Current Affairs Feb 9, 2024
National news
“Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad Makes Historic Visit to Ram Temple in Ayodhya”
- Professor Biman Prasad, accompanied by a six-member delegation, becomes the first foreign leader to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
- Deputy Prime Minister Prasad offers darshan of Shri Ram Lalla and expresses belief that the temple will enhance Fiji-India relations.
- Prasad’s visit underscores the cultural and religious ties between Fiji and India, marking a significant diplomatic gesture.
“New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 to Showcase Multi-Lingual India, with Saudi Arabia as Guest of Honour”
- The New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 is scheduled from 10th to 18th February at Pragati Maidan, focusing on the theme “Multi-Lingual India, A Living Tradition.”
- Director of the National Book Trust, Yuvraj Malik, announces Saudi Arabia as the guest of honour for this year’s fair.
- Entry is free for school children, senior citizens, and differently-abled individuals, aiming to promote inclusivity and access to literature.
“Maharashtra Government Partners with Google for AI Solutions Across Healthcare, Education, and Agriculture”
- The Maharashtra government has inked an MoU with Google to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for addressing challenges in key sectors.
- The agreement, signed at Google’s Pune office, aims to utilize AI solutions for enhancing healthcare, education, and agricultural practices.
- Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis oversees the signing, highlighting the state’s commitment to embracing innovative technologies for societal advancement.
“Bihar Introduces NITISH Device for Early Natural Calamity Alerts”
- The Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) launches the Novel Initiative Technological Intervention for Safety of Human Lives (NITISH) device in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
- Developed by BSDMA in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Patna, Bihar, the pendant-like NITISH device aims to provide advance warnings for natural disasters.
- Synced with the Bihar Meteorological Service Centre, the device alerts individuals half an hour before occurrences of calamities such as lightning, floods, heatwaves, and cold waves, enhancing preparedness and reducing risks.
“Tata Trusts and Ratan Tata Launch India’s Premier Small Animal Hospital in Mumbai”
- Tata Trusts partners with philanthropist Ratan Tata to inaugurate the country’s leading Small Animal Hospital in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.
- The hospital boasts over 200 beds and commits to providing round-the-clock services dedicated to the care and welfare of pets.
- This visionary collaboration underscores a significant advancement in animal healthcare, catering to the growing demand for quality veterinary services in India.
Award news
“India Confers Bharat Ratna on PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and Dr. M S Swaminathan”
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces India’s highest civilian honor, Bharat Ratna, for PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and Dr. M S Swaminathan.
- PV Narasimha Rao: Former Prime Minister, credited with economic reforms and liberalization in the 1990s.
- Chaudhary Charan Singh: Former Prime Minister, champion of farmers’ rights and advocate for rural development.
- Dr. M S Swaminathan: Renowned agricultural scientist, hailed as the “Father of Green Revolution in India” for his contributions to agriculture and food security.
“Nima Sarikhani Wins 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award”
- Nima Sarikhani from the UK clinched the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59 People’s Choice Award for his captivating image of a polar bear resting serenely on a small iceberg.
- The prestigious award, organized annually by the Natural History Museum, London, was established in 1965 by BBC Wildlife Magazine.
- Sarikhani’s winning photo, titled ‘Ice Bed,’ garnered an impressive 75,000 votes in an online poll featuring the top 25 images selected from over 50,000 entries worldwide.
Top of Form
Sports news
“Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Unveils Khelo India University Games 2023 Preparations in Guwahati”
- Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurates the Logo, Anthem, Mascot, Jersey, and Torch of Khelo India University Games – 2023, Ashtalakshmi, in Guwahati.
- Union Minister Nisith Pramanik joins the event, marking the collaboration between the Government of Assam and the Sports Authority of India.
- The Fourth Khelo India University Games 2023 is set to be held in Guwahati from the 19th to the 29th of this month, showcasing the state’s commitment to promoting sports excellence.
Bank news
“RBI Grants Final Approval to Fintech Startups, zoho payment and SaaS Provider as Payment Aggregators”
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has authorized Juspay Technologies Private Limited, Decfin Tech Private Limited, and Zoho Payment Technologies Private Limited to operate as Payment Aggregators (PA).
- This approval signifies the recognition of these fintech startups and SaaS provider to facilitate payment processing services in the Indian financial landscape.
- The decision reflects RBI’s acknowledgment of the evolving role of technology-driven entities in the payment ecosystem, promoting innovation and competition in the sector.
“RBI Introduces Offline Functionality for e-Rupee Transactions to Address Connectivity Challenges”
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announces the integration of offline functionality for e-rupee transactions, aimed at facilitating payments in regions with limited internet connectivity.
- Offline capability will be incorporated into CBDC-R (Retail) to enable transactions in areas with poor internet access, with testing of various offline solutions planned in diverse geographic locations.
- This initiative underscores RBI’s commitment to enhancing financial inclusion and ensuring seamless digital transactions even in remote or underserved areas of the country.
Appointment news
1) Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Olzhas Bektenov(43 years) of Amanat party as the new Prime Minister (PM) of Kazakhstan. Olzhas Bektenov is the youngest PM in Kazakhstan’s history
2) “Narendra Kumar Yadav Becomes First Civil Servant Brand Ambassador for Fit India Movement”
- Narendra Kumar Yadav, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) 2009 batch officer, is appointed as the inaugural civil servant brand ambassador for the Fit India Movement.
- Yadav, presently serving as an ‘Additional Director GST’ in the CBIC under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, is recognized for his commitment to promoting health and fitness among civil servants and the wider community.
Science news
“AIIMS Delhi and CDAC Pune Launch iOncology.ai Platform for Early Cancer Detection”
- AIIMS New Delhi and CDAC Pune announce the unveiling of iOncology.ai, an advanced AI platform aimed at early cancer detection.
- The collaboration targets breast and ovarian cancers, prevalent among women in India, showcasing a significant stride in leveraging technology for healthcare advancement.
- iOncology.ai marks a landmark in healthcare innovation, offering a promising solution to enhance cancer screening and diagnosis, potentially saving lives through early detection.
