Daily Current Affairs- 13 April 2024

Today's Current Affairs 13th April 2024

NATIONAL

Gopi Thotakura: First Indian Pilot to Embark on Space Tourism with Blue Origin

• Gopi Thotakura is making history as the first Indian pilot to venture into space as a tourist, joining Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. 

SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

Chandrayaan-4: ISRO Chief Somanath Shares Plans for Next Moon Mission in 2040

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath has revealed that the upcoming phase of the Chandrayaan project is in progress.

About ISRO:

Founder: Vikram Sarabhai;

Headquarters: Bengaluru;

Founded: 15 August 1969;

Chairman: Sreedhara Somanath. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Sachidananda Mohanty Appointed as Member, University Grants Commission (UGC)

• Sachidananda Mohanty has been appointed as a Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for a period of three years with immediate effect.

About UGC:

Founded: November 1956;

HQ: Delhi. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Chagas Disease Day 2024

• The World Health Organization (WHO) observes World Chagas Disease Day every April 14th to raise awareness about the neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people, especially in Latin America.
• The 72nd World Health Assembly dedicated this day to the disease in 2019.
• In 2024, the theme for World Chagas Disease Day is “Tackling Chagas disease: detect early and care for life”.

About WHO:

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Founded: 7 April 1948 

RANKING

India Overtakes China in Digital Services Exports: Key Findings from WTO Report

• In 2023, India emerged as a frontrunner in digital services exports, surpassing China, as outlined in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) report.
• The report highlights significant growth in digitally delivered services globally, with India’s exports reaching $257 billion, marking a 17 percent increase from the previous year.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Adani Green Energy Builds World’s Largest Renewable Energy Park in Khavda, Gujarat

• Adani Green Energy Limited, an Adani Group company, is building the world’s largest renewable energy park in Khavda, Kutch district of Gujarat.
• According to Vineet Jain, Managing Director of Adani Green Energy, the total capacity of the Khavda plant will be 30 GW. 

MUFG to Acquire 20% Stake in HDB Financial Services, Valuing at $9-10 Billion Pre-IPO

• In a significant move, Japan’s MUFG is set to purchase a 20% stake in HDB Financial Services, a subsidiary of India’s HDFC Bank.
• Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG) is making a significant investment by acquiring a substantial stake in HDB Financial Services. 

Ashneer Grover Ventures into Fintech with ZeroPe Medical Loan App

• Ashneer Grover is the co-founder and former managing director of the fintech company BharatPe.
• After his high-profile exit from BharatPe in 2022, Grover has now ventured into the fintech space again with a new app called ZeroPe.