CURRENT AFFAIRS

l Topicals
31

l U.P. Budget 2024-25

l National Affairs
l International Affairs
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POINTER
Factual Presentation of Monthly Current Events
l Science & Technology
Affairs
unmissable for upcoming examinations.
l Defense Affairs (Updated as of February 29, 2024)
l Environment Affairs
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Topicals
¨ Which Fertiliser Plant was dedicated to nation
recently by PM Modi? (1 March 2024)
- Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd
(HURL) Sindri Fertiliser Plant
 Plant is situated at -Sindri, Dhanbad, Jharkhand
 Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) is a
Joint Venture Company of
- National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd
(NTPC), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL),
Coal India Ltd (CIL) and FCIL/HFCL
 HURL was entrusted with the responsibility of
-setting up New Ammonia-Urea Plants at Sindri
having capacity of 2200 TPD Ammonia and 3850
TPD neem coated urea
 Total investment in the revived plant
-Rs. 8939.25 Crore and equity participation of
29.67% each by NTPC, IOCL
and CIL and 11% by FCIL
¨ Which state has become the first state to issue five
crore Ayushman cards under AB-PMJAY? (1 March
2024) -Uttar Pradesh
 Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana was launched on
- 23rd September, 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand
¨ The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed five major
capital acquisition contracts worth how much for
the three services? (1 March 2024)
- Rs. 39,125.39 crore
 Signed contracts are
- One with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
for procurement of aero-engines
for MiG-29 aircraft
-Two with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for
procurement of Close-in Weapon System (CIWS)
and High-Power Radar (HPR)
-Two with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited
(BAPL) for procurement of BrahMos missiles
and ship borne BrahMos cruise missile systems
¨ Who approved the establishment of International
Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)? (1 March 2024)
-The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi
 Where will be the headquarters of IBCA established?
- India
 IBCA was formally announced on
-April 9, 2023 (50 years of India's Project Tiger)
 The International Big Cat Alliance has been conceived
as a -multi-country, multi-agency coalition of
96 big cat range countries, non-range countries
interested in big cat conservation, conservation
partners and scientific organizations working in
the field of big cat conservation
 Seven big cats include
-Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma,
Jaguar and the Cheetah

Current Affairs Pointer (1) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

Â Big cats found in India are
-Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow
Leopard and Cheetah
 IBCA has secured Government of India's initial
support of Rs. 150 crore
- for five years (2023-24 to 2027-28)
¨ In which country , technical teams from India have
replaced the Indian armed forces members recently?
(29 February 2024) - Maldives
 Indian military troops were stationed in Maldives to
operate -Aircraft given by India to Maldives
 This comes in the backdrop of “India Out” campaign
run by the
- Newly elected president Muizzu of Maldives
¨ Which is the first clock based on Indian Panchang
that was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi? (29
February 2024) -Vikramaditya Vedic Clock
 It was inaugurated at - Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
 According to experts, the standard time of the world
was determined from - Ujjain 300 years ago
 The Vedic clock is mounted on an 85-foot tower
- within Jantar Mantar in Ujjain
 The Vedic clock is an attempt to restore
-the tradition of Indian time calculation
 The clock will also provide details
- like moon position, Parva, Shubhshubh
Muhurat, Ghati, Nakshatra, solar
eclipse, lunar eclipse, etc
¨ Brian Mulroney, who recently passed away, was
the former Prime Minister of which country? (29
February 2024) - Canada
¨ Which newly discovered head-shield sea slug has been
named after President Droupadi Murmu recently? (1
March 2024) - Melanochlamys Droupadi
 It was named by - Zoological Survey of India
 It was found at - West Bengal and Odisha coast
¨ It was discovered by
- ZSI researchers Prasad Chandra Tudu, Sheikh
Sajan, Smrutirekha Acharya,
and Anil Mohapatra
¨ ‘Pars-I’ remote sensing satellite was launched by
which country? (29 February 2024) -Iran
 It was launched using -Russian Soyuz-2.1b rocket
 It was launched
- from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
¨ What is the new growth rate of India’s GDP as
per Second Advance Estimates (SAE) of National
Income, 2023-24? (29 February 2024) -7.6 percent
Current Affairs Pointer
 Who released the Second Advance Estimates (SAE)
of National Income, 2023-24?
- The National Statistical Office (NSO)
 NSO comes under
- Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI)
 Real GDP or GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in
the year 2023-24 is estimated to attain a level of
- Rs. 172.90 lakh crore, against the GDP for the
year 2022-23 of Rs.160.71 lakh crore
 Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in the year
2023-24 is estimated to attain a level of
- Rs. 293.90 lakh crore, against Rs.269.50 lakh
crore in 2022-23, showing a growth rate of 9.1
percent
¨ Recently, the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA)
signed an agreement with which country to promote
Ayurveda & Thai traditional medicine? (27 February
2024) -Thailand
 MoU was signed between
- National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur
,Ministry of Ayush ,Government of India and
Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative
Medicine , Ministry of Public Health,
Government of the Kingdom of Thailand
 MoU was signed in - New Delhi
 MoU was signed
- on the establishment of an Academic
Collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai Traditional
Medicine
¨ Which state government has decided to establish
a State Water Information Centre (SWIC)? (29
February 2023) - Odisha Government
 It will act under the purview of the
- water resources department
of Odisha government
 What will SWIC do?
- It will coordinate, store, and
disseminate water resource data
 Centre is being set up
- with the support and guidance of the National
Water Informatics Centre (NWIC)
 NWIC acts as a
- central repository of updated water
data and allied themes
 NWIC works under - Ministry of Jal Sahkti
(2) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 National Affairs
Focus On The Country's Political,
Social, Religious, Educational
Events And Various Ministries
¨ Who has recently launched logo and website for
Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and
Equality? (28 February 2024)- Smriti Zubin Irani,
Union Minister of Women & Child Development
and Minority Affairs, Government of India
 The Alliance is supported by the
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and anchored
by the CII Centre for Women Leadership
 World Economic Forum as - a ‘Network Partner’
and Invest India as an ‘Institutional Partner’
 Alliance was established at - The 54th annual
World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos
 The alliance is a response to - the G20 Summit 2023
Leaders' Declaration and India's commitment
to women-led development.
¨ The 'Tawi Festival' is colourful celebration of local
culture and heritage of which state?
- Jammu and Kashmir
 This festival will be celebrated from
- 1 March to 4th March
¨ Who launched India’s first indigenously developed
hydrogen fuel cell ferry? (28 February 2024)
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
 He launched the ferry
- virtually from Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu
 Ferry is built by - Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
 It will be handed over to
- Inland Waterways Authority for operations
 It will be operated at - Varanasi
¨ Which two organisations were recently banned by
Union Home Ministry? (28 February 2024)
- Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Sumji
faction) and Muslim Conference Jammu &
Kashmir (Bhat faction)
 They were declared illegal under
- Section 3 of Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act, 1967
¨ ‘Vantara’ initiative, recently seen in the news, is
associated with - Animal Welfare
Current Affairs Pointer
Current Notes
 It is an initiative of - Reliance Industries and
Reliance Foundation , led by Anant Ambani
 It is a comprehensive initiative for
- rescuing, treating, and rehabilitating animals
¨ Who has been appointed as New Chairperson of
Lokpal? (27 February 2024)
- Justice A M Khanwilkar
 What is Lokpal? - anti-corruption ombudsman
authority in India
 What kind of body Lokpal is
- independent statutory body
 It is established thorugh
- The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act,2013
 Tenure of Lokpal
- The Lokpal chairperson and the members are
appointed for a term of five years or serve till
they are 70 years old, whichever is earlier.
 Other six members appointed by government in
Lokpal panel - Former Himachal Pradesh High
Court Chief Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy,
former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice
Sanjay Yadav and former Karnataka High Court
Chief Justice and Law Commission Chairperson
Ritu Raj Awasthi are judicial members; non-
judicial members include former Chief Election
Commissioner Sushil Chandra, former Chief
Secretary of Gujarat Pankaj Kumar and former
Rural Development Secretary Ajay Tirkey.
 The first Lokpal chairperson was - former Supreme
Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose
¨ Pankaj Udhas, who passed away recently, was
associated with which field? (26 February 2024)
- Singing (famous ghazal singer)
¨ The Kannada Language Comprehensive
Development (Amendment) Bill, 2024, received the
assent from Governor of which state? (25 February
2024) - Governor Thaawarchand
Gehlot of Karnataka
(3) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Bill stipulates among other things
- fine will be imposed and trade licence cancelled
if business establishments in Karnataka fail to
display signboards with 60% of text in Kannada
in the upper half
¨ Where was the 2nd State Level Shehri Samridhi
Utsav inaugurated? ( 25 February 2024)
- Agartala, Tripura
 It was being organised by
- Tripura Urban Livelihood Mission
 What is the duration of the event?
- from 25 February to 3 March 2024
¨ What is ‘Juice Jacking’ that RBI warned about?
- a form of cyberattack where hackers tamper
with public USB charging ports
 RBI has asked - mobile phone users advising them
against charging their devices using public ports
¨ Which initiative was launched by Government of
India to encourage youth, especially the first-time
voters, to actively participate in the democratic
process? (25 February 2024)
- Mera Pehla Vote – Desh Ke Liye
 The initiative was discussed by - PM Narendra
Modi on his Man ki Baat program
 Event is jointly organised nationwide by
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports , Ministry
of Education and My Gov
 This campaign aims to - foster active
participation among the youth in the electoral
process, emphasizing the significance of voting
for the betterment of the nation.
 Event was also launched on 27 February 2024
exclusively - In Higher Institutions
¨ Which Indian conglomerate has unveiled country’s
first ammunition-missile manufacturing complex?
(26 February 2024) - Adani Group
 The two facilities for the manufacture of ammunition
and missiles were opened by Adani Defence and
Aerospace in - Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
 The Kanpur complex is set to become one of the
largest integrated ammunition manufacturing
complexes in - South Asia
¨ Attukal Pongala festival was recently celebrated in
which state? (25 February 2024) - Kerala
 The festival is celebrated as part of - annual
10 days festival at Attukal Bhagavathy temple in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Current Affairs Pointer
 It is celebrated on
- ninth day of the annual 10-day festival at the
temple which began on February 17 this year
¨ A day-long ‘Purple Fest’ has been organised at which
place? (February 26, 2024)
- Amrit Udyan in Rashtrapati Bhavan
 Event was organised by - Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
 Event aims to - raise awareness about different
disabilities and their impact on people's lives and to
promote understanding, acceptance and inclusion
of persons with disabilities within society
 Earlier 'International Purple Fest, 2024' was
organised at (8th to 13th January, 2024) - Goa
¨ Which global textile expo was inaugurated by PM
Modi?(26 February 2024) - Bharat Tex – 2024
 This event was organised
- from 26 February to 29 February 2024
 Where was it organised? - Bharat Mandapam and
Yashoboomi, New Delhi
 Event was organised by
- consortium of textile promotion councils
 Event was organised with support of
- Ministry of Textiles, GoI
 Who were state partner in the event?
- Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra
 Supporting state partners were
- Madhya Pradesh , Telangana and Gujarat
 Event aims to - highlight the richness of Indian
textiles and strengthen its image as a custodian of
tradition, innovation, and sustainability
 What is Kasturi cotton launched by Government of
India? - cotton brand creating premium value for
cotton grown in India
¨ Which two Ayush institution were recently
inaugurated by PM Modi virtually? (25 February
2024) -Central Research Institute of Yoga
& Naturopathy’ (CRIYN) at Jhajjar, Haryana
-National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) titled
‘NISARG GRAM’ in Pune, Maharashtra
¨ Which organisation has successfully commissioned
India's largest Battery Energy Storage System
(BESS), which stores energy using solar energy? (24
February 2024) - The Solar Energy Corporation
of India Limited (SECI)
 SECI comes under the aegis of
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(4) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â The project is located in - Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh
 What is the capacity of the project?
- 40 megawatts (MW) / 120MWh BESS with
a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant which has an
installed capacity of 152.325 megawatt hour
(MWh)and dispatchable capacity of 100MW AC
(155.02 MW peak DC)
 The project has been constructed with funding from
- the World Bank and Clean Technology Fund
under Innovation in Solar Power & Hybrid
Technologies Project
 The project was inaugurated on 24 February 2024
by - PM Narendra Modi
¨ Guru Ravidas Jayanti has been recently observed on
- February 24, 2024
 It is observed in the honour of birthday of
- Guru Ravidas.
 Guru Ravidas or Bhagat Ravidas was a renowned
saint, who is remembered
- for his contribution to Bhakti movement
¨ The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
(MoPSW) recently signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with which institution for
establishing India’s first ‘Gati Shakti Research
Chair’? (23 February 2024) - Indian Institute of
Management (IIM), Shillong
¨ Which state government has announced 'bag less
school' day once a week for students in classes 1 to
12, starting from the upcoming academic session in
2024-25? (22 February 2024)
- Madhya Pradesh government
¨ Central government has recently modified which
regulation? (21 February 2024)
- Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022
 What does modification dictate?
- both gametes need not come from a married
couple in case they are certified as suffering from
medical condition
- As per the latest amendment, the couple can have a
child born through surrogacy but must
have at least one gamete from the intending couple
- single women (widow or divorcee) undergoing
surrogacy must use self-eggs and donor sperm to
avail surrogacy procedures
¨ ‘Kathak Kumbh’ which got recognition from
Guinness World Record for the biggest Kathak dance
performance ever was held during inauguration of
which event? (20 February 2024)
- Khajuraho Dance Festival (KDF)
Current Affairs Pointer
 KDF was organised at which place?
- Khajuraho Temple Complex , Khajuraho ,
Madhya Pradesh
 Which edition of KDF is this?
- golden jubilee (50th edition)
 Duration for which KDF was organised
- 20-26 February 2024
 Who organised this festival?
- Madhya Pradesh government
¨ Recently which tribal festival was concluded ? (18
February 2024)
- Aadi Mahotsav – National Tribal Festival
 It was organised from - from 10-18 February 2024
 It was organised at - Major Dhyan Chand
National Stadium, New Delhi
 It was organized by -TRIFED (Tribal
Co-operative Marketing Federation of India)
 During the festival a venture capital fund was
launched to -foster startup culture and
economic innovation among tribal entrepreneurs
¨ Who has been awarded prestigious Jnanpith Award
for the year 2023? (17th February 2024)
- Jagadguru Rambhadracharya for Sanskrit
- Poet, lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar for Urdu
¨ Which edition of award was this? - 58th
¨ Where was International Puppet Festival
inaugurated? (17 February 2024)
- Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh
 Which edition of International Puppet Festival was
this? - 11th
¨ NAFED: Pulse 2024 Convention was organised in
(15 February 2024) - New Delhi
 It was organised by
- Global Pulse Confederation in co-operation
with National Agricultural Cooperative
Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
¨ Which electoral financing mechanism was struck
down by Supreme Court ? (15 February 2024)
-Electoral bond scheme of central government
 This scheme was launched in - 2018
 It provided for - anonymous political donations
¨ Recently, the UP government collaborated with
which institute to enhance disaster management?
(February 2024) - IIT Roorkee
¨ President Droupadi Murmu granted her assent to
which bill recently? (13 February 2024)
-Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair
Means) Bill, 2024
(5) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on February 5, and
was passed on - February 6 2024
¨ Who hosted,Road to Paris 2024: Championing Clean
Sports and Uniting for Anti-Doping Conference ? (9
February 2024) - National Anti-Doping
Agency (NADA)
 The conference was organised in - New Delhi
 A Centre of Excellence for Nutritional Supplements
Testing (CoE-NSTS) was inaugurated by Union
Minister Anurag Thakur at
- National Forensic Sciences University
(NFSU) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
¨ Death Penalty in India: Annual Statistics Report
2023 was released by which organisation? (February
2024) - Project 39A , a criminal justice programme
linked with the National Law University, Delhi.
 As per the report- appellate Courts in India
- SC and all the HCs together - confirmed only
one death sentence in 2023
¨ Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah -Yojana
(PM-MKSSY) approved recently by Union Cabinet
is a central sector sub-scheme of which scheme? (8
February 2024)
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
 Scheme is for
- formalization of the fisheries sector and
supporting fisheries micro and small enterprises
 What is the allotted amount for the scheme?
- Rs. 6,000 crores over a period of next four
(4) years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 in all
States/Union Territories
¨ The 286 Law Commission Report, released
th
recently, has recommended for (7 February 2024)
-creating an Epidemic Plan and Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) to address future
epidemics
 Report studied which colonial era law?
- A Comprehensive Review of the Epidemic
Diseases Act, 1897
 Which law commission is this? - 22
 Chairperson of this commission
- Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi
 Commission was constituted on- 21 February 2020
 Term of the commission was till- 22 February 2023
¨ Which bill was passed by Lok Sabha to amend the
Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes
Order, 1989? (6 February 2024)
-the Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir)
Scheduled Tribes Order, 1989
Current Affairs Pointer
 This bill is passed in relation with which UT?
- UT of J&K
 What does this bill do?
- includes ‘Pahari Ethnic Group, Paddari
Tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahmin’ communities in
the list of STs of UT of Jammu and Kashmir
 This bill was also passed from Rajya Sabha on
- 9th February 2024
¨ The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order
(Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed by Rajya Sabha
in respect to which state? (6th February 2024)
- Andhra Pradesh
 It amends earlier provision of -Constitution
(Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950
 What does the bill do? -modify the list of
Scheduled Tribes regarding Andhra Pradesh
 The new inclusion include
-‘Bondo Porja’ and ‘Khond Porja’, that are
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs),
at entry 25 in the ST list of Andhra Pradesh.
-‘Konda Savaras’, that are PVTGs, at entry 28 in
the ST list of Andhra Pradesh.
 This bill was also passed by Lok Sabha on
- 8th February 2024
¨ The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed
by Rajya Sabha in respect to which state? (6th
February 2024) -Odisha
 It amends earlier provision of - Constitution
(Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the
Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950
 What does the bill do?
-modify the list of Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes in relation to Odisha.
 The new changes/inclusions include
-the PVTG communities added are – Pauri
Bhuyan and Paudi Bhuyan as synonyms of
the Bhuyan tribe; The Chuktia Bhunjia as a
synonym of the Bhunjia tribe; The Bondo as a
sub-tribe of the Bondo Poraja tribe; and The
Mankidia as a synonym for the Mankirdia tribe.
-Odisha’s ST list also shifted two entries–
Tamadia and Tamudia – from the Scheduled
Castes list to the Scheduled Tribes list
-The Bill also added synonyms, phonetic variations
and sub-tribes of at least eight existing
communities in the State’s ST list.
(6) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â The bill was also passed from Lok sabha on
-8th February 2024
¨ In the tussle to gain control of Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP), which faction was accepted by
Election Commission of India as official faction?(6th
February 2024) -Ajit Pawar Faction
 Which faction has lost control of the NCP?
-Sharad Pawar Faction
 NCP was established in year
-10 June 1999, by Sharad Pawar
¨ The foundation stone for India's digital National
Museum of Epigraphy was laid at which place? (5
February 2024) -Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad
 It will be Spearheaded by
-the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
 This museum will house
-approximately one lakh ancient writings
spanning various times and languages.
 Foundation stone was laid by
-Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy
 This initiative follows the announcement made last
year by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
-regarding the establishment of the
Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions
(BharatSHRI), with the goal of digitizing one
lakh ancient inscriptions.
¨ Which state government has tabled anti-cheating bill
in its assembly recently? (5 February 2024)
-Assam Government
 The bill introduces a provision for a
-10-year prison sentence and penalty of Rs.10
lakh for those involved in unfair means during
examinations in the state.
 Name of the bill -Assam Public Examination
(Measures for Prevention of Unfair
Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024
 Central government has also passed similar bill
named -The Public Examinations
(Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024
 This central bill is passed
-to curb leaks, malpractices as well as organized
malpractices in recruitment examinations like
UPSC, SSC etc and entrance tests such as
NEET, JEE, and CUET.
 The Bill proposes a punishment of
-a minimum of three to five years of
imprisonment to curb cheating and for those
Current Affairs Pointer
involved in organised crimes of cheating will face
five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum
fine of Rs 1 crore.
¨ Which state has become first state in the country to
pass a bill for applying Uniform Civil Code(UCC) in
the state? (7 February, 2024) -Uttarakhand
 Which article of Indian Constitution talks about
implementation of UCC? -Article 44
 The passed bill proposes to - pass a law that
proposes common rules on marriage, divorce,
inheritance of property, and live-in relationships
for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.
 UCC bill of Uttarakhand will not be applied to
- the tribal community which constitutes
2.9% of the State’s population
 Key points
- The draft UCC includes a complete ban on practices
like polygamy and child marriage across religions.
- 18 years as the uniform marriageable age for all
girls
- Couples who fail to register their marriages
would be ineligible for government facilities to
encourage legal documentation.
- standardized divorce laws and eliminates
differential treatments depending on religious
affiliations.
- equal adoption rights to all citizens irrespective of
gender or faith.
- equal property inheritance rights for both sons and
daughters and adopted and biological children.
In case of death, the spouse, children and parents
will have equal rights over the property.
- mandatory registration of all marriages to ensure
legal accountability.
- Live-in relationships would also need to be registered
under the new laws.
¨ The Law Commission of India has recently submitted
which report to government?( 2 February 2024)
-“Revisiting The Law On Prevention
of Damage to Public Property”
 It has recommended to amend -Prevention of
Damage to Public Property Act, 1984
 The main thrust of these recommendations is
-to introduce stricter penalties for individuals
or organizations causing such disruptions, with
fines matching the market value
of the damage incurred.
(7) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Who is the chairman of 22nd (current) law commission
of India? -Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi
¨ Who has taken oath as the first woman Chief Justice
of Uttarakhand High Court? (4 February 2024)
-Justice Ritu Bahri
 Justice Bahri was a judge
- in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
¨ Champai Soren has taken oath as the new Chief
Minister of which state ?(2 February , 2024)
-Jharkhand
 Which number of CM has he become? - 12th
 He belongs to which political party?
-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
 He has succeeded whom? -Hemant Soren
 Why Heamant Soren has to resign?
-He was arrested by ED in corruption case.
 Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is headquartered at
-New Delhi
 It deals with
-investigation of offences of money laundering
and violations of foreign exchange laws.
 It has been given duty to enforce
-Prevention of Money
Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
¨ Who has been announced to be given Bharat Ratna
-2024 recently by Government of India? (3 February,
2024) -Veteran BJP leader Shri Lal
Krishna Adwani
 He will be the recipient of which number of the
Highest Civilian award of India? -50th
 Earlier who else was also awarded with the Bharat
Ratna in 2024?
-Ex Bihar CM Shri Karpoori Thakur
 First Bharat Ratna award was given to
-Shri Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in 1954
 When was the last time this award was given prior to
2024? -In 2019 to Shri Nanaji Deshmukh
(Posthumous), Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika
(Posthumous) and to Shri Pranab Mukherjee
¨ The Uttar Pradesh Government has launched a
Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign
as part of its mission to eradicate which disease from
the state? (31 January 2024) - Filariasis
 This campaign is being conducted from
- February 5 to 15, 2024
 In how many districts this campaign took place?
-17 districts of UP
Current Affairs Pointer
 Filariasis is a disease caused by
-a chronic mosquito-borne parasitic infection
 Symptoms of the disease
-swelling of the extremities, hydroceles, and
testicular masses; second-largest cause of
permanent deformity and disability behind
leprosy worldwide.
¨ The Central government has decided to sell rice
under which brand name directly to consumers? (2
February 2024) -the ‘Bharat’
 At what price this rice will be sold?
-at Rs.29 per kg from next week
 It will be sold by -cooperatives Nafed, NCCF,
and Kendriya Bhandar
 Government has imposed which act to make it
mandatory for traders to declare rice/paddy stocks
every Friday in a designated portal, starting February
9, 2024? -the Essential Commodities Act
¨ Surajkund International Crafts Mela began at which
place? (February 2,2024) -Faridabad
 It is being organized by -Haryana Tourism
 Edition -37th
 What is the duration of the mela?
-2 February to 18 February 2024
¨ Which state government has announced to launch a
'Digital Detox' initiative? (1 January 2024)
-Karnataka government
 Initiative is launched with collaboration of which
organization?
- All India Game Developers Forum (AIGDF)
 What is the purpose of the initiative?
-to spread awareness about the ills of spending
too much time in the digital world and instead
create an environment of responsible gaming
¨ Bharat Mobility Global Expo- 2024 is being
organized from?
-1 February 2024- 3 February 2024
 It is being orgnaised at which place?
-Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
 It is India’s biggest show in which sector?
-Automotive sector
 It was addressed by whom? (2 February 2024)
-Prime Minister Narendra Modi
 Key highlights -The Expo featured participation
from over 28 vehicle manufacturers,
-the presence of more than 600 auto component
manufacturers.
-Over 1000 brands from over 13 global markets
showcased their complete range of products,
technologies, and services at the event.
(8) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 International Affairs Current Notes
Overview Of Global
Socio-Political Events
And Activities Of
International Organisations
¨ Who has become first Indian citizen to be conferred  Currency of Peru - Sol
an honorary Knighthood by Britain's King? (28 ¨ Feleti Teo became a new Prime Minister of which
February 2024) - Sunil Bharti Mittal country? (26 February 2024) - Tuvalu
 Sunil Bharti Mittal is - Bharti Enterprises founder  Tuvalu formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is
and chairman which owns Airtel -an island country in the Polynesian subregion of
 He was awarded an Honorary Knighthood by Oceania in the Pacific Ocean
- King Charles III Â Capital of Tuvalu - Funafuti
¨ Who has become first woman CM in Pakistan? (26
 Knighthood was awarded for - Services to UK and
February 2024) - Maryam Nawaz
India business relations
 She has become Chief Minister of
¨ What is the rank of India in the Global Intellectual
- Punjab province in Pakistan
Property Index 2024? (28 February 2024)
¨ 13th WTO Ministerial Conference was inaugurated
- 42 out of the 55 countries
at which place? (26 February 2024)
 Index was released by -Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- The US Chamber of Commerce  It was organised - 26-2 March 2024 (Initially
 What is the edition of Index that was released?- 12th scheduled for 26-29 Feb 2024)
 Top three countries are - United States followed by  Where is headquarter of World Trade Organisation
the United Kingdom and France (WTO)? - Geneva, Switzerland
¨ When is World NGO Day celebrated? ¨ Which country has unnveiled the world's third-
- 27 February 2024 largest and Africa's largest mosque?(25 February
 What is the theme of ‘World NGO Day 2024? 2024) - Algeria
- Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of  Name of the Mosque - Djamaa El-Djazair
NGOs in Achieving the SDGs ¨ Which country has been removed from FATF grey
¨ Recently relics of Buddha were sent to which country list recently? (23 February 2024) - UAE
from India for reverence? (27 February 2024) Â What is FATF? -The Financial Action Task Force
- Thailand (FATF), is an intergovernmental organisation
ÂRelics are - four Holy Piparahwa Relics of Lord founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to
develop policies to combat money laundering and
Buddha and his two disciples, Arahata Sariputra
to maintain certain interest
and Arahata Maudgalyayana
-In 2001, its mandate was expanded to include
 Holy Relics of Buddha were presented to Thai Prime
terrorism financing.
Minister (Chairman), Mr. Srettha Thavisin by ¨ Prime Minister of which country was on state visit of
- Governor of Bihar, Shri Rajendra India? (21-22 February 2024) -Greece
Vishwanath Arlekar ¨ PM of Greece is -Kyriakos Mitsotakis
 On 24 February 2024 Indian Embassy in Thailand, ¨ International Mother Language Day is observed
in collaboration with UP Tourism, established a every year on -21 February 2024
pavilion named -‘Buddha Bhoomi Bharat: Â It is observed every year by
Journey Along the Footsteps of Lord Buddha -United Nations Educational, Scientific and
¨ Recently, which South American country has Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
declared a health emergency due to the rising cases  Theme of 2024 event
of dengue fever? (27 February 2024) - Peru -Multilingual education is a pillar of
 Capital of Peru - Lima intergenerational learning

Current Affairs Pointer (9) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

¨ Which country has introduced a multiple entry
tourism visa policy for Indian citizens? (February,
2024) -UAE
 For what period this visa will be issued? -5-year
 This visa comes as a response to - the increasing
number of Indian visitors looking for longer stays
or frequent trips to Dubai
¨ Raisina Dialogue 2024 conference was inaugurated
at which place? (21 February 2024) -New Delhi
 It was inaugurated by -PM Narendra Modi
 Chief guest of inaugural session was
-Prime Minister of Greece,
Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis
 Timeline of the conference -21-23 February 2024
 What was the edition of this conference? -9th
 Raisina Dialogue is India’s annual -flagship
conference on geopolitics and geo-economics
 The theme of the 2024 edition is -"Chaturanga:
Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”
¨ Which country has once again vetoed UN security
council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire
in Gaza for the third time? (20 February 2024) -USA
¨ Which Indian has been conferred France’s highest
civilian honour “Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur”?
(20 February 2024) -Shashi Tharoor
¨ Sominsai festival, which concluded recently, is
associated with which country? (19 February 2024)
-Japan
 This ancient tradition, occurring on the seventh day
of the Lunar New Year, showcases
- fervent nude wrestling matches among
hundreds of men over wooden talismans
¨ Who was Alexei Navalny who died recently in a
Russian prison?(February 2024)
-prominent Russian opposition politician and
anti-corruption activist
¨ Which day is celebrated as Global Tourism
Resilience Day? -17 February
 It is celebrated by -United Nations
 The initiative focuses on -bolstering the tourism
sector against various challenges, supporting
sustainable development, and promoting economic
stability, particularly in developing nations
¨ Recently, which country’s parliament has passed
the Quad Bill to enhance cooperation? (15 February
2024) -USA
 It was passed by US House of Representatives
- to strengthen ties among the member nations –
USA, Australia, India, and Japan.
¨ India signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Sharing
Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at
Population Scale for Digital Transformation with
which country? (16 February 2024) - Colombia
Current Affairs Pointer (10)
 It was signed between
- the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY) and the Information
Technologies and Communications of Colombia
¨ Which country has held five separate polls on one
day which is touted as the largest and most complex
single-day election in the world? (14 February 2024)
-Indonesia
 Which Elections were held ?- simultaneous regional
direct elections across 171 cities and districts to
elect hundreds of local leaders
 Capital of Indonesia -Jakarta
¨ Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister of Qatar (15 February 2024)
- His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman Al Thani
 PM Modi was on a single day official visit of
-Qatar
 This meeting came in the backdrop after Qatar freed
-8 Indian Navy veterans
 They were earlier given
-Death penalty by a Qatari court
¨ Which temple was inaugurated by PM Modi in Abu
Dhabi recently? (14 February 2024)
-Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam
Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir
 This is first Hindu temple -In Abu Dhabi , UAE
 It was inaugurated on the last day of PM Modi’s state
visit to UAE. This visit was conducted during
-13-14 February 2024
 PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the
establishment of -Bharat Mart in Dubai
 It was laid on -14 February 2024
 Bharat mart is -100,000 sqm warehousing facility
for increasing Exports
 It was launched -within the prominent Jebel Ali
Free Trade Zone
 Bharat Mart is a joint initiative of
-DP World, a Dubai-based multinational and
India’s commerce ministry
 Bharat Mart is envisioned as
-a hybrid wholesale and retail marketplace
offering Indian manufacturers, traders and
exporters enhanced access to international
markets for their products and services.
¨ At the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime
Minister, Defence Minister, and the Ruler of Dubai,
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in
which event in Dubai? (14 February 2024)
-in the World Governments Summit in
Dubai as Guest of Honour
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â The theme of the Summit was
- "Shaping the Future Governments”
 Which country won the 9th GovTech Prize for
AI Powered Government Services at the World
Government Summit 2024? -India
 India won the prize for
- its innovative iRASTE project that utilizes
artificial intelligence to transform road safety
 The Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety through
Technology (iRASTE) project is
-a collaborative initiative between the Indian
government, industry leaders
and academic institutions
 Which city inked agreements at the World
Government Summit 2024 to launch the world's first
air taxi service? -Dubai
¨ The Indian Ocean Conference was held in which
city? (9-10 February 2024) -Perth, Australia
 What was the edition of the conference? -7th
 The theme of this edition of the conference is
- "Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean”
 Who attended the conference from India?
-Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar
 It was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs ,
GoI along with - India Foundation, S. Rajaratnam
School of International Studies (Singapore) and
Perth-US Asia Centre (Australia)
 The Indian Ocean Conference is a
-flagship consultative forum for countries in the
Indian Ocean Region, organized annually by the
Ministry of External Affairs, in association with
the India Foundation
¨ Which country has recently announced 15-day visa-
free policy for Indian tourists? (6 February, 2024)
-Iran
 Indian citizens would be allowed to enter Iran with
ordinary passports -once every six months
 What will be the maximum stay period?
-15 days which will not be extended
 The visa abolition only applies to individuals
entering the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- for tourism purposes
¨ Hage Geingob, who passed away recently, was
President of which country? (4 February 2024)
- Namibia
 He became Namibia’s third president in
-2014, securing re-election in 2019
¨ When is International Day of Zero Tolerance for
Female Genital Mutilation observed?
-6 February, 2024
Current Affairs Pointer
 It is observed globally by -United Nations
 Theme of 2024 event -Her Voice. Her Future
 As per UN what is the target year for ending female
genital mutilation? -2030
¨ Who has been reelected as President of El Salvador?
(4 February 2024) -President Nayib Bukele
 El Salvador is -Central American country
 Capital of El Salvador - San Salvador
 Official currencies -Bitcoin, United States Dollar
¨ India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services
were introduced in which country/countries recently?
(February 2024)
- Sri Lanka and Mauritius at a virtual event
 Earlier which European country became first country
to officially launch UPI ? (2 February 2024) - France
¨ Which is world’s most congested city in terms of
traffic in 2023? (February 2024) - London (UK)
 The traffic index 2023 was launched recently by
-TomTom, a Dutch location technology firm
 Which Indian city has got highest rank (6th ) in the
index? -Bengaluru (India’s most congested
city followed by Pune at 7th place)
 Bengaluru ranking in 2022 index was -2nd
¨ What is the rank of India in the recently released
Corruption Perception Index 2023? (31 January
2024) -93
 What was India’s rank in the 2022 edition of the
Index? -85
 Top three countries in the 2023 index are
-Denmark ,Finland and New Zealand
 How many countries were measured in the Index
2023? -180
 Which organization releases the index?
-Transparency International
¨ Which country has emerged as the top recipient of
Indian government grants and loans as per Interim
budget 2023-24? (1 February 2024) -Bhutan
 How much money did Bhutan get ? - Rs.2,398.97
crore (including Rs.1,614.36 crore loan)
 Which is the second country in this list?
-Maldives - Rs. 770.90 crore
 What was the total amount that was allotted by
Indian government for giving as grants and loans to
foreign governments? -Rs.6,541.79 crore
¨ India has joined honour roll of United Nations due to
which reason? (31 January 2024)
-India has paid USD 32.89 million to the United
Nations Regular Budget for 2024, joining the
“honour roll” of 36 Member States who have
paid their regular budget dues in
full to the UN on time
(11) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 Economic Affairs
Overview On The Events Of
Economic Importance In The
Country And Abroad, And The
Activities Of Economic
Organisations
¨ Under the Viksit Bharat Viksit Madhya Pradesh
program the foundation stone of many development
projects worth over Rs. 17 thousand crore laid and
inaugurated by (February 29, 2024)
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
 On the occasion, the Cyber Tehsil Project in the state
was also launched by - Prime Minister
 The foundation stone of irrigation projects worth
more than Rs 5,500 crore laid down including
- Upper Narmada Project, Raghavpur
Multipurpose Project, and Basaniya
Multipurpose Project.
 Three railway projects built at a cost of more than
Rs 2,200 crore were also dedicated to the nation,
including
-Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi-Jakhlaun and
Dhaura-Agasaud routes, -New Sumavali-Jora
Alapur railway line, and -Flyover construction
project on the Powarkheda-Jujharpur
railway line
¨ Reserve Bank of India gave final approval to
which company recently to operate as a payment
aggregator? (February 26, 2024) - Amazon Pay
 Payment Aggregators are defined by RBI as
- Entities that facilitate e-commerce sites
and merchants to accept various payment
instruments from customers
¨ The launch of the Vantara (Star of the Forest)
program in Jamnagar was announced by (February
26, 2024)
- Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation.
 Vantara program is a comprehensive initiative
focusing on
- Rescue, treatment, care, and rehabilitation of
injured, abused, and endangered animals
both in India and abroad
Current Affairs Pointer (12)
Current Notes
 Vantara is spread over across
- 3,000 acres (green belt of Reliance's Jamnagar
Refinery Complex)
¨ Who opposed the China-led Investment Facilitation
for Development (IFD) proposal as part of the formal
WTO framework? (February 28, 2024)
- India and South Africa
 Why it was opposed by India?
- India argued it is a non-trade issue
 The Investment Facilitation for Development
Agreement (IFD) was first proposed in
– 2017
 The proposal was initiated at
- World Trade Organisation
(WTO) Conference
 It is which edition of WTO Ministerial Conference?
- 13th(February 26 - March 2, 2024)
 13th Ministerial Conference of WTO was held in
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
 Which countries became member of the World Trade
Organization in the conference?
- Comoros and Timor Leste
 The Indian delegation was led by
- India's Commerce Secretary,
Sunil Barthwal
¨ Who observed recently Financial Literacy Week
from February 26 to March 1, 2024?(February 26,
2024) - RBI
 The main aim of the week is
- To promote financial literacy and education
among the citizens.
 This year’s Financial Literacy Week is centred on
the theme
- Make a Right Start: Become
Financially Smart
 This week-long programme has been conducted by
the RBI since – 2016
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
¨ Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami
presented a budget for the financial year 2024-25 of
(February 27, 2024) - Rs 89,230 crore
 The budget is how much more than the previous
year,2023-24? - 15.27 per cent
 In the year 2022-23 the economic growth rate of
Uttarakhand was - 7.63 per cent
 As per the multidimensional poverty Index, how
much people have come out of poverty in the
Uttarakhand? - 9 lakh 17 thousand 299 people
 In the budget, Rs 5,658 crore has been allocated for
- Welfare of the poor
 With a 12 per cent increase in per capita income, in
2023-24 it has been reached to - Rs 2.61 lakh
¨ For the fiscal year 2024–25, the Jharkhand
government presented a budget of (February 27,
2024) - Rs 1.28 lakh crore
 The government is targeting Jharkhand's economy to
reach Rs 10 lakh crore by - 2029–2030
 For the fiscal year 2024–2025, State Finance Minister
is - Rameshwar Oraon
 A distinct 'Bal' budget has been introduced by the
government to support
- Students' inclusive growth
(Rs 8,866 crore budget)
 The government will build 3.50 lakh houses between
2024 and 2025 under which scheme proposed in the
budget? -'Abua Awas (Housing) Scheme'
¨ Which country has amended the Double Taxation
Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with India?(February
23, 2024) - Mauritius
 The Mauritius Cabinet has decided to amend the
agreement to comply with the minimum standards
of multilateral instruments (MLI) of OECD under
- Base Erosion and Profit Shifting
(BEPS) rules
 The main aim of this amendment is to
- Forestall tax avoidance or minimisation
through exploitative tactics
 The Cumulative FDI from Mauritius to India
between 2000 – 2022 was - $161 billion
¨ Who laid the foundation stones and inaugurated
around 2,000 railway infrastructure projects worth
more than Rs.41,000 crore? (February 26, 2024)
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Current Affairs Pointer (13)
 Redevelopment of how many railway stations under
the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has been started?
- 553 railway stations
 These stations will be developed as - ‘City Centres’
 Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was launched for
- Upgrading station facilities with modern
infrastructure
 It was launched in February 2023 by
- Ministry of Railways
 How many Railway stations are to be redeveloped
under the scheme? - 1275 railway stations
¨ The nation's longest cable-stayed bridge, inaugurated
by PM Modi is named as (February 25, 2024)
- "Sudarshan Setu"
 Length of the bridge is
- Approximately 2.32 km long
 The bridge connects
- Mainland of Okha with the island of Beyt
Dwarka, Gujarat
 The bridge is built at a cost of around
- Rs. 980 crores
 Sudarshan Setu has footpaths decorated with verses
from scripture - Srimad Bhagavad Gita
¨ According to NITI Aayog, in India poverty has come
down to below (February 26, 2024) - 5%
¨ Who released data on household consumption
expenditure for the year 2022-23? (24 February,
2024)
- The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
 According to this data, the per capita monthly
household expenditure has become doubled in 2022-
23 as compared to - 2011-12
 According to the data, the average per capita monthly
expenditure for all categories in rural areas stood at
- Rs 3,773
 Average per capita monthly expenditure for all
categories in urban areas is - Rs 6,459
¨ The first-ever 'Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo'
was inaugurated in (February 24, 2024)
- International Exhibition and Convention
Center of Moshi, Pune, Maharashtra
¨ The first solar project of NTPC Renewable Energy
(NTPC-REL) started operation in (February 21,
2024) - Chhattargarh, Rajasthan
 The current operational capacity of the plant is
- 70 MW
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â With this, the installed capacity of NTPC Group has
reached - 73,958 MW
 With this, the total renewable energy operational
capacity of NTPC Group has reached - 3,448 MW.
 Chhattargarh Solar Project has a scheduled full
capacity of 150 MW and is expected to be operational
by - March 2024.
¨ CM Manohar Lal Khattar presented budget of the
state for the financial year 2024-25 of size (February
23, 2024) - Rs 1.89 lakh crore
 The proposed budget for the financial year 2024-25
is higher than from previous fiscal year by - 11%
 Revenue expenditure - Rs 1,34,456.36 crore
 Capital expenditure - Rs. 55,420.25 crore
 Between 2014–15 and 2023–24, Haryana's GSDP at
the constant price has recorded a compound annual
growth rate of - 6.1 per cent
 Haryana’s share in national GDP has increased from
3.5 per cent in 2014-15 to - 3.7 per cent in 2023-24
 In RE 2023-24, the fiscal deficit was
- 2.80 percent of GSDP
 In the current fiscal year,the fiscal deficit is projected
to be - 2.77% of GSDP
 To benefit poor families to avail of free travel, up
to 1000 km every year in Haryana Roadways buses
CM announced scheme
- Haryana Antyodya Parivar
Parivahan Yojana (HAPPY)
¨ Who inaugurated pilot project of ‘World's
Largest Grain Storage Scheme in Cooperative
Sector’?(February 24, 2024)
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
 On pilot basis, it is being implemented in
- 11 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
(PACSs) in 11 states
¨ 13th Indian Fisheries & Aquaculture Forum
inaugurated at (February 23-25, 2024)
- Biswa Bangla Convention Centre
at New Town, Kolkata
 The theme of the two-day conference was
- Fostering Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture for
Attaining Sustainable Development Goals
 In the event, government announced that
compensation given to fishermen in case of
accidental death has been increased from Rs 1 lakh
to - Rs 5 lakh
Current Affairs Pointer (14)
 The total value of fish and fisheries exports now
stands at - Rs 60,000 crore
 The government aims to increase the export to
- Rs 1 lakh crore
¨ India’s first Gati Shakti Research Chair has been
established at (February 23, 2024) - IIM Shillong
 The main aim of the chair is
- To improve collaboration with global experts in
creating and developing knowledge
and expertise.
¨ In December 2023, mineral production as compared
to December 2022 has grown by (February 23,
2024) - 5.1%
 For the period April to December 2023-24, the
cumulative growth of Mineral Production was
- 8.5 per cent
 Production level of important minerals in December
2023 were: - Coal 929 lakh, Lignite 40 lakh,
Petroleum (crude) 25 lakh, Iron ore 255
lakh, Limestone 372 lakh tonnes.
 Negative production was recorded by
- Petroleum (crude) (-1.0%), Gold (-29.9%),
Chromite (-30.8%), Phosphorite (-31.2%) and
Diamond (-74.4%)
¨ Who unveiled development initiatives valued at
over 13,000 crore rupees in Varanasi? (February 23,
2024) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi
 In Varanasi, he also laid the foundations of
- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
- Banas Kashi Sankul milk processing unit in
UPSIDA Agro Park Karkhiyaon
- BHU's National Center of Ageing
¨ India announced to contribute how much money to
the Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund established
by IBSA? (February 19, 2024) - $1 million
 IBSA stands for - India, Brazil, and South Africa
 Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund of IBSA was
established in - 2004 (operational in 2006)
 Who acts as the Fund Manager and Secretariat of the
IBSA Fund? - The UN Office for South-South
Cooperation (UNOSSC)
¨ Recently, the government has permitted what
percentage of FDI in space sector? (February 21,
2024) - 100% FDI in Space
 FDI in Satellites-Manufacturing & Operation,
Satellite Data Products and Ground Segment & User
Segment - Upto 74% under Automatic route
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â FDI in Launch Vehicles and associated systems or
subsystems, Creation of Spaceports for launching
and receiving Spacecraft
- Upto 49% under Automatic route
 FDI in Manufacturing of components and systems/
sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user
segment - Upto 100% under Automatic route
¨ For season 2024-25 (October-September), Union
Cabinet has decided to increase the Fair and
Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane from Rs 315
per quintal to (February 21, 2024)
- Rs 340 per quintal
 This decision was taken by
- Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
¨ Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated
India’s first Skill India Centre in (February 20,
2024) - Sambalpur, Odisha
¨ Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched
which guidelines for the Indian port performance
index? (February 16, 2024) - ‘Sagar Aankalan’
¨ Punjab National Bank with whom signed a MoU to
Co-Finance Renewable Energy Projects? - IREDA
 IREDA stands for- Indian Renewable Energy
Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA)
¨ The government has increased the authorised capital
of state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) from
Rs.10,000 crore to(February 17, 2024)
- Rs.21,000 crore
¨ According to the RBI data, India’s outward foreign
direct investment (FDI) increased by 25.7 per cent
on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis to (in January
2024) - $2.09 billion
¨ At the 19th IBA Annual Banking Technology
Conference, which bank received the ‘Best
Technology Bank of the Year award’?
- South Indian Bank
¨ Who inaugurated "SUFALAM: Start-Up Forum for
Aspiring Leaders and Mentors Startup Conclave
2024”? (13th- 14th February 2024)
- Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras
¨ Who has been appointed as MD & CEO of SBI
Capital Markets? - Virendra Bansal.
 He has taken the place of - Rajay Kumar Sinha
¨ Who signed MoU to establish a green hydrogen
plant capable of producing 1000 KW of power on
Cochin airport's property? (February 14, 2024)
- Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) in
Kerala and Bharat Petroleum
Corporation Ltd (BPCL)
Current Affairs Pointer (15)
 The MoU was signed at – Thiruvananthapuram
 Which airport is the world's first airport to be fully
powered by solar energy?
- The Cochin International Airport
¨ For the council year 2024-2025, who has assumed
the position of ICAI President?(February 12, 2024)
- Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal
 The largest accounting organization in the world, the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI),
has elected him to serve as its - 72nd President
 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
(ICAI) Vice-President is now
- Charanjot Singh Nanda
 Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
was established as a statutory body on
- 01 July 1949
 It is headquartered in - New Delhi
¨ In the October-December quarter (Q3) of 2023-
24 (FY24), India’s service trade surplus reached a
record of (February 14, 2024) - $44.9 billion
 It is growing year-on-year by - 16 per cent
 As per the RBI data, during Q3, services exports
grew by - 5.2 per cent to $87.7 billion.
 In Q3, services imports contracted by
- 4.3 per cent to $42.8 billion.
 In the first half (April-September) of FY24, India’s
Current account deficit reduced to
- 1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
¨ First meeting of the 16th Finance Commission was
held under the chairmanship of (February 14, 2024)
- Arvind Panagariya.
 As per the order by the President of India, the
Ministry of Finance notified the 16th Finance
Commission on - December 31, 2023.
¨ On February 13, who became the first Indian
company to achieve a market capitalization of Rs 20
lakh crore? (February 13, 2024)
- Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)
¨ Who launched a renewed portal of the Animal
Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund?
(February 14, 2024)
- Union Minister Parshottam Rupala
 The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development
Fund is a Credit Guarantee Scheme for
- Livestock sector's MSME without the
need for collateral
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â The government has approved the continuation of
AHIDF with an allocation of around 30 thousand
crore rupees until - 2025-26.
 Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development
(AHIDF) is a Central Sector Scheme under which
scheme? - Prime Minister’s
Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package
 Who are eligible for this scheme?
- Farmer Producer Organizations, private
companies, individual entrepreneurs, and Micro
Small and Medium Enterprises
¨ The rooftop solar scheme for free electricity has
been launchedand is named as (February 13, 2024)
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
 It has been launched with an investment of over
- Rs. 75,021 crores.
 The scheme aims to light up
- 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units
of free electricity every month
 Who will be incentivized to promote rooftop solar
systems in their jurisdictions to popularize this
scheme at the grassroots?
- Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats
 The scheme was first announced by PM Modi on
- 22 January, 2024 (on the day of the
consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya)
¨ Bihar Deputy CM and Finance Minister Samrat
Chaudhary presented the budget for 2024-25 in the
State Assembly of(February 13, 2024)
- Rs.2.79 lakh crore budget
 For the financial year 2024-25, the budget
expenditure has been increased from Rs.2,61,885.40
crore to - Rs.2,78,725.72 crore
 In 2024-25, the fiscal deficit is likely to be
- 2.98% of the GDP
 The Gross State Domestic Production (GSDP) of
Bihar is estimated to grow by 15.5% to
- Rs 7.5 lakh crore.
 For the fiscal year 2022-23, the per capita income of
the State at current prices is estimated to be
- Rs.59,637 per annum
 The real per capita income of the state is estimated to
grow by 9.0 per cent in 2022-23 to reach - Rs 35,119
 In 2022-23 the real GSDP is estimated to grow by
10.6% to - Rs 4.4 lakh crore.
 The share of the tertiary sector in the gross value of
the state economy is estimated to be - 60%
Current Affairs Pointer (16)
 The value added by the primary, secondary, and
tertiary sectors is estimated to increase by
- 6.7%, 6.8%, and 13%, respectively.
¨ Who unveiled the Greening and Restoration of
Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and
portal?(February 12, 2024) - NITI Aayog
 NITI Aayog has launched the GROW initiative for
-Transforming India's wastelands
through agroforestry
 The "Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with
Agroforestry (GROW)-Suitability Mapping" portal
has also been launched on
- 'Bhuvan' to promote agroforestry initiatives
by government bodies
 This initiative is in line with national commitments
to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by
- 2030
¨ An agreement signed by India and which country
on the digital payments platform, linking trade, and
energy (February 13, 2024) - UAE
 The agreement was signed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and
- UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
Al Nahyan (in Abu Dhabi)
 An agreement signed by both countries on
interlinking domestic debit/ credit cards
- RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE)
 They also signed an inter-governmental framework
agreement on
- India-Middle East Economic Corridor
 In 2022-2023, which country was the fourth largest
FDI investor to India? - UAE
 Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is an
anchor investor in the NIIF Master Fund through a
US$1 billion investment in
- National Infrastructure
Investment Fund (NIIF)
¨ Data released on February 12, 2024 showed that the
economy doubled and retail inflation rate decreased
due to - Increase in factory production
 After falling to an eight-month low of 2.4% in
November, 2023,Industrial production growth
accelerated to - 3.8% in December, 2023
¨ The name of Paytm E-Commerce Private Limited
has been changed to (February 8, 2024)
- Pai Platforms Private Limited
 Who is the largest shareholder in the Pai Platforms?
- Elevation Capital
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
¨ According to a study, PM-SVANidhi increased the
annual income of street vendors by (February 12,
2023) - Rs 23,460
 This study was carried out by the
- Centre for Analytical Finance of the Indian
School of Business (ISB).
 PM SVANidhi was launched in – 2020
 Objective of PM SVANidhi was
- To help street vendors resume their livelihoods
impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown
 How much loans have been disbursed as PM-
SVANidhi portal shows?
-60.65 lakh first-term loans, 16.95 lakh second-
term loans and 2.43 lakh third-term loans
¨ India's UPI services have been launched in (February
12, 2023)
- Sri Lanka and Mauritius and RuPay card
services in Mauritius
 The country's UPI services were launched in Sri
Lanka and Mauritius by - PM Narendra Modi
 Who joined Modi at the virtual ceremony at the
launch?
-Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth and Sri
Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe
 Who has developed UPI and RuPay?
- The National Payments Corporation
of India (NPCI)
¨ The NITI Aayog has prepared the economic
transformation vision of four cities namely (February
10, 2024)
- Mumbai, Surat, Varanasi, and Visakhapatnam
 It will help India to become a developed economy
by – 2047
 NITI Aayog is preparing a vision document to
develop India's economy of
- USD 30 trillion by 2047
¨ Retirement fund body EPFO has hiked the interest
rate on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for
2023-24 to (February 10, 2024) - 8.25%
 EPFO is a statutory body that was established under
- Employees’ Provident Fund
and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
 The organization works under the aegis of
- The Ministry of Labour and Employment.
¨ Which bank in GIFT-IFSC received permission
from RBI for bullion exchange trading and special
category customer status? (February 9, 2024)
- Indian Bank
 GIFT International Financial Services Centre (GIFT
IFSC)was established in - April 2015
 GIFT IFSC is regulated by
- International Financial
Services Center Authority
¨ RBI gave approval to which platforms for payment
aggregator business? (February 6, 2024)
- Juspay, Zoho, and Decentro
¨ Who was appointed as non-executive chairman
of NPCI(National Payments Corporation of
India)?(February 8, 2024)- Ajay Kumar Choudhary
 He has been appointed for a period of
- Three years (starting February 8, 2024)
 Who is the Managing Director (MD) and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of NPCI? - Dilip Asbe
 NPCI was founded in – 2008
 It is headquartered in - Mumbai, Maharashtra
¨ The Government of India and who signed a $200
million loan to strengthen flood and riverbank
erosion risk management along Brahmaputra River
in the state of Assam? (February 8, 2024)
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
 The project activities will be managed and
coordinated by - Flood and River Erosion
Management Agency of Assam
¨ Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary
presented a budget for 2024-25 of (February 9,
2024) - Rs 1.47 trillion
 For FY25, the capital expenditure is expected to
remain - Rs 22,300 crore
 The net fiscal deficit is estimated to be Rs 16,296
crore, it will be - 2.90% of the GSDP
 In the next five years, the GSDP will increase from
Rs 5 trillion to - Rs 10 trillion
 Rs 8,369 crore has been allocated for the construction
of 18 lakh houses under
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
 The Shri Ram Lalla Darshan initiative has received a
budgetary amount of - Rs 35 crore
¨ Who has been appointed as the new Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Tata
Sons' subsidiary Tata Digital?(February 6, 2024)
- Naveen Tahilyani
 He will assume the new position from
- February 19, 2024
 Recently, the 'Smart Card' for startups launched by
(February 7, 2024)
- Tamil Nadu MSME Minister TM Anbarasan

Current Affairs Pointer (17) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

Â The products and services are broadly classified into
six different categories namely,
- Legal & Compliance, Marketing/Business
Consulting, Finance & Insurance, HR & Smart
Workspace, Software, and IT/ITES
 Uttar Pradesh (as announced by CM Yogi
Adityanath) will become the first state with how
many airports?(February 7, 2024) - 21 Airports
¨ Who kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent for
the sixth time in a row? (February 8, 2024)
- Reserve Bank of India's
Monetary Policy Committee
 The repo rate was last changed in February 2023
when it was increased to 6.5 percent from
- 6.25 percent
 The Marginal Standing Facility rate has also been
kept unchanged at - 6.75 percent
 Standing Deposit Facility rate has been kept at
- 6.25 percent
¨ Retail inflation reached to a four-month high in
December 2023 with - 5.69 percent
 The real GDP growth for 2024-25 has been projected
at - 7 percent
¨ Who has been appointed as ADB's Country Director
for India?(February 5, 2024) - Mio Oka
 She succeeded whom? - Takeo Konishi
 Konishi has been promoted as
- ADB Director-General for South Asia at
Manila headquarters
 Currently, India is ADB's one of largest borrowers
since 2010 and largest shareholder at which
position? - Fourth largest shareholder
 ADB was established in - 1966 (68 members)
¨ Recently which brand rice sale has been launched
by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Consumer
Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in New
Delhi?(February 6, 2024) - 'Bharat Rice'
 The objective of the Bharat rice is
- To provide rice to consumers
at subsidized rates
 The rice will be available in packs of 5 kg and 10 kg
at a discounted rate of - Rs. 29 per kg
 Also free food grains are being provided to 81 crore
people under
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
 Under the Price Stabilization Fund, how much
money has been used to provide relief to farmers and
consumers by providing food at subsidized rates?
- About Rs 27,000 crore
 Who will provide 5 lakh metric tonnes of rice to two
cooperatives in the first phase?
- Food Corporation of India (FCI)
¨ In Yamunanagar, which thermal Power Plant
has been approved by the Haryana government
recently?(February 5, 2024)
- 'Deen bandhu Chhotu Ram
Thermal Power Plant'
 Thermal Power plant capacity with - 800MW
 For the construction of this new thermal power plant
in Yamunanagar at a cost of Rs 6,900 crore, the state
government has allotted the tender to
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
¨ Which enterprise has been bestowed with the
prestigious Best Green Bond - Corporate Award at
The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable Finance
2024?
- REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public
Sector Enterprise
 REC has received the award for issuance of
- $750 million USD Green
Bonds in April 2023
 REC is a 'Maharatna' Central Public Sector Enterprise
under which ministry? - The Ministry of Power
 REC is registered with RBI as
- A Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC),
and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC)
¨ Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved which bank
to acquire "aggregate holding" of up to 9.5 percent
of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in six
banks? (February 6, 2024) - HDFC Bank group
 These six banks include
- Axis Bank, Suryoday Small Finance Bank,
ICICI Bank, Bandhan Bank, YES Bank and
IndusInd Bank
 RBI's approval will remain valid for one year till
- 4 February 2025
¨ Who has been ranked first among all Indians and
second globally in the Brand Guardianship Index
2024? (February, 2024) - Mukesh Ambani
 The Brand Guardianship Index 2024 has been
compiled by - Brand Finance

Current Affairs Pointer (18) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

Â Mukesh Ambani with a score of 80.3 is ahead of
which prominent dignatories?
- Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, SundarPichai of
Google, Apple's Tim Cook,
and Tesla's Elon Musk etc.
 Who has secured the top position in the ranking with
a BGI score of 81.6?
- Huateng Ma of China-based Tencent
 N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons climbed
from eighth to which place in the 2023 ranking?
- Fifth
¨ Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan
inaugurated the two-day ULLAS Mela at (February
6, 2024) - National Bal Bhavan of New Delhi
 ULLAS Mela is being organised by
- Department of School Education
and Literacy, Ministry of Education
 ULLAS Mela is being organised to showcase
different National and State level activities under -
ULLAS -Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram
 Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram or New India
Literacy Program is being implemented by
government of India for the period of - 2022-2027
 The scheme is popularly known as ULLAS
- Understanding of Lifelong
Learning for All in Society
 It is a centrally sponsored scheme to achieve the
target of 100% literacy by - 2030
¨ Which state has recently decided to launch
'Mukhyamantri Vayoshri Yojana'? (February 5,
2024) - Maharashtra Government
 Under the ‘Chief Minister VayoshreeYojana,’ senior
citizens above 65 years suffering from physical or
mental disabilities will receive
- Rs 3,000 after screening
¨ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the
India Energy Week 2024 in (February 6-9, 2024)
- Goa
 Edition – Second
 Energy Week was organized by
- The Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry
(under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas)
¨ Who has recently approved various amendments to
streamline food safety and standards regulations?
(February 5, 2024)
- The Food Safety and Standards
Current Affairs Pointer (19)
Authority of India (FSSAI)
 The amendments were approved to do away with
which food standards?
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or
AGMARK certification for food products
 The meeting was held under the chairmanship of
Union Health Secretary - Apurva Chandra
¨ The annual budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 of
Uttar Pradesh government in the state Assembly was
presented by(February 5, 2024)
- Finance Minister Suresh Khanna
 The size of the budget was - Rs 7.36 lakh crore
 Out of the total expenditure, how much amount has
been allocated for the revenue account?
- Rs.5,32,655.33 crore
 How much amount has been allocated for the capital
(expenditure) account? - Rs.2,03,782.38 crore
 Out of the total outlay, how much amount has been
allocated to new schemes? - Rs.24,863.57 crore
 For the next fiscal, total receipts are expected to be
- Rs.7,21,333.82 crore
 Revenue receipts estimated at - Rs.6,06,802.40
crore
 Capital receipts estimated at- Rs.1,14,531.42 crore.
 This budget is also the 'Pink budget'- with a focus
on - 'Matri Shakti' and women-related schemes
 The monthly payment to beneficiaries of the
Destitute Women Pension Scheme has been raised
from Rs.500 to - Rs.1,000
 The budget aims to achieve a target of how much
growth rate for the agriculture sector in the state?
- 5.1 percent
 Three schemes were announced to boost the
agriculture sector, namely
- State Agricultural Development
Scheme (Rs.200 crore)
- World Bank-assisted UP Agris Scheme (Rs.200
crore) - Automatic weather station-automatic
rain gauges in blocks and panchayats(Rs.60
crore)
 For Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewer,UP
government has allocated - Rs.1,150 cr.
 Rs.150 crore has been proposed for expansion of
which airport
- Maharishi Valmiki International
Airport in Ayodhya
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â How much amount has been allocated for the Ganga
Expressway project? - Rs 2057.76 crore
 Rs 2500 crore has been allocated for the preparation
of which Mela in the year 2025
- Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj
 PM Mega integrated Textile and Apparel Park in
Lucknow-Hardoi was allocated with - Rs 200 crore
¨ Who assumed the charge of Chief Adviser (Cost) in
the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance?
(February 1, 2024) - Pawan Kumar
 Shri Kumar played a pivotal role in development of
- a web-based Online Dashboard for
performance evaluation of CPSEs in
Department of Public Enterprises
 This initiative was conferred ‘Gold Award’ in which
category? - ‘Gold Award’ in ‘e-Governance’
category in 2022
¨ Several development infrastructural projects totaling
Rs 11,000 crore were inaugurated in Assam by
(February 4, 2024) - PM Narendra Modi
 The inauguration ceremony was held at
- Veterinary College in Khanapara, Guwahati
 Notable projects includes
-Kamakhya temple corridor (Rs 498 crore),
- Six-lane road connecting the new airport terminal
in Guwahati (Rs 358 crore)
- New sports complex at Chandrapur (Rs 300
crore)
- Upgrading the Nehru Stadium to FIFA standards
(Rs 831 crore)
 PM laid the foundation stone of the integrated new
building of - Guwahati Medical College
and Hospital, (Rs 3,250 crore)
 PM also laid the foundation stone for - Karimganj
Medical College and Hospital (Rs 578 crore) and
- Unity Mall in Guwahati (Rs 297 crore)
 He also inaugurate the four-lane road from Biswanath
Chariali to - Gohpur (Rs 1,451 crore)
¨ The 'Scheme Guidelines for Implementation of
Pilot Projects for Use of Green Hydrogen in the
Shipping Sector’ has been released under which
mission?(February 1, 2024)
- National Green Hydrogen Mission
 The guidelines will be implemented with a total
budgetary outlay of Rs 115 crore till the financial
year - 2025-26
Current Affairs Pointer (20)
 Who will be the Scheme Implementing Agency
(SIA) of the existing ships under Component-A of
the scheme?
- The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)
¨ RBI’s Digital Payments Index increased from 395.57
in March 2023 to (January 31, 2024)
- 418.77 (in September 2023)
 What is the base for RBI’s Digital Payments Index?
- March 2018 is the base period
 RBI’s Digital Payments Index consists of how many
broad parameters? -Five broad parameters
 These five parameters are
- Payment Enablers (weight 25 percent)
- Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors
(weight 10 percent)
- Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors
(weight 15 percent)
- Payment Performance (weight 45 percent)
- Consumer Centricity (weight 5 percent)
¨ Who presented a surplus Budget for Gujarat for the
financial year 2024-25? (February 2, 2024)
- Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai
 The size of the budget is
- Rs 3,32,465 crore budget
 As compared to the previous budget the budget
outlay has increased by
-Rs 31,444 crore, or 10.44 percent
 The budget has been presented with an estimated
surplus of - 146.72 Crore
 Gujarat government announced schemes and
projects with main focus on
- GYAN: ‘Garib' (the poor), ‘Yuva' (youth),
‘Annadata' (farmer) and ‘Nari Shakti'
(women power)
 Under which scheme, girls studying in government,
aided and private schools from Classes 9 to 12 will
get financial assistance of more than Rs 50,000 over
the four years for their education?
- Namo Lakshmi scheme
 Under which scheme, pregnant women of backward and
poor sections will get an assistance of Rs 12,000 ? Rs 750
crore has been allocated for this in the budget.
- Namo Shri scheme
 GIFT City will be developed as a planned green city
across how much area? - 3,300 acre
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
¨ Who laid the foundation stone for the Phase-1 NLC
India Talabira Thermal Power Project 3x800 MW
(2,400 MW)? (February 3, 2024)
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
 Foundation stone was laid in - Sambalpur, Odisha
 NLC stands for
- The Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC)
 He also dedicated a 50-km-long second track of
Jharsuguda-Barpali-Sardega rail line phase-1 built
by - Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
 PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of NTPC
Talcher Thermal Power Project, Stage-III (2x660
MW) in - Angul district, Odisha
¨ The cabinet has extended the Rebate of State and
Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme for
garment exports by (February 1, 2024)
- Two years (Till March 31, 2026)
 Earlier the cabinet had first (time) approved the
scheme up to - 31 March 2020
 RoSCTL scheme is a scheme for exports under
Chapters 61, 62 and 63 of the Customs Tariff under
which ministry? - Ministry of Textiles scheme
¨ Which web portal of the Coal Mines Provident Fund
Organization (CMPFO) was launched recently?
(January 31, 2024) - C- CARES Web portal
 It was launched by
- Union Minister of Coal, Mines and
Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi
 The portal aims to
- Address the long-standing
issues of digitizing its records
¨ Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Bharat
Mobility Global Expo 2024 at(February 2, 2024)
-Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
¨ According to the Finance Minister, rooftop
solarization will enable one crore households to
receive up to how many units of free electricity each
month?(February 2, 2024) - 300 units
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also proposed
viability gap funding for harnessing offshore wind
energy potential for initial capacity of
- One giga-watt(1GW)
 Finance Minister also suggested setting up a 100 MT
coal liquefaction and gasification capacity by – 2030
 FM also proposed phased mandatory blending of
CBG (Compressed Bio Gas) in CNG (Compressed
Natural Gas) for - Transportation
Current Affairs Pointer (21)
 The government has proposed to set up a corpus of
how much amount to boost private investment in
sunrise technologies? - Rs 1 Lakh Crore
 The corpus will be set up with
- Fifty-year interest-free loan
¨ Finance minister stated that "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan"
was the slogan provided by Prime Minister Lal
Bahadur Shastri, whereas "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai
Vigyan" was created by (February 1, 2024)
- Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
 Prime Minister Modi has advanced the slogan to
- "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan
and Jai Anusandhan"
¨ As per the latest Sample Registration System (SRS)
report for the year 2020, the total fertility rate (TFR)
has dropped from 2.1 in 2019 to –2
 The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 for
2019-2021 stated that the TFR at the national level
has further declined from 2.2 to –2
 How many states are with a TFR level of more than
2.1? - Five - Bihar (2.98), Meghalaya (2.91),
Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26),
and Manipur (2.17)
¨ Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala
Sitharaman presented the Interim Union Budget for
2024-2025 on - February 1, 2024
 Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented
which consecutive budget? - Sixth
 She equalled the record of which finance minister,
who had presented five annual budgets and one
interim budget between 1959 and 1964?
- Minister Morarji Desai
 Finance Minister announced that the capital
expenditure outlay for the next year will be
- Rs. 11,11,111 crore
 This capital expenditure outlay will be how many
percent of the GDP? - 3.4 percent
 The capital expenditure outlay has been increased
by how many percent as compared to the previous
year(2023-24)? - 11.1 percent
 The First Advance Estimates of National Income
of FY 2023-24 projected that India’s Real GDP is
projected to grow at - 7.3 percent
 In December 2023, GST collection stood at
- Rs.1.65 lakh crore
 How many times gross GST revenues have crossed
Rs.1.6 lakh crore? - Seventh time
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â The tax receipts are estimated to be Ministry Budget
- Rs. 26.02 lakh crore Defence Rs.6.2 lakh crore
 The total receipts other than borrowings are
Road Transport and Rs.2.78 lakh crore
estimated at - Rs 30.80 lakh crore
Highways
 The total expenditure are estimated at
Railways Rs.2.55 lakh crore
- 47.66 lakh crore
Consumer Affairs, Food & Rs.2.13 lakh crore
 The fiscal deficit in 2024-25 is estimated to be how
Public Distribution
many % of GDP? - 5.1 percent
Home Affairs Rs.2.03 lakh crore
 The fiscal deficit will be reduced to below 4.5 percent
Rural Development Rs.1.80 lakh crore
by - 2025-26
 The gross and net market borrowings through dated Chemicals and Fertilizers Rs.1.68 lakh crore
securities during 2024-25 are estimated at Communications Rs.1.37 lakh crore
- Rs14.13 and 11.75 lakh crore respectively Agriculture and Farmer's Rs.1.27 lakh crore
 The FDI inflow during 2014-23 was Welfare
- 596 billion US Dollar  Over the last ten years, how many people escaped
 Finance Minister said that the government is from multidimensional poverty?
committed to making India a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by - 25 crore people
– 2047 Â The 'direct benefit transfer' of Rs. 34 lakh crore to
 According to budget 2024-25, Pradhan Mantri Kisan PM-Jan Dhan accounts has resulted in a saving to
SampadaYojana benefitted how many farmers? the government of - Rs 2.7 lakh crore
 Under the PM-SVANidhiYojana, loan assistance has
- 38 lakh farmers(generated 10 lakh
been provided to - 78 lakh street vendors
employment)
 The government has initiated which scheme to
 How many normal rail bogies will be converted to
provide support to artisans and craftspeople engaged
the Vande Bharat standards?
in 18 trades? - PM-Vishwakarma Yojana
- 40000 normal rail bogies
¨ Government extended the scheme (till 31st March
 Healthcare cover under the Ayushman Bharat
2026) of sugar subsidy for Antyodya Anna Yojna
scheme will be extended to
(AAY) families under which scheme?(February 1,
- All ASHA workers, Anganwadi
2024) - Public Distribution Scheme (PDS)
Workers and Helpers
¨ Government in a gazetted notification, appointed
 In the last 10 years, the direct tax collections have how many members of the Sixteenth Finance
more than trebled and return filers have increased Commission (SFC)(January 30, 2024)
- 2.4 times -Four members (including three
 Union Finance Minister announced that corporate full-time members)
tax rates for existing indigenous companies have  All time members are
been reduced from 30 percent to - 22 percent - A N Jha, former Special Secretary in the
 In Budget 2024-25, the biggest allocation has been Department of Expenditure
allocated for – Defence - Annie George Mathew, and Niranjan
 In Budget 2024-25, the lowest allocation has been Rajadhyaksha, Executive Director, Earth Global
allocated for - Agriculture  Part-time member of the commission(SFC)is
 According to budget, every year through the Pradhan - Soumya Kanti Ghosh, State Bank of India's
Mantri-Kisan Samman Yojana, direct financial group Chief Economic Advisor
assistance is provided to  Who had been appointed as the chairman of the
- 11 crore 80 lakh farmers (including marginal SFC? - Arvind Panagariya, Former
and small farmers) NITI Aayog vice-chairman
 According to budget,at present how many airports ¨ The Finance Ministry has slashed import duties on
are operating in the country? - 149 airports various components of mobile handsets from 15% to
 The allocation for specific ministries is as follows: (January, 2024) - 10 percent

Current Affairs Pointer (22) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 U.P. Budget, 2024-25
Uttar Pradesh Budget,
2024-25

The Yogi Adityanath government presented its Budget speech with lines from Ramayan
budget for the financial year, 2024-25 on February 5, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar
2024, with Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna Khanna starts the speech quoting Ramayan.
stating that it is an inclusive budget that caters to all. He also said "newmeues efoue ceW peye ceÛeueles nQ, DeebefOeÙeeW ceW
This budget will be the eighth consecutive budget Ûejeie peueles nw~"
presented by the BJP government and the fifth Khanna also highlighted that the state is expected to
consecutive one presented by Finance Minister of receive around Rs 2,18,816.84 crore from the Central
U.P. Suresh Kumar Khanna. taxes, according to the interim budget presented by
Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh Suresh Kumar Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on
Khanna presented a record budget of Rs 7.36 lakh February 1, 2024.
crore for the financial year 2024-25 in the State In the previous year, the Yogi government had
Assembly of Uttar Pradesh. presented a budget of Rs 6.9 lakh crore for 2023-
Uttar Pradesh FM said that this budget will lay a 2024, along with a supplementary budget of Rs
strong foundation for UP to become a one-trillion- 28,760.67 crore, which included funding for various
dollar economy. development projects in Ayodhya.
He emphasized that it will address the needs of people
from all walks of life in the state, with a particular Economic Highlights
emphasis on infrastructure, improving the lives of Budget Size
youth, women, farmers, and the underprivileged. 6.7% Increase over
Rs. 7.36 Lakh crore
Rupee Comes In 2023-24
Recovery of Loan
and Advance Expenditure
Public Debt 0.5% Public Account
Receipts
15.3%
Receipt (Net) 0.8% Revenue Expenditure Rs. 5.33 Lakh crore
Non-Tax Revenue Capital Expenditure Rs. 2.04 Lakh crore
3.4% State Own
Tax Revenue Capital Outlay Rs. 1.55 Lakh crore
37.1%
Central Tax Receipts
Transfer
30%
Total Receipts Rs. 7.21 Lakh crore
Centre
Grant in Aid Revenue Receipts Rs. 6.07 Lakh crore
12.9%
Capital Receipts Rs. 1.14 Lakh crore
Rupee Goes Out
Other Expenditure State’s own Tax Revenue
Subsidy 3.8% 12.7% Rs. 2.70 Lakh crore
Debt
(SOTR)
Devolution to Repayment
Capital
Local Bodies 5.4%
3.3%
Expenditure
21% Disbursement
Biggest budget in the history of UP
Interest of Loan &
Payment 7.3% Advances
At Rs 7.36 lakh crore, this is the biggest budget in the
Pension
11.7% 1.3% history of UP.
Grant-in-aid
9% The total capacity of the power transmission system,
Salary-Aided Salary- which was 16,348 MW in the financial year 2016-
Institution Government
Employee Employee 2017, has been increased to 28,900 MW in the year
12.8%
11.7% 2022-2023

Current Affairs Pointer (23) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 Target is to be increased to 31,500 MW by the
financial year 2023-2024.
Important points of Budget 2024-25 are
followings—
Size of the Budget
The size of the budget 2024-25 is Rs. 736437.71
crore and it includes new scheme of Rs. 24863.57
crore.
Total Receipts
Total Receipt of Rs. 721333.82 crore is estimated
for the budget estimate of 2024-25.
Out of this, Revenue receipt is estimated to be Rs.
606802.40 crore and capital receipt is estimated to
be Rs. 114531.42 crore.
The Share of tax collection in revenue receipts is
estimated at Rs. 488902.84 crore including state's
own tax revenue of Rs. 270086 crore and its share in
the central tax pool at Rs. 218816.84 crore.
Total Expenditure
Total expenditure of Rs. 736437.71 crore is
estimated for the budget 2024-25.
Out of total expenditure, revenue account
expenditure is Rs. 532655.33 crore and capital
account expenditure is Rs. 203782.38 crore.
Revenue Account Expenditure
In the budget estimate of 2023-
24 revenue expenditure was
Rs. 502354.01 crore. For the financial year 2024-25,
it is Rs. 532655.33 crore.
Thus, in the financial year 2024-25 revenue
expenditure is estimated to be increase by Rs.
30301.32 crore.
Capital Account Expenditure
In the budget estimate of 2023-24, capital account
expenditure was Rs. 187888.42 crore. In the
Budget estimate of 2024-25 it is estimated to be Rs.
203782.38 crore.
Thus, in the budget 2024-25 capital expenditure is
estimated increased by Rs. 15893.96 crore (8.46
per cent).
Under this, mainly capital outlay increased by Rs.
7255.18 crore (4.92 per cent).
Increase in internal debt of the State Government is
estimated to be of Rs. (+) 9540.53 crore (32.24 per
cent)
Current Affairs Pointer (24)
Economic Highlights
Increase in Capital Outlay 6.19%
Revenue Surplus (% of GSDP) 2.97%
Fiscal Deficit, (% of GSDP) – 3.46%
within FRBM limit of 3.5%
Debt, (% of GSDP), at INR 8.17 32.7%
lakh crore
Receipt from the Central Government
In the budget estimate of 2024-25, total receipt from
the Central Government in the form of state’s share
in central taxes grants-in-aid and loans and advances
is estimated to be Rs. 333820.56 crore.
It is Rs. 12156.24 crore (3.78 per cent) more
than the budget estimate of 2023-24 which is Rs.
321664.32 crore.
Revenue Account Receipts
In the budget 2023-24, state’s own tax revenue
is estimated to increased by Rs. 77396.02 crore
(41.78 per cent) from the revised estimate of 2022-
23 which is Rs. 185237.98 crore.
Contingency Fund
There is no provision of in the Contingency Fund
(net) in the budget 2024-25. In the financial year
2022-23 also contingency fund was estimated to be
Rs. 0.00.
Public Account
For the financial year 2024-25 net receipt from the
transactions under public account is estimated be Rs.
5500 crore.
It is equal to the budget estimate of 2023-24.
Net Result of All the Transaction
Net result of all the transactions in the budget
estimates of 2024-25 is Rs. (–) 9603.89 crore.
Final balance, based on the net result of initial
balance and all the transactions, is Rs. 28585.77
crore.
Revenue Surplus
In the budget estimate of 2024-25 revenue surplus is
estimate to be Rs. 74147.08 crore.
In the budget estimate of 2023-24 it was estimate
to be 68511.65 crore. But in the revised estimate of
2023-24 it is estimated to be 70446.52 crore.
In the actual estimate of 2022-23 it is 37263.44 crore.
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Fiscal Deficit
In the financial year 2024-25 fiscal deficit is
estimated to be of Rs. 86530.51 crore.
It is 3.46 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product
(GSDP).
In the budget estimate of 2023-24 it was Rs.
84883.16 crore which decreased to Rs. 82514.54
crore in the revised estimate.
In the Actual data of 2022-23 net fiscal deficit is Rs.
64636.27 crore.
Capital Outlay
In the budget of 2024-25 capital outlay is estimated
to be Rs. 154747.47 crore.
Budget at a Glance (in Rs. crore)
In the budget estimate of 2023-24 it was estimated
to be Rs. 147492.29 crore which decreased in the
revised estimated to be Rs. 146177.12 crore.
In the 2022-23 Rs. 93028.39 crore was spent under
capital outlay.
Fiscal Deficit at 3.46%
State's Fiscal deficit at 3.46 percent of state GDP
Out of the total expenditure, Rs 5,32,655.33 crore
has been allocated for the revenue account and Rs
2,03,782.38 crore for capital account.
After deducting the total expenditure from the
receipts of the consolidated fund, a deficit of Rs
15,103.89 crore is estimated in the budget

S. N. 2022-23 2023-24 Budget 2023-24 Revised 2024-25 Budget

Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate
1. Revenue Account Receipts 417241.50 570865.66 525217.84 606802.40

2. Tax Revenue* 343832.45 445871.59 410866.44 488902.84

3. Non-Tax Revenue@ 73409.05 124994.07 114351.40 117899.56

4. Capital Account Receipt 68184.26 112427.08 102427.08 114531.42

5. Recovery of Loans 1337.32 3312.18 3312.18 3298.63

6. Borrowings and Other Liabilities (out of which 66846.94 109114.90 99114.90 111232.79
ways and means Advances from RBI)
0.00 10000.00 0.00 10000.00
7. Total Receipts (1 + 4) 485425.76 683292.74 627644.92 721333.82

8. Expenditure on Revenue Accounts, in which 379978.06 502354.01 454771.32 532655.33

9. Interest Payment 43007.98 52755.56 49316.64 53711.99

10. Expenditure on Capital Accounts, in which 125927.49 187888.42 177591.05 203782.38

11. Capital Outlay 93028.39 147492.29 146177.12 154747.47

12. Loan Repayments in which ways and means 22690.46 31181.43 21317.81 39806.17
Advances redemption from RBI
0.00 10000.00 0.00 10000.00
13. Total Expenditure (8 + 10) 505905.55 690242.43 632362.37 736437.71

14. Revenue Surplus (1 – 8) 37263.44 68511.65 70446.52 74147.07

15. Fiscal Deficit 64636.27 84883.16 82514.54 86530.51

16. Primary Deficit (15 – 9) 21628.29 32127.60 33197.90 32818.52
* This includes state’s own taxes and state’s share in central taxes.
@ This includes state’s own taxes and grants received from centre.

‰ Important Announcement in the Budget of 5.1 percent.

Speech
Announcements for farmers
The total reported area in the state is 241.70 lakh
hectares, in which cultivation is done in 160.95 lakh
hectares. There is target to achieve agriculture growth
Rs. 1,100 crore allocated for supply of free water to
farmers.
The ban on giving new private tube well connections
in the dark zone has been removed, which directly
benefited about one lakh farmers, says FM.

Current Affairs Pointer (25) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra

 In the year 2023-2024, till October 2023, about 37
lakh Kisan Credit Cards were distributed.
Rs 63,000 crore transferred under the Prime Minister
Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana through DBT to 2.62
crore farmers by December 2023.
Under the Prime Minister Crop Insurance
Scheme, a compensation of Rs 831 crore was paid
to about 10 lakh insured farmers for 2022-2023 till
October, 2023.
A record sugarcane price payment of more than Rs
2,33,793 crore was made to about 46 lakh sugarcane
farmers by the present government from the year 2017
to January 29, 2024.
The Sugarcane price payment is Rs 20,274 crore more
than the combined cane price payment of Rs 2,01,519
crore in the last 22 years.
With the aim of providing incentives to agriculture,
three new schemes are being started, such as State
Agricultural Development Scheme, World Bank
assisted UP Agri Scheme and Automatic weather
Station- Installation of automatic rain gauge, in
development blocks and gram panchayats of the state.
Labour Welfare
About 8.32 crore workers of UP have been registered
on the ‘e-Shram’ portal, which is the highest in the
country.
Women & Child Welfare
State government has increased the destitute women
pension from Rs 500 to now Rs 1,000 per month.
With this scheme, till the third quarter in 2023-2024,
31 lakh 28 thousand destitute women were benefited.
Under Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Scheme,
eligible girls in 6 different categories, total assistance
of Rs 15000 Is being provided.From financial year
2019-2020 to 2023-2024, 17.82 lakh beneficiaries has
been benefited under this scheme.
Youth
53,800 Youth Mangal Dal and 51,300 Mahila Mangal
Dals have been formed in Gram Panchayats of the
state. Through these parties youth participation has
been ensured in the works of national and social
importance.
Folk song team of Uttar Pradesh Earned gold medal by
securing first place in 26th National Youth Festival held
in Karnataka (January 12 to 16, 2023).
Employment
Under Chief Minister Youth Self-Employment
Scheme , in MSME Sector so far 22 lakh 389
beneficiaries have been benefited. By doing this,
1,79,112 jobs were created.
Current Affairs Pointer (26)
About 4.08 Lakhs jobs have been created under
Vishwakarma Shram Samman Scheme and one district
one Product Skill Upgradation and Toolkit Scheme.
Social Security
About 55 lakh senior citizens of the state is being
provided Old Age Pension at the rate of Rs 1000 per
month.
In the financial year 2022-2023; 1,00,874 couples
married under Chief Minister Group Marriage
Scheme, and about 510 crore rupees have been spent.
Financial Inclusion
At present banking facilities are being provided
through 19,705 branches of public sector banks
2,28,544 Bank Mitras and BC Sakhis and 17,852
ATMs in the state.
Under PM Jan Dhan Scheme, with the registration
of 9 crore bank account, Uttar Pradesh stands at first
position.
Industrial Development and Ease of doing
ranking
With the launch of Maharishi Valmiki International
Airport, Ayodhya there are now four international
airports operating in the state. After the inauguration
of South Asia’s largest international airport in Jewar,
Noida, Uttar Pradesh will be the only state in India to
have five international airports
Uttar Pradesh has achieved ''Achievers'' ranking in
Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEAD-2023).
Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority
(BIDA) is being established for the development of
industries in the backward region of Bundelkhand.
This will be developed on the lines of Noida (formed
in 1976).
Ganga Expressway
The budget for the Ganga Expressway project is Rs
2057 crore 76 lakh.
Rs 500 crore has been alocated to new link expressway
adjoining Agra-Lucknow Expressway and Purvanchal
Expressway.
Rs 346 crore for Agra Metro
Rs 400 crore for Atal Industrial Infrastructure Mission.
22,000 MW target set for Solar power
Rs 3,948 crore for PM AWAS scheme
Rs 3,668 crore for PM Gram Sadak Yojana
Health
With the efforts of the state government, maternal
mortality rate was reduced to 167 per lakh in the year
2022 from 285 per lakh in the year 2014. Whereas,
Infant mortality rate reduced to 38 per thousand in
2020 from 48 per thousand in 2014.
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 More than 4 crore 86 lakhs Ayushman cards were
distributed under Ayushman Bharat Prime Minister’s
Jan Arogya Scheme.
In the financial year 2024-2025, under National Rural
Health Mission, for the operation of various programs
Rs.7350 crores has been proposed
With the aim of completion of construction work
of Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath Ayush University,
Gorakhpur in the financial year 2024-2025; the
Government Ayurvedic College in Ayodhya and
Government Homeopathic Medical College in
Varanasi is proposed to be established.
Rs. 400 crore allocated for the medical college in
Varanasi.
Rs. 952 crore has been allocated for PM Ayushman
Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission Scheme.
Rs. 322 crore has been alocated for PM Matra Vandana
Yojana.
Rs. 300 crore has been allocated for Ayushman Bharat
Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Aviation Sector
Rs 1,100 crore for development of airstrips across the
state.
Aligarh, Azamgarh, Moradabad, Shravasti and
Chitrakoot have been developed and the development
work of Mayorpur (Sonbhadra) and Sarsawa
(Saharanpur) airports is in progress.
‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya
Dham’ developed in Ayodhya.
A provision of Rs 150 crore proposed for the
establishment and expansion of the Ayodhya airport.
FM said that continuous efforts are being made by
the state government to increase air connectivity in
the state through the Regional Connectivity Scheme
(RCS-‘UDAN’) of the Government of India and “Uttar
Pradesh Civil Aviation Promotion Policy”.
In comparison to the last financial year, there has been
an increase of 19.2 percent in the number of passengers
traveling by air in the current financial year.
Energy
The total capacity of the transmission system was
16,348 MW in the financial year 2016-2017, which
has been increased to 28,900 MW in the year 2022-
2023. It is proposed to increase it to 31,500 MW by
the financial year 2023-2024.
Under the Green Energy Corridor-2 project of the
Government of India, 4000 MW capacity solar park
is to be developed in the Bundelkhand region of the
state
Current Affairs Pointer
Under Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy-2022, in
the upcoming 5 years there is a target of 22000 MW
power generation is proposed. At present, it is around
2600 MW.
Ayodhya and Varanasi cities are being developed
as model solar cities.
Urban Development
Rs. 4500 crores is proposed for Amrit 2.0 scheme
(launched in the year 2021)
Rs. 2500 crore is proposed for the Grand event of
Mahakumbh Mela 2025 with world class facilities.
Rs. 800 Crore is proposed for the Chief Minister Green
Road Infrastructure Development Scheme (Urban).
Under the PM Mega integrated textiles and apparel
scheme, Mega Textile Park has been approved, with an
area of about 1000 acres in Lucknow-Hardoi district.
A budget of Rs. 150 crore has been proposed for
purchase of land for establishment of National Institute
of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Varanasi district.
Rs. 10 crore has been proposed for International
Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute Ayodhya
6 crore people out of poverty
FM Suresh Khanna said that the economy of the
state has improved a lot under the Yogi Adityanath
government.
Jungle Raj has been wiped out in UP. So far six crore
people have been brought above the poverty line.
Sugar cane MSP increased
Sugarcane MSP has been increased by the state.
Rs 2.33 lakh crore disbursed to Sugarcane farmers
Famers received Rs 63,000 crore under Kiasn Samaan
from the government
No more a BIMARU State
There is Ram Rajya in Uttar Pradesh, we are no more
a Bimaru state.
Organized crime has been eliminated in the state. The
unemployment rate in the state is 2.4 percent.
The state has received investment proposal worth Rs
40 lakh crore in Investors Summit
UP is fast progressing towards development
96 lakh MSME units are running in the state. 22.39
lakh beneficiaries for MSME schemes
All the state districts now have dialysis facility for
Kidney patients.
Government medical colleges now have 3,828 seats,
while Private medical seats are now 5,250.
(27) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 Science & Technology Affairs
Bird's Eye View On the Latest
Developments Related To
Defence, Space,
Medicine Etc.
¨ PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone
of ISRO’s new launch complex (India's second
spaceport) in (February 28, 2024)
- Kulasekharapattanam, village,
Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu
 This facility will accommodate how many launches
per year? - 24
 The spaceport will be built at the cost of
- Rs 986 crore
 This launch complex is being built for launching
- SSLV-type rockets
 He also flagged off India’s first indigenous green
hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel as part of
- HaritNauka initiative
¨ India's first ammunition-missile manufacturing
complex unveiled by (February 26, 2024)
- Adani Group (Adani Defense and Aerospace)
 Adani Defense and Aerospace opened two facilities
for manufacturing ammunition and missiles in
- Kanpur,Uttar Pradesh
 The Kanpur complex is set to become one of the
largest integrated ammunition manufacturing
complexes in - South Asia
¨ National Science Day or RashtriyaVigyan Divas was
celebrated in India on - 28 February, 2024
 The day is celebrated to remember the discovery of
the Raman Effect by
- Sir C V Raman (on 28 February 1928)
 The first National Science Day was celebrated on
- 28 February 1987
 The nodal agency for the coordination of National
Science Day celebrations is
- The National Council for Science and
Technology Communication (NCSTC)
¨ Asia's premier biotechnology and life sciences
convention, BioAsia 2024, started in (February 26-
28, 2024) - Hyderabad
Current Affairs Pointer (28)
Current Notes
 The edition of BioAsia 2024 is - 21st edition
 This convention was inaugurated by
- Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
 The theme of the conclave was
- ‘Data & AI: Redefining Possibilities’
¨ How many astronauts have been named for India's
first manned space mission (Gaganyaan)?(February
27, 2024) - Four
 Name of the four astronauts are
- Prashanth Nair, Angad Prathap,
Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla
 The astronauts have undergone a year-long training
course in - ZvyozdnyGorodok city, Russia
 To train astronauts for the manned mission, ISRO has
set up an Astronaut Training Facility in - Bengaluru
¨ To improve the country's space sector, three important
space infrastructure projects was inaugurated by
(February 27, 2024)
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
 These projects include
-PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at Satish
Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, -New
‘Semi-cryogenics Integrated Engine and Stage
Test facility’ at ISRO Propulsion Complex at
Mahendragiri, -‘Trisonic Wind Tunnel’ at VSSC,
Thiruvananthapuram
¨ Haryana Chief Minister launched a program for early
screening and detection of breast cancer, named as
(February 25, 2024) - 'Savera'
 This program has been initiated by
- Medanta Foundation (collaboration with
Gurugram health department)
 The CM also mentioned the establishment of the
National Cancer Institute at AIIMS in
- Jhajjar district
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
¨ Which payload on Aditya-L1 has detected the impact
of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on solar wind?
(February 10-11, 2024)
- The Plasma Analyser Package
for Aditya (PAPA) payload
 It is operational since - December 12, 2023
 It has two sensors namely
- Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP)
and Solar Wind Ion Composition
Analyser (SWICAR)
 Aditya-L1 mission was successfully launched on
September 2, 2023 by - PSLV-C57 rocket
 It carried how many payloads to study the Sun?
- Seven
¨ First United States landing on the moon since last 50
years has been done by (February 22, 2024)
- The Odysseus lunar lander
¨ In March 2024, which group will launch its first
ChatGPT-style service Bharat GPT? (February,
2024)
- Reliance Industires
 What is the name given to it? - “Hanooman”
 How many regional languages will be used in it?
- Eleven
 The model will operate in four domains, namely
- Education, financial services, health
care, and governance
 The model is being built in partnership with
- IIT, Bombay along with 7 other universities
 It is supported by -Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd.
 Hanooman will provide consumers with
- Speech-to-text functionality
 Reliance is working on platform that uses Artificial
Intelligence across a network of about 450 million
subscribers, namely - Jio Brain
¨ Recently, a National-level project of health screening
and management through Ayurveda interventions
has been launched by (February 21, 2024)
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
(in New Delhi)
 Under this, health checkups will be done of students
from classes - 6th to 12th
 This health-related checkup will be done in selected
- 55 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
 Intervention will be done by
- Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic
Sciences (CCRAS)
Current Affairs Pointer (29)
¨ Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said
that India's first Helicopter Emergency Medical
Service (HEMS) would be launched from (February,
2024) - Uttarakhand
 HEMS service would be operated under the project
- ‘Sanjeevani’
¨ To combat space debris, which country will launch
the world’s first wooden satellite?
- Japan and the United States (NASA)
 The wooden satellite is named as -LingoSat probe
 It has been created from
- Magnolia wood (stable and cracks resistant)
¨ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
successfully launched the INSAT-3DS mission from
(February 17, 2024)
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota
 The mission was launched into space
- Aboard the heavy-lift Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch Vehicle Mk-II (GSLV-MkII)
 INSAT-3DS consists of four payloads namely,
- imager, sounder, a data relay transponder,
and a satellite-assisted search and rescue
transponder.
 This will enable the development of new satellite
products that can be deployed while
- Tracking cyclones, monsoon systems, storms,
and other natural disasters.
 This new facility is funded by
- The Ministry of Earth Sciences
 INSAT data has been used by the India Meteorological
Department (IMD) for its operational meteorological
purposes since – 2003
 This was the second launch of the year (2024) after
ISRO successfully launched
- XPoSat mission to space on January 1, 2024.
¨ The Ministry of Defence has recently signed a
contract with whom, for the manufacturing and
supply of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm
Stabilised Remote Control Guns (SRCG) (February
14, 2024)
- Advanced Weapon Equipment India Ltd.
(AWEIL), Kanpur
 With more than 85% Indigenous Content (IC), this
agreement is valued at - Rs 1,752.13 crore.
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
¨ To enhance disaster management, the UP government
collaborating with whom? (February 13, 2024)
- IIT Roorkee
 The impending MoU marks an important step
towards strengthening the state's resilience against
natural disasters for - Next five years
¨ The University of Liverpool and AIIMS, New Delhi
have collaborated on (February 12, 2024)
- 'AIIMS Liverpool Collaborative Centre for
Translational Research in Head and Neck
Cancer - ALHNS'
¨ 9 th
GovTech Prize for endeavours in Artificial
Intelligence (AI)-powered government services was
given to (February 12, 2024) - India
 India secured this prestigious award at
- The World Government Summit 2024
 This award was distributed by
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
 India won the award under the category of
- 'AI-Powered Government Services'
 The award has been presented to recognize the
- ‘iRASTE’ project of the Ministry for Road
Transport & Highways
 This initiative is a collaborative effort of the
government, industry, and academia with the main
aim to
- Reduce 50% of road accidents
anticipated in urban areas
¨ At the World Government Summit 2024, who
signed agreements to launch the world's first air taxi
service? (February 11, 2024)
- Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA)
 The contract was given to Joby Aviation at the World
Governments Summit in Dubai to launch
- Air taxi services in UAE by early 2026.
¨ An innovative system designed to enhance the typing
experience of Gurmukhi script on the Internet,
named as(February, 2024) - "PURAN" system
 It was launched by
- Department of Computer
Science, Punjabi University
 Gurjot Singh Mahi developed this under the guidance
of - Dr. Amandeep Verma
Current Affairs Pointer
 The system earned the title of “Best Research Paper”
at the International Conference on
- “New Emerging Trends in
Engineering” in Kozhikode, Kerala
¨ IEEE Kerala Section has given the KPP Nambiar
Award for 2024 to (February 11, 2024)
- ISRO Chairman S Somanath
 The award is named after KPP Nambiar, he was
- Founder-chair of IEEE Kerala Section
 Somanath was selected for his contributions in
- Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s lunar
exploration programme
 Outstanding Woman Engineer Award has been given
to - Athuladevi S, Deputy Director, Avionics,
VSSC
¨ Who received the WHO’s Nelson Mandela Award
for Health Promotion in 2024? (February 9, 2024)
- NIMHANS, Bengaluru
 NIMHANS stands for
- The National Institute of Mental Health and
Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)
 For 2024, the award has been jointly presented to
NIMHANS and
- Professor Bontle Mbongwe of Botswana
 NIMHANS received the award for its dedication and
outstanding contributions in
- Promoting mental health and well-being.
 The Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion
was started by WHO in - 2019.
¨ The Center of Excellence on Smart Wearable
Advanced Nano Sensing Technologies in Healthcare
ASICs (SWASTHA) was inaugurated (February 9,
2024) - IIT Guwahati
 The SWASTHA project aims for
- Intensive technological innovation, startup
support, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and
revenue generation.
¨ Recently on 11 February, 2024 SWATI portal was
launched by
- Principal Scientific Advisor
Professor Ajay Kumar Sood
 It was launched at - Indian National Science
Academy (INSA), New Delhi
 SWATI stands for
- Science for Women-A Technology and
Innovation (SWATI)
(30) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â It was launched on the occasion of
- The International Day of Women
and Girls in Science
 The portal has been developed, hosted, and
maintained by
- The National Institute of Plant Genome
Research (NIPGR).
 The portal aims to create
- An online portal representing Indian women
and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM).
¨ On which day, International Day of Women and
Girls in Science is observed - 11 February
 It is observed to raise awareness about
- Role of women in achieving
development goals
 The theme of International Day of Women and Girls
in Science 2024 is
- “Women and Girls in Science Leadership : a
New Era for Sustainability”
 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
declared 11 February as the International Day of
Women and Girls in Science in - 2015
¨ Government launched a Mass Drug Administration
(MDA) campaign for (February 10, 2024)
- Lymphatic Filariasis elimination.
 The first phase of the Nationwide Mass Drug
Administration (MDA) campaign has been launched
by - Union Minister of State for Health and
Family Welfare Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel
 This campaign will cover
- 92 districts across 11 states
in the next two weeks
 India is committed to eliminating Lymphatic
Filariasis by – 2027
 At present, 345 lymphatic filariasis endemic districts
are present in - 20 states and union territories.
 75 percent of Mass Drug Administration (MDA)
districts are from
- 5 states (Bihar, Jharkhand, UP,
Odisha and Telangana)
 Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis) is
- A Parasitic disease caused by nematode worms
(roundworms) of the family Filariodidea
 It is transmitted by - Infected mosquitoes
Current Affairs Pointer (31)
¨ Bihar State Disaster Management Authority recently
launched pendent shaped device, named (February,
2024) - ‘NITISH’ device
 NITISH stands for
- Novel Initiative Technological Intervention
for Safety of Humanlives (NITISH)
 The device has been named after
- Present CM of Bihar Nitish Kumar
 This device has been developed by
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna
in association with Bihar State Disaster
Management Authority
 The device will alert about
- Lightning, floods, heat waves and cold waves
through voice messages (about half an hour
before)
¨ NASA launched which mission to study Earth's
atmosphere and oceans as the globe heats? (February
8, 2024) - PACE mission
 PACE mission stands for
- Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean
Ecosystemsatellite (PACE)
 PACE mission took off from
- Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station in Florida
 The mission was launched on
- SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket
¨ India’s first state-of-the-art Small Animal Hospital
is developed by (February, 2024)
-Tata Trusts in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai
 The hospital will be launched in - March 2024
¨ Recently, first patient became ‘cancer-free’ by using
which indigenous therapy? (February, 2024)
- CAR-T cell therapy
 Who had approved the commercial use of NexCAR19
cell therapy in October 2023?
- Central Drugs Standard
Control Organisation (CDSCO)
 Under this therapy, the patient’s T-cells (types of
immune cells) are collected and genetically modified
into potent cancer fighters known as - CAR-T cells
 Indigenous CAR-T cell therapy has been developed
by
- ImmunoAct, IIT Bombay and
Tata Memorial Hospital
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â This therapy is a treatment for B-cell cancers such
as - Leukaemia and Lymphoma
¨ India's first hypervelocity expansion tunnel test
facility has been developed by (February 5, 2024)
- IIT Kanpur
 This facility which can simulate the hypersonic
circumstances seen during atmospheric entry by
producing flight speeds between 3 and 10 km/s., is
named as - ‘S2’
 This S2 facility is 24 meters long and is commonly
called as - ‘Jigarthanda'
 The facility was indigenously designed and
developed in how many years? - Three years
¨ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh honoured whom
with the 'Outstanding Business Woman of the Year
- 2023' Award?(February, 2024) - Dr. Bina Modi
 Dr. Bina Modi was presented with the award at a
prestigious conference, namely (February, 2024)
- Indo-American Chamber of Commerce
 The conference was on the theme
- 'Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in
Amritkal-Aatmanirbhar Bharat'
¨ Which is scheduled for the third quarter of 2024
before a manned mission "Gaganyaan"?(February 4,
2024)
- The uncrewed "Vyommitra" mission
 The manned mission ‘Gaganyaan’ mission is
scheduled to launch in – 2025
 Vyomamitra is a name derived from two Sanskrit
words, namely
- "Vyoma" (meaning place) and "Mitra"
(meaning friend)
 Vyomamitra is a
- Woman Robot Astronaut
 In preparation for the launch of India's first manned
space flight 'Gaganyaan', on October 21, 2023 first
vehicle test was completed namely - Udaan TV D1
¨ A committee constituted by which state government
to ensure the effective implementation of the Sickle
Cell Disease Control Program? (February 3, 2024)
- Government of Maharashtra
 The overarching goal is to complete the eradication
of sickle cell disease from the country by - 2047
Current Affairs Pointer
¨ According to the WHO’s latest estimates of the
global burden of cancer how many new cancer cases
have been reported in India in 2022? (February 1,
2024) -1.41 million (1,413,316 new cancer cases)
 Globally, the number of new cancer cases has
increased by - 20 million
 Highest number of which type of cancer new cases
were reported in India? - Breast cancer(192,020)
 Breast cancer accounts how much per cent of new
cancer cases in India?- 13.6 per cent of all patients
 Which cancer is the most common occurring cancer
in the world?
- Lung cancer with 2.5 million new cases, Female
breast cancer ranked second (2.3 million cases,
11.6 per cent)
 Globally, India accounted for how many per cent of
deaths that occurred due to cervical cancer?
- 40 per cent
¨ Which state government would launch a 'Digital
Detox' initiative in partnership with the All India
Game Developers Forum (AIGDF)? (February 01,
2024) - Karnataka
 The initiative aims to raise awareness about
- The dangers of spending excessive
time in the digital world
¨ Recently, Rashtriya Arogya Mela was inaugurated
by (February 01, 2024)
-Union Minister for AYUSH and Shipping, Ports
Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.
 This Mela was inaugurated by
- Shri Puran Chandra Gupta Smarak Trust in
association with Ministry of Ayush,
 It is being organized from 1 February 2024 to 4
February 2024 at
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
 AYUSH stands for
- Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy,
Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy
¨ Taiwan's first lunar mission is scheduled to launch in
(January 29, 2024) - Quarter 4 of 2024
 The launch of lunar mission was announced by
- Taiwan's National Central University
 It will be integrated into
- HAKUTO-R Mission 2 lunar
lander developed by iSpace
(32) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 Defense Affairs Current Notes
Defense Technology, War Exercises,
Military Tests, Defense Agreements
and Defense Acquisitions etc.

¨ Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL embarks on a  The sale would include

comprehensive upgrade project (February, 2024)
-worth Rs 60,000 crore
 This project has launched with collaboration of the
-Defence Research and Development
Organisation(DRDO)
 This project embarks for the
-Su-30MKI fighter jet fleet.
 The initiative aims to bolster the - aircraft’s capabilities
 This initiative is through the - integration of
advanced technologies and indigenous systems
¨ Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defence Forces
joint exercise ‘Dharma Guardian 2024’ commenced
on - February 25th, 2024
 This exercise is being held at - Mahajan Field
Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, India
 This exercise will continue - till March 9th,2024
 The edition of this exercise is -5th edition
 4th edition of the joint military exercise was organised
at - Camp Imazu, Japan,
 The exercise was held from
-February 17 to March 2, 2023.
¨ The Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) has handed over (26 February,
2024) - 23 Licensing Agreements
 This licensing agreement has been handed over to
MSMEs and Startups for -Transfer of Technology
 The 22 industries in domains
-including electronics, laser technology, combat
vehicles, naval systems and aeronautics.
¨ Recently, the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories
(NAL) successfully tested (February, 2024)
-an unmanned High Altitude
Pseudo Satellite (HAPS)
 It is tested - in Karnataka.
 This 5-meter-long drone with 11-meter wingspan
flew at -an altitude of 3 kilometers for 8 hours
¨ The US government has approved (1 February,
2024) - a major military sale to India
 It is valued at nearly -$4 billion.
Current Affairs Pointer
-31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones
 The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a - weapons-ready drone
 It is designed for - surveillance, reconnaissance,
targeting, and strike mission
¨ On 18th February 2024, the Indian Navy announced
that it is all set to conduct the - 12th edition of the
multilateral naval exercise MILAN
 It was conducted from 19th to 27th February, 2024
(Harbour phase) at - Visakhapatnam
 MILAN is a biennial congregation of navies
conducted by - the Indian Navy since 1995
 Currently, the Indian Navy is undertaking two major
operations — the anti-piracy operation and anti
-drone operation.
¨ Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi assumed the
(19th February 2024) - appointment of the Vice
Chief of the Army Staff
 The Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) is a
- statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces
 It is usually held by a - three star lieutenant general
¨ The Indian Navy commissioned its First Survey
Vessel Large (SVL) ship - INS Sandhayak,
 It is commissioned at
- Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam
 It is commissioned on -February 3, 2024
 It is commissioned in the presence of
-Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
¨ The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a major
exercise called -Vayu Shakti-24
 It will be held in (17 February, 2024) -Rajasthan
¨ Recently India and Oman have signed a (31 January,
2024) - defence agreement
 It is during a meeting of -The India Oman Joint
Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC)
 It is held in -Muscat
¨ Indian Navy has declared 2024 as
- ‘Year of Naval Civilians’
 Its aim is to -Improve administration efficiency
and well being of Naval Civilians
(33) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 Environment Affairs
Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Conservation,Pollution and Biosphere etc.
¨ The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 urged
global cooperation to (21-23 February, 2024)
- eliminate Super pollutants.
 It has been held before the sixth -United Nations
Environment Assembly (UNEA-6).
 UNEA-6 was held in -Nairobi, Kenya
 UNEA-6 was held -from 26 February
to 1 March 2024
 Short-lived climate pollutants are known as
- Super pollutants.
 It includes - methane, black carbon,
hydrofluorocarbons and tropospheric ozone.
¨ Tamil Nadu established a special fund to save
-Purple Frog in the Western Ghats.
 The Purple Frog is believed to be a-‘living fossil’
having - coexisted with dinosaurs
 It ranked four on the -‘EDGE (Evolutionarily
Distinct and Globally Endangered)
of Existence’ priority amphibians list
 Edge is collated by the - Zoological Society of London
¨ Recently Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have
developed a synthetic human antibody. This
antibody has been developed (22 February, 2024)
-to neutralise lethal snakebite toxin
 According to World Health Organisation around
90% of snakebites in India are caused by the
- 'big four' among the crawlers
 The big four crawlers named -common krait,
Indian cobra, Russell's viper and saw scaled viper
 WHO recognised snakebite as a
- neglected tropical disease in 2017
 WHO in 2019, set a target to halve the global
burden of snakebite by - 2030
¨ Scientists made a surprising discovery a - mushroom
growing out of the side of -Golden-backed frog.
 This discovery occurred in
-the foothills of the Western Ghats in India,
 The Golden backed frog, also known as -Trivandrum
frog, common wood frog, or small wood frog, is a
small -sized amphibian.
 They are-partially arboreal and partially aquatic.
Current Affairs Pointer (34)
Current Notes
 They are Predominantly found in - evergreen and
semi-evergreen forests in the Western Ghats
¨ There is Draft resolution for conservation of (14
February, 2024) -hawksbill turtle and angelshark
 This draft resolution was adopted at -CMS COP14.
 This is one of the - smaller sea turtle species, the
hawksbill turtle gets its name
from its narrow, elongated head
 It has - V-shaped lower jaw.
 It is typically found in - coastal reefs, rocky areas,
estuaries, and lagoons.
¨ Researchers have discovered a (14 February, 2024)
- new species of marine amphipod
 The new species has been named - Parhyale odian
 Species is discovered by researchers at odisha's
Berhampur university from - Chilika Lake, Odisha
 Central Asian Flyway was introduced by (17
February, 2024) - India
 It is introduced during the 14th Meeting of the
-Conference of the Parties to the Conservation
of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
(CMS COP 14)
 It is Supported by - Bird Life International and
30 other governments.
 It is an initiative under the CMS to - restore and
maintain favourable conservation status
 The initiative will develop and enforce a
-Programme of Work
¨ The Commission for Air Quality Management
(CAQM) has decided (19 February, 2024)
- to revoke Stage II of the Graded Response
Action Plan (GRAP)
 The plan has revoked in the entire National Capital
Region (NCR). Delhi’s average Air Quality Index
(AQI) was recorded at - 231
 GRAP is a set of emergency measures aimed at
mitigating - air pollution in the Delhi National
Capital Region (NCR)
 It was initially proposed by - the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) in 2016
 It was first notified by the- Ministry of Environment,
Forest, and Climate Change in 2017
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Since 2021, the GRAP is enforced by the - CAQM
 The GRAP considers multiple pollutants, including
- ozone, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen,
PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations
¨ The Himachal Pradesh (HP) budget for the year 2024-
25 has introduced initiatives aimed at (17 February,
2024) - promoting sustainable development and
supporting farmers
¨ The initiative named -Mukhya Mantri Harit
Vikas Chhattravriti Yojana (CM Green
Development Scholarship Scheme)
 Under this initiative Postgraduate science and engineering
graduates will receive -two-year scholarships
 The scholarship is provided to conduct research on
- climate change and environmental
conservation
 Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Startup Scheme in the
state was launched with budget of - Rs. 50 Crore
 It has been introduced with a focus on
- chemical-free farming.
 Under this ten farmers from each panchayat will be
encouraged -to adopt natural farming practices.
¨ The Black Necked Crane assessment was recently
carried out by the (February, 2024) - Wildlife Institute
of India and the Zoological Survey of India.
 Black-necked crane is a medium - sized crane
 It is native to -Asia
 It is endemic to - Tibetan Plateau
 This species is found in- India, China and Bhutan
 It breeds in
- high altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau
 A small wintering population is also found in
- Sangti and Zimithang valleys of
Arunachal Pradesh.
¨ Recently Scientists declare Hindu Kush Himalaya
-a biosphere on the brink of collapse
 The Hindu kush Himalaya is the world’s most
important -‘water tower’,
 It is being the source of Asia’s largest rivers. It is the
largest volume of ice and snow
- outside the Arctic and Antarctica
¨ For the first time, the Kerala government has introduced
an (5 February, 2024) - Environment Budget
 It was introduced as a distinct document alongside
the - State Budget
 The sectors selected for the first Environment Budget
are - agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forests
and wildlife, environment, water resources,
cooperation, soil survey, and the energy sector.
 It refers to the process of evaluating the
- environmental impacts of budgetary
and fiscal policies
 A separate Environment Budget would help in
-mainstreaming environmental awareness
Current Affairs Pointer (35)
¨ India’s first comprehensive survey estimates the
snow leopard population at (30 January, 2024)
-718 in the wild
 The four-year-long exercise used camera traps in 1,971
locations and surveyed 13,450 km of trails across regions
like - Ladakh(477), followed by Uttarakhand (124),
Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36),
Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9)
 The survey, named - Snow Leopard Population
Assessment in India (SPAI)
 Its began in -2019
 It involves collaboration between the
- World Wide Fund for Nature-India, the
Nature Conservation Foundation, and the
Wildlife Institute of India
 The snow leopard is classified as - “vulnerable”
and faces threats such as human-wildlife
conflicts, free-ranging dogs, and poaching.
¨ The Interim Budget of India (2024-25) highlights the
promotion of - ‘blue economy 2.0,’ emphasizing
sustainable development related to oceans, seas, and
coasts
 The budget proposes a scheme for-restoration and
adaptation measures, coastal aquaculture, and mariculture
with an integrated and multi - sectoral approach.
 Additionally, the budget outlines plan to set up
- five integrated aquaparks
 It enhance the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada
Yojana (PMMSY)
- to increase aquaculture productivity, double
exports, and generate employment opportunities.
¨ Recently Five more wetlands in India have been
added to (2 February, 2024) - the Ramsar list of
wetlands of international importance
 The total number of the ramsar sites in india now is - 80
 The new five ramsar wetland sites are - Aghanashini
Estuary (Karnataka) , Magadi Kere Conservation
Reserve(Karnataka), Ankasamudra Bird
Conservation Reserve (Karnataka), Karaivetti
Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), Longwood Shola
Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu)
 New Sites were announced on- World Wetlands Day
(2 February) Theme of World Wetlands Day 2024
-'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing'
¨ The Government of India has issued guidelines for
(2 February, 2024) - pilot projects using green
hydrogen in the shipping and steel sectors Under
National Green Hydrogen Mission.
 These projects are implemented by - Ministry of
New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)
¨ Recently the Wildlife Institute of India and the
Zoological Survey of India have been conducting
assessments of -the black-necked crane population.
 The black-necked crane is listed in
- Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
 Sports News
Description On Cricket,
Hockey, Football, Tennis
Athletics, Chess Etc.
¨ Who became the quickest batter to surpass the
milestone of 10,000 runs in T20 cricket? (22
February, 2024) - Babar Azam (Pakistan)
¨ Who has resigned as the head coach of the Indian
women’s hockey team? (23 February, 2024)
- Janneke Schopman
¨ Who has officially unveiled the logo for the highly
anticipated 7th North East Youth Festival 2024? (26
February, 2024)
- The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
 Mascot of the 7th North East Youth Festival 2024?
- The Phayre’s leaf monkey
 The event is scheduled to take place in – Tripura
¨ Who have completed the Pangong Frozen Lake
Marathon 2024? (20 February, 2024)
- Bhagwan Singh and Mahesh
Khurana (Bhopal)
 The Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon was held in
- Leh-Ladakh
 The marathon was organized by
- the Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh
¨ Who has etched her name in the annals of sports
history as the India's first female pitch curator?
(February, 2024) - Jacintha Kalyan
¨ Who becomes first Indian to take five wickets in
WPL history?(24 February, 2024) - Asha Shobana
¨ Which player completed 4000 runs in Tests during
India’s fourth match against England in Ranchi? (25
February, 2024) - Rohit Sharma
¨ Who won the New Delhi Marathon title? (25
February, 2024) - Gopi Thonakal
¨ Who clinched his eighth PSA title with a convincing
3-0 victory over Elliott Morris Devred of Wales in
the final of the Goodfellow Classic, a 9000 Dollar
Challenger event, in Toronto? (24 February, 2024)
- Abhay Singh
Current Affairs Pointer (36)
Current Notes
¨ BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2024
concluded in(25 February, 2024)
- Pattaya, Thailand
 Gold medal winner in men’s singles SL 4
- Suhas Yathiraj
 Gold medal winner in men’s singles SH 6
- Krishna Nagar
 Gold medal winner in men’s Singles SL 3
- Pramod Bhagat
¨ Who bettered world record score while winning the
men’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) national trials? (26
February, 2024) - Shooter Aishwary Tomar
¨ The Khelo India Winter Games 2024 concluded in
(25 February, 2024) – Gulmarg
 Who tops the medal tally of The Khelo India Winter
Games 2024? - Army (21 Medal with 10 gold)
 Which state secured second place in the medal tally
of the Khelo India winter games
- Karnataka (11 medal with 9 gold)
 Which state secured third place in the medal tally of
the Khelo India winter games?
- Maharashtra (22 medal with 7 gold)
¨ Who won the inaugural JSG Women’s Yuva Kabaddi
Series 2024? (26 February, 2024)
- Murthal Magnets
¨ Who etched his name in cricketing history by
scoring the fastest T20 International (T20I) century?
(27 February, 2024) - Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton
 Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton belongs to which country?
– Namibia
 He scored fastest hundred in T20 International
against - Nepal
 Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton scored hundred in how many
bowl? - 33
¨ Who announces retirement from the international
cricket? (27 February, 2024) - Neil Wagner
 Neil Wagner belongs to which country?
- New Zealand
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
¨ Which team books its place in the women’s football
tournament at the Paris Olympics after defeating
Uzbekistan? (28 February,ruary, 2024) - Australia
¨ Who is set be elected unopposed as the Paralympic
Committee of India (PCI) president? (February,
2024) - Devendra Jhajharia
 Devendra Jhajharia will replace which Para athlete
as the Paralympics Committee of India president
– Deepa Malik
 Devendra Jhajharia is associated with
- Javelin throw
¨ The overall champion of the fourth Khelo India
University Games (29 February, 2024)
- Chandigarh University
 How many medals were won by the Chandigarh
University?
-71 medals (32-Gold, 18 silver, 21 Bronze)
 How many Indian universities competed for the
KIUG 2024 title? – Over 200
 Top three universities in the Khelo India University
games - Chandigarh University(71 medals),
Lovely Professional University (42 medals), Guru
Nanak Dev University (51 Medals)
 Who was the most successful female athlete?
- Pratyasa Ray , Swimmer (Utkal University)
with 4 gold, 1 silver & 1 Bronze
 The most successful male athlete
- Xavier Michael Dsouza
(Jain University) with 4 gold
¨ The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced
a new competition(29 February, 2024)
- Swami Vivekananda U20 National Football
Championship
¨ Who won the inaugural edition of the UEFA
Women’s Nations League? (29 February, 2024)
– Spain
 Women’s National League was held in - Spain
¨ Who has been selected to host the 2027 World
Athletics Championships? (29 February, 2024)
- Beijing
¨ Who has been banned for 12 year for her second
anti-doping rule violation by Athletics Integrity
Unit (AIU) and the National Anti-Doping Agency
(NADA) (13 February, 2024) - Rachna Kumari
¨ Who showcased his skills at the Diving in World
Aquatics Championships in Doha, marking 59 years
since retirement (9 February, 2024)
- Iranian diver Taghi Askari (100 years old)
Current Affairs Pointer (37)
¨ Who surpassed Dhoni’s tally of 78 sixes Test cricket
during the opening day of the third Test against
England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot?
(15 February, 2024) - Rohit Sharma
 The record for most sixes in Tests by an Indian
- Virender Sehwag (91 sixes)
¨ Who made his international debut during the third
Test between India and England at the Niranjan Shah
Stadium in Rajkot? – Sarfaraz khan
¨ Indian football national team has fallen at which
position in the latest FIFA rankings? (16 February,
2024) - 117th position
¨ Who became second Indian bowler to take 500
wickets in Test matches? (16 February, 2024)
- Ravichandran Ashwin
 First india bowler to achieve this feat
- Anil Kumble
 After achieving this feat, R. Ashwin comes at which
place world wide? - 9th
 R. Ashwin achieved this feat in how many matches?
- 98 match
¨ Who won the Qatar Open for the third year in a
row after beating Elena Rybakina in the final? (17
February, 2024) - Iga Swiatek
 The first player to win three straight titles at the
same WTA event since Serena Williams completed
a Miami Open hat-trick from 2013-15
- Iga Swiatek
¨ Who broke the National Record to win gold in the
women’s 60m hurdles at the Asian Indoor Athletics
Championships? (17 February, 2024)
- Jyothi Yarraji (India)
 The Asian Indoor Athletics Championship was held
in – Tehran
 Who clinched India’s first gold in the Asian Indoor
Athletics Championship clocking 4:29.55 in the
women’s 1500m - Harmilan Bains
 Jyothi Yarraji clocked how many second in the finals
to break her own National Record and win India’s
second gold in the competition? - 8.12s
¨ India’s biggest win (by runs) in the longest format of
the game (test cricket) against (17 February, 2024)
– England by 434 runs
in the third test match series
¨ Who equaled Wasim Akram’s record for most sixes
(12) by a batter in a Test innings? (17 February,
2024) – Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Who becomes third-youngest batter to score two
Test double hundreds? - Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
 Who broke record for most sixes by an Indian in an
innings in Tests? - Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
¨ The teen prodigy who scripted history by guiding
India to its first Asian Team Championships title (18
February, 2024) - Anmol Kharb
¨ Who won a historic gold medal at the Badminton
Asia Team Championships 2024? (18 February,
2024) - Indian women’s team
 The badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 was
held in - Shah Alam, Malaysia
 India Team defeated which team to clinch gold in
the badminton Asia Team championship 2024?
- Thailand
 The Indian men's team had previously won two
bronze in - 2016 and 2020
 The 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships
served as a qualifying tournament for
- the 2024 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals
 The tournament was organized by
- Badminton Asia along with the Badminton
Association of Malaysia
¨ Who was selected as the Captain of IPL's all-time
greatest team? (18 February, 2024)
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni
¨ Who has secured a Paris Olympics quota in dressage
discipline in Equestrian? (19 February, 2024)
- Anush Agarwalla
¨ Who was designated as Punjab 'state icon' for Lok
Sabha polls? (19 February, 2024) - Shubman Gill
¨ Who lost his men’s 3000m gold medal in the Asian
Indoor Athletics Championships after he was
disqualified for ‘lane infringement’? (19 February,
2024) - Gulveer Singh (India)
¨ Who became the second-fastest bowler to pick up
100 T20I wickets? (20 February, 2024)
- Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
¨ Who made history by defeating 37-year-old
Polish grandmaster Jacek Stopa at the Burgdorfer
Stadthaus-Open in Switzerland at the age of just 8
years and 6 months? (21 February, 2024)
- Ashwath Kaushik
 The youngest chess player Ashwath Kaushik who
defeats a grandmaster belongs to - Singapore
Current Affairs Pointer (38)
¨ Who is the esteemed Vidarbha cricketer, who
has decided to retire from all forms of the game ?
(February, 2024) - Faiz Fazal
¨ Who inaugurated the fourth Khelo India Winter
Games 2024? (21 February, 2024)
- Jammu and Kashmir
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha
¨ Who was named the head coach of UAE’s men’s
cricket team for a three-year period? (21 February,
2024)
- Former India cricketer Lalchand Rajput
¨ Who bagged 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament?
(February, 2024) - Wei Yi (China)
¨ Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium is
rebranded as the (14 February, 2024)
- Niranjan Shah Stadium
 The change comes as a tribute to the former first-
class cricketer and senior cricket administrator
- Niranjan Shah
 In which decades did Niranjan Shah play first-class
cricket for Saurashtra?
-From the mid-1960s to the mid -1970s
¨ Who has been honoured with a plaque at the famous
Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch, known as the ‘Top of
Europe’, in Switzerland ( 8 February,, 2024)
- Neeraj Chopra
¨ The Centre has awarded How many rupees to
athletes under the Khelo India scholarship scheme
during the 2023-24 financial year? - over 30 crore
¨ Who launched the Logo, Anthem, Mascot, Jersey
and Torch of Khelo India University Games - 2023?
(8 February, 2024) - Assam Chief Minister
Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma
 Khelo India University Games – 2023 will be held
in – Guwahati, Assam
 The mascot of the Khelo India University Games
2023 - Ashtalakshmi (Butterfly)
¨ Sportstar Aces Awards 2024 - (February, 2024)
 Sportsman of the Year (Individual)
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty
 Sportswoman of the Year (Individual)
- Rameshbabu Vaishali, Sift Kaur Samra
 Sportsman of the Year (Parasports) - Sumit Antil
 Sportswoman of the Year (Parasports)
- Thulasimathi Murugesan
 Coach of the Year - Rahul Dravid
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Sportstar of the Year (Male) - Neeraj Chopra
 Sportstar of the Year (Female) - Sheetal Devi
 National Team of the Year
- India Men’s Cricket Team
 Best State for the Promotion of Sport - Tamil Nadu
 Ace of Aces Award - Rohan Bopanna
 Lifetime Achievement Award
- Chandu Borde, Karnam Malleswari
 Sportsman of the Year (Team Sports)
- Hardik Singh, Mohammed Shami
¨ SAFF Women’s U-19 Championship was held in
(2-8 February, 2024) -Dhaka, Bangladesh
 Which country won the SAFF Women’s U-19
Championship?
- India and Bangladesh declared joint winner
 Who was the captain of Indian women’s football
Team? - Nitu Linda
¨ Who hosted the “Road to Paris 2024: Championing
Clean Sports and Uniting for Anti-Doping”
Conference? (10 February, 2024)
- National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
 What was the purpose of the conference- NADA's
conference educates Indian athletes on
- antidoping ahead of Paris Olympics
 Who Virtually inaugurated the Centre of Excellence
for Nutritional Supplements Testing (CoE-NSTS) at
the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)
in Gandhinagar, Gujarat? - Anurag Singh Thakur
 Who is known for its expertise in forensic and
cyber sciences, now houses a cutting-edge facility
dedicated to testing nutritional supplements for
athletes
- National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)
 Who unveiled “The Paris Pinnacle: NADA’s Guide
to Ethical Sporting,” a comprehensive resource
providing guidelines for athletes preparing for the
Paris Olympics 2024
- National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
¨ Who joins Chennai Super Kings as their Official
Sponsor? (8 February, 2024) - Etihad Airways
 Headquarter of the Etihad Airways
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
¨ The first-ever player to score a double century in One
Day Internationals (ODIs) for Sri Lanka (9 February,
2024) - Pathum Nissanka
¨ Who is the winner of 15th CEC Ice Hockey Cup
Championship ( 10 February, 2024)
- Drass Warriors
Current Affairs Pointer (39)
 Where was the 15th CEC Ice Hockey Cup
Championship held? - Ladakh
¨ Who won the U19 cricket world cup 2024? (11
February, 2024 ) - Australia
 Which country hosted U19 cricket world cup 2024?
- South Africa
 Australia won the U19 world cup 2024 against India
by – 79 Runs
 Who scored Most Run in this tournament
– Uday Saharan (India) , 397 Runs
 Who took most no. of Wicket in this tournament
- Kewena Maphaka (South Africa), 21 Wickets
 Most win by a team in this tournament – India , 6
 Who was named U19 Cricket World Cup Player of
the Tournament?- Kwena Maphaka (South Africa)
 Who has been named as player of the Match in
finals? - Mahli Beardman (Australia)
¨ Who won the top prize in the International High
Jump Gala Elmos 2024 athletics meet in Heist-op-
den-Berg, Belgium, with a leap of 2.23 metres (10
February,, 2024) - Tejaswin Shankar (India)
¨ Which country will host the 2029 World Aquatics
Championships? - Beijing ( 11 February, 2024 )
 Host Nation of the 2025 World Aquatics
Championships - Singapore
 Host Nation of the 2027 World Aquatics
Championships - Budapest Hungry
¨ The men’s marathon world record holder who had
died in a Car accident? (11 February, 2024)
– Kelvin Kiptum( Kenya)
 Kelvin Kiptum had made history at the Chicago
Marathon by setting a new world record
– In 2:00:35 Hours
¨ Former Indian cricket team captain who passed
away recently (13 February, 2024)
- Dattajirao Gaekwad
¨ Who inaugurated the Gandhinagar Premier League
(GPL) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat? (12 February, 2024)
- Union Home Minister
Amit Shah
¨ Who will lead India at the T20 Men’s World Cup
2024? - Rohit Sharma
¨ The Chess Olympiad torch was handed off by India
to (14 February, 2024) - Hungary
 2024 Chess Olympiad will be held in – Hungary
¨ Who is the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON)-2023? - Ivory Coast
Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra
Â Runner up of the African Cup of Nations(AFCON) –
2023? - Nigeria
 Host Nation - Côte d'Ivoire
¨ The Khelo India Youth Games 2024, showcasing
the nation’s young sporting talent in a celebration
of skill, determination, and sportsmanship has
concluded in (31 January, 2024) – Tamil Nadu
 Which edition of the Khelo India Youth Games 2024
was organized in Tamil Nadu? - Sixth Edition
 How many cities of Tamil Nadu Hosted the Khelo
India Youth Games 2024?
-4 (Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and Coimbatore)
 Which state leads the tally with the highest number
of total medals? -Maharashtra (158 medals)
¨ The Sports Ministry’s Mission Olympic Cell (MOC)
has approved Commonwealth Games medallist
Tejaswin Shankar’s request for financial assistance
towards participation in
- Continental tour events in Europe
¨ The first part of 4th edition of Khelo India Winter
Games 2024 was held in (2-6 February, 2024)
- Ladakh
 The second part of the Games will be held in (21-25
February, 2024) - Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir
 The mascot of the Khelo India winter Games
- the snow leopard ‘Sheen-e She’ or Shan
¨ The annual general meeting of the International
Cricket Conference will be held in – Sri Lanka
¨ The World Aquatics Championships 2024 will be
held in- (2-18 February, 2024) – Doha
¨ Who claim the 87kg crown in the Greco Roman
competitions on the opening day of the National
Wrestling Championships 2024 at the Railway
Stadium (3 February, 2024) - Sunil Kumar
¨ Who became the third-youngest Indian player to
record a double hundred in Tests? (3 February, 2024)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
¨ He scored this test centuary?
nd
- during 2 test match against england
¨ Who became the fastest Indian pace bowler to pick
150 Test Wickets? - Jasprit Bumrah
¨ He picked these wicket-in 34 test. His 150th test
wicket come against - England (Ben Stokes)
Current Affairs Pointer
¨ Who was awarded the Breakthrough Archer of the
Year 2023 by World Archery? (4 February, 2024)
- Aditi Swami
¨ Who became the junior World No. 1 as per the FIDE
ranking? (2 February,2024) - R.Praggnanandhaa
¨ Which Indian has been selected as torchbearer for
the 2024 Paris Olympics? -Abhinav Bindra
 How many torchbearer has been selected for the
2024 Paris Olympics? - 11000
¨ Who has gained approval to host the FIFA World
Cup qualifiers for India vs. Kuwait?
- The Telangana Football Association (TFA)
 The match is scheduled to take place on June 6th of
this year in – Hyderabad
¨ The Indian Davis Cup team defeated which country
to seal place in World Group 1? (4 February, 2024)
- Pakistan
¨ Who organised a grand get-together to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of India’s first Davis Cup
final appearance in the Open era of tennis (5
February,ruary, 2024) - The Madras Cricket Club
¨ The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will be played at
- MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA
¨ The first Indian pacer to top the ICC Test rankings
after a stellar performance against England in
Visakhapatnam (February, 2024) -Jasprit Bumrah
¨ Who was elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket
Board (PCB)? - Media mogul Mohsin Naqvi
¨ Who was appointed as Gujarat Giants’ head coach
ahead of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024?
- Former Australia cricketer Michael Klinger
¨ The first-ever BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship
was officially declared open in (7-9 February, 2024)
- New Delhi
 The BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship 2024 stands
as a testament to the growing cooperation and
camaraderie among the member states of
- The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
 The first-ever BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship
was officially opened by
- Anurag Singh Thakur (Union Minister of
Youth Affairs & Sports of India)
(40) Sam-Samayik Ghatna Chakra