Today’s Current Affairs: 29th Apr 2024 for SSC CGL, State SSC, RRB, Railways, Banking Exam & IBPS, etc
Director of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs:
- Sunil Kumar Yadav (IRS) has been appointed as Director of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
- He has been selected for the appointment to the post under the Central Staffing Scheme for five years from the date of taking charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Chairman of WFI’s Athletes’ Commission:
- Former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Narsingh Pancham Yadav was elected chairman of the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) Athletes’ Commission.
- Eight candidates were in the fray for the seven positions, and seven members were elected after polling was conducted on the ballot paper.
IndusInd Bank’s Pilot Program with RBI’s Programmable CBDC:
- IndusInd Bank, in collaboration with Circularity Innovation Hub India Private Limited (CIH), has achieved a significant milestone by successfully executing the Reserve Bank of India’s pilot program on programmable Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
RBI Directs Talkcharge to Cease PPI Operations and Refund Balances:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has instructed Talkcharge Technologies to halt the issuance and operation of its Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) or wallets.
- This directive follows the RBI’s observation of the firm issuing wallets without proper authorization.
Executive Chairman of Coromandel International:
- Coromandel International Ltd. (CIL), a leading provider of agri-solutions, has announced a significant leadership transition.
- Arun Alagappan, the former Executive Vice Chairman, has been appointed and re-designated as the Executive Chairman of the company.
India’s First Transshipment Hub:
- Adani Group’s Vizhinjam Port in Kerala has received approval from the government to operate as India’s inaugural transshipment port.
- This designation is significant as it allows cargo to be transferred from large vessels to smaller ones, contributing to India’s goal of becoming a manufacturing hub.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador:
- The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the appointment of Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh as an ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
World Veterinary Day 2024: 27th April
- The World Veterinary Day (WVD) is an annual global celebration that honours the invaluable contributions of veterinarians to society. Observed on the last Saturday of April, this day aims to raise awareness about the crucial role veterinarians play in maintaining the health and welfare of animals.
- The theme for 2024 is “Veterinarians are Essential Health Workers,”.
India’s FY25 GDP Growth at 7.1%:
- The National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) predicts India’s GDP growth for the fiscal year 2024-25 to be 7.1%.
- Utilizing high-frequency models, NIPFP underscores the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts, emphasizing tax buoyancy and compression of revenue expenditure.
UNHCR launches Climate Resilience Fund to Shield Refugees and Displaced People from Climate Shocks:
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched the UNHCR Climate Resilience Fund, aiming to raise USD100 million by 2025 for protecting refugees and displaced communities from climate change impacts and promoting their inclusion in climate-related measures.
UNCTAD Report: India’s Services Exports Increased By 11.4% in 2023
- The fourth quarterly (Q4) report for 2023 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) states that India’s service exports increased by 11.4% to USD 345 billion in 2023, amid uncertainty in the global economy.
- Whereas China’s service export decreased by 10.1% to USD 381 billion in2023. But, China emerged as the top performer among the developing countries in terms of services exports followed by India.
Groww Mutual Fund receives SEBI approval to launch India’s 1st Nifty Non-Cyclical Consumer Index Fund:
- Groww Mutual Fund, an asset management company (AMC), has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch India’s inaugural Nifty Non-Cyclical Consumer Index Fund.
- This open-ended scheme, set to launch in the first week of May 2024, will be managed by Abhishek Jain and bench-marked against the Nifty Non-Cyclical Consumer Index TRI (Total Return Index), comprising top 30 stocks from sectors like consumer goods and services, telecom, textiles, entertainment, etc.
Hitachi Payment Services launches India’s first Upgradable ATM:
- Hitachi Payment Services Private Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., launched India’s first upgradable Automated Teller Machine (ATM) that can be converted to a cash recycling machine (CRM) as and when a bank needs it, eliminating the need for a separate CRM.
