Daily GK Update- 13th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IREDA and IIT Bhubaneswar sign MoU for Clean Energy Innovation: The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar have signed an MoU. The partnership between IREDA and IIT Bhubaneswar will facilitate joint research ventures and technology exchange, and offer comprehensive support to budding start-ups. Additionally, it will encompass capacity-building initiatives such as training programs, seminars, and workshops to enhance the skills of IREDA personnel.

 

2. Katrina Kaif Joins CSK as Brand Ambassador for IPL 2024: Chennai Super Kings have appointed Katrina Kaif as their brand ambassador for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The five-time champions have also changed their jersey logo before the new season. The famous Bollywood actress, who is married to Vicky Kaushal, is also the brand ambassador of Etihad Airways. CSK recently signed a sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways and brought Katrina on board.

 

3. Sundaram AMC appoints Radhakrishnan as CEO: Sundaram Asset Management has appointed Anand Radhakrishnan as CEO. Anand was earlier a part of the company for eight years from 1996 to 2004. He previously served as Managing Director & CIO (Equity) at Franklin Templeton India Incumbent MD Sunil Subramaniam will retire in June after leading the organization for 19 years. Radhakrishnan will take over as MD in July.

 

4. Gupteswar Forest in Odisha declared Biodiversity-Heritage Site: The pristine Gupteswar Forest, adjacent to Gupteswar Shiva temple in Odisha’s Koraput district has been declared as the fourth Biodiversity-Heritage Site (BHS) of the state as per a recent government notification. The site is spread over 350 hectares of demarcated ..

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 13 February – World Radio Day: World Radio Day is observed every year on 13 February. Objective – To raise awareness among the people and the media about the importance of radio, and to encourage access to information through radio. Theme 2024 – Radio: A Century informing, entertaining, and educating The day was proclaimed by the member states of UNESCO in 2011 and subsequently adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day.

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Minister unveils statue of Gen Bipin Rawat in Dehradun: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami have unveiled a life-size statue of General Bipin Rawat, the nation’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), at TonsBridge School in Dehradun. The objective is to take the stories of valour of the armed forces to school students and instil patriotism and dedication in them. Unfortunately, Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 12 other military personnel lost their lives in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8, 2021.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. SWATI (Science for Women- A Technology & Innovation) Portal:  In February 2024, the government has launched the SWATI (Science for Women- A Technology & Innovation) portal, a database highlighting accomplishments of Indian women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) fields. The interactive portal was developed by the ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Paytm E-commerce rebrands to Pai Platforms: Paytm E-commerce has rebranded itself as Pai Platforms, marking a shift in its corporate identity. The move comes alongside the acquisition of Bitsila, a prominent seller platform operating within the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This strategic shift underscores Pai Platforms’ ambition to assert its presence and gain a larger foothold in the fiercely competitive landscape of online retail. Pai Platforms’ acquisition of Bitsila underscores its commitment to strengthening its commerce capabilities within the ONDC network.

 

2. India launches UPI payment services in Sri Lanka, Mauritius: India has launched its Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius. RuPay card services were also introduced in Mauritius as part of this strategic initiative. The UPI services, crafted by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), represent an instant real-time payment system designed to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. On the other hand, RuPay is a globally recognized card payment network originating from India, with widespread acceptance at various points of sale, ATMs, and online platforms.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. ISRO Chairman S Somanath awarded KPP Nambiar Award: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)Chairman, S Somanath has been awarded KPP Nambiar Award for 2024 by Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Kerala Section. The award is named after KPP Nambiar, doyen of electronics industry and founder-chair of IEEE Kerala Section. Somanath was chosen for the pivotal role he played in steering Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s lunar exploration programme, the award committee observed. He also served various VSSC and ISRO missions, including as Project Manager, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Project Director, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk – III).