As of 31 March 2024 Bulgaria and Romania became the newest member states to join the Schengen area, anyone crossing internal air and sea borders will no longer be investigated.
Environment
2. Recently, how many sites have been added to the Global Geoparks network? – 18
In March 2024, UNESCO’s Executive Board added 18 new sites to the Global Geoparks network, bringing the total number of sites to 213 across 48 countries.
The new sites are located in Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil, China, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.
Global Geoparks are single geographical areas that are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development.
Sports
3. Who has become the first Indian wicketkeeper to score 7,000 runs in T20 cricket? – MS Dhoni
Documents obtained through an RTI application by Tamil Nadu’s BJP chief K. Annamalai reveal India’s inconsistent approach to the Katchatheevu island dispute with Sri Lanka.
Katchatheevu, a small island in the Palk Strait, lacks a permanent settlement and freshwater source.
Administered by both India and Sri Lanka historically, a 1974 agreement marked its boundary.
Indian fishermen, particularly from Tamil Nadu, face challenges due to conflicting claims over the island.
Appointments
5. Who has been appointed as the first woman Prime Minister of Congo? – Judith Suminwa Tuluka
Recently, Hockey India presented the 6th Hockey India Annual Awards.
Winner –
Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of The Year (Men): Hardik Singh.
Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of The Year (Women): Salima Tete.
Important Days & Weeks
7. On 1 April 2024, the 90th Foundation Day of the Reserve Bank of India was celebrated, on the recommendation of which commission was the Reserve Bank of India established? – Hilton Young Commission
Traditional products from Tripura, Matabari Pera Prasad and Rignai Pachara textiles, have recently earned Geographical Indication (GI) tags, bringing the state’s total to 4 GI protected products.
Matabari Pera Prasad, a sweet from Tripureswari temple, is made from milk and sugar.
Rignai Pachara textiles, traditional hand-woven attire, symbolize Tripura’s cultural heritage.
These products’ GI recognition highlights their significance and authenticity, attracting global attention and marketing opportunities.
9. Barsana Biogas Project, which was seen in the news, is situated in which state? – Uttar Pradesh
Adani Total Energies Biomass Limited (ATBL), a subsidiary of Adani Total Gas Limited (ATGL), has commissioned the first phase of Barsana BioGas plant in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
The project, developed in three phases, will have a total capacity of 600 tonnes per day, producing 42 tonnes per day of Compressed Biogas (CBG) and 217 tonnes per day of organic fertilizer.
It’s set to be India’s largest agri-waste-based bio-CNG plant, costing over ₹200 crore, utilizing advanced anaerobic digestion technology for sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
10. Utkal Diwas 2024, recently seen in news, is related with which state? – Odisha
