Current affairs 20 February 2024

PM Modi to inaugurate 4th edition of Khelo India University Games.

• PM Modi will inaugurate the Khelo India University Games 2023 at Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati, promoting Northeast states' development.
• The event features 4500 athletes from over 215 universities competing in 20 sports, highlighting unity and sportsmanship.
• The games, spread across 7 cities and 18 venues, will end on 29th February 2024, showcasing India's diverse talent.

India's first spy satellite made by TASL set for launch.

• Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), a local private company in India, has built the country's first spy satellite for use by the armed forces.
• This satellite is set to be launched on a SpaceX rocket.
• A ground control centre is being established in Bengaluru, in collaboration with Satellogic.
• This centre will guide the satellite and process its imagery, with operational readiness.

India slips in world's most powerful passports ranking, France tops list.

• France topped the list, as its passport provides visa-free access to 194 countries.
• Germany, Italy, Japan, and Singapore also ranked first alongside France.
• India slipped one rank down from last year to 85th even as the countries with visa-free access to its citizens increased to 62 from 60 in 2023.
• The data from the International Air Transport Authority is used to prepare this index.

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Odisha CM inaugurates Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Center.

• Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Inaugurates Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Centre and Research Institute in Bhubaneswar.
• This state-of-the-art facility, established in collaboration with Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Bengaluru.
• BSCCRI is equipped with 750 beds, capable of treating 300 and 150 patients daily.

Sarang helicopter display team all set for Singapore Airshow 2024.

• Sarang is the helicopter air display team of the Indian Air Force that flies modified HAL Dhruv Mk-I helicopters, also known as Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
• The current commander of this team is Group Captain Santosh Kumar Mishra.
• The Singapore Airshow is a biennial aerospace event held in Singapore that debuted in 2008.