Daily GK Update- 17th Feb, 2024

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s 1st helicopter emergency medical service to start from Uttarakhand: India’s first Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) will be started from Uttarakhand. All Indian Institute of Medical Science in Rishikesh from where it can be sent anywhere within a radius area of 150 km to airlift the people to the hospital. HEMS would operate under project ‘Sanjeevani’. The helicopter is being assembled at present and is under the certification process.

 

2. Pashupati Paras Launches “SUFALAM” For Food Entrepreneurs: Union Minister of Food Processing Pashupati Kumar Paras has inaugurated “SUFALAM: Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors Startup Conclave 2024”. This initiative demonstrates the government’s unwavering dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and building a supportive ecosystem for startups, which in turn empowers aspiring entrepreneurs in the food processing industry.

 

3. Sonowal inaugurates Kalughat Inland Waterways Transport terminal in Bihar: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated the newly constructed Kalughat Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) terminal on National Waterways -1 (NW-1) at Kalugaht near Parmanandpur in Saran district in Bihar. It has been constructed with a worth of 82.48 crore rupees. It will provide seamless connectivity to vessels from Haldia and Kolkata ports along NW -1. The new Intermodal Terminal cargo will enhance handling capacity along inland waterways.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Prabowo Subianto elected as Indonesia President: Prabowo Subianto emerges victorious in Indonesia’s Presidential race, securing nearly 60% of the votes in the first round. His military background and alignment with President Joko Widodo’s policies propel him to a clear-cut victory, sparking positive reactions in Indonesian markets.

 

2. Greece Becomes First Orthodox-Majority Nation to Allow Same-Sex Marriage: The Hellenic Parliament of Greece passed a historic legislation, legalizing same-sex civil marriages in the country. It makes Greece the first constitutionally Christian Orthodox-majority nation to grant equal marital rights to LGBTQ couples. The bill was approved by 176 lawmakers ..

 

3. US Passes Legislation to Boost Quad Collaboration:
In a major diplomatic boost to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the United States House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at augmenting strategic ties between member countries – USA, Australia, India and Japan. Key Provisions Enabling Parliamentary Coordination.

 

4. UK Enters Technical Recession Amid Economic Challenges: According to latest GDP figures, the United Kingdom has slipped into a technical recession, with the economy contracting 0.3% in Q4 2023 after a 0.1% decline in Q3. This worsens the economic backdrop for PM Rishi Sunak’s government ahead of ..

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. R Ashwin joins elite 500 test wicket club: Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has claimed his 500th Test wicket in the first innings of the third Test match against England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. The 37-year-old achieved this monumental feat in his 98th Test Match. Ashwin dismissed Zak Crawley in the second day to join Anil Kumble as the second Indian to take 500 wickets in Test history. Ashwin is the ninth bowler in Test history to reach 500 wickets and Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, and Nathan Lyon are the only spinners who have taken more wickets than him in Test history.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Japan successfully launches next-gen H3 rocket: On February 18th, 2023, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced the successful first orbital launch of its next-generation H3 launch vehicle. The new flagship rocket delivered its test payload into intended orbit after two prior failed launch attempts in ..

 

2. ISRO GSLV Mission to Launch INSAT-3DS Weather Satellite: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the advanced INSAT-3DS meteorological observation satellite on 17th February 2023 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota using a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket. The mission aims to place INSAT ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India, Nepal sign pact to link UPI, NPI for faster remittances: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Nepal Rastra Bank entered into an agreement integrating the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and the National Payments Interface (NPI) of Nepal for cross-border remittances. The integration of Indian and Nepalese fast payment systems is aimed at facilitating cross-border remittances between the two countries by enabling users of the two systems to make instant, low-cost fund transfers. The collaboration between India and Nepal in linking their fast payment systems through the UPI-NPI linkage will deepen financial connectivity and reinforce the enduring historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two countries.

 

2. RBI extends deadline for Paytm Payments Bank restrictions to March 15: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the deadline for restrictions on deposit and credit transactions of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) to March 15, stating that customers and merchants might require “a little more time to make alternative arrangements. The earlier deadline was February 29. The regulator has clarified that merchants can accept payments using Paytm QR code, soundbox or point of sale (PoS) terminal even after March 15, if the receipt or transfer of funds are linked to any banks other than PPBL.