1 to 15 April 2024

st th
Tripura now has 4 GI Protected products
• Three traditional products from Tripura
have recently received Geographical
Indication (GI) tag.
• The products are Matabari pera prasad
and Rignai pachara textiles.
• The ‘Matabari pera prasad’ is a sweet
offering at the renowned Tripureswari
temple in Tripura.
Hockey India Awards 2023
• Mens Player of the Year:
• Hardik Singh, the vice-captain of the Indian mens team, was named the
Player of the Year. He was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the
Tokyo 2023 Olympics and the gold medal-winning team at the Asian
Games 2023.
• Womens Player of the Year:
• Salima Tete, an Olympian, was awarded the Player of the Year for her
role in the Indian womens team that won the bronze medal at the Asian
Games in Hangzhou last year.
Odisha Day- Utkal Divas
• Odisha was officially established as a
separate state on April 1, 1936.
• The first state in India to be formed on a
linguistic basis (during British Era).
• After independence, Andhra State was first
to be formed on linguistic basis.
• Odisha Day, or Utkala Dibasa, is celebrated
annually on April 1 to commemorate the
states formation.
Formation of Odisha State

• After years of struggle and political mobilization, the Orissa Province

was finally established on April 1, 1936.
• In 2011, the Orissa state was officially renamed as Odisha, and the
language was renamed as Odia, following the passage of the Orissa
(Alteration of Name) Act, 2010 and the Constitution (Ninety-sixth
Amendment) Act, 2011, in the Parliament of India.
Tiger Conservation Conference 2024
• Bhutan is hosting the Sustainable Finance for
Tiger Landscapes Conference on Earth Day
2024.
• 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.
Global Tiger Population

• In the last year, The International Union for Conservation of

Nature announced that the global tiger population had stabilized
and potentially increased.
• Data suggested a potential 40% increase in tiger numbers, from 3,200
in 2015 to 4,500 in 2022, despite extreme threats.
• This represented the first potential climb in the species’ numbers
in decades.
The status of tiger conservation in India
• India has made significant strides in tiger conservation, with the latest
figures showing an increase in their numbers.
• Tiger population rose to 3,167 in 2022, up from 2,967 in 2018
• India hosts around 75% of the global tiger population
• Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers
• Project Tiger, launched in 1973, has played a crucial role
• Challenges include habitat loss, poaching, and human-animal conflicts
Clean Economy Investor Forum (CEIF)

• Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity to organise Clean

Economy Investor Forum in Singapore.
• Led by – Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is USA
led alternative to China’s economic statecraft in the region.
• Launched in – The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity
(IPEF) was launched in May 2022.
KUSH
• Sierra-leone (West African country) has
recently declared a national emergency
following the craze behind the psychoactive
drug, KUSH.
• It is a narcotic drug first appeared in Sierra
Leone in 2018.
• It is made from a variety of toxic substances
including human bones.
• The drug gives a hypnotic high that can last
several hours.
• Sierra Leone currently has only one
functioning drug rehabilitation centre in
Freetown, the capital of the country.
‘Shakti a festival of music and dance’
• Sangeet Natak Akademi is organizing
the festival under the title ‘Shakti a festival
of music and dance’ during the holy
Navaratri at 7 different Shaktipeeths.
• The festival is organized under the series
of Temple Festivals, Kala Pravah.
• Organized by - Sangeet
Natak Akademi, Ministry of Culture.
• 7 Sakthipeeths
Global Hepatitis Report, 2024
• The World Health Organisation recently flagged that Hepatitis is the 2nd
leading infectious cause of death globally, with 1.3 million deaths per
year.
• Findings - This report presents the latest estimates on the disease
burden and the coverage of essential viral hepatitis services from 187
countries across the world.
• The report also pointed out disparities in pricing, service delivery, and
funding.
Global Hepatitis Report, 2024
• The disease increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022,
of these, 83% were caused by hepatitis B, and 17% by hepatitis C.
• Every day, 3,500 people are dying globally due to hepatitis B and
C infections.
• Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan,
the Philippines, Russia, and Vietnam collectively shoulder nearly 2/3rd
of the global burden of hepatitis B and C.
C-Dome
• Israel for the 1st time deployed the C-
Dome, against a “suspicious” target that
entered the country’s airspace near the
southern city of Eilat recently.
• The C-Dome is a naval version of the land-
based shorter-range Iron Dome air
defence system of Israel.
• It is used to shield against rocket and
missile attacks.
• It was first unveiled in 2014 and declared
operational in 2022.
Parivartan Chintan
• Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan to
chair maiden ‘Parivartan Chintan’ being
held in New Delhi.
• The ‘Parivartan Chintan’ will be the 1st ever
conference of the heads of all Tri- Services
(Indian Army, Navy and
Airforce) Institutions.
• Hosted by - Ministry of Defence.
• It aims at generating new and fresh ideas,
initiatives and reforms to propel jointness
and integration efforts among the tri-
services.
Ural River & Ural Mountains
• The Ural River swelled several metres due
to melt water bursting through a dam
barrier in the city of Orsk, Russia.
• Ural Mountains
• A mountain range in Eurasia that runs
through Russia and Kazakhstan.
• World's oldest mountains, formed by
continental collisions 250–300 million
years ago.
• Form part of the traditional boundary
between Europe and Asia.
World Health Day, 2024
• World Health Day is celebrated every year on
April 7, to commemorate the founding
anniversary of the World Health Organization
(WHO) in 1948.
• Aim - To spread awareness about various
health issues and highlight areas of concern
such as mental health, maternal and child
care, and climate change.
• Theme, 2024 - ‘My Health, My Right.’
Exercise Gagan Shakti-24
• It is a Pan-India exercise to test capabilities
and preparedness for high-intensity
operations of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The drills are being carried out in a realistic
environment.
• ‘Gagan Shakti’ was last held in 2018.
• Other demonstration Exercises - Vayu
Shakti, Bharat Shakti, Tarang Shakti.
Agni-Prime Missile
• Missile Agni-Prime successfully flight-tested by
Strategic Forces Command & DRDO off the
Odisha coast.
• The ‘Agni Prime’ or ‘Agni-P’ is a nuclear-
capable new-generation advanced variant of
the Agni class of missiles.
• It is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of
missiles.
• Developed by - Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO).
Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA)
• It is an integral component of the Ayushman
Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
(AB-PMJAY).
• About - Ayushman Bharat Health Account
(ABHA) is an account/ number used to link
all the health records of a person.
• Aim - To create a digital health ecosystem &
aims to promote digitization of healthcare.
• Ministry –Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare.
• Any individual can enroll in Ayushman
Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to generate a
Health ID or ABHA, free of cost.
Project Akashteer
• It is a cutting-edge initiative designed to
automate air defence control and reporting
processes by digitising the entire process.
• The project aimed at enhancing the
operational efficiency and integration of
the Army's air defence mechanisms.
• Developed by - Bharat Electronics Limited
(BEL) as part of the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'
initiative.
• Indian Army has declared the year 2024 as
the "Year of Tech Absorption'
UN Commission on the Status of Women
(CSW)
• Saudi Arabia has been chosen to chair the UN
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW),
despite widespread criticism due to its poor
record on women’s rights.
• The appointment of Saudi Ambassador
Abdulaziz Alwasil has sparked outrage from
human rights groups.
About:
• India will be a member of the prestigious body
for four years from 2021 to 2025.
• A functional commission of the ECOSOC, it was
established by ECOSOC resolution 11(II) of 21
June 1946.
• 45 member states of the United Nations serve
as members of the Commission at any one
time.
Miami Open
• The top-seeded duo of Rohan Bopanna from
India and Matthew Ebden from Australia
won the Men’s Doubles Title at the Miami
Open, a prestigious ATP Masters tennis
tournament.
• This Miami Open triumph marks the second
title of the season for Bopanna and Ebden.
• Earlier this year, they won the Australian
Open in Melbourne.
Miami Open

• The Miami Open (also known as the Miami

Masters and as the Miami Open) is an annual
professional tennis tournament held in Miami
Gardens, Florida, United States.
• It is played on outdoor hard courts at the Hard Rock
Stadium and is held in late March and early April.
New Chairman of the Automotive
Tyre Manufacturers’ Association
• Arnab Banerjee, the Managing
Director & CEO of CEAT Ltd., has
been elected as the new
Chairman of the Automotive Tyre
Manufacturers’ Association
(ATMA).
• Arnab Banerjee joined CEAT in
2005 as the Vice President-Sales
and Marketing.
Novak Djokovic
• Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam
champion, continues to break records on the
ATP Tour.
• As of this week, he begins his 419th week as
the World No. 1, extending his huge record.
• Since turning 30 in 2017, the Serbian has won
an impressive 31 tour-level titles,
including 12 Grand Slams, 10 ATP Masters
1000 victories, and two ATP Finals triumphs.
India’s top cargo-handling major port
• Paradip Port Authority in Odisha surpassed
Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla as
India’s top cargo-handling major port in
2023-24.
• Handling 145.38 MMT of cargo, it registered
a 7.4% growth from the previous year.
• It’s capable of handling 289 MMT.
Paradip Port
• Situated at the confluence of
the Mahanadi river and the Bay of Bengal,
in Odisha.
• It is administered by the Paradip Port
Trust (PPT), administering under the
Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 functioning
under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways.
• PPT was commissioned in 1966 as
a mono commodity port for export of iron
ore.
KSTAR
• South Korea’s KSTAR fusion reactor that is also called as Korean
artificial sun, operating at the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy.
• Achieved a breakthrough by sustaining plasma at 100 million degrees
Celsius for 48 seconds, setting a new world record.
• This surpasses its own previous record and marks progress toward
clean, limitless energy through nuclear fusion.
• Director Si-Woo Yoon highlights the significance of stable, high-
temperature plasmas for future fusion reactors.
Perungamanallur massacre
• Political outfits and leaders honored the
104th anniversary of the Perungamanallur
massacre in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
• On April 3, 1920, 16 Piramalai Kallar
community members were killed, protesting
the oppressive Criminal Tribes Act of 1911.
• The massacre symbolizes resistance against
colonialism. Britishers used the Act for
fingerprinting and population control.
Peter Pellegrini
• Peter Pellegrini, backed by Slovakia’s
nationalist-left government, wins the
presidential election, defeating liberal
Ivan Korčok.
• With 53.85% of the vote, Pellegrini
pledges to maintain Slovakia’s peace
stance.
• As president, Pellegrini will appoint the
prime minister, swear in the government,
and influence judicial appointments.
‘Yoga Mahotsav’
• The ‘Yoga Mahotsav’ at Wadia College Sports
Ground, Pune, marked the 75-day
countdown to the International Day of Yoga.
• Organized jointly by Morarji Desai National
Institute of Yoga and National Institute of
Naturopathy, Govt. of India.
International Day of Yoga

• The United Nations declared 21st June as the International Day of

Yoga in 2014.
• The date of 21st June was suggested as it is the longest day of the year in
the Northern Hemisphere having special significance in many parts of
the world.
• The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite,
symbolising the union of body and consciousness.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) mentions yoga as a means to
improve health in its Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030.
KarmaLife
• SIDBI has entered into an agreement with
KarmaLife, a fintech platform, to utilize its
technology for providing micro loans to gig
workers.
• This collaboration aims to support the
financial inclusion of gig workers and enhance
their access to formal institutional credit.
SIDBI
• SIDBI is the principal development financial institution for
promotion, financing and development of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME) sector in India.
• It was established on April 2, 1990, through an Act of Parliament (thus,
it is statutory body).
• It is headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• SIDBI aims to facilitate and strengthen credit flow to MSMEs and address
both financial and developmental gaps in MSME eco-system across the
country.
Simon Harris
• Simon Harris, aged 37, has been elected as
Ireland’s youngest-ever Prime Minister,
succeeding Leo Varadkar.
• Harris’s nomination was confirmed by
parliament with a vote of 88-69.
• He is a former health and higher education
minister known for his role in Ireland’s
initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
• Close to 100 hectares of forest were recently destroyed by fire in the
Sulthan Bathery forest range within the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
(WWS), located in Wayanad, Kerala.
• Established in 1973, the sanctuary spans approximately 344.44 sq. km
and is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• It shares borders with protected areas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• The sanctuary is home to various tribes and boasts diverse flora,
including teak, rosewood, eucalyptus, and silver oak.
PM-SUMAN Scheme

• PM-SUMAN – Prime Minister Surakshit

Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) - ‘An
Initiative for Zero Preventable Maternal
and Newborn Deaths’.
• It is a maternity benefit program that
provides affordable healthcare services to
pregnant women and newborns.
• Launched by - Ministry of Union Health
and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2019.
PM-SUMAN Scheme
• Eligibility
• Pregnant women – Pregnant women from all categories,
including APL and BPL, are eligible to get the benefits.
• Newborns – Newborns aged 0 to 6 months old will be able to avail
the benefits of this scheme.
• Lactating mothers - After delivery, lactating mothers up to 6
months from delivery are also eligible for this scheme.