NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. UPSC recommends Rajeev Singh
Raghuvanshi as new DCGI: The Union
Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recommended Dr Rajeev Singh
Raghuvanshi as the new Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The
recommendation will be approved by the Health Ministry, followed
by approval of the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) led by PM
Narendra Modi. He will replace Dr. V G Somani, whose extended tenure
will be ended in February 2023. Dr. Somani was appointed DCGI for three years
on August 14, 2019.
2. First G20 education working group
meeting begins in Chennai: The first G20 Education working group meeting is
being organized in Chennai on 1st Feb 2023 and will continue till 2nd
Feb 2023.The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L.
Murugan inaugurated the session. Discussion topic: K-12 education,
tech-enabled learning, and skill development A seminar on the ‘Role of
Digital Technology in Education’ – a unique initiative under India’s
Presidency was organized at the IIT Madras Research Park.
3. Adani Group acquires Haifa port for
$1.2 bn: The Adani
Group has acquired the strategic Israeli port of Haifa for USD 1.2
billion. The deal was signed by Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani in
presence of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The Haifa Port is the second
largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers and
the biggest in shipping tourist cruise ships. The Adani group will
also develop real estate at the port to transform the Haifa skyline. Israel
Capital: Jerusalem
4. Night Time Light radiance in India
rose 43% in last 10 years: Report: According to the latest data from the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO), the normalized Night Time Light (NTL) radiance
in India has jumped to 43% in 2021 as compared to 2012. Economists to track the
economic growth of regions across the globe use the night light. Bihar (474%),
Manipur (441%), Ladakh (280%), and Kerala (119%) have shown significant growth.
While a good increase was observed in Arunachal Pradesh, MP, UP, and
Gujarat.
5. India's solar module manufacturing
capacity to reach 95 GW by 2025: Report: According to the research firm, Mercom
Capital, the solar module manufacturing capacity of India would reach
approximately 95 GW by the end of 2025. The solar module manufacturing
capacity as of September last year was 39 gigawatts (GW). Report
title: State of Solar PV Manufacturing in India Indian PV manufacturers
are strategically poised to expand their production capacities and adopt new
technologies The US-based Mercom Capital Group is a clean energy
research firm.
6. Tamil Nadu to host the first G20
Education Working Group meet: Tamil Nadu will
host the first meeting of the Education Working Group on 1 & 2
February 2023 at IIT Madras. It will focus on four priorities and those
are ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy, especially in the context of
blended learning. As many as 75 delegates from G20 members and invited
countries and three international organizations are attending. The seminar has
generated a lot of interest among the G20 member countries with 15 of them
having sent inputs highlighting their best practices in the field of digital
technology for school, higher education, and skill development.
7. President Murmu addressed 31st
Foundation Day of NCW: President Droupadi
Murmu addressed the 31st Foundation Day of the National
Commission for Women (NCW) in New Delhi on 31 January 2023. The theme
of the programme is ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat.’
The theme is aimed at
acknowledging the stories of women who have excelled their journey to leave a
mark. NCW was founded in January 1992 as a statutory body under the National
Commission for Women Act of 1990. It was established to review the
constitutional and legal safeguards for women, recommend remedial legislative
measures, facilitate the redressal, of grievances, and advise the Government on
policy matters affecting women.
8. Visakhapatnam will be the new Andhra
Pradesh capital: Visakhapatnam will be declared the new capital
of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said at the
International Diplomatic Alliance meeting in New Delhi. When Telangana was
carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the new state got Hyderabad as its
capital. The Andhra government in 2015 led by TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu,
operating out of Hyderabad in the interim, had declared that Amaravati, in the
Vijayawada-Guntu region on the banks of the river Krishna, would come up as the
new capital. Then in 2020, the state planned to have three capital cities —
Visakhapatnam for the executive, Amaravati for the legislature, and Kurnool for
the judiciary. The chief minister further announced that the state government
is organizing the ‘Global Investors Summit’ in Visakhapatnam on March 3 and 4.
He invited the states to Andhra Pradesh’s capital city and summit.
9. 1 February – Indian Coast Guard Day: The
Indian Coast Guard Day is celebrated on February 1 every year to
honour organizations that look after maritime security. This year, India will
be celebrating the 47th Coast Guard Day. The interim Indian Coast Guard
was originally established on February 1, 1977, to prevent the sea-borne
smuggling of goods that hampered India’s domestic economy. On August 18, 1978,
the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Day was officially established by the Parliament
to be celebrated on February 1. Currently, the Indian Coast Guard is ranked as
the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. US-India Initiative on Critical and
Emerging Technologies launched: National
Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake
Sullivan launched the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technology (iCET) and Innovation Bridge. WE President Joe Biden and PM Narendra
Modi announced the iCET in May 2022. Aim: To elevate and expand
strategic technology partnerships and defense industrial cooperation between
governments and businesses Innovation Bridge will connect both countries'
defense startups.
2. UK to be the country partner for
BioAsia 2023: The global business firm,
BioAsia has selected the United Kingdom (UK) as its country
partner for the 20th edition of the largest event in the
biotechnological industry of Asia. Theme 2023: Advancing for ONE: Shaping
the next generation of humanized healthcare. ‘O’ in ONE stands for One Health ‘N’
in ONE stands for Next Generation Health ‘E’ in ONE stands for Equity BioAsia
2023 will be organized from February 24 to 26 in Hyderabad, Telangana.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Murali Vijay announced his
retirement from all forms of international cricket: Former India opener Murali Vijay has announced
his retirement from all formats of international cricket. He represented
India in 87 international matches across all formats, playing 61 Tests, 17
ODIs, and 9 T201s. He scored 3982 runs in Tests with 12 centuries and 15
fifties, 339 runs in ODIs with a solitary half-century, and 169 runs in T20Is. He
last played first-class and List-A cricket for Tamil Nadu in late 2019. The
right-handed batter has also scored 2619 runs in 106 IPL matches, winning
back-to-back titles with the Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2014, with
two tons and 13 fifties, his last appearing in September 2020. In September
2020, he made his last professional cricket appearance in the IPL.
2. Chahal becomes highest wicket-taker
for team India in T201 history: Yuzvendra Chahal has
become the highest wicket-taker for Team India in T201 Cricket history. He
achieved the landmark during the second T201 against New Zealand in Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh. Chahal has taken 91 wickets in 75 matches, while Bhuvneshwar
Kumar is second on the list with 90 wickets in 87 T201s. The third bowler in
this list is Ravichandran Ashwin with 72 wickets.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. GST collection at Rs 1.55 Lakh Crore
in January 2023: The Indian
government collected Rs 1,55,922 crore GST in January 2023. The CGST
is Rs 28,963 crore, SGST is Rs 36,730 crore, IGST is Rs 79,599
crore, and cess is Rs 10,630 crore. The GST collection in January
2023 is the second highest, after the Rs 1.68 lakh crore gross mop-up
reported in April 2022. The revenues in the current financial year up to
January 2023 are 24% higher than the GST revenues in January 2022. GST Day: 1st
July
2. New India Assurance launches ‘Pay As
You Drive’ vehicle insurance policy: The New India Assurance has launched “Pay as You Drive”
policy for vehicles. Charges premiums based on the usage of the vehicle a
comprehensive motor insurance policy. The policy has two components -
third-party cover and own-damage cover. This policy offered
features like discounts on renewals, coverage beyond the distance limit,
and enhanced protections. The discount will be applied to the basic own damage
premium. NIA Chairman: Neerja Kapur
3. RBI: Number of micro ATMs increases
in 2022: According to data, released by the
RBI, as of December 2022, the total number of micro ATMs across the
country has reached 14.19 lakh. But, there has been no significant surge
in the value of money withdrawn through these devices since June 2022 There
were just about 3.56 lakh micro ATMs in India in 2020 The cash withdrawal in
Dec 2021 was ₹25.2-lakh crore.
It grew to only about ₹25.5-lakh crore by November 2022 The
data for cash withdrawal for December was not released
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Former PM Manmohan Singh conferred
Lifetime Achievement Honour in UK: Former PM Dr
Manmohan Singh (India) was conferred a Lifetime Achievement
Honour by the India-UK Achievers Honours in London. He was awarded
for his contribution to economic and political life. The National Indian
Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK handed it over to him in New Delhi. Living
Legend Honour: Lord Karan Bilimoria and Opposition Labour Party MP
Virendra Sharma Outstanding Achievers: Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha,
Adar Poonawalla, and Aditi Chauhan
2. Odisha’s VK Pandian honoured with
FIH President’s Award 2023: An IAS officer, and
private secretary to Odisha CM, V Karthikeyan Pandian has been
conferred with FIH’s President’s award. Pandian was awarded for
successfully hosting the 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 in Bhubaneswar
and Sundargarh. Previously, He successfully organized other hockey tournaments
like the Champions Trophy, Hockey World League, and FIH Pro-League.
3. Best marching contingents &
tableaux of Republic Day Parade 2023 announced: The
government has announced the list of the best marching contingents and
tableaux for the Republic Day Parade 2023. Results have been announced on the
basis of the assessment of the panels and online poll for the popular choice. Three
panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of Marching
Contingents from three Services, Marching Contingents from Central Armed Police
Forces (CAPF)/other auxiliary forces and tableaux from various States/Union
Territories and Ministries/Departments. On the basis of the assessment of the
panels, the results are as under –
·
Best Marching Contingent among the three services –
Punjab Regiment Centre Contingent
·
Best Marching Contingent among CAPF/other auxiliary
forces – CRPF Marching Contingent
·
Best three Tableaux (States/UTs)-
OBITUARIES
1. Former Law Minister, Shanti Bhushan passes away: Former Union Law Minister and veteran lawyer, Shanti Bhushan passed away at the age of 97 in New Delhi. He served as the law minister of India under the Morarji Desai government from 1977 to 1979. He was best known for successfully arguing for setting aside the election of Indira Gandhi in 1975. In his political career, he was a member of Congress and later joined the Janata Party. He also served as a Rajya Sabha member from 14 July 1977 to 2 April 1980.
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