Current Affairs Feb 17, 2024
National News
Arunachal Pradesh Achieves 100% Coverage Under Har Ghar Jal Scheme
- Arunachal Pradesh becomes the first northeastern state to achieve 100% coverage under the Har Ghar Jal scheme.
- The scheme provides functional household tap connections in every rural home.
- Arunachal Pradesh joins the elite club of states and union territories including Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Haryana, Telangana, Puducherry, Gujarat, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh which have also attained 100% coverage.
- This achievement marks a significant milestone in ensuring access to safe and clean drinking water for all rural households in the state.
Har ghar jal scheme:
Since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household by 2024. Water is a state subject and therefore, the primary responsibility for planning and implementing piped water supply schemes to provide tap water to their households, lies with the respective State/UT. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance under JJM.
Income Tax Exemptions Granted to Dairy Cooperative Societies by Indian Government
- Initiative Overview: Union Minister Parshottam Rupala grants income tax exemptions to Dairy Cooperative Societies under the Income Tax Act, 1961, aiming to provide relief to these cooperative entities.
- Deduction for Milk Supply: Primary cooperative societies supplying milk to the Federal Cooperative Society are eligible to claim deductions under section 80P of the Income Tax Act of 1961.
Haryana Police Deploys Drones to Disperse Protesters: First Instance in India
- Haryana police utilized drones to disperse farmers protesting near Shambhu border on February 13, 2024.
- Tear gas shells were dropped from the drones to scatter the protesting crowd.
- This marks the first reported instance of Indian law enforcement employing drones against protesters in such a manner.
- The move has sparked controversy and raised concerns over the use of technology in handling protests.
Kerala Receives Health Ministry Award for TB Elimination Efforts
- Kerala has been awarded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for its exceptional tuberculosis elimination activities.
- The award recognizes Kerala’s effective coordination of the National TB Elimination Programme’s activities within the private health sector.
- Kerala’s achievement lies in registering the highest number of new TB cases from the private sector on the NIKSHAY portal.
International News
Launch of ‘State of the World’s Migratory Species’ Report at CMS COP14
- The first-ever ‘State of the World’s Migratory Species’ report was unveiled at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from February 12-17, 2024.
- The CMS COP14 is convened under the theme, “Nature knows no borders”, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in conservation efforts.
About United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP);
- Executive Director- Inger Andersen
- Headquarters- Nairobi, Kenya
- Establishment- 1972
- Members 193 Member States
Defense News
12th Edition of MILAN Naval Exercise: Strengthening Maritime Security through Cooperation
- The MILAN naval exercise, set to take place in Visakhapatnam from February 19 to 27, will gather naval forces from over 50 countries.
- Theme: “Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future,” emphasizing cooperation for enhancing global maritime security.
- Focus: Bolstering the safety of maritime trade, crucial for the global economy, through shared efforts and expertise.
- MILAN 2023 aims to facilitate strategic dialogue and collaboration among participating nations to address common maritime challenges.
Scheme News
MSME Minister Narayan Rane Launches Special Scheme for Informal Micro Enterprises
- MSME Minister Narayan Rane inaugurated a scheme for Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs) exempted from GST, enabling them to access collateral-free loans up to Rs 20 lakh under CGTMSE.
- The scheme, titled ‘Special Provision for Informal Micro Enterprises under Credit Guarantee Scheme,’ aims to provide credit support to micro or nano enterprises.
- This initiative seeks to empower IMEs by facilitating easier access to finance, fostering growth, and promoting entrepreneurship in the MSME sector.
MSME (MICRO SMALL MEDIUM ENTERPRISE) ministry
- The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises is the ministry of the Government of India. It is the apex executive body for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations, and laws relating to micro, small, and medium enterprises in India.
- Officeholders: Ateesh Kumar Singh (Joint Secretary to the Government of India),
- Founded: 9 May 2007
- MSME Minister Narayan Rane
SBI Introduces Digital Enrolment for PMJJBY and PMSBY
- SBI enables digital enrolment for PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes, eliminating the need for branch visits.
- Customers can subscribe via the Jan Suraksha portal by entering their account number and date of birth.
- PMJJBY offers one-year term life insurance cover for death due to any cause, renewable annually.
- PMSBY provides accident insurance cover for accidental death and disability resulting from an accident.
What is PMJJBY Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana?
- Coverage: One-year term life insurance scheme, renewable annually, covering death due to any cause.
- Eligibility: Open to individual (single or joint) account holders aged 18 to 50 in participating banks/Post offices.
- Scope: Participants can join through one bank/Post office account only, even with multiple accounts.
- Death Benefit: Rs. 2 lakh payable on the subscriber’s death due to any cause.
- Premium: Rs. 436/- per annum per subscriber.
- Pro-rata Premium: Payment adjusted based on enrollment time within the policy period, ranging from full premium to reduced amounts.
- Renewal Premium: Full year’s premium of Rs. 436/- payable at renewal under the scheme.
What is PMSBY PRADHAN MANTRI SURAKSHA BIMA YOJANA?
- Coverage: Offers accidental death and disability cover for one year, renewable annually.
- Eligibility: Open to individual bank/Post office account holders aged 18 to 70.
- Scope: Participants can join through one bank/Post office account only, even if they hold multiple accounts.
- KYC: Aadhar serves as the primary KYC for the bank/Post office account.
- Premium: Rs. 20/- per annum per member, deducted through auto debit before 1st June annually.
- Commencement: Cover starts from the date of auto debit, even if after 1st June.
- Premium Review: Yearly premium adjustments based on claims experience.
Awards News
City Union Bank’s Technological Triumph at the 19th Banking Technology Conference
- City Union Bank, led by Dr. N Kamakodi, clinched seven awards at the 19th Banking Technology Conference, Expo & Citations in 2023.
- Secured top positions in various categories reflecting technological excellence.
- Also attained runner-up positions in the Best Digital Engagement, Best IT Risk Management, and Best Technology Talent categories.
CITI UNION BANK
- Ceo: dr. N. Kamakodi (1 may 2011–)
- headquarters: Kumbakonam
- founded: 1904
Agreements News
India and Colombia Sign MoU on Digital Transformation Cooperation
- MoU Signing: India and Colombia inked an agreement to collaborate in sharing successful digital solutions implemented at a population scale.
- Objective: Aimed at fostering digital transformation by sharing India’s open-sourced Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs), with a particular focus on India Stack Solutions.
Colombia
- Capital: The capital city of Colombia is Bogotá.
- Spanish is the official language of Colombia.
- The currency of Colombia is the Colombian peso
