• A S Rajeev voluntarily retired from his position as Managing Director and CEO of Bank of Maharashtra.The Department of Financial Services has accepted Rajeev’s request for retirement.
• As per the Central Vigilance Commission Act, the Commission is comprised of three members: the Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners. Bank of Maharashtra released a regulatory filing confirming A S Rajeev’s appointment as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on inaugurated the Sudarshan Setu, a four-lane cable-stayed bridge connecting Okha to Beyt Dwarka island in Gujarat.
• According to an official statement from the Devbhumi Dwarka administration, the bridge spans 2.32 kilometres, with a central double-span cable-stayed portion covering 900 metres, accompanied by a 2.45-kilometre-long approach road.

• President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a day-long ‘Purple Fest’ at Amrit Udyaan in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is organizing the Purple Fest after the success of ‘International Purple Fest, 2024’ at Goa in January.
• More than ten thousand Divyangjan, accompanied by their escorts, will also converge at Amrit Udyan for the Fest. The ‘Purple Fest’ will have fully inclusive and interactive stalls of organizations working in the field of accessibility, inclusion and disability rights.

• Walmart-backed Indian fintech PhonePe launched its app store for Android called Indus Appstore, becoming the first Indian rival to Google’s Play Store. PhonePe has informed us that no app listing fees will be charged for one year, until 1 April 2025, for developers.
• In first, the release mentioned, that developers can use any third-party payment gateway of their choice. Indus App Store allows Indian consumers to download over 2 lakh mobile apps and games, across 45 categories.

• The road network connectivity projects aim to improve infrastructure development in India’s North East region, while the Chennai peripheral ring road project aims to alleviate traffic congestion and strengthen connections to the southern part of the state. The project in Nagaland will help develop tertiary level medical service delivery by developing a Medical College Hospital contributing towards universal health coverage.
• A unique project in Telangana will help discover entrepreneurial skills with focus on women and rural population and support business expansion of MSMEs. In Haryana, the project will promote sustainable horticulture and improve farmer's income by promoting crop diversification and infrastructure development. The forestry project in Rajasthan will enhance ecosystem services through afforestation, forest and biodiversity conservation.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest cable-stayed bridge, Sudarshan Setu, in Gujarat’s Dwarka. This monumental infrastructure project, connecting Okha and Beyt Dwarka island, stands as a testament to the nation’s commitment to progress and connectivity. Let’s delve into the details of this remarkable feat.
• Sudarshan Setu, formerly known as the Signature Bridge, has been constructed at a cost of ₹979 crore. Spanning an impressive 2.32 km, it is India’s longest cable-stayed bridge, serving as a vital link between the Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka island.

• The Aegis South Zone tournament, a platform for cricket battles, turned into a scene of sorrow as Karnataka cricketer Hoysala K, aged 34, passed away due to a cardiac arrest. The tournament, which had been showcasing the rivalry between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, took a turn with the sudden demise of this player.
• The distressing incident unfolded at the RSI ground in Bengaluru, where Hoysala, a talent representing Karnataka in age-group tournaments, collapsed on the field during the post-match huddle. Despite emergency treatment administered by on-site medical personnel, Hoysala did not respond.

• India’s largest defence equipment exhibition, Defence Expo, is being organized by the Industries Department of the Maharashtra government at the International Exhibition and Convention Center at Moshi near Pune.
• The exhibition will be inaugurated in the presence of Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde.

• After a gap of 52 years since the last successful Apollo mission, a U.S.-made spacecraft named Odysseus has successfully landed on the Moon.This event also signifies the arrival of private space companies on the lunar surface.
• Odysseus, a spacecraft built by Intuitive Machines, a 10-year-old company based in Houston, used a Falcon 9 rocket by SpaceX to take off from Earth on February 15. The spacecraft carried 6 NASA payloads to the Moon.

• Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi passed away at the age of 86 in Mumbai. Joshi was born on 2 December 1937 in Raigad district in Maharashtra. He, also affectionately known as Joshi Sir.
• Joshi began his political career after his experience as a member of RSS, joining Shiv Sena in 1967. He was appointed as the municipal councillor of Mumbai from 1968-70. He was also the mayor of Mumbai during 1976-1977.

Download Daily GK PDF of 26 February 2024