NATIONAL:
1. Shakti – A Festival of Music and Dance’ in Shaktipeeths
Why in news: Sangeet Natak Akademi Organizes ‘Shakti – A Festival of Music and Dance’ in Shaktipeeths
Key points:
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) is organizing the festival 'Shakti – A Festival of Music and Dance' from April 9 to 17, 2024.
• The festival is celebrated in seven different Shaktipeeths (sacred sites) across the country.
Venue:
• The Shakti Utsav was inaugurated on April 9, 2024, from the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam.
• After the inauguration, the festival will be organized in the following seven Shaktipeeths:
• Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati (Assam)
• Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur (Maharashtra)
• Jwalamukhi Temple, Kangada (Himachal Pradesh)
• Tripura Sundari Temple, Udaipur (Tripura)
• Ambaji Temple, Banaskantha (Gujarat)
• Jai Durga Shaktipeeth, Deoghar (Jharkhand)
• Shaktipeeth Maa Harsiddhi Temple, Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
• The festival will conclude on April 17, 2024, at the Shaktipeeth Maa Harsiddhi Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
2. Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GEM)
Why in news: NTPC Limited to Launch New Edition of Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GEM)
Key points:
• NTPC Limited, India’s largest power company, is set to unveil a new version of its flagship corporate social responsibility initiative, the Girl Child
Empowerment Mission (GEM).
• GEM aims to nurture the imaginations of girls and eliminate gender inequality by promoting their ability to explore opportunities.
• The new edition of GEM, starting from April 2024, will connect around 3,000 meritorious children from deprived sections of society across 42 identified
locations of power sector PSUs.
• GEM was started as a pilot project in 2018 with only three locations and 392 participants, and has since grown into a nationwide movement.
Value Addition:
• NTPC Limited is India’s largest power company and a Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power.
• NTPC was established in 1975 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. C-Dome
Why in news: Israel deployed C-Dome defense system for the first time
Key points:
• C-Dome is a naval version of the Iron Dome air defense system used to shield against advanced ballistic, aerial, and surface-to-surface threats.
• Iron Dome is a missile defense system that can protect deployed and maneuvering forces.
ECONOMY:
1. India’s GDP Growth Forecast
Why in news: Asian Development Bank Raises India’s GDP Growth Forecast
Key points:
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised India's GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year (FY25) to 7% from the previous estimate of 6.7%.
• India will remain a “major growth engine” in the Asia and Pacific (APAC) region, according to the ADB.
• Growth will be robust despite moderating in FY2024 and FY2025.
• The triggers for growth in FY2024 will come from higher capital expenditure on infrastructure development, rise in private corporate investment, strong service
sector performance, and improved consumer confidence.
Value Addition:
• ADB Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines;
• ADB Founded: 19 December 1966;
• President of the ADB and the Chairperson of ADB’s Board of Directors: Masatsugu Asakawa.
2. Peace Clause at the WTO
Why in news: India Invoked Peace Clause for Fifth Consecutive Time at WTO
Key points:
• India has once again utilized the peace clause at the World Trade citing rice subsidies exceeding the prescribed limit during the 2022-23 marketing year.
• Despite breaching the 10% domestic support ceiling, India faces no immediate repercussions due to the peace clause provision, agreed upon at the 2013 Bali
ministerial.
• India’s rice production in 2022-23 amounted to $52.8 billion, with subsidies totaling $6.39 billion, surpassing the 10% domestic support ceiling by 2%.
• This breach, though acknowledged, doesn’t trigger penalties under the peace clause agreement.
REPORTS/INDICES:
1. Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2024
Why in news: In 2024, India sees its first decline in unicorn creation due to underinvestment
Key points:
• In 2024, the global unicorn landscape witnessed significant developments and challenges, as outlined in the Hurun Global Unicorn Index.
• As per the index, the United States maintained its lead with 703 unicorns and China followed with 340.
• India ranked third with 67 unicorns.
• However, India experienced a notable decline in unicorn creation for the first time since 2017.
2. WHO's 2024 Global Hepatitis Report
Why in news: India Ranks Second in Hepatitis B and C Cases Worldwide
Key points:
• According to the WHO's 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, India is second only to China in the number of Hepatitis B and C infections, with 3.5 crore cases.
• Hepatitis comprises five main strains: A, B, C, D, and E, each differing in transmission methods, severity, and geographical prevalence.
PERSONS/PLACES IN NEWS:
1. Peter Higgs
Why in news: British physicist Peter Higgs Passes Away at the age of 94. Peter Higgs gained fame for the discovery of 'Higgs-Boson Particle' i.e. 'God Particle'.
Key points:
• Peter Higgs was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2013 for this groundbreaking discovery, which helped explain how the universe was created after the Big
Bang.
SPORTS:
1. Women’s Hockey Team
Why in news: Harendra Singh Appointed as Coach of Indian Women’s Hockey Team Until 2028 Olympics
Key points:
• Harendra Singh is a Former Indian hockey player and Dronacharya awardee.
• He will replace Janneke Schopman, a former Dutch hockey player.
• Under him Indian team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024.
STATE/UT:
1. TRAI Report and Bihar
Why in news: Only 57 percent people in Bihar have communication service
Key points:
• According to the TRAI report, Bihar ranks lowest in telecom density.
• Telecom density of Bihar is 56.6 percent.
• Bihar is much below the national average in terms of telecommunication density.
• The national average of tele-density is 85. 38 percent.
• The tele-density of Delhi is highest followed by Kerala and Himachal Pradesh.
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