1 President approved the bill to prevent rigging in government recruitment examinations
President Draupadi Murmu has assent to the Prevention of Public Examination Malpractice Bill, 2024 . Parliament had passed this bill in the recently concluded budget session. The objective of the Bill is to prevent rigging and use of unfair means in public examinations. Public examination refers to the examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, National Examination Agency and Central Government Departments. Apart from this, unfair practices include leaking of question paper or answers, providing help to the candidates during the examination, tampering of computer network, conducting fake examination, issuing fake admit cards . The objective of this Bill is to restore transparency, fairness and credibility in the public examination system and to instill confidence among the youth that their honest and sincere efforts will be adequately rewarded and their future will be secure. According to the bill, students have been kept away from the ambit of law , action will be taken against rigging institutions and people who tamper with the examination system. The bill has a provision for imprisonment of 3-10 years and a fine ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore if the crime is proven . All offenses under this Bill will be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.
2 Central Government started ‘Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme’ for the welfare of the people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that for sustainable development and prosperity of the people, the government is launching Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme . In a social media post, Shri Modi said that the objective of this scheme with an investment of more than Rs 75 thousand crore is to light one crore houses by providing 300 units of free electricity every month. He said that by providing subsidies directly into people’s bank accounts and providing loans at highly concessional rates, the Central Government will ensure that people are not burdened with costs. The Prime Minister said that all stakeholders will be linked to a national online portal, which will provide them further assistance.
3 Dubai signs agreements at World Government Summit-2024 to launch world’s first air taxi service
Dubai has signed agreements at the World Government Summit-2024 to launch the world’s first air taxi service . This important initiative has been taken to bring about a radical change in urban transport. These agreements will assist Dubai in expanding the electric air taxi service and vertiport network in the city. The main attraction of this initiative is Joby Aviation S-4 , an innovative aircraft, in which four passengers including a pilot will be able to fly comfortably. The S-4 innovative aircraft will be powered by 6 propellers and 4 batteries. The maximum range of this aircraft is 161 kilometers. The speed of this aircraft is 321 kilometers per hour. The vertical take off and landing capability of this aircraft makes it ideal for urban infrastructure. The air taxi network will start operations from 2026. This step will be an important milestone in Dubai’s quest to redefine the urban transport system.
4 India wins the prestigious 9th GovTech Prize at the World Government Summit 2024
India has won the prestigious 9th GovTech Prize at the World Government Summit 2024 for its significant work in the field of Artificial Intelligence in Government Services . Established by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, this annual award is given to governments, organizations and centers around the world for creative and innovative innovations . India has won this award in the category of Artificial Intelligence based government services . A special mention has been given for the award to I-RASTE, an important artificial intelligence based project of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India. This project works to spread awareness about road safety through collaboration between government, industry and academia. The project aims to redesign road safety engineering through artificial intelligence. In this, an attempt is made to prevent an accident before the accident occurs by analyzing it on the basis of the circumstances. The award was presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and received by Mrs. Tadu Mamu, Consul General at the Consulate General of India.
5 Sikkim Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya launches “Hamro Sankalp, Vikas Bharat Pushpit Sikkim” program
Sikkim Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya launched the program ” Hamro Sankalp, Vikas Bharat Pushpit Sikkim ” under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan at Raj Bhavan in Gangtok . On this occasion, adopting the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, he emphasized on the role of cleanliness in national development, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The week-long campaign began with the cleaning of the Raj Bhavan premises including temples and national monuments.
6 Centre’s ‘Water Warrior Award’ to Noida in Uttar Pradesh
Noida, a city in the National Capital Region, has gained recognition for its efforts in water conservation and management . The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Union Water Ministry has awarded Noida the title of “Water Warrior” city. This recognition comes as a testament to the city’s measures in waste water treatment and reuse for various purposes, especially irrigation.
7 ISRO Chairman S. Somnath got K.P.P. Nambiar Award
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Kerala Section has honored Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath with the KPP Nambiar Award for 2024 at a function . The award is named after electronics industry pioneer and founder-chairman of the IEEE Kerala Section, KPP Nambiar.
8 Swati portal launched to promote women in the field of science
To encourage women in the field of science, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Central Government , launched Swati Portal at the Indian National Science Academy . Swati portal was launched on 11 February 2024. Swati Portal stands for ‘Science for Women-A Technology and Innovation’ . Swati portal launched with the aim of promoting women in various fields of science (STEM).
9 Katrina Kaif joins Chennai Super Kings as brand ambassador for IPL 2024
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has officially announced the appointment of Katrina Kaif as its brand ambassador for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season . This partnership is a significant achievement for the five-time IPL champions. The announcement of Katrina Kaif as the brand ambassador follows CSK’s newly signed sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways .
10 Sindhu Ganpati Southern Railway appointed the first transwoman TTE.
Sindhu Ganapathy has been appointed as the first transwoman Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) of Southern Railway . The appointment of Sindhu Ganapathy as the first transwoman Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) of Southern Railway is a significant achievement towards inclusivity and acceptance in the Indian workforce. At the age of 37, Ms Ganapathy has not only broken barriers but also set an example for representation of the transgender community in prestigious government positions. Sindhu Ganapathy has been appointed as the first transwoman Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) of Southern Railway.
11 Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb won Finland’s presidential election
Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb won Finland’s presidential election against former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto . The victory puts Stubb in charge of steering Finland’s foreign and security policies, especially important given Finland’s recent NATO membership following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
12 Paytm e-commerce renamed Pai Platforms, Bitsila acquired
Paytm E-Commerce has changed its name to Pai Platforms . According to media reports, Paytm had applied for change of name about 3 months ago. Whose approval he got from the Registrar of Companies on 8th February. According to the notification of the Registrar of Companies, Paytm E-Commerce Private Limited will now be known as Pai Platforms Private Limited . Despite the strict restrictions of the Reserve Bank, Paytm is trying to increase its share in the online retail business. For this the company has acquired Bitsila . Let us tell you that Bitsila is a sellers platform on ONDC.
13 Badminton Asia Team Championship: 2024 started at Shah Alam Stadium in Malaysia
Badminton Asia Team Championship:2024 started at Shah Alam Stadium, Malaysia . This biennial competition will conclude on the 18th of this month. India’s first match in the men’s team competition will be played with Hong Kong. The winners of this championship will be considered the Asian qualifiers for the Thomas and Uber Cup. The Badminton World Championships for men and women will be held in Chengdu, China from April 28 to May 5 this year.
14 International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism 2024
Every year on 12 February , the world observes the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism Contributing to Terrorism (PVE Day). This year’s theme is: “ Living Together: Fostering Community Resilience to Prevent Violent Extremism as it ends up being conductive to terrorism ”. Violent extremism manifests in various forms, often motivated by ideological, political or religious fundamentalism. It stems from marginalization, social grievances and lack of opportunities, leading individuals to resort to violent means to achieve their goals. The event creates widespread fear, disrupting lives and destabilizing communities around the world.
15 International Epilepsy Day 2024
International Epilepsy Day which we know as Epilepsy is celebrated every year on the second Monday of February . This year it was celebrated on 12 February . This day is celebrated every year with a unique theme. Through the theme “ Milestones on my Epilepsy Journey ”, an attempt is being made to encourage people to talk about the successes they have achieved in their lives while fighting the condition.