Beepedia Weekly Current Affairs (Beepedia) 16th-22nd February 2024

Weekly BeePedia
16th -22nd February 2024
INDEX
RBI, Banking and Economy ___________________________________________ 2
SEBI and Financial Awareness _________________________________________ 7
NABARD and Agriculture ___________________________________________ 10
National __________________________________________________________ 14
International _____________________________________________________ 17
States____________________________________________________________ 19
Reports and Indexes _______________________________________________ 22
Science and Technology ___________________________________________ 22
Defence __________________________________________________________ 25
Events ___________________________________________________________ 28
Awards & Rewards ___________________________________________________ 30
Appointments _____________________________________________________ 29
Important Days ___________________________________________________ 33
Obituaries_________________________________________________________ 33
Books ___________________________________________________________
Sports ___________________________________________________________ 34
Download important documents:
 Weekly & Monthly BeePedia: https://www.ixambee.com/beepedia-gk-updates-

capsule?utm_source=ixamBee&utm_medium=header&utm_campaign=beepedia
 Hindi Weekly & Monthly BeePedia: https://www.ixambee.com/hi/beepedia-gk-updates-
capsule
For feedback, please contact: Email id: hello@ixambee.com
1 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Contact us at 92055 24028 (SMS/WhatsApp/call) or hello@ixambee.com
Weekly BeePedia
RBI, Banking and Economy

RBI's state of economy report
 According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) state of the economy report, The Indian corporate sector
must get its act together to take advantage of the lower borrowing cost to make capital expenditure
(capex) and relieve the government of heavy lifting.
 The report, authored by RBI staff, including Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra, expects the
current liquidity conditions to ease with government spending, and inflation expectations to edge
down, while observing that unsecured loans continued to grow despite an increase in risk weighting.
 The report pointed out fixed asset growth was evident in the oil and gas sector and in chemicals.
 In sectors such as steel and automobiles, for which stock returns have exceeded index returns, fixed
asset additions have, however, been underwhelming.
 According to the report, the power sector’s capex plans are the most ambitious, but leverage is high
among distribution companies.
Learn Along
About RBI
Founded: 1 April 1935 Headquarters: Mumbai Governor: Shaktikanta Das
RBI grants payment aggregator licence to Mswipe Technologies
 Merchant-led digital payments provider Mswipe Technologies has been granted a payment
aggregator (PA) licence by the Reserve Bank of India. The company had received an in-principle
nod from the central bank to operate as a payment aggregator in August 2022.
 Mumbai-beadquartered Mswipe, founded in 2011, provides payment solutions, including point-of-
sale devices, unified payments interface (UPI), quick response codes and payment links to help offline
merchants receive payments digitally.
 It also aids offline merchants with loans as well as store and inventory management solutions.
 Fintechs Phone Fe, Pine Labs and Billdesk are among the other entities that have received in-
principle authorisation from the central bank and are awaiting its final nod to operate as payment
aggregators.
Learn Along
About RBI
Outward FDI rises 25.7% to $2.1 billion in January
 According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, India’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI)
commitments rose by 25.7 per cent on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis to $2.09 billion in January 2024,
compared to over $1.66 billion in January 2023. Sequentially, they declined from $2.5 billion in
December 2023.
 Outbound FDI, expressed as a financial commitment, comprises three components – equity, loans, and
guarantees.

Weekly BeePedia
 The equity commitments rose to $760.9 million in January 2024 from $597.4 million in January
2023. It was lower than the $834.7 million recorded in December 2023.
 Debt commitments increased to $306.2 million in January 2023 from $215.6 million a year
ago.However, it more than halved from $687.9 million in December 2023.
 Guarantees for overseas units rose to $1.02 billion in January this year from $854.1 million in January
2023. They were also up marginally compared to $988.4 million in December 2023.
Learn Along
About RBI
BOBCARD Limited launches Corporate Credit Card on RuPay network
 BOBCARD Limited (formerly known as BOB Financial Solutions Limited, and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Bank of Baroda), and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the launch of
Corporate Credit Card on RuPay Network on February 14.
 This makes BOBCARD the second credit card issuer in the ecosystem (after IndusInd Bank) to
have corporate credit card on RuPay with a host of benefits for the corporates for varied use cases
and convenience of linkage with UPI through any UPI-enabled app.
Cabinet nod for Rs 76K-crore Vadhavan Port
 The Union minister for ports, shipping, and waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced that the
Vadhavan Port project in Dahanu, Maharashtra, worth Rs 76,000 crores, is expected to receive
approval from the Union Cabinet soon.
 The project, proposed in a public-private partnership mode, aims for an investment of around Rs
38,000 crores from private operators.
 The clearance from the Union environment ministry has been obtained, and the Cabinet is
reviewing whether to approve the project in phases or entirely.
 The Vadhavan Port, with a natural draft of about 20 meters, is crucial for handling larger vessels
and reducing logistics costs.
 The estimated project cost has increased by Rs 11,000 crores.
India, Nepal sign pact to link UPI, NPI for faster remittances
 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) signed and exchanged Terms of
Reference (ToR) to integrate fast payment systems of India and Nepal through Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) of India and National Payments Interface (NPI) of Nepal.
 The integration is aimed at facilitating cross-border remittances between India and Nepal by
enabling users of the two systems to make instant, low-cost fund transfers.
 The collaboration between India and Nepal in linking their fast payment systems through the UPI-NPI
linkage would further deepen financial connectivity and “reinforce the enduring historical, cultural,
and economic ties between the two countries.
Learn Along:
About UPI

Weekly BeePedia
 Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application
(of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments
into one hood.
 It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and
convenience.
 NPCI conducted a pilot launch with 21 member banks. The pilot launch was on 11th April 2016 by Dr. Raghuram
G Rajan, Governor, RBI at Mumbai.
About RBI
DoT unveils an unparalleled venture 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative
 Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has unveiled the 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative, an
unparalleled venture inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) from industry pioneers, startups, MSMEs,
academia, innovators and forward-thinkers.
 Digital Twin technology offers a solution by creating virtual replicas of physical assets, allowing for
real-time monitoring, simulation and analysis for experimental iterations and feedback loop to adapt to
the changes for achieving the best outcomes.
 Sangam: Digital Twin is a PoC distributed in two stages to be conducted in one of the major cities of
India.
 'Sangam: Digital Twin' symbolizes a collaborative leap towards reshaping infrastructure planning
and design, combining the prowess of 5G, IoT, AI, AR/VR, AI native 6G, Digital Twin and next-gen
computational technologies with the collective intelligence of public entities, infrastructure planners, tech
giants, startups, and academia to break the silos and engage in a whole-of-nation approach.
South Indian Bank gets Best Technology Bank of the year award
 South Indian Bank has been honoured with the title of Best Technology Bank of the Year Award at
the 19th IBA Annual Banking Technology Conference, Expo, & Citations.
 The bank’s outstanding performance was recognised with a total of six prestigious awards.
 South Indian Bank excelled across various categories, which include: winner in Best Technology Bank
of the Year; winner in Best Tech Talent and Organisation; winner in Best IT Risk and
Management; and so on.
 In three categories, the bank emerged as the winner, secured the runner-up position in one, and
received special mentions in two others.
 The awards were presented to PR Seshadri, MD & CEO of South Indian Bank, by T Rabi Sankar,
Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, in Mumbai.
Learn Along:
 The IBA Annual Banking Technology Conference, Expo & Citations has been an annual event since its
inception in 2005.
 Instituted by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), it recognises organisations that have brought in
transformational changes in their businesses by adopting modern digital solutions.
India's economic growth may exceed 6% for rest of the decade: Goldman Sachs

Weekly BeePedia
 According to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s India’s economic growth may exceed 6 per cent for the
rest of the decade, driving more investments from China into the South Asian country.
 India’s demographics, strong government-led spending and healthy domestic demand makes it a
“favorable destination for investments going forward,.
 India’s central bank governor last month estimated the nation’s potential growth rate was around 7
per cent.
 Goldman Sachs expects the private sector in India to accelerate investments after nationwide
elections.
Karnataka govt announces Rs 100 cr for makeover of 'birthplace' of Hanuman
 The Karnataka government allocated Rs 100 crore to turn Anjanadri hills into a tourist hotspot.
 The place is considered to be the birthplace of Hindu deity Hanuman.
 The hills are named after Anjaneya, which is another name for Hanuman in Hindu mythology.
 The state’s total budget outlay stands at Rs 3.71 trillion.
Learn Along:
About Karnataka
Chief minister: Siddaramaiah Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot Capital: Bengaluru
LIC launches a non-participating product 'Amritbaal' for children
 The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) announced the launch of a non-participating product –
‘Amritbaal’.
 The product, designed for children, will be available from February 17, 2024. It is a Non-Linked, Non-
Participating, Individual, Savings, Life Insurance Plan.
 The plan is designed to meet the higher education and other needs of the child.
 It facilitates the accumulation of a corpus through Guaranteed additions at the rate of Rs 80 per
thousand basic sum assured at the end of each policy year from the inception till the end of the Policy
term, provided the policy is in force.
 The Minimum Sum Assured is Rs. 2,00,000, with no limit for the Maximum Basic Sum Assured.
Learn Along:
About LIC
 The Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance Corporation Act on the 19th of June 1956, and the Life
Insurance Corporation of India was created on 1st September, 1956, with the objective of spreading life
insurance much more widely and in particular to the rural areas with a view to reach all insurable persons in the
country, providing them adequate financial cover at a reasonable cost.
 Chairperson : Siddhartha Mohanty Headquarters: Mumbai
IEPFA and DBS Bank ink MoU to spread awareness on investment and fraudulent schemes
 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Investor Education and Protection
Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), and DBS Bank, a
prominent financial institution with a strong presence in Asia and Southeast Asia in New Delhi.
 According to the MoU, DBS Bank aims to support IEPFA's investor awareness activities by
disseminating safety messages via its various digital platforms.

Weekly BeePedia
 Leveraging DBS Bank's extensive network of branches and ATMs in 19 Indian states, as well as its
digital infrastructure, will significantly increase the reach of IEPFA's investor awareness and
protection messages to the end users.
 DBS Bank will utilise multiple digital platforms to ensure increased visibility and engagement to
impart investor awareness activities of IEPFA, such as:
 display of safety messages on ATM screens to reach customers during banking transactions
 featuring safety messages prominently on the bank’s website
 ensuring visibility to online visitors
 sending safety messages through WhatsApp and other messaging platforms to engage with a
broader audience
 showcasing safety messages on digital screens within DBS Bank branches
 maximising exposure to customers, and
 posting safety messages across DBS Bank's social media accounts.
Learn Along:
About IEPFA
 The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) was set up on September 7, 2016, under the aegis
of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, for administering the Investor Education and
Protection Fund for making refunds of shares, unclaimed dividends, and matured deposits/debentures,
among other things, to investors.
About DBS Bank
 DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. DBS Bank has been present in
India for 29 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994.
 DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly-
owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank.
 DBS provides a range of banking services for large, medium, and small enterprises and individual consumers in
India.
 In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was merged with DBS Bank India Limited.
IREDA and Punjab National Bank join hands to Co-Finance Renewable Energy Projects
 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing renewable energy initiatives
across the nation.
 The agreement paves the way for joint efforts in co-lending and loan syndication for a diverse
spectrum of renewable energy projects.
 The MoU comprises various provisions aimed at enhancing support for renewable energy projects.
 These include joint lending, loan syndication and underwriting, management of Trust and
Retention Account (TRA) for IREDA borrowers, and working towards competitive terms of
sanction, including pricing on IREDA borrowings.
 Through the collaboration, IREDA and PNB can also invest in bonds issued by either organization.
Learn Along:
About IREDA
 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of India
Enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Weekly BeePedia
 IREDA is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987
engaged in promoting, developing and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and
renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation with the motto: “ENERGY FOR EVER”
 Chairman and Managing Director: Pradip Kumar Das
About PNB
Chairman: K G Ananthakrishnan Established: May 19, 1894 Headquarters: New Delhi
100% FDI to be allowed in space sector
 Union Cabinet took a series of key decisions, which included the approval for amendments to the
existing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on space sector.
 Under the amended FDI policy, 100% FDI is allowed in space sector.
 The liberalised entry routes under the amended policy are aimed to attract potential investors to
invest in Indian companies in space.
 The amended policy extends the facility of up to 74% FDI under the automatic route for satellite
manufacturing and operation, satellite data products and ground/user segment.
 Beyond 74%, these activities are under government route.
 Up to 100% FDI under the automatic route would be permitted for manufacturing of components
and systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user segment.
 The satellites sub-sector has been divided into three different activities with defined limits for foreign
investment in each such sector.
 As per the existing FDI policy, foreign investment is allowed in establishment and operation of
satellites via government-approval route only.
SEBI and FINANCIAL AWARENESS

India ranks first in the world in terms of the number of IPOs in 2023
 Indian stock exchanges, including the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock
Exchange (NSE), have emerged as global leaders in terms of the number of IPOs in 2023, with no
cross-border deals reported, according to a report by EY India, a leading global professional services
organization.
 India's primary markets, comprising BSE and NSE, recorded 31 IPOs (including one InvIT) in the
fourth quarter of 2023, marking a significant uptick compared to the same period in 2022 and the third
quarter of 2023.
 This represents a remarkable 72% increase over Q4 2022 and a substantial 41% increase over the
third quarter (Q3) 2023.
 A total of 57 Indian corporates raised Rs 49,434 crore through main board IPOs in 2023, 17 per
cent lower than the Rs 59,302 crore mobilized by 40 IPOs in 2022.
 The record-breaking blockbuster year of 2021, with 63 IPOs raising a whopping Rs 1,18,723.17 crore,
set a high benchmark.
 The fourth quarter of 2023 emerged as the standout period of the year, accounting for nearly 40 per
cent of the total listings in 2023.

Weekly BeePedia
 The Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) markets showcased remarkable growth, witnessing 61
IPOs in Q4 2023, as compared to 34 and 47 IPOs in Q4 2022 and Q3 2023, respectively. This is a 79%
and 30% increase compared to Q4 2022 and Q3 2023, respectively.
Learn Along:
About IPO
 An Initial Public Offer (IPO) is the selling of securities to the public in the primary market.
 It is the largest source of funds with long or indefinite maturity for the company.
 An IPO is an important step in the growth of a business.
 It provides a company access to funds through the public capital market
Tech Mahindra to acquire 100% stake in Orchid Cybertech Services Inc.
 Tech Mahindra announced that the Company through its wholly owned subsidiary viz., vCustomer
Philippines Inc. approved the acquisition of 100% equity shares in Orchid Cybertech Services, Inc,
(OCSI) for a cash consideration of AUD 5 million.
 Orchid Cybertech Services Inc. (OCSI) provides Customer experience related services to TPG
Telecom. It has about 2,950 full time employees.
 Tech Mahindra has long standing relationship with TPG Telecom (TPG).
 This deal further strengthens the relationship with TPG and aids in expanding existing customer
experience capabilities and business in the Philippines.
 As part of this transaction OCSI, including its assets and employees, will become part of Tech
Mahindra and Tech Mahindra will provide customer support and other services to TPG.
Tripura CM launches Rs 5 lakh health insurance scheme for 415,000 families
 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha launched a universal health insurance scheme,Chief Minister's
Jan Arogya Yojana (CM-JAY) , under which 4.15 lakh families in the northeastern state, who are not
covered under PM-JAY,will get an insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh each.
 Under PM-JAY, around 5.12 lakh families of the state are covered but there is no health insurance
provision for around 4.15 lakh families of the state.
Learn Along:
About PM-JAY
 Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana or PM-JAY is the second component after Health and Wellness Centres
(HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat.
 This scheme was launched on 23rd September, 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,
Narendra Modi.
 Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the largest health assurance scheme in the world.
Key Features of PM-JAY
 PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government.
 It provides a cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public
and private empanelled hospitals in India.
 Over 12 crore poor and vulnerable entitled families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries) are eligible for these
benefits.
 PM-JAY provides cashless access to health care services for the beneficiary at the point of service, that is, the
hospital.
 PM-JAY envisions to help mitigate catastrophic expenditure on medical treatment which pushes nearly 6 crore
Indians into poverty each year.

Weekly BeePedia
 It covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and
medicines.
 There is no restriction on the family size, age or gender.
 All pre–existing conditions are covered from day one.
 Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country i.e. a beneficiary can visit any empanelled public or private
hospital in India to avail cashless treatment.
 Services include approximately 1,929 procedures covering all the costs related to treatment, including but not
limited to drugs, supplies, diagnostic services, physician's fees, room charges, surgeon charges, OT and ICU
charges etc.
 Public hospitals are reimbursed for the healthcare services at par with the private hospitals.
'IFSCA to set up int'l arbitration centre at IFSC for dispute resolution'
 The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) is going to set up an international
arbitration centre at the IFSC, Gandhinagar, to speed up dispute resolution.
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech in 2022 announced setting up of an
international arbitration centre at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
 Currently, GIFT-IFSC is the maiden international financial services centre in India.
 IFSCA was established in April last year under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act,
2019. It is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.
 IFSCA is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial
services and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.
India needs Rs. 30 lakh crores investment during FY 2024-2030 to meet its COP Climate Pledges
 Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd.
(IREDA) Pradip Kumar Das addressed an international webinar organized by The World Bank, on the
occasion of the release of the latest South Asia Development Update "Toward Faster, Cleaner Growth",
on February 14, 2024.
 CMD, IREDA underscored the critical need for substantial investment to meet India’s Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDC) goals by 2030, stating that the investment required is estimated to be
Rs. 30 lakh crores over the period FY 2024-2030.
 Investment is required in manufacturing of capacity for Solar, Electrolysers, Wind & Battery;
Transmission, Green Hydrogen, Solar, Hydro, Wind, and Waste to Energy sectors.
LIC raises stake in SBI Cards
 Life Insurance Corporation of India’s (LIC) shareholding in SBI Cards and Payments Services crossed
5% with the insurer, as an investment function, acquiring recently a little more than three lakh shares
in the non-banking financial company at an average cost of ₹716 per share.
 The shareholding has increased from 4.99% to 5.02% (47,410,710 to 47,711,794 equity shares) following
the open market purchase.
Learn Along:
About LIC
 The Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance Corporation Act on the 19th of June 1956, and the Life
Insurance Corporation of India was created on 1st September, 1956, with the objective of spreading life
insurance much more widely and in particular to the rural areas with a view to reach all insurable persons in the
country, providing them adequate financial cover at a reasonable cost.

Weekly BeePedia
 Chairperson : Siddhartha Mohanty Headquarters: Mumbai
 SBI Cards and Payment Services is a non-deposit accepting systemically important NBFC, registered with the
RBI, and engaged in issuing credit cards to consumers in India.
PayU partners with NPCI to offer credit line on UPI for merchants
 Online payments solution company PayU announced the acceptance of ‘Credit Lines on UPI’ feature
on its platform, in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
 The integration enables PayU’s merchants to accept digital payments via credit line.
 The enablement of pre-sanctioned credit lines by banks through UPI will empower businesses and
consumers alike, fostering India’s financial inclusion agenda
 In August last year, PayU had reached an agreement with Rapyd, a fintech-as-a-service provider, to
sell its Global Payments Organisation (GPO) for a total cash consideration of $610 million to
enable PayU to focus on the large payments and fintech opportunity in India.
Learn Along:
About NPCI
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and
settlement systems in India, is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)
under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment &
Settlement Infrastructure in India.
 Non Executive Chairman and Independent Director: Mr. Ajay Kumar Choudhary
NABARD and AGRICULTURE

Department of Fisheries will be signing a MoU with Open Network for Digital Commerce in the
presence of Union Minister Parshottam Rupala on 19th February 2024 at New Delhi
 With the aim of strengthening the direct access to consumer or markets for fishermen and
unlocking the potential of digital commerce in the field of Indian Fisheries, the Department of
Fisheries (GoI) will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Open Network for
Digital Commerce (ONDC) on 19th Feb 2024 at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
 The MoU signing is an important event in the fisheries sector as it's the first time that department is
going to enter MoU with ONDC.
 This essential step will provide a digital platform for fisherfolks, fish farmers producers
organization, entrepreneurs, SHGs, fishermen cooperatives and other relevant stakeholders in
fisheries sector to access wider markets, expanding their reach and potential customer base etc.
 The collaboration between Department of Fisheries and ONDC will facilitate the implementation of
technology-driven solutions, improve efficiency, collectivisation and competitiveness of the small
scale producers and marketers.
 Further, this collaboration will facilitate capacity building and raise awareness through educational
workshops for MSMEs, start-ups, SHGs, small & marginal fishermen, FFPOs, fishers, and market
participants in the fisheries sector.
India Unveils Scheme To Boost Pulses Output

Weekly BeePedia
 The Indian government has developed a new program to promote domestic cultivation of pulses
such as lentils and encourage farmers to plant them rather than traditional crops.
 It intends to increase India's pulse output in order to achieve self-sufficiency and eliminate large
annual imports.
Key Details Of The Scheme
 5-year contracts with farmer collectives willing to grow pulses, ensuring procurement at pre-
determined Minimum Support Prices (MSP).
 The program focuses on replacing portions of area previously given to wheat and rice with pulses
and oilseeds by reducing financial risk for farmers transitioning to new crops.
 With India importing 30-35 lakh tonnes of lentils, pigeon peas, and black gram per year, coordinated
measures to increase local capacity can help lower import bills and associated vulnerabilities over
time.
 Large-scale on-field demo projects will begin in the 2023 Kharif season to familiarize farmers with
strategies for increasing Urad and Tur dal production, with the goal of self-sufficiency by 2027.
 Pulse purchase at MSP pricing has increased 18 times in the last ten years. MSP rates for all pulses
have also increased significantly, in line with cultivation costs and inflation indexes.
 The Indian government is also collaborating with Brazil and Argentina on urad imports, as relying on
just one supplier poses a risk.
Learn Along:
About NAFED AND NCCF
 The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and the National Cooperative
Consumer Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) are the umbrella organizations for the cooperative network in rural
India.
 They intend to promote farmer-producer organizations and direct agri-commodity procurement in order to
maintain stable crop prices and agricultural incomes.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released Rs.235.14 crores to the Govt of Karnataka
as 3rd instalment under Rashtirya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for the financial year 2023-24
 Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ms. Shobha Karandlaje announced that
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt of India has released Rs.235.14 crores to the
Govt of Karnataka as 3rd instalment on 15th Feb 2024 under Rashtirya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
for the financial year 2023-24.
 The amount will be used by the State Government to implement the following components under
RKVY scheme;
1. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - RKVY (DPR) - Rs.46.65 crores
2. Soil Health and Fertility (SH&F) - Rs.12.00 crores
3. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
4. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
5. Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) - Rs.120 crores
6. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
7. Agro Forestry &

Weekly BeePedia
8. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP).
 The amount approved will be utilised for improvement of infrastructure in Agriculture sector
under above components for construction of Godown, water harvesting structures, establishment of
primary demonstration units, procurement of tractors, power tillers and drones, promotion of integrated
farming, soil health fertility and setting up of custom hiring centres etc.
 The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare also informed that on 15th Feb 2024, the
Department of Agriculture and Farmers welfare, GOI has issued the approval for the procurement of
Bengal Gram (Channa) in the State of Karnataka under Price Support Scheme (PSS) at MSP of
Rs.5440 per quintal for a maximum quantity of 1,39,740 MTs for Rabi 2023-24 season.
Learn Along:
 The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI have allocated total amount of Rs.761.89 crore for the
year 2023-24 under RKVY to Karnataka State to implement all the above components in Karnataka for the welfare
of the farmers.
 The initial allocation under RKVY scheme was Rs.583.24 crores which has been increased to Rs.761.89 crores
for the year 2023-24
Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Parshottam Rupala launches the
realigned AHIDF Scheme at New Delhi
 Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Parshottam Rupala launched the
realigned AHIDF Scheme and released the Radio Jingle on AHIDF at New Delhi.
 The scheme was started during COVID period which was the difficult time for the entire country.
 The scheme has been realigned and will be implemented for another 3 years under Infrastructure
Development Fund with an outlay of ₹ 29610 crore.
 Now the Total Fund will be of ₹. 29610 cr. Instead of ₹. 15000cr.
Learn Along:
 Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) scheme was launched on 24th June 2020 by
Prime Minister under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Initiative.
 In the short span of three years, scheme has received commendable response from every corner of the
country as we have received more than 5000 project proposals.
Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade fair is being organized by collaboration with lCAR-Central
Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi in New Delhi on 19-20 February 2024
 The Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade fair is being organized by collaboration with lCAR-Central
Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi in New Delhi on 19-20 February 2024.
 The theme of the seminar is Neem for sustainable Agriculture, health and Environment.
 The Summit flagged neem as a plantation forestry option that would sustain the raw material
requirements of industry.
 The Souvenir, WNO Calendar and Technical Bulletin titled “Neem Field Gene Bank - Provisioning
Opportunities for Conservation and Utilization” were released followed by WNO Documentary launch.
Learn Along:
About ICAR
Director General: Himanshu Pathak Etablished on: 16 July 1929

Weekly BeePedia
Govt raises authorised capital of FCI from Rs 10,000 cr to Rs 21,000 cr
 The government has increased the authorised capital of state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) from
₹10,000 crore to ₹21,000 crore to enhance the operational capabilities and fulfill its mandate
effectively.
 FCI is the central government's nodal agency that undertakes the procurement of foodgrains at a
minimum support price (MSP) to protect the interest of farmers.
 It also maintains strategic stocks and distributes the grains under different welfare schemes.
 The increase in the authorised capital will reduce the interest burden, decrease the economic cost
and ultimately affecting the government subsidy positively.
Learn Along:
About FCI
 Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a Public Sector Undertaking, under the Department of Food & Public Distribution,
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
 FCI is a statutory body set up in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act 1964. It was established against the
backdrop of major shortage of grains, especially wheat.
 Simultaneously, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) was created in 1965 to recommend
remunerative prices to farmers.
Cabinet approves inclusion of additional activities in National Livestock Mission
 The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved further modification of
National Livestock Mission by including the additional activities as under:
 Establishment of entrepreneurship for horse donkey, mule, camel with 50% capital subsidy up to 50
lakhs will be provided to the Individuals, FPO, SHG, JLG, FCO and Section 8 companies. Also the
state government will be assisted for breed conservation of horse, donkey and camel. The Central
Government will provide 10 cr. for establishment of semen station and nucleus breeding farm for
horse, donkey and camel.
 Establishment of entrepreneurs for Fodder seed processing Infrastructure (Processing & Grading
unit/Fodder storage godown) with 50% capital subsidy up to Rs.50 lakhs to the private companies,
start-ups /SHGs /FPOs /FCOs /JLGs / Farmers Cooperative societies (FCO), Section 8 companies
establishment of Infrastructure like construction of building, receiving shed, drying platform,
machinery etc. including the grading plants as well as seed storage godown. The remaining cost of
the project needs to be arranged by the beneficiary through bank finance or self-funding.
 For increasing the fodder cultivation areas, the state government will be assisted for fodder
cultivation in the non —forest land, waste land/range land/ non arable as well as forest land "Non-
Forest Wasteland/Rangeland/Non-arable Land" and "Fodder Production from Forest Land" as well as
in the degraded forest land. This will increase the fodder availability in the country.
 The Livestock Insurance programme has been simplified. The beneficiary share of the premium for
the farmers has been reduced and it will be 15% as against the current beneficiary share of 20%,30%,
40% and 50%. Remaining amount of the premium will be shared by the Centre and the State at 60:40
for all states, 90:10. The number of animals to be insured has also been increased to 10 cattle unit
instead of 5 cattle unit for cattle sheep and goat. This will facilitate the livestock farmers to get their
valuable animals insured with by paying minimum amount.

Weekly BeePedia
Learn Along:
About NLM
 The NLM was commenced in 2014-15 with four Sub-Missions (i) Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed Development (ii)
Sub-Mission on Livestock Development (ii) Sub-Mission on Pig Development in North-Eastern Region (iii) Sub-
Mission on Skill Development, Technology Transfer and Extension having 50 activities.
 The Scheme was re-aligned during 2021-22 and was approved by CCEA in July, 2021 under Development
Programme with an outlay of Rs.2300 crore.
 The present re-aligned NLM is having three Sub-Missions viz. (i) Sub-Mission on Breed improvement of
Livestock and Poultry (ii) Sub-Mission of Feed & Fodder and (iii) Sub-Mission on Innovation and Extension.
 The re-aligned NLM has 10 activities and target towards entrepreneurship development, feed and fodder
development, research and innovation, livestock insurance.
NATIONAL
PM Modi to inaugurate world's highest railway bridge in Jammu
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu to inaugurate several development programmes worth
over Rs 32,000 crore. He will also lay the foundation stone of infra projects worth Rs 13,375 crore.
 PM Modi will inaugurate the world's highest railway bridge over Chenab.
 Located 359 metres above the Chenab's riverbed, the 1.3 km-long rail bridge is 35 metres higher than
the Eiffel Tower.
 It is a part of the 111-km Katra–Banihal stretch, which forms a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla
Railway Line (USBRL) Project.
 PM Modi will also flag off the first electric train in the valley and also a train service between Sangaldan
station and Baramulla station.
 PM Modi will also inaugurate the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur (Samba),
Jammu.
 PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for a new terminal building at Jammu Airport.
Learn Along:
About J&K
Capitals: Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the Foundation Stone of 300 MW Barsingsar Solar Power Plant
with investment of over ₹ 1756 Crore
 With an emphasis on promoting renewable energy and advancing towards achieving the net zero vision,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will ceremonially lay the foundation stone for the 300 MW Solar Power
Plant virtually.
 NLC India Limited, a leading Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Coal, is establishing the 300 MW
Solar Power Project in Barsingsar, Bikaner District, Rajasthan, as part of the Ministry of New &
Renewable Energy’s CPSE Scheme.
 The objective is to ensure affordable power supply to Government entities.
 Notably, NLCIL stands as the first CPSE to reach a 1 GW Solar capacity milestone in the country.
Supreme Court declares electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional

Weekly BeePedia
 The Supreme Court struck down the electoral bonds scheme, which provides blanket anonymity to
financial contributions to political parties, and amendments made to the law allowing rich corporations to
make unlimited political donations “unconstitutional and manifestly arbitrary”.
 A five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, in a unanimous judgment, held
that the electoral bonds scheme and preceding amendments made to the Representation of People
Act, Companies Act and the Income Tax Act violate the voters’ right to information about political
funding under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
 The apex court ordered the State of Bank of India to stop issuance of electoral bonds herewith.
Mahabharata-themed Jyotisar project to be unveiled on Feb 16
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the ambitious Mahabharata-themed Jyotisar
interpretation centre project on February 16.
 The project started in 2018 and was to be completed in 2021. It got a one-year extension (till July-end
last year) and then was extended again up to October, but it missed all deadlines due to various issues,
including Covid, funds, hiring consultant and incessant rains.
 Nearly 20 stories related to the Mahabharata and its characters would be shown in these buildings
and a show would be shown in the courtyard.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project from Rewari, while a programme will also be
organised here at Jyotisar.
India chairs the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development (5th - 14th Feb)
 Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, chaired the
62nd session of the Commission for Social Development.
 India’s election as the Chair was a significant milestone, as it was the first time since 1975 that the
country has held this esteemed position within the Commission for Social Development.
 This Commission is a functional body of the Economic and Social Council that serves as a vital
intergovernmental platform to discuss and enhance international cooperation on social development
matters.
 The priority theme of the 62nd session was, “Fostering Social Development and Social Justice
through Social Policies to Accelerate Progress on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and to Achieve the Overarching Goal of Poverty Eradication,”
 During the session, four resolutions were successfully adopted under India’s chairship:
1) Resolution on Promoting care and support systems for social development;
2) Resolution on Social Dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development;
3) Resolution on the Priority Theme of the sixty-third session of the Commission for Social Development 63rd
Session of the;
4) Resolution on the Priority Theme of the sixty-second session of the Commission for Social Development.
 Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj also welcomed Poland as the incoming Chair, who will preside over the
63rd session of the Commission for Social Development in 2025.
DoT unveils an unparalleled venture 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative

Weekly BeePedia
 Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has unveiled the 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative, an
unparalleled venture inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) from industry pioneers, startups, MSMEs,
academia, innovators and forward-thinkers.
 Digital Twin technology offers a solution by creating virtual replicas of physical assets, allowing for
real-time monitoring, simulation and analysis for experimental iterations and feedback loop to adapt to the
changes for achieving the best outcomes.
 Sangam: Digital Twin is a PoC distributed in two stages to be conducted in one of the major cities of India.
 First stage is Exploratory for clarity of horizon and creative Exploration to unleash potential.
 Second stage is for practical demonstration of specific use cases generating a future blueprint that
may serve as a roadmap to scale and replicate successful strategies in future infrastructure projects
through collaboration.
 'Sangam: Digital Twin' symbolizes a collaborative leap towards reshaping infrastructure planning and
design, combining the prowess of 5G, IoT, AI, AR/VR, AI native 6G, Digital Twin and next-gen
computational technologies with the collective intelligence of public entities, infrastructure planners, tech
giants, startups, and academia to break the silos and engage in a whole-of-nation approach.
Taiwan signs migrant worker MoU with India, seen as new source of labour
 Taiwan and India have signed a memorandum of understanding on migrant workers that is expected
to lead to the South Asian nation becoming a source of labor for the island.
 Taiwan will control the number of Indian workers allowed in and the industries to be assigned.
 India has committed to recruiting and training the.
 Taiwan is projected to become a “super aged” society by 2025 with elderly people forecast to make up
for more than a fifth of the population.
Learn Along:
About Taiwan
Capital: Taipei City Currency: New Taiwan dollar
PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of 100,000sqm Bharat Mart in Dubai to boost exports
 The Bharat Mart facility in Dubai, which has been compared to China’s Dragon Mart, will be built by
DP World and is expected to be operational by 2025.
 Bharat Mart is a joint initiative of DP World, a Dubai-based multinational that specialises in logistics, port
terminal operations and maritime services, and India’s commerce ministry that is aimed at boosting
exports by Indian small and medium-sized enterprises.
 The facility, set to cover more than 100,000 sq metres, will help cut the cost and time for shipping
goods from India to Africa and Europe.
Learn Along:
About UAE
Capital: Abu Dhabi Currency: UAE dirham
Approval for continuation of women safety scheme
 The Union Cabinet approved the Home Ministry’s proposal for continuation of the implementation of
“Safety of Women” umbrella scheme at ₹1,179.72 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Weekly BeePedia
 It will include :
 scaling up of the 112 helpline; and setting up of six cyber forensic science labs in Pune, Kamrup
(Assam), Bhopal, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Delhi and a National Forensic Data Centre.
 Every year, about 5,000 personnel will be trained to prevent crimes against women and children.
 Safety of women is an outcome of several factors like stringent deterrence and redressal of complaints
in a timely manner.
Tribal Affairs, Ayush Ministries sign pact on health screening
 The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ayush Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding
paving the way for their collaboration on a nationwide health screening and management
programme for about 20,000 tribal students enrolled in 55 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across
the country.
 The government called it a “Joint National Level Project of Health Screening and Management
through Ayurvedic Interventions”, adding that the idea is to have a special focus on anaemia,
haemoglobinopathies, malnutrition and tuberculosis and develop an “integrated approach” for the
management of these diseases.
 The programme will target children aged between 10 and 18 years, studying in Classes 6 to 12.
INTERNATIONAL
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Launches WHO's Global Initiative on Digital Health
 Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya virtually addressed the public
launch event of the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH).
 The GIDH is a WHO managed network which was unanimously adopted by all G20 countries, invited
countries and international organizations.
 It was collectively launched as a key deliverable of India’s G20 Presidency during the Health
Ministers’ Meeting in Gandhinagar last year.
 The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration of the G20 Summit also welcomed the establishment of GIDH
within the framework of the WHO.
 The GIDH will allow the democratization of digital health technologies in national digital health
transformation particularly the Global South.
Learn Along:
About WHO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland Founded: 7 April 1948 DG:Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Shehbaz Sharif to be Pakistan PM, Asif Zardari to be President
 The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reached an agreement
and announced that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is set to assume the role of Prime Minister again
while PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari is slated to become the country’s next President.
Learn Along:
About Pakistan
Capital: Islamabad Currency: Pakistani rupee

Weekly BeePedia
Malta Becomes 119th Country to Join International Solar Alliance
 India has welcomed Malta as the 119th country to join International Solar Alliance.
 Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Malta, Christopher Cutajar signed the ISA
Framework Agreement in the presence of Head of Depository and Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy),
Abhishek Singh in New Delhi.
Learn Along:
About ISA
Director General: DR. AJAY MATHUR Headquarters: Gurugram Formation: 30 November 2015
Greek parliament passes landmark law legalising same sex marriage
 The Greek parliament passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage making it the first majority
Orthodox Christian country to establish marriage equality for all.
 Although Greece introduced civil partnerships for gay couples nearly a decade ago under the left-
wing Syriza government, only the biological parents of children in those relationships were
recognized as legal guardians.
 Now, same-sex parents can both be recognized as legal parents to their children.
Learn Along:
About Greece
Capital: Athens Currency: Euro (€) (EUR)
Prabowo Subianto claims victory in Indonesian presidential election
 Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto has declared victory in the presidential election.
 The 72-year-old former special forces commander, who had run unsuccessfully for president twice
before, had about 58 percent of the votes.
Learn Along
About Indonesia
Capital: Jakarta Currency: Indonesian rupiah
EAM Dr. S Jaishankar attends 60th Munich Security Conference in Germany
 External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is attending the 60th Munich Security Conference in
Germany.
 As part of the conference, Dr S Jaishankar will address a panel discussion on 'Growing the Pie:
Seizing Shared Opportunities.
 The External Affairs Minister and European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep
Borrell exchanged perspectives on the current global situation.
 The three-day meeting offers a unique opportunity for high-level debates on the world’s most pressing
security challenges.
Learn Along:
About Germany
Chancellor: Olaf Scholz Capital: Berlin Currency: Euro (€) (EUR)

Weekly BeePedia
Japan slips to the world's fourth-largest economy, behind the US, China and now Germany
 Japan has slipped to the world’s fourth-largest

economy as government data released on January 15
showed it fell behind the size of Germany's in 2023.
 The numbers highlight how the Japanese economy has
gradually lost its competitiveness and productivity
while the population shrinks as Japanese people age and
have fewer children.
 Japan fell from the second-ranked economy behind
the U.S. to the third-largest in 2010 as China's economy
grew.
 The International Monetary Fund had forecast Japan’s
fall to fourth.
EU launches Red Sea mission as U.S. ship is attacked twice
 The European Union launched a naval mission to protect Red Sea shipping from Yemen’s Houthi
rebels as a U.S.-owned cargo vessel repeatedly came under fire in the region.
 The EU aims to have the mission — called Aspides, Greek for “shield” — up and running in a “few weeks”
with at least four vessels.
Learn Along:
About EU
Founded: 1 November 1993 Capital: Brussels
STATES
PM Modi lays foundation stone of Kalki Dham temple in UP's Sambhal
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Shri Kalki Dham temple in Uttar Pradesh's
Sambhal.
 The construction of Shri Kalki Dham is overseen by the Shri Kalki Dham Nirman Trust, led by its
chairman Acharya Pramod Krishnam.
 The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate over 14,000 projects valued at more than ₹10 lakh crore
across the state.
 These projects stem from investment proposals received during the UP Global Investors Summit
2023 (UPGIS 2023) held the previous year.
Learn Along:
About Uttar Pradesh
Governor: Anandiben Patel Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath Capital: Lucknow
Bill on use of Kannada on sign boards passed
 Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi informed the Karnataka Legislative Assembly
that a fine will be imposed and trade licence cancelled if business establishments in Karnataka fail
to display name boards with 60% of text in Kannada in the upper half of the boards,.

Weekly BeePedia
 Explaining the purpose of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) Bill,
2024, an enforcement wing, involving police and Kannada and Culture Department officials, would be
formed to monitor name boards, particularly in Bengaluru.
 All eight zonal commissioners would also be held responsible in Bengaluru for effective enforcement
of the law and rules, Mr. Tangadagi said. The Assembly passed the Bill by voice vote.
 An app would be launched soon to enable the public to upload complaints against business
establishments that fail to display their boards as per the rule.
Learn Along:
About Kannada
Chief minister: Siddaramaiah Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot Capital: Bengaluru
India’s first helicopter emergency medical service to be launched from Uttarakhand
 India’s first Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) will be started from Uttarakhand.
 A helicopter will be stationed under the service at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
from where it will be sent anywhere within a radius of 150 km to airlift anyone who has met with an accident
to the medical facility.
Learn Along:
About Uttarakhand
Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami Governor: Gurmit Singh Capital: Dehradun
Lifetime recognition for State’s minority institutions: Stalin
 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that the State government would grant lifetime
recognition to minority educational institutions in the State.
 These certificates would not have any fixed time limits.
 The Minorities Welfare Minister had already launched a web portal designed by the Tamil Nadu e-
Governance Agency (TNeGA) to simplify the procedure of issuing minority status certificates to
educational institutions run by minorities.
 On the appointment of teachers, the maximum age for appointment of teachers in the general category
(53), and for other communities (58) in government schools, would also be extended to minority
educational institutions.
Learn Along:
About Tamil Nadu
Chief minister: M. K. Stalin Governor: R. N. Ravi Capital: Chennai
Anurag Singh Thakur to attend opening ceremony of Khelo India University Games 2023 in Guwahati
on Feb. 19
 Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur will attend the inaugural ceremony
of the Khelo India University Games 2023 in Guwahati on 19th February.
 The Games will be played across seven sister states of the North-East and will end on February 29.
 This is the fourth edition of the Games. Close to 4500 athletes from 200 Universities are participating in
KIUG 2023.
Learn Along:

Weekly BeePedia
 The KIUG is a part of the Indian government’s Khelo India initiative that was launched in 2016.
 The Khelo India mission focuses on promoting grassroots sports and identifying young talents from across the
country.
About Assam
Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma Capital: Dispur Governor: Gulab Chand Kataria
CIAL, BPCL sign pact for green hydrogen plant
 Cochin international airport, the world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy, has entered into an
agreement with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) for setting up a green hydrogen plant
on the airport premises, making Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), as it claims, the first airport
operator in the world to have a hydrogen power generation facility on its premises.
 The agreement for the green hydrogen plant was exchanged in Thiruvananthapuram.
 The MoU outlines plans for completion of the project in 2025.
 Under the agreement, the BPCL will oversee the establishment of an integrated green hydrogen
plant and fuelling station at the airport, providing technology and managing the operations.
 The Cochin airport now has a cumulative installed capacity of 50 MW of solar power generation.
 CIAL Infrastructures Limited was incorporated in 2012 to broaden its area of activities and to take
advantage of opportunities in the power and other infrastructure sectors.
 The CIAL entity has also built a 12 MWp solar plant in Payyannur.
Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates first Skill India Centre of the country in Odisha
 Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan,
inaugurated the first Skill India Centre (SIC) of the country in Sambalpur, Odisha .
 The initiative is designed to build the capabilities and knowledge of Yuva Shakti in trades that are
high in demand such as Media & Entertainment, Leather, Tourism & Hospitality, and IT-ITeS.
 It stands as a progressive step towards creating a conducive learning environment that empowers
youth with industry-specific skills through a unique combination of classroom and work-based learning.
Learn Along:
About National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
 National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is the principal architect of the skill ecosystem in the country.
 It is a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) enterprise working under the Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India.
 NSDC was established to catalyze the skilling ecosystem for private sector participation and be the strategic
implementation and knowledge partner to Skill India Mission to build efficient vocational training initiatives,
empowering India’s youth.
About Odisha
 Chief minister: Naveen Patnaik Capital: Bhubaneswar Governor: Raghubar Das
Shubman Gill named Punjab 'state icon' for Lok Sabha polls, to engage in awareness campaigns
 Indian cricketer Shubman Gill has been named as Punjab's 'state icon' for the upcoming Lok Sabha
Elections.
 The star cricketer will be bestowed the responsibility of engaging in awareness campaigns to
increase the voter percentage in the state.

Weekly BeePedia
 Earlier, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was named the National icon for promoting voter
awareness after signing a three-year MoU.
Learn Along:
About Punjab
Capital: Chandigarh Governor: Banwarilal Purohit Chief minister: Bhagwant Mann
Telangana: the Sammakka Sarakka Jathara
 World’s largest tribal fair, the Sammakka Sarakka Jathara, second only to Kumbh in numbers, started
in Telangana’s Mulugu district with thousands of devotees paying obeisance to the two tribal deities.
 This Jathara is a great fusion of devotion, tradition and community spirit.
 The Prime Minister had last year announced the setting up of a Central University named after the
tribal Goddesses in Telangana.
Learn Along:
About Telangana
Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan Chief minister: Anumula Revanth Reddy Capital: Hyderabad
REPORTS AND INDEXES

India is the third largest digitalised country in the world
 According to a recent study released by a Delhi

based think tank India is the third largest
digitalised country in the world, only behind the
United States of America (USA) and China.
 According to the State of India's Digital Economy
Report, 2024, by Indian Council for Research on
International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the
state of digitalisation in India is better than
some developed countries including the United
Kingdom, Germany and Japan, compared by their
aggregate level of digital-isation.
 However, at the level of individual users, India is ranked 12th in terms of digitalisation among the G20
countries.
 The study is based on ‘CHIPS’ framework wherein it has scored countries on five pillars - connect,
harness, innovate, protect and sustain.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

New lapwing observed at Warangal lake, a first in India
 A birdwatching team from Telangana spotted near Warangal a spur-winged lapwing, believed to be
the first one sighted in India.

Weekly BeePedia
 The wader bird, with the scientific name Vanellus spinosus, was spotted near Bhattupalle village by
a team of birdwatchers—Indaram Nageshwar Rao and Jagan Pannala—participating in the Hyderabad
Bird Race.
 The 14th edition of the Hyderabad Bird Race was organised by Deccan Birders together with HSBC.
 It is native to North Africa, the Middle East and Mediterranean regions; it has never been sighted in
the sub-continent,” said Gouthama Poludasu from Deccan Birders.
ISRO Announces Young Scientist Programme 2024 (YUVIKA)
 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is organising a special programme for School Children
called "Young Scientist Programme" "YUva VIgyani KAryakram” (YUVIKA).
 The key objective of this initiative is to impart basic knowledge on Space Science, Space Technology
and Space Applications to the younger students in emerging trends in space science and technology.
 YUVIKA programme is also expected to encourage more students to pursue in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based research and aligned career.
 Young Scientist Programme - YUVIKA was conceived to impart basic knowledge on Space Science,
Space Technology and Space Applications to the younger students with a preference to rural areas
of the country.
 The programme is thus aimed at creating awareness about the emerging trends in science and
technology amongst the school going students.
 The programme was conducted successfully in 2019, 2022 and 2023 with the participation of 111, 153
and 337 students respectively, representing each and every State and Union Territory of India.
Learn Along:
About ISRO
Headquarters: Bengaluru Founded: 15 August 1969 Chairman: Shri S. Somanath
India's first spy satellite made by domestic private player set for launch
 The first spy satellite in India to be made by a local private player is set to be launched in a SpaceX
rocket by April and will be used by the armed forces to get discreet information.
 The satellite that has been built by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) is being sent to Florida for its
launch.
 Earlier, the armed forces had to acquire the required exact coordinates and timings from foreign vendors.
But now, this satellite will allow them to be monitored by India and also provide it with full ground
control.
NASA and Japan to launch world's 1st wooden satellite in 2024
 NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are planning to launch the world's first
wooden satellite into space in a bid to make spaceflight more sustainable.
 LignoSat, a coffee mug-size satellite made from magnolia wood, is set to launch into Earth's orbit by
summer 2024.
Learn Along:
About NASA
Founded: 29 July 1958 Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States Administrator: Bill Nelson

Weekly BeePedia
INSAT-3DS mission to be launched from Sriharikota
 The GSLV-F14 carrying INSAT-3DS is scheduled for a launch on 17th February 2024 from the Satish
Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
 The GSLV-F14 is the 16th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and the
10th flight with the indigenous cryo stage.
 This is the seventh operational flight of the GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage.
 The GSLV-F14, with indigenous cryogenic stage, will place INSAT-3DS satellite in a geosynchronous
transfer orbit.
 According to the ISRO, the satellite is an exclusive mission designed for enhanced meteorological
observations, monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning.
 The primary objectives of the mission are to monitor Earth’s surface, carry out oceanic observations,
provide the vertical profile of various meteorological parameters of the atmosphere and provide satellite
aided search and rescue services.
Learn Along:
About ISRO
Headquarters: Bengaluru Formed on: 15 August 1969 Chairman: S. Somanath
Google to provide AI cyber tools, investments to bolster online security
 Alphabet Inc.’s Google announced an initiative to provide artificial intelligence tools and investments
to bolster online security, as the emerging technology is increasingly used to both protect against and
perpetrate cybercrime.
 Google will introduce a new open-source resource powered by AI that utilizes file type identification
to help detect malware.
 Google also announced additional investments in research grants and partnerships to advance
cybersecurity research initiatives using AI and an expansion of cybersecurity seminars, including AI-
focused modules.
Learn Along:
About Google
Founded: 4 September 1998 Headquarters: California, U.S. CEO: Sundar Pichai
OpenAI introduces AI model 'Sora' that turns text into minute-long videos
 Microsoft-backed OpenAI is working on a software that can generate minute-long videos based on
text prompts.
 The software, called Sora, is currently available for red teaming, which helps identify flaws in the AI
system, as well as for use by visual artists, designers and filmmakers to gain feedback on the model.
 The video generation software follows OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot, which was released in late 2022
and created a buzz around GenAI with its ability to compose emails and write codes and poems.
India signs MoU with Colombia on sharing India's open-sourced DPIs
 India and Colombia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of
Sharing Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation.

Weekly BeePedia
 It was signed between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the
Information Technologies and Communications of Colombia.
 The MoU intends to promote digital transformation (viz INDIA STACK) through capacity-building
programs, the exchange of best practices, the exchange of public officials and experts, the
development of pilot or demo solutions and the facilitation of private sector contacts to mutually
benefit the digital ecosystems of both countries.
Learn Along:
About Colombia
President: Gustavo Petro Capital: Bogotá Currency: Colombian peso (COP)
iCreate, Microsoft and MeitY Join Hands to Transform & Boost Indian Startups in AI
 International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate), Microsoft signed an

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) facilitated by the Ministry of Electronics & IT to boost AI startups
in India.
 This partnership will support and transform AI startups not just in big cities but also in smaller towns
and villages.
 Microsoft and iCreate, in the presence of Minister Chandrasekhar launched iMPEL-AI (iCreate-
Microsoft programme for Emerging Leaders in Artificial Intelligence) programme.
 The program will screen 1100 AI innovators across India to become AI Most Valuable Players (MVPs)
and focus on priority themes of Healthcare, Financial Inclusion, Sustainability, Education,
Agriculture, and Smart Cities.
 In the second stage, the program will select and scale 100 startups across India to build with Azure
OpenAI, and the top 25 will receive go-to- market support from Microsoft’s Global Network to develop
advanced, globally competitive products.
Learn Along:
About Microsoft
Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen Headquarters: Washington, United States Founded: 4 April 1975
DEFENCE
Aeronautical Development Agency Signs MoU with Indian Air Force
 Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has signed an MoU with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for
integration of futuristic Weapons and Sensors for LCA Tejas aircraft.
 This will facilitate the IAF to independently carry out sensors, weapon integration and flight testing
to enhance the operational capabililty of Tejas-LCA fighter.
 ADA has successfully developed and type certified Tejas LCA with a credit of more than 10000
sorties of incident free flying.
 IAF has already formed two squadrons of this fighter aircraft and twin seater aircraft are also being
inducted.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates MTEX-24

 The Maritime Technical Exposition MTEX-24 stands as a special attraction in the MILAN 2024 taking
place in Visakhapatnam. MTEX-24 showcases the latest advancements in naval technology.

Weekly BeePedia
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated MTEX-24, a three-day defence exposition as part of
MILAN 2024 yesterday.
 MTEX-24 highlights India's push towards self-reliance in the defence sector.
 It showcases the latest advancements in naval technology like shipbuilding, communication systems,
cybersecurity, and sustainable energy solutions developed by the Indian industry.
 Major players from the Indian defence production, defence start-ups, defence PSUs and Indian Naval
organisations are taking part in MTEX-24.
 By facilitating knowledge exchange and promoting self-reliance, MTEX 24 will propel the Indian maritime
industry forward, contributing to a more secure and prosperous future.
Torpedoes, refueller aircraft in new deals cleared by DAC
 The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first step in the
procurement process, for proposals worth ₹84,560 crore.
 The proposals include some long-pending deals — such as for heavy weight torpedoes (HWT) for the
Navy’s Scorpene-class submarines and flight refueller aircraft (FRA) for the Indian Air Force (IAF)
— beginning afresh.
 Other major deals include medium range maritime reconnaissance and multi-mission maritime
aircraft for the Navy and the Coast Guard, new generation anti-tank mines, air defence tactical control
radar, and software-defined radios.
 The procurement of a new generation of anti-tank mines having seismic sensors and the provision of
remote deactivation with additional safety features has been approved under Buy (Indigenously
Designed, Developed and Manufactured category of Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
 The DAC has approved amendments in the DAP 2020 with respect to benchmarking and cost
computation, payment schedule and procurement quantity.
IAF CONDUCTS 'EXERCISE - VAYU SHAKTI-24' IN RAJASTHAN
 Indian Air Force conducts exercise Vayu-Shakti in Pokhran, Rajasthan.

 Indian Air Force demonstration exercise Vayu-Shakti 2024 was held at the Pokhran Range near
Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
 This year’s Vayu-Shakti exercise featured joint operations with the Indian Army, highlighting the
seamless coordination between the two branches of the armed forces.
 A total of 121 aircraft participated in the exercise, including indigenous aircraft Tejas and helicopters
Prachand, and Dhruv.
 Internationally renowned aircraft like Rafale, Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, and Jaguar also showcased
their strength.
 Advanced helicopters like Chinook, Apache, and Mi-17 were also in action. The demonstration also
showcased indigenous Surface to Air Weapon systems, Akash and SAMAR
A two-day INDUS-X Summit to be held in New Delhi

Weekly BeePedia
 The much-anticipated INDUS-X Summit is scheduled to be held on February 20-21, 2024 in New Delhi,
marking a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts between India and the United States in
defence innovation.
 Organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) under the Department of Defence Production,
Ministry of Defence, and Department of Defence (DoD), United States, in conjunction with the U.S.-India
Business Council and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), the summit aims to be a
pivotal event driving strategic technology partnerships and defence industrial cooperation between India
and the USA.
 Since its launch in June 2023 during the State Visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the US, the
India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) has been at the forefront of expanding
bilateral ties in defence innovation.
 The two-day catalyst summit will feature a dynamic line-up of activities designed to foster collaboration,
innovation, and knowledge exchange.
HAL, DRDO to begin Rs 60,000 crore Sukhoi fighter jet fleet upgrade
 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with support from the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), will be involved in the Rs 60,000 crore worth upgrade of the Su-30MKI fighter jet
fleet.
 The project, approved by the defence ministry, aims to enhance the aircraft's capabilities with new
radars, mission control systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and integration of new weapon
systems.
 The project is divided into two phases, with the first focusing on installing new avionics and radars,
while the second phase concentrates on flight control systems. Indigenous systems will replace several
Russian-origin components, reflecting India's push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Learn Along:
About DRDO
Formed: 1958 Chairman: Dr Samir V Kamat Headquarters: New Delhi
India hosts Milan naval exercise, almost 50 countries participating
 India kick-started a nine-day 12th edition of mega naval exercise “ MILAN” in Visakhapatnam with
participation of around 50 navies from the US, Japan, Australia, France, Bangladesh, South Korea,
Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia etc.
 The exercise commenced with the arrival of 15 warships and one maritime patrol aircraft from friendly
foreign countries.
 Milan is a biennial multinational naval exercise which started in 1995 with the participation of
Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand in consonance with India's 'Look East' policy.
 The exercise flourished under the aegis of Andaman and Nicobar Command till its 10th edition.
 The harbour phase of the exercise is from February 19 to 23. The sea phase featuring various complex
drills and manoeuvres will be from February 24 to 27.

Weekly BeePedia
EVENTS
IICA organises Business and Human Rights Professional Programme
 The School of Business Environment, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), organised an
inaugural programme of its flagship capacity building programme ‘IICA Certified Business and Human
Rights Professional’ in Manesar, on 17th February 2024.
 The programme is developed in collaboration with the Business and Human Rights in Asia (B+HR),
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the European Union.
 The programme was attended by 30 corporate representatives from the domains of sustainability,
business & human rights, CSR, human resources, etc. along with directors on boards of different
companies as registered participants.
First-ever Digital India future SKILLS Summit inaugurated in Guwahati
 Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Jal
Shakti, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced that Assam will soon have its first-ever semiconductor
packaging plant worth nearly Rs 25,000 Crore at the first-ever Digital India future SKILLS Summit,
which was held at Gauhati University.
 The Digital India futureSKILLS Summit hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY) through the National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT) witnessed the
convergence of esteemed dignitaries, industry leaders, academia, policymakers and technology
enthusiasts to deliberate on strategies for Catalyzing future-ready talent for India & the World.
 Future SKILLS is about bringing to your attention, the world of opportunities in areas that require many
skilled people.
 These futureSKILLS are needed in emerging areas like semiconductors, Al, Electronics, HPC and
cybersecurity among others.
PM Modi to inaugurate 9th edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9th edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi .
 Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will join the inaugural session as the Chief Guest.
 The three-day Raisina Dialogue will witness the participation of representatives from over 100
countries including Ministers, former Heads of State and Heads of Government, Military Commanders,
Captains of Industry, Technology Leaders, Academics, Journalists, and Scholars on Strategic Affairs.
 The theme of this edition is "Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”.
Learn Along:
 The Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics.
 It is committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the international community.
Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates the Rashtriya Udyamita Vikas Pariyojana under Skill India Mission,
empowering PM Svanidhi Beneficiaries
 Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan
inaugurated the Rashtriya Udyamita Vikas Pariyojana, in Sambalpur, Odisha.

Weekly BeePedia
 The initiative was also launched virtually across 9 cities including Bhopal, Kanpur, Indore, Varanasi,
Bharatpur, Shillong, Silchar, Dibrugarh and Guwahati, emphasizing the nationwide scope of this initiative.
 Tailored specifically for beneficiaries of the PM SVANidhi scheme, this unique National
Entrepreneurship Development Project underscores the steadfast commitment to nurturing job
providers across the nation.
 The Rashtriya Udyamita Vikas Pariyojana aims to equip individuals with comprehensive
entrepreneurship training, aligning with the vision of creating job providers rather than job seekers.
Appointments
Organization News Learn Along
Name
ICICI Bank ICICI Bank announced the appointment of Mr. Pradeep Kumar Sinha as Founded:
the Non-Executive Part-time Chairman at its recent board meeting. This 1994
decision follows the retirement of Mr. G. C. Chaturvedi, the current
Headquarters:
Chairman, effective June 30, 2024.
Mumbai
Boeing Boeing, the American aerospace giant, has made a significant move to Headquarters:
enhance its operations and propel its growth strategy in India by
appointing Nikhil Joshi as the managing director of Boeing Defense United States
India (BDI).
SBI Capital In a significant move that marks the beginning of a new chapter for SBI ---
Markets Capital Markets (SBICAPS), the investment banking arm of State Bank of
India (SBI), Virendra Bansal has been appointed as the new Managing
Director and Chief Executive Officer.
International Court Nawaf Salam was elected president of the ICJ in The Hague, succeeding Headquarters:
of Justice US Judge Joan Donoghue. This significant milestone marks him as the The Hague
first Lebanese and second Arab to hold this prestigious position for
a three-year term.
Indian Army Lieutenant-General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday assumed charge ---

as Vice-Chief of the Army Staff. Prior to this appointment, he was
the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command,
based at Udhampur from 2022 to 2024. He will be the senior-most
officer in the Army when Army Chief Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande
retires from service in May.
Punjab In a significant move to boost voter engagement and participation in the Capital:
upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer’s Chandigarh
office has announced Indian cricketer Shubman Gill as the new “state
icon” for Punjab.
Kotak Mahindra Private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank announced significant Founded:
Bank leadership changes on Monday, including re-designating whole-time 21 November
director KVS Manian as the joint managing director effective 1 1985
March.
Headquarters:
Mumbai

Weekly BeePedia
AWARDS AND REWARDS

Jnanpith honour for Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
 Celebrated Urdu poet and Bollywood writer and director Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru
Rambhadracharya have been selected for the Jnanpith award, considered by many to be the country’s
highest literary honour.
 Gulzar or Sampooran Singh Kalra is considered one of the finest Urdu poets of his generation and is
a top director and writer of Hindi cinema.
 Rambhadracharya, is a renowned Hindu spiritual leader, educator and writer of more than 240 books
and texts, including four epics. He is also the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot in Madhya
Pradesh.
 This is the 58th edition of the Jnanpith Award given annually for outstanding contributions to Indian
literature since 1965.
 It is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, which was established in 1944.
 The award carries a cash component of ₹11 lakh, a statue of Vagdevi and a citation. It is the second
time the award is being given for Sanskrit and the fifth time for Urdu.
 Gulzar, born in 1934, has received the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu in 2002, the Dadasaheb
Phalke Award in 2013, the Padma Bhushan in 2004, and at least five National Film awards for his work.
BAFTA Awards 2024 Full Winners List
 Following its splendid performance at both the Golden Globe Awards and the Critics’ Choice Movie
Awards, Christopher Nolan’s epic biographical thriller Oppenheimer marked its dominance at the
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Film Awards too, bagging seven trophies
including for Best Film and Director.
Category Winner
Best Film Oppenheimer
Best Director Christopher Nolan
Leading Actress Emma Stone
Leading Actor Cillian Murphy
Supporting Actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Supporting Actor Robert Downey Jr
Original Screenplay Anatomy of a Fall
Adapted Screenplay American Fiction
Original Score Oppenheimer

Weekly BeePedia
Category Winner
Casting The Holdovers
Cinematography Oppenheimer
Editing Oppenheimer
Production Design Poor Things
Costume Design Poor Things
Make up & Hair Poor Things
Sound The Zone of Interest
Special Visual Effects Poor Things
Outstanding British Film The Zone of Interest
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer,

Director, or Producer Earth Mama
Film Not in the English Language The Zone of Interest
Documentary 20 Days in Mariupol
Animated Film The Boy and the Heron
British Short Animation Crab Day
British Short Film Jellyfish and Lobster
EE Rising Star Award Mia McKenna-Bruce
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to distribute Prizes for Winners of 16th National Youth Parliament
Competition, 2019-20
 The Prize Distribution Function of 16th National Youth Parliament Competition, 2019-20 for
Universities/Colleges will be held on 16th February, 2024 in New Delhi.
 Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Law and Justice; Minister
of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture will preside
over the function and distribute the prizes to the prize-winning students and institutions for their
meritorious performance in the Competition.
 Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has been organising Youth Parliament Competitions for
Universities/Colleges for the past 27 years.
 Under the scheme of Youth Parliament Competition for Universities/Colleges, the 16th Competition in
the series was organized among 36 Universities/Colleges of the country.

Weekly BeePedia
 The Youth Parliament Scheme aims at inculcating the spirit of self-discipline, tolerance of diverse
opinion, righteous expression of views and other virtues of a democratic way of life among the
younger generations.
 ‘The Running Shield’ and Trophy for standing first at National Level in the Competition will be
awarded to Central University of Punjab, Bathinda.
 Besides, Group level winner trophies will also be awarded by the Minister to the following 5
Universities/Colleges for standing first at Group level in the competition:-
Sl. No. Name of the University/College
1 DAV College, Jalandhar
2 Jadavpur University, Kolkata
3 University of Mumbai, Mumbai
4 Chanakya National Law University, Patna
5 Shivaji University, Kolhapur
City Union Bank wins IBA’s banking technology awards
 Old private sector lender City Union Bank (CUB) has won seven awards in various categories in the
recently concluded ‘19th Banking Technology Conference, Expo & Citations 2023’ by the Indian
Banks Association (IBA) in Mumbai.
 The awards aim at recognising the best technology providers in the banking industry and instill
competition to demonstrate their state-of-the-art innovative products, and sense of purpose and bring
huge value addition in Best Practices for serving the bank’s clientele, said a statement.
 Along with his technology team, N Kamakodi, MD & CEO of City Union Bank received the awards from
RBI’s Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar.
REC receives 'Innovative Technology Development Award' at IIT Madras CSR Summit for its 2 MW
Rooftop Solar Plant at IIT
 REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power and a leading
NBFC, has been honoured with the 'Innovative Technology Development Award' at the 'Building India
2047: Technology for Better Tomorrow', an IIT Madras Corporate Social Responsibility Summit.
 The award has been conferred in recognition of REC's CSR initiative of installation of 2 MW rooftop
solar plant at IIT Madras.
 The solar plant generates around 3.15 million units of clean energy every year, thus helping IIT
Madras reduce its carbon footprint.
 REC Limited has been recognized for its CSR activities with several prestigious awards, including
the Global CSR Leadership Awards in 2023 and the PSE Excellence Award for CSR in 2023.
Learn Along

Weekly BeePedia
About REC
 REC is a 'Maharatna' Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, and is registered with RBI
as Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC).
 REC finances the entire Power-Infrastructure sector comprising Generation, Transmission, Distribution,
Renewable Energy and new technologies like Electric Vehicles, Battery Storage, Pumped Storage Projects, Green
Hydrogen and Green Ammonia projects.
President of India Confers RPSF Constable with 'Jeevan Raksha Padak'
 Hon'ble President of India has conferred the prestigious 'Jeevan Raksha Padak' to Railway Protection
Special Force (RPSF) constable Sh. Shashikant Kumar for the year 2023, on the occasion of Republic
Day 2024.
 His remarkable courage, quick thinking, and prompt action in saving the life of a female railway
passenger has earned him this esteemed recognition.
Shashi Tharoor gets highest civilian award of France
 Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was conferred the ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur’, the highest
civilian honour in France.
 The French government had announced the award for Mr. Tharoor in August 2022, but the formal
conferring took place on 20th February 2024.
Learn Along:
About France
Prime minister: Gabriel Attal Capital: Paris Currency: Euro (€) (EUR), CFP franc (XPF)
IMPORTANT DAYS
Day/Week Observance Significance
21 International Mother International Mother Language Day is celebrated on 21
February Language Day February to spread awareness of linguistic, and cultural
diversity, and to promote multilingualism.
OBITUARIES
Name of Person Field Points to Remember

Fali S Nariman Law Eminent jurist and senior advocate Fali S Nariman
has passed away at the age of 95. He served as
the president of the Bar Association of India
from 1991 to 2010 and was awarded the Padma
Bhushan (1991) and Padma Vibhushan (2007),
among India's highest civilian honours, for his
contributions to the field of law.

Weekly BeePedia
SPORTS
R Ashwin Becomes Second Indian to claim 500 Test Wickets
 Ravichandran Ashwin became the second Indian bowler to take 500 wickets in Tests during the
second day of the third Test between India and England in Rajkot.
 Ashwin is just the ninth bowler to achieve the feat.
 Among Indians, only Anil Kumble, with 619 scalps, has picked more wickets than Ashwin.
Most Test wickets for India

1) Anil Kumble - 619 in 236 innings
2) R. Ashwin - 500 in 184 innings
3) Kapil Dev - 434 in 227 innings
4) Harbhajan Singh - 417 in 190 innings
5) Zaheer Khan - 311 in 165 innings
6) Ishant Sharma - 311 in 188 innings
Fewest Tests to 500 wickets

1) Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) - 87
2) R. Ashwin (India) - 98
3) Anil Kumble (India) - 105
4) Shane Warne (Australia) - 108
5) Glenn McGrath (Australia) - 110
6) Nathan Lyon (Australia) - 123
7) Courtney Walsh (West Indies) - 129
8) James Anderson (England) - 129
9) Stuart Broad (England) - 140
Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024
 The Indian women’s team won a historic gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships
2024 after beating Thailand 3-2 in the final in Shah Alam, Malaysia.
 This was India’s maiden title in the history of the continental competition.
 The men’s Indian badminton team had previously won two medals in 2016 and 2020, but both were
bronze.
100-year-old diver performs dive at the 2024 World Championships
 Iranian centenarian Taghi Askari will be the oldest competitor at 2024’s World Aquatics Masters
Championships 2024.
 The Asian Games medallist will take to the pool once more in the diving event almost 60 years after
his last national games.
 The 100-year-old won a silver and a bronze in the first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951.

Weekly BeePedia
Indian hammer thrower Rachna Kumari banned for 12 years for doping
 The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has suspended hammer thrower Rachna Kumari for 12 years for a
second anti-doping rule violation.
 Rachna returned positive results for multiple anabolic androgenic steroids in samples collected out
of competition at Patiala on September 24 and on November 1 at the National Games last year.
 Rachna had earlier served a four-year suspension from 2015 to 2019.
 Her current suspension began on November 24.
 In another doping case, quarter-miler Nirmala Sheoran has been handed an eight-year suspension by
the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for a second doping violation. She reportedly tested positive
for anabolic androgenic steroids and testosterone.
 She was earlier suspended for four years in 2018.
ICC bans UK cricketer Rizwan Javed for over 17 years for match-fixing
 UK-based club cricketer Rizwan Javed was banned from all cricket for 17 ½ years after being found
guilty of five breaches of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code for Participants.
 Rizwan was among eight players and officials charged by the ICC on behalf of the ECB (in its capacity
as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official under the Code) in September last year concerning the 2021
Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League and attempts to corrupt matches in that tournament, which attempts were
disrupted.
8-year-old Indian-origin boy from Singapore beats Polish grandmaster, breaks record
 An eight-year-old Indian-origin boy “Ashwath Kaushik,” defeated Polish chess grandmaster Jacek
Stopa at the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open in Switzerland, becoming the youngest player to defeat a GM
in classical chess.
 The previous record was set only a few weeks earlier when Serbia’s Leonid Ivanovic, who is several
months older than Ashwath, beat 60-year-old Bulgarian grandmaster Milko Popchev at the Belgrade
Open.
Former India and Rajasthan Royals batter Faiz Fazal set to retire from professional cricket
 Left-handed batter Faiz Fazal is all set to retire from professional cricket after Vidarbha’s ongoing Ranji
Trophy match against Haryana at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.
 Back in 2016, Fazal also played an ODI for India against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club where
he scored an unbeaten 55 off 61 balls with 7 fours and a six.
Arunachal Pradesh to host Final Rounds of 77th National Football Championships for Santosh Trophy
2023-24
 Arunachal Pradesh is hosting the Final Rounds of the 77th National Football Championships for the
Santosh Trophy 2023-24 at Golden Jubilee Outdoor Stadium in Yupia.
 For the first time since its inception in 1941, the Santosh Trophy will be held in Arunachal Pradesh.

Weekly BeePedia
 The opening match of the 77th National Football Championships for the Santosh Trophy 2023-24 played
between host Arunachal Pradesh and five-time champion Goa at the Golden Jubilee Outdoor Stadium
in Yupia.
Sources of the News:
The Hindu,The Indian Express,Business Standard, The Financial Express ,PIB, etc.


Beepedia Weekly Current Affairs (Beepedia) 16th-22nd February 2024

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Beepedia Weekly Current Affairs (Beepedia) 16th-22nd February 2024

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Weekly BeePedia

16th -22nd February 2024

RBI, Banking and Economy ___________________________________________ 2

SEBI and Financial Awareness _________________________________________ 7

NABARD and Agriculture ___________________________________________ 10

Reports and Indexes _______________________________________________ 22

Science and Technology ___________________________________________ 22

Awards & Rewards ___________________________________________________ 30

Important Days ___________________________________________________ 33

 Weekly & Monthly BeePedia: https://www.ixambee.com/beepedia-gk-updates-

For feedback, please contact: Email id: hello@ixambee.com

1 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

RBI, Banking and Economy

RBI grants payment aggregator licence to Mswipe Technologies

Outward FDI rises 25.7% to $2.1 billion in January

2 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

BOBCARD Limited launches Corporate Credit Card on RuPay network

Cabinet nod for Rs 76K-crore Vadhavan Port

3 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

DoT unveils an unparalleled venture 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative

4 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Karnataka govt announces Rs 100 cr for makeover of 'birthplace' of Hanuman

LIC launches a non-participating product 'Amritbaal' for children

5 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

6 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

100% FDI to be allowed in space sector

SEBI and FINANCIAL AWARENESS

7 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Tech Mahindra to acquire 100% stake in Orchid Cybertech Services Inc.

Tripura CM launches Rs 5 lakh health insurance scheme for 415,000 families

8 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

'IFSCA to set up int'l arbitration centre at IFSC for dispute resolution'

LIC raises stake in SBI Cards

9 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

 Chairperson : Siddhartha Mohanty Headquarters: Mumbai

NABARD and AGRICULTURE

India Unveils Scheme To Boost Pulses Output

10 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

11 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

8. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP).

12 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Govt raises authorised capital of FCI from Rs 10,000 cr to Rs 21,000 cr

Cabinet approves inclusion of additional activities in National Livestock Mission

13 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Supreme Court declares electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional

14 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Mahabharata-themed Jyotisar project to be unveiled on Feb 16

DoT unveils an unparalleled venture 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative

15 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Approval for continuation of women safety scheme

16 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Tribal Affairs, Ayush Ministries sign pact on health screening

Shehbaz Sharif to be Pakistan PM, Asif Zardari to be President

17 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

Malta Becomes 119th Country to Join International Solar Alliance

Greek parliament passes landmark law legalising same sex marriage

Prabowo Subianto claims victory in Indonesian presidential election

EAM Dr. S Jaishankar attends 60th Munich Security Conference in Germany

18 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

 Japan has slipped to the world’s fourth-largest

Bill on use of Kannada on sign boards passed

19 | P a g e All ixamBee Mock Tests are FREE Please visit www.ixamBee.com

India’s first helicopter emergency medical service to be launched from Uttarakhand

Lifetime recognition for State’s minority institutions: Stalin