Days:

• 21^st  February: This day is celebrated as World Scout Day 2024 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boys Scout Movement.
  • Theme: “Scouts for A Better Future”.
• 21^st February is celebrated as “International Mother Language Day” throughout the world since 2000.
  • Theme 2024: “Multilingual Education is a pillar of intergenerational learning.”

Books and Authors

• “Dabbling in Diplomacy: Authorised and Otherwise, Recollection of a Non-Career Diplomat” – Professor SD Muni. This book talks elaborately about the role of diplomacy during the Vajpayee government, and later the Manmohan Singh Government in bringing Democracy to Nepal.

Obituaries

• Constitutional lawyer, jurist and former Solicitor General of IndiaFali S. Nariman has passed away.
  • He was awarded with Padma Vibhusan in 2007. His autobiography is ‘Before Memory Fades…”
  • He is also the author of the book “God Save the Supreme Court”.
• PM Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences to the demise of eminent Radio broadcaster Ameen Sayani.

Appointments

• Lt. General Upendra Dwivedi has assumed his charge as Vice Chief of the Indian Army. Earlier he was the General-Officer-Commanding of the Northern Command of the Indian Army (Udhampur).

Awards

• DADA SAHEB PHALKE IFF (International Film Festival) AWARDS 2024:
  • Best Film: JAWAN
  • Best Film (critics): 12^th FAIL
  • Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan)
  • Best Actor (Critics): Vicky Kaushal (Sam Bahadur)
  • Best Actress:
    • Nayanthara (Jawan)
    • Rani Mukherjee (Ms Chatterjee vs Norway)
  • Best Actress (Critics): Kareena Kapoor (Jaane Jaan)
  • Best Director: Sandip Reddy Vanga (Animal)
  • Outstanding contribution to the Film Industry: Mousumi Chatterjee.
• Shashi Tharoor got conferred with France’s highest civilian honor- “Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honor) for his exemplary efforts to bolster Indo-French amity.
• Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) constable Shri Shashikant Kumar has been conferred with the ‘Jeevan Raksha Padak 2022’ from the President of India Draupadi Murmu, for saving the life of a female railway passenger.

State News

• Burhanpur (famous as the Banana City of India) of Madhya Pradesh has organized its annual Banana- Turmeric festival.
• Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav has inaugurated the 50^th Khajuraho Dance Festival in the Khajuraho temple premise, scheduled between 20^th to 26^th February.
• 11^th International Puppet Festival has been organized at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh.
• Punjab State Election Commission has designated cricketer Subhman Gilll as the ‘state icon’ for the Lok Sabha polls to ensure a 70% voter turnout in the state.
• According to the latest statistics from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, Karnataka has emerged as the top state with most (5,059) number of EV Charging stations, followed by Maharashtra (3079), Delhi (1886) and Kerala (958). And Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the state with most number of EVs with 7.5 lakh, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• Odisha Government has announced the “Swayam Yojana” with a financial outlay of approx. 672 Cr under two years, to provide interest free loans up to Rs. 1 lakh to 1 lakh urban and 1 lakh rural youth of the state, enabling them enhance their existing business or to start over a new business.
• PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur, Jammu, which was built under the Central Sector Scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
• Maharashra Government, headed by CM Eknath Shinde has approved the report of the Maharashtra Backwards Class Commission to impose 10% reservation for the Socio-Economically backward Maratha Community in matters of education and Public Employment.
• The Goa Government and the World Bank have joined hands to establish a path breaking Blended Finance Facility to bolster climate resilience in the state.
• Arunachal Pradesh has become the first state in the North Eastern India to achieve 100% saturation of ‘Har-Ghar-Jal’ under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Before it, Goa had become the first state in India to achieve 100% saturation of Har Ghar Jal. And Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu became the first UT to do so.

National News

• PM Narendra Modi has virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Siksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme at a programme in Mumbai University. It is a re-launch of the earlier Centrally sponsored scheme, Rashtriya Uchchatar Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA) , to fund States/UTs institutions.
• The INDUS-X Summit , a defense industrial cooperation summit between India and the USA has been organized in New Delhi by Innovations for Defence Excellence ( IDEX), Ministry of Defense ,and Department of Defense, United States.
• 9^th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship conference on geo-politics and geo-economics will be held from 21st to 23^rd February 2024.
  • Theme 2024: “Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”.
  • Chief Guest: Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal has launched “The Sagar Ankalan” guidelines for Indian port performance index to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of all Indian seaports.
• The World Neem Organisation has organized the Neem Summit & Global Neem Trade fair in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi in New Delhi.
  • Theme: Neem for sustainable Agriculture, health and Environment.
• The sacred relics of Lord Buddha, presently kept in the National Museum, New Delhi, will be taken to Thailand for a 26-day exposition, under the 22- member delegation led by Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
• Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated the first Skill India Centre (SIC) of the country in Sambalpur, Odisha.

Sports

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated the 4^th Edition of the Khelo India University Games – 2023, Ashtalakshmi at Sarusajai Sports Committee in Guwahati .
• The 2^nd Phase of the 4^th Khelo India Winter Games 2024 is being hosted at Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir from February 21.
• Asian Games Bronze medalist Anush Agarwalla has secured the first-ever Paris Olympics quota in Equestrian Dressage for the country.
• Asian Indoor Athletics Championship:
  • Venue: Tehran , Iran       Date: 17^th to 19^th February.
  • Athlete Jyothi Yarraji has secured Gold in Women’s 60 meter hurdle race.
  • Tajinder Singh Toor has secured Gold in Men’s Shotput.
  • Harmilan Bains secured Gold in the Women’s 1500 meters.

Science & Tech and Defense

• ISRO has successfully tested the CE-20 cryogenic engine, that is to power the LMV-3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan Mission.
• Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad based leading space technology company has launched ‘Kalpana Fellowhip’programme inspired by the legacy of Kalpana Chawla for women space engineers.
  • Skyroot Aerospace was the first private company of India to send a developed rocket into space.
• Exercise Vayyu Shakti-24 has been held at the Pokhran Range near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan by the Indian Air Force.
  • Theme : “Lightning from the Sky”.
• The Indian Army has planned to produce 1770 Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs)in India  to replace the ageing Russian-origin T-72 tanks from 2030 onwards.

Indices

• According to a report focusing on local threats in the year 2023, India is the 80^th  most targeted country in cybercrime worldwide.
  • About 34% users in India were targeted by local threats.
• India drops to 85^th in the Henley Passport Index in February from its 80^th position in January. The top spots are held by France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and Singapore.

International News

• Malta becomes the 119^th nation to join the International Solar Alliance, that was launched in 2015 in joint cooperation of the PM of India, Narendra Modi and the French President.
  • ISA (International Solar Alliance) : HQ – Gurugram, India.
  • Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean sea, located in Southern Europre.
• Japanese space agency JAXA is going to launch world’s first coffee-mug sized wooden satellite, LignoSat probe, made of magnolia wood, in collaboration with NASA in 2024 to make space flight operatons sustainable and reduce space debris.
• The European Union has launched a naval mission called “Aspides” (Greek: Shield) to protect Red Sea shipping from the Iran backed Houthi Rebels of Yemen.
• Day23^rd February: This day is celebrated as World Peace and Understanding Day commemorating the foundation of the first Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905.
• Eminentradio personality and the voice of ‘Geetmala’, Ameen Sayani has passed away at the age of 91.
  • For his immense contribution to the Indian broadcasting, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009.
• Ashwin Prabhu has launched his first new book, “Sculpted Stones: Mysteries of Mamallapuram”, that depicts Mamallapuram’s architectures, the rock caves and relief sculptures in a childlike manner.
• The Union Cabinet has done away with regulations to allow 100% Foreign Direct Investment in the space sector of India, which will see 74% (automaticroute) FDI for satellite manufacturing and operations ; and 49% FDI (automaticroute) for launch vehicles, spaceports and associated systems or subsystems.
  • Various auxiliary organizations like Department of Space, IN-SPACe, ISRO, NSIL will be the stakeholders.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the Maritime Technical Exposition MTEX-24 during the ongoing exercise MILAN , in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Vishakhapattanam. MTEX-24 will showcase the latest advanced naval technologies like shipbuilding, communication system, cybersecurity, and sustainable energy solutions developed by the Indian industry.
• The Union Government has decided to continue the Umbrella Scheme on ‘Safety of Women’ for two additional years i.e. till 2025-26, at a total cost of Rs. 180 Cr.
  • In this scheme the 24-hour emergency helpline service 112 will be scaled up.
  • 6 Cyber Forensic laboratories will be set up in – Pune, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Kamrup, Bhopal.
  • 827 antihuman-trafficking units have been set up at 13,557 police stations
• Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has launched World  Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH)  – a key deliverable of India’s G20 Presidency – that will allow the democratization of digital health technologies in national digital health transformation particularly in the Global South. It is modelled after the overwhelming success of India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission.
• Mercedez-Benz Research and Development India (MRDBI) has launched the “Sustainability Garage” , as a part of its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative in association  with Prayoga Institute of Education Research to serve as a hub for multidisciplinary research for developing eco-friendly materials with diverse application.
• The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs has approved Rs. 340/quintal as the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of Sugarcane for the sugar season 2024-25, 8% higher that the previous season.
  • Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is the minimum price at which rate sugarcane is to be purchased by the sugar mills from farmers.
• PhonePe, a Walmart fintech that works mainly as a payment aggregator , has launched “Indus Appstore” – pitching against Google’s Play Store – that would host over 2 lakh mobile games across 45 categories in 12 different Indian languages.
• Bharat-GPT, a Reliance backed group is set to launch the first ChatGPT style AI Service model named “Hanooman” which will have primary functions in four fields: health care, governance, financial services and education.
• Multinational Military Exercise “Shanti Prayas IV” has started in Kathmandu, Nepal featuring army personnel from 19 countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, SriLanka and Thailand.
• PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate two new Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station, KAPS-3 and KAPS-4, that will have a cumulative capacity of 1400MW. It will benefit multiple states such as  Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP, Chattisgarh, Goa and the UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
• International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (ICREATE) and Microsoftg Inc. has signed an MoU to launch Impel-AI (iCreate – Microsoft programme for Emerging Leaders in Artificial Intelligence) program.
  • This program will short list 1100 AI innovators across India on the following priority themes – Healthcare, Financial Inclusion, Sustainability, Education, Agriculture and Smart Cities, and support the top 25 companies through Microsoft’s Global Network to scale up on advanced technologies.
• Babar Azam of Pakistan has become the fastest batter to achieve 10,000 runs in T20I cricket in 271^st innings. Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli have done so in 285^th and 299^th innings.
• The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has inaugurated the Ayush Holistic Wellness Centre at the Supreme Court premise. It is an initiative of Supreme Court of India in collaboration with the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) under Ministry of Ayush.
• The scientists of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a synthetic human antibody that can neutralize deadly snake bite toxin.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur, has launched four portals for RNI and CBC to reduce human interference and make functioning of various departments efficient and transparent.
  • Press Sewa Portal.
  • Central Bureau of Communication Portal and Websites.
  • NaViGate Bharat Portal
  • National Register for Local Cable Operators.
• 24^th February is celebrated as the Central Excise Day commemorating the enactment of the Central Excise and Salt Tax Act, 1944.
  • Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is the apex body responsible for the implementation and collection of indirect taxes. It is a body under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• On 24^th February, on the occasion of Maghi Purnima, the 647^th Birth Anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas was celebrated. He is a noted 14^th Century saint and reformer of the Bhakti Movement, who was also a disciple of Sant Kabir and the Guru of Mirabai. Around 41 of his poems were included in the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’.
• Former LS Speaker and  Maharashtra Chief Minister, Manohar Joshi has passed away.
• Former IAS Officer and Andhra Pradesh Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Jannat Hussain has passed away at the age of 73.
• CEO and MD of Infosys, Sail Parekh has been appointed to the USISPF Board of Directors (US – India Strategic and Partnership Forum).
• According to a recent survey of US–based global decision agency, Morning Consult, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again has emerged as the most popular global leader with 78% approval rating world wide, followed by President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and Javier Milei of Argentina with 65% and 63% approval rate respectively.
  • US President Joe Biden secured 11^th Position, the UK PM Rishi Sunak stood at 20^th position, while the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on 17^th.
• PM Narendra Modi inaugurates the Bharat Tex 2024 Global Textile Expo at the Bharat Mandapam of New Delhi.
• PM Narendra Modi has launched development projects over Rs. 13,000 crore in Varanasi, that includes –
  • Banas Kashi Sankul milk processing unit in UPSIDA Agro Park Karkhiyaon.
  • Foundation of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Varanasi.
  • Foundation stone of National Centre of Ageing at BHU.
• America’s first commercial spacecraft Oddysseus makes history  by achieving 1^st Commercial Moon Landing near the lunar South Pole. It is developed by a Houston based company – Intuitive Machines.
• IRCTC and Swiggy teams up for pre-ordered meal delivery. It has initially started its operation in four major railway stations – Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Vijayawada, Vishakhapattanam.
• ISRO’s Aditya L-1’s Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payload have successfully detected the impact of coronal mass ejections.
• CEAT has become the official partner for IPL this year.
• Cabinet Committee on Security approves ₹19,000 Cr mega deal to acquire over 200 BrahMos missiles for the Indian Navy warships.
• The second edition of the ‘World’s Highest Frozen Lake Marathon’ has completed in the Pangong Lake. Bhagwan Singh and Mahesh Khurana from Bhopal have completed the race in the first place.
• Annual Trilateral Exercise ‘Dosti-16’ among the Coast Guards of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives has started in Male from February 22 – 24. Bangladesh is participating as the observer country in this edition.