NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Leopard number increased by more than 1,000 in last
four years: The number of leopards has increased by more
than one thousand during the period of 2018 to 2022 in the country. According
to a report released by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry,
the number of leopards in the country has now reached 13 thousand 874, which
was 12 thousand 852 in the year 2018. Central India has recorded the highest
population with Madhya Pradesh having three thousand 907 leopards.
2. Jagdeep Dhankhar laid the foundation stone of key
facilities at IIT Dharwad: Vice-President Jagdeep
Dhankhar laid the foundation stone of key facilities at IIT Dharwad
in Karnataka. He will also inaugurate the Main Gate Complex, the Knowledge Resource and Data Centre,
and the Central Learning Theatre at IIT Dharwad. Mr. Dhankar will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony of
the M.M. Joshi Eye Institute-EYESIRI, a new super-specialty eye hospital.
3. FSSAI gives ‘Eat Right Station’ certificate to 150
Railway Stations: The Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has awarded its prestigious ‘Eat Right
Station’ certification to 150 railway stations. The ‘Eat Right Station’ certification
process involves stringent audits of food vendors, comprehensive training
programs for food handlers, and strict adherence to hygiene and sanitation
protocols. Six prominent metro stations across the country have also been
accredited as Eat Right Stations.
4. Sitharaman launches seven infrastructure projects
worth over Rs 1,000 crore: FM Nirmala Sitharaman virtually
launched seven infrastructure projects worth over 1,000 crore rupees from New
Delhi. The Finance Minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of
the Departmental Residential Complex comprising 198 quarters of Type-II and III
for the officials of Income Tax Department, in Haryana. Ms. Sitharaman also
laid the foundation stone of the Residential Complex at Sector-53, Gurugram.
5. Around 5,000 Farmer Producer
Organizations registered on ONDC platform: Around 5,000 Farmer Producer Organizations
(FPOs) have registered on the Open Network for Digital Commerce, ONDC portal to
sell their produce online. The Union Agriculture Ministry said that the move
will help FPOs in selling their produce directly to customers across the
country by providing better market access. It also said that over eight
thousand FPOs have been registered under the Central Sector Scheme called
Formation and Promotion of ten thousand FPOs.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. China agreed to extend a 2 billion dollar loan to
Pakistan: The caretaker finance minister of Pakistan, Shamshad Akhtar confirmed that China
has agreed to extend a 2 billion dollar loan to Pakistan, which was due in
March, for another year. Beijing has formally communicated this decision to
Islamabad. This extension comes at a crucial time for Pakistan's economy, which
has been grappling with financial challenges. Last summer, Pakistan secured
a 3 billion dollar standby arrangement from the IMF to stabilize its
economy.
2. Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth and Abhinav depart
Galle for Colombo: Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth and Abhinav depart Galle for Colombo. At
Galle, the ships undertook multifarious engagements with Sri Lanka Coast Guard,
including joint training in boarding ops, pollution response, fire fighting
& damage control. Enhancing people to people connect, the crew undertook
beach cleaning, yoga sessions and also organised visits onboard for families of
Sri Lanka Navy, Coast Guard and Port Authority.
3. Nicaragua becomes first Spanish-Speaking nation to
recognize IPS: Nicaragua has become the first
Spanish-speaking nation to officially recognize the Indian Pharmacopoeia
(IP) or Indian Pharma standards. This development follows the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Pharmacopoeia Cooperation
between the Governments of India and Nicaragua. The move is expected to foster
stronger ties between the two nations in the areas of healthcare, encouraging
the exchange of expertise and resources for improved medical standards. The
Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP), compiled by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission
(IPC) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in India, serves as the
official compendium of standards for drugs.
4. 3 February – World Wildlife Day: World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on March 3 and serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need
to protect and preserve the world’s fauna and flora. Theme 2024 – Connecting People and Planet: Exploring
Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation. The inception of World
Wildlife Day traces back to a proposal made by Thailand to the United Nations
General Assembly in 2013.The proposal aimed at dedicating a day to raise
awareness about the world’s wild animals and plants. Consequently, March 3 was
officially designated as World Wildlife Day in 2014, following the adoption of
a resolution by the General Assembly on December 20, 2013.
5. 3 March – World Hearing Day: World Hearing Day is observed on 3rd
March every year. Objective – To raise awareness about the importance of
hearing health and the prevention of deafness. Theme 2024 – Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing
care a reality for all. World Hearing Day was first recognized by WHO in
2007. Previously, the day was recognized as International Ear Care Day. After
2016, WHO changed the name to World Hearing Day.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Anurag Agarwal appointed head of Parliament security: IPS officer Anurag
Agarwal (1998-batch officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre) has been
appointed as the head of Parliament security.
Currently
an inspector general in CRPF has been appointed as joint secretary (security) for three years. His
appointment order was issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The post of JS (Security) is
traditionally held by an IPS officer.
2. DRDO conducts successful flight test of VSHORADS
missile: Defence Research and
Development Organization (DRDO) conducted
a successful flight test of a Very
Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile from a
ground-based portable launcher off the coast of Odisha from the Integrated Test
Range in Chandipur. The test was carried out against high-speed unmanned aerial
targets under different interception scenarios. The VSHORADS is propelled by a
dual thrust solid motor and would be used for neutralising low altitude aerial
threats at short ranges.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Union Minister Amit Shah launches NUCFDC: Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the National Urban Co-operative Finance and Development Corporation Limited (NUCFDC),
the Umbrella organization for the Urban
Cooperative Banks in New Delhi. NUCFDC has received a Certificate
of Registration from the RBI to operate as a Non-Banking Finance Company and
serve as the umbrella organisation for the urban cooperative banking sector. This
initiative aims to modernise and strengthen the Urban Cooperative Banking
Sector.
2. RBI says 97.62% banknotes of Rs 2000 have returned to
bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
announced that 97.62 per cent of the Rs 2000 banknotes have been returned to
banks ever since it announced withdrawing these currency notes on May 19, 2023.
The central bank said that the circulation of Rs 2000 notes has declined to Rs
8470 crore at the close of business on February 29, 2024. Thus, 97.62% o
3. India’s GDP growth at 8.4% in Q3 2023-24: India’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of the ongoing financial year accelerated to 8.4 per cent year-on-year, showed data shared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. In the same period last year, the GDP growth was 4.3 per cent. GDP at constant (2011-12) prices in Q3 of 2023-24 is estimated at Rs 43.72 lakh crore, against Rs 40.35 lakh crore in Q3 of 2022-23, showing a growth rate of 8.4 percent.
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