08th-09th February, 2024

1. Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar has inaugurated “Digital India FutureLABS” at Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024.
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.
3. 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India has issued a set of guidelines for effective functioning of environmental regulatory bodies and authorities in India.
4. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has released Shree Jagannatha, Lord Of The Universe, a coffee-table book at the valedictory session of the three-day, first-ever “World Odia Language Conference” in Bhubaneswar.
5. Uttarakhand legislative assembly has passed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Uttarakhand, Bill 2024, which seeks to “govern and regulate the laws related to marriage and divorce, successions, live-in relationships, and matters related thereto.
6. Telangana State Wildlife Board has approved the establishment of Kawal tiger corridor conservation zone, a bison sanctuary in Kothagudem and increase in compensation for wildlife attack deaths to 10 lakh.
7. Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) has launched the Novel Initiative Technological Intervention for Safety of Humanlives (NITISH).
8. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched “LIC Index Plus”, a unit-linked, regular premium, individual life insurance plan.
9. Fintech firms Juspay and Decentro and software-as-a-service company Zoho have received the final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as payment aggregators.
10. HDFC Bank and its group companies have received RBI approval to acquire up to 9.5% stake in 6 banks.
11. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released Interim Economic Outlook Report February 2024 titled “Strengthening the Foundations for Growth”.
12. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with Munitions India Limited to develop India’s 1st indigenously-designed 155 Smart Ammunition to achieve indigenisation in the defence sector.
13. Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) has partnered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the 2nd phase of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) research programme.
14. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted four successful flight trials of the high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT)-ABHYAS.
15. 66th Annual Grammy Awards (Grammy 2024) was held at the Crypto.comArena in Los Angeles, California, the United States of America.
16. British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani’s portrait of a sleepy polar bear on an iceberg has been voted the People’s Choice winner in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
17. United Nations (UN) International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation(FGM)
18. State Bank of India has partnered with Flywire Corporation to ease Indian student’s international education payments.
19. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has appointed Brazilian footballer Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira Junior (Vinícius Junior) as the Goodwill Ambassador for Education for All.
20. Board of Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited has appointed H Venkatachalam Iyer as its new Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
21. Nayib Bukele has been re-elected as El Salvador president in landslide win.
22. LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management Ltd (LIC AMC) has appointed Ravi Kumar Jha as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from 31st January 2024.
23. Indian Revenue Service officer, Narendra Kumar Yadav has been the 1st civil servant to be appointed as a brand ambassador for the Fit India Movement.
24. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Mio Oka as its new Country Director for India.
25. President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Olzhas Bektenov of Amanat party as the new Prime Minister (PM) of Kazakhstan.
26. Apurva Chandra has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Sanjay Jaju has been appointed as the New Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
27. Prominent British-Indian peer Shreela Flather has passed away after a short illness in the United Kingdom.
28. Former President of Chile Sebastian Pinera has died from asphyxiation due to submersion after the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a lake in southern Chile.
29. Veteran broadcaster, poet and Sahitya Akademi winner Mir Mohammad Farooq Nazki has passed away in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir.

National News

1. Digital India FutureLABS at IIIT Delhi.
   • What 👉 Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar has inaugurated “Digital India FutureLABS” at Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024.
   • Key points-
     • Summit also witnessed an announcement of 22 MoUs of C-DAC with Industry for implementation of the futureLABS.
     • Digital India FutureLABS aims to tap into the trillion-dollar opportunity presented by the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector.
       Source: cdac

2. Indian contribution to UN Regular Budget for 2024.

   • What 👉 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.

3. Guidelines For Effective Functioning Of Environmental Authorities.
   • What 👉 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India has issued a set of guidelines for effective functioning of environmental regulatory bodies and authorities in India.
   • Key points-
     • Court has directed that bodies, authorities, regulators, and executive offices entrusted with environmental duties “must” function with certain “institutional features”.
     • SC has mandated regular audits of the performance of environmental bodies towards proper institutionalisation to ensure accountability and transparency.
   • Approvals-
     • SC has passed the directions while approving the notification of Central Government, making the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), a permanent body.
     • More about Central Empowered Committee (CEC)-
       • CEC assists the SC on environment and forest issues
       • It will have members chosen by the Centre for a fixed tenure with specified functions.
         Source: The Hindu

   
   

State News

1. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released a coffee-table book.
   • What 👉 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has released Shree Jagannatha, Lord Of The Universe, a coffee-table book at the valedictory session of the three-day, first-ever “World Odia Language Conference” in Bhubaneswar.
   • Key points-
     • Book is a compilation of short articles encompassing various aspects of rich traditions including the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
     • The book pictorially narrates traditions and rituals associated with sibling deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in Puri.
     • “World Odia Language Conference” will be held at a five-year intervals.
       Source: The Hindu

   
   
2. Uttarakhand becomes first state to clear Uniform Civil Code Bill
   • What 👉 Uttarakhand legislative assembly has passed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Uttarakhand, Bill 2024, which seeks to “govern and regulate the laws related to marriage and divorce, successions, live-in relationships, and matters related thereto.
   • Key points-
     • Bill will now be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent after which it will become a law.
     • UCC Bill is based on the draft submitted by a high-level committee formed by the Uttarakhand government under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
   • Uniform Civil Code?
     • Uniform Civil Code (UCC) calls for the formulation of one law for India, which would be applicable to all religious communities in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption.
     • Code comes under Article 44 of the Constitution, which lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
   • UCC in Goa
     • Although Goa is governed by a UCC (Portuguese Civil Code), the Assembly did not pass any law.
     • The code was retained after its liberation in 1961.
       Source: Indian Express
3. Kawal tiger corridor conservation zone and bison sanctuary in Kothagudem.
   • What 👉 Telangana State Wildlife Board has approved the establishment of Kawal tiger corridor conservation zone, a bison sanctuary in Kothagudem and increase in compensation for wildlife attack deaths to 10 lakh.
   • Key point-
     • Board has also sanctioned T-Fiber connectivity to all villages and settlements in forested regions across the state.
     • Kawal tiger corridor conservation zone spans 1,492 sq km in Kagaznagar and Asifabad divisions, facilitating free movement of tigers.
       Source: TOI

4. NITISH device to alert farmers on flood, lightning, heatwaves, coldwaves.
   • What 👉 Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) has launched the Novel Initiative Technological Intervention for Safety of Humanlives (NITISH).
   • Key points-
     • Built by- Disaster management authority in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna
     • It is a Pendant-shaped device that will sound alert to its users through voice message on lightning, floods, heatwaves and coldwaves.
     • The device is synced with the Bihar meteorological service centre.
     • Pendant will get charged from body heat.
     • The device will sound an alert in three ways-
     • it will send voice messages
     • its colour will change from green to red
     • the device will keep warming till its user switches it off
       Source: IE

     
     

Banking and Economy

1. LIC Index Plus Policy
   • What 👉 Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched “LIC Index Plus”, a unit-linked, regular premium, individual life insurance plan.
   • Key features of Index Plus policy-
     • Minimum age at entry: 90 days (completed).
     • Maximum age at entry: 50 or 60 years (nearer birthday) depending on the basic Sum Assured.
     • Basic sum assured: 7 to 10 times of Annualized premium for age at entry 90 days (completed) to 50 years (nearer birthday) and 7 times of Annualized premium for age at entry 51 years to 60 years (nearer birthday)
     • Minimum age at maturity: 18 years (completed)
     • Maximum age at maturity: 75 or 85 years (nearer birthday) depending on the basic sum assured.
     • Minimum policy term: 10 or 15 years depending on Annualized premium and Maximum Term is 25 years.
     • Minimum premium: Range from ₹30000/-(Yearly), ₹15000/-(Half- yearly), ₹7500/-( Quarterly), and ₹2500/- Monthly (NACH) depending upon the Mode/Premium payment frequency.
     • Partial withdrawals: Available subject to conditions.

2. RBI nod for Payment Aggregator Business.
   • What 👉 Fintech firms Juspay and Decentro and software-as-a-service company Zoho have received the final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as payment aggregators.
   • Key points-
     • A payments aggregator 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. RBI Nod to HDFC for Acquiring up to 9.5% Stake in Six Banks.
   • What 👉 HDFC Bank and its group companies have received RBI approval to acquire up to 9.5% stake in 6 banks.
   • Key points-
     • Six banks are- ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, YES Bank, Bandhan Bank and the only small finance bank Suryoday SFB.
     • This approval is valid for one year, till February 4, 2025.
       Source: HBL

   
   

Reports and Indices

1. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Interim Report February 2024.
   • What 👉 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released Interim Economic Outlook Report February 2024 titled “Strengthening the Foundations for Growth”.
   • GDP Forecast-
     • OECD has increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for FY 2024-25 to 6.2%, up from the November 2023 estimate of 6.1%.
     • For 2025-26, OECD has kept its growth forecast for India unchanged at 6.5%.

   • Inflation-
     • Inflation is projected to remain generally higher in emerging economies than in the advanced economies.
     • Tighter monetary policy and energy and food price cycles have also been the key drivers of inflation in many of these economies.
     • In Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa, inflation is projected to continue easing and converge on or towards central bank targets by the end of 2025
   • GDP forecast by different organisations for 2024-25 (FY 25)-
     Source: Business Standard
   
   

Science and Tech

1. 1st indigenously designed 155 mm smart ammunition.
   • What 👉 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with Munitions India Limited to develop India’s 1st indigenously-designed 155 Smart Ammunition to achieve indigenisation in the defence sector.
   • Objective-
     • To increase the accuracy of 155 mm shell within a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 10 m.
       Source: HBL
2. NISAR phase II research programme.
   • What 👉 Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) has partnered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the 2nd phase of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) research programme.
   • Key points-
     • KUFOS stands as one of the key agencies in South India selected to lead the implementation of the 2nd phase.
     • 1st phase of NISAR validated the ground truth data in the forest biomass of Shimoga(Karnataka), Hoshangabad (Madhya Pradesh), and Nilambur regions (Kerala).
     • 2nd phase will concentrate on optimizing drone-mounted optical and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data for forest biomass stock estimation.
       Source: HBL
3. Flight trials of high-speed expendable aerial target ABHYAS
   • What 👉 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted four successful flight trials of the high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT)-ABHYAS.
   • Key points-
     • Trials were conducted in a revised robust configuration, using a single booster designed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad.
     • ABHYAS serves as a realistic threat scenario for weapon systems practice and requires minimal logistics.
       Source: TOI

Awards

1. 66th Annual Grammy Awards (Grammy 2024)
   • What 👉 66th Annual Grammy Awards (Grammy 2024) was held at the Crypto.comArena in Los Angeles, California, the United States of America.
   • Key points-
     • It has recognized recordings released between 1st October 2022 and 15th September 2023.
     • The 2024 awards were presented in 94 categories.
     • Taylor Swift won the Grammy 2024 – Album of the Year for her album Midnights and became the 1st ever artist to win “Album of the Year” four times.
     • Zakir Hussain’s Shakti band has won Best Global Music Album for ‘This Moment’

   • Winner’s list-

2. Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award
   • What 👉 British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani’s portrait of a sleepy polar bear on an iceberg has been voted the People’s Choice winner in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
   • More about award-
     • The award contest is annually organised by the Natural History Museum.
     • It was originally established in 1965 by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Wildlife Magazine.
       Source: PP

Important Days

1. February 6- United Nations (UN) International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation(FGM); Theme- Her Voice. Her Future
   Source: UN

Memorandum of Understanding

1. SBI’s collaboration with Flywire.
   • What 👉 State Bank of India has partnered with Flywire Corporation to ease Indian student’s international education payments.
   • Objective-
     • To offer Indian students an advanced digital checkout experience for their international educational payments

Source: cnbc

Appointments

1. Goodwill Ambassador for Education for All.
   • What 👉 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has appointed Brazilian footballer Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira Junior (Vinícius Junior) as the Goodwill Ambassador for Education for All.

2. New Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited.
   • What 👉 Board of Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited has appointed H Venkatachalam Iyer as its new Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
     Source: HBL
   
   
   
   
3. New President of El Salvador
   • What 👉 Nayib Bukele has been re-elected as El Salvador president in landslide win.
   • Key points-
     • He became the 1st Salvadorian president to win a 2nd consecutive term since 1983.
     • His term will start in June 2024.
       Source: Guardian

   
   
4. Ravi Kumar Jha Appointed as MD & CEO of LIC AMC
   • What 👉 LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management Ltd (LIC AMC) has appointed Ravi Kumar Jha as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from 31st January 2024.
     Source: ET

5. 1st civil servant to be appointed as a brand ambassador for the Fit India Movement.
   • What 👉 Indian Revenue Service officer, Narendra Kumar Yadav has been the 1st civil servant to be appointed as a brand ambassador for the Fit India Movement.
   • About Fit India Movement-
     • It was launched on 29th August, 2019 by Prime Minister with a view to make fitness an integral part of our daily lives.
     • Mission of the Movement is to bring about behavioural changes and move towards a more physically active lifestyle.
       Source: ANI

6. Asian Development Bank appoints Mio Oka as Country Director for India
   • What 👉 Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Mio Oka as its new Country Director for India.
   • Mio Oka will be succeeding Takeo Konishi who has been promoted as ADB Director General for South Asia at the Manila headquarters.
     Source: ADB

7. Appointment of new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
   • What 👉 President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Olzhas Bektenov of Amanat party as the new Prime Minister (PM) of Kazakhstan.
   • He is the youngest PM in Kazakhstan’s history (43 years).
     Source: abcnews
   
   
   
   
8. Appointment of Secretary in Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
   • What 👉 Apurva Chandra has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Sanjay Jaju has been appointed as the New Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
     Source: The Hindu
   
   
   
   

Miscellaneous

1. British-Indian Peer Baroness Shreela Flather Passed Away
   • What 👉 Prominent British-Indian peer Shreela Flather has passed away after a short illness in the United Kingdom.
   • About life peer-
     • Life peer is an honour given to individuals and grants them to be members of the House of Lords (the upper house of the UK Parliament) with the title of Baron (male) or Baroness (female).

   • More about Shreela Flather-
     • Shreela Flather was the first British Asian woman to become a life peer in 1990.
     • She was also the first British Asian woman to become mayor in UK(of Windsor and Maidenhead) and as the Justice of the Peace.
       Source: PTI

   
   
   
   
2. Former Chile President Sebastian Pinera has passed away.
   • What👉 Former President of Chile Sebastian Pinera has died from asphyxiation due to submersion after the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a lake in southern Chile.
     Source: IE

   
   
3. Veteran journalist and Sahitya Akademi winner Farooq Nazki has passed away.
   • What👉 Veteran broadcaster, poet and Sahitya Akademi winner Mir Mohammad Farooq Nazki has passed away in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir.
   • In 1995, He was awarded the Sahitya Academi award in Kashmiri for his poetry book Naar Hyutun Kanzal Wanas (Fire in the eyelashes).
     Source: Indian Express

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