1 Khelo India Youth Games concluded
Khelo India Youth Games concluded. Maharashtra topped these games for the fourth time with a total of 158 medals . These include 57 gold, 48 silver and 53 bronze medals. Host Tamil Nadu finished second with a total of 97 medals including 38 gold, 20 silver and 39 bronze while Haryana finished third with 35 gold, 22 silver and 46 bronze. finished . Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur participated in the closing ceremony.
2 Government appoints members of 16th Finance Commission
The Government appointed four members of the Sixteenth Finance Commission on the recommendation of the President . These include former Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha , former Special Secretary-Expenditure, Annie George Mathew , Dr Niranjan Rajadhyaksha , Executive Director, Earth Global as full-time member and Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Chief Economic Advisor, State Bank of India Group, as part-time member. The Sixteenth Finance Commission was constituted on 31 December , headed by Arvind Panagariya , former vice-chairman of NITI Aayog . The Sixteenth Finance Commission has been given the responsibility of giving recommendations for a period of 5 years from April 1, 2026. These recommendations are to be given by October 31, 2025.
3 IMC got the status of deemed university
The Ministry of Education has declared the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) , a premier institute of journalism and mass communication, as a deemed university under the special category on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC) . These are IIMC, New Delhi and Jammu (Jammu-Kashmir), Amravati (Maharashtra), Aizawl ( Mizoram ), Kottayam (Kerala) and Dhenkanal ( Odisha) . . This will also be applicable to ). With this new status IIMC is now authorized to confer degrees including doctoral degrees.
4 Kerala Janapakasam-Secular Party merged with Bharatiya Janata Party
Former Kerala MLA PC George merged his Kerala Janapakasam-Secular Party with the Bharatiya Janata Party . The merger was witnessed by Union ministers V Muraleedharan and Rajiv Chandrashekhar and senior party leader Prakash Javadekar at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi . in the presence of . Speaking on the occasion, Mr Muraleedharan told reporters that this move would strengthen those supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming elections.
5. “Rekhi Center of Excellence for the Science of Happiness” inaugurated in the Department of Psychology, Kurukshetra University
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the ” Rekhi Center of Excellence for the Science of Happiness ” at the Department of Psychology, Kurukshetra University in Kurukshetra . The Happiness Centre , established in collaboration with Rekhi Foundation for Happiness, aims to provide a platform to students, teachers, staff and general public to adopt the principles of happiness, cope with changes in life and deal with challenges effectively.
6 Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren resigns; Transport Minister Champai Soren will be the new Chief Minister
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has resigned from the post. Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and Transport Minister Champai Soren will be the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand. All the MLAs of the ruling coalition are going from the Chief Minister’s residence to the Governor House in three tourist buses. A large number of security forces and police have been deployed at the Ranchi residence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. According to sources, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police, District Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi, Senior Superintendent of Police and many senior officers have reached the Chief Minister’s residence in Ranchi. The MLAs of the ruling party have been kept together.
7 Varanasi district court has given permission for worship in the basement of Vyasji located in Gyanvapi complex.
The district court of Varanasi gave permission for worship in the basement of Vyasji located in the Gyanvapi complex . District Judge Dr. Ajaykrishna Vishwesh issued order in this case. The court said that this decision should be implemented within a week. In this case, after the arguments of both the sides were completed yesterday, the judge had reserved the decision. Describing the court’s action, plaintiff’s advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said that Somnath Vyas’s family used to perform puja in the basement till 1993. Following the orders of the then state government, the puja was stopped. Recently, during the survey work, the basement was cleaned and on the orders of the court, Vyasji’s basement was handed over to the supervision of the District Magistrate. In such a situation, today the petition of plaintiff Shailendra Pathak has been accepted and permission has been given to perform regular puja there.
8 Delhi University’s School of Open Learning- SOL launches 21 courses based on Center for Innovative Skills
School of Open Learning – SOL, University of Delhi launched twenty-one courses based on the Center for Innovative Skills . All these courses are based on skill education as per the demand of modern times. In an event organized on the university campus, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh said that India needs more progress in service and manufacturing sectors to make it a developed nation by 2047. He said that for this skill based courses are needed. This center will prove helpful in providing students access to such courses.
9 Deputy Mayor of Delhi Municipal Corporation Aale Mohammad Iqbal launched the corporation’s ‘100 Days to Beat Plastic – Edition 2’ campaign
Delhi Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Aale Mohammad Iqbal launched the corporation’s ‘ 100 Days to Beat Plastic – Edition 2 ‘ campaign. Mr. Iqbal launched this campaign from Waste to Wonder Park located at Sarai Kale Khan in the capital . On this occasion, he said that the second edition of this unique campaign has been started by the Corporation to make the city ‘plastic free’ with public participation. The Deputy Mayor also appealed to the citizens not to use plastic in daily life.
10 The Ministries of Women and Child Development and Labor and Employment jointly organized an event titled “Saksham Nari Empowered India – Women in the Workforce for a Developed India” today in New Delhi
Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Labor and Employment jointly hosted an event titled “ Saksham Nari Empowered India – Women in the Workforce for a Developed India ” at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi . The program was presided over by Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs and Shri Bhupendra Yadav , Union Minister of Labor and Employment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in the presence of Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Minister of State for Women and Child Development and AYUSH. of. The event aimed to pave the way for women-led development by adopting a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach
11 ‘Ungalai Thedi, Ungalai Oril’ Scheme
The Tamil Nadu government has introduced guidelines for the “ Ungalai Thedi, Ungalai Oril ” outreach programme, launched by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is an initiative aimed at strengthening public services and plan implementation across the state. As part of the programme, collectors and senior district officials will spend 24 hours in a taluk (sub-district) every month to inspect infrastructure, review the functioning of the project and collect public feedback. The first meeting will take place this Wednesday. The teams will divide to cover as many sites as possible within the taluk.
12 Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan sentenced to 14-14 years imprisonment
An anti-corruption court in Pakistan has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan to 14 years in prison for illegally selling state gifts. This information was given by Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf Party. This is the third punishment given to the controversial former Prime Minister in the last few months. His party has said that the decision has declared Imran Khan ineligible to hold public office for 10 years. It is alleged that during his tenure as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, Imran Khan and his wife had illegally sold gifts worth more than Rs 14 crore received by the state.
13 INSAT-3DS satellites flagged off
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has given the go-ahead for the upcoming launch of its advanced weather satellite INSAT-3DS from Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC), Srihari Kota . The 2275 kg satellite launched from ISRO’s U.R. Assembly, integration and testing has been completed at the Rao Satellite Centre . It is now ready for flight on GSLV F14, scheduled for mid-February. INSAT-3DS is a follow-on satellite designed to provide continuity of services to the operational INSAT-3D and 3DR spacecraft. Its primary objective is to significantly enhance the capabilities of ISRO’s INSAT system for weather monitoring and disaster early warning.
14 Jadung village will be rehabilitated
Jadung village in Uttarkashi district was left vacant after the India-China war of 1962, which affected relations between the countries and left border disputes unresolved. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has taken control of the cold desert region of Ladakh since residents abandoned it. In a first of its kind initiative, the Government of Uttarakhand has decided to reconstruct and rehabilitate Jadung village as a major tourist destination. This well-connected area has potential for tourism development.
15 IEA released Electricity 2024 Report
According to the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) projections in the Electricity 2024 Report , India’s electricity demand will overtake China and have the world’s fastest growth rate by 2026 . India’s annual average electricity demand growth is estimated at 6.5% during 2024-2026. With this strong expansion, India’s additional power demand over the next three years will be almost equal to the UK’s total demand. According to IEA forecast, coal will meet 68% of India’s electricity needs in 2026. While down from coal’s 74% share in 2023, it highlights its continued dominance despite renewable growth. India to add 21 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2023 But renewable energy stagnated at 21% generation share as solar and wind development offset the decline in hydropower generation.
16 Khelo India Winter Games 2024 mascot, snow leopard ‘Sheen-e She’ unveiled
The mascot and logo of Khelo India Winter Games were launched. The most thrilling event for winter athletes – the first phase of Winter Games is being held for the first time in the Union Territory of Ladakh from 2-6 February . The second phase will be held in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir from 21-25 February. Keeping in mind the tradition and bio-diversity of the region, the mascot of the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 will be a a snow leopard has been made . It is named ‘ Sheen-e She ‘ or Shan in Ladakh region. The logo of the Games prominently depicts the uniqueness of the picturesque land and the diverse sports with the Indian Tricolour. This logo has been consecrated with the Dharmachakra on a mountain peak at Chanspa in Leh, the venue of these games. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur will inaugurate the opening ceremony of the Games at NDS Stadium, Leh on 2 February. Two types of competitions – ice hockey and speed skating – will be held at three places in Leh.
17 On the eve of World Wetlands Day 2024 (2 February), India has increased the number of Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance) to 80 by adding five more wetlands to the list – Shri Bhupendra Yadav
India has designated five more wetlands as Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance), taking the number to the existing number, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Labor and Employment Shri Bhupendra Yadav said on the eve of World Wetlands Day 2024. It has been increased from 75 to 80 . In a post on Twitter, Mr Yadav said he met Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, who handed over the certificates of the above five sites. Three of these sites , Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Aghanashini Estuary and Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, are located in Karnataka , while two , Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest , are in Tamil Nadu . With the inclusion of these five wetlands in the list of Wetlands of International Importance, the total area covered under Ramsar sites is now 1.33 million hectares , an increase of 5,523.87 hectares from the existing area (out of 1.327 million hectares). Tamil Nadu continues to have the maximum number of Ramsar sites (16 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
