SM Current Affairs FEBRUARY 2021 Set 03

PREFACE

It gives us great pleasure to release the monthly edition of the PRAVAHINI - Monthly e-Compendium & Weekly e-Periodicals of Current Affairs. The magazine’s members have shown considerable cooperation as well as devotion. We at successmantra.in work tirelessly to create this magazine and bring it to you with a great sense of gratitude.

The PRAVAHINI February-2021 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of October. Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including CLAT, AILET, DU-LLB, HM, CAT, IAS, PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA and various other competitive examinations.

Current Affairs play the bigger role in many competitive and government exams. It holds the power of making or breaking your chance of success. Therefore, the candidates should cover the Current Affairs thoroughly and smartly.

The PRAVAHINI February-2021 eBook is divided into different sections keeping in mind the need of various exams. The sections covered namely International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment, Science & Technology, Legal Affairs, Sports, States News Makers and few others.

We would also be pleased to receive any suggestion that could assist us with the upcoming editions.

Success Mantra (GTB Nagar, Delhi)

Website: www.successmantra.in

Mail Id: [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Affairs
2. International Affairs
3. Economic Affairs
4. Appointments
5. Awards And Honors
6. Important Dates & Sports
7. Reports And Indexes
8. Science & Tech
9. Miscellaneous

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

PM ADDRESSED 2ND KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered the inaugural address at the 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games through a video conference.
• The second edition of the Khelo India-Winter Games has been organised at the world-famous ski-resort Gulmarg in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The event has been organised by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and the Winter Games Association of J&K. The sports activities at the games will include alpine skiing, nordic ski, snowboarding, ski mountaineering, ice hockey, ice skating, ice stock etc.

PM MODI TO INAUGURATE 2ND MARITIME SUMMIT

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the virtual Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021, from March 2 to 4, 2021.
• The ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’ is the flagship initiative of the Union Ministry of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India. FICCI is the industry partner for the summit.
• The theme of the event is “Exploring the potential business opportunities in the Indian Maritime sector and making Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. The objective of the Summit is to promote both domestic and international investment in the Indian Ports and Maritime sector.

GOI & WORLD BANK INK PACT FOR PROJECTS IN NAGALAND

• The Government of India, the Government of Nagaland and the World Bank signed a $68 million agreement for “Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources Project”, to enhance the governance of schools across Nagaland.
• The $68 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a final maturity of 14.5 years including a grace period of 5 (five) years.
• The “Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources Project” will improve classroom instruction; create opportunities for the professional development of teachers, and build technology systems to provide students and teachers with more access to blended and online learning as well as allow better monitoring of policies and programmes.

INDIA & MALDIVES SIGNED PACTS TO BOOST INFRASTRUCTURE

• External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar was on a two-day official visit to the archipelago nation the Maldives to review bilateral ties and development cooperation.
• Apart from this, five pacts were signed between India and Maldives to boost infrastructure in the island nation. They included:
• Amendatory Agreement to repurpose an older EXIM Bank of India Line of Credit of USD 25 million for Road Devt.
• Letter of Intent between EXIM Bank and local authorities for financing a housing project of 2000 units in Hulhumale.
• MoU on grant funding USD 0.5 million for a fish processing plant in Kendhikulhudhoo in the northern Maldives.

FIRST SKILL UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN INDIA

• The Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal has laid the foundation of the first skill university of eastern India in Darrang district in Assam.
• The state-of-the-art skill university would be built with a financial outlay of Rs 1,000 crore. It will impart training to over 10,000 students in 12 disciplines.
• The university is expected to be completed by 2026. It will have “understandings” with countries like Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Japan, and England.

INAUGURATION OF ATAL PARYAVARAN BHAVAN

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, inaugurated the Atal Paryavaran Bhavan at Lakshadweep. Prakash Javadekar is on a four-day official visit to Lakshadweep from February 19 to 22, 2021.
• During the visit, the minister attended high-level meetings with the Secretaries of various departments in the Lakshadweep administration, participated in various official programmes at Suheli, Kadmat and Bangaram islands.
• The minister will also evaluate the major innovative initiatives of the Union Territory’s Forest and Environment Department, so that Lakshadweep undergoes comprehensive development, without compromising its commitment to nature.

CM OF PUDUCHERRY V. NARAYANASAMY RESIGNED

• The Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry, V Narayanasamy has submitted the letter of his resignation and his council of ministers on February 22, 2021, to Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.
• The decision was taken as the Congress-led Government in the UT lost its majority in the House, which are 14.
• Following a series of resignations, the ruling government was reduced to strength of 12. Two MLA resigned in January 2021 while 2 resigned in February 2021.

HARSH VARDHAN INAUGURATED MISSION INDRADHANUSH 3.0

• Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan has launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0, (IMI 3.0), to expand immunization coverage across the country.
• The focus of IMI 3.0 will be on children and pregnant women who missed their vaccine doses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The IMI 3.0 will have two rounds, of 15 days each. The first round will begin on February 22, 2021, and the second round will begin on March 22, 2021.
• The vaccination drive will be conducted in pre-identified 250 districts and urban areas across 29 States and UTs in the country to reach out to every dropped out and left out the child and pregnant woman.

GOI & AIIB SIGNED AGREEMENT FOR PROJECTS IN ASSAM

• The Government of India and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has signed a $304 million loan agreement on February 23, 2021, for the Assam Intra-State Transmission System Enhancement Project.
• The project aims to improve the reliability, capacity and security of the power transmission network in the northeastern state of Assam.
• It includes constructing 10 transmission substations and laying transmission lines with the associated infrastructure, upgrade 15 existing substations, and transmission lines and existing ground wire to optical power ground wire and provide technical assistance to support project implementation.
• The total estimated cost of the project is $365 million. AIIB will finance $304 million while the remaining funding of $61 million will be done by the state government.

RAJNATH SINGH INAUGURATED 26TH HUNAR HATT

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the 26th edition of ‘Hunar Haat’ in New Delhi.
• The “Hunar Haat” will be held from February 21 to March 01, 2021, with the theme of “Vocal for Local”. More than 600 artisans and craftsmen from more than 31 states and UTs are participating.
• Through Hunar Haat, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs aims to provide employment and employment opportunities to 7,50,000 artisans by organising 75 Hunar Haats by 2022, when India will celebrate its 75 years of Independence.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

US OFFICIALLY REJOINS PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT

• The United States has officially rejoined the Paris Agreement, under the Presidency of US President Joe Biden.
• Earlier, in November 2020, the US had officially exited the agreement on the order of then-President Donald Trump.
• The landmark Paris climate agreement was signed in 2015, as per which countries are expected to enhance their commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions every five years.

ISRAEL LAUNCHED CORONAVIRUS GREEN PASS SYSTEM

• Israel has launched a coronavirus “green pass” system, which allows people who have been vaccinated to access public facilities that would otherwise be off-limits.
• As of Sunday COVID-19 inoculation is a sort of status symbol in Israel. Israelis who have gotten both Pfizer vaccine shots and those who have recovered from the virus get a “Green Pass” certificate in the form of a QR code or printout for people without smart phones.
• The pass allows entry to gyms, swimming pools, hotels, entertainment venues and sporting events. Green Pass privileges and restrictions are raising legal and moral questions.

IRAKLI GARIBASHVILI SWORN AS NEW PM OF GEORGIA

• The Parliament of Georgia confirmed Irakli Garibashvili as Prime Minister along with a vote of confidence in the cabinet Garibashvili put forward.
• Garibashvili pledged to create a long-term development strategy for Georgia in his first one hundred days in office.
• First, on the agenda, Garibashvili will continue the essential work of the government to ably manage the pandemic and accelerate the focus on rebuilding the economy while continuing to strengthen Georgia’s security and democratic institutions.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

ICICI BANKS LAUNCHED NAMMA CHENNAI SMART CARD

• ICICI Bank has announced the launch of a Common Payment Card System (CPCS) in partnership with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Chennai Smart City Limited (CSCL) to provide citizens with a one-stop solution for making various kinds of payments.
• The prepaid card also facilitates retail payments within Chennai as well as in retail stores and e-commerce websites across the country. This will offer a common payment card platform to residents for making payments for various services within the city.
• The Namma Chennai Smart Card has various features, which residents can manage seamlessly online on a dedicated customer portal*. These include features like card block/unblock, activation, pin-reset, etc.

SBI JOINS JP MORGAN'S BLOCKCHAIN NETWORK

• State Bank of India has tied up with JPMorgan to use the US bank’s blockchain technology to speed up overseas transactions. The tie-up is expected to reduce SBI customers’ transaction costs and time taken for payments.
• SBI has joined Liink, a new blockchain-based interbank data network developed by JPMorgan. By integrating the technology, the bank expects to reduce transaction costs and improve cross-border payments for its customers.
• Liink is a peer-to-peer network and ecosystem operating under the umbrella of JPMorgan’s blockchain- and digital-currency-focused business, dubbed Onyx.
• Piloted in 2017, the product was originally referred to as Interbank Information Network and rebranded as Liink in October 2020.

APPOINTMENTS

DUSHYANT CHAUTALA AS PRESIDENT OF TTFI

• Dushyant Chautala has been re-elected as the President of Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) for a period of four years.
• He was elected unanimously during the 84th annual meeting of the TTFI, on February 24, 2021. He is also the current Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana.
• The 32-year-old was first elected as President of the TTFI in January 2017, becoming the youngest President in the history of TTFI.
• Headquarters Table Tennis Federation of India: New Delhi.
• Table Tennis Federation of India Founded: 1926.

AWARDS & HONOURS

UNION BANK OF INDIA WINS HRD CONGRESS AWARD

• Union Bank of India was awarded “Best Service Provider” in Human Resources and also the best institution for “Excellence in Learning & Development” at the 29th Global HRD Congress awards.
• Kalyan Kumar, Chief General Manager, HR was named as “Chief Human Resources Officer of the Year”.
• Global HRD Congress Awards are given to institutions annually for the best HR practices under different categories. The eminent jury which consists of the best in the industry will select the organizations taking into account their remarkable achievements in HR.
• Union Bank of India Headquarters:
• Union Bank of India CEO: Rajkiran Rai G.

DADASAHEB PHALKE INT. FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

• The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival awards 2021 were announced, to honour the best in Indian cinema, television, music, and OTT.
• Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput was posthumously awarded ‘Critics Best Actor’ for his performance in Dil Bechara.

The winner of the Award for 2021 is as follows:

• Best Actor (Female): Deepika Padukone, Chhapaak
• Best Actor (Male): Akshay Kumar, Laxmii
• Critic’s Best Actress: Kiara Advani, Guilty
• Critic’s Best Actor: Late Sushant Singh Rajput, Dil Bechara
• Best Film: Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

SPORTS

DJOKOVIC & OSAKA WINS AUSTRALIAN OPEN

• In tennis, Japan’s Naomi Osaka won her fourth Grand Slam title on February 20, 2021, after she beat American Jennifer Brady in the women’s singles game of the Australian Open final 2021.
• The four Grand Slam title for Osaka comes two Australian Open titles (2021 and 2019) and two US Open title (2018 and 2020).
• In Men’s singles final, Novak Djokovic claimed his ninth Australian Open crown and the 18th Major Grand slam overall, as he defeated Daniil Medvedev.

WORLD'S BIGGEST CRICKET STADIUM SET FOR 1ST MATCH

• The biggest cricket stadium in the world will hold its first international match, with the newly renovated Sardar Patel Stadium to host the third Test between India and England.
• Both India and England had a forgettable outing in their last pink-ball outings. The stadium is also known as Motera Stadium; the venue in Ahmedabad was first opened in the early 1980s but has recently been rebuilt and now has a seating capacity of 110,000.
• Motera currently is the biggest cricket stadium in the world in terms of capacity. The last time when India played a cricket match at Motera was way back in 2014.

2ND KHELO INDIA UNIVERSITY GAMES IN KARNATAKA

• The second edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2021, is scheduled to be held in Karnataka.
• This announcement was made by the Karnataka Chief Minister, Shri BS Yediyurappa and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju.
• The KIUG-2021 will be hosted by JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, in partnership with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

WORLD THINKING DAY: 22ND FEBRUARY

• World Thinking Day, originally known as Thinking Day, is celebrated annually on 22 February by all Girl Scouts, Girl Guides and other girl groups worldwide.
• The day is observed to think about fellow brothers and sisters around the world, address their concerns and understand the true meaning of guiding.
• The theme for World Thinking Day 2021 is peacebuilding. Peacebuilding is at the heart of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting and is as vital and relevant today as for the last 100 years.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH & MIZORAM STATEHOOD DAY

• Northeast Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the nation. The two countries were established on February 20, 1987.
• Arunachal Pradesh: On this occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Federal Minister and Chief Minister wish the states. Arunachal Pradesh It is a state in northeastern India.
• Mizoram: The name of the state is derived from the word Mizo, the land in the language of Mizo. "Mizoram" means "the land of Mizos". The state is located in the old Assam region of northeast India. It is the most inland state in India. It borders three of the seven sister states of Old Assam, namely Assam, Tripura and Manipur.
• The state of Mizoram also shares border internationally with Bangladesh and Myanmar, with a total length of 722 kilometers. It was not until 1972 that the state became part of Assam.

CENTRAL EXCISE DAY OBSERVED ON 24TH FEBRUARY

• Central Excise Day is celebrated every year on February 24 across India. The day is being celebrated to honour the service of the Central Board of Excise and Custom (CBEC) to the country.
• The day is celebrated to honour the officers associated with CBEC and their services. This is done to encourage the officers to carry out their duties with utmost sincerity.
• The officers, every year perform checking of corruption in goods from the manufacturing sector. The day is celebrated to commemorate the legislation of the Central Excise and Salt act on 24 February 1944.
• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is formerly known as the Central Board of Excise and Customs. The Customs and Central Excise/ Central GST department was established to administer customs laws.

WORLD NGO DAY OBSERVED ON 27TH FEBRUARY

• World NGO Day is celebrated every year on 27th February globally.
• World NGO Day aims to inspire people to become more actively involved within NGOs (Charities, NPOs, CSOs) and encourage a greater symbiosis between NGOs and both the public and private sector.
• The universal concept of World NGO Day is Celebrate, Commemorate and Collaborate the various NGOs around the world, and the people behind them.
• World NGO Day is a day for NGOs around the globe to share knowledge and experiences with one another.
• The Day was officially recognised and declared by the 12 member countries (Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden).

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DRDO TEST-FIRED HELINA AND DHRUVASTRA ATGM

• Defence Research and Development Organisation has successfully carried out joint user trials of indigenously developed Helina and Dhruvastra Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) from the Advanced Light Helicopter at the Pokhran deserts in Rajasthan.
• Helena is the Army version and Dhruvastra is the Air Force version of the ALH. The missile systems have been designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• The Helina and Dhruvastra are the third generation, “Lock-on-Before-Launch (LOBL)” fire and forget ATGMs that can engage targets both indirect hit mode as well as top attack mode. The missile systems have all-weather day-and-night capability.

L&T DELIVERS 100TG K9 VAJRA HOWITZER

• Army Chief Gen Manoj Naravane has flagged off the 100th K9 Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzer built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its armoured system complex at Hazira in Gujarat.
• L&T had completed the delivery of all the howitzers under the contract awarded in May 2017 ahead of schedule.
• The K9 Vajra programme involved the delivery of 100 howitzers with associated engineering support package covering spares, system documentation and training. It also involves the maintenance transfer of technology to an army base workshop to support the howitzers throughout their operational life cycle.

MISCELLANEOUS

BHIM ARMY CHIEF NAMED IN TIME'S LIST

• Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad and five Indian-origin personalities have been featured in the 2021 TIME100 Next.
• TIME100 Next 2021 is the second edition of the annual list of Time magazine’s 100 ‘emerging leaders who are shaping the future.’
• Bhim Army is a Dalit rights organisation based in Uttar Pradesh to help Dalits escape poverty through education. It was founded by Satish Kumar, Vijay Ratan Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad in 2015.

KUSHINAGAR AIRPORT IN GETS CLEARANCE OF DGCA

• The under-construction Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh has received the necessary clearances from aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to operate international flights.
• Once operational, Kushinagar airport will become the third functional international facility in the state.
• Currently, the two international airports functional in Uttar Pradesh are Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at Lucknow and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Varanasi.
• Kushinagar airport will serve as the closest international airport to several Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Lumbini, Shravasti, and Kapilvastu.

YOUNGEST WOMAN TO ROW SOLO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

• A British woman, Jasmine Harrison of England has become the youngest woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
• The 21-year-old from Thirsk, North Yorkshire in the UK, achieved the feat by finishing top in the 2020 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, organized by Atlantic Campaigns.
• Harrison, who is a swim instructor and bartender by profession, travelled 3,000 miles (4,828km) across the Atlantic Ocean in 70 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes.

CHANDIGARH LAUNCHED 'CARBON WATCH' MOBILE APP

• Chandigarh became the first state or Union Territory in India to launch Carbon Watch, a mobile application to assess the carbon footprint of an individual.
• Although the app can be accessed by everyone, it has specific options for the residents of Chandigarh to compile a detailed study.
• The application can be downloaded through a QR code in Android supported smart cell phones. Carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases-especially carbon dioxide-released into the atmosphere by particular human activity.