National

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill

• Parliament has passed the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 with the Lok Sabha.
• The Bill imposes a penalty between ten thousand rupees to 15 lakh rupees for violation of provisions related to the discharge of polluting matter in water bodies.
• It will initially apply to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territories.

 PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi –Yojana

• Union Cabinet has approved Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), a Central Sector sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for the fisheries sector.
• A total of 6000 crore rupees have been earmarked for the scheme over the next 4 years.

Telecom Spectrum Auction

• Union Cabinet has approved a proposal of the Department of Telecommunications to conduct a spectrum auction through which spectrum will be assigned to the successful bidders for providing telecom services.
• The auction will be held for spectrum in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz frequency bands.

Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline

• Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Arjun Munda launched LMS, Krishi Rakshak Portal and helpline and SARTHI initiative under Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana, PMFBY in New Delhi.
• Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline is an integrated grievance redressal mechanism having a digital portal.

Sports

Sportstar Aces Awards 2024

• Muralitharan was presented with the first-ever International Icon award at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2024.
• Champion weightlifter Karnam Malleswari and former India cricketer Chandu Borde won the IDFC First Bank Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Mohammed Shami won the Sportsman of the year (Team Sports) honour.

Person in News

Biman Prasad

• Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad has become the first foreign leader to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Naveen Tahilyani

• Naveen Tahilyani has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Digital.

Miscellaneous

New Delhi World Book Fair 2024

• The New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 will be held from 10th to 18th February at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
• The theme of the Book Fair is Multi-Lingual India, A Living Tradition.