DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: April 12, 2024

Paradip Port Achieves Highest Cargo Handling Status in india

Tags: National News

The Paradip Port Authority in Odisha overtook the Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla to become India's top major port for cargo handling in the fiscal year 2023–2024.

An Overview of the News:

• Paradip Port handled a record-breaking 145.38 million metric tons (MMT) of cargo.

• With a growth rate of 7.4%, this was a noteworthy gain of 10.02 million metric tons over the previous year.

• Paradip Port gained the highest productivity among all major ports in India.

• Observed an increase in berth productivity, which demonstrated operational excellence, from 31,050 MT to 33,014 MT.

• Kept the lowest tariff rates in the nation when compared to all other ports.

• Acted strategically by putting a three-year freeze on cargo handling rates beginning in 2022 as part of its corporate development plan.

History and Administration of Paradip Port:

• The Government of India took control of it in 1965 after it was first founded by the Odisha government in 1962.

• Proclaimed a major port on April 18, 1966, and contributed significantly to the maritime infrastructure of India.

• Functions as a separate entity in accordance with the Major Port Trusts Act of 1963.

• Administered by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Government of India, functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.

Sumit Nagal Makes History with First Indian Win in Monte Carlo Masters

Tags: Sports

Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal achieved a historic feat by defeating 35th-ranked Matteo Arnaldi at the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday, April 9, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Nagal's victory in a thrilling three-set match 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 is the first time an Indian player has won a main draw match at the prestigious ATP Masters event.

• Ranked 95th and unseeded, Nagal joins the ranks of Vijay Amritraj (1977) and Ramesh Krishnan (1982) as only the third Indian to make the main draw in Monte Carlo.

• Additionally, Nagal created history by becoming the first men's Indian singles player to win a Masters 1000 match played on clay.

Monte Carlo Masters:

• It is an annual tournament held in France, designed specifically for male professional players.

• It is one of nine ATP Tour Masters 1000 events, representing the highest level of competition in men's tennis.

JNU Leads Indian Institutions in Global Development Studies Rankings: QS Report 2024

Tags: Reports

The 14th edition of QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, released on April 10, 2024, highlighted Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as India's top-ranking institution in Development Studies, securing the 20th position globally.

An Overview of the News

• Music was introduced as a new subject category in the 2024 rankings, diversifying the scope of evaluation.

• This edition featured 55 individual subjects categorized into five broad areas: Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences & Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences & Management.

• Harvard University of the United States (US) emerged as the leading institution in the four broad subject categories.

• A total of 69 Indian universities were included in the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject, contributing to 424 entries, marking a notable 19.4% increase from the previous year.

About Quacquarelli Symonds (QS):

• The organization is headed by CEO Jessica Turner and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom (UK).

Avantika Vandanapu Named 'South Asian Person of the Year' at Harvard University

Tags: Awards

Avantika Vandanapu was honored as the 'South Asian Person of the Year' by the South Asian Association (SAA) at Harvard University on April 9, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• She was recognized for her remarkable achievements and significant impact in both the international and Indian entertainment industries.

• Avantika was born on January 25, 2005, in California, USA, into an Indian family originally from Hyderabad, Telangana.

• She began her acting career as a child artist, starring in Telugu films such as Brahmotsavam and Manamantha.

• Avantika gained prominence with her first lead role in the Disney original movie 'Spin' (2021) and later appeared in Netflix's 'Senior Year' (2022).

• She expanded her repertoire by debuting in the Indian OTT series 'Big Girls Don't Cry' (2024).

Ingmar De Vos Elected President of ASOIF

Tags: Person in news

On April 9, 2024, during the 48th ASOIF General Assembly at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2024 in Birmingham, UK, Ingmar De Vos of Belgium was unanimously elected as the President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).

An Overview of the News

• He will assume office for a four-year term starting on January 1, 2025.

• De Vos will succeed Francesco Ricci Bitti of Italy, whose third term as ASOIF President is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2024.

Background of Ingmar De Vos

• Ingmar De Vos began his career as a Belgian Senate Advisor in 1989.

• He served as the Director General (DG) of the Belgian Equestrian Federation from 1990 to 1997.

• From 1997 to 2011, De Vos held the position of Secretary General of the Belgian Equestrian Federation.

• In 2011, he joined the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) as Secretary General, a position he held until 2014.

• De Vos was elected President of the FEI on December 14, 2014. He was re-elected for a second four-year term in 2018 and subsequently for a final third term in 2022.

• Since 2017, he has been a Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and he has served as an ASOIF Council member since 2019.

Justice Aniruddha Bose, retired from the Supreme Court, appointed director of the National Judicial Academy

Tags: Person in news

On 10 April 2024, Justice Aniruddha Bose retired from the Supreme Court of India (SC) and he was serving as an SC judge since 2019.

An Overview of the News

• Justice Bose was appointed as the Director of the National Judicial Academy (NJA).

• The NJA provides training programs to judges to assist them in their judicial roles and court administration functions.

Career Highlights:

• Enrolled with the Bar Council of West Bengal as an advocate in October 1985.

• Worked as a lawyer in Calcutta High Court (HC) for about 19 years.

• Elevated to the High Court bench as a permanent judge in 2004.

• Appointed as Chief Justice (CJ) of Jharkhand HC in 2018.

• Appointed as SC judge in May 2019.

Appointment Process:

• The Director of the NJA was appointed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Chairman of the NJA, Dhananjay Yashwant Chandrachud.

Role of CJI:

• The CJI serves as the Chairman of the General Body, Governing Council, Executive Committee, and Academic Council of NJA.

About National Judicial Academy (NJA):

• Established in 1993, NJA functions as an independent society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860.

• It operates with full funding from the Government of India (Government of India) and functions under the guidance of the Supreme Court of India.

• Located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.