Awards

The renowned Indian environmental activist and convenor of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan who has been chosen to be awarded the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize – Alok Shukla

The noted industrialist and philanthropist who has been awarded the KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) Humanitarian Award 2021 – Shri Ratan Tata

The veteran actor who has been chosen to be awarded the third Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar award – Amitabh Bachchan

The Kannada poet, writer, academic and activist who has been awarded the World Literary Prize by World Organization of Writers (WOW) – Ms Mamta G. Sagar

Defence

The sailing vessel of Indian Navy in which Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A completed a historic transoceanic expedition of nearly two months duration from Goa to Port Louis (Mauritius) and back – INSV Tarini

The present Vice Chief of Naval Staff who has been chosen to be the next Chief of Naval Staff with effect from 30 April 2024 – Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM

The place in Kerala at which a premier testing & evaluation hub for sonar systems for Indian Navy, named SPACE (Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation) has been established by DRDO – Kulamavu in Idukki

The 5th edition of India- Uzbekistan joint military exercise conducted from 15th to 28th April 2024 at Termez, the Republic of Uzbekistan – Exercise DUSTLIK

The two-day Coastal Security Exercise involving all maritime security agencies (namely the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs and other security agencies) conducted in UT of Lakshadweep from 01 to 02 April 2024 was named – Sagar Kavach 2024

The 10-day exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force from 01 April 2024 to test its capabilities and preparedness for high-intensity operations is named – Gagan Shakti-2024

Persons

The Professor of Psychology who has become the first woman Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University – Ms. Naima Khatoon

Sports

The IPL team which has set a new IPL record of highest ever IPL score of 287 runs while playing against Royal Challengers Bangalore – Sunrisers Hyderabad

The Lithuanian athlete who has set a new world record in discus throw by achieving a throw of 74.35 meters at an event in USA – Mykolas Alekna

The Indian professional tennis player who has become the first Indian to win an ATP Masters 1000 match on clay courts by defeating Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi – Sumit Nagal

The Serbian tennis player who has become the oldest to be ranked as Number 1 by ATP at the age of 36years and 321 days (beating the record of Roger Federer) – Novak Djokovic

The former Indian cricket captain and wicketkeeper who has become the first-ever wicketkeeper in the world to claim 300 dismissals with the dismissal of Prithvi Shaw in an IPL match – M.S. Dhoni

Miscellaneous

The company which has been conferred the Navratna status by the Department of Public Enterprises – Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA)

The African nation which has become the first country in the world to introduce a new 5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis named Men5CV – Nigeria

The Indian university which has become the highest ranked Indian university as per QS World University Rankings by being ranked at 20th position in the subject of Development Studies – Jawaharlal University, New Delhi

The Venezuelan supercentenarian the oldest verified living person till his death aged 114 years, 311 days on 02 April 2024 – Juan Vicente Perez

Laureus Sports Award 2024

World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic (Tennis)

World Sportswoman of the Year: Aitana Bonmati (Footballer)

World Team of the Year: European Ryder Team (Golf)

World Breakthrough of the Year: Jude Bellingham (Football)

World Comeback of the Year: Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

New GI Tags

Asharikandi terracotta craft, Pani Meteka craft, Sarthebari metal craft, Jaapi (bamboo headgear of rural Assam), Mishing handloom products, the Bihu dhol, Bodo Dokhona, the traditional attire of Bodo women; and Bodo Eri silk, referred to as the fabric of peace or ahimsa (non-violence), Bodo Jwmgra (a traditional scarf), Bodo Gamsa (traditional dress of Bodo men), Bodo Thorkha (a musical instrument), and Bodo Sifung (a long flute) from Assam.

Banaras Thandai, a drink made by blending milk with a nutritious mix of nuts, seeds and spices, Banaras Tabla, Banaras Shehnai, Banaras Lal Bharwamirch and Banaras Lal Peda from Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

Pachra-Rignai, a traditional dress worn on special occasions, and Matabari Peda, a sweet preparation from Tripura.

Meghalaya Garo Textile’ weaving, ‘Meghalaya Lyrnai Pottery’ and ‘Meghalaya Chubitchi’ from Meghalaya.

Sitars and tanpuras of Miraj, from Sangli district of Maharashtra.

Bundelkahnd wheat variety from Uttar Pradesh.

Tiranga Barfi and Dhalua Murti Dhatu Shilpa (Metal Casting Craft) from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Important Days of April

World Autism Awareness Day: 02 April 2024

Designated by: UN General Assembly

First Observed in: 2008

International Mine Awareness Day: 04 April 2024

Designated by: United Nations General Assembly

Theme: Protecting Lives, Building Peace

First Observed in: 2006

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace: 06 April 2024

Designated by: United Nations General Assembly

First Observed in: 2014

Theme: Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies

World Health Day: 07 April 2024

Designated by: World Health Organisation

Theme: My Health, My Right

First Observed in: 1950

International Day of Human Space Flight: 12 April 2024

Designated by: UN General Assembly

First Observed in: 2011

World Haemophilia Day: 17 April 2024

Designated by: World Federation of Haemophilia

Theme: Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders

First Observed in: 1989

International Day for Monuments and Sites (World Heritage Day): 18 April 2024

Designated by: UNESCO

Theme: Disasters & Conflicts Through the Lens of the Venice Charter

First Observed in: 1983

International Mother Earth Day: 22 April 2024

Designated by: UN General Assembly

First Observed in: 2010

Note: Earth Day was first observed in 1970 in the United States and it went global in 1990. The same day was adopted by the UN in 2009 as the International Mother Earth Day.

UN English Language Day: 23 April 2024

Designated by: UN Dept of Public Information

First Observed in: 2010

World Malaria Day: 25 April 2024

Designated by: World Health Organisation

First Observed in: 2007

Theme: Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world

World Intellectual Property Day: 26 April 2024

Designated by: World Intellectual Property Organisation

First Observed in: 2000

Theme: IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity

World Day for Safety and Health at Work: 28 April 2024

Designated by: International Labour Organisation

First Observed in: 2003

Theme: Climate change and safety and health at work

India's first Gene Cell Therapy for cancer

The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu launched India’s first home-grown anti-Cancer CAR-T cell therapy and dedicated it to the Nation in the presence of the Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Ramesh Bais at the Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Bombay in Mumbai.

About CAR-T Cell Therapy

NexCAR19 CAR-T therapy is India’s first indigenously Made-in-India CAR-T therapy; borne from academia-industry partnership. NexCAR19 is the world’s most affordable CAR-T therapy and it puts India firmly on the global map of advanced cell and gene therapy. The CAR-T Cell therapy has been developed by Prof. Rahul Purwar and his team at the BSBE Department, IIT Bombay in close association with Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT.

Books in News

Knife: Meditations after Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

Just a Mercenary?: Notes from My Life and Career by Duvvuri Subba Rao

The Winner's Mindset by Shane Watson