Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 February 2024

Topic: Important Days

1. World Day of Social Justice: 20 February

• Every year on 20 February the World Day of Social Justice is observed.
• "Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances" is the theme of World Day of Social Justice 2024.
• The day's main aim is to make social justice the primary goal of all national and international policies.
• It reminds us of the need to build fairer, more equitable societies.
• The United Nations General Assembly declared February 20 as the World Day of Social Justice in 2007.
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization on June 10, 2008.
• According to the UN, social development and social justice are necessary for achieving and maintaining peace and security within and among nations.

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

2. Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh is organising annual Banana Festival from 20 January 2024.

• The two-day Banana festival is being organised in collaboration with district administration and its various departments.
• It is being organised under the one-district one-product programme (ODOP).
• The festival invites businesses, specialists, and scientists from throughout the country to explore investment potential in the region while showcasing Burhanpur's agricultural expertise.
• With 23,650 hectares under cultivation and 18,325 farmers, Burhanpur produces 16 lakh metric tonnes of bananas annually.
• Banana sales alone generate a staggering 1,700 million rupees in revenue.
• Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh is known as the banana city of central India.

Topic: International News

3. Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny died in prison.

• The cause of his death is not clear. He had returned to Russia in 2021 from Germany.
• On return, he was arrested. He was later transferred to a penal colony north of Arctic Circle.
• In 2020, Alexey Navalny was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent.
• Alexey Navalny was a leader of the Russia of the Future party. He was awarded the Sakharov Prize for his work on human rights.
• Nerve agents are a class of organic chemicals. They disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs.
• They disrupt by blocking the enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter.

Topic: Space and IT

4. India's first spy satellite manufactured by a domestic private company will be launched.

• April will see the launch of the first spy satellite manufactured in India by a domestic private company aboard a SpaceX rocket.
• The military will utilize it to obtain sensitive information.
• Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) built satellite is being shipped to Florida in preparation for launch.
• Previously, the military had to obtain the necessary precise locations and times from overseas suppliers.
• However, India will now be able to monitor them and have complete ground control due to this satellite.
• Bengaluru will serve as the location of the ground control center. It is under development and should be operational soon.
• This will be utilized for processing the satellite's pictures and providing guidance.
• In collaboration with the Latin American business Satellogic, the center is being constructed.
• It will also be permitted to exchange the TASL satellite's pictures with friendly countries.
• Although the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has satellites that can aid in the sharing of the imagery, their use is restricted given the extensive coverage that is needed.
• India currently obtains the required spy data from US corporations.
• ISRO launched the meteorological satellite INSAT-3DS last week from the Sriharikota spaceport on board the spacecraft GSLV F14.
• It will study alerts for natural disasters and weather forecasts. Due to its inconsistent history, GSLV has been referred to as a "naughty boy".

Topic: State News/ Jammu & Kashmir

5. On February 20, PM Narendra Modi visited Jammu to launch several development projects worth more than Rs 32,000 crore.

• The projects cover a range of sectors, including health, education, rail, roads, aviation, petroleum, and civil infrastructure.
• During the program, the Prime Minister distributed appointment orders to about 1500 new government employees of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Under the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu' program, the PM also interacted with the beneficiaries of various government schemes.
• Several projects worth about Rs 13,375 crore were inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and laid the foundation stone by PM in a significant step towards upgrading and developing education and skilling infrastructure across the country.
• A leading skill training institute on advanced technologies – the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) was also inaugurated by PM in Kanpur.
• Developed at a cost of over Rs 1,660 crore, PM Modi inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur (Samba), Jammu.
• Various rail projects in Jammu and Kashmir including the new rail line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan (48 km) and the newly electrified Baramulla-Sringar-Banihal-Sangaldan section (185.66 km) were dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister.
• The foundation stone of important road projects, including two packages (44.22 km) of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway connecting Jammu to Katra and Phase II of the four-laning of Srinagar Ring Road, was laid by the Prime Minister.
• Developing at the cost of about Rs 677 crore, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a project to develop a CUF (Common User Facility) Petroleum depot at Jammu.

Topic: Sports

6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 4th Khelo India University Games on 19 February.

• The 4th Khelo India University Games has started in Guwahati.
• A total of twenty sports disciplines are included in the Khelo India University Games 2023 in Guwahati and the remaining four disciplines are from sports of other North-Eastern states.
• This eleven-day event will be held in eighteen places in seven cities and four and a half thousand players will participate in it.
• More than 200 universities are participating in this inter-university sports event.
• On 19 February, men's and women's Kabaddi, basketball, women's football, swimming, and hockey matches were held in various stadiums in Guwahati.
• On 29 February 2024, Khelo India University Games 2023 Ashta Lakshmi will conclude.
• The government has allocated Rs 3500 crore for Khelo India University Games 2023 in the budget.
• Launched in 2016, the Khelo India University Games is a part of the Indian government’s Khelo India initiative.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. PM Modi digitally launched the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) at Mumbai University.

• He launched PM-USHA through video conferencing at a programme in Sir Kawasji Jahangir Convocation Hall of Mumbai University.
• A grant of 20 crore rupees has been approved for the infrastructure and educational development of Mumbai University.
• Under PM-USHA, funds were sanctioned to various higher educational institutions to strengthen them, develop infrastructural facilities, and implement new educational activities.
• Under PM-USHA, various schemes are to be implemented at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Kalyan and Thane sub-campus and Kalina Complex under a grant of 20 crore rupees approved by Mumbai University.
• Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan was a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Its first phase was launched in 2013 and second phase was launched in 2018. RUSA scheme has been launched as PM-USHA.
• It covers government and government-aided institutions of the States and Union Territories.

Topic: Art and Culture

8. The Khajuraho Dance Festival started on 20 February 2024 in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. 

• This is the 50th year of celebration of the Khajuraho Dance Festival.
• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav inaugurated the festival.
• The festival will continue till 26th of this February. In the festival, renowned artists of the country will perform various classical dances like Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kuchipudi.
• On the first day of this dance festival, over 1500 artists performed Kathak in Kathak Kumbh. 
• The Culture Department of the Madhya Pradesh Government is organising the festival in collaboration with Ustad Alauddin Khan Academy of Music and Arts.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

9. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals’s COP14 concluded at Samarkand.

• The COP14 of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 14) concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 17 February 2024.
• It was organized under the theme "Nature knows no borders". It was the first global biodiversity gathering since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in 2022.
• At CMS COP14, Parties reviewed the implementation of the Convention and adopted a New Strategic Plan for the period 2024-2032.
• The participating members agreed to adopt listing proposals for 14 migratory species and several other resolutions for global wildlife.
• Eurasian lynx, Peruvian pelican, Pallas’s cat, guanaco, Laulao catfish, Balkan lynx, Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise, Magellanic plover, bearded vulture, etc. are among these 14 migratory species.
• COP14 also adopted a proposal to include Pallas’s cat (Felis manul) in Appendix II of the Convention.
• The Committee of the Whole (COW) also recommended including the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in Appendix II of the Convention for adoption.

Topic: MoUs /Agreements

10. IREDA and Punjab National Bank signed a MoU to Co-Finance Renewable Energy Projects.

• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have joined hands in financing renewable energy initiatives.
• The agreement has been signed at IREDA's registered office in New Delhi.
• The MoU comprises various provisions aimed at enhancing support for renewable energy projects.
• It includes joint lending, loan syndication and underwriting, and management of Trust and Retention Account (TRA) for IREDA borrowers.
• The MoU is mainly focused on lending and loan syndication for a wide range of Renewable Energy projects
• IREDA and PNB can also invest in bonds issued by either organization.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Reports and Indices/Rankings

11. India steps down to 85th place in the world's most powerful passports ranking.

• France secured the top spot in The Henley Passport Index for 2024.
• Whereas India's passport ranking has slipped one place compared to last year, from 84th to 85th.
• The Henley Passport Index ranked countries based on the strength of their passports.
• France is leading the list in 2024, with its passport offering visa-free access to 194 countries.
• Along with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain are also among the top-ranked countries.
• Pakistan remains at 106th position like 2023, while Bangladesh has slipped from 101st to 102nd.
• Henley Passport Index:
  • It was launched in 2006. The index covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations.
  • It is based on the data collected from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
  • The Index's scoring system was developed to give users a nuanced, practical, and reliable overview of the power of their passport.
  • Each passport is scored on the total number of destinations the holder can access visa-free.

Topic: Personality in News

12. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2024: 19 February

• Every year on 19 February, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti also known as Shiv Jayanti is celebrated.
• It is the birth anniversary of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire, which is celebrated throughout Maharashtra.
• In 2024, India celebrated the 394th birth anniversary of the great Maratha ruler.
• Celebrating this festival first started with Maratha ruler Mahatma Phule in Pune in 1870.
• PM Modi also paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary.
• Shivaji Maharaj:
  • Shivaji Maharaj's name was Shivaji Bhosale and he was a member of the Bhonsale Maratha dynasty.
  • He was born in Shivneri Fort on the Marathi Shalivahana in 1630, according to Krishna Paksha 3 of the Hindu calendar Falgun.
  • He is considered one of the greatest Maratha rulers.
  • He carved out a territory from the Adilshahi Sultanate of Bijapur, which was the beginning of the Maratha Empire.
  • He is also known for re-establishing Hindavi Swarajya.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defense

13. Indian Air Force conducted 'Exercise- Vayu Shakti-24' in Rajasthan.

• The Indian Air Force shows its offensive capabilities at the Pokhran air-to-ground range near Jaisalmer.
• Fighter jets carried out precision strikes against simulated enemy aircraft and targets on the ground.
• Exercise Vayu Shakti-24 was based on the theme of Lightning Strike from the Sky.
• More than 120 aircraft, including Jaguar fighter jets, Sukhoi, Rafale, and Apache attack helicopters, took part in the exercise.
• Light combat aircraft Tejas, Prachand light combat helicopters, and Akash and Samar surface-to-air missile systems were also used during the exercise.
• Rudra helicopters destroyed tanks with their rockets, and the C-130J special operations aircraft carried out an assault landing.
• Vayu Shakti was last held at Pokhran in February 2019.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

14. Authorised capital of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been raised to ₹21,000 crore.

• Earlier, its authorized capital was ₹10,000 crore. The government has increased authorized capital to enhance its operational capabilities.
• The increase in authorized capital will lower economic costs, lessen the burden of interest, and eventually have a positive impact on government subsidies.
• The FCI should upgrade its transportation infrastructure, modernize its storage facilities, and implement cutting-edge technology with this infusion of funding.
• The Center gives equity to the FCI in order to meet its working capital needs and create capital assets.
• To safeguard farmers' interests, FCI purchases foodgrains at a Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• Additionally, it distributes the grains under various social programs and keeps strategic stocks.