Agni-Prime Miss"le Has Been Successfully Flight-Tested In Odisha

• Agni-Prime Missile has been successfully flight­tested in Odisha.
• The flight-test was conducted by Strategic Forces Command (SFC), along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
• Agni-Prime is a new missile that looks similar to Agni-III but has reduced weight by half.
• It is designed to replace older generation missiles like Prithvi-II (350 km), Agni-II (2,000 km), Agni­III (3,000 km), and Agni-4 (4,000 km) ballistic missiles.
• Agni-Prime has many upgrades like new propulsion systems, composite rocket motor casings, and advanced navigation and guidance systems.
• The main goal of developing Agni-P is to achieve maximum manoeuvrability against missile defence systems and higher accuracy for precision strikes, making it more difficult for enemy forces to def end against.

RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das announced the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) decision on key interest rates.
• This marks the first RBI MPC announcement in the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25).
• The central bank has kept the repo rate unchanged for the last six consecutive MPC meetings.
• The repo rate currently is at 6.5 per cent. RBI MPC started its three-day meeting on April 3.
• Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank lends short­term funds to banks.
• It currently stands at 6.5 per cent and has been unchanged since April 2023.
• RBI:
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Established: 1 April 1935
• Governor: Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governors: Shri M. Rajeshwar Rao, Shri Swaminathan J, Shri T. Rabi Sankar, Dr. M.D. Patra

Murmu launches India's first gene therapy for cancer at IIT Bombay

• President Droupadi Murmu launched the country’s first home-grown anti-cancer CAR-T cell therapy NexCARl 9 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
• The NexCARl 9 CAR-T therapy is developed by Prof. Rahul Purwar, Department of Bio-sciences and Bio­engineering along with his team at IIT Bombay, at the startup ImmunoACT which he co-founded with his students, and with doctors at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
• A CAR T-cell therapy involves modifying a patient’s T cells (a type of immune system cell) in the laboratory and using them to attack and destroy cancer cells.
• The ‘NexCAR19 CART-cell therapy’ is the country’s first ‘Made in India’ CAR T-cell therapy which is expected to bring down the cost of treatment significantly.
• HPV vaccine. The vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV). If this virus stays in the body for a long time, it can cause some types of cancer. The FDA has approved HPV vaccines to prevent: Cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers

Scientists Discover An Ocean 700 Km Underneath Earth's Surface

• Recently, scientists from Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois discovered a reservoir that is expected to hold triple the volume of water on the Earth’s surface.
• This water reservoir is somewhere around 700 km below the Earth’s surface.
• This discovery was made in a bid to understand the origin of the Earth’s water.
• It’s worth mentioning that this enormous ocean in the Earth’s mantle is concealed with a Blue Rock, known as ringwoodite.
• As it happens, this latest discovery challenges the notion about where the earth’s water came from, as people tend to believe that it came through comet impacts.
• As a result, the latest discovery shows that the oceans might have seeped out from the Earth’s core! In case they’re wondering, the researchers took the help of a range of 2000 seismographs across the United States.
• After this, they analyse seismic waves from over 500 earthquakes.

Krafton India CEO appointed Vice President of Indian Digital Gaming Society

• The Indian Digital Gaming Society (IDGS), a non-profit organisation, has appointed BGMI developer Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn as its Vice President (VP).
• As VP, Sohn will play a crucial role in shaping the future of digital gaming in India.
• He will leverage his expertise to drive initiatives that promote inclusivity, diversity, and excellence within the gaming ecosystem.
• He will also be working closely with stakeholders to advocate for policies that support the continued growth of the gaming industry and enhance its societal impact.

Indian Digital Gaming society (IDGS):

• The Indian Digital Gaming Society (IDGS) is a non-profit association formed to be the apex body of the Indian Gaming Industry.
• IDGS ‘s primary goal is to provide a platform for collaboration, advocacy, and innovation by bringing together stakeholders from across the gaming ecosystem.
• President: RAJAN NAVAN!

RBI to launch new NRI scheme for Sovereign Green Bonds in IFSC

• In a recent announcement, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das unveiled plans to enhance non­resident participation in Sovereign Green Bonds through an upcoming scheme in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
• This initiative aiins to broaden the investor base for these bonds. Additionally, to bolster accessibility to the RBI Retail Direct Scheme, a mobile app will be launched for the Retail Direct portal.
• Launched in November 2021, this move is intended to facilitate retail investors’ participation and deepen the Government Securities ( G-sec) market.

What are Green Bonds?

• Green bonds are like any other debt instruinent except for the fact that the issuer of the green bond pledges to use its proceeds to finance projects that will have a positive impact on the climate and environment.

World Bank, S. Korea to boost ties on digital ID systems for developing nations

• The World Bank has been exploring exemplary global digital ID cases worldwide to help developing countries adopt reliable digital authentication services. Korea is one of the leading examples it looks to.
• This collaboration was discussed during a meeting in Seoul, where the Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp. (KOMSCO) and the World Bank explored ways to share South Korea’s technology and expertise.
• The Korean government has been endeavoring to expand mobile ID, with KOMSCO designated as the institution responsible for planning and implementing the overall project.
• The service began with the introduction of the mobile public officer ID in 2020, followed by the mobile driver’s license in 2022 and the mobile veteran’s certification in 2023.
• Next year, the government plans to issue mobile national ID for all citizens aged 1 7 and above.

Swiggy appoints Titan's Suparna Mitra as independent director

• Food and delivery major Swiggy has appointed Supama Mitra as an Independent Director to its board.
• Mitra, CEO of Titan Company Ltd’s Watches and Wearables Division, brings over 30 years of experience in lifestyle and retail. She joins three other independent directors on Swiggy’s board.
• Swiggy’s list of independent directors includes Anand Kripalu – MD and Global CEO at EPL Ltd and Chairperson of the Swiggy board, Shailesh Haribhakti – Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates, and Sahil Barna – Managing Director and CEO at Delhivery.
• Mitra’s appointment to Swiggy’s board comes after Tractor And Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE) chairperson Mallika Srinivasan stepped down as an independent director in February this year.

India tops list of doping off enders in 2022: WADA anti-doping report

• India has emerged as the country with the highest percentage of doping offenders, according to the 2022 testing figures released by the World Anti­Doping Agency (WADA).
• The report revealed that out of 4,064 samples collected from Indian athletes (including urine, blood, and athlete biological passports), 127 individuals tested positive for banned substances, constituting 3 .26 per cent of the sample size.
• WADA report also found a 6.4 per cent increase in the total number of samples analysed and reported in its Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) in 2022, compared to the previous year.
• India also topped the list for the highest percentage of failed EPO-Receptor Agonists (ERA) tests conducted per laboratory (blood), with 11 cases or 1.8 per cent of adverse analytical findings (AAFs ).

Tamil Actor Visheshwara Rao Passes Away at 64

• Actor Visheshwara Rao, known for playing supporting roles in Tamil films, passed away due to complications from cancer at a private hospital in Chennai. The actor was 64.
• Visheshwara Rao started his career as a child artiste at the age of six. He found popularity for playing the role of Laila’s innocent father in Suriya’s Pithamagan.
• The jail scene from the film with Laila’s popular dialogue ‘Loosa Pa Nee’ is the most well-known scene of the actor. He is also known for his brief role in Madhavan’s Evano Oruvan as the annoying shop owner.
• He has also played a comedian in many Telugu films and has acted in about 3 00 films in his long career.
• He was also part of TV serials in supporting roles. Potti Pleader, Bhakta Potana, Andala Ramudu, and Sisindri Chittibabu are some of the films from his formative acting career.