NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. G20 Science 20 Inception Meeting
held in Puducherry: The science
20 Inception Meeting was held on 30 January 2023 at Puducherry. Indian
National Science Academy (INSA) President Dr. Ashutosh Sharma was the country’s
chair of the deliberations. It was focused on scientific and technological
aspects that would help the growth of nations. The theme of the meeting is
“disruptive science for innovative and sustainable development”
2. Ministry of Defense becomes the
largest buyer of MSME goods in 2022: Government e-Marketplace
(GeM) informed that in 2022, the Ministry of Defense emerged as the
largest buyer through MSME sellers. In 2022, the Defence Ministry procured
Rs 16,747 crores worth of goods and services from the MSME sector. This
was 250% higher than that of the procurement made in 2021. Among the
states, Uttar Pradesh procured the maximum. Uttar Pradesh procured goods
and services worth Rs 9,642 crore through GeM. In 2022, the turnover of GeM was
Rs 106,647 crores. This is expected to double in 2023. As compared to 2016,
when GeM was first launched, its turnover had increased by 17 times.
3. West Bengal CM inaugurated 46th
International Kolkata Book Fair: West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee has inaugurated the 46th International
Kolkata Book Fair at Salt Lake. The faith has been organized at Boimela
Courtyard, Central Park Fair Ground, Karunamayee, Salt Lake Kolkata. Spain is
the theme country at the fair. It is the world’s largest non-trade book fair.
It is also the world’s third-largest annual conglomeration of books after
the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair. The fair will be open for
visitors from January 31 to February 12.
4. Madhya Pradesh government launched
‘Laadli Bahna’ scheme: Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the Ladli Bahna Yojana on the
occasion of Narmada Jayanti. Through this scheme, ₹ 1000 per month will be given to the sisters of
poor and middle-class families of Madhya Pradesh. 65% sisters of Madhya Pradesh
will be able to get the benefit of this scheme. Women of all castes of the
state – General, Backward, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes will be able
to get the benefit of this scheme. Through the scheme, an amount of ₹ 60000 will be added to each sister’s account by the government in 5 years.
5. Yaya Tso to become Ladakh’s first
biodiversity heritage site: Yaya Tso lake has been proposed
as Ladakh's first biodiversity heritage site (BHS) under the
Biological Diversity Act. The resolution was signed by the village stakeholders
and the SECURE Himalaya project.
About Yaya Tso Lake:
·
It is known as a bird's paradise.
·
Location: at an altitude of 4,820m in Ladakh.
·
It is also one of India's highest breeding sites of the black-necked crane.
·
The Secure Himalaya project is funded by the Global Environment
Facility.
6. Air Marshal AP Singh appointed as
New Vice Chief Of Indian Air Force: Air Marshal A P Singh has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of
the Indian Air Force. He has succeeded Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, who
retired from service on 1st February 2023. He served as the Air Officer
Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command. He was commissioned into
the fighter stream of the IAF on December 21, 1984. He is an alumnus of
the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National
Defence College.
7. DRDO develops unfurlable antenna for
space radar: Electronics and
Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) has developed a major
subsystem for a space radar, which holds significant
potential for ISRO and the military. LRDE is a Bengaluru lab of the
Defence Research and Development Organisation. LRDE has been involved in
the development of space-borne imaging radar for installation on
satellites and has completed the development of an UnFurlable Reflector
Antenna (UFRA). UFRA is one of the major subsystems of a radar.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Indian men’s hockey team chief coach
Graham Reid resigns: Graham
Reid has resigned as the chief coach of the India men’s hockey
team following their forgettable performance in the just-concluded 2023
Hockey World Cup. He took over in 2019 and played a key role in the team
winning a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2021. He submitted his resignation
to Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey. He is a former Australian field hockey
player who played as a defender and midfielder for the Australian national
team.
2. Manuela Roka Botey appointed as the
first female PM of Equatorial Guinea: President of Equatorial
Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has appointed Manuela Roka
Botey as the first female prime minister of the country. She replaced
former premier Francisco Pascual Obama Asue, who has been in the position since
2016. Before this, she served as the education minister and joined
the government in 2020. President Teodoro Obiang was re-elected for a sixth
term in office in November 2022. Equatorial Guinea Capital: Malabo
3. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina
inaugurates ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the biggest book fair
of Bangladesh 'Ekushey Boi Mela’ in Dhaka. Theme 2023: Poro Boi, Goro
Desh: Bangbandhur Bangladesh" (Read books, build the country, a country of
Bangabandhu’s dream) The month-long book fair is being organized on
the grounds of the historic Suhrawardy Udyan and the Bangla Academy. She
has also distributed the Bangla Academy Award 2022 in recognition of
literary works in Bangla. Bangladesh Currency: Taka
4. World Wetlands Day 2023: 2nd
February: World Wetlands
Day is observed every year on February 2 to raise global
awareness about the crucial role of wetlands for people and the
planet. Theme 2023: It's Time for Wetlands Restoration This theme highlighted
the urgent need to prioritize wetland restoration. The UN General Assembly
adopted resolution 75/317 for World Wetlands Day on 30 August 2021. This day
marked the adoption of the convention on wetlands on February 2, 1971, in
Ramsar, Iran.
5. India to be the theme country at
2025 Madrid International Book Fair: The Ambassador of Spain to India, Jose Maria Ridao has announced
that India will be invited as the focal country at the Madrid
International Book Fair in 2025. Spain is the theme country at the 46th
International Kolkata Book Fair, organized in Kolkata from 31st Jan 2023
to 12th Feb 2023. Aim: To have a direct relationship with Indian authors They
will expand the horizon to Indian publishers, cinema, and music.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Usman Khawaja won Shane Warne Men’s
Test Player of the Year award: Australia’s opening batsman Usman Khawaja has bagged
the inaugural Shane Warne Award as the men’s Test player of the year. It
is named in honour of the legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne, who passed away in
March 2022. Khawaja polled 22 votes to win ahead of Marnus Labuschagne (20) and
Steve Smith (16). Khawaja has been Australia’s top run-scorer in test cricket
with 1020 runs at 78.46 during the voting period. Along with his Australian
teammates Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and Marnus Labuschagne, Khawaja was last
week selected for the ICC Test Team of the Year.
2. 1-7 February – World Interfaith
Harmony Week: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
designated the first seven days of February as World Interfaith Harmony
Week in 2010. Since then, it has been celebrated globally every year. These
celebrations focus on creating mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue
to promote harmony between people regardless of their faith. Jordan’s King
Abdullah II first proposed the idea of World Interfaith Harmony Week at the
United Nations in 2010. The UNGA swiftly adopted the resolution, declaring that
February 1-7 would be commemorated annually as World Interfaith Harmony Week.
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 for January 2023 has reached over the ₹1.50 lakh crore mark for the third time this
financial year, and is only second to the highest collection of ₹1.68 lakh crore in April 2022. The revenues in the
current financial year up to January 2023 are 24% higher than the GST
revenues in January 2022. The Ministry attributes this success to the various
efforts made in the last year to increase the tax base and improve compliance.
2. Australia removes British Monarchy
from its banknotes: The Reserve Bank of Australia has
announced that it will remove the portrait of the British monarchy, Queen
Elizabeth II from its A$5 banknotes. The new currency notes of the $5
would feature an Indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles
III. The other side of the note will continue to feature the
Australian Parliament. King Charles III, who became British monarch, is
the head of state in Australia, NZ, and 12 other Commonwealth realms
outside the UK.
3. FM Nirmala Sitharaman presented
Budget 2023-24: Finance Minister,
Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget for 2023-24 in Parliament
on 1st Feb 2023. Seven priorities: Inclusive development, Reaching the
last mile, Infrastructure and investment, Unleashing the potential, Green
growth, Youth power, and financial sector
Funds allocated (in lakh crore
rupees):
·
Defence Ministry: 5.94
·
Road and highways Ministry: 2.7
·
Railways: 2.41
·
Home Affairs: 1.96
·
Agriculture and Farmer Welfare: 1.25
·
Communications: 1.23
4. RBI’s Digital Payments Index jumps to 377.46 in September 2022: According to the Reserve Bank of India – Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI), released by RBI, the digitization of payments across the country has increased to 377.46 in September 2022 from 349.30 in March 2022. RBI introduced the composite Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) on January 1, 2021. Base year: March 2018 As per the Economic Survey 2022-23, India has the highest fintech adoption rate of 87% among the public compared to the global average of 64%.
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