Daily Current Affairs February 08

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs February 08. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

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February 08 | Daily Current Affairs 2024

Sports – Daily Current Affairs February 08

1. Who won the 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament?
A) Anish Giri
B) Gukesh Dommaraju
C) Nodirbek Abdusattorov
D) Wei Yi
E) Magnus Carlsen
Answer: D) Wei Yi

  • GM Wei Yi became the winner of the 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament after winning a thrilling four-player tiebreak that also involved GMs Anish Giri, Gukesh Dommaraju, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
  • For the first time, Wei entered the world’s top 10.

Ranking – Daily Current Affairs February 08

2. What is India’s rank in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index Report (2023)?
A) 32
B) 38
C) 40
D) 44
E) 50
Answer: B) 38

  • According to the World Bank’s ‘Logistics Performance Index Report (2023): Connecting to Compete 2023’, India ranked 38 out of 139 countries.
  • India’s rank has improved by six places from 44 in 2018 and sixteen places from 54 in 2014.
  • An Inter-Ministerial dedicated team comprising of Stakeholder Ministries/Departments has been formed.
  • These stakeholder Ministries/Departments focus on targeted action plans with interventions needed to improve logistics performance across all six LPI parameters i.e. Customs, Infrastructure, Ease of arranging shipments, Quality of logistics services, Tracking and Tracing, and Timeliness.

Note:

  • The Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity on 13 October 2021 and National Logistics Policy on 17th Sept. 2022, for improving logistics efficiency and reducing logistics costs.
  • Digital reforms such as Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) for ease of doing business and Logistics Data Bank which has digitized track and trace of 100% containerized EXIM cargo, are presently operational.

Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs February 08

3. Which two fintech startups recently received the final license to operate as payment aggregators?
A) Razorpay and Cashfree
B) Juspay and Decentro
C) Zoho and Open
D) Google and Zomato
E) DigiO and Tata Digital
Answer: B) Juspay and Decentro

  • Two fintech startups Juspay and Decentro have received the final licence to operate as payment aggregators.
  • They will join the likes of Razorpay, Cashfree, Zomato and others who got the licence earlier.
  • While Juspay operated as a payment gateway running a technology stack for ecommerce payments, Decentro is a technology company that enables ecommerce and other consumer facing players offer financial services like lending, KYC and other services.
  • Zoho is the first enterprise Saas player to get the payment aggregator nod from the RBI.
  • Razorpay, Cashfree, Open were the first set of players to get the regulatory nod in December last year. Zomato, DigiO, Google, and Tata Digital are the other major players to get the payments licence
Titbits

Juspay:

Co-Founder and CEO: Vimal Kumar

Decentro:

Founder: Rohit Taneja

Zoho:

CEO: Sridhar Vembu
HQ: Chennai


4. What decision did the monetary policy committee make regarding the repo rate in its last meeting of FY24?
A) Increased it to 6.50%
B) Decreased it to 4%
C) Maintained it at 6.50%
D) Increased it to 5%
E) Decreased it to 5%
Answer: C) Maintained it at 6.50%

  • The six-member monetary policy committee voted by a majority of 5:1 to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.50 per cent in its last meeting of FY24 as retail inflation continues to be above its target of four per cent.
  • Retail inflation had hit a four-month high of 5.69 per cent in December 2023 due to increase in food prices against 5.55 per cent in November.

5. What is the RBI’s projection for the real GDP growth rate for FY25?
A) 6.8%
B) 7%
C) 7.2%
D) 7.3%
E) 10.5%
Answer: B) 7%

  • RBI projected real GDP growth rate at 7% and consumer price based inflation at 4.5% for FY25.
  • It is lower than the 7.3% projected by the National Statistical Office for the ongoing fiscal.
  • In the Interim Budget of the government, the nominal GDP is likely to grow at 10.5%.
  • The real GDP growth for FY25 is projected at 7 per cent, with Q1 at 7.2 per cent; Q2 at 6.8 per cent; Q3 at 7 per cent; and Q4 at 6.9 per cent.

 

Appointments – Daily Current Affairs February 08

6. Who has been appointed as the new prime minister of Kazakhstan?
A) Alikhan Smailov
B) Nursultan Nazarbayev
C) Olzhas Bektenov
D) Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
E) Dariga Nazarbayeva
Answer: C) Olzhas Bektenov

  • Kazakhstan’s president appointed his chief of staff, Olzhas Bektenov as the new prime minister.
  • He replaced Alikhan Smailov as prime minister.
Titbits

Kazakhstan:

Capital: Astana
Currency: Tenge
President: Kassym Jomart Tokayev
Prime Minister: Olzhas Bektenov


National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs February 08

7. Who released the report titled ‘LNG as a Transportation Fuel in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle’?
A) NITI Aayog and the Embassy of India
B) NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the United States
C) NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
D) Ministry of Energy, India
E) Ministry of Transportation, India
Answer: C) NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

  • NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands released report titled ‘LNG as a Transportation Fuel in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle’ at India Energy Week in Goa.
  • NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have been actively collaborating in the field of energy transition under the Statement of Intent (SoI) partnership since 2020.
  • The report was jointly launched by Shri. Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog, Government of India, and H.E. Frederik Wisselink, Energy Envoy, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the presence of Shri Praveen Mal Khanooja.
  • This report focused on leveraging LNG as a fuel source and customizing its use in the medium and commercial vehicle segment.
  • The report highlights strategies which will help in achieving 15% gas share in primary energy supply and also the goal of Net Zero by 2070.
Titbits

NITI Aayog:

Founded: 1 January 2015
HQ: New Delhi
Chairman: Narendra Modi
Vice Chairman: Suman Berry
CEO: B V R Subhramanyam

Kingdom of Netherlands:

Capital: Amsterdam
Monarch: Wilem Alexander
Prime Minister: Mark Rutte


8. What were some of the areas of collaboration discussed between India and Saudi Arabia?
A) Economic development
B) Healthcare infrastructure
C) Defence and strategic cooperation
D) Education reforms
E) Environmental conservation
Answer: C) Defence and strategic cooperation

  • India and Saudi Arabia discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defence and strategic cooperation including the scope of increasing joint military training exercises and technology transfer for defence industrial engagement.
  • Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt and Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud discuss bolstering bilateral defence cooperation, including joint military exercises and technology transfer.
  • The discussions centred around exploring avenues for collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including increasing the scope of joint training exercises, technology transfer and exchange of expertise.
  • Ajay Bhatt is on a visit to Riyadh as head of the Indian delegation at the ongoing World Defence Show (WDS) 2024.
  • The five-day event is showcasing the latest advancements in defence technology serving as a vital platform for international collaboration amongst the participating companies.
Titbits

Saudi Arabia:

Capital: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi Riyal
Prime Minister: Mohammed Bin Salman AI Saud


9. What is the purpose of the SARATHI portal launched by Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda?
A) To provide agricultural machinery to farmers
B) To offer financial assistance to rural entrepreneurs
C) To provide insurance products tailored for farmers and rural population
D) To facilitate organic farming practices
E) To offer skill development programs for agricultural workers
Answer: C) To provide insurance products tailored for farmers and rural population

  • Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda launched portal ‘SARATHI’ that aims to provide a comprehensive suite of insurance products including PMFBY, tailored explicitly for farmers and rural population of India.
  • To strengthen grievance redressal mechanism of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the minister also launched the Krishi Rakshak portal and helpline number 14447 to enable farmers to lodge their concerns.
  • ‘Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline’, will operate as a facilitator, bridging gap between insured farmer and insurance companies, bankers, Common Service Centres (CSCs) and governments.
  • A learning material system about PMFBY, Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MIIS) and Kisan Credit Card (KCC) was also launched for stakeholders implementing these schemes across the country.
  • The Learning Material System – launched by agriculture ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology – seeks to facilitate continuous learning, knowledge enhancement, and coordination among stakeholders.
  • The portal will be a single-window platform for viewing, purchasing, and availing insurance products. The platform will have digital payment options and streamlined premium collection, effortless claim initiation, tracking and resolution besides user-friendly interfaces for stakeholders.
  • In the first phase, personal accident and hospital cash policies, while in the second phase health, shop and home insurance and in the third phase tractor, two-wheeler, livestock and non-PMFBY insurance products will be introduced.

10. What is the objective of the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme launched by the Ministry of Education?
A) To provide financial assistance to all students
B) To benefit students from economically disadvantaged groups
C) To promote sports among school children
D) To encourage students to pursue arts and humanities
E) To offer vocational training to college students
Answer: B) To benefit students from economically disadvantaged groups

  • The Ministry of Education launched the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme to benefit students from economically disadvantaged groups.
  • The scholarship aims at empowering meritorious students who do not have enough resources by offering them access and opportunities.
  • Meritorious students from Navodaya Vidyalaya who lack means for supporting their higher education can avail the benefit of this scholarship.
  • In addition to extending financial assistance to economically marginalised and meritorious students of Navodaya Vidyalayas, this scheme also encourages involvement from the private sector through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

11. Where was the Kilkari programme and Mobile Academy launched?
A) Maharashtra and Gujarat
B) Delhi and Rajasthan
C) Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
D) Tamil Nadu and Kerala
E) Karnataka and Telangana
Answer: A) Maharashtra and Gujarat

  • Prof. S P Singh Baghel and Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare virtually launched the Kilkari programme, a Mobile Health (m-health) initiative for beneficiaries in local content in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
  • Mobile Academy, a free audio training course designed to expand and refresh the knowledge of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and improve their communication skills via their mobile phones was also launched.

About Kilkari:

  • Kilkari’ (meaning ‘a baby’s gurgle’), is a centralized interactive voice response (IVR) based mobile health service which delivers free, weekly, time-appropriate 72 audio messages about pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare directly to families’ mobile phones from the second trimester of pregnancy until the child is one year old.
  • Women who are registered in Reproductive Child Health (RCH) portal) based on the woman’s LMP (last menstrual period) or the child’s DoB (Date of Birth), receive a weekly call with pre-recorded audio content directly to the mobile phones of pregnant women and mothers with children under the age of one year.
  • Kilkari audio messages are present in the form of voice of a fictitious doctor character called Dr. Anita.
  • Kilkari Programme is centrally hosted by MoHFW for all the States/UTs and no further investment in the technology, telephony infrastructure or operational costs is required to be borne by States/UTs.
  • This service is FREE of cost for States/UTs and beneficiaries.
  • The programme is service is integrated with centralized Reproductive Child Health (RCH) portal of MoHFW’s and is the single source of information for this mHealth service.
  • Currently Kilkari is under implementation in 18 States / UTs namely Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttarakhand

About Mobile Akademy:

  • It is a free audio training course designed to expand and refresh the knowledge of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and improve their communication skills via their mobile phones, which is both cost-effective and efficient.
  • It is an anytime, anywhere training course that can train thousands of ASHAs simultaneously via mobile phone.
  • Mobile Academy is operational in 17 States/UTs except Chandigarh with six languages viz. Hindi, Bhojpuri, Oriya, Assamese, Bengali & Telugu version.


Over All Review

Sports 

  • Wei Yi Wins 2024 Tata Steel Chess Masters In Thrilling Tiebreak.

Ranking 

  • India ranks 38 out of 139 countries on World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index Report 2023; India’s rank has improves by sixteen places from 54 in 2014.

Banking and Finance 

  • Juspay, Zoho, Decentro secure RBI nod for payment aggregator business.
  • MPC leaves repo rate unchanged at 6.50% in its last meeting of FY24.
  • RBI projects FY25 GDP growth at 7%; CPI inflation at 4.5%.

Appointments

  • Kazakhstan’s president appoints a new prime minister.

National Affairs

  • NITI Aayog and the Kingdom of the Netherlands release ‘LNG as a Transportation Fuel in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle’ Report.
  • India, Saudi Arabia explore new avenues of defence cooperation.
  • Agri Minister Launches SARATHI (Sandbox for Agricultural and Rural Security, Technology and Insurance) Portal For Insurance Products, Helpline To Resolve Crop Insurance-Related Grievance.
  • Government Launches Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme For Unprivileged Students.
  • Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prof. S P Singh Baghel and Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar Launch Mobile Health Service ‘Kilkari’ and Mobile Academy in Maharashtra and Gujarat to Strengthen Public Health Infrastructure.

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