Current Affairs Feb 16, 2024
NATIONAL NEWS
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has revised the National Film Awards

- Changes are driven by recommendations from the Committee for Rationalization of Film Awards.
- Effective from the 70th edition of the National Film Awards (2022), with entries closed on January 30th, 2024.
Major changes:
i. Renaming of Awards: The ‘Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director’ is now ‘Best Debut Film of a Director’, with a Swarna Kamal and Rs 3 lakh cash prize solely for the director.
ii. Category Mergers: The ‘Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration’ has been merged with ‘Best Film on Social Issues’ and ‘Best Film on Environment’.
Revision of Prize Money
i. Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Prize money increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh for outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
ii. Swarna Kamal and Rajat Kamal Awards: Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) winners now receive Rs 3 lakh, and Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) winners receive Rs 2 lakh, regardless of categories, standardizing prize amounts.
Overview of National Film Awards
- Organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
- Awards are divided into four sections: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, Best Writing on Cinema, and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement.
- In 2024, there will be 27 awards for feature films, 15 for non-feature films, and 2 for best writing on cinema.
Gupteswar Forest Declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site in Odisha

- Odisha government designates Gupteswar forest in Koraput district as its fourth Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
- Gupteswar forest spans 350 hectares, featuring sacred grooves revered by locals and diverse flora and fauna.
- Located adjacent to the Gupteswar Shiva temple in the Dhondrakhol reserve forest under the Jeypore forest division.
Biodiversity Heritage Sites: Overview and Legal Authority
- Designation of areas of biodiversity significance as ‘Biodiversity Heritage Sites’ is governed by Section 37(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- State government holds the authority to notify such sites through its Official Gazette.
- Biodiversity Heritage Sites signify areas of ecological importance, conservation, and cultural significance.
Kaji Nemu Declared State Fruit of Assam

- Assam Government designates Kaji Nemu (Citrus Limon) as the State Fruit, announced by Agriculture Minister Atul Bora.
- Known as the “Queen of all citrus fruits”, Kaji Nemu is a medium-to-large lemon variety with a distinctive elongated shape.
- Exclusive to Assam and certain regions of northeast India, it boasts a thin, glossy rind and unique aroma, alongside antioxidant properties.
- Received Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019 as ‘Agricultural’ Goods, emphasizing its regional significance and quality.
What is a geographical indication?
A geographical indication (GI) is a sign or indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation, or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin. To qualify as a GI, the sign must serve to identify the product as originating from a particular geographic area. This recognition helps consumers associate the product with its unique qualities, heritage, and geographical origin, while also providing protection against unauthorized use or imitation.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi Inaugurates First Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, Symbolizing Religious Freedom and India-UAE Ties

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the first traditional Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, marking a historic moment for the Indian community in the Middle East.
- The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple, also the largest in the region, symbolizes religious freedom and strengthens ties between India and the United Arab Emirates.
- Prime Minister Modi offers prayers to the deities along with saints following the inauguration, emphasizing the significance of the occasion.
- Thousands gather to witness the grand opening, with the temple set to open to the public on March 1 after the consecration ceremony held earlier today.
APPOINTMENT NEWS: Boeing appoints Nikhil Joshi as Managing Director of Boeing Defense India (BDI) to bolster its operations and growth strategy in India’s aerospace sector.
SCIENCE AND TECH NEWS
GSLV-F14 Launch with INSAT-3DS

- The GSLV-F14 carrying INSAT-3DS is slated for launch at 5.30 p.m. tomorrow from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
- This mission marks the 16th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 10th flight featuring the indigenous cryogenic stage.
- INSAT-3DS is expected to enhance India’s communication capabilities, serving various sectors including broadcasting, telecommunication, and meteorology.
- The launch signifies India’s continued advancements in space technology and its commitment to achieving self-reliance in satellite launch capabilities.
ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, is the space agency of the Government of India
- Formation: ISRO was founded on August 15, 1969, by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often regarded as the father of the Indian space program.
- Objectives: The primary objectives of ISRO include developing space technology and its application for various national tasks, promoting space science research, and exploring planetary systems.
- Launch Vehicles: ISRO has developed several launch vehicles, including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and the GSLV Mark III, which is capable of launching heavier payloads.
RANKS AND REPORT
The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released its 21st quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) bulletin for October-December 2023 (Q3FY24).

- Urban Unemployment Rate (UR) Drops: The Urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above decreased to 6.5% in Q3FY24, the lowest in over 4 years.
- comparison with Previous Quarters: UR was 6.6% in Q2FY24 and 7.2% in Q3FY23.
- Increase in Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR in Current Weekly Status (CWS) rose to 49.9% in Q3FY24 from 48.2% in Q3FY23 at the all-India level.
About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): Minister of State (Independent Charge)- Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency- Gurugram, Haryana)
Indian Football Team Slips to 117th Position in FIFA Rankings
- The Indian national football team drops 15 places to 117th position in the latest FIFA rankings, marking its lowest position in seven years.
- This decline comes after the team’s disappointing performance at the AFC Asian Cup, where it lost all three group matches and failed to secure a single point.
- The fall in rankings highlights the need for improvement and restructuring within the Indian football setup to compete more effectively at the international level.
FIFA:
FIFA, which stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the international governing body for the sport of football (soccer). Here are some key points about FIFA:
- Formation: FIFA was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.
- Responsibilities: FIFA is responsible for organizing and overseeing international football competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, which is the most prestigious tournament in the sport.
- Member Associations: FIFA has 211 member associations, making it one of the largest sporting organizations in the world.
- World Cup: The FIFA World Cup is held every four years and features teams from around the world competing for the title of world champion.
BANKING NEWS
RBI Collaborates with Nepal Rastra Bank to Integrate UPI and NPI

- RBI partners with Nepal Rastra Bank to integrate the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and the National Payments Interface (NPI) of Nepal.
- The Formal agreement aims at facilitating seamless cross-border transactions by linking fast payment systems.
- Collaboration targets the establishment of infrastructure for interlinking UPI and NPI to enhance efficiency in cross-border remittances.
What is UPI?
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It facilitates instant fund transfers between two bank accounts using a mobile platform. Key points about UPI include:
- Introduction: UPI was launched in April 2016 to simplify digital transactions in India.
South Indian Bank Wins Best Technology Bank of the Year Award

- South Indian Bank receives the Best Technology Bank of the Year Award at the 19th IBA Annual Banking Technology Conference, Expo, & Citations.
- The bank secured a total of six awards, including three wins, one runner-up position, and two special mentions.
- T Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor of RBI, presents the award to PR Seshadri, MD & CEO of South Indian Bank, at the Mumbai event organized by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
SPORTS NEWS
UWW Lifts Suspension on Wrestling Federation of India

- The United World Wrestling (UWW) lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on February 13, 2024.
- WFI’s suspension, imposed in August 2023 due to election delays, is revoked.
- UWW mandates WFI to conduct Athletes’ Commission elections before July 1, 2024.
- WFI must provide written assurances to UWW against discriminatory actions towards protesting wrestlers.
- Indian wrestlers can now compete internationally under the Indian flag, having previously competed as ‘neutral athletes’ during the suspension.