Daily GK Update- 18th Feb, 2024

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Haryana launched ‘Van Mitra’ Scheme to Boost Green Cover: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has launched the ‘Van Mitra’ scheme and its portal to encourage community participation in tree planting activities in non-forest areas. The members of families with an annual income of less than Rs 1.80 lakh can register to become ‘Van Mitras’. The objective of this scheme is to directly involve the local public in increasing forest areas across the state, ensuring an increase in the survival rate of afforestation, and promoting tree planting in non-forest areas. Each van mitra will receive an incentive based on the maintenance of the plant and they can plant a maximum of 1,000 saplings. Any individual aged between 18 and 60 can become a van mitra, according to an official statement.

 

2. UP govt. boosts Kanya Sumangala Yojana grant: The Uttar Pradesh government has increased the grant amount for Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 from the financial year 2024-25. This amount is provided from the birth of daughters up to admission in undergraduate/diploma courses. The increase in grant amount will be effective from April 1. Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana is a conditional cash transfer scheme that ensures social security to the girl child along with her development. In this scheme girl child can have monetary benefits in six stages.

 

3. Odisha CM inaugurates Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Center in Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Centre and Research Institute (BSCCRI) in Bhubaneswar. Objective – To provide quality treatment to patients at an affordable cost. Set up in association with the Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Bengaluru with a cost of Rs 410 crore, the new institute has 750 beds for treatment of patients.

It has a facility for providing radiotherapy to 300 patients and chemotherapy to 150 patients every day.

 

4. Nand Kishore Yadav elected as Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker: Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav was unanimously elected as the Speaker of Bihar Legislative Assembly. A seventh-time MLA Yadav represents the Patna Sahib assembly constituency. He has also held different departments in the state government. His political journey commenced in 1978 with his election as a councillor of the Patna Municipal Corporation, eventually becoming the deputy mayor of Patna in 1982. First elected as an MLA in 1995, Yadav’s career has been distinguished by his several tenures as a minister in the Nitish Kumar government, showcasing his versatility and leadership within the state’s governance.

 

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 17 February – Global Tourism Resilience Day: Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed every year on 17 February. Objective – To raise awareness about the significance of resilient tourism.

Theme 2024 – Resilient Tourism: Building Back Better

 

2. Japan’s Bizarre ‘Naked Festival’ Faces Existential Crisis: The bizarre annual ‘naked festival’ of Japan called ‘Sominsai’ has been impacted, as rural towns hosting it grapple with demographic challenges posed by the country’s rapid population ageing. Held every February, the cold weather festival involves scores of men wearing ..

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. 12th Edition of MILAN Naval Exercise will be held in Visakhapatnam: The 12th edition of the MILAN naval exercise will be held in Visakhapatnam from February 19-27, with over 50 countries participating. The “Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future” is the theme of the exercise which aims to facilitate collaboration and idea-sharing among participating navies to enhance security on the high seas. Its primary objective is to ensure the safety of maritime trade for the benefit of all stakeholders. The previous edition of the exercise was held in Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command and had the theme ‘Camaraderie-Cohesion-Collaboration’.

 

2. India’s $57 Billion Futuristic Tank Development Program: The Indian Army plans to acquire 1,770 technologically advanced Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) under a $57 billion indigenous project to replace its ageing Russian-origin T-72 fleet after 2030. A request for proposal (RFP) is likely to be released this ..

 

3. Indian Navy to Host MILAN-2024 Multilateral Naval Exercise: On 18th February 2024, the Indian Navy announced that it is all set to conduct the 12th edition of the multilateral naval exercise MILAN from 19th to 27th February, 2024 at Visakhapatnam. Over 50 countries have been invited to participate ..

 

SPORTS

 

1. India wins gold at 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships: On 18 February 2024, the Indian women’s badminton team won a historic gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Shah Alam, Malaysia. This was India’s first ever title at the continental competition, with the men’s team having previously ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. South Indian Bank gets Best Technology Bank of the Year award: South Indian Bank has been honoured with the title of Best Technology Bank of the Year Award at the 19th IBA Annual Banking Technology Conference, Expo, & Citations. The bank’s outstanding performance was recognized with a total of six prestigious awards. In three categories, the bank emerged as the winner, secured the runner-up position in one, and received special mentions in two others.

The awards were presented to PR Seshadri, MD & CEO of South Indian Bank, by T Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, in Mumbai.

 

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.

Daily GK Update- 16th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sonowal inaugurates Kalughat Inland Waterways Transport terminal in Bihar: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal 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  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. It has been constructed with a worth of 82.48 crore rupees.

 

2. AFMS & IIT Roorkee join hands to foster research: Armed Forces Medical Service has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. The MoU aims towards promoting collaborative biomedical research, to aid in improving the combat medical support and patient care of serving personnel. Under this MoU, Armed Forces Medical Services will be able to utilize the expertise of IIT Roorkee in various fields like, development of novel medical devices, robotics, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Apart from research, faculty exchange programme, joint academic activities and promotion of start-ups in the domain of health care.

 

3. Sanjay Kumar Jain appoints as CMD of IRCTC: Railway PSU IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd) has appointed Sanjay Kumar Jain as its Chairman and Managing Director with immediate effect. Prior to this role, Jain was Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM) of Northern Railway, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC). Jain is an Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) Officer of 1990 batch. A qualified Chartered Accountant (CA), Jain has been at leadership roles in policy making, commercial ventures and developmental ventures of the Government of India and PSUs.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 16th conference of World Social Forum 2024 commences in Kathmandu: The 16th conference of the World Social Forum (WSF) 2024 commenced in Kathmandu. The five-day WSF 2024 under the "Another World is Possible" banner aims to open horizontal exchange among civil society organisations, social movements, trade unions and individuals opposing neoliberal globalisation. The event opened with a Solidarity March starting from the main venue at Bhrikutimandap and passing through Bhadrakali, New Road Gate, Ratna Park and back to Bhrikutimandap.

 

2. PM Modi inaugurates grand BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates. The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share. The pink sandstone temple sits on a 27-acre plot in Abu Dhabi, making it one of the largest in the Middle East. While Islam is the official religion of the UAE, the country is home to about 3.6 million Indian workers.

 

3. 15 February 2024 – World Anthropology Day: World Anthropology Day is observed every year on the third Thursday in February and this year it is being marked on February 15. To promote the field of anthropology and raise awareness about its significance in understanding human diversity, cultures and societies worldwide. Anthropology Day was established by the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in 2015 and initially called National Anthropology Day. It was changed in 2016 to World Anthropology Day as it seemed more appropriate since anthropology is essential to the whole world and not just one nation and the day was a part of AAA’s larger efforts to promote the discipline and its contributions to society.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Nikhil Joshi appointed as MD of Boeing Defence India: US aerospace major Boeing has appointed Nikhil Joshi as managing director of Boeing Defence India (BDI). Based in New Delhi, Joshi will lead current and future programmes for BDI to enhance the mission readiness and modernisation of India’s defence forces. Joshi has more than 25 years of aerospace and defence industry experience, including over two decades of service with the Indian armed forces in the aviation branch of the Indian Navy.

 

2. MoD signs contract with AWEIL for 463 Stabilised Remote-Control Guns for Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard: The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Advanced Weapon Equipment India Ltd (AWEIL), Kanpur for the manufacturing & supply of a total of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote-Control Guns (SRCG) for the Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard at a total cost of Rs. 1752.13 crores. The SRCG will enhance the capability of Navy and Coast Guard to accurately engage small targets that post a threat to ships in an asymmetric environment, both by day and night. This acquisition will provide further boost to the vision of “Aatmanirbharta in Defence”. This contract will also open up a large avenue in defence manufacturing for over 125 Indian Vendors.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Anurag Thakur hands over Chess Olympiad Torch to Hungary: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur handed over the Chess Olympiad Torch to Budapest, Hungary. Hungary to host the 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad. The transfer of the torch took place at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in New Delhi. The 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad held in Chennai in 2022 witnessed the participation of over 2500 players and 7000 participants globally.

 

2. Indian hammer thrower Rachna Kumari banned for 12 years for doping: The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has suspended hammer thrower Rachna Kumari for 12 years for a second anti-doping rule violation. Rachna returned positive results for multiple anabolic androgenic steroids in samples collected out of competition at Patiala on September 24 and on November 1 at the National Games last year. Rachna had earlier served a four-year suspension from 2015 to 2019. Her current suspension began on November 24.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI Capital Market names Virendra Bansal as MD & CEO: SBI Capital Markets (SBICAPS), the wholly-owned subsidiary and investment banking arm of the State Bank of India (SBI), named Virendra Bansal as its new Managing Director and CEO. He succeeds Rajay Kumar Sinha, who has been appointed as the Whole Time Member (Finance and Investment) of the IRDAI for three years. The new SBICAPS CEO has previously served as CEO of SBI’s New York office and Vice-Chairman of SBI (California), the bank’s US Retail Banking subsidiary.

 

2. PayU, NPCI join hands to roll out Credit Lines on UPI’ feature: Payments solution provider, PayU has collaboration with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for rolling out of the ‘Credit Lines on UPI’ feature on its platform, which will create avenues of financial security and growth for the merchants. The company anticipates over 380 million UPI users to gain easier access to Credit Line. The enablement of pre-sanctioned Credit Lines by banks through UPI will empower businesses and consumers alike, fostering India’s financial inclusion agenda. As part of integration, PayU will share information about the relevant identifiers related to the type of credit the consumer has undertaken, such as pay-later, personal loans, etc.

 

3. Axis Bank appoints Pranam Wahi as Additional Director: The Board of Directors of Axis Bank has appointed Pranam Wahi as an additional independent director of the bank for four years. This appointment is subject to approval of shareholders. A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Wahi has over 40 years of banking experience across various countries, including India, the United Arab Emirates / GCC, Indonesia, and Singapore, per the Bank’s regulatory filing. Wahi began his career with HSBC in 1982 where he was part of various functions and corporate banking within the HSBC Group in India. Wahi subsequently joined DBS as CEO India in April 2004. His last position was Managing Director, Senior Risk Executive, DBS Indonesia, before retiring in 2023.

 

 

 

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. City Union Bank wins IBA’s banking technology awards: Old private sector lender City Union Bank (CUB) has won seven awards in various categories in the ‘19th Banking Technology Conference, Expo & Citations 2023’ by the Indian Banks Association (IBA) in Mumbai. The awards aim at recognising the best technology providers in the banking industry and instill competition to demonstrate their state-of-the-art innovative products, and sense of purpose and bring huge value addition in Best Practices for serving the bank’s clientele.  Along with his technology team, N Kamakodi, MD & CEO of City Union Bank received the awards from RBI’s Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar.

 

Daily GK Update- 15th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sanjay Kumar Jain assumes charge as IRCTC Chairman & MD: Sanjay Kumar Jain, an IRTS Officer of 1990 batch, took over the charge of Chairman & MD of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC).A qualified Chartered Accountant (CA), Jain’s career is a blend of leadership roles in policy making, commercial ventures and developmental ventures of the Government of India and PSUs. IRCTC is an Indian PSU that provides ticketing, catering, and tourism services for the state-owned Indian Railways.

 

2. Nand Kishore Yadav elected Speaker of Bihar Assembly: Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav was unanimously elected Speaker of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha. Seven-time MLA from Patna Sahib seat, Yadav was the minister in the Nitish cabinet from 2005-13 and later the leader of opposition. Yadav started his political journey in 1978 when he became the councillor of the Patna Municipal Corporation and deputy mayor of Patna in 1982.

 

3. Assam declares ‘Kaji Nemu’ as state fruit: The Assam government has announced that ‘Kaji Nemu’ (citrus lemon) has been recognized as the state fruit of Assam. With its unique aroma and antioxidant properties, Assam lemon has enriched our local cuisines. Kaji Nemu has already received a GI tag in 2016. Kaji Nemu is a highly prized fruit for its culinary and medicinal properties. It has a distinctively strong and sour flavour, which adds a zesty flavour to a variety of dishes. As per reports, it is also known for its digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. Kaji Nemu is a popular ingredient in traditional Assamese cuisine.

 

4. NTPC commissioned 14 MW unit of Ayodhya solar project: NTPC Green Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has commissioned 14 MW of capacity at its Ayodhya Solar Photovoltaic Project. The project is part of a larger 40 MW solar project being developed by NTPC Green Energy Ltd in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. With this commissioning, the total installed and commercial capacity of the NTPC Group now stands at 73,888 MW.

 

5. ICAI elects new President, Vice President: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has elected Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal as its new President. He has assumed charge as the 72nd President of ICAI. A graduate of Calcutta University, Agarwal has been a practicing Chartered Accountant for last 24 years. He is also a Company Secretary and DISA from ICAI. He was elected to the 23rd, 24th and 25th Central Council of ICAI three times in a row. Additionally, Charanjot Singh Nanda has been elected as Vice President for the Year 2024-25.

Earlier, Nanda was appointed as a Central Council Member of ICAI India.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Childhood Cancer Day observed on 15th February: International Childhood Cancer Day is observed on February 15 every year and all over the world. The day raises awareness of childhood cancer and honors all the children and families experiencing the effects of the disease. It acknowledges their pain and difficulties, giving them space to process and grieve.

 

2. MeitY to hold first-ever Future Skills Summit in Guwahati: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT), is set to host the Future Skills Summit in Guwahati. The Summit aims to bring together young Indians, thought leaders, industry experts, policymakers, educators, and technology enthusiasts to discuss strategies for catalyzing future-ready talent for India and the world.

 

3. Former PM Alexander Stubb wins Finland Presidential election: Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb secured victory in Finland’s presidential runoff against ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto. Stubb of the National Coalition Party secured 51.6% of the votes, while independent candidate Haavisto received 48.4%. The former leader of the National Conservative Party’s bid for the office was prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

4. 15 February – World Hippo Day: World Hippo Day is celebrated on 15 February every year. Objective – To raise awareness about the plight of hippos, which are one of the most endangered large mammals on the planet. Today, the hippo population is estimated to be between 115,000 and 130,000, with the decline being attributed to poaching, loss of access to fresh water, mechanised farming, and urbanisation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed them as a vulnerable species in 2006 after establishing that the hippo population had declined by as much as 20% within the previous two decades.

 

5. 15 February – International Childhood Cancer Day: International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day is observed every year on 15 February. It is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness about childhood cancer and its difficulties. It also serves as a reminder of the need for better support for children, adolescents, and their families as they battle this devastating disease. This day was first established by Childhood Cancer International in 2002.

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Ministry Signs Rs 2,269 Crore Contract with BEL: The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of 11 Shakti Electronic Warfare Systems for the Indian Navy. The contract is worth 2,269 Crore Rupees. The Shakti EW System will be installed on-board capital warships of the Indian Navy. The project will generate employment of two and half lakh man-days over a period of four years with the participation of more than 155 industry partners including MSMEs, thus furthering the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Shamar Joseph and Amy Hunter awarded ICC Players of The Month for Jan 2024: International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the winners of the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month for January 2024. West Indies’ Shamar Joseph has become the first West Indian to win the Men’s ICC Player of the Month award for his heroics in the Australia Test series. While, Ireland’s explosive young batter Amy Hunter claimed the honour in the women’s category after her dominance against Zimbabwe.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India’s WPI inflation eases to three-month low of 0.27 per cent in January: India’s wholesale price index-based inflation eased further to 0.27 per cent in January 2024 on an annual basis, as against 0.73 per cent in December, stated provisional data from the Commerce Ministry The month-on-month change in WPI index for January witnessed a contraction of (-)0.33 per cent from a contraction of (-)1.12 per cent in the preceding month. Positive rate of inflation in January 2024 is primarily due to increase in prices of food articles, machinery & equipment, other manufacturing, minerals, other transport equipment etc. Earlier this week, India’s retail inflation data was released which showed that it has eased to 5.10 per cent on an annual basis as against a four-month high of 5.69 per cent in December, data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation showed.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. India wins 9th GovTech Prize for AI-Powered Government Services at World Government Summit 2024: India has secured the prestigious 9th GovTech Prize for its pioneering endeavors in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered government services, at the World Government Summit 2024. The annual award is instituted by the government of the UAE and is presented to government entities, central or local, worldwide, to recognize creative and innovative solutions.

The accolade recognizes the remarkable efforts of the Ministry for Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, for its transformative project known as iRASTE. It is a collaborative initiative involving the government, industry, and academia, is revolutionizing road safety through the integration of AI technology.

Daily GK Update- 14th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Prez Draupadi Murmu addresses 'Lakhpati Didi sammelan' at Beneshwar Dham: President Draupadi Murmu addressed the 'Lakhpati Didi sammelan' at Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur, Rajasthan This program is being organized by Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Development Council - Rajivika, in which women associated with self-help groups will participate

About 10,000 women from Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, Salumber and Udaipur districts will participate in the programme The President will visit the stalls of products prepared by women self help Groups.

 

2. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal takes over as ICAI President: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), announced that Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal has been elected as its President for the 2024-25 term. He succeeded Aniket Talati. Agarwal, previously served as Vice President during the 2023-24 term. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is India's largest professional accounting body under the administrative control of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.

 

3. PM inaugurates projects worth Rs 7300 crores in Madhya Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched multiple development projects worth about 7,300 crore rupees in Jhabua, the tribal-dominated district of Madhya Pradesh. The Prime Minister also disbursed monthly installments of Aahar Anudan under Aahar Anudan Yojna to about two lakh women beneficiaries.

Modi distributed 1 lakh 75 thousand records of rights to beneficiaries of the SVAMITVA Scheme.

The Prime Minister also transferred around 55 crore rupees for 559 villages under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana.

 

4. Ashok Leyland invests ₹537 cr. in UK subsidiary: Ashok Leyland has made an additional investment of ₹537 crore in its U.K. subsidiary Optare PLC. The investment is primarily to meet the capital expenditure, R&D and operational requirements of Optare PLC and Switch Mobility, both in the UK and India. Consequent to the allotment, the shareholding of ALL in Optare has increased to 92.59% from 92.19% with Hinduja Automotive Ltd., the promoter, holding 6.90%. Optare, which is into the manufacture and sales of commercial vehicles, had reported a consolidated revenue of ₹230 crore for FY23

 

5. Southern Railway appoints first Transwoman TTE: Sindhu Ganapathy’s appointment as the first transwoman Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) of Southern Railway marks a significant milestone in the journey towards inclusivity and acceptance in the Indian workforce. At the age of 37, Ms. Ganapathy has not only broken barriers but also set a precedent for the transgender community’s representation in prestigious government positions. Ganapathy’s career with the Railways began in 2003 when she joined as an Assistant.

 

6. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: In February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled an ambitious program named ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’ to promote widespread adoption of rooftop solar panels across Indian households through financial incentives. The free electricity scheme was earlier announced by ..

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 12 February 2024 – International Epilepsy Day: International Epilepsy Day has been observed on the second Monday of February every year since 2015. In 2024, the world will observe the International Epilepsy Day on February 12. The day provides a platform to educate and create awareness among people. PM Modi’s 2024 India-UAE Visit – Key Agreements:  In February 2024, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United Arab Emirates. During the important diplomatic visit, India and UAE inked several big agreements to improve future business and technology partnerships. Why Does This Matter? The UAE is currently ..

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Navy Chief Inaugurates New Defence System ‘Precision Approach Radar’: Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R. Hari Kumar has inaugurated a Precision Approach Radar (PAR) at INS Utkrosh in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which will enable “highly accurate horizontal and vertical guidance to land an aircraft safely in low visibility conditions, such as heavy rain and fog”. He also inaugurated the IUHDSS (Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and Surveillance System) at Naval Jetty, Port Blair.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI increases ceiling on fees payable to non-executive directors of banks to Rs 30 lakh per year: The RBI has increased the ceiling on fees payable to non-executive directors of banks to 30 lakh rupees per year from the existing level of 20 Lakh rupees. The revision comes two years after RBI came out with new guidelines for directors as a part of corporate governance, where it capped the remuneration for non-executive directors, excluding the chair of the board. It revised the celling in recognition of the vital role of the non-executive operation of bank boards and their various committees. RBI said the banks are required to have suitable criteria for granting fixed remuneration to its NEDs, with the approval of their boards.

 

2. India’s Retail inflation is at 3-mth low to 5.1% in January: India’s retail inflation eased to a three-month low of 5.1% in January from 5.7% a month earlier, with food price rise cooling a bit to 8.3% compared with 9.5% in December 2023. The number has remained within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance band of 2-6 per cent. Inflation rate in rural and urban areas stood at 5.34 per cent, 4.92 per cent, down from 5.93 per cent and 5.46 per cent seen in the same month a year ago. The sharp moderation in inflation can be attributed to cooling of food prices. The food inflation for January stood at 8.30 per cent versus 9.53 per cent recorded in December.