Daily Current Affairs February 20

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February 20| Daily Current Affairs 2024

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs February 20

1. What is the theme of World Day of Social Justice 2024?
A) “Equality and Equity”
B) “Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances”
C) “Empowerment for All”
D) “Inclusion and Diversity”
E) “Global Solidarity”
Answer: B) “Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances”

• Every year on 20 February the World Day of Social Justice is observed worldwide.
• The theme of World Day of Social Justice 2024 is “Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances”.
• On 26 November 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared that starting from the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, 20 February will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice.
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) unanimously adopted the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization on 10 June 2008.

Mizoram Foundation Day is observed on February 20:

• Mizoram Foundation Day is celebrated every year on February 20 to honour the northeastern state’s accomplishment of statehood in 1987.
• It was on this day that the Lushai Hills Autonomous District Council was raised to the status of a complete state, turning into the 23rd state of India.
• February 20 denotes the Statehood Day of both Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh foundation day is observed on February 20:

• Arunachal Pradesh state was formerly known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) until it was granted statehood on 20 February 1987.
• Prior to that, it was a part of the larger state of Assam.
• The state was divided into 16 districts in 1975, and the first general election for the Assembly was held in February 1978.
• Rhe Director of Research of the Arunachal Pradesh Foundation, Bibhabasu Das Shastri, and the Chief Commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh, KAA Raja, had renamed the NEFA to Arunachal Pradesh on 20 January 1972, following which it became a union territory before being declared as a state in 1987.

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Business and Economy – Daily Current Affairs February 20

2. Who signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Goa government to fund the state’s green energy ambitions?
A) Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)
B) State Bank of India (SBI)
C) Power Finance Corp (PFC)
D) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
E) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
Answer: C) Power Finance Corp (PFC)

• State-run Power Finance Corp (PFC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Goa government to fund the state’s green energy ambitions through a blended finance facility.
• Under the MoU, PFC will provide financial support for Goa’s pivotal climate-related projects.
• These include initiatives in renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric vehicles, converting waste to wealth, and nature-based solutions, all contributing to an energy transition.
• This initiative is an innovative partnership between government of Goa and World Bank on the one hand and the leading financial institutions PFC, SIDBI and NABARD on the other to finance climate priorities.

Note:

• India is committed to achieving ‘Panchamrit’ and net-zero emissions by 2070.

Keyperson:

• Parminder Chopra, chairman and managing director, PFC.

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Acquisitions and Mergers – Daily Current Affairs February 20

3. What percentage of the equity share capital of Pricol Limited has been approved for acquisition by Minda Corporation Limited?
A) Up to 10%
B) Up to 15%
C) Up to 5%
D) Up to 8.79%
E) Up to 12%
Answer: D) Up to 8.79%

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of up to 8.79% (approx.) of the equity share capital of Pricol Limited (Pricol/Target) by Minda Corporation Limited (Minda/Acquirer).
• The Acquirer is engaged in the business of manufacturing of auto – components parts and caters to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-1 in various segments in India.
• The Target is engaged in the business of manufacturing of automobile components for OEMs, Tier-1 and replacement markets across India and globally

CCI:

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the chief national competition regulator in India.
• It is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and is responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002 to promote competition and prevent activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.
• Chairperson: Ravneet Kaur

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4. Which IT services and consulting firm completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Orchid Cybertech Services (OCSI)?
A) Infosys
B) Wipro
C) Tech Mahindra
D) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
E) HCL Technologies
Answer: C) Tech Mahindra

• IT services and consulting firm Tech Mahindra has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Orchid Cybertech Services (OCSI) through its wholly-owned subsidiary for a total of $3.27 million.
• Orchid Cybertech Services, a provider of customer experience solutions, serves TPG Telecom with a workforce comprising approximately 2,950 full-time employees.
• Under this agreement, OCSI, along with its assets and personnel, will integrate into Tech Mahindra, extending customer support and related services to TPG.

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International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs February 20

5. Who is on an official visit to India from 19 – 27 Feb 24?
A) Adm R Hari Kumar
B) RAdm David Proctor
C) Chief of Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy
D) Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy
E) None of the above
Answer: B) RAdm David Proctor

• RAdm David Proctor, Chief of Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy is on an official visit to India from 19 – 27 Feb 24.
• RAdm David Proctor interacted with Adm R Hari Kumar, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy at New Delhi.
• RAdm David Proctor is scheduled to participate in Indian Navy’s Flagship Exercise MILAN 24 at Visakhapatnam and also undertake high level engagements at Western Naval Command.
• Maritime cooperation between IN and RNZN has witnessed significant growth since CNS visit to New Zealand in Oct 22.
• The visit marked conclusion of Technical Arrangement on White Shipping Information Exchange. Further, warships from both the Navies have been making regular port calls at each other’s ports, last being port calls by INS Kolkata and INS Sahyadri at Auckland and Wellington in Sep 23.
• IN ships also conducted PASSEX with RNZN and RNZAF in the Tasman Sea post Departure.

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National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs February 20

6. What is the new authorised capital of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) following the government’s decision?
A) Rs 5,000 crore
B) Rs 10,000 crore
C) Rs 15,000 crore
D) Rs 21,000 crore
E) Rs 30,000 crore
Answer: D) Rs 21,000 crore

• The government has increased the authorised capital of state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 21,000 crore to enhance the operational capabilities and fulfill its mandate effectively.
• The increase in authorised capital is a significant step towards enhancing the operational capabilities of FCI in fulfilling its mandate effectively.
• FCI resorts to cash credit, short-term loan, ways and means etc. to match the gap in the fund requirement.
• The increase in the authorised capital will reduce the interest burden, decrease the economic cost and ultimately affecting the government subsidy positively.
• With this infusion of capital, the FCI should also embark upon modernising its storage facilities, improving transportation networks, and adopting advanced technologies.

Note:

• FCI is the central government’s nodal agency that undertakes the procurement of foodgrains at a minimum support price (MSP) to protect the interest of farmers.
• It also maintains strategic stocks and distributes the grains under different welfare schemes.

FCI:

• The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a statutory body created and run by the Government of India.
• It is under the ownership of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, formed by the enactment of Food Corporation Act, 1964 by the Parliament of India.
• HQ: New Delhi
• Chairman: Ashok Kumar Meena

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7. Where was the 11th International Puppet Festival inaugurated?
A) Kolkata, India
B) New Delhi, India
C) Mumbai, India
D) Chandigarh, India
E) Bangalore, India
Answer: D) Chandigarh, India

• The 11th International Puppet Festival was kicked off at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh.
• Punjab Governor and Administrator of Union Territory Chandigarh, Banwarilal Purohit, accompanied by Adviser to the Administrator Rajeev Verma and other senior officers inaugurated the show.
• The festival started with a mesmerizing performance by the Novosibirsk Regional Puppet Theatre from Russia, presenting the renowned puppet show “Petrushka.”
• To cater to the diverse audience, the Department organized special morning shows for school students and evening shows open to the general public, ensuring accessibility for all enthusiasts of puppetry.
• The visitors will also have the opportunity to explore a Puppet Exhibition at Tagore Theatre.
• The exhibition has featured live demonstrations of puppet making, offering a deeper understanding of the intricate craft behind these captivating creations.

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8. Where was the Khelo India University Games inaugurated?
A) New Delhi
B) Mumbai
C) Kolkata
D) Guwahati
E) Chennai
Answer: D) Guwahati

• Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the Khelo India University games in Guwahati.
• Mascot of the Khelo India University Games: Ashtalakshmi in the shape of a butterfly.
• 4th Khelo India University Games 2023 is set to be an exciting showcase for 4544 athletes from across the nation, competing in 18 different venues spread over the north-eastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Tripura – our Ashtalakshmi.
• This grand event will cover 20 sports disciplines, including athletics, rugby, swimming, badminton, hockey, and football, among others.

Note:

• Khelo India University Games 2023: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Khelo India University Games 2024: Guwahati, Assam
• First Khelo India Winter Games: Ladakh

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9. Where did Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lay the foundation stone of Shri Kalki Dham Temple?
A) Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
B) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
C) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
D) Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh
E) Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Answer: D) Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Shri Kalki Dham Temple in Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Prime Minister also unveiled the model of Shri Kalki Dham Temple.
• Shri Kalki Dham is being constructed by Shri Kalki Dham Nirman Trust whose chairman is Acharya Pramod Krishnam.

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10. How much worth were the development projects inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and for which foundation stones were laid by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Jammu?
A) Over Rs 20,000 crores
B) Over Rs 30,000 crores
C) Over Rs 32,000 crores
D) Over Rs 35,000 crores
E) Over Rs 40,000 crores
Answer: C) Over Rs 32,000 crores

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 32,000 crores in Jammu.
• The Prime Minister also distributed appointment orders to about 1500 new Government recruits of Jammu and Kashmir.
• He also interacted with beneficiaries of various government schemes as part of the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu’ program.
• The Prime Minister complimented the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their spirit of Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu and Kashmir and Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

Projects in Education Sector:

• Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of several projects worth about Rs 13,375 crores.
• The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation permanent campus of IIT Bhilai, IIT Tirupati, IISER Tirupati, IIITDM Kurnool; academic and residential complex in IIT Patna and IIT Ropar; two permanent campuses of Central Sanskrit University – at Devprayag (Uttarakhand) and Agartala (Tripura). The Prime Minister inaugurated permanent campuses of IIM Visakhapatnam, IIM Jammu and IIM Bodh Gaya. He also inaugurated Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) – a pioneer skill training institute on advanced technologies in Kanpur.
• The Prime Minister inaugurated and dedicated to the nation, improved infrastructure like hostels, academic blocs, administrative buildings, libraries, auditoriums etc in multiple higher educational institutes across the country like IIT Jammu, NIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, NIT Durgapur, IISER Behrampur, NIT Arunachal Pradesh, IIIT Lucknow, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, Central University of Kerala Kasaragod, among others.
• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of multiple projects for upgrading the infrastructure in several higher educational institutes across the country.
• These projects include the construction of the permanent campus of Sindhu Central University and IIIT Raichur; the construction of academic block, hostel, faculty quarter etc in IIT Bombay; construction of Hostel and Staff Quarter in IIT Gandhinagar, construction of Girls’ hostel in BHU, among others.

AIIMS Jammu:

• Prime Minister inaugurated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur (Samba), Jammu. The institute, whose foundational stone was also laid by the Prime Minister in February 2019, is being established under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.

New Terminal Building, Jammu Airport:

• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a new terminal building at Jammu Airport.
• To be spread over a 40,000 sqm area, the new terminal building will be equipped with modern facilities catering to about 2000 passengers during peak hours.

Rail Projects:

• The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation various rail projects in Jammu & Kashmir including the new rail line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan (48 Km) and the newly electrified Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan section (185.66 Km).
• The Prime Minister also flagged off the first Electric Train in the valley and also train service between Sangaldan station & Baramulla station.
• The commissioning of the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section is significant as it features the usage of Ballast Less Track (BLT) all along the route providing a better riding experience to the passengers.
• Also, India’s longest transportation tunnel T-50 (12.77 Km) lies in this portion between Khari-Sumber.

CUF Petroleum depot:

• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a project to develop CUF (Common User Facility) Petroleum depot at Jammu.
• The state-of-the-art fully automated depot which will be developed at a cost of about Rs 677 crore, will have a storage capacity of about 100000 KL for storing Motor Spirit (MS), High Speed Diesel (HSD), Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO), Aviation Turbine fuel (ATF), Ethanol, Biodiesel and winter grade HSD.
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth more than Rs 3150 crores for strengthening the civic infrastructure and provisioning of public facilities across Jammu and Kashmir.

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11. Which global funding agency supported by the Japanese Government has agreed to give a loan to promote job creation and support the startup ecosystem in Telangana?
A) Asian Development Bank (ADB)
B) International Monetary Fund (IMF)
C) World Bank
D) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
E) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Answer: D) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), one of the biggest global funding agencies supported by the Japanese Government, has agreed to give a loan of Rs 1,336-crore to promote job creation and support start-up ecosystem in Telangana.
• The project is aimed at discovering and promoting potential entrepreneurs, including women and those in rural areas, by providing capacity building, infrastructure development, financial support, and market creation subprojects.
• The loan agreement was signed between Vikas Sheel, Additional Secretary (Department of Economic Affairs, Union Ministry of Finance) and SAITO Mitsunori, Chief Representative, JICA India.
• The project will have three components of ‘finding entrepreneurs’’, ‘support for start-ups and commercialisation, and ‘support for business expansion.
• JICA will facilitate Japanese start-ups to venture into Telangana, conducting Proof-of-Concept (PoC) for their businesses.
• The project will be implemented by the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Department, Government of Telangana.

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12. Where will the pilot green hydrogen production facility be set up in Uttar Pradesh?
A) Sonbhadra district
B) Lalitpur district
C) Gorakhpur
D) Bundelkhand region
E) None of the above
Answer: C) Gorakhpur

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for four projects being developed by Torrent Power in Uttar Pradesh, entailing an investment of about Rs 25,000 crore.
• The Torrent Group had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uttar Pradesh for these projects during the UP Global Investors’ Summit 2023 (UPGIS 2023), held in February 2023.
• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for over 14,000 projects across different sectors.
• The four projects include two pumped storage hydro projects, with a total capacity of 4,150 MW in Sonbhadra district and a solar power plant with a capacity of 150 MW in Lalitpur district (Bundelkhkand region of UP).
• Besides, a pilot green hydrogen production facility will be set up in Gorakhpur, where the gas will be produced and blended with the gas distribution network being built by Torrent Gas.

Note:

• Torrent Power, the Rs 25,694 crore integrated power utility of the Rs 37,600 crore Torrent Group, is one of the largest companies in the country’s power sector with presence across the entire power value chain like generation, transmission, and distribution.

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13. According to the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, what is the target share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) by 2030?
A) 1%
B) 3%
C) 5%
D) 7%
E) 10%
Answer: C) 5%

• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched major push for the development of waterways with unveiling projects worth of Rs 308 crore for North East region Guwahati.
• The event was simultaneously held at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, Badarpur in Karimganj, IWAI port in Dhubri as well as Sonamura in Tripura.
• The Minister inaugurated Passenger-cum-Cargo terminal at Bogibeel near Dibrugarh, Inland Water Transport Terminal at Sonamura in Tripura and upgraded terminals at Karimganj & Badarpur in Assam.
• This terminal will play a pivotal role in rejuvenating IWT in the region for both cargo and passenger movement, paving the way for growth of trade & commerce.
• 19 passenger vessels for NW-2 & NW-16 would be provided and two Pontoon Terminals on NW-2 would be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 crore.
• Under the Sagarmala program, aimed at the development of the North-Eastern states, projects exceeding Rs 1,000 crore have been initiated, with a particular focus on enhancing inland waterways in Assam, where projects exceeding Rs 760 crore are underway.
• The Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) prioritizes the expansion of port infrastructure, including the development of six mega ports with capacities exceeding 300 and 500 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
• Additionally, MoPSW aims to boost the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) to 5% by 2030 as part of the Maritime India Vision (MIV), signaling a comprehensive effort towards fostering maritime sector growth and connectivity enhancement.

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