Current affairs 04 January 2024

Reliance industries first in India to receive ISCC-Plus certification.

• ISCC-Plus certification applies to RIL’s Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat.
• Jamnagar refinery can produce up to 600 tonnes of pyrolysis oil per month.
• ISCC Plus certification ensures transparency and traceability of sustainable feedstocks.
• Tracks bio-based, circular, or renewable content throughout the value chain.
• Reliance Industries is the largest integrated petrochemical producer in India.

Arvind Kejriwal greenlights eco-friendly industrial hub at Rani Khera.

• Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved a proposal for a sustainable industrial hub in northwest Delhi.
• The 147-acre eco-friendly hub focuses on IT, ITES, research, and service industries, promoting employment opportunities.
• The project prioritizes pollution-free industries, encouraging Delhi's transformation into a manufacturing and business hub.

UPI payments rose by 42% to ₹18 Lakh Crore in 2023.

• UPI transaction value increased by 42% year-on-year to Rs 18 lakh crore in December 2023 with volume up 54% to 1202 crore.
• Average daily UPI transactions hit 40 crore, stepping towards the NPCI's target of 100 crore in three years.
• Fastag transactions also grew in December, with volume rising 13% YoY to 34.8 crore, and the value up 19% to Rs 5,861 crore.

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Maharashtra aims to become Global Drone hub.

• The Maharashtra government approved the Maharashtra Drone Mission (MDM) to harness drone technology.
• Functions include security surveillance, disaster rescue, delivery of emergency medicines, vaccines to remote areas, infrastructure project monitoring, and traffic management.
• 5-year implementation plan based on an IIT-Bombay report; oversight by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary.

UGC launched annual skill enhancement plan for employees.

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced the initiation of its Annual Capacity-Building Plan (ACBP) intending to advance the skills of its employees.
• UGC Chairman Prof Mamidala Jagdesh Kumar officially launched the commission's inaugural ACBP, emphasizing its role in promoting growth and skill enhancement among employees.