Current Affairs - February 1st, 2024

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.