Daily GK Update- 11th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet approves Rs 6,000 crore scheme for formalisation of fisheries sector: The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 6,000 crore sub-scheme under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with the objective of formalizing the largely unorganized fisheries sector in the country. The formalization will be done through the creation of a national fisheries digital platform, facilitating access to institutional finance for the sector and creating an insurance product which would cover at least 100,000 hectares of aquaculture farms during the project period. Almost half of the total project cost, that is around Rs 3,000 crore, will come from public financing that includes World Bank and the AFD external financing while the balance is expected investment from the private sector and the beneficiaries.

 

2. Tata Trusts inaugurated India’s first small animal hospital in Mumbai: Tata Trusts has launched India’s first state-of-the-art Small Animal Hospital, with a mission to save the lives of pets and strengthen the bond between pet parents and veterinarians. The hospital, to be located in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, will be a 5-floor, 98,000-square-foot facility, with 200 beds, and will dedicate itself to providing round-the-clock services. The hospital will specialize in pet care to bridge the gap in quality pet care in India. The hospital will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including diagnostic services, treatment facilities, and an emergency room. It will also have a dedicated training centre for pet parents and veterinarians.

 

3. Google partners with Maharashtra govt to provide AI-led services: Tech giant Google has signed an MoU with the Government of Maharashtra to provide artificial intelligence (AI)-led solutions across key sectors in the state. As a part of the collaboration, Google will leverage its AI capabilities to provide solutions in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, sustainability, education, and startups. The company also launched a state-of-the-art AI Centre of Excellence at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Nagpur. This collaboration will empower our citizens with critical future-ready skills, revolutionise essential sectors like healthcare and agriculture, and create a thriving environment for the Maharashtra AI startups through the AI Center of Excellence at IIIT Nagpur.

 

4. Varanasi to have country’s first conservation centre for Gangatiri cows: The Uttar Pradesh government will set up the country’s first conservation centre for Gangatiri, a breed of cows in Varanasi. This breed of cows originates along the Ganga banks. The state govt will establish a centre for genetic improvement and propagation of the breed in Varanasi with the help of the Central government. Over the years, Gangatiri has been significantly overshadowed by high-yielding cow breeds like Sahiwal. But the technology used at the centre will help produce cows of high genetic merit using the IVF and embryo transfer technology (ETT), in which embryos from genetically superior cows would be disseminated to other females to increase the number of genetically superior progenies.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 11 February – International Day of Women and Girls in Science: The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on February 11 every year. The day is observed by the United Nations to promote full and equal access and participation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This year will be the ninth International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly. Theme – Women and Girls in Science Leadership, a New Era for Sustainability and the subtheme is “Think Science … Think Peace”

 

2. 7th Indian Ocean Conference: The 7th IOC was held in Perth, Australia on February 9-10, 2024. The theme was “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean.” It was organized by the India Foundation, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (Singapore) and Perth-US Asia Centre.

 

3. State of the World’s Migratory Species – 2024 Report: The State of the World’s Migratory Species – 2024 report was launched by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a UN biodiversity treaty on February 12, 2024. It provides the first comprehensive global assessment ..

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. What is Alaskapox?: Alaskapox represents a recently identified orthopox DNA virus, part of the genus containing smallpox and monkeypox. First detected in Alaskan voles in 2015, key aspects are: Zoonotic pathogen infecting small mammals like rodents, occasionally transmitting to humans Symptoms resemble monkeypox, ..

 

2. Successful Test of High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) by CSIR-NAL: Recently, the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) successfully tested an unmanned High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS)  in Karnataka. This 5-meter-long drone with 11-meter wingspan flew at an altitude of 3 kilometers for 8 hours. It represents a milestone in India’s development ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Ravi Kumar Jha appoints as MD & CEO of LIC Mutual Fund: Ravi Kumar Jha has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LIC Mutual Fund. Jha, with a distinguished career and prior association with LIC, comes with a track record of over 30 years in handling diverse positions and he was serving as Executive Director – Corporate Strategy till December 2023. His previous roles include Executive Director Corporate Strategy – LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management and various positions at LIC of India.