Crack Grade B 1

CURRENT AFFAIRS
11TH to 13TH FEBRUARY

ESI & FINANCE NEWS

1. EMPLOYMENT PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION (EPFO) HAS

FIXED 8.25% INTEREST RATE ON PROVIDENT FUND DEPOSITS FOR
2023-2024.
• Highest in 3 years.
• Approved by Central Board of Trustees of
EPFO.
o Chairman- Labour Minister.
• Aim- To strengthening social security for
India’s work-force.
• Why- Strong financial returns earned by the
retirement fund body this year including on its:
o Investments in equity, and almost
negligible Covid-19 withdrawals.
• Retirement Fund body (EPFO) offered 8.15%
interest higher than 8.10% in 2021-22.
• FY24 Total Interest Payout for this fiscal year:
₹1,07,000 crore, 17.39% higher than ₹91,
151.66 crore in 2022-23.
• Total income recommended for Distribution:
Crossed ₹ 1 Lakh crore for first time.

2. BYJUS’S ASSET SALE HANGS FIRE AMID INVESTOR FLARE UP:

• Byjus is eyeing from Monetisation from two companies: Great learning: $600 mn
and Epic: $400mn.
• All cash: Deals a rarity in current market conditions,
• Lender wants to recover loan cash, stock-swap deals won’t help.
o Stock swap: Exchange of one equity-based asset for another and is often
associated with the payment for a merger or acquisition.
❖ Occurs when shareholders ownership of target company’s share is
exchanged for shares of the acquiring company.
• Also, Buyers have upper bargaining edge due to group troubles.
• No binding offers yet for Great Learning, Epic as co grapples with Term Loan B
worries, cap table tiff.

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o Term B Loan or an institutional term loan: Made by institutional
investors whose primary goals are maximizing the long-term total returns
on their investments.

3. ESIC APPROVES PROPOSAL TO EXTEND MEDICAL BENEFITS TO

INSURED RETIREES:
• Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will extend medical benefits to
superannuated subscribers, with higher number of wages at the time:
o Provided they were in insurable employment for atleast five years since
April 2012.
o Took voluntary retirement on or after April 1, 2017 with wages upto
₹30,000 rupees per month.
o Condition: 3% per month contribution of the wage ceiling at the time of
enrolment to avail the facilities.

4. HUDCO WILL SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING

PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA- ₹ 30,000 CRORE.
• The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) currently
registered as a housing finance Company with NHB.
• It is in the Process of registration as NBFC-IFC (Non-Banking Financial
Company- Infrastructure Finance Company) with RBI.
• Came into- 25th April 1970.
• Status- Miniratna.
• HQ- New Delhi.

5. GAMING COS INNOVATING TO SURVIVE 28% GST BURDEN.

• It came into effect on Oct 1- Online
gaming industry is looking to innovate and
even incentive users.
• GST on online gaming: 28%

6. INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK TO OPEN- 88 NEW BRANCHES THIS YEAR.

• Fifth public sector lender to reach ₹1 lakh crore in market capitalization.
• Founded – 10 Feb 1937.
• HQ- Chennai
• MD & CEO- Ajay Kumar Srivastava.

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7. NITI AAYOG PREPARES PLAN FOR ECONOMIC REVAMP OF 4
CITIES.
• Prepared plan for economic transformation of Mumbai, Surat, Varanasi and
Vizag.
• Help India become a developed economy by 2047.
• Ex officio Chairman- PM.
• Non constitutional and non-statutory body.
• CEO- B.V.R Subrahmanyam.
• Formation- 1st January 2015.
• Bottom-up Approach.

8. CENTRE WILL REGULATE E-GAMING- PROPOSAL OF SELF

REGULATORY ORGANISATION REJECTED.
• Earlier Ministry had proposed a Self-
Regulatory body (SRO) now it is rejected
and will be regulated by Centre.
• GST on online gaming: 28%.
• Came into effect on Oct 1 2024.

9. MERCHANTS BANK PAYTM, ASSURED OF NO DISRUPTIONS.

• Paytm bank assured them of continuity of services without any disruption.
• Earlier restriction was imposed on Paytm Payments Bank (PPB) by RBI.
• FINTECH FIRM ONE97 communications owns the Paytm brand, has received
support from merchants, and assured them of continuity of services without any
disruption.
• Payments Bank- Is like any other bank but operates on a small scale without
involving any credit risk.
o Recommendations of the Nachiket Mor Committee.
o Registered a public limited company under Companies Act 2013 and
licensed under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act 1949.
o Differented not universal bank and minimum paid-up equity capital
for payments banks shall be Rs. 100 crores.
o Cannot issues:
❖ Loans and credit cards.
❖ Cannot accept time deposits or NRI deposits.
❖ Cannot set up subsidiaries to undertake non-banking financial
activities.

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10. INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY BOARD OF INDIA (IBBI) TO
RESOLUTION PROFESSIONALS (RP): SHARE COPIES OF REPORTS
WITH CREDITORS, DEBTORS.
• In order to bring fairness to bankruptcy
cases, IBBI has asked RPs to share
copies.
• IBBI data shows that 67% of the
resolution cases were pending for over
270 days till Sep 2023.
o Which is way higher than the
time period which is 180 days.
• RPs have been mandated to give a
report to the applicant who originally
invoked the proceedings and only either
of the two- creditor or debtor.

11. CPI INFLATION AT 3-MONTH LOW OF 5.1 % IN JANUARY.

• Retail Inflation moderated to a
three- month low of 5.1 % in
January due to a drop in prices of
several items in the food basket-
primarily onions.
o National Statistical Office
(NSO).
• Core inflation, which excludes
food and fuel components of CPI
basket low in Jan- 3.6% from Dec
i.e. 3.9%.
• Index of Industrial Production
(IIP) rose to 3.8% in December
from 2.4% in November.

12. RELIANCE BECOMES FIRST INDIAN COMPANY TO HIT 20 LAKH

CRORE M-CAP.
• Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) became the first Indian company to cross Rs 20
Lakh market capitalisation during the trading session.
• All sectors ended in green in Sensex and Nifty due to loss after CPI- Retail inflation
came in at a three-month low of 5.10 percent, except metals, banking and
financial services were the top gainers.

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13. APPAREL, FAST MOVING CONSUMER GOODS (FMCG) FIRMS SEE

RED OVER NEW RULE ON PAYMENTS TO MSMEs:
• A New law on payments to Micro,
small or medium enterprises
(MSMEs) has caused significant
discomfort to organised apparel
retailers.
• Amendment introduced recently to
Finance Act, 2023, under section
43 B (h), mandates that any payment
made to registered MSMEs beyond
45 days of receiving goods or
services will not be recognised as an
expense.
• Proposed regulations are tighter in
the absence of a written agreement, as the stipulated time of payment will be
15 days instead of 45 days.
• Deadline will be 31st March.

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NATIONAL AND STATE

1. UTTARAKHAND FORMS PANEL – TO DRAFT UCC RULES.

• Chairman- Rtd Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh.
• Uniform Civil Code- Article 44 of Indian Constitution under DPSP.
• 9 members.
• Uttarakhand becomes first state to clear Uniform civil code in India.
• Earlier, Goa is the only state where UCC is implemented.

2. DIGI YATRA
• Contactless, Seamless processing of passengers at Airports, based on Facial
Recognition technology (FRT).
• To establish identity to be linked to the boarding pass.
• Run by Digi Yatra Foundation: Set up as a joint venture company in 2019 under
section 8 of companies Act, 2013- Pan India entity.
• While Airports Authority of India has 26% share in the foundation and 74% is
equally divided b/w 5 international airports- Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru,
Hyderabad and Kochi- Run on PPP.
• As an Airport operator- AAI Successfully implemented Digi Yatra at 4 airports-
Kolkata, Varanasi, Pune and Vijayawada.
• Entire Digi Yatra ecosystem undergoes audits by CERT-IN (National Nodal Agency
for responding to computer security incidents when they occur) empaneled
agencies every 6 months.

3. WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION)

AMMENDMENT ACT, 2024.
WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT, 1974:

• Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on Feb 5, 2024 and passed on 6th February.
• Passed by Lok Sabha on 8th February 2024.
• Water is state Subject and centre cannot directly pass legislative laws influencing
water management.
• Currently apply to Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan and Union and Territories
and for other states- need to pass resolutions.
• Creation of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control
Board (SPSB)- established under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974.

RECENT AMMENDMENTS:
• Consent Exemptions for establishing industries: Prior consent of the SPCB is
required for restablishing any industry or treatment plant.

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o But now Central Government in consultation with CPCB may exempt
certain categories of industrial plants from obtaining such consent.
o Bill retains establishing and operating an industry without obtaining such
consent from SPCB is punishable with imprisonment of 6 month and
fine.
• Chairman of State Board:
o Under the Act, chairman of an SPCB is nominated by the state
government.
o Bill adds that the central government will prescribe the manner of
nomination and the terms and conditions of service of the chairman.
• Discharge of polluting matter:
o Under the Act, SPCB may issues directions to immediately restrain any
activity which is leading to discharge of noxoious or polluting matter.
o Bill adds: Prohibits violation of standards (laid down by SPCB) regarding
polluting matter in water bodies or on land, barring some exemptions.
o Exemptions include depositing non-polluting materials on the bank of a
stream for reclaiming land.
o Bill removes the punishment and instead, imposes a penalty between Rs
10,000 and Rs 15 lakh.
• Penalty for other offences:
o Under the Act: Offence which is not explicitly specified is punishable with
an imprisonment- 3 months or a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both.
o Bill removes imprisonment as a punishment, and prescribes a penalty
between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15 lakh.
o Failure to pay penalty for violation will attract an imprisonment up to
three years, or a fine up to twice the amount of penalty imposed.
• Adjudicating officer to determine penalties:
o The Bill allows the central government to appoint adjudication officers to
determine penalties under the Act- Level of a Joint Secretary to the central
government, or of Secretary to the state government.
o Penalties imposed by the adjudicating officer will be credited to the
Environment Protection Fund established under the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986.
• Cognizance of offences: As per the Act, a court may take cognizance of an
offence if a complaint is made by the CPCB or SPCB, or a person who has given a
notice of the complaint to the Boards. The Bill adds that cognizance may also be
taken if a complaint is made by the adjudicating officer.
• Offences by government departments: Under the Act, the head of a department
will be deemed guilty for offences committed by government departments, provided
that they prove due diligence was carried out to avoid such contravention.
o Bill specifies that the head of a department will be required to pay penalty
equal to one month of their basic salary if the department violates any
provision of the Act.

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4. PM MODI WILL LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE OF AIIMS REWARI
PROJECT AT MAJRA BALKHI VILLAGE & LAUNCH GURUGRAM Ggm
METRO PROJECT.
• PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of the AIIMS Rewari Project at Majra
Balkhi village with project cost 1,231 crore.
• Also launch Gurugram Ggm Metro Project and project costs ₹5, 452 crores.

5. NATIONAL EXIT TEST- NEXT TEST

• June 2023- National Medical Commission developed the NMC Exit Test
Regulations 2023 (NEXT Regulation).
• Test was to replace the final MBBS examination, act as a licentiate exam for
grant of registration to practice medicine and provide entry to post graduate
courses instead of NEET PG.

6. 100-CUBE-START-UP INITIATIVE BY 2036- IIT BUBHANESHWAR

• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneshwar has started this initiative.
• 100 Start-ups of 100 crore each by 2036.
• Institute will soon have an:
o Upgraded Research.
o Entrepreneurship Park to provide essential resources, mentorship, seed
capital, and access to potential investors to the start-ups.
• IIT-Bhubaneswar also signed MoUs with 15 companies to build strategic
collaboration to achieve the 100-Cube objective.

7. ODISHA TO GIVE ₹1,000 TO ALL FAMILIES UNDER PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (PDS) & LAUNCH “SWAYAM” PORTAL.
• CM of Odisha- Naveen Patnaik announced to provide one-time livelihood
assistance of ₹1000 in cash to each of the over 95.90 lakh families covered under
the Public Distribution System.
• Government also declared launch of ‘SWAYAM’ scheme:
o One lakh of interest-free bank loan will be provided to all rural unemployed
youths aged b/w 18-35 yrs for special cases 18-40 yrs.
o Rural youths having family income less than 2 lakh loan and cover 1
lakh eligible rural youths initially.
o For Initiating new business venture.

8. 286TH LAW COMMISSION REPORT RECOMMENDED THE CREATION

OF AN EPIDEMIC PLAN TO ADDRESS EPIDEMICS.
• 286TH Law commission report recommended the creation of an Epidemic Plan
and a standard Operating Procedures to address epidemics.

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• Highlighting the limitations of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897- Management
control and prevention of epidemic diseases cannot be restricted to a century-old
law.
• Standard Operating Procedures defines three stages of the spread of infectious
diseases as well as the responses at each stage.
• Earlier, there is no clear demarcation between the powers of the Centre-State
and local authorities during and epidemics.
• Recommendation:
o To avoid conflict b/w Centre and state, amended act should
appropriately decentralise and demarcate power b/w the two.
o Local authorities and state governments be given the primary task of
implementing prevention and management provisions to contain an
epidemic.

9. STATUE OF IST CHIEF DEFENCE STAFF (CDS) IN DEHRADUN.

• Life-size statue of India’s first chief of Defence Staff late General Bipin
Rawat.
• Unveiled by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• Location: Dehradun.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. ISRAELI CHIPMAKER TOWER CLOSES IN ON $ 8 BILLION

FABRICATION PLANT IN INDIA.
• Israel based Chip Manufacturing company TOWER Semiconductor has submitted
its proposal to set up a chip Fabrication plant in India.
• $8 Billion worth.
• Israel Capital- Jerusalem.
• Currency- Shekel.
• Language- Hebrew.

2. SUNDHNÚKUR VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS- ICELAND

• Ongoing series of volcanic eruptions in the Reykjanes peninsula, near the town of
Grind Avik, Iceland.
• Volcano- Eldvörp–Svartsengi.
• Iceland Capital- Reykjavik.
• Currency- Krona or Kronur.

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3. IITs MADE IN INDIA, GOING INTERNATIONAL:
• IIT DELHI’s ABU DHABI campus in UAE.
• IIT MADRAS campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania archipelago.

4. UPI LAUNCH IN SRI LANKA, MAURITIUS:

• UPI services will be rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius at a virtual ceremony
that will be witnessed by PM.
• India’s Rupay card services would also be launched in Mauritius at the event.
• Sri Lanka Capital- Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte and Currency is Sri Lankan
Rupees.
o While Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka.
• Mauritius Capital- Port Louis.

5. 7 OUT OF 8 INDIANS WHO FACED DEATH ROW IN QATAR RETURN

HOME:
• Eight Indian Navy veteran who had been in Qatari custody since Aug 30, 2022
were released in Doha.
• Doha-based Al Dahra Global Technologies, a private firm, provided training and
other services to Qatar's armed forces and security agencies.
• They all were booked that they all were espionage to Israel.
• Qatar Capital- Doha.
• Qatar Currency- Riyal.
• Monarch- Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

6. SUZUKI AIMS FOR SKY, TO MAKE E-AIR COPTERS:

• Maruti Suzuki company is
planning to make electric
air copters.
• Bigger than a drone but
smaller than helicopter.
• 3 Passengers including pilot
can seat in Air taxi.
• Told in Bharat Mobility
Global Expo- New Delhi.
• May first pitch in Japan
and the US.

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MEMORUNDAM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU),
AGREEMENT, AND CONFERENCES.

1. JSW GROUP PLANS TO INVEST ₹40,000 CR IN ODISHA TO SET UP

ELECTRIC VEHICLE FACILITIES.
• Investment- ₹ 40,000 crore for EV and
Battery Manufacturing facilities.
• Will Set up at: Naraj, Cuttack district of
Odisha.
• Advanced Technology-based battery
manufacturing plant with capacity of
50GWH- Will be the world’s largest single
location sector.
• Odisha joins Motown club.

2. EU REACHES AGREEMENT ON SPENDING RULES

• Reforms to EU Budgetary rules aimed at boosting investment while keeping
spending under control- Stability and Growth Pact in late 1990’s.
• New rules will enable EU countries to invest in their strengths while consolidating
their public finances- Limit countries debt to 60% of gross domestic product
and public deficits to 3%.
• Member of EU- 27 member states (Present).
• Founded in 1950 - Six core states- Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, and West Germany.
• United Kingdom exited and ceased from member of EU: 31st January 2020-
Brexit.

3. MOU B/W CENTRE AND JINDAL STAINLESS LTD ON DEFENCE

DEAL.
• Agreement b/w MSME Technology Centre Vishakapatnam and Jindal
Stainless ltd (JSL)- Launch of missiles and satellites.
• Previously supplied material for key projects under the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO)- For PSLV, GSLV MK-3, Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, among others.
• JSL is the Largest Stainless-Steel makers of the world and rank 5th in
stainless makers of the world.

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• HQ- Delhi.

4. INDIAN OCEAN CONFERENCE (IOC)- 2024.

• The 7th edition of the Indian Ocean Conference is being held in Perth, Australia
on 9-10 February, 2024.

5. INDIA & PERU TO BEGIN SIXTH ROUND OF FREE TRADE

AGREEMENT (FTA).
• India and Peru start the next round of talks on bilateral Free Trade Agreement in
Lima.
• Tariffs concessions on gold would be the most challenging issues for New Delhi.
• 12- 15 Feb 2024.
• Peru is a mining rich nation and a leading producer of gold, silver, copper,
zinc and lead.
• FY 23 - 80% of total imports comprised gold imports from Peru.
o Peru Capital- Lima.
o Peru Currency- Sol.
• India- UAE FTA, gold imports from the UAE, India’s second largest gold
supplier, doubled in calendar year 2023 compared to 2022.

6. INDIA-UAE INK PACTS ON LINKING DIGITAL PAYMENT PLATFORMS,

TRADE, ENERGY.
• India and UAE signed pacts on bilateral investment promotion, port
infrastructure development, power trade, interlinking of digital payment platforms
like UPI, credit and debit cards, and intergovernmental framework agreement on
the India-Middle East Economic Corridor.

DEFENCE & SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. GALAXY WITHOUT STARS-NUBE

• Discovery of another nearly starless galaxy- Nube, Spanish for “cloud”.
• By- Mireia Montes, a research fellow at the Canary Islands Institute of
Astrophysics- Spanish Astronomers.
• J0613+52- First discovery of nearby galaxy made up of primordial gas.

2. SERUM’S HPV VACCINE NON-INFERIOR TO GARDASIL

• Serum Institutite of India- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine CERAVAC
was found safe and non- inferior to Merk’s Gardasail vaccine.

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• Ceravac- Both boys and girls age 9-14 yrs.
• Merck’s Gardasil vaccine- aged b/w 15-26 yrs only for women.

3. NAVY CHIEF INAUGRATES NEW DEFENCE SYSTEM- PRECISION

APPROACH RADAR (PAR).
• Precision Approach Radar (PAR) at INS Utkarsh in Andaman Nicobar Islands.
• Enable-Highly accurate Horizontal and vertical guidance to land an aircraft safely
in low safely in low visibility conditions- Such as heavy rain and fog.
• Also inaugrated- IUHDDS (Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and
Surveillance System).
o Location- Naval Jetty, Port Blair.
o Capable of detecting, identifying & tracking surface and underwater
targets in vicinity of naval jetty thereby enhancing security.

4. IIT DELHI START-UP DEVELOPS NEW BODY CARE TECH

• IIT Delhi students has developed a new technology called Glycoclear that they say
ensures clear and healthy skin.
• Glycoclear blend of AHAs (Alpha-hydroxy acids) and BHAs (Beta-Hydroxy
acids).

5. EVENT HORIZON TELESCOPE: THE FIRST IMAGE OF A BLACK

HOLE-
• Event Horizon telescope is a global network of radio telescopes that work together.
• Produced the first image of black hole, one at the centre of the M87 galaxy.
• Launched in 2009.
• Working on two projects of Black hole’s event horizon:
o Messier 87 or M-87.
o Sagittarius A at the centre of the Milky way.

SPORTS NEWS

1. HOST- INDIA DOMINATES BIMSTEC AQUATIC MEET:

• Host- India won the inaugural Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectional technical
and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
• India won 54 medals- 19 Gold, 27 silver and 8 bronze medals.
• Location- Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool.
• Harsh Saroha won the Best swimmer award in the men’s section with 3 gold.
• Maria Andelko of Thailand was declared the Best Swimmer in women section.

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• BIMSTEC- 7 Member.
1. Bangladesh.
2. Bhutan.
3. India
4. Myanmar.
5. Nepal
6. Sri Lanka.
7. Thailand
• Bangkok Declaration- 6th June 1997.
• Secretariat- Dhaka, Bangaladesh.
• India is present Secretary General of BIMSTEC- 2023 presently.
• Headed by- Shri Indra Mani Pandey.

2. ASIA CUP WINNER- HOST- QATAR

• Qatar defended their title after Akram Afif scored a hat-trick of penalties to help
his country.
• Secure 3-1 win over Jordan in the final.
• Qatar’s Capital- Doha and its currency is Rial.
• Jordan’s Capital- Amman and its currency is Dinar.

3. ROXADUSTAT- BANNED IN SPORTS.

• Roxadustat is used for the treatment of anaemia.
• Prohibited in sport context- because of its capacity to boost the production of
red blood cells in the body.
• Simona Halep- Banned (Oct 2022 till 2026) by International Tennis Integrity
Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for the banned substance Roxadustat at 2022
US Open.
• Simona Halep- Romanian Player and Former World No1 and Wimbledon
Champion by defeating Serena Williams in 2019.
• Romania Capital- Bucharest.
• Currency- Romanian Leu.

4. ICC U-19 CRICKET WORLD CUP- WON BY AUSTRALIA

• Australia defeated India by 79 runs in an ICC Final World Cup.
• Sahara Park Willowmoore Cricket Stadium in Benoni in South Africa.
• Kwena Maphaka- Player of the Tournament.
• Third time in last seven months:
o First in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval.
o ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
o U-19 World Cup summit clash in Benoni.

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5. INTERNATIONAL HIGH JUMP GALA ELMOS 2024.
• National record holder in high jump Tejaswini Shankar won top prize in the
International High Jump Gala Elmos 2024.
• Location- Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium.
• Both the men’s high jump and decathlon national records

6. CHENNAI OPEN: 2024 [Tennis]

• India’s top singles player Sumit Nagal won his fifth challenger-level single title.
• By outplaying Italian Luca Nardi in final by 6-1 and 6-4.
• First Indian to features in singles top-100 since Prajnesh Gunneswaran made
the cut in 2019.

7. 75th STRANDJA MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT- BOXING.

• Uzbekistan’s Sabina Boboulova won by defeating Nikhat Zareen (50kg) and
lifted silver-Two-time world Championship.
• But Amit Panghal (51kg) and Sachin (57 Kg) clinch gold for India.

8. EDUCATION MINISTRY JOINS HANDS TO PROMOTE FOOTBALL-

FIFA.
• Ministry of Education has tied up with the Federation International de Football
Association (FIFA).
• To distribute 11 lakh football in 17 districts of Odisha under the Footballs
for schools (F4S).

9. L&T MUMBAI OPEN WTA TOURNAMENT AT CCI - TENNIS

• Darja Semenistaja defeated Storm Hunter in the final of L&T Mumbai Open
WTA tournament at CCI.

10. ITF MASTERS TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

• Sonal Vohra and Mansi Majeji won the tournament.

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OBITUARIES/IMPORTANT DAYS

RAMCHANDRAN- NOTABLE ARTIST.

• Renowned Artist A. Ramchandran died after prolonged illness at the age of 69.
• Born- Attingal, Kerala.
• Known for his monumental canvases, sculptures, colourful oil, water-oil colour
paintings.
• 2002- Elected as Fellow of the Lalit Kala Academy and received Padma Bhushan
in 2005- for outstanding service.

IMPORTANT DAY
11th Feb- International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

RECORD RUNNER KELVIN KIPTUM AND HIS RWANDAN COACH

GERVAL HAKIZIMANA DIES
• Marathon world record holder from Kenya- Kelvin Kiptum and his Rwandan
coach Gervais Hakinzimana were killed in a car accident in Kenya.
• Kiptum’s world record- which he set at the Chicago Marathon on Oct 2023.
• Kenya Capital- Nairobi.
• Kenya Currency- Shilling.
• Kenya Official Language- Swahili.

NATIONAL WOMEN DAY: 13TH FEBRUARY 2024

• Marks the 145th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, a distinguished figure in
India’s struggle for independence and a celebrated poet known as the
“Nightingale of India.”
• This day is recognized as the National Women’s Day as she played a pivotal role
in advocating for women’s rights.

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