NATIONAL AFFAIRSS

Passport Affordability Ranking:

A recent study conducted by Australian firm Compare the Market AU has revealed intriguing insights into global passport affordability and accessibility. .

• Indian Passport received Second Cheapest rank while UAE is on top.

India Sets Target for Debris-Free Space Missions by 2030

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath announced India's pledge to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030 at the 42nd Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) annual meet.

• In April 2024, ISRO achieved a breakthrough in rocket engine technology with the development of a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle for rocket engines.

• Future Plans:India aims to establish its own space station, named 'BharatiyaAntriksh Station,' by the year 2035, indicating its ambitious goals in space exploration and infrastructure development.

India Delivers First BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missiles

• India handed over the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, signifying a major military export achievement.

• • BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from various platforms, including land, sea, sub-sea, and air, against surface and sea-based targets.

• This makes the Philippines the first export customer for the BrahMos missile, which is a joint venture between India and Russia.

• Philippines signed a $375 million deal with India in January 2022 for three batteries of the shore-based, anti-ship version of the BrahMos.

Juniper Green Energy, Tata Power sign PPA for 85 MW hybrid project in Maharashtra

• Juniper Green Energy is an independent renewable energy power producer and operator of solar, wind and hybrid power projects.

• Juniper Green Energy has signed an agreement with Tata Power for the development of an 85-megawatt hybrid power project in Maharashtra.

• It will utilize both wind and solar resources by combining 51 MW of wind energy and 34 MW of solar power.

BharatPe Introduces 'BharatPe One', an All-in-One Payment Device

• BharatPe One provides real-time transaction updates and instant voice payment confirmations, offering an improved payment experience for both merchants and customers.

• BharatPe plans to launch BharatPe One in over 100 cities in the first phase, with further expansion to 450+ cities in the next 6 months.

• Indian fintech major BharatPe launched BharatPe One, an all-in-one payment product that integrates POS (point of sale), QR code, and speaker into one device.

• The product is designed to streamline payment transactions for merchants, offering a versatile range of payment acceptance options, including dynamic and static QR codes, tap-and-pay, and traditional card payments across various debit and credit cards.

APPOINTMENT& DEATH

First Woman Appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University in Over a Century

• Naima Khatoon has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for a term of 5 years.

• She was a lecturer at the National University of Rwanda in Central Africa for an academic year.

• She was appointed after obtaining approval from President Draupadi Murmu, who is the Visitor of the University.

• AMU was established in 1875 as Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College and became Aligarh Muslim University after the Aligarh Muslim University Act in 1920.

Appointments of Multiple Officers to Joint Secretary/Equivalent Positions

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointments of several officers for Joint Secretary / Joint Secretary equivalent-level posts.

• Muthukrishnan Sankaranarayanan (IAS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), replacing Richa Bagla (IAS).

• He will serve for a combined tenure of 7 years, up to October 24, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

• Shobhit Gupta (IRSEE) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, replacing Satyendra Kumar Mishra (IRS).

• His tenure is up to March 1, 2025, or until further orders, for an overall tenure of 5 years.

• Vimal Anand (IRS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, replacing Nidhi Mani Tripathi (IAS).

• Monalisa Dash (IFoS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDNER), replacing Harpreet Singh (IPoS).

• Rahul Jain (IAS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the 16th Finance Commission.

• Ranjit Singh (IA&AS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, replacing Sanoj Kumar Jha.

• Rajeev Kumar (IOFS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, replacing Sumita Singh (CSS).

• Vrunda Manohar Desai (IRS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, replacing Vikram Sahay (IRS).

• Navin Agarwal (IRPS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Investment & Public Asset Management, replacing Parama Sen (IA&AS).

• His tenure is up to March 1, 2025, or until further orders, for an overall tenure of 5 years.

• Mahendra Kumar (IRSEE) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

• Vivek Kumar Bajpai (IRSME) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Mines, replacing UC Joshi (IRTS).

• Rajiv Manjhi (CSS) has been appointed as Director at Institute of Secretariat Training & Management (ISTM) under the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), replacing Sumita Singh (CSS).

• Jai Prakash Pandey (IRPS) has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), replacing Pushpendra Rajput (IAS).

• Abhishek Bhagotia (IAS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in Lokpal, replacing Navin Agarwal (IRPS).

• Lal Chhandama (CSS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Department of Rural Development, replacing Abhishek Bhagotia (IAS).

• Debolina Thakur (IA&AS) has been appointed as Joint Secretary & Financial Adviser in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, replacing Sanjay Pandey (ICAS).

• Rahul Kashyap (CSS) has been appointed as Secretary in the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) under the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, replacing RK Khandelwal (IAS).

Father of Indian psychoanalysis Sudhir Kakar Passed away

• Sudhir Kakar was a novelist and author in the fields of cultural psychology and the psychology of religion.

• Sudhir Kakar, India’s foremost psychoanalyst who helped readers understand Indian men and women like none other, passed away at the age of 85.

• Kakar was honoured with numerous awards for his work, including the theKardiner Award of Columbia University, Germany’s Goethe Medal and the Distinguished Service Award of the Indo-American Psychiatric Association.

SPORTS AFFAIRS

SJVN CMD felicitates the winners of SJVN’s Inter-Projects Sports Meet 2023-24

• This SJVN’s Inter-Projects Sports Meet 2023-24 is held at Corporate Headquarters, Shimla.

• The event marked the culmination of a series of sports events that commenced in November 2023 and spanned till April 2024.

• Inter Project Sports Meet 2023-24 was organised from November 2023 till April, 2024 and comprised of eight events viz Volleyball, Football, Cricket, Kabaddi, Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess and Carrom for Men and four events for Women viz Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess and Carrom.

•Inter Project Sports Meet concluded with the Chess Tournament that was held on April 21 to 22.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Malaria Day 2024

• World Malaria Day is observed on April 25 all over the world.

• World Malaria Day will reinforce the Global Fund Investment (GFI) using the themes of advancing quality, building resilience, and ending malaria.

• This day aims to increase awareness and knowledge about malaria and to promote the implementation of national malaria-control strategies throughout the year, including community-based initiatives for prevention and treatment in areas where malaria is prevalent.