Current affairs 07 April 2024

Arjun Erigaisi top-ranked Indian in the official FIDE rating list.

• Arjun Erigaisi becomes India's No.1 chess player and World No.9 in the April 2024 FIDE Rating list.
• He becomes the second Indian since D Gukesh to cross Vishy Anand as India's no.1 in a published rating list.
• Indian chess shines with ten players in the Top 100 globally, and Indian women maintaining stable positions, with three in the Top 15 and nine in the Top 100.

BALCO, first Indian company to be certified with ASI Performance.

• Vedanta's BALCO has become the first Indian company to receive the ASI Performance Standard V3 Certification, recognizing its sustainable aluminium production practices.
• BALCO's achievement reflects its pioneering position in sustainable aluminium production globally, and it’s on a path to achieving Net Zero by 2050.
• Chairman - Mr. S. K. Roongta

Zimbabwe declared drought a national disaster.

• Zimbabwe declares a national disaster as El Nino causes a severe drought, affecting over 2.7 million people with food shortages.
• An urgent $2 billion aid request by President Mnangagwa aims to combat hunger amidst this crisis.
• The drought, one of the five strongest due to El Nino, disrupts electricity production and threatens food security across southern Africa.

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India aims for 1st strategic petroleum reserve by 2029-30.

• India plans to build its first privately managed strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) by 2029-30, granting the operator the freedom to trade all of the stored oil, the chief executive of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd.
• India will build two new SPRs - the first a 18.3 million barrels cavern at Padur in southern Karnataka state, and then a 29.3 million barrels SPR in eastern Odisha state.

Mining Sector sees record production in FY24.

• India's mining sector sees an 8% rise in mineral production index for Feb 2024; iron ore and limestone production notably surpass previous year's records.
• Aluminum production up by 2.5%, with anticipated record-breaking annual figures.
• India's global standing as a top producer of Aluminium, limestone, and iron ore underscores the economic significance of the mining sector's growth in FY24.