Current Affairs Feb 15, 2024
NATIONAL NEWS
Ministry of Electronics and IT Organizes ‘Digital India’ Future Skills Summit in Guwahati
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is set to host the ‘Digital India’ Future Skills Summit in Guwahati.
- The summit will take place in Guwahati, with the event scheduled for tomorrow.
- The summit aims to address future skills development in the context of India’s digital transformation, highlighting the importance of skill-building initiatives in advancing the Digital India campaign.
- The summit is expected to bring together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and the tech sector to discuss strategies for enhancing digital skills across various sectors.
Objective: Through panel discussions, presentations, and interactive sessions, the summit seeks to foster collaboration and innovation in skill development, ensuring that India’s workforce is equipped with the necessary competencies to thrive in the digital era.
Ministry of electronics and information technology:
- Officeholders: Ashwini Vaishnaw (Minister), Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Minister of State)
- Founded: 5 July 2016
- Headquarters: New Delhi
REC Limited Signs Agreements Worth Rs. 588 Crores with Damodar Valley Corporation for Infrastructure and Energy Projects
- REC Limited, a leading NBFC under the Ministry of Power, signs agreements with Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) worth Rs. 588 crores.
- The agreements aim to enhance cooperation between REC and DVC for infrastructure and energy projects in the Damodar Valley region.
- Agreements include a Term Loan agreement, an Escrow agreement, and Hypothecation deeds to support the development of tubed coal mines.
- Signed by senior officials from REC and DVC, including Shri Santosh Kumar Sahu and Shri Durgesh Maity, in the presence of DVC’s Chairman and Managing Director, Shri S. Suresh Kumar.
REC (Rural Electrification Corporation Limited)
- Parent organization: Power Finance Corp
- Headquarters: National Capital Region Delhi
- Founded: 25 July 1969
- Formerly: Rural Electrification Corporation Limited
DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation)
- Headquarters: Kolkata
- Founded: 7 July 1948
- Key people: Shri S.Suresh Kumar IAS; (Chairman)
BANKING NEWS
AIIMS-SBI Smart Payment Card Launch: Revolutionizing Hospital Payments
- Launched by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya for hassle-free payments at AIIMS.
- Initial rollout at AIIMS, New Delhi, with future expansion to all AIIMS in India.
- Validity of 5 years from the date of issue, offering convenience and efficiency.
- MoU signed between SBI and AIIMS for card implementation, dubbed “One AIIMS, One Card”.
- Addresses the challenge of patients carrying cash to hospitals, ensuring seamless transactions.
Advantages of AIIMS Smart Payment Card Implementation
- Resolves cash-carrying issues by enabling patients to obtain cards from AIIMS facilitation centers.
- Provided free of cost with no service charges, enhancing accessibility for patients.
- Linked to patient’s UHID and ABHA ID, streamlining payment processes and enhancing security.
- Top-ups and refunds require OTP verification linked to the patient’s mobile for added security.
- Replacement card provided free of cost in case of loss, with the remaining balance transferred.
AIIMS DELHI:
- Establishment: AIIMS, New Delhi, was established in 1956 as an autonomous institution through an Act of Parliament.
- Objective: It was established to provide high-quality medical education, healthcare, and research facilities in various fields of medicine.
SBI bank:
- Establishment: The State Bank of India (SBI) has its roots in the Bank of Calcutta, founded in 1806. Renamed the Bank of Bengal, it merged with the Bank of Bombay and Bank of Madras in 1921 to form the Imperial Bank of India. Nationalized in 1955, it emerged as the State Bank of India, India’s largest bank by assets, branches, and customer base.
- Ownership: SBI is a government-owned corporation, with the Government of India holding the majority stake.
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara
SPORTS NEWS
Highlights from the 2024 Sportstar Aces Awards
- Indian Olympian Neeraj Chopra was honored with the Sportstar of the Year (Male) award.
- Indian paraarcher Sheetal Devi was recognized as the Sportstar of the Year (Female) and also received the Moment of the Year award.
- The event was held at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Awards are presented in 24 categories, including Popular Choice and Jury Awards.
- Rohan Bopanna, the 2024 Australian Open men’s doubles champion and Padma Shri awardee, received the prestigious ‘Ace of Aces award’.
Sports minister Anurag Thakur along with FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich handoff torch relay to host country Hungary in Budapest
- Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur presents the Chess Olympiad Torch to Budapest.
- The handoff ceremony took place at Delhi’s Major Dhyanchand National Stadium,
- The event signifies India’s engagement with the global chess community.
- It underscores India’s commitment to promoting sportsmanship and international collaboration.
- The Chess Olympiad is a prestigious biennial event for teams worldwide.
- Thakur’s participation strengthens ties between India and Hungary in sports diplomacy
History: The 1st Chess Olympiad Torch Relay was kicked off in a ceremony by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium on 19th June 2022.
Chess Olympiad
- The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams representing nations of the world compete. FIDE organizes the tournament and selects the host nation.
- International Chess Federation (FIDE)
- President: Arkady Dvorkovich
- Headquarters:
- Founded: 20 July 1924, Paris, France
ECONOMY NEWS
Inaugural Session of 16th Finance Commission under Arvind Panagariya’s Leadership
- The 16th Finance Commission convened its inaugural session, led by Arvind Panagariya, to deliberate on its Terms of Reference (ToR).
- Aims to engage in comprehensive analytical endeavors and leverage expertise from prominent research institutions and think tanks specializing in fiscal federal relations.
What is a finance commission?
The Finance Commission in India is a constitutional body established under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. Here are some key points about the Finance Commission:
- Role: The Finance Commission is tasked with the responsibility of recommending the distribution of financial resources between the Union government and the state governments, as well as among the states themselves.
- Constitution: It is constituted every five years by the President of India and consists of a chairman and four other members appointed by the President
Ministry of Defence Achieves ₹1 Lakh Crore Procurement Milestone on GeM Portal
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reached a significant milestone with procurement worth ₹1 lakh crore on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal since its inception in 2016.
- Over 5.47 lakh orders were executed through GeM, covering general store items to critical defense acquisitions.
- The current fiscal year witnesses transactions worth approximately ₹45,800 crore, reflecting robust procurement activity and efficiency of the GeM platform.
Ministry of Defence:
- Officeholder: Rajnath Singh (Minister)
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: August 1947
India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Records Notable Moderation in January
- India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) reaches a three-month low of 0.27% in January, reflecting a significant moderation.
- Reduced prices in both food articles and manufacturing products contribute to the decline, as reported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Inflation in food prices sees a notable slowdown, dropping to a three-month low of 6.85% in January compared to 9.38% in December.
Ministry of commerce and industry:
- Officeholders: Anupriya Patel (Minister of State), Piyush Goyal (Minister), C.R.Chaudhary (Minister of State)
- Headquarters: Vanijya Bhawan; 16, Akbar Road, New Delhi, Delhi, India
AWARD NEWS
Havildar Varinder Singh Honored with Vishisht Seva Medal for Innovations in Military Technology
- Havildar Varinder Singh, from the Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army, was awarded the prestigious Vishisht Seva Medal.
- President Droupadi Murmu conferred the accolade in recognition of Singh’s remarkable contribution to military technology.
- Singh developed the Multipurpose Octocopter, a ground-breaking piece of equipment showcasing innovation in drone technology.
- Unlike conventional drones, Singh’s creation offers versatility beyond surveillance, capable of executing various tasks effectively.
Vishisht Seva Medal
The Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) is a prestigious military decoration awarded by the Government of India to recognize exceptional service or performance of the highest order in any field of service. Here are some key points about the Vishisht Seva Medal
- Establishment: The Vishisht Seva Medal was established on January 26, 1960, by the President of India, in recognition of exceptional service rendered by officers and personnel of the armed forces.
- Criteria: The medal is awarded for distinguished service of a high order, not normally associated with the individual’s rank or position. It may be awarded for acts of gallantry in the face of the enemy, as well as for meritorious service rendered during peacetime.
OBITUARY NEWS
Passing of Genetic Medicine Specialist and Padma Shri Awardee I.C. Verma
- Renowned specialist in genetic medicine, I.C. Verma, passed away.
- Born on December 25, 1936, he made significant contributions to the field.
- Awarded the Padma Shri in 2023, one of India’s highest civilian honors, for his achievements in Medicine.
Padma Awards GK:
- Establishment: The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honors in India. They were established in 1954 by the Government of India.
- Categories: The awards are presented in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri – in recognition of distinguished service in various fields.
- Padma Vibhushan: It is the second-highest civilian award in India, given for exceptional and distinguished service.
- Padma Bhushan: The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award, recognizing distinguished service of a high order.
- Padma Shri: This is the fourth-highest civilian award, given for distinguished service in any field including service rendered by government servants.