PM Matsya Kisan Samridhi Yojana approved

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi SahYojana for the fisheries sector on February 9, 2024.
• It is a sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada. Over the next four years, an amount of ₹ 6000 crore has been granted.
• Of which ₹ 3000 crore has come from public funds, along with outside funding from AFD and the World Bank. Private sector beneficiaries have donated the remaining 50 %.
• The scheme aims to formalise the fisheries sector, improve access to institutional credit and support 6.4 lakh micro enterprises and 5500 fisheries cooperatives.
• It will establish a National Fisheries Digital Platform, which will provide work-based identity to 40 lakh small and micro enterprises.
• The implementation will take place in all States and Union Territories from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27.
• The Cabinet has extended the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) for another 3 years till 2025-26.
• The expansion aims to leverage financial resources, encourage investment in infrastructure development from both public and private sectors.

White Paper on Indian Economy Presented

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a "white paper" regarding the state of the Indian economy on February 9, 2024.
• The country's economy was compared in the government's "white paper" between 2014, when the NDA took office, and subsequently.
• In the White Paper, after assuming charge in 2004, UPA government shelved reforms and was unable to develop upon the solid base that the BJP-led government had established.
• The administration publishes a white paper to highlight new initiatives and achievements in an effort to win over supporters and gauge public sentiment.

Google Rebranded Bard, as Gemini

• Google's chatbot, formerly called Bard, has changed names and will go by Gemini as of February 9, 2024.
• This rebranding initiative and the introduction of a new subscription plan that gives customers access to Google's most sophisticated AI model, the Ultra 1.0.
• Google's Ultra 1.0 model is more capable than its predecessor, especially when it comes to intricate tasks like logic and coding.
• This development demonstrates Google's dedication to developing AI technology and giving consumers access to state-of-the-art resources.
• Popular Google products like Gmail and Google Docs will easily integrate with Gemini, providing consumers with a consistent AI experience across several platforms.

Joint Drills Conducted in the South China Sea by the US, Australia and Japan

• Joint drills between US, Australian, and Japanese warships were conducted in the South China Sea on February 8–9, 2024.
• China, which asserts authority over almost the whole critical waterway, was disregarded in this action.
• The guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn and the battle ship USS Gabrielle Giffords conducted operations with military ships from Japan and Australia.
•  The goal of the exercise was to advance freedom of navigation, transparency, and the rule of law throughout the strategic waterway.
• China, which claims the entire South China Sea, disapproved of foreign military operations there

Education Ministry of India Partnered with FIFA

• The Ministry of Education and FIFA work together to improve student access to football. On February 9, 2024, 11 lakh footballs will be distributed statewide, benefiting over 1.5 lakh schools.
• The Ministry of Education has partnered with FIFA to start a game-changing project that will greatly increase football accessibility in classrooms.
•  The Footballs for Schools (F4S) programme was introduced by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who distributed 6848 footballs to 1260 schools across 17 districts in Odisha.
• A major step toward incorporating football-related activities into the educational system was taken on February 9th with the distribution ceremony.
•  Odisha was not the only state to receive footballs; Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu were among the others.

India Achieved A One-Month High in Foreign Exchange Reserves

• India's foreign exchange reserves reached a one-month high of $622.47 billion as of February 2, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India on February 9, 2024.
• With reserves raising by $5.74 billion during the reporting period the biggest gain in almost two months this is the second week in a row that they have increased.
• In an effort to reduce undue fluctuations in the value of the rupee, the Reserve Bank of India actively participates in the foreign exchange market.
• The foreign exchange reserves are influenced by this involvement in a major way.

AIIMS Introduced IOncology.ai for Prompt Cancer Identification

• AIIMS and CDAC jointly launch iOncology.ai, an AI platform for early cancer detection that focuses on the majority of cases of breast and ovarian cancer in India on February 9, 2024.
• iOncology.ai is a collaborative effort between CDAC and the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
•  It leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to minimize false negatives in manual cancer diagnosis.
•  iOncology.ai has proven to have a broad impact as evidenced by its successful implementation in five district hospitals.

Precision Approach Radar (PAR) Inaugurated at INS Utkrosh (Defence)

• The Indian Navy inaugurated INS Utkrosh's Precision Approach Radar (PAR) On February 9, 2024.
• In low visibility situations, like persistent rain or fog, this facility will allow for extremely accurate horizontal and vertical guidance to safely land an aircraft.
• At Naval Jetty, Port Blair, the CNS also officially opened the Naval Communication Network Centers and the IUHDSS (Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and Surveillance System).
• Port Blair harbor security is improved by the IUHDSS's ability to detect, identifies, and track both surface and underwater targets near the naval jetty.
• At INS Kohassa, INS Baaz, and INS Kardip, CNS opened the Naval Communication Network (NCN) Centers, which would improve the ANC's operational and communication capabilities.

 BIMSTEC Aquatic Championship 2024

• India is currently leading the medal count at the inaugural BIMSTEC aquatic championship in Delhi, with 36 totals, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and 6 bronze, as of February 9, 2024.
•  Second place goes to Thailand with 27 medals, followed by Sri Lanka in third place with six bronze medals.
• Swimming, water polo, and diving are the three sports in which the competition is being held.
• In an effort to promote a culture of regional cooperation throughout the Bay of Bengal Region, the BIMSTEC Aquatic Championship is being conducted from February 5–10, 2024.

Bharat Ratna 2024

•  MS Swaminathan, along with former Prime ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, were conferred to Bharat Ratna on February 9, 2024.
• One of the main forces behind the early 1990s economic liberalization was PV Narasimha Rao, who is frequently referred to as the "Architect of Modern India."
• Along with his advocacy for literacy and cultural tolerance, Rao made contributions to the fields of language and education. 
• The farmers' well-being was Chaudhary Charan Singh's lifelong commitment. He was regarded as a genuine champion of India's village society.
•  His actions to lessen farmer distress, boost agricultural output, and ensure fair commodity pricing have left a lasting influence on India's agricultural policies. 
• Swaminathan's dedication to sustainable agriculture and his support of biodiversity protection have affected the discussion on ecological balance and moral farming practices.

Lakshminarayana International Award

• Pyarelal Sharma receives recognition for his significant contribution to art through the prestigious Lakshminarayana International Award on February 9, 2024.
• The 83-year-old music composer was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, affirming his stature as one of India's foremost musical talents.
• The announcement of Pyarelal Sharma's Padma Bhushan honour was strategically made on the eve of Republic Day 2024.
• The awards collectively represent a lifetime achievement for Pyarelal Sharma, acknowledging his sustained and outstanding contributions to the world of music.

Odisha budget 2024-2025 Presented

• In its recent announcement on February 9, 2024, Odisha government presented its comprehensive budget for the financial year 2024-25, totalling ₹ 2.55 lakh crore.
•  A significant investment of ₹ 1000 crore has been earmarked to boost the development of metro rail project in the state.
• The budget has made a provision of ₹ 1555 crore to promote growth and sustainability of industries and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
• Enhancing the agriculture budget to support farmers and agricultural infrastructure, a sufficient amount of ₹ 28944 crore has been set aside for agricultural prosperity.
• Recognizing the importance of food security, ₹ 685 crore has been allocated for food storage and storage-procurement initiative.
• A remarkable provision of ₹ 1935 crore has been allocated for direct benefit transfer under the famous "KALIA Scheme" aimed at supporting farmers and their livelihood.
• A total of ₹ 19959 crore has been allocated to strengthen public health services, ensuring accessible and quality medical facilities to all citizens while prioritizing public health.