Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
Former Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj, now head of the US-India Tax Forum, brings extensive finance and taxation expertise to the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF). Appointed after serving as an advisor, Bajaj’s leadership aims to strengthen economic ties between the US and India.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) April 2024 outlook revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 7%, up from 6.7%. ADB reported India’s 7.6% GDP growth in 2023-24, projecting 7.2% growth in 2025-26. Reserve Bank of India also forecasts 7% growth for FY25. Despite global economic challenges, India is anticipated to lead major economies in FY 2025, fueled by domestic demand, government policies, investments, and export gains in electronics and services.

Notes:
A recent report by Switzerland’s EA Earth Action reveals India as one of the top twelve contributors to 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste. Released on April 12, 2024, the Plastic Overshoot Day report highlights Eritrea as the worst in the Mismanaged Waste Index, with Bermuda at the bottom. India’s per capita plastic waste production is the world’s lowest at 8 kg per year, yet its expected mismanaged waste in 2024 is “very high” at 7.4 million tons.

Notes:
In a recent study, German and British scientists proposed a radical explanation for the Hubble tension. This refers to a conflict between measurements of the universe’s expansion rate, known as the Hubble constant (H0). Determined through the cosmic distance ladder and the cosmic microwave background (CMB), discrepancies exist. The tension, indicating potential unknown physics or measurement errors, underscores the importance of resolving it for a deeper understanding of the universe’s expansion and underlying principles.

Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium, Himachal Pradesh becomes the first BCCI-accredited venue with a groundbreaking ‘hybrid pitch’ by Netherlands-based SISGrass. This innovation combines natural turf with 5% polymer fiber, endorsed by the ICC for T20 and 50-over matches. The pitch promises resilience, durability, and consistent bounce, easing maintenance burdens. The Universal machine, employed in Dharamshala, will replicate this technology in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, following successful installations at iconic English grounds like Lord’s and The Oval.

Notes:
World Hemophilia Day, observed annually on April 17, raises awareness about hemophilia and bleeding disorders. It highlights the rare blood disorder’s impact on clotting and prolonged bleeding due to clotting factor deficiency. The 2024 theme, “Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders,” underscores universal treatment access regardless of condition, gender, age, or location, aiming for inclusive care for individuals with inherited bleeding disorders and honoring community volunteers.

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 Supreme Court recently commended Railways for implementing the Kavach anti-collision system. Developed indigenously by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry, Kavach is a state-of-the-art ATP system meeting SIL-4 standards. Utilizing high frequency radio communication, it prevents collisions by updating train movement continuously. It’s the most cost-effective collision protection system, enforcing signal adherence, activating brakes if needed, and aiding operations in adverse weather with SOS functionality.

Notes:
New Zealand and the Cook Islands signed a treaty recognizing whales as legal persons, following New Zealand’s declaration of the Whanganui River as a legal entity. Legal persons, whether human or non-human entities, possess rights akin to individuals, including the ability to sue, be sued, own property, and enter contracts. This marks a significant step in environmental and legal spheres, acknowledging the intrinsic value of non-human life forms and natural entities.

Notes:
Recently discovered in the Laccadive Sea near India’s southwest coast, three new fish species—Jansen’s, checkerboard, and moon—are capable of using tools. They utilize live or dead coral structures as anvils to crack open sea urchin shells for food, showcasing specialized behaviors. This behavior challenges the perception of fish intelligence. The Laccadive Sea, also known as the Lakshadweep Sea, borders India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, encompassing 303,476 square miles within the Indian Ocean.