Daily GK Update 24th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Madhya Pradesh govt introduces 'bag less school' once a week: The Madhya Pradesh government has announced 'bag less school' day once a week for students in classes 1 to 12, starting from the upcoming academic session in 2024-25. This decision applies to all government and private schools operating in the state. The state government, aiming to alleviate the burden on students, has issued a notice outlining the maximum permissible weight of school bags for different classes.

 

2. Three new Criminal Laws to become effective from July 1: According to the Home Ministry, the provisions of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 will come into force on the 1st of July.  Parliament had passed the three criminal justice bills in December last year. These three laws will replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898 and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.

 

3. PM Modi dedicated NTPC’s Lara Super Thermal Power Project Stage-I to Nation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the nation Stage-I of National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) 16,00 megawatt Lara Super Thermal Power Station in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh through video-conferencing. He also laid the foundation stone of Stage-II of the Project. As per the Power Ministry, Stage-I of the station is built with an investment of approximately 15,800 crore rupees and Stage-II will entail an investment of 15,530 crore rupees.

 

4. S.P. Singh Baghel inaugurates National Public Health India Conference 2024: Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Professor  S.P. Singh Baghel inaugurated the first National Public Health India Conference 2024 in New Delhi. The conference is being organized by the National Centre for Disease Control. The theme of the Conference is “Health Initiatives towards India’s Goal for a developed nation” The conference aims to identify and galvanize strategic health priorities for India in the next 5 years to improve health outcomes

 

5. First bullet train between Surat and Bilimoria in 2 years: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the first section of the High Speed Rail Corridor between Surat and Bilimora will start by August 2026. The bullet train corridor will have trains running at speeds between 220 kmph and 320 kmph. It will connect Mumbai with Ahmedabad in 2.07 hours to 2.58 hours, depending on the type of train passengers take. Indian Railways is already operating more than 40 semi-high speed Vande Bharat trains across the country.

 

6. Odisha to get 32-Km-long Puri-Konark Railway project: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned a new railway line project to connect the holy city of Puri with Konark. The Union Minister said that Rs 492 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of this 32-km-long railway line to connect Puri Jagannath temple and the Sun Temple of Konark Shri Vaishnaw also released five Commemorative Postage Stamps on Legendary Poets of Odisha and the Cultural Heritage of Western Odisha through video conferencing from Bhubaneswar

 

7. Central Excise Day 2024: February 24: The Central Excise Day is observed on February 24 every year in India and holds immense historical and administrative significance. The day commemorates the establishment of the Central Excise and Salt Act, which came into effect in 1944. On this day, we also honour the contributions of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to the Indian economy.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. GMBF Global hosted two-day business conclave Mahabiz 2024 in Dubai: The Gulf Maharashtra Business Forum (GMBF) Global hosted Mahabiz 2024 business conclave set to take place in Dubai. With the theme "Connect with Opportunities to Progress". The event aims to bring together over 700 entrepreneurs and business leaders from India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa to encourage collaboration and uncover new business prospects.  Mahabiz 2024 will feature virtual addresses by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

 

2. India, Maldives and Sri Lanka’s ‘Dosti’ in Indian Ocean Region near Male: Indian and Sri Lankan coast guard ships joined the 16th edition of the trilateral Dosti exercise being held in the Maldives from February 22 to 25. This year marks a significant development with Bangladesh participating as an observer, indicating the growing importance of maritime collaboration in tackling evolving challenges. The biennial event has Indian Coast Guard Ships ICGS Samarth, ICGS Abhinav & the ICG Dornier craft in Male.

 

3. PM Modi launches World’s largest grain storage scheme: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several key initiatives aimed at strengthening the cooperative sector in the country. Signifying a pivotal move towards improving food security, economic development, and governance in the cooperative domain. Sahkarita is not just a system, but also a feeling and a spirit. It can transform a simple subsistence system into a huge industrial capacity.

 

4. India and Oman agree to cooperate in field of Archives: India and Oman have mutually agreed to cooperate in the field of Archives. A delegation of the National Archives of India (NAI), visited the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) of Oman, aimed at exploring the areas of bilateral cooperation in the archival field. According to the Ministry of Culture, both the countries have agreed on the need for formalising the institution-to-institution cooperation.

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Exercise Dharma Guardian 2024: India, Japan Military Conduct Annual Combat Drill The 5th edition Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defence Forces joint exercise ‘Dharma Guardian 2024’ commenced on February 25th at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, India and will continue till March

Daily GK Update- 23rd Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi unveils Sant Ravidas statue in Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Sant Ravidas in Varanasi and offered floral tribute on the occasion of his 647th birth anniversary. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for Sant Ravidas Museum and beautification of the park, worth about Rs 62 crore. The museum will have five big galleries and will provide information on the birth and spiritual life of Sant Ravidas through digital pictures and movies.

 

2. CBSE plans Open-Book Exams in selected schools for classes 9 to 12: The Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) is planning a pilot run of Open-Book Exams in selected schools for classes 9 to 12 later this year. The Board is planning the assessments in selected schools, targeting subjects(English, Mathematics, and Science) for Classes 9 and 10, and (English, Mathematics, and Biology) for Classes 11 and 12 The officials said, the aim is to gauge the time taken by students to complete these tests and gather feedback from stakeholders

 

3. UP govt to open breeding farms for Jamunapari goats: The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh will encourage people to open nuclear breeding farms to propagate genetically improved Jamunapari goat, a species native to western UP that is known for its high milk and meat yield. The government will provide subsidies to people willing to open farms and training at the sheep and goat rearing training centre at Etawah. Jamunapari goats are the heaviest and the most productive among the 32 local breeds in the country.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Peace and Understanding Day 2024:February 23: World Peace and Understanding Day is celebrated worldwide on February 23 each year. World Peace and Understanding Day is celebrated to promote peace and goodwill across the world, and remind people of ways that can contribute to the world positively. This day is celebrated to promote peace, empathy and cooperation between people of various origins and cultures.

 

2. International Gita Mahotsav to commence from March 1 in Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickremanayake has said that three-day the International Gita Mahotsav will be held in Colombo from 1st of March. The purpose of the event is to popularise the timeless teachings of the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. The festival will be held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre premises with the financial sponsorship of Haryana’s Kurukshetra Development Board.

 

3. Scientists discover world’s largest snake in Amazon rainforest: Scientists have unveiled the existence of a colossal serpent lurking within the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This is the world’s largest snake discovered to date. Measuring a staggering 26 feet in length and weighing a hefty 440 pounds, this mammoth anaconda possesses a head comparable in size to that of a human. Its magnitude has earned it the title of the largest and heaviest snake species on the planet.

 

4. 22 February – World Thinking Day: World Thinking Day is also known as Thinking Day and is observed on 22 February annually by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides across 150 countries. The day also raises funds for the development of 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across the globe.

Theme 2024 – Our World, Our Thriving Future The history of World Thinking Day dates back to 1926 when delegates from around the world met at Camp Edith Macy in New York for the fourth World Conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

 

5. 22 February – World Scout Day: World Scout Day, which is observed on 22 February every year, is significant as it commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts Movement. The day is also known as Scouts Founder’s Day. Theme 2024 – Scouts for a Better World This day is dedicated to the community service and is observed by the Boy Scouts organizations across the world. It is celebrated with various activities such as fundraising, food drives, and other community service projects.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Aeronautical Development Agency Signs MoU with Indian Air Force: Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has signed an MoU with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for integration of futuristic Weapons and Sensors for LCA Tejas aircraft. This will facilitate the IAF to independently carry out sensors, weapon integration and flight testing to enhance the operational capabililty of Tejas-LCA fighter. Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is a premier organization under the aegis of the Department of Defence R&D with mandate to Design and Develop Tejas-LCA and its Variants. ADA has successfully developed and type certified Tejas LCA with a credit of more than 10000 sorties of incident free flying. IAF has already formed two squadrons of this fighter aircraft and twin seater aircraft are also being inducted.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Pakistan’s Babar Azam becomes quickest to 10,000 runs in T20s: Pakistan’s Babar Azam has become the fastest batter to notch 10,000 runs in T20 cricket. Babar achieved this feat during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Babar scored 72 runs off 51 deliveries to reach the milestone in 271 innings. The star Pakistan batter surpassed the previous record held by West Indies’ Chris Gayle (285 innings). Virat Kohli claims the third spot on this elite list of batters having breached the 10,000 run-mark in 299 T20 innings.

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Morgan Stanley projects India’s GDP growth for FY25 to 6.5%: Morgan Stanley Research projects India’s GDP growth for FY25 to moderate to 6.5%, down from the 6.9% projected for FY24. Despite this moderation, the report maintains a constructive outlook on the Indian economy, citing improvements in domestic demand and macro stability. ICRA, meanwhile, has projected the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) GDP growth to moderate sequentially to 6 per cent in Q3 FY24 from 7.6 per cent, led by agriculture and industry sectors.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. India's Sai Tirumalaneedi creates world's Smallest Washing Machine: Sai Tirumalaneedi, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, has etched his name in history by creating the world's smallest washing machine. Measuring a mere 37 millimeters by 41 millimeters by 43 millimeters (1.45 inches by 1.61 inches by 1.69 inches). Despite its size, the washing machine is fully functional and capable of cleaning small items.

Daily GK Update- 22nd Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. LAccMI bus service covers all 30 districts Of Odisha: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched the LAccMI Bus Service in Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Nuapada and Boudh districts through video conferencing. 255 buses were launched in 1,057 panchayats of 5 districts benefitting more than 71 lakh people. A total of 1,354 buses have started running in 30 districts benefitting 3.64 crore people of 6,031 panchayats. It is worth noting that a total of 1,745 LAccMI buses will run in all the panchayats of the state.

 

2. PhonePe sets up app store for Android: Walmart's PhonePe is launching Indus Appstore to compete with tech giants Google and Apple. Indus Appstore focuses on localization, personalization, and freedom for developers. It will partner with OEMs for distribution and offer advertising solutions and a la carte cataloguing and payment services. Aims to attract developers for growth amidst tussle over Play Store policies and commission fees.

 

3. Centre decides to continue Women's safety scheme till 2025-26: The Union Government has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the continuation of the implementation of the Umbrella Scheme on ‘Safety of Women’ at a total cost of around one thousand 180 crore rupees during the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 Women's help desks and 827 antihuman trafficking units have been set up at 13,557 police stations across the country so far and women's help desks will also be established in the remaining 3,329  police stations

 

4. AYUSH & Tribal Affairs Ministries launch Joint Initiative for Health: The Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced a Joint Initiative on Public Health of Tribal Students. The joint National Level Project of Health Screening and Management through Ayurvedic Interventions will benefit over 20 thousand Tribal Students. The Ministry of Ayush through its research council CCRAS has taken this health Initiative for Tribal Students with the joint initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and ICMR-NIRTH Jabalpur.

 

5. Modi govt approves hike in sugarcane FRP by Rs 25 to Rs 340 per quintal: The government decided to hike the minimum price that mills have to pay to sugarcane growers by Rs 25 to Rs 340 per quintal for the 2024-25 season, effect from October 1, 2024. In terms of quantum, this is the second time that the Modi government has increased the FRP by Rs 25 per quintal in one go.

The FRP has been determined on the basis of recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

 

6. India's Largest Tribal Festival Medaram Jatara Kicks Off In Telangana: Telangana government organised Sammakka Saralamma Jathara (also known as Medaram Jathara) in Medaram village, Mulugu district. Around one core pilgrims are expected to visit Medaram during the four days festival, which is conducted once in two years. The prominent event of the festival is the procession where the idols of the goddesses are taken out in a grand procession. The Jathara festival is scheduled to take place from February 21 to February 24 this year.

 

7. PM Modi Inaugurates IIT Hyderabad Campus: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated and dedicated to the nation two central institutions in Telangana and five in Andhra Pradesh. The list includes the Campus Development Project of Indian Institute of Technology and Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad. The Indian Institute of Management in Visakhapatnam, the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (both in Tirupati), the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing in Kurnool and the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Sri City, reports Amisha Rajani.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and Greece Aim to Double Bilateral Trade by 2030: India and Greece have agreed to double their bilateral trade by the year 2030. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held bilateral and delegation level talks in New Delhi. During the meeting, both the countries deliberated on range of issues and expressed their commitment to enhance cooperation in the field of space, pharma, shipping, communication, defence, agriculture and maritime, and air connectivity.

 

2. Bangladesh observes Language Day- Amar Ekushey: Bangladesh is observing the historic Language Day named ‘Amar Ekushey’, paying tribute to the martyrs who laid their lives during the language movement in 1952 demanding Bangla as the official language for then East Pakistan. Scores of students were killed on this day in 1952 when Pakistani forces fired upon them during the protest leading to widespread civil unrest. The day is also observed as International Mother Language Day.

 

3. Mansukh Mandaviya launches WHO's Global Initiative on Digital Health: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya virtually addressed the public launch event of the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH). The GIDH is a WHO managed network which was unanimously adopted by all G20 countries, invited countries and international organizations. India's collaboration with the WHO on the GIDH is a testament of our shared commitment towards transforming the digital health ecosystem.

 

4. Finance Minister chairs 28th meeting of Financial Stability and Development: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 28th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in New Delhi. Issues related to formulation of strategy for implementing the decisions of the FSDC and the Union Budget announcements were discussed in the meeting. These include prescribing uniform KYC norms, inter-usability of KYC records across the financial sector, and simplification and digitalization of the KYC process.

5. World Thinking Day 2024: February 22: Every year, World Thinking Day is celebrated on February 22. World Thinking Day helps in raising funds for empowerment and development of around 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world. The theme of this year's World Thinking Day is - Our World, Our Thriving Future.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Cabinet approves Rs 19,000 cr mega Indian Navy deal: The Union Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles for deployment on its warships. The deal, worth around Rs 19,000 crore, was cleared. The BrahMos is the main weapon for anti-ship and attack operations for Indian Navy warships, which have been regularly firing the weapon system. BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India and Russia, produces supersonic cruise missiles.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Govt. allows 100% FDI in space sector: The Centre has approved an amendment in the Foreign Direct Investment, FDI policy, allowing 100% foreign investment in the space sector. The liberalized entry routes under the amended policy are aimed to attract potential investors to invest in Indian companies in space. FDI up to 100% under the Automatic route will be allowed for the manufacturing of components and systems or sub-systems for satellites, ground segments, and user segments.

 

2. PayPal registers with FIU of India under anti-money laundering law: American payments gateway service provider PayPal has registered its operations with the Financial Intelligence Unit of India, about six years after a protracted legal battle ensued between the two entities. It has completed the formal procedure of being designated as a reporting entity under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) recently and submitted documents to FIU.

 

3. RBI grants payment aggregator licence to Mswipe Technologies: Merchant-led digital payments provider Mswipe Technologies said it has been granted a payment aggregator (PA) licence by the Reserve Bank of India. The company had received an in-principle nod from the central bank to operate as a payment aggregator in August 2022. PA is provided under Section 7 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Till February 2024, 16 entities had received payment aggregator licences from the RBI. Among them are merchant payment solutions providers Juspay and Razorpay, fintech Stripe, search behemoth Google, neo-bank Open, software major Zoho and food-delivery company Zomato.

Daily GK Update- 21st Feb, 2024

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ICRISAT announces World’s first Pigeon Pea speed breeding protocol: The Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has come up with an innovation in Pigeonpea breeding and announced the World’s first Pigeon pea speed breeding protocol. The new convention promises to substantially cut the time required to develop new Pigeonpea lines with desirable traits, effectively bringing food to dryland communities faster.

 

2. Centre clarifies, ban on export of onions to continue till 31st of March: Centre has clarified that the ban on onion export will continue till 31st March. Earlier, the export of onion was put under prohibition from 8th December last year till 31st March this year to ensure availability of onion to the domestic consumers at affordable prices. Government took the decision taking into account delay in Kharif arrival. The quantity of onion exported and global situation such as trade and non-trade restrictions imposed by major suppliers.

 

3. PM Modi to inaugurate 9th edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9th edition of the RAISINA Dialogue in Delhi. Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will join the inaugural session as the Chief Guest, and deliver the keynote address.  The theme of this edition is "Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”. The three-day Raisina Dialogue will witness the participation of representatives from over 100 countries.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Mother Language Day 2024: February 21: Every year, International Mother Language Day is observed on February 21. The genesis of International Mother Language Day traces back not to India, but to Bangladesh, highlighting a pivotal movement in the history of linguistic rights. The theme for this year's International Mother Language Day is - Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning.

 

2. Relics of Lord Buddha from National Museum in New Delhi to be Displayed: Relics of Lord Buddha presently kept in the National Museum in New Delhi will be taken to Thailand. They will be displayed in four cities including Bangkok and Krabi. The relics are being taken in a special IAF aircraft with an adequate number of security personnel. This is for the first time that the revered relics of Lord Buddha, along with those of his disciples, Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalayana, will be showcased together.

 

3. Malta Becomes 119th Country to Join International Solar Alliance: India has welcomed Malta as the 119th country to join the International Solar Alliance. Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Malta, Christopher Cutajar signed the ISA Framework Agreement in the presence of Head of Depository and Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy), Abhishek Singh in New Delhi. The International Solar Alliance is an alliance of more than 120 signatory countries.

 

4. Japan Commits 232.2 Billion Yen for Nine Development Projects in India: The Government of Japan has committed an Official Development Assistance loan of an amount of about 232.2 billion Japanese Yen for nine projects in various sectors in India. The road network connectivity projects aim to improve infrastructure development in India’s North East region, while the Chennai peripheral ring road project aims to alleviate traffic congestion and strengthen connections to the southern part of the state.

 

5. Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment - SIDE 2024 organised in Dhaka: The High Commission of India in Bangladesh hosted a Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment - SIDE 2024 in Dhaka. The High Commissioner described SIDE 2024 as a reflection of Indian defence industry’s interest in partnering with Bangladesh and to taking India-Bangladesh defence cooperation forward to the next level, including by utilizing the Defence Line of Credit of US$500 million extended by Government of India to Government of Bangladesh.

 

6. Henley Passport Index for 2024: India at 85th; topped by France: The Henley Passport Index for 2024 has been released, with France securing the top spot, while India’s passport ranking has slipped one place from last year, moving from 84th to 85th position. The Henley Passport Index ranks nations based on the strength of their passports. In 2024, France leads the list, with its passport granting visa-free access to 194 countries. Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain are also among the top-ranked countries alongside France.

 

7. 21 February – International Mother Language Day: International Mother Language Day is observed globally every year on February 21. Objective – To recognize and promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. Theme 2024 – Multilingual education is a pillar of intergenerational learning According to UNESCO, the idea to celebrate this day was the initiative of Bangladesh and was approved in 1999 at UNESCO General Conference.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Upendra Dwivedi assumes charge as VC of Army Staff: Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Army Staff. Prior to this appointment, he was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command based at Udhampur from 2022 to 2024. He replaces LG MV Suchindra Kumar who moved on to take charge of Udhampur based Northern Command. He will be the senior-most officer in the Army when Army Chief Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande retires from service in May and is in line for the top post based on seniority.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian Premier League is set to begin on March 22: The much-anticipated Indian Premier League (17th edition) is set to begin on March 22. League chairman ArunDhumal said that only the schedule of the first 15 days will be announced at first. The roster for the remaining games will be decided after the announcement of the general election dates. The entire tournament will be held in India. As is the norm, the IPL opener will be played between the last year's finalists and runners-up Gujarat Titans.

 

2. Manoj Tiwary announces retirement from all forms of cricket: India and Bengal batter Manoj Tiwary has announced retirement from all forms of cricket. Tiwary played 148 First-Class matches and gathered 10,195 runs at an average of 47.86, with a career-best 303 not out and 30 centuries. He scored 5,581 runs in List-A matches and 3,436 runs in T20s. Tiwary played for India in 12 ODIs, scoring 287 runs, including a knock of 104 not out against West Indies in Chennai in 2011. He also featured in three T20Is.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Mitsubishi Corp to acquire 32% stake in TVS Vehicle Mobility: TVS Mobility and Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corporation has announced a strategic partnership under which the latter will pick up a 32 per cent stake in a newly-formed subsidiary of the Chennai-based group for Rs 300 crore. With this, the dealership business of TVS Mobility will transform into the newly-formed subsidiary TVS Vehicle Mobility Solution (TVS VMS) — offering a complete portfolio of services to its customers. TVS Mobility holds dealerships of major companies like Ashok Leyland, Honda, Mahindra and Renault, among others. These are mainly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.

 

2. IEPFA and DBS Bank signs MoU to spread awareness on investment and fraudulent schemes: Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and Singapore-headquartered DBS Bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to spread awareness on investment and fraudulent schemes. Under the MoU, DBS Bank aims to support IEPFA’s investor awareness activities by disseminating safety messages via its various digital platforms. Leveraging DBS Bank’s extensive network of branches and ATMs in 19 States, as well as its digital infrastructure, will significantly increase the reach of IEPFA’s investor awareness and protection messages to end users.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2024: The Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2024 was held in Mumbai.

·       Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan)

·       Best Actress: Nayanthara (Jawan)

·       Best Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga (Animal)

Jawan hit the theatres last year in September and minted over ₹1000 crore at the worldwide box office.

 

2. Shashi Tharoor conferred France’s highest civilian honour: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was conferred France’s highest civilian honour, the Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur France, at an intimate ceremony in the French embassy in the national capital. Mr. Tharoor was awarded the honour in August 2022, but formal conferring took place yesterday. French democracy” as the land where “the people” first replaced “the king” as the nucleus of the nation.

 

3. REC Ltd receives ‘Innovative Technology Development Award’: REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has been honoured with the ‘Innovative Technology Development Award’ at the ‘Building India 2047: Technology for Better Tomorrow’, an IIT Madras Corporate Social Responsibility Summit. The award has been conferred in recognition of REC’s CSR initiative of installation of 2 MW rooftop solar plant at IIT Madras. The solar plant generates around 3.15 million units of clean energy every year, thus helping IIT Madras reduce its carbon footprint.

Daily GK Update- 20th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. KVS Manian new joint managing director in Kotak Mahindra bank: Kotak Mahindra Bank re-designating whole-time director KVS Manian as the joint managing director effective 1 March. Manian, an alumnus of the Indian Institutes of Technology (BHU) - Varanasi, with a degree in electrical engineering and a postgraduate in financial management. Ekambaram, who has over 30 years of service at Kotak, holds a commerce degree, is a chartered accountant, and a Cost and Works Accountant.

 

2. Women participation in country's labour force rises to 37% from 23%: Labour and Employment Secretary, Arti Ahuja has said that the participation of women in the labour force in the country has increased from 23 percent to 37 percent. She added that as the country’s population is growing, India needs to appreciate fifty percent of the talented, motivated and hardworking female workforce. Female labour force participation rate can be defined as percentage women employed with respect to labour force of the country.

 

3. Statehood Day of Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh: 20 Feb 2024: The Northern States Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have celebrated their Foundation Day on February 20 since 1987. Mizoram State took place on 20th February, 1987,as India’s 23rd state. Arunachal Pradesh, a land of natural wonders and cultural heritage, became a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987.

Until 1972, it was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA).

 

4. Government approves fifty more Amrit Bharat Trains: Fifty more Amrit Bharat Trains have been approved by the Government.  Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that after the huge success of Amrit Bharat Train, another 50 trains have been approved. The Amrit Bharat train is an LHB push-pull train with non-air-conditioned coaches. It provides improved facilities for rail passengers like beautiful and attractive designed seats, better luggage racks with suitable mobile holders, among others.

 

5. Maharashtra Cabinet approves draft bill to extend 10% reservation to Marath: The Maharashtra Cabinet approved a draft bill proposing a 10%reservation for the Maratha community in both educational institutions and government employment. This proposed reservation surpasses the 50 percent cap, an extension justified by a report submitted to the state government by the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission (MBCC), led by Chairman Justice (Retired) Sunil Shukre.

 

6. 20 February – Mizoram Foundation Day: Mizoram Foundation Day is celebrated every year on February 20 to honour the northeastern state’s accomplishment of statehood in 1987. It was on this day that the Lushai Hills Autonomous District Council was raised to the status of a complete state, turning into the 23rd state of India. February 20 denotes the Statehood Day of both Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. Settled in the remote northeast of India, Mizoram remains as the region’s southernmost landlocked state. Thick forests, covering more than three-fourths of its territory, murmur stories of important timber and one-of-a-kind biodiversity.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India contributes 1 million USD to Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund: India has contributed 1 million US Dollars to the Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund established by India, Brazil, and South Africa, IBSA. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj handed over the cheque to the Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Dima Al-Khatib. The IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) was established jointly by grouping in March 2004 and it became operational in 2006.

 

2. PM of Greece to arrive in New Delhi on a four-day State visit to India: Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis will arrive in New Delhi tonight on a four-day State visit to India. He will be accompanied by senior officials and a high-powered business delegation. This will be the first bilateral Head of State or Government level visit from Greece to India after 15 years. He will also visit Mumbai before returning to Athens.

 

3. INDUS-X Summit to boost India-U.S. defence cooperation: The India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem summit, INDUS-X, began in New Delhi. The two-day aims to enhance strategic technology partnerships and defence cooperation between the two nations. The summit will bring together stakeholders from both countries to explore and leverage emerging opportunities in defence innovation. The event will also recognize winners of the Joint INDUS X challenge under the IMPACT program.

 

4. World Day of Social Justice 2024:20th Feb 2024: Every year on 20 February the World Day of Social Justice is observed worldwide.  As grave injustices and widespread labour insecurity threaten social issues, the day stresses the need to build fairer and more equitable societies. The theme of World Day of Social Justice 2024 is "Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances".

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. North Korea launched new surface-to-sea missiles: North Korea test-launched the new surface-to-sea missiles, “Padasuri-6”. The missile hit a target after launch over waters in the East Sea for around 1400 seconds, or 23 minutes and 20 seconds. The missile seems to be designed to counter the naval capabilities of South Korea and the United States, such as U.S. aircraft carriers.

 

 

SPORTS

 

1. Anush Agarwalla secures country's maiden Paris Olympics quota in dressage: Asian Games medallist Anush Agarwalla has secured the first-ever Paris Olympics quota in dressage discipline for the country. He obtained the Paris 2024 quota for the country based on his performance in four FEI events.  Agarwalla had clinched India’s first individual bronze at the Asian Games in dressage last year. In dressage competitions, the horse and rider perform a series of pre-determined movements in an arena of 20 metres to 60 metres.

 

2. MI Emirates wins ILT20 title by defeating Dubai Capitals: MI Emirates has won the title of the 2nd edition of UAE International League T20 (ILT20). MI Emirates secured the title by defeating Dubai Capitals by 45 runs in the final match at Dubai International Stadium MI team posted a total of 208 runs for the loss of 3 wickets,Dubai Capitals team could score only 163 runs at the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. ILT20 is a franchise-based T20 league organized by the Emirates Cricket Board, featuring six participating franchises.

 

3. MS Dhoni Named Captain of IPL’s Greatest All-Time Team: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni was picked as the captain to lead the all-time greatest IPL side. The 15-member squad was selected by a panel of experts, including former legends Wasim Akram, Dale Steyn, Matthew Hayden, and Tom Moody, along with 70 other journalists. The top order consisted of Australian batter David Warner, Indian superstar Virat Kohli, and West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle. While Kohli is the all-time leading run-scorer in IPL history with 7,263 runs, Warner is third and first among overseas batters with 6,397 runs.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. NASA, Japan to launch world’s 1st wooden satellite soon: Japan and the US are planning to launch the world’s first wooden satellite, the LingnoSat, into space in 2024. This unusual spacecraft is made up of Magnolia wood which, during the experiments, was found to be particularly stable and resistant to cracking. The wooden satellite was created by Japanese scientists and now the US has become a part of their mission as they finalized the satellite to be launched on a US rocket. The researchers at Kyoto University in collaboration with the logging company Sumitomo Forestry built the timber satellite. They came up with the idea of using an alternative to metal, which are biodegradable material.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bandhan Bank authorized to collected revenues of West Bengal govt: Private lender Bandhan Bank has been authorized by the West Bengal government to collect tax and non-tax receipts on its behalf. The mandate will enable the bank to collect revenues through the Government Receipt Portal System (GRIPS). By virtue of this mandate, people will be able to pay various taxes like property tax, motor vehicle tax and professional tax using this portal.