Daily Current Affairs and GK | 4 April 2024

Topic: Science and Technology

1. A new OptiDrop platform has been developed by C-CAMP to study single cells.

• The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has developed a new platform ‘OptiDrop’ to study single cells.
• This platform has potential use in diagnostics, therapeutics, agriculture, and animal health.
• This microfluidic chip-based platform will allow optical sensing of biological samples without the expensive open space.
• This innovative platform has been developed by C-CAMP’s Discovery to Innovation Accelerator team.
• It will enable the study of single cells encapsulated in droplets with ease and precision.
• Optidrop will help in studying the impact on individual cells during a drug screen, environment control (water contamination counter), and detection and sorting of CAR-T cells in immuno-oncotherapeutics. 
• Currently, Flow cytometers in market cost between ₹ 45 lakhs and ₹ 1 crore. OptiDrop setup costs only about ₹10 lakh.

Topic: Personality in News

2. Juan Vicente Perez Mora, the world’s oldest man, died at the age of 114.

• Juan Vicente Perez Mora was certified as the world’s oldest man in 2022.
• He was officially declared as the oldest man alive on February 4, 2022, when he was 112 years and 253 days old.
• As of 2022, he had 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
• He was born on 27 May 1909, in the state of Tachira in Venezuela.
• At the age of five, he started working with his dad and brothers in agriculture.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. Dr. Karthik Kommuri received the prestigious National Fame Award 2024.

• Dr. Kommuri was awarded the title of prestigious Overseas Dental Specialist (Orthodontics and Orofacial Pain) at the National Fame Awards 2024 held at The Club, Mumbai.
• Reputably known for providing outstanding patient care, Dr. Karthik Kommuri is a great example of modern orthodontics and dentistry practices.
• He is known for his unwavering dedication towards the well-being of patients, pursuit of excellence, and commitment to shaping brighter smiles with each passing day.
• Brands Impact's initiative, National Fame Awards, is to recognize exceptional individuals and organizations that have achieved fame and nationwide popularity.
• The awards aim to celebrate their inspiring achievements and positive impact in their fields.
• In the third edition of the National Fame Awards honoured many B-town celebs like Gauahar Khan, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Rahul Dev, Zayed Khan, Jennifer Winget, Karan Wahi, Maanvi Gagroo and others.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

4. India is planning to create its first privately managed Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2029-30.

• This will give the operator the freedom to trade all the stored oil.
• Allowing fully commercial SPR is similar to the approach taken by nations like South Korea and Japan, which permits private lessees, mostly oil majors, to trade crude.
• Till now, India has allowed only partial commercialization for its three existing SPRs in southern India, which have a combined capacity of 36.7 million barrels.
• India plans to build two new SPRs with private partners allowed to trade all the oil locally.
• The first is an 18.3 million barrels reserve at Padur in southern Karnataka state, and the second is a 29.3 million barrel SPR in eastern Odisha state.
• In case of shortage, the government will have the first right to oil.
• India is the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer. It is keen to expand its SPR capacity to protect against global supply disruptions and price rises.
• Expanding oil storage capacity will also help India join the International Energy Agency (IEA), which requires its members to reserve a minimum of 90 days of oil consumption.
• With the central government providing up to 60% of the total, the Padur SPR and linked pipeline and oil import facility would cost about 55 billion rupees ($659 million).

Topic: International Appointment

5. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been sworn in for his third term as President of Egypt before parliament.

• On April 2, el-Sisi's swearing-in his final six-year term as leader of the Arab world's most populous country.
• If he does not make constitutional amendments to extend his tenure again.
• The 69-year-old former army chief, who has been in power for the last decade, is set to remain president till 2030.
• In December, he was re-elected with 89.6% of the vote in a race against three unknown candidates.
• In 2013, El-Sisi came to power after overthrowing Mohammed Morsi, the country's first popularly elected president.
• In 2018, he was re-elected. He had won both the last elections with 97% votes.
• He increased the presidential mandate from four to six years and amended the Constitution to increase the limit on consecutive terms in office from two to three.
• Under his rule, Egypt has jailed thousands of political prisoners, and the Presidential Pardon Committee has freed about 1,000 a year.
• Its capital is Cairo. Its currency is the Egyptian pound. Its Prime Minister is Moustafa Madbouly.

Topic: Important Days

6. International Day for Mine Awareness 2024: 4 April

• Every year on 4 April, the International Day for Mine Awareness is observed.
• It is celebrated to increase public attention towards mine action activities, land mines, their threats to the safety of mankind, and how to work towards their eradication.
• The theme of the International Day for Mine Awareness 2024 is “Protecting Lives, Building Peace”
• On 8th December 2005, the United Nations General Assembly confirmed that the 4th of April of every year would be observed as International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
• It was first observed on 4th April, 2006.
• The day calls for efforts from national leaders to create and develop national mine-action capacities.
• Daniel Craig was the first UN Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. Union Health Ministry has launched myCGHS iOS app.

• The myCGHS app for the iOS ecosystem of devices has been released by Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) app is intended to improve beneficiaries' access to Electronic Health Records, data, and resources.
• The National Informatics Centre (NIC) Himachal Pradesh and the NIC Health Team's technical teams are responsible for developing the app.
• It's a handy smartphone app with features designed to improve accessibility and information for CGHS participants.
• Its security features, which include mPIN functionality and two-factor authentication, guarantee the integrity and confidentiality of user data.
• The myCGHS app facilitates services given in the following table.

• The myCGHS app can now be downloaded for free on the iOS and Android operating systems.

Topic: National Appointments

8. Santosh Kumar Jha has become new CMD of Konkan Railway Corporation.

• He has taken charge as its new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) from 1 April.
• He is an Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) officer of 1992 batch.
• He was the Director (Operations and Commercial) with Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. (KRCL).
• KRCL is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways. It operates Konkan Railway.
• It is headquartered at CBD Belapur in Navi Mumbai. It serves Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.

Topic: National News

9. MHA cancelled the FCRA registration of five NGOs for violating laws.

• For violating provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, the government has cancelled the registration of five NGOs.
• The registrations of the CNI Synodical Board of Social Service, the Voluntary Health Association of India, the Indo-Global Social Service Society, the Church's Auxiliary for Social Action, and the Evangelical Fellowship of India have been cancelled.
• After the cancellation of registration, these NGOs will not remain eligible to accept foreign contributions or utilize the existing available funds.
• The government has cancelled the FCRA registration of the NGOs for allegedly utilising funds for works that were not in their mandate.
• As of July 17, 2023, there were 16301 NGOs with valid FCRA licences.
• In the last five years, the government has cancelled the FCRA licences of more than 6,600 NGOs.
• Foreign Contribution Regulation Act:
  • It is an act to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by NGOs.
  • The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, has made it mandatory for NGOs to provide Aadhar numbers.
  • In 2022, the government gave certain relaxations to NGOs, such as allowing relatives to send more money under the FCRA.

Topic: Art and Culture

10. Restrictions have been imposed on pilgrims visiting the Ahobilam shrine.

• The Forest Department and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam (SLNSD) have imposed certain restrictions on visitors visiting the Ahobilam shrine.
• The restrictions have been imposed due to intense heatwaves that can impact the movement of wild animals. 
• For the safety of animals, the government has banned all forms of plastic such as sachets, water cups, tea cups and bottles.
• Overnight stays in the region have been prohibited due to the movement of nocturnal animals.
• Ahobilam Shrine:
  • Ahobilam shrine is composed of nine different temples, situated within the Nallamala forest.
  • It is located in Andhra Pradesh and is the centre of worship of Narasimha.
  • The shrine of the Ahobilam temple is situated on the top and is referred to as Upper Ahobilam and down below is called Lower Ahobilam.

Topic: National Appointment

11. Sorin Investment Fund Chairman Sanjay Nair took over as President of ASSOCHAM for 2024-25.

• He replaced Ajay Singh, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, who has completed his tenure.
• Nair has four decades of experience in the global financial and capital markets, including 25 years at Citi and nearly 14 years at KKR before retiring last year.
• Founded in 1920, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.

Topic: National News

12. Paradip Port has emerged as the largest Indian major port in cargo throughput in FY24.

• Surpassing Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat, the State-owned Paradip Port in Odisha has emerged as India's largest major port in terms of cargo volume with a cargo throughput of 145.38 million tonnes in FY24.
• Paradip Port, for the first time in its 56-year history of operations, has surpassed the previous record set by Deendayal Port on the instructions of the Ministry of Ports.
• During FY24, the port achieved the highest-ever coastal shipping traffic of 59.19 million metric tonnes, an increase of 0.76 million metric tonnes which is 1.30% over the last year.
• Shipping of thermal coal reached 43.97 million metric tons, an increase of 4.02% from last year's cargo handling.
• The growth path of Paradip Port was driven by an improved system of operations in the mechanized coal hand plant to reduce idle time between rake unloading.
• With a growth of 6.33%, Paradip Port has been able to increase its berth productivity to 33,014 MT from 31,050 MT in the last financial year.
• During FY24, Paradip Port handled 21,665 rakes, registering a growth of 7.65% year-on-year.
• During FY24, the port handled 2,710 vessels, registered a growth of 13.82% compared to FY23.

Topic: India and its Neighbours

13. Indian Government rejected 'senseless attempts' by China to rename places in Arunachal.

• The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs released the fourth list of standardised geographical names in Zangnan (the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh).
• China has released the names of 30 more places in Arunachal Pradesh.
• In April 2023, India reacted sharply when China released the third list of names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The central government asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.
• Why does China claim Arunachal Pradesh?
  • China claims the entire Arunachal Pradesh as “South Tibet”. It is called “Zangnan” in the Chinese language.
  • China's main interest is in the district of Tawang, which is in the north-western region of Arunachal and borders Bhutan and Tibet
  • Tawang is a critical point in the corridor between Tibet and Brahmaputra Valley.
  • Tawang Ganden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery) is the world's second-largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism.
  • China claimed that this monastery in Tawang district proved that the district was part of Tibet.
  • The McMahon Line separates Tibet from India in the eastern sector.

Topic: Sports

14. Bindyarani Devi wins bronze medal at the weightlifting World Cup.

• Indian weightlifter Bindyrani Devi clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 55kg event at the IWF World Cup.
• She total lifted 196kg (83kg+113kg) to claim the bronze medal.
• Bindyarani Devi’s total weight lift was 38kg less than North Korea’s Kang Hyon Gyong, who won the gold medal for her effort of 234kg (103kg+131kg).
• Romania’s Cambei Mihaela-Valentina won the silver medal by lifting a total of 201kg (91kg+110kg).
• Bindyarani also bagged the silver medal in the clean and jerk section by lifting 113kg.
• In continental, World Cup, and World Championship competitions, medals are awarded separately for snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift.