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.

Daily GK Update- 13th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IREDA and IIT Bhubaneswar sign MoU for Clean Energy Innovation: The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar have signed an MoU. The partnership between IREDA and IIT Bhubaneswar will facilitate joint research ventures and technology exchange, and offer comprehensive support to budding start-ups. Additionally, it will encompass capacity-building initiatives such as training programs, seminars, and workshops to enhance the skills of IREDA personnel.

 

2. Katrina Kaif Joins CSK as Brand Ambassador for IPL 2024: Chennai Super Kings have appointed Katrina Kaif as their brand ambassador for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The five-time champions have also changed their jersey logo before the new season. The famous Bollywood actress, who is married to Vicky Kaushal, is also the brand ambassador of Etihad Airways. CSK recently signed a sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways and brought Katrina on board.

 

3. Sundaram AMC appoints Radhakrishnan as CEO: Sundaram Asset Management has appointed Anand Radhakrishnan as CEO. Anand was earlier a part of the company for eight years from 1996 to 2004. He previously served as Managing Director & CIO (Equity) at Franklin Templeton India Incumbent MD Sunil Subramaniam will retire in June after leading the organization for 19 years. Radhakrishnan will take over as MD in July.

 

4. Gupteswar Forest in Odisha declared Biodiversity-Heritage Site: The pristine Gupteswar Forest, adjacent to Gupteswar Shiva temple in Odisha’s Koraput district has been declared as the fourth Biodiversity-Heritage Site (BHS) of the state as per a recent government notification. The site is spread over 350 hectares of demarcated ..

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 13 February – World Radio Day: World Radio Day is observed every year on 13 February. Objective – To raise awareness among the people and the media about the importance of radio, and to encourage access to information through radio. Theme 2024 – Radio: A Century informing, entertaining, and educating The day was proclaimed by the member states of UNESCO in 2011 and subsequently adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day.

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Minister unveils statue of Gen Bipin Rawat in Dehradun: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami have unveiled a life-size statue of General Bipin Rawat, the nation’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), at TonsBridge School in Dehradun. The objective is to take the stories of valour of the armed forces to school students and instil patriotism and dedication in them. Unfortunately, Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 12 other military personnel lost their lives in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8, 2021.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. SWATI (Science for Women- A Technology & Innovation) Portal:  In February 2024, the government has launched the SWATI (Science for Women- A Technology & Innovation) portal, a database highlighting accomplishments of Indian women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) fields. The interactive portal was developed by the ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Paytm E-commerce rebrands to Pai Platforms: Paytm E-commerce has rebranded itself as Pai Platforms, marking a shift in its corporate identity. The move comes alongside the acquisition of Bitsila, a prominent seller platform operating within the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This strategic shift underscores Pai Platforms’ ambition to assert its presence and gain a larger foothold in the fiercely competitive landscape of online retail. Pai Platforms’ acquisition of Bitsila underscores its commitment to strengthening its commerce capabilities within the ONDC network.

 

2. India launches UPI payment services in Sri Lanka, Mauritius: India has launched its Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius. RuPay card services were also introduced in Mauritius as part of this strategic initiative. The UPI services, crafted by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), represent an instant real-time payment system designed to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. On the other hand, RuPay is a globally recognized card payment network originating from India, with widespread acceptance at various points of sale, ATMs, and online platforms.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. ISRO Chairman S Somanath awarded KPP Nambiar Award: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)Chairman, S Somanath has been awarded KPP Nambiar Award for 2024 by Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Kerala Section. The award is named after KPP Nambiar, doyen of electronics industry and founder-chair of IEEE Kerala Section. Somanath was chosen for the pivotal role he played in steering Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s lunar exploration programme, the award committee observed. He also served various VSSC and ISRO missions, including as Project Manager, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Project Director, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk – III).

Daily GK Update- 12th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and ADB sign $200 million loan to tackle flood and erosion risk along Brahmaputra River: The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $200 million loan to strengthen flood and riverbank erosion risk management along the 650 kilometres (km) long main stem of the Brahmaputra River in the state of Assam. The project interventions include stabilising 60 km of riverbanks, installing 32 km of pro-siltation measures, and building 4 km of climate-resilient flood embankments in five high-priority districts (Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Kamrup Rural, Morigaon, and Tinsukia). These will result in securing living spaces, supporting livelihoods and creating employment opportunities.

 

2. IRS Officer Narendra Kumar Yadav appointed as Brand Ambassador for Fit India Movement: IRS officer Narendra Kumar Yadav, Additional Director GST, has been appointed as the new brand ambassador of The Fit India movement, a flagship initiative by the Government of India. The Fit India movement is a nationwide initiative launched by the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to encourage Indians to develop physical activity and sports into their daily lives.

 

3. 12 February – National Productivity Day: National Productivity Day is celebrated every year in India on 12 February to commemorate the founding of the National Productivity Council (NPC). The goal of the NPC is to raise national awareness of the need to boost productivity. Theme 2024 – Artificial Intelligence (AI)- Productivity Engine for Economic Growth It is as an integral part of the Indian Productivity Week which is observed from February 12 to February 18. On National Productivity Day, people can start forming positive habits that will boost productivity and raise awareness of the role that productivity plays in enhancing life quality in general.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 11th Edition of World Governments Summit begins in Dubai: India, Türkiye, and Qatar have been declared the guests of honour at the 2024 World Governments Summit which is set to take place in Dubai from February 12-14. The summit, themed 'Shaping Future Governments,' will see the participation of over 25 government and state heads worldwide. The event is expected to draw over 4,000 attendees, including representatives from 85 international and regional organizations.

 

2. VP Dhankhar inaugurates World Sustainable Development Summit in Delhi: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the World Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister of Guyana Mark Phillips and Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav. Objective – To drive the mainstreaming of environmental protection and climate justice at all levels, embedding these principles in the very fabric of our societies The Summit was organized by ‘The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

 

3. Miss World pageant to take place in India from February 18 to March 9: The 71st edition of Miss World will be held in India from February 18 to March 9. With its latest edition, the coveted international beauty pageant is making a return to the country after nearly three decades. The pageant will commence with “The Opening Ceremony” and “India Welcomes the World Gala” by the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) in New Delhi on February 20. It will conclude with a grand finale at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on March 9 and will be streamed and telecast across the world. The pageant will unfold across various venues, including the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and will see 120 contestants from countries across the globe participate in various competitions and charitable initiatives.

 

4. 12 February – International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and When Conducive to Terrorism: International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and When Conducive to Terrorism (PVE Day) is observed every year on 12 February. This crucial day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the dangers of violent extremism and promote international cooperation in tackling this complex issue. Theme 2024 – Living Together: Fostering Community Resilience to Prevent Violent Extremism as and When Conducive to Terrorism

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. RPF to host the 67th All India Police Duty Meet in Lucknow: Railway Protection Force (RPF) will host the 67th All India Police Duty Meet (AIPDM) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It will last from February 12th to 16th 2024. The chief guest of the opening ceremony on February 12th will be Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology. Whereas Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, will be Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony on February 16th. The RPF was entrusted with organizing the event by the Central Coordinating Committee of AIPDM.

 

2. Embraer teams up with Mahindra to bid for IAF’s medium transport aircraft deal: With the Indian Air Force assessing its requirements for medium transport aircraft (MTA), Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer and Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group have announced a collaboration to work on C-390 Millennium aircraft. The objective of the MoU is to jointly fulfil the acquisition of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft by the Indian Air Force in its upcoming MTA procurement project. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking for an MTA that can lift 18-30 tonnes, a process it expects to complete by 2025-26. The C390 began operations with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, has since been selected by the militaries of Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and, most recently, South Korea.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Amit & Sachin bag Gold medals at Strandja Memorial tournament: In Boxing, World Championship medallist Amit Panghal and Sachin Siwach won a gold each, while Nikhat Zareen and three other Indians signed off with silver medals at the 75th Strandja Memorial tournament in Bulgaria. The 2019 World Championship silver medallist Panghal (51kg) pulled off a dominating 5-0 triumph over Kazakhstan's Sanzhar Tashkenbay in the men's flyweight final. Sachin (57kg), out-punched Uzbekistan's Shakhzod Muzafarov by a 5-0 verdict.

 

2. Australia lifts the Under-19 Men’s World Cup trophy 2024: Australia has won the Under 19 Men’s ODI World Cup beating India by 79 runs in the final at Benoni in South Africa. This is the fourth title of Australia. Before this, Aussies also won the title in 1988, 2002 and 2010. While, India are U19 WC defending champions and have won the U19 World Cup title 5 times – 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022. Chasing a target of 254 runs, team India was all out for 174 runs in 43.5 overs. Earlier, Australia had scored 253 for 7 wickets in the stipulated 50 overs.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India’s UPI services launched in Sri Lanka and Mauritius: India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services have been rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth witnessed the launch of UPI services in the island nations,via video conferencing. India's Unified Payments Interface UPI is now performing a new responsibility - Uniting Partners with India.

The RuPay card service was also launched in Mauritius.

 

2. RBI Grants Payment Aggregator Licences to Juspay, Zoho, and Decentro: Fintech firms Juspay and Decentro and software-as-a-service company Zoho have received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as payment aggregators. With this, the three players join the likes of Stripe, Zomato and Tata Pay who were a part of the regulator’s approval list in January, besides fintech majors like Razorpay and Cashfree who secured the licence last year. A payments aggregator, or PA, licence allows companies to provide payment services to merchants (online businesses or e-commerce firms) by accepting payment instruments from customers. As part of the process, PAs pool the funds received from customers and transfer them to merchants after a certain time period.

 

3. EPFO Raises Interest Rate on PF Deposits to 8.25%: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has fixed 25% interest rate on provident fund deposits for 2023-24, the highest in three years. For 2022-23, the retirement fund body offered 8.15% interest, higher than 8.10% in 2021-22. In March 2020, the EPFO reduced the interest rate on provident fund deposits to a seven-year low of 8.5 percent for 2019-20, down from 8.65 percent in 2018-19.

 

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. KPP Nambiar Award conferred on ISRO Chairman S Somanath: The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Kerala section conferred the 2024 K.P.P. Nambiar Award on Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath at a function. The award is a recognition of S. Somanath’s unwavering commitment to leveraging technology for the betterment of society. Under the stewardship of S. Somanath, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved remarkable milestones, particularly in lunar exploration.

 

2. Pyarelal Sharma awarded Lakshminarayana International Award: Pyarelal Sharma, one half of the iconic composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, has been felicitated with the Lakshminarayana International Award. The award was presented to the ‘My Name Is Lakhan’ composer by musicians L Subramaniam and Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam as part of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival Pyarelal is one of the most successful music composers in Hindi cinema in his career spanning over eight decades. The legendary musician has given iconic songs in collaboration with music maestro Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar.

 

3. Neeraj Chopra honoured by Swiss tourism with plaque at Jungfrau’s Ice Palace: India’s Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been honoured with a plaque at the famous Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch, known as the ‘Top of Europe’, in Switzerland. Acknowledging Chopra’s remarkable accomplishments, Jungfraujoch welcomed the sports icon to unveil the commemorative plaque. The Wall of Fame at Jungfraujoch serves as a testament to the spirit of accomplishment and dedication.

Daily GK Update- 11th Feb, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet approves Rs 6,000 crore scheme for formalisation of fisheries sector: The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 6,000 crore sub-scheme under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with the objective of formalizing the largely unorganized fisheries sector in the country. The formalization will be done through the creation of a national fisheries digital platform, facilitating access to institutional finance for the sector and creating an insurance product which would cover at least 100,000 hectares of aquaculture farms during the project period. Almost half of the total project cost, that is around Rs 3,000 crore, will come from public financing that includes World Bank and the AFD external financing while the balance is expected investment from the private sector and the beneficiaries.

 

2. Tata Trusts inaugurated India’s first small animal hospital in Mumbai: Tata Trusts has launched India’s first state-of-the-art Small Animal Hospital, with a mission to save the lives of pets and strengthen the bond between pet parents and veterinarians. The hospital, to be located in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, will be a 5-floor, 98,000-square-foot facility, with 200 beds, and will dedicate itself to providing round-the-clock services. The hospital will specialize in pet care to bridge the gap in quality pet care in India. The hospital will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including diagnostic services, treatment facilities, and an emergency room. It will also have a dedicated training centre for pet parents and veterinarians.

 

3. Google partners with Maharashtra govt to provide AI-led services: Tech giant Google has signed an MoU with the Government of Maharashtra to provide artificial intelligence (AI)-led solutions across key sectors in the state. As a part of the collaboration, Google will leverage its AI capabilities to provide solutions in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, sustainability, education, and startups. The company also launched a state-of-the-art AI Centre of Excellence at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Nagpur. This collaboration will empower our citizens with critical future-ready skills, revolutionise essential sectors like healthcare and agriculture, and create a thriving environment for the Maharashtra AI startups through the AI Center of Excellence at IIIT Nagpur.

 

4. Varanasi to have country’s first conservation centre for Gangatiri cows: The Uttar Pradesh government will set up the country’s first conservation centre for Gangatiri, a breed of cows in Varanasi. This breed of cows originates along the Ganga banks. The state govt will establish a centre for genetic improvement and propagation of the breed in Varanasi with the help of the Central government. Over the years, Gangatiri has been significantly overshadowed by high-yielding cow breeds like Sahiwal. But the technology used at the centre will help produce cows of high genetic merit using the IVF and embryo transfer technology (ETT), in which embryos from genetically superior cows would be disseminated to other females to increase the number of genetically superior progenies.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 11 February – International Day of Women and Girls in Science: The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on February 11 every year. The day is observed by the United Nations to promote full and equal access and participation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This year will be the ninth International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly. Theme – Women and Girls in Science Leadership, a New Era for Sustainability and the subtheme is “Think Science … Think Peace”

 

2. 7th Indian Ocean Conference: The 7th IOC was held in Perth, Australia on February 9-10, 2024. The theme was “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean.” It was organized by the India Foundation, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (Singapore) and Perth-US Asia Centre.

 

3. State of the World’s Migratory Species – 2024 Report: The State of the World’s Migratory Species – 2024 report was launched by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a UN biodiversity treaty on February 12, 2024. It provides the first comprehensive global assessment ..

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. What is Alaskapox?: Alaskapox represents a recently identified orthopox DNA virus, part of the genus containing smallpox and monkeypox. First detected in Alaskan voles in 2015, key aspects are: Zoonotic pathogen infecting small mammals like rodents, occasionally transmitting to humans Symptoms resemble monkeypox, ..

 

2. Successful Test of High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) by CSIR-NAL: Recently, the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) successfully tested an unmanned High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS)  in Karnataka. This 5-meter-long drone with 11-meter wingspan flew at an altitude of 3 kilometers for 8 hours. It represents a milestone in India’s development ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Ravi Kumar Jha appoints as MD & CEO of LIC Mutual Fund: Ravi Kumar Jha has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LIC Mutual Fund. Jha, with a distinguished career and prior association with LIC, comes with a track record of over 30 years in handling diverse positions and he was serving as Executive Director – Corporate Strategy till December 2023. His previous roles include Executive Director Corporate Strategy – LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management and various positions at LIC of India.