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Current Affairs 25 February 2024
1.America’s Odysseus Spacecraft Makes 1st Commercial Moon Landing in History
- In a historic moment for space exploration, the Odysseus
spacecraft, spearheaded by Intuitive Machines (IM), has achieved what was once solely the domain of national space agencies: a successful soft landing on the lunar surface. This landmark event marks the first commercial venture to accomplish such a feat, signalling a significant leap forward in private sector involvement in space exploration. - The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated. Not since the Apollo era in 1972 has an American spacecraft delicately touched down on the moon’s surface. The successful landing of Odysseus near Malapert A, an impact crater situated close to the moon’s south pole, underscores the prowess of private industry in pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
2. The government of Goa and Power Finance Corporation come together to pioneer a subnational Blended Finance Facility for Climate Action
- Power Finance Corporation (PFC), leading NBFC, power
sector PSU and the largest renewable energy financier in India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the climate ambitions of the state of Goa. - The support extended would be under the Blended Finance Facility being set up by Government of Goa in partnership with The World Bank. The Government of Goa is setting up the sub-national Blended Finance Facility in partnership with the World Bank, aiming to foster low-carbon, climate-resilient development.
3. The first-mile connectivity projects of South Eastern Coalfields Limited in Chhattisgarh will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is scheduled to virtually
inaugurate three key First Mile Connectivity Projects of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a Coal India Subsidiary under the Ministry of Coal, in Chhattisgarh. - These projects, valued at over Rs 600 crore, mark a significant step towards faster, eco-friendly, and efficient mechanized coal evacuation. The Dipka OCP Coal Handling Plant, located in SECL’s Dipka Area, stands out as a key project constructed at a cost exceeding Rs. 211 Crore.
Foot Note:
About Chhattisgarh:
Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
Capital: Raipur
Chief Minister:Shri Vishnu Deo Sai
4. IRCTC Team Up with Swiggy For Pre-Ordered Meal Delivery
- IRCTC, which provides ticketing, catering, and tourism
services for Indian Railways, announced the collaboration with Swiggy through a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Thursday. The partnership will be facilitated by Bundl Technologies Private Limited, Swiggy's parent company. - To be implemented in stages, the service will be available at four stations in the first phase, with these being Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam.
Foot Note:
About IRCTC:
Headquarters: New Delhi
Founder: Ministry of Railways
Founded: 27 September 1999
Owner: Government of India
5. India contributes $1 million to IBSA Fund for poverty and hunger alleviation
- India announced to contribute $1 million to the Poverty and
Hunger Alleviation Fund established by India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA). The fund is aimed at alleviating poverty and hunger. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj handed over the cheque to the Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Dima Al-Khatib. - The IBSA countries – India, Brazil and South Africa – each contribute one million dollars annually to the Fund in a spirit of partnership and support for demand-driven, transformational projects in developing countries.
6. Aditya-L1 have successfully detected the impact of coronal mass ejections
- The Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payload on
board India’s first solar space observatory — Aditya-L1 — has successfully detected the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on solar wind, including CME events that occurred on Feb 10-11, Isro . - It has two sensors: the Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP, measuring electrons in the energy range of 10 eV to 3 keV) and the Solar Wind Ion Composition Analyser (SWICAR, measuring ions in the energy range of 10 eV to 25 keV and mass range of 1-60 amu). The sensors are also equipped to measure the direction of arrival of solar wind particles.
7.The second edition of the World’s Highest Frozen Lake Marathon
- The event was organised with the agenda to bring attention
towards the melting Himalayan glaciers, which pose a massive threat to our environment. The run was titled as 'theastrun', suggesting that this might be the last run on the frozen lake, which faces a threat due to climate change. - The second edition of the Ladakh's Pangong frozen lake marathon, known as the 'World's Highest Frozen Lake Marathon', took place on Feb 20. The run was conducted amid heavy snowfall at an altitude of 18,680 feet, with temperatures dropping to -15°C, making it one of the toughest marathons in the world.
8. Shashi Tharoor conferred France’s highest civilian honour
- Shashi Tharoor has been given France’s highest civilian
honour. The highest civilian honour bestowed by France, the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur France, was given to Shashi Tharoor. - He was awarded the honour in August 2022, but a formal conferring took place on 20 February 2024. He is a senior leader of Congress party. He has been serving as Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, since 2009.
9. Collaboration in the field of Archives is agreed upon between Oman and India
- India and Oman have mutually agreed to cooperate in the field
of Archives. A delegation of the National Archives of India (NAI), visited the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) of Oman on February 21-22, aimed at exploring the areas of bilateral cooperation in the archival field. - In this regard, the draft of an Executive Programme of Cooperation (EPC) has been finalised, which would now be submitted for approval by the competent authorities of both parties and formally signed in the near future.
10. Multinational military exercise ‘Shanti Prayas IV’ kicks off in Nepal
- Multinational military exercise – ‘Shanti Prayas IV’ – kicked off
in Nepal at the Army headquarters here with the participation of 19 countries, including India, Bangladesh and Pakistan to enhance the interoperability and peacekeeping skills of the forces. - The multinational military exercise is taking place at the Birendra Peace Operation Training Centre in the Kabhre district, 50 km east of Kathmandu.
Foot Note:
About Nepal :
Capital : Kathmandu
President : Ram Chandra Poudel
Prime Minister : Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Currency : Nepalese rupee
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