Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurated National Conference on APAAR: One Nation One Student ID Card

• Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the National Conference on APAAR: One Nation One Student ID Card.
• APAAR IDs were introduced to address the need for a singular, unified identity to streamline interactions throughout a student’s academic journey.
• He also emphasized the significance of Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) and their proliferation, both globally and within India, with 19 established DPIs in the country.

Dubai Signed an Agreement with Joby Aviation to have World’s First Air Taxi

• Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed an agreement Joby Aviation to launch air taxi at World Government Summit 2024.
• Joby Aviation is a California-based electric aircraft firm and will launch passenger air taxi services in the emirate by 2026.

NITI Aayog Launched GROW Initiative

• NITI Aayog launched the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal.
• This initiative aims to transform India’s underutilized wastelands into productive agroforestry zones, leveraging state-of-the-art remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies for a comprehensive analysis at both state and district levels.

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day 2024

• Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day is annually observed on 14^th February.
• The day is promoted extensively by various organizations, including the Pediatric Congenital Heart Association and the American Heart Association, to raise awareness about congenital heart defects and advocate for affected individuals and families.

PM Narendra Modi Launched PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, aiming to offer free electricity to its beneficiaries.
• According to the scheme, the central government plans to invest ₹75,000 crores to provide 300 units of free electricity per month to eligible recipients.
• He also mentioned that Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats would receive incentives to encourage the adoption of rooftop solar systems within their areas under this program.