25th April, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
KABIL inks MoU with CSIR-NGRI for Advancing Geophysical Investigations in Critical and Strategic Minerals Sector

• KhanijBidesh India Limited (KABIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) to foster a long-term collaboration in the field of geophysical investigations to bolster its ongoing projects and activities in critical and strategic minerals.
• KABIL is a Joint Venture company of three public sector undertakings - National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL), under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, Government of India.

REC Limited to extend term loan of ₹ 1, 869 crores for Kiru Hydro Electric Project in Kishtwar, J&K

• REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise and leading NBFC under the Ministry of Power, has signed an agreement with Chenab Valley Power Project Private Limited (CVPPPL), under which REC will provide CVPPL with a financial assistance of ₹ 1,869.265 crores as Term Loan. The loan will be utilized for Development, Construction and Operation of the Greenfield 4 x156 MW Kiru Hydro Electric Project on River Chenab, in Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir.
• The 624 MW Kiru Hydro Electric Project is a run-of-river scheme, which envisages construction of dam of height 135 metres and an underground Power House with 4 units of 156 MW each.

10th Round Of India-Japan Consultations On Disarmament, Non-Proliferation And Export Control Held In Tokyo

• The 10th Round of India-Japan Consultations on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Export Control was held in Tokyo. The two sides exchanged views on developments in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, outer space security, non-proliferation issues, conventional weapons and export control.
• The Indian delegation was led by the Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, MuanpuiiSaiawi.
• The Japanese delegation was led by the Director General for Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Katsuro Kitagawa.

India’s Largest Climate Clock Unveiled at CSIR HQ for Earth Day Celebration

• In celebration of Earth Day, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) recently unveiled India’s largest Climate Clock at its headquarters in New Delhi. This initiative underscores CSIR’s commitment to raising awareness about climate change and its adverse impacts.
• CSIR was founded in 1942 by the Government of India with the primary goal of fostering scientific research and industrial development within the nation.
• CSIR has made substantial contributions to numerous sectors through the development of pioneering technologies, industrial processes, and products. Notable achievements include the creation of India’s first computer, the Param series of supercomputers, and the discovery of novel drugs and medicinal plants.

India’s Gita Sabharwal Appointed as UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia

• The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has appointed Gita Sabharwal of India as the new UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia. bringing with her nearly three decades of experience in development, supporting climate transition, sustainable peace, governance, and social policy, while leveraging digital technology and data to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The UN Resident Coordinator is the highest-ranking representative of the UN Development System at the country level. Resident Coordinators lead UN country teams and coordinate UN support to countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Naima Khatoon Breaks Glass Ceiling, Becomes First Woman Vice-Chancellor of AMU

• In a historic move, President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Professor Naima Khatoon as the first woman Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), breaking a century-old glass ceiling.
• The appointment, seen as part of the BJP government’s outreach to Muslim women, comes days ahead of the second phase of the Lok Sabha election.
• The Aligarh Muslim Teachers’ Association (AMUTA), which had earlier questioned the selection process, has acknowledged Khatoon’s appointment and expressed hope that she will be fair, transparent, and impartial. The association has pledged to continue its role as a “loyal watchdog” of the institution.

Also Read: April 19th Current Affairs GK quiz: Top GK Questions and Answers

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INTERNATIONAL
US President Joe Biden Sign Bill That Could Ban TikTok

• US President Joe Biden has signed the bill that could ban TikTok. China’s ByteDance has been given nine months to remove the tik-tok app from the market or sell the app to a US company.
• The law was passed in response to worries that TikTok might provide the Chinese authorities access to user data. The US Senate approved the controversial landmark bill.
• TikTok called the law unconstitutional and said, it will challenge the same in court.
• The bill was passed as part of a package of four bills including military aid for Ukraine, Israel and other US partners in the Indo-Pacific region and got positive vote of 79 Senators.

US President Joe Biden Signs 95 Billion US Dollar Package Of Aid For Ukraine, Israel And Taiwan

• US President Joe Biden has signed a 95 billion US dollar package of aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It was passed in a bipartisan vote of 79-18 in the Senate.
• The aid package worth 95  billion US dollar in total, includes nearly 61 billion dollar in aid to Ukraine, 26 billion dollar for Israel and 8 billion dollar for the Indo-Pacific.
• The package also includes a bill that could eventually lead to the banning of TikTok in the US, giving Chinese parent company ByteDance roughly nine months to sell it or else it will be banned from app stores in the US.

Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference: Bhutan’s Earth Day Initiative

• On Earth Day 2024, Bhutan is spearheading the Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference. With a goal of mobilizing $1 billion over a decade, the conference aims to preserve tiger habitats critical for biodiversity and supporting millions of people.
• Under the patronage of Bhutan’s Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, the conference, co-organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Tiger Conservation Coalition, will spotlight sustainable finance, UN’s Global Biodiversity Framework, and public-private partnerships vital for tiger conservation.
• Formed ahead of the 2022 Year of the Tiger, the coalition, comprising leading organizations like IUCN, WWF, and UNDP, supports tiger range countries in ambitious conservation efforts, ensuring impact for both nature and communities.

ECONOMY
RBI Releases New Guidelines for ARCs Effective April 24, 2024

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a comprehensive master direction for asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), which will come into effect from April 24, 2024. These guidelines aim to enhance the regulatory framework for ARCs and ensure their financial stability and effectiveness in resolving distressed assets.
• ARCs are required to maintain a minimum capital of Rs 300 crore, a significant increase from the previous requirement of Rs 100 crore set on October 11, 2022.
• ARCs with a minimum Net Owned Fund (NOF) of Rs 1000 crore are eligible to act as resolution applicants.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Department of Science & Technology empowers Indigenous Space Innovation

• As a significant step towards indigenization in the space sector and aligning with its mission of advancing indigenous capabilities, The Technology Development Board (TDB) is proud to announce its financial support for the project titled "Space Grade Solar Array Fabrication and Test Facility" by M/s Dhruva Space Private Limited, Hyderabad. TDB has sanctioned financial assistance for this space startup, demonstrating its confidence in the project's potential to drive technological advancements in the space industry.
• With TDB’s backing, Dhruva Space is undertaking an ambitious initiative to develop and commercialize space-grade solar array fabrication and testing processes tailored for spacecraft applications. The primary objective of this project is to pioneer technological innovations in solar panel manufacturing to meet the rigorous demands of on-orbit usage.
• The project entails several key innovations, including the adoption of new materials like carbon fiber and resins for substrate-side IP to enhance performance and durability. It also focuses on process innovations in solar cell assembly (SCA) through novel stringing and bonding techniques. Dhruva Space aims to manufacture high-efficiency solar panels using triple-junction GaAs technology, targeting an efficiency of up to 30%. Additionally, a specialized test facility will be developed to ensure compliance and certification of space-grade solar arrays.
• Furthermore, the project encompasses a series of space-qualified processes, including substrate fabrication, precise cell welding, secure cell bonding, integration of electrical harnesses, and comprehensive testing and evaluation. Mechanical tests will cover vibration, shock, and full-panel assessments, while electrical evaluations will utilize a Large Area Pulsed Sun Simulator for thorough testing. Environmental testing will include thermo-vacuum chamber conditions and acoustic testing, with zero-gravity (Zero G) deployment simulations to assess performance in space environments.

Published date : 26 Apr 2024 03:47PM