Current Affairs 20 February 2024

Ruby Thakur
February 20, 2024
147

Ruby Thakur
February 20, 2024
147

In Current Affairs for 20 February 2024, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.

Current Affairs 20 February 2024

UP Global Investors Summit

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has said, the double engine government has shown that if there is a true intention of change then no one can stop it.
Addressing the Viksit Bharat Viksit Uttar Pradesh program in Lucknow Prime Minister lauded the atmosphere of positivity in Utter Pradesh regarding investments and employment opportunities.
The Prime Minister said in the last seven years ‘red carpet culture’ has replaced ‘red tape culture’.

He said in the crime decreased in UP and business culture flourished. “ He said, UP is a state with the maximum number of expressways, and international airports in the country.
It is the state where the country’s first rapid rail is running. The Prime Minister emphasized that today’s organization is a step towards the resolution of Viksit Bharat through the development of Viksit Uttar Pradesh.
Noting the presence of lakhs of people from more than 400 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh through video conferencing, Prime Minister Modi welcomed them and expressed delight that citizens can now join in the program with the help of technology, something which was unimaginable 7-8 years ago.

Highlighting the government’s equal emphasis on Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business, the Prime Minister said that the double-engine government strives to make every benefit available for every beneficiary.
He touched upon the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra which has benefitted lakhs of people from Uttar Pradesh by taking the benefits to the doorsteps of beneficiaries.
The Prime Minister underlined that today’s development projects are not being assessed in terms of investment alone, but they present a holistic vision for a better future and a ray of hope for investors.

Prime Minister also touched upon UP’s improved local, national and international connectivity and highlighted the recently initiated world’s longest cruise service via Varanasi. He further added that Kumbh Mela is also going to be organized in 2025 making it very important for the state’s economy. He said that a large number of jobs are going to be created in the tourism and hospitality sector in the coming times.
He also said that UP has the potential to become the tourism hub of the country.
The PM said that the Lakhpati Didi Sankalp of his government has added over 10 crore women to the SHGs out of which 1 crore women have already been made lakhpati.
In UP , MSMEs have been given thousands of crores as support. The Prime Minister said that Bharat today is focusing on electric mobility and green growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the fourth ground breaking ceremony of Uttar Pradesh Global Investors summit in Lucknow. The program marked the launching of more than 14000 projects in the state worth more than 10 lakh crore which were received during the UP Global Investors summit 2023.

India And Eswatini

The second Foreign Office Consultations between India and Eswatini were held in Mbabane.
During the Foreign Office Consultations, both delegations reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relationship between India and Eswatini, covering political exchanges, development partnership projects, defence cooperation, trade and economic matters, and consular issues.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the existing bilateral ties and noted the need to strengthen them further.

It was noted that India opened its High Commission in Eswatini in 2019 and that India looks forward to the opening of the High Commission of Eswatini in India at the earliest to continue this momentum in bilateral relations.

Both sides also discussed multilateral issues of mutual interest, including UN Security Council reforms, Peace and Security in Eastern and Southern Africa, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA, Southern African Development Community, SADC and Southern African Customs Union, SACU.
Both sides agreed to continue high level political exchanges and regular meetings of the joint institutional mechanisms to keep the partnership vibrant and mutually beneficial.

Khelo India University Games Ashtalakshmi

Khelo India University Games Ashtalakshmi has begun formally in Guwahati.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Sports minister Anurag Singh Thakur attended the glittering inauguration ceremony at Sarusajai stadium in Guwahati.
A total of 213 universities from across the country have participated in the event.

Mr. Modi urges all players to play with full sprit . He said that youths are getting more and more opportunities through the Khelo India games being held at various parts of the country.
The Prime Minister said that the time has come that society should develop the spirit of encouraging the players who excel in the field of sports.
He said that North East produced some excellent players.
He said that 3500 crore rupees have been allocated in the budget for Sports . Addressing the gathering Union Sports minister Mr. Thakur said that the Khelo India games are being held successfully and became a platform for young sports persons to display their talents.
He lauded the sportspersons for winning 107 medals in recently concluded Asian Games.
The Union minister mentioned that India wish to hold youth Olympics in 2029 and summer Olympics in 2030.

World’s First Wooden Satellite

NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the world’s first wooden satellite, dubbed the LignoSat probe, is poised for imminent launch.
Developed by Kyoto University scientists in partnership with Sumitomo Forestry, this innovative initiative aims to revolutionize spaceflight operations by prioritizing sustainability.
The LignoSat probe represents a pioneering effort to mitigate the environmental impact of space missions.

Traditional metallic satellites contribute to atmospheric pollution upon re-entry, potentially harming Earth’s fragile ozone layer.
Constructed from wood sourced from magnolia trees, the LignoSat probe offers a biodegradable alternative to conventional spacecraft materials.
Unlike metal counterparts, wooden satellites incinerate into harmless ash upon atmospheric re-entry, minimizing environmental damage.
Rigorous testing aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has validated the viability of wood as a space-grade material.

Magnolia wood, identified for its durability, emerged as the optimal choice after extensive timber profiling.
Successful deployment and operation of LignoSat could herald a paradigm shift in satellite construction methods.
If proven effective, wood may become a viable material for future satellite endeavors, fostering a more sustainable approach to space exploration. The advent of wooden satellites challenges traditional sci-fi portrayals of space technology, prompting a reimagining of future space infrastructure.
This pioneering venture underscores the necessity of eco-conscious innovation in shaping the trajectory of space exploration.

Young Scientist Programme

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) introduces the “Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram” (YUVIKA) to foster the innate curiosity of children and youth towards space science.
YUVIKA aims to impart fundamental knowledge on Space Science, Technology, and Applications, particularly targeting rural areas.
The program aspires to ignite interest in STEM fields and nurture future talents in space exploration. To provide basic knowledge on Space Science, Technology, and Applications, with a focus on emerging trends.

Two weeks of classroom training, practical experiments, hands-on activities, interactions with ISRO scientists, and field visits.
YUVIKA was successfully conducted in 2019, 2022, and 2023, witnessing increasing participation from students across all states and union territories of India.
Curriculum: Includes classroom lectures, robotics challenges, rocket/satellite assembly, sky gazing, technical facility visits, and interactions with space scientists.

Sominsai Festival

The millennia-old tradition of the Sominsai festival, deeply ingrained in Japanese heritage, has recently concluded its last celebration, marking the end of an era.
Sominsai festival was a revered annual event held at the Kokuseki Temple. Commencing on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year and lasting through the night, it was a profound display of tradition and spirituality.
Central to the festival was a fervent display of tradition, where numerous men, clad only in their skin, engaged in spirited wrestling matches over wooden talismans.

Their chants of “jasso, joyasa,” aimed at warding off evil, echoed through the surrounding cedar forest. Regrettably, the festival has faltered in the face of Japan’s aging population crisis. The weight of organizing such an intricate event became too much for the elderly custodians of tradition, who struggled to uphold its demands.
The demographic changes have disproportionately impacted Japan’s rural communities, including those around Kokuseki Temple. With younger generations migrating to urban centers, the continuity of age-old customs is under threat.

While some temples have altered their rituals to suit evolving demographics and societal norms, others, like Kokuseki Temple, have chosen a more subdued path. The decision to replace the festival with prayer ceremonies reflects a dedication to preserving spiritual practices amidst changing times.
In a rapidly changing world, safeguarding such traditions becomes increasingly essential for Japan’s cultural identity.
In its absence, Kokuseki Temple and its devotees will continue to pursue spiritual enlightenment through new avenues, all while honoring the rich traditions of the past and embracing the future’s challenges.

Current Affairs 20 February Question

Khelo India University Games Ashtalakshmi Held At
A. Meghalaya
B. Assam
C. Tripura
D. Mizoram
ANSWER: B
Young Scientist Programme Is Launched By
A. CSIR
B. ISRO
C. DRDO
D. BARC
ANSWER: B
LignoSat Seen In News Is Satellite Launched By
A. ISRO
B. JAXA
C. DRDO
D. ESA
ANSWER: B
Sominsai Festival Seen In News Relates To Which Country
A. China
B. South Korea
C. Japan
D. Russia
ANSWER: C
Primary Objective Of Cassini Huygens Mission
A. Analyzing The Composition Of Asteroids
B. Exploring About Black Holes
C. Investigating The Atmosphere And Moons Of Saturn
D. Searching For Exoplanets
ANSWER: C
Where Was The 16th World Social Forum 2024 Meeting Held
A. Bhutan
B. New Delhi
C. Kathmandu
D. Bangladesh
ANSWER: C
Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojan Is An Initiative Of Which State
A. Jharkhand
B. Haryana
C. Rajasthan
D. Uttar Pradesh
ANSWER: D
Which Bank Has Clinched Title Of ‘Best Technology Bank Of The Year Award
A. State Bank Of India
B. South Indian Bank
C. HDFC Bank
D. Regional Rural Banks
ANSWER: B
Which Country Is Launching ‘Dream Of The Desert’ Train In The Middle East
A. Saudi Arabia
B. Iraq
C. Iran
D. Oman
ANSWER: A
Shumang Leela Is A Traditional Form Of Theatre Performed In Which State
A. Mizoram
B. Sikkim
C. Assam
D. Manipur
ANSWER: D
Economics Of Food System Transformation’ Is Released By Which
Organization
A. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
B. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
C. Food System Economics Commission (FSEC)
D. World Bank
ANSWER: C
Which Indian State Was Theme State Of World’s Largest International Crafts
Fair, Surajkund Mela 2024
A. Gujarat
B. Rajasthan
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Maharashtra
ANSWER: A
Which State Won Nagesh Trophy In Men’s National T20 Cricket For Blind
A. Maharashtra
B. Kerala
C. Karnataka
D. Gujarat
ANSWER: C
Thrips Parvispinus Belongs To Which One Of The Following Species
A. Invasive pest species
B. Butterfly
C. Spider
D. Fish
ANSWER: A
Which Country Recently Adopted Nagoya Protocol On Access And Benefit
Sharing
A. Angola
B. Gabon
C. Cameroon
D. Rwanda
ANSWER: C
Vaccine Safety Net Which Was Seen In News, Is An Initiative Of Which
Organisation
A. UNICEF
B. WHO
C. UNFPA
D. UNDP
ANSWER: B
Bannerghatta National Park, Is Located In Which State
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Maharashtra
C. Karnataka
D. Gujarat
ANSWER: C
Mahmudia Wetland, Is Located In Which Country
A. Romania
B. Norway
C. Sweden
D. Serbia
ANSWER: A
Right To Disconnect’ Bill Is Recently Introduced By Which Country
A. Russia
B. Australia
C. India
D. USA
ANSWER: B
Which Ruler Stamped Figure Of Goddess Lakshmi On His Coins And Had His
Name Inscribed In Nagari Characters
A. Muhammad Ghazni
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq
D. Iltutmish
ANSWER: B