Daily Current Affairs 19th February 2024: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
Dear Readers,
This post contains important current affairs of 19th February2024. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 19th February2024. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 19th February2024 Current affairs test.
National News
1. Strategic Five-Year Agricultural Sector Initiative
- A coalition of federal ministers has unveiled a comprehensive five-year plan aimed at enhancing the agricultural sector. The initiative focuses on the direct procurement of essential crops like pulses, maize, and cotton from farmers at predetermined Minimum Support Prices (MSP).
- The plan involves formal contracts with farmers for a period of five years, ensuring the purchase of specific crops at MSP by key organizations such as the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), without imposing any quantitative limits.
- This scheme is expected to significantly boost farmers’ incomes and bring stability to market dynamics. Additionally, the introduction of a dedicated online platform aims to facilitate transparent and efficient transactions.
2. Surge in India’s Outward FDI in January 2024
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reports a notable increase of 25.7% in India’s outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for January 2024, totaling $2.09 billion.
- Equity investments saw a significant rise, reaching $760.9 million during the period, marking an increase from the previous year and showcasing India’s expanding role in the global economic landscape.
3. Observance of World Whale Day and World Pangolin Day in 2024
- World Whale Day was celebrated on February 18, 2024, emphasizing the crucial role of whales in ecological balance and the collective responsibility to protect these marine mammals.
- The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, along with environmentalists, marked World Pangolin Day on February 17, 2024, to highlight the conservation needs of the Indian Pangolin, aiming to increase public and governmental support for its preservation.
4. Odisha Government’s ‘Swayam’ Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship
- The ‘Swayam’ scheme, launched by the Odisha government, aims to foster entrepreneurship among the youth by providing interest-free loans up to Rs 1 lakh for eligible individuals aged 18-35, regardless of their location within the state.
5. Karnataka Leads in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
- Karnataka has been recognized for having the highest number of public EV charging stations in India, totaling 5,059, according to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, underscoring the state’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.
6. Henley Passport Index 2024 Insights
- France tops the Henley Passport Index 2024, providing its citizens with visa-free access to 194 countries, while India ranks 85th, offering its passport holders visa-free access to 62 countries.
7. Dr. S Jaishankar’s Participation in the 60th Munich Security Conference
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar engaged in critical global and regional security discussions at the 60th Munich Security Conference, participating in in-depth discussions and bilateral meetings.
8. Appointment of Pradeep Kumar Sinha at ICICI Bank
- Pradeep Kumar Sinha has been appointed as the Non-Executive Part-time Chairman of ICICI Bank, starting July 1, 2024, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals, following Mr. G. C. Chaturvedi’s retirement.
9. Jnanpith Award 2023 Recipients
- The 58th Jnanpith Award has been awarded to Urdu poet Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, celebrating their contributions to Indian literary traditions.
10. Advances in Space and Technology
- ISRO’s “Young Scientist Programme” (YUVIKA) aims to inspire interest in space science among rural youth, promoting STEM education and future space missions.
- The launch of the LignoSat wooden satellite by NASA and JAXA marks a significant step towards sustainable space exploration, utilizing eco-friendly materials.
- India’s first indigenous spy satellite, developed by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and to be launched by SpaceX, represents a major advancement in national defense and surveillance capabilities.
