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Oscar winning-actor Cloris Leachman passes away - 01 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Oscar winner and multiple Emmy-winning actor Cloris Leachman has passed away.
- Leachman, best remembered for playing Phyllis Lindstrom on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', died of natural causes on Tuesday in Encinitas, California, reported Variety.
Details Analysis:- The late star was known as one of Hollywood's most prolific performers having won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and eight Primetime Emmy Awards.
- Leachman's character Phyllis in 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', which she claimed was close to her own persona, brought the actress two Emmys as a featured actress in a series during the mid-'70s and made Leachman a household name.
- Leachman also won a supporting actress Oscar for a far different character, an embittered small-town housewife in Peter Bogdanovich's 'The Last Picture Show'.
- She later reprised the role in the film's less successful sequel 'Texasville'.
- Both films were based on the writings of Larry McMurtry.
- Her other high-profile television credits include 'The Facts of Life' portraying Beverly Ann Stickle, Grandma Ida on 'Malcolm in the Middle' and a recent role in the rebooted 'Mad About You'.
- Leachman, who appeared in three of Mel Brooks' comedy movies, kept acting regularly well into her 90s.
- She was a contestant on 'Dancing With the Stars' at the age of 82 and featured in the 2019 reboot of the comedy series 'Mad About You'.
- However, two of her films made in 2019 and 2020 are yet to be released.
- She will appear in two projects that are currently in post-production or awaiting release, 'High Holiday' and 'Not to Forget'.
Brief History:- Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Leachman received working experience as a child at the Des Moines Little Theater, as per Variety. By the age of 15, she was appearing on local radio stations.
- She also bagged a special scholarship to study broadcast drama at Northwestern, where she stayed for a while before returning to Des Moines to finish high school.
- She returned to Northwestern with a theatre scholarship this time but dropped out and entered a beauty contest, eventually finding her way to the 1946 Miss America pageant.
- Moving to New York, she landed a role in the movie 'Carnegie Hall'. She studied at the Actors Studio and made her Broadway debut in 1948 in the short-lived production 'Sundown Beach'.
- She attracted many eyeballs as Cecilia in a Theater Guild production of 'As You Like It' with Katharine Hepburn that ran for six months.
ISRO to launch city college’s academic satellite - 01 Feb 21
Highlights:
- India's most prestigious space institution ISRO's chairman K Sivan is likely to inaugurate the
‘SriShakthiSat’ ground station at Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and
Technology in Coimbatore.
- The station will help monitor the satellite developed by the
institute, which is set to be launched by the ISRO.
- A satellite communication
lab was established in the college in 2010.
- The satellite can detect fire and leaks on underground
pipelines and collect info on bank thefts.
- ISRO is expected to launch this
satellite, along with two other satellites built by JPR Institute, Chennai
& GH Raisoni College of Engineering, Maharashtra.
- Indian space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established on 15 August 1969.
- It's Headquarters located at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Presently ISRO's Chairman is K.Sivan.
Lt Gen Chandi Prasad Mohanty appointed as new Army Vice-Chief - 01 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty has been appointed
as the new Vice-chief of Army staff.
- He would assume the office on February 1,
2021, from Lt General SK Saini, who is superannuating on 31 January 2021.
- Lt General CP Mohanty is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian
Military College, Dehradun, and National Defence Academy.
- He is a June 1982
batch Infantry Officer from the Rajput Regiment.
- Vice-Chief of Army Staff is the deputy head and the
second-highest-ranking officer of the Indian Army. The position is held by the
senior officer in the rank of Lt-General, of the Commander in Chief grade.
- 28th Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
- The motto of Indian Army: “Service Before Self”.
- It's Headquarters located in New Delhi.
Bharti AXA General Insurance launches ‘Krishi Sakha’ App for farmers - 01 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Bharti AXA General Insurance has launched Krishi Sakha App,
a one-stop-shop for Indian farmers that offers them relevant information to
cater to their daily farming needs.
- It also provides guidance to farmers to
adopt best farming practices and enhance their productivity.
- The farmers through this app will also have access to the
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) portal for crop insurance-related
information.
- Bharti AXA ‘Krishi Sakha’ aims at helping Indian farmers
make informed decisions through customized information related to their farming
requirements.
- It shares relevant information about the scientific way of
farming, crop cultivation, sowing, or harvesting of major crops.
- It guides the
farmers about weather forecasting, market and crop prices and government
schemes related to insurance and agriculture.
- Bharti AXA General Insurance established in 2008.
- It's Headquarters: Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
President Ram Nath Kovind Launches Pulse Polio Programme For 2021 - 01 Feb 21
Highlights:
- On the eve of the Polio National Immunization Day, President
Ram Nath Kovind launched the first round
of the Pulse Polio Programme for 2021 by administering polio drops to children
less than five years of age at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
- Currently, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and
Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey.
- Polio National Immunization Day will be observed on January
31, also popularly known as Polio Ravivar. Polio drops are administered to
children in the age group of 0 to 5 years.
- Around 17 crore children of less than 5 years of age will be
given polio drops as part of the drive of the Central government to sustain the
polio-free status of the country,
- The countrywide drive will be supported by about 24 lakh
volunteers, 1.5 lakh supervisors, and many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),
World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children's
Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and Rotary.
- Healthcare workers will be visiting as many as 2 crore
households to ensure that no child is left without the protection of the polio
vaccine.
- Before the start of the program, India had 60 per cent
caseload of Polio worldwide. With the last case of Polio reported in Howrah on
January 13, 2011, the country has been free of Polio for a decade now.
- Polio-free certification' of the entire South-East Asia
Region of WHO including India on the March 27 of 2014 was a huge accomplishment
in the history of India and Global Public Health.
15th Finance Commission submits its Final Report - 02 Feb 21
Highlights:![]()
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- The Fifteenth Finance Commission of India have submitted its
final report fir a five-year duration.
- The report has been submitted with the
objective of transforming the financial governance of India’s municipalities.
- The interim report for Financial Year 2020-21 was tabled in
Parliament along with Budget 2020-21.
- The final report for Financial Year 2021-22 to Financial
Year 2025-26 was tabled along with the Budget 2021-22.
- The 15th FC has significantly raised its bar on financial
governance of the India’s municipalities in the interim report.
- The final report also maintains these four specific agendas.
The four agendas
include:- The 15th FC has tried to increase the overall outlay for
municipalities.
- It has set 29,000 crores for FY 2020-21.
- It has also indicated
the intent to raise the share of municipalities in the total grants of local
bodies from 30 % to 40 %.
- Two entry conditions have been set for any municipality in
India to receive FC grants namely, the publication of audited annual accounts
that would help in boosting the financial accountability and notification of
floor rates for property tax that would help in raising the revenue
enhancement.
- The 15th finance commission has adopted the approach of
distinguishing between million-plus urban agglomerations and other cities.
- It also recommends a common digital platform for municipal
accounts, a consolidated view of municipal finances and the sectoral outlays at
the state level apart from digital footprint of individual transactions at
source.
- These four aspects of the interim report highlight that the
15th finance commission aims to bring the logical culmination municipal finance
reforms.
- However, the foundation for bringing about these reforms were also
laid by thirteenth and fourteenth finance commission.
Jal Jeevan Mission to revive urban water bodies - 02 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The urban water supply mission announced in the Budget ,it
would include rejuvenation of water bodies as well as 20% of supply from reused
water.
- There was an estimated gap of 2.68 crore urban household tap
connections that the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) [JJMU] would seek to bridge in
all 4,378 statutory towns.
- The Mission would also aim to bridge the gap of 2.64 crore
sewer connections in the 500 cities under the existing Atal Mission for Rejuvenation
and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
- The mission would
include rejuvenation of water bodies to boost the sustainable freshwater supply
and creation of green spaces.
- JJM(U) will promote circular economy of water through
development of city water balance plan for each city focusing on recycle/reuse
of treated sewage, rejuvenation of water bodies and water conservation.
- 20% of the water demand would be met with reused water.
- The total expenditure on the mission would be Rs.2.87 lakh
crore over five years.
- The MetroNeo and MetroLite technologies, which are cheaper
than conventional Metros, mentioned in the Budget were already being
considered.
- Some of the Tier-2 cities like Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Jammu,
Srinagar, Rajkot, Baroda, Dehradun, Coimbatore, Bhiwadi-Daruhera etc. are
making proposals under Metro Lite/Metro Neo and Nashik has already sent a
proposal for MetroNeo, which is under consideration.
- Apart from the Budget announcements, there had been an
increase in the funds allocated to urban local bodies (ULBs) as per the 15th
Finance Commission’s report.
- There
had been a 78% increase, from Rs.87,143 crore in the 14th Finance Commission
period to Rs.1,55,628 crore in the 15th Finance Commission’s period
MHA gets further extension till April 9 to frame CAA rules - 02 Feb 21
Highlights:
- MHA sent a letter to the parliamentary committee on
subordinate legislation seeking three-months extension that expired in November.
Details Analysis:- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Lok Sabha that
a parliamentary committee on subordinate legislation had granted it extension
till April 9 to frame the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 rules.
- Without the rules being notified, the Act remains
ineffective.
- The BJP promoted CAA as one of its major poll promises in the 2019
Lok Sabha elections.
- The CAA rules would
be framed after the COVID-19 vaccination drive ends.Tthe Citizenship [Amendment] Act, 2019 [CAA] has been
notified on 12.12.2019 and has come into force w.e.f. 10.01.2020.
- The Rules under The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA)
are under preparation.
- The Committees on
Subordinate Legislation, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have granted extension of
time up to 09.04.2021 and 09.07.2021 respectively to frame these rules under the
Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).
- The CAA provides citizenship on the basis of religion to six
undocumented non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh
who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
- The the MHA was yet
to inform Parliament regarding the delay in framing rules, to be done if the
rules are not framed within six months of the legislation being passed by
Parliament.
- Following the report, the MHA sent a letter to the
parliamentary committee on subordinate legislation seeking three-months
extension that expired in November.
- The MHA sought further extension.
- As per the Manual on Parliamentary Work, in case the
ministries/departments are not able to frame the rules within the prescribed
period of six months, “they should seek extension of time from the Committee on
Subordinate Legislation stating reasons for such extension”, which cannot be
more than for a period of three months at a time.
NSO Revised India's Economic Growth - 02 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The National Statistical Office (NSO) released revised
estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data on January 29, 2020. This data
has been revised for the 2017-18 to 2019-20 fiscal year.
- The first revised estimate shows a 4% increase in GDP in the
2019-20 fiscal year.
- This is 20 basis points lower than the 4.2% growth in
provisional estimate released in 2020.
- This highlights that GDP is expected to shrink by 7.7% in
2020-21 and will grow to 7.8%.
- The second revised estimate of GPD for 2018-19 is 6.5%,
while the third revised estimate of 2017-18 GDP is 6.8%.
- Previously, GDP growth in 2018-19 and 2017-18 was 6.1% and
7%, respectively.
- In addition, the revised estimates for 2019-20 have reduced
the growth of the primary and secondary sectors.
- However, it expects a positive
growth trajectory in the tertiary sector.
- The Gross Value Added (GVA) of the secondary sector shrank
by 1.1% in 2019-20, while the GVA of the tertiary sector will increase by 7.2%
in the revised estimate.
National Statistical Office (NSO):- It is the nodal agency for the planned and organized development of the statistical system in the country.The National Statistics Office came into being in March 1947.
- It coordinates the statistical work in respect of the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India and State Statistical Bureaus (SSBs), advises the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India on statistical methodology and on statistical analysis of data.
- The National Statistical Office (NSO), which is a wing of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has conducted the first Time Use Survey (TUS) in India during January to December 2019.
- The primary objective is to measure participation of men and women in paid and unpaid activities.
- Earlier, the government has decided to merge the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
- The merged entity to be called National Statistical Office (NSO) according to an order passed on May 23.
- The main aim is to streamline and strengthen the statistical system.
DEA and World Bank signed an Agreement for financial support to STARS project - 02 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and the World Bank
signed a financial support agreement for the STARS project.
- The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), the World Bank and
the Ministry of Education signed a financial support agreement for the
implementation of the Ministry of Education's "Strengthening
Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS)" project.
Details Analysis:- The STARS project will be implemented as a new Centrally
Sponsored Scheme under the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL),
MOE.
- The project involves six states, namely Himachal Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Orissa.
- Various
interventions will be provided to the identified states to improve the quality
of education.
- The total project cost of STARS project is Rs. 5718 crore with the financial support of World Bank amounting to US $ 500 million (approximately Rs. 3700 crore) and rest coming as State share from the participating States, over a period of 5 years.
- STARS project would be implemented as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), MOE.
- Earlier, Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of STARS project on 14th Oct 2020.
- The Program envisions improving the overall monitoring and measurement activities in the Indian school education system through interventions in selected states.
- STARS will draw on existing structure under Samagra Shiksha with the DoSEL, MoE as the main implementing agency at the national level.
- At the State level, the project will be implemented through the integrated State Implementation Society (SIS) for Samagra Shiksha.
- The proposed World Bank support under STARS is primarily in the form of a results-based financing instrument called Program for Results (PforR).
- This will ensure major reforms at the State level through a set of disbursement-linked indicators (DLIs).
- A State Incentive Grant (SIG) will be used to encourage States to meet desired project outcomes.
- The SIG matrix has been aligned with the intermediate outcome indicators as per the requirement of PforR instrument.
- An independent Verification agency (IVA) will verify each result before disbursement of funds.
- STARS project will be instrumental in the implementation of various recommendations of National Education Policy 2020 i.e. Strengthening Early Childhood Education and Foundational Learning, Improving Learning Assessment System, ICT-enabled approaches in education, Teachers Development and Vocational education etc.
Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index - India ranked 10th: EIU Report - 02 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently released the
Asia-Pacific Personalized Health Index.
- The index measures the readiness for
personalized medicine in the Asia-Pacific region to adopt 11 medical systems.
- The Asia Pacific Personalized Health Index is a newly
released index.
- It measures the progress of the health system towards
personalized medicine. It evaluated 11 health systems in the Asia-Pacific
region.
- The health systems evaluated include India, China,
Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea
and New Zealand.
- It measures the performance of 27 personalized health
indicators in 4 categories called "vital signs".
- The four important signs include policy background, health
information, personalized technology and health services.
- The report emphasizes
that Singapore is the best-performing country in all 11 health systems.
- Taiwan ranked second, Japan and Australia ranked third and
fourth respectively. Among 11 health systems, India ranks tenth. Indonesia
ranked 11th
- However, India ranks 10th overall. But among the four
important categories, India ranks 10th in health information indicators, 11th
in health services, 9th in personalized technical indicators, and 5th in policy
background indicators.
- The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is the research and
analysis department of The Economist Group.
- It provides forecasting and
consulting services by conducting research and analysis.
- It provides five-year
national economic forecasts, monthly national reports, national risk service
reports and industry reports.
- It has multiple offices around the world,
including two offices in China and one office in Hong Kong.
- The Asia-Pacific region is part of the Western Pacific
region.
- This part of the content varies according to the context, but usually
includes Oceania, East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
EIU's Democracy Index : India falls to 53rd position - 03 Feb 21
Highlights:
- According to The Economist Intelligence Unit , India slipped
two places to 53rd position in the 2020 Democracy Index’s global ranking.
- However, India is ranked higher than most of its
neighbouring countries.
Details Analysis:- India’s overall score fell from 6.9 in 2019 to 6.61 in the
Index that provides a snapshot of the current state of democracy worldwide for
167 countries.
- With mounting pressure on India’s democratic norms, India’s
score fell from a peak of 7.92 in 2014 to 6.61 in 2020 and its global ranking
slipped from 27th (in 2014) to 53rd as a result of democratic backsliding"
under the current regime.
- Norway topped The Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest
Democracy Index report titled "Democracy in sickness and in health",
with Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand and Canada making up the top five.
- Out of 167 countries, the Democracy Index classifies 23
countries as full democracies, 52 as flawed democracies, 35 as hybrid regimes,
and 57 as authoritarian regimes. India has been classified as a ''flawed
democracy'' along with countries such as the US, France, Belgium, and Brazil.
- In India and Thailand, "democratic backsliding by the
authorities and crackdowns on civil liberties led to a further decline in their
global rankings".
- It further alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government has
"introduced a religious element to the conceptualisation of Indian
citizenship, a step that many critics see as undermining the secular basis of
the Indian state".
- The authorities’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic led to
a further erosion of civil liberties in 2020.
- Earlier, India was
ranked 51st in the 2019 Democracy Index.
- Among India’s neighbours, while Sri Lanka, at 68th rank, is
classified as a flawed democracy, Bangladesh (76), Bhutan (84), and Pakistan
(105) are classified in the ''hybrid regime'' category. Afghanistan is ranked
139th and classified as an ''authoritarian regime'' in the index.
- The EIU report looks at the impact of the coronavirus
(Covid-19) pandemic on freedom and democracy around the world.
- The Asia and Australasia region includes top-scoring New
Zealand, which retained its fourth position in the global ranking (out of 167
countries), and persistent laggard North Korea at the bottom of the global
ranking in 167th place.
- The region’s overall score fell in 2020, but it now has five
“full democracies” with Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan moving up the rankings
compared with 2019.
- Australia retains its “full democracy” status and high
ranking (9th).
- Japan and South Korea both returned to the “full democracy”
fold for the first time since 2014.
- Taiwan attained “full democracy” status for
the first time following a spectacular jump up the rankings.
- Despite these upgrades, Asia’s average regional score
deteriorated to its lowest level since 2013 as official measures taken to
combat the coronavirus pandemic led to some of the most severe constraints on
individual freedoms and civil liberties in the world.
- China, Singapore, and others went much further than the rest
of the world in tracking and policing their citizens and locking them down in
response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- It is noted that,The Economist Intelligence Unit (The EIU)
is the world’s leading resource for economic and business research, forecasting
and analysis.
Praveen Sinha takes over as CBI interim chief - 03 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Gujarat cadre IPS officer Praveen Sinha, currently
Additional Director of the CBI, was appointed as its interim chief as current chief R.K Shukla’s two-year tenure ended.
- Mr. Shukla, a 1983
batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IPS officer, who was appointed in January 2019.
- The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued a
notification appointing Mr. Sinha, a 1988 batch Gujarat cadre IPS, to take over
as the CBI’s interim chief till the appointment of a regulator director.
- Mr. Sinha
will officiate as CBI chief for a couple of weeks.
- The Centre has initiated the process of new appointment.
- It
has drawn a panel of eligible officers belonging to 1984 to 1986 batches.
- The panel include BSF chief and Gujarat cadre IPS
officer Rakesh Asthana, NIA chief Y.C. Mody, CISF chief Subodh Jaiswal and
Kerala DGP Loknath Behera.
- Mr. Asthana, Mr. Mody and Mr. Behera had served in the
agency handling sensitive cases.
- The government will soon call a meeting of the high-powered
committee - comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha - to pick the new CIA Director.
- It may be noted that Mr. Asthana was earlier No. 2 in the
agency when Alok Verma was the director.
- However, an open and ugly fight
between the two pushed the government to remove them both at midnight and
install Nageshwar Rao as in charge director in 2018.
- The post is a tenured one, meaning any officer who is
selected for the job is at the helm for two years irrespective of the
superannuation.
Space X Announced First All-Civilian Mission to Space - 03 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The SpaceX of Elon Musk has recently announced to launch its
first all civilian mission to space.
- SpaceX is planning to launch Inspiration4 on Falcon 9.
- This will be the world's first fully commercial astronaut
mission.
- The spacecraft will begin orbiting in the fourth quarter of
this year.
- The mission will be launched from the 39A Launch Complex at
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
- The mission is named Inspiration4.
- The name is in recognition of the four crew members mission
that inspired support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- It also seeks the possibility of sending humanitarian
messages.
- Jude's multi-billion dollar expansion plan aims to
accelerate research progress and save children around the world.
- SpaceX will provide commercial astronaut training for the
Inspiration4 crew on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
- It will also provide training for the Dragon spacecraft
through orbital mechanics, zero gravity, microgravity operation and other
stress tests.
- The mission will orbit the earth along a customized flight
path every 90 minutes.
World Wetlands Day observed on 2nd February - 03 Feb 21
Highlights:
- World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2.
- It is celebrated to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet.
- This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
- The theme for World Wetland
2021 is " Wetlands and Water".
What are Wetlands ?- Wetlands are ecosystems that are seasonally or permanently
filled with water.
- These include mangroves, swamps, rivers, lakes, deltas,
floodplains and flooded forests, rice fields, coral reefs, marine areas with a
depth of no more than 6 meters at low tide, and constructed wetlands such as
wastewater treatment ponds and reservoirs.
- Although they cover only about 6% of the earth's land
surface, 40% of all animal and plant species live or reproduce in wetlands.
- Wetlands are an important part of our natural environment.
- They alleviate floods, protect coastlines and enhance community resilience,
reduce the impact of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality.
- Wetlands are vital to humans and life on earth.
- More than 1
billion people depend on them for their livelihoods, and 40% of the world’s
species live and reproduce in wetlands.
- Wetlands are an important source of food, raw materials,
pharmaceutical genetic resources and hydroelectric power. 30% of terrestrial
carbon is stored in peatlands.
- They play an important role in transportation,
tourism, and the cultural and spiritual well-being of the people. Many wetlands
are natural beauty, and many are important to indigenous people.
- According to the IPBES (Intergovernmental Scientific Policy
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), wetlands are the most
threatened ecosystem.
- Due to human activities and global warming, the rate of
disappearance of wetlands is three times that of forests.
- According to UNESCO, the threat to wetlands will adversely
affect 40% of the animals and plants that live or reproduce in wetlands.
- Major threats: agriculture, development, pollution and
climate change.
- IPBES: A Fact File
- IPBES is an independent intergovernmental organization that
aims to strengthen the scientific-policy interaction mechanism of biodiversity
and ecosystem services in order to protect and sustainably use biodiversity for
long-term human well-being and sustainable development.
- It was established in
Panama City, USA in April 2012.
Corruption Perception Index 2020- India ranked at 86th : Transparency International - 03 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Corruption Perception Index 2020 has been released is
prepared by Transparency International. It is a comprehensive index from 12
surveys that rank countries around the world.
- It has become a
benchmark for measuring corrupt perceptions and is used by analysts and
investors.
- The index is also
based on expert opinions on corruption in the public sector and takes into
account a series of factors, such as whether government leaders are responsible
or unpunished for corruption, the prevalence of bribery, and whether public
institutions respond to citizens’ needs.
- According to experts
and businessmen, it ranks public sector corruption in 180 countries and
regions.
- It uses a scale from
0 to 100, where 0 is badly damaged and 100 is very clean.
- India has slipped 6
places this year, ranking 86th.
- India’s score is
lower than the average score of the Asia-Pacific region (31 countries) and the
global average.
- India's overall score
is also 2 points lower than China, and China ranks 78th.
- The first place on the
list is New Zealand and Denmark (88 each).
- South Sudan and
Somalia rank the lowest in the global rankings, each with a score of 12.
Green Tax Impacts the Sale of CNG Car - 03 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Two executives in the automotive industry recently
emphasized that Maruti Suzuki India Co., Ltd. would benefit most from the
government's proposed green tax on gasoline and diesel vehicles.
- Maruti is India's top car manufacturer and has the largest
compressed natural gas (CNG) car product portfolio among all domestic car
manufacturers.
- Suzuki Motor Company also plans to increase its annual sales
of CNG cars to 200,000 or more by 2022.
- In fiscal year 2020, Maruti sold a record 106,443 CNG
vehicles.
- Sales of this type of vehicles are increasing by 15.5%
annually on average. Compared with diesel, Maruti further promotes CNG vehicles
as an environmentally friendly option.
- Maruti has stopped selling diesel vehicles and has
formulated ambitious plans to expand its CNG model portfolio.
- Maruti has decided to cooperate with South Korean Hyundai
Motor Company, which also sells CNG cars.
- Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways,
announced that from April 1, 2022, a green tax will be imposed on certain types
of vehicles.
- The government proposes to impose a green tax on personal
vehicles when the registration certificate is renewed.
- It will be levied 15 years later, equivalent to 10% to 25%
of the road tax on gasoline or diesel vehicles.
- When renewing the registration
certificate and fitness certificate, similar taxes will also be levied on
transportation vehicles or commercial vehicles over eight years old.
- According to the green tax guidelines, hybrid vehicles,
electric vehicles and vehicles running on clean alternative fuels (such as CNG,
ethanol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)) will be exempt from green tax.
- Gasoline or diesel vehicles will be subject to higher taxes.
- Higher taxes on gasoline and diesel cars will force people
to switch to CNG.
- In turn, this will benefit companies such as Maruti and
Hyundai.
- In addition, companies and dealers can use green
transactions and increased purchase costs as marketing strategies to induce
customers to buy CNG vehicles.
Army Dental Corps Raising Day is on 1 February - 04 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Army Dental Corps celebrated its 80th Raising Day on
February 1, 2021.
- Army Dental Corps will celebrate its 80th Raising day on
February 1, 2021.
- The regiment was resurrected on this day in 1941.
- The Indian Army Dental Corps (IADC) is a professional corps
of the Indian Army, which mainly provides medical services for all Army
personnel, active soldiers and veterans and their families.
- It was beginning in 1941 with eight Dental Officers.
- The Army Dental Corps is now an elite service of the Indian Armed Forces with 725 officers and nearly two thousand other ranks dedicated to looking after the oral health requirements of our soldiers, their dependents and Ex Servicemen.
- The dental treatment facilities of the Corps are based on a model where prevention of oral and dental disease is given top most priority.
- In sync with the structure of the Armed Forces, the Army Dental Corps too is a multi-cultural society with the largest proportion of lady officers adding value to the profession.
- The Corps has carved a niche in the field of Military Dentistry and has undergone rapid transformation in technology, training and physical infrastructure in consonance with the evolving requirements of the patients as well as the changing operational scenario.
- Army Dental Corps is working in unison with the primary mission being to excel in treatment delivery and complementary mission to foster creativity, innovation and leadership qualities.
- The Corps has always followed the motto of "Service Before Self" thus ensuring best oral health care to the troops, their families and dependents in both peace time as well as the operational scenario.
Mega Investment Textiles Parks Scheme in 2021 Budget - 04 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The government announced the launch of the Mega Investment
Textiles Parks (MITRA) scheme in the 2021-22 Union Budget to make the Indian
textile industry globally competitive
MITRA Scheme:- The goal of the scheme is to make the textile industry
globally competitive, attract large amounts of investment, and promote job
opportunities and exports.
- This scheme is a supplement to the PLI scheme.
- FM announced that it will establish seven textile parks
within three years.
- Such parks have appeared in countries such as China and
Vietnam, which help promote the development of the textile industry.
- India has been losing its competitive advantage in
Bangladesh and Vietnam due to its lower labor costs, wider business scale, and
the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) advantage enjoyed by them.
- The textile industry is the country’s second largest
employment opportunity after agriculture, so the budget announcement means that
the industry has taken an important step forward.
- Following a turbulent year in the textile and clothing
industry in 2020, the industry has experienced a series of job losses,
cancellation of orders and severe financial resource constraints.
- According to data from the National Investment Promotion and
Facilitation Agency for Investment in India, by 2024-25, exports of the textile
and apparel industry are expected to reach 300 billion U.S. dollars, and
India’s market share will triple from 5% to 15%.
- It is estimated that by 2025-26, the scale of the industry
will double to US$300 billion. For this purpose, 7 mega textile parks have been
planned.
International Day of Human Fraternity is Observed on 4th February - 04 Feb 21
Highlights:
- International Day of Human Fraternity is scheduled to be
held on February 4.
- The International Humanity Day aims to emphasize the importance
of raising awareness of different cultures and religions or beliefs and
promoting tolerance.
- It also aims to educate people about tolerance, diverse
traditions, mutual respect, and diversity of religions and beliefs to promote
human fraternity.
- The theme of this year's 2021 International Humanity Day is
The Pathway to the future.
- On December 21, the United Nations General Assembly passed a
resolution proclaiming February 4 as International Humanity Day. Beginning in
2021, this day will be commemorated every year.
Dialogue across ‘the faith spectrum’ :- The designation of 4 February as the International Day of Human Fraternity is the result of a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in December, which was co-sponsored by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- The Secretary-General applauded all UN Member States who supported the resolution, while also acknowledging a 2019 declaration by head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Egyptian Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, on “human fraternity for world peace”.
- Promoting peace, love and fraternity has been a consistent message from religious figures throughout history.
- The antidote or best antibodies to hate is human fraternity, which embodies compassion, solidarity, unity and mutual respect.
Double honour: - Relatedly, the UN Secretary-General is co-recipient of an award inspired by the 2019 declaration signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
- Mr. Guterres and Moroccan-French activist Latifa ibn Ziaten, were joint recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, awarded during a separate virtual event held earlier on Thursday, from Abu Dabhi, UAE.
Dalai Lama Launched "Little Book of Encouragement" Book - 04 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, released his
new book "Little Book of Encouragement".
- This book contains 130
citations.
- The book was edited by Renuka Singh and published by Penguin
Random House.
- When writing this book, the Dalai Lama emphasized that he is
one of the 7 billion people in the current COVID-19 pandemic.
- Therefore, he is committed to promoting human happiness.
- He further emphasized this point; we believe that happiness
comes from money and power. But we rarely know the role of the mind, or the key
to happiness is inner peace.
- He asks readers to discuss the ideas in the book with
friends and use these ideas in daily life practice.
- In addition to the Covid-19
pandemic, he also called climate change and global warming a very serious
problem.
- He wrote on China-India relations that India and China have
recently developed a sense of competition.
- These countries have large
populations and are powerful countries.
- However, they cannot destroy each other and must live side
by side.
- In addition, on the Tibet issue, he suggested that Tibetans treat the
Chinese as brothers and sisters, not enemies.
- The Tibetan people awarded the title of Dalai Lama to the
chief spiritual leader of the Gelug or "yellow hat" school of Tibetan
Buddhism.
- Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th Dalai Lama and he is Dalai Lama at
present.
- He lives in India as a refugee.
- The Dalai Lama’s ID card is believed to be Turkus’
successor.
- Turkus is considered to be the incarnation of
Avalokiteshvara.
Tenzin Gyatso : A Fact File- He is also known as Tenzin Gyatso.
- He was born on July 6, 1935.
- He is considered to be a living
bodhisattva, the birthplace of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
- He is the current Dalai
Lama.
Marine Union urges for recognition of 'Neptune Declaration' - 04 Feb 21
Highlights:![]()
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- The Maritime body MUI urged the government to take
cognizance of the” Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change”
in order to formulate the Maritime India Vision 2030.
- The “Maritime India Vision 2030” will be formulated by the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India.
Neptune Declaration:
- The Neptune Declaration was signed by more than 450
organizations.
- The declaration highlights the main actions that are
required to be taken in order to resolve the crew change crisis.
- The daily lives and wellbeing of seafarers were highly
impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It led to a humanitarian crisis at sea.
- This declaration has mentioned four main actions that is
needful to address the crew change crisis:
- To recognize the seafarers as the key workers and provide
them priority access to Covid-19 vaccines.
- To establish and implement the gold standard health
protocols which are based on the existing best practice.
- To increase the collaboration between the ship operators and
charterers so as to facilitate the crew changes.
- To ensure the air connectivity between the key maritime hubs
for seafarers.
Maritime Union of
India (MUI):
- The Marine Union of India is the oldest marine office.
- It
represents the Merchant Navy Officers who are its members.
- The office is affiliated with the International Transport
Workers’ Federation (ITF), London, United Kingdom.
- It has around 700 unions that represent over 4.5 million
transport workers from150 countries.
-
The office is also affiliated with the Hind Mazdoor Sabha
(HMS), New Delhi.
- The main purpose of office work is to work hard for the
members and ensure the fairness of work and wage conditions.
- It also has branches in Kolkata, Chandigarh, Chennai,
Visakhapatnam and Tuticorin.
- The office is also responsible for the implementation of
international regulations, such as the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
What is Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme ? - 04 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The government has taken various steps to
educate/train farmers across the country to learn about the latest machinery
and technology so as to improve the quality of crops and increase yield and
income by adopting the latest farming technology.
- It is a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme is being
implemented, that is, " Support to State Extension Programs for Extension
Reforms", popularly called ATMA Scheme.
- ATMA stands for Agricultural Technology Management Agency.
- It is being implemented in 691 districts in 28 states and 5
UTs in the country.
- This scheme promotes a decentralized farmer-friendly
extension system in the country.
- Under the scheme, grants were issued to the State Government
to support the state Government’s efforts to provide farmers with the latest
agricultural technology and good agricultural practices in different
agricultural thematic areas and related fields.
- Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme is benefitting the majority of farmers in overcoming the technological gaps in the industry.
- The scheme aims at centralising the management of agricultural technology transfer by making organisational arrangements and deploying innovative technologies.
- ATMA acts a registered society in the respective States and encourages the farmers, farmer groups, Panchayat Raj Institutes, NGOs, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and other stakeholders at the district and village levels to be a part of this farmer-centred extension system.
- It offers technical advice and training on new practices and technologies to the farmers.
Objectives of ATMA:- The ATMA aims at accomplishing the following objectives:
- Establishing new, structured and centralised institutions at the state, district and village level.
- Strengthening the already existing extension system with innovative and effective operational procedures.
- Simplifying and de-centralising the decision-making to the district and block levels.
- Accelerating towards the viability of the extension services.
- Encouraging the farmers to take part in the programme planning, coordination and resource sharing and grow their responsibility.
- Strengthening the linkages between the key line Government departments, research organisations and the stakeholders.
- Offering a structural mechanism for the coordination and supervision of upgradation activities of several institutions involved in technology modification and distribution at the district and village levels.
- Enhancing the quality and sort of technology that is distributed.
- Building partnership with the third party institutions such as NGOs, Panchayat Raj Institutions etc.
- Implementing the farming system innovations and farmer organisation to overcome the technological differences and improper management of natural resources.
- Tackling the issue of gender concerns by collecting and clustering women farmers into groups and offer them with the advanced training.
- The availability of technical advice to farmers on new practices and technologies under ATMA has led to higher/rational use of new practices and technologies.
- ATMA provides an institutional mechanism for coordination and management of Agricultural Extension System in the district.
Activities of the ATMA:- ATMA was initially implemented in seven states – Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Subsequent to its successful outcome, the scheme is now being implemented in 676 districts of 29 States & 3 Union Territories in the country.
- It executes the following activities in accomplishing its objectives in benefitting the farmers.
Allocation of Funds:- The Central Government allocates 90% of the fund, as a grant-in-aid, to all the States/UTs and the State Governments allocate 10% of the fund. The 10% share from the State Government is input from the cash contribution of the state or the contribution from other beneficiaries and non-government organisations.
- A total amount of Rs.226.07 Crores are sanctioned under the scheme.
- The funds are allocated and shared between the Centre, State and District on an agreed ratio.
Implementation Guidelines:- The scheme is implemented through inter-institutional procedures, and they are as follows:
State Level:- The State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) established under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is the supreme authority to evaluate and sanction the State Extension Work Plan (SEWP).
- Approve and supervise the implementation of these work plans by setting up the following committees:
- Inter-Departmental Working Group (IDWG)
- SAMETI Executive Committee
- State Farmers Advisory Committee (SFAC)
District Level:- A District Farmers Advisory Committee (DFAC) is constituted at the district levels to provide feedback to the farmers for the district level planning and implementation of ATMA.
- The responsibilities of the committee include:
- Managing the overall activities of the agricultural extension system in the districts
- Drafting Strategic Research and Extension Plan (SREP) and constituting the following committees to carry out the operational activities:
- ATMA Governing Board
- ATMA Management Committee
- District Farmers Advisory Committee (DFAC)
Block Level:- The Block Farmers’ Advisory Committee (BFAC) is being formed at every block levels by clustering a group of selected farmers in every block to draft the Block Action Plan (BAP).
- The Block Technology Team (BTT) is formed to provide required assistance in the execution and implementation of the plans in every Block ATMA cells.
- The BTT includes Agricultural Officers and other associated departments in the block.
- Village Level:
- The Farmer Friend (FF) is being formed at the village levels to serve as a bond between the farmers and the extension systems.
- Entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture, Input dealers, staff in nongovernmental institutions and Diploma holders in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI) are clustered together to support the activities of the extension officials.
- Commodity Interest Groups (CIGs), Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) and Food Security Groups at the village levels act as a focal point in the dissemination of information & technology amidst its members.
India's First Wetland Conservation and Management Centre in Chennai - 05 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The central government announced that it will soon establish
a new wetland protection and management center in Chennai.
- The purpose of
establishing the wetland protection and management center is to solve the
knowledge gaps and specific research needs in wetland protection and
management.
Details Analysis:- The Wetland Conservation and Management Centre (CWCM) will
be established by the central government in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- The conservation center will become part of the national
sustainable coastal management center.
- This national center is an agency under
the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- CWCM will play an important role in designing and
implementing regulatory frameworks and policies.
- It will also facilitate
monitoring, management planning, and targeted research to protect wetlands.
- The
protection center will also act as a knowledge center.
- It will enable communication among wetland authorities,
managers, wetland researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and users in each
state or Union territory.
- The center will further help establish networks and
relevant international and national institutions.
- Wetland is a unique ecosystem submerged by water.
- They are
inundated permanently or seasonally. In such an ecosystem, anaerobic processes
dominate.
- Wetlands contribute to water purification, water storage,
carbon treatment, and coastline stability.
- It also provides support for plants
and animals.
- They are the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems.
- They
naturally exist on every continent, and the water in the tank can be
freshwater, brackish water, or saltwater.
- India has 42 Ramsar wetlands that have been designated as
internationally important wetlands.
- They account for approximately 4.6% of
India's land area.
- In order to protect the wetlands, February 2 is designated
as World Wetland Day.
- In 2021, this day marks the 50th anniversary of the
signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
- The convention was signed in
Ramsar, Iran in 1971.
India celebrates Chauri Chaura centenary incidents - 05 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 4 virtually inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the historic
Chauri Chaura incident, a landmark event in the country's fight for
Independence.
- Mr. Modi also released a postage stamp to mark the beginning
of the centenary celebrations.
- A group of freedom fighters participating in the
non-cooperation movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1922 were fired upon by
police, leading to death of many of them.
- In retaliation, protestors attacked and set fire to the
Chauri Chaura police station, killing many of its occupants.
- Gandhi had called off the movement due to the violence.
- The killing of the Chauri Chaura policemen had resulted in
arrest of hundreds of protesters with 228 of them being put on trial, six of
them dying during it and 172 ordered to be hanged to death with the remaining
sentenced to long-term imprisonments after a hasty eight-month trial.
- Reviewing the death sentences, the Allahabad High Court
finally in April 1923 confirmed it for 19 convicts and sentenced 110 of them to
life imprisonments in Port Blair and long jail terms to others.
- Those chosen to be honoured on the occasion include
72-year-old Kamla Prasad of Dumri Khurd, a grandson of Chinugi who was sent to
the Cellular Jail in Port Blair.
- The year-long commemoration of the Chauri Chaura incident's
centenary began in all 75 districts of the state with 'Prabhat Pheris' (early
morning rounds) and other programmes that will continue till February 4, 2022.
- Besides the beautification of the Chauri Chaura Shaheed
Sthal in Gorakhpur, the area is also being developed as a tourist spot on the
lines of India Gate, Jallianwala Bagh
and Cellular Jail.
Agri India Hackathon (Kritagya Hackathon) organised by ICAR - 05 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has begun
to organize the national level hackathon KRITAGYA in August 2020 to promote
innovation in the country's agriculture and related sectors.
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has
planned the Kritagya Agricultural Technology Hackathon under the National
Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP).
- The plan aims to promote potential technological solutions
to enhance farm mechanization, with special emphasis on women-friendly
equipment.
- Students, faculty, and innovators/entrepreneurs from any
university/technical institution across the country can apply for and
participate in activities as a group.
- They can propose solutions for farm mechanization.
- Students participating in the program can collaborate with
local start-ups, students from technology institutes, and can win Rs. 5 lakhs,
Rs 3 lakhs, and Rs.1 lakh as first, second and third prizes.
- KRITAGYA is the abbreviation of KRI of Krishi (Agriculture),
TA of Taknik (Technology) and GYA of Gyan (Knowledge).
- Through innovative technology solutions and the right
collaborations with stakeholders, the development and promotion of equipment
that is beneficial to women will play an important role in increasing farm productivity
and profitability.
Brazilian, Indian start-up satellite in ISRO’s first mission in 2021 on Feb 28 - 05 Feb 21
Highlights: 
- In its first mission in 2021, India’s space agency ISRO
planned to launch on February 28 Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 and three
Indian payloads, including one built by a home-grown start-up.
- The satellites are slated to be launched onboard the Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-51 at 10.24 am from the Sriharikota
spaceport, over 100 km from Chennai.
- Amazonia-1, reportedly the first earth observation satellite
entirely developed by Brazil, is the primary payload. ‘Anand’, ‘Satish Dhawan’
satellite and ‘UNITYsat’ will be the co-passengers.
- ‘Anand’ is built by Indian space startup, Pixxel, and
‘Satish Dhawan Satellite’ by Chennai-based Space Kidz India.
- UNITYsat is a combination of three satellites designed and
built as a joint development by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumpudur
(JITsat), G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur (GHRCEsat) and Sri
Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore (Sri Shakthi Sat).
- “PSLV-C51 marks the launch of the countrys first commercial
private remote-sensing satellite (Anand) on an ISRO PSLV rocket”.
- Mr. Sivan had earlier described the upcoming mission as
“special for us, special for the entire country” and beginning of a “new era of
space (sector) reforms”.
- Pixxel CEO, Awais Ahmed had said: “We are elated with the
fact that India's first commercial private satellite will now launch on an
Indian rocket.This is not only a proud moment for us as an organisation but
also as citizens to work with our nations capabilities”.
- Bengaluru-based Pixxel has said it plans to build a
constellation of 30 satellites by 2023. The company inaugurated it’s new
facility here last month.
- According to Space Kidz India, Satish Dhawan satellite (SD
SAT), named after former ISRO chairman Satish Dhawan, aimed to study space
radiation and Magnetosphere and demonstrate the indigenously designed and
developed nanosatellite components.
- The satellite also tests the capabilities of LoRa technology
in Space which could be helpful for many applications in the future in short
and M2M communication.
RBI Monetary Policy: Key highlights of RBI monetary policy announcements - 05 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The RBI monetary policy
announced by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das ,recently.
Key-Points:- Interest rates left
unchanged for 4th time in a row;
- Short-term lending rate (repo) stands at 4 pc;
- RBI decides to continue with accommodative stance as long as
necessary;
- RBI Guv says Indian economy is poised to move in only one
direction and that is upwards;
- RBI projects GDP growth at 10.5 pc for 2021-22;
- RBI revises retail
inflation outlook; 5.2 pc for Q4:2020-21, 5 pc in H1:2021-22 & 4.3 pc for
Q3:2021-22;
- Guv Das says Union
Budget has provided strong impetus for revival of sectors like health,
infrastructure;
- Salesforce customers report 37% more sales revenue, 45%
higher customer satisfaction, 43% better marketing ROI.
- Know more about what a CRM is and how Salesforce can help
you.
- RBI to restore CRR to 4 pc in two phases beginning March
2021;
- RBI proposes to provide funds from banks under TLTRO on Tap
scheme to NBFCs for incremental lending;
- RBI announces new scheme to incentivise new credit flow to
MSME;
- RBI to set up panel to provide a medium term road map for
strengthening of Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks;
- Retail investors to get direct access to government
securities market; with this India will join select countries providing such
facility;
- Round-the-clock helpline for digital payment services to be
set-up for grievance redressal;
- RBI will integrate all Ombudsman schemes & introduce
centralised processing of grievances;
- Next meeting of the RBI Guv headed rate-setting panel MPC to
take place during April 5 to 7.
Balasore become India’s first thunderstorm research testbed - 06 Feb 21
Highlights:
- According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Odisha’s Balasore will get the country’s first thunderstorm
research testbed.
- The objective of setting up the thunderstorm testbed is to minimize
human fatalities and loss of property due to lightning strikes.
- IMD Director-General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, also revealed
that a first-of-its-kind monsoon testbed is also being planned near Bhopal.
- Both the projects are in the planning stage and detailed
project reports are being made, he said.
- The thunderstorm
testbed will be established in a collaboration between the Ministry of Earth
Sciences, IMD, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- The IMD, ISRO and DRDO already have their units in Balasore.
- Observatories will be set up to cater to nearby areas and
studies on thunderstorms will be conducted on the testbed.
- Mr. Mohapatra, often referred to as the ‘Cyclone Man of
India’ for his accurate prediction of cyclones in the Indian subcontinent,
pointed out that many lives are lost in Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and
Jharkhand due to lightning strikes every year between April and June.
- The State has lost 3,218 lives to lightning strikes in nine
years till 2019-20.
NABARD disburses Rs 16,500 crore under RIDF in first 10 months of F.Y-2021 - 06 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
(NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 30,200 crore and disbursed Rs.16,500 crore for
various rural infrastructure projects across the country under the Rural
Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) in the first 10 months of the current
financial year.
- The RIDF, which was set up in 1995, is a dedicated fund to
create social assets in rural India.
- In F.Y-2021, the sanctions to the RIDF stood at Rs. 30,200 crore
as against the corpus of Rs 30,000 crore.
- The disbursement for the current financial year as on
January 31, 2021 stands at Rs 16,500 crore.
- Since the inception of the fund, NABARD has disbursed Rs. 3.11 lakh crore for different rural infrastructure projects.
- this fund has constituted around 10 %of gross
capital formation in rural areas.
- Over the years, the RIDF has become a dependable source of
funding for states and union territories for building, strengthening rural
infrastructure in critical areas like agriculture and irrigation, rural
connectivity and social sector, including drinking water, primary health and
education.
- It could be noted that in the Union Budget 2021-22, Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced to enhance the allocation to the RIDF to
Rs 40,000 crore from Rs 30,000 crore.
- She also increased the corpus of the Micro Irrigation Fund
by Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore.
- The increased allocations to both the funds will help push
rural infrastructure projects across states.
- The Union Budget has accelerated sustainable agriculture
sector’s growth by pegging an agriculture credit target of Rs 16.5 lakh crore.
- The recapitalization of Rs 2,000 crore to NABARD and that of
Rs 1,200 crore to regional rural banks will help achieve the target of
agriculture credit,
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation observed on Feb 6 - 06 Feb 21
Highlights:
- International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed globally on 6 February.
- International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is a United Nations-sponsored annual awareness day as part of the UN's efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation.
- This day is sponsored by the United Nations for their
efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation.
- It was first introduced in
2003.
- Theme: "No Time for Global Inaction: Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital
Mutilation".
- Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures
that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons
and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the
health and the integrity of girls and women.
- Girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term
complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and
difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual
and reproductive health and mental health.
RBI to Set up Committee on Urban Co-op banks - 06 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will set up an expert
committee on Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs). The committee, involving all
stakeholders, will provide a medium-term road map for strengthening the sector,
enable faster resolution/rehabilitation of UCBs.
- Along with enabling faster resolution of UCBs, the committee
will also examine critical aspects related to the urban co-op banks.
- The provisions of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act,
2020 have become applicable to Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) from
June 26, 2020.
- The amendments have brought near parity in supervisory and
regulatory powers between UCBs and commercial banks in respect of regulatory
powers, including those related to governance, audit, and resolution.
- The constitution of the committee as well as the terms of
reference will be notified separately by the RBI.
Paddy procurement at MSP up 18% at 614 lakh tonnes valuing nearly Rs 1.16 lakh crore - 06 Feb 21
Highlights:
- In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21,
Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per
existing MSP Schemes, as was done in previous seasons.
Details Analysis:- Paddy procurement at MSP up 18% at 614 lakh tonnes valuing
nearly Rs 1.16 lakh crore
- The Centre procures wheat and rice to meet its requirement
under the National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes.
- It procures other crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse
cereals and cotton, if market prices fall below MSP.
- Paddy procurement at MSP has risen by 18 % so far this kharif marketing season to 614.27
lakh tonnes, valuing nearly Rs 1.16 lakh crore, amid farmers protest at
Delhi-borders against three new agri marketing reform laws.
- In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21,
Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per
existing MSP Schemes, as was done in previous seasons.
- Kharif marketing season starts from October.
- The government has procured 614.27 lakh tonnes of paddy up
to February 5, up 17.69 per cent from 521.93 lakh tonnes in the corresponding
period of the previous year.
- About 85.67 lakh farmers have already been benefitted from
the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs 1,15,974.36 crore.
- Of the total purchase of 614.27 lakh tonnes, Punjab alone
has contributed 202.82 lakh tonnes which is 33.01 per cent of total
procurement.
- The Centre procures wheat and rice to meet its requirement
under the National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes. It procures
other crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals and cotton, if market prices
fall below MSP.
- Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and
Western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi-borders for over
two-months now, seeking repeal of three laws that were enacted in September
last year.
- Farmer unions are also demanding a legal guarantee of the
minimum support price (MSP).
- Eleven rounds of talks have been held between the Government
and 41 farmer unions to break the deadlock but stalemate continues.
- The Unions have rejected the government’s offer to suspend
the laws for 1-1.5 years and form a joint committee to find solutions.
- These laws have already been stayed for implementation till
further order by the Supreme Court.
- World’s First ‘Energy Island’ to be built by Denmark
- The Government of Denmark has approved a project to build
the world’s first energy island, in the North Sea that will produce and store
enough green energy to meet the electricity needs of three million households
in European countries.
- The hub will strengthen the integration of Europe’s power
grids and increase renewable electricity production necessary for a
climate-neutral Europe.
- The energy hub will serve as an offshore power plant
gathering and distributing green electricity from hundreds of wind turbines
surrounding the island directly to consumers in countries surrounding the North
Sea. It is the long-term ambition to be able to store green electricity on the
island, convert it to liquid green fuel, and send it via subsea cables to
Denmark and neighbouring countries.
India and Bahrain join hands for Renewable Energy - 06 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The first India-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting in the
field of Renewable Energy was held in a virtual format on February 04, 2021,
for promoting bilateral cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy.
- The Indian delegation was led by Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale,
Joint Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.
- Abdul Hussain bin Ali
Mirza, President of Sustainable Energy Authority led the Bahraini delegation.
- Both sides also agreed to forge deeper engagement in
capacity building and focused cooperation between concerned agencies as well as
the private sector of the two countries in this sector, particularly in the
field of solar, wind and clean hydrogen.
- Current King of Bahrain is Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
HAL to develop world’s first high-altitude pseudo satellite - 07 Feb 21
Highlights:![]()
- The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is developing a
futuristic high altitude pseudo satellite with a start-up company, to
strengthen the country’s military strike capabilities.
- It is a first of its kind project in the world, where a
manned aircraft will operate within the boundary and the unmanned aircraft will
enter the enemy zone and can carry out strikes deep inside the enemy territory.
- Capable of autonomous functions, these unmanned aerial
vehicles will also have all the manoeuvring capabilities.
- It can straightway
hit the target at a distance of 700 kilometres or can go to 350 kilometres and
come back.
- It carries ammunition, missiles if needed CATS Alpha.
- The technology has been named Combined Air Teaming System
(CATS).
- It will have a manned aircraft (will be known as mother ship),
operating from far away, and four autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles known as
CATS Warrior.
- The satellite will be solar energised and become a big asset
flying unmanned around 70,000 ft for 2-3 months and taking information.
India’s first geothermal field development project in Leh been signed - 07 Feb 21
Highlights: 
- A historic tripartite agreement for establishing India’s
first-ever geothermal field development project here has been signed, with
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur terming it a step towards achieving the
goal of carbon-neutral Ladakh.
- The pact was signed between Union Territory Administration
Ladakh, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Leh and Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Energy Centre in presence of Mr. Mathur and MP
Jamyang Tsering Namgyal on the sidelines of the first developmental conclave.
- Ladakh Power Development Department Administrative Secretary
Ravinder Kumar and LAHDC Chief Executive Officer Sachin Kumar Vaishya signed
the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ONGC Energy Centre.
- In Phase-1 of this pilot project, 1 megawatt (MW) power
generation capacity shall be generated and 100 per cent free power shall be
supplied to the general public, the spokesperson said adding that ONGC Energy
Centre is the implementing agency for this pilot project.
- The Phase-2 shall involve deeper and lateral exploration of
geothermal reservoir by drilling optimal number of wells and setting up of a
higher capacity demo plant in Ladakh, while Phase-3 shall be a commercial
project as per discovered capacity, the spokesperson said.
- The signing of the MoU with ONGC for the first geothermal
project in India is a promising initiative towards innovative and sustainable
development of Ladakh and also a step towards achieving the goal of
carbon-neutral Ladakh.
- It to execute the project at the earliest and ramp it up to
200 MW capacity for greater benefit.
- The energy from this project will give round-the-clock power
supplies, and the hot water from the spring could be used for space-heating and
establishing hot swimming pools to attract tourists.
India’s GDP growth projected at 10.5 % for F.Y-2022: RBI - 07 Feb 21
Highlights:
- India's apex financial institution ,the Reserve Bank of India projected India’s GDP growth rate at 10.5 % for the fiscal year 2021-22.
- It was published in it's last bi-monthly monetary policy meet.
- The growth outlook has improved significantly, and
the vaccination drive will further boost the economic rebound.
- The apex bank expects the Indian economy to grow in the
range of 8.3 % to 26.2 % in the first half of FY-2022, followed by a
6 % growth in Q3 of FY-2022.
- The central bank’s projection is lower than that
of the Economic Survey that projected India to grow at a rate of 11% in
the coming fiscal.
Finance Commission recommends Rs 1.56 lakh crore grant to urban local bodies - 07 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The 15th Finance Commission has recommended a grant of
around Rs.1.56 lakh crore to urban local bodies, a 78 % increase, an
official said on February 2.
- Rs 12,139 crore has been set aside to improve ambient air quality,
and Rs 26,057 crore for drinking water, sanitation and solid waste management.
- urban local bodies will have to notify property tax in line
with the state GDP to avail the grant recommended by the 15th Finance
Commission.
- These bodies will also have to make public their audited and
unaudited annual accounts.
- 'Pey Jal
Survekshan' will be conducted in cities to ascertain equitable distribution of
water, reuse of wastewater and mapping of water bodies with respect to quantity
and quality of water through a challenge process.
- The Mission has a reform agenda with focus on strengthening
of urban local bodies and water security of cities.
South Korea to Build World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm - 07 Feb 21
Highlights:
- South Korea has unveiled plans to invest $43.2 billion (31.4bn pound) in building what is claimed to be the world's largest offshore wind farm.
- The project, constructed off the coast of the southwestern town of Sinan, is predicted to be seven times larger than the current largest offshore wind plant.
- President Moon Jae-in-led, South Korea Government has
approved a plan to build the world’s largest wind power plant in the country by
2030.
- Currently, the world’s largest offshore wind farm is Hornsea
1 in Britain, which has 1.12 GW capacity.
- The project will help to foster an environmentally-friendly
recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and fasten the step to achieve the target
of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
- The estimated cost of the project is 48.5 trillion won
($43.2 billion).
- The Windpower Plant will be located in the southwestern
coastal town of Sinan. It will have a maximum capacity of 8.2 gigawatts.
Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala set to become the first female Chief of WTO - 08 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been chosen as
the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- She would be the first woman as well as the first African
nation to lead the organization. Okonjo-Iweala, the former finance minister of
Nigeria, will succeed Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down in August 2020.
- As director-general, a position that wields limited formal power, Okonjo-Iweala, 66, will need to broker international trade talks in the face of persistent U.S.-China conflict; respond to pressure to reform trade rules; and counter protectionism heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A 25-year veteran of the World Bank, where she oversaw an $81 billion portfolio, Okonjo-Iweala ran against seven other candidates by espousing a belief in trade’s ability to lift people out of poverty.
- She studied development economics at Harvard after experiencing civil war in Nigeria as a teenager.
- She returned to the country in 2003 to serve as finance minister and backers point to her hard-nose negotiating skills that helped seal a deal to cancel billions of dollars of Nigerian debt with the Paris Club of creditor nations in 2005.
- World Trade Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- World Trade Organization Founded: 1 January 1995.
Joe Root becomes first batsman to score 200 in 100th Test - 08 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Joe Root, the England captain, sent India on a leather hunt,
becoming the first player in history to score a double century in his 100th
Test match.
- In the process, Root also surpassed former Pakistan captain
Inzamam-Ul-Haq as the player with the highest individual score playing the
100th Test match of his career.
- Inzamam
had hit 184 against India in a Test match in Bengaluru in 2005, which Pakistan
had won by 168 runs.
- His record stood for 15 years before being broken by Root.
Joe Root : A fact File- Joseph Edward Root is an English international cricketer who is the current captain of England in Test cricket.
- He also represents Yorkshire domestically.
- As of August 2020 he is ranked in the top ten in both Test and ODI batting in the ICC Player Rankings.
- He started his Test debut on13 December 2012 also against India.
Oscar-winning Canadian actor Christopher Plummer passes away - 08 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Oscar-winning actor Christopher Plummer, who rose to
prominence for his critically-acclaimed film ‘Sound of Music’, has passed away at the age of 91.
- He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at the age of 82 for
Beginners (2010), becoming the oldest person to win an acting award.
- The prolific and versatile Canadian-born actor has received
various awards for his work, which includes Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy
Awards, two Tony Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and
a British Academy Film Award.
- Plummer starred as the aristocratic widower Captain Georg von Trapp opposite Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music," the beloved 1965 cinematic tale of a musical family and their mischievous governess in Austria on the eve of World War II.
- Despite its enormous worldwide success, Plummer publicly despised the film, calling his role "gooey" in The Hollywood Reporter in 2011.
Versatile and prolific:- Plummer was one of the most recognizable and admired character actors in Hollywood, with some 100 films under his belt and dozens of television roles.
- His first Academy Award nomination came in 2010 for "The Last Station," for his portrayal of Russian author Leo Tolstoy.
- He finally took home the golden statuette two years later, becoming - at the age of 82 - the oldest actor to win an Oscar, for his supporting role in "Beginners" as a man who openly embraces his homosexuality only after his wife dies.
Brief History:- Born on December 13, 1929 in Toronto, Plummer made his professional theater debut in Ottawa in "The Rivals" in 1950.
- He took to Broadway in 1954 with "Starcross Story" and broke into film in 1958 with "Stage Struck," before crossing the Atlantic in the early 1960s to work in London theater.
- Plummer was dynamic on stage, earning praise as one of the premier Shakespearean actors to come out of North America in the 20th century.
Indian tennis legend Akhtar Ali passes away - 08 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Tennis legend Akhtar Ali, a father figure in Indian tennis, passed away following prolonged health issues at the age of 81.
- Akhtar is survived by his son, current India Davis Cup coach Zeeshan Ali, and two daughters.
- He represented India in eight Davis Cup ties against Pakistan,
Malaysia, Iran, Mexico, Japan and Monaco between 1958 and 1964.
Brief History:- Born on July 5, 1939, Akhtar made his mark in 1955 when he
became the National junior champion and reached the junior Wimbledon
semifinals.
- Akhtar, who was groomed by former Australian Davis Cup coach Harry Hopman, also played in the Wimbledon and French Open grand slam events.
- He was the winner of the Asian mixed doubles championship.
- His last ATP tour outing was against Vijay Amritraj in a clay court match in Bombay on November 11, 1974.
- He became the coach of the National team from 1966 to 1993.
- Under his guidance, the Indian team - consisting of Krishnan, Mukerjea, Premjit and S.P. Misra-reached the Davis Cup finals in 1966.
- India repeated its feat in 1974 with a team comprising Vijay and Anand Amritraj, Shashi Menon and Jasjit Singh.
- Akhtar’s coaching influenced many famous players including Vijay Amritraj, Anand Amritraj, Ramesh Krishnan, Enrico Piperno, Leander Paes and Somdev Devvarman.
- He was an advisor to Sania Mirza.
- He also coached the national teams of Malaysia (1968-70 and 1991-93) and Belgium (1980-84).
- Akhtar was passionately involved in coaching and organising events for grassroots players throughout his life.
- For several decades he was associated with coaching at the South Club here.
- Akhtar was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2000 for his lifetime contribution to tennis.
Padma Bhushan Darshan Lal Jain passes away at 94 - 08 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Padma Bhushan and senior Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS)
worker Darshan Lal Jain of Jain Nagar, Jagadhri in Yamunanagar district, passed
away at the age of about 94 years.
- Former Haryana prant sangh sarchalak Darshan Lal Jain
dedicated his life in social service, and made significant contributions in the
freedom, education, social activities, restoration of Saraswati river.”
- His personality was full of simplicity and public service.
- His most important contribution is the restoration work of
Saraswati’s origin site and it was only due his efforts that efforts were made
to revive the river on the ground.
Brief History:- Darshan Lal Jain was born on December 12, 1927 and received
his schooling from the Government High School, Jagadhri and a bachelor degree from the Panjab University, Chandigarh.
- He participated in the Quit India Movement in the year 1942
and on October 2, 1942, on Gandhi Jayanti Day got a strike organized at the
school.
- Darshan Lal Jain joined RSS in the year 1944 and decided to
serve the Sangh as a lifelong pracharak (preacher) from the year 1946 and in
1954 refused to take the Jan Sangh ticket to the winning seat of the MLC.
- He was arrested in 1975 in emergency and remained in jail
till 1977 and refused to be released on any condition.
- He voluntarily relinquished the post at the age of 80 after
being the RSS province director of Haryana for nearly 40 years.
- He remained secretary of Vivekananda Rock Memorial Society,
Conservator of India Development Council, Guardian of Gau Raksha Samiti,
founder member of Saraswati Vidya Mandir Jagadhri, founder minister of DAV
Women College Yamunanagar, chairman of
Hindu Shiksha Samiti, founder secretary of Geeta Niketan Residential School,
and was the founding member of the Nand Lal Geeta Vidya Mandir Tepla.
- Darshan Lal Jain extended Swastik Metal Industry, the family
business activities of the metal industry from the year 1964 and succeeded in
making India’s largest industrial unit of brassware.
- Launched the first metal-based zinc oxide industrial unit in
Haryana and based on his experience, he remained a founding member of
Federation of Association of Small Industries of India and an executive member
of MMTC (Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation) advisory committee sharing
the stage with former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Apart from this,
he continued to play an active role in various educational, social, religious
activities.
States asked to send proposals for additional funds forbRation card portability scheme by Feb 15 - 08 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Centre asked state governments to submit their
proposals seeking additional funds for the ration card portability scheme, called
‘One Nation-One Ration Card’ (ONORC), by February 15.
- Under the ONORC plan, beneficiaries can lift their entitled
foodgrains from any electronic point of sale device (ePoS)-enabled fair price
shops of their choice by using their existing ration cards with biometric
authentication.
- Currently, this system is enabled in 32 states and Union
Territories covering about 69 crore beneficiaries.
- The states to deepen the
progress about installation of ePoS devices, Aadhaar seeding of all
beneficiaries, biometric authentication of public distribution system (PDS)
transactions and portability transactions (both inter-state and intra-state).
- The status of their proposals to claim the additional borrowing of 0.25% of gross state domestic product (GSDP) against the state-specific reform
i.e. implementation of ONORC plan.
- ONORC is an ambitious plan of the
government to introduce the nationwide portability of ration cards under the
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
- This aims to empower all migrant
beneficiaries to seamlessly access their NFSA foodgrains anywhere in the
country.
UN urges 57 countries to reclaim women, children from Syrian camps - 09 Feb 21
Highlights:
- UN rights experts urged 57 states to repatriate nearly
10,000 of their citizens - women and children associated with Islamic State
fighters - held in camps in northeast Syria in "sub-human" conditions
without legal process.
- Under international law, these states have a duty to
repatriate their citizens and, if there is evidence, to prosecute adults for war
crimes or other offences at fair trials in their domestic courts.
- Some 9,462 foreign women and children are among more than
64,600 people detained at al-Hol and Roj camps, run by Syrian Kurdish
authorities, where the majority of residents are Iraqi and Syrian nationals.
- These women and children are living in what can only be
described as horrific and sub-human conditions.
- Some women had been "groomed online" as brides of
Islamic State fighters, while children "had no say in what brought them
there.
- The United Nations said last month it had received reports
of 12 Syrian and Iraqi nationals being murdered in the first half of January at
al-Hol camp, which holds internal refugees and families of Islamic State
fighters.
- Canada, Finland and Kazakhstan have repatriated some
nationals.
US decision to re-engage with Human Rights Council: welcomes by UN Chief - 09 Feb 21
Highlights:
- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the
decision of the United States to re-engage with the United Nations Human Rights
Council.
- Details Analysis:
- The Human Rights Council is the world’s leading forum for
addressing the full range of human rights challenges.
- The Council’s mechanisms
and special procedures are vital tools for ensuring action and accountability.
- Under the Trump administration, the US had withdrawn from
the United Nations Human Rights Council, condemning the "hypocrisy"
of its members and its alleged "unrelenting bias" against Israel.
- The Human Rights Council was created by the United Nations
General Assembly March 2006.
- The Council is made of 47 Member States, which are elected
by the majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations
through direct and secret ballot.
- Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and
are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
India to be largest source of energy demand growth to 2040: IEA - 09 Feb 21
Highlights:
- According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India
will make up the biggest share of energy demand growth at 25% over the next two
decades, as it overtakes the European Union as the world's third-biggest energy
consumer by 2030.
Details Analysis:- India's energy consumption is expected to nearly double as
the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) expands to an estimated $8.6 trillion
by 2040 under its current national policy scenario.
- Recently, The IEA published in its India Energy Outlook 2021.
- This is underpinned by a rate of GDP growth that adds the
equivalent of another Japan to the world economy by 2040.
- The IEA, the energy
agency and policy adviser is known for
members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- India's growing energy needs will make it more reliant on
fossil fuel imports as its domestic oil and gas production has been stagnant
for years despite government policies to promote petroleum exploration and
production and renewable energy.
- India's oil demand is expected to rise to 8.7 million
barrels per day (bpd) in 2040 from about 5 million bpd in 2019, the IEA said,
while its refining capacity will reach 6.4 million bpd by 2030 and 7.7 million
bpd by 2040, from 5 million bpd.
- The world's second-biggest net oil importer after China
currently imports about 76% of its crude oil needs.
- That reliance on overseas
oil is expected to rise to 90% by 2030 and 92% by 2040.
- Rising oil demand could double India's oil import bill to
about $181 billion by 2030 and nearly treble it to $255 billion by 2040
compared with 2019.
- The world's fourth-largest LNG importer, which ships in
about half of its natural gas needs by tanker currently, is spending billions
of dollars to build infrastructure to boost use of the cleaner fuel.
- Liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports are expected to
quadruple to 124 billion cubic metres (bcm), or about 61% of overall gas demand
by 2040.
- That would be up from imports of 76 bcm, or about 58% of gas
consumption by 2030.
ISRO to launch Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 from Sriharikota - 09 Feb 21
Highlights:
- In its first mission of 2021, the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) will launch Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 as main payload
and 20 other satellites from Sriharikota.
Details Analysis:- The launch of PSLV-C51 is the first dedicated commercial
mission of NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), a PSU under the Department of Space.
- The 20 co-passenger satellites include one nano satellite
(INS-2TD) from ISRO, four commercial satellites booked via recently-formed
space facilitator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre
(IN-SPACe) and 15 satellites commercially arranged by NSIL itself.
- The four satellites being launched via IN-SPACe are three
UNITYsats from a consortium of three Indian academic institutes and one Satish
Dhawan satellite from startup Space Kidz
- Satish
Dhawan satellite, named after former Isro chairman Satish Dhawan, is aimed at
studying space radiation and magnetosphere.
- This will be their second satellite after Kalamsat to be
launched by Isro.
- UNITYsat is a combination of three satellites designed and
built as a joint development by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, Sriperumbudur
(JITsat), G H Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur, (GHRCEsat) and Sri
Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore (Sri Shakthi Sat).
- A satellite,Anand built by Indian space startup Pixxel, is
also part of the launch.
- ‘Anand’ is the first in a series of constellation of earth
observation satellites that aims at monitoring the planet 24x7 and provide data
to detect, monitor and predict global phenomena in real time.
- The data from satellite will be used for detecting forest
fires early, oil spills and gas leaks, tackling air and water pollution levels,
and solving problems of pest infestations and crop diseases on time.
- NSIL is undertaking this PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 mission under a
commercial arrangement with Spaceflight Inc, US.
What is Amazonia-1 ?- Amazonia-1 is the optical
earth observation satellite of Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research
(INPE), which took eight years to develop it.
- This satellite would strengthen
the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring
deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture
across the Brazilian territory.
- Isro
chairman K Sivan had earlier called the upcoming PSLV-C51 launch, dedicated to
private satellites, “as part of space reforms, which are aimed at
increasing the participation of private companies in the space sector.
ONGC to establish India’s first geothermal field development project in Ladakh - 09 Feb 21
Highlights:
- India’s first-ever geothermal power project will be
implemented by state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) at Puga
village of eastern Ladakh.
- The project, known as Geothermal Field Development
Project, will be implemented in three phases and is planned to commission by
the end of 2022.
- A tripartite agreement for this historic geothermal project
was signed between Union Territory Administration Ladakh, Ladakh Autonomous
Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Leh and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
Energy Centre on February 08, 2021.
- Energy from the project will be used for giving
round-the-clock power supplies to neighbouring villages
- Hot Water from the springs will be used for space-heating.
- Constructing hot swimming pools to attract tourists.
- The development of geothermal potential will be useful
during winter months, as Ladakh’s hydropower stations are shut or work at lower
efficiencies due to low flow rates.
- ONGC Headquarters : New Delhi.
Madhya Pradesh launches ‘SAANS’ campaign to reduce infant mortality - 09 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The health department in Madhya Pradesh has launched the
Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS)
campaign.
- The main purpose of the campaign is to reduce the death rate
due to pneumonia among infants a strategy is being chalked out under the Social
awareness campaign in which medical staff is being trained.
- Training will be imparted at the community and primary
health centres.
- Around 4,000 Health and Wellness Centres have been set up in
Madhya Pradesh for this purpose.
- The State government has also developed training modules in
partnership with PGIMER, Chandigarh, and UNICEF.
- It will be used to enhance
the skills of health workers, including doctors and paramedical staff.
Punjab records highest prevalence of high blood pressure: ICMR study - 10 Feb 21
Highlights:
- According to the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), Punjab has seen improvement in controlling
prevalence of high blood pressure.
- It continues to have one of the poorest
control rates combined with one of the highest prevalence in the country.
- India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), an initiative led by the Indian Council of Research (ICMR).
- The study is based on patients who visited IHCI sites in 4
states and were observed for 6 months.
- Overall, 64 % of patients had various
stages of uncontrolled hypertension when they registered.
- In Punjab 89 % of patients who registered at selected IHCI
sites had raised blood pressure and only 30% of them had been previously
diagnosed.
- The study found that treatment adherence is currently one of
the biggest problem areas in arresting the hypertension epidemic.
- Nearly half of the patients registered in the IHCI sentinel
sites did not return for a scheduled follow-up visit.
- Follow up visits were one of the lowest in Punjab, and in
the patient population that did adhere to treatment, BP control was only about
54.7%.
- In the state of Punjab more than 35.7% of the population has
high blood pressure, which is much higher than the national average of 25.3%.
- Most people are unaware of their blood pressure levels,
particularly the younger population.
Navy conducts largest-ever drill to prepare for challenges in Indian Ocean Region - 10 Feb 21
Highlights:
- India is now conducting its largest-ever naval combat
exercise, with warships, submarines, fighter jets, maritime patrol aircraft and
helicopters, to test the Navy’s operational preparedness in the wider Indian
Ocean Region (IOR).
Details Analysis:- The mammoth Tropex, or the "theatre level operational
readiness exercise" that is held biennially, has brought the country’s
western and eastern fleets together to validate the Navy’s “offensive-defence
capabilities” towards safeguarding national interests in the maritime domain
and promoting peace and stability in the IOR.
- The exercise, which also includes units from the Army, IAF
and Coast Guard, will culminate in the third week of February.
- Tropex is being progressed over distinct phases that also
test the Navy's transition from peacetime to hostilities.
- In the first phase, the Navy had conducted coastal defence
exercise ‘Sea Vigil’ along the entire coastline and island territories on
January 12-13.
- It was aimed to validate the country’s coastal defence
setup, which was entirely revamped after the 26/11 terror attacks at Mumbai.
- Sea Vigil was followed by a large-scale tri-Service joint
amphibious exercise called “Amphex-21”, which was conducted in the Andaman and
Nicobar islands from January 21 to 25.
- It was aimed at validating India’s capabilities to safeguard
the territorial integrity of its island territories and enhance operational
synergy and joint warfighting capabilities amongst the three Services.
- And now, major combat drills are being conducted under
Tropex, which include “multiple on-target ordnance deliveries” including
missiles, torpedoes and rockets being fired from frontline warships, aircraft
and submarines.
- This demonstration of the Navy’s lethal firepower reaffirms
the capability to carry out long range maritime strikes in the IOR.
- This is central to meeting operational challenges and
ensuring safe seas and secure coasts.
- Tropex puts to test the Navy’s concept of operations in
various conflict scenarios, hones its warfighting skills, bolsters its role
towards maritime security in the wider IOR and is in keeping with the theme of
being a ‘combat ready, credible and cohesive force’.
Fossil of world’s ‘oldest animal’ found in Madhya Pradesh - 10 Feb 21
Highlights:
- One of the rarest fossils in the world have been discovered
in the fascinating Bhimbetka rock shelters, a UNESCO site about 40km from
Bhopal.
Details Analysis:- Fossils were found in the roof of Auditorium Cave at
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Madhya Pradesh.
- Researchers believe they have found the first ever fossil in
India of a Dickinsonia -the Earth’s 'oldest animal', dating back 570 million
years - on the roof of what’s called the ‘Auditorium Cave’ at Bhimbetka.
- The find has been published in the February edition of
Gondwana Research, an international journal.
- Dickinsonia fossils have shown
they could exceed four feet in length but the one found in Bhimbetka is 17
inches long.
- Like the awe-inspiring rock shelters themselves, this fossil
was discovered by chance.
- Two experts from Geological Survey of India (GSI) were on a
sightseeing tour of Bhimbetka ahead of the 36th International Geological
Congress, which was scheduled for March 2020 but was postponed twice due to the
pandemic, when they spotted the leaf-like impression.
- Eleven feet above the ground, almost blending with the rock
and easily mistaken by laymen for prehistoric rock art, they found imprints of
the Dickinsonia, believed to be one of the key links between the early, simple
organisms and the explosion of life in the Cambrian Period, about 541 million
years ago.
- The fossils were found in the roof of Auditorium Cave at
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, a Unesco World Heritage Site for Paleolithic and
Mesolithic cave art, near Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- They are identical
with Dickinsonia tenuis from the Ediacara member of the Rawnsley Quartzite in
South Australia.
- The writeup is attributed to Gregory J Retallack, Neffra A
Matthews, Sharad Master, Ranjit G Khangar and Merajuddin Khan.
- The discovery of Dickinsonia in India allows assessment of
biogeographic provinces and plate tectonic reconstructions for the late
Ediacaran.
- This new occurrence confirms assembly of Gondwanaland by 550
Ma, but not reconstructions adjusted for true polar wander.
- Cloudina and other small shelly marine fossils were low
latitude, but vendobionts such as Dickinsonia were at temperate to subtropical
latitudes.
- ASI deals in geologic time scale, quaternary period, that
began 2.6 million years ago and extends into the present.
- Anything before the
beginnings of human evolution is not covered.
- It is on a deposit on sedimentary rock. A paleobotanist
could determine its genesis.
- A GSI team had conducted extensive work in the Vindhyan
Hills some 20-years ago to meet operational guidelines of Unesco before
Bhimbetka was declared a world heritage site.
- GSI mapped the area and since then the number of rock
shelters has increased from 400 to 1000.
- Vindhyan Hills, where these rock paintings are located is an
area of massively sculpted sandstone rock formations clustered around cave-art
rich Bhimbetka Hill.
- Suddenly, time lapse has a whole new meaning at Bhimbetka.
- The ancient cave art is young, compared to Dickinsonia.
- According to UNESCO, the Bhimbetka rock art is believed to
date from the Mesolithic period (around 10,000 years ago), through the
Chalcolithic (Microlithic) and right into the historic, medieval and recent
historic periods.
- Cosmogenic nuclide dating is being deployed to determine
time of earliest human culture. India's oldest stone-age tools, up to 1.5
million years old, are at a prehistoric site near Chennai.
India inks MoU to build dam for safe drinking and agri water to Kabul - 10 Feb 21
Highlights:
- India and Afghanistan signed an MoU for construction of the
proposed Shatoot dam that India will build to provide safe drinking and
irrigation water to Kabul residents.
- Both India and Afghanistan want to see the region free of
extremism and terrorism.
- The MoU for Shatoot dam was signed by foreign minister S
Jaishankar and his counterpart Hanif Atmar.
- The project was a part of the New
Development Partnership between India and Afghanistan.
- The Lalandar (Shatoot) dam would meet the safe drinking
water needs of Kabul city, provide irrigation water to nearby areas,
rehabilitate the existing irrigation and drainage network, aid in flood
protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to
the region.
- This is the second major dam being built by India in
Afghanistan, after the India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam [Salma Dam], which was
inaugurated by Modi and Ghani in June 2016.
World Pulses Day observed on February 10 - 10 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The “World Pulses Day” is observed on February 10 every year
since 2018.
- This day is dedicated to the importance of pulses.
Theme of 2021: “Nutritious Seeds for a
Sustainable Future.”- On this occasion, big event was held virtually in New York.
- The event was held with main focus on raising the awareness
and recognizing the contribution of pulses in maintaining the sustainable food
systems and healthy diets.
- The day comes under the second goal of the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goal which is “Zero Hunger.”
- The day also includes the objectives of the United Nations
Agenda 2030.
- The day is observed to urge the people to grow the pulses
besides its consumption.
Significant of the Day:- Pulses are highly nutritious and it plays a very important
part in making the diet healthy for humans.
- But there are sections of people
who do not have access to pulses and there are some people who do not know the
nutritional value and health benefits of the pulses.
- Thus, the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations established and dedicated
this day in the year 2018 with the aim of increasing the awareness as well as
access to pulses.
Bollywood actor Rajiv Kapoor passes away - 11 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Bollywood actor and Raj Kapoor’s son Rajiv Kapoor passed
away at the age of 58.
- He made his acting debut with 1983 movie Ek Jaan Hain Hum.
- He gained
recognition with his father’s last directorial Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985).
- Some of his other memorable films include Aasmaan (1984),
Lover Boy (1985), Zabardast (1985) and Hum To Chale Pardes (1988).
- But soon
Rajiv also addressed as Chimpu, moved to film direction and production.
Brief History:- Born to Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor and wife Krishna Kapoor on August 25, 1962, Rajiv Kapoor made his acting debut with 1983 movie Ek Jaan Hain Hum.
- In 1996, Rajiv directed Prem Granth which featured his elder brother Rishi Kapoor in the lead role along with Madhuri Dixit.
- He ventured into production with brother Randhir Kapoor’s directorial Henna in 1991 and also produced Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999).
- But after this, Rajiv took a break from Bollywood, and it was only last year that his comeback to the movies was announced.
China harps on 'package solution' for India's bid to become UNSC permanent member - 11 Feb 21
Highlights:
- China, which has been blocking India's efforts to become a
permanent member of the UN Security Council, reiterated its stand on New
Delhi's bid, and called for evolving a "package solution" that is
acceptable to all to reform the top organ of the global body.
- China is a permanent member of the UNSC while India began
its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member on January 1.
- China supports UNSC reforms in a manner that increases the
authority and efficacy of the UNSC, increases the representation and voice of
developing countries so that small and medium-sized countries have a greater
opportunity to participate in the decision making of the UNSC.
- China is part of the permanent five (P5) of the UNSC with
veto power has been stonewalling India's efforts to become member of UN's
powerful body for years pointing to lack of consensus even though the other
four, US, UK, France and Russia have expressed backing for New Delhi's
membership.
- Beijing's all-weather ally Pakistan is also opposed to India
becoming a permanent member of the UNSC.
India’s First CNG Tractor to be Launched - 11 Feb 21
Highlights:
- India is going to launch its first-ever diesel tractor that
has been converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) on February 12, 2021.
- The CNG Tractor will be formally launched by Nitin Gadkari,
the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.
- The conversion of the Diesel tractor into the CNG tractor
was carried out jointly by Rawmatt Techno Solutions and Tomasetto Achille
India.
- The conversion of the diesel to CNG will help the farmers to
increase their income.
- It will lower the costs and help to create job opportunities
for the people living in rural India.
- The CNG tractor will also help the farmer to save more than
one lakh rupees on the costs of fuel annually.
- This in turn will help the farmers to improve their
livelihood.
Advantages:- The benefits of converting the tractor to CNG with respect
to farmers are:
- This retrofitted CNG tractor produces more power or equal when
compared to the diesel-run engine.
- The CNG tractor will reduce the overall emissions by 70 % as compared to the emission by the diesel tractors.
- CNG tractor would also help farmers to save up to 50 % of the fuel cost.
Significance of CNG:- CNG is a clean fuel.
- The carbon content in the CNG is the
lowest among all the fuels.
- It is economical because of zero lead in it.
- It is
non-corrosive, non-dilutive and non-contaminating in nature.
- These properties
help to increase the life of the engine.
- Further, the fuel requires less regular maintenance.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science observed on 11th day of February - 11 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The world celebrates the International Day of Women and
Girls in Science every year on the 11th day of February.
- The year 2021 marked the 6th International
Day of Women and Girls in Science.
- The day was celebrated under the theme "Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19".
- The event was held at the United Nations Headquarters through
video conferencing.
- The event marked the role of women who were at the frontline
in the fight against COVID-19.
- The event also marked the discussion on the important part
of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development namely the gender equality and
science.
- The International Day of Women and Girls in was started
being observed by the United Nations through a resolution of the United Nations
General Assembly that was passed on December 22, 2015.
- The day is celebrated to recognise the critical role that
women and girls play in the field of science and technology.
- This day is implemented by UNESCO and UN Women.
- Various intergovernmental agencies, institutions and civil
society partners collaborates with the UNESCO and UN Women.
- The day is observed with the aim to promote women and girls
in science.
- It seeks to promote full and equal access to women and girls
for participation in science.
UNESCO Data:- The UNESCO data for the year 2014-2016 states that, only
around 30% of all female students select the STEM-related fields for
the higher education.
- Enrolment of female students is lower in natural
sciences, mathematics and statistics across the world when compared with the
men.
- Women are unable to move ahead in the science and technology sector due to
gender biases and lack of representation.
NDB to invest $100 Million into NIIF Fund of Funds - 11 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The New Development Bank (NDB) has announced to invest $100
million into the NIIF Fund of Funds (FoF).
- With the NDB’s investment of $100 million, the NIIF FoF has
now secured $800 million in commitments.
- NDB has joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB), Government of India (GoI) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) as an
investor in the NIIF FoF.
- The investment by the NDB is the first equity investment by
it into India. It is also the first-ever investment into a Fund of Funds by the
NDB.
NIIF Fund of Funds (FoF):- The FoF was established in the year 2018. It was established
with the objective of providing the access of the homegrown Indian private
equity fund managers to the institutional investor that operates at scale with
focus on India.
- The FOF has made commitments to four funds till date. The
aggregate commitment stands over Rs.2,750 crore.
- National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF): A Fact File
- It is India’s first infrastructure specific investment fund.
- It is also called as a sovereign wealth fund.
- This fund was set up by the
Government of India in February 2015.
- It was set up with the objective of
maximizing the economic impact through infrastructure investment in both
Greenfield and Brownfield projects which are commercially viable.
New Development Bank (NDB):- It was earlier known as the BRICS Development Bank.
- NDB is a
multilateral development bank that was established by the BRICS nations namely,
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
- The bank supports the public or
private projects through loans, guarantees and equity participation.
China opposes India's bid to become UNSC permanent member - 11 Feb 21
Highlights:
- China has been blocking India's efforts to become a
permanent member of the UN Security Council.
- It reiterated its stand on New
Delhi's bid, and called for evolving a "package solution" that is
acceptable to all to reform the top organ of the global body.
- China is a permanent member of the UNSC while India began
its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member on January 1.
- China supports UNSC reforms in a manner that increases the
authority and efficacy of the UNSC, increases the representation and voice of
developing countries so that small and medium-sized countries have a greater
opportunity to participate in the decision making of the UNSC.
- China is part of the permanent five (P5) of the UNSC with
veto power has been stonewalling India's efforts to become member of UN's
powerful body for years pointing to lack of consensus even though the other
four, US, UK, France and Russia have expressed backing for New Delhi's
membership.
- Beijing's all-weather ally Pakistan is also opposed to India
becoming a permanent member of the UNSC.
UNSC: A Fact File- The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter.
- It's Headquarters located in New York, New York, United States
- It was founded on 24 October 1945.
Goa become 6th State to complete Urban Local Bodies reforms - 12 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Goa has become the 6th State in the country that have
successfully completed the Urban Local Bodies reforms.
- These Urban Local Bodies reforms were set up by the
Department of Expenditure.
- Finance Ministry highlighted that the state of Goa will now
eligible to mobilise the additional financial resources of 223 crore rupees
with the help of Open Market Borrowings.
- Apart from Goa, five other states namely Andhra Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Manipur and Telangana have already completed the
Urban Local Bodies reforms.
- These five states have also been granted a total additional
borrowing permission of ten thousand 435 crore rupees.
Reforms:- Under the reforms, the states are required to notify floor
rates of property tax in ULBs in accordance with the guideline rates for
property transactions.
- The states are also required to notify the floor rates of
user charges with respect to the provision of water-supply, drainage and
sewerage.
- State will also launch a system of periodic increase in the
floor rates of property tax or the user charges with respect to the price increases.
- Apart from these reforms, the centre has also identified
four citizen centric areas for reforms namely, the Implementation of One Nation
One Ration Card, Urban Local body or utility reform, Ease of doing business
reform and Power Sector reforms.
- What are the implications?
- After undertaking the reforms, Goa has become eligible to get the additional reform linked
borrowing.
- It will now be granted permission to mobilise financial
resource of RS 2,731 by the Department of Expenditure.
- Reforms in Urban Local Bodies and the urban utilities
reforms are being undertaken with the aim of strengthening the finance of the
Urban Local Bodies in States.
- These reforms would enable the ULBs to provide
better public health and sanitation services to its citizens.
Exim Bank to provide $400 Million for Maldives project - 12 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Reserve Bank of India has announced that the
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) will provide USD 400 million to
Maldives project.
- It will provide the fund for the Greater Male Connectivity
Project.
- The Exim Bank had signed an agreement with the Maldives
government to provide the supported Line of Credit of USD 400 million on
October 12, 2020.
- The Greater Male Connectivity project is the Male to
Thilafushi Link project in Maldives.
- The agreement under the Line of Credit is effective from
January 28, 2021.
- The utilisation period of the terminal is 60 months after
the completion date of the project.
- The GMCP project was the election promise by the current
President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
- This project will connect the Gulhifalhu Port and Thilafushi
industrial zone with a 6.7-kilometre-long bridge.
- This is a landmark project that will streamline the
connectivity between the four islands namely, Maldives, Villingili, Gulhifahu
and Thilafushi.
- It would help in boosting the economic activity and would
also generate employment.
- It will also promote a holistic urban development in Male
region of Maldives.
Indo-Maldives Relation:- The relation of India with Maldives was established in the
year 1966.
- India is among those countries that recognized the Maldives after it
gained its independence in 1965.
- Both
the countries share an ethnic, linguistic, religious, cultural and commercial
links.
- Currently, the Maldives is home to 25,000 Indian nationals.
- Both the
countries are the founding members of SAARC.
- India also consider Maldives a
part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy.
- In the line, India is a part of
‘India First’ policy of Maldives.
- The economic relation between both the countries have
strengthened significantly after the success of Operation Cactus.
- India has
always provided extensive economic aid for developing infrastructure, health,
telecommunications in the country.
- India
also established the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male.
Vijayanagara become 31st district of Karnataka state - 12 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Karnataka Government recently notified that, the
Vijayanagara has become the 31st district of Karnataka officially.
- The district has its headquarter at Hosapete.
- Vijayanagara is located in Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
- The district also be the home to UNESCO World Heritage sites
namely the Hampi and Virupaksha Temple.
- Vijayanagara district has been named after the capital of
the Vijayanagar Empire.
- The district was established out of the ore-rich Ballari
district in accordance with the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964.
- The district will comprise of six taluks namely the
Hosapete, kotturu, Kudligi, Hagaribommanahalli, Harapanahalli and Hoovina
Hadagali.
- Earlier, the Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had announced
his plan of creating a new Vijayanagara district in the month of September,
2019.
- The Chief Minister had cited it is required to create a new district for
the administrative reasons.
- Creation of the new
district will help in promoting the tourism to the places like Hampi temple.
- The Karnataka Cabinet formally approved the creation of
a new vijayanagara district on November 18, 2020.
Union Govt. hikes Family Pensions Ceiling - 12 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances & Pensions enhances the upper ceiling for family pension from
Rs 45,000 to Rs 1,25,000 per month.
- The Union Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office and
Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, stated on
February 12, 2021.
- This decision was taken in order to bring Ease of Living for
the family members of the deceased employees.
- It would help in providing adequate financial security to
the family members.
- The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW)
has also clarified the amount admissible when child is eligible to draw two
family pensions after death of parents.
- The notification says that the amount of both the family
pensions will be restricted to Rs 1,25,000 per month.
- This amounts to two and
half times more than the earlier limit.
- Further the sub-rule (11) of rule 54 under the Central Civil
Services (Pension) Rules 1972 states that if both wife and husband are
Government servants and are governed by the provisions of that rule, then, on
their death the surviving child will be eligible for two family pensions.
- This commission was set up by Government of India in order
to provide recommendations with respect to the changes in salary structure of
the employees.
- The 1st pay commission was set in the year 1947.
- Since then, seven pay commissions have been set up on a
regular basis to review and recommend on the work and pay structure.
- It is headquartered in Delhi.
- The pay commission is given a time limit of 18 months after
its constitution to make any recommendation.
7th Central Pay
Commission : A Fact File- The 7th pay commission was set up in September 2013.
- The pay commission submitted its recommendations with its
implementation effect from 1 January 2016.
- It was headed by Justice A.K Mathur.
The second phase Vigyan Jyoti Programme started - 12 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The second phase of Vigyan Jyoti programme was started on
February 11, 221.
- It was started on the occasion of International Day of Women
and Girls in Science
- The Vigyan Jyoti Programme will spread the programme to
encourage the girls to take interest in science.
- It would also encourage them to build a career in STEM.
- The programme would spread to 50 more districts in addition
to the 50 more districts across India.
- It would improve by learnings of the past one year and will
be expanded to more districts in country in order to empower the women.
- The programme was started because women are
under-represented and is a multi-dimensional problem.
- This problem is needed to
be seen from all the angles.
- In the line, the New Education Policy and the Science,
Technology and Innovation Policy would also help in removing the constraints.
- These policies would also help in making best use of the
demographic dividend so as to progress long in a short time.
- This in turn would
help in increasing the number of women in science.
Vigyan Jyoti programme : A Fact File- It is a new initiative that seeks to encourage girls to take
interest in science and build career in this field.
- The programme was launched
by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) in December 2019.
- It was
launched with the objective of creating a level-playing field for the meritorious
girls who wants to pursue STEM.
- The programme is currently running successfully
in 50 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV).
- In the year 2021-22 it will be expanded to 50 more JNVs.
- It addresses
the underrepresentation of women in various areas of STEM.
- The programme at
first cater to the girls at school level of Class IX to Class XII in order to
encourage and empower them to pursue STEM courses.
World Radio Day observed on February 13 - 13 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The World Radio Day (WRD) is being celebrated across the
world on February 13, 2021.
- This year, the marks the 10th anniversary of the
proclamation of the world radio day and more than 110 years of radio.
- The day will be observed under the theme, “New World, New
Radio”.
- The theme highlights the services provided by the radio amid the
Covid-19 pandemic.
- The day was proclaimed by the members of UNESCO in 2011.
- The day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly
in the year 2012 as an International Day.
Why this day is celebrated?- The UNESCO highlights that, the radio is a powerful medium
to celebrate humanity.
- It constitutes a platform for democratic discourse.
- Radio is one of the most widely consumed medium in the
world. It has the ability to reach to a wide audience.
- It also has the ability to shape the society’s experience of
diversity.
- Thus, to mark the significance of the Radio, World Radio Day
is observed.
Brief History:- The agenda of observing the World radio day was first put
forward by a Spanish Radio Academy on September 20, 2010.
- Spain proposed that UNESCO Executive Board should include an
agenda item to proclaim the day.
- Following the request, UNESCO’s Executive Board added the agenda item in
its provisional agenda to proclaim the day on September 29, 2011.
- Then it carried out a wide consultation in 2011 in which 91%
people were in favour of the project.
- The move was also supported by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting
Union (ABU), Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), Caribbean Broadcasting
Union (CBU), African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), European Broadcasting Union
(EBU), and the International Association of Broadcasting (IAB).
- Thus, the executive board recommended UNESCO to proclaim a
World Radio Day at the 36th session.
Meet Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, selected for Nasa's SpaceX Crew-4 mission
- 13 Feb 21
Highlights:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has assigned Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines as commander and pilot, respectively, for the SpaceX Crew-4 mission or the fourth crew rotation flight of the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).
- The station is a critical testbed for Nasa to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low-Earth orbit.
- Additional crew members for the project will be assigned as mission specialists in the future by Nasa's international partners.
- Lindgren and Hines along with international crew members will join an expedition crew aboard the space station for a long stay.
- Taiwan-born Lindgren is part of an Air Force family and this mission will be his second trip into space after a 141-day stay at the space station in 2015 for Expeditions 44 and 45.
- Before he became an astronaut, Lindgren was a flight surgeon supporting space station missions and space shuttle.
- He was named as one of the Artemis Team of astronauts in December 2020.
- This team is for the agency's upcoming lunar missions.
- Hines became an astronaut in 2017 and this will be his first trip into space.
- A lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force, Hines supported multiple military deployments in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
- His flying included test pilot for the Federal Aviation Administration and research pilot at Nasa's Johnson Space Center located in Houston
- The mission, which is part of the Commercial Crew Program, is expected to launch in 2022 on a SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
- The agency's Commercial Crew Program is collaborating with the American aerospace industry to develop human space transportation service.
Indian-origin Arora Akanksha declares candidacy for UN Secretary-General post - 13 Feb 21
Highlights:
- An Indian-origin employee at the UN has announced her
candidacy to be its next Secretary-General.
- She will be the first
person to throw her hat in the ring against incumbent Antonio Guterres, who is
seeking a second five-year term beginning January 2022 as chief of the world
organisation.
Details Analysis:- The 34 year old Arora Akanksha , working as an audit
coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- She will run for the post of the world’s top diplomat and
launched her campaign #AroraForSG this month.
- For 75 years, the UN has not fulfilled its promise to the
world - refugees haven’t been protected, humanitarian aid has been minimal, and
technology and innovation has been on the back-burner. We deserve a UN that
leads progress.
- Last month Guterres, 71 had confirmed that he will seek a
second five-year term as chief of the world organisation.
- Guterres’s first term
ends on December 31 this year and the term of the next Secretary-General will
begin on January 1, 2022.
- Guterres assumed office on January 1, 2017 after a reformed
selection process that included a public informal dialogue session in the
General Assembly.
- Guterres is the 9th Secretary-General of the United Nations
and no woman has held the position of the world’s top diplomat in the 75-year
history of the United Nations.
- The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly,
on the recommendation of the Security Council, making the Secretary-General's
selection subject to the veto of any of the five permanent members of the
Council.
- The UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir, Brenden
Varma was asked at the press briefing whether Akanksha had written to the
President on her candidacy.
- According to her profile on her website UNOW.org, Akanksha graduated from York University, Toronto with a
Bachelor of Administrative Studies.
- She received her Master in Public Administration from
Columbia University.
- She was recruited at the UN to “help with the financial
reforms of the organisation” and her work included updating financial
regulations and rules of the UN and managing the internal and external audits
at UNDP.
- India-born Akanksha has an Overseas Citizenship of India and
a Canadian passport.
Italy's Mario Draghi sworn in as prime minister of unity government - 13 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Italian president swore in the former chief of the
European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, as prime minister at the head of a unity
government called on to confront the coronavirus crisis and economic slump.
- All but one of Italy's major parties have rallied to his
side and his cabinet includes lawmakers from across the political spectrum, as
well as technocrats in key posts, including the finance ministry and a new
green transition portfolio.
- He is tasked with plotting Italy's recovery from the
pandemic and must immediately set to work on plans for how to spend more than
200 billion euros ($240 billion) in European Union funds aimed at rebuilding
the recession-bound economy.
- If he prevails, Draghi will likely bolster the entire
eurozone, which has long fretted over Italy's perennial problems. Success would
also prove to Italy's sceptical northern allies that by offering funds to the
poorer south, they will fortify the entire bloc.
- But he faces enormous challenges. Italy is mired in its
worst downturn since World War Two, hundreds of people are still dying of
COVID-19 each day, the vaccination campaign is going slowly and he only has
limited time to sort things out.
- Italy is due to return to the polls in two years time, but
it is far from certain that Draghi will be able to survive that long at the
head of a coalition that includes parties with radically opposing views on
issues such as immigration, justice, infrastructure development and welfare.
- Draghi's government is the 67th to take office since 1946
and the seventh in the last decade alone.
UK's Karim Khan elected next International Criminal Court chief prosecutor - 13 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Karim Khan, a United Kingdom barrister, has been elected in
the second round as the next chief prosecutor of the International Criminal
Court (ICC).
- The ICC elected Khan as the new prosecutor for a nine-year
term at the United Nations (UN) in New York.
- Karim will replace Fatou Bensouda from the Gambia, later in
the month of June.
- Khan secured 72 votes and won on the second ballot of the
123 parties.
- He finished ahead of Fergal Gaynor of Ireland with 42 votes
and two other candidates.
Karim Khan,: A Fact File- He is a barrister and Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with more than 25 years of professional
experience as an international criminal law and human rights lawyer.
- Previously, Karim has served as the head of the
investigative team, which was established pursuant to Security Council
resolution 2379 (2017), to support domestic efforts to hold Islamic State
accountable in Iraq, for acts that may amount to war crimes.
- According to the UN data, Khan has extensive experience in
acting as prosecutor, victim's counsel and defence lawyer in domestic and
international criminal tribunals, including, but not limited to, the
International Criminal Court.
- Khan holds an LLB (Hons) in law from King's College,
University of London, and various other degrees and qualifications.
- Khan has studied and lectured on Islamic law and has
published extensively in the area of international criminal justice and human
rights.
China and Russia pull out from UNHRC resolution on Myanmar - 14 Feb 21
Highlights:
- According to NHK World, China and Russia pulled out from a United Nations Human
Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on the situation in Myanmar following the
military coup on February 1.
- The resolution calls for the release of detained persons
including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.
- It was approved by consensus during a special session in
Geneva.
- Earlier, UN Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews had condemned
the arbitrary detention of government officials and human rights leaders in
Myanmar.
- The UNHRC resolution stressed the need to refrain from
violence and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of
law.
- On February 1, Myanmar's military staged a coup and
overthrew the democratically elected government of the National League for
Democracy (NLD), alleging voter fraud in November 2020 elections that saw the
NLD securing a resounding victory.
- Meanwhile, Nepal, Hong Kong and other countries have
protested against China for bringing civil unrest to Myanmar.
South Indian state Kerala to set up Mini Museums - 14 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Kerala, which is home to India’s biggest art event called
Kochi-Muziris Biennale, is now aspiring to become a museum hub in the country.
- The museums should be able to converse
with the visitors specially with the youngsters.
- In order to comply with the objectives, the Kerala
government has launched an initiative which aims to establish and promote mini
museums in state.
Keralam Museum:- The new museum movement has been started by Keralam Museum.
- It is an organisation that build and modernise the museums.
- The new museum movement has been started to challenge the
old-fashioned norms regarding the conservation of cultures.
- It seeks to replace the revolutionary concepts which is
gaining momentum across the world.
- Keralam Museum has also completed several other assignments
namely, Koyikkal Palace Folklore Museum at Nedumangad in
Thiruvananthapuram,Gandhi Smriti Museum at Payyanur and Vaikom Satyagraha Memorial Gandhi Museum in Kottayam.
- Apart from that, around 20 District Heritage Museums are
under process.
Museum Projects in Kerala:- The government has also decided that the Bastion Bungalow at
Fort Kochi will function as the Ernakulam District Heritage Museum.
- The
galleries of this museum visually explain the interventions of Portuguese,
Dutch and the British powers into the political domain kingdoms of Kerala.
- Apart from that, Kerala recently opened District Heritage Museum in Palakkad.
- It is situated 150 km north of Kochi. This museum focuses on the agriculture, arts
and music of the region.
National Women’s Day of India observed on 13 February - 14 Feb 21
Highlights:
- In India, the National Women’s Day is observed every year on
13 February to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu.
- This year
Nation celebrates its 142nd Birth Anniversary.
- She was born on February 13, 1879.
- She was famous for her
nickname ‘Nightingale of India’ or ‘Bharat Kokila’ because of her poems.
- Sarojini Naidu was not only a freedom fighter, but she also
became the first woman governor of the United Provinces, the present Uttar
Pradesh.
- She was one of the forefront leaders who led the Civil
Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement.
- She was an important figure
in India’s struggle for independence from colonial rule.
National Productivity Day 2021 observed on 12 February - 14 Feb 21
Highlights:
- National Productivity Day is observed every year in India on
February 12.
- The objective of National Productivity Council is stimulating and
promoting productivity and quality consciousness across all sectors in the
country.
- The main observance of the day is to encourage all
stakeholders in the implementation of productivity tools and techniques with
contemporary relevant themes.
- The day is celebrated by the National Productivity Council
(NPC) to promote productivity culture in India.
- National Productivity Council (NPC) under the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry Government of India is a premier institution for
propagating productivity movement in India.
- NPC works for providing solutions
towards accelerating productivity, enhancing competitiveness, increasing
productivity.
- National Productivity Council of India established in 1958.
- It's headquarters located at New Delhi.
World Bank Signs $100 million Project with Chhattisgarh
- 14 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Indian Govt and Chhattisgarh Govt has signed a $100 million
for CHIRAAG (Chhattisgarh Inclusive Rural and Accelerated Agriculture Growth)
project with the World bank.
- The main purpose is to develop sustainable production
systems that allow tribal households in remote areas of Chhattisgarh to
practice round-the-year production of diversified and nutritious food.
- The project will be implemented in the southern
tribal-majority region of the state where a large population is undernourished
and poor. Over 180,000 households from about 1,000 villages in eight districts
of Chhattisgarh, will be benefited from this project.
- World Bank Headquarters: Washington DC, United States.
- World Bank President: David Malpass.
- World Bank Founded: July 1944.
- Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor:
Anusuiya Uikey.
ICICI Lombard launches Corporate India Risk Index - 14 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Private general insurer ICICI Lombard has launched the
‘Corporate India Risk Index’.
- India risk index, an indicator of a company's risk exposure and preparedness.
- It spans across 15 sectors of the economy and has 150 companies under it, currently.
- This is intended to be a unified, standardised
corporate risk index that spans industries and companies.
- This will help companies understand the level of risk that
their business is facing and also assist in developing a successful risk
aversion plan.
- It has worked with consulting firm Frost and Sullivan to develop
the risk measurement tool.
- ICICI Lombard Founded in the year 2001.
- ICICI Lombard Headquarters located in Mumbai.
Odisha Government to set up ‘COVID-19 Warrior Memorial’ - 15 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Health and Family Welfare Department of Odisha has
announced recently to established a COVID-19 Warrior Memorial in Bhubaneshwar.
- The memorial will be set to recognize and honour the
sacrifice and services provided by the COVID-19 warriors.
- The memorial will be set in the Biju Patnaik Park in
Bhubaneshwar.
- This memorial will be inaugurated August 15, 2021 as the
Odisha Government has planned.
- The works department of the Odisha Government have been
tasked with the architect to finalise the structure and design of the memorial.
- The memorial will also honour the sacrifices made
by the frontline warriors who lost their lives while fighting with the
pandemic.
- In Odisha, around 60 Covid-19 warriors and health workers died amid
the pandemic.
- The COVID-19 war memorial is being constructed in the
backdrop of announcement made by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik
in 2020.
- The government had also announced Rs.50
lakh ex-gratia to all the public and private health personnel and the members
of all the support services who died while providing services amid the
pandemic.
Google fined $1 million for misleading French hotel rankings - 15 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Google has agreed to pay a fine of 1.1 million euros ($1.3
million) after French authorities concluded the search engine displayed “misleading”
rankings for French hotels.
- Previously, Google used the official source Atout France as
well as input from other hotel-industry websites in its algorithm to rank
hotels from one to five stars.
- After receiving complaints from hoteliers about Google's
rankings, the French government's fraud and competition agency launched an
investigation in 2019 and 2020.
- It was to monitor
“the nature and fairness of the information provided by the platform” across
7,500 establishments.
- It has now made the “necessary changes to only reflect the
official French star rating for hotels on Google Maps and Search.
Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates Gender Park campus in Kozhikode - 15 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the
Gender Park campus in Kozhikode.
- It is an initiative to work towards gender equality and
empowerment in the state.
- The Gender Park drives policy, research, economic and social
initiatives that work for a just and equal society.
- It found standing under the Department of Social Justice and
is the first space of its kind in the world.
- Currently working under the
Department of Women and Child Development, it aims to become a premier
convergence point for gender-related activities.
- The Gender Park campus is a 24-acre space that will act as a
convergence centre for various projects, cultural and academic engagements.
- The park includes a gender museum, library, convention
centre and amphitheater.
- Vijayan also inaugurated the International Women's Trade
Centre to promote women's entrepreneurs.
- Minister for Health, Social Justice and Women and Child
Development KK Shailaja chaired the ceremony.
Govt to set up intelligence unit to tackle pesky calls, financial frauds - 15 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The telecom ministry will set up an intelligence unit and a
consumer protection system as part of continuing efforts to tackle the menace
of pesky calls as well as to take strict action against financial frauds
perpetrated using telecom resources.
Details Analysis:- The telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who chaired a high
level meeting to look at ways to address rising concerns of consumers over
unsolicited messages on mobile phones, repeated harassment through SMSes
promising loan transactions through fraudulent ways.
- It is also aimed at making digital transactions more safe
and secure.
- The Minister of Communication directed officials to take
strict action against erring telemarketers and individuals involved in
harassment of telecom subscribers.
- Further, the minister observed that telecom resources are
also being used to carry out financial frauds and dupe the common man of his
hard-earned money.
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) already has
regulations in place to check pesky calls. However, several unregistered
telemarketers still make calls to people which often also leads to fraudulent
incidents.
- On February 3, the Delhi High Court directed Trai to ensure
"complete and strict" implementation of the regulation issued by it
in 2018 for curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC).
- The officials apprised the minister that for UCC and
financial fraud-related complaints, time is of utmost essence and a quick
time-bound action will help in reducing such menaces.
- Accordingly, a nodal agency named as Digital Intelligence
Unit (DIU) will be set up.
- The main function of the DIU will be to coordinate with
various LEAs (Law Enforcement Agencies), financial institutions and telecom
service providers in investigating any fraudulent activity involving telecom
resources.
- At the license service area level, Telecom Analytics for
Fraud Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP) system will also be created.
- The system will strengthen the trust of people in the
digital ecosystem and will make financial digital transactions primarily
through mobile more secure and reliable, which will result in promotion of
Digital India.
- In case of any violation, imposing financial penalty on
telemarketers and disconnecting resources in case of repetitive violations have
also been proposed, as per the statement.
- The minister also directed to devise special strategies,
including blocking of telecom operations due to rising concern in Jamtara
(Jharkhand) and Mewat (Haryana) regions for curbing fraudulent activities
involving usage of telecom resources.
Govt announces liberalisation of policies governing geo-spatial data - 15 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The government has announced liberalisation of policies
governing the acquisition and production of geo-spatial data.
- It will help in boosting innovation in the sector and create
a level playing field for public and private entities.
Details Analysis:- Under the new guidelines, the sector will be deregulated and
aspects like approvals have been done away with.
- For Indian entities, there will be complete deregulation
with no prior approvals, security clearances, licenses, for acquisition and
production of geospatial data and geospatial data services, including maps, he
said.
- The liberalisation of policies governing the acquisition and
production of geospatial data is a "massive step in government's vision
for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat".
- The reform will benefit country's farmers, start-ups,
private sector, public sector and research institutions to drive innovations
and build scalable solutions.
- The easing of norms will greatly help in several sectors
that were suffering because of non-availability of maps.
- Earlier even the Survey of India, the agency entrusted with
making maps, had to seek permission for mapping, thus delaying its work by at
least 3-6 months.
- The move will unlock tremendous opportunities for the
country's start-ups, private sector, public sector and research institutions to
drive innovations and build scalable solutions.
- This will also generate employment and accelerate economic
growth, he stressed.
- India's farmers will also be benefited by leveraging the
potential of geo-spatial and remote sensing data.
- Democratising data will
enable the rise of new technologies and platforms that will drive efficiencies
in agriculture and allied sectors.
FASTags must from mandatory from February 15 midnight - 15 Feb 21
HIghlights:
- FASTags have been made mandatory from February 15 midnight
and vehicles not fitted with them will be charged double the toll at electronic
toll plazas across the country.
- This has been done to promote fee payment through digital
mode, reduce waiting time and fuel consumption, and provide for a seamless
passage through the fee plazas,
Features:- Beginning February 15 midnight, all lanes in the toll plazas
on National Highways shall be declared FASTag lanes.
- This has been done to promote fee payment through digital
mode, reduce waiting time and fuel consumption, and provide for a seamless
passage through the fee plazas.
- the government has already extended the FASTag registration
deadline a few times and would not be extend it any further.
- The ministry of road transport and highways had mandated
FASTag for M&N categories of motor vehicles with effect from January 1 this
year; it was extended to February 15 later.
- Category ‘M’ is for a motor vehicle with at least four
wheels used for carrying passengers.
- Category ‘N’ stands for a motor vehicle with at least four
wheels used for carrying goods though it may also carry people.
- FASTag is a sticker attached to the windshield of your
vehicle. It has a radio-frequency identification barcode that is linked to
registration details of the vehicle.
- It is valid for five years.
- On passing a toll plaza, FASTag readers installed there will
automatically deduct the required toll.
- To buy a FASTag, you need to furnish vehicle registration
documents, and personal ID for the KYC process. If you do it through the bank,
you only need your registration certificate.
- It can be bought via banks or e-commerce channels.
- It can
also be purchased at some toll plazas across the country.
- If you have bought it through a bank, the e-commerce partner
would create an e-wallet.
- All you need to do is add money to the e-wallet.
Likewise, for mobile payment banks, you can recharge using your debit/credit
card, UPI or other payment options.
- Those exempt from paying toll don’t need to use FASTag
either.
- This includes judges, bureaucrats, lawmakers, ministers and emergency
service workers.
- As per the ministry, FASTag registration has reached 90%;
only 10% people still need to get it.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath launches Abhyudaya scheme - 16 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the
Abhyudaya scheme via video conferencing.
- The scheme will aid holistic development by providing
coaching facilities similar to that of Kota and Prayagraj to the interested
candidates in other parts of the state who are not able to avail those
services.
Details Analysis:- Abhyudaya Yojana is a 'path pradarshak' (guiding light) for
holistic development.
- When about 30,000 competitive exam prospects were stuck in
Kota and Prayagraj due to Covid, we decided to have similar coaching facilities
in the state.
- Under the Abhyudaya scheme, free of cost coaching centres
for the preparation of competitive government exams will be provided by the UP
government.
- The coaching institutions are especially aimed at providing
assistance to those candidates who are not able to take coaching for the exams
due to their financial problems.
- The free-of-cost coaching institutes will be starting from
tomorrow.
- Students can avail offline coaching and study material too.
- Free guidance and teaching by senior IAS, IPS and PCS
officers will also be provided to the aspirants.
- The coaching centre will provide every kind of facility from
virtual doubt clarifying sessions, interview calls, career counselling to subject
matter expertise.
- The free training centres will be set up in each district
and will be operated under the chairmanship of respective Mandalayukta at each
divisional headquarter of the state.
- The state government scheme is aimed at ensuring quality
exam preparation for all talented and hard working aspirants coming from
diverse backgrounds like rural areas, families of poor income class and
marginalized section, who are not able to afford and avail coaching services in
private sector.
ABD to aid Rs.15,000 cr loan to Maharashtra for building roads - 16 Feb 21
Highlights:
- Maharashtra government
was planning to obtain loans to the tune of Rs. 15,000 crore from the Asian
Development Bank at a nominal rate to build roads and clear the work backlog in
the state.
- The backlog in road work had gone up and the funds required
would be more than what the state budget has allocated.
- The government is planning to take a loan of Rs 15,000 crore
from the Asian Development Bank at a nominal rate of interest ranging between 1
% and 1.5 %.
- The process of getting cabinet sanction for this loan
application is underway. We are also planning to raise funds through asset
monetization.
- Last year, fund allocation for road works was 30-40 % due to
the coronavirus outbreak.
- The restrictions placed on the Shiv Jayanti celebrations,
scheduled for February 19, were due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Indian Navy gets third Scorpene submarine, to be commissioned as INS Karanj - 16 Feb 21
Highlights:
- The Indian Navy got its third Scorpene submarine, which will
be commissioned as INS Karanj, of Project P-75 in Mumbai.
- The acceptance document was signed by Vice Admiral (Retd)
Narayan Prasad, Chairman and Managing Director of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited, and Rear Admiral B Sivakumar, Chief of Staff Officer (Tech) of Western
Naval Command.
- With the delivery of Karanj, India further cemented its
position as a submarine building nation.
- MDL, one of the India's leading shipyards with the capacity
and the capability to meet the requirements and aspirations of the Indian Navy,
has delivered three Scorpene submarines named Khanderi, Kalvari and now Karanj.
- The fourth submarine, Vela, launched on May 6 2019, has
commenced sea trials, the fifth submarine Vagir, was launched on November 12,
2020 and has commenced harbour sea trials whilst the sixth submarine is
presently in an advanced stage of outfitting.
- All the six submarines are being constructed under Project
75.
- The number 75 in Project 75 refers to a unique identifier which was
assigned to a programme for series production of submarines.
- Two SSK submarines built by MDL in 1992 and 1994 are still
in service today, after more than 25 years.
- MDL also achieved expertise in submarine refits by
successfully executing the medium refit-cum-upgradation of all the four SSK
class submarines of the Indian Navy.
- It is presently carrying out the Medium Refit and Life
Certification of INS Shishumar, the first SSK submarine.
- With the construction of the Leander and Godavari class
frigates, Khukri class Corvettes, Missile Boats, Delhi and Kolkata class
Destroyers, Shivalik class Stealth Frigates, the SSK submarines and the
Scorpene submarines under its belt, MDL has almost mapped the history of
indigenous warship building in India.
World's largest cricket stadium built at Motera, Ahmedabad - 16 Feb 21
Highlights: