UPSC GK Capsule: From Bharat Ratna List 2024 to Uniform Civil Code, Top Events of The Week – News18

Staying well-versed in current events is crucial for anyone preparing for a recruiting exam, especially government exams in India. Therefore, we have curated a recap of the most important news stories of the last week to assist you with your preparation. From the Gokulpuri Metro Station wall collapse to five stalwarts who have been awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024, we have got you covered.

Tamil Nadu Govt Declares Bids for 4,000 MW Off-Shore Wind Projects In Gulf of Mannar

The Tamil Nadu government has proposed to lease out seabed regions for building 4,000 MW off-shore wind generating projects on a Build Own Operate (BOO) basis off the coast in the Gulf of Mannar, advancing its clean energy ambition. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has requested contracts for four blocks of 1 GW on an open-access basis via international competitive bidding. Each block will be awarded an estimated minimum installable offshore wind power capacity. The successful bidder will have exclusive rights to the allocated seabed to conduct the necessary studies, surveys, and subsequent project development. Under this agreement, the developers that win the bid for each block will build 1 GW offshore wind energy capacity and can sell electricity directly to customers under the open access system.

Gokulpuri Metro Station Wall Collapse: DMRC Orders Inspection of Parapets on Pink Line Stations

A day after a portion of a wall at the elevated Gokulpuri Metro Station in northeast Delhi collapsed, killing one and injuring four others, the managing director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation directed an inspection of the parapets installed at all elevated stations on the Pink Line. DMRC’s Managing Director Vikas Kumar conducted a detailed review meeting on February 9 regarding the Gokulpuri incident with the heads of concerned departments.

Anuj Dayal, principal executive director, of Corporate Communications, DMRC, stated, “In case any corrective action is required at any station, the same should be carried out after making a detailed method statement depending upon the situation at the concerned sites,” he added.

Bharat Ratna 2024:

On February 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on X (formerly Twitter) that former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, as well as agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, would be awarded the Bharat Ratna. The big announcement comes shortly after the government honoured veteran BJP leader LK Advani and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. This is the highest number of Bharat Ratna announced in a year, with five, one more than the four announced in 1999.

UCC Likely To Be Introduced In Rajasthan, UP Soon:

On February 6, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill was introduced in the Uttarakhand Assembly, making the state the first in India to have one after Goa, where it has been in place since Portuguese rule. After Uttarakhand, the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh appeared eager to implement the UCC. On February 6, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya stated that UCC would be introduced in the state at the appropriate time. However, Rajasthan Minister Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary added that efforts are being made to guarantee that Rajasthan is the state that implements the UCC Bill after Uttarakhand.

GPS-based Toll Collection:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has decided to conduct GPS-based tolling pilots on the Bengaluru-Mysore national highway in Karnataka, and the technology will be implemented before the Lok Sabha elections are announced, the government informed Parliament on February 7. According to the ministry, the Centre has hired a consultant to offer advice on the application of new technologies, such as barrier-less free-flow tolling based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), in the Rajya Sabha.