GK February 2024

 

Awards

The former Indian international civil servant, writer and MP from Kerala who has been awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by the French Government – Dr. Shashi Tharoor

 

Defence

The 5th edition of joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defence Force held at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan from 25th February to 9th March 2024 is named – Exercise Dharma Guardian

The trilateral exercise held in Maldives from 22 to 25 February involving coast guard ships from India, Sri Lanka and Maldives was named – Dosti-16

The venue of multi-national peacekeeping exercise Shanti Prayas IV with participation of 19 countries – Kathmandu, Nepal

The place in Rajasthan where Indian Air Force has conducted Exercise Vayu Shakti-24 with the theme Lightning Strike from the Sky – Pokhran, Jaisalmer

The first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ship, commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on February 03, 2024 is named – INS Sandhayak

 

Places

The place in Sikkim where the foundation stone of its first railway station was laid by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi – Rangpo

The city of United Arab Emirates in which the first Hindu stone temple (built by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha) was inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi – Abu Dhabi

The city in which the Regional Centre of Sangeet Nataka Akademi, named Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra was inaugurated by the former Vice-President Shri Venkaiah Naidu – Hyderabad

The country which has granted Golden Visa to Super 30 founder Shri Anand Kumar – UAE

 

Persons

The Indian ghazal and playback singer, recipient of Padma Shri who passed away on 26 February 2024 – Pankaj Udhas

The former Chief Minister of Maharashtra (1995 to 1999) and Speaker of Lok Sabha (2002 to 2004) who passed away on 23.02.2024 – Shri Manohar Joshi

The well-known radio announcer famous for the programme Binaca Geetmala, who passed away on 20.02.2024 – Ameen Sayani

The new Chief Minister of Jharkhand who has taken over following the resignation Shri Hemant Soren – Shri Champai Soren

 

Sports

The team which was defeated by Indian women's team in the finals to win the Badminton Asia Team Championship 2024 – Thailand

The Indian off-spinner who has become the second Indian and the ninth man to take 500 wickets in test cricket (dismissing England's Zak Crawley at Rajkot) – R. Ashwin

The Indian tennis player who has won the 2024 Chennai Open Challenger tournament defeating Italian player Luca Nardi in the finals – Sumit Nagal

The marathon world record holder from Kenya who passed away on 11 February 2024 in a road accident – Kelvin Kiptum

 

Miscellaneous

India's longest cable-stayed bridge (length 2320 metres) connecting Beyt Dwaraka and Okha inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is named – Sudarshan Setu

The Nova-C class lunar lander launched by American Company Intuitive Machines which landed on moon on 22 February 2024 is named – Odysseus

The indigenous variety of lemon which has been declared to be state fruit of Assam by its cabinet – Kaji Nemu

The company which has become the first Indian company to cross Rs. 20 lakh-crore in market capitalisation – Reliance Industries

The rank of India according to the World Bank's 'Logistics Performance Index Report (2023) for 139 countries – 38

The airport in Gujarat which has been granted the status of an international airport by the Govt of India – Surat

The venue for the second part of Khelo India Winter Games 2024 to be held from 21 to 25 February 2024 – Gulmarg

The venue for the first part of Khelo India Winter Games 2024 held from 02 to 06 February 2024 – Leh

 

Eminent Jurist Fali S Nariman

Eminent jurist Fali Sam Nariman passed away on 21.02.2024.

He was a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India

He was the Additional Solicitor General of India from May 1972 to June 1975.

He was recipient of the Padma Bhushan (1991), Padma Vibhushan (2007) and Gruber Prize for Justice (2002)

He was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1999 to 2005.

His autobiography is titled Before Memory Fades.

 

Launch of INSAT-3DS

Launch date: 17 February 2024

Launched from: Prof Satish Dhawan Space Centre

Launch vehicle: GSLV Mk II F14

Type of satellite: Meteorological satellite

 

Bharat Ratna

The following eminent personalities have been awarded the Bharat Ratna by the Government of India

1. Shri L.K. Advani, former Deputy PM and Home Minister of India

2. Shri P.V. Narsimha Rao, former PM of India (posthumous)

3. Shri Charan Singh, former PM of India (posthumous)

4. Shri M.S. Swaminathan, renowned agricultural scientist (posthumous)

 

66th Grammy Awards 2024

Record of the Year: Flowers by Miley Cirus

Album of the Year: Midnights by Taylor Swift

Song of the Year: What was I made for? by Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: As We Speak – Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer featuring Rakesh Chaurasia

Best Global Music Performance: Pashto by Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain featuring Rakesh Chaurasia

 

Important Days of February

World Wetlands Day: 02 February 2024

Designated by: Ramsar Convention Secretariat

Theme: Wetlands and Human Wellbeing

First Observed in: 1997

World Cancer Day: 04 February 2024

Designated by: Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

Theme: Close the Care Gap.

First Observed in: 2000

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation: 06 February 2024

Designated by: U.N.O.

First Observed in: 2013

Theme: Her Voice, Her Future

Safer Internet Day: 06 February 2024

Designated by: European Union

Theme: Together for a better internet

First Observed in: 2004

World Pulses Day: 10 February 2024

Designated by: U.N.O.

First Observed in: 2020

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 11 February 2024

Designated by: U.N.O.

First Observed in: 2016

World Radio Day: 13 February 2024

Designated by: UNESCO

Theme: Radio: A century informing, entertaining and educating

First Observed in: 2013

World Day of Social Justice: 20 February 2024

Designated by: UN General Assembly

First Observed in: 2008

International Mother Language Day: 21 February 2024

Designated by: UN General Assembly

Theme: Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning

First Observed in: 2008

Rare Disease Day: 29 February 2024 (Last day of February)

Designated by: European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS)

First Observed in: 2008

Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2024

• Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan
• Best Actress: Rani Mukerji for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway
• Best Film: Jawan directed by Atlee
• Best Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga (Animal)
• Best Actor (Critics): Vicky Kaushal (Sam Bahadur)
• Best Actress (Critics): Kareena Kapoor (Jaane Jaan)
• Best Film (Critics): 12th Fail directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra
• Best Director (Critics): Atlee (Jawan)

 

Henley Passport Index 2024

Rank	Country
1.	France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain
2.	Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden
3.	Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxemburg, United Kingdom
64.	China
85.	India

 

77th British Academy Film Awards

Best Film: Oppenheimer directed by Christopher Nolan

Best Director: Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer

Best Actor: Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer

Best Actress: Emma Stone for Poor Things

Most awards: Oppenheimer (7)

Most nominations: Oppenheimer (13)

 

Newly Designated Ramsar Sites in India

The following 5 new sites were added to the list of Ramsar Sites in India on the occasion of World Wetlands Day 2024, India increasing its tally of Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) to 80 from existing 75.

1. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (Karnataka)

2. Aghanashini Estuary (Karnataka)

3. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve (Karnataka)

4. Karaivetti Bird sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)

5. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu)