Patenting Trends report

♦ As per the Patenting Trends report released by Nasscom, India witnessed 83,000 patents being filed in 2023-24. This annual growth rate is 24.6%, the highest in the last two decades.

♦ The number of patents granted also witnessed significant growth rising over doubled between FY2019-FY2023. This trend was expected to increase significantly with over 100,000 patents granted between 15th March 2023 to 14th March 2024.

♦ With 9.3 percent, Tamil Nadu filed the maximum number of patents during FY23, followed by Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, and Telangana.

♦ Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and Neurotechnology are amongst the top technology patents filed by DeepTech Start-ups in India.
 

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India

♦ The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has removed the age limit for purchasing health insurance policies. The move aims to create a healthcare system that accommodates everyone, regardless of age, and shields against unexpected medical costs. Previously, people could only get new insurance until 65. Now, anyone can buy health insurance, effective April 1.
♦ The new regulation also establishes a specialised channel for handling complaints and claims from senior citizens, ensuring their needs are addressed promptly.

Poorvi Leher ,The Indian Navy

♦ The Indian Navy carried out an extensive exercise 'Poorvi Leher' along the East Coast as part of efforts to check its preparedness to meet any maritime security challenges.

♦ The exercise witnessed the participation of ships, submarines, aircraft, and special naval forces. The exercise aimed to test the Indian Navy’s operational readiness and interoperability with other services.

The Indian Historical Records Commission

♦ The Indian Historical Records Commission (IHRC) has adopted a new logo and motto on 25 Apil 2024. These were selected from the 436 entries received in the online competition organised by the IHRC on MyGov portal. The winning logo and motto of the IHRC were designed by Shaurya Pratap Singh of Delhi.
♦ The logo signifies the theme and uniqueness of IHRC entirely. The pages in the shape of lotus petals represent IHRC as the resilient nodal institution for maintaining historical records. The Sarnath pillar in the middle represents India's glorious past. Brown as the colour theme reinforces the organization's mission of preserving, studying and honouring India's historical records. The motto translates as "Where history is preserved for the future."
♦ IHRC was established in 1919. This is headed by the Union Minister of Culture.

World Silver Survey 2024

According to the World Silver Survey 2024, Vedanta Group firm - Hindustan Zinc Limited company became the 3rd largest silver producer globally. The company’s Sindesar Khurd Mine was now the world’s second-largest silver-producing mine, moving up from last year’s fourth position. This survey was conducted by ‘The Silver Institute’, USA. 
 

United Nations Population Funds

♦ According to the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) State of World Population - 2024 report, India's population has reached an estimated 144 crore.

♦ It states that 17% of the population is aged between 10-19 years, while 26% falls within the 10-24 age bracket. The majority, comprising 68%, is within the 15-64 age group. Additionally, it was found that 7% of India's population is aged over 65 years. With men having a life expectancy of 71 years and women 74 years.
 

Jallianwala Bagh

In 2024, India observes the 105th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. On April 13, 1919, General Dyer ordered his soldiers to open fire on an unarmed gathering in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. The atrocity claimed the lives of at least 379 individuals and left over 1,500 injured. 
 

Operation Meghdoot

♦ The Indian Army marked 40 years since the Siachen glacier came under decisive Indian control four decades ago through Operation Meghdoot. Under ‘Operation Meghdoot’, the Army gained full control over the region on April 13, 1984. 

♦ Siachen Glacier is located at the height of around 20,000 ft in the Karakoram mountain range, this is known as the highest militarised zone around the world where the Indian Army soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds.

♦ ‘Operation Meghdoot’ was launched under the leadership of Lieutenant General Manohar Lal Chibber, Lieutenant General PN Hoon and Major General Shiv Sharma. The primary objective behind this operation was to pre-empt the seizure of Sia La and Bilafond La passes by the Pakistan Army.
 

Homoeopathy Symposium

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a two-day Homoeopathy Symposium in New Delhi on 10 April 2024. This event was organized by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, on the occasion of World Homoeopathy Day. The convention aims to promote evidence-based scientific treatment in clinical practice and health programs. The theme of the Homoeopathy Symposium is 'Empowering Research, Enhancing Proficiency'.
 

Hurun Global Unicorn Index

♦ According to the Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2024, India remained the third biggest hub for unicorns worldwide. India had 67 unicorns in 2023, which is one less than 68 such startups in 2022. The US led the list with 703 unicorns, followed by China (340), India (67), UK (53), and Germany (36). 

♦ The index provides a ranking for the world's most valuable start-ups founded in the 2000s, each worth at least a billion dollars and yet to be listed on a public exchange.
 

Ministry of External Affairs

After Chabahar in Iran, India has gained the rights to operate a second overseas port, Sittwe, in Myanmar. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved a proposal for India Ports Global (IPGL) to take over the operations of the entire port located on the Kaladan River. IPGL is a company 100 percent owned by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
 

World Economic Forum

♦ The World Economic Forum (WEF) released the 20th edition of its Young Global Leaders Community: The Class of 2024. 

♦ A total of five Indians are included in this list. They are - Shashwat Goenka, Vice Chairman of Kolkata-based RP Sanjiv Goenka group, FSN E-Commerce Ventures CEO and owner of the Nykaa brand Adwaita Nayar; Jubilant Group Director Arjun Bhartia, Vedanta Ltd Non-Executive Director Priya Agarwal Hebbar, and actor Bhumi Pednekar.

♦ The list includes nearly 90 individuals under the age of 40 from diverse fields, including politics, business, civil society, the arts, and academia.
 

MyCGHS app

The Union Health Ministry launched the myCGHS app on the iOS platform. The app is designed to enhance access to Electronic Health Records, information, and resources for Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries. This app is developed by the technical teams of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Himachal Pradesh and NIC Health Team. 
 

Strategic petroleum reserve

♦ India plans to build its first privately managed strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) by 2029-30, granting the operator the freedom to trade all of the stored oil, the chief executive of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) said.

♦ India plans to build two new SPRs - the first a 18.3 million barrels cavern at Padur in southern Karnataka state, and then a 29.3 million barrels SPR in eastern Odisha state - with private partners allowed to trade all of the oil locally.

♦ India, world's third biggest oil importer and consumer, is keen to expand its SPR capacity to hedge against global supply disruptions and price spikes.
 

Government has set up a task force

♦ The government has set up a task force to explore the use of biochar in steel production as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the steel industry. According to Government of India, the domestic steel sector accounts for 12 percent of India's greenhouse gas emissions with an emission intensity of 2.55 tonnes CO2 per tonne of crude steel compared to the global average of 1.9 tonnes CO2.

♦ In March 2023, Union Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia approved the formation of 13 task forces to identify action points for each aspect of green steel production and the adoption of sustainable manufacturing processes.

♦ The 14th task force has been constituted to further aid the carbon reduction practises in the domestic steel industry by the usage of biochar, according to a steel ministry document.

♦ Biochar is black carbon produced from biomass sources like agricultural waste products, among others.