The Government of India has launched CDP-SURAKSHA, a digital platform for horticulture farmers to receive subsidies efficiently.
It integrates with PM-KISAN and utilizes e-RUPI vouchers for instant subsidy disbursal.
Features include UIDAI validation, eRUPI integration, and geotagging.
Farmers can order planting material, contribute their share, and receive subsidies automatically.
Vendors deliver materials, verified by geo-tagged media.
IA releases funds upon verification, with subsidy released to IA after document submission to CDA.
2. Recently, which hospital has become the first hospital in the country to procure and operate a successful Piezoelectric bone conduction hearing implant? – Command Hospital, Pune
Command Hospital, Pune achieved a milestone by becoming the first government hospital in India to procure and demonstrate Piezoelectric Bone Conduction Hearing Implant.
The ENT department performed successful implants in a child with congenital ear anomalies and an adult with single-sided deafness (SSD).
3. With whom has KABIL signed an agreement for technical cooperation for minerals? – CSIR-IMMT
Khanij Videsh India Limited (KABIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) for technical and knowledge collaboration for Critical Minerals.
KABIL is a joint venture of three Indian public sector undertakings, NALCO, HCL and MECL, under the aegis of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
International Affairs
4. Recently, which country has overtaken India as the primary importer of Russian crude oil through sea routes? – China
According to a report from energy cargo tracker Vortexa, China has overtaken India as the primary importer of Russian crude oil through sea routes, importing 1.82 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2024, compared to India’s 1.36 million bpd.
This shift is attributed to India’s slowdown in imports due to sanctions and rising prices.
Before the Ukraine conflict, Russian oil accounted for only 2% of India’s total oil imports in fiscal year 2021-22.
However, post-invasion, Russia climbed to the top, driven by substantial discounts on oil prices.
5. The Fiscal Monitor Report, seen in the news recently, is published by which organization? – IMF
The IMF’s Fiscal Monitor Report warns against relying solely on industrial policy initiatives to boost economic growth in the US, Europe and beyond.
Released biennially by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, it provides insights into public finance trends, the fiscal outlook, and policy implications for the global economy.
6.AUKUS group is a group of which three countries in discussion? – Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States
Economic Affairs
7. What is the GDP growth forecast of India for FY 2024-25 by Asian Development Bank? – 7%
Asian Development Bank (ADB) released a report on India’s economy.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised the Gross Domestic TRA Product (GDP) projection for India for the current fiscal 2024-25 GRA C from 6.7% to 7%.
The reason for increasing the GDP growth rate is the boom in manufacturing and service sectors.
For the financial year 2025-26, ADB has projected India’s ZY GK T rate at 7.2 percent.
Science & Technology
8. Recently, which space organization has been directed to establish a time standard for the Moon called Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC)? – NASA
Scientists have obtained the first view of a Wigner crystal, a solid phase of electrons, a unique electron-based substance described by Eugene Wigner in 1934.
This solid phase is formed due to electron-electron interactions.
Unlike classical physics, it obeys quantum rules, behaving more like waves than individual particles.
Sports
10. Who has become the eighth Indian to score 7,000 or more runs in T20 cricket? – Surya Kumar Yadav
In an IPL 2024 match played in Mumbai, India’s dashing batsman Suryakumar Yadav became the eighth Indian player to score 7,000 or more runs in T20 cricket.
With this, he has joined a special club with players like Virat, Rohit.
Virat Kohli (12,313) is the leading run-scorer in T20 cricket.
11. In which country is the Asian Wrestling Championship 2024 being organized? – Kyrgyzstan
The US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) has appointed former Revenue Secretary and former Secretary of Economic Affairs Tarun Bajaj as the head of the US-India Tax Forum.
A 1988 batch Haryana cadre IAS officer, Tarun Bajaj has served as Revenue Secretary.
The US-India Tax Forum was officially launched on February 25, 2020.
13. Recently, who has been selected to be part of Britain’s research team on dementia? – Ashvini Keshavan
Dr. Ashvini Keshavan, an Indian-origin neurologist and Senior Clinical Research and Honorary Consultant Neurologist Fellow at University College London (UCL), has been selected to be part of Britain’s research team on dementia.
The team, called ADAPT (Alzheimer’s disease Diagnosis And Plasma pTau217), will focus on the biomarker pTau217, which reflects the levels of two proteins found in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease: amyloid and tau.
The team will conduct a clinical trial to see if measuring p-tau217 in the blood can increase the rate of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease in people with early dementia, as well as in those with mild, progressive memory problems.
Organisations & Institutes
14.Canara Bank recently signed an MoU with which institution for providing financial support to startups? – IIT Bombay
Canara Bank and Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay, formalized collaboration via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
This collaboration aims to bolster the startup sector by offering financial aid and support.
Canara Bank’s Canara Start-Up Scheme will provide funding for industrial units, while SINE, a renowned technology incubator, will offer full incubation and acceleration services to tech startups.
Together, they seek to foster the growth and success of businesses in India.
15. How many universities in India are included in the QS World University Ranking 2024? – 69
A total of 1,559 institutions are included in the QS World University Rankings.
The rankings were released for five categories, Engineering and Technology, Arts and Humanities, Life Sciences and Medical, Nature Science and Social Sciences and Management.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a leader among Indian institutions, securing 20th position globally for development studies.
Important Days & Weeks
16. When is the International Human Space Flight Day observed every year? – 12 April
