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Current Affairs Study PDF – February 2024
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam
Table of Contents
NATIONAL AFFAIRS ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
CABINET APPROVALS ............................................................................................................................................... 7
PARLIAMENT ............................................................................................................................................................ 18
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION ............................................................................................................................... 19
FESTIVAL................................................................................................................................................................... 33
OTHER NEWS............................................................................................................................................................ 33
STATE NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................. 48
GOVT SCHEMES ............................................................................................................................................................ 74
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ......................................................................................................................................... 78
VISITS............................................................................................................................................................................. 84
INDIAN VISITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 84
BANKING & FINANCE NEWS..................................................................................................................................... 100
BANKING NEWS ..................................................................................................................................................... 100
RBI IN NEWS ........................................................................................................................................................... 100
SEBI .......................................................................................................................................................................... 109
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS..................................................................................................................................... 109
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED............................................................................................................................ 112
OTHER BANK NEWS .............................................................................................................................................. 118
FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................................... 124
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS.................................................................................................................................. 129
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 133
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS...................................................................................................................................... 147
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE........................................................................................................................ 148
INDEX ........................................................................................................................................................................... 160
RANKING ................................................................................................................................................................. 160
REPORTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 170
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 179
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 199
ACQUISITION & MERGERS ....................................................................................................................................... 218
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................... 223

DEFENCE...................................................................................................................................................................... 231
EXERCISE ................................................................................................................................................................. 231
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS ........................................................................................................................................ 237
SPORTS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 243
OBITUARY ................................................................................................................................................................... 255
BOOKS & AUTHORS ................................................................................................................................................... 263
IMPORTANT DAYS ..................................................................................................................................................... 265
APPS & WEB PORTAL ............................................................................................................................................... 295
ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................................................................... 302

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet approvals on 24 January 2024
On January 24, 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the
following schemes and incentives:
i.Approved the Rs 8,500 crore scheme for the promotion of Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects.
ii.Passed the Resolution on Pran Pratishtha at Shri Ram Temple, Ayodhya Dham
iii.Approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Oman on cooperation
in the field of Information Technology(IT).
iv.Approved the protocol to establish a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) between India and
the Dominican Republic.
Cabinet Approves Scheme for Coal Gasification Projects
The Cabinet committee chaired by PM Modi approved a scheme for the promotion of Coal/Lignite
Gasification Projects of Government PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) and Private Sector.
Financial outlay:
A total outlay of Rs 8,500 crore will be provided as financial assistance for coal gasification projects under
3 categories.
i.Category I: Rs 4050 crore (provisioned for Government PSUs)
• Under this up to 3 projects will be supported with a grant of Rs 1350 crore or 15% of
capex(Capital Expenditure), whichever is lower
ii.Category II: Rs 3850 crore (provisioned for the private sector & Government PSUs)
• Under this, At least one project will be bid out on a tariff-based bidding process and its criteria
will be designed in consultation with NITI Aayog(National Institution for Transforming India).
• A grant of Rs 1000 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower provided for each project.
iii.Category III: Rs 600 crore (provisioned for demonstration Projects (indigenous technology) and/or
small-scale product-based Gasification Plants)
• under this, a grant of Rs 100 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower, will be given to the
selected entity, with a minimum Capex of Rs 100 Crore and minimum production of 1500
Nm3/hr Syn gas(Normal Cubic Meter/hour synthesis Gas).
Points to note:
i.The selection of entities under categories II and III will be carried out through a competitive and
transparent bidding process.
ii.The grant will be paid to the selected entity in two equal instalments
iii.EGoS (Empowered Group of Secretaries) chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Coal (Amrit Lal Meena –
current Secretary(Coal)) will be fully empowered to make any changes required in the modalities of the
scheme subject to the condition that overall financial outlay remains within Rs.8,500 crore.
What is Gasification?
Gasification is a technological process that can convert any carbon-based raw material such as coal into
fuel gas, also known as synthesis gas (syngas), and is considered a cleaner option as compared to burning
coal and has diversified the use of coal in other forms of energy.
Cabinet Approves MoU Between India and Oman on Cooperation in the Field of IT
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi was apprised of an MoU signed on 15th December 2023, between
the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) of the Republic of India and the Ministry
of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of the Sultanate of Oman on cooperation in
the field of IT.

• The MoU will remain in force for 3 years with effect from the date of signing.
About the MoU:
i.The MoU aims to promote cooperation between India and Oman through mutual support, sharing of
technologies, information and investments in the field of IT.
ii.This will also enhance the G2G (Government to Government) and B2B (Business to Business) bilateral
cooperation in the IT sector.
Note: This is in line with MeitY’s mandate to promote cooperation in information and Communications
Technology(ICT) through bilateral and regional frameworks of cooperation.
Cabinet Approves Protocol to Set up JETCO Between India & Dominican Republic
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the proposal of the signing of a protocol for the
establishment of a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) between the Department of Commerce,
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI) of the Republic of India, and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Dominican Republic.
About JETCO:
i.JETCO will become the first bilateral institutional mechanism between India and the Dominican Republic
on trade and commerce.
ii.This will strengthen the economic relationship between India and the Dominican Republic.
iii.This will offer a platform to discuss, and exchange information, knowledge and ideas to facilitate trade
and industry.
iv.This will also facilitate the trade of goods and services and boost employment opportunities for
professionals in both countries.
v.This will address the challenges in exports of Indian products and boost the export of pharmaceuticals,
automobiles and engineering goods manufactured in India.
Points to note:
i.India imports gold from the Dominican Republic and exports pharmaceuticals, marine products, motor
vehicles, two and three-wheelers, etc. to them.
ii.This protocol will open access to the Latin American and Caribbean markets.
Cabinet Resolution on Pran Pratishtha at Shri Ram Temple, Ayodhya Dham
Union Cabinet passed a resolution on Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Temple at Ayodhya Dham on 24 January
2024 to appreciate PM Modi’s efforts towards the development of Shri Ram Temple and the observance of
11 days ritual before Pran Pratishtha.
Click here for the text of the resolution
CCEA Approved equity investment by CIL to set up Coal-to-SNG project & Coal-to-AN project
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the equity investment by Coal India Limited
(CIL)
• To set up of Coal-to-SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas) Project at Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL)
command area through a joint venture (JV) of CIL & Gail (India) Limited (GAIL).
• To set up a Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate(AN) Project at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL)
command area through a JV of CIL & Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
Details of approved the proposal of equity investments:
Coal-to-SNG project :
i.The Coal-to-SNG project will be established at Sonepur Bazari Area of ECL in Burdwan district of West
Bengal.
ii.CCEA has approved the investment of equity capital of Rs 1,997.08 Crore (±25%) by CIL considering a
Debt-Equity Ratio of 70:30, and 51% Equity Investment in JV Company with an estimated Project Capex of
Rs.13,052.81 Crore (accuracy of ±25%) for this project.

Coal-to-AN project:
i.The Coal-to-AN project will at established at Lakhanpur Area of MCL in Jharsuguda district of Odisha.
ii.CCEA has approved the investment of equity capital of Rs 1,802.56 Crore (± 25%) by CIL considering a
Debt-Equity Ratio of 70:30, and 51% Equity Investment in JV Company with an estimated Project Capex of
Rs.11,782.05 Crore (accuracy of ±25%) for this project.
Key Points:
i.CIL will set up two coal gasification plants as part of efforts to achieve the target of 100 MT coal
gasification by 2030.
ii.CIL has signed MoU with GAIL and BHEL respectively to set up the above mentioned projects.
Points to note:
i.CIL is a Maharatna Central PSU(CPSU) under the Ministry of Coal. ECL and MCL are subsidiaries of CIL.
ii.GAIL, formerly known as Gas Authority Of India Ltd, is a Maharatna CPSU under the Ministry of
Petroleum & Natural Gas.
iii.BHEL is a Maharatna CPSU under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
About Oman:
Sultan of Oman– Haitham bin Tariq
Capital- Muscat
Currency- Omani Rial (OMR)
About Dominican Republic:
President- Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona
Capital- Santo Domingo
Currency- Dominican peso
Cabinet Approvals on 1st February 2024

On February 1, 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the
following schemes and initiatives:
i.Extension of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund(AHIDF).
ii.Extension of Scheme of Sugar Subsidy for Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY) Families under the Public
Distribution Scheme (PDS).
iii.Continuation of Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies for export of
Apparel/Garments.
iv.Approves marketing margin for the supply of Domestic gas to Fertilizer(Urea) for the Period May 2009
– November 2015.
v.Signing and ratification of the Bilateral Investment Treaty between India and the United Arab
Emirates(UAE).
Cabinet approves Extension of AHIDF:
The Union Cabinet Chaired by PM Modi approved the continuation of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure
Development Fund (AHIDF) to be implemented under the Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) for
three years till 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 29,610.25 crore.
Key Points:
i.The Scheme will encourage investments in animal-based (Dairy and Meat) processing and diversification,
Animal Feed Plant, breed multiplication farms, Agri-waste management, and veterinary vaccine/drug
production facilities.

ii.The scheme is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for 35 lakh people.
Eligible entities: Individuals, Private Companies, FPO(Farmer Producer Organizations), MSME(Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprise), and Section 8 companies.
Benefits:
i.Government of India(GoI) will provide 3% interest subsidy for 8 years(including 2 years of
moratorium) for loans up to 90% from scheduled banks and the National Cooperative Development
Corporation (NCDC), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and The
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
ii.The government will also provide credit guarantees to the MSME and Dairy cooperatives up to 25% of
the credit amount from the Credit Guarantee Fund of Rs 750 Crore.
About AHIDF:
i.AHIDF is a Central Sector Scheme under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package.
ii.The Union Cabinet approved AHIDF in June 2020 with an initial corpus of Rs 15000 crore.
Cabinet Approves Scheme of Sugar Subsidy for AAY Families Under PDS
The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM approved the extension of the Scheme of sugar subsidy for AAY
families distributed through the PDS for two more years till 31 March 2026.
Key Points
i.The scheme gives a subsidy of Rs 18.50 per kg per month of sugar to AAY families of participating States
ii.States have the responsibility to procure and distribute sugar to AAY families through PDS at the rate of
One kg per family per month
iii.The scheme is expected to benefit about 1.89 crore AAY families in India
iv.During the 15th Finance Commission (from 2020-21 to 2025-26), the approval is expected to provide
benefits worth more than Rs 1850 crore.
Additional Information
i.At present, GoI provides a free ration under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PM-GKAY).
ii.Besides this ‘Bharat Atta’, ‘Bharat Dal’, and Tomatoes and Onions are provided at affordable prices to
ensure sufficient food for citizens.
iii.About 3 Lakh Tons of Bharat Dal (Chana dal) and about 2.4 Lakh Ton of Bharat Atta have already been
sold benefitting consumers.
About AAY:
Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY) is a public distribution system scheme that was implemented in India in 2000.
Purpose: To provide food security to the people and end hunger in India.
Continuation of Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies for Export of
Apparel/Garments
The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM approved the extension of the Scheme for Rebate of State and
Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) for two years till 31st March 2026 for export of Apparel/Garments
and Made-ups.
• This is the 2nd extension to the scheme, earlier it was extended till 31st March 2024 from 31st
March 2020.
Key Points
The scheme is for exporters to reimburse taxes and duties paid by them such as value-added tax, coal cess,
mandi tax, electricity duties, and fuel used for transportation, which are not exempted or refunded under
any other existing mechanism.
• Indirect taxes on inputs as well as other unrefunded State & Central taxes and levies will be
rebated or reimbursed through the scheme.

Background
The Ministry of Textiles notified the initial Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme
on 7th March 2019 to benefit the exporters that are not refunded through Goods and Services Tax(GST).
Note: The other textile products (excluding Chapters 61, 62, and 63) not covered under the RoSCTL, are
eligible to avail of the benefits under RoDTEP(Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export) along with other
products.
Cabinet Approves Marketing Margin for Supply of Domestic Gas to Fertilizer(Urea) (May 2009 –
November 2015)
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has given its approval for the determination of the Marketing
Margin on the supply of domestic gas to Fertilizer (Urea) Units from May 1, 2009, to November 17, 2015.
Marketing Margin:
Marketing Margin is charged by gas marketing
companies from consumers over and above the cost of
gas for taking on the additional risk and cost associated
with marketing gas.
Key Points:
i.Previously in 2015, the government determined the
marketing margin on the supply of domestic gas to urea
and Liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) producers.
ii.This approval will provide additional capital to Urea
Units for the component of marketing margins they
paid during 1st May 2009 to 17th November 2015,
based on the rates paid from 18th November 2015.
iii.This will lead to self-sufficiency in fertilizers and
increase investment in the gas infrastructure sector.
Signing & Ratification of Bilateral Investment
Treaty between India and UAE
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the signing and ratification of the Bilateral
Investment Treaty between the GoI and the Government of the UAE.
• This will help in improving the confidence of the investors and increase the Foreign
Investments and Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) opportunities for both India and UAE.
About the United Arab Emirates(UAE).
President- Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Capital- Abu Dhabi
Currency- Emirati Dirham (AED)
Cabinet Approvals on 8th February 2024

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the following schemes
and initiatives on 8th February 2024
i.Approved Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
ii.Approved Extension of Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) for 3 years.
iv.Telecom spectrum auctions at a base price of Rs 96,317.65 crore.
Cabinet Approved PM-MKSSY for Fisheries Sector Micro & Small Enterprises
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-
Yojana (PM-MKSSY) a Central Sector sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
(PMMSY).

• The scheme aims to formalise the fisheries sector and support the fisheries micro and small
enterprises over the next 4 years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27) in all States/Union Territories
(UTs)
Expenditure:
i.The estimated outlay of the scheme is Rs 6000 crores. This consists of 50%(RS 3000 crore) public
finance including the World Bank and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) external
financing.
ii.The remaining 50% is the expected investment from the beneficiaries / private sector leverage. The
targeted beneficiaries include,
• people directly engaged in the fisheries value chain(Fishers, Fish (Aquaculture) Farmers, Fish
workers, Fish Vendors).
• Micro and small enterprises(Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Self Help Groups (SHGs),
cooperatives, Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs), and startups), registered in India.
• Department of Fisheries under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Benefits:
i.Formalise the fisheries sector and enhance access to institutional credit. This will benefit around 6.4
lakh micro-enterprises and 5,500 fisheries cooperatives.
ii.Create a National Fisheries Digital Platform and provide work-based identities to 40 lakh small and
micro-enterprises.
iii.Promote environment and sustainability initiatives, and address aquaculture crop losses through
insurance coverage.
iv.This will create 1.7 lakh new jobs, with a special focus on employing 75,000 women.
v.This will also generate 5.4 lakh continued employment opportunities in the micro and small
enterprises value chain.
Major components:
Component 1-A: Formalization of the fisheries sector and facilitating access of fisheries micro-
enterprises to Government of India programs for working capital financing:
i.NFDP will be created and stakeholders will be mobilized to register on it. This will offer financial
incentives, training, and support for project preparation, documentation, and strengthening of
existing fisheries cooperative societies.
Component 1-B: Facilitating the adoption of aquaculture insurance:
i.The proposal is to provide insurance coverage for at least 1 lakh hectares of aquaculture farms and
to incentivise farmers with a one-time incentive of 40% of the cost of the premium, subject to a limit
of Rs 25000 per hectare of water spread area of the aqua farm.
ii.The maximum incentive payable to a single farmer will be Rs 1 lakh and the maximum farm size
eligible for the incentive is 4 hectares
iii.Additional incentives of @10% will be provided to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST),
and Women beneficiaries.
Component 2: Supporting microenterprises to improve fisheries sector value chain
efficiencies:
Aims to improve efficiency by supporting 55,000 targeted micro and small enterprises in the fishery
sector by incentivizing microenterprises to engage in production and job creation. This will be done
through performance grants with measurable parameters.

Component 3: Adoption and expansion of fish and fishery product safety and quality assurance
systems:
The proposal is to encourage safety and quality assurance systems for marketing fish and fishery
products by offering performance grants based on measurable parameters.
Performance Grants:
General SC, ST and

Category Women
shall not exceed shall not exceed

25% of the total 35% of total
Microenterprise
investment or investment or
Rs 35 lakhs Rs 45 lakhs
shall not exceed shall not

25% of total exceed 35% of
Small Enterprise
investment or total investment
Rs 75 lakhs or Rs100 lakhs
For Village-level organizations and Federations of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), FFPOs, and Cooperatives –
not more than 35% of total investment or Rs 200 lakhs (whichever is lower)
Component 4: Project management, monitoring, and reporting:
Under this component, it is proposed to set up Project
Management Units (PMUs) to manage, implement,
monitor, and evaluate project activities.
Additional Information:
i.Fish production increased by 79.66 lakh tonnes from
2013-14 to 2023-24, with robust growth of coastal
aquaculture and shrimp production.
ii.Employment and livelihood opportunities have been
provided to about 63 lakh fishers and fish farmers.
iii.The coverage per fisherman under the Group Accident
Insurance Scheme (GAIS) has been increased from Rs 1
Lakh to Rs 5 Lakh.
Cabinet approved Extension of FIDF up to 2025-26
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the
extension of the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) for 3 years up to 2025-26 within
the approved fund of Rs 7522.48 crore and budgetary support of Rs 939.48 crore.
Background:
i.FIDF was created during 2018-19 with a total funds size of Rs 7522.48 crore to address the
infrastructure requirement for the fisheries sector.
ii.121 fisheries infrastructure projects with an investment cost of Rs. 5588.63 crore have been
approved between 2018-19 and 2022-23.
iii.27 completed projects under FIDF created safe landing and berthing facilities for more than 8100
fishing vessels and created 2.5 lakh direct and indirect employment.

Key Points
i.FIDF offers concessional finance to Eligible Entities, including State Governments and Union
Territories(UTs) for the development of fisheries infrastructure facilities.
ii.The Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs): NABARD(National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development), NCDC (National Cooperative Development Corporation), and All scheduled Banks.
iii.The Government of India provides interest subvention up to 3% per annum for a repayment
period of 12 years, inclusive of a 2-year moratorium, at an interest rate not lower than 5% per annum.
iv.FIDF is open to State Governments, State Corporations, Fisheries Cooperative Federations,
Panchayat Raj Institutions, Self Help Groups(SHGs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs),
Women, and private entrepreneurs.
Cabinet Approves Telecom Spectrum Auctions at a Base Price of Rs 96,317.65 Crore
The Cabinet has approved the auction in eight spectrum bands for mobile phone services at a base
price of Rs 96,317 crore to improve the quality of telecom services and coverage for consumers.
Key Points
i.All available spectrum in various bands i.e. 800 megahertz (MHz), 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz,
2300, 2500, 3300 megahertz (MHz) and 26 gigahertz (GHz) will be put to auction.
• A total of 10,523.15 MHz will be offered with a valuation of Rs. 96,317.65 crore.
ii.A committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary (current cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba) will be
formed to finalise plans for re-farming of certain spectrum bands.
iii.In September 2021, the government decided that the spectrum auctions should be held annually.
Note: In the last round of auctions, the government sold 71% (51,236 MHz) of the 72,098 MHz of 5G
spectrum put up for sale amounting to Rs 1,50,173 crore.
Additional info:
The Cabinet also approved the proposal for spectrum requirements of rail-based urban/regional
transit systems like NCRTC(National Capital Region Transport Corporation) in the 700 MHz band for
Automatic Train Protection (ATP) systems and operations.
CCEA Approves 6 Multi-Tracking Projects Across Indian Railways
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by PM Modi has approved six railway
projects worth Rs. 12,343 crores with 100% funding from the Central Government.
• The projects are the result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-model connectivity
to facilitate ease of travelling, minimise logistics costs, reduce oil imports and lower Carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions
Key Points
i.The projects will cover 18 districts in six states and will increase the existing railway network by
1020 km.
ii.The capacity augmentation works will result in an additional freight traffic of 87 MTPA(Million
Tonnes Per Annum)
iii.The section for doubling stretch are,
Cost (Rs
Length
S.No Section (State) in
(Km)
Crore)
1 Ajmer-Chanderiya (Rajasthan) 178.28 1813.28

Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur
2 131.27 1268.57
(Rajasthan)
Luni-Samdari-Bhildi (Gujarat &

3 271.97 3530.92
Rajasthan)
Agthori-Kamakhya with new

4 7.062 1650.37
Rail cum Road Bridge (Assam)
Lumding-Furkating (Assam &

5 140 2333.84
Nagaland)
Motumari-Vishnupurm
(Telangana & Andhra 88.81
Pradesh(AP))
6 1746.20
Rail over Rail at Motumari
10.87
(Telangana & AP)
About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying:
Union Minister– Parshottam Rupala(Rajya Sabha- Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)– Sanjeev Kumar Balyan(Constituency- Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh); L.
Murugan(Rajya Sabha – Madhya Pradesh)
Cabinet Approvals on 21 February 2024

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the following schemes
and initiatives on 21st February 2024.
i.Amendment in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on the Space Sector.
ii.Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) for the period 2021-26.
iii.Inclusion of additional activities in the National Livestock Mission.
iv.Proposal of Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) for Implementation of Umbrella Scheme on “Safety of
Women”
Cabinet approves Amendment in FDI Policy on Space Sector
The Union Cabinet approved amendments in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy for the space
sector.
Key Points:
i.Following the amendment, the satellites sub-sector has been divided into 3 different activities with
defined limits for foreign investment in each such sector.
ii.The existing FDI policy permits the establishment and operation of Satellites only through the
Government approval route.
• The amendment aims to liberalise the FDI policy provisions in the space sector by prescribing a
liberalised entry route for various activities.
• This also provides clarity for FDI in Satellites, Launch Vehicles and associated systems or
subsystems, Creation of Spaceports for launching and receiving Spacecraft and manufacturing of
space-related components and systems.
Benefits:
i.Under the amended FDI policy, 100% FDI is allowed in the space sector.

ii.Under the amended policy, the entry route for various activities are,
a)Up to 74% under Automatic route: Satellites-Manufacturing & Operation, Satellite Data Products, and
Ground Segment & User Segment. Beyond 74% of these activities are under the government route.
b)Up to 49% under Automatic route: Launch Vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, Creation
of Spaceports for launching and receiving Spacecraft. Beyond 49% of these activities are under the
government route.
c)Upto 100% under Automatic route: Manufacturing of components and systems/ sub-systems for
satellites, ground segment, and user segment.
Note:
i.This reform was developed by the Department of Space in consultation with stakeholders like IN-
SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre), ISRO, NSIL (NewSpace India
Limited), and several industrial stakeholders.
ii.NGEs(Non-Governmental Entities) have developed capabilities and expertise in the areas of satellites
and launch vehicles.
Indian Space Policy 2023:
i.Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the Indian Space Policy 2023 on 20th April 2023.
ii.It was notified as an overarching, composite and dynamic framework to implement the vision of
exploring the potential of India in the Space sector through private participation.
Aim:
i.To augment space capabilities;
ii.To develop a flourishing commercial presence in space
iii.To utilise space as a driver of technology development and derived benefits in allied areas;
iv.To pursue international relations and create an ecosystem for effective implementation of space
applications among all stakeholders.
Cabinet approves FMBAP for the period 2021-26
The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the centrally sponsored Scheme, the “Flood
Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)” with a total outlay of Rs 4,100 crores for a
period of 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 (15th Finance Commission period).
• The program is proposed by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR)
Scheme Components:
The Scheme has two components Flood Management Programme (FMP) and River Management and
Border Areas (RMBA)
i.Under FMP with an outlay of Rs 2940 crore, central assistance will be provided to the State government
to undertake works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, and anti-sea erosion, etc.,
Fund pattern:
• 90%(Centre):10%(State) – for Special Category States (8 North-Easter States and Hilly States of
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UT of Jammu & Kashmir)
• 60% (Centre):40% (State) for General/ Non-Special Category States.
ii.Under RMBA with an outlay of Rs 1160 crore, flood control and anti-erosion works on common border
rivers with neighbouring countries will be taken up with 100% central assistance.
• This includes hydrological observations and flood forecasting, as well as investigation and pre-
construction activities of joint water resources projects.
Points to note:
i.The Union Government supports State Governments in managing floods through modern technology and
innovative approaches and also protects important installations along border rivers through the RMBA
component.

ii.States implementing floodplain zoning are also incentivized under the Scheme.
Cabinet Approves Inclusion of Additional Activities in the National Livestock Mission
The Union Cabinet approved the modification of the National Livestock Mission (NLM) by including the
additional activities.
Additional activities included in NLM:
i.Establishment of entrepreneurship initiatives for horses, donkeys, mules, and camels:
• 50% capital subsidy up to 50 lakhs will be provided to individuals, Farmer Producer
Organizations (FPOs), SHGs(Self Help Groups), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Farmers’
Cooperative societies (FCOs), and Section 8 companies.
• State government will be assisted for the breed conservation of horses, donkeys and camels.
• The government of India will provide Rs 10 crore to establish a semen station and nucleus
breeding farm for horses, donkeys, and camels.
ii.Establishment of entrepreneurs for Fodder seed processing infrastructure:
• 50% capital subsidy up to Rs 50 lakhs will be provided to private companies, start-ups /SHGs
/FPOs /FCOs /JLGs and Section 8 companies for the establishment of Infrastructure like
construction of building, receiving shed, drying platform, machinery etc. including the grading
plants and seed storage godown.
• The remaining cost of the project should be arranged by the beneficiary through bank finance or
self-funding.
iii.The state government will receive assistance for increasing fodder cultivation areas in non-forest land,
wasteland, range land, non-arable land, degraded forest land, and forest land. This assistance will help
increase fodder availability in India.
iv.The Livestock Insurance program has been simplified. The beneficiary share of the premium for farmers
has been reduced to 15% (Earlier- 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%), and the number of animals to be insured
has been increased to 10 cattle units(Earlier 5).
• The remaining amount of the premium will be shared by the Centre and the State at 60:40 for all
states, 90:10
About NLM
i.The National Livestock Mission (NLM) was launched in the financial year 2014-15 comprising 50
activities with four submissions:
• Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed Development,
• Sub-Mission on Livestock Development,
• Sub-Mission on Pig Development in the North-Eastern Region, and
• Sub-Mission on Skill Development, Technology Transfer, and Extension.
ii.The scheme was realigned in July 2021 under the Development Programme with a budget of Rs 2300
crore comprising 10 activities and has three submissions
• Sub-Mission on Breed Improvement of Livestock and Poultry,
• Sub-Mission of Feed & Fodder, and
• Sub-Mission on Innovation and Extension.
Cabinet Approves Proposal for Implementation of Umbrella Scheme on “Safety of Women”
The Union Cabinet approved the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA)’s proposal to continue the
implementation of Umbrella Scheme on ‘Safety of Women’ from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Cost:
The scheme will be implemented at a total cost of Rs 1179.72 crore.
Out of the total project outlay, MHA will provide Rs.885.49 crore from its budget and Nirbhaya Fund will
contribute Rs.294.23 crore.

Points to note:
The Government has proposed to continue the following projects under the Umbrella Scheme for “Safety
of Women”:
• 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 2.0;
• Upgradation of Central Forensic Sciences laboratories, including setting up of National Forensic
Data Centre;
• Strengthening of DNA(Deoxyribonucleic acid) Analysis, Cyber Forensic capacities in State
Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs);
• Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children;
• Capacity building and training of investigators and prosecutors in handling sexual assault cases
against women and children; and
• Women Help Desk & Anti-human Trafficking Units.
CCEA Approved FRP of Sugarcane Payable by Sugar Factories for Sugar Season 2024-25
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) chaired by PM Modi approved the Fair and
Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for Sugar Season 2024-25 at Rs 340/quintal (at a sugar recovery
rate of 10.25%). This is about 8% higher than the current season 2023-24.
• The revised FRP will be applicable from 1st October 2024.
Key Points
i.The new FRP for sugarcane is 107% higher than the A2+FL cost. India guarantees the world’s cheapest
sugar to domestic consumers, benefiting over 5 crore sugarcane farmers and supporting the sugar sector
ii.The minimum price to be paid by sugar mills for sugarcane is set at Rs 315.10/quintal at a recovery of
9.5%. For each 0.1% increase in recovery, farmers will get an additional ₹3.32, and the same amount will
be deducted for a reduction of 0.1%.
Note: The sugar sector has the lowest cane arrears ever, with 99.5% of dues from the previous sugar
season (SS) paid to farmers. Sugar mills are self-sustainable and no financial assistance has been given by
the Government since SS 2021-22.
PARLIAMENT
President Droupadi Murmu Gives Assent to Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill,
2024
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair
Means) Bill, 2024, aimed at preventing malpractices in government recruitment examinations.
• The Bill was passed by the 2 Houses of Parliament in the Budget session is intended to prevent
unfair means in the public examinations.
Points to Note:
i.The Bill got the approval from the President and shall come into force on a date decided by the central
government by notification in an official Gazette.
ii.The Bill, which has become an Act now with the President’s approval, defines several offences about
public examinations.
Public examinations:
Public examinations in the act refer to examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), National Testing Agency
(NTA), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), and Departments of the central government and
their attached offices for recruitment.
Objective:
i.The objective of the Bill lies in fostering greater transparency, fairness, and credibility within the public
examination systems.

ii.It aims to assure the youth that their sincere efforts will be fairly rewarded, securing their future.
Prohibited Activities:
i.The Bill intended to prohibit collusion or conspiracy to facilitate indulgence in any unfair means
including:
• Unauthorised access or leakage of question papers or answer keys.
• Assisting a candidate during a public examination.
• Tampering with computer networks.
• Conducting fake examinations.
• Issuing fake admit cards and offer letters.
ii.The Act also prohibits:
• Disclosing exam-related confidential information before time; and
• Unauthorised people from entering exam centers to create disruptions.
Protection of Candidates:
The Bill defines candidates and ensures they won’t be subject to actions within the purview of the Bill.
• Instead, they remain covered by existing administrative provisions of the relevant public
examination authority.
Penalties:
Offenders under the Bill will face severe penalties, including:
• Imprisonment ranging from 3 to 10 years.
• Fines ranging from Rs. 10 lakh to 1 crore.
Note: All offenses under the Bill are cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
Accountability of Service Providers:
i.The legislation prohibits service providers from shifting exam centers without permission from the
examination authority.
ii.Service providers will be barred from conducting public exams for 4 years.
iii.The proportionate cost of examination will also be recovered from such a service provider.
Note: The service provider is an organisation that provides computer resources or any other support to a
public examination authority.
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

Union Minister Amit Shah launches Computerisation of ARDBs, RCS offices
On 30th January 2024, Union Minister, Amit Shah, Ministry of Cooperation (MoC), launched
the computerisation scheme for the offices of Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) and
the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCSs) of all States and Union Territories (UTs) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• This will increase the operational efficiency, accountability and transparency in ARDB by
standardizing business procedures through Common Accounting System (CAS) and
Management Information System (MIS).
• The programmes were launched at an estimated cost of Rs.225 crore.
• About 1,851 branches of ARDBs, present in 13 states, will be computerised and linked to the
National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD) through Common National
Software.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launched 2 Digital Modules within SagarSetu

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) launched two
digital modules namely the Maritime Single Window (MSW) module and the Mercantile Maritime
Department (MMD) module within the SagarSetu (National Logistics Portal(NLP) -Marine) platform to
transform and modernize Indian ports.

Key people: The launch event was attended by Minister of State(MoS), Shripad Yesso Naik, MoPSW and
other senior officials of MoPSW.
About MSW Module:
i.MSW is a cutting-edge digital platform designed to digitalise the exchange of maritime-related
information and documents.
ii.MSW module helps MoPSW to align with global standards set by the International Maritime
Organization (IMO).
iii.The module enables the online submission of documents related to Arrival, Stay, and Departure of the
Ship and communicates it to stakeholders involved in international maritime trade allowing for swift
approval by various authorities.
iv.This will reduce waiting times for vessels and goods in ports by up to 40%.
About MMD Module:
This includes two core functionalities in the Maritime Mobile Domain process.
i.Vessel Detention function will enable the MMD officials to monitor the status of ships at ports, facilitating
the planning of vessel inspections.
ii.Vessel Release function will be used by MMD to update the release status of the vessel, signaling its
readiness to depart the port.
Note: Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) is a government body under the Directorate General of
Shipping of MoPWS.
Swachhta Pakhwada awards:
During the event, ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ awards were presented to MoPSW organizations to recognise
their outstanding contributions towards cleanliness and sanitation initiatives.
• The Swachhta Pakhwada – cleaning campaign, held from 1st to 15th October 2023, witnessed a
series of 62 events.
Winners:
i.First – The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
ii.Second – Indian Maritime University (IMU) of Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN)
iv.Third – Visakhapatnam Port of Visakhapatnam(Andhra Pradesh)
About Swachhta Pakhwada:
Swachhta Pakhwada was conceptualised in 2016, to bring a fortnight of intense focus on the issues and
practices of Swachhta (cleanliness) by engaging Government of India (GoI) Ministries/Departments in
their jurisdictions.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Unveils 3 Commemorative Coins at 19th Foundation Day
Celebrations of SPMCIL
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF), released 3 souvenir coins, during
the 19th Foundation Day celebrations of the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited
(SPMCIL), a wholly owned Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) of the
Government of India in New Delhi, Delhi through a hybrid mode.
3 Coins Includes:
• A Coloured souvenir coin on Endangered Animals of India – Greater One Horned Rhinoceros;
• A bi-metallic clad souvenir coin on the Enlightenment of Buddha; and
• Shree Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir Ayodhya (Coloured souvenir silver coin)
Points to Note:
i.SPMCIL is under the administrative control of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
ii.All 3 coins were launched by the India Government Mint, Kolkata (‘IGM, Kolkata’) in West Bengal.

• It is a unit of SPMCIL engaged in manufacture of circulation coins, commemorative coins, and
medals such as Bharat Ratna, Padma Shri, military awards like Param Veer Chakra, etc.
iii.The souvenir products of SPMCIL are presented by the Government of India to dignitaries of other
countries at international forums.
Coin on the Enlightenment of Buddha:
i.It is made up of Bi-Metal: Austenitic Stainless Steel on one side and Copper on the other side.
ii.It weighs 24 grams (gm) and is circular at 35 millimeters (mm) in diameter and 3 mm in thickness.
iii.It is a limited edition coin, and Buddha & Stupa images are oxidised with a Matte finish.
Coin on Endangered Animals of India:
i.The coloured souvenir coin on the theme, “Endangered Animals of India – Greater One-Horned
Rhinoceros,” is the 1st of a special series of coins on Endangered animals in India.
ii.The coin weighs 32 gm with 44 mm in diameter, and the material composition of the coin is nickel–silver
(Copper (Cu) – 60%, Nickel (Ni) – 20%, and Zinc (Zn) – 20%).
Shree Ram JanmbhoomiMandir Ayodhya (Coloured souvenir silver coin):
i.This both side colour souvenir coin, based on the theme of “Ram Lalla” is to mark the event of the
consecration of Ram Lalla in the Shree Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on January 22,
2024.
ii.It is a silver coloured souvenir coin with Ram Lalla’s pristine statue on the obverse and the Ram temple
of Ayodhya on the reverse.
iii.This exquisite “Ram Lalla” coin features intricate stamping on both sides.
iv.The material used to make the coin is Fine Silver (999 purity) and it weighs 50 gm with 50 mm in
diameter.
Production Portfolio of SPMCIL:
i.SPMCIL was formed in 2006 after the corporatisation of 9 units including:
• 4 India Government Mints; 2 Currency Note Presses; 2 Security Printing Presses, and 1 Security
Paper Mill.
ii.SPMCIL has engaged in the manufacture/ production of Currency and Bank Notes; Circulation &
Commemorative Coins; Medallions, etc.
MoH&FW Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launches AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment Card in AIIMS,
New Delhi
On February 13, 2024, the Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
(MoH&FW) launched AIIMS-SBI Smart Payment Card to provide hassle-free payments for treatment at the All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
• Initially the card is launched for AIIMS, New Delhi. Its services will be extended across all the AIIMS in
India in future.
• The validity of the card is 5 years with effect from the date of issue.
Points to note:
i.During the event, SBI and AIIMS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of
the AIIMS-SBI SMART Payment card.
ii.This card is regarded as the “One AIIMS, One Card”.
Key Points:
i.The AIIMS Smart Payment Card resolves the issue of patients carrying cash to the hospital.
ii.This will enable the patients or their caretakers to get the card from facilitation centers at AIIMS, New Delhi,
and use it for payments at hospital counters.
iii.The card will be provided free of cost to all patients and has no service charges.
iv.It will be linked to the patient’s Unique Hospital Identification (UHID) number and Ayushman Bharat Health

Account (ABHA) ID issued under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
v.Top-ups and refunds require One Time Password (OTP) verification received on the mobile linked to the
patient UHID.
vi.If the cost is lost, a replacement card will be provided free of cost and the remaining balance will be
transferred to the new card.
MoRD launched Unique Land Parcel Identification Number

The Secretary of the Department of Land Resources (DLR), under the Ministry of Rural
Development (MoRD), Nidhi Khare has launched the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) in an
event held in Darrang district of Assam.
About ULPIN:
i.ULPIN can be described as the AADHAR or fingerprint for land.
ii.It is a 14-digit alphanumeric identification number allotted to every land parcel.
iii.The land is given with a unique blockchain ID and it is identified by the longitude and latitude of the land
parcel using ULPIN from Bhu-naksha.
• Bhu-naksha is cadastral mapping software developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).
iv.ULPIN aims to ensure uniqueness in all transactions, maintain spatial records, facilitate linking of property
transactions, and eliminate fraudulent activities.
India’s UPI was Launched at Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was formally launched at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. For this
purpose, NPCI International Payments (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI), partnered with Lyra Network, a French e-commerce and proximity payment
platform, to facilitate the acceptance of UPI payments in Europe.
• Indian tourists can use UPI to purchase their tickets to visit the Eiffel Tower
• The announcement was made in the 75th Republic Day Reception Event organised in Embassay
of India, Paris by M Jawed Ashraf, the Ambassador of India to France and Monaco.
Ministry of Education Launches APAAR in Remote Villages across India

Ministry of Education (MoE) launched APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) through the
Common Service Centres (CSCs) in remote villages of India.
APAAR, conceptualized under the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), aims for ‘One Nation, One
Student ID’.
Key People: APAAR was jointly launched by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and
Literacy, MoE; K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, Higher Education, MoE; and Sanjay Rakesh, Managing Director (MD)
& Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Common Service Centre Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV).
Points to Note:
i.APAAR mandates all college/university students to register on the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) platform.
ii.Under the new policy, students must have an ABC ID to be admitted to any college or university.
iii.The suggestion to bring the ABC into education was given in the NEP 2020.
iv.APAAR ID allows future credit acquisition without the need for presenting certificates.
Note: APAAR ID will remain with the children for their entire lives.
Digital Integration for School Education:
i.All school children should be given provisional APAAR IDs, immediately authenticated with Aadhaar, and
linked to Digi Locker.
ii.Consideration for a business model involving Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), envisages enhanced
transparency and ease in school and higher education.

About Academic Bank of Credit (ABC):
i.ABC is a digital repository or digital storage designed for students and they can easily access it through the
nearest CSC.
ii.ABC has been established on the lines of the National Academic Depository (NAD).
iii.All credits (the marks) scored by the students and their personal information will be stored in ABC.
Universities can retrieve student data with using the unique ABC ID.
About Ministry of Education:
Union Minister– Dharmendra Pradhan (Rajya Sabha- Madhya Pradesh)
Ministers of State– Annapurna Devi (Constituency: Kodarma, Jharkhand); Dr. Subhas Sarkar (Constituency:
Bankura, West Bengal); Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh (Constituency: Inner Manipur, Manipur)
Dharmendra Pradhan launches EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Ministry of Education(MoE) launched the EdCIL Vidyanjali
Scholarship Programme in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme is to help students join higher education after secondary
education and also provide financial assistance for higher education to the economically marginalised
and meritorious students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV)
• The programme is implemented by Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL), Mini Ratna
Category-1 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), and is the only Public Sector Undertaking(PSU)
under the MoE. Established in 1981, it offers management and consultancy services in all areas of
education both within India and overseas.
• The Vidyanjali Fintech portal was also launched to facilitate student enrollment and distribute financial
assistance.
• To encourage private involvement in education, there are about five Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) were exchanged between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) sponsors/impact founders
including Fiat India, HDFC Bank Limited, ClearMedi Healthcare, Bharat Forge, and Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched ‘100 Cube’ initiative in IIT Bhubaneswar
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched the ‘100 Cube’ initiative
during a two-day 100 Cube Start-up Conclave held at Research and Entrepreneurship Park (REP) of the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 11th to 12th February 2024.
About 100 Cube:
i.100 Cube is a Start-up initiative of IIT Bhubaneswar.
ii.The initiative aims to create 100 start-ups, each with a valuation of Rs 100 crore, by the 100th anniversary of
Odisha.
iii.The essential resources, mentorship, seed capital and access to potential investors will be provided by REP.
iv.The REP will also be expanded about four times in a couple of years with a budget of about Rs 130 crore.
v.Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were also exchanged between 16 Start-ups and REP.
Note: In 1936, Odisha (formerly Orissa) formed as a separate province on linguistic basis. By 2036, Odisha will
be celebrating its 100th anniversary.
IREDA & IIT Bhubaneswar partnered for Renewable Energy Sector
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) and IIT Bhubaneswar have signed a MoU to
support innovation and research, technology transfer, and cultivate a thriving start-up ecosystem in
the renewable energy sector.
• The MoU was signed at the 100 Cube Start-up Conclave.
• IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

Additional Info:
IREDA also entered into MoUs with the Union Bank of India (UBI) and the Bank of Baroda (BoB) to support co-
lending and loan syndication initiatives in renewable energy projects.
Union Minister Arjun Munda launched an Initiative to Increase the Awareness of Medicinal
Plant
Union Minister Arjun Munda, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has launched “Joint National Level Project of
Health Screening and Management through Ayurvedic Interventions” to cater to the healthcare
requirements of students residing in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across tribal areas in India.
• The initiative was launched in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of
Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).
• It is a joint initiative of MoTA, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of
Research in Tribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Central Council for Research in
Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) functioning under the Ministry of AYUSH.
• This project is set to benefit over 20,000 tribal students.
• The initiative aligns with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by MoTA & Ministry of
Ayush in October 2023.
INCOIS Celebrates Silver Jubilee: Launched new satellite data facility & Unveiled special postal
stamp
On 3rd February 2024, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) launched a new
Satellite Data Acquisition and Processing Facility and unveiled a special postal stamp “INCOIS My
Stamp” as a part of its INCOIS Foundation day – Silver Jubilee (25 years) celebration held in Hyderabad,
Telangana.
• INCOIS, a unit of Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO), was established as an autonomous
body in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
The celebration was held as a part of the Indian Ocean Regional Decade Conference 2024 held from 1st
to 3rd February 2024 at INCOIS in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Key People:
Ravichandran, Secretary of MoES, Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog (National Institution for
Transforming India) and Distinguished scientists were present during the event.
Satellite Data Facility:
i.The new cutting-edge satellite data acquisition and processing facility (Oceansat3 and X/L band ground
station) is designed to handle data from Oceansat3 and other advanced satellites.
• Oceansat3 is a satellite designed for ocean observation and data acquisition.
ii.This is in line with INCOIS’s effort to stay at the forefront of technology and enhancing its oceanographic
data capabilities.
INCOIS My Stamp:
P.V.S. Reddy, Chief Post Master General for Telangana circle, presented the special stamp “INCOIS My
Stamp” to Tummala Srinivasa Kumar, Director of INCOIS.
The stamp symbolizes the INCOIS’s contributions to ocean science and service.
Note: During the event, INCOIS released the book titled “INCOIS 25-Year Journey” (Hindi and English)
bilingual retrospectives of the institute’s 25-year journey.
Indian Ocean Regional Decade Conference 2024:
Decade Collaborative Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (DCC-IOR) organised the “Indian Ocean Regional
Decade Conference 2024: Bridging Billions to Barcelona” at INCOIS in Hyderabad, Telangana.

• The conference was held under the Ambit of the United Nations’s Decade of Ocean Science for
Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
• This is an official prelude to the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference which will be held from 10 – 12
April 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
The conference was sponsored by MoES and technical support was provided by the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
About Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS):
Director – Tummala Srinivasa Kumar
Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana
Established in 1999
Adani Group unveils India’s 1st & South Asia’s Largest Ammunition twin-facility complex in
Kanpur
On 26th February 2024, Adani Defence and Aerospace, a part of Adani Group, unveiled its India’s first
private sector ammunition-missile manufacturing complex in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP). The complex
spread over 500 acres is set to become South Asia’s largest integrated ammunition manufacturing
Complex.
Key People: The twin facility complex was inaugurated by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister(CM) of Uttar
Pradesh (UP) and Chief of Army Staff (CAS) General Manoj Pande.
Significance:
i.The complex, unveiled on the occasion of 5th anniversary of the ‘Operation Bandar’, was dedicated to the
warriors of Balakot airstrike.
• ‘Operation Bandar’ is the name of Indian Air Force’s (IAF) airstrikes on the Balakot terror camp
in Pakistan on 26th February 2019. This was the retaliation to the Pulwama terrorist attack in
India on 14th February 2019.
ii.This also marks the first leg of the UP’s defence corridor.
About the Kanpur Complex:
i.The Kanpur complex, with a planned investment of over Rs 3,000 crore, will create around 4,000 jobs
and benefit Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
ii.It will produce high-quality small, medium and large calibre ammunition for the armed forces,
paramilitary forces and police.
iii.Initial output targets 150 million rounds, covering 25% of India’s annual requirement.
iv.Phase one includes 32 ammunition in 12 categories; for phase two five more categories is already
approved.
Background:
i.In 2022, UP Industrial Development Authority (UPIDA) signed a pact with Adani Aerospace and Defence
to develop Kanpur into South Asia’s largest arms and ammunition manufacturing facility.
ii.Adani Defence System and Technologies Limited (ADSTL) acquired 202 hectares of land to build four
cutting-edge manufacturing units for small and medium calibre ammunition and short-range air defence
missiles.
iii.Adani Group’s Carroballista Systems Limited (CSL) and Agneya Systems Limited (ASL) were formed to
produce various guns and ammunition types, partnering with Israeli and Bulgarian firms.
• CSL will manufacture gun systems while ADSTL will produce various ammunition types
annually, including artillery shells, grenades, and rocket-propelled grenades.

MoSDE launches ‘SWAYAM Plus Platform’ to Boost Employability and Professional
Development
On 27th February 2024, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry
of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE), launched the SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-
Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) Plus Platform from New Delhi, Delhi.
• The SWAYAM plus offers employability and professional development focused courses
developed collaboratively with industry players like Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Microsoft, CISCO.
• SWAYAM Plus platform is the upgraded version of the existing SWAYAM portal.
Points to note:
i.During the launch, agreements were exchanged between the Swayam and industry partners including
Apnatime Tech Pvt. Ltd., L&T EduTech, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, The Job Plus and People’s
Network, Wadhwani Foundation (Skill Development Network), Medvarsity Online Limited, Smartbridge
Educational Services Pvt. Ltd, Anaadi Foundation, 360Digi TMG, and Balani Infotech Private Limited for
launching industry courses on SWAYAM Plus.
ii.SWAYAM Plus will establish a professional development ecosystem; Provide credit recognition for
certifications; Reach learners nationwide; Offer employment-focused courses in vernacular languages; and
Introduce value-added services like mentorship and job placements.
Features of SWAYAM Plus:
i.AI-Enabled chatbot: To assist the students choose the right courses based on their needs.
ii.Credit Recognition: Credit equivalency shall be established for courses offered by industry
players. enables students to get credits for their degree requirements.
SWAYAM portal:
i.MoE launched SWAYAM, the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform in 2017 to provide
educational opportunities for learners.
ii.The portal offers multilingual content, AI (Artificial Intelligence) guidance, and pathways to
employment.
iii.At present, the portal has one crore registrations, with 4 crore total enrolment.
The credit of these free courses are accepted by 297 Universities.
Participants:
Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, Chairperson, University Grants Commission (UGC); Dr. Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi,
Chairperson, National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Rajesh Nambiar,
Chairperson, National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), Prof. (Dr.) T G
Sitharam, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education were present during the event.
PM Modi Inaugurated & Laid Foundation Stone of Various Projects Worth Rs 7500 cr in Jhabua,
MP
On 11 February 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for
multiple developmental projects worth Rs 7,500 crore in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh (MP). The development
projects will benefit the significant tribal population of the region.
• The projects also focus on strengthening the water supply and provisioning of drinking water,
enhancing education, and boosting the road, rail, and power sectors in MP.
Key People: Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of MP; Mangubhai C. Patel, Governor of MP; Union Minister Arjun
Munda, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, among others were present during the event.
Highlights:
i.The PM disbursed monthly installments of Rs 1500 under Aahar Anudan Yojna to 2 lakh women beneficiaries
from specially backward tribes.
• The scheme aims to provide nutritious food and improve the well-being of women in MP.

ii.The PM distributed 1.75 lakh adhikar abhilekh (record of rights) to beneficiaries of the SVAMITVA (Survey of
Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme.
iii.The PM also transferred Rs 55.9 crores for 559 villages under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana. This
will be utilised for construction activities for essential amenities including Anganwadi Bhawans, Fair Price
Shops, Health Centres, etc.
Development projects:
i.The PM laid the foundation stone of CM Rise School, a technologically advanced school in Jhabua, integrating
smart classes and e-library facilities, etc into students.
ii.He also laid the foundation stone for Tantya Mama Bhil University, catering to the youth from tribal-
dominated districts, and emphasising education.
iii.He also laid the foundation stone for projects like
• ‘Talavada Project,’ a drinking water supply scheme benefiting over a thousand villages in Dhar &
Ratlam.
• 14 urban water supply schemes under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
(AMRUT) 2.0, benefiting over 50 thousand households across various districts of MP.
iv.He also dedicated the ‘Nal Jal Yojna’ to 50 Gram Panchayats of Jhabua which will provide tap water to about
11 thousand households.
v.He also dedicated and laid the foundation stone of various development initiatives like waste dumpsite
remediation and electric substation.
Rail Infrastructure Development:
i.PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Ratlam and Meghnagar railway stations under
the Amrit Bharat station scheme.
ii.He also dedicated the rail projects for, Doubling of Indore-Dewas-Ujjain C cabin railway line; Itarsi-North-
South grade separator with yard remodeling; and 3rd line connecting Barkhera-Budni-Itarsi.
• These projects will strengthen rail infrastructure and reduce travel time for both passenger and goods
trains.
Road Development for Connectivity and Economic Growth:
PM Modi dedicated road projects worth over 3275 crores in MP. This includes 4-laning of key sections like:
i.Harda-Betul (Package-I) from 0.00 to 30.00 km (Harda-Temagaon) of NH-47;
ii.Ujjain Dewas section of NH-752D;
iii.16 km of Indore-Gujarat MP Border section of NH-47;
iv.Chicholi-Betul (Package-III) Harda-Betul of NH-47;
v.Ujjain Jhalawar section of NH-552G.
Note: These projects aim to enhance road connectivity, reduce travel time, and help in economic development.
PM Modi Announces ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana‘ to Promote Solar Rooftops for Free Electricity
On 13 February 2024, PM Narendra Modi announced the launch of ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’, to
encourage people to install solar panels on their rooftops for free electricity.
About PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana:
i.The scheme aims to provide free electricity of 300 units per month to 1 crore households in India.
ii.The project will be implemented with an investment of over Rs 75000 crore
iii.This showcases the government’s commitment towards sustainable development and well-being of its
citizens.
Note: The scheme was first announced by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance during the
interim budget for 2024-25.
Points to note:
i.Under the scheme, substantive subsidies will be directly credited to individuals’ bank accounts, ensuring that
the financial burden is alleviated for the beneficiaries.
ii.The scheme will also facilitate access to heavily concessional bank loans to promoting the ease of
transitioning to solar power.

iii.All stakeholders will be seamlessly integrated through a National Online Portal, streamlining the process and
ensuring efficient implementation of the initiative.
iv.Urban local bodies and panchayats will promote rooftop solar systems in their respective areas.
Recent related News:
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Odisha and Assam on the 3rd and 4th of February 2024 and laid
the foundation stone and inaugurated several projects.
About Madhya Pradesh:
Chief Minster– Mohan Yadav
Governor– Mangubhai C. Patel
National Parks– Dinosaur Fossil National Park and Van Vihar National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
Union MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar Inaugurates Digital India FutureLABS at IIIT-Delhi

Union Minister of State(MoS) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology(MeitY) launched the “Digital India FutureLABS” at Indraprastha Institute of Information
Technology-Delhi (IIIT-Delhi), New Delhi, Delhi
• The MoS also addressed the Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024 held at IIIT-Delhi on 3rd February
2024.
About Digital India futureLABS:
i.Digital India futureLABS will be coordinated by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing(C-DAC).
ii.This aims to utilise the opportunity presented by the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM)
sector.
iii.This will offer a platform for Indian startups in developing NextGen Electronics in Automotive, Compute,
Telecom, Industrial and Strategic Electronics.
iv.This will focus on key areas like Compute, Communication, Automotive & Mobility, Strategic Electronics, and
Industrial Internet of Things (IoT).
Note:
Funding for the platform will be provided from the Research and Development (R&D) budget of MeitY and
other labs and the Rs 1 lakh Crore provided by the government of India.
About the Summit:
The Summit hosted by IIIT-Delhi focused on ‘Catalyzing the Next-generation Electronics System Design through
Digital India FutureLABS’.
Highlights:
i.During the summit, 22 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed between C-DAC and Industry
Partners for implementation of the futureLABS
ii.Organisations like NXP Semiconductors, Tenstorrent and Qualcomm India signed MoUs in areas like High-
Performance Computing space, Design & Innovation in Compute space and Indian Telecom Stack.
Additional info:
i.3 indigenously-designed and developed technologies by the C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) under
the InTranSE Programme of MeitY were transferred to 12 industries.
• The 3 technologies include: thermal camera, CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)
camera, and Fleet Management System.
ii.MeitY transfered the state-of-the-art “Smart Food Grain Storage System (SAFEETY) technology”, developed
by Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) under the guidance of
MeitY, to Paras Defence & Space Technologies Ltd.
• The features of SAFEETY includes conveyorized loading and unloading of grain bags with Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) for traceability, online weight and moisture measurement, and Radio
Frequency Based Removal of Moisture from Grain.
• It has the efficiency to handle approximately 28 tons of grains in 40 minutes.

About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY):
Union Minister– Ashwini Vaishnaw(Rajya Sabha- Odisha)
Minister of State(MoS)– Rajeev Chandrasekhar(Rajya Sabha- Karnataka)
Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates India’s 1st Skill India Centre in Odisha

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
inaugurated Country’s first Skill India Centre (SIC) in Sambalpur, Odisha.
Note: The SIC is scheduled to be inaugurated in Angul, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Talcher and Deogarh.
Key People:
Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of MSDE; Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of the National Skill Development
Corporation (NSDC) and Managing Director(MD) of NSDC International; were present during the event.
About SIC:
Aim: To address the specific skill needs of industries that have the potential to drive regional development
and create sustainable employment opportunities.
Features:
i.The NSDC will designate a Centre Manager to monitor the implementation of training programs and
ensure adherence to quality standards and the overall functioning of SIC.
ii.This is designed to develop the capabilities and knowledge of Yuva Shakti in trades which are high in
demand such as Media & Entertainment, Leather, Tourism & Hospitality, and IT(Information Technology)-
ITeS(IT enabled services).
iii.SIC is equipped with best-in-class infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies and modern facilities which
will speed up the demand for formal skills and enable youth to acquire the required skills.
Key Points:
i.The centre was established to ensure access to quality education and establish a level playing field for the
aspiring youth.
• At present, the new age and future skills are available at a higher cost in global markets.
ii.The introduction of low-cost courses in the SIC will empower youth and include them as a part of the
evolving job market.
Additional info:
i.Previously, the MSDE launched the Kaushal Rath initiative, which are buses designed to provide skill
training and certification to aspiring candidates across Sambalpur, Angul and Deogarh districts in Odisha.
ii.The initiative has offered training to more than 4000 candidates.
About National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC):
NSDC is a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) enterprise working under the MSDE.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Ved Mani Tiwari
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Incorporated – 2008
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 9th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi

From February 21-23, 2024, the 9th edition of the Raisina Dialogue was held in New Delhi, Delhi which
was inaugurated by the Prime Minister (PM) of Narendra Modi, and PM of the Hellenic Republic (Greece),
Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the theme ‘Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create’.
• The PM of Greece was the Chief Guest of the inaugural session.
Hosts:
It is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA), with a support from number of institutions, organisations and individuals.

About Raisina Dialogue:
Held annually, this Dialogue is India’s premier conference tackling key global issues in geopolitics and geo-
economics by fostering cross-sectoral discussions among heads of state, ministers, and thought leaders
from various sectors.
Participation:
Over 2500 participants including Ministers, former Heads of State and Heads of Government, Military
Commanders, Captains of Industry, Technology Leaders, Academics, Journalists, Scholars on Strategic
Affairs, Experts from leading Think Tanks, and Youth from about 115 countries joined the Dialogue in-
person, and the proceedings will be viewed by millions across the world on various digital platforms.
Highlights:
i.World leaders convened over three days to discuss six thematic pillars:
• Tech Frontiers: Regulations & Realities
• Peace with the Planet: Invest & Innovate
• War & Peace: Armouries & Asymmetries
• Decolonising Multilateralism: Institutions & Inclusion
• The Post 2030 Agenda: People & Progress
• Defending Democracy: Society & Sovereignty
ii.On the sidelines of this Dialogue, India-Armenia Dialogue was held to bring the best minds from both
sides to the Raisina platform and develop ambitious blueprints and practical steps.
Unveiling of logo celebrating 75 years of India-Finland diplomatic ties
As a part of Dialogue, Union Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam (S.) Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of
Finland, Ms. Elina Valtonen unveiled a logo celebrating 75 years of India-Finland diplomatic ties in New
Delhi
• Notably, year 2024 marks 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India
and Finland.
Key Points:
i.The logo, designed and crafted by Indian student Aman Narayan from the World University of
Design (WUD) in Haryana symbolizes the enduring friendship, cultural exchange, and collaborative spirit
between the nations.
ii.It also anticipates a future marked by continued partnership, innovation, and mutual growth.
iii.Both sides explored avenues for collaboration in new sectors such as defence, security, and technology
Meeting of India’s MEA Minister and Foreign Minister of Denmark
On the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue, Union Minister S. Jaishankar, MEA held discussions with Foreign
Minister of Denmark Lars Løkke Rasmussen, covering various bilateral, regional, and international issues
of mutual interest.
• They also unveiled a joint logo marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and the
Kingdom of Denmark in 2024.
Signing of Agreement:
Both Leaders signed a mobility and migration partnership agreement between India and Denmark to
enhance people-to-people ties.
Key Points:
i.The Ministers decided to explore the possibilities of establishing a partnership on recruitment of Indian
health care professionals for employment in Denmark.
ii.They agreed to finalize a mid-term review of the Green Strategic Partnership at the earliest in 2024, to
conclude in an updated India-Denmark Joint Action Plan (2021-26).
• They also agreed to work towards an enhanced strategic perspective for a Comprehensive
Green Strategic Partnership once the existing Joint Action Plan ends in 2026.

iii.It should be noted that under co-operation with Denmark, a Centre of Excellence for Smart Water
Resources Management (CoESWaRM) and Smart Lab for Clean Rivers in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP) on
the lines of Smart City Lab in Panji was proposed to be established.
Recent Related News:
i.On October 11, 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh conducted the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with
French Minister of Armed Forces Mr Sebastien Lecornu in Paris.They discussed regional assessment,
ongoing military engagements, and emphasized enhancing defense industrial cooperation.
ii.Nobel Peace Laureate, Martti Ahtisaari, who served as the 10th President of Finland (1994 to 2000),
passed away at the age of 86 in Helsinki, Finland. He was born on 23 June 1937, Viipuri (now Vyborg,
Russia), Finland.
About Finland:
Capital– Helsinki
Currency– Euro
President– Alexander Stubb (from March 1,2024)
PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates 2 Institutes of Ministry of Ayush in Jhajjar & Pune

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 2 institutes of the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga
and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) namely the ‘Central Research Institute of
Yoga & Naturopathy’ (CRIYN) in Deverkhana Village, Jhajjar, Haryana, and the National Institute of
Naturopathy (NIN) titled ‘NISARG GRAM’ in Pune, Maharashtra.
• The 2 major hospitals and research centers related to Yoga and Naturopathy in Maharashtra
and Haryana are aimed at advancing the holistic healthcare landscape in India.
Note: NIN Pune which came into force in 1986, is an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH.
Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN) – Jhajjar, Haryana:
i.This is an Apex-level Yoga and Naturopathy research and education facility.
ii.A tertiary level Yoga and Naturopathy healthcare infrastructure will be created through this project.
iii.Facilities include a 200-bedded Hospital, Outpatient Department (OPD), Treatment Block, Academic
block, Hostel, Residential Block, Yoga Block, and Diet Block.
Estimation: The 19-acre project has been built with a total cost of Rs. 63.88 crore.
National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) – ‘NISARG GRAM’ in Pune, Maharashtra:
i.It is a 250-bed hospital with a Multi-disciplinary Research and Extension Service Centre.
ii.It houses a Naturopathy Medical College offering Undergraduate/Post Graduate (UG/PG)/Para Medical
Courses.
iii.The college also features residential & non-residential facilities including a Boys & Girls Hostel,
Auditorium, Yoga Hall, Cottages, and the iconic Gandhi Memorial Hall.
Estimation: This 25-acre project has been built with a total cost of Rs. 213.55 crore.
Significance of the Institutes:
i.These institutions represent significant milestones in promoting holistic healthcare through Traditional
Healthcare systems.
ii.Utilisation of diverse approaches such as hydrotherapy, massage, clinical nutrition, and yoga therapy.
iii.Addressing the growing prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
iv.State-of-the-art infrastructure and educational programs empower individuals to prioritise health and
well-being.

PM Modi Inaugurated & Laid Foundation Stone for Over 2000 Railway Infra Projects Worth
Around Rs 41,000 Cr
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated, laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the
nation over 2000 railway infrastructure projects worth around Rs 41,000 crores.
Redevelopment of 553 Railway Stations:
i.PM laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 553 railway
stations spread across 27 States and Union Territories (UTs) under
the Amrit Bharat scheme.
ii.These stations, redeveloped at a cost exceeding Rs 19,000
crores, will act as ‘City Centres’ integrating both sides of the city.
iii.The design of these station buildings will be inspired by local
culture, heritage and architecture.
iv.PM Modi inaugurated Gomti Nagar station in Uttar Pradesh(UP), redeveloped at a total cost of around
Rs 385 crores.
Redevelopment of 46 stations in Gujarat:
i.PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 46 stations in Gujarat under the Amrit
Bharat Station Scheme.
ii.The Railway stations at Kalupur in Ahmedabad, Rajkot junction, Jamnagar, Bilimora junction,
Ankleshwar, and 41 others will be redeveloped as Amrit Stations.
iii.The design of Ahmedabad Railway Station will be inspired by Surya Mandir of Modhera in Gujarat and
design of Dwarka Station will be inspired by the Dwarkadheesh Temple.
1500 Road Over Bridges and Underpasses:
i.PM Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation 1500 Road Over Bridges and
Underpasses spread across 24 States and UTs.
ii.These Road over bridges and underpasses will be developed at a total cost of Rs 21,520 crores.
iii.These projects will reduce congestion, enhance safety and connectivity, and improve the capacity, and
efficiency of rail travel.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme:
The Ministry of Railways initiated the ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’ (ABSS), dedicated to the holistic
development of railway stations nationwide.
• ABSS was launched by PM Modi in 2023.
Objective: The scheme aims for the continual enhancement of station facilities, adopting a long-term
perspective.
Master Plans: The scheme involves the formulation and execution of Master Plans in stages to upgrade
various amenities at stations.
Inspirations: The station walls and interiors are inspired by regional art, culture, heritage, and
architecture.
According to the Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways, India’s first bullet train terminal
is built at the Sabarmati Multimodal transport hub in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
About Ministry of Railways:
Union Minister– Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha- Odisha)
Ministers of State– Danve Raosaheb Dadarao (Constituency- Jalna, Maharashtra);
Darshana Vikram Jardosh (Constituency: Surat, Gujarat)

FESTIVAL
Nagaland Celebrated 4th Edition of the Annual Orange Festival
The 4th edition of the Rüsoma Orange Festival 2024 was held under the theme “Organic Orange” from
24th to 25th January 2024 in Rüsoma village near Kohima, in Nagaland.
• The festival was inaugurated by Salhoutuonuo Kruse, Minister of Women Resource
Development of Nagaland.
• The Orange Festival is also known as Shühuo Nyi, and it originated in 2020.
• The festival was organised by Rüsoma Village Council in association with Kohima Smart City
Development Limited, Rural Development Department, Horticulture Department, Agriculture
Department and Land Resources Department.
Note: Rüsoma is one of the most progressive orange producing villages in Nagaland.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated 4th National Chilika Bird Festival

The Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, has inaugurated the 4th National Chilika Bird Festival,
which was observed from January 27th to 29th, 2024, to showcase the aviation biodiversity of Chilika Lake
(Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon) in Odisha.
• The festival was organised by the Odisha’s State Department of Tourism, Department of Forest
and Chilika Development Authority.
• The festival featured a photo exhibition and witnessed the launch of the State of India’s Birds
poster and video.
• The first National Chilika Bird Festival was celebrated in 2018.
Note: Mangalajodi village of Odisha is renowned as the “Birds Paradise of Asia”.
OTHER NEWS
5 Indian Wetlands, 3 From Karnataka & 2 From Tamil Nadu Added to Ramsar list;
Total Ramsar Sites Increased to 80
On 1st February 2024, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change(MoEFCC) announced that 5 wetlands from India (3 from Karnataka and 2 from Tamil Nadu-TN)
were designated as RAMSAR Sites – Wetlands of International importance.
• With this addition, the total number of RAMSAR sites
in India has increased from 75 to 80.
5 New RAMSAR sites
i.Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve; Ankasamudra Bird
Conservation Reserve; and Aghanashini Estuary in Karnataka;
and
ii.Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary; and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest
in TN.
Note: On 31st January 2024, Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary
General of the Convention on Wetland(Ramsar Convention) handed over the certificates of these 5 sites,
ahead of the World Wetlands Day 2024 which will be observed on 2nd February 2024.
Details of the 5 New Ramsar Site:
Name of Wetland Area (In Hectares) Location
Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve 98.76 Uttara Kannada, Karnataka
Aghanashini Estuary 4801 Bellary, Karnataka
Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve 54.38 Gadag, Karnataka

Karaivetti Bird sanctuary 453.72 Ariyalur, TN
Longwood Shola Reserve Forest 116.007 Kotagiri, TN
Total Area of 5 Wetlands 5,523.87
Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve:
It is a humanmade Village Irrigation Tank that spans 98.76 ha (244.04 acres) adjacent to the Ankasamudra
village.
ii.It is an ecologically important wetland, rich in biodiversity, with over 210 species of plants; 8 mammal
species; 25 reptile species; 240 bird species; 41 fish species; 3 frog species; 27 butterfly species; and 32
odonate species.
iii.Over 30,000 waterbirds nest and roost at this wetland, which is home to over 1% of the biogeographic
population of Painted Stork and Black-headed Ibis.
Aghanashini Estuary:
i.It spreads over an area of 4801 ha and emerges at the intersection of the Aghanashini River with the
Arabian Sea.
ii.The wetland also provides livelihoods to 6000-7500 families through diverse activities including fishing,
agriculture, etc.
iii.The mangroves lining the estuary help to protect the shores against storms and cyclones.
iv.The estuary supports over 66 waterbird species and over 1% of the biogeographic population of 15
waterbird species.
Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve:
i.It is a human-made wetland that spans nearly 50 ha and was constructed to store rainwater for irrigation
purposes.
ii.It is home to over 166 species of birds, of which 130 are migratory.
iii.The wetland harbours 2 vulnerable species: Common pochard and River tern (Sterna aurantia); and 4
near-threatened species: Oriental Darter, Black-headed Ibis, Woolly-necked Stork, and Painted Stork.
iv.It is also one of the largest wintering grounds for the Bar-headed goose in Southern India, and nearly
8,000 birds visit the site during winter.
v.The wetland is a designated Important Bird Area (IBA) and is also listed as a priority area for
conservation in India.
Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary:
i.It spans 453.72 ha and is one of the largest inland wetlands of Tamil Nadu. It is a significant source of
groundwater recharge for the area.
ii.It hosts one of the largest congregations of waterbirds in Tamil Nadu, recorded the presence of about
198 species of birds.
Longwood Shola Reserve Forest:
i.It derives its name from the Tamil word, “Solai”, which means a ‘tropical rain forest’.
ii.The ‘Sholas’ are found in the upper reaches of the Nilgiris, Anamalais, Palni hills, Kalakadu,
Mundanthurai, and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
iii.As many as 14 out of 26 endemic bird species of the Western Ghats are found in these wetlands.
Key Points:
With the addition of these 5 wetlands, the total area covered under Ramsar sites is now 1.33 million
hectares (ha) which is an increase of 5,523.87 ha from the existing area of 1.327 million ha.
The total number of RAMSAR sites in TN has increased to 16. TN tops the list of states with maximum
number of RAMSAR sites followed by Uttar Prades (10 sites).
Note: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Chilika Lake (Odisha) were the first 2 sites to be placed on
the “Ramsar List” by the Government of India in 1981.

Ramsar Convention:
Convention on Wetlands or Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was adopted in
the Iranian city of Ramsar on February 2, 1971 and came into force in 1975.
• India ratified this Convention on 1st February 1982.
RAMSAR site:
A Ramsar site is a wetland site of international importance in conserving biological diversity, especially
those providing waterfowl habitat.under the Ramsar Convention
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) launched 2 new initiatives, the Green
Credit Program (GCP) and the Ecomark Scheme to encourage sustainable practices rooted in tradition and
conservation and promote the ideas of ‘LiFE’- ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ movement.
About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC):
Union Minister– Bhupender Yadav (Rajya Sabha- Rajasthan)
Minister of State– Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Constituency- Buxar, Bihar)
India Nominates “Maratha Military Landscapes”, a network of 12 forts for UNESCO World Heritage
List
India has nominated the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’, a network of 12 forts across Maharashtra and
Tamil Nadu(TN) for inclusion in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)World Heritage list for 2024-25 under the category of ‘Cultural Sites’.
• These forts showcases the strategic military powers of Maratha rule.
• The 12 components under this nomination are forts of Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi,
Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra
and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
Details – ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’:
i.Among the 12 components of Maratha Military Landscapes, 8(forts of Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad,
Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee fort) are protected by the Archaeological Survey
of India (ASI) and 4 (forts of Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi and Pratapgarh) are protected by the Directorate of
Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.
ii.Fort Type: forts of Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad and Gingee fort are hill forts, Pratapgad
is hill-forest fort, Panhala is hill-plateau fort, Vijaydurg is coastal fort, and Khanderi fort, Suvarnadurg
and Sindhudurg are island forts.
iii.The forts developed between 17th and 19th centuries represents the fortification and military system
of Maratha rulers.
Note: These landscapes(except Gingee fort) were included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage
sites under “Maratha Military Architecture in Maharashtra” in 2021.
About World Heritage Site:
i.A world heritage site can be either cultural or natural areas or objects which are inscribed on UNESCO’s
World Heritage List for having outstanding universal value.
• These sites are usually considered to have cultural significance to all the people in the world.
ii.UNESCO seeks to protect and preserve such sites through the Convention Concerning the Protection of
the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This international treaty was drawn up in 1972.
India’s UNESCO World Heritage sites:
i.At present in India, there are 42 World Heritage sites out of which 34 are cultural sites, seven are natural
sites and one is a mixed site.
ii.Maharashtra houses 6 UNESCO Heritage Sites. This includes 5 cultural sites – Ajanta Caves (1983), Ellora
Caves (1983), Elephanta Caves (1987), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria

Terminus) (2004), Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018) and 1 natural site –
Western Ghats (2012).
i.Santiniketan in West Bengal(WB) and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka were inscribed on
the UNESCO World Heritage list. Santiniketan is the 41st and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas is the 42nd
World Heritage site in India. Both were listed under the Cultural heritage category.
ii.The 45th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, concluding
on September 25. This session witnessed the addition of 42 new sites to UNESCO’s World Heritage List,
alongside other significant decisions. The committee was chaired by H.H. Princess Haifa Al Mogrin, Saudi
Arabia’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO):
Director-General – Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters – Paris, France
Establishment – 1945 (came into force in 1946)
GoI Notifies Appointment of Chief Justices to Seven High Courts

The Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J) notified the appointment of Chief Justice (CJ) to seven High
Courts (HC): Meghalaya, Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), Gauhati (Assam), Orissa (Odisha), Uttarakhand,
Rajasthan, and Punjab & Haryana (Chandigarh).
New Appointment:
High Court New CJ/Acting CJ (ACJ) Previous CJ/ACJ
Meghalaya Justice S. Vaidyanathan Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew
Allahabad Justice Arun Bhansali Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta
Gauhati Justice Vijay Bishno Justice Lanusungkum Jamir
Orissa Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi
Uttarakhand Justice Ritu Bahri Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari
Rajasthan Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava
Punjab & Haryana Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia (ACJ) Justice Ritu Bahri
Details of the appointments:
Meghalaya:
Justice S. Vaidyanathan, Judge of the Madras HC(Tamil Nadu), was appointed as the CJ of Meghalaya HC.
• He succeeds Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew, ACJ of Meghalaya HC.
• The post has been vacant since the retirement of Justice Sanjib Banerjee on 1st November 2023.
• The appointment was made in pursuant to a recommendation made by the Supreme Court
collegium which includes Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay
Kishan Kaul (Retired) and Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
Allahabad:
Justice Arun Bhansali, Judge of the Rajasthan HC, was appointed as the CJ of the Allahabad HC(Uttar
Pradesh).
• He succeeds Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, ACJ of Allahabad HC.
• The post has been vacant since the retirement of Justice Pritinker Diwaker on 21st November
2023.
Gauhati:
Justice Vijay Bishnoi, a senior puisne Judge of the Rajasthan HC, was appointed as the CJ of the Gauhati
HC(Assam).

• Justice Lanusungkum Jamir, ACJ of Gauhati HC(Assam).
• The post has been vacant since Justice Sandeep Mehta was elevated to the as a judge of the
Supreme Court.
Orissa:
Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, Judge of the Patna High Court, was appointed as the CJ of the Orissa
HC(Odisha).
• He succeeds Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, ACJ of Orissa HC.
• The post has been vacant since the retirement of Justice Subhasis Talapatra on 3rd October
2023.
Uttarakhand:
Justice Ritu Bahri, ACJ of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was appointed as the CJ of the Uttarakhand
HC.
• She succeeds Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari, ACJ of Uttarakhand HC.
• The post has been vacant since the retirement of Justice Vipin Sanghi on 26th October 2023.
• Rity Bahri becomes the first Women CJ of Uttarakhand HC.
Rajasthan:
Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, presently serving as the ACJ of the Rajasthan HC, was appointed as
the CJ of the Rajasthan HC.
• He has been serving as ACJ of Rajasthan HC since November 2023 succeeding Justice Augustine
George Masih.
Note: The above 6 appointments were made by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in the exercise of
the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India.
Punjab and Haryana HC:
In exercise of the power conferred by Article 233 of the Constitution of India President Droupadi Murmu
appointed Justice Gurmeet Singh(GS) Sandhawalia, as the ACJ of Punjab and Haryana HC.
• Prior to the appointment, Justice GS Sandhawalia was serving as the Judge of Punjab and
Haryana HC.
• He succeeds Justice Ritu Bahri, the ACJ of Punjab and Haryana HC, who was elevated as the CJ of
Uttarakhand HC.
Additional info:
i.Article 217 states that every Judge of an HC shall be appointed by the President of India after consultation
with the Chief Justice of India the governor of the state.
ii.Article 233 deals with the appointment of district judges and the posting and promotion of district
judges.
About Ministry of Law and Justice(MoL&J):
Minister of State(MoS) Independent charge – Arjun Ram Meghwal (Constituency- Bikaner, Rajasthan)
Marut Drones Delivered India’s 1st Mineral Exploration Drones to NMDC

Hyderabad (Telangana) based Marut Dronetech Private Limited has delivered two customised Octaquad
Coaxial X8 drones, India’s first mineral exploration drones, to NMDC Limited.
• Marut Drones Collaborates with NMDC for Drone-Based Mineral Exploration in India. The
introduction of the advanced technology in the field of mineral exploration will enhance
precision in mineral exploration and mapping for sustainable mining process.
• These drones are equipped with advanced sensors such as Magnetometer, Hyperspectral, and
Lidar that enhance its capabilities for accurate exploration and mapping.
NMDC Limited (formerly known as National Mineral Development Corporation) is a Navratna Public
Sector Unit functioning under the Ministry of Steel (MoS).

Chenab River Diverted for 850MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project in J&K
On 27th January 2024, Chenab river was diverted through the diversion tunnels at Drabshalla in Kishtwar
district, in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This is a major milestone of the 850 MegaWatt (MW) Ratle Hydro
Electric Project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar which is scheduled to be commissioned in May 2026.
• The river diversion will enable isolation of dam area at river bed for starting the critical activity
of excavation and construction of dam.
• The project is being executed by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL), a
Joint Venture(51:49) of NHPC Limited and Government of J&K.
Note:
The River Diversion ceremony was inaugurated by R.K. Vishnoi, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of
NHPC limited.
MNRE Issues Guidelines for Pilot Projects for Utilizing Green Hydrogen in the Shipping & Steel
Sector
On 1st February 2024, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) released the guidelines of
the “Scheme of Pilot Projects on Use of Green Hydrogen in the Shipping Sector” under the National
Green Hydrogen Mission(NGHM).
• On 2nd February 2024, MNRE released guidelines of the “scheme for pilot projects on the use
of Green Hydrogen in the steel sector” under NGHM.
Note: Under the NGHM, MNRE will undertake pilot projects in the shipping sector and steel sector to
replace fossil fuels and fossil fuel-based feedstock with Green Hydrogen and its derivatives (like green
ammonia, green methanol).
Details of the scheme – Shipping Sector:
i.Budget: The total budget outlay for the implementation of the scheme till the financial year (FY) 2025-26
is Rs 115 crore. The scheme expenditure will be met from the budget of NGHM.
ii.Thrust Areas: 2 thrust areas have been identified under the pilot projects.
• Retrofitting existing ships to make them function on Green Hydrogen or its derivatives
(Component A)
• Develop bunkering and refuelling facilities in ports on international shipping lanes for fuel
based on Green Hydrogen (Component B).
iii.Implementing agency: The projects will be implemented by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways (MoPSW) and the Scheme Implementing Agencies(SIAs) nominated under the scheme.
• Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) or its successor will be the SIA for component A.
iv.Steering committee: The scheme will be monitored by the Steering Committee (SC) under the co-
chairpersonship of Secretary, MoPSW(T K Ramachandran) and Secretary, MNRE(Bhupinder Singh Bhalla).
v.The administrative sanctions for the projects will be issued by MNRE based on the recommendations
from the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC). PCA will be chaired by the Additional Secretary/ Joint
Secretary, MoPSW(Rajesh Kumar Sinha).
Details of the scheme – Steel Sector:
i.Budget: The total budget outlay for the implementation of the scheme till the FY 2029-30 is Rs 455
crore.
ii.Thrust Areas:
• Use of Hydrogen in Direct Reduced Ironmaking process
• Use of Hydrogen in Blast Furnace
• Substitution of fossil fuels with Green Hydrogen in a gradual manner.
iii.Implementing Agency: These pilot projects will be implemented through the Ministry of Steel and SIA
nominated under this Scheme.

iv.Steering committee: The scheme will be monitored by the Steering Committee (SC) under the co-
chairpersonship of the Secretary of Ministry of Steel (Nagendra Nath Sinha) and the Secretary of MNRE.
v.The administrative sanctions for the projects will be issued by MNRE based on the recommendations
from the PAC. PCA will be chaired by the Secretary/ Additional Secretary of Steel.
Key Points:
i.The guidelines stated that the upcoming steel plants should have the capacity to operate with green
hydrogen and ensure that plants could participate in low-carbon steel markets.
ii.The scheme also considers greenfield projects aiming at 100% green steel.
About NGHM:
i.The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was launched in January 2023 with the aim of making
India the global hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
ii.The total budget of NGHM is Rs. 19,744 crore up to FY 2029-30.
iii.This will contribute towards achieving India’s goal of becoming energy-independent by 2047 and
achieving Net Zero by 2070.
Click here to more about NGHM
About the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE):
Union Minister– Raj Kumar Singh (Constituency- Arrah, Bihar)
Minister of State(MoS)– Bhagwanth Khuba (Constituency- Bidar, Karnataka)
MHA instituted Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak by Merging Four Medals

On 1st February 2024, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has instituted a new medal
named ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak’ by merging four existing medals
• Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal
• Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation
• Asadharan Assuchana Kushalata Padak
• Union Home Minister’s Awards for Meritorious Service in Forensic Science
About Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak:
i.The medal will only be awarded for the successful conduct of significant operations with a direct impact
on the security of the State/union territory (UT), region, or country, in areas such as Counter-Terrorism,
Border Action, Arms Control, Left Wing Extremism, Prevention of Narcotics Smuggling, and Rescue
Operations.
ii.Personnel of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance (MoF) may
also be considered for award under the area of “Prevention of Narcotics Smuggling”.
Features:
i.The medal shall be circular in shape with 38 mm in diameter, and 3 mm in thickness.
ii.The medal will be made up of Silver gold gilt and the riband will be half blue and half red.
Design:
On Obverse:
i.Centre: Embossed symbol of “face of Sardar Patel“
ii.Below: “Jai Bharat” (Hindi)
iii.Upper edge: “Rashtra Prahari” (Hindi)
iv.Lower edge: “Sentinel of the Nation” (English)
On the reverse:
i.Centre: Embossed symbol of “Ashoka Chakra”
ii.Below: “Satya Seva Suraksha” (in Hindi)
iii.Upper edge: “Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak” (in Hindi)
iv.Lower edge: “Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak” (in English)

Note: The Hindi and English inscription will be separated by a small Star appearing on either side.
Bar of Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak:
Deed worthy of recognition by the medal perfomed by a person who has already received the award will
be recognised by a Bar attached to the riband. For each bar a small silver rose with gold gilt will be added
to the riband when worn alone.
Chennai Metro Becomes the First Metro Service to join ONDC

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) launched its ticketing services on Open Network for Digital Commerce
(ONDC) network and became India’s first metro rail service to join ONDC.
• The passengers of Chennai Metro can purchase their journey tickets through buyer
applications on the ONDC Network such as Rapido, Namma Yatri, and redBus.
• Yaary became the first seller-side technology partner for CMRL.
Quality standards for 5 spices Finalized at 7th session of the Codex Committee on Spices and
Culinary Herbs at Kochi
The quality standards for 5 spices namely small cardamom, turmeric, juniper berry, allpice, and star anise were
finalised at the 7th session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH7) held in Kochi,
Kerala.
• CCSCH7, hosted by the Government of India, was held from 29th January to 2nd February 2024.
Note:
CCSCH was established as one of the Commodity Committees under the CAC in 2013.
Spices Board India serves as the Secretariat organization which organises the Committee’s sessions.
Key Points:
i.The finalised quality standards for 5 spices were recommended to the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)
for adoption as full-fledged Codex standards.
ii.The proposals for the development of Codex standards for Dried Coriander Seeds (proposed by India), Large
Cardamom(Bhutan and Nepal), Sweet Marjoram( Egypt), and Cinnamon(Brazil) were submitted at the session
and sent for approval by CAC47.
iii.The committee also adopted an innovative approach to developing standards, by grouping the many spices
and culinary herbs into six categories according to the part of the plant from which they are derived.
Functions of CAC:
i.CAC is tasked with formulating internationally accepted standards pertaining to human food.
ii.It conducts its work through various Codex committees, including the CCSCH, hosted by different member
countries.
Importance of CAC standards:
i.The Quality standards of CAC are recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as international
reference points for the resolution of trade disputes concerning food safety and consumer protection.
ii.The standards developed by CAC are voluntary in nature and the member countries could adopt and use
them as reference standards to align their national standards.
About Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC):
CAC is an international, intergovernmental body jointly established by the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Chairperson– Steve Wearne
Established in 1963
Headquarters– Rome, Italy

Supreme Court Issues New Guidelines for Environmental Regulatory Bodies
On January 31, 2024, the 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) of India issued a set of guidelines for
effective functioning of environmental regulatory bodies and authorities in India
• The 3-judge bench, led by Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai (BR Gavai), includes justices
Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, and Prashant Kumar Mishra.
Guidelines for Effective Functioning:
i.The SC stated that the bodies, authorities, regulators and executive offices incharge of environmental duties
should function with institutional features and should be accountable, transparent and efficient in their
functioning.
ii.The court also directed that composition, qualifications, tenure, method of appointment, and removal of
members should be clearly specified.
iii.The appointments should be made regularly to ensure continuity. The organisation shoud be staffed with
people with requisite knowledge, technical expertise, and specialisation.
iv.The mandate and roles of each authority and body should be defined to avoid overlap and duplication of
work. Establish a method for constructive coordination among institutions.
v.The authorities and bodies must receive sufficient funding and their finances must be certain and clear.
vi.The organisations should establish the norms for public hearings, decision-making process,the right to
appeal prescription and timelines.
Permanent Body Approval:
i.SC passed the directions while approving the Centre’s notification, making the Central Empowered Committee
(CEC), a permanent body.
ii.The CEC assists the SC on environment and forest issues, and will now have members chosen by the Centre
for a fixed tenure with specified functions.
iii.SC mandated regular audits of the performance of environmental bodies towards proper institutionalisation
to ensure accountability and transparency.
Headquarters of Confederation of International Tea Smallholders to Shift from China to India

The headquarters of the Confederation of International Tea Smallholders (CITS) will shift from China to India.
The decision was taken during the 25th session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Intergovernmental Group on Tea (IGG/Tea) held at Guwahati, Assam for the 1st time from 31 January-2
February 2024.
• India took over as the Chair of the FAO IGG/Tea from the United Kingdom (UK) for the next 2 years
(2024-2026) and the session was presided over by Saurav Pahari, Deputy Chairman of Tea Board India.
• Sri Lanka will host the next IGG session after 2 years in 2026.
Points to Note:
CITS was formed at the 22nd session of the FAO IGG in Naivasha, Kenya, in 2016.
• CITS was proposed to be under the auspices of FAO / IGG on Tea to support the small grower segment
globally, especially in policies and solutions.
Decisions taken at FAO IGG/Tea:
i.The FAO IGG/Tea, which is under the United Nations (UN), also decided to take up the issue of climate change
and assess the carbon footprint of tea plantations globally.
ii.The meeting also discussed the strategic framework for the group for the period 2022-31 as per the mandate
of the FAO.
FAO-IGG session on Tea:
i.The FAO-IGG session on Tea, held every 2 years, is an intergovernmental platform for consultation, offering
insights into tea production, consumption, trade, and pricing trends.
ii.Under FAO auspices, the group addresses changes in national policies and examines the international effects
of national policies on current and prospective markets.
Note: The 24th Session of the IGG/Tea was held virtually on February 2022.

Key Points:
i.IGG/Tea, under the title Consultative Committee on Tea, was established by the Committee on Commodity
Problems (CCP) at its 45th Session in 1969.
• The title of this Body was changed in 1971.
ii.Today, the IGG/Tea operates as a subsidiary body of the CCP, boasting a membership of 44 countries and 14
observers.
Note –
As of February 2024, Kenya is the world’s largest tea exporting country.
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
Director-General– QU Dongyu
Established in– 1945
Members– 194 Member Nations, and 1 member organization, the European Union.
MIB Revised National Film Awards Regulations: Names of Indira Gandhi & Nargis
Dutt Removed From Awards Category
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has revised the National Film Awards regulations and
made significant changes, including renaming awards, merging categories, and increasing prize money. The
changes were made based on the recommendation of the Committee for Rationalization of Film Awards.
• The change will come into effect in the upcoming 70th edition of the National Film Awards (2022),
whose entries closed on January 30th, 2024.
Major Changes:
i.The ‘Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director’ has been renamed ‘Best Debut Film of
a Director’. The award includes a Swarna Kamal and cash award of Rs 3 lakh which will be presented to the
director of the film.
• Previously, the award was equally split (Rs 1.25 lakh each) between the Director and Producer of the
film.
ii.The ‘Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration’ has been clubbed with ‘Best Film
on Social Issues’ and ‘Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation’. The newly formed award is
named ‘Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values’.
• The award includes a Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh each to the director and producer.
• Previously, the award carried a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh each to the director and producer.
Prize Money Revision:
i.The prize money for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which is presented every year to an Indian film personality
for their outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
ii.The prize money for the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) Award Winners has been increased to Rs 3
lakh and for the Rajat Kamal(Silver Lotus) winners to Rs 2 lakh irrespective of categories. Previously prize
money varied from category to category.
iii.The categories in which the Swarn Kamal Award is given are best film, debut film, film providing wholesome
entertainment, direction, and children’s film.
iv.Rajat Kamal is bestowed upon winners of best feature film promoting national, social, and environmental
values, all the acting categories, best script, soundtrack, and other similar categories.
Renaming of Awards:
i.The Best Actor award has been renamed as ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’ and the Best Actress as ‘Best Actress
in a Leading Role’.
• The awards includes a Rajat Kamal and Rs 2 lakh prize money.
ii.The Best Supporting Actor award has been renamed as ‘Best Actor in Supporting Role’ and the Best
Supporting Actress award as ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’.
• Both the awards carry Rajat Kamal and Rs 2 lakh prize money.

iii.Under the Best Audiography category, the three sub-categories of Location Sync Sound Recordist (for sync
sound only), Sound Designer, and Recordist of the Final Mixed Track have been clubbed and renamed as ‘Best
Sound Design’(Rajat Kamal with Rs 2 lakh to sound designer).
iv.The sub-categories of Best Music Director (Background Music) and the Best Music Director (Background
Score) have been clubbed as ‘Music Director (Background Music)’. The award includes a Rajat Kamal and prize
money of Rs 2 lakh.
v.The award for ‘Best Feature Film in each of the languages specified or not specified in Schedule VIII of the
Constitution’ has been renamed as ‘Best (name of the language) Feature Film’.
vi.The categories of best anthropological/ethnographic film, best science and technology film, best promotional
film, best environmental film (including agriculture), best film on social issues, best educational film, best
exploration/adventure film, and best investigative film have been merged to create two categories: best
documentary and best non-feature film promoting social and environmental issues.
About National Film Awards:
i.The National Film Awards are organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals(DFF), under Ministry for
Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
ii.The awards are categorised into four sections. They are Feature films, non- features films, Best writing on
cinema, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award(Lifetime Achievement Award).
• In 2024, there will be 27 awards for feature films, 15 for non-feature films, and 2 for best writing on
cinema.
• Note: The Awards were running one year later because the 2021 award was awarded in 2023 due to
the COVID-19 epidemic.
About the Committee for Rationalization of Film Awards:
i.The committee was headed by Neerja Sekhar, Additional secretary of MIB.
ii.It included filmmakers Priyadarshan; Vipul Shah; Haobam Paban Kumar; Central Board of Film Certification
(CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi; cinematographer S Nallamuthu; Prithul Kumar, joint secretary of MIB and Kamlesh
Kumar Sinha, Director (finance) of MIB.
MoFAHD Exempted Income Tax for Dairy Cooperative Societies

The Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, & Dairying (MoFAHD),
Government of India (GoI), granted income tax exemptions for the Dairy Cooperative Society under the Income
Tax Act, 1961, to provide relief to the cooperative societies.
Government Initiatives for Cooperative Societies:
i.Deduction for Milk Supply:
Primary cooperative societies supplying milk to the Federal Cooperative Society can claim deductions under
section 80P of the Income Tax Act of 1961.
• Eligible for deductions covering the entirety of profits related to supplying milk to Union societies.
ii.Surcharge Reduction:
The surcharge on cooperative societies’ income, ranging from Rs. 1 crore to 10 crores, has been decreased from
12% to 7%.
iii.Alternate Minimum Tax Adjustment:
Cooperative societies now enjoy a reduced Alternate Minimum Tax rate, down from 18.5% to 15%, aligning
them with companies.
iv.Amendment to Section 269T:
Amendment to Section 269T of the Income Tax Act exempts penal consequences for cash repayments by the
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) or an Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development
Bank (PCARDB) by its member in cash, if the amount is below Rs. 2 lakh, previously the limit was Rs. 20,000
per member.
v.Higher TDS Limit:
Co-operative societies benefit from a higher Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) limit of Rs. 3 crore on cash

withdrawals, compared to the Rs. 1 crore threshold for other recipients under section 194N.
Key Points:
Interest Subvention for Farmers:
The Government offers interest subvention to make short-term crop loans up to Rs. 3 lakh available to farmers
at an interest rate of 7% per annum, with an additional 3% for prompt repayment, effectively reducing the
interest rate to 4%.
KCC for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries:
The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, introduced in the fiscal year 2018-19, now extends to Animal Husbandry
and Fisheries.
• The scheme is designed to provide short-term working capital loans up to Rs. 2 lakh per beneficiary,
comparable to short-term crop loans.
GoI Announces 1st Ever National Creator’s Awards for New-age Influencers & Creators
The Government of India (GoI) through its citizen engagement platform MyGov announced the first-
ever ‘National Creators Award’ to recognise and celebrate the contributions of new-age influencers, and
content creators and celebrate India’s digital creator economy.
• The awards will recognise outstanding creativity and innovations across over 20 categories in
diverse sectors such as education, social change, environmental sustainability, gaming, and more.
Note: The nominations for the National Creators Award are open till 21 February 2024 on the MyGov website.
Objective:
The award aims to highlight the diverse voices and talents that shape India’s growth, influence its cultural
narrative, contribute to positive social change, and promote innovation and creativity in the digital sphere.
Award Categories:
S.No Category Recognition of the Creator
Creators who promote India’s cultural

1 Best Storyteller Award
ethos via creative storytelling
Creator who challenged the status quo,

2 The Disruptor of the Year
driving significant change or innovation.
Honours celebrities who use their platform

3 Celebrity Creator of the Year
for positive impact
Creators advocating for environmental

4 Green Champion Award
sustainability.
Creator advocating for social causes,

5 Best Creator For Social Change inclusivity, empowerment, and positive
change.
Celebrates those educating and inspiring

6 Most Impactful Agri Creator
about advancements that benefit farming
Promoter of Indian culture via lifestyle

7 Cultural Ambassador of The Year
content.

Global creators who augment India’s
8 International Creator Award
culture & soft power
Creators showcasing India’s rich tourism

9 Best Travel Creator Award
potential via travel content.
Creators dedicated to promoting

10 Swachhta Ambassador Award
cleanliness
Recognizes creators focused on nation-

11 The New Indian Champion Award
building activities & policy awareness
12 Tech Creator Award Demystifying technology for all
Celebrating India’s sartorial heritage via

13 Heritage Fashion Icon Award
promoting local brands
Creators blending entertainment and

14 Most Creative Creator (Male & Female)
social impact
Creator showcasing India’s culinary

15 Best Creator in Food Category
diversity.
Enriching learners with informative

16 Best Creator in Education Category
content
Promoting gaming through play, reviews,

17 Best Creator in Gaming Category
commentary
18 Best Micro Creator Impactful within small, niche communities
19 Best Nano Creator Fostering deep audience connections
20 Best Health and Fitness Creator Promoting wellness and healthy living.
Eligibility Criteria:
Age Requirement: Participants must be 18 years or above at the time of nomination.
Nationality and Residency: 19 categories for Indian nationals, 1 for international digital creators.
Platforms: Content must be published on one or more of the digital platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, X
(formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, or Facebook.
Language: Submissions in English or any Indian language.
Nomination Process:
Self-Nomination: Self-nomination is allowed and the nomination must include platform links, impact
description, and supporting reasons.
Nomination Limits: Self-nominate in a maximum of 3 categories; nominators can propose nominations in all
20 categories.
Evaluation and Selection Process:
Criteria: Evaluated based on creativity, impact, reach, innovation, sustainability, and alignment with award
goals.
Jury Review: A panel of domain experts in government, academia, media, and civil society will review final
nominations.

Selection: Winners are chosen based on the Jury’s evaluation and public votes.
Award Categories and Prizes:
i.Awards will be presented across 20 categories;
ii.A single winner will be selected for 19 categories; The International Creator Award will have 3 winners.
MNRE issued Guidelines for the Implementation of Pilot Projects to Use Green Hydrogen in the
Transport Sector
On 14th February 2024, The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued Scheme Guidelines for
the implementation of Pilot Projects for the use of Green Hydrogen in the Transport Sector under the National
Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
The scheme was approved by Union Minister Raj Kumar Singh, MNRE.
• The President of India, Droupadi Murmu also sanctioned the implementation of the scheme.
Key Points:
i.Pilot projects for replacing fossil fuels with Green Hydrogen and its derivatives will be implemented by MNRE
under NGHM.
ii.These projects will be implemented through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the
Scheme Implementing Agencies (SIAs) nominated under this Scheme.
• MNRE will fund SIA on the recommendation of the Project Appraisal Committee(PAC).
iii.It will be implemented with a total budgetary outlay of Rs. 496 Crores till the financial year(FY) 2025-26.
iv.The pilot project has two components namely:
• Component A: To support the deployment of Green Hydrogen as a fuel in buses, trucks and four-
wheeler vehicles in a phased manner on a pilot basis.
• Component B: To develop technologies for supporting infrastructure like Hydrogen refuelling stations.
v.The scheme also assesses the performance of Green Hydrogen
vehicles in real-world scenarios.
NGHM:
i.NGHM was launched in 2023 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores.
ii.The mission aims to make India as a global hub for the production, use, and export of green hydrogen and its
derivatives.
iii.MNRE will be responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of the Mission while all the
concerned Ministries, Departments, agencies and institutions of the Central and State Governments will work
towards the achievement of the Mission objectives.
About Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE):
Union Minister – Raj Kumar Singh (Constituency – Arrah, Bihar)
Minister of State(MoS) – Bhagwanth Khuba (Constituency – Bidar, Karnataka)
Arunachal Pradesh becomes the first North-Eastern state to achieve 100% household tap
water connections
Chief Minister (CM) of Arunachal Pradesh (AR), Pema Khandu announced that AR has achieved 100%
household tap water connections under the centrally sponsored Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
• With this, AR has become the first state in North-East India and as the 10th state/Union territory in
overall India to achieve 100% saturation of Har Ghar Jal (tap water in every household) under JJM.
• JJM was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Jalshakti (MoJ) to provide safe and adequate drinking
water through individual household tap connections to all households in rural India by 2024.
• Tirap was the first district to achieve 100% Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) in AR.

GoI increased Authorised Capital of FCI to Rs 21,000 crore
The Government of India (GoI) has increased the authorised capital of Food Corporation of
India (FCI) from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 21,000 crore. The move aims to enhance the operational
capabilities of FCI in fulfilling its mandate effectively.
Note: FCI functioning under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) is
the nodal agency that undertakes the procurement of foodgrains at a minimum support price (MSP) to
protect the interest of farmers.
Points to note:
i.FCI opts for cash credit, short-term loan, ways and means to bridge the gap in fund requirement. This
increase in authorised capital will reduce the interest burden, and decrease the economic cost. This will
have a positive impact on government subsidy.
ii.This will empower FCI to modernise its storage facilities, improve transportation networks, and adopt
advanced technologies. This will reduce post-harvest losses and ensure efficient distribution of food grains
to consumers.
Key Points:
i.The GoI provides equity to the FCI for working capital requirements and the creation of capital assets.
ii.By leveraging the existing internal and external systems, FCI is undertaking a comprehensive initiative
to create an integrated Information Technology (IT) system
iii.FCI is working towards implementing a paperless office culture by implementing its e-office.
Additional info:
i.Authorized capital, also known as registered capital or nominal capital, refers to the maximum amount of
share capital that a company is legally allowed to issue to its shareholders.
ii.A company may increase or decrease the authorized capital as per the procedures laid down by the
Companies Act..
About Food Corporation of India (FCI):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) – Ashok K. K. Meena
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1965
India & Bangladesh Collaborated under ITHCP for Transboundary Tiger Conservation
in Sunderbans
Under the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Program (ITHCP), a people-centric engagement took
place between India and Bangladesh at Joymoni, Bagerhat District, Bangladesh from 4th to 8th February
2024.
• The initiative aims to mutually understand the tiger conservation process of India and
Bangladesh in Sunderbans.
Note –
i.The Sundarbans is the world’s largest mangrove forest spread over India and Bangladesh in the delta
formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
ii.It supports the single largest population of tigers in the world.
iii.It was designated as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
Heritage site in 1987.
Key Points:
i.It is a first-of-its-kind cross-border initiative which aims to preserve biodiversity in both India and
Bangladesh by focusing on harmonious coexistence with tigers in the Sunderbans.
ii.The initiative is jointly done by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Lokamata Rani Rashmoni Mission,
Joynagar (West Bengal) and WildTeam of Bangladesh.

iii.The initiative is attended by WTI’s primary response team (PRT) members, “Bagh Bondh’s” (friends of
the tiger), teachers & students from India and Bangladesh.
iv.Shared Experience: Prevention of people from going into tiger’s territory to pick up firewood.
v.Indian side: Indian people are provided with smokeless cooking stoves and livelihood supports like
poultry and goats.
vi.Bangladesh side: People were educated on growing paddy that could withstand the high salinity in
water.
About ITHCP:
i.ITHCP is supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Germany’s KfW
Development Bank.
ii.The program was initiated in 2014 and is set to run till 2027.
iii.The program consists of four phases that invest in high-quality projects in key Tiger Conservation
Landscapes in countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Myanmar.
MoF recognised Akasa Air as A Designated Indian Carrier

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has recognised Mumbai (Maharashtra) based SNV Aviation Private
Limited (Akasa Air) as a ‘designated Indian carrier’, facilitating the carrier’s international flights.
• The recognition was granted in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (5) of
section 5 of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956.
• The recognition allows Akasa Air to purchase tax-free aviation turbine fuel for its international
flights.
• Akasa Air announced its first international flight between Mumbai and Doha from March 28,
2024. Making the first Indian airline to take to global skies within 19 months of commencing its
operations (August 2022).
ICG Conducts ‘Day at Sea’ off Chennai Harbour to Celebrate its 48th Raising Day
On 25th February 2024, as a part of the events planned to celebrate the 48th Raising Day of Indian Coast
Guard(ICG), ICG Regional Headquarters (East) organised “A Day at Sea” off Chennai Harbour(Chennai,
Tamil Nadu).
• 8 ships of ICG, with around 1,500 guests sailed out from Chennai harbour on a voyage to
witness operational prowess and ICG’s capabilities at sea.
• This was organised During the event, ICG ships, aircraft and helicopters demonstrated the
operational capabilities of ICG.
Note:ICG celebrated its 48th Raising Day on 1st February 2024.
STATE NEWS
Justice P S Dinesh Kumar Appointed as CJ of Karnataka High Court
Justice PS Dinesh Kumar was appointed Chief Justice(CJ) of the Karnataka High Court (HC). He is set to
retire from the service on 24th February 2024.
• Justice PS Dinesh Kumar has been serving as the acting CJ of the Karnataka HC after Justice
Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale was elevated at the judge of the Supreme Court(SC) of India on
24th January 2024.
• The appointment was made by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in the exercise of the
power conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India.

Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary declared as 18th Wildlife Sanctuary of TN
The Governor of Tamil Nadu (TN) Ravindra Narayana Ravi, has declared the Reserve forest areas of
Anthiyur taluk of Erode district as Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary with effect from 30th January
2024. This becomes the 18th Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) of TN
• The declaration was made in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-section (1) of
section 26-A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Central Act 53 of 1972).
About Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
i.Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary with an area of
about 80,114.80 hectares is located between the
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) of TN, the Male
Mahadeshwara WLS and the Cauvery WLS of Karnataka.
ii.The above WLS links Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary to the
Nilgiri Biosphere through STR and Biligiri Rangaswamy
Temple Tiger Reserve (Karnataka).
iii.The region also connects Nilgiris with Kollegal forests in
Karnataka
iv.The region is also part of the Nilgiris-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve (Nilgiri Elephant Reserve).
v.This forest area is one of the tiger corridors approved by the National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA).
vi.WLS also hosts six tribal habitations.
Details of Reserve Forests Forming the WLS:
Thanthai Periyar WLS consists of six reserved forests namely
• North Bargur reserved forest
• South Bargur reserved forest
• Thamaraikarai reserved forest
• South Bargur reserved forest (Part 844)
• Ennamangalam reserved forest
• Nagalur reserved forest
Radha Raturi Becomes First Woman Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand

Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister(CM) of Uttarakhand, has appointed Radha Raturi, a 1988 batch
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer, as the 18th Chief Secretary(CS) of Uttarakhand.
• With this appointment, she became the first-ever woman to hold the post of CS in Uttarakhand
since its formation in 2000.
• Prior to the appointment, she was serving as additional chief secretary of Uttarakhand.
• Radha Raturi succeeded Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, a 1988 batch IAS Officer, who retired on 31st
January 2024.
• She is set to retire from the service in March 2024.
UP Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presents Rs 7.36 lakh cr Budget for FY25
On February 5, 2024, the Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Suresh Kumar Khanna, presented Rs
7.36 lakh crore (Rs 7,36,437.71 crore) budget for FY25 (2024-2025) in the State Assembly i.e. Uttar Pradesh
Legislative Assembly (UPLA) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• It is higher from current fiscal’s (FY24) Budget of Rs 6.90 lakh crore.
• This FY25 Budget has been dedicated to Lord Ram and will ensure “Lok Mangal” (Public Welfare).
• This budget includes new schemes worth Rs 24,863.57 crore.

State’s Financial Indicators:
i.Total receipts estimated at Rs 7,21,233.82 crore, comprising revenue receipts of Rs 6,06,802.40 crore and
capital receipts of Rs 1,14,531.42 crore.
ii.Tax collection share in revenue receipts estimated at Rs 4,88,902.84 crore, including State’s own tax
revenue of Rs 2,70,086 crore and its share in central tax pool at Rs 2,18,816.84 crore.
iii.Out of the total expenditure, estimated at Rs 7,36,437.71 crore, Rs 5,32,655.33 crore is allocated for
revenue account and Rs 2,03,782.38 crore for capital account.
iv.Budget predicts a deficit of Rs 15,103.89 crore after deducting total expenditure from consolidated fund
receipts.
Women Empowerment:
i.The amount payable under the Destitute Women Pension Scheme has been increased from Rs 500 per month
to Rs 1,000 per month.
ii.Under the Women Farmer Empowerment Project, the government has targeted to form 200 producer groups
in FY25.
Airports:
i.Rs 1,150 crore has been allocated for the construction of the “Noida International Airport” in Jewar, Gautam
Budh Nagar.
ii.A proposal of Rs 150 crore has been made for the expansion of the ‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport
Ayodhya Dham’ in Ayodhya.
iii.Rs 1,100 crore has been allocated for the construction, expansion, and strengthening of airstrips as well as
land acquisition in the next fiscal.
Agriculture sector:
i.The FY25 budget has set a target of 5.1% growth rate for the agriculture sector in UP..
ii.Chief Minister Khet Suraksha yojna (Farm Security Scheme) is being started with a provision of Rs 50 crore.
iii.The budget outlines three new agriculture schemes with a total provision of Rs 460 crore. The 3 schemes
are,
• State Agricultural Development Scheme: Rs 200 crore provision.
• UP Agris Scheme (World Bank-assisted): Rs 200 crore allocated.
• Installation of automatic weather stations and rain gauges: Rs 60 crore allocation.
iv.Outlay of Rs 2,400 crore has been proposed to provide electricity at concessional rates for private tube
wells of farmers. This represents 25% increase compared to FY24 budget.
v.Rs 449.45 crore has been allocated for the Pradhan Mantri (PM) Kusum Yojana implementation.
Others key developments:
i.Rs 100 crore has been set aside for the overall development of Ayodhya and Rs 100 crore is allocated for
Mahakumbh-2025 cultural event.
ii.Rs 150 crore has been provisioned for the establishment of the National Institute of Fashion Technology
(NIFT) in Varanasi.
iii.Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the PM Mega Integrated Textile and Apparel Park in Lucknow-Hardoi.
iv.A provision of Rs 1,750 crore has been made for the development of roads leading to religious places,
emphasising connectivity.
v.Rs 195 crore has been allocated for sports infrastructure development and Rs 2,500 crore has been allocated
for urban development infrastructure.
vi.Rs 4,000 crore has been allocated for the free distribution of tablets and smartphones to the youth.
i.Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17 Kilometer (Km) priority section of the Delhi-
Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station in
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
ii.Chief Minister(CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Yogi Adityanath has declared the Ganges River
Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) as the state aquatic animal.

About Uttar Pradesh (UP):
Chief Minister– Yogi Adityanath
Governor– Anandiben Patel
National Park– Dudhwa National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary– Katarniya Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary; Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary
Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal presented State Budget for FY2024-25

On February 5, 2024, the Finance Minister of Kerala Kalanjoor Narayana Panicker Balagopal (K.N. Balagopa)
has presented a deficit budget for FY2024-2025 at the State Legislative Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala.
• The budget estimates for 2024-25 includes revenue receipts of Rs 1,38,655.16 crore, revenue
expenditure of Rs 1,66,501.21 crore and capital expenditure of Rs 15,596 crore.
Points to note:
i.For the first time, Kerala’s budget included a dedicated ‘Environment Budget’ highlighting Kerala’s
commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
ii.According to the Economic Review report presented in the Kerala Assembly on 2nd February 2024, Kerala’s
economy recorded “steady growth” in 2022-23 with the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) recording a 6.6%
growth at constant prices.
iii.The government aims to attract an investment of Rs 3 lakh crore to the state in the upcoming 3 years.
Note: In 2023, Kerala became the first state in India to adopt a water budget to address water scarcity in the
summer and ensure equitable water distribution.
State’s Financial Indicators:
i.Fiscal deficit is pegged at Rs 44,528.96 crore (3.4% of the GSDP) and revenue deficit at Rs 24,846.05 crore.
ii.Kerala’s own tax revenue is projected to grow by Rs 7,845.21 crore and non-tax revenue, by Rs 1,503.41
crore over the 2023-24 revised estimates.
Key points:
i.Scrapping Policy: Kerala is set to introduce a streamlined salvage and scrapping policy to generate revenue
through disposal of unusable assets. This is expected to raise around Rs 200 crores.
ii.Excise: The Abkari law permits levying a gallonage fee of up to Rs 30 per liter on the sale of Indian-made
foreign liquor. The fees has been set at Rs 10 per liter. This will generate an additional Rs 200 crores.
iii.NoRKA: Rs 143.81 crore has been allocated for activities of NoRKA (Non-Resident Keralite’s Affairs). This
includes
• Rs 25 crore for NoRKA Department Project for Return Emigrants (NDPREM), the scheme to ensure
sustainable livelihood by promoting self-employment ventures.
• Rs 44 crore for Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Co-ordination Scheme for returned pravasis.
Scheduled Tribes Development: Rs 859.50 crore has been allocated for Scheduled Tribe Development and
the provision for the schemes to offer assistance to ST students is increased to Rs 9.25 crore.
Education: Rs 1032.62 crore has been allocated for General Education Sector amd Rs 456.71 crore for the
higher education sector.
Labour: Rs 33 crore has been set apart for various action plans of Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE)
setup to implement skill development programmes in Industrial Training Department.
Eco-tourism Authority: Kerala Forest Eco-tourism Development Authority will be established to effectively
utilize the prospects of eco-tourism.
Kudumbasree: Kudumbasree, the poverty eradication mission of Kerala aim to enhance women
empowerment under the ageis of Local Self Government Department has completed 25 years. Rs 265 crore is
earmarked for Kudumbasree in the year 2024-25.
Safari Park:
A Safari park spread across 300 acres will be established at Nadukani in Thaliparambu constituency. Rs 2 crore
is earmarked for initial expenses.

A Tiger Safari Park spread across 120 hectors of land will established at Mudukad in Peruvannamoozhi Range
of Kozhikode Forest Division.
Sector wise allocation:
• Rs 464.44 crore for the labor sector;
• Rs 127.39 crore for the sports sector;
• Rs 170.49 crore for the culture sector;
• Rs 351.41 crore for the tourism sector;
• Rs 107.64 crore for the coir sector;
• Rs 1829.13 crore for the industries sector;
• Rs 134.42 crore for the co-operative sector
• Rs 1698 crore for the agriculture sector.
• Rs 553.31 crore for social security and welfare sector.
Infrastructure development:
i.Rs 39.20 crore is allocated for the comprehensive infrastructure development of Azhikkal, Beypore, Kollam,
Alappuzha and Ponnani ports.
• Rs 9.65 crore for land acquisition, rehabilitation, breakwater construction, utility charges, and
consultancy-project management of greenfield Malabar International Port & SEZ Ltd (formerly known as
Azhikkal Ports Ltd).
ii.Rs 128.54 crore has been allocated for activities of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).
iii.Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the for the development of Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
• National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) has approved “Kochi-
Palakkad High-Tech Industrial Corridor” under Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
iv.A large scale pre-production center to develop Graphene based products at Ottappalam, will be established
in co-operation with Carborundum Universal Limited. The plant will be developed at a cost of Rs 260 crore.
Other Noted allocation:
• Rs 119.91 crore for Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd and Rs 90.5 crore for
Kerala Startup Mission.
• Increase of Rs 10 in support price for rubber under the rubber price stabilization fund incentive scheme.
• Rs 127.5 crore for Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.
• Rs 3.5 crore for using solar energy in tribal settlements.
• Rs 588 crore for irrigation projects.
• Rs 252.6 crore for special local development packages and Rs 75 crore for coordination works.
• Rs 1132 crore for the LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion Financial Empowerment) housing project.
• Rs 227.12 crore for the fisheries sector. There will be establishment of a new fishing harbor at Pozhiyoor
with an Rs 5 crore.
• Rs109.25 crore for dairy development.
• Rs 40 crore for the Punargeham project, which aims at permanent rehabilitation of families living in the
coastline of Kerala.
• Rs 83.99 crore for soil and water conservation programs.
• Rs 50 crore for developing facilities for gatherings in various tourist destinations.
• Rs 10 crore to organize Keraleeyam in 2024-25.
Key Points:
i.Kerala will organization of an international AI (Artificial Intelligence) conclave in Kochi with IBM in July 2024.
ii.It aims to eradicate extreme poverty in Kerala by November 2025.
iii.There will be formation of a task force to engage expatriate academic experts for higher education
enhancement, with regional conclaves in Europe, USA, Gulf countries, and Singapore.
iv.Kerala is also hosting a Higher Education Transformation Initiative Global Conclave in Kerala in August 2024.
v.Kerala Government also plans to adopt the Special Development Zones model from China in the 1970s.
vi.Vizhinjam International Seaport Terminal scheduled to become operational in May 2024.

i.Kerala has become the first state in India to have hallmarking centers in all of its 14 districts. This was
achieved after the inauguration of a hallmarking center in Adimali, Idukki district, Kerala.
ii.The Kasaragod district of Kerala became the first district in India to officially designate its official tree, flower,
bird and species showcasing its rich biodiversity and natural heritage.
About Kerala:
Chief Minister– Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor– Arif Mohammed Khan
National Parks– Eravikulam National Park, Silent Valley National Park, Pampadum Shola National Park
Gujarat FM Kanubhai Desai presented State Budget of Rs 3,32,465cr for FY25

The Finance Minister (FM) of Gujarat, Kanubhai Desai presented Rs 3,32,465 crore state budget for
the financial year 2024-25 (FY25) in the Gujarat Assembly House in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It was the highest-
ever budget presented in the history of Gujarat.
• The state proposes no new taxes.
• This budget has given priority to Garib (Poor), Yuva (Youth), Annadata (Farmer) and Nari Shakti
(Women Power)
• It reflects the road map of Viksit Gujarat 2047 under the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s Viksit
Bharat 2047 Sankalpana.
• The growth rate of Gujarat is 14.9%.
Highlights:
i.Gujarat government’s FY25 fiscal plan unveiled with Rs 146.72 crore surplus budget.
ii.Developmental expenditure allocated at Rs 2.14 lakh crore (64.4%); non-developmental expenditure at Rs
83,000 crore (25.1%).
iii.Sabarmati Riverfront extension announced from Ahmedabad to near GIFT-City (Gujarat International
Finance Tec-City), Gandhinagar, spanning 38.2 kilometers, thus will become the world’s longest riverfront.
• Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the same.
• Phases 4 and 5 of the riverfront to be developed from Indira Bridge to Gandhinagar.
iv.The budget estimates for 2024-25 includes Revenue Receipts of Rs 229653.17crore, Revenue Expenditure of
Rs 219831.89 crore, Capital Receipts of Rs 95292.12 crore, and Capital Expenditure of Rs 108615.17 crore.
Notable Allocations:
i.20,000 anganwadis in Gujarat to be made smart, and 8,000 new anganwadis to be made with a total budget
provision of Rs 55,114 crore.
ii.Rs 22,196 crore for Agriculture, Farmers and Cooperation Department
iii.Rs 6193 crore provided for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
iv.Rs 55,114 crore has been provided for the education department in the budget.
v.Rs 1,400 crore under PM (Prime Minister) Nutrition Scheme.
vi.Rs 20,100 crore given to Department of Health and Family Welfare
vii.Rs 6193 crore for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
viii.Rs 22,163 crore for road and building department
ix.Rs 6,885 crore for Women and Child Development Department
Relief for Farmers and Fishermen:
• Modernization of fish production centers with a budget of Rs 627 crore.
• Allocation of Rs 463 crore for fishermen’s relief and Rs 134 crore for fisheries industry development.
• Relaxation in high-speed diesel tax for farmers.
Development of Gandhinagar Gift City:
• GIFT City to be expanded from 900 acre to 3300 acre area.
• Planned ‘Walk to Work, Live and Play’ concept with riverfront development.

• Provision for metro connectivity, Central Park facilities, and ‘Fin-Tech’ hub with Rs 52 crore
allocation.
Nirmal Gujarat 2.0 Abhiyan:
• Budget increase to Rs 2500 crore from Rs 1300 crore for solid and liquid waste management.
• Implementation with public cooperation, focusing on environmental sustainability.
Health and Education Allocations:
• Rs 76 crore allocated for the procurement of 319 ambulances, strengthening health services with Rs
20,100 crore allotted to Department of Health and Family Welfare.
• Rs 55,114 crore provided for education department.
• Rs 3,000 crore for Mission School of Excellence 2.0.
• Morbi and Kutch to get new Agricultural universities. Khedbrahma will get a new Agriculture
Engineering University.
Student Welfare Schemes:
• Allocation of Rs 504 crore for PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India
(YASASVI).
• Rs 360 crore for scholarships to 40 lakh Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Caste students
• Rs 600 crore for educational loans to non-reserved classes.
• Rs 84 crore to provide free bicycles to 1.5 lakh girls under the Saraswati Sadhana Yojana.
• Rs 260 crore provided for transport assistance to 1 lakh students of class 9 to 12.
Other Key Announcements:
i.NaMo Saraswati Yojana: It was announced for promoting education in science stream courses. Its outlay is
estimated at Rs 250 crore.
• Under this, eligible poor and middle-class students studying in science stream of higher secondary
schools will be assisted Rs 10,000 in class 11 and Rs 15,000 in Class 12.
• The number of students in the science stream is expected to increase from 2 lakh to 5 lakh annually in
the next five years, which could potentially increase the cost approximately to Rs 400 crore.
ii.Namo Shree Yojana: It is for pregnant and lactating mothers. An allocation of Rs 750 crore has been made
for the scheme.
• Under this Yojana, the pregnant women with poor economic conditions will get the financial support
of Rs 12000 for the nourishment of the baby.
• Pregnant women of 11 categories including Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), of the state are
eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme.
iii.Namo Lakshmi Yojana: Under this, Girls from Class 9 to Class 10 will get monetary assistance to promote
their nutrition, health and education
• About 10 lakh eligible girl students in government, aided and private secondary and higher secondary
schools will be given an assistance of Rs 10,000 per annum for Class-9 and 10 and Rs 15,000 per
annum for Class-11 and 12.
iv.Gujarat steers towards the vision of becoming 5-G Gujarat:
• Garvu Gujarat
• Gunvantu Gujarat
• Green Gujarat
• Global Gujarat
• Gatishil Gujarat
Suposhit Gujarat Mission has been introduced to prioritize the health of mothers and children, ensuring a
healthy and future generation under 5-G Gujarat mission.
v.Seven municipalities viz. Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Mehsana, and
Surendranagar/Vadhwan will be established as Municipal Corporation to facilitate the planned development of
cities.
vi.1100 Jan Rakshak vehicles to be provided under the Janrakshak Yojana scheme.

• There will be Centralized system for 112 numbers, a single number for police, and fire brigade.
vii.Setting up of a School of Semiconductor at Sanad and a manufacturing hub for space sector at Khoraj near
Ahmedabad.
• Rs 33 crore was allocated for the School of Semiconductor in partnership with Micron.
ix.Cancer hospital in Ahmedabad to get Cyclotron Proton centre.
i.On October 24, 2023, India‘s first Nano Di-Ammonia Phosphate (DAP–Liquid) plant was inaugurated by the
Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at Kalol in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
ii.Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan worth USD 181 million to build quality infrastructure
and services in the peri-urban areas of Ahmedabad, Gujarat to control urban sprawl.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister– Bhupendra Patel
Governor– Acharya Devvrat
National Parks– Marine National Park, Vansda National Park
Uttarakhand Becomes 1st State to Pass Bill on Uniform Civil Code Bill
On 7th February 2024, Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Uttarakhand
Bill, 2024 which aims to govern and regulate laws related to marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance
for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.
• The bill will now be sent to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, for her assent after which it will
become a law.
• With this, Uttarakhand will become the first Indian state to get a common law.
Note: The bill was Introduced in the House by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Background:
The 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.
Note: Though Goa is governed by a UCC (Portuguese Civil Code), the state Assembly did not pass any law on the
subject. Goa retained the Code after its liberation in 1961.
Noted Aspects of the Bill:
i.Mandatory registration of Live-In relations;
ii.Conditions for a Contract marriage;
iii.A Ban on Halala, Iddat, and Polygamy;
iv.Similar inheritance rights for men and women.
Key Points:
i.Under the UCC Bill, live-in relationships require registration within 1 month from the date of entering into the
relationship.
• Adults engaging in live-in relationships must obtain consent from their parents.
ii.The bill also imposes a ban on child marriage and introduces a uniform process for divorce.
iii.It provides equal rights to women of all religions in their ancestral property.
iv.As per the UCC Bill, the age for marriage will be 18 for women and 21 for men in all communities.
• Marriage registration is mandatory in all religions and marriages without registration will be invalid.
v.No divorce petition will be allowed to be filed after 1 year of marriage.
Exemptions:
The proposed law does not apply to Uttarakhand’s Scheduled Tribes (STs) and individuals and group of people
whose customary rights are protected under the Part XXI of the Constitution of India.

Telangana Wildlife Board Approves Tadoba-Kawal Conservation Reserve
The State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) of Telangana has approved the establishment of the Tadoba-Kawal
conservation reserve in the area situated between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (located in Maharashtra)
and Kawal Tiger Reserve (Telangana).
• The board meeting of SBWL was chaired by Konda Surekha, Telangana State Minister for Forests and
Environment.
• The proposal to establish the conservation reserve was made by the Forest Department.
About Tadoba-Kawal Conservation Reserve:
i.The Tadoba-Kawal Conservation Reserve covers a 1,492-square-kilometer area in the Kagaznagar and
Asifabad divisions of Kumuram Bheem Asifabad District of Telangana.
ii.The conservation reserve facilitates the free movement of tigers between two tiger reserves.
iii.The approved proposal for the Tadoba-Kawal Conservation Reserve will be sent to the Union Ministry of
Environment, Forests, and Climate Change to declare it a ‘conservation reserve’.
Other proposals approved by SBWL:
i.SBWL has also approved the proposal for increasing the compensation amount given to the kin of the persons
who were killed in wild animal attacks from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
ii.It approved the proposal for a bison sanctuary in Sathupally and Kinnerasani forests in the Khammam
district.
iii.It also approved 19 proposals for improving mobile phone connectivity to all villages and settlements in
forested regions across Telangana.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister– Anumula Revanth Reddy
Governor– Tamilisai Soundararajan
Wildlife Sanctuaries – Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Kinnerasani Wildlife
Sanctuary
Festivals – Bathukamma, Vijayadashami, Bonalu
Telangana Cabinet Decides to Change Prefix of Vehicle Registration, State Emblem, Talli statue
The Chief Minister (CM) of Telangana, Anumula Revanth Reddy in his 1st cabinet meeting decided to replace
the prefix code of vehicle registration from TS to TG, proposed to adopt a new state emblem, and a
redesigned Telangana Talli (mother) statue.
• The Cabinet also approved ‘Jaya Jaya he Telangana, Janani Jaya ketanam’, as Telangana’s official song
written by Ande Sri.
• Changes in the emblem and statue will be made after consultation with stakeholders, poets, and people.
Points to Note:
Both the state emblem and Thalli statue were designed by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)
government led by K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).
State Emblem:
The Telangana state logo came into existence in 2014 and was designed by a native artist Laxman Aelay.
State Song:
The ‘Jaya Jaya he Telangana, Janani Jaya ketanam’ song was adopted by many organisations and schools in
Telangana during the statehood movement, replacing the ‘Maa Telugu Talliki’ song in the undivided Andhra
Pradesh.
Telangana Talli (mother) statue:
i.The Telangana Talli statue, which symbolises the prosperity of the region, was designed first in 2003 during
the statehood agitation.
ii.In 2022, Anumula Revanth Reddy unveiled a new Telangana Talli statue.The statue was designed by Raju
Prajapathi of Kishan Bag.

• The statue was dressed in tricolour in standing posture, holding branches of sugarcane and jowar in the
left hand and blessing people with the right one.
Other Cabinet Decisions:
i.The cabinet has approved the establishment of the Kodangal Area Development Authority (KADA) to foster
comprehensive development in the Kodangal assembly constituency, a region represented by CM Revanth
Reddy.
ii.Approval was also granted for the:
• Allotment of 100 acres at Rajendranagar for the construction of new high court buildings.
• Upgradation of the 65 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into advanced
technology centers.
• Approved a statue for Gaddar (renowned revolutionary singer) in Tellapur town, Telangana.
Note: Revanth Reddy has also replaced the Nandi Awards for cine artists with the Gaddar Awards, which will
honour poets and artists as well.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister– Revanth Reddy
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, Jannaram Wildlife Sanctuary
Tiger Reserves– Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Kawal Tiger Reserve, and Amrabad Tiger reserve
AP FM Buggana Rajendranath Reddy presented Rs 2.86 lakh cr Budget for FY25

Andhra Pradesh’s (AP) Finance Minister, Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, presented a vote-on-account budget
of Rs 2,86,389.27 crore for Financial Year 2024–25 (FY25) in the state assembly in Amaravati, AP.
The budget also includes a vote on account of Rs 88,21,580 Lakh or (Rs 88,215 crore) for 2024-25, to
be utilized until a new government presents a full budget post-Assembly elections in April 2024
As it was a vote-on-account budget, the state Government refrained from introducing any new schemes
or programs.
i.Revenue expenditure estimated at Rs 2,30,110.41 crore.
ii.Capital expenditure Rs 30,530.18 crore.
iii.Revenue Receipts Rs 2,05,352 crore.
iv.Fiscal deficit is estimated at around Rs 55,817.50 crore.
v.The fiscal deficit will be around 3.51% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), whereas the revenue
deficit will be around 1.56% of the GSDP.
Note: The revised estimate for revenue expenditure for FY24 was Rs 2,28,237.77 crore. Its capital expenditure
was Rs 27,308.12 crore., revenue deficit was Rs 31,534.94 crore, and fiscal deficit was around Rs 60,153.59
crore.
Initiatives taken by the AP Government in Welfare and Development sectors
i.Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, the state government had spent Rs 2,53,000 crore through DBT (Direct
Benefit Transfer) schemes and another Rs 1,68,000 crore through non-DBT schemes.
spent Rs 84,731 crore towards social pensions for 66,35,000 beneficiaries.
ii.This has resulted in a quantum jump in the per capita income of the state from Rs 1,54,031 in 2018-19
to Rs 2,19,518 in 2022-23.
The overall rank of the state has improved from 18th position to 9th position.
iii.On education front, it introduced the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum in all public high schools
and providing a TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) certificate to every student,
Government provides school-kits (uniforms, bags, shoes, textbooks, etc.) costing Rs 3,367 crore
annually, benefiting 47 lakh children via Jagananna Vidya Kanuka.
Introduces Mana Badi-Nadu-Nedu program to enhance infrastructure in 56,703 government schools,
welfare hostels, and junior colleges.

Welfare programs like Jagananna Vidya Kanuka, Jagananna Vidya Deevena, Jagananna Vasathi Deevena,
Jagananna Videsi Vidya Deevena, and Jagananna Gorumudda have revolutionized education, boosting
literacy rates and the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER).
iv.On the health front, State government invested Rs 16,852 crore in Nadu-Nedu to enhance public health
infrastructure.
There was introduction of the Family Doctor program, bringing healthcare to people’s doorsteps. 284
family doctors, medical tests, and medicines made accessible to the public.
It offers cashless healthcare under Dr YSR Aargoyasri scheme.
v.Income limit raised to Rs 5 lakh per annum per family, with services up to Rs 25 lakh, including unlimited
coverage for critical illnesses like cancer.
vi.Jagananna Arogya Suraksha programme provided better health services to the poor, implemented
throughout the state as part of its second phase started January 2, 2024.
vii.There is implementation of Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam (Governance at Doorstep) and the
establishment of 15,004 village and ward secretariats with 135,000 employees and 266,000 volunteers for
doorstep services.
The number of districts expanded from 13 to 26 and revenue divisions from 52 to 77.
viii.Regarding infrastructure and development, there is construction of four sea ports, 10 fishing harbours, and
six fish land centers, Bhogapuram International airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district, among others.
i.The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Andhra Pradesh(AP), has signed a first of its kind Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to enroll NCC students as Youth Red Cross (YRC)
Volunteers in Andhra Pradesh(AP).
ii.The Security Exercise Prasthan 2023 was carried out by Commodore Rajneesh Sharma Naval Officer-in-
Charge (NOIC), under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command, Indian Navy (IN) in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
About Andhra Pradesh:
Chief Minister– Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
Governor– S. Abdul Nazeer
National Parks– Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Papikonda national park, Sri Venkateswara National Park
(Biosphere Reserve)
Delhi LG VK Saxena approves DDA budget of Rs 8,811 cr for FY25

The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and the Chairperson of Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Vinai Kumar
Saxena, approved the annual budget of DDA, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for Financial Year
2024-25 (FY25) with an outlay of Rs 8, 811 crore.
• Revenue targets for FY25 are set at Rs 9,182 crores, reflecting a significant 19% increase from FY24.
Budget Allocations:
DDA plans various projects in FY25, emphasizing improved housing, landscape beautification, and heritage
preservation. The estimated expenditure for these initiatives in FY25, totaling Rs 9,182 crore, will be funded
from projected revenues.
Infrastructure:
i.A budget allocation of Rs 3,460 crore has been made for land and infrastructure development, covering
roads, sewerage, water supply, power lines, drainage, beautification, and streetscaping in Narela, Dwarka,
Rohini, and other areas.
ii.There will be implementation of Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan for urbanized village development, with Rs 600
crore allotted for infrastructure creation in BE 2024-25 and Rs 300 crore in RE 2023-24.
• Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan was launched on December 2, 2023 for developing Delhi’s urbanised villages.
Sports:
i.There will be investment in construction of sports complexes to promote Healthy and Fit Delhi.
ii.A new sports complex is proposed in Narela.

iii.Budget allocation of Rs 266 crore in BE (Budgeted Estimates) FY25 and Rs 196 crore in RE (Revised
Estimates) FY24 is made for these facilities.
Housing:
Rs 1,953 crore is allocated for ongoing housing projects in Delhi, targeting the provision of permanent housing
for slum dwellers through redevelopment and rehabilitation
Key Points:
i.DDA’s General Development Account (GDA) anticipates a surplus of Rs 262 crore, attributed to the successful
‘Diwali Special Housing Scheme’.
• This surplus marks the first in a decade for DDA’s GDA.
ii.Through this budget, emphasis are laid on on creating public spaces to enhance connectivity with the Yamuna
riverfront, parks, and heritage sites.
iii.There will be rejuvenation and restoration of Yamuna floodplains, construction of Bharat Vandana Park in
Dwarka, and development of biodiversity parks.
i.Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17 Kilometer (Km) priority section of the Delhi-
Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station in
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
ii.The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) celebrated its 6th Foundation day on 20th October 2023 at AIIA
campus, New Delhi, Delhi. A new molecular biology lab for advance research at AIIA; a Manuscript Unit and
Center of Excellence (CoE) Dakshya were launched during the event.
About Delhi Development Authority (DDA):
Chairperson– Vinai Kumar Saxena
Establishment– 1957
Headquarter– New Delhi, Delhi
Union Finance Minister Sitharaman Proposes Rs 1.18 lakh Cr Budget Estimation for FY25 for
J&K
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance, proposed the budget estimation of Rs 1,18,728 crore
for the fiscal year 2024-2025(FY25) for the Union Territory(UT) of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).
• The UT Government has proposed the “Vote on Account” or “Interim Budget” for Rs.59,364 Crore,
which includes allocations of Rs 40,081 crore for revenue expenditure and Rs 19,283 crore for capital
expenditure.
Note: The full budget of J&K will be presented once the new government is elected after the conclusion of the
2024 general elections (will be held in or before May 2024).
Highlights of the budget:
i.This outlined a fiscal deficit of Rs 20,760 crore and a 7.5% growth in gross State domestic product (GSDP).
ii.The capital expenditure for the FY25 has been proposed at Rs 38,566 crore, which is 14.64% of the
GSDP. The revenue expenditure stands at Rs 80,162 crore.
iii.The Capital Receipts stand at Rs. 20,867 Crore and the revenue receipts is at Rs 97,861 crore.
iv.The Vote on Account includes revenue receipts of Rs 48,930 crore and Rs 10,434 crore as capital receipts.
Other Key figures of the Interim budget:
i.Rs 2959 crore was provisioned for tap-water connectivity for rural areas under the Jal Jeevan Mission with Rs
532 crore as UT Share.
ii.Rs 1271 crore has been allocated to strengthen infrastructure and services in the Health sector.
iii.Rs 1093 crore has been allocated for rural housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-
G).
iv.Rs 934 crore has been allocated to transform agriculture and allied sectors through the Holistic Agriculture
Development Program (HADP), including provisions for IFAD(International Fund for Agricultural
Development) funded J&K Comprehensive Investment Plan (JKCIP).

v.Rs 390 crore has been set aside for the Flood Management Project of River Jhelum.
vi.The government has also allocated Rs 400 crore for the development of Industrial Estates and related
infrastructure and Rs 430 crore for women empowerment intervention of Ladli Beti and Marriage Assistance
vii.Rs 660 Crore allocated for J&K’s equity in hydroelectric projects
• The power projects: Ratle 850 Megawatt (MW) Hydroelectric (HE) project; Kwar 540 MW HE project
and 624 MW Kiru HE project are being constructed in Ratle, Kwar, and Kiru in the Kishtwar district of
the Jammu region.
Key Points:
i.The budget focuses on strengthening democracy at the grassroots, encouraging the start-up ecosystem in J&K
and enabling an environment for investment to accelerate industrial growth.
ii.The budget also highlights the government’s dedication towards rapid economic growth.
iii.This also focuses on women empowerment (‘Nari Shakti’) through skill development and employment of
women.
iv.This also aims to ensure that economic growth also benefits women in rural and urban areas.
About Jammu & Kashmir:
Lieutenant Governor– Manoj Sinha
National Park – Dachigam National Park; Kishtwar National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary – Thajwas – Baltal Wildlife Sanctuary; Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary
Goa CM presents Rs 26,850.56 cr Budget for FY25; No New Taxes Imposed

The Chief Minister (CM) of Goa Pramod Sawant, who also holds the finance portfolio of the state, presented Rs
26,850.56 crore budget for Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) with no additional taxes at the Goa State Legislative
Assembly Complex in Porvorim, Bardez in Goa. It was his 5th budget.
• The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for FY25 is projected at Rs 1,21,309.02 crore at current
prices with a growth rate of 13.87% as compared to FY24 and a Per Capita Income of Rs 7.64 lakh
• This budget’s focus is on improving infrastructure to boost tourism, IT (Information Technology) and
employment.
Financial Indicators:
i.Total estimated receipts/income for the FY25 is Rs 26,465.02 crores
ii.The anticipated expenditure for FY25 is Rs 26,850.56 crores.
iii.The projected revenue surplus for FY25 is Rs 1704.19 crores.
• In FY 2022-23, Goa has achieved a revenue surplus of Rs. 2,399.21 crores which is the first time in the
history of this State that it achieved such a large revenue surplus.
iv.The Fiscal Deficit for FY25 is projected to be Rs 3,149.46 crores, which is well within the limits set under the
Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003.
v.Expected increase in financial assistance from Centre to Rs 1,506.56 crore in FY25 from Rs 750 crore in
FY24.
Highlights:
i.30% of the budget in 13 departments allocated for women of the State.
ii.Highest allocation of Rs 3,099 crores was made for the power department.
• It is followed by Rs 1,226 crores for the Home Department.
iii.Provision of Rs 43.07 crore for Planning and Statistics, Rs 10 crore for Data Analysis Centre.
iv.Rs 10.50 crore for Swayampurna Goa Programme, Rs 25 lakh for Goa CSR Authority.
v.The Chief Minister’s Fellowship Program (CMFP) has increased its number to 20 fellows, with a provision of
Rs 93 lakh.
vi.Rs 82 lakh proposed for Goa Institute of Future Transformation.
vii.Rs 10 crore for renovation of Goa’s first Chief Minister’s memorial.
viii.Rs 156.99 crores allocated for Ports and River Navigation.
ix.Rs 2,121.86 crore for health department, with Goa Medical College (GMC) getting Rs 1,071 crore.

x.10.75% increase in Public Works Department (PWD) provision, reaching Rs 2,976 crore.
xi.Rs 10 crore provision for the Exposition of Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) at Old Goa.
xii.Rs 20 crore provision for temple construction and restoration.
xiii.Proposed one-time amnesty scheme for illegally operated residential establishments.
xiv.Regulation planned for unrenewed leave and licence agreements to prevent revenue leakage.
Other Allocations:
i.New Road Improvement & Safety Project gets provision of Rs 50 crore
ii.Industries dept allocated Rs. 74Cr
iii.Information and technology department allocated Rs 154Cr
iv.Agriculture department gets Rs 259.30Cr
v.Women & child welfare department gets Rs 406.70Cr
vi.Environment & climate change gets budget provision of Rs 20Cr
i.The Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Undertaking
(CPSU), under the Ministry of Defence(MoD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BITS
Goa Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Society (BGIIES, Goa) to drive innovation and progress in the
shipbuilding and defence industry using cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.
ii.The Geographical Indications Registry, operating under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Chennai,
awarded geographical indication (GI) tag to Goa Cashew (Kaju Or Caju). The unique identity and taste of Goa
cashews result from the overall climatological impact of Goa and traditional farming practices followed by
Goans.It is the 10th product of the state to get the coveted GI tag.
About Goa:
Chief Minister– Pramod Sawant
Governor– P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
National Park– Mollem National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary – Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Odisha Declared Gupteswar Forest as its 4th Biodiversity Heritage Site

The Odisha government has declared the Gupteswar forest in Koraput district as its fourth Biodiversity
Heritage Site (BHS).
• The three other BHS sites in Odisha are Mandasaru in Kandhamal district, Mahendragiri in Gajpati
district, and Gandhamardan in Bargarh and Bolangir districts.
About Gupteswar:
i.It is spread over 350 hectares of area and has sacred grooves traditionally worshiped by the local community
and bestowed with a wide range of flora and fauna.
ii.The forest is adjacent to the Gupteswar Shiva temple in the Dhondrakhol reserve forest under the Jeypore
forest division.
Floral & Faunal Diversity of Gupteswar:
i.As per the biodiversity inventory and survey conducted by the Odisha Biodiversity Board, the Gupteswar
forest has 608 faunal species which include 28 species of mammals, 188 species of birds, 18 species of
amphibia, 48 species of reptiles, and 141 species of butterflies, 43 species of moths, 41 species of odonates, 30
species of spiders, six species of scorpion,s and 20 species of lower invertebrates.
ii.The floral diversity of the forest inlcudes 182 species of trees, 76 species of shrubs, 177 species of herbs, 69
species of climbers, 14 species of orchids, and threatened medicinal plants like Indian trumpet tree, Indian
snake root, etc.
iii.The limestone caves in Gupteswar boast of 8 species of bats out of the total 16 species found in southern
Odisha.

About Biodiversity Heritage Site:
i.The state government has the power to notify the areas of biodiversity importance as ‘Biodiversity Heritage
Sites’ in its Official Gazette as per Section 37 (1) of the Biological Diversity Act,2002.
ii.As of January 2024, there were 44 Biodiversity Heritage Sites in India.
Additional Info:
The Odisha state government has allocated an amount of Rs 35 lakhs for the preparation of the action plan and
awareness-building activities in the localities in the BHS.
‘Kaji Nemu‘ named as State Fruit of Assam

The Government of Assam has declared Kaji Nemu (Citrus Limon) as the State Fruit of Assam. The
announcement was made by Assam’s Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, following a Cabinet meeting. Kaji Nemu is
also known as the “Queen of all citrus fruits”
• Kaji Nemu is a medium-to-large variety of lemon, that has an elongated, oblong, elliptic, to obovate
shape.
• It is grown only in Assam and certain parts of the northeast India.
• It has a thin and glossy rind with unique aroma & antioxidant properties.
• In 2019, Kaji nemu received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag as ‘Agricultural’ Goods.
Bihar Introduced ‘Patna Declaration’ to Strengthen Bird Conservation Initiatives in South

Asian region
The Bihar government has brought out the ‘Patna Declaration’ to strengthen bird conservation initiatives and
address the challenges posed by illegal hunting in the South Asian region.
• The declaration was finalised at the international workshop organised by the Department of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC) of Bihar and the Bombay Natural History Society
(BNHS).
About the Patna Declaration:
i.The Patna Declaration aims to increase collaboration between countries and organisations along the Central
Asian Flyway (CAF) and East Asian Australasian Flyway (EAAF) in bird conservation activities and combat
illicit hunting and trading of wild birds.
ii.It also aims to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at the
grassroots level through the Wildlife Protection Action Act of 1972 (as amended in 2022).
iii.Task force: The declaration recommends to set up a task force on illegal killing, taking, and trade of
migratory birds in the South Asian region.
• This will facilitate the implementation of guidelines and action plans and consider the necessity of new
recommendations to respond to specific problems
About the Workshop:
i.The three-day workshop on ‘Bird Conservation Initiatives in India with a special focus on illegal hunting,
taking and trade of birds-conservation and management issues and concerns – South Asian Regional
Perspective’ was held from 5th to 7th February 2024 in Patna, Bihar.
ii.Delegates from national and international wildlife organisations participated in the workshop. Around 15
delegates from 8 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Singapore, and the
Netherlands attended the workshop.
Note: The declaration was endorsed by delegates from all the 8 countries.
Justice N V Anjaria Appointed as CJ of Karnataka High Court

Justice Nilay Vipinchandra Anjaria is appointed as Chief Justice(CJ) of the Karnataka High Court (HC). He
will succeed Justice Pratinidhi Srinivasacharya Dinesh Kumar, who is set to retire on 24th February 2024.
• N V Anjaria is currently serving as Judge in Gujarat HC (since 2011).

• The appointment is in line with the proposal made by Collegium of the Supreme Court of India.
• The appointment was made by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in the exercise of the
power conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India.
Sikkim CM Launched Sikkim INSPIRES, a World Bank-Assisted Program for Economic

Empowerment of Women & Youth
Sikkim Chief Minister (CM) Prem Singh Tamang launched Sikkim INSPIRES (Integrated Service Provision
and Innovation for Revising Economics), a World Bank(WB)-assisted program under the Planning and
Development Department of the Government of Sikkim was launched at Chintan Bhavan, Gangtok, Sikkim.
Key People: Sikkim CM graced the event as the Chief Guest and he was accompanied by Kunga Nima
Lepcha, Minister of the Education Department, and Sonam Lama, Minister of the Rural Development
Department.
Sikkim INSPIRES:
i.This WB-assisted program is the first-ever direct partnership between the Government of Sikkim and the
WB
ii.Through INSPIRES, the Sikkim Government is adopting evidence-based modules for economic inclusion
opportunities, especially for women and youth.
Background:
In December 2023, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved the
Sikkim INSPIRES Operation, a transformative USD 100 million initiative aimed at empowering 300,500
women and youth of Sikkim in high-growth and priority sectors.
• Priority sectorincludes non-farm sectors like renewable energy, information and technology
(IT) services, tourism, hospitality and wellness care, and creative design.
• The loan has a maturity of 14 years with a grace period of 5 and a half years.
Click here to know more
Key Points:
i.India is funding 90% of the loan and the State government of Sikkim is responsible for just 10%
repayment.
ii.Over the next 5 years, the Sikkim INSPIRES project will operate across 9 government departments,
fostering economic growth and inclusivity.
Swasth Maan Sikkim Mobile App:
i.The CM launched the Swasth Maan Sikkim Mobile App for well-being and awareness to strengthen
mental health.
ii.The app was developed by the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Health
Department, Government of Sikkim.
About World Bank (WB):
World Bank Group President– Ajay Banga
Headquarters– Washington, DC, USA
West Bengal FM Chandrima Bhattacharya Presented Rs 3.6 lakh crore State Budget for FY25
The Finance Minister of West Bengal (WB) Chandrima Bhattacharya presented a state budget of Rs
3,66,166 crore for FY2024-25 which introduced a Gender and Child Budget Budget.
i.Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for FY25 is projected at Rs 18.8 lakh crore, showing a growth of
10.5% over FY24.

ii.The state will repay debt of Rs 61,427 crore while the state’s dues from the central government is nearly
Rs 1.18 lakh crore.
iii.Total receipts for 2024-25 are estimated to be Rs 3,36,114.02 crores with Revenue Receipt of Rs
236,251.09 crores and Capital Receipt of Rs 99,862.93 crores
iv.Total expenditure is estimated at Rs 3,36,116.02 crores with Revenue Expenditure at Rs 268,202.76
crores and Capital Expenditure at Rs 67,913.26 crores.
v.The revenue deficit for FY25 is estimated to be 1.7% of GSDP, amounting to Rs 31,952 crore.
vi.The fiscal deficit target for FY25 is set at 3.6% of GSDP, totaling Rs 68,250 crore.
vii.Grants from the centre in FY25 are estimated at Rs 34,684 crore.
viii.WB’s total own tax revenue is estimated to be Rs 102,348.92 crore in FY25, an increase of 10% over
the revised estimate of FY24.
• Own tax revenue as a percentage of GSDP is estimated at 5.4% in FY25.
Click Here for Official Data
What is under the Gender and Child Budget?
The total allocation towards gender budget is Rs 96,272.69 crores in which Rs 21,380.69 crore under
100% women specific schemes and Rs 74,891 crore for schemes with 30% to 99% dedicated to the
development and empowerment of women.
• The allocation towards Child Budget is Rs 57,419.19 crores.
• This budget has been prepared by analysing the demands for grants of various departments
specifically intended for expenditure relating to women and children,
Highlights fromWB’sFY25 Budget:
i.The monthly financial assistance under Lakshmir Bhandar scheme has been raised to Rs 1,200 for
Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) community, whereas for other categories, it has been
increased to Rs 1,000. In this regard, Rs 14,400 crore has been allocated for Lakshmir Bhandar.
• After 60 years of age, the beneficiaries will get the same financial assistance under the old age
pension scheme.
• The scheme provides financial support to women heads of families between the ages of 25 and
60. Click Here to read about the scheme
ii.Karmasree scheme: The state government will provide at least 50 days of work to MGNREGA (Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) job card holders under the scheme from May 2024
onwards.
iii.An additional 4% dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees is announced from May
2024.
• This is in addition to the 4% that was declared in January 2024.
iv.Agriculture: 2,000 farm machinery hubs and custom hiring centers will be established at the gram
panchayat level in the next two years, with an allocation of Rs 450 crore.
• Additionally, Rs 200 crore is earmarked for setting up 1,200 Farmer Producer Organizations
(FPOs) to enhance market connectivity for agricultural produce.
v.Taruner Swapno: Providing Rs 10,000 one-time aid to class 11 students for buying smartphones/tablets,
with a budget of Rs 900 crore.
vi.Thermal Power: Building four supercritical thermal power units totaling 2,920 MW (Mega Watt) at a
project cost of Rs 23,360 crore over four years.
vii.Matsyajeebi Bandhu scheme: One-time financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh will be given to dependent
family members of a government registered fisherman in case of death, under this scheme.
viii.A startup fund of Rs 350 crores will be provided to aspiring young entrepreneurs, with each
individual eligible to receive up to Rs 5 lakh.

ix.State Government has declared an extension of the stamp duty rebate until March 2023 as a measure to
aid individuals and businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Key Allocations:
i.Rs 18,029 crore has been allocated for assistance to non-government secondary schools.
ii.Rs 7,732 crore has been allocated for assistance to non-government primary schools.
iii.Rs 4,496 crore has been allocated for old age pension scheme under Jai Bangla
iv.Rs 5,800 crore has been allocated for financial support to Krishak Bandhu.
v.Rs 1,200 crore has been allocated for crop insurance.
vi.Rs 4,745 crore has been allocated for MGNREGA.
vii.Rs 1,201 crore has been allocated for talent support for meritorious students.
Others:
i.Agricultural income tax on tea gardens for 2023-24 and 2024-25 to be waived.
ii.12,500-km of rural roads to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore.
iii.The annual fund allocation for MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly) for local area development
works under Vidhayak Elaka Unnayan Prakalpa increased from Rs 60 lakh to Rs 70 lakh for FY25.
Click Here to Read about Economic Review of West Bengal covering all State Schemes
i.The party-wise analysis of the State Legislative Assemblies shows that the Trinamool Congress in West
Bengal had the highest share of women MLAs (3%) followed by the Congress in Chhattisgarh (14.7%).
ii.The construction of a new navigation lock gate at Farakka, West Bengal, undertaken by the Inland
Waterways Authority of India, at a cost of Rs 375 crore.
About West Bengal (WB):
Chief Minister– Mamata Banerjee
Governor– C. V. Ananda Bose
National Parks– Buxa National Park, Gorumara National Park
Indian Cricketer Shubman Gill To Be the ‘State Icon’ of Punjab

Indian cricketer Shubman Gill was named as the ‘State Icon’ of Punjab by the Chief Electoral Officer of
Punjab for the 2024 Parliamentary election.
• The move aims to increase voter awareness thereby ensuring a voting percentage of 70% in the
upcoming election.
• The awareness campaigns and appeals made by Shubman Gill would motivate the voters to cast
their votes.
Note: Indian batsman Shubman Gill made his international debut in December 2020 against Australia in a
Test match. He also plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League(IPL) and Punjab in domestic
cricket.
Telangana Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu presented Vote on Account Rs 2,75,891

crore Budget for FY25
The Deputy Chief Minister (CM) and Finance Minister of Telangana Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu presented the
state’s vote on account budget for Financial Year 2024-2025 (FY25) with an outlay of Rs 2,75,891
crore in the State Legislative Assembly in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• This is the first budget presented by the Congress Government which came to power after the
recent elections.
i.This outlay of the budget includes Rs 201,178 crore towards revenue expenditure
and Rs 29,669 crore for capital expenditure.

ii.The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Telangana showed an increase in current prices from Rs
13,02,371 crore in FY23 to Rs 14,49,708 crore in FY24.
iii.The economic growth rate of the state showed a downward trend from 14.7% in FY23 to 11.3% FY24.
iv.The budget emphasizes welfare, particularly focusing on implementing the six guarantees promised by
Congress before the elections.
• In this regard, Rs 53,196 crore, one fourth of the total revenue expenditure, has been allocated
for implementing the guarantees across various departments.
What are the 6 Guarantees?
These six guarantees are Mahalakshmi, Rythu Bharosa, Gruha Jyothi, Indiramma Indlu, Yuva Vikasam and
Cheyutha.
i.Mahalakshmi: Under this scheme, women of Telangana will receive the following :
• Rs 2,500 every month
• Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders for Rs 500
• Free travel in Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses
ii.Rythu Bharosa: This scheme is to provide financial assistance to the farmers of Telangana. Farmers will
be provided the following:
• Rs 15,000 per acre for farmers, tenant farmers every year
• Rs 12,000 per year for agriculture labour
• Bonus of Rs 500 per year for paddy crop
iii.Gruha Jyothi:
Under the scheme, every household will get 200 units of free electricity.
iv.Indiramma Indlu:
This scheme is for the landless and homeless people of Telangana. Under this, the following will be
provided:
• Free of Cost Land for House Construction
• Financial Assistance of Rs 5 Lakh for Construction of House
• Housing Site/ Land of 250 Square Yards to Telangana Movement Activist/ Fighters
v.Yuva Vikasam:
This scheme is for the youth of the state. It includes:
• Vidya Bharosa card worth Rs 5 lakh for students
• Setting up Telangana International Schools in every district
vi.Cheyutha Scheme:
• Rs 4,000 monthly pension for senior citizens
• Free medical and Healthcare upto Rs 10 lakh under the Rajiv Arogyasri insurance. This
coverage is increased from Rs 5 Lakh.
Key Highlights:
i.The free bus travel for women costs Rs 300 crore monthly.
ii.Gruha Jyothi gets Rs 2,418 crore allocation. The total allocation for Transco and distribution companies
is Rs 16,825 crore.
iii.The Panchayat Raj gets Rs 40,800 crore
iv.Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Welfare: Rs 13,313 crore
v.Backward Classes (BC) Welfare: Rs 8,000 crore
vi.SC Welfare department: Rs 21,874 crore
vii.ST Welfare department: Rs 13,313 crore
viii.Minorities Welfare: Rs 2,262 crore
ix.Education department: Rs 21,389 crore; including Rs 500 crores for infrastructure improvement.
x.Medical and Health sector: Rs 11,500 crore.

xi.Agriculture department: Rs 19,746 crore; including Rythu Bharosa.
xii.Irrigation department: Rs 28,024 crore.
xiii.Municipal Administration: Rs 11,692 crore; including Rs 1,000 crore for Musi riverfront development.
xiv.Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC): Rs 300 crore monthly
xv.Indiramma housing scheme: Rs 7,740 crore.
Others:
i.Gig workers to receive Rs 5 lakh accident insurance plan as part of the social security scheme.
ii.New policy introduction for IT sector skill development, aiming for statewide expansion.
iii.Kakatiya Mega Textile Park will be developed utilizing PM (Prime Minister) Mitra Funds.
iv.Establishment of two leather parks and pharma clusters statewide.
v.Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into rural development initiatives.
i.The 23 kilometer long Healthway Cycling Track, India’s first solar-roofed cycling track, was inaugurated
in Hyderabad, Telangana, by the state municipal administration and Urban Development Minister K. T.
Rama Rao.
ii.PM Narendra Modi visited Telangana on the 1st and 3rd of October 2023. On 1st October 2023, he laid
the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple developmental projects worth more than Rs
13,500 crore in Mahbubnagar, Telangana. On 3rd October 2023, he laid the foundation stone and
dedicated various development projects worth Rs 8000 crores in Nizamabad, Telangana.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister– Revanth Reddy
National Parks– KBR National Park, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary
Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog presented Rs 2.9 lakh crore budget for FY25
The Finance Minister of Assam Ajanta Neog presented Rs 2.9 lakh crore budget for Financial Year 2024-25
(FY25) with a deficit of Rs 774.47 crore. The budget proposed no new tax.
• This was his 4th budget under the leadership of Chief Minister (CM) of Assam Dr
Himanta Biswa Sarma.
i.It shows a receipt of Rs 1,43,605.56 crore under the Consolidated Fund of the State.
• Out of this, Rs 1,11,943.84 crore is on Revenue Account and Rs 31,661.73 crore is under
Capital Account.
• The aggregate Receipts amount to Rs 2,90,155.65 crore.
ii.Total expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the State is estimated at Rs 1,43,890.62 crore of
which Rs 1,10,091.86 crore is on Revenue Account and Rs 33,798.76 crore is on Capital Account.
• The aggregate expenditure is estimated at Rs 2,88,560.71 crore.
iii.The GSDP is estimated to touch Rs 6.43 lakh crore during FY25 as against Rs 5.7 lakh crore in FY24,
showing a growth of 13%.
• Fiscal deficit for FY25 is targeted at 3.5% of GSDP.
Important Highlights:
i.Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina (MMNM): It is a financial aid for girls joining government colleges and
institutions.
• Rs 10,000 for class 11
• Rs 12,500 for first-year graduation
• Rs 15,000 for first-year post-graduation

Allocation– Rs 240 crore towards this scheme in this budget
ii.Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan: It is a support for women in self-help groups (SHGs).
• Each woman member will receive at least Rs 47,500 through grants, subsidies, and loans.
iii.Mukhya Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin): 13,000 houses will be allocated to needy beneficiaries from
tea garden communities and the poorest who were not included under the socio-economic caste census.
• Allocation– Rs 600 crore
iv.Housing for Police Personnel: Under this, the Government will construct 10,000 new 2 BHK housing
units covering 1,000 Sq Ft area over the next 5 years. The construction of 2,000 houses will be completed
in FY25.
• Allocation- Rs 150 crore
v.Housing for Safai Karmacharis: It will provide housing to all safai karmacharis equipped with essential
amenities.
• Allocation- In the first phase, a sum Rs 37.50 crore is earmarked for undertaking construction
of 250 houses in FY25.
vi.Orunodoi 2.0 – Expanding and More Inclusive
Under this, the benefits of the program extend to transgender and divyangjan individuals in addition to the
State’s antyodaya women. As a part of scheme, beneficiaries get Rs 1250 each on the 10th day of every
month directly in their bank accounts.
• The state Government will provide Orunodoi Poriyal saturation under National Food Security
Act (NFSA) by integrating the ration cards with Orunodoi on pilot basis in the districts of
Charaideo and Biswanath
• Allocation- Rs 3800 crore for this scheme in this budget.
vii.Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme – Category III
This will be extended to support poor women borrowers under category-III, whose accounts have become
non-performing assets as on 31st March 2021 and have an outstanding principal amount from Rs 25,001
up to Rs 50,000
• Allocation– Rs 550 crore
viii.Mukhya Mantri Sva-Niyojan Mission
Under this, selected Micro-entrepreneurs will receive Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh in instalments, consisting of
a government grant and interest-free loan.
• The loan, repayable over 60 equal instalments starting from the 61st month, comes with
training and mentorship across multiple sectors like trading, manufacturing, services, and
agriculture.
• Allocation– Rs 1010 crore under Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojna (CMSGUY).
ix.Asom Mala 2.0
Building on the success of Asom Mala projects, Asom Mala 2.0 will expand the road network by 1000 km,
emphasizing connectivity between established National Highways and rural roads. It targets 43 priority
roads and 38 bridges across 28 districts, with implementation starting in March 2024.
• This project will cost around Rs 3500 Crores.
x.Green Growth for Greener Assam
As a part of this, in FY25, Government will undertake 3 crore sapling plantation and the allocation for the
same is Rs 40 crore.
• In FY 24-25, there will be introduction of another 100 EVs (Electric Vehicles) in the Guwahati
metropolitan.

xi.Projects for Amrit Kaal in Assam for FY25:
Estimated Cost (Rs in

Name of the projects
crore)
Maa Kamakhya Divyaloka Pariyojan 498
Infrastructure development of Guwahati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) 3250
Renovation of Nehru Stadium into World-Class Sports Arena 832
Modernization of Assam State Zoo, Guwahati 311
Modern campus for Gauhati High Court at Rang Mahal, North Guwahati (Land
110 + 300
acquisition of 130 bighas plus project cost)
Kaziranga Natural History Museum 886
Kanaklata University, Gohpur 554
Rejuvenation of Deepor Beel 100

All these Amrit Kaal projects will be completed in 3 years.
Key Allocations:
i.For Innovative integration of wetlands with River Brahmaputra for floodwater diversion, Rs 200 crore
allocated.
ii.Rs 75 crore is earmarked for the Welfare of tea tribe community.
iii.Rs100 crore proposed for transforming Jorhat’s Sukapha Kshetra into a cultural and historical
landmark, honouring Ahom dynasty founder, Chaolung Siu-Ka-Pha.
• Rs 3 crore allocated for the promotion of Taralangso festival of Karbi Anglong to attract
tourists.
iv.Rs 300 crore proposed for the construction of Chandrapur Stadium, Guwahati.
v.Rs 401 crore assigned for the upgradation of Khanikar Stadium, Dibrugarh district from 5000 to 15000
seating capacity.
vi.Assam will organize a Global Investors’ Summit in the month of November, 2024.
Rs 25 crore proposed for the same.
vii.Gender Budget allocated Rs 16937 crore for 24 departments.
viii.Child Budget received Rs 16834 crore for 12 departments.
ix.Divyang Budget received Rs 1968 crore for 11 departments.
x.Green Budget share is 10.02% of total budget of 18 key departments amounting to Rs 4636 Crore in
FY25.
• A Green Budget contributes to achieving various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as
SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 7 (Affordable and
Clean Energy), and other SDGs.
Others:
i.There will be setting up of Training Centre at Padmashree Hemaprova Chutia’s residence
ii.There will be setting up Mukhya Mantri Sangrahalaya which would be a state-of-the-art museum in
Guwahati.
iii.Under Rooftop solar mandate, new buildings in Assam must install rooftop solar panels.

iv.Under Farm mechanisation Support, there will be distribution of power tillers, tractors, and other tools
to support agriculture.
Major Announcements:
i.There will be self sufficiency in egg, milk and fish production.
• To boost milk production, Rs 25 crore would be provided towards milk subsidy as a direct
support to dairy farmers.
• To attain self-sufficiency in egg production, Rs 25 crore is proposed.
• Fish production will be boosted by utilizing Central schemes and Entrepreneurship Awareness
Programs (EAPs).
ii.Rs 15 crore proposed to provide various initiatives to small tea growers in the State and support the
modernization of tea processing facilities and training of tea sector in new technologies.
iii.The other announcements include PM Vishwakarma Yojana, Climate Action, Amrit-Guwahati Integrated
Global City (Amrit-GiG City), Ayushman Asom : A comprehensive healthcare initiative, Gyan-Dhara –
Integrating virtual reality technology with for experiential learning, etc.
Click Here for Full Announcements
i.Kati Bihu, also known as Kongali bihu, is the annual Assamese festival celebrated on the first day of the
Kati Month in the Assamese calendar, usually coincides with the mid-October. Kati Bihu is celebrated
during the time of relocation of the rice sapling which is observed with great enthusiasm and fervor.
ii.On 2 October 2023, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Assam Chief Minister
(CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Ayushman Asom: Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana, an
online medical bill reimbursement scheme for the Government of Assam’s employees, pensioners and
their dependents, at the event held in Sankardev Kalakshetra International Auditorium in Guwahati,
Assam.
About Assam:
Chief Minister – Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor– Gulab Chand Kataria
National Parks– Manas National Park, Nameri National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary
Odisha Finance Minister Presents Rs 2.55 Lakh Crore Budget for 2024-25
The Finance Minister of Odisha, Bikram Keshari Arukha, presented a growth-oriented Annual Budget (Vote-on-
Account) for the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) in the Legislative Assembly, with an outlay Rs 2,55,000 crore, a
11% increase from Annual Budget, FY24. No new schemes were introduced.
• An interim budget of Rs 1.18 lakh crore was also presented for the first four months of FY25.
Highlights:
i.The expenditure is estimated at Rs 1,18,000 crore.
ii.Rs 1,40,000 crore is estimated for Programme Expenditure.
iii.Notably, the proportion of Capital expenditure in Odisha to total budget is the highest among all major States
in India.
• The capital outlay in FY25 is Rs 63,162 crore, which is about 6.8% of Gross State Domestic Product
(GSDP).
iv.GSDP Ratio for FY25 (BE) is 12.25%; State’s own revenue contributing about 56% to the total revenue.
v.Revenue Surplus projected at 4% of GSDP.
vi.Fiscal Deficit kept within the prescribed limit of 3% of GSDP.

Allocation (Top 5 with Highest Allocation):
i.The highest resource allocation of Rs 33,865 crore has been proposed for the school and mass education
department.
ii.Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department: Allocation of Rs 22,543 crore (8.84%).
iii.Health and Family Welfare: Allocation of Rs 19,959 crore (7.74%).
iv.Water Resources: Allocation of Rs 13,267 crore (5.20%).
v.Planning and Convergence: Allocation of Rs 12,043 crore (4.72%).
Agriculture/Horticulture:
i.Rs 28,944 crore under the Agriculture Budget for FY25.
ii.Rs 1,935 crore of direct benefit transfers under Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation
(KALIA) Scheme.
iii.Rs 480 crore under Horticulture Development Programme, and Rs 98 crore under National Horticulture
Mission for integrated development of horticulture.
iv.Rs 155 crore under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
v.Rs 51 crore provided to support Farmers’ Producers Organisations (FPOs)
vi.Rs 600 crore under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for crop insurance for farmers.
vii.Outlay of Rs 360 crore for Mukhyamantri Maschyajibi Kalyan Yojana and Rs 220 crore under the
scheme Blue Revolution for integrated development & management of fisheries.
viii.Rs 220 crore under the scheme Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikash Yojana-White Revolution.
Other Sectors:
i.Total outlay of Rs 14,467 crore for irrigation sector. This include the following among others:
• Rs 320 crore under Mukhya Mantri Adibandha Tiari Yojana (MATY)-2.0 for construction of another
check dams during 2024-25.
• Rs 375 crore for lining of canals under Canal Lining and System Rehabilitation
Programme (CLSRP).
• Rs 240 crore for modernization of irrigation projects under
Nabakrushna Choudhury Secha Unayana Yojana.
ii.Rs 2,761 crore under the overarching Mission Shakti programme during 2024-25
iii.Rs 1162 crore under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)
iv.Rs 390 crore under the Gangadhar Meher Sikshya Manakbrudhi Yojana (GMSMY) for supply of Free Bi-Cycle
to all Students studying in Class-IX of Govt., Govt. Aided, Block Grant High Schools, Sanskrit Tols and Madrasa.
v.Rs 108 crore for Mukhyamantri Chhatra Chhatri Paridhan Yojana, and Rs 19 crore under
Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chatra Protsahan Yojana for disbursement of scholarship to eligible students.
vi.Rs 1,305 crore for the sports sector.
vii.Total Rs 5,015 crore for undertaking various women and child centric policy and welfare measures.
viii.A sum of Rs 4,699 crore is allocated for social security measures.
ix.The allocation towards Programme Budget is Rs 58,575 crore for identified Schemes.
Allocation of Rs 10,718 crore to transform Urban Odisha.
x.Rs 4051 crore under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY)-Gramin.
xi.Rs 2,001 crore for material component of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
(MGNREGA) Scheme.
xii.Rs 314 crore for Urban Wage Employment Programme-Mukhyamantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan (MUKTA).
xii.Investment of Rs.21,004 crore under Roads, Bridges, Airports and Railways.
• Rs 6194 crore has been proposed for Road Development Programme and Rs 100 crore for Biju
Express Way.
• Rs 1191 crore for a new scheme Location accessible multimodal initiative (LACCMI) to facilitate
assured and affordable transportation for the people across the state
xiii.Allocation of Rs 4,352 crore is proposed for the sector for quality and reliable power supply.
xiv.Outlay of Rs 1555 crore for Industries and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

xv.Rs 1219 crore for the forestry sector, and Rs 818 crore has been proposed for overall development of
Tourism sector.
xvi.Rs 350 crore under Integrated Development of Heritage and Monuments and Tourist Destination.
i.The Indigenously built state of the art Air Traffic Management Automation System (ATMAS) inaugurated at
the Biju Patnaik International Airport, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The ATMAS was jointly developed by Airports
Authority of India (AAI) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
ii.Odisha Chief Minister(CM) Naveen Patnaik launched the Location Accessible Multimodal
Initiative (LAccMI) Yojana in Malkangiri district of Odisha. The LAccMI scheme aims to offer reliable and
affordable public transit (bus service) throughout Odisha, with a focus on rural areas.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister– Naveen Patnaik
Governor– Raghubar Das
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Gahirmatha sanctuary, Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary
Airports– Biju Patnaik International Airport, Jharsuguda Airport
Bihar Govt Presents Rs 2.79 Lakh Crore Budget for FY 2024-25

Samrat Chaudhary, Deputy Chief Minister(Dy CM) cum Finance Minister of Bihar, presented a budget of Rs
2,78,725 crore for the fiscal year 2024-2025(FY25) in the Bihar Assembly.
• The budget expenditure has increased by Rs 16840.32 crore from Rs 2,61,885.40 crore in FY24.
Note: This was the first budget of the newly formed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led
by Chief Minister(CM) Nitish Kumar.
Highlights:
i.Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP):
According to the Bihar Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled in the assembly, the GSDP of Bihar is estimated to
grow by 15.5%. Bihar’s per capita income is estimated to be Rs 59,637 per annum at current prices in the
fiscal year 2022-23. This is 13.9% higher than the previous year(FY22).
ii.Expenditure:
Expenditure (excluding debt repayment) in 2024-25 is estimated to be Rs 2,56,333 crore. This is 12%
lower than the revised estimates of 2023-24.
Of the total expenditure, Rs 1 lakh crore was earmarked for annual scheme outlay.
iii.Receipts:
Receipts (excluding borrowings) for 2024-25 are estimated to be Rs 2,27,238 crore. This marks a 5.7%
increase compared to the revised estimates of 2023-24.
iv.Revenue surplus:
The revenue surplus for FY25 is estimated to be Rs 1121.41 crore, which is 0.1 % of GSDP.
In FY24, the revenue surplus was estimated at Rs 4479 crore (0.5% of GSDP).
v.Fiscal deficit:
Fiscal deficit of FY25 is estimated at Rs 29,095 crore (2.9% of GSDP).
Bihar’s Expenditure on Key Sectors:
i.Rs 22,200.35 crore (22.20% of the total expenditure) has been allocated for the education department.
ii.Rs 7,409.13 crore (7.41%) has been allocated for rural works and Rs 7,117.56 crore (7.12%) has been
set aside for health departments.
iii.The Bihar government is set to spend over Rs 3,073.26 crore on several scholarship schemes alone.
iv.Rs 8,191.79 crore (8.19%) has been allocated for social welfare.
v.Rs 5.040 crore is the estimated expenditure on good governance schemes under the Saat Nischay, Part-II
programme.

About Bihar:
Chief Minister– Nitish Kumar
Governor– Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Tiger Reserve– Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Wildlife Sanctuary– Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary; Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary
Himachal CM presents Rs 58,444 crore budget for 2024-25

On February 24, 2024, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh (HP), who also holds the finance portfolio,
presented budget estimates of Rs 58,444 crore for the Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25).
• It is 9.1% higher than the budget of Rs 53,413 crore in FY24.
• The government did not propose any new tax for FY25.
• It was a rural-oriented Budget focused on strengthening farming and animal husbandry sectors,
and to make the HP self-reliant.
i.Total estimated receipts for FY25 is Rs 61438.71 crore.
ii.Total estimated expenditure for FY25 is Rs 58443.61 crore.
iv.The fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 10,784 crore which is 4.75% of the Gross State Domestic Product
(GSDP).
v.For FY24, the state government pegged growth at 7.1%, with GSDP estimated as Rs 207,430 crore. The
annual per capita income is estimated at Rs 235,199.
Agriculture Initiatives:
i.The State Government to procure 20 quintals of naturally grown grains per family at Minimum Support
Price (MSP) rates: Rs 40 per kg for grains, Rs 30 per kg for maize.
ii.Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Yojana will be launched to train 36,000 farmers in natural farming
techniques.
iii.There will be hike in MSP of cow milk from Rs 38 to Rs 45 per litre and buffalo milk from Rs 47 to Rs 55
per litre.
• Himachal is the first state to give MSP on milk.
iv.There will be waiver of liabilities for milk cooperative societies; Rs 150 crore allocated for milk
infrastructure.
v.There will be establishment of 2,500 agricultural clusters over 3 to 5 years via HP Agriculture Mission to
focus on high-value crops and coarse grains production boost.
Other Initiatives :
• Financial assistance for fish farmers will be given to construct new ponds in 20-hectare area
with 80% subsidy.
• Commissioning of largest solar power project (32 Mega Watt/MW) at Pekhubella by March
2024; Aghlor Solar Power Project (10 MW) in Una by June 2024; Bhanjal Solar Power Project (5
MW) in Una by September 2024.
• Out of the total 16 proposed heliports in the state, nine heliports — Jaskot in Hamirpur;
Rakkar and Palampur in Kangra; Sultanpur in Chamba; Aaloo Ground, Manali in Kullu; Sharbo in
Kinnaur; and, Jispa, Sissu and Rangrik in Lahaul-Spiti will be developed in the first phase.
• Chandratal, Kaza and Tandi in Lahaul-Spiti and Rackchham and Nako – Chango – Khab in
Kinnaur will be developed as tourist destinations.
• Construction of Sky Walk Bridge in Haasan Valley near Kufri.
• Increase in daily wages of MGNREGA workers from Rs 240 to Rs 300 per day.
• Proposed increase in MLA discretionary grant to Rs 14 lakh and
Vidhayak Kshetra Vikas Nidhi Yojana to Rs 2.20 crore.

• Government announced a Rs 10 crore Bhed Bakri Protsahan Yojna scheme.
Key Allocations:
i.State Government plans Rs 9,990 crores for FY25 state development budget.
ii.Allocation of Rs 2,516 crore for Scheduled Caste Development Programme, Rs 899 crore for Tribal
Development Programme, and Rs 110 crore for Backward Area Development Programme.
iii.Rs 5,280 crore proposed for central schemes.
iv.Rs 9,560 crore allotted for education, Rs 582 crore for agriculture, and Rs 531 crore for horticulture.
v.There will be establishment of 75 new irrigation schemes.
vi.Creation of Centre of Excellence in Horticulture for comprehensive support.
vii.Installation of state-of-the-art fruit processing units.
i.The HP Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved ‘Van
Mitra’ Scheme, a community based forest conservation scheme.
ii.HP CM launched Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashraya Yojana’ at the Ridge in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) to
provide comprehensive support to orphans, specially-abled children, destitute women, and elderly
individuals in HP With this scheme, Himachal Pradesh became the first state in India to enact a law aimed
at supporting orphan children and other vulnerable sections of society.
About Himachal Pradesh (HP):
Chief Minister– Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor– Shiv Pratap Shukla
National Parks– Great Himalayan National Park, Pin Valley National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary , Chail Wildlife Sanctuary
GOVT SCHEMES
STATE GOVT SCHEMES
Odisha Launches LABHA, a 100% State-Funded MSP Scheme for Minor Forest Produce
On 29th January 2024, the Odisha Cabinet led by Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik,
launched LABHA (Laghu Bana Jatya Drabya Kraya) Yojana, a new 100% state-funded minimum support
price (MSP) scheme for minor forest produce (MFB).
Aim: The scheme aims to eliminate the possibility of distress sale of the produce to middlemen.
About LABHA Yojana:
i.Under this scheme, primary collectors from tribal communities can sell the MFP they collected at the
procurement centres of TDCCOL (Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation Limited of Odisha) at MSP.
ii.These centres will be managed by SHGs (Self-Help Groups) and other designated agencies, assisted by
TDCCOL.
iii.After collection, the amount will be transferred as DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) to the beneficiary
account.
iv.The procurement automation system will record the information like total collection of MFP, details of
the primary collector and procurement point.
v.TDCCOL will process e-tendering and explore value addition and processing units for further sales.
Beneficiaries: The government aims to include 30,000 tribal beneficiaries under the scheme and it is
expected to expand to over 1 lakh beneficiaries.
Outlay: Initially the Odisha government has earmarked Rs 100 crore for the scheme. SHGs and other
agencies will receive a 2% commission.

Key Points:
i.Now, the MSP will be annually determined by the government of Odisha. At present, the Tribal Co-
operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) fixes the MSP for MFP.
ii.The government is set to establish a tamarind processing plant in Rayagada with an investment of Rs
25 crore. This plant will use tamarind procured through the LABHA Yojana.
iii.The Odisha Cabinet has also approved the establishment of the Commission for the Preservation and
Promotion of the Tribal Languages of the Scheduled Tribes of Odisha. There are 21 tribal languages in
Odisha.
Additional info:
Odisha has 63 tribes, 13 of which are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG). The tribal population
accounts for around 23% of Odisha’s total population. It is the third largest concentration of tribal
population in India, after Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister– Naveen Patnaik
Governor– Raghubar Das
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Lakhari valley sanctuary; Karlapat sanctuary
Zoological Park– Nandankanan Zoological Park
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Launches the Realigned AHIDF Scheme

On 14th February 2024, Union Minister Parshotam Rupala, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying(MoFAH&D) has launched the realigned Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development
Fund(AHIDF) Scheme at New Delhi, Delhi.
• He also released a radio jingle(advertisement music) on AHIDF.
Background:
i.AHIDF was launched on 24th June 2020 by the Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi under the
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Initiative with an outlay of Rs 15000 crore.
ii.On 1st February 2024, The union cabinet approved the continuation of the AHIDF under the
Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF)with an outlay of Rs 29,610.25 crore.
iii.The realigned scheme will be implemented for three years from 31st March 2023 till 2025-26.
About the AHIDF Scheme:
i.The Scheme will encourage investments in animal-based (Dairy and Meat) processing and diversification,
Animal Feed Plant, breed multiplication farms, Agri-waste management, and veterinary vaccine/drug
production facilities.
ii.Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund(DIDF) has been subsumed in the realigned AHIDF. The interest
subvention for Dairy Cooperatives has been increased to 3% under the realigned AHIDF instead of the
2.5% under DIDF.
Eligibile entities:
Farmer Producer Organization(FPO); Private companies; Individual Entrepreneurs; Section 8 companies
and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs)
Benefits:
i.Beneficiaries will get a 3% interest subsidy for 8 years(including 2 years of moratorium).
ii.Beneficiaries can receive loans up to 90% of the project’s estimated or actual cost from scheduled
banks.The scheme has no maximum or minimum limit on loan amounts.
iii.Beneficiaries will get a credit guarantee of up to 25% of term loan.
iv.It also has the option of integrating with capital subsidy schemes from other ministries or state-level
schemes.

Odisha Cabinet Approves SWAYAM Scheme to Provide Interest-free Loan to Unemployed Youths
The Odisha cabinet approved various proposals including the establishment of a new scheme named
Swatantra Yuva Udyami Scheme (SWAYAM), to provide interest-free loans to
unemployed/underemployed youths, and to promote self-employment among the youths in Odisha.
• Under the scheme, the eligible youth in the age group of 18-35 residing in both rural and urban
areas in Odisha can avail loan of up to Rs 1 lakh to start a new business or expand the existing
ones.
Note: The state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik has approved several proposals,
encompassing diverse sectors during a meeting at the Lok Seva Bhawan, Odisha.
Objective:
The objective of the scheme is to support entrepreneurs, who intend to start new ventures or expand their
existing businesses.
Budget Allocation:
The government plans to disburse Rs 448 crore for the scheme, aiming to benefit 1 lakh eligible rural
youth over 2 years.
Eligibility Criteria:
i.All rural unemployed youth or those without outstanding loans from central/state schemes for the same
purpose.
ii.Should be in the age group of 18-35 years; (18-40 years for the special category).
iii.In rural areas, the applicant’s family is covered under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income
Augmentation (KALIA) or Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) and should earn less than Rs 2 lakh
annually, where “family” implies self and spouse.
• In the urban area, the applicant’s family must be covered under the BSKY scheme or earn less
than Rs 3 lakh annually.
iv.The applicant must have a UDYAM registered/assisted number.
Exclusions: Applicants with outstanding loans or defaults, public sector employees, and government
employees are ineligible.
Additional Support:
i.In addition to the 85% loan guarantee already available to micro and small businesses, the state
government will give an additional 15% loan guarantee through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for
Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).
ii.There will be no collateral or processing fee for this loan.
iii.The repayment period will be 4 years which includes a moratorium period varying from 3 to 6 months
as prescribed by the concerned bank/financial institution.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Launches Asha Kirana Eye Care Scheme

Karnataka Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah launched the ‘Asha Kirana – Eye Care at Your Doorstep‘,
a scheme to offer free eye care services to families across Karnataka, during a event held in Haveri,
Karnataka.
• The Scheme launched by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of
Karnataka, falls under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment
(NPCB&VI).
About Asha Kirana:
i.Asha Kirana aims to provide comprehensive eye care services including doorstep eye check-ups for
individuals of all age groups.
ii.The services offered under the scheme includes diagnosis, treatment, spectacle distribution, and cataract
surgeries at free of cost for eligible beneficiaries.

iii.Health personnel and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers will conduct primary eye check-
ups at their homes.
iv.Individuals having eye problems during the screening are referred to the PHCs for secondary screening.
Objective:
• To reduce the prevalence of avoidable blindness.
• To ensure individuals can access essential eye care facilities without encountering any financial
constraints.
Eligibility: Permanent resident of Karnataka with eye problem are elibile under the scheme.
Note: To support those in need, Spectacle dispensing centers were established at all Primary Health
Centers (PHCs).
Phases:
i.The Asha Kirana program has been successfully implemented in 8 districts across 2 phases.
ii.Positive outcomes were reported in districts like Chikkaballapur, Kalaburagi, Haveri, and
Chamarajanagar in the 1st phase.
iii.The 2nd phase included Chitradurga, Mandya, Raichur, and Uttara Kannada districts.
iv.Upcoming phases targets Ramanagara, Yadgir, Kodagu, and Gadag for 2024-25, and Chikkamagaluru,
Bidar, Kolar, and Bagalkote in 2025-26.
Tripura Launched CM Jan Arogya Yojana; Becomes 1st Northeast State Universal Health Cover
Manik Saha, Chief Minister(CM) of Tripura, launched the CM Jan Arogya Yojana (CMJAY), a universal health
insurance scheme for all. With this launch, Tripura became the first Northeastern state to launch a
universal health cover.
• The scheme was launched at a mega event held in Netaji Subhas Vidyaniketan, Agartala,
Tripura.
Note: This is in line with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), a national public
health insurance scheme of the government of India.
About CMJAY:
i.The scheme offers universal health insurance coverage and
it will benefit 4.15 lakh families of Tripura and provide
cover of Rs 5 lakh per family annually.
ii.The scheme will provide cover to families irrespective of
income level.
CMJAY will also cover the Group C and D employees of the
government of Tripura.
iii.CMJAY will provide free medical care to indoor patients
within the primary health centre level and affiliated private
hospitals in Tripura.
iii.The scheme has roped in all the hospitals that provide treatment under PMJAY.
Points to note:
i.Tripura Government will spend around Rs 104 crore towards the implementation of this scheme in 2024.
ii.Under this scheme, the patients will get free medicines for 15 days after being discharged from a critical
illness.
Note: Out of the total population of Tripura (9.75 lakh families) around 5.12 lakh were included under the
AB-PMJAY. Around 2.94 lakh beneficiaries have received treatment under PMJAY.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India Contributes USD 32.89 Million to UN Regular Budget for 2024
On 31 January 2024, India contributed USD 32.895 million (approximately Rs. 273 Crore) to the United Nations
(UN) Regular Budget (RB) for 2024 and earned its spot in the “Honour Roll of the UN for 2024”.
Honour Roll 2024:
i.Honour Roll is a list of UN that have paid their mandatory financial support in full to the UN’s RB within 30
days of issuance of a payment note from the UN.
ii.As of 5th February 2024, 43 Member States have paid their regular budget assessments in full within the 30
day due period specified in Financial Regulation 3.5 (by 8 February 2024).
Note: India’s assessed contribution to the UN budget for 2023 was USD 30,540,402.00, and India has
consistently figured in the UN Honour Roll.
UN Regular Budget (RB):
i.The RB encompasses UN programs spanning various domains, such as:
• Political affairs;
• International justice and law;
• Regional cooperation for development;
• Human rights and humanitarian affairs; and
• Public information.
ii.In December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved an RB for the UN Secretariat’s
2024 operations, of USD 3.59 billion for 2024.
iii.This is about USD 300 million more than the USD 3.3 billion budget proposed by UN Secretary-General
António Guterres in October 2023.
Peacebuilding Fund:
i.The budget also includes the establishment of a multi-year Peacebuilding Account, a special account dedicated
to financing the UN’s Peacebuilding fund.
ii.The UNGA adopted almost USD 50 million in additional funding for decisions taken by the Human Rights
Council and decided to establish the Peacebuilding Account.
• The additionally approved USD 50 million of assessed contributions per annum is to fund the Account,
starting 1 January 2025.
Note: The UN maintains a distinct budget for peacekeeping operations, with the fiscal cycle from 1 July to 30
June, while the RB cycle aligns with the calendar year.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General– António Guterres
Headquarters– New York, USA
Overview of PM Modi’s visit to UAE and Qatar – February 2024

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was on official visit to U.A.E. and Qatar from 13th February to 15th
February, 2024.
PM Visit to U.A.E.
PM Modi visited Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) on 13th February, 2024.
PM Modi was welcomed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, UAE.This was the 7th visit
of PM Modi to the UAE in last 9 years.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi witnessed the exchange of the following:
• Bilateral Investment Treaty.

• Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEEC).
• Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on Digital Infrastructure Projects.
• Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Electricity Interconnection and Trade.
• Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation with the National Maritime Heritage Complex,
Lothal at Gujarat.
• Cooperation Protocol between the National Library and Archives of the UAE and the National
Archives of India.
• Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms – UPI (India) and AANI (UAE).
• Agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards – RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE).
Interlinking of UPI and AANI
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and UAE on interlinking of instant
payment platforms i.e. UPI (India) and AANI (UAE). The MoU was signed in the presence of PM Modi and
UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• It will facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between India and UAE.
Note: Now, the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) payments service is acceptable in 7 countries: France,
UAE, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bhutan and Nepal.
Launch of RuPay card at Abu Dhabi
PM Modi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahayan; President of UAE introduced
India’s UPI RuPay card service in Abu Dhabi, UAE on 13th February, 2024.
i.MoU was signed on interlinking of domestic debit and credit cards i.e. RuPay(India) and JAYWAN(UAE).
This will enhance the universal acceptance of RuPay card across the UAE.
ii.PM Modi and UAE President Al Nahyan witnessed a transaction made using the JAYWAN card.
India and UAE signed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)
During PM Modi visit to UAE on 13th February,2024, several important agreements were signed to give
boost to bilateral trade between two countries. Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is one of the important
agreements that were signed between India and UAE.
• It holds great significance for both India and UAE as it will play key role for further promoting
investment in both countries.
Key Points:
i.The treaty follows the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed by both countries
which came into existence on 1st May, 2022. This resulted in an increase of 16% in bilateral trade.
• The two leaders also acknowledged the formal unveiling of the UAE-India CEPA Council
(UICC), which stands as an important development in the bilateral trade partnership.
ii.India is second largest trading partner of UAE in 2022-2023 as bilateral rose to USD 85 billion. UAE is
India’s third-largest trading partner for the year 2022-23.
iii.UAE was the 4th largest source of FDI for India in 2022-2023 which saw investment of around USD 3.5
billion and India’s second-largest export destination.
Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on the IMEEC
India and UAE signed an Intergovernmental Framework Agreement on the India-Middle East Economic
Corridor (IMEEC). It will give boost to India and the UAE cooperation which further promotes regional
connectivity.
Significance: Framework includes various elements like: development and management of a logistics
platform which includes a digital ecosystem and provision of supply chain services to handle all types of
general cargo, bulk containers.
• This was the 1st agreement signed since the formation of IMEEC in 2023.

About India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEEC):
i.It was formed on the sidelines of G-20 summit held in New Delhi, Delhi in September 2023.
ii.It is an infrastructure development project that aims to provide connectivity through rail and shipping
network. Its main objective to provide alternative to China led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
iii. At present, India, the United States of America (U.S.A.), Saudi Arabia, the European Union (EU), Italy,
France and Germany are signatories of IME-EC.
India and UAE signed MoU to accelerate growth of digital economy
Dr. Subramanian Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, India on behalf of Ministry of Electronics and
Technology(MEITY), India and Mohamed Hasan Alsuwaidi, Ministry of Investment, the UAE signed a MoU
for the expansion of bilateral investment cooperation in the digital infrastructure sector, focuses mainly on
data centre projects in India.
Key Points about MoU:
i.According to the MoU, India and UAE will jointly explore and evaluate the technical and investment
potential of data centre projects in India with capacity of 2 GigaWatt (GW).
ii.It focuses on fostering collaboration between public and private organization in the UAE and India.
iii.It will promote investments in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other
fields related to Research and Development (R&D) and innovation. It also includes deployment of super
computer clusters in India.
iv.MoU will facilitate the sharing of technical knowledge, skills and expertise.
• India currently holds a position among the top 15 countries globally regarding data centre
capacity, boasting a network of 151 data centres spread across its different regions. The
country’s internet economy is expected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030, a significant surge from
US$175 billion in 2022.
Other Important Agreements
i.Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and UAE for cooperation in the field of
electrical interconnection and trade. It will open new avenues of collaboration in the field of energy which
includes energy security and energy trade.
• This MoU will support Green Grids- One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative
launched by PM Modi during 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) held in
Glasgow, Scotland.
ii.A Cooperation protocol is established between the national archives of India and UAE. It will help to
restore and preserve archive material.
iii.MoU was signed on cooperation in the field of heritage and museums. It will help to foster engagement
between two countries aimed at supporting the Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat.
iv.RITES(Rail India Technical and Economic Service) Limited signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports
company and Gujarat Maritime Board with Abu Dhabi Ports company. Both these agreements would help
in building port infrastructure and will enhance connectivity between India and UAE.
v.New long-term agreements for supply of Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG) signed between ADNOC Gas(Abu
Dhabi, UAE) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited(IOCL) for supply of 1.2 MMTPA(Million Metric Tonnes Per
Annum) LNG.
• Also, ADNOC Gas signed MoU with Gas Authority of India(GAIL) for supply of 0.5 MMTPA LNG.
vi.Cooperation Protocol between the National Library and Archives of the UAE and the National Archives
of India.
PM Modi inaugurated 1st Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi
On 14th February,2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated BAPS temple,1st Hindu stone temple
in Abu Dhabi, the UAE.
• PM Modi described it as a symbol of the shared heritage of humanity.

About BAPS temple:
i.The temple is built on a 27-acre site in Abu Mreikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh
Zayed Highway. It is built at a cost of Rs700 crore.
ii.The temple is built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
iii.Large number of pink sandstones was used in the construction of temple. These pink sandstones were
transported mainly from Rajasthan, India.
PM Modi and his UAE counterpart laid the foundation stone of Bharat Mart platform
PM Narendra Modi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makkoum, Vice President of UAE virtually laid
the foundation stone of Bharat Mart at Jebel Ali Free trade zone, Dubai(UAE). Bharat Mart will be built by
DP World.
Benefit:
i.It will give boost to bilateral trade between India and UAE.
ii.It will support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise(MSME) sector in India by providing them a
platform to reach out international buyers.
iii.It will help them to promote their products across Middle East, West Asia, Africa and Eurasia.
PM Modi announced the establishment of new CBSE office in Dubai
While addressing the gathering at the “Ahlan Modi” diaspora event held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, PM Modi
announced of setting up of a new Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) office in Dubai, UAE.
i.PM highlighted the commencement of 1st Master’s program in Energy Transition and Sustainability by
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
UAE Vice President presented copy of his book to PM Modi
Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE presented a copy of his book titled “My
Story” and personalized message to PM Modi during their bilateral meeting on 14th February, 2024 in
Dubai, UAE.
i.During the bilateral meeting, both leaders discussed on various areas of bilateral cooperation such as:
trade, investment, technology, space and education.
ii.They also acknowledged the contribution of the Indian Diaspora in the growth of Dubai in various
sectors like: trade, service and tourism.
PM Modi attended World Government Summit in Dubai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated at the World Government Summit as “Guest of Honor”. The
summit held in Dubai, UAE from 12th February to 14th February, 2024.
• PM Modi attended the summit at the invitation of Vice President of UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum.
Theme 2024: “Shaping the Future Governments”.
PM Modi visit to Qatar
On his last leg of foreign tour, PM Modi arrived at Doha, Qatar on 14th February,2024. He was received by
Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Qatar.
He received a ceremonial honor on 15th February,2024 in Doha, Qatar. Later, bilateral meeting was held
between PM Modi and Emir of State of Qatar , Sheikh Tamim bin Al Thani.
i.Both leaders held discussions on expanding of bilateral cooperation in various sectors such as: trade,
investment, energy, finance and technology.
ii.The meeting was attended by S.Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, India and Ajit Doval, National
Security Advisor (NSA), India.
iii. Qatar has emerged as an important commercial partner for India, with two-way trade currently worth
$20 billion a year.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE):
Capital: Abu Dhabi

President: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham
About Qatar:
Capital: Doha
President: Sheikh Tamim bin Al Thani
Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR)
Malta Becomes 119th Country to Join International Solar Alliance

On February 21, 2024, Malta became the 119th Signatory Country to join the International Solar Alliance
(ISA) after Malta’s Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Christopher Cutajar, signed the ISA Framework
Agreement in New Delhi, Delhi in the presence of Head of Depository and Joint Secretary (Economic
Diplomacy) Abhishek Singh.
• The capital city of Malta is Valletta.
About International Solar Alliance (ISA):
The ISA was established in Paris, France in 2015 as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts
against climate change through the deployment of solar energy solutions. It was conceptualized on the
sidelines of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris in 2015.
Key Points:
i.Its purpose is to endorse clean energy, a sustainable environment, public transport, climate, and
deploying cost-effective and transformational solutions through solar energy, especially in the Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
ii.ISA’s ‘Towards 1000’ strategy targets mobilizing USD 1 trillion investments in solar energy by 2030,
providing clean energy access to 1 billion people, and installing 1 terawatt (TW)/1000 Giga Watt (GW) of
solar energy capacity.
• Director General– Dr Ajay Mathur
• Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana
• Member Countries– 97 (As of February 22, 2024)
Note –
In December 2023, Romania became the 118th Signatory Country to join ISA.
Click Here for Signatory countries
Outcomes of FATF’s 5th Plenary held in Paris, France from 21-23 February 2024
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) concluded its 5th Plenary session in Paris, France on February
23, 2024, under the presidency of T Raja Kumar of Singapore. The 3-day Plenary started on 21 February
2024, included discussions on key money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing
issues.
• The 5th Plenary also concluded the FATF Week (19-23 February 2024), a week-long event,
which includes Working Group and Plenary meetings attended by delegates from the global
network.
Key Participants:
Delegates from over 200 Global Network members, alongside observer organisations such as the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations (UN), World Bank, the International Criminal
Police Organization (ICPO) – INTERPOL, and the Egmont Group.

Key Outcomes of the Plenary:
The Grey List:
When a jurisdiction is placed under increased monitoring, it commits to promptly resolving identified
strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes.
• This list is commonly known as the “grey list.”
Note: At this Plenary, the FATF added Kenya and Namibia to the list of jurisdictions subject to increased
monitoring (existing countries – 23).
FATF Updates its Watchlist:
i.Barbados, Gibraltar, Uganda, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were removed from FATF’s increased
monitoring after successful on-site visits.
ii.They showcased significant progress in addressing the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the
Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) deficiencies.
iii.These jurisdictions had committed to implement an Action Plan to resolve the identified strategic
deficiencies swiftly within agreed timeframes.
• FATF suspended membership of the Russian Federation on 24 February 2023
• Ukraine is not a member of FATF.
Black Listed countries as of February 24, 2024 – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea),
Iran, and Myanmar.
Note: No new countries/jurisdictions were added to the black list.
Public Consultation on Wire Transfers (Recommendation 16):
i.The plenary agreed to release options for changes to Recommendation 16 and its Interpretive Note on
wire transfers for public consultations.
ii.It aims to adapt FATF Standards to evolving business models and messaging standards in payment
systems, ensuring technology-neutral standards.
Payment Transparency:
i.The FATF worked on proposed amendments to Recommendation 16, to adapt to the evolving cross-
border payment systems and industry standards particularly ISO20022.
ii.These revisions aim to help make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, more transparent, and more
inclusive, ensuring AML/CFT compliance.
• It also ensures that FATF Recommendation 16 remains technology-neutral.
Note: The Plenary agreed to release the proposed revisions for public consultation.
Elisa appointed as the President of FATF:
i.Ms. Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico was appointed as the next President of the FATF for a fixed 2-year
term, starting on 1 July 2024.
ii.This decision followed a comprehensive process, including consultations with all delegations.
• She served as FATF Vice President from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2023.
FATF on Russia:
Despite the suspension, Russia remains accountable for implementing FATF Standards.
• FATF members continue to monitor the situation and risks posed to the global financial system.
About the Plenary:
The Plenary is the decision-making body of the FATF. The FATF Plenary meets 3 times a year, usually in
February, June, and October.
About Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
FATF is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. This inter-governmental body sets
international standards to prevent these illegal activities.
President– T Raja Kumar (Singapore)

Headquarters– Paris, France
Members– 39 Countries
VISITS
INDIAN VISITS
Highlights of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India
Emmanuel Macron, President of France, paid a State Visit to India as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic
Day of India at the invitation of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.
• His two-day visit from 25th to 26th January 2024 marks his 2nd state visit to India. He arrived
in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 25th January 2024.
• This is also the 6th visit by a French leader as Guest of honour for India’s Republic Day.
Note: Previously, President Macron has been in India on a State Visit in March 2018 and on an official visit
in September 2023 for the Delhi G20(Group of 20) Summit.
Key Highlights:
i.During President Macron’s visit, India and France signed agreements in various sectors like defence,
space exploration, science and technology, health and many more.
ii.India and France adopted the Roadmap for Defence Industrial Partnership for co-design and co-
development of military hardware and space cooperation.
iii.India and France have agreed to intensify their cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean.
French delegation:
President Macron was accompanied by a ministerial delegation comprising Stéphane Sejourné (Europe
and Foreign Affairs), Sébastien Lecornu (Armed Forces), and Rachida Dati (Culture).
Highlights of President Macron’s Visit to Jaipur Rajasthan:
Macron visited Sheesh Mahal and Deewan-e-Aam in Amber fort and Jantar Mantar, one of the oldest
astronomical observatories featuring the world’s largest stone sundial.
Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held a mega roadshow in Jaipur from Jantar Mantar to
Hawa Mahal.
PM Modi gifted a replica of the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh(UP) to French President
Macron.
PM Modi and France President Macron discussed issues related to defence, space, education, health,
mobility and economic cooperation during the bilateral meeting held in Jaipur, Rajasthan. They also
discussed Israel-Gaza conflict and Red sea crisis.
Roadmap for Defence Industrial Partnership:
On 25th January 2024, PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron adopted the Roadmap for
Defence Industrial Partnership for collaboration in co-design, co-development and co-production of
military hardware and space cooperation.
i.The roadmap will also enable cooperation in the field of robotics, autonomous vehicles and cyber
defence.
ii.This will also cover both air and space technologies, and maritime technology, including underwater
domain awareness.
Airbus & TASL signed MoU to set up 1st private FAL for Helicopter
TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, and Airbus Helicopters,
the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up

a final assembly line (FAL) for H125 helicopters in India with a significant indigenous and localisation
component.
• This will become India’s 1st FAL for helicopters. This also marks the first time instance of the
private sector setting up a helicopter manufacturing facility in India.
Key Points:
i.Airbus Helicopters will produce H125 helicopters in India for both domestic and international markets.
This will give boost to “Make in India” initiative promoting self-reliance in the manufacturing sector.
ii.FAL is expected to commence operation in 2026.
Benefit:
i.H125 helicopter will be used in various fields: disaster management, emergency medical services, law
enforcement and tourism.
ii.It will play important role in centre’s government regional connectivity scheme-Ude Desh Ka Aam
Naagrik(UDAN) to provide connectivity to remote areas.
iii.This alliance will bolsters aerospace industry in India.
Note: FAL is Airbus 2nd manufacturing facility in India after C95 military aircraft facility in Vadodara,
Gujarat.
MoUs signed during Macron’s visit:
i.The Ministry of Defence, Government of India and the Ministry for the Armed Forces, French Republic
signed a Letter of Intent on Defence Space Partnership.
ii.NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and France’s Arianespace S.A.S. signed MoU in the space sector.
• This aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to address the growing demand for
commercial satellite launch services.
iii.Department of Science and Technology(DST), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, signed a
framework cooperation agreement with Institut national de recherche pour L’Agriculture, L’Alimentation
Et L’Environnement (INRAE), France.
iv.Framework Arrangement on cooperation concerning funding of research projects between DST and
Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), French Republic was also signed during his visit.
v.Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the Ministry of Labour, Health and
Solidarity of the French Republic signed a Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Health and
Medicine
vi.India’s Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and France’s Ministry of Public Sector
Transformation and the Civil Service, signed a Letter of Intent on Public Administration and
Administrative Reforms
vii.India and France also renewed the agreement between the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (India)
and the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion (France) on cooperation in the field of
Sustainable Urban Development.
Key Announcements:
i.Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary of India, announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the “India-France
Year of Innovation”.
ii.India and France have announced to set up a solar academy in Senegal under the STAR-C programme of
the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
iii.Under the proposed Safran-India Shakti jet engine deal, France-based Safran company, the world’s
2nd largest aircraft equipment manufacturer, will transfer 100% of technology across the design,
development, certification, and production phases of the project.
iv.Introduction of the Young Professional Scheme under the Migration and Mobility Partnership
Agreement, which enables exchange individuals aged 18- 35 years and the extension of visa validity to 5
years for Schengen visas for Indian Students studying master’s degrees in France.

v..Operationalisation of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) at Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.
vi.Setting up of India’s Consulate in Marseille and French Bureau de France in Hyderabad.
v.Ashif Saraf, Vice President and Country Director, Thales India announced the
establishment maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center for avionics and in-flight entertainment
systems in New Delhi, Delhi to provide world-class services to its airline.
India and France agreed to intensify cooperation in Southwest Indian Ocean region
India and France committed to strengthen cooperation in the southwest Indian Ocean, building on joint
surveillance missions conducted from the French territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022.
The joint statement was released following France President Emmanuel Macron’s visit for Republic Day in
India.
Key Points:
i.The joint statement termed the defence and security partnership as basic pillars of the India-France
partnership in the Indo-Pacific. It also includes various range of bilateral, multinational, regional and
institutional initiatives in the Indian Ocean region.
ii.India and France committed to establishing trilateral cooperation with Australia and the United Arab
Emirates(UAE).
iii.Both countries acknowledged the launch of the India-Middle East –Europe Corridor (IMEC) as it
holds strategic importance in increasing trade and energy flow between India, the Middle East and Europe.
iv.France extends support to India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC).
About France:
President– Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister– Gabriel Attal
Capital– Paris
Currency– Euro
Overview of PM Modi’s visit to Odisha and Assam on 3 & 4 February, 2024

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Odisha and Assam on 3rd February to 4th February, 2024 and laid
the foundation stone and inaugurated several projects.
Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Odisha
During his visit to Odisha on 3rd February,2024, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for
various infrastructure projects worth over Rs 68,000 crore in Sambalpur, Odisha.
• The projects were related to various sectors such as: railways, road, higher education and energy sector
which includes coal, natural gas and power areas.
• The event was attended by Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha, Raghubar Das, Governor of
Odisha, Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister, and Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Railway
Minister.
Development Projects related to Railway Sector
PM Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of railway projects worth Rs 2,146 crore. He
laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Sambalpur railway station.
• The architecture for the redevelopment of railway station was inspired by the Sailashree Palace in
Odisha.
i.He flagged off the Puri-Sonepur-Puri weekly express to enhance connectivity in the region.
ii.He dedicated 168 km long Sambalpur- Talcher Doubling Rail line.
• He also inaugurated 21.7 km long Jhartarbha to Sonepur New Railway line.
Benefit: These projects will improve the rail network capacity in the region.

Development Projects related to Power Sector
PM Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of several power projects worth Rs
28,980 crore.
i.He laid the foundation stone of NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) Darlipali Super Thermal Power
Station (2×800 MegaWatt (MW)) and NSPCL (NTPC-SAIL Power Company Limited) Rourkela PP-II
Expansion Project (1×250 MW) in Sundargarh district, Odisha.
ii.He also laid the foundation stone of NTPC Talcher Thermal Power Project, Stage 3(2×660 MW) in Angul
district, Odisha.
Significance: These projects will supply low-cost power to Odisha and many other states.
Development Projects related to Natural Gas and Oil
i.PM Modi inaugurated 412 km- long Dhamra-Angul Pipeline section of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-
Dhamra (JHBDPL) pipeline project.
About JHBDPL Pipeline Project: It is built at a cost of Rs 2,450 crore under “Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga”. It
will connect Odisha with National Gas Grid.
ii.He also laid the foundation stone of “Nagpur Jharsuguda Natural Gas Pipeline” project.
About Nagpur Jharsuguda Natural Gas Pipeline Project:
i.It is 692 km long pipeline that will connect Mumbai-Nagpur-Jharsuguda pipeline.
ii.The estimated cost of the project is more than Rs 2,660 crore.
iii.It will improve the natural gas availability to states like: Odisha, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
Development Projects related to Road Sector
PM Modi inaugurated three road sector projects of National Highways(HWs), which are developed at a cost of
about Rs 2,110 crore to contribute towards economic development of the region.
i.It includes 4-laning of Rimuli-Koida section of NH215 (New NH No.520).
ii.Also, 4-laning of Biramitrapur-Brahmani Bypass end section of NH23 (New NH No.143).
iii.4-laning of Brahmani Bypass end- Rajamunda section of NH23 (New NH No.143).
Odisha’s 1st Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Sambalpur
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur on
3rd February, 2024 in Odisha.
i.It is built at a cost of Rs 400 crore.
PM laid the foundation stone for 1st phase of NLC India’s Talabira Project in Odisha
PM Modi laid the foundation stone of 1st phase of Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL) Talabira
Thermal Power Project.
About the Project:
i.It will be developed at an estimated cost of more than Rs 27, 000 crore.
ii.The project covers 2400 MW capacity in its initial phase and will cover additional 800 MW in the second
phase with an investment of over Rs 800 crore.
Significance:
i.It is coal-based Ultra Super Critical Pit Head Thermal Power Plant which will provide reliable, affordable and
24×7 power and will significantly contribute in energy sector of India.
ii.It will play important role in promoting economic growth and prosperity in the country.
Other Key Projects inaugurated in Odisha
i.PM inaugurated coal infrastructure projects of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited which includes First Mile
Connectivity (FMC) projects such as: Bhubaneswar Phase-I in Talcher Coalfields in Angul district and Lajkura
Rapid Loading System (RLS).
• It is built at a cost of about Rs 2,145 crore. These projects will improve quality and increase supply of dry
fuel from Odisha.
ii.He also inaugurated Ib Valley Washery which is built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore in Jharsuguda district,
Odisha.

• It holds great significance as it will improve quality in coal processing and give boost to innovation and
sustainability.
iii.He also dedicated the Jharsuguda head post office heritage building to the country.
PM Modi laid foundation stone for various projects worth Rs 11,600 crore in Assam
On 4th February, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated various development projects worth Rs
11,600 crore in Assam.
• Some of the infrastructure projects are jointly funded by State and Central Government.
PM laid the foundation for the following projects:
i.Kamakhya corridor will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 498 crore.
ii.A six-lane road connecting the new airport terminal in Guwahati at cost of Rs 358 crore.
iii.Upgradation of Nehru stadium to FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) standards worth Rs
831 crore.
iv.New sports complex will be built in Chandrapur with estimated cost of Rs300 crore.
Other Key Projects inaugurated in Assam
i.PM also inaugurated the 2nd phase of “Asom Mala” roads which includes upgrading and construction of 43
roads and 38 concrete bridges with required investment of Rs 3,444 crore as part of the South Asia Subregional
Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Corridor Connectivity .
ii.He also laid the foundation stone for the integrated new building of the Gauhati Medical College with an
estimated cost of Rs 3,250 crore.
iii.He laid the foundation of Karimganj Medical College Hospital worth Rs 578 crore and the Unity Mall in
Guwahati built with cost of Rs 297 crore.
iv.He inaugurated the 4-lane road from Biswanath Chariali to Gohpur developed at a cost of Rs 1451 crore.
v.4-lane road from Dolabari to Jamuguri constructed at a cost of Rs 592 crore.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister(CM): Naveen Patnaik
Governor: Raghubar Das
Capital: Bhubaneswar
National Park(N.P.): Similipal National Park, Bhitarkanika National Park
Overview of PM Modi’s Visit to Goa on 6th February 2024

On 6th February 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Goa and inaugurated and laid the
foundation stone for various projects worth over Rs 1330 crores during the Viksit Bharat-Viksit Goa 2047
programme in Goa.
Details of the New Projects:
i.PM inaugurated a 100 TPD (Tonnes Per Day) Integrated Waste Management Facility in South Goa.
• It has been developed for the scientific treatment of 60 TPD wet waste and 40 TPD dry waste.
• It also includes a 500 kilo-watt (KW) solar power plant that will generate surplus electricity.
ii.He laid the foundation stone for Passenger Ropeway which will connect Panaji and Reis Magos. It includes
some tourism activities to promote the tourism industry in Goa.
iii.He laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 100 MLD (Mega Liters per Day) Water Treatment
Plant in South Goa.
iv.He also distributed appointment letters to 1930 new government recruits in various departments
under “Rozgar Mela” and handed over sanction letters to beneficiaries of various welfare schemes.
Inaugurated ONGC’s Sea Survival Centre in Goa
PM Modi inaugurated the one-of-kind integrated Sea Survival Centre of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC)
in Goa on 6th February 2024.
Features:
i.The Centre will give a boost to the Indian sea survival training ecosystem to match with international
standards.

ii.Annually, the centre will train to about 10,000 to 15,000 personnel in simulated and controlled extreme
weather conditions.
iii.This will develop the personnel’s sea survival skills and increase the chance of safe escape from real-life
disaster.
PM Modi Inaugurated the Permanent Campus of NIT Goa
PM Modi virtually inaugurated the permanent campus of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Goa in
Cuncolim, South Goa, Goa in the presence of P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa and Pramod Sawant, CM of
Goa.
About the permanent Campus of NIT Goa:
i.The campus covers a total area of 70,750 sqm and it is constructed at a cost of Rs 390.83 crore. It can
accommodate 1260 students.
ii.The facilities of the campus include, a tutorial complex, departmental complex, seminar complex,
administrative complex, hostels, health centre, staff quarters, amenity centre and sports grounds among other
utilities.
Note: NIT Goa was established in 2010 and it has been operating from the temporary campus at Goa
Engineering College, Farmagudi, Goa.
PM Modi Inaugurated National Institute of Watersports
PM inaugurated and dedicated to the nation, a new campus of the National Institute of Watersports in Goa.
• The institute will introduce 28 tailor-made courses related to watersports and water rescue activities
available for both public and armed forces.
Second edition of India Energy Week – 6th to 9th February 2024
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2nd edition of India Energy Week(IEW 2024) in Goa. IEW 2024,
organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) and Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry
(FIPI), was held from 6th to 9th February 2024.
Location: Institute of Petroleum Safety, Health and Environment Management(IPSHEM)-Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation(ONGC) training institute, Velim Betul in South Goa, Goa.
Note: The 1st edition of IEW was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from 6th to 8th February 2023, as a part of the
G20 (Group of 20) events.
Key People: P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister (CM) of Goa and Hardeep
Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas participated in the event.
About IEW 2024:
i.IEW 2024 is India’s largest energy exhibition and conference. It aims to bring together the entire energy value
chain and will help to achieve India’s energy transition goals.
ii.IEW 2024 witnessed the participation of energy ministers from 17 countries, more than 35000 attendees and
more than 900 exhibitors.
iii.IEW 2024 featured 6 dedicated country pavilions: Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, the United
Kingdom(UK) and the United States of America(USA).
iv.A special Make in India Pavilion was also organised to demonstrate innovative solutions within Indian
MSMEs (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises) that are leading in the energy sector.
Points to note:
i.During the IEW 2024 event, PM Modi interacted with the global energy Chief Executive Officers(CEOs) and
Experts.
ii.He also highlighted that India is the World’s 3rd largest energy consumer after China (1st) and the USA(2nd).
iii.India is also the 3rd largest oil consumer and the 4th largest LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) importer, refiner
and automobile market in the world.
About Goa:
Chief Minister (CM)– Pramod Sawant
Governor– P.S. Sreedharan Pillai

National Park– Mollem National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries: Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
PM Modi’s Visit to Haryana and Rajasthan on February 16, 2024

On 16 Feb, 2024 Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Haryana and Rajasthan. During the visit, he
inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various projects
PM Visit to Haryana
During the visit to Haryana PM dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of multiple
development projects worth more than Rs 9750 crores in Rewari, Haryana. The projects include sectors
concerning urban transport, health, rail, and tourism. These are
i.Gurugram Metro Rail in Rewari, Haryana for Rs 5450 crores
ii.Foundation Stone of AIIMS Rewari in Haryana to be built for Rs 1650 crores
iii.Virtual inauguration of Mahabharata theme-based Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra, museum in Kurukshetra
for Rs 240 Crores.
iv.Foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple railway projects.
Gurugram Metro Rail in Rewari, Haryana
i.PM inaugurated the Gurugram Metro Rail project with a total length of 28.5 km estimated at Rs 5450
crores.
ii.It will connect Millennium City Centre to Udyog Vihar Phase-5, with a spur at Dwarka Expressway. It will
converge with the existing metro network of Rapid Metro Rail Gurugram at Moulsari Avenue station near
Cyber City.
Foundation Stone of AIIMS Rewari in Haryana
i.PM laid the foundation stone of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rewari, Haryana
spanning across 203 acres of land in village Majra Mustil Bhalkhi at a cost of approximately RS 1650
crores, established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
ii.It will also feature an ICU(intensive care unit), emergency & trauma units, modular operation theatres,
diagnostic labs, and a blood bank.
Note: Rewari AIIMS is the 22nd AIIMS.
PMSSY scheme
• Launched in– 2003
• Ministry– Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Aim – Correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary
healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.
• Components
i. Setting up of AIIMS like institutions.
ii. Upgradation of government medical colleges in various states.
Mahabharata theme-based Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra, museum
PM virtually inaugurated a new experiential museum named Anubhav Kendra Jyotisar,
Kurukshetra spanning 17 acres at a cost of around Rs 240 crores with 100,000 square feet of indoor
space.
• It brings the Mahabharata and Gita teachings to life, using Augmented Reality (AR), 3D laser,
and projection mapping
Note: Jyotisar, Kurukshetra is the sacred site where Lord Krishna imparted the eternal wisdom of the
Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
Foundation Stone of Multiple Railway Projects
i.PM laid the foundation stone for multiple railway projects including the Rohtak-Meham-Hansi rail line
(68 km) which will reduce the travel time between Rohtak and Hisar.

ii.The other railway projects include doubling of railway lines to enhance rail infrastructure and to help
both passenger and freight trains to run on time which are as follows:
• Rewari-Kathuwas rail line
• Bhiwani-Dobh Bhali rail line
• Manheru-Bawani Khera rail line
PM Visit to Rajasthan
PM visited Rajasthan to attend the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Rajasthan’ Programme and during the event, he
unveiled and laid the foundation stone of Multiple development projects worth over Rs 17000 crore via
video conferencing. The projects include
• Highway infrastructure Projects
• Railway development Projects
• Power transmission sector projects
• Jal Jeevan Mission in Rajasthan
Highway Infrastructure
PM initiated various National Highway projects worth more than Rs 5000 crore in Rajasthan which
include
i.Three packages of 8-lane Delhi- Mumbai Greenfield Alignment (NE-4).
ii.A 6-lane Greenfield -Udaipur Bypass (connecting the Chittorgarh-Udaipur Highway section of NH-48 at
Debari with the Udaipur-Shamlaji Section of NH-48 at Kaya village) was inaugurated to decongest Udaipur
city.
iii.Also, animal underpass and overpass with camouflaging have been built to facilitate the movement of
wildlife along with noise barriers to minimize the impact on wildlife.
iv.The other projects include the improvement of road infrastructure in Jhunjhunu, Abu Road, and Tonk
districts of Rajasthan.
Railway development projects
PM laid the foundation stone for eight projects worth approximately Rs 2,300 crore. These include the
electrification of rail routes such as
• Jodhpur-Rai Ka Bagh-Merta Road-Bikaner section
• Jodhpur-Phalodi section
• Bikaner-Ratangarh-Sadulpur-Rewari section
Other key projects
i.Khatirpura railway station will be developed as a satellite station for Jaipur equipped with Terminal
facility (Where trains can originate and terminate).
ii.Maintenance of all types of rakes like Vande Bharat, LHB, etc will be carried out at Khatipura, Jaipur
iii. The foundation stone for the maintenance facility of Vande Bharat sleeper trains at Bhagat Ki Kothi
iv.Construction of coach care complex for maintenance of trains at Hanumangarh.
v.Doubling of Bandikui to Agra Fort rail line.
Power transmission sector projects
PM laid the foundation stone of solar projects worth around Rs 5300 crore in Rajasthan with the latest
state-of-the-art technology with high-efficiency bifacial modules manufactured in India. The projects are
awarded under MNRE’s CPSU scheme (Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s, Central Public Sector
Undertaking scheme). These include
i.300 MW solar Power Project of NLC India Ltd in Barsingsar, Rajasthan, at an estimated cost of Rs. 1756
crore
• It has been Awarded to M/s TATA Solar Power Systems Ltd on an Engineering, Procurement,
and Construction (EPC) basis with a life span of 25 years.

ii.300 MW Karnisar-Bhatiyan Solar Power Plant Project of NHPC LTD (erstwhile National Hydroelectric
Power Corporation) Phase-II (Tranche -III) in Bikaner, Rajasthan at an estimated cost of Rs 1732 crores.
iii.The 300 MW NTPC (formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation) Green Energy
Limited (NGEL) Nokhra Solar PV(Photovoltaics) Project in Bikaner of Rs. 1,803 crores.
iv.PM also dedicated to power transmission sector projects worth more than Rs 2100 crore in Rajasthan
to evacuate power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan
• (8.1 GW) under Phase-II Part A
• (8.1 GW) under Phase-II Part-B1
And Transmission System for providing connectivity to RE (Renewable Energy) projects at Bikaner (PG),
Fatehgarh-II & Bhadla–II.
Jal Jeevan Mission in Rajasthan
The PM laid the foundation stone of multiple projects worth around Rs 2400 crores including projects
under Jal Jeevan Mission, which aimed at strengthening the infrastructure to provide clean drinking water
in Rajasthan.
About Haryana
Capital– Chandigarh
Chief Minister– Manohar Lal Khattar
Governor– Bandaru Dattatreya
About Rajasthan
Capital– Jaipur
Chief Minister- Bhajan Lal Sharma
Governor- Kalraj Mishra
Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Uttar Pradesh on 19th February 2024

On 19th February 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh(UP). During the visit,
he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects.
i.PM Modi launched 14000 projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore in UP
ii.He laid the foundation stone of Shri Kalki Dham temple in Sambhal
iii.He also laid the Foundation stone for 4 power projects developed by Torrent Power in UP
PM Modi launched 14000 projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore in UP
on 19th February 2024, PM Modi launched 14000 projects worth over Rs 10 Lakh crore across Uttar
Pradesh (UP) at the 4th Ground Breaking Ceremony (GBC 4.0) of UP Global Investors Summit 2023 (UPGIS
2023) in Lucknow, UP.
• Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister (CM) of UP; Anandiben Patel, Governor of UP and Union Minister
Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence were present during the event.
Details of the projects:
The 14000 projects across UP are related to sectors like Manufacturing, Renewable Energy,
IT(Information Technology) & ITeS(IT enabled Services), Food Processing, Housing & Real Estate,
Hospitality and Entertainment, and Education among others.
Highlights of GBC 4.0:
i.PM Modi toured the exhibition held on the sidelines of GBC 4.0 to showcase the progress of major
development projects across various sectors in UP.
ii.PM visited ALT Swantex’s textile pavilion and examined presentations on apparel and leather
techniques, gaining an understanding of UP’s advancements in these sectors.
iii.He also explored the growing landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country and the ETH AI
center in UP. The exhibition showcased advancements in robotics, including Industrial Robotic Arms and
Droids Robotics.

iv.At the defence sector pavilion, the PM was briefed on UP’s advancements through replicas of defence
equipment and a functional prototype of advanced bulletproof military vehicles.
v.The exhibition also showcased UP’s progress in tourism, clean energy, and infrastructure including 3D
models of the Shri Ram Temple and the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor entrance.
Additional Information
i.UP Government recently inaugurated South Asia’s largest ammunition facility in the Uttar Pradesh
Defence Corridor, capable of producing 400 rounds of ammunition per minute (Small Calibre) to be built
on 100 acres of land.
• The plant will produce medium and large caliber ammunition plant and will be entirely
powered by green energy, ensuring environmentally sustainable operations.
ii.The UP government will set up AI centers in Lucknow and Noida. It will be built at the Gautam Buddha
University of Greno, UP.
• Centers will provide AI solutions and promote awareness of AI in sectors such as agriculture,
education, and health.
• It will focus on developing technology solutions and driving AI skilling programs for
government officials and employees.
PM Modi Laid Foundation Stone of Shri Kalki Dham Temple in Sambhal
PM Modi laid the foundation stone and unveiled the model of Shri Kalki Dham Temple in Sambhal district,
UP.
• The temple is being constructed by Shri Kalki Dham Nirman Trust under the leadership
of Acharya Pramod Krishnam.
i.The temple will have 10 garbh grihas for all 10 avatars of the Lord Vishnu.
ii.Kalki Dham is going to be a place dedicated to the 10th Avatar of Lord Vishnu (Kalki), which is yet to be
incarnated.
PM Modi Laid the Foundation Stone for 4 Power Projects in UP
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for four projects being developed by Torrent Power in UP at an
investment of about Rs 25,000 crore.
• These four plants are expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for
approximately 8,000 people.
Key Points:
i.The projects include two pumped storage hydro projects in Sonbhadra district, with a total capacity
of 4,150 MW
ii.A 150 MW solar power plant in Lalitpur district (Bundelkhkand region of UP)
iii.A pilot green hydrogen production facility will be set up in Gorakhpur, where green hydrogen will be
produced and blended with the gas distribution network being built by Torrent Gas.
Note: Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Torrent Power Limited, a part of Torrent Group, is one of the leading
brands in the Indian power sector.
About Uttar Pradesh(UP):
Chief Minister– Yogi Adityanath
Governor– Anandiben Patel
Wildlife Sanctuary– National Chambal Sanctuary; Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
Tiger Reserve– Pilibhit Tiger Reserve; Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
Highlights of PM Modi’s Visit to Jammu and Kashmir on 20th February 2024

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) on 20th February 2024. During his
visit, he inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of projects worth Rs 32,000
crore during the event held at Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu(J&K).

• The project related to several sectors including health, education, rail, road, aviation, petroleum,
and civic infrastructure, among others.
Highlights:
i.PM Modi Inaugurated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur (Samba), Jammu (J&K).
ii.He dedicated to the nation the campuses of various education institutes.
iii.He laid the foundation stone of the new terminal building of Jammu Airport.
iv.He also laid the foundation stone of various road and rail projects in J&K.
Inauguration of AIIMS Jammu:
The PM inaugurated the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur (Samba), Jammu
established at a cost of over Rs 1660 crore.
• AIIMS Jammu is an Institute of National Importance and a premier state-of-the-art reliable high-
quality Referral Centre for Tertiary Healthcare.
Note:
The foundation stone for AIIMS Jammu was laid down in 2019, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya
Suraksha Yojana(PMSSY).
The motto of AIIMS Jammu is “Healing meets Hope”.
Features:
i.The hospital is built in an area spanning over 226.84 acres along National Highway 44.
ii.The hospital is equipped with facilities like 720 beds, a Medical College with 125 seats, a Nursing College
with 60 seats, AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) Block with 30 beds,
iii.The state-of-the-art hospital will provide high-quality patient care services in 18 Specialities and 17
Super Specialities including Cardiology, Oncology, Urology, Neurology, etc.,
iv.The campus focused on eco-friendliness is being developed for a 4-star Green Rating for Integrated
Habitat Assessment (GRIHA).
v.AIIMS Jammu has introduced a ‘Patient Centric Hospital’ initiative featuring amenities like an Indoor
Navigation System, Patient Care Managers and Smart Payment Cards.
Point to note:
In the past 10 years, the number of Medical Colleges in J&K has increased from 4 to 12, Medical seats
increased from 500 to 1300 and Postgraduate (PG) Medical Seats have increased from 0 to 650.
Development of Various Education Institutes:
To develop the education and skilling infrastructure across India, PM Modi inaugurated, dedicated to the
nation and laid the foundation stone of several projects worth about Rs 13,375 crore.
i.During the event, PM Modi dedicated the permanent campuses of various national education institutes,
which include,
• Indian Institutes of Technology(IIT) Bhilai(Chhattisgarh);
• IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh-AP);
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research(IISER) Tirupati, AP.
• Indian Institute Of Information Technology, Design & Manufacturing, (IIITDM) Kurnool, AP.
• Central Sanskrit University, Devprayag (Uttarakhand) and Agartala (Tripura).
• Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Visakhapatnam(AP), IIM Jammu(J&K) and IIM Bodh
Gaya(Bihar).
ii.He also dedicated the academic and residential complexes at IIT Patna(Bihar) and IIT Ropar(Punjab) to
the nation.
iii.During the event, He inaugurated the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS), a pioneer skill training institute on
advanced technologies in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh(UP).

iv.He also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the permanent campus of Sindhu Central
University Khalatse, Ladakh, and the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT)
Raichur(Karnataka).
Others:
PM Modi also inaugurated the improved infrastructure in multiple higher educational institutes like IIT
Jammu, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi; National Institute of Technology(NIT) Delhi, NIT Arunachal
Pradesh, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod(Kerala).
New Terminal Building, Jammu Airport:
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the new terminal building at Jammu Airport.
Features:
the terminal spread over a 40,000 sqm area will be equipped with modern facilities catering to about 2000
passengers during peak hours.
The environment-friendly structure will showcase the local culture of the region.
Inauguration of Rail Projects Worth over Rs 16,000 crore J&K
PM Modi launched various railway projects worth over Rs 16000 crore in J&K.
i.PM Modi also flagged off the first Electric Train of J&K and the train service between Sangaldan station &
Baramulla station.
ii.PM launched the 48 Km new rail line between Banihal – Khari- Sumber -Sangaldan .
• The new line features the usage of Ballast Less Track (BLT) all along the route which will
provide a better riding experience to the passengers.
• The development of this section costs around Rs 15,863 crore.
Note:
• The Indian Railways will inaugurate train services on the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan
section, a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
• This line also features India’s longest transportation tunnel T-50 (12.77 Km) between Khari-
Sumber.
iii.He also launched the newly electrified Baramulla -Srinagar -Banihal -Sangaldan section of 185.66 Km.
The electrification of the route cost around Rs 470.23 crore.
Laid Foundation Stone of CUF Petroleum Depot
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the development of the state-of-the-art fully automated CUF
(Common User Facility) Petroleum depot at Jammu, J&K.
The depot which will be developed at a cost of around Rs 677 crore, will have a storage capacity of about
100000 Kilolitre(KL).
The depot will be used to store Motor Spirit (MS), High-Speed Diesel (HSD), Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO),
Aviation Turbine fuel (ATF), Ethanol, Biodiesel and winter-grade HSD.
Launch of Road Projects
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for various road projects to improve connectivity, reduce traffic
congestion, boost economic development, and promote tourism in the region. The development projects
include,
i.Two packages (44.22 Km) of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (Jammu to Katra)
ii.Phase two for four-laning of Srinagar Ring Road. This involves upgrading the existing Sumbal-Wayul NH-
1.
iii.five packages for upgrading the 161 km long Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of NH-01,
iv.Construction of Kulgam and Pulwama bypass on NH-444. this will connect Qazigund – Kulgam –
Shopian – Pulwama – Badgam – Srinagar.
These projects will improve connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, boost economic development, and
promote tourism in the region.

Other projects
The PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth over Rs
3150 crores to strengthen the civic infrastructure and provision of public facilities in J&K.
• PM Modi inaugurated; Road and Bridge projects; Grid Stations, receiving stations transmission
line Projects; Common Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants; Intelligent
Traffic Management system in Srinagar city; Modern Narwal Fruit Mandi; and Drug Testing
Laboratory at Kathua.
• He laid the foundation stone for the development of five new Industrial Estates across J&K; Data
Centre/ Disaster Recovery Centre for Integrated Command and Control Centre of Jammu Smart
City; Up-gradation of 62 road projects and 42 bridges and others.
About Jammu and Kashmir(J&K):
Lieutenant Governor- Manoj Sinha
National Park– City forest (Salim Ali) National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary– Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary; Limber Wildlife Sanctuary
Highlights of PM Modi’s Visit to Gujarat on 24th and 25th February 2024

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Gujarat on the 24th and 25th of February, 2024. During the
visit, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs.
52,250 crore.
i.Majority of the development projects worth more than Rs. 48,100 crores was spent in Rajkot, Gujarat.
ii.The projects focus on healthcare, transportation, energy, tourism, roads, railways, and natural gas.
Inaugurations During the visit:
i.5 AIIMS at Rajkot, Bathinda, Raebareli, Kalyani, and Mangalagiri.
ii.Cable-stayed ‘Sudarshan Setu’ bridge in Gujarat.
iii.21 projects of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) worth around Rs 2280 crores.
He laid the foundation stone for,
i.New Mundra-Panipat pipeline project worth over Rs 9000 crores
ii.More than 200 Health Care Infrastructure Projects worth more than Rs 11,500 crore across 23 States
/Union Territories (UTs)
PM Modi Inaugurated 5 New AIIMS
During the visit, PM inaugurated 5 new AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) at Rajkot,
Bathinda, Raebareli, Kalyani, and Mangalagiri constructed at a total cost of Rs. 6315.23 crore.
Name Cost
AIIMS Rajkot Rs. 1195 crores
AIIMS Bathinda Rs. 925 crores
AIIMS Raebareli Rs. 823 crores
AIIMS Kalyani Rs. 1754 crores
AIIMS Mangalagiri Rs. 1618.23 crores

PM Modi inaugurated the cable-stayed ‘Sudarshan Setu’ bridge in Gujarat
PM inaugurated Sudarshan Setu, India’s longest cable-stayed bridge spanning 2.32 km on the Arabian Sea,
connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka island in Gujarat to provide easier access to Dwarkadhish temple

• It is built at a cost of around Rs. 980 crores. The sealink, Gujarat’s first, has been constructed by the
national highway division in the Roads and Buildings Department of Gujarat. The bridge was
constructed as part of National Highway 51 and funded by the Centre.
• Gujarat Chief Minister(CM) Bhupendra Patel was also present during the inauguration of the bridge.
• Sudarshan Setu has a 1.21-km (1,215 metres) approach on the Bet Dwarka side and a 1.23-km
(1,237 metres) approach on the Okha side.
• The 4.77-km-long sealink has 2.45 Kilometer long approach road and 2.32 km (2,320 metres) bridge
section, including a 900 metres (0.90 km) cable-stayed section, the longest in India.
Key Points
i.The bridge has solar panels on the upper sections of its footpath generating 1 megawatt of electricity.
ii.It has 4 lanes and 2.50-meter-wide footpaths with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord
Krishna on each side.
iii.It eliminates the need for boat transport to reach the temple.
iv.‘Sudarshan Setu’ or Sudarshan was previously known as ‘Okha-Beyt Dwarka Signature Bridge’
Note: Beyt Dwarka, an island near Okha port is nearly 30 km from Dwarka town where the famous
Dwarkadhish temple of lord Krishna is situated.
Foundation stone for the New Mundra-Panipat pipeline project
PM laid the foundation stone for the New Mundra-Panipat pipeline project, which is worth over Rs. 9000
crore.
i.This pipeline spans 1194 km and can transport crude oil from Mundra on the Gujarat coast to Indian
Oil’s refinery in Haryana’s Panipat
ii.It has an installed capacity of 8.4 MMTPA (Million Metric Tons Per Annum)
Road Projects
i.The Prime Minister inaugurated
• the doubling of the Surendranagar- Rajkot Rail line,
• four laning of Bhavnagar- Talaja (old NH-8E), and Pipli-Bhavnagar roads (NH-751).
ii.He also laid the foundation stone for six laning of Samakhiyali to Santalpur section of NH-27(National
Highway-27)
Energy Sector Projects in Gujarat
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for several renewable energy projects, including
• 300 MW (Mega Watt) solar power project in Bhuj-II
• Grid Connected 600 MW solar PV(Photovoltaics) power project
• Khavda Solar Power Project
• 200 MW wind energy project in Dayapur-II
Other Important Inaugurations made by PM Modi:
Inauguration of two Ayush Institutes
PM Modi inaugurated two Ayush institutes. These are the Central Research Institute of Yoga &
Naturopathy (CRIYN) in Jhajjar, Haryana, and the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) in Pune,
Maharashtra.
• These initiatives aim to promote the use of natural medicine in the country.
i.Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN)
CRIYN built at a cost of Rs. 63.88 crore is a top Yoga and Naturopathy Research and education facility
in Haryana.
ii.National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN)
NIN titled ‘NISARG GRAM’ is a Pune-based hospital with a research and extension center. It includes a
Naturopathy Medical College offering UG(Under graduation) /PG(Post Graduation )/Para Medical Courses
with residential facilities like hostels, auditorium, yoga hall, cottages, and Gandhi Memorial Hall.

• It is built at a cost of Rs. 213.55 crore
The foundation stone for Health Care Infrastructure Projects
PM laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation more than 200 Health Care Infrastructure
projects worth more than Rs. 11500 crore across 23 States/UTs. This includes
Health Care Facility Place
Medical College of JIPMER(Jawaharlal Institute

of Postgraduate Medical Education & Karaikal, Puducherry
Research)
300 bedded Satellite Centre of Post Graduate

Institute of Medical and Educational Research Sangrur, Punjab
(PGIMER)
90 bedded Multi Specialty Consulting Unit of

Yanam, Puducherry
JIPMER
National Centre for Aging Chennai, Tamil Nadu
New Government Medical College Purnea, Bihar
2 field units of ICMR (Indian Council of Medical

Research)
• National Institute of Virology Kerala
• Alappuzha, Kerala
Unit
• National Institute of Research in
• Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu
Tuberculosis (NIRT): New
Composite TB Research Facility
100 bedded Satellite Centre of PGIMER Ferozpur, Punjab
New Medical College building Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, Delhi
Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS),

Critical Care Block
Imphal
Nursing Colleges Koderma and Dumka, Jharkhand

Other Health infrastructure projects
Under the National Health Mission (NHM) and Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure
Mission (PM-ABHIM), the Prime Minister also inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and laid the foundation
stone of 115 projects. These include
i.78 projects under PM-ABHIM,
• 50 units of Critical Care Blocks
• 15 units of Integrated Public health Labs
• 13 units of Block Public Health Units

• Under the National Health Mission – 30 units of various projects like Community Health Centre,
Primary Health Care Center, Model Hospital, Transit Hostel, etc.
Note:
The NHM includes the NRHM(The National Rural Health Mission) and NUHM(The National Urban
Health Mission).
• It aims to provide affordable and fair healthcare, promote healthy living, prevent the spread of
diseases, and ensure healthcare accessibility and ease of use.
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation Projects
PM Inaugurated and dedicated to the nation 21 projects of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation
(ESIC) worth around Rs 2280 crores. These include
• Patna (Bihar)
2 Medical Colleges and Hospitals
• Alwar (Rajasthan)
•Korba (Chhattisgarh)
• Udaipur (Rajasthan)
• Adityapur (Jharkhand)
• Phulwari Sharif (Bihar)
8 Hospitals
• Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu)
• Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh)
• Raigarh & Bhilai in Chhattisgarh
• Neemrana, Abu Road & Bhilwara in

3 Dispensaries
Rajasthan
Alwar, Behror & Sitapura in

•
Rajasthan
• Selaqui (Uttarakhand)
ESI Dispensaries at 8 locations
• Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh)
• Koratty & Navaikulam in Kerala
• Pydibhimavaram (Andhra Pradesh).
Note : The ESIC under the ownership of Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, is a
contributory health insurance program for daily wage workers or labourers and their families designed to
aid them with financial cover during hospitalization and related emergencies.
About Gujarat
Capital – Gandhinagar
Chief Minister – Bhupendra Patel
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Wildlife sanctuaries – Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
Zoological Park – Sakkarbaug zoo, Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Zoological Garden (Sarthana Nature
Park)

BANKING & FINANCE NEWS
BANKING NEWS
RBI IN NEWS
Highlights of RBI’s 6th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy of FY24; India’s real GDP to grow at 7% in
FY24
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s 6th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on on 6th, 7th and
8th February 2024 and decided to retain the repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) at 6.50%.
• For the 6th consecutive time, repo rate was retained at 6.5% to maintain a tight surveillance on
inflation.
• The MPC also decided to remain focused on withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation
progressively aligns to the target, while supporting growth.
Click here for the Monetary Policy Statement 2023-24 Resolution of the MPC
RBI’s Policy Rates:
The MPC kept the policy rates unchanged.
Category Rate
Policy Repo Rate 6.50%
Fixed Reverse Repo Rate 3.35%
Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) Rate 6.25%
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate 6.75%
Bank Rate 6.75%
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) 4.50%
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) 18%

GDP Growth:
According to the Monetary Policy Statement, India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for 2024-25 is
projected at 7% with first quarter (Q1) FY 25 (April-June) at 7.2%; Q2FY25 (July-September) at 6.8%, and
Q3FY25 (October-December) at 7%, and Q4FY25 (January-March) at 6.9%.
Inflation:
i.Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation or retail inflation is projected at 5.4% for FY24 (2023-24), with FY24’s
Q4 at 5%.
ii.CPI inflation for FY25 is projected at 4.5% with Q1FY25 at 5%, Q2FY25 at 4%, and Q3FY25 at 4.6%,
and Q4FY25 at 4.7%.
• This forecast is on the assumption of normal monsoon.
iii.RBI set an objective of achieving the medium-term target for CPI inflation of 4% within a band of +/-
2%, while supporting growth.
iv.Core inflation (CPI inflation excluding food and fuel) eased to a four-year low of 3.8% in December 2023.
Domestic & Global Economy:
i.Domestic economic activity is doing well and is expected to be supported by the momentum in investment
demand, optimistic business sentiments and rising consumer confidence.

ii.According to the first advance estimates (FAE) released by National Statistical Office (NSO) under the
Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI), real GDP is expected to grow by 7.3% year-on-year
(y-o-y) in 2023-24 due to investment activities.
iii.Gross value added (GVA) expanded by 6.9% in 2023-24. This increase is driven by manufacturing and
services sectors
iv.With respect to the global economy, the growth is expected to remain steady in 2024 despite past
turbulence.
• Inflation is easing, yet fluctuating.
• Financial markets are volatile due to uncertain central bank actions.
• Lower interest rate expectations are boosting equities, while Emerging market economies (EMEs) face
currency fluctuations amidst volatile capital flows.
Introduction of Programmability and Offline Transactions to CBDC Pilot
The Central Bank Digital Currency Retail (CBDC-R) pilot, currently facilitating Person to Person (P2P)
and Person to Merchant (P2M) transactions, will be expanded to include programmability and offline
functionality.
• Programmability will allow for defined payments, such as government benefits or corporate expenses,
while offline capability will enable transactions in areas with limited internet access.
• These enhancements will be introduced gradually through pilot testing.
RBI launched a pilot of the retail CBDC in December 2022, and achieved the target of having 10 lakh
transactions a day in December 2023. Click Here to Read about CBDC-R
Framework Proposed for Digital Payment Authentication
RBI, emphasizing digital payment security, plans to introduce a principle-based ‘Framework for authentication
of digital payment transactions’, moving beyond the traditional SMS (Short Message Service)-based One Time
Password (OTP).
• This framework will accommodate emerging authentication technologies.
• Instructions in this regard will be issued separately.
Key Points:
i.RBI’s Digital Payments Index rose to 418.77 in September 2023 from 395.57 in March 2023, reflecting
increased digitization of payments nationwide.
ii.Notably, there are financial cybercrimes with about 1.1 million cases registered in 2023, totaling Rs 7,488.6
crore. Implementing a principle-based authentication framework not only combats fraud but also ensures
customer security and data protection.
RBI mandates Key Fact Statement for all retail, MSME loans
The Reserve Bank has taken steps to enhance transparency in loan pricing by requiring regulated entities (REs)
to provide borrowers with a Key Fact Statement (KFS), detailing key loan terms, including all-in-cost.
• This requirement, initially for certain loans, will now extend to all retail and MSME (Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises) loans, empowering borrowers to make informed decisions.
RBI allows hedging of Gold Price Risk in OTC market in IFSC
In December 2022, resident entities gained access to recognized exchanges in the International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC) to hedge gold price risk.
• Now, they can also hedge gold prices in the Over the Counter (OTC) segment in the IFSC, enhancing
flexibility and access to derivative products. Detailed instructions will follow.
Enhancements to AePS for Financial Inclusion and Security
Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS), managed by NPCI, served over 37 crore users in 2023, showcasing
its key role in financial inclusion. To boost AePS transaction security, RBI plans to streamline onboarding
process with mandatory due diligence, and enhanced fraud management for AePS touchpoint operators.
• Detailed instructions will be issued which will be followed by the banks.

Members of MPC:
Dr. Shashanka Bhide; Dr. Ashima Goyal; Prof. Jayanth R. Varma; Dr. Rajiv Ranjan; Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra;
and headed by Shaktikanta Das (RBI Governor).
• The next meeting of the MPC is scheduled during April 3-5, 2024.
i.On October 23, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in consultation with the Government of India (GoI), has
expanded the range of products offered through RBI Retail Direct portal by allowing retail investors to
subscribe to Floating Rate Savings Bonds , 2020 (Taxable)- FRSB 2020 (T).
ii.RBI has granted in-principle authorization to MobiKwik’s payment gateway arm Zaakpay to operate as an
online payment aggregator (PA).
Static Points:
i.Under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Act,1934 (RBI Act,1934) (as amended in 2016), RBI is entrusted with
the responsibility of conducting monetary policy in India with the primary objective of maintaining price
stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
ii.Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934 provides for an empowered six-member Monetary Policy
Committee (MPC) to be constituted by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette.
• The first such MPC was constituted on September 29, 2016.
RBI revises norms for UCBs inclusion in second schedule, RBI Act, 1934; Allows TRQ Holders to
make Advance Payment for gold import via IIBX
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the eligibility norms for the inclusion of Urban Co-operative
Banks (UCBs) in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934. These instructions are
issued under clause (a) of sub-section (6) of section 42 of the RBI Act, 1934.
• This move followed the release of the revised regulatory framework for UCBs in July 2022,
aiming to improve their financial stability, governance, and strengthen the regulatory
framework for UCBs.
• This revision will repeal the circular on UCBs for their inclusion in the 2nd Schedule to the RBI
Act, 1934 issued in 2013.
Key Revised Norms:
i.UCBs must maintain a Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of at least 3% higher than the
minimum requirement for their tier to enhance capital strength and resilience to risks.
ii.To be included, there shouldn’t be any major issues flagged by the RBI in terms of regulations and
supervision.
iii.Licensed Tier 3 and Tier 4 UCBs must meet RBI’s Financially Sound and Well Managed (FSWM)
criteria.
• This further requires maintaining the minimum deposits needed for Tier 3 classification for two
consecutive years.
Reason behind Revision:
Previously, eligibility for inclusion in the Second Schedule was determined by a 2013 circular. However,
the 2022 Revised Regulatory Framework for UCBs updated criteria for categorizing UCBs as FSWM.
However, challenges emerged like Tier 3 and 4 UCBs financial thresholds struggles and inadequate
consideration of governance and risk management. Consequently, the RBI revised norms for UCBs.
RBI asks regulated entities to leverage technology to enhance effectiveness of internal Compliance
monitoring
Recently, the RBI assessed internal compliance monitoring in Supervised Entities (SEs). SEs use varying
levels of automation, but the process remains a work in progress with significant manual intervention. In

this regard, RBI advised Regulated Entities (REs) to use technology to enhance effectiveness of internal
Compliance monitoring.
Key Points:
i.The RBI suggests implementing comprehensive, workflow-based solutions to enhance effectiveness.
These solutions should enable communication and collaboration, have processes for compliance
management, and offer a unified dashboard for Senior Management.
ii.REs are mandated to review and update internal compliance tracking processes by June 30, 2024.
Note:
The REs include Scheduled Commercial Banks/SCBs (excluding Regional Rural Banks/RRBs), Small
Finance Banks (SFBs); Payments Banks; Primary UCBs (Tier III and IV); Upper- and Middle-Layer Non-
Banking Financial Companies/NBFCs (including Housing Finance Companies/HFCs); Credit Information
Companies (CICs) and All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs).
RBI allows TRQ holders to make advance payment for gold import via IIBX
RBI has issued Guidelines on import of gold by Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) holders under the India-United
Arab Emirates (UAE) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as notified by the
International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
• Under this, Authorized Dealer (AD) Category-I banks can allow valid TRQ holders under the
India-UAE CEPA to remit advance payment for eleven days for import of gold through India
International Bullion Exchange IFSC Ltd (IIBX) against the TRQ.
Key Points:
i.This information by RBI is issued under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange
Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/approvals, if any,
required under any other law.
ii.In November 2023, the government allowed jewelers with valid license to import gold under specific
ITC(HS) codes at concessional customs duty from the UAE, under the free trade agreement, through IIBX.
iii.The India-UAE free trade agreement, effective since May 2022, grants a 1% duty concession to
domestic importers on a specified quantity of gold under the TRQ provisions.
• Companies receive TRQ certificates from Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) for imports.
About India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX):
It is India’s first International Bullion Exchange at International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), GIFT
(Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) City, Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
Managing Director & CEO– Ashok Kumar Gautam
Establishment– July 2022
Regulated by– International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)
RBI bars Paytm Payments Bank from Offering Services
RBI in exercise of its powers under section 35A of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949, directed Paytm
Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL or the bank) to stop onboarding of new customers with immediate effect.
• This decision has been taken amid persistent non-compliances and continued material
supervisory concerns in the bank. This also resulted in further supervisory action.
Direction given to PPBL by RBI:
i.No additional deposits or credit transactions are allowed, except for interest, cashbacks, or refunds after
February 29, 2024.
ii.Withdrawals from customer accounts, including savings, current, prepaid instruments, FASTags,
National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC), etc., are permitted without restrictions.
iii.Banking services, excluding withdrawals and fund transfers by its customers, are discontinued after
February 29, 2024.

iv.The Nodal Accounts of One97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Services Ltd. must be
terminated by February 29, 2024.
v.Settlement of pipeline transactions and nodal accounts (initiated on or before February 29, 2024) should
be completed by March 15, 2024, with no further transactions allowed.
The new restrictions mean banking operations will cease unless the entity redirects its payment services
through another bank.
i.RBI issued guidelines on Responsible Lending Conduct which directs Regulated Entities (REs) to release
all original movable or immovable property documents, and remove charges registered with any registry
within 30 days of full repayment or settlement of personal loans by borrowers.
ii.RBI also revised its guidelines on categorizing the investments by banks, to align them with global
standards by issuing RBI (Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio of Commercial
Banks) Directions, 2023 which will be effective from April 1, 2024.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor – Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors – Swaminathan Janakiraman, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi
Sankar
Establishment– 1st April 1935
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Zoho, Juspay, and Decentro received RBI Nod for Payment Aggregator Business
As of February 6, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted final approval to two fintech startups
namely Juspay Technologies Private Limited(Juspay) and Decfin Tech Private Limited (Decfin) and a Software-
as-a-Service(SaaS) provider Zoho Payment Technologies Private Limited (Zoho) to act as a Payment
Aggregator (PA).
• The authorisation was granted under Section 7 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Key Points:
Zoho:
i.Chennai (Tamil Nadu) based, Zoho Payment Technologies Private Limited is the first SaaS company to
function as PA.
ii.Zoho received in-principle authorisation from RBI in February, 2023.
Juspay:
i.Bengaluru (Karnataka) based, Juspay Technologies Private Limited has reached the second stage of approval
as a PA in December 2023.
ii.It is a payment gateway company allowing card, wallet, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based
transactions via their platform and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
Decfin:
i.Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Decfin Tech Private Limited will also function as PA under the name ‘Decentro’.
ii.Decentro facilitates neo-banks, digital marketplaces, and financial technology companies to integrate banking
and payment solutions using their APIs.
Functions:
i.These entities will carry on the business of a PAs as defined in ‘Guidelines on Regulation of Payment
Aggregators and Payment Gateways’ issued by RBI.
ii.As PA, they provide secure online payment systems and solutions to merchants.
CoA:
RBI has also issued Certificates of Authorisation (CoA) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
for Setting up and Operating Payment System in India.

Additional Info:
RBI has also extended its Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) scheme till 31 December 2025.
IREDA Receives RBI Nod to set up Subsidiary in Gift City

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has received approval (No Objection Letter)
from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up its wholly-owned subsidiary in the International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC) situated in GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) in Gujarat.
• The new subsidiary will serve as an offshore platform for securing competitive funding to push the
growth of the renewable energy sector.
• It will also increase IREDA’s access to innovative financing options and enhance collaboration with
international investors.
Note:
IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It has been notified as a “Public Financial Institution” under section 4 ‘A’ of the Companies Act, 1956
and registered as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) with RBI.
RBI raises wage ceiling for NEDs of banks to Rs 30 lakh; Permits Indian Banks in GIFT-IFSC for
Bullion Exchange Trading and SCC Status
On February 9, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in exercise of powers conferred by Section 35B of the
Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949, has increased the remuneration ceiling of Non Executive Directors (NEDs)
of banks from Rs 20 lakh per annum to Rs 30 lakh with immediate effect.
• This decision has been taken after considering the crucial role of NEDs in efficient functioning of bank
Boards and its various Committees, and also to attract better talent and ensure corporate governance.
Key Points:
i.Following this, banks must establish fixed remuneration criteria for NEDs with Board approval.
• The Board may set a lower amount, not exceeding Rs 30 lakh per annum, based on bank size, NED
experience, and other factors.
ii.Private sector banks still need regulatory approval for Part-time Chairman remuneration under Section
10B(1A)(i) and 35B of the BR Act, 1949.
iii.Banks must disclose director remuneration annually in their Annual Financial Statements (AFS).
iv.These will be applicable to all the Private Sector Banks including Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and Payment
Banks (PBs) as also the wholly owned subsidiaries of Foreign Banks.
RBI Permits Indian Banks in GIFT-IFSC for Bullion Exchange Trading and SCC Status
RBI has permitted the branches of Indian banks in GIFT–IFSC (Gujarat International Finance Tec-
City International Financial Services Centre) to act as a Trading Member/Trading and Clearing Member
(TM/TCM) of India International Bullion Exchange IFSC Ltd (IIBX).
• It also allowed the Indian banks authorized to import gold or silver to act as Special Category
Client (SCC) of IIBX .
• The provisions for the same are effective from February 9, 2024.
Key Points:
i.TM/TCM of IIBX must execute trades solely on behalf of clients, without proprietary trading.
ii.SCCs are mandated to execute buy trades for clients and appoint one of the IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) to act
as clearing member on their behalf.
iii.Parent banks must obtain a No Objection Certificate from RBI before their branch/subsidiary/joint venture
in GIFT IFSC can operate as a TM/TCM on International Bullion Exchange IFSC.
iv.Banks intending to operate as TM or TCM must submit a business plan to RBI’s Department of Regulation
with board approval.

v.Banks authorized to import gold/silver can engage in SCC activities after notifying RBI’s Department of
Regulation.
vi.Client trades on the exchange require 110% advance pay-in of funds or securities matching the intended
transaction value.
Click Here for Official Notification
RBI cancels license of Jai Prakash Narayan Nagari Sahakari Bank based in Basmathnagar, Maharashtra
On February 5, 2024, RBI, has cancelled the licence of Jai Prakash Narayan Nagari Sahakari Bank Ltd.,
Basmathnagar, Maharashtra. With effect from February 6, 2024, The bank ceases to carry on banking business
as defined in Section 5(b) read with Section 56 of BR Act, 1949.
Reason:
This decision has been taken because of the following reasons:
i.The bank lacks sufficient capital and earning potential, violating BR Act Sections 11(1) and 22(3)(d) with
Section 56.
ii.It failed to meet requirements outlined in Sections 22(3)(a), 22(3)(b), 22(3)(c), 22(3)(d), and 22(3)(e) with
Section 56.
Key Points:
i.On liquidation, every depositor shall receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a
monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakh from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) subject to the
provisions of DICGC Act, 1961.
ii.About 99.78% of the depositors of the bank are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from Deposit
Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
iii.As of September 21, 2023, DICGC has paid Rs 23.89 crore to depositors under the DICGC Act, 1961.
i.On September 25, 2023, RBI has cancelled the licence of the Kapol Co-operative Bank Limited, Mumbai,
Maharashtra amid inadequate capital and earning prospects. Following, it is immediately prohibited from
conducting banking activities, including accepting and repaying deposits, as defined in Section 5 (b) read with
Section 56 of the BR Act, 1949 with immediate effect.
ii.RBI also imposed a penalty of Rs 8.80 Lakh on Fedbank Financial Services Limited, a Non-Banking Financial
Company (NBFC) in Mumbai, for non-compliance with certain provisions of the Monitoring of Frauds in NBFCs
(Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016.
Governor – Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors – Swaminathan Janakiraman, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
Establishment – 1st April 1935
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mswipe Technologies received PA License from RBI

On 16th February 2024, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted Payment Aggregator (PA) license to
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Mswipe Technologies Private Limited. Mswipe received in-principle
approval from RBI to operate as a PA in 2022.
• The license paves way for Mswipe to offer full-stack payment technology providing omni-
channel solutions.
• The Certificates of Authorisation (CoA) for Setting up and Operating Payment System in India is
issued by RBI under Section 7 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Interest Equalization Scheme Extended till June 2024 with an Additional Capital of Rs. 2500 Cr
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that the Interest Equalization Scheme (IES) for Pre and Post-
Shipment Rupee Export Credit was extended by the Government of India (GoI) till 30th June 2024 with an

additional allocation of Rs. 2500 crores.
Key Points:
The Rate of Interest Equalization:
i.For the Manufacturers and Merchant Exporters exporting under 410 Harmonized System (HS) lines, the
interest equalization rate will be at 2%.
ii.For Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) manufacturers, exporting under any HS line, the interest
equalization rate will be at 3%.
Average interest rate:
i.With effect from the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), banks charging loans under the scheme at an interest rate
exceeding the Repo rate + 4% on average might face restrictions.
ii.Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry (MoCI) will identify the banks which violate the above provisions.
Cap on Subvention Amount:
The annual net subvention amount is already limited to Rs.10 Crores per Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) in a
given financial year with effect from 01st April 2023.
IES:
i.The IES on pre and Post-shipping rupee Export Credit to eligible exporters started in 2015 for 5 years (up to
2020).
• It has been extended several times including a 1 year extension during COVID-19.
• IES was earlier called an interest subvention scheme.
ii.The scheme is implemented by the RBI through various Public and non-Public Sector banks that provide pre
and post-shipment credit to the exporters.
iii.The Scheme is jointly monitored by the DGFT and RBI.
Governor– Shaktikanta Das
RBI allows banks, non-banks to issue PPIs to commuters for Public Transport
On February 23, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) amended the Master Direction on Prepaid Payment
Instruments (PPI) to permit authorised bank and non-bank PPI issuers to issue PPIs for making payments
across various public transport systems.
• This instruction by RBI is issued under Section 18 read with Section 10 (2) of Payment and
Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007).
Note: Master Direction on PPIs prescribes the various types of PPIs that can be issued by the banks and non-
banks after obtaining necessary approval or authorisation from RBI.
Key Points:
This aims to offer convenience, speed, affordability, and safety of digital modes of payment to commuters using
the public transport systems like metro, buses, rail, waterways, tolls, and parking.
PPIs:
PPIs are instruments that facilitate purchase of goods and services, conduct of financial services, enable
remittance facilities, etc., against the value stored therein. It can be issued by banks and non-banks.
• The cash loading of PPIs is limited to Rs 50,000/- per month subject to overall limit of the PPI
Types of PPIs:
i.Small PPIs: Issued with minimum details, usable at specific merchant locations, no funds transfer or cash
withdrawal. Small PPIs are of two types:
• PPIs upto Rs 10,000/- (with cash loading facility). These PPIs can be converted into full-KYC PPIs
within 24 months.
• PPIs upto Rs 10,000/- (with no cash loading facility).

ii.Full-KYC PPIs: Issued after completing Know Your Customer (KYC) of PPI holder, usable for purchase, funds
transfer, and cash withdrawal.
Click For Official Information about PPIs
RBI allows Paytm to migrate UPI payment business to other banks
RBI notified that Paytm Payments Bank can transfer its Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based payments
business from Paytm Payments Bank to four to five other banks including Axis Bank.
• Paytm has stopped onboarding new users until it completes the migration of its existing accounts to
these banks.
• RBI has directed National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the operator of the UPI platform, to
examine One 97 Communications’ request to become a third-party application provider (TPAP) for
the UPI channel.
Background:
In March 2022, RBI has imposed business restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank, for the benefit of customers,
wallet holders and merchants availing services from Paytm.
Following this, Paytm cannot accept further credits into its customer accounts and wallets after March 15,
2024.
RBI imposed Penalty of Rs.3 Cr of SBI, CUB, Canara Bank & Ocean Capital Market
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties of over Rs 3 crore on the State Bank of
India (SBI), Canara Bank, City Union Bank Limited (CUB) and Ocean Capital Market Limited for violation
of regulatory norms.
• Mumbai (Maharashtra) based SBI was fined Rs 2 crore for contravening certain norms related
to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund Scheme, 2014.
• A penalty of Rs 16 lakh was imposed on Rourkela (Odisha) based Ocean Capital Market for
breaching certain provisions related to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
• Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Canara Bank was penalized Rs 32.30 lakh for non-compliance
with specific directions issued by the RBI.
• Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu) headquartered CUB was fined Rs 66 lakh for non-compliance with
RBI’s directions on income recognition, asset classification, and provisioning pertaining to
advances, and Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
Amazon Pay received Online Payment Aggregator licence from RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted final authorisation to Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Amazon Pay
(India) Private Limited (formerly Amazon Online Distribution Services Private Limited) to act as
a Online Payment Aggregator (PA).
• Amazon Pay received in-principle approval from RBI to operate as a PA in 2023.
• The license paves way for Amazon Pay to offer online merchant payment services to its clients.
• The Certificates of Authorisation (CoA) for Setting up and Operating Payment System in India is
issued by RBI under Section 7 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
• It is to be noted that “Amazon Pay balance: Money” also received Prepaid Payment
Instruments (PPI) licence from RBI in 2017.
• Amazon Pay is a digital payment subsidiary of Amazon Retail India Private Limited.

SEBI
Shivalik Group receives SEBI approval for their Inaugural AIF
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)-based real estate developer Shivalik Group has received regulatory approval from the
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its inaugural fund- Shivalik Investment Fund as a Category
II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
The fund aims to raise Rs.300 crore through private placement including Rs.150 Crore Green Shoe
Option.
The fund is sponsored & managed Shivalik Investment Fund Private Limited
The fund will be invested in the fast-developing regions of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts of
Gujarat thereby generating superior long-term capital appreciation from investment in the real estate
sector.
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS

DEA & ADB Signed USD 200 Million Loan for FRERM Project in Assam
The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) of Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Asian Development
Bank (ADB) has signed a USD 200 million loan agreement (Ordinary Operations) for the ‘Climate Resilient
Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management(FRERM) Project in Assam’.
Signatories:
The loan agreement was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, DEA, MoF, for the Government of
India (GoI), and Hoe Yun Jeong, Deputy Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, for ADB.
About FRERM project:
i.The project aims to strengthen flood and riverbank erosion risk management along the 650-kilometer (km)
long main stem of the Brahmaputra River in Assam.
ii.The Project activities will be led, managed, and coordinated by the Flood and River Erosion Management
Agency of the Assam (FREMAA).
iii.The Water Resources Department of the Government of Assam will implement the works and the Assam
Agroforestry Development Board will use nature-based solutions.
iv.This project will benefit around 1 million people and increase crop production in more than 50000 hectares.
About the Loan:
i.The Loan has a principal repayment period of 15 years.
ii.The interest of the loan will be the sum of Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) and 0.6% of Proceeds of
the loan withdrawn & 0.10% of expenditure to be financed out of proceeds of the loan.
• These interest will be paid semi-annually on 15th March and 15th September annually.
iii.The closing date of the loan shall be 31st March 2030 or such other date agreed by ADB and GoI.
iv.The loan will be provided from ADB’s ordinary capital resource.
v.The loan was approved by ADB in October 2023.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
President– Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters– Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Members – 68 members (49 from the region)
JICA Signed ODA Loan of JPY Yen 232.209 billion with India for 9 projects across Sectors
On February 20, 2024, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) of Japan signed loan
agreements with the Government of India in Delhi to provide Japanese Official Development Assistance
(ODA) loans of up to Japanese Yen (JPY) 232.209 billion for 9 projects across various sectors in India.
• The initiative aims to strengthen infrastructure and developmental projects in India.

Key People: To formalise this commitment, the Notes were exchanged between Vikas Sheel, Additional
Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India; and Mr. Suzuki
Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India.
Points to Note:
i.Japan started an ODA with India in 1958 in the form of a Yen Loan.
ii.JICA is a governmental agency that coordinates ODA for the Government of Japan.
ii.As an implementing agency of ODA, JICA aims to contribute to the promotion of international
development cooperation.
• It also address the global agenda by supporting the socioeconomic development, recovery and
economic stability of developing countries.
Loan Distribution:
1.Project for Promoting Start-up and Innovation in Telangana:
Loan amount: JPY 23.7 697 billion
Objective: Foster entrepreneurship, especially among women and rural entrepreneurs, through capacity
building, infrastructure support, etc.
• Focus on creating job opportunities and promote sustainable industrial development in
Telangana.
Executing Agency: Information Technology, Electronics, and Communications Department (ITE&CD),
Government of Telangana.
2.Project for the Construction of Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (Phase 2):
Loan amount: JPY 49.85 billion
Objective: Addressing the growing road traffic demands in Chennai (Tamil Nadu (TN)), this project aims
to alleviate congestion and enhance connections to the southern part of TN.
• Focus on constructing segment 5 of the Peripheral Ring Road and introducing Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS) in segments 2 to 5.
Executing Agency: Highways and Minor Ports Department, Government of Tamil Nadu
3.North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase 7):
Objective: Enhance connectivity in the North Eastern Region (NER) of India and neighbouring countries.
• Focus on National Highway 127B (Phulbari – Goeragre section) in Meghalaya.
Executing Agency: Meghalaya Public Works Department.
4.North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase 3) (Tranche II):
Objective: Improve connectivity in the NER through the construction of the bridge between Dhubri and
Phulbari.
Executing Agency: National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
5.Project for the Improvement of Urban Water Supply System in Uttarakhand:
Objective: Ensure stable water supply services to urban towns including mountainous/remote areas in
Uttarakhand.
• Focus on improving water supply facilities.
Executing Agency: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of Uttarakhand.
6.Project for Promoting Sustainable Horticulture in Haryana (Tranche I):
Objective: Promote sustainable horticulture and enhance farmers’ income through crop diversification
and infrastructure development.
Executing Agency: Department of Horticulture, Government of Haryana.

7.Project for Climate Change Response and Ecosystem Services Enhancement in Rajasthan:
Objective: Respond to climate change and enhance ecosystem services through afforestation, biodiversity
conservation, livelihood improvement activities, etc.
Executing Agency: Rajasthan Forest Department, Government of Rajasthan.
8.Project for the Establishment of the Medical College Hospital at Nagaland Institute of Medical
Sciences and Research, Kohima:
Loan amount: JPY 10 billion
Objective: Establish a tertiary-level medical service delivery system in Nagaland by developing a Medical
College Hospital.
• Contributes to the promotion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Executing Agency: Department of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland.
9.Dedicated Freight Corridor Project (Phase1) (Tranche V):
Loan amount: JPY 40 billion
Objective: Address the increasing demand for freight transport in India through the construction of a
dedicated freight railway system.
Executing Agency: Ministry of Railways and Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation India Limited
Note:
i.For this project, Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) will apply to the Japanese ODA loan.
ii.Japanese technology will be used for components being constructed under the project such as railroad
tracks and equipment used for signaling and communications.
In November 2023, the Indian Government signed a USD 400 million policy-based loan agreement with
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support its sub-program 2 of the Sustainable Urban Development
and Service Delivery Programme.
About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA):
The current organisation was established in 2003 and replaced a semi-governmental organisation formed
in 1974 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President– Dr. TANAKA Akihiko
Headquarters– Tokyo, Japan
ADB approves USD 23 Million to India to Construct IFI Inside GIFT City
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the loan of USD 23 million to India for the
project ‘India: Promoting Research and Innovation through Development of Fintech Institute at
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) Project’.
• The project aims to construct an inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient International
Fintech Institute (IFI) inside GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Key Points:
i.IFI in collaboration with internationally renowned institutes and universities, intends to provide fintech
training programs which is on par with industry and international standards.
ii.Through incubation and acceleration services, IFI promotes startups, with a focus on promoting
opportunities for women.
iii.It will also collaborate with industry and venture capital(VC) funds to support the growth of fintech
startups.
iv.The project also supports applied research and development (R&D) on innovative solutions and
technologies in areas such as climate fintech, regulatory technology, social inclusion, and gender equality
in finance.

v.The project helps India to establish a fintech readiness index.
vi.The project also incentivizes industry partnerships to foster innovation capacity and enhance industry
competitiveness.
vii.The project results in inclusive and sustainable development of the fintech ecosystem thereby paving a
path to attain Sustainable Vision 2030 for Gujarat.
GIFT City:
i.GIFT City is India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
ii.It is a world-class business district envisaged and built to cater to global and domestic business
enterprises.
iii.It aims to promote and cultivate a world-class finance and Information Technology (IT) zone for India
to provide service across the globe.
iv.GIFT City also offers single-window clearances and approvals under one umbrella.
About Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City:
Managing Director & Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Tapan Ray
Headquarters – Gandhinagar, Gujarat
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED

SBI Ties Up with Flywire to Foster Payments of Indian Students Abroad
State Bank of India (SBI) in collaboration with Boston, United States of
America (USA) based Flywire Corporation, a global payments enablement and software company, aims to
simplify cross-border education payments for Indian students pursuing studies abroad.
• The facility is available only to local currency account holders of SBI in India.
Key features:
i.Indian students can now pay education fees to higher education institutions across the world in Indian
Rupees (INR) directly from their SBI accounts, eliminating lengthy processes.
ii.Universities and colleges receive payments on time in their local currency and gain transparency into
transaction history.
LRS guidelines:
i.The solution is in line with the compliance process of the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) guidelines set
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
ii.The guidelines allow Indian residents to easily remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year.
iii.It also helps to streamline overseas transactions and investments for residents of India.
Process:
i.Flywire directly integrates with SBI’s platform, creating a fully digital checkout experience for the
transactions.
ii.Flywire identifies the source of payments delivered to an institutions’ bank account and automatically posts
each payment to the applicable student record.
iii.These payments can be made and tracked through the SBI Internet banking platform.
Additional Info:
i.Indian students are moving to countries such as USA, Canada, the United Kingdom(UK) and Australia for
higher education.
ii.According to the Open Doors 2023 Report on International Educational Exchange, a huge number of Indian
students went to the USA in the 2022-23 academic year, representing an increase of 35% over the 2021-22
academic year.
About State Bank of India (SBI):
Chairperson – Dinesh Kumar Khara

Tagline – The Banker to Every Indian
Maharashtra Govt Signs MoU with Google for AI-led Solutions across Sectors
The Maharashtra government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with search engine
giant Google to utilise innovative and scalable Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led solutions across sectors including
agriculture, healthcare, education, etc.
• Google also announced the launching of a state-of-the-art AI Centre of Excellence (CoE)at the Indian
Institute of Information Technology – Nagpur (IIIT-Nagpur), Maharashtra.
• This is the First ever collaboration in India, an MoU for AI CoE, powered by Google.
Key People:
The MoU was signed at Google’s office in Pune, Maharashtra in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy
Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and Vice President, Google India; and Nitin Kareer,
Chief Secretary, Maharashtra.
About the MOU:
i.As per the MoU, Google will collaborate with the Maharashtra government by offering startups mentoring and
networking opportunities.
• Experts at Google and industry leaders will mentor startups in areas like technology, product
development, business strategy, and more.
ii.Google’s AI Startup program will provide eligible venture capital (VC)-funded AI startups with cloud credits,
technical training, and business support to accelerate their growth.
Other Key Sectors of the MoU:
The MoU with Google spans across sectors, such as:
• Innovation;
• Entrepreneurship;
• Skill training;
• Environment;
• Town Planning; and
• Transport Planning.
Healthcare:
To increase access to healthcare through AI-enabled screening, Google will be engaging with Maharashtra to
provide:
• State-of-the-art Health-related AI imaging models such as Tuberculosis (TB)-Chest X-rays and Diabetic
Retinopathy.
Agriculture:
i.It is said to provide the state with its Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) Application Programming
Interface (API).
ii.It offers in-depth insights about farmland, including field sizes, water resources using remote sensing
AI/machine learning (ML) technology.
Google Renames Bard Chatbot as Gemini; Releases New Gemini Advanced and Gemini Ultra
Google renamed its free version of the generative AI chatbot Bard as Gemini and launched Gemini Advanced,
the subscription tier of its powerful AI model. Gemini Advanced is a premium service (with Ultra) that uses the
most powerful version of the Gemini model.
• Google launched a new Gemini app for its Android mobile operating system and also released Gemini
Ultra 1.0, the largest and most capable version of Google’s AI large language models.
• Gemini will now be available in 40 languages in over 230 countries and territories.
Gemini App:
i.The Gemini app is intended to allow people to access the assistant more easily from their phones and will be
available through the existing Google app on iPhones.

ii.The app can set Gemini as a user’s default assistant on Android devices, replacing Google Assistant.
Google launched its largest and most capable multimodal Artificial Intelligence (AI) model, “Gemini,” which
comes in 3 sizes: Gemini Ultra, Gemini Pro, and Gemini Nano.
About Google:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO-)- Sundar Pichai
Headquarters- California, United States of America
Established in- 1998
PSB & WDRA signed MoU to offer Low Interest Rate to Farmers
Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with a Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) to facilitate low-interest rate loans to farmers and
traders.
Key Dignitaries: The MoU was exchanged by T.K. Manoj Kumar, Chairperson, WDRA; Swarup Kumar Saha,
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PSB in New Delhi, Delhi.
About the MoU:
i.The MoU aims to raise awareness and encourage funding against electronic Negotiable Warehouse
Receipts (e-NWRs) to improve agricultural pledge finance in India.
ii.As per the MoU, PSB will offer low-interest loans against e-NWRs with no requirement for collateral.
iii.Farmers can avail loans of up to Rs 75 lakh, while borrowers from other categories can access loans of up
to Rs 5 crore under the agriculture sector.
What is eNWR?
i.Launched in 2018, eNWR is a digital warehousing receipt issued by registered warehouses regulated and
governed by WDRA.
ii.The farmers were given e-NWRs once they stored their produce in scientific storage godowns authorised by
WDRA and seek loan from e-NWRsbanks against their e-NWRs.
About Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA):
The WDRA is a Statutory Authority under the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) of the
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution(MoCAF&PD).
Chairman – T K Manoj Kumar
About Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB):
MD & CEO – Swarup Kumar Saha
Yes Bank, LeRemitt partners for Cross-Border Transactions for MSMEs

Yes Bank Limited has partnered with the Bengaluru-Based fintech startup, LeRemitt, to create a cross-border
platform to enable Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to conduct international transactions in key
currencies, including USD and euro.
It will also offers transparency, efficiency, and cost benefits for small businesses involved in global
trade.
LeRemitt serves as a cross-border remittance platform, assisting MSMEs in sending and receiving
payments, besides other services.
About LeRemitt:
Cofounder and CEO– Sheetal Jain
Headquarter– Bengaluru, Karnataka

HSBC in Partnership with Google Cloud Finances Climate Technology Firms
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in partnership with Google Cloud
Platform (GCP) aims to offer financial support and technological resources to fast-growing climate technology
firms.
HSBC will be funding about USD 1 billion to climate tech companies selected by Google through its
Google Cloud Ready-Sustainability (GCR-Sustainability) programme by 2030.
The partnership could be a win-win for climate technology.
REC & DVC Join Hands for Infra & Energy Projects in the Damodar Valley
REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) has signed agreements worth Rs. 588
crores with Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), a Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) under the Ministry of
Power (MoP), to strengthen infrastructure and energy projects in the Damodar Valley region (West Bengal
and Jharkhand).
• This agreement includes a Term Loan agreement, an Escrow agreement, and Hypothecation deeds.
• Tubed coal mines will also be developed as part of the agreement.
• The agreement was signed in the presence of S. Suresh Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD)
of DVC.
Note: REC is a ‘Maharatna‘ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the MoP, and is registered with the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), and Infrastructure Financing
Company (IFC).
RBI & Nepal Rastra Bank signed ToR to integrate UPI and NPI for Cross-Border Remittances
The central banks of India & Nepal namely the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have
signed Terms of Reference (ToR) to integrate the fast payment systems of both countries.
• As per ToR, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and the National Payments Interface (NPI) of
Nepal will be integrated to facilitate cross-border remittances.
• This integration aims to streamline cross-border remittances between the two countries by allowing
users of both systems to conduct instant, cost-effective fund transfers.
IREDA & PNB Signed MoU to Promote Renewable Energy Initiatives

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focusing on co-lending and loan syndication of Renewable
Energy(RE) projects across the India.
• The MoU includes provisions aimed at enhancing support for RE projects.
• This includes joint lending, loan syndication and underwriting, management of Trust and
Retention Account (TRA) for IREDA borrowers, and working towards competitive terms of
sanction, including pricing on IREDA borrowings.
• Through this MoU and prior agreements other financial institutions, IREDA is set to fund large-
scale RE projects, in line with India’s effort to achieve a 500 GW Non-Fossil-based electricity
generation capacity by 2030.
Signatories: The MoU was signed by Dr. R. C. Sharma, General Manager of IREDA and Rajeeva, Chief
General Manager of PNB at IREDA office in New Delhi, Delhi in the presence of Pradip Kumar Das,
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of IREDA and Atul Kumar Goel, MD & CEO of PNB.
Note: IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Public sector Enterprise (PSE) under the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE).

IEPFA Partners with DBS Bank for Investment Awareness
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and Singapore based DBS Bank
Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to spread awareness on investment and
fraudulent schemes.
• As per the MoU, DBS Bank will be supporting IEPFA’s investor awareness activities by
disseminating safety messages via its various digital platforms.
• The MoU was signed in New Delhi (Delhi) in the presence of Anita Shah Akella, Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of IEPFA & Joint Secretary of MCA.
Note:
• IEPFA was set up in 2016 under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) for administering the
Investor Education and Protection Fund for making refunds of shares, unclaimed dividends, and
matured deposits and debentures, among other things, to investors.
• DBS bank, formerly known as Development Bank of Singapore Limited, is a Singapore based
multinational banking and financial services corporation.
Goa & World Bank Partners to Launch Blended Finance Facility for Climate Resilience
The Government of Goa has announced a partnership with the World Bank (WB) to establish a Blended
Finance Facility (BFF) for climate resilience.
• This initiative aims to access and mobilise concessional finance to implement low-carbon and
climate-resilient investment in Goa.
Note: Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister (CM) of Goa made the announcement about the BFF during the WB’s
India Climate and Development Partners’ Meet held in Panaji, Goa from 20th to 21st February 2024.
What is BFF?
BFF blends International Development Association (IDA) and Private Sector Window (PSW) support with
pioneering International Finance Corporation (IFC) investments across sectors with high development
impact, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), education, climate change, etc.
Key Points:
i.BFF helps Goa and other coastal states in India to build greater resilience to the impacts of a rapidly
warming climate.
ii.It is a first-of-its-kind, climate-focused, multi-sectoral facility at a sub-national level.
iii.The initiative, in line with Goa’s vision of “Samruddhi, Santulan, and Suramyata” as outlined in Viksit
Goa 2047, will support the operationalisation of Goa’s State Action Plan on Climate Change (2023-2033).
iv.BFF’s dual role: The facility not only assists projects with existing funding or established commercial
viability to access financing but also channelise financing to projects and sectors with no existing funding
or unattractive risk/return profiles.
v.By unifying green financing mechanisms with domestic capital markets, BFF attract private capital
investments for climate action.
MoUs:
Under the framework of BFF, the Department of Environment, Government of Goa, signed Memoranda of
Understanding (MoUs) with financial institutions such as the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD), the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and the Power Finance
Corporation (PFC).
About World Bank (WB):
World Bank Group President – Ajay Banga
Headquarters – Washington DC, the United States of America (USA)
About Goa:

Chief Minister – Pramod Sawant
Governor – P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Wildlife Sanctuary – Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
Zoological Park – Bondla Zoological Park
Paymart India Partnered with 5 Indian Banks to Introduce India’s 1st ‘Virtual ATM’
The Fintech startup Paymart India Pvt. Ltd., has partnered with 5 Indian
banks, IDBI Bank, Indian Bank, Axis Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, and Karur Vysya Bank (KVB), to
introduce India’s 1st Virtual ATM (VATM) to offer innovative virtual, cardless, and hardware-less cash
withdrawal service.
Note: Paymart is also in advanced discussions with 4 additional banks for further collaboration.
About VATM:
Working:
i.The service requires a smartphone, mobile banking app, and internet connection for cash withdrawal.
ii.The Mobile Banking App will initiate withdrawal requests from the bank and a OTP will be sent to the
registered numbers.
iii.The OTP can be used at the Paymart-partnered (VATM affiliated) shopkeepers to collect cash.
iv.The shopkeeper acts as a virtual ATM to pay cash by using the merchant login at www.vatm.in.
Transaction Limits: Minimum withdrawal of Rs 100, maximum Rs 2,000 per transaction.
Monthly Cap: Rs 10,000 maximum limit for virtual ATM withdrawals.
Points to note
i.The VATM service has been successfully piloted with IDBI Bank for over 6 months.
ii.Paymart plans to launch pilot programs with its partner banks in February/March 2024. The phased
nationwide extension of the programme is scheduled for April/May 2024.
iii.Initially, the VATM service will be available only at select locations in Chandigarh (Punjab and Haryana),
Delhi (New Delhi), Hyderabad (Telangana), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), and Mumbai (Maharashtra).
iv.Paymart has collaborated with the Common Service Center (CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited
to further expand the reach of its VATM services for over 5 lakh locations nationwide.
Benefits:
i.This process eliminates the need for debit cards, traditional ATMs, kiosks, or Unified Payments Interface
(UPI) to make cash withdrawals.
ii.Shopkeepers registered with Paymart earn commissions on transactions, creating new revenue streams.
iii.VATM helps banks to serve remote, underserved customers and fewer visits to bank branches,
especially in remote areas.
iv.Elimination of traditional ATM installation and maintenance costs.
About Paymart India Private Limited:
Founder & CEO– Amit Narang
Headquarters– Chandigarh
Founded in 2015
Akshayakalpa signs MoU with BII, Samunnati to Finance 1,500 Small Dairy Farmers in
Karnataka, TN &Telangana
Tiptur (Karnataka)-based Akshayakalpa Farms And Foods Pvt. Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding
with British International Investment (BII), and Samunnati Financial Intermediation and Services Private
Limited to finance up to 1,500 smallholder dairy farmers in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu(TN) and Telangana.
• This commitment is made through BII’s GBP 200-million Climate Innovation Facility which finances
climate-related projects in developing countries.

• The MoU aims to increase milk production per cow and increase crop productivity per acre while
obtaining organic certification.
Note: BII is a development finance institution of the United Kingdom(UK) government.
Samunnati Financial is a Chennai(TN) based Agri value chain solutions provider.
Akshayakalpa is the India’s first certified organic dairy company.
Innoviti & RBL Bank Partnered to set up Omnium, a Payment Platform for Progressive
Retailers
RBL Bank and Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Innoviti Technologies Pvt. Ltd. have collaborated to create
Omnium, an advanced omnichannel payments platform designed for forward-thinking retailers in India.
• This platform utilizes retailer data and streamlines business processes to facilitate faster
growth with minimal effort.
Key Points:
i.Innoviti used a modern domain-driven design methodology to develop omnium.
The platform integrates RBL Bank’s modern banking and payment Application Programming Interfaces
(APIs) to enable fast, seamless, and secure payment integration.
ii.It enables retailers to integrate business processes across HR (Human Resource), Enterprise resource
planning (ERP), and marketing platforms with payment events for precise impact measurement and
performance benchmarking.
iii.Features modern payment gateway and terminal functionalities for seamless online and offline
consumer touchpoints.
iv.Key features include product-specific payment promotions, price and promotion benchmarking, real-
time transaction attribution to promotions, and collaborative budget sharing for targeted promotions.
v.Innoviti Technologies has an in-principle approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to act as a Payment
Aggregator.
About RBL Bank:
RBL Bank was formerly known as Ratnakar Bank Limited.
Managing Director & CEO– R Subramaniakumar
Tagline– Apno ka Bank
OTHER BANK NEWS

Exim Bank Received Rs 9,013.72 Crore from MEA after Invoking GoI Guarantees
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has provided Rs 9,013.72 crore to the Export-Import Bank of
India (Exim Bank) after the bank invoked Government of India (GoI) guarantees on decade-old loans
extended to some African countries.
• These loans were classified as “doubtful debts” in Financial Year(FY) 2023-24.
Background:
i.The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has supported Lines of
Credit (LOCs) to foreign countries under the Indian Development and Economic Assistance
Scheme (IDEAS).
ii.These countries include Asia (excluding Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan) Africa, the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) region and the Latin American region.
iii. Since 2003-04, LoC is supported by EXIM Bank.
Key Points:
i.Exim Bank had to invoke guarantees due to non-performing assets (NPAs) of the loans given to African

countries.
ii.Once guarantees are invoked, the funds are paid out of the Guarantee Redemption Fund established in
the Public Account of India since 1999-2000.
Additional Funds:
i.MEA has also allocated Rs 4,383.40 crore for FY25 for potential future guarantees.
ii.An amount of Rs 4,655 crore was sanctioned as an advance from the Contingency Fund of India (CFI).
About Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank):
Managing Director(MD) – Harsha Bangari
Federal Bank launches RuPay NCMC Wallet Debit Card

Federal Bank has launched National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)-integrated debit cards which will enable
its RuPay Debit Card holders to use their debit cards for offline payments at NCMC-enabled terminals at metro
stations, buses, etc. Through this, the payment will be made just by tapping the card on the card reader.
• Cards issued after April 2022 will exclusively support the NCMC feature.
• Customers can identify the RuPay Contactless feature by checking for the contactless indicator printed
on the card.
Key Points:
i.NCMC RuPay Debit is a Dual Interface card for online (contact and contactless) and offline (contactless)
transactions.
ii.Regular RuPay debit cards without contactless feature don’t support NCMC.
iii.NCMC RuPay Debit Cards allow storing money for contactless wallet payments.
• NCMC supports stored value payments (currently up to Rs 2,000, subject to Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
changes) for simplified digital payments during travel.
v.For offline transactions, customers must activate the offline wallet, maintain a required balance, and tap the
card at metro station gates.
• The Automatic Fare Calculator (AFC) deducts fare from the offline wallet.
• The upper limit for offline payment transactions is Rs 200, subject to changes.
About Federal Bank:
Managing Director & CEO– Shyam Srinivasan
Tagline– Your Perfect Banking Partner
Headquarters– Aluva, Kochi, Kerala
HDFC Bank Launched 4 Business Credit Cards BizFirst, BizGrow, BizPower, & BizBlack for Self-
employed Community
On 6th February 2024, HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank., launched 4 variants of new Small and
Medium Enterprises (SME)-focused Business range credit cards namely BizFirst, BizGrow, BizPower,
and BizBlack.
• These cards will cater to the needs of the self-employed community including Micro-Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs), startups, professionals, and freelancers.
About the New Credit Cards:
i.The business credit card range offers a best-in-class interest-free credit cycle of 55 days, the highest number
of days offered by any bank.
ii.It also offers savings on core business spending like utility bills, Goods and Services Tax (GST), income tax,
vendor payments, business travel, and business productivity tools.
iii.This credit card launch is part of HDFC Banks’s strong SME Payment Solutions suite designed to meet the

diverse payment needs of self-employed individuals, SMEs, and MSMEs.
Unified Digital Platform:
i.HDFC Bank introduces a unified digital platform addressing both the payable and receivable needs of
businesses.
• It seamlessly manages vendor payments, utility bills, statutory payments, etc.
ii.On the receivable side of the payments, the platform is designed to optimise end-to-end supply-chain
arrangements and reconciliation.
iii.The platform provides a detailed dashboard with one view of payments made and accepted, for better cash-
flow management.
Key features:
i.Up to 55 Days Free Credit Period.
ii.Up to 10X Reward Points on Business Spends.
iii.Specially Curated Business Insurance Package.
iv.Exclusive Business-Focused Redemption Catalogue.
v.Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) and Loan on Card Facility.
About HDFC Bank Ltd:
MD and CEO– Sashidhar Jagdishan
Established in 1994
Tagline– We Understand Your World
HDFC Bank Raises USD 300 Million through Maiden Sustainable Finance Bond Issue
HDFC Bank Limited has raised USD 300 million through its first-ever sustainable finance bond issue as a
part of its overall raise of USD 750 million through Regulation S Bonds.
• In addition to a USD 300 million bond, it also raised USD 450 million through senior unsecured five-
year dollar bonds with an interest rate of 5.180%.
• The USD 300 million Bond has a maturity period of three years at an interest rate of 5.196%.
• The funds raised through the sustainable finance bonds will be prioritised for lending towards electric
vehicles, small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) and affordable housing.
• The bonds will be issued by the bank’s Gujarat International Finance Tec-City branch and will be listed
on the India International Exchange.
Note:
Regulation S is a type of bond open for offers and trades outside the United States of America for U.S. and non-
U.S. Qualified Institutional Buyers.
Prabhaav: SIDBI unveils the CRISIL study on impact of Fund of Funds on Startup Ecosystem
On February 9, 2024, the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has unveiled the CRISIL’s impact
assessment report of the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) namely ‘Prabhaav‘.
Key People:
Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), SIDBI, along with Satya Prakash Singh, Chief
General Manager (CGM), Venture Finance and Investment Vertical, SIDBI, presented the report
to Dr Vivek Joshi, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance; Rajesh Kumar
Singh, Secretary, DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade), Ministry of Commerce &
Industry (MoCI), among others.
Note: CRISIL, formerly Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited, is a global analytical company that
provides ratings, research, and risk and policy advisory services.
Key Highlights:
i.As of November 30, 2023, 129 Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) were sanctioned out of FFS across various
segments.

ii.Investments of approximately 4 times the drawn amount, totaling Rs 17,534 crore, have been made in 938
startups, showcasing a significant multiplier effect of FFS.
iii.Despite its focus on early-stage funding, 18 startups supported by FFS have achieved unicorn status.
iv.FFS has directed investments into emerging sectors like deep tech, agriculture, health tech, financial services,
and sustainability.
v.Post-FFS launch, 129 startups outside Tier 1 cities received investments totaling Rs 1,590 crore.
• There is also increased support for women-led startups and fund managers.
vi.CRISIL survey finds 89% respondents crediting FFS support for facilitating their fundraise.
vii.Over 75% respondents note a positive effect on raising non-institutional domestic capital post commitment
by SIDBI under the scheme.
About FFS:
i.The Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), launched in 2016, is a flagship program of the Startup India Action Plan.
ii.DPIIT is the monitoring agency and SIDBI is the operating agency for FFS.
iii.FFS was approved with a corpus of Rs 10000 crore with contributions spread over 14th & 15th Finance
Commission cycle.
iv.FFS provides capital to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-registered AIFs, known as daughter
funds, which invest in growing Indian startups through equity and equity-linked instruments.
Key Points:
i.AIFs supported under FFS must invest at least twice the FFS commitment in startups.
ii.FFS reduces reliance on foreign capital, promotes domestic funding, and boosts domestic Venture capital (VC)
funds.
iii.FFS contributes to category I & II AIFs, making India the 3rd largest startup ecosystem globally.
• Karnataka has the maximum number of startups supported under FFS i.e. 240 with Rs 4,687 crore
investments.
• It is followed by Maharashtra at 2nd (176 startups with Rs 3,426 crore invested), and Delhi at 3rd
(138 with Rs 2,254 crore invested).
i.India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has signed an agreement with SIDBI to extend financial and other support
services to MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) in rural and remote areas.
ii.Startup Odisha, an initiative of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises(MSME) Department of the Odisha
government, launched “Odisha Startup Growth Fund (OSGF)” worth Rs 100 Crore in collaboration with SIDBI.
About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):
Chairman & Managing Director– Sivasubramanian Ramann
Headquarter– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
IOB celebrates 88th Foundation Day; Launches new Rupay Credit Card & CASA variants
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), a public sector bank, celebrated its 88th Foundation day on 10th February 2024 in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu. IOB launched various new products and announced the opening of 88 new branches
across India.
• IOB launched 3 new RuPay credit card variants: IOB RuPay Classic, IOB RuPay Platinum, and IOB RuPay
Select.
• IOB also launched Freedom Current Account and Saving Account (CASA) variant.
Background:
i.IOB was founded on 10th February 1937 by M.Ct.M. Chidambaram Chettyar. IOB stated operation in
Karaikudi, Chennai and Rangoon, Burma (presently Myanmar) and Penang, Malaysia.
ii.It was one of the 14 banks that were nationalized in 1969.

About Rupay Credit Card Variants:
i.RuPay Classic: It offers reward points and benefits
ii.RuPay Platinum: It offers reward points and benefits, and includes personal accident coverage of up to Rs 10
lakhs
iii.RuPay Select: It includes a debit card that provides access to lounges in domestic and international airports,
free gym subscriptions, free health checks, free golf lessons, and spa services
Freedom CASA variant:
Freedom Savings and Current Account variants with modest annual fee has features like zero fee on essentials.
This also has no minimum balance requirement.
Other Noted Launches:
Digital Document Execution:
i.IOB introduced Digital Document Execution (DDE) to enable seamless online locker agreements.
ii.This ensures online execution of agreements through the Digital Document Execution platform by the
National E-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL).
Green Deposit Scheme:
i.IOB also also introduced Green Deposit Scheme under Retail Term Deposits to promote Green Finance Eco
System in India.
ii.The tenor of the deposit will be 999 days with an interest rate of 6.85% (5 bps higher than regular term
deposits) with effect from February 10, 2024.
iii.Senior citizens (aged 60 years and above) and super senior citizens (aged 80 years and above) will receive
additional interest rates of 0.50% and 0.75% respectively above the card rates.
Federal Bank launches Stellar Savings Account & MasterCard enabled Stellar Debit Card
Federal Bank Limited has launched a new savings account called ‘Stellar Savings Account’.
• The account holders are offered with a power-packed ecofriendly Stellar Debit Card which is powered
by contactless MasterCard Technology.
Eligibility:
Any individuals residing in India are eligible to open the Stellar Saving Account.
Key Features:
i.Wellness Program:
The Stellar Savings Account comes with a complimentary wellness program that covers Daily Health &
Wellness, Mental Wellness, Telemedicine and offline care.
ii.Insurance Plan:
The account also offers complimentary insurance coverage of Rs. 10 Lakhs for Personal Accidental Death &
Permanent Disability. It also offers hospital cash benefits of Rs.1000 per day for 10 days.
• Insurance coverage is provided by HDFC ERGO Private Limited.
iii.Wellness Coverage:
The savings account also offers a complimentary one-year wellness plan which comprises fitness tracking,
psychologist consults, telemedicine and offline care.
iv.Milestone rewards:
The account holder will be rewarded for achieving milestones such as making an initial remittance, making the
first payment in the FedMobile application, Open a Recurring Deposit & shopping using a Stellar Debit Card.
Note: The account holder should maintain an Average Monthly Balance (AMB) of Rs.10,000.
About Debit Card:
i.Limits:
• ATM cash withdrawal limits- Rs.50,000 per day
• Shopping Limits- Rs.3 lakh per day
ii.The annual maintenance charge for the card is Rs.300. The charge will be waived-off if the spending of the
card is greater than Rs.75000 in a year.

About Federal Bank Limited:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Shyam Srinivasan
Headquarters – Aluva, Kochi, Kerala
Tagline – Your Perfect Banking Partner
BOBCARD & NPCI launched India’s second Corporate Credit Card on the RuPay Network
Mumbai(Maharashtra) based BOBCARD Limited (Formerly known as BOB Financial Solutions Limited) and
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have launched India’s second Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
enabled Corporate Credit Card on the RuPay Network.
• The card caters to the Travel & Entertainment (T&E) and other payment needs of the Corporates.
• The card comes with benefits such as a complimentary airport lounge, Reward points, a Fuel surcharge
waiver and in-build insurance coverage.
• In December 2023, IndusInd Bank Limited launched India’s first Corporate Credit Card ‘The eSvarna
Card’ on the RuPay network.
Note: BOBCARD Limited is a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), wholly owned by the Bank of
Baroda (BoB).
BoM Celebrated 89th Business Commencement Day: Launched 89 New Products

On 8th February 2024, Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) celebrated its 89th Business Commencement Day as
“Maha Parivartan Diwas 2.0” in Pune, Maharashtra and launched 89 new digital products and services.
Key People: A S Rajeev, Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BoM; Asheesh
Pandey, Executive Director of BoM along with General Managers, customers and staff members of BoM
were present during the event.
Launched Products & Services:
i.BoM has launched the Mahabank Equipment Finance Scheme to finance construction equipment
purchases for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Corporates.
ii.The bank also launched a Special cluster scheme to offer concessionary interest rates and service
charges to the glass bangle industry in Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh).
iii.The bank also incorporated a Straight-Through Processing (STP) Journey in Mudra Loans of up to Rs
50,000 to fuel the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
iv.Facilities were made to provide instant digital Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans (of up to Rs 1.60 lakhs) for
Karnataka farmers.
v.In order to provide a Line of Credit (LoC) to employees of the Government of Rajasthan, BoM introduced
the “Earned Salary Advance Drawals Scheme”
vi.Others:
• BoM has enhanced features on its WhatsApp banking service (+91 – 7066036640)including
implementation of the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR).
• BoM granted access to income and expenditure audit information through a Third Party
Administrator (TPA) portal.
• It also launched Electronic One-time Settlement (E-OTS) platform was launched to expedite
debt resolution in NPA accounts.
About Bank of Maharashtra(BoM):
BoM was formally registered under Indian Companies Act on 16th September 1935 and commenced
operations on 8th February 1936.
The bank was nationalised in 1969.

Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – A S Rajeev
Headquarters – Pune, Maharashtra
Tagline – Ek Parivaar, Ek Bank (One Family One Bank)
FINANCE NEWS
IRDAI released Guidelines to Insurance Companies on Covering AYUSH in Health Insurance policies
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued guidelines mandating
general and health insurance companies to cover Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa
Rigpa and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) treatments in their health insurance policies with effect from 1st
April 2024.
• The circular was issued in terms of Section 14(2)(b) of the IRDA Act,1999.
• For this purpose, the Ministry of Ayush(MoA) constituted a ‘Core Group of Experts for the
Insurance Sector’ in 2023.
Board Approved Policy:
i.As per the circular, insurers are mandated to have a Board-approved policy for providing AYUSH
coverage.
ii.Such policy should outline the insurer’s approach in treating AYUSH procedures in a similar way as
other treatments.
iii.The policyholders should also be provided with an option to choose AYUSH treatments of their choice.
iv.Additionally, the policy must specify the procedures for enrolling AYUSH Hospitals/Day Care Centers as
network providers, facilitating cashless facilities.
Product Modification:
Insurers are required to modify existing products that impose limitations on AYUSH treatments, ensuring
compliance with the new guidelines.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP):
Insurers must establish adequate controls and SOPs for enrolling hospitals into their network,
incorporating necessary clauses in health service agreements with AYUSH Hospitals/Day Care Centers,
implementing standard treatment protocols, and addressing potential fraud and abuse within the system.
Additional Info:
The guidelines don’t apply to the insurance cover offered by ECGC Limited (formerly known as Export
Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Limited) and Agriculture Insurance Company of India
Limited (AIC).
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
Chairperson – Debasish Panda
Established in – 1999 (Incorporated in 2000)
India Contributed USD 1 Million to the IBSA Fund to Alleviate Poverty

India has presented its annual contribution of USD 1 million to the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility
for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund).
• The move aims to address development challenges such as poverty, hunger, and climate change
across developing nations through South-South cooperation.
• The IBSA Fund was established in 2004 and became operational in 2006.
• IBSA fund is managed by the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation (SU-SSC) hosted by the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Key People: The amount was presented by Ruchira Kamboj, the Permanent Representative of India to
the United Nations (UN); The amount was received by Dima Al-Khatib, the Director of the UN Office for
South-South Cooperation.
LIC launches individual life insurance plan Index Plus

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) launched “LIC Index Plus”, a unit-linked, regular premium, individual
life insurance plan.
The plan offers a combination of life insurance coverage and savings throughout the policy’s duration.
LIC Index Plus will be available for purchase from 6th February 2024.
i.Age at entry: 90 days (Minimum) to 50 or 60 years (Maximum)
ii.Basic sum assured: 7 to 10 times of Annualized premium for entry at 90 days to 50 years and 7 times of
Annualized premium for entry at 51 to 60 years.
iii.Age at maturity: 18 years(Minimum) and 75 or 85 (based on sum assured).
iv.Policy term: Minimum 10 or 15 years depending on Annualized premium and Maximum Term is 25 years.
v.Premium: Minimum Premium(Based on the Premium payment frequency): Rs 30000 (Yearly), Rs 15000
(Half- yearly), Rs 7500 (Quarterly), and Rs 2500 (Monthly). Maximum Premium: no limit.
India Extends UPI Service in Sri Lanka and Mauritius

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, along with Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Sri Lankan
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, virtually launched India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Mauritius and
Sri Lanka.
• In addition to the UPI, the RuPay card service was also launched in Mauritius.
About UPI:
i.The Unified Payments Interface, an instant real-time payment system that was launched by the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016 to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones.
ii.The list of countries that accept UPI payments are Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the
United Arab Emirates(UAE).
Key People:
The launch event was virtually attended by Shaktikanta Das, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India;
Harvesh Seegolam, Governor of the Bank of Mauritius; and Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central
Bank of Sri Lanka.
Key Points:
i.The UPI and RuPay card projects were developed and executed by NPCI International Payments Limited
(NIPL) along with partner banks / non-banks from Mauritius and Sri Lanka, under the guidance and support of
the Reserve Bank of India.
ii.The Rupay co-branded card along with MauCAS (Mauritius Central Automated Switch) will be issued as a
domestic card.
iii.With the launch of UPI, Mauritius citizens will be able to make payments in India through the Mauritius
Instant Payment System (IPS) app.
About the launch of rupay cards in Mauritius:
i.Mauritius(African nation) becomes the first country outside Asia to issue cards using RuPay technology which
empowers the MauCAS card scheme of Mauritius to enable the banks to issue RuPay cards domestically.
ii.The launch will help both India and Mauritius by the following:
• The rupay cards issued in Mauritius and India can be used at ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) and
point of sale (PoS) terminals.
iii.As of February 2024, a total of five countries issue rupay cards namely Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, Singapore,
and UAE.

About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
Managing Director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO)– Dilip Asbe
Incorporated in 2008
IRDAI Issues Draft Regulations for Bima Sugam – Insurance e-Marketplace

On 13th February 2024, The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued an
exposure draft regulations, “IRDAI (Bima Sugam – Insurance Electronic Marketplace) regulations, 2024”,
for a digital infrastructure called Bima Sugam.
About Bima Sugam:
i.Bima Sugam is a one-stop insurance e-marketplace for all stakeholders of Insurance to promote transparency,
efficiency, collaboration across the entire insurance value chain.
ii.Bima Sugam, is part of the Bima trinity, which aims to to empower and protect the interest of policyholders.
The other branches are Bima Vistaar and Bima Vahak.
Objective:
i.To empower and protect the interest of policyholders.
ii.To increase penetration of insurance in India.
iii.To enhance availability, accessibility and affordability.
Key Points:
The draft proposed to set up a regulatory framework for establishment, governance, functioning of the Bima
Sugam – insurance e-marketplace with the following.
i.Not-for-Profit company will be established as a Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
ii.The company will develop and maintain the marketplace to provide service to insurance stakeholders.
iii.Shareholding of the company will be held among Life, General, and Health insurers, with no controlling
stake, and shareholders shall contribute to capital if required.
iv.IRDAI will nominate two members on the board of the company and prior approval from IRDAI should be
received to appoint Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.
v.The board will also constitute a risk management committee.
vi.Consent-Based Architecture: The platform will prioritize user control over data and interactions,
enhancing trust and privacy.
vii.Bima Sugam will offer free services to consumers, making insurance more accessible across socio-economic
backgrounds.
IRDAI Proposes 30 days ‘free look’ period for policies from date of receipt
IRDAI also proposed to extend the free-look period for insurance policies from 15 days to 30 days to ensure
protection of policyholders’ interest.
• It is a part of draft on IRDAI (Protection of Policyholders’ Interests and Allied Matters of Insurers)
Regulations, 2024.
Points to note:
i.Individuals get a free look-up period when purchasing insurance to cancel without fees, and if returned within
this time, the initial premium is refunded.
ii.This extension allows policyholders more time to review and understand their insurance policy, making
informed decisions.
Key Points:
i.The free-look period for the policies, obtained through any mode, shall be 30 days from the date of receipt of
the policy document”
ii.Insurers will collect bank details for electronic refunds and claims.
iii.The draft includes nomination provisions and mandates bank account details for electronic transfers.

IRDAI is a statutory body that regulates and develops the insurance industry in India.
It was constituted in 1999 and incorporated as a statutory body in 2000.
Chairman– Debasish Panda
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
Mirae Asset Launches 2 Passive Smallcap Funds; India’s 1st Multi Factor-based ETF on Nifty
Smallcap250 Index
Mirae Asset Mutual Fund launched 2 passive smallcap funds namely ‘Mirae Asset Nifty
Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)’ and ‘Mirae Asset Nifty
Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 ETF Fund-of-Fund(FoF)‘.
• These are India’s 1st multi-factor-based ETF on the Nifty Smallcap 250 Index which aim to provide
investors with sector-agnostic exposure within the smallcap category, employing a unique blend of
factors for wealth creation.
About Mirae Asset Nifty Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 ETF:
i.It is an open-ended scheme that replicates the Nifty Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 Total Return Index.
ii.Investment Objective: To generate returns, before expense, in alignment with the performance of the Nifty
Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 Total Return Index, subject to tracking error.
iii.The scheme’s New Fund Offer (NFO) opens on 12 February 2024 and will close on 21 February 2024, and re-
opens for continuous Sale and Repurchase from 26 February 2024.
About Mirae Asset Nifty Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 ETF FoF:
i.Mirae Asset Nifty Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 ETF Fund-of-Fund is an open-ended fund-of-fund
scheme investing in units of Mirae Asset Nifty Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 ETF.
ii.Investment objective: To provide long-term capital appreciation from a portfolio investing in units of Mirae
Asset Nifty Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 ETF.
iii.The NFO opens on 15th February 2024 and closes on 28th February 2024 and re-opens on 4th March 2024.
Points to Note:
i.There is no guarantee that the schemes will achieve their investment objectives.
ii.Index Tracking: Both schemes benchmark the Nifty Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 Total Return
Index (TRI).
• Both schemes will be managed by the fund managers Ms. Ekta Gala and Mr. Vishal Singh.
Minimum Investment:
i.The minimum initial investment during the NFO for both schemes is Rs 5,000, with multiples of Re 1
thereafter.
ii.An additional purchase amount of a minimum of Rs.1000 is an added feature of the Mirae Asset Nifty
Smallcap 250 Momentum Quality 100 ETF FoF.
• It also includes the investment option of a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) amount.
About Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd:
Chairman and Independent Director– Yogesh Chadha
Vice-Chairman and CEO– Swarup Anand Mohanty
Started Operations in– 2008
It is the Asset Management Company (“AMC”) of Mirae Asset Mutual Fund.
LIC Launches a New Insurance Plan ‘LIC Amritbaal Plan 874’ for Children
On 17th February 2024, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) launched ‘LIC Amritbaal Plan
874’, a new Non-Linked, Non-Participating, Individual, Savings, Life Insurance plan.
• The plan is designed to meet the higher education and other financial needs of the child.

Eligibility/Parameters:
i.Age of Entry – 30 days to 13 years
ii.Maturity Age – 18 years to 25 years
iii.Premium Paying Mode- Yearly, Half Yearly, Quarterly, Monthly and Single
iv.Policy term: For single premium payment– minimum 5 years & maximum 25 years and for Limited
Premium payment – minimum 10 years & maximum 25 years.
v.Sum Assured: Minimum Rs 2 lakhs (No limit on Maximum Sum Assured)
vi.Loan facility:
For limited premium: loan can be availed after 3 years premium have been paid.
For single premium: loan can be availed after 3 months after purchasing the policy.
About Amritbaal Plan:
i.The plan offers risk cover on the life of the child during the policy term.
ii.It facilitates the accumulation of corpus through a Guaranteed Addition of Rs 80 per 1000 Basic Sum
Assured throughout the Policy Term.
iii.The policy comes with many facilities like Locking period (2 years), a Revival option (5 years), a
Cooling-off Period (15 days), and a Riders option.
iv.The premiums paid are exempted from income tax under section 80C of Income Tax Act, 1961.
About Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India:
Interim Chairman – Siddhartha Mohanty
IRDAI approved Policybazaar to Upgrade to a Composite Insurance Broker

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has granted in-principle approval to
Gurugram (Haryana) based Policybazaar Insurance Brokers Private Limited (Policybazaar) to upgrade its
license from a direct insurance broker (Life and General) to a composite insurance broker.
• With this approval, Policybazaar is allowed to sell reinsurance products besides being a pure
play platform focused on insurance buying.
• The approval also deepens the insurance penetration in the country by bringing more
technology, process control and data analytics-based innovation into reinsurance capacity.
• Policybazaar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gurugram-based PB Fintech Limited.
PayNearby launched Digital Naari platform for Rural & Semi-Urban Women
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Nearby Technologies Private Limited (PayNearby) has launched
the Digital Naari platform to generate sustainable self-employment for women.
• This is in line with the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative (a skill development programme launched in
2023), the platform seeks to onboard and uplift about 1 lakh women in rural and semi-urban
areas by the end of 2025.
• By providing access to a suite of financial and digital services, the platform equips women with
the tools and skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs.
PFRDA Amends National Pension System Trust & Pension Fund Regulations for Good Governance
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has notified the National Pension
System (NPS) Trust (Second Amendment) Regulations 2023 and Pension Fund (Amendment) Regulations
2023.
Note: These amendments are in line with Union Budget 2023-24 announcement to review regulations to
reduce the cost of compliance and enhance the ease of doing business.

Key Amendments:
i.The amendments to NPS Trust Regulations simplify the provisions related to appointment of Trustees,
their terms and conditions, holding of meetings of Board of Trustees and appointment of CEO (Chief
Executive Officer)- NPS Trust.
ii.Amendments to Pension Fund Regulations simplify the provisions related to governance of Pension
Funds in line with Companies Act, 2013 and enhanced disclosure by Pension Funds.
Other Amendments:
i.Clarify roles of Sponsor of Pension Fund & Pension Fund, as well as compliance to ‘fit and proper person’
criteria.
ii.Pension Funds to form additional Board committees like Audit Committee and Nomination &
Remuneration Committee.
iii.Include ‘Pension Fund’ in the name clause, with existing pension funds required to comply within 12
months.
iv.Mandate inclusion of Directors’ responsibility statement in annual reports of schemes managed by
pension funds.
Click here for the detailed information on the amended regulations: NPS Trust and Pension Fund
About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA):
PFRDA is a regulatory body that operates under the Ministry of Finance.
Chairman– Dr. Deepak Mohanty
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS

Fitch Ratings on India’s Interim Budget 2024-2025: Forecasts FY25 Fiscal Deficit at 5.4% of GDP
Fitch Rating, an international credit rating agency, stated that the interim Budget of 2024-2025 by the
Government of India does not change the sovereign credit profile of India.
• Fitch Ratings estimates that India’s fiscal deficit for financial year 2024-2025 (FY25) to reach
5.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is above the budget target of 5.1%.
Note: Fitch Ratings is a leading provider of Credit Ratings, Research, and Analysis for the global financial
markets.
Key Points:
i.Targeting of 5.1% of GDP deficit in FY25 demonstrates that the government’s commitment to reduce the
deficit and achieve the deficit target of 4.5% by FY26 while maintaining a critical focus on infrastructure
development.
ii.The government revised the FY24 fiscal deficit to 5.8% from 5.9% budgeted for the year.
Government’s Fiscal Strategy:
i.The fiscal deficit and government debt ratio in India are notably high compared to peer medians.
ii.The government’s emphasis on deficit reduction aims to stabilize the debt ratio over the medium term.
Growth Outlook:
i.Fitch Ratings anticipates continued emphasis on capital expenditure (capex) to support India’s growth
outlook in FY25.
ii.Real GDP growth of 6.5% is expected in FY25, reflecting the positive impact of sustained capex
investments.
iii.The government plans to spend Rs 11.11 lakh crore on capex in FY25, marking a 16.9% increase
compared to FY24’s revised estimates.

Long-Term Debt Projections:
i.Fitch Ratings projects India’s government debt-to-GDP ratio to be stable, slightly above 80% for the next
5 years.
ii.The stability is attributed to gradual deficit reduction oath and robust nominal growth, estimated at
around 10.5% of GDP.
Fitch Ratings’ Perspective:
i.The presented budget aligns with Fitch Ratings’ expectations, with a slightly accelerated deficit reduction
pace maintaining the ‘BBB-‘ rating with a Stable Outlook in January 2024.
ii.BBB ratings (Good credit quality) classified as investment grade, indicate that expectations of default
risk are currently low.
• The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse
business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
Ind-Ra projects India’s GDP to Grow at 6.9% in FY24 and 6.5% in FY25
India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) Private Limited, has increased India’s Gross domestic product (GDP)
growth forecast for Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24) to 6.9% from 6.7% projected in January 2024.
• Ind-Ra has lowered India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.5%.
Note: The build-up in the economy due to prevailing weather conditions in the North would push
agriculture and consumption demand.
Key Points:
Inflation:
i.The average retail inflation is expected to be 5.5% in FY24 and 4.8% in FY25
ii.The average wholesale inflation is projected to be at -0.6% in FY24 and 2.2% in FY25.
Real & Nominal GDP:
i.The real GDP is expected to be at 7.3% in FY24 and at 6.5% in FY25.
ii.The nominal GDP is expected to be at 8.9% in FY24 and at 10.5 in FY25.
Deficits:
i.The Current Account Deficit(CAD) is projected to remain contained at USD 54.2 billion – 1.4% of GDP in
FY25.
ii.The fiscal deficit will be at 5.8% of GDP in FY24 and 5.1% of GDP in FY25.
Others:
i.The GDP growth rate of the third quarter (Q3) of FY24 (October to December 2023) is projected to be
6.5%.
ii.The consumer durables segment of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew at 1.0%
during 9MFY24(first 9 months of FY24 – April to December 2023).
• The capital and infrastructure/ construction goods grew at 7.0% and 10.4% respectively.
Morgan Stanley projects India’s GDP to Grow at 6.9% in FY24 and 6.5% in FY25
Morgan Stanley in its research report titled ‘India Economics – Macro Indicators Chartbook: Strength
in Growth, Stability in Macro-Fundamentals’ projected that India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to
grow at 6.9% in Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24) and it will be slowed down to 6.5% in FY25.
Key Points:
Growth Rate:
i.The GDP growth rate of the third quarter (Q3) of FY24 (October to December 2023) is projected to be
6.5%.
ii.The GDP growth rate of the first half (H1) of FY24 (April to September 2023) was at 7.7%.

Inflation:
i.The report also projected the headline inflation to be in the range of 5.0-5.2% in the first quarter (Q1) of
FY24 (April to June 2023).
ii.For FY24 & FY25, the average headline inflation will be at 5.4% and 4.5% respectively.
iii.The core inflation slowed down to 3.6% in January 2024.
CPI & WPI:
i.Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped to a 3-month low of 5.1% in January 2024 from 5.7% in December
2023.
ii.Wholesale Price Index (WPI) moderated to 0.3% Year-Over-Year (YoY) in January 2024 from 0.7% in
December 2023.
Demand Front:
i.Domestic demand is increasing on a Year-Over-Year (YOY) basis & reached a 3-month high in January
2024.
ii.As far as external demand is concerned, the exports grew 3.1% in January 2024 which is 1% higher than
that of December 2023.
Others:
i.Current Account Deficit (CAD) will be at 1.2% of GDP in FY24 and 1.3% of GDP in FY25.
ii.The report also anticipates that there will be a shallow rate cut cycle of 50 basis points from June 2024
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on monetary policy.
iii.Goods and Services Tax (GST) rose to its 2nd-highest to Rs 1.7 lakh crore (10% YoY growth),
Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) improved to 56.9
IMF Upgrades India GDP Growth Forecast to 6.5% for 2024

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its ‘January 2024 World Economic Outlook update-
Moderating Inflation and Steady Growth Open Path to Soft Landing‘ stating India’s expected Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) to grow by 6.7% in 2023, stating a 40 basis point increase from the 6.3% forecast
made in October 2023.
• This upward forecast is amid better-than-expected resilience in its domestic demand.
• For 2024 & 2025, India’s GDP growth is seen steady at 6.5%.
Global Scenario:
i.The IMF forecasted global growth of 3.1% in 2023 and 2024, and it also changes the global growth
to 3.2% in 2025.
• The historical average for the 2000-2019 period was 3.8%.
ii.It forecasted global trade growth of 3.3% in 2024 and 3.6% in 2025, well below the historical average of
4.9%.
• This is amid some 3,000 trade restrictions that were imposed in 2023.
iii.The Global headline inflation is expected to from an estimated 6.8%in 2023 (annual average) to 5.8% in
2024 and 4.4% in 2025.
iv.Average oil prices will drop 2.3% in 2024.
v.Growth in Asia region is expected to decline from an estimated 5.4% in 2023 to 5.2% in 2024 and it will
be 4.8% in 2025.
S&P Global Ratings Report: India’s Credit Growth to Moderate to 14% in FY25
According to a report from S&P Global Ratings, India’s credit growth is expected to moderate to 14% in
Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) (April-March), down from the existing 16% growth in the first three-
quarters of FY24 due to tight funding conditions that plays a pivotal role in limiting loan expansion for
many banks.

• Indian banking system liquidity has experienced a persistent deficit, exceeding 1 trillion rupees
since mid-December because of subdued government expenditure and high tax outflow.
Note: S&P Global Ratings is an American credit rating agency, and division of S&P Global, that publishes
financial research, benchmarking, and analysis on stocks, bonds, and commodities.
Credit Growth Dynamics and Margin Projections:
i.The first 3 quarters of the current financial year witnessed a 16% Year-Over-Year (YOY) increase.
ii.Bank’s margins are anticipated to contract due to heightened competition for deposits, and policy rate
cuts pose an additional threat to margins.
iii.S&P envisions system-wide margins declining to 2.9% in 2024-25 from the current 3%.
Risks for Private Banks:
i.S&P warns of deeper margin impact if lenders sustain high credit growth.
ii.Private banks, with a loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) potentially crossing 97%, are more exposed.
Offshore Borrowing Trends:
i.Rising local borrowing costs prompt banks like HDFC and State Bank of India (SBI) to explore offshore
options.
ii.Higher borrowing costs could further reduce margins to 2.8% in 2024-25.
Deposit Growth Challenges:
i.Indian banks face challenges in deposit growth, with the LDR reaching a two-decade high of 80% in
December 2023.
ii.The credit growth is 1.5 times of nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while deposits are rising in line
with the nominal GDP.
iii.Regulatory requirements in India are more stringent, limiting funds available for loan growth compared
to other South and Southeast Asian banks.
Private Banks’ Unique Challenges:
i.Private banks, facing a high LDR of 93%, expects further increase.
ii.Rapid credit growth of 18% YoY in the first half of the fiscal year presents challenges.
iii.HDFC Bank, undergoing a merger with Housing Development Finance Corp Ltd in July 2023, faces
additional pressure with a prolonged recovery period predicted by S&P.
• S&P suggests several years might be needed for a return to pre-merger levels.
CBT hiked EPF Interest Rate to a Three-Year High of 8.25% for FY24
The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has hiked the
interest rate on Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) deposits to a three-year high of 8.25% from 8.15% for the
financial year 2023-24 (FY24).
The decision was taken in the 235th CBT meeting chaired by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry
of Labour and Employment (MoLE).
CBT is the apex decision-making body of the EPFO functioning under MoLE.
Key Points:
i.The interest rate hike is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
ii.About 29 crore total subscribers will be benefitted from this decision.
iii.CBT will be distributing about Rs 1,07,000 crore as interest on a total principal amount of about Rs 13 lakh
crore in FY24.
iv.Comparing previous financial years, the income has grown by more than 17.39%, while the principal
amount has increased by 17.97%.
Previous Interest Rate:
i.In FY22, the interest rate was reduced to 8.1% from 8.5%. The rate increased marginally to 8.15% for FY23.
ii.The 8.5% interest rate on EPF deposits for 2020-21 was decided by CBT in March 2021.

What is EPF?
i.EPF is a retirement savings scheme in India mandated by the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous
Provisions Act, 1952.
ii.Both employer and employee contribute 12% of the employee’s basic salary towards the EPF.
iii.Employees’ full contribution is deposited to the EPF account, whereas only 3.67% of the employer share is
deposited to the EPF account and the remaining 8.33% is forwarded to the Employees’ Pension Scheme.
About Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO):
Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC) – Neelam Shami Rao
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS

India & Russia Signed Agreement to Strengthen Bilateral Nuclear Cooperation
India and Russia signed a protocol to amend the 2008 intergovernmental agreement focusing on cooperation
in constructing additional nuclear reactors at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) site and new
Russia-designed nuclear power plants at new sites in India.
• The KKNPP in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu(TN) is a joint initiative of India and Russia. This is a flagship
project of bilateral technological and energy cooperation.
Signatories: Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation (Russia),
and Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of India and Secretary of the
Department for Atomic Energy (DAE) of the Government of India, signed the agreement during their visit to
KKNPP site in TN.
Negotiation:
On February 7-8, 2024, the Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov took part in the negotiations between Dr
Alexey Likhachev, and Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty.
• Bhuvan Chandra Pathak, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Nuclear Power Corporation of
India, was also present.
Points to note:
i.The negotiations resulted in the signing of a significant document under the joint Russian-Indian project,
namely, A protocol to the intergovernmental agreement on the construction of power units for the 2nd and 3rd
stages of the KKNPP in 2008.
ii.During the visit, the Russian delegation involved an assessment of power units in the 2nd and 3rd stages,
including reactors 3–6.
iii.The delegation also addressed ongoing construction tasks for Units 3-6, emphasizing long-term cooperation,
including potential collaboration within Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS).
iv.Apart from construction of nuclear power plant, the Rosatom State Corporation organises the delivery of
reliable nuclear fuel for water-water energetic reactor (VVER)-1000 to India. This will enhance the operating
efficiency through the utilisation of extended fuel cycles.
Note: The Russian nuclear energy agency has successfully built two 1,000 megawatts (MW) VVER at the KKNPP
site, with plans for 4 more of similar capacity.
• VVER is a thermal neutron reactor with pressurized water used both as a coolant and moderator.
Kudankulam Plant Development:
i.India’s only nuclear power plant established with another country (Russian technical support) is the KKNPP
in Tamil Nadu.
ii.The bilateral cooperation is guided by the new roadmap for Science, Technology, and Innovation signed
during the 21st India – Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi (Delhi) in December 2021.

GAIL Signed LNG Purchase Agreement with ADNOC
GAIL (India) Limited has finalized a long-term Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) purchase agreement with Abu
Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a state-owned oil company of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Under this agreement, GAIL will purchase approximately 0.5 million metric tonnes per year of
LNG from ADNOC GAS. The agreement is effective from 2026 for a period of 10 years.
• This is in contribute towards India’s effort to enhance the share of natural gas in energy sector
to 15%.
The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding(MoU) signed between GAIL and ADNOC on 30
October 2022 to explore collaboration opportunities.
Note: GAIL (India) Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises(CPSE) under the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG).
NHAI & GSI Collaborated to Develop a Robust National Highways Network

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to enhance the quality of the National Highways (NH) network.
• As per the MoU, GSI will provide site-specific geotechnical consultancy services related to the
preparation of geological maps and assist in analysing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) from a
geotechnical perspective.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Santosh Kumar Yadav, NHAI Chairman and Saibal
Ghosh, Deputy Director General of GSI.
NGEL Partners with Maharashtra Govt. to develop Green Hydrogen

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, and the Government of
Maharashtra have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of Green
Hydrogen and its derivatives projects, including Green Ammonia & Green Methanol.
i.The projects with a capacity of up to 1 million tons per annum will be developed at an investment of
around Rs 80000 crores.
ii.The MoU also includes Pumped Storage Projects of 2 GigaWatt (GW) and the development of renewable
energy projects with or without storage of up to 5 GW in Maharashtra.
Signatories: The MoU was signed by Mohit Bhargava, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NGEL in the
presence of Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra.
Note: This is a part of the Government of Maharashtra’s Green Investment Plan for next 5 years.
GRSE & Rolls-Royce Signed Frame and Individual License Pact to Produce MTU Series 4000 Marine
Engines
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and Rolls-Royce Plc signed a Frame and
Individual License agreement for the license production and localisation of the Motoren- und Turbinen-
Union (MTU) International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Tier II compliant Series 4000 marine engines to
power government ships.
• As part of the agreement, the IMO Tier II engines, which conform to stipulated emission
standards set by the United Nations (UN) IMO will be manufactured at the Diesel Engine Plant of
GRSE in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Note: GRSE is a Kolkata (West Bengal)-based Warship building company and Rolls-Royce is a British
luxury automobile maker.
License Agreements Scope and Individual Rights:
The License Agreement scope and Individual license rights for the requirements of the end customer
covers:

i.Assembly of Licensee-built Products, manufacturing, or procurement of Licensee-built Parts and/or
Components, engine testing and finishing (including painting).
ii.Manufacturing or procurement of Licensee-built Parts and/or Components to produce Licensee-built
Products in the Territory.
iii.Sale and After-Sales-Services of Licensee-built Products within India for the Application.
Features of MTU Series 4000 engines:
i.Rolls-Royce’s business unit Power Systems’ MTU Series 4000 engines have a power output of 746-4,300
kilowatt (kW) and boast high power density and power-to-weight ratio.
ii.It stands out with its compact design as well as its mechanical and thermal stability and is easy to use
and maintain, with low lifecycle costs.
iii.It gives every naval vessel (from small patrol vessels to frigates and large submarines), the right
propulsion.
Rolls-Royce Entered 7-year Deal with Azad Engineering for Complex Military Aero-Engine
Components
Rolls-Royce Plc has entered into a 7-year agreement with Azad Engineering in Hyderabad (Telangana)
to produce and supply complex components intended for their defence/military aircraft engines. The
components will be manufactured at Azad’s facilities in Hyderabad.
• With this, Azad Engineering is set to become part of the global supply chain for complex
category components designated for Rolls-Royce’s advanced aero engines.
Note: Azad Engineering is a Former Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar-backed company, that operates in
the aerospace and defence, energy, and oil and gas industries.
About the Collaboration:
i.The agreement is focused on the production of highly intricate rotating components tailored for various
platforms within Rolls-Royce’s defence and military engines.
ii.This strategic collaboration is in line with Rolls-Royce’s commitment to establishing a robust presence in
India, furthering the vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
Wistron & Karnataka Govt Signed MoU to Establish Laptop Manufacturing Unit Near Bengaluru
The Karnataka government and Taiwan-based Wistron Corporation signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to set up a 1st-of-its-kind laptop manufacturing plant near Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Under the MoU, Wistron will invest Rs 1500 crore to set up the plant. This unit is expected to
create around 3000 employment opportunities.
• This unit is in line with Industry 4.0 standards with a fully automated facility that would make
laptops for all brands.
• Over 50% of laptops manufactured from the unit will be exported and the plant will also
produce Internet of Things (IoT) components and Electric Vehicle (EV) related parts.
• The work on the plant is set to begin in July 2024 and will start manufacturing laptops by
January 2026.
Note: Wistron Corporation is a technology service provider supplying innovative Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) products, service solutions, and systems to top branded companies
worldwide.
NRLPS Signs MoU with BRAC International for Economic Inclusion & Social Protection of Poor
National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (NRLPS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Rural
Development (MoRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BRAC International, for the
inclusion of the poorest of the poor under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods
Mission (DAY-NRLM).

Note: DAY-NRLM is a flagship poverty alleviation program under MoRD.
Signatories:
The MoU was formalised by Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
NRLPS; and Ms. Shweta S Banerjee, Country lead for India, BRAC International.
Strategic Partnership for Inclusive Mobilisation:
i.DAY-NRLM dedicated to universal and inclusive mobilization, has already mobilised 100 million rural
poor households.
ii.Now, the focus is on uplifting ‘lakhpati didis’ through Samaveshi Aajeevika, an inclusive livelihood
program.
iii.It also aims to ensure the inclusion of the most marginalised in the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement.
Samaveshi Aajeevika Program:
i.It aims to build self-confidence, social inclusion, and prosperity through inclusive livelihoods at the last
mile.
ii.The program will introduce holistic productive inclusion strategies to improve the lives
of excluded populations.
iii.It will adapt the globally tested and proven “Graduation approach” to the DAY-NRLM program to reach
households facing difficulties benefiting from the SHG net.
Points to Note:
• BRAC International is a Global South-led nonprofit organisation with a mission to empower
people and communities in situations of poverty, illiteracy, disease, and social injustice.
• It was originally founded in 1972 as the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee, later
it was known as the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee.
About Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD):
Union Minister– Giriraj Singh (Constituency: Begusarai, Bihar)
Ministers of State– Faggan Singh Kulaste (Constituency: Mandla, Madhya Pradesh); Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti
(Constituency: Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh)
ESAF SFB & Edelweiss Tokio Life partners to offer Life Insurance Products
Thrissur (Kerala) based ESAF Small Finance Bank(SFB) announced a bancassurance partnership with
Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Company Limited to offer life insurance products to a wider range of
customers, particularly those in underserved communities.
• By leveraging ESAF’s strong presence in rural areas, the partnership aims to make life insurance
more accessible to people who might not have considered it before.
Note- Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance is a joint venture(JV) between Edelweiss Financial Service Limited
and Tokio Marine Holdings Inc. of Japan.
IIT Madras partners with MIL for India’s 1st 155mm Smart Ammunition
On February 5, 2024, The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) in Tamil Nadu (TN) has joined
hands with Munitions India Limited (MIL) to develop India’s first 155mm smart ammunition, on the lines of
indigenization in the defense sector.
Aim:
i.To increase the accuracy of the 155mm (millimeters) shell within a circular error probable (CEP) of 10
meters, which at present, is 500m.
ii.Another goal is to increase the lethality at the impact point when the ammunition hits the target.
Key Characteristics and Components of Smart Ammunition:
i.The smart ammunition will be guided by the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) satellites, formerly
known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). Without depending on foreign satellite

systems.
ii.The ammunition will be launched from 39 and 45 caliber 155mm artillery guns without changing the gun
system.
iii.It will be a fin-stabilised, canard-controlled, and guided shell with a maximum range of 38km and a
minimum range of 8km.
iv.Other features include three-mode fuse operation, point detonation, height of burst, and delayed detonation.
About Munitions India Limited (MIL):
Chairman and Managing Director– Ravi Kant
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Defence
Headquarters– Pune, Maharashtra
KUFOS & ISRO Partners for NISAR Phase II Research Programme

The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) has partnered with the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) for the second phase of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-ISRO
Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) research programme.
• KUFOS stands as one of the key agencies in South India selected to lead the implementation of the
second phase.
• The first phase of NISAR validated the ground truth data in the forest biomass of Shimoga(Karnataka),
Hoshangabad (Madhya Pradesh), and Nilambur regions (Kerala).
• The second phase will concentrate on optimizing drone-mounted optical and Light Detection and
Ranging (LIDAR) data for forest biomass stock estimation.
About NISAR:
i.NISAR is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory jointly developed by NASA and ISRO.
ii.NISAR aims to revolutionize Earth observation through a space-borne radar system.
iii.It is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2024.
C-DOT and IIT Roorkee Collaborate to Develop Module for 6G and Beyond
New Delhi (Delhi) Headquartered Centre For Development Of Telematics (C-DOT) and Indian Institute of
Technology, Roorkee (Uttarakhand), have signed an agreement to develop a 140 GigaHertz (GHz) Fully
Integrated Transmitter & Receiver Module for 6th Generation (6G) Cellular technology and Beyond.
• The agreement also aims to generate, antenna integrate and transmit TeraHertz (THz) waves onto a
single chip which supports data rates of up to several gigabits per second.
• The agreement was signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications (MoC).
Note: C-DOT is an autonomous Research & Development (R&D) centre of DoT.
MoD inks Rs 2,282.06cr contract with BEL to procure 11 Shakti EWS for IN; Signs Rs 1,752.13 Cr with
AWEIL for 463 SRCG for IN & ICG
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to procure 11
Shakti Electronic Warfare Systems (EWS) along with associated equipment / accessories for the Indian Navy
(IN) at a cost of Rs 2,167.47 crore.
• The contract was signed under the Buy Indian – Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured
(Indian-IDDM) category.
• The EWS will be designed and developed by Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL)
Hyderabad, Telangana, is a laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It also received additional orders worth Rs.114.59 crore to develop Very low frequency receivers (HD
VLF), etc.

Note: MoD signed contracts worth Rs 2,282.06 crore to procure 11 EWS (Rs 2,167.47 crore) and additional
orders (Rs.114.59 crore)
About Shakti EW system:
i.Shakti EW system will be installed on IN’s capital warships for interception, detection, classification,
identification, and jamming of radars.
• It enhances maritime defence against radars, electronic attacks and anti-ship missiles by replacing
older generation EW systems in IN.
ii.It integrates wideband Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) for the
defence of Indian Navy Ships against missile attacks.
• This means it accurately intercepts emissions and deploys countermeasures in dense electromagnetic
environments.
iii.It features radar fingerprinting and data recording replay for post-mission analysis.
MoD signs contract worth Rs 1,752.13 Cr with AWEIL for 463 SRCG for IN & ICG
On the lines of Aatmanirbharta in Defence, MoD also signs Rs 1752.13 crores contract with the Advanced
Weapons and Equipment India Limited(AWEIL), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP) for the manufacturing and supply
of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Guns (SRCG) for the Indian Navy and
Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• It aims to enhance the capabilities of IN and ICG to engage small targets effectively, especially in
asymmetric environments, day or night.
Key Points:
i.SRCG bolster maritime security by targeting small threats, enhancing operational safety.
ii.Its advanced features like stabilization and remote control ensure precise targeting.
iii.The contract boasts Indigenous Content (IC) of over 85%, promoting indigenous defence manufacturing.
iv.It is expected to create opportunities for 125+ Indian vendors and Defence Public Sector Undertakings
(DPSUs) in next 5 years.
v.Notably, Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu (TN) had already launched a SRCG which comes
with a 12.7mm M2 machine gun.
i.The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting on 15th September 2023, under the chairmanship of
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals
of various weapons systems and platforms amounting to Rs 45,000 crore.These
ii.MoD has signed a contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)(Kochi, Kerala) for mid-life upgrade and re-
powering of the advanced guided missile frigate Indian Naval Ship (INS) Beas (F37) at a cost of Rs 313.42 crore.
About Ministry of Defence:
Union Defence Minister– Rajnath Singh (Constituency – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Ajay Bhatt (Constituency- Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand)
Mahindra Defence & Embraer Defense Collaborated for IAF’s MTA Project
Mahindra Defence Systems Limited and Brazil-based Embraer Defense & Security have signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) for the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) procurement project of the Indian Air
Force (IAF) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• As per the MoU, both firms will be jointly developing C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft which
will be procured by IAF.
• The C-390 Millennium is the most advanced military airlifter in the market which can carry a payload of
about 26 tonnes
• It flies at a speed of about 870 km/h (470 knots).
• C-390 Millennium finds its application in areas such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops,
medical evacuation, search and rescue, aerial firefighting, and humanitarian missions.

• In August 2023, Embraer held a C-390 Millennium Day in New Delhi, India to deepen engagement
with the local aerospace industry.
Note: Mahindra Defence Systems Limited is completely owned by Mahindra & Mahindra Limited.
India & Colombia signed MoU on Sharing India’s Open-Sourced DPIs

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India and Ministry of
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) of Colombia signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on sharing India’s open-sourced Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) – India Stack
Solutions – implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation.
• The MoU was signed by S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY and Mauricio Lizcano, Minister of ICT of
Colombia in the presence of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State (MoS), MeitY.
• The MoU intends to promote digital transformation(India Stack) through capacity building
programs, the exchange of best practices, the exchange of public officials and experts, the
development of pilot or demo solutions, and the facilitation of private sector contacts to
mutually benefit the digital ecosystems of both countries.
Note: India Stack is a set of digital infrastructure components that enable the delivery of various digital
services to Indian citizens by utilizing Aadhaar, eSign, Digilocker, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
CIAL & BPCL signed MoU to set up World’s 1st Green Hydrogen Plant Within an Airport
Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to set up the world’s first green hydrogen plant and fueling
station within an airport setting.
• Under this MoU, a 1000 kilowatt (KW) pilot project will be established at the airport premises
of Cochin International Airport, Ernakulam, Kerala.
Key People:
i.The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala & Chairman
of CIAL at the Legislative Complex in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
ii.G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of BPCL and S. Suhas, MD of CIAL were also
present during the event.
Key Points:
i.As per the MoU, CIAL will provide land, water, and green energy resources for the construction of the
green hydrogen plant.
ii.BPCL will provide technology for the establishment of plant and fueling stations and manages the overall
operations.
iii.The initial output of the plant will be utilized for powering vehicles within the airport premises.
iv.The plant is expected to be completed in 2025.
What is Green Hydrogen?
i.Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources through a process known
as electrolysis.
ii.Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2).
Additional Info:
In 2015, CIAL became the world’s first airport which is fully powered by solar energy.
About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL):
i.BPCL is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) functioning under the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
ii.In 1952, incorporated as a private limited company with the name Burmah Shell Refineries Limited and
renamed as BPCL in 1977.

Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) – G Krishnakumar
MoHUA & UNDP Collaborates to Organise National Workshop on Urban Livelihoods

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs (MoHUA), collaborated with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to organise
a 2-day national workshop on urban livelihoods from 15th to 16th February 2024 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• The workshop aimed to explore emerging trends and opportunities in urban livelihoods, with a
special emphasis on strengthening resilience, and empowering women across urban India.
About the National Workshop:
i.The workshop offered a platform for states to exchange best practices among states for women-led urban
livelihoods and facilitate peer learning for successful model replication.
ii.The workshop focused on “Enhanced Resilience – Empowered Women”.
Participants:
The workshop witnessed the participation of over 150 delegates from across India. This includes State
Mission Directors of the State Urban Livelihoods Mission and officials from MoHUA.
Key Highlights:
i.The event featured multiple panel discussions focused on enabling strategies for women-led urban
livelihoods, and emerging sectors in climate, services, retail, and manufacturing.
ii.It also explored the Multidimensional Poverty Index (NMPI), and the role of philanthropies in urban
poverty through innovative financial investments.
iii.Rahul Kapoor, Joint Secretary, MoHUA, introduced the concept of urban care models, emphasising the
significance of care infrastructure and services for the urban poor.
SDG 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities:
i.During the event, Isabelle Tschan, Resident Representative of UNDP India highlighted the importance of
achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: “Sustainable Cities and Communities.”
• SDG 11 specifically addresses the unique challenges faced by cities and promotes inclusive, safe,
resilient, and sustainable urban development.
ii.National and State Urban Livelihood Missions play a critical role in advancing SDG 11, to ensure access
to basic services, affordable housing, and improved living conditions for all urban residents, especially the
marginalised and women.
iii.UNDP looks forward to collaborating with DAY-NULM to address urban poverty through livelihood
promotion strategies and customised solutions for communities.
DAY-NULM:
It was initiated by the MoHUA on 24th September 2013, to reduce poverty and vulnerability among urban
poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment
opportunities.
About UNDP India:
UNDP has been working in India since 1951, collaborating with the Government of India and other
partners in multifaceted human development areas.
Resident Representative(India)– Isabelle Tschan Harada (Switzerland)
Headquaters– New Delhi, Delhi
India & Taiwan signed MoU for the Employment of Indian Workers in Taiwan
The Government of India and the Government of Taiwan signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on the Facilitation of Employment of Indian Workers in Taiwan. The MoU aims to
strengthen the bilateral labour cooperation relations between India and Taiwan.

Signatories: Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav, Director General of the India-Taipei Association (ITA) and
Baushuan Ger, the head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India signed the MoU at a virtual
ceremony.
i.The MoU paves the way for skilled Indian workers to find employment opportunities in Taiwan.
ii.India will become a new source country for migrant workers in Taiwan. Taiwan’s current source
countries for migrant workers are Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Dept of Fisheries & ONDC Join Hands to Promote Digital Marketing of Fishes
Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAHD) signed
an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to promote
digital marketing of fishes and other aquatic produce.
• The MoU aims to help traditional fishermen, fish farmers producer organisations, entrepreneurs
from fisheries sector to buy and sell their products through the e-market place.
• The MoU was signed in presence of Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, MoFAHD and Minister of
State (MoS) L. Murugan, MoFAHD in New Delhi, Delhi.
Mahindra Finance partners with IBM to build a 24×7 Super App

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited (Mahindra Finance) in collaboration
with IBM Consulting (formerly IBM Global Business Services) aims to build a 24×7 super mobile
application (app) which acts as a single digital interface for consumers to access multiple businesses
within Mahindra Finance.
• The app offers customers with various financial products and services under one roof.
• Super apps have the potential to bring a paradigm shift in the financial services industry.
Microsoft, iCreate & MeitY Jointly Launch iMPEL-AI Programme

Microsoft and the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate) have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) facilitated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY) to launch iMPEL-AI (iCreate-Microsoft Programme for Emerging Leaders in Artificial Intelligence (AI))
programme to empower Indian AI startups.
Key People:
The MoU was exchanged between Microsoft and iCreate in the presence of Union Minister of State(MoS) Rajeev
Chandrasekhar,MeitY, Jean-Philippe Courtois, Executive Vice President(EVP) and President, National
Transformation Partnerships, Microsoft, and Avinash Punekar, chief executive officer (CEO) of iCreate.
About iMPEL-AI:
i.The programme is set to be implemented in two stages, and it will encourage AI innovation and product
development among Indian startups by providing access to mentorship and technology infrastructure.
ii.First Stage:The iMPEL-AI programme will screen 1100 AI innovators across India to become AI Most Valuable
Players (MVPs).
• The AI innovations will focus on priority themes of Healthcare, Financial Inclusion, Sustainability,
Education, Agriculture, and Smart Cities.
iii.Second stage:It will select and scale 100 startups across India to build with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI which
offers coding and language AI models.
iv.The top 25 will receive go-to- market support from Microsoft’s Global Network to develop advanced, globally
competitive products.
Skilling in AI:
i.Microsoft and iCreate will also provide AI skilling opportunities to 11,000 innovators, startups, and young
Indians from across the country through Microsoft’s Learning Management System.
ii.Participants will receive globally recognised Microsoft certifications, increasing their employability and

career advancement.
About iCreate:
iCreate is India’s only non-academic institution dedicated to fostering startups based on tech innovation into
successful businesses.
It is supported by the Government of Gujarat and Government of India to facilitate ‘Next Generation
Entrepreneurship’.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Avinash Punekar
Founded – 2012
Headquarters– Ahmedabad, Gujarat
NGEL Signs Agreement with APIIC to Develop Integrated Green Hydrogen Hub in AP
NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Ltd signed a land lease agreement
with Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to develop an “Integrated Green
Hydrogen Hub” on 1,200 acres of land near Pudimadaka village (Atchutapuram Mandal) in Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• The signing ceremony was held in the AP Secretariat, Amaravati, AP.
Note: NTPC Ltd (Formerly National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd) is a Maharatna Central Public Sector
Enterprises (CPSEs) owned by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
Objective:
The Pudimadaka green hydrogen hub aims to create a cutting-edge ecosystem for technologies in the new
energy model.
• Encompassing electrolyser and fuel cell manufacturing, related ancillary industries, incubation,
testing facilities, and production and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives (green ammonia,
green methanol, etc).
Production Facility:
i.The project includes the construction of India’s largest green hydrogen production facility, capable of
producing 1,200 tons per day.
ii.The hub will also enable conversion of green hydrogen to derivatives such as green ammonia and green
methanol, primarily targeting export markets.
National Green Hydrogen Mission:
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is actively implementing the National Green Hydrogen
Mission with the aim to position India as a global hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen
and its derivatives.
NTPC’s Green Energy Initiatives:
i.NTPC is India’s largest integrated power utility, with a total installed capacity of 74 gigawatts (GW), providing
a quarter of India’s total electricity.
ii.By 2032, it aims to increase its non-fossil fuel capacity to 45-50% including 60 GW of renewable energy with
a total portfolio of 130 GW.
About NTPC Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director– Gurdeep Singh
Uber Partners with ONDC to Expand Mobility Offerings in the Uber Mobile App
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Uber India Systems Private Limited (Uber) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to explore an integration with the
network to expand the range of mobility offerings on the Uber mobile application.
• The MoU aims to provide safe, affordable and reliable rides to all Indians.

• The MoU was signed in an event held in Bengaluru (Karnataka), which was attended by Dara
Khosrowshahi, Global Chief executive officer (CEO) of Uber and Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of
Infosys Technologies Private Limited.
Note:
i.ONDC is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of
Commerce & Industry (MoCI)
ii.Uber India Systems Private Limited is a subsidiary of California, the United States of America (USA)
based Uber Technologies, Inc.
Power Finance Corporation Partnered with Italy’s SACE to Secure ECA-backed Financing
Facility
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has entered into a partnership with Servizi Assicurativi del Commercio
Estero (SACE), Italy’s Export Credit Agency (ECA), to secure an innovative ECA-backed financing facility.
• It marks PFC as the first government-owned Indian entity to engage with SACE under its “Push
Strategy” initiative.
• Under the partnership, PFC will benefit from an 80% guarantee by SACE on financing up to 200
million euros. HSBC will serve as the coordinating bank, lead arranger, and facility agent.
• This finance facility will help Indian firms in the power and infrastructure sectors access
cutting-edge Italian technology and strengthen collaborations with Italian firms.
Note:
Export credit agencies offer loans, loan guarantees, and insurance to help domestic companies limit the
risk of selling goods and services in overseas markets.
BSTF and SIDBI signed an MoU to enhance the Startup Ecosystem in Bihar
Bihar Startup Fund Trust (BSFT), the Department of Industries, the Government of Bihar, and the Small
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
administer the Rs. 50 crore Bihar Startup Scale-up Financing Fund (BSSFF) to transform Bihar into a
startup hub.
• The collaboration will provide a conducive environment for startups to contribute to economic
growth and by focussing on innovation, the BSSFF addresses the challenges faced by the
economy and society.
Signatories:
The agreement was formally signed by Pankaj Dixit, Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Director
Industries at the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar; and Arijit Dutt, General Manager
representing SIDBI.
Fund Structure:
The BSSFF operates as a Fund of Funds, a unique model managed by SIDBI, where the fund doesn’t directly
invest in startups. Instead, it invests in other venture capital funds, and these funds, in turn, make direct
investments in startups.
Bihar Start-Up Fund Trust (BSFT):
i.BSFT serves as a nodal Agency, constituted by the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, to
implement Bihar’s Start-Up Policy of the Government of Bihar.
ii.This policy is designed to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, fostering an ecosystem
conducive to startup growth in the state.
Impressive Corpus:
i.Under Bihar’s start-up policy, the Government of Bihar established BSFT, with an initial corpus of Rs. 500
crores, to provide robust support for startups.

ii.Out of this fund, BSSFF has been set up with an initial Rs. 50 crores for scaling up funding support to
startups.
UGC Granted Category 1 University Status to CUSB, 1st time for a University in Bihar
The University Grants Commission (UGC) granted Category-I University status to the Central University
of South Bihar (CUSB), the 1st time for a university in Bihar.
• The UGC examined CUSB at its 577th meeting on February 13, 2024, and officially approved
Category-I University status.
• This recognition aligns with the UGC (Categorisation of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded
Autonomy) Regulations, 2018.
Objective:
The categorisation of universities aims to recognise and reward high-quality institutions, fostering a
culture of excellence.
• Greater autonomy empowers universities to generate resources independently.
Benefits of Category-1 Status:
i.Section 12B Inclusion: CUSB is automatically deemed under Section 12B of the UGC Act, 1956, without
the need for inspections.
ii.Research Grants Eligibility: The university is now eligible for research grants, fostering a conducive
environment for academic research.
iii.Autonomy for New Initiatives: CUSB can introduce new courses, programs, schools, or centers
without seeking additional approvals.
iv.Global Collaborations: CUSB will be eligible for benefits as stipulated under clause 4 of the regulations
such as establishing off-campus centers; skill courses, etc.
Ministry of AYUSH & MoWCD Signed MoU for Nutritional Improvement in Adolescent Girls
through Ayurveda Interventions
On February 26, 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry
of Ayush and Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) for the nutritional improvement in
adolescent girls through Ayurveda Interventions.
Key People:
i.The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ayush and Union
Minister Smriti Irani, MoWCD during the event held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.Prof. Ravi Narayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS; Dr Rajeev Bahl, DG ICMR; among others were
present during the event.
Note: Ayush is an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy
About MoU:
Implementation:
i.This Joint Public Health Initiative aims to combat anaemia among adolescent girls (14-18 years) in five
districts under Mission Utkarsh, using Ayurveda interventions.
ii.The 5 districts are Assam–Dhubri, Chhattisgarh- Bastar, Jharkhand – Paschimi Singhbhum,
Maharashtra – Gadchiroli, and Rajasthan – Dholpur.
• Notably, anaemia prevalence is around 69.5% in these districts.
iii.Coordianting agency: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).
iv.The project will be executed by Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Guwahati, Assam; All India
Institute for Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi; CARI, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha; Regional Ayurveda Research
Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra; and National Institute Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• The Public Health Foundation of India’s IIPH (Indian Institute of Public Health), Delhi, will
assess project outcomes.

v.The project is jointly funded by Ministry of AYUSH and MoWCD.
Note: Mission Utkarsh was launched in 2022 with an aim to achieve the national average of the Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the aspirational districts.
Benefits:
i.This will benefit over 94,000 adolescent girls registered at 10,000 Anganwadi Centres over 12 months.
ii.Ayurvedic medicines (Drakshavaleha and Punarnavadi mandoor) will be provided for 3 months to
improve nutrition and health of anaemic girls.
Additional info:
WCD will also take up a joint venture with Ministry of Ayush and Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR), for effective interventions like Yoga in Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) among adolescent girls.
About Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR):
ICMR is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
Government of India established the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) in 1911 which was
redesignated as the ICMR in 1949.
Director General– Dr Rajiv Bahl
ECI signed MoU with IBA & DoP for Electoral Awareness ahead of Lok Sabha Polls
On February 26, 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of
Communications to boost voter outreach before the upcoming Lok Sabha (LS) polls.
This initiative extends ECI’s ongoing efforts to enhance electoral awareness nationwide.
Key People:
The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and Election
Commissioner (EC) Arun Goel; Vineet Pandey Secretary, DoP; Sunil Mehta, Chief Executive, IBA, among
others.
What is in the MoU?
i.Under this MoU, the members and affiliated institutions of IBA and DoP will support the promotion of
voter education and employ various interventions to empower citizens with knowledge about their
electoral rights.
ii.Voter education messages will be displayed on websites and through various channels like social media.
iii.Posters, flex, and hoardings with Voter education messages will be displayed at office premises.
iv.Voter Awareness Fora will be established at all member institutions under IBA and DoP to engage
employees and customers in discussions related to voter education.
v.Training on Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), flagship program of
the Election Commission of India (ECI) for voter education, will be integrated into regular orientation
programs of employees of IBA & DoP.
vi.DoP will use special cancellation stamp (bearing voter education messages) on the postal articles.
About Indian Banks’ Association (IBA):
IBA, established on 26th September 1946, is an association of Indian banks and financial institutions.
Chief Executive– Sunil Mehta
MoPSW & IIM Shillong Partners to Set Up India’s First ‘Gati Shakti Research Chair’
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and the Indian Institute of
Management (IIM) Shillong has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up India’s first
‘Gati Shakti Research Chair’ in Shillong, Meghalaya.

• The chair aims to drive high-quality academic research in the field of multimodal logistics, with
a special emphasis on the development of the North-Eastern Region (NER) of India.
• The chair also aims to promote collaboration with global experts and supports multimodal
logistics research activities.
• The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MoPSW.
India’s NIA & Thailand’s DTAM signed MoU to collaborate in Ayurveda & Thai Traditional
Medicine
On February 27, 2024, The National Institute of Ayurveda(NIA), Jaipur(Rajasthan) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative
Medicine(DTAM), Ministry of Public Health, Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, to establish
Academic Collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai Traditional Medicine.
Note: NIA is an apex autonomous Institute under the aegis of Ministry of AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga and
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Government of India.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Bishwajit Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush; and Dr. Taweesin
Visanuyothin, Director General (DG) of DTAM during the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission
Meeting held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, Delhi.
Key Points:
i.The MoU aims to foster academic collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai Traditional Medicine based on
equality and mutual benefit of the Participants.
ii.It facilitates the exchange of experts, research, training programs, and technical activities.
iii.Both parties will support each other with mutual cooperation and collaborative activities, including
conducting research studies, visits, among others.
iv.The NIA and DTAM, will share information on regulatory mechanisms, best practices, guidelines, and
courses of study.
v.The MoU includes organizing conferences and meetings alternately in India and Thailand and reviewing
the progress and evaluation of collaborative programs.
About Thailand:
Prime Minister– Srettha Thavisin
Capital– Bangkok
Currency– Thai Baht
Ministry of AYUSH & RIS signed MoU for Enhancements in Ayush Service Sector
The Ministry of AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) and
Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to bring out an overview of the Ayush Service sector and to foster academic cooperation and
collaboration with RIS.
Note: RIS is a New Delhi–based autonomous policy research institute under the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA).
Signatories: The MoU was signed by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary , Ministry of Ayush, and Prof Sachin
Chaturvedi, Director General of RIS in New Delhi, Delhi.
Features of the MoU
i.The MoU will strengthen academic cooperation and collaboration to undertake research, policy dialogue,
and publications for national, regional and international.
ii.This will also enhance the capacity building in the field of Indian Traditional Medicine.
iii.This will also ensure to bring out Ayush Service Sector overview in a time bound frame.

iv.This will also ensure academic cooperation between the Ministry of Ayush and RIS includes the
continuance of the Forum on Indian Traditional Medicine (FITM).
Note: FITM is continuously working toward the requirement of having a broad overview of market
estimates, product standardisation, regulations, etc. in international trade.
Additional info:
RIS will produce a report on Ayush Service Sector in a time bound manner. This will be similar to the
‘Ayush Sector in India: Prospects and Challenges’ report published by RIS in 2021.
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane Co-chaired 12th India-Oman JMCC Meeting
Giridhar Aramane, Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), India and Dr Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al
Zaabi, Secretary-General, MoD, Oman co-chaired the 12th Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC)
meeting held in Muscat, Oman on 31st January 2024.
Note:
i.Giridhar Aramane was on a 2-day visit to Oman on 30 and 31 January 2024 on the invitation of
Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al Zaabi.
ii.During the two day visit, Giridhar Aramane also held bilateral talks with the Oman’s Secretary General.
Highlights of 12th JMCC:
i.Both sides reviewed the robust defence cooperation existing between India and Oman.
ii.The meeting explored diverse areas of collaboration in the fields of Training; Joint exercises; Information
sharing; Oceanography; Ship Building and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO). This emphasises
fostering mutual trust and interoperability between the 2 nations’ militaries.
iii.The defence secrearies exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared interest and discussed
effective and practical initiatives to enhance bilateral defence engagements, with emphasis on
collaboration in defence industries.
Signed MoU to procure Defence equipments:
India and Oman signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the procurement of Defence
Material and Equipment which will provide a framework for new areas of defence collaboration.
• This is in line with implementing “India – Oman Joint Vision Document” titled “A Partnership for
the Future” adopted during the visit of the Head of State of the Sultanate of Oman, Sultan
Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik in December 2023.
Signatories: The MoU was signed by Giridhar Aramane, Defence Secretary, MoD (India) and Dr
Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al Zaabi, Secretary-General, MoD, Oman.
About JMCC:
i.The JMCC is the highest forum of engagement between India and Oman in the field of defence that
evaluates and provides guidance to the overall framework of defence exchanges between the 2 sides. Oman
is one of India’s closest defence partners in the Gulf region.
ii.The 11th India-Oman JMCC meeting was held in January 2022 in New Delhi, Delhi.
iii.It was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, MoD (India) and Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Ali AL
Zaabi, Secretary-General of the MoD (Oman)

193rd Meeting of ESIC held in New Delhi; Extends Benefits to Superannuated Insured Persons
with Relaxed Norms
On February 10, 2024, the 193rd Meeting of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) was held in New
Delhi, Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Labour and Employment
(MoLE), and Chairman of ESIC.
• During the meeting, Union Minister also released the book on HR (Human Resource) Norms of
the ESIC.
• ESIC adopted the Revised Estimates 2023-24, Budget Estimates 2024-25, and Performance Budget
2024-25 during the meeting.
Key People:
i.Union Minister of State (MoS) Rameswar Teli, MoLE attended the meeting as Vice-Chairman of ESIC.
ii.Arti Ahuja, Secretary, MoLE, Dr. Rajendra Kumar, Director General, ESIC, officials from state governments,
representatives of Employers, Employees and experts in the medical field participated in the meeting.
Medical Benefits to be extended to superannuated Insured Persons with relaxed norms
During the meeting,ESIC approved the proposal to provide Medical Benefit for insured superannuating
workers leaving the ESI Scheme due to exceeding the wage ceiling, if the worker was under insurable
employment for at least 5 years before superannuation/voluntary retirement.
• Workers who superannuated/voluntarily retired on or after April 1, 2017, with wages up to Rs 30,000
per month, having worked for at least 5 years after April 1, 2012, will also be benefitted under the
scheme.
Other noted Decisions:
i.ESIC relaxed the norms of for establishment of dispensaries, medical infrastructure / Regional / Sub Regional
Offices in North-Eastern(NE) states (including Sikkim) to enhance the service delivery mechanism in NE states
to achieve the vision of Act East Policy.
ii.ESIC adopted the new Policy on AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy)
2023 in ESIC institutions to promote holistic well being of the ESI beneficiaries,
• This details the establishment of Panchkarma, Kshara Sutra and AYUSH Units in ESIC Hospitals.
iii.ESIC extends concessions/facilities for non-IPs(Insured Person) to avail ESI healthcare services at “Nil” user
charges at ESIC Medical Colleges and Hospitals at Alwar, Rajasthan and Bihta, Bihar, till March 31, 2025.
iv.ESIC approved the acquisition of lands for construction of 100 bedded hospitals each at Udupi, Karnataka;
Idukki, Kerala and 150 bedded hospital at Malerkotla, Punjab.
About Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC):
Director General– Dr. Rajendra Kumar
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Labour and Employment
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE

World Governments Summit 2024 held in Dubai, UAE
The 11th edition of the World Governments Summit (WGS 2024) was held in Dubai, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) from 12th to 14th February 2024.
• WGS 2024 was held under the theme of “Shaping Future Governments”.
• At present, Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs (UAE) is the chairman of the
World Governments Summit (WGS) organization.
Note: WGS Organisation is a global, neutral, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of
governments.

About World Governments Summit (WGS):
i.World Governments Summit is annually held in Dubai, UAE
to bring together global leaders, policymakers, experts and
thought leaders from various fields to discuss and frame
government processes, policies and futuristic technologies
such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
ii.WGS was established in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE to serve as a
global knowledge exchange program for governments.
WGS 2024:
Participants: The summit witnessed the participation of 25 government and state heads with 120
government delegations worldwide. Representatives of more than 85 international, regional and
intergovernmental organisations and more than 4000 attendees participated in the summit.
Main Theme:
The agenda of the summit highlighted 6 main themes:
• Government Acceleration and Transformation
• Artificial Intelligence and The Next Frontiers
• Reimagining Development and Future Economies
• Future Societies and Education
• Sustainability and The New Global Shifts
• Urbanization and Global Health Priorities
Guests of honour at WGS 2024
India, Türkiye and Qatar were named the Guests of honour at the WGS 2024 held in Dubai, UAE.
i.At the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, Narendra
Modi, Prime Minister(PM) of India, Recep Erdogan, President of Türkiye and Sheikh Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman bin Jassin Al Thani, Foreign Minister of Qatar, participated in the summit as Guests of
honour.
ii.These three countries shared their successful government experiences and best developmental practices
during the summit.
PM Modi Attended the WGS 2024
PM Narendra Modi participated at the WGS 2024 in Dubai, UAE on 14th February 2024. He addressed the
summit centred on the theme of the summit- Shaping the Future Governments.
• This marks the 2nd time PM Modi was invited to the summit as a Guest of honour, the first
being in 2018.
Points to note:
i.He highlighted the revolutionary reforms carried out by India based on the concept of “Minimum
Government, Maximum Governance”.
ii.He also emphasized that Governance need to be Inclusive, Tech-Smart, Clean and transparent and Green.
iii.He also outlined priority areas for making public service more efficient such as: Ease of Living, Ease of
Justice, Ease of Mobility, Ease of Innovation and Ease of Doing Business.
India’s iRASTE won the 9th GovTech Prize at WGS 2024:
India’s iRASTE (Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety through Technology and Engineering) project won
the 9th GovTech Prize under the “AI-Powered Government Services” category.
Tadu Mamu, Consul at the Consulate General of India in Dubai, received the award from Sheikh Hamdan
bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

About iRASTE:
i.iRASTE is an AI-powered project under the Ministry for Road Transport and Highways(MoRTH). this is a
collaborative initiative between the government, industry and academia towards advancing road safety.
ii.This aims to reduce accidents, understand the factors responsible for these events and provide solutions
to mitigate them.
Note: The pilot project was implemented in Nagpur, Maharashtra in 2022. the project was implemented
by Intel India, INAI(Applied AI Research Centre) at International Institute of Information Technology-
Hyderabad (IIIT-H)(Telangana), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)- Central Road Research
Institute (CRRI), New Delhi, Delhi and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M).
About GovTech Prize:
i.The “GovTech Prize” is an annual award managed by the Emirates Government Service Excellence
Program (EGSEP) at the UAE Prime Minister’s Office.
ii.The award recognises government entities, central or local, worldwide to recognize creative and
innovative solutions addressing challenges and/or creating exceptional government service experiences.
iii.The 9th edition of GovTech was presented in 4 categories:
Category 2024 Winners
AI-Powered Government Services iRASTE (India)
Educational Services Ghana Education Outcomes Project (Ghana)
Healthcare Services SatuSehat (Indonesia)
Inclusive Digital Transformation Digital Family Card (Kazakhstan)

Dubai set to Launch World’s 1st Air Taxi Service by 2026
Road and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has signed an agreement with Joby Aviation to launch
the world’s 1st electric Air taxi service in Dubai, UAE by 2026.
• Under this agreement, Joby Aviation has reserved the exclusive right to operate air taxis in
Dubai for 6 years.
• The initiative will utilise the Joby Aviation S4, an innovative aircraft designed to accommodate
4 passengers along with a pilot.
Points to note:
i.The Joby’s fully electric air taxi prototype can fly over 240 km (150 miles) on a single charge.
ii.It has 6 propellers and is powered by 4 battery packs.
iii.It can fly at a maximum speed of 320 km/hr or 200 miles/hr.
iv.It has the feature of vertical take-off and landing capabilities which will give a boost to urban
transportation.
v.Reduced noise levels, zero operating emissions and enhanced passenger convenience are some of the
benefits of air-taxi service.
UAE signed multiple agreements during WGS 2024.
On the sidelines of the WGS 2024, The Ministry of Finance of UAE signed agreements with the State
of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the World Bank.
Details of the agreements:
i.UAE signed agreements with Kuwait and Bahrain to encourage and protect the investments; avoid double
taxation, additional taxes, indirect taxes and tax evasion, and address the challenges of cross-border trade
and investment flows

ii.UAE and the World Bank signed a second renewal agreement for the payable advisory services
agreement between the UAE and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development(IBRD).
• The agreement was signed by Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State(MoS) Financial
Affairs of UAE and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank.
iii.UAE and Egypt signed a protocol as a supplement agreement regarding double taxation avoidance and
the prevention of income tax evasion.
About United Arab Emirates(UAE):
UAE is a federation of 6 emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah.
Capital– Abu Dhabi
President– Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahayan
Currency– United Arab Emirates Dirham
PM Modi Addressed ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Chhattisgarh’: Launched Projects Worth Over Rs
34,400 Cr in Chhattisgarh
On 24th February 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually addressed the ‘Viksit Bharat
Viksit Chhattisgarh’ programme. During the event, He inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the
foundation stone of several development projects worth Rs 34,400 crore in Chhattisgarh.
• Major sectors that benefited from the projects include power, coal, roads, railroads, and solar
energy.
NTPC’s Lara Super Thermal Power Project:
During the event, PM Modi dedicated the Lara Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-I (2×800
MW(megawatt)) of NTPC Limited (formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation) in Raigarh
district of Chhattisgarh, to the nation.
• He also laid the foundation stone for the Lara Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-II (2×800
MW) in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.
Cost:
i.Stage I of the project was built at an investment of around Rs 15,800 crore.
ii.Stage II will be constructed at an investment of Rs 15,530 crore within the available land of Stage-I
premises.
Points to note:
i.Stage I is equipped with highly efficient Super Critical technology while Stage II is equipped with Ultra-
Super-Critical technology.
ii.These projects will ensure lesser Specific Coal Consumption and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions.
iii.Around 50% of the power generated from these plants will be allocated to Chhattisgarh.
iv.This will also play a major role in developing the power situations in states and Union Territories (UTs)
like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Inaugurated Three ‘First Mile Connectivity Projects’ of SECL:
PM Modi inaugurated three key First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects of South Eastern Coalfields
Limited(SECL) built at a total cost of more than Rs 600 crores.
i.Dipka OCP (opencast project) Coal Handling Plant (Dipka).
ii.Chhal OCP Coal Handling Plant (Raigarh).
iii.Baroud OCP Coal Handling Plant (Raigarh).
Note: SECL, headquartered in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), is a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Coal. It is a
subsidiary of Coal India Limited(CIL).
Key Points:
i.The FMC projects will ensure the mechanized movement of coal from pithead to coal handling plants
equipped with silos, bunkers, and rapid loading systems through conveyor belts.

ii.This will reduce traffic congestion, road accidents, and adverse impacts of coal mines on the
environment and health.
Note: NTPC, headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi, is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU)
under the Ministry of Power.
About Dipka OCP Coal Handling Plant
i.The plant, built at a cost of Rs 211 crore, has an annual coal handling capacity of 25 MT(Megatonne)
ii.The plant includes a substantial above ground bunker with a capacity of storing 20,000 tons of coal and
a 2.1 km long conveyor belt, streamlining the loading process to 4,500 – 8,500 tons of coal per hour.
About Chhal OCP Coal handling plant:
i.The plant, built at a cost of Rs 173 crores, is designed to handle 6 MT of coal annually.
ii.The plant features an overground bunker, a 1.7 km conveyor belt, and a Silo with a capacity of 3,000
tons.
About Baroud OCP Coal handling plant:
i.The plant, built at a cost of Rs. 216 crores, can handle 10 MT of coal annually.
ii.It is equipped with an overground bunker capacity of 20,000 tons and a 1.7 km conveyor belt, the
project features a rapid loading system capable of loading 5000-7500 tons of coal per hour
Solar, Road and Railway projects:
i.PM Modi dedicated the Bilaspur – Uslapur Flyover to the nation at a cost of around Rs. 300 Crores. This
aims to strengthen the rail infrastructure in Chhattisgarh.
ii.PM Modi also dedicated the 50MW Solar Power Plant in Bhilai to the nation. This will support the
utilization of solar energy in operating the trains.
iii.During the event, the rehabilitation and upgradation of a 55.65 km long Section of the National Highway
(NH)-49 as 2 land roads with paved shoulders was dedicated to the nation.
• This will ensure the connectivity of Bilaspur and Raigarh.
iv.He also dedicated 52.40 km long section of NH-130, connecting Ambikapur with Raipur and Korba.
SECI unveils India’s largest BESS with a Solar PV Plant in Chhattisgarh
Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has commissioned India’s largest Battery Energy Storage
System (BESS) that stores energy using solar energy in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
• PM Modi inaugurated SECI’s 100MW(megawatts) Alternating current (AC) Solar photovoltaic
(PV) project with 40 MW/ 120MWh (megawatt hours) BESS on 24th February 2024.
Points to note:
i.The project, developed at a cost of Rs 900 crore, will generate around 243.53 million units of energy
every year.
ii.The project was developed with the funds from World Bank and the Clean Technology Fund under the
Innovation in Solar Power & Hybrid Technologies Project.
iii.This will reduce around 4.87 million tons of CO2 emissions over the next 25 years. This is equivalent to
carbon emissions reduced by 8.86 million trees over 25 years.
About the project:
i.BESS with a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant has an installed capacity of 152.325 MWh and a dispatchable
capacity of 100MW AC (155.02 MW peak Direct Current(DC)).
ii.The project deployed a bifacial module that reflects the light from the ground generating more
electricity than monofacial modules.
iii.The project uses battery storage to store solar energy during the daytime and use it during the evening,
the time of peak demand.
Note: A monofacial solar panel absorbs sunlight only from the front surface of the solar panel. The bifacial
solar panel features solar cells on both sides.
• The project utilises the previously unused land through tripartite land-use permission.

Benefits:
i.The energy generated through the project will be purchased by the government of Chhattisgarh to meet
its energy demand using green electrons.
• SECI has signed a long-term power purchase agreement with Chhattisgarh State Power
Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL).
ii.To ensure seamless integration into the existing power grid, the power generated from the project is
evacuated through a 132 kilo-volt (kV) double-circuit double-string transmission line to 220/132 kilovolt
(kV) Thelkadih substation of Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Company Limited (CSPTCL).
Note:
New Delhi (Delhi)-based SECI is a Schedule-A CPSU under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE) for the implementation of schemes and development of Renewable Energy projects in India and
abroad.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister– Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor– Biswabhusan Harichandan
National Park– Indravati (Kutru) National Park; Kanger Valley National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary– Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary; Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
World Defense Show 2024 Held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The 2nd edition of the World Defence Show (WDS 2024) was held at Riyadh International Convention &
Exhibition Center, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 4th to 8th February 2024.
WDS 2024 was organised by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the regulator, enabler,
licensor for the military industry in Saudi Arabia.
The Theme of WDS 2024 is “Equipped for Tomorrow”.
Inauguration:
i.Under the patronage of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister
of Defence and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of GAMI inaugurated the WDS 2024.
ii.The event signifies Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a global hub for the defence industry.
World Defence Show 2024:
i.The defence show is a global platform for experts, manufacturers, and decision-makers in the defence and
security industry sector.
ii.It underscores Saudi Arabia’s leadership’s dedication to hosting a world-class event that ranks among the top
defence and security exhibitions globally.
iii.It also affirms Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global hub for organising exhibitions across all fields.
Overview:
ii.Over 773 exhibitors from over 75 countries, government entities, and leading local/international defence
companies showcase the event’s global prominence.
iii.Aerial displays, static aircraft exhibitions, and ground equipment were demonstrated in the display area.
Saudi Vision 2030 in Action:
i.The royal endorsement reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to Vision 2030’s goal of localising 50% of defence
expenditure.
Localisation rates have surged from 4% to 13.6% by the end of 2022.
ii.The defence industries sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to reach
approximately Saudi riyal (SAR) 93.75 billion by 2030.
About World Defence Show (WDS):
i.WDS was founded by Saudi Arabia’s GAMI and is set to be held biennially (every 2 years).
ii.It will accelerate the future of the industry by showcasing:

The latest technological developments from around the globe; and
Demonstrating defence interoperability across all major domains – air, land, sea, space, and security
systems.
iii.The 1st ever WDS was held in Riyadh exhibition and convention centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 6th to
9th March 2022.
Note: The 3rd edition of WDS will be held from 8 to 12 February 2026.
MIL Inked USD 225 Million Ammunitions Contract with Saudi Arabia Govt
Pune (Maharashtra)- based Munitions India Limited (MIL), Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the
Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth USD 225 million for the supply of artillery ammunition
to Saudi Arabia.
The contract was facilitated through MIL’s partner Nadrah Company, and was formalised during the
WDS 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Key People: The order was inked in the presence of Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State (MoS), MoD; MIL Chairman
and Managing Director (CMD) Ravi Kant; and Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of GAMI.
Point to note: The deal marks a substantial addition to MIL’s export orders, with approximately Rs 400 crores
already in its books for supplying ammunition to the Middle Eastern countries.
Tri-Service Women Officers Represented Indian Armed Forces at WDS 2024
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth (Indian Air Force), Colonel Ponung Doming (Indian Army), and Lieutenant
Commander Annu Prakash (Indian Navy) represented India in WDS 2024 to showcase India’s commitment to
leveraging Nari Shakti across domains.
Tri-Service women representation were part of the Indian delegation representing the Armed Forces in
the various seminars of the WDS 2024 especially in the International Women in Defence-themed
events.
Key Points:
i.Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth, a fighter pilot, took centre stage as a panellist at the seminar titled
‘International Women in Defence – Investing in an Inclusive Future’.
ii.It was hosted by Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States of
America (USA).
Bhawana Kanth is the 1st woman fighter pilot to take part in the Republic Day Parade (2021). She also
participated in the Republic Day 2024 Flypast.
iii.Colonel Ponung Doming is the 1st woman officer to command the world’s highest Border Task Force located
above 15,000 feet in the Northern sector.
Ajay Bhatt, MoS for Defence, Visited Riyadh for WDS 2024
Ajay Bhatt, MoS, MoD visited Riyadh to lead the Indian delegation at WDS 2024. He also held meetings with
various ministers to discuss the areas of bilateral defence cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia.
Highlights of his Visit:
i.He visited the General Authority for Defence Development (GADD) and met with its Governor Dr Faleh bin-
Abdullah Al-Sulaiman.
ii.He also visited King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and met with its President Dr Munir
M. Eldesouki.
iii.He visited Saudi Arabian Military Industry Advanced Electronics Company (SAMI-AEC) headquarters in
Riyadh and discussed on ways to strengthen the defence ties and future collaboration.
iv.He also visited Al-Turaif, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
Heritage site in Diriyah.
BrahMos Pavilion at WDS 2024: India’s Rising Prowess in Defence Diplomacy
The Indian delegation led by Ajay Bhatt, MoS, MoD, included Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan, India’s ambassador to Saudi
Arabia; and Anurag Bajpai, Additional Secretary, Department of Defence Production promoted
the BrahMos Pavilion at WDS 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The BrahMos Pavilion served a dual purpose:

To underscore India’s preparedness to escalate defence cooperation across the Middle East; and
To showcase its advanced defence capabilities and strategic diplomacy.
Host: The Indian delegation was hosted by Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Joshi and Praveen Pathak, Director of Marketing,
Promotion, and Export at BrahMos.
Note: The BrahMos Cruise missile stands as a pinnacle in modern warfare, offering unparalleled speed,
accuracy, and adaptability.
BrahMos:
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture (JV) between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM).
It aims to design, develop, manufacture, and market the world’s only supersonic cruise missile system
Brahmos for maritime, aerial, and land-based platforms.
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
(MSDE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Saudi Arabia.
About Saudi Arabia:
Capital- Riyadh
Prime Minister- HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Currency- Saudi Riyal
Highlights of 2nd Edition of India Energy Week held in Goa – 6th to 9th February 2024
The 2nd edition of India Energy Week (IEW 2024) was held from 6th to 9th February 2024 at the Institute of
Petroleum Safety, Health and Environment Management (IPSHEM)-Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
Training Institute, South Goa, Goa.
• The IEW 2024 was organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) in collaboration
with the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI).
IEW 2024 Inauguration:
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the IEW 2024 at IPSHEM-ONGC Training Institute, Goa during
his visit to Goa on 6th February 2024.
Key Dignitaries: P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister(CM) of Goa and
Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas participated in the event.
About IEW 2024:
i.IEW 2024 is India’s largest energy exhibition and conference. It aims to bring together the entire energy value
chain and will help to achieve India’s energy transition goals.
ii.IEW 2024 marked the presence of over 35000 attendees, 350 exhibitors, 400 speakers and more than 4,000
delegates from over 100 countries.
Note: The 1st edition of IEW was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from 6th to 8th February 2023, as a part of the
G20 (Group of 20) events.
IEA Report: India set to become Largest Source of Global Oil Demand Growth from 2023 to 2030
The International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report titled “Indian Oil Market Outlook to 2030” at IEW
2023. The report stated that India is set to become the single largest source of global oil demand growth from
2023 to 2030.
• Between 2023-2030 (forecast period), India accounts for more than one-third of global oil demand
growth.
Note: At present, China is the biggest driver of oil demand in the world and India ranks second in growth.
Highlights of the report:
i.The report stated that India’s oil demand will rise from 5.48 million barrels per day (mb/d) in 2023 to 6.64
(mb/d) in 2030.
ii.India’s oil demand is set to rise by about 1.2 mb/d by 2023. This accounts for more than one-third of the
projected 3.2 mb/d global gains.

iii.It mentioned that India will replace China and will become the biggest driver of global oil demand in 2027.
iv.Transportation and industry consumption will be the major contributor for India’s demand growth for oil
despite India’s call for clean energy and electrification.
v.India currently is the 3rd largest consumer of oil after the United States of America (USA) and China.
• It imports 85% of its oil needs and this dependence is likely to rise as domestic production falls. Diesel
accounts for about 50% of Indian gains and 20% of global demand growth to 2030.
NITI Aayog & Netherlands released “LNG as a Transportation Fuel in Medium and Heavy Commercial
Vehicle’ Report
NITI Aayog(National Institution for Transforming India) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands released a report titled “LNG(Liquefied Natural Gas) as a transportation fuel in Medium and
Heavy Commercial Vehicle” at IEW 2024 held in Goa.
• The report was jointly released by Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog(India) and Fredrik
Wisselink, Energy Envoy, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy(Netherlands).
Background:
i.In 2020, India and The Netherlands signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) on decarbonization and energy
transition agenda for accommodating cleaner and more energy.
ii.This report is the first outcome of the cooperation between India and the Netherlands.
Key Points:
i.The report highlighted policies which will help in achieving a 15% gas share in the primary energy supply and
also the goal of Net Zero by 2070.
ii.The report focuses on making LNG as a fuel source and customizing its use in the medium and commercial
vehicle segment.
iii.The report explores the obstacles to LNG adoption in India and suggests a roadmap with feasible solutions to
overcome these obstacles.
India Renews USD78 billion Qatar LNG Deal
On the sidelines of IEW 2024, India signed the biggest-ever deal worth USD 78 billion to extend LNG imports
from Qatar for 20 years from 2029 to 2048 at lower than current rates. This will save an estimated USD 6
billion over the life of the contract.
The deal was signed between Petronet LNG Limited (PLL) of India and QatarEnergy to extend the deal to buy
7.5 million tonnes a year of gas for producing electricity, making fertilizer and converting to CNG (Compressed
Natural Gas).
Note:
i.PLL is a Public Limited Company (PSU) in the Indian energy sector formed by the Government of India to
import LNG.
ii.QatarEnergy, formerly Qatar Petroleum, is a state-owned petroleum company of Qatar.
Points to Note:
At Present, PLL imports 8.5 million tonnes a year of LNG from Qatar under 2 contracts.
i.The first deal for 7.5 million tonnes was signed in 1999 and started supply in 2004. The 25-year deal is to
expire in 2028 and has been extended for 20 additional years.
ii.The 2nd deal for 1 million tonnes a year, came into effect in 2015.
Significance:
i.By renewing the deal at a much lower price, India will be able to save about USD 0.8 million British thermal
units at the renewed terms. This will further help to save USD 6 billion over the contract period.
ii.GoI aims to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix from 6.3 % (at present) to 15% by 2030.
iii.Renewal deal will help Qatar (the world’s 2nd largest LNG exporter) to expand its liquefaction capacity from
77 million to 126 million tonnes per year by 2027.
BPCL Unveils India’s 1st Indigenous Alkaline Electrolyser
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna PSU under the MoPNG, unveiled the 1st
indigenous alkaline electrolyser in India at IEW 2024 in Goa.

• PM Modi present at the event reviewed the operation of the electrolyser. He was accompanied by G.
Krishnakumar, Chairman and Managing Director (MD) of BPCL.
Key Points:
i.It is developed in partnership with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), India’s premier nuclear
research facility headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii.Alkaline water electrolyser will enhance hydrogen production. It will help India to produce 5 million tons of
green hydrogen by 2030.
iii.BPCL aims to establish a 5 Megawatt(MW) green hydrogen plant at Bina refinery and a 500 Kilowatt(KW)
capacity Integrated Hydrogen Refueling Station at CIAL(Cochin International Airport Limited), Kerala.
iv.The Indigenous production will give a boost to India’s “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” and “Vocal for Local”
campaign.
ONGC inked pact with French company, Total Energies to curb methane emissions
On the sidelines of IEW 2024, ONGC, an Indian PSU under MoPNG, signed a cooperation agreement with French
company, Total Energies to carry out methane emissions detection and measurement campaigns using
TotalEnergies’ AUSEA (Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications) technology.
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Dr. Sangkaran Ratnam, Country Chair of TotalEnergies in India and
Sushma Rawat, Director (Exploration) of ONGC.
Key Points:
i.The AUSEA technology will support ONGC’s efforts to achieve zero methane emissions by 2038. ONGC aims to
reduce its methane emission by 50% by 2027 and 80% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.
ii.The AUSEA gas analyzer mounted on a drone is capable of detecting methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide(CO2)
emissions and their source.
Note: ONGC and Total Energies are parties of the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), a global
industry initiative launched at COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates(UAE).
ONGC & NGEL signed a JV Agreement to set up offshore wind energy projects
On 7th February 2024, ONGC and NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA)
to set up offshore wind energy projects
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Mohit Bhargava,Chief Executive Officer(CEO), NGEL and Satish
Kumar Dwivedi, Executive Director, ONGC during IEW 2024.
Key People: The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, MoPNG, Arun
Kumar Singh, Chairman and CEO of ONGC and Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director(MD) of
National Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC).
Key Points:
i.This collaboration aims to lead renewable energy initiatives, both domestically and internationally.
ii.The agreement also extends to explore in storage, e-mobility, carbon credits, and green hydrogen business,
including derivatives like Green Ammonia and Green Methanol.
IGL signed MoU with technology partners to set up 19 Compressed Biogas Plants
Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two technology
partners to set up 19 Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plants across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar
Pradesh(UP).
• The 19 plants with varying capacities will be established at an estimated cost of Rs 1200 crore.
Note: IGL has also empanelled two other partners for the same purpose.
Points to note:
i.The partnership aims to produce 0.45 MMSCMD (Million Metric Standard Cubic Meters per Day) of biogas
from waste equivalent to around 5% of IGL’s daily requirements.
ii.The biogas produced from these 19 plants shall be fed into IGL’s city gas distribution network.
Key People: The MoUs were signed in the presence of Praveen Mal Khanooja, Additional Secretary, MoPNG,
K.K. Chatiwal, Managing Director of IGL and Pawan Kumar, Director (Commercial) of IGL.

EESL signed MoU with LAHDC & Vidhya Pratishtan
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a JV of PSUs under the Ministry of Power, has signed MoUs with
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh (Ladakh) and Vidhya Pratishtan to formulate a
framework for longstanding collaboration in key areas of energy efficiency.
The MoU with LAHDC is valued at Rs 300 crore and the MoU with Vidhya Pratishthan is valued at Rs 200
crore.
Details of the deal:
LAHDC:
The MoU with LAHDC will provide space heating solutions across different locations in the Union Territory
(UT) of Ladakh by using heat pump technology.
ii.These MoUs focus on energy efficiency which includes: lighting, clean cooking, space heating, renewable, e-
mobility, cooling and consultancy.
BPCL launched “Pure for Sure” initiative
During IEW 2024 in Goa, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the Bharat Petroleum Corporation
Limited (BPCL)’s “Pure for Sure” initiative to transform the LPG(Liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder delivery
system in India.
About Pure for Sure initiative:
i.The initiative aims to eliminate inefficiencies in last-mile delivery and ensure reliability, transparency and
excellence in customer service.
ii.It includes a tamper-proof seal with QR codes on the cylinder which will provide the gross weight of the
cylinder to the customer at the time of filling.
iii.The initiative will support the distribution channel by offering Artificial Intelligence(AI) based route
optimisation.
Note: BPCL also plans to introduce delivery women in the LPG ecosystem.
PLL announced to supply gas to Sri Lanka
On the sidelines of IEW 2024 in Goa, Akshay Kumar Singh, MD and CEO of Petronet LNG Limited (PLL)
announced its plan to supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Sri Lanka.
Petronet is committed to delivering 850 tonnes of gas daily through containers for 5 years, beginning
in 2025.
i.It will be utilized to run power plants with 300 MW capacity in Sri Lanka.
ii.Petronet also plans to establish a Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) by 2028 in Sri Lanka with
an estimated cost of Rs2500 crore.
OVL in advanced talks with Venezuela for oil cargoes
ONGC Videsh Limited(OVL), the international arm of ONGC, is in advanced negotiations with the Government
of Venezuela to secure further oil cargoes in lieu of unpaid dividends worth USD 600 million.
Note: OVL holds a 40% stake in the San Cristobal field located in eastern Venezuela’s Orinoco Heavy Oil belt.
the remaining stakes are held by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), a Venezuelan state-owned oil and
natural gas company.
1st edition of the International Conference of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulator held in Goa
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board(PNGRB) organised 1st edition of the International Conference of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulator from 5th February to 8th February 2024 during IEW 2024 in Goa.
Theme: “Navigating Pathways for Natural Gas Development”.
Key Highlights:
i.S&P Global Commodity Insights was the knowledge partner for the conference.
ii.The conference witnessed the presence of South and Southeast Asian national regulatory authorities from
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
iii.During the conference, discussions were held on a wide range of topics such as: geopolitical uncertainties
impacting energy security, rapid infrastructure development, Public-Private Partnerships(PPP) and
institutional growth.

iv.While addressing the conference, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized on PM’s vision to raise the
share of natural gas from 6% to 15% in the energy mix in India.
Delhi to host IEW in 2025:
The 2nd edition of IEW 2024 concluded successfully in Goa. This year IEW saw a 30% increase in exhibitors
compared to 2023.
i.Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the next edition of IEW(IEW 2025) will be held at
Yashobhoomi, the International Convention and Expo Centre in New Delhi, Delhi from 11th to 14th February
2025.
ii.IEW 2026 is set to be hosted at IPSHEM-ONGC training institute, Goa.
About Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG):
Union Minister– Hardeep Singh Puri(Rajya Sabha- Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)– Rameswar Teli (Lok Sabha- Dibrugarh, Assam)
About Goa:
Chief Minister (CM)– Pramod Sawant
Governor– P.S. Sreedharan Pillai
Capital– Panaji
Wildlife Sanctuary– Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary; Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Ruchira Kamboj of India Chaired 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), chaired the
62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD62), held from 5-14 February 2024 at the
UN Headquarters in New York, the United States of America (USA).
• India chaired the session of CSocD for the first time since 1975.
Note: Poland is set to chair the 63rd session of the CSocD in 2025.
About CSocD:
The CSocD is the advisory body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and serves as a crucial
intergovernmental platform responsible for the social development pillar of global development.
CSocD was initially established as Social Commission in 1946. ECOSOC renamed the commission as The
Commssion for Social Development in 1966.
Bureau of CSocD62:
i.Chair: Ruchira Kamboj (India)
ii.Vice-Chairs:
• Carla María Carlson, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic.
• Jon Ivanovski, Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of North Macedonia.
• Stéphanie Toschi, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg.
• Joslyne Kwishaka, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Burundi.
Note: The bureau of CSoCD62 was elected during the 13th plenary meeting of 61st session of CSocD.
India’s term in CSocD will expire in 2027.
About CSocD62:
Priority theme: Fostering Social Development and Social Justice through Social Policies to Accelerate
Progress on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to Achieve the
Overarching Goal of Poverty Eradication.
Highlights of CSocD62:
Four resolutions were adopted during the session chaired by India.
i.Resolution on Promoting care and support systems for social development.
ii.Resolution on Social Dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

iii.Resolution on the Priority Theme of the 63rd session of the CSocD.
iv.Resolution on the Priority Theme of the CSocD62.
National Conference on JJM & SBM-(G): Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Launched 3
Books from SBM-(G)
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Jal Shakti launched 3 impactful books from
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-(G)) during the National Conference on Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and SBM-
(G) held on 16 and 17 February 2024 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• The conference brought together diverse stakeholders from States/Union territories (UTs),
fostering the exchange of ideas and best practices toward sustainable solutions in the rural
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector.
Book Launch Highlights:
1.Swachhata Chronicles: Transformative Tales from India- Vol. II (SBM-G):
i.It is a compilation of best practices showcasing impactful change in rural sanitation.
ii.Transcends statistics, serving as a testament to the transformation of villages into the Open Defecation
Free (ODF) Plus Model.
2.Swachhata Green Leaf Rating (SGLR) System Booklet:
i.It is a benchmark index for responsible sanitation across SBM-G aspects.
ii.It is a guide for safe sanitation practices, encouraging public participation in hospitality facilities.
3.Compendium on Liquid Waste Management (LWM) Technologies:
i.It is a consolidated booklet of approved technologies, operational guidelines, and successful case studies.
ii.It provides a knowledge bank for stakeholders on Liquid Waste Management (LWM), fostering a cleaner
and healthier rural environment.
Impact of the Conference:
i.The conference provided a unique platform for cross-learning through detailed presentations and digital
displays of innovative solutions, technologies, and best practices in the rural WASH sector.
ii.The conference emphasised on innovation, collaboration, sustainability, and the operation and
maintenance of assets.
iii.The book launches stand as significant contributions to the ongoing efforts for sustainable and resilient
rural communities.
INDEX
RANKING
India ranks 93 in Corruption Perceptions Index 2023; Denmark Tops
The Transparency International released its 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in which India
ranked 93 out of 180 countries with an overall score of 39. India’s score was 40 in 2022 with 85th rank.
• The CPI 2023 was topped by Denmark with a score of 90. It is followed by Finland with a score
of 87 and New Zealand with a score of 85.
• India’s score and Rank is shared by Kazakhstan, Lesotho, and Maldives.
Rank Country Score
1 Denmark 90
2 Finland 87
3 New Zealand 85

4 Norway 84
5 Singapore 83
93 India, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, and Maldives 39
180 Somalia 11
Assessment:
The index ranks 180 countries and territories based on perceived public sector corruption, using a 0 to
100 scale, where a score of 0 signifies high corruption and 100 denotes a clean environment.
Key Points:
i.71% of Asia-Pacific countries has CPI scores below the regional and global averages of 45 and 43,
respectively.
• It should be noted that the global average for CPI remained stagnant at 43 for the twelfth
consecutive year.
ii.Weak scores indicate elected officials’ failure in anti-corruption efforts, crackdowns on civil society, and
attacks on press freedoms.
iii.Countries at the bottom of the index are Somalia (11), Venezuela (13)(Rank 177), Syria (13)(Rank
177) and South Sudan (13)(Rank 177).
• These countries are affected by protracted crises, primarily armed conflicts.
iv.Globally, most countries showing no progress or experiencing declines in the last decade i.e. remained
stagnant.
v.India’s neighbors Afghanistan and Myanmar scored 20, China scored 42, Japan scored 73, Bangladesh
scored 24, Pakistan scored 29, and Sri Lanka scored 34.
vi.Eight countries that witnessed improvements in their Corruption Perceptions Index scores are Ireland
(77), South Korea (63), Armenia (47), Vietnam (41), the Maldives (39), Moldova (42), Angola (33), and
Uzbekistan (33).
Click Here for Official Report
i.According to the 8th edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Countries Rankings 2023, India
improved its ranking by one spot to claim 30th rank in 2023 with overall score of 40.8. India was ranked
31 out of 85 in 2022. The list is topped by Switzerland.
ii.According to the 2023 Digital Quality of Life(DQL) Index, the 5th edition of the annual DQL Index by
Surfshark Limited, India has raised to 52nd rank with a ranking index of 0.5154 from 59th rank in
2022. The Index featuring 121 countries is topped by France with a ranking index of 0.7902 followed by
Finland, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg.
About Transparency International:
It is a global coalition against corruption.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Daniel Eriksson
Headquarters– Berlin, Germany
Monthly Update of Henley Passport Index 2024: India’s Passport Rank Slips to 85; Top Spot
Retained by 6 Countries
According to the monthly update (February 2024) of the Henley Passport Index 2024, India’s ranking
dropped from 80th to 85th between January 2024 and February 2024. 6 countries
namely France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Singapore continue to dominate the top spot with the
most powerful passports in the world.
• These 6 countries enabled their citizens visa-free entry to 194 out of 227 global destinations,
marking a record-breaking achievement.

Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden ranked 2nd with visa-free travel to 193 destinations;
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom shared the 3rd place with access to 192
destinations.
Points to Note:
i.Among the 6 nations, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain are members of the European Union (EU), which
is made up of 27 member countries.
ii.The 2 Asian nations Japan and Singapore have dominated 1st place on the index for the past 5 years.
India’s Passport Position:
i.Currently, India holds visa-free access to 62 destinations; and 164 nations require visas from Indian
travellers.
ii.In 2023, countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Kenya added India to their visa-free lists, fostering
international relations.
List of Top 3 & Bottom 3 Passports:
Top 3
Countries Rank Access to Nations
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain 1 194
Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden 2 193
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, United Kingdom 3 192
India 85 62
Bottom 3
Afghanistan 109 28
Syria 108 29
Iraq 107 31
Global Mobility Trends:
i.The average number of destinations for visa-free travel has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in
2024.
ii.The top-ranked countries enjoy a substantial lead, with 166 more visa-free destinations than
Afghanistan, emphasizing the widening global mobility gap.
• Afghanistan ranked at the bottom with access to just 28 countries without a visa.
Key Highlights:
i.Maldives and Timor-Leste shared the 58th rank with access to 96 nations.
ii.In South Asia, Pakistan, which ranked 101 in the January 2024 index dropped to 106, meanwhile,
Bangladesh, which shared the rank (97) with North Korea has also slipped to 102 with North Korea.
About Henley Passport Index and its assessment:
i.The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports, assessing the number of
visa-free destinations.
ii.The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.
iii.Created by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the index is the only one of its kind based on exclusive data from the
International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• IATA maintains the world’s largest and most accurate travel information database, enhanced by
Henley & Partners’ research team.
iv.Updated monthly, the index is recognized as the standard reference tool for both global citizens and
sovereign states.

According to the Inclusiveness Index published by the Othering and Belonging Institute (OBI) at California
University, United States of America (USA), India was ranked 117th out of 129 countries with an overall
score of 49.24.
About Henley & Partners (H&P):
Chief Executive Officer– Dr. Juerg Steffen
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom (UK)
Formed in– 1997
2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 List: RIL Tops as Most Valued Indian Company for
3rd Consecutive Year
According to the 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 released by Axis Bank’s Burgundy Private and
Hurun India, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has emerged as the India’s most valuable company for the
3rd cosecutive year with a value of Rs 15,64,663 crore.
• RIL is followed by Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) with a value of Rs 12,36,229 crore and HDFC
Bank with Rs. 11,25,975 crore at 2nd and 3rd spot.
Note: 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 is the 3rd edition of the 500 Most Valuable Private
Companies in India.
About 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500:
i.Companies are ranked based on mcap for listed companies and valuations for non-listed ones. The cut-off
date for the list was October 30, 2023.
ii.Companies must have a minimum value of Rs 6,700 crore (USD 807 million) to qualify.
iii.The list features only the companies headquartered in India, excluding state-owned entities and
foreign/Indian company subsidiaries.
Overview:
i.The total cumulative value of the 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 companies is Rs. 231 lakh
crore (USD 2.8 trillion).
ii.The threshold to qualify for the list is Rs. 6,700 crore, up by 13% from Rs.5,947 crore in 2022.
iii.The average age of companies in the list is 38 years.
Oldest: EID-Parry (India) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu founded in 1788 (235 years old).
Youngest: GlobalBees(New Delhi, Delhi); Mensa Brands (Bengaluru, Karnataka) and Zepto(Mumbai,
Maharashtra) founded in 2021.
Top 10 of 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500:
Rank Company Value in Rs (Crore) Change (%) Headquarters MD/CEO
1 RIL 15,64,663 -9.30% Mumbai, Maharashtra Mukesh D. Ambani
2 TCS 12,36,229 5.80% Mumbai, Maharashtra K. Krithivasan
3 HDFC Bank 11,25,975 35.10% Mumbai, Maharashtra Sashidhar Jagdishan
4 ICICI Bank 6,47,716 2.30% Mumbai, Maharashtra Sandeep Bakhshi
5 Infosys 5,71,529 -11.70% Bengaluru, Karnataka Salil Parekh
6 Bharti Airtel 5,55,531 13.50% New Delhi, Delhi Gopal Vittal
7 ITC 5,36,811 24.20% Kolkata, West Bengal Sanjiv Puri
8 Larsen & Toubro 4,02,197 41.50% Mumbai, Maharashtra SN Subrahmanyan
9 HCL Technologies 3,43,211 21.50% Noida, Uttar Pradesh C Vijayakumar
10 Kotak Mahindra Bank 3,41,352 -9.60% Mumbai, Maharashtra Dipak Gupta

Key Performers of 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500:
Category Company Performance
Most Valuable Company RIL Value: Rs. 15,64,663 crore
Serum Institute of India(SII)

Most Valuable Unlisted Company Value: Rs. 1,92,300 crore
(Pune, Maharashtra)
Services Industry (Company

Largest Value Creator Value Growth: 4.5%
name: Info Edge)
Largest Employers TCS No. of Jobs: 6,15,721
Corporate Tax: Rs. 20,376

Highest direct taxpayers RIL
crore
Most Valuable State-controlled

State Bank of India (SBI) Value: Rs. 5,04,597 crore
Company
Highest net profit RIL Net Profit: Rs. 74,088 crore
Revenue: Rs. 9,03,045

Highest revenue RIL
crore
Top 5 Most Valuable Company in Unlisted Space:
Rank Company Headquarters
1 Serum Institute of India Pune (Maharashtra)
2 National Stock Exchange of India(NSE) Mumbai (Maharashtra)
3 Megha Engineering andInfrastructure Hyderabad (Telangana)
4 Zoho Corporation Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
5 Swiggy Bengaluru (Karnataka)

Note: 26% of companies featured in the 2023 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 are unlisted, a 6%
decrease compared to 2022.
Key Highlights:
i.The list comprises companies across 44 cities of 16 states in India, led by Mumbai (156); Bengaluru (59);
and New Delhi (39).
• Maharashtra has the highest number of companies followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and
Delhi.
• The top 3 cities contributed 254 entrants, compared to 264 entrants in 2022.
ii.A total of 179 companies in the list are led by professional Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and 437
companies in the list have women’s representation on their boards.
iii.61 new companies debuted in the list and the cumulative value of the new entrants is Rs. 7.5 lakh
crores. Industrial Products led with 16 new entrants, followed by Financial Services with 10 new entrants.

iv.Financial Services and Healthcare sectors lead the list with 76 and 58 companies respectively, followed
by Consumer Goods, which possess 38 companies in the list.
v.The Services Industry is the Largest Value Creator of the Year 2023. Led by Info Edge (India) (88th
Rank), which grew by 4.5%. The cumulative value of the companies from the Services sector grew by
235.1%.
vi.The companies in the list employ 70 lakh people, with an average of 15,211 employees per organisation.
Points to note:
i.Shriram Finance, the flagship company of the Shriram Group, showed remarkable growth, climbing 65
places to secure the 59th rank.
ii.Suzlon Energy, which registered a year-over-year (YoY) value growth of 436%, dominates the list of the
fastest growing (%) companies in lits.
• It is followed by Jindal Stainless and Jindal South West (JSW) Infrastructure which grew by
almost 5 times and 4 times over the year respectively.
iii.The 8 companies of Adani Group have a combined value of Rs.9.9 lakh crore and constitute 4.3% of the
total value of 500 top companies.
Additional info:
i.Startups dominate the list of Karnataka Based companies featured on the list. Out of the 61Karnataka
based companies on the list, 35 are starups. The cumulative value of Karnataka-based companies stands at
Rs.22 lakh crore.
• Infosys is Karnataka’s most valuable company with a value of Rs. 5.7 lakh crore, followed by
Titan Company (Rs. 2.8 lakh crore) and Wipro (Rs. 2 lakh crore).
• Top Startup Performers of Karnataka in 2023 are Swiggy (Rs. 65,400 crores), Zerodha (Rs.
58,500 crores) and Razorpay (Rs. 56,800 crores).
About Hurun Report Inc.:
Hurun Report is a leading research, luxury publishing and events group established in 1998 in London, the
United Kingdom(UK).
It has presence in various countries including India, China, France, UK and Japan. Hurun India was
launched in 2012.
Founder & Chief Researcher (Hurun India) – Anas Rahman Junaid
Headquarters (Hurun India)- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mukesh Ambani Tops Among Indians and Ranks 2nd Globally on the Brand Guardianship Index
2024
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, and Managing Director (CMD) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has been
ranked 1st among all Indians and 2nd globally in the Brand Guardianship Index (BGI) 2024 compiled
by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation firm. Brand Finance’s survey gave Mukesh Ambani
a BGI score of 80.3.
• Huateng Ma, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chinese internet
giant Tencent Holdings recognised as the world’s leading CEO in the 2024 BGI, for his
guardianship of the WeChat brand with a BGI score of 81.6.
• NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang ranked 3rd globally followed by Apple Inc‘s Tim Cook (4th),
and TATA Sons‘ Natarajan Chandrasekaran (5th).
Points to Note:
i.Brand Finance released the 2024 BGI, the ranking of the World’s top 100 CEOs or equivalents during the
World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland in January 2024.
ii.Mukesh Ambani ranks 2 in BGI 2024 for the second consecutive time (2024 and 2023).
iii.Natarajan Chandrasekaran of TATA Sons, who ranked 5th globally in BGI 2024 ranked 8th in 2023 BGI.

iv. Anish Shah of Mahindra Group ranked 6th globally; and Salil Parekh of Infosys ranked 16th
Brand Guardianship Index 2024:
i.The 2024 BGI reveals a robust correlation between exceptional brand leadership and substantial brand
value growth for businesses.
ii.Brands under the guidance of the top 100 CEOs experienced a 10% growth in brand values this year.
iii.The brand values of brands led by the top 10 CEOs grew by an average of 40% this year.
Global Ranking of Brand Guardianship Index 2024 (Top 5):
Rank CEO Company Country BGI Score 2024
1 Huateng Ma Tencent China 81.6
2 Mukesh Ambani Reliance Group India 80.3
3 Jensen Huang NVIDIA United States 79.9
4 Tim Cook Apple Inc United States 79.3
5 Natarajan Chandrasekaran TATA Sons India 79.2
Top-ranked Indians in the 2024 BGI:
Rank (India) Global Rank CEO Company/Sector BGI 2024
1 2 Mukesh Amabani Reliance Group/ Diversified 81.6
2 5 Natarajan Chandrasekaran TATA Sons/ Diversified 79.2
3 6 Anish Shah Mahindra Group/ Diversified 78
4 16 Salil Parekh Infosys/ IT Services 73.7
5 22 Sashi Jagdishan HDFC Bank/Banking 72.9
Highlights of BGI 2024:
i.British-Indian Leena Nair, the global CEO of the luxury brand ‘Chanel’ (France) was recognised as the
world’s top female CEO (brand guardian).
ii.Mukesh Ambani secured the top spot in the ‘Diversified’ conglomerates category.
iii.For the 3rd consecutive year, Brand Finance has positioned Infosys among the world’s top 3 most
valuable IT services brands.
Note –
Jensen Huang of NVIDIA is ranked number 1 for brand value growth during his tenure. He topped the
global ranking of the 2023 BGI.
Balanced Scorecard for CEO Reputation:
i.Brand Finance employs a comprehensive balanced scorecard to gauge CEO effectiveness in stewarding
their company’s brand and long-term value.
ii.The 2024 analysis highlights a significant shift, with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
emerging as the primary determinant of CEO reputation.
About Brand Guardianship Index (BGI):
BGI is a comprehensive study that ranks top CEOs and companies across various sectors, highlighting their
achievements in:
• Technology adoption;
• Sustainability efforts;
• Commercial leadership; and
• Strategic long-term vision.

As per the 18th Global 500 2024 annual report by Brand Finance, Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led
Reliance Jio continues to be India’s top and strongest brand, ranked 17th among the world’s strongest
brands in 2024, with a brand strength index (BSI) of 88.9 out of 100.
About Brand Finance:
Chairman and CEO– David Haigh
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom
Founded in– 1996
IIRF’s Top MBA Colleges in India 2024: IIM-Ahmedabad Ranked First in Government Colleges
Category
According to the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework(IIRF)’s Top Master of Business
Administration (MBA) Colleges in India – 2024, the Indian Institute of Management
(IIM), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), has topped among the Top Government MBA colleges in India.
• In the 2024 MBA Colleges ranking, Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur
(Jharkhand), has topped among the Top Private MBA colleges in India.
Note: IIM Ahmedabad has emerged as the top-ranked college (Overall among Government & Private) in
India, based on an overall index score of 937.24.
Click here to view full ranking list
Top 5 Business Schools in India: Government
National Rank Government Business Schools
1 IIM Ahmedabad, Gujarat
2 Faculty of Management Studies(FMS), University of Delhi, Delhi
3 IIM Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal
4 IIM Bangalore, Benglauru, Karnataka
5 IIM Kozhikode, Kerala
Top 5 Business Schools in India: Private
National
Rank Private Business Schools
1 Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
2 Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram, Haryana
3 S P Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai, Maharashtra
4 Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Maharashtra
Symbiosis Centre For Management & Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune,
5 Maharashtra
Top Colleges in Other Categories
i.“Top 50 Business Schools Under University Program”: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management
(SIBM) secured first rank in the list followed by SCMHRD – Pune, Xavier Institute of Management(XIMB),
XIM University, Bhubaneswar(Odisha) in the second and third place respectively.
ii.“Top 50 School of Eminence of Employability”: Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur,
(Jharkhand), secured first rank in the category followed by the Management Development Institute (MDI),
Gurugram(Haryana) and S P Jain Institute of Management & Research(SPJIMR), Mumbai in the second and
third.

iii. “Top 50 Business Schools for Research”: XLRI – Jamshedpur secured first rank in the category and It
was followed by the Rajagiri Centre For Business Studies, Kochi(Kerala) and MDI.
iv.“Top 20 Emerging Business Schools”: Vijay Patil School of Management, Navi Mumbai(Maharashtra)
secured first rank, followed by Pune Business School, Pune and GNIOT Institute Of Management Studies,
Greater Noida(Uttar Pradesh) in the second and third rank.
About IIRF MBA Rankings 2024:
i.Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF), India, presented by Education Post, a monthly magazine
on higher education, is a non-governmental organisation that ranks various institutions on a periodic
basis.
ii.The ranking is conducted by Ahmedabad(Gujarat) based Maction Consulting Private Limited(Knowledge
Partner of IIRF) under the mentorship of the Federation for World Academics (FWA).
iii.According to the IIRF, the ranking assessed over 300 management institutions and provided rankings to
50 government and 160 private management institutions in six categories.
• The ranking provides a comprehensive perspective on their research output and employability
impact.
iv.The IIRF Management Ranking 2024 evaluates institutions on seven key parameters including
• Teaching Learning Resources and Pedagogy
• Industry Income and Integration
• Placement Performance
• Research
• Placement Strategy & Support
• Future Orientation
• External Perception and International Outlook (EPIO)
i.According to the 8th edition of India Rankings (India Ranking 2023), prepared by Ministry of Education
(MoE) based on parameters defined by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Indian Institute
of Technology (IIT) Madras (IITM), Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN), has topped the list for the 5th consecutive
time.
ii.According to the ‘Times Higher Education(THE) World University Ranking 2024’, the Indian Institute
of Science, Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru) is Ranked No. 1 among Indian institutions, falling into the 201-
250 band ranking for the first time since 2017. IISc Bengaluru has moved up from 251-300 band in 2023.
ICA’s World Cooperative Monitor 2023: IFFCO tops among Top 300 Cooperatives in world
According to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)’s 2023 edition of the World Cooperative Monitor
(WCM) report, India’s Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) Limited has topped the Top 300
Cooperatives ranking based on the ratio of turnover over GDP(gross domestic product) per capita under
the Agriculture and Food Industries section.
• India’s Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited(AMUL) has been
ranked 2nd followed by France’s Groupe Crédit Agricole at 3rd.
• IFFCO has been ranked 72nd in ranking of Top 300 Largest Cooperative and Mutual
Organisations based on Turnover. IFFCO was ranked 97th in the 2022 report.
About WCM 2023:
WCM 2023 is the 12th edition of the annual report published by ICA with scientific and technical support from
the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (Euricse).
• The 2023 WCM is prepared based on the data from the fiscal year 2021.
The report provides the ranking of Top 300 largest cooperative and mutual enterprises and the rankings by 7
sector.

The 7 sectors are: Agriculture and food industries (including fishing); Insurance; Wholesale and
•
retail trade; Financial service; Industry and Utilities; Education, health and social work; and Other
services (including housing)
Top 5 Cooperatives by Turnover/GDP per Capita: (Agriculture and Food Industries section )
Turnover/GDP
Rank Organisation Country per capita
(USD)
1 IFFCO India 3,321,512.57
2 AMUL India 2,809,573.69
3 Groupe Crédit Agricole France 2,680,001.60
4 Sistema Unimed Brazil 2,027,885.39
5 Copersucar SA Brazil 1,803,571.29

Top 3 Organisation by Turnover (Agriculture and Food Industries section):
Turnover/GDP
Rank Organisation Country per capita
(billion USD)
Nonghyup (National Agricultural Republic of Korea(South

1 61.17
Cooperative Federation – NACF) Korea)
National Federation Of Agricultural

2 Japan 38.91
Cooperative Associations – ZENNOH
The United States of

3 CHS Inc 38.45
America (USA)
Points to note:
i.The total turnover of the Top 300 cooperatives and mutuals on the report is more than 2 trillion USD, based
on 2021 financial data.
ii.The organizations on the list operate in economic sectors like Agriculture (105 enterprises) and Insurance
(96 enterprises) leading the list. Wholesale and Retail Trade represent the third biggest economic sector (57
enterprises) in the ranking.
About Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO):
IFFCO is wholly owned by 35,565 cooperative societies of India.
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Udai Shanker Awasthi

REPORTS
Bhupender Yadav Released the Report on ‘The Status of Snow Leopards in India’
Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Shri Bhupender Yadav released the
report on the Status of Snow leopards in India during the National Board for Wildlife meeting held in
New Delhi, Delhi.
• The exercise reported 718 snow leopards in India
• It was conducted from 2019 to 2023.
Aim of the Report
i.The Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program is a first-ever scientific exercise that
reported the population of snow leopards.
• The program was conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) with the help of all snow
leopard range states and two conservation partners- the Nature Conservation Foundation,
Mysuru (Karnataka), and WWF (World Wildlife Fund)-India.
ii.The report mentions the need for establishing a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at WII under MoEFCC
with a primary focus on long-term population monitoring, supported by well-structured study designs and
consistent field surveys.
• For the same, states and Union Territories (UTs) can consider adopting a periodic population
estimation approach (every 4th year) in the Snow leopard range.
Key Points
i.The SPAI covered over 70% of the snow leopard range in India, approximately 120,000 km².
• Including UTs of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir (J & K), and states such as Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh
ii.The exercise was conducted using a two-step framework. Firstly, the Snow leopard spatial
(geographical) distribution was evaluated through an occupancy-based sampling approach in the potential
distribution range (habitat of snow leopards).
• Snow leopard signs were recorded by surveying 13,450 km of trails, and camera traps were
deployed at 1,971 locations for 180,000 trap nights. A total of 241 unique Snow leopards were
photographed.
• The Snow leopard occupancy was recorded in 93,392 km², with an estimated presence in
100,841 km².
iii.Secondly, snow leopard abundance was estimated using camera traps in each identified stratified
region (regions with homogenous characteristics).
• Based on data analysis, the estimated population of 718 snow leopards in different states/UTs
are as follows:
• Ladakh (477), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim
(21), and J & K (9).
iv.Before 2016, approximately one-third (around ca. 100,347 km2) of the range received minimal research
attention, which was just 5% in areas like Ladakh, J & K, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
• Recent status surveys have significantly increased understanding, providing preliminary
information for 80% of the range (about 79,745 km2), compared to 56% in 2016.
Note: Occupancy modelling is based on making multiple visits to some or all of the sample sites in a
study to collect species detection data which are used to model, and then adjust for, the detection process.
About MoEFCC
Union Minister – Bhupender Yadav (Rajya Sabha constituency -Rajasthan )
Minister of State (MoS) – Ashwini Kumar Choubey (constituency – Buxar, Bihar )

MoE released AISHE 2021-22: Enrolment in Higher Education increases to 4.33 Crore
On 25th January 2024, the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education (MoE)
released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22.
This marks the 12th edition of AISHE and the 2nd survey done through web Data Capture Format (DCF)
format.
AISHE 2021-22:
i.AISHE 2021-22 registered a total of 1168 Universities/University level Institutions, 45,473 Colleges and
12,002 Stand Alone Institutions.
ii.Of this, only 1,162 Universities, 42,825 colleges and 10,576 Stand Alone Institutions have responded to
the survey.
iii.The survey was conducted with the reference period as academic session 2021-22.
iv.In this survey, total student enrolment is collected in 8 levels: Under-Graduate(UG), Post Graduate(PG),
Ph.D., M.Phil., Diploma, PG Diploma, Certificate, and Integrated.
Gross Enrolment Ratio:
i.In 2021-22, GER in Higher Education for the age group 18-23 years in India increased to 28.4 from 27.3
in 2020-21 and 23.7 in the base year 2014-15.
For Scheduled Caste(SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, the GER is 25.9 and 21.2 respectively.
ii.Total student enrolment in higher education in 2021-22 increased to around 4.33 crore (2021-22) from
4.14 crore (2020-21) with an increase of 26.5% from 2014-15.
• Of the total enrolment in 2021-22, 57.2 lakh students are enrolled in the science stream.
iii.Female enrolment in higher education increased to 2.07 crore (2021-22) from 1.57 crore (2014-15)
which saw an increase of 32%. While female enrolment in 2021-22 increased to 2.07 crore from 2.01 crore
compared to 2020-21.
Points to note:
i.The States/UTs with the highest Gross Enrolment Ratio(GER) are Chandigarh (64.8), Puducherry (61.5),
Delhi (49), Tamil Nadu(TN) (47), Himachal Pradesh (43.1), Uttarakhand (41.8), Kerala (41.3) and
Telangana (40).
ii.TN has topped among India’s large states with the highest GER in higher education institutes. TN has
retained the top position for 5 academic years between 2017-2018 and 2021-2022.
• TN also has the highest GER among SC and ST students 39.4 and 43.9 respectively.
iii.Assam(16.9); Bihar(17.1); and Jharkhand(18.6) recorded the lowest GER among Indian states.
iv.Lakshadweep recorded as low as 1.1 since it does not have any higher education institutions.
Note: GER is the number of students enrolled in higher education as a percentage of individuals aged
between 18-23 years.
Enrolment of SC and ST students:
i.In 2021, enrolment of SC students increased to 66.23 lakh from 46.07 lakh with an increase of 44%.
Enrolment of SC female students surged to 51% since 2014-15.
ii.Enrolment of ST students has increased from 16.41 lakh (2014-15) to 27.1 lakh (2021-22). In the ST
category, student enrolment increased by 65.2% since 2014-15. Enrolment of ST female students
increased by 80% since 2014-15.
Gender Parity Index (GPI):
Gender Parity Index (GPI) which is the ratio of female GER to male GER is 1.01 in 2021-22. Last year, GPI
was 1.05.
• Female GER continues to be more than male GER since 2017-18.
Faculty/Teachers in Higher Education:
i.The total number of faculty/teachers in 2021-22 are 15.98 lakh of which about 56.6% are male and
43.4% are female.

ii.Number of female teachers increased from 5.69 lakh in 2014-15 to 6.94 lakh, which saw an increase of
22%.
iii.In 2021-22, the number of females per 100 male faculty increased to 77 from 75 in 2020-21.
Out-Turn:
i.The survey stated that 1.07 crore students have passed out from various levels such as UG, PG, Ph.D.,
M.Phil., and other Diploma /Certificate courses. Among these, 54.6 lakh (50.8%) are females.
ii.The total number of pass-outs increased from 95.4 lakh (2020-21) to 1.07 crore (2021-22).
Number of Institutions:
i.The number of universities in 2021-22 increased to 1,168 in 2021-22 from 1,113 in 2020-21(increased
by 55). Since 2014-15, 341 universities have been established.
ii.There are 17 universities exclusively for women.
iii.The number of colleges has increased by 1677, to 45,473 from 43,796 in 2020-21. 14,197 colleges have
PG programmes and 1063 colleges have PhD programmes.
Key Points:
i.As per the survey, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has become the state with the highest number of colleges in India.
the number of colleges in UP increased from 8,114 to 8,375 in 2021-22.
ii.The top 10 states in terms of the highest number of colleges in India: U.P., Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana and West Bengal.
iii.Among the districts, Bengaluru Urban (Karnataka) (1106) has the maximum number of colleges
followed by Jaipur(Rajasthan) (703) and Hyderabad (Telangana) (491).
iv.College Density (number of colleges per lakh population): States and UTs which have the highest
college density: Karnataka (66), Telangana (52), Andhra Pradesh (49), Himachal Pradesh (47) and
Puducherry (53).
About All India Survey on Higher Education(AISHE):
AISHE is an annual national survey conducted by the Ministry of Education (MoE) since 2010-2011. this
aims to identify and cover all the institutions in India which are engaged in imparting higher education.
i.The survey classifies institutions into 3 main categories: University/University level institutions;
Colleges/ Institutions; and Stand-alone institutions (not affiliated with universities)
ii.Data of the survey is prepared using various parameters like: student enrolment, data about teachers,
infrastructural information and financial information.
iii.Indicators of educational development are institution density, GER, pupil-teacher ratio, and GPI
calculated from the data collected through AISHE.
About the Ministry of Education (MoE):
Union Minister- Dharmendra Pradhan(Rajya Sabha- Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS): Subhas Sarkar (Constituency- Bankura, West Bengal), Annapurna Devi Yadav
(Constituency- Kodarma, Jharkhand), Rajkumar Ranjan Singh (Constituency- Inner Manipur, Manipur)
CRISIL Report: Indian Economy to Grow at 6.7% between Fiscals 2024-2031

According to the CRISIL (formerly Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited) report titled
“Indian Economy: Capital as Growth Driver”, the Indian economy is expected to grow at an average rate of
6.7% per year between fiscals 2024 and 2031. This is slightly higher than the pre-pandemic decadal
average of 6.6%.
• Capital was identified as the key contributor, stemming from the government’s investment-
driven strategy post-pandemic.
Key Points:
i.After a robust 7.3% growth in fiscal year 2023, CRISIL projects a moderation to 6.4% in fiscal year 2024,
attributing it to cyclical factors.

ii.In 2024, Global economy is expected to decelerate, and the impacts of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI)
rate hikes on domestic demand will become apparent.
iii.Additionally, the report emphasises the importance of monitoring the Middle East conflict’s impact on
energy and logistics costs.
iv.According to the report, In India, the inflation level of 5.7% in December 2023 was driven solely by
volatile vegetable prices and food-grain inflation.
• It keeps RBI cautious towards achieving the 4% inflation target.
• Core inflation decline and fuel price deflation are positive, but high food price levels of the food
items, which have substantial weight in the consumer price index (CPI), pose a transmission risk
to non-food components.
Government Initiatives:
i.The government’s increased capital expenditure and interest-free loans to states drive the capital-led
growth strategy.
ii.The focus on infrastructure build-up aims to counteract the private sector’s initial hesitancy towards
investments.
Global Dynamics:
i.The expected rate cut by the United States of America (US) Federal Reserve raises uncertainties.
ii.Strong US labour market data and persistent inflation challenge the anticipated timing and extent of the
rate cuts in 2024.
OECD’s Economic Outlook Raised India GDP Growth Forecast for FY25 to 6.2%
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Economic Outlook, Interim Report
February 2024 titled “Strengthening the Foundations for Growth” has raised India’s 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(FY26), the OECD maintains India’s growth forecast at 6.5%.
About the Report: The OECD Economic Outlook, prepared by the OECD Economics Department, is the twice-
yearly analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next 2 years.
Key Points:
i.India is expected to improve on the inflation front, with inflation falling to 4.9% in FY25 compared with 5.3%
projected in November 2023.
ii.FY26 forecasts show a marginal increase of 4.3%, slightly higher than the initial 4.2%.
Investment Boost:
i.India and Indonesia are poised for steady expansion over the next 2 years, driven by robust investment
growth.
ii.GDP is expected to rise by over 6.25% and 5% per annum, respectively.
Additional info:
i.Inflation in emerging-market (EM) economies are expected to remain higher than in the advanced economies
and will ease gradually through FY25. Tighter monetary policy and energy and food price cycles have been the
key drivers of inflation.
ii.In countries like Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa, inflation is projected to gradually ease and
converge towards central bank targets by the end of 2025.
Note: The Economic division of the Union Ministry of Finance stated that the Indian economy is expected to
expand at around 7% in FY25. For the 4th consecutive year(post-COVID-19 pandemic) India’s economy will
grow at or over 7%.
Economic Outlook – Global:
i.The Outlook projects global GDP growth of 2.9% in 2024 and a slight improvement to 3.0% in 2025. This is in
line with the OECD projections from November 2023(2.7% for 2024 and 3.1% for 2025).

ii.Headline inflation in G20 countries is expected to decline from 6.6% in 2024 to 3.8% in 2025. Core inflation in
the G20 advanced economies is projected to fall back to 2.5% in 2024 and 2.1% in 2025.
DARPG releases NeSDA Way Forward Annual Report for 2023

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) under the Ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions has unveiled the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment
(NeSDA) Way Forward Annual Report 2023.
• The report showcases the substantial progress made by States, Union Territories (UTs) and seven
sectors during 2023 in the mandatory e-Services and total e-Services under the NeSDA Framework.
NeSDA Framewrok:
DARPG formulated the NeSDA Framework to:
• Analyse India’s e-governance journey;
• Increase the number of e-services;
• Increase the use of integrated/centralised portals; and
• Collaborate with the Right to Service (RTS) Commission.
NeSDA Study:
i.DARPG conducts the NeSDA study biennially (every 2 years).
ii.2 NeSDA Reports (NeSDA 2019 & 2021) have been released, and the 3rd report (NeSDA 2023) is in the
pipeline.
Highlights of 2023 Way Forward Annual Report:
i.DARPG organised 3 Regional Conferences on e-Governance in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Mumbai
(Maharashtra), and Guwahati (Assam), respectively.
ii.A total of 16,487 e-services were provided across States/UTs in December 2023, as against 11,614 in April
2023.
• It has been achieved by persistent efforts of state/UT, DARPG monthly reviews, best practice sharing,
and focused analysis.
• Maximum e-services are provided in the Local Governance & Utility Services sector.
Saturation Level Up:
A saturation level of 76% of Mandatory e-services has been achieved by States/UTs i.e., 1,528 out of 2,016
(56*36 States/UTs), an increase from 69% under NeSDA 2021.
• Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) provides the maximum (1117) number of e-Services, across States/UTs.
• Tourism sector has achieved the highest saturation for provision of all mandatory e-services in 23 out
of 36 States/UTs. This is followed by Environment and Labour & Employment sector in 20 out of 36
States/UTs.
Increase in Use of Unified/Centralized Portals:
One of the major objectives of the NeSDA Way Forward was the adoption of e-Service delivery via a Single
Unified Portal by respective States/UTs.
• J&K, Kerala, Assam, and Odisha provide 100% of their services through their identified Single Unified
Service Delivery Portal i.e., e-UNNAT (Electronic -Unified Integrated Accessible Transparent), e-
Sevanam, Sewa Setu, and Odisha One, respectively.
Promotion of Faceless Services:
i.DARPG has been disseminating the best practices across the States and UTs and attempting to promote
faceless and suo-moto entitlement-based delivery of services.
ii.9 NeSDA Way Forward Monthly Reports were published between March to December 2023 to monitor the
status of e-service delivery, across States/UTs.
• Monthly reports in 2023 cover 7 sectors, featuring 40+ best practices.
Note:
• Suo-moto delivery of services involves government independently providing e-services to citizens,
without any explicit application or request.

• Such services are provided to the entitled and eligible beneficiaries.
Collaboration with RTS Commission:
i.The DARPG has embarked on a collaborative initiative with the Chief Commissioners and Appellate Officers of
RTS Act across various States/UTs.
ii.The collaboration aims to leverage the RTS framework and enhance e-service delivery nationwide in line
with the NeSDA Way Forward.
On 8 December 2023, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) launched the
web portal (www.nceg.gov.in) for the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2024
About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions:
Union Minister– Narendra Modi (Constituency: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency: Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir)
NITI Aayog Launches Greening India’s Wastelands with Agroforestry Report and Portal
On February 12, 2024, NITI Aayog(National Institution for Transforming India) launched the Greening and
Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) initiative, which includes GRWO report and portal at
NITI Aayog headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi.
Note: Agroforestry involves integrating trees with crops and/or animals farming systems on the same unit of
land.
About GROW Portal:
i.The GROW-Suitability Mapping portal on Bhuvan (https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/asi_portal/) will allow
universal access to state and district-level data.
ii.This portal is expected to significantly boost the promotion of agroforestry initiatives by government bodies.
About GROW Report:
i.The report, developed under the leadership of NITI Aayog, used remote sensing and Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) technologies to assess the suitability of agroforestry practices across all districts of India.
ii.The report includes Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI) for national-level prioritisation, using thematic
datasets.
Key Points:
i.The report offers a comprehensive state-wise and district-wise analysis and
provides insights to government departments and industries involved in greening and restoration projects.
ii.This also highlights the potential of converting underutilized areas such as wastelands, into productive
agroforestry zones.
Key Points:
i.Agroforestry covers 8.65% of India’s total area, approximately 28.42 million hectares.
ii.Report GROW initiative aligns with national goal to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030,
creating carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
iii.Approximately 16.96% of the Total Geographical Area (TGA) is wasteland, requiring transformation for
productive use.
iv.India, the pioneer of the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014, aims to enhance productivity, profitability, and
sustainability through agroecological land use system.
• These efforts are in alignment with global commitments such as the Paris Agreement, Bonn Challenge,
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), United Nations Convention on Combating
Desertification (UNCCD), Doubling Farmers’ Income initiative, Green India Mission, among others.
About NITI Aayog(National Institution for Transforming India):
Chairperson– Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– B.V.R. Subrahmanyam

Unemployment rate dips to 6.5% in Q3FY24: 21st Quarterly PLFS by NSSO
The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
released its 21st quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) bulletin for October-December 2023
(Q3FY24).
• As per it, India’s urban unemployment rate (UR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) terms for persons aged
15 years and above declined to 6.5% during Q3FY24 which is the lowest level in over 4 years.
• It was 6.6% in Q2FY24, and 7.2% in Q3FY23.
• It was high at 12.6% recorded in the Covid-affected April-June quarter of FY22 (Q1FY22).
Assessment:
A total number of 5,697 FSUs- First Stage Unit (UFS- Urban Frame Survey blocks) have been surveyed during
Q3FY24. The number of urban households surveyed was 44,544 and number of persons surveyed was
1,69,209 in urban areas.
Key Figures representing Persons of 15 years and above in Urban Areas in Q3FY24:
i.UR in CWS among male population declined to 5.8% (Q3FY24) as compared to 6.5% in Q3FY23.
• UR in CWS among females also saw a decline during Q3FY24 to 8.6% from 9.6% in Q3FY23.
ii.At all India level, Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in CWS increased to 49.9% (Q3FY24) from
48.2% in Q3FY23.
• For male, it was around 74.1% as compared to 73.3% in Q3FY23.
• For female, LFPR increased to 25% from 22.3% in Q3FY23.
iii. At all India level, Worker Population Ratio (WPR- in %) in CWS increased to 46.6% from 44.7% in
Q3FY23.
• For male, it increased to 69.8% from 68.6% in Q3FY23.
• For female, it increased to 22.9% from 20.2% in Q3FY23.
Key Points:
i.Increased enthusiasm for work led to better job opportunities for both men and women.
ii.Salaried job share in urban areas rose to 47.3% for men and 53% for women in Q3FY24.
• Overall, its 48.7%.
iii.Self-employment in urban areas also increased to 40.6%. Its 40.6% for male, and 40.3% for female.
Click Here for Official PDF
About Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
It was launched in 2017 by NSSO to serve the following two purposes:
• To estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio, Labour
Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in the short time interval of three months (quarterly) for
the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS).
• To estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ and CWS in both rural and
urban areas annually.
Key Definitions:
UR: It is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons among the labour force.
LFPR: It is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in
the population.
WPR: It is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
CWS: The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of
survey is known as the current weekly status (CWS) of the person.
About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
Minister of State (Independent Charge)– Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency- Gurugram, Haryana)
Secretary– DR. G P Samanta

State of the World’s Migratory Species Report released at CMS COP14 in Uzbekistan
On February 12, 2024, the first-ever ‘State of the World’s Migratory Species‘ report was launched at the 14th
Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Animals (CMS COP14), also known as Bonn Convention in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from February 12-17, 2024.
• The CMS COP14 is convened under the slogan, “Nature knows no borders”.
• It is also the first COP of any global environmental treaty to take place in Central Asia.
Who prepared the report?
It is prepared by the conservation scientists in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme
World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and CMS.
• It utilizes species datasets worldwide and includes expert contributions from institutions such as
BirdLife International, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Zoological
Society of London (ZSL).
What is in the report?
This report offers a global overview of migratory species conservation status, population trends, major threats,
successful conservation efforts, and policy suggestions to inform and aid discussions at the meeting.
• The report primarily focuses on 1,189 animal species listed under CMS for international protection.
• It also includes analysis related to over 3,000 non-CMS migratory species.
Note: The listing of species under CMS means that these species require international cooperation to address
their conservation.
Greatest Threats to Migratory Species, as per Report:
Human activities are the primary cause of the decline in migratory species. The following two are the greatest
threats to both CMS-listed and all migratory species:
i.Overexploitation– This includes unsustainable hunting, overfishing and the capture of non-target animals
such as in fisheries.
• Overexploitation impacting 70% of the species on the UN list.
• Seven out of ten CMS-listed species are impacted by overexploitation.
ii.Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation from activities such as agriculture and the expansion of
transport and energy infrastructure.
• Habitat loss affected up to 75% of the species.
• Three out of four CMS-listed species suffer habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation.
Highlights from Report:
i.The threatened species include one in five species of migratory birds, fish, reptiles, mammals, and insects.
ii.Of the species covered by the UN’s CMS, 82% listed as being in danger of extinction are threatened with 76%
experiencing population decline.
iii.44% of migratory species listed under CMS are experiencing population declines.
iv.22% of CMS-listed species are threatened with extinction.
v.97% of the 58 fish species listed faces extinction threats including migratory sharks, rays and sturgeons.
vi.51% of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) important for CMS-listed migratory animals lack protected status.
vii.58% of monitored sites vital for CMS-listed species are threatened by human activities viii.Nearly 61% of
KBAs crucial for CMS-listed migratory species lack adequate protection.
ix.Globally, 399 threatened or near-threatened migratory species (mainly Birds & Fish) are not under CMS
protection or approximately 18% of migratory species not under CMS protection are globally threatened, with
42% showing population decline.
• This emphasizes the need for broader conservation efforts.
Key Points:
i.Between 1988 and 2020, 70 CMS-listed migratory species, such as the steppe eagle and Egyptian vulture,
have become endangered, while only 14 species have improved, including blue whales and white-tailed sea
eagles.
ii.Of the 158 mammals listed under the convention, 40% are globally threatened.

iii.More than 960 species of birds are CMS-listed and 14% were assessed as threatened.
• However, this still amounts to some 134 species.
iv.The report also found 399 migratory species including albatrosses, ground sharks and stingrays which are
categorized as threatened or near-threatened but are not yet CMS-listed.
v.Climate change, pollution, invasive species, also pose significant threats to migratory species, leading to
increasing extinction risks globally, including those not listed under CMS.
vi.Habitat fragmentation from dams poses a major threat to freshwater migratory fish, including in India. Just
37% of the world’s long rivers (>1,000 km) maintain high connectivity, with dams and artificial infrastructure
affecting the rest.
vii.Migratory species are important for ecosystems, helping with pollination, nutrient transport, pest control,
and carbon storage.
viii.Despite challenges, the report showcases successful conservation efforts, such as reducing illegal bird
netting in Cyprus by 91% and restoring Saiga Antelope populations in Kazakhstan.
Recommendations:
i.Strengthen enforcement against illegal harvesting of migratory species and unintended capture of non-target
species.
ii.Expand initiatives to identify, safeguard, link, and properly manage critical sites for migratory species.
iii.Prioritize action for endangered species, especially CMS-listed fish species.
iv.Increase efforts to combat climate change, light, noise, chemical, and plastic pollution.
v.Consider widening CMS listings for additional at-risk migratory species.
What is CMS?
The CMS, a UN environmental treaty, unites nations and experts to conserve migratory species and their
habitats globally. With 133 Contracting Parties since its inception in 1979, it addresses the needs of terrestrial,
aquatic, and avian migratory species.
i.The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was held at the UN Headquarters in New
York City, USA, from September 18 to September 26, 2023. The world leaders, Heads of State and Governments,
foreign ministers, diplomats, and representatives from member states, often called as the ‘Oscars of Diplomacy‘,
attended the annual high-level week.
ii.Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week 2023, took place from 8-12 October in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia. It is the 2nd of four Regional Climate Weeks held in 2023 and the event hosted by the government of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
About United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Executive Director– Inger Andersen
Headquarters– Nairobi, Kenya
Establishment- 1972
Members – 193 Member States
Union Minister Sonowal Released ‘Sagar Aankalan’ Guidelines for Indian Port Performance Index
The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways (MoPS&W) released “Sagar Aankalan”, the national benchmarking guidelines for Indian port
performance index to boost their efficiency and improve competitiveness.
• The guidelines were released during the stakeholders’ meet on implementation of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed at the 3rd edition of the Global Maritime India
Summit 2023 (GMIS 2023).
Key People: Shantanu Thakur and Shripad Yesso Naik, Ministers of State (MoS), MoPS&W; senior officials
of MoPS&W were present during the event held in New Delhi, Delhi.

About Sagar Aankalan:
i.Sagar Aankalan, the guidelines for national benchmarking of Indian Ports Performance, will apply to all
Indian seaports.
ii.This aims to achieve mapping of Indian ports’ – its logistics performance and efficiency, and
Harmonisation of standards, definitions, and performance with global benchmarks.
iii.This also aims to improve the overall performance of the port sector with the focus on improvement,
productivity, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
Highlights of the event:
i.MoPS&W also derived an action plan for the implementation of MoUs signed during the GMIS 2023.
ii.The event also witnessed the launch of the GMIS 2023 Report and M.Tech(Masters of Technology)
in Dredging Technology course at the Indian Institute Of Technology–Madras (IIT–Madras) in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu.
Additional info:
GMIS 2023 was held from 17th to 19th October 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The previous editions were
held in 2016 and 2021.
Vadhavan Port Gets Environmental Clearance:
i.The Vadhavan Port in Palghar district of Maharashtra, has received environmental clearance from the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEF&CC).
ii.The MoPS&W is set to get cabinet approval for this project worth Rs 76220 crore.
iii.The will be developed by Vadhavan Port Project Ltd, a joint venture (JV) of Jawaharlal Nehru Port
Authority (JNPA) (74%) and Maharashtra Maritime Board(MMB) (26%), in two phases under the landlord
model as per the government policy.
iv.The in-principle approval for the port was granted on 13th February 2020 and the terms of reference
were approved on 7th October 2020.
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W):
Union Minister– Sarbananda Sonowal (Rajya Sabha – Assam)
Ministers of State(MoS)– Shripad Yesso Naik (Constituency- North Goa, Goa) & Shantanu
Thakur(Constituency- Bangaon, West Bengal)
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Ministry of Defence Honoured Best Marching Contingents & Tableaux Awards for Republic Day
Parade 2024
On 30 January 2024, Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Defence honoured the best marching
contingents and tableaux awards for the Republic Day (R-Day) Parade 2024. The awards were
announced based on 2 separate results, one by a panel of judges and the other through an online public
vote conducted by the MyGov platform.
• A total of 25 tableaux – 16 States and Union
Territories (UTs) and 9 Ministries/Departments
participated in the 75th R-Day Parade 2024 at
Kartavya Path.
Note: A trophy representation ceremony was organised at RR
Camp in Delhi Cantonment to honour the achievements.
Panel Assessment:
3 panels of judges were appointed to assess the performance of:
• Marching Contingents from 3 Services;

• Marching Contingents from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)/other auxiliary forces; and
• Tableaux from various States/UTs and Ministries/Departments.
Online Public Vote:
i.A web page was created on the MyGov platform for online registration of citizens for watching the R-Day
Parade and ‘Beating the Retreat Ceremony 2024’ online.
ii.MyGov platform conducted an online poll for the citizens to vote for their favourite Tableaux and the
Marching contingents to select the best amongst popular choice categories.
• The online poll for the popular choice was conducted between January 25-27, 2024 on the
MyGov web page.
Highlights:
i.The Delhi Police Women’s Marching Contingent won the award in Best Marching Contingent among
CAPF/other auxiliary forces Category by a panel of judges. It was led by 2019-batch Indian Police Service
(IPS) officer Shweta K Sugathan.
• This was the 1st time that Delhi police deployed an all-women marching contingent during the
R-Day parade.
ii.The Tamil Nadu tableaux has bagged 3rd place by the panel of judges.
• It highlighted the importance of the Kudavolai system, a democratic system of electing the
local body representatives that prevailed during the Chola era.
iii.Rajputana Rifles Regimental Marching Contingent won the People’s Choice award for the Best Marching
Contingent among the 3 services.
iv.The Ministry of Culture Tableau on ‘Bharat: Mother of Democracy’ won the Best Tableau
(Ministries/Departments) by the panel of judges.
Beating Retreat Ceremony:
i.The Beating Retreat ceremony is a significant event that marks the culmination of the 4-day-long
Republic Day celebrations in India. The ceremony will play 31 captivating and foot-tapping Indian tunes.
ii.It takes place at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi, Delhi on the evening of January 29 every year, 3 days after
Republic Day. The Chief Guest of the function is the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
iii.Indian tunes highlighting the sacrifices & patriotism of soldiers will be played by bands of the Indian
Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and CAPFs.
iv.The principal conductor of the ceremony was Lt Col Vimal Joshi.
• ‘Beating Retreat’ traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army
indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands
Result of best marching contingents and tableaux awards for the Republic Day Parade (By Panel of
Judges):
Category Winner
Best Marching Contingent among the three
services Sikh Regiment Contingent
Best Marching Contingent among CAPF/other
auxiliary forces Delhi Police Women Marching Contingent
First – Odisha (Woman Empowerment in Viksit Bharat)
Second – Gujrat (Dhordo : A Global Icon Of Gujarat’s
Border Tourism)
Third – Tamil Nadu (Kudavolai System in ancient Tamil
Best three Tableaux (States/UTs) Nadu – Mother of Democracy)
Best Tableau (Ministries/Departments) Ministry of Culture – (Bharat : Mother of Democracy)

Central Public Works Department (Central Vista -Viksit
Special Prize Bharat Ka Pratibimb)
Special Memento Vande Bharatam – Dance Group
Result of best marching contingents and tableaux awards for the Republic Day Parade (By Online
poll on MyGov):
Category Winner
Best Marching Contingent among the
three services Rajputana Rifles Regimental Marching Contingent
Best Marching Contingent among
CAPF/other auxiliary forces CRPF Woman Marching Contingent
First – Gujrat (Dhordo : A Global Icon Of Gujarat’s Border
Tourism)
Second – Uttar Pradesh (Viksit Bharat Samradh Virasat)
Third – Andhra Pradesh (Transforming School Education in
Best three Tableaux (States/UTs) Andhra Pradesh – Making Students Globally Competitive)
Best Tableau (Central
Ministries/Departments) Ministry of Home Affairs (Vibrant Villages)
On 21st October 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence inaugurated the 1st edition of
the Indian Military Heritage Festival (2023) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Ministry of Defence:
Union Minister- Rajnath Singh (Constituency: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Ajay Bhatt (Constituency: Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand)
Forbes India 30 Under 30 List for 2024 Features 37 Individuals including ActressRashmika
Mandana & Zepto founders
Forbes India unveiled the 11th edition of Forbes India 30 Under 30 List for 2024 (Class of 2024), which
recognises professionals and entrepreneurs who have made
significant contributions across diverse fields.
• The 2024 list features 37 individuals including
Actress Rashmika Mandana; Aadit Palicha and
Kaivalya Vohra, co-founders of Zepto; Vishnu Acharya
of Razorpay recognised across 19 cateogries.
• The class of 2024 includes a total of 9 women which
includes.
Note: The 2024 witnessed the introduction of a new cateogry – B2B (business-to-business).
Forbes India 30 Under 30 List: Class of 2024
Category Name Age Title/Company
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer

Ankit Alok Bagaria 28
(CEO), Loopworm
Agri Tech
Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer
Abhi Gawri 27
(COO), Loopworm

Art Viraj Khanna 28 Artist
Shreyans Chopra 29 Founder and CEO, Mstack

B2B
Chief Product Officer (CPO) & Head of
Spriha Biswas 29
Marketing, Augnito
Ajinkya Dhariya 28 Founder, PadCare Labs
Clean energy & Anupam Kumar 28 Co-founder & CEO, Mini Mines
climate change
Co-founder and Chief Technology
Arvind Bhardwaj 28
Officer (CTO), Mini Mines
Co-founder & CEO, Rapture Innovation

Navajith Karkera 28
Labs
Consumer tech
Co-founder & CTO, Rapture Innovation
Jagath Biddappa 29
Labs
Co-founder & Creative

Abhishek Durani 28
Director, Studio Sorted
Co-founder & Managing Partner,

Design Netra Ajjampur 28
Studio Sorted
Co-founder & Director of industrial

Christopher Richard 28
design, Studio Carbon
Anushka Rathod 25 Digital content creator

Digital content
creators Dipraj Jadhav 28 Digital content creator
Aadit Palicha 21 Co-founder, Zepto
Ecommerce & Retail Kaivalya Vohra 21 Co-founder, Zepto
Varun Sanghi 27 Head, CarTrade ventures
Co-founder and COO, NxtWave

Anupam Pedarla 29
Disruptive Technologies
Education
Co-founder & Head of Customer
Sashank Reddy Gujjula 27 Experience, NxtWave Disruptive
Technologies
Enterprise technology Uddhav Kumar 27 Co-founder and CEO, Lynkit
Rashmika Mandanna 27 Actor

Entertainment
Radhika Madan 28 Actor

Vishesh Khanna 28 Co-founder, AK-OK
Fashion
Founder & CEO, Humanity Centred
Vishal Tolambia 26
Designs
Seethalakshmy
29 Vice President, Premji Invest
Narayanan
Finance
Head of Strategy & Mergers and
Vishnu Acharya 29 acquisitions (M&A)/ Investments,
Razorpay
Food & Hospitality Abhishek Agarwal 29 Co-founder & Director, Farmley
Senior consultant, McKinsey &

Dr Nadeem Ahmed 29
Company
Healthcare
Aryan Chauhan 22 Co-founder, Zivov
Rama Krishna Mendu 26 Co-founder & CEO, EndureAir Systems

Industry &
Manufacturing
Chirag Jain 28 Co-founder & CTO, EndureAir Systems
Music Aditi Saigal aka Dot 25 Musician; Actor
NGO & Social

Hunny Bhagchandani 28 Founder, Torchit
entrepreneurship
Parul Chaudhary 28 Athlete
Sports Sumit Antil 25 Para Athlete
Jyothi Yarraji 24 Athlete

Key Highlights:
i.Aadit Palicha (21 years) and Kaivalya Vohra (21 years), Co-founders of Zepto are the youngest winners of
the class of 2024 list.
• Zepto is the only 1 unicorn on the list, valued at USD 1.6 billion, and raised USD 235.4 million in
2023, which is the biggest amount raised by a listee in 2024.
ii.The list features a total of 13 professionals including Rashmika Mandanna and Radhika Madan.
iii.The winners of the new category B2B are: Shreyans Chopra (29), Founder and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), Mstack; and Spriha Biswas (29), Chief Product Officer (CPO) and Head of Marketing of India’s first
voice-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) for healthcare professionals, Augnito
Note: Mstack, led by Shreyans Chopra, gains prominence for its cross-border custom manufacturing
platform specializing in specialty chemicals.
iv.Hunny Bhagchandani (28), Founder of Torchit, is recognised for creating innovations benefiting persons
with disabilities.
• His first product, Saarthi, is a device to help blind and visually impaired persons.
Note: Athletes Parul Chaudhary and Jyothi Yarraji, featured on the list, are a part of the Indian contingents
participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics(France).

About Forbes India 30 under 30 list:
i.Forbes India 30 Under 30 list was first published in 2014. It was started with 14 categories in 2014 and
expanded to 20 in 2023.
ii.The list dynamically adapted to industry trends, separated music, and entertainment, added education
during the edtech boom, and incorporated cryptocurrency (Web3 in 2023).
• Over the past decade, this list has not only spotlighted emerging talents but also witnessed their
continued impact on diverse industries.
Selection Process:
i.The final selection was made by the Forbes India editorial team, considering individuals under 30 as of
February 29, 2024.
ii.Enterprises with multiple co-founders were evaluated, giving preference to those with at least one
founder under the age of 30.
The Forbes Asia’s 2023 Heroes of Philanthropy list, the 17th edition of the annual unranked list, features 3
Indians: Kushal Pal Singh (K.P. Singh), Chairman Emeritus of DLF Limited; Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder
and Charman of Infosys; and Nikhil Kamath, Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer, Zerodha.
About Forbes India:
Editor– Brian Carvalho
Launched in– 2009
Modi Enterprises Chairperson Bina Modi honoured as ‘Outstanding Business Woman of the Year
2023’
Union Minister, Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD) honoured Dr Bina Modi, Chairperson of Modi
Enterprises, KK Modi Group, with the “Outstanding Business Woman of the Year – 2023′ Award. The
award recognised her contributions to the industry.
The award was presented during the Indo-American Chamber of
Commerce (IACC) conference held in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Dr Bina Modi:
i.Dr Bina Modi is also the President and Managing Director(MD) of
Godfrey Phillips India and Chairman and MD of Indofil Industries
Limited (agro-chemical manufacturer).
ii.Some of the brands that she created include Bina Fashions, Ego
Thai, Ego Italian, and luxury and lifestyle businesses.
iii.Award-
• Dr. Bina Modi has been awarded the “Women of the Decade in Business & Leadership 2018” by
Women Economic Forum
• She has also featured on India’s Most Powerful Women, a book by Prem Ahluwalia (2016).
Note: Modi enterprise oversees around 12 brands.
IACC Conference:
i.The IACC conference on “Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in Amritkal-
Aatmanirbhar Bharat” witnessed the participation of the Ambassador of the United States of America
(USA) to India Eric Garcetti and representatives of IACC.
ii.The conference was chaired by Dr. Lalit Bhasin, former National President of IACC & Managing Partner,
Bhasin & Co., Advocates.
About Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC):
It is the apex bi-lateral Chamber synergizing India-US Economic Engagement.

National President– Pankaj Bohra
Established in 1968
REC won Best Green Bond – Corporate Award at The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable
Finance 2024
Gurugram (Haryana) based REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) was awarded
with the Best Green Bond – Corporate Award at The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable Finance 2024.
• REC was honoured for the issuance of Green Bonds worth USD 750 million in April 2023.
• This was the first USD Green Bond issuance from India after India assumed the G20 (Group of 20)
Presidency and the largest-ever Senior Green Bond Tranche by a South or South-East Asian issuer
Note:
i.REC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Power (MoP).
ii.It is registered with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), Public Financial
Institution (PFI) and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC).
iii.The Asset Triple A Awards are presented by The Asset(Asset Publishing and Research Ltd) to recognise
those who excell in their respective industry.
Former Deputy PM LK Advani to be Honoured with Bharat Ratna

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Veteran Leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Lal Krishna
(LK) Advani will be conferred with Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India.
• He will be the 50th recipient of the Bharat Ratna award since its inception in 1954.
Points to Note:
i.This is the 7th Bharat Ratna awarded by the current ruling
government (Prime Minister Narendra Modi regime), since assuming
power in 2014.
ii.The list also includes:
• Madan Mohan Malviya (Posthumous, 2015);
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2015);
• Pranab Mukherjee (2019);
• Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika (Posthumous, 2019),
• Nanaji Deshmukh (Posthumous, 2019); and
• Karpoori Thakur (Posthumous, 2024).
About LK Advani:
i.He was born in Karachi (pre-Partition Sindh), in present-day Pakistan, on November 8, 1927.
ii.In April 1970, he entered the Rajya Sabha from the office of the Chairman of the Delhi Metropolitan Council.
iii.From 1977 to 1979, he held the position of Union Minister of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
iv.In May 1986, he became the Party President of BJP and served for the longest period.
v.In 1988, he held the position of Home Minister and served as the Union Cabinet Minister of the Ministry of
Home Affairs from 1999-2004.
vi.He was later elevated to the position of Deputy Prime Minister from 2002-2004.
About Bharat Ratna:
i.It was instituted in 1954 and is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest
order in any field of human endeavour.
ii.The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President.
iii.The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of 3 in a particular year.
iv.The award includes a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• The Award does not carry any monetary grant.

66th Annual Grammy Awards(2024): Taylor Swift wins Album of the Year for 4th time
The 66th Annual Grammy Awards(Grammy 2024) was held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California,
the United States of America(USA) on 4th February 2024.
• The Grammy 2024 recognized recordings released between
1st October 2022 and 15th September 2023. The 2024
awards were presented in 94 categories.
Host: Trevor Noah, a South African comedian, hosted the Grammy
for the fourth time.
About Grammy Awards:
The Grammy Awards is an annual recognition presented by the
Recording Academy or National Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences, since 1957 to honour musical artists, compositions, and albums.
New Categories:
The Recording Academy added 3 New categories for the 2024 edition: African music performance (won by
South African artist Tyla), alternative jazz album (won by Meshell Ndegeocello) and pop dance recording (won
by Kylie Minogue).
The Recording Academy also moved Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-
Classical to the General Field.
Top Honours:
i.Taylor Swift won the Grammy 2024 – Album of the Year for her album Midnights and became the first ever
artist to win “Album of the Year” four times. Previously, she won the award for “Fearless” in 2010, “1989” in
2016, and “Folklore” in 2020.
• she also won the award under “Best Pop Vocal Album” category.
• With these wins, Taylor has won a total of 14 Grammy Awards from 52 nominations.
ii.Victoria Monét won the Best New Artist at the 2024 Grammys. Her album “Jaguar II” also won Best R&B
Album and Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical).
• Monét was nominated for seven Grammys at the 2024 awards, tied for second-most overall
nominations.
iii.Miley Cyrus won Two Grammys under Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo performance for “Flowers.”
• This marks Miley’s first 2 Grammy trophies.
iv.Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell won the Song of the year award for “What Was I Made For?” From
“Barbie”.
Highlights:
i.Rapper Killer Mike won three Grammys: Best Rap Album for “Michael”, and Best Rap Song and Best Rap
Performance for “Scientists and Engineers” featuring Andre 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane.
ii.SZA won in three different categories: Best R&B Song for her track “Snooze,” Best Progressive R&B Album for
“SOS,” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Ghost in the Machine” with Phoebe Bridgers and
was nominated for 9 categories.
Zakir Hussain’s Shakti band won Best Global Music Album for ‘This Moment’:
The band Shakti, led by Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain and featuring vocalist Shankar Mahadevan,
percussionist V Selvaganesh, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan and John McLaughlin, has won the Best Global
Music Album award for their latest release ‘This Moment’.
• This marks a significant milestone as the group’s first new album in over 45 years. The album includes
eight new compositions.
Points to note:
i.Indian tabla player and composer Zakir Hussain won a total of 3 Grammys awards in 2024 including the Best
Global Music Album as a part of Shakti. The other 2 Grammys are,
• Best Global Music Performance for ‘Pashto’
• Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for ‘As We Speak’.

ii.Along with Zakir Hussain, Indian flutist Rakesh Chaurasia won two Grammys as part of the ensemble of
American banjo player Béla Fleck and American bassist Edgar Meyer for ‘Pashto’ and ‘As We Speak’.
Special Merit Awards:
The Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Recording Academy’s National Trustees to performers
who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of
recording.
Winners:
Categories Winners
MusiCares Person of
Jon Bon Jovi
the Year
Donna Summer
Gladys Knight
Lifetime Achievement Laurie Anderson
Awards N.W.A
Tammy Wynette
The Clark Sisters
Dr. Dre Global Impact
Jay-Z
Award
Best Song for Social
“Refugee”- K’naan, Gerald Eaton & Steve McEwan
Change
Winners of Grammy Awards 2024
Category Winner
General Field
Record of the Year Flowers by Miley Cyrus
Album of the Year Midnights by Taylor Swift
Song of the Year What Was I Made For? (from Barbie) by Billie Eilish
Best New Artist Victoria Monét
Producer of the year, non-
Jack Antonoff
classical
Songwriter of the Year, Non-
Theron Thomas
Classical
POP & Dance/ Electronic Music field
Best Pop Solo performance Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Best Pop Duo/Group SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in the
Performance Machine
Best Pop Dance Recording “Padam Padam,”- Kylie Minogue
Best Pop Vocal Album Taylor Swift – Midnights
Best Dance/Electronic
Skrillex, Fred again.. & Flowdan – Rumble
Recording
Best Dance/Electronic Music Fred again.. – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9
Album 2022)
R&B, Rap and Spoken Word Poetry field
Best R&B Performance Coco Jones – “ICU”
Best Traditional R&B
PJ Morton ft. Susan Carol- Good Morning
Performance
Best R&B Song SZA – Snooze
Best Progressive R&B Album SZA- SOS

Best R&B Album Victoria Monét – Jaguar II
Scientists & Engineers — Killer Mike feat. André
Best Rap Performance
3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane
Best Melodic Rap
Lil Durk Featuring J. Cole – All My Life
Performance
Killer Mike ft. André 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen
Best Rap Song
Kane – Scientists & Engineers
Best Rap Album Killer Mike – Michael
Best Spoken Word Poetry
J. Ivy – The Light Inside
Album
Rock, Metal and Alternative Music Field
Best Rock Performance Boygenius – Not Strong Enough
Best Metal Performance Metallica-72 Seasons
Best Rock Song Boygenius – Not Strong Enough
Best Rock Album Paramore – This Is Why
Best Alternative Music
Paramore – This Is Why
Performance
Best Alternative Music
Boygenius – The Record
Album
Country Field And American Roots Music
Best Country Solo
Chris Stapleton – White Horse
Performance
Best Country Duo/Group SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in the
Performance Machine
Best Country Song Chris Stapleton – White Horse
Best Country Album Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country
Best American Roots
Allison Russell- Eve Was Black
Performance
Best Americana Performance Brandy Clark ft. Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity
Best American Roots Song Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit-Cast Iron Skillet
Best Americana Album Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes
Best Bluegrass Album Molly Turtle & Golden Highway- City of Gold
Best Traditional Blues
Bobby Rush- All My Love for You
Album
Best Contemporary Blues
Larkin Poe – Blood Harmony
Album
Best Folk Album Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell at Newport [Live]
Best Regional Roots Music Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic
Album Orchestra – Live: Orpheum Theater Nola
Jazz, Traditional Pop, Contemporary Instrumental Musical Theater Field
Best Traditional Pop Vocal
Laufey – Bewitched
Album
Best Jazz Performance Samara Joy – Tight
Best Jazz Vocal Album Nicole Zuraitis – How Love Begins
Best Jazz Instrumental
Billy Childs – The Winds of Change
Album

Best Large Jazz Ensemble The Count Basie Orchestra Directed By Scotty
Album Barnhart – Basie Swings The Blues
Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo – El Arte Del Bolero
Best Latin Jazz Album
Vol. 2
Best Alternative Jazz Album “The Omnichord Real Book,” Meshell Ndegeocello
Best Contemporary As We Speak — Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar
Instrumental Album Meyer, feat. Rakesh Chaurasia
Best Musical Theater Album Some Like It Hot
Gospel/Christian
Best Gospel
Kirk Franklin – All Things
Performance/Song
for KING & COUNTRY ft. Jordin Sparks – Love Me
Best Contemporary Christian
Like I Am Lecrae & Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Your
Music Performance/Song
Power
Best Gospel Album All Things New: Live in Orlando- Tye Tribbett
Best Contemporary Christian
Lecrae – Church Clothes 4
Music Album
Best Roots Gospel Album Blind Boys of Alabama – Echoes of the South
Best Latin, Global, Reggae, And New Age, Ambient and Chant Field
Best Latin Pop Album “X Mí (Vol. 1),” Gaby Moreno
Best Musica Urbana album Karol G-Mañana Será Bonito
Best Latin Rock or Natalia Lafourcade – De Todas Las Flores
Alternative Album And Juanes – Vida Cotidiana
Best Música Mexicana Album
Peso Pluma – Génesis
(Including Tejano)
Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta –
Best Tropical Latin Album Siembra: 45(degree) Aniversario (En Vivo en el
Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022)
Best New Age, Ambient, or Carla Patullo ft. Tonality and the Scorchio Quartet –
Chant Album So She Howls
Best Reggae Album Julian Marley & Antacus – Colors of Royal
Best Global Music Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain ft. Rakesh
Performance Chaurasia – Pashto
Best African Music
“Water,” Tyla
Performance
Best Global Music Album Shakti – This Moment
Children’s, Comedy, Audio Books, Visual Media and Music Video/Film Field
Best Children’s Music Album 123 Andrés – We Grow Together Preschool Songs
Best Audio Book, Narration Michelle Obama – The Light We Carry: Overcoming
and Storytelling Recording In Uncertain Times
Best Comedy Album Dave Chappelle – What’s In A Name?
Best Score Soundtrack for
Visual Media (Includes Film Oppenheimer,” Ludwig Göransson, composer
and Television)
Best Score for Video Game or Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Stephen Barton and
Other Interactive Media Gordy Haab, composers

Best Song Written for Visual
Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?
Media
Best Music Video The Beatles – I’m Only Sleeping
Best Music Film Moonage Daydream
Production, Engineering, Composition and Arrangement
Best Engineered Album,
Victoria Monét – Jaguar II
Non-Classical
Best Engineered Album, Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra –
Classical Contemporary American Composers
Producer of the Year,
Elaine Martone
Classical
Best Remixed Recording Depeche Mode – Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix)
Best Immersive Audio
Alicia Keys – The Diary of Alicia Keys
Album
Best Instrumental
John Williams – Helena’s Theme
Composition
Best Arrangement, The String Revolution ft. Tommy Emmanuel –
Instrumental or A Cappella Folsom Prison Blues
Best Arrangement, säje ft. Jacob Collier – In the Wee Small Hours of the
Instruments and Vocals Morning
Package, Notes and Historical
Best Recording Package Luke Brooks & James Theseus Buck – Stumpwork
Best Boxed or Special
For The Birds: The Birdsong Project
Limited Edition Package
Various Artists – Written In Their Soul: The Stax
Best Album Notes Songwriter Demos (album notes by Robert Gordon
& Deanie Parker
Various Artists – Playing for the Man at the Door:
Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack
Best Historical Album
McCormick, 1958-1971 (album notes by Jeff Place &
John Troutman
Classical
Best Orchestral Performance Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante
Best Opera Recording Blanchard: Champion
Uusinta Ensemble; Helsinki Chamber Choir –
Best Choral Performance
Saariaho: Reconnaissance
Best Chamber Music/Small
Roomful Of Teeth – Rough Magic
Ensemble Performance
Best Classical Instrumental Yuja Wang; Teddy Abrams, conductor (Louisville
Solo Orchestra) – The American Project
Best Classical Solo Vocal Julia Bullock, soloist; Christian Reif, conductor
Album (Philharmonia Orchestra) – Walking In The Dark
Alex Brown, Harlem Quartet, Imani Winds, Edward
Best Classical Compendium Perez, Neal Smith & A.B. Spellman – Passion For
Bach And Coltrane
Jessie Montgomery, composer (Awadagin Pratt, A
Best Contemporary Classical
Far Cry & Roomful Of Teeth) – Montgomery:
Composition
Rounds

Nima Sarikhani Wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59 People’s Choice Award
Nima Sarikhani of the United Kingdom(UK) won the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59 People’s Choice
Award by the Natural History Museum, London(UK).
• Nima Sarikhani won this award for his photo of a polar bear sleeping peacefully on a small iceberg.
About the Award:
i.The award contest is annually organised by the Natural History Museum and it was originally founded in 1965
by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Wildlife Magazine.
ii.The People Choice Award was given based on the online poll featuring the 25 best photographs by shortlisting
50,000 entries from around the world.
iii.Nima Sarikhani’s photo titled ‘Ice Bed’ got 75,000 votes in the online poll to win the award.
iv.The other four finalists for the award were – The Happy Turtle by Tzahi Finkelstein (Israel), Starling
Murmuration by Daniel Dencescu (Germany), Shared Parenting by Mark Boyd (Kenya), and Aurora Jellies by
Audun Rikardsen (Norway).
v.The winner is awarded with £ 10,000 (Pound), a trophy and personalised certificate.
v.The five images will be displayed online and at London’s Natural History Museum until June 30, 2024.
Click here to view top five finalists’ images
About the Photo:
Nima Sarikhani took the photo of a sleeping polar bear after three days of searching for polar bears on the coast
of the Svalbard archipelago of Norway.
Note–
The 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 58 People’s Choice Award was awarded to Sascha Fonseca
(Germany) for the image ‘World of the Snow Leopard’.
Indian sprinter P.T. Usha Honoured with SJFI’s Lifetime Achievement Award
President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Indian sprinter Pilavullakandy Thekkeyparambil
Usha (P.T. Usha) was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award with Gold Medal by Sports
Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) in an event held at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI), New Delhi,
Delhi.
• The programme was co-hosted by Delhi Sports Journalists’
Association (DSJA), one of the affiliates of SJFI.
Key People:
The event was attended by Rajeev Shukla, Member of Parliament(MP)
of Rajya Sabha and Vice President of Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI); former Indian shooter Jaspal Rana.
Key Points:
i.The award consists of a Gold Medal, a citation and a memento. SJFI
award is the highest honour of SJFI.
ii.PT Usha is the fifth recipient of the SJFI Gold Medal. The other four receipts are:
• Former Indian tennis player Vijay Amritraj
• Former Indian badminton player Prakash Padukone
• Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar
• Former Indian sprinter Late Milkha Singh
About PT Usha:
i.PT Usha hails from Payyoli, Kerala.
ii.She is the winner of 4 Asian gold medals and 7 Silver medals, and fourth place finisher in the 1984 Los
Angeles Olympics (United States) 400m hurdles final.
• From 1977 to 2000, Usha won 103 international medals.
iii.At the age of just 16 years, she became the youngest sprinter to ever represent India at the biggest stage for
track and field athletes.

iv.PT Usha was awarded the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri Award(in the field of sports) in 1983 and 1985.
v.In July 2022, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
vi.In December 2022, she became the first woman President of IOA.
GoI to honour PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh & MS Swaminathan with Bharat
Ratna
The government of India (GoI) announced that two former Prime Ministers(PMs), Chaudhary Charan
Singh and PV Narasimha Rao, and the father of India’s ‘green revolution’ Dr MS Swaminathan will be
awarded Bharat Ratna in 2024.
• With this, the total number of Bharat Ratna recipients in 2024
becomes five. This is the highest number of Bharat Ratnas
awarded in a year since its inception in 1954.
Note: In January 2024, GoI announced Bharat Ratna for Former Deputy
Prime Minister Lal Krishna (LK) Advani and Former Bihar Chief
Minister Karpoori Thakur (posthumously).
About PV Narasimha Rao:
i.He was born on June 28, 1921, in Karimnagar in the erstwhile Andhra
Pradesh(AP) (now Telangana).
ii.He was affiliated with the Indian National Congress (INC). He served as Chief Minister(CM) of the erstwhile
Andhra Pradesh from 1971 to 1973.
iii.He served as a Member of the AP Legislative Assembly from 1957-1977; and a Member of Parliament (Lok
Sabha) from 1977 to 1998.
iv.He has also served as the Minister of External Affairs; Home Affairs; Defence and Human Resource
Development.
v.He served as PM of India from 1991 to 1996. He was the first PM from South India (United Andhra Pradesh)
and the 1st PM from a non-Hindi-speaking region (Telugu).
vi.He died at the age of 83 on 9 December 2004.
About Chaudhary Charan Singh:
i.He was born in 1902 at Noorpur in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh (UP).
ii.He joined Congress and was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces from Chaprauli
in Meerut District in 1937. He represented the constituency in 1946, 1952, 1962, and 1967.
iii.He left Congress in 1967 and formed his independent party known as the Bharatiya Lok Dal.
iv.In 1967, he was elected as leader of the Samyukta Vidhayak Dal and served as the Chief Minister(CM) of UP
for the 1st time.
v.In February 1970, he became the CM of UP for the 2nd time.
vi.He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in the 1977 General Elections and served as Home Minister.
vii.In 1979, he was appointed Finance Minister and subsequently elevated to the post of Deputy PM.
viii.He sworn in as the PM of India on 28 July 1979, and held the post till January 1980. He passed away on 29
May 1987.
About MS Swaminathan:
i.MS Swaminathan, popularly known as the Father of the Indian Green Revolution, was born on 7 August
1925 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. He is a native of Mankombu, Alappuzha district of Kerala.
ii.He joined the faculty of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), in Delhi in 1954 and served as
Director of IARI from 1961-72.
iii.He served as Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) from 1972-79 and as
President of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) from 1984 to 1990.
iv.In 1988, he founded M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), a research center in Chennai (Tamil
Nadu), and served as its Chairman, Emeritus Chairman, and Chief Mentor.
v.He passed away at the age of 98 in 2023.

Awards:
i.The Government of India (GoI) honoured him with the Padma Shri (1967); Padma Bhushan (1972); and
Padma Vibhushan (1989) for Science and Engineering.
ii.He is also the recipient of the Japan Prize (1987), the World Food Prize (1996), the Wolf Prize from Israel
(2000) and the China International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award (2001).
About Bharat Ratna:
i.Bharat Ratna, instituted in 1954, is awarded to recognise exceptional service/performance of the highest
order in any field of human endeavour.
ii.The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister (PM) to the President.
iii.The award includes a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• The Award does not carry any monetary grant.
About Ministry of Home Affairs:
Union Minister– Amit Shah (Constituency- Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat)
Ministers of State– Nityanand Rai (Constituency- Ujiarpur, Bihar); Ajay Kumar Mishra (Constituency- Kheri,
Uttar Pradesh); Nisith Pramanik (Constituency- Coochbehar, West Bengal)
MPA Honoured winners of 16th National Youth Parliament Competition for Universities/Colleges,
2019-20
On 16th February 2024, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs(MPA) honoured the winners of the 16th
National Youth Parliament Competition for
Universities/Colleges (2019-20) during the Prize Distribution
ceremony held at GMC Balayogi Auditorium, Parliament House
Complex, in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The awards were presented by Arjun Ram Meghwal,
Minister of State(MoS), MPA.
• The students of the Central University of Punjab
(Bathinda, Punjab) received the running shield and
trophy for standing 1st at the National Level.
Winners of 16th National Youth Parliament Competition for Universities/Colleges, 2019-20:
University/College Group % of Marks
Running Shield and Trophy for standing first at the national level
Central University of Punjab Group I 92.17
Merit Trophies For Standing First In The Respective Groups
DAV College (Jalandhar, Punjab) Group II 90.67
Jadavpur University (Kolkata, West Bengal) Group III 90.67
University of Mumbai (Mumbai, Maharashtra) Group IV 88.00
Chanakya National Law University (Patna, Bihar) Group V 87.00
Shivaji University (Kolhapur, Maharashtra) Group VI 86.50
Note: One trophy each will be awarded to the institutions that secured first position in their respective

groups.
Individual prize winners were also felicitated during the event.
Click here for the complete list of winners
About Youth Parliament Competitions for Universities/Colleges:
i.The Youth Parliament Competitions for Universities/Colleges have been organised by MPA for the past
27 years.
• The 16th edition of the competition was organised among 36 universities/colleges across India.
ii.Youth Parliament Scheme aims to make the young generation acquainted with the practices and
procedures of parliament, techniques of discussion and debate; and developing leadership qualities,
among others.
Key People:
Dr. Satya Prakash, Additional Secretary, MPA; Dr. Anil Bonde, Member of Parliament (MP) (Rajya Sabha –
Maharashtra); and Bratin Sengupta, former MP (Rajya Sabha – West Bengal) were present during the
event.
Sportstar Aces 2024: Neeraj Chopra and Sheetal Devi win Sportstar of the Year
Indian Olympian Neeraj Chopra was awarded the Sportstar of the Year (Male) award at the 2024 Sportstar Aces
Awards held at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The 2024 Arjuna Awardee Sheetal Devi (para-archer) won the Sportstar Aces Award for the Sportstar
of the Year (female).She also won the moment of the year award.
Winners of Sportstar ACES 2024:
Category Winner
Men’s Relay Team (4*400m)

Sportsman of the Year (Track and Field) (Muhammad Anas, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal,
and Rajesh Ramesh)
Sportswoman of the Year (Track and

Parul Chaudhary(Athletics)
Field)
Hardik Singh(Hockey),
Sportsman of the Year (Team Sports)
Mohammed Shami(Cricket)
Sportswoman of the Year (Team Sports) Vandana Katariya(Hockey)
Sportsman of the Year (Individual) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty(Badminton)
Rameshbabu Vaishali(Chess), Sift Kaur

Sportswoman of the Year (Individual)
Samra(Shooting)
Sportsman of the Year (Parasports) Sumit Antil(javelin)
Sportswoman of the Year (Parasports) Thulasimathi Murugesan(Badminton)
Coach of the Year Rahul Dravid(Cricket)
Young Achiever of the Year (Male) Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar(Archery)

Young Achiever of the Year (Female) Tilottama Sen(Shooting)
Chandu Borde(Cricket),
Lifetime Achievement Award
Karnam Malleswari(Weightlifting)
Sportstar of the Year (Male) Neeraj Chopra(Javelin)
Sportstar of the Year (Female) Sheetal Devi(Archery)
National Team of the Year India Men’s Cricket Team
Club/State Team of the Year Saurashtra Cricket Team
Moment of the Year Sheetal Devi Hits the Bullseye
International Icon Muttiah Muralitharan(Sri Lanka Men’sCricket)
Best State for the Promotion of Sport Tamil Nadu
Best Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) NTPC Ltd

for the Promotion of Sport (National Thermal Power Corporation)
Best Corporate for the Promotion of

Tata Steel Ltd
Sport
Best University for the Promotion of

SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Sport
Sport for Social Good Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
Ace of Aces Award Rohan Bopanna(Tennis)

Key Points:
i.Tilottama Sen won the Young Achiever of the Year (Female) award
for her best performance in 2023, which made her secure up to fifth
rank in the 10m Air Rifle Women (ARW) Senior International
Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) rankings.
• She also secured a place to participate in the 2024 Paris
Olympics after winning the silver medal in the 10m air rifle
event at the Asian Championships 2023 held in South Korea.
ii.Prathamesh Jawkar won the Young Achiever of the Year (Male)
for recognising his performance in 2023, which included his gold medal in the men’s individual event
(compound) at the Archery World Cup in Shanghai (China) by defeating world No. 1 Mike Schloesser
(Netherlands).
iii.The 2024 Australian Open men’s doubles champion and 2024 Padma Shri awardee Rohan Bopanna was
awarded the ‘Ace of Aces award’.
• Rohan Bopanna also became the oldest world No. 1 in the Pepperstone Association of Tennis
Professionals (ATP) men’s doubles at 43 years and 331 days Rankings as per the list released by ATP on
29th January 2024.

About Sportstar Aces:
i.The 6th edition of the Sportstar Aces awards were given in 24 categories which includes 5 Popular Choice and
16 Jury Awards.
ii.The two special awards, namely ‘International Icon’ and ‘Ace of Aces’, were also awarded.
Isha Ambani received a Special Award at LMOTY 2024

Isha Ambani, Director of Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, was honoured with a
special award at the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year 2024 (LMOTY 2024) ceremony in Mumbai.
• Isha Ambani was honoured for her remarkable contributions in the field of business.
• Nita Ambani, the mother of Isha Ambani was also a recipient of the award in 2016.
• LMOTY award is presented by the leading Marathi newspaper ‘Lokmat’, it honors individuals who
made Maharashtra proud across India & the globe.
Havildar Varinder Singh of Sikh Regiment conferred Vishisht Seva Medal for Octocopter
Development
Havildar Varinder Singh of the Sikh Regiment in the Indian Army was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal
(VSM) for designing an innovative drone called ‘a multipurpose octocopter’.
• He was one of the 130 Vishisht Seva Medal awardees
announced by President Droupadi Murmu on 25th
January 2024.
Click here to view the full list of Vishisht Seva Medal Awardees
About multipurpose octocopter:
i.The multipurpose octocopter is a versatile drone capable of
conducting surveillance operations, grenade dropping, aerial target
engagement with weapons like the AK-47, and logistics operations.
• The octocopter is a type of drone with eight blades.
ii.It can also be used to drop essential supplies to forward posts, including in high-altitude areas.
About Vishisht Seva Medal:
The Vishisht Seva Medal was instituted on 26th Jan 1960 as VSM Class-III to recognize the distinguished
service of a high order. It was renamed in January 1967 as VSM.
Medal: The 35-millimeter (mm) diameter medal is circular in shape and made of bronze.
The medal’s front side features a five-pointed star, while the reverse bears the State Emblem with the text
written around the upper edge.
Ribbon: The medal is attached to a gold color ribbon which has three dark blue stripes dividing it into four
equal parts.
Note:
If a recipient of the medal is awarded the medal again, each succeeding award will be recognised by
a bar that will be affixed to the riband that suspends the medal.
About Indian Army:
Chief of the Army Staff – General Manoj Pande
Founded – 1895

Urdu Poet Gulzar & Sanskrit Scholar Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya Named Winners of 58th
Jnanpith Award
58th Jnanpith Award (2023) has been awarded to Two personalities – Legendary Indian poet and
lyricist Sampooran Singh Kalra (popularly known as Gulzar) for Urdu and Indian spiritual leader and
scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya for Sanskrit.
• The award is being given for the 2nd time for Sanskrit
language and for the 5th time for Urdu language.
About Jnanpith Award:
i.Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, has been
annually presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith since 1965. The
award recognises the outstanding contribution towards literature
in English and other Indian languages.
ii.The award carries a cash prize of Rs 11 lakhs, a bronze statue of
Vagdevi(Hindu Goddess Saraswati) and a citation.
About Gulzar:
i.Gulzar was born on August 18, 1934, in the village of Dina in the Jhelum district of Punjab, British India
(now in Pakistan).
ii.He is celebrated for his works in Hindi cinema and is considered one of the finest Urdu poets of this era.
iii.He wrote his first song ‘Mora Gora Ang Lai Le..’ for Bimal Roy’s film Bandini (1963).
iv.His noted works are featured in films like Anand (1970); Guddi (1971); Bawarchi (1972); Khamoshi
(1969); and Safar (1970).
Awards:
i.He received the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Original Song in 2009 for the song “Jai Ho” from the film
Slumdog Millionaire. He shared the award with A.R. Rahman. Jai Ho was the first Hindi song to win an
Oscar in the Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories.
ii.He also won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual
Media for the same song in 2010.
iii.He received the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu in 2002; the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013;
the Padma Bhushan in 2004 for Art.
About Jagadguru Rambhadracharya:
i.Jagadguru Rambhadracharya was born in 1950 in Khandikhurd village of Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
ii.He is the founder and President of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot, UP and one of the 4 Jagadguru
Ramanandacharyas of the Ramananda sect. He is holding the position since 1988.
iii.He is a polyglot who speaks 22 languages and he is also a poet and writer in several languages including
Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, and Maithili.
iv.He has authored more than 240 books and texts including 2 epics in Sanskrit and 2 in Hindi.
v.He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for Literature and education.
Prof. Aditi Sen De became 1st Woman to be honoured with GD Birla Award for Scientific Research
Professor Aditi Sen De has been awarded the 33rd Ghanshyam Das (GD) Birla Award for Scientific
Research 2023 for her outstanding contributions to the field of Physics. Aditi Sen De is the first female
scientist to receive this award.
• Her research is based on the manipulation of quantum states and their nonclassical
applications.
• The award was given by the KK Birla Foundation.
• She was also the first female to receive the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and
Technology in 2018.

About GD Birla Award:
i.The award was institutionalised in 1991.
ii.It recognises eminent Indian scientists below the age of 50 years for their original and outstanding
contributions to any branch of science.
iii.The award consists of a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
Shashi Tharoor conferred Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, Highest Civilian Award of France
Member of Parliament (MP) and prolific author Shashi Tharoor was conferred with “Chevalier de la
Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion Honour), the highest French civilian award, by French Senate
President Gerard Larcher at the event in the French Embassy in New Delhi, Delhi.
• He was recognised for his tireless efforts to deepen Indo-
French ties, his commitment to international peace and
cooperation, and as a long-standing friend of France.
Note:
The award was announced to Shashi Tharoor in August 2022, and
only the formal ceremony was held on 20th February 2024.
About Shashi Tharoor:
i.He is a former international diplomat, politician(Member of
Indian National Congress), writer, and public intellectual, serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) for
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, since 2009.
ii.He served 29 years(1978-2007) at the United Nations(UN), rising to the position of Under-Secretary-
General for Communications and Public Information in 2002.
iii.He served as Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs(May 2009-April 2010) and Human
Resource Development(2012-2014).
iv.In 2010, the King of Spain honoured Shashi Tharoor with the Encomienda de la Real Order Espanola de
Carlos III’, Spain’s highest civilian award.
v.In January 1998, Mr. Tharoor was named by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as a
“Global Leader of Tomorrow”.
Prominent books of Shashi Tharoor:
i.Shashi Tharoor is the author of a number of books, including the 2019 Sahitya Akademi Award-winning
(non-fiction) novel “An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India”.
ii.The Great Indian Novel(1989), Bookless in Baghdad (2005), Pax Indica,(2012), India Shastra: Reflections
on the Nation in our Time (2015).
iii. An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India (2016), Why I Am A Hindu (2018), The Paradoxical
Prime Minister (2018), and The Hindu Way: An Introduction to Hinduism (2019)
About Légion d’Honneur:
i.The Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour) was instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte in France.
ii.It is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless
of the nationality of the recipients.
iii.The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the Order of the Legion of Honour.
iv.The list of prominent Indians who received the award includes Natarajan Chandrasekaran(Chairman of
Tata Sons), Kiran Nadar, Dr V R Lalithambika(scientist -ISRO), and many others.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
President Droupadi Murmu Appoints 4 Members to 16th Finance Commission
President Droupadi Murmu appointed 4 members (3 full-time members and a part-time member) to
the 16th Finance Commission (FC), a constitutional body responsible for recommending the distribution
of federal taxes among states.
Members:
i.3 full-time members:
• Ajay Narayan Jha, Former Secretary of the Department of
Expenditure and Former Member of 15th FC;
• Annie George Mathew, Former Special Secretary of the
Department of Expenditure; and
• Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, Executive Director of policy
consultancy firm, Artha Global.
ii.Part-time member: Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser at the State Bank of India (SBI).
Note:
i.The 16th FC is tasked with submitting its comprehensive report by 31 October 2025, covering 5 years,
commencing on April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031.
ii.The Chairman and members of the 16th FC would hold office from the date on which they respectively
assume office up to the date of submission of the report or 31 October 2025.
About Ajay Narayan Jha:
i.He is a 1982-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Manipur Tripura cadre.
ii.In 2018, he was appointed as the finance secretary, and in 2019, he joined the 15th FC as a member.
iii.He had also served as the secretary to the 14th FC which was headed by former Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) Governor Y V Reddy.
About Annie George Mathew:
i.She is a 1988 batch Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) officer.
ii.She served as Additional Secretary of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
About Niranjan Rajadhyaksha:
i.He served as Research Director and a Senior Fellow at the Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based IDFC Institute.
ii.Previously, he was Executive Editor of Mint, a financial daily.
iii.He was also a member of the advisory committee on the 5th volume of the official history of the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI).
i.The Government of India, has constituted the 16th Finance Commission of India with Dr Arvind
Panagariya, former Vice-Chairman(VC), NITI Aayog(National Institution for Transforming India)(2015 to
2017) as Chairman. Read now
ii.The Union Cabinet has approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Sixteenth/16th Finance
Commission (FC), whose recommendations, spanning a 5-year period from April 1, 2026 to March 31,
2031, will be submitted by October 31, 2025. Read now
About Ministry of Finance:
Union Minister– Nirmala Sitharaman (RajyaSabha Karnataka)
Ministers of State– Pankaj Chaudhary (Constituency: Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh); Dr. Bhagwat
Kishanrao Karad(Rajya Sabha Maharashtra)

Anil Kumar Lahoti Appointed as the New TRAI Chairman
Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of former railway board
chairman and chief executive officer(CEO) Anil Kumar Lahoti as the 9th Chairman of the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for 3 years or until the age of 65 years.
• He will succeed PD Vaghela, who retired from the
post on 30th September 2023. The post has been
vacant for around 4 months.
About Anil Kumar Lahoti:
i.Anil Kumar Lahoti is an Indian Railway Service of
Engineers(IRSE) officer of 1984 batch.
ii.He becomes the third non-IAS (Indian Administrative
Services) officer to be appointed as chairman of TRAI, since its
inception in 1997.
Career:
i.He has worked in various capacities over Central, Northern, North Central, Western, and West Central
Railways.
ii.He has also served as a Member (Infrastructure) of the Railway Board.
iii.In January 2023, he took charge as the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways. he
retired from the post on 31st August 2023.
Note: The other 2 non-IAS officers who served as Chairman of TRAI are Justice Savinder Singh Sodhi (SS
Sodhi), 1st Chairman of TRAI (1997 to 2000) and MS Verma, former chairman of State Bank of India (SBI),
who served as TRAI chairman from 2000-2003.
About Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):
TRAI is a statutory body that regulates the telecommunications sector in India.
Chairman– Anil Kumar Lahoti
Headquarter-New Delhi, Delhi
Established in 1997
AU SFB Appointed Former RBI Dy. Governor HR Khan as Part-Time Chairman

AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) Limited has appointed the former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) & its Non-Executive Independent Director, Harun Rashid Khan (HR Khan) as its Part-Time
Chairman with effect from 30th January 2024.
• He has succeeded Raj Vikash Verma whose tenure as
Part Time Chairman & Independent Director of the Bank
cessed on 29th January 2024.
About the appointment:
i.HR Khan will serve the post until 27th December 2024 (completion
of his first tenure as Independent Director).
ii.The appointment was recommended by the Nomination &
Remuneration Committee of AU SFB as per the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
iii.The appointment also received approval from RBI, Board of Directors & Shareholders of AU SFB.
iv.Currently, he is a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
About HR Khan:
i.HR Khan was associated with AU SFB as an independent director from 2021.
ii.He served as the Deputy Governor of RBI for five years (2011-16).
iii.Prior to that, he was acting as Executive Director(ED) of RBI since October 2007.

iv.He also been a Nominee Director of RBI on the boards of Bandhan Bank Limited, Dena Bank, Bank of
Maharashtra(BoM), Punjab and Sind Bank, Bank of Rajasthan and the Orissa State Finance
Corporation (OSFC).
ACC Approved DFS’s Proposal to Transfer EDs of BoB & IOB
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved two proposals made by the Department
of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) concerning the transfer of the executive
directors (EDs) of Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB).
• Sanjay Vinayak Mudaliar, ED of IOB, was transferred to BoB for the remainder of his term,
which lasts until December 31, 2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• Joydeep Dutta Roy, the incumbent ED of BoB, was shifted to IOB for the remainder of his term,
which ends on October 20, 2024 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
About AU Small Finance Bank Limited:
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sanjay Agarwal
Headquarters – Jaipur, Rajasthan
Tagline – Badlaav Humse Hai!
Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Ruler of Johor, Sworn-In as 17th King of Malaysia
His Royal Highness (HRH) Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar (Sultan Ibrahim), the Ruler of
the southern Malaysian state of Johor, was sworn in as the 17th King of Malaysia, also known as Yang di-
Pertuan Agong (YDPA) XVII, on 31st January 2024. He will be serving as the king for a term of 5 years (till
2029).
• He succeeded Al-Sultan Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad
Shah (16th King), Ruler of Pahang state, who served as
the 16th King since 2019.
Key People:
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Anwar Ibrahim, Prime
Minister (PM) of Malaysia and Cabinet members.
Other Appointment:
Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, also made deputy
king, for the third time. He has been holding the post since 2016.
Background:
i.In October 2023, Sultan Ibrahim was elected by the Conference of Rulers during its 263rd (Special)
meeting held at the National Palace(Istana Negara) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
ii.Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail, Father of Sultan Ibrahim, was the last Ruler of Johor to be appointed as
the YDPA.
• He served as 8th King of Malaysia from 1984 to 1989.
About Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar:
i.Sultan Ibrahim enlisted and trained as a Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officer for 3 months at the RMN
base in Lumut (Malaysia), making him a fully trained army, navy, and air force officer.
ii.He served the State government in various offices among them the State Secretariat, the Treasury, Land
Office, Town and Country Planning Department, etc.
iii.He ascended the throne of Johor in 2010 following his father’s death.
iv.He created history by gaining the Class 26 Train Driver’s License upon completing the 86-tonne
locomotive round using a turn table device.
v.He also received acknowledgement from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the first Malay Ruler
to officially drive a train.

Additional info:
i.Under Malaysia’s rotational monarchy, the position of the king and his deputy are shifted among the
rulers of nine of its 13 states.
ii.This system was adopted after the independence from British rule in 1957.
About Malaysia:
Prime Minister – Anwar Ibrahim
Capital – Kuala Lumpur
Currency – Malaysian Ringgit
Jay Shah Re-appointed as President of Asian Cricket Council for 3rd Term
Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was reappointed as
the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for the 3rd consecutive term.
• Initially, He took charge as President of ACC in January 2021 succeding Nazmul Hassan,
President of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Background:
i.The decision to extend Shah’s tenure for a year was unanimously
approved at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ACC held in
Bali, Indonesia on 31st January 2024.
ii.His extension was proposed by the Shammi Silva, President of
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
About Jay Shah:
i.He served as a joint secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) from 2013 to 2019.
ii.In 2015, he was included as a member in the finance and marketing committees of BCCI.
iii.In 2019, he took over as Secretary of BCCI and was named the BCCI’s representative to attend future
meetings of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chief executive committee.
iv.In 2021, he became the youngest administrator to take charge as the President of ACC.
v.Under his leadership ACC organised the Asia Cup for senior men in Twenty 20(T20) format in (2022)
and in One Day International (ODI) format in 2023.
New Members of ACC:
i.ACC included the Japan Cricket Association (Japan) and Persutan Cricket Indonesia (Indonesia) as new
Members, following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process at the AGM.
ii.The Tajikistan Cricket Federation is also set to become a member of ACC.
• To clarify, membership to Tajikistan has been granted at the AGM on a provisional basis, pending
a successful site visit by ACC officials.
About Asian Cricket Council (ACC):
The ACC was formed in New Delhi, Delhi on the 19th of September 1983, as the Asian Cricket Conference.
President– Jay Shah
Bollywood Actor Ranveer Singh Became Brand Ambassador of boAt

Indian Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh was appointed as a brand ambassador for the audio and wearable
brand BoAt by Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Imagine Marketing Limited.
• As the brand ambassador, Ranveer Singh will be featured in ‘Lost in Nirvana’ campaign for
their new premium audio sub-brand Nirvana.
• The campaign was conceptualised and executed with the Bengaluru (Karnataka)-
based Talented Agency.

• Other noted brand ambassadors of boAt includes Indian cricketers like Jemimah Rodrigues,
Hardik Himanshu Pandya, Kannaur Lokesh Rahul and Shreyas Santosh Iyer and actresses such
as Rashmika Mandanna and Kiara Advani.
• Ranveer Singh is also a key Shareholder in the firm.
Champai Soren sworn in as CM of Jharkhand; Hemant Soren Resigned

On 2nd February 2024, Champai Soren (67), leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) party, was
sworn in as the Chief Minister (CM) of Jharkhand.
• Jharkhand Governor C. P.
Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office and
secrecy at the Raj Bhavan complex in Ranchi,
Jharkhand.
• Champai Soren succeeded Hemant Soren (JMM party),
who resigned from the post on 31st January 2024.
Note: Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate
(ED) in a land fraud case. He became the first sitting CM of
Jharkhand to be arrested in a corruption case.
Key Points:
i.Champai Soren is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Seraikella Constituency of
Jharkhand.
ii.Before the appointment as CM, he was serving as the Minister of Transport, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled
Castes and Backward Classes Welfare of Jharkhand
iii.Other Appointments: Alamgir Alan (Indian National Congress-INC) and Satyanand Bhogta(Rashtriya
Janata Dal- RJD) also took oath as ministers.
Floor Test*:
i.Champai Soren had been given 10 days to prove his government’s majority. (Majority mark: 41)
ii.The majority alliance has 47 MLAs — JMM 29, Congress 17 and RJD 1 in the 81 member Jharkhand
Assembly.
iii.The BJP has 26 members and the AJSU Party has 3. The NCP and CPI (ML) have one lawmaker each,
apart from two Independents.
*Floor test is a measure to determine wheather a government has the confidence of the legislature. This is
also terms as “trust vote”.
About Champai Soren:
i.Champai Soren, popularly known as “Jharkhand’s Tiger”, is one of the founding members of the JMM
party.
ii.He was first elected as MLA from Saraikela constituency in 1991
iii.He served as a cabinet minister in the government led by Arjun Munda from 2010 to 2013.
iv.He has also served as Jharkhand’s Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Transport from 2013-14 under
the leadership of Hemant Soren.
About Jharkhand:
Chief Minister – Champai Soren
Governor – C. P. Radhakrishnan
National Park – Betla National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary – Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary

Nangolo Mbumba Took Oath as Interim President of Namibia Following the Death of Hage Gottfried
Geingob
Nangolo Mbumba, former Vice President of the Republic of Namibia, took oath as the interim President
of Namibia after the death of incumbent President Hage Geingob on 4th February 2024.
Nangolo Mbumba will hold the post until the 2024 election.
Other Appointment:
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who previously served as the
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations
and Cooperation, was appointed as the new vice president of
Namibia.
About Nangolo Mbumba:
i.Nangolo Mbumba, a member of the South West Africa People’s
Organization (SWAPO), has served as the second vice-president
of Namibia from 2018 to 2024.
ii.He has also served as the Union Minister holding various portfolios such as Minister of Agriculture,
Water and Rural Development, Minister of Finance, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Minister of
Education and Minister of Safety and Security.
About Hage Geingob:
i.Hage Geingob served as the 3rd President of Namibia from 2015 until his death
ii.He has been the President of the ruling SWAPO Party since 2017.
iii.He served as the first Prime Minister (PM) of Namibia from 1990 to 2002 and served as PM again from
2012 to 2015. He was the longest-serving PM of Namibia.
About Republic of Namibia:
President – Nangolo Mbumba
Capital- Windhoek
Currency – Namibian Dollar
UNESCO Appoints Brazilian Footballer Vinícius Junior as Goodwill Ambassador for Education
for All
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), appointed Brazilian
footballer Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira Junior (Vinícius Junior) as the Goodwill Ambassador for
Education for All.
• Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO presented the
letter of appointment to Vinícius Junior during a ceremony at
the Real Madrid training center in Spain.
• Vinícius Junior becomes the 2nd Brazilian football player, after
Pele, to be appointed as the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Note: Vinícius Junior has been a committed advocate for equal
opportunity through education in Brazil.
Role as Goodwill ambassador:
In alignment with UNESCO’s goal of promoting education for all, Vinícius Junior will play a crucial role in:
i.Speaking at international conferences;
ii.Engaging with Member States and the public; and
iii.Supporting UNESCO’s global educational initiatives.
Notable Works by Vinícius Junior:
i.In 2021, he founded the Instituto Vini Jr to promote education among underprivileged Brazilian children and
teenagers. The institute utilises sports values to inspire students from diverse backgrounds to pursue

education.
ii.He won the 2023 Socrates Award at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony for his collaboration with Fédération
internationale de football association(FIFA) and Brazil in the “Racism, don’t pretend you don’t see it” campaign.
About Vinícius Junior:
i.He plays as a winger for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the Brazil national team.
ii.He played for Brazilian club “Clube de Regatas do Flamengo” from 2017 to 2018, he joined Real Madrid in
2018 and made his debut for Real Madrid Castilla in August 2018.
iii.He was a part of the real Madrid team that won 2 La Liga titles (2020, 2022) along with the UEFA(Union of
European Football Associations) Champions League in 2022 and 2 FIFA Club World Cup trophies (2019, 2023).
iv.He won the Adidas Golden Ball at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General– Audrey Azoulay
Establishment– 1945 (came into force in 1946)
Vivek Kumar Gupta Appointed as MD of NHSRCL

On 5th February 2024, Vivek Kumar Gupta, a 1988 batch Indian Railways Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer,
took charge as the Managing Director (MD) of National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). He
succeeds Rajendra Prasad, who served as MD(additional charge) of NHSRCL since July 2022.
• Prior to this appointment, he was serving as Principal Executive Director of Gati Shakti at the Railway
Board under the Ministry of Railways (MoR).
• He also worked for Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), and Central & Western Railways of India.
Note:
i.NHSRCL is jointly owned by MoR, the Government of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
ii.It is incorporated as Special Purpose Vehicle(SPV) in 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013 with an object to
finance, construct, maintain and manage the High Speed Rail Corridor in India.
Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak Appointed as New Prime Minister of Yemen

The Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) of Yemen appointed Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak as Yemen‘s
new Prime Minister (PM) He replaces Dr. Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed who served as PM of Yemen from October
2018 to February 2024.
• Prior to the appointment, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak has been
serving as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of
Yemen since 2020.
• The outgoing PM Dr. Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed will assume
the role of an Advisor to the Chairman of the PLC.
About Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak:
i.He has worked as an Assistant Professor in several Yemeni
universities and headed the Business Administration Centre for
Graduate Studies at Yemen’s Sana’a University.
ii.He served as the head of the academic group in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
iii.In 2013, he was assigned the role of Secretary General of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference.
iv.In 2014, he was appointed Director of the Presidential Office (Chief of Staff) and declined the position of PM.
v.In July 2015, he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Yemen to
the United States of America (USA), in Washington, DC.
• He has also functioned as a non-resident ambassador to Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.
vi.He was also appointed as the Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations (UN) in 2018.

About Yemen:
President– Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi
Capital– Sana’a
Currency– Yemeni Rial
H Venkatachalam Iyer Appointed as MD & CEO of Tata AIA Life; Naveen Tahilyani Appointed
as MD & CEO of Tata Digital
The Board of Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited has appointed H Venkatachalam Iyer as its new
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• He will take over from incumbent Naveen Tahilyani, who
has been elevated as a non-executive director of Tata AIA
Life and appointed as MD & CEO of TATA
Digital Private Limited with effect from 19th February
2024.
Note: The appointment is subjected to regulatory approval from
the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI).
About H Venkatachalam Iyer:
i.Prior to the appointment, Venkatachalam Iyer has been serving
as the President & Chief Distribution Officer at Tata AIA Life. He joined Tata AIA Life in April 2016.
ii.Previously he served as the Executive Vice President of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited.
iii.He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of Sales and Distribution, Channel Management, and
Strategy roles.
Naveen Tahilyani appointed as MD & CEO of Tata Digital CEO & MD
Tata Group has appointed Naveen Tahilyani as the new MD & CEO of Tata Digital Private Limited with effect
from 19th February 2024.
• He will succeed Pratik Pal, who stepped down from the post on 6th February 2024.
About Naveen Tahilyani:
i.He served as the MD & CEO of TATA AIA Life from 2015 to 2018 and from 2020 to 2024.
ii.Between 2018 and 2020, He served as the CEO of AIA Group (2018 to 2020) and held a brief stint as Group
Executive- Banking Operations and Transformation of Axis Bank Limited (2020).
iii.He has also served as Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, based in Mumbai and led the Financial
Services practice in India and South East Asia.
About Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited:
Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited is a Joint Venture(JV) between Tata Sons Private Limited and AIA
Group Limited.
Established in 2001
Nayib Bukele re-elected as President of El Salvador for 2nd Term

Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez(42-year-old), President of El Salvador, won the general elections 2024 and was
re-elected to the post for the 2nd consecutive term.
• He became the first Salvadorian president to win a 2nd
consecutive term since 1983.
• He will take charge as the President of El Salvador in
June 2024 and serve till 2029.
About Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez:
i.Nayib Bukele, the founder of Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas)
political party, has been serving as the President of El Salvador

since 2019.
ii.In 2021, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of El Salvador ruled that President Nayib Bukele
could run for a second consecutive term.
iii.Previously, He has also served as a mayor for the municipalities of Nuevo Cuscatlán (2012-2015) and San
Salvador (2015-2018) in El Salvador.
Note:
i.In December 2023, the Congress of El Salvador granted President Nayib Bukele permission to leave his post
for 6 months to launch a campaign for the 2024 election.
ii.Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara, head of National Directorate of Municipal Works was appointed as the Interim
President of El Salvador for 6 months. She became the first woman President of El Salvador.
2024 General Election of El Salvador:
i.The elections for president, vice president and Legislative Assembly were held in El Salvador from 6th January
to 4th February 2024.
• Nayib Bukele claimed to have won more than 85% of the vote.
ii.In the Legislative Assembly election, the Nuevas Ideas party won 58 seats out of 60 seats of the El Salvador
parliament.
iii.A second set of elections will be held on 3rd March 2024 to elect mayors and municipal councils and
deputies to the Central American Parliament (Parlamento Centroamericano also known as PARLACEN)
Ravi Kumar Jha Appointed as MD & CEO of LIC AMC

LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management Ltd(LIC AMC), the investment manager of LIC Mutual Fund (LICMF), has
appointed Ravi Kumar Jha as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from
31st January 2024.
• He is also designated as a Key Personnel for the Schemes of LIC Mutual Fund.
• Prior to the appointment, he was serving as the Associate Director of LIC AMC.
Note: T.S. Ramakrishnan, who served as MD & CEO of LIC AMC since 2022, resigned from the services by
attaining superannuation at LIC on December 28, 2023.
Apurva Chandra appointed as Secretary of MoH&FW; Sanjay Jaju Appointed as Secretary of MIB
Apurva Chandra, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), has been appointed as
the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FW).
• Sanjay Jaju was appointed as the New Secretary of MIB
succeeding Apurva Chandra.
• Before the appointment, Sanjay Jaju has been serving as the
Officer on Special Duty(OSD) in Telangana.
Note: Apurva Chandra has been holding additional charge as the
Secretary of MoHFW since January 2024.
About Apurva Chandra:
i.Apurva Chandra is a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Maharashtra
cadre.
ii.Previously, he has served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
iii.He has also served at various capacities in the Ministry of Defence(MoD)and the Ministry of Petroleum &
Natural Gas(MoPNG). He has also served as Director General (Acquisition), MoD.
iv.He has also served as joint secretary in the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Now
the Ministry of Education from August 2011 to February 2013.
About Sanjay Jaju:
i.Sanjay Jaju is a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Telangana cadre.

ii.Previsouly, he has served as the Additional Secretary in the Department of Defence Production, MoD and
Director of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Ministry of
Road Transport & Highways(MoRTH).
iii.He has also served as Secretary (Information Technology (IT), and Communications, and Food and Civil
Supplies Departments) Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Rajiv Mani takes additional charge as Secretary of Legislative Department, MoL&J
Rajiv Mani, an Indian Legal Service (ILS) officer, has been given additional charge as the Secretary of the
Legislative Department under the Ministry of Law and Justice(MoL&J) for 2 years with immediate effect till the
appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders.
• He is currently serving as the additional secretary in the Department of Legal Affairs MoL&J.
Note: The post has been vacant since the retirement of Rita Vashisht in September 2023. S K G Rahate,
Secretary in the Department of Justice, held additional charge as the Secretary of the Legislative Department
since October 2023.
Key Points:
ACC has also approved the appointment of Manoj Kumar, Founder and Managing Partner of Hammurabi &
Solomon Partners, as Additional Secretary in the Legislative Department on a contract basis for 2 years.
Other Noted Appointments:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of various senior officers to
the new post under different Ministries. Details of the appointment are as follows.
Name of the
Appointed as Current serving as Succeeds
officer
Secretary, Department of Additional Chief

Raj Kumar Goyal
Border Management Secretary (Home)
(IAS: 1990: Uttar (vacant)
(Ministry of Home Affairs- Jammu and Kashmir
Pradesh)
MHA) (J&K).
Niten Chandra Secretary, Department of

Secretary, Department
(IAS: 1990: Ex-Servicemen Welfare Vijoy Kumar Singh
of Legal Affairs(MoL&J)
Odisha) (MoD)
Secretary, North Eastern

K. Moses Chalai Council(Minister of
Secretary of the Inter State
(IAS: 1968: Development of North Anuradha Prasad
Council Secretariat(MHA)
Manipur) Eastern
Region/MoDNER)
Will take charge as

Additional Chief
OSD, Ministry of Women Secretary
Anil Malik Secretary to
and Child Development (MoW&CD) upon
(IAS: 1991: Government, Govt of
(MoW&CD) retirement of
Haryana) Haryana, Housing Deptt,
(rank of Secretary) Indevar Pandey on
Haryana
29th February 2024.
OSD, Ministry of Labour and Special Secretary

Sumita Dawra will take over as
Employment(MoLE) (Logistics), Department
(IAS: 1991: Secretary (MoLE)
(rank of Secretary) of Promotion of Industry
Andhra Pradesh) upon retirement of
and Internal Trade

Arti Ahuja on the
29th February 2024.
Chairman, Inland
Waterways Authority of
Vijay Kumar
India (IWAI), Ministry of of Special Secretary in the Sanjay
(IAS: 1992:
Ports, Shipping and Ministry of Cooperation. Bandopadhyay
AGMUT)
Waterways
(rank of Secretary)
Ashish Kumar
Bhutani Gyanesh Kumar
Secretary, Ministry of Additional Chief
(IAS: 1967: (retired on 31st
Cooperation. Secretary, Assam
Assam- January 2024)
Meghalaya)
About Ministry of Law and Justice:
Minister of State (Independent Charge) – Arjun Ram Meghwal (Constituency- Bikaner, Rajasthan)
Olzhas Bektenov becomes the Youngest PM of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Olzhas Bektenov(43 years) of Amanat
party as the new Prime Minister (PM) of Kazakhstan. Olzhas Bektenov is the youngest PM in Kazakhstan’s
history.
• He has been serving as the head of the Executive Office (chief of staff) of the President since April 2023.
• He also served as a Deputy Chairman of the ‘Agency for Public Service and Fighting Corruption’ in 2018.
• The appointment comes after the dismissal of Alikhan Smailov’s government which was in power since
January 2022.
• In 2022 Bektenov became chairman of the Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe
(GRECO).
Asian Development Bank appoints Mio Oka as Country Director for India
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Mio Oka as its new Country Director for India.
• Mio Oka will take over from the incumbent Takeo Konishi who has been elevated as ADB Director
General for South Asia.
• Mio Oka has been associated with ADB for more than 18 years; She joined ADB in 2005 as a Social
Developmental Specialist.
• Before joining ADB, she served for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan(2004-05), Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (1998-2001) and Japan International Cooperation Agency(2001-03).
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters – Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
IRS Officer Narendra Kumar Yadav Appointed As Brand Ambassador For Fit India Movement
Narendra Kumar Yadav, Indian Revenue Service (IRS) 2009 batch officer, has been the first civil servant to be
appointed as a brand ambassador for the Fit India Movement.
• Narendra Kumar Yadav is currently serving as an ‘Additional Director GST (Goods and Services Tax)’ in
the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 to make fitness an integral part of
everyone’s daily lives. The movement aims to bring about behavioural changes and move towards a more
physically active lifestyle.
Lebanese Judge Nawaf Salam Elected as President of the International Court of Justice
Justice Nawaf Salam from Lebanon was elected as the President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the
principal judicial organ of the United Nations(UN), for 3 years with effect from 6th February 2024.
• Nawaf Salam succeeds Judge Joan E Donoghue from the United
States of America(USA) who served as president of ICJ from
2021 to 2024.
Vice President:
Justice Julia Sebutinde from Uganda was elected as the Vice
President(VP) of ICJ for 3 years with effect from 6th February 2024.
She succeeds Kirill Gevorgian (Russian Federation), who served as VP of
ICJ from 2021-2024.
• Julia has been a judge of ICJ since February 2012 and was re-elected in February 2021.
About Justice Nawaf Salam:
i.Nawaf Salam has been a member of ICJ since February 2018.
ii.He has previously served as an Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the UN from 2007
to 2017.
iii.He has also represented Lebanon (non-permanent member) in the UN Security council (2010-2011) and
assumed the presidency of the council in May 2010 and September 2011.
iv.He also represented Lebanon in the Economic and Social Council of the UN in 2016 and 2018.
About International Court of Justice (ICJ):
The seat of the ICJ is at the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands.
ICJ was established in June 1945 and began activities in 1946.
ICJ Judge: ICJ comprises 15 judges (including the President and Vice President of ICJ) elected for a term of 9
years.
Note: Judge Dalveer Bhandari from India is one of the 15 Judges of ICJ. He has been a member of ICJ since April
2012 and was re-elected in February 2018.
• Dalveer was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2014 in the field of Public Affairs.
Former PM Alexander Stubb Elected as 13th President of Finland

Finland’s former Prime Minister (PM) Alexander Stubb of the National Coalition Party (NCP) won the run-off
presidential election, securing 51.6% of the vote, and became the 13th President of Finland.
He defeated Pekka Haavisto, an independent candidate of the
Green Party and former Foreign Minister, who secured 48.4%
of votes.
Alexander Stubb
will replace incumbent President Sauli Niinisto, who is
required to step down after serving 2 six-year terms since
2012.
About the Presidential Election:
i.Alexander Stubb also won the first round of the election held on 28
January 2024 with 27.2% of the vote ahead of Haavisto with 25.8%.
ii.The run-off was held after the 1st round since no candidate obtained more than 50% of the votes required for
direct election.
Note: This marks the first election since Finland joined as the 31st member of the North Atlantic Treaty

Organization (NATO) military alliance in April 2023.
About Alexander Stubb:
i.From 2001-2003, he served as an advisor to the President of the European Commission.
ii.He served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2008 and served as Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Finland from 2008-2011.
iii.He served as a Member of Finland’s National Parliament (2011-2017) and as Minister for Europe and
Foreign Trade(2011-2014).
iv.He served as PM of Finland from 2014 to 2015 and as as Minister of Finance from 2015-2016.
v.He was appointed as the Vice President of the European Investment Bank in 2017.
vi.Since 2020, he has been serving as the Director of the School of Transnational Governance at the European
University Institute and professor in Florence, Italy.
About Finland:
Prime Minister– Petteri Orpo
Capital– Helsinki
Currency– The Euro
ICAI elects CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal as 72nd President; CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda as its Vice
President
The Central Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has elected CA. Ranjeet Kumar
Agarwal as its 72nd President for the term 2024-25.
• He succeeded CA. Aniket Sunil Talati who served as the president of ICAI for the term 2023-24.
• ICAI also elected CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda as its Vice President for the term 2024-25.
About CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal:
i.Prior to the appointment, he served as the Vice President of ICAI for
2023-24.
ii.In 2022-23 , he has chaired Taxation Audits Quality Review
Board (TAQRB) of ICAI .
iii.He was elected to the 23rd, 24th & 25th Central Council of the ICAI
for 3 times in a row from 2016.
iv.He is a member of the
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG)’s Government Accounting Standards Advisory
Board (GASAB) and Audit Advisory Board
• Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)’s – Insurance Advisory Committee
and Board.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s Primary Market Advisory Committee.
iv.Currently, he is the Technical Advisor to the ICAI’s Nominee on the International Federation of Accountants
(IFAC) Board, and member on International Panel on Accountancy Education (IPAE) Group of IFAC.
v.He is also serving as a Board member of South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA).
About CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda:
i.CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda served as a Central Council Member for a total of 4 terms.
ii.He served as a Chairman of following committees, ‘Internal Audit Standards Board’ & ‘Committee on
Management Accounting’ and Vice chairman of ‘Continuing Professional Education Committee (CPE)’ of ICAI.
About Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI):
i.ICAI is a statutory body established by The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for regulating the profession of
Chartered Accountancy in the country.
ii.The ICAI, functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MoCA).
President – CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal

IRDAI Reconstitutes Expert Committee for Ind AS/IFRS Implementation in Insurance Sector
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has announced the reconstitution
of the Expert Committee on implementation of Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) and International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the insurance sector.
• The reconstituted committee will be chaired by Member (Finance & Investment)(F&I), IRDAI.
Note: Currently, Rajay Kumar Sinha is serving as the Member (F&I) of IRDAI
Members of the Committee:
i.The 13-member committee includes
• Amarjit Chopra, Chairman of the Accounting Standards Board of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI)
• R Arunachalam, President of the Institute of Actuaries of India,
• Shyama Prasad Chakraborty, Chief General Manager (CGM) & Head of Department (HOD),
Actuarial Department of IRDAI.
ii.The individual persons on the committee include Ashutosh Pednekar, Murtuza Vajihi, Parminder Kaur,
Kunj Maheshwari, Prasun Sarkar, Garth Jones, Sharad Ramnarayanan, Shatmanyu Shrivastava and G.
Rambabu (Member Convener).
Working of the committee:
i.The committee will work on steps that may be taken towards the effective implementation of Ind
AS/IFRS along with giving phase-wise time-lines.
ii.It will also give recommendations on proforma financial statements which is a set of financial statements
that predicts the expected future performance of a company.
iii.It will give recommendations on financial disclosures in compliance with Ind AS/IFRS, along with those
that can be mandated with immediate effect.
iv.It will also address key issues and concerns arising from transition activities.
About Ind AS:
Ind AS are standards/rules prescribed under Section 133 of the Companies Act, 2013. It determines how
Indian companies prepare and present their financial statements.
About IFRS:
i.IFRS issued by the IFRS Foundation, a not-for-profit and public interest organisation, to develop high-
quality, understandable, enforceable, and globally accepted accounting and sustainability disclosure
standards.
ii.The foundation has two standard-setting boards, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to develop standards.
IRDAI is a statutory body that regulates and develops the insurance industry in India.It was constituted in
1999 and incorporated as a statutory body in 2000.
Chairperson– Debasish Panda
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
Establishment – 1999, Incorporated in 2000
Ilham Aliyev Re-elected as President of Azerbaijan for Fifth Term

Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev (Ilham Aliyev) has been re-elected as the President of Azerbaijan for the fifth
consecutive term following his win in the presidential election with 92 percent of the votes.
• He was sworn in as the President of Azerbaijan in 14th February 2024.
About Ilham Aliyev:
i.Ilham Aliyev’s father, Heydar Aliyev, was a president (non-elected) of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003 until
his death.

ii.Ilham Aliyev was the first elected president of Azerbaijan in 2003, and he was re-elected in 2008, 2013,
and 2018.
iii.His tenure will end in 2031 since Azerbaijan adopted
constitutional amendments that extended the president’s term in
office to 7 years from 5 in 2016.
Points to Note:
i.Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed region between Azerbaijan
and Armenia due to the ethnic Armenian majority in the region.
ii.It was governed by the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (Republic of Artsakh), and the region became part of Azerbaijan after it was formally dissolved
on 1st January 2024.
iii.In 2017, President Ilham Aliyev appointed his wife Mehriban Aliyeva as the First Vice President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan.
About Azerbaijan:
Azerbaijan got its independence from the former Soviet Union after its dissolution in 1991.
President – Ilham Aliyev
Capital – Baku
Currency – Azerbaijani Manat
Ashish Vijayakar Appointed as MD & CEO of SBM Bank India

Ashish Vijayakar has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
SBM Bank (India) Limited (SBM Bank India) for a period of 3 years, with effect from February 17, 2024.
• He succeeds Sidharth Rath, who resigned from the post
of MD and CEO of SBM Bank India in November 2023.
About Ashish Vijayakar:
i.Ashish Vijayakar has worked at Standard Chartered Bank for
more than 24 years.
ii.He worked in various roles before he resigned from Standard
Chartered Bank as an MD and Co-Head of Client Coverage,
Corporate, Commercial, and Institutional Banking (CCIB) till
August 2023.
iii.He has expertise in the domains of business transformation, risk management, innovation, and
managing changing business environment processes, among other areas of operations.
About SBM Bank (India) Limited (SBM Bank India):
i.It is the first bank to receive a universal banking license from the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) to set up
and operate as a Scheduled Commercial Bank under Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) mode, offering
banking services in India.
ii.SBM Bank is a WOS of SBM Holdings – Mauritius (erstwhile State Bank of Mauritius).
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Ashish Vijayakar
Established – 2018
KVS Manian Appointed as Joint Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank

K.V.S. Manian has been re-designated as the joint Managing Director (MD) of Kotak Mahindra Bank
Limited (KMBL) effective from 1st March 2024. He is currently serving as a whole-time director and
Member of the Group Management Council of KMBL.
About KVS Manian:

i.Previously, he served as the President of Consumer banking in KMBL.
ii.He has played a major role in transforming Kotak from a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) to a
bank.
Other Appointments:
i.Shanti Ekambaram, whole-time director of KMBL, has been
designated as deputy MD with effect from 1st March 2024. She
is currently serving as the President of Consumer Banking,
KMBL.
ii.Devang Gheewalla has been appointed as Group President
and Group Chief Financial Officer(CFO) of KMBL with effect
from 1st April 2024.
• He will succeed Jaimin Bhatt, the incumbent group president and group CFO who is set to
retire on 31st March 2024.
Note:
i.These appointments are subject to necessary approvals.
ii.This marks the first management rejig after Ashok Vaswani took charge as the MD & Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of KMBL on 1st January 2024.
About Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL):
KMBL was launched as Kotak Mahindra Finance Limited in 1985. In 2003, It became the first NBFC in India
to receive a banking license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
MD & CEO- Ashok Vaswani
Tagline– ‘Let’s make money simple’
Prabowo Subianto to be Appointed as 8th President of Indonesia

Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, Defence Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, is set to be sworn
in as the 8th President of Indonesia on 20th October 2024. He belongs to a political party called
the ‘Gerindra Party’.
• He will replace Joko Widodo (Jokowi), a member of
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
P), who has been serving the post since 2014 for two
consecutive terms (2014-19 & 2019-24).
Indonesia Presidential Election:
i.Indonesia Presidential Election was contested by three
candidates namely Anies Baswedan (Former Governor of
Jadaka), Ganjar Pranowo (Former Governor of Central Java) &
Prabowo Subianto.
ii.In the voting process conducted on 14th February 2024, Prabowo Subianto secured 58% of the vote
thereby becoming eligible to be the President of Indonesia. The official vote count will end by March.
• Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo received only 25.3% and 16.6% of the votes respectively.
iii.Prabowo Subianto will be serving as the President of Indonesia for a term of five years (till 2029).
About Prabowo Subianto:
i.Prabowo Subianto joined the Indonesian Military Academy in 1970 and then became part of
the Kopassus, a special forces unit of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
ii.In 2008, he co-founded a political party ‘Gerindra’(an acronym for Great Indonesia Movement).
iii.He also contested the Presidential election twice (in 2014 and 2019) against Jokowi.
iv.In 2019, he was appointed as the Defence Minister to the Government of Indonesia.

Additional Info:
Gibran Rakabuming Raka will be made as the youngest Vice President (VP) of Indonesia.
About Republic of Indonesia:
President – Joko Widodo
Capital – Jakarta
Currency – Indonesian Rupiah
ACC Approved Appointments of M R Kumar, Aravamudan Krishna Kumar & Srinivasan Sridhar
as Chairmen of 3 PSBs
The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointments of the following individuals
as part-time non-official Directors and non-executive Chairmen of 3 Public Sector Banks (PSBs):
i.M R Kumar, Former Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India appointed to the Board of
Bank of India (BOI).
ii.Aravamudan Krishna Kumar, Former Managing Director
(MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI) appointed to the Board
of UCO Bank.
iii.Srinivasan Sridhar, Director of Bank of Baroda (BOB)
appointed to the Board of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB).
Note: Aravamudan Krishna Kumar is also one of the Independent
Directors on the board of Suraksha Asset Reconstruction Limited
(Suraksha ARC) (Formerly known as Suraksha Asset
Reconstruction Private Limited.
Terms and Conditions:
i.The terms of appointments specify that these individuals will serve a 3-year term, from the date of
notification, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
ii.The appointments are subject to specific conditions, including the resignation of:
• Srinivasan Sridhar from the board of BOB; and
• Aravamudan Krishna Kumar from the board of Suraksha ARC.
About M R Kumar:
i.M R Kumar assumed charge as Non-Executive Chairman of Bank of India on 22 February 2024.
ii.He joined LIC of India in 1983 as a Direct Recruit Officer. In 2019, he took charge as Chairman of LIC of
India and completed his term in March 2023.
iii.Currently, he is also a Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director on the Board of Ambuja Cements Ltd.
since 2022.
About Aravamudan Krishna Kumar:
i.He joined SBI as a Probationary Officer (PO) in 1975. He was elevated to MD & Group Executive in 2011
and superannuated as MD in 2014.
ii.Currently, he is also a professional/independent Director on the Board of SBI Payment Services Private
Limited, Sathguru Catalyser Advisors Private Limited, etc.
iii.He will be the first Chairman of UCO Bank since the Chairman and MD’s post was split in PSBs in 2015.
About Srinivasan Sridhar:
i.Srinivasan Sridhar joined Indian Overseas Bank as part-time Non-Official Director as well as Non-
Executive Chairman w.e.f 21 February 2024.
• He was on the board of BOB as a Shareholder Director from 2018 till his resignation in February
2024.
ii.He was with Citigroup and held various roles during his 28-year career from 1984 – 2012.

iii.In 2013, he joined Oliver Wyman, a leading global management consulting firm, and retired as Partner
and India Head in Mumbai (Maharashtra) in 2015.
• Since 2015 he has been with Oliver Wyman as Senior Advisor.
About Bank of India (BOI):
MD & CEO– Rajneesh Karnatak
Established on– 1906
Tagline– Relationship Beyond Banking
About Bank of Baroda (BOB):
MD & CEO– Debadatta Chand
Headquarters– Vadodara, Gujarat (Head office); Mumbai, Maharashtra (Corporate centre)
Established on– 1908
Tagline– India’s International Bank
Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank were merged with BOB on 1 April 2019.
About UCO Bank:
MD & CEO– Ashwani Kumar
Headquarters– Kolkata, West Bengal
Tagline– Honours your Trust
Wencai Zhang appointed as WBG’s MD & Chief Administrative Officer

World Bank Group (WBG) has appointed Wencai Zhang as Managing Director (MD) and World Bank
Group Chief Administrative Officer.
• Prior to the appointment, Zhang Wencai served as the Vice President of the Export-
Import(EXIM) Bank of China.
• He also served other International Organisations such as the New Development Bank(NDB)
and Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Wencai Zhang started his career in 1989 by joining the World Bank Department of the Ministry
of Finance of China.
Feleti Teo Set to be Appointed as 14th PM of Tuvalu

Feleti Penitala Teo, has won the 2024 Tuvaluan General Election and set to be sworn-in as 14th Prime
Minister(PM) of Tuvalu (formerly known as the Ellice Islands), an island nation in South Pacific Region.
• It is the first time in Tuvalu that a PM has been
nominated unopposed.
• He will succeed Kausea Natano, who has been serving
the post since 2019.
About Feleti Penitala Teo:
i.In 1991, Feleti Teo was appointed as the first attorney general
of Tuvalu.
ii.He served Forum Fisheries Agency as Director General(DG) and
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as Interim Secretary General & Deputy Secretary General.
iii.Feleti Teo served as the Executive Director (ED) of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission (WCPFC) from 2015 to 2023.
2024 Tuvaluan General Election:
i.2024 Tuvaluan General Election was conducted on 26th January 2024.
ii.The general election aims to elect a new 16-Members Parliament (MPs) from eight constituencies.

iii.It is to be noted that there are no political parties in Tuvalu; It indicates that all candidates run as
independents.
iv.PM Kausea Natano lost his seat in the general election.
v.Feleti Teo, representing the Niutao constituency, has secured 581 votes.
vi.Paulson Panapa, belonging to the Vaitupu constituency secured the highest votes (585 votes) in the
general election.
About Tuvalu:
Prime Minister – Kausea Natano
Capital – Funafuti Atoll
Currency – Australian Dollar
Former MD & CEO of Bank of Maharashtra A S Rajeev appointed as Vigilance Commissioner

Aeratu S. Rajeev, former managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Bank of
Maharashtra (BoM), was appointed as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
• He served as MD and CEO of BoM from December 2018 until he voluntarily retired from the
post on February 2024.
• The CVC consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner as Chairperson and not more than two
Vigilance Commissioners as Members.
• As of February 2024, Praveen Kumar Srivastava is a Central Vigilance Commissioner, and
Arvinda Kumar is the other Vigilance Commissioner.
About CVC:
i.CVC is an apex governmental body in India that is responsible for promoting integrity, transparency, and
accountability in the country’s public administration.
ii.It was established in 1964 based on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee on the
Prevention of Corruption.
Indian-Origin Samir Shah set to be Appointed as BBC Chairman

Indian-Origin Samir Shah is set to be appointed as the chairman of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
with effect from 4th March 2024 for a period of four years until March 2028.
• He was born in Aurangabad, Maharashtra in 1952 and moved to England in 1960.
• Shah was honoured with a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen
Elizabeth II in 2019 for services to television and heritage.
• He replaces acting BBC chairwoman Dame Elan Closs Stephens.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma resigns as Paytm Payments Bank Chairman: PPBL’s Board Rejigs
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Paytm Payments Bank Limited
(PPBL), resigned as part-time non-executive chairman and board member of PPBL.
i.The resignation is in line with PPBL’s aim of making a Board with
only independent directors (ID) and executive directors (ED).
ii.Thereby OCL also withdrew its nominee from the PPBL.
Reason for the Reshuffle:
The Board of PPBL, a subsidiary of One 97 Communications
Limited (OCL), underwent major changes in an attempt to prevent
its liquidation on account of continuous non-compliance with
regulatory norms.

• The move is the aftermath of a series of measures imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
including an order for PPBL to wind down operations by 15th March 2024.
Appointments:
PPBL has reconstituted its Board of Directors (BoD) with the appointment of four new IDs namely,
i.Srinivasan Sridhar:
• He served as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Central Bank of India (CBI) in
2011.
• He is currently serving as an ID on the boards of various companies including DCB Bank Ltd.
and Binani Cements Ltd.
ii.Ashok Kumar Garg: He is a retired ED of the Bank of Baroda(2018).
iii.Debendranath Sarangi:
• He is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS – 1977 batch) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre.
• He is currently serving as an ID on the boards of several companies
iv.Rajni Sekhri Sibal:
• Rajni Sekhri Sibal is also a retired IAS officer of the Haryana cadre (1986 batch).
• She currently serves as an Independent External Monitor in the public sector and as an
independent director in corporations.
Additional Info:
i.The BoD is a group of individuals elected by the shareholders of a company to oversee the company’s
management and to provide a strategic direction.
ii.PPBL board already consists of Arvind Kumar Jain (Independent Director), former ED of Punjab & Sind
Bank and Surinder Chawla is serving PPBL as Managing Director (MD) & CEO.
ACQUISITION & MERGERS

CCI Approvals on 30th January 2024
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following on 30th January 2024.
i.Subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Preference shares of API Holdings Ltd by Goldman Sachs
Schemes.
ii.Subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Preference shares of API Holdings Ltd by MacRitchie.
iii.Approval for Naspers Ventures to Invest in API
iv.Subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Preference shares of API Holdings Ltd by CDPQ
Subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Preference shares of API Holdings Ltd by Goldman Sachs
Schemes
CCI has approved the subscription of compulsorily convertible preference shares
of Mumbai (Maharashtra) based API Holdings Limited (Target) by Goldman Sachs India Alternative
Investment Fund (AIF) Scheme-1 (Acquirer 1) and Goldman Sachs India Alternative Investment Trust AIF
Scheme-2 (Acquirer 2).
• The above two schemes were launched by Goldman Sachs India Alternative Investment
Trust, which was set up under the Indian Trusts Act of 1882.
• The investment manager of the above acquirers is Mumbai-based Goldman Sachs (India)
Alternative Investment Management Private Limited.
• API Holdings Limited is the parent entity of the API Holdings group. It is a digital healthcare
platform (PharmEasy) which offers wholesale sales and distribution of pharmaceutical
products, medical devices and over-the-counter (OTC) products, provision of diagnostic
services, provision of tele-medical consultation services etc.

Subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Preference shares of API Holdings Ltd by MacRitchie
CCI has approved the subscription of compulsorily convertible preference shares of API Holdings
Limited (Target) by Singapore-based MacRitchie Investments Pte. Limited (MacRitchie) and Singapore-
based EvolutionX Debt Capital Master Fund 1 Pte. Limited (EvolutionX).
• MacRitchie is an investment holding company which is an indirectly (fully) owned subsidiary of
Singapore-based Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited (Temasek).
• EvolutionX is a growth-stage debt financing platform jointly set up by DBS Bank and Temasek.
Approval for Naspers Ventures to Invest in API
CCI has approved Naspers Ventures B.V (Acquirer) to acquire additional shares in API Holdings Limited by
providing direct and indirect equity and debt funding by participating in the proposed rights issue.
• The Netherlands-based Acquirer is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prosus N.V.
(Prosus), which is in turn, a direct subsidiary of Naspers Ltd. (Naspers).
Subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Preference shares of API Holdings Ltd by CDPQ
CCI has approved the proposed subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares in API
Holdings Limited by CDPQ Private Equity Asia Pte Limited (Acquirer).
• The Singapore based Acquirer is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian institutional
fund CDPQ.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Chairperson – Ravneet Kaur
Established in – 2003 (Operational from 2009)
CCI Approvals on 6th February 2024

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following on 6th February 2024.
i.Acquisition of certain shareholding of Shadowfax Technologies Private Limited(SFX) by NewQuest Asia Fund
IV (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.(TPG NQ).
ii.Acquisition of 70% stake in Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Limited by Zurich Insurance
Company Ltd
iii.Acquisition of 100% shareholding of Interise Investment Managers Limited by the CIPH, AIL – II. and Ontario
Inc.
Acquisition of certain shareholding of SFX by TPG NQ
CCI approves the acquisition of a certain shareholding in Shadowfax Technologies Private Limited
(SFX/ Target) by NewQuest Asia Fund IV (Singapore) Pte. Ltd (TPG NQ/ Acquirer) from Eight Roads
Investments Mauritius II Limited (Eight Roads), and certain other SFX shareholders.
• TPG NQ is part of a closed private equity, managed by TPG NewQuest (formerly NewQuest Capital
Partners), and is a part of the TPG group.
• TPG, Inc. (TPG) serves as the ultimate holding company of the TPG group.
Zurich Insurance Company Ltd’s Acquisition of a 70% stake in Kotak Mahindra General Insurance
Company Ltd.
CCI approves the acquisition of a majority stake (70% stake) in Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company
Limited (Target) by Zurich (Switzerland)-based Zurich Insurance Company Ltd (Acquirer) from Kotak
Mahindra Bank Limited.
• Under the Proposed Combination, the Acquirer will acquire a 51% stake in Target.
• The acquisition involves a combination of fresh growth capital and share purchase.
• Additionally, the Acquirer will also acquire an additional stake of up to 19% in the Target, over some
time.
Note: Zurich Insurance Company Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. (Zurich
Insurance Group).

Acquisition of 100% shareholding of Interise Investment Managers Limited by the CIPH, AIL – II., and
Ontario Inc.
CCI approves the acquisition of 100% shareholding (issued and paid-up share capital) of Interise Investment
Managers Limited by CPPIB India Private Holdings Inc. (CIPH), Allianz Infrastructure Luxembourg II S.À R.L.
(AIL – II), and Ontario Inc.
• Acquirers: CIPH, AIL – II, and Ontario Inc.
• Target– Interise Investment Managers Limited
Following the acquisition, CIPH, AIL II and Ontario Inc. will respectively hold 50%, 25% and 25% stakes of the
target.
Points to note:
i.CIPH is a Canadian corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
(CPPIB).
ii.AIL – II is an alternative investment fund based in Luxembourg.
iii.Ontario Inc. is an investment entity of the Ontario Administration Corporation, which in turn is the
administrator of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) primary pension plan and
trustee of the pension funds thereunder.
Established on– 14 October 2003 (Operational from 2009)
HDFC Bank gets RBI Nod to Acquire up to 9.5% Stake in Six Banks
HDFC Bank Limited, India’s largest private lender, has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
to acquire up to 9.5% stake each in six banks namely – Axis Bank Limited, Suryoday Small Finance Bank
Limited, ICICI Bank Limited, Bandhan Bank Limited, YES Bank Limited and IndusInd Bank Limited.
• The approval was granted pursuant to the applications made by HDFC Bank to RBI on 18th December
2023.
• The approval is valid for one year ie., till 4th February 2025.
• The approval is intended for investments by HDFC Asset Management Company (AMC), HDFC Ergo and
HDFC Life Insurance.
Note: HDFC Bank must ensure that the aggregate holding in the 6 banks does not exceed 9.50% of the paid-up
share capital or voting rights of the respective banks, at all times.
BFHL Secured IRDAI approval to Acquire Aegon Life Insurance

Bandhan Financial Holdings Limited (BFHL) has received the final approval from Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to acquire the 100% paid up share capital of Aegon Life Insurance
Company.
Note:
i.Aegon Life Insurance is a joint venture (JV) of Aegon NV and Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL),
the owner and publisher of The Economic Times.
ii.BFHL is the parent company of Kolkata (West Bengal) based Bandhan Bank Limited.
Background:
i.In July 2023, BFHL signed a definitive agreement with Aegon NV and BCCL to acquire their entire
shareholding in Aegon Life Insurance.
ii.BFHL received the consent from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in January 2024.
IRDAI approves Capital Infusion of Rs 1612 cr by Axis Bank into Max Life Insurance
Axis Bank Limited has received approval from IRDAI to infuse the capital of Rs 1,612 crore in Max Life
Insurance Company Limited, the subsidiary of Max Financial Services Limited (MFSL).
• The transaction is subject to approval of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Key Points:
i.For this transaction, Max Life Insurance will issue 14.25 crore shares at the price of Rs.113 per share to Axis
Bank.
ii.Through this process, Axis Bank will raise its stake in Max Life to 16.22% from 9.99%.
iii.Axis bank along entities, Axis Securities and Axis Capital, will own 19.02% stake in Max Life.
• Previously in 2021, Axis bank and its entities acquired a 12.99% stake in Max Life.
iv.Following this transaction, share of MFSL in Max Life will be reduced from 87% to 81%.
Chairperson – Debasish Panda
Established in – 1999 (Incorporated in 2000)
LIC Increases Its Stake in SBI Cards to 5.02%

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has increased its paid-up share in SBI Cards & Payments Services
Limited to 5.02% from 4.99%.
• For this purpose, LIC has made Open Market Purchases of about 3,01,084 shares of SBI Cards with an
average cost of Rs.716 per share.
• The total shares of LIC have increased to 47,711,794 from 47,410,710.
About SBI Cards & Payments Services Limited:
SBI Cards & Payments Services Limited is a Joint Venture(JV) between the State Bank of India (SBI) and Carlyle
Group.
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Abhijit Chakravorty
Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana
Japan’s Mizuho Bank & its Subsidiary Set to Acquire 15% stake in Credit Saison India
for Rs 1,200 crore
Japan’s Mizuho Bank Limited (a subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.) and a subsidiary of Mizuho Bank is
set to invest upto Rs.1200 crore in Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Kisetsu Saison Finance (India) Private
Limited by acquiring about 15% of their paid-up share capital.
• The investment plan was agreed by both Mizuho Bank and Credit Saison Company Limited.
• This is Credit Saison’s first investment from an external investor.
• Mizuho Bank will be represented in Credit Saison by one of their directors.
CCI Approval on 13th February 2024

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following on 13th February 2024.
Acquisition of Tianish Laboratories by Matrix Pharma
CCI has approved the Karachi (Pakistan) based Matrix Pharma Private Limited (Acquirer) to acquire 100%
paid-up share capital in Hyderabad (Telangana) based Tianish Laboratories Private Limited (Target).
• The target is a manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients whereas the acquirer is an inactive
company.
• The funding for the acquisition will be generated by the Acquirer by allowing two investors to
subscribe to certain optionally convertible debentures of the Acquirer. The two investors are:
• Investor 1: Kotak Strategic Situations India Fund II which is an Alternative Investment
Fund (AIF) registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) under the SEBI (AIF)
Regulations, 2012.
• Investor 2: Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited acts as an investment manager involved in
activities like managing and advising funds.

Acquisition of Coastal Energen by Dickey Alternative Investment Trust and Adani Power
CCI has approved Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Adani Power Limited (APL) and Gurugram (Haryana) based
Dickey Alternative Investment Trust (DAIT) to jointly acquire 100% paid-up share capital in Chennai (Tamil
Nadu) – based Coastal Energen Private Limited (CEPL).
• APL is a leading private-sector thermal power producer in India & DAIT is a category II AIF registered
with SEBI.
• CEPL is a Coal-based power plant which owns and operates an imported coal-based thermal power
plant at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
• CEPL is currently undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (I&B Code).
Established in – 2003(Operational from 2009)
CCI Approves Acquisition of up to 8.79% of share capital of Pricol by Minda

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of up to ~8.79% of equity share
capital of Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) based Pricol Limited(Pricol) by Noida (Uttar Pradesh) based Minda
Corporation Limited(Minda).
• Minda manufactures auto-component parts and caters to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
and Tier-1 (a company that is a direct supplier for an OEM) in various segments across India.
• Pricol manufactures automobile components for OEMs, Tier-1 and replacement markets across the
globe (including India).
CCI Gives INSCO its Green Channel Approval for Acquisition of HNGIL
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given INSCO (Independent Sugar Corporation) the green
channel approval for proposed acquisition of Hindusthan National Glass & Industries Limited (HNGIL)
• INSCO is a Madhvani Group company based in Africa.
• The clean chit was given to INSCO after its competitive bidder, AGI Greenpac, filed a complaint
with the CCI challenging the green channel approval granted to INSCO.
• About HNGIL: It is India’s first fully automated Glass manufacturing unit founded by C.K.
Somany in 1946.
• The ‘Green Channel’ route provides for automatic approval of certain combinations without
having to get formal approval from the commission.
HDFC Bank receives RBI approval for sale of 90.01% stake in HDFC Credila
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has approved HDFC Bank Limited to sell 90.01% of issued and paid-up share
capital in HDFC Credila Financial Services Limited (HDFC Credila), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
HDFC Bank. HDFC Bank will retain a 9.99% stake in HDFC Credila.
Key Points:
i.The move comes after the request made by HDFC Credila in February 2024.
ii.The approval was granted by RBI under Chapter VI of the Master Direction – RBI (Non-Banking Financial
Company – Scale Based Regulation) Directions, 2023.
iii.This move aligns with the RBI mandate made in April 2023, which instructs HDFC to reduce its holding
in Credila to below 10% within two years of its merger with HDFC Bank.
Note:
HDFC Credila provides education loans for higher studies in India and abroad.

Background:
i.In June 2023, HDFC Limited, HDFC Bank, and HDFC Credila declared their proposal to sell a substantial
stake in HDFC Credila to a consortium of private equity firms including Kopvoorn BV, a part
of BPEA EQT (earlier known as Barings Private Equity Asia) and ChrysCapital at a transaction value
of Rs 9,060 crore.
ii.In July 2023, HDFC Ltd was amalgamated with HDFC Bank.
About the Firms:
i.BPEA EQT: BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII managed by EQT AB, is the Netherlands-incorporated
company, part of the global EQT investment group.
ii.ChrysCapital : Moss Investments Limited (Moss), Infinity Partners (Infinity), and Defati Investments
Holding B.V. (Defati) are collectively known as ChrysCapital Acquirers.
ICICI Bank Acquired Additional Stake of 1.41% in ICICI Lombard

ICICI Bank Limited has increased its stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company (ILGIC) by
acquiring an additional 1.41% paid-up share capital through an open market transaction.
• The acquisition increased ICICI Bank’s stake to 49.32% from 47.91% (as of December 2023).
• ICICI Lombard sold about 69,82,852 shares through multiple block deals on the stock exchanges
at Rs 1,666.35 a share to ICICI Bank .
• After the acquisition, ICICI Lombard will become a subsidiary of ICICI Bank.
• ICICI Bank also received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to carry out the deal.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX Launched NASA’s PACE satellite to Study Earth’s Oceans, Air & Climate
On 8th February 2024, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched “PACE” –
the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem, an Earth-observing satellite to study the ocean health, air
quality, and the effects of Climate change.
• The PACE onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was launched to a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) from
Space Launch Complex (SLC) 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States of
America (USA).
Note: This was the 4th flight of Falcon 9’s first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously
launched Crew-7, CRS-29, and one Starlink mission.
About PACE Mission:
i.From its orbit about 420 miles above Earth, the PACE mission will study microscopic life in the oceans and
microscopic particles in the air to investigate key mysteries of our planet’s interconnected systems.
ii.NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managed the launch services of
the mission.
iii.The PACE mission is managed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. NASA Goddard
built and tested the spacecraft and the Ocean-Colour Instrument (OCI).
iv.PACE will enable researchers to study the effects of Climate change on phytoplankton, a vital players in the
global carbon cycle which absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and converts it into cellular
material.
PACE’s Scientific Focus:
i.The satellite’s hyperspectral OCI will allow researchers to measure oceans across the spectrum of ultraviolet
(UV), visible, and near-infrared (IR) light.

• It enables the identification and tracking of phytoplankton distribution on a daily, global scale, a first
from space, and supports fisheries health forecasting.
ii.The spacecraft carries 2 polarimeter instruments:
• Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter #2 – designed and built by the University of Maryland, Baltimore
County
• Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration – developed and built by a Dutch consortium led by
Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Airbus Defence, and Space Netherlands.
The polarimeters will detect how sunlight interacts with atmospheric particles, providing information on
atmospheric aerosols, cloud properties, and air quality at different scales.
About National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):
Administrator– Bill Nelson
Headquarters– Washington, D.C., U.S.
GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS Mission: ISRO Successfully Launched Meteorological Satellite ‘INSAT-3DS’

into Space
On 17th February 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched GSLV-
F14/INSAT-3DS mission carrying the meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS from the Second Launch
Pad (SLP) Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• GSLV-F14 placed the INSAT-3DS satellite into a
geosynchronous transfer orbit(GTO), then to a
geosynchronous stationary orbit (GSO) in space.
• This marks’s the 16th flight of Geosynchronous
Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). It is also the 10th
flight & 7th operational flight of GSLV with
Indigenous Cryogenic stage.
Note:
• GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission is fully funded by the
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• GSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle which is of 51.7 meter long and can liftoff mass of 420
tonnes.
About GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission:
Primary objectives:
i.To monitor Earth’s surface, carryout Oceanic observations and its environment in various spectral
channels of meteorological importance.
ii.To provide the vertical profile of various meteorological parameters of the Atmosphere.
iii.To provide the Data Collection and Data Dissemination capabilities from the Data Collection Platforms.
iv.To provide the Satellite Aided Search and Rescue services.
About INSAT-3DS:
i.INSAT 3DS is a follow-on mission of Third Generation Meteorological Satellite from geostationary orbit.
This next-generation meteorological satellite has improved capabilities over the present INSAT series –
INSAT 3D(2013) and INSAT 3DR(2016).
ii.The satellite will augment the Meteorological services along with INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR.
iii.It is designed for enhanced meteorological observations, monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for
weather forecasting and disaster warning with state-of-the-art payloads
iv.The satellite is being tracked by the control centres at Brunei and Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar).
Payload: 6 channel Imager; 19 channel Sounder; Data Relay Transponder (DRT); and Satellite Aided

Search & Rescue transponder (SAS&R).
Benefits: Meteorological data from the INSAT-3DS will be used by the institutes of the MoES, such as India
Meteorology Department (IMD), National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF),
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and Indian
National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and various Indian agencies to enhance
meteorological research and services.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman – Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully Launches H3 rocket

On 17th February 2024, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched the second H3
Launch Vehicle (H3TF2) from the Tanegashima Space Center, off the coast of Kyushu, Japan.
i.The H3 rocket was developed by JAXA along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (MHI).
ii.H3 carried a dummy satellite, VEP 4 (Vehicle Evaluation Payload 4), and two functioning microsatellites,
CE-SAT-1E and TIRSAT, for earth observation purposes.
iii.The cost-effective rocket is designed to carry a 6.5 metric tonne payload into space for 5 billion
Japanese yen (USD 33 million) per launch.
Note: H3 is the successor to the H-IIA launch system, debuted in 2001. Previously, H3 had suffered two
failures in February 2023 and March 2023 due to technical issues.
Green Propulsion System Developed under DRDO TDF Scheme Demonstrates in-orbit Functionality
An indigenously-developed ‘Green Propulsion System‘ developed under the Technology Development
Fund (TDF) scheme of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully
demonstrated ‘in-orbit‘ functionality on a payload launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
C-58 mission.
• This project, a 1N Class Green Monopropellant
Thruster aimed at altitude control and orbit
maintenance of microsatellites, was sanctioned to a
Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based start-up Bellatrix
Aerospace Pvt Ltd.
• Green Propulsion System is performed under
the RUDRA 0.3 HPGP Payload.
Note –
ISRO launched XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) onboard
PSLV-C58 on 1st January 2024, the mission also includes the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-
3) aiming to accommodate and execute 10 payloads, RUDRA 0.3 HPGP is one among them.
Validation:
The telemetry data from the POEM 3 at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Telemetry, Tracking
and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru has been validated with ground-level solutions, surpassing
all performance parameters.
Components of the Green Propulsion System:
i.This innovative technology has resulted in a non-toxic and environment-friendly propulsion system for
low-orbit space.
ii.The system consists of indigenously developed Propellant, Fill and Drain Valves, Latch Valves, Solenoid
Valves, Catalyst Beds, Drive Electronics, etc, making it ideal for space missions with high thrust

requirements.
Demonstration:
i.Under the guidance of the Project Monitoring & Mentoring Group of DRDO, the Development Agency has
carried out the complete project.
ii.It has demonstrated pulsed mode and steady-state firing in a vacuum, passivation of residual propellant
in outer space, propellant realisation, and establishment of filling procedure under the TDF.
TDF:
i.It is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) executed by DRDO, aligning with the ‘Make in
India’ initiative.
ii.It focuses on funding innovation in defence and aerospace, particularly benefiting start-ups and Micro,
Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman – Dr Samir Vankatpati Kamat
It is the Research and Development (R&D) wing of MoD.
China Launched Jielong-3 with 9 Satellites and Long March-2C with 11 Geely-02 Satellites
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation’s (CASC) Jielong-3, or Smart Dragon-3 rocket,
successfully launched nine satellites into the Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), off the coast of Yangjiang in
southern Guangdong province, China.
• The launch was coordinated by the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, and it was the third
successful mission for the Smart Dragon-3 launch vehicle.
9 Satellites:
The Jielong-3 rocket that carried 9 satellites included:
• DRO-L
• Zhixing-2A (SmartSat-2A)
• DongFangHuiYan-GF01
• WeiHai-1-01/02
• XingShiDai-18/19/20
• NEXSAT-1
Note: NExSat-1 is for the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA).
Features of Jielong-3:
i.Jielong-3, or Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) is a small, powerful, and
solid-propellant rocket developed by the China Rocket Co. Ltd., affiliated with the China Academy of
Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
ii.It is also known as Lightning Dragon No. 3, which can carry a payload of 1,500 kilograms (kg) into a
500-km SSO.
iii.It could carry over 20 satellites at a launch cost of under USD 10,000 per kg, a globally competitive rate
for small-lift rockets.
iv.Jielong-3 is comparable to CAS Space’s Lijian-1, capable of carrying a 1,500 kg payload to a 500-km SSO,
which 1st flew in 2022.
Other Launches:
Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group has successfully launched 11 low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites
(Geely-02) by Long March-2C carrier rocket, marking its 2nd significant dispatch in advancing accurate
navigation technology for autonomous vehicles.

• The satellites were launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern
province of Sichuan, China.
About Geely’s Launch:
i.Geely expects to have 72 satellites in orbit by 2025 and envisions a constellation of 240 in the future. The
first launch was conducted in June 2022.
ii.Geely’s network not only offers high-precision positioning support to self-driving cars but also serves
diverse commercial functions such as connectivity to the consumer electronics sector.
iii.The satellites are equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) remote sensing functions, providing 1-5
meter (3.2-16.4 ft) clear high-resolution remote sensing imaging.
iv.The Long March-2C carrier rocket was developed by the CALT, which is affiliated with the CASC.
Recet related News:
On 21 October 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Gaganyaan’s
1st flight Test Vehicle Abort Misiion-1 (TV-D1) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota,
Andhra Pradesh.
About China:
President– Xi Jinping
Premier– Li Qiang
Capital– Beijing
Currency– Chinese yuan renminbi
Google Launches ‘Lumiere’ AI to Generate 5-Second Videos

Google has introduced a new video-generation Artificial Intelligence (AI) model ‘Lumiere’, a Space-Time
Diffusion Model to generate 5-second videos that portray realistic, diverse and coherent motion.
• It deploys a text-to-video diffusion model for generating videos from text descriptions.
• It also supports image-to-video, Stylized Generation, Video Stylization, Cinemagraphs & Video
Inpainting.
• For this purpose, Lumiere uses Space-Time-U-Net (STUNet) architecture that generates the entire
temporal duration of the video at once, through a single pass in the model.
NASA Discovers Potentially Habitable Planet ‘Super-Earth’ 137 Light-Years Away

A team of researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have identified a
potential “super-Earth” called ‘TOI-715 b’ by using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
• The exoplanet is located 137 light-years away from Earth.
TOI-715 b:
i.TOI-715 b is approximately one and a half times wider than Earth.
ii.It orbits around a small, reddish dwarf star within the conservative habitable zone.
iii.The planet is also expected to attain the right temperature for the formation of liquid water on its surface
iv.The super-Earth completes one full revolution in just 19 days.
Note– A red dwarf is a type of star smaller and cooler than our Sun.
About TESS:
i.TESS is a space telescope launched by NASA in 2018 to conduct Exoplanetary studies.
ii.It uses the transit method to detect an exoplanet.
Additional Info:
TOI-715 b will be further studied by the James Webb telescope to learn about its properties.
Administrator – Bill Nelson
Headquarters – Washington D.C., United States of America(USA)
Established in 1958

BSDMA launched a Novel Device ‘NITISH’ to Alert People on Natural Calamities
The Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) has launched the Novel Initiative Technological
Intervention for Safety of Humanlives (NITISH) device in the presence of Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister (CM) of
Bihar. The device aims to provide an earlier alert of natural calamities.
• The pendant-like device was developed by BSDMA in
collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in
Patna, Bihar.
About NITISH Device:
i.The device, synced with Bihar Meteorological Service Centre, will alert
people half an hour before calamities like lightning, floods, heatwaves,
and coldwaves.
ii.It is a waterproof device and gets charged from body heat.
iii.The device will alert the user in 3 ways: It will send a voice message; Its colour will change from green to
red; and the device will keep warming till its user switches it off.
iv.The device is designed specifically for farmers but can also be used by common people.
Additional Info:
The Mobile Application ‘Indravraj’ has similar features to the NITISH Device is also available in Bihar to
minimise deaths and injuries caused by lightning and thunderstorms.
About Bihar:
Chief Minister – Nitish Kumar
Governor – Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
National Park – Valmiki National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary – Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary
SpaceX Launched Odysseus, Intuitive Machines’s Lunar Lander

On 15th February 2024, SpaceX launched the Odysseus(Nova-C), the robotic lunar lander of
Houston(Texas)-based Intuitive Machines Inc, onboard the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A
(LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the United States of America(USA).
• SpaceX successfully launched the Intuitive Machines
IM-1 mission to lunar transfer orbit.
Points to note:
i.Odysseus is expected to soft land near moon’s south pole on
22nd February 2024. The lander will land near the lunar feature
known as Malapert A
ii.If the mission succeeds, this will become the first-ever private
moon lander to achieve lunar soft landing.
iii.This will also become the USA’s first moon landing since National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA)’s Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972.
About the mission:
i.Odysseus is a part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and Artemis campaign.
ii.IM-1 mission carries NASA’s six payloads targeted for the South Polar region. The payloads are,
• LN-1 (Lunar Node 1 Navigation Demonstrator)
• LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array)
• NDL (Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing)
• RFMG (Radio Frequency Mass Gauge)
• ROLSES (Radio-wave Observations at the Lunar Surface of the Photoelectron Sheath)
• SCALPSS (Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies)

iii.The instruments onboard will conduct scientific research and demonstrate technologies to better
understand the Moon’s environment.
iv.These will also improve the landing precision and safety in the extreme conditions of the lunar south
pole region and pay way for Artemis astronaut missions.
Additional info:
i.Falcon 9’s first stage returned to earth and made a vertical touchdown at Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station.
ii.This marks the 18th launch and landing for this booster.
NASA launches Airborne Assault through its DC-8 to Combat Pollution in Asia
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s DC-8 aircraft has initiated to conduct test
flights as part of the Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality, or ASIA-AQ mission. This is
the world’s biggest flying laboratory.
• The aircraft took off from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale,
California, the United States of America.
ASIA-AQ mission:
i.ASIA-AQ mission is a joint effort between NASA and South Korea’s National Institute of Environmental
Research (NIER) which will gather atmospheric data over several locations in Asia.
ii.Department of Environment and Natural Resources Philippines (DENR), the Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia (UKM), the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology
Development Agency Thailand (GISTDA) and the Ministry of
Environment Taiwan (MOENV) will also contribute to the
mission.
Objective:
i.Its objective is to provide crucial insights into Asia’s air
pollution problem to address this global health concern.
ii.This will improve pollution source identification, and enhance
public warning systems.
Key Points:
i.NASA’s flying lab, equipped with 26 sensitive instruments and will fly at low-altitudes to collect data from
the atmosphere closest to the ground where people and habitats are impacted.
ii.ASIA-AQ specific science goals focus on the following topics:
• Satellite Validation and Interpretation
• Emissions Quantification and Verification
• Model Evaluation
• Aerosol Chemistry
• Ozone Chemistry
Points to note:
i.The flying lab executed figure-eight patterns over densely populated areas of the Philippines.
ii.It is accompanied by a smaller NASA Gulfstream jet creating three-dimensional pollutant maps. The
aircraft will extend research flights to South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.
About NASA DC-8:
i.The DC-8 serves four types of missions: sensor development, satellite verification, space vehicle tracking,
and various Earth research studies.
ii.It was acquired by NASA in 1985. It is 157 feet long with a 148-foot wingspan. It can hold 30,000 pounds
of equipment and accommodate up to 45 researchers and crew.

Administrator– Bill Nelson
Headquarters– Washington, D.C, US
PhonePe Launches Made-In-India Indus Appstore

Walmart Inc.-owned fintech, PhonePe Private Limited launched “Indus Appstore,” a made-in-India
Android-based mobile application store for consumers in India.
• The shop will feature over 200,000 mobile apps and games in 12 Indian languages.
• Developers will not need to pay any application listing fees until April 2025 and may use any
third-party payment gateway of their choice.
Skyroot Aerospace Launches Kalpana Fellowship for Women in Space Sector

Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, a Hyderabad (Telangana)-based space startup, launched
the Kalpana Fellowship, India’s first-of-its-kind fellowship program dedicated exclusively to women
engineers in the space sector.
• The one-year fellowship program provides an extensive approach that includes a monthly
stipend, experiential learning, and guidance from seasoned professionals.
• It also offers access to world-class infrastructure and innovative technologies at Skyroot
Aerospace.
• It is open to final-year students and recent graduates in relevant engineering disciplines.
Note:
Skyroot launched India’s first privately-built rocket ‘Vikram-S’ under the mission “Mission Prarambh”
(the beginning) in 2022.
Assert AI Unveils Pratham: World’s 1st No-Code Computer Vision Platform

Assert SecureTech Private Limited (Assert AI), a Mumbai(Maharashtra) based computer vision
company, launched Pratham, world’s first user-friendly video analytics platform.
The unique user-friendly platform is patented for its innovative approach to democratizing computer
vision and artificial intelligence(AI).
About Pratham:
With its innovative framework, Pratham enables users to to analyse and utilise video data effortlessly.
• Pratham, translates to “first” in Hindi, enables users to unlock the power of Vision AI
technology, eliminating the need for coding or AI expertise.
Key Features:
Upload and Analyse:
i.Pratham allows users to easily upload videos or connect their CCTV cameras directly to the platform.
ii.This streamlined process eliminates barriers for those unfamiliar with intricate AI pipelines, making AI
adoption accessible to everyone.
Cross-industry and multi-disciplinary applications:
i.Users gain the freedom to choose specific use cases based on their needs.
ii.From people and vehicle count to PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) detection and object count,
Pratham adapts to a diverse set of applications.
• Whether in retail, manufacturing, or security, Pratham adapts to the specific needs of each
sector.
No Code, No AI Expert Needed:
i.Pratham with its intuitive controls and user-friendly interface eliminates the need for coding or AI

expertise.
ii.Users can effortlessly define their region of interest and fine-tune preferences through a dropdown
menu.
Personalized dashboard:
i.Pratham generates comprehensive analytics based on the chosen use cases and parameters.
ii.Users can interpret the results through clear visualisations and insights presented on the dashboard.
• This feature is particularly valuable for industries requiring immediate decision-making based
on live events or scenarios.
The Future of Video Analytics:
i.Assert AI’s Pratham marks a significant stride toward the future of video analytics.
ii.By democratising AI, the platform not only meets the current demands for accessible analytics but also
paves the way for continued innovation and integration across diverse industries.
DFCC Integrated in LSP7 Flies for Tejas Mk1A programme

The Digital Fly-by-Wire Flight Control Computer (DFCC) was integrated in prototype Limited Series
Production 7 (LSP7) and completed a flight for Tejas Mk1A programme.
• DFCC was indigenously developed by the Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Aeronautical
Development Establishment (ADE).
• Aeronautical Development Agency has also type certified the Tejas-Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
• Tejas MK1A is the improved version of the currently operational Tejas LCA Mk1.
DFCC consists of Quadraplex PowerPC based Processor, high speed autonomous state machine based
Input-Output (I/O) controller, enhanced computational throughput and complex on-board software
complied to DO178C level- A safety requirements.
Note: ADE is a premier Research & Development (R&D) laboratory of the Defence Research &
Development Organisation (DRDO).
SpaceX Launches Indonesian Satellite ‘Merah Putih 2’ on a Falcon 9 Rocket

On 20th February 2024, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) successfully launched an
Indonesian satellite Merah Putih 2 (formerly known as Telkomsat HTS 113BT) on a Falcon 9 rocket from
Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States of America
(USA).
• The launch marks the 300th successful mission for the Falcon 9 rocket.
• Merah Putih 2 was launched to geosynchronous transfer orbit(GTO).
• The satellite is expected to boost internet access to Indonesia for the next 15 years.
DEFENCE
EXERCISE
Indian Air Force Conducts Exercise Vayu-Shakti 2024 in Pokhran, Rajasthan
The Indian Air Force (IAF) demonstration exercise Vayu-Shakti 2024 was held on 17 February 2024 at
the Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The exercise showcased the offensive and
defensive firepower capabilities of IAF across the day and night.
• The 2024 Vayu-Shakti exercise featured joint operations with the Indian Army, highlighting the
seamless coordination between the two branches of the armed forces.
• Exercise Vayu-Shakti 2024 was based on the theme, “Lightning Strike from the Sky”.

Key People: Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, graced the event as the Chief Guest.
Participants:
i.A total of 121 aircraft participated in the exercise and showcased the IAF’s offensive capabilities.
ii.Fighter aircraft including the Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Tejas, and Hawk attacked
simulated enemy targets on the ground and in the air with precision.
iii.Tejas, an indigenously built aircraft, demonstrated swing-role capability and destroyed both aerial and
ground targets.
iii.The display also featured a long-range unmanned drone, showcasing advancements in combat
technology.
Combat Support Operations:
i.C-17 dropped a Containerised Delivery System, and C-130J executed an assault landing carrying IAF
Special Forces, Garuds.
ii.The Apache attack helicopter demonstrated its firepower in this event for the 1st time, engaging targets
with air-to-ground guided missiles.
• While Mi-17 helicopters engaged ground targets with rockets.
Joint Operations:
i.The IAF and Indian Army’s weaponised version of the Advanced Light Helicopters Mk-IV devastated
simulated enemy targets using their rockets and swivel guns.
ii.IAF Chinook helicopters for the 1st time, demonstrated rapid deployment by airlifting the Indian Army’s
M-777 Ultra-Light Howitzers.
Night Events:
i.Night events displayed for the first time, the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand,’ displayed
capabilities by neutralising designated targets with rockets at night.
ii.Jaguar and Su-30 MKI dropped heavy caliber and area weapons, highlighting the IAF’s strategic bombing
capability.
iii.Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) conducted live bomb damage assessment, streamed to the operations
center and the audience.
Key Points:
i.The display event also included a free fall drop by the Akashganga team and flare dispensing by C-130J at
night.
ii.The indigenous Air Defence Systems, Akash, and SAMAR missile systems were also showcased,
destroying multiple aerial targets.
iii.Approximately 50 tonnes of ordnance was dropped in 2 hours over a 2-square-kilometer area.
About Exercise Vayu Shakti:
It is a triennial exercise conducted once every 3 years by the IAF to demonstrates its ability to conduct full-
spectrum operations, both day and night.
Note: The last edition of exercise Vayu Shakti was held on 16 February 2019.
MILAN24: 12th edition of India’s Multilateral Naval Exercise Commenced in AP

The 12th edition of the Multilateral Naval Exercise-2024 “MILAN24”,hosted by India, commenced on
19th February 2024 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• The exercise is being conducted from 19th to 27th February 2024 by the Eastern Naval
Command (ENC) of the Indian Navy (IN).
• The theme of MILAN 2024 is ‘Camaraderie, Cohesion, Collaboration’.
Aim: To enhance professional interaction between friendly navies and gain experience in multilateral
large-force operations at sea.

Key Points:
i.IN is represented by Indian Navy Ships (INS), aircraft and submarines led by Indigenous aircraft carrier
INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
ii.50 aircraft including Mikoyan MiG29K, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas and P8I will also participate in
the exercise.
iii.58 friendly foreign countries including the United States of America (USA), Japan, Australia, France,
Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia will also participate in the sea exercise.
Participants:
i.Among the distinguished participants is the Union of Myanmar Navy Ship (UMS) King Sin Phyu Shin (F
14), a Kyan Sittha class frigate from the Myanmar Navy, which also opened its arms to the United States
Ship (USS) Halsey.
ii.Further enriching the international contingent, the Iranian Navy’s Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Ship (IRIS) Dena, a Moudge Class Frigate, arrived at Visakhapatnam, underscoring the deep-rooted
historical and cultural ties between India and Iran.
iii.French Navy’s Atlantique 2 aircraft also joined Milan 2024.
iv.IN also welcomed the dignitaries of the Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Warramunga of the Royal
Australian Navy, Japanese Ship (JS) Sazanami of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, and His Thai
Majesty’s Ship (HTMS) Prachuap Khiri Khan (offshore patrol vessel/OPV 552) of the Royal Thai Navy.
About MILAN24:
i.It is India’s largest-ever military war-game, including major manoeuvres, advanced air defence, anti-
submarine, and anti-surface drills.
ii.It is a biennial multilateral naval exercise which was initiated by the IN in 1995.
iii.MILAN 2024 also aims to strengthen regional cooperation and maritime security, foster interoperability
and understanding between participating navies.
iv.Started with ‘Look East Policy,’ the exercise grew with ‘Act East Policy’ and ‘Security and Growth for All
in the Region (SAGAR) initiative’.
Phase of MILAN 2024:
Harbour Phase: The Harbour Phase of MILAN 2024 is being conducted from 19th to 23rd February 2024.
It acts as a platform to discuss on topical issues, as part of Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and Table Top
Exercises.
• It will also host Table Top Exercise, Interactions of Young Officers, Outstation Cultural visits and
the International City Parade.
Sea Phase: The Sea Phase of the exercise will be conducted from 24th to 27th February 2024. This phase
is aimed towards building upon the experience of multilateral forces operating together at sea.
• Gunnery shoots on aerial and surface targets, manoeuvres and underway replenishment would
also be conducted.
The Security Exercise Prasthan 2023 was carried out by Commodore Rajneesh Sharma Naval Officer-in-
Charge (NOIC), under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command, Indian Navy (IN) in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh
(AP)
About Indian Navy (IN):
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar

US & Nepal Launched Shanti Prayas IV Multinational Peacekeeping exercise at Nepal
On 20 February 2024, ‘Shanti Prayas IV’, the largest multinational peacekeeping exercise, commenced at
the Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre (BPOTC) in Panchkhal, Nepal. The exercise will conclude
on 4th March 2024.
The exercise was co-hosted by the Nepali Army and the United States(US) Indo-Pacific Command
(USINDOPACOM).
Note: USINDOPACOM is a unified combatant command for the Indo-Pacific region of the armed forces of
the United States of America(USA). It is part of the US Global Peace Operation Initiative (GPOI).
Opening Ceremony:
i.General Prabhu Ram Sharma, Chief of Nepali Army Staff along with Rachel Schiller, Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Programs and Operations, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Pushpa Kamal Dahal,
Prime Minister (PM) of Nepal presided over the opening ceremony of the exercise held at Army parade
ground in Kathmandu, Nepal
ii.Representatives from 19 nations participated in the opening ceremony.
About Shanti Prayas IV:
Objective:
i.To improve the interoperability and peacekeeping skills of the forces at various levels before their
deployment to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions;
ii.Strengthen military-to-military cooperation; and
iii.Enhance the core Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) competencies of all participants by UN doctrine.
Global Participation:
Over 1,100 military personnel from 17 nations are participating the exercise.
• The 17 countries are: Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uruguay, and
Vietnam.
Training Components:
i.The 2024 edition of Shanti Prayas IV consists of:
• UN PKO staff training event (STE);
• Field training event (FTE);
• A critical Enabler capability enhancement event (2CE) at BPOTC.
ii.All the components will focus on UN and international peacekeeping and stability operations.
Integration of Women in Peacekeeping:
i.The exercise includes specific training on the integration of women in UN peacekeeping operations for
the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, aligned with UN Security Resolution 1325.
ii.Women’s participation and involvement enhance international peacekeeping operations and strengthen
multinational relationships throughout the region.
About Shanti Prayas:
i.The inaugural edition of the 2-week long Shanti Prayas was held in 2000 in Nepal. The 2nd & 3rd editions
were held in 2013 and 2017 in Nepal.
ii.This multinational military exercise will be hosted rotationally between Nepal and the US.
Coast Guards of India, Sri Lanka, & Maldives Conducts the 16th Trilateral Coast Guard Exercise “Dosti
16”
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN), and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) are
jointly conducting the 16th edition of the biennial trilateral Coast Guard exercise named ‘Dosti-16’ from
February 22–25, 2024 in the Male, Maldives.
• Observers from Bangladesh also joined in the Trilateral Joint Exercise.

Objectives:
i.The exercise aims to enhance military collaboration between the 3 nations and address incidents unfolding at
sea.
ii.It ensures the safety and security of Indian Ocean territories and increases maritime security and
interoperability by boosting regional synergy.
Participants:
India: ICG Ship (ICGS) Samarth with its integral helicopter; ICGS Abhinav, and ICG Dornier aircraft
Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan Naval Ship (SLNS) Samudra.
Strategic Significance of the Maldives:
i.The Maldives is a key maritime neighbour, and holds strategic importance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
ii.It plays a crucial role in India’s maritime initiatives like ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region)
and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy.’
About Dosti Exercise:
i.DOSTI exercise was initiated between the coast guards of Maldives and India in 1991 and included Sri Lanka
since 2012.
ii.The 15th edition of the exercise was held in 2021 in Maldives.
Dharma Guardian: 5th Edition of the India-Japan Annual Military Exercise Commenced in
Rajasthan
‘Dharma Guardian’ the 5th edition of the India-Japan joint annual military training exercise commenced
on 25th February 2024 at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
• The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 25th February to 9th March 2024.
Aim: To strengthen bilateral Military Cooperation between India and Japan and combined capabilities to
execute joint operations in the semi-urban environment under Chapter VII of the United
Nations (UN) Charter.
Participants:
The exercise is conducted between the Indian Army (IA) and the Japan Ground Self-Defence
Force (JGSDF).
• IA contingent, comprising 40 personnel, is being represented by a Battalion from the Rajputana
Rifles.
• The Japanese contingent, comprising 40 personnel, is being represented by troops from the
34th Infantry Regiment.
5th Dharma Guardian:
i.The Dharma Guardian exercise is conducted alternatively in India and Japan.
ii.The exercise also aims to develop inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between IA & JGSDF.
iii.The Exercise would focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills and
basics of special arms skills.
iv.The Tactical drills include establishing of Temporary Operating Base, creating an Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Grid, setting up a Mobile Vehicle Check Post, executing Cordon and
Search Operations in a hostile village, Heliborne operations and House Intervention Drills.
v.There is also a plan to organise ‘A Weapon and Equipment Display’ to showcase the ‘Atmanirbhar
Bharat’ initiative and the growing defence industrial capability of India.
vi.The exercise will also strengthen bilateral relations between India and Japan and enhance the level of
defence cooperation between the two forces.
Additional Info:
i.Lieutenant General Togashi Yuichi, Commanding General, of Eastern Army, JGSDF will be visiting
Mahajan Field Firing Ranges on 3rd March 2024 to witness the Combat Shooting demonstration, Special

Heliborne Operation (SHBO) & House Intervention Drills.
ii.The 4th edition of Dharma Guardian was held at Camp Imazu in the Shiga province of Japan in 2023.
About Indian Army(IA):
Chief of the Army Staff – General Manoj Pande
Established in – April 01, 1895
Overview of Maharashtra MSME Defense Expo 2024 held in Pune

Maharashtra MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) Defence Expo 2024 was held at the Pune
International Exhibition and Convention Center (PIECC) in Pune, Maharashtra from 24th to 26th February
2024.
• The theme of the 2024 expo is “Inspire : Learn : Engage”.
Points to note:
i.The 2024 Expo was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis.
ii.This 3-day event was India’s largest and Maharashtra’s first defense expo and aimed to promote MSME
and other private companies.
About the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024:
Partners:
i.Organisers: Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).
ii.Knowledge Partner– Nibe Limited
iii.Supported by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Aim:
i.To manufacture the latest defense weapons domestically, involving industries near Pune in the
production process under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojana.
ii.To foster collaboration, idea exchange, and progress.
Highlights:
i.Over 1,200 small companies showcased their defense-related capabilities at the Expo.
ii.Various weapons and equipment including tanks, helicopters, missiles, and artillery were exhibited.
• Key exhibits featured indigenous weapons like Dhruv and Prachand helicopters, Dhanush and
Bofors guns, T-90 and Arjun Tanks, and the BMP-II vehicle.
iii.Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari visited the expo emphasizing self-reliance aligned with
‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
• The IAF demonstrated its capabilities with displays of indigenous helicopters and missile
systems.
• An Induction Publicity and Exhibition Vehicle (IPEV) also showcased at IAF’s expo.
iv.Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, also attended the event while Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Anil
Chauhan participated virtually.
DRDO Handed Over 23 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology
During the MSME defence Expo 2024, DRDO handed over 23 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of
Technology (LATOT) to 22 industries in various domains such as electronics, laser technology, combat
vehicles, naval systems, and aeronautics.
Key Points:
i.The agreemnet includes technologies like, Carbon/Carbon Aircraft brakes for Light Combat Aircraft
Tejas, Infantry Foot Bridge Floating, HEAP Grenade for UBGL, and
Tank Transporter for MBT Arjun Mk – 1A.

ii.The agreement also covers Expendable Mobile Shelter Solar Heated Shelter, NMR-Supercapacitor,
Weaponisation of Hand-Held Thermal Imager with LRF (WHHTI) and High Pressure Water Mist Fire
Suppression System (HP WMFSS), among others.
iii.The products based on these DRDO technologies will boost the defence manufacturing sector and self-
reliance in defence.
Additional info:
DRDO also handed over the SAMAR (System for Advance Manufacturing Assessment and Rating)
assessment certificates to nine industry partners.
• SAMAR is a benchmark to measure the competence of defence manufacturing enterprises.
MoUs with Maharashtra Government:
During the 2024 expo, the MoUs were signed between the Maharashtra Govt and Max Aerospace and
Aviation Pvt Ltd, SBL Energy Ltd, as well as collaboration between Nibe Ltd and Munitions India Limited.
i.Mumbai based Max Aerospace and Aviation Pvt Ltd signed a Rs 558 crore MoU with the Maharashtra
State Government to establish a manufacturing facility in Nagpur, focusing on defense equipment
production including Assault Rifles, Grenades, and Precision Munitions.
ii.Nagpur based SBL Energy Limited committed Rs 500 crore towards expanding their explosives
production in Nagpur, catering to both industrial and defense sectors, aimed at job creation and skill
development.
iii.Munitions India Limited partnered with Nibe Limited to invest Rs 300 crore in Pune for manufacturing
120 mm, 125 mm, and 155 mm ammunition for export, reinforcing its role in ammunition and explosives
production.
• Pune based Munition India Limited is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of
Defence.
Key Points:
i.A new policy will be formulated to promote the defence industry in Maharashtra and efforts will be made
to develop micro, small and medium enterprises in this sector.
ii.In 2017, Maharashtra has formulated an aerospace and defence policy and a fund of Rs 1000 crores has
been created to promote this sector.
• 600 MSMEs have been created out of it.
i.Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi virtually launched the 511
Pramod Mahajan Grameen Kaushalya Vikas Kendras (PMGKVKs) established across 34 rural districts of
Maharashtra through video conferencing. These PMGKVKs will conduct skill development training
programs across various sectors to provide employment opportunities to rural youth.
ii.Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) of Mumbai, Maharashtra, has become the first
airport in Asia to commission a “Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit” (DARK), to help stranded aircraft.
About Munitions India Limited (MIL):
Chairman & Managing Director– Ravi Kant (Maheshwari)
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Defence
Headquarters– Pune, Maharashtra
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Navy Declared Year 2024 as ‘Year of Naval Civilians’
The Indian Navy has declared 2024 as the ‘Year of Naval Civilians‘ with a focus on enhancing
administration, efficiency, and the well-being of its civilian workforce.

• This strategic initiative focuses on addressing key aspects of Civilian Human Resource (HR)
Management within a defined timeframe.
Key Focus Areas for 2024:
The major focus areas identified for implementation in 2024 include maximising administrative efficiency;
digital initiatives; generic and specific training programs; and welfare activities.
Naval Civilian Personnel:
i.Naval civilian personnel, constituting about one-third of the Indian Navy’s workforce, play a pivotal role
in operational effectiveness across diverse domains.
ii.The role of Civilian personnel impacts the overall performance of Indian Navy’s Command Headquarters,
Dockyards, Material Organisations, Naval Armament Inspectorates, etc.
Past Initiatives and Future Outlook:
i.Several initiatives have been previously undertaken to enhance organisational efficiency and satisfaction
levels among civilian personnel.
ii.It continued emphasis on administration, training, welfare, and more to ensure that the Indian Navy
maintains its status as a combat-ready, credible, cohesive, and future-proof force.
About Indian Navy:
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral R Hari Kumar
Motto– “Sam no Varunah”, meaning: “Be auspicious unto us Oh Varuna”.
US State Dept Approves USD 4 billion sale of 31 MQ-9B Armed Drones and Equipments to India
The United States(US) Department of State has approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B Armed Drones and other
related equipments to India. The estimated cost of the deal is around USD 3.99 billion (Rs 33060 crore).
• The Defence Security Cooperation Agency of the United States of America(USA) issued the
required certifications.
Key Point:
i.The acquisition of MQ-9B will help the US-India Strategic relationship and support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the USA.
ii.This will also improve the capabilities of India to address the threats by enabling unmanned surveillance
and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation.
iii.These 31 drones will be utilised by the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force.
• The Indian Navy will get 15 SeaGuardian drones and the Army and the Air Force will get eight
each of the land version of the drones – SkyGuardian.
About MQ-9B:
i.MQ-9B, manufactured by the USA-based General Atomics Aeronautical, has 2 variants – Sky Guardian
and Sea Guardian.
ii.It is a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) used for offensive missions, reconnaissance, surveillance
and intelligence operations.
iii.MQ-9B, termed as High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drone, can fly up to 40+ hours.
iv.It can carry laser-guided four Hellfire Missiles and 450kg bombs.
Other Related Equipments and Missiles:
The USD 3.99 billion deal also includes 161 Embedded Global Positioning & Inertial Navigation Systems
(EGIs), 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 16 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM),etc.
Background:
i.During his visit to the USA in 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced India’s proposal to
purchase 31 MQ-9B Predator (“Reaper”) drones.
ii.The USA government headed by President Joe Biden approved this in a government-to-government deal.

iii.India’s Defence Acquisition Council accorded the Acceptance of Necessity for the acquisition of the MQ-
9B drones from the USA under the foreign military sale route.
About the United States of America(USA):
President– Joseph Robinette Biden Jr (Joe Biden)
Capital– Washington, D.C.
Currency– United States dollar(USD)
DRDO Successfully Conducts 4 Flight Trials of High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target ‘ABHYAS’
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted four flight trials of the
High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ABHYAS at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur,
Odisha.
• The 4 trials were conducted with different mission objectives in a revised robust configuration using
single booster.
• The trials took place between 30th January and 2nd February 2024.
About the Test Trials:
i.The trials achieved mission objectives like safe booster release, launcher clearance, and required launch
velocity were achieved, while flight trials validated parameters including endurance, speed, maneuverability,
altitude, and range.
Key Points:
i.ABHYAS, designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), provides a realistic threat
scenario for weapon system practice.
ii.It is designed for autonomous flying using an indigenous autopilot developed at ADE.
iii.It has radar cross-section(RCS), visual, and infrared (IR) augmentation systems for weapon practice.
iv.A laptop-based ground control system facilitates integration, pre-flight checks, data recording, replay, and
post-flight analysis.
v.It has minimal logistics requirements and cost-effectiveness compared to imported equivalents.
Indian Navy received the First 25T BP Tug ‘Yard 305 – Mahabali’
On 2nd February 2024, the first 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, named ‘Yard 305 – Mahabali’ was delivered
to the Indian Navy (IN) at Naval Ship Repair Yard (NSRY) in Kochi, Kerala in the presence of Rear
Admiral Subir Mukherjee, Admiral Superintendent of NSRY (Kochi).
Background:
i.The contract for construction and delivery of three 25T BP Tugs was concluded with M/s Shoft Shipyard
Pvt Ltd (M/s SSPL), a Thane (Maharashtra) based Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), in
November 2021.
ii.The three 25T BP Tug are: Yard 305 – Mahabali, Yard 306 – Baljeet and Yard 307 – Bajran. These Tugs
are built under the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
Benefits: These tugs will improve the operational commitments of the IN by facilitating assistance to
Naval ships and submarines during berthing and un-berthing, turning and manoeuvring in confined
waters. This will also provide afloat firefighting assistance to ships and will have the capability to conduct
limited Search and Rescue Operations.
Indian Navy Commissioned Survey Vessel INS Sandhayak (Yard 3025) in Visakhapatnam
On 3rd February 2024, the Indian Navy (IN) commissioned the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sandhayak (Yard
3025), the first of four Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ships, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh, in the presence of Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Indian Navy
Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar.

• The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between the MoD and Garden Reach
Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE).
• The ship was launched in 2021.
• It is equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment including Deep & Shallow Water
Multibeam Echo-Sounders, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle, Side
scan sonars, Data Acquisition and Processing System, satellite-based positioning systems and
terrestrial survey equipment.
• SVL ships are 110 meters long, and 16 meters wide with a displacement of 3,400 tons.
• The other three SVL are Nirdeshak (Yard 3026), Ikshak (Yard 3027), and Sanshodhak (Yard
3028)
DAC approves Acquisition Worth Rs 84,560 Cr to Boost the Capabilities of the Armed Forces & ICG
On 16th February 2024, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the chairmanship of Union
Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), gave the approval for the Acceptance of
Necessity (AoNs) for various capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 84,560 crore.
• The move aims to boost the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces and the Indian Coast
Guard (ICG).
Details of AoN under Buy (Indian-IDDM):
The DAC has accorded AoN under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured
category or Buy (Indian-IDDM) category for procurement of:
i.New Generation Anti-Tank Mines with seismic sensors and remote deactivation capabilities, these
mines offer additional safety features.
ii.Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Munition System: This can engage targets beyond Visual Line
of Sight by the Mechanised Forces. This will enhance the operational efficiency in the Tactical Battle Area.
iii.Air Defence Tactical Control Radar: This will improve the capabilities to detect slow, small and low-
flying targets and to surveil, detect and track different targets.
iv.Software-Defined Radios: This will offer high-speed communication platform to seamlessly exchange
information between the ICG and the Indian Navy units.
Other AoNs:
i.The DAC has also accorded AoN under the Buy (Indian) category for the procurement of
• Active Towed Array Sonar which can operate at low frequencies and various depths for long-
range detections of adversary submarines.
• Heavy Weight Torpedoes which has the capacity to attack Kalvari Class submarines.
ii.DAC also approved the AoN for sustainment support through Follow On Support (FOS) and Repair
Replenishment support through Follow On Supply Support (FOSS) for 24 MH60R aircraft under the
Foreign Military Sale route with the Government of the United States of America (USA).
iii.DAC accorded AoN for procurement of Flight Refueller Aircraft which extends the operational
capabilities and reach of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
iv.DAC has approved amendments in the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, to promote the
procurement of advanced technologies from Start-Ups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• These entities are developed under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and
Technology Development Fund (TDF) schemes.
v.DAC also granted AoN for procurement of Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Multi-
Mission Maritime Aircraft, through Buy and Make category. This aims to strengthen the surveillance and
interdiction capabilities of the Indian Navy (IN) and ICG over India’s vast maritime area.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of
Defence(MoD), granted approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for diverse Capital Acquisition
Proposals, worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore to enhance the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.
About Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):
The DAC is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry which decides on new policies and
capital acquisitions for the Indian Defence services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast
Guard.
Chairman – Union Minister of Defence (Rajnath Singh)
CCS Approves Rs 19,000 Cr Deal to Procure Over 200 BrahMos missiles for Indian Navy
On 21st February 2024, The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of more
than 200 BrahMos Extended Range (ER) supersonic cruise missiles and associated equipment for the
deployment on the Indian Navy Warships. The deal is worth around Rs 19,000 crore.
Note: During the first week of March 2024, the formal contract will be signed between BrahMos Aerospace
and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the induction of the weapons into the Indian Navy.
Points to note:
i.This deal will enhance the warship capabilities of the Indian Navy, with a special focus on anti-ship and
attack operations.
ii.The Indian Navy has been regularly firing the BrahMos weapon system which is a main weapon in its
anti-ship and attack operations.
ii.To enhance the overall combat capabilities of the Navy, the missiles will be largely deployed on various
warships.
About BrahMos:
i.The BrahMos missiles can strike a target at a range of around 290 kilometres (km) and its extended
range variant can strike a target at a range of 450 km.
ii.BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost 3 times the speed of sound.
iii.BrahMos variants can be launched from land, air and sea. All three variants are in service in the Indian
armed forces.
India’s defence export:
i.India has set a defence export target of Rs.35,000 crore by 2024-25.
ii.India is set to deliver BrahMos missiles to the Philippines in March 2024. In 2022, India and Philippines
signed a deal worth almost USD 375 million to equip the Philippine Marines with 3 batteries of the
missiles.
iii.This is the first export order for the BrahMos missile developed by India and Russia.
About BrahMos Aerospace:
BrahMos Aerospace the Indo-Russian multinational aerospace and defence corporation. It is a joint
venture (JV) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) and joint stock company
“Military Industrial Consortium” “NPO Mashinostroyenia”.
MD & CEO– Atul Dinkar Rane
Headquartes– New Delhi, Delhi
TU-142M Naval Aircraft Museum Inaugurated at Kakinada, AP

On 26th February 2024, India’s 3rd Aircraft Museum featuring Indian Navy(IN)’s decommissioned TU-
142M aircraft was inaugurated at Kakinada Beach Park in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh(AP).

• The aircraft museum was inaugurated by Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Member of Parliament(MP),
Lok Sabha(Kakinada, AP).
• This Aircraft Museum was developed by Kakinada Urban Development Authority (KUDA) with
an investment of Rs. 5.89 crore.
Note:
i.This is also the 2nd Aircraft Museum of AP.
ii.The first TU-142M aircraft Museum in India was established in Visakhapatnam, AP in 2017 and the 2nd
was established in Kolkata, West Bengal in 2022.
Key People: R. Chandrakala Deepthi, Chairperson of KUDA; P. Ramakrishna, Vice-Chairman of KUDA;
Kakinada Rural Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kurasala Kannababu; and other officials graced
the inaugural event.
About IN’s TU-142M Aircraft:
Tu-142M is a Long Range Maritime Surveillance and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft designed by the
Tupolev Design Bureau. It was manufactured by the Kuibyshev Aviation and Taganrog Machinery plants.
The aircraft operated by the Indian Navy since 1988 and was decommissioned in 2017. It was replaced by
the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.
Key Points:
i.The Aircraft Museum aims to offer an opportunity for the public to explore the functioning of a
decommissioned military aircraft, and inspire youth to consider careers in the defence forces.
ii.Various amusement facilities have also been developed adjacent to the aircraft museum.
iii.Detailed exhibits showcase the TU-142M’s service history and operations, emphasizing its technological
prowess and strategic significance in aviation history.
Indian Army inducted DRDO Developed 46-metre Modular Bridge

Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that a 46-metre modular bridge Military Load Classification-
70(MLC-70) was inducted into the Indian Army (IA) in a ceremony held at the Manekshaw Centre, New
Delhi, Delhi.
• The bridge was indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Mumbai (Maharashtra) headquartered
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited.
Key People:
The ceremony was attended by General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff along with senior
dignitaries from IA, DRDO, and MoD.
About Modular Bridge:
i.The modular bridge is a mechanically-launched single-span, fully-decked assault bridge.
ii.It consists of seven carrier vehicles (based on 8×8 Heavy Mobility Vehicles) and two launcher
vehicles (based on 10×10 Heavy Mobility Vehicles).
iii.It is a highly mobile & rugged bridge which is designed for quick deployment and to overcome obstacles
such as canals and ditches with ease thereby enhancing IA’s bridging capabilities.
iv.This Modular Bridge will replace the currently used, manually launched Medium Girder
Bridges (MGBs).
• Compared with MGB, Modular Bridge has an increased span, less time for construction and can
be mechanically launched with retrieval capability.
Additional Info:
i.About 41 sets of Modular Bridges(valued at Rs.2,585 Crores) will be inducted into IA in the next four
years.
ii.The induction will showcase India’s growing prominence in defence technology and manufacturing

thereby underscoring India’s commitment to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and self-reliance in defence
production.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
DRDO is the Research & Development (R&D) wing of Ministry of Defence.
Chairman – Samir Vankatpati Kamat
SPORTS
TATA Steel Chess 2024: China’s Wei Yi Win Masters Title & India’s Leon Luke
Mendonca wins Challengers title
Grandmaster (GM)Wei Yi of China won his first master title by defeating GM Gukesh D of India in the
finals of the 86th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament (2024) held from 12-28 January 2024 in Wijk
aan Zee, The Netherlands.
• GM Leon Luke Mendonca (India) won the Challengers title by defeating International Master
(IM) Divya Deshmukh (India) in the final round.
Key Points:
i.As per tournament regulations, the top four players of the group stages (totally 13 rounds) will compete
for the top spot. The prize money was also split among the top four finishers.
• Gukesh D and Wei Yi won the semifinals by defeating GM Anish Giri(The Netherlands) and GM
Nodirbek Abdusattorov(Uzbekistan) respectively.
ii.Wei Yi is the first player from China to win the masters title in this tournament since it began in 1938.
About the tournament:
i.The Tata Steel Chess Tournament has two events, masters and Challengers where the winner of the
Challengers event will qualify to play in next year’s masters event.
ii.The Tata Steel Chess Tournament, “Wimbledon of Chess”, is the first super-tournament of the year
2024.
Note:
The previous edition (85th) was won by GM Anish Giri (The Netherlands) in 2023.
Praggnanandhaa becomes India’s No. 1 chess player Surpasses Viswanathan Anand
i.GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa became India’s No. 1 chess player after he defeated reigning world
champion GM Ding Liren(China) in the fourth round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024 (Masters).
ii.He surpassed Viswanathan Anand in the FIDE (International Chess Federation) rating with 2748.3
points (As of 16 January 2024) which is 0.3 points ahead of Anand’s rating of 2748.
iii.As of February 1, 2024, Praggnanandhaa ranks 13th at the world level.
Khelo India Youth Games 2023: Maharashtra Tops the Table with 158 medals
The 6th edition of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2023 hosted by Tamil Nadu was held from 19th to 31st
January 2024. Maharashtra topped the medal tally of KIYG 2023 with 158 medals (57 gold, 48 silver, 53
bronze) and won the overall championship trophy.
• Tamil Nadu and Haryana were ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively, with 98 medals (38 gold, 21
silver, and 39 bronze) and 103 medals (35 gold, 22 silver, and 46 bronze).

KIYG 2023 Medal Tally:
Rank States/UT Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Maharashtra 57 48 53 158
2 Tamil Nadu 38 21 39 98
3 Haryana 35 22 46 103
4 Delhi 13 18 25 56
5 Rajasthan 13 17 17 47
Click here to view Full List
Inauguration of Khelo India Youth Games 2023:
On 19th January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the opening ceremony of the Khelo
India Youth Games 2023 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
The Inaugural ceremony was attended by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, R N Ravi, Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu, M K Stalin, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Anurag
Singh Thakur.
About Khelo India Youth Games 2023:
i.The 6th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was a flagship event under the government of India’s
Khelo India initiative.
ii.The sport of Squash is included for the first time in this edition of the Khelo India Youth Games.
Venues:
The sporting events were held in four cities of Tamil Nadu namely, Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and
Coimbatore.
Mascot – Veeramangai
The mascot represents legendary freedom fighter Rani Velu Nachiyar, who is commonly referred to as
‘Veera Mangai’ in Tamil Nadu, which stands for ‘brave woman’.
Logo – Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Participants:
i. About 4454 athletes (2307 male and 2147 female) from 36 states and union territories participated
across 26 competitive sports and 1 demo sport (Silambam) in the KIYG 2023.
Key Performances:
i.The KIYG 2023 witnessed the 30 overall KIYG records and national youth records.
• 8 records have been created in athletics, and 22 records were created in weightlifting.
ii.World champion and 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Aditi Gopichand
Swami(Maharashtra) won two gold medals in the compound girls and mixed team event(along with
Manav Jadhao) (Archery).
iii.Swimmer Vritti Agarwal of Telangana won a total of 5 gold medals (200m butterfly, 1500m freestyle,
800m freestyle, 400m freestyle, and 200m freestyle).
iv.Swimmer Palak Joshi(Maharashtra) broke her national record in the 200m backstroke event with a time
of 2:18.59 seconds over 2:18.90s which she set at the National Aquatics championships in
Hyderabad(Telangana) in July 2023.
v.Jyoshna Sabar of Odisha won the gold medal in weightlifting in the 40kg category with the national
record in snatch.
• She lifted a total of 130 kgs, including 60 kg in Snatch (a new national record), and 70 kg in
Clean & Jerk.
vi.Sanjana of Haryana won gold in weightlifting 76kg category with her new improved national record in
the snatch by lifting 87 kg and 90 kg in two rounds(Her previous national record in snatch was 86 kg).

vii.R P Keerthana (Tamil Nadu) broke the National Youth record in Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and overall to
clinch the gold in the girls’ 81kg category.
• She lifted a total of 188 kgs, including 85kg in snatch and 103kg in Clean & Jerk.
viii.Aarti Tatagunti(Maharashtra)won the gold medal in weightlifting at the 49kg category by lifting a total
weight of 170kg, including 75kg in snatch and 95kg in Clean and Jerk.
• She set the new national youth record in snatch, clean & jerk and overall.
ix.Durga Singh(Bihar) won the gold medal in the 1500m race with a new KIYG record timing of 4 minutes
29.22 seconds.
Note:
Maharashtra won the previous(5th) edition of the KIYG 2022 held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in 2023.
About Khelo India:
i.Khelo India, which translates to ‘Let’s Play India,’ was launched by the Indian government in 2017 as a
way to revive India’s sporting culture by involving youngsters at the grassroots level.
ii.Under the Khelo India initiative, the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), the Khelo India University Games
(KIUG), the Khelo India Winter Games, and the Khelo India Para Games were introduced.
i.Haryana topped the medal tally with 105 medals (40 gold, 39 silver, and 26 bronze) in the inaugural
edition of the Khelo India Para Games 2023 held in New Delhi, Delhi from 10th – 17th December 2023.
About the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS):
Union Minister– Anurag Singh Thakur (Constituency- Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)– Nisith Pramanik (Constituency- Coochbehar, West Bengal)
Khelo India Winter Games 2024: Army Tops Medal Tally with 21 Medals
The Indian Army finished top and clinched the overall trophy in the Khelo India Winter
Games (KIWG) 2024 by winning 21 medals (10 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze).
• Karnataka secured second place with 11 medals (9 gold and 2 silver), and Maharashtra secured
third place with 22 medals (7 gold, 8 silver, and 7 bronze).
Mascot:
The mascot of the KIWG 2024 is a snow leopard. It has been named ‘Sheen-e She’ or Shan in Ladakh
region.
Medal tally:
Rank State/UT/institution Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Army 10 5 6 21
2 Karnataka 9 2 0 11
3 Maharashtra 7 8 7 22
4 Himachal Pradesh 4 3 9 16
5 Uttarakhand 3 3 1 7
Click here to view full medal tally
Key points:
i.The 28-year-old certified trainer and mountaineer, Bhavani Thekkada Nanjunda of Karnataka was the
only athlete to win hattrick gold medals.

• She had gold medals in three events of Nordic Skiing including sprint, Distance, and Distance 10
km.
ii.The army team won the men’s ice Hockey title, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team won the
women’s title.
iii. Aanchal Thakur of Himachal Pradesh won two gold medals in Alpine skiing, each one in the Giant
Slalom and the Slalom.
• Slalom is the shortest form of alpine skiing which involves skiing between two poles.
iv.Army’s Kulvinder Sharma won two gold medals in Snowboarding, one in Slalom and another in Parallel
Slalom.
v.Padma Namgail representing the Army won three medals in Nordic Skiing (one gold in Distance and one
gold in 15Km cross country and one silver in Sprint).
About KIWG 2024:
i.The fourth edition of KIWG was held in two stages with six sports events.
ii.The first stage had two ice sports (Ice Hockey & Ice Skating) held from 2nd to 6th Feb 2024 in Leh,
Ladakh.
iii.The second stage has four snow sports (Ski Mountaineering, Alpine Skiing, Snowboard & Nordic
Skiing) held from 21st to 25th February 2024 in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir.
iv.This is the first time the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with the Sports Authority of India, is
managing the technical conduct of KIWG in association with the National Sports Federations and the Ad-
hoc body of the Indian Olympic Association.
Note:
All three previous editions – 2020, 2021, and 2023 were hosted and won by Jammu and Kashmir.
About Khelo India Scheme:
i.Khelo India, which translates to ‘Let’s Play India,’ was launched by the Indian government in 2017 as a
way to revive India’s sporting culture by involving youngsters at the grassroots level.
ii.As of February 2024, 6 editions of the Khelo India Youth Games and 4 editions of the Khelo India
University Games and 4 editions of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) and 1 edition of the Khelo India
Para Games have been successfully conducted.
i.The 6th edition of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2023 hosted by Tamil Nadu was held from 19th to
31st January 2024. Maharashtra topped the medal tally of KIYG 2023 with 158 medals (57 gold, 48 silver,
53 bronze) and won the overall championship trophy.
ii.Haryana topped the medal tally with 105 medals (40 gold, 39 silver, and 26 bronze) in the inaugural
edition of the Khelo India Para Games 2023 held in New Delhi, Delhi from 10th – 17th December 2023.
About the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS):
Union Minister– Anurag Singh Thakur (Constituency- Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)– Nisith Pramanik (Constituency- Coochbehar, West Bengal)
India Finishes as Runner-up in the FIH Hockey 5s Women’s World Cup

The Indian women’s hockey team finished as runner-up (Silver Medal) at the Fédération Internationale de
Hockey(FIH) Hockey 5s Women’s World Cup 2024 after losing to the Netherlands in the final.
• The inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey 5s Women’s World Cup was held from 24-27 January
2024 in Muscat, Oman.
Medal Tally:
Position Team Medal
1 Netherlands Gold

2 India Silver
3 Poland Bronze
Awards:
Women’s Challenger Trophy Winner: United States of America(USA)
Runners-up of the Women’s Challenger Trophy: Namibia
Best Goalkeeper: Marta Kucharska (Poland)
Best Junior Player: Deepika Soreng (India)
Top Scorer (19 goals): Teresa Viana (Uruguay)
Best Player: Noor De Baat (Netherlands)
Netherlands Wins FIH Hockey 5s men’s World Cup 2024
The Netherlands men’s hockey team won the FIH Hockey 5s men’s World Cup 2024 title (Gold) by
defeating Malaysia (Silver) in the finals.
• The inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey 5s men’s World Cup was held from 28-31 January 2024
in Muscat, Oman.
• Oman won Bronze medal.
• The Indian men’s hockey team finished in fifth place at the FIH Hockey 5s Men’s World Cup
2024 after they defeated Egypt in the match held for 5th and 6th positions.
Awards:
Winners of the Men’s Challenger Trophy: Pakistan
Runners-up of the Men’s Challenger Trophy: Switzerland
Best Goalkeeper: Joey van Walstijn (The Netherlands)
Best Junior Player: Hannan Shahid (Pakistan)
Top Scorer (23 goals): Waheed Ashraf Rana (Pakistan)
Best Player: Akhimullah Anuar (Malaysia)
Indian Women’s Hockey Team Defender Deep Grace Ekka Announces International Retirement
Indian women’s hockey team defender Deep Grace Ekka announced her international retirement from
hockey on 27th January 2024. She represented the Indian national hockey team in 268 international
matches and scored 24 goals.
Deep Grace Ekka Hockey Career:
i.Ekka hails from Lulkidihi village in Sundargarh district, Odisha
ii.She was part of the Indian team in the Rio de Janeiro(Brazil) 2016 Olympic Games, and the Tokyo(Japan)
2020 Olympics.
iii.She was also part of the medal-winning Indian team in three editions of the Asian Games.
• Bronze medal in Incheon (South Korea) 2014
• Silver medal in Jakarta-Palembang (Indonesia) 2018
• Bronze medal in Hangzhou(China) 2022
iv.She was also part of the Indian hockey team that won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Champions
Trophy in Ranchi(Jharkhand) and the bronze medal-winning Indian hockey team at the 2022
Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
i.The 7th edition of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 held from 3rd to 12th August 2023 in the Mayor
Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.The Indian Men’s hockey team clinched the Hero Asian
Champions Trophy 2023 Title by defeating Malaysia (4-3) in the finals held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Malaysia secured the Silver Medal in the tournament.

About Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH – International Hockey Federation):
President – Tayyab Ikram
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Founded in – 1924
Indian Shooter Abhinav Bindra Selected as Torchbearer for Paris 2024 Olympics
Former Indian shooter and India’s first individual Olympic gold medal winner (Beijing Olympics –
2008), Abhinav Bindra has been selected as a torchbearer to take part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch
Relay.
• A total of 11,000 torchbearers have been selected throughout France, with 10,000 participating in the
Olympic Torch Relay and 1,000 in the Paralympic Torch Relay.
Paris 2024 Olympic torch relay:
i.The Olympic flame will be lit on 16th April 2024 at the Olympia sanctuary in Greece.
• Within Greece, the Olympic Flame will be moving from the Peloponnese to Athens, boarding the Belem to
cross the Mediterranean Sea.
ii.The flame will arrive at Marseille(France) on 8th May 2024.
iii.The flame will then make a 68-day journey across 65 French territories and reach Paris for the Opening
Ceremony on 26th July 2024.
Note: Abhinav Bindra, is also a member of the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) since June 2023.
Assam CM Launched Logo, Anthem, Mascot, Jersey, and Torch of 4th Khelo India University
Games
On 8th February 2024, Assam Chief Minister(CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Logo, Anthem, Mascot,
Jersey, and Torch of the 4th edition of the Khelo India University Games(KIUG 2023) in an event held at the
Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium in Guwahati, Assam.
• The launch ceremony was attended by Nisith Pramanik, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Youth Affairs
& Sports and Home Affairs.
Note: KIUG 2023 is set to be held from 19th -29th February 2024.
About the Mascot:
The Mascot of the KIUG 2023 is ‘Ashtalakshmi’, a butterfly.
i.Ashtalakshmi is a symbol of grace and symbolism which represents Northeast India’s vast biodiversity and
natural magnificence.
ii.The wings of the mascot feature the cultural motifs and colours in each scale, and depicts the Northeast
region’s diverse beauty.
About KIUG 2023:
i.Khelo India University Games (KIUG) is a national-level multi-sport event held in India for athletes from
universities across India. The event is organised as a part of the Khelo India movement.
ii.KIUG 2023, jointly hosted across the states of North East region (except Manipur), will be held across 18
venues, in 7 cities.
• Guwahati(Assam) will host 16 disciplines of KIUG 2023 including athletics, rugby, basketball, volleyball,
swimming, badminton, hockey, fencing, kabaddi, football, tennis, mallakhamb, judo, table tennis, boxing,
and shooting.
• The remaining four, Men’s boxing, weightlifting, wrestling and yogasana, will be hosted across the rest
of the Northeastern states.
Note:
The 3rd edition of the KIUG 2022 was held in Uttar Pradesh (UP) from 25th May to 3rd June 2023.

India and Bangladesh Declared Joint Champions of SAFF U19 Women’s Championship
The Indian women’s team along with Bangladesh has been declared the joint winners of the South Asian
Football Federation (SAFF) Under19 (U-19) Women’s Championship 2024 title.
• The 5th edition of the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship was hosted by Bangladesh and held from 2-8
February 2024 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal (BSSSMK) Stadium, Dhaka,
Bangladesh.
• Initially, the Indian team was declared as the winner through a coin toss, after the final match ended in
a draw in both normal time and the penalty shoot round. The decision was revoked later since there is
no rule for a coin toss.
• It was India’s second title, including its first win in 2022 since the tournament’s first edition was held in
2018.
Australia Wins U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup by Defeating India at Finals
The Australian Under-19 (U19) cricket team won the International Cricket Council (ICC) U19 Men’s Cricket
World Cup (CWC) 2024 title defeating India in the finals held in Willowmoore Park stadium in Benoni, South
Africa.
• The 15th edition of U19 Men’s CWC held from 19th January to 11th February 2024 was hosted
by South Africa.
Highlights of U19-CWC 2024:
i.This marks Australia’s fourth ICC U19 Men’s World Cup title. Australia previously won the title in 1988, 2002,
and 2010.
ii.The Indian U-19 team was captained by Uday Saharan, and the Australian team was captained by Hugh
Weibgen.
iii.This also marks India’s fifth consecutive final appearance in the U19 Men’s CWC, including in 2016, 2018,
2020, 2022, and 2024.
Awards:
i.Player of the Tournament – Kwena Maphaka(South Africa).
ii.Player of the Match(Final): Mahli Beardman(Australia).
iii.Leading run-scorer of the tournament – Uday Saharan (India) – 397 runs.
iv.Leading wicket-taker of the tournament – Kwena Maphaka (South Africa) – 21 wickets.
v.Highest score of the tournament – Snehith Reddy (New Zealand) – 147 runs against Nepal.
vi.Best bowling figures of the tournament – Taz Ali (England) – took 7 wickets & conceded 29 runs against
Zimbabwe.
About U19 Cricket World Cup:
i.The first edition of the U19 Cricket World Cup event was held in 1988 as the Youth Cricket World Cup in
Australia.
ii.TheICC U19 World Cup tournament has been conducted once every two years since its second edition in
1998.
iii.India has been the most successful team in the event, with five titles(2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022).
MoE & FIFA collaborates to Promote Football in Indian Schools

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has partnered with Fédération Internationale de Football Affiliation (FIFA) to
promote football in schools across India by integrating football-related activities into the education system.
• The partnership aims to distribute 11 lakh footballs across India in a phased manner.
• Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan has distributed 6,848 footballs to schools in
Odisha as part of the Footballs for Schools (F4S) programme.
• F4S is an ambitious programme run by FIFA, in collaboration with United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

• The program is supported by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and implemented by the Sports
Authority of India (SAI).
India Hands over Chess Olympiad Torch to Hungary

India has officially handed over the Chess Olympiad torch to Hungary, which is set to host the 45th edition of
the Chess Olympiad 2024 from 10th to 23rd September 2024 in Budapest, Hungary.
• The handover ceremony was held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi, on 14th
February 2024.
• The ceremony was attended by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur,
Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand(India), International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Arkady
Dvorkovich, and GM Judit Polgar (Hungary).
• The torch handover ceremony also kicked off the 100th anniversary celebration of FIDE, which was
established in 1924.
Note:
India hosted the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022 in Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) in 2022.
UWW Lifts Wrestling Federation of India’s Suspension

The United World Wrestling(UWW) has lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India(WFI) with
immediate effect on 13th February 2024.
• WFI was suspended in August 2023 due to a delay in elections in the organisation.
• While lifting the ban, UWW has instructed WFI to conduct the elections of its Athletes’ Commission
before the 1st of July 2024.
• Written guarantees are to be provided to UWW regarding no discriminatory action against the
protested wrestlers.
• Indian wrestlers can now compete in international competitions under the Indian flag after previously
competing as ‘neutral athletes’ under the UWW flag during the ban.
Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024: Indian Women’s Team Won the Title for 1st Time
Indian Women’s Badminton Team led by Pusarla Venkata (PV) Sindhu won the gold at Badminton Asia
Team Championships (BATC) 2024 in Womens event by defeating Thailand (3-2) in the finals held at
Setia City Convention Centre in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
• This marks the first ever podium finish of Indian Women’s team and also the first ever gold for
India at the Badminton Asia Team Championships.
• BATC 2024, the 5th edition of the biennial championship, was held from 13th to 18th
February 2024 in Malaysia.
Note: Previously, Indian Men’s team won the bronze medals in the 2016 and 2020 editions of BATC.
Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 Medalists:
Medal Women’s Winner Men’s Winners
Gold India China
Silver Thailand Malaysia
Bronze Japan and Indonesia Japan and South Korea

Note:
• Teams that lost in the semifinals were awarded the shared bronze medal.
• Indian Men’s Team led by HS Prannoy lost the quarter finals against Japan.

Highlights of Women’s final:
i.Indian women’s team won 3 out of 5 matches in the finals against Thailand.
ii.PV Sindhu won the first singles against Supanida Katethong and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand defeated
Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai in the first doubles.
iii.Ashmita Chaliha and Priya Konjengbam-Shruti Mishra lost the 2nd singles and doubles.
iv.The reigning Indian national champion Anmol Kharb (17-year-old) defeated Pornpicha Choeikeewong
(Thailand) to secure the title for India.
Member of Indian Team:
Men: HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Lakshya Sen, MR Arjun,
Dhruv Kapila, Suraj Goala, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Chirag Sen.
Women: PV Sindhu, Ashwini Ponnappa, Ashmita Chaliha, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, Treesa Jolly,
Gayatri Gopichand, Anmol Kharb, Tanisha Crasto and Tanvi Sharma.
About BATC 2024:
i.BATC 2024 is a biofficially known as the SELANGOR Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024, was
organised by the Badminton Asia along with Badminton Association of Malaysia.
ii.It was sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation(BWF).
iii.The top four teams (women and men) of the tournament are qualified by merit for Uber
Cup(women) and Thomas Cup (Men) which is scheduled to be held in Chengdu China, in April-May 2024.
Note: The first edition of BATC was held in 2016.
Bengaluru Open Tennis: India’s Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan Wins Doubles Title
The Indian tennis pair Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan won the men’s doubles title by
defeating Constantin Bittoun Kouzmine and Maxime Janvier of France in the finals of the Bengaluru Open
2024.
Men’s singles Event:
i.Stefano Napolitano (Italy) won the men’s singles title by defeating
Seongchan Hong (South Korea) in the finals.
• It marks Stefano Napolitano’s first Association of Tennis
Professionals (ATP) Challenger title since 2016.
ii.India’s sole contender in the men’s singles, Sumit Nagal, lost to
Stefano Napolitano in the semi-finals.
• The 2017 Bengaluru Open title winner, Sumit Nagal, is
India’s top-ranked singles player at world No. 101 in the Pepperstone ATP ranking(As of 20th
Feb’24).
• He recently won the men’s singles title at the Chennai Open 2024, which was held from 5th to
11th February 2024 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Key Points:
It was the second challenger title for the Myneni and Ramkumar pair in 2024 since they won the Chennai
Open 2024 title by defeating Indian pair Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli and Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha in the
finals.
About Bengaluru Open:
i.The Bengaluru Open 2024 was held from 12th to 18th February 2024 at the Karnataka State Lawn
Tennis Association (KSLTA) Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
ii.Bengaluru Open is part of the ATP Challenger 100 series and organised by the KSLTA.
iii.It was played on a hard surface, and the total prize money was USD 133,250.
iv.The event comprises of 32 players in the singles event and 16 teams in the doubles event.

India Wins Four Medals (3 gold and 1 silver) in Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2024
India finished fifth in the medal tally with four medals (3 gold and 1 silver) in the 11th edition of the Asian
Indoor Athletics Championships (2024), held from 17th to 19th February 2024 at the Aftab Enghelab
sports complex in Tehran, Iran.
• China tops the medal tally with 16 medals (8 gold, 6
silver, 2 bronze), Japan with 9 medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 1
bronze), and Kazakhstan with 12 medals (4 gold, 2 silver,
6 bronze) in second and third place, respectively.
Indian Medal Winners:
Athlete Event Medal
Jyothi Yarraji Women’s 60m hurdles Gold
Tajinderpal Singh Toor Men’s shot put Gold
Harmilan Bains Women’s 1500m Gold
Ankita Dhyani Women’s 3000m Silver
Highlights:
i.Jyothi Yarraji won the gold medal in the women’s 60m hurdles with a timing of 8.12s.
• With this timing, she breaks her own national record timing of 8.13s, which was set by her in
the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships(previous edition) held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
ii.Tajinderpal Singh Toor won the gold medal in the men’s shot put with a throw of 19.72m.
• He breaks the national record of 19.60m, which was set by Vikas Gowda in 2005.
• It also marks his second consecutive gold medal in the same event. He clinched the top spot in
the previous edition.
iii.Harmilan Kaur Bains won the gold medal in the women’s 1500m Short Track event with a timing of
4:29.55.
iv.Ankita Dhyani won the silver medal in the women’s 3000m Short Track event with a timing of 9:26.22.
Points to Note:
i.India’s Gulveer Singh lost his men’s 3000m gold medal after being disqualified for ‘lane violation’.
• Jalil Naseri of Iran who came second in the finals was also disqualified from the event due to
violation.
ii.Keneshbekov Nursultan (Kyrgyzstan), who finished second in the race, was awarded the gold medal,
while Seyed Amir Zamanpour (Iran) and Maxim Frolovskiy (Kazakhstan) won the silver and the bronze
medals, respectively.
iii.In the 2023 edition, India won 8 medals(one gold, six silver, and one bronze).
Magnus Carlsen Wins Inaugural Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge

Norwegian Grandmaster (GM) and World No.1, Magnus Carlsen won the inaugural Freestyle Chess
G.O.A.T. Challenge by defeating GM Fabiano Caruana (United States
of America-USA)in the finals.
• The 2024 Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. is a Chess960
classical tournament that was held from February 9th to
16th, 2024, in Weissenhaus, Germany.
Key Points:
i.GM Levon Aronian(USA) won third place, while GM Nodirbek
Abdusattorov(Uzbekistan) and GM Alireza Firouzja(France)
secured fourth and fifth place, respectively.

• The top five finishers have qualified for the next edition (2025) of the G.O.A.T. Challenge.
ii.India’s GM Gukesh Dommaraju secured sixth place. He also defeated World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the
second round.
About the tournament:
i.All the games played in the tournament were Chess960, also known as Fischer Random Chess, the main
difference in this chess variant is the starting position of the pieces.
ii.Prize Money:
• Total – USD 200,000
• 1st – USD 60,000
• 2nd – USD 40,000
• 3rd -USD 30,000
iii.The event saw the participation of eight Grandmasters.
India Wins 18 medals at BWF Para-Badminton World Championships 2024

The Indian shuttlers won 18 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, and 11 bronze) at the BWF (Badminton World
Federation) Para-Badminton World Championships 2024, held from 20th -25th February 2024 in
Pattaya, Thailand.
• The 14th edition of the bi-annual event organized by BWF PARA – Badminton Association of
Thailand.
Indian Gold Medal Winners:
i.Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics silver medallist, won the gold in the men’s
singles SL 4 category by beating Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan.
ii.Krishna Nagar won the gold medal in the men’s singles SH 6 category by beating China’s Naili Lin.
iii.Pramod Bhagat won the gold medal in the men’s singles SL 3 category by beating England’s Daniel
Bethell.
• He was the first Indian to win a gold medal in badminton at the Paralympic Games, winning a
gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 class.
List of Indian Silver & Bronze Medallists:
No. Athlete/Team Event
Silver Medallists
1 Manisha Ramadass women’s singles SU 5
2 Chirag Baretha/Rajkumar men’s doubles SU 5
women’s doubles SL 3 – SU
3 Manasi Girishchandra Joshi/Thulasimathi Murugesan
5
4 Rachana Shaileshkumar Patel/Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan women’s doubles SH 6
Bronze Medallists
1 Sukant Kadam men’s singles SL 4

2 Nitesh Kumar men’s Singles SL 3
3 Manoj Sarkar men’s Singles SL 3
4 Manasi Girishchandra Joshi women’s singles SL 3
5 Palak Kohli women’s singles SL 4
6 Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan women’s singles SH 6
7 Pramod Bhagat/Sukant Kadam men’s doubles SL 3 – SL 4
8 Nehal Gupta/Naveen Sivakuma men’s doubles SL 3 – SL 4
women’s doubles SL 3 – SU
9 Mandeep Kaur/Manish Ramadass
5
10 Chirag Baretha/Mandeep Kaur mixed doubles SL 3 – SU 5
11 Pramod Bhagat/Manisha Ramadass mixed doubles SL 3 – SU 5
Archery Asia Cup 2024 Stage I: India Wins 14 Medals

Indian archers won 14 medals (9 golds, 4 silvers, and 1 bronze) at stage I of the Archery Asia Cup 2024,
held from 20th to 25th February 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq.
Highlights:
i.India clinched the gold medal in all the individual events
including recurve(men & women) and compound(men & women)
events.
ii.India’s Deepika Kumari won the gold medal by defeating
SimranjeetKaur(India) in the women’s individual recurve
category.
iii.In the recurve men’s individual event, India’s Dhiraj Bommadevara won the Gold medal by defeating
Tarundeep Rai(India) in the finals.
iv.In the men’s compound event, India’s Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar won the gold medal by defeating
Kushal Dalal (India) in the finals.
v.India’s Parneet Kaur clinched the gold medal by defeating Fatemeh Hemmati(Iran) in the finals of the
women’s individual compound event.
List of Indian Medal Winners:
Archer Event
Gold
Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar men’s compound individual
Parneet Kaur women’s compound individual

Dhiraj Bommadevara men’s recurve individual
Deepika Kumari women’s recurve individual
Dhiraj Bommadevara, Pravin Ramesh Jadhav and Tarundeep Rai men’s recurve team
Simranjeet Kaur, Deepika Kumari and Bhajan Kaur women’s recurve team
Simranjeet Kaur and Dhiraj Bommadevara recurve mixed team
Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar, Priyansh and Kushal Dalal men’s compound team
Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar and Aditi Gopichand Swami compound mixed team
Silver
Kushal Dalal men’s compound team
Tarundeep Rai men’s recurve individual
Simranjeet Kaur women’s recurve individual
Bronze
Aditi Gopichand Swami women’s compound individual

Note:
Stage II of the Archery Asia Cup 2024 is set to be held from 7-14 May 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand.
OBITUARY
Former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan Passed Away
Harmohan Dhawan, Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) from Chandigarh, passed
away at the age of 83 in Mohali, Punjab. He was born on 14th July 1940, in Fatehjung, Campbelpur
district in Punjab, British India(now Attock, Pakistan).
About Harmohan Dhawan:
i.In 1970, he started a small-scale unit and became President of
the Industries Association of Chandigarh.
ii.In 1977, he entered politics and assumed the presidency of the
Janata Party in 1981.
iii.In 1989, he was elected as MP from the Chandigarh
constituency and became Minister of State (Independent Charge),
Ministry of Civil Aviation, in the government of the late Prime
Minister(PM) Chandrashekhar.
iv.His political journey included associations with parties including the Janata Party, Bahajun Samajwadi
Party (BSP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress.
v.Finally, in 2018, he joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. He
contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Chandigarh and lost the seat.

American Poet & Pulitzer Prize Winner, Navarre Scott Momaday Passed Away
Navarre Scott Momaday, a Pulitzer Prize-winning storyteller, poet, educator and folklorist, passed away
in New Mexico, United States of America (USA). He was born on 27th February 1934, in Oklahoma, USA.
About Navarre Scott Momaday:
i.Navarre Scott Momaday is a member of the Kiowa tribe in the
USA.
ii.Scott Momaday was the first Native American author to receive
a Pulitzer Prize.
• His novel “House Made of Dawn,” published in 1968
by HarperCollins, won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for
the year 1969.
iii.He also made efforts to preserve Native American culture,
including the oral tradition.
iv.He founded Buffalo Trust, a non-profit foundation, aiming to preserve, protect and restitute Native
American culture and heritage.
Key Works:
i.He was a contributor to both the English and French editions of ‘The Alphabet of hope: writers for
literacy’.
• It is a book published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) in 2007.
ii.In 1969, he compiled ‘The Way to Rainy Mountain’, a collection of Kiowa tales.
iii.He was the subject of a documentary film, ‘N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear’.
Recognition:
i.He was named an ‘Artist for Peace’ by UNESCO in 2004.
ii.In 2007, Scott Momaday was awarded the National Medal of Arts for his writings and his work on
Native American art and oral tradition.
iii.He also received awards such as the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of
the Americas (1992), the Dayton Literary Peace Prize (2019) etc.
Padma Shri Awardee Dr Nitya Anand, Developer of India’s 1st Oral Contraceptive Pill, Passed Away
Padma Shri Awardee Dr Nitya Anand, the developer of India’s 1st oral contraceptive pill ‘Saheli‘ passed
away at the age of 99 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP). He was born on 1st January 1925, at Layallpur, West
Punjab (now in Pakistan). He was a renowned Medicinal Chemist and Scientist.
• He was honoured with the Padma Shri for Medicine in 2012.
About Dr. Nitya Anand:
i.On 27th March 1951, he joined the Medicinal Chemistry
Division of the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in
Lucknow as Scientist.
ii.He served as the Head of the Medicinal Chemistry Division
(1963-1974) and served as the Director of CDRI from 1974-
1984.
iii.He worked with the Government of India (GoI) for nearly
forty years, helping to design various drug policies.
• He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet of the GoI (1981-83); and
• Chairman of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Committee of the GoI since 1978.
Innovation:
i.He played a vital role in the discovery of ‘Saheli,’ scientifically known as Centchroman (Ormeloxifene), the

1st non-steroidal oral contraceptive pill anywhere in the world.
ii.This innovation marked the world’s first non-steroidal once–a–week oral contraceptive drug that gave
women the freedom to decide about pregnancy.
• This is the only anti-implantation agent approved for clinical use in the world.
Note: The pill ‘Saheli’ was launched in 1995 under the National Family Welfare Programme. In 2016, the
GoI of India reintroduced Saheli as part of the National Family Planning program
Padma Shri Awardee & Veteran Odia Actor Sadhu Meher Passed Away
Renowned Odia actor-director and Padma Shri Awardee Sadhu Meher passed away in Mumbai,
Maharashtra at the age of 84. He was born on January 1, 1940, in Boudh district of Odisha. He was also a
writer and producer.
Awards/Honours:
i.In 1974, he won the National Award for Best Actor for his
performance in Shyam Benegal’s debut film Ankur (The Seedling).
• He was the 1st Odia Actor to be honoured with National
Award.
ii.In 2011, the Odisha government felicitated him with
Jaydev Samman for his lifetime contribution.
iii.He was awarded the Padma Shri for Art in 2017.
About Sadhu Meher:
i.He started his career as an actor in Hindi movies and later acted in Odia movies. He is also recognised as a
prominent filmmaker in both Hindi and Odia film industries.
ii.In the Hindi, he dubted in the “Bhuvan Shome” (1969), directed by Mrinal Sen, which won the 3 national
awards (for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor) in 1970.
iii.He also starred in “Icchapuram” (1970), the only children’s film directed by Mrinal Sen based on a story
by Rabindranath Tagore.
iv.He also acted in several episodes of Doordarshan’s popular detective series Byomkesh Bakshi.
v.He worked in the Odia film industry, acting in nearly 38 films, and directed 5 movies namely – Abhimaan
(1977), Aparachita (1980), Abhilasha (1983), Gopa Re Badhhuchhi Kala Kanhei (1994) and Babula (1985)
Notable Movies: “Nishant” (1975) and “Manthan” (1976); “Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hai” (1999).
Veteran Broadcaster & Sahitya Akademi winner Farooq Nazki Passed Away
Mir Mohammad Farooq Nazki, a Prominent broadcaster, poet, and Sahitya Akademi awardee, passed away at
the age of 83 at Katra in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
• He was born on 16 February 1940 in Madar village in
Bandipora district, J&K.
About Mir Mohammad Farooq Nazki:
i.He started his career in 1960 as a journalist in the “Zamindar”
newspaper and was known for his significant roles in All India Radio
(AIR) Kashmir and Doordarshan(DD).
ii.He was among the 1st Indian broadcasters to travel to Europe and
was trained in television media and programming in the United
Kingdom (UK), and Germany.
iii.He served as Director of Doordarshan and erstwhile Radio Kashmir Srinagar (AIR Srinagar) from 1986 to
1997.
iv.He also served as Media Advisor of Two (former) Chief Minister(CM) of J&K, Farooq Abdullah and Omar
Abdullah.

v.He retired as Deputy Director General of Doordarshan in 2000.
Awards/Honours:
In 1995, he was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi award in Kashmiri language for his poetry book “Naar
Hatun Kazal Wanas” (Fire in the Eyelashes).
Chile’s Former President Sebastián Piñera Passed Away

Sebastián Piñera Echenique, the two-time former president of Chile and Chilean businessman, has passed
away by drowning in Lake Ranco in Chile after a helicopter crash. He was born on 1st December 1949 in
Santiago, Chile.
As the President of Chile:
i.Sebastián Piñera served his first tenure as President of Chile
from 2010 to 2014.
ii.He was the first conservative politician to be elected as president after
the end of military rule in Chile.
iii.He belongs to a political party called Coalición por el
Cambio (Coalition for Change), founded in 2009.
iv.He was again made President of Chile from 2018 to 2022.
Political entry:
i.Sebastián Piñera started his political career as an independent senator candidate for the Democracy and
Progress Pact in 1989.
ii.He founded the Renovación Nacional (National Renewal) party in 2001 and served as its President till 2004.
iii.He also contested the 2005 presidential election in Chile, but failed to win it.
As A Business Person:
i.As of 8 February 2024, Sebastián Piñera (Sebastian Piñera & family) was ranked 1,027 on ‘Forbes Billionaires
2023: The Richest People In The World’, with a net worth of USD 2.9 billion.
ii.He also served as the Director of the Avanza Chile Foundation in 2014.
iii.Piñera also started a credit card company Bancard in 1976.
About Chile:
President – Gabriel Boric
Capital – Santiago
Currency – Chilean Peso
British-Indian Peer Baroness Shreela Flather Passed Away

British-Indian peer, Shreela Flather passed away at the age of 89. She was a life peer as Baroness of Windsor
and Maidenhead in Berkshire (Towns in the United Kingdom (UK)).
Note:
A 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).
• She 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.
• She played a key role in the construction of the renowned Memorial Gates at Hyde Park Corner in
London, which pay tribute to the war efforts of Commonwealth soldiers during the World Wars.
She wrote a book entitled “Woman – Acceptable Exploitation for Profit”, showing extreme poverty can be
changed by bringing women into paid works, it was published in 2010 by Whittles Publishing.

Padma Shri Awardee & Renowned Writer UshaKiran Khan Passed Away
Padma Shri Awardee and renowned Hindi and Maithili writer UshaKiran Khan passed away at the age of 78 in
Patna, Bihar. She was born on 24th October 1945 at Laheriasarai in the Darbhanga district of Bihar.
She was honoured with the Padma Shri in the field of literature
and education in 2015.
Awards/Honours:
i.She was also a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2011 for
her Maithili novel ‘Bhamati’, written in 2010, and published by Samayik
Prakashan.
ii.She received the Kusumanjali Sahitya Samman from theKusumanjali
Foundation for her Hindi novel ‘Sirjanhaar’ in 2012.
iii.She also received various for her literary contributions including the Mahadevi Verma Award, the Dinakar
National Award, and the Bharat-Bharati, among others.
Literary Works:
i.She published her works in diverse fields including child literature, novels, and story collections.
ii.Her notable works include Doobdhaan, Geeli Paank, Kasavan, Jaldhar, Janam Awadhi, Chidia Chug Gayi Khet,
and Shershah Suri.
Note:
Maithili was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution as a recognised Indian language by the
92nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 2003.
Renowned Geneticist & Padma Shri Awardee I.C. Verma Passed Away
The renowned specialist in genetic medicine and Padma Shri recipient Ishwar Chander Verma (I.C. Verma)
passed away. He was born on 25th December 1936.
Padma Shri Award:
i.In 2023, I.C.Verma was conferred with the Padma Shri (the fourth-
highest civilian honour) in the field of Medicine.
ii.The award was given for his effort in
• Setting up the first Genetic centre in India at All India Institute
Of Medical Science (AIIMS) in 1968.
• Conducting research on the decline in the population of
the Onge Tribe in Andaman & Nicobar(A&N) Islands.
About Ishwar Chander Verma:
i.I.C.Verma started his career as a professor of paediatrics and the head of the genetic department at AIIMS in
New Delhi, Delhi in 1967.
ii.He served as an adviser in genetics to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for South-East
Asia (SEARO).
iii.He was a member & an Ex-Vice-chairman of the Ethics Committee of the International Human Genome
Organization (HUGO).
iv.He also served as the head of the Indian Society of Human Genetics (ISHG).
v.He was a part of several Committees of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW), Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Biotechnology(DBT) under the Ministry of Science &
Technology (MoS&T).
Other Recognition:
i.He was mentioned in the Limca Book of Records 2003 as a pioneer in genetics in India.
ii.He also received the BC Roy National Award in 1983, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) award,
the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) award, etc.

Renowned Indian Chef & Padma Shri Awardee Imtiaz Qureshi Passed Away
Mohammed Imtiaz Qureshi, a renowned Indian chef and Padma Shri Awardee, passed away at the age of
93 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on 2nd February 1931 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
Awards:
i.In 2016, Imtiaz Qureshi was conferred with the Padma
Shri (Field: Others) for his significant contributions to the culinary
arts.
ii.He was the first professional chef to be honoured with a Padma
Shri award.
About Imtiaz Qureshi:
i.Imtiaz Qureshi is a descendant of Khansamas, the royal cooks of
the Mughal rulers and nawabs.
ii.He joined Lucknow(UP) based Krishna Caterers which was serving the Indian Army during the Indo-
China War in 1962.
iii.He joined the ITC Hotels in 1979 and retired as a Grand Master Chef of ITC Hotels in 2017.
iv.He was credited for reviving the Awadhi Dum Pukht cooking tradition (a method of slow cooking). He
also created restaurant brands such as Bukhara (1977) and Dum Pukht(1989).
Renowned Indian Jurist & Padma Awardee Fali Sam Nariman Passed Away
Fali Sam Nariman, a renowned Indian jurist and Padma Awardee, passed away at the age of 95 in New
Delhi, Delhi. He was born on 10th January 1929 in Myanmar (Rangoon – then British India).
Awards:
The Government of India (GoI) honoured him with
the Padma Bhushan (Field: Public Affairs) in 1991 and Padma
Vibhushan (Field: Public Affairs) in 2007 in recognition of his
exceptional and distinguished services in the field of Public Affairs.
Fali Sam Nariman:
i.He started his career as an Advocate of the Bombay High Court in
1950.
ii.He also served as Additional Solicitor General of India from 1972 to 1975. He resigned a day after the
Emergency was imposed on June 26, 1975.
iii.He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) of Rajya Sabha (nominated) from 1999 to 2005.
iv.He served as the President of the Bar Association of India (BAI) from 1991 to 2010.
v.He also served as Vice–Chairman of International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of
Commerce (ICC ) in Paris, France (1989 to 2005), President of International Council for Commercial
Arbitration (ICCA) (1994 to 2002) and Chairman of Executive Committee of the International
Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Geneva, Switzerland (1995 to 1997).
Books:
i.He has authored several books like ‘Before Memory Fades: An Autobiography & Supreme Whispers:
Supreme Court Judges’; ‘India’s Legal System (R/J): Can it Be Saved?’; ‘The State of the Nation’; ‘God Save
the Hon’ble Supreme Court’.
ii.He has also wrote “The Arbitration Series” titled “Harmony amidst Disharmony”.
Other Awards: He is also the recipient of 19th Lal Bahadur Shastri Award for Excellence in Public
Administration(2018); “Exemplary Service of Law” award from SKOCH in 2022 and Gruber Prize for
Justice in 2002.

Legendary Radio Presenter & Padma Shri Awardee Ameen Sayani Passed Away
Renowned Radio presenter and Padma Shri Awardee Ameen Sayani passed away at the age of 91 in
Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on December 21, 1932, in Mumbai.
• He was most known for his program Binaca Geetmala (now Cibaca Geetmala) on Radio Ceylon.
Awards/Honours:
i.The government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 2009 (Field: Others).
ii.He is also the recipient of the Living Legend Award (2006) from the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce & Industry(FICCI), with India Radio Forum.
About Ameen Sayani:
i.Initially, he worked as an English-language presenter for All India Radio(AIR) in Mumbai, where his
brother Hamid Sayani was a broadcaster.
ii.Ameen Sayani was hired by his brother to host the Hindi film song show “Geetmala” on Radio Ceylon in
1952.
• Binaca Geetmala was aired for over 42 years, starting in 1952 primarily on Radio Ceylon, and
then moved to AIR Vividh Bharati Service in 1989 and ran till 1994.
iii.He holds the record for hosting and comparing over 54,000 radio programs. He also holds a record in
the Limca Book of Records for his contributions to approximately 19,000 jingles as a voiceover artist.
iv.The “Bournvita Quiz Contest (English),” one of his non-film radio works, which he took over from Hamid
Sayani in 1975 after his death, was extremely popular.
v.He also produced “Swanaash,” a 13-episode AIR radio series on Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Germany’s FIFA World Cup Winner Andreas Brehme Passed Away

Former German footballer Andreas Brehme has passed away at the age of 63. He was part of the West
Germany national football team that won the Federation Internationale de Football Association
(FIFA)World Cup 1990 against Argentina in Rome, Italy.
• He represented the national team in 86 international matches and scored 8 goals.
• He also played for various domestic football clubs(FC) including Kaiserslautern(1981-86 and
1993-98), FC Bayern Munich (1986-88), and Inter Milan (1988–1992).
Note:
Germany was split into two parts West Germany and East Germany from 1949 to 1990.
Former Maharashtra CM & Ex-Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi Passed Away
Manohar Joshi, a former Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra & former Speaker of Lok Sabha, passed away at
the age of 86 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on 2 December 1937 in Nandavi in Raigad, Maharashtra.
• He was a senior leader of the Shiv Sena, a Marathi
regionalist, and nationalist political party
About Manohar Joshi:
i.He entered into politics in 1967 and was associated with the Shiv
Sena for over 4 decades.
ii.He served as Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai from
1976-77.
iii.He was first elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1972
and served 3 terms till 1989.
iv.In 1990 he was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and served as the Leader of the Opposition
from 1990-91.
v.He served as CM of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. He was the first leader from the undivided Shiv Sena to

occupy the CM post in Maharashtra.
vi.He was elected as the Member of Parliament(MP) (Lok Sabha) in 1999. He served as Union Cabinet Minister,
Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises from 1999 to 2002.
vii.He was elected unanimously as the Speaker of Lok Sabha in 2002 and held the post till 2004.
viii.He served as MP (Rajya Sabha – Maharashtra) from 2006 to 2012.
National Award-winning Indian Filmmaker Kumar Shahani Passed Away

Renowned Indian filmmaker, and screenwriter Kumar Shahani, who won 3 National Awards passed
away at the age of 83 in Kolkata, West Bengal. He was born on 7 December 1940 in the Larkana district in
Sindh, British India (now Pakistan).
National Awards of Kumar Shahani:
i.He directed his first long feature movie, Maya Darpan in 1972,
which won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
in 1973.
ii.In 1984, he directed his first full-length movie Tarang, for which
he won the 2nd National Award in Special Mention.
iii.In 1991, he directed the movie Bhavantarana, which made him
win the 3rd National Award for Best Biographical Film.
International Recognition:
i.Kumar Shahani’s work found acclaim at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), in Rotterdam
Netherlands, where some of his films earned recognition like:
• Var Var Vari (IFFR, 1988); Char Adhyay (IFFR, 1998).
ii.His film Khayal Gatha (1989) secured the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) prize at
IFFR in Rotterdam in 1990.
iii.He also won the 1998 Prince Claus Award for the invention of a new cinematic idiom.
iv.In 2019, his early works were showcased at the Pingyao International Film Festival.
Other works of Kumar Shahani:
i.His other notable works include A Ship Aground (1988), Kasba (1990), and As The Crow Flies (2004),
which is the only digital film directed by him.
ii.He was a key member of the advisory council of the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF).
Renowned Ghazal Singer & Padma Shri Awardee Pankaj Keshubhai Udhas Passed Away
A prominent Indian Ghazal singer and Padma Shri awardee Pankaj Keshubhai Udhas passed away at the
age of 72 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on 17 May 1951 in Jetpur, Saurashtra, Gujarat.
Awards/Honours:
Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri for arts
in 2006. .
About Pankaj Keshubhai Udhas:
i.His first song credit was in the K Chatterjee-directed film
Kaamna (1972).
ii.He released his debut Ghazal album called ‘Aahat’ in 1980. His
noted albums includes “Mukarar” (1981); “Tarrannum” (1982);
“Mehfil” (1983); “Nayaab” (1985), etc.
iii.He gained popularity as a professional singer with his song “Chitthi Aayee Hai” from the movie “Naam”
(1986), directed by Mahesh Bhatt.
• His most recent song as a playback singer was for the film Dil Toh Deewana Hai (2016).
iv.He started a talent show ‘Aadab Arz Hai’ on Sony TV to find the new Ghazal Talent.

BOOKS & AUTHORS
CDS Anil Chauhan unveils Book ‘Artificial Intelligence and National Security’ at Defence Lit Fest in
Pune
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan unveiled a book titled ‘Artificial Intelligence and National
Security’, written by Amit Sinha and Vijay Khare and published by Pentagon Press at the Defence
Literature Festival, “Kalam and Kavach,” in Pune(Maharashtra).
• The book ‘AI and National Security’ explains about the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
in national security. It also examines India’s AI development in comparison with global powers
and insights into government initiatives.
• The first edition of the Defence Literature Festival, Kalam and Kavach was organised by Army
Southern Command along with Pentagon Press.
• Another book titled“Ukraine, Gaza, Taiwan…… A World at War” written by Ajay Singh was
released at the event.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar launched a Book “Transforming HARYANA” by Kuldip Chand
Agnihotri
Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President (VP) of India, released the book titled “Transforming HARYANA: 9
Incredible Years of Haryana Government” edited by Kuldip Chand Agnihotri, Former Vice-Chancellor,
Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.
• The hindi translation of the book under the title “हरियाणा सिकाि के 9 अतुलनीय वर्ष: एक नए एवं
जीवंत हरियाणा का उदय“(9 Incredible Years of Haryana Government: Emergence of a New and
Vibrant Haryana) was also released. The book was translated by litterateur and writer Dr.
Shamim Sharma.
Key People: The book was launched in the presence of Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister (CM) of
Haryana and Bandaru Dattatreya, Governor of Haryana.
About the book:
i.The book was published by OakBridge Publishing Private Limited.
ii.The foreword of the book is written by Ram Nath Kovind, Former (14th) President of India (2017 to
2022).
iii.The book features 3 types of articles.
• Articles by scholars expressing their opinion on various schemes of the Haryana government.
• Articles by officers of Haryana government regarding implementation of the schemes.
Articles by scholars working in the academic field explaining the long-term impacts of these schemes.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik releases Coffee-Table Book Titled ‘Shree Jagannatha, Lord Of The
Universe’
Chief Minister (CM) of Odisha Naveen Patnaik has released a coffee-table book titled ‘Shree Jagannatha,
Lord Of The Universe’ during the valedictory session of the first-ever “World Odia Language
Conference” held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 1st to 3rd February 2024.
• The book was published by The Hindu Group and edited by Raghuvir Srinivasan, Editor of The Hindu
BusinessLine.
The book pictorially narrates traditions and rituals associated with Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi
Subhadra in Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri, Odisha.

Sanjay Jaju, Secretary MIB, unveiled ‘India Year Book 2024’ & ‘Career Calling’ at World Book
Fair in New Delhi
On 10th February 2024, Sanjay Jaju, the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)
inaugurated the Publications Division’s stall and unveiled its publications titled “India Year Book 2024” and
“Career Calling” at the World Book Fair 2024 in New Delhi, Delhi
The World Book Fair 2024, organized by the National Book Trust of India, will take place at Pragati Maidan,
New Delhi.
The fair is being held from February 10-18, 2024 on the theme ‘Multi Lingual India
(Bahubhashi Bharat)’. It is the 51st edition of the fair.
India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is the co-
organiser/venue partner of the fair.
Key Points:
i.The India Year Book 2024 is an annual reference book that offers an overview of India’s progress. Career
Calling is a guide for informed choices.
ii.The Publications Division of MIB publishes non-fiction books about India’s heritage and panorama.
The book “Neeraj Chopra: The Man Who Made History” written by Norris Pritam
Renowned sports journalist Norris Pritam has written a new book “Neeraj Chopra: The Man Who Made
History” which describes the journey of the javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s life from early background to
Olympics.
• The book was published by Bloomsbury Publishing India Pvt. Ltd.
• Neeraj Chopra was the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics in the Olympics when he
clinched it in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Note:
Neeraj Chopra was recently(in Feb’24) honoured by Swiss tourism with a commemorative plaque at Ice
Palace in Jungfraujoch, known as the ‘Top of Europe’, in Switzerland.
‘Fool Bahadur’: First Magahi Novel Translated to English by Abhay K

Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Manoj Sinha along with Ajay Singh, Press
Secretary to the President of India and Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Bihar, S Siddharth have launched
English edition of ‘Fool Bahadur’, the first ever novel to be translated from Magahi language to English.
• The book was translated by Indian poet-diplomat, editor and translator Abhay K.
• The book was published by Penguin Random House India.
• It was initially authored by Jayanath Pati in 1928 in Magahi.
• The book was launched in Patna (Bihar) at the 4th edition of Grand Trunk Road Initiatives
(2024).
Note – Previously, Abhay K was awarded the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) Literary Award 2013 and the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) Poetry Book of the
Year Award 2020-2021.
Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai unveiled his New Book “Basic Structure and Republic”
PS Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, has penned his 212th book titled “Basic Structure and
Republic”. Mar Joseph Perumthottam, Archbishop of Changanacherry (Kerala) released the book during
the book release function held in Raj Bhavan, Panaji, Goa.
• The first copy of the book was received by Subhash Shirodkar, Goa’s Minister for Water
Resources Department, Cooperation and Provedoria.

• The book is based on the Golden Jubilee speeches, particularly the Kesavananda Bharati versus
Sanyasi case which is the longest-ever hearing of the Supreme Court (sixty-six days).
Rita Shreedharan Pillai, first lady of Goa and Sadanand Shet Tanawde, Member of Parliament(Rajya Sabha
– North Goa) were present during the event.
IMPORTANT DAYS
Shaheed Divas or Martyrs’ Day 2024 – January 30
Martyrs’ Day, also known as Sarvodaya Day or Shaheed Diwas, is annually observed across India
on January 30 to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty to the nation.
• The day also marks the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who was considered the
“Father of the Nation”.
• 30th January 2024 marks the 76th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
About Mahatma Gandhi:
i.Mahatma Gandhi was born as “Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar,
Gujarat.
ii.He was a lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and politician who played a major role in India’s freedom
struggle.
iii.He was assassinated on 30th January 1948 by Nathuram Godse, in Birla House, New Delhi, Delhi.
Books:
i.“The Story of My Experiments with Truth” the autobiography of Gandhi, covers his life through to
1921. It was originally written in Gujarati and was translated into English by Mahadev Desai.
ii.His other noted works include, ‘Gokhale: My Political Guru’; ‘The Law and the Lawyers’, and ‘Satyagraha
in South Africa’.
iii.He translated John Ruskin’s “Unto This Last” in Gujarati as “Sarvodaya”.
Honours:
i.In 1930, he was named TIME Magazine’s “Man of the Year” (Now awarded as ‘Person of the Year’). To
date, he remains the only Indian to be honoured with the title.
ii.On the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary(2nd October 1995), the Government of India launched
the International Gandhi Peace Prize as a tribute to Gandhi.
iii.He received 5 Nobel Peace Prize nominations (1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and 1948) but was never
awarded the Nobel peace prize.
Other Martyrs’ Day observed in India:
i.23rd March – to commemorate the death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev
Thapar.
ii.19th May – observed as Bhasha Shahid Divas (Language Martyrs’ Day), to remember the martyrdom of
11 people who were killed during the Bengali Language Movement.
iii.19th November – to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rani Lakshmibai, the Maratha queen who
ruled the Princely state of Jhansi.
Indian Coast Guard Day 2024 – 1st February; ICG Celebrates 48th Raising Day
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Day is annualy observed across India on 1st February to mark the Raising Day of
ICG, India’s maritime armed force operating under the Ministry of Defence.
• 1st February 2024 marks the observance of the 48th Raising Day of ICG.

History of ICG:
i.The interim ICG was established on February 1, 1977, by the Coast Guard Act of 1978 of the Parliament of
India.
• ICG was established with a fleet strength of just 7 ships for surveillance in the Indian waters and
the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
ii.One of the primary duties of the ICG is to assist the Customs and other authorities in Anti-Smuggling
operations.
iii.In 1977, the Union Cabinet approved the setting up a Coast Guard with 2 frigates and 5 patrol boats
transferred from the Indian Navy.
Note: The 1st ICG Ship (ICGS) Kuthar (Pennant No. 31) was transferred from the Indian Navy to the ICG in
1978.
Background:
i.On 18 August 1978, the Indian Parliament officially declared the ICG Day to be observed on 1 February
every year.
ii.ICG was formally inaugurated by the then Prime Minister (PM) Morarji Desai on 19th August 1978.
Significance:
i.The Day honours the contribution of ICG that supports maritime safety, and security, of India’s coastal
and offshore interests.
• It is celebrated to highlight the great achievements of the Coast Guard.
ii.ICG is a maritime law enforcement and Search and Rescue (SAR) agency of India responsible for
coordinating SAR in the Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR).
Note: ICG has conducted 3,899 SAR operations, 8,012 sorties, and 453 medical evacuations at sea and also
saved 11,561 lives since its inception in 1977.
Coast Guard Regions:
i.The Maritime Zones of India are divided into 5 Coast Guard Regions, namely, North-West, West, East,
North-East, and Andaman & Nicobar for effective command and control.
ii.The 5 Coast Guard has corresponding Regional Headquarters located at:
• Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Kolkata (West Bengal)
and Port Blair (Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
iii.Officers of the rank of Inspector General command the Coast Guard Regions.
Roles and Responsibilities of ICG
i.Ensuring the safety and protection of artificial Islands, offshore terminals, installations and other
structures and devices in any maritime zone.
ii.Providing protection and assistance to fishermen in distress while at Sea.
iii.Assisting the Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.
iv.Enforcement of Maritime Zones of India Act.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG):
Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG)- Rakesh Pal, PTM, TM
Established on– February 1, 1977
Motto– Vayam Rakshamah (We Protect)
World Interfaith Harmony Week 2024 – 1-7 February

The United Nations (UN)’s World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) is annually observed across the globe
during the 1st week of February (1-7 February) to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence among
people irrespective of their faith.
• WIHW 2024 is observed from 1-7 February 2024.

Objective:
i.WIHW is a global initiative aimed at fostering harmony and tolerance among peoples of diverse religions,
faiths, and beliefs across the world, including those people with no faith.
ii.It seeks to do this by promoting their common basis of “Love of God and Love of the Neighbour,
or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbour”.
iii.This mantra teaches all people of goodwill and the power of kindness, charity, and healing. It includes
those of other faiths and those with no faith.
Background:
i.WIHW was first proposed at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on September 23, 2010, by H.M. King
Abdullah II of Jordan.
ii.On 20 October 2010, UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/65/5, declaring the 1st week of February as
World Interfaith Harmony Week.
iii.The first-ever WIHW was observed on 1-7 February 2011.
Points to note:
i.WIHW is based on the pioneering work of an open letter entitled “A Common Word Between Us and You”
(ACW) authored by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan.
ii.ACW signed by 138 Muslim scholars and leaders was addressed to some 28 Christian leaders and their
churches, inviting them to agree on a basis for relations with Muslims in 2007.
iii.The ACW declared the common ground between Islam and Christianity based on the 2 great
commandments of ‘Love of God, and Love of the Neighbour’.
iv.WIHW extends the 2 Commandments by adding ‘Love of the Good, and Love of the Neighbour’.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General– António Guterres
World Wetlands Day 2024- February 2

The United Nations (UN)’s World Wetlands Day is annually observed across the globe on 2 February to
raise awareness about the vital role of wetlands, a critically important ecosystem for people and the
planet.
• The Day also marks the date of adopting the Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance (“Ramsar Convention”), an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 February 1971,
in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
The 2024 theme of World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’.
The theme focuses on the interrelationship between wetlands and various aspects of human well-being,
including physical, mental, and environmental health.
Background:
i.The World Wetlands Day awareness campaign has been organised by the Secretariat of the Convention
on Wetlands since 1997.
ii.Contracting Parties of the Convention on Wetlands have been celebrating World Wetlands Day since
1997 when it was first established.
iii.On 30 August 2021, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/317 and
proclaimed the 2 February of every year as World Wetlands Day.
• It was proclaimed to raise awareness of the urgency of reversing the accelerating loss of
wetlands and to promote their conservation and restoration.
iv.The 1st ever UN-recognised World Wetlands Day was observed on 2 February 2022.

What is Wetlands?
i.A wetland is a land area saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally.
ii.Wetlands are essential, biodiverse ecosystems where water is the primary factor controlling the
environment and plant and animal life.
iii.They may be saltwater or freshwater, inland or coastal, natural or human-made, permanent or
temporary, static or flowing.
Convention on Wetlands:
i.The Convention on Wetlands provides the framework for national action and international cooperation
for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
ii.It was originally adopted in 1971 and came into force in 1975. There are 172 contracting parties to the
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Note:
• Each country joining the Convention must designate at least 1 wetland to be included in the List
of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites).
• Almost 90% of the UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have acceded to
become Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands.
• Currently, there are approximately 2,511 Ramsar Sites around the world covering nearly
257,189,470 hectares (ha), covering more than 2.5 million square kilometers, an area larger
than Mexico.
Significance:
i.Currently, wetlands cover about 6% of the Earth’s land surface, and 40% of all plant and animal species
live or breed in wetlands.
ii.Wetland contributes to biodiversity, agriculture, climate mitigation and adaptation, flood control, water
purification, etc.
iii.Wetlands have witnessed about 35% decline since the 1970s and the remaining wetlands are
disappearing 3 times faster than forests.
Key Facts:
i.Wetlands house over 100,000 species, supporting diverse ecosystems.
ii.Rice cultivation in wetland paddies is a cornerstone, feeding 3 billion people.
• These paddies contribute significantly, providing 20% of the world’s food.
iii.More than a billion people across the world depend on wetlands for their livelihoods, that’s about 1 in 8
people on Earth.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration:
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, spanning from 2021 to 2030, is a global call to action for
protecting and reviving ecosystems worldwide.
Key focus: Reversing the decline of natural wetlands by 2030.
2024 Events:
On 2 February 2024, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), in collaboration with the Ramsar
Convention Secretariat and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, hosted the World
Wetlands Day celebration in Rome, Italy, and online.
Events in India:
On 2nd February 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in
collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, organised the national World Wetlands Day event
at Sirpur Lake, Indore, a Ramsar site designated in 2022.
• Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of Ramsar Convention visited India to participate in
World Wetlands Day 2024.

About Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:
Secretary-General– Dr. Musonda Mumba
The Ramsar Convention Secretariat is based at the headquarters of the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland.
International Day of Human Fraternity 2024- February 4

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Human Fraternity is annually observed across the globe
on 4 February to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding, and solidarity between all people of
diverse faiths.
• The day emphasises the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to
enhance mutual understanding, harmony, and cooperation among people.
International Day of Human Fraternity falls in the middle of World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), an
annual event observed during the 1st week of February, since 2010.
• 4 February 2024 marks the observance of the 4th International Day of Human Fraternity.
Background:
i.On 21 December 2020, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution
A/RES/75/200 and proclaimed the 4 February of every as the International Day of Human Fraternity.
• The resolution was co-facilitated by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and it
acknowledges initiatives fostering interreligious and intercultural dialogue.
ii.The 1st ever International Day of Human Fraternity was observed on 4 February 2021.
Why February 4?
The date commemorates the signing of the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and
Living Together” by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-
Tayeb in Abu Dhabi, UAE on February 4, 2019.
• 4 February 2024 marks the 5th anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human
Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.
Culture of Peace:
In 1999, the UNGA adopted, the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace (by resolution
A/RES/53/243), which serves as the universal mandate for the international community.
• It particularly focuses on the UN system, to promote a culture of peace and non-violence that
benefits all of humanity, including future generations.
World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW):
i.WIHW, conceived to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence, was first proposed by King Abdullah II
of Jordan at the UN in 2010.
ii.On 20 October 2010, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/65/5 and declared the 1st week of
February (1-7) every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week.
UNESCO’s AI Ethics Recommendation:
i.In 2021, UNESCO introduced the ‘Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI),’ adopted
by 193 countries. It emphasizes human rights, transparency, and fairness in AI.
ii.This is part of UNESCO’s efforts to promote technology and innovation in the service of humanity.
iii.The 2nd Global Forum on the Ethics of AI: Changing the Landscape of AI Governance, will take place in
the Brdo Congress Centre of Kranj on 5 and 6 February 2024.
Note:
• The 1st Global Forum on the Ethics of AI, with the theme, “Ensuring inclusion in the AI world”,
was hosted by the Czech Republic on 13th December 2022 in Prague.
• It was hosted under the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) and the
patronage of UNESCO.

2024 Events:
On 5 February 2024, on the occasion of the International Day of Human Fraternity 2024, the United
Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Egypt and UAE to
the UN, organised a virtual event to highlight the principles and values included in the Document of
Human Fraternity.
About United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC):
UNAOC was established in 2005, as the political initiative of Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General, and
co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain and Türkiye.
High Representative– H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos
Headquarters– New York, United States of America (USA)
World Cancer Day 2024- February 4

World Cancer Day (WCD) is annually observed across the globe on 4 February to raise awareness of
fundamental cancer issues and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
WCD is an international campaign that aims to remember and honour those affected by cancer, and to take
action to change the future of cancer.
• The campaign theme of WCD 2022-2024 is, ‘Close the Care Gap’. 2024 marks the 3rd and final
year of the campaign.
• The campaign theme of WCD 2024 is, “Close the Care Gap: Together, we challenge those in
power.”
Points to Note:
i.WCD is the global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the largest
and oldest international cancer organisation.
ii.It is the only global cancer organisation representing all cancer types, across the cancer care continuum
(prevention, early detection, treatment, and palliative care).
Cancer Ribbon:
A lavender ribbon is usually a sign of support for those living with all types of cancer.
• The official colours of World Cancer Day are blue and orange.
Background:
i.On 4 February 2000, WCD was established by the Charter of Paris Against Cancer.
ii.The Charter comprising 10 articles was adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New
Millennium in Paris, France.
iii.Under Article X, the Charter officially proclaimed World Cancer Day and was decided to observe on 4
February of each year.
• The Charter aims to promote research, prevent cancer, improve patient services, raise
awareness, and mobilise the global community to make progress against cancer and includes
the adoption of WCD.
iv.The 1st WCD was observed on February 4, 2000.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a term for a large group of diseases that can affect any organ or tissue of the body when
abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, forming a lump called a tumour.
Close the Care Gap: A 3-year campaign:
i.The campaign is all about understanding and recognising the inequities in cancer care around the globe.
• 2022- Realising the problem:
• 2023- Uniting our voices and taking action:
• 2024- Together, we challenge those in power:

ii.The 2024 theme aims to elevate awareness and demand global leaders to prioritise and invest resources
in cancer prevention, promoting research, and supporting initiatives aimed at achieving a cancer-free
world.
World Cancer Day Equity Report:
i.It is a collection of testimonials by past and present UICC Board Members to illustrate the global cancer
care gap.
ii.It provides local perspectives and experiences on inequities in cancer care in regions around the world,
as well as expert recommendations on how to address them.
• It suggests further measures to close the care gap by 2030.
Note: The 1st edition of the report was published in 2023 and its 2nd edition was published in 2024.
Key Facts:
According to the World Health Orgnaisation (WHO):
i.Over 35 million new cancer cases are predicted in 2050, a 77% increase from the estimated 20 million
cases in 2022.
ii.High Human Development Index (HDI) countries anticipate the greatest absolute increase, projecting 4.8
million new cases by 2050.
iii.Low and medium HDI countries face disproportionate proportional increases (142% and 99%,
respectively).
iv.Cancer mortality in these countries is set to nearly double by 2050, revealing significant challenges in
managing the burden.
Note: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the cancer agency of the WHO.
About Union for International Cancer Control (UICC):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Dr Cary Adams
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Founded in– 1933
UICC has over 1,150 member organisations in 172 countries and territories.
Safer Internet Day 2024- February 6

Safer Internet Day (SID) is annually observed across the globe on the 2nd day(Tuesday), of the 2nd week, of
the 2nd month (February) to promote safer, better, and more responsible use of the Internet for all, especially
for children and young people.
• The annual event promotes the safe and responsible use of digital technology. It helps to raise awareness
about online threats and ways to stay safe.
SID 2024 is observed on 6 February 2024, marking the 21st edition of SID.
• The 20th edition of SID, SID 2023 was observed on 7 February 2023.
• The 22nd edition of SID, SID 2025 will be observed on 4 February 2025.
The theme of SID 2024 is, “Together for a better internet.” This has been the campaign slogan of SID since
2019.
Background:
i.SID was started as an initiative of the European Union (EU)-funded SafeBorders project in 2004, and adopted
by the Insafe network, a European network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) in 2005.
ii.The 1st ever SID was observed on 6 February 2004 and was celebrated in 14 countries (13 EU countries and
Australia).
Note: SID is organised by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network on behalf of the European Commission in the
framework of the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL).
Observance of SID beyond Europe:
i.SID has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated in approximately 190 countries

and territories worldwide.
ii.SID is also celebrated outside Europe. The introduction of SID Committees in 2009 strengthened global ties,
fostering a harmonized campaign approach.
iii.Over 160 global SID Committees collaborate with the Safer Internet Day Coordination Team in Brussels
(Belgium), promoting a unified effort.
Initiative for Kids:
On 11 May 2022, the European Commission adopted a new European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids
(BIK+), to improve age-appropriate digital services and to ensure that every child is protected, empowered, and
respected online.
2024 Events:
i.The UK Safer Internet Centre annually organises SID as the United Kingdom’s (UK) biggest celebration of
online safety.
ii.On 6 February 2024, the UK Safer Internet Centre organised SID events based on the theme ‘Inspiring
change? Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online’.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2024- February 6
The United Nations (UN) International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) is
annually observed across the globe on 6 February to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of the
practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
• The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders involved in ending FGM to celebrate achievements,
advocate for the abandonment of the practice, and raise awareness.
6 February 2024 marks the 13th observance of UN recognised International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
• The theme of International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM 2024 is, “Her Voice. Her Future. Investing
in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.”
Background:
i.On 6 February 2003, Stella Obasanjo, the 1st Lady of Nigeria, and spokesperson for the Campaign Against
FGM, made the official declaration on “Zero Tolerance for FGM” in Africa during a conference.
• The conference was organized by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the
Health of Women and Children (IAC).
ii.The 1st International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation was observed on 6 February 2003.
iii.Subsequently, the 6th of February was adopted by the UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights as the
International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM.
iv.On 20 December 2012, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/67/146
and proclaimed the 6th February of every year as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital
Mutilation.
Global Joint Program on Eliminating FGM:
i.Since 2008, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), jointly with the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), has led the largest global program to accelerate the elimination of FGM.
ii.The Joint Program currently focuses on 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and supports regional and
global initiatives.
iii.The Joint Program currently implementing Phase IV, focuses on:
• Reshaping social norms in affected communities and establishing national response systems in
collaboration with governments.
iv.Phase IV, launched in 2022, will intensify efforts towards the elimination of FGM by 2030.
Female Genital Mutilation:
i.FGM refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury
to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-medical reasons.
ii.FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15 and has no health benefits, and it harms
girls and women in many ways.

iii.It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and it interferes with the
natural functions of girls’ and women’s bodies.
Points to Note:
i.In 2008, the World Health Assembly (WHA) passed a resolution (WHA61.16) on eliminating FGM,
emphasizing the need for concerted action in all sectors.
ii.FGM is a universal issue primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East and is also
practiced in some countries in Asia and Latin America.
iv.In 2024, some 4.4 million girls are at risk of suffering from this harmful act of gender-based violence. This
equates to more than 12,000 cases every day.
• Without intensified efforts, this number will escalate to 4.6 million by 2030.
v.Addressing this critical issue requires an estimated USD 2.75 billion by 2030 in 31 priority countries.
Events:
On 6 February 2024, UNFPA and UNICEF (Global Joint Program on Eliminating FGM) organised a High-level
event online to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
Executive Director– Dr. Natalia Kanem
It began operating in 1969 as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities.
World Pulses Day 2024- February 10

The United Nations (UN) World Pulses Day (WPD) is annually observed across the globe on 10 February to
recognise the significance of pulse crops like chickpeas, dry beans, and lentils as a global food.
The 2024 theme of WPD 2024 is: “Pulses: Nourishing Soils and People.”
The theme highlights the role of pulses in enhancing soil microbial activity to benefit the people, and the
roots of pulses foster the growth of organisms crucial for improving soil structure and nutrient
availability.
Objectives:
Raise awareness of the role of pulses in addressing food security challenges;
Recognise the contribution of pulses to sustainable food systems and in achieving a healthy and
balanced diet.
Significance:
i.WPD highlights the fundamental role of pulses in the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and
sustainable agrifood entities for better production, nutrition, environment, and life for everyone.
ii.WPD also highlights pulses as a sustainable choice, adding diversity to agricultural production systems and
contributing to healthy soils in a changing climate and environment.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/73/251 on 20th December
2018, and proclaimed 10 February of every year as WPD.
Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa proposed the observance of WPD.
ii.The day was established following the successful implementation of International Year of Pulses (IYP) in
2016 by FAO.
iii.The 1st ever WPD was observed on 10 February 2019.
International Year of Pulses (IYP):
i.On 20 December 2013, the UNGA adopted a resolution A/RES/68/231 and declared the year 2016 as the
International Year of Pulses (IYP).
ii.The FAO was nominated to facilitate the implementation of the IYP 2016 in collaboration with Governments,
relevant organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and all other relevant stakeholders.

What are Pulses?
i.Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for both food and
feed. Pulses are rich in protein, fiber, and several vitamins.
ii.Dried beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses.
iii.The word pulse originates directly from the Latin word ‘puls’ meaning “thick gruel, porridge, mush.”
Key Facts:
i.Pulses are highly water efficient for producing 1 kilogram (kg) of lentils needs 1250 liters, while 1 kg of beef
requires 13,000 liters.
ii.The nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses can improve soil fertility, which improves and extends the
productivity of farmland.
iii.India is set to become the world’s largest producer of lentils (Masur) in the current 2023-24 crop year (July
to June), with an estimated surge in production of around 16 lakh tonnes.
About Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) :
Director-General– Qu Dongyu
Founded in 1945
National Deworming Day 2024 – February 10

The National Deworming Day (NDD) is organised biannually in all states and Union Territories (UTs) across
India to eradicate intestinal worms also referred to as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH), among children of
age 1-19 years. The 1st round is conducted in February and the 2nd round is conducted in August.
In 2024, the first round of NDD is observed on February 10, 2024, with a mop-up day (MUD) followed
by the next day of NDD or on which the state government decides.
Background:
i.NDD is a flagship program of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) which was launched in
2015.
ii.The day was first observed on 10th February 2015.
iii.NDD, as a part of the National Health Mission(NHM), was initially observed in 11 states and UT: Assam,
Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Tamil Nadu, and Tripura.
Significance:
i.NDD utilises the platform of schools and anganwadi centres to deworm all preschool and school-age children.
ii.This is one of the largest public health programs reaching a large number of children during a short period.
iii.NDD ultimately aims to improve the overall health, nutritional status, access to education, and quality of life
of children.
Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH):
i.Helminths (worms) which are transmitted through soil contaminated with fecal matter are called soil-
transmitted helminths (Intestinal parasitic worms).
ii.The three types of worms that infect people are roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms
(Trichuris trichiura), and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).
iii.STH infection can lead to anaemia, malnutrition, impaired physical, mental & cognitive development, and
reduced school participation.
What is Deworming?
i.Deworming is giving medicine to remove harmful intestinal worms from people or animals.
ii.These worms can hinder growth, learning, and overall health in case of children.
Additional Info:
Albendazole and mebendazole tablet, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), is used for the
treatment of intestinal worms in children and adolescents as part of Mass Drug
Administration (MDA) programmes globally.

Note :
Children who are sick or are on medication on deworming day/MUD should not be given the drug. These
children should be advised to take Albendazole tablet upon recovery or after consultation with the medical
doctor.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW):
Union Minister – Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Bharati Pravin Pawar (Constituency – Dindori, Maharashtra), S. P. Singh Baghel
(Constituency – Agra, Uttar Paresh)
First-Ever UN International Day of the Arabian Leopard 2024- February 10

The first-ever United Nations (UN)’s International Day of the Arabian Leopard was observed across the
globe on 10th February 2024 to raise awareness about the critically endangered status of the Arabian
Leopard (Panthera pardus nimr).
The Day also highlights the conservation efforts and the challenges faced by the Arabian Leopard
species.
The Arabian leopard is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) Red List.
Flagship Species:
i.The UN envisions the Arabian leopard as a flagship species for conservation and sustainability in its native
region.
ii.And also emphasises the critical role of biodiversity in maintaining the health and resilience of the planet’s
ecosystems.
Significance:
i.The Day aims to stimulate public engagement in initiatives focused on restoring leopard populations and
protecting endangered species for the benefit of the ecosystem.
ii.It also encourages individuals to learn and contribute to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–
2030).
Background:
i.The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) first launched Arabian Leopard Day in 2022.
ii.On 12 June 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/77/295,
proclaiming 10 February of every year as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard in support of RCU and
its conservation partners.
Note: The UN resolution acknowledges the Arabian leopard’s vital importance to the Arabian ecosystem.
About Arabian Leopard:
i.This critically endangered subspecies resides exclusively on the Arabian Peninsula and stands as one of the
rarest big cats globally.
ii.It is the Smallest among the leopard subspecies with an average weight of 30-40 kilograms (kg) for males;
and 25-35 kg for females.
iii.It is found only in a few isolated pockets of habitat across Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, and the UAE.
Estimates suggest there may be fewer than 200 Arabian leopards left in the wild. It is legally protected across
its range.
iv.Threats: Persecution by Humans (Hunting and Poisoning); Overgrazing by Domestic Livestock;
Urbanization; and Farming.
2024 Inaugural Commemorations:
i.The 1st observance of International Day of the Arabian Leopard was observed on 12 February 2024 in New
York, United States of America (USA).
The events were co-organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UN.

‘Leap of Hope’ Campaign:
The RCU celebrated the 1st UN-designated International Day of the Arabian Leopard with the new ‘Leap of
Hope’ Campaign.
The campaign aims to strengthen global awareness and action to conserve critically endangered Big Cat
species
About Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU):
Chairman– HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Acting CEO– Abeer Al Akel
Established in– July 2017
Headquarters– Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2024- February 11

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS) is annually observed
across the globe on 11 February to promote full and equal access to and participation of women and girls in
the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
• The day also recognises the significance of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in
the scientific community.
11 February 2024 marks the observance of the 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
• The theme of IDWGIS 2024 is “Women and Girls in Science Leadership: A New Era for
Sustainability”
• The subtheme of IDWGIS 2024 is “Think Science … Think Peace”.
Note: The Day is implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), and UN-Women, in collaboration with institutions and civil society partners that aim to promote
women and girls in science.
Background:
i.On 22 December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/70/212
and proclaimed the 11 February of each year as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
ii.The 1st ever IDWGIS was observed on 11 February 2016.
UN’s Commitment to Gender Equality:
i.The UN prioritises gender equality, recognizing its pivotal role in achieving all the goals and targets of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
ii.On 14th March 2011, the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) adopted a report
with conclusions focusing on women’s access to education, training, and participation in science and
technology.
• CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender
equality and the empowerment of women.
iii.On 20th December 2013, UNGA adopted a resolution underlining the imperative of women’s equal access to
science, technology, and innovation for overall gender equality and empowerment.
2024 Events:
i.On 9th Febrauary 2024, UNESCO in collaboration with L’Association fédérative nationale des
étudiant.e.s universitaires scientifiques (AFNEUS) organised an event in Paris, France to mark the IDWGIS
2024.
• The event also unveiled the UNESCO Call to Action “Closing the gender gap in science”.
ii.The 9th IDWGIS Assembly took place on 8-9 February 2024 in New York, the United States of America (USA).
• It was co-organised by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT), and the Permanent
Missions of Costa Rica, Lebanon, Malta, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, and Spain, to the UN.
iii.The 9th Assembly discussed women’s leadership in achieving the 3 pillars of Sustainable Development,
namely economic prosperity, social justice, and environmental integrity.

iv.The 9th Assembly also featured, for the first time, a STEM EXPO for Girls and female youth on the 8th of
February 2024.
Key Facts:
i.Currently, women remain significantly underrepresented, making up only 29.2% of all STEM workers,
compared to 49.3% across non-STEM occupations.
ii.Only 35% of all students in STEM-related fields of study are women.
iii.The UNESCO Science Report highlights a gender gap in science revealing that women constitute just one-
third of scientists and 37% of ocean science professionals.
• The global average of female researchers in the scientific community is only 33%.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Establishment– 1945 (came into force in 1946)
World Unani Day 2024- February 11

World Unani Day is annually observed across the globe on 11 February to commemorate the birth
anniversary of social reformer and renowned Unani scholar Mohammad Ajmal Khan better known
as Hakim Ajmal Khan, widely regarded as the pioneer of Unani medicine in India.
• The Day focuses on promoting the Unani system of medicine into the mainstream and focuses on the
strengths of Unani and its unique treatment principles.
The theme of Unani Day 2024 is “Unani Medicine for One Earth, One Health”.
Objective: The Day also aims to pay tribute to the legendary Hakim Ajmal Khan for his wonderful contribution
to the sustained development of the Unani system of medicine in India and across the globe.
Background:
i.To recognise the contributions of Hakim Ajmal Khan towards development of Unani medicine, the Ministry of
Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), the Government of India,
declared his birth anniversary (11 February of every year) as World Unani Day.
ii.The 1st ever World Unani Day was observed on 11 February 2017 at the Central Research Institute of
Unani Medicine (CRIUM) in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• CRIUM, Hyderabad has been upgraded to the National Research Institute of Unani Medicine in Skin
Disorders (NRIUMSD) in 2019.
About Hakim Ajmal Khan:
i.He was born on 11th February 1868 in Delhi (British India). He was a physician and scholar of Unani
medicine.
ii.He was one of the founders of the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), public research-intensive central university in
Delhi.
• He was the first Chancellor of JMI, from 1920 till his death(1927).
iii.He established the Hindustani Dawakhana in Delhi in 1905 to manufacture Unani and Ayurvedic medicines.
iv.He also established the Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbi Conference in 1910 to unite all Vedas and Hakims against
British rule and their efforts to ban all indigenous Systems of Medicine.
About Unani:
i.Unani-tibb or Unani Medicine is a form of traditional medicine practiced in middle-east & south-Asian
countries.
ii.It refers to a tradition of Graeco-Arabic medicine, which is based on the teachings of Greek physician
Hippocrates and Roman physician Galen.
iii.Unani medicine first arrived in India around the 12th or 13th century, coinciding with the establishment of
the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1527) and the subsequent Islamic rule over North India.
• The Unani System of Medicine is included in the Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) as per the
IMCC, Act 1970.

National Conference on Unani Medicine 2024:
i.The inauguration of Unani Day 2024 and the National Conference on Unani Medicine for One Earth, One
Health was organized by CCRUM at Pusa, New Delhi (Delhi).
ii.Key People who attended the event include:
• Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (Chief Guest), Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH; Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman,
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, New Delhi; Dr. N. Zaheer Ahmed, Director General,
CCRUM, etc.
Releases, Achievements & Exchanges:
i.The event witnessed the release of various publications, e-books, a Mobile App on Unani compound drugs, and
a documentary – all developed by the CCRUM.
iiNational Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and National Accreditation Board
for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certificates were awarded to 4 CCRUM institutes.
• Appreciation certificates were also awarded to CCRUM scientists for Best Research Papers.
iv.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between CCRUM and the Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.
2024 Events:
To mark World Unani Day on 11 February 2024,
i.Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Bangladesh organised a seminar at the Hamdard University, in Dhaka,
Bangladesh. High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma attended the event as a special guest.
ii.Directorate of Indian System of Medicine (AYUSH), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) organised a seminar at Sher-e-
Kashmir International Convention (SKICC) in Srinagar, J&K.
About Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH):
Union Minister– Sarbananda Sonowal (Rajya Sabha Assam)
Minister of State– Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai (Constituency: Surendranagar, Gujarat)
International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and When Conducive to Terrorism 2024-
February 12
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and When Conducive
to Terrorism (PVE Day) is annually observed across the globe on 12 February to raise awareness of the
threats linked to violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism and to enhance international
cooperation.
• 12 February 2024 marks the observance of the 2nd International PVE Day.
Background:
i.On 20 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/77/243.
It declared the 12 February of every year as International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and
When Conducive to Terrorism.
ii.The 1st ever International PVE Day was observed on 12 February 2023.
Note: The UNGA invited the Office of Counter-Terrorism, in collaboration with other relevant entities of the UN
Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, to facilitate the observance of the International PVE Day.
Violent Extremism:
i.Violent extremism poses a significant threat to the fundamental principles upheld by the UN. It undermines
peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development.
ii.The threat of terrorism persists, with groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Qaida
exploiting various vulnerabilities.
iii.No country or region is immune from the threat of terrorist attacks and the impact of terrorism and violent
extremism as and when conducive to terrorism on social cohesion, sustainable development, and human rights.
Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE):
PVE is a commitment and obligation under the principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and other international human rights instruments.

UN’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy:
i.Since 2006, the UNGA has consistently reviewed the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy biennially.
ii.The review serves as an opportunity for Member States to reaffirm their commitment to international
collaboration in countering terrorism.
iii.The 8th review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy took place in 2023 and the resolution
(A/RES/77/298) adopted by the UNGA on 22 June 2023 underscores:
• A need for enhanced cooperation among Governments and the international community to prevent and
combat terrorism.
• Cooperation must be coordinated, transparent, and inclusive, respecting human rights, with a gender-
responsive approach.
Note: The resolution introduces a change, requiring the Secretary-General to submit progress reports at the
eightieth session instead of the previous biennial timeline.
Key Points:
i.The President of the UNGA appointed co-facilitators from the Permanent Representatives of Canada and
Tunisia, supported by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) as the substantive secretariat.
ii.The 9th review in 2026 aligns with the 20th anniversary of the Strategy’s adoption.
Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE):
i.The Global Programme on PCVE is a vital initiative delivered through the UN Counter Terrorism Centre
(UNCCT) within the UN Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT).
ii.This program is dedicated to enhancing the resilience of individuals and communities against violent
extremism and mitigating the threat of terrorism.
• The primary aim is to empower beneficiaries and partners, fostering resilience and reducing the risk of
violent extremism globally.
2024 Events:
i.On 12 February 2024, an online event under the theme “PVE as and when Conducive to Terrorism: From
Programming to Real-World Impact” was organized by the Counter-Terrorism Compact Working Group on
PCVE conducive to Terrorism.
ii.On 13 February 2024, an interactive event on International PVE Day was organised by the Permanent
Mission of Iraq to the UN.
About United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC):
High Representative for the UNAOC– H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America
Established in 2005
National Productivity Day 2024 – February 12

National Productivity Day or National Productivity Council Foundation Day is annually observed across India
on 12th February to mark the foundation day of the National Productivity Council of India (NPC) and raise
awareness of productivity, efficiency, and innovation.
• National Productivity Day is celebrated as part of National Productivity Week, which is observed
annually from 12th to 18th February.
The theme for National Productivity Week 2024 is ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI)- Productivity Engine for
Economic Growth’.
• The theme underscores the pivotal role of AI in propelling a India’s economic advancement and
efficiency.
Background:
i.The National Productivity Council was established on the 12th of February, 1958.
ii.It was registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 under the Department for Promotion of
Industry Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).

Significance:
i.National Productivity Day aims to increase awareness about the importance of productivity, innovation, and
efficiency.
ii.National Productivity Day and Week aim to raise awareness about the importance of improving quality,
efficiency, and competitiveness in all areas of the Indian economy so that India may become a global leader.
National Productivity Council of India (NPC):
i.NPC is a constituent of Tokyo(Japan) based Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an Inter-Governmental
Body; India is the founding member of APO.
ii.NPC was established to provide state-of-the-art services to India to undertake research in the area of
productivity.
iii.NPC provides consulting and training services to the government, public and private sector organizations in
areas such as Industrial Engineering, Agri-Business, Economic Services, Quality Management, Human
Resources Management, Information Technology, Technology Management, Energy Management,
Environmental Management, and others.
Some of NPC’s Objectives:
i.To promote productivity consciousness and culture amongst the Government, Business and Society.
ii.To act as a catalyst in institution building and developing platforms for collaborative networking to
strengthen the productivity movement.
iii.To act as an independent oversight body for various national programs, schemes and interventions.
About National Productivity Council of India (NPC):
President – Piyush Goyal (Union Minister of Commerce and Industry & President)
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
International Darwin Day 2024 – February 12

International Darwin Day is annually observed across the globe on 12 February to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Charles Robert Darwin, a 19th-century British Naturalist, Geologist who was credited with
“The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection”.The day recognises Darwin’s contributions to science and
promotes scientific development.
Significance:
i.The Day is observed to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific
thinking, and hunger for truth as embodied in Charles Darwin.
ii.This is a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science,
education, and human well-being.
Background:
i.The annual observance of International Darwin Day was initiated by 3 Darwin enthusiasts namely: Dr. Robert
Stephens, Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, and Amanda Chesworth.
ii.Dr. Robert Stephens led the Silicon Valley Humanist Community, the United States of America (USA) in 1995.
iii.Prof. Massimo Pigliucci organised annual Darwin Day events at the University of Tennessee, the USA in 1997.
iv.Amanda Chesworth joined Dr. Robert Stephens to officially incorporate the Darwin Day Program in New
Mexico (USA) in 2000.
About Charles Robert Darwin:
i.He was born on 12 February 1809 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.
ii.From 1831 to 1836, he was employed as a naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle by the British Royal Navy to
survey the coastline of South America and chart its harbours to make better maps of the region.
iii.He collected diverse samples of plants, animals, rocks, and fossils across Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and the
Galápagos Islands and sent specimens back to England, contributing to the understanding of Earth’s processes.
iv.In 1859, he published his thoughts about evolution and natural selection in the book “On the Origin of
Species” which laid the groundwork for profound advancements in both biology and philosophy.

v.He died in 1882 at the age of 73 in Down House, London, England, and was buried in Westminster Abbey in
London.
Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection:
i.Darwin introduced the concept of “natural selection,” a mechanism driving the evolution of species.
ii.This process explains how organisms evolve to thrive in their specific environmental conditions.
iii.He proposed that all organisms share a single common ancestor and this concept laid the foundation for
understanding the interconnectedness of life forms.
Other Noted Works by Charles Darwin:
i.The Voyage of the Beagle (1839);
ii.The Descent of Man (1871);
iii.The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872);
iv.Insectivorous Plants (1875);
v.The Life of Erasmus Darwin (1879)
International Epilepsy Day 2024- February 12

International Epilepsy Day is annually observed across the globe on the 2nd Monday in February to raise
awareness about epilepsy, a neurological disorder, its condition, diagnosis, and treatment.
• International Epilepsy Day 2024 is observed on 12 February 2024.
International Epilepsy Day 2023 was observed on 13 February 2023; In 2025, it will be observed on 10
February 2025.
• The 2024 theme of International Epilepsy Day is, “Milestones on My Epilepsy Journey.”
The campaign of International Epilepsy Day 2024 is, “#MyEpilepsyJourney.”
Symbol & Colour of Epilepsy:
Lavender is recognised as the international flower of epilepsy, to symbolise isolation and loneliness, often
associated with epilepsy.
• The colour purple is associated with epilepsy awareness.
Significance:
i.The Day is a global platform for individuals with epilepsy to share their stories, fostering understanding and
support.
ii.It also aims to eliminate the myths and misconceptions surrounding epilepsy and seizures.
Background:
i.International Epilepsy Day is a joint initiative of the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the
International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
ii.The 1st ever International Epilepsy Day was observed on 9th February 2015(Monday).
iii.Since then, the 2nd Monday of February of every year is observed as International Epilepsy Day.
What is Epilepsy?
i.Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease (NCD) of the brain impacting approximately 50 million
individuals of all ages. It is often called a “seizure disorder.”
ii.This neurological disorder is marked by recurrent seizures, presenting as brief episodes of involuntary
movements.
iii.These seizures can manifest as partial, involving specific body parts, or generalised, affecting the entire
body.
Key Facts:
i.Around 65 million people around the world live with epilepsy and nearly 80% of the people with epilepsy
(PWE) live in developing countries.
• 4 out of 10 PWE in the industrialised world do not receive appropriate treatment;
• 8 out of 10 PWE in developing nations do not receive appropriate treatment.
ii.Epilepsy is one of the world’s oldest recognised conditions, with written records dating back to 4000 BCE.

iii.The Greek philosopher Hippocrates (460-377 BC) was the first person to think that epilepsy starts in the
brain.
WHO’s Efforts on Epilepsy:
i.In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and
Other Neurological Disorders 2022-31 (IGAP), a 10-year roadmap at the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) in
Geneva, Switzerland.
• IGAP aims to improve access to treatment and care and quality of life of people with neurological
disorders.
ii.The first global report on epilepsy titled “Epilepsy: A Public Health Imperative” was produced in 2019 by
WHO and key partners.
iii.WHO, ILAE, and IBE led the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy to raise awareness about epilepsy, strengthen
public and private efforts to improve care and reduce the disease’s impact.
2024 Events in India:
National Institutes under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment(MoSJE) and Composite Regional
Centre (CRC) for Persons with Disabilities(PwDs) organised several events across India to mark the observance
of International Epilepsy Day on 12th February 2024.
Note:
i.The National institutes under MoSJE include the National Institutes for the Empowerment of Persons with
Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) – formerly known as National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped (NIMH),
and the National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR).
ii.CRCs for PwDs function under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan),
MoSJE.
Related observance – Purple Day:
Purple Day is an annual global initiative observed on 26 March to create awareness about epilepsy. The day
was created in 2008 by Cassidy Megan(9 year old) from Nova Scotia, Canada motivated by her own struggle
with epilepsy.
About International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE):
President– J. Helen Cross
Headquarters– Dundrum, Ireland
Founded in– 1909
World Radio Day 2024 – February 13

The United Nations (UN) World Radio Day (WRD) is annually observed across the globe on 13 February to
celebrate Radio as a powerful and low-cost medium and to promote its role in fostering international
collaboration among broadcasters.
• 13 February 2024 marks the observance of the 13th WRD.
The theme of World Radio Day 2024 is “Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating”.
Background:
i.In 2011, the member states of United Nations , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 36th
session of the General Conference adopted a resolution and proclaimed the 13th February of every year as
WRD, to mark the establishment of UN Radio.
• The resolution was adopted following the request proposed by the Spanish Radio Academy, Spain in
2010.
ii.In December 2012, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/67/124 and endorsed
the resolution of UNESCO on WRD.
iii.The first edition of WRD was observed on 13 February 2012.
Note: UNESCO is the Chair of the informal International World Radio Day Committee.

Why February 13?
i.The date 13 February marks the anniversary of the creation of the UN Radio Service “UN Radio” (UNR) in
1946.
ii.The observance of WRD on 13th February was proposed by Julian Huxley the first Director-General of the
UNESCO (1946-1948).
2024 Observance:
i.The 2024 observance emphasises the century-long historical significance of radio in news, drama, music, and
sports.
ii.The 2024 observance commemorates the centenary of the inaugural live radio broadcast of the Olympic
Games.
iii.UNESCO invites the diverse global radio industry, commercial, public, and non-profit, to join the World Radio
Day celebration.
iv.UNESCO provides a platform for stations, networks, and shows to engage in programming partnerships,
fostering a dynamic and interconnected global radio community.
Note: UNESCO coordinates WRD events at a global level, UN member countries, through their radio stations
and media stakeholders.
About Radio:
i.Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi first developed the idea of a radio, or wireless telegraph, in the 1890s. He
is known as the father of radio.
ii.In 1897, he sent the world’s first radio message across open water.
iii.In 1909, Marconi was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in physics with the German radio innovator Karl
Ferdinand Braun in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy.
About UN Radio (UNR):
i.The first official broadcast from the UNR was on February 13, 1946. The call sign was “This is the United
Nations calling the peoples of the world”.
ii.Initially, the programs in the UNR were broadcast in 5 official languages: English, French, Chinese, Russian,
and Spanish – later followed by Arabic.
iii.By 1950, UN Radio was broadcasting in 33 languages, and in 1980, UN peacekeeping missions started
launching their radio stations.
2024 Events:
Audios 2024:
In celebration of WRD 2024, UNESCO released 20 audio files of one minute each, which allows for broadcasting,
sharing, and usage without the burden of copyright restrictions.
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur Releases Revised Policy Guidelines for CRS in India
On the occasion of WRD 2024, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting (MIB) unveiled revised policy guidelines to enhance the setup of Community Radio Stations (CRS)
in India.
• The guidelines were released during the 2-day Regional Community Radio Sammelan (South) at Anna
University, Chennai , Tamil Nadu.
Note:
• The 2-day Regional Community Radio Sammelan for southern CRS’ also commemorated the completion
of 20 years of Community Radio in India.
• Currently, there are 481 CRSs’ in India, and in the last 2 years, over 133 CRSs’ have become operational.
Key Guidelines:
i.Increased Advertising Benefits: The advertising rate was raised to Rs. 74 per 10 seconds and the
advertising time was extended to 12 minutes per hour.
ii.Gender Inclusivity: 50% of Advisory and Content Committee members will be women.

Revised Policy Guidelines:
i.Eligible organisations operating in multiple districts can establish a maximum of 6 CRS’ in different districts,
subject to fulfilling specific conditions.
ii.The initial period for the ‘Grant of Permission Agreement’ was extended to 10 years.
iii.The validity of the Letter of Intent (LoI) issued to an organisation has been set at 1 year with a 3-month
buffer for unforeseen circumstances.
iv.A fixed timeline for the entire application process has been introduced.
Community Radio Stations (CRS):
i.CRSs are low-power Radio Stations, which are distinct from Public service Radio broadcasting and
Commercial Radio, and are meant to be set up and operated by local communities.
ii.In the broadcasting hierarchy, it has been uniquely positioned as 3rd tier alongside public and private radio,
to address the needs of marginalised communities.
About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB):
Union Minister– Anurag Singh Thakur (Constituency: Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of State– L. Murugan (Rajya Sabha – Madhya Pradesh)
National Women’s Day 2024- February 13

National Women’s Day is annually observed across India on 13th February to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, popularly known as the “Nightingale of India” or “Bharat Kokila”.
13 February 2024 marks the 145th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu.
Significance:
i.The day celebrates the contribution made by Sarojini Naidu for establishing women’s rights in the patriarchal
Indian society.
ii.The Day aims to recognise the cultural, political, and economic contributions of women in India and also
celebrates the achievements of women across various domains.
Note: The United Nations (UN)’s International Women’s Day (IWD) is annually observed across the globe on 8
March.
About Sarojini Naidu:
i.She was born on 13 February 1879 in Hyderabad, Telangana. She was a political activist, freedom fighter, and
poetess, who actively associated with the Women’s Movement in India.
ii.She was a member of the Bombay Municipal Corporation from 1923-1929.
iii.She was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1925. She was the first Indian
woman to hold the post.
iv.She became the first woman to become the governor of an Indian state.
• She served as the first Governor of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh-UP) of Independent India
from 15 August 1947 until her death on 2nd March 1949.
v.Mahatma Gandhi bestowed the title ‘the Nightingale of India’, or ‘Bharat Kokila’ for the exceptional qualities
in her poetry.
vi.She was a key figure in the Salt Satyagraha movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the Quit India
Movement.
vii.Along with Annie Besant and others, she co-founded the Women’s India Association (WIA) in 1917.
Notable Works: The Golden Threshold (1905); In the Bazaars of Hyderabad (1912); The Bird of Time: Songs of
Life, Death & the Spring (1912); The Sceptred Flute: (1928); and The Feather of the Dawn: (1961).
Awards: The British government awarded Sarojini Naidu with the ‘Kaisar-i-Hind’ Medal for her service during
the plague epidemic in India.

International Childhood Cancer Day 2024- February 15
International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) is annually observed across the globe on 15 February to raise
awareness about childhood cancer and its unique challenges, and to express support for children and
adolescents battling cancer, the cancer survivors, and their families.
Campaign theme:
The 3-year campaign of ICCD (2024-2026) aims to raise awareness on the regional level about the unique
challenges and inequalities faced by childhood cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, and healthcare
professionals worldwide.
The campaign theme of ICCD 2024 is “Unveiling Challenges.”
• The campaign theme of ICCD 2025 is “Inspiring Action.”
• The campaign theme of ICCD 2026 is “Demonstrating Impact.”
Symbol:
The Gold Ribbon is the universal awareness symbol of Childhood Cancer.
• It is a symbol of all forms of cancer affecting children and adolescents.
Background:
i.ICCD, an annual event was created in 2002 by Childhood Cancer International (CCI), an umbrella organisation
of childhood cancer grassroots and national parent organisations.
ii.ICCD campaign is a joint effort by CCI and the International Society of Pediatric Oncology or Société
Internationale d’oncologie Pédiatrique (SIOP).
iii.The 1st ever ICCD was observed on 15 February 2002.
Points to Note:
i.CCI, originally called the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations (ICCCPO) was
founded in 1994.
• It is a global network of 183 parent organizations, childhood cancer survivor associations, childhood
cancer support groups, and cancer societies, in over 94 countries, across 6 continents.
ii.SIOP is a global, multifaceted organisation established on November 6, 1969.
• It is the only global multidisciplinary society devoted to pediatric and adolescent cancer.
iii.Both CCI and SIOP are Non-State Actors in official relations with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• They are contributing to the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC).
3-Year Campaign of ICCD:
i.The CCI and SIOP collaboratively launched a new 3-year campaign (2024-2026) in 2024.
ii.The strength of this campaign lies in its adaptability. Every region has the liberty to customise the campaign
to meet its specific needs.
WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC):
i.In 2018, WHO launched GICC, which aims to achieve at least a 60% survival rate for children with cancer by
2030.
ii.In collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, GICC is a cooperative effort involving WHO in a
global, regional, and country-specific effort.
Key Facts:
i.Cancer is one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents worldwide. According to WHO,
over 1000 children globally are diagnosed with cancer every day.
ii.In 2022, over 70% of children with cancer diagnoses died in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
iii.High-income countries boast an 80% survival rate, while some low-middle-income countries (LMICs) lag at
20%.
iv.Over 400,000 children globally develop cancer each year, and only half of them are ever diagnosed.
2024 Events:
On 13 February 2024, the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) in cooperation with Childhood
Cancer International Europe (CCI-E) organised the 2024 edition of the annual ICCD event at the European
Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

About Childhood Cancer International (CCI):
President– Rodney Wong
Headquarters– Amsterdam, Netherlands
Founded in– 1994
Global Tourism Resilience Day 2024- February 17

The United Nations (UN) Global Tourism Resilience Day (GTRD) is annually observed across the globe
on 17 February to recognise the importance of fostering resilience in the tourism industry.
• GTRD observance emphasises the necessity to address and navigate shocks, considering the
inherent vulnerability of the tourism sector to emergencies.
17 February 2024 marks the observance of the 2nd Global Tourism Resilience Day.
Background:
i.On 6 February 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution
A/RES/77/269 and proclaimed the 17 February of every year as Global Tourism Resilience Day.
ii.The first-ever Global Tourism Resilience Day was observed on 17 February 2023.
Significance:
i.GTRD urges the Member States to develop national strategies for rehabilitation post-disruptions,
including collaboration through private-public cooperation and the diversification of activities and
products.
ii.The UNGA extends an invitation to Member States, UN entities, international organizations, individuals,
and other entities to observe the day in alignment with global, regional, and national priorities.
• It also encourages observance through educational initiatives and activities aimed at raising
awareness about the importance of sustainable tourism.
Promotion of sustainable tourism:
i.The UNGA at its 77th session, mandated the Secretary-General to collaborate with the World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) and other UN entities, presenting a report on Sustainable tourism (resolution
A/RES/75/229).
ii.This resolution focuses on promoting sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, for the eradication of
poverty, and environmental protection.
Note: UN WTO is a specialized agency of the UN and the leading international organization in the field of
tourism.
Tourism and SDGs:
i.Tourism is a cross-cutting industry that contributes to the 3 dimensions of sustainable development and
the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ii.UN Tourism is responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism
adapted towards the achievement of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs.
International Tourism in 2023:
i.According to the first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of 2024:
• International tourism receipts reached USD 1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93% of 2019 (USD 1.5
trillion) earnings.
• Total export revenues are estimated at USD 1.6 trillion, almost 95% of 2019 (USD 1.7 trillion).
• International tourism reached 88% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. An estimated 1.3 billion
international arrivals marked a strong recovery.
ii.Regional Highlights from 2023:
• The Middle East led recovery in relative terms as the only region to overcome prepandemic
levels with arrivals 22% above 2019.

• Europe achieved 94% of 2019 levels, supported by intra-regional demand and travel from the
United States of America (USA).
Forecasting 2024:
International tourism is expected to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with initial estimates
forecasting 2% growth above 2019 levels.
• UNWTO Tourism Confidence Index: 67% positive outlook for 2024.
About United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO):
Secretary-General– Zurab Pololikashvili
Headquarters– Madrid, Spain
World Pangolin Day 2024- February 17

World Pangolin Day is annually observed across the globe on the 3rd Saturday of February to celebrate
and raise awareness about the Pangolin or scaly anteater, one of the most unique mammals on Earth, and
their plight.
In 2024, World Pangolin Day falls on 17th February 2024. This marks the observance of the 13th World
Pangolin Day.
• The 12th World Pangolin Day was observed on 18th February 2023.
• The 14th World Pangolin Day will be observed on 15th February 2025.
Note: The first World Pangolin Day was observed in February 2012.
About Pangolin:
i.Pangolin are the only mammals wholly covered in scales and they use those scales to protect themselves
from predators in the wild.
ii.Their scales are made of keratin, which is the same protein found in rhino horn and hair and human
fingernails.
iii.These mammals are insectivores that eat ants and termites using their long, sticky tongues as they have
no teeth.
iv.The word pangolin comes from the Malay word “penggulung”, which means “roller”.
Pangolin Species:
There are 8 species of pangolins.
4 are found in Asia: Chinese (Manis pentadactyla), Sunda (Manis javanica), Indian (Manis crassicaudata),
and Philippine pangolins (Manis culionensis); and
4 are found in Africa: the Temminck’s Ground (Smutsia temminckii), Giant Ground (Manis gigantea),
White-bellied (Phataginus tricuspis), and Black-bellied pangolins (Phataginus tetradactyla).
Status of Pangolin Species:
i.All 8 species of pangolin are listed as threatened with extinction on the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
ii.As per the 2019 assessment of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group for the
IUCN Red List:
• Chinese, Sunda, and Philippine pangolins are listed as “Critically Endangered”.
• The Indian, Giant, and White-bellied Pangolin are listed as “Endangered”.
• Temminck’s, and Black-bellied pangolins are listed as “Vulnerable”.
ii.All 8 pangolin species are protected under national and international laws but face declining populations
because of illegal trade.
Threats:
i.The number of pangolin species is rapidly declining in Asia and Africa due to poaching and illegal
hunting.

ii.Tens of thousands of pangolins are poached every year, killed for their scales for use in traditional
Chinese medicine and folk remedies.
iii.Their meat is a delicacy among some ultra-wealthy in countries like China and Vietnam.
Protection Efforts:
i.As ‘the most trafficked non-human mammal in the world,’ Pangolins are listed in Appendix I of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by the IUCN’s
Red List.
ii.In 2016, the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) (in Johannesburg, South Africa) to
CITES, brought in an international commercial trade ban for all 8 pangolin species.
iii.In 2022, the CoP19 to CITES urged countries to remove references to parts and derivatives of pangolins
from the official pharmacopoeia to help save the species.
• Countries were suggested to replace the references with acceptable substitute products that do
not threaten the existence of another wild species.
iv.The Indian Pangolins are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
2024 Events in India:
i.Environmentalists and the Andhra Pradesh (AP) Forest Department organised an awareness program to
mark World Pangolin Day 2024.
ii.Chiranjiv Choudhary, Principal Chief Conservators of Forest (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force of the
Forest Department; and Ajaya Kumar Naik, Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) and PCCF (Wild Life), AP
released a poster on the Indian Pangolin at Aranya Bhavan in Mangaligiri, AP.
• They also released brochures in English and Telugu languages on ‘Rescue and Rehabilitation
Guidelines for Indian Pangolin’ for first responders on how to rescue and rehabilitate pangolins
in distress.
World Day of Social Justice 2024- February 20

The United Nations (UN)’s World Day of Social Justice is annually observed across the globe on 20
February to raise awareness about the need for social justice, particularly in areas such as poverty
eradication, employment, gender equality, and access to education, healthcare, and social services.
• The Day also aims to promote social security, equality, human rights, and fundamental freedoms
worldwide.
The theme of World Day of Social Justice 2024 is “Global Coalition for Social Justice: Bridging Gaps,
Building Alliances”.
• The theme urges a collective effort to restore the fractured social contract by fostering dialogue
and taking action to achieve social justice.
Background:
i.On 26 November 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at its 62nd session adopted the
resolution A/RES/62/10 and proclaimed the 20 February of every year, starting from the 63rd session of
the UNGA, as World Day of Social Justice.
• The 63rd session of UNGA ran from 16 September 2008 to 14 September 2009.
ii.The first World Day of Social Justice was observed on 20th February 2009.
Significance of 2024 observance:
i.The 2024 commemoration aims to intensify collective efforts and focus on urgently addressing social
justice deficits.
ii.It accelerates the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aligning with
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Decent Work Agenda.
iii.It emphasises the prioritisation of social justice at key intergovernmental milestones of the UN in 2024,
which include:

• The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States;
• The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, etc.
What is Social Justice?
i.It means fair and equal treatment for everyone, including equal access to opportunities, equal rights, and
the equal sharing of the benefits of growth.
ii.It is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations.
• The pursuit of social justice for all is the global mission of the UN to promote development and
human dignity.
Efforts of ILO towards Social Justice:
i.The International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair
Globalization on June 10, 2008.
• This is the 3rd major statement of principles and policies adopted by the International Labour
Conference since the Constitution of ILO in 1919.
ii.This builds on the principles outlined in the Philadelphia Declaration of 1944; and the Declaration on
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998.
iii.The 2008 Declaration reaffirms the core values of the ILO, encapsulating the essence of its mandate in
the context of globalisation.
Key Facts:
i.According to the ILO’s World Employment and Social Outlook Trends: 2024 (WESO Trends):
• The global unemployment rate in 2023 was 5.1%, a modest improvement in 2022.
• In 2024 an extra 2 million workers are expected to be looking for jobs, raising the global
unemployment rate from 5.1% in 2023 to 5.2%
Note: WESO Trends provides a comprehensive assessment of the latest labour market trends, including
unemployment, job creation, labour force participation, and hours worked.
2024 Event:
On 20 February 2024, the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN and the ILO convened the
commemorative meeting of the 2024 World Day of Social Justice in New York, United States of America
(USA).
• The conference was held in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Department
of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
About International Labor Organization (ILO):
Director-General- Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo (Togo)
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Established in- 1919
Member States- 187 member States
International Mother Language Day 2024- February 21

The United Nations (UN) International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is annually observed across the
globe on 21 February to raise awareness about the significance of the mother language.
• IMLD also aims to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, and multilingualism, and
underscore the role of languages in building a peaceful, tolerant, and inclusive world.
21 February 2024 mars the observance of the 25th edition of IMLD.
The 2024 theme of IMLD is, “Multilingual education is a pillar of intergenerational learning”.
• The theme emphasises the crucial role of multilingual education in achieving Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG) 4.

Background:
i.IMLD has been observed throughout the world since 2000, following the proclamation of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• On 17 November 1999, UNESCO proclaimed the 21 February of every year as “International
Mother Language Day”.
ii.The UN General Assembly (UNGA) welcomed the day’s proclamation in its resolution (A/RES/56/262)
of 2002.
Note: The idea to celebrate IMLD originated in Bangladesh, honouring the language martyrs, who made
supreme sacrifices in a language movement held in Dhaka in 1952, to uphold the dignity of their mother
tongue ‘Bangla’.
International Year of Language:
i.On 16 May 2007, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/61/266 and called upon Member States and
the Secretariat to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by world peoples.
ii.The resolution also proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, to promote unity in
diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism.
• It also named UNESCO to serve as the lead agency for the Year.
Significance of 2024 observance:
i.UNESCO’s celebration of IMLD 2024 highlighted the significance of implementing multilingual education
policies and practices as a pillar to achieve SDG 4.
ii.SDG 4 calls for inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning for all and the objectives of the
International Decade on Indigenous Languages (2022 – 2032).
Key Facts:
i.Currently, 40% of the global population lacks access to education in their language, hindering learning
and self-esteem. It reaches over 90% in some nations.
• Leveraging native languages in education boosts learning foundations, self-esteem, and critical
thinking, and facilitates intergenerational learning.
ii.Today, 250 million children and young people worldwide are not attending school; and 763 million
adults struggle with basic literacy skills.
• Mother tongue education provides crucial support for learning and also facilitates the
acquisition of additional languages.
2024 Events:
i.On 21 February 2024, UNESCO organised 2-panel discussions on multilingual education as a key
component of quality learning and Multilingual education as a pillar of intergenerational learning to
celebrate the IMLD 2024 in its headquarters in Paris, France.
ii.On 21 February 2024, the Permanent Missions of Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Romania, and
South Africa to the UN in collaboration with the UN Secretariat and UNESCO organsied an event at UN
Headquarters in New York, the United States of America (USA).
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO):
World Thinking Day 2024- February 22

World Thinking Day (WTD) is annually observed across the globe on 22 February by Girl Scouts and Girl
Guides in over 150 countries around the world. The day is celebrated as the day of international friendship
and sisterhood, and aims to empower young girls and women across the world.

• The day also raises funds for the development of 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across
the globe.
The theme of WTD 2024 is “Our World, Our Thriving Future: The Environment and Global Poverty”.
Note: WTD is annually observed and organised by World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
(WAGGGS), the largest voluntary movement dedicated to empowering girls and young women in the
world.
WTD 2022-2024: Environmental Focus Across Years:
i.The 2024 observance of WTD signifies a culmination of the 3-year journey for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
toward creating environmentally aware leaders.
ii.The themes of WTD from 2022 to 2024 focused on “Our World, Our Future”, the initiative seeks into
environmental issues from the perspective of gender equality, peace, and poverty:
• 2022 – Our World, Our Equal Future: The environment and gender equality;
• 2023 – Our World, Our Peaceful Future: The environment and peace;
• 2024 – Our World, Our Thriving Future: The Environment and Global Poverty.
Background:
i.In 1926, Girl Scouts and Guides delegates from around the world met in the United States of America
(USA) for the 4th WAGGGS World Conference and declared the 22 February of every year as Thinking
Day, a special day for Guides and Girl Scouts across the world.
ii.In 1999, at the 30th World Conference in Dublin, Ireland, delegates from around the world renamed the
day from Thinking Day to ‘World Thinking Day.’
Note: The new name was chosen to clearly emphasise the global nature of the celebration and it was
renamed with a focus on fundraising to support the international Movement.
Why February 22?
February 22 marks the birth anniversary of Lord Baden-Powell, Founder of the Boy Scout Movement, and
1st Chief Scout of the World; and his wife Olave Baden-Powell, the World Chief Guide.
World Thinking Day Fund:
i.WTD Fund was established in 1932 and it collects funds from members around the world, to support
their fellow Guides and Scouts.
• The funds will be used to help and support the poor and needy across the world.
ii.The fund provides girls and Member Organisations with life-changing opportunities to transform their
community and their world.
iii.The fund has also been used to help achieve the strategic goals of WAGGGS.
About World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS):
WAGGGS was formed in 1928 at the 5th International Conference in Hungary.
Chief Executive Officer– Anna Segall
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom
Central Excise Day 2024- February 24

The Central Excise Day is annually observed across India on 24 February to recognise and highlight the
contributions of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which is responsible for
administering indirect taxes in India.
• The day also commemorates the anniversary of the enactment of the Central Excise and Salt Act,
1944 on 24 February 1944.
Objective: To encourage the employees of the excise department to effectively perform their duties throughout
India with an aim to prevent corruption in the goods manufacturing business.
• It also aims to implement other rules to carry out the best possible excise services.

What is Central Excise Duty?
i.Central Excise Duty is an indirect tax imposed and collected by the Central Government on the goods
produced and consumed in India.
• Each person, rich or poor, is liable to pay tax indirectly on the purchase of goods that have already
been charged to duty.
ii.This tax is administered under the authority of Entry 84 of the Union List of the Seventh Schedule read with
Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
iii.This indirect taxation is administered through an enactment of the Central Government viz., The Central
Excise Act, 1944, and connected Rules.
Note: Commodities liable to central excise duties were listed in the Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act,
1985 (Act 5 of 1986) which came into effect on 2 February 1986.
Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944:
i.Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944 was the first law to impose excise duties on goods and services produced or
manufactured in India.
ii.It was passed consolidating the various enactments on the subject and imposing new duties on coffee, tea,
and betel nut.
iii.In 1966, the act was renamed The Central Excise Act 1944. Schedules 1 and 2 of the act were related to the
values and rates of the duties.
CBIC:
i.CBIC (erstwhile Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC)) is administered by the Department of Revenue,
Ministry of Finance, and oversees various field offices (Central Excise Commissionerates) across India.
ii.The department of CBIC has been established to make and implement policies related to the tax payable and
its collection by the people all through India.
Operations:
i.Physical Control Process: Specifically implemented for cigarettes, this process involves a thorough
evaluation by Central Excise officers for approval.
ii.Self Removal Process: The self-removal process has been implemented to manage the central excise duty of
all other goods manufactured throughout India.
• It empowers manufacturers to self-assess legal responsibilities for clearing goods.
Preventing Unlawful Practices:
Customs and Central Excise Duties have been implemented to curb negative business practices like smuggling,
these duties contribute significantly to managing central excise, customs, and narcotics issues in India.
About Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC):
It is the administrative authority for its subordinate organizations, including Custom Houses, Central Excise
and Central Goods and Service Tax (GST) Commissionerates, and the Central Revenues Control Laboratory.
Chairman– Sanjay Kumar Agarwal
Motto– “Desh Sevarth Kar Sanchay” Tax collection in Service of the Nation
World NGO Day 2024– February 27

World Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Day is annually observed across the globe on 27
February to recognise, celebrate, and honour all non-governmental and nonprofit organisations that
contribute to society all year round.
• The Day also acknowledges the selfless contributions of volunteers supporting these
organisations and recognises the missions and contributions of such organisations.
• 27 February 2024 marks the observance of the 11th edition of World NGO Day.
The theme for World NGO Day 2024 is “Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of NGOs in Achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

Background:
i.World NGO Day was created in the European Union (EU) and was the brainchild of Latvian-British tech
entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Marcis Liors Skadmanis of the United Kingdom(UK).
ii.World NGO Day was officially proposed and recognised on 17 April 2010, by 12 countries of the Baltic
Sea NGO Forum in Vilnius, Lithuania.
iii.In 2012, the Baltic Sea NGO Forum Committee accepted World NGO Day, under the Presidency of the
German Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) at the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.
• It was accepted during the X Baltic Sea NGO Forum: “Social Capital for a Sustainable Baltic Sea
Region”.
iv.The first global inaugural event of World NGO Day was hosted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of
Finland on 27 February 2014 in Helsinki, Finland.
Note: The member countries of the Baltic Sea NGO Forum were Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden.
What is an NGO?
i.NGOs, also referred to as Non-Profit organisations (NPOs), Civil Society organisations (CSOs), Charitable
organisations, women’s organisations, membership organisations, charities or the third sector.
ii.NGOs are non-profit, citizen-based groups that function independently of government.
iii.The term “non-governmental organization” was created in Article 71 of the Charter of the newly formed
United Nations (UN) in 1945.
About Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS):
It is an intergovernmental organisation that promotes cooperation and trust among the countries
surrounding the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).
Presidency– Finnish Presidency (2023-2024)
Headquarters– Stockholm Sweden
Members- Consisting of 11 members: 10 member states plus the EU.
National Protein Day 2024 – February 27

National Protein Day is annually observed across the globe on 27 February to raise awareness about the
health benefits of protein in our diets.
• The Day also emphasises the importance of protein in our diets for development and promotes
the diverse options available to meet protein needs.
The theme of World Protein Day 2024 is “Solve With Protein“.
• 27 February 2024 marks the observance of the 5th National Protein Day in India.
Significance:
i.27th February 2024 marks the 2nd observance of National Protein Day in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
and Pakistan.
ii.The theme aimed at making protein-rich foods widely accessible across South Asia.
iii.The campaign serves as a call to action for businesses and industry leaders, to tackle the increasing
demand for protein-rich foods.
Background:
i.National Protein Day was initiated in 2020 by the Right to Protein (RTP), a nationwide awareness
campaign.
• The initiative of the campaign is to educate people about the importance of adequate protein
consumption for better nutrition, health, and well-being.
ii.The first National Protein Day was observed on 27 February 2020.

Protein:
i.Protein is one of 3 essential macronutrients essential for the healthy functioning of the body and is made
up of chemical ‘building blocks’ called amino acids.
ii.There are about 20 different amino acids, with 11 produced by the human body.
iii.The other 9 “essential amino acids” must be acquired through daily protein intake.
iv.The human body uses amino acids to make new proteins, such as muscle and bone, and other
compounds such as enzymes and hormones.
Right To Protein (RTP) Campaign:
i.The United States of America Soybean Export Council (USSEC) takes the lead in driving this protein-
centric initiative, underlining the global importance of protein awareness.
ii.The campaign has garnered support from various entities — organisations, institutions, academicians,
professionals, and individuals alike.
iii.It aims to build knowledge among people of different types of protein sources, especially plant protein,
to meet larger nutritional goals.
iv.As a protein awareness campaign, RTP emphasises the role of protein in supporting good health,
reducing malnutrition, and promoting sustainable development.
v.It also creates awareness about the global burden of protein deficiency, especially in developing nations,
addressing it as a significant public health concern.
Protein Recommendation:
As per the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) given by the Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) for Indians:
• Average Indian adults need 0.8 grams (gm) to 1 gm per kilogram (kg) of ideal body weight of
protein.
National Science Day 2024 – February 28

National Science Day (NSD) is annually observed across India on 28 February to commemorate the
discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’, a Nobel Prize-winning discovery by the Indian physicist Sir
Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (CV Raman) in 1928.
• NSD also aims to raise awareness about the significance of Science in daily life and to celebrate
the contributions of scientists towards the development of India.
28 February 2024 marks the observance of the 38th NSD.
• The theme for NSD 2024 is “Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat.”
Points to Note:
i.On 6 February 2024, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Science
and Technology released the theme for the “National Science Day 2024.”
ii.The theme emphasises the significance of home-grown innovations made by Indian scientists and raises
awareness about indigenous technologies, contributing to the development and well-being of India.
Background:
i.In 1986, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) proposed to the
Government of India to designate February 28 as National Science Day.
ii.Since 1987, National Science Day has been celebrated on February 28 to commemorate the discovery of
the Raman Effect.
iii.The 1st NSD was observed on 28 February 1987.
Note:
i.NCSTC, under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), the Ministry of Science & Technology is
mandated to communicate and popularise science and technology (S&T).
ii.NCSTC acts as a nodal agency to support and coordinate the celebration of National Science Day.

• It supports, catalyses, and coordinates the celebration of NSD nationwide, particularly in
scientific institutions and research laboratories by providing grants to State S&T Councils &
Departments.
Various Awards:
The National Awards for Science Popularization and the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
Women Excellence Award are annually presented during the NSD.
National Awards for Science Popularisation:
The DST instituted the award in 1987 to recognise outstanding efforts in the area of science and
technology communication and popularization.
• The awards consist of a memento, citation, and award money.
SERB Women Excellence Award:
i.It has been instituted to recognise and reward outstanding research achievements of young women
scientists in frontier areas of Science and Engineering.
ii.It is a one-time award given to women scientists below 40 years of age who have received recognition
from any one or more national academies such as the Young Scientist Medal, Young Associate, etc.
iii.The award was launched in 2013 and has been given by the SERB, a Statutory body of the DST.
AWSAR Awards:
i.Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) supported by NCSTC Division, and DST.
ii.The primary goal of AWSAR is to utilise the untapped potential of Ph.D. Scholars and Post-Doctoral
Fellows (PDFs) in effectively communicating research to the general public.
• This program is being coordinated by Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous institute of DST.
About Sir CV Raman:
i.He was born on 7 November 1888 in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), Tamil Nadu(TN).
ii.He was offered the newly endowed Palit Chair of Physics at Calcutta University in 1917 and became the
Honorary Secretary of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science at Calcutta (now Kolkatta, West
Bengal) in 1919.
iii.He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1924 and was knighted in 1929.
iv.He became a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, Karnataka (1933-1948).
v.He established the Raman Institute of Research in Bengaluru and served as its Director since 1948.
vi.He passed away on November 21, 1970 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Awards/Honours:
i.In 1930, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the scattering of light and the
discovery of the “Raman effect” named after him.
ii.In 1954, he was honoured with the Bharat Ratna (Science & Engineering). He was one of the
inaugural recipients of the Award along with Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
APPS & WEB PORTAL

DoT Secretary Dr Neeraj Mittal Launches Bharat 5G Portal at Bharat Telecom 2024
Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Chairman of the Digital Communications Commission and Secretary of the Department
of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications (MoC), launched the “Bharat 5G
Portal– an integrated portal” during the ‘Bharat Telecom 2024 – An Exclusive International Business
Expo.’
• The event was organized by the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council
(TEPC) in collaboration with DoT, took place in Delhi from January 29-30, 2024.
Note: India has the 2nd largest telecom network in the world.

The integrated Bharat 5G Portal:
i.The Bharat 5G Portal is an integrated portal, serves as a comprehensive platform for startups, industry,
and academia in quantum, 6G, Intellectual property rights (IPR), Pilot/Proof of Concepts (POCs), and 5G
domains.
ii.The portal captures academic R&D developments, industry standards, Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEMs), startups/MSMEs, and subject matter experts.
iii.It includes the Future Tech-Experts registration portal in collaboration with PANIIT USA, aimed at
helping and advising the Indian Telecom ecosystem to advance the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Aim: The portal aims to propel India’s 5G capabilities, fostering innovation, collaboration, and knowledge-
sharing within the telecom sector.
DoT’s Call for 6G R&D Proposals:
As part of the portal’s initiatives, DoT issued a call for 6G Research and Development (R&D) proposals on
the integrated portal, accelerating research in 6G ecosystem development.
Other Launch:
Dr. Neeraj Mittal also launched the Future Tech-Experts registration portal in collaboration with PanIIT
Alumni India – United States of America (Pan IIT USA) to support and guide the Indian Telecom
ecosystem.
• This initiative will be prominently featured on the Bharat 5G Portal.
Note:
• Pan IIT is an umbrella organization, representing alumni network of all Indian Institutes of
Technology (IITs) system.
• PANIIT USA is the official association of all IIT alumni residing in the USA.
Key Points:
i.In October 2023, during the inaugural ceremony of the 7th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC),
Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded 100 “5G Use Case Labs” to foster competencies in 5G technologies
in educational institutions across India.
ii.These labs/institutions, connected through a dedicated portal (Digital network of 100 5G Labs), act as a
knowledge dissemination platform for testing and developing 5G use cases.
• Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) is the implementation agency for the
installation of these 100 labs and portal development.
India’s 1st Telecom Centre of Excellence (CoE) will be established at the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT) Roorkee campus in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP). The UP Government will fund around Rs. 30
crore for its establishment.
About Ministry of Communications:
Union Minister– Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha Odisha)
Minister of State– Devusinh Chauhan (Constituency: Kheda, Gujarat)
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launches C-CARES, web portal of CMPFO

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Coal (MoC), has launched a web portal called C-
CARES (https://cares-cmpfo.in/) to digitise the records and work processes of the Coal Mines Provident
Fund Organisation (CMPFO).
• The portal aims to benefit the CMPF subscribers who are working in the coal sector and its
pensioners.
Why the Portal?
i.CMPFO, a statutory body under the MoC, manually processes settlement claims of Provident Fund
subscribers and pensioners.

ii.C- CARES portal was launched to expedite the process and to bring transparency in operations
About C- CARES:
i.The portal was developed and designed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC),
a Research and development (R&D) organization under the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology(MeitY). The project was awarded to C-DAC in March 2023.
ii.The portal can be logged in by both Coal Mines Provident Fund (CMPF) subscribers and coal companies.
iii.The subscribers can access and view their individual details and subscription status and the coal
companies can use the portal to submit contribution details, subscribers’ particulars and claims for online
settlement and payment.
About Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO):
Commissioner – Vijay Kumar Mishra
Headquarters – Dhanbad, Jharkhand
Established in 1948
About Ministry of Coal(MoC):
Union Minister – Pralhad Joshi (Constituency – Dharwad, Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS) – Danve Raosaheb Dadarao (Constituency -Jalna, Maharashtra)
Union Agri Minister launches SARTHI portal for insurance products & Krishi Rakshak Helpline
Union Minister Arjun Munda, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) launched Sandbox for
Agricultural and Rural Security, Technology and Insurance (SARTHI) Portal to offer a range of insurance
products including Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana(PMFBY).
• He also launched the Krishi Rakshak portal and helpline number (14447) to enable farmers in India
to file their grievances.
• Union Minister also launched the Learning Management System (LMS) Platform for the farming
community under the PMFBY.
Note: SARTHI was launched in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India.
Key People:
The initiative was launched in the presence of Ministers of State (MoS) of MoA&FW Sushri Shobha Karandlaje
and Kailash Choudhary, and Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of MoA&FW.
About SARTHI Portal:
i.This will simplify the insurance process for farmers by offering a digitised insurance process.
ii.This will act as a single window platform to view, purchase and avail the insurance products.
iii.The platform with a user-friendly interface has digital payment options and this will enable streamlined
premium collection, effortless claim initiation, tracking and resolution.
iv.SARTHI can be accessed via the AIDE app available on the Android App Store.
v.Products will be introduced on the portal in a phased manner.
1st phase – personal accident and hospital cash policies.
2nd phase – health, shop and home insurance.
3rd phase – tractor, two-wheeler, livestock and non-PMFBY insurance products.
Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline:
i.This will bridge the gap between insured farmers and insurance companies, bankers, Common Service
Centres (CSCs) and governments.
ii.The farmers can register their grievances through this portal and helpline and the centre will be the mediator
to ensure the grievances are resolved.
Learning Management System (LMS)
i.The LMS was developed by MoA&FW in collaboration with the National E-Governance Division (NeGD) under
the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY).
ii.This will ensure continuous learning, knowledge enhancement, and coordination among stakeholders.

About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana(PMFBY):
i.PMFBY the flagship scheme of MoA&FW was launched on 18th February 2016 by Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi at Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.
ii.The scheme aims to support sustainable production in the agriculture sector by providing financial support
to farmers and stabilizing the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
QCI & ONDC Launch DigiReady Certification Portal to Empower MSMEs & Small Retailers
The Quality Council of India (QCI) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) jointly introduced
the DigiReady Certification (DRC) portal in a step towards fostering digital inclusion in the Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
QCI in coordination with ONDC aims to assess and certify the digital readiness of MSME entities.
This is in line with the objectives of the Forum for Internet Retailers, Sellers, and Traders (First India).
About DRC Portal:
i.DRC is a online self-assessment tool for Digital Readiness developed by QCI.
ii.This enables MSME businesses and small retailers to evaluate their preparedness to seamlessly integrate into
the ONDC platform, using software and other technologies and expand their digial capabilities.
iii.It consists of 7 modules – Pre-requisite; Digital Infrastructure; Product Catalogue; Catalogue Management;
Packaging; Payment; & Grievance Redressal – that are required to be self-assessed by the entities.
Certification Process:
The certification process evaluates various aspects of digital readiness, such as,
Necessary documentation for online operations;
Proficiency in using software and technology;
Integration with existing digitised workflows; and
Efficient management of orders and catalogue offerings.
About Quality Council Of India (QCI):
QCI is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Chairman – Jaxay Shah
GoI Launched SWATI, 1st-of its kind Portal for Women in STEMM
On 11th February 2024, Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India (GoI)
launched ‘Science for Women: A Technology and Innovation (SWATI) Portal(https://swati.nipgr.ac.in/),
India’s 1st-of-its-kind interactive online portal on Indian women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics & Medicine).
• The portal was launched on the occasion of International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2024 at the
Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, Delhi.
About SWATI portal:
i.SWATI portal was developed, hosted and maintained by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research
(NIPGR).
ii.SWATI portal is an initiative by the Inter Academy Panel of India (IAP) on Women in STEMM.
iii.The portal was funded by Department of Biotechnology(DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology(MoST).
Note: IAP is constituted jointly by 3 science academies Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc)(Bengaluru,
Karnataka); National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) (Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh) and INSA (New Delhi, Delhi).
Objective of SWATI:
i.To include every Indian Women in Science (WiS), career stages, subjects, spanning both Academia and the
Industry.
ii.To enable a reliable and long term research on the issues of equality, diversity and inclusivity in India,
iii.To develop an active search engine and searchable database (Name, Affiliation, Area of Interest).

Key Points:
i.The portal will provide a platform to view the expertise and contributions of Indian Women in STEMM.
ii.The database of SWATI Portal will serve in policy making to address the challenges of Gender-gap.
Features:
i.The portal includes sections like Icons – Awardees (Padma / Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar / Stree Shakti Science
Samman) & Directors, Secretaries Academy Presidents etc.,.
ii.At present, 3000 ‘WiS Data Cards’ are incorporated in the portal.
About the Event:
i.The event was organised with a focus on the importance of “Science for Women & Women in Science”.
ii.This offers a platform to discuss and evolve a roadmap for ‘Women in Science’ & ‘Science for Women’.
Key People: Subhra Chakraborty, Director of NIPGR; Quarraisha Abdool Karim, President of Third World
Academy of Sciences (TWAS); Balram Bhargava, President, NASI; Umesh V Waghmare President, IASc;
Ashutosh Sharma, President, INSA participated in the event.
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar Launched ‘Van Mitra’ Scheme & Portal to Encourage Community
Participation in Plantation
Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister (CM) of Haryana, launched the ‘Van Mitra‘ scheme and its portal to
encourage community participation in tree plantation activities on non-forest lands.
About Van Mitra’ scheme:
Objective: To empower local community to participate in expanding Haryana’s green cover, increase the
survival rates of newly planted trees and to increase tree planting in non-forest land outside traditional
forest zones.
Eligibility:
i.Families with an annual income of less than Rs 1.80 lakh can join the scheme. Eligible individuals aged
18 to 60 can register to become ‘Van Mitras,’
ii.The eligible individuals will be identified from data of Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) maintained by the
Citizens Resources Information Department (CRID).
Note: The Van Mitra portal or Mobile App will be used for registration, geo-tagging, and assessment of the
survival of plantations.
Financial Incentives:
i.Under the scheme, each ‘van mitra’ will receive an incentive, based on the maintenance of the plant for up
to 4 years and they can plant a maximum of 1,000 saplings.
ii.In the first year, Van mitras will receive Rs 20 per pit following this, Rs 30 will be awarded for each
sapling planted.
Note: Payment will be directly made into their accounts, adhering to the government’s Direct Transfer
Benefit (DBT) policy of Government.
Implementation:
i.In the first phase of the scheme, the selection of 7500 Van Mitra from economically weaker sections will
be done through the portal.
ii.A Van Mitra can select non-forest land for plantation anywhere in the village, town, or city of their
residence.
Training: Van Mitras receives basic training on plantation techniques and protection measures. Practical
training will also be provided on using the Van Mitra mobile app.
Kerala Launched the Kerala Brand Logo & Web Portal

P Rajeeve, Minister for Industries, Law and Coir, Government of Kerala, unveiled the logo and web portal
of the Kerala Brand to increase the domestic and global demand for high-quality products made in Kerala.

• The logo of Kerala Brand carries the motto ‘Nanma’, a Malayalam expression which translates
to ‘Goodness’.
• All the products under the brand will be imprinted with the wording ‘Made-in-Kerala’ to tap
into the domestic and global markets.
• The branding also signifies the product is of good quality, made with authentic raw materials,
and produced by following ethical practices.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur Launches 4 Portals to Modernise Media Industry

Union Minister Anurag Thakur, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), launched 4 transformative
portals as part of MIB’s digital initiatives, to modernise India’s media industry in New Delhi, Delhi. The 4
portals are,
• Press Sewa Portal;
• Transparent, Empanelment, Media Planning, and eBilling System(TEMPEST)
• NaViGate(National Video Gateway) Bharat portal; and
• National Register for Local Cable Operators (LCOs).
Aim:
i.To ensuring ease of doing business by promoting a more conducive business environment for newspaper
publishers and TV channels.
ii.To simplify processes, and enhance transparency, and efficiency in government communication;
iii.To provide easy access to authentic government videos; and
iv.To Create an inclusive database of LCOs to streamline regulatory processes in the cable TV sector.
1.Press Sewa Portal: Streamlining Newspaper Registration:
i.Press Sewa Portal is developed under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act of 2023 (PRP Act, 2023) by
the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI), erstwhile Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI).
ii.It is a significant step towards complete automation and simplification for newspaper registration.
Objective: To simplify the registration procedures that were prevalent under the colonial PRB Act of 1867.
Key Features:
i.Online Application for title registration using Aadhar-based e-signatures.
ii.Probability meter indicating title availability.
iii.Real-time tracking of application status through an intuitive dashboard.
iv.Dedicated District Magistrate (DM) module for centralised application management.
New Website: A new website to offers easy access to relevant information was launched along with the portal.
The portal features Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based chatbot for user-friendly interactions.
2.Transparent, Empanelment, Media Planning, and eBilling System(TEMPEST)
i.TEMPEST was introduced for Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), which provides comprehensive 360-
degree media and communication solutions to Ministries, Departments, etc.
ii.This was designed for transparent and efficient media planning processes.
iii.End-to-end Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution for a paperless and faceless business environment.
Key Features:
i.Online empanelment system for newspapers, periodicals, TV, Radio, and digital media to ensure transparency.
ii.Automated media planning for efficient processes.
iii.Integration of an eBilling processing system for transparency.
iv.A comprehensive mobile app for partners with timestamps and geo-tagging for organized monitoring.
v.Dedicated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) support team for quick issue resolution for clients and partners.
Promoting Ease of Doing Business:
• Faster empanelment and business processes.
• Automated compliance and swifter payment.

Points to Note:
i.CBC is a media unit of MIB and is the nodal multi-media advertising agency of the Government.
ii.It offers the communication needs of Ministries/Departments including Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
and Autonomous Bodies under them.
3.NaViGate Bharat Portal:
i.It is developed by the New Media Wing of MIB.
ii.A unified bilingual platform hosting government-related videos and citizen welfare-oriented measures.
iii.It eliminates the hassle of searching for information from multiple sources and connects citizens with
government schemes and initiatives.
Key Features:
i.It offers dedicated pages for Ministries, Sectors, Schemes, and Campaigns.
ii.Easy navigation and search to find the videos.
iii.Categorization and tagging for efficient video search.
iv.Seamless video playback and streaming.
v.Download and share options.
vi.Filter-based advanced search functionality for a seamless user experience.
4.National Register for LCOs: Strengthening Cable Sector:
i.It is the 1st step to bring the registration of LCOs currently with Post Offices across India under a centralised
registration system.
ii.A web form for collecting information for LCOs for the National Register.
iii.A step towards a more organized cable sector with a National Registration Number for an LCO.
iv.The LCO National Register facility opens new possibilities for the cable sector, in line with the vision of a
developed India.
Recent related news:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued a notification amending the Cable Television Network
(CTN) Rules of 1994. Moreover, a new provision has been added, enabling Cable Operators to share
infrastructure with Broadband Service Providers.
About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB):
Union Minister– Anurag Singh Thakur (Constituency: Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minister of State– L. Murugan (Rajya Sabha – Madhya Pradesh)
CEIB Launched Automated Search Portal for Antecedent Verification of Prospective Borrowers
The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) in collaboration with the State Bank of India (SBI) launched
an Automated Search Portal dedicated for antecedent verification of potential borrowers and Non-
Performing Assets (NPAs), to help Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
• The portal was launched by Amit Mohan Govil, Director General of CEIB; and Dinesh Khara,
Chairman of SBI, during a meeting with all PSBs in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Note: CEIB is the nodal agency on economic intelligence established for coordinating and strengthening the
economic intelligence and enforcement activities under the Ministry of Finance.
Points to note:
i.CEIB and SBI, have jointly developed a digital platform to assist PSBs in obtaining mandatory intelligence
clearance process for PSBs promptly, which will ensure timely disbursement of funds.
ii.It also ensures that PSBs receive timely antecedent verification reports, expediting due diligence processes
and mitigating risks associated with fraudulent activities.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation:
i.The antecedent verification reports provide robust safeguards in risk assessment and mitigation.
ii.Before generating any such report, CEIB performs a data check of economic offenders.
iii.Entities classified as NPAs face scrutiny, enhancing risk mitigation efforts.
Antecedent Verification Report:

i.This report, essential for high-value loan approvals, undergoes a thorough data check of economic offenders.
ii.It utilises a comprehensive economic offenses database maintained by CEIB.
Mandate for Large Value Bank Frauds:
The guidelines for timely detection, reporting, and investigation of large-value bank frauds (May 13, 2015, and
November 6, 2019) issued by the Department of Financial Services mandated all PSBs to obtain a report from
CEIB before approving loans exceeding Rs. 50 crore for new borrowers or in the case of existing borrowers’
accounts turning into NPAs.
Key Points:
i.In August 2022, at the request of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), CEIB devised a uniform format for
obtaining reports.
ii.It also advised all PSBs to appoint nodal officers as a designated Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to
communicate with banks.
Submission Process:
PSBs will now submit intelligence clearance requests to CEIB through dedicated emails in a specified format,
eliminating the previous manual processing delays.
ENVIRONMENT
Agasthyagama edge: A New Species of Tiny Lizards Discovered in Kerala
A group of scientists from various institutions in India and abroad discovered a new species of tiny lizards
called ‘Agasthyagama edge’ or the northern kangaroo lizard in the southern Western Ghats at Kulamavu
in Idukki, Kerala.
• The findings have been reported in the Vertebrate Zoology, a scientific journal published by
the Senckenberg Museum in Germany.
About Agasthyagama edge:
i.Agasthyagama edge belongs to the Agamidae family and Agasthyagama genus.
ii.This is the 2nd species of Agasthyagama genus after A. beddomii or Indian kangaroo lizard(discovered in
Sivagiri hills, Tamil Nadu)
iii.Agasthyagama Edge has been named after the Evolutionary Distinct and Globally
Endangered (EDGE) programme of the Zoological Society of London which has supported various
researchers including Dr. Das and co-author K.P. Rajkumar of Aranyakam Nature Foundation.
ICAR-NBFGR Discovers Two New Species of Congrid Eels in Tamil Nadu and Kerala
The researchers from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – National Bureau of Fish Genetic
Resources (NBFGR) have identified two new specimens of congrid eels (Anguilliformes), namely
Ariosoma Kannani and Ariosoma Gracile, off the coasts of Tamil Nadu (TN) and Kerala, respectively.
• The discovery was published in an international, peer-reviewed life science
journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.
• Both the new species belongs to genus Ariosoma.
About Ariosoma kannani:
i.Ariosoma Kannani is found in landing centre of Rameswaram
(TN) & Gulf of Mannar(TN).
ii.The species is named after late Professor L. Kannan, former
director of Marine Biology, Annamalai University(Cuddalore, TN)
and former Vice-Chancellor of Thiruvalluvar University(Vellore,
TN).

About Ariosoma Gracile:
i.Ariosoma Gracile is found along the coast of Cochin (Kochi), in Ernakulam, Kerala.
ii.The new species differ from other eels by longer tail, dorsal-fin and, intermaxillary teeth patch.
About the Discovery:
i.The specimens of the new species were registered at the NBFGR’s National Fish Museum and Repository,
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).
ii.The names of the two new eels have been registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
Additional Info:
NBFGR has so far explored 12 eel species(including two new species), six each from TN and Kerala.
New Species of Burrowing frog ‘Sphaerotheca Varshaabhu’ Discovered in Bengaluru,

Karnataka
Researchers from national and international organisations
discovered a new species of burrowing frog named ‘Sphaerotheca
Varshaabhu’, found at Budumanahalli near Rajankunte in Bengaluru,
Karnataka. It means ‘a genus of frog that welcomes rain’.
• The name Sphaerotheca varshaabhu, or Varshaa burrowing
frog, comes from the frog’s behaviour of emerging from
burrows during early showers.
• An article on this frog species was published in the
international journal, Zootaxa.
Genus and Species:
Genus: Sphaerotheca; Species: Varshaabhu
Sphaerotheca is a genus of frogs that belong to the class Amphibia. Sphaerotheca is part of
the Dicroglossidae family, which includes medium-sized burrowing frog species.
Research Team:
The discovery of the new species is a result of collaborative efforts from institutions like Mount Carmel College,
JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru; Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu, China; Institute of
Systematics, Evolution, Biodiversity (ISYEB), Paris (France), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), and others.
Reason behind its name:
Researchers named the new species “Varshaabhu,” a combination of the Sanskrit words ‘varshaa’ means ‘rain’
and ‘bhu’ for ‘taking birth’.
Features:
i.Varshaa burrowing frogs are considered “medium-sized,” reaching about 1.5 inches in length.
ii.They have “robust, stocky” bodies, “rounded” snouts and “slightly warty skin.”
iii.Overall, it has a blotchy brown colouring with some greenish patches and small orange spots. Its eyes are
speckled with metallic bronze.
iv.DNA analysis found in the new species had at least 3% genetic divergence from other burrowing frogs.
Note: The research team noted that earlier in 2020, a new species of burrowing frog named after Bengaluru
city, Sphaerotheca Bengaluru, was found in the same area.
Trichoglossum Syamviswanathii: New Fungus Species Discovered in Kerala

Researchers from the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Botanical Survey of India, and the University of
Hyderabad have discovered a new fungus species, Trichoglossum Syamviswanathii in the moist soil of
Bambusetum in Thrissur (Kerala) along the Western Ghats.
• The species belongs to the family Geoglossaceae (Ascomycota) and genus Trichoglossum.
• It is named after Syam Viswanath, renowned scientist and former director of KFRI.

• Trichoglossum is also known as “hairy earth tongues” fungus and plays a major role in the
decomposition of organic matter.
• The discovery was published in the journal Persoonia: Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of
Fungi which was published by the National Herbarium of the Netherlands.
Phylloneura rupestris: A New Species of Damselfly Discovered in Kerala

A team of researchers discovered a new species of damselfly named Phylloneura rupestris from the
Ponmudi Hills (Western Ghats) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• The common name of the new species of the bambootails group is “Cliffside Bambootail”.
• The species epithet rupestris translates to “that lives on cliffs or rocks” in Latin which denotes
its habitat preference.
• The discovery was published in the scientific journal ‘International Journal of Odonatology’,
published by Worldwide Dragonfly Association.
Parhyale Odian: A New Species of Crustacean Identified in Odisha

Researchers from Berhampur University(Odisha) have discovered a new species of crustacean
named ‘Parhyale Odian’ from the Chilika Lake, spread over spread over the Puri, Khordha and Ganjam in
Odisha.
The new species is named after Odia, the official & native language of Odisha.
• Parhyale Odian is a shrimp-like amphipod belonging to the genus Parhyale.
• The discovery is published in an article titled ‘A new species of amphipod of the
genus Parhyale from Chilika lagoon, India’ in the online edition of journal Zootaxa.
i.The specimens have been deposited in the Zoological Survey of India(ZSI)’s Estuarine Biology Regional
Centre, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam, Odisha for further research
ii.Parhyale odian differs from all other 15 species by having a stout robust seta — a spine-like structure on
the surface of the propodus of the male gnathopod (first pair of legs)
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Cabinet Approvals on 1st February 2024

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Cabinet Approvals on 8th February 2024

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LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launched 2 Digital Modules within SagarSetu

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MoRD launched Unique Land Parcel Identification Number

India’s UPI was Launched at Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Ministry of Education Launches APAAR in Remote Villages across India

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Dharmendra Pradhan launches EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme

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Union MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar Inaugurates Digital India FutureLABS at IIIT-Delhi

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Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates India’s 1st Skill India Centre in Odisha

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 9th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi

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PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates 2 Institutes of Ministry of Ayush in Jhajjar & Pune

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Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated 4th National Chilika Bird Festival

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GoI Notifies Appointment of Chief Justices to Seven High Courts

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Marut Drones Delivered India’s 1st Mineral Exploration Drones to NMDC