Daily Current Affairs 13th February, 2024
Daily Current Affairs 13 February 2024 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi launches ‘Muft Bijli Yojana’ to provide 300 units electricity per month
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to provide free electricity to its beneficiaries.As per the scheme, the central government will provide 300 units of free electricity per month to its beneficiaries by investing worth ₹75,000 crores.
- This project, with an investment of over Rs. 75,000 crores, aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
- He also said that Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats shall be incentivised to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions, under the scheme.
- He urged all residential consumers, especially youngsters, to strengthen the PM – Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana by applying at – https://pmsuryaghar.gov.in
India to replace military personnel in Maldives with civilians after president demanded they leave
India said it will replace its military personnel in Maldives with civilian technical staff who will operate three aircraft from India that provide humanitarian services.
- The decision comes after new Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu demanded that the Indian military personnel be withdrawn by March 15.
- At least 75 Indian military personnel are believed to be in Maldives and their known activities include transporting patients from remote islands and rescuing people at sea. India earlier gave Maldives a Dornier airplane and two helicopters.
Defence Minister unveils the statue General Bipin Rawat in Dehradun
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh revealed a life-size statue of the late General Bipin Rawat, the nation’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), at TonsBridge School in Dehradun. 
- He paid floral tributes to General Rawat at the statue, terming him as a courageous soldier and a good human being, who will always be an inspiration to the future generations.
Telangana Sangeet Natak Akademi regional centre to come up in Hyderabad
To promote the rich cultural heritage of South India, the union Ministry of Culture now intends to set up a Regional Centre of Sangeet Natak Akademi in Hyderabad that will be known as ‘Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra’. 
- The akademi has no presence in South India so far. The centre is envisaged for the promotion research and documentation of Music, folk and tribal arts, theater and puppetry and will be developed as a state of the art Regional centre and a leading cultural space that would foster the cultural growth and performative milieu of the state.
- To honour the legacy of legendary musician Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, plans are afoot to construct ‘Bharat Kala Mandapam’ within the Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik kendra’ at CCRT, Madhapur.
Parliament approves 3 bills on J-K local bodies’ quota, SC/ST lists
The Rajya Sabha passed three bills pertaining to reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies and modification of the lists of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Jammu & Kashmir.
- The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 – all of which were cleared by the Lok Sabha were tabled and passed by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha.
- The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to provide reservation to OBCs in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu & Kashmir and bring consistency in the local body laws of the Union territory with the provisions of the Constitution.
- The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to amend the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order of 1956, which lists the castes deemed to be Scheduled Castes in Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. The legislation adds the Valmiki community as a synonym of Chura, Balmiki, Bhangi, and Mehtar communities in the list of Scheduled Castes in Jammu & Kashmir.
Anganwadi workers, helpers to be covered under Ayushman Bharat: Govt
After the Central government announced its decision to include Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Anganwadi workers and helpers into the free cover for health treatment under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, the Health Ministry has so far received Aadhaar details of 23 lakh anganwadi workers and helpers and over three lakh ASHA workers from various States.
- The government aims to get their cards ready by the end of the month as the scheme comes into effect from March 1 this year.
- This will provide health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually to all AWWs and AWHs for secondary and tertiary medical care.
- Ministry further informed that the honorarium of Anganwadi Workers at main Anganwadi centres has been enhanced from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 per month.
UP implements semiconductor policy for first time in country: CM Yogi
In a response to the queries raised by the Opposition during the state assembly’s budget discussion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath underscored the pivotal role of stability and sustainability in propelling infrastructure and industrial development.
- He elaborated on the state government’s proactive measures, notably the establishment of the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) between Kanpur and Jhansi, marking a significant milestone after 46 years.
- “In a pioneering move, Uttar Pradesh has enacted a dedicated Semiconductor Policy, eliciting keen interest and multiple proposals, with discussions underway to chart out actionable programs”, he stated.
Education Ministry ties up with FIFA to promote sporting culture through football
Aiming to significantly broaden the accessibility of football within the school setting for students, the Ministry of Education has tied up with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to distribute 11 lakh footballs across the country in a phased manner. The exercise is slated to benefit more than 1.5 lakh schools.
- Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan doled out 6,848 footballs to be distributed to 1,260 schools in 17 districts of Odisha under the Footballs for Schools (F4S) programme.
- The F4S programme is not confined to the boundaries of India; it aspires to make a global impact. With a vision to contribute to the education, development, and empowerment of around 700 million children worldwide through football training, the initiative transcends national borders.
IIT Guwahati launches SWASTHA project for nanotech facilities in healthcare
S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), inaugurated the groundbreaking SWASTHA project and the state-of-the-art ISO 5 and 6 Clean Room Facilities at IIT Guwahati’s Centre for Nanotechnology.
- SWASTHA (Smart Wearable Advanced NanoSensing Technologies in Healthcare ASICs), aims to transform healthcare through cutting-edge nanoelectronic theranostic devices. The project is committed to delivering top-notch products and prototypes in micro/nanoelectronics and nanomaterials, with a special focus on healthcare and energy applications, as per a press release from IIT Guwahati.
- The ISO 5 and 6 clean room facilities, the first of their kind in North-East India, are dedicated to promoting awareness and training in micro/nano electronic fabrication, fostering industrial research and development, and supporting the Indian Nanoelectronics Users Programme (INUP).
Odisha CM raises pension for beneficiaries under social security schemes
In a relief for the distressed people covered under various social security schemes, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a hike of Rs 500 each in their monthly pension.
- As many as 36.75 lakh beneficiaries would receive the revised amount from February.Each of them will receive the minimum enhanced amount between February 20 and 25, a release issued by the CMO said.
- The beneficiaries include elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, unmarried women, AIDS patients, transgenders, orphan children and widows of COVID victims.
BANKING & FINANCE
Paytm E-commerce renames itself to Pai Platforms
Paytm E-commerce has changed its name to Pai Platforms and has acquired Bitsila, a seller platform on ONDC with full-stack omnichannel and hyperlocal commerce capability.
- Paytm E-commerce Private Limited officially becomes Pai Platforms Private Limited, following approval from the Registrar of Companies on February 8. The acquisition amplifies Pai Platforms’ presence as a leading buyer platform on the ONDC network.
- The company’s original incorporation under the name Paytm E-Commerce Private Limited marks its evolution into Pai Platforms.
Paytm explores Third-Party Route for seamless UPI access
Paytm is reportedly considering the third-party payment app (TPAP) route in a bid to ensure uninterrupted access to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for its users. The move is likely to bring potential relief for its customers.
- According to the report, initial discussions on this strategic initiative have already begun with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the regulatory body overseeing the UPI ecosystem in the country.
- Presently, Paytm users conducting UPI payments are identified by virtual payment addresses (VPAs) ending in “@paytm.” However, a significant change is on the horizon as, starting March 1, these addresses may undergo a transition to those associated with other banks.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Retail inflation eases to 3-month low of 5.1% in January, IIP grows 3.8% in December
Retail inflation rate in the country moderated to a three-month low of 5.10% in January due to slower price increases in certain food items, as per the official data released. It fell from 5.69% in December last year and 6.52% in January 2023 to 5.1% in January 2024.
- The consumer price food index (CFPI) decreased to 8.3% in January from 9.5% in December 2023, though higher than what it was in January 2023 at 6%. Cereal prices increased by 7.83% year-on-year in January compared to 9.93% in the previous month, while vegetable prices rose by 27.03% in January, slightly lower than the 27.64% recorded in December.
- India’s industrial production growth slowed to 3.8 per cent in December 2023, mainly due to poor performance of mining and power generation segments, as per official data released . The factory output growth measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) was at 5.1% in December 2022.
Prama India and Government of India’s C-DAC (MeitY) announce partnership for Thermal Camera Technology
Prama India and Government of India’s C-DAC (MeitY) recently announced a technology partnership through the ‘Transfer of Technology’ (ToT) Pact for Thermal Cameras with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
- The ToT (Transfer of Technology) agreement with (C-DAC) enables Prama India as a technology partner to manufacture, market and support the innovative solutions. With this significant initiative, Prama India has created a new benchmark in the Indian Security Industry.
- This new initiative by Prama India will bolster R & D and help to develop innovative thermal technology applications.
Unemployment rate declines to 6.5% in Q3FY24; female labour force participation rises to 25%: MoSPI
The unemployment rate in urban areas decreased to 6.5 per cent in the third quarter (October–December 2023) for persons aged 15 years and above. It was 7.2 per cent in the same period last year.
- The unemployment rate for females also came down from 9.6 per cent last year to 8.6 per cent in Q3 this year, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said in a statement.
- The ministry further said that the labour force participation rate (LFPR) in urban areas has shown an increasing trend from 48.2 per cent in Q3 of 2022 to 49.9 per cent in Q3 of 2023. In the same period, the female labour force participation rate rose from 22.3 per cent to 25 per cent, reflecting the overall increasing trend in LFPR.
- As per the data, an increasing trend was noted in the worker-population ratio (WPR). The WPR in urban areas increased from 44.7 percent in October – December 2022 to 46.6 per cent in October – December 2023 for persons aged 15 years in above. For males, it increased from 68.6 per cent to 69.8 per cent during this period and for females, it increased from 20.2 per cent to 22.9 per cent.
APPOINTMENTS
Former Finland PM Alexander Stubb wins presidential election
Former Prime Minister, triathlete and Europhile Alexander Stubb secured a triumphant return to politics after a seven-year hiatus, winning the Finnish presidency in election.The former leader of the National Conservative Party’s bid for the office was prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- With over 99% of votes counted, center-right candidate Stubb of the conservative National Coalition Party had received 51.6% of the votes, while independent candidate Haavisto from the green left got 48.4% of the votes.
- The 55-year-old Stubb, who was prime minister in 2014-2015 and started his political career as a lawmaker at the European Parliament, will become the 13th president of Finland since the Nordic country’s independence from the Russian empire in 1917.
Transwoman from Kanyakumari district becomes Tamil Nadu’s first trans TTE
Sindhu Ganapathy become Tamil Nadu’s first trans train ticket examiner (TTE), who took charge at Dindigul railway station, is hopeful that education and perseverance will herald a brighter future for the transgender community.
- Hailing from Nagercoil, Sindhu joined Southern Railway in 2003 and first worked at Ernakulam, under Trivandrum division in Kerala. She was transferred to Dindigul under Madurai division in 2009.
Katrina Kaif joins CSK as Brand Ambassador ahead of IPL 2024
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have officially announced the appointment of Katrina Kaif as their brand ambassador for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.
- This partnership marks a significant milestone for the five-time IPL champions, signalling a new chapter in their illustrious journey.
- The announcement of Katrina Kaif as the brand ambassador comes on the heels of CSK’s newly inked sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways. This strategic partnership aligns with the team’s vision of expanding its global reach and enhancing its brand image.
AWARDS
KPP Nambiar Award conferred on ISRO Chairman S Somanath
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Kerala Section, has conferred the KPP Nambiar Award for 2024, on S Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), at a function held recently . The award is named after KPP Nambiar, doyen of electronics industry and founder-chair of IEEE Kerala Section.
- The annual award is instituted to honour individuals or groups in Kerala, for their significant contributions to the IEEE vision of advancing technology for humanity.
- Somanath was chosen for the pivotal role he played in steering Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s lunar exploration programme, the award committee observed.
- He also served various VSSC and ISRO missions, including as Project Manager, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Project Director, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk – III), Kasim said.
Government announces National Creator’s Awards for new-age influencers
The government is set to announce the national creators’ awards to recognise new-age influencers and creators, official sources said .
- They said the first-of-its-kind awards will be targeted at “Gen Z”, a reference to the young generation hooked to the internet and social media, and will be given in nearly 20 categories.
- One of the categories will be for those who have helped spread the country’s soft power and culture internationally. Other categories may include “green champions”, “swachhta ambassadors”, “agro creators” and “tech creators”, the sources said.
- They said the awards will be on the lines of the national film awards, which recognise films in different languages and categories.
Water Warrior: Noida Handed Unesco Award In 2 Categories
The department of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation of the Union water ministry has selected Noida as “water warrior” city for the steps it took for waste water treatment and reuse for irrigation purposes.
- Noida got the award in two categories –the best sewage treatment plant (STP) and water reuse project of the year. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented us the award in Delhi.
- Currently, eight STPs operate in Noida and have a total capacity of 411 MLD (million litres daily). These plants currently treat 260MLD of sewage. Of this, 70-75 MLD is utilised for various purposes such as irrigation of green belt parks, golf courses, wetlands; construction activities; firefighting; pond maintenance; and sprinkling on roads.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Precision approach radar, underwater harbour defence and surveillance system inaugurated in Andaman and Nicobar command
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R. Hari Kumar inaugurated a Precision Approach Radar (PAR) at INS Utkrosh in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which will enable “highly accurate horizontal and vertical guidance to land an aircraft safely in low visibility conditions, such as heavy rain and fog”.
- He also inaugurated the IUHDSS (Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and Surveillance System) at Naval Jetty, Port Blair.
- The Precision Approach Radar is manufactured by a Chennai company.The PAR will provide highly accurate horizontal and vertical guidance even in low visibility.
- The IUHDSS is capable of detecting, identifying and tracking surface and underwater targets in the vicinity of Naval Dockyards. This will help in further enhancing the security of Port Blair port.
OBITUARIES
Eminent artist A Ramachandran passes away at 89
Renowned artist A. Ramachandran died from prolonged illness at his residence in New Delhi. He was 89.
- Born in 1935 in Attingal, Kerala, Ramachandran was known for his monumental canvases, colourful oils and watercolours.
- In 2002, he was elected a Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi and received the Padma Bhushan for outstanding service to the nation in 2005.
Kenyan marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in road accident
World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a traffic accident.
- The 24-year-old set the world record, opens new tab at the Chicago Marathon in October with a time of two hours and 35 seconds to surpass the mark of 2:01:09 run by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin in 2022.
- Kiptum, who clocked three of the seven fastest marathon times in history, had been hoping to become the first man to run the marathon in under two hours in race conditions at Rotterdam in April as well as make his Olympic debut in Paris in July.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
A book titled “Maha Swaapnikudu” launched by former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu
The book titled “Maha Swaapnikudu” has been launched recently by former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
- This book honoring the distinguished career of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, represents a pivotal point in India’s political conversation.
- This book, written by journalist P. Vikram and published by NRI Koduri Venkat, shed light on Naidu’s extraordinary political career in India and was introduced by former Supreme Court judge V. Gopala Gowda.
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