Current Affairs One - Liner : 11th & 12th February 2024

• National:
• The National Creators Award is a new initiative by the Indian government to honor digital influencers and creators. The award covers 20 categories, including storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, and gaming. The selection process involves a nomination phase, screening of nominations, public voting, and review by a jury panel.

• The Government of India has inaugurated a Regional Centre of Sangeet Natak Akademi, known as Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra, in Hyderabad. The centre will promote and document various art forms. An auditorium named “Bharat Kala Mandapam” will also be constructed. The inauguration was performed on Monday, 12th February.
• The NITI Aayog has prepared an economic transformation plan for four cities: Mumbai, Surat, Varanasi, and Vizag. This is part of a larger plan to prepare economic planning for 20-25 more cities. They are also preparing a vision document for India to become a developed economy of USD 30 trillion by 2047.
• The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has indeed launched a nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) by 2027, three years ahead of the global target. The campaign, also known as Sarva Dawa Sevan, involves health workers going door-to-door to administer anti-filaria medicine, especially in 10 filaria affected states.
• International:
• Eight former Indian Navy personnel, previously sentenced to death in Qatar, were released on February 12, 2024. Seven of them have already returned to India. The release followed intense diplomatic efforts by the Indian government.
• Banking:
• On February 10, 2024, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) increased the interest rate on provident fund deposits from 8.15% to 8.25% for the fiscal year 2023-24. This decision is expected to benefit over six crore subscribers.
• Mous:
• The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 11, 2024. The MoU aims to foster joint research, technology transfer, and support for the start-up ecosystem in the renewable energy sector.
• Sports:
• In the U19 World Cup 2024 final, Australia U19 beat India U19 by 79 runs. Australia batted first, scoring 253/7. India could only manage 174, resulting in Australia’s victory. M. Beardman from Australia was named the Player of the Match.
• Important Days:
• The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on 11th February every year. This day is recognized by the United Nations to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. The theme for this day is “Women and Girls in Science Leadership, a New Era for Sustainability”. The sub-theme is "Think Science … Think Peace".
• The World Day of the Sick is observed annually on 11th February. This day is an awareness initiative of the Catholic Church that encourages sharing, prayer, and seeing Christ in one’s sick brother or sister. The theme for the World Day of the Sick 2024 is "Healing the Sick by Healing Relationships".
• Darwin Day is celebrated globally on February 12 to mark the birthday of naturalist Charles Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882). This day is used to highlight Darwin’s contributions to science and to promote science in general. Darwin is best known for his work on the theory of evolution.
• Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born on February 12, 1809. He is celebrated for leading the United States through the American Civil War, defending the nation as a constitutional union, defeating the insurgent Confederacy, abolishing slavery, expanding the power of the federal government, and modernizing the U.S. economy.
• World Unani Day, observed on February 11, celebrates the birth of Hakim Ajmal Khan, a pioneer of Unani medicine. The day highlights his contributions to Unani medicine globally. The 2024 theme is “Unani Medicine for One Earth, One Health,” emphasizing global health collaboration. Various resources were released by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) on this occasion.
• Appointments:
• Sindhu Ganapathy was appointed as the first transwoman Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) by Southern Railway on February 13, 2024. She took charge at Dindigul railway station on the previous day, February 12, 2024. This is indeed a significant step towards inclusivity and diversity.
• The British actress Katrina Kaif has been appointed as the brand ambassador for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the upcoming IPL 2024 season.
• Awards & Honours:
• ISRO Chairman S. Somanath was awarded the K.P.P. Nambiar Award for 2024 by the IEEE Kerala Section on February 11, 2024, for his significant contributions to the Chandrayaan-3 lunar exploration programme.

Questions:

Q.1 Who was appointed as the first transwoman Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) by Southern Railway?
a. Sindhu Ganapathy
b. Anjali Sharma
c. Priya Rani
d. Geeta Kumari
Q.2 Where is the Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra located?
a. Delhi
b. Mumbai
c. Hyderabad
d. Kolkata