14th February 2024 Daily Current Affairs
Summits & Conferences
1. 16th conference of World Social Forum 2024 commences in Kathmandu
- The 16th conference of the World Social Forum (WSF) 2024 commenced in Kathmandu.
- The five-day WSF 2024 under the “Another World is Possible” banner aims to open horizontal exchange among civil society organisations, social movements, trade unions and individuals opposing neoliberal globalisation.
- The event opened with a Solidarity March starting from the main venue at Bhrikutimandap and passing through Bhadrakali, New Road Gate, Ratna Park and back to Bhrikutimandap.
National & International Appointments
2. SBI Capital Market names Virendra Bansal as MD & CEO
- SBI Capital Markets (SBICAPS), the wholly-owned subsidiary and investment banking arm of the State Bank of India (SBI), named Virendra Bansal as its new Managing Director and CEO.
- He succeeds Rajay Kumar Sinha, who has been appointed as the Whole Time Member (Finance and Investment) of the IRDAI for three years.
- The new SBICAPS CEO has previously served as CEO of SBI’s New York office and Vice-Chairman of SBI (California), the bank’s US Retail Banking subsidiary.
National Affairs
3. Sonowal inaugurates Kalughat Inland Waterways Transport terminal in Bihar
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurated the newly constructed Kalughat Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) terminal on National Waterways -1 (NW-1) at Kalugaht near Parmanandpur in Saran district in Bihar.
- It will provide seamless connectivity to vessels from Haldia and Kolkata ports along NW -1.
- The new Intermodal Terminal cargo will enhance handling capacity along inland waterways.
- It has been constructed with a worth of 82.48 crore rupees.
National Affairs
4. Foundation stone for Komuravelli Railway Station in Siddipet,Telangana
- Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav have laid the foundation stone for Komuravelli Railway Station in Siddipet District in Telangana state.
- Komuravelli village is home to the famous Komuravelli Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple.
- Every year about 25 lakh people from four different states visit the temple town to have darshan of the presiding deity.
National Affairs
5. Over 18.86 lakh new workers enrolled under ESI Scheme in Dec, 2023
- Over 18.86 lakh new workers enrolled under Employees State Insurance, ESI Scheme in December last year.
- According to the provisional payroll data of ESIC, 8.83 lakh employees amounting to around 47 percent of the total registrations are up to the age group of 25 years.
- Around 23,347 new establishments have been registered and brought under the social security umbrella of the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme in December.
Defense
6. Visakhapatnam to host 12th edition of MILAN naval exercise
- The 12th edition of the MILAN naval exercise is set to commence in Visakhapatnam from February 19 to 27, with the participation of over 50 countries.
- Under the theme Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future, the exercise aims to provide a vital platform for participating navies to collaborate and brainstorm ideas aimed at bolstering security on the high seas
- The primary objective is to ensure the safety of maritime trade for the benefit of all stakeholders
National Affairs
7. PM Modi inaugurates Rs 2100 crore Power Transmission Projects in Rajasthan
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the 300 MW Barsingsar Solar Power Plant in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.
- NLC India Limited is currently in the process of setting up a 300 MW Solar Power Project in Barsingsar, Bikaner District, Rajasthan, as part of the CPSE Scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
- The aim of this project is to provide affordable power supply to various Government entities.
National Affairs
8. Union Minister Chandrasekhar unveils blueprint for Assam’s first semiconduc
- Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, revealed plans for a semiconductor packaging plant in Assam during the Digital India Future Skills Summit in Guwahati.
- The plant, backed by an investment of Rs 25,000 crore, aims to create job opportunities in the semiconductor industry and reshape the region’s technological landscape.
- The projects cover vital sectors such as roads, railways, solar energy, power transmission, drinking water.
National Affairs
9. IIT-Jammu develops anti-drone system
- Professor Karan Nathwani from IIT-Jammu has created a groundbreaking anti-drone system that relies on sound technology.
- This innovative approach ensures affordability and user-friendliness.
- Unlike conventional methods using visual or radar technology, Nathwani’s system identifies drones accurately by analyzing their distinct acoustic signatures.
