Daily Current Affairs April 18

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs April 18. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

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April 18 | Daily Current Affairs 2024

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs April 18

1. What is the theme for World Heritage Day 2024?
A) Unity in Diversity
B) Experience the Past
C) Discover and Experience Diversity
D) Heritage for Harmony
E) Protect Our Heritage
Answer: C) Discover and Experience Diversity

Event and Location:

  • Event: World Heritage Day 2024
  • Location: Celebrated globally

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: To honor and preserve cultural heritage, including ancient monuments and buildings, and to promote awareness and protection of historical sites.
  • Theme: The theme for World Heritage Day 2024 is “Discover and Experience Diversity,” which emphasizes exploring and appreciating the unique heritage of various communities.

Important Terms Explained:

  • World Heritage Day / International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS): An annual celebration to honor and promote the conservation of monuments and sites worldwide.
  • ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites): An international non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of the world’s monuments and sites.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

ICOMOS

  • Founded Year: 1965
  • President: Teresa Patricio (Belgium)
  • Headquarters: Paris, France

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

  • Founded Year: 1945
  • CEO/MD/Chairman: Audrey Azoulay (Director-General)
  • Headquarters: Paris, France

Tabular Summary:

Event Location Date Theme Significance
World Heritage Day 2024 Global April 18 Discover and Experience Diversity To promote the conservation and awareness of heritage sites globally

Sports – Daily Current Affairs April 18

2. Who has been named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World for 2024?
A) Pat Cummins
B) Nat Sciver-Brunt
C) Travis Head
D) Both A and B
E) Both B and C
Answer: D) Both A and B

Event and Location:

  • Event: Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2024 awards announcement
  • Location: Global recognition

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: To honor outstanding performances in cricket, recognizing players who have significantly influenced the sport over the past year.

Important Terms Explained:

  • Wisden’s Leading Cricketers in the World: Annual awards by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, which recognize the top male and female cricketers based on their performances and influence in the sport globally.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

Pat Cummins

  • Profession: Cricketer (Fast bowler and captain of Australia)
  • Recognition: Led Australia to major victories including the ICC World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup.

Nat Sciver-Brunt

  • Profession: Cricketer
  • Recognition: Dominant performances in women’s cricket, notably in the Women’s Ashes and various international matches.

Tabular Summary:

Individual Profession/Role Recognition
Pat Cummins Cricketer, Australian Captain Led Australia in significant victories; first Australian man named Wisden’s Leading Cricketer since Michael Clarke in 2012.
Nat Sciver-Brunt Cricketer Recognized as the pre-eminent women’s cricketer for her performances, particularly in the Women’s Ashes.

 

Ranking – Daily Current Affairs April 18

3. Which of the following Indian-origin individuals has not been featured on TIME’s 2024 list of the 100 most influential people?
A) Alia Bhatt
B) Dev Patel
C) Sundar Pichai
D) Satya Nadella
E) Ratan Tata
Answer: E) Ratan Tata

Event and Location:

  • Event: TIME’s 2024 list of the 100 most influential people
  • Location: International recognition

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: To recognize individuals who have significantly influenced various global sectors, including entertainment, technology, finance, and sports.

Important Terms Explained:

  • TIME’s 100 Most Influential People: An annual list published by TIME magazine that identifies 100 people who have shaped the future through their influence in different fields.

Tabular Summary:

Individual Profession/Role Recognition
Alia Bhatt Actor Contributions to Bollywood and popular culture
Dev Patel Actor Powerful performances in Hollywood
Ajay Banga President, World Bank Group Leadership in finance and sustainable development
Sundar Pichai CEO, Google and Alphabet Inc. Contributions to the tech industry
Sakshi Malik Wrestler Achievements in sports
Satya Nadella CEO, Microsoft Innovation in technology
Indra Nooyi Former CEO, PepsiCo Leadership in business
Jayshree Ullal President and CEO, Arista Networks Innovation in cloud networking

Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs April 18

4. What is the primary goal of the SBI Life IdeationX initiative?
A) To provide financial aid to B-School students
B) To engage B-School students in creating innovative life insurance solutions
C) To increase SBI Life’s market share in India
D) To promote digital transformation in insurance
E) To recruit B-School students for SBI Life
Answer: B) To engage B-School students in creating innovative life insurance solutions

Event and Location:

  • Event: Launch of SBI Life IdeationX
  • Location: India

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: SBI Life IdeationX aims to engage and encourage B-School students across the country to innovate and develop new solutions for life insurance that meet evolving consumer needs and help reshape the landscape of India’s insurance sector.

Important Terms Explained:

  • SBI Life Insurance: A leading private life insurance company in India known for its wide range of life insurance products.
  • IdeationX: An initiative by SBI Life designed to harness innovative ideas from B-School students, fostering a new generation of thought leadership in the insurance sector.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

SBI Life Insurance

  • Founded Year: 2000
  • Managing Director & CEO.: Mr. Amit Jhingran
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, India

Tabular Summary:

Initiative Location Objective Involvement Outcome
SBI Life IdeationX Nationwide To encourage innovation in life insurance solutions among B-School students Over 1000 participants from various B-Schools XIME-Bangalore won with innovative insurance solution ideas

5. What recent change has the RBI made regarding gold price risk hedging for resident entities?
A) Prohibited hedging through OTC derivatives
B) Allowed hedging through OTC derivatives in the IFSC
C) Restricted all forms of gold price risk hedging
D) Limited hedging to physical gold only
E) Mandated hedging exclusively through IFSCA recognized exchanges
Answer: B) Allowed hedging through OTC derivatives in the IFSC

Event and Location:

  • Event: RBI eases rules for gold price risk hedging
  • Location: International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: The RBI has expanded the avenues for hedging gold price risk for resident entities by allowing the use of OTC derivatives in the IFSC. This move is aimed at providing more flexibility and facilitating efficient risk management strategies for entities dealing with gold investments.

Important Terms Explained:

  • OTC Derivatives: Financial instruments traded over-the-counter, allowing more tailored arrangements between parties, unlike standardized exchange-traded products.
  • International Financial Services Centre (IFSC): A jurisdiction that provides financial services to non-residents and residents to the extent permissible under the regulations.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

  • Founded Year: 1935
  • CEO/MD/Chairman: The Governor (Currently Shaktikanta Das)
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Tabular Summary:

Regulatory Body Directive Impact Instrument Location Details
RBI Eased rules for hedging Increased flexibility in risk management OTC derivatives IFSC Allows resident entities to hedge gold price risk beyond exchange-traded derivatives

 

Acquisitions and Mergers – Daily Current Affairs April 18

6. Which company has entered into an agreement with South Indian Bank to provide financing options to its dealers?
A) Tata Motors
B) Mahindra & Mahindra
C) Ashok Leyland
D) Maruti Suzuki
E) Hyundai Motors
Answer: C) Ashok Leyland

Event and Location:

  • Event: Signing of an agreement between Ashok Leyland and South Indian Bank.

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: To provide financing support to the dealers of Ashok Leyland through competitive dealer finance options offered by South Indian Bank.

Important Terms Explained:

  • Dealer Financing: A financial support mechanism where banks provide loans or credit facilities to authorized dealers of a manufacturer to help them purchase inventory, often with favorable terms to encourage sales and distribution.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

Ashok Leyland

  • Industry: Automotive
  • Specialization: Manufacturer of trucks and buses
  • MD & CEO: Shenu Agarwal

South Indian Bank

  • Industry: Banking
  • Specialization: Financial services including dealer financing
  • MD & CEO: P R Seshadri

Tabular Summary:

Company Bank Service Provided Objective
Ashok Leyland South Indian Bank Dealer financing options To support dealers with inventory financing solutions

 

Appointments – Daily Current Affairs April 18

7. Who has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently?
A) Dr. G P Samanta
B) Saurabh Garg
C) Yatinder Prasad
D) Vivek Aggarwal
E) None of the above
Answer: B) Saurabh Garg

Event and Location:

  • Event: Appointment of new Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • Location: India

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: To fill the role following the completion of the previous secretary’s tenure and ensure continuity in the leadership and management of the Ministry’s activities and responsibilities.

Important Terms Explained:

  • Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): A branch of the Government of India concerned with coverage and quality aspects of statistics and the implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes and initiatives.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

Saurabh Garg

  • Profession: IAS Officer (1991 batch)
  • Previous Position: Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
  • New Role: Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (temporary until a permanent successor is appointed)

Tabular Summary:

Official Position Department/Ministry Effective Date
Saurabh Garg Secretary Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation April 15, 2024
Yatinder Prasad Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor Ministry of Tribal Affairs Extension beyond August 4, 2024
Vivek Aggarwal Additional Secretary and Director of Finance Intelligence Unit – India Department of Revenue March 30, 2024 to September 29, 2024

Awards – Daily Current Affairs April 18

8. Who is set to receive the Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar award in the upcoming ceremony?
A) Narendra Modi
B) Asha Bhosale
C) Amitabh Bachchan
D) AR Rahman
E) Randeep Hooda
Answer: C) Amitabh Bachchan

Event and Location:

  • Event: Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar award ceremony
  • Location: Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagruha, Vile Parle

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: The award is given to individuals who have shown remarkable dedication to the nation, its people, and society, honoring their contributions across various fields.

Important Terms Explained:

  • Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar Award: Established in memory of the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to various fields, promoting cultural, social, and national values.

Tabular Summary:

Award Recipient Date Location Significance
Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar Award Amitabh Bachchan April 24 Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagruha, Vile Parle Honoring dedication to the nation and society

9. Which airport won the ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’ award by Skytrax?
A) Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport
B) Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
C) Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport
D) GMR Hyderabad International Airport
E) Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
Answer: D) GMR Hyderabad International Airport

Event and Location:

  • Event: Skytrax award announcement for ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’
  • Location: Passenger Terminal EXPO 2024, Frankfurt, Germany

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: The award recognizes exceptional airport staff service that enhances the passenger experience, based on audits and evaluations of various performance factors.

Important Terms Explained:

  • Skytrax: An international air transport rating organization known for its global airline and airport reviews and rankings.
  • GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL): The company that operates Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, India.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL)

  • Founded Year: 2008 (Airport commenced operations)
  • President & CEO: Pradeep Panicker
  • Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Tabular Summary:

Award Recipient Event Date Location Organizer
Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024 GMR Hyderabad International Airport April 17, 2024 Passenger Terminal EXPO 2024, Frankfurt, Germany Skytrax

10. Which country hosted the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2024 where the Indian team won medals?
A) United Kingdom
B) India
C) Georgia
D) Germany
E) France
Answer: C) Georgia

Event and Location:

  • Event: European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2024
  • Location: Tskaltubo, Georgia

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: EGMO aims to inspire female high school students to engage in higher mathematics and STEM fields, providing them with an opportunity to compete on an international platform.

Important Terms Explained:

  • EGMO (European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad): An international competition in mathematics for high school girls, intended to encourage girls to pursue mathematics and related fields.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI)

  • Role: Training venue and selection hub for India’s EGMO team
  • Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Tabular Summary:

Team Composition Medal Distribution Training Location Event Date and Place Outcome
Four Indian girls Two silver, two bronze Chennai Mathematical Institute April 11-17, 2024, Tskaltubo, Georgia All four members secured medals

Science and Technology – Daily Current Affairs April 18

11. What is the primary purpose of the new Men5CV vaccine introduced in Nigeria?
A) To provide protection against only the A strain of meningitis
B) To provide protection against only the C strain of meningitis
C) To provide protection against the A, C, W, Y, and X strains of meningitis
D) To treat existing meningitis infections without prevention
E) To improve the climate conditions in Africa’s meningitis belt
Answer: C) To provide protection against the A, C, W, Y, and X strains of meningitis

Event and Location:

  • Event: Introduction of the Men5CV vaccine in Nigeria
  • Location: Nigeria, specifically targeting regions within Africa’s “meningitis belt”

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: The Men5CV vaccine aims to protect against all five major strains of the meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, X), addressing the high disease burden in the meningitis belt and preventing future outbreaks.

Important Terms Explained:

  • Men5CV or ‘MenFive’ Vaccine: The world’s first vaccine designed to protect against all five significant strains of meningitis.
  • Meningitis Belt: A region in Africa that experiences a high incidence of meningitis, influenced by seasonal climatic conditions that favor the spread of the disease.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

World Health Organization (WHO)

  • Founded Year: 1948
  • Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Tabular Summary:

Organization Event Location Details
DRDO Test flight of ITCM Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha Successful validation of missile subsystems

Defence – Daily Current Affairs April 18

12. Which organization recently conducted a successful test flight of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM)?
A) ISRO
B) NASA
C) DRDO
D) IAF
E) Roscosmos
Answer: C) DRDO

Event and Location:

  • Event: Successful test flight of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM)
  • Location: Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha, India

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: The test aimed to validate the performance of various subsystems of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile, ensuring its functionality and reliability for strategic defense applications.

Important Terms Explained:

  • Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM): A missile developed using local technology that can navigate and hit targets at long distances with high precision.
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): India’s agency tasked with military research and development.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)

  • Founded Year: 1958
  • CEO/MD/Chairman: Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy (Chairman)
  • Headquarters: New Delhi, India

Tabular Summary:

Organization Event Location Details
DRDO Test flight of ITCM Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha Successful validation of missile subsystems

National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs April 18

13. Which state leads in tree plantation under the Green Credit Programme (GCP) according to the recent update?
A) Telangana
B) Gujarat
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Chhattisgarh
E) Assam
Answer: C) Madhya Pradesh

Event and Location:

  • Event: Implementation of the Green Credit Programme (GCP)
  • Location: India, primarily in Madhya Pradesh

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: The Green Credit Programme aims to encourage tree plantation on degraded forest land to earn green credits, enhancing local ecosystems and contributing to environmental sustainability.

Important Terms Explained:

  • Green Credit Programme (GCP): A government initiative promoting tree plantation on degraded land to improve biodiversity and support ecosystem services, distinct from carbon credits as it includes broader environmental benefits.
  • Degraded Forest Land: Previously forested land that has lost significant portions of its former ecological capacity due to human activities or natural causes.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)

  • Founded Year: 1986
  • Director General: Kanchan Devi
  • Headquarters: Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Tabular Summary:

State Hectares Approved Programme Objective
Madhya Pradesh 954 hectares Green Credit Programme (GCP) Leading state in tree plantation on degraded land
Telangana 845 hectares
Chhattisgarh 713 hectares
Gujarat 595 hectares
Assam 454 hectares

14. What is the primary objective of the collaboration between AFMS and IIT Kanpur according to their recent Memorandum of Understanding?
A) To develop entertainment technologies for soldiers
B) To enhance combat training for soldiers
C) To develop health technologies for soldiers in difficult terrains
D) To provide basic medical training to IIT Kanpur students
E) To establish a new medical college
Answer: C) To develop health technologies for soldiers in difficult terrains

Event and Location:

  • Event: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur
  • Location: New Delhi, India

Mandates and Objectives:

  • Purpose: The MoU aims to foster collaborative research and training to develop new technologies that address health issues faced by soldiers in challenging terrains. This includes leveraging IIT Kanpur’s expertise in AI and computational medicine.

Important Terms Explained:

  • AFMS (Armed Forces Medical Services): A branch of the military providing medical services to armed forces personnel.
  • Computational Medicine: A field of study that uses computational simulations and analytical methods to model biological and medical processes.

Static GK Information:

Titbits

IIT Kanpur

  • Founded Year: 1959
  • Officiating Director: Prof S Ganesh
  • Headquarters: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Tabular Summary:

Partners Objective Tools/Technologies Additional Initiatives
AFMS & IIT Kanpur Develop health technologies for soldiers in difficult terrains AI diagnostic models, computational medicine Faculty exchange program, joint academic activities, training modules


Over All Review

Important Days

  • World Heritage Day is an international observance held on 18 April each year.

Sports 

  • Australian skipper Pat Cummins and England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt has been named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World for 2024.

Ranking 

  • TIME’s 2024 announced the list of the 100 most influential people.

Banking and Finance 

  • SBI Life Insurance has inaugurated IdeationX, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering life insurance innovation.
  • RBI Allows Residents to Hedge Against Gold Price Risk using OTC Derivatives.

Acquisitions and Mergers

  • Ashok Leyland, South Indian Bank sign MoU to provide financing to dealers.

Appointments

  • Saurabh Garg has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently.

Awards 

  • Amitabh Bachchan is set to receive the Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar award in the upcoming ceremony.
  • GMR Hyderabad International Airport won the ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’ award by Skytrax.
  • Four-member Indian girls team wins medals at European Girls Mathematics Olympiad.

Science and Technology

  • Nigeria makes history with rollout of new 5-in-1 meningitis vaccine.

Defence

  • DRDO conducted a successful test flight of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile.

National Affairs

  • Madhya Pradesh leads in tree plantation under the Green Credit Programme.
  • AFMS & IIT Kanpur team up to develop new technologies for soldiers in difficult terrains.

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