These current affairs today are a part of our daily current affairs series. We cover a wide range of topics from state, national, and international news that are relevant and important for competitive exams. Our team prepares daily current affairs after going through many newspapers, such as The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, PRS, etc.
Scroll down for daily current affairs for 4 & 5 February 2024.
Key Appointments in Ministries Approved by Appointment Committee
- The Appointment Committee of the Union Cabinet has granted approval for the appointment of various senior officers to key positions in different Ministries.
- Apurva Chandra is now the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
- Sanjay Jaju assumes the role of Secretary of Information and Broadcasting.
- Raj Kumar Goyal takes charge as the Secretary of the Department of Border Management in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Niten Chandra is appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the Ministry of Defence.
- K. Moses Chalai is designated as the Secretary of the Inter State Council Secretariat in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Anil Malik becomes Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- Sumita Dawra is appointed Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Labour and Employment.
- Vijay Kumar is approved as the Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, with the post temporarily upgraded.
- Ashish Kumar Bhutani takes on the role of Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation.
Indian Musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain’s Fusion Band Shakti Wins Grammy
- Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain’s fusion band Shakti has been honoured with a Grammy award in the Best Global Music Album category for their latest album, “This Moment.”
- The album, featuring John McLaughlin, Zakir Khan, V Selvaganesh, and Ganesh Rajagopalan, was released in June of the previous year.
- Zakir Hussain also secures a Grammy in the Best Global Music Performance category for his contribution to Pashto, alongside Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia.
- Rakesh Chaurasia, the veteran Indian classical flute artist, achieves a dual Grammy win for his collaborative album “As We Speak” in the Best Contemporary Instrumental and Best Global Music Performance categories.
New York to Host FIFA World Cup 2026
- New York is set to host the FIFA World Cup final in 2026, prevailing over contenders Dallas and Los Angeles.
- The decisive game will take place at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, with a capacity of 82,500.
- The U.S. is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, starting June 11 with a match at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
- The tournament will witness the final on July 26, making New York the focal point of the sporting world.
Mukesh Ambani Tops Brand Guardianship Index Globally
- Billionaire Mukesh Ambani has secured the top position among all Indians and is ranked second globally in the Brand Guardianship Index 2024 by Brand Finance.
- The Brand Guardianship Index recognises CEOs building sustainable business value by balancing the needs of stakeholders.
- N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, climbs to No.5, and Anish Shah of Mahindra & Mahindra ranks No.6.
- Infosys’ Salil Parekh is positioned at No.16. Ambani, at No.2 globally, leads in the ‘Diversified’ conglomerates category, surpassing global leaders like Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook, and Elon Musk.
HDFC Bank Enlists Banks for Probable Dollar Bond Issue
- HDFC Bank, India’s largest private-sector bank, has engaged banks for a potential dollar bond sale.
- The bank contemplates issuing three-year sustainability dollar bonds and five-year conventional notes.
- Barclays, Bank of America, J.P.Morgan, MUFG, and Standard Chartered are appointed as joint bookrunners and lead managers for fixed-income investor update calls in Asia and Europe.
- HDFC Bank’s Regulation-S notes are anticipated to be rated Baa3 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P.
- In February 2023, HDFC Bank last accessed the dollar bond market, raising $750 million through three-year dollar-denominated bonds at a 5.686% coupon.
REC Limited Recognized with Best Green Bond – Corporate Award
- REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise, has received the prestigious Best Green Bond – Corporate Award at The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable Finance 2024.
- The award acknowledges REC’s issuance of $750 million USD Green Bonds in April 2023, marking India’s first USD Green Bond post assuming G20 Presidency.
- The Asset Triple A Awards recognize organizations excelling in sustainable finance, and REC’s Green Bond Tranche was notably the largest by a South or South-East Asian issuer.
- The bond, with a minimum new issue premium of 7.5 bps, demonstrates REC’s commitment to financing projects addressing climate change and promoting environmental sustainability.
Thyrocare Acquires Think Health Diagnostics
- Thyrocare, a diagnostic and preventive healthcare service provider, has acquired a 100% stake in Think Health Diagnostics, based in Chennai, for an undisclosed amount.
- The acquisition marks Thyrocare’s entry into the domain of ECG services at home, expanding its presence in the pre-policy medical check-up segment for the insurance market.
- The merged entity leverages Think Health’s operational presence in 10 cities and combines Thyrocare’s extensive network of blood collection phlebotomists with Think Health’s expertise in home healthcare technology and ECG services.
Telangana to Adopt New Abbreviation ‘TG’ and Unveils State Anthem
- The Telangana government has decided to change the state’s abbreviation from ‘TS’ to ‘TG’.
- This decision, made during the state Cabinet meeting, extends to vehicle registration numbers, which will now feature ‘TG’ as the prefix.
- Alongside the change in abbreviation, the state will adopt a new state anthem, “Jaya Jaya Ho Telangana,” composed by award-winning Indian poet and lyricist Andre Sri.
- The symbolic mother goddess of the state, Telangana Talli, will also be unveiled in a new appearance.
Government Introduces Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha
- The Lok Sabha witnessed the introduction of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 by Minister of State for Personnel Dr Jitendra Singh.
- The primary aim of this legislation is to curb unfair means in public examinations, fostering transparency, fairness, and credibility in the examination systems. The bill targets individuals, groups, or institutions engaging in unfair practices for monetary and wrongful gains, intending to deter such activities effectively and legally.
- Candidates, as per the bill’s definition, will not face liabilities within its purview but will remain subject to the existing administrative provisions of the relevant public examination authority. The bill is proposed to serve as a model for states to adopt voluntarily, aiding them in safeguarding state-level public examinations from disruptions caused by criminal elements.
- Additionally, the Lok Sabha also saw the introduction of the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aiming to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, presented by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
Uttarakhand High Court Welcomes First Woman Chief Justice, Ritu Bahri
- Justice Ritu Bahri has made history by being sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. Her appointment marks a significant milestone, making her the second woman to hold such a position among the 25 high courts in the country.
- The oath of office was administered by Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh. Justice Bahri, prior to her current role, served as a judge in the Punjab and Haryana High Court since 2010.
- She brings a wealth of experience, specializing in civil, constitutional, taxation, labor, and service matters. Her appointment is a notable achievement, contributing to the advancement of women in key positions within the Indian judiciary.
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