NATIONAL:
1. Uniform Civil Code
Why in news – Uttarakhand became the first state to pass the Uniform Civil Code Bill.
Key Points –
• It seeks to “govern and regulate the laws related to marriage and divorce, successions, live-in relationships, and matters related thereto”.
• The code will not apply to the Scheduled Tribes.
Value Addition -
• Although Goa is governed by a UCC (Portuguese Civil Code), the Assembly did not pass any law.
• The code was retained after Goa’s liberation in 1961.
2. Digital National Museum of Epigraphy
Why in news – Foundation stone for India's digital National Museum of Epigraphy was laid at the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad.
Key Points –
• The museum will house approximately one lakh ancient writings spanning various times and languages.
• It is inspired by the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions (BharatSHRI) initiative to digitize one lakh ancient inscriptions.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Nayib Bukele
Why in news – Nayib Bukele won the presidential election in El Salvador.
Key Points –
• Nayib Bukele is known as the “world’s coolest dictator.”
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme
Why in news – Ministry of Education launched the Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme.
Key Points –
• It aims to provide financial assistance to meritorious students of Navodaya Vidyalaya lacking resources for admissions to Higher-educational institutions (HEIs).
• It seeks private sector participation through CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives to ensure no child is left behind.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. CAR-T Cell Therapy
Why in news – Dr. V K Gupta became the first commercial patient to be declared free of cancer using CAR-T cell therapy.
Key Points –
• CAR-T cell therapy has been developed by ImmunoAct, IIT Bombay, and Tata Memorial Hospital.
• Indigenous CAR-T cell therapy brings treatment cost down from Rs 4 crore to Rs 40 lakh.
About CAR-T Cell Therapy –
• CAR-T cell therapy stands for chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.
• T cells are white blood cells responsible for identifying and fighting illness and infection.
• It uses the patient’s own T cells, genetically modified in a laboratory to enhance their ability to locate and destroy cancer cells.
• Genetically engineered CAR-T cells bind to cancer cells and effectively kill them.
2. Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel
Why in news – IIT Kanpur has successfully built and tested India’s first hypervelocity expansion tunnel test facility.
Key Points –
• The facility called S2 nicknamed has been “Jigarthanda”.
• It is capable of generating flight speeds ranging from 3 to 10 km/s, simulating hypersonic conditions.
• It is crucial for various applications such as atmospheric entry of vehicles, asteroid entry, scramjet flights, and ballistic missiles.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 7th Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs
Why in news – The 7th session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) was held in Kochi.
Key Points –
• Quality standards for 5 spices, namely small cardamom, turmeric, juniper berry, allpice and star anise were finalized.
• The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) was established under the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in 2013.
About Codex Alimentarius Commission (HQ - Rome) –
• It is an international, intergovernmental body with a membership of over 194 countries.
• It was jointly established by FAO and WHO.
• It formulates internationally accepted standards pertaining to human food.
SECURITY:
1. 'Abhyas' Aerial Target
Why in news – India successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed high-speed expendable aerial target, Abhyas.
Key Points –
• It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a target for the testing of missile systems.
• Tests were carried out at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha.
2. India-Myanmar Border
Why in news – Border Roads Organisation to fence India-Myanmar border.
Key Points –
• The Ministry of Home Affairs has identified around 1,700 km of fencing that needs to be done.
• Four Indian states – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram – share a 1,643-km border with Myanmar.
• Also, the Union government has decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Myanmar border.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Safer Internet Day 2024
Why in news – Safer Internet Day is celebrated on February 6.
Key Points –
• Theme - Together for a better internet.
• The day was first initiated by EU Safe Borders in 2006.
Value Addition –
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Mio Oka
Why in news – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Mio Oka (Japanese) as its new Country Director for India.
Key Points –
• She succeeded Takeo Konishi.
• Takeo Konishi has been appointed as ADB Director General for South Asia at the Manila headquarters.
Value Addition –
• India currently ranks as ADB’s fourth largest shareholder.
• ADB committed USD 2.59 billion in sovereign lending to India.
REPORTS:
1. Global Cancer Burden Report
Why in news – World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released the report.
Key Points –
• Cancer rates are likely to double across the globe in the next quarter-century.
• It projects a 142% increase in cancer rates for countries with a low level of development between now and 2050.
• Cancer Moonshot Scholars program – It is aimed at slashing US cancer deaths in half in 25 years.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy-2023
Why in news – Bihar has started giving motor vehicle (MV) tax incentives on the purchase of electric vehicles under Bihar Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy-2023.
Key Points –
• Road tax of 50% to 75% on purchase of all types of e-vehicles (2-wheelers, 2-wheelers, 5- wheelers, and light-heavy motor vehicles) will be given by the dealer at the time of registration of vehicle.
About Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy –
• It aims to promote the growth of EVs in the state.
• Bihar's aim is that by 2028, e-vehicles should comprise 15% of the new vehicles purchased and registered.
• It offers several benefits –
(a) Incentives of up to Rs 1.25 lakh for the first 1,000 personal electric cars.
(b) Subsidies on Motor Vehicle Tax of up to 75%.
(c) 30% subsidy on electricity tariffs for public and semi-public charging stations in the initial 3 years.
2. Patna Declaration
Why in news – “Patna Declaration” has been adopted to strengthen the bird conservation initiatives in the South Asian region.
Key Points –
• A three-day international workshop was jointly organized by the environment, forest, and climate change department, and Bombay Natural History Society.
Recommendations –
(a) Setting up of a task force on illegal killing, taking, and trade of migratory birds.
(b) Collection of data on the distribution of migratory birds for their safety on power lines.
(c) Launch of national programs for prevention and mitigation of bird electrocution and collision.
(d) Regular disease surveillance in waterbirds at key sites.
3. Bihar Weather Service Center
Why in news – Bihar weather forecasting system will be adopted at the national level.
Key Points –
• At present, an accurate weather forecast for 5 days is being issued in the state.
• Bihar weather forecasting system provide weather information at every 15 minutes at panchayat level.
• All panchayats of Bihar are connected to “Mausam Bihar.”
Value Addition –
• Other models from Bihar adopted at the knational level –
(a) Har ghar Bijli
(b) Smart meter
(c) Jeevika
(d) Har ghar nal ka jal
(e) Doorstep delivery of seeds.
Click here to download Current Affairs English PDF
Click here to download Current Affairs Hindi PDF