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Some lines of current affairs 17 February 2024 news
NATIONAL
PM Modi launched Jal Jan Abhiyan in Rajasthan through a virtual inauguration
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Jal Jan Abhiyan via video link from Abu Road in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district. He highlighted the global awareness of the scarcity of water resources in the 21st century and emphasized India’s water security challenge due to its large population. Modi mentioned India’s focus on water for the future during the Amrit Kaal.
Major Points:-
- India International Seafood Show concludes in Kolkata.
- The 4th joint military exercise, ‘EX DHARMA GUARDIAN’, between India and Japan starts.
- Indian Railways introduces Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo Service for the services sector.
- The Tourism Ministry plans to hold the 1st Global Tourism Investors’ Summit from May 17th to 19th.
- ‘KAVACH-2023’, a national level Hackathon, launched to enhance India’s cyber-preparedness.
- 102 artists receive the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2019, 2020, and 2021.
- Tripura Assembly Elections witness 81% polling despite incidents of violence.
UIDAI introduced a new AI chatbot called Aadhaar Mitra in India
The UIDAI in India has launched a new chatbot named “Aadhaar Mitra” to assist with Aadhaar card queries. This AI-powered chatbot can provide information on topics like Aadhaar enrolment, PVC Card orders, and complaints. It’s accessible in English and Hindi.
S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, revealed a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Fiji
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar revealed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue at India House in Suva and talked with a big group of diaspora members. He expressed his honor in revealing the statue of Sardar Patel in Fiji. S Jaishankar highlighted Patel’s vision of unity, which continues to inspire Indians. Speaking to the Indian Diaspora in Fiji, Jaishankar emphasized their significant contributions to India, their host country, and globally.
INTERNATIONAL
- New law in Parliament allows people to choose their own gender.
- India and Fiji sign agreement for visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders.
- US Senate resolution confirms Arunachal Pradesh as part of India.
- Google, Twitter, and Meta will follow stricter online content rules in the EU.
Appointments
Lt. Gen. MV Suchindra Kumar will become the new Vice Chief of the Army
Lt. Gen. MV Suchindra Kumar is the new Vice Chief of Army Staff, and Lt. Gen. B S Raju will now serve as the South Western Army Commander. Lt. Gen. Kumar has been promoted to Army Commander and appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff. Currently, he serves as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) at the Army Headquarters.
Key points for competitive exams:
- Indian Army Headquarters: New Delhi
- Indian Army Founded: April 1, 1895
- General Manoj Pande is the current Chief of Army Staff.
Neal Mohan, YouTube’s new CEO, is of Indian American descent
Neal Mohan, an Indian-American, is set to become the next CEO of YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet. Susan Wojcicki announced her decision to step down from her role as the head of the video-sharing platform. Mohan will join other notable tech leaders of Indian origin, including Sundar Pichai of Google, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Arvind Krishna of IBM, and Shantanu Narayen of Adobe.
Key points for competitive exams:
- Founders of YouTube: Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen.
- YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, in San Mateo, California, United States.
- Headquarters of YouTube: San Bruno, California, United States.
- YouTube’s parent organization: Google.
Agreements
India and Fiji signed an agreement allowing visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports
India and Fiji signed an agreement exempting visas for diplomatic and official passport holders. India currently has similar agreements with 59 other countries. This pact aims to promote travel between the two nations.
Key points for competitive exams:
- Capital: Suva
- Currency: Fijian Dollar
- President: Wiliame Katonivere
- Prime Minister: Sitiveni Rabuka
India and Spain have agreed to work together on digital infrastructure, climate action, and clean energy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez over the phone. They both agreed to work together on digital infrastructure, climate action, clean energy transition, and sustainable development. The Prime Minister’s Office stated that they discussed various topics of mutual interest, including bilateral and international matters. They also reviewed current joint projects and were pleased with recent high-level meetings, as well as increasing cooperation in defense, economic, and commercial areas.
The Cabinet has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa to collaborate in the disability sector
The Indian Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Africa for cooperation in the disability sector. This MoU aims to promote collaboration between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in India and South Africa, fostering joint initiatives in this field.
Cabinet approves agreement between India and Chile in agriculture
The Union Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Chile for cooperation in agriculture and related sectors. Once signed, the MoU will be in effect for 5 years and automatically renewed for another 5 years. It focuses on modernizing agriculture policies, promoting organic agriculture to boost trade, exchanging policies for organic production, fostering innovation partnerships, and addressing shared challenges.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
- India’s exports grew by 17.33% from April to January.
- David Malpass will leave his role as World Bank chief before his full term ends.
- Paytm Payments Bank introduces UPI LITE to facilitate small transactions.
- India is 47th in the OECD’s index for service trade restrictions.
Global Tourism Resilience Day is celebrated on February 17th
The UN General Assembly approved a resolution from Jamaica to establish the inaugural Global Tourism Resilience Day on February 17, 2023, aiming to ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism. Over 90 countries backed the decision to annually recognize this day. The UNGA encourages global participation in observing February 17, emphasizing sustainable tourism through education, activities, and events tailored to local, regional, and national needs. Jamaica will host the first Global Tourism Resilience Conference on February 15, leading up to Global Tourism Resilience Day.
Obituaries
Indian football icon Tulsidas Balaram dies at 86
Tulsidas Balaram, a renowned footballer from India’s golden football era (1951-1962), has passed away at the age of 86. He represented India in two Olympics (1956 and 1960) and achieved success in Asian football by winning the Asian Games gold in Jakarta in 1962, with India defeating South Korea 2-1 under the coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim. Balaram scored a total of 131 goals in his career, including 14 for the Indian national team, spanning seven seasons.
WORLD
- Spain’s Parliament approves a law allowing individuals to determine their own gender.
- India and Fiji sign agreement to exempt holders of diplomatic and official passports from visa requirements.
- A resolution is introduced in the US Senate affirming Arunachal Pradesh as part of India.
- Google, Twitter, and Meta encounter stricter EU regulations on online content.
SPORTS
Indian Army hosts Women’s Snow Cricket event. P.V. Sindhu and H.S. Prannoy secure victories in singles matches, advancing India to the quarterfinals of the Asia mixed team badminton championships by defeating Malaysia.
Miscellaneous
The first Frozen-Lake Marathon in India will take place at Pangong Tso in Ladakh
The Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh will host India’s first frozen lake marathon on February 20, 2023, at an altitude of approximately 13,862 feet. This 21-kilometer marathon will be the first of its kind in India and globally at such a high altitude.
A new Indian beetle called “Omorgus Khandesh” was discovered, as reported in Zootaxa
A new beetle species was found in India, as reported in the journal Zootaxa. This beetle, named Omorgus Khandesh, is crucial in forensic science for estimating the time of death of animals or humans. It’s known as a keratin beetle because it feeds on keratin. During body decomposition, blowflies come first, followed by keratin feeders like Omorgus Khandesh, marking the final stage and highlighting their significance in forensic science.
