According to an International Energy Agency (IEA) report dated February 7, 2024, India is expected to overtake China as the primary driver of the world's oil demand by 2027.
India's oil demand is predicted to rise by 1.2 million barrels per day between 2023 and 2030, accounting for more than one-third of the anticipated growth in world demand.
This research was anticipated by the International Energy Agency in its "India Oil Market Outlook to 2023" report.
India uses 19 million barrels of oil every day. Petrochemical feedstock consumption will account for just 18% of the country's demand growth, compared to over 90% worldwide and in China.
Science and Technology
Microsoft Initiated the “ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA” Mission
The "ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA" mission was initiated by Microsoft on February 7, 2024, in India. Under their "Skill for Jobs programme," it seeks to provide 20 lakh Indians with training linked to AI by 2025.
Through partnerships with non-profit and corporate organizations, institutions, and the government, this effort will primarily teach people in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
The skilling programme is in line with the responsible AI principles of the corporation, and training will be provided in collaboration with local governments, businesses, and nonprofits.
The three main goals of the ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA effort are to equip India's future workforce, upskill government officials in AI, and endeavor to increase nonprofit organizations' AI proficiency.
Sports Panorama
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah rose to the top of the ICC Test rankings for the very first time in his career on February 7, 2024.
The reason for this was an incredible display of cricket in India's second Test match against England. Bumrah became the first Indian fast bowler to be ranked 1 in the ICC Test rankings.
The only other Indian players to have topped the bowling charts before are Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bishan Singh Bedi.
Bumrah is the fourth player overall to achieve it. In the second Test in Visakhapatnam, Bumrah scored an incredible 9/91 during his team's 106-run victory over England, tying the series.
Awards and Honours
Wildlife Photography Award 2023
The 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award was awarded to a picture of a polar bear curled up on a little iceberg as of February 7, 2024.
The victor, Nima Sarikhani, spent three days on Norwegian islands looking for polar bears before taking this picture.
The Natural History Museum is in charge of organizing this annual photographic contest.
"Champion following a contest in which a record 75000 people voted" was Sarikhani's photo titled the "Ice Bed."
State Affairs
Uniform Civil Code Enacted in Uttarakhand
The Uttarakhand Assembly enacted the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on February 7, 2024. Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to enact a bill after it was passed.
On February 4, the State cabinet gave their approval to the UCC draft. The bill included provisions for equal rights for women to inherit ancestral properties, to adopt, to divorce and to self-declare.
It also forbids polygamy and requires mandatory registration of marriages and divorces; and it sets a common marriageable age of 18 for women and 21 for men.
Additionally, the measure exempts Scheduled Tribes that have been notified from its provisions. The population of Scheduled Tribes in Uttarakhand is 2.89%.
