Daily Current Affairs 1st April, 2024: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
Dear Readers,
This post contains important current affairs of 1st April, 2024. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 1st April, 2024. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 1st April, 2024 Current affairs test.
National News
Exploration of Biochar Usage in Steel Production by Indian Government
- The Indian government is taking significant measures to mitigate carbon emissions within the steel industry by forming a task force dedicated to examining the potential application of biochar.
- Given the considerable contribution of the steel industry to greenhouse gas emissions, this initiative is directed towards minimizing carbon output and enhancing the sustainability of steel production methods.
Indian Government’s Stake Sale in Public Enterprises Below Expectations in 2023/24
- The fiscal year 2023/24 saw the Indian government endeavoring to generate funds through the divestment of shares in public sector undertakings.
- However, the proceeds of 165 billion rupees fell approximately 9% short of the targeted amount, equating to $1.98 billion.
- The shortfall is attributed to the upcoming general elections, which led to a diminished focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s privatization strategy.
State News
Celebrating Odisha’s Cultural Heritage on Utkal Diwas 2024
- Marked every year on April 1st, Utkal Diwas or Odisha Day is celebrated to honor the establishment of the state of Odisha on April 1, 1936.
- This day is of profound cultural and historical significance to the Odisha populace, reflecting the successful conclusion of their prolonged campaign for statehood, distinguishing themselves from the merged provinces of Bihar and Orissa during British rule.
Uttar Pradesh Achieves Top Spot in GI-Tagged Products
- Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the leading state in India in terms of the number of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products, now totaling 69, thanks to the addition of 15 new items.
- This surpasses Tamil Nadu’s count of 58. Particularly, Varanasi has distinguished itself by producing 30 GI-tagged products, the most for any single region, signifying the uniqueness of its cultural, societal, or craftsmanship attributes.
International News
Saudi Arabia Chairs UN Women’s Rights Forum Amid Criticism
- Despite facing international critique over its track record on women’s rights, Saudi Arabia has been appointed to preside over the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
- The nomination of Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil has provoked backlash from human rights organizations, citing a significant mismatch between the kingdom’s practices and the commission’s goals of fostering gender equality.
Partial Schengen Zone Membership for Romania and Bulgaria
- In a move towards deeper integration with the European Union, Romania and Bulgaria have partially joined the Schengen travel zone, allowing for ID-check-free entry for air and sea travelers.
- However, land border controls remain due to resistance from Austria.
Reflecting on the International Year of Millets 2023
- The conclusion of the International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 was marked by a closing ceremony at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, on March 29, 2024.
- The ceremony provided a platform to review the achievements and insights from the year-long observance.
Banking News
RBI Marks 90th Anniversary on Foundation Day 2024
- Celebrating its 90th year on April 1st, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is being honored with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at an event held at Mumbai’s National Centre for the Performing Arts.
HDFC Bank Announces Sale of Education Services Division
- HDFC Bank, one of India’s premier private sector banks, is set to divest its entire stake in HDFC Education and Development Services, aiming for transparency and adherence to regulatory norms.
- The bank announced its divestiture plan through a Swiss challenge method in a regulatory filing on March 30.
SBI Mutual Fund Buys 3% Stake in Savita Oil Technologies
- A significant equity transaction on March 26, 2024, saw Savita Oil Technologies’ promoter, Mr. Gautam N. Mehra, sell a 3% share to SBI Mutual Fund.
- This deal decreased the promoter group’s ownership to 59.78%.
Appointments News
JNU Teachers Association Welcomes Moushumi Basu as New President
- For the 2024-2025 term, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) has announced its new leadership, appointing Moushumi Basu, a professor from the School of International Studies, as president.
Joyshree Das Verma Takes Charge of FICCI Ladies Organisation
- The FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) has inaugurated Joyshree Das Verma as its 41st National President for the year 2024-25, marking a new chapter for the foremost women-led business chamber in South East Asia.
Sports News
MS Dhoni Achieves Milestone in T20 Cricket
- In a historic moment during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match, Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the first wicketkeeper to secure 300 dismissals in T20 cricket, showcasing his legendary status in the sport.
Victory for Rohan Bopanna and Matt Ebden at Miami Open
- The pairing of India’s Rohan Bopanna and Australia’s Matthew Ebden clinched the Men’s Doubles Title at the Miami Open, overcoming Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in a thrilling match.
Hockey India Awards 2023 Recognize Hardik Singh and Salima Tete
- At the sixth annual Hockey India Awards, Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were honored as the Players of the Year for 2023 in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
- The announcement also heralded the return of the Hockey India League (HIL) in January 2025, featuring eight men’s and six women’s teams.
Awards News
Professor Meena Charanda Receives ‘International Culture Award’ 2024
- Professor Meena Charanda of Kalindi College, Delhi University, was bestowed with the ‘International Culture Award’ for 2024 in acknowledgment of her exemplary contributions to education and social service.
- The award ceremony took place on March 30, 2024, at the India International Center.
ENBA Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 Awarded to Vineet Jain
- Vineet Jain, the managing director of the Times Group, was honored with the Exchange4Media News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA) Lifetime Achievement Award 2023, recognizing his pivotal role in the evolution of Indian television news.
Science and Technology News
Microsoft and OpenAI to Build ‘Stargate’ AI Supercomputer
- In a pioneering move, Microsoft and OpenAI have announced their collaboration on the construction of ‘Stargate,’ an AI supercomputer project with an estimated budget of $100 billion.
- This venture signifies a substantial advancement in AI technology and infrastructure.
Important Days
National Maritime Week 2024 Celebrated in India
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the National Maritime Week celebrations, running from March 29 to April 5, by being adorned with the ‘Merchant Navy Flag’ by Secretary T.K. Ramachandran of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Miscellaneous News
Launch of ‘IRAH,’ India’s First AI-Based Film
- The unveiling of the trailer for “IRAH,” India’s inaugural Hindi film themed around Artificial Intelligence, took place in Mumbai.
- Featuring actors Rohit Bose Roy, Rajesh Sharma, Karishma Kotak, and Rakshith Bhandarry, the film is directed by Sam Bhattacharjee and set for release on April 4th, 2024.
Katchatheevu Island: A Contested Historical Narrative
- Katchatheevu, once an island under Indian jurisdiction, has been at the center of a long-standing dispute between India and Sri Lanka following its transfer in 1974, highlighting its complex historical significance.
