Today's Current Affairs 3rd April 2024

INTERNATIONAL

Germany Legalizes Recreational Cannabis

• On April 1, 2024, Germany became the largest European Union (EU) nation to legalize recreational cannabis use.
• Under the new law, adults over 18 are now permitted to carry up to 25 grams of dried cannabis and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home.
• Germany joins Malta and Luxembourg as countries with the most liberal cannabis laws in Europe. 

NATIONAL

Record Growth in Indian Defence Exports: A Milestone Achievement

• MoD announced that India’s defence exports surged to a record Rs 21,083 crore in the fiscal year 2023-24, marking a remarkable growth of 32.5% from the previous year. 

OBITUARY

Veteran Actress Barbara Rush Passes Away at 97

• Barbara Rush, a Golden Globe-winning actress, embarked on her journey in the entertainment industry in the 1950s.
• Her breakthrough role came in 1954 with the science-fiction film “It Came from Outer Space,” which earned her the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer. 

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Santosh Kumar Jha Appointed as New CMD of Konkan Railway Corporation

• Santosh Kumar Jha, an Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) officer of the 1992 batch, will assume the role of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. (KRCL) on April 1, 2024.
• Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. (KRCL) is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways. 

Sanjay Nayar Appointed as New ASSOCHAM President

• The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), a prominent industry chamber, has appointed Sanjay Nayar as its new President.
• Nayar has replaced Ajay Singh, the Co-Founder of SpiceJet airline, whose tenure has ended.
• He was the former Chief Executive of KKR India, a leading investment firm. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

Prevention of Blindness Week 2024, 1st to 7th April

• Many people around the world suffer from blindness or vision problems. To address this, the Indian government has declared April 1 to April 7 as Prevention of Blindness Week.
• In 1960, Jawaharlal Nehru and Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur started the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness.
• The theme for Prevention of Blindness Week 2024 is decided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 

BANKING AND ECONOMY

SEBI Unveils SCORES 2.0: Enhancing Investor Complaint Redress System

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched SCORES 2.0, an upgraded version of its Complaint Redress System (SCORES), to strengthen mechanisms for addressing investor complaints. 

‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ Norm Implemented

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced the ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag‘ norm, which aims to prevent the use of a single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a particular vehicle.
• This new norm has come into effect from April 1, 2024. 

World Bank Raises India’s Growth Projection: FY24 GDP at 7.5%

• The World Bank has revised India’s GDP growth projection for FY25 to 6.6%, indicating a moderate yet steady growth trajectory.
• FY25 growth projection raised to 6.6% by the World Bank, reflecting a slight increase of 20 basis points. 

PepsiCo’s Investment in Ujjain: A Game-Changer for Madhya Pradesh

• PepsiCo India announces a massive investment of ₹1,266 crore to establish a cutting-edge flavour manufacturing facility in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
• Scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter of 2026.