Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania recently broke the men’s discus throw world record at the Oklahoma Throws Series in Ramona, USA, on April 14, 2024, with a throw of 74.35 meters. He surpassed Jurgen Schult’s 38-year-old record of 74.08 meters. Cuban Yaime Perez also impressed with a 73.09-meter throw, maintaining the women’s record since 1989. Alekna’s record-breaking throw came on his fifth attempt, securing his place in athletics history.

Notes:
ISRO announced a significant advancement in rocket engine technology, unveiling a lightweight Carbon-Carbon (C-C) nozzle developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). This breakthrough promises to boost payload capacity by enhancing crucial parameters like thrust levels, specific impulse, and thrust-to-weight ratios. Leveraging advanced materials such as Carbon-Carbon composites, VSSC crafted a nozzle divergent with exceptional properties, paving the way for improved launch vehicle performance.

Notes:
The IMF raised India’s GDP growth projection for FY 2024-25 to 6.8%, up 30 basis points from its previous forecast. India’s growth is anticipated to stay strong due to robust domestic demand and a growing working-age population. Globally, growth is projected to continue at 3.2% for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26. India retains its status as the world’s fastest-growing economy, outpacing China’s growth projection of 4.6% in the same period.

Notes:
Bengaluru hosts the inaugural international workshop on ‘Emerging Technologies & Challenges for Exoskeleton’ organized by DRDO. Inaugurated by Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of Department of Defence R&D, the event underscores exoskeleton technology’s significance in military and civilian realms. Lt. Gen. JP Mathew highlights its history, challenges, and dual-use potential. Talks by experts from ETH Zurich and Northwestern University delve into technical aspects. Dr. UK Singh emphasizes collaborative efforts to address challenges in developing future exoskeleton technologies.

Notes:
Scientists recently found 160 marine species in the Salas y Gomez ridge, an oceanic ridge in the Southeastern Pacific. This region, isolated by the Atacama Trench and the Humboldt Current System, boasts high marine endemism. Most waters are beyond national jurisdiction, leaving 73% of the area unprotected. The discovery, including at least 50 new species, was made during an expedition to Rapa Nui (Easter Island), fueling consideration for high seas marine protection.

Notes:
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) achieved a record 125 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers in FY 2023-24, comprising 86 Unilateral APAs (UAPAs) and 39 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs). This marks a 31% increase from the previous year. Total APAs since inception reached 641 (506 UAPAs, 135 BAPAs). The highest number of BAPAs was signed, enhancing tax certainty for nine years and easing business for Multinational Enterprises with cross-border transactions.

Notes:
The 16th World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2024 took place from April 16–18, 2024 at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The summit focused on the global energy transition, investment in clean energy, and a sustainable future. The summit featured a panel of women entrepreneurs leading decarbonization innovation. Masdar’s parent company Mubadala, along with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and holding company ADQ, also agreed to form a hydrogen alliance to produce green and blue variants of the fuel.

Notes:
India delivered BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines under a $375 million deal signed in 2022. BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India’s DRDO, signed the contract with the Philippines in January 2022 for the supply of Shore Based Anti-Ship Missile System. India’s arms sales this year totaled Rs 21,000 crore, according to Prime Minister of India.

Notes:
During his visit to Iran, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed establishing a long-term cooperation framework for Chabahar port with Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash. Chabahar, Iran’s first deepwater port at the Gulf of Oman, is crucial for global trade. It’s part of the proposed International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), with two ports: Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari. India’s investment is focused on Shahid Beheshti port.

Notes:
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) won the ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’ award by Skytrax at the Passenger Terminal EXPO 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 17. This highlights the staff’s exceptional service quality across various fronts, recognized for attitude, friendliness, and efficiency. The accolade underscores their dedication in enhancing the overall passenger experience, covering roles from customer help to security and food services.