Daily Current Affairs 10th February, 2024
Daily Current Affairs 10 February 2024 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
India, Russia agree to strengthen bilateral nuclear cooperation
India and Russia have signed a protocol to revise their 2008 agreement to build additional nuclear reactors at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) site and construct Russia-designed nuclear power plants at new Indian sites, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
- The KKNPP in Tamil Nadu is a joint initiative of the two countries and the flagship project of bilateral technological and energy cooperation. The Russian nuclear energy agency has built two 1,000 MW VVER reactors at the KKNPP site, with plans to construct four more of similar capacity.
- The Ministry stated that Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov participated in negotiations between Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, and Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman, AEC, and Secretary, DAE, Government of India, at the KKNPP in Tamil Nadu.
- The negotiations resulted in the signing of a significant document under the joint Russian-Indian project, namely, a protocol to the intergovernmental accord on the construction of power units for the second and third stages of the KKNPP in 2008.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme
Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme in New Delhi.
- The Vidyanjali Scholarship Program symbolises a whole-of-society approach to empowerment through access and opportunities of education, particularly to students belonging to economically disadvantaged sections.
- He commended the efforts of students of NVS and mentioned that nearly 14,000 students have succeeded in getting admission to reputed institutes including IITs, NITs, etc. without joining any coaching centres. Many students come from marginalised families. He also added that 70 students are being bestowed upon the scholarship amounting to Rs. 5 crore.
Assam CM inaugurates construction skill training centre to empower youth
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated a Construction Skill Training Centreat Gogamukh in Dhemaji district for Assam Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board-registered construction workers and their family.
- This initiative aims to address unemployment by providing comprehensive training opportunities to the youth and enhancing their employability in the construction sector.
PRIME MeghaPreneur Expo 2024 held in Meghalaya
The three-day PRIME MeghaPreneur Expo 2024, held at the SRGT Polo Ground, marked a triumphant celebration of entrepreneurial zeal in Meghalaya.
- The PRIME MeghaPreneur Expo 2024 emerged as a resounding success, epitomizing the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in Meghalaya, and serving as a catalyst for inspiring future generations of entrepreneurs.
- The event’s culmination featured several awards ceremonies, including the prestigious presentation of the CM-ELEVATE Award.
Tata Trusts to open India’s 1st state-of-the-art small animal hospital in Mumbai
Tata Trusts announced the launch of India’s first state-of-the-art Small Animal Hospital, with a mission to save the lives of pets and strengthen the bond between pet parents and veterinarians.
- The hospital, to be located in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, will be a 5-floor, 98,000-square-foot facility, with 200 beds, and will dedicate itself to providing round-the-clock services. The hospital will specialize in pet care to bridge the gap in quality pet care in India.
- The hospital will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including diagnostic services, treatment facilities, and an emergency room. It will also have a dedicated training centre for pet parents and veterinarians.
Cabinet approves telecom spectrum auctions at base price of Rs 96,317.65 crore
The Union Cabinet approved auctions in eight spectrum bands for mobile phone services at a base price of Rs 96,317.65 crore, information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said.
- The Cabinet has approved interim allocation to telecom operators, the minister said.Additional spectrum will improve the quality of telecom services and coverage for the consumers,
- The auction will be held for spectrum in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz frequency bands. Spectrum will be offered for assignment for validity period of 20 years. A total of 10,523.15 MHz is being offered with a valuation of Rs 96,317.65 crore (at reserve price).
Arjun Munda unveils LMS, Krishi Rakshak Portal, Helpline (KRPH) – 14447, and SARTHI Portal for Agricultural Enhancement and Farmer Empowerment
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda launched the centralized “Kisan Rakshak Helpline 14447 and Portal”, Agri-Insurance Sandbox Framework Platform SARTHI and Learning Management System (LMS) Platform for the farming community under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in Delhi.
- To address these challenges and ensure prompt support for farmers, the Government has introduced the Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline (KRPH) 14447. This platform provides multilingual support, enabling transparent communication and real-time resolution of grievances related to compensation delays and insurance queries.
- For the same purpose, the Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline, Sandbox Framework and LMS Platform have been launched under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Union Agriculture Minister emphasized the Government’s focus on leveraging technology for the betterment of farmers’ lives.
‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’: Himachal CM announces BDO office at Surani
In a significant move towards bolstering infrastructure and fostering socio-economic development, Chief Minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently spearheaded the ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’ program at Amb-Pathiyar under the Jawalamukhi assembly constituency.
- The event served as a platform for the CM to engage with local residents and gain insight into their concerns, while also unveiling a series of transformative announcements aimed at propelling the region forward.
- The CM announced the establishment of the office of the Block Development Officer in Surani, a division of the Jal Shakti department in Jawalamukhi, and a subdivision in Majheen.
- Additionally, plans were unveiled for the upgrade of Majheen and Lagdu sub-tehsils, along with the inauguration of a sub-tehsil in Bhadoli.
- Notably, the announcement also included the opening of Patwar circles in Luthan and Hiran, reinforcing administrative accessibility and efficiency across the region.
DNPA Conclave and Digital Impact Awards 2024
The second DNPA Conclave & Digital Impact Awards held in New Delhi. The theme for the 2nd DNPA Conclave is ‘Navigating Digital Transformations and Challenges in the Media Industry.’
- The DNPA Conclave served as a pivotal platform for discussions on the revenue-sharing disparity between digital news publishers and major technology platforms.
- Key stakeholders, including the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), converged to address this pressing issue amidst the backdrop of the imminent Digital India Act.
- The DNPA Awards aim to acknowledge and applaud remarkable digital endeavours that provide citizens with on-demand governance and cutting-edge services.Both the central and state governments, along with local authorities in India, persist in undertaking diverse initiatives to realise the vision of Digital India.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India ranks 38 out of 139 countries on World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index Report 2023
According to the World Bank’s ‘Logistics Performance Index Report (2023): Connecting to Compete 2023’, India ranks 38 out of 139 countries. India’s rank has improved by six places from 44 in 2018 and sixteen places from 54 in 2014.
- Through collaborative efforts among various ministries and departments, alongside the implementation of key policies and initiatives, India is advancing towards enhancing its competitiveness globally.
- India has significantly climbed in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) ranking, securing the 38th position out of 139 countries, according to the World Bank’s report.
- This progress reflects a substantial leap from its previous positions of 44 in 2018 and 54 in 2014, underscoring the nation’s commitment to bolstering its logistics infrastructure and efficiency.
- Digital reforms play a pivotal role in India’s logistics transformation journey. Initiatives such as the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and the Logistics Data Bank have revolutionized ease of doing business and enabled real-time tracking and tracing of containerized EXIM cargo.
7th Indian Ocean Conference held in Perth, Australia
The 7th Indian Ocean Conference recently convened in Perth, Australia, drawing together leaders, ministers, and officials from Indian Ocean rim countries. External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar addressed the inaugural session of the 7th Indian Ocean Conference. 
- Organized by India Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the conference aimed to address diverse issues under the theme “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean.“ The Conference will feature Ministers from over 22 countries and senior officials from 16 countries and 6 multilateral organizations.
- The Conference is a flagship consultative forum for countries in the Indian Ocean Region, organized annually by the Ministry of External Affairs since 2016, in association with the India Foundation.The IOC aims to foster Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) by uniting critical states and principal maritime partners in dialogue and cooperation.
Sonam Lhosar being celebrated in Nepal
The Tamang community of Nepal is celebrating the New Year calling it ‘Sonam Lhosar’ by organising various programs.
- The Tamang community is populated in different districts of the Bagmati region. According to the Manjushree calendar, the 2860th year started. Now, the tiger year enters after completing the cow year.
- Sonam Lhosar festival is celebrated yearly on the occasion of Magh Shukla Pratipada. Sonam Lhosar is divided into 12 categories: rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon (cloud), snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and pig.
Bengaluru, Pune Among Top 10 Cities With Most Congested Roads In 2023: Report
A recent report from a company called TomTom, which specialises in location technology, showed that London had the slowest traffic in 2023. 
- During busy hours, the average speed in London was only 14 kilometres per hour. The report looked at 387 cities in 55 countries, measuring how traffic affected travel time, fuel costs, and carbon emissions using data from over 600 million car navigation systems.
- Two cities in India, Bengaluru and Pune, were among the ten worst for traffic in 2023, according to the TomTom report. Bengaluru was in 6th place, taking an average of 28 minutes and 10 seconds for a 10-kilometre journey, and Pune was in 7th place, taking 27 minutes and 50 seconds.
- Bengaluru, known as the IT capital of India, was also named the second most congested city in 2023, with Dublin, Ireland being the only city worse. The report pointed out that the worst day to travel in Bengaluru was September 27, when it took an average of 32 minutes to cover a 10-kilometre distance.
- The report also highlighted traffic challenges in two other major Indian cities, Delhi and Mumbai. Delhi was in 44th place with an average travel time of 21 minutes and 40 seconds for a 10-kilometre drive, while Mumbai was in 52nd place with a travel time of 21 minutes and 20 seconds.
China opens fifth Antarctic research station, to provide platform for scientific cooperation
China opened its fifth research station in Antarctica amid concerns over its location suited to collect signals “intelligence” from US-allied Australia and New Zealand, especially the rocket telemetry data from Australia’s new Arnhem Space Centre.
- The station was established along the coastal areas of the Ross Sea in Antarctica. The new station building will have a floor space of 5,244 square meters. It will be able to support 80 expedition team members during summers and 30 members during winters.
- The new station’s position, on Inexpressible Island near the Ross Sea, is triangulated with China’s other coastal stations on Antarctica to “fill in a major gap in China’s coverage” of the continent, and could support intelligence collection given its inclusion of a satellite ground station.
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI increases ceiling on fees payable to non-executive directors of banks to Rs 30 lakh per year
The RBI has increased the ceiling on fees payable to non-executive directors of banks to 30 lakh rupees per year from the existing level of 20 Lakh rupees.
- The revision comes two years after RBI came out with new guidelines for directors as a part of corporate governance, where it capped the remuneration for non-executive directors, excluding the chair of the board.
- RBI said that it revised the celling in recognition of the vital role of non-executive operation of bank boards and their various committees.
RBI to introduce offline eRupee transactions soon: Shaktikanta Das
Digital rupee users will soon be able to execute transactions in areas with limited internet connectivity as the RBI announced that offline capability will be introduced on the Central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot project.
- Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said that programmability-based additional use cases will be introduced as part of the pilot project.
- 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. Currently, the CBDC Retail (CBDC-R) pilot also allows Person to Person (P2P) and Person to Merchant (P2M) transactions using Digital Rupee wallets provided by pilot banks.
- Programmability will permit users like, for instance, government agencies, to ensure that payments are made for defined benefits. Similarly, corporates will be able to programme specified expenditures like business travel for their employees. Additional features such as validity period or geographical areas within which CBDC may be used can also be programmed.
SBI partners Flywire to modernise international education payments for students
State Bank of India (SBI) has teamed with Flywire Corporation to revolutionise the landscape of international education payments for Indian students, the lender said.
- This strategic partnership aims to simplify the traditionally complex payment process, offering students a seamless and fully digital experience.The collaboration will also allow automatic capturing of relevant student information, ensuring accuracy and traceability in transactions.
- Integrated directly into SBI’s platform, Flywire’s technology would enable Indian students to complete their international education payments effortlessly in Indian rupees, the bank said.
RBI Permits Indian Banks in GIFT-IFSC for Bullion Exchange Trading and Special Category Client Status
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) informed that it has allowed the branches of Indian banks in GIFT-IFSC to act as a Trading Member or Trading and Clearing Member of International Bullion Exchange IFSC Ltd.
- Further, the RBI said it has also allowed the Indian banks authorised to import gold or silver to act as Special Category Client (SCC) International Bullion Exchange.
- As per the circular, the RBI said the Trading Member or Trading and Clearing Member shall execute trades only on behalf of clients without proprietary trading.RBI said the SCC shall execute only buy trades on behalf of clients. The SCCs will appoint one of the IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) to act as clearing member on their behalf.
EPFO hikes interest rate on employees’ provident fund deposits to three-year high of 8.25 percent for 2023-24
Retirement fund body EPFO fixed a three-year high interest rate of 8.25 per cent on employees’ provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2023-24.
- The apex decision body of EPFO has taken this decision at the 235th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees, EPFO held in New Delhi.
- In March 2023, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) had increased the interest rate on EPF marginally to 8.15 per cent for 2022-23 from 8.10 per cent in 2021-22.
SPORTS
Blue cards to be introduced for football sin-bin trials
Footballers could be shown blue cards and sent to a sin-bin for dissent and cynical fouls under plans to be unveiled by the body that decides the laws of the game.
- Sitting alongside the current yellow and red cards, a blue card would result in a player being removed from the field of play for 10 minutes. At risk of muddying the palette, there will also be the possibility to mix colours.
- If a player returns from the sin-bin and receives another blue card, they would also be shown a red card and be permanently dismissed from the game. A combination of one blue and one yellow, meanwhile, would also make a red.
Drass Warriors clinch victory in 15th CEC Ice Hockey Cup Championship
In a thrilling showdown at Khree Sultan Choo Ice Hockey Rink Kargil, the Drass Warriors clinched victory in the 15th CEC Ice Hockey Cup Championship.
- Displaying exceptional skill, they secured a resounding win by seven goals against United Chiktan. Wasim Bilal earned the prestigious titles of Man of the Series and Man of the Match.
- The Bodhkharbo Women team also celebrated success, claiming the Women’s Cup after defeating Wakha Mulbkeh.
- The tournament was organized by the District Youth Service and Sports Department in which 31 Men’s and 4 Women’s teams from across Kargil participated.
APPOINTMENTS
LIC Mutual Fund appoints Ravi Kumar Jha as MD & CEO
LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management announced the appointment of Ravi Kumar Jha(57) as its Management Director and Chief Executive.
- Jha has worked for over 30 years with LIC and has handled diverse positions. He was serving as executive of corporate strategy till December 2023 at the company
- He previously served in various capacities, most recently as an executive of corporate strategy until December 2023. Jha, aged 57, holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Ranchi University.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
AIIMS launches AI-based platform for early cancer detection
In a groundbreaking collaboration between AIIMS, New Delhi, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Pune, a cutting-edge AI platform called iOncology.ai has been launched. The platform focuses on early detection of cancer, addressing a crucial need given the alarming rise in cancer cases globally.
- The iOncology.ai platform addresses the challenge of late detection by utilizing AI to reduce false negatives in manual cancer diagnosis.
- The platform, developed through collaboration between AIIMS, CDAC, and the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, features a sophisticated AI system capable of analyzing complex medical data with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. It utilizes deep learning models and has a self-learning capability to constantly improve outcomes as the data volume increases.
IIT Madras to develop India’s first smart bullets that will increase accuracy
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with Munitions India Limited, a Defence Public Sector Enterprise, to develop India’s first indigenously-designed 155 Smart Ammunition to achieve indigenisation in the defence sector.
- The objective is to increase the accuracy of 155 mm shell within a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 10 m. At present, ammunitions developed in India has a CEP of 500 m. Another goal is to increase the lethality at the terminal impact point.
- Munitions India is the country biggest manufacturer and market leader engaged in the production, testing, research and development and marketing of a comprehensive range of ammunition and explosives for the Army, Navy, Air force and Paramilitary Forces.
ENVIRONMENT
NASA discovers ‘super-Earth’, located 137 light-years away
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at NASA have found a ‘super-Earth,’ a planet that could potentially support life.
- This planet, called TOI-715 b is 137 light-years away from us and is about one and a half times as wide as Earth. It revolves around its parent star in the conservative habitable zone, which could “give the planet the right temperature for liquid water to form on its surface.”
- It revolves around its parent star in the conservative habitable zone, which could “give the planet the right temperature for liquid water to form on its surface.
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