Today's Current Affairs 1st April 2024

INTERNATIONAL

International Year of Millets 2023: A Recap

• The International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023, concluded with a closing ceremony held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy, on March 29th, 2024.
• The event served as a platform to assess the accomplishments and insights gained from the year-long celebration.
• In March 2021, the United Nations General Assembly designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets following a proposal by India, supported by over 70 countries.

 NATIONAL

Indian Government’s Stake Sale in State-Run Companies Falls Short in 2023/24

• The Indian government aimed to raise funds through the sale of stakes in state-run companies in the fiscal year 2023/24.
• The achieved amount of 165 billion rupees fell short of the internal target by about 9%, reaching $1.98 billion.

 UP Leads with Most GI-Tagged Products

• The northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has taken the lead in having the highest number of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products in the country.
• With the recent addition of 15 new products, Uttar Pradesh now boasts a total of 69 GI-tagged products, surpassing Tamil Nadu’s 58. 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

India’s First AI-Based Film ‘IRAH’ Trailer Unveiled

• Amidst the growing buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI), the trailer and song launch event for India’s first Hindi film on this subject, “IRAH,” took place in Mumbai.
• Produced by Big Films Media and directed by Sam Bhattacharjee, “IRAH” is set to hit theaters nationwide on April 4th, 2024, through Iamplex Digital Theatrical Distribution. 

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Joyshree Das Verma Becomes New President of FICCI Ladies Organisation

• Joyshree Das Verma has taken over as the 41st National President of the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) for the year 2024-25.
• FLO is the oldest women-led and women-centric business chamber of South East Asia.

 Moushumi Basu Takes Over as New President of JNU Teachers Association

• Moushumi Basu, a professor at the School of International Studies, has been appointed as the next JNUTA president.
• The teachers’ body has appointed Meenakshi Sundriyal and Pradeep K Shinde as vice-presidents of JNUTA.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

India Celebrates National Maritime Week 2024

• On March 29, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the ‘Merchant Navy Flag’, pinned on his lapel by Secretary T.K. Ramachandran of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• This marked the beginning of the National Maritime Week celebrations, which span from March 29 to April 5.
• National Maritime Week is celebrated to honour the services of seafarers and commemorate a proud moment in India’s maritime history.

 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Vineet Jain Honoured with ENBA Lifetime Achievement Award 2023

• Vineet Jain, the managing director of the Times Group, received the prestigious Exchange4Media News Broadcasting Awards (ENBA) Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 for his significant contributions to Indian television news. 

Professor Meena Charanda Honoured with ‘International Culture Award’ 2024

• Professor Meena Charanda, Principal of Kalindi College, Delhi University, has been awarded the prestigious ‘International Culture Award’ for the year 2024.
• Charanda received this honour in recognition of her remarkable work in the field of education and social service. 

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Microsoft and OpenAI Unveil $100 Billion ‘Stargate’ AI Supercomputer

• Tech giants Microsoft and OpenAI have revealed plans to construct an unprecedented artificial intelligence supercomputer known as “Stargate.”