annum over the next decade to reap the demographic dividend. This dividend, which started accruing from 2018, is expected to last until 2055. India’s favorable demographics, including a rising labor force, play a crucial role in achieving this growth. The focus on labor quality will be essential for sustainable development.
- The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) on plastic pollution took place in Ottawa, Canada from April 23 to April 29, 2024. During this session, representatives aimed to refine the draft treaty text for finalization at INC-5 in November 2024. Key issues discussed included phasing out single-use plastics, reducing production, and including binding targets.
Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have made a significant breakthrough by developing a high-energy, high-power hybrid sodium-ion battery that can charge in seconds. This innovation could potentially revolutionize the energy storage industry, offering a viable alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion batteries, which utilize sodium (over 500 times more abundant than lithium), have faced limitations such as lower power output and longer charging times. However, KAIST’s hybrid battery integrates anode materials typically used in batteries with cathodes suitable for supercapacitors, achieving high storage capacities and rapid charge-discharge rates. The breakthrough positions sodium-ion batteries as a promising next-generation alternative for various applications, including electronic devices, electric vehicles, and aerospace technologies.
- The sixth edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) took place on April 24-25, 2024, in New Delhi. This hybrid conference brought together governments, the global infrastructure community, multilateral development banks, and the private sector. The goal was to agree on a roadmap for mobilizing public and private investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure. The conference emphasized aligning investment in such infrastructure with climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure for a better future and collective global resilience.
Microsoft Phi-3 Mini is part of the Phi-3 family, a remarkable AI model designed to be small yet powerful. It boasts 3.8 billion parameters and can perform tasks similar to larger models like GPT-3.5, but with the efficiency to run on mobile devices such as smartphones and laptops12. Phi-3-mini is available in two context-length variants—4K and 128K tokens—and is optimized for ONNX Runtime, supporting Windows DirectML and cross-platform compatibility across GPU, CPU, and even mobile hardware. It’s a significant advancement in making AI more accessible and efficient.
- Article 244 (A) of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to establish an autonomous state within Assam for specific tribal areas. It allows for the creation of a separate legislature, council of ministers, and offers increased autonomy over law and order. The demand for autonomy in Assam’s hill areas, such as Karbi Anglong, dates back to the 1950s.
The 2024 Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC) reveals that nearly 282 million people across 59 countries and territories experienced high levels of acute hunger in 2023. This study shows a global increase of 24 million from the previous year, with 1 in 5 people assessed requiring critical urgent action1. The report underscores the enormity of the challenge in achieving the goal of ending hunger by 2030. Extreme weather was identified as the second most significant factor driving the food crisis2. For more detailed information, you can refer to the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2024 published by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) in support of the Global Network against Food Crises (GNAFC).
- The Shenzhou-18 mission, launched on April 25, 2024, is a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station. It carried three taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission is the thirteenth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the eighteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program. The crew will stay at the space station for approximately six months, conducting experiments and performing extravehicular activities.
- Astronomers recently detected a rare giant flare from a magnetar, which is a type of neutron star with immensely strong magnetic fields. This event occurred in the Messier 82 (M82) galaxy, also known as the “Cigar Galaxy.” The flare released an amount of energy equivalent to 10,000 years of our sun’s output in just a tenth of a second. This discovery marks the most distant-known occurrence of such an event, as M82 is located 12 million light-years from Earth.
The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to implement the Guidelines for Elimination of Corporal Punishment in Schools (GECP) provided by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The court ordered that these guidelines be communicated to all educational institutions across Tamil Nadu and to the district educational authorities. The goal is to protect the mental health of children. Seminars and awareness camps can be conducted to achieve this purpose.
- REC Ltd, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) and a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has successfully secured a green loan of Japanese Yen (JPY) 60.536 billion (approximately Rs 3,200 crore) to finance eligible green projects in India. The green loan facility benefits from an 80% guarantee by SACE, Italy’s export credit agency, under their innovative Push Strategy program. This transaction aligns with REC’s Green Finance Framework and commitment to foster sustainable growth.
- Sunita Williams, a distinguished NASA astronaut, is currently training to be the pilot of the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. This mission marks the first crewed flight for the Starliner vehicle and will be her third mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is scheduled for May 6, 2024.
The world’s first personalized mRNA vaccine for melanoma is currently undergoing Phase III trials in the UK. This groundbreaking vaccine, known as mRNA-4157 (V940), is designed to match the unique genetic signature of each patient’s own tumor. By instructing the body to produce proteins or antibodies that specifically target cancer cells, it aims to prevent the deadly disease from returning. The vaccine is administered alongside another drug called pembrolizumab (Keytruda), which further enhances the immune system’s ability to combat cancer.
- Tamil Nadu is conducting a survey to estimate the population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, with IUCN participation. The results will inform conservation efforts for this mountain ungulate .
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