Current Affairs Today

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 18 April 2024, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2024 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Govt extends Deadline for Linking ABHA ID with CGHS ID The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has extended the dealine for linking the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Beneficiary ID to 120 days with effect from 30th June 2024.

• The deadline for creating ABHA ID has been extended for a time period of 90 days w.e.f. 30th June 2024.

Objective:
The move to link ABHA-ID with CGHS-ID is aimed at creating a digital health identification of the beneficiaries and storing their digital health records.
Note:
i.Kiosks will be operational at all wellness centers by June 30, facilitating CGHS beneficiaries.
ii.Beneficiaries can visit wellness centers to update mobile number; correct errors (name, birth year, gender) and link CGHS beneficiary ID to ABHA number from 1 July 2024.
ABHA ID:
i.It is a unique health ID based on Aadhaar, facilitating access to health records. ABHA acts as a proxy for Aadhaar in the healthcare domain.
ii.The MoHFW aims to allocate ABHA ID and benefits for all Indians at every health facility.
iii.It facilitates the storage of health records against a unique number, ensuring accessibility to patients/CGHS beneficiaries.
iv.It is not a replacement of current CGHS services or a replacement of the current CGHS Health Management Information System (HMIS).

• It is an addition/add-on to the current services offered by CGHS.

Benefits of ABHA Implementation:
i.Prevents repetition of tests by facilitating the availability of health records on mobile phones.
ii.Implementation across various health screenings and examinations, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
iii.ABHA is not linked to any monetary or fiscal scheme but is integrated into various government health programs.

IIT Madras Launches India’s 1st Mobile Facility for Medical Devices Calibration
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) launched India’s 1st medical devices calibration facility on wheels, developed by IIT Madras under its ‘Anaivarukkum IITM‘ (IITM for all) Initiatives.

• The mobile facility aims to provide affordable, quality calibration services nationwide; bridging the healthcare gap between urban and rural areas;
• It will also help to test and maintain medical devices that are used in a wide range of hospitals including those in villages at their doorsteps.
• Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities meeting international standards, the mobile unit guarantees the safety and functionality testing of medical devices.
• Accurate medical device calibration for precise diagnosis and treatment, reducing costs and time associated with calibration and transportation.

Note: This initiative aligns with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, Good Health and well-being.

Indian Army Conducts ATGM Training Exercise in Sikkim
The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps conducted a training exercise of Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) at a super-high altitude area of 17,000 feet in Sikkim.

• The Missile fire Detachments from Eastern Command‘s Mechanised and Infantry Units participated in the exercise, which emphasised live fire scenarios against both moving and stationary targets to replicate combat conditions.
• The exercise was conducted with the aim of “Ek Missile Ek Tank” and highlighted the accuracy and effectiveness of the ATGM system in high-altitude environments.

Note: Trishakti Corps is a key military formation of the Indian Army, which is headquartered at Sukna in West Bengal and operates along the eastern borders of India.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India’s Population Expected to Have Touched 1.44 billion Mark leaving China Behind– UNFPA Report
According to the report released by the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) State of the World Population, titled “Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights“.

• The report revealed that India’s population is estimated to double in 77 years.
• The report also stated that India is the global leader in terms of the population with an estimated population of 1.44 billion ahead of China at 1.425 billion.

i.The UNFPA report highlighted that an estimated 24% of India’s population is aged 0-14 while 17% lies within the range of 10-19 years.
ii.The 10-24 years age segment is estimated to constitute 26%, with the 15-64 age group comprising of 68%.
About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
UNFPA has been operating in India since 1974.
Executive Director – Natalia Kanem
Headquarters – New York, United States
Founded – 1969
>> Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

Axis Bank & Shoppers Stop Launched a New Co-branded Credit Card “Axis Bank Shoppers Stop Credit Card” Axis Bank Limited collaborated with Shoppers Stop Ltd to launch “Axis Bank Shoppers Stop Credit Card“, a co-branded Credit Card, to enhance the shopping experience for cardholders, both online and offline at an event at the Shoppers Stop Malad store, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Note: Shoppers Stop Ltd is India’s leading Omni-Channel retailer of fashion, beauty, and home products and one of the largest chains of department stores across India.
Key People:  Arjun Chowdhry, Group Executive – Retail Assets, Payments & Affluent Banking, Axis Bank; and Karunakaran M, Customer Care Associate and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Shoppers Stop were present during the launch event.
About Axis Bank Shoppers Stop Credit Card:
i.This collaboration leverages Axis Bank’s financial solutions and Shoppers Stop’s expansive network, promising a blend of convenience and rewards for shoppers.
ii.This card marks the extension of Axis Bank’s credit card portfolio into the omnichannel shopping space.
Key Features:
i.Complimentary ‘Shoppers Stop First Citizen Club Golden Glow’ membership
ii.Up to 20 First Citizen points on Shoppers Stop purchases
iii.Dining Delights with Eazy Diner (15% instant discount up to Rs 500 per month for a minimum transaction value of Rs 2500)
iv.Exclusive offers via Grab deals
v.1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions.
About Axis Bank Ltd.:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Amitabh Chaudhry
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Started Operations in– 1994
Tagline– Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi

SIDBI signs MoU with Jeevika Bihar & UMED Maharashtra to extend Prayaas to Rural Livelihood MissionsThe Small Industries Development Bank of India(SIDBI) in association with Women’s World Banking(WWB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jeevika, Bihar State Rural Livelihoods Mission(SRLM) and UMED, Maharashtra-SRLM to extend Prayaas scheme to Self-Help Group(SHG) individual women through Cluster Level Federations(CLFs).
Aim: To develop a market-driven solution that will provide long-term economic stability to women-led SHG CLFs.
Key Features:
i.During the pilot phase of project, SIDBI will partner with 35 to 40 CLFs across Bihar and Maharashtra with a target of providing affordable credit up to Rs 2 lakh to 5,000 women entrepreneurs.
ii.The selected CLFs will act as partner institution with SIDBI for this project.
iii.SIDBI has set a budget of Rs 50 crore during the pilot testing phase.
iv.WWB will provide manpower support to CLFs on capacity building and reinforcement of Prayaas technical.
v.The project will receive financial support from MetLife Foundation.
vi.WWB along with CLFs will identify individual members of SHGs to avail individual loans.

• The loans to borrowers will be sanctioned based on the digital assessment through Straight Through Process (STP).

About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):
SIDBI is statutory body established under an Act of the Parliament in 1990.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)– Sivasubramanian Ramann
Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(U.P.)

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

UNCTAD Projected India’s GDP Growth at 6.5% for FY2024-25According to the report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Indian economy is expected to grow by 6.5 per cent in 2024 as compared to 6.7 percent in 2023.
Global growth projections by UNCTAD:
i.UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report has projected the global economy to grow at 2.6 percent in 2024 from 2.5 percent projected earlier.
ii.The report states that European countries like Germany and Italy are struggling with weak economic activity and facing industrial slowdowns and fiscal crisis, impacting their growth projections.
About the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):
UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. It is composed of 195 member states that form a part of the organization.
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Secretary General– Rebeca Grynspan
>> Read Full News

IMF’s World Economic Outlook(WEO) 2024 report raises India’s GDP growth forecast by 30bps to 6.8% for FY25 On 17th April 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its bi-annual report titled World Economic Outlook(WEO) – Steady But Slow: Resilience Amid Divergence (April 2024). According to the report IMF has raised India’s GDP(Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast by 30 basis points(bps) to 6.8% for fiscal year 2025(FY25) and retained the forecast for FY26 at 6.5%.

• India’s GDP grew by an impressive 7.8% in FY 2024(2023-2024), higher than the 6.7% predicted in IMF’s January 2024 report.

About International Monetary Fund(IMF):
Managing Director- Kristalina Georgieva
Member nations- 190
Headquarters- Washington D.C., United States of America(U.S.A.)
Established in 1944
>> Read Full News

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

MoL &J Forms 6-Member Committee to Examine Issues of Queer Community The Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J) has constituted a 6-member committee to examine various issues relating to the queer (LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer/Questioning, and Asexual) community. The Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba.
Background:
In October 2023, the Supreme Court of India directed the formation of a six-member committee to examine issues related to the queer community in the case of Supriyo v Union of India.
Members:
i.Secretary of the Department of Home, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) – Ajay Kumar Bhalla
ii.Secretary of Ministry of Women and Child Development – Anil Malik
iii.Secretary of Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Development (MoHFW) – Apurva Chandra
iv.Secretary of Legislative Department, MoL&J – Dr. Rajiv Mani
v.Secretary of Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) – Saurabh Garg
Mandate of the committee:
i.The committee will formulate measures to ensure that the queer community does not face discrimination in accessing goods, services, and social welfare schemes.
ii.The committee will also examine ways to prevent violence, harassment, or coercion; involuntary medical treatments/surgeries for the queer community.
iii.This will also retains the flexibility to address pertinent issues as deemed necessary
Other Directives:
i.The committee shall include additional subject matter experts to address the mental health concerns of persons belonging to the queer community and members of the queer community.
ii.The report of the Committee shall be implemented at the administrative level by the Union Government and the State Governments and Union Territories (UTs).
Additional info:
i.The 5-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India(CJI)   D Y Chandrachud refused legal recognition for same-sex marriages, deferring to Parliament for decision-making.
ii.The Court refused to strike down the Special Marriage Act 1954 for not allowing registration of same-sex marriages.
iii.The court also emphasised the need to protect LGBTQIA+ couples from harassment.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI Approvals on 16th April 2024The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the following proposed combinations on 16th April 2024.
i.Acquisition of stake in PAMP Technologies (India) Private Limited(PAMP Technologies) and MMTC PAMP India Private Limited(MMTC PAMP) by PAMP Ventures SA (PAMP Switzerland).
ii.Acquisition of shareholding of Thyssenkrupp Industries India Private Limited by Protos Engineering Company Private Limited (Protos) and Paharpur Cooling Towers Limited (Paharpur).
Acquisition of PAMP Technologies & MMTC PAMP by PAMP Ventures
CCI approved the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of PAMP Technologies and 72.65% of the share capital on a fully diluted basis of MMTC PAMP by PAMP Switzerland.
Target:  PAMP Technologies and MMTC PAMP
Acquirer: PAMP Switzerland
Points to note: 
This is an internal group restructuring through which MKS PAMP Group Limited, the parent entity of the MKS PAMP Group, is transferring its indirect shareholdings in PAMP Technologies and MMTC PAMP to PAMP Switzerland
Acquisition of Shareholding of Thyssenkrupp Industries by Protos & Paharpur
CCI has approved the acquisition of additional shareholding of Thyssenkrupp Industries by Protos and Paharpur.
Points to note: 
i.Protos the sole selling agent of  Thyssenkrupp Industries.
It is acting as an agent for companies that manufacture equipment, machinery and raw materials in various sectors such as steel, cement, sugar, etc. and other industrial products.
ii.Paharpur is engaged in manufacturing and selling industrial cooling systems and generating power through wind and non-banking financial services.
iii.Thyssenkrupp Industries is engaged in offering Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services to execute turnkey projects in various industries and aftersales services.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Nigeria the 1st Country Globally to Launch Men5CV Meningitis Vaccine Recommended by WHO
Nigeria has become the 1st country to launch a new vaccine called Men5CV, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect people against 5 strains of the meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis) bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X), responsible for meningitis. Men5CV potentially paving the way for the WHO’s goal of eliminating meningitis by 2030.

• The vaccine and emergency vaccination activities were funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supports the routine vaccination against meningitis in lower-income countries.
• The new vaccine was a collaborative effort between PATH (formerly Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), and the Serum Institute of India(SII). 
• This development was financed by the United Kingdom (UK) government’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
• The new vaccine offers a broader shield than its predecessors, which is only effective against the A strain. It uses the same technology as the meningitis A conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac®).

Note:
Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries of Africa, situated in the area known as the African Meningitis Belt.
Meningitis is a serious infection that leads to the inflammation of the membranes (meninges) that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

SPORTS

Monte Carlo Masters 2024: Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas won his 3rd Monte-Carlo Singles title Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas won the Singles title at the Monte Carlo Masters 2024 by defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud. This marks Stefanos Tsitsipas’ third Monte Carlo Masters title. He previously won the title in 2021 and 2022.

• Monte Carlo Masters 2024, the 117th edition of Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, was held at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France from 6th to 14th April 2024.

i.Belgian professional tennis players Alum Sander Gille and Joran Vliegan won the doubles title at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2024 by defeating Marcelo Melo of Brazil and Alexander Zverev of Germany.
ii.On 9th April 2024, Sumit Nagal, India’s emerging tennis player, defeated  Matteo Arnaldi of Italy and became the 1st ever Indian to win a main draw match at the Monte Carlo Masters.
>> Read Full News

OBITUARY

Bernd Hölzenbein, Former German footballer & 1974 World Cup winner, Passed AwayFormer German footballer Bernd Hölzenbein, who won the 1974 World Cup with West Germany, passed away at the age of 78. He was born on 9 March 1946 in Runkel, Germany.
About Bernd Hölzenbein:
i.Bernd Hölzenbein represented West German national team from 1973 to 1978. He has scored 5 goals in 40 appearances for West Germany.
ii.He was a part of the West Germany team that won the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in 1974, held in West Germany.
iii.He was also a part of the West Germany team that finished second in the 1976 UEFA European Football Championship(UEFA Euros).
Club Career:
i.Bernd Hölzenbein represented Eintracht Frankfurt e.V., a German professional sports club, from 1967 to 1981.
ii.He has scored a total of 215 goals in 532 competitive appearances for the Eintracht Frankfurt club.
iii.As a part of Eintracht Frankfurt, He has also won the DFB Cup in 1974, 1975 and 1981 and the UEFA Cup in 1980.
iv.He has also played for Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Memphis Americans and Baltimore Blast.
v.He left Eintracht in 1981 and spent a few years in the United States of America (USA) with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Memphis Americans, and Baltimore Blast.
vi.He has also served as Vice-President (1988-94), Sports Manager (1994-96), Chief Scout (2004-2014), Strategic Advisor (2004-22), and Club Representative (2017-22) at Eintracht Frankfurt.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Salman Rushdie Releases New Memoir ‘Knife’ Recounting Stabbing
On April 16 2024, Salman Rushdie, Indian-born British-American author, released his new memoir “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder’’.

• The memoir was published by Penguin Random House, which describes how he survived the terrifying experience of being 12 times stabbed during an Arts gathering in New York, United States of America (USA) in August 2022.
• The attack left the author with permanent damage, including the loss of sight in right eye.

About Salman Rushdie 
Notable works and awards:
i.Rushdie was best known for his novel ‘The Satanic Verses’ which was published in 1988.
ii.He also received the Booker Prize for Midnight’s Children in 1981.The novel subsequently won the Booker of Bookers (1993) and the Best of the Booker (2008).
iii.He has been awarded The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for 2023 (the most prestigious in Germany) for his indomitable spirit, for his affirmation of life and for enriching our world with his love of storytelling.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Hemophilia Day 2024 – April 17 World Hemophilia Day (WHD) is annually observed across the globe on 17 April to raise awareness about Hemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder, and other bleeding disorders that prevent blood from clotting properly.

• WHD also serves as a platform to advocate for improved treatment and support globally.
• The annual observance of WHD is organised by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH).

The theme of World Hemophilia Day 2024 is “Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders”.
Background:
i.World Haemophilia Day was started in 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH).
ii.The 1st ever World Haemophilia Day was observed on 17 April 1989.
17th April marks the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, the founder of WFH.
About World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH):
WFH is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving and sustaining care for people with inherited bleeding disorders around the world.
President– Cesar Garrido (Venezuela)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Alain Baumann
Headquarters– Québec, Canada
Established in 1963
>> Read Full News

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