CURRENT AFFAIRS

l Topicals
31

l U.P. Budget 2024-25

l National Affairs
l International Affairs
l Economic Affairs
POINTER
Factual Presentation of Monthly Current Events
l Science & Technology
Affairs
unmissable for upcoming examinations.
l Defense Affairs (Updated as of February 29, 2024)
l Environment Affairs
l Sports News

Topicals
¨ Which Fertiliser Plant was dedicated to nation  Signed contracts are
recently by PM Modi? (1 March 2024) - One with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
- Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd for procurement of aero-engines
(HURL) Sindri Fertiliser Plant for MiG-29 aircraft
 Plant is situated at -Sindri, Dhanbad, Jharkhand -Two with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for
 Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) is a procurement of Close-in Weapon System (CIWS)
Joint Venture Company of and High-Power Radar (HPR)
- National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd -Two with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited
(NTPC), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), (BAPL) for procurement of BrahMos missiles
Coal India Ltd (CIL) and FCIL/HFCL
and ship borne BrahMos cruise missile systems
 HURL was entrusted with the responsibility of
¨ Who approved the establishment of International
-setting up New Ammonia-Urea Plants at Sindri
Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)? (1 March 2024)
having capacity of 2200 TPD Ammonia and 3850
-The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime
TPD neem coated urea
Minister Shri Narendra Modi
 Total investment in the revived plant
 Where will be the headquarters of IBCA established?
-Rs. 8939.25 Crore and equity participation of
29.67% each by NTPC, IOCL - India
and CIL and 11% by FCIL Â IBCA was formally announced on
¨ Which state has become the first state to issue five -April 9, 2023 (50 years of India's Project Tiger)
crore Ayushman cards under AB-PMJAY? (1 March  The International Big Cat Alliance has been conceived
2024) -Uttar Pradesh as a -multi-country, multi-agency coalition of
 Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya 96 big cat range countries, non-range countries
Yojana was launched on interested in big cat conservation, conservation
- 23rd September, 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand partners and scientific organizations working in
¨ The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed five major the field of big cat conservation
capital acquisition contracts worth how much for  Seven big cats include
the three services? (1 March 2024) -Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma,
- Rs. 39,125.39 crore Jaguar and the Cheetah

Current Affairs Pointer (1) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Big cats found in India are  Who released the Second Advance Estimates (SAE)
-Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow of National Income, 2023-24?
Leopard and Cheetah - The National Statistical Office (NSO)
 IBCA has secured Government of India's initial  NSO comes under
support of Rs. 150 crore - Ministry of Statistics and Programme
- for five years (2023-24 to 2027-28) Implementation (MoSPI)
¨ In which country , technical teams from India have  Real GDP or GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in
replaced the Indian armed forces members recently? the year 2023-24 is estimated to attain a level of
(29 February 2024) - Maldives - Rs. 172.90 lakh crore, against the GDP for the
 Indian military troops were stationed in Maldives to
year 2022-23 of Rs.160.71 lakh crore
operate -Aircraft given by India to Maldives
 Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in the year
 This comes in the backdrop of “India Out” campaign
2023-24 is estimated to attain a level of
run by the
- Rs. 293.90 lakh crore, against Rs.269.50 lakh
- Newly elected president Muizzu of Maldives
crore in 2022-23, showing a growth rate of 9.1
¨ Which is the first clock based on Indian Panchang
percent
that was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi? (29
February 2024) -Vikramaditya Vedic Clock ¨ Recently, the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA)
 It was inaugurated at - Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh signed an agreement with which country to promote
 According to experts, the standard time of the world Ayurveda & Thai traditional medicine? (27 February
was determined from - Ujjain 300 years ago 2024) -Thailand
 The Vedic clock is mounted on an 85-foot tower  MoU was signed between
- within Jantar Mantar in Ujjain - National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur
 The Vedic clock is an attempt to restore ,Ministry of Ayush ,Government of India and
-the tradition of Indian time calculation Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative
 The clock will also provide details Medicine , Ministry of Public Health,
- like moon position, Parva, Shubhshubh Government of the Kingdom of Thailand
Muhurat, Ghati, Nakshatra, solar  MoU was signed in - New Delhi
eclipse, lunar eclipse, etc  MoU was signed
¨ Brian Mulroney, who recently passed away, was - on the establishment of an Academic
the former Prime Minister of which country? (29 Collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai Traditional
February 2024) - Canada Medicine
¨ Which newly discovered head-shield sea slug has been ¨ Which state government has decided to establish
named after President Droupadi Murmu recently? (1 a State Water Information Centre (SWIC)? (29
March 2024) - Melanochlamys Droupadi
February 2023) - Odisha Government
 It was named by - Zoological Survey of India
 It will act under the purview of the
 It was found at - West Bengal and Odisha coast
- water resources department
¨ It was discovered by
of Odisha government
- ZSI researchers Prasad Chandra Tudu, Sheikh
 What will SWIC do?
Sajan, Smrutirekha Acharya,
- It will coordinate, store, and
and Anil Mohapatra
¨ ‘Pars-I’ remote sensing satellite was launched by disseminate water resource data
which country? (29 February 2024) -Iran  Centre is being set up
 It was launched using -Russian Soyuz-2.1b rocket - with the support and guidance of the National
 It was launched Water Informatics Centre (NWIC)
- from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia  NWIC acts as a
¨ What is the new growth rate of India’s GDP as - central repository of updated water
per Second Advance Estimates (SAE) of National data and allied themes
Income, 2023-24? (29 February 2024) -7.6 percent  NWIC works under - Ministry of Jal Sahkti

Current Affairs Pointer (2) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 National Affairs Current Notes

Focus On The Country's Political,

Social, Religious, Educational
Events And Various Ministries

¨ Who has recently launched logo and website for  It is an initiative of - Reliance Industries and
Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Reliance Foundation , led by Anant Ambani
Equality? (28 February 2024)- Smriti Zubin Irani, Â It is a comprehensive initiative for
Union Minister of Women & Child Development - rescuing, treating, and rehabilitating animals
and Minority Affairs, Government of India ¨ Who has been appointed as New Chairperson of
 The Alliance is supported by the Lokpal? (27 February 2024)
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and anchored - Justice A M Khanwilkar
by the CII Centre for Women Leadership  What is Lokpal? - anti-corruption ombudsman
 World Economic Forum as - a ‘Network Partner’ authority in India
and Invest India as an ‘Institutional Partner’ Â What kind of body Lokpal is
 Alliance was established at - The 54th annual - independent statutory body
World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos  It is established thorugh
 The alliance is a response to - the G20 Summit 2023 - The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act,2013
Leaders' Declaration and India's commitment
 Tenure of Lokpal
to women-led development.
- The Lokpal chairperson and the members are
¨ The 'Tawi Festival' is colourful celebration of local
appointed for a term of five years or serve till
culture and heritage of which state?
they are 70 years old, whichever is earlier.
- Jammu and Kashmir
 Other six members appointed by government in
 This festival will be celebrated from
Lokpal panel - Former Himachal Pradesh High
- 1 March to 4th March
Court Chief Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy,
¨ Who launched India’s first indigenously developed
former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice
hydrogen fuel cell ferry? (28 February 2024)
Sanjay Yadav and former Karnataka High Court
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Chief Justice and Law Commission Chairperson
 He launched the ferry
Ritu Raj Awasthi are judicial members; non-
- virtually from Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu
judicial members include former Chief Election
 Ferry is built by - Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
 It will be handed over to Commissioner Sushil Chandra, former Chief
- Inland Waterways Authority for operations Secretary of Gujarat Pankaj Kumar and former
 It will be operated at - Varanasi Rural Development Secretary Ajay Tirkey.
¨ Which two organisations were recently banned by  The first Lokpal chairperson was - former Supreme
Union Home Ministry? (28 February 2024) Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose
- Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Sumji ¨ Pankaj Udhas, who passed away recently, was
faction) and Muslim Conference Jammu & associated with which field? (26 February 2024)
Kashmir (Bhat faction) - Singing (famous ghazal singer)
 They were declared illegal under ¨ The Kannada Language Comprehensive
- Section 3 of Unlawful Activities Development (Amendment) Bill, 2024, received the
(Prevention) Act, 1967 assent from Governor of which state? (25 February
¨ ‘Vantara’ initiative, recently seen in the news, is 2024) - Governor Thaawarchand
associated with - Animal Welfare Gehlot of Karnataka

Current Affairs Pointer (3) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Bill stipulates among other things  It is celebrated on
- fine will be imposed and trade licence cancelled - ninth day of the annual 10-day festival at the
if business establishments in Karnataka fail to temple which began on February 17 this year
display signboards with 60% of text in Kannada ¨ A day-long ‘Purple Fest’ has been organised at which
in the upper half place? (February 26, 2024)
¨ Where was the 2nd State Level Shehri Samridhi - Amrit Udyan in Rashtrapati Bhavan
Utsav inaugurated? ( 25 February 2024) Â Event was organised by - Ministry of Social
- Agartala, Tripura Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
 It was being organised by  Event aims to - raise awareness about different
- Tripura Urban Livelihood Mission disabilities and their impact on people's lives and to
 What is the duration of the event? promote understanding, acceptance and inclusion
- from 25 February to 3 March 2024 of persons with disabilities within society
¨ What is ‘Juice Jacking’ that RBI warned about? Â Earlier 'International Purple Fest, 2024' was
- a form of cyberattack where hackers tamper organised at (8th to 13th January, 2024) - Goa
with public USB charging ports ¨ Which global textile expo was inaugurated by PM
 RBI has asked - mobile phone users advising them Modi?(26 February 2024) - Bharat Tex – 2024
against charging their devices using public ports  This event was organised
¨ Which initiative was launched by Government of
- from 26 February to 29 February 2024
India to encourage youth, especially the first-time
 Where was it organised? - Bharat Mandapam and
voters, to actively participate in the democratic
Yashoboomi, New Delhi
process? (25 February 2024)
 Event was organised by
- Mera Pehla Vote – Desh Ke Liye
- consortium of textile promotion councils
 The initiative was discussed by - PM Narendra
 Event was organised with support of
Modi on his Man ki Baat program
- Ministry of Textiles, GoI
 Event is jointly organised nationwide by
 Who were state partner in the event?
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
- Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports , Ministry
 Supporting state partners were
of Education and My Gov
- Madhya Pradesh , Telangana and Gujarat
 This campaign aims to - foster active
 Event aims to - highlight the richness of Indian
participation among the youth in the electoral
textiles and strengthen its image as a custodian of
process, emphasizing the significance of voting
for the betterment of the nation. tradition, innovation, and sustainability
 Event was also launched on 27 February 2024  What is Kasturi cotton launched by Government of
exclusively - In Higher Institutions India? - cotton brand creating premium value for
¨ Which Indian conglomerate has unveiled country’s cotton grown in India
first ammunition-missile manufacturing complex? ¨ Which two Ayush institution were recently
(26 February 2024) - Adani Group inaugurated by PM Modi virtually? (25 February
 The two facilities for the manufacture of ammunition 2024) -Central Research Institute of Yoga
and missiles were opened by Adani Defence and & Naturopathy’ (CRIYN) at Jhajjar, Haryana
Aerospace in - Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh -National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) titled
 The Kanpur complex is set to become one of the ‘NISARG GRAM’ in Pune, Maharashtra
largest integrated ammunition manufacturing ¨ Which organisation has successfully commissioned
complexes in - South Asia India's largest Battery Energy Storage System
¨ Attukal Pongala festival was recently celebrated in (BESS), which stores energy using solar energy? (24
which state? (25 February 2024) - Kerala February 2024) - The Solar Energy Corporation
 The festival is celebrated as part of - annual of India Limited (SECI)
10 days festival at Attukal Bhagavathy temple in  SECI comes under the aegis of
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Current Affairs Pointer (4) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 The project is located in - Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh  KDF was organised at which place?
 What is the capacity of the project? - Khajuraho Temple Complex , Khajuraho ,
- 40 megawatts (MW) / 120MWh BESS with Madhya Pradesh
a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant which has an  Which edition of KDF is this?
installed capacity of 152.325 megawatt hour - golden jubilee (50th edition)
(MWh)and dispatchable capacity of 100MW AC Â Duration for which KDF was organised
(155.02 MW peak DC) - 20-26 February 2024
 The project has been constructed with funding from  Who organised this festival?
- the World Bank and Clean Technology Fund - Madhya Pradesh government
under Innovation in Solar Power & Hybrid ¨ Recently which tribal festival was concluded ? (18
Technologies Project February 2024)
 The project was inaugurated on 24 February 2024 - Aadi Mahotsav – National Tribal Festival
by - PM Narendra Modi  It was organised from - from 10-18 February 2024
¨ Guru Ravidas Jayanti has been recently observed on  It was organised at - Major Dhyan Chand
- February 24, 2024 National Stadium, New Delhi
 It is observed in the honour of birthday of  It was organized by -TRIFED (Tribal
- Guru Ravidas. Co-operative Marketing Federation of India)
 Guru Ravidas or Bhagat Ravidas was a renowned  During the festival a venture capital fund was
saint, who is remembered launched to -foster startup culture and
- for his contribution to Bhakti movement economic innovation among tribal entrepreneurs
¨ The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways ¨ Who has been awarded prestigious Jnanpith Award
(MoPSW) recently signed a Memorandum of for the year 2023? (17th February 2024)
Understanding (MoU) with which institution for - Jagadguru Rambhadracharya for Sanskrit
establishing India’s first ‘Gati Shakti Research - Poet, lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar for Urdu
Chair’? (23 February 2024) - Indian Institute of ¨ Which edition of award was this? - 58th
Management (IIM), Shillong
¨ Where was International Puppet Festival
¨ Which state government has announced 'bag less
inaugurated? (17 February 2024)
school' day once a week for students in classes 1 to
- Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh
12, starting from the upcoming academic session in
 Which edition of International Puppet Festival was
2024-25? (22 February 2024)
this? - 11th
- Madhya Pradesh government
¨ NAFED: Pulse 2024 Convention was organised in
¨ Central government has recently modified which
(15 February 2024) - New Delhi
regulation? (21 February 2024)
 It was organised by
- Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022
- Global Pulse Confederation in co-operation
 What does modification dictate?
with National Agricultural Cooperative
- both gametes need not come from a married
couple in case they are certified as suffering from Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
medical condition ¨ Which electoral financing mechanism was struck
- As per the latest amendment, the couple can have a down by Supreme Court ? (15 February 2024)
child born through surrogacy but must -Electoral bond scheme of central government
have at least one gamete from the intending couple  This scheme was launched in - 2018
- single women (widow or divorcee) undergoing  It provided for - anonymous political donations
surrogacy must use self-eggs and donor sperm to ¨ Recently, the UP government collaborated with
avail surrogacy procedures which institute to enhance disaster management?
¨ ‘Kathak Kumbh’ which got recognition from (February 2024) - IIT Roorkee
Guinness World Record for the biggest Kathak dance ¨ President Droupadi Murmu granted her assent to
performance ever was held during inauguration of which bill recently? (13 February 2024)
which event? (20 February 2024) -Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair
- Khajuraho Dance Festival (KDF) Means) Bill, 2024

Current Affairs Pointer (5) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on February 5, and  This bill is passed in relation with which UT?
was passed on - February 6 2024 - UT of J&K
¨ Who hosted,Road to Paris 2024: Championing Clean  What does this bill do?
Sports and Uniting for Anti-Doping Conference ? (9 - includes ‘Pahari Ethnic Group, Paddari
February 2024) - National Anti-Doping Tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahmin’ communities in
Agency (NADA) the list of STs of UT of Jammu and Kashmir
 The conference was organised in - New Delhi  This bill was also passed from Rajya Sabha on
 A Centre of Excellence for Nutritional Supplements - 9th February 2024
Testing (CoE-NSTS) was inaugurated by Union ¨ The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order
Minister Anurag Thakur at
(Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed by Rajya Sabha
- National Forensic Sciences University
in respect to which state? (6th February 2024)
(NFSU) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Andhra Pradesh
¨ Death Penalty in India: Annual Statistics Report
 It amends earlier provision of -Constitution
2023 was released by which organisation? (February
(Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950
2024) - Project 39A , a criminal justice programme
 What does the bill do? -modify the list of
linked with the National Law University, Delhi.
 As per the report- appellate Courts in India Scheduled Tribes regarding Andhra Pradesh
- SC and all the HCs together - confirmed only  The new inclusion include
one death sentence in 2023 -‘Bondo Porja’ and ‘Khond Porja’, that are
¨ Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah -Yojana Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs),
(PM-MKSSY) approved recently by Union Cabinet at entry 25 in the ST list of Andhra Pradesh.
is a central sector sub-scheme of which scheme? (8 -‘Konda Savaras’, that are PVTGs, at entry 28 in
February 2024) the ST list of Andhra Pradesh.
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana  This bill was also passed by Lok Sabha on
 Scheme is for - 8th February 2024
- formalization of the fisheries sector and ¨ The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
supporting fisheries micro and small enterprises Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed
 What is the allotted amount for the scheme? by Rajya Sabha in respect to which state? (6th
- Rs. 6,000 crores over a period of next four February 2024) -Odisha
(4) years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 in all  It amends earlier provision of - Constitution
States/Union Territories (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the
¨ The 286 Law Commission Report, released
th
Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950
recently, has recommended for (7 February 2024)
 What does the bill do?
-creating an Epidemic Plan and Standard
-modify the list of Scheduled Castes and
Operating Procedure (SOP) to address future
Scheduled Tribes in relation to Odisha.
epidemics
 The new changes/inclusions include
 Report studied which colonial era law?
-the PVTG communities added are – Pauri
- A Comprehensive Review of the Epidemic
Bhuyan and Paudi Bhuyan as synonyms of
Diseases Act, 1897
 Which law commission is this? - 22 the Bhuyan tribe; The Chuktia Bhunjia as a
 Chairperson of this commission synonym of the Bhunjia tribe; The Bondo as a
- Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi sub-tribe of the Bondo Poraja tribe; and The
 Commission was constituted on- 21 February 2020 Mankidia as a synonym for the Mankirdia tribe.
 Term of the commission was till- 22 February 2023 -Odisha’s ST list also shifted two entries–
¨ Which bill was passed by Lok Sabha to amend the Tamadia and Tamudia – from the Scheduled
Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Castes list to the Scheduled Tribes list
Order, 1989? (6 February 2024) -The Bill also added synonyms, phonetic variations
-the Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir) and sub-tribes of at least eight existing
Scheduled Tribes Order, 1989 communities in the State’s ST list.

Current Affairs Pointer (6) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

Â The bill was also passed from Lok sabha on involved in organised crimes of cheating will face
-8th February 2024 five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum
¨ In the tussle to gain control of Nationalist Congress fine of Rs 1 crore.
Party (NCP), which faction was accepted by ¨ Which state has become first state in the country to
Election Commission of India as official faction?(6th pass a bill for applying Uniform Civil Code(UCC) in
February 2024) -Ajit Pawar Faction the state? (7 February, 2024) -Uttarakhand
 Which faction has lost control of the NCP?  Which article of Indian Constitution talks about
-Sharad Pawar Faction implementation of UCC? -Article 44
 NCP was established in year  The passed bill proposes to - pass a law that
-10 June 1999, by Sharad Pawar proposes common rules on marriage, divorce,
¨ The foundation stone for India's digital National inheritance of property, and live-in relationships
Museum of Epigraphy was laid at which place? (5 for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.
February 2024) -Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad  UCC bill of Uttarakhand will not be applied to
 It will be Spearheaded by - the tribal community which constitutes
-the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 2.9% of the State’s population
 This museum will house  Key points
-approximately one lakh ancient writings - The draft UCC includes a complete ban on practices
spanning various times and languages. like polygamy and child marriage across religions.
 Foundation stone was laid by - 18 years as the uniform marriageable age for all
-Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy girls
 This initiative follows the announcement made last - Couples who fail to register their marriages
year by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would be ineligible for government facilities to
-regarding the establishment of the encourage legal documentation.
Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions - standardized divorce laws and eliminates
(BharatSHRI), with the goal of digitizing one differential treatments depending on religious
lakh ancient inscriptions. affiliations.
¨ Which state government has tabled anti-cheating bill - equal adoption rights to all citizens irrespective of
in its assembly recently? (5 February 2024) gender or faith.
-Assam Government - equal property inheritance rights for both sons and
 The bill introduces a provision for a daughters and adopted and biological children.
-10-year prison sentence and penalty of Rs.10 In case of death, the spouse, children and parents
lakh for those involved in unfair means during will have equal rights over the property.
examinations in the state. - mandatory registration of all marriages to ensure
 Name of the bill -Assam Public Examination legal accountability.
(Measures for Prevention of Unfair - Live-in relationships would also need to be registered
Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024 under the new laws.
 Central government has also passed similar bill ¨ The Law Commission of India has recently submitted
named -The Public Examinations which report to government?( 2 February 2024)
(Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 -“Revisiting The Law On Prevention
 This central bill is passed of Damage to Public Property”
-to curb leaks, malpractices as well as organized  It has recommended to amend -Prevention of
malpractices in recruitment examinations like Damage to Public Property Act, 1984
UPSC, SSC etc and entrance tests such as  The main thrust of these recommendations is
NEET, JEE, and CUET. -to introduce stricter penalties for individuals
 The Bill proposes a punishment of or organizations causing such disruptions, with
-a minimum of three to five years of fines matching the market value
imprisonment to curb cheating and for those of the damage incurred.

Current Affairs Pointer (7) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Who is the chairman of 22nd (current) law commission  Filariasis is a disease caused by
of India? -Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi -a chronic mosquito-borne parasitic infection
¨ Who has taken oath as the first woman Chief Justice  Symptoms of the disease
of Uttarakhand High Court? (4 February 2024) -swelling of the extremities, hydroceles, and
-Justice Ritu Bahri testicular masses; second-largest cause of
 Justice Bahri was a judge permanent deformity and disability behind
leprosy worldwide.
- in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
¨ The Central government has decided to sell rice
¨ Champai Soren has taken oath as the new Chief
under which brand name directly to consumers? (2
Minister of which state ?(2 February , 2024)
February 2024) -the ‘Bharat’
-Jharkhand
 At what price this rice will be sold?
 Which number of CM has he become? - 12th -at Rs.29 per kg from next week
 He belongs to which political party?  It will be sold by -cooperatives Nafed, NCCF,
-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Kendriya Bhandar
 He has succeeded whom? -Hemant Soren  Government has imposed which act to make it
 Why Heamant Soren has to resign? mandatory for traders to declare rice/paddy stocks
-He was arrested by ED in corruption case. every Friday in a designated portal, starting February
 Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is headquartered at 9, 2024? -the Essential Commodities Act
-New Delhi ¨ Surajkund International Crafts Mela began at which
 It deals with place? (February 2,2024) -Faridabad
-investigation of offences of money laundering  It is being organized by -Haryana Tourism
and violations of foreign exchange laws. Â Edition -37th
 What is the duration of the mela?
 It has been given duty to enforce
-2 February to 18 February 2024
-Prevention of Money
¨ Which state government has announced to launch a
Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
'Digital Detox' initiative? (1 January 2024)
¨ Who has been announced to be given Bharat Ratna
-Karnataka government
-2024 recently by Government of India? (3 February, Â Initiative is launched with collaboration of which
2024) -Veteran BJP leader Shri Lal organization?
Krishna Adwani - All India Game Developers Forum (AIGDF)
 He will be the recipient of which number of the  What is the purpose of the initiative?
Highest Civilian award of India? -50th -to spread awareness about the ills of spending
 Earlier who else was also awarded with the Bharat too much time in the digital world and instead
Ratna in 2024? create an environment of responsible gaming
-Ex Bihar CM Shri Karpoori Thakur ¨ Bharat Mobility Global Expo- 2024 is being
 First Bharat Ratna award was given to organized from?
-Shri Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in 1954 -1 February 2024- 3 February 2024
 It is being orgnaised at which place?
 When was the last time this award was given prior to
-Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
2024? -In 2019 to Shri Nanaji Deshmukh
 It is India’s biggest show in which sector?
(Posthumous), Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika
-Automotive sector
(Posthumous) and to Shri Pranab Mukherjee  It was addressed by whom? (2 February 2024)
¨ The Uttar Pradesh Government has launched a -Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign  Key highlights -The Expo featured participation
as part of its mission to eradicate which disease from from over 28 vehicle manufacturers,
the state? (31 January 2024) - Filariasis -the presence of more than 600 auto component
 This campaign is being conducted from manufacturers.
- February 5 to 15, 2024 -Over 1000 brands from over 13 global markets
 In how many districts this campaign took place? showcased their complete range of products,
-17 districts of UP technologies, and services at the event.

Current Affairs Pointer (8) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 International Affairs Current Notes
Overview Of Global
Socio-Political Events
And Activities Of
International Organisations
¨ Who has become first Indian citizen to be conferred  Currency of Peru - Sol
an honorary Knighthood by Britain's King? (28 ¨ Feleti Teo became a new Prime Minister of which
February 2024) - Sunil Bharti Mittal country? (26 February 2024) - Tuvalu
 Sunil Bharti Mittal is - Bharti Enterprises founder  Tuvalu formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is
and chairman which owns Airtel -an island country in the Polynesian subregion of
 He was awarded an Honorary Knighthood by Oceania in the Pacific Ocean
- King Charles III Â Capital of Tuvalu - Funafuti
¨ Who has become first woman CM in Pakistan? (26
 Knighthood was awarded for - Services to UK and
February 2024) - Maryam Nawaz
India business relations
 She has become Chief Minister of
¨ What is the rank of India in the Global Intellectual
- Punjab province in Pakistan
Property Index 2024? (28 February 2024)
¨ 13th WTO Ministerial Conference was inaugurated
- 42 out of the 55 countries
at which place? (26 February 2024)
 Index was released by -Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- The US Chamber of Commerce  It was organised - 26-2 March 2024 (Initially
 What is the edition of Index that was released?- 12th scheduled for 26-29 Feb 2024)
 Top three countries are - United States followed by  Where is headquarter of World Trade Organisation
the United Kingdom and France (WTO)? - Geneva, Switzerland
¨ When is World NGO Day celebrated? ¨ Which country has unnveiled the world's third-
- 27 February 2024 largest and Africa's largest mosque?(25 February
 What is the theme of ‘World NGO Day 2024? 2024) - Algeria
- Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of  Name of the Mosque - Djamaa El-Djazair
NGOs in Achieving the SDGs ¨ Which country has been removed from FATF grey
¨ Recently relics of Buddha were sent to which country list recently? (23 February 2024) - UAE
from India for reverence? (27 February 2024) Â What is FATF? -The Financial Action Task Force
- Thailand (FATF), is an intergovernmental organisation
ÂRelics are - four Holy Piparahwa Relics of Lord founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to
develop policies to combat money laundering and
Buddha and his two disciples, Arahata Sariputra
to maintain certain interest
and Arahata Maudgalyayana
-In 2001, its mandate was expanded to include
 Holy Relics of Buddha were presented to Thai Prime
terrorism financing.
Minister (Chairman), Mr. Srettha Thavisin by ¨ Prime Minister of which country was on state visit of
- Governor of Bihar, Shri Rajendra India? (21-22 February 2024) -Greece
Vishwanath Arlekar ¨ PM of Greece is -Kyriakos Mitsotakis
 On 24 February 2024 Indian Embassy in Thailand, ¨ International Mother Language Day is observed
in collaboration with UP Tourism, established a every year on -21 February 2024
pavilion named -‘Buddha Bhoomi Bharat: Â It is observed every year by
Journey Along the Footsteps of Lord Buddha -United Nations Educational, Scientific and
¨ Recently, which South American country has Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
declared a health emergency due to the rising cases  Theme of 2024 event
of dengue fever? (27 February 2024) - Peru -Multilingual education is a pillar of
 Capital of Peru - Lima intergenerational learning

Current Affairs Pointer (9) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

¨ Which country has introduced a multiple entry  It was signed between
tourism visa policy for Indian citizens? (February, - the Ministry of Electronics and Information
2024) -UAE Technology (MeitY) and the Information
 For what period this visa will be issued? -5-year Technologies and Communications of Colombia
 This visa comes as a response to - the increasing ¨ Which country has held five separate polls on one
number of Indian visitors looking for longer stays day which is touted as the largest and most complex
or frequent trips to Dubai single-day election in the world? (14 February 2024)
¨ Raisina Dialogue 2024 conference was inaugurated -Indonesia
at which place? (21 February 2024) -New Delhi  Which Elections were held ?- simultaneous regional
 It was inaugurated by -PM Narendra Modi
direct elections across 171 cities and districts to
 Chief guest of inaugural session was
elect hundreds of local leaders
-Prime Minister of Greece,
 Capital of Indonesia -Jakarta
Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis
 Timeline of the conference -21-23 February 2024 ¨ Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister
 What was the edition of this conference? -9th and Foreign Minister of Qatar (15 February 2024)
 Raisina Dialogue is India’s annual -flagship - His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin
conference on geopolitics and geo-economics Abdulrahman Al Thani
 The theme of the 2024 edition is -"Chaturanga:  PM Modi was on a single day official visit of
Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create” -Qatar
¨ Which country has once again vetoed UN security  This meeting came in the backdrop after Qatar freed
council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire -8 Indian Navy veterans
in Gaza for the third time? (20 February 2024) -USA Â They were earlier given
¨ Which Indian has been conferred France’s highest -Death penalty by a Qatari court
civilian honour “Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur”? ¨ Which temple was inaugurated by PM Modi in Abu
(20 February 2024) -Shashi Tharoor Dhabi recently? (14 February 2024)
¨ Sominsai festival, which concluded recently, is -Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam
associated with which country? (19 February 2024) Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir
-Japan  This is first Hindu temple -In Abu Dhabi , UAE
 This ancient tradition, occurring on the seventh day  It was inaugurated on the last day of PM Modi’s state
of the Lunar New Year, showcases visit to UAE. This visit was conducted during
- fervent nude wrestling matches among
-13-14 February 2024
hundreds of men over wooden talismans
 PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the
¨ Who was Alexei Navalny who died recently in a
establishment of -Bharat Mart in Dubai
Russian prison?(February 2024)
 It was laid on -14 February 2024
-prominent Russian opposition politician and
anti-corruption activist  Bharat mart is -100,000 sqm warehousing facility
¨ Which day is celebrated as Global Tourism for increasing Exports
Resilience Day? -17 February  It was launched -within the prominent Jebel Ali
 It is celebrated by -United Nations Free Trade Zone
 The initiative focuses on -bolstering the tourism  Bharat Mart is a joint initiative of
sector against various challenges, supporting -DP World, a Dubai-based multinational and
sustainable development, and promoting economic India’s commerce ministry
stability, particularly in developing nations  Bharat Mart is envisioned as
¨ Recently, which country’s parliament has passed -a hybrid wholesale and retail marketplace
the Quad Bill to enhance cooperation? (15 February offering Indian manufacturers, traders and
2024) -USA exporters enhanced access to international
 It was passed by US House of Representatives markets for their products and services.
- to strengthen ties among the member nations – ¨ At the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed
USA, Australia, India, and Japan. bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime
¨ India signed a Memorandum of Understanding Minister, Defence Minister, and the Ruler of Dubai,
(MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Sharing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in
Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at which event in Dubai? (14 February 2024)
Population Scale for Digital Transformation with -in the World Governments Summit in
which country? (16 February 2024) - Colombia Dubai as Guest of Honour

Current Affairs Pointer (10) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 The theme of the Summit was  It is observed globally by -United Nations
- "Shaping the Future Governments” Â Theme of 2024 event -Her Voice. Her Future
 Which country won the 9th GovTech Prize for  As per UN what is the target year for ending female
AI Powered Government Services at the World genital mutilation? -2030
Government Summit 2024? -India ¨ Who has been reelected as President of El Salvador?
 India won the prize for (4 February 2024) -President Nayib Bukele
- its innovative iRASTE project that utilizes  El Salvador is -Central American country
artificial intelligence to transform road safety  Capital of El Salvador - San Salvador
 The Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety through  Official currencies -Bitcoin, United States Dollar
Technology (iRASTE) project is ¨ India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services
-a collaborative initiative between the Indian were introduced in which country/countries recently?
government, industry leaders (February 2024)
and academic institutions - Sri Lanka and Mauritius at a virtual event
 Which city inked agreements at the World  Earlier which European country became first country
Government Summit 2024 to launch the world's first to officially launch UPI ? (2 February 2024) - France
air taxi service? -Dubai ¨ Which is world’s most congested city in terms of
¨ The Indian Ocean Conference was held in which traffic in 2023? (February 2024) - London (UK)
 The traffic index 2023 was launched recently by
city? (9-10 February 2024) -Perth, Australia
-TomTom, a Dutch location technology firm
 What was the edition of the conference? -7th
 Which Indian city has got highest rank (6th ) in the
 The theme of this edition of the conference is
index? -Bengaluru (India’s most congested
- "Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean”
city followed by Pune at 7th place)
 Who attended the conference from India?
 Bengaluru ranking in 2022 index was -2nd
-Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar
¨ What is the rank of India in the recently released
 It was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs ,
Corruption Perception Index 2023? (31 January
GoI along with - India Foundation, S. Rajaratnam
2024) -93
School of International Studies (Singapore) and
 What was India’s rank in the 2022 edition of the
Perth-US Asia Centre (Australia)
Index? -85
 The Indian Ocean Conference is a  Top three countries in the 2023 index are
-flagship consultative forum for countries in the -Denmark ,Finland and New Zealand
Indian Ocean Region, organized annually by the  How many countries were measured in the Index
Ministry of External Affairs, in association with 2023? -180
the India Foundation  Which organization releases the index?
¨ Which country has recently announced 15-day visa- -Transparency International
free policy for Indian tourists? (6 February, 2024) ¨ Which country has emerged as the top recipient of
-Iran Indian government grants and loans as per Interim
 Indian citizens would be allowed to enter Iran with budget 2023-24? (1 February 2024) -Bhutan
ordinary passports -once every six months  How much money did Bhutan get ? - Rs.2,398.97
 What will be the maximum stay period? crore (including Rs.1,614.36 crore loan)
-15 days which will not be extended  Which is the second country in this list?
 The visa abolition only applies to individuals -Maldives - Rs. 770.90 crore
entering the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran  What was the total amount that was allotted by
- for tourism purposes Indian government for giving as grants and loans to
¨ Hage Geingob, who passed away recently, was foreign governments? -Rs.6,541.79 crore
President of which country? (4 February 2024) ¨ India has joined honour roll of United Nations due to
- Namibia which reason? (31 January 2024)
 He became Namibia’s third president in -India has paid USD 32.89 million to the United
-2014, securing re-election in 2019 Nations Regular Budget for 2024, joining the
¨ When is International Day of Zero Tolerance for “honour roll” of 36 Member States who have
Female Genital Mutilation observed? paid their regular budget dues in
-6 February, 2024 full to the UN on time

Current Affairs Pointer (11) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Economic Affairs Current Notes
Overview On The Events Of
Economic Importance In The
Country And Abroad, And The
Activities Of Economic
Organisations

¨ Under the Viksit Bharat Viksit Madhya Pradesh  Vantara is spread over across
program the foundation stone of many development - 3,000 acres (green belt of Reliance's Jamnagar
projects worth over Rs. 17 thousand crore laid and Refinery Complex)
inaugurated by (February 29, 2024) ¨ Who opposed the China-led Investment Facilitation
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Development (IFD) proposal as part of the formal
 On the occasion, the Cyber Tehsil Project in the state WTO framework? (February 28, 2024)
was also launched by - Prime Minister - India and South Africa
 The foundation stone of irrigation projects worth  Why it was opposed by India?
more than Rs 5,500 crore laid down including - India argued it is a non-trade issue
- Upper Narmada Project, Raghavpur  The Investment Facilitation for Development
Multipurpose Project, and Basaniya Agreement (IFD) was first proposed in
Multipurpose Project. – 2017
 Three railway projects built at a cost of more than  The proposal was initiated at
- World Trade Organisation
Rs 2,200 crore were also dedicated to the nation,
(WTO) Conference
including
 It is which edition of WTO Ministerial Conference?
-Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi-Jakhlaun and
- 13th(February 26 - March 2, 2024)
Dhaura-Agasaud routes, -New Sumavali-Jora
 13th Ministerial Conference of WTO was held in
Alapur railway line, and -Flyover construction
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
project on the Powarkheda-Jujharpur
 Which countries became member of the World Trade
railway line
Organization in the conference?
¨ Reserve Bank of India gave final approval to
- Comoros and Timor Leste
which company recently to operate as a payment
 The Indian delegation was led by
aggregator? (February 26, 2024) - Amazon Pay
- India's Commerce Secretary,
 Payment Aggregators are defined by RBI as
Sunil Barthwal
- Entities that facilitate e-commerce sites ¨ Who observed recently Financial Literacy Week
and merchants to accept various payment from February 26 to March 1, 2024?(February 26,
instruments from customers 2024) - RBI
¨ The launch of the Vantara (Star of the Forest) Â The main aim of the week is
program in Jamnagar was announced by (February - To promote financial literacy and education
26, 2024) among the citizens.
- Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation. Â This year’s Financial Literacy Week is centred on
 Vantara program is a comprehensive initiative the theme
focusing on - Make a Right Start: Become
- Rescue, treatment, care, and rehabilitation of Financially Smart
injured, abused, and endangered animals  This week-long programme has been conducted by
both in India and abroad the RBI since – 2016
Current Affairs Pointer (12) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
¨ Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami  Redevelopment of how many railway stations under
presented a budget for the financial year 2024-25 of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has been started?
(February 27, 2024) - Rs 89,230 crore - 553 railway stations
 The budget is how much more than the previous  These stations will be developed as - ‘City Centres’
year,2023-24? - 15.27 per cent  Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was launched for
 In the year 2022-23 the economic growth rate of - Upgrading station facilities with modern
Uttarakhand was - 7.63 per cent infrastructure
 As per the multidimensional poverty Index, how  It was launched in February 2023 by
much people have come out of poverty in the - Ministry of Railways
Uttarakhand? - 9 lakh 17 thousand 299 people  How many Railway stations are to be redeveloped
 In the budget, Rs 5,658 crore has been allocated for under the scheme? - 1275 railway stations
- Welfare of the poor ¨ The nation's longest cable-stayed bridge, inaugurated
 With a 12 per cent increase in per capita income, in by PM Modi is named as (February 25, 2024)
- "Sudarshan Setu"
2023-24 it has been reached to - Rs 2.61 lakh
 Length of the bridge is
¨ For the fiscal year 2024–25, the Jharkhand
- Approximately 2.32 km long
government presented a budget of (February 27,
 The bridge connects
2024) - Rs 1.28 lakh crore
- Mainland of Okha with the island of Beyt
 The government is targeting Jharkhand's economy to
Dwarka, Gujarat
reach Rs 10 lakh crore by - 2029–2030
 The bridge is built at a cost of around
 For the fiscal year 2024–2025, State Finance Minister
- Rs. 980 crores
is - Rameshwar Oraon
 Sudarshan Setu has footpaths decorated with verses
 A distinct 'Bal' budget has been introduced by the
from scripture - Srimad Bhagavad Gita
government to support
¨ According to NITI Aayog, in India poverty has come
- Students' inclusive growth
down to below (February 26, 2024) - 5%
(Rs 8,866 crore budget)
¨ Who released data on household consumption
 The government will build 3.50 lakh houses between expenditure for the year 2022-23? (24 February,
2024 and 2025 under which scheme proposed in the 2024)
budget? -'Abua Awas (Housing) Scheme' - The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
¨ Which country has amended the Double Taxation  According to this data, the per capita monthly
Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India?(February household expenditure has become doubled in 2022-
23, 2024) - Mauritius 23 as compared to - 2011-12
 The Mauritius Cabinet has decided to amend the  According to the data, the average per capita monthly
agreement to comply with the minimum standards expenditure for all categories in rural areas stood at
of multilateral instruments (MLI) of OECD under - Rs 3,773
- Base Erosion and Profit Shifting  Average per capita monthly expenditure for all
(BEPS) rules categories in urban areas is - Rs 6,459
 The main aim of this amendment is to ¨ The first-ever 'Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo'
- Forestall tax avoidance or minimisation was inaugurated in (February 24, 2024)
through exploitative tactics - International Exhibition and Convention
 The Cumulative FDI from Mauritius to India Center of Moshi, Pune, Maharashtra
between 2000 – 2022 was - $161 billion ¨ The first solar project of NTPC Renewable Energy
¨ Who laid the foundation stones and inaugurated (NTPC-REL) started operation in (February 21,
around 2,000 railway infrastructure projects worth 2024) - Chhattargarh, Rajasthan
more than Rs.41,000 crore? (February 26, 2024) Â The current operational capacity of the plant is
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi - 70 MW

Current Affairs Pointer (13) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 With this, the installed capacity of NTPC Group has  The total value of fish and fisheries exports now
reached - 73,958 MW stands at - Rs 60,000 crore
 With this, the total renewable energy operational  The government aims to increase the export to
capacity of NTPC Group has reached - 3,448 MW. - Rs 1 lakh crore
 Chhattargarh Solar Project has a scheduled full ¨ India’s first Gati Shakti Research Chair has been
capacity of 150 MW and is expected to be operational established at (February 23, 2024) - IIM Shillong
by - March 2024. Â The main aim of the chair is
¨ CM Manohar Lal Khattar presented budget of the - To improve collaboration with global experts in
state for the financial year 2024-25 of size (February creating and developing knowledge
23, 2024) - Rs 1.89 lakh crore and expertise.
 The proposed budget for the financial year 2024-25 ¨ In December 2023, mineral production as compared
is higher than from previous fiscal year by - 11% to December 2022 has grown by (February 23,
 Revenue expenditure - Rs 1,34,456.36 crore 2024) - 5.1%
 Capital expenditure - Rs. 55,420.25 crore  For the period April to December 2023-24, the
 Between 2014–15 and 2023–24, Haryana's GSDP at cumulative growth of Mineral Production was
the constant price has recorded a compound annual - 8.5 per cent
growth rate of - 6.1 per cent  Production level of important minerals in December
2023 were: - Coal 929 lakh, Lignite 40 lakh,
 Haryana’s share in national GDP has increased from
Petroleum (crude) 25 lakh, Iron ore 255
3.5 per cent in 2014-15 to - 3.7 per cent in 2023-24
lakh, Limestone 372 lakh tonnes.
 In RE 2023-24, the fiscal deficit was
 Negative production was recorded by
- 2.80 percent of GSDP
- Petroleum (crude) (-1.0%), Gold (-29.9%),
 In the current fiscal year,the fiscal deficit is projected
Chromite (-30.8%), Phosphorite (-31.2%) and
to be - 2.77% of GSDP
Diamond (-74.4%)
 To benefit poor families to avail of free travel, up
¨ Who unveiled development initiatives valued at
to 1000 km every year in Haryana Roadways buses
over 13,000 crore rupees in Varanasi? (February 23,
CM announced scheme
2024) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Haryana Antyodya Parivar
 In Varanasi, he also laid the foundations of
Parivahan Yojana (HAPPY)
- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
¨ Who inaugurated pilot project of ‘World's
- Banas Kashi Sankul milk processing unit in
Largest Grain Storage Scheme in Cooperative
UPSIDA Agro Park Karkhiyaon
Sector’?(February 24, 2024)
- BHU's National Center of Ageing
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
¨ India announced to contribute how much money to
 On pilot basis, it is being implemented in
the Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund established
- 11 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
by IBSA? (February 19, 2024) - $1 million
(PACSs) in 11 states  IBSA stands for - India, Brazil, and South Africa
¨ 13th Indian Fisheries & Aquaculture Forum  Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund of IBSA was
inaugurated at (February 23-25, 2024) established in - 2004 (operational in 2006)
- Biswa Bangla Convention Centre  Who acts as the Fund Manager and Secretariat of the
at New Town, Kolkata IBSA Fund? - The UN Office for South-South
 The theme of the two-day conference was Cooperation (UNOSSC)
- Fostering Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture for ¨ Recently, the government has permitted what
Attaining Sustainable Development Goals percentage of FDI in space sector? (February 21,
 In the event, government announced that 2024) - 100% FDI in Space
compensation given to fishermen in case of  FDI in Satellites-Manufacturing & Operation,
accidental death has been increased from Rs 1 lakh Satellite Data Products and Ground Segment & User
to - Rs 5 lakh Segment - Upto 74% under Automatic route

Current Affairs Pointer (14) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 FDI in Launch Vehicles and associated systems or  The MoU was signed at – Thiruvananthapuram
subsystems, Creation of Spaceports for launching  Which airport is the world's first airport to be fully
and receiving Spacecraft powered by solar energy?
- Upto 49% under Automatic route - The Cochin International Airport
 FDI in Manufacturing of components and systems/
¨ For the council year 2024-2025, who has assumed
sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user
the position of ICAI President?(February 12, 2024)
segment - Upto 100% under Automatic route
- Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal
¨ For season 2024-25 (October-September), Union
Cabinet has decided to increase the Fair and  The largest accounting organization in the world, the
Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane from Rs 315 Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI),
per quintal to (February 21, 2024) has elected him to serve as its - 72nd President
- Rs 340 per quintal  The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
 This decision was taken by (ICAI) Vice-President is now
- Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. - Charanjot Singh Nanda
¨ Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated  Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
India’s first Skill India Centre in (February 20, was established as a statutory body on
2024) - Sambalpur, Odisha - 01 July 1949
¨ Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched
 It is headquartered in - New Delhi
which guidelines for the Indian port performance
¨ In the October-December quarter (Q3) of 2023-
index? (February 16, 2024) - ‘Sagar Aankalan’
24 (FY24), India’s service trade surplus reached a
¨ Punjab National Bank with whom signed a MoU to
Co-Finance Renewable Energy Projects? - IREDA record of (February 14, 2024) - $44.9 billion
 IREDA stands for- Indian Renewable Energy  It is growing year-on-year by - 16 per cent
Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) Â As per the RBI data, during Q3, services exports
¨ The government has increased the authorised capital grew by - 5.2 per cent to $87.7 billion.
of state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) from  In Q3, services imports contracted by
Rs.10,000 crore to(February 17, 2024) - 4.3 per cent to $42.8 billion.
- Rs.21,000 crore  In the first half (April-September) of FY24, India’s
¨ According to the RBI data, India’s outward foreign Current account deficit reduced to
direct investment (FDI) increased by 25.7 per cent - 1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis to (in January ¨ First meeting of the 16th Finance Commission was
2024) - $2.09 billion
held under the chairmanship of (February 14, 2024)
¨ At the 19th IBA Annual Banking Technology
- Arvind Panagariya.
Conference, which bank received the ‘Best
 As per the order by the President of India, the
Technology Bank of the Year award’?
- South Indian Bank Ministry of Finance notified the 16th Finance
¨ Who inaugurated "SUFALAM: Start-Up Forum for Commission on - December 31, 2023.
Aspiring Leaders and Mentors Startup Conclave ¨ On February 13, who became the first Indian
2024”? (13th- 14th February 2024) company to achieve a market capitalization of Rs 20
- Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras lakh crore? (February 13, 2024)
¨ Who has been appointed as MD & CEO of SBI - Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)
Capital Markets? - Virendra Bansal. ¨ Who launched a renewed portal of the Animal
 He has taken the place of - Rajay Kumar Sinha Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund?
¨ Who signed MoU to establish a green hydrogen (February 14, 2024)
plant capable of producing 1000 KW of power on - Union Minister Parshottam Rupala
Cochin airport's property? (February 14, 2024) Â The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development
- Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) in Fund is a Credit Guarantee Scheme for
Kerala and Bharat Petroleum - Livestock sector's MSME without the
Corporation Ltd (BPCL) need for collateral
Current Affairs Pointer (15) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 The government has approved the continuation of  The value added by the primary, secondary, and
AHIDF with an allocation of around 30 thousand tertiary sectors is estimated to increase by
crore rupees until - 2025-26. - 6.7%, 6.8%, and 13%, respectively.
 Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development ¨ Who unveiled the Greening and Restoration of
(AHIDF) is a Central Sector Scheme under which Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and
scheme? - Prime Minister’s portal?(February 12, 2024) - NITI Aayog
Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package  NITI Aayog has launched the GROW initiative for
 Who are eligible for this scheme? -Transforming India's wastelands
- Farmer Producer Organizations, private through agroforestry
companies, individual entrepreneurs, and Micro  The "Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with
Small and Medium Enterprises Agroforestry (GROW)-Suitability Mapping" portal
¨ The rooftop solar scheme for free electricity has has also been launched on
been launchedand is named as (February 13, 2024) - 'Bhuvan' to promote agroforestry initiatives
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana by government bodies
 It has been launched with an investment of over  This initiative is in line with national commitments
- Rs. 75,021 crores. to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by
 The scheme aims to light up - 2030
¨ An agreement signed by India and which country
- 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units
on the digital payments platform, linking trade, and
of free electricity every month
energy (February 13, 2024) - UAE
 Who will be incentivized to promote rooftop solar
 The agreement was signed by Prime Minister
systems in their jurisdictions to popularize this
Narendra Modi and
scheme at the grassroots?
- UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
- Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats
Al Nahyan (in Abu Dhabi)
 The scheme was first announced by PM Modi on
 An agreement signed by both countries on
- 22 January, 2024 (on the day of the
interlinking domestic debit/ credit cards
consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya)
- RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE)
¨ Bihar Deputy CM and Finance Minister Samrat
 They also signed an inter-governmental framework
Chaudhary presented the budget for 2024-25 in the
agreement on
State Assembly of(February 13, 2024)
- India-Middle East Economic Corridor
- Rs.2.79 lakh crore budget
 In 2022-2023, which country was the fourth largest
 For the financial year 2024-25, the budget FDI investor to India? - UAE
expenditure has been increased from Rs.2,61,885.40 Â Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is an
crore to - Rs.2,78,725.72 crore anchor investor in the NIIF Master Fund through a
 In 2024-25, the fiscal deficit is likely to be US$1 billion investment in
- 2.98% of the GDP - National Infrastructure
 The Gross State Domestic Production (GSDP) of Investment Fund (NIIF)
Bihar is estimated to grow by 15.5% to ¨ Data released on February 12, 2024 showed that the
- Rs 7.5 lakh crore. economy doubled and retail inflation rate decreased
 For the fiscal year 2022-23, the per capita income of due to - Increase in factory production
the State at current prices is estimated to be  After falling to an eight-month low of 2.4% in
- Rs.59,637 per annum November, 2023,Industrial production growth
 The real per capita income of the state is estimated to accelerated to - 3.8% in December, 2023
grow by 9.0 per cent in 2022-23 to reach - Rs 35,119 ¨ The name of Paytm E-Commerce Private Limited
 In 2022-23 the real GSDP is estimated to grow by has been changed to (February 8, 2024)
10.6% to - Rs 4.4 lakh crore. - Pai Platforms Private Limited
 The share of the tertiary sector in the gross value of  Who is the largest shareholder in the Pai Platforms?
the state economy is estimated to be - 60% - Elevation Capital

Current Affairs Pointer (16) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

¨ According to a study, PM-SVANidhi increased the  GIFT International Financial Services Centre (GIFT
annual income of street vendors by (February 12, IFSC)was established in - April 2015
2023) - Rs 23,460 Â GIFT IFSC is regulated by
 This study was carried out by the - International Financial
- Centre for Analytical Finance of the Indian Services Center Authority
School of Business (ISB). ¨ RBI gave approval to which platforms for payment
 PM SVANidhi was launched in – 2020 aggregator business? (February 6, 2024)
 Objective of PM SVANidhi was - Juspay, Zoho, and Decentro
- To help street vendors resume their livelihoods ¨ Who was appointed as non-executive chairman
impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown of NPCI(National Payments Corporation of
 How much loans have been disbursed as PM- India)?(February 8, 2024)- Ajay Kumar Choudhary
SVANidhi portal shows? Â He has been appointed for a period of
-60.65 lakh first-term loans, 16.95 lakh second- - Three years (starting February 8, 2024)
term loans and 2.43 lakh third-term loans  Who is the Managing Director (MD) and Chief
¨ India's UPI services have been launched in (February Executive Officer (CEO) of NPCI? - Dilip Asbe
12, 2023) Â NPCI was founded in – 2008
- Sri Lanka and Mauritius and RuPay card  It is headquartered in - Mumbai, Maharashtra
services in Mauritius ¨ The Government of India and who signed a $200
 The country's UPI services were launched in Sri million loan to strengthen flood and riverbank
Lanka and Mauritius by - PM Narendra Modi erosion risk management along Brahmaputra River
 Who joined Modi at the virtual ceremony at the in the state of Assam? (February 8, 2024)
launch? - The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
-Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth and Sri  The project activities will be managed and
Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe coordinated by - Flood and River Erosion
 Who has developed UPI and RuPay? Management Agency of Assam
- The National Payments Corporation ¨ Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary
of India (NPCI) presented a budget for 2024-25 of (February 9,
¨ The NITI Aayog has prepared the economic 2024) - Rs 1.47 trillion
transformation vision of four cities namely (February  For FY25, the capital expenditure is expected to
10, 2024) remain - Rs 22,300 crore
- Mumbai, Surat, Varanasi, and Visakhapatnam  The net fiscal deficit is estimated to be Rs 16,296
 It will help India to become a developed economy crore, it will be - 2.90% of the GSDP
by – 2047 Â In the next five years, the GSDP will increase from
 NITI Aayog is preparing a vision document to Rs 5 trillion to - Rs 10 trillion
develop India's economy of  Rs 8,369 crore has been allocated for the construction
- USD 30 trillion by 2047 of 18 lakh houses under
¨ Retirement fund body EPFO has hiked the interest - Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
rate on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for  The Shri Ram Lalla Darshan initiative has received a
2023-24 to (February 10, 2024) - 8.25% budgetary amount of - Rs 35 crore
 EPFO is a statutory body that was established under ¨ Who has been appointed as the new Chief Executive
- Employees’ Provident Fund Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Tata
and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 Sons' subsidiary Tata Digital?(February 6, 2024)
 The organization works under the aegis of - Naveen Tahilyani
- The Ministry of Labour and Employment. Â He will assume the new position from
¨ Which bank in GIFT-IFSC received permission - February 19, 2024
from RBI for bullion exchange trading and special  Recently, the 'Smart Card' for startups launched by
category customer status? (February 9, 2024) (February 7, 2024)
- Indian Bank - Tamil Nadu MSME Minister TM Anbarasan

Current Affairs Pointer (17) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 The products and services are broadly classified into  Under the Price Stabilization Fund, how much
six different categories namely, money has been used to provide relief to farmers and
- Legal & Compliance, Marketing/Business consumers by providing food at subsidized rates?
Consulting, Finance & Insurance, HR & Smart - About Rs 27,000 crore
Workspace, Software, and IT/ITES Â Who will provide 5 lakh metric tonnes of rice to two
 Uttar Pradesh (as announced by CM Yogi cooperatives in the first phase?
Adityanath) will become the first state with how - Food Corporation of India (FCI)
many airports?(February 7, 2024) - 21 Airports ¨ In Yamunanagar, which thermal Power Plant
¨ Who kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent for has been approved by the Haryana government
the sixth time in a row? (February 8, 2024) recently?(February 5, 2024)
- Reserve Bank of India's - 'Deen bandhu Chhotu Ram
Monetary Policy Committee Thermal Power Plant'
 The repo rate was last changed in February 2023  Thermal Power plant capacity with - 800MW
when it was increased to 6.5 percent from  For the construction of this new thermal power plant
- 6.25 percent in Yamunanagar at a cost of Rs 6,900 crore, the state
 The Marginal Standing Facility rate has also been government has allotted the tender to
kept unchanged at - 6.75 percent - Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
 Standing Deposit Facility rate has been kept at ¨ Which enterprise has been bestowed with the
- 6.25 percent prestigious Best Green Bond - Corporate Award at
¨ Retail inflation reached to a four-month high in The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable Finance
December 2023 with - 5.69 percent 2024?
 The real GDP growth for 2024-25 has been projected - REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public
at - 7 percent Sector Enterprise
¨ Who has been appointed as ADB's Country Director  REC has received the award for issuance of
for India?(February 5, 2024) - Mio Oka - $750 million USD Green
 She succeeded whom? - Takeo Konishi Bonds in April 2023
 Konishi has been promoted as  REC is a 'Maharatna' Central Public Sector Enterprise
- ADB Director-General for South Asia at under which ministry? - The Ministry of Power
Manila headquarters  REC is registered with RBI as
 Currently, India is ADB's one of largest borrowers - A Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC),
since 2010 and largest shareholder at which and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC)
position? - Fourth largest shareholder ¨ Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved which bank
 ADB was established in - 1966 (68 members) to acquire "aggregate holding" of up to 9.5 percent
¨ Recently which brand rice sale has been launched of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in six
by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Consumer banks? (February 6, 2024) - HDFC Bank group
Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in New  These six banks include
Delhi?(February 6, 2024) - 'Bharat Rice' - Axis Bank, Suryoday Small Finance Bank,
 The objective of the Bharat rice is ICICI Bank, Bandhan Bank, YES Bank and
- To provide rice to consumers IndusInd Bank
at subsidized rates  RBI's approval will remain valid for one year till
 The rice will be available in packs of 5 kg and 10 kg - 4 February 2025
at a discounted rate of - Rs. 29 per kg ¨ Who has been ranked first among all Indians and
 Also free food grains are being provided to 81 crore second globally in the Brand Guardianship Index
people under 2024? (February, 2024) - Mukesh Ambani
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan  The Brand Guardianship Index 2024 has been
Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) compiled by - Brand Finance

Current Affairs Pointer (18) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

Â Mukesh Ambani with a score of 80.3 is ahead of Authority of India (FSSAI)
which prominent dignatories? Â The amendments were approved to do away with
- Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, SundarPichai of which food standards?
Google, Apple's Tim Cook, - Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or
and Tesla's Elon Musk etc. AGMARK certification for food products
 Who has secured the top position in the ranking with  The meeting was held under the chairmanship of
a BGI score of 81.6? Union Health Secretary - Apurva Chandra
- Huateng Ma of China-based Tencent ¨ The annual budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 of
 N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons climbed Uttar Pradesh government in the state Assembly was
from eighth to which place in the 2023 ranking? presented by(February 5, 2024)
- Fifth - Finance Minister Suresh Khanna
¨ Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan  The size of the budget was - Rs 7.36 lakh crore
inaugurated the two-day ULLAS Mela at (February  Out of the total expenditure, how much amount has
6, 2024) - National Bal Bhavan of New Delhi been allocated for the revenue account?
 ULLAS Mela is being organised by - Rs.5,32,655.33 crore
- Department of School Education  How much amount has been allocated for the capital
and Literacy, Ministry of Education (expenditure) account? - Rs.2,03,782.38 crore
 ULLAS Mela is being organised to showcase  Out of the total outlay, how much amount has been
different National and State level activities under - allocated to new schemes? - Rs.24,863.57 crore
ULLAS -Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram  For the next fiscal, total receipts are expected to be
 Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram or New India - Rs.7,21,333.82 crore
Literacy Program is being implemented by  Revenue receipts estimated at - Rs.6,06,802.40
government of India for the period of - 2022-2027 crore
 The scheme is popularly known as ULLAS  Capital receipts estimated at- Rs.1,14,531.42 crore.
- Understanding of Lifelong  This budget is also the 'Pink budget'- with a focus
Learning for All in Society on - 'Matri Shakti' and women-related schemes
 It is a centrally sponsored scheme to achieve the  The monthly payment to beneficiaries of the
target of 100% literacy by - 2030 Destitute Women Pension Scheme has been raised
¨ Which state has recently decided to launch from Rs.500 to - Rs.1,000
'Mukhyamantri Vayoshri Yojana'? (February 5, Â The budget aims to achieve a target of how much
2024) - Maharashtra Government growth rate for the agriculture sector in the state?
 Under the ‘Chief Minister VayoshreeYojana,’ senior - 5.1 percent
citizens above 65 years suffering from physical or  Three schemes were announced to boost the
mental disabilities will receive agriculture sector, namely
- Rs 3,000 after screening - State Agricultural Development
¨ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Scheme (Rs.200 crore)
India Energy Week 2024 in (February 6-9, 2024) - World Bank-assisted UP Agris Scheme (Rs.200
- Goa crore) - Automatic weather station-automatic
 Edition – Second rain gauges in blocks and panchayats(Rs.60
 Energy Week was organized by crore)
- The Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry  For Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewer,UP
(under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) government has allocated - Rs.1,150 cr.
¨ Who has recently approved various amendments to  Rs.150 crore has been proposed for expansion of
streamline food safety and standards regulations? which airport
(February 5, 2024) - Maharishi Valmiki International
- The Food Safety and Standards Airport in Ayodhya

Current Affairs Pointer (19) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 How much amount has been allocated for the Ganga  Who will be the Scheme Implementing Agency
Expressway project? - Rs 2057.76 crore (SIA) of the existing ships under Component-A of
 Rs 2500 crore has been allocated for the preparation the scheme?
of which Mela in the year 2025 - The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)
- Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj ¨ RBI’s Digital Payments Index increased from 395.57
 PM Mega integrated Textile and Apparel Park in in March 2023 to (January 31, 2024)
Lucknow-Hardoi was allocated with - Rs 200 crore - 418.77 (in September 2023)
¨ Who assumed the charge of Chief Adviser (Cost) in  What is the base for RBI’s Digital Payments Index?
the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance? - March 2018 is the base period
(February 1, 2024) - Pawan Kumar  RBI’s Digital Payments Index consists of how many
 Shri Kumar played a pivotal role in development of broad parameters? -Five broad parameters
- a web-based Online Dashboard for  These five parameters are
performance evaluation of CPSEs in - Payment Enablers (weight 25 percent)
Department of Public Enterprises - Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors
 This initiative was conferred ‘Gold Award’ in which (weight 10 percent)
category? - ‘Gold Award’ in ‘e-Governance’ - Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors
category in 2022 (weight 15 percent)
¨ Several development infrastructural projects totaling
- Payment Performance (weight 45 percent)
Rs 11,000 crore were inaugurated in Assam by
- Consumer Centricity (weight 5 percent)
(February 4, 2024) - PM Narendra Modi
¨ Who presented a surplus Budget for Gujarat for the
 The inauguration ceremony was held at
financial year 2024-25? (February 2, 2024)
- Veterinary College in Khanapara, Guwahati
- Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai
 Notable projects includes
 The size of the budget is
-Kamakhya temple corridor (Rs 498 crore),
- Rs 3,32,465 crore budget
- Six-lane road connecting the new airport terminal
 As compared to the previous budget the budget
in Guwahati (Rs 358 crore)
outlay has increased by
- New sports complex at Chandrapur (Rs 300
-Rs 31,444 crore, or 10.44 percent
crore)
 The budget has been presented with an estimated
- Upgrading the Nehru Stadium to FIFA standards
surplus of - 146.72 Crore
(Rs 831 crore)
 Gujarat government announced schemes and
 PM laid the foundation stone of the integrated new
projects with main focus on
building of - Guwahati Medical College
- GYAN: ‘Garib' (the poor), ‘Yuva' (youth),
and Hospital, (Rs 3,250 crore)
 PM also laid the foundation stone for - Karimganj ‘Annadata' (farmer) and ‘Nari Shakti'
Medical College and Hospital (Rs 578 crore) and (women power)
- Unity Mall in Guwahati (Rs 297 crore) Â Under which scheme, girls studying in government,
 He also inaugurate the four-lane road from Biswanath aided and private schools from Classes 9 to 12 will
Chariali to - Gohpur (Rs 1,451 crore) get financial assistance of more than Rs 50,000 over
¨ The 'Scheme Guidelines for Implementation of the four years for their education?
Pilot Projects for Use of Green Hydrogen in the - Namo Lakshmi scheme
Shipping Sector’ has been released under which  Under which scheme, pregnant women of backward and
mission?(February 1, 2024) poor sections will get an assistance of Rs 12,000 ? Rs 750
- National Green Hydrogen Mission crore has been allocated for this in the budget.
 The guidelines will be implemented with a total - Namo Shri scheme
budgetary outlay of Rs 115 crore till the financial  GIFT City will be developed as a planned green city
year - 2025-26 across how much area? - 3,300 acre

Current Affairs Pointer (20) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

¨ Who laid the foundation stone for the Phase-1 NLC Â The government has proposed to set up a corpus of
India Talabira Thermal Power Project 3x800 MW how much amount to boost private investment in
(2,400 MW)? (February 3, 2024) sunrise technologies? - Rs 1 Lakh Crore
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi  The corpus will be set up with
 Foundation stone was laid in - Sambalpur, Odisha - Fifty-year interest-free loan
 NLC stands for ¨ Finance minister stated that "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan"
- The Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) was the slogan provided by Prime Minister Lal
 He also dedicated a 50-km-long second track of Bahadur Shastri, whereas "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai
Jharsuguda-Barpali-Sardega rail line phase-1 built Vigyan" was created by (February 1, 2024)
by - Mahanadi Coalfields Limited - Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
 PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of NTPC  Prime Minister Modi has advanced the slogan to
Talcher Thermal Power Project, Stage-III (2x660 - "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan
MW) in - Angul district, Odisha and Jai Anusandhan"
¨ The cabinet has extended the Rebate of State and ¨ As per the latest Sample Registration System (SRS)
Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme for report for the year 2020, the total fertility rate (TFR)
garment exports by (February 1, 2024) has dropped from 2.1 in 2019 to –2
- Two years (Till March 31, 2026) Â The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 for
 Earlier the cabinet had first (time) approved the
2019-2021 stated that the TFR at the national level
scheme up to - 31 March 2020
has further declined from 2.2 to –2
 RoSCTL scheme is a scheme for exports under
 How many states are with a TFR level of more than
Chapters 61, 62 and 63 of the Customs Tariff under
2.1? - Five - Bihar (2.98), Meghalaya (2.91),
which ministry? - Ministry of Textiles scheme
Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26),
¨ Which web portal of the Coal Mines Provident Fund
and Manipur (2.17)
Organization (CMPFO) was launched recently?
¨ Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala
(January 31, 2024) - C- CARES Web portal
Sitharaman presented the Interim Union Budget for
 It was launched by
2024-2025 on - February 1, 2024
- Union Minister of Coal, Mines and
 Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented
Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi
which consecutive budget? - Sixth
 The portal aims to
 She equalled the record of which finance minister,
- Address the long-standing
who had presented five annual budgets and one
issues of digitizing its records
interim budget between 1959 and 1964?
¨ Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Bharat - Minister Morarji Desai
Mobility Global Expo 2024 at(February 2, 2024) Â Finance Minister announced that the capital
-Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi expenditure outlay for the next year will be
¨ According to the Finance Minister, rooftop - Rs. 11,11,111 crore
solarization will enable one crore households to  This capital expenditure outlay will be how many
receive up to how many units of free electricity each percent of the GDP? - 3.4 percent
month?(February 2, 2024) - 300 units  The capital expenditure outlay has been increased
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also proposed by how many percent as compared to the previous
viability gap funding for harnessing offshore wind year(2023-24)? - 11.1 percent
energy potential for initial capacity of  The First Advance Estimates of National Income
- One giga-watt(1GW) of FY 2023-24 projected that India’s Real GDP is
 Finance Minister also suggested setting up a 100 MT projected to grow at - 7.3 percent
coal liquefaction and gasification capacity by – 2030 Â In December 2023, GST collection stood at
 FM also proposed phased mandatory blending of - Rs.1.65 lakh crore
CBG (Compressed Bio Gas) in CNG (Compressed  How many times gross GST revenues have crossed
Natural Gas) for - Transportation Rs.1.6 lakh crore? - Seventh time
Current Affairs Pointer (21) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â The tax receipts are estimated to be Ministry Budget
- Rs. 26.02 lakh crore Defence Rs.6.2 lakh crore
 The total receipts other than borrowings are
Road Transport and Rs.2.78 lakh crore
estimated at - Rs 30.80 lakh crore
Highways
 The total expenditure are estimated at
Railways Rs.2.55 lakh crore
- 47.66 lakh crore
Consumer Affairs, Food & Rs.2.13 lakh crore
 The fiscal deficit in 2024-25 is estimated to be how
Public Distribution
many % of GDP? - 5.1 percent
Home Affairs Rs.2.03 lakh crore
 The fiscal deficit will be reduced to below 4.5 percent
Rural Development Rs.1.80 lakh crore
by - 2025-26
 The gross and net market borrowings through dated Chemicals and Fertilizers Rs.1.68 lakh crore
securities during 2024-25 are estimated at Communications Rs.1.37 lakh crore
- Rs14.13 and 11.75 lakh crore respectively Agriculture and Farmer's Rs.1.27 lakh crore
 The FDI inflow during 2014-23 was Welfare
- 596 billion US Dollar  Over the last ten years, how many people escaped
 Finance Minister said that the government is from multidimensional poverty?
committed to making India a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by - 25 crore people
– 2047 Â The 'direct benefit transfer' of Rs. 34 lakh crore to
 According to budget 2024-25, Pradhan Mantri Kisan PM-Jan Dhan accounts has resulted in a saving to
SampadaYojana benefitted how many farmers? the government of - Rs 2.7 lakh crore
 Under the PM-SVANidhiYojana, loan assistance has
- 38 lakh farmers(generated 10 lakh
been provided to - 78 lakh street vendors
employment)
 The government has initiated which scheme to
 How many normal rail bogies will be converted to
provide support to artisans and craftspeople engaged
the Vande Bharat standards?
in 18 trades? - PM-Vishwakarma Yojana
- 40000 normal rail bogies
¨ Government extended the scheme (till 31st March
 Healthcare cover under the Ayushman Bharat
2026) of sugar subsidy for Antyodya Anna Yojna
scheme will be extended to
(AAY) families under which scheme?(February 1,
- All ASHA workers, Anganwadi
2024) - Public Distribution Scheme (PDS)
Workers and Helpers
¨ Government in a gazetted notification, appointed
 In the last 10 years, the direct tax collections have how many members of the Sixteenth Finance
more than trebled and return filers have increased Commission (SFC)(January 30, 2024)
- 2.4 times -Four members (including three
 Union Finance Minister announced that corporate full-time members)
tax rates for existing indigenous companies have  All time members are
been reduced from 30 percent to - 22 percent - A N Jha, former Special Secretary in the
 In Budget 2024-25, the biggest allocation has been Department of Expenditure
allocated for – Defence - Annie George Mathew, and Niranjan
 In Budget 2024-25, the lowest allocation has been Rajadhyaksha, Executive Director, Earth Global
allocated for - Agriculture  Part-time member of the commission(SFC)is
 According to budget, every year through the Pradhan - Soumya Kanti Ghosh, State Bank of India's
Mantri-Kisan Samman Yojana, direct financial group Chief Economic Advisor
assistance is provided to  Who had been appointed as the chairman of the
- 11 crore 80 lakh farmers (including marginal SFC? - Arvind Panagariya, Former
and small farmers) NITI Aayog vice-chairman
 According to budget,at present how many airports ¨ The Finance Ministry has slashed import duties on
are operating in the country? - 149 airports various components of mobile handsets from 15% to
 The allocation for specific ministries is as follows: (January, 2024) - 10 percent

Current Affairs Pointer (22) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 U.P. Budget, 2024-25
Uttar Pradesh Budget,
2024-25

The Yogi Adityanath government presented its Budget speech with lines from Ramayan
budget for the financial year, 2024-25 on February 5, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar
2024, with Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna Khanna starts the speech quoting Ramayan.
stating that it is an inclusive budget that caters to all. He also said "newmeues efoue ceW peye ceÛeueles nQ, DeebefOeÙeeW ceW
This budget will be the eighth consecutive budget Ûejeie peueles nw~"
presented by the BJP government and the fifth Khanna also highlighted that the state is expected to
consecutive one presented by Finance Minister of receive around Rs 2,18,816.84 crore from the Central
U.P. Suresh Kumar Khanna. taxes, according to the interim budget presented by
Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh Suresh Kumar Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on
Khanna presented a record budget of Rs 7.36 lakh February 1, 2024.
crore for the financial year 2024-25 in the State In the previous year, the Yogi government had
Assembly of Uttar Pradesh. presented a budget of Rs 6.9 lakh crore for 2023-
Uttar Pradesh FM said that this budget will lay a 2024, along with a supplementary budget of Rs
strong foundation for UP to become a one-trillion- 28,760.67 crore, which included funding for various
dollar economy. development projects in Ayodhya.
He emphasized that it will address the needs of people
from all walks of life in the state, with a particular Economic Highlights
emphasis on infrastructure, improving the lives of Budget Size
youth, women, farmers, and the underprivileged. 6.7% Increase over
Rs. 7.36 Lakh crore
Rupee Comes In 2023-24
Recovery of Loan
and Advance Expenditure
Public Debt 0.5% Public Account
Receipts
15.3%
Receipt (Net) 0.8% Revenue Expenditure Rs. 5.33 Lakh crore
Non-Tax Revenue Capital Expenditure Rs. 2.04 Lakh crore
3.4% State Own
Tax Revenue Capital Outlay Rs. 1.55 Lakh crore
37.1%
Central Tax Receipts
Transfer
30%
Total Receipts Rs. 7.21 Lakh crore
Centre
Grant in Aid Revenue Receipts Rs. 6.07 Lakh crore
12.9%
Capital Receipts Rs. 1.14 Lakh crore
Rupee Goes Out
Other Expenditure State’s own Tax Revenue
Subsidy 3.8% 12.7% Rs. 2.70 Lakh crore
Debt
(SOTR)
Devolution to Repayment
Capital
Local Bodies 5.4%
3.3%
Expenditure
21% Disbursement
Biggest budget in the history of UP
Interest of Loan &
Payment 7.3% Advances
At Rs 7.36 lakh crore, this is the biggest budget in the
Pension
11.7% 1.3% history of UP.
Grant-in-aid
9% The total capacity of the power transmission system,
Salary-Aided Salary- which was 16,348 MW in the financial year 2016-
Institution Government
Employee Employee 2017, has been increased to 28,900 MW in the year
12.8%
11.7% 2022-2023

Current Affairs Pointer (23) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Target is to be increased to 31,500 MW by the Economic Highlights
financial year 2023-2024.
Increase in Capital Outlay 6.19%
Important points of Budget 2024-25 are
Revenue Surplus (% of GSDP) 2.97%
followings—
Fiscal Deficit, (% of GSDP) – 3.46%
Size of the Budget
The size of the budget 2024-25 is Rs. 736437.71 within FRBM limit of 3.5%
crore and it includes new scheme of Rs. 24863.57 Debt, (% of GSDP), at INR 8.17 32.7%
crore. lakh crore
Total Receipts Receipt from the Central Government
Total Receipt of Rs. 721333.82 crore is estimated In the budget estimate of 2024-25, total receipt from
for the budget estimate of 2024-25. the Central Government in the form of state’s share
Out of this, Revenue receipt is estimated to be Rs. in central taxes grants-in-aid and loans and advances
606802.40 crore and capital receipt is estimated to is estimated to be Rs. 333820.56 crore.
be Rs. 114531.42 crore. It is Rs. 12156.24 crore (3.78 per cent) more
The Share of tax collection in revenue receipts is than the budget estimate of 2023-24 which is Rs.
estimated at Rs. 488902.84 crore including state's 321664.32 crore.
own tax revenue of Rs. 270086 crore and its share in Revenue Account Receipts
the central tax pool at Rs. 218816.84 crore. In the budget 2023-24, state’s own tax revenue
Total Expenditure is estimated to increased by Rs. 77396.02 crore
Total expenditure of Rs. 736437.71 crore is (41.78 per cent) from the revised estimate of 2022-
estimated for the budget 2024-25. 23 which is Rs. 185237.98 crore.
Out of total expenditure, revenue account Contingency Fund
expenditure is Rs. 532655.33 crore and capital
There is no provision of in the Contingency Fund
account expenditure is Rs. 203782.38 crore.
(net) in the budget 2024-25. In the financial year
Revenue Account Expenditure 2022-23 also contingency fund was estimated to be
In the budget estimate of 2023-
Rs. 0.00.
24 revenue expenditure was
Public Account
Rs. 502354.01 crore. For the financial year 2024-25,
For the financial year 2024-25 net receipt from the
it is Rs. 532655.33 crore.
transactions under public account is estimated be Rs.
Thus, in the financial year 2024-25 revenue
5500 crore.
expenditure is estimated to be increase by Rs.
It is equal to the budget estimate of 2023-24.
30301.32 crore.
Net Result of All the Transaction
Capital Account Expenditure
Net result of all the transactions in the budget
In the budget estimate of 2023-24, capital account
estimates of 2024-25 is Rs. (–) 9603.89 crore.
expenditure was Rs. 187888.42 crore. In the
Final balance, based on the net result of initial
Budget estimate of 2024-25 it is estimated to be Rs.
balance and all the transactions, is Rs. 28585.77
203782.38 crore.
crore.
Thus, in the budget 2024-25 capital expenditure is
estimated increased by Rs. 15893.96 crore (8.46
Revenue Surplus
per cent). In the budget estimate of 2024-25 revenue surplus is
Under this, mainly capital outlay increased by Rs. estimate to be Rs. 74147.08 crore.
7255.18 crore (4.92 per cent). In the budget estimate of 2023-24 it was estimate
Increase in internal debt of the State Government is to be 68511.65 crore. But in the revised estimate of
estimated to be of Rs. (+) 9540.53 crore (32.24 per 2023-24 it is estimated to be 70446.52 crore.
cent) In the actual estimate of 2022-23 it is 37263.44 crore.

Current Affairs Pointer (24) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

Fiscal Deficit In the budget estimate of 2023-24 it was estimated
In the financial year 2024-25 fiscal deficit is to be Rs. 147492.29 crore which decreased in the
estimated to be of Rs. 86530.51 crore. revised estimated to be Rs. 146177.12 crore.
It is 3.46 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product In the 2022-23 Rs. 93028.39 crore was spent under
(GSDP). capital outlay.
In the budget estimate of 2023-24 it was Rs. Fiscal Deficit at 3.46%
84883.16 crore which decreased to Rs. 82514.54 State's Fiscal deficit at 3.46 percent of state GDP
crore in the revised estimate. Out of the total expenditure, Rs 5,32,655.33 crore
In the Actual data of 2022-23 net fiscal deficit is Rs. has been allocated for the revenue account and Rs
2,03,782.38 crore for capital account.
64636.27 crore.
Capital Outlay After deducting the total expenditure from the
In the budget of 2024-25 capital outlay is estimated receipts of the consolidated fund, a deficit of Rs
to be Rs. 154747.47 crore. 15,103.89 crore is estimated in the budget
Budget at a Glance (in Rs. crore)

S. N. 2022-23 2023-24 Budget 2023-24 Revised 2024-25 Budget

Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate
1. Revenue Account Receipts 417241.50 570865.66 525217.84 606802.40

2. Tax Revenue* 343832.45 445871.59 410866.44 488902.84

3. Non-Tax Revenue@ 73409.05 124994.07 114351.40 117899.56

4. Capital Account Receipt 68184.26 112427.08 102427.08 114531.42

5. Recovery of Loans 1337.32 3312.18 3312.18 3298.63

6. Borrowings and Other Liabilities (out of which 66846.94 109114.90 99114.90 111232.79
ways and means Advances from RBI)
0.00 10000.00 0.00 10000.00
7. Total Receipts (1 + 4) 485425.76 683292.74 627644.92 721333.82

8. Expenditure on Revenue Accounts, in which 379978.06 502354.01 454771.32 532655.33

9. Interest Payment 43007.98 52755.56 49316.64 53711.99

10. Expenditure on Capital Accounts, in which 125927.49 187888.42 177591.05 203782.38

11. Capital Outlay 93028.39 147492.29 146177.12 154747.47

12. Loan Repayments in which ways and means 22690.46 31181.43 21317.81 39806.17
Advances redemption from RBI
0.00 10000.00 0.00 10000.00
13. Total Expenditure (8 + 10) 505905.55 690242.43 632362.37 736437.71

14. Revenue Surplus (1 – 8) 37263.44 68511.65 70446.52 74147.07

15. Fiscal Deficit 64636.27 84883.16 82514.54 86530.51

16. Primary Deficit (15 – 9) 21628.29 32127.60 33197.90 32818.52
* This includes state’s own taxes and state’s share in central taxes.
@ This includes state’s own taxes and grants received from centre.

‰ Important Announcement in the Budget of 5.1 percent.

Speech Rs. 1,100 crore allocated for supply of free water to
farmers.
Announcements for farmers
The total reported area in the state is 241.70 lakh The ban on giving new private tube well connections
hectares, in which cultivation is done in 160.95 lakh in the dark zone has been removed, which directly
hectares. There is target to achieve agriculture growth benefited about one lakh farmers, says FM.

Current Affairs Pointer (25) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 In the year 2023-2024, till October 2023, about 37 About 4.08 Lakhs jobs have been created under
lakh Kisan Credit Cards were distributed. Vishwakarma Shram Samman Scheme and one district
Rs 63,000 crore transferred under the Prime Minister one Product Skill Upgradation and Toolkit Scheme.
Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana through DBT to 2.62 Social Security
crore farmers by December 2023. About 55 lakh senior citizens of the state is being
Under the Prime Minister Crop Insurance provided Old Age Pension at the rate of Rs 1000 per
Scheme, a compensation of Rs 831 crore was paid month.
to about 10 lakh insured farmers for 2022-2023 till In the financial year 2022-2023; 1,00,874 couples
October, 2023. married under Chief Minister Group Marriage
A record sugarcane price payment of more than Rs Scheme, and about 510 crore rupees have been spent.
2,33,793 crore was made to about 46 lakh sugarcane Financial Inclusion
farmers by the present government from the year 2017 At present banking facilities are being provided
to January 29, 2024. through 19,705 branches of public sector banks
The Sugarcane price payment is Rs 20,274 crore more 2,28,544 Bank Mitras and BC Sakhis and 17,852
than the combined cane price payment of Rs 2,01,519 ATMs in the state.
crore in the last 22 years. Under PM Jan Dhan Scheme, with the registration
With the aim of providing incentives to agriculture, of 9 crore bank account, Uttar Pradesh stands at first
three new schemes are being started, such as State position.
Agricultural Development Scheme, World Bank Industrial Development and Ease of doing
assisted UP Agri Scheme and Automatic weather ranking
Station- Installation of automatic rain gauge, in With the launch of Maharishi Valmiki International
development blocks and gram panchayats of the state. Airport, Ayodhya there are now four international
Labour Welfare airports operating in the state. After the inauguration
About 8.32 crore workers of UP have been registered of South Asia’s largest international airport in Jewar,
on the ‘e-Shram’ portal, which is the highest in the Noida, Uttar Pradesh will be the only state in India to
country. have five international airports
Women & Child Welfare Uttar Pradesh has achieved ''Achievers'' ranking in
State government has increased the destitute women Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEAD-2023).
pension from Rs 500 to now Rs 1,000 per month. Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority
With this scheme, till the third quarter in 2023-2024, (BIDA) is being established for the development of
31 lakh 28 thousand destitute women were benefited. industries in the backward region of Bundelkhand.
Under Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Scheme, This will be developed on the lines of Noida (formed
eligible girls in 6 different categories, total assistance in 1976).
of Rs 15000 Is being provided.From financial year Ganga Expressway
2019-2020 to 2023-2024, 17.82 lakh beneficiaries has The budget for the Ganga Expressway project is Rs
been benefited under this scheme. 2057 crore 76 lakh.
Youth Rs 500 crore has been alocated to new link expressway
53,800 Youth Mangal Dal and 51,300 Mahila Mangal adjoining Agra-Lucknow Expressway and Purvanchal
Dals have been formed in Gram Panchayats of the Expressway.
state. Through these parties youth participation has Rs 346 crore for Agra Metro
been ensured in the works of national and social Rs 400 crore for Atal Industrial Infrastructure Mission.
importance. 22,000 MW target set for Solar power
Folk song team of Uttar Pradesh Earned gold medal by Rs 3,948 crore for PM AWAS scheme
securing first place in 26th National Youth Festival held Rs 3,668 crore for PM Gram Sadak Yojana
in Karnataka (January 12 to 16, 2023). Health
Employment With the efforts of the state government, maternal
Under Chief Minister Youth Self-Employment mortality rate was reduced to 167 per lakh in the year
Scheme , in MSME Sector so far 22 lakh 389 2022 from 285 per lakh in the year 2014. Whereas,
beneficiaries have been benefited. By doing this, Infant mortality rate reduced to 38 per thousand in
1,79,112 jobs were created. 2020 from 48 per thousand in 2014.

Current Affairs Pointer (26) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 More than 4 crore 86 lakhs Ayushman cards were Under Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy-2022, in
distributed under Ayushman Bharat Prime Minister’s the upcoming 5 years there is a target of 22000 MW
Jan Arogya Scheme. power generation is proposed. At present, it is around
In the financial year 2024-2025, under National Rural 2600 MW.
Health Mission, for the operation of various programs Ayodhya and Varanasi cities are being developed
Rs.7350 crores has been proposed as model solar cities.
With the aim of completion of construction work
Urban Development
of Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath Ayush University,
Rs. 4500 crores is proposed for Amrit 2.0 scheme
Gorakhpur in the financial year 2024-2025; the
(launched in the year 2021)
Government Ayurvedic College in Ayodhya and
Government Homeopathic Medical College in Rs. 2500 crore is proposed for the Grand event of
Varanasi is proposed to be established. Mahakumbh Mela 2025 with world class facilities.
Rs. 400 crore allocated for the medical college in Rs. 800 Crore is proposed for the Chief Minister Green
Varanasi. Road Infrastructure Development Scheme (Urban).
Rs. 952 crore has been allocated for PM Ayushman Under the PM Mega integrated textiles and apparel
Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission Scheme. scheme, Mega Textile Park has been approved, with an
Rs. 322 crore has been alocated for PM Matra Vandana area of about 1000 acres in Lucknow-Hardoi district.
Yojana. A budget of Rs. 150 crore has been proposed for
Rs. 300 crore has been allocated for Ayushman Bharat purchase of land for establishment of National Institute
Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana. of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Varanasi district.
Aviation Sector Rs. 10 crore has been proposed for International
Rs 1,100 crore for development of airstrips across the
Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute Ayodhya
state.
Aligarh, Azamgarh, Moradabad, Shravasti and
6 crore people out of poverty
Chitrakoot have been developed and the development FM Suresh Khanna said that the economy of the
work of Mayorpur (Sonbhadra) and Sarsawa state has improved a lot under the Yogi Adityanath
(Saharanpur) airports is in progress. government.
‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Jungle Raj has been wiped out in UP. So far six crore
Dham’ developed in Ayodhya. people have been brought above the poverty line.
A provision of Rs 150 crore proposed for the Sugar cane MSP increased
establishment and expansion of the Ayodhya airport. Sugarcane MSP has been increased by the state.
FM said that continuous efforts are being made by Rs 2.33 lakh crore disbursed to Sugarcane farmers
the state government to increase air connectivity in Famers received Rs 63,000 crore under Kiasn Samaan
the state through the Regional Connectivity Scheme from the government
(RCS-‘UDAN’) of the Government of India and “Uttar No more a BIMARU State
Pradesh Civil Aviation Promotion Policy”.
There is Ram Rajya in Uttar Pradesh, we are no more
In comparison to the last financial year, there has been
a Bimaru state.
an increase of 19.2 percent in the number of passengers
Organized crime has been eliminated in the state. The
traveling by air in the current financial year.
unemployment rate in the state is 2.4 percent.
Energy
The state has received investment proposal worth Rs
The total capacity of the transmission system was
40 lakh crore in Investors Summit
16,348 MW in the financial year 2016-2017, which
has been increased to 28,900 MW in the year 2022- UP is fast progressing towards development
2023. It is proposed to increase it to 31,500 MW by 96 lakh MSME units are running in the state. 22.39
the financial year 2023-2024. lakh beneficiaries for MSME schemes
Under the Green Energy Corridor-2 project of the All the state districts now have dialysis facility for
Government of India, 4000 MW capacity solar park Kidney patients.
is to be developed in the Bundelkhand region of the Government medical colleges now have 3,828 seats,
state while Private medical seats are now 5,250.

Current Affairs Pointer (27) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Science & Technology Affairs Current Notes
Bird's Eye View On the Latest
Developments Related To
Defence, Space,
Medicine Etc.

¨ PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone  The edition of BioAsia 2024 is - 21st edition
of ISRO’s new launch complex (India's second  This convention was inaugurated by
spaceport) in (February 28, 2024) - Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
- Kulasekharapattanam, village, Â The theme of the conclave was
Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu - ‘Data & AI: Redefining Possibilities’
 This facility will accommodate how many launches ¨ How many astronauts have been named for India's
per year? - 24 first manned space mission (Gaganyaan)?(February
 The spaceport will be built at the cost of 27, 2024) - Four
- Rs 986 crore
 Name of the four astronauts are
 This launch complex is being built for launching
- Prashanth Nair, Angad Prathap,
- SSLV-type rockets
Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla
 He also flagged off India’s first indigenous green
 The astronauts have undergone a year-long training
hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel as part of
course in - ZvyozdnyGorodok city, Russia
- HaritNauka initiative
¨ India's first ammunition-missile manufacturing  To train astronauts for the manned mission, ISRO has
complex unveiled by (February 26, 2024) set up an Astronaut Training Facility in - Bengaluru
- Adani Group (Adani Defense and Aerospace) ¨ To improve the country's space sector, three important
 Adani Defense and Aerospace opened two facilities space infrastructure projects was inaugurated by
for manufacturing ammunition and missiles in (February 27, 2024)
- Kanpur,Uttar Pradesh - Prime Minister Narendra Modi
 The Kanpur complex is set to become one of the  These projects include
largest integrated ammunition manufacturing -PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at Satish
complexes in - South Asia Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, -New
¨ National Science Day or RashtriyaVigyan Divas was ‘Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage
celebrated in India on - 28 February, 2024 Test facility’ at ISRO Propulsion Complex at
 The day is celebrated to remember the discovery of Mahendragiri, -‘Trisonic Wind Tunnel’ at VSSC,
the Raman Effect by
Thiruvananthapuram
- Sir C V Raman (on 28 February 1928)
¨ Haryana Chief Minister launched a program for early
 The first National Science Day was celebrated on
screening and detection of breast cancer, named as
- 28 February 1987
(February 25, 2024) - 'Savera'
 The nodal agency for the coordination of National
Science Day celebrations is  This program has been initiated by
- The National Council for Science and - Medanta Foundation (collaboration with
Technology Communication (NCSTC) Gurugram health department)
¨ Asia's premier biotechnology and life sciences  The CM also mentioned the establishment of the
convention, BioAsia 2024, started in (February 26- National Cancer Institute at AIIMS in
28, 2024) - Hyderabad - Jhajjar district

Current Affairs Pointer (28) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

¨ Which payload on Aditya-L1 has detected the impact ¨ Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said
of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on solar wind? that India's first Helicopter Emergency Medical
(February 10-11, 2024) Service (HEMS) would be launched from (February,
- The Plasma Analyser Package 2024) - Uttarakhand
for Aditya (PAPA) payload  HEMS service would be operated under the project
 It is operational since - December 12, 2023
- ‘Sanjeevani’
 It has two sensors namely
¨ To combat space debris, which country will launch
- Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP)
the world’s first wooden satellite?
and Solar Wind Ion Composition
- Japan and the United States (NASA)
Analyser (SWICAR)
 The wooden satellite is named as -LingoSat probe
 Aditya-L1 mission was successfully launched on
September 2, 2023 by - PSLV-C57 rocket  It has been created from
 It carried how many payloads to study the Sun? - Magnolia wood (stable and cracks resistant)
- Seven ¨ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
¨ First United States landing on the moon since last 50 successfully launched the INSAT-3DS mission from
years has been done by (February 22, 2024) (February 17, 2024)
- The Odysseus lunar lander - Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota
¨ In March 2024, which group will launch its first  The mission was launched into space
ChatGPT-style service Bharat GPT? (February, - Aboard the heavy-lift Geosynchronous Satellite
2024) Launch Vehicle Mk-II (GSLV-MkII)
- Reliance Industires  INSAT-3DS consists of four payloads namely,
 What is the name given to it? - “Hanooman”
- imager, sounder, a data relay transponder,
 How many regional languages will be used in it?
and a satellite-assisted search and rescue
- Eleven
transponder.
 The model will operate in four domains, namely
 This will enable the development of new satellite
- Education, financial services, health
care, and governance products that can be deployed while
 The model is being built in partnership with - Tracking cyclones, monsoon systems, storms,
- IIT, Bombay along with 7 other universities and other natural disasters.
 It is supported by -Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd.  This new facility is funded by
 Hanooman will provide consumers with - The Ministry of Earth Sciences
- Speech-to-text functionality  INSAT data has been used by the India Meteorological
 Reliance is working on platform that uses Artificial Department (IMD) for its operational meteorological
Intelligence across a network of about 450 million purposes since – 2003
subscribers, namely - Jio Brain  This was the second launch of the year (2024) after
¨ Recently, a National-level project of health screening ISRO successfully launched
and management through Ayurveda interventions
- XPoSat mission to space on January 1, 2024.
has been launched by (February 21, 2024)
¨ The Ministry of Defence has recently signed a
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
contract with whom, for the manufacturing and
(in New Delhi)
supply of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm
 Under this, health checkups will be done of students
from classes - 6th to 12th Stabilised Remote Control Guns (SRCG) (February
 This health-related checkup will be done in selected 14, 2024)
- 55 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) - Advanced Weapon Equipment India Ltd.
 Intervention will be done by (AWEIL), Kanpur
- Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic  With more than 85% Indigenous Content (IC), this
Sciences (CCRAS) agreement is valued at - Rs 1,752.13 crore.

Current Affairs Pointer (29) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

¨ To enhance disaster management, the UP government  The system earned the title of “Best Research Paper”
collaborating with whom? (February 13, 2024) at the International Conference on
- IIT Roorkee - “New Emerging Trends in
 The impending MoU marks an important step Engineering” in Kozhikode, Kerala
towards strengthening the state's resilience against ¨ IEEE Kerala Section has given the KPP Nambiar
natural disasters for - Next five years Award for 2024 to (February 11, 2024)
¨ The University of Liverpool and AIIMS, New Delhi - ISRO Chairman S Somanath
 The award is named after KPP Nambiar, he was
have collaborated on (February 12, 2024)
- Founder-chair of IEEE Kerala Section
- 'AIIMS Liverpool Collaborative Centre for
 Somanath was selected for his contributions in
Translational Research in Head and Neck
- Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s lunar
Cancer - ALHNS'
exploration programme
¨ 9 th
GovTech Prize for endeavours in Artificial  Outstanding Woman Engineer Award has been given
Intelligence (AI)-powered government services was to - Athuladevi S, Deputy Director, Avionics,
given to (February 12, 2024) - India VSSC
 India secured this prestigious award at ¨ Who received the WHO’s Nelson Mandela Award
- The World Government Summit 2024 for Health Promotion in 2024? (February 9, 2024)
 This award was distributed by - NIMHANS, Bengaluru
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum  NIMHANS stands for
 India won the award under the category of - The National Institute of Mental Health and
- 'AI-Powered Government Services' Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)
 The award has been presented to recognize the  For 2024, the award has been jointly presented to
NIMHANS and
- ‘iRASTE’ project of the Ministry for Road
- Professor Bontle Mbongwe of Botswana
Transport & Highways
 NIMHANS received the award for its dedication and
 This initiative is a collaborative effort of the
outstanding contributions in
government, industry, and academia with the main
- Promoting mental health and well-being.
aim to
 The Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion
- Reduce 50% of road accidents was started by WHO in - 2019.
anticipated in urban areas ¨ The Center of Excellence on Smart Wearable
¨ At the World Government Summit 2024, who Advanced Nano Sensing Technologies in Healthcare
signed agreements to launch the world's first air taxi ASICs (SWASTHA) was inaugurated (February 9,
service? (February 11, 2024) 2024) - IIT Guwahati
- Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) Â The SWASTHA project aims for
 The contract was given to Joby Aviation at the World - Intensive technological innovation, startup
Governments Summit in Dubai to launch support, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and
- Air taxi services in UAE by early 2026. revenue generation.
¨ An innovative system designed to enhance the typing ¨ Recently on 11 February, 2024 SWATI portal was
launched by
experience of Gurmukhi script on the Internet,
- Principal Scientific Advisor
named as(February, 2024) - "PURAN" system
Professor Ajay Kumar Sood
 It was launched by
 It was launched at - Indian National Science
- Department of Computer
Academy (INSA), New Delhi
Science, Punjabi University  SWATI stands for
 Gurjot Singh Mahi developed this under the guidance - Science for Women-A Technology and
of - Dr. Amandeep Verma Innovation (SWATI)
Current Affairs Pointer (30) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â It was launched on the occasion of ¨ Bihar State Disaster Management Authority recently
- The International Day of Women launched pendent shaped device, named (February,
and Girls in Science 2024) - ‘NITISH’ device
 The portal has been developed, hosted, and  NITISH stands for
maintained by - Novel Initiative Technological Intervention
- The National Institute of Plant Genome for Safety of Humanlives (NITISH)
Research (NIPGR). Â The device has been named after
 The portal aims to create - Present CM of Bihar Nitish Kumar
- An online portal representing Indian women  This device has been developed by
and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, - Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna
Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM). in association with Bihar State Disaster
¨ On which day, International Day of Women and Management Authority
Girls in Science is observed - 11 February  The device will alert about
 It is observed to raise awareness about - Lightning, floods, heat waves and cold waves
- Role of women in achieving through voice messages (about half an hour
development goals before)
 The theme of International Day of Women and Girls ¨ NASA launched which mission to study Earth's
in Science 2024 is atmosphere and oceans as the globe heats? (February
- “Women and Girls in Science Leadership : a 8, 2024) - PACE mission
New Era for Sustainability” Â PACE mission stands for
 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) - Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean
declared 11 February as the International Day of Ecosystemsatellite (PACE)
Women and Girls in Science in - 2015 Â PACE mission took off from
¨ Government launched a Mass Drug Administration - Cape Canaveral Space Force
(MDA) campaign for (February 10, 2024) Station in Florida
- Lymphatic Filariasis elimination. Â The mission was launched on
 The first phase of the Nationwide Mass Drug - SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket
Administration (MDA) campaign has been launched ¨ India’s first state-of-the-art Small Animal Hospital
by - Union Minister of State for Health and is developed by (February, 2024)
Family Welfare Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel -Tata Trusts in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai
 This campaign will cover  The hospital will be launched in - March 2024
- 92 districts across 11 states ¨ Recently, first patient became ‘cancer-free’ by using
in the next two weeks which indigenous therapy? (February, 2024)
 India is committed to eliminating Lymphatic - CAR-T cell therapy
Filariasis by – 2027 Â Who had approved the commercial use of NexCAR19
 At present, 345 lymphatic filariasis endemic districts cell therapy in October 2023?
are present in - 20 states and union territories. - Central Drugs Standard
 75 percent of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Control Organisation (CDSCO)
districts are from  Under this therapy, the patient’s T-cells (types of
- 5 states (Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, immune cells) are collected and genetically modified
Odisha and Telangana) into potent cancer fighters known as - CAR-T cells
 Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis) is  Indigenous CAR-T cell therapy has been developed
- A Parasitic disease caused by nematode worms by
(roundworms) of the family Filariodidea - ImmunoAct, IIT Bombay and
 It is transmitted by - Infected mosquitoes Tata Memorial Hospital

Current Affairs Pointer (31) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

Â This therapy is a treatment for B-cell cancers such ¨ According to the WHO’s latest estimates of the
as - Leukaemia and Lymphoma global burden of cancer how many new cancer cases
¨ India's first hypervelocity expansion tunnel test have been reported in India in 2022? (February 1,
facility has been developed by (February 5, 2024) 2024) -1.41 million (1,413,316 new cancer cases)
- IIT Kanpur  Globally, the number of new cancer cases has
 This facility which can simulate the hypersonic increased by - 20 million
circumstances seen during atmospheric entry by  Highest number of which type of cancer new cases
producing flight speeds between 3 and 10 km/s., is were reported in India? - Breast cancer(192,020)
 Breast cancer accounts how much per cent of new
named as - ‘S2’
cancer cases in India?- 13.6 per cent of all patients
 This S2 facility is 24 meters long and is commonly
 Which cancer is the most common occurring cancer
called as - ‘Jigarthanda'
in the world?
 The facility was indigenously designed and
- Lung cancer with 2.5 million new cases, Female
developed in how many years? - Three years
breast cancer ranked second (2.3 million cases,
¨ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh honoured whom
11.6 per cent)
with the 'Outstanding Business Woman of the Year
 Globally, India accounted for how many per cent of
- 2023' Award?(February, 2024) - Dr. Bina Modi deaths that occurred due to cervical cancer?
 Dr. Bina Modi was presented with the award at a - 40 per cent
prestigious conference, namely (February, 2024) ¨ Which state government would launch a 'Digital
- Indo-American Chamber of Commerce Detox' initiative in partnership with the All India
 The conference was on the theme Game Developers Forum (AIGDF)? (February 01,
- 'Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in 2024) - Karnataka
Amritkal-Aatmanirbhar Bharat' Â The initiative aims to raise awareness about
¨ Which is scheduled for the third quarter of 2024 - The dangers of spending excessive
before a manned mission "Gaganyaan"?(February 4, time in the digital world
2024) ¨ Recently, Rashtriya Arogya Mela was inaugurated
- The uncrewed "Vyommitra" mission by (February 01, 2024)
 The manned mission ‘Gaganyaan’ mission is -Union Minister for AYUSH and Shipping, Ports
scheduled to launch in – 2025 Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.
 Vyomamitra is a name derived from two Sanskrit  This Mela was inaugurated by
- Shri Puran Chandra Gupta Smarak Trust in
words, namely
association with Ministry of Ayush,
- "Vyoma" (meaning place) and "Mitra"
 It is being organized from 1 February 2024 to 4
(meaning friend)
February 2024 at
 Vyomamitra is a
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
- Woman Robot Astronaut
 AYUSH stands for
 In preparation for the launch of India's first manned
- Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy,
space flight 'Gaganyaan', on October 21, 2023 first
Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy
vehicle test was completed namely - Udaan TV D1 ¨ Taiwan's first lunar mission is scheduled to launch in
¨ A committee constituted by which state government (January 29, 2024) - Quarter 4 of 2024
to ensure the effective implementation of the Sickle  The launch of lunar mission was announced by
Cell Disease Control Program? (February 3, 2024) - Taiwan's National Central University
- Government of Maharashtra  It will be integrated into
 The overarching goal is to complete the eradication - HAKUTO-R Mission 2 lunar
of sickle cell disease from the country by - 2047 lander developed by iSpace

Current Affairs Pointer (32) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Defense Affairs Current Notes
Defense Technology, War Exercises,
Military Tests, Defense Agreements
and Defense Acquisitions etc.

¨ Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL embarks on a  The sale would include

comprehensive upgrade project (February, 2024) -31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones
-worth Rs 60,000 crore  The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a - weapons-ready drone
 This project has launched with collaboration of the  It is designed for - surveillance, reconnaissance,
-Defence Research and Development targeting, and strike mission
Organisation(DRDO) ¨ On 18th February 2024, the Indian Navy announced
 This project embarks for the that it is all set to conduct the - 12th edition of the
-Su-30MKI fighter jet fleet. multilateral naval exercise MILAN
 The initiative aims to bolster the - aircraft’s capabilities  It was conducted from 19th to 27th February, 2024
 This initiative is through the - integration of (Harbour phase) at - Visakhapatnam
advanced technologies and indigenous systems  MILAN is a biennial congregation of navies
¨ Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defence Forces conducted by - the Indian Navy since 1995
joint exercise ‘Dharma Guardian 2024’ commenced  Currently, the Indian Navy is undertaking two major
on - February 25th, 2024 operations — the anti-piracy operation and anti
 This exercise is being held at - Mahajan Field -drone operation.
Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, India ¨ Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi assumed the
 This exercise will continue - till March 9th,2024 (19th February 2024) - appointment of the Vice
 The edition of this exercise is -5th edition Chief of the Army Staff
 4th edition of the joint military exercise was organised  The Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) is a
at - Camp Imazu, Japan, - statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces
 The exercise was held from  It is usually held by a - three star lieutenant general
-February 17 to March 2, 2023. ¨ The Indian Navy commissioned its First Survey
¨ The Defence Research and Development Vessel Large (SVL) ship - INS Sandhayak,
Organisation (DRDO) has handed over (26 February, Â It is commissioned at
2024) - 23 Licensing Agreements - Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam
 This licensing agreement has been handed over to  It is commissioned on -February 3, 2024
MSMEs and Startups for -Transfer of Technology  It is commissioned in the presence of
 The 22 industries in domains -Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
-including electronics, laser technology, combat ¨ The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a major
vehicles, naval systems and aeronautics. exercise called -Vayu Shakti-24
¨ Recently, the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories  It will be held in (17 February, 2024) -Rajasthan
(NAL) successfully tested (February, 2024) ¨ Recently India and Oman have signed a (31 January,
-an unmanned High Altitude 2024) - defence agreement
Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Â It is during a meeting of -The India Oman Joint
 It is tested - in Karnataka. Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC)
 This 5-meter-long drone with 11-meter wingspan  It is held in -Muscat
flew at -an altitude of 3 kilometers for 8 hours ¨ Indian Navy has declared 2024 as
¨ The US government has approved (1 February, - ‘Year of Naval Civilians’
2024) - a major military sale to India  Its aim is to -Improve administration efficiency
 It is valued at nearly -$4 billion. and well being of Naval Civilians
Current Affairs Pointer (33) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 Environment Affairs Current Notes
Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Conservation,Pollution and Biosphere etc.

¨ The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 urged  They are Predominantly found in - evergreen and
global cooperation to (21-23 February, 2024) semi-evergreen forests in the Western Ghats
- eliminate Super pollutants. ¨ There is Draft resolution for conservation of (14
 It has been held before the sixth -United Nations February, 2024) -hawksbill turtle and angelshark
Environment Assembly (UNEA-6). Â This draft resolution was adopted at -CMS COP14.
 UNEA-6 was held in -Nairobi, Kenya  This is one of the - smaller sea turtle species, the
 UNEA-6 was held -from 26 February hawksbill turtle gets its name
to 1 March 2024 from its narrow, elongated head
 Short-lived climate pollutants are known as  It has - V-shaped lower jaw.
- Super pollutants. Â It is typically found in - coastal reefs, rocky areas,
 It includes - methane, black carbon, estuaries, and lagoons.
hydrofluorocarbons and tropospheric ozone. ¨ Researchers have discovered a (14 February, 2024)
¨ Tamil Nadu established a special fund to save - new species of marine amphipod
-Purple Frog in the Western Ghats. Â The new species has been named - Parhyale odian
 The Purple Frog is believed to be a-‘living fossil’  Species is discovered by researchers at odisha's
having - coexisted with dinosaurs Berhampur university from - Chilika Lake, Odisha
 It ranked four on the -‘EDGE (Evolutionarily  Central Asian Flyway was introduced by (17
Distinct and Globally Endangered) February, 2024) - India
of Existence’ priority amphibians list  It is introduced during the 14th Meeting of the
-Conference of the Parties to the Conservation
 Edge is collated by the - Zoological Society of London
of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
¨ Recently Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have
(CMS COP 14)
developed a synthetic human antibody. This
 It is Supported by - Bird Life International and
antibody has been developed (22 February, 2024)
30 other governments.
-to neutralise lethal snakebite toxin
 It is an initiative under the CMS to - restore and
 According to World Health Organisation around
maintain favourable conservation status
90% of snakebites in India are caused by the
 The initiative will develop and enforce a
- 'big four' among the crawlers
-Programme of Work
 The big four crawlers named -common krait,
¨ The Commission for Air Quality Management
Indian cobra, Russell's viper and saw scaled viper (CAQM) has decided (19 February, 2024)
 WHO recognised snakebite as a - to revoke Stage II of the Graded Response
- neglected tropical disease in 2017 Action Plan (GRAP)
 WHO in 2019, set a target to halve the global  The plan has revoked in the entire National Capital
burden of snakebite by - 2030 Region (NCR). Delhi’s average Air Quality Index
¨ Scientists made a surprising discovery a - mushroom (AQI) was recorded at - 231
growing out of the side of -Golden-backed frog. Â GRAP is a set of emergency measures aimed at
 This discovery occurred in mitigating - air pollution in the Delhi National
-the foothills of the Western Ghats in India, Capital Region (NCR)
 The Golden backed frog, also known as -Trivandrum  It was initially proposed by - the Central Pollution
frog, common wood frog, or small wood frog, is a Control Board (CPCB) in 2016
small -sized amphibian. Â It was first notified by the- Ministry of Environment,
 They are-partially arboreal and partially aquatic. Forest, and Climate Change in 2017
Current Affairs Pointer (34) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Since 2021, the GRAP is enforced by the - CAQM ¨ India’s first comprehensive survey estimates the
 The GRAP considers multiple pollutants, including snow leopard population at (30 January, 2024)
- ozone, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, -718 in the wild
PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations  The four-year-long exercise used camera traps in 1,971
¨ The Himachal Pradesh (HP) budget for the year 2024- locations and surveyed 13,450 km of trails across regions
25 has introduced initiatives aimed at (17 February, like - Ladakh(477), followed by Uttarakhand (124),
2024) - promoting sustainable development and Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36),
supporting farmers Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9)
¨ The initiative named -Mukhya Mantri Harit  The survey, named - Snow Leopard Population
Vikas Chhattravriti Yojana (CM Green Assessment in India (SPAI)
Development Scholarship Scheme) Â Its began in -2019
 Under this initiative Postgraduate science and engineering  It involves collaboration between the
graduates will receive -two-year scholarships - World Wide Fund for Nature-India, the
 The scholarship is provided to conduct research on Nature Conservation Foundation, and the
- climate change and environmental Wildlife Institute of India
conservation  The snow leopard is classified as - “vulnerable”
 Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Startup Scheme in the and faces threats such as human-wildlife
state was launched with budget of - Rs. 50 Crore conflicts, free-ranging dogs, and poaching.
 It has been introduced with a focus on ¨ The Interim Budget of India (2024-25) highlights the
- chemical-free farming. promotion of - ‘blue economy 2.0,’ emphasizing
 Under this ten farmers from each panchayat will be sustainable development related to oceans, seas, and
encouraged -to adopt natural farming practices. coasts
¨ The Black Necked Crane assessment was recently  The budget proposes a scheme for-restoration and
carried out by the (February, 2024) - Wildlife Institute adaptation measures, coastal aquaculture, and mariculture
of India and the Zoological Survey of India. with an integrated and multi - sectoral approach.
 Additionally, the budget outlines plan to set up
 Black-necked crane is a medium - sized crane
- five integrated aquaparks
 It is native to -Asia
 It enhance the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada
 It is endemic to - Tibetan Plateau
Yojana (PMMSY)
 This species is found in- India, China and Bhutan
- to increase aquaculture productivity, double
 It breeds in
exports, and generate employment opportunities.
- high altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau
¨ Recently Five more wetlands in India have been
 A small wintering population is also found in
added to (2 February, 2024) - the Ramsar list of
- Sangti and Zimithang valleys of
wetlands of international importance
Arunachal Pradesh.
 The total number of the ramsar sites in india now is - 80
¨ Recently Scientists declare Hindu Kush Himalaya
 The new five ramsar wetland sites are - Aghanashini
-a biosphere on the brink of collapse
Estuary (Karnataka) , Magadi Kere Conservation
 The Hindu kush Himalaya is the world’s most Reserve(Karnataka), Ankasamudra Bird
important -‘water tower’, Conservation Reserve (Karnataka), Karaivetti
 It is being the source of Asia’s largest rivers. It is the Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), Longwood Shola
largest volume of ice and snow Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu)
- outside the Arctic and Antarctica  New Sites were announced on- World Wetlands Day
¨ For the first time, the Kerala government has introduced (2 February) Theme of World Wetlands Day 2024
an (5 February, 2024) - Environment Budget -'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing'
 It was introduced as a distinct document alongside ¨ The Government of India has issued guidelines for
the - State Budget (2 February, 2024) - pilot projects using green
 The sectors selected for the first Environment Budget hydrogen in the shipping and steel sectors Under
are - agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forests National Green Hydrogen Mission.
and wildlife, environment, water resources, Â These projects are implemented by - Ministry of
cooperation, soil survey, and the energy sector. New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)
 It refers to the process of evaluating the ¨ Recently the Wildlife Institute of India and the
- environmental impacts of budgetary Zoological Survey of India have been conducting
and fiscal policies assessments of -the black-necked crane population.
 A separate Environment Budget would help in  The black-necked crane is listed in
-mainstreaming environmental awareness - Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

Current Affairs Pointer (35) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Sports News Current Notes
Description On Cricket,
Hockey, Football, Tennis
Athletics, Chess Etc.

¨ Who became the quickest batter to surpass the ¨ BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2024
milestone of 10,000 runs in T20 cricket? (22 concluded in(25 February, 2024)
February, 2024) - Babar Azam (Pakistan) - Pattaya, Thailand
¨ Who has resigned as the head coach of the Indian  Gold medal winner in men’s singles SL 4
women’s hockey team? (23 February, 2024) - Suhas Yathiraj
- Janneke Schopman  Gold medal winner in men’s singles SH 6
¨ Who has officially unveiled the logo for the highly - Krishna Nagar
 Gold medal winner in men’s Singles SL 3
anticipated 7th North East Youth Festival 2024? (26
- Pramod Bhagat
February, 2024)
¨ Who bettered world record score while winning the
- The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
men’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) national trials? (26
 Mascot of the 7th North East Youth Festival 2024?
February, 2024) - Shooter Aishwary Tomar
- The Phayre’s leaf monkey
¨ The Khelo India Winter Games 2024 concluded in
 The event is scheduled to take place in – Tripura (25 February, 2024) – Gulmarg
¨ Who have completed the Pangong Frozen Lake  Who tops the medal tally of The Khelo India Winter
Marathon 2024? (20 February, 2024) Games 2024? - Army (21 Medal with 10 gold)
- Bhagwan Singh and Mahesh  Which state secured second place in the medal tally
Khurana (Bhopal) of the Khelo India winter games
 The Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon was held in - Karnataka (11 medal with 9 gold)
- Leh-Ladakh  Which state secured third place in the medal tally of
 The marathon was organized by the Khelo India winter games?
- the Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh - Maharashtra (22 medal with 7 gold)
¨ Who has etched her name in the annals of sports ¨ Who won the inaugural JSG Women’s Yuva Kabaddi
history as the India's first female pitch curator? Series 2024? (26 February, 2024)
(February, 2024) - Jacintha Kalyan - Murthal Magnets
¨ Who etched his name in cricketing history by
¨ Who becomes first Indian to take five wickets in
scoring the fastest T20 International (T20I) century?
WPL history?(24 February, 2024) - Asha Shobana
(27 February, 2024) - Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton
¨ Which player completed 4000 runs in Tests during
 Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton belongs to which country?
India’s fourth match against England in Ranchi? (25
– Namibia
February, 2024) - Rohit Sharma
 He scored fastest hundred in T20 International
¨ Who won the New Delhi Marathon title? (25 against - Nepal
February, 2024) - Gopi Thonakal  Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton scored hundred in how many
¨ Who clinched his eighth PSA title with a convincing bowl? - 33
3-0 victory over Elliott Morris Devred of Wales in ¨ Who announces retirement from the international
the final of the Goodfellow Classic, a 9000 Dollar cricket? (27 February, 2024) - Neil Wagner
Challenger event, in Toronto? (24 February, 2024) Â Neil Wagner belongs to which country?
- Abhay Singh - New Zealand
Current Affairs Pointer (36) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
¨ Which team books its place in the women’s football ¨ Who surpassed Dhoni’s tally of 78 sixes Test cricket
tournament at the Paris Olympics after defeating during the opening day of the third Test against
Uzbekistan? (28 February,ruary, 2024) - Australia England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot?
¨ Who is set be elected unopposed as the Paralympic (15 February, 2024) - Rohit Sharma
Committee of India (PCI) president? (February, Â The record for most sixes in Tests by an Indian
2024) - Devendra Jhajharia - Virender Sehwag (91 sixes)
 Devendra Jhajharia will replace which Para athlete ¨ Who made his international debut during the third
as the Paralympics Committee of India president Test between India and England at the Niranjan Shah
– Deepa Malik Stadium in Rajkot? – Sarfaraz khan
 Devendra Jhajharia is associated with ¨ Indian football national team has fallen at which
- Javelin throw position in the latest FIFA rankings? (16 February,
¨ The overall champion of the fourth Khelo India 2024) - 117th position
University Games (29 February, 2024) ¨ Who became second Indian bowler to take 500
- Chandigarh University
wickets in Test matches? (16 February, 2024)
 How many medals were won by the Chandigarh
- Ravichandran Ashwin
University?
 First india bowler to achieve this feat
-71 medals (32-Gold, 18 silver, 21 Bronze)
- Anil Kumble
 How many Indian universities competed for the
 After achieving this feat, R. Ashwin comes at which
KIUG 2024 title? – Over 200
place world wide? - 9th
 Top three universities in the Khelo India University
 R. Ashwin achieved this feat in how many matches?
games - Chandigarh University(71 medals),
- 98 match
Lovely Professional University (42 medals), Guru
¨ Who won the Qatar Open for the third year in a
Nanak Dev University (51 Medals)
 Who was the most successful female athlete? row after beating Elena Rybakina in the final? (17
- Pratyasa Ray , Swimmer (Utkal University) February, 2024) - Iga Swiatek
with 4 gold, 1 silver & 1 Bronze  The first player to win three straight titles at the
 The most successful male athlete same WTA event since Serena Williams completed
- Xavier Michael Dsouza a Miami Open hat-trick from 2013-15
(Jain University) with 4 gold - Iga Swiatek
¨ The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced ¨ Who broke the National Record to win gold in the
a new competition(29 February, 2024) women’s 60m hurdles at the Asian Indoor Athletics
- Swami Vivekananda U20 National Football Championships? (17 February, 2024)
Championship - Jyothi Yarraji (India)
¨ Who won the inaugural edition of the UEFA Â The Asian Indoor Athletics Championship was held
Women’s Nations League? (29 February, 2024) in – Tehran
– Spain  Who clinched India’s first gold in the Asian Indoor
 Women’s National League was held in - Spain Athletics Championship clocking 4:29.55 in the
¨ Who has been selected to host the 2027 World women’s 1500m - Harmilan Bains
Athletics Championships? (29 February, 2024) Â Jyothi Yarraji clocked how many second in the finals
- Beijing to break her own National Record and win India’s
¨ Who has been banned for 12 year for her second second gold in the competition? - 8.12s
anti-doping rule violation by Athletics Integrity ¨ India’s biggest win (by runs) in the longest format of
Unit (AIU) and the National Anti-Doping Agency the game (test cricket) against (17 February, 2024)
(NADA) (13 February, 2024) - Rachna Kumari – England by 434 runs
¨ Who showcased his skills at the Diving in World in the third test match series
Aquatics Championships in Doha, marking 59 years ¨ Who equaled Wasim Akram’s record for most sixes
since retirement (9 February, 2024) (12) by a batter in a Test innings? (17 February,
- Iranian diver Taghi Askari (100 years old) 2024) – Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
Current Affairs Pointer (37) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Who becomes third-youngest batter to score two ¨ Who is the esteemed Vidarbha cricketer, who
Test double hundreds? - Yashasvi Jaiswal (India) has decided to retire from all forms of the game ?
 Who broke record for most sixes by an Indian in an (February, 2024) - Faiz Fazal
innings in Tests? - Yashasvi Jaiswal (India) ¨ Who inaugurated the fourth Khelo India Winter
¨ The teen prodigy who scripted history by guiding Games 2024? (21 February, 2024)
India to its first Asian Team Championships title (18 - Jammu and Kashmir
February, 2024) - Anmol Kharb Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha
¨ Who won a historic gold medal at the Badminton ¨ Who was named the head coach of UAE’s men’s
Asia Team Championships 2024? (18 February, cricket team for a three-year period? (21 February,
2024) - Indian women’s team 2024)
 The badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 was - Former India cricketer Lalchand Rajput
held in - Shah Alam, Malaysia ¨ Who bagged 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament?
 India Team defeated which team to clinch gold in (February, 2024) - Wei Yi (China)
¨ Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium is
the badminton Asia Team championship 2024?
rebranded as the (14 February, 2024)
- Thailand
- Niranjan Shah Stadium
 The Indian men's team had previously won two
 The change comes as a tribute to the former first-
bronze in - 2016 and 2020
class cricketer and senior cricket administrator
 The 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships
- Niranjan Shah
served as a qualifying tournament for
 In which decades did Niranjan Shah play first-class
- the 2024 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals
cricket for Saurashtra?
 The tournament was organized by
-From the mid-1960s to the mid -1970s
- Badminton Asia along with the Badminton
¨ Who has been honoured with a plaque at the famous
Association of Malaysia
Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch, known as the ‘Top of
¨ Who was selected as the Captain of IPL's all-time
Europe’, in Switzerland ( 8 February,, 2024)
greatest team? (18 February, 2024)
- Neeraj Chopra
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni ¨ The Centre has awarded How many rupees to
¨ Who has secured a Paris Olympics quota in dressage athletes under the Khelo India scholarship scheme
discipline in Equestrian? (19 February, 2024) during the 2023-24 financial year? - over 30 crore
- Anush Agarwalla ¨ Who launched the Logo, Anthem, Mascot, Jersey
¨ Who was designated as Punjab 'state icon' for Lok and Torch of Khelo India University Games - 2023?
Sabha polls? (19 February, 2024) - Shubman Gill (8 February, 2024) - Assam Chief Minister
¨ Who lost his men’s 3000m gold medal in the Asian Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma
Indoor Athletics Championships after he was  Khelo India University Games – 2023 will be held
disqualified for ‘lane infringement’? (19 February, in – Guwahati, Assam
2024) - Gulveer Singh (India) Â The mascot of the Khelo India University Games
¨ Who became the second-fastest bowler to pick up 2023 - Ashtalakshmi (Butterfly)
100 T20I wickets? (20 February, 2024) ¨ Sportstar Aces Awards 2024 - (February, 2024)
- Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) Â Sportsman of the Year (Individual)
¨ Who made history by defeating 37-year-old - Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty
Polish grandmaster Jacek Stopa at the Burgdorfer  Sportswoman of the Year (Individual)
Stadthaus-Open in Switzerland at the age of just 8 - Rameshbabu Vaishali, Sift Kaur Samra
years and 6 months? (21 February, 2024) Â Sportsman of the Year (Parasports) - Sumit Antil
- Ashwath Kaushik  Sportswoman of the Year (Parasports)
 The youngest chess player Ashwath Kaushik who - Thulasimathi Murugesan
defeats a grandmaster belongs to - Singapore  Coach of the Year - Rahul Dravid

Current Affairs Pointer (38) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Sportstar of the Year (Male) - Neeraj Chopra  Where was the 15th CEC Ice Hockey Cup
 Sportstar of the Year (Female) - Sheetal Devi Championship held? - Ladakh
 National Team of the Year ¨ Who won the U19 cricket world cup 2024? (11
- India Men’s Cricket Team February, 2024 ) - Australia
 Best State for the Promotion of Sport - Tamil Nadu  Which country hosted U19 cricket world cup 2024?
 Ace of Aces Award - Rohan Bopanna - South Africa
 Lifetime Achievement Award  Australia won the U19 world cup 2024 against India
- Chandu Borde, Karnam Malleswari by – 79 Runs
 Sportsman of the Year (Team Sports)  Who scored Most Run in this tournament
- Hardik Singh, Mohammed Shami – Uday Saharan (India) , 397 Runs
¨ SAFF Women’s U-19 Championship was held in  Who took most no. of Wicket in this tournament
(2-8 February, 2024) -Dhaka, Bangladesh - Kewena Maphaka (South Africa), 21 Wickets
 Which country won the SAFF Women’s U-19  Most win by a team in this tournament – India , 6
Championship? Â Who was named U19 Cricket World Cup Player of
- India and Bangladesh declared joint winner the Tournament?- Kwena Maphaka (South Africa)
 Who was the captain of Indian women’s football  Who has been named as player of the Match in
Team? - Nitu Linda finals? - Mahli Beardman (Australia)
¨ Who hosted the “Road to Paris 2024: Championing
¨ Who won the top prize in the International High
Clean Sports and Uniting for Anti-Doping”
Jump Gala Elmos 2024 athletics meet in Heist-op-
Conference? (10 February, 2024)
den-Berg, Belgium, with a leap of 2.23 metres (10
- National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
February,, 2024) - Tejaswin Shankar (India)
 What was the purpose of the conference- NADA's
¨ Which country will host the 2029 World Aquatics
conference educates Indian athletes on
Championships? - Beijing ( 11 February, 2024 )
- antidoping ahead of Paris Olympics
 Host Nation of the 2025 World Aquatics
 Who Virtually inaugurated the Centre of Excellence
Championships - Singapore
for Nutritional Supplements Testing (CoE-NSTS) at
 Host Nation of the 2027 World Aquatics
the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)
Championships - Budapest Hungry
in Gandhinagar, Gujarat? - Anurag Singh Thakur
¨ The men’s marathon world record holder who had
 Who is known for its expertise in forensic and
died in a Car accident? (11 February, 2024)
cyber sciences, now houses a cutting-edge facility
– Kelvin Kiptum( Kenya)
dedicated to testing nutritional supplements for
athletes  Kelvin Kiptum had made history at the Chicago
- National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) Marathon by setting a new world record
 Who unveiled “The Paris Pinnacle: NADA’s Guide – In 2:00:35 Hours
to Ethical Sporting,” a comprehensive resource ¨ Former Indian cricket team captain who passed
providing guidelines for athletes preparing for the away recently (13 February, 2024)
Paris Olympics 2024 - Dattajirao Gaekwad
- National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) ¨ Who inaugurated the Gandhinagar Premier League
¨ Who joins Chennai Super Kings as their Official (GPL) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat? (12 February, 2024)
Sponsor? (8 February, 2024) - Etihad Airways - Union Home Minister
 Headquarter of the Etihad Airways Amit Shah
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ¨ Who will lead India at the T20 Men’s World Cup
¨ The first-ever player to score a double century in One 2024? - Rohit Sharma
Day Internationals (ODIs) for Sri Lanka (9 February, ¨ The Chess Olympiad torch was handed off by India
2024) - Pathum Nissanka to (14 February, 2024) - Hungary
¨ Who is the winner of 15th CEC Ice Hockey Cup  2024 Chess Olympiad will be held in – Hungary
Championship ( 10 February, 2024) ¨ Who is the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations
- Drass Warriors (AFCON)-2023? - Ivory Coast
Current Affairs Pointer (39) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Runner up of the African Cup of Nations(AFCON) – ¨ Who was awarded the Breakthrough Archer of the
2023? - Nigeria Year 2023 by World Archery? (4 February, 2024)
 Host Nation - Côte d'Ivoire - Aditi Swami
¨ The Khelo India Youth Games 2024, showcasing ¨ Who became the junior World No. 1 as per the FIDE
the nation’s young sporting talent in a celebration ranking? (2 February,2024) - R.Praggnanandhaa
of skill, determination, and sportsmanship has ¨ Which Indian has been selected as torchbearer for
concluded in (31 January, 2024) – Tamil Nadu the 2024 Paris Olympics? -Abhinav Bindra
 Which edition of the Khelo India Youth Games 2024  How many torchbearer has been selected for the
was organized in Tamil Nadu? - Sixth Edition 2024 Paris Olympics? - 11000
 How many cities of Tamil Nadu Hosted the Khelo ¨ Who has gained approval to host the FIFA World
India Youth Games 2024? Cup qualifiers for India vs. Kuwait?
-4 (Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and Coimbatore) - The Telangana Football Association (TFA)
 Which state leads the tally with the highest number  The match is scheduled to take place on June 6th of
of total medals? -Maharashtra (158 medals) this year in – Hyderabad
¨ The Sports Ministry’s Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) ¨ The Indian Davis Cup team defeated which country
has approved Commonwealth Games medallist to seal place in World Group 1? (4 February, 2024)
- Pakistan
Tejaswin Shankar’s request for financial assistance
¨ Who organised a grand get-together to commemorate
towards participation in
the 50th anniversary of India’s first Davis Cup
- Continental tour events in Europe
final appearance in the Open era of tennis (5
¨ The first part of 4th edition of Khelo India Winter
February,ruary, 2024) - The Madras Cricket Club
Games 2024 was held in (2-6 February, 2024)
¨ The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will be played at
- Ladakh
- MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA
 The second part of the Games will be held in (21-25
¨ The first Indian pacer to top the ICC Test rankings
February, 2024) - Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir
after a stellar performance against England in
 The mascot of the Khelo India winter Games
Visakhapatnam (February, 2024) -Jasprit Bumrah
- the snow leopard ‘Sheen-e She’ or Shan
¨ Who was elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket
¨ The annual general meeting of the International Board (PCB)? - Media mogul Mohsin Naqvi
Cricket Conference will be held in – Sri Lanka ¨ Who was appointed as Gujarat Giants’ head coach
¨ The World Aquatics Championships 2024 will be ahead of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024?
held in- (2-18 February, 2024) – Doha - Former Australia cricketer Michael Klinger
¨ Who claim the 87kg crown in the Greco Roman ¨ The first-ever BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship
competitions on the opening day of the National was officially declared open in (7-9 February, 2024)
Wrestling Championships 2024 at the Railway - New Delhi
Stadium (3 February, 2024) - Sunil Kumar  The BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship 2024 stands
¨ Who became the third-youngest Indian player to as a testament to the growing cooperation and
record a double hundred in Tests? (3 February, 2024) camaraderie among the member states of
- Yashasvi Jaiswal - The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
¨ He scored this test centuary? Technical and Economic
nd
- during 2 test match against england Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
¨ Who became the fastest Indian pace bowler to pick  The first-ever BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship
150 Test Wickets? - Jasprit Bumrah was officially opened by
¨ He picked these wicket-in 34 test. His 150th test - Anurag Singh Thakur (Union Minister of
wicket come against - England (Ben Stokes) Youth Affairs & Sports of India)

Current Affairs Pointer (40) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra