- National:
- The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) celebrated its 25th anniversary on 3rd February 2024. The event was marked by the launch of a new Satellite Data Acquisition and Processing Facility and the unveiling of a special postal stamp named “INCOIS My Stamp”. The celebration also saw the release of books on “INCOIS 25 Year Journey” and was attended by various dignitaries.
- Union Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated the two-day ULLAS Mela at the National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi. The event, part of the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram aiming for 100% literacy by 2030, showcased various national and state-level activities. It included felicitation of Neo-literates, launch of ULLAS Concise Primers in local languages, and sessions on ‘Best Practices’. Over 700 participants attended the event.
- The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 was introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha on February 6, 2024. It aims to prevent malpractices in public exams and entrance tests, with penalties including imprisonment and fines. However, students will not be under the purview of this law.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India Energy Week 2024 in Goa on 6th February 2024. The event, which is India’s largest energy exhibition and conference, ran from 6th to 9th February 2024. The aim of India Energy Week 2024 is to serve as a platform for India to showcase its commitment to energy transition and sustainability.
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved several amendments to streamline food safety and standards regulations in its 43rd meeting held on February 5, 2024. Key changes include the removal of BIS or AGMARK certification for food products, making only FSSAI certification mandatory. Other approvals include standards for certain beverages and milk fat products, and a comprehensive manual for regulatory compliance of food products.
- The Uttar Pradesh government presented its annual budget for the financial year 2024-25 on February 5, 2024. The budget is the largest in the state’s history, amounting to Rs 7,36,437.71 crore. It includes significant allocations for the police department and the Women Farmer Empowerment Project. After deducting total expenditure from the receipts of the consolidated fund, a deficit of Rs 15,103.89 crore is estimated.
- Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal presented the state’s budget for the financial year 2024-25 on February 5, 2024. The budget aims to transform Kerala into a medical hub and revamp the higher education sector to attract international students. It plans to attract Rs 3 lakh crore investment within the next three years.
- Banking:
- On February 6, 2024, UPI payments across multiple banks in India started failing due to server outages. Major platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, and BHIM were affected. The issue was not with UPI or NPCI, but with some major banks.
- On February 4, 2024, the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) received Rs 9,013.72 crore from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after invoking Government of India (GoI) guarantees on decade-old loans extended to some African countries. The MEA has also provided a further Rs 4,383.40 crore in 2024-25 towards payment to Exim Bank towards guarantees that may be invoked against doubtful debts.
- Science & Technology:
- Jielong-3 Chinese rocket launched from a floating barge off the coast of Yangjiang, carrying nine satellites into orbit on February 3, 2024. Long March-2C rocket lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, sending 11 Geely-02 satellites into orbit on February 2, 2024. These satellites are part of Geely’s planned “Future Mobility Constellation”.
- Defence:
- The Indian Navy received the first 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, named ‘Mahabali’, on February 2, 2024. The tug was delivered at the Naval Ship Repair Yard (NSRY) in Kochi. These tugs will assist naval ships and submarines during berthing and un-berthing, turning, and maneuvering in confined waters.
- The INS Sandhayak (Yard 3025), a Survey Vessel Large, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on February 3, 2024 at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The ship is equipped with advanced Hydrographic and Oceanographic equipment for comprehensive underwater surveys. It was built at GRSE Kolkata with over 80% indigenous content.
- The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted four flight trials of the High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) - ABHYAS from January 30 to February 02, 2024. The trials validated various parameters like endurance, speed, manoeuvrability, altitude, and range. ABHYAS is designed for autonomous flying and offers a realistic threat scenario for practice of weapon systems.
- Important Days:
- The International Day of Human Fraternity is observed annually on February 4. This day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2020. The day is commemorated to promote a culture of peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding, and solidarity.
- The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed every year on February 6th. This day was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2012 to amplify and direct efforts on the elimination of this practice. The theme for this day is "Her Voice. Her Future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation"
- Appointments & Resignations:
- Following the death of President Hage Gottfried Geingob on February 4, 2024, Nangolo Mbumba was sworn in as the interim president of Namibia on the same day. He will serve until March 2025. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was appointed as the first female vice president.
- Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has been appointed as the Vice Chief of the Indian Army and will assume his new role on February 15. He will replace Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, who will become the Northern Army Commander.
- Senior advocate Rajendra Prasad Gupta was appointed as the Advocate General of Rajasthan on February 3, 2024. He replaced MS Singhvi and is the 19th Advocate General of the state.
- Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill was appointed as the First Minister of Northern Ireland on 3rd February 2024, marking the first time a nationalist has occupied the position. The Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) Emma Little-Pengelly was appointed as the Deputy First Minister.
- Banwarilal Purohit resigned from his position as the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory, Chandigarh on 3rd February 2024. He cited “personal reasons and certain other commitments” as the cause for his resignation. His resignation was submitted to President Droupadi Murmu.
- Awards & Honours:
- The legendary sprinter and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president, PT Usha, was conferred with the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award by the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) and Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA) on Sunday, February 4, 2024. The award ceremony took place at the National Sports Club of India.
- REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has indeed been awarded the prestigious Best Green Bond - Corporate Award at The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable Finance 2024.
- Books:
- The book “Transforming HARYANA: 9 Incredible Years of Haryana Government” was launched by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on February 6, 2024. Edited by Kuldip Chand Agnihotri, the book provides an in-depth look at the transformation of Haryana over the past nine years. It covers the state’s journey towards development, systemic reforms, and good governance.
- On February 3, 2024, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan unveiled the book ‘Artificial Intelligence and National Security’ at the Defence Literature Festival in Pune. The book is authored by Amit Sinha and Vijay Khare.
Questions:
Q.1 Who inaugurated the two-day ULLAS Mela at the National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi?a. Prime Minister of India
b. President of India
c. Union Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
d. Chief Minister of Delhi
Q.2 Who are the authors of the book ‘Artificial Intelligence and National Security’?
a. Amit Sinha and Vijay Khare
b. General Anil Chauhan and Amit Sinha
c. Vijay Khare and General Anil Chauhan
d. Amit Sinha and Prime Minister of India
