Daily Current Affairs 17 February 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

Read the most important current affairs of 17 February 2024. Today Current Affairs covers the headlines on US House Passes Quad Bill, 12th edition of MILAN exercise, Global Tourism Resilience Day 2024.

Top 24 Current Affairs and News Headlines of 17 February 2024

National News

1.Prime Minister Modi Virtually Unveils Mahabharata-Inspired Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated the Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra, a museum and interpretation center inspired by the epic Mahabharata, from Rewari.
• While the project is still under completion, the opening of two out of its five planned galleries marks a promising start.
• This initiative, with an investment of approximately Rs 240 crore, is set to enhance the cultural and spiritual tourism landscape of Kurukshetra, Haryana.

2.Prime Minister Modi to Unveil 125-Foot Statue of Bir Lachit Borphukan in Assam

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to unveil a colossal 125-foot statue of Bir Lachit Borphukan in Lahdoigarh, Holongapar, Jorhat.
• This announcement was made by the Assam Chief Minister in a recent statement, highlighting a series of significant events planned for the first week of March this year, aimed at honoring the state’s rich history and cultural heritage
• The statue of Bir Lachit Borphukan, a general who is best known for his leadership in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat where he thwarted the Mughal invasion, is a project that symbolizes the valor and spirit of the Assamese people.

International News

3.US House Passes Quad Bill: All You Need To Know

• The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the Quad bill aimed at enhancing cooperation between the US, Australia, India, and Japan.
• The bill mandates the establishment of a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to bolster joint efforts in various domains.
• This landmark legislation aims to bolster collaboration among the United States, Australia, India, and Japan. Its primary objective is to foster closer ties and facilitate strategic cooperation between these key nations.

4.Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: A Landmark Decision

• Greece has made history by legalizing same-sex marriage and granting equal parental rights to same-sex couples, marking a significant shift in the country’s societal and legal landscape.
• The newly passed legislation not only recognizes same-sex marriages but also ensures equal parental rights for same-sex couples.
• This includes granting both parents in a same-sex union the same legal status as guardians, allowing them to make crucial decisions for their children and participate fully in their upbringing.

State News

5.Odisha CM inaugurates Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Center in Bhubaneswar

• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Centre and Research Institute (BSCCRI) in Bhubaneswar.
• This state-of-the-art facility, established in collaboration with the Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Bengaluru, represents a leap forward in making high-quality cancer treatment accessible and affordable to patients.
• The inauguration of BSCCRI is a milestone in Odisha’s healthcare landscape, with the government and philanthropic entities coming together to address the urgent need for advanced cancer treatment facilities in the region.

6.Tourism Minister Reddy Lays Foundation Stone For Komuravelli Railway Station In Siddipet, Telangana

• G Kishan Reddy and Mohan Yadav laid the foundation stone for the Komuravelli Railway Station in Siddipet District, Telangana.
• The station aims to improve transportation to the renowned Komuravelli Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, attracting millions of devotees annually.
• Komuravelli village hosts the famous Komuravelli Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, a significant pilgrimage site. About 25 lakh devotees from four different states visit the temple town each year for darshan of the presiding deity.

7.Himachal Pradesh Leads As India’s Most Welcoming Region In 2024

• In a recent announcement, Booking.com, the popular online travel agency, unveiled its 12th Annual Traveller Review Awards 2024, highlighting the Most Welcoming Regions and Cities in India.
• Securing the top spot in the category of the ‘Most Welcoming Region in India’ is Himachal Pradesh, showcasing a remarkable jump from the 5th position in 2023.
• This recognition reflects the state’s commitment to providing a warm and hospitable environment for travelers. The rankings further feature Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand in the following positions.

Defence News

8.India Approves Acquisition of Defence Equipment Worth Rs 84,560 Cr

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, has approved various capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 84,560 crore on February 16, 2024.
• These approvals emphasize the procurement of equipment from Indian vendors to promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
• Approval was under Buy {Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)} category. It  features seismic sensor and remote deactivation for enhanced safety.

9.Visakhapatnam to host 12th edition of MILAN naval exercise

• The 12th edition of the MILAN naval exercise is poised to set sail in the strategic port city of Visakhapatnam from 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.
• MILAN 2023 seeks to bolster the safety of maritime trade, a vital artery of the global economy, through shared efforts and expertise.

Business News

10.LIC Launches A Non-Participating Product ‘Amritbaal’ For Children

• The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has rolled out a new insurance product named ‘Amritbaal’.
• ‘Amritbaal’ emerges as a strategic financial instrument designed to support the educational and other significant needs of children.
• The product boasts several notable features aimed at generating a substantial corpus for the child’s future needs. One of the highlights is the Guaranteed additions, promising an accrual of Rs 80 per thousand of the basic sum assured at the end of each policy year.

11.SIDBI Releases Impact Study ‘Prabhaav’ on Fund of Funds for Startups

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has released the impact assessment report of the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), a pivotal element of the Start Up India Action Plan initiated by PM Modi in 2016.
• Conducted by CRISIL, a leading analytics company in India, the report, titled “Prabhaav,” underscores the transformative influence of the FFS scheme on the Indian startup ecosystem.
• The scheme has facilitated investments totaling approximately ₹17,534 crore in 938 distinct startups, marking a significant fourfold increase from the initial investment amount.

Important Days News

12.Global Tourism Resilience Day 2024

• The United Nations’ Global Tourism Resilience Day, celebrated for the first time on February 17, 2023, marks a significant step towards acknowledging and enhancing the resilience of the tourism industry.
• The latest UNWTO data reveals that international tourism experienced a significant uptick in 2023, with an estimated 975 million tourists traveling internationally between Jan and September, marking a 38% increase compared to 2022.
• This initiative aims to foster a tourism sector that can withstand both foreseen and unforeseen challenges, thereby ensuring its contribution to sustainable development and economic stability, especially in developing countries.

Schemes News

13.MSME Minister Narayan Rane Launches Rs 20 lakh Scheme Under CGTMSE For GST-Exempted Micro Units

• MSME Minister Narayan Rane launched a special scheme for informal micro enterprises (IMEs), exempted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
• This scheme enables IMEs to access collateral-free loans up to Rs 20 lakh under the government’s Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).
• The scheme, titled ‘Special Provision for Informal Micro Enterprises under Credit Guarantee Scheme,’ aims to provide credit support to micro or nano enterprises.

14.Sikkim INSPIRES: World Bank’s Support for Skill Development

• The World Bank has approved a new project aimed at supporting the state of Sikkim in India. The project focuses on training, upskilling, and providing jobs for 300,500 women and youth in high-growth and priority sectors.
• The project aims to train and upskill 300,500 women and youth in Sikkim for employment opportunities in high-growth sectors.
• Priority sectors include renewable energy, information technology (IT) services, tourism, hospitality and wellness care, and creative design.

15.SBI Launches Digital Enrolment for PMJJBY and PMSBY Schemes

• State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced a convenient self-subscribing journey for its customers to enrol under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) schemes digitally, eliminating the need to visit a branch or Customer Service Point.
• Customers can enroll under PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes digitally. The process involves entering the account number, date of birth on Jan Suraksha portal, and selecting the bank.
• PMJJBY provides one-year term life insurance cover, renewable annually, for death due to any cause. PMSBY offers accident insurance cover for accidental death and disability resulting from an accident.

Ranks & Reports News

16.India Achieves Global Digitalization Milestone as Third Largest Digital Economy

• India has cemented its position as the third-largest digitalized nation in the world, trailing only behind the technological powerhouses of the United States of America (USA) and China.
• This significant finding is part of the “State of India’s Digital Economy Report, 2024,” unveiled by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), a renowned Delhi-based think tank.
• The report paints a comprehensive picture of India’s digital landscape, comparing it favorably with some of the world’s most developed economies, yet highlighting areas for improvement in user-level digital engagement.

Awards News

17.City Union Bank Sweeps 7 Awards At 19th Banking Tech Conference

• In a triumphant display of technological prowess, City Union Bank, under the stewardship of Dr. N Kamakodi, claimed an impressive seven awards at the 19th Banking Technology Conference, Expo & Citations in 2023.
• In addition to the top honors, CUB also secured runner-up positions in the categories of Best Digital Engagement, Best IT Risk Management, and Best Technology Talent.
• City Union Bank’s impressive haul of awards demonstrates its position as a frontrunner in the industry, setting new standards for technological advancement in banking.

Agreements News

18.CIAL, BPCL To Establish 1st Green Hydrogen Plant At Cochin Airport

• The Cochin International Airport Ltd, renowned as the world’s 1st airport fully powered by solar energy with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will establish a Green Hydrogen plant within its premises.
• This collaboration between CIAL and BPCL marks a pivotal moment in the aviation sector’s journey towards sustainability.
• By combining their expertise and resources, they aim to create the world’s first Green Hydrogen plant and fueling station located within an airport setting.

19.India and Colombia Sign MoU on Digital Cooperation

• India and Colombia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Sharing Successful Digital Solutions Implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation.
• The agreement aims to foster digital transformation through the sharing of India’s open-sourced Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs), particularly focusing on India Stack Solutions.
• The MoU aims to promote digital transformation, specifically leveraging India Stack Solutions, through capacity-building programs and exchange of best practices.

Appointments News

20.Lebanese Judge Nawaf Salam Elected As ICJ’s New President

• Nawaf Salam was elected president of the ICJ in The Hague, succeeding US Judge Joan Donoghue. This significant milestone marks him as the first Lebanese and second Arab to hold this prestigious position for a three-year term.
• Salam’s journey with the ICJ began in 2018, and he currently holds the highest judicial position globally. His appointment highlights his remarkable trajectory within the field of international law.
• As the principal judicial body of the United Nations, the ICJ is responsible for adjudicating legal disputes between states and providing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to by UN organs and specialized agencies.

Sports News

21.ICC Bans UK Cricketer Rizwan Javed For Over 17 Years For Match-Fixing

• UK-based club cricketer Rizwan Javed has been handed a severe ban from all cricketing activities for a period of 17 ½ years.
• This decision comes in the wake of his involvement in several breaches of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code for Participants.
• Rizwan Javed was one among eight individuals charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on behalf of the ECB for their involvement in corruption attempts during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League.

Science & Technology News

22.India To Initiate Satellite Based Tolling On Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway

• In a development announced by India’s Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the nation is set to embark on testing (Global navigation satellite system) GNSS-based toll collection on the Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway.
• The GNSS-based tolling system marks a departure from conventional toll collection methods, offering a seamless and efficient alternative.
• Unlike toll gates, which necessitate vehicles to halt for payment, GNSS technology enables precise positioning of vehicles, allowing tolls to be calculated based on the distance traveled on the highway.

Obituaries News

23.‘Udaan’ actor Kavita Chaudhary Passes Away at 67

• Kavita Chaudhary, a veteran actor and creative force best known for her groundbreaking role in the television show “Udaan” and as the iconic Lalitaji in Surf commercials.
• Chaudhary passed away at the age of 67 due to cardiac arrest in Amritsar, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
• Kavita Chaudhary’s journey in the world of Indian television was marked by her passion for storytelling and her commitment to portraying strong, independent women. Her most notable work, “Udaan,” aired in 1989, where she not only played the lead role of IPS officer Kalyani Singh but also took on the roles of writer and director.

24.Iconic ‘dum pukht’ chef Imtiaz Qureshi Passes Away at 93

• Chef Imtiaz Qureshi, who passed away at the age of 93. The Padma Shri awardee, often hailed as a “culinary genius,” was instrumental in bringing the ancient dum pukht cooking technique back to the forefront of Indian cuisine.
• Dum pukht, a slow-cooking method that originated in the royal kitchens of Awadh, became his signature style.
• This technique involves cooking ingredients in a sealed pot (or ‘handi’), allowing the meats to cook in their own juices and spices to infuse deeply, creating flavors that are both delicate and profound.

17 FEBRUARY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 | ALL EXAMS IMP. CURRENT AFFAIRS | ASHISH GAUTAM SIR

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