Current Affairs 02 March 2024 Test with Timer⏰ : click here
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1. Odysseus and Peregrine private moon lander belongs to which country?
- India
- America
- Japan
- UAE
Show The Answer 2. America
2. Where has the Government of India formally launched the fourth phase of ‘Indian Housing Project’ recently?
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Maldives
- Sri Lanka
Show The Answer 4. Sri Lanka
3. Which island has been recently handed over by India to Sri Lanka?
- Katchatheevuv
- Nicobar Island
- Lakshadweep Island
- Andaman Island
Show The Answer
4. Sarang Helicopter Display Team has participated in the air show organized in Singapore through helicopter manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. What is the name of this helicopter?
- Light Combat Helicopter
- Boeing CH-47 Chinook
- Dhruv
- Rudra
Show The Answer 3. Dhruv
5. Ringgit is the currency of which country?
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Indonesia
Show The Answer 2. Malaysia
6. Where was Air Force Day 2023 organized?
- New Delhi
- Mumbai
- Kolkata
- Prayagraj
Show The Answer 4. Prayagraj
7. Who has recently been declared the winner for the post of Mayor of Chandigarh by the Supreme Court?
- Anil Masih
- Manoj Sonkar
- Kuldeep Kumar
- Nawaf Salaam
Show The Answer 3. Kuldeep Kumar
8. Where is Lalduhawma the Chief Minister?
- Nagaland
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Manipur
Show The Answer 3. Mizoram
9. Where was the 50th ‘Khajuraho Dance Festival’ organized recently?
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Goa
- Gujarat
Show The Answer
10. Recently INDUS-X summit was organized in New Delhi. What is its purpose?
- Environmental Sustainability
- Agricultural Advancements
- Space Exploration
- Defense Innovation
Show The Answer 4. Defense Innovation
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Some lines of current affairs 02 March 2024 news
National
Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani unveiled the logo and website for the Alliance for Global Good, focusing on gender equity and equality
On February 28, 2024, Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani from the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the logo and website for the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality in New Delhi, India.
Key Attendees: The event saw the presence of notable figures such as Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
About the Logo:
- The logo features the letter “e,” symbolizing Equality and Equity.
- The parallel lines show joint efforts by Governments, industry, and institutions to empower women worldwide.
- The colors represent Alliance values: Saffron for strength and courage, White for truth, Green for growth, and the red dot symbolizes prosperity.
- The design draws inspiration from Lord Ganesha, symbolizing intellect, wisdom, and understanding.
About Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality:
- Launched by India during the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2024.
- Aligned with India’s vision for women-led development, the Alliance promotes gender equality.
- The Alliance aims to gather global best practices, promote knowledge sharing, and attract investments in women’s health, education, and businesses, in line with Sustainable Development Goals.
Note: The Alliance is backed by the Government of India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, led by the CII Centre for Women Leadership, with the WEF as a Network partner, and Invest India as an Institutional partner.
12 items from Arunachal Pradesh now have a special label called the GI tag
The GI Registry in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has given GI tags to 12 special products from Arunachal Pradesh, like Apatani Textile, Dao (a type of sword), and Adlay Millet. Now, Arunachal Pradesh has a total of 20 GI products. Arunachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister is Pema Khandu, and its Governor is Lt Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik. The state has national parks like Mouling and Namdapha, as well as wildlife sanctuaries including Talle and Eagle Nest.
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have teamed up to start a nationwide campaign called “My First Vote for the Country”
The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) have teamed up for a national awareness campaign called “Mera pehla vote desh ke liye (my first vote for the country)” to encourage first-time voters to take part in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur, from MIB & Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS), launched a Campaign Anthem video to raise awareness among first-time voters. Here’s what you need to know about the campaign:
- Various events will be held in universities, colleges, and higher education institutions.
- There will be both physical events and online competitions on the MyGov platform.
- Students can showcase their creativity through competitions like blog writing, podcasts, debates, essays, quizzes, extempore speaking, and battle of bands.
- Workshops and seminars will be conducted to emphasize the importance of voting and understanding the electoral process.
- Youth are encouraged to take the voter’s pledge on the official website ecisveep.nic.in to commit to the electoral process.
- They are also encouraged to download the voter helpline app.
Key Facts about Lok Sabha (House of the People):
- Originally, the Lok Sabha had 552 seats, but the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 removed the two seats reserved for Anglo-Indians.
- The Lok Sabha’s term is 5 years from the date of its formation. The current Lok Sabha, the 17th one, has 543 seats filled by elected representatives from states and Union Territories (UTs). Its term ends on June 16, 2024.
About Rajya Sabha (Council of States):
- Originally, the Rajya Sabha had a maximum of 250 seats, with 12 nominated by the President.
- Presently, it has 245 seats, with 12 nominated by the President and the rest representing States and UTs.
International
India kept its 42nd position in the 2024 International IP Index by the US Chamber, with the USA leading the rankings
The 12th edition of the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index (2024) by the United States (US) Chamber of Commerce shows that India kept its 42nd rank, scoring 38.64% overall.
The United States of America (USA) leads the list with a score of 95.48%, followed by the United Kingdom (UK) in 2nd place with 94.12%, and France in 3rd with 93.12%.
About the International IP Index:
- It guides countries aiming to improve innovation and creativity through strong intellectual property (IP) standards.
- The Index evaluates IP systems of 55 countries using 50 unique criteria covering patents, copyrights, enforcement, and more.
Note: India was ranked 42nd in 2023 and 43rd in 2022 previously.
India’s IP Strengths:
- The report highlights India’s commendable efforts, citing the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023, which includes new language and criminal sanctions on film piracy.
- Strong initiatives include dynamic injunction orders against copyright piracy, incentives for Research and Development (R&D), and IP-based tax.
Challenges and Weaknesses of India’s IP
- The report expresses concerns about India’s IP regime, emphasising issues such as the dissolution of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board in 2021.
- India faces challenges with an under-resourced judiciary, impacting rights holders’ ability to enforce IP rights and resolve IP-related disputes.
- Limited protection for biopharmaceutical IP rights is also noted.
Key Highlights:
- The index reveals notable improvements in 20 nations, signaling optimism for global IP policies.
- Notable Gains: Saudi Arabia (+6.04%); Brazil (+4.50%); and Nigeria (+3.00%) emerging as top-gainers showcasing policy-driven innovation investments.
- 27 economies maintained scores (including India), while 8 witnessed declines, notably Ecuador (-1%) due to inadequate border control against IP infringement.
- Lack of progress in top-ranked economies necessitates a renewed push from the US and European EU in asserting IP policy leadership.
Economy and Business
India’s GDP increased by 8.4% in the third quarter of the financial year 2023-2024. The economy is expected to grow by 7.6% for the entire financial year 2023-2024, according to the National Statistical Office (NSO)
- On February 29, 2024, the National Statistical Office (NSO) released updated figures for the economy in the financial year 2023-24, covering the period from October to December 2023.
- The NSO announced that they would now consider the Second Revised Estimates (SRE) as the final numbers. They will no longer produce Third Revised Estimates (TRE).
- The real GDP for the October-December quarter of the financial year 2023-24 is estimated to be Rs 43.72 lakh crore, up from Rs 40.35 lakh crore in the same period of the previous year, representing a growth rate of 8.4%.
About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
- Minister of State (Independent Charge): Rao Inderjit Singh (Gurugram, Haryana)
- Secretary: Dr. G P Samanta
Award and Recognitions
Sunil Bharti Mittal is going to receive an honorary knighthood from King Charles III of the UK
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, was honored as the first Indian citizen to receive the title of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) under King Charles III’s reign. This recognition was for his contributions to business relations between the United Kingdom (UK) and India.
The KBE is a prestigious honor granted by the British Sovereign to civilians, including foreign nationals, to acknowledge their exceptional contributions. It acknowledges Bharti Enterprises’ efforts in the India-UK space, notably in collaboration with the UK government in satellite technology.
Honorary Knighthood:
- KBE is bestowed upon foreign nationals for outstanding achievements in any field.
- UK nationals who receive knighthood are titled “Sir” or “Dame.”
- Non-UK nationals who receive the honor add KBE (or DBE for women) after their name.
About Sunil Bharti Mittal:
- In 1976, he founded Bharti Enterprises, which launched mobile services in Delhi in 1995.
- Bharti Airtel, the flagship company, is among the world’s leading telecom firms.
- He serves as Co-Chairman of Eutelsat Group, a global satellite communications leader.
- Mittal concurrently chaired the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and GSMA from 2016 to 2018, being the first Indian to lead GSMA.
- He was President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2007-08.
Awards/Honors:
- He received the Padma Bhushan for Trade and Industry in 2007.
- He was honored with the Harvard Business School’s Alumni Achievement Award, the institute’s highest honor for alumni.
Notable Predecessors:
Previous Indian recipients of Honorary KBE include Ratan Tata (2009), Ravi Shankar (2001), and Jamshed Irani (1997), all honored by Queen Elizabeth II.
Appointment and Resignations
President chooses new head and members for Lokpal; Justice AM Khanwilkar named Chairman
On February 27, 2024, Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, appointed the new Chairman and Members of Lokpal, which is the anti-corruption authority in India. Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar, a former Supreme Court judge, was chosen as the new chairperson of Lokpal.
This appointment makes him the second regular chairperson of Lokpal. Since the retirement of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, the first Chairperson of Lokpal, on May 27, 2022, the Lokpal has been functioning without its regular leader. Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty, a judicial member of Lokpal, has been acting as the chairperson since May 28, 2022.
About Justice A. M. Khanwilkar:
- Born on July 30, 1957, in Pune, Maharashtra.
- Became an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in March 2000 and a permanent Judge in April 2002.
- Served as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from April to November 2013 and of the Madhya Pradesh High Court from November 2013 to May 2016.
- Was a judge of the Supreme Court from May 2016 to July 2022.
New Members of Lokpal:
President Droupadi Murmu appointed six members to Lokpal, including three judicial and three non-judicial members.
- Judicial Members:
- Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy, former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
- Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.
- Justice Sanjay Yadav, former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
- Non-Judicial Members:
- Sushil Chandra, former Chief Election Commissioner.
- Pankaj Kumar, former Gujarat Chief Secretary.
- Ajay Tirkey, former Secretary of the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Government of India.
Note:
- As of February 29, 2024, Ritu Raj Awasthi is serving as the chairperson of the law commission but will resign from that post before becoming a member of Lokpal.
- These appointments will come into effect when the individuals assume charge of their respective offices.
About the Lokpal:
- The Lokpal investigates allegations of corruption against public officials.
- Established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, it is India’s first anti-corruption institution.
- Comprising a chairperson and eight members, with half being judicial members.
- The chairperson and other members serve a term of five years or until they reach the age of 70, whichever is earlier.
- It has jurisdiction over allegations of corruption against Prime Ministers, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials of the Union Government.
Ajay Kanwal has been appointed again as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jana Small Finance Bank
Ajay Kanwal has been re-appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jana Small Finance Bank (Jana SFB) for another three years, starting from March 21, 2024, until March 20, 2027. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved his re-appointment on February 26, 2024.
Ajay Kanwal has been serving as the MD and CEO of Jana SFB, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, since 2018. He has an extensive 32-year experience in banking, with 24 years spent at Standard Chartered Bank, where he eventually reached the position of regional CEO for ASEAN and South Asia. Additionally, he has worked as a Senior Advisor for TPG Global, a US-based asset management firm, and Mastercard.
Kamath is now the Managing Director of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) has given the green light for Mundkur Shyamprasad Kamath to become the Managing Director (MD) of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), a company in Mangaluru, Karnataka. Kamath will hold this position until his retirement on November 30, 2027, or until further notice, whichever happens first.
Before this, Kamath was the Executive Director of MRPL starting from 2022. He takes over from Sanjay Varma, who was serving as MD (Additional Charge) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MRPL.
Note: MRPL is a Category 1 schedule ‘A’ Miniratna, Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the MoP&NG.
Science and Technology
DRDO successfully tested a missile in Chandipur, Odisha
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently tested the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile, also known as a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS), near Odisha’s coast on February 28th and 29th, 2024.
The missile was launched from a portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Balasore, Odisha.
During the test, the missile was evaluated against fast-moving unmanned aerial targets in various scenarios, meeting its mission objectives.
The VSHORADS missile, developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO labs and Indian industry partners, incorporates advanced technologies like a miniaturized Reaction Control System and integrated avionics.
It’s designed to take down low-altitude aerial threats at short distances and uses a dual-thrust solid motor for propulsion.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), established in 1958, is the Ministry of Defence’s research and development arm, headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi, with Dr. Samir Vankatpati Kamat serving as Chairman.
L&T installed the first hydrogen electrolyzer made in India in Gujarat
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited, based in Mumbai, India, has installed its first homegrown hydrogen electrolyzer at the Green Hydrogen Plant in Hazira, Gujarat. This electrolyzer, with an initial power capacity of 1 megawatt (MW) that can be increased to 2 MW, can generate 200 Nm3/hour of hydrogen.
It’s a special kind of electrolyzer called a pressurized alkaline electrolyzer, which has two stacks and a locally made Electrolyzer Processing Unit (EPU) ML400. These electrolyzers are produced by a new division of L&T called L&T Electrolysers Limited, which uses technology from McPhy Energy in France.
The government has granted L&T Electrolysers a production capacity of 300 MW per year as part of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) program under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
Sports
India’s women’s football team came second in the Turkish Women’s Cup in 2024
The Indian women’s football team, known as the Blue Tigresses, came second in the Turkish Women’s Cup 2024, losing to Kosovo in the final match at the Gold City Sports Complex in Alanya, Turkey.
Manisha Kalyan from India was named the “Best Midfielder of the Tournament” for her outstanding performance throughout the games.
This marks India’s best performance in the tournament since they first participated in 2017. They have appeared three times: in 2019, 2021, and 2024.
The 2024 Turkish Women’s Cup, the eighth edition of the annual event, took place from February 21st to 27th, 2024, with four teams competing: India, Hong Kong, Estonia, and Kosovo. Estonia finished third, and Hong Kong came fourth.
Important Days
Today is Zero Discrimination Day 2024, observed on March 1st
- March 1st is Zero Discrimination Day, recognized worldwide by the United Nations (UN) to support fairness, inclusivity, peace, and diversity and to raise awareness about the negative effects of discrimination.
- In 2024, Zero Discrimination Day marks its 10th anniversary with the theme “To protect everyone’s health, protect everyone’s rights.”
- The symbol of Zero Discrimination Day is the butterfly, signifying transformation.
About UNAIDS:
- Established by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
- It’s the sole cosponsored program of the UN system.
- Executive Director: Winnie Byanyima.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- Operations began in 1996.
World Civil Defence Day 2024 is observed on March 1st
World Civil Defence Day (WCDD), or World Civil Protection Day, is celebrated worldwide on March 1st each year to honor Civil Defence and those who have given their lives for it.
In 2024, we observe the 35th WCDD with the theme “Honour Heroes and Promote Safety Skills” and the slogan “Innovative Technologies in the Civil Protection Service.”
WCDD was started by the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO), located in Geneva, Switzerland, and first observed in 1990 under the United Nations (UN).
The International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO), led by Secretary-General Njoupouo YAP Mariatou, has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in 1931 and has 60 Member States, 16 Observer States, and 22 Affiliated Members.
Happy 48th Civil Accounts Day! Today is March 1, 2024
Every year on March 1st, India celebrates Civil Accounts Day to honor the founding of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), a part of the Civil Services within the Ministry of Finance. This year, 2024, marks the 48th Civil Accounts Day.
Background:
In 1976, the Indian government made a significant change in Public Financial Administration by separating Audit and Accounts functions, leading to the creation of ICAS.
ICAS was established in 1976, with the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) of India as its head.
About Controller General of Accounts (CGA):
- Current CGA of India: S. S. Dubey, from ICAS.
- Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi.
