07th February, 2023
National Diagnostics Catapult, The Development Innovation Lab, for India’s 5th nano urea plant, VIHANGAM, formal trilateral cooperation initiative, E20 fuel, International Biofuel Alliance, 100% electrification of Railways by 2024, Digital India Mobile Van, G20 Digital Economy Working Group’s meeting, “Mero Rukh Mero Santati”, helicopter service, Surajkund Mela, India’s largest chopper manufacturing unit, Waste to Energy and bio-methanation projects, Annual Partnership Forum, US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group, face of the British Monarch, IndusInd Bank, 4G LTE connectivity, nuclear turbines, Vodafone Idea, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Ranveer Singh as brand ambassador, World Cancer Day, world’s most popular leader, Golden Book Awards 2023, “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, Raphael Varane (French footballer), Joginder Sharma, Khelo India Winter Games 2023 (3rd edition), 2027 Asian Football Cup, Kasinadhuni Viswanath, Vani Jairam, Deepfakes
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has launched National Diagnostics Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0).
- Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has partnered with The Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone for India’s 5th nano urea plant at Jharkhand’s Deoghar at a cost of Rs 450 crores.
- Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has launched VIHANGAM, a web-based portal, along with a drone and ground control system, for introducing drone technology in coal mines.
- India, France and the UAE have agreed to establish a formal trilateral cooperation initiative for expanding cooperation in various fields of mutual interest.
- PM Modi launched the E20 fuel (20% ethanol mixed with 80% petrol) during the India Energy Week 2023.
- India is planning to launch the International Biofuel Alliance during the G20 Summit, just like the International Solar Alliance.
- India is to achieve 100% electrification of Railways by 2024. The target has been achieved in five different Railway zones.
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched the Digital India Mobile Van to spread awareness of Digital India initiatives and about the G20 Digital Economy Working Group’s meeting, which will be held in Lucknow.
- Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang has launched the “Mero Rukh Mero Santati” (Plant A Tree, leave a Legacy) initiative, in which, 100 trees will be planted after every childbirth.
- Goa government has launched a helicopter service for high-net-worth individuals and luxury tourists.
- Surajkund Mela – one of the largest international arts and crafts fairs in the world – was organized in Haryana.
- India’s largest chopper manufacturing unit is now ready to start operation in Tumakuru, Karnataka. The foundation stone for the unit was laid in 2016.
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Engineer India Ltd have signed an MOU to develop Waste to Energy and bio-methanation projects in cities with a population of million plus.
- An Annual Partnership Forum of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was organized at UN’s headquarters in New York.
- NASA and IBM have partnered to develop artificial intelligence (AI) based models to advance scientific knowledge about Earth, and help the world to adapt to a changing environment.
- 8th meeting of the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) meeting was held in the US to discuss collaboration in earth and space science as well as global navigation satellite systems, spaceflight safety and space situational awareness, and policies for commercial space activities.
- Australia has announced to remove the face of the British Monarch from its currency notes.
- Hinduja Group has received RBI’s approval to increase its stake to 26% in IndusInd Bank after the recent revision in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines on private bank ownership.
- Central PSU RailTel Corporation of India has received a work order from the State Bank of India (SBI) for providing 4G LTE connectivity to 15,000 offsite ATMs spread across India.
- Azad Engineering Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based market leader in precision engineering, has been approved as the first Indian company to supply critical rotating parts for nuclear turbines.
- Central Govt has announced to convert its debt on Vodafone Idea into equity up to 33%, becoming its biggest shareholder.
- Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has changed the definition of Broadband in India. As per the new definition, the download speed of the internet has to be at least 2 Mbps, to classify as a broadband.
- Nutella (sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero) has appointed Ranveer Singh as brand ambassador.
- February 4 – World Cancer Day; Theme – Close the Care Gap: Uniting our Voices and Taking Action
- February 4 – International Day of Human Fraternity (3rd edition)
- PM Narendra Modi is the world’s most popular leader with a 78% approval rating, as per the US-based Morning Consult.
- Golden Book Awards 2023 (Asia’s most prestigious literary award; sponsored by Wings Publication International- a publishing house in India) have been announced.
- Fortune Magazine has released the “World’s Most Admired Companies” list.
- Raphael Varane (French footballer) has announced retirement.
- Joginder Sharma (Indian cricketer) has announced retirement.
- India has defeated in New Zealand in its ODI and T20I series.
- Khelo India Winter Games 2023 (3rd edition) will be held in the picturesque town of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 Asian Football Cup. Qatar is hosting the AFC Cup in 2023.
- Kasinadhuni Viswanath (winner of Padma Shri and Dadasaheb Phalke awards) was an Indian film director, screenwriter and actor. He has recently passed away.
- Vani Jairam (veteran singer and Padma Bhushan recipient) has passed away.
- Deepfakes is the process of mimicking the voice of a person by using a software.
Table of Content
National News
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has launched National Diagnostics Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0).
- The programme is anchored by C-CAMP with support from the Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster (BLiSc) and funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and FIND, a global alliance for diagnostics.
- Purpose – to boost India’s preparedness for current and future pandemics and scale up diagnostics space for infectious diseases including but not limited to COVID-19
- C-CAMP InDx 2.0 builds on the hugely successful, India-wide COVID-19 diagnostics platform, Indigenisation of Diagnostics (CCAMP-InDx) initiative launched in July 2020.
| Knowledge Nuggets - |
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| • C-CAMP is an initiative supported by government agencies, including the Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, NITI Aayog-AIM, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Startup India and the Government of Karnataka. • In one year since its launch, the C-CAMP InDx programme had achieved its target of producing one million indigenous RT-PCR test kits for SARS CoV2 per day, building capacity of more than 200 indigenous MSMEs and academic labs, the largest such cohort in the country. |
- Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has partnered with The Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago.
- Purpose – to explore the opportunities to harness innovation to improve food security, address climate change, and allow farmers to increase their incomes
- The DIL was founded by Nobel Laureate Dr Michael Kremer, University Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago, and a 2019 co-recipient of the Economics Nobel.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone for India’s 5th nano urea plant at Jharkhand’s Deoghar at a cost of Rs 450 crores.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s first nano urea plant at Kalol, Gujarat in 2022.
- Two plants will be set up at Aonla (Bareilly) and Phulpur (Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh. One plant will be set up near Bengaluru in Karnataka.
| Knowledge Nuggets - |
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| • At present, the country's urea (conventional) production is 260 lakh tonnes, while around 90 lakh tonnes are imported to meet local demand. • Target – By 2025, around 60 lakh tonnes of production capacity will be added for conventional urea, while the output of nano urea is estimated to rise to 44 crores bottles (of 500 ml each) per annum, which will be equivalent to 200 lakh tonnes of conventional urea. • At present, the capacity of nano urea is 5 crore bottles per year. • India has set a target of eliminating urea imports by 2025. |
- Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has launched VIHANGAM, a web-based portal, along with a drone and ground control system, for introducing drone technology in coal mines.
- The portal allows an authorised person to access real time drone video from the mine through a dedicated 40 Mbps internet lease line near the mines.
- There is a control station that flies the drone and the system can be operated through the portal from anywhere.
- This pilot project is at present operational at Bhubaneswari and Lingraj opencast mines of Talcher Coalfields (both in Odisha).
| Knowledge Nuggets - |
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| • Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) contributes more than 20 % of the total coal produced in India. • It is one of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited. • MCL’s CMD - Shri Om Prakash Singh |
- India, France and the UAE have agreed to establish a formal trilateral cooperation initiative for expanding cooperation in various fields of mutual interest.
- PM Modi launched the E20 fuel (20% ethanol mixed with 80% petrol) during the India Energy Week 2023.
- The fuel is being launched in 83 locations in India spread across 11 states and UTs.
- India Energy Week is being organized in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Indian Oil Corporation has launched “Unbottled” initiative, which uses recycled polyester (rPET) and cotton to create uniforms for retail customer attendants and LPG delivery personnel.
- Each set of uniforms of IndianOil’s customer attendant shall support recycling of around 28 used PET bottles.
- Under this brand, IndianOil targets to meet the requirement of uniforms for the customer attendants of other Oil Marketing Companies, non-combat uniforms for the Army, uniforms/ dresses for Institutions & sales to retail customers.
- India is planning to launch the International Biofuel Alliance during the G20 Summit, just like the International Solar Alliance.
- USA and Brazil have agreed to support India in this initiative.
- These two countries are the largest biofuel markets in the world. Together, they accounted for 84% of the world’s ethanol production and 26% of the world’s biodiesel production.
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated ₹35,000 crore for energy transition in the Union Budget 2023-24 to achieve the net-zero emission target.
- India is to achieve 100% electrification of Railways by 2024. The target has been achieved in five different Railway zones.
- The fifth zone to achieve this was the North Central Railways.
- Recently, the Vikarabad (Telangana) – Parli-Vaijnath (Maharashtra) line was electrified. It will benefit the people in the states of Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched the Digital India Mobile Van to spread awareness of Digital India initiatives and about the G20 Digital Economy Working Group’s meeting, which will be held in Lucknow.
- The van will provide information about the Digital India initiatives such as Aarogya Setu, India Stack Global, e-Rupi, PMJDY, Aadhar, Digi locker, e-way bill, UMANG, e-aushadhi, Co-WIN, etc.
State News
- Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang has launched the “Mero Rukh Mero Santati” (Plant A Tree, leave a Legacy) initiative, in which, 100 trees will be planted after every childbirth.
- Goa government has launched a helicopter service for high-net-worth individuals and luxury tourists.
- The helicopter service, which is priced at Rs 8,000 per head for a 10-minute trip, is part of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s attempt to attract high-end tourists.
- The heli service will offer connecting flights between Goa International Airport, Dabolim, and Manohar International Airport, Mopa.
- Apart from joyrides, the operator is offering trips to Kolhapur, Shirdi, Hampi, and other places, along with rides to select beaches in Goa.
- Surajkund Mela – one of the largest international arts and crafts fairs in the world – was organized in Haryana.
- Every year, there is a theme nation and a theme state that participate in the fair.
- This year, the theme nations were SCO member countries. The theme states were all the north-eastern states.
Defence News
- India’s largest chopper manufacturing unit is now ready to start operation in Tumakuru, Karnataka. The foundation stone for the unit was laid in 2016.
Memorandum of Understanding
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Engineer India Ltd have signed an MOU to develop Waste to Energy and bio-methanation projects in cities with a population of million plus.
- The project will enable the “Green Growth” of India (as envisaged in the Union Budget 2023-24).
- There are 59 million plus cities in India like Lucknow, Kanpur, Bareilly, Nasik, Thane, Nagpur, Gwalior, Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore etc.
- Target – The initiative will result in an additional processing capacity of 15,000 TPD for Bio-Methanation and 10,000 TPD for Waste to Energy respectively.
International News
- An Annual Partnership Forum of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was organized at UN’s headquarters in New York.
- Punjab-based Patiala Foundation has participated in this meeting.
- NGOs accredited with the UN body, agencies and stakeholders participated in this forum.
| Knowledge Nuggets - |
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| • Punjab-based Patiala Foundation was accorded ECOSOC Special Consultative Status in 2018 and works in the field of protection and regeneration of livelihood, heritage conservation, road safety and environment conservation, issues that are the focus of various Sustainable Development Goals. |
- NASA and IBM have partnered to develop artificial intelligence (AI) based models to advance scientific knowledge about Earth, and help the world to adapt to a changing environment.
- The joint work will apply AI foundation model technology to NASA’s Earth-observing satellite data for the first time.
- Example – One project will train an IBM geospatial intelligence foundation model on NASA’s Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) dataset, a record of land cover and land use changes captured by Earth-orbiting satellites.
- This model technology will help researchers provide critical analysis of our planet’s environmental systems.
- 8th meeting of the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) meeting was held in the US to discuss collaboration in earth and space science as well as global navigation satellite systems, spaceflight safety and space situational awareness, and policies for commercial space activities.
- India and US will together launch the NASA-India Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission in 2024.
- NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes in our planet’s surface less than a centimetre across.
| Knowledge Nuggets - |
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| • In 2005, India and US established their Joint Working Group on Civil Space Cooperation to expand cooperation in civilian space programs. • The first meeting of the forum was held in Bengaluru in 2005. |
- Australia has announced to remove the face of the British Monarch from its currency notes.
| Knowledge Nuggets - |
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| • Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are the Commonwealth Group of Countries which accept England’s monarchy as the Head of the State. • Australia Capital – Canberra; Currency – Australian Dollar; National Language – English • Australia PM – Anthony Albanese • Australia’s population – 2.6 crore approx. • Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. • Australia is the largest country by area in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country. • Politically, Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, comprising six states and ten territories. • Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are the Commonwealth Group of Countries which accept England’s monarchy as the Head of the State. • Important cities of Australia – Sydney (most populous city and financial centre), Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. |
Banking and Economy
- Hinduja Group has received RBI’s approval to increase its stake to 26% in IndusInd Bank after the recent revision in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines on private bank ownership.
- Hinduja already owns 16.51% stake in IndusInd Bank.
| Knowledge Nuggets - |
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| • In January 2023, RBI issued the “RBI (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies) Directions, 2023”. • As per the Directions, Promoters can hold 26% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the banking company after the completion of 15 years from commencement of business of the banking company. |
- Central PSU RailTel Corporation of India has received a work order from the State Bank of India (SBI) for providing 4G LTE connectivity to 15,000 offsite ATMs spread across India.
| Knowledge Nuggets - |
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| • RailTel, a "Mini Ratna (Category-I)" Central Public Sector Enterprise is an ICT provider and one of the largest neutral telecom infrastructure providers in the country owning a Pan-India optic fiber network. • RailTel was incorporated in 2000 for modernizing the existing telecom system for train control, operation, safety, and laying optical fiber cable using the right of way along railway tracks. • RailTel CMD - Sanjai Kumar State Bank of India - • State Bank of India (SBI), a Fortune 500 company, is an Indian Multinational, Public Sector Banking and Financial services statutory body headquartered in Mumbai. • It came into effect through the State Bank of India Act, 1955. • SBI Chair - Dinesh Kumar Khara |
- Azad Engineering Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based market leader in precision engineering, has been approved as the first Indian company to supply critical rotating parts for nuclear turbines.
- Azad Engineering has signed a long-term supply agreement with General Electric (GE) Steam Power for the supply of nuclear turbineparts.
- Central Govt has announced to convert its debt on Vodafone Idea into equity up to 33%, becoming its biggest shareholder.
- Vodafone is telecom joint venture between UK’s Vodafone and Kumar Mangalam Birla-owned Aditya Birla Group.
- The 33% equity is equivalent to Rs 16,133 crore.
- Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has changed the definition of Broadband in India. As per the new definition, the download speed of the internet has to be at least 2 Mbps, to classify as a broadband.
- This is far behind the developed countries. For example, in the US it is 25 Mbps. In Canada, it is 50 Mbps.
Appointments
- Nutella (sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero) has appointed Ranveer Singh as brand ambassador.
Important Days
- February 4 – World Cancer Day; Theme – Close the Care Gap: Uniting our Voices and Taking Action
- The “Close the Care Gap” is the campaign of the World Cancer Day for 2022-24.
- World Cancer Day 2024 Theme – Close the Care Gap: Together, We Challenge Those in Power
- World Cancer Day 2022 Theme – Close the Care Gap: Realising the problem
- February 4 – International Day of Human Fraternity (3rd edition)
- 1st Week of February – International Interfaith Harmony Week
Awards
- PM Narendra Modi is the world’s most popular leader with a 78% approval rating, as per the US-based Morning Consult.
- He is followed by Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
- Golden Book Awards 2023 (Asia’s most prestigious literary award; sponsored by Wings Publication International- a publishing house in India) have been announced.
- Wings Publication supports entrepreneurs, coaches, trainers & consultants to establish authority and thought leadership in form of the book.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| J.K Rowling | Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore |
| Gaur Gopal Das | Energize Your Mind: A Monk's Guide To Mindful Living |
| Deepak Chopra | The Seven Spiritual Law Of Success: A Practical Guide To Achieving Your Dreams |
| Kamlesh Patel | The Wisdom Bridge: Nine Principles To A Life That Echoes In The Hearts Of Your Loved Ones |
| Jeff Kinney | Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode |
| Ashneer Grover | Doglapan: The Hard Truth About Life And Start-Ups |
| Ruskin Bond | How To Live Your Life |
| Raj Shamani | Build, Don't Talk - Things You Wish You Were Taught In School |
Note: The important awardees are mentioned here. The complete list of awardees has been given here for your reference – https://www.business-standard.com/content/press-releases-ani/asia-s-most-prestigious-book-award-golden-book-awards-announces-winners-2023-123020301324_1.html
- Fortune Magazine has released the “World’s Most Admired Companies” list.
Sports
- Raphael Varane (French footballer) has announced retirement.
- Joginder Sharma (Indian cricketer) has announced retirement.
- India has defeated in New Zealand in its ODI and T20I series.
- Shubham Gill became the youngest cricketer to score 200 in Men’s ODI and fastest Indian to score 1000 runs. He also became the youngest to score century in all the 3 formats.
- Khelo India Winter Games 2023 (3rd edition) will be held in the picturesque town of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The mascot, theme song and jersey for the upcoming KIWG 2023 were unveiled.
- The first Khelo India Winter Games took place in 2020, and Jammu and Kashmir have come on top in both editions of the games so far.
- Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 Asian Football Cup. Qatar is hosting the AFC Cup in 2023.
- The Asian Football Cup is held once in every four years. It is organized by the Asian Football Confederation.
- 2023 AFC Cup Slogan: Asia to Everyone
- 2027 AFC Cup Slogan: Forward for Asia; Host cities: Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah
Miscellaneous
- Kasinadhuni Viswanath (winner of Padma Shri and Dadasaheb Phalke awards) was an Indian film director, screenwriter and actor. He has recently passed away.
- Vani Jairam (veteran singer and Padma Bhushan recipient) has passed away.
- Deepfakes is the process of mimicking the voice of a person by using a software.
About Anuj Jindal
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Anuj Jindal, the founder, is an ex-manager from SBI, with an M.Com from Delhi School of Economics. He also has a JRF in Commerce & Management and NET in HRM, along with more than 5 years of experience in the field of Education.
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