• The fourth edition of the Himalayan Expedition’s Silk Route Ultra Trail concluded at Narkanda, with Rigzin Gyurmeth emerging as the sole victor of the single-day 100-km ultra-trail marathon.
• Gyurmeth completed the race in 19 hours and 28 minutes with non-stop pace over the explored, ancient and untamed terrains of the Silk Route from Narkanda to Sarahan.
• The event featured four categories – 100-km, 55-km, 33-km, and 15-km.
• Ankur Kumar won the 55-km race, while Stanzin Wangchuk won the 33-km race and Milan Halder won the 15-km race.

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has tasked a Pune-based firm with preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to devise long-term strategies and measures aimed at safeguarding the Kullu-Manali national highway (NH-03) from potential flood devastation in the future.
• Last July, heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to the 37-km Kullu-Manali NH. Although repair work has been undertaken by the NHAI, several sections of the road remain significantly damaged, with portions washed away by floods.

• World Athletics will award $50,000 cash prize to gold-winning track and field athletes at the Paris Olympics 2024.
• This marks the first instance of an international sports governing body offering prize money to Olympic gold medalists.
• A prize pot of $2.4 million, sourced from the IOC’s revenue share allocation, will fund the awards.
• The initiative aims to recognize athletes’ contributions and empower them, according to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
• World Athletics plans to extend the bonus initiative to silver and bronze medalists at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

• Blue Origin, the space venture established by Jeff Bezos, has revealed that Gopichand Thotakura, an Indian national, will join a six-member crew on the upcoming New Shepard mission.
• If the mission is successful, Thotakura will become the second Indian citizen in space following wing commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984, and notably, the first Indian civilian astronaut.
• Although the date of the NS-25 suborbital mission has not been disclosed, it is anticipated to take place within the coming weeks. At 30 years old, Thotakura presently serves as the co-founder of Preserve Life, a wellness center in the US, while maintaining his Indian citizenship.

• Siachen Day, observed on April 13th, honors the courage and selflessness of Indian Army soldiers stationed at the world’s highest battlefield, the Siachen Glacier.

OPERATION MEGHDOOT:

• ‘Operation Meghdoot’ was initiated on the same date in 1984 to safeguard the glacier, strategically situated near the Indo-Pak Line of Control. Positioned within the Karakoram range, the glacier holds significant strategic value as it shares borders with Pakistan and China, sparking contention over ownership due to unclear delineation. The conflict over Siachen commenced following India’s partition, with both nations asserting their presence in the harsh terrain.

• India marks World Quantum Day 2024 on April 14, aiming to excel as a global frontrunner in diverse realms of Quantum Science and Technology.
• The evolution of Quantum Mechanics, delving into the intricacies of atoms and sub-atomic particles, has transcended theoretical realms to practical engineering applications. Researchers globally have harnessed its principles to innovate technologies like LEDs, lasers, and incredibly accurate atomic clocks crucial for Global Positioning Systems.
• Ajay Kumar Sood, serving as the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, underscored the worldwide significance of quantum technology

NATIONAL QUANTUM MISSION (NQM):

• The National Quantum Mission (NQM), initiated by the Prime Minister’s Science Technology Advisory Council (PM-STIAC), was sanctioned by the Cabinet on April 19, 2023, with a budget of Rs 65 Crore allocated for an eight-year duration.
• This mission endeavors to foster scientific and industrial research and development in Quantum Technology (QT), nurturing innovation and creating a dynamic ecosystem in this field.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to become the first prime minister of India to feature on the cover of Newsweek after Indira Gandhi. Former prime minister Indira Gandhi featured on the cover of Newsweek’s April 1966 issue.
• The New York-based magazine has interviewed PM Modi who addressed Newsweek’s written questions and followed up with a 90-minute conversation.

• The 134th Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti was celebrated on April 14, 2024 by Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) on behalf of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India near the statue of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the Parliament House Lawn.

1. AMBEDKAR FOUNDATION (DAF):

• The Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF), an independent organization, was founded on March 24, 1992, under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Its purpose is to implement initiatives and events nationwide that promote the ideals and principles of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar.

ABOUT B.R. AMBEDKAR:

• B.R. Ambedkar, affectionately known as Baba Saheb, played a pivotal role as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, earning him the title of the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’.
• He initiated various social and educational reforms, founding organizations and launching agitations against untouchability. His efforts led to significant milestones such as the Poona Pact, which secured reserved seats for the Depressed Classes in the general electorate.

• Sushil Sharma will be the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SJVN Limited. Presently Sushil Sharma is the Director Project of SJVN.
• He has been recommended for the post by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) panel on April 8.
• Sharma currently serves as Director (Project) within the same organization, having previously held the position of General Manager (Mechanical) at the 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Plant.

ABOUT SJVN:

• It was incorporated in 1988 as Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation, a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

• The International Day of Human Space Flight is celebrated on April 12.
• The day is celebrated to honour the first person, Yuri Gagarin, to go to space.
• The day is also dedicated to the beginning of the space era for mankind, the contribution of space science and technology, and ensuring to conservation of outer space for peaceful purposes.
• The theme of this year’s International Day of Human Space Flight is ‘Encourage Scientific Curiosity’.

HISTORY:

• On April 7, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly finalised April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight.
• On October 4, 1957, a human-made satellite named, Sputnik I, was sent to space.
• This was the first ever human effort to explore space. After understanding space and enhancing the technologies, on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin from the Soviet Union became the first human to travel around the earth in space.
• Later, on June 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person on Earth to set foot on the moon.