Table of Contents
National News
Gopi Thotakura: First Indian Pilot to Embark on Space Tourism with Blue Origin
Gopi Thotakura is making history as the first Indian pilot to venture into space as a tourist, joining Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. His selection highlights a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey, marking a new era for space tourism.
International News
Russia’s Successful Angara-A5 Rocket Test Launch
Russia successfully tested its Angara-A5 space rocket for the first time on April 11, 2024. The test launch was conducted from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East of Russia. In fact, rocket test launches on April 9 and 10 were cancelled due to a malfunction in the pressurization system and a problem with the engine launch-control system.
MUFG to Acquire 20% Stake in HDB Financial Services, Valuing at $9-10 Billion Pre-IPO
In a significant move, Japan’s MUFG is set to purchase a 20% stake in HDB Financial Services, a subsidiary of India’s HDFC Bank. The deal is poised at a valuation of $9-10 billion before the initial public offering (IPO), making it one of the largest transactions in India’s shadow banking sector. HDB Financial, a non-deposit-taking lender, is expected to command a valuation ranging from $9 billion to $12 billion during its IPO, contingent on prevailing market conditions.
Banking News
Neobank Revolut India Receives In-Principle Approval for PPI License from RBI
In a significant development, Revolut India, backed by Tiger Global and Softbank, has secured in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI). This approval marks a crucial step for Revolut in expanding its presence in the Indian market, enabling the provision of multi-currency forex cards and cross-border remittance services. With this license, Revolut aims to offer Indian consumers a comprehensive range of international and domestic payment solutions on a single digital platform.
Business News
Adani Green Energy Builds World’s Largest Renewable Energy Park in Khavda, Gujarat
Adani Green Energy Limited, an Adani Group company, is building the world’s largest renewable energy park in Khavda, Kutch district of Gujarat. The park is spread over 538 square kilometers, which is about five times larger than the total size of the French capital, Paris.
Ashneer Grover Ventures into Fintech with ZeroPe Medical Loan App
Ashneer Grover is the co-founder and former managing director of the fintech company BharatPe. After his high-profile exit from BharatPe in 2022, Grover has now ventured into the fintech space again with a new app called ZeroPe.
Economy News
Moody’s Analytics Forecasts India’s Economy to Grow by 6.1% in 2024
Moody’s Analytics projects a modest uptick in India’s economic growth for 2024, estimating a 6.1% expansion, slightly higher than the 6% projected earlier in March. Despite the growth, it remains lower than the 7.7% recorded in 2023. The report highlights concerns regarding inflation, citing India’s recent consumer price inflation hovering around 5% with no clear evidence of abating pressure.
Appointments News
Sachidananda Mohanty Appointed as Member, University Grants Commission (UGC)
Sachidananda Mohanty has been appointed as a Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for a period of three years with immediate effect. The appointment was made by the Ministry of Higher Education, Government of India, as per a gazette notification.
Jagjit Pavadia Re-elected to International Narcotics Control Board
India has been elected to several key bodies at the United Nations. This includes a significant victory by its nominee, Jagjit Pavadia, who was re-elected for a third term to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).
Awards News
Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni Honored with American President’s Volunteer Award 2024
The American President’s Volunteer Service Award was established in 2003 during George Bush’s presidency. The award is given to individuals who have provided at least 500 hours of voluntary service in the United States and whose work has positively impacted communities and inspired those around them.
Prestigious John Dirks Gairdner Global Health Award for Dr. Gagandeep Kang
Dr. Gagandeep Kang, an Indian researcher, has been awarded the 2024 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for her achievements in global health research.
Ranks and Reports News
India Overtakes China in Digital Services Exports: Key Findings from WTO Report
In 2023, India emerged as a frontrunner in digital services exports, surpassing China, as outlined in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) report. The report highlights significant growth in digitally delivered services globally, with India’s exports reaching $257 billion, marking a 17 percent increase from the previous year. This growth outpaced that of Germany and China, which registered only 4 percent each.
World Cybercrime Index Unveiled: Russia and Ukraine Top List
A newly developed World Cybercrime Index sheds light on the origins and prevalence of cybercrime across the globe. Compiled by a team of researchers including Miranda Bruce, Jonathan Lusthaus, Ridhi Kashyap, Nigel Phair, and Federico Varese, the index draws insights from surveys conducted among leading cybercrime experts worldwide. Despite challenges in pinpointing cybercriminal locations due to sophisticated masking techniques, the index identifies key countries where cybercrime thrives, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted preventive measures. India secures the 10th position, scoring notably in impact, professionalism, and technical skills.
Important Days
World Chagas Disease Day 2024, Date, Theme, History and Significance
The World Health Organization (WHO) observes World Chagas Disease Day every April 14th to raise awareness about the neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people, especially in Latin America. The 72nd World Health Assembly dedicated this day to the disease in 2019.
13th April CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 | ALL EXAMS IMP. CURRENT AFFAIRS | ASHISH GAUTAM SIR
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