This is the current affairs of 15 February 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. In which city of UAE did PM Modi inaugurate the first Hindu temple (made of stone) in February 2024?
a. Dubai
b. Abu Dhabi
c. Tel Aviv
d. Sharjah
Answer: b. Abu Dhabi (Capital of UAE)
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Hindu temple built of stone in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abu Dhabi, on February 14, 2024.
– This temple has been built by the BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan) organization. This is the same organization that built the Akshardham temple.
– The carving on each stone was done in Rajasthan, the land was donated by the prince of Abu Dhabi, and people of all religions participated in its construction.
What PM Modi said:
– Addressing the people present in the hall of the temple complex, PM Modi said, “This temple is a symbol for the world. The biggest contribution to this temple is from my brother Sheikh Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (President of the UAE). President Nahyan said yes to the proposal for the temple without wasting even a moment. He told me that whatever land you mark, I will give it to you.”
About the Temple Construction:
– The idea for constructing the temple came to the BAPS Acharya in 1997.
– Land search for the temple began in 2012.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited UAE in 2015. Since then, there has been rapid progress in the temple construction plan.
– When the plan to build the temple was made, the biggest challenge was laying the foundation of the temple. Abu Dhabi has sandy land.
– However, when experts excavated different places, it was found that underneath the land where the temple was being built, there were several kilometers of long and wide rocks. – These rocks not only covered the temple but also the surrounding area for several kilometers.
– On April 20, 2019, Mahant Swami Maharaj and PM Modi laid the foundation stone of this temple.
– Nearly 5 years later, on February 14, 2024, PM Modi and Mahant Swami Maharaj inaugurated the temple.
About the Temple:
– This temple in Abu Dhabi spreads across 27 acres.
– Approximately 700 crores rupees were spent on its construction.
– The temple is built in Nagar style.
– No carving work on any statue was done in Abu Dhabi.
– Construction of more than ten thousand statues and other infrastructure was done in Rajasthan’s Sirohi and Dungarpur districts in India.
– There is a workshop of BAPS’ many years old carving work.
– Then, they were brought to Abu Dhabi from Mundra Port in Gujarat by water ships.
– Here, these pillars and other things were assembled.
Symbols of Arab Countries on the Temple Walls:
– It is constructed with the collaboration of the federation of 7 emirates of the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain.
– Due to this, seven Hindu deities are enshrined in the seven spires of the temple. There are seven sanctums in the temple.
BAPS’ 1200 Temples Worldwide:
– BAPS stands for Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha.
– It is a Hindu socio-spiritual organization headquartered in Ahmedabad.
– It has more than 1200 temples worldwide.
– The Akshardham temples in Ahmedabad and Delhi were also built by this organization.
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2. In which city was the World Government Summit 2024 held, in which PM Modi participated?
a. Delhi (India)
b. New York (USA)
c. Doha (Qatar)
d. Dubai (UAE)
Answer: d. Dubai (UAE)
– Where and When It Was Organized: In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 12th to 14th, 2024.
– Theme: “Shaping Governments of the Future”
– The Summit was attended by 20 world leaders, including 10 Presidents and 10 Prime Ministers.
– Representatives of governments and delegates from more than 120 countries participated.
– The World Government Summit is an annual gathering of global leaders and policymakers held in Dubai, UAE.
– Established in 2013, it provides a platform for collaboration on innovative governance models through debates, presentations, and interactive dialogues between public and private sectors.
UAE
– Capital: Abu Dhabi
– President: Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
– Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
– Currency: UAE Dirham
– Population: 9.2 million
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3. For which project did India receive the 9th GovTech Award at the World Government Summit 2024?
a. AMRUT
b. CPWD
c. pKRTS
d. iRASTE
Answer: d. iRASTE
– In the World Government Summit 2024, India was honored with the 9th GovTech Award.
– Category of the Award: AI-Driven Government Services.
– Project for which the Award was received: iRASTE (Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety through Technology and Engineering) by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.
– The GovTech Award was presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.
– The Commercial Attaché at the Indian Embassy received the award on behalf of India.
About iRASTE:
– Full Name: Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety through Technology and Engineering.
– iRASTE is an initiative involving the government, industry, and education sectors, bringing a revolution in road safety through AI technology.
– iRASTE utilizes a secure system perspective for vehicle safety, dynamic analysis, and safety of basic infrastructure. The project employs AI to transform road safety engineering.
– iRASTE has been deployed in Nagpur and Telangana. The project’s initial pilot phase, known as the Telangana Project, is a road safety initiative utilizing Collision Avoidance System (CAS) in Hyderabad’s vehicle fleet.
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4. Adani Green Energy Limited to start power generation in the world’s largest renewable energy project in February 2024, where is it located?
a. Khawra, Kutch (Gujarat)
b. Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)
c. Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
d. Malihabad, Lucknow (UP)
Answer: a. Khawra, Kutch (Gujarat)
World’s Largest Renewable Energy Project:
– Location: Khavda, Kutch (Gujarat)
– Established by: Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL)
– Electricity Generation: Solar and Wind (Wind) Energy
– Total Capacity of the Plant: 30 Gigawatts (Approximately supplying electricity to 18 million households)
– Production Capacity Started in February 2024: 551 Megawatts (Capacity will gradually increase)
– Full Capacity Expected to Start: Within Five Years
– Area Covered by the Plant: 726 Square Kilometers (Solar power plant is located in the Rann of Kutch. This area is barren.)
Production Started in Just 12 Months:
– Announcement of production start made by Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group.
– Adani Green Energy stated that the company has achieved milestones within just 12 months of starting work on the Khavda RE Park.
– This includes the development of basic infrastructure including roads and connectivity.
Important Facts:
– The Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, India, is the world’s largest solar energy plant.
– This park covers an area of 14,000 acres and has a capacity of 2,245 megawatts (2.2 gigawatts), which is sufficient to power 1.3 million homes.
Note: Adani’s plant in Gujarat is a renewable energy project that includes both solar and wind energy. This gives it a capacity of 30 gigawatts.
Gujarat
– Capital: Gandhinagar
– Chief Minister: Bhupendra Patel
– Governor: Acharya Devvrat
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5. Which country declared a national emergency in February 2024 due to oil spill caused by a ship capsizing in the sea?
a. Venezuela
b. Trinidad and Tobago
c. Spanish
d. British
Answer: b. Trinidad and Tobago
– Trinidad and Tobago is a twin-island nation located off the northern coast of the South American mainland.
– Prime Minister Keith Rowley declared a national emergency on February 12, 2024.
Oil Spill:
– In Trinidad and Tobago, a ship overturned near a Caribbean island, causing an oil spill.
– Approximately 15 kilometers of coastline were affected by this spill.
– The ship overturned on February 7th off the coast of the Cove Eco-Industrial Park in southern Tobago, and the waves pushed it towards the shore.
– Environmental officials stated that the spill has caused damage to a coral reef and Atlantic coastlines.
– This spill comes at the peak of the carnival season, posing a threat to the tourism industry, which is vital for the economy of the twin-island nation.
Trinidad and Tobago:
– It is a Caribbean island nation.
– Capital: Port of Spain
– President: Christine Kangaloo
– PM: Keith Rowley
– Population: 1.53 million
– Currency: Trinidad and Tobago Dollar
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6. Which North-Eastern state declared ‘Kazi Nemu’ (sour lemon) as the state fruit?
a. Sikkim
b. Arunachal Pradesh
c. Assam
d. Tripura
Answer: c. Assam
– Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made this announcement.
– Kaji Nemoo is known for its unique fragrance and health benefits and has received the ‘Geographical Indication’ (GI) tag.
About Kaji Nemoo:
– Kaji Nemoo is a native of Assam, known for its tangy flavor.
– This type of lemon is oval-shaped and has a thin, smooth skin that is light green in color.
– Its cultivation is done on 15.9 hectares of land, with a production of 1.58 metric tons.
– In the last two years, this fruit has been exported to several countries, including the Middle East.
– Kaji Nemoo is a highly valuable fruit for its culinary and medicinal properties.
– It has a distinctively strong and tangy flavor, which adds a delicious taste to various dishes.
Kaji Nemoo is a popular ingredient in traditional Assamese cuisine.
Assam:
– Capital: Dispur
– Languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo
– Population: 34.18 million
– Governor: Gulab Chand Kataria
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7. What was the retail inflation rate in the country in January 2024?
a. 5.10%
b. 5.83%
c. 7.25%
d. 8.65%
Answer: a. 5.10%
– The inflation rate is within the tolerance limit set by the RBI in January. According to the RBI, the inflation rate should be between 2 to 6 percent.
Who issues the report on retail inflation?
– The report on retail inflation is issued by the NSO (National Statistical Office).
– It falls under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
How is the retail inflation rate determined?
– It is determined based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
– It calculates the inflation of items such as food, fruits, clothing, footwear, housing, fuel, electricity, and others.
– As consumers, you and I purchase goods from the retail market. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures changes in the prices we pay for goods and services, reflecting the average cost that we pay.
How does the RBI control inflation?
– To reduce inflation, the flow of money (liquidity) in the market is reduced.
– For this purpose, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increases the repo rate.
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8. In which city will the 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad be held, the torch of which was handed over by the Union Sports Minister to the FIDE President in February 2024?
a. Kolkata (India)
b. Paris, (France)
c. Melbourne (Australia)
d. Budapest (Hungary)
Answer: d. Budapest (Hungary)
Chess Olympiad’s 45th Edition
– Scheduled Dates: September 10 to September 23, 2024
– Venue: Budapest, Hungary
– President of FIDE (International Chess Federation): Arkady Dvorkovich
Previous Chess Olympiad in India:
– The 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad was held in Chennai, India.
– For the first time, before the Olympiad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the Torch Relay for the inaugural Chess Olympiad at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi on June 19, 2022.
– It was then decided that one host country would pass the torch to the other host country.
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9. Who became the new President of ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India)?
a. Rahul Agarwal
b. Pankaj Aggarwal
c. Ranjit Kumar Agarwal
d. Vinod Kumar Agarwal
Answer: c. Ranjit Kumar Agarwal
– CA Ranjit Kumar Agrawal has been appointed as the 72nd President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
– He will hold this prestigious position until the year 2024-25.
– The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a regulatory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.
– Its main function is to regulate and develop the profession of Chartered Accountants in the country.
– The institution is administratively controlled by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs of the Government of India.
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10. When is World Unani Day celebrated?
a. 10 February
b. 11 February
c. 12 February
d. 13 February
Answer: b. 11 February
Theme for 2024:
– “One Earth, One Health” with Greek Medicine
– Greek Medicine for One Meaning, One Health
– The birth anniversary of renowned Greek scholar Mohammad Ajmal Khan (Hakim Ajmal Khan) is celebrated on February 11th as this day.
– This day has been declared by the Government of India’s Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy).
– The first World Unani Day was organized on February 11, 2017.
– This day is focused on promoting the Unani medical system into the mainstream.
Central AYUSH Minister – Sarbananda Sonowal
