ROY’S INSTITUTE OF COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION

Current Affairs
(January to March 2024)

N
BOOKS AND AUTHORS :

I
AT
Name of the Book Author
‘Sanskriti ke Ayaam’ Manorama Mishra
Dabbling in Diplomacy: Authorised & Otherwise: Prof. S.D. Muni.
Recollections of a Non-Career Diplomat
UC
"From A Car Shed To The Corner Room & Beyond" Autobiography Of S. Raman.
Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI Madhumita Murgia
APPOINTMENTS :
National
Name Designation
ED

Ravindra Kumar Tyagi Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Power Grid
Corporation of India.
Raghuram Iyer Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Indian Olympic
Association (IOA).
Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty Commandant at the Indian Naval Academy
Hrithik Roshan
CE

Brand Ambassador of RuPay Prime Volleyball League

Jagrut Kotecha Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PepsiCo India
Senthil Pandian C Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India (Designate)
to the WTO.
Narendra Kumar Yadav Brand Ambassador for Fit India Movement
RI

Geeta Batra Director of the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the

World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh Lokayukta (anti-corruption ombudsman) of Madhya Pradesh.
Nayanthara Brand Ambassador of Slice.
Hansha Mishra Director in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
B. Sairam Chairman an Managing Director of Northern Coalfields.
Sanjay Mukherjee Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [2]

International
Name of the Person Designation
Judge Nawaf Salam (Lebanon) President of the International Court of Justice
OBITUARIES NEWS :
 Franz Beckenbauer, one of only three men, alongside Mario Zagallo and Didier Deschamps, to have lifted the World

N
Cup as player and coach has died at the age of 78.
 The Indian classical music world mourns the passing of Ustad Rashid Khan, a towering figure
who left an indelible mark on the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana and beyond. He was awarded the

O
Padma Shri, as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006. In 2022, he was awarded the
Padma Bhushan Award, India's third highest civilian award, in the field of Art.

I
 The Indian classical music fraternity mourns the loss of Dr. Prabha Atre, a revered classical vocalist and a luminary of

AT
the Kirana Gharana, who passed away in Pune at the age of 91. The much-feted Atre, who played a significant role in
popularising classical music across the globe, won the Padma Shri in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and the Padma
Vibhushan in 2022.
 The literary world mourns the loss of Usha Kiran Khan, a distinguished writer and Padma Shri awardee, who passed
away at the age of 78. She was bestowed with the Padma Shri in 2015.
 Farooq Nazki, a revered poet, broadcaster, and a distinguished recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award. At the age of
UC
83, Nazki’s passing marks the end of an era in Kashmiri literature, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire generations
to come.
 Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, has sadly passed away at
the age of 87.
 Kapildev Prasad, a renowned artisan and Padma awardee for his contributions to the handloom
industry and the revival of Bababuti sarees, passed away in Basavanbigha village, Bihar Sharif.
ED

AWARDS & HONOURS :

National
CE

 Prof. B.R. Kamboj, the Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, has been
bestowed with the prestigious M.S. Swaminathan Award.
 President Draupadi Murmu presented the posthumous Tenzing Norgay National Adventure
Award to Savita Kanswal, a brave mountaineer from Lothru village in Uttarkashi district in a
ceremony.
RI

 Former Chief Justice of India and current Rajya Sabha MP, Ranjan Gogoi, is set to be honored
with the prestigious ‘Assam Baibhav’ award, the highest civilian award in Assam.
 Legendary sprinter and current President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), PT Usha, was honoured with the
prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award. This accolade was presented to her by the Sports Journalists Federation of
India (SJFI) and Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA), recognizing her extraordinary contributions to Indian
athletics.
 Dr. Bina Modi, the esteemed Chairperson of Modi Enterprises, has been honored with the prestigious ‘Outstanding
Business Woman of the Year’ Award.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [3]
 Pyarelal Sharma, one-half of the legendary composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, has been felicitated with the
prestigious Lakshminarayana International Award.
 Three young Indian scientists, Rahul R. Nair, Mehul Malik, and Tanmay Bharat have received the prestigious
Blavatnik Prize in Britain.
International
 Professor Adrian Michael Cruise, a key figure in the Gravitational Wave Research Group at the
University of Birmingham, has been honored in the New Year Honours for his contributions to
space services.

N
O
Golden Globes Awards 2024
Category Winner
Best Film – Drama Oppenheimer

I
Best Actress – Drama Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon

AT
Best Film – Musical or Comedy Poor Things
Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Best Director Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Best Animated Film The Boy and the Heron
UC
 FIFA President Gianni Infantino was bestowed with the prestigious International Sports Personality of the Year
award.
 In a historic achievement, Second Lt. Madison Marsh, a U.S. Air Force officer, was crowned
Miss America- the first active-duty service member to achieve this prestigious title.
ED

Grammy Awards 2024

Category Winner
Song of the Year Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? from Barbie
Best Pop Vocal Album Taylor Swift – Midnights
CE

Best Country Album Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country

Best Global Music Album Indian musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir
Hussain’s fusion band ‘Shakti’
 India's Olympic gold medalist and world champion javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, was honoured with a
commemorative plaque at the renowned Ice Palace.This prestigious recognition adds another feather to his cap and
RI

strengthens the bond between Switzerland and India.

 India was honoured with the 9th GovTech Prize for AI powered Road Safety Initiative at the World Government
Summit 2024, held in the United Arab Emirates.
 The recipient of this year's Romain Rolland Book Prize is Pankaj Kumar Chatterjee for his remarkable translation of
Jean-Daniel Baltassat’s "Le Divan de Staline" into Bengali, titled "Staliner Divan."
SPORTS NEWS :
 Indian Teenager Anahat Singh Bags Girls’ U-19 2023 Scottish Junior Open Title at Edinburgh.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [4]

 Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet concluded her remarkable year by smashing the world record for the women’s 5 km marathon
at the Cursa dels Nassos in Barcelona. Clocking an astounding 14:13, Chebet outpaced her competitors and bettered
the previous record by six seconds, setting the stage for a memorable achievement.
 The slogan of 9th Asian Winter Games 2025 is "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia" and mascot of 9th Asian Winter
Games 2025 is Binbin and Nini, a pair of Siberian tigers to be held in Harbin, China.
 India’s young wrestler Aman Sehrawat won a gold medal at the Zagreb Open 2024 in the 57 kg
category of the men’s singles event by defeating China’s Zou Wanhao.

N
O
 Real Madrid claimed their thirteenth Spanish Super Cup and the first title of the season in Riyadh, after beating Barcelona
in the final.
 Ravi Kumar Dahiya secured a bronze at the esteemed Grand Prix De France Henri Deglane wrestling tournament in

I
Nice, France.

AT
 India's Raiza Dhillon and Gurjoat Singh Khangura secured bronze in the mixed skeet team at the Asian Shotgun
Championships 2024 in Kuwait City.
 The Asian Marathon Championships 2024 marked a historic moment for Indian athletics as Man
Singh, marathon runner from India, clinched the gold medal.
UC
 Indian table tennis player Sreeja Akula achieved a significant milestone in her career by securing her maiden international
title at the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024 in Texas, USA.
 Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra secured a remarkable triumph at the US-based National Boxing Association’s (NBA)
intercontinental super featherweight championship by defeating American Gerardo Esquivel in Toppenish City,
ED

Washington.
 Divyansh Singh Panwar clinches ISSF World Cup gold in 10m Air rifle event held at cairo.
 First-ever BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship was held in New Delhi.
 Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium is set to be rebranded as the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
 The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is preparing to debut a new card, the blue card as part of trials
involving sin bins in professional football.
CE

 India and Bangladesh declared joint winners in SAFF Women’s U-19 Championships 2024 held at Dhaka Bangladesh.
 Australia defeated India by 79 runs to win ICC U19 men World Cup 2024.
 Sumit Nagal clinches Chennai Open title, secures first-ever Top 100 Spot (secured the 98th spot).
RI

 Indian women’s badminton team etched their names into history by clinching a historic gold medal at the Badminton
Asia Team Championships 2024 by defeating Thailand at Shah Alam, Malaysia.
 Services beat Goa to win Santosh Trophy 2023-24 title.
 The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated a unique talent hunt event called KIRTI (Khelo India
Rising Talent Identification) in Chandigarh. This nationwide programme, under the Khelo India mission, aims to identify
talented athletes between the ages of 9 and 18 years, currently enrolled in schools across the country.
 Indian star paddler G. Sathiyan has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first-ever Indian to win a men’s singles
trophy at a WTT Feeder Series event held st Beirut, Lebanon.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [5]
 Ace table tennis player Sharath Kamal will be the Indian team's flagbearer for the upcoming Paris
2024 Olympics.

 The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed former Indian men’s hockey team captain and goalkeeper PR
Sreejesh and Chile’s Camila Caram as co-chairs of the FIH Athletes Committee.
SUMMITS, CONFERENCES AND FESTIVALS :

N
I O
Events Locations

AT
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Surat, Gujarat
Disabilities (Divyangjan), under the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment, Government of India has
organised 12th ‘Divya Kala Mela’
Youth Dialogue Program on the theme ‘My Bharat Mera Malala Auditorium,Diu
Yuva Bharat’
UC
Inaugural meeting of the Inland Waterways Kolkata, West Bengal
Development Council (IWDC) 2024
‘Vividdhta ka Amrit Mahotsav’ 2024 Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
63rd Gathering of the Central Geological Programming Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
ED

Board (CGPB)
World Government Summit 2024 Dubai, UAE
First-ever all-women maritime surveillance mission on Andaman & Nicobar by the Andaman & Nicobar
8th March, 2024 Command( The crew based at INS Utkrosh comprised
Lt Cdr Shubhangi Swaroop, Lt Cdr Divya Sharma and
Lt Vaishali Mishra)
International Camel Festival Bikaner, Rajasthan (from 13th to 15th January)
CE

4th National Chilika Birds Festival 2024 Chilka, Odisha (27th to 29th January 2024)
36th edition of the National Book Fair 2024 Hyderabad, Telengana
India launched a year-long festival, seeking global Started from Purana Qila, Delhi
connections through the celebration of Ramayan and
its cultural significance called 'Year of Connecting the
RI

World Through Ramayana'

Chapchar Kut Festival (In the month of March, 2024) All over Mizoram State
4th edition of the Annual All India Police Commando Vishakhapattanam, Andhra Pradesh
Competition (AIPCC)
APPS, PORTALS, SCHEMES :
 ITC (Imperial Tobacco Co. of India), a prominent Indian conglomerate, has joined forces with Microsoft and Skymet
to address the escalating challenges faced by tobacco farmers in India due to climate change.
 Chief Minister Hemant Soren of Jharkhand has announced a reduction in the qualifying age for old-age pensions. The
decision primarily targets tribals and Dalits, lowering the age threshold from 60 to 50 years.
 Binny Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart, has started the new ventured into the new e-commerce space once again with
his latest startup, ‘OppDoor’.
RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [6]
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the commencement of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) facilities in 41 villages
and various development projects in 178 villages under the ‘Dilli Gramodaya Abhiyan’.
 Tamil Nadu MSME Minister has launched 2 pivotal initiatives: Smartcard scheme and StartUp Challenge website,
underscoring government’s commitment to nurturing startups and fostering innovation in the state.
 India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has launched the ‘National Single Window System
(NSWS),’ a unified portal designed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to streamline the import of medical devices.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines by inaugurating 15 significant airport projects(TOTAL

N
Coast-10.000 crores) in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh.

O
 Odisha government has announced an additional 10 days of casual leave for women working in various government
departments.

I
 The newly elected BJP government in Rajasthan want to merge its state health insurance scheme, Chiranjeevi, with the

AT
central Ayushman Bharat programme.Approval is pending from Union Health Ministry.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the permanent campus of the National Institute of Technology Goa.
 Jammu and Kashmir has taken a significant step towards empowering its vibrant community of artisans and craftspeople
by becoming the first Union Territory (UT) to implement the “ PM Vishwakarma Yojana “(PMVY).
 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has inaugurated the ‘NITI For States’ platform by NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
UC
 Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the “Dhami against drugs campaign.”
ED

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated projects worth ₹1,156 crore during his visit to the Lakshadweep islands.
Among these projects is the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fibre Cable, a ₹1,072-crore initiative
providing 100 Gbps internet connectivity to the islands.
 Punjab has become the first in India to meticulously map all 784 accident black spots using the Mappls App, a cutting-
edge navigation system developed by MapMyIndia.
 Adidas, the renowned athletic footwear and apparel giant, is making strategic moves to enhance its global operations by
CE

establishing its first and only Global Capacity Centre (GCC) in Asia outside of China setup in Chennai.
 Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education has launched “Prerana: An Experiential Learning
program”, aims to empower students of classes IX to XII with leadership qualities.
 PM Modi has launched ₹43,875 Cr Educational And Infra Projects Including 3 IIMs, IITs, 20 KVs,
13 NVs, and AIIMS In Jammu.
RI

 France has pioneered the issuance of Digital Schengen visas, marking a significant leap in streamlining visa processes
within the European Union.
 Narendra Modi, has launched an ambitious initiative called “ PRITHVI (PRITHvi VIgyan) “, a comprehensive scheme
by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
 Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has inaugurated a tur dal procurement portal, enabling farmers to register and
sell their produce to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and the National
Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF).

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [7]
 Microsoft India has unveiled the ‘AI Odyssey’ initiative, aiming to train 100,000 Indian developers in the latest AI
technologies.
 University Grants Commission (UGC) of India has introduced Mulya Pravah 2.0, to surveys that highlighted unethical
practices such as favouritism, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination within various educational organizations.
 India and the Dominican Republic signed a protocol for the establishment of the Joint Economic
and Trade Committee (JETCO) in Santo Domingo.

N
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is has released ₹540 crore, the inaugural tranche of funding, for pucca homes under the

O
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) on January 15.
 “ANUBHAV Awards Scheme” initiated by the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW), is an innovative
platform for recognizing the contributions made by retired officials to nation-building during their tenure in government

I
service.

AT
 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently unveiled ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme ,aims to provide unemployment assistance
to graduates and diploma holders who completed their degrees during the academic year 2022-23.
 Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated three pivotal infrastructure projects in Kochi, Kerala, signaling
a significant stride towards transforming India’s ports, shipping, and waterways sector,total projects costs collectively
worth over Rs 4,000 crore.
 Telangana Govt to establish Help Desk for youth in the USA and abroad.
UC
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram
has declared India’s plan to establish its own space station by 2035.
 Himachal Pradesh has unveiled ‘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.
ED

 ‘Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana’,’ seeks to propel India towards self-reliance in the energy sector while benefitting
the common citizens.
 Telangana Govt has announced that, the Gruha Jyothi Scheme’s free electricity component set in motion from the
beginning of February, 2024.
CE

 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a groundbreaking initiative has been unveiled to enhance road safety across
the state, inauguration of the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) marks a significant leap forward in safeguarding lives and
preventing accidents on Punjab’s extensive road network.
 India has taken a significant step by opening its space sector to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) through an
amendment in the FDI policy.
RI

 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her interim budget speech for 2024-25, indicated
that the government would actively “promote” vaccination to combat cervical cancer.

 Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation has launched a bold initiative, Vantara (Star of the
Forest), dedicated to the rescue, treatment, care, and rehabilitation of animals in need.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated development projects in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, focusing on uplifting the
tribal population.These projects, with an estimated worth of about Rs 7300 crores.
 The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has commissioned India’s largest solar-battery energy storage system
(BESS) in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [8]
AGREEMENT/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
 Shanghai-based New Development Bank (NDB) inked an agreement during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, pledging a
substantial $500 million loan to the Gujarat government.
 India and Nepal solidified their commitment to a long-term energy partnership with the signing of an agreement for the
export of 10,000 MW of power to India over the next 10 years.
 The Indian government plans to establish ‘Bharat Park,’ a dedicated trade zone in the UAE.

N
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the MoU signed between India and the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID).
 Sri Lanka, facing economic challenges and seeking to spur growth, plans to establish free trade

O
agreements (FTAs) with several countries including India by the end of 2024.

I
AT
 NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL), a subsidiary of NTPC, recently inked a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) worth Rs 80,000 crore with the Maharashtra government.
 Under this MoU to support Indian Railways in achieving ‘net zero carbon emission’ by the ambitious target year of
2030.
 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given the green light for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between India and Oman in the field of Information Technology(IT).
UC
 Indian Railways, a key player in the transportation sector, has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability
by renewing its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).to reduce energy
and water consumption, ultimately lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
 Vietnamese electric vehicle giant VinFast Auto Ltd made a significant announcement on revealing plans to establish an
integrated electric vehicle facility in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
ED

 Union Cabinet has granted approval for the signing of a MoU between the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas,
Government of India, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Republic of Guyana IN Hydro Carbon Sector.
 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed an unprecedented security
agreement between their nations in Kyiv.
 Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2024, Denmark unveiled the Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI), a pivotal initiative under
the Green Strategic Partnership (GSP) signed between India and Denmark in 2020.
CE

 Chinese President Xi Jinping and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu recently held significant talks, culminating in
the signing of 20 key agreements that span various areas of cooperation.
 Switzerland and India have finally sealed a free-trade agreement (FTA) following a marathon 16-
year negotiation period.
RI

 In Science & Technology Department, Framework Cooperation Arrangement has been signed between Department of
Science and Technology (DST) of India, and France.
 India and Saudi Arabia recently engaged in discussions aimed at bolstering their bilateral defence and strategic cooperation.

IMPORTANT INDEXES AND REPORTS

 Chennai has been emerged as the top Indian city for women in 2023 in terms of inclusivity and conduciveness to working
women, as per findings from diversity, equity, and inclusivity consultant Avtar Group’s Top Cities for Women in India
(TCWI) 2023. Delhi, notorious for crimes against women, made its debut in the top 10 by positioning itself on the 8th
rank.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [9]

 Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu emerged as the best-performing states in the Startup
Ranking for 2022.Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Telangana have been also
recognized as top performers in this dynamic landscape, out of total of 33 states and union territories
actively participated in the evaluation.

 Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has achieved a significant milestone by being rated the second most valuable IT

N
services brand in the world, according to the 2024 Global 500 IT Services Ranking by Brand Finance. This brings TCS
ahead of other IT giants such as Infosys, IBM Consulting, and Capgemini.
DEFENCE NEWS AND EXERCISES

O
 India's defense partnership with the US strengthens as it acquires 31 MQ-9B drones. The Indian Navy will get 15
SeaGuardian drones, while the Army and Air Force will each receive 8 SkyGuardian drones.
 In a significant development in the aerospace industry, Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer and Mahindra announced a

I
strategic partnership aimed at fulfilling the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) acquisition of the C-390 multi-mission transport
aircraft. With the IAF seeking to replace its aging fleets of AN32 planes, this collaboration aligns with India’s defense

AT
modernization efforts under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
 In a strategic partnership aimed at advancing India’s self-reliance in defence, Indian Institute of Technology Madras
(IIT Madras) and Munitions India Limited have joined forces to pioneer the development of India’s first indigenous
155mm Smart Ammunition.
 The 12th edition of the MILAN naval exercise is poised to set sail in the strategic port city of Visakhapatnam from
UC
February 19 to 27, marking a significant gathering of naval forces from over 50 countries. This year’s theme, “Forging
Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future,” underscores the exercise’s commitment to enhancing global maritime
security through cooperation and strategic dialogue.
 The Indian Army is embarking on a significant endeavor to modernize its armored forces by replacing its aging Russian
T-72 tank fleet with cutting-edge Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs). These FRCVs, totaling 1,770 units, will
be produced indigenously in India with advanced technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), drone integration,
ED

active protection systems, and enhanced situational awareness.

 DRDO is preparing to test the DURGA-2 laser weapon prototype, a secretive project by the Indian defense establishment,
marking a significant advancement in indigenous military technology.
 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) embarks on a comprehensive upgrade project worth Rs 60,000 crore for the Su-30MKI fighter jet fleet. The
initiative aims to bolster the aircraft’s capabilities through the integration of advanced technologies and indigenous
systems.
CE

 The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the ₹19,000 crore deal for the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos
Extended Range (ER) supersonic cruise missiles for Indian Navy warships.The BrahMos ER variant boasts an extended
range of 400 to 500 km, significantly augmenting the Navy’s operational reach. Recent successful tests of the supersonic
cruise missile from Indian Navy vessels in the Bay of Bengal reaffirmed its efficacy.
 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the
RI

locally developed Agni-5 missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology. This
new capability allows the weapon system to deliver multiple nuclear warheads against different targets spread across
hundreds of kilometers, further enhancing India’s strategic deterrence capability.
 The Indian Navy got its own dedicated headquarters building. The newly constructed Nausena Bhawan located at Delhi
Cantonment was formally inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on March 15th, 2024.
 The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) plans to purchase two aircraft from India with a loan of $23.27 million from the
Export-Import Bank of India.
 In response to escalating tensions along the northern borders with China, the Indian Army has initiated significant
enhancements to its air defence capabilities. Central to this strategic maneuver is the deployment of cutting-edge
Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems (IDD&IS), developed domestically in collaboration between the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [ 10 ]
 The Indian Army has formed its first squadron, the 451 Aviation Squadron, to operate the newly purchased AH-64E
Apache assault helicopter. The squadron was formally created on March 15 in Jodhpur.

ECONOMY AND BANKING AWARENESS

 The Sixteenth Finance Commission was constituted on 31.12.2023 with Shri Arvind Panagariya, former Vice-Chairman,
NITI Aayog as its Chairman.
The Government of India, with the approval of the President of India, has constituted the Sixteenth Finance Commission,
in pursuance to Article 280(1) of the Constitution.

N
The Sixteenth Finance Commission has been requested to make its report available by 31st day of October, 2025 covering
a period of five years commencing on the 1st day of April, 2026.

O
Following members are appointed to the Commission with the approval of the President of India.
• Shri. Ajay Narayan Jha, Full time Member
• Smt. Annie George Mathew, Full time Member

I
• Dr. Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, Full time Member

AT
• Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Part time Member
 Mahindra Group and global institutional investor Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board have co-sponsored an
infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) holding assets of 1.54 GW in the renewable energy space in India.
An Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvITs) is like a mutual fund, which enables direct investment of small amounts of
money from possible individual/institutional investors in infrastructure to earn a small portion of the income as return.
UC
 The government's direct tax-to-GDP ratio stood at a 23-year high of 6.11% in FY23, data released
by the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
ED

 Power Finance Corporation (PFC) received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up a wholly-owned
finance company in the GIFT City in Gujarat.
 Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL), a leading petrochemicals company in India, is proud to announce its achievement
of becoming the first ISO 27001:2022 certified petrochemical organisation in the industry by BSI (British Standards
Institution), a renowned certification body.
 To enhance efficiency of the Electronic Toll Collection system and provide seamless movement at the Toll Plazas,
CE

NHAI has taken 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' initiative that aims to discourage user behavior of using single FASTag
for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a particular vehicle. Laced with Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology. NHAI launched two mobile Apps – MyFASTag and FASTag Partner to facilitate the availability of
FASTags. The tag is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance and comes in seven different colour codes.
 NITI Aayog, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India,
and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations jointly launched the
RI

'Investment Forum for Advancing Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in India' in New Delhi.
This initiative aims to develop an investment and partnership strategy to advance climate resilient
agrifood systems among the government, private sectors, and farmers’ organizations and financial
institutions in India.
 THDC India Limited, a leading Power Sector PSU, has also established a benchmark in Green Hydrogen production,
by successfully implementing India's one of the first pilot project aligned with the "National Green Hydrogen Mission"
on the auspicious occasion of 75th Republic Day.
THDC India Limited is under the ownership of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, Ministry of Power,
Government of India. THDC India Limited is a Mini Ratna Category-I Enterprise.
 Google Pay and NPCI International Payments on signed an agreement to expand the scope of Unified Payments Interface
payments outside India. So far France, Bhutan, Nepal, UAE & Canada have accepted UPI.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [ 11 ]

 Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory (UT) to implement the PM Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY), an
initiative that aims to empower and enhance the skills of the craftsman community. PM Vishwakarma, a Central Sector
Scheme, was launched on 17th September, 2023. The Scheme covers artisans and craftspeople engaged in 18 trades.
 Sagar Parikrama (Phase X) event being organized from 1st January 2024 to 6th January 2024 at
various locations of Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. Journey of 1st phase of 'Sagar Parikrama'
started from Mandvi, Gujarat on 5thMarch 2022.

N
 The government has appointed IAS officer Senthil Pandian C as ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
in Geneva after Brajendra Navnit's tenure as India's ambassador to the global trade watchdog ends on March 31, 2024.

O
 India beats Taiwan in MSCI EM index weightage to be second after China. In terms of weightage, India now ranks
second behind China in the MSCI Emerging Markets index, solidifying its reputation as one of the most promising
emerging markets in the world to invest in.

I
 Tata Consultancy Services is the world's 2nd most valuable IT services brand. Accenture, Tata Consultancy Services

AT
(TCS), and Infosys have continued to up their brand value and dominance in the IT industry, according to the latest
Brand Finance 2024 report.
 ESAF Small Finance Bank announced a bancassurance partnership with Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance. Bancassurance
is an arrangement between a bank and an insurance company allowing the banks to sell its products to the bank's client
base.
UC
 State Bank of India (SBI) has teamed with Flywire Corporation to revolutionise the landscape of international education
payments for Indian students.
 The RBI has increased the ceiling on fees payable to non-executive directors of banks to 30 lakh
rupees per year from the existing level of 20 Lakh rupees.
The instructions on review of fixed remuneration granted to NEDs would be applicable to all the
private sector banks including small finance banks (SFBs) and payment banks (PBs) as also the
ED

wholly owned subsidiaries of foreign banks.

 BOBCARD Limited (formerly known as BOB Financial Solutions Limited, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank
of Baroda), and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the launch of Corporate Credit Card on
RuPay Network. IndusInd Bank claims to be the first bank in India to launch a corporate credit card on unified payment
interface (UPI) network.
CE

 Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) became the first Indian company to cross Rs 20 lakh market capitalisation during the
trading session.
 The Centre has approved an amendment in the Foreign Direct Investment, FDI policy, allowing 100% foreign investment
in the space sector.
 Microsoft announced an initiative to equip 2 million people in India with skills in artificial intelligence by 2025. Called
ADVANTAGE INDIA.
RI

 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) achieved a significant milestone by becoming the only ministry to cross the figure of
Rs 1 lakh crore Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of procurement through Government e-Marketplace (GeM) since its
inception in 2016.
 Union Minister Sonowal launched the 'Sagar Aankalan' guidelines for Indian port performance
index. The 'Sagar Aankalan' guidelines for National Benchmarking of Indian Ports Performance
will be enforced across all seaports in India, with goal of boosting their efficiency and
competitiveness.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [ 12 ]

 Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated India's inaugural Skill India
Centre (SIC) in Sambalpur, Odisha, affirming its role in enhancing the nation's workforce.
The introduction of low-cost courses in the SIC will empower large youth and make them a part of the evolving job
market.
 India's unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 per cent in 2023 from 3.6 per cent in the preceding year,
reflecting continued improvement in the labour markets, revealed the latest employment indicators
report released by the National Statistical Office.

N
O
 Ashwini Vaishnaw launched NITI Aayog's NITI For States platform in New Delhi. It is a cross sectoral knowledge
platform designed to become a Digital Public Infrastructure for Policy and Good Governance.
The significant features of the platform include a multi-sectoral live repository of 7,500 Best Practices, 5,000 Policy

I
documents, 900 datasets and 350 NITI publications.

AT
 The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the PIB Fact Check Unit (FCU) under the
provisions of the sub-clause (v) of sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and
Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The FCU is mandated to counter misinformation on Government policies, initiatives and schemes either suo motu or
under a reference via complaints.
 Ministers formally approved the WTO membership terms of Comoros and Timor-Leste at a special ceremony held at
UC
the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi on 26 February 2024. Comoros and Timor-Leste will bring the
total number of WTO members to 166.
 In an effort to democratize future technologies and empower youth to innovate, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog
and Meta have announced the launch of Frontier Technology Labs.
The FTL is an advanced version of Atal Tinkering Lab equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including all
ED

components of the Tinkering Lab to empower students to innovate using technologies like Artificial Intelligence,
Augmented & Virtual Reality, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Robotics, 3D Printing, and Internet of Things.
 Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has received $24.5 million from Green Climate Fund (GCF) for
its maiden anchored project `Avaana Sustainability Fund (ASF)' valued at $120 million.
 India aims to cut emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030, from the 2005 level and achieve about 50
percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
The Central Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a 23 million dollar
CE


loan agreement at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City. The project will establish an
International Fintech Institute (IFI) to strengthen fintech education, boost start-up success rates,
and drive fintech research and innovation.
RI

 YES Bank has announced its partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the Official Banking Partner
for Team India at the Paris Olympics 2024.
As part of the collaboration, the bank launched the campaign 'Milkar Jitayengey' and introduced the 'YES Glory Debit
Card,' specially designed for India's Olympic athletes.
 The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
with a total outlay of Rs.75,021 crore for installing rooftop solar and providing free electricity up to 300 units every
month for One Crore households. The Prime Minister had launched the scheme on 13th February, 2024.
 Cabinet approves continuation of Rs.300 targeted subsidy to PM Ujjwala Yojana Consumers. To make Liquified Petroleum
Gas (LPG), a clean cooking fuel, available to the rural and deprived poor households, Government launched PMUY in
May 2016, to provide deposit free LPG connections to women of poor households.

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.
 [ 13 ]

Budget (Interim) Special 2024-25

 The Government proposes to create a corpus of Rupees One Lakh Crore to boost private investment
in sunrise technologies.

N
 Union Finance Minister said that "Capital Expenditure outlay for 2024- 25 is being increased by 11.1 % . This amounts
to 3.4 % of GDP.
 Smt. Sitharaman termed Farmers as our 'Annadata'.

O
 Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Yojana has assisted 2.4 lakh SHGs and sixty
thousand individuals with credit linkages.
 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana has benefitted 38 lakh farmers and generated 10 lakh employment.

I
 Government is working with an approach to development that is all round, all-pervasive and all-

AT
inclusive to make India a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
UC
 In a bid to boost the Fisheries sector, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has
said that five integrated aqua parks will be set up.
 Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs announced that it has been decided to enhance the target for Lakhpati
Didi from 2 crore to 3 crore.
 Focus on four major castes. They are,'Garib'(Poor), 'Mahilayen'(Women),'Yuva'(Youth) and 'Annadata'(Farmer).
 In terms of allocations, the Ministry of Defence received the highest amount at Rs. 6.2 lakh crore followed by the
ED

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways at Rs. 2.78 lakh crore. On the other hand, the Agriculture Ministry got the
lowest amount at Rs. 1.27 lakh crore.
 The Finance Minister set a target for raising Rs 50,000 crore through divestment receipts and monetisation of public
assets in the financial year 2024-25.
 No changes in the income tax slabs for the upcoming financial year, 2024-25 (April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025).
CE

–––––– ooo –––––

RI

RICE EDUCATION : HEAD OFFICE, BELGHARIA-DISHARI HOUSE, 11/1 B.T. ROAD,RATHTALA, KOLKATA - 56.