www.gradeup.co Top Current Affairs of the Week (08 Feb – 13 Feb 2021) India-US Joint Military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ begins • India-US exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ has commenced in Bikaner district in Rajasthan • It is the 16th edition of the annual bilateral joint exercise of both the armies and will be held till 21st February. • The 15th edition of Yudh Abhyas was held in Seattle, US • About 250 US and 250 Indian army soldiers are participating in the exercise showcasing their war- related techniques, skills, and experience with each other • It is one of the largest military training and defense cooperation efforts. Join Our Telegram Groups NDA & Other Exams: https://t.me/joinchat/TX7hKUXmUvKsOL5IFHsbRA CDS & Defence Exams: https://t.me/joinchat/TX7hKVbSbpp5PDJuRccltw Air Force X & Y: https://t.me/GradeupAirforce South Korea to build World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm • South Korea has approved a plan to build World’s largest wind power plant by 2030 • It 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: 48.5 trillion won ($43.2 billion) • It will be located in the southwestern coastal town of Sinan • It will have a maximum capacity of 8.2 gigawatts • World’s largest offshore wind farm: Hornsea 1, Britain India's first geothermal power project to be established at Ladakh • India's first geothermal power project named Geothermal Field Development Project will be established at Puga village of eastern Ladakh. • Puga has been identified as the hotspot of geothermal energy in India • One megawatt (MW) power generation capacity will be generated in the 1st phase. • A tripartite MoU between ONGC Energy, LAHDC, Leh, and Power Department of UT Ladakh for establishment and implementation of the first phase was signed • It is planned to commission by 2022. Piyush Goyal co-chairs 1st India-EU High-Level Dialogue on Trade • Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and European Union Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis has co- chaired India-European Union High-Level Dialogue (HLD) on trade and investment • HLD was organized in line with the 15th India-EU Leader’s Summit held in July 2020 • Ministers agreed for further deepening of bilateral trade and investment relationship through a series of regular engagements, aiming at quick deliverable for businesses in these tough times. • EU HQs: Brussels, Belgium NASA Selects SpaceX to launch its SPHEREx Mission 1 www.gradeup.co • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected SpaceX to launch its SPHEREx Mission. • SPHEREx: Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer • Through this, NASA aims to perform an all-sky survey to measure the near-infrared spectra of approximately 450 million galaxies across the universe and 100 million stars inside our Milky Way galaxy • It weighs 178 kg and will be launched by Falcon 9 rocket. Square Kilometre Array Observatory set up World’s Largest Radio Telescope • Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Council has held its maiden meeting and approved the establishment of the world’s largest radio telescope. • SKAO: New intergovernmental organization dedicated to radio astronomy. • SKAO has 10 countries: Australia, Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK. • French-born Dr. Catherine Cesarsky has been appointed as the first Chair of the SKAO Council. • SKAO HQs: UK Michael Bloomberg re-appointed as United Nations Climate Envoy • United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has re-appointed Michael Bloomberg as his Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions. • He will work to strengthen the group of governments, companies, cities, and financial institutions that are working to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. • He will also work to mobilize stronger and more ambitious climate action for the 2021 UN Climate Change conference in Scotland in Nov 2021. Former Australian captain Steve Smith claims third Allan Border Medal • Former Australian captain Steve Smith has won the 3rd Allan Border Medal of his career at Australian Cricket Awards 2020-21. • Allan Border Medal recognizes the most outstanding male Australian cricketer as voted by peers, media, and umpires • Beth Mooney bagged Belinda Clarke Award • Other Awards: o Men’s ODI Player of the Year: Steve Smith o Men’s T20 Player of the Year: Ashton Agar o Women’s T20 Player of the Year award: Beth Mooney o Women’s Test player of the year award: Pat Cummins Rishabh Pant wins inaugural ICC Player of the Month January 2021 • Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has won the inaugural ICC Player of the Month award for January 2021. • Pant has been honored for his superlative performances in two Tests against Australia in January 2020, wherein he scored a 97 at Sydney and an unbeaten 89 at Brisbane, leading India to an incredible series win. • Shabnim Ismail of South Africa has been named ICC Women’s Player of the Month following her performances across three ODIs and two T20Is in January 2021. 2 www.gradeup.co Ministry of Defence inks pact with BEL for ship-borne modern radio system • Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to procure a software- defined radio tactical (SDR-Tac) ship-borne system. • The cost of the SDR-Tac system is worth over Rs 1,000 crore. • SDR-Tac: It is a four-channel multi-mode, multi-band, 19-inch rack-mountable, ship-borne software- defined radio system. • It is intended to serve ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and ship-to-air voice and data communication for network-centric operations. Uttar Pradesh announces unique 16-digit Unicode to identify landholdings • Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a system of issuing unique Unicode to mark all kinds of landholdings • Aim: To check cases of land disputes, put an end to fake registries of disputed land • As per this, every piece of land will have its own unique identity, issued by UP revenue dept • Unicode will be 16 digits: o 1st six digits: population of land o The next 4 digits determine the unique identity of the land o 11 to 14 digits: number of land division o Last 2 digits: category details PM launches ‘Asom Mala’ program in Assam • PM Narendra Modi has laid the Foundation Stone of two hospitals at Biswanath and Charaideo and launched ‘Asom Mala’ at Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur District, Assam. • Asom Mala: Programme for state highways and major district roads. It is launched in line with the ‘Bharat Mala Project’ • Asom Mala project will fulfill the dreams of the state to have a network of broad roads and connectivity for all villages and modern cities. PM Modi lays the Foundation Stone of four infrastructure projects in WB • PM Narendra Modi visited Haldia in West Bengal and dedicated 4 infrastructure projects worth Rs 4,700 crore • Four projects include: o LPG import terminal o Dobhi-Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline section (348 km) is part of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project. o 4 Lane ROB-cum-Flyover at Ranichak, Haldia on NH 41. o Second Catalytic-Isodewaxing unit of Haldia Refinery • This development will help in the emergence of Haldia as a center of immense energy for Aatma Nirbhar India. Tennis Legend and Davis Cup Coach Akhtar Ali passes away in Kolkata 3 www.gradeup.co • Former legendary Indian tennis player, Akhtar Ali (81 years) passed away in Kolkata due to Parkinson’s disease and other health issues. • Akhtar Ali was a father figure in Indian tennis. • He represented India in eight Davis Cup between 1958 and 1964 and was captain of the Indian Davis Cup in 2008. • He turned to the coach and had coached the players like Ramesh Krishnan, Vijay Amritraj, Anand Amritraj, and Leander Paes. Govt introduces bill to regularize unauthorized colonies in Delhi • Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has introduced the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Rajya Sabha. • It will replace the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which was promulgated by President Ram Nath Kovind on 30th December 2020. • It amended the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011. PM Modi to inaugurates World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 • PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 on 10th February. • Theme: ‘Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all’. • It is the 20th edition of The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) flagship event. • It will bring together a wide number of governments, business leaders, academicians, climate scientists, youth, and civil society in the fight against climate change. Rajya Sabha passes Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 • Rajya Sabha has passed Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021. • It will replace Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 that merged Jammu and Kashmir cadre of Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Forest Service with Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory cadre, also known as AGMUT cadre. • President had promulgated the ordinance last month to amend Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. World Pulses Day: 10 February • World Pulses Day (WPD) is observed every year on 10 February to realize the importance of pulses in human life. • UN General Assembly has decided to mark 10 February as World Pulses Day in 2018. • WPD was first held on February 10, 2019. • Theme 2021: ‘Nutritious Seeds for a Sustainable Future’. • WPD has been established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN to recognize the importance of pulses (dry beans, lentils, dry peas, chickpeas, lupins) as a global food.