- National:
- Union Minister of State, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, inaugurated the “Digital India FutureLABS” at IIIT-Delhi on February 3, 2024. The lab aims to catalyze next-gen electronics system design and provide a platform for Indian startups. The Minister emphasized the growth of India’s tech and innovation ecosystem.
- India has indeed paid USD 32.89 million to the United Nations Regular Budget for 2024. This contribution has placed India on the “honour roll” of 36 Member States who have paid their regular budget assessments in full. The payment was made on January 31, 2024. Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressed gratitude towards India.
- The ‘Kilkari’ program, a mobile health initiative, was launched in Gujarat and Maharashtra on February 7, 2024. It provides weekly healthcare audio messages to beneficiaries. The launch aligns with the Government’s commitment to prioritize public health infrastructure and strengthen citizen-centric health services.
- Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma ceremonially launched the Logo, Anthem, Mascot, Jersey, and Torch of Khelo India University Games - 2023, Ashtalakshmi in Guwahati on Thursday, 08th February 2024. The event was also attended by Nisith Pramanik, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports and Home Affairs
- Uttarakhand Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on February 7, 2024. Uttarakhand is the first state in India to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill. The bill aims to bring uniformity in civil laws across all faiths. It covers aspects like inheritance rights, marriage registration, and proposes a ban on polygamy and child marriage. The bill is still awaiting the governor’s approval.
- The Lok Sabha passed a bill on February 6, 2024, to provide reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. This bill was introduced to bring consistency in the local body laws of the Union territory with the provisions of the Constitution.
- The Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) stadium in Rajkot has been renamed as the Niranjan Shah Stadium ahead of the third India-England Test. The stadium is located in Khanderi, on the outskirts of Rajkot. It was renamed after Niranjan Shah, who played 12 first-class matches for Saurashtra from 1965/66–1974/75.
- Banking:
- Pharmaceutical exports from India grew by 8.2% from April to December 2023, reaching USD 20.40 billion. The global demand for Indian pharmaceutical products drove this growth. The total pharmaceutical exports for the fiscal year 2023 were USD 25.39 billion.
- The liquidity deficit of the banking system has decreased to ₹1.40 lakh crore. This is part of the RBI’s policy to align inflation with the target while supporting growth. Despite the deficit, the potential liquidity in the banking system is still in surplus. This impacts money market rates and inflation.
- LIC Index Plus is a new unit-linked life insurance product launched by LIC on February 6, 2024. It offers life insurance cover and savings, with guaranteed additions added to the unit fund after specific policy years. The plan is open to individuals from 90 days to 60 years old, with maturity age up to 85 years.
- Economy:
- By 2030, India is projected to account for over one-third of the global increase in oil demand, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This growth is attributed to urbanisation, industrialisation, and the emergence of a wealthier middle class. The country’s oil demand is expected to rise by almost 1.2 million barrels per day, reaching 6.6 million barrels per day by 2030. Diesel/gasoil is anticipated to be the largest contributor to this demand growth. Jet-kerosene demand is also expected to grow significantly, at an average rate of 5.9% per year.
- Science & Technology:
- Dr. (Col) V K Gupta, a Delhi-based gastroenterologist, became the first patient in India to be declared “cancer-free” using indigenous CAR-T cell therapy. This therapy, approved by India’s drug regulator, uses a patient’s immune system to fight cancer. It’s a significant milestone in India’s medical treatments but may not be suitable for all patients or cancer types.
- Sports:
- The 1st BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship was inaugurated by India’s Union Sports Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur. It took place in New Delhi from 6th to 9th February 2024. The event saw participation from over 400 athletes and officials from seven BIMSTEC Member States, competing in the under-20 age category in Swimming, Water Polo, and Diving events.
- Appointments:
- H Venkatachalam Iyer has been appointed as the new CEO & MD of Tata AIA Life Insurance. He was previously the President and Chief Distribution Officer at Tata AIA.
- Naveen Tahilyani has been appointed as the new CEO & MD of Tata Digital. He was previously the CEO and MD of Tata AIA Life Insurance and will start his new role from February 19, 2024.
- Nayib Bukele has been re-elected as the President of El Salvador for a second term on February 5, 2024, winning more than 85% of the vote. His party, New Ideas, is also expected to win a majority in the legislative body. Bukele’s popularity is largely due to his successful crackdown on crime, although his methods have raised human rights concerns.
- Ravi Kumar Jha has been appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management. He took up the position from January 31, 2024. Prior to this, he was serving the company as Executive Director of corporate Strategy. Mr. Jha has over 30 years of experience with LIC and has held various positions within the company
- Books:
- The coffee-table book ‘Shree Jagannatha, Lord Of The Universe’ was released by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on February 5, 2024. The book, edited by Raghuvir Srinivasan, contains contributions from various experts on Jagannath culture, journalists, and former bureaucrats. It narrates the traditions and rituals associated with Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, in Puri.
Questions:
Q.1 Which state in India is the first to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill?a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Uttarakhand
d. Bihar
Q.2 What is the ‘Kilkari’ program?
a. A mobile health initiative
b. A new mobile game
c. A new social media platform
d. A new e-commerce platform
