Current Affairs 14 February 2024 & Test

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Some lines of current affairs 14 February 2024 news

INDIA

• The Annual festival “Bharat Rang Mahotsav” by the National School of Drama begins in New Delhi.
• The Supreme Court of India supports the formation of a delimitation panel for Jammu and Kashmir.
• C.V. Ananda Bose, the Governor of West Bengal, will remain the Chancellor of State universities.
• A high-level committee is formed by the government to draft revised guidelines for Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax ferry transportation service.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host a Defence Ministers’ Conclave in Bengaluru during Aero India 2023.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates AMRITPEX 2023 at New Delhi

On February 11, 2023, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated AMRITPEX 2023, a 5-day National Philatelic Exhibition at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. It will end on February 15, 2023.

Key Points:-

• AMRITPEX showcases India’s history, culture, art, and heritage through stamps and pictorial collections, with over 20,000 exhibits across 13 competitive categories.
• The event includes workshops, panel discussions, and cultural programs.
• It attracted school students and philatelists from all over the country.
• The Department of Posts opened over 10 lakh Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts on February 9-10, 2023, as a tribute to Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The exhibition features technology artifacts like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality for the first time in India.
• A Commemorative Postage Stamp on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav was released by the Department of Posts, designed from entries of a nationwide design competition with over 4 lakh student participants.
• The competition was organized in partnership with the Department of School Education and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Other Participants:-

• Minister of State (MoS) Devusinh Chauhan, Ministry of Communications
• Vineet Pandey, Secretary, Department of Posts
• Alok Sharma, Director General Postal Services, among others.

Additional Info:-

• Philately is the collection and study of postage and imprinted stamps.
• India issued its first Stamp on November 21, 1947, depicting the Indian Flag, shortly after attaining Independence on August 14, 1947.

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India’s First Electric AC Double-Decker Bus Inaugurated in Mumbai

• The first double-decker electric AC bus in India was revealed in Mumbai by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST).
• The Mumbai transportation agency BEST has yet to finish registering the electric bus. Once tests are done, it will start serving passengers. The route will be from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Kurla bus depot after getting all necessary approvals.
• The fare for a 5 km ride will start at Rs 6, with ticket prices staying the same. The electric double-decker bus can carry 73 passengers, charges in 80 minutes, and includes automatic doors and CCTV cameras.

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International

• Over 35,000 people affected by Turkey-Syria earthquake.
• Zoox, Amazon’s self-driving vehicle division, tests robotaxi with employees on public road.
• WHO confirms outbreak of Marburg disease.
• New Zealand declares State of Emergency due to Cyclone Gabrielle.

UNDP & The Ocean Cleanup Sign MoU to Eliminate Plastic Pollution in The Oceans

The UNDP and ‘The Ocean Cleanup’ agreed to work together to tackle plastic pollution in oceans and rivers. Here are the main points:

• They aim to reduce plastic pollution by promoting better waste management policies and behaviors.
• They’ll use technology to catch plastic in rivers to stop it from reaching the oceans.
• Plastic pollution harms both marine life and people who depend on the sea for food and income.

About ‘The Ocean Cleanup:
It’s a non-profit started by Boyan Slat in 2013 in the Netherlands.

About UNDP:

• UNDP is a UN agency focusing on global development.
• Administrator: Achim Steiner
• Established in 1966
• Headquarters in New York, USA

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BANKING & FINANCE

HDFC Bank Launches “OfflinePay” Pilot Program for Offline Digital Payments

HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, partnered with Crunchfish Digital Cash to launch “OfflinePay,” a pilot program aimed at testing offline digital payments for customers and merchants under the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Regulatory Sandbox Program.

Key points:

• HDFC Bank introduces OfflinePay, a pioneering digital payment service facilitating quick and easy low-value offline transactions.
• OfflinePay enables users and merchants to accept payments even in areas with poor internet connectivity.
• This solution has the potential to boost digital payment adoption in smaller towns and rural areas with limited network access.

Backdrop:

• HDFC Bank collaborates with the RBI under the Payments cohort of the Regulatory Sandbox program to trial offline digital payments.
• The proposal by Crunchfish and HDFC Bank to join the Regulatory Sandbox was approved by the RBI in September 2022.
• Crunchfish Digital Cash AB is a subsidiary of Crunchfish AB, a publicly traded company on Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Stockholm, Sweden.

Key points:

• HDFC Bank will initially launch OfflinePay in 16+ cities and towns across India for a 4-month limited pilot.
• During the trial, offline transactions will be capped at Rs. 200 per transaction.
• Customers can top up their OfflinePay wallet with up to Rs. 2,000 via UPI e-payment.
• Customers and merchants can conduct a maximum of 5 transactions while offline.
• If successful, the pilot will inform RBI’s guidance and regulatory support for offline digital payments in India through the Crunchfish Digital Cash platform.
• HDFC Bank collaborates with IDFC First Bank to facilitate transactions with consumers and merchants of other banks.
• M2P Fintech Pvt. Ltd. is appointed by HDFC Bank to develop client and merchant apps for the pilot.

RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox Program:

• Established in 2020, the Regulatory Sandbox encourages responsible innovation in financial services, enhancing efficiency and benefiting end-users.
• It provides a formal regulatory framework for testing innovative financial products and services in a live environment, ensuring oversight and safeguards.

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ECONOMY

• In January, India’s retail inflation increased to 6.52%, up from below 6% for the past two months.
• Renault-Nissan plans to invest ₹5,300 crore in Tamil Nadu to produce six new car models at its plant near Chennai.
• State-owned general insurance firms have a combined investment of ₹348 crore in the Adani Group of Industries.

ReNew Power Unveils Its New Rebranding and Decarbonisation Focus

ReNew Power, now called ReNew, updated its logo to reflect its shift from solely producing renewable energy to offering a wider range of decarbonization solutions. These include green hydrogen, energy storage, carbon markets, and solar manufacturing, aimed at helping businesses achieve their Net-Zero goals. ReNew utilizes digital technology to cater to the needs of businesses in India’s B2B market as they transition to green energy. Experts predict a significant increase in global electricity consumption by 2050 due to rising electrification and living standards. De-carbonization plays a critical role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and combating climate change. Sumant Sinha serves as the Chairman and CEO of ReNew Power.

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SPORTS

• The Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023 begins in Dubai.
• India beat Pakistan by 7 wickets in the Women’s Cricket T20 World Cup.

FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022: Real Madrid defeated Al Hilal to win 5th FIFA Club World Cup

On February 11, 2023, Real Madrid won the FIFA Club World Cup 2022 by defeating Al Hilal 5-3 in the finals held at Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, Morocco. This victory marks Real Madrid’s fifth win in the tournament, having previously won in 2018, 2014, 2016, and 2017. Real Madrid received a payout of USD 5 million from the total prize pool of approximately USD 20 million, while the runner-up, Al-Hilal, earned USD 4 million.

The 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, presented by Visit Saudi for sponsorship reasons, was the 19th edition of the tournament, held in Morocco from February 1st to 11th, 2023. Matches were played at Batouta Stadium in Tangier and Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat.

Individual awards at the tournament included the Adidas Golden Ball for the Best Player, awarded to Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior from Real Madrid, the Adidas Silver Ball to Uruguay’s Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), and the Adidas Bronze Ball to Argentina’s Luciano Vietto (Al-Hilal). Real Madrid also received the Fair Play award, and the top goal scorer was Pedro Guilherme Abreu dos Santos, known as Pedro, from Flamengo, Brazil, with 4 goals.

The tournament featured seven top clubs from each confederation and host country Morocco, including Wydad, Al Hilal, Al Ahly, Seattle Sounders, Flamengo, Auckland City, and Real Madrid. Seattle Sounders became the first club from the United States to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.

FIFA, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is led by President Gianni Infantino and operates under the motto “For the Game. For the World.”

Inaugural edition of SA20 League: Sunrisers Eastern Cape won title at SA20 2023

Sunrisers Eastern Cape, led by South African cricketer Aiden Markram, won the first Betway SA20 League in 2023, a Twenty20 cricket tournament in South Africa organized by Cricket South Africa. They defeated Pretoria Capitals, led by Wayne Parnell, in the finals at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

Aiden Markram, the captain of Sunrisers, was named the “Player of the Series” and ranked third in runs scored and joint seventh in wickets taken. Roelof van der Merwe was awarded Man of the Match in the finals.

Key details about SA20 2023:

• It took place from January 10 to February 12, 2023.
• Thirty-three matches were played across six venues in South Africa: Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town), Centurion Park (Centurion), Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban), Boland Park (Paarl), The Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), and St George’s Park (Gqeberha).

Teams in the inaugural SA20:

• Sunrisers Eastern Cape
• Pretoria Capitals
• MI Cape Town
• Paarl Royals
• Joburg Super Kings
• Durban Super Giants

2023 Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix: Jean-Eric Vergne wins India’s first-ever E-Prix

On February 11, 2023, French racing driver Jean-Eric Vergne, representing DS Penske, won the first-ever Formula E race in India, called the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix, held on the Hyderabad street circuit in Telangana. The race was part of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. A total of 11 teams competed in the event.

Nick Cassidy from Envision and Antonio Felix da Costa from TAG Heuer Porsche secured second and third places, respectively.

Jean-Eric Vergne, a two-time Formula E champion, is among the top drivers in the series and has been racing in Formula E since its inception in the 2014–15 season.

This race marked the debut of the Hyderabad street circuit as the 30th venue and the first in India to host an E-Prix.

2023 Dallas Open: China’s Wu Yibing wins Men’s Singles & Jamie Murray & Michael Venus wins Men’s Doubles

On February 12, 2023, Wu Yibing, a 23-year-old tennis player from China, ranked 97th in the world, won the Men’s Singles title at the 2023 Dallas Open, defeating American player John Isner in the finals held in Dallas, USA. This was the second edition of the Dallas Open, which took place from February 4th to 12th, 2023.

Wu Yibing made history by becoming the first Chinese player to win an ATP Tour title in Men’s singles. His victory propelled him to the 58th position in the world rankings, making him the highest-ranked Chinese player in ATP history.

In the Men’s doubles event, Jamie Murray from New Zealand and Michael Venus won their first title together, defeating Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow from the USA.

Jamie Murray has won 28 tour-level titles and has secured at least one title in each of the past 11 seasons, while Michael Venus, an 18-time tour-level champion, has achieved success for nine consecutive years.

The Dallas Open is an indoor hard court men’s tennis tournament and is one of only 10 tournaments in the United States on the ATP Tour. It is also the only ATP Tour indoor championship in the USA.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

President Droupadi Murmu appoints New Governors in 12 states and 1 UT

On February 12, 2023, President Droupadi Murmu of India appointed governors in 12 states and a Union Territory (UT). This included 6 new appointments and 7 reshuffles:

• Lt Gen (retired) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, a former commander of the Army’s Northern Command, with over four decades of service, is now the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Lakshman Prasad Acharya, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is appointed as the new governor of Sikkim.
• C. P. Radhakrishnan, a BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, is the new governor of Jharkhand.
• BJP leader Shiv Pratap Shukla from Rudrapur in Uttar Pradesh is the new governor of Himachal Pradesh.
• Gulab Chand Kataria, Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, is now the Assam Governor.
• Former Supreme Court judge Justice Syed Abdul Nazeer is appointed as Governor of Andhra Pradesh(AP).

Regarding the President of India:

• The President is regarded as the first citizen of India, and the method of their election is detailed in Article 55 of the constitution.
  The first President of India was Rajendra Prasad.

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: GoI Appoints Chief Justice for 4 High Courts

Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Law and Justice, announced the appointment of Chief Justices for four High Courts by the President, under Article 217 of the Indian Constitution.

Here are the details:

1. Gujarat High Court:
   • Justice Sonia G Gokani, currently a Judge in the Gujarat HC, is appointed as the Chief Justice. She succeeds Chief Justice Aravind Kumar, who was elevated to the Supreme Court of India.
   • Justice Gokani’s tenure as Chief Justice will be for two weeks, ending on February 25, 2023.
   • She is the first woman judge to hold the position of Chief Justice in the Gujarat High Court since its establishment in 1960.
2. Gauhati High Court:
   Justice Sandeep Mehta, a judge of the Rajasthan High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Chief Justice Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya.
3. Tripura High Court:
   Justice Jaswant Singh, currently serving as a Judge in the Orissa HC, is appointed as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. He replaces acting Chief Justice Amarnath T. Goud.

Nikos Christodoulides elected as 8th Cyprus President

On February 12, 2023, Nikos Christodoulides, age 49, became the 8th President of Cyprus, winning against experienced diplomat Andreas Mavroyiannis.

Christodoulides secured 51.9% of the vote, while Mavroyiannis got 48.1%. He will take over from Nicos Anastasiades.

Key Points:

• Christodoulides was Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister from 2018 to 2022.
• He ran independently, supported by centrist and right-of-center parties.
• In 2021, he received the Order of the Serbian Flag.
• Mavroyiannis previously served as Cyprus’ ambassador to the United Nations.

Cyprus:

• Capital: Nicosia
• Currency: Euro

ICAI elects Aniket Sunil Talati & Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal as President & Vice-President for 2023-24

The Central Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has chosen CA. Aniket Sunil Talati as President and CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal as Vice President for the term 2023-24.

About Aniket Sunil Talati:

• He currently serves as the Director of ICAI Accounting Research Foundation (ICAI ARF), Indian Institute of Insolvency Professionals of India (IIIPI), and Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) India.
• He acts as the Technical Advisor to the ICAI’s Nominee on the PAIB (Professional Accountants in Business) Advisory Group of IFAC and Technical Advisor to the IFAC Board Member.
• He is also a Board member of SAFA (South Asian Federation of Accountants).

About Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal:

• He has been elected to the 23rd, 24th, and 25th Central Councils of ICAI successively.
• As the Chairman of the Professional Development Committee of ICAI, he initiated and implemented UDIN (Unique Document Identification Number), a significant reform of ICAI.
• He led the Group tasked with implementing the UDIN concept in all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Countries (Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, & Maldives).

About Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI):

• ICAI is a statutory body established by The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, on 1st July, 1949, to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India.
• It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• ICAI is among the largest professional bodies of Chartered Accountants globally, with a strong legacy of serving the Indian economy in the public interest.

Hyundai Motors India signs Women Cricketers Yastika Bhatia & Renuka Singh Thakur as Brand Ambassadors

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea, has added two more women cricketers, Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Singh Thakur, to its team of brand ambassadors. They join Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues.

HMIL announced the upcoming edition of its #TheDriveWithin campaign featuring these five Indian women cricketers. The campaign celebrates their achievements and recognizes the dedication they’ve shown through years of training and challenges.

The brand has extended its partnership with Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues, initially established in December 2021.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Productivity Day 2023 – February 12 & National Productivity Week 2023 – 12th-18th February

Every February 12, India celebrates National Productivity Day, marking the founding of the National Productivity Council of India (NPC). This day aims to promote productivity, efficiency, and innovation awareness. It’s part of National Productivity Week, observed from February 12 to 18. In 2023, the week’s theme is “Productivity, Green Growth, and Sustainability: Celebrating India’s G20 Presidency”. The NPC leads the events for this week. Established in 1958 under the Department for Promotion of Industry Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), NPC is an autonomous society registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. Its President is Piyush Goyal, and its Chairman is Anurag Jain, IAS. Sundeep Kumar Nayak, IAS, serves as the Director-General. Headquarters are located in New Delhi, Delhi.

International Darwin Day 2023- February 12

International Darwin Day, celebrated annually on February 12, honors the birth of Charles Robert Darwin, the renowned 19th-century British naturalist famous for his work “The Theory of Natural Selection.”

The day encourages reflection on Darwin’s principles of intellectual bravery, curiosity, scientific inquiry, and pursuit of truth.

It serves as a platform for celebrating science, promoting education, and fostering international collaboration for the betterment of humanity.

Background:
International Darwin Day originated from the efforts of three enthusiasts: Dr. Robert Stephens, Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, and Amanda Chesworth.

• In 1995, Dr. Robert Stephens inspired the Silicon Valley Humanist Community to begin an annual Darwin Day Celebration.
• In 1997, Prof. Massimo Pigliucci launched yearly Darwin Day events at the University of Tennessee, USA.
• In 2000, Amanda Chesworth joined Stephens to formally establish the Darwin Day Program in New Mexico, USA.

World Radio Day 2023 – February 13

The UN’s World Radio Day is celebrated annually on February 13th worldwide to emphasize radio’s importance in promoting and maintaining peace.

It also commemorates the establishment of UN Radio on February 13th, 1946. In 2023, the 12th edition of World Radio Day will be observed with the theme “Radio and Peace.”

Background:

• UNESCO’s General Conference declared February 13th as World Radio Day during its 36th session to honor the founding of UN Radio.
• The UN General Assembly supported UNESCO’s resolution on World Radio Day through resolution A/RES/67/124 on December 18th, 2012.

The inaugural World Radio Day took place on February 13th, 2012.

About UNESCO:

• Director-General: Audrey Azoulay
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Established: 1945

National Women’s Day 2023 – February 13

On February 13 each year, India observes National Women’s Day to honor Sarojini Naidu, known as the “Nightingale of India”, on her birth anniversary.

It celebrates the achievements of Indian women in social, cultural, political, and economic spheres. February 13, 2023, marks Sarojini Naidu’s 144th birth anniversary.

Sarojini Naidu, born on February 13, 1879, in Hyderabad, Telangana, was a political activist, feminist, poet, and freedom fighter. She was the first Indian woman to preside over the Indian National Congress and served as the first governor of Uttar Pradesh from 1947 until her death in 1949.

Note: International Women’s Day, recognized by the United Nations, is celebrated globally on March 8th.

International Epilepsy Day 2023- February 13

International Epilepsy Day is a global event held every second Monday of February to raise awareness about epilepsy and its effects on individuals, families, and communities worldwide.

In 2023, International Epilepsy Day falls on February 13th, while in 2022, it was observed on February 14th, and in 2024, it will be on February 12th. The theme for 2023 is “Stigma.”

The campaign for International Epilepsy Day 2023 aims to #StampOutStigma surrounding epilepsy.

International Epilepsy Day is a collaboration between the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), which began in 2015.

The IBE, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, was established in 1961, with Francesca Sofia as President and Natela Okujava as Vice President.

The ILAE, headquartered in Texas, USA, was established in 1909, with J. Helen Cross as President and Roberto Horacio Caraballo as Vice President.