Daily GK Update- 5th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Uttarakhand Police Adopt Self-Balancing e-scooters For Smart Patrols: Abhinav Kumar, Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, has flagged off four cutting-edge self-balancing electric scooters from the Police Headquarters to patrol the vibrant streets of Haridwar. For the safety of tourists and local citizens, police in Haridwar will patrol with self-balancing scooters. Donated by Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, these eco-friendly electric scooters are equipped to navigate narrow streets, allowing police personnel to efficiently monitor walking paths, Ganga ghats, and crowded areas of the city. The partnership between the police department and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank exemplifies a commitment to community welfare and corporate social responsibility. These scooters, which can move easily in narrow streets, will help in crowd management. Apart from this, this electric scooter is also environment friendly.

 

2. PM Modi inaugurates CLEA-CASGC 2024 Conference: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) – Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The theme of the conference is “Cross-Border Challenges in Justice Delivery”. This conference has deliberated on important issues pertaining to law and justice like judicial transition and the ethical dimensions of legal practice; executive accountability; and revisiting modern-day legal education, among others. This Conference have participated of Attorney Generals and Solicitors from the Commonwealth nations spanning the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean along with various international delegations.

 

3. India launches UPI Payments at Eiffel Tower in Paris: India has officially introduced the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, marking a significant step towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of globalizing UPI. This initiative follows the digital payments sector agreement signed between India and France in July of the previous year, making France the first European country to adopt India’s UPI for retail transactions. NPCI International Payments (NIPL) has partnered with French e-commerce and proximity payments company, Lyra, to facilitate the acceptance of UPI payments in France. The strategic tie-up ensures a seamless integration of the UPI payment mechanism, starting with the Eiffel Tower.

 

4. Bandhan Bank appoints Santosh Nair as its consumer lending and mortgages head: Bandhan Bank has appointed Santosh Nair, chief executive of HDFC Sales Private Limited, as the head of its consumer lending and mortgages. Bandhan Bank’s Shantanu Sengupta will step down from the post of Head. However, he will assist the bank in a smooth transition and will leave the organization in early FY2024–25 to pursue opportunities outside the bank. Nair, a veteran with over three decades of experience in banks and financial services companies, will drive Bandhan Bank’s housing finance portfolio and also the retail lending franchise and distribution. Earlier, Santosh Nair was the CEO of HDFC Sales and also worked at HDFC and HDFC Bank in his three decades of experience in the industry.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Mukesh Ambani tops Brand Guardianship Index 2024 among Indians: Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani has been ranked first among all the Indians and second globally in the Brand Guardianship Index 2024 compiled by Brand Finance. The Brand Guardianship Index is a global recognition of CEOs, who are building business value in a sustainable manner by balancing the needs of all stakeholders – employees, investors, and the wider society. Ambani was ranked ahead of global majors like Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Google’s Sundar Pichai, Apple’s Tim Cook and Tesla’s Elon Musk, as well as fellow Indians such as N Chandrasekaran of Tata Group and Anish Shah of Mahindra Group, among many others.

 

2. 4 February – World Cancer Day: World Cancer Day is observed globally on February 4 each year. Objective – To raise awareness about cancer, its prevention, and the importance of early detection. The theme for the 2022-2024 period is “Close the Care Gap: Everyone Deserves Access To Cancer Care”. The sub-theme, “Together, we challenge those in power,” emphasises accountability from leaders to allocate essential resources for eradicating cancer.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Air Force to conduct Exercise Vayu Shakti-2024: The Indian Air Force will be conducting Exercise Vayu Shakti-24 on 17 February 2024 at the Pokhran Air to Ground Range, near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The last edition of exercise Vayu Shakti was held on 16 February 2019.

The exercise will also showcase joint operations with the Indian Army. This year, the exercise will see participation by 121 aircraft, including the indigenous Tejas, Prachand and Dhruv. Other participating aircraft would include the Rafale, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Jaguar, Hawk, C-130J, Chinook, Apache and Mi-17. Indigenous Surface to Air Weapon systems Akash and Samar will demonstrate their capability to track and shoot down an intruding aircraft.

 

SPORTS

 

1. India finished fifth at FIH Hockey5s World Cup: The first ever men’s FIH Hockey5s World Cup came to a thrilling conclusion with the Netherlands overcoming Malaysia to lift the trophy.

Malaysia can be justifiably proud of their silver medal. Six of their players were part of the squad that clinched the gold medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, which was played in the Hockey5s format. Earlier, India had a point to prove against Egypt, having lost to them in the pool stage, and they came out firing in a 6-4 win for 5th place.

 

 

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Russian cosmonaut sets world record for time spent in space: Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record for the most cumulative time spent in space, Russia Space agency Roscosmos reported. The 59-year-old has now spent more than 878 days and 12 hours in space, surpassing fellow Russian Gennady Padalka, who set the previous record of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds in 2015. Kononenko has made five journeys to the International Space Station, dating back to 2008. Kononenko’s current trip to the ISS began on September 15, 2023, when he launched alongside NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara and Roscosmos compatriot Nikolai Chub. By the end of this expedition, the cosmonaut is expected to become the first person to accumulate 1,000 days in space.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ESAF Small Finance Bank and Edelweiss Insurance partner to offer Life Insurance: ESAF Small Finance Bank has partnered with a bancassurance collaboration with Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance. The partnership plays a crucial role in ESAF Small Finance Bank’s strategy to broaden its range of offerings, demonstrating its commitment to providing financial security to a more extensive segment of the unbanked and under-banked population. The aim of this partnership is to widen the accessibility of innovative life insurance products, capitalizing on ESAF Small Finance Bank’s strong presence across rural markets in India.

 

2. UPI transactions reach a record Rs 18.41 trillion in January: NPCI: Unified payments interface (UPI) has started 2024 on a strong note, with transaction spends staying over the ₹18-lakh crore mark and touching a new record high. Transactions worth ₹18.41-lakh crore were processed during January, nearly 1 per cent higher than the previous record of ₹18.23-lakh crore in December 2023. The value of transactions was 42 per cent higher on year, as per data by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The number of transactions on the UPI network remained flat on month at 1,202 crore for January. On year, the volume of transactions was 52 per cent higher.

 

3. Government Boosts Sovereign Gold Bond Issuance to 3,500 Crore in FY 25: The Indian government has decided to substantially increase the issuance of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) for the upcoming fiscal year. The allocation for SGBs has been more than doubled, rising from ₹1,500 crore in the financial year ending March 31, 2023, to a significant ₹3,500 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. Incidentally, gold imports have jumped 20 per cent to 781 tonnes last year even as the run-away prices have suppressed demand, according to the World Gold Council data. The physical domestic demand for gold still ranges between 700-750 tonnes per annum and has not been impacted much by issuance of SGBs.

Daily GK Update- 4th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Annual Mass Drug Administration Campaign to Eradicate Filariasis by UP: The Uttar Pradesh government will launch the annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign to eradicate filariasis diseases from February 5 to 15. The campaign, to be carried out as part of a mission to eradicate filariasis from the state, will be conducted in 17 districts of the state. During the campaign, skilled health workers will go door-to-door and administer the medicine for prevention of filariasis to the entire population. With the exception of children under two years of age, pregnant women and people suffering from serious illnesses.

 

2. PM SVANIDHI provided credit assistance to 78 lakh street vendors: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that PM SVANIDHI, a flagship initiative focusing on street vendors has extended credit assistance to 78 lakh street vendors across the country. 3 lakh vendors have availed loans for the third time under this initiative.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Declaring his entry into the world of politics: 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.

 

2. President Murmu inaugurated 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2024: President Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela – 2024 at Surajkund in Faridabad district, Haryana. Tanzania is a partner country for the mela, which reflects India’s strong ties with the African Union. Gujarat is the theme state. The Surajkund Fair will continue till February 18.

 

3. 4 February – International Day of Human Fraternity: International Day of Human Fraternity is observed every year on 4 February. The day serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty of unity and the strength found in diversity. On December 21, 2020, International Day of Human Fraternity was established by the United Nations General Assembly.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India, Oman ink pact for collaboration in defence sector: India and Oman has signed an agreement that would provide a framework for collaboration in new areas of defence engagement including procurement of military equipment. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was firmed up at a meeting of India-Oman joint military cooperation committee (JMCC) in Muscat. Both sides discussed effective and practical initiatives to further boost bilateral defence engagements with focus on defence industries collaboration. The two sides also inked an MoU pertaining to procurement of defence material and equipment which would provide a framework for defence collaboration in new areas.

 

2. US State Department approves 31 armed drones to India: The US State Department has given the go-ahead for the possible sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, related missiles, and equipment to India for nearly $4 billion. This comes after years of discussions between the two nations about such a deal. India has long expressed interest in buying large, armed drones from the United States, but certain bureaucratic hurdles have hindered progress towards finalizing the potential agreement.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. LK Advani to be awarded Bharat Ratna: BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani will be honoured with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India. This prestigious honour is a testament to Advani’s indelible contribution to Indian politics and society over several decades. Lal Krishna Advani served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004. He is one of the co-founders of the BJP and a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Advani is also the longest-serving Minister of Home Affairs and the longest-serving Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

 

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.

 

Daily GK Update- 2nd Feb, 2024

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Five more Indian wetlands added to Ramsar list: India has added five more wetlands to the List of Wetlands of International Importance, or the Ramsar List, taking the number of such sites in the country to 80. The announcement of adding five more sites, three in Karnataka and two in Tamil Nadu, to the list was made by Federal Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav. Three of these sites, Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Aghanashini Estuary and Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve are located in Karnataka whereas two, Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest are in Tamilnadu.

 

2. Dharmendra Pradhan launches MoE – AICTE Investor Network: Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has launched ‘Ministry of Education – AICTE Investor Network’ in New Delhi. This initiative to be a ground-breaking beginning that will bring students, faculty, investors and the market on one platform to strengthen the culture of innovation. The network aims to provide crucial financial support, mentoring, and strategic guidance to early-stage student or faculty-led startups. Through this unique network, the Ministry of Education seeks to encourage private investment in student- and faculty-led startups.

 

3. BHU gets automated DNA extractor machine: North India’s first human DNA bank is being set up at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The Automated DNA Extractor Machine has been installed in the Gnyaneshwar Lab of the Zoology Department of BHU. These machines are completely indigenous to Make in India. It has been made in such a way that the minimum plastic is used in it, so that there is no harm to the environment. With this machine, DNA can be extracted from any biological material, like blood, saliva, hair or tissue. With its help, DNA can be separated from about 32 samples at one time in 30 minutes.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. WHO awards countries for progress in eliminating industrially produced trans fats for first time: WHO has awarded its first-ever certificates validating progress in eliminating industrially produced trans fatty acids to five countries. Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand have each demonstrated they have a best practice policy for industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) elimination in effect, supported by adequate monitoring and enforcement systems. While the ambitious target set by WHO in 2018—to fully eliminate iTFA from the global food supply by the end of 2023—was not met, there has been remarkable progress made towards this goal in every region of the world.

 

2. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt confirmed they are joining BRICS: The BRICS group, a key platform for emerging markets and developing countries, has officially welcomed five new members: Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia. The five countries were extended invitations along with Argentina at a summit in August in Johannesburg to join the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa. Argentina has declined the invitation to join. The newly enlarged BRICS now boasts a combined population of 3.5 billion and an economy exceeding $28.5tn, constituting around 28% of the global economy.

 

3. Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar sworn in as Malaysia’s 17th king: Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor State in Malaysia has become the new Sultan of the country. Ibrahim Iskandar was sworn in as the country’s 17th Sultan. Sultan Ibrahim received the reins from the Sultan of Pahang State, Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. Ibrahim Iskandar will remain in office as the country’s Sultan for the next five years. The Sultan has been elected every five years in Malaysia since 1957, after gaining independence from Britain.

 

4. 2 February – Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day: Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day is observed every year on February 2nd. Objective – To raise awareness of rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory disease that affects the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), another name for rheumatoid disease, is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and damages the lining of the joints, mistaking it for foreign material. This causes pain and inflammation. Although it can affect people of any age, sex, race or ethnicity, women are more likely to be affected (2.5 times more likely than men). The most common age group is between 20 and 50.

 

5. 2 February – World Wetlands Day: World Wetlands Day is observed every year on 2 February.

The day primarily aims to raise global awareness regarding the crucial role of the wetlands for human beings and the planet. Theme 2024 – Wetlands and Human Wellbeing It also marks the date of adopting the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, around 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s. As per the data, the wetlands are now depleting three times faster than the forests, and as these are critically important for the ecosystem World Wetlands Day plays a pivotal role.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. SARVATRA: A Multispan Mobile Bridging System Developed by DRDO: SARVATRA, a Multispan Mobile Bridging System designed and developed by Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence. SARVATRA assists the Army in constructing bridges over flowing water, ensuring robust connectivity between two areas during natural disasters. SARVATRA’s truck-mounted design facilitates swift setup, ensuring operational readiness within 100 minutes, a critical capability during emergencies and natural disasters. Constructed from aluminum alloy, SARVATRA’s five scissor bridges exhibit exceptional durability, capable of spanning distances of up to 75 meters, overcoming various terrain challenges with ease.

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. GST collections rise 10% to ₹1.72 lakh crore in January: The gross GST revenue collected in the month of January 2024 is ₹1,72,129 crore, which shows a 10.4% Year-o-Year (Y-o-Y) growth over the revenue of ₹155,922 crore collected in January 2023. Notably, this is the second-highest monthly collection ever and marks the third month in this financial year with collection of ₹1.70 lakh crore or more. The government has settled ₹43,552 crore to CGST and ₹37,257 crore to SGST from the IGST collection.

 

2. AU SFB appoints former RBI deputy guv HR Khan as non-executive chairman: Private sector lender AU Small Finance Bank has appointed Harun Rashid Khan, former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as non-executive chairman following approval from the shareholders.

Khan’s tenure will begin from the date of taking charge, January 30, 2024, after approval from the Board of Directors and from the RBI and shareholders of the bank. Khan will take charge from Raj Verma, whose tenure as Part-time Chairman ended on January 29, 2024.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Filmfare Awards 2024 announced: The 69th edition of the Filmfare Awards 2024 took place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The event featured hosting by Karan Johar, and performances by Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, and Kartik Aaryan among others.

Daily GK Update- 1st Feb, 2024

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches MoE - AICTE Investor Network: Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched ‘Ministry of Education - AICTE Investor Network’ in New Delhi. The MoE-AICTE Investor Network will strengthen the all-round support ecosystem to dynamic innovators—right from idea generation to successful graduation as a commercially viable start-up. This initiative to be a ground-breaking beginning that will bring students, faculty, investors and the market on one platform to strengthen the culture of innovation.

 

2. Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Inaugurated the UDAN Flight Service: Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia virtually inaugurated a UDAN flight connecting Dehradun and Pithoragarh from New Delhi. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami also joined the event from Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The flight connecting the two cities is to be operated by  Fly Big under the RCS UDAN Scheme. Pithoragarh Airport has been developed under the UDAN-RCS scheme, with a cost of Rs 6.68 Crore into a 2B VFR Airport.

 

3. BHU gets automated DNA extractor machine: North India's first human DNA bank is being set up at the Zoology Department of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). These machines are completely indigenous to Make in India. It has been made in such a way that the minimum plastic is used in it, so that there is no harm to the environment. With this machine, DNA can be extracted from any biological material, like blood, saliva, hair or tissue.

 

4. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 9 highway projects worth Rs. 2,367 crore in MP: Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 9 National Highway projects costing Rs 2,367 crore and total length of 225 km in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Among the projects inaugurated, a 1.5 km long bridge has been constructed on Jamni river on Tikamgarh-Jhansi road at a cost of Rs 43 crore. This will make it easier to reach Orchha, the tourist destination of Rajaram's temple.

 

5. Assam Cabinet approves new bill to develop tourism: The Assam cabinet approved the Assam Tourism Development and Registration Bill 2024 to regulate the tourism sector. Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said that the bill will be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. This bill will be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. The bill will bring benefits such as ensuring economic growth through the development of tourism.

 

6. PFRDA opens bidding for development of of Technology Architecture project: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has opened bidding for the PFRDA- Tracking Reporting Analytics and Compliance E-Platform (TRACE) RFP as part of Technology Architecture project. The PFRDA is inviting bids for selection of System Integrator (SI) for design, development, implementation and maintenance of PFRDA-TRACE. PFRDA-TRACE will serve as a comprehensive tool for submitting regulatory and supervisory compliance reports by intermediaries.

 

7. Champai Soren to be next Jharkhand CM: Hemant Soren has resigned as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister while the ruling JMM-led coalition proposed the name of senior leader and State Transport Minister Champai Soren as the new Chief Minister. Hemant Soren tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan after about seven hours of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. Champai Soren was unanimously elected as the JMM Legislature Party leader by the ruling alliance in the State.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Qatar inks 15-year deal for Bangladesh gas supply: QatarEnergy and US-based Excelerate Energy signed an agreement to supply 1 million metric tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Bangladesh for 15 years from January 2026. The deal is the latest in a series state-owned QatarEnergy has with European and Asian partners tied to its massive North Field expansion project, which is expected to lift Qatar's LNG production to 126 mtpa by 2027 from 77 mtpa. Qatar is already the largest supplier of LNG to Bangladesh.

 

2. Toyota keeps crown as world’s top-selling automaker in 2023: Toyota Motor sold a record 2 million vehicles in 2023, taking the crown as the world’s top-selling automaker for a fourth straight year. The Japanese automaker reported a 7.2% jump in global group sales last year, including those of truck unit Hino Motors and small-car maker Daihatsu, helped by record overseas sales of 8.9 million vehicles. Sales of Toyota’s parent-only vehicles, which include those of its namesake and Lexus brands, hit a record of 10.3 million vehicles in 2023. Second-ranked German rival Volkswagen Group earlier this month reported a 12% rise in deliveries last year to 9.2 million cars, marking a post-pandemic recovery as supply chain bottlenecks eased.

 

3. India slips 8 places on Transparency International’s corruption perception index: Transparency International (TI) released the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2023. India slipped 8 places to 93rd in CPI, as India’s rank in 2022 was 85th. The index prepared by Transparency International ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption drawn from experts and business people. On a scale of 0 to 100 on which countries are judged, 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Coast Guard Day:1st February 2024: India celebrates the Indian Coast Guard Day on February 1st every year, a tribute to the valour, dedication, and service of the personnel safeguarding the country's maritime interests. This year, the Indian Coast Guard Day will be commemorating its 48th Raising Day. Indian Coast Guard, with 152 ships and 78 aircraft in its arsenal, is on track to achieve its targeted force levels of 200 surface platforms and 100 aircraft by 2030.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Khelo India Winter Games 2024 mascot, snow leopard ‘Sheen-e She’ (Shan) reveals: The mascot and logo of Khelo India Winter Games were launched. The first part of the Winter Games, a mouth-watering event for winter sports athletes, will be held in Union Territory of Ladakh for the first time from February 2-6. The second portion is scheduled in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir from February 21-25.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Highlights of Union Budget 2024: The Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Union Budget for 2024-2025 in Parliament today. She announced that the capital expenditure outlay for the next year is being increased by 11.1 percent to Rs 11,11,111 crore, which would be 3.4% of the GDP. India’s Real GDP is projected to grow at 7.3 percent. She added For Railways, three major economic railway corridor programmes will be implemented.

 

2. RBI Imposes Major Restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed Paytm Payments Bank to cease all deposits and credit transactions after February 29, 2024. This action stems from persistent non-compliances and ongoing supervisory concerns within the bank, raising questions about the impact on its customers. In exercise of its powers under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, RBI has directed that no further deposits and credit transactions or top-ups shall be allowed in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, and FASTags after the 29th of February, other than any interest, cashbacks, or refunds which may be credited anytime.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Best Republic Day tableaux: Odisha wins 1st prize: Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt gave away the best marching contingents and tableaux awards for the Republic Day Parade. He announced separate results – one by a panel of judges and other through an online public vote conducted by MyGov and congratulated all the winners. Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of Marching Contingents from three Services, Marching Contingents from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)/other auxiliary forces and tableaux from various States/Union Territories and Ministries/Departments.

 

2. Three Indian Scientists To Be Honored With Prestigious UK Prize In London: The UK has named nine scientists, including three researchers of Indian descent, as recipients of a prestigious award for young scientists who are advancing science and improving the world. The UK’s Blavatnik Awards For Young Scientists honour research in three categories—Chief Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Life Sciences—that is revolutionising technology, medicine, and our understanding of the world.