1 OpenAI, Bhavish Aggarwal launches Krutrim AI chatbot to compete with Google’s AI
Artificial intelligence start-up Prashikaran, launched by Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal, has launched an AI chatbot in public beta, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. The launch comes a month after Artificial unveiled $50 million funding at a valuation of $1 billion to become the country’s first start-up unicorn in 2024. The company mentioned that it is the first AI unicorn in the country. The chatbot, which has the same name as the company (Artificial), was announced in December. It is the company’s first product to be powered by its multilingual large language model (LLM).
2 Prime Minister inaugurates Bharat Texas 2024 in New Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat TEX 2024, one of the largest global textile events ever held in the country, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Prime Minister also visited an exhibition organized on the occasion. Bharat Texas 2024 is being organized from 26-29 February 2024. Taking inspiration from the Prime Minister’s 5-F vision, the program has a comprehensive integrated format through fibre, fabric and fashion focus, covering the entire textile value chain. This will showcase India’s strength in the textile sector and reaffirm India’s position as a global textile superpower. Organized by a consortium of 11 textile export promotion councils and supported by the government, India TEX 2024 is built on the twin pillars of trade and investment, with a strong focus on sustainability.
3 India’s first septic tank cleaning robot is strengthening the cleanliness drive in the country
To end the practice of physically carrying sewage, India’s first septic tank cleaning robot is boosting the cleanliness drive in the country. The technology, called HomoSeap Atom, addresses traditional cleaning methods. It has been created by the Business Incubator Startup of the Department of Science and Technology, IIT Madras.
4 Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, took oath as the first woman Chief Minister of Pakistan’s West Punjab province.
Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was sworn in as the first woman Chief Minister of Pakistan’s West Punjab province. In the recently held elections, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz won 137 assembly seats and candidates supported by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PTI won 137 assembly seats in Punjab province.
5 Palestine Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh resigns over Gaza war
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has announced his resignation due to increasing violence in the West Bank and war in Gaza. His resignation comes at a time when Palestine is under pressure from the United States to improve its governance and system in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. While submitting his resignation to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Satyeh cited several reasons. These include increasing tension in the West Bank and Jerusalem, war in the Gaza Strip, massacres and starvation. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 29 thousand seven hundred 82 Palestinians have been killed and 70 thousand 43 people have been injured in Israeli military action since October 7.
6 Saad Ahmed Waraich takes charge as new Deputy Ambassador to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi
Shri Saad Ahmed Waraich takes charge as the new Deputy Ambassador to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. According to the Pakistan High Commission in India, Mr Waraich has replaced Aizaz Khan after the completion of his tenure. Mr. Waraich has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He has also been the Director General of Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey Desk in the Pakistan Foreign Ministry.
7 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23
The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) recently released the highlights of the latest Nationwide Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) conducted by the National Statistical Office during 2022-23. Household consumption expenditure surveys are conducted at a lag of five years, the government had not released its 75th round of survey results for July 2017-June 2018 after the implementation of demonetization of high-value currency notes and goods and services. It said that there was significant variation in the level of consumption patterns as well as the direction of change. The report shows that rural consumption expenditure has grown more than urban consumption expenditure during the 11-year period. According to the survey, per capita rural average monthly consumption expenditure is expected to increase from Rs 1,430 per month in 2011-12 to Rs 3,773 per month in 2022-23, an increase of 164 per cent. This represents a 146 per cent increase in per capita urban average monthly consumption expenditure to over Rs 6,459 in 2022-23 compared to Rs 2,630 per capita in 2011-12.
8 Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurates the second Aerosol Winter School – ‘Manthan 2024’ at the Central University of Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the second Aerosol Winter School – ‘Manthan 2024’ at the Central University of Jammu. He appreciated the joint efforts of Central University of Jammu, Indus Central University Ladakh and Indian National Youth Science Academy for the work being done towards studying air quality to meet the objectives of National Clean Air Programme.
9 Central Government approves interest free loan of Rs 10,000 to Flu Cured Virginia-FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh
The Central Government has approved an interest-free loan of Rs 10,000 to Flu Cured Virginia-FCV tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release that this loan will be given to more than 42 thousand FCV tobacco growers where the crop season is currently going on. This loan will be given from the Producer Welfare Fund of the Tobacco Board. The government has approved the loan in view of the crops that were damaged due to the Michong cyclone rains in Andhra Pradesh last year.
10 Union Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar launches ‘Investor Information and Analysis Platform’ developed by IIT Madras
Shri Rajiv Chandrashekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Jal Shakti released the ‘Investor Information and Analytics Platform’ developed by IIT Madras. The platform will act as a one-stop shop for startups for all stakeholders to easily access the network of Venture Capitalists (VCs) and investors, government schemes and many other components of the startup sector. By integrating information at various levels, the platform is also a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs to get information about government agencies, incubators, investors, VCs and banks that invest in startups.
11 Oil India to organize Global Partner Roadshow – “Sangam: Where Energy and Opportunity Meet” in Abu Dhabi
In a spectacular display of ambition and strategic foresight, Oil India Limited has announced its first global partner roadshow – “Sangam: Where energy and opportunity come together”. Oil India Limited, being the oldest oil exploration and production company in India, is the youngest Maharatna CPSE. This historic event is scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 28, 2024.
12 Vinfast to set up EV plants in Tamil Nadu
Vietnam-based electric vehicle manufacturer Vinfast Auto Ltd has started construction work to set up a new integrated EV manufacturing unit in Thoothukudi, southern Tamil Nadu, where the company plans to invest ₹4000 crore over 5 years. State Chief Minister M.K. Stalin laid the foundation stone of the company as the construction work began in the presence of state ministers, government officials and Vinfast’s top management.
13 Purple Fest 2024: A chorus of inclusivity at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India organized Purple Fest 2024 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. During this, a historic festival of diversity and unity was proudly celebrated. In this program organized in collaboration with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Institute for Physically Disabled, more than 10 thousand disabled people and their associates gathered at this grand venue of the event, thereby promoting the values of solidarity and mutual respect. Three major initiatives were launched at the event, including a collaboration between the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) and Tata Power Community Development Trust (TPCDT) for the “India Neurodiversity Platform”, which The objective is to ensure early intervention and home care. Furthermore, the launch of the Handbook ‘Use of Sensitive Language in Behavioral Barriers and Disability’ paved the way to overcome significant language barriers, thereby promoting a framework for correct terminology on disability.
14 Indian squash player Abhay Singh wins Goodfellow Classic PSA Challenger Tour title in Canada
Indian squash player Abhay Singh has won the Goodfellow Classic PSA Challenger Tour title in Toronto, Canada. In the final he defeated Elliot Morris Devred of Wales 3-0. With this win, the Asian Games gold medalist won her eighth PSA World Tour title. In a social media post, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur congratulated Abhay on his achievement and described his performance throughout the tournament as remarkable.