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Current Affairs Pocket PDF – February 2023

Table of Contents
NATIONAL AFFAIRS ................................................................................................................................................. 8
CABINET APPROVALS ...................................................................................................................................... 8
STATEWISE NATIONAL NEWS ......................................................................................................................... 9
FESTIVAL ......................................................................................................................................................... 16
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION ....................................................................................................................... 17
OTHER NATIONAL NEWS ............................................................................................................................... 22
GOVT SCHEMES ..................................................................................................................................................... 27
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ...................................................................................................................................... 27
VISITS .................................................................................................................................................................... 29
INDIAN VISITS ................................................................................................................................................. 29
BANKING & FINANCE ............................................................................................................................................ 29
RBI IN NEWS.................................................................................................................................................... 29
SEBI .................................................................................................................................................................. 33
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS .............................................................................................................................. 33
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED ...................................................................................................................... 34
OTHER BANKING NEWS ................................................................................................................................. 35
FINANCE NEWS ............................................................................................................................................... 39
ECONOMY & BUSINESS ......................................................................................................................................... 41
GDP & GROWTH RATE ................................................................................................................................... 41
ECONOMY NEWS ............................................................................................................................................. 42
BUSINESS NEWS .............................................................................................................................................. 42
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ......................................................................................................................................... 44
MoU’s WITH COUNTRY................................................................................................................................... 44
MoU’s WITH STATES ...................................................................................................................................... 46
MoU’s BETWEEN ORGANIZATION ................................................................................................................. 48
OTHER MoU’s IN CONTENT FORMAT ............................................................................................................ 53
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 54
APPOINTMENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 54
NATIONAL ....................................................................................................................................................... 54
INTERNATIONAL ............................................................................................................................................ 59
BRAND & CAMPAIGN AMBASSADORS ........................................................................................................... 62
COUNTRY AMBASSADORS ............................................................................................................................. 63

RESIGNATIONS................................................................................................................................................ 63
OTHER APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS .................................................................................................. 64
AWARDS ............................................................................................................................................................... 66
AWARDS IN THE FIELD OF ARTS & CULTURE FILMS ................................................................................... 66
AWARDS IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL SERVICE, SCIENCE & BRAVERY ........................................................... 66
OTHER IMPORTANT AWARDS ...................................................................................................................... 66
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS IN CONTENT FORMAT ..................................................................................... 71
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE ....................................................................................................................... 74
SUMMITS ......................................................................................................................................................... 74
EVENTS ............................................................................................................................................................ 74
CONFERENCE................................................................................................................................................... 76
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS ................................................................................................................................... 77
COMMITTEES .................................................................................................................................................. 77
MEETINGS ....................................................................................................................................................... 77
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS IN CONTENT FORMAT ..................................................................................... 80
INDEX.................................................................................................................................................................... 81
RANKING ......................................................................................................................................................... 81
REPORTS ......................................................................................................................................................... 82
RANKING & REPORTS IN CONTENT FORMAT .............................................................................................. 87
ACQUISITION & MERGERS ..................................................................................................................................... 89
DEFENCE ............................................................................................................................................................... 92
EXERCISE ......................................................................................................................................................... 92
ARMY, NAVY & AIR FORCE NEWS .................................................................................................................. 93
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................... 94
SATELLITES LAUNCHES ................................................................................................................................. 94
NATIONAL ....................................................................................................................................................... 95
INTERNATIONAL ............................................................................................................................................ 97
SPORTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 98
CRICKET .......................................................................................................................................................... 98
BADMINTON & TENNIS ................................................................................................................................ 100
ATHLETIC & FOOTBALL ............................................................................................................................... 100
BOXING, WRESTLING & WEIGHTLIFTING .................................................................................................. 101
OTHER SPORTS NEWS .................................................................................................................................. 101
BOOKS & AUTHORS ............................................................................................................................................. 103
OBITUARY ........................................................................................................................................................... 103
NATIONAL ..................................................................................................................................................... 103

INTERNATIONAL .......................................................................................................................................... 106
IMPORTANT DAYS ............................................................................................................................................... 107
APPS & WEB PORTAL .......................................................................................................................................... 118
ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 120

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Union Cabinet Approvals: February 15, 2023
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the following
proposals which were detailed by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of Information &
Broadcasting (I&B):
✓ Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the New Delhi (Delhi)
headquartered Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of
Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) in London, United Kingdom (UK).
✓ Signing of MoU between India and South Africa(SA) for cooperation in the Disability Sector which
will benefit Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) at large and ageing population in both countries who
especially require modern, scientific, durable, cost effective aids and assistive devices.
✓ Signing of MoU between GoI and Chile for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied sectors.
✓ Approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)- Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) for FY 2022-
23 to 2025-26, the action plan for which i.e. Vibrant Village Action Plans, will be created by the
district administration with the help of Gram Panchayats
✓ The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the raising of seven new battalions of the
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force by 2025-26. Click here to read more.
Cabinet Approvals on February 22 2023

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following
proposals:
✓ The signing of the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Government of Co-operative
Republic of Guyana to enable the framework for provision of air services between the two
countries.
✓ The ratification of three Protocols on Article 3 bis and Article 50 (a) and Article 56 relating to
amendments in the convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), 1944.
✓ The extension of the term of the Twenty-second Law Commission of India upto 31st August, 2024
whose tenure was supposed to end on February 20, 2023.
Approved the Quality Control Order (QCO) for mandatory certification of cotton bales under
specification No. IS12171: 2019-Cotton Bales to augment supply of good quality cotton to the textile
industry. Click here to read more.
Union Cabinet approves Construction of Shinkun La tunnel in Ladakh

The Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) approved the construction of the 4.1 kilometres
(km) Shinkun La tunnel on the Nimu (Ladakh) -Padam (Ladakh) -Darcha(Himachal Pradesh) road link
to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh.
✓ The tunnel will be completed at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore by December 2025. An approach will also
be built by December 2025.

STATEWISE NATIONAL NEWS

Andhra Pradesh
AP CM Jagan Mohan Reddy declares Visakhapatnam as the New Capital of Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister (CM) of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, stated that Visakhapatnam will be
declared as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh during the International Diplomatic Alliance Meet, a
curtain-raiser event for the Global Investors Summit, held in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ He also announced that the government of AP will be organising the Global Investor Summit in
Visakhapatnam on 3rd-4th March 2023.
✓ Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh
state in 2014, the it was decided to develop Amaravati as the capital of AP. During the bifurcation,
it was stated that Hyderabad will serve as a joint capital for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
for 10 years and the Governor of Telangana will administer Hyderabad till the AP government
moves to a new capital.
In 2019, after YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took charge as the CM, the government decided to develop 3
capitals – Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital and Kurnool as
the judicial capital. In March 2022, the AP High Court ruled against 3 capitals and directed the
government to develop Amaravati as AP’s capital.
Assam
Assam Govt approves Assam Industrial and Investment Policy (Amendment), 2023
The State Cabinet of Assam chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma cleared the Assam
Industrial and Investment Policy (Amendment), 2023.
✓ There will also be an empowered committee, chaired by Assam’s Industries and Commerce
minister (Currently- Bimal Bora), under the provisions of the amended policy.
There is also an approval to the World Bank-funded Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for
Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST)’ project for Rs 2,529.17 crore to improve district-level
healthcare services.
Pawan Hans launches Multiple Helicopter Routes in Assam under RCS UDAN
Helicopter service provider, Pawan Hans Limited (PHL), a central public sector undertaking under the
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), launched its helicopter services on 6 routes in Assam under the RCS
UDAN Scheme (Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik).
The new helicopter services will provide connectivity on the “Dibrugarh-Jorhat-Tezpur-Guwahati-
Tezpur-Jorhat-Dibrugarh” network.
Mastercard & ACCESS announce FPO empowerment programmes in Assam

Mastercard and ACCESS Development Services have announced the launch of a new programme
“Mainstreaming Agriculture through Networks and Development Initiatives, or MANDI” in Assam with a
focus on empowering Farmer Producer Organisations(FPOs) in Assam.
Bihar
Bihar cabinet approves USD 50,000 for developing fog alert system with US-NCAR
The Cabinet of Bihar chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, approved USD 50,000 (around Rs 41.41
lakh) to develop an early warning system for dense fog and cold wave conditions in collaboration with
the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a Federally Funded Research and Development
Center of the National Science Foundation, United States of America.

✓ The Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra(BMSK) under Planning & Development Department, is developing
an application which will provide early warning of dense fog and cold wave conditions to the
people.
Delhi
Manish Sisodia, Dy CM of Delhi, launched DCPCR’s WhatsApp Chatbot ‘Bal Mitra’
Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister (Dy CM) of the Government of Delhi, launched the WhatsApp
Chatbot ‘Bal Mitra’ developed by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR).
Objective: To enable two-way communication between people and the Commission (child rights panel)
and eliminating the information gap.
✓ The chatbot’s features include complaint registration, searching information and tracking
complaint status, seeking information on admissions, and more.
Goa
Goa CM Pramod Sawant launches Heli-Tourism Service in Panaji
Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, launched a Heli-Tourism Service, the 1st premium
Helicopter service, under the public-private partnership (PPP) model from the Dauji-Ella helipad (Old
Goa) in Panaji, Goa.
✓ The Helipad at Dauji-Ella, Old Goa, has been constructed under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of
the Ministry of Tourism (MOT). The MoT and Ministry of Culture, introduced the Swadesh Darshan
Scheme in 2014–2015 for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
✓ The government has built the second Zuari bridge, Mopa Airport, and the future conference centre
as part of the infrastructure for tourism.
Gujarat
Gujarat Finance Minister Kanu Desai Presented Rs 3.01 lakh Crore Budget for FY 2023-24 with
no new taxes
Gujarat Finance Minister Kanu Desai presented a Rs 3.01 lakh crore budget for the financial year 2023-
24 with no new taxes imposed on people. The budget of FY24 focuses on infrastructure development,
tourism, Electric Vehicle (EV) ecosystem and more.
✓ This records a significant increase of Rs 57,056.89 crore in the budgetary provisions, which is
23.38% higher than the budget for FY 2022-2023.
✓ The government has proposed to double the double annual insurance limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10
lakh under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) for eligible
families.
Rs 5,950 crore was announced for the Narmada project, including a provision of Rs 1,082 crore for the
remaining work on the Kutch branch canal. Click here to read more
Haryana
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar Presents Tax-free Budget for FY24 with Rs
1,83,950 crore Outlay
Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar presented a tax-free state budget for financial year
2023-24 (FY24) with an outlay of Rs 1,83,950 crore, an increase of 11.6% from FY23 Budget of Rs
1,64,808 crore.

✓ Rs. 57,879 crore was proposed under the budget for expenditure on capital asset creation,
representing 31.5% and Rs 1,26,071 crore on revenue expenditure representing 68.5%.
✓ The CHIRAYU-Ayushman Bharat Yojana was extended for families with annual income up to Rs 3
lakh.
✓ The provision for the Haryana Gau Sewa Aayog was increased to Rs 400 crore in 2023-24 from the
present allocation of Rs 40 crore.
Manohar Lal Khattar announced a proposal of creating a Chief Minister fund for financial support to
women startup entrepreneurs or those who come from families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.80
lahks. Click here to read more.
Himachal Pradesh
HP Cabinet Approves Guidelines for Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana
The 2nd Meeting of the Himachal Pradesh cabinet chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh
Sukhu, approved the guidelines for ‘Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana’ that covers Orphans, specially
abled children, destitute women and senior citizens.
✓ The CM also noted that the orphan children, referred to as ‘Children of the State’, will be adopted
by the government.
In January 2023, CM launched the Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana (as CM’s Sukhashray Sahayata
Kosh) with a total outlay of Rs 101 crore for orphans. Click here to read more.
Jammu and Kashmir

J&K Govt Launches Project to Promote Sustainable Agriculture with Focus On Organic Farming
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has initiated a programme “alternate agriculture system
for sustainability project” to boost organic food production and increase economic returns for farmers
in the Union Territory (UT).
✓ The J&K government has allocated Rs 84 crore to support the programmes over the next 5 years.
The project is estimated to create around 12600 jobs and 300 enterprises in the organic agri sector.

J&K Govt Approves Rs 30.40 cr ‘Sensor-based Smart Agriculture’ Project
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government (Govt) has approved a ‘Sensor-based Smart Agriculture’ project
worth Rs 30.40 crore for integration of agriculture with technology driven by Artificial Insemination
(AI) and IoT (Internet of Things) for automation of practices, and make it efficient and profitable for the
farmers.
Under the project, a sensor-based pilot study will be conducted on high-density apple orchards,
protected cultivation and smart livestock farming.
Karnataka
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai Presented Revenue Surplus Budget with Outlay of Rs 3 lakh
crore
During the Karnataka State Assembly, the Karnataka Chief Minister(CM) Basavaraj Bommai presented a
revenue surplus budget with no tax hike. For the 1st time, the budget outlay of Karnataka has crossed
Rs 3 lakh crore mark and is pegged at Rs 3,09,182 crore, up from Rs 2,65,720 crore in 2022.
✓ The budget for the first time, post-pandemic, was a revenue surplus one, with receipts expected to
be more than expenditure by Rs. 402 crore.
To further boost capital expenditure, the budget has enhanced outlay by 30.4% for capex to Rs 61,234
crore in FY24. Click here to read more.
Kerala
Kerala Finance Minister Presents the State Budget for FY 2023-24
Kerala Finance Minister (FM) KN Balagopal presented to the Legislative Assembly the budget for
fiscal year 2023–24 (FY24), the second full budget of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
government led by Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala.
The Union Government has reduced the state’s borrowing limit by Rs. 2700 crore in FY24.
Important Budgetary Provisions for Kerala for 2023–24
✓ The Kerala government has set aside Rs. 100 crore for welfare programmes and Rs. 2,000 crore
to combat price increases, in addition to a plethora of initiatives in the infrastructure and higher
education sectors.
✓ The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has allotted Rs. 1,000 crore for the
development of the Vizhinjam ring road as an industrial corridor.
✓ A total allocation of Rs. 2,828.33 crore for the medical sector, with Rs. 194.32 crore set aside for
the “Integrated Child Development Service” (ICDS) scheme. Click here to read more.
Kerala HC became the First in India to Publish Judgements in Regional Language

On the occasion of International Mother Language Day (21st February 2023), the Kerala High Court
(HC) published 2 of its recent judgments in and became the 1st HC in India to publish its judgments in
the regional language.
The judgements passed by a division bench of Chief Justice S. Manikumar (WA 926/2016) and
Justice Shaji P. Chaly (WA 1638/2022) in January 2023 were published in Malayalam on the High
Court’s website.
Madhya Pradesh
Indore’s Solar Plant Project funded by Rs 720 crore through Green Bonds
Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has successfully managed to raise about Rs 720 crores through
their green bonds which will be utilized for developing a 60-megawatt solar plant.

The green bonds floated by the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) as a public issue for setting up solar
power plants have received an overwhelming response from investors and attracted a subscription of
around Rs 721 crore.
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Approves Ladli Behna Yojana to Empower Women

The Cabinet of Madhya Pradesh headed by Chief Minister of MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan, approved the
Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana 2023 with the aim to empower women at every level.
✓ Under this scheme, married women aged between 23 and 60 years, will be offered financial
assistance of Rs 1000 per month.
Madhya Pradesh: Governor– Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel; National Park– Madhav National Park;
Satpura National Park.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra recognised ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’ as State Song
The Cabinet of Maharashtra, headed by Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde, decided to recognise ‘Jai Jai
Maharashtra Majha’, penned by Raja Badhe and sung by balladeer Krishnarao Ganpatrao Sable
(popularly known as Shahir Sable), as the state song of Maharashtra. With this, Maharashtra becomes
the 12th Indian state to have a state song.
✓ The iconic Marathi song “Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha” which means “glory to Maharashtra” and
also referred to as ‘Maharashtra Geet’ was composed by well-known musician Shrinivas Khale.
Pune-Nashik High-Speed Rail Project Received in-principle Approval from Railway Ministry
Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, announced that the Ministry of Railways
had accorded “in principle approval” for the Pune-Nashik (Maharashtra) high-speed rail project, which
had been in the works since 2020.
Manipur
Manipur CM presents FY24 Budget with Expenditure Proposal of Rs 35,022cr
Chief Minister (CM) of Manipur Nongthombam Biren Singh who is also the minister in-charge of
finance presented the Manipur state budget for 2023-24 with an expenditure proposal of Rs 35,022
crore out of the consolidated fund of the state.
✓ This was the 3rd sitting of the 3rd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly which began
on February 2, 2023.
✓ The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2023-24 is estimated at Rs 45,145 crore.
It is proposed to launch the ‘College Fagathansi Mission’ to improve the infrastructure of government
colleges. Click here to read more.
Mizoram
Mizoram CM Zoramthanga Presents State’s Annual Budget for 2023-24
Zoramthanga, Chief Minister(CM) of Mizoram, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister,
presented Mizoram’s annual budget for the financial year 2023-2024 with a total outlay of Rs 14,209.95
crores, an increase of Rs 201.80 crore from 2022-2023 budget.
✓ He also presented the supplementary demands for grants for 2022-23 fiscal amounting to Rs
3,265.69 crore.
He stated that the 2023-2024 budget is a zero-deficit and non-surplus budget as the estimated total
receipts are exactly equal to the estimated total expenditures

Odisha
Odisha’s FM Niranjan Pujari Presented the State’s Highest ever budget of Rs 2.3 lakh crore for
FY24
Odisha’s Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari presented the state’s highest-ever budget for the Financial
year 2023-24 with an outlay of Rs 2.30 lakh crore, increased by 15% from FY23’s budget outlay of Rs 2
lakh core.
✓ The budget was presented in two parts such as the agriculture budget and the general budget.
✓ The total budget allocation is proposed to be financed through revenue receipts of Rs 1,84,500
crore and borrowing and other receipts of Rs 45,500 crore.
✓ Rs. 30,030 crore in Education Sector which is about 12.3 percent of the total Budget outlay for
2023-24.
✓ With a budgetary allotment of Rs 50 crore, FM announced a new scheme Mission Shakti Scooter
Yojana for FY24. Rs 2,554 crore for the Department of Mission Shakti.
Another new scheme named ‘Nutana Unnata Abhilasha Odisha’ was announced under which 1 lakh
youths would be trained in future technologies. Click here to read more.
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal launched India’s 1st Agri Chatbot – Ama KrushAI
Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Odisha, launched “Ama KrushAI”, India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-
powered ChatBot for the agriculture sector, at the valedictory session of ‘Krushi Odisha 2023’. It is
designed to help farmers access agronomic practices, government schemes, and loan products from
more than 40 commercial and cooperative banks.
Ama KrushAI is created using Bhashini (a language interpretation platform) and the ChatGPT system by
the Indian Institute Of Technology–Madras (IIT Madras).
Puducherry
India’s 1st Marine Spatial Planning Framework launched in Puducherry
India’s first Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Framework was launched in Puducherry as a part of a pact
under the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative.
✓ Puducherry and Lakshadweep were chosen as coastlines to pilot the MSP initiative after the 2019
MoU between India and Norway that envisaged the collaboration on implementing MSP in Oceanic
space.
✓ Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a process of allocating spaces in marine zones for human
activities like economic purposes, ecological purposes, or social purposes.
Punjab
Punjab Cabinet Approves New Industrial and Electric Vehicle Policies
The new “Industrial and Business Development Policy (IBDP)-2022” and “Punjab Electric Vehicle
Policy (PEVP)-2022” have been approved by the Punjab Cabinet, which is presided over by Chief
Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann. The cabinet approved both policies ahead of an investors’ summit
scheduled for February 23-24, 2023, in Mohali, Punjab.
✓ The PEVP-2022 is designed to reduce environmental pollution in the state brought on by
automobile emissions.
✓ The IBDP-2022 policy provides a host of incentives for a range of sectors, including
infrastructure, power, and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), among others.

Rajasthan
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Unveiled the State Budget for 2023-24
Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan and Minister of Finance, presented the state’s 2023–
24 budget. For the first time, the state budget was streamed live to all state government offices and
private colleges.
✓ The Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidy will benefit at least 76 lakh families under the
Ujjwala scheme, who would receive LPG cylinders at Rs 500.
The annual family limit for medical coverage under the Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana (Health
Insurance Scheme) has been raised from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh. Click here to read more.
Sikkim
CM Prem Singh Tamang launched ‘Mero Rukh Mero Santati’
Prem Singh Tamang, Chief Minister (CM) of Sikkim, launched the initiative, named ‘Mero Rukh Mero
Santati’ (Plant a Tree, Leave a Legacy), under which 100 trees will be planted for every child born in
Sikkim.
✓ The initiative is aimed at strengthening the connection between parents, children, and nature by
planting trees to commemorate childbirth.
Telangana
Telangana Budget FY24: FM Harish Rao Presents Tax-Free Budget of Rs 2.9 lakhcr
The Finance Minister of Telangana, Thaneeru Harish Rao, presented the tax-free State Budget worth
Rs 2.90 lakh crore for next financial year (FY) 2023-24 while giving priority to infrastructure
development and public welfare in the latest budget.
✓ The revenue receipts for FY24 are close to Rs 40,000 crore higher than the FY23 revised estimates
at Rs 1.75 lakh crore.
✓ Tax revenue for FY24 is projected at Rs 1.31 lakh crore against the Rs 1.1 lakh crore in FY23.
✓ Non-tax revenue is expected to be Rs 22,808 crore, around Rs 6,500 crore higher than the FY23’s
Rs 15,291 crore.
The State’s share of central taxes for the FY24 grew marginally from Rs 19,668 crore in FY23
to Rs 21,470 crore. Click here to read more
Uttar Pradesh
UP Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna Tabled Rs 6.90 Lakh Crore Budget for FY 2023-24
On 22nd February 2023, Suresh Kumar Khanna, Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh(UP) presented Rs
6.90 lakh crore budget for the year 2023-24 in the UP assembly focusing on agriculture, education and
populist schemes.
✓ The budget of Rs 6,90,242.43 crore for FY24 was the biggest budget in the history of UP. The FY24
budget focuses on the all-around development of UP for making it a USD 1 trillion economy.
✓ The budget for 2023-24 has allocated Rs 1,050 crore under Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala
Yojana, which offers financial assistance to the guardians or parents of 2 girl children in one family
and Rs 4,032 crore has been allocated to support destitute widows.
Rs 3,600 crore has been allotted for the provision of tablets and smartphones to eligible students under
the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme. Click here to read more.
Indian Railways Completed Electrification of Entire Broad Gauge Rail Line In Uttar Pradesh
Indian Railways completed the electrification of the entire Broad Gauge (BG) routes in Uttar Pradesh
(UP) with the electrification of the Subhagpur-Pachperwa BG route in the North Eastern Railway. Also,
the Highly Utilized Network (HUN-5), Jhansi-Muzzaffarpur-Katni is fully electrified now.

✓ Indian Railways has completed the electrification of BG routes in 6 zonal railways: East Coast
Railway, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway,
and West Central Railway.
Indian Railways has electrified 85% of Route Kilometer (RKM) and is rapidly progressing to
complete Mission 100% Electrification and become the largest green railway network in the world.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath launches Aarohini Initiative Training Programme for Girls

Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP), launched the “Aarohini Initiative Training
Programme” for the safety and security of girls in all 746 Kastuba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) in
UP.
✓ Under the newly launched campaign, the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan will work to ensure the safety
and security of girls in all 746 KGBV.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates 1st VFS Global JVAC in Lucknow

The Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Yogi Adityanath has launched a new global gateway for
the state with the inauguration of the first VFS Global Joint Visa Application Centre (JVAC) and the VFS
Global Academy in Lucknow, UP.
✓ It is located strategically on the first floor of the Interstate Bus Terminal, Alambagh (Shalimar
Gateway Mall), Lucknow.
✓ VFS Global will also open an academy in partnership Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) to train
local youth in hospitality skills and enable employability in line with the UP-government’s skilling
programme
West Bengal
WB Finance Minister Presents Rs. 3,39,162 Crore Budget for 2023-2024
Chandrima Bhattacharya, Finance Minister of West Bengal, presented the Rs. 3,39,162 crore Budget of
West Bengal(WB) for the Financial Year 2023-24.
✓ The budget focused on farmers, the tea sector, and the potential of WB as a logistics hub and
entrepreneurs.
✓ The West Bengal economy is expected to grow at a rate of 8.41% in 2022-2023, which is higher
than the expected growth rate of the Indian economy (6.95%).
✓ The all-India Index of Industrial Production (Manufacturing) growth during 2022-23 (April to
November) is 5.0%, and West Bengal’s growth has been 7.8%. click here to read more.
FESTIVAL
‘Me-Dam-Me-Phi’ Festival 2023: Union Minister Sonowal hosts the Festival & Pays Respect to
Ancestors
On 31st January 2023, Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Minister of
AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), hosted “Me-Dam-Me-Phi”,
a festival of Assam’s Tai Ahom community to worship and pay respect to the ancestors in New Delhi,
Delhi.
✓ The Me-Dam-Me-Phi festival is annually observed across Assam on January 31.
✓ The meaning of ‘Me’ means offerings, ‘Dam’ means ancestors, and ‘Phi’ means God.
During the festival, worship is offered in the name of three gods namely Grihadam, Dam Changphi, and
Me Dam Me Phi.

Gandhisagar Floating Festival 2023, Asia’s 1st floating festival, started in MP
Usha Thakur, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Religious Trust and Endowments, Government of
Madhya Pradesh(MP), inaugurated the Gandhisagar Floating Festival 2023, Asia’s first floating
festival, in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh(MP). This is the first edition of the 5-day floating festival.
✓ The unique and first-of-its-kind floating festival will have land, air and water-based adventure
activities.
✓ The festival is organised by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) to promote Gandhisagar
as a tourist destination in both the domestic and international markets.
Gandhi Sagar Dam is one of the 4 major dams constructed on the Chambal River in the Mandsaur
district of Madhya Pradesh.
Ellora Ajanta International Festival 2023 held in Maharashtra- 25th to 28th February 2023
The 3 day- Ellora -Ajanta International Festival 2023 held in Chatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly
known as Aurangabad), Maharashtra, from 25th to 28th February 2023.
The festival was organised at the historical place Soneri Mahal, under the campus of the Dr Babasaheb
Ambedkar Marathwada University in Chatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)
International ‘Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023’ Begins in Madhya Pradesh

The International Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023 (49th edition) began on February 20, 2023, at
the world-famous tourist destination of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.
✓ The Khajuraho Dance Festival began in 1975.
✓ Since then, it has been successfully organised by the Ustad Allauddin Khan Music and Arts
Academy under the Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
✓ Khajuraho is home to an outstanding collection of temples that are part of a United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

USISPF launched STEM Initiative to increase women in STEM education & workforce in India
Mukesh Aghi, president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the United States(U.S.)-India Strategic
Partnership Forum (USISPF) launched the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment
STEM Initiative (STEM Collaborative). STEM initiative was launched during the US-India Alliance
Shatter Summit.
Objective: To increase the number of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
(STEM) education and the workforce in India.
The US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment is a public-private partnership between
the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USISPF and
George Washington University.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Launches ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ As A “Whole of Society”
Approach for Wetlands Conservation
Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, launched the ‘Save
Wetlands Campaign’, a campaign structured on a “whole of society” approach for wetlands
conservation, during the National Level Celebration of World Wetlands Day at Nanda Lake in Goa.
✓ World Wetlands Day 2023 was observed on 2nd February 2023. The day is annually observed on
2nd February to mark the signing of the Ramsar convention on Wetlands of International
importance.
✓ The 2023 theme for World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetland Restoration’.

During the event, the “India’s 75 Amrit Dharohar- India’s Ramsar Sites Factbook” and “Managing
Climate Risks in Wetlands – A Practitioner’s Guide” booklets were also released. Click here to read
more.
Telangana govt Launches Telangana Mobility Valley, India’s 1st mobility-focused cluster to
attract investments
K T Rama Rao, Minister for Information Technology(IT) and Industries, the Government of Telangana,
launched the Telangana Mobility Valley (TMV), India’s 1st mobility focused cluster with an aim to
attract investments of around Rs 50,000 crore and generate more than 4 lakh jobs in the next 5 years.
✓ The TMV was unveiled during the Mobility Next Hyderabad Summit 2023 (1st edition) held at
the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana.
✓ The summit was organised as a part of the Hyderabad E-Mobility Week (5th to 11th February
2023).
The government of Telangana is developing 4 mega clusters in and around Hyderabad – EV
manufacturing clusters in Zaheerabad and Seetharampur, an Energy Storage System(ESS) cluster in
Divitipally and an Innovation cluster in Yenkathala.
MoRD Minister Giriraj Singh launches Mission Antyodaya Survey 2022-23

The Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) inaugurated Mission
Antyodaya Survey (MAS) 2022-23 including launching of its portal and mobile application at a function
in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ Based upon the Central Government’s ‘Whole of Government Approach’, it is an annual survey
at the Gram Panchayat (GP) level to monitor the progress in the development process in rural
areas. It is being conducted by the Department of Rural Development across all GPs in India
since 2017-18.
✓ It ranks Panchayat based on the data collected through survey, and makes Gap report which is an
important input for the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).
Mission Antyodaya Survey (MAS) will be conducted in all 2,69,253-gram panchayats and equivalent,
whose profile has been created on e-Gram Swaraj. Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland are not covered
yet due to elections. Click here to read more.
First ACTCM Barge, Yard 125 (Lsam 15) was launched at M/S Suryadipta Projects Pvt
Ltd, Thane
The first Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, Yard 125 (LSAM 15) was launched by
Capt Prashant Saxena, AWPS (Mbi) at M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane (Maharashtra). Its service
life of Barge is 30 years.
Ashwini Vaishnaw launches ‘Digital Payments Utsav’ to Promote Digital Transformation

The “Digital Payments Utsav”, a comprehensive campaign aiming at promoting digital payments
across India, has been launched by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry for Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY).
✓ He also launched the Digital Payment Sandesh Yatra, which aims to educate the public about
various digital payment solutions and the security and safety of digital transactions.
‘Digital Payments Utsav’
✓ This campaign, which is a part of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) event, aims to
highlight India’s path towards digital transformation. It will take place from February 9, 2023 to
October 9, 2023.

The campaign will focus on boosting digital payments across India, particularly in the cities of Lucknow
(Uttar Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra), Hyderabad(Telangana), and Bengaluru(Karnataka). Click here to
read more.
CJI DY Chandrachud Launches “Neutral Citations” For All Supreme Court Judgements
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, launched the “Neutral Citations” which would ensure a
uniform pattern of citing all the decisions of the Supreme Court (SC).
✓ The Neutral citations system is a part of the efforts of the Supreme Court to introduce and
implement a uniform, reliable and secure methodology to identify and cite decisions in the
supreme court.
✓ The SC will also employ a machine learning (ML) tool to translate the verdicts from English to
Indian Languages. So far, around 2900 judgements have been translated into Hindi.
C-CAMP launches InDx 2.0 National Diagnostics Catapult to Scale up Diagnostics Space for
Infectious Diseases
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) Indigenisation of Diagnostics (InDx)
launched the National Diagnostics Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0) in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ The program is anchored by C-CAMP with support from the Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster
(BLiSc) and funding from The Rockefeller Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and FIND,
a global alliance for diagnostics.
The CCAMP-InDx initiative, which was introduced in July 2020 and is based on the incredibly successful
COVID-19 diagnostics platform, is expanded upon in C-CAMP InDx 2.0.
C-CAMP is an initiative supported by government agencies, including the Department of Biotechnology,
Department of Science and Technology, NITI Aayog-AIM, Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY), Startup India and the Government of Karnataka.
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launches Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port in
Gujarat
Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, launched the Sagar
Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port in Gujarat, and proceeds towards the coastal line of
Maharashtra at Satpati, Vasai, Versova, and Parikrama will end at Sasson Dock, Mumbai.
The main objectives of Sagar Parikrama are to promote responsible fisheries, save marine ecosystems,
disseminate information about the various fisheries-related government schemes and programmes, and
show solidarity with all fishermen and concerned stakeholders.
Boeing launches its 1st Global Support Center in India at Gurugram

The Boeing Company, an aerospace company based in the United States of America(USA), launched its
first Global Support Center (GSC) in India at Gurugram, Haryana, which will offer customized
operational efficiency and safety improvement projects for Boeing’s airline customers, regulatory
bodies, and other stakeholders.
✓ For operational improvements, GSC will work with operators and regulators on structures and
airworthiness; the Maintenance Error Decision Aid (MEDA), a human-factors tool; Air Traffic
Management (ATM); aerospace optimization; and low visibility operation through Head-Up
Display (HUD) and Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS).
Boeing India: President– Salil Gupte; HQ– Bengaluru, Karnataka; President and CEO (The Boeing
Company)– David L. Calhoun. Click here to read more.

MoHFW launched Sarva Dawa Sevan, MDA Campaign to End Filariasis
Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), launched the
nationwide Sarva Dawa Sevan, Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign, to eliminate Lymphatic
Filariasis (LF) by 2027, 3 years ahead of the global target.
✓ Lymphatic Filariasis a Vector Borne Disease caused by Culex mosquitoes.
The campaign aims to end disease transmission through the door-to-door administration of anti-filarial
drugs, especially in 10 filaria-affected states.
The campaign was jointly launched by the High-burden districts in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
MoS Jitendra Singh launches Capacity Building Programme for Senior Scientists
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology
(MoST) launched a ‘Capacity Building Programme for Senior Scientists in Effective Leadership
and Creativity’ at the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad, Telangana.
The initiative is being organised in collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), and
ASCI.
UIDAI launches new AI/ML Chatbot “Aadhaar Mitra” to Address Aadhaar-Related Queries
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched an AI/ML (Artificial intelligence and
machine learning)-based new Chatbot called “Aadhaar Mitra” to help people get answers to their
queries related to the Aadhaar card.
MoSPI released Revised Guidelines on MPLADS 2023

Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI), released the Revised Guidelines on Members of Parliament Local Area
Development Scheme (MPLADS)-2023. He also launched a new Web portal for the implementation of
the Revised Fund Flow Procedure under MPLADS.
✓ The newly revised guidelines for MPLAD and the web portal will come into effect from 1st April
2023.
✓ The MPLADS was launched on 23rd December 1993, to provide a mechanism for the Members of
Parliament to recommend works.
The MoSPI is the nodal Ministry responsible for policy formulation, the release of funds and monitoring
the implementation of MPLADS. Click here to read more.
Union Minister V. Muraleedharan to Launch New Initiatives at NIT Calicut

V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, visited the
National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C), Kozhikode, Kerala. V. Muraleedharan launched several
new initiatives in light of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP).
✓ V. Muraleedharan also released a brochure of the “Centre for Women’s Welfare and Social
Empowerment (CWSE)” at the NIT-C.
K Rajaraman launches ‘IEEE C-DOT Certified Telecom Expert Program ’

K Rajaraman, Chairman, Digital Communications Commission (DCC) & Secretary of the Department of
Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications (MOC), launched the ‘IEEE C-DOT Certified Telecom
Expert Program (ICCTEP)’ to bring learning in the areas of Telecom including 5G, Cyber Security and
Quantum Communication to bridge the skill gap. The first program launched on the platform is on 5G
and beyond.

‘Jaadui Pitara’: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Launches Learning-Teaching
Material for Foundational Years
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched “Jaadui Pitara,” a play-based learning and
teaching material for the foundational stage children in the age group of 3 to 8 years as envisioned by
the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).
✓ “Jaadui Pitara” (magic collection) was created in accordance with the National Curriculum
Framework (NCF) and is available in 13 Indian languages.
✓ “Jaadui Pitara” is a play-based learning and teaching material designed for children aged 3 to 8
years.
PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates India Energy Week 2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka

The India Energy Week (IEW) 2023, the first significant occasion under India’s G20 (Group of
Twenty) Presidency, was inaugurated by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on February 6, 2023, in
Bengaluru, Karnataka. IEW 2023 is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
(MoP&NG) of the Government of India (GoI) and is officially supported by the Federation of Indian
Petroleum Industry (FIPI).
✓ PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Helicopter Factory of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL),
India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility, and unveiled the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) in
Tumakuru district, Karnataka.
✓ He also laid the groundwork for the Tumakuru Industrial Township and two Jal Jeevan Mission
projects in Tumakuru, at Tiptur and Chikkanayakanahalli.
✓ PM Narendra Modi launched the uniforms under the “Unbottled” initiative of Indian Oil
Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), with each uniform supporting the recycling of around 28 used PET
(polyethylene terephthalate) bottles. Click here to read more.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ & Amrit Mahotsav of Delhi-
Karnataka Sangha at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi
To celebrate Karnataka’s culture, traditions and history, on February 25, 2023, the Prime Minister (PM)
of India Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival and Delhi
Karnataka Sangha’s 75th-anniversary event, Amrit Mahotsav of Delhi-Karnataka Sangha, at
Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ The 75th-anniversary celebrations of the Delhi Karnataka Sangh is coinciding with the
Amrit Mahotsav of 75 years of independence.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Aadi Mahotsav at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi
“Aadi Mahotsav”, the mega National Tribal Festival was held from 16th February to 27th February 2023
at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi.
✓ The festival was inaugurated by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi on 16th February 2023 in the
presence of Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs.
✓ Aadi Mahotsav is an annual initiative of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation
Limited (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).
Nitin Gadkari Laid Foundation Stone for World’s Largest Divyang Park – Anubhuti Inclusive
Park in Maharashtra
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, laid the Foundation Stone of the
world’s largest and unique ‘Divyang Park – Anubhuti Inclusive Park’ in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
✓ This park acts as an initiative taken under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPWD
Act).

✓ United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) was formed on
the 13th day of December, 2006. India signed the UNCRPD and subsequently ratified the same on
1st October, 2007.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates AMRITPEX 2023 at New Delhi

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Communications inaugurated a 5-day long AMRITPEX
2023, the National Philatelic Exhibition at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi (Delhi) as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav Celebrations.
✓ AMRITPEX, the national platform will highlight 5000 years of India’s history, culture, art, and
heritage through stamps and pictorial collections.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma lays Foundation Stone of North East India’s 1st Compressed Biogas
Plant
Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam, laid the foundation stone of 5-tonne-per-day-
capacity compressed biogas(CBG) plant, North East India’s first ever CBG plant, at Domora Pathar,
Sonapur in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district, Assam. The plant is proposed to be operational from
November 2023.
✓ The biogas unit in Sonapur, Assam, is being set up under the Centre’s Sustainable Alternative
Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme.
India’s First Electric AC Double-Decker Bus Inaugurated in Mumbai

The first double-decker electric AC bus in India was unveiled in Mumbai, Maharashtra, by the
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST).
The bus will run between the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and the Kurla bus depot after all clearances
have been granted.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates International Engineering and Technology Fair 2023
Droupadi Murmu, President of India, inaugurated the International Engineering and Technology Fair
(IETF) 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ IETF 2023 aims to showcase feats of engineering and technologies that promote harmony
between nature and science.
OTHER NATIONAL NEWS

World’s Highest Weather Station Rebuilt on Mount Everest
The World’s Highest Weather Station, which was installed by the National Geographic Society (NatGeo),
has been rebuilt on Mount Everest after it was destroyed due to hurricane-force winds on Mt Everest.
✓ The group has been led by Tenzing Gyalzen Sherpa, a 31-year-old electrician and mountain
guide.
According to the Guinness World Records report, the team of mountaineers and scientists of NatGeo
installed a record-breaking weather station in 2022 at an altitude of 8,810 metres (28,904 ft); just 39
metres (128 ft) below Everest’s summit.
India & Singapore Introduce Live Cross-Border UPI-PayNow Connectivity

The Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister (PM) of Singapore, Lee Hsien
Loong, took part in the virtual launch of real-time payment linkage between the Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) of India and PayNow of Singapore.

✓ The PayNow-UPI linkage is India’s first and Singapore’s second cross-border real-time payment
system linkage. Singapore is the first country to introduce a cross-border person-to-person (P2P)
payment service.
Over USD 1 billion in cross-border retail payments and remittances are made every year between
Singapore and India. Click here to read more.
India’s 1st Hydrogen Train Will Come by Dec 2023 On Heritage Routes
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India’s first hydrogen train will be
designed and manufactured in India by December 2023, as the Union Budget 2023–24 focuses on
green growth.
Once operational, the hydrogen train will operate on heritage circuits such as Kalka-Shimla before
being expanded to other places.
India’s 5th Nano Urea Plant to be set up in Jharkhand

Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs, laid the foundation stone of a Rs.450 crore nano urea plant
and township of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) in Deoghar, Jharkhand. This will be
India’s 5th nano urea plant.
The world’s 1st nano urea plant was inaugurated by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in Gujarat.
Karnataka to get India’s 1st Marina to Promote Coastal Tourism

Karnataka Chief Minister(CM) Basavaraj Bommai confirmed that Karnataka is set to get India’s 1st
Marina to promote coastal tourism during the event “Seven Wonders of Karnataka” hosted under the
Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka
Azad Engineering is India’s First Supplier of Parts for Nuclear Turbines

Long-term supply deal b/w: Azad Engineering Private Limited, Hyderabad (Telangana)-based
precision engineering firm and GE Steam Power, an American energy technology company,
Purpose: For the supply of nuclear turbine parts.
✓ Azad Engineering has been approved as the 1st Indian company to supply critical rotating parts
for nuclear turbines.
The first set of critical parts has now been delivered and will be assembled on nuclear turbines
manufactured in Belfort, France.
GHAVP: North India’s 1st Nuclear Plant to be set up in Haryana

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology and the Atomic Energy and Space,
Jitendra Singh mentioned about the upcoming installation of North India’s 1st Nuclear
Plant ‘Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana’ (GHAVP) near Gorakhpur village in Fatehabad,
Haryana.
✓ GHAVP’s two units of 700 MWe capacity each of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR)
indigenous design is under implementation.
Out of the total allocated funds of Rs 20,594 Crore an amount of Rs 4,906 Crore has been spent so far.
Thus as of the date, the financial progress is 23.8%.
Kerala becomes 1st State to use Robotics Scavengers to Clean Manholes

On 24th February 2023, Roshi Augustine, Kerala’s Minister of Water Resources, launched a robotic
scavenger “Bandicoot”, in Guruvayur in Thrissur district, Kerala and noted that the robotic technology
would be extended throughout the state. With this, Kerala becomes the 1st state in India to use robotic
technology to clean all its commissioned manholes and drainage.

✓ The Bandicoot was launched under the Guruvayur Sewerage Project by the Kerala Water
Authority (KWA) as a part of the Kerala Government’s 100-day action plan.
Bandicoot, the world’s 1st robotic scavenger, was developed as a Make in India and Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan initiative by Kerala-based Genrobotics, National Award winning Robotics startup that focuses
on developing robotic technologies for solving social issues.
Govt forms Panel led by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba to Monitor Mission Karmayogi
Central Government (Govt) has formed a 12-member Cabinet Secretariat Coordination Unit (CSCU)
panel headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba to monitor the implementation of the government’s
National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) or Mission Karmayogi for training
government employees.
As per the latest update, a total of 3,13,367 learners have been onboarded with 5 million learning
minutes on the iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training) Karmayogi platform.
Hillary Clinton Announces USD 50 Million Climate Fund for Women

Hillary Clinton, former United States (US) secretary of state has announced a first-of-its-kind “Global
Climate Resilience Fund” of USD 50 million from the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to support
women in the fight against climate change in collaboration with the Self-Employed Women’s
Association (SEWA).
Elaben Bhatt (89), who passed away in November 2022, founded SEWA in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in
1972.
India, EU set up three working groups under Trade and Tech Council
European Commission (EC) announced that India and the European Union (EU) have formed three
working groups under the ‘Trade and Technology Council (TTC)’ to strengthen strategic relationship
with the trade bloc.
The three working groups are:
✓ Working Group on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity: Chaired by
Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY).
✓ Working Group on Green & Clean Energy Technologies: Chaired by Principal Scientific Adviser to
the Government of India.
Working Group on Trade, Investment & Resilient Value Chains: Chaired by Secretary, Department of
Commerce.
MHA approves Renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved the renaming of Aurangabad city as “Chhatrapati
Sambhajinagar” and Osmanabad city as “Dharashiv” in Osmanabad district, Maharashtra. Aurangabad
derives its name from the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, while Osmanabad was named for a 20th-century
ruler of the princely state of Hyderabad.
✓ The new name of Aurangabad – ‘Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’, is derived from Chhatrapati
Sambhaji, the eldest son of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and 2nd ruler of the Maratha
state (1681-1689). Sambhaji Maharaj was executed on Aurangzeb’s orders in 1689.
‘Dharashiv’, a new name for Osmanabad, is derived from the name of a cave complex near Osmanabad
city. According to researchers, Dharashiv dates back to the 8th century.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri re-dedicates ONGC’s Sagar Samrat as a Mobile Offshore
Production Unit
Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, re-dedicated Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation’s (ONGC) iconic drilling rig Sagar Samrat, as a Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU) at a
ceremony held on Sagar Samrat.
✓ Sagar Samrat was Commissioned in 1973.
MOPU Sagar Samrat commenced production on 23rd December 2022 and is currently deployed at the
Western Offshore (WO)-16 field, located 140-145 kilometres west of Mumbai.
MIB Guidelines: TV channels to provide monthly details of public service content

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarified that the topics of national importance and social
relevance embedded in the programmes broadcast by private TV channels would qualify for their
obligation under the “Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels in India, 2022”.
The norms will become effective from 31 March 2023.
MeitY, Meta Announce List of 120 Startups, Innovators for XR Startup Programme
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Meta (Meta Platforms, Inc
formerly named Facebook) have announced the list of 120 startups and innovators for the Extended
Reality (XR) Startup Programme in New Delhi, Delhi. The Programme includes an Accelerator and a
Grand Challenge, aiming towards boosting the emerging Tech ecosystem in India.
CMIE: Unemployment Rate Falls to 4-Month Low of 7.14% in January

According to the data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India’s unemployment
rate declined by 7.14% in January 2023, the lowest in 4 months, from 8.30% in December 2022. The
unemployment rate was 8.03% in November 2022, 7.92% in October 2022 and 6.43% in September
✓ Jammu and Kashmir had the highest unemployment rate among the states with 21.8%, followed
by Haryana (21.7%), and Rajasthan (21.1 %).
Chhattisgarh is the lowest unemployment rate among the states with 0.5%, followed by Odisha (1.5%),
Tamil Nadu (1.8%), and Madhya Pradesh (1.9%).
GSI discovered Lithium Reserves for the 1st Time in India at Salal-Haimana, J&K
Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office to the Ministry of Mines, has discovered lithium
inferred resources(G3) for the first time in India. A 5.9 million tonnes of lithium inferred resources have
been established at Salal-Haimana in the Reasi district of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and
Kashmir(J&K).
✓ Seven Publications on different themes and intervention areas in which GSI operates were also
released during the 62nd CGPB Meeting.
✓ GSI: Director General- S Raju; HQ- Kolkata, West Bengal; Establishment- 1851
Indian Railways to introduce Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train under ‘Ek Bharat
Shrestha Bharat’ Scheme
The Indian Railways (IR) is set to introduce the “Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train” a special
tour Garvi Gujarat to showcase the Cultural & Spiritual Heritage of Vibrant Gujarat. The train, operated
by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation(IRCTC) will depart from Delhi Safdarjung
Railway Station on an 8 days’ tour covering a distance of 3500 kilometres.
The 8 days’ tour will include a visit to various heritage sites and religious sites.
✓ Heritage sites: World’s tallest statue – Statue of Unity, Champaner archaeological park, a United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site, Adhlej

Step Well, Akshardham Temple at Ahmedabad, Sabarmati Ashram, Modhera Sun Temple and the
Rani ki Vav, a UNESCO site at Patan.
Religious sites: Somnath Jyotirlinga, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Dwarkadheesh Temple and Beyt Dwarka
GoI Approves the Commercial Release of Nano-DAP

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) has approved the commercial release
of nano-diammonium phosphate (nano-DAP), which is intended to minimise fertiliser subsidy and
import dependence.
✓ The nano-DAP will be manufactured by India Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) and
Coromandel International.
According to revised estimates, the fertiliser subsidy for the current fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23) is
projected to be Rs 2.25 trillion, up 39% from Rs 1.62 trillion in 2021–22 (FY22).
Coal India Arm MCL Introduces Drone Technology in Coal Mines

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a premier Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry
of Coal, has introduced drone technology in coal mines by launching “VIHANGAM,” a web-based portal
that includes a drone and ground control system.
✓ MCL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). CIL accounts for more than 80% of
domestic coal output.
MCL: CMD – O P Singh; Formed – 1992; HQ – Sambalpur, Odisha
DoE mandates Depts, CPSEs to refund 95% of MSMEs securities till March 2022
The Department of Expenditure (DoE) under Ministry of Finance has mandated all Departments and
Public Sector Entities to refund 95% of the performance or bid security and liquidated damages
forfeited/deducted Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in government tenders for over two
years i.e. between February 19, 2020, and March 31, 2022 (during COVID-19 pandemic).
✓ This order by DoE followed the ‘Vivad se Vishwas-I’ scheme announced during the FY24 Union
Budget which provide additional benefits for MSMEs in response to the difficulties they have faced
due to the COVID-19 pandemic in executing contracts.
These benefits include the refund of 95% of performance security, 95% of Bid security (Earnest Money
Deposit), 95% of Liquidated Damages (LDs), and the revocation of debarment for firms that have
defaulted due to the pandemic.
37th APEDA Foundation Day – 13th February 2023

The Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the
Ministry of Commerce and Trade, observed the 37th APEDA Foundation Day on 13th February 2023
across India.
✓ APEDA, established in 1986, has achieved phenomenal success in the promotion export of
agricultural products in its successful journey of 37 years.
Due to APEDA’s active interventions, the export of agricultural products has increased from USD 0.6
billion in 1987-88 to USD 19.69 billion till April-December 2022-23 and expanded the export basket to
more than 200 countries.
CBDT Notified 6 Income Tax Return Forms for Assessment Year 2023-24
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 139 read with section 295 of the Income-tax Act, 1961
(43 of 1961), the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified six income tax return (ITR)
forms for assessment year 2023-24 (Financial Year 2022-23).
✓ CBDT has also notified ITR-V (verification form) and Indian Income Tax Return Acknowledgement.
ITR forms include ITR-1 SAHAJ, ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-4 SUGAM, ITR-5, ITR-6.

The forms will come into effect from April 1, 2023.
12 Cheetahs from South Africa released into enclosures at Kuno National Park
Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan released 12 cheetahs into the Kuno
National Park (KNP) in Sheopur, MP. The cheetahs include 7 males and 5 females from South Africa
(SA).
✓ The Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is the world’s fastest mammal. The average life span of a South
African cheetah was 8-10 years.
✓ This is a continuation of ‘Project Cheetah’ under which eight cheetahs from Namibia were
reintroduced in KNP on September 17 2022.
Vedanta-Foxconn Selects Dholera SIR for First Semiconductor Facility in India

The Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has been chosen by the joint
venture (JV) of Indian conglomerate Vedanta and electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn to set up
their semiconductor and display manufacturing facility.
✓ It is India’s first semiconductor manufacturing facility.
✓ The Gujarat government announced the “Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-27” in July 2022.
Vedanta: Executive Chairman – Anil Agarwal; CEO – Sunil Duggal; Founded – 1976; HQ – London,
United Kingdom (UK).
GOVT SCHEMES
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Ladli Bahna Scheme to Provide Rs 1,000 Per Month to
Poor Women
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister (CM) of Madhya Pradesh(MP), launched a new scheme ‘Ladli
Bahna’ to provide Rs 1,000 per month to women from financially poor backgrounds in Madhya Pradesh.
CM noted that a sum of Rs 60,000 crore will be spent on this scheme over a period of 5 years.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India, France & UAE Announce Plans for Co-Operation Under Trilateral Framework
India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced an ambitious roadmap for
cooperation in a wide range of fields, including defence, energy, and technology under a trilateral
framework.
✓ A number of trilateral events will be organized to assist the efforts during the G20 Presidency of
India and the hosting of 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by the UAE in 2023, respectively.
✓ The three nations also decided to enhance their cooperation through projects like the Indo-Pacific
Parks Partnership, headed by India & France, and the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC),
led by the UAE.
UAE: President – Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Capital – Abu Dhabi city; Currency –
Arab Emirati Dirham (AED) [called Dirhams]. Click here to read more.

WEO Update: IMF Projects India’s Growth in 2023 at 6.1%; Global growth in 2023 at 2.9%
As per the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO) update, January 2023,
growth in India is projected to decline from 6.8% in 2022 to 6.1% in 2023 before rising to 6.8% in
2024.
WEO Projections year-on-year:
Estimate Projections
2022 2023 2024
World
3.4 2.9 3.1
Output
India 6.8 6.1 6.8
United
2.0 1.4 1.0
States
United
4.1 –0.6 0.9
Kingdom
China 3.0 5.2 4.5
✓ IMF: MD – Kristalina Georgieva; HQ – Washington, D.C, USA; Establishment – 1944
Global Sea Level Rose by 4.5 mm per year during 2013-22 period: WMO
According to the World Meteorological Department (WMO), Global mean sea level rose by 4.5
millimeters (mm) per year during the period 2013-22. WMO stated that Human influence played a
major role in the increases in sea levels since 1971.
✓ Global mean sea level increased by 0.20 m between 1901 and 2018 and the average rate of sea
level rise was 1.3 mm per year between 1901 and 1971, 1.9 mm per year between 1971 and 2006,
and 3.7 mm per year between 2006 and 2018.
✓ WMO: President– Gerhard Adrian; Secretary General– Petteri Taalas; HQ– Geneva, Switzerland;
Membership– 193 Member States and Territories
Switzerland Becomes First WTO Member to Formally Accept New Agreement On Fisheries
Subsidies
Switzerland became the first World Trade Organization (WTO) member to formally submit its
acceptance of the WTO’s new “Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies”.
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies was adopted on June 17, 2022, at the 12th
Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Sri Lanka approves USD 442 Million Adani Green Wind Power Plants
The Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka issued a letter of approval to India’s Adani Green Energy
Limited (AGEL) for 2 wind power plants project in Mannar and Pooneryn areas of (northern province)
Sri Lanka with a total investment of USD 442 million.

✓ The two wind power facilities of 350 megawatts (MW) will be commissioned in two years and will
be added to the national grid by 2025.
✓ With this BOI’s approval, the Adani Group’s total investments in Sri Lanka now exceed USD 1
billion.
SL: Prime Minister- Dinesh Gunawardena; President- Ranil Wickremesinghe;
Capitals- Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; Currency- Sri Lankan Rupee
FATF Suspends Russia’s Membership due to Ukraine War; Added South Africa, Nigeria on ‘grey
list’
Following its 2nd Plenary under the presidency of T. Raja Kumar of Singapore (22-24 February 2023),
the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Global financial crime watchdog, updated its statements
identifying high-risk and other monitored jurisdictions.
✓ FATF suspended Russia’s membership stating that Russia’s war in Ukraine violated the FATF’s
principles to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system.
✓ FATF has also added South Africa and Nigeria to its “grey list”, a list of countries that are failing
to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
FATF has removed Cambodia and Morocco from the grey list.
VISITS
INDIAN VISITS
PM Modi’s Visit to Uttar Pradesh & Maharashtra
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh (UP) & Maharashtra to launch various
initiatives on February 10, 2023.
✓ PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit (UPGIS) 2023 on
February 10, 2023, in UP. During the event, he also launched Invest UP 2.0 and inaugurated the
Global Trade Show.
The PM visited Maharashtra and flagged off two Vande Bharat trains at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Terminus (CMST) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The two trains, Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat and Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat, would run
on the popular tourist route between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Shirdi and CSMT-
Solapur. Click here to read more.
BANKING & FINANCE

RBI IN NEWS
Highlights of Bi-monthly Monetary Policy of FY23; Repo Rate raised to 6.50%
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on February 6-8, 2023 , and
released the Monetary Policy Statement, 2022-23 Resolution of the MPC which projected India’s real
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to 6.4% for FY24 (lower than 7% in FY23) with FY24’s Q1 at
7.8%, Q2 at 6.2%, Q3 at 6%, and Q4 at 5.8%. The stance is to focus on withdrawal of accommodation.


RBI’s Policy Rates:
Category Rate
Policy Repo Rate 6.50%
Reverse Repo Rate 3.35%
Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) Rate 6.25%
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate 6.75%
Bank Rate 6.75%
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) 4.50%
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) 18%
Click here to read more.
RBI Data: The Number of Micro ATMs Surged in 2022, But Cash Withdrawals Dropped
According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), there was a sharp increase in the number of
micro Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) installed all over India in 2022. However, no major increase
in the value of money withdrawn through these devices has occurred since June 2022.
✓ According to the RBI data, there were around 3.56 lakh micro ATMs in India by the end of 2020,
and 5.9 lakh in December 2021. The total number increased by more than double to a remarkable
14.19 lakh in December 2022.
Meanwhile, in December 2020, cash withdrawals amounted to Rs. 19.67 lakh crore.
It was Rs. 25.2 lakh crore in December 2021 and had grown to just around Rs. 25.5 lakh crore by
November 2022, when the number of micro ATMs was at 13.3 lakh.
RBI Partially Relaxes Restrictions on SBM Bank India till March 15, 2023; Appoints V.
Ramachandra as an Advisory Committee Member of SIFL & SEFL
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has partially relaxed the restrictions it had imposed on SBM Bank
(India) Limited (“SBM Bank India”) with regard to transactions made under the Liberalised
Remittances Scheme (LRS). The relaxation will be effective till March 15, 2023 or till a further order by
the RBI.
The RBI appointed V. Ramachandra, former Chief General Manager of Canara Bank, as a member of the
Advisory Committee of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited (SIFL) and Srei Equipment Finance Limited
(SEFL) with immediate effect.
The 3-Member Advisory Committee:
✓ Venkat Nageshwar Chalasani, former Deputy Managing Director, SBI.
✓ T. T. Srinivasaraghavan, former Managing Director (MD), Sundaram Finance Limited.
✓ V. Ramachandra, former Chief General Manager, Canara Bank. Click here to read more.
RBI’s Digital Payments Index for September 2022 Increased to 377.46

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – Digital Payments Index (DPI), a measure of the extent of digitisation
of payments across the country for September 2022 increased to 377.46 as against 349.30 in March
2022 and 304.06 in September 2021.
✓ As per the index, Digital payments across the country registered a growth of 24.13 % in a year.
RBI-DPI index Series:
Period RBI – DPI Index
March 2018 (Base) 100
March 2021 270.59

September 2021 304.06

March 2022 349.3
September 2022 377.46
HARBINGER 2023 Innovation for Transformation: RBI announces 2nd Global Hackathon
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched its 2nd global hackathon ‘HARBINGER 2023 – Innovation for
Transformation’ on the theme ‘Inclusive Digital Services’.
The hackathon is owned and sponsored by RBI and is hosted on Application Programming Interface
Exchange (APIX) platform.
RBI Granted in-principle Approval to 32 Existing PAs, 19 New PAs to Operate as Online PA
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to 32 existing online non-bank Payment
Aggregators (PAs) and 19 new PAs to operate as online PAs.
Objective: To bring entities that are undertaking online payment aggregation business within the
regulatory fold.
✓ Existing PAs: Approved firms under the category of existing PAs include Amazon (Pay) India
Private Limited, Google India Digital Services Private Limited, Pine Labs Private Limited, Razorpay
Software Private Limited, Reliance Payment Solutions Limited, Zomato Payments Private Limited
among others.
New PAs: Approved firms under the category of new PAs include Hitachi Payment Services Private
Limited, Juspay Technologies Private Limited, Payment Gateway Solutions Private Limited, Tata
Payments Limited, Zoho Payment Technologies Private Limited among others.
RBI introduced FCRA related Transaction Code in NEFT, RTGS Systems

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) related
transaction code in National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
Systems. It will be effective from March 15, 2023.
✓ Originating banks are required to select two mandatory fields of NEFT/RTGS systems while
remitting foreign donations to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) account at SBI.
Originating banks are also required to pass on donor details relating to ‘transaction without Legal
Entity Identifier (LEI) details’ and ‘transaction without LEI details’ as part of ‘Sender to remitter
information’ in NEFT and RTGS. Click Here for Official Notification
RBI Issues Final Guidelines On Interest Rate Risk in Banking Book

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued final guidelines on “Interest Rate Risk in Banking Book”
(IRRBB), which mandate banks to measure, monitor, and disclose their exposure to IRRBB, which may
have an impact on lenders’ capital base and future earnings.
✓ The final IRRBB guidelines are consistent with the revised framework issued by the Basel
Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS).
IRRBB refers to the current or future risk to banks’ capital and earnings resulting from unfavourable
changes in interest rates that affect their banking book positions.
Banking mergers in India have been Beneficial to the Banking Sector: RBI paper
As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) occasional paper Vol. 43, No.1, 2022 titled ‘Do Bank Mergers
Improve Efficiency? The Indian Experience’, banking mergers in India have been, on average,
beneficial to the banking sector as the financial performance and efficiency of acquirers improved post-
merger.

✓ The Findings of data envelopment analysis (DEA) are for the period 1997-2017. The study covered
all registered Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) in the Indian commercial banking industry,
between 1997 and 2020.
The sample was reduced to include 17 merger cases during 1997- 2017 and five merger cases during
2019-2020.
SEBI
SEBI Notifies Stronger Framework for Green Bonds; Introduces Concept of Blue, Yellow Bonds
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), India’s capital market regulator, has
strengthened the green bond framework by introducing “Blue” and “Yellow” bonds as new modes of
sustainable finance
✓ These bonds are subcategories of Green Debt Securities (GDS), with ‘Blue Bonds’ pertaining to
water management and the marine sector and ‘Yellow Bonds’ pertaining to solar energy.
✓ GDS are debt securities that are issued to raise funds for projects or assets that belong into specific
categories.
SEBI Modifies Operational Structure for Credit Rating Agencies
SEBI revised its operational guidelines for Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs), mandating that by March
31, 2023, they have a detailed policy in place regarding the non-submission of crucial information by
issuers, including quarterly financial numbers. Click here for official notification.
SEBI: Chairperson– Madhabi Puri Buch; HQ– Mumbai, Maharashtra; Establishment– 1992. Click here
to read more.
SEBI Introduces Issue Summary Document for filing IPO papers in XBRL format
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced the Issue Summary Document (ISD) for
filing papers pertaining to IPO (Initial Public Offer) and for further issue of securities
in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) format to make available relevant information at
the stock exchanges and depositories in a structured manner.
✓ SEBI plans to roll out the ISD in a phased manner starting March 1, 2023.
SEBI: Chairperson -Madhabi Puri Buch; HQ – Mumbai, Maharastra; Establishment – 12 April 1992
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS

LOANS ISSUED RECEIVED BY AMOUNT KEY NOTES
BY
Asian Himachal Pradesh USD 130 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has
Development million (over approved a USD 130 million (over Rs. 1,072
Bank (ADB) Rs. 1,072 crore) loan to Himachal Pradesh (HP) under
crore) the ‘Himachal Pradesh Subtropical
Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition
Project’ to boost agricultural production,
promote horticulture agribusinesses, and
increase farmers’ income.
✓ Farmers will be organised into
district-wide and cluster-wide
Community Horticulture Production
and Marketing Associations
(CHPMAs).
ADB: President – Masatsugu Asakawa;
Established – 1966; Members – 68

members (49 from the region); HQ –
Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED

BANKS SIGNED WITH KEY NOTES
Axis Bank Limited Ascenda (Singapore) Purpose: To power its creative new rewards
(Axis Bank), India’s programme, the Axis Bank Points/Miles
third largest private Transfer Program
sector bank Axis Bank Limited: MD & CEO – Amitabh
Chaudhry; Establishment – 1993; HQ – Mumbai,
Maharashtra; Tagline – Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi
Paytm Payments Bank National Payments Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) introduced the
Ltd (PPBL) Corporation of India (NPCI) ‘RuPay credit card on UPI’ in collaboration with
the National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI), allowing users to link their RuPay credit
cards to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
infrastructure.
✓ The partnership will allow RuPay credit
card holders to use the UPI service to pay
for goods and services both online and
offline.
The total UPI transaction in India touched 8
billion in January 2023, with the infrastructure
processing close to Rs 12.98 lakh crore worth of
payments.
ICICI Bank with a BNP Paribas Purpose: To meet the financial needs of European
European bank enterprises operating in India and Indian
companies in the European Union (EU).
ICICI Bank: MD & CEO – Sandeep Bakhshi;
Established – 1994; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra
National Skill HDFC Life Insurance Company Partnered as part of the Skill India Mission
Development Limited (HDFC Life) Purpose: To promote self-employment and
Corporation (NSDC) expand entrepreneurial prospects.
✓ NSDC is a nodal skill development agency
under the Ministry of Skill Development
and Entrepreneurship (MSDE),
Government of India (GoI).
Ved Mani Tiwari is the CEO of NSDC and MD of
NSDC International.
Indian Institute of General Insurance Purpose: To develop a urine-based tuberculosis
Technology Madras Corporation of India (GIC Re), diagnosis or screening.
(IIT-M), Chennai, Tamil a Public Sector Insurance The key beneficiaries of this project (CSR funding
Nadu Company from GIC Re) will be primary, secondary, and
tertiary healthcare centres besides the Health
departments in State and Governments.
Karnataka Bank (KBL) Paisalo Digital Ltd (PDL) a This arrangement will provide financial support,
non-deposit-taking NBFC and inclusion to the small income segment, and
(Non-Banking Financial give impetus to the Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprise (MSME) segment of India.

Company) registered with the ✓ In September 2022, PDL signed a co-
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lending pact with UCO Bank. It also has
tied up with SBI (State Bank of India).
Karnataka Bank: MD & CEO – Mahabaleshwara
MS; HQ– Mangaluru, Karnataka
Policybazaar Insurer partners Niva Bupa Purpose: developed a new unique
Health Insurance and Tata AIA solution ‘health, wealth and life solution’ to
Life Insurance Company offer the benefit of health insurance, life insurance
Limited as well as return on investment.
Policybazaar: President & CEO – Sarbvir Singh;
Establishment – 2008; HQ – Gurgaon, Haryana
Central Bank of India Moneywise Financial Services Purpose: For lending to micro, small and
(CBoI) Pvt Ltd (MFSPL), a non- medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
banking financial company CBoI will record 80% of the MSME loans on its
books under mutually agreed terms.
OTHER BANKING NEWS

ADB Proposes up to $25 Billion Support to India’s Development Priorities
Under the meeting of the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi with Asian Development Bank (ADB)
president Masatsugu Asakawa, ADB committed to provide $20 billion–$25 billion resources over 5
years to advance India’s aspirations for fast, inclusive, and green growth.
✓ ADB stated its assistance to meet India’s priority development needs, and its country partnership
strategy (CPS) for India, 2023–2027. 
✓ India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy after the COVID 19 recovery with an
anticipated 7% growth in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.
✓ ADB: President – Masatsugu Asakawa; Establishment – 1966; HQ – Mandaluyong City, Manila,
Philippines; Member countries – 68 countries (49 from the region)
EIB Agrees to Join IH2A & Pledges to Provide 1 Billion Euros in Funding for Large-Scale Green
Hydrogen Projects in India
Kris Peeters, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), has formally agreed to join the
“India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A)” and enhance support for large-scale green hydrogen hubs and
projects across India with initial investment of Euro (€) 1 billion, subject to Indian government and EIB
approvals.
✓ The EIB, a lending arm of the European Union (EU) bank, is the world’s largest international public
bank and a leading financier of renewable energy and climate action.
EIB: President – Werner Hoyer; Founded – 1958; HQ – Luxembourg
SBI launched new term deposit scheme Amrit Kalash with 7.6% interest rate for Senior
Citizens
State Bank of India (SBI) has launched Amrit Kalash, a new limited-period term deposit scheme with an
interest rate of 7.6% for senior citizens and 7.1% for others.
✓ SBI staff and pensioners are applicable for an additional 1% interest rate. The scheme is launched
for both domestic and NRI (Non-Resident Indian) customers.
SBI has increased its fixed deposit (FD) interest rates by five basis points (bps) to 25 bps on
different categories. The interest rate hike is applicable for FDs below Rs 2 crore, effective from
February 15, 2023.

RailTel Secures Rs. 253.35 Crore SBI Project for 4G Connectivity to ATMs
State Bank of India (SBI) has issued a work order to RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. (RailTel), a
Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways, to provide 4G LTE (Long-Term
Evolution) connectivity to 15,000 offsite Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) distributed across India.
✓ The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 253.35 crore (excluding taxes).
✓ The project also includes the operation and maintenance of the entire network for 5 years
RailTel: CMD – Sanjai Kumar; Incorporated – 2000; HQ – New Delhi, Delhi
Infibeam Avenues Brand CCAvenue Becomes India’s First Payment Gateway Player to Process
Retail CBDC Transactions
CCAvenue, the premier payments brand of Infibeam Avenues Limited (IAL), has emerged as India’s
first payment gateway player to process Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or Digital Rupee (e-
rupee) transactions for online retail merchants.
✓ In an industry- first move, CCAvenue has processed CBDC transactions for IDFC First Bank, one of
India’s top private sector banks, enabling CBDC online transactions.
IDFC FIRST Bank has partnered with ToneTag, the world’s largest provider of audio-based solutions,
in order to facilitate the acceptance of digital rupee at merchant outlets.
IDFC FIRST Bank: MD & CEO – V. Vaidyanathan; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra. Click here to read more.
South Indian Bank launches SIB Wealth

South Indian Bank (SIB) launched ‘SIB Wealth’, a wealth management platform in partnership with
Geojit Financial Services to offer a range of financial services to its High Net Worth Individuals (HNI)
customers to invest their money in the best financial instruments available in the market.
✓ Under the platform, SIB will be offering products/services such as: Portfolio management
services; Alternative investment fund; Systematic investment plan; Mutual fund; Bond; Real
estate funds; Structured products.
SIB: MD&CEO – Murali Ramakrishnan; HQ– Thrissur, Kerala
Government approves Fourth Executive Director post at Indian bank

The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, stated that the Government of India
has approved increasing the number of posts of executive directors in the Indian Bank from three to
four.
The merger of Kolkata-based Allahabad Bank with Indian Bank on 1st April 2020 has created a
combined entity with a business mix of over Rs 8-lakh crore, making Indian Bank the 7th largest bank in
India.
Bajaj Allianz Life unveils Sustainable Equity Fund; KMAMC launches Kotak Banking & Financial
Services Fund
Bajaj Finserv’s life insurance arm, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has launched Sustainable Equity Fund
namely ‘Bajaj Allianz Life Sustainable Equity Fund’ enabling investors to invest in companies that are
socially responsible and have been evaluated on relevant Environment (E), Social (S), and Governance
(G) factors.
This new fund offer (NFO) is available for subscription now, and is available on the insurer’s following
flagship ULIPs (Unit Linked Insurance Plans):
✓ Bajaj Allianz Life Goal Assure – A Unit-linked Non-Participating Life Insurance Plan.
✓ Bajaj Allianz Life Smart Wealth Goal – A Unit-linked Non-Participating Life Insurance Plan
✓ Bajaj Allianz Life Future Wealth Gain – A Non-Participating, Unit-Linked, Individual, Endowment
Life Insurance Plan

✓ Bajaj Allianz Life Longlife Goal – A Unit-Linked Non-Participating Whole Life Insurance Plan
Bajaj Allianz Future Gain – A Unit-Linked Endowment Insurance Plan.
Bank of India Multi Cap Fund launched by BOI Investment Managers Private Limited
Bank of India (BoI) Investment Managers Private Limited (Investment Manager for Bank of India
Mutual Fund) launched ‘Bank of India Multi Cap Fund’ for investors to diversify their portfolio across
large, mid and small-cap market cap categories. The scheme will be managed by Nitin Gosar.
HDFC Bank Launches “OfflinePay” Pilot Program for Offline Digital Payments
HDFC Bank, the largest private sector bank in India, and Crunchfish Digital Cash established a pilot
programme called “OfflinePay“ to test offline digital payments for customers and merchants, as part of
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Regulatory Sandbox Program.
✓ HDFC Bank is the industry’s first bank to provide an entirely offline digital payment service.
Crunchfish Digital Cash AB is a subsidiary of Crunchfish AB, a publicly traded company on Nasdaq First
North Growth Market in Stockholm, Sweden.
HDFC Bank Became 1st Private Sector Bank to Enable Linking of RuPay Credit Card on UPI;
HDFC Raises Rs 25,000 cr in India’s largest-ever Bond Issue
HDFC Bank has become the 1st private sector bank in India to enable its customers to use (link)
their RuPay Credit Card on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the BHIM (Bharat Interface for
Money) App and other UPI-enabled apps.
✓ Currently, UPI facilitates transactions by linking Savings / Current Accounts through the Debit
Cards of users. Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) also facilitated access to the UPI payment
system for making transactions.
Housing Development Finance Corp (HDFC) raised Rs 25,000 crore by issuing India’s largest privately-
placed 10-year corporate bonds at a coupon of 7.97% on a private placement basis.
Kotak Mahindra Bank Implements RBI’s First Phase of Digital Rupee

Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) has announced the implementation of the first phase of the
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), referred to as the “Digital Rupee” (e₹). RBI has shortlisted
KMBL as one of eight banks to implement a pilot project for the issuance of e-currencies.
Reliance Retail Becomes First Retailer to Begin Accepting Digital Rupee for Sales
Reliance Retail has become the first organized retail chain in India to accept the RBI-created and
blockchain-based CBDC [e₹] payments at its gourmet food store, Freshpik.
✓ Innoviti Technologies, a payments-focused financial-tech firm, announced the launch of in-store
payments via digital rupee in the retail segment (e ₹-R) in collaboration with Reliance Retail, ICICI
Bank, and KMBL.
KMBL: MD & CEO – Uday Kotak; Established – 2003; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra; Tagline – Let’s
Make Money Simple. Click here to read more.
Airtel Payments Banks launches BizKhata for Small Businesses & Merchant Partners
Airtel Payments Bank has announced the launch of BizKhata, a current account with unlimited
transactions and instant activation for small merchants and business partners in India.
✓ This current account has no minimum balance requirement.
✓ In order to accept payments from any UPI app, the account is also linked to a QR (quick response)
code.
Airtel Payments Bank: MD & CEO – Anubrata Biswas; Launched – 2017; HQ – New Delhi, Delhi

Bank of Maharashtra tops list of PSBs in Loan Growth
As per an analysis of the latest financial results of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Pune (Maharashtra)
based Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) tops the list of PSBs in terms of loan growth percentage for the
third quarter of FY23 (Q3 FY23).
✓ It shows a growth of 21.67% in gross advances year-on-year (y-o-y) in Q3FY23.
BoM is followed by Union Bank with a growth rate of 19.80% in advances.
BoM Launched its own Private Cloud Infrastructure Mahabank Nakshatra

Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has launched its own private cloud infrastructure, Mahabank Nakshatra,
to improve the performance of cloud capabilities of the bank’s digital infrastructure and hosting
applications.
✓ The Cloud platform will alert in advance whether a borrowal account will move into special
mention account (SMA)-0 (principal or interest payment not overdue for more than 30 days).
BoM: MD & CEO – A S Rajeev; Establishment – 16 September 1935; HQ – Pune, Maharashtra;
Tagline – Ek Parivaar, Ek Bank (One Family One Bank)
NSE Indices launches India’s 1st Municipal Bond Index: Nifty India Municipal Bond Index
India’s first ever municipal bond index namely ‘Nifty India Municipal Bond Index’ has been launched by
NSE Indices Limited, a subsidiary of National Stock Exchange (NSE). It has a base date of January 1,
2021, and a base value of 1,000.
✓ Presently, the index has 28 municipal bonds issued by 10 issuers all having credit rating in the AA
category.
✓ NSE: CEO– Mukesh Agarwal; HQ– Mumbai, Maharashtra
IDFC First Bank to receive Rs. 2,200 crore investment from IDFC Ltd
The board of IDFC Limited gave its in-principle approval for an investment of Rs 2,200 crore in IDFC
First Bank, raising its stake in the bank from 36.38% to 40%.
Additionally, the IDFC board has approved a special interim dividend of Rs. 11 per share, resulting in a
payout of Rs. 287 crore to the Government of India (GoI), IDFC’s largest shareholder.
Mobicule launches Industry First Asset Repossession Module for Banks and NBFCs
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Mobicule Technologies Private Limited (Mobicule), a niche player and
expert in debt collection, has announced the launch of the mCollect Repossession module, an industry
first for banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
Indian Overseas Bank Launched e-BG Facility in Association with NeSL

The Indian Overseas Bank launched e-BG (Electronic Bank Guarantee i.e. BG in a digital mode) scheme
in collaboration with the National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL).
✓ The e-BG is an instrument issued by the city-headquartered bank to eliminate the possibility of
fraud and manipulation, in which, the bank undertakes to guarantee a specific amount against the
non-fulfilment of some action/performance of the applicant.
NeSL: MD & CEO – S. Ramann; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Paytm Payments Bank becomes the first in India to launch UPI LITE feature
Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) has launched UPI LITE, a feature enabled by the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for multiple small-value UPI transactions.
✓ PPBL has become the first payments bank to deploy such a UPI LITE feature as part of its
commitment to promote innovation.

✓ UPI Lite allows transactions of up to Rs 200 without using a UPI PIN.
NPCI: MD & CEO – Dilip Asbe; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra; Establishment – 2008
Singapore’s RBB Ship Chartering becomes 1st Ship Leasing Operator at IFSC in GIFT City
On 22nd February 2023, RSCPL (IFSC) Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based RBB Ship
Chartering Private Ltd, has become the first ship leasing operator at the International Financial Services
Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
FINANCE NEWS
SBI Mutual Fund launches SBI Dividend Yield Fund
SBI Mutual Fund announced the launch of SBI Dividend Yield Fund, an open-ended equity scheme that
will invest at least a minimum of 65% of the assets into equity & equity related instruments
predominantly into dividend yielding companies.
✓ The new fund offer (NFO) is opened on February 20, 2023 and will close on March 6, 2023.
✓ The first-tier benchmark of the fund is the NIFTY 500 TRI.
SBI Mutual Fund: MD & CEO– Shamsher Singh; HQ– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Phonepe Becomes India’s First Fintech Platform to Support Cross-Border UPI Payments
PhonePe has launched support for “UPI international” payments, making it India’s first fintech
platform to enable cross-border Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments.
✓ UPI international supports all international merchant outlets with a local QR (quick response)
code in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Mauritius, Nepal, and Bhutan.
✓ This feature will allow PhonePe users to make foreign currency payments directly from their
Indian bank account using UPI, just like they do with international debit cards.
PhonePe: Founder & CEO – Sameer Nigam; Founded – 2015; HQ – Bengaluru, Karnataka
NIA Launches its ‘Pay As You Drive’ Vehicle Insurance Policy

New India Assurance (NIA) has launched its ‘Pay as You Drive’ (PAYD) vehicle Insurance Policy to offer
charges premium based on the usage of the vehicle.
✓ Usage-based insurance (UBI), also known as pay as you drive (PAYD), pay how you
drive (PHYD) and mile-based auto insurance, is a type of vehicle insurance whereby the costs
are dependent upon type of vehicle used, measured against time, distance, behavior and place.
NIA: CMD – Neerja Kapur; Establishment – 1919; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra.
KFin Technologies launches in GIFT City

KFin Technologies Limited (KFintech) has announced the commencement of its operations in Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
KFintech has formally signed deals with 4 GIFT City funds and 2 global funds in GIFT City, while
discussions with other asset managers continue.
HDFC Mutual Fund launches HDFC S&P BSE 500 ETF, HDFC NIFTY Midcap 150 ETF, HDFC
NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF
HDFC Asset Management Company Limited (AMC), investment manager to HDFC Mutual Fund (HDFC
MF), launched 3 open-ended exchange-traded fund (ETF) schemes viz. HDFC S&P BSE 500 ETF, HDFC
NIFTY Midcap 150 ETF, and HDFC NIFTY Smallcap 250 ETF replicating the S&P BSE 500 Index, NIFTY
Midcap 150 Index & NIFTY Smallcap 250 Index respectively.

Paytm launches G20-Theme QR Code to celebrate India’s Presidency
One97 Communications Limited, which owns financial services company Paytm, launched a G20 theme
QR Code to celebrate India’s Presidency of the Inter-governmental forum and India’s leadership in
mobile payments.
The special commemorative QR Code includes the “DigiDhan Mission” logo from MeitY (Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology) along with the logos of the G20 in 2023 and the 75th
anniversary of India’s independence.
Indore Municipal Corporation Launches Secured Redeemable NCDs of Rs 244 crore

Indore municipal corporation has launched secured redeemable Non-Convertible
Debentures (NCDs) of face value of Rs 1000 each, aggregating up to Rs 122 crore. The issue contains an
option to retain over-subscription up to Rs. 122 crores, making the total issue size to Rs. 244 crores.
✓ Rate of return: The issue offers an 8.25% rate of return per annum, payable half yearly.
✓ Each NCD shall consist of 4 separate transferable and redeemable principal tranches, each having
a face value of Rs 250
✓ Debentures are financial instruments that a company issues when it wants to raise long-term
capital.
✓ The debentures which cannot be converted into shares or equities are called NCDs.
Cashfree Payments Launches “Co-Lend”- India’s 1st Automated Escrow Management Solution
Cashfree Payments, a leading payment and Application Programming Interface (API) banking solutions
company, has launched ‘Co-lend’, India’s 1st fully automated escrow management solution for co-
lending. Co-lend was developed in line with the digital lending guidelines announced by the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI).
Currently, the Co-Lend integration was supported by the ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank,
IndusInd Bank, and Axis Bank.
MobiKwik became 1st Fintech App to Offer UPI Payments through RuPay Credit Cards
MobiKwik, payment app of One MobiKwik Systems Limited, has become the first fintech app in India to
support RuPay Credit Cards on Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
✓ The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has allowed Mobikwik to offer its customers
the facility to make UPI payments through the RuPay credit cards.
As the RuPay Credit Cards are now linked directly to UPI IDs, it will enable MobiKwik’s customers to
make payments to merchants by scanning the UPI QR code by using UPI PIN for payment
authentication.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance launches ‘Anmol Suraksha Kawach‘

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Ltd (ABSLI), the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited
(ABCL), has introduced “ABSLI Anmol Suraksha Kawach” to meet short-term protection needs of
policyholders.
✓ ABSLI Anmol Suraksha Kawach” is a non-linked, non-participating individual life insurance
product with a pure risk premium for policyholders’ short-term protection needs, offering up to 5
years of life cover.
✓ ABSLI: MD & CEO – Kamlesh Rao; Incorporation – 2000 (commenced operations 2001)
NSE lists first Green Bonds issued by Indore Municipal Corporation

The Indore Municipal Corporation’s (IMC) Green Bonds have been listed on the National Stock
Exchange (NSE), marking the first-ever green bond issue by a municipal corporation in India.

✓ Green bonds are debt securities designated to finance environment-friendly projects.
✓ Municipal bonds provide an alternative means of financing for urban local bodies (ULBs),
reducing dependence on Central and State Grants.
NSE: MD & CEO– Ashishkumar Chauhan; HQ– Mumbai, Maharashtra; Establishment– 1992
(commenced operations as a stock exchange- 1994)
Niva Bupa rolls out ReAssure 2.0, a New Comprehensive Plan

Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company (formerly Max Bupa Health Insurance) launched ‘ReAssure 2.0’
which is a ‘+’ (plus) variant of its current ReAssure plan.
This is an indemnity plan bettering on its 3 benefits, ReAssure, Booster and Safeguard offered under the
current ReAssure plan. ReAssure 2.0 provides a ‘+’ variant of these benefits to offer greater benefits.
PFRDA Launches T+2 Settlement for Partial Withdrawal of NPS

The Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority (PFRDA) has reduced the waiting period for
National Pension System (NPS) subscribers for processing partial withdrawal requests to T+2 (after two
days of the request) across all Central Record Keeping Agencies (CRAs).
✓ Formerly, the turnaround time for NPS was T + 4 (after four days of the request).
PFRDA: Chairman – Supratim Bandyopadhyay; Establishment – 2003; HQ – New Delhi, Delhi
LIC reduces its stake in Industrial Investment Trust from 5.433% to 3.362%
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), an Indian state-owned insurance group and investment
company, has diluted its shareholding in Industrial Investment Trust Limited (IITL) from 12,25,017 to
7,57,966 Equity Shares, reducing its shareholding from 5.433% to 3.362% of the paid-up capital.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS

GDP & GROWTH RATE
ORGANIZATION YEAR RATE
Morgan Stanley FY24 6.2%
Morgan Stanley in its research report projected
India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at
6.2% in FY24 as drivers of domestic demand remain
intact amid fears of an impending slowdown.
The key for sustained domestic demand is a pickup in
capital expenditure (capex), which will help in
creating more jobs, higher income, higher saving, and
higher investment.
State Bank of India (SBI) Q3 FY23 4.6%
As per the research report by the State Bank of India
(SBI) Ecowrap, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
growth for Q3 FY23 is estimated at 4.6%. The annual
GDP projection for FY23 is estimated to grow
between 6.8 and 7%.
This Q3FY23 projection by SBI is higher than the
4.4% growth projected by Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) and National Statistical office (NSO).

ECONOMY NEWS
IMF Projects India’s Growth to Fall 6.1% In 2023
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its World Economic Outlook- January 2023 update has
projected India’s growth to decline from 6.8% in 2022 to 6.1% in 2023 before picking up to 6.8% in
2024. The expected slowdown in FY24 is due to external factors.
✓ The global growth is projected to fall from an estimated 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023, then rise to
3.1% in 2024.
✓ The global growth projected for 2023 and 2024 is below the historical (2000–19) annual average
of 3.8%
✓ IMF: MD– Kristalina Georgieva; HQ– Washington, DC, United States (US). Click here to read more.
January 2023: India’s WPI inflation eases to 2-year low of 4.73%; CPI inflation rises to 3-month
high at 6.52%
As per the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s annual rate of a wholesale
price index (WPI)-based inflation in January 2023 (provisional) was eased to a two-year low
of 4.73% from 4.95% in December 2022.
✓ Considering the month-on-month change the WPI index increased by 0.13% in January 2023 as
against a contraction of 1.12% in December 2022.
In contrast to the WPI, the retail inflation based on consumer price index (CPI) or retail inflation
increased to 3 months high of 6.52% in January 2023, from 5.72% in December 2022, as per the data
released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation.
Indian Railways & India Posts launch joint parcel service – Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo
Service
The Indian Railways and India Posts have formally launched their joint parcel service “Rail Post Gati
Shakti Express Cargo Service”.
The service is started in 4 sectors: Delhi to Kolkata; Bangalore to Guwahati; Surat to Muzaffarpur; and
Hyderabad to Hazrat Nizamuddin. In the first phase, a total of 15 sectors have been planned to be
covered.
DPIIT: FDI Equity Inflows Decline 15% to $36.75 Billion in April-December FY23
As per the data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflows declined
15% year-on-year to $36.75 billion during the first three quarters (April-December) of Financial year
2022-23 (FY23).
✓ Total FDI inflows, which includes the equity capital of unincorporated bodies, reinvest earnings,
and other capital, decreased by 8% to $55.27 billion in April-December FY23 from $60.4 billion in
April-December FY22.
✓ State Wise: Maharashtra continued to be the most favoured destination of investors, receiving
$10.76 billion, followed by Karnataka with $8.77 billion and Delhi with $6.11 billion.
Country wise: Singapore was the top investing country with equity inflows of $13.07 billion. This was
followed by the US ($4.95 billion), Mauritius ($4.73 billion), the United Arab Emirates ($3.1 billion), etc.
BUSINESS NEWS
UAE-India Business Council launched the UAE chapter to Boost Bilateral Trade & Investment
UAE-India Business Council-UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) was launched to boost Bilateral Trade and
Investment between India and UAE, commemorating the 1st anniversary of the India-UAE

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to strengthen economic ties and to make it
easier to achieve the shared goal of enhancing bilateral trade and investment.
✓ The 2 countries aim to increase bilateral trade to USD 100 billion and attract USD 75 billion in
investment from the UAE to India.
India is now the UAE’s second-largest trading partner, and by 2030, the two nations aim to increase
their trade to USD 100 billion. Click here to read more.
PVR Cinemas launches India’s 1st Multiplex within Airport Complex in Chennai
PVR Cinemas launched its 5-screen property at PVR Aerohub in Chennai International Airport, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu (TN). This is India’s 1st multiplex housed within an airport complex.
PVR Cinemas will have 12 locations in Chennai with 77 screens after this launch, and it will strengthen
its position in TN with 88 screens spread across 14 properties. Its South Indian screen count would
increase to 328 in 53 properties.
EbixCash becomes 1st Entity in India to enable UPI Transactions for Foreign Nationals
EbixCash World Money Limited, a subsidiary of US-based Ebix Inc, became the first company in India
to launch the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions for foreign nationals visiting India.
✓ In January 2023, the NPCI approved UPI transactions for non-resident bank accounts such as Non-
Resident External (NRE) and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) linked to international mobile
numbers.
Initially, transactions from mobile numbers of Non-resident Indians (NRIs) from 10 countries would be
allowed: Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, the United States of America (USA),
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United Kingdom (UK).
Reliance Jio & GSMA launch Initiative to Train Rural Women in Digital Skills
Reliance Jio and GSM (Groupe Speciale Mobile) Association (GSMA), the global mobile network
operators’ organisation, announced the national roll-out of their Digital Skills Program to offer need-
based training to rural women in India.
Aim: To give rural women and others from low-income/marginalized groups the training they need to
effectively use their access to the internet.
As per the GSMA’s ‘Mobile Gender Gap Report 2022’, women in India are 41% less likely than men to
use mobile internet.
Philips Domestic Appliances globally renamed as Versuni

Philips Domestic Appliances, headquartered in the Netherlands, has been rebranded as “Versuni” after
Royal Philips sold its domestic appliance business to Hillhouse Capital in September 2021.
Tata Steel completes 1st Multi-Modal Shipment of TMT Bars from West Bengal to Tripura
Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Steel Limited successfully completed the 1st multi-modal shipment
of 960 tonnes of steel TMT (Thermo Mechanically Treated) bars from Haldia Port in West Bengal to
Agartala in Tripura through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route, reiterating its commitment to a
sustainable future.
Edelweiss General Insurance rebranded as Zuno General Insurance

Edelweiss General Insurance has rebranded itself as Zuno General Insurance Limited (Zuno GI), a
new-age digital insurer with the ambition to reimagine and redefine insurance to make it easy, friendly,
and transparent.

Zuno GI has also launched a consumer study titled ‘Usage Based Insurance: Decoding Awareness,
Perception and Behaviour’.
ReNew Power Unveils Its New Rebranding and Decarbonisation Focus

ReNew Power made the strategic decision to rebrand itself as ReNew and introduced the new
company logo, with the new brand identity reflecting the transition from a pure-play renewable
independent power producer to an end-to-end provider of decarbonization solutions.
Sumant Sinha is the Chairman and CEO of ReNew Power.
CarDekho signs on Medulance to Provide Emergency Medical Services

CarDekho, an online used-car marketplace, has on-boarded Delhi-based Medulance, an ambulance
service provider, on its platforms to provide emergency medical services.
Amit Jain, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CarDekho, decided to add Medulance, a GPS-
based platform enabling fast ambulance services.
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS

MoU’s WITH COUNTRY
COUNTRY MoU’s WITH FIELD / PURPOSE
India Nepal Signed on 18th February 2023, during the 10th India
Nepal Energy Secretary-level Joint Steering
Committee (JSC) meeting in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
Purpose: To increase the power import and export
capacity through the Dhalkebar-
Muzaffarpur transmission line by 200 MW,
increasing it from 600 megawatts (MW) to 800 MW.
✓ The Meeting was co-chaired by Madhu
Prasad Bhetwal, Joint Secretary Ministry of
Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation,
Nepal and Alok Kumar, Secretary of the
Ministry of Electricity, India.
Nepal: President- Bidhya Devi Bhandari;
PM- Pushpa Kamal Dahal; Capital- Kathmandu;
Currency- Nepalese Rupee
Australian Trade and Confederation of Purpose: To collaborate on Technical and Vocational
Investment Commission Indian Industry (CII) Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
(Austrade), an Australian ✓ The Australia-India Future Skills Initiative is
Government agency a 4-year flagship programme of the
Australian government.
CII: President – Sanjiv Bajaj; Incorporated – 1992
[Established as Engineering and Iron Trades
Association (EITA) in 1895]; HQ – New Delhi, Delhi
Australian Trade and Leather Sector Skill Purpose: To work on Technical and Vocational
Investment Council (LSSC) Education and Training (TVET) programmes and
Commission (Austrade), an implement Australian training standards in the
Australian Government leather sector in India.
agency

Information Fusion Centre – Regional Purpose: To further the existing cooperation in the
Indian Ocean Region (IFC- Coordination Indian Ocean Region to enhance maritime safety and
IOR) hosted by the Indian Operations Centre security.
Navy (RCOC), Seychelles ✓ IFC-IOR was established by the Government
of India at Gurugram on 22 Dec 2018.
✓ Objective: To enhance collaborative
maritime safety and security in the Indian
Ocean Region in line with India’s vision of
Security and Growth for All in the Region
(SAGAR).
Seychelles: President– Wavel Ramkalawan;
Capital– Victoria; Currency– Seychellois Rupee
Bangladesh International Solar The agreement is scheduled to take effect
Alliance (ISA) in December 2026.
Purpose: To enhance the use of solar energy in
Bangladesh.
✓ ISA is a group of 123 nations. It was
developed as a joint initiative between India
and France to mobilize efforts to combat
climate change by deploying solar energy
alternatives.
ISA: Director General – Ajay Mathur; HQ –
Gurugram, Haryana
OCP Group, a Moroccan The state-run Purpose: For the annual importation of 1.75 million
state-owned fertilizer National Fertilizers metric tonnes (MT) of phosphorus (P) and potassium
producer Limited, the private (K) fertilisers at Rabat, Morocco.
Chambal Fertilizers ✓ According to the MoU, 1 MT of diammonium
and Chemicals Ltd, phosphate (DAP), 0.7 MT of triple
Rashtriya Chemicals superphosphate (TSP), and 0.05 MT of
and Fertilizers Ltd, mutate of potash (MOP) will be imported to
and Paradeep cover the domestic requirements of the soil
Phosphates Ltd nutrient variety for the upcoming year.
✓ India imports about half of its DAP needs
from: Senegal, Jordan, Israel, Oman, Russia,
Canada, and Saudi Arabia
India is negotiating to acquire supplies of non-urea
fertilisers like DAP and nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium
India Pulses and Grains IBRAFE (Instituto Purpose: To establish cooperative actions to
Association (IPGA) Brasileiro do Feijão e contribute to the food security of both India and
Pulses), the Brazilian Brazil.
Institute of Beans, The MoU was signed at the 6th edition of the Pulses
Pulses and Special Conclave (16-18 February 2023) held in Mumbai,
Crops Maharashtra.

MoU’s WITH STATES

STATE MoU’s WITH FIELD / PURPOSE
Uttar Pradesh Tata Technologies Purpose: To upgrade 150 government-owned
Limited, a global Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across 75
engineering and digital districts in UP with modern infrastructure, industry-
services company oriented courseware, training, and support for
advanced equipment and software as per industry
4.0.
✓ Value: Rs. 5472 crore.; MoA tenure: for 10
years
✓ Tata Technology will invest around Rs 4282
crore and Rs 1190 crore will be spent by the
Government of UP.
Tata Technologies Limited: MD&CEO - Warren
Haris; HQ- Pune, Maharashtra; Establishment- 1989
Telangana State Road Nalsoft Private Limited Purpose: for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Transport Corporation implementation.
(TSRTC) ✓ TSRTC is the first State Road Transport
Corporation undertaking in India to
commission and implement ERP.
TSRTC is a Telangana government-owned
corporation that runs bus transport services to and
from Telangana.
Nagaland Patanjali Foods Limited Purpose: for development and area expansion under
(formerly known as oil palm cultivation and processing for Zone-II
Ruchi Soya Industries (Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts) in
Limited) Nagaland under the National Mission on Edible Oil-
Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).
Telangana government’s South Indian Bank Ltd. This agreement authorises SIB to collect government
Directorate of Treasury and (SIB) receipts on their behalf.
Accounts (DTA) (Cyber ✓ SIB is one of the six private sector banks that
Treasury), Hyderabad, Telangana State has designated for the
Telangana purpose of facilitating payments to the Cyber
Treasury.
✓ Under this partnership, residents of
Telangana can make payments to the state’s
online treasury portal, “Cyber
Treasury,” using SIB’s Internet banking
platform, “SIBerNet.”
SIB: MD & CEO – Murali Ramakrishnan; HQ –
Thrissur, Kerala; Tagline – Experience Next
Generation Banking
Government of Uttar India Health Link (IHL) Purpose: To set up “hPod”, a Health ATMs providing
Pradesh (UP) under UP’s Private Limited, a screening of various health parameters at more than
InvestUP Programme digital health and 4,600 community and primary health care centres in
medical device start-up UP.

✓ “hPod” will provide a non-invasive digitally-
integrated ecosystem that enables Primary,
Preventive, and Predictive Healthcare.
✓ IHL Private Limited: Director- Krishan Goel;
HQ- Karnal, Haryana; Establishment- 2013
Tamil Nadu (TN) Renault and Nissan, Made an agreement for Rs. 5,300 crore (USD 600
two of the leading million).
manufacturers of ✓ The new framework agreement will change
automobiles the ownership of Renault Nissan Automotive
India Private Ltd. (RNAIPL) to 51% Nissan
and 49% Renault. Renault Nissan Technology
Business Centre (RNTBCI) will be 51%
Renault and 49% Nissan.
M. K. Stalin, Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu (TN),
has unveiled the new e-vehicle policy “Tamil Nadu
Electric Cars Policy 2023” to establish Tamil Nadu
as the ideal destination for manufacturing electric
vehicles (EV) in Southeast Asia. Click here to read
more.
Karnataka State Wadhwani Institute for To improve farmers’ welfare across Karnataka using
Department of Agriculture Artificial Intelligence AI-powered solutions.
(KSDA) (Wadhwani AI) Under this partnership, the KSDA and Wadhwani AI
will explore opportunities for the scaled deployment
of Wadhwani AI’s AI-powered early pest warning and
advice solution for cotton and other crops.
Tamil Nadu Ola Electric Mobility Purpose: Committing investments worth Rs 7,614
Private Limited crore
✓ The investments include setting up of world’s
largest Electric Vehicle (EV) hub with an
integrated two-wheeler, electric car and
lithium-cell Gigafactories with a capacity of
20 GW in SIPCOT Bargur, Krishnagiri district
of TN.
Ola will invest Rs 5,114 crore for making lithium cells
and Rs 2,500 crore for the car plant.
Kerala Tourism UN (United Nations) Purpose: To boost women-friendly activities in the
Women India tourism sector of Kerala.
✓ Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan
announced the agreement made with Japan-
based JFE Engineering Limited to provide
technical support to Kerala’s first waste-to-
energy treatment plant at Kozhikode,
Kerala.
UN Women: Executive Director – Ms. Sima Bahous;
Establishment – July 2010; HQ – New York, USA.

MoU’s BETWEEN ORGANIZATION

ORGANIZATION MoU’s WITH FIELD / PURPOSE
United Nations The Ocean Cleanup Purpose: To work together to eliminate
Development Programme plastic pollution in the world’s oceans and
(UNDP) rivers.
✓ ‘The Ocean Cleanup’ is a non-profit
foundation established in 2013 in Delft,
the Netherlands by Dutch inventor
Boyan Slat.
UNDP: Administrator – Achim Steiner;
Established – 1966; HQ – New York, USA
National Aeronautics and IBM (International Business Purpose: To develop Artificial Intelligence
Space Administration Machines Corporation), (AI) based models that will make it easier to
(NASA) headquartered in New York, mine vast datasets to advance scientific
United States of America(USA) knowledge about Earth and help the world to
adapt to a changing environment.
The collaborative work will apply AI foundation
model technology to NASA’s Earth-observing
satellite data for the 1st time.
Indian Institute of Indian Space Research Purpose: To collaborate on the application of
Technology Madras (IIT Organization (ISRO) Extended Reality (XR) and other technologies in
Madras) the Indian Human Spaceflight
Programme(IHSP).
✓ To advance Research and Development
(R&D) in the domain of XR, ISRO would
make use of the advanced technologies
developed at the recently formed
eXperiential Technology Innovation
Centre (XTIC) at IIT Madras.
ISRO: Chairman- S. Somanath; HQ- Bengaluru;
Establishment- 1969
Rolls-Royce Marine Kalyani Strategic Systems Purpose: To indigenously develop niche naval
North America Inc, a Limited(KSSL), a 100% propulsion technologies and products for the
subsidiary of Rolls-Royce subsidiary of Bharat Forge Indian Navy.
North America Inc limited Rolls-Royce North America Inc is a subsidiary of
the multinational corporation Rolls-Royce plc.
Indian Institute of Delhi-based Drone Purpose: To open Bihar’s 1st Directorate
Technology (IIT) Patna, Destination Private Limited General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-authorized
Bihar (DD), one of India’s leading Drone Training Centre.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle DD is the drone training partner of Indira
(UAV) training and Gandhi National Flying Academy (IGRUA) under
manufacturing groups the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and has
several centres across India.
Department of Development Innovation Lab Purpose: To explore opportunities to use
Agriculture and Farmers (DIL) at the University of innovation to promote food security, address
Welfare (DA&FW), Chicago climate change, and allow farmers to increase
Ministry of Agriculture their incomes.
and Farmers Welfare

(MoA&FW), Government DIL was established by Nobel laureate Dr.
of India (GoI) Michael Kremer, University Professor of
Economics at the University of Chicago, and co-
recipient of the 2019 Sveriges Riksbank Prize
in Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred
Nobel.
ONGC Videsh Limited YPF SA, Argentina Purpose: To enhance cooperation in the areas
(OVL), a wholly-owned of upstream oil and gas opportunity exploration
subsidiary and overseas and development, promote investment and
arm of Oil and Natural cooperation, and forge closer ties between
Gas Corporation Limited research and training centres.
(ONGC)
Ministry of Housing and Engineers India Limited(EIL) Purpose: To develop Waste to Energy and
Urban Affairs(MoHUA) bio-methanation projects in cities with a
population of million plus (million plus cities).
The Union budget 2023-2024 presented by
Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Finance
and Corporate Affairs designated ‘Green
Growth’ as one of the 7 priorities (Saptarishi)
of the Union Budget 2023-2024.
✓ The 7 priorities are: inclusive
development, reaching the last mile,
infrastructure and investment,
unleashing the potential, green growth,
youth power and financial sector.
In the ‘Green Growth’ segment, 500 new Waste
to Wealth plants will be established under the
Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan
(GOBAR-DHAN) scheme for promoting circular
economy. Click here to read more.
Ministry of Agriculture & ‘Digital Green’ under Public Purpose: To build a national-level digital
Farmers Welfare Private Partnership (PPP) extension platform.
(MoA&FW) framework Digital Green, founded by Rikin Gandhi, is an
award winning social enterprise that utilizes
technology to support small and marginal
farmers to enhance their productivity and
income. Click here to read more.
Directorate General of National Forensic Sciences Purpose: To set up digital forensic laboratories
GST (Goods and Services University (NFSU) along with the exchange of information and
Tax) Intelligence (DGGI) knowledge, technological advancement and skill
development in the field of digital forensics.
✓ DGGI, the apex intelligence organisation
under the Central Board of Indirect
Taxes and Customs (CBIC), is
responsible for gathering and
disseminating information and
implementing the required controls to
prevent GST evasion.

DGGI: Principal Director General- Surjit
Bhujabal; HQ- New Delhi, Delhi
Ministry of Defence Larsen & Toubro(L&T) Purpose: To procure 41 indigenous Modular
(MoD) Bridges for the Corps of Engineers of the Indian
Army, a combat support arm which provides
combat engineering support, develops
infrastructure for armed forces.
The bridges will be procured at an estimated
cost of over Rs 2,585 crore.
GAIL (India) Limited Central Board of Direct Taxes Purpose: For determining the transfer pricing
(CBDT) margin payable on its long-term LNG (Liquefied
natural gas ) sourcing contract from the United
States (US) for 5 years.
✓ GAIL became India’s first oil & gas
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
sector to successfully sign the APA.
✓ APA programmes are operational in a
number of countries like Canada, the
USA, Japan the and UK for almost 30
years.
GAIL (India) Ltd: CMD -Sandeep Kumar Gupta;
HQ – New Delhi, Delhi; Establishment –
August 1984
Samsung Semiconductor Indian Institute of Science Purpose: to promote research and
India Research (SSIR), a (IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka development(R&D) in the field of on-chip
subsidiary of Samsung Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection.
Electronics SSIR: CVP & MD- Balajee Sowrirajan;
HQ- Bengaluru, Karnataka;
Establishment- 1996
PAO Deepak Fertilisers and Purpose: in the supply of LNG (Liquefied
NOVATEK(NOVATEK), Petrochemicals Corporation Natural Gas) and low-carbon ammonia.
Russia’s 2nd-largest Ltd. (Deepak Fertilisers) The MoU envisages spot and long-term LNG
natural gas producer deliveries to Deepak Fertilisers, including from
the Arctic LNG 2 project.
Tata Consultancy Phoenix Group, the United Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced
Services (TCS) Kingdom’s (UK) an expansion of its partnership with Phoenix
Group, the United Kingdom’s (UK) largest long-
term savings and retirement provider, through
a contract valued at over 600 million British
pound sterling (GBP).
Department of Collegiate Samsung Semiconductor India Purpose: To set up artificial intelligence (AI)
and Technical Education Research (SSIR), a subsidiary “Industrial Internet of Things(IoT) Labs” (IoT
(DCTE), the Government of Samsung Electronics Innovation Labs) in 35 Government
of Karnataka Polytechnics across Karnataka.
Pune Municipal TheGreenBillions Limited Purpose: To set up India’s first solid waste-to-
Corporation (PMC) (TGBL) hydrogen plant in Hadapsar Industrial Estate in
Pune, Maharashtra, at an investment of Rs. 350
crore.

With this project, Pune will reduce up to 2.5
million MT of carbon emission, more than 3.8
million metric tons(MT) of waste will be
diverted from the landfill, and more than
180,000 estimated households will be served
directly.
Indian Institute of Central Water Commission Purpose: for establishing the International
Technology Roorkee (IIT (CWC) Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED) at IIT
Roorkee) Roorkee in Shram Shakti Bhawan, Ministry of
Jal Shakti, New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ According to the MoA, IIT Roorkee has
received a grant of Rs 108.99
crore from the Ministry of Jal Shakti for
the establishment of the ICED.
CWC: Chairman- Kushvinder Vohra; HQ- New
Delhi, Delhi; Establishment- 1945
NDDB Mrida Ltd., a Sistema.bio, India’s leading Purpose: launched the “Gobar Se Samriddhi”
wholly-owned subsidiary biogas company programme in Anand, Gujarat.
company of the National As per the agreement, in the initial phase,
Dairy Development 15,000 biogas plants will be installed by the bio
Board (NDDB) company for the farmers in Surat, Kolhapur, and
Pune.
National Stock Exchange CME Group, the world’s The agreement will allow the NSE to list, trade
(NSE) leading derivatives and settle rupee-denominated Nymex WTI
marketplace, for West Texas crude oil and natural gas derivatives contracts
Intermediate (WTI) crude oil for Indian market participants.
and natural gas contracts
Tata Steel Limited Central Building Research Purpose: To collaborate on mining research,
Institute (CBRI), a member of academic growth, and sustainable solutions.
the Council of Scientific and CBRI: Director- Prof. Pradeep Kumar
Industrial Research (CSIR) Ramancharla; HQ- Roorkee, Uttarakhand;
Establishment- 1947
BEML Limited (formerly Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Purpose: For constructing the Bahrain Metro
Bharat Earth Movers (DMRC)-led Special Purpose Rail Project Phase-1.
Limited), a schedule ‘A’ Vehicle (SPV) BEML Limited: CMD– Amit Banerjee; HQ–
company under the Bengaluru, Karnataka
Ministry of Defence
(MoD)
Indian Army Advanced Data Processing Purpose: To co-develop niche technology and
Research Institute (ADRIN) at end products duly aligned to the dynamic
ISRO (Indian Space Research requirements of the Indian army.
Organisation) Indian Army: Chief of the Army Staff –
General Manoj Pande; Established – April 01,
1895; HQ– New Delhi, Delhi
Bharat Electronics Aeronautical Development Purpose: For the Advanced Medium Combat
Limited (BEL), a Public Agency (ADA) & with Cisco Aircraft (AMCA) program with ADA; and for
Sector Undertaking (PSB) networking and security with Cisco.

under the Ministry of BEL: CMD – Bhanu Prakash Srivastava; HQ–
Defence (MoD) Bengaluru, Karnataka; Establishment– 1954
Ministry of Rural Meesho, an e-commerce Purpose: To drive digital inclusion of all
Development (MoRD) platform owned by Bengaluru women registered under State Rural Livelihood
(Karnataka)-based Fashnear Missions (SRLMs) and enable them to sell
Technologies Private Limited online.
✓ The cumulative loan to Self Help Groups
(SHGs) was about Rs 80000 crore before
2014. Now, the bank linkage has crossed
over 6.25 lakh crore in the last 9 years,
with an NPA of just 2.08%.
Meesho: CEO - Vidit Aatrey; HQ- Bengaluru,
Karnataka; Establishment- 2015
The Bureau of Indian Indian Institutes of Purpose: For the establishment of “BIS
Standards (BIS) Technology (IIT) Guwahati Standardization Chair Professor” at these
(Assam), IIT Gandhinagar institutes.
(Gujarat), and the National ✓ The BIS Standardization Chair Professor
Institute of Technology (NIT) initiative aims to institutionalise its
Calicut (Kozhikode, Kerala) relationships with India’s eminent
institutes to ensure the active
participation of academia in the
standard formulation and to make the
teaching of Indian standards an integral
part of the curriculum.
BIS: Director General- Pramod Kumar Tiwari;
HQ- New Delhi, Delhi; Establishment- 1987
CSC Academy, a New Delhi (Delhi)- Purpose: To enhance digital literacy and skill
subsidiary of Common based National Institute of development in India.
Service Centre (CSC) e- Electronics and Information ✓ Under this, both sides will develop and
Governance Services Technology (NIELIT) implement training programs in various
India Limited fields of technology that promote digital
literacy.
NIELIT is affiliated with the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY) and provides training and certification
programs in various fields of Information
Technology (IT).
Gopalan Aerospace India Slovakia-based Magic Trading Purpose: For the development of precision
Pvt Ltd Corporation, Inc. (MTC), a self- drones in India.
regulatory organization ✓ The high-precision weapon system AX-2
(S.R.O), and DEFSYSTECH predator is an attack system of Beyond-
S.R.O Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) guidance type,
based on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV) platform.
JV b/w: Gopalan Aerospace with Omnipol
Group, a partner of the Czech government
institution and North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO)

Purpose: In the field of defence and security, to
integrate Passive Radars for the Indian Defense
Industry in border regions. Click here to read
more.
ICOMM Tele Limited, a United Arab Emirates (UAE)- Purpose: For the transfer-of-
group company of Megha based CARACAL, a part of technology (ToT) to locally manufacture small
Engineering and EDGE Group’s Missiles & arms for the domestic market under the ‘Make
Infrastructures Ltd Weapon cluster in India’ initiative.
(MEIL) ✓ This marks the first-ever private sector
ToT in the defence sector between UAE
and India.
✓ The deal was signed during the ongoing
(February 20-24, 2023) 16th edition of
IDEX (International Defence Exhibition
& Conference) 2023 defence exhibition
in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
IDEX is the only international defence
exhibition and conference in the MENA (Middle
East and North Africa) region demonstrating
the latest technology across land, sea and air
sectors of defence.
Infosys Limited Microsoft Infosys Limited, an Indian multinational
information technology company, announced
that it will expand its collaboration with
Microsoft Corporation, an American
multinational technology corporation, to help
accelerate enterprise cloud transformation
journeys worldwide.
Adopting the cloud improved speed to market
and the ability to discover new revenue streams
and increased profit growth by up to 11.2%
year-over-year (YOY).
Agricultural and Lulu Hypermarket LLC, with Purpose: To promote the export of millets to
Processed Food Products Lulu Group aims to promote the Countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Export Development millet products and value- ✓ APEDA in association with Lulu Group
Authority (APEDA), added products around the aims to promote millet products and
under the Ministry of world value-added products around the world.
Commerce (MoC) The MoU was signed by Tarun Bajaj, Director
of APEDA, and VI Saleem, Chief Operating
Officer (COO) of Lulu Hypermarket LLC, at
Gulfood 2023 in Dubai, the United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
OTHER MoU’s IN CONTENT FORMAT

UP Global Investor Summit 2023: 18,643 MoUs Worth Rs 33.50 Lakh Crore Signed
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government signed 18,643 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for
investment intentions over the three-day Uttar Pradesh Global Investor Summit (UPGIS) 2023, with a
value of Rs. 33.50 lakh crore, in Lucknow, UP.

✓ Welspun One Logistics Parks (WOLP) has signed a Rs. 2,000 crore pact with the Uttar Pradesh
government to create warehousing and logistics parks in the state and expand its position in the
warehousing sector in North India.
✓ Reliance, Aditya Birla Group, and Tata, three of India’s largest conglomerates, pledged to spend
more than Rs. 1 lakh crore in UP to expand their businesses in the near future, at UPGIS 2023.
RIL: CMD – Mukesh Ambani; Founder Chairman – Dhirubhai Ambani; Establishment – 1973; HQ –
Mumbai, Maharashtra. Click here to read more.
Ministry of Cooperation Signs MoU to Enable PACS to Operate as CSC

MoU Among: The Ministry of Cooperation, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and CSC e-Governance Services India
Limited
Purpose: To enable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and provide services offered
by Common Service Centres (CSCs)
CSCs are the access points for the delivery of vital public services like utility services, social welfare
schemes, healthcare, financial services, education, and agriculture services under the Digital India
Programme.
Air India signed agreements to buy around 500 new planes from Airbus and Boeing
Tata’s Air India has signed agreements to buy around 500 new planes worth USD 100 billion at list
prize. The deal for around 500 planes is split between French company Airbus and Boeing based in the
United States of America (USA).
MoYAS, NIPER Hyderabad and FSSAI Signed Tripartite MoU to Address Doping Problem in
Sports
Tripartite MoU among: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports(MoYAS), Government of India, Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education &
Research, Hyderabad (NIPER Hyderabad)
Purpose: To create nutritional supplement testing capacity in India.
✓ FSSAI: Chairperson– Rajesh Bhushan; HQ– New Delhi, Delhi
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

APPOINTMENTS
NATIONAL
PERSON NAME APPOINTED AS ENTITY / PLACE KEY NOTES
MV Suchindra Kumar Vice Chief of India The Government of India (GoI) has
Army Staff approved 3 major appointments in the
Indian Army, Lieutenant general MV
Suchindra Kumar, who is currently
serving as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff
(Strategy) in the Army Headquarters, was
appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army
Staff. He succeeds Lt Gen B S Raju as the
Vice Chief of Army Staff.

✓ Lt Gen NSR Subramani, has been
appointed as the next Central
Army Commander in Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh.
✓ Lt Gen B S Raju, has been
appointed as the Jaipur-
headquartered South Western
Army Commander.
The new appointments will come into
effect on 1st March 2023.
Sanjaya Kumar Mishra Chief Justice Jharkhand High Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra was
Court sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the
Jharkhand High Court.
✓ After the superannuation of Chief
Justice Ravi Ranjan on December
19, 2022, the post of chief justice
of the Jharkhand High Court
became vacant.
✓ Governor of Jharkhand CP
Radhakrishnan administered the
oath of office to Sanjaya Kumar
Mishra.
According to clause (1) Article 217 of the
Constitution of India, Chief Justices of the
High Courts are appointed by the
President in consultation with the Chief
Justice of India (CJI) and the Governor of
the State.
K Satyanarayana Raju Managing Canara Bank The Government of India(GoI)
Director (MD) appointed K Satyanarayana Raju as
and Chief Managing Director (MD) and Chief
Executive Officer Executive Officer (CEO) of the state-
(CEO) owned Canara Bank, with immediate
effect.
✓ K Satyanarayana Raju succeeds L
V Prabhakar who resigned from
office on 31st December 2022.
Canara Bank: MD & CEO- K.
Satyanarayana Raju; HQ- Bengaluru,
Karnataka; Tagline- Together we can
Arun Kohli Country Head India Morgan Stanley appointed Arun Kohli as
the new Country Head for India to replace
Sanjay Shah, a veteran of 26 years at the
firm, who will be retiring from service.
Presently, Arun Kohli, a veteran in the
field of investment banking, serves as
Morgan Stanley’s Managing Director (MD)
and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
(EMEA) regions.
Shamika Ravi Full-time Economic Shamika Ravi, an Economics Professor
Member Advisory Council and Researcher, has been appointed as a
to the Prime full-time Member of the Economic
Minister (EAC-PM) Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
(EAC-PM) in the rank of the Secretary to
the Government of India (GoI). She is
currently a non-resident senior fellow of
the governance studies program at the
Brookings Institution in Washington D.C.,
United States of America (USA).
EAC-PM:
✓ Chairman: economist Bibek
Debroy
Member: Sanjeev Sanyal & Part-time
Members: Rakesh Mohan, Dr Sajjid
Chinoy, Dr Neelkanth Mishra, Nilesh Shah,
Prof. T.T. Ram Mohan, and Dr Poonam
Gupta.
BVR Subrahmanyam Chief Executive NITI The Government of India (GoI) has
Officer (CEO) Aayog (National approved the appointment of former
Institution for Commerce
Transforming Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam
India) (56 years old) as the new Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog (National
Institution for Transforming India).
✓ The Appointments Committee of
the Cabinet has approved
Subrahmanyam’s appointment for
a period of 2 years from the date
of assumption of the charge of the
post.
✓ Subrahmanyam will succeed
incumbent
CEO Parameswaran Iyer, who
will join the World Bank (WB) as
Executive Director in Washington,
DC, United States (US) for a 3-year
term.
NITI Aayog: Chairperson – Prime
Minister of India (Narendra Modi); Vice
Chairperson – Suman Bery;
Establishment – 2015; HQ – New Delhi,
Delhi
Sanjay Nayar Vice-President ASSOCHAM Associated Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (ASSOCHAM), a non-
governmental trade association,
announced the appointment of Sanjay

Nayar, a global financial markets expert,
as its new Vice-President.
✓ Sanjay Nayar also serves as a non-
executive Director at the e-
commerce company Nykaa
founded by him and his wife
Falguni Nayar.
He was recently also appointed as a non-
official member of the Centre’s Board of
Trade, representing the private sector.
Rajesh Rai Chairman and Indian Telephone The Union Government approved the
Managing Industries Limited appointment of Rajesh Rai for the post of
Director (CMD) (ITI Limited) Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)
of Indian Telephone Industries Limited
(ITI Limited), a Public Sector Undertaking
(PSU) under the Department of
Telecommunication (DoT), for a period of
5 years with an immediate effect.
Raul Rebello Managing Mahindra & Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services
Director (MD) Mahindra Limited (Mahindra Finance or MMFSL), a
and Chief Financial Services subsidiary of Mahindra Group, has
Executive Officer Limited (Mahindra appointed Raul Rebello (45 years), who is
(CEO) Finance currently the Chief Operating
or MMFSL), a Officer(COO) of the company, as its new
subsidiary of Managing Director (MD) and Chief
Mahindra Group Executive Officer (CEO) Designate.
He will assume the position of MD & CEO
when the incumbent Ramesh Iyer
superannuates on 29th April 2024.
Meenakshi Nevatia Managing Pfizer Limited Pfizer Limited (Pfizer India), Pfizer Inc’s
Director (MD) (Pfizer India), commercial business in India, has
and Additional Pfizer Inc’s appointed Meenakshi Nevatia as
Director commercial Managing Director (MD) and Additional
business in India Director of Pfizer Ltd for a period of 5
years with effect from 3rd April 2023.
Meenakshi Nevatia will succeed S
Sridhar who will be stepping down as
Managing Director and Member of the
Board on 31st March 2023.
Vivek Koka Chief Business ALTBalaji Ekta Kapoor, a film Producer, and her
Officer (CBO) mother Shobha Kapoor have stepped
down from their positions as the head of
the ALTBalaji, a subsidiary of Balaji
Telefilms Limited, an OTT (over-the-top)
platform. The process of stepping down
started in 2022.

Vivek Koka, who has been named Chief
Business Officer(CBO) of ALTBalaji, will
now run the online streaming business.
Vikramaditya Singh Member Advisory Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed
Khichi Committee on RCL Vikramaditya Singh Khichi, former ED
(Executive Directors) of Bank of Baroda
(BoB) as a member of the Advisory
Committee on Reliance Capital Limited
(RCL).
The Advisory Committee will advise the
Administrator in the operations of RCL
during the corporate insolvency
resolution process.
Rajeev Raghuvanshi Drug Controller India The Appointments Committee of the
General of India Cabinet(ACC) chaired by Prime Minister
(DCGI) Narendra Modi, has approved the
recommendation submitted by the Union
Public Service Commission (UPSC) to
appoint Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi as new
Drug Controller General of India(DCGI),
head of Central Drugs Standard Control
Organization (CDSCO).
✓ The appointment will be effective
from the date of his assumption of
charge till his attaining the age of
superannuation on 28th
February 2025 or until further
orders.
He will be taking over as DCGI from Dr
PBN Prasad, who was appointed as DCGI
with effect from 16th February 2023 till
28th February 2023.
Govindaraj President FIBA Asia Govindaraj Kempareddy (K Govindaraj),
Kempareddy (K of FIBA Asia President of the Basketball Federation of
Govindaraj) India (BFI), was unanimously nominated
as the President of FIBA Asia, a zone
within the International Basketball
Federation (FIBA – Federation
Internationale de Basketball Amateur)
which contains all 44 Asian FIBA
federations.
✓ He becomes the 1st Indian to be
elected as FIBA Asia President.
✓ K Govindaraj will replace
Qatar’s Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani,
who is currently serving his 4th
five-year term as President of
FIBA Asia. He has been president
of FIBA Asia since 2002.

✓ K Govindaraj is currently serving
as a member of the Karnataka
Legislative Council (KLC) and
Vice-President of the Indian
Olympic Association(IOA).
Note: FIBA Asia is one of the five regional
zones of FIBA: the other 4 zones are FIBA
Africa, FIBA Americas, FIBA Europe and
FIBA Oceania
INTERNATIONAL
PERSON NAME APPOINTED AS ENTITY / PLACE KEY NOTES
Manuela Roka Botey Prime Minister Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo,
(PM) President of the Republic of Equatorial
Guinea, appointed Manuela Roka Botey,
Deputy Minister of Education, as the
Prime Minister (PM) of Equatorial
Guinea. She becomes the first woman
to hold the post of PM in Equatorial
Guinea.
✓ She succeeds Francisco
Pascual Obama Asue who
served as the PM of Equatorial
Guinea, since 2016 for 3rd
consecutive term.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (80
years old) has been serving as the
President since 1979. In November
2022 he was re-elected as the President
for a 6th term with 95% of the vote.
Equatorial Guinea: Capital- Malabol;
Currency- Central African Franc (CFA)
Dorin Recean Prime Minister Moldova Natalia Gavrilița (41 years old), Prime
Minister (PM) of the Republic of
Moldova announced her resignation
from the post, claiming a lack of
support in the former Soviet Union. The
pro-Western government had been in
power for just 18 months (August 2021
to February 2023).
✓ Maia Sandu, President of
Moldova, appointed
Presidential adviser Dorin
Recean, a pro-Western
economist, as the new PM
following the resignation of
Natalia Gavrilița.

✓ Natalia Gavrilița, a Moldovan
economist and politician, was
appointed as the PM of Moldova
in August 2021. She became the
3rd woman PM of Moldova after
Zinaida Greceanii and Maia
Sandu.
Republic of Moldova: President- Maia
Sandu; PM- Dorin Recean
Nikos Christodoulides President Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides (49) has been
elected as the 8th President of Cyprus
by defeating veteran diplomat Andreas
Mavroyiannis. He will
succeed Nicos Anastasiades.
Cyprus: Capital– Nicosia; Currency–
Euro
Mohammad President Bangladesh Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu,
Shahabuddin Chuppu (74 years old), a former judge and
freedom fighter, has been declared the
next President of Bangladesh by
Bangladesh’s Election Commission.
✓ The ruling Awami League (AL)
party nominee, Shahabuddin
Chuppu, was elected unopposed
as the 22nd President of
Bangladesh.
✓ Shahabuddin Chuppu will
replace the incumbent
President Mohammad Abdul
Hamid, the longest-serving
president of Bangladesh (2013
to 2023), whose tenure ends
in April 2023.
Bangladesh: President- Mohammad
Abdul Hamid; PM- Sheikh Hasina;
Capital- Dhaka; Currency- Bangladeshi
Taka
Girish Chandra External International Labour Girish Chandra Murmu (G.C. Murmu),
Murmu (G.C. Murmu) Auditor Organisation (ILO) Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
of India, has been selected as External
Auditor of the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) in Geneva,
Switzerland, for a 4-year term (2024-
2027).
✓ CAG Girish Chandra Murmu will
replace the incumbent external
auditor of ILO, Jose Callangan
Calida, Chairperson of the
Commission on Audit (COA), the

Supreme Audit Institution of the
Republic of the Philippines.
✓ The appointment of CAG is a
recognition of its status within
the international community
and of its professionalism, high
standards, experience with
international audits, and solid
national credentials.
ILO: Director-General- Gilbert
Fossoun Houngbo; HQ- Geneva,
Switzerland; Establishment- 1919;
Members- 187 Member States
Neal Mohan Chief Executive YouTube Neal Mohan, a longtime Google and
Officer (CEO) YouTube executive who is an Indian-
American, has been appointed the
new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
of YouTube.
✓ Mohan will
succeed Susan Wojcicki,
YouTube’s outgoing CEO, who is
departing after nine years in the
position. She had been
with Alphabet Inc., YouTube’s
parent company, for nearly 25
years.
YouTube: CEO – Neal Mohan;
Founded – 2005; HQ – San Bruno,
California, United States (US)
Afshan Khan Coordinator Scaling Up Nutrition United Nations (UN) Secretary-General
(SUN) Movement Antonio Guterres announced the
appointment of Indo-Canadian Afshan
Khan as Coordinator of the Scaling Up
Nutrition (SUN) Movement. She will
coordinate the implementation of the
SUN movement through its 3rd phase
(2021-2025).
✓ Afshan Khan will succeed Gerda
Verburg of the Netherlands.
Currently, she serves as United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s Regional
Director for Eastern Europe and Central
Asia.
Hein Schumacher Chief Executive Unilever, the British Unilever, the British multinational
Officer (CEO) multinational consumer goods company, appointed
consumer goods Hein Schumacher, as its next Chief
company Executive Officer (CEO), who will take
over as the CEO of Unilever on 1st July
2023.

✓ He will be replacing Alan Jope
who announced his intention to
retire from Unilever.
Hein Schumacher is the CEO of Royal
FrieslandCampina, a Dutch
multinational dairy cooperative based
in Amersfoort, Netherlands.
BRAND & CAMPAIGN AMBASSADORS

PERSON NAME BRAND / CAMPAIGN KEY NOTES
Harmanpreet Kaur Brand Ambassador Puma India, one of the largest sportswear brand,
has roped in Indian Women’s cricket team
captain Harmanpreet Kaur as its brand
ambassador as a part of Puma India’s commitment
towards the women’s business, particularly in sports
segment in India.
✓ Harmanpreet Kaur was conferred with
the Arjuna Award in 2017 for Cricket.
Other Brand ambassadors of Puma: Indian
Cricketers Virat Kohli and Harleen Deol, champion
sprinter Usain Bolt(Jamaica), football players
Neymar Jr (Brazil)and Sunil Chhetri(India), Indian
boxer MC Mary Kom, and Indian para-shooter Avani
Lekhara.
Puma India: MD- Abhishek Ganguly;
HQ- Bengaluru, Karnataka
Ranveer Singh Brand Ambassador Chocolate company Ferrero has signed Bollywood
Actor Ranveer Singh as the brand ambassador of its
hazelnut cocoa spread brand Nutella India.
The brands endorsed by Ranveer Singh are
MakeMyTrip, Thums Up, Bingo, Maruti Suzuki, Kotak
Mahindra Bank, Adidas Originals, and Nivea among
others.
Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Roster of Brand Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), a wholly-
Singh Thakur Ambassadors owned subsidiary of the South Korea-based Hyundai
Motor Company, has signed 2 more women
cricketers Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Singh
Thakur to its roster of brand ambassadors which
includes, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and
Jemimah Rodrigues.
HMIL announced the next edition of
its #TheDriveWithin campaign featuring five
Indian women cricketers – Smriti Mandhana, Shafali
Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia and
Renuka Singh.
Ranbir Kapoor Brand Ambassador Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based, Myntra, an Indian
fashion e-commerce company owned by Flipkart,
has appointed Ranbir Kapoor, an Indian Bollywood

actor, as its new Brand Ambassador to endorse
men’s fashion wear on the platform.
He will feature in a brand campaign titled ‘Be
Extraordinary Everyday’ slated to go live shortly
alongside Kiara Advani.
COUNTRY AMBASSADORS
PERSON NAME COUNTRY KEY NOTES
Ayushmann Khurrana National Ambassador United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India
announced the appointment of Ayushmann
Khurrana, a National Award-winning Bollywood
Actor, as a National Ambassador.
In 2020, he was appointed UNICEF India’s Celebrity
Advocate to advocate for ending violence against
children and the broader child rights agenda.
RESIGNATIONS
PERSON NAME RESIGNED AS ENTITY / PLACE
Douglas Feagin Non-executive, Non- One 97 Communications (Paytm) has announced
independent director that Douglas Feagin, a non-executive, non-
of Paytm independent director of the company, has
submitted his resignation with immediate effect
from February 2, 2023.
With loans disbursed in December 2022 totaling
Rs. 9,958 crore, Paytm reported a 357% rise in its
loan distribution business.
Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon First Minister of Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon announced her
Scotland and leader of resignation as First Minister of Scotland and
the Scottish National leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) at a
Party (SNP) press conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.
✓ She was the first female First Minister of
Scotland and the first woman to lead any of
the devolved United Kingdom (UK)
administrations.
✓ Nicola Sturgeon, who has been serving as
the first Minister of Scotland since 2014, is
the longest-serving First Minister of
Scotland.
Scotland: Capital- Edinburgh; Currency- Pound
sterling
Rajan Kohli President of the iDEAS Rajan Kohli, President of the iDEAS (Integrated
Digital, Engineering, and Application Services)
business at Wipro Limited, has resigned after a
nearly three-decades career with the IT
(Information technology) firm.
✓ iDEAS bring together strategic design,
domain and consulting capabilities along
with cloud applications, Artificial

intelligence (AI), data, engineering and
next-generation technologies.
Wipro Limited: Founder Chairman- Azim H
Premji; CEO & MD- Thierry Delaporte;
HQ- Bengaluru, Karnataka; Establishment- 1945
OTHER APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

President Droupadi Murmu appoints New Governors in 12 states and 1 UT
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, appointed governors in 12 states and a Union Territory (UT).
These include the following 6 new appointments and 7 reshuffles:
NEW GOVERNOR/LIEUTENANT PREVIOUS
STATE/UT GOVERNOR GOVERNOR
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Lieutenant General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik Brigadier B D Mishra
Arunachal Pradesh (retired) (retired)
Sikkim Lakshman Prasad Acharya Ganga Prasad Chaurasia
Jharkhand C P Radhakrishnan Ramesh Bais
Rajendra Vishwanath
Himachal Pradesh Shiv Pratap Shukla Arlekar
Assam Gulab Chand Kataria Prof Jagdish Mukhi
Biswa Bhusan
Andhra Pradesh Justice (retired) Syed Abdul Nazeer Harichandan
Reshuffle
Chhattisgarh Biswa Bhusan Harichandan Sushri Anusuiya Uikye
Manipur Sushri Anusuiya Uikye La Ganesan
Prof Jagdish Mukhi
Nagaland La Ganesan (Additional Charge)
Bihar Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar Phagu Chauhan
Brigadier B D Mishra
Meghalaya Phagu Chauhan (Additional Charge)
Ladakh
(Lieutenant
Governor) Brigadier B D Mishra (retired) Radha Krishna Mathur
Maharashtra Ramesh Bais Bhagat Singh Koshyari
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: GoI Appoints Chief Justice for 4 High Courts
Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice, announced that the President has appointed Chief
Justices (CJs) for 4 High Courts(HC) in the exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 217
of the Constitution of India.

Name Current post Appointed as

Justice Sonia Giridhar
Gokani Judge in Gujarat HC Chief Justice of Gujarat HC
Justice Sandeep Mehta Judge in Rajasthan HC Chief Justice of Gauhati HC
Judge in Orissa HC
Justice Jaswant Singh (Odisha) Chief Justice of Tripura HC
Judge in Gauhati HC Chief Justice of HC of Jammu &
Justice N Kotiswar Singh (Guwahati, Assam) Kashmir(J&K) and Ladakh
UPSC recommends Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi as New Drugs Controller General of India
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recommended Dr. Rajeev Singh
Raghuvanshi, Secretary-Cum-Scientific Director of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission(IPC) as the
new Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) head of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
(CDSCO).
✓ DCGI is in charge of ensuring the quality of India’s drug supply. Additionally, it has the power to
regulate clinical trials and approve new medications.
David Malpass to step down as World Bank President

World Bank President David Malpass (66) announced that he will step down on June 1, 2023 (nearly a
year early than his term) after more than 4 years. He was appointed by then United States (US)
President Donald Trump in April 2019. His five-year term was due to end in April 2024.
ICAI elects Aniket Sunil Talati & Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal as President & Vice-President for
2023-24
The Central Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has elected CA.
Aniket Sunil Talati and CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal as President and Vice President of ICAI for the
term 2023-24.
✓ The ICAI is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, viz. The Chartered Accountants
Act, 1949 on 1st July, 1949 for regulating the profession of Chartered Accountancy in the country.
HAL extends C B Ananthakrishnan Tenure as CMD for Six Months

the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved to extend the tenure of C B
Ananthakrishnan, Director (Finance) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), as Chairman and
Managing Director (CMD) (additional charge) for a period of 6 months with effect from 1st February
2023.
HAL is an aerospace and defence company under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India
headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka

AWARDS
AWARDS IN THE FIELD OF ARTS & CULTURE FILMS
AWARD NAME AWARD WINNER FIELD KEY NOTES
Hollywood Critics “RRR,” directed The 6th Annual Hollywood Critics Association
Association (HCA) by SS Rajamouli, (HCA) Film Awards 2023, held at the Beverly
Film Awards 2023 on a global scale Wilshire in Los Angeles, United States (US), has
and honoured it - acknowledged “RRR,” directed by SS Rajamouli,
with 5 awards on a global scale and honoured it with 5 awards.
The film ‘RRR’ gained recognition for Best Action
Film, Best International Film, Best Original
Song, and Best Stunts, while the cast/crew of
RRR earned an honorary HCA Spotlight Award
AWARDS IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL SERVICE, SCIENCE & BRAVERY

The Most R Vishnu Prassad Science R Vishnu Prassad, Founder and Chief
Distinguished Scientist Scientist at Vishnu Prasad Research
of the Year 2022 Centre was awarded “The Most
Distinguished Scientist of the Year
2022” at the Indian Achievers Award
2022 by Anurag Singh Thakur,
Minister of Information and
Broadcasting at Vigyan Bhawan, New
Delhi, Delhi.
✓ The Indian Achievers Award is
India’s most prestigious award
and a prestigious recognition
that is given to individuals for
outstanding contributions in
various fields including culture,
science, sports and innovation.
Other recipients of the Indian
Achievers Award include Paramveer
Chakra Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar,
hockey player late Major Dhyan Chand,
film actress Shruti Haasan, Padma Shri
Alok Mehta, and boxer Vijender Singh.
OTHER IMPORTANT AWARDS

EY Entrepreneur of Sajjan Jindal Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing
the Year 2022 Director (CMD) of Mumbai
(Maharashtra)-based JSW Group, has
been named the EY Entrepreneur of
the Year 2022 India at the 24th EY

Entrepreneur of the Year™ Awards
ceremony held in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ Sajjan Jindal will now
represent India at the EY
World Entrepreneur of the
Year Award (WEOY) at Monte
Carlo, Monaco, in June 2023.
✓ K P Singh, Chairman Emeritus,
DLF Group was honoured with
the Lifetime Achievement
- Award for his pioneering
work in architecting the real-
estate landscape of India.
EY refers to the global organisation
and may refer to one or more of the
member firms of Ernst & Young
Global Limited, each of which is a
separate legal entity.
Ernst & Young Global Limited, the
United Kingdom (UK) company
limited by guarantee, does not offer
services to clients. Chairman and
CEO- Carmine Di Sibio; HQ- London,
United Kingdom;
Establishment- 1989
Prathista Puraskar Karnataka Bank Limited Achieving the Karnataka Bank Limited was awarded
target with the “Prathista Puraskar” under
highest ‘Digidhan Awards 2021-22’ by the
percentage Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY),
Government of India (GoI), for
achieving the target with the highest
percentage in Bharat Interface for
Money-Unified Payments Interface
(BHIM-UPI) transactions in Private
Sector Bank category.
The bank, known as “KBL-NxT”, is
currently undertaking an accelerated
digital drive under its transformation
journey “KBL VIKAAS 2.0”.
3rd Grammy Ricky Kej Indian Music Ricky Kej, an Indian music composer
Composer and and environmentalist based in
Environmentalist Bengaluru, Karnataka, has his 3rd
Grammy at the 65th annual Grammy
Awards (Grammy 2023) under the
Best Immersive Audio Album category
for the album Divine Tides. He shared
the award with rock legend Stewart

Copeland, the drummer of the iconic
British rock band, The Police.
✓ This is Copelands’s 5th
Grammy and also marks the
2nd grammy shared with
Rickey Kej as a collaborator.
✓ Rickey Kej won his first
Grammy Award in 2015
(shared with Wouter
Kellerman) under the best new
age album category for ‘Winds
of Samsara’ and the 2nd
Grammy in 2022 (shared with
Stewart Copeland) under the
Best New Age Album category
for ‘Divine Tides’.
✓ The 65th annual Grammy
Awards (Grammy 2023) was
held at the Crypto.com Arena
in Los Angeles, California, the
United States of America(USA).
Click here for the complete
list of winners of Grammy
2023
Raja Ram Mohan Dr Anne Bhavani Journalism Veteran journalist Dr
Roy National Award Koteswara Prasad Anne Bhavani Koteswara Prasad,
for excellence in popularly known as ABK, has been
Journalism-2020 chosen for the ‘Raja Ram Mohan Roy
National Award for excellence in
Journalism-2020’ for his outstanding
contribution to the field of journalism.
✓ The award was conferred by
Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai,
chairperson of the Press
Council of India (PCI).
✓ Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a
religious and social reformer,
is the founder of the
Brahmo Samaj (a monotheistic
sect of Hinduism). He was
known as the ‘Father of
Modern India’ or ‘Father of the
Bengal Renaissance’.
He was the one who introduced the
word “Hinduism” (or “Hindooism”) for
the first time into the English language
in 1816.

Sansad Ratna 13MPs Awardees The Jury Committee chaired by Arjun
Awards Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State
(MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs
nominated 13 members of Parliament
(MP): 5 from Rajya Sabha and 8 from
Lok Sabha for the Sansad Ratna
Awards (2023).
✓ In addition, T K
Rangarajan, Former Member
of Parliament – Rajya Sabha
- for two terms and a Senior
Communist Party of India
(Marxist)(CPI-M) Leader has
been nominated for the Dr APJ
Abdul Kalam Lifetime
Achievement Award.
✓ 2 Departmentally Related
Standing Committees (DRSC)
were also selected for the
Sansad Ratna Awards under
special awards category.
The 13th Sansad Ratna Awards (2023)
will be presented on 25th March
2023 in New Delhi, Delhi. Click here to
read more.
Association for NTPC Limited Talent NTPC Limited, a Maharatna Central
Talent Development Development Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU)
(ATD) Best Awards under the Ministry of Power,
2023 Government of India, has been
honoured with the Association for
Talent Development (ATD) Best
Awards 2023 for demonstrating
enterprise success in the field
of Talent Development by the
Association for Talent Development
(ATD), United States of America (USA).
✓ NTPC has won the ATD Best
Awards for the sixth time.
NTPC Limited: CMD– Gurdeep Singh;
HQ- New Delhi, Delhi;
Establishment- 1975
Lifetime Dr Manmohan Singh Former Prime Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime
Achievement Minister (PM) of Minister (PM) of India and Member of
Honour India Parliament (MP) Rajya Sabha
(constituency- Rajasthan), was
honoured with the Lifetime
Achievement Honour at the 2023
edition of the prestigious India-
United Kingdom (UK) Achievers

Honours, a first-of-its-kind
celebration of the UK’s Indian alumni,
held on 25th January 2023 in London,
UK, for his contribution to economic
and political life.
✓ British Indian Peer
Lord Karan
Bilimoria received the Living
Legend Honour.
✓ Virendra Sharma MP from
Ealing Southall, who chairs the
Indo-British All Party
Parliamentary Group, was also
bestowed with the Living
Legend Honour.
The India-UK Achievers Honours was
organised by the National Indian
Students and Alumni Union
UK (NISAU UK) in partnership with
the British Council in India and
supported by the UK Government’s
Department for International Trade
and the UK Higher Education Sector.
VP Nandakumar The Hurun Industry Remarkable VP Nandakumar, Managing Director
Achievement Award achievements in and Chief executive officer (CEO) of
2022 the world of Manappuram Finance Limited,
business received The Hurun Industry
Achievement Award 2022 for his
remarkable achievements in the world
of business.
✓ He received the award from
Rupert Hoogewerf, Founder &
Chairman of Hurun Global, at
Hurun India’s award ceremony
held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The earlier recipients of this award
were Adi Godrej, chairman of Godrej
Group, Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Managing
Director of Serum Institute of India
Ltd, Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder
of Infosys Ltd and Sanjiv Goenka of
RPG Group.
Taj Miss India 2023 Akshata Rakshe Akshata Rakshe from Mumbai,
Maharashtra, was crowned the winner
of Taj Miss India 2023 at the grand
finale of Taj Miss & Mrs India 2023.
- Natasha Sadaphal was announced as
the first runner-up and Isha was

announced as the second runner-up of
Taj Miss India 2023
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS IN CONTENT FORMAT

PM Modi appears as World’s Most Popular Leader, With an Approval Rating of 78%
Morning Consult, a US-based consulting firm, reported that Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has
become the most popular leader in the world for the 2nd consecutive year, with a 78% approval
rating in its Global Leader Approval Ratings.
✓ He is rated highest among the 22 countries studied, followed by Andrés Manuel López Obrador of
Mexico with an approval of 68% and and Swiss President Alain Berset occupied the third position
with 62% approval rating.
✓ PM Modi received an approval rating way ahead of US President Joe Biden, who received a 40%
rating.
President of India Presented Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for 2019, 2020 &
2021
On 23rd February 2023, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year
2019, 2020 and 2021 in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ 9 eminent personalities were given Akademi Ratna in the field of performing arts and a total
of 128 artists from the field of music, dance, theatre, traditional, folk, and puppetry were given the
Akademi Puraskar.
Winners of Akademi Ratna & Akademi Puraskar:
NO. WINNERS FIELD
1 Saroja Vaidyanathan Bharatnatyam dancer
2 Sadanam Krishnan
Kutty Kathakali dancer
3 Darshana Jhaveri Manipuri dancer
4 Chhannu Lal Mishra classical vocalist
5 Swapan Chaudhuri Tabla Player
6 AKC Natarajan Carnatic clarinet player
7 TV Gopalakrishnan Hindustani musician
8 Tijan Bai folk singer
9 Bharat Gupt musicologist
DPIFF Awards 2023: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Kashmir Files’ won
Awards
India’s only independent international film festival, Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival
(DPIFF) 2023 was held on February 20, 2023 at Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
✓ Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt received awards in the Best Actor and Best
Actress categories for their performances in the movies ‘Brahmastra: Part 1’ and ‘Gangubai
Kathiawadi’.

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s Telugu Movie, ‘RRR’ received the Film of the year award and
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s Hindi Movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ won the Best Film award. Click
here for the list of awardees.
2nd Annual Anthem Awards: UNDP’s “Don’t Choose Extinction” Campaign wins 2 Anthem
Awards
On 15th February 2023, The ‘Don’t Choose Extinction’ campaign of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) to raise awareness about the climate emergency, has won Gold and
Silver in two different categories at the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards.
✓ Gold winner: under Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Non-Profit Campaign category
✓ Silver Winner: under Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Global Awareness Campaign
category.
MoD Announced the Best Marching Contingents & Tableaux of R-Day Parade 2023
The Ministry of Defence(MoD) announced the best marching contingents and tableaux of Republic Day
(R-Day) Parade 2023 in two separate results, one selected by the 3-member Expert Committee of
Ministry of Defence and the other through an online public vote conducted by MyGov platform.
✓ A total of 23 tableaux – 17 from states and union territories (UTs) and six from various ministries
and departments- participated in the R-Day parade 2023.
Result of Best Marching Contingents & Tableaux (by panel of judges):
Category Winner
Best Marching Contingent among the three services Punjab Regiment Centre Contingent
Best Marching Contingent among CAPF/other
auxiliary forces CRPF Marching Contingent
First – Uttarakhand (Manaskhand)
Second – Maharashtra (Sade Tin
Shaktipithe & Nari Shakti)
Third – Uttar Pradesh (Ayodhya
Best three Tableaux (States/UTs) Deepotsav)
Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Eklavya Model
Best Tableau (Ministries/Departments) Residential Schools (EMRSs))
Central Public Works Department
(Biodiversity Conservation)
Special Prize ‘Vande Bharatam’ Dance Group.
Wings Publication announces Golden Book Awards 2023 Winners

Wings Publication announced the list of winners of Asia’s most prestigious book award, Golden Book
Awards 2023, a highly-acclaimed recognition program honouring exceptional Authors.
Winners of Golden Book Awards 2023
Winners Books
Deepak The Seven Spiritual Law Of Success: A
Chopra practical guide to achieving your dreams
Ashneer Doglapan: The Hard Truth about Life and
Grover Start-Ups

Jeff Kinney Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode

J.K Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of
Rowling Dumbledore
Gaur Energize Your Mind: A Monk’s Guide to
Gopal Das Mindful Living
The Wisdom Bridge: Nine Principles To A
Kamlesh Life That Echoes In The Hearts Of Your
Patel Loved Ones
Ruskin
Bond How To Live Your Life
Namita The Dolphin And The Shark: Stories On
Thapar Entrepreneurship
Click here for the Winners of Golden Book Awards 2023
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Presented Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2019, 2020
and 2021 to 102 Artists of India
G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister, Ministry of Culture presented the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
(UBKYP) for 2019, 2020 and 2021 to around 102 Artists (including three joint awards) at Meghdoot
Theatre Complex, Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ The 102 winners of UBKYP includes 19 artists from the North East region of India, which
highlights the changed circumstances of the region.
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is presented to artists up to the age of 40 years to encourage
young talents in diverse fields of the performing arts.
Former Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel honoured with Félix Houphouët-Boigny-
UNESCO Peace Prize 2022
Angela Merkel, former Federal Chancellor of Germany, received the Félix Houphouët-Boigny-
UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Peace Prize 2022 during
the ceremony held in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast. She received the prize in recognition
of her efforts to welcome refugees during her term in the office.
✓ Angela Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany in 2005 and served in the post for
16 years (4 terms). She resigned from the post in 2021.
✓ UNESCO: Director-General– Audrey Azoulay; HQ– Paris, France; Establishment– 1945
9th Edition of Kalinga Literary Festival: Announces KLF Book Awards 2022
The Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) [9th edition] has announced the KLF Book Awards 2022 in a
variety of categories and languages including English, Hindi, Nepali, Maithili, Odia, and other Indian
languages.
✓ The 9th KLF will take place in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from February 24 to 26, 2023.
The KLF, India’s Largest Festival of Literature Spirit, is an annual literary festival held in Bhubaneswar.
Click here to check out the list of awardees.
INS Nireekshak Receives On-the-Spot Unit Citation for Salvage Operation

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R. Harikumar presented a “on the spot” unit citation to “Indian
Naval Ship (INS) Nireekshak” at Kochi, Kerala, marking the first for the Indian Navy.
✓ The ship was constructed in 1985 by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, entered Navy service in
1989, and was commissioned in 1995.

SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE

SUMMITS
SUMMITS VENUE KEY POINTS
G20 (Group of Twenty) summit in India is hosting the prestigious G20 (Group of
2023 Twenty) summit in 2023, as the country holds
the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022, to
November 30, 2023.
✓ The first “G20 Energy Transition Working
Group” (ETWG) Meeting under India’s G20
Presidency was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka,
from February 5-7, 2023. The next ETWG
meeting will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat,
in April 2023.
- ✓ On the sidelines of the first G20 ETWG
Meeting, Energy Efficiency Services
Limited (EESL) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Indonesia-
Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint
Business Council (IMT-GT JBC), Malaysia, to
promote the adoption of energy efficiency
and sustainable practices in the region.
The first “G20 Sustainable Finance Working
Group” (SFWG) Meeting under India’s G20
Presidency was held in Guwahati, Assam, on
February 2-4, 2023. Click here to read more.
EVENTS
EVENTS VENUE KEY POINTS
Madrid International Madrid, Jose Maria Ridao, the Ambassador of Spain, announced that India
Book Fair in 2025 Spain will be invited as the focal country at the Madrid International
Book Fair in 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
✓ The announcement was made during the event held at
the Spain Pavilion at the 46th International Kolkata Book
Fair (IKBF 2023) at Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Spain is the theme country of the 46th International Kolkata
Book Fair which will be held from 31st January 2023 to 12th
February 2023.
Asian Ministerial Energy Karnataka India hosted the 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable
Roundtable (AMER9) (AMER9) in association with the International Energy Forum
(IEF) on 7 February 2023 at the India Energy Week 2023 which
was held from February 6–8, 2023, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Theme for the roundtable: ‘Mapping new pathways for energy
security, inclusive growth and energy transitions’.
✓ The Ministry of Petroleum has signed a pact with the
Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) for
strengthening cooperation in the field of data and

research and for enhancing global energy security,
stability, and sustainability.
As per report ‘World Oil Outlook 2045’ released by
Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at the
India Energy Week 2023, India and China alone will account for
37% of global GDP in 2045 whereas the OECD will account for
34%. Click here to read more.
Aero India 2023 Karnataka The 14th edition of Asia’s biggest aero show,“Aero India
2023,” a biennial event highlighting India’s indigenous defence
capabilities, was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi, who also released a commemorative stamp on the
occasion.
✓ The five-day event took place at Air Force Station
Yehlanka in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from February 13 –
17, 2023.
✓ The theme of the event was “The runway to a billion
opportunities.”
✓ The event was organized by the Department of Defence
Production of the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) in
Bengaluru.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh, MoD, launched the 9th edition of
the Defence India Startup Challenges (DISC 9) on
“Cybersecurity” at the “Startup Manthan” at Aero India 2023.
DISC 9 is the first collaboration between Innovations for Defence
Excellence (iDEX) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination
Centre (i4C), a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Click here to know about various MoUs signed and events held
International Bioresource Manipur Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh,
Conclave & Ethno Ministry of Science and Technology inaugurated the
Pharmacology Congress International Bioresource Conclave & Ethno Pharmacology
Congress at the City Convention Centre, Imphal, Manipur.
✓ The International Bio-resource Conclave 2023 along
with the 22nd International Congress of the International
Society for Ethno-pharmacology and the 10th
International Congress of Society for Ethno-
pharmacology (ISE SFEC-2023) was held from 24th to
26th February 2023 in Manipur.
✓ The events were themed
upon Reimagine Ethnopharmacology: Globalisation of
Traditional Medicine.
ISBD: Director– Prof. Pulok Kumar Mukherjee; HQ– Imphal,
Manipur; Establishment– 2001

CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE VENUE KEY POINTS
World Hindi Conference Fiji The 12th World Hindi Conference, which took place
from February 15–17, 2023, in Nadi, Fiji, decided to
promote Hindi as a language of contact-dialogue
among all people around the world who speak,
understand, and are fond of it.
✓ The Conference was jointly inaugurated by
Fijian President Rato Wiliame Katonivere and
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S.
Jaishankar, who was on his maiden visit to
Fiji. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),
Government of India (GoI) organized the
conference in collaboration with the
Government of Fiji.
✓ The main theme of the conference is “Hindi –
Traditional Knowledge to Artificial
Intelligence.”
India and Fiji signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on visa exemption for holders
of diplomatic and official passports on the margins of
the 12th World Hindi Conference, held in Fiji.
UIC World Security Congress Rajasthan The 18th UIC World Security Congress, a 3-day
Conference, was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan from 21st
February to 23rd February 2023. It was jointly
organised by the International Union of Railways
(UIC – Union International Des Chemins) and the
Railway Protection Force (RPF), India.
✓ The theme of Congress is “Railway Security
Strategy: Responses and Vision for
Future”.
✓ The event was held in India for the 3rd time.
Previously, in 2006 and 2015, RPF India
successfully organized and hosted the UIC
World Security Congress in New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ The 17th UIC World Security Congress was
held on 14 and 15 June 2022 in Warsaw,
Poland.
✓ The 18th UIC World Security Congress
concluded with the adoption of the Jaipur
Declaration for rail safety and security by the
attendees.
RPF: Director General- Sanjay Chander IPS;
HQ- New Delhi, Delhi; Establishment- 1957
(Constituted as a federal Force). Click here to read
more

COMMITTEES & MEETINGS

COMMITTEES
COMMITTEE NAME HEAD KEY POINTS
Working Committee PK Malhotra The Ministry of Law and Justice has constituted a
working committee under the chairmanship of
former Law Secretary PK Malhotra to draft rules
and standards for the implementation of the
provisions of the Mediation Bill/Act 2021 in India.
✓ The Bill provides for the establishment of the
Mediation Council of India.
The Mediation Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Rajya
Sabha on December 20, 2022, and further the Bill
was referred to the Department-related
Parliamentary Standing Committee (DRPSC) on
Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.
16-member inter-ministerial Manoj Govil The Government of India (GoI) constituted a 16-
committee member inter-ministerial committee to analyse the
need for a separate law for competition in the digital
market and to draft a digital competition act within
three months.
✓ The inter-ministerial committee is headed
by Manoj Govil, Secretary of the Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA).
Members include: Sangeeta Verma, Chairperson,
Competition Commission of India (CCI); Saurabh
Srivastava, Chairman, Indian Angel Network and Co-
founder, NASSCOM and others.
High-Level Committee Sanjay K. Mehta The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
(SK Mehta) Waterways(MoPSW) has constituted a High-Level
Committee headed by Sanjay K. Mehta (SK Mehta),
Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority (DPA),
Gandhidham, Gujarat, to draft the revised guidelines
for the operation of Roll On-Roll off (Ro-Ro) and Roll
on-Passenger (Ro-Pax) ferry service.
Under the Sagarmala Programme, MoPSW
operationalised the Ro-Pax Ferry service between
Ghogha – Hazira in Gujarat and Mumbai – Mandwa in
Maharashtra. Click here to read more.
MEETINGS
MEETING NAME VENUE KEY POINTS
G20 International Financial Union Territory On January 30 – 31, 2023, the first “G20
Architecture Working Group of Chandigarh International Financial Architecture Working
Meeting Group Meeting” under the G20 (Group of Twenty)
Indian Presidency was held in the Union Territory of
Chandigarh.

✓ India assumed the G20 Presidency for a year,
from December 1, 2022 to November 30,
2023.
The two-day meeting was co-led by the Ministry of
Finance (MoF) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
as well as France and South Korea, who are co-chairs
of the International Financial Architecture Working
Group.
US-India initiative on Critical and On January 31, 2023, the inaugural meeting of
Emerging Technologies the “US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging
(iCET)” (2023) Technologies (iCET)” (2023) was formally
launched by Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor
(NSA) of India, and Jake Sullivan, the National
- Security Advisor of the United States (US) in
Washington, DC, US.
In May 2022, Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and US President Joe Biden jointly announced
the “U.S.-India initiative on critical and emerging
technologies (iCET)”.
Meeting of the US-India Civil Space United States Delegates from India and the United States of
Joint Working Group (CSJWG) (US) America (USA) gathered at the United States (US)
Department of Department of State for the 8th meeting of the US-
State India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) and
discussed on collaboration in Earth and space
science as well as human space exploration.
The meeting was co-chaired by Jennifer R
Littlejohn, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in
the Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs and Karen
Feldstein, Associate Administrator for International
and Interagency Relations at NASA for the United
States and Shantanu Bhatawdekar, Scientific
Secretary of ISRO for India.
First G20 (Group of Twenty) Bengaluru, The First G20 (Group of Twenty) Environment and
Environment and Climate Karnataka Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG)
Sustainability Working Group meeting was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka under
(ECSWG) meeting India’s G20 Presidency. It was led by the Ministry of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC),
Government of India.
A session focusing on theme of ‘Sustainable and
Climate Resilient Blue Economy’ was held which
covered issues including marine litter, conservation
and enhancement of coastal and marine ecosystems
and marine spatial planning. Click here to read more.
Shanghai Cooperation Lucknow, Uttar The 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Supreme
Organisation Supreme Audit Pradesh Audit Institutes (SCO SAI) Leaders’ meeting was held
Institutes (SCO SAI) Leaders’ in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP) from February 6 to
meeting 8, 2023.

✓ On the sidelines of the SCO SAI Leader’s
meeting, on 13 February 2023, Girish
Chandra Murmu signed 2 Memoranda of
Understanding (MoUs) with SAIs of
Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to strengthen
cooperation and exchange of expertise in the
field of auditing.
✓ The SAI20 is an Engagement Group of G20
and it was established in 2022 during
Indonesia’s Presidency of the G20.
✓ CAG of India has taken over the chairmanship
of SAI20, with India assuming the G20
presidency on December 1, 2022.
SCO: Secretary-General – Zhang Ming; HQ – Beijing,
China; Establishment – 15 June 2001. Click here to
read more.
G20 Digital Economy Working Lucknow, UP Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Group (DEWG) Meeting (MeitY) hosted the first Digital Economy Working
Group (DEWG) meeting in India, as a part of India’s
Presidency of the G20(Group of Twenty) from 13th
to 15th February 2023 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
(UP).
✓ The Chair of G20-DEWG was Alkesh Kumar
Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY). It was
Co-Chaired by Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary,
MeitY.
✓ G20 members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Türkiye,
United Kingdom (UK) and United States of
America (USA).
G20 India 2023: G20 Sherpa– Amitabh Kant;
Secretariat– New Delhi, Delhi; Theme– ‘Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth · One Family · One
Future’. Click here to read more.
First Agriculture Deputies Meeting The first Agriculture Deputies Meeting (ADM) of the
(ADM) Agriculture Working Group (AWG) under India’s G20
(Group of Twenty) Presidency, spanning 3 days, was
held at Indore, Madhya Pradesh(MP), from February
13 -15, 2023.
- ✓ The 2nd and 3rd Agriculture Deputies
Meeting (ADM) will be held in March 2023 in
Chandigarh and June 2023 in Hyderabad,
Telangana, respectively.
Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) will
be held in April 2023 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

1st G20 FMCBG and 2nd G20 Karnataka As part of the G20 (Group of Twenty) Indian
FCBD Meetings Presidency, the 1st G20 Finance Ministers and
Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting was
held from 24 -25 February 2023 in Bengaluru,
Karnataka and it was preceded by 2nd Finance and
Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) Meeting which was
held in Bengaluru on 22nd February 2023.
✓ The 1st G20 FMCBG meeting was co-chaired
by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,
Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Dr.
Shaktikanta Das, Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The ‘2nd G20 FCBD meeting was co-chaired by Ajay
Seth, Secretary (Economic Affairs), and Dr. Michael D.
Patra, Deputy Governor, RBI, on February 22, 2023 in
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
India, which presently holds the G20 Presidency, has
entrusted the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) to jointly
prepare a technical paper on cryptocurrency
assets. Click here to read more.
I2U2 Business Forum’s Inaugural The inaugural I2U2 (a grouping of Israel, India, the
Meeting UAE (United Arab Emirates), and the United States)
Business Forum was hosted by the UAE on February
21-22, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
✓ As a part of the forum’s initiative, the UAE is
committed to a $2-billion investment for
integrated agricultural facilities across India
and the development of a 300-MW wind and
solar power plant in Gujarat.
- ✓ At the forum, India was represented
by Dammu Ravi, secretary (economic
relations), Ministry of External Affairs.
On the sidelines of the I2U2 Business Forum, in Abu
Dhabi, UAE, India became the latest member of the
Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C),
which was launched by the UAE and the US at COP26
in November 2021.
AIM4C intends to increase investment in and support
climate-smart agriculture and food systems
innovation.
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS IN CONTENT FORMAT

NMCG Executive Committee Approved 9 Projects worth Rs 1278 crore for pollution abatement
in Ganga Basin and Ghat Development
Nine projects worth around Rs. 1278 crore were approved at the 47th meeting of the Executive
Committee of NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga) which was held under the chairmanship of G.
Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG.

✓ Out of the 9 projects, 7 were related to reducing pollution in the Ganga Basin and 2 to ghat
development.
✓ The projects cover the states of West Bengal; Bihar; Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
NMCG: Director General – G Asok Kumar; HQ – New Delhi, Delhi.
INDEX
RANKING
INDEX / SURVEY NAME RELEASED BY / KEY NOTES
CONDUCTED BY
OECD Services Trade OECD’s (Organisation for India ranked 47th in OECD’s (Organisation for
Restrictiveness Economic Cooperation and Economic Cooperation and Development)
Index (STRI): Policy trends Development) report titled ‘OECD Services Trade
up to 2023 Restrictiveness Index (STRI): Policy trends up
to 2023’, which highlights the key outcomes of
the 2022 OECD STRI.
✓ OECD STRI index covers 38 OECD
members, as well as Brazil, China, India,
Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Peru,
Russia, Singapore, South Africa,
Thailand, and Vietnam.
✓ Russia, Thailand and Indonesia are the
three countries ranked below India.
STRI 2022 Rank:
1. Japan
2. UK
3. Netherlands
47. India
50. Indonesia Click here to read more.
World’s Most Admired FORTUNE magazine Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been
Companies” for 2023 included in the 25th edition of FORTUNE
magazine’s list of the “World’s Most Admired
Companies” for 2023.
In the annual ranking of corporate
reputation, Apple topped the list for the 16th
consecutive year, followed by a tie
between Amazon and Microsoft for the 2nd
spot.
International Intellectual United States (US) Chamber According to the International Intellectual
Property Rights Index 2023 of Commerce Property Rights Index 2023 (11th
(11th edition) edition) released by the United States (US)
Chamber of Commerce, India ranks 42nd with
an overall index score of 38.64% (i.e.,19.32 out
of 50) among 55 major global economies across
50 unique indicators.
India was placed 43rd out of 55 countries in
2022 and 40th in the index in 2021, rising just

one spot to the 42nd position in 2023. Click
here to read the executive summary of the
report.
REPORTS
REPORT NAME SUBMITTED BY KEY NOTES
Collapse and Recovery: How World Bank According to the World Bank report “Collapse and
the COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Eroded
Eroded Human Capital and Human Capital and What to Do About It”, the
What to Do About It COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive destruction
of human capital at essential stages of the life cycle,
especially affecting children and young people in
underdeveloped and developing countries.
Between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022,
schools in South Asia were entirely or partially
closed for 83% of the time—significantly longer
than the global average of 52%.
Global Threat Landscape CloudSEK According to the Global Threat Landscape Report
Report 2021-2022 2021-2022 by CloudSEK, a contextual AI company
that predicts Cyber Threats, India is the most
targeted country by hackers in Asia in both 2021
and 2022.
✓ Globally, India is the 2nd most targeted
country in 2022 while the United States of
America(USA) remained the most targeted
country.
✓ The number of cyber-attacks targeting
India has increased by 24.3% in 2022.
Indonesia, Russia and China are the 3rd, 4th and
5th most targeted countries in 2022.
LiFE lessons from India -The International Energy The International Energy Agency (IEA) claimed in
benefits of advancing the Agency (IEA) its country report titled “LiFE lessons from India -
Lifestyle for Environment The benefits of advancing the Lifestyle for
(LiFE) initiative through the Environment (LiFE) initiative through the
G20 G20” that if adopted worldwide, the measures
specified under the LiFE initiative could save
consumers around USD 440 billion in 2030,
corresponding to around 5% of total fuel spending
across the global economy that year.
✓ It further said that implementing India’s
“LiFE” initiative may help decrease
worldwide carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
by more than 2 billion metric tonnes by
2030, or roughly one-fifth of the emission
reduction required to reach global net-zero
emissions.
IEA: Executive Director – Dr. Fatih Birol; HQ –
Paris, France. Click here to read more.

Asia-Pacific Overview of Food United Nations (UN) According to a joint report by the United Nations
Security and Nutrition 2022: Agencies (UN) Agencies titled “Asia-Pacific Overview of
Urban Food Security and Food Security and Nutrition 2022: Urban Food
Nutrition Security and Nutrition”, an increasing number of
people in Asia lack enough to eat as food insecurity
rises with greater prices and worsening poverty.
✓ This joint flagship report is published by 4
specialized agencies of the UN: The Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),
the World Food Programme (WFP), and the
World Health Organization (WHO). Click
here to find more key messages from the
report
✓ The report is the fifth annual assessment of
food insecurity and hunger by the UN
agencies.
WFP: Executive Director – David Beasley; HQ –
Rome, Italy; Established – 1961. Click here to read
more.
Asian Economic Integration Asian Development According to the Asian Economic Integration
Report(AEIR) 2023: Trade, Bank (ADB) Report(AEIR) 2023: Trade, Investment, and
Investment, and Climate Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific, released by
Change in Asia and the Pacific Asian Development Bank (ADB) in February 2023,
Greener trade and investment play a major role in
tackling climate change in Asia and the Pacific.
✓ AEIR 2023 states that Asia and the Pacific
are one of the most vulnerable regions to
climate change risk and yet it is responsible
for around 50% of global annual carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The annual temperatures of Asia and the Pacific
have increased faster in the last 3 decades
compared to any other region. The annual
temperatures are now 0.86 degrees celsius above
the 1981-2010 average. Asia and the Pacific is
warming faster than the global average (0.42-
degree celsius).
State of Solar PV Mercom India According to “State of Solar PV Manufacturing in
Manufacturing in India Research India” report by Mercom India Research, India’s
capacity to manufacture solar photovoltaic (PV)
modules exceeded 39 gigawatts (GW) by the end of
September 2022, and it is anticipated to reach
about 95 GW by the end of the calendar year (CY)
2025.
✓ As of September 2022, India had a solar cell
manufacturing capacity of around 4.7 GW,
which is predicted to rise seven-fold by the
end of CY 2024.

The Union Cabinet approved a Rs. 19,500 crore PLI
Scheme on the “National Programme on High
Efficiency Solar PV Modules” in September 2022,
with the aim of attracting Rs. 94,000 crore in
investment.
Making India a Global Power Shobha Karandlaje Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State (MoS)
House on Farm Machinery for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, released the
Industry National Council of Applied Economic
Research(NCAER)’s new report titled “Making
India a Global Power House on Farm Machinery
Industry” in Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi. This
study was sponsored by Mahendra & Mahendra.
Global Minority Report Centre for Policy As per the Centre for Policy Analysis’
Analysis’ (CPA) (CPA) inaugural assessment on global minorities in
its’ Global Minority Report’, India has topped one
among 110 nations for its inclusivity measures
towards religious minorities. India has the highest
level of religious minorities’ acceptance.
✓ India is followed by South Korea, Japan,
Panama, and the United States (US) at the
2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th positions
respectively.
Maldives, Afghanistan, and Somalia are at the
bottom of the list.
Bracing for Superbugs: United Nations According to the recent report released by United
strengthening environmental Environment Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Bracing
action in the One Health Programme (UNEP) for Superbugs: strengthening environmental action
response to antimicrobial in the One Health response to antimicrobial
resistance resistance, reduction of pollution created by
pharmaceuticals, agricultural and healthcare
sectors is essential to reduce the emergence,
transmission and spread of superbugs, a strain of
bacteria which has become resistant to every
known antibiotic.
✓ Superbugs are other instances of
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
According to the WHO, AMR is listed among the top
10 global threats to health.
Electricity Market Report 2023 International Energy According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)
Agency (IEA) report Electricity Market Report 2023 released
on 8th February 2023, Asia will use half of the
world’s electricity by 2025, a majority of which will
be used in China, which consumes more electricity
than the European Union, the United States (US),
and India combined.
✓ Africa will only use 3% of the world’s
electricity in 2025, despite having a fifth of
the world’s population.

IEA: Executive Director- Dr Fatih Birol;
Members- 31 member countries and 8 association
countries; Establishment- 1974
Global Entrepreneurship Global According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor
Monitor 2022/2023 Global Entrepreneurship (GEM) and National Entrepreneurship Context
Report Adapting to a “New Monitor (GEM) Index’’s (NECI) report titled ‘Global
Normal and National Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022/2023 Global
Entrepreneurship Report Adapting to a “New Normal” India is
Context Index’’s ranked 4th out of 51 nations in terms of having a
(NECI) high- quality entrepreneurial ecosystem.
✓ India’s most recent score of 6.1
demonstrates an overall improvement in
the nation’s entrepreneurial environment
over time.
✓ This is a significant improvement over the
2021 ranking of 16th overall.
2023 Gross Domestic Climate Cross Dependency According to the “2023 Gross Domestic Climate
Risk Assessment Initiative (XDI) Risk Assessment” released by Cross Dependency
Initiative (XDI), 9 Indian states are among the
world’s top 50 regions at risk of causing damage to
the built environment as a result of climate change
hazards.
✓ The 9 states are Bihar (ranked 22), Uttar
Pradesh (25th), Assam (28thg), Rajasthan
(32nd), Tamil Nadu (36th), Maharashtra
(38th), Gujarat (44th), Punjab (48th), and
Kerala (50th).
This Gross Domestic Climate Risk
Report (GDCR) is the first physical climate
risk analysis to compare every state, province, and
territory in the world with a specific emphasis on
the built environment. Click here to read more.
2022 Q4 and Annual India Mercom India As per the Mercom India report, titled ‘2022 Q4
Solar Market Update and Annual India Solar Market Update’, Solar
capacity installations in India increased
by 27% year-on-year (y-o-y)
to 13 gigawatts (GW) during the calendar year
(CY) 2022 compared to 10.2 GW installed in CY
2021. Solar capacity Installations in 2022 were the
highest ever recorded in India.
✓ The cumulative solar capacity installed in
India was approximately 63 GW at the end
of Q4 2022.
Rajasthan, Karnataka and Gujarat were the top
three states for cumulative large-scale solar
capacity, accounting for 54% of installations in
India as of December 2022.

Annual Report Periodic Labour National Sample The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO),
Force Survey (PLFS)- July, Survey Office (NSSO) Ministry of Statistics and Programme
2021 – June, 2022 Implementation (MoSPI) released the 5th ‘Annual
Report Periodic Labour Force Survey
(PLFS)- July, 2021 – June, 2022’ stating
Unemployment rate (UR) at 5-year low of 4.1% in
2021-22. It was 4.2% in July 2020-June 2021.
✓ The Pan-India UR for male was 4.4% and
for women was 3.3% in July, 2021 – June,
2022.
The UR in both rural and urban areas declined to
3.2% and 6.3%, respectively from 3.3% and 6.7%
respectively, in July 2020-June 2021. Click here to
read more.
Foundational Literacy and Dr. Bibek Debroy Dr. Bibek Debroy, Chairman of the Economic
Numeracy (FLN) report Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM)
released the second edition of the Foundational
Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) report at the
conference ‘TheIndiaDialog’, which was organised
by Institute for Competitiveness and US-Asia
Technology Management Center, Stanford
University, on February 23 & 24, 2023.
✓ India’s overall average score in the FLN
index 2022 was 44.48 and 18 out of 36
state/UTs have scored above the country
average.
✓ The report tracks states’ and UTs (Union
Territories) performance relative to their
peers in achieving universal foundational
learning by 2026-27.
✓ About 50% of states have scored above
the national average i.e., 43.28 in access
to education pillar.
In the case of educational infrastructure, 19 states
have scored above the national average of 67.12.
click here to read more.
Trends in maternal mortality World Health According to the report titled “Trends in maternal
2000 to 2020 Organization (WHO) mortality 2000 to 2020” produced by World Health
Organization (WHO), which tracks maternal deaths
nationally, regionally and globally from 2000 to
2020, it was estimated that around 287 000
women died from a maternal cause in 2020, which
is approximately 800 deaths every day and one
every 2 minutes.
✓ Nigeria had the highest estimated number
of maternal deaths, accounting for over one
quarter (28.5%) of all estimated global
maternal deaths in 2020, with
approximately 82 000 maternal deaths.

Second to Nigeria, India accounted
for 8.3% of global maternity deaths i.e.
around 24 000 in 2020.
✓ Two other countries with more than 10 000
maternal deaths in 2020: The Democratic
Republic of the Congo (22 000) (7.5%)and
Ethiopia (10 000) (3.6%) of global
maternal deaths, respectively.
WHO: Director-General– Dr Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus; HQ– Geneva, Switzerland. Click here
to read more.
RANKING & REPORTS IN CONTENT FORMAT

FT Global MBA Ranking 2023: ISB Placed First Among Indian B-Schools; Six Indian B-Schools
Listed Among World’s Top 100 MBA Institutes
According to the “Financial Times (FT) Global MBA Ranking 2023,” the Post Graduate Programme
(PGP) from the Indian School of Business (ISB) has retained its prominence among Indian B-Schools
and is the only Indian B-school (Business School) to rank in the top 50 globally. (As of February 13,
2023).
✓ ISB dropped to 39th rank in the world from 32nd in 2022 and 23rd in 2021. It is currently ranked
sixth in Asia.
Top 5 Global B-schools on the list: (As of February 13, 2023)
Carbon
Location, Primary Weighted Salary Alumni Footprint
Rank Name Campus (USD) Network Rank Rank
Columbia Business
1 School United States (US) 226,359 18 53
2 Insead France/Singapore 198,363 22 53
3 Iese Business School Spain 181,270 8 6
Harvard Business
4 School US 235,019 26 14
Stanford Graduate
4 School of Business US 248,669 3 53
Indian School of
39 Business India 161,331 12 89
GQII 2021: India’s Accreditation System under QCI Ranked 5th; Overall QI system Rank at 10
The National accreditation system of India under the Quality Council of India (QCI) was
ranked 5th globally in the Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021. India’s overall QI (Quality
infrastructure) system ranking continues to be in the Top 10 unchanged from GQII 2020 at the 10th
position, with a GQII score of 0.932.
✓ The GQII Index is a pioneer in measuring the development status and dynamics of QI worldwide.

Top 6 GQII 2021 Global Ranking:
Rank Rank
GQII GQII Rank

Country
Rank Score Standardization
Metrology Accreditation
Germany 1 0.996 2 2 1
China 2 0.99 3 1 3
United
3 0.987 1 8 2
States
United
4 0.982 4 4 6
Kingdom
Japan 5 0.976 5 3 12
France 6 0.973 7 6 11
India jumps to 55th rank in ICAO’s Aviation Safety Oversight Ranking: DGCA
As per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s position has improved in the Aviation
Safety Oversight Ranking of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as India’s aviation
security monitoring ranking has improved to the 55th position from 112th place.
✓ Under the continuous monitoring approach of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program
(USOAP), the Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) was launched in India from November 9 to
16, 2022.
✓ DGCA: Director General– Arun Kumar; HQ– New Delhi, Delhi
UK Overtakes India as World’s 6th-Biggest Stock Market with $3.11 trillion Mcap
As per the data of Bloomberg, the United Kingdom (UK) became the world’s 6th-largest equity
market surpassing India for the first time in almost 9 months (Since May 2022).
On 21 February 2023, the combined market capitalization (Mcap) of primary listings in the UK,
excluding ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) and ADRs (American depositary receipt), reached
about $3.11 trillion, about $5.1 billion higher than their Indian equivalents.

S&P Global’s Top 250 Global Energy Company ranking: NTPC Top among Independent Power
Producers and Energy Traders
NTPC Limited, India’s largest power generating company has topped among the Independent Power
Producers and Energy Traders category in the S&P Global Commodity Insights Top 250 Global Energy
Company Rankings® 2022.
✓ Globally, NTPC is ranked 58th.
✓ NTPC currently contributes 24% of the total electricity produced in India with a share of 17% of
the installed capacity.
AUM of ARCs expected to grow 9.8% in FY23: CRISIL Report

According to the ASSOCHAM-Crisil Ratings report, Assets Under Management (AUM) of Asset
Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) is projected to grow 9.8% in FY23 to Rs 1,19,000 crore after a period
of relative stagnation.
✓ ASSOCHAM full form is Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.
✓ The AUM stood at Rs 1.09 lakh crore in FY22.
ARC is a specialized financial institution that buys the non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad assets from
banks and financial institutions at a mutually agreed value. It attempts to recover the debts or
associated securities by itself.
ACQUISITION & MERGERS

Hindujas Intends to Raise Their Stake in IndusInd Bank to 26%
IndusInd International Holdings Ltd. (IIHL), a subsidiary of the Hinduja Group, has received
preliminary approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase its ownership in IndusInd Bank
Ltd. (IndusInd Bank) to 26%.
✓ With this, IndusInd Bank has become the first bank to have its promoter increase its shareholding
to 26%.
✓ Hinduja Group, through Mauritius-based IndusInd International Holdings Limited (IIHL), owns
16.51% of the stake and 15.16% of the voting shares in IndusInd Bank as of December 2022.
✓ IndusInd International Holdings held 12.58%; and IndusInd Ltd. held 3.92%.
IndusInd Bank: MD & CEO – Sumant Kathpalia; Established – 1994; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra;
Tagline – We Make You Feel Richer
GoI to Become Vodafone Idea’s Largest Shareholder with 33% Stake

The Ministry of Communications, has approved the conversion of Rs. 16133,18,48,990 (~Rs. 16,133
crore) in accrued interest on deferred adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of debt-ridden Vodafone
Idea into equity.
✓ The company has been directed to issue 1613,31,84,899 (~1613.31 crore) equity shares with a
face value of Rs. 10 each at an issue price of Rs. 10 each.
✓ The conversion will make GoI the single-largest shareholder in Vodafone Idea, with a projected
stake of around 33%.
RBI allows DSP Investment Managers to hike stake in DCB Bank to 9.99%
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed DSP Investment Managers to hike their stake in DCB Bank
Limited, a private sector scheduled commercial bank in India, to 9.99% as part of investments made
through various mutual fund schemes.

✓ The approval is valid for a year up to February 2, 2024. Currently, DSP Mutual Fund holds 4.23%
of the bank.
CCI Approvals for Merger and Acquisition of Various Entities – 9th February 2023
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the following acquisition and mergers,
✓ Acquisition of 100% equity and preference shares of Lanco Anpara Power Limited by Megha
Engineering and Infrastructures Limited Group.
✓ Internal restructuring involving certain subsidiaries of Keimed Private Limited.
✓ Acquisition of 20% equity share capital of Keimed by Shobana Kamineni through Prime Time
Logistics Technologies Private Limited.
✓ Acquisition of the textile effects business of Huntsman International by Archroma Operations
S.à.r.l.
✓ Subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of Hero Future Energies Global
Limited by Ardor Holdings II Pte. Ltd.
✓ Acquisition of up to 25% shareholding in Hindustan Ports Private Limited (HPPL), by the National
Investment and Infrastructure Fund(NIIF) and the proposed merger of Hindustan Infralog Private
Limited (HIPL) into HPPL.
CCI: Acting Chairperson– Sangeeta Verma; Establishment – 2003; HQ – New Delhi, Delhi. Click here
to read more.
Alibaba Sells its Entire Stake Holdings of 3.16% Equity in Paytm

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (Alibaba), a Chinese multinational technology company owned by Jack
Ma, sold its entire stake of 3.16% equity (2.1 crore shares) for around Rs 13,600 crore in a block
transaction of One97 Communications Ltd. (OCL), the parent company of Paytm.
✓ Alibaba, which held 6.26% of Paytm as of September 2022, sold a 3.1% share in the company for
USD 125 million in a block sale in January 2023.
✓ Paytm: CEO- Vijay Shekhar Sharma; HQ- Noida, Uttar Pradesh; Establishment- 2010
✓ Alibaba: CEO- Daniel Zhang; HQ- Hangzhou, China; Establishment- 1999
Kotak Mahindra Bank Acquires Sonata Finance for Rs. 537 Crore
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) has entered into binding share purchase agreements with
existing shareholders to acquire 100% of the equity shares of Sonata Finance Pvt Ltd (SFPL) for about
Rs. 537 crore in cash.
✓ The acquisition is scheduled to be completed in H1 (April-September) of the fiscal year 2023-24
(FY24).
✓ SFPL will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of KMBL once the transaction is approved by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
✓ KMBL: MD & CEO – Uday Kotak; Established – 2003; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra
CCI Approvals for Acquisition of Various Entities – 13th February 2023

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given its approval to the following proposals:
✓ Acquisition of up to 100% shareholding in R Systems International Limited by BCP Asia II Topco II
Pte. Ltd
✓ Consolidation of HPM Business of LANXESS AG and DEM Business of Koninkiljke DSM N.V. under
Zehnte LXS GmbH, a JV HoldCo of Platin 2170 GmbH & LANXESS
✓ Acquisitions of Commercial Real Estate assets by Nexus Select Trust
✓ CCI: Acting Chairperson– Sangeeta Verma; Establishment– October 14, 2003; HQ– New Delhi,
Delhi

HDFC Bank sells its entire 9.95% stake in Softcell Technologies Global
Mumbai(Maharashtra)-based HDFC Bank Limited is set to sell its entire stake of 9.95% (1,65,731
Equity Shares) in Softcell Technologies Global Private Limited (Softcell) for Rs 9.94 crore, at Rs. 600.36
per Equity Share.
In March 2020, HDFC Bank sold a 2.05% stake in Softcell for Rs. 1.47 crore.
✓ Softcell, a company founded on 6h September 2018, sells Information Technology (IT) products
and offers software and related services.
Liberty Global buys 4.9% stake in Vodafone betting on Share Revival

Liberty Global Plc, a multinational telecommunications company headquartered in London, the United
Kingdom (UK), acquired a 4.9% stake (1.34 billion shares) in Vodafone Group Plc, British multinational
Telecom Company based in the UK, in a surprise bet on Vodafone’s plans to revamp its business.
CCI Approves Acquisition of Certain Equity Share Capital of LT Foods Limited by SIIC
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of a certain equity share capital of
LT Foods Limited, a subsidiary Daawat Foods Limited (DFL), by SALIC International Investment
Corporation (SIIC), under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
✓ Acquirer: SALIC International Investment Corporation (SIIC)
✓ Targets: LT Foods Limited (LT Foods) and Daawat Foods Limited (DFL)
CCI Clears Acquisition of Certain Assets of Jaiprakash Associates by Dalmia Cement

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of certain assets of Jaiprakash
Associates Limited and its associates by Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited.
✓ Acquirer: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited
Target Assets (Sellers): Jaiprakash Associates Limited and its associate
CCI approves Acquisition of 100% of issued and outstanding share capital & sole control of VGP
Holdings LLC by Gateway
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of 100% of issued and
outstanding share capital and sole control of VGP Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Valvoline Inc, by Saudi
Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) through Gateway Velocity Holding Corp(Gateway) and Aramco
Overseas Company B.V. (AOC) from Valvoline Inc.
✓ Gateway is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AOC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saudi
Aramco.
✓ Acquirer: Gateway Velocity Holding Corp. (Gateway); Target: VGP Holdings LLC; Seller: Valvoline
Inc.
The CCI has approved the acquisition of shareholding by Kotak Funds, Kotak Special Situations Fund
(KSSF) and Kotak Pre-IPO Opportunities Fund (KPIOF), and India Business Excellence Fund (IBEF)-IV
through a combination of secondary share purchases of equity shares and subscription to Compulsorily
Convertible Debentures (CCD) of VVDN Technologies.
✓ Acquirers: KSSF, KPIOF and IBEF-IV; Target: VVDN Technologies Private Limited
CCI: Acting Chairperson- Sangeeta Verma; HQ- New Delhi, Delhi; Establishment- 2003. Click here to
read more

DEFENCE
EXERCISE
EXERCISE NAME VENUE / KEY NOTES
PARTICIPATING
COUNTRIES
Exercise Topchi 2023 Devlali field firing ranges, On 29th January 2023, Indian Army’s ‘Exercise Topchi
in Devlali, Nashik, 2023’, the annual firepower demonstration and
Maharashtra training exercise, was conducted by the School of
Artillery at the Devlali field firing ranges, in Devlali,
Nashik, Maharashtra.
✓ The highlight of the exercise was the display
and firing of indigenously manufactured
(Made in India) Artillery equipment.
The event was conducted under the stewardship of Lt
Gen S Harimohan Iyer, AVSM, Commandant School of
Artillery and Col Commandant Regiment of Artillery.
Exercise Trishakti North Bengal From January 21-31, 2023, a joint training exercise
Prahar (Three-Force namely ‘Exercise Trishakti Prahar (Three-Force
Strike) Strike)’ was held between the all arms and services
of Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Central
Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in North Bengal.
✓ Army Commander for Eastern Command
Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita
reviewed the firepower exercise.
✓ This exercise was held in the strategically
important Siliguri Corridor, also known as the
"Chicken’s Neck," in Northern part of West
Bengal.
Exercise Poorvi Akash: IAF kick-starts Mega
Air Drill in Northeastern Region
The IAF has started its annual mega air drill exercise
‘Poorvi Aakash’ in the northeastern region to check its
combat preparedness. The exercise was carried out by
Shillong-headquartered Eastern Air Command.
✓ The IAF’s frontline fighter jets including the
Rafale and Su-30MKI aircraft, and other assets
deployed in the region are engaged in the
exercise.
IAF: Chief of the Air Staff– Air Chief Marshal Vivek
Ram Chaudhari; HQ– New Delhi, Delhi;
Establishment– 1932. Click here to read more.
Ex-DUSTLIK IV – 2023 Foreign Training Node in Ex-DUSTLIK IV – 2023, the 4th edition of the bilateral
Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, joint military exercise between the Indian
Indian Army and Army and Uzbekistan Army commenced in Foreign
Uzbekistan Army Training Node in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The 14-

day long joint exercise will culminate on 5th March
2023.
✓ The 1st Indo-Uzbekistan Joint Field Training
Exercise “DUSTLIK-2019” was held in 2019 at
Uzbekistan’s Chirchiq Training Area.
✓ The second edition of the exercise was held at
the Foreign Training Node in Ranikhet,
Uttarakhand in 2021 while 3rd edition was
conducted at Yangiarik, Uzbekistan in 2022.
Uzbekistan: Capital– Tashkent; Currency–
Uzbekistani Som; President– Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Dharma Guardian India-Japan The 4th edition of the India-Japan joint annual
military training exercise ‘Dharma
Guardian’ commenced at Camp Imazu in the Shiga
province of Japan. The exercise was scheduled to be
conducted till 2 March, 2023.
✓ Infantry Regiment from the Middle Army of
the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF)
and Troops of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment of
the Indian Army have participated in the
exercise.
The last edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian was held
in Belgaum, Karnataka in February, 2022.
ARMY, NAVY & AIR FORCE NEWS

IAF Revises Doctrine, Defines its Role in a ‘No War, No Peace’ Setting
On 4th February 2023, the Indian Air Force (IAF) made public a revised doctrine which defines the role
of air power in the “no war, no peace scenario” setting in India.
✓ For the first time, the doctrine extensively detailed the “no war, no peace” (NWNP) environment,
saying the condition requires the IAF to work towards shaping the behaviour of external threats.
The IAF first published a doctrine in 1995, which was revised in 2007. In 2012, a revised and
unclassified basic doctrine was published. The latest doctrine revises the 2012 document.
DRDO Develops Unfurlable Antenna for Space Radar

Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO)’s lab based in Bengaluru(Karnataka), has developed an UnFurlable Reflector
Antenna (UFRA), one of the major subsystems of radar.
✓ LRDE was involved in the development of space-borne imaging radar, consisting of electronic
radar subsystems and antenna deployment mechanisms, for installation on satellites.
Naval LCA & MIG29 K Fighter Aircraft Performed Maiden Landing & Take-off on INS Vikrant
Indian Navy’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the MIG29 K Fighter Aircraft successfully performed
their maiden landing and take-off attempts on the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant, India’s first
Indigenous Aircraft Carrier.
✓ The maiden landing of MIG-29K marks the integration of the fighter aircraft with INS Vikrant.
✓ INS Vikrant has been undertaking extensive Air Operations with Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing
aircraft since December 2022 towards Air Certification and Flight Integration Trials to achieve
being “Combat Ready”.

INS Vikrant was commissioned by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi on 2nd September 2022
Indian Army undertakes Multiple Welfare Activities under Operation Sadbhavana in Ladakh
The Indian Army is undertaking multiple welfare activities such as the running of Army Goodwill
Schools, Infrastructure Development Projects & Education Tours etc, for the children living in remote
areas of the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh as a part of ‘Operation SADBHAVANA’.
‘Nari Shakti’: Indian Navy’s all-women car expedition sets off from NWM to cover 2,300 km
over 12 Days
The Indian Navy in association with the Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) is collaborating with
M/s Jeep India for the conduct of an All Women Motor Expedition as a tribute to the brave women of
India and of the Indian Navy. The rally aims to motivate women to join the Naval Force.
✓ The all-women car rally with the slogan ‘She’s Unstoppable’ and tagline ‘Soar High’ started from
the National War Memorial in New Delhi and travel to the Longewala War Memorial, Rajasthan
and back over 12 days, spanning February 14-25, 2023.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SATELLITES LAUNCHES
SATELLITE NAME COUNTRY PURPOSE
53 internet satellites US SpaceX launched a batch of 53 internet satellites Starlink
Starlink to orbit on its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center
in Florida, United States of America(USA). This marks the
200th flight of SpaceX Falcon 9.
✓ The previous missions of the rocket include
SpaceX’s CRS-24 cargo mission to the
International Space Station(ISS) in December
2021, Eutelsat’s Hotbird 13F telecom satellite in
October 2022; and the OneWeb 1 flight in
December 2022.
To date, SpaceX has launched more than 3,800 Starlink
satellites and all All Starlink satellites to date have flown
aboard Falcon 9 rockets.
NASA-ISRO Synthetic According to the Indian Space Research Organisation
Aperture Radar (NISAR) (ISRO), the ‘NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar
(NISAR)’ will be launched from Indian soil in the first
quarter of 2024, and science operations will commence 90
days after it reaches the intended orbit.
✓ NISAR is a Low-Earth orbit (LEO) observatory
- being developed jointly by National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA), United States
(US) and ISRO, India.
NISAR, the joint NASA-ISRO Earth-observation mission,
will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide reliable
spatial and temporal data for analyzing changes in Earth’s
ecosystems. Click here for quick facts about NISAR

Small Satellite Launch India The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched
Vehicle (SSLV-D2) the 2nd edition of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
(SSLV-D2) from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan
Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
✓ It carried the following 3 satellites weighing 175.2
kg – earth observation satellite EOS-07 and two
co-passenger satellites — Janus-1 and AzaadiSat2)
and successfully placed them into a 450-km
circular orbit around the Earth.
ISRO: Chairman – S. Somanath; HQ– Bengaluru,
Karnataka; Establishment– 1969. Click here to read
more.
OTHER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NEWS

NATIONAL
ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 successfully undergoes EMI/EMC Test
As per the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), between January 31 and February 2, 2023, the
‘Chandrayaan-3’ lander successfully underwent the Electro-Magnetic Interference/Electro-Magnetic
Compatibility (EMI/EMC) test at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
✓ EMI/EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure the functionality of the satellite
subsystems in the space environment and their compatibility with the expected electromagnetic
levels.
Chandrayaan-3 will be launched by GSLV MkIII from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota,
Andhra Pradesh, tentatively in June 2023.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023: India’s 1st hybrid Sounding Rocket
made by Students Launched
On February 19, 2023, India’s 1st hybrid sounding rocket made by school students from various
states as part of ‘Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023’ was launched from
Pattipulam Village in Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu in the presence of Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of
Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
The project “Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023” was formed by Dr.APJ Abdul
Kalam International Foundation- House of Kalam, Rameswaram in association with the Space Zone
India, Chennai and Martin Charitable Trust.
Drone Start-up Eminent Air showcased India’s 1st one of its kind Drone with Parachute
Integrated System
Eminent Air Private Limited, a New Delhi(Delhi) based drone start-up, showcased India’s 1st one-of-its-
kind drone with a Parachute Integrated system as part of an event to mark its inaugural flight. The
inaugural flight was a part of a live demonstration to highlight the drone’s capabilities and features.
✓ The custom-designed UAVs have a maximum take-off weight of 35 kg and can travel more than 60
kilometres in 60 minutes during a single mission, depending on the load.
BARC’s Thorium Reactors IHTR & IMSBR can Deliver Clean Energy, Hydrogen
Indian High-Temperature Reactor (IHTR) and Indian Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (IMSBR), the noted
Thorium(Th) technologies of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) can deliver clean energy –
hydrogen and play a major role in India’s green energy transition.

✓ Apart from Coal, Thorium is the only abundant energy source in India.
✓ IHTR is designed to produce heat and, in turn, produce hydrogen through the ‘Sulphur-iodine’
method.
✓ IMSBR is a 5-Megawatt (MW) pilot project in Visakhapatnam, Andhara Pradesh(AP).
BARC is a premier multi-disciplinary Nuclear Research Centre of India under the Department of Atomic
Energy (DAE).
BARC: Director– Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty; Location– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Delhi Metro Launches first-ever Indigenously Developed Automatic Train Supervision System
India’s 1st-ever Indigenous Automatic Train Supervision System (i-ATS) was launched in February
2023 for operations on the Delhi Metro’s 1st corridor Red Line (Rithala to Shaheed Sthal) from the
Operations Control Centre (OCC) in Shastri Park by Manoj Joshi, Secretary of Union Ministry of Housing
and Urban Affairs, and Chairman of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
It has been developed by a joint team of DMRC and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), under the
government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives for metro rail transit
systems
Skye Air launches “Skye UTM”, India’s First Traffic Management System for Drones
Skye Air Mobility Private Limited (Skye Air), a Gurugram (Haryana)-based drone solutions provider,
launched India’s first traffic management system for drones, named “Skye UTM”.
✓ The system, Skye UTM, will allow drone operators to plan routes, make flight plans and assess
risks before running drone-based operations in India.
✓ The control of airspace will rely on unmanned traffic management systems, which will enable
multiple beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations to be run simultaneously by
different firms.
BVLOS refers to drone flights where the pilot cannot see the drone.
Gaganyaan Mission: ISRO & Indian Navy Conducts Initial Recovery Trials
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian Navy carried out initial recovery trials of
the Crew Module in the Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF) in Kochi, Kerala for the Gaganyaan
mission, India’s human space flight mission.
Aero India 2023: Garuda Aerospace unveils its Solar-Powered Drone SURAJ
Drone startup Garuda Aerospace Private Limited unveiled its “SURAJ”, a solar-powered unmanned
reconnaissance J-Glider, at Aero India 2023, which was held from 13th to 17th February at the Air Force
Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
✓ SURAJ, an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)high-altitude drone, is designed
specifically for surveillance operations, providing high command real-time data and protecting
jawans on the ground.
✓ The 1:1 prototype of SURAJ will be ready to fly by August 2023.
✓ Garuda Aerospace Private Limited: CEO- Agnishwar Jayaprakash; HQ- Chennai, Tamil Nadu;
Establishment- 2015
Velocity launches India’s first ChatGPT-powered AI chatbot ‘Lexi’

Velocity, a Homegrown financial technology firm, launched “Lexi”, India’s 1st Artificial intelligence (AI)
Chatbot integrated with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, an AI computer program.
The company has integrated this latest advancement in AI with its existing analytics tool, ‘Velocity
Insights’.

HAL gets ITSO approval from DGCA for Indigenously Developed “Black Boxes”
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received the Indian Technical Standard Order (ITSO)
authorisation from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for its indigenously developed
Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which is popularly known as “Black
Boxes”.
✓ The ITSO is a minimum performance standard for specified materials, parts, processes, and
appliances used on civil aircraft.
✓ Critical flight characteristics and audio environment are recorded using CVR and FDR and then
used for the investigation of an aircraft incident or accident.
First MCA Barge Launched by Indian Navy

The first Missile cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Yard 75 (LSAM 7) was launched by Rear Admiral
Sandeep Mehta at Guttenedevi, the launch site of SECON, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The MCA Barges included in Indian Navy to perform the mission needs for embarking/ disembarking
Missile, Gunnery and ASW Ammunition.
INTERNATIONAL
US Based GA-ASI Initiates 3 Projects in India in AI, Drones & Semiconductors
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a major energy and defence corporation based
in the United States (US), has begun 3 significant projects in India in the fields of artificial intelligence
(AI), drones, and semiconductors following the establishment of a landmark India-US initiative on
Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
✓ GA-ASI has formed a partnership with Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), one of India’s leading forging
companies, in the critical field of aerostructure manufacturing.
✓ In order to create the next generation AI technologies, GA-ASI has partnered with 114ai, an Indian
AI company.
In the field of semiconductors, GA-ASI has partnered with the Indian start-up 3rdiTech.
Roscosmos launches Soyuz MS-23 Spacecraft to bring back 3 Astronauts stranded on ISS
State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS (Roscosmos), the Russian Space Agency, launched a Soyuz MS-23
spacecraft to bring back 3 astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) due to the
coolant leak on their original return capsule, Soyuz MS-22 capsule. The unmanned Soyuz MS-23 was
launched from Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan and had been placed in Orbit.
Soyuz MS-23 will bring back 3 Astronauts: Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, cosmonauts from
Russia, and Frank Rubio, a NASA astronaut from the United States of America (USA) who had been due
to end their mission in March
JUICE: ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer to be launched in April 2023

The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (Juice) mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), which aims to
explore Jupiter and its three largest natural satellites – Ganymede, Callisto and Europa, is set to be
launched in April 2023 onboard Ariane 5 (launch vehicle) from Europe’s Spaceport at Kourou, French
Guiana in South America.
✓ The Juice mission will make detailed observations of the giant gas planet and its three large ocean-
bearing moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa, with a suite of remote sensing, geophysical and
in situ instruments.
✓ The Juice mission will also be the last ESA mission to launch on an Ariane 5 from ESA’s Spaceport
in Kourou. After this launch, Ariane 6, the new heavy-lift launch system, will be used.

Astronomers Discovered 12 new Moons of Jupiter; Beocmes Planet with most Moons
Astronomers have discovered 12 new moons of Jupiter, taking the total number of natural satellites
revolving around Jupiter from 80 to 92. Jupiter becomes the planet with the most number of moons
overtaking Saturn which has 83 confirmed moons.
Qualcomm Introduced Snapdragon Satellite, World’s 1st Satellite-based 2-way Messaging

Smartphones
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. introduced “Snapdragon Satellite” the world’s 1st satellite-based two-
way capable messaging solution for premium smartphones, at the Consumer Electronics Show(CES)
2023, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America(USA) from 5th to 8th January
2023.
The Snapdragon satellite, developed with Iridium, will allow next-generation premium Android
smartphones and other gadgets to support messaging for emergency use in rural, and offshore locations
Tokamak Energy Built World’s 1st Super Magnets for Fusion Power Plant Testing
United Kingdom (UK)-based Tokamak Energy Limited, a fusion power research company, has built the
world’s first set of new-generation High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Magnets to be
assembled and tested in fusion power plant-relevant scenarios.
✓ Strong magnetic fields are required to contain and manage the extremely hot, positively-charged
hydrogen fuel, which becomes a plasma several times hotter than the Sun to produce clean,
sustainable fusion energy. Click here to read more.
SPORTS
CRICKET
India won 1st Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup 2023 by defeating England
India won the 1st ICC (International Cricket Council) Under-19 Women’s T20 (Twenty 20) World Cup
2023 by defeating England with 7 wickets.
✓ With this India became the first title holder of the ICC Women’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
✓ This is also India’s first World Cup win in the women’s section.
✓ The Player of the final match title was awarded to 18-year-old Indian pacer Titas Sadhu.
It was the first edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup and it was hosted by South
Africa (SA) from January 14 – 29, 2023. Click here to read more.
Cricket: New Zealand Tour of India ODI and T20I series 2022-2023
The New Zealand National Cricket Team (named: Black Caps) toured India for 3 One Day
Internationals(ODIs) and 3 Twenty 20 Internationals(T20Is) from 18th January 2023 to 1st February
2023. India defeated New Zealand to won both the 3-match ODI and T20I series.
✓ In ODI, the Indian Cricket Team captained by Rohit Sharma defeated the New Zealand team
captained by Tom Latham by 3-0 and in T20I, Team India captained by Hardik Pandya defeated
New Zealand captained by Mitchell Santner by 2-1.
✓ Shubman Gill scored his maiden T20I century in India’s 3rd and final T20I match against New
Zealand in Ahmedabad.
✓ Following the victory against New Zealand in the ODI series 2022-2023, India becomes the No 1
ODI team in the International Cricket Council(ICC) ODI ranking (updated on 2nd February 2023).

Aaron Finch, Australia’s Most successful T20I captain, retires from International Cricket
Aaron James Finch, Australia’s most successful Twenty20 International (T20I) Captain, announced his
retirement from International Cricket. Under his captaincy, Australia won their 1st International Cricket
Council (ICC) T20i World Cup in 2021 against New Zealand in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
✓ In September 2022, Aaron Finch announced his retirement from the One Day International (ODI),
50-over format.
He created a record in the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) history by representing nine franchises in 11
years – Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers
Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Royal Challengers
Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Indian Cricketer Joginder Sharma announces Retirement from All Forms of Cricket
Indian Cricketer, Joginder Sharma (39), who was known for bowling the last over in 2007 Twenty20
(T20) World Cup final against Pakistan, announced his retirement from all forms of Cricket.
✓ Joginder Sharma currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Haryana. He
joined the Haryana Police in October 2007.
✓ Joginder Sharma represented the Indian Cricket Team in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
He played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2008 to 2012 and
was part of the 2 IPL-winning CSK teams (2010 & 2011).
Inaugural edition of SA20 League: Sunrisers Eastern Cape won title at SA20 2023
Sunrisers Eastern Cape captained by South African cricketer Aiden Markram won the inaugural edition
of Betway SA20 League (SA20 2023), a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa,
organised by Cricket South Africa.
✓ Sunrisers Eastern Cape defeated Pretoria Capitals captained by South African cricketer Wayne
Parnell in the finals held in Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
✓ Sunrisers captain Aiden Markram has been named “Player of the Series” in SA20 2023.
Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal announces Retirement from All Forms of Cricket
Kamran Akmal, (41-year-old) Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter, announced his retirement from all forms
of cricket.
Recently, he was appointed as the chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s selection committee for
the national men’s Under 19(U19). He is also appointed as a member of the selection committee for the
national men’s senior headed by Haroon Rashid.
Ranji Trophy 2022-2023: Saurashtra won their 2nd Ranji Trophy title defeating Bengal
Saurashtra cricket team won the Mastercard Ranji Trophy 2022-2023 defeating Bengal cricket
team(West Bengal) by 9 wickets in the finals of held in Eden Gardens in Kolkata, West Bengal.
✓ This marks Saurashtra’s 2nd Ranji Trophy Title. Saurashtra won their maiden Ranji Trophy in
2020.
✓ Mastercard Ranji Trophy 2022-2023 was the 88th season of the Ranji Trophy, the premier first-
class cricket tournament in India.
The Ranji Trophy is named after one of India’s first test cricketers, Ranjitsinhji, who played for England
and Sussex.

8th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 held in South Africa: Australia won its 6th title defeating South
Africa
The Australian women’s national cricket team captained by Meg Lanning won the 8th edition of the
International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 International (T20I) World Cup 2023 by
defeating South Africa women’s team captained by Sune Luus by 19 runs in the finals held in the
Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa.
✓ This marks the 6th and third consecutive ICC Women’s T20I World Cup title of Australia.
Australia previously won the title in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2020.
✓ ICC women’s T20I World Cup 2023 was hosted by South Africa. It was held at 3 venues in three
cities of SA viz. Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town), St George’s Park (Gqeberha), and Boland
Park (Paarl).
✓ The ICC Women’s T20I World Cup is the biennial international championship for women’s
Twenty20 International cricket.
2023 Women’s T20I World Cup marks the 8th edition of the tournament. Click here to read more.
BADMINTON & TENNIS

2023 Dallas Open: China’s Wu Yibing wins Men’s Singles & Jamie Murray & Michael Venus wins
Men’s Doubles
Wu Yibing from China(23-year-old), world no 97th, won the Men’s Singles title at the 2023 Dallas
Open (2nd edition of the Dallas Open), defeating American tennis player John Isner at the finals held in
Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex in the city of Dallas, United States of America (USA). Dallas Open 2023
was held from 4th to 12th February 2023.
✓ Wu Yibing became the first Chinese Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour titlist in Men’s
singles.
With this win, Wu Yibing rose to world number 58 in the rankings and became the highest-ranked
Chinese player in ATP history.
Indian team won Bronze at Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship 2023 in Dubai
The 3rd edition of Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023/Tong Yun Kai Cup 2023 (official
and sponsored title: Blue Ocean Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship Dubai 2023) was held
from February 14-19, 2023 at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
✓ The championship was won by China with Gold medal by defeating South Korea with 3-1.
✓ With this, South Korea stood at 2nd position with Silver medal.
The 3rd position or Bronze medal was shared by India and Thailand.
ATHLETIC & FOOTBALL

France’s World Cup Winning Defender Raphael Varane Retires from International Football
French footballer Raphaël Xavier Varane (29 years old) has announced his retirement from
international football to focus on his career with Manchester United.
✓ He was a part of the France national football team (nicknamed: Les Bleus) that won the
Fédération Internationale De Football Association (FIFA) world cup in 2018 and was a runner-up
in 2022.
Varane made his professional debut in 2010 and later joined Real Madrid in 2011 and made his
international debut for France in 2013.

FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022: Real Madrid defeated Al Hilal to win 5th FIFA Club World
Cup
Real Madrid, Spanish professional football club, won the FIFA (Fédération Internationale De Football
Association) Club World Cup 2022 defeating Al Hilal, Saudi Arabian Football Club by 5-3 in the finals
held in Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
✓ With this win, Real Madrid won the FIFA Club World Cup for a record 5th time. Real Madrid
previously won the tournament in 2018, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
✓ The Best player award/Adidas Golden Ball went to Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).
✓ FIFA: President– Gianni Infantino.; HQ– Zurich, Switzerland.; Motto– For the Game. For the
World.
FIFA 2026: US, Canada, Mexico automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA world cup
This is the 1st time FIFA has had to set aside three host bids. The tournament is set to expand from 32
teams to 48 in 2026. FIFA has given host nations the right to play in the World Cup without going
through the usual qualification tournaments.
✓ Saudi Arabia has been named the host of the FIFA Club World Cup 2023, scheduled to take place
from 12-22 December 2023.
BOXING, WRESTLING & WEIGHTLIFTING

2023 Grand Prix Zagreb Open: Indian wrestlers conclude with Two Bronze Medals
Indian wrestlers concluded the Grand Prix Zagreb Open 2023, the first ranking series of 2023, held in
Zagreb, Croatia from 1st to 5th February 2023, with 2 bronze medals.
✓ Aman Sehrawat, a freestyle wrestler and under-23 world champion, won the bronze medal in the
men’s 57 kg category on the opening day.
✓ Ashu, the Greco-Roman wrestler, won the bronze in men’s 67 kg on the penultimate day of the
competition. Click here for the Results
The 2023 Grand Prix Zagreb Open was the first of the ranking series of United World Wrestling (UWW)
in 2023.
OTHER SPORTS NEWS

New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 2023: India’s Tejaswin Shankar won Gold in Men’s High Jump
Indian High Jumper & Commonwealth Games 2022 bronze medallist, Tejaswin Shankar won the gold
medal in men’s high jump event with a leap of 2.26 metres at the 2022 New Balance Indoor Grand
Prix, a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold Series event, held in Boston, United States of America (USA).
✓ 2007 world champion & four-time Olympian Donald Thomas (2.23 metres) of the Bahamas
secured the 2nd spot and Darryl Sullivan of the USA came in 3rd with a season-best of 2.19
metres.
Tejaswin Shankar won the bronze in Men’s high jump at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth
Games(CWG) and became the first Indian to win a CWG medal in the sport.
Khelo India Winter Games-2023: Union Minister Anurag Thakur & Lt. Governor of J&K jointly
launched Mascot, Theme Song & Jersey
On 4th February 2023, the Mascot, Theme Song, and Jersey for the 3rd edition of the Khelo India
Winter Games was launched by Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, with
Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), at Raj Bhawan, Jammu, J&K.
The 3rd edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, a 5-day event, is scheduled to be held from 10-14
February 2023 in Gulmarg, Jammu, and Kashmir.

Khelo India Winter Games 2023 held in Gulmarg in J&K; J&K Tops Medal Tally with 76 medals
The 3rd edition of Khelo India Winter Games, KIWG 2023, a 1st of a kind multi-sport competition of
India, was held in Gulmarg, in Baramulla District of North Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) from 10th
to 14th February 2023.
J&K topped the medal tally of KIWG 2023 with 26 Golds, 25 silvers and 25 bronze, a total of 76 medals.
Top 5 on the Medal Tally:
Rank Team Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 J&K 26 25 25 76
2 Maharashtra 13 8 6 27
3 Himachal Pradesh 10 14 7 31
4 Army 10 10 9 29
5 Haryana 8 10 13 31
5th edition of Khelo India Youth Games held in Madhya Pradesh; Maharashtra tops Medal Tally
The 5th edition of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG 2022) hosted by Madhya Pradesh was held from
30th January to 11th February 2023. Maharashtra won the overall championship and topped the medal
tally of the Khelo India Youth Games 2022 with 161 medals (56 gold, 55 silver, and 50 bronze).
KIYG 2022 Medal Tally:
Rank States/UT Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Maharashtra 56 55 50 161
2 Haryana 41 32 55 128
3 Madhya Pradesh 39 30 27 96
4 Rajasthan 19 10 19 48
5 Delhi 16 22 26 64
✓ Khelo India Youth Games 2022 is the 5th edition of Khelo India Youth Games, a flagship event
under the government of India’s Khelo India initiative.
Madhya Pradesh was the 5th Indian State to host the Khelo India Youth Games. Click here to read more.
2023 Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix: Jean-Eric Vergne wins India’s first-ever E-Prix
Two-time Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne of DS Penske, a French Racing Driver, won the first
ever Formula E race in India – 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix, Round 4 of the ABB FIA Formula E
World Championship (Formula E 2023). A total of 11 teams competed in the 2023 Hyderabad E-Prix
held in the Hyderabad street circuit, Hyderabad, Telangana.
✓ Nick Cassidy of Envision and Antonio Felix da Costa of TAG Heuer Porsche finished second and
third, respectively.
Indian Chess Player N.R. Vignesh from TN Becomes India’s 80th Chess Grandmaster
Indian Chess Player N.R. Vignesh (25-year-old), from Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), became
India’s 80th Grandmaster (GM) after defeating International Master (IM) Ilja Schneider of Germany at
NordWest Cup 2023 (24th edition) at Bad Zwischenahn in Germany which was held from 26th January
2023 to 29th January 2023.
✓ N.R. Vignesh also became the 29th Grandmaster hailing from Tamil Nadu(TN).
✓ N.R. Visakh, elder brother of Grandmaster N.R. Vignesh, had become India’s 59th GM in 2019.

✓ Visakh and Vignesh became India’s first pair of siblings (brothers) to hold the title of
Grandmaster.
M Pranesh from TN became India’s 79th GM in January 2023 after winning the Rilton Cup 2022/2023 in
Stockholm, Sweden.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

BOOK NAME AUTHOR KEY NOTES
The Last Heroes - Foot Palagummi Sainath (P Publisher: India Viking, an imprint of Penguin
Soldiers of Indian Sainath), an Indian Random House
Freedom Columnist (Journalist) and The book broadly deals with the history of India’s
author freedom struggle written from the perspective of
common people.
A Chronicle of Central Lt Gen Vivek Kashyap, Released by: Manoj Pande, Chief of Army Staff
Command – Savdhaan Chief of staff of the Central (CoAS) General
Command (Surya Designed & Produced by: Times Group, a media
Command), and Vikram D company.
Souza
Modi: Shaping a Global Edited by: Sujan Chinoy, Launched by: JP Nadda, President of Bharatiya
order in flux Vijay Chauthaiwale, and Janata Party (BJP)
Uttam Kumar Sinha Foreword written by: Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of
External Affairs, Government of India.
Publisher: Wisdom Tree
OBITUARY
NATIONAL
PERSON NAME FIELD BORN PLACE KEY NOTES
Kasinadhuni Vishwanath (K Padma Shri and A renowned Telugu filmmaker and
Viswanath) Dadasaheb actor, passed away in Hyderabad,
Phalke awardee Telangana at the age of 92.
✓ K Vishwanath was born on
19 February 1930 in Repalle,
Madras Presidency, British
India (now in Andhra
Pradesh, India). He was
popularly known as
‘Kalatapasvi’.
✓ He was awarded the Padma
Shri (Field:Art), the fourth-
highest civilian award in
India, in 1992.
He was the 48th recipient of the
Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s
highest award in the field of Cinema,
for the year 2016.

Shanti Bhushan Former Minister Uttar Pradesh Passed away in New Delhi, Delhi, at
of Law (1977- the age of 97. He was born on
1979) and November 11, 1925 in Bijnor,
eminent Jurist Western Uttar Pradesh.
✓ Shanti Bhushan served as the
Union Minister of Law from
1977 to 1979 under the
premiership of Morarji Desai
and he was a member of
Rajya Sabha (1977 to 1980).
He introduced the 44th
Amendment to the Indian
Constitution, officially known as the
Constitution (Forty-fourth
Amendment) Act, 1978, which
reversed many of the provisions of
the 42nd Amendment (The
Constitution (Forty-second
Amendment) Act, 1976) approved
by the Indira Gandhi government
when he served as the Law Minister.
Parimal Dey Former Indian West Bengal Who was fondly known as “Jangla-
footballer da” passed away at the age of 81. He
was born on 4th May 1941 in West
Bengal.
✓ In 2018-2019, Parimal Dey
was conferred with the
‘Banglar Gourav’ award for
football.
He was conferred with the “Banga
Bhushan” title by the Government of
West Bengal in 2019.
Vani Jairam Famed and Tamil Nadu Who was recently honoured with
veteran singer India’s third-highest civilian award,
the “Padma Bhushan” (2023 in the
field of Art), passed away in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu, at the age of 78. She was
born in the Vellore district of Tamil
Nadu and her parents originally
named her Kalaivani.
National Film Awards: Vani was
awarded the Best Female Playback
Singer (Tamil) award in 1975 for her
songs in the Tamil film “Apoorva
Raagangal”; in 1980 for her songs in
the Telugu film “Sankarabharanam”
and in 1991 for the song
“Anathineeyara Hara” from the
Telugu film “Swathi Kiranam.”

K.V. Tirumalesh Kannada Writer Kasargod, Passed away in Hyderabad,
and Sahitya Madras Telangana, at the age of 82. He was
Akademi Presidency, born in 1940 in Karadka village in
Awardee British India Kasargod, Madras Presidency,
(now in British India (now in Kasargod
Kasargod district, Kerala).
district, Kerala)
K.V. Tirumalesh was awarded
the Sahitya Akademi Award, a
literary honour in India, in 2015 for
his collection of poems “Akshaya
Kavya” (2010).
Lalitha Lajmi Painter Calcutta, Lalitha Lajmi, a renowned Painter
Bengal and sister of late actor-filmmaker
Presidency, Guru Dutt, passed away at the age of
British India 90. Lalitha
(now West Lajmi was born on 17th October
Bengal, India) 1932 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency,
British India (now West Bengal,
India).
Lalitha Lajmi has held several
exhibitions at international art
galleries in Paris(France), London
(United Kingdom) and Holland
Tulsidas Balaram (Tulsidas Legendary Indian Hyderabad, An Arjuna Awardee, passed away in
Balaraman) football player British India Kolkata, West Bengal, at the age of
and two-time (Secunderabad, 87.
Olympian Telangana) He was born on 4th October 1936 in
Ammuguda village near
Secunderabad, state of Hyderabad,
British India (Secunderabad,
Telangana).
He was awarded the Arjuna
Award in 1962 for his contribution
to Indian Football.
Balipa Narayana Bhagawatha Legendary Kerala Passed away on 16th February 2023
Yakshagana in Moodbidri, Karnataka. He was
playback singer born on 13 March 1938 in
Kasaragod, Kerala.
✓ Balipa Narayana Bhagawatha
was known as the
“Bheeshma” of Tenku Thittu
school of Yakshagana.
He was known for the “Balipa style”
of singing with his rich voice. He
inherited the style from his
grandfather who was also Balipa
Narayana Bhagawatha

Om Prakash Kohli Former Governor Delhi Om Prakash Kohli (O P Kohli),
former Governor of Gujarat (2014-
2019) and Veteran Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader, passed away in
Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP), at the age
of 87. He was born on 9th August
1935 in Delhi.
✓ He served as a Member of
Parliament (MP) – Rajya
Sabha (representing Delhi)
from 1994 to 2000.
✓ O. P. Kohli served as the 19th
Governor of Gujarat between
2014 and 2019.
He also held the additional charge of
the office of the Governor of Madhya
Pradesh along with Gujarat from
2016 to 2018 and held the additional
charge as the Governor of Goa for 3
weeks in 2014.
Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat Educationist Husband of the former President of
India Pratibha Patil and former First
- Gentleman of India (2007-2012),
passed away in Pune, Maharashtra,
at the age of 89. He was born in 1934
INTERNATIONAL
PERSON NAME FIELD BORN PLACE KEY NOTES
Pervez Musharraf Former President of British India Passed away at the age of 79 in Dubai,
Pakistan (2001-2008) (now New the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Pervez
and retired General Delhi, Delhi, Musharraf was born on 11th August
India) 1943 in Delhi, British India (now New
Delhi, Delhi, India).
✓ Pervez Musharraf was known as
the architect of the 1999 conflict
in Kargil.
✓ In 2001, he appointed himself as
the President of Pakistan and
served till 2008.
✓ He was charged with high
treason and given a death
sentence in 2019 for suspending
the Constitution. To avoid
criminal charges against him in
Pakistan, he lived in self-
imposed exile in the UAE, since
2016.

He published his autobiography titled
“In the Life of Fire: A Memoir” in 2006
Shoichiro Toyoda Honorary Chairman of Japan Passed away in Aichi, Japan at the age of
Toyota Motor 97. He was born on 27 February 1925 in
Corporation (TMC) Aichi, Japan. Shoichiro Toyoda was the
eldest son of Kiichiro Toyoda, who
founded Toyota in 1937.
Elena Fanchini Italian Alpine Ski Italy Who represented Italy at 3 Winter
Racer Olympics (2006, 2010, and 2014), and 6
World Championships, passed away in
Solato, Brescia, Italy, at the age of 37 due
to cancer. She was born on 30th April
1985 in Lovere, Italy.
Burt Bacharach American Composer USA Who won 3 Oscars in 1982 and 1970
(twice) and eight Grammys, passed away
in Los Angeles, California, United States
of America (USA) at the age of 94. He
was born on 12th May 1928 in Kansas
City, Missouri, USA.
Burt Bacharach won his 1st Oscar
(Academy Awards, USA) in 1970 for the
score of “Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid” and for the song
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”.
In 1982, he shared the Oscar with his
then-wife Carole Bayer Sager for “Best
That You Can Do,” the theme from
“Arthur”.
IMPORTANT DAYS
OBSERVED DATE / WEEK DAYS KEY NOTES
January 30, 2023 Martyrs’ Day 2023 Annually observed across India on January 30.
Purpose: To pay tribute to all who sacrificed
their lives for India.
✓ Martyrs’ Day, also known as Sarvodaya
day or Shaheed Diwas, also marks the
death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,
who was fondly called ‘Bapu’.
✓ 30th January 2023 marks
the 75th anniversary of the Martyrdom
Day of Mahatma Gandhi.
Martyrs’ Day or Shaheed Diwas is also
observed across India on March 23 to
commemorate the sacrifice of 3 young freedom
fighters of India – Bhagat Singh, Shivaram
Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar.

23rd March 2023 marks the 92nd
death anniversary of the 3 freedom fighters.
February 1, 2023 ICG Day 2023: Indian Annually observed across India on February 1.
Coast Guard Purpose: To commemorate its Raising Day of
Celebrates 47th the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), operating under
Raising Day the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of
India (GoI).
✓ February 01, 2023 marks the
observance of the 47th Raising Day of
the ICG.
✓ The interim ICG was established on 1st
February 1977 to prevent the sea-borne
smuggling of goods.
✓ ICG is the 4th largest coast guard in the
world, with approximately 158 ships
and 70 aircraft in its inventory.
ICG: Director-General- Virender Singh
Pathania; HQ- New Delhi, Delhi; Motto- “Vayam
Rakshamah” means “We protect”. Click here to
read more.
February 2, 2023 World Wetlands Day Annually observed across the globe on
February 02. It is an International Day
recognized by the United Nations (UN).
Purpose: To create awareness about the
wetlands, a critically important ecosystem on
the planet and their vital role in the lives of the
people.
✓ Theme of World Wetlands Day 2023
is “Wetland Restoration”.
✓ The day also marks the date of the
adoption of the “Convention on
Wetlands of International Importance”
(Ramsar Convention), an
intergovernmental treaty adopted on
2nd February 1971, in the city of
Ramsar, on the shores of the Caspian
Sea, in Iran.
✓ World Wetlands Day awareness
campaign has been organised by the
Secretariat of the Convention on
Wetlands since 1997.
The first World Wetlands Day was celebrated in
1997. Click here to read more.
February 4, 2023 International Day of Annually observed across the globe on
Human Fraternity February 4. It is an International Day
recognized by the UN.

Purpose: To honour the principles of
compassion, religious understanding, and
mutual respect that keep humans united.
✓ International Day of Human Fraternity
falls in the middle of International
Interfaith Harmony Week, which is
observed annually during the 1st week
of February.
✓ 4th February 2023 marks the
observance of the 3rd International Day
of Human Fraternity.
✓ The date marks the historical meeting
between His Holiness Pope Francis and
his Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-
Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayeb on 4 February
2019 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
✓ The meeting resulted in the signing of
the “Document on Human Fraternity for
World Peace and Living Together”.
UN: Secretary-General- António Guterres;
HQ- New York, USA; Establishment- 1945. Click
here to read more.
February 4, 2023 World Cancer Day Annually observed across the globe on
February 4.
Purpose: To raise awareness towards cancer
and to encourage its identification, prevention,
and treatment.
✓ The Campaign theme of World Cancer
Day 2023 is “Close the care Gap:
Uniting our voices and taking action”.
✓ The campaign theme of World Cancer
Day 2022-2024 is “Close the care gap”.
✓ World Cancer Day is an initiative of the
Union for International Cancer Control
(UICC), the largest and oldest
international cancer organisation.
✓ Under Article X, the “Charter of Paris
Against Cancer”, officially proclaimed
World Cancer Day and was decided to be
observed on February 4.
UICC: CEO - Cary Adams; HQ- Geneva,
Switzerland; Establishment- 1933. Click here to
read more.
Zero Tolerance for February 6. It is an International Day
Female Genital recognized by the UN.
Mutilation Purpose: To combat the horrific practice of
female genital mutilation (FGM).

✓ 6th February 2023 marks the 12th
anniversary of the International Day of
Zero Tolerance for Female Genital
Mutilation.
✓ The theme of International Day of Zero
Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
2023 is “Partnership with Men and
Boys to transform Social and Gender
Norms to End FGM”.
The 1st International Day of Zero Tolerance for
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was observed
on 6th February 2003. Click here to read more.
February 7, 2023 Safer Internet Day Annually observed across the globe on the 2nd
Day (Tuesday) of the 2nd week of February
Purpose: To raise awareness of emerging online
issues and current concerns and to promote the
safe and positive use of digital technology for
children and young people.
✓ Safer Internet Day 2023 (SID) is
observed on 7th February 2023,
marking the 20th edition of SID.
✓ The theme of SID 2023 is “Together for
a better internet”. This has been the
campaign slogan of SID since 2019.
SID was initiated in 2004 by the EU SafeBorders
Project and was later adopted by the Insafe
network of European Safer Internet Centres
(SICs) in 2005. Click here to read more.
February 1 to 7, 2023 World Interfaith Annually observed across the globe during
Harmony Week the 1st week of February (1-7 February). It is
an International Day recognized by the UN.
Purpose: To promote harmony between all
people regardless of their faith.
✓ World Interfaith Harmony Week
(WIHW) 2023 is observed from 1st to
7th February 2023.
✓ The WIHW’s mantra is “Love of Good,
Love of the Neighbor”.
The WIHW was 1st proposed at the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 23rd
September 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of
Jordan.
February 10, 2023 World Pulses Day Annually observed across the globe on
February 10.
Purpose: To recognise the value of these food
items and to increase knowledge of the
nutritional benefits of consuming a variety of
foods, including pulses.

✓ Theme of World Pulses Day 2023:
“Pulses for a sustainable future”.
✓ Building on the success of the
International Year of Pulses (IYP) in
2016 implemented by the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
UN and recognising the potential of
pulses to advance the achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1,
2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 15 in the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development.
FAO: Director-General- Qu Dongyu; HQ- Rome,
Italy; Establishment- 1945
February 10, 2023 National Deworming Annually organised in all states and Union
Day Territories (UTs) across India on February 10
with a mop-up day on February 15.
Purpose: To eradicate intestinal worms also
referred to as Soil-Transmitted Helminths
(STH), among children of age 1-19 years.
✓ The National Deworming Day (NDD) is
conducted as a bi-annual round on 10th
February and 10th August. The 1st
round is conducted in February and the
2nd round is conducted in August.
NDD is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare(MoH&FW), Government of
India(GoI) which aims to ensure that every child
in India is worm-free. Click here to read more.
Women and Girls in February 11.
Science Purpose: To promote the full and equal access
and participation of women in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) fields.
observance of the 8th International Day
of Women and Girls in Science.
✓ Theme of International Day of Women
and Girls in Science 2023 is “Innovate,
Demonstrate, Elevate, Advance,
Sustain. (IDEAS): Bringing
communities Forward for sustainable
and equitable development”.
✓ The 8th International Day of Women and
Girls in Science Assembly took place at
the United Nations Headquarters, New
York City, United States of America
(USA).

UN Women: Executive Director- Sima Bahous;
HQ- New York, USA; Establishment- 2010. Click
here to read more.
February 11, 2023 World Unani Day Annually observed across the globe on
February 11.
Purpose: To create and spread awareness about
health care delivery through the Unani system of
medicine. The day also commemorates the birth
anniversary of Mohammad Ajmal Khan, better
known as “Hakim Ajmal Khan”, a great Indian
Unani Scholar and social reformer.
✓ 11th February 2023 marks
the 155th anniversary of Mohammad
Ajmal Khan.
✓ The theme of World Unani Day 2023 is
“Unani Medicine for Public Health”.
✓ On the occasion of World Unani Day, an
International Conference on Unani
Medicine is organized by the Central
Research Institute of Unani Medicine
(CRIUM) [now National Research
Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin
Disorders (NRIUMSD)], Ministry of
AYUSH, every year.
CRIUM (NRIUMSD): Director In-Charge- Dr
Ahmed Minhajuddin; HQ- New Delhi, Delhi;
Establishment- 1971. Click here to read more.
February 11, 2023 World Day of the Sick Annually observed across the globe on
February 11.
✓ The day was established by Pope John
Paul II in 1992 as a way to offer hope
and comfort to those who are suffering
from illness.
✓ The day marks the annual day of prayer
for the sick.
✓ 11th February 2023 marks the 31st
World Day of the Sick.
The theme of the 2023 observance is “Take care
of him: Compassion as a synodal exercise of
healing”,
February 12, 2023 National Productivity Annually observed across India on February
Day 12.
Purpose: To mark the foundation day of the
National Productivity Council of India (NPC) and
raise awareness of productivity, efficiency, and
innovation.
✓ National Productivity Day is celebrated
as part of National Productivity Week,

February 12 to 18, 2023 National Productivity which is observed annually from 12 to
Week 18 February.
✓ The theme for National Productivity
Week 2023 is “Productivity, Green
Growth, and Sustainability:
Celebrating India’s G20 Presidency”.
NPC: President – Piyush Goyal (Minister of
Commerce and Industry & President);
Chairman- Anurag Jain, IAS; HQ- New Delhi,
Delhi; Establishment- 1958. Click here to read
more.
February 12, 2023 International Darwin Annually observed across the globe on
Day February 12.
Purpose: To commemorate the birth
anniversary of the 19th-century British
naturalist, Charles Robert Darwin, who is well
known for his work “The Theory of Natural
Selection”.
✓ International Darwin Day was initiated
by three Darwin enthusiasts: Dr Robert
Stephens, Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, and
Amanda Chesworth.
✓ Some of the famous works of Charles
Darwin:
The Voyage of the Beagle (1839), The Descent of
Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871),
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and
Animals (1872), and The Origin of Species:
(Abridged Edition) (1956) are the some of the
prominent works of Charles Darwin. Click here
to read more.
February 13, 2023 World Radio Day Annually observed across the globe on
February 13. It is an International Day
recognized by the UN.
Purpose: To highlight the importance of radio
as an essential part of the maintenance and
transition to peace
✓ World Radio Day also marks the
anniversary of the establishment of the
UN Radio service “UN Radio” which was
established on 13th February 1946.
observance of the 12th edition of
World Radio Day.
Theme of World Radio Day 2023 is “Radio and
Peace”. Click here to read more.
February 13, 2023 National Women’s Day Annually observed across India on February
13

Purpose: To commemorate the birth
anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, who was
referred to as the “Nightingale of India”.
✓ 13th February 2023 marks the 144th
birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu.
✓ The United Nations
(UN)’s International Women’s Day is
annually observed across the globe
on March 8.
✓ Sarojini Naidu was born on 13th
February 1879 in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Sarojini Naidu was awarded the “Kaisar-i-Hind
Medal”, a medal awarded by the
Emperor/Empress of India between 1900 and
1947, by the British Government for her work
during the plague epidemic in India. Click here
to read more.
February 13, 2023 International Epilepsy Annually observed across the globe on the 2nd
Day Monday of February
Purpose: To raise awareness of Epilepsy and its
impact on individuals, families and communities
around the world.
International Epilepsy Day 2023 is observed
on 13th February 2023.
✓ The theme of International Epilepsy Day
2023 is “Stigma”.
✓ The Campaign of International Epilepsy
Day 2023 is #StampOutStigma of
epilepsy.
✓ The 1st ever International Epilepsy Day
was observed in 2015.
Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease
of the brain that affects people of all ages. Click
here to read more.
February 15, 2023 International Annually observed across the globe on
Childhood Cancer Day February 15.
Purpose: To raise awareness about childhood
cancer and to express support for children and
adolescents who have the disease, the survivors,
and their families.
✓ Theme of International Childhood
Cancer Day 2023 is ‘Better Survival’ is
achievable #throughtheirhands.
✓ ICCD, a global campaign, was established
in 2002 by Childhood Cancer
International(CCI), a global network of
183 parent organizations, childhood
cancer survivor associations, childhood
cancer support groups, and cancer

societies, in over 94 countries, across 5
continents.
WHO: Director General- Dr Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus; HQ- Geneva, Switzerland;
Establishment- 1948. Click here to read more.
February 18, 2023 World Pangolin Day Annually observed across the world on the 3rd
Saturday of February.
Purpose: To create awareness about Pangolins
a unique endangered mammal and their plight.
observance of the 12th World Pangolin
Day.
✓ Pangolins are the only mammals wholly
covered in scales and they use those
scales to protect themselves from
predators in the wild that feeds on ants
and termites. The hard plate-like scales
of the pangolins are made of Keratin.
✓ Pangolins are on the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red
List of Threatened Species running from
Vulnerable to Critically Endangered.
In India, pangolins, both Indian and Chinese, are
protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act 1972. Click here to read more.
February 20, 2023 World Day of Social Annually observed across the globe on
Justice February 20. It is an International Day
recognized by the United Nations (UN)
Purpose: To raise a voice against social
injustice.
✓ World Day of Social Justice 2023 was
observed on 20th February 2023 under
the theme “Overcoming Barriers and
Unleashing Opportunities for Social
Justice”.
✓ The 1st ever World Day of Social Justice
was observed on 20th February 2009.
✓ On 10th June 2008, the International
Labour Organisation (ILO) unanimously
adopted the ILO Declaration on Social
Justice for a Fair Globalization
(A/RES/63/199).
ILO: Director-General- Gilbert Fossoun
Houngbo; HQ- Geneva, Switzerland;
Establishment- 1919; Members- 187 Member
States. Click here to read more.
February 13 to 17, 2023 Financial Literacy Annually observed by the Reserve Bank of India
Week (RBI)

Purpose: To create awareness about the
importance of financial literacy to address
demand side barriers and enable customers to
make better financial decisions.
✓ The Financial Literacy Week 2023 was
observed from 13th to 17th February
2023.
The 2023 theme emphasises on “Saving,
planning, and budgeting” and “Prudent use of
digital financial services” in line with overall
strategic objectives of the National Strategy for
Financial Education(NSFE): 2020-2025. Click
here to read more.
February 21, 2023 International Mother Annually observed across the globe on
Language Day February 21. It is an International Day
recognized by the United Nations (UN)
Purpose: To promote linguistic and cultural
diversity, as well as multilingualism.
✓ 21st February 2023 marks the
observance of the 24th edition of IMLD.
✓ The theme of International Mother
Language Day 2023 is “Multilingual
education – a necessity to transform
education”.
Dr Mahendra Kumar Mishra, an outstanding
linguist and folklorist from Odisha, is to receive
UNESCO’s International Mother Language Prize
2023 in recognition of his lifetime contributions
to the promotion of the mother language in
India. Click here to read more.
February 22, 2023 World Thinking Day Annually observed across the globe
on February 22 by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides
in the 152 member organisations across the
world.
Purpose: To collect money for the 10 million
girl scouts and guides in over 150 countries to
honour sisterhood, solidarity, and women’s
empowerment.
✓ The day is annually observed and
organised by the World Association of
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
✓ World Thinking Day 2023 is observed
under the theme “Our World, Our
Peaceful Future: The environment,
peace, and security”.
February 22 marks the birth anniversary
of Lord Robert Baden Powell, the founder of
the Boy Scout Movement and the 1st Chief Scout,

and Olave Baden Powell, the World Chief
Guide. Click here to read more.
February 24, 2023 Central Excise Day Annually observed across India on February 24.
Purpose: To recognise and acknowledge the
efforts and contributions of the Central Board of
Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) towards the
development of India
✓ The day also marks the anniversary of
the enactment of the Central Excise and
Salt Act on 24th February 1944.
✓ Central Excise and Salt Act of 1944 was
the first law to impose excise duties on
goods manufactured or produced in
India.
✓ Central Board of Indirect Taxes and
Customs (erstwhile Central Board of
Excise & Customs) is a part of the
Department of Revenue under the
Ministry of Finance.
CBIC: Chairman– Vivek Johri; HQ– New Delhi,
Delhi; Motto– “Desh Sevarth Kar Sanchay” Tax
collection in Service of the Nation. Click here to
read more.
February 27, 2023 World NGO Day Annually observed across the globe on February
27.
Purpose: To recognise, celebrate, and honour all
non-governmental and nonprofit organizations
that contribute to society.
✓ World NGO Day is celebrated in more
than 89 countries and over 6 continents.
observance of the 10th edition of
World NGO Day.
✓ The World NGO Day was created by
Marcis Liors Skadmanis, a United
Kingdom (UK)-based social
entrepreneur, in 2009.
The first-ever World NGO Day was observed
on 27th February 2014. Click here to read more.
February 27, 2023 National Protein day Annually observed across India on February
27
Purpose: To raise public awareness and educate
people about the health benefits of protein.
observance of the 4th National Protein
Day.
✓ The theme of National Protein Day 2023
is “Easy Access to Protein for All”.

✓ Protein is a macronutrient essential to
building muscle mass, found throughout
the body, in muscle, bone, skin, hair, and
virtually every other body part or tissue.
National Protein Day was initiated by the Right
To Protein (RTP), a nationwide public health
campaign. Click here to read more.
APPS & WEB PORTAL

APP & WEB NAME LAUNCHED BY PURPOSE
Hello Ujjivan Ujjivan Small Finance Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) has launched “Hello
Bank (SFB) Ujjivan,” India’s first mobile banking application
featuring three Vs—voice, visual, and vernacular-enabled
features—to provide banking access to people with
limited reading and writing skills. The app “Hello Ujjivan”
was developed in collaboration with Navana.AI.
✓ The app is accessible by voice in 8 regional
languages: Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil,
Gujarati, Kannada, Oriya, and Assamese.
Ujjivan SFB: MD & CEO – Ittira Davis; Established –
2017; HQ – Bengaluru, Karnataka; Tagline – Build a
Better life
Insurance Mall Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Bajaj Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Bajaj Finance) has launched a new
Finance) portal named “Insurance Mall” for its customers to
ensure an easy-buy experience in an effort to provide
quality services and to simplify all the inconveniences
consumers may face during their policy purchase.
✓ Bajaj Finance Ltd., is a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv
Ltd.
Bajaj Finance: MD – Rajeev Jain; HQ – Pune,
Maharashtra
Khanan Prahari, and a India The Government of India (GoI) has launched a mobile
web app “Coal Mine application of the Ministry of Coal, “Khanan Prahari”,
Surveillance and and a web app “Coal Mine Surveillance and
Management System Management System” (CMSMS) for reporting
unauthorised coal mining activities so that the
responsible Law & Order enforcing body can monitor
them and take appropriate action
✓ CMSMS was developed by the Ministry of Coal in
coordination with the Bhaskaracharya Institute
for Space Application and Geo-informatics
(BISAG), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and the Ministry
of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
✓ CMSMS, developed under the Digital India
Programme, is one of the first spatially enabled
surveillance systems to be created in India.

It has been hosted on the National Centre of Geo-
Informatics (NCoG) portal. Click here to read more.
Parivar Pehchan Uttar Pradesh The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government has launched the
(Family Identity (ID))- portal for creation of “Parivar Pehchan (Family Identity
One Family One ID (ID))-One Family One ID” to identify families as a unit to
implement the ‘One Family One Job’ scheme.
Aim: To give free or discounted rations to families
without ration cards who are ineligible for the National
Food Security Scheme.
Best Tourism Village G. Kishan Reddy G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, launched
Competition Portal’ important initiatives ‘Best Tourism Village Competition
and Rural Tourism Portal’ and Rural Tourism Portal for tourism
Portal promotion in India, in the presence of Ajay Bhatt, the
Minister of States (MoS) for Tourism, in New Delhi, Delhi.
Kotak fyn Kotak Mahindra Bank Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (KMBL) launched an integrated
Ltd banking portal named ‘Kotak fyn’, to provide inclusive
digital banking and value-added services to its business
banking and corporate clients.
KMBL: MD & CEO – Uday Kotak; Establishment – 2003;
HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra; Tagline – Let’s Make Money
Simple
mPassport Police App Ministry of External The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of
Affairs (MEA) India launched ‘mPassport Police App’ to streamline
and expedite the passport issuance system. This app will
also help with the timely updation and issuance of
passports.
The MEA introduced the ‘mPassport Police App’ to
further expedite the process.
BHIM SBIPay State Bank of India The State Bank of India (SBI) integrated its mobile
application ‘BHIM SBIPay’ with UPI-PayNow linkage to
facilitate fund transfers from India to Singapore through
registered mobile numbers and from Singapore to India
using UPI (Unified Payments Interface) ID.
✓ The PayNow-UPI linkage is India’s first cross-
border, real-time system linkage and Singapore’s
second.
✓ This initiative is a part of the joint initiative
between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the
Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to
develop cross-border payments between India
and Singapore.
Now under the UPI-PayNow linkage, Axis Bank would
act as the settlement bank for peer-to-peer foreign
inward remittance transactions initiated through
PayNow by the Liquid Group in Singapore.
✓ Axis Bank will settle the transactions to
beneficiaries holding an account with or are
registered on the UPI App of the six banks such as

SBI, IOB (Indian Overseas Bank), Indian Bank,
ICICI, DBS (Development Bank of Singapore), and
Axis Bank.
SBI: Chairman – Dinesh Kumar Khara; Establishment –
1 July, 1955; HQ – Mumbai, Maharashtra. Click here to
read more.
Apan Bangla (Own Mamata Banerjee On the occasion of International Mother Language Day
Bengal) portal (21st February 2023), West Bengal(WB) Chief
Minister(CM) Mamata Banerjee launched Apan Bangla
(Own Bengal) portal for non-resident Bengalis residing
in other Indian states and other countries to
communicate with the WB government during
emergency.
✓ The portal will provide ‘Apon Bangla Card’ to the
categories of Indians concerned who are from the
state WB.
This portal will also offer a platform for the non-residents
to virtually participate (online) in state organised
programmes like business summit and cultural
programmes.
ENVIRONMENT
Asian Waterbird Census-2023: 52 Avian Species Observed in Ladakh
52 avian species were observed in the Asian Waterbird Census-2023, which was conducted in the
Union Territory of Ladakh between 17th and 19th January 2023.
✓ The census was organised by the Himalaya project and the Department of Wildlife Protection of
Ladakh in collaboration with the Ladakh Biodiversity Council, a statutory body of the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
✓ Himalaya project is a joint project by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and
MoEFCC.
The Asian Waterbird Census-2023 was organised in and around Chumathang, and Puga (the two major
hot springs in eastern Ladakh), and major birding sites like Tso Kar, and Shey and Phey villages along
the banks of the Indus River.
✓ The waterbird census was led by Padma Gyalpo, a known birder (person who observes or
identifies wild birds in their habitats) from Shey.
UN ECOSOC Partnership Forum 2023: Indian NGO Shares Initiatives on Road Safety &
Environment Conservation
The 2023 Partnership Forum of an annual session, the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC), was held on 31 January 2023, back-to-back with the Council’s Coordination
Segment, at the UN headquarters in New York, United States (US).
Punjab-based Patiala Foundation, a Non-governmental organization (NGO) from India, shared
initiatives such as reflective stickers for bicycles, a ‘helmet bank’ and a ‘children’s challan book’
for road safety and environmental conservation. This NGO was accorded ECOSOC Special
Consultative Status in 2018.

1st Sundarban Bird Festival: 145 bird species spotted in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve
Wildlife enthusiasts and forest officials have sighted 145 different bird species during the first-ever
Sundarban Bird Festival, organised by the Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) and South 24 Parganas
division of West Bengal Forest Department.
✓ Birds like Eurasian curlew, lesser sand plover and brown hawk owl were spotted during the
festival.
✓ According to various studies by the Zoological Survey of India(ZSI) and a publication titled “Birds
of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve” 428 bird species are documented in the Sundarban biosphere
reserve.
Scientists discovered a New Beetle Species ‘Omorgus Khandesh’ in India

Scientist Aparna Sureshchandra Kalawate, working with Zoological Survey of India(ZSI), Western
Regional Centre (WRC), Pune, Maharashtra, has discovered a new beetle species of Trogidae family
named “Omorgus Khandesh” in India.
Horaglanis populi: New Catfish Species with no Eyes Discovered in Kerala

Species Name: “Horaglanis populi”, a new species of catfish with no eyes and blood red body
Discovered in: Kerala
Discovered by: An Indo-German team of researchers, led by Rajeev Raghavan from the University of
Kochi, Kerala and Neelesh Dahanukar from Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Delhi-National Capital
Region (NCR).
Published in: The journal Vertebrate Zoology.
✓ This marks the 4th Horaglanis species endemic to the southern Indian state of Kerala.
✓ The other 3 Horaglanis species endemic to Kerala are: Horaglanis abdulkalami; Horaglanis
alikunhii and Horaglanis Krishnai.
Thyreus narendrani: New Cuckoo Bee Species Discovered in Kerala

Species Name: Thyreus narendrani, a new species of cuckoo bee.
Discovered in: Kerala’s Srayilkadavu Kole wetland ecosystem, Malappuram district, and Christ
College campus.
✓ Kole wetlands, located in the districts of Thrissur and Malappuram in Kerala, are unique and
productive ecosystems that were designated as Ramsar sites in 2002.
✓ The new species is named after the late T.C. Narendran, Professor of Zoology, in recognition of his
expertise and excellence in the field of entomology.
The newly discovered species ‘Thyreus narendrani’ is a member of the Apidae family of the Hymenoptera
order.
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Current Affairs Pocket PDF – February 2023

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Cabinet Approvals on February 22 2023

Union Cabinet approves Construction of Shinkun La tunnel in Ladakh

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STATEWISE NATIONAL NEWS

Mastercard & ACCESS announce FPO empowerment programmes in Assam

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Jammu and Kashmir

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Kerala HC became the First in India to Publish Judgements in Regional Language

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Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Approves Ladli Behna Yojana to Empower Women

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UP CM Yogi Adityanath launches Aarohini Initiative Training Programme for Girls

UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates 1st VFS Global JVAC in Lucknow

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International ‘Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023’ Begins in Madhya Pradesh

LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

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MoRD Minister Giriraj Singh launches Mission Antyodaya Survey 2022-23

Ashwini Vaishnaw launches ‘Digital Payments Utsav’ to Promote Digital Transformation

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Boeing launches its 1st Global Support Center in India at Gurugram

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MoSPI released Revised Guidelines on MPLADS 2023

Union Minister V. Muraleedharan to Launch New Initiatives at NIT Calicut

K Rajaraman launches ‘IEEE C-DOT Certified Telecom Expert Program ’

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PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates India Energy Week 2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka

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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates AMRITPEX 2023 at New Delhi

India’s First Electric AC Double-Decker Bus Inaugurated in Mumbai

OTHER NATIONAL NEWS

India & Singapore Introduce Live Cross-Border UPI-PayNow Connectivity

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India’s 5th Nano Urea Plant to be set up in Jharkhand

Karnataka to get India’s 1st Marina to Promote Coastal Tourism

Azad Engineering is India’s First Supplier of Parts for Nuclear Turbines

GHAVP: North India’s 1st Nuclear Plant to be set up in Haryana

Kerala becomes 1st State to use Robotics Scavengers to Clean Manholes

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Hillary Clinton Announces USD 50 Million Climate Fund for Women

MHA approves Renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad

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MIB Guidelines: TV channels to provide monthly details of public service content

CMIE: Unemployment Rate Falls to 4-Month Low of 7.14% in January

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GoI Approves the Commercial Release of Nano-DAP

Coal India Arm MCL Introduces Drone Technology in Coal Mines

37th APEDA Foundation Day – 13th February 2023