Current Affairs 21 April 2024

Ruby Thakur
April 21, 2024
278

Ruby Thakur
April 21, 2024
278

In Current Affairs for 21 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 21 April 2024

2550^th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav

On the auspicious occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will tomorrow inaugurate the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav at 10 AM at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Modi will release a commemorative stamp and coin and also address the gathering on the occasion.

Bhagwan Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar, illuminated the path of peaceful co-existence and universal brotherhood through Jain principles like Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Non-Stealing), Brahmacharya (Chastity) and Aparigraha (Non-attachment).

21st April 2024 is the Janma Kalyanak of Bhagwan Mahavir Swami and the Government is commemorating the occasion with the Jain community by organizing a cultural programme in Bharat Mandapam along with Saints from the Jain community gracing the occasion and blessing the congregation.

Largest Stellar Black Hole In Our Galaxy

European astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery – the largest stellar black hole in our Milky Way galaxy. Named ‘BH-3’, this celestial behemoth has a staggering mass 33 times greater than our Sun and is located a mere 2,000 light-years away from Earth.
The existence of ‘BH-3’ was unveiled by the Gaia Space Observatory, a cutting-edge mission operated by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Launched in 2013, the Gaia telescope is designed to map the positions, motions, and characteristics of billions of celestial objects with unprecedented precision.
Scientists detected the presence of ‘BH-3’ when they observed peculiarities in the rotation of a star in the ‘Aquila’ constellation.
This star, it turns out, is locked in an orbital dance around the massive black hole, revealing its existence through its gravitational influence.
“The surprising thing is that this largest black hole of stellar origin in our galaxy (Milky Way) is not far from the Earth,” said Dr. Pasquale Panuzzo, an astronomer associated with the Gaia Space Observatory.
‘BH-3’ is only the second black hole discovered to be among the closest to our planet. Most stellar black holes previously discovered in the Milky Way have masses around 10 times that of our Sun.

However, ‘BH-3’ stands out as an exceptional case, with a mass more than three times greater than any other stellar black hole found thus far. Scientists estimate that there may be up to one billion stellar black holes like ‘BH-3’ in our galaxy.
However, detecting them is an immense challenge, as most stellar black holes do not have stars orbiting them, making their presence difficult to discern. The discovery of ‘BH-3’ not only expands our understanding of the diverse population of black holes in the Milky Way but also paves the way for further exploration of these enigmatic celestial objects.
With the help of advanced observatories like Gaia, astronomers hope to unravel more secrets about the formation, evolution, and properties of black holes, shedding light on the most extreme environments in our universe.

India’s Commitment To Debris Free Space Missions

At the 42nd Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) annual meet, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath announced India’s pledge to achieve debris-free space missions by 2030.
This commitment aligns with global efforts to ensure the sustainability of space exploration. Chairman Somanath highlighted ISRO’s comprehensive plan for space exploration and utilization, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in future missions.

India aims to achieve debris-free space missions by involving all space actors, both governmental and non-governmental, by 2030.
This initiative underscores the nation’s commitment to long-term space sustainability.
With 54 spacecraft in orbit and numerous non-functional objects, ISRO has been actively taking measures to dispose of or remove space debris.

Efforts include deorbiting spacecraft once their mission is complete and designing systems to minimize debris creation. ISRO emphasizes the importance of developing skills for future explorations beyond Earth’s orbit, including lunar and planetary missions.
Additionally, plans for India’s own space station, ‘Bharatiya Antriksh Station,’ by 2035 are underway, with a focus on ensuring the sustainability of space in collaboration with other space actors.
ISRO stresses the need for all space stations and actors to comply with guidelines to prevent the proliferation of space debris, enabling continued human exploration of space in the years to come.

Asunta Lakra Award

Deepika Soreng, the promising forward of the India Women’s Hockey Team, has been honoured with the prestigious Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year during the Hockey India 6th Annual Awards 2023.
The award recognizes her outstanding performance and immense potential as a rising star in the sport.
The year 2023 marked a significant milestone in Deepika’s hockey career as she made her debut for the Indian team during the Women’s Junior Asia Cup.
Her exceptional skills and goal-scoring prowess were on full display as she emerged as the second-highest goal-scorer for the side, netting an impressive 7 goals in 6 matches.

Deepika’s pivotal role in the team’s success was instrumental in helping India clinch the Gold medal in the prestigious tournament, further solidifying her position as a force to be reckoned with in the hockey arena.
Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Deepika extended her heartfelt thanks to Hockey India for bestowing upon her the esteemed Asunta Lakra Award.
This honour not only acknowledges her achievements but also serves as a source of motivation for her to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence.
With her remarkable skills, determination, and the support of Hockey India, Deepika Soreng is poised to become a significant figure in the Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s future endeavours, contributing to the nation’s prowess in the global hockey arena.

S&P Global Report

According to a recent report by S&P Global, three Indian banks—State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank—have secured positions among the top 50 banks in the Asia-Pacific region based on their assets.
SBI, India’s largest commercial bank, claimed the top spot among Indian banks in the 2023 list. It improved its ranking from 20 in 2022 to 21 in 2023, with assets reaching $780.05 billion.

HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, saw a significant jump in its ranking from 46 in 2022 to 33 in 2023. The merger with the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) in 2023 contributed to this rise, with assets totaling $464.34 billion.
ICICI Bank, the second-largest private sector bank in India, made its debut on the list, securing the 48th position. Its inclusion reflects the impressive growth in assets, marking a milestone for the bank.
Despite the remarkable growth of Indian banks, particularly the top three, their assets remain substantially lower compared to Chinese and Japanese counterparts.

Chinese banks dominated the list, with six out of the top 10 banks in the region being Chinese. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. retained its position as the largest bank in the region, highlighting the vast difference in asset size between Chinese and Indian banks.
Japanese and South Korean banks experienced declines in their rankings, with combined assets dropping in 2023. Japanese lenders witnessed a 2.5% decline, while South Korean banks saw a 0.9% decrease compared to the previous year.

Current Affairs 21 April Question

Padma Awards Were Established In
A. 1950
B. 1951
C. 1953
D. 1954
ANSWER: D
Asunta Lakra Award Is Awarded In Field Of
A. Cricket
B. Hockey
C. Football
D. Badminton
ANSWER: B
Former Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik Is Awarded With
A. Padma Vibhushan
B. Padma Bhushan
C. Padma Shri
D. None Of These
ANSWER: A
What Is The Theme Of ‘World Liver Day 2024
A. Keep your liver healthy and disease-free
B. Be Vigilant, Get Regular Liver Check-Ups
C. keep your liver healthy
D. Spreading awareness about liver-related issues
ANSWER: A
Who Has Been Selected For The Malcolm Adiseshia Award 2023
A. Vikas Kumar
B. Utsa Patnaik
C. Sushma Sinha
D. Prabhat Patnaik
ANSWER: B
Lakshmana Tirtha River Is Tributary Of Which River
A. Godavari
B. Krishna
C. Narmada
D. Kaveri
ANSWER: D
What Is GPS Spoofing
A. Enhancing GPS accuracy
B. Broadcasting exact location
C. Manipulating GPS receivers with false signals
D. Enhancing privacy of individual
ANSWER: C
Dragonfly Rotorcraft Mission Is Associated With Which Space Organization
A. NASA
B. ISRO
C. CNSA
D. JAXA
ANSWER: A
Which Institution Green Lighted Investments In Country’s Sovereign Green
Bonds By Foreign Institutional Investors
A. RBI
B. SIDBI
C. NABARD
D. HDFC
ANSWER: A
Which Government Institution Recently Signed A Record 125 Advance Pricing
Agreements In FY 2023-24
A. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
B. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
C. Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC)
D. National Savings Institute
ANSWER: A
State Of World Population 2024 Report Released By Which Organization
A. World Bank
B. United Nations Population Fund
C. United Nations Children’s Fund
D. United Nations Development Programme
ANSWER: B
Dragonfly Rotorcraft Mission Is Associated With Which Space Organization
A. NASA
B. ISRO
C. CNSA
D. JAXA
ANSWER: A
Who Has Been Appointed As The Next Chief Of The Naval Staff
A. Admiral Karambir Singh
B. Admiral Rajesh Kumar Tripathi
C. Admiral Sunil Lanba
D. Admiral Dinesh Tripathi
ANSWER: D
Which Institute Has Launched ‘Longevity India’ Initiative To Support Ageing Research In India
A. Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
B. IIT, Kanpur
C. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
D. Indian Institute of Geomagnetism
ANSWER: A
AT 2024 Report From New Lancet Commission, What Is Projected Number Of Annual Deaths From Breast Cancer By 2040
A. One million
B. Two million
C. Three million
D. Five million
ANSWER: A
Who Appointed As First Woman High Commissioner To India By Britain
A. Lilly Gunasekar
B. Lindy Cameron
C. Alicia Herbert
D. Gill Atkinson
ANSWER: B
Which Organization Developed A Sustainable Hydrogel To Remove Microplastics From Water
A. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
B. Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
C. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
D. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
ANSWER: B
What Is The Hubble Tension
A. A Discrepancy In Measurements Of Distance Between Earth & Hubble Space
Telescope
B. A Disagreement Among Astronomers About The Age Of The Universe
C. A Discrepancy In Measurements Of The Rate Of Expansion Of The Universe
D. A Conflict Between Scientists And The Hubble Space Telescope
ANSWER: C
Who Has Been Appointed As The Joint Director In The CBI
A. Kunal Aggarwal
B. Anurag Kumar
C. Pankaj Saxena
D. Sachin Singh
ANSWER: B
Menander I Famous Indo Greek Ruler Set Up His Capital At Which Place
A. Sialkot
B. Pathankot
C. Rajkot
D. Sialdah
ANSWER: A