70th BPSC Prelims Current Affairs January 2024 PDF

CRACK BPSC 70th BPSC PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS JANUARY 2024 POLITY TRIBUNAL SYSTEM IN INDIA Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that tribunals cannot direct the government to frame policy. Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies Constitutional Recognition: In 1976, Articles 323A and 323B were inserted in the Constitution of India through the 42nd Amendment. Article 323A: Empowered Parliament to constitute administrative Tribunals (both at central and state level) for adjudication of matters related to recruitment and conditions of service of public servants. Article 323B: Specified certain subjects (such as taxation and land reforms) for which Parliament or state legislatures may constitute tribunals by enacting a law. Appeals: Appeals from tribunals usually lie with the concerned High Court. MPLADS E-SAKSHI MOBILE APPLICATION launched by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Allows MPs to propose, track, and oversee projects under MPLAD Scheme. Formation of 16th Finance Commission Article 280(1) of the Constitution provides for the appointment of FCs by the President. Former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog and Professor of Columbia University, Dr. Arvind Panagariya will be its Chairman Other Members :- Ajay Narayan Jha, Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Annie George Mathew and Manoj Panda. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Sixteenth Finance Commission which will recommend the tax revenue sharing formula between the Center and the states for a period of 5 years starting from April 2026. International Relations NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM) Recently, 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was held in Kampala, Uganda. Kampala declaration was adopted at the summit. Under it, member countries,commit to strengthen the UN as the primary multilateral organisation. Creation: Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. Created at the Bandung conference. Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Yugoslavia's Josip Broz Tito, Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesia's Sukarno and Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah played major roles in its establishment. Membership: 121 members (including India), South Sudan became the new member(121st) of NAM. Taiwan Elections 2024 Lai Ching-te, was declared the new President of Taiwan. He belongs Democratic Progressive Party Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina Wins Fourth Straight Term She belongs to the Awami League party. The election was boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Bangladesh’s unicameral legislature body Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) has 350 members who serve five-year terms. 50 seats are reserved for women. Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar Union Home Minister has announced to erect fencing along the entire India-Myanmar border. State share boundary with Myanmar :- 1643 km border passing through states like Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The present IndiaMyanmar border was established by the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Gabriel Attal Becomes Youngest French PM Bhutan's Tshering Tobgay becomes PM for second time Mr. Tobgay, head of the liberal People's Democratic Party (PDP), has served as PM of Bhutan from 2013 to 2018. Monarch/King of Bhutan - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck The world's tallest Ram temple will be built in Perth, Australia, which will be 721 feet tall. The world's largest cruise ship 'Icon of the Seas' has started its journey from the Port of Miami. The world's first nuclear battery has recently been developed by China. According to a report released by Forbes, the 'Kuwaiti Dinar' is the world's most valuable currency. According to Forbes, America has the largest gold reserves in the world and India is at 9th place. Argentina's new President Javier Miley has decided to withdraw his country's plan to join BRICS. India has signed an agreement with Argentina for exploration and mining of lithium. India Park will be set up in UAE by the Government of India with the aim of introducing Indian made goods to the global audience. French President Emmanuel Macron attended the Republic Day, 2024 celebrations as the chief guest. SUMMITS AND ORGANISATIONS Davos Meeting 2024 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting was held from January 15-19. Theme for WEF 2024 was 'Rebuilding Trust'. It is the international non-governmental organisation , founded in January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. HQ: Cologny-Geneva, Switzerland. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Report and Index Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 released by NGO Pratham. Global Economic Prospects Report Released by The World Bank. The projected growth rate for the financial year 2023-24 recently released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) has been declared at 7.3%. Global Firepower Report, 2024 Ranks through world's most powerful militarise. Top Countries ○ America (1st) ○ Russia (2nd) ○ China (3rd) ○ India's Rank 4th World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2024 report Released by ILO. According to a recent report by the State Bank of India (SBI), India has witnessed a significant fall in inequality over the last decade. Gini coefficient. ○ measure of economic inequality in a population ○ The co-efficient ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 representing perfect equality and 1 representing perfect inequality Corruption Perception Index, 2023 Released by an NGO TransparencyInternational. The report scores 180 countries across the world on the perceived level of corruption in their public sectors on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (corruption-free). Top 3 countries: ○ Denmark (Score : 90) ○ Finland (Score : 87) ○ New zealand (Score : 85) Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC ○ Somalia is at the bottom with (Score: 11). India's rank - 93 (Score: 39) GLOBAL COOPERATION BAROMETER 2024 REPORT Released by World Economic Forum (WEF) in collaboration with McKinsey & Company. Henley Passport Index 2024 India ranked 80 out of of 199 countries. Indians can have visa-free travel to 62 countries Top passports for visa-free entry to 194 global destinations: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain. Bottom 4 countries by visa-free access are: Afghanistan (bottom most), Syria, Iraq, Pakistan. Multidimensional Poverty in India since 2005-06’ NITI Aayog Report. Key findings: ○ 24.82 crore Indians escape Multidimensional Poverty in last 9 years. ○ Overall reduction in multidimensional poverty in India from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23. ○ Multidimensional poverty is measured by improvement in health, education, and standard of living. Start-up Ranking 2022 released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Category A (Larger States & UT – Population above 1 crore) ○ Best performers states:- Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. ○ Leaders states:- Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh ○ Aspiring Leaders:- Bihar and Haryana Category B (Smaller States & UT – Population below 1 crore) ○ Best performers:- Himachal Pradesh. All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-2022 Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Released by Ministry of Education. From 2014-15 to 2021-22: ○ Total enrolment in higher education increased 26.5%. ○ Female enrolment in Higher Education increased 32% Annual Inequality Report 2024 Released by Oxfam. ○ Economic inequality has increased rapidly all over the world. SWACHH SURVEKSHAN AWARDS 2023 survey is conducted annually by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Theme 2023 :- “Waste to Wealth” For 2024, the theme is “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Surat in Gujarat and were jointly declared cleanest cities of the country. PATNA (77th) , GAYA ( 272) Rank Least Clean City Least Clean State 1st Kolkata Arunachal (West Bengal) Pradesh 2nd Asansol Mizoram (West Bengal 3rd Howrah Rajasthan (West Bengal) Rank of Bihar:- 15 Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Cleanest Ganga towns~ Varanasi (1st) and Prayagraj (2nd) ○ BIHAR ~ PATNA(6th) (Score ~ 70.00) , BEGUSARAI( 22nd) Mhow Cantonment Board in Madhya Pradesh was the cleanest cantonment board. Economy India overtakes Hong Kong as the world's fourth-largest stock market by market capitalization. NON- PERFORMING ASSETS (NPA) A NPA refers to a classification for loans , when the interest and/ or instalment of principal remain overdue for more than 90 days. Willful Defaults: Rising cases of borrower who have access to funds to repay their loans but still choose not to, and default on the repayment of the loan. LIST OF D-SIBS India’s D-SIB’s are State Bank of India and HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank.. ATAL SETU NHAVA SHEVA SEA LINK country’s longest Sea bridge, also referred to as Mumbai Trans Harbour Link. 21.8 Kms long bridge of which 16.5 km is built completely over the Sea. It connects Sewri in Mumbai with Nhava Sheva in Raigad district. UREA GOLD The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the launch of Urea Gold. Urea gold is a Sulphur-Coated Urea Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC ○ Sulphur coating ensures a more gradual release of nitrogen. Nano Liquid Urea Nano liquid urea was launched in June 2021 by the Indian Farmers and Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO). It is urea in the form of a nanoparticle. It is a nutrient (liquid) to provide nitrogen to plants as an alternative to the conventional urea. 1stNational Highway Steel Slag Road India’sfirst National Highway (NH) steel slag road section on NH- 66 Mumbai-Goa was recently inaugurated. developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI). Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Telangana and the World Economic Forum(WEF) have signed an agreement to set up a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Telangana) in Hyderabad. Jharkhand state has announced to provide pension benefits to women tribals and Dalits on reaching the age of 50 years. Kerala will become the first state in the country to bring heli tourism policy. KRUTRIM has become India's first AI unicorn. A unicorn is a privately held startup valued at over 1 billion dollars. Science and technology Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) Mission The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) landed on the moon's surface. Japan became the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the Moon’s surface. Previously ~ The Soviet Union, the United States, China, and India. SLIM is dubbed as the “Moon sniper. It is the second Japanese mission to target a soft landing on the Moon. X-RAY POLARIMETER SATELLITE (XPOSAT) Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Launched by ~ ISRO Launch vehicle ~ Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) -C58 Placed XPoSAT at an orbit of 650 km altitude. PSLV is a 4-stage launch vehicle propelled by Solid fuel at first and third stages and Liquid fuel at second and fourth stages. Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) India is set to get full member status (joined in January 2024) to the Square Kilometre Array (that will function as the world’s largest radio telescope). Project Headquarters: United Kingdom Member countries: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and the UK. Location of Telescopes: A vast network of thousands of radio antennas spread across vast distances in Australia (mid-frequency range) and South Africa (low frequency). (Not a single large telescope, but a collection of thousands of dish antennas operating as a single unit.) Start from 2027 ( Anticipated) PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) Programme Cabinet clears PRITHVI initiative for ease of research in earth sciences Scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for the period 2021 - 2026. Einstein Probe China has recently launched an astronomical satellite named Einstein Probe, designed to observe unique transient phenomena in the universe that flicker like fireworks. ANEEL (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life) Developed by ~ Clean Core Thorium Energy (a US-based company) It is a new type of nuclear fuel named Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life (ANEEL). ANEEL is named after India’s scientist, Dr Anil Kakodkar (an Indian nuclear scientist who served as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India from 2000 to 2009. It is a fuel that combines Thorium and High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Samavesha Project I-STEM (Indian Science, Technology, and Engineering facilities Map) is launching the Samavesha project at IISc. Bengaluru Amis to improve accessibility to facilities and labs by connecting researchers and industries with institutions that have the required equipment. India’s First Graphene Centre The India’s first Graphene Centre named India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG) has been established in Kerala (At Makers Village, Kochi). Havisure: Hepatitis A vaccine Hyderabad-based Indian Immunological Ltd (IIL)M launched India’s first indigenously developed Hepatitis A vaccine ‘Havisure’. Punganur Cow ~ India’s Shortest Humped Cattle Breed. World's first malaria vaccine African country Cameroon has started the world's first vaccination program against malaria for children in collaboration with the global vaccine alliance, Gavi. Mosquirix/RTS vaccine. PEREGRINE MISSION 1 (PEREGRINE LUNAR LANDER) NASA launched Peregrine Lunar Lander to explore Moon’s Bay of Stickness. KILONOVA EXPLOSION A kilonova is a bright blast of electromagnetic radiation that happens when two neutron stars or a neutron star and a stellar-mass black hole collide and merge. A neutron star is formed when a star having a mass more than 1.44 times that of the Sun. DIRECT-TO-CELL SpaceX, an American company, launched the first batch of Starlink satellites with “Direct-to-Cell” capabilities. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Ax-3 Mission Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched Houston-based Axiom Space’s private Ax3 (Axiom Mission 3 astronaut mission) to the International Space Station. BharatGPT India's own Generative AI Developed by Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) startup CoRover.ai Environment Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary researchers found Eurasia otter for the first time in Kerala in Chinnar wildlife sanctuary (WLS) Sanctuary. Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) Denmark has launched an initiative with India, called Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI). Vulture Restaurant In Jharkhand A vulture restaurant to conserve declining population of vulture has been established in Koderma, Jharkhand. ○ The first ‘vulture restaurant’ Set up in 2015 at Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary in Raigad, Maharashtra. ○ There are four other such restaurants, all in the same state. Largest Deep-Sea Corals Mapping & Study Scientists have mapped the largest coral reef deep in the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles off the U.S. Atlantic coast. Kuno National Park Namibian cheetah Jwala has given birth to four cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. A leopard named Shaurya has died in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Andrographis theniensis A new plant species has been discovered in Tamil Nadu. IIT Delhi created the first hi-resolution Indian Landslide Susceptibility Map (ILSM). The snow leopard has been declared the official national symbol of Kyrgyzstan. India's first dark sky park Maharashtra's Pench Tiger Reserve has been designated as India's first Dark Sky Park. ○ IAO (Indian Astronomical Observatory) Hanle Village (East Ladakh) is India's first dark sky reserve. India's first cow sanctuary will be built in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Chenab Railway Bridge (J&K), ~ world's highest railway bridge. 1315 metres long Sheikh Hassan Khan of Kerala Climbed the world's highest volcanic peak 'Ojos del Salado'. ( Chile ). The e country's first road safety force has been launched by the Punjab government. KURIL ISLANDS Earthquake of magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale occurred in Kuril Islands Kuril Islands is an archipelago that extends from Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia) to Hokkaido Island (Japan) It separates the Sea of Okhotsk from Pacific Ocean. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Military Exercise Exercise Khanjar: India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces held in Himachal Pradesh. Exercise Cyclone: 2nd edition of the India-Egypt held in Egypt. Exercise Desert Knight: Indian Air Force conducted Exercise Desert Knight along with French Air and Space Force and UAE Air Force. Ex-Desert Cyclone: It is a joint military exercise between India and UAE. Exercise Sea Dragon: It is a multinational maritime exercise between Indian Navy and participating navies from US, Australia, South Korea and Japan. Ex-Ayutthaya: The maiden Bilateral Maritime Exercise between the Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy. Exercise 'Steadfast-Defender: conducted by NATO SADA TANSEEQ – India + Saudi Arabia , held in Rajasthan. 12th edition of the Multilateral Naval Exercise MILAN 2024 in Visakhapatnam. Awards / PERSONALITIES IN NEWS Bharat Ratna Award, 2024 Instituted in 1954 Recommendations for the award are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President The recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepul lead-shaped medallion. The Award does not carry any monetary grant. first recipients of the award in 1954 were: ○ C.Rajagopalachari. ○ Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan; ○ Nobel Prize Laureate C. V. Raman. Bharat Ratna has been awarded to one naturalized citizen – Mother Teresa, and to two non-Indians: Abdul Ghaffar Khan (born in British India and later a citizen of Pakistan) and Nelson Mandela. Award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the government expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavour" in 2011. 1. Karpoori Thakur twice Chief Minister of Bihar. , known as ‘Jannanayak’. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC 2. Lal Krishna Advani:- An Indian politician who served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004. 3. Mankombu Sambasivan (M.S.) Swaminathan Father of India's Green Revolution 'M.S. Swaminathan. Swaminathan received several prestigious awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 1961, the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1971, and the Albert Einstein World Science Prize in 1986. 4. Pamulaparthi Venkata (PV) Narasimha Rao 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996. LPG reforms were implemented in the year 1991. 5. Chaudhary Charan Singh He was the 5th Prime Minister of India. 81st Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture, Drama: Oppenheimer Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer Best Actor – Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer Best Actress – Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon Best supporting actor – Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer 69th Filmfare Awards 2024 took place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat Best Film ~ 12th Fail Best Director ~ Vidhu Vinod Chopra (12th Fail) Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) ~ Ranbir Kapoor (Animal) Best Actor in a Leading Role ~ (Female) Alia Bhatt (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani) Lifetime Achievement Award ~ David Dhawan National Sports & Adventure Awards 2023 President Droupadi Murmu presented At Rashtrapati Bhawan. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award ○ Prize money– 25 lakh ○ Shri Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty (Badminton) Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC ○ Sri Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy (Badminton) Arjuna Award ○ Prize money- 15 lakh ○ In the year 2023, a total of 26 players were Awarded ○ Ojas Pravin Deotale (Archery) , Aditi Gopichand Swami (Archery) , M Sreeshankar ( Athletics) , Parul Chaudhary (Athletics) , Mohammad Hussamuddin (Boxing), R. Vaishali (Chess) , Mohammed Shami (Cricket), Anush Agarwalla (Equestrian ),Divyakriti Singh (Equestrian Dressage), Diksha Dagar (Golf), Krishna Bahadur Pathak (Hockey), Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu (Hockey), Pawan Kumar (Kabaddi) , Ritu Negi (Kabaddi) , Nasreen Shaikh (Bihar) ( Kho-Kho) , Pinki (Lawn Balls) , Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar ( Shooting) , Esha Singh (Shooting) , Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu ( Squash) , Ayhika Mukherjee (Table Tennis) , Sunil Kumar (Wrestling) , Antim Panghal(Wrestling), Naorem Roshibina Devi (Wushu), Sheetal Devi (Para Archery), Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (Blind Cricket) , Prachi Yadav (Para Canoeing) Indian of the Year Award, 2023 ~ ISRO Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, 2023 ~ Shirshendu Mukyopadhyaya Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award – Prof. BR Kamboj India's Rohan Bopanna recently became the oldest tennis player to achieve the world No. 1 ranking in men's doubles. Padma awards 2024 Padma Vibhushan is India’s 2nd highest civilian honors, after Bharat Ratna. Awardee Name Field State Ms. Vyjayantimala Bali Art Tamil Nadu Ms. Padma Subrahmanyam Art Tamil Nadu Chiranjeevi Art Andhra Pradesh Shri M Venkaiah Naidu Public affairs Andhra Pradesh Shri Bindeshwar Pathak Social Work Bihar (posthumous) Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Founder of Sulabh International 17 Padma Bhushan Awardees 2024 Awardee Name Field State/Country Ms. M Fathima Public Affairs Kerala Beevi (P) Shri Mithun Arts West Bengal Chakraborty Ms. Usha Uthup Arts West Bengal Shri Medicine Bihar Chandreshwar Prasad Thakur Shri Young Liu Trade & Industry Taiwan Padma Shri (110) tennis star Rohan Bopanna, Days 9 January - Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas ○ Theme - Diaspora : Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal. 11-17th January – National Road Safety Week ○ Theme - Be a road safety hero. 23 January - Parakram Diwas [Birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose] Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC 25 January – National Voters Day ○ Theme : Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure 25 January – National Tourism Day Books S. Jaishankar ~ 'Why Bharat Matters’ M.J. Akbar ~ Gandhi A Life in Three Campaigns” Launched Tayyab Hussain ~ Bhikhari Thakur: Angarh Hira Miscellaneous Australian Open ○ Men's Singles Women's Singles Winner Jannik Sinner Aryna (Italy) Sabalenka (Belarus) Runner Daniil Medvedev Zheng Qinwen (Russia) (China) Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 ○ Lionel Messi won the best men's player award for the second successive year. ○ Spain's Aitana Bonmati was the winner for the women's best player award. For the first time in the world, a female rhino (named Najin & Fatu) has been made pregnant through IVF. Iran launched three satellites named Mahda, Kayhan-2 and Hatef-1 into space. Kalo Nunia Rice’ of West Bengal has recently been granted GI tag. The 'Kutia Kondh tribe' invited as special guest in the Republic Day parade belongs to Odisha state. Odisha has won the first prize among the tableaux displayed by various states and union territories in the 75th Republic Day Parade, 2024. ○ Odisha showcased women empowerment as well as the rich handicraft and handloom sector of the state in its tableau. Gujarat's tableau showcasing Dhordo tourist village got first place in the 'People's Choice Category’. The Central Government has launched an AI based app 'Anuvadini' to promote multilingualism in education. The theme of the 75th Republic Day is 'India Mother of Democracy' and Viksit Bharat. Kachchhi Kharek, a date palm native to Kutch (Gujarat), has recently received the GI Tag. New Prime Minister of Kuwait – Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupts in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Tropical cyclone Alvaro made landfall in the African country Madagascar. Matarbari Port, Bangladesh's first deep sea port, which is being developed by Japan to boost Bangladesh's exports. China has launched a revolutionary ocean drilling vessel named 'Mengxiang', which is designed to penetrate the Earth's crust and reach the mantle for the first time in human history. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has decided to abdicate the throne after 52 years in office. She is the longest reigning queen of Europe. Her son Frederik X became the new King. Himachal Pradesh has issued a notification granting Scheduled Caste status to the Hatti community of Trans-Giri in Sirmaur district. Oil and Natural Gas Company has started the first crude oil production from its deepwater project in Krishna-Godavari Basin Block. DRDO has developed India's Man Portable Air Defense System (VSHORADS). India Mobility Global Expo, 2024 will be organized in New Delhi. Statue of Social justice was unveiled in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. ○ It is a 206 foot Bronze Statue of B R. Ambedkar and is currently the world’s tallest Ambedkar statue. Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur) discovered evidence of human settlement in Vadnagar (Gujarat) dating back to 800 BCE,late-Vedic. Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC The Army initiates Operation Sarvashakti in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri-Poonch sector, targeting terrorists amid repeated attacks on troops. GI Tag Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC Places in news in India Join our telegram channel:- https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group:- https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel:- https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=JRb0a5JBafdgTLCP CRACK BPSC 70th BPSC PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2024 POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ELECTORAL BOND SCHEME Supreme Court in the Association for Democratic Reforms & Anr. v. Union of India (UoI) & Ors., unanimously struck down the Electoral Bonds (EB) Scheme. violation of the Right to Information (RTI) under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and disproportionate restrictions. About Electoral bond interest-free bearer bonds or money instruments which can be used for making donations to eligible political parties. no cap on the number of electoral bonds that one can purchase. donations were exempted from tax. Eligible Political parties ~ registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) who have secured not less than 1% of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly. EBs can be sold in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, and Rs 1 crore through authorised branches of the State Bank of India (SBI). They were valid for 15 calendar days from the date of issue and any proceeds from the bonds, which are not encashed within 15 days of being issued, were to be deposited in the Prime Minister Relief Fund (PMRF). Chandigarh Mayor Election Quashed The Supreme Court recently nullified the outcome of the Chandigarh Mayor election, exercising its power under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure "complete justice". C-CARES Portal A new web portal named ‘C-CARES’ was launched for the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organization (CMPFO) to address its long-standing issue of digitising its records and work processes. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC e-Jagriti Portal An initiative of the Department of Consumer Affairs,Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Aims to provide a simpler, faster and more cost effective consumer dispute resolution software solution at all levels. Maratha Reservation Bill – 2024 Maharashtra State Reservation Bill 2024 for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes. It aims to provide 10% reservation for Marathas in jobs and education. Uttarakhand Assembly passing the Uniform Civil Code Bill, Uttarakhand has become the first state in independent India to do so. Uniform Civil Code has been in force in Goa since the time of Portuguese rule. Art 44 of DPSP part IV. International Relations EXPANSION OF BRICS Recently, five new members namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have joined BRICS as full time permanent members. Argentina has withdrawn. About BRICS British economist Jim O’ Neill coined and used the acronym ‘BRICs’ for the first time in 2001. First BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg (Russia) in 2009. BRIC became BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010. New Development Bank (NDB) (HQ: Sanghai) and Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) was created to provide mutual financial support. (Fortaleza Deceleration 2014 , Brazil) ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC The Junta (military rule) led countries in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have declared immediate withdrawal from the ECOWAS. ECOWAS Regional political & economic union comprising 15 countries situated in West Africa. Established ~ 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos HQ ~Abuja, Nigeria India has had an Observer Status in ECOWAS since 2004. Members: ~ Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo Military coups that ousted democratically elected governments in Niger (2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Mali (2020). MISSION ASPIDES The European Union launches ‘Mission Aspides’ to protect Red Sea vessels from Iran-backed Houthi attacks. PM Modi's Visit to UAE 7th visit to the UAE since 2015. Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms - UPI (India) and AANI (UAE) Agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards - RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE). Interaction at the Indian Community Event - "AHLAN MODI" in UAE. On February 14, PM Modi inaugurated the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir. first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi. BAPS a denomination of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a Vaishnav sect of Hinduism Seven shikhars representative of the seven Emirates of the UAE. Built in the traditional Nagar style , it uses pink sandstone from Rajasthan. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC Qatar Frees 8 Ex-Indian Navy Men Jailed On Espionage Charges. State Visit Of PM Of Greece To India PM of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis is on a State visit to India. PM Mitsotakis was the Chief Guest at the 9th Raisina Dialogue, 2024 in New Delhi. Raisina Dialogue It is an annual conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics The conference takes place in New Delhi. Observer Research Foundation (ORF), in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, hosts the conference. Theme of the 2024 edition: “Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”. Xiaokang’ Border Defense Village China has been building "Xiaokang" or "well-off villages" along India's borders. UPI Launched In Sri Lanka And Mauritius. UPI payments are accepted in UAE, France, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal and Malaysia. It was developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and was launched in the year 2016. ○ NPCI is an initiative of RBI & Indian Banks Association (IBA) , under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement System Act 2007. 7th Indian Ocean Conference 2024 7th edition of the Indian Ocean Conference organised in Perth, Australia. Theme:- Towards a stable and sustainable Indian Ocean. India has represented by External AffairsMinister S. Jaishankar. Indian Ocean Region (IOR) ○ From the African coast in the west to the Australian coast in the east, and from the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf in the north to Sri Lanka and the southern coast of Australia in the south. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC The Schengen Zone in Europe Kosovo recently secured visa-free access to the Schengen zone in Europe. The zone is known after Schengen, the tiny Luxembourg village bordering France and Germany, where the agreement was signed in 1985 among five of the six EU founding members except Italy. Currently, 27 European countries have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders. Oneliners President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr.Hage Geingob has passed away. India Sends Assistance To Cholera-Hit Zambia Indian-origin barrister Varun Ghosh has become the first senator to take oath on the Bhagwat Geeta. The world's first air taxi service has been launched in Dubai. World Interreligious Harmony Week’ was organised by the United Nations General Assembly from 1-7 February. ○ Theme of the year 2024: ‘United for Peace’. Greece recently became the first Orthodox Christian country to legalise same sex marriage. Lebanese judge Nawaf Salam has been elected as the new President of the International Court of Justice. Malta has become the 119th country to join the International Solar Alliance. Global Pulses Conference-2024 organised in New Delhi. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC SUMMITS AND ORGANISATIONS World Governments Summit 2024 It is an annual event held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Prime Minister Modi participated. Themes ~ "Shaping the Future Governments”. Africa Club Africa Club was launched at the 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions. World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) The 23rd edition of the annual event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), WSDS was held in Delhi. Inaugurated by the Vice President of India. Theme :- “Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice”. World Book Fair started from February 10 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. organised by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry andCommerce. Theme ~ Multilingual India –A Living Tradition Report and Index ANNUAL NESDA REPORT Released by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). Highlights initiatives taken towards enhancing e-Service delivery. Jammu and Kashmir tops the list of States/UTs with the highest number of e-services at 1,117. Kerala, Assam and Odisha apart from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are providing 100% e-services through their respective integrated portals. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC Global Intellectual Property Index 2024 Released by US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center’s. Top ~ USA , 2nd ~ UK , 3rd ~ France India ranked 42. UAE Removed from FATF Grey List. ECONOMY SMART CITIES MISSION (SCM) Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs presented its report “Smart Cities Mission: An Evaluation”. ○ Madurai is the only Smart City which has completed 100% of its projects. About Smart Cities Mission (SCM) ○ Launch: Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2015. ○ Objective: To promote cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’. ○ Smart Cities: 100 cities have been selected for development as smart cities. ○ The timeline of five years for completion of the projects was set between 2019 and 2023. However, the Mission is now extended to June 2024. PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi –Yojana’ a Central Sector Subscheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Aim - formalization of the fisheries sector and supporting fisheries micro and small enterprises by providing access to institutional credit. Investment - over Rs. 6,000 crores over a period of next 4 years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 in all States/Union Territories. Minimum Support Price (MSP) Announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (Chaired by the Prime Minister of India). On the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC Government announces MSPs for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane (total 23). Crops covered by MSPs include: ○ 7 types of cereals (paddy, wheat, maize, bajra, jowar, ragi and barley) ○ 5 types of pulses (chana, arhar/tur, urad, moong and masur) ○ 7 oilseeds (rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesamum, safflower, nigerseed) ○ 4 commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane, copra, raw jute). The Government announces the MSP at the start of each cropping season (Rabi and Kharif). The CACP considers three types of production costs: ○ A2 covers direct costs incurred by farmers, including expenses on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, labour, and more. ○ A2+FL includes A2 costs and the value of unpaid family labour. ○ C2 is a more comprehensive cost that also considers rentals and forgone interest on owned land and capital assets, on top of A2+FL. Government calculates MSP ~ 1.5 times A2 + FL. The Swaminathan Formula calculates MSPs ~ comprehensive costs of production including input costs such as seeds, fertilisers, machinery, labour, and other expenses. It recommends MSPs that provide farmers with a 50% profit margin over these costs. SAFEETY Technology SAFEETY is developed by Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) under MeitY’s guidance. It has cutting-edge features such as conveyorized loading and unloading of grain bags with RFID for traceability, online weight and moisture measurement and radio frequency based removal of moisture from grain. Sangam: Digital Twin Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced the 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative. It aims at combining the prowess of Digital Twin and Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, 5G, 6G, and next-gen computational technologies. CODEX COMMITTEE ON SPICES AND CULINARY HERBS (CCSCH) Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC 7th Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) Held at Kochi. In this session, quality standards for 5 spices, namely small cardamom, turmeric, juniper berry, allspice and star anise were finalised. PRIME MINISTER MEGA INTEGRATED TEXTILE REGION AND APPAREL (PM MITRA) PARKS SCHEME Objectives ~ ○ Develop integrated large scale and modern industrial infrastructure facilities for the total value chain of the textile industry. ○ Reduce logistics costs by housing entire value chain at one location. Features of MITRA Parks: ○ To enable scale, the minimum estimated area per MITRA Park is 1,000 acres. ○ MITRA Parks will offer the opportunity to create an Integrated Textiles Value Chain right from spinning, weaving, processing, and printing to garment manufacturing, accessories making at one location. ○ MITRA parks can be either Greenfield or Brownfield. Oneliners Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) launched ‘StartupShala’ - Startup India’s flagship accelerator program. first digital national museum at Salarganj Museum in Hyderabad. India Energy Week has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Goa from 6-9 February. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC Sikkim has become the first state in the North-East to reinstate the old pension scheme for employees. MyGov India has announced the ‘National Creators Award’ to honour digital innovators and content creators.This award will be given in total 20 categories. Science and technology BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE (BCI) Neuralink, an Elon Musk company has successfully installed a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) implant in a human patient. Neuralink also announced that their first product will be named Telepathy. INSAT-3DS WEATHER FORECASTING SATELLITE Launched by ISRO. Launch vehicle ~ GSLV-F14. launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh). GSLV three-stage launch Vehicle ○ First stage comprises a solid propellant motor. ○ Second stage comprises earth-storable liquid propellants. ○ Third stage is a cryogenic stage. YUVA VIGYANI KARYAKRAM (YUVIKA) ISRO is organising a special program for School Children called "Young Scientist Programme" or YUVIKA. Key objectives: ~Impart basic knowledge on Space Science, Space Technology, and Space Applications to the younger students. Eligibility ~ Students studying in Class 9 within India are eligible to apply RHODAMINE-B Sale of cotton candy has been banned in Tamil Nadu after samples reveal use of toxic industrial dye (Rhodamine-B) as artificial colouring agent. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC It is prohibited in the food industry by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Rhodamine-B is an organic chloride salt used as a colouring agent for dyeing in textile, paper, leather, and paint industries. KALA AZAR India hit target towards eliminating Kala Azar for the first time in 2023 by reporting less than one case per 10,000 population across all blocks. Protozoan parasitic disease. Symptoms: Irregular fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anaemia. PM Modi Announces 4 Astronauts For Gaganyaan Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubanshu Shukla. Gaganyaan ○ The first crewed Indian space mission ○ A crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km (LEO) for a 3 days mission and bring them back safely to earth. ○ Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3/GSLV Mk3) rocket. India’s heaviest rocket consists of solid stage, liquid stage and cryogenic stage. Manned mission ‘Gaganyaan’ is scheduled in 2025. Vyommitra: The ‘female’ robot astronaut the humanoid designed and developed ISRO to fly aboard unmanned test missions before the Gaganyaan human space-flight mission. Onliners World's 1st wooden satellite to be launched NASA and Japan's LignoSat probe, a wooden satellite, is scheduled to launch into space in 2024 The US-made Odysseus lunar lander (IM-1 lander) has soft-landed on the moon and becom the first commercial spacecraft to land near the lunar south pole. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC PM Modi lays foundation stone for ISRO’s new launch complex (Kulasekarapattinam spaceport) in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi. The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad has observed the origin of interplanetary dust responsible for zodiacal light, focusing on Mars’ moons, Deimos and Phobos. Recently, Outbreak of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus occurred in horses in Argentina and Uruguay. Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography has launched an autonomous underwater vehicle called C-bot. China’s maglev train surpassed its previous record of 623 km/h. ○ superconducting magnets suspend the train above a U-shaped concrete guideway. WHO has awarded first-ever validation certificates to Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand in eliminating industrially-produced trans fatty acids iTFA. 100% Foreign Direct Investment in Space Sector World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with India launched the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH). Juice jacking is a form of cyber attack where hackers tamper with public USB charging ports, modify their hardware and malware to steal confidential data from devices connected to those ports. The largest ever global textile event ‘Bharat Tex 2024’ has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Environment CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES (CMS) CMS COP 14 was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) or Bonn Convention. Intergovernmental treaty under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Introduced in 1979 and came into force in 1983. Membership: 133. India has been a member (since 1983). CMS Appendices: Appendix I: lists migratory species that are considered endangered (facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future). Appendix II: lists migratory species which have an unfavourable conservation status and require international agreements for their conservation and management. India hosted COP-13 of CMS in 2020 at Gandhinagar (Gujrat). State of the World’s Migratory Species Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC ○ Under CMS COP 14: the first-ever “State of the World’s Migratory Species” report launched. ○ 44% migratory species listed under CMS are showing population declines. ○ More than 22% of CMS-listed species are threatened with extinction. Conference of Parties (COP) ○ It is the principal decision-making body of the Convention. ○ It meets once every 3 years. Five More Wetlands To Ramsar List Five new wetlands (3 in Karnataka and 2 in Tamil Nadu) in India have been added to the Ramsar list, reaching Total number ~ 80. The Ramsar Convention, established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, Came into force 1975. India signed this convention in February 1982. Tamil Nadu maximum number of Ramsar Sites (16 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites). Sundarbans in West Bengal is the largest Renuka Wetland in Himachal Pradesh is the smallest Ramsar Site Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan were the first sites in India to be designated as Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC Ramsar Sites. The Montreux Record The list includes sites where ecological changes have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to human interference, pollution, or technological developments. Two wetlands of India are in Montreux record ○ Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) ○ Loktak Lake (Manipur) Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve More than 300 vultures were recorded in the recently completed synchronous vulture survey in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) first biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986) NBR is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Declared in 2012) located in the Western Ghats. It falls under the biogeographic region of the Malabar rain. NBR encompasses parts of Tamil Nadu (Highest Area), Kerala and Karnataka. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley are the protected areas present within this reserve. BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE Recently, Gupteswar Forest in Odisha’s Koraput district has been declared as the fourth Biodiversity-Heritage Site (BHS) of the state. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC STATUS OF LEOPARDS IN INDIA Recently, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the ‘Status of Leopards in India, 2022’ Report. ○ Fifth cycle leopard population estimation (2022) was carried out by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Key findings of report : ○ Leopard population: Estimated at 13,874 with a 1.08% per annum growth compared to 2018. ○ Central India and Eastern Ghats registered largest growth, while Shivaliks and Gangetic plains registered decline in leopard Madhya Pradesh houses the largest population of leopards followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Tiger Reserves with highest leopard population:Nagarajunasagar Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) followed by Panna and Satpura (Madhya Pradesh) tiger reserves. IUCN status ~ Vulnerable Wildlife Protection Act 1972 ~ Schedule 1 CITES ~ Appendix 1 PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana Installing Rooftop Solar in one crore households nationwide. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC Ministry ~ Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. Aim ~ To provide free electricity up to 300 units every month for one crore households. Loan for installation of residential RTS ~Households can access collateral-free low-interest loan products of around 7% for installation of RTS systems up to 3 kW. INDIAN GHARIAL After 75 years, officials of the Forest Department confirmed the presence of Indian Gharial in Greater Kaziranga. Conservation status: ○ IUCN: Critically Endangered ○ Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I ○ CITES: Appendix I Distribution: ○ Historically, the Gharial range spanned to Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra and Mahanadi-Brahmani-Baitrani River systems of India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. ○ Currently, their major population occurs in three tributaries of the Ganga River: the Chambal and the Girwa Rivers in India and the Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal. Conservation Efforts: ○ Project Crocodile was started in 1975 with the aid of the United Nations Development Programme and FAO. ○ The Gharial reserves of India are located in three States – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Onliners NITI AAYOG LAUNCHES GROW REPORT AND PORTAL ~ Report emphasises potential of converting wastelands into productive agroforestry zones. World’s first white rhinoceros In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) pregnancy could save subspecies. California (the USA) has been hit by two back-to-back Atmospheric River storms. Recently the Central African country Cameroon has adopted the Nagoya Protocol to benefit from its rich biodiversity. ○ The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Use is a legally Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC binding global agreement that implements the access and benefit-sharing obligations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It was adopted in Nagoya, Japan in 2010 and came into force in 2014. India is also a member signed on 2011. The EU presented its new proposed climate target 2040 through the European Commission. Itset a net emissions reduction target of 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 baseline levels. Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary has been declared as the 18th wildlife sanctuary of Tamil Nadu. First time in India, the census of snow leopards in the country has been done by the Wildlife Institute of India. ○ total of 718 snow leopards in the country. ○ Ladakh – (477), Uttarakhand – (124) , Himachal Pradesh – (51) Kaji Nemu’ (Citrus Limon) has been officially declared as the state fruit by the Government of Assam. Military exercise / Defense 12th edition of MILAN naval exercise begins in Visakhapatnam ○ MILAN 24 (Multilateral Naval Exercise- 2024) Dosti-16 ○ India-Maldives-Sri Lanka trilateral exercise ○ Held in the Maldives. Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian. ○ The 5th edition of Joint Military Exercise ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ between the Indian and Japan. ○ Held in Rajasthan. Exercise Vayu Shakti-24 ○ Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted ‘Exercise Vayu Shakti-24’ at the Pokhran range near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. ○ Theme: Lightning Strike from the Sky. Multinational military exercise ‘Shanti Prayas IV ○ 19 countries, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. ○ Held in Nepal. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC SADA TANSEEQ ○ joint military exercise between India and Saudi Arabia. ○ held in Rajasthan. MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones The US sold 31 MQ-9B armed drones to India. These are High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs. ABHYAS HIGH-SPEED EXPENDABLE AERIAL TARGET (HEAT) Flight trials of ABHYAS-HEAT were successfully carried out by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). Designed for autonomous flying with the help of an auto-pilot. Onliners INS Sandhyak, first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) Ship, commissioned into Indian Navy in Visakhapatanam US-supplied Patriot missiles to Ukrainian. PATRIOT (Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target), is a theater-wide surface-to-air missile defense system. SARVATRA: Indian Army’s Mobile Bridge SystemCrafted by Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. Indian navy declares 2024 as 'YEAR OF NAVAL CIVILIANS’ IIT-Madras collaborate with Munitions India to develop India’s first indigenously designed 155 mm smart ammunition. CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) has successfully tested an unmanned aerial vehicle, called High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) The 48th Raising Day of the Indian Coast Guard was celebrated on February 1, 2024. Award / Personalities in news Jnanpith Award famous Urdu poet Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya will be given the 58th Jnanpith Award (2023). award was instituted in 1961 & is given by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Institution. Jnanpith Award recipients receive a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC BAFTA Film Award, 2024 Venue – London Best Film- Oppenheimer Leading Actress- Emma Stone (Poor Things) Leading Actor ~ CillianMurphy (Oppenheimer) Best Director – Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer). Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award List , held in Mumbai ○ Best Actor – Shahrukh Khan (Jawan) ○ Best Actress – Rani Mukherjee (Mrs.Chatterjee vs. Norway) ○ Best Film – Jawan ○ Best Director – Sandeep Reddy Vanga (Animal) 66th Annual Grammy Awards Record of the Year ~ Flowers (Miley Cyrus) Album of the year ~ Midnight (Taylor Swift) Song of the year ~ What was I made for Shakeel, the fusion music group comprising renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, tabla player Zakir Hussain and percussionist Selvaganesh, has won the Best Global Music Album Award for 'This Moment'. Rakesh Chaurasia, nephew of famous flute player Hariprasad Chaurasia, won two Grammys for Pashto and As We The Speak Dr. Gyan Chaturvedi has been honored with the 32nd Vyas Award for his satirical novel 'Pagalkhana. Established by K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991. Online Aditi Gopichand has received the Breakthrough Archer of the Year 2023 award by World Archery. India has been awarded the 9th Govtech Award for its leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered government services at the World Government Summit 2024 held in Dubai. Shashi Tharoor conferred France’s highest civilian honour France’s highest civilian honour - “Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour). Days 2 Februar ~ World Wetlands Day Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC ○ Theme ~ ‘Wetlands and Human Welfare’. 4 February ~ World Cancer Day ○ Theme~‘Close the Care Gap’ 20 February ~ World Social Justice Day ○ Theme~ ‘Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances’. Financial Literacy Week 2024 26 feb - 1 March ○ Theme - "Make a Right Start: Become Financially Smart” MISCELLANEOUS President Of India Inaugurates Aadi Mahotsav at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi , to showcase the rich diversity of India's tribal heritage. , organized from February 10 to 18, 2024. ○ The Aadi Mahotsav is being organized by TRIFED India's largest theatre festival 'Bharat Rang Mahotsav' , also known as the National Theatre Festival, is India's largest theatre festival ○ 25th 'Bharat Rang Mahotsav was launched in Mumbai. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated two-day ULLAS Mela in New Delhi. To reduce the stress of students, Madhya Pradesh government has decided to celebrate 'Bagless School' once a week for school students. Jay Shah was again appointed the President of Asian CricketCouncil (ACC). Justice Ritu Bahri has been appointed as the first woman Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak has been appointed the Prime Minister of Yemen. Prabowo Subianto has been elected the new President of Indonesia. Australia's Annabel Sutherland has scored the fastest double century in the history of women's Test. Namibia's 22-year-old batsman Jan Nicole Loftie-Eaton has scored the fastest century in T20 cricket history by scoring a century in 33 balls. Google has launched an app called Gemini. The second India Energy Week has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Goa from 6-9 February. India and Bangladesh have been declaredjoint winners of the SAFF Women's Under-19 Championship. The country's first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility has been successfully tested in IIT Kanpur. Super-30 founder Anand Kumar has been given 'Golden Visa' by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Champai Soren has taken oath as the 11th Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is hosting the first Future Skills Summit in Guwahati on February 15, 2024. Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC International Gita Mahotsav will be organized in Colombo, Sri Lanka from March 1, 2024. Chapchar Kut Festival - Mizoram. Tawi Mahotsav ~ Jammu &Kashmir. Khelo India University Games 2023 has recently concluded in Guwahati. Arunachal Pradesh has become the first state in Northeast India to achieve 100% household tap water connections in February 2024. Two famous sweets of Uttar Pradesh, Laung Lata and Lal Peda have got GI tag. The country's highest sky deck will be constructed in Bengaluru. India's longest cable bridge 'Sudarshan Setu' has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Gujarat. ○ length of this bridge ~ 2.32 kilometers. ○ This bridge connects Okha mainland and Bet Dwarka island. The country's first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell ferry has been virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kochi Harbour in Kerala under the 'Green Ferry Initiative’. Former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar has been appointed as the new Chairman of Lokpal by President Draupadi Murmu. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=r7rIzO3o-LuSKNoY Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl CRACK BPSC 70th BPSC PRELIMS Current affairs March 2024 Polity One Nation One Election’ Report The High-level Committee (HLC) on One Nation, One Election constituted under the chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind submitted its report to the President. One Nation, One Election concept refers to conducting simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies (municipalities and panchayats). Key Recommendations ○ The committee advocated simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and local bodies. ○ two step model for its implementation :- Simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha & State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) will be held. Elections to Municipalities and Panchayats will be synchronised in such a way that they are held within a hundred days of holding elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. ○ In the event of a hung House or no-confidence motion, the Committee proposes fresh elections for the House of the People, serving only the unexpired term of the preceding full term. Similarly, for State Legislative Assemblies, new elections shall last until the House of the People's full term ends. ○ The committee proposed that the President of India issue a notification on the date of the first sitting of the House of the People after a General election, designating it as the Appointed date for the synchronization of elections. Constitutional Amendments Required:~ Two Constitutional Amendment Bills will be introduced :- Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC ○ One for Article 83 (Duration of Houses of Parliament), Article 172 (Duration of State Legislatures) and to insert Article 82A (Readjustment after each census). Ratification by the States will not be required for this purpose. ○ Another for inserting Article 324A for elections to Municipalities and Panchayats, passed with ratification by the states. ○ Article 325 (No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll-on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex), so that a Single Electoral Roll and Single Elector’s Photo Identity Card could be prepared by the ECI in consultation with the State Election Commissions. CITIZENSHIP (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2024 Ministry of Home Affairs has amended Citizenship Rules, 2009 and notified Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 to enforce the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019.( Already covered in previous lecture). SIXTH SCHEDULE The people of Ladakh are protesting for Ladakh to be recognized as a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule. About Sixth Schedule ○ The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, under Article 244(2) and Article 275(1) of the Constitution, is provided for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. ○ It empowers the Governor to create Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and Autonomous Regional Councils (ARCs) in these four states. Composition of ADCs: ADCs consist of not more than thirty members, out of which four are nominated by the Governor while the rest are elected. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC NO PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY FOR TAKING BRIBES: (SC) In Sita Soren v. Union of India (2024), a seven-judge constitution bench of the SC overruled its 1998 judgment in the PV Narasimha Rao case. Key highlights of Judgement: Bribery is not immune: MPs/MLAs accused of taking bribes cannot claim any immunity from prosecution under Articles 105 and 194 of the Constitution. Onliners Government of India, Government of Tripura, and The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) & and other stakeholders signed a tripartite agreement , to resolve all issues of indigenous people of Tripura relating to history, land and political rights, economic development, identity, culture, and language. Government has launched the ‘NITI for States’ platform. It is a comprehensive digital initiative designed to empower States/UTs in their pursuit of national development goals. Sukhbir Sandhu & Gyanesh Kumar appointed Election Commissioners ○ The vacancies had come up after the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey on February 14 and the sudden resignation of Arun Goel. Kishor Makwana assumes charge of Chairman National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC){Article 338 } Jharkhand Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan given additional responsibilities of Telangana, Puducherry ○ Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan Resigned Sub-inspector Suman Kumari has become the first woman sniper of the Border Security Force. IFS Officer Vinay Kumar Appointed As Ambassador Of India To Russia. Election Commission launches ‘Mission 414’ campaign in Himachal Pradesh. According to the Election Commission,there are a total of 96.8 crore voters across the country for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, of which 49.7 crore are male and 47.1 crore are female voters. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) Recently, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) marked 75 years of its formation and Sweden has joined NATO as its 32nd member. Founded in 1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty or Washington Treaty. Principle of collective defence (Article 5 of the Treaty), meaning that if one NATO Ally is attacked, then all NATO Allies are attacked. ○ So far, Article 5 has been invoked once – in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Founding members (12): Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. Headquarters: Brussels (Belgium) Finland 31st member of NATO , Sweden 32nd. INDIA-EFTA TRADE AND ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT For the first time, India has signed an FTA with Members of EFTA Members: Presently, its members are Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, which are not part of the European Union. EFTA (European Free Trade Association ) was established in 1960 through the Stockholm Convention Key Highlights ○ Increase the stock of foreign direct investments by USD 100 billion in India in the next 15 years, and Facilitate the generation of 1 million direct employment in India. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry attended the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Virtual Ministerial Meeting. Its 14 regional partners are Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and USA. IPEF has 4 main pillars- (i) Fair and Resilient Trade (ii) Supply Chain Resilience (iii) Clean Energy and Decarbonisation (iv) Fair Economy Agreement Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC IPEF represents 40% of global GDP and 28% of global trade in goods and services. India has joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF, while it has observer status in Pillar I. Onliners India launched Operation Indravati to evacuate its nationals from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. India and Brazil hold the first 2+2 bilateral meeting. During visit to Bhutan, the Prime Minister of India was conferred the "Order of the Druk Gyalpo", the highest civilian honour in Bhutan. ○ MoUs to establish two rail links including Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse to improve connectivity. ○ Both sides look forward to commissioning of the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project in 2024. Israel and Lebanon have no official border separating them, except the Blue Line. The 'Yaoundé Declaration' which was in discussion recently is related to Africa. Under this, 11 African countries have decided to eliminate deaths due to malaria. New Zealand has announced a ban on disposable e-cigarettes or vape. The world's first 3D-printed mosque has been unveiled in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, named after Abdul Aziz Abdullah Sharbatli. For the first time, a genetically modified pig kidney has been successfully transplanted into a living patient at Massachusetts General Hospital in America. Vladimir Putin has won the presidential elections in Russia for the fifth time. Putin will now remain in the post of President till the year 2030. Tamas Sulyok has been named the new President of Hungary. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Mohammad Mustafa to be the next New Prime Minister. Mauritius has become the first country to join India's Jan Aushadhi initiative. PM Modi and PM Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius jointly inaugurated a new Airstrip and a Jetty at the Agalega Island in Mauritius. ○ Development of the Agalega Islands. U.S. recognises Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory. France poised to become first country in world to enshrine right to abortion in its Constitution. Dubai launches "India by the Creek" Festival to Celebrate Deep Ties with India. Volcano Eruption In Reykjanes Peninsula In Iceland; State Of Emergency Declared In Southern Iceland. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC The Hong Kong legislature has passed a new national security law ‘Safeguarding National Security Bill Unanimously, granting the government more power to curb dissent. Thailand has become the first Southeast Asian country to recognize same-sex marriage. SUMMITS AND ORGANISATIONS International Big Cat Alliance Aim: To work towards the protection and conservation of the seven major big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah. HQ: India Membership will be open to 96 range countries. The 54th session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) was held from 11-15 March 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya 3rd Summit for Democracy has been organised in Seoul, South Korea. World's first nuclear energy summit The summit was jointly organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Belgium to promote nuclear energy. Report and Index Food Waste Index (FWI) Report, 2024 Jointly released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and United Kingdom-based non-profit organisation WRAP (Waste And Resources Action Programme). ○ measures food waste at the retail and consumer level. Globally, 1.05 billion tonnes of food waste is expected to be generated in 2022. The average food wastage per capita in the year 2022 was 132 kg. The economic loss of food loss and waste is estimated at $1 trillion. Gender Inequality Index – 2022 Released by UNDP India ranks 108th { score of 0.437} among 193 countries. ○ India ranks 122nd among 191 countries 2021 with a score of 0.490. Top ~ Denmark, followed by Norway, Switzerland and Sweden World Air Quality Report 2023 Released by Swiss organisation IQAir. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC India has been declared as the third most polluted country in the world. Most polluted countries ~ Bangladesh, Pakistan, India ( 134 countries) The most polluted capital of the world Delhi ( fourth consecutive year) Begusarai in Bihar has been recognized as the most polluted metropolitan area in the world. Global Human Development Index Released by the United Nations Development programme ( UNDP ). India Ranks 134th ( score ~ 0.644) out of 193 , { 135 out of 191 countries in 2021 } Number one ~ Switzerland > Norway (2nd) , Iceland (3rd). Report titled ~ 'Breaking the Gridlock : Reimagining cooperation in a polarised world’. Sri Lanka (78), China (75), Bhutan (125 ) and Bangladesh (129). Nepal (146) and Pakistan (164) have been ranked lower than India. Somalia is at the bottom of the list of 193 countries. India Employment Report 2024 The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD) have jointly released. Nearly 82% of the workforce engages in the informal sector, and nearly 90% is informally employed. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC India TB Report 2024 released by the Union Health Ministry. India's goal of eliminating TB by 2025. The gap between the estimated number and actual cases of tuberculosis (TB) is closing. Democracy Report 2024 Released annually by the Gothenburg-based Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute. listed India as “one of the worst autocratisers” as its position downgraded from the status of an “electoral autocracy” in 2018. World Happiness Report Published under a partnership between Gallup, the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. India ranked 126 out of 143 countries. Finland as the happiest country followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Israel. Afghanistan remained at the bottom. Women, Business and Law Report 2024 India's ranking improved to 113 out of 190 countries Released by the World Bank. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC Onliners According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration: ~ 2023 saw 8,565 migrant deaths, making it the deadliest year since 2014. Kerala tops chart of highest passport penetration among women in the country. India Remains World’s Largest Arms Importer: SIPRI Report ○ Russia remained India’s main arms supplier (36% of India’s arms imports), followed by France (33%) and the US (13%) ○ The top 5 arms exporting countries are the USA (42% of global arms exports), followed by France (11%), Russia (11%), China (5.8%), and Germany (5.6%). ○ After india , Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the largest arms importer. Economy 13th Ministerial Conference of WTO The World Trade Organization (WTO) held its 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) at Abu Dhabi in the UAE. HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE SURVEY (HCES) 2022-23 National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) released the HCES 2022-23, after a gap of over 10 years since the last survey in 2011-12. Overall Trend: Average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) has been increasing since 1999-2000. It has increased around 2.6 times in rural areas and 2.5 times in urban areas since the last survey. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC UMBRELLA ORGANISATION (UO) FOR URBAN COOPERATIVE BANKS (UCBS) Recently, the Ministry of Cooperation constituted the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation Limited (NUCFDC), an Umbrella Organisation (UO) for UCBs. PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETIES (PACS) PACS are village level cooperative credit societies that Provide short-term, and medium-term agricultural loans to the farmers for the various agricultural and farming activities. ○ Credit from the SCBs is transferred to the District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), that operate at the district level. The first PACS was formed in 1904. PACS are registered under the Co-operative Societies Act which means they are regulated by the State government (specifically administrative aspects) and also regulated by the RBI. NABARD is a nodal refinancing agency for PACS including other cooperative banks. Currently, there are more than 1,00,000 PACS in the country with a huge member base of more than 13 crore farmers. ○ only 65,000 of them are functional. The Prime Minister inaugurated pilot project of 'World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector’, for 11 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across 11 States. UNNATI 2024 scheme UTTAR POORVA TRANSFORMATIVE INDUSTRIALIZATION SCHEME. Ministry: Central Sector Scheme under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Objective: Development of Industries and generation of employment in the states of North East Region. Financial Outlay: More than Rs.10,000 crore from the date of notification for 10 years. (PM-SURAJ) PORTAL PRADHAN MANTRI SAMAJIK UTTHAN EVAM ROZGAR ADHARIT JANKAL Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE). Objective: Uplifting most marginalised sections of society and supporting credit assistance to one lakh entrepreneurs hailing from disadvantaged communities. Join our telegram channel ~ https://t.me/CBE_70th_bpsc Join our telegram group ~ https://t.me/+fKJCOOKrh0tjOThl Subscribe to our YouTube channel ~ https://youtube.com/@crackbpscofficial?si=9fCYxBzAjGxJtNim CRACK BPSC PROJECT GAIA It is a collaboration between the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub Eurosystem Centre, Bank of Spain, etc. ○ It leverages generative artificial intelligence (AI) particularly Large Language Models(LLMs) to facilitate the analysis of climate-related risks in the financial system. NITI Aayog Launches ‘Vocal For Local’ Initiative Fostering Grassroots Entrepreneurship and Self Reliance. Launched under: Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) ABP ~ Launched in 2023 by NITI Aayog Improving governance to enhance the quality of life of citizens in the most difficult and relatively underdeveloped blocks of India. Coverage: 500 blocks from 27 states and 4 UTs. 40 socio-economic indicators. E-KISAN UPAJ NIDHI Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution launches ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’. e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi is a Digital Gateway initiative of Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA). It aims to facilitate farmers in obtaining post-harvest loans from banks against their stocks stored in the WDRA registered warehouses. SELA TUNNEL The Prime Minister inaugurated the strategically important Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. Constructed on road connecting Tezpur in Assam to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh by Border Road Organization’. w

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