This is the current affairs of 30 April 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which company admitted in the British court that its covid-19 vaccine poses a risk of heart attack and stroke?
a. Bharat Biotech
b. Zydus Cadila
c. AstraZeneca
d. None of these
Answer: c. AstraZeneca
– The British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has acknowledged that their COVID-19 vaccine may have dangerous side effects. However, this will be very rare cases.
– Serum Institute in India has developed a vaccine named Covishield using the formula of AstraZeneca.
– AstraZeneca developed the vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University.
What are the side effects of the vaccine?
– In documents submitted to the British High Court, the company has acknowledged that their coronavirus vaccine may result in a very rare condition called thrombosis thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS.
– With this illness, blood clots form in the body and the count of platelets drops.
– Due to this, there is also a risk of heart attack and stroke.
– Blood clots can occur in various parts of the body, including:
— Brain (called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or CVST)
— Abdomen (splenic vein thrombosis)
— Lungs (pulmonary embolism)
— Limbs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT)
— Veins (venous thrombosis)
Case Against AstraZeneca
– A lawsuit is underway in the High Court against the company involving 51 cases.
– The plaintiffs have demanded nearly 1 billion in compensation from AstraZeneca.
– In April 2021, a person named Jamie Scott received this vaccine.
– Subsequently, his condition deteriorated. The direct impact of blood clot formation in the body affected his brain.
– He also suffered internal bleeding in his brain.
– In the year 2023, Scott filed a complaint against AstraZeneca.
– In response to Scott’s allegations in May 2023, the company claimed that TTS (thrombosis thrombocytopenia syndrome) cannot occur with their vaccine.
– However, this year, in February, the company reversed this claim in court documents.
AstraZeneca Vaccine Not Being Used in Britain
– The use of this vaccine is no longer happening in Britain. According to a report by The Telegraph, a few months after its release in the market, scientists flagged the risks associated with this vaccine.
– It was then suggested that people under 40 years of age should receive a different vaccine dose as the harms caused by AstraZeneca’s vaccine were deemed to be greater than the risks of COVID-19.
Identification of Vaccine-Induced Illness by Scientists in April 2021
– Scientists first identified a new vaccine-induced illness called Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (VITT) in March 2021.
– Lawyers representing the affected individuals claim that VITT is essentially a subset of TTS. However, AstraZeneca has dismissed this notion.
Concerns Arising in India as Well
– Several videos are going viral on social media showing individuals suddenly collapsing while dancing or walking, leading to their death due to a heart attack.
Indian Government Dismissed Side Effects Case
– India’s CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization) had acknowledged some side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines, including common symptoms like headache, fatigue, and feeling cold, which are also common with other vaccines.
– However, CDSCO had dismissed any other side effects.
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2. Which Ratna status was given by the Central Government to “Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency” (IREDA)?
a. Maharatna
b. Navratna
c. Miniratna Category-1
d. Miniratna Category-2
Answer: b. Navratna
– The status of Navratna is granted under the Department of Public Enterprises of the Ministry of Finance.
About IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency)
– It is a public sector enterprise that provides financial assistance to projects that generate electricity using fresh and sustainable sources.
– Granting it the status of Navratna is a significant step towards achieving India’s ambitious renewable energy goals.
– Being conferred with the “Navratna” status will enhance the company’s market credibility and enable it to undertake large-scale PPP projects.
– The company will now have the authority to invest up to 1,000 crore rupees without prior approval from the government, facilitating quick decision-making and project implementation.
IREDA
– Establishment: March 1987
– Headquarters: New Delhi
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3. Which Ratna status was given by the Central Government to “National Fertilizers Limited” (NFL)?
a. Maharatna
b. Navratna
c. Miniratna Category-1
d. Miniratna Category-2
Answer: b. Navratna
– This company manufactures fertilizers and chemicals and provides related services.
National Fertilizers Limited (NFL)
– Establishment: 1974
– Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
– Main Products: Urea, Neem-coated Urea, Bio-fertilizers, Ammonia, Nitric Acid, Ammonium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrite, and Sodium Nitrate
– Other Products: Certified quality seeds, compost/vermicompost manure, pesticides/herbicides, and bentonite sulfur
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4. Which Ratna status was given by the Central Government to “Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited” (HUDCO)?
a. Miniratna Category-2
b. Miniratna Category-1
c. Navratna
d. Maharatna
Answer: c. Navratna
– By April 2024, the number of Navratna companies has increased to 19.
– HUDCO is a public sector enterprise in India that provides financial assistance for basic infrastructure and housing projects.
– HUDCO was incorporated on April 25, 1970, as a fully-owned government company under the Companies Act, 1956. – The company, under the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, was notified as a public financial institution on December 9, 1996.
HUDCO
– Establishment: 1970
– Headquarters: New Delhi
– Chairman: Sanjay Kulshrestha
Categories of PSU / CPSE in the country
– The categories include Maharatna, Navratna, Miniratna Category-1, and Miniratna Category-2.
– The status of Maharatna and Navratna is conferred upon Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). Private sector companies cannot be included in this.
When was the status of Navratna companies started in India?
– In the year 1997
When was the status of Maharatna companies started in India?
– In the year 2009
Benefits of being conferred the status of Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna:
– They receive greater opportunities for development. Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna companies obtain administrative autonomy, authority for investment and mergers, and independence in determining other policies for expansion.
List of ‘Navratna’ companies:
1. Bharat Electronics Limited
2. Container Corporation of India Limited
3. Engineers India Limited
4. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
5. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
6. National Aluminium Company Limited
7. National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited
8. Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited
9. NMDC Limited
10. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
11. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
12. Shipping Corporation of India Limited
13. ONGC Videsh Limited
14. Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited
15. IRCON
16. RITES Limited
17. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA)
18. National Fertilizers Limited (NFL)
19. Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO)
List of names of Maharatna companies
1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
3. Coal India Limited
4. GAIL India Limited
5. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
6. Indian Oil Corporation Limited
7. NTPC Limited
8. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
9. Power Finance Corporation
10. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
11. Rural Electrification Corporation Limited
12. Steel Authority of India Limited
13. Oil India Limited
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5. Hong Kong, Singapore and America authorities have found which pesticide in the spices of Indian companies, which causes cancer?
a. Ethylene oxide
b. Benzene
c. Arsenic
d. Vinyl chloride
Answer: a. Ethylene oxide
– Officials from Hong Kong and Singapore returned four spice blends to India’s top producers, MDH and Everest, because they contained high levels of carcinogenic ethylene oxide.
What is Ethylene Oxide?
– Ethylene oxide is a pesticide classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
– It is a colorless, highly flammable, and highly reactive gas that kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
– It is used as a fumigant by the spice industry to reduce microbial contamination such as E. coli and Salmonella.
– Exposure to ethylene oxide can damage our DNA.
– Long-term exposure to it has been associated with increased risks of cancer such as leukemia, stomach cancer, and breast cancer. It can also cause respiratory irritation and lung damage, along with symptoms like headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing.
What did FSSAI say?
– The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) does not permit the use of ethylene oxide in any food product.
– FSSAI stated that it has decided to test spices in India.
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6. Project Nilgiri Tahr is an initiative of which state government, under which the census work was done in April?
a. Bihar
b. Punjab
c. Kerala
d. Tamil Nadu
Answer: d. Tamil Nadu
Nilgiri Tahr
– The Nilgiri Tahr is found in the southern part of the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Mountains of Tamil Nadu and Kerala states.
– Its local name is “Sakin.”
– It is closely related to wild goats and sheep.
Three-Day Nilgiri Tahr Census
– The census of Nilgiri Tahr took place from April 29th to May 1st, 2024.
– The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) played the role of a third-party observer.
– This marked the first concerted effort to estimate the population of Nilgiri Tahr.
– Project Nilgiri Tahr commenced in 2022 and will continue until 2027. Its objective is to ensure the conservation and survival of the species.
– This project will protect the Tahr under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
– The Tahr is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
– Founded: October 5, 1948
– Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland
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7. Which international organization launched the Climate Resilience Fund to protect refugees and displaced people from climate-related shocks?
a. World Bank
b. WHO
c. UNICEF
d. UNHCR
Answer: d. UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
– The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched the UNHCR Climate Resilience Fund on April 24, 2024.
– Its objective is to raise funds to protect refugees and displaced communities from the impacts of climate change and promote their inclusion in climate-related initiatives.
– The goal is to raise $100 million by the year 2025.
– Through this fund, assistance will be provided to countries grappling with conflict-related displacement, including Bangladesh, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique.
– This fund will invest in reducing environmental impacts of climate-vulnerable shelters, climate-smart livelihoods, and humanitarian responses.
– Climate change is causing a significant number of people to become refugees and seek shelter in other countries.
About the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):
– It is a part of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
– High Commissioner: Filippo Grandi
– Founded: 1950
– Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
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8. Who among the following has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 event?
a. Yuvraj Singh
b. Chris Gayle
c. Usain Bolt
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above (Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, Usain Bolt)
– ICC appointed Yuvraj Singh as the brand ambassador on April 26, 2024.
– Prior to this, ICC had also appointed Usain Bolt and Chris Gayle as brand ambassadors.
– This means ICC has three brand ambassadors for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
1. Yuvraj Singh – Former all-rounder of Team India
2. Chris Gayle – Opening batsman of the West Indies team
3. Usain Bolt – International sprinter and eight-time Olympic gold medalist. He is the fastest sprinter in the world. He hails from Jamaica.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
– Dates: June 1 to June 29, 2024
– Venue: West Indies, USA
– Edition: Ninth
– Number of Teams: 20 teams
– Number of Matches: 55 matches
– 1st Match: Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas (USA)
– Final: Kensington Oval Stadium, Barbados
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is held once every two years.
Note: Eighth or Previous Edition: October 16 to November 13, 2022, in Australia.
ICC (International Cricket Council)
– It is the governing body for cricket worldwide.
– Headquarters: Dubai, UAE
– Establishment: June 15, 1909
– Chairman: Greg Barclay
– CEO: Geoff Allardice
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9. A rare butterfly species named ‘Neptis philyra’ was discovered in ‘Tail Valley Wildlife Sanctuary’ of which state?
a. Assam
b. Arunachal Pradesh
c. Uttar Pradesh
d. Rajasthan
Answer: b. Arunachal Pradesh
– Also known as Long-streak sailor.
– This species has been sighted for the first time in India. Generally it is widely seen from Africa to Australia. It was also seen in East Asia in East Siberia, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Central and Southeast China etc.
– This species has serrated wings, which are dark brownish-black on the upper side and yellowish-brown on the underside.
– The forewing has a white cell line which forms a “hockey stick” mark with spots in the space.
Arunachal Pradesh
– Capital: Itanagar
– CM: Pema Khandu
– Governor: Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
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10. The Prime Minister of UAE announced in April 2024 the construction of the world’s largest airport in Dubai. Name this new airport?
a. Al Ain International Airport
b. Abu Dhabi International Airport
c. Al Maktoum International Airport
d. Sharjah International Airport
Answer: c. Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai)
– The Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced this on April 28th.
– The Prime Minister stated that approval has been given for the design of the new airport in Dubai.
– Estimated Cost: Approximately 35 billion US dollars (2.9 lakh crore rupees)
How big will the airport be?
– This airport will be five times larger than Dubai International Airport.
– The total area of this airport is 70 square kilometers.
– It will have 400 terminal gates and 5 parallel runways, meaning 5 airplanes can take off or land simultaneously.
– Approximately 260 million passengers will be able to travel from here annually.
– The target is to build the airport over the next 10 years.
– This decision was taken to manage the crowd at Dubai International Airport.
Top 5 busiest airports (according to Airport Council International (ACI)):
– Atlanta, USA ranks first in the number of passengers. Approximately 104.7 million passengers traveled from here.
– Dubai Airport ranks second, with 87 million passengers traveling.
– Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in the USA is third.
– London Airport is fourth.
– Tokyo International Airport is fifth.
Note: Indira Gandhi International (IGI) ranks 10th. It is located near Delhi in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
UAE
– Capital – Abu Dhabi
– President – Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
– Prime Minister – Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
– Currency – UAE Dirham
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