NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Leopard numbers show 8% rise from 2018 to 2022: India’s leopard numbers rose by 8% from 12,852 in 2018
to 13,874 in 2022, according to a report made public by the Environment
Ministry. While the highest number of leopards were reported in Madhya Pradesh
(3,907), only three other States reported over 1,000 animals each — Maharashtra
(1,985), Karnataka (1,879) and Tamil Nadu (1,070). While Uttarakhand reported a
22% decline in the big cat numbers — reportedly due to poaching and man-animal
conflict, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal saw a collective 150% rise
to 349 animals.
2. 4 days long ‘Tawi Festival’ begins in Jammu: The four day long ‘Tawi Festival’ begins in Jammu region. This time four-day ‘Tawi festival’ will strictly
remain focussed on the promotion of Jammu’s rich, diverse art forms and
cultural heritage where the youth will also get a platform to give a vent to
their creativities besides sharing thoughts with experts. The festival
comprises Seminars, workshops, and talks, performances of folk music and street
theatre, classical and folk dance and music, and a Mela, with an emphasis on
showcasing entrepreneurship, innovation, local cuisines, and organic products
sourced from women’s NGO groups across the Himalayan region.
3. Ministry of Women and Child Development organizes
‘Poshan Utsav’: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has
organized the Poshan Utsav at The
Oberoi. The event aimed to promote good nutrition behavior and
highlighted India’s ongoing efforts to combat malnutrition by promoting good
nutrition practices. The event was graced by the Union Minister for Women and
Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Zubin Irani and Bill Gates,
Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Cabinet approves establishment of International Big
Cat Alliance: The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment
of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with headquarters in India
with a one-time budgetary support
of Rs.150 crore for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28. PM
Modi on the occasion of Global Tiger Day 2019 called for an Alliance of Global
Leaders to curb poaching in Asia. While commemorating 50 years of India’s
Project Tiger on April 9, 2023, he formally announced the launch of
International Big Cat Alliance.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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. 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.
SPORTS
1. Paul Pogba banned for four years for doping: France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been banned for
four years for a doping. Pogba was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national
anti-doping (NADO Italia) tribunal in September after testing positive for
testosterone — a banned substance. The test, performed after Juve’s 3-0 Serie A
season-opening victory at Udinese on Aug. 20, detected testosterone, a hormone
that increases athletes’ endurance. The 30-year-old was an unused substitute in
that game.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. GST Collections Jump 12.5% YoY to Rs 1.68 Lakh Crore in Feb 2024: Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collected for February 2024 is ₹1,68,337 crore, marking a robust 12.5% increase compared to that in the same month in 2023. This growth was driven by a 13.9% rise in GST from domestic transactions and 8.5% increase in GST from import of goods. GST revenue net of refunds for February 2024 is ₹1.51 lakh crore which is a growth of 13.6% over that for the same period last year. Breakdown of February 2024 Collections-
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