Current Affairs One - Liner : 15th February 2024

• National:
• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has launched the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) and the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) in Assam. ULPIN is a 14-digit identification number for every land parcel, ensuring uniqueness in all transactions and eliminating fraudulent transactions.\

• C-DOT and IIT Roorkee signed an agreement on February 12, 2024, to develop a 140GHz Transmitter & Receiver Module for 6G and beyond. This project aims to reduce system size, weight, and power consumption, making it suitable for portable devices. It will support high-speed data transfer and contribute to the development of ultra-fast, low-latency 6G networks.
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed a budget of Rs 1.18 lakh crore for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) for FY25. The interim budget, or “Vote on Account,” is Rs.59,364 Crore, including Rs 40,081 crore for revenue expenditure and Rs 19,283 crore for capital expenditure. The full budget will be presented after the 2024 general elections. The budget outlines a fiscal deficit of Rs 20,760 crore and a 7.5% growth in GSDP.
• Farmers from Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh are marching towards Delhi demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. This march is known as “Delhi Chalo 2.0”. Authorities in Haryana have reinforced the state’s borders and invoked Section 144 of the CrPC in 15 districts to deter the planned march.
• The ‘Kaji Nemu’ lemon was declared as the state fruit of Assam on February 12, 2024. This decision aims to promote local farming, enhance economic opportunities for farmers, and position Assam globally for its unique agricultural produce.
• On February 13, 2024, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) became the first Indian company to reach a market capitalization of Rs 20 lakh crore. This milestone placed RIL at the 49th position among the world’s top 50 companies by market capitalization. Mukesh Ambani’s wealth increased to $109 billion in 2024.
• International:
• The United World Wrestling (UWW) lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on February 13, 2024. The suspension was initially imposed due to the WFI’s failure to hold timely elections. With the suspension lifted, Indian wrestlers can now compete under their national flag at UWW events. The WFI is required to hold elections for its Athletes’ Commission and ensure non-discrimination in all its events.
• Banking:
• Mizuho Bank from Japan has acquired a 15% stake in Credit Saison India for Rs 1,200 crore. This is the first external investment for Credit Saison India. The investment will help Credit Saison India grow and become a resilient lending franchise. Currently, Credit Saison India has 1.2 million active loans worth over Rs 10,000 crore.
• Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the AIIMS-SBI Smart Payment Card on February 13, 2024. This card, part of the Digital India initiative, is designed to facilitate cashless payments for treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi. It’s linked to the patient’s Unique Hospital Identification (UHID) number & the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID. The card is provided free of cost to all patients and will be extended across all AIIMS in the country in the future.
• PayU and NPCI announced a partnership on February 15, 2024, to launch the ‘Credit Lines on UPI’ feature. This feature aims to provide pre-sanctioned credit lines by banks through UPI, enhancing financial security and growth for merchants. As part of this integration, PayU will share information about the relevant identifiers related to the type of credit the consumer has undertaken, such as pay-later, personal loans, etc.
• Economy:
• India’s services trade surplus did indeed reach a record $44.9 billion in the October-December quarter of 2023. This was a 16% increase year-on-year. The surplus was driven by a growth of 5.2% in services exports to $87.7 billion, while services imports contracted by 4.3% to $42.8 billion during the same period. This strong performance shows the resilience of India’s service sector amid global economic challenges.
• Mous:
• The Uttar Pradesh government and IIT Roorkee signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 13, 2024, at the Relief Commissioner’s office, Uttar Pradesh. This collaboration aims to enhance disaster management in the state by leveraging IIT Roorkee’s expertise in research and training. The partnership is expected to bolster the state’s resilience against natural calamities over the next five years.
• Apps & Portals:
• On February 14, 2024, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launched a renewed portal of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF). The AHIDF, a Credit Guarantee Scheme for the livestock sector’s MSMEs, has been approved for continuation till 2025-26 with an outlay of around 30 thousand crore rupees.
• Defence:
• The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Advanced Weapon Equipment India Ltd (AWEIL), Kanpur for the manufacturing and supply of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Guns (SRCG) for the Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard. The contract, worth Rs. 1752.13 crores, has an Indigenous Content (IC) of more than 85%.
• On February 8, 2024, India and Russia signed an agreement to strengthen their bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. The agreement extends the 2008 intergovernmental agreement on the construction of stages II and III of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu. The facility is planned to start running at full capacity in 2027.
• Committees:
• The first meeting of the 16th Finance Commission (XVI-FC) was indeed held under the chairmanship of Dr. Arvind Panagariya on 14th February 2024. The meeting took place in Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi. During this meeting, the commission discussed its Terms of Reference as per the order made by the President of India and notified by the Ministry of Finance.
• Sports:
• On February 14, 2024, Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur handed over the Chess Olympiad Torch to Budapest, Hungary, the host of the next Chess Olympiad. The ceremony took place in New Delhi, India.
• Indian hammer thrower Rachna Kumari has received a 12-year ban for multiple doping violations. This is her second anti-doping violation, with the first resulting in a four-year suspension from 2015 to 2019. The substances found in her samples include Stanozolol, Metandienone, DHCMT, and Clenbuterol.
• Important Days:
• The International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and When Conducive to Terrorism (PVE Day) was indeed observed on February 12, 2024. It's an important day dedicated to raising awareness about the threats posed by violent extremism and promoting international cooperation in preventing it. The theme for this day is "Preventing Violent Extremism through Education and Empowerment: Building Inclusive and Peaceful Societies."
• Appointments:
• Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jain, an Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) Officer of the 1990 batch, assumed the position of Chairman & Managing Director of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) on February 14, 2024. Before this role, Mr. Jain was the Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM) of Northern Railway.
• Virendra Bansal was appointed as the new MD & CEO of SBI Capital Markets Limited (SBICAPS) on February 14, 2024. He replaced Rajay Kumar Sinha and brings in global expertise from his previous roles, including the Country Head for the US Operations of SBI.
• Awards & Honours:
• Havildar Varinder Singh of the Indian Army’s Sikh Regiment has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal by President Droupadi Murmu for his innovative work in developing a drone called 'Multipurpose Octocopter’. The ‘Multipurpose Octocopter’ is a significant advancement in drone technology.
• Obituaries:
• Padma Shri Prof. I.C. Verma, a renowned geneticist and advisor at the Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, passed away on February 9, 2024, at the age of 78.

Questions:

Q.1 Who was appointed as the new MD & CEO of SBI Capital Markets Limited (SBICAPS) on February 14, 2024?
a. Rajay Kumar Sinha
b. Virendra Bansal
c. Ratan Tata
d. Mukesh Ambani
Q.2 What is the state fruit of Assam as of February 12, 2024?
a. Mango
b. Banana
c. Kaji Nemu lemon
d. Orange