NATIONAL:
1. Bharat Ratna
Why in news: Bharat Ratna given to 5 people in 2024, highest in a year
Key points:
• President Droupadi Murmu conferred Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour for the year 2024.
Recipients:
• P V Narasimha Rao
• Chaudhary Charan Singh
• M S Swaminathan
• Karpoori Thakur
• L K Advani
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Global Geoparks Network (GGN)
Why in news: UNESCO endorsed the addition of 18 new Geoparks to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN)
Key points:
• Latest addition raises the number of total Geoparks to 213 which are spread across 48 countries (no geopark in India).
• Some major geoparks added to GGN are: Land of Extinct Volcanoes (Poland): Features distinctive remnants of Paleozoic and Cenozoic volcanoes.
• Impact Crater Lake (Finland): Europe's largest impact crater lake formed through a collision with a meteorite 78 million years ago.
• Uberaba (Brazil): Its tag line ‘Land of the Giants’ refers to its rich palaeontological heritage.
UNESCO’s Global Geopark (UGGPs)
• Geopark concept arose in the mid-1990’s and UGGP was created in 2015.
• UGGPs are single, unified geographical areas where landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of Protection, Education and Sustainable development.
2. Group of Friends (GOF)
Why in news: Initiatives for Prevention of Crimes against Peacekeepers GOF
Key points:
• India-led Group of Friends (GOF) launched a new database designed to record crimes against Peacekeepers & monitor progress in holding perpetrators accountable.
• The GOF was launched by India in 2022 to promote accountability for crimes against the Blue Helmets during its presidency of the UN Security Council.
• UN peacekeeping forces are employed to maintain or re-establish peace in an area of armed conflict.
• However, they sometimes face violence in deployed regions.
• These forces are also referred to as Blue Helmets as they are equipped in blue-coloured helmets.
SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:
1. Kalam-250
Why in news: Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test-fired Stage-2 of Vikram-1 space launch vehicle, called Kalam-250
Key points:
• Stage-2 is significant because it propels satellites from dense atmosphere of Earth to deep vacuum of outer space.
• Vikram-1 is three-stage, solid-fuel based rocket.
About Kalam-250:
• It is a high-strength carbon composite rocket motor, which uses solid fuel and high-performance EthylenePropylene-Diene terpolymers (EPDM) Thermal Protection System.
• Solid propellant in Kalam-250 was processed by Solar Industries at Nagpur facility.
• Earlier, Skyroot had tested Kalam-100, third stage of Vikram-1, which was test-fired successfully in 2021.
DEFENCE:
1. Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT 24)
Why in news: India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT 24) Concluded recently
Key points:
• The second edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise, IMT TRILAT 24, concluded successfully in Nacala, Mozambique on March 28th, 2024.
• This exercise aimed to strengthen maritime cooperation and interoperability among the navies of India, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. ‘MEGHAYAN 2024’
Why in news: Seminar 'Meghayan-24' was organized at the Southern Naval Command
Key points:
• ‘Meghayan-24’ was conducted by the School of Naval Oceanology & Meteorology (SNOM) and the Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC).
• It was organized in commemoration of World Meteorological Day.
• The theme of the seminar was ‘At the Frontline of Climate Action’ set by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for 2024.
• An indigenous mobile application named INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis) was also launched to disseminate weather-related information and forecasts, facilitating quick decision-making in naval operations.
REPORT/INDICES:
1. Food Waste Index (FWI) Report 2024
Why in news: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Launched Food Waste Index (FWI) Report 2024
Key points:
• Households across all continents wasted over 1 billion meals a day in 2022, while 783 million people were affected by hunger and a third of humanity faced food insecurity.
• Food Waste generates an estimated 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Report co-authored with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) was published ahead of International Day of Zero Waste(observed annually on 30 March).
• FWI tracks global and national generation of food and inedible parts wasted at retail and consumer (household and food service) levels.
• WRAP is a climate action NGO (established in UK in 2000) working to tackle causes of climate crisis and give the planet a sustainable future.
2. “A World Energy Transitions Outlook Brief: Tracking CoP 28 outcomes” Report
Why in news: IRENA released “A World Energy Transitions Outlook Brief: Tracking CoP 28 outcomes” report
Key points:
• Report tracks global progress towards the energy transition commitment to triple renewables by 2030 as outlined in COP 28 of UNFCCC (held in November 2023).
• 2023 added 473 GW (73% contributed by Solar energy) additional Renewable to global energy mix.
• However, annual addition must reach almost 1100 GW to meet tripling target.
• With a growth of 20.1%, Asia was leader in renewable deployment and its growth was driven by China.
• Road transport has highest potential for electrification.
• New EV models, financial incentives and improving charging infrastructure are key drivers for this.
AWARD/HONOUR:
1. Times Power Icon 2024 Award
Why in news: Vijay Jain Bagged Times Power Icon 2024 Award
Key points:
• At an event recently held in Noida, organized by The Times Group, Vijay Jain, the Managing Director of Star Estate, was awarded the prestigious Times Power Icon 2024 Award.
• The Times Power Icon 2024 Award acknowledged and celebrated Vijay Jain’s visionary leadership and outstanding achievements in the real estate sector.
SPORTS:
1. First ICC Elite Umpire
Why in news: Sharfuddoula became Bangladesh’s First ICC Elite Umpire
Key points:
• Sharfuddoula has created history by becoming the first Bangladeshi umpire to be appointed to the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
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