Today's Current Affairs 13th February 2024

INTERNATIONAL

7th Indian Ocean Conference Held in Perth, Australia

• The 7th Indian Ocean Conference recently convened in Perth, Australia, drawing together leaders, ministers, and officials from Indian Ocean rim countries.
• Organized by India Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the conference aimed to address diverse issues under the theme “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean.“

 NATIONAL

Hyderabad’s 36th National Book Fair: February 9-19

• The NTR Stadium in Hyderabad hosts the 36th edition of the National Book Fair.
• Organized by the Hyderabad Book Fair Society, the event kicked off on February 9. The book fair runs until February 19.
• The venue is named after civil rights activist Gaddar. 

Gupteswar Forest, Odisha’s New Biodiversity Heritage Site

• Odisha has taken a significant step towards conservation by declaring the Gupteswar forest in Koraput district as its fourth Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS). 

RCF Plans to Launch Vande Metro Prototype by April

• The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) aims to roll out the first prototype of the Vande Metro coach by April.
• A total of 16 such coaches are expected to be ready by the later part of the 2024-25 financial year. 

Defence Minister Unveils the Statue General Bipin Rawat in Dehradun

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami unveiled a statue of General Bipin Rawat, who was India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

IIT Guwahati Unveils SWASTHA Project & ISO 5/6 Clean Room for Nanotech

• Hon’ble Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, Shri S. Krishnan, inaugurated the groundbreaking SWASTHA project and the state-of-the-art ISO 5 and 6 Clean Room Facilities at IIT Guwahati’s Centre for Nanotechnology on 9th February 2024.
• Rajeev Ahuja, Officiating Director, IIT Guwahati, and other dignitaries were also present at the event. 

OBITUARY

Renowned Litterateur & Padma Shri Awardee Usha Kiran Khan Passes Away

• Usha Kiran Khan was celebrated for her versatile contributions to literature, penning several influential novels in Hindi and Maithili.
• She was bestowed with the Padma Shri in 2015 

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Productivity Day 2024:12 Feb

• Every year, India marks February 12 as National Productivity Day, launching the beginning of the Indian Productivity Week, which lasts until February 18.
• Theme, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Productivity Engine for Economic Growth,”
• National Productivity Council (NPC) was established as an autonomous entity by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 1958. 

145th Birth Anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, National Women’s Day

• February 13, 2024 marks the 145th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, a distinguished figure in India’s struggle for independence and a celebrated poet known as the “Nightingale of India.”
• This day is also recognized as the National Women’s Day as she played a pivotal role in advocating for women’s rights. 

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

A book titled “Maha Swaapnikudu” launched by former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu

• ‘Maha Swaapnikudu’ (A Great Visionary) marks a significant moment in the political discourse of India, celebrating the illustrious career of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Authored by journalist P. Vikram and published by NRI Koduri Venkat, this book was unveiled by former Supreme Court judge V. Gopala Gowda.