Daily Current Affairs and GK | 10 February 2024

Topic: Environment and Ecology

1. Telangana State Board for Wildlife approved the Tadoba-Kawal conservation reserve.

• The Forest Department's proposal to declare the corridor area between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Kawal Tiger Reserve as a conservation reserve has been approved by the Telangana State Board for Wildlife.
• Now, the proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• After the central government approves, the 1,492-square-kilometre area in Kagaznagar and Asifabad divisions will become a conservation reserve.
• During the Telangana State Board for Wildlife meeting, a proposal for a bison sanctuary in Sathupally and Kinnerasani forests was also discussed.
• The Telangana State Board for Wildlife also approved a proposal for increasing the compensation amount given to the kin of the persons who die in wild animal attacks from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
• Tadoba National Park is the largest Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. It is Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park.
• Kawal Tiger Reserve is located in the Telangana. Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary became a tiger reserve in 2012.

Topic: State News/ Bihar

2. Bihar State Disaster Management Authority launched the ‘NITISH’ device.

• Novel Initiative Technological Intervention for Safety of Humanlives (NITISH) device has been developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna in association with the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority.
• This pendant-shaped device will alert about lightning, floods, heat waves and cold waves to users through voice messages.
• This device has been synced with the Bihar Meteorological Service Centre.
• Recently, this device was launched in the presence of CM Nitish Kumar in Patna.
• This device will alert users half an hour before lightning or flooding.
• It will get charged from body heat and will sound an alert in three different ways.

Topic: Banking System

3. Indian Banks in GIFT-IFSC received permission from RBI for bullion exchange trading and special category customer status.

• On 9 February, the branches of Indian banks in GIFT-IFSC were allowed to act as Trading Members (TM) or Trading and Clearing Members (TCM) of the International Bullion Exchange IFSC Ltd.
• Additionally, Indian banks have also been authorized by RBI to import gold or silver to act as Special Category Client (SCC) International Bullion Exchange.
• It will apply to all scheduled commercial banks except Regional Rural Banks.
• According to the circular, RBI said trading members or trading and clearing members will execute trades only on behalf of clients without proprietary trading.
• RBI said SCCs will execute only buy trades on behalf of clients.
• The SCC will appoint one of the IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) to act as the clearing member on its behalf.
• For TM or TCM activities, the parent bank will be required to seek a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from RBI for obtaining TM/TCM status on the International Bullion Exchange IFSC before opening its branch/subsidiary/JV in the GIFT IFSC.
• GIFT International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC):
  • It is a financial center and special economic zone in Gujarat International Finance Tech-City (GIFT City).
  • GIFT IFSC was established in April 2015 as a financial center
  • It was founded to provide world-class infrastructure and services to financial institutions and companies operating in sectors such as banking, insurance, capital markets, and asset management.
  • GIFT IFSC is regulated by the International Financial Services Center Authority, the exclusive independent regulator for the sector.

Topic: Art and Culture

4. Aadi Mahotsav 2024 has been inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu.

• On February 10, the annual National Tribal Festival, Aadi Mahotsav 2024 was inaugurated by President Draupadi Murmu in New Delhi at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
• Under the aegis of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, TRIFED is organizing this event, which will showcase the rich diversity of India's tribal heritage.
• The Mahotsav will be organized from 10 to 18 February 2024.
• The Mahotsav will have an extended showcase with over 300 stalls, offering a diverse display of tribal arts, handicrafts, natural produce, and delicious tribal cuisine.
• Apart from this, one thousand artisans from across the country will also participate and showcase their work.
• A separate food court has also been set up, showcasing tribal cuisine from different parts of the country.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Banking System

5. RBI gave approval to Juspay, Zoho, and Decentro for payment aggregator business.

• On February 6, two FinTech startups, Juspay and Decentro, received the license to operate as payment aggregators.
• Juspay serves as a payment gateway, running the technology stack for e-commerce payments.
• Decentro is a technology company that enables e-commerce and other consumer-facing players to provide financial services like lending, KYC, and other services.
• On February 2, Zoho, a software-as-a-service startup, also got a payment aggregator license.
• Zoho is the first enterprise Saas company to get payment aggregator approval from RBI.
• In March 2020, RBI had issued the first guidelines on payment aggregator licenses.
• In December 2023, Razorpay, Cashfree, and Open Financial were the first group of players to get regulatory approval.
• Zomato, DigiO, Google, and Tata Digital are other major players to get the payments license.

Topic: National Appointments

6. Ajay Kumar Choudhary was appointed as non-executive chairman of NPCI.

• On 8 February, the appointment of Ajay Kumar Choudhary was announced by the National Payments Corporation of India as non-executive chairman of the Board and independent director.
• He has been appointed for a period of three years, starting February 8, 2024.
• Choudhary has replaced Biswamohan Mahapatra, who was appointed non-executive chairman in 2018.
• With an illustrious career spanning over three decades at the RBI, Ajay Kumar Choudhary is a distinguished central banker.
• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
  • NPCI is a major organization handling retail payment and settlement systems in India.
  • Dilip Asbe is the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPCI.
  • Venkatraman Srinivasan, Rishikesha Krishnan, D Manjunath, and Padmini Khare Kaicker are independent directors at NPCI.
  • NPCI has retail payment products such as RuPay Card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payment Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), etc.
  • It focuses on bringing innovation in retail payment systems through the use of technology and is continuously working to transform India into a digital economy.
  • NPCI was founded in 2008, and it is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Topic: Space and IT

7. NASA launched PACE mission to study Earth's atmosphere and oceans as the globe heats.

• Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) is a NASA mission that took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
• PACE will improve our knowledge of the ways that oceanic processes and air particles contribute to global warming.
• With the use of its hyperspectral ocean colour instrument, it will measure water bodies over a wide range of light.
• With this, scientists will be able to track the distribution of phytoplankton and pinpoint the populations that inhabit it.
• Research on climate change, air quality, and Earth's seas will advance thanks to the PACE mission.
• PACE has sophisticated instruments to monitor the ecosystem. This information is essential for tracking dangerous algal blooms and predicting the health of fisheries.
• PACE has two polarimeter instruments. It will provide insights into interaction of sunlight with atmospheric particles.
• This knowledge is very important for understanding aerosols, properties of clouds, and air quality.
• PACE’s research would enhance knowledge of the role of ocean in the climate cycle.
• Its value increases in combination with other missions such as the Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission.
• PACE aims to deliver data to support coastal communities and industries.
• Climate change is causing changes in Earth Oceans including biodiversity loss, marine heat waves and sea level rise.
• PACE will make it possible for the researchers to study the effect on phytoplankton.
• Phytoplankton are integral to global carbon cycle. They absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide.
• They support ecosystems, which are essential for economic stability, food security and recreation.

Topic: MoUs/Agreement

8. A $200 million loan agreement has been signed by the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

• The purpose of loan agreement is strengthening flood and riverbank erosion risk management on or beside the 650 km long region of the Brahmaputra River in Assam.
• The loan agreement is for the Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project in Assam.
• The project uses the success and lessons from the Assam Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Programme as a basis for further progress.
• This Programme was financed by ADB. It was implemented during 2010-2020.
• The project interventions will become part of the broader stabilization of the Brahmaputra River in high-priority flood- and erosion-prone areas. They will build the disaster resilience of the state.
• The project interventions include following steps.
  • Stabilising 60 km of riverbanks
  • Installing 32 km of pro-siltation measures
  • Building 4 km of climate-resilient flood embankments in five high-priority districts (Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Kamrup Rural, Morigaon, and Tinsukia)
• The project will benefit about 1 million people and increase crop production by over 50,000 hectares.
• The project activities will be managed and coordinated by the Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam.
• The partner agencies will be the Brahmaputra Board, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, and the Assam Inland Water Transport Development Society.

Topic: State News/ Chhattisgarh

9. Rs 1.47 trillion budget has been presented by the Chhattisgarh government for FY25.

• Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary presented a budget of Rs 1.47 trillion for 2024-25.
• For FY25, the capital expenditure is expected to remain Rs 22,300 crore. No additional taxes have been imposed by the government.
• The gross fiscal deficit of the state is estimated to be Rs 19,696 for FY25. It includes Rs 3,400 crore of special assistance for capital expenditure by the Union government.
• The net fiscal deficit is estimated to be Rs 16,296 crore, it will be 2.90% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP).
• In FY25, the capital expenditures for next fiscal will be around Rs 22,300 crore.
• In the next five years, the GSDP will increase from Rs 5 trillion to Rs 10 trillion.
• Rs 500 crore has been allocated for Deendayal Upadhyay Bhoomiheen Krishi Majdoor Yojana. Under this scheme, landless labourers will get assistance of Rs 10,000.
• Rs 8,369 crore has been allocated for the construction of 18 lakh houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
• To strengthen small and medium farmers, Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated for Krishak Unnati Yojana.
• The Shri Ram Lalla Darshan initiative has received a budgetary amount of Rs 35 crore.

Topic: Personality in News

10. Chile’s former president, Sebastian Pinera, died at the age of 74.

• Former President of Chile Sebastian Pinera died in a helicopter crash.
• He leaves behind a mixed legacy in Chile that draws both praise and criticism.
• He served as president of Chile from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022.
• According to Forbes, he is the third richest person in Chile and the 1177th richest person in the world.
• He became Chile's first conservative president to be democratically elected since 1958.
• As of 2024, he was ranked 1,176 on Forbes' global rich list, with a net worth of $2.7 billion.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

11. India’s first state-of-the-art Small Animal Hospital launched by Tata Trusts in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.

• It is the first hospital of its kind and is spread over 98,000 sq. ft. across 5 floors with a capacity of over 200 beds.
• The hospital is inspired by philanthropist and former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata's vision of a super speciality hospital for pets.
• The facility will provide round-the-clock services through trained pet-sensitive veterinarians, nurses, and technicians to provide quality care with the mission of saving lives.
• The hospital will be launched in March 2024.
• The hospital will cover comprehensive advanced health care for pets, from consultation and diagnosis to treatment, high-level nursing care, and resolution of their problems.
• The hospital is located on land allotted by the Burhan Mumbai Municipal Corporation to Tata Trust's Advanced Veterinary Care Facility (ACVF) in Mahalaxmi.
• The hospital will have facilities such as emergency and critical care- 24x7 triage and treatment services, inpatient and ICU units (including isolation units), and surgical services (soft tissue surgery, orthopedics) etc.

Topic: Important Days

12. World Pulses Day 2024: 10 February

• World Pulses Day is celebrated every year to increase awareness about the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses.
• The theme for World Pulses Day 2024 is "Pulses: nourishing soils and people."
• 10 February was proclaimed as World Pulses Day by UN General Assembly in 2019.
• Burkina Faso had proposed this day in the General Assembly. It is a landlocked country in West Africa.
• UN General Assembly announced 2016 as the International Year of Pulses.
• Pulses are also called legumes. They are considered global foods. They are grown in almost every country.
• Pulses are a rich source of protein. They are low in fat. They are rich in soluble fiber.
• They can lower cholesterol and help in controlling blood sugar. They help combat obesity.
• They help in the management of non-communicable diseases like diabetes. Their nitrogen-fixing properties improve soil fertility.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

13. Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and MS Swaminathan will receive India’s highest civilian award.

• Former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, as well as agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, will receive the Bharat Ratna.
• Chaudhary Charan Singh served as the sixth Prime Minister of India. He was sworn in on July 28, 1979, but stepped down 170 days after his government couldn’t prove his majority.
• He formed the Bharatiya Kranti Dal (BKD), which later merged with the Samyukta (United) Socialist Party to form the Bharatiya Lok Dal (BLD).
• Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao served as the 10th Prime Minister of India from June 21, 1991, to May 16, 1996. He is known for the economic reforms of 1991.
• The ‘Father of the Green Revolution’, Dr. Swaminathan, played a key role in changes introduced in farming in the 1960s and ‘70s.
• The reforms in agriculture helped India achieve self-reliance in agriculture.
• Earlier, the government had announced giving Bharat Ratna to LK Advani and socialist icon Karpoori Thakur.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

14. India, Turkiye, and Qatar have been named Guests of Honor for the World Governments Summit.

• The 2024 World Governments Summit is scheduled to take place in Dubai from February 12–14.
• 'Shaping Future Governments’ is the theme of the World Governments Summit 2024.
• The delegations from Turkiye, India, and Qatar will be led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, respectively.
• 25 government and state heads from around the world will participate in the summit.
• During the summit, the guest countries will showcase their successful experiences and developmental practices.
• Representatives of over 85 international and regional organizations, 120 governmental delegations, and 4,000 attendees will attend the summit.

(Source: News on AIR)