International: Cabo Verde Declared A Malaria-Free Country by WHO

INTERNATIONAL
Cabo Verde Declared a Malaria-Free Country by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Republic of Cabo Verde (also known as Cabo
Verde or Cape Verde) as a Malaria-free country.
• With this Cabo Verde became the third country to be certified in the WHO African region to eradicate
malaria, following Mauritius in 1973 and Algeria in 2019.
• To date, WHO has awarded the 'malaria-free' certification to 43 countries and 1 territory.
• WHO certifies a country as malaria-free when it demonstrates the interruption of nationwide malaria
transmission for at least 3 consecutive years.
About the Republic of Cabo Verde:
President - José Maria Neves
Capital - Praia
Currency - Cape Verdean Escudo
NATO
Why in news?
• Sweden's attempt to join NATO cleared a major hurdle after Turkey's parliament supported its
membership.
• For a new country to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), all the existing members
have to approve it.
• Turkey and Hungary had been opposing Sweden's entry for almost the past two years.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Inaugurates

Second State Mining Ministers' Conference in Bhopal
Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the second State
Mining Ministers' Conference held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 23rd January 2024.
Key Points:
•Madhya Pradesh bagged the first rank and received the award from the union minister for recognizing
its efforts in the mining auction for the year 2022-23.
• Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka also received the award of appreciation at the event.
2 government schools in California to introduce Hindi as world language

In a first for California, two government schools in the Silicon Valley will be introducing Hindi as a world
language in its school curriculum.
The decision to introduce Hindi as an optional subject was welcomed by the large Indian American
community in Fremont, who have been seeking to have their children learn Hindi in schools. Fremont
has one of the highest concentrations of Indian Americans in California.
The Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Board voted 4-1 on January17 to launch a pilot programme
that will see Hindi in the curriculum of Horner Middle School and Irvington High School for the 2024-
2025 school year that starts in August.
Indian Americans make up 65 per cent of the student population in Horner Middle School and Irvington
High Schools. The district has a total of 29 elementary school campuses, five middle school campuses,
and five high school campuses.
www.youtube.com/@praveensir 1 GVK Study Circle

Why is UNRWA in the news?
Britain, Italy and Finland have suspended funding to UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestine
refugees, following allegations that Palestinian personnel were involved in Hamas attacks on Israel on
October 7.
About UNRWA:
• United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was established in 1949.
• Largest UN agency operating in Gaza.
• It provides health care, education and other humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, the West
Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Its headquarters are in Amman and Gaza.
French President launches Classes Internationales for Indian students

France has announced good news for Indian students who want to pursue higher education in the
country. "By 2030, we are ready to welcome around 30,000 students from India to our country. During
prime minister Modi's recent visit to France, discussions were held on enhancing the strategic
partnership between the two countries. French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered the decision.
The country's embassy has initiated action to welcome Indian students. Shenzhen visas with a five-year
period will also be issued to attract more students, it said. In addition, France will also organise special
programmes for Indian students called 'International Classes'. Comprehensive training in French
language and other academic disciplines will be imparted for the benefit of the students.
Three million British citizens living abroad regain their voting right
Over three million British citizens, including Indians, living abroad have regained their right to vote in
the British general elections and referendums following the implementation of the Elections Act 2022.
This represents the biggest increase in the British electoral franchise since the introduction of full
female suffrage in 1928.
As the arbitrary 15-year limit on voting rights has been scrapped. British citizens worldwide can
register to vote online regardless of how long they have been overseas.
This will be linked to the last UK address they were either registered to vote at or lived at.
Upon registration, they will remain on the electoral roll for up to three years. After registration, electors
can also apply online for either a postal or proxy vote.
Population Decline in China

China, once the most populous country in the world, is now experiencing a steady decline in population.
For the second year in a row, the country's population has declined. The population last year decreased
by 20.08 lakh to 140.97 crore compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, India occupied the first place
in the number of world population last year.
Govt to fence entire Indo-Myanmar border to enhance surveillance: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that a 1,643-km-long fence has been decided to be constructed
along the 1,643-km-long border between India and Myanmar. It was announced that a patrolling route
would be set up along the border. "We will build a fence along the border between the two countries.
We have already laid a 10-km fence in Moreh in Manipur. Pilot projects are underway to set up fencing
at the rate of one kilometre each in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh through hybrid surveillance
system," Shah tweeted. The northeastern states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
share a border with Myanmar. As of now, people have been allowed to move freely from the border up

to 16 km on either side without any visa. However, there has been an increase in illegal infiltration into
India from that country. Last month, Amit Shah had announced that a fence would be erected along the
country's border to curb such incidents.
14 lakh: US embassy processed highest-ever visa application in India last year

The US Embassy in India in 2023 processed the highest ever number of visa applications in a year at 14
lakh. And the increased staffing along with other innovative means used to cut the backlog, the visitor
visa appointment wait times here was slashed by 75% -- from a 2022 high of an average of 1,000 days
to 250 days last year, the embassy.
“Demand across all visa classes was unprecedented, with a 60% increase in applications compared to
2022. Indians now represent one out of every 10 US visa applicants around the world. Visitor visas
(B1/B2) have rebounded to represent the second highest number of applications in the US mission’s
history – over 700,000,” the statement added.
In 2023, the US consular team in India issued over 1.4 lakh student visas – more than in any other
country in the world, setting a record for the third year in a row. Taken individually, Mumbai, Delhi,
Hyderabad, and Chennai are now the top four student visa processing posts in the world for the US.
Thanks to these surging numbers, Indian students have become the largest group of international
graduate students in the US and make up more than a quarter of the over 10 lakh foreign students
studying there.
By the end of 2022, the wait time for US visitor visa wait time had touched almost 3 years as on the one
hand staffing here had been reduced during Covid while India had emerged as the country seeing
highest visa applications across categories like visitor, student, work and crew as China was then yet to
reopen. Since late 2022, Uncle Sam took a number of steps to reduce the B1/B2 appointment wait time.
This enabled it to process the highest ever number of visa applications seen in India in a year.
North Korea tests Underwater Nuclear Weapon System 'Haeil-5-23'

North Korean defence ministry's think tank has tested a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone
'Haeil-5-23'(meaning tsunami) in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
AWARDS AND HONOURS

Padma Awards 2024: President approves 132
Padma Awards; List Includes 5 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, 110 Padma Shri Awards, With 9
Posthumous Awardees
On 25th January, 2024, Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) has announced the Padma Awards for 2024.
Emmanuel Macron, President of France was the chief quest on 75th Republic Day of India.
Padma Awards 2024:
i. Droupadi Murmu, the President of India has approved the conferment of 132 Padma Awards for 2024.
ii. The official list released comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri
awards, which include 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one).
iii. The list also comprises 8 persons from the category of Foreigners/ NRI/ PIO/OCI and 9
Posthumous awardees.
iv.A total of six foreigners were included in the list of winners of the Padma Awards for the year 2024..
v.Among 6 foreign nationals, 4 people are from France, one from Taiwan and Papa New Guinea each.

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2024
60 Parachute Field Hospital, Uttar Pradesh selected in the Institutional Category for Subhash Chandra
Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2024
Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has instituted Subhash
Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar to recognize and honour invaluable contribution and
selfless service rendered by individuals and organizations in the field of disaster management.
Droupadi Murmu to confer PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024 to 19 children on January 22

The President Droupadi Murmu will present the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024 to 19
children on January 22 at Vigyan Bhawan. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the
awardees on the next day, the official statement read.
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024 will be awarded in six categories. Seven students will
receive awards under art and culture, five under sports category, four for social service, and one each
for bravery, innovation, and science and technology. They will also receive a medal and a certificate.
Of the 19 children selected, 9 are boys and 10 are girls belonging to 18 states and Union Territories
(UTs), including 2 aspirational districts.
The minister of women and child development, Smriti Zubin Irani and minister of state Munjpara
Mahendrabhai will also interact with the children during the event.
The Government of India confers the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) award to
children in the age group 5 – 18 years to recognise their achievements. There are a total of seven
categories, viz. art and culture, bravery, environment, innovation, science and technology, social service
and sports; and this year, students are awarded under 6 categories.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bala Puraskar- 2024
1. Aditya Vijay Brahmane (Posthumous) -Maharashtra- Shauryam
2. Anushka Pathak - Uttar Pradesh - Arts & Culture
3. Arijit Banerjee -West Bengal- Arts & Culture
4. Armaan Ubrani- Chhattisgarh - Arts & Culture
5. Hetvi Kantibhai Khimsuriya - Gujarat- Arts & Culture
6. Ishfaq Hamid -Jammu & Kashmir - Arts & Culture
7. MD Hussain- Bihar - Arts & Culture
8. Pendyala Lakshmi Priya- Telangana - Arts & Culture
9. Suhani Chauhan -Delhi -Inventions
10. Aryan Singh- Rajasthan -Science & Technology
11. Awanish Tiwari - Madhya Pradesh - Social Service
12. Garima - Haryana - Social Service
13. Jyotsna Akhtar- Tripura - Social Service
14. Sayam Majumdar- Assam - Social Service
15. Aditya Yadav - Uttar Pradesh - Sports
16. A. Charvi- Karnataka- Sports
17. Jessica Ney Saring -Arunachal Pradesh- Sports
18. Lintoi Chanambam- Manipur- Sports
19. R Surya Prasad -Andhra Pradesh- Sports

Filmfare Awards ceremony Alia-Ranbir pair wins Best Actors Award
Filmfare Awards 2024, one of the most prestigious awards in Bollywood, has been released. The 69th
Edition of Filmfare Awards was held on Sunday night. The list of awards was announced at the
ceremony held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The winners of the films released in 2023 have been
announced.
The list was recently released 12th Fail (12th Fail), which was a huge hit. The film was released without
any expectations and it is known that the film has done dust at the box office. The film's director Vidhu
Vinod Chopra won the best director award. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have won the Best Actor and
Actress awards. Ranbir Kapoor won the Best Actor award for Animal. Alia Bhatt was adjudged the best
actress for rakhi aur rani ki prem kahani. Vicky Kaushal (Dunky) won the best supporting actor award
and Shabana Azmi (Rakhi Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani) won the best supporting actress award.
List of awards.
Best Film: 12th Fail
Best Film (Critics): Joram
Best Actor : Ranbir Kapoor (Animal)
Best Actor (Critics): Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)
Best Actress: Alia Bhatt (Rakhi Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani)
Best Actress (Critics): Rani Mukerji (Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway), Shafali Shah (Three Of Az)
Best Supporting Actor : Vicky Kaushal (Dunky)
Best Supporting Actress: Shabana Azmi (Rakhi Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani)
Best Lyricist: Amitabh Bhattacharya (Tere Vaaste: Zara Hatke Zara Bachche)
Best Music Album: Animal
Best Playback Singer (Male): Bhupinder Babar (Arjan Weily – Animal)
Best Female Playback Singer (Female): Shilpa Rao (Chelai – Jawan)
Best Story: Amit Roy (OMG 2)
Best Screenplay: Vidhu Vinod Chopra (12th Fail)
Best Dialogue: Ishita Moitra (Rakhi Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani)
Best Background Score: Harshavardhan Rameshwar (Animal)
Best Cinematography: Avinash Arun Davare for 'Three of Azz'
Best Production Design: Subrata Chakraborty, Amit Ray (Sam Bahadur)
Best Editing : Jaskunwar Singh Kohli- Vidhu Vinod Chopra (12th Fail)
Best Costume Design: Sachin Lovekar, Divya Gambhir, Nidhi Gambhir (Sam Bahadur)
Best Sound Design: Kunal Sharma (Mpse) (Sam Bahadur), Sync Cinema (Animal)
Best Choreography: Ganesh Acharya (What Jhumka?- Rakhi Aur Raaniki Prem Kahani)
Best Action : Spiro Razatos, Anil Arasu, Craig Macrae, Yannick Benn, Kecha
Khamfakdi, Sunil Rodrigues (Jawan)
Best VFX : Red Chillies Vfx (Jawan)
Best Debut Director: Tarun Dudeja (Dhak Dhak)
Best Debut Male : Aditya Rawal (Faraj)
Best Debut Female: Alije Agnihotri (Fari)
Lifetime Achievement Award: David Dhawan
Odisha’s R-Day tableau best among states

Odisha tableau has been adjudged the best among states at the national-level Republic Day parade on
Kartavya Path in Delhi this year.

The awards to states were given away in two categories, the judge’s choice, won by Odisha and people’s
choice went to Gujarat.
Odisha’s tableau rolled on Kartavya Path after a gap of three years. While the theme of Republic Day
this year was ‘Bharat-Loktantra ki Matruka’ (India-Mother of Democracy) and ‘Viksit Bharat’
(Developed India), the state showcased women’s empowerment in Raghurajpur heritage village and a
‘Kandarpa Hati’ in its tableau which was followed by a group of 14 Sambalpuri dancers.
The 45 feet long, 14 feet wide and 16 feet high tableau was designed by eminent artists Gajendra Sahoo
and Kirti Kishore Maharana. It had two components - a replica of a Kandarpa Hati (a popular Pattachitra
design depicting Krishna Leela where nine women are entangled with each other to form the shape of
an elephant) and women artisans of Raghurajpur village in Puri.
TN govt. honours Alt News’ Mohammed Zubair with award for communal harmony
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin handed over the Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award, 2024
to Alt News’ co-founder Mohammed Zubair. Governor R.N. Ravi was among the dignitaries present
during the celebrations.
Mr. Zubair, a native of Denkanikottai of Krishnagiri district, through his Alt News portal has been
analysing the veracity of the news coming out on social media and “his work helps to prevent the
occurrence of violence in society likely to be caused by fake news,” the citation read and went on to
recall that in March 2023, there was a rapid spread on social media that migrant workers were being
attacked in Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu Government instituted this award in the year 2000.
It is given to individuals of the state in recognition of distinguished services in promoting harmony.
Medal under Award, Rs. 25,000 in cash and a certificate of appreciation.
Who is Kottai Ameer?
♦ Born in a simple family in Coimbatore.
♦ A Muslim devoted his whole life to promoting unity.
♦ He was committed to religious harmony during the tense period of the Babri Masjid incident.
22 Indian origin scientists awarded VAIBHAV fellowship

he government on Tuesday announced the VAIBHAV fellowship to 22 scientists of Indian origin to take
up collaborative research projects in leading institutes of the country in areas such as artificial
intelligence and quantum technologies.
The Ministry of Science and Technology also made an offer to top scientists Arogyaswami J Paulraj and
Prof. Jitendra Malik to take up collaborative research projects in the fields of electrical engineering and
computer science at IIT-Bombay and IIT-Kanpur, respectively, as ‘Distinguished VAIBHAV Fellows’.
The VAIBHAV or Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik fellows are from the topmost institutes of Australia,
Canada, Finland, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US, and will work with Indian
institutes such as IISc, IUCAA and the IITs for the next three years on jointly identified projects.
The idea emerged from the VAIBHAV Summit inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October
2020 and envisages a collaboration between scientists of the Indian Diaspora with Indian higher
educational institutions (HEIs), universities and public-funded scientific institutions.

Dr. A.N. Rao gets WSSA Award
Agricultural scientist Dr. Adusumilli Narayana Rao (A.N. Rao) has been elected to the prestigious Weed
Science Society of America (WSSA). Dr. Carol Moseley, president of the Society, was speaking at the 64th
anniversary celebrations of WSSA in San Antonio, Texas. A.N. Rao was honoured with the Life
Membership Award-2024. A N Rao said in a statement on Tuesday that the recognition was given for
his research on weeds. A.N. Rao, who lives in Hyderabad. He has nearly 42 years of experience in the
development of integrated weed management technology. He has worked as a weed scientist at
ICRISAT, University of Hyderabad, Acharya Ngiranga Agricultural University (ANGRIU), AP State
Council for Science and Technology, Mahindra Shubh Labh, Philippines and Egypt. More than 150
research papers on weed management have been published in leading journals. Speaking on the
occasion, Rao said that he will do his best to strengthen weed science in the Asia-Pacific region, food
security, poverty alleviation and sustainable crop production growth.
Three Indian scientists honored with Blavatnik Awards in UK

The 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the UK has recognized the achievements of nine
exceptional scientists with a total of £480,000 (US$608,000). Among the laureates are three Indian
scientists - Rahul R. Nair, Mehul Malik, and Tanmay Bharat.
Nair, a materials physicist and Carlsberg/Royal Academy of Engineering research chair at The
University of Manchester will receive £100,000 (US$127,000) for his work in developing novel
membranes based on two-dimensional materials. His research will address societal challenges,
including water filtration and separation technologies, using graphene and other 2D materials.
Malik, a quantum physicist and professor of Physics at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland is set to
receive £30,000 (US$38,000) for his work in quantum internet. His innovations promised
unprecedented levels of information security and laid the foundation for high-capacity quantum
communication networks.
The third laureate, Bharat, a structural microbiologist and Programme Leader in the Structural Studies
Division at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, will also receive £30,000
((US$38,000). His work involves utilizing electron cryotomography techniques to understand the
mechanisms of biofilm and microbiome formation at the atomic level.
Organized by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences, the awards
ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 27, 2024, at Banqueting House in Whitehall, London.
Ravi Shastri, Farokh Engineer Receive Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Awards
• Former India captain and head coach Ravi Shastri expressed his gratitude on January 21, 2024 for
being awarded the prestigious Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at a glittering ceremony
organized by the BCCI.
• The ceremony also saw other cricketing stalwarts, such as Farokh Engineer, being honored for their
contributions to the sport.
• Jasprit Bumrah, one of the key players in India's recent cricket success, was awarded the Polly Umrigar
Award for Best International Cricketer - Men.
• Shubman Gill received the Polly Umrigar Best Men's International Cricketer of the Year award for his
outstanding performance in the 2022-23 season. The awards ceremony also recognized Mohammed
Shami for his excellence in international cricket.

Messi and Putellas win best players at FIFA awards
Argentina and Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been named men's player of the year at the
2022 Best FIFA Awards. The 35-year-old beat French forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to
the prize. Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, and scored 27 goals in 49 games for
club and country in 2021-22.
Barcelona's Alexia Putellas was named the Best FIFA women's player of the year during the ceremony
of the Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris, France, on February 27.
Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to their third World Cup title, was named the Best FIFA Men's Coach
of the year.
England manager Sarina Wiegman was named women's coach of the year after guiding the Lionesses
to European Championship glory on home soil last year, the team's first major trophy.
Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martinez won The Best men's goalkeeper award.
England goalkeeper Mary Earps receives the Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award during the
ceremony of the Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris, France, on February 27.
Polish amputee soccer player Marcin Oleksy receives the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal.
Georgian player Luka Lochoshvili received the FIFA Fair Play Award.
Argentina's fans earned The Best fan award for their show of support in Qatar.
Marcia Aoki, Pele's widow, left, receives a special 'Best FIFA Award' for the former Brazil legend during
the ceremony of the Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris on February 27.
Overview of 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards: 12th Fail & Animal Won Major Award
The 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards (Filmfare Awards 2024) was held in Gujarat.
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 27th to 28th January 2024.
The Filmfare Awards 2024 were presented in partnership with the Gujarat Tourism, Government of
Gujarat.
Highlights:
i.Vidhu Vinod Chopra's directorial venture "12th Fail" won 5 awards at the 69th Filmfare Awards 2024,
including Best Film and Best Director.
ii. Sandeep Reddy Vanga's "Animal" movie also won 5 awards including Best Actor in A Leading Role
(Male) and Best Music Album.
Comoros President Azali Assoumani won 4th term as President.

Azali Assoumani has been re-elected as the President of the Union of Comoros for a fourth 5-year term.
He won the 2024 Comorian Presidential Election with 62.97% of the total votes.
• Azali Assoumani has been serving as the President of Comoros since 1999.
• This marks his 3rd consecutive term and he will rule until 2029.
CONSTITUTION & POLITICS

Committee to review the Anti-Defection Act
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that a committee headed by Maharashtra Assembly Speaker
Rahul Narvekar will be constituted to review the Anti-Defection Act. Addressing the 84th annual
meeting of the All India Presiding Officers, he addressed the recent political developments in some
states of the country. According to the Anti-defection Act enshrined in the Tenth Schedule of the
Constitution, representatives belonging to different parties are disqualified from their office if they join

another party or vote against their party's instructions. However, if two-thirds of the members of one
party merge into another party, they will not be disqualified.
History of Party Defections:
In 1985, the Rajiv Gandhi government passed the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act on Defection and
included it in the 10th Schedule of the Constitution to curb political defection. Articles 101, 102, 190,
191 of the Constitution also deal with party defection. Following is the application of certain words in
context in relation to 10th Schedule.
1. Sabha means both the Houses of the Parliament or the State Legislature (two Legislatures if there are
two Legislatures).
2. Legislative party means the total number of members of a political party at a particular time in a
legislature.
Main Provisions of Anti-Defection Act
♦ When a member of a party renounces party membership on his own, when he votes in a vote in the
House against the will of the party, when an independent member joins another party after election,
when a nominated member joins any party after six months of his nomination, becomes disqualified.
♦ Also, when one-third faction splits off from one party and becomes another faction, when a whole
party merges with another party or when a new party emerges, on its members,
♦ When a party splits and a group joins another party, members who do not want to join it and want to
continue as a separate group, there will be no disqualification on the members who abstain from voting
after taking the permission of the party 15 days before participating in the voting.
Supreme Court referred to as 'Union of Bharat'

The Supreme Court issued a circular calling it 'Union of Bharat' instead of the Union of India. The
Supreme Court has issued the latest guidelines to all the courts across the country stating in which
matters adjournments should not be sought.
It is known that when the G20 summit was held in India last year, the Modi government referred to the
President of India as the 'President of Bharat' in the invitation sent by the Center to the dinner program
of the G20 heads of state. There have been speculations that the name of the country will be changed
from India to India. But some legal experts have defended the central action saying that both words can
be used. Referring to Article-1 of the Constitution, he reminded that 'India and Bharat are one and the
same.
Citizenship Amendment Act 2019

The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is once again in the limelight. Union Minister
Shantanu Thakur announced that the CAA will be implemented across the country within a week. The
Trinamool Congress dismissed it as a false statement made for the benefit of the Lok Sabha elections.
Even though the Modi government enacted the CAA in 2019 itself, its implementation has been
postponed due to strong opposition and concerns across the country. But recent developments show
that the NDA government led by the BJP is insisting on the implementation of CAA. Union Home Minister
Amit Shah also made it clear last month that it must be implemented across the country no matter what
anyone thinks.
What is the law...
CAA aims to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and
Afghanistan. Those who have not immigrated to India before 31 December 2014 are eligible for this.
CAA applies to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians.

They are eligible to apply for citizenship even if they do not have any valid documents, even if they have
expired. To this extent, the NDA government has amended the Citizenship Act of 1955. When the CAA
bill was first introduced in the Parliament in 2016, the then ally of the NDA, the Assam Gana Parishad
and other parties opposed it. Later, in 2019, the CAA Bill was approved by both houses of the
Parliament. It later became a law with the President's assent.
► Religious minorities who did not immigrate to India within the deadline will be granted citizenship
within six years.
► The requirement that they should have lived in India for at least 11 years has also been reduced to
five years.
► This is the first time in India that religion will be taken as the basis for granting citizenship.
► However, the non-inclusion of Muslim minorities in the scope of CAA has become a matter of
controversy.
Why the opposition...
There is a large number of non-Muslim minorities who have migrated from Pakistan, Bangladesh and
Afghanistan along with North Eastern states, West Bengal and the national capital region. Especially in
Bengal, the majority of the Matua social class are those who have migrated since the 1950s because they
could not tolerate the Muslim oppression and severe violence against them in Bangladesh. All of them
have established themselves as a dominant vote bank in Bengal since the 1990s.
With that, it has become normal for all the parties to try for their support. In fact, the biggest
beneficiaries of the implementation of CAA are the families. Many people have entered illegally from
Bangladesh in North Eastern states as well. If CAA comes into force, all of them will get Indian
citizenship directly without any verification. Locals say that if they do that, they will all become majority
citizens.
Their argument is that not only will the rights and cultural traditions be disturbed, but the employment
opportunities will also be affected. Moreover, they say that this will pave the way for more massive
migration from Bangladesh to India. With that, when the CAA bill came into law in 2019, there were
serious protests against its implementation in the respective states. Anti-CAA protests in Assam and
other states turned violent. Clashes often break out between pro-CAA and anti-CAA groups.
Concern among Muslims too...

Muslims are also showing strong opposition to CAA. Their objection is that this is a law that is mainly
aimed at them. "With the help of CAA, Muslims who do not have any documents will be branded as
illegal immigrants. It is for this reason that the CAA is not being applied to Muslim minorities who have
not migrated from other countries," they argued.
They say that Shia and other Muslims have also migrated to India due to severe oppression in Pakistan
and their situation will become unbearable with the implementation of CAA. Students protested against
CAA in many Muslim universities. Clashes to suppress them led to loss of life. The Center, however, is
rejecting the claims of atrocities against Muslims in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and
Afghanistan. On the other hand, there are criticisms that it is unfair not to apply the CAA to religious
minorities who have migrated from Tibet, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Controversy in the Supreme Court: In this context, the Congress, RJD, Majlis and other parties have
already filed cases in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the CAA Act as a whole.

Along with Jamait Ulema e Hind, many voluntary organizations were also implicated. The investigation
on these is reaching the final stage.
NRC ...
The National Register of Citizens (NRC), which came up as part of the CAA, has also added fuel to the
controversy. Its main objective is to identify and deport illegal immigrants. As a part of this, it is
mandatory to register the proof of residence etc. of the migrants. Thus, a list of those legally eligible for
citizenship is drawn up. Those without proper documents are considered illegal immigrants. In 2020,
the Modi government has announced that the NRC, which was implemented only in Assam, will be made
nationwide. The friction continues on this too.
Article 355 Implementation Controversy in Manipur

• In the month of May 2023, Article 355 is being implemented to bring the situation back to normal in
the northeastern state of Manipur, which was engulfed by the conflict between the Kuki and Meitei
tribes.
• However, the opposition states that they thought that the Center had deployed forces on the request
of the state and that they were not aware of the implementation of Article 355 and that neither the
Center nor the state government had disclosed this to the people of the state.
• According to Article 355, when the state government loses control over constitutional governance in
the states, the Center can take direct measures to maintain law and order during foreign aggression. It
does not require permission from the state government. There is no need to abolish the state
government. It is said to be the prelude to President's rule. On the other hand, Kuki-tribe leaders are
demanding President's rule in Manipur. However, Union Home Minister Amit made it clear in the
recently held Parliament sessions that the state government is cooperating with the central forces in
Manipur and there is no need for President's rule.
Kuki tribe:
• They are found in India (north-eastern states), parts of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
They are present in all North Eastern states except Arunachal Pradesh.
The Kuki people of India (about fifty tribes) are recognized as Scheduled Tribes.
The Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram belong to the Kuki tribe, knot
• In Manipur, the Kuki tribe mainly lives in the hills and constitutes about 30% of Manipur's population.
People of Meitei:
The Meitei people of Manipur state are also known as Manipur people, the official language of Manipuri
is Meitei.
It is one of the 22 official languages of India.
Although the Meitei people are mainly concentrated in the Imphal Valley region of Manipur, there is a
significant presence of Meitei people in Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram as well as
in the neighboring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
• They are 53% of the population of Manipur.
PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Supreme Court of India

On January 28, 2024, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi inaugurated the Diamond Jubilee
(75th Year) celebration of the Supreme Court of India (SCI) at the Supreme Court auditorium in Delhi.
• The day marks the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of the Supreme Court of India on 28th January
1950.

Karnataka High Court CJ as Supreme Court Judge
The number of judges (34) in Supreme Court, the highest court of the country, has again reached full
capacity. On January 24, the Union Ministry of Justice issued a notification appointing Karnataka High
Court Chief Justice Prasanna Balachandra Varale as a judge of the Supreme Court as per the
recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium.
One Nation, One Election | The cost of EVMs for election is ten thousand crores.
The Central Election Commission (EC) has said that if the One Nation, One Election policy is
implemented, ten thousand crores will be spent on EVMs alone every 15 years. It has been clarified that
new EVMs will have to be provided every 15 years.
It has been clarified that new EVMs will have to be provided every 15 years. In this regard, a report has
been sent to the central government. According to an Election Commission (EC) report, if elections to
the Lok Sabha and state assemblies are held simultaneously, a fund of Rs 10,000 crore will be required
every 15 years to purchase new Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The life span of EVMs is 15 years.
It has been said that one set of EVMs can be used for conducting elections three times.
Out of 96 crore voters in the country, 1.73 crore are 18-19 years old.
47 crore women
1.73 crore new voters
Central Election Commission Disclosure
More than 96 crore citizens are eligible to vote in the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha elections. According to
the Election Commission, 47 crore of these are women and more than 1.73 crore of the total voters are
in the age group of 18-19 years. About 18 lakh persons registered in the voter list are persons with
disabilities. More than 12 lakh polling centers will be set up across the country for people to exercise
their right to vote in the Lok Sabha elections. Around 1.5 crore election workers will be assigned for
general election polling.
Vemi Reddy as the Vice Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

YSRCP MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Vice-
President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhad reconstituted the panel of Vice-Chairmen with
a total of 8 members, including four women. The panel included Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy along
with Ramilaben Bacher Bhai Bara, Seema Dwivedi, Dr. Ami Yazinak, Mausam Noor, Kanakamedala
Ravindra Kumar, Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha, Lt. Gen. DP Vaths (Retd.).
Election to 56 Rajya Sabha seats on 27th February

56 Rajya Sabha seats in 15 states across the country are falling vacant in April. The Central Election
Commission announced on Monday that elections will be held for them on February 27. The schedule
has been released. The notification will be released on February 8.
Nominations will be received till 15th, scrutiny till 16th and withdrawal till 20th. Polling will be held on
February 27 from 9 am to 4 pm. At five o'clock the counting will be over and the results will be
announced. Ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP Chief JP Nadda, several Union Ministers are among
the MPs whose terms are ending.
BJP will win 28 seats out of 56 Rajya Sabha seats where the elections will be held. Currently, the strength
of the NDA alliance in the Rajya Sabha is 114 with 93 members of the BJP. Congress has 30 seats. In view
of the numerical strength of the Congress in the Himachal Assembly, the only Rajya Sabha seat there

will go to that party. It is reported that it may be assigned to Priyanka Gam. BJP chief JP Nadda, who is
currently an MP from there, will be shifted from another state.
Nitish Kumar Sworn in as Bihar CM for 9th time; Samrat Chaudhury, Vijay Kumar Sinha Took
Oath as Deputy CMs
Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) President Nitish Kumar took oath as the Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar for the
9th time after he joined hands with the Bharativa Janata Party (BJP) -led National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) and its partners to form a new government in Bihar.
He was administered the oath of office by Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar at Raj Bhavan, Patna (Bihar).
Along with him, Samrat Chaudhury, and Vijay Kumar Sinha took oath as Deputy CMs.
Champay Soren sworn in as Jharkhand CM

Champay Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Congress, JMM and RJD MLAs
supported him.It is known that former CM Hemant Soren was arrested by ED officials.
Kerala governor departs from the script, ‘walks out’ after 78-second speech
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday cut short his customary policy address in the assembly to
mark the beginning of budget session to one minute and 18 seconds, the shortest such speech in the
history of the House. By reading out just the first line and the last para of the original 62-page speech,
the governor ensured that he had technically fulfilled his obligation, but leaving behind serious
questions on whether his reported differences with the government and chief minister should extend
to the entire august assembly that represents the will of the whole state.
Most governors usually read the full policy address though Khan and his predecessor P Sathasivam had
skipped some parts of their respective speeches earlier that were critical of the Union government.
These are the Governor's quota MLCs...

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has selected two MLCs in Telangana Governor's Quota. The
Governor approved the selection of Professor Kodandaram and Amarullah Khan as MLCs.
SC Classification Committee
• Organized under the Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gaba
• Secretaries of 5 departments as members
A high-level committee headed by Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gaba has been constituted to study the
issue of classification of SC reservations. In this, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs; Personnel Affairs,
Training; Tribal Affairs; Department of Justice; Social Justice-Empowerment Secretaries are members.
The central government said in a statement that this Social Justice Committee will look into the issue of
classification.
Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of S.197 CrPC as it Excludes Fabrication of Documents from
Official Duty
In a recent decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
applies solely to acts carried out in the discharge of a public servant’s official duties.
The Court emphasized that the fabrication of documents, not forming part of official duties, does not
require prior sanction for prosecution under Section 197 CrPC.

The ruling reversed a High Court judgment that had quashed criminal proceedings against a public
servant due to the absence of prior sanction.
The complainant-appellant had alleged the public servant’s involvement in fabricating official
documents by misusing their position as a Village Accountant. The High Court had quashed the
proceedings, citing the lack of prior sanction under Section 197 CrPC.
The Supreme Court, comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, allowed the criminal appeal,
stating that Section 197 CrPC does not cover every act or omission by a public servant but is limited to
those done in the discharge of official duties.
The Court referred to precedents, including the Shambhoo Nath Misra case, which clarified that
fabrication of records and misappropriation of funds by a public servant cannot be considered part of
official duties.
The Court further cited the State of Orissa v. Ganesh Chandra Jew case, highlighting that Section 197
CrPC does not extend protection to every act or omission by a public servant but only to those done in
the discharge of official duty.
Unmarried daughter has right to maintenance from parents: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court has held that unmarried daughters, regardless of their religious affiliations,
have the right to obtain maintenance from parents irrespective of their age under the Domestic Violence
Act.Dismissing a petition filed by one Naimullah Sheikh and another, Justice Jyotsna Sharma observed,
“There remains no doubt that an unmarried daughter, whether Hindu or Muslim has a right to obtain
maintenance, irrespective of her age.”
Deprivation of physical intimacy is cruelty: Madhya Pradesh High Court comments

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has commented that denying the marriage bond and keeping away
from physical intimacy comes under mental cruelty. It said that this situation is a reasonable ground for
granting divorce. A bench consisting of Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vinay Saraf granted divorce to the
victim's husband after a woman was estranged from her husband since their marriage in 2006.
Husband Bound To Maintain Wife Despite Lack Of Income, : Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court has issued a crucial judgment regarding the maintenance provided in the case
of divorce. It has been clarified that it is the husband's responsibility to provide maintenance to the
separated wife even if she does not have a job. In this case, it was ordered that the husband is capable
of working as a labourer. The court rejected the husband's contention that he could not pay
maintenance as he was unemployed.
Women Employee Can Now Nominate Children for family pension

The Center has taken a crucial decision regarding the family pension of women employees. An
announcement has been issued that employees can also nominate the name of daughter or son instead
of husband as a pension nominee. Until now, family pension was provided only to the spouse of the
deceased employee or pensioner. Other family members were eligible for pension only in cases where
the partner was ineligible and died.

Jana Vishwas Bill
Why is it in the news?
The Bill was sent to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee for consideration as it was revealed
that it was brought in with the intention of promoting ease of trade on the occasion of the 75th
anniversary celebrations of the Supreme Court.
What does the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Rules) Bill, 2023 say?
• The Bill proposes to amend 183 provisions out of 42 Central Acts administered by 19
Ministries/Departments dealing with various topics like environment, agriculture, media, industries,
commerce, information technology, motor vehicles, cinematography, food safety etc.
• Main objective of this bill: To decriminalize minor offenses which do not cause any harm to public
interest or national security and replace them with civil penalties or administrative action.
This bill requires:
It is intended to rationalize criminal provisions to reduce unnecessary pressure on the judicial system,
address technical and procedural loopholes without imposing fines, establish a balanced approach
between severity of crime and prescribed punishment, remove barriers and promote the growth of
businesses by promoting a conducive legal environment.
Advantages:
The introduction of administrative justice decision making mechanisms will reduce the pressure on the
judicial system, help reduce case backlogs and facilitate more efficient justice. The bill promotes trust-
based governance by ensuring that citizens, businesses and government departments can operate
without fear of imprisonment for minor technical errors.
Concerns:
The Jan Vishwas Bill replaces imprisonment with fines or penalties. Experts argue that the bill
represents 'quasi-decriminalization' and more efforts are needed to institutionalize true
decriminalization.
Concerns have been raised about the appointment of adjudicating officers under the Air (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, questioning their technical
competence for such legal proceedings.
What are the key laws covered in the Bill?
• Important laws included in the Bill
• Indian Forest Act, 1927.
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• Information Technology Act, 2000.
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Copyright Act, 1957.
• Patents Act, 1970.
• Railway Act, 1989.
• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
e-SAKSHI Mobile Application

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), launched the MPLADS e-SAKSHI
Mobile Application for the revised fund flow procedure under the MPLAD Scheme.
• The Mobile Application aims to revolutionize how Members of Parliament (MPs) engage with and
manage development projects in their constituencies.

GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT
718 snow leopards in the country.. The highest number is in Ladakh..!
According to the Union Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, the first
scientific census conducted by the 'Wild Life Institute of India (WII)' has revealed that there are a total
of 718 snow leopards in the country. He released a report to this effect in the 'National Board of Wildlife'
meeting held in New Delhi.
The Center said that this scientific census covered more than 70 percent of the 1.20 lakh square
kilometers (Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh)
of the country where snow leopards live. A scientific census of snow leopards was conducted for four
years from 2019 to 2023. A total of 1.80 lakh trap cameras were set up in 1971 areas and snow leopards
were counted.
According to the latest report released by the center regarding the number of snow leopards, there are
a total of 718 snow leopards in the country. It has been found that there are 447 leopards in Ladakh.
Similarly, there are 124 snow leopards in Uttarakhand, 51 in Himachal Pradesh, 36 in Arunachal
Pradesh, 21 in Sikkim and 9 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Invention of weather app

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has launched a new app named ``Harhar Mausam.. Hargar
Mausam'' (Weather Information for Everyone.. Every Home) to provide weather information to all the
rural people of the country to celebrate its 150th anniversary. It was released by Vice President Jagdeep
Dhankhad in Delhi on Monday. This app has also been released by the higher authorities in the
Hyderabad Meteorological Center. The services of this app will be available soon. Through this you can
know the weather details for each day.. for the next five days. Information is available in 11 other
regional languages besides English, Hindi and Telugu. IMD officials said that early information about
cyclones and heavy rains will make it easier to plan agricultural activities like sowing, irrigation,
fertilizer and pesticide use.
Volcano erupted on the Reykjanes

A huge volcano erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. The mountain of fire emanating from it
is flowing on the population. As a result, many nearby houses were destroyed. In view of the fact that
the area is under the threat of lava, several measures have already been taken.
Large boulders were placed as a barrier against the danger of the lava coming out of the volcano flowing
over the area. But to no avail. Due to the flow of lava, the locals have evacuated their houses and are
moving to safer areas. Pets and cattle are also being taken along with them. Officials said no casualties
have been reported so far.
A volcano erupted in Iceland within months. With this, the government has announced that the Blue
Lagoon, a tourist destination, will be closed till January 16. Officials said that this decision was taken
cautiously even though Lava is far away from this place at present.
WEF Report on Climate Change

A study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has revealed that there is a risk of massive disasters in
the coming 25 years due to climate change. It is estimated that if the temperature rises by 2.5 to 2.9
degrees Celsius due to global warming, floods, droughts, hot winds, tropical storms and wildfires may
occur and sea levels may rise. As a result, 1.45 crore people may die by 2050 and there is a risk of
economic loss of 12.5 trillion dollars. It said that 85 lakh people will lose their lives due to floods alone

and another 32-lakh people will become destitute due to droughts. The World Economic Forum
estimates that heat waves could cost the world's economies $7.1 trillion by 2050.
Southwest rainfall increased by 10% in decades: CEEW study reveals

Southwest Monsoon rainfall across the country has increased by up to ten percent in the past decade
(2012-2022) due to climate change. A study by The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)
has revealed that 55 percent of the country's tehsils and sub-districts have recorded an increase of ten
percent. The organization analyzed 40 years of rainfall data in over 4,500 tehsils across the country. In
the last decade, 11 percent of the sub-districts have seen a decrease in the rainfall of the southwest
monsoon. Vishwas Chitale, senior program head at CEEW, said that their study will be useful in planning
for future economic disruptions by taking into account erratic rainfall patterns as the Indian
government prepares for its 2024 budget.
Indian tectonic plate is breaking into two. It's happening beneath Tibet
In a new discovery that could reshape our understanding of the forces shaping the Earth's highest
mountains, researchers have unveiled new seismic data indicating that the Indian tectonic plate is
splitting in two beneath the Tibetan plateau.
This revelation was presented at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco and
offers a fresh perspective on the colossal Himalayan mountain range's formation.
Supreme Court orders for conservation of Great Indian Bustard

Union government to come up with plan by February to save endangered 'Great Indian Bustard'
A three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice ordered. In Gujarat and Rajasthan
Great Indian Bustard in areas with heavy power transmission lines
The court said that its natural habitat is being damaged, so alternative methods like solar power should
be explored.
Storm Isha batters UK with strong winds and rain

The transport system in Britain and Ireland was paralyzed due to the fierce storm Isha. More than 100
flights were cancelled. The rail operators announced on January 23 that they are suspending the railway
services.
Climate change may reduce life expectancy by half a year, study suggests
The cost of climate change may be six months off the average human lifespan, according to a study
published January 18, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS Climate by Amit Roy from Shahjalal
University of Science and Technology and The New School for Social Research, U.S.
Temperature and rainfall — two telltale signals of climate change — cause myriad public health
concerns, from the acute and direct (e.g., natural disasters like flooding and heat waves) to the indirect
yet equally devastating (e.g., respiratory and mental illnesses). While impacts like these are observable
and well documented, existing research has not established a direct link between climate change and
life expectancy.
DALMA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Why in News?
The canopy walk facility at a height of 25 feet at the Dalma Sanctuary will be set up soon.
About Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located 10 kilometers from the city of Jamshedpur in the state of Jharkhand.
• It is situated around the Dalma Hills on the Chottanagpur Plateau.
• The Sanctuary gets its name from the "Dalma mai" a local goddess who is revered and worshipped by
the local people and the people of adjoining villages of Dalma.
• Inaugurated in 1975, it contains a significant population of Indian Elephants.
• The sanctuary covers almost 193 sq. km. of forest area.
• The entire forest of Dalma Sanctuary falls in the catchment of the Subarnarekha River and Dimna Lake
of Jamshedpur.
Rare golden tiger sighting in Kaziranga National Park

rare Bengal tiger morph (the golden morph), taking a stroll, was recently spotted in Kaziranga National
Park.
• Currently, golden tigers are considered an endangered species internationally due to their dwindling
numbers.
• Claimed to be the only golden tiger in the world, Kaziranga National Park is home to four such tigers,
and these are rare.
• It is found only in East India, Southeast Asia.
About Kaziranga National Park..
♦ Guwahati - Jorhat is close to National Highway 37.
♦ Spread over about 430 square kilometers (in Golaghat, Navgaon district).
♦ It accounts for two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinoceroses.
♦ Bengal tigers and elephants are also more abundant than any other sanctuary in the world.
♦ In 1985 it was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Also the birds and the forest
♦ Recognized as a wildlife sanctuary.
India Records Its First-Ever Confirmed Sighting of A Rare Tibetan Brown Bear
In a remarkable development for India's wildlife conservation, the first-ever confirmed sighting of the
rare Tibetan Brown Bear (scientific name: Ursus arctos pruinosus) was recorded in the
high altitudes of North Sikkim.
IMPORTANT MoUs
Key discussion between India and Maldives on bilateral relations...
India's Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar met with Maldivian Foreign Minister Musa Zamir in
Uganda's capital city Kampala during the two-day Naam Summit. Jaishankar X (Twitter) informed that
in the meeting with the Maldivian Foreign Minister Musa Jameer, there was a clear dialogue on India-
Maldives relations and NAM related issues were also discussed.
Tata Advanced Systems inks joint chopper production deal with Airbus
In a boost for Make in India and India-France ties, French aircraft maker Airbus inked a deal with Tata
Group to make helicopters in India. Airbus already operates a C295 helicopter-making facility in
Gujarat. Tata and Airbus will manufacture the H125 chopper from the Final Assembly Line, according
to an official statement.

NITI Aayog, the (MoA&FW), and the FAO jointly launched the Investment Forum for Advancing Climate
Resilient Agrifood Systems in India’ in New Delhi
India-France Relations
• 1948: India and France established diplomatic ties
• 1998: India and France elevated their diplomatic relationship to Strategic Partnership
• 2023: The joint statement: "25th Anniversary of Strategic Partnership between France and India:
Towards a Century of Indo-French Relations"-sets the course for the India-France bilateral relationship
in all areas till 2047
India-France Strategic Partnership
• Diplomatic relations elevated to Strategic Partnership in 1998.
• It was the first time that India signed with any western country.
• Principal Pillars of Strategic Partnership are.
• Defence and security.
• civil nuclear matters.
• space.
• Indo-Pacific.
Defence - Space
• A new agreement for a defence-space partnership that will help to collaborate on "Space situational
awareness"
• A Mol on coordinating on satellite launches.
• 2 mega multi billion dollar defence deals in the pipeline between 2 countries
• 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers
• 3 additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines.
Marut Drones Ties Up With Skydive

Japan's Skydrive Hyderabad company has signed an agreement with Marut Drones to develop and make
electric air taxis available. Maruth Drones will get approvals from government agencies, set up airfields,
train pilots and mechanics.
Denmark in partnership with India launched

Green Fuels Alliance India Denmark has launched "Green Fuels Alliance India" (GFAI), an initiative to
boost collaborative efforts between India and Denmark in the sustainable energy solutions sector, at
the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2024, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
i.This will also support both nations in advancing the joint global goal towards carbon neutrality.
ii. The initiative is led by the Danish Embassy and Consulate General of Denmark in India.
About GFAI:
The initiative will play a pivotal role in advancing the green fuels sector which includes green hydrogen
by fostering innovation, collaboration, and partnerships between Danish industries and their
counterparts in India.
National Farmers Society, IndiaAl, Wadhwani Foundation Signs MoU for Al-Driven Agriculture
• A Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been recently inked between the National
Farmers' Welfare Programme
Implementation Society, IndiaAl (Digital India Corporation), and Wadhwani Foundation.
• This collaborative effort aims to propel

India to the forefront of Al-driven digital agriculture, leveraging the expertise and support of the
Wadhwani Foundation in formulating and executing a robust Al strategy.
India Signs Agreement for Lithium Exploration and Mining Project in Argentina
Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) signed an agreement with Argentina's state-owned enterprise
Catamarca Minera y Energética Sociedad del Estado (CAMYEN SE) at Catamarca, Argentina to explore
and develop 5 lithium brine blocks.
• The agreement is worth about Rs. 200 crores and is the 1st-ever lithium exploration and mining
project by a Government of India-owned enterprise.
• The 5 lithium brine blocks are namelv Cortadera-I, Cortadera-VII, Cortadera-VIII, Cateo-2022-
01810132, and Cortadera-VI
Switzerland-India Free Trade Agreement Concluded After 16-Year Negotiation Saga

• In a historic breakthrough, Switzerland and India have finally sealed a free-trade agreement (FT)
following a marathon 16-year negotiation period.
• The announcement came from Swiss
Economy Minister Guy Parmelin, who, after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, swiftly
headed to India for crucial discussions with his counterpart, Piyush Goyal.
India Aids Afghanistan with 40,000 Liters of Malathion Against Locust Threat
In a remarkable display of goodwill and humanitarian assistance, the Indian government has stepped
forward to aid the Afghan people in confronting the locust menace. The generous support comes in the
form of 40,000 litres of Malathion, an environmentally friendly pesticide known for its efficacy in arid
regions and minimal water usage.
SUMMITS- CONFERENCES
India To Host 71st Miss World Pageant After 28 Years
The 71st Miss World pageant is making a comeback to India after a 28-year hiatus. The month-long
extravaganza kicks off in New Delhi on February 18 and concludes in Mumbai on March 9, 2024. Get
ready for an exciting journey as we dive into the venue details and competition highlights of this
prestigious event. Julia Morley CBE, Chairman of Miss World, expressed her enthusiasm, stating,
“Excitement fills the air as we proudly announce India as the host country for Miss World. A celebration
of beauty, diversity, and empowerment awaits. Get ready for a spectacular journey!”
The stunning Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, the picturesque G-20 venue, and the Bharat
Mandapam in New Delhi will host this year’s Miss World.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia Inaugurates Asia's Largest Aviation Expo Wings India
2024
• Union Minister for Civil Aviation ShriJyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated Wings India 2024, Asia's
largest aviation expo, at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad.
• The theme of Wings India 2024 is "Connecting India to the World in Amrit Kaal: Setting the Stage for
India Civil Aviation @2047".

• The aim is to support a USD 20 trillion economy by 2047 with a robust aviation system. The expo
served as a platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to exchange ideas and
forgepartnerships.
19th NAM Summit In Kampala, Uganda

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently provided a glimpse into the 19th Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) Summit, which commenced in Uganda.
• The two-day summit, under the theme Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence,' brings
together over 120 developing countries, signitying a crucial moment in history.
• The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), founded in 1961 during the Cold War based on the Panchsheel
principle, traces its roots back to the concept that emerged in 1955 at the Asia-Africa Bandung
Conference in Indonesia.
Theme: Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence,'
India International Science Festival 2023 Kicks Off

The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 has commenced on January 17, marking the
beginning of a four-day extravaganza celebrating the achievements of India in the frontier areas
of science and technolog. Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India,
and coordinated by the National Innovation Foundation-India, IISF 2023 aims to foster scientific
temperament, acknowledge achievements, and spread awareness among the Indian populace.
Theme : "Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal."
India International Science Festival 2023 begins

The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 started on 17th January.
Science and Technology. Department of Science and Technology (DST), they conducted. of India, and
coordinated by the National Innovation Foundation-India, IISF 2023 aims to foster scientific character,
recognize achievements and create awareness among the Indian public. The festival was held from
January 17 to 20 at Faridabad, Haryana.
Theme : "Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal."
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi inaugurated the second meeting of state mining ministers in
Bhopal
Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi inaugurated the second State
Mining Ministers Conference held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 23 January 2024.
Highlights: Madhya Pradesh bagged first rank in Mining Auction for 2022-23 and received award from
Union Minister. Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka also received appreciation award at the
event.
Uganda Hosts G77 + China Third South Summit

India Champions Global South's Role as Future Growth EngineV.Muraleedharan, Minister of State,
Ministry of External Affairs represented India and addressed at the Plenary session of the Group of 77
+China (G-77+China) Third South Summit, held in Kampala, Uganda on 21-23January 2024. He
emphasised the pivotal role of the Global South as the world's "future growth engine."
• The theme of (G-77 + China) Third South Summit was, "Leaving No One Behind."

About Uganda:
Capital- Kampala
Prime Minister- Robinah Nabbanja
Currency- Ugandan Shilling
REGIONAL AP
National Award for AP in 'Major Minerals' auction
A national level award was given for the steps taken by the state government to conduct auctions for
major mineral blocks in the state within a specified time frame. The Union Department of Mines
announced the National Award 'Award of Appreciation' for successfully completing the bidding process
for 11 blocks during the year. In 2022-23, the highest number of 105 major mineral blocks were
auctioned across the country, out of which the AP government auctioned 11 blocks and secured the
third position at the national level. The award was presented at the second State Mining Ministers
Conference held in Bhopal on 23rd of this month. State Underground Mines Minister Peddireddy
Ramachandra Reddy congratulated Gopalakrishna Dwivedi and VG Venkata Reddy, Director of Mines
Department, who have worked hard for this, saying that this award stands as a proof of the progress
achieved by the state in the mining sector as part of the reforms implemented in the Mines Department
by Chief Minister YS Jagan.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

On the occasion of Republic Day, the Government of India has announced the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya
Bal Puraskar 2024 for 19 children. Pendyala Lakshmipriya was selected in the arts and culture category
from Telangana and R. Suryaprakash in the sports category from Andhra Pradesh. The awards are given
annually by the Central Government to children in the age group of 5-18 years who have excelled in
seven disciplines such as adventure, arts and culture, environmental protection, innovation, science and
technology, social service and sports. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has selected nine
boys and 10 girls from 18 states/UTs for the award for the year 2024. President Draupadi Murmu will
present the awards to them at a ceremony to be held at Vigyan Bhawan on 22nd of this month. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi will interact with them on 23rd. The children will participate in the Republic
Day celebrations at Kartavyapath in Delhi on 26th.
Rs 22,000 crore new investment in AP

everal projects were approved at the SIPB (State Investment Promotion Board) meeting. This will result
in an investment of Rs 22,302 crore in the energy sector. More than 5,300 people have directly got jobs.
JSW Neo Energy Limited will set up 3,350 MW of solar projects with an investment of Rs 12,065 crore.
As part of this.. 400 MW at Chakrayapeta in YSR district, 1050 MW at Mudigubba in Sathya Sai district,
1050 MW at Kanaganapalle and Raptadu in Anantapur district, 850 MW at D. Hirehal and Bommanahal
in Anantapur district. The setting up of these plants will provide direct employment to 3,300 people.
JSW Neo Energy Limited will set up two wind power projects at Kunukuntla in Avuku mandal of Nandyal
district and Jaladurgam in Papilimandalam in Kurnool district. An investment of Rs 1,287 crore has been
made to set up 171.60 MW of wind power projects. It will directly create 200 jobs.
Aquagreen Engineering Management Private Limited to set up a 1000 MW solar project at
Puligundlapalle in Doorala mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district.
The company will spend Rs 4,000 crore. Direct employment opportunities for 1000 people will be
created.

Ekron Energy India Pvt Ltd will set up a 200 MW wind power project at Aspari in Kurnool district. The
project will provide direct employment to 200 people at a cost of Rs 1,350 crore.
Renew Vikram Sakthi Private Limited will set up 600 MW of wind power projects in Anantapur district.
An investment of Rs 3,600 crore will be made for this purpose. There are 600 jobs.
Deposits have increased in the state: SBI

Deposits and credit have increased in the state, according to a research report by the State Bank of India
(SBI). In the last five years, the average annual growth of deposits in AP has been 9.4 per cent. At the
same time, the credit required by the public also registered an annual average growth of 14.3 per cent.
The average annual growth of people's deposits in banks in the last five years is 9.4 per cent, which is a
testimony to the increase in people's incomes.
he growth in deposits is a testimony to the fact that even during covid times, the schemes implemented
by the state government have yielded good results without any problems for the livelihood of the people
of the state. The state government has implemented a direct cash transfer to all eligible poor people
with the aim of raising the living standards of all the eligible poor through Navaratnas. Similarly, the
state government has taken several steps to improve the incomes of the poor as well as farmers, women
of self-help groups, MSMEs and banks under various schemes through banks through banks.
A rare dragonfly in Seshachalam

Wildlife photographer Inesh Siddharth said in a statement that the rare Dragon Fries (Ram Selai) was
spotted in Seshachalam hills. Normal scales are said to be 2 inches... but these are only one and a half
inches. He revealed that Ram Selai dragonflies mostly stay at wetlands and feed on mosquitoes.
Andhra Pradesh taking corrective measures to ensure smooth power supply

The Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (AP Transco) has connected the SEIL Energy India
Ltd’s (formerly Sembcorp Energy India Ltd) thermal power plant evacuation line directly to the AP State
Grid. This direct connection to the State grid will now avoid the Central Transmission Utility (CTU)
charges burden to Discoms.
CTU has been assigned the responsibility of undertaking transmission of electricity through inter-state
transmission system (ISTS) and discharge all functions of planning and coordination under section 38
of Electricity Act, 2003. And for undertaking this activity, CTU levies charges.
According to AP Transco , for daily evacuation of the 15 million units being generated from this plant, a
savings of almost ₹1 crore would accrue to the Discoms and thus, more than ₹365 crore annually would
be saved. It would also result in lesser burden on end customers.
This plant was set up to supply power to AP Discoms under the the signed long-term power purchase
agreement (PPA) with SEIL for supply of 625 MW power, connecting one unit of SEIL plant in Nellore.
This enabled supply from one of the units of this super critical power plant directly through the State
transmission network.
“This connection was established on January 23, and will help the AP Discoms to save on transmission
charges as it will not be required to pay to the central grid. It will also ensure receipt of reliable and
stable power from the Nellore supercritical power plant of SEIL,” sources associated with the project
said.
'Skill' organization contracts for nurse training in Japan

The Ap Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Navies HR Indo-Japan Programme to train nurses in Japan. The apssdc said in a statement that the

project has been taken up as a pilot programme as part of the Skill International Programme (SIP). This
includes training on Japanese language, N1-N5, Japanese caregiving and care-taking. Dr. Vinod Kumar,
MD and CEO, NAVIS, S. Rajkumar, MANAGING, NVIS and Takako Oshibuchi, CEO were present on the
occasion.
Naredco National Conference to be held on 2nd and 3rd

The 16th national conference of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) will be held
in New Delhi on February 2 and 3. Chakradhar said. The general body meeting of the association was
held at Vijayawada in NTR district . On this occasion, G. Chakradhar Rao said all those associated with
the real estate sector, including government officials, will participate in the conference. He said the
conference will be a good platform to leverage modern trends and technological advancements in the
construction sector. He said a special session is being organised for The India Vision-2047, along with
making housing accessible to all, impact, flexibility of finance, leveraging of technological advancement,
and investment opportunities. Naredco state general secretary Seetharamaiah, central zone president
Mukteswara Rao, Vijayawada branch president B Amarnath and others were present.
Voters in the state are 4,08,07, 256

The highest number of voters increased in East Godavari district by 45,403, Annamaiya district by
44,614 and Kurnool district by 43,466. 2,934 people decreased in Nellore district.
♦ Kurnool (20,16,396) ranks first among the districts with the highest number of voters in the state,
followed by Anantapur, Visakhapatnam.
♦ Alluri Sitaramaraju district (7,61,538) ranks first and Parvathipuram Manyam district (7,77,764)
ranks second among the districts with the least number of voters.
♦ Except Srikakulam and Prakasam, female voters are more than male in all other districts.
Voters in the state...
Males: 2,00,74,322
Women: 2,07,29,452
Third genders: 3,482
Total Voters: 4,08,07,256
Andhra Pradesh’s Harikatha artist Uma Maheshwari conferred Padma Shri

D Uma Maheshwari, Harikatha exponent from Andhra Pradesh, was conferred the Padma Shri award
on Friday, January 26 in recognition of her efforts to preserve the art form.
Harikatha, which is prevalent in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka is a form of
storytelling using music, dance and poetry as tools based on a specific theme told through the eyes of a
poet or a saint from an Indian epic.
Uma Maheshwari, born in a well-known family of artists from Krishna district, is the first female
Harikatha performer to present various ragas on a global scale. Her father was a Nadaswaram artist at
Vemulawada temple in Karimnagar. She has given 800 performances in Telugu and about 600 in
Sanskrit, and is a recipient of Rashtrapati Award.
Innovative.. Revolutionary
In the Republic Day Parade held at Kartavyapath in the national capital, Delhi, the spectacle performed
by the Andhra Pradesh government became a special attraction. Shakta was presented with the theme
'Transforming Andhra Pradesh Public School Education - Making Students Compete Globally'. Shaktam
Chatti said that Chief Minister YS Jagan's government is moving ahead with the aim of making students

global citizens by bringing revolutionary reforms and innovative schemes in the education sector and
upgrading government schools to compete with corporate schools. Two digital screens were installed
on both sides of the statue and the schemes implemented by the government were explained. The
initiative created by the state government introducing the policy of 'Digital Transformation of
Education in Andhra Pradesh' to the country was particularly impressive.
Krishna river bridge to be included in Bharatmala-II scheme

The Centre has included an iconic bridge over the Krishna river at Somasila for connectivity between
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Scheme-II. An order to this effect has
been issued by the Ministry of Transport and Highways. The Centre has decided to construct a one-and-
a-half-km-long wire bridge over the Krishna river between Somasila in Telangana and
Siddheswaramgutta in Andhra Pradesh. It is estimated to cost Rs 1,082.56 crore. The Centre has
brought in samples from engineers at the national level to build the bridge in a prestigious manner. On
the other hand, the Centre has sanctioned about Rs 1,500 crore for the expansion of 170 km of national
highways between the two states. A sum of Rs 886.70 crore has been allocated for the expansion of the
79.3-km-long two-lane road from Kalwakurthy to Somasila in Telangana. The work is progressing at a
rapid pace. The bridge work is likely to start once these are completed.
Reduced enrollments in higher education

♦ Students moving to other states
♦ Backwardness of girls in PG and PG admissions
♦ Below the national average
♦ Revealed in AISHE survey
The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education in the state has declined. While the GER was 37.2
percent in 2020-21, it fell to 36.5 percent in 2021-22. This difference is also found in the admissions of
boys and girls. Boys' admissions declined by 0.6 percent and girls' admissions by 0.8 percent. In
neighboring Telangana, the GER is 40 percent, while in Tamil Nadu it is 47 percent and in Karnataka it
is 36.2 percent. The All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22 report released by the Center
has revealed this. In the survey conducted on admissions and faculty ratio in higher education,
universities and colleges together provided 3,262 information from the state. Based on these, the
central government has released a report. Along with this, admissions in PhD and PG have decreased.
In 2020-21, there were 6,991 regular admissions in Ph.D., while in 2021-22, it decreased to 5,583.
Consecutively, admissions in PG have dropped from 1,81,102 to 1,50,142. If it is increasing at the
national level, it is decreasing in the state.
Migration to other states
Admissions to PhD and PG in AP are decreasing as people go to study and work in other states. At the
national level, the 18-23-year-old age group is gradually increasing in PhD and PG admissions from
2017 to 2021, while it is decreasing in the state. While there were 54,01,400 people in 2019, their
number has reduced to 52,85,000 by 2021. Youth are migrating to other states due to non-
establishment of local industries and non-availability of quality education in higher educational
institutions. This is a matter of concern. If this continues, it will have a severe impact on the financial
condition of the state.
Few girls..
For every 100 boys in the state, 93 girls are in higher education compared to the national average. While
it was 94 in 2020-21, it has reduced to 93 in 2021-22. Kerala has the highest number of 144 while

Odisha has 88 people. While there are 49 colleges for every lakh people between the ages of 18-23 years
in the state, an average of 554 people got admission in each of them.
Andhra Pradesh Initiates Caste Census, Second Only to Bihar
• The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andra Pradesh has initiated a comprehensive caste census.
Andra Pradesh now stands as the second state in the country, following Bihar, to undertake such a
comprehensive caste enumeration.
• Launched with the aid of a specially designed phone app, this ambitious census aims to enumerate all
castes in the state and is expected to be completed within the next 20 days to one month.
• The cornerstone of this census initiative is a dedicated phone app developed by the government,
enabling a more efficient and streamlined data collection process. The app offers more than 700 caste
options for the public to choose from, with a notable inclusion being the 'No caste option.
Tallest Ambedkar Statue to Be Unveiled in Vijayawada, Andra Pradesh

• The Andhra Pradesh government is set to unveil the world's tallest statue of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar, the
esteemed architect of the Indian Constitution, in a grand ceremony today in Vilavawada.
• The colossal structure, named the 'Statue of Social Justice,' stands at an impressive height of 206 feet,
making it one of the top 50 tallest statues globally, with Sardar Vallabhai Patel's 'Statue of Unity'
claiming the top spot.
• The 'Statue of Social Justice' stands tall at 125 feet, mounted on an 81-feet pedestal, making it the
tallest statue of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar in the world. The sheer magnitude of the structure is a visual
representation of the profound impact of Dr. Ambedkar's ideals on justice and equality.
South Indian science fair from 27

• Conducted for 6 days at Vijayawada venue
• Exhibition with 210 best projects at state level
Andhra Pradesh will be the venue for the South Indian Science Exhibition to bring out the science
potential of the government students. AP SPERT is making arrangements to conduct it in Vijayawada
from January 27 to February 1. AP School Education Department, Visvesvaraya Institute of
Technological Museum and Karnataka Ministry of Culture are jointly organizing this exhibition for six
days. Along with AP, 210 exhibits created by government school students from the states of Telangana,
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry will be displayed here.
ICAR recognition of Macher breed sheep

The Breed Registration Committee of ICAR approved the recognition of Macharla sheep of Guntur
district in Andhra Pradesh as ethnic sheep. These are called palnadu sheep. Compared to other sheep,
their external size and body growth is different.
Telangana in second category in startup rankings

Telangana has been ranked in the second category and Andhra Pradesh in the third category in the
'States Startup Ranking-2022' released by the Commerce Ministry. States/UTs across the country have
been divided into those with a population of more than one crore and less than one crore. The awards
were presented by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at a function here on Tuesday. The
seven reforms were divided into 25 action points and the performance of states/UTs was calculated.
Those who scored 90-100 percentile were divided into best performers, 70-89 as top performers, 50-
69 percentile as leaders, 30-49 percentile as aspiring leaders and emerging startups ecosystems if they
got below 30 percentile. Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have made it to the best performers

category. Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and Telangana are the top performers in the second
category. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have made it to the
third category of leaders.
PM Modi To Inaugurate NACIN Campus In Andhra Pradesh

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new campus of the National Academy of Customs,
Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN) at Palasamudram in Andra Pradesh's Sri Sathya Sai district.The
event is scheduled for January 16, marking a significant development in the region's educational
infrastructure.
• NACIN, spread over 500 acres, is dedicated to capacity building in indirect taxation and narcotics
control administration. This national-level, world-class training institute will train officials from the
Indian Revenue Service (Custom & Indirect Taxes), central allied services, state governments, and
partner nations.
Increased enrollment in AP schools, AP ranks first in top-4 states

• Massive increase in primary, upper primary and elementary schools with reforms
• Increase in gross enrollment ratio in AP beyond national level
• SBI Research report revealed
The revolutionary steps taken by the AP government in the field of education are bearing fruit. This is
evidenced by the fact that Andhra Pradesh is number one in the country in terms of gross enrollment
ratio (enrolment of children) in schools in the academic year 2021. This has been disclosed by the SBI
Research report. According to the report, Andhra Pradesh tops the list of top states where gross
enrollment ratio has increased in the country in 2021 compared to 2017. It also stated that Andhra
Pradesh has the highest gross enrollment in 2021, surpassing the national gross enrollment. The report
also said that gross enrollment ratio at primary, upper primary and elementary levels in the state has
increased significantly in 2021 as compared to 2017.
Visakhapatnam Hosts 14th All India Police Commando Contest

• The 14th edition of the Annual All India Police Commando Competition (AIPCC) began on January 22,
2024 at the Greyhounds Training Centre in Kapuluppada, Visakhapatnam.
• Elite commando forces from 16 states are participating in this week-long competition . Commissioner
A. Ravi Shankar inaugurated the event, emphasizing its Significance in fostering inter-state cooperation.
REGIONAL TS
Gaddar Awards instead of Nandi Awards: CM Revanth Reddy
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy made a key announcement on the film awards. He said that 'Gaddar'
awards will be given in place of Nandi awards. He said that a JV will be issued soon in this regard.
Adani Group to invest Rs 12,400 crore in Telangana

The Adani Group will invest around Rs 12,400 crore in Telangana. The amount will be invested for a
data centre, a clean energy project and a cement plant. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani signed four agreements at the Ongoing World Economic Forum
in Davos. Adani Enterprises will invest around Rs 5,000 crore for the 100 MW data centre. Ambuja
Cements plans to produce six million tonnes of cement annually at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore. Adani
Defence will invest Rs 1,000 crore for the development of drone and missile systems.

Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR)
Telangana has signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to establish the Centre for
Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in the state capital, Hyderabad.
What is C4IR?
CAIR stands for the Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is an initiative by the World Economic
Forum (WEF) to establish centres that focus on harnessing the potential of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution (C4IR) technologies and driving collaboration between governments, businesses, and
academia to address global challenges and opportunities.
The collaboration aims to leverage technology for advancements in the life sciences and healthcare
sector, with a focus on reaching healthcare targets for the state's population. Telangana envisions
becoming a health tech hub and a global destination for healthcare
Mahender Reddy appointed chairman of TSPSC

Appointment of TSPSC Chairman, Members. Ex-DGP Mahender Reddy took charge after the Governor
approved the appointment of Chairman. Retired IAS Anita Rajendra, Palvai Rajinikumari, Ameer Ullah
Khan, Yadayah and Rammohan Rao were appointed as members.
Hyderabad batter Tanmay's world record

Hyderabad opener Tanmay Agarwal created a world record in the Ranji Trophy. He became the fastest
player to score a triple century (323 off 160 balls) in first class cricket. Tanmay broke the record of
South African Marco Marius (300 runs in 191 balls).
Indian Navy Radar Station in Telangana

The lowest frequency communication transmission station for the Indian Navy will be set up in
Telangana. For this, 1,174 hectares of land in the Damagundam forest area of Vikarabad district has
been handed over to the Navy by the Forest Department. It will be set up to communicate with ships
and submarines. While the first radar station in the country is in Tamil Nadu, this is the second one.
The name of the state tableaux is 'Jaya Jayahe Telangana'.

On the occasion of Republic Day, the state government has named the state tableaux as 'Jaya Jayahe
Telangana'. During the Telangana movement, the song written by Prajakavi Andeshri with this pallavi
became very popular. In tableaux, idols of fighters like Kumuram Bheem, Ranji Gondu, Chakali Ailamma
and state artistes will perform folk songs.
Tribal fairs
♦ Busy every year during Pushya month
♦ A symbol of tribal culture and traditions
♦ Keslapur Nagoba Jatra Process begins
♦ Arrival of devotees from many states for darshan
Adivasi fairs have begun in the united Adilabad district. The fairs which are symbolic of their culture
and traditions are organized by every tribal with great devotion. They have been preserving their
culture and traditions with decades of history through fairs. Every year in the month of Pushya, fairs
are held at some place throughout the joint district. A large number of devotees from Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha attend these fairs and perform special pujas to the deities
and pay their prayers. Every year since the onset of the rainy season throughout the united Adilabad
district, the tribals who are busy in cultivation give priority to the fairs that come in the month of

Pushya. In these fairs, they worship their deities, offer their favorite offerings, beg them to look cool,
hang out in the vicinity of the fair, and meet their distant relatives. Bhimal Pen in Kerameri Mandal,
Keslapur Nagoba Jatara in Indravelli Mandal, Khandev Jatara in Narnoor Mandal, Budundev in
Shyampur in Utnoor Mandal, Mahadev in Sirpur(U) Mandal, Jangubai Caves in Kerameri Mandal are the
deities worshiped by the tribals. Along with the Polimera festival, the tribals perform pujas to the village
deities Persepane and Bhindevara and worship Jangubai. Keslapur Nagoba, the biggest tribal fair in
Adilabad district after Medaram, has begun its buzz. The people of Mesram go on footpaths to collect
Ganga water.
'Khandev' is the festival of Thodasam clans.

Khandev temple is located in the center of Narnoor mandal of Adilabad district. This fair starts with
special worship of Khandev, who is worshiped by Todasam clansmen. The fair continues for five days.
In this fair, it is a tradition for women of Thodasam clan to drink two liters of sesame oil. Special worship
is done to Khandev with oil. After that there will be women's batting. People from different parts of
Telangana and Maharashtra flock to the fair.
Jangubai fair
Goddess Jangubai is enshrined in the caves of Maharaj Guda area of Kerameri mandal in Asifabad
district of Kumrambhim on the border of Maharashtra and Telangana. Currently Jangubai fair is held.
Jangubai Temple is located in the caves next to the water stream with beautiful scenery of Sahyadri
mountains. Locals believe that Jangubai is the embodiment of Goddess Durga in the form of Shardula
Vahini. Jangubai is worshiped every year in the month of Pushya. This fair continues for a month.
Bhimal pen in dark caves

Kumrambhim Asifabad District Kerameri Mandal Kaplai Dark Cave Annually the tribals perform special
pooja to Lord Bhima. These festivals are celebrated with great devotion. Deep worship will be held for
five days, after which Bhima festival will be held in the villages. Celebrations are celebrated following
rules with culture and traditions. Villagers go to the cave with drums and instruments after performing
pooja to Lord Bhima in the house of their priest in the village. After bathing in Koneru, the priests
perform pujas to the deities. The rush of devotees continues here till Pushya month. Adi Vasis belonging
to Gond, Pradhan and Kolam tribes attend these pujas in large numbers and visit the cave and worship
the deity.
Nagoba is the deity of the people of Mesram

Kesla Pur Nagoba in Indrawelli Mandal of Adilabad District is the deity of the Mesram clan. 25 days
before the start of this fair, Mesram tribals start preparations. The people of Mesram go around the
villages for a week by chariot to bring Ganga water for Mahapuja. They walk to Hastinamadugu near
Godavari in Jannaram mandal to collect Ganga water to perform puja to Nagoba. They take the water in
the kalash and return to Keslapur. The people of Mesram worship for four days at the banyan tree near
the Nagoba temple. On the Amavasya day of Pushya month, worship is performed to Nagoba with Ganga.
Every year the fair starts from that day. Lakhs of people visit Nagoba not only from Telangana but also
from other states.
Amararaja is the first giga company in Telangana

Vijayanand Samudrala, president of Amarraja Advanced Cell Technologies, said Amarraja is likely to

start production of batteries by the end of 2025 as the first giga company in Telangana. They said that
they are setting up an e-positive energy lab. The 3rd annual India Battery Manufacturing and Supply
Chain Summit organized by India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) was held at HICC, Madapur.
Hyderabad Literary Festival from 26th to 28th

♦ Three day celebrations at Hi-Tech City Sattva Knowledge Centre
♦ Discussion on Norwegian and Odia language literature this year
The Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) held every year in January was held from 26th to 28th of this
month. In this literary festival held at the Sattva Knowledge Center in Hi-Tech City, this time, special
discussions were held on Norwegian and national Odia language literature. Writers, artists, writers
from Norway and literary giants from Odisha participated in this literature festival. Along with them,
more than 200 writers, literati, poets, artists, intellectuals and eminent persons from different fields
attended the event.
Korean Cosmetic Company to invest in Hyderabad

• Doosan, which started the establishment with Rs.5000 crores
• Meeting of organization representatives with Minister Komatireddy
Doosan, a famous cosmetic products company from South Korea, has come forward to start its
operations in Hyderabad. The representatives of the company revealed that they will establish the first
cosmetic products center in the country with a cost of Rs.5000 crores. A comprehensive project report
has been provided to the government on the company's investments.
Rashtriya bala puraskar awards to two boys from Telugu states

Anti Topic: There are two Telugu children in Rashtriya bala puraskar awards
How many people in total?: 19
Who are the Telugu Boys?: Pendyala Lakshmipriya (Department of Arts and Culture, Telangana), Surya
Prasad (Andhra Pradesh, Sports)
How many categories will be awarded?: 7 (Adventure, Arts-Culture, Environmental Conservation,
Innovation, Science-Technology, Social Service, Sports)
Bhaktaramadas statue in Nelakondapalli?

• Identification under the police station tree
• New Telangana History Team Revealed
The members of the New Telangana History Team said that the statue found under the Ravichettu in
Nelakondapally police station premises of Khammam district is believed to be Bhakta Ramadasud. The
details of the statue were revealed in a statement. Pasumarthi Srinivas, a resident of Nelakondapally,
said that the idol was spotted at the local police station. This statue is seen to be a man of royal rank,
wearing a dhoti, half-naked without a top, wearing an Anjalimudra, standing with a lowered sword, and
wearing a Goshpada crest. Sri Ramoju Haragopal and Katta Srinivasulu, members of the New Telangana
History Team, explained that it is believed to be a Vaishnava devotee because of the Chakra and Shankha
seals on the right and left shoulders.
Telangana is in the second category in startup ranks

Andhra Pradesh is in the third category
In the 'States Startup Ranking-2022' report released by the Union Commerce Department, Telangana
has been placed in the second category and Andhra Pradesh in the third category. The Center has

announced these ranks by dividing the states/UTs across the country into those with a population of
more than one crore and those with a population of less than one crore. Union Minister of Commerce
and Industry Piyush Goyal presented the awards in a program held on the occasion of Startup Day. The
seven reforms are divided into 25 action points and the performance of the states/UTs is measured.
Shortage of teachers in state colleges

♦ Decrease in number of professors by 19.30% and faculty by 7.40% during the year
♦ Revealed in All India Higher Education Survey 2021-22
Telangana is second in the density of colleges. Eighth in the number of colleges. The number of students
entering higher education is increasing day by day. But the number of teachers along with professors is
decreasing drastically. All India Higher Education Survey-2021-22 statistics released by the Union
Education Department makes this clear. In 2020-21, there were 6,817 Acharyas or equivalent, but in
2021-22, their number fell to 5,501. That is 19.30% decreased in the year. The number of teachers has
decreased from 80,318 to 74,342 i.e. 7.4 percent. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in the state has
crossed the 40% mark. This means that 40 out of every 100 people aged 18-23 enter higher education.
In this the national average is only 28.4%. State Council of Higher Education Chairman Acharya R.
Limbadri said.. 'There is a need to study the decrease of teachers. One of the reasons seems to be that
the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) increased the faculty-to-teacher ratio in B.Tech
from 1:15 to 1:20. The progress in GER makes it clear that students are interested in pursuing higher
education.
This is the situation in the state
♦ While there are 15.97 lakh teachers across the country, 8.2% of them are from Telangana.
♦ Out of total 2,12,474 PhD students, 6,967 are from the state. We are 12th in this.
♦ The state ranks 8th with a total of 2083 colleges.
♦ There are 52 colleges in the state for every one lakh people in the age group of 18-23 years. In this
the state stood second. But the country's average number of students in each college is 709. In the state,
there are only 611 students.
♦ Among the top 10 districts with maximum number of colleges, Hyderabad stands at 3rd position (491
colleges).
Koheda fruit market at international level

To be built on 300 acres: Minister Thummala
State Agriculture and Marketing Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has directed to prepare proposals
for the construction of an international level fruit market in Koheda, Rangareddy district. The first phase
should be started immediately and completed within a year.
Telangana Technology Fest coming soon

To encourage innovation
Education Department Principal Secretary Burra Venkatesham said that Telangana Technology Fest
(TTF) will be organized soon to encourage innovation from students of the state. Roosa (PM Usha)
briefed the Union Minister on the pending grants.
'Thames' plan for Moose revival

CM Revanth Reddy focused on the way the 'Thames' river is being managed in London.. and the methods
developed there for the riverfront project. The CM who visited London visited the river Thames. A
special action plan to be followed for the beautification of the Moose River basin was discussed with the

senior officials and experts of the Thames River Authority, Port of London Authority. Inquired about
the policies being followed for the beautification of the River Thames.
Minister Jupalli launching 'Punasa' Literary Magazine.... Inauguration of 'Punasa' Literary

Magazine
» Minister Jupalli to reflect creativity Minister of Tourism, Culture and Archeology Jupalli Krishna Rao
praised Telangana Sahitya Akademi's publishing of literary magazine 'Punasa' especially for literati. The
minister unveiled the literary magazine 'Punasa' published by the Telangana Sahitya Akademi in his
chamber at the Secretariat. Speaking on the occasion, he suggested that Telangana Sahitya Akademi
should work with the aim of reflecting creativity in Telugu literature.
Commencement of the Komuravelli Maha Fair

• Komuravelli Mallikarjuna Swamy's three-month long fair is about to begin. Around one lakh devotees
will visit Komuravelli Mallanna on the occasion of Patnam week. On the occasion of Patnam Week, the
vehicular traffic has increased due to the large number of devotees coming to Komuravelli from the
surrounding areas of Hyderabad. Officials are making arrangements for the devotees. Special queue
lines have been formed for devotees at Totabavi where Pedapatnam and Agni Gundal events take place.
Around ten lakh devotees are expected to come from Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Maharashtra along
with the Telugu states for the three-month long Mallannamaha Jatara. Komuravelli is held in
Mallikarjuna Swamijatara Siddipet district.
National recognition for Yadadri and Vargal temples

Yadadri, a popular pilgrimage site in Telangana, has received national recognition. Bhog (Blissful
Hygienic Offering to God) certificate from Central Food Safety and Standards Authority. Similarly,
Vargal's Saraswati Mata Mandir also got this recognition.
Telangana is in the second category in startup ranks

Andhra Pradesh is in the third category
In the 'States Startup Ranking-2022' report released by the Union Commerce Department, Telangana
has been placed in the second category and Andhra Pradesh in the third category. The Center has
announced these ranks by dividing the states/UTs across the country into those with a population of
more than one crore and those with a population of less than one crore. Union Minister of Commerce
and Industry Piyush Goyal presented the awards in a program held on the occasion of Startup Day. The
seven reforms are divided into 25 action points and the performance of the states/UTs is measured.
Awful learning abilities!

• Revealed in Asar Survey-2023
In the state of Telangana, 40.10 percent of the 17-18-year-old rural youth are dropping out of education.
That means they are not going for degree or other higher education after inter. 22.10 percent of the 14-
16 age group are not enrolled in school or college. Even those who are studying have bad learning
abilities. Asar's survey revealed that even 14-16 year olds are unable to read 2nd class lesson without
mistakes. Pratham, a leading charity, has recently released the Annual Level Education Report (ASR)-
2023. This survey was conducted in 28 rural districts of 26 states across the country. 34,745 people
from 30,074 houses in 1,664 villages were questioned and the report was prepared. A survey was
conducted on 709 youths aged 14-18 years from 689 households in 59 villages of Khammam district in
the state.

Highlights of the survey in the state...
• Maximum 9.8 percent of boys said they want to become policemen and 25 percent of girls said they
want to become nurses.
• About 75% people have a smart phone. 91.40% people use some social media.
• 42.20 percent of 14-16 year olds and 50.30 percent of 17-18 year olds are able to read 2nd class
properly.
Telemanus to remove tension among students

The Inter Board has taken measures to remove the fear and tension of the students during the
examination. At this time 'Telemanus' services have been made available to reassure them. In a
statement, Inter Board Secretary Sruthi Oja suggested that Inter students can use these services, which
are run under the auspices of the Health Department. Inter exams will start from February 28. Students
are under a lot of stress as the exams are approaching. Shruti Ojha said that such people can approach
Telemanus 14416, 1800-914416 toll free numbers. Apart from this, it has been suggested that students
can use the services of personal psychiatrists in all the district government hospitals of the state free of
cost.
13 'Khelo India' centers for Telangana

The central government is setting up 'Khelo India' centers across the country to show India's potential
with medals in the World Games. As part of that, the Sports Association of India (SAI) has issued an
order sanctioning 13 centers to Telangana. The District Sports Authority has entrusted the supervision
responsibilities to the State Sports Authority for the establishment of trainers and centers in the
districts.
Selected Districts for Kabaddi-Hyderabad, Rajanna Sirisilla, Sangareddy, Nagar Kurnool, Bhupalapalli,
Janagama, Wushu-Nirmal, Shooting Ball-Kumurambhim Asifabad, Boxing-Manchiryala, Cycling-
Medchal, Football-Jogulamba Gadwala, Mahbubnagar, Khokho-Peddapally.
Marut Drones Delivered India's 1st Mineral

Exploration Drones to NMDC Hyderabad (Telangana) based Marut Dronetech Private Limited has
delivered two customized Octaquad Coaxial X8 drones, India's first mineral exploration drones, to
NMDC Limited.
• Marut Drones Collaborates with NMDC for Drone-Based Mineral Exploration in India. The
introduction of the advanced technology in the field of mineral exploration will enhance precision in
mineral exploration and mapping for sustainable mining process.
• These drones are equipped with advanced sensors such as Magnetometer, Hyperspectral, and Lidar
that enhance its capabilities for accurate exploration and mapping.
NMDC Limited (formerly known as National Mineral Development Corporation) is a Navratna Public
Sector Unit functioning under the Ministry of Steel (MoS).
Identification of 36 types of waterfowl

The Asian level water bird census conducted for three days in the area of Kawwal Tiger Conservation
Center in Jannaram mandal of Manchiryala district has ended. Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society
and Telangana Forest Department jointly conducted a survey with the help of binoculars at various
ponds and ponds in the joint Adilabad district. A total of 36 types of water birds and another 20 types
of other bird species have been identified. Founder of the society Imran Siddiqui, Joint District

Coordinator Venkat, Range Officers Hafeesuddin, Shankar and members of the charitable organization
participated in the programme.
Telangana tops in innovation

First position in the country in innovation
A 4 percent growth between 2014-23 was revealed in Ecorap's '3i' report
As a result of the encouragement given by the government to innovation, Telangana has become the
first in the country. 4 per cent growth in innovation which no other state has achieved. The latest reports
make it clear that this growth is likely to increase further. According to the latest report released by
Ecorap organization named 3I (India, Incubating, Innovations), there is a lot of innovation in the fields
of electronics, electrical, physics, biotechnology, civil, metallurgy etc. in the country.
Creator of Bhagavad Gita in Banjara language... Ketawat Somlal

Ketawat Somlal from Bavi Tanda, Akutota Bavi Tanda, Bhuvanagiri Mandal, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri
worked tirelessly for 16 months and translated 701 verses of Bhagavad Gita from Telugu script into
Banjara language. He retired from SBI and wrote more than 200 songs for the awakening of the Banjara
race. He said that while staying in the hostel in Janagama, he used to listen to the Bhagavad Gita from
the nearby temple every morning on a loudspeaker. The translation of the Gita was completed in 1989,
but it had to wait for about 35 years before it was published. In 2014, the book written by him was
published by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.
Anandachari Velu owns the wonderful sculpture

Anandachari Velu was born in 1952 in Vennampally of Chittoor district in AP and settled in Hyderabad.
Velu, who joined the Devadayashakha as an assistant in 1980, worked in Annavaram, Srisailam,
Vijayawada, Kanipakam, Simhachalam, Yadagirigutta, Basara, Vemulawada and Srikalahasti temples.
After his retirement in 2010, he was the Asthanasthapati of Srishaila Devasthanam. The Yadadri Temple
Development Authority (YTDA) has appointed him as the principal of the Yadadri temple
reconstruction program that started in 2015. He gave thousands of artistic speeches on TV and radio.
Potti Sriramulu Telugu University recognized his talent and awarded him a talent award in the category
of sculpture in 2017.
Five decades. 19 thousand performances

Gaddam Sammayya (62), who is famous in Chindu Yakshaganam, is native of Appireddy Palli, Devu
Ruppula Mandal, Janagama District. Born in a poor family, he learned art from his father Ramaswamy.
Sammaiah, who studied in the fifth standard, has been performing the art of yakshaganam since the age
of 12, playing various roles on the stage. He gave more than 19 thousand performances for five decades.
In Yakshaganam, Chindu propagated many social issues along with mythological stories.
His specialty is impressing with songs and poems on literacy and environmental protection. 'Chindu
Yaksha Artisan Sangam' and 'Gaddam Sammayya Yuva Kala Kshetra' are established and are working
hard to keep the art alive. Sammayya's wife Sriranjani is also performing Yakshaganam. Awarded
Kalaratna Hamsa award by Govt. Five performances related to the Ramayana story were given during
the Prana Pratishta mahotsava of Bala Rama in Ayodhya.
Kondappa's songs of wisdom with Burraveena!

Burra veena virtuoso Dasari Kondappa is native to Damaragidda of Narayana Peta district. Songs
related to spirituality and wisdom are mostly sung. Along with the songs of Ramayana, Mahabharata,

Harishchandra, many mythological stories are narrated by playing Veena. Currently, Dasari Kondappa
is the only one among those who are telling stories while playing the burraveena. He has also performed
on Doordarshan in the past. Dasari Kondappa's parents were Venkappa and Venkatamma. His wife
Venkatamma died. There is a son Rama. Another son Kondappa died in a road accident. He makes his
burra veena himself. It is said that he sang the song 'Aye Shivuda Emaye' in the movie Balagam. Students
of a Kasturba school in Mahbubnagar were trained on burraveena. Some are still being taught. Coming
from a poor family, Kondappa survives on the little money he earns by playing burraveena during any
festival.
Kurella Vithalacharya's work... Creation of book store

Kurella Vithalacharya was a Mathura poet born in Vellanki, Ramanna Peta Mandal, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri
District. In 2014, he turned his house into a library and established a book store with 5,000 books. At
present there are more than two lakh books in it. This library has become useful for many students,
unemployed and researchers. Those who have already done research here have 8 students who have
got Ph degrees. Prime Minister Modi mentioned his efforts in his Mann Keebaat and praised him. With
his inspiration, youths are running voluntary libraries in about 20 villages of the joint Nalgonda district.
In 2018, Potti Sriramulu received a distinguished award from Telugu University. In 2019, the Telangana
Government honored him with the prestigious Dasharathi Award.
SUPERLATIVES
Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha: World's Largest Lock, 1265 Kg Laddoo Prasad Arrive in Ayodhya
• As the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya gears up for its Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony, it has
received two unique offerings: the world's largest lock, weighing 400 kg, and a colossal 1,265 kg laddoo
Prasad.
Crafted by Satya Prakash Sharma, a 65-year-old locksmith from Aligarh, the lock is a remarkable piece
of artistry. Measuring ten feet in length and four and a half feet in width, the lock was made over six
months.
• Nagabhushanam Reddy, owner of Sri Ram Catering Services in Hyderabad, prepared the massive
laddoo Prasad. Reddy, inspired by his faith, had pledged to prepare 1 kg of laddoo for each day of his
life as a mark of devotion.
Pench Tiger Reserve Achieves Milestone: India's Inaugural Dark Sky Park
The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has achieved the distinction of becoming India's inaugural
Dark Sky Park and the fifth in Asia. This designation aims to safeguard the night sky, combat light
pollution, and create an optimal environment for astronomy enthusiasts. This unique location, blending
the realm of tigers with celestial wonders, offers a compelling setting for stargazers eager to explore
and comprehend the mysteries of the Universe.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) stresses the importance of acknowledging
the inherent value of the night sky as a natural, cultural, and historical asset. Prabhu Nath Shukla,
Deputy Director of PTR, Maharashtra, notes that the IUCN underscores the significance of preserving
natural darkness for nature conservation, maintaining ecological integrity in protected areas, and
promoting the well-being of communities in healthy cities.
Saudi Arabia to Open First Alcohol Store for Diplomats

• In a groundbreaking move, Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first alcohol store, exclusively for

diplomats. This significant development represents a notable shift in the Kingdom's approach to
alcohol, which has traditionally been banned under its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
• Historically, Saudi Arabia has enforced a strict prohibition on the sale and consumption of alcohol.
This policy aligns with the conservative religious principles that govern many aspects of life in the
Kingdom.
World's tallest Ram temple.. Construction in Australia with 600 crores

Another good news for Rama devotees. World's tallest Ram Temple is going to be built in Australia. This
721 feet high temple is being built at a cost of around Rs.600 crores. It will take shape in Perth under
the auspices of Sriram Vedic Cultural Trust in an area of 150 acres. On this occasion, Trust Deputy Head
Harendra Rana explained about the project and said that the temple will be built on a large scale and
the premises of the temple complex will be decorated with attractive buildings.
NSE is the largest derivatives exchange in the world

In 2023, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was the world's largest derivatives exchange in terms of
number of contracts traded. It is noteworthy that this is the fifth year in a row that NSE has stood at the
top position. According to the statistics of the World Federation of Exchanges, NSE ranks third in the
world in terms of trading numbers in the equity sector.
World's largest solar battery

Statetech, South Africa's largest solar power company, installed the battery. This solar power storage
system is connected to the grid and started supplying electricity. It was installed in the Northern Cape
province. This has given some solution to the power crisis. Statetech has built 3 plants spread over 10
kilometers in 879 hectares. These are generating 540 megawatts of electricity. The huge battery system
of these plants is sending 225 MW to the grid. StateTech has unveiled the world's largest and first hybrid
solar battery storage system.
India has the largest granary in the world

The Center is planning to set up world's largest granary for storage of food grains. As a part of this, the
Union Ministry of Cooperatives will enter into an agreement with the cooperative organizations under
the government. This will link the warehouses built at the level of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative
Credit Unions with the national food grain supply chain. While 300 million tonnes of food grains are
produced annually in the country, the storage capacity is only 145 million tonnes. Due to this, a large
amount of food grains are wasted. With this, the Center has set a target to increase the storage capacity
to 215 million tonnes in the next five years. For this, along with the Union Ministry of Cooperation,
NABARD, NCDC and NCCF have sent proposals.
The first hepatitis A vaccine was invented domestically

Hyderabad-based Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) on Friday unveiled the first domestically
developed hepatitis A vaccine Havissure. "This vaccine has been proven safe and effective in clinical
trials," said Anand Kumar, MD, IIL. It can be compared with the vaccines of leading multinational
companies. Those above one year of age can take the first dose of HaviSure. The second dose should be
taken six months after the first dose. Hepatitis is spread through contaminated food or water.
PM Modi 1st world leader with 20m YouTube subscribers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal YouTube channel has crossed the 20 million (2 crore) mark

in terms of the number of subscribers, making Modi the first world leader to achieve the distinction.
Officials noted that the videos posted on Modi’s channel have more than 4.5 billion (450 crore) views,
far ahead of other global leaders.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is second on the list with number of subscriber 6.4 million
(64 lakh)— less than a third of Modi’s.
First death sentences execution by nitrogen gas in America

America has created a new record in death sentences. For the first time in the history of the United
States, a person was executed by suffocation using nitrogen gas in the state of Alabama. Kenneth Eugene
Smith (58), who was convicted in the murder case, was executed by injecting pure nitrogen into his
lungs through a face mask. There is a controversy in the US over the method of execution by nitrogen
gas. While the government says that it is a completely humane punishment, critics say that killing a
person with nitrogen gas is a cruel experiment. Smith had previously been tried by lethal injection, a
common execution method in the United States. However, the execution of the sentence was stopped at
the last minute as his IV line was not connected. The sentence was upheld after the US Supreme Court
of Appeals did not intervene in Smith's appeal against his death by nitrogen gas.
♦ A prisoner was sentenced to death in America by using pure nitrogen gas.
♦ According to the 'Death Penalty Information Centre', this is the first time in the world that pure
nitrogen gas has been used for execution.
♦ Most important substance in proteins, amino acids, vitamins etc.
♦ It makes up to 79 percent of air in the atmosphere.
♦ Nitrogen in gaseous form cannot be directly utilized by organisms.
♦ It is the only metal whose atomic number is 7.
Subedar Preeti
For the first time in the Army, a woman has been promoted to the rank of 'Subedar'. Preeti Razak, who
joined the Army as a Havaldar two years ago, won a silver medal as a trap shooter in the Asian Games
with her sportsmanship. She was given this honor for inspiring young women across the country to join
the Army. Preeti Rajak from Madhya Pradesh has been promoted to the rank of 'Subedar' in the Army.
Being a 'Subedar' in the Army is no small matter. Starting from 'Sepai', they become 'Lance Naik', 'Naik',
'Havaldar', 'Naib Subedar'... and beyond these stages they become 'Subedar'. This is the first time that a
woman has been appointed as a subedar in the traditional ranks since the recruitment of women in the
army began in 1992. To that extent, Preeti Razak has registered a record. She was encouraged and
honored in this way by high officials who recognized her talent as a trap shooter in the Asian Games.
The world's largest cruise ship.. special features

This is a great opportunity for the aspiring to compete with the ocean waves. The world's largest ship
is ready to travel in sea waters. It is five times larger than the Titanic. This ship has all the facilities. The
'Icon of the Seas', which has become a haven among ships in the world, has already completed its trial
run. Departing from the port of Florida, USA, the ship will cruise the eastern Caribbean islands for a
week and return to Miami on February 3. This luxury yacht has amazing travel arrangements in various
price ranges.
Special features..
The vessel was built by Meer Turku Shipyard in Finland.
The ship is named 'Icon of the Seas' owned by Royal Caribbean International.

The length of the ship is 1200 feet and the weight is 2,50,800 tons.
The ship will have a crew of 2,350. 7,600 people can travel.
Different food items from 40 regions around the world are available in this ship.
The ship has waterparks, swimming pools and all the facilities that families can enjoy.
The ship has the world's largest water park. This is known as 'Category 6'. There are six slides in this
water park.
They were made to dive directly into the sea from a water slide. But for the safety of passengers there
is no possibility of making it available to them.
The vessel successfully completed its first trial run on 22 June 2023.
There are gardens on board. Passengers can also relax in the parks.
The vessel will continue its journey using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel with the help of advanced
technology to prevent pollution.
Steel Slag Road

India's first National Highway Steel Slag Road section on NH-66, connecting Mumbai to Goa, has been
inaugurated, showcasing a pioneering eco-friendly initiative.
The ground-breaking technology, developed by CSIR-CRRI, transforms waste from the steel industry
into a valuable resource for constructing robust and environmentally friendly national highways. The
bituminous steel slag road, constructed with 28% less thickness than conventional roads, demonstrates
cost-efficiency_and enhanced durability.
Usage: The example highlights the values of sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. Key values
include efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and durability in road construction.
MeitY Secretary launches India's First Graphene Centre, IIoT Co in Kerala

The two flagship programs namely "Centre of Excellence Co in Intelligent Internet of Things (IIoT)
Sensors"and India's first Graphene Centre "India Innovation Centre for Graphene(IICG)" were launched
by S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in Kochi, Kerala.
Goa Becomes the First State in India to Launch Regenerative Tourism

The Government of Goa has launched India's first regenerative tourism model to redefine tourism by
promoting environmental restoration, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
• The model aims to promote 11 spiritual sites under the Ekadasha Teertha campaign.
• The campaign involves local communities in exploring, understanding, and projecting their culture,
cuisine, and lifestyle.
World's First 'Black Tiger Safari': Odisha's CM Naveen Patnaik Announces

• In a groundbreaking move, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has unveiled plans for the
establishment of the world's first 'black tiger safari' near the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in
Mayurbhanj.
• This visionary project aims to provide tourists and visitors with a rare glimpse of the melanistic tigers,
commonly known as black tigers, recently spotted at the Similipal National Park.
Maersk Reveals World's Largest Ship Fueled by Methanol

• In a monumental stride towards sustainability, maritime titan Maersk unveils its latest marvel: the
Ane Maersk, a revolutionary container vessel powered by green methanol derived from green

hydrogen.
• The Ane Maersk represents a bold leap into a greener future, boasting the title of the world's largest
container vessel fueled by green methanol, a derivative of green hydrogen.
Krutrim, Ola Founder's Al Start-Up Emerges as India's First Al Unicorn

• In a groundbreaking move for the Indian tech landscape, Bhavish Aggarwal, the visionary behind Ola,
has successfully raised $50 million for his latest venture, Krutrim.
• Krutrim, co-founded by Bhavish Aggarwal, has swiftly emerged as a prominent player in the realm of
Artificial Intelligence.
Aggarwal, renowned for his innovative contributions through Ola and Ola Electric, now brings his tech
prowess to the Al domain with Krutrim.
For the control of bleeding in the digestive tract - Hemospray

• Used in AIG for the first time in the country
The Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG), which is a leading center for the treatment of
gastrointestinal diseases, has made the latest technology available for the first time in the country. A
technology called 'Hemospray' has been introduced to control bleeding in the digestive tract.
PERSONS IN NEWS
Anil Kumar Lahoti Appointed as the New TRAI Chairman
Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of former railway board
chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Anil Kumar Lahoti as the 9th Chairman of the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for 3 years or until the age of 65 years.
• He will succeed PD Vaghela, who retired from the post on 30th September 2023. The post has been
vacant for around 4 months.
Saheli designer Nityanand passes away

Padma Shri awardee Dr Nityanand (99), the scientist who developed the oral contraceptive pill 'Saheli',
passed away on Saturday due to illness. Dr Nithyanand has been associated with the Central Drugs
Research Institute since its establishment in 1951. He worked as the director of that organization from
1974 to 1984. Published more than 400 research papers, supervised 100 PhD students. Obtained more
than 130 patents.
Govt of India Formed High-level Committee to Safeguard Interests of Scheduled Castes

The government of India (Gol) has formed a high-level Committee to examine administrative measures
aimed at protecting the interests of the most disadvantaged groups within the Scheduled Caste (SC),
like Madigas.
• The committee was constituted under the direction of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, with Rajiv
Gauba, the Cabinet Secretary as its Chairman.
• This initiative is to address existing disparities within the SC communities.
Late former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur to be awarded Bharat Ratna

The Central Government has announced the Bharat Ratna to late former Bihar Chief Minister Karpuri
Thakur. This was stated in a statement. He was born on 24 January 1924 in Samastipur, Bihar. In

recognition of Thakur's efforts for the underprivileged and underprivileged, the central government
has announced the Bharat Ratna on the occasion of his centenary.
Karpuri Thakur is popularly known as Jananeta 'Jananayak'. He served as Chief Minister of Bihar twice.
He served as Bihar CM for the first time from December 1970 to 1971. He served as CM for the second
time from December 1977 to April 1979. Karpuri Thakur breathed his last on 17 February 1988.
Sultan Ibrahim Of Johor State Installed as Malaysia's 17th King

• Sultan Ibrahim of Johor state has been installed as Malaysia's 17th king. This event marks a significant
moment in the nation's constitutional monarchy system, where the throne rotates among the rulers of
the nine Malay states.
• The installation ceremony of Sultan Ibrahim as the 17th King of Malaysia was a grand and culturally
rich event, attended by high-ranking officials, dignitaries, and members of the royal families from across
the country.
Imran was jailed for ten years

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former prime minister Imran Khan (71), who is trying hard to
regain the reins of power after winning the elections on February 8, has suffered a severe setback.
Special court judge Abdul Hasnat sentenced him and former foreign minister Mahmood Qureshi to ten
years in prison in the document leakage case.
Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

Senior IPS officer, Daljit Singh Chaudhary was appointed as the Director General of the Sashastra Seema
Bal (SSB) on 19th January 2024. He is a 1990 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Uttar
Pradesh Cadre. He is currently working as Special Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF).
Bernardo Arévalo Sworn in as President of Guatemala

César Bernardo Arévalo de León, an anti-corruption leader, was sworn in as President of Guatemala. He
is the leader of the social democratic Movimiento Semilla Party.
• Bernardo Arévalo succeeded Alejandro Giammattei, a leader of the right-wing party Vamos.
• The Guatemala Presidential election was conducted in August 2023.
About Guatemala:
Guatemala is a Central American country, south of Mexico.
Capital - Guatemala City
Currency - Guatemalan Quetzal
Azali Assomani wins 4th term as President of Comoros

Azali Assomani has been re-elected as President of the Union of Comoros for a fourth 5-year term. He
won in 2024. Comoros won the presidential election with 62.97% of the total vote. He has been the
President of Comoros since 1999. He will rule the country till 2029.
Former PM Tshering Tobgay Set to Become PM of Bhutan for 2nd Time

Bhutan's former Prime Minister (PM) Tshering Tobgay, President of People's Democratic Party (PDP),
is set to become PM of Bhutan for 2nd term. He served as PM for the 1st time from 2013 to 2018.
Tshering Tobgay will succeed Lotay Tshering, who served as the PM of Bhutan from 2018 to 2023.

SPORTS
Jai Shah.. for the third time
BCCI Secretary Jai Shah has been appointed as the Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for the
third year in a row. Shah was elected as the chairman for the third term in the ACC annual meeting held
recently in Bali. Shammi Silva, president of the Sri Lanka Board, proposed Shah's name. All other
members unanimously supported it. In January 2021, Shah was elected as the chairman for the first
time. Asia Cup (T20) in 2022 and Asia Cup (ODI) in 2023 were held under the leadership of Shah.
Men's Hockeys World Cup: India lost in the quarter finals

The Indian team could not stand in the medal race in the Men's Hockey 'Five-A-Side' World Cup
tournament. In the quarter finals held on January 30, the Indian team lost to the Netherlands by 4-7
goals.
Under-19 World Cup

After the ODI World Cup that ended in India two months ago, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is
ready with another prestigious trophy. The Under-19 World Cup started on January 19 in South Africa.
In this 15th edition of the mega tournament, India entered the ring as the defending champion. It is
known that the Under-19 World Cup scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka this year has been shifted to
South Africa as the country is facing a ban. The matches will be played at six venues in South Africa
(Pochefstrom, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, East London, Benoni (2 venues)). In this mega tournament
where 16 teams are participating, the teams have been divided into four groups. Team India is in Group
– A.
Khelo India Youth Games 2023: Maharashtra

Tops the Table with 158 medals
The 6th edition of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2023 hosted by Tamil Nadu was held from 19th to
31st January 2024. Maharashtra topped the medal tally of KIYG 2023 with 158 medals (57 gold, 48
silver, 53 bronze) and won the overall championship trophy.
• Tamil Nadu and Haryana were ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively, with 98 medals (38 gold, 21 silver,
and 39 bronze) and 103 medals (35 gold, 22 silver, and 46 bronze).
• On 19th January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the opening ceremony of the Khelo
India Youth Games 2023 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• The KIYG 2023 witnessed the 30 overall KIYG
records and national youth records.
• Mascot - Veeramangai (Rani Velu Nachiyar, fondly called Veera Mangai, was an Indian queen who
waged a war against British colonial rule.
Also, the logo for the games incorporates the figure of poet Thiruvalluvar)
Rohit Sharma Becomes the First Men's Player To Play 150 T20ls
In a historic moment for Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma, the captain of Team India, etched his name in the
record books by becoming the first men's player to feature in 150 T20 International matches.
Sabalenka... the champion again

Belarus tennis star and defending champion Sabalenka retained the Australian Open title. She won the
women's singles for the second year in a row. In the recent final, second seed Sabalenka won 6-3, 6-2

against China's 12th seed Zheng Qinwen in 76 minutes.
Satwik-Chirag pair ends runner-up, lose final against world champions

Satwik and Chirag, the Asian Games champions, lost 21-15 11-21 18-21 to Kang and Seo after the two
pairs fought for 65 minutes in what was some breath-taking badminton at the KD Jadhav Indoor
stadium.
Australian Open 2024: Jannik Sinner &Arya Sabalenka Win Men's & Women's Singles
Respectively
Jannik Sinner of Italy won the men's singles title, while Arna Sabalenka of Belarus won the women's
singles title at the Australian Open (AO) 2024 held at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia.
• India's Rohan Machanda Bopanna became the oldest man (at 43 vears and 329 days) to win a Grand
Slam after he and his partner Matthew Eden (Australia) won the men's doubles title at the Australian
Open.
• Australian Open 2024, the 112th edition of the Australian Open, the 56th in the Open Era, and the first
major/Grand Slam of the year 2024 was held from 14-28 January 2024.
Tata Group has bagged the sponsorship rights of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Tata Group has bagged the Indian Premier League (IPL) sponsorship rights for the period 2024-2028.
It will pay Rs.2500 crores (500 crores per year) for this. This is the highest in IPL history. In 2022 and
2023, Tata Group, which is the sponsor of IPL, has paid Rs.350 crore per year. The Tata Group is also
the title sponsor of the women's league.
Kohli is the ODI Cricketer of the Year
India's star batsman Virat Kohli was awarded the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award. In 2023, Virat
scored 1337 runs in 27 matches at an average of 72.47. He has six centuries and eight fifties. He also
took one wicket and took 12 catches.
Surya as ICC T20 player of the year

Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav has been selected as the ICC T20 Player of the Year 2023. ICC said
that Surya is the backbone of India's batting in this format and has played many match winning innings.
In 2023, Surya scored runs at an average of around 50 and a strike rate of over 150. This is the second
year in a row that he has been named Player of the Year.
Praggnanandhaa Surpasses Viswanathan Anand to Become India's No.1 Chess Player

• Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, an 18-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, achieved a historic
milestone in his career by defeating World Champion Ding Lien from China.
• The win against Ding Liren not only marked a personal victory for Praggnanandhaa but also led him
to surpass the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the top-rated Indian player.
• With a FIDE live rating of 2748.3, Praggnanandhaa marginally edged past Anand's rating of 2748. This
achievement places Praggnanandhaa as the second Indian, following Anand, to defeat a reigning world
champion in classical chess.
He had previously defeated Ding Lien at the Tata Steel tournament in 2023 as well.
Shocker for Indian women's hockey team

Indian women's hockey team failed to qualify for Paris Olympics. In a must-win match, Japan lost by 1-
0 goals.

Four West Indies women players retire
Four West Indies women players have announced their retirement at the same time. Medium pacer
Selman, spinner Anisa Mohammad, Kaisia Knight and Kishona Knight bid farewell to the game as they
were part of the 2016 T20WC winning team.
Sue Redfern: ICC's First Female Neutral Umpire in Bilateral Series

• In a groundbreaking development for women's cricket, Sue Redfern from England is set to become the
first ICC-appointed female neutral umpire to officiate in a bilateral series.
• Redfern's appointment is a result of the
International Cricket Council's (ICC)
decision to have one neutral umpire for all ICC Women's Championship series and T20l matches
associated with them.
• This move is aimed at ensuring a degree of neutrality in match officiating while also contributing to
the long-term development of female umpires in the sport. Seven female neutral umpires, including Sue
Redfern, will officiate across ICC Women's Championship series.
Naorem Roshibina Devi Crowned Female Wushu Athlete of The Year

Naorem Roshibina Devi, the pride of Manipur, has clinched the prestigious title of International Wushu
Federation Female Athlete of the Year, solidifying her place as a powerhouse in the world of wushu.
IITs
IIT Kanpur Launches Ramayana Website Ahead of Ram Mandir Inauguration
IIT Kanpur has launched Ramayana website valmiki.iitk.ac.in. IIT Kanpur also works for the
advancement of traditional Indian wisdom stored in scriptures like the Vedas, Purans, Upanishads,
Ramayan and Gita.
IIT Jodhpur Develops Technology to avoid Traffic congestion and Road Accidents
IIT Jodhpur has introduced innovative technology, the Novel MAC-based Authentication Scheme
(NoMAS), designed by its computer science and engineering department. The technology aims not only
to elevate vehicle security and intelligence but also to tackle the diverse challenges prevalent on Indian
roads, including traffic congestion and accidents.
NoMAS has the potential to enhance road safety by facilitating a secure and real-time exchange of data
among vehicles, covering road conditions, accidents, and traffic congestion. This information empowers
drivers with timely insights, aiding them in making informed decisions and avoiding potential hazards,
as explained by a professor involved in the technology's development.
Unlock your phone with just a breath : IIT Madras

esearchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have been working on a fascinating new
way to identify people: by using the patterns of their breath. This idea could change how we unlock our
phones and access secure places. The key to this technology lies in the way we breathe out. Every person
has a unique way of exhaling air, which creates specific turbulence patterns. The IIT Madras team, led
by Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, has developed a method to capture these unique patterns and use them
as a biometric signature, similar to how fingerprints are used today. They conducted tests with breath
samples from 94 people and found that their system could correctly confirm the person's identity with

an impressive accuracy of 97%. However, when it came to identifying someone without knowing who
they were beforehand, the accuracy was around 50%. This means the technology is great at confirming
if someone is who they claim to be, but it still needs improvement in recognising people without any
prior information. What makes this research exciting is its potential beyond just unlocking phones. It
could play a significant role in personalised medicine. Since the way we breathe can give insights into
our health, this technology could help doctors tailor treatments to individual patients more effectively.
In a similar study at Kyushu Universityin Japan, researchers developed an "artificial nose" system that
identifies people based on how their breath smells. This system showed a high accuracy rate of 97.8%
in identifying individuals. However, this method currently requires people to fast for six hours before
testing, indicating that it still needs to be refined to be more practical for everyday use. These
advancements in using human breath for identification are not just about adding another cool feature
to our smartphones. They represent a significant step forward in biometric technology, which could
have far-reaching implications in security, medicine, and personal technology. This research at IIT
Madras and Kyushu University is pioneering a new way of using the unique patterns of our breath for
identification purposes, potentially revolutionising how we interact with technology and receive
medical care
IIT Madras is preparing to teach lessons to rural students in Telugu states

IIT Madras is gearing up to teach lessons to rural students in Telugu states with the aim of IIT for all. IIT
Madras, which is already providing online education in the name of Rural Interaction Centers (RIC) in
Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, will set them up in AP and Telangana this year. Acharya V. Kamakoti,
Director of IIT Madras, who attended the Inventive-2024 being held at IIT Hyderabad, explained their
activities to 'Eenadu'. Last year, we set up 100 RICs each in Tamil Nadu and UP and 10 in Sri Lanka on
an experimental basis. If there is TV, camera and internet, we are setting them up in many rural areas.
Through these centres, IIT alumni and professors teach classes online for two hours daily from 6-8 pm
to students of classes 8-12. Doubts are answered on Maths and Science subjects. Awareness is created
about the opportunities for higher education. We will set up 100 RICs in Telangana this year. Soon we
will set up 100 in AP as well,' said Kamakoti.
IIT Hyderabad to host the second edition of R&D Innovation Fair IInvenTiv
Top 120 innovations from Higher Education Institutes to be showcased
The second edition of the Ministry of Education’s flagship R&D Innovation Fair, IInvenTiv-2024 was
inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“InvenTiv-2024 at IIT Hyderabad signifies a momentous gathering of brilliant minds, visionaries, and
trailblazers in the realms of science, technology, and industry. As we embark on this transformative
journey, I recognise the crucial role of education in realising the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit
Bharat,” said Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the inaugural event.
Targeting five pivotal domains, IInvenTiv-2024 aims to showcase the holistic impact of the research
and innovation carried out by the country's top higher education institutes. A total of 120
groundbreaking initiatives from 53 institutes are showcased at the event.
From orthopaedic implants to the development of a lean burn micro-gas turbine engine, several
advanced projects are featured at IInvenTiv-2024. 3D-printed Sustainable Building & Structure,
creation of an indigenous Anti-Hail Gun are among the other projects that are featured at the event.
Several IITs, NITs, IISERs, IIITs, IISc Bangalore, and the top 50 NIRF-ranked engineering institutions in
the country are participating in the second edition of the Ministry of Education’s flagship event,
informed IIT Hyderabad.

IIT Madras and Altair Collaborate to Launch Mobility Simulation Lab
• Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has joined forces with Altair, a global technology
leader specializing in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), and Artificial Intelligence (Al).
• Together, they are set to inaugurate the cutting-edge Mobility Simulation Lab within the Department
of Engineering Design at IIT Madras. The Mobility Simulation Lab is poised to become a hub for
advanced research and training in the field.
• Thanks to Altair's generous financial backing, the lab will be equipped with state-of-the-art products
and tools, featuring Altair's modeling and simulation technologies.
• These tools will play a pivotal role in supporting academic endeavors across various eMobility
domains, including Batteries, Charging, Power Electronics, Motors and Controllers, and Vehicle
Engineering.
HISTORY-HERITAGE-CULTURE
Rock paintings have come to light in a prehistoric cave in Beerinag of Pithoragarh district in
Uttarakhand.
Rock paintings have come to light in a prehistoric cave in Beerinag of Pithoragarh district in
Uttarakhand. A total of 11 human figures were found in them. There are both men and women in it. An
official of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said that these rock paintings date back to 4000-6000
years ago.
Remains of 2,800-year-old settlement found in PM Modi's village in Gujarat

The remains of a 2,800-year-old human settlement have been discovered in Gujarat's Vadnagar, which
also happens to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's native village.
Researchers from IIT Kharagpur, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Physical Research Laboratory
(PRL), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Deccan College have found the evidence.
The human settlement that goes back as old as 800 BC revealed the presence of seven cultural stages,
said officials. Dr Anindya Sarkar, Professor of Geology and Geophysics at IIT Kharagpur told ANI news
agency that the excavation work has been going on since 2016 and the team has dug up to a depth of 20
metres.
"Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah"

French President Emmanuel Macron, who participated in the Republic Day celebrations, visited Hazrat
Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah in Delhi and enjoyed Sufi music. This Dargah is located in Nizamuddin West
area of Delhi.
Multicolored 'bandhani' turban

♦ PM Modi wears multi-coloured 'Bandhani' turban on 75th Republic Day.
♦ Bandhani or Bandhej is a popular and highly skilled Indian dyeing art.
♦ Bandhani is a dyed textile art popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
♦ Bandhani or Bandhej is called 'Tie and Die' in English.
♦ Muslim Khatris brought it from Sindh to Kutch.
♦ When Jamnagar was founded 400 years ago, Bandhani was introduced.
♦ The word Bandhani appears for the first time in Bana's Harshacharita, where he describes a royal
wedding in which Bandhani wears a sari.

♦ Bandhani cloth was considered auspicious for the bride.
India Nominates 'Maratha Military Landscapes' For UNESCO World Heritage List 2024-25
• India has nominated the 'Maratha Military Landscapes' for inclusion in the UNESCO
World Heritage List for the 2024-25 cycle.
• The 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' comprise twelve components, including Salher Fort,
Shivneri Fort, Lohgad, Khanderi Fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijay Durg,
Sindhudurg, and Gingee Fort.
• These structures, dating back to the 17th and 19th centuries, span across Maharashtra and Tamil
Nadu, showcasing the strategic military prowess of the Maratha rule.
Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi

The Prime Minister visited the Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi, Andra Pradesh, during his 11-day
special ritual for the consecration of Lord Ram's idol at the Ayodhya Ram temple.
• Lepakshi holds significance in the Ramayana, and its name, meaning
"Rise, oh bird' in Telugu, is a tribute to Jatayu, the mythical bird who fought Ravan.
• According to the Ramayana, Jatayu fell wounded in Lepakshi after battling Ravan, and it is here that
he informed Lord Ram about Sita's kidnapping.
• The temple is believed to have preserved the footprints of Goddess Sita.
About Lepakshi Temple:
The Veerabhadra Temple, also known as the Lepakshi Temple, is located in the Anantapur district of
Andhra Pradesh.
The temple was built in 1533 by the Vijayanagara rulers. It is known for its architecture, which includes
hanging pillars and cave chambers.
The temple is dedicated to Virabhadra, a fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva. The temple's architectural
features are in the Vijayanagara style, with carvings and paintings on almost every exposed surface.
The main shrine is of Lord Shiva, and there are also shrines to Ganesha and Durga.
Chittorgarh Fort
The Supreme Court of India has banned the mining of limestone by blasting or using explosives within
a five-kilometre radius of the compound wall of Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan.
• It emphasized the threat to the fort's existence due to unscientific mineral exploitation and directed a
multidisciplinary study of environmental pollution and its impact on structures.
About Chittorgarh Fort:
Chittorgarh Fort, also known as Chittod Fort, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's located in the city of
Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
Guruvayur temple
The Prime Minister visited the Sreekrishna Temple in Guruvayur, Thrissur district.
The Guruvayur Temple is a Hindu temple in Guruvayur, Kerala, India.
It is dedicated to Guruvayurappan, a form of Vishnu, also known as Krishna. The presiding deity is
depicted in a standing posture with four hands holding Shankh, Sudarshana Chakra, Lotus and Mace. It
is carved out of a stone named Patala Anjana.
Srirangam temple
The Prime Minister visited Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy.

Temple, marking the first visit by a serving Prime Minister to the temple, according to temple priests.
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, also known as Srirangam Temple, is a Hindu temple in Srirangam,
Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu. The temple is
considered the first and most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples.
Farsi As India's New Classical Language

• In a noteworthy development aimed at strengthening cultural ties, the Government of India, under the
New Education Policy, has decided to include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages of
India.
• This announcement was made by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during a two-day visit to Iran,
highlighting the cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between Iran and India.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

A Book Named "Gandhi A Life in Three Campaigns" Launched By M.J. Akbar
• Renowned author M.J. Akbar, along with co-author K. Natwar Singh, launched a new book titled
"Gandhi: A Life in Three Campaigns."
• The book delves into the life and struggles of Mahatma Gandhi, particularly focusing on three pivotal
mass campaigns he led:
1) Non-Cooperation Movement (1920):
Highlighting Gandhi's ability to mobilize the masses against British rule.
2) Salt Satyagraha (1930): Turning a pinch of salt into a symbol of resistance against colonial
exploitation
3) Quit India Movement (1942): A decisive call for the end of British colonialism in India. These
campaigns are portrayed as crucial moments that challenged and eventually led to the dismantling of
the British Empire in India.
"Conversations With Aurangzeb": ANovel By Charu Nivedita

• "Conversations with Aurangzeb" is a novel by Tamil literary icon Charu Nivedita, translated into
English by Nandini Krishnan.
• This book represents a unique fusion of historical narrative and satirical commentary, offering readers
a fresh perspective on both historical and contemporary themes.
• The novel is a part historical, part satirical piece that begins with a writer's attempt to conduct seances
with the spirit of ShahJahan for a new book.
The Book "An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha And Narayana Murthy" Released
The book "An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy," authored by Chitra
Banerjee Divakaruni offers an intimate view into the lives of one of India's most respected couples,
Sudha and Narayana Murthy, the co-founders of Infosys.
VP Jagdeep Dhankhar unveils new Book

'Fertilising the Future" by Mansukh Mandaviya Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President (VP) of India, has
released a new book titled 'Fertilising the Future: Bharat's March Towards Fertilizer Self-Sufficiency'
authored by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW)
and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F).

Guiarat CM Unveils a Book on Smritivan
Ahead 23rd Anniversary of the Bhuj Earthquake
Chief Minister(CM) of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, has launched a coffee table book titled "Smritivan: An
Unparalleled Apotheosis of Commemoration to 2001 Victims of Gujarat Earthquake" in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat ahead of the 23rd anniversary of the Bhuj earthquake.
Messi’s World Cup trailer traces soccer legend’s rise

Lionel Messi, the global football phenomenon, is poised to have his illustrious journey in the 2022 World
Cup immortalized in the forthcoming documentary series, ‘Messi's World Cup: Rise of a Legend.' This
four-part series is slated to make its debut on February 21, 2024, providing an in-depth portrayal of
Messi's remarkable trajectory leading to Argentina's triumphant victory over France in the riveting
World Cup final.
DEFENCE -EXERCISES
India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR Begins in Bakloh
India-Kyrgyzstan's 11th joint special forces exercise 'Khanjar' has commenced at Special Forces
Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. Exercise ‘Khanjar’ will be conducted from 22 January to 3
February 2024.
Exercise ‘Khanjar’ is an annual event conducted alternately in both countries. This year this exercise is
being organized in India. Whereas last year this exercise was organized in Kyrgyzstan.
India And Egypt Armies Unite for Exercise Cyclone's Special Operations
• The Indian Army contingent, comprised of 25 highly skilled personnel from The Parachute Regiment
(Special Forces), has arrived in Egypt to participate in the eagerly awaited 2nd edition of the India-
Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE.
• The Indian contingent will be joined by counterparts from the Egyptian Commando Squadron and the
Egyptian Airborne Platoon, totaling another 25 personnel.
India, France, UAE Conduct Joint Air Exercise Over Arabian Sea
• India, France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conducted a major air exercise, named 'Desert
Knight', over the Arabian Sea. This joint exercise, held on January 23, 2024, comes against the backdrop
of rising global concerns over Houthi militants targeting commercial vessels in strategic waterways.
• The main focus of 'Desert Knight' was to enhance synergy and interoperability among the air forces
of the participating countries. The exercise aimed to foster a shared understanding of operational
tactics and enhance coordination in complex air scenarios.
Indian Army Opens 'India Selfie Point Near LOC in Jammu and Kashmir
The Dagger Division (the then 19th Indian Infantry Division) of the Indian Army opened
'India Selfie Point' near the Line of Control(LOC) in Uri in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir
(J&K).
• The selfie point has been gifted by acclaimed artist Rouble Nagi, who has set up several such points in
J&k.
• It is located along the National Highway 44(NH 44), which is the longest national highway in India and
connects Srinagar (J&K) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu).

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Elon Musk’s Neuralink Has Implanted Its First Chip in a Human Brain
Elon Musk’s startup Neuralink implanted a computer chip in a person’s brain on Sunday, he said in a
post on his X platform Monday, although he offered few details. Other companies doing similar work
are farther along in the research process – for example, Synchron has been enrolling and implanting
people in its trial since 2021 – and consumers won’t be able to access the technology any time soon. But
if the technology works, it could one day benefit people who are otherwise unable to move or
communicate and may have even wider-ranging applications for health. Here’s what to know about
brain implants.
What is a human brain implant?

Researchers say that a brain-computer interface will allow a person to use their thoughts to control a
device like a computer or a phone.
How does it work?

Doctors implant these kinds of devices on the surface of the brain or deep with in it.
Neuralink’s equipment is about the size of a coin; Synchron’s is a small stent-like device that goes into
the blood vessels in the brain. The devices include several electrodes that can’t read a person’s thoughts,
but they essentially observe and interpret signals sent by neurons, nerve cells that use electricity and
chemicals to send signals from your brain to the rest of your body to help it move, breathe, talk and eat.
“Using the recent advances in computers that came over the last 30 or 40 years, we’ve finally had
enough processing power to build and train mathematical algorithms to make estimates of what that
information might look like, and we finally have the computing power to make those estimates in real
time,” said Dr. Paul Nuyujukian, a professor of bioengineering and neurosurgery who runs the Brain
Interfacing Laboratory at Stanford University.
Although the technology is newer, he said, the work builds on basic science on how the brain controls
movement that scientists have understood for more than 100 years.
What makes this technology work?

Earlier technology had to be wired to a computer. Neuralinnk’s device runs on a battery that can be
charged wirelessly and can communicate wirelessly to the Neuralink application, which decodes the
data into action and intent, according to the company. Synchron’s device is connected to a telemetry
unit that is hooked up to a computer.
How will these devices be used?

The initial aim is to help someone who has had a stroke or who has a motor degenerative disease like
ALS or other physical problems communicate directly through the implant to an outside device like a
phone, tablet or computer.

In 2021, Neuralink demonstrated how this worked with a monkey named Pager, who had two of these
wireless devices implanted into its brain. The devices allowed Pager to control a cursor with its
thoughts and play a game called “mind pong.”
When will these devices be available?

“Nothing in this field happens overnight,” Nuyujukian said. He and other academics have been working
on this kind of research for decades, but technical innovation has picked up in the past five to 10 years
as more neural engineering companies have gotten into the business.
WHO approval for Corbivax vaccine

City-based Biological has received a green signal from the World Health Organization (WHO) for its
indigenously developed Corbevax COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax Vaccine. This is the first indigenous
Covid vaccine to be manufactured indigenously on the protein sub-unit platform. The WHO said the
Corbivax vaccine could be given as an essential use agent. Corbivax already has DCGI approval. So far,
about 100 million doses of Corbivax COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to the Central Government
biologically. The vaccine has been mostly used in children in the age group of 12 to 14 years.
ChiBetaVolt new nuclear battery that can generate power for up to 50 years
China-based start-up BetaVolt is developing a new nuclear battery that can generate power for up to 50
years without the need for charging. Called the 'BV100', the size of this battery is less than a coin. It is
made up of a nickel-63 isotope and a diamond semiconductor. The battery, which is currently in the
testing phase, is currently releasing 100 microWatts of power. The researchers are working with the
goal of increasing its energy generation capacity to one watt by 2025. According to BetaVolt, this is the
first battery in the world to be developed by miniaturizing and developing nuclear energy. It can be
used in aerospace, artificial intelligence devices, small drones and micro-robots.
Bharat Space Station.. ISRO Chairman's key announcement

ISRO Chairman Somnath disclosed the key point about setting up India's own space station. The basic
version of India's space station will go into orbit in 2028, he said. Somnath spoke during the
International Science Festival program held in Faridabad, Haryana. We will conduct the first round of
tests for the Bharat Space Station by next year. The basic model of the space station will be launched
into orbit in 2028 and will be completed by 2035. Space station consists of crew command module,
habitation module, propulsion module and docking port. The entire station weighs 25 tons. We will
expand it later if necessary. We will do micro gravity research through the space station,' said Somnath.
So far, there is only International Space Station (ISS) in Ninggi. It was jointly built by America, Canada,
Japan and Europe. ISS was designed between 1984 and 1993.
ISRO DAT to Protect Fishermen

• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has developed an improved Distress Alert
Transmitter (DAT) with advanced capabilities to send distress messages from fishing boats at sea and
receive information back.
• Already the first version of DAT has been available to them since 2010, through which messages are
sent through a communication satellite, 'received' at a central control station (Indian Mission Control
Centre-MRCC).
• MRCC coordinates search and rescue operations to rescue fishermen in distress.
More than 20,000 DATs are currently in use.

• "ISRO has enhanced the second generation DAT with advanced capabilities in satellite communication
and satellite navigation. It has the flexibility to transmit information back to fishermen.
• After receiving the distress alert from the sea, he (the fisherman) is informed by the rescue team
coming to him. Warning messages are sent to fishermen at sea when there is dangerous weather, storm,
tsunami or other emergencies. So that they can go to safer places. Information about fishing zones is
also provided to fishermen by DAT.
Oldest black hole discovered dating back to 470 million years after the Big Bang
Astronomers have discovered a black hole that formed in the early days of the universe. It was found
that it was gradually swallowing up the constellation around it. The universe emerged from the Big
Bang that occurred 1,300 million years ago. A black hole born 40 million years after the Big Bang was
discovered by James Webb Space Telescope scientists. It is a few million times larger than the Sun. It is
located in the center of the star cluster (Galaxy) called 'GN-Z11'. This galaxy is much smaller than our
Milky Way.
Japan slim who stepped on the moon

Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM-SLIM) landed on the moon's surface on January 19.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced that the spacecraft has made a soft
landing on the slope of a crater near the south of the moon's midline using 'pinpoint technology'. Japan
became the fifth country to achieve this feat. Reuters reported that the Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency (JAXA) had carried out the landing procedure within 100 meters (328 feet) of the target. But
there is some doubt about the success of Slim. Soviet Union, America, China and India are among the
countries that have soft-landed a spacecraft on the surface of the Moon so far.
Ethanol, which is becoming dangerous for humanity, has a severe effect on the nerves
Ethanol is becoming dangerous to mankind. Research by the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology
(CCMB) has revealed that it affects the functioning of the brain that controls the body. It has been
revealed once again that the consumption of products containing ethanol such as alcohol, perfumes,
plastic and cosmetics has always brought diseases. Researchers have studied the long-term effects of
ethanol consumption, the changes in the body, and the way the nervous system reacts.
After Three Years on Mars, NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter Mission Ends

NASA’s history-making Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has ended its mission at the Red Planet after
surpassing expectations and making dozens more flights than planned. While the helicopter remains
upright and in communication with ground controllers, imagery of its Jan. 18 flight sent to Earth this
week indicates one or more of its rotor blades sustained damage during landing, and it is no longer
capable of flight.
Originally designed as a technology demonstration to perform up to five experimental test flights over
30 days, the first aircraft on another world operated from the Martian surface for almost three years,
performed 72 flights, and flew more than 14 times farther than planned while logging more than two
hours of total flight time.
Iran Simultaneously Launches 3 Satellites for the 1st time Using Simorgh SLV
On 28 January 2024, Iran simultaneously launched 3 satellites for the 1st time using the 2-stage, liquid-
fueled Simorgh (Phoenix)Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) developed by the Ministry of Defence.

• The satellites were launched from the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Semnan province, Iran into Low
Earth Orbit (LEO).
• The 3 satellites inclues a larger satellite named Mahda and two nanosatellites, Keyhan-2 and Hatef-1.
First in India, CMFRI to develop lab-grown fish meat

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Kochi has embarked on a pioneering initiative
to develop lab-grown fish meat.
The project aims to establish India’s place in the field of cultured marine fish meat to address the
growing demand for seafood and reduce excessive pressure on wild resources.
Cultivated fish meat or lab grown fish meat is produced by isolating specific cells from fish and growing
them in laboratory setting using animal component free media. The final product will replicate the
original flavour, texture, and nutritional qualities of the fish.
Sepsis, tropical fever most common causes for community-acquired acute kidney injury in India:
Study
While sepsis refers to the presence of pus-forming bacteria or their toxins in the blood or tissues,
tropical fever is the infection characterised by fever and unique to or prevalent in tropical or subtropical
regions.
Conducted across nine tertiary care centres in India, the study also found that the most common
comorbidities in these CA-AKI patients included hypertension and diabetes.
The team of scientists, including those from Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences,
Uttar Pradesh, and Madras Medical College, Tamil Nadu, observed that presenting CA-AKI patients to
tertiary care units was associated with high mortality.
They also found that a significant number of these patients progressed to developing chronic kidney
disease (CKD).
Check for cervical cancer with HPV vaccine

Cervical cancer, the second most common form of breast cancer in Indian women, can be prevented
with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccine, a new study has revealed. The study was conducted on
2,135 girls between the ages of 10-18 years who had received the HPV vaccine at various clinics in the
country over a period of ten years. These details were published in the journal "Human Vaccines and
Immunotherapeutics". According to this study, it has been shown that vaccinating girls with a single
dose of HPV can reduce the lifetime risk of cervical cancer, as well as giving girls two doses of HPV
vaccines before puberty. The study explained that it can eradicate cervical cancer more quickly.
Single dose of nanorobots shrinks bladder cancer tumors by 90%

A game-changing treatment to combat bladder cancer is on the horizon. Using tiny, self-propelled
nanorobots, an international team of researchers was able to reduce bladder tumors by 90 percent with
just a single dose.
Bladder cancer, one of the most common tumors in men, poses a significant health challenge due to its
high recurrence rate and costly treatment. Conventional treatments require frequent hospital visits and
have limited efficacy. However, the new study demonstrates a more efficient alternative using
nanotechnology.
The nanorobots, essentially tiny machines, are powered by urea, a substance present in urine. These
nanomachines consist of a silica sphere equipped with several components, including the enzyme

urease and radioactive iodine. Urease reacts with urea to propel the nanorobot, while the radioactive
iodine serves to treat the tumor.
Electricity 'plants'!
• Generation of electricity from wind and rain
We arrange plastic plants for decoration in houses. American scientists have developed a new way to
generate electricity with them when needed. In this, raindrops can be captured and electricity can be
generated. If these are fully available, not only will the burden of electricity bills be reduced in homes,
but the environment will also be good.
World's largest solar battery available

World's largest solar battery begins operation in South Africa As it has been working since December,
some solution has been found to the electricity crisis in the country. The battery was installed by
StateTech, the largest solar power generation company in South Africa. This solar power storage system
is connected to the grid and started supplying electricity. It was established in the Northern Cape
Province. Statetech has built 3 plants spread over 10 km in 879 hectares. These are generating 540
megawatts of electricity. The huge battery system of these plants is sending 225 MW to the grid.
StateTech has unveiled the world's largest and first hybrid solar battery storage system. The project
was completed by 2,600 workers for 18 months. 10 lakh photovoltaic modules were installed.
Glaucoma detection lenses

Scientists have developed special lenses that detect glaucoma. Worldwide, 7 crore people suffer from
glaucoma, but half of them do not know that they have the disease. In this context, British and Turkish
scientists have developed special lenses that can accurately predict the changes caused by pressure in
the eyes and warn about glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve that connects the brain to
the eyes is damaged. This disease occurs when water collects in the front of the eye and raises the
intraocular pressure (IOP). These lenses contain sensors that detect changes in IOP over a day. They
transmit the information they find wirelessly to ophthalmologists to help detect glaucoma earlier.
New AI model designs proteins to deliver gene therapy

Researchers at the University of Toronto have used an artificial intelligence framework to redesign a
crucial protein involved in the delivery of gene therapy.
The study, published in Nature Machine Intelligence, describes new work optimizing proteins to
mitigate immune responses, thereby improving the efficacy of gene therapy and reducing side effects.
"Gene therapy holds immense promise, but the body's pre-existing immune response to viral vectors
greatly hampers its success. Our research zeroes in on hexons, a fundamental protein in adenovirus
vectors, which—but for the immune problem—hold huge potential for gene therapy," says Michael
Garton, an assistant professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied
Science & Engineering.
A team of Cornell researchers developed an EV battery that charges in 5 minutes

Now all the countries of the world are trying to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels to protect the
environment. As part of that, electric vehicles (EVs) are gradually being made available in place of
vehicles that run on fuels like petrol and diesel. However, the long time it takes to charge the batteries
is a major hindrance to the use of EVs. To solve this problem, a research team led by Professor Linden

Archer of the Cornell Institute of Engineering in the United States has developed a new lithium battery.
Its specialty is that it can be charged in just 5 minutes.
ECONOMY
Global Economy Approaches Soft Landing, but Risks Remain : IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its 2024 outlook for the global economy. The
main reasons for this are the slowdown in US growth and inflation in the face of fluctuations.
The latest outlook raises the growth rate to 3.1 per cent in 2024 from the previous forecast of 2.9 per
cent. Globally, inflation has lowered the outlook. Inflation is expected to fall from 6.8 percent in 2023 to
5.8 percent in 2024 and 4.4 percent in 2025.
Inflation in the leading countries will come down to 2 percent in 2024 from 2.6 percent in 2024. If the
global trade growth rate is 3.3 percent in 2024, it will increase to 3.6 percent in 2025. Historical trade
growth has averaged 4.9 percent.
India to become third largest economy with GDP of USD 5 trillion in three years: Finance Minister
India will become the third largest economy in the world with a gross domestic product (GDP) of USD
5 trillion in the next three years, according to the Finance Ministry's 2024 January Review Report. The
Ministry of Finance said that it will reach 7 trillion dollars by 2030 in the context of continuous reforms.
Ten years ago, India was the 10th largest economy in the world with a GDP of $1.9 trillion at current
market prices.
These numbers are currently at $3.7 trillion (estimated for fiscal year 2023–24), making the country
the fifth largest economy. It said that the country has achieved this feat despite the challenges of the
pandemic and severe ups and downs. It explained that the current government has set a lofty goal of
becoming a 'developed nation' by 2047. As the journey of reforms continues, it is confident that this
goal will be achieved.
The report explained that the state's participation in national development will be complete when
administrative changes are brought at the district, block and village levels along with comprehensive
reforms. The economy has grown at 7 per cent in the past three years on the back of robust domestic
demand, and is expected to grow to 7 per cent in 2024-25, the report said. America continues to be the
world's largest economy at $25.5 trillion. It accounts for a quarter of the world's GDP. China is in second
place as an 18 trillion dollar economy with a share of 17.9 percent of the world's GDP. Japan ($4.2
trillion) and Germany ($4 trillion) are next.
President Droupadi Murmu Appoints 4 Members to 16th Finance Commission

President Droupadi Murmu appointed 4 members (3 full-time members and a part-time member) to
the 16th Finance Commission (FC), a constitutional body responsible for recommending the
distribution of federal taxes among states.
Members:
i.Ajay Narayan Jha, Former Secretary of the Department of Expenditure and Former Member of 15th
FC;
ii.Annie George Mathew, Former Special Secretary of the Department of Expenditure;
iii. Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, Executive Director of policy consultancy firm, Artha Global. iv. Soumya Kanti
Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser at the State Bank of India (SBI).

25 crore people in India came out of multidimensional poverty in 9 years: Report
As many as 24.82 crore people moved out of multidimensional poverty in nine years to 2022-23, with
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh registering the largest decline, NITI Aayog said in a report.
According to the NITI discussion paper, multidimensional poverty in India declined from 29.17 per cent
in 2013-14 to 11.28 per cent in 2022-23, showing a reduction of 17.89 percentage points, with about
24.82 crore people moving out of the bracket during this period.
ICRA Projects GDP Growth to Moderate to Below 6% in Q3 FY 2023-24

ICRA Limited (formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited), predicts
that India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth may have slowed to under 6% in the third quarter
(Q3) of FY 2024 (October to December 2023) from 7.6% in the second quarter (Q2) of FY 2024.
• This downturn is primarily attributed to a significant decline in the output of kharif crops and weak
progress in rabi sowing for some crops
Net direct tax collection rises by 160% to ₹16,63,686 crore in 10 years

Central Board of Direct Taxes, released a new report revealing that the country’s net direct tax
collections have increased by 160.52 per cent from ₹6,38,596 crore in 2013-14 to ₹16,63,686 crore in
2022-23.
It revealed that the share of taxes in GDP has increased, and the expenditure incurred by the
government on tax collection has decreased. It is said that this data is being released for academicians,
researchers, economists and public awareness.
Taxpayers double: In the last 10 years, the number of taxpayers filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) has
nearly doubled (104.91%) to 7.78 crore, government figures revealed. While 3.8 crore ITRs were filed
in 2013-14, 7.78 crore in 2022-23.
India's goods & services exports marginally up in 2023

The country's exports of goods and services rose marginally by 0.4 per cent to USD 765.6 billion in 2023
despite global economic uncertainties, according to the commerce ministry data. Sectors which helped
keep India's exports afloat include electronics, pharmaceuticals, cotton yarn, fabrics and made-ups;
ceramic products, meat, dairy and poultry products, fruits and vegetables and information technology.
Halwa celebration
Halwa ceremony was held on 24th January in North Block, Delhi. It has become customary to hold a
halwa ceremony every year before the printing of the budget documents. Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman and Union Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat participated in the programme. Before the
Budget, the Finance Minister conducts the Halwa ceremony in North Block on the ground floor. The
Halwa ceremony signifies that the budget has been finalized and the printing work has begun. Budget
matters are kept highly confidential. All officers of the Budget Division of the Finance Ministry, who are
engaged in the preparation of the budget, are not allowed to meet even their families until the budget
is presented in Parliament. Finance Minister served halwa to the officials. Printing starts ten days before
the Budget is tabled in Parliament. All the officers and staff involved in budget preparation are here.
Also, all the officers and employees of this ministry are under the surveillance of the Intelligence Bureau
24 hours a day. No one is allowed to meet. They are also not allowed to use phones. In case of emergency,
the security personnel should speak only under supervision. The government organizes a halwa
ceremony to thank them for their hard work. The printing of budget papers continued at Rashtrapati

Bhavan till 1950. However, it was shifted to Minto Road and then to the basement of North Block due
to leakage in the same year. Since then, budget printing has been going on in this printing press.
RANKINGS -INDICES -REPORTS

India Placed 93rd Among 180 Nations In 2023 Corruption Index
• Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) offers valuable insights into India's
standing in the global arena of public sector integrity.
• India's placement in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2023 remained largely unchanged,
securing the 93rd position out of 180 countries.
• For the sixth consecutive year, Denmark has retained its top position on the index, securing a score of
90, credited to its robust "well-functioning justice systems.
• The CPI, curated by Transparency International, evaluates nations based on their perceived levels of
public sector corruption, utilizing a scale from 0 to 100, where O signifies high corruption and 100
represents very clean governance.
2024 military strength rankings: US most powerful, India at 4th position behind China
Military strength is very important for any country in this world. It is known that Army plays a vital role
in protecting their country. The military is at the forefront of any situation. For this all countries are
keen to increase their army power. Every year many countries increase their army power.
The details have been released by Global Fire. Global Firepower has released a report titled Military
Strength Rankings-2024. The military power capabilities of all 145 countries have been converted into
ranks and released. It assigns ranks after considering more than 60 factors like number of soldiers,
weapons, economic sustainability, geographical situation, resources.
Superpower America has taken the first place in the list of top 10 most powerful countries in the world
released by Global Fire. Russia is in the second place and China is in the third place. It is remarkable that
India stands at the fourth position as the country with the most powerful military in this list. South
Korea, UK, Japan, Turkey, Pakistan and Italy are in the other positions.
Note: The World's top 4 military powers have maintained their positions since 2006.
About the ranking:
i.The Military Strength Ranking of GFP evaluates the military capabilities based on over 60 factors like
manpower, equipment, natural resources, finances, and geography across land, sea, and air.
ii.The factors determine the country's PowerIndex (PwrIdx) Score. The lower PwrIdx indicates stronger
military capabilities.
0.0000 is considered a perfect score.
iii. The 2024 ranking has reviewed a total of 145 world powers.
Global Fire has also released a list of countries with weak military power in the world. Bhutan is on the
first position in this list. Moldova, Suriname, Somalia, Benin, Liberia, Belize, Sierra Leone, Central
African Republic, Island are next.
Top 10 countries with most powerful military in the world

1. America
2. Russia
3. China

4. India
5. South Korea
6. United Kingdom
7. Japan
8.Turkey
9. Pakistan
10. Italy
10 countries with the weakest military power in the world

1. Bhutan
2. Moldova
3. Suriname
4. Somalia
5. Benin
6. Liberia
7. Belize
8. Sierra Leone
9. Central African Republic
10. Island
Kuwait Dinar is the most valuable currency in the world

Forbes recently released the list of the most valuable currencies in the world. The most valuable
currency comes to our mind like US dollar, British pound and Euro. But Kuwait Dinar is the most
valuable currency in the world. Compared to our rupee, the value of dinar has reached Rs.270.23. It is
known that the Kuwaiti Dinar continues to be the most valuable currency due to its stable financial
system.
Valuable currencies.. in rupees..
1. Kuwait Dinar: Rs.270.23
2. Bahrain Dinar: Rs.220.4
3. Omani Rial: Rs.215.84
4. Jordanian Dinar: Rs.117.10
5. Gibraltar Pound: Rs.105.52
6. British Pound: Rs.105.54
7. Cayman Island Pound: Rs.99.76
8. Swiss Franc: Rs.97.54
9. Euro: Rs.90.80
10. US Dollar: Rs.83.10
America is the top in Gold reserves

A country's gold reserves are an indicator of its economic stability. We know that currency printing is
also done according to the gold reserves of the country. Currency exchange rate is also based on gold
reserves. More importantly, it is the gold reserves that sustain the country in times of financial
instability. Forbes has recently released a list of the gold reserves of any country. Among the top-10
countries in this list, the US is at the top with 8,1336.46 tonnes of gold reserves, while India, which is
the most preferred country for gold, is at the 9th position with 800.78 tonnes.

Top-10 Inventory Stocks (in tonnes)
America : 8,1336.46
Germany : 3,352.65
Italy : 2,451.84
France : 2,436.88
Russia : 2,332.74
China : 2,191.53
Switzerland : 1,040.00
Japan : 845.97
India : 800.78
Netherlands : 612.45
Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka are Best Performing States in Startup Ranking 2022; National Startup
Awards 2023 Announced
i.On the occasion of 8th National Startup Day 2024 i.e. on January 16, 2024, the results of the 4th edition
of 'States' Startup Ranking 2022- On support to Startup Ecosystems of States and Union Territories' &
4th 'National Startup Awards (NSA) 2023- Celebrating Achievers Ahead of the Curve' were declared by
Startup India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce
and Industry (MoCI) during an event at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. The winners were felicitated by the Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
(MoCI) in New Delhi, Delhi.
iii.In the State's Startup Ranking 2022, Gujarat, Karnataka Kerala, and Tamil Nadu (TN) emerged as the
best-performing States in Category A (Population above 1 Cr) for developing startup ecosystems for
budding entrepreneurs while Himachal Pradesh is emerged as the best performer in Category B
(Population below 1 Cr).
INDIA FACES HIGHEST MISINFORMATION RISK: WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

India ranks first in facing the highest risk of misinformation and disinformation in the world, the World
Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2024 has revealed. The report analysed the risks that countries
face in the coming decade against “rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, a warming planet
and conflict”. The United Nations defines 'misinformation' as the accidental spread of inaccurate
information, and 'disinformation' as inaccurate information spread with the intent of deception,
affecting a broad range of human rights, undermining responses to public policies or amplifying
tensions in times of emergency or armed conflict. The information revealed by the report comes at a
crucial time when the country is headed for the upcoming general elections expected to begin in April.
Mumbai is ranked 12th in the world's best cities

Mumbai is ranked twelfth in the list of top-50 cities in the world released by 'Time Out'. Mumbai is the
only city from India to get a place. New York, Cape Town, London, Berlin and Madrid occupy the top five
positions in the list.
According to the organization, this list has been prepared based on public opinion and expert analysis
on the food available in the cities, their architectural styles and cultural wealth. It revealed that the
ranks were given based on the extent to which people are happy with living in these cities.

India is the 4th largest stock market in the world
Our country has become the fourth largest stock market in the world. Hong Kong was pushed back for
the first time in the process. According to Bloomberg's latest statistics, the market value of Indian
exchanges has reached 4.33 trillion dollars, while the value of the Hong Kong market is 4.29 trillion
dollars. Last year on December 5, the value of the Indian market crossed the 4 lakh crore mark for the
first time.
Out of 96 crore voters in the country, 1.73 crore are 18-19 years old.
More than 96 crore citizens are eligible to vote in the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha elections. According to
the Election Commission, 47 crore of these are women and more than 1.73 crore of the total voters are
in the age group of 18-19 years.
About 18 lakh persons registered in the voter list are persons with disabilities. More than 12 lakh
polling centers will be set up across the country for people to exercise their right to vote in the Lok
Sabha elections. Around 1.5 crore election workers will be assigned for general election polling.
Year-Number of Voters
1951 - 17.32 crores
1957 -19.37 crores
2019 -91.2 crores
2024 -96 crores
Panchayats in India earn only one per cent of their revenue through taxes
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made it clear in its latest report that the income of panchayats in
Telangana has fallen in the last three years. Panchayati Raj has released this report titled 'Financial
Situation 2020-23' analyzing the income and expenditure patterns of Gram Panchayats in all states.
According to this, in 2022-23 the maximum average income of panchayats in Kerala is Rs.60.69 lakhs
while in Telangana it is only Rs.11.52 lakhs. In the backward states of Chhattisgarh it is Rs.13.53 lakhs
and in Bihar it is Rs.38.94 lakhs. In Bihar, the average income increased from Rs.8.45 lakh to Rs.38.94
lakh in the last three years, while in Telangana, it decreased from Rs.20.36 lakh to Rs.11.52 lakh during
the same period. The national average is Rs.21.23 lakh in 2022-23.
Cost reduction...
The RBI explained that panchayats depend on their own sources of income or grants from the central
and state governments. This report has made it clear that the average expenditure of Gram Panchayats
in Telangana has decreased from Rs.16.50 lakh to Rs.11 lakh during 2020-23. It suggested that
panchayats should work transparently and responsibly in the expenditure of funds. Primarily, it has
been suggested to implement environmentally friendly agricultural practices in response to climate
change. It has been explained that panchayats play a key role in the country if production and
consumption of non-conventional energy is to increase.
Unauthorized state governments

The constitution makes it clear that a total of 29 powers should be delegated to Gram Panchayats. In
the country only the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Sikkim have delegated
a total of 29 powers to Gram Panchayats. Telangana and Madhya Pradesh governments have
transferred only 14, RBI said. Less than Telangana, Manipur 5, Punjab 9 and Uttarakhand transferred
11 powers. This report explains that the main reason for the huge income of panchayats in states like

Kerala is local self-governance with full 29 powers, transparent income and expenditure, and national
development is possible if local institutions are strengthened.
24.82 crore Indians escape Multidimensional Poverty in last 9 years

A total of 24.82 crore individuals in India escaped multidimensional poverty over the last nine years,
with the largest decline reported in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, a report released by the
NITI Aayog.
Multidimensional poverty is measured by improvement in health, education and standard of living.
According to findings of the NITI Aayog’s Discussion Paper "Multidimensional Poverty in India since
2005-'06", multidimensional poverty in India declined from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23,
with about 24.82 crore people moving out of this category during this period.
Uttar Pradesh registered the largest decline in the number of poor people with 5.94 crore people
escaping multidimensional poverty over the last nine years, followed by Bihar at 3.77 crore, Madhya
Pradesh at 2.30 crore and Rajasthan at 1.87 crore.
According to the paper, the pace of decline in poverty headcount ratio using the exponential method
was much faster between 2015-16 to 2019-21 (10.66% annual rate of decline) compared to 2005-06
to 2015-16 (7.69% annual rate of decline).
World Economic Forum Report on FinTechs

The report, 'The Future of Global FinTech: Towards Resilient and Inclusive Growth', was released at the
World Economic Forum 2024 Annual Meeting. This report was produced in collaboration with the
Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at Cambridge University Judge Business School. It is
based on a survey of 200 fintech companies across the world. The survey covers Asia Pacific, Europe,
Latin America and Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, US and Canada and sub-regions.
While fintechs are expanding their overseas operations, this expansion is mainly in the region where
they are headquartered, the report said. Among the countries surveyed, the most important operating
economies for fintechs include the US, the UK, Singapore, Mexico and India.
According to the report, the global fintech industry is strong, with customer growth rates averaging
over 50 percent.
These fintechs offer financial services and products tailored to traditionally disadvantaged sections of
the population.
The report states that the majority of financial technology companies (63 percent) have a positive view
of their regulatory policies.
However, regulatory mechanisms, licensing and re-registration processes remain problematic for a
significant portion of fintechs.
Over 200 years needed to end global poverty: Report

The Oxfam report has revealed that it will take at least another 200 years to end the problem of poverty
affecting the world. The report said that while the wealth of the world's five poorest people has doubled
since 2020, nearly 500 crore people have been pushed into poverty worldwide. If these trends continue,
eradicating poverty will become a complex process in the next 230 years.
The capture of corporate ownership by the very rich is a cause for concern. The report revealed that
inequality has increased in America, South Africa and Brazil due to concentration of economic power.
43 percent of the world's wealth is held by the richest 1 percent of the world. Similarly, the report said
that there are similar disparities in the countries of the Middle East, Asia and Europe. It revealed that
47 to 50 percent of the wealth is held by the wealthy one percent.

An Oxfam study found that 34 percent of the world's 50 largest public corporations have a billionaire
CEO or a billionaire major shareholder. The combined market capitalization of these corporations
accounts for $13.3 trillion. The report makes it clear that systemic changes are needed to reduce poverty
and create a future of equal opportunities for all as inequality in the world's wealth increases. The
Oxfam report makes it clear that key steps need to be taken to ensure that financial systems reflect the
benefits of all, not just the few.
WHO Says Salt Is a Global Killer, Causes 1.89 Million Deaths Annually
Salt is a mineral essential with numerous health and culinary benefits. Apart from enhancing the taste
of any dish, salt is also commonly used to preserve foods, and provide optimal muscle and nerve
function.
It also helps your body maintain proper water and mineral balance, however, too much salt can have
dangerous effects - both in the short and long term.
The World Health Organization or WHO has said around 1.89 million people die every year because of
too much salt consumption, which causes high blood pressure and deadly heart problems.
WWF statement on WEF Global Risks Report 2024

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has warned that there is a risk of massive disasters in the next 25
years due to climate change. It is estimated that if the temperature rises by 2.5 to 2.9 degrees Celsius
due to global warming, floods, droughts, hot winds, tropical storms and wildfires may occur and sea
levels may rise.
As a result, 1.45 crore people may die by 2050 and there is a risk of economic loss of 12.5 trillion dollars.
It said that 85 lakh people will lose their lives due to floods alone and another 32 lakh people will
become destitute due to droughts. The World Economic Forum estimates that heat waves could cost
the world's economies $7.1 trillion by 2050.
Southwest rainfall increased by 10% in decades

Southwest Monsoon rainfall across the country has increased by up to ten percent in the past decade
(2012-2022) due to climate change. A study by The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)
has revealed that 55 percent of the country's tehsils and sub-districts have recorded an increase of ten
percent. The organization analyzed 40 years of rainfall data in over 4,500 tehsils across the country. In
the last decade, 11 percent of the sub-districts have seen a decrease in the rainfall of the southwest
monsoon. Vishwas Chitale, senior program head at CEEW, said that their study will be useful in planning
for future economic disruptions by taking into account erratic rainfall patterns as the Indian
government prepares for its 2024 budget.
Half of America will be ghost towns by 2100?

By 2100, almost half of America's cities are going to be ghost towns. This is due to the significant
decrease in population in these towns. To this extent, a study published in the journal Nature revealed.
According to this study, the population of about 15,000 towns out of 30,000 cities in America will
gradually decrease. If one reason is the migration of people to big cities for employment opportunities,
another reason is the growing preference in America for cities with suitable temperatures for living.
Top 10 richest people in the world

The net worth of the top 10 richest people surpasses the GDP of numerous nations. Their wealth is
primarily concentrated in technology, finance, and retail industries. And the growing wealth disparity

between them and the less privileged is a significant concern for people worldwide.
This article unveils the identities of the top 10 richest people globally, shedding light on their
remarkable accomplishments, entrepreneurial aptitude, and profound influence on the global economy.
This ranked list is sourced from Forbes.
List of Top 10 World Kuberas
Elon Musk (Elon Musk) - 227.8 billion dollars
Bernard Arnault & Family - 179.3 billion dollars
Jeff Bezos - 174.0 billion dollars
Larry Ellison - 134.9 billion dollars
Mark Zuckerberg - 130.2 billion dollars
Bill Gates - 119.9 billion dollars
Warren Buffett - 119.2 billion dollars
Larry Page - 118.7 billion dollars
Steve Ballmer - $115.4 billion
Sergey Brin - 113.8 billion dollars
70% of the population towards millets. Increasing consumption. NIN study

Eating rice can lead to blood sugar. Bread made from wheat is high in carbohydrates. Studies on the
nutrients in food have been showing that changing eating habits. Accordingly, nutritionists are
expecting changes in the cultivation of crops and the demand for traditional food crops will increase
again.
With this, millets are expected to become the staple food in the coming years, more than the usual food
crops like paddy and wheat. According to a study by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), millets
are the main source of food for 70 per cent of the population with their nutritional value.
On the millet side, millets (millets) are of utmost importance in 70 per cent of
Indian food sources. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, they are also able to withstand changing
climatic conditions and yield high yields. Less artificial fertilizers are used for their cultivation. There is
no maintenance burden. They have plenty of nutritional value. Over the last three years, their
consumption has been steadily increasing.
Experts estimate that 70 per cent of people are likely to consume millets as their staple food in the
future. Currently, carbohydrates and high-sugar foods are the most common. The NIN study revealed
that people are gradually turning to millets that are low in micronutrients, low in carbs and high in fiber.
With the United Nations declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets in
80 per cent of India, there is scope for extensive research, including the use of millets. Millets are being
added to the crops to protect food security in line with the growing population. In this context, the
Government of India, along with agricultural research institutes, has also given special attention to
increasing the cultivation of millet crops over the next decade. So far, 80 per cent of the millets grown
in Asian countries are produced from India. Experts believe that India will rise to the level of providing
millets to the countries of the world.
41% in India still rely on biomass for cooking, emitting 340 mn tonnes of CO2 annually: Report
Forty-one percent of the Indian population still uses wood, cow dung or other biomass as cooking fuel
and cumulatively emits around 340 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the environment every year,
which is about 13 per cent of India's greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report.
The report "India's Transition to E-cooking" by the independent think tank Centre for Science and
Environment also said that the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana led to a rapid expansion in access to

liquified petroleum gas (LPG) in India, but it has "not guaranteed a sustained transition to clean cooking
in households" that benefited from the scheme.
50 percent of families have not refilled once

The Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana (PMYU) scheme has led to a rapid expansion in access to LPG in
India, but has not guaranteed a sustained transition towards 'clean cooking' in the households of the
beneficiaries of the scheme. In its report, the CSE stated that more than 50 percent of the households
who received new LPG gas cylinders under the PMYUY did not get refilled at least once. The reasons for
this are high gas prices, lack of LPG distribution network in the areas where they live and other beliefs.
It is known that till March last year, the prices of household cylinders went up. The price was around
Rs.1,100 across the country.
India has 718 snow leopards, 1/6th to 1/9th of global total

Amid the great white vastness of the Himalayas, now you see it, now you don’t. Snow leopards, those
elusive predators in grey white fur, number just 718 and are spread over two Union Territories and
four states in the Himalayan mountain range.
Sparsely distributed across 12 countries, India may be home to one-sixth to one-ninth of the global
population of these ‘Ghosts of the Mountains’ as these majestic animals are often called
The report of the country’s first-ever scientific exercise of snow leopard population assessment shows
that the UT of Ladakh has the highest number of snow leopards (477) followed by Uttarakhand (124),
Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and J&K (9).
The enumeration assessment was conducted in these states/UTs from 2019 to 2023. There is now a
plan to conduct periodic population estimation every fourth year in the snow leopard range that
spreads over one lakh sq km
4.33 crore students enrolled in higher educational institutions

As many as 4.33 crore students were enrolled in higher educational institutions across the country in
the academic year 2021-22, according to the central government. This is a growth of 4.58% over the
previous year. In 2020-21, 4.14 crore students enrolled in higher education. On Thursday, the Union
Education Ministry A nationwide survey on higher education for 2021-22 has been released.
The main points are..
Between 2014-15 and 2021-22, the number of women students increased from 1.57 crore to 2.2 crore.
A growth of 32% was recorded.
Admissions for SC students increased by 44%. The number swelled from 46.07 lakh in 2014-15 to 66.23
lakh in 2021-22.
The number of women SC students increased from 21.02 lakh to 31.72 lakh, registering a growth of 51
per cent.
The number of ST students has increased from 16.41 lakh to 27.1 lakh. There was an increase of 65.2%.
The number of ST women students increased from 7.47 lakh to 13.46 lakh. There has been an 80%
growth.
The number of OBC students has increased from 1.13 crore to 1.63 crore. There was a 45% increase.
The number of women OBC students increased from 52.36 lakh to 78.19 lakh. There was a growth of
49.3%.
Between 2014-15 and 2021-22, phd admissions increased from 1.17 lakh to 2.13 lakh (81.2 per cent).
The number of women students has increased from 48,000 to 99,000.

In higher education, the number of minority women students increased from 10.7 lakh to 15.2 lakh
(42.3%).
After 2014-15, 341 universities and educational institutions of that scale have been established in the
country.
The number of women teaching staff increased from 5.69 lakh to 6.94 lakh. There has been a growth of
22% in this regard.
As many as 17 universities and 4,470 colleges under their jurisdiction are restricted to women.
The number of teaching staff has now reached 15.98 lakh. Of these, 56.6% were males and 43.4% were
females.
All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE)

The report of the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2021–22, made public on January 25,
found that 4.33 crore students are currently enrolled in a higher educational institute — up from 4.14
crore in 2020-21, and 3.42 crore in 2014-15.
The survey captures total student enrolment in eight different levels: undergraduate, postgraduate,
PhD, MPhil, diploma, PG diploma, certificate, and integrated programmes. In all, 10,576 standalone
institutions, 42,825 colleges, and 1,162 universities/university level institutions responded to the
survey.
Here are five key takeaways.
Female enrolment greater than male
The number of women enrolled in higher educational institutes has steadily increased, the AISHE report
showed.
From 1.5 crore women enrolled in 2014-15, there has been a jump of 32% to 2.07 crores enrolled in
2021-22. In the last five years, the number of women enrolled increased by 18.7%, from 1.74 crore in
2017–18.
The most astounding rise was seen at the PhD level. In 2021-22, the total PhD enrolment in the country
is 2.12 lakh of which 98,636 are women. Eight years ago, only 47,717 women were enrolled in PhD
programmes.
The proportion of women enrolled in higher education, compared to men, has also gone up. Of the 91
lakh more students to have joined higher educational institutes in 2021-22 (when compared to 2014-
15), 55% were women. The proportion of women is highest at the post graduate level, where 55.4%
students are female.
GER and Gender Parity

Gross Enrollment Ratio indicates how many students are part of the higher education system in a given
population. The estimated GER for the age group 18-23 years in India is 28.4, the AISHE 2021-22 report
said (based on population data from the 2011 census).
In terms of state-wise data, Chandigarh, at 64.8%, boasts of the highest GER, followed by Puducherry at
61.5%, Delhi at 49%, and Tamil Nadu at 47%.

Another indicator called the Gender Parity Index (GPI) shows the ratio of the female GER to male GER.
A GPI of 1 indicates parity between the two genders; any number between 0 and 1 shows a disparity in
favour of males, whereas a GPI greater than 1 indicates a disparity in favour of females.
The survey observed that in 26 states and Union Territories, the GER is in favour of women. At the all-
India level, GPI is 1.01, and for SC and ST categories, the GPI is 1.01 and 0.98 respectively.
Climate change may cut labour productivity in India to 40% by 2100: Study
Labour productivity could fall as low as 40 per cent in countries like India and Pakistan by the end of
the century due to climate change, threatening global food production, according to a study. The
research, published in the journal Global Change Biology, predicts that other regions in Southeast and
South Asia, West and Central Africa, and northern South America are expected to see physical work
capacity reduced to 70 per cent.
"Assessments consistently conclude that climate change will reduce crop yields making food security
challenges worse," said study lead Gerald Nelson, a professor at the University of Illinois, US.
"But it's not only crops and livestock that are affected. The agricultural workers who plant, till, and
harvest much of the food we need will also suffer due to heat exposure, reducing their ability to
undertake work in the field," Nelson said.
TomTom Traffic Index 2023

A recent report from a company called TomTom, which specialises in location technology, showed that
London had the slowest traffic in 2023. During busy hours, the average speed in London was only 14
kilometer’s per hour. The report looked at 387 cities in 55 countries, measuring how traffic affected
travel time, fuel costs, and carbon emissions using data from over 600 million car navigation systems.
Two cities in India, Bengaluru and Pune, were among the ten worst for traffic in 2023, according to the
TomTom report. Bengaluru was in 6th place, taking an average of 28 minutes and 10 seconds for a 10-
kilometer journey, and Pune was in 7th place, taking 27 minutes and 50 seconds.
Bengaluru, known as the IT capital of India, was also named the second most congested city in 2023,
with Dublin, Ireland being the only city worse.
The report pointed out that the worst day to travel in Bengaluru was September 27, when it took an
average of 32 minutes to cover a 10-kilometre distance.
The report also highlighted traffic challenges in two other major Indian cities, Delhi and Mumbai. Delhi
was in 44th place with an average travel time of 21 minutes and 40 seconds for a 10-kilometre drive,
while Mumbai was in 52nd place with a travel time of 21 minutes and 20 seconds.
Diseases with poverty. Risk of premature deaths

Researchers at the University of Florida in the US have found that people suffering from poverty and
chronic inflammation have a two-fold increased risk of dying from heart disease and three times more
likely to die from cancer. Generally, poverty reduces life expectancy. The risk of mental illness and
physical diseases increases. Lack of proper nutrition, lack of exercise, exposure to environmental
pollution, exposure to autoimmune diseases such as arthritis can lead to persistent inflammation of the
bodily tissues. In a 15-year study, the researchers found that poverty and inflammation combined
increase the risk to health and lead to premature death. It is important to detect chronic inflammation
early and take action. Doctors have suggested that various screening tests should be conducted for this
purpose.

Sexual assaults on girls are on the rise across the country.
96% rise in cases of rape against children
Highest number of incidents between 2016-22
Sexual assaults on girls are on the rise across the country. Between 2016 and 2022, these incidents
increased by 96 per cent. This was revealed by the Ngo Child Rights and You (CRY), which analysed the
data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Subhendu Bhattacharjee, director, CRI, said, "Due to the rise in awareness among the people, the rise in
technology and ease of complaints have led to a rise in cases of sexual assault on girls. While the increase
in such cases was 6.9 per cent between 2021-22, the growth was 96.8 per cent between 2016-22.
Year No. of Cases
2016 =19,765
2017 =27,616
2018 =30,917
2019 =31,132
2020 =30,705
2021 =36,381
2022 =38,911
NATIONAL
Postage stamps on Ram Temple released by PM Modi
On 18th January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a series of commemorative postage
stamps dedicated to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and a book featuring stamps from around the world hon-
ouring the revered deity.The six stamps released by PM feature the Ram temple, Lord Ganesh, Lord
Hanuman, Jatayu, Kevatraj and Shabri. Components of the stamps' design include the Ram temple,
Chaupai 'Mangal Bhavan Amangal Hari', Sun, Sarayu river and sculptures in and around the temple.
• Accompanying the stamp release a 48 page book that sheds light on the intemational resonance of
Lord Ram. The book showcases stamps issued by more than 20 countries, including the United States,
New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Cambodia, and even by intemational organisations such as the United
Nations.
PM inaugurated the Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center

(BIETC) campus in Bengaluru, and the launch of the Boeing Sukanya Program to promote the entry of
girls into India's aviation sector.
The program aims to empower girls and women in STEM fields, offering training for aviation jobs. It
includes creating STEM
Labs at 150 locations to foster interest and providing scholarships for women training to be pilots. India
boasts a noteworthy 15% of female pilots, three times the global average. While female enrollment in
STEM courses has risen to over 42% in 2021-22. workforce participation remains at a modest 14% in
2021.
Usage: The example can be used to show how foreign investments can help drive economic as well as
social changes in India.
75th Republic Day of India- January 26, 2024

India celebrated its 75th Republic Day (R-Day) on 26th January 2024. The republic day events and
parade were held at the newly-renovated and renamed Kartavya Path (previously known as Rajpath)

in New Delhi, Delhi. The Republic day of India marks and celebrates the date on which the Constitution
of India came into effect on January 26, 1950.
ii. President of India Droupadi Murmu unfurled India's National Flag accompanied by Major Saumya
Shukla ASC, it was followed by the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute from indigenous 105-mm
Indian Field Guns.
iii. Theme of R-Day 2024: 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) and 'Bharat- Loktantra ki Matruka' (Bharat
- The Mother of Democracy)
iv.To mark the 75th Republic Day celebration, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence Rs 75
commemorative silver coin, and a postage stamp of 75th Republic Day Celebrations. It is minted by
Indian Government Mint, Mumbai in Maharashtra.
v. President of France Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest for Republic Day 2024.
Chandama stories in AI avatar

Chandamama's stories that exemplify moral values have been incorporated in the form of 'AI' by an
NGO called Swachha. Ozonetel co-founder Chaitanya, Sway founder Kiran Chandra and IIT Madras
professor Gaurav Raina came up with the idea. Thousands of people contributed to it. Through the
Swacha community, over 10,000 students and faculty members from 30 engineering colleges
contributed to proofreading. A total of 40,000 stories were collected from old journals and preserved
in A I form.
Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana

Through this scheme, by installing solar rooftop system on the roofs of one crore houses in the country,
solar electricity will be produced on a large scale. Thus, the electricity bills of the poor and middle class
people will not only be reduced, but India will be able to become self-reliant in the energy sector. This
renewable energy generation scheme will also lead to the achievement of sustainable development
goals and environmental protection.
Ayodhya: Ram Lalla idol to be known as ‘Balak Ram

The idol of Lord Ram, whose consecration was done at the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Monday
will be known as 'Balak Ram' as it depicts the deity as a five-year-old boy in a standing posture, a priest
associated with the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.
"The Ram Lalla idol that was consecrated on January 22 has been named as 'Balak Ram'. The reason for
naming the idol of Lord Ram as 'Balak Ram' is that he resembles a child, whose age is five years," Arun
Dixit, a priest associated with the consecration ceremony.
Chief Guest Emmanuel Macron Joined Republic Day Celebrations

Republic Day in India is a significant national holiday celebrated annually on January 26th. It
commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950, replacing the
Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. The 75th Republic Day in 2024 is
an exceptional occasion, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s history. India is gearing up for
an extravagant celebration of its 75th Republic Day 2024.
The theme for the 75th Republic Day 2024 – ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Bharat – Loktantra ki Matruka’. It
reflects women’s integral role in India’s development and progress. Chief Guest of Republic Day 2024:
The Chief Guest for the Republic Day events in 2024 was the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.
The parade was all women-centric. For the first time, it included 100 women artists playing Indian
musical instruments such as Sankh, Naadswaram, Nagada, etc.

NAAC Introduces Binary Accreditation System For Higher Education Institutions
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) decided that Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) in the country will now be classified as either "accredited" or "not accredited," replacing the
previous accreditation system that assigned grades.
During the Saturday executive council meeting, the NAAC also resolved to award additional levels
ranging from one to five to accredited institutions, with the aim of encouraging them to attain the
highest possible level.
Both the binary accreditation system (accredited or not accredited) and the maturity-based graded
accreditation (levels 1 through 5) will come into effect in the next four months and by December,
respectively, following these reforms.
"There will be Binary Accreditation (either accredited or not accredited) rather than grades with the
aim of encouraging all institutions to get on board in the accreditation process, thereby creating a
quality culture in the higher education system," news agency PTI quoted a senior official from the
Education Ministry.
"The binary accreditation is also in line with the best practices followed in many leading countries in
the world," he added.
Furthermore, the accreditation authority intends to use the Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation
system (Level 1 to 5) to incentivise accredited institutions to enhance their standards, aiming for the
highest level of 5, denoted as "Institutions of Global Excellence for Multi-Disciplinary Research and
Education."
This level-grading approach aims to empower Indian institutions to significantly elevate their quality,
positioning themselves among the global elite.
Under the current system, the outcome of the assessment is the final grading of institutions. Following
assessment, the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is computed for institutions meeting the grade
qualifiers. The final grade is then assigned based on a seven-point scale derived from the CGPA, aligning
each letter grade with a specific score range.
A committee established by the ministry has recommended transformative reforms to fortify the
periodic approval, assessment, accreditation, and ranking of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The
National Education Policy 2020 set a target of a 50 per cent Gross Enrollment Ratio by 2035, leading to
the formation of a committee headed by K Radhakrishnan, former chairman of ISRO, in November 2022.
The committee, after public consultation, submitted its final report to the Union Education Minister
Dharmendra Pradhan on January 16.
As per the recommendations, the metrics for Binary and Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation
prioritise assessing processes, outcomes, and impact across diverse attributes of HEIs, rather than
focusing solely on inputs.
A proposal for a "One Nation One Data Platform" aims to uphold integrity and transparency in managing
institutional data, particularly for tasks such as approval, accreditation, and ranking. Furthermore, the
proposal suggests implementing a "stakeholder validation" mechanism to bolster the credibility and
trustworthiness of the data by involving stakeholders in the accreditation and ranking procedures.
The NAAC, an autonomous body under the UGC, assesses and certifies higher educational institutions
using gradings as part of accreditation. The recommendations highlight Binary Accreditation to
encourage institutions to participate in the accreditation process, aligning with global best practices.
Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation (Level 1 to 5) aims to motivate accredited institutions to
continually improve and reach global excellence. This leveled accreditation system is expected to
facilitate significant improvement in the quality of Indian institutions.

Centre extends ban on SIMI under UAPA for another 5 years
Underlining zero tolerance against terrorism, Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday announced that the
Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has been declared an "unlawful association" and the ban on
it has been extended by another five years under the stringent anti-terror law.
The outfit has been found involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony
to threaten the sovereignty, security and integrity of Bharat, said Mr Shah.
The Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was first banned on February 1, 2014 by the Indian
government. The ban was extended by five years in 2019. Founded in 1977 in UP's Aligarh with
Mohammad Ahmadullah Siddiqi, professor of Journalism and Public Relations at the Western Illinois
University Macomb as its founding president, this organisation operates on the agenda to convert India
into an Islamic nation. SIMI was first declared as an outlawed outfit in 2001 and has been banned on
several occasions.
Members of SIMI have been involved in several terror attacks in the country, including the Bhopal jail
break in 2014, M Chinnawamy stadium blast in Bengaluru in 2014, Gaya blasts in 2017.
SIMI operated in states including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi, , Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat.
Himachal Pradesh Launches 'My School-My Pride' For Education Transformation

• In a progressive move aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, the state of Himachal
Pradesh has unveiled the ambitious 'My School-My Pride' campaign under the 'Apna Vidyalay'
programme.
• This initiative is set to revolutionize the quality of education in government schools, providing a
holistic approach to student growth and development.
IIMC gets deemed university status

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has been granted deemed-to-be university status.
The journalism and mass communication courses offered by IIMC have been gaining popularity since
the age of 58 years. The Ministry of Education announced that the institute has been empowered to
award degrees and not just diplomas. The institute may also offer doctoral programs due to the newly
acquired status.
Explain why you are writing an antibiotic in a prescription: Centre

While recommending antibiotics to sick patients, The Union Health Ministry has asked the doctors to
mandatorily state the reasons for the same in the prescription of medicines. It also appealed to
pharmacists to sell antibiotics on the basis of a prescription written by qualified doctors. Director
General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Atul Goel has written a letter to all medical associations and
pharmacists' associations across the country in this regard. If the use of antibiotics increases, the
resistance in patients increases and there may be serious side effects in the future. The central
government has made it clear to pharmacists not to sell antibiotics directly without a prescription.
Cabinet approves ₹8,500 crore incentive scheme for coal gasification projects
The Union Cabinet on January 24 approved a ₹8,500 crore incentive scheme for coal gasification
projects.
The adoption of gasification technology in India is expected to reduce the country's reliance on imports
of natural gas, methanol, ammonia and other essential products.

The Government is targeting to gasify 100 million tonnes (MT) of coal by 2030. In gasification process,
coal is partially oxidised by air, oxygen, steam, or carbon dioxide under controlled conditions to produce
a liquid fuel known as syngas. Syngas or synthesis gas can be used for power generation and to make
methanol as well.
What is coal gasification?
• Coal gasification is partial oxidation with air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide to produce fuel gas.
• This gas is used to generate energy instead of natural gas, methane and other gases extracted from
wells.
• Coal Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) – i.e. the technology of converting underground coal into
gas and extracting it through wells.
• Adoption of gasification technology in the country will reduce the country's dependence on imports
of natural gas, methanol, ammonia and other essential products.
Indian Air Force Aerial Show

The Indian Air Force showcased the country's air force with a breathtaking fly fast.
'For the first time the all-women forces of the tri-services' were part of the celebrations.
• Also, Lieutenants 'Deepiti Rana, Priyanka Swati Weapon Locating in Seva Kawatu' from the 10 women
officers who were appointed in the Artillery for the first time last year, headed the radar and Pinaka
rocket systems. Major General Sumit Mehta said that 80 percent of the activities in the parade are done
by women.
• French President Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest for the ceremony. Macron became the sixth
French leader to participate in India's Republic Day celebrations. A 95-member marching band from
France and a 33-member instrumental band participated in the parade. French Rafale fighters and Air
Force planes are a part of the celebrations.
Ayodhya Rama in Republic celebrations

The Uttar Pradesh government has made a state flag with the deity of Balarama in the Republic Day
parade, the day after Balarama's life was enshrined in the Rama Mandir in the spiritual abode of
Ayodhya. As a result, Ayodhya Balaram became a special attraction in the Republic celebrations
organized by Kartavyapath in Delhi this year. The UP Government finalized the era with the theme of
Ayodhya Ram Temple and Mahakumbha Mela. The upcoming Magh Mela in the city of Prayagraj is
designed to mirror the upcoming Mahakumbha Mela in 2025. In tableaux, two saints and huge kalasha
idols have been given place.
Surya Namaskar must in all Rajasthan schools

Rajasthan's education department issued an order making Surya Namaskar practice mandatory at all
schools - government and private - across the state till Feb 15. State education minister Madan Dilawar
said Surya Namaskar will initially be mandatory during morning prayers at all schools and a further
decision would be taken after Feb 15.
Central Government Launches ‘Anuvadini’ App for Multilingual Education

The ‘Anuvadini’ app, an AI-based platform, was presented by the central government as a major step
towards encouraging bilingualism in school.
Digital versions of all course materials, including those for higher education, would be made available
through this project.

Chhattisgarh Govt. to launch 'Shri Ramlala
Darshan Scheme' for Pilgrimage to Ayodhya the Cabinet of the government of Chhattisgarh headed by
Chief Minister (CM) Vishnu Deo Sai has decided to launch a pilgrimage scheme 'Shri Ramlala Darshan
Scheme' to offer the people of Chhattisgarh Free Pilgrimage Visit to the newly built Ram Temple in
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• Eligibility: The people of Chhattisgarh natives aged 18 to 75 who are medically fit are eligible under
the scheme.
• The scheme will be facilitated by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and the Budget Tourism
Department in collaboration with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
• The scheme aims to take around 20,000 pilgrims to Ramlala Darshan annually.
Gol Plans to Make Educational Study Materials in 22 Languages by Utilizing 'Anuvadini' App
The Government of India (Gol) aims to make study materials available for all courses under school and
higher education digitally in all 22 languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution
through Artificial Intelligence (AI) -based "Anuvadini' mobile application.
Women hostels named 'Sakhi Niwas'

Special accommodation for working rural women
Setting up a day care center for the care of children
Directions of University Grants Commission for acquisition of land
From now on, universities will provide shelter to housewives and students coming for higher studies
and jobs. For this, working women hostels will be organized in universities. But they don't give
admission, they only provide accommodation. While these hostels will be set up by the Women and
Child Welfare Department, the construction cost will be borne by the Department itself.
Recently rural women and girls are migrating to tier-1 cities and metro cities to get better education
and employment opportunities. However, the Department of Women and Child Welfare has come
forward to establish working women's hostels in the name of 'Sakhi Niwas' to provide them with a safe
environment and accommodation in the cities. Manish Joshi, Secretary of UGC suggested to identify
suitable places for their construction.
To this extent, he has written a letter to the VCs of universities, colleges and principals of educational
institutions. It is suggested to identify 10 to 15 places within their jurisdiction and send proposals in
the next 10 days. The hostel provides accommodation and meals along with a day care center. .
Kachchhi Kharek
Kachchhi Kharek, the indigenous variety of dates from Kutch, Gujarat, has been granted a geographical
indication (GI) tag by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDT) of India.
• This makes Kachchhi Kharek the second fruit from Gujarat to receive a GI tag, following Gir kesar
mango in 2011.
NHAI's 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' Initiative to Streamline Toll Collection

• The National Highways Authority of India has introduced the 'One Vehicle, One FASTag initiative, to
curb the prevalent practice of using a single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags
to a specific vehicle.
• This initiative seeks to promote a one-to-one correspondence between vehicles and FASTags,
ensuring transparency and accountability in toll collection.

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Cabo Verde Declared a Malaria-Free Country by WHO

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Inaugurates

2 government schools in California to introduce Hindi as world language

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French President launches Classes Internationales for Indian students

Population Decline in China

Govt to fence entire Indo-Myanmar border to enhance surveillance: Amit Shah

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14 lakh: US embassy processed highest-ever visa application in India last year

North Korea tests Underwater Nuclear Weapon System 'Haeil-5-23'

AWARDS AND HONOURS

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Droupadi Murmu to confer PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024 to 19 children on January 22

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Odisha’s R-Day tableau best among states

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22 Indian origin scientists awarded VAIBHAV fellowship

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Three Indian scientists honored with Blavatnik Awards in UK

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Comoros President Azali Assoumani won 4th term as President.

CONSTITUTION & POLITICS

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Supreme Court referred to as 'Union of Bharat'

Citizenship Amendment Act 2019

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Concern among Muslims too...

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Article 355 Implementation Controversy in Manipur

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Supreme Court of India

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Vemi Reddy as the Vice Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

Election to 56 Rajya Sabha seats on 27th February

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Champay Soren sworn in as Jharkhand CM

These are the Governor's quota MLCs...

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Unmarried daughter has right to maintenance from parents: Allahabad HC

Deprivation of physical intimacy is cruelty: Madhya Pradesh High Court comments

Husband Bound To Maintain Wife Despite Lack Of Income, : Allahabad HC

Women Employee Can Now Nominate Children for family pension

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e-SAKSHI Mobile Application

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Invention of weather app

Volcano erupted on the Reykjanes

WEF Report on Climate Change

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Southwest rainfall increased by 10% in decades: CEEW study reveals

Supreme Court orders for conservation of Great Indian Bustard

Storm Isha batters UK with strong winds and rain

DALMA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

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Rare golden tiger sighting in Kaziranga National Park

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Marut Drones Ties Up With Skydive

Denmark in partnership with India launched