Daily Current Affairs 2nd February, 2024
Daily Current Affairs 2 February 2024 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi addresses Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed a program at India’s largest and first-of-its-kind mobility exhibition – Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 
- Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 showcases India’s capabilities across mobility and automotive value chains and will feature exhibitions, conferences, buyer-seller meets, state sessions, road safety pavilion, and public-centric attractions like go-karting.
- For the first time mobility and its allied sectors, even startups associated with it, have come together on one stage that has the ability to become an annual feature in the coming years.
GAFX 2024: Karnataka announces digital detox initiative from gaming, social media
The Government of Karnataka, in collaboration with the All India Game Developers Forum (AIGDF) will launch a digital detox initiative, with special emphasis on gaming and social media.
- It aims to spread awareness about the side effects of spending too much time in the digital world and create an environment of responsible gaming instead.
- Digital detox centers will be set up across the state of Karnataka both online and offline.
- Centers will provide personalized guidance, where trained professionals can turn to individuals wishing to further their relationship with technology. They will provide consultation and assistance.
PM GatiShakti Summit: ‘Towards Logistics Efficiency and Integrated Infrastructure Planning’ organized by FICCI and DPIIT
The ‘PM GatiShakti Summit: Towards Logistics Efficiency and Integrated Infrastructure Planning’, organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), in collaboration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) took place in New Delhi. 
- The PM GatiShakti program was lauded for its contribution to integrated planning, next-generation infrastructure, and people-centric development, showcasing use cases in sectors like telecom, petroleum, and renewable energy.
- The program aids in reducing last and first mile gaps, minimizing disruption to natural resources, avoiding infrastructure duplication, and promoting capacity sharing. Investment opportunities in robotics, logistics, warehousing, waste reduction, and packaging were highlighted.
Government to focus on vaccination against cervical cancer
Aiming for Viksit Bharat by 2047 and with a sharp focus and providing momentum to Nari Shakti, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman proposed vaccination to prevent Cervical Cancer and amalgamation of various schemes for maternal and child care, as she presented the Interim Budget 2024-25 in Parliament.
- The vaccination programme will be for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years for prevention of cervical cancer. The Government will encourage this vaccination among the eligible categories.
International Conference on World Wetlands Day organized in Indore
On World Wetlands Day(February 2), an international conference has been organized in Indore. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will be present as the chief guest and Union Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Choubey a special guest in this program organized at Sirpur Pond, the Ramsar site of Indore.
- The program is being organized jointly by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Madhya Pradesh State Wetland Authority and Municipal Corporation, Indore on World Wetlands Day. More than 200 experts including officials, scientists, and managers of 80 Ramsar sites in the country are participating in the program.
- The number of ponds in Madhya Pradesh is more than 15 thousand. Many measures are being taken by the state government for the conservation of ponds. Due to this, the number of Ramsar sites has increased from one to four in just two years. Apart from this, Bhopal and Indore are among the three cities of the country that are moving towards getting recognition as Ramsar Wetland City.
Indian Navy Submarine INS Karanj Visits Colombo for Sri Lanka’s Independence Day Celebration
INS Karanj, an Indian Navy submarine, arrived in the port of Colombo, ahead of Sri Lanka’s 76th Independence Day celebrations. The visit symbolises the strengthened maritime relations between India and Sri Lanka. The submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with the naval customs.
- INS Karanj is a 67.5 metres long Kalvari class submarine with a crew of 53 under the commandeering of Commander Arunabh.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates CLEA Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) – Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference in New Delhi. The theme of the conference is Cross-Border Challenges in Justice Delivery.
- The Conference will deliberate on important issues of law and justice like judicial transition and the ethical dimensions of legal practice, executive accountability and revisiting modern-day legal education, among others.
- Attorney Generals and Solicitors from the Commonwealth nations spanning the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean along with various international delegations will participate in the conference.
- The conference serves as a unique platform by offering a forum for interaction among different stakeholders in the Commonwealth legal fraternity.
New loan scheme launched for women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector: Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan
Maharashtra Tourism Minister Girish Mahajan said that a new loan scheme has been launched for women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector under ‘Aai’ (mother), a women centric tourism policy. He appealed to women entrepreneurs to take advantage of this scheme.
- Mr. Mahajan informed that women entrepreneurs can apply for this scheme if they have businesses registered with the Directorate of Tourism. Also, 50% of managerial and other staff in tourism businesses must be women. All necessary permits for tourism business should be obtained. He added that they can avail loans upto 15 lakhs rupees with interest rate of upto 12% from notified banks for setting up new businesses and will be eligible for a reimbursement on the amount.
- The amount will be deposited in the Aadhar linked bank account of the woman entrepreneur till either the full loan amount is paid back for up to 7 years of the loan term, or up to 4.5 lakh rupees of the loan amount, whichever is lower or earlier.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to inaugurate ULLAS Mela at National Bal Bhavan in New Delhi
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is set to inaugurate a two-day event, the ULLAS Mela, at the National Bal Bhavan in New Delhi. Organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, the event will showcase national and state-level activities as part of the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
- The ULLAS Mela will witness the participation of 700 individuals from various states and union territories, alongside over 100 dignitaries representing the Ministry of Education and diverse organizations.
- The central government has been actively implementing the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram, also known as the New India Literacy Program, spanning from fiscal years 2022 to 2027. Recognized as ULLAS, standing for Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society, the scheme is guided by the motto “Jan-Jan Sakshar.” It primarily targets individuals aged 15 and above who lack literacy and have not had the opportunity to receive formal education.
Surat Airport attains International Airport status
Surat Airport, situated in Gujarat, has officially received recognition as an International Airport from the Indian government, a significant development overseen by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- This strategic decision underscores Surat’s increasing economic potential and aims to enhance global connectivity, aligning with the city’s status as a thriving hub for the diamond and textile industries. By elevating Surat Airport to international status, the government aims to boost economic growth, attract foreign investment, and strengthen diplomatic ties with other nations.
Indian Navy declares 2024 as ‘Year Of Naval Civilians’
The Indian Navy has declared 2024 as the ‘Year of Naval Civilians’ to improve administration, efficiency and well-being of Naval Civilians by addressing all facets of Civilian HR Management in a time bound manner.
- This groundbreaking initiative targets comprehensive Civilian HR Management, with a sharp focus on enhancing administrative efficiency, embracing digital transformation, implementing targeted training programs, and fostering employee welfare activities.
Over 3.8 crore beneficiaries enrolled under PM Matru Vandana Yojana till January 29
The government said, more than 3.8 crore beneficiaries have been enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) till the 29th of January since the inception of the scheme in 2017-18.
- In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani said, maternity benefits of around 15,000 crore rupees have been disbursed to more than 3.29 crore beneficiaries during this period. She said, the funds are released under PMMVY on the basis of indicative target and utilization of previous year grants.
Life insurance and accidental cover up to two lakh rupees extended to every Anganwadi worker, informs Union Minister Smriti Irani
Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani informed that benefits of life insurance and accidental cover up to two lakh rupees have been extended to every Anganwadi worker and every State government has been informed about it.
- Replying to a supplementary in the Lok Sabha today, she informed that the pension scheme has been extended to these workers under the Pradhan Mantri Shramyogi Mandhan Yojana.
- She also said that from 750 rupees during the UPA regime, workers received four thousand 500 rupees. Ms Irani said, that per every community-based event, 250 rupees is given to workers, and 500 rupees is given if the worker visits the house of the beneficiary or measures a child according to WHO standards.
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI’s digital payments index jumps to 418.77 in Sept from 395.57 in Mar
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Digital Payments Index, a measure of the extent of digitisation of payments across the country, increased to 418.77 in September 2023 from 395.57 in March 2023.
- The RBI-DPI index has increased across all parameters and was driven particularly by growth in payment enablers, payment performance, and consumer centricity across the country over the period.
- The RBI-DPI has been constructed with March 2018 as the base period, that is, the DPI score for March 2018 is set at 100. In September 2019, the index stood at 173.49, which rose to 217.74 in September 2020, and to 304.06 in September 2021.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Fiscal deficit for financial year 2024-25 projected at 5.1 percent stands out in Interim budget, says FICCI
FICCI said that the strong growth momentum and formalisation of the economy with the fiscal deficit for the financial year 2024-25 projected at 5.1 percent stands out in the Interim budget.
- Talking to the media, FICCI past President Subhrakant Panda lauded the Finance Minister for the strong and confident articulation of the government’s achievements and the resolve for inclusive development.
APPOINTMENTS
Senior JMM leader Champai Soren sworn in as new Chief Minister of Jharkhand
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren took oath as the twelfth Chief Minister of Jharkhand, even as his predecessor Hemant Soren was remanded to five days in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate.
- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Satyanand Bhokta and Congress MLA Alamgir Alam also took oath as Cabinet Ministers in a swearing-in ceremony that came two days after Mr. Hemant Soren’s resignation and arrest in an alleged land scam case.
VAdm Lochan Singh Pathania assumes charge as Chief Hydrographer
VAdm Lochan Singh Pathania assumed charge as the Chief Hydrographer to the government of India.
- Commissioned in the Executive branch of the Indian Navy in 1990, he is a Hydrography Specialist. The Flag Officer has commanded IN Ships Darshak and Sandhayak.
- During his career spanning more than three decades, he carried out hydrographic surveys across the entire stretch of the country and in IOR including challenging task of data collection for IMBL arbitration and for production of new chart in Sundarbans delta. He also has the distinction of serving onboard HMS Bulldog of Royal Navy.
- He has held various important shore appointments being Interviewing Officer & Deputy President of Naval Selection Board, Principal Director (Hydrography) at NHQ, Officer-in-Charge, National Hydrographic Office (NHO) and Joint Chief Hydrographer.
AU Small Finance Bank appoints HR Khan as Non-Executive Chairman
Private sector lender AU Small Finance Bank informed exchanges that it has appointed Harun Rashid Khan, former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as non-executive chairman following approval from the shareholders.
- The lender added that Khan’s tenure will begin from the date of taking charge, January 30, 2024, after approval from the Board of Directors and from the RBI and shareholders of the bank.
Asian Cricket Council reappoints Jay Shah as president for a third term
Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah was appointed as the president of the Asian Cricket Council for a third consecutive term.
- Shah’s extension was proposed by the Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva for the second time and the nomination was unanimously backed by all the members of the ACC at its annual general meeting in Bali.
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