India’s Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System

• The Commonwealth Secretariat acknowledged India's Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) as a best practice in a meeting held in Marlborough House, London, from April 22 – 24, 2024.
• CPGRAMS is a cutting-edge grievance redressal system and an example of SMART governance.
• The remaining 1.2 billion Commonwealth citizens can profit from the technological platform in the same way as India's 1.4 billion citizens did.
• The meeting's theme was "Institutionalization of SMART Government to Enhance Public Service Delivery," with a focus on using AI in governance.
• The meeting brought together Commonwealth Heads of Public Service, Secretaries to Cabinet, Senior Public Officials, industry leaders, and distinguished intellectuals.

NABARD Launched Climate Strategy 2030

• The National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) on April 24, 2024 released its Climate Strategy 2030 document.
•  The plan seeks to raise funds for national initiatives addressing resilience, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change.
•  In order to reach a cumulative total of over $2.5 trillion by 2030, India has to finance green projects with over $170 billion per Year.
•  India received just approximately $49 billion in green funding as of 2019–20, with the majority of money designated for mitigation.
• Just $5 billion went toward adaptability and resilience, indicating very little private sector involvement because of problems with bankability and economic viability.
•  The programme reaffirms NABARD's dedication to environmental stewardship and establishes it as a key participant in India's transition towards a resilient and sustainable economy.

India’s Largest Climate Clock Unveiled by CSIR

• The Council of Scientific Research (CSIR) on April 24, 2024 presented the largest climate clock in India in New Delhi, in conjunction with Earth Day.
•  Founded in 1942, CSIR collaborates and carries out a variety of scientific research projects.
• This program demonstrates CSIR's dedication to increasing public understanding of climate change and its detrimental effects.
•  The Government of India established CSIR in 1942 with the main objective of promoting industrial development and scientific research in the country.
• Conducting scientific and industrial research in a variety of fields, such as aerospace engineering, biotechnology, chemical sciences, earth sciences, electronics, and materials science, is the duty assigned to CSIR.
• CSIR has developed innovative technologies, industrial processes, and products that have significantly benefited several sectors.

NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System Mission

• NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) launch on April 24, 2024, is a significant milestone in the application of solar power for space propulsion.
• A solar-powered spacecraft was launched from New Zealand on Rocket Lab's Electron rocket.
• This solar-powered spacecraft seeks to investigate the viability and efficiency of solar sails for space travel.
• With the use of broad, reflecting surfaces and the momentum of photons released by the sun, solar sail technology powers spacecraft without the need for conventional fuel.
•  In the same way as sailboats are propelled by the wind, this technique makes use of the sun's continuous outward pressure.
• This novel propulsion system is used by the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System spacecraft, which will have a post-deployment size of about 80 square meters.

Expansion of Glacial Lakes in Indian Himalayas (Environment and Ecology)

• In the Indian Himalayas, glacial lakes have significantly expanded, according to satellite data collected over the course of 3 decades.
• This development raises the possibility of disasters like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
• Changes in the global climate are causing enormous changes to the Himalayan Mountains, which are referred to as the "Third Pole" because of their large glaciers.
•  Of the burgeoning lakes, 130 are located in India, distributed differently throughout the basins of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers.
• Based on elevation analysis, a large proportion of growing lakes are located above 5000 meters and between 4000 and 5000 meters.
• According to how they formed, glacial lakes are divided into several categories.
• Erosion, moraine-dammed lakes, and other processes account for most of the increasing lakes. Lakes with ice dams don't expand much.

Crystal Maze 2: - IAF’s Air-Launched Ballistic Missile ((Defence)

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) on April 24, 2024, successfully test-fired an air-launched ballistic missile, called ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2, marking a key milestone.
• The missile was fired from a Su-30 MKI fighter jet in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was able to hit targets more than 250 kilometers distant.
• The test was effective in validating the new technologies and the Command's operational capacity.
• Israel is the country of origin of the Crystal Maze 2, an air-to-surface missile with an enhanced standoff range.
• Its purpose is to hit valuable stationary and movable targets, such long-range radars.

Bharatpe One Introduced by Bharatpe

• BharatPe presented BharatPe One, an innovative all-in-one payment gadget that is poised to revolutionize digital transactions, on April 24, 2024.
•  This innovative invention promises unmatched convenience for both retailers and customers by combining speaker, QR, and point-of-sale functions into a single device.
•  In the next 6 months, BharatPe intends to expand BharatPe One to 450+ cities after initially launching it in more than 100 locations.
• BharatPe One provides a variety of payment acceptance choices, including as tap-and-pay, standard card payments, and dynamic and static QR codes.
• Retailers may anticipate instant voice payment confirmation and real-time transaction updates, which will revolutionize the in-store payment experience.
•  It operates the most recent version of Android and has a high-definition touchscreen display, 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity.

RBI Released New Guidelines for ARCs

• A complete master directive for Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) was released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and went into effect on April 24, 2024.
•  By following these recommendations, the ARCs will be able to resolve troubled assets more effectively and with greater financial stability. The regulatory environment for ARCs will also be improved.
• The earlier minimum capital requirement of ₹ 100 crore, which was imposed on October 11, 2022, has been significantly increased to ₹300 crore for ARCs.
• A grace period until March 31, 2026, is allowed to current ARCs to comply with the new minimum standard.
•  If these regulations are broken, supervisory measures may be taken, which may include preventing further business operations until compliance is attained.

PayU gets Approval as Payment Aggregate

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on April 24, 2024 granted Pay U, a provider of digital financial services, permission to function as a "payment aggregator".
• The applications that PayU had submitted for its "Payment Aggregator" were returned by RBI in January 2023, with a request that they resubmit within 120 days.
• A third-party service provider known as a PA makes it possible for customers to send and receive online payments from businesses.
• With this certification, PayU will be able to add new merchants to its platform in accordance with the Payment Settlement Act of 2007.

Laureus Sports Awards 2024

• The esteemed Laureus Sports Awards 2024 ceremony took place in Madrid (Spain) on April 24, 2024.
• Every Year, Laureus Sport for Good launches its programmes and honors outstanding athletic accomplishments with the Laureus World Sports Awards.
• Over 1000 sports media professionals from more than 70 nations vote to produce the shortlists for several categories, and the International Paralympic Committee selects the athletes for the World Athlete of the Year with a Disability.

Winners List-

Heavenly Islands of Goa

• Goa's governor, PS Sreedharan Pillai, launched a book series titled Heavenly Islands of Goa on April 24, 2024, with the goal of showcasing the state's abundant natural heritage.
• The book "Heavenly Islands of Goa" by PS Sreedharan Pillai explores the intriguing realm of Goa's bird diversity.
• The book also discusses the unique aspect of the Goan landscape, the riverine and estuarine islands.
•  The mangroves that border the Zuari and Mandovi rivers have given rise to these islands, forming a distinct environment with a high level of biodiversity.
• His book uncovers historical treasures like the Fort of Naroa, which formerly stood across the street from Holy Spirit Church, close to the Naroa-Narve ferry crossing, in addition to honoring Goa's natural history.

National Panchayati Raj Day 2024

• The National Panchayati Raj Day was observed on April 24, 2024. April 24 is recognized as 'National Panchayati Raj Day' each Year.
•  In India, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj organizes it annually. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act's momentous enactment in 1993 is commemorated on this historic day.
•  The government has not yet revealed the official theme for "National Panchayati Raj Day" in 2024.
• The Panchayati Raj system has its roots in traditional Indian practices, wherein panchayats, or village councils, exercised considerable influence over local governance.
• The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee was established in 1957 with the goal of researching democratic decentralization and making recommendations on ways to bring the Panchayati Raj back to life.

Saurav Ghosal

• The best squash player in India, Saurav Ghosal, announced his retirement from professional play on April 24, 2024.
• The accomplishments of Saurav Ghosal in the squash world are astounding.
• He took home numerous medals from the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, in addition to 12 Professional Squash Association (PSA) crowns.
• The only other Indian guy to rank in the top 10 globally is Saurav Ghosal, who did so in April 2019 and held the position for 6 months.
• At the Malaysian Open Squash Championships in November 2021, Saurav Ghosal defeated Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia to earn his final PSA title.
• At the 2024 Windy City Open, in his last match on the PSA World Tour, he was defeated by Timothy Brownell of the USA in the round of 64.

Usain Bolt

• The renowned sprinter Usain Bolt was designated the official ambassador for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on April 24, 2024.
• The tournament will take place from June 1 to June 29 and is co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies.
•  Cricket enthusiasts are familiar with the incredible tale of Usain Bolt.
• The Jamaican athlete's legacy goes beyond athletics as he achieved a historic "Triple-Triple" in 2008, 2009, and 2016—winning 3 gold medals at 3 different Olympic Games.
• Usain Bolt's adventure started in 2008 when he stunned everyone by winning the 100-, 200-, and 4x100-meter relays in world records.
• With world records in all three events—9.58 seconds for the 100 meters, 19.19 seconds for the 200 meters, and 36.84 seconds for the 4x100 meters relay—he is still without a doubt the greatest sprinter of all time.

Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez

• Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez, 60, won the title of Miss Universe for the Buenos Aires province in Argentina on April 24, 2024.
•  Rodriguez's victory means that she will compete for Buneos Aires in the national Miss Universe Argentina pageant the following month.
• She practices law and works as a journalist. She attended the National University of La Plata (UNLP) Higher School of Journalism in Argentina to study journalism, and then she went on to study law.

Narsingh Yadav

• Narsingh Yadav was chosen by the Wrestling Federation of India to lead the Wrestling Federation India Athletes Commission on April 24, 2024.
•  Prior to the 2016 Olympic Games, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Narsingh Yadav gained notoriety.
• Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar had asked to play a trial match versus Narsingh because he was injured and could not play in the qualification event.
• The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) cleared him on the grounds that the positive test was a part of a conspiracy, notwithstanding the Court of Sports' 4-year penalty.
• The ban on Narsingh expired in July 2020. One of the most important steps in guaranteeing wrestlers' representation and well-being in WFI decision-making processes is the creation of the Athletes Commission.

Randeep Hooda

• Actor Randeep Hooda received the "Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar Award" on April 24, 2024, in recognition of his performance as Veer Savarkar in the movie "Swantantrya Veer Savarkar."
• Widespread praise has been bestowed upon the actor for his depiction as Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a key person in the biography.
• "Swatantrya Veer Savarkar," which was directed by Randeep Hooda, provides a cinematic portrayal of one of India's most significant and contentious personalities throughout the country's independence war.
• The film recounts the tale of India's military uprising for independence, highlighting the crucial role played by Savarkar.

Amitabh Bacchan

• Actor Amitabh Bachchan received the "Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar Award" in Mumbai on April 24, 2024.
• The 81-year-old actor, who has starred in over 50 films over the course of his career and is best known for "Zanjeer," "Deewar," "Chupke Chupke," "Mohabbatein," and "Piku," expressed gratitude for the honour.
•  In honour of Deenanath Mangeshkar, the veteran of theatre and music and father of the Mangeshkar siblings, it was held at Mumbai's Vile Parle on his memorial day.
•  Following the melody queen Lata Mangeshkar's passing on February 6, 2022, the Mangeshkar family established the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar in her honour.
•  Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first to receive the esteemed honour, and Asha Bhosle, sister of Lata Mangeshkar, won it in 2023 for her musical contributions.