Daily GK Update- 3rd Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 40,000 rail bogies to be converted to Vande Bharat standards: In a move to modernize the Indian Railways, the Centre has announced an ambitious programme to upgrade 40,000 standard rail coaches to Vande Bharat standards. This initiative, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in while presenting the interim budget for fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), aims to elevate the safety, convenience, and comfort of rail travel while also providing a boost to private sector railway manufacturers through new refurbishment contracts. The initiative to elevate regular rail bogies to Vande Bharat standards represents a substantial opportunity for railway sector players. The projected contracts are estimated to be worth ₹4,000 crore annually for the next few years.

 

2. Tamil Superstar Vijay launches his political party: Tamil superstar Vijay has announced the name of his new political party “Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam”. Vijay will contest 2026 Assembly Elections in Tamil Nadu, when the current term of MK Stalin-led DMK party ends. The Tamil movie superstar is fondly called by his fans as Thalapathy, meaning General or Commander.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Govt to focus on vaccination against cervical cancer: nion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the government’s plans to focus on vaccination against cervical cancer for girls aged 9 to 14 as part of her Interim Budget 2024. The FM also announced multiple other health-related schemes in her speech, including extending Ayushman Bharat cover to all Asha workers and Anganwadi workers and helpers. Cervical cancer, which develops in a woman’s cervix, is the second-most common cancer among women in India. It is caused by persistent infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV). India accounts for nearly a quarter of all cervical cancer deaths in the world.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy Declares 2024 As ‘Year of Naval Civilians’: Indian Navy has declared 2024 as ‘Year of Naval Civilians’ to improve administration, efficiency and well-being of Naval Civilians by addressing all facets of Civilian HR Management in a time bound manner. Major focus areas towards maximising administrative efficiency, digital initiatives, generic and specific training programmes and welfare activities have been identified for implementation in 2024. Naval Civilian Personnel constitute about a third of the Indian Navy’s total workforce and contribute significantly to its operational effectiveness across all domains.

 

1. Record Rs 6.21 lakh crore allocation to Defence in Interim Budget 2024-25: In the current geopolitical scenario and with the twin objective of promoting self-reliance and exports, the Defence Budget has touched Rs 6,21,540.85 crore in the Financial Year 2024-25. This comes out to be 13.04% of total Union Budget. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to receive the highest allocation among the Ministries. The budgetary allocation to Defence for FY 24-25 is higher by approx.  one lakh crore (18.35%)  over  the  allocation for the FY 2022-23 and 4.72% more than allocation of FY 23-24.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Abhinav Bindra selected as torchbearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics: Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual gold medalist at the Olympic Games, has been selected as a torchbearer for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games. He will be part of the Olympic torch relay to be held from April 16 to July 26. Bindra, a member of the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), clinched the gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. 97.50% of Rs 2,000 Notes Returned to System: RBI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has annouced nearly 5 per cent of the Rs 2,000 bank notes have been returned to the banking system, and only about Rs 8,897 crore worth of the withdrawn notes are still with the public. On May 19, 2023 the RBI announced the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 denomination bank notes from circulation.

The total value of Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation, which was Rs 3.56 lakh crore at the close of business on May 19, 2023. When the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 banknotes was announced, has declined to Rs 8,897 crore at the close of business on January 31, 2024,” the RBI said in a statement.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Maha Gaurav 2024 award presented to Nikhil Wagh by Maharashtra govt: Nikhil Mukund Wagh, who works as a Public Relations Officer at Goa Shipyard Limited, was given the “Maha Gaurav 2024” award. This award was handed to him by Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, during a ceremony at Kaneri Math in Kolhapur. The award is a big deal because it recognizes Nikhil’s great work in public relations.