Honours & Awards
1. Dr. Mahendra Mishra to receive International Mother Language Award 2023
- An eminent linguist, Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mishra will be honored with UNESCO’s International Mother Language Award 2023.
- Reason: For the promotion of the mother language in India
- Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina will present this award to Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mishra at the International Mother Language Institute, Dhaka.
- He is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award for the promotion of a language.
- He is also the recipient of Odisha Sahitya Akademi.
Banking & Finance
2. South Indian Bank ties up with Maruti for car financing
- South Indian Bank has signed an MoU with Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) to help dealer partners streamline vehicle inventory funding.
- Under this partnership, they will also offer convenient and comprehensive retail financing solutions to their customers.
- It will cater to the business requirements of both companies and produce a significant synergistic effect.
- South Indian Bank MD and CEO: Murali Ramakrishnan; Headquarters: Thrissur
Banking & Finance
3. HDFC Bank to sell entire 9.95% stake in Softcell Technologies
- HDFC Bank has proposed to sell its entire stake of 9.95% (1,65,731 shares) in Softcell Technologies Global Pvt Ltd for ₹9.94 crore at ₹600.36 per share.
- In 2020, HDFC Bank sold a 2.05% stake (34,150 shares) in Softcell for Rs 1.47 crore.
- Softcell was founded on 6h September 2018 to sell Information Technology products and offers software and related services.
- HDFC Bank CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan; Headquarters: Mumbai
Banking & Finance
4. ICICI Bank signs MoU with European bank BNP Paribas
- ICICI Bank and European bank's BNP Paribas signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fulfill the banking needs of European corporates operating in India and Indian companies in the European Union.
- This MoU will set up a framework between the two banks for providing financial services to corporate customers operating in the India–Europe corridor.
- BNP Paribas Group has been in India since 1860.
- BNP Paribas provides a wide range of financial services.
Obituaries
5. Veteran actor Javed Khan Amrohi passes away
- Noted actor, Javed Khan Amrohi passed away at the age of 73 due to lung failure.
- He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for the film 'Lagaan'.
- He worked in about 150 movies including Andaz Apna Apna (1994), and Chak De! India (2007).
- He also worked in TV series such as Mirza Ghalib (directed by Gulzar) and Karim (the barber) in Nukkad (directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza).
- He was also a member of the acting faculty at the Zee Institute of Media Arts.
Sports
6. Smriti Mandhana becomes the Most Expensive Player in WPL with ₹3.4 crore
- Indian Women's cricket player, Smriti Mandhana became the most expensive women’s pick in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction.
- She has been bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for 3.40 Cr.
- A total of 87 players were bought by the five franchises for a sum total of Rs. 59.50 Cr.
- The second costliest Indian player is all-rounder Deepti Sharma who was bought by UP Warriorz for Rs 2.6 crore.
- Indian skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur was bought by Mumbai Indians.
Important Dates
7. International Childhood Cancer Day 2023: 15th February
- International Childhood Cancer Day is observed annually on February 15 to raise awareness and show support for children who are suffering from cancer.
- In 2021, the three-year campaign for International Childhood Cancer Day was started.
- The theme for the three-year campaign is ‘Better Survival’.
- The campaign is an attempt to meet the WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative's goal of at least 60% of children diagnosed with cancer worldwide surviving by 2030.
State Affairs
8. Kerala launched Monthly Stipend Scheme for Junior Lawyers
- Kerala CM, Pinarayi Vijayan has launched the monthly stipend scheme for junior lawyers in Kerala.
- Under this scheme, a monthly stipend of Rs. 3,000 will be provided to junior lawyers in the State.
- Eligibility for stipend:
- Lawyers below 30 years of age with less than three years of practice.
- Annual income less than Rs. 1 lakh.
- The scheme will be implemented by the Bar Council of the state.
- Junior lawyers are law graduates who work under attorneys or legal associates.
Science & Technology
9. Saudi Arabia to send its first woman astronaut into space
- A Saudi Arabian woman, Rayyana Barnawi will become the first woman astronaut from Saudi Arabia to go on a space mission.
- She will join fellow Saudi astronaut, Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
- Barnawi and Al-Qarni will fly to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a mission by Axiom Space.
- The Ax-2 mission will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
National Affairs
10. Bihar among states that allocated more towards education
- According to the government data, the States/UTs - Delhi, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh - allocated a higher portion of their budget expenditure on education.
- Delhi spent 22% of its budget, while Assam spent 20% and HP spent 19%.
- Among the big States, such as Chhattisgarh and Bihar allocate 18.82% and 18.3% respectively, of the State’s estimated net budget expenditure to education.
- Other allocations:
- Maharashtra: Rs 80,437
- UP: Rs 75,165 crores
- WB: Rs 43,466 crores
Banking & Finance
11. RBI announces 2nd global hackathon HARBINGER 2023
- The Reserve Bank announced its second global hackathon -- 'HARBINGER 2023 - Innovation for Transformation'.
- Theme: Inclusive Digital Services
- Aim: To develop solutions that have the potential to make digital financial services accessible
- The RBI has invited innovative ideas in four segments.
- Differently-abled
- Facilitate efficient compliance
- Extend the reach of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)
- Enhance the scalability of blockchains
- RBI governor: Shaktikanta Das
Banking & Finance
12. CBDT notifies 6 income tax return forms for AY 2023-24
- The Income Tax Department has notified the New Income Tax Return (ITR) filing forms for individuals and businesses for Assessment Year 2023-24 (FY 2022-23).
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified six ITR forms - ITR-1 SAHAJ, ITR-2, ITR-3, ITR-4 SUGAM, ITR-5, ITR-6
- The CBDT has also notified ITR-V (verification form), and ITR acknowledgment form.
- The forms will come into effect from April 1, 2023.
- CBDT Chairman: Nitin Gupta
National Affairs
13. Namami Gange Mission-II approved with a budgetary outlay of ₹22,500 cr
- The government has approved Namami Gange Mission-II with a budgetary outlay of Rs.22,500 crore till 2026.
- It also includes the projects for existing liabilities of Rs.11,225 crore and new projects/interventions of ₹11,275 crore.
- The Government has released a total of Rs.14,084.72 crore to the NMCG, from 2014-15 till 31st January 2023.
- Out of which, NMCG has released Rs.13,607.18 crore to State Governments to implement Ganga-related projects.
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