NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Yuva Sangam registration portal
launched: Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and
Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan has
launched the Yuva Sangam registration portal in New
Delhi. Aim: To build close ties between the youth of the North East Region (NER) and
the rest of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. It aims
to provide an
immersive, multidimensional experience of various facets-under four broad areas - Paryatan, Parampara, Pragati, and Paraspar Sampark.
2. Agri ministry signs MoU with Digital Green: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed
an MoU with Digital Green under public-private partnership
framework. Reason: To build a national-level digital extension platform It
will host a digital library of curated multi-format multi-lingual
content, deliver curated content to farmers, and help extension
workers to access it. It also upskills the vast network of extension
workers for agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and rural livelihood
missions.
3. CM Yogi inaugurates VFS Global’s
visa centre in Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh CM, Yogi
Adityanath inaugurated the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in
Lucknow. Aim: To enable citizens of the state to complete the formalities
related to the visa application process for 10 countries with ease. 10
Countries: Austria, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Estonia,
Hungary, Portugal, Germany, Italy, and Saudi Arabia VFS Global (Visa
Facilitation Services Global) was launched in Mumbai in 2001. VFS Global
HQ: Dubai, UAE
4. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired CEO
Conclave at PLASTINDIA 2023: Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health
& Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya has chaired the CEO
Conclave at PLASTINDIA 2023 in New Delhi. The conference was attended by more
than 90 CEOs from the plastics industry both from India and abroad. The
conclave will create opportunities to showcase India’s capabilities and help
facilitate the growth of the Indian plastics industry. Exhibitors from more
than 45 countries of the world as well as more than 2,00,000 trade visitors from
around the world participated in it.
5. PM Modi inaugurated helicopter
manufacturing plant of HAL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated
a helicopter manufacturing plant of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in
Tumakuru (Karnataka). The Greenfield Helicopter factory, spread across 615
acres, will manufacture the Light Utility Helicopters. It has Heli-runway,
flight hangar, final assembly hangar, structure assembly hangar, air traffic
control and support services. It complies fully with Industry 4.0 standard
tools and techniques for its operations. This plant is to become India’s
largest helicopter manufacturing facility offering one-stop solutions for
helicopter repair and maintenance in the days to come. The Light Utility
helicopter designed in India is a three-ton class, single-engine, multipurpose
utility helicopter with unique features. The Prime Minister laid the foundation
stone for this plant in 2016.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. IEA Report: India’s ‘LiFE’
initiative can save $440 bn globally in 2030: According to a report by the International
Energy Agency (IEA), the 'LiFE' (Lifestyle for
Environment) initiative of India for the adoption of energy-efficient
behavior can save the world $440 billion in 2030. About 1/5th of the
emission cut is required by 2030 to put the world on a pathway to net zero
emissions. PM Modi introduced the LiFE initiative at COP26 in Glasgow in
Nov 2021. Aim: To tackle the challenges of environmental degradation and
climate change.
2. Hillary Clinton announced USD
50-million Climate Resilience Fund: Former US secretary of state, Hillary
Clinton announced a Global Climate Resilience Fund of 50 million
dollars for women to fight climate change. This fund will also help
to provide new livelihood resources and education. She addressed the
salt pan workers near Kuda village in Gujarat's Surendranagar district. She
also attended a programme in Ahmedabad to mark 50 years of SEWA (Self
Employed Women's Association) as a trade union. SEWA was founded in 1972.
3. CAG to host 6th Shanghai Cooperation
Organization SAI Leaders’ Meet: The Comptroller and
Auditor General of India (CAG) is hosting the 6th Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Leaders’
Meeting in Lucknow. Out of the eight SCO Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI)
member country delegations participating in the event, the heads of SAIs from
four countries – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, alongside
the CAG of India. CAG Girish Chandra Murmu has led the discussions on the theme
“Integrating Emerging Technologies in Audit”. Governor of Uttar Pradesh
Anandiben Patel has inaugurates the meeting. The participating delegates are
expected to hold discussions and share experiences on Artificial Intelligence
and Cyber Security as well as concerns of digital technology.
4. 6 February – International Day of
Zero Tolerance for FGM: International Day of
Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed every year
on February 6. Objective – To spread awareness and educate people about
the consequences and problems that females faced due to genital mutilation. Theme
2023 – Partnership with Men and Boys to transform Social and gender Norms to
End FGM. The UN General Assembly designated February 6 as the International Day
of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation in 2012.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Women's Premier League to be held in
Mumbai from 4th to 26th March: The inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL)
2023 will be held in Mumbai (Maharashtra) from 4 - 26 March. All the
tournament matches will be held in the Brabourne Stadium and the DY Patil
Stadium. The auction of WPL players will take place on February 13 in Mumbai. IPL
team owners: Mumbai Indians, RCB, Delhi Capitals, Capri Global Holdings
(Lucknow), and Adani Sportsline
·
IPL chairman: Arun
Dhumal
·
BCCI Secretary: Jay
Shah
2. Australia's Aaron Finch announces
retirement from International Cricket: Australia's T20 captain, Aaron Finch has announced his retirement from
international cricket. Earlier, the opening batsman had
announced retirement from the 50-over format in September 2022. He made
his international cricket debut in a T20I against England in 2011. He made
his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2013 and his Test debut against
Pakistan in 2018. He retires as Australia's leading run-getter in the format,
having scored 3120 runs at an average of 34.28.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Sebi notifies stronger framework for
green bonds: SEBI strengthened the
framework for green bonds by introducing the concept of 'blue' and 'yellow'
bonds as new modes of sustainable finance. Blue bonds: related to
water management, and marine sector Yellow bonds: pertaining to solar
energy For this, SEBI amended norms governing the issue and listing of
non-convertible securities. Green Debt Securities: Debt securities are
issued for raising funds that are to be utilized for projects falling under
certain categories.
2. Raul Rebello appointed as MD and CEO
of Mahindra Finance: Mahindra & Mahindra Financial
Services Ltd’s Board of Directors appointed Raul Rebello as Managing
Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) designate. He will replace
Ramesh lyer, who will be retiring on April 29, 2023. Currently, he is serving
as the chief operating officer (COO) of the company. Before to joining Mahindra
Financial, he worked as the executive vice president and head of rural lending
and financial inclusion at Axis Bank Ltd.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Manappuram Finance MD, VP Nandakumar
receives Hurun India award 2022: VP Nandakumar (MD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd) has received
the Hurun India’s award 2022 for his remarkable achievements in
the world of business. He was honored with the Hurun Industry Achievement
Award 2022 in Mumbai. Adi Godrej (Chairman, Godrej Group), Cyrus S.
Poonawalla (MD, Serum Institute of India Ltd), Kris
Gopalakrishnan (co-founder, Infosys), and Sanjiv Goenka (RPG
Group) were the earlier recipients of this award.
2. UNESCO soon declare Visva-Bharati
world’s first living heritage university: Visva-Bharati University will soon
receive the ‘heritage’ tag from UNESCO to take the distinction of
world’s first living heritage university. This university was founded by
Rabindranath Tagore in 1921. It is one of India's major Central Government
funded autonomous universities. The institution was given the status of a
Central University in 1951 through a central Act. The Vice-chancellor of
the University is appointed by the President of India.
3. 65th Grammy Awards Announced: The
most prestigious 65th Grammy Awards in the music world have been
organized on 5 February 2023 in Los Angeles. The 65th Grammy Awards were
hosted by Trevor Noah. India’s music composer Ricky Kej along with rock
legend Stewart Copeland has won the Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album
for the album Divine Tides. Kej has become the only Indian to win three
Grammy Awards.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
1. Google introduces AI chatbot 'Bard':
Google launched
its conversational artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot named ‘Bard’. It
will be directly competing with Microsoft-backed firm OpenAI's ChatGPT. It
will combine the world's knowledge with the power, intelligence, and creativity
of language models. Bard is based on LaMDA, the firm's Language
Model for the Dialogue Applications system. It helps to draw
information from the web to provide high-quality responses. Google CEO:
Sundar Pichai
2. ISRO plans to develop astronaut
training module with IIT Madras: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has
signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), Madras. Reason: To build training modules for Indian
Spaceflight Program, using augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and
mixed reality (MR) technologies. The modules will be built at IIT Madras’
Experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC). It will also be used to
train engineers at Isro’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC).
3. Jupiter beats Saturn to become the
planet with most moons: Jupiter is not just
the largest planet in our solar system, it also has the most moons. This
revelation was made after scientists found another 12 moons orbiting it. So, in
total, 92 moons are revolving around the massive planet. The new discovery
means there is a 15% rise in the gas giant’s known moons. The Minor Planet
Center (MPC) operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory has
published the orbits of the newly found 12 moons of Jupiter, as per a new
report from Sky and Telescope. Jupiter planet has overtaken Saturn planet,
which has 83 moons at present. The Minor Planet Center (MPC) has published the
orbits of the 12 hitherto undiscovered moons of Jupiter. Of the 12 new moons,
nine are particularly distant. The MPC estimates that these nine moons have orbits
longer than 550 days.
OBITUARIES
1. Popular artist B.K.S. Verma passes away: Veteran Indian painter, BKS Varma passed away at the age of 74 in Bangalore, Karnataka. The subject of his paintings was mainly environmental and social issues presented in a surreal form. The legendary art teacher A.N. Subbarao at the art and culture institution trained him in art. He was honoured with the Karnataka Rajya Puruskar (2001), Rajyothsava award (2001), and Honorary Doctorate by Bangalore University (2011).
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