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Current Affairs 02 March 2024
1. Indian-Origin Samir Shah Appointed as BBC’s New Chairman
- India-born media executive Dr Samir Shah was confirmed as the
new BBC chairman after his selection cleared the stages of scrutiny to be approved by King Charles III this week. Shah, who has worked in UK broadcasting for over 40 years, was picked as the government's preferred candidate in December last year and went on to be quizzed by cross-party MPs of the House of Commons Media Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for his pre-appointment scrutiny. - The 72-year-old has now been confirmed in the 160,000 pounds per year and four-year term role to take charge as the public broadcaster's first Indian-origin Chair from March 4 and running until March 2028.
2. Prime Minister Modi unveils 35,700 crore rupee development projects in Jharkhand.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modiinaugurated and laid the foundation
stone for multiple development projects worth 35,700 crore rupees in Jharkhand from Sindri in Dhanbad district. These projects are related to fertiliser, rail, power, and coal sectors. - Modi dedicated to the nation the Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd’s(HURL) Sindri fertiliser plant, to attain self-sufficiency in the urea sector. The plant has been developed at a cost of over 8,900 crore rupees.
Foot Note:
About Jharkhand:
Capital: Ranchi
Chief Minister: Champai Soren
Governor: C. P. Radhakrishnan
3. PM KISAN benefits worth over Rs 3 lakh crore transferred to farmers so far
- One of the largest Direct Benefit Transfer programmes in the world,
PM KISANhas crossed a new milestone. Government of India launched an ambitious scheme for farmers’ welfare – the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi(PM-KISAN) on 2nd February 2019. - With Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi releasing the 16th instalment from Yavatmal in Maharashtra the scheme has benefitted more than 11 crore eligible farmer families with Rs 3 lakh crores disbursed till date.
4. Two National Highway projects valued at Rs. 1750 crore are inaugurated at Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, by Shri Nitin Gadkari
- Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari
laid the foundation stone of 2 National Highway projects worth Rs 1750 crore in Mirzapurin the presence of state ministers and MPs, MLAs and officials. - Mirzapur district, situated under the shadow of Mother Vindhyavasini, is religiously and naturally important. To develop this entire region, the foundation stone of 2 ambitious National Highway projects costing more than Rs 1750 crore has been laid.
Foot Note:
About Uttar Pradesh:
Capital: Lucknow
Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
Governor: Anandiben Patel
5.Reserve Bank of India Issues Master Direction for Bharat Bill Payment System, 2024
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a revised
regulatory framework for the Bharat Bill Payment Systems (BBPS), effective April 1, 2024. This overhaul aims to streamline bill payments, foster wider participation, and bolster consumer protection measures in light of evolving payment landscape dynamics. - NPCI Bharat Bill Pay Ltd (NBBL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), serves as the designated Payment System Provider for BBPS. NBBL operates as the Central Unit (BBPCU), managing the connection between customers and billers, along with overseeing clearing and settlement activities for BBPS transactions.
6.Jana Small Finance Bank Collaborates with Dvara Money for Digital Banking Services
- Dvara Money, a leading fintech company, has announced a
strategic partnership with Jana Small Finance Bank Limited (Jana SFB). This collaboration aims to harness the technological capabilities of Jana SFB and the innovative Spark Money platform by Dvara Money to set new standards in digital banking services. - At the core of this partnership is a shared vision to revolutionize digital banking through the integration of third-party application providers (TPAP) and a comprehensive Unified Payments Interface (UPI) solution into the Spark Money platform. This initiative promises to offer customers a seamless banking experience, enabling easy digital transactions and more efficient finance management.
Foot Note:
About Jana Small Finance Bank :
Headquarters : Bangalore
CEO : Ajay Kanwal
7. Government Signs Rs 39,000-Crore Defence Acquisition Deals to Enhance Self-Reliance
- As part of ‘Aatmanirbharta in Defence’and to further boost Make-in-
India initiative, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed 5 major capital acquisition contracts worth Rs 39,125.39 crore in New Delhi. - One contract was signed with M/s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the procurement of Aero-engines for MiG-29 aircraft. Two contracts were signed withM/s Larsen & Toubro Limited for the procurement of Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) and High-Power Radar (HPR).
8. MoSPI and ISRO Sign an MoU on Bhuvan-Powered Urban Frame Survey
- The NSSO (FOD) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation(MoSPI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to facilitate Urban Frame Survey (UFS) in a digital mode using the state-of-the-art Geo ICT tools and techniques using Bhuvan Platform. - The MoU was signed by Shri Subash Chandra Malik, Additional Director General, NSSO, MoSPI and Dr. Srinivasa Rao S, Deputy Director, BGWSA, NRSC in the presence of Dr. Prakash Chauhan, Director NRSC, Dr K Vinod Kumar, Associate Director, NRSC and Shri Raushan Kumar Choudhary, Deputy Director General (UFS).
9.India-Malaysia Bilateral Maritime Exercise ‘Samudra Laksamana
- Exercise Samudra Laksamana is underway from 28 Feb - 02 Mar
24 at/ off Visakhapatnam. Indian Naval Ship Kiltan and Royal Malaysian Ship KD Lekir are participating in the 3rd edition of this exercise which has harbour professional interactions followed by the operational phase at sea. - At harbour, crew of both ships will have various professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchange on topics of mutual interest, sports fixtures, and other interactions. These interactions are aimed to enhance knowledge base, share best practices and further cooperation on maritime aspects.
Foot Note:
About Malaysia:
Capital: Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Prime Minister: Anwar Ibrahim
10. IPS officer Anurag Agarwal appointed head of Parliament security
- In a significant move to bolster the security of India’s parliamentary
complex, IPS officer Anurag Agarwal has been appointed as the new head of Parliament security. This decision comes at a crucial juncture, following recent security breaches that have underscored the need for stringent protective measures within one of the nation’s most critical infrastructures. - Anurag Agarwal, a seasoned officer from the 1998 batch of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been serving as an inspector general in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). With his extensive experience in law enforcement and internal security, Agarwal brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role as the joint secretary (security) of the Parliament House complex.
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