Current Affairs - February 1st, 2024
National:
- Interim Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim budget in Parliament, focusing on infrastructure development, defense allocation, and social welfare schemes. Defense received the highest allocation with ₹6.1 lakh crore, followed by Road Transport and Highways with ₹2.78 lakh crore.
- Paytm Payments Bank: RBI imposed restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank, barring it from onboarding new customers for six months due to "material supervisory concerns."
- MSME Facilitation Council: Uka Committee recommended the establishment of a monitoring committee to address payment delays faced by MSMEs and expand the GeM portal to increase fund availability.
- India-Afghanistan Trade: Afghanistan began export of dry fruits and spices to India through Chabahar port, boosting bilateral trade relations.
- India's Communication Satellite: GSAT-31, India's latest communication satellite, was successfully launched from French Guiana.
International:
- US House of Representatives: Passed a resolution to withdraw US military support from Yemen's civil war.
- Internet Shutdowns in India: The government faced criticism for frequent internet shutdowns in several states, raising concerns about freedom of expression and access to information.
- Odisha Government's Tribal Outreach: Odisha government launched a special program to address grievances and improve the lives of victims of past communal violence.
- Rising Tensions in Korean Peninsula: Increased military activity and rhetoric from North Korea raised concerns about potential escalation of tensions.
- Sanath Jayasuriya Banned: Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya was banned from all forms of cricket for two years due to anti-corruption breaches.
Other news:
- Jay Shah re-elected as President of Asian Cricket Council.
- India nominated "Maratha Military Landscapes" for inclusion in UNESCO World Heritage list.
- Neuralink showcased advancements in brain-computer interface technology.