National
1. The Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched a mission to eradicate filariasis from the state. As part of this, the government will conduct the Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign from 5th to 15th February 2024.
2. Recently, the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2023 has been released by Transparency International showing that most countries have made little to no progress in tackling public sector corruption. The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories around the globe. India was ranked 93 out of 180 countries on the CPI 2023. In 2022, India was ranked 85.
3. Making provisions for setting up a Fintech Hub at GIFT City, a Semiconductor School at Sanand and a manufacturing hub for the space sector, the Gujarat government has presented a Rs. 3.32 lakh crore budget for the financial year 2024-25.
4. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Champai Soren has taken oath as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand on 2nd February 2024. He was accompanied by Satyanand Bhokta and Alamgir Alam who were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers. Mr. Champai was elected as the new leader of the JMM Legislature Party following Hemant Soren's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on 31st January under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
5. The Karnataka government recently announced a new 'Digital Detox' initiative in collaboration with the All India Game Developers Forum (AIGDF). The programme aims to spread awareness about the negative impacts of excessive technology use and encourage more mindful digital habits.
6. The 22nd Law Commission of India has submitted its Report No. 284 titled "Revisiting The Law On Prevention of Damage to Public Property" to the Government of India. The destruction of public property has continued undiminished causing gargantuan losses to the public exchequer and inconvenience to the general public.
7. The Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana is a temple corridor project for the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam. It is being developed by the central government at a cost of Rs. 498 crore. The project will ensure a complete overhaul of the pilgrimage experience at the Shakti shrine.
8. Buffalo fighting has been a part of Magh Bihu celebrations in Assam for centuries. The fights are held in various parts of the state during the harvest festival, with the village of Ahatguri in Nagaon district being the most prominent venue. The fights are organized by the local Ahatguri Buffalo Fight Committee and draw large crowds.
9. The Law Commission has proposed updates to laws aimed at addressing the issue of damage to public and private property during blockades and protests. The main thrust of these recommendations is to introduce stricter penalties for individuals or organizations causing such disruptions, with fines matching the market value of the damage incurred.
10. The central government has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 to prevent the use of unfair means in public examinations. The bill, presented by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, aims to curb paper leaks and cheating in recruitment exams and entrance tests.
11. Uttarakhand government has introduced legislation to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. If enacted, Uttarakhand would become the second Indian state to adopt a UCC after Goa, where it has been in effect since Portuguese rule.
12. The Union government has introduced a new bill in the Lok Sabha, aiming to provide reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies of Jammu and Kashmir. The proposed legislation seeks to amend existing laws and bring them into alignment with constitutional provisions. The number of seats to be reserved for OBCs will be determined by a commission, which will be established once the legislation is passed.
13. The Assam government recently tabled the Assam Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024, similar to the proposed central law. This legislation is a follow-up to the Assam Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Ordinance issued by the Assam Cabinet in October 2023.
14. The government has drafted new accessibility guidelines to make watching movies in theaters more inclusive for people with hearing and visual impairments. The public comment period for the draft guidelines ends next week. Once notified, the rules will require movie production houses and theaters to provide accessibility features so the impaired can enjoy films without discrimination.
15. The Election Commission of India (ECI) recently settled the dispute between the rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. The ECI ruled that the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP and allotted the 'Clock' party symbol to it.
16. Rajya Sabha has passed the Constitution (STs) Order Amendment Bill 2024 and the Constitution (SCs and STs) Order Amendment Bill 2024, presented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This cleared the way for the addition of several new communities to the STs list of Odisha and the inclusion of synonyms and phonetic variations of existing tribes in the ST lists of both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
17. The government has proposed constructing a 6-lane elevated highway through Bangalore's Bannerghatta National Park, sparking protests from environmentalists concerned about the impacts on wildlife and habitat. Bannerghatta National Park is an important biodiversity hotspot home to endangered Asian elephants, tigers, and other species.
18. According to the Annual Death Penalty Report 2023, appellate Courts in India - SC and all the HCs together - confirmed only one death sentence in 2023 while the rest were either commuted or saw the prisoners acquitted altogether.
19. Recently, Uttarakhand witnessed communal tensions over one such property with a now-demolished mosque situated on Nazool land whose lease allegedly ended. Nazool lands represent government properties leased temporarily to entities like trusts or private owners. The term emerged historically when the colonial British appropriated territories of defeated native rulers lacking ownership records.
20. The Shimoga district of Karnataka state in India reported two deaths in 2024 due to Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) - a viral hemorrhagic fever with a high fatality rate. With origins traced to Kyasanur forest, it is a re-emerging health risk.
21. 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 area.
22. The Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has been proposed in the Karnataka state legislature to further modify the 1994 Act and 2022 Amendment to strengthen promotion of the Kannada language across education and employment.
23. On 13th February 2024, marking World Radio Day, India's Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur released new policy guidelines for expanding community radio stations across the country. The guidelines were unveiled at the two-day Regional Community Radio Sammelan conference held in Delhi and attended by stakeholders from the broadcasting industry.
24. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly recently passed resolutions objecting to two major electoral reforms proposed by the central government - delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies and holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, referred to as 'One Nation One Election'.
25. On 15th February 2024, President Droupadi Murmu granted her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, clearing the legislation for implementation after passage by both houses of Parliament in the recently concluded Budget session.
26. Major Indian cities are progressing rapid metro rail development by incorporating next-generation driverless train technologies set to transform urban transportation. Both Bengaluru and Chennai have made strides on this front recently.
27. The recently constituted 16th Finance Commission of India held its first meeting on 16th February 2023 chaired by the Commission's Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya. The meeting discussed the Terms of Reference and decided to initiate wide-ranging consultations with various stakeholders.
28. The electoral bonds scheme was introduced by the Indian government in 2018 as an alternative system for financial donations to political parties aiming to bring transparency in political funding. However recently, 2024 the scheme was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.
29. Kerala has witnessed a steady rise in dangerous human-wildlife interactions in recent years. Attacks from elephants, tigers, leopards, bison, and especially wild boars have posed an increasing threat to human life. Government data showed 8,873 wild animal attack incidents in 2022-23 alone, resulting in 98 human deaths. Crop and livestock losses due to wildlife raids have also been extensive.
30. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), Kerala has signed an agreement with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) for establishing a green hydrogen production facility within CIAL's premises. Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources like solar or wind instead of fossil fuels, hence it has zero carbon emissions.
31. The Indian government has formulated a new policy to promote domestic cultivation of pulses like lentils and encourage farmers to grow them instead of traditional crops. It aims to boost India's pulses output to attain self-sufficiency and reduce huge annual imports.
32. The Telangana Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for undertaking a comprehensive household caste survey across the state. It aims to gather granular welfare data about socio-economic status categorised by castes to drive evidence-based policy interventions.
33. Ahead of India's general election in April-May 2024, authorities in Tamil Nadu have for the first time brought elite clubs and liquor-serving star hotels under surveillance ambit based on instructions from the Election Commission of India.
34. The Maharashtra government-led by CM Eknath Shinde approved the draft of the bill for 10% Maratha reservation in education and government jobs. Maharashtra government earlier held a special Vidhan Sabha session for one day to table a bill that provides separate reservation to the Maratha community beyond the mandated 50% limit currently imposed by Supreme Court.
35. On the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary on Monday (19th February), Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the 'dand patta' or gauntlet sword as the official state weapon. The announcement was made at a ceremony in Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of the Maratha warrior king.
36. On 20th February 2024, the Health Department of Karnataka state directed all government and private health facilities to compulsorily notify snakebite envenoming cases and resultant fatalities by invoking provisions of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act enacted in 2020.
37. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on 20th February 2024 that students will get the choice to appear for secondary and higher secondary board examinations twice annually starting academic year 2025-26. The reformist measure aims to reduce exam stress aligned to objectives of National Education Policy 2020.
38. On 20th February 2024, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav inaugurated the gala golden jubilee edition of the iconic Khajuraho Dance Festival marking 50 years of India's famed week-long cultural carnival which commenced in 1975.
39. On 22nd February 2024, the Indian government amended foreign direct investment (FDI) guidelines for the strategic space sector, allowing greater overseas capital inflows across satellite manufacturing, launch vehicles building and ground infrastructure creation.
40. The Chhattisgarh government ruled by Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to restart work on establishing an aluminium manufacturing hub on over 140 hectares land in Korba district to promote small-scale aluminium product industries by leveraging presence of state-owned major aluminium producer Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO).
41. Sammakka- Saralamma Maha Jatara, celebrated at Medaram in Telangana is a biennial tribal festival. It is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the Koya tribe for four days. This year it is being celebrated from 21st - 24th February 2024, in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana.
42. International Mother Language Day is observed every year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. An exhibition in New Delhi is being organised to showcase the Global Symphony of Languages. The Exhibition organized under the aegis of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is based on the theme of "Akshar, Shabd and Bhasha."
43. Guru Ravidas Jayanti has been recently observed on 24th February 2024, in the honour of birthday of Guru Ravidas. This festival is celebrated with joviality in North India, specifically in Punjab. The day marks the birthday of Indian mystic poet-saint, Ravidas and is celebrated on Magh Purnima.
44. On 24th February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the strategically important Sudarshan Setu bridge over the Gulf of Kutch connecting Dwarka mainland to Beyt Dwarka Island off Gujarat coast. Spanning over 2 kms, it is India's longest cable-stayed road bridge.
45. Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous body under the Union Culture Ministry, has proposed to conduct a linguistic survey across the country to create a 'Language Atlas' of India, a pan-India Language Mapping Project.
46. On 28th February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled three strategic space infrastructure projects worth Rs. 1,800 crores developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) across various Kerala based centers.
47. India Hate Lab - a United States based research group tracking hate speech trends released disturbing findings in February 2024 highlighting exponential surge in online and offline hate rhetoric, calls for violence and incitement against Muslims in 2023 underscoring volatile communal fault lines.
48. On 28th February 2024, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani launched the logo and website for the Alliance for Global Good - Gender Equity and Equality. The alliance marks India's leadership in spearheading global action for women empowerment under its G20 presidency.
49. The Central government appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre as the new Chairperson of the anti-corruption ombudsman, Lokpal. Justice Khanwilkar will hold the post for a term of five years from the date he enters office or till he attains the age of 70 years.
50. India celebrates National Science Day on 28th February. National Science Day is celebrated in the country to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect. Raman discovered the Raman Effect on 28th February 1928, and received Nobel Prize for his discovery in 1930.
51. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have released a report on the status of leopards in India. The report provides key insights into leopard distribution, population trends, and conservation challenges based on data from the fifth cycle of leopard population estimation conducted in 2022.
52. On 29th February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated India's first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell ferry at Kochi Harbor in Kerala. The 24-meter vessel, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), marks a major advancement in sustainable transportation for the country.
53. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has extended the deadline for property geotagging in Delhi to 29th February 2024. This process was previously required to be completed by 31st January.
54. Jammu & Kashmir is set to host the annual 'Tawi Festival' from 1st to 4th March 2024. Centered on the banks of the river Tawi flowing through Jammu city, the event will showcase the region's vibrant cultural legacy through arts, cuisine, literature and folk traditions.
International
1. Hong Kong's government has declared a public consultation period for a proposed national security law known as Article 23. Chief Executive John Lee cited the constitutional duty to enhance legal mechanisms and said that there is the presence of "foreign agents and Hong Kong independence advocates" within the society, without providing any evidence for the same.
2. India has paid USD 32.89 million to the United Nations Regular Budget for 2024, joining the "honour roll" of 36 Member States who have paid their regular budget dues in full to the UN on time. By paying its UN assessments in full and on time, India demonstrates its commitment to supporting the United Nations and its mission. The timely payment allows the UN to fund its programs and operations worldwide.
3. A deadly fungal infection called Candida auris is spreading rapidly in the United States. Recently, four people in Washington state tested positive. Despite being rare, doctors caution that infection can still be potentially hazardous due to its high fatality rate, drug resistance, and its ability to easily spread in healthcare facilities.
4. On 4th February 2024, Sri Lanka celebrated 76th Independence Day. Sri Lanka got independence from British rule on 4th February 1948. This day holds immense significance for the people of the country as it marks the culmination of decades of struggle and aspirations for self-determination.
5. In Chinese culture, certain years are known as "Widow Years." A Widow Year is a lunar year that does not contain the traditional solar term "Spring Commences" (Lichun), which marks the beginning of spring. The upcoming Year of the Dragon is considered a Widow Year because it lacks the Spring Commences solar term. Widow Years occur due to the misalignment between the lunar and solar calendars that make up the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.
6. Recently, Kosovo has sparked new controversy by banning the Serbian dinar to assert financial control and normalize use of the euro. The ban has sparked concern from the European Union, United States and Serbia.
7. Iran has recently become yet another country to launch visa-waiver programme allowing Indian citizens visa-free entry for up to 15 days. The decision was taken earlier, and the new rules provide welcomed access for Indian tourists.
8. In the Mexican border city of Tijuana, paramedics are increasingly responding to suspected fentanyl overdoses, with two or three calls a night being common and up to seven overdoses in one call. The synthetic opioid, which is 50 times stronger than heroin, is being cut into other recreational drugs like cocaine by Mexican cartels. As a result, users often don't know they're taking fentanyl.
9. The 7th IOC was held in Perth, Australia on 9th - 10th February 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 (Australia).
10. India launched UPI payment services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius during a virtual ceremony attended by PM Modi and the top leadership of the two nations. The move enables UPI settlement services for Indian nationals travelling to these countries and for Mauritian nationals visiting India.
11. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned AI-generated robocalls amid a rise in voice cloning scams that have affected thousands of citizens. Artificial intelligence can now create convincing fake audio and video, making it easy to scam people. The FCC aims to stop fraudsters using AI voice cloning in illegal robocalls to extort money or spread misinformation.
12. Gig workers, independent contractors who provide services on demand via apps and websites, have grown rapidly across the globe in recent years. On 8th February 2024, the Australian Labor government's "closing loopholes" bill, formally titled "Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023" passed the Senate. The bill, supported by Labor, the Greens, Lidia Thorpe and David Pocock, aims to close several loopholes in Australian workplace laws.
13. The Dubai Air Taxi Service is a planned aerial transportation network set to revolutionize urban mobility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Scheduled to commence operations in 2026, it will be the world's first city-wide air taxi service when launched.
14. The first trial movement of vessels carrying stone aggregates was flagged off recently on the Maia-Aricha route, connecting Maia Port in India to Sultanganj Port in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh flag vessel MV Desh Bangla, carrying stone aggregates, was flagged off by Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Shantanu Thakur from Maia Inland Customs Port in West Bengal.
15. 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.
16. Japan's economy slipped into a recession and Japan has dropped from being the third to fourth largest economy globally, overtaken by economic powerhouse Germany. With China further cementing second position, the US remains the world's largest economy.
17. On 15th February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, laid the foundation stone for the establishment of 'Bharat Mart' within the prominent Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone.
18. The "lying flat" lifestyle (tangping) is a minimalist approach to work and life adopted by a segment of Chinese youth in response to bleak economic prospects and societal pressures. The term "lying flat" originated in an April 2021 blog post titled "Lying Flat is Justice" by Luo Huazhong, who described quitting his job and embracing simple rural living. This resonated with many young Chinese struggling with unemployment, underemployment and burnout.
19. Japan has slipped behind Germany to fourth position among the world's largest economies in gross domestic product (GDP) terms. Earlier projections suggested Japan could overtake the United States as the biggest economy. However, structural challenges and currency effects have since led to stagnation and loss of competitiveness.
20. According to latest GDP figures, the United Kingdom has slipped into a technical recession, with the economy contracting 0.3% in Q4 2023 after a 0.1% decline in Q3. This worsens the economic backdrop for PM Rishi Sunak's government ahead of elections. Sunak promised to get the economy growing as one of his key pledges to voters last year.
21. The Hellenic Parliament of Greece passed a historic legislation, legalizing same-sex civil marriages in the country. It makes Greece the first constitutionally Christian Orthodox-majority nation to grant equal marital rights to LGBTQ couples.
22. The bizarre annual 'naked festival' of Japan called 'Sominsai' has been impacted, as rural towns hosting it grapple with demographic challenges posed by the country's rapid population ageing. Held every February, the cold weather festival involves scores of men wearing just loincloths ostensibly to invoke gods for a bountiful harvest.
23. At the United Nations Security Council on 21st February 2024, the United States exercised its veto power to override a resolution put forward by Arab nations led by Algeria that sought an urgent ceasefire and end to major Israeli military offensives in Gaza Strip amidst renewed heavy combat engagements.
24. Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif is set to assume the role of Prime Minister of Pakistan a week after 176 out of 342 lawmakers of the National Assembly voted against former premier Imran Khan in a dramatic no-confidence motion resulting in his unceremonious exit.
25. In February 2024, Dubai authorities introduced a 5-year multiple entry tourism visa policy for Indian citizens to further boost annual visitor arrivals from the key source market and cement cultural-economic relations.
26. As Russia-Ukraine conflict enters second year in February 2024, United States and European Union have jointly announced sweeping additional sanctions encompassing over 500 fresh punitive measures targeting Moscow for the aggression which has upset global peace.
27. On 27th February 2024, Maryam Nawaz of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was elected unopposed as Chief Minister of Punjab province defeating former international cricketer Imran Khan-backed candidate, securing 220 votes out of 371 member assembly.
28. The Peruvian government has declared a 90-day health emergency in light of the rapidly escalating dengue fever outbreak sweeping through the country. As of 27th February, over 31,000 cases and 32 deaths have been reported across 20 of Peru's 25 regions. The measure enables urgent mobilization of resources to contain the viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes.
Defence
1. 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.
2. India and Oman have signed a defence agreement during a meeting of the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) in Muscat recently. The agreement provides a framework for collaboration in new areas of defence engagement including procurement of military equipment.
3. The Indian Navy commissioned its latest survey vessel, INS Sandhayak, at Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on 3rd February 2024 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. INS Sandhayak is the first in a series of four Survey Vessel (Large) ships being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.
4. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a major exercise called Vayu Shakti-24 in Rajasthan on 17th February. The exercise will showcase the offensive and defensive capabilities of the IAF during day and night operations.
5. The US government has approved a major military sale to India valued at nearly $4 billion. The sale would include 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones and related sophisticated equipment. The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a weapons-ready drone designed for surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, and strike missions.
6. On 18th February 2024, the Indian Navy announced that it is all set to conduct the 12th edition of the multilateral naval exercise MILAN from 19th to 27th February, 2024 at Visakhapatnam. Over 50 countries have been invited to participate in the mega event.
7. On 19th February 2024, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff after Lt Gen M. V. Suchindra Kumar. Lt Gen Dwivedi was accorded the Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns. He brings with him over 39 years of illustrious service and experience in operations, intelligence, logistics, force structuring and modernization.
8. The 5th edition Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defence Forces joint exercise 'Dharma Guardian 2024' commenced on 25th February at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, India and will continue till 9th March 2024.
9. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over 23 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOT) to 22 industries in domains including electronics, laser technology, combat vehicles, naval systems and aeronautics.
10. Indian conglomerate Adani Group unveiled the country's first domestic ammunition and missile production facility through a joint venture with Israel's Elbit Systems targeting self-sufficiency needs of the armed forces. Defense Corridor Immunization Manufacturing Complex of Adani Defense and Aerospace, spread over 500 acres, was inaugurated by Army Chief General Manoj Pande and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Business, Economy & Banking
1. National Payments Corporation of India's (NPCI) Unified Payment Interface (UPI) was formally launched at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on 2nd February 2024. This marks an important step in taking UPI global. The launch coincided with India's Republic Day celebrations in Paris.
2. Public sector company Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has bagged a prestigious international order from a European client for the construction of a hybrid service operation vessel (SOV) for offshore wind renewables market, with an option for a follow-on order. The order, it is learnt, is worth over Rs. 500 crore.
3. Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Digital Payments Index, a measure of the extent of digitisation of payments across the country, increased to 418.77 in September 2023 from 395.57 in March 2023. "The RBI-DPI index has increased across all parameters and was driven particularly by growth in payment enablers, payment performance, and consumer centricity across the country over the period," the central bank said in a release.
4. The Centre has allocated Rs. 10,536 crore for Odisha's railway infrastructure development for the 2024-25 fiscal, which is Rs. 524 crore more than the amount sanctioned in last year's Budget. The annual average outlay for Odisha in the railway sector for the last three years has been around Rs. 10,000 crore.
5. The 7th Session of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) was recently held in Kochi. During this session, the committee finalised and recommended quality standards for five spices - allspice, juniper berries, star anise, turmeric, and cardamom.
6. The Reserve Bank of India has granted final authorization for three more companies - Juspay, Decentro, and Zoho - to operate as payment aggregators in India. This approval allows these companies to provide payment services to online merchants by accepting payments from customers.
7. India launched UPI payment services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius during a virtual ceremony attended by PM Modi and the top leadership of the two nations. The move enables UPI settlement services for Indian nationals travelling to these countries and for Mauritian nationals visiting India.
8. The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Government of India, as part of the 'One Nation, One Card' initiative. It aims to streamline public transport payments and promote digital transactions across India.
9. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the opening of the next tranche of Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2023-24 - Series IV. The bonds will be open for subscription from 12th February to 16th February 2023. The issue price has been fixed at Rs. 6,263 per gram.
10. In a recent policy update, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways outlined ambitious plans for six coastal mega ports by 2047, in line with the Maritime India Vision. The policy underscores expanding economic and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
11. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued draft regulations to establish Bima Sugam as a not-for-profit entity to serve as an online insurance marketplace catering to all stakeholders. By promoting transparency and collaboration, Bima Sugam aims to democratize insurance access using technology and achieve the vision of "Insurance for all by 2047".
12. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently directed prominent card networks like Visa and Mastercard to immediately stop enabling commercial transactions by a class of entities called Business Payment Solution Providers (BPSPs) until merchant compliance issues are addressed.
13. On 21st February 2024, Japan's government signed a yen loan agreement worth 232.209 billion yen, approximately Rs. 12,800 crore, with India to fund development across nine crucial infrastructure and innovation promotion projects that aim to strengthen bilateral economic ties.
14. In February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a call to make Amul dairy cooperative the number one dairy company worldwide while addressing a grand 50-year celebration event of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) which markets all Amul milk & dairy products.
15. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) recently released highlights of the latest nationwide Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) conducted during 2022-23 by the National Statistical Office.
16. Vietnam-based electric vehicle maker VinFast Auto Ltd commenced construction work for establishing a new integrated EV manufacturing unit at Thoothukudi in southern Tamil Nadu where the company has planned to invest Rs. 4000 crore, spread over 5 years.
17. Mauritius Government has decided to amend Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India in order to go with OECD's proposal on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. The Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) is a treaty signed between two countries so that non-residents will be able to avoid paying double taxes.
18. The Reserve Bank of India, India's Central bank, is observing the Financial Literacy Week (FLW) 2024 from 26th February to 1st March 2024 on the theme "Make a Right Start - Become Financially Smart".
19. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently cautioned mobile phone users about the potential fraud risks from "juice jacking", a cyberattack vector, if they charge their devices through USB ports available in public spaces. With growing reports of hackers tampering with such ports to steal sensitive user data, RBI's advisory aims to spread awareness among people to take necessary precautions for protecting their finances and privacy.
20. On 29th February 2024, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd and The Walt Disney Company signed agreements to create one of India's largest TV and streaming firms. The joint venture merges Viacom18 with Disney's Star India to target rapid growth in the country's digital entertainment space.
21. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred Paytm Payments Bank from onboarding new customers and offering services like digital wallets and UPI transactions from 1st March 2024. As per the RBI directive, Paytm Payments Bank cannot offer services like accepting fresh deposits, issuing credit and debit cards, opening current and savings accounts, and providing payment aggregator services. It also cannot enable transactions via UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS or issue FASTags and Rupay cards.
Science & Technology
1. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in India. Each year, over 1,20,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and over 75,000 die from the disease. Cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women in India.
2. Researchers from various national and international organisations have discovered a new species of burrowing frog in Bengaluru. Named as 'Sphaerotheca Varshaabhu', this previously unknown species of frog has been thriving amidst the urban landscape of Bengaluru. The newly unearthed amphibian exhibits distinctive characteristics that set it apart from known frog species.
3. NASA has recently announced that its Mars robot helicopter Ingenuity, the first vehicle to achieve powered, controlled flight on another world, has been grounded for good after flying dozens of times over three years, ending a landmark mission that far exceeded all expectations.
4. On 4th February 2024, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has broken the world record for the most time spent in space, surpassing his compatriot Gennady Padalka. Kononenko has logged over 878 days in orbit and is expected to reach 1,000 days on 5th June 2024.
5. American space agency NASA has discovered a "super-Earth" planet, dubbed TOI-715 b, that could potentially support life. It is located 137 light-years away and was found by NASA's planet-hunting Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. The super-Earth is around one and a half times as wide as Earth and orbits a smaller, cooler red dwarf star. It completes a full orbit in just 19 days.
6. India is planning for a manned space mission Gaganyaan in 2025. But before human astronauts launch, a space-bound "robot friend" named Vyommitra will fly to space later this year to test critical systems. This female humanoid robot is equipped to simulate human functions within the spacecraft's orbit.
7. Recently, researchers at Stanford University discovered a new virus-like entity called obelisks. These obelisks have been found in large numbers within the human mouth and gut. Obelisks are microscopic entities that contain one or two genes and self-organise into a rod-like shape. They are circular bits of genetic material that have been found hiding inside the human body.
8. Scientists at India's Raman Research Institute (RRI) have developed a new image-correction algorithm that significantly improves images used to study ultracold atoms. The advanced imaging promises to unlock a deeper understanding of intriguing quantum mechanics properties of atoms at temperatures nearing absolute zero.
9. India is making a major push to establish itself as a global leader in deep tech - advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing that have the potential to drive economic growth. With a vast talent pool and growing tech industry, India sees an opportunity to contribute to developing these cutting-edge technologies and benefit from associated economic gains.
10. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva, Switzerland. CERN scientists now want to push ahead with a €16 billion expansion of the LHC called the Future Circular Collider (FCC) which would have a 91 km ring over three times the size of the existing collider.
11. Union Cabinet recently approved the spectrum auction for 2024, which is expected to garner Rs. 96,317 crore for the exchequer. The auction will include various spectrum bands like 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2300 MHz that can be used by telecom operators to provide 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G services. This move comes at a crucial time when India is preparing for 5G roll-out and the telecom sector is recovering from recent troubles.
12. 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, with skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes etc but milder intensity.
13. The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and IIT Kharagpur recently signed an agreement to create 10-Gigabit XGS-PON (10 Gbps Symmetric Passive Optical Network) components, funded by the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme.
14. 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 of HAPS platforms for strategic communication and observation roles.
15. 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 National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) to address the gender gap in sciences.
16. The European Union has excluded certain services like Apple's iMessage and Microsoft's Bing search engine from newly introduced strict regulations for Big Tech companies. The European Union has implemented landmark new rules to rein in anti-competitive behaviour by major technology companies such as Meta, Google, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft.
17. The advanced Technology Innovation Institute (TII) of the United Arab Emirates has launched the Falcon Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing open-source generative AI models. Backed by $300 million funding from TII, its objective is to progress development of open-source Generative AI models through collaborative initiatives.
18. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the advanced INSAT-3DS meteorological observation satellite on 17th February 2023 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota using a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket. The mission aims to place INSAT 3DS at into a geo synchronous transfer orbit.
19. On 18th February 2023, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced the successful first orbital launch of its next-generation H3 launch vehicle. The new flagship rocket delivered its test payload into intended orbit after two prior failed launch attempts in 2022.
20. The Government of India has directed all school and higher education institutions across the country to make available digital study material in Indian languages for every academic course within 3 years. This policy aims to enable students to learn in their native tongues aligned to India's linguistic diversity.
21. As per latest reports, India's first dedicated surveillance satellite constructed entirely by a domestic company, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), is slated to launch from a SpaceX rocket by April 2024. It would provide Indian defence agencies an independent imagery intelligence gathering system.
22. Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created next-generation anti-counterfeiting tags harnessing terahertz waves that can remotely detect tampering or removal attempts from product packaging due to their novel tamper-proof adhesive design with embedded micro-particles.
23. In a breakthrough discovery reported in February 2024 edition of leading scientific journal Science, an international team of astronomers confirmed sighting of a special stellar category matching helium-rich, compact and hot subdwarf characteristics that had been theoretically predicted over 10 years back but escaped detection due to extreme rarity.
24. A high profile consortium named 'BharatGPT' comprising billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries along with eight elite Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) announced timeline to launch indigenous alternative to popular conversational AI chatbot ChatGPT in March 2024. The AI model - named Hanooman is expected to position India as a global contender in cutting-edge generative language technologies.
25. Guinea worm disease is a crippling and painful infection caused by long thread-like Guinea worms that emerge slowly from human skin blisters after incubating for about a year since the carrier has ingested parasite eggs in contaminated water. Sufferers find it hard to function for months.
26. Krutrim, an Artificial Intelligence start-up launched by Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal, has rolled out an AI chatbot in public beta, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. The launch comes a month after Krutrim disclosed a $50-million financing at $1-billion valuation, to become the country's first start-up unicorn in 2024.
27. Using the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have recently identified a bright quasar. It is not only found to be the brightest of its kind, but also the most luminous object ever observed.
28. Three tiny moons, one orbiting Uranus and two circling Neptune, have been recently confirmed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), bringing the total number of known moons to 28 around Uranus and 16 around Neptune.
29. Cloud software major Zoho Corp. has launched a new point-of-sale (PoS) solution called Zakya, aimed at empowering and streamlining operations for small and medium brick-and-mortar retail stores across India. Equipped with robust features for inventory management, omnichannel sales and enhanced customer experience, this modern business platform promises to help retailers achieve higher efficiency and revenue growth.
30. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has announced the successful completion of the '10,000 Genomes Project' - an effort to sequence thousands of individual genomes from India. This landmark project aims to enable precision medicine and genetic epidemiology studies tailored to the Indian population.
31. A new genetic entity dubbed 'obelisks' has recently been discovered in abundant numbers inside bacteria inhabiting the human gut and mouth. This never-before-seen biological construct displays unique characteristics unlike other known viruses or cell types, prompting researchers to classify obelisks as a third fundamental domain that could help better understand microbial ecology in the human body.
Government Schemes
1. The Uttar Pradesh Government, as part of its mission to eradicate filariasis from the state, is all set to launch the Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign from 5th to 15th February. The campaign will be conducted in 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed to all residents to actively take the filariasis prevention medicine during the MDA rounds.
2. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to provide equitable opportunities to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs). The guidelines align with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes accessibility, equity, and inclusivity in higher education.
3. The Union Cabinet has recently given its approval to a series of key economic decisions, including the extension of several schemes such as the Subsidised Sugar Scheme. These initiatives are expected to significantly influence India's economy and provide support to the most vulnerable sections of society.
4. The Union Cabinet approved the "Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)", a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada aimed at formalizing the fisheries sector and supporting fisheries micro and small enterprises.
5. The NITI Aayog has recently launched the 'Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry' (GROW) report and portal. The GROW initiative by NITI Aayog utilizes remote sensing and GIS to assess agroforestry suitability across all districts in India. It aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and create an additional carbon sink.
6. 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.
7. The Tamil Nadu state differently-abled welfare department is setting up 39 One-Stop Centers (OSCs) at the sub-divisional administration level as part of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act implementation. OSCs will serve as central district-wise hubs providing comprehensive welfare services and rehabilitation support for disabled individuals nearer to their homes.
8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently launched more than 2,000 railway infrastructure projects worth about Rs. 41,000 crore. The Prime Minister laid the foundation for 554 station redevelopment projects under the 'Amrit Bharat' station scheme, a government initiative to revamp key railway stations across the country, across 27 States.
9. On 23rd February 2024, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched an annual capacity building blueprint for employees working under his three ministries spanning railways, communications and information technology sectors.
10. The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur launched four new portals that promise to revolutionize the media landscape in India. The Press Sewa Portal, developed under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 (PRP Act, 2023) by the Press Registrar General of India, is a big step towards complete automation of the process for newspaper registration and other related processes.
Awards & Honours
1. Tamil Super Star Vijay founded the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) political party in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on 2nd February 2024 with the slogan Pirappokkum Ellaa Uyirkkum (All are equal by birth). Its headquarters is in Chennai. Vijay stated that his target is the 2026 state election. He clarified he wouldn't participate in the upcoming national election. The ruling DMK and opposition BJP conveyed their best wishes to the actor.
2. Lal Krishna Advani was awarded the Bharat Ratna in this month. The Bharat Ratna represents the highest esteem and recognition for exceptional service to the nation. It honours the ideals and values that India strives towards.
3. Justice Bahri has been sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court by Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd.) at Raj Bhavan. The post had been vacant since the retirement of Justice Vipin Sanghi in October 2023.
4. Three Indian-origin researchers are among nine scientists named recipients of the prestigious Blavatnik Awards For Young Scientists in the UK. The awards recognize research that is transforming medicine, technology, and our understanding of the world across three categories: Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Life Sciences.
5. Former prime ministers P. V. Narasimha Rao and Charan Singh, along with scientist M. S. Swaminathan will be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. The awards recognize their monumental contributions to India's development and prosperity.
6. In February 2024, India was awarded the eminent GovTech Prize instituted by the government of UAE at the World Government Summit. India won in the "AI-Powered Government Services" category for its innovative iRASTE project that utilizes artificial intelligence to transform road safety.
7. On 18th February 2024, the Jnanpith Selection Board named famous Indian poet, lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar along with eminent Sanskrit scholar and educator Jagadguru Rambhadracharya as joint recipients of the prestigious Jnanpith Award for the year 2023.
8. On 27th February 2024, Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal was awarded an Honorary Knighthood by King Charles III. He has become the first Indian citizen to receive an Honorary Knighthood from United Kingdom's King Charles III. The prestigious honor acknowledges Mittal's efforts in strengthening India-UK economic relations.
Sports
1. With the massive win over India, Australia has secured its fourth World Cup title in U-19 cricket. Australia added to their triumphs in 2002, 2010 and 2020. Their consistent performance throughout the tournament showcased their depth and talent, making them deserving champions. India, aiming for a record-extending sixth title, was left heartbroken but can hold their heads high for a commendable campaign.
2. 16-year old Indian chess prodigy Dommaraju Gukesh recently stunned reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen in a Freestyle Chess match. This new variant format is rising in popularity globally.
3. On 18th February 2024, the Indian women's badminton team won a historic gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Shah Alam, Malaysia. This was India's first ever title at the continental competition, with the men's team having previously won two bronze medals in 2016 and 2020.
4. Ravichandran Ashwin has etched his name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the second Indian bowler to take 500 wickets in Test matches. This milestone was reached during the second day of the third Test between India and England in Rajkot, marking a significant achievement in Ashwin's already storied career.
5. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the Khelo India University games in Guwahati. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed Khelo India University Games being held across the seven states in the Northeast via a video message.
6. Veteran fast bowler Neil Wagner has called time on his international cricketing career, bringing an end to a distinguished 12-year Test match journey with the Black Caps. The 37-year-old Wagner represented New Zealand in 64 Tests, claiming a total of 260 wickets, placing him fifth on the nation's all-time wicket-takers list.
References:
jagranjosh.com
gktoday.in
business-standard.com
Join The Discussion