Current Affairs 18 April 2024

Ruby Thakur
April 18, 2024
150

In Current Affairs for 18 April 2024, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.

Current Affairs 18 April 2024

Global Forest Watch

The Global Forest Watch reveals that India has experienced significant tree cover loss since 2000, totaling 2.33 million hectares.
This loss includes both natural disturbances and human-induced factors, impacting the country’s carbon balance and climate change. Between 2000 and 2023, India witnessed a 6% decrease in tree cover, with 4,14,000 hectares of humid primary forest lost, comprising 18% of the total tree cover loss during this period.

Forests in India emitted 51 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually between 2001 and 2022, while removing 141 million tons annually, resulting in a net carbon sink of 89.9 million tons per year.
Tree cover loss includes human-caused activities like deforestation, logging, fire, disease, and natural disturbances such as storms.
95% of tree cover loss in India from 2013 to 2023 occurred within natural forests. Five states accounted for 60% of all tree cover loss from 2001 to 2023: Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur.
Assam experienced the highest loss at 324,000 hectares. India lost 35,900 hectares of tree cover due to fires between 2002 and 2022, with Odisha having the highest average loss per year at 238 hectares.

The Global Forest Watch uses tree cover as a metric for monitoring forest change due to its accessibility via satellite imagery. However, tree cover loss doesn’t always indicate deforestation, and forest extent monitoring faces technical challenges due to land use considerations.

CDP-SURAKSHA

The Indian government has launched CDP-SURAKSHA, a groundbreaking digital platform aimed at streamlining the distribution of subsidies to horticulture farmers under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP).
This initiative comes amidst the significant contribution of the horticulture sector to India’s agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA), with consistent growth in crop production over the years.

CDP-SURAKSHA, which stands for “System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance,” is designed to ensure swift subsidy disbursal to farmers’ bank accounts via the e-RUPI voucher system provided by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Unlike the previous system where farmers had to independently purchase materials and then seek subsidy release, CDP-SURAKSHA facilitates upfront subsidy provision during material purchase. Vendors only receive payment upon farmers’ verification of delivery, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process.
CDP, managed by the National Horticulture Board (NHB), focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of identified horticulture clusters.
With 55 clusters identified and 12 selected for the pilot phase, covering millions of hectares and farmers, CDP provides substantial government assistance based on cluster size, aiming for holistic development and global competitiveness.

Integration and Validation: Seamlessly integrates databases with PM-KISAN and UIDAI for efficient validation.
Cloud-based Infrastructure: Utilizes cloud-based server space from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for enhanced accessibility and scalability.
e-RUPI Integration: Leverages the e-RUPI voucher mechanism for secure and cardless subsidy payments.
Geo-tagging and Geo-fencing: Enables precise tracking of delivery and verification through geo-tagged media, ensuring authenticity and preventing misuse.

European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad 2024

Indian team has secured 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals in the 13th European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2024.
This Olympiad was held in Tskaltubo, Georgia from April 11 – 17, 2024.
Gunjan Agarwal of Gurgaon and Sanjana Philo Chacko of Thiruvananthapuram won Silver medals while Larissa from Hissar and Pune’s Saee Patil won Bronze medals.

This achievement marks the second instance of all four contestants securing medals at EGMO since India’s debut in 2015.
The team was led by leader Sahil Mhaskar, Deputy Leader Aditi Muthkhod and Observer Ananya Ranade from the Chennai Mathematical Institute.

Bisket Jatra Festival

Bisket Jatra is an eight-day celebration that culminated today with a huge celebration in the district of Bhaktapur.
Thousands of people gathered in Bhaktapur Durbar Square to witness the celebration.

People assembled and pulled the chariot of Bhairava and Bhadra Kali in opposite directions in the city lanes. In the tug of war, people pulled an unequal number of ropes which were biased toward the forward direction.
A tug of war took place during Jatra to determine to which half of the city the chariot would go first.
With unstable wheels, the heavy chariot trembling with push and pull forces in opposite directions, and people falling to the ground during tug of war, made this event appear as the most dangerous part of the festival.

Prime Minister Of Kuwait

Kuwait’s Emir has appointed Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Ahmad al-Sabah as the new prime minister of Kuwait.
This decision follows the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah on April 7.

Sheikh Mohammad submitted his cabinet’s resignation on April 6, following the election of a new parliament on April 4. His resignation was a procedural move after a new parliament was elected.
The new prime minister Sheikh Ahmad is a Kuwaiti economist and has served as Minister of Finance and Communications from 1999 to 2005, before serving as Minister of Health, Minister of oil and Minister of Information from 2006 to 2011.

India’s First ‘Hybrid Pitch’

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in Dharamshala has become the first BCCI-accredited venue to install a state-of-the-art ‘hybrid pitch’.
This new technology is set to transform the game, as future international and IPL matches will be played on this innovative track.

The Netherlands-based ‘SISGrass’, a part of the SIS Pitches group of companies, has been brought in to install the first-ever hybrid pitch in India.
This cutting-edge technology combines natural turf with a small percentage of polymer fibre, creating a more durable and consistent playing surface.
The installation of the hybrid pitch at the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala marks a significant milestone in the evolution of cricket in India.
As the country continues to invest in cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure, the impact on the sport’s growth trajectory is expected to be profound.

Hybrid Renewable Energy Project

Mahindra Susten, a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, enters the hybrid renewable energy sector with a ₹1,200-Crore project in Maharashtra, combining 101 MW wind and 52 MW solar capacity.
The project aims to generate 460 million kWh of clean energy and offset 420,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The 150 MW hybrid RE project will leverage over 80% locally manufactured components.

Providing clean energy to commercial and industrial customers. Project commissioning planned within two years, demonstrating commitment to sustainability and “Planet Positive” initiatives.

Ram Charan

Vels University in Chennai conferred an honorary doctorate in literature upon renowned Indian actor Ram Charan.
This distinguished recognition celebrates Charan’s remarkable contributions to the world of cinema and his profound impact on audiences across the globe. The 14th Annual Convocation of Vels University witnessed the conferment of this honorary degree, along with several other distinguished awards.

The honorary doctorate in literature bestowed upon Ram Charan by Vels University is a testament to his artistry and the profound impact his work has had on the cinematic landscape.
The university’s decision to honor Charan with this prestigious accolade underscores the recognition and respect he has earned within the academic and cultural spheres.

Current Affairs 18 April Question

India’s First ‘Hybrid Pitch’ Will Be Built In
A. Mumbai
B. Delhi
C. Dharamshala
D. Kolkata
ANSWER: C
Bisket Jatra Festival Is Related To
A. Nepal
B. Indonesia
C. Malaysia
D. Japan
ANSWER: A
CDP-SURAKSHA Seen In News Is Related To
A. Traffic Security
B. Horticulture
C. Rights Security
D. Railways Security
ANSWER: B
What Is Primary Objective Of ‘ Bepicolombo Mission’
A. To Better Understand The Earth’s Atmosphere And Oceans
B. To Study The Dynamics Of The Sun’s Chromosphere
C. To Study Mercury’s Magnetic Field, Composition And Geology
D. To Explore The Minerals On Moon
ANSWER: C
Queqiao-2, A Relay Satellite, Recently Launched By Which Country
A. Russia
B. Japan
C. India
D. China
ANSWER: D
What is ‘VA-ResNet-50’
A. AI Tool Which Can Predicts Fatal Heart Rhythm
B. Newly Discovered Species Of Bamboo Plant
C. Vaccine Of Tuberculosis
D. Black Hole
ANSWER: A
Which Country Launched First Angara- A5 space rocket
A. Russia
B. China
C. Japan
D. India
ANSWER: A
Bjarni Benediktsson Became New Prime Minister Of Which Country
A. Ireland
B. Iceland
C. Poland
D. Malaysia
ANSWER: B
Kirkuk Which Was Seen In The News, Is Located In Which Country
A. Israel
B. Iraq
C. Australia
D. Greece
ANSWER: B
Which Day Is Celebrated As ‘World Art Day’ Every Year
A. 13 April
B. 14 April
C. 15 April
D. 16 April
ANSWER: D
MSC ARIES Ship Is Associated With Which Country
A. Maldives
B. India
C. Israel
D. Iraq
ANSWER: C
Who Has Been Re Appointed As Managing Director Of IMF For 5 Year Term
A. Kristalina Georgieva
B. Vitor Gaspar
C. Catriona Purfield
D. Bernard Lauwers
ANSWER: A
Decision Support System Is Discovered By Which Institutional Organization
A. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
B. Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
C. Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow
D. Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics
ANSWER: A
Which Country Of East Africa Was Hit By The Tropical Cyclone Named
‘Gamane’
A. Madagascar
B. Tanzania
C. Kenya
D. Mauritius
ANSWER: A
‘INTERACT Project’ Is Funded By Which Organization
A. European Union
B. International Labour Organization
C. United Nations Development Programme
D. World Bank
ANSWER: A
What Is The Theme Of World Autism Awareness Day 2024
A. Empowering Autistic Voices
B. The Transition To Adulthood
C. Inclusive Quality Education For All
D. Assistive Technologies, Active Participation
ANSWER: A
Where 19th Annual Meeting Of Secretaries Of Security Councils Of SCO Held
A. Dushanbe, Tajikistan
B. Astana, Kazakhstan
C. Tashkent, Uzbekistan
D. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
ANSWER: B
Recently, Archaeologists From Kerala University Unearthed A 5,200-year Old
Harappan Settlement At Which Place
A. Padta Bet, Gujarat
B. Bhirrana, Haryana
C. Desalpur, Gujarat
D. Hisar, Haryana
ANSWER: A
Peter Pellegrini Became The New President Of Which Country
A. Norway
B. Slovakia
C. Denmark
D. Romania
ANSWER: B
Which Water Bodies Were Found To Have Pervasive Presence Of PFAS
According To The Study By IIT Madras
A. Ganges River, Yamuna River, And Brahmaputra River
B. Buckingham Canal, Adyar River, And Chembarambakkam Lake
C. Hudson River, Mississippi River, And Colorado River
D. Nile River, Amazon River, And Danube River
ANSWER: B