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NATIONAL 7. The Union Minister for 'Social Justice and 1. 8th India International Silk Fair inaugurated by Union Empowerment' Thaawarchand Gehlot released the “3rd Minister for Textiles, Smriti Irani. edition of the 'Indian Sign Language (ISL) ● India is the only country in the world which Dictionary', with a total of 10,000 terms. produces all the four major varieties of silk, which ● These 10,000 terms include the 6000 terms of the are Mulberry, Eri, Tassar, and Muga. first and second edition of the dictionary. ● Karnataka, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil ● The terms are of everyday use from academic Nadu and Andhra Pradesh produce 90% of raw silk terms, legal & administrative terms, medical produced in India. terms, technical terms and agricultural terms. ● Silk is obtained from silkworms (larvae of Bombyx ● The 1st editiion launched: 23rd March 2018 with mori). 3000 terms. ● Cultivation of silkworms is called sericulture. ● The 2nd edition launched : 27th February 2019, with 3000(prev) + 3000(new)= 6000 terms. 2. The Ministry of Education launched ASEAN India Hackathon 2021. 8. 25-year-old Kashmiri woman, Ayesha Aziz, has ● Inaugural ceremony addressed by : The Union become India's youngest female pilot in the country. Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal. ● She became the youngest student pilot to get a ● The 10 ASEAN countries are : Malaysia, Indonesia, license at the age of 15 in 2011. Singapore, Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. 9. Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Ltd ● This unique hackathon presents opportunities to received the world’s first consignment of ‘carbon-neutral improve and strengthen their economic and oil' from the United States. cultural ties through cooperation in science and ● Consignment received from : Oxy Low Carbon technology and education. Ventures (OLCV), a division of United State Oil major Occidental. 3. India's first dedicated Centre for Wetland Conservation Reliance and Management established at the National Centre for ● Operates : the world’s largest single-location oil Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai. refining complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat. ● This was announced by Minister of State for ● Capacity : 68.2 million tonnes a year. Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Babul Supriyo on the occasion of the World Wetland Day 10. 4 more states completed the reforms in the ‘Ease of on 2nd February 2021. Doing Business’, as stipulated by the Department of NCSCM Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. ● an institution under the Ministry of Environment, ● Data provided by : Department for Promotion of Forest and Climate Change. Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). ● The four states are: Assam, Haryana, Himachal 4. IIT Bombay has launched its first-ever annual Pradesh and Punjab. fundraising campaign in India, Cherish IIT Bombay 2021. ● These states become eligible to mobilise ● The funds will be used for the creation of world- additional financial resources to the tune of Rs class laboratory complexes, modernization of 5,034 crore through open market borrowings. lecture halls and continuation of awards to attract ● Total 12 states undertaken the reforms to promote and retain faculty. Ease of Doing Business till now . ● Other States : Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, 5. The world’s leading dictionary publisher, Oxford Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu named ‘Aatmanirbharta’ as the Hindi word of the year and Telangana. 2020. ● ‘Aatmanirbharta’ means self-reliance. 11. President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated a museum, dedicated to the life of former Army Chief General 6. Dharmendra Pradhan Participates in 11th IEA, IEF, Kodandera Subayya Thimayya, in Karnataka. OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks, under the ● The ancestral house of General Thimayya patronage of Saudi Arabia Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al called “Sunny Side” at Madikeri in Kodagu district Saud. of Karnataka has been renovated and converted ● Dharmendra Pradhan : Minister of Energy of From into a museum. India, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural ● Key attractions : war memorial include a battle Gas & Steel. tank, one of those used by the Army during the war with Pakistan in 1971.

Jammu & Kashmir, has organised the first-ever Mahila 12. The Indian Army has laid the foundation stone of the Jan Sunwai Programme in Jammu. tallest ‘Iconic National Flag’ at the famous ski-resort  In this Programme, cases related to women were of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir. disposed and Chairman collected information ● The flag will be on a 100 feet-high pole, the about the problems faced by the women. highest Tricolour in the Valley. ● The 'Iconic National Flag' will install by The Indian Army in collaboration with the Solar Industry India. Govt. SCHEMES & INITIATIVES 13. Union road transport and highways minister, Nitin 1. Government of India ATIONALlaunched a unified web portal for Gadkari has launched India’s first-ever Compressed monitoring progress of GOBARDHAN activities. Natural Gass (CNG) tractor. ● Gobardhan aims to positively impact village ● The diesel tractor, converted into a much cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from cleaner CNG variant. cattle and organic waste. ● With this, farmers will be able to save more ● Focus: Managing and Converting cattle dung and than ₹1 trillion annually on fuel cost, which will solid waste in farms to useful compost, biogas and help them to improve their livelihood. bio-CNG.

14. Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh 2. ‘Nai Roshni’ scheme was launched by the Ministry of Shekhawat has inaugurated the International Commission Minority Affairs in 2012-13 is being implemented across on Large Dams (ICOLD) Symposium in New Delhi. india. ● Theme : “Sustainable Development of Dams &  It is a Leadership Development Programme for River Basins”. Minority Women. International Commission on Large Dams  Main Objective : to empower minority women by ● President: Michael Rogers. providing them knowledge, tools and techniques ● Founded: 1928. for interacting with Government systems, banks ● Headquarters : Paris, France. and other institutions.

 The Seekho Aur Kamao Scheme and Nai Manzil 15. The under-construction Kushinagar Airport in Uttar scheme are also helping in the economic Pradesh has received the necessary clearances from empowerment of Minority women. aviation regulator “Directorate General of Civil Aviation”

(DGCA) to operate international flights. 3. The National Informatics Centre (NIC), under  Once operational, Kushinagar airport will become the Ministry of Electronics and Information the third functional international facility in the Technology, has launched an instant messaging platform state. called “Sandes”. ● Currently, the two international airports ● 'Sandes' App is Similar to WhatsApp. functional in Uttar Pradesh are Chaudhary Charan ● The Sandes app is also a part of the government Singh International Airport at Lucknow and Lal strategy to encourage the use of India-made Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Varanasi. software so as to build an ecosystem of DGCA indigenously developed products. ● HQ : New Delhi; National Informatics Centre ● Founded : Jan 1978. ● Founded: 1976.

● Headquarters: New Delhi. 16. PM Modi virtually addressed 2nd edition of Khelo ● Director-General: Neeta Verma. India National Winter Games.

● organised at : the world-famous ski-

resort Gulmarg in the Baramulla district 4. A new Scheme titled “Formation and Promotion of of Jammu and Kashmir. 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” has been ● Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports: Kiren launched by the Ministry of Agriculture. Rijiju.  This scheme will help the government vision of

‘Doubling of Farmer’s Income’ by 2022 17. Rashtrapati Bhavan Krida Sthal in President’s Estate  Main Objective : to help small and marginal inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind, on 16th farmers through Farmer Producer Organizations. February which includes Football Ground and Basketball  It will help them in accessing new technology, Court. credit, and markets for improving the productivity

of their produce . 18. The National Commission for Women (NCW), in

association with the Social Welfare Department of

5. Around 110 lakh hectares area treated with Micro-  This campaign will promote cost-effective, nutrients and Bio-fertilizers under National Food Security environment-friendly and domestically made Mission in the last five years. electric products. It will reduce dependency on  The National Food Security Mission was launched imported fossil fuels. to increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses. 9. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has National Food Security Mission: launched the 'Pilot Pey Jal Survekshan' under 'Jal Jeevan  It was launched in October 2007, under 11th five Mission- Urban' in 10 Cities. year pan, under the leadership of Monmohan ● Motive : to provide universal coverage of water Singh. supply to all households through functional taps in  Main Objective of 11th FYP was , “Rapid and more all 4,378 statutory towns. inclusive growth”. 'The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs':  It is a centrally sponsored scheme for the ● Minister : Hardeep Singh Puri. agriculture sector.  The main objective of this scheme are: 10. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Harsh  To increase the production and productivity of Vardhan has launched the Intensified Mission crops. Indradhanush 3.0 (IMI 3.0), to expand immunization  To raise the income of farmers coverage across the country.  Creation of employment opportunities ● Focus : on children and pregnant women who missed their vaccine doses during the COVID-19 6. The Ministry of Earth Sciences has invited suggestions pandemic. from NGOs, industries, academia, and citizens on the ● It aims to immunise all children under the age of 2 draft of the Blue Economy Policy. years, as well as all pregnant women, against  The draft will aim to increase the contribution of eight vaccine preventable diseases (diphtheria, the blue economy to India’s GDP, and will also whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, help in improving the lives of coastal people, measles, meningitis and Hepatitis B). preserving marine biodiversity and maintaining 11. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep national security of marine areas. Singh Puri and Minister of Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Blue Economy: Prasad launched the ‘National Urban Digital Mission’ (NUDM) to create a digital infrastructure for cities in  According to the World Bank, it is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, India. improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the ● Aim : “citizen-centric” and “ecosystem- health of the ocean ecosystem. driven” approach to ‘urban governance and service delivery in cities by 2022, and across all 7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently launched an cities and towns by 2024. online portal ‘e-Chhawani’ and mobile app, to ● The NUDM has been launched jointly by facilitate ‘ease of living’ and ‘ease of doing’ for the the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs along residents of the Cantonment Boards across the country. with the Ministry of Electronics and Information ● The ‘e-Chhawani’ portal will provide online Technology. municipal services. ● It will provide various services, including renewal 12. The Union Cabinet approved a Rs 12,195 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for of leases, online registration of births and deaths, domestic manufacturing of telecom and networking online application for water and sewerage connection, etc. products such as switches, routers, radio access Cantonment Boards: network, wireless equipment and other devices.

 It is a civic administration body under the Ministry 13. PM-Kisan scheme completed two years launched by of Defence. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.  It is regulated by the Cantonments Act, 2006.  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-  The tenure of a member of a board is of 5 years. KISAN):

 Launched on 24 February 2019. 8. Central government launched ‘Go Electric Campaign’ to promote adoption of electric vehicles and cooking  It is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme. appliances.  announced during the interim budget of 2019.

 The aim of this campaign is to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and cooking appliances.

 Under this scheme, Rs 6,000 per year is transferred by the Central Government in three INTERNATIONAL equal installments of Rs 2000 to the bank accounts 1. On 1st February in Myanmar,ATIONAL a military coup was put of the cultivable land holding farmer family having in after the country’s military detained State Counsellor landholding of up to 2 hectares. Aung San Suu Kyi.  Main objective : to increase the income of small  The Myanmar military took this step because they and marginal farmers. declared the November 2020 Myanmar general  The estimated cost : ₹75,000 crore per annum. election results fraudulent, in which Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory in Parliamentary 14. India’s first geothermal power project will be election 2020 to form the next Government. established in Puga Village, Ladakh.  The military has handed over the power to military  Puga has a potential of more than 100 MW of chief Min Aung Hlaing and declared a state of geothermal energies. emergency for one year.  Geothermal energy is the heat derived within the  Apart from this, former general Myint Swe would sub-surface of the earth. It can be used for be acting president for the next year. heating, cooling and generating clean electricity. The 2021 coup d’état is the third in Myanmar’s  political history. 15. 1st Tibetan Village ‘Dungti’ (near Line of Actual Myanmar Control in Ladakh) has been electrified by Global ● Capital: Naypyidaw. Himalayan Expedition. ● Currency: Kyat.  Global Himalayan Expedition is one of the world’s first organizations using tourism and technology to 2. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has inaugurated bring solar energy to remote communities. the new Indian High Commission building in Mauritius.  It is one of the winners of the UN Global Climate Mauritius: Action Award 2020.  It is an island nation which is located in the Indian Ocean. 16. Government selected 12 iconic sites under Phase IV  Capital : Port Louis . of Swachh Iconic Places.  Currency : Mauritian Rupee.  The Swachh Iconic Places is an initiative under the  Prime Minister : Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen.  Mauritius is the fourth largest contributor to  Objective : to improve the sanitation and India’s FDI in 2020-21. cleanliness standards at Tourism sites. It will help in boosting tourism in the country. 3. Nguyen Phuc Trong re-elected as Chief of Vietnam for Swachh Bharat Mission: 3rd term.  started in 2014. Vietnam  It is an initiative by the Government of India to ● Capital: Hanoi. eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste ● Currency: Vietnamese dong. management. ● Prime Minister: Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The twelve sites selected under phase-IV are: Ajanta Caves Jaisalmer Fort Sun Temple Banke Bihari 4. The UN World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) (Maharashtra) (Rajasthan) (Odisha) Temple (Uttar confirms 2020 as ‘worst year on record’. Pradesh)

Sanchi Stupa Ramdevra Rock Garden Agra Fort (Madhya (Rajasthan) (Chandigarh) (Uttar Pradesh) 5. ‘Pahela Phagun’ spring festival celebrated in Dhaka, Pradesh) Bangladesh. Kumbhalgarh Golconda Fort Dal Lake Kalighat ● Organiser : Jatiya Basanta Utsab Udjapan Fort (Telangana) (Jammu & Temple Parishad. (Rajasthan) Kashmir) (West Bengal) ● Venue : Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. ● Young women wearing yellow saris and youth

dressed in ‘Punjabis’ took part in the festivity.

● The traditional programme of ‘Basanta Utsab’ at

the Fine Arts faculty in Dhaka university was

cancelled till 28th Feb by the government due to

the Corona pandemic.

● PM of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina;

● Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka.

● President : Abdul Hamid.

● Bangladeshi film Maati got The Young Talent 6. The People’s Republic of China overtaken the United Award while Lottery won the Special mention States (US) as the Largest trading partner of under the Young Talent Award. the European Union (EU) in 2020. ● Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina; ● Britain : the 3rd largest trading partner. ● Capital: Dhaka; ● The trade volume of the EU with China ● Currency: Taka. reached 586 billion euros ($711 billion) in 2020, ● President : Abdul Hamid. compared to 555 billion euros ($673 billion) for the US. Bilateral trade with the UK reached 444.7 13. Pakistan Army successfully test-fires Babur cruise billion euros. missile. ● The Babur cruise missile IA was launched 7. Mario Draghi sworn in as Italy’s new prime minister. from Multi Tube Missile Launch Vehicle. Italy: ● This missile is capable of hitting land and sea ● President : Sergio Mattarella. targets with “high precision” up to 450 ● Capital : Rome; kilometres away. ● Currency : Euro. ● Earlier, Pakistan army conducted a successful test of the surface-to-surface ballistic missile Shaheen- 8. The United States has extended the “New III in January 2021, followed by the ‘training START” nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia for a launch’ of nuclear-capable ballistic period of five years. missile Ghaznavi in February 2021. ● The New START stands for Strategic Arms ● President of Pakistan: Arif Alvi. Reduction Treaty, is a nuclear arms reduction ● Prime Minister of Pakistan: Imran Khan. treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation. 14. The Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia has ● President of United States: Joe Biden; announced his resignation. ● Capital: Washington, D.C. ● He was stepping down because of disagreements Russia within his own team over the decision to ● President: Vladimir Putin. arrest Nika Melia, chairman of the United ● Capital: Moscow. National Movement opposition party. ● Currency: Russian Ruble. 15. The Parliament of Georgia confirmed Irakli 9. World’s First ‘Energy Island’ to be built by Denmark. Garibashvili as Prime Minister. Denmark Georgia ● Capital: Copenhagen. ● Capital: Tbilisi; ● Currency: Danish krone. ● Currency: Georgian lari.

10. South Korea to Build World’s Largest Offshore Wind 16. The United States has officially rejoined the Paris Farm. Agreement, under the Presidency of US President Joe South Korea Biden. ● Capital: Seoul. ● Currency: South Korean won. 17. Israel launched a coronavirus “green pass” system for people with vaccination certificate. 11. Artificial Intelligence (AI) based translation software ● The pass allows entry to gyms, swimming pools, ‘Amar Vasha’ launched by Bangladesh Supreme Court. hotels, entertainment venues and sporting  Amar Vasha is developed with India’s EkStep events. foundation. It is based on ‘Anuvaad’ translation Israel: software. ● Prime Minister : Benjamin Netanyahu.  ‘Anuvaad’ translation software of ‘EkStep’ ● Capital: Jerusalem. foundation is used in India for the translation of ● Currency: Israeli Shekel. English into Indian languages, including Bangla. 18. China Surpasses US to become India’s top trade 12. The 14th International Children’s Film partner in 2020. Festival of Bangladesh (ICFFB) came to an end in Dhaka. ● China ● Apart from Bangladesh, films from India, Armenia, ● Capital: Beijing. US, UK, Ireland, Japan and China among others ● Currency: Renminbi. were shown in the course of the festival. ● President: Xi Jinping. ● Dutch Film Jackie and Oopjen were awarded the Best International Feature Film Award. selfxpert©2021 F e b ’ 21 P a g e 5 | 29 Feb| 2021 Current Affairs

Line of Actual Control: 19. Jasmine Harrison from UK becomes youngest woman  It is a line that separates India controlled territory to row Atlantic Ocean. from Chinese-controlled territory. ● Harrison, who is a swim instructor and bartender  The major disagreement between India and China by profession, travelled is on the western side of the LAC. 3,000 miles (4,828km) across the Atlantic Ocean  India-China LAC is divided into three parts: in 70 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes.  Arunachal and Sikkim Border  Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Border 20. India, Australia and France hold trilateral dialogue  Ladakh Border. with focus on further enhancing cooperation in the Indo- Pacific. ● The first India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue STATES & UT’s was held virtually on September 9, 2020, at ATIONAL Foreign Secretary-level, for better coordination in ARUNACHAL PRADESH the region. Arunachal Pradesh 35TH Statehood Day: 20 February. Arunachal Pradesh : 21. Indian Navy Ship Pralaya Participates in NAVDEX 21  CM : Pema Khandu and IDEX 21 in Abu Dhabi, UAE  Governor : B D Mishra  NAVDEX 21 :The naval defence exhibition.  Statehood: 20th February, 1987 as 24th state of The  IDEX 21 : The International defence exhibition . Union of India. (previously- a UT)  Chief of Naval Staff : Admiral Karambir Singh.  Capital : Itanagar  It shares its border with Assam, Nagaland, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. INDIA & ITS NEIBOURHOOD  Namdapha National Park, Pasighat, Nuranang falls, Sangti Valley, Bumla Pass, Pakhui Wildlife 1. Indian automotive andATIONAL rail parts maker Omega Seiki Sanctuary are some famous tourist destinations in Pvt Ltd. announced to invest 100 crore rupees to set up Arunachal Pradesh. a plant near Dhaka to manufacture electric vehicles.  Major Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh: Adi (Abor),  The initiative will be run by OSM-Bangladesh, a Aka, Apatani, Nyishi, Tagin, Galo, Khampti, Bugun subsidiary of Anglian Omega Group. (Khowa), Mishmi, Momba (Monpa), Sherdukpen,  Omega Seiki Pvt Ltd. Singpho .  Headquarter : New Delhi.  Other states got statehood in 1987 : Mozoram (23rd State), Goa (25th State). 2. Nepal’s Supreme Court annulled the government’s decision of dissolving the lower house of Parliament. MIZORAM Nepal Parliament: Mizoram 23RD Statehood Day: 20 February.  It is a bicameral legislature, which is composed of Mizoram: the National Assembly as the upper house and the House of Representatives as the lower house. The  Statehood: 20 February, 1987. House of Representatives has 275 members.  It became the 23rd state of India through the 53rd  Nepal: Constitutional Amendment Act of 1986.  shares a border with Indian states, namely  It is a state in northeast India that shares its Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, border with Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Bangladesh and Bihar. and Myanmar.  capital : Kathmandu.  Capital : Aizawl  currency : Nepalese Rupees.  It is one of the four northeast states mentioned in the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution.  President : Bidya Devi Bhandari Other three states are Assam, Meghalaya and  Prime Minister : Khadga Prasad Sharma. Tripura.

 The highest peak in Mizoram is the Blue Mountain 3. Indian and Chinese troops have commenced their (Phawngpui). disengagement along the North and South banks of Pangong Lake in Ladakh.  5 major tribes of Mizoram are- Lushei, Ralte, Hmar, Paihte, Pawi (or Poi).  It is the first step to resolve the standoff between both countries near Line of Actual Control in  There are three main festivals celebrated by Ladakh. Mizos- Mim Kut, Chapchar Kut and Pawl.  Both sides will remove all the construction work  Cheraw or Bamboo are famous dances by Mizos. done by them on the north and south banks of  Governor : P S Sreedharan Pillai Pangong Lake since 2015.  CM: Zoramthanga

ASSAM MEGHALAYA PM Modi launched ‘Asom Mala’ road project in in Meghalaya police inks MoU with SBI for e-Challan within Dhekiajuli of Sonitpur district, Assam. the jurisdiction of the Shillong Traffic Police (STP). ● ‘Asom Mala’ road project also aims to improve ● The system has been integrated with VAHAN & major district road networks in Assam. It is SARATHI applications. planned to be finalized in five years. ● This will enable the Traffic Officials to fetch the details of the traffic violator such as vehicle and Assam CM, Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation of driver’s details through these applications, The First Skill University of eastern India in Darrang thereby, reducing the time taken to issue challan. district in Assam. Meghalaya ● It will have “understandings” with countries ● Capital: Shillong. like Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, ● Governor: Satya Pal Malik. Japan, England. ● Chief minister: Conrad Sangma.

First heliport of Assam in Majuli district has been inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda SIKKIM Sonowal. Sikkim Government launched ‘Free Gift Milk to Girl  The heliport has a facility for simultaneous landing Students of Sikkim’ initiative. of three helicopters. Assam CM said that aim of  Under this initiative, 200 ml of milk will be building a heliport is to boost tourism in Majuli. provided to around 1500 girl students every day. Majuli:  It has been launched to reduce malnutrition in  Majuli is the world’s largest river island. children.  It is also the first island which was made a district Sikkim: in India.  Capital : Gangtok.  It lies in the Brahmaputra River.  shares its border with West Bengal, Bhutan, Tibet  It is located on the east of Guwahati. and Nepal.  It is considered the world’s oldest and largest  the least populous state of India. inhabited riverine island  CM : Prem Singh Tamang.

 Governor : Ganga Prasad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Mahabahu-Brahmaputra project. He also laid the foundation stone of Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge and performed the groundbreaking ceremony of Jorhat - WEST BENGAL Majuli Bridge. West Bengal government launched “Maa” canteens for  The Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge providing subsidised cooked meals for the poor and the destitute at a nominal cost of ₹5. The govt will give a  This bridge over the Brahmaputra River will be the subsidy of ₹15 and people have to pay ₹5. longest river bridge in the country. The kitchen will run by Self-Help Groups  It will connect Dhubri in Assam to Phulbari in ● Meghalaya. (SHG). The government allocated ₹ 100 crores for this project.  It will reduce the distance of 205 km to merely 19 West Bengal: km. ● Chief Minister : Mamata Banerjee;  The Jorhat-Majuli Bridge Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar.  This Bridge on the Brahmaputra will connect ●

Neematighat and Kamalabari. Foundation stone of 2nd Catalytic iso dewaxing Unit at  It will help in providing connectivity to Majuli Haldia refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Limited laid by Island to other parts of Assam. PM Modi. Assam  PM Modi also inaugurated three other projects at  Capital : Dispur Haldia in West Bengal. They are given next.  largest city : Guwahati BPCL’s LPG Import Terminal  State Dance: Bihu, State Bird: White-winged wood  GAIL’s Dobhi (Bihar)-Durgapur (West duck Bengal) Natural Gas Pipeline.  Kaziranga National Park located in Assam is known  NHAI’s four-lane road over bridge cum for One-horned rhinos. flyover at Ranichak. ● CM: Sarbananda Sonowal.

 Governor: Jagdish Mukhi.

UTTAR PRADESH Himachal Pradesh has become the first State in the UP Government announces unique 16-digit Unicode to country to implement end to end e-cabinet process. identify landholdings.  It will make the whole process of cabinet decision- making paperless. The entire process from Jewar Airport in UP to be developed as Asia’s biggest initiation of cabinet memo to approval by the airport. Chief Minister has been made online.  Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development  Arunachal Pradesh is the first State in the Authority (YEIDA) has been appointed as the northeast to implement the e-Cabinet solution. It implementing agency for the Jewar Airport on had launched the e-Cabinet system in 2017. behalf of the state government. Himachal Pradesh:  Noida International Airport (NIAL), a special  Summer capital of Himachal Pradesh is Shimla and agency floated by the government, is managing winter capital is Dharamshala. and operating the project.  Himachal became the 18th state of India on 25 January 1971. Lucknow metro becomes first to sanitise coaches using  Reo Purgyil is the highest peak of Himachal UV rays. Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh  Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal ● Capital: Lucknow. Pradesh is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ● Governor: Anandiben Patel.  Gaddis, Gujjars, Kanauras, Bhots, Swangals are ● Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath. the major tribes of Himachal Pradesh.

DELHI JAMMU AND KASHMIR Arvind Kejriwal launches ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign to The ancient Kanchoth festival, a symbol of ancient Nag promote electric vehicles. culture, was observed with religious fervour and gaiety across the Chenab valley region of Jammu and Kashmir. Delhi Cabinet Approved ‘Mukhyamantri Vigyan Pratibha ● The festival is celebrated by locals, mainly Nag Pariksha’ Scheme in which Rs 5,000 will be provided followers who believe that on this day of Gouri to 1,000 meritorious students of Class 9 in schools of Delhi Tritiya, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got as a science scholarship. married and the latter insisted on a throne made Delhi of snow as her wedding gift. ● Chief Minister : Arvind Kejriwal; ● Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir: Manoj Sinha. ● Governor : Anil Baijal.

PUNJAB UTTARAKHAND Punjab CM launches ‘Har Ghar Pani, Har Ghar Safai’ In Nainital district of Uttarakhand, a first of its kind mission. botanical garden named ‘Shivalik Arboretum’ has been ● The scheme is being funded by the World Bank, inaugurated. Jal Jeevan Mission of GoI, NABARD, and State ● for conserving over 210 species of trees found in Budget. the Shivalik range of Himalayas. Punjab Uttarakhand ● CM: Captain Amarinder Singh. ● Chief Minister : Trivendra Singh Rawat. ● Governor: V.P.Singh Badnore. ● Governor : Baby Rani Maurya. Punjab Cabinet approves mission ‘Lal Lakir’ in all villages. HIMACHAL PRADESH ● ‘Lal Lakir’ refers to land that is part of the ‘E-Parivahan Vyavstha’ launched by Himachal Pradesh village ‘abaadi’ (habitation) and is used for non- Government with an aim to have faceless service on agriculture purposes only. driving license, registration for certificates, insurance, permits etc. CHANDIGARH The first of its kind ‘amputee clinic’ in India,launched by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). ● PGIMER is a premier medical and research institution in Chandigarh. selfxpert©2021 F e b ’ 21 P a g e 8 | 29 Feb| 2021 Current Affairs

● The Campaign will also fulfil the intention Chandigarh became the first state or Union Territory in of ‘water for every farm and work for every India to launch a mobile application named, 'Carbon hand’. Watch', ● a mobile application to assess the carbon footprint The health department in Madhya Pradesh has launched of an individual. the Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia ● Although the app can be accessed by everyone, it Successfully (‘SAANS’) campaign. has specific options for the residents of Chandigarh ● The main purpose of the campaign is to reduce the to compile a detailed study. death rate due to pneumonia among infants ● As a person downloads the application, they will through the Social awareness campaign in which need to fill details in four parts Water, Energy, medical staff is being trained. Waste Generation and Transport (Vehicular ● The State government has also developed training movement). modules in partnership with PGIMER, Chandigarh, and UNICEF.I

ODISHA CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan renamed Hoshangabad as The state government of Odisha, under Chief Narmadapuram. Minister Naveen Patnaik, has launched the development ● Hoshangabad was earlier named after an work for the SAMALEI Project (Samaleswari Temple Area attacker Hoshang Shah, the first ruler of Malwa. Management and Local Economy Initiatives), to offer the ● The city will now be called Narmadapuram, after divine experience to tourists & devotees. the river Narmada, the lifeline of the state. ● The project involves the development of 108 Madhya Pradesh: acres of land in & around the 16th-century shrine  Madhya Pradesh ranks second in terms of area in of Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of western the country after Rajasthan. Odisha.  Capital : Bhopal.  The state animal of MP is Barasingha. Odisha to construct ‘COVID Warrior Memorial’ in  The state bird of Madhya Pradesh is the Asian Bhubaneswar. Paradise Flycatcher (Dudhraj). ● The Biju Patnaik Park in Bhubaneswar has been  CM : Shivraj Singh Chauhan. selected for this purpose.  Governor : Anandiben Patel. Odisha: ● Capital: Bhubaneswar. MAHARASHTRA  Some famous dance of Odisha are- Gotipua, Odissi, Maharashtra govt signs MoU with Flipkart to promote Ghumura. wooden toys.  Jagannath Temple and Lingaraja Temple are ● It is to promote wooden toys, local artefacts, located in Odisha. handicrafts. ● Chief Minister : Naveen Patnaik. Maharashtra ● Governor: Ganeshi Lal. ● Capital: Mumbai. ● Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari. ● Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray. CHATTISHGARH Indian Govt and Chhattisgarh Govt has signed a $100 KARNATAKA million for CHIRAAG (Chhattisgarh Inclusive Rural and Vijayanagara officially declared as 31st District of Accelerated Agriculture Growth) project with the World Karnataka, which is curved out of Ballari Dist. bank.  Vijayanagara District: It is famous for the Hampi World Bank and Virupaksha Temple. It is located in the north- ● Headquarters: Washington DC, United States. eastern part of Karnataka. ● President: David Malpass. ● The iconic cluster of monuments at Hampi or ● Founded: July 1944. Hampe, is a UNESCO world heritage site. Chattishgarh Karnataka: ● Chief Minister : Bhupesh Baghel;  It is the largest state in South India. ● Governor: Anusuiya Uikey.  It shares its border with Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. MADHYA PRADESH  At present, it has 31 districts. Rajnath Singh inaugurates ‘Jalabhishekam’ campaign in  Itslegislature is a bicameral legislature. Madhya Pradesh under which more than 57,000 water ● Chief Minister : B.S. Yediyurappa; structures has been constructed. ● Governor: Vajubhai Vala.

The Karnataka State Horticulture Department is setting PUDUCHERRY up a “Flower Processing Centre”, in collaboration with Puducherry, launched a campaign titled “Zero Covid by the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB), to Feb28” to ensure that there are no COVID-19 cases by convert unsold flowers into various useful products. the end of February 2021, in the union territory.

● The overall caseload in Puducherry was 39,448

while 38,533 had recovered so far, leaving 258 KERALA active cases. Kerala opens its first Human Milk Bank (HMB) with the Puducherry support of the Rotary Club of Cochin Global. ● Lt. Governor : Dr Kiran Bedi. (Removed) ● Chief Minister : V. Narayanasamy A team of scientists, doctors and photographers in Kerala have launched a mobile application ANDAMAN & NICOBAR named “Snakepedia”,to avail proper treatment on time Andaman and Nicobar Islands became the first state or for snakebites. Union territory in the country to become Covid-19 free ● to help the public identify snakes, avail proper with active cases falling to zero in the islands. treatment on time for snakebites, bust myths Andaman and Nicobar about snakes, and protect snakes as well as ● Capital: Port Blair. snakebite victims. ● Lieutenant Governor: Admiral D K Joshi.

Kerala Government sanctions Rs. 9 crore to build 48

‘Smart’ Anganwadis. ● These smart anganwadis are being designed and LAKSHADWEEP constructed as part of the Integrated Child The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Development Scheme (ICDS). Change, Prakash Javadekar, inaugurated the Atal Paryavaran Bhavan at Lakshadweep. Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan has inaugurated Lakshadweep India’s first Digital University named Kerala University of ● Capital: Kavaratti. Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, has been set ● Administrator: Praful Pate up in Kerala’s Technocity, Mangalapuram. ● This Digital University Kerala University is established by upgrading the two-decade-old state government’s Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITM-K). SUMMITS , CONFERRENCES ● India’s first Digital University will focus on 1. Union Defence MinistATIONALer, Rajnath Singh inaugurated the postgraduate programmes and research. two-days ‘Chiefs of Air Staff (CAS) Conclave’ at Air Force Kerala Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Karnataka.  formed on 1 November 1956. ● organised by : Indian Air Force, from 3 to 04  known as the Spice Garden of India. February 2021, in a Hybrid form with extensive use  shares its border with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. of digital media.  the most literate state in India, with a 96.2% ● The Chiefs of Air Staff from 75 countries presented literacy rate. on this single platform to exchange their thoughts ● Kerala CM: Pinarayi Vijayan. on current issues related to aerospace power ● Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan. strategy and technological developments. Indian Air Force ● Founded: 8 October 1932. TAMIL NADU ● Headquarters: New Delhi. The Central government has given its approval for the ● Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria creation of a fifth tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu that will th encompass the Meghamalai and Srivilliputhur Grizzled 2. The 13 edition of Aero India 2021 event, held at Air Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuaries. It will be the 51st Tiger Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru. Sanctuary of India.  It is inaugurated by the Union Defence Minister Tamil Nadu Rajnath Singh. ● Capital: Chennai.  The Defence Ministers of 27 countries participated in this event for the first time. ● Chief Minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami.  Aero India 2021 logo is inspired by the Tejas Light ● Governor: Banwarilal Purohit. Combat Aircraft (LCA). ● State Dance: Bharathanatyam.

 It is a political and economic union of 27 member 3. India hosted "Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence states which are mainly located in Europe. Ministers’ Conclave" on the sidelines of Aero India 2021.  Founded : 1 November 1993. ● Theme : ‘Enhanced Peace, Security and  Headquarters : Brussels, Belgium. Cooperation in the Indian Ocean’. ● Initiative : to promote dialogue in an institutional, 8. Joint Conference of 11th World PetroCoal Congress economic and cooperative environment that can and World Future Fuel Summit addressed by Union foster the development of peace, stability and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas. prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.  World PetroCoal Congress is the world’s only congress on Petroleum-Coal-Gas industries. World 4. P M, Modi inaugurates 20th edition of flagship event, Future Fuel Summit is held annually. 'World Sustainable Development Summit 2021'. ● Theme: ‘Redefining our common future: Safe 9. The 3rd India-Australia-Japan-USA Ministerial Meeting and secure environment for all’. (QUAD) held on 18 February. ● Organised by ‘The Energy and Resources Institute  The foreign ministers of all four countries are (TERI)’. participating in this meeting. Foreign S Marise Toshimitsu Antony J. 5. P NM, Modi addressed the valedictory function of Ministers Jaishankar Payne Motegi Blinken the India Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I- Countries India Australia Japan USA ACE) via videoconferencing. QUAD: ● A circular economy implies reusing waste back into  Established in 2007. the production cycle to make new products  Australia, India, Japan, and the United States are instead of wasting such materials with embedded members of this forum. resources.  It aims to establish an “Asian Arc of Democracy”, Australia including the countries in Central Asia, Mongolia, ● P M: Scott Morrison. the Korean peninsula, and other Southeast Asia ● Currency : Australian dollar. countries. ● Capital : Canberra. 10. India and Russia organised a bilateral meeting on United Nations Security Council issues. 5. The 6th edition of the International Conference on 'Pharmaceutical & Medical Device sector' was  United Nations Security Council: inaugurated by Union Minister of Railways, Commerce &  It is one of the six major organs of the United Industry, and Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Nations, responsible for ensuring international Distribution Piyush Goyal. peace and security. There are 5 permanent ● Theme of India Pharma 2021: ‘Indian Pharma members and 10 non-permanent members in this Industry: “Future is Now”. council. Russia: ● Theme of India Medical Device 2021 : “India World’s largest country in terms of area. MedTech Future: Innovate & Make in India  through Global Alliance”.  Ranks sixth in terms of population.  Currency is Russian ruble and the Capital is 6. The first Joint Working Group meeting between India Moscow. and Bahrain in the field of renewable energy concluded  President: Vladimir Putin on 4 February 2021.  Prime Minister : Mikhail Mishustin  Both countries agreed for engagement in capacity building and deeper cooperation of private sectors 11. PM Modi chaired 6th meeting of Governing Council of of both countries. NITI Aayog. Bahrain: NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming  It is a country in the Persian Gulf. India):  It is Asia’s third smallest nation. (smallest-  formed on 1 January 2015 and replaced the Maldives) Planning Commission.  Capital : Manama.  It is a policy think tank of Government of India.  Currency : Bahraini Dinar. Composition of the Governing Council :  Prime Minister : Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa.  It comprises the Prime Minister (Chairman), Vice Chairman, Full-time members, Ex-officio 7. India and European Union first High-Level Dialogue on members, Chief Ministers of States and Union Trade and Investment concluded on 5 February. Territories, UTs with Legislatures and Lt Governors European Union: of other UTs.

● There was an increase of around 65 per cent in  The council provides a platform to discuss issues at the receipt of complaints out of which almost 92 various levels such as inter-sectoral, inter- per cent have been disposed of. departmental and federal issues. ● RBI has three Ombudsman- Banking, Non-Banking  Vice Chairman : Rajeev Kumar Finance Company (i.e. NBFC) and digital  CEO : Amitabh Kant transactions. A common man can approach this

Ombudsman for their grievances.

● The Banking Ombudsman received major 12. The Asia Economic Dialogue 2021 was organized by complaints regarding ATM & Debit Cards, Mobile the Pune International Centre and the Ministry of & Electronic Banking. External Affairs , held from 26 to 28 February. NBFC’s Ombudsman received most complaints  Theme : ‘The post-COVID global trade and finance ● about non-observance of regulatory guidelines, dynamics’. lack of transparency in contract/ loan agreement  The External Affairs Ministers of India, Japan, and levy of charges without notice. Australia, Maldives, Mauritius and Bhutan participated in this meet. ● Digital Transactions Ombudsmen received most complaints about fund transfer.  Asia Economic Dialogue is a platform for Asian countries to discuss trade, finance, and other ● It is announced in the Monetary Policy Statement issues. that, the three Ombudsman Schemes are being merged and integrated into a single scheme which will be rolled out starting from June this year. BANKING 6. RBI constitutes 8-member expert panel for 1. RBI cancels licence ofATIONAL Maharashtra's Kolhapur based strengthening Urban Co-operative Banks to examine Shivam Sahakari Bank as it does not have adequate issues and suggest a road map for strengthening the capital and earning prospects. sector.

2. PNB Restricts Withdraw of Money from non-EMV ATMs 7. ICICI Lombard partners with Flipkart to offer in an attempt to check frauds, related to money ‘Hospicash’ insurance, and ‘Group SafeGuard’ with daily transactions. cash benefits starting from Rs 500. Punjab National Bank (PNB) Flipkart ● Founded: 19 May 1894, Lahore, Pakistan. ● Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka. ● Founders: Lala Lajpat Rai, Dyal Singh Majithia. ● CEO: Kalyan Krishnamurthy. ● Headquarters: New Delhi. ● CEO: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao (1 Oct 2019–present). 8. ICICI Lombard launches 'Corporate India Risk Index'. ICICI Lombard 3. Federal Bank launches ‘FedFirst’ savings account ● CEO: Bhargav Dasgupta. scheme for children below 18. ● Headquarters: Mumbai. Federal Bank ● Founded: 2001. ● MD & CEO: Shyam Srinivasan.

● Headquarters : Aluva, Kerala. 9. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that it will

purchase four government securities (G-Secs) that 4. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched amount to ₹20,000 crores. the Financial Literacy Week (FLW) from February 8-12, ● The central bank will purchase it on February 10, 2021, to propagate financial education. 2021, under the open market operations (OMOs). ● Theme : ”Credit Discipline and Credit from

Formal Institutions”. 10. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has brought the State Reserve Bank of India Bank of Sikkim under its regulation. RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; ● Till now, RBI had the right and obligation to function as a ● Headquarters: Mumbai; banker to all the state government except for the state ● Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata. government of Sikkim. st ● Nationalised: 1 Jan, 1949. ● The State Bank of Sikkim was established as an autonomous body wholly owned by the 5. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Annual Government of Sikkim, in the year 1968, five years Report of the Ombudsman Schemes for the year 2019- before Sikkim became part of India in 1973. 20. 11. The RBI has roped in Punjabi singer-rapper Viruss in its public awareness campaign on cyber fraud.

● The campaign also includes Viruss’ popular 3. P M Narendra Modi has handed over the indigenous 2017 Indie hit ‘Bam Bhole’ that was recreated main battle tank Arjun Mk-1A to the Army in a function for Akshay Kumar-Kiara Advani starrer Laxmii. at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. The RBI has been running the campaign ‘RBI Kehta ● Hai’ on social media accounts since 2016 but has 4. Indian Navy undertaking exercise “TROPEX” in Indian never been accompanied by peppy music. Ocean Region

● The biennial ‘Theatre Level Operational 12. ICICI Bank launches ‘Namma Chennai Smart Card’. Readiness Exercise (TROPEX)’ aims to validate ICICI Bank the Navy’s offensive as well as defence Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra. ● capabilities and safeguard national interests in the ● MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi. maritime domain besides promoting peace and ● Tagline: Hum Hai Na, Khayal Apka. stability in the Indian Ocean.

13. State Bank of India joined with JPMorgan to use the 5. India joined Iran and Russia in the naval exercise US bank’s blockchain technology to speed up overseas dubbed as “Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt transactions. 2021”, which kicked-off in the northern part of the ● The tie-up is expected to reduce SBI customers’ Indian Ocean. transaction costs and time taken for payments. ● The exercise ‘Iran-Russia Maritime Security ● SBI has joined Liink, a new blockchain-based Belt’ is so flexible that any country could join if interbank data network developed by JPMorgan. they wish to do so. ● By integrating the technology, the bank expects to reduce transaction costs and improve cross-border 6. Indian Naval Ship Pralaya reached Abu Dhabi in UAE to payments for its customers. participate in the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX JPMorgan 21) and International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 21) from ● CEO: Jamie Dimon. February 20 to 25, 2021. ● Headquarters: New York, United States ● Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh. ● Founder: J. P. Morgan. ● Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950. SBI ● Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara. 7. India successfully test-fires indigenously ● Headquarters: Mumbai. developed Helina and Dhruvastra Anti-Tank Guided ● Founded: 1 July 1955 Missiles (ATGM) from the Advanced Light Helicopter at the Pokhran deserts in Rajasthan. 14. The HDFC Banka and Kotak Mahindra Bank have Defence Research and acquired 9.99% stakes each in Ferbine Pvt Ltd. Development Organisation(DRDO)  HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank: ● Chairman DRDO: Dr G Satheesh Reddy. Headquarter : Mumbai ● Headquarters: New Delhi.  MD and CEO (HDFC Bank): Sashidhar Jagdhishan ● Established: 1958.  MD and CEO (Kotak Mahindra Bank): Uday Kotak 8. Army Chief Gen Manoj Naravane has flagged off the 100th K9 Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzer built DEFENCE by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its armoured system 1. Rajnath Singh inauguratesATIONAL HAL’s second Tejas Light complex at Hazira in Gujarat. Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas in Bengaluru, ahead of the ● L&T upcoming Aero India 2021. ● CEO: S. N. Subrahmanyan. ● Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ● Founded: 7 February 1938. ● CMD: R Madhavan. ● Headquarters: Mumbai. ● Headquarters : Bengaluru. ● Chairman: Anil Manibhai Naik.

2. The India-US joint military exercise “Yudh Abhyas 20” 9. The Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy conducted commenced in Mahajan Field Firing Range of Bikaner the Passage Exercise (PASSEX) on February 18, 2021, in district in Rajasthan. the Arabian Sea. Other India-US joint exercises: ● Indian naval ship INS Talwar and the Indonesian  Vajra Prahar- Army Navy’s multirole corvette KRI Bung  Red Flag- Air force Tomo participated in the exercise.  Tiger Triumph- Triservice  Malabar- Navy 10. The Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICG) named C-453 was  PASSEX- Navy commissioned into services in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

organization affiliated with UNDP. It was ● This was the 17th interceptor boats out of the 18 established in 1966. which are being indigenously built by Larsen & ● The original mandate of UNCDF: to assist Toubro Ltd. developing countries in the development of their ● The ship will be deployed to do surveillance of economies by supplementing existing sources of the Exclusive Economic Zone and other duties in capital assistance by means of grants and loans. accordance with the Coast Guard Charter. This

will help in safeguarding the maritime interests of 5. Tata Motors Ltd. has appointed Marc Llistosella as its India. new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director

(MD). 11. DRDO has conducted two successful launches Tata Motors of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL- ● Founder: J. R. D. Tata. SRSAM) from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off ● Founded: 1945, Mumbai. the coast of Odisha.

6. SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd (SBI Card) 12. Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh has inaugurated Skill appointed Rama Mohan Rao Amara as its Managing Development Centre (SDC) for Fire Safety Director and Chief Executive Officer. Training of DRDO at Pilkhuwa in Uttar Pradesh. SBI Card ● The first of its kind in India facility has been ● Founded: October 1998. created by Delhi based DRDO laboratory ‘Centre ● Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana. for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety

(CFEES)’. 7. Aegon Life Insurance, India’s first digital-only life

insurance company, elevated Satishwar Balakrishnan to APPOINTMENTS be the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer. ● Aegon Life Insurance 1. Indian-American BhavyaATIONAL Lal was appointed by NASA as ● Headquarters : Mumbai. the Acting Chief of Staff of the US space agency. ● Founded : 2008. NASA ● Founded: 1 October 1958. 8. Facebook Inc. has appointed Henry Moniz as its first- ● Headquarters : Washington D.C., United States. ever Chief Compliance Officer. Facebook 2. The National Health Authority (NHA) has appointed RS ● CEO : Mark Zuckerberg. Sharma as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ● Headquarters : California, US. country's flagship public health insurance scheme 'Ayushman Bharat'. 9. Anish Shah appointed as new chairman of Mahindra & ● Another title of the Scheme : Pradhan Mantri Jan Mahindra Financial Services. Arogya Yojana. ● Anish Shah is already a director of the company. ● This initiative has been designed to meet Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its ● Founded: 1991. underlying commitment, which is to “leave no one ● Headquarters: Mumbai. behind.” ● 'Ayushman Bharat' is a flagship scheme of 10. Spicejet Chairman Ajay Singh defeated Ashish Shelar Government of India, was launched as in a high-profile contest to get re-elected as president of recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, Boxing Federation India for a second term. to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage Boxing Federation India (UHC). ● Established: February 25, 1949.

3. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has 11. Amazon Inc founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos announced announced Dr Ajay Mathur as its new Director-General. to step down as CEO of and become Executive Chairman, International Solar Alliance effective from July 01, 2021. ● Headquarters : Gurugram. ● Andy Jassy, who is currently serving as the chief ● Founded : 30 November 2015, Paris, France. executive of Amazon Web Services (AWS), will replace Bezos as CEO of Amazon. 4. Indian-origin Preeti Sinha appointed to Executive ● Amazon.com Inc started as an internet bookseller. Secretary, the highest leadership rank in the United ● Founder : Jeff Bezos Nations 'Capital Development Fund'. ● Founded : 5 July 1994. ● The New York-based United Nations Capital ● Headquarters : Seattle, Washington, US. Development Fund is an autonomous UN

12. The Department of Personnel and Training, under 21. OLXGroup appointed Gautam Thakar as global CEO of the Personnel Ministry, appointed Praveen Sinha, as the OLX Autos. interim director of the Central Bureau of Investigation OLX Group (CBI). ● Founded: 2006. Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) ● Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands. ● Founded: 1 April 1963 ● Headquarters: New Delhi. 22. Russian supermodel and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova became United Nations new Goodwill 13. The Ministry of Labour & Employment has appointed Ambassador. S.N. Subrahmanyan as the new Chairman of the National ● to promote the sexual and reproductive rights of Safety Council (NSC) of India. women and girls and tackle stigmas surrounding ● Subrahmanyan is the CEO and Managing Director of their bodies. Larsen & Toubro Ltd.,which is India’s largest ● She will be a campaigner for the UN Population construction company. Fund, which now calls itself the UN”s sexual and reproductive health agency, known as UNFPA. 14. Google Cloud appointed Bikram Singh Bedi as the new Managing Director for its business in India. 23. AU Small Finance Bank has named Sharad Goklani as Google its new President & CTO. ● CEO : Sundar Pichai; ● Founded in : Jaipur in 1996 ● Headquarters: California, United States. ● Au Small Finance Bank is a non-deposit taking Non-

Banking Finance Company (NBFC). 15. Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo Iweala became the

first woman as well as the first African to become the 24. Levi’s® announces Deepika Padukone as global brand next Director-General of the World Trade Organization ambassador. (WTO).

World Trade Organization (WTO) 25. The Centre has appointed Matam Venkata ● Founded: 1 January 1995. Rao as Managing Director & CEO of Central Bank of ● Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. India for a period of three years.

16. Michael Bloomberg Re-Appointed as United Nations Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions. MOU’s, AGREEMENTS

17. A maiden contingent of 34 CRPF women 1.Ford Motor joins handATIONAL with Google to offer cloud-based personnel has been inducted first time into its data services. specialized jungle warfare commando force CoBRA. ● Director-General (CRPF) : AP Maheshwari. 2. PhonePe partners with Axis Bank on UPI multi-bank ● CRPF Headquarters: New Delhi, India. model with Axis Bank’s “@axl” handle. ● PhonePe had emerged as the top UPI app in 18. Ajai Malhotra became the first Indian to be elected as January, processing 968.72 million the Chairperson of the United Nations Advisory transactions worth ₹1.92 trillion, according to Committee of the Human Rights Council. data by National Payments Corporation of India Human Rights Council (NPCI). ● Founded: 15 March 2006. ● Phone-pe ● President: Nazhat Shameem. ● CEO : Sameer Nigam ● Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. ● Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

19. Former Union Minister Vijay Sampla has assumed the 3. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signs MoU with charge of Chairman National Commission for Scheduled Hyderabad based Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) Castes (NCSC). to develop, manufacture composite raw materials. National Commission for Scheduled Caste(NCSC) ● This is the first time that such an MoU has been ● Founded: 19 February 2004. signed for composite raw materials. ● Headquarters: New Delhi. ● The MoU was signed during the Aero India 2021 on February 04, 2021, in Bengaluru. 20. Fullerton India Credit Company appointed Shantanu Mitra as CEO and MD. 4. India’s Homegrown App 'MapMyIndia' Ties Up With ● Fullerton India Credit Company Founded: 1994. ISRO to build an alternative to Google Maps. ● Headquarters: Mumbai. ● ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan. ● Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka. selfxpert©2021 F e b ’ 21 P a g e 15 | 29 Feb| 2021 Current Affairs

● Established: 15 August 1969. 11. India & Ethiopia Sign Agreements On Visa Facilitation

and Leather Technology. 5. HCL Technologies has inked an agreement with Ethiopia the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) to ● Capital: Addis Ababa. collaborate in the area of cybersecurity. ● Currency: Ethiopian Birr. ● HCL Technologies CEO: C Vijayakumar. ● President: Sahle-Work Zewde. ● Founded: 11 August 1976. ● Prime minister: Abiy Ahmed. ● Headquarters: Noida.

12. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has signed a 6. The Ministry of Skill Development and Statement of Intent with Greenstat Hydrogen India Pvt. Entrepreneurship has launched the Mahatma Gandhi Ltd.( a subsidiary of Greenstat Norway), to set up National Fellowship (MGNF) programme in partnership a Centre of Excellence on Hydrogen. with nine Indian Institutes’ of Management (IIM) across Indian Oil Corporation Limited India. ● Headquarters: New Delhi, India. ● Skill Development and Entrepreneurship ● Chairman: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya. Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey chaired the event

on ‘Transforming skilling through strategic 13. India & Maldives sign 5 deals to boost infrastructure. partnerships under SANKALP’ and rolled out the MGNF and other initiatives. ● Mr S Jaishankar handed over 1 lakh additional doses of the made-in-India COVID-19 vaccine to 7. The first India-European Union High-Level Dialogue the Maldives. was co-chaired by the Minister of Commerce and ● President of the Maldives: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Industry, organised in line with the commitment made at ● Capital : Male; the 15th India-EU Leaders Summit held in July 2020. ● Currency : Maldivian Rufiyaa.

8. India and Afghanistan have signed a MoU, costs nearly $ 14. The Government of India, the Government of 300 million for the construction of the Shahtoot Dam Nagaland and the World Bank signed a $68 (Lalander Dam) on a tributary of the Kabul river in million agreement for “Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Afghanistan. Teaching and Resources Project”, to enhance the ● This is the second major dam being built by India governance of schools across Nagaland. in Afghanistan, after the India- Afghanistan Nagaland: Friendship Dam [Salma Dam], which was ● Chief Minister : Neiphiu Rio; inaugurated in June 2016. ● Governor : R. N. Ravi. Afghanstan: World Bank ● Capital: Kabul. ● Headquarters: Washington DC, United States. ● President: Ashraf Ghani. ● President: David Malpass. ● Currency: Afghan afghani. ● Founded: July 1944. ● Official languages: Pashto, Dari. 15. India signed a $100 million Free Trade Agreement 9. Skyroot Aerospace has signed a MoU with Bellatrix (FTA) or (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Aerospace to make use the Orbital Transfer Vehicle Partnership Agreement-(CECPA)) with Mauritius. (developed by Bellatrix Aerospace), in the upper stage ● The FTA or CECPA is the first such pact with any of Vikram series of launch vehicles (developed African country, and will help Mauritius to emerge by Skyroot). as a “hub of Africa”. Skyroot Aerospace ● An agreement signed between the two countries to ● Founder and CEO : Pawan Kumar Chandana. provide a Dornier aircraft and an Advanced Light ● Founded: 12 June 2018. Helicopter Dhruv on lease to Mauritius on a gratis ● Headquarters : Hyderabad. basis for 2 years Mauritius: 10. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research ● Prime Minister : Pravind Jugnauth; (CSIR) signed MoU with Bill & Melinda Gates ● President: Prithvirajsing Roopun. Foundation to support the development, conduct and ● Currency: Mauritian rupee. promotion of health research in India. ● Capital: Port Louis. CSIR ● Head: Shekhar C. Mande. 16. The Government of India and the Asian Infrastructure ● Founded: 26 September 1942. Investment Bank (AIIB) has signed a $304 million loan ● Headquarters: New Delhi. agreement for the Assam Intra-State Transmission System Enhancement Project. selfxpert©2021 F e b ’ 21 P a g e 16 | 29 Feb| 2021 Current Affairs

● Robert won the award for the image Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB) titled ‘bushfire’, which is the picture of the ● President : Jin Liqun. devastating Australian Bushfire in 2020, he ● Headquarters : Beijing, China. captured using a drone, near the Steve Irwin ● Established: 16 January 2016. Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, Queensland. ● The image shows a line of fire burning in between 17. India & Bahrain join hands for promoting bilateral the bushes, dividing it into parts. cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. Bahrain 9. Telangana-based Manasa Varanasi crowned as the ● King of Bahrain: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. winner of VLCC Femina Miss India World 2020. ● Capital: Manama. Other winners: ● Currency: Bahraini dinar. ● Manika Sheokand of Haryana: Miss Grand India 2020 ● Manya Singh of Uttar Pradesh: Miss India 2020 AWARDS runner-up

1. The Rotary Club has awardedATIONAL BMC Commissioner Iqbal 10. The Tamil film “Koozhangal” has won “Tiger” award Singh Chahal the Citizen of Mumbai Award. (top honour of the festival, given for best film) at the 50th

edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2. Bodo film ‘Sijou’ has bagged four awards at the Golden 2021. Sparrow International Film Festival 2021. ● The film Producer : Nayanthara.

3. Mountaineer Narender Singh Yadav will not get ● Director : Vinod Raj PS. Tenzing Norgay Award. ● This is the second Indian film to win this international award and the first Tamil Film. 4. CM Pinarayi Vijayan has presented the 50th Kerala ● The first Indian film was “Durga” directed by the State Film Awards 2019 and the J C Daniel Award at a Malayalam director Shashidharan. function here. ● Veteran filmmaker Hariharan was conferred with 11. The Bangalore International Airport Limited’s the J C Daniel Award. (BIAL) or Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru has bagged global recognition from the Airports Council International (ACI) World’s ‘Voice of the 5. Music composer AR Rahman and social activist Hari Customer’ award. Krishnan were presented the fourth edition of the 'Alert ● Under the #WeAreHereForYou umbrella of Being Icon Award 2020' by the NGO ALERT, for their BIAL, various campaigns were launched to spread Good Samaritan work. the message and rebuild passenger confidence in air travel following the outbreak of Covid-19 in 6. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presented the trophies 2020. of 'Best Marching Contingents of the Republic Day Parade 2021' to Delhi Police. 12. Former Australian captain Steve Smith won the third Allan Border Medal of his career at the Australian Cricket 7. S. Theodore Baskaran won 'Sanctuary Lifetime Service Awards for the period 2020-21. Award 2020'. ● The Allan Border Medal recognises the most ● Theodore Baskaran was chosen for the award in outstanding male Australian cricketer of the past the light of his dedication to the wildlife season as voted by his peers, the media and conservation. umpires. ● He won the award for his writing prowess in List of 2021 Australian Cricket Awards: English and Tamil contributing towards the ● Belinda Clark Award: Beth Mooney. conservation discourse. ● Allan Border Medal: Steve Smith. ● Some of his books in the English language ● Men’s Test Player of the Year: Pat Cummins. include- Dance of the Sarus: Essays of a Wandering ● Women’s One Day International Player of the Year: Naturalist; Book of Indian Dogs and A Day with the Rachel Haynes. Shama: Essays on Nature ● Male One Day International Player of the Year: Steve Smith. 8. Robert Irwin, an Australian wildlife photographer, has ● Female International Twenty20 Player of the Year: won the first prize in the Wildlife Photographer of the Beth Mooney. Year People’s Choice Award Contest, organised by ● Male International Twenty20 Player of the Year: the Natural History Museum. Ashton Agar. ● Female Domestic Player of the Year: Elyse Villani. selfxpert©2021 F e b ’ 21 P a g e 17 | 29 Feb| 2021 Current Affairs

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Arbor ● Male Domestic Player of the Year: Shaun Marsh. Day Foundation. ● Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year: Hannah ● for its commitment to growing and maintaining Darlington. urban forests. ● Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: Will ● Hyderabad is the only city from India to have been Sutherland. recognized as a Tree City, to date. ● Community Impact Award: Joshua Lalor. ● Food and Agriculture Organization Hall of Fame inductions: Johnny Mullagh, Merv ● Headquarters: Rome, Italy. Hughes, Lisa Sthalekar.

17. Union Bank of India was awarded “Best Service 13. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S. Jagan Provider” in Human Resources and also the best Mohan Reddy conferred with Skoch Chief Minister of the institution for “Excellence in Learning & Development” at Year Award. the 29th Global HRD Congress awards. Andhra Pradesh: ● Kalyan Kumar, Chief General Manager, HR was Chief Minister : YS Jagan Mohan Reddy; ● named as “Chief Human Resources Officer of the ● Governor: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan. Year”. Union Bank of India 14. Four Women Scientists wins SERB Women Excellence ● Headquarters: Mumbai. Award 2021 : Dr Shobhna Kapoor, Dr Antara Banerjee, Dr ● CEO: Rajkiran Rai G. Sonu Gandhi, Dr Ritu Gupta. ● Founded: 11 November 1919. The winners :

● Dr Shobhna Kapoor – Assistant Professor at Indian 18. The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Institute of Technology Bombay, working in the Festival awards 2021 were announced. area of Chemical Biology with expertise in ‘Host-  Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput was Pathogen Interactions and Membrane Biology, posthumously awarded ‘Critics Best Actor’ for his Chemical Biology and Biophysics’ performance in Dil Bechara. ● Dr Antara Banerjee – Scientist B National Institute The winner of the Award for 2021 are as follows: For Research In Reproductive Health, Mumbai, 1. Best Actor (Female): Deepika Padukone, Maharashtra from the Health Sciences area with Chhapaak expertise in Signal Transduction, Biology of 2. Best Actor (Male): Akshay Kumar, Laxmii Reproduction and Endocrinology, 3. Critic’s Best Actress: Kiara Advani, Guilty ● Dr Sonu Gandhi – Scientist D from National 4. Critic’s Best Actor: Late Sushant Singh Rajput, Dil Institute Of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad from Bechara Bionanotechnology area focusing on Nanosensors, 5. Best Film: Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior Design and Fabrication of Label-free Biosensors 6. Best International Feature Film: Parasite Most ● Dr Ritu Gupta – Assistant Professor at Indian Versatile Actor – Kay Kay Menon Institute Of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan 7. Best Director: Anurag Basu, Ludo working on Nanotechnology with expertise in 8. Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Vikrant Massey, Materials Science, Nanodevices and Sensors, Chhapaak Health & Energy. 9. Best Actress in Supporting Role: Radhika Madan, Angrezi Medium 15. Bhim Army Chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad featured in 10. Best Actor in Comic Role: Kunal Kemmu, Lootcase the the second edition (2021) of Time magazine’s 100 11. Best Actor (Web Series): Bobby Deol, Aashram ‘emerging leaders who are shaping the future.’ 12. Best Actress (Web Series): Sushmita Sen, Aarya ● TIME100 Next 2021 Bhim Army is a Dalit rights 13. Best Web Series: Scam (1992) organisation based in Uttar Pradesh to help Dalits 14. Album of the Year: Titliyaan escape poverty through education. 15. Best Television Series: Kundali Bhagya The five Indian-origin persons in Time100 Next 16. Photographer of the Year: Daboo Ratnani list are: 17. Style Diva of the Year: Divya Khosla Kumar ● Twitter lawyer: Vijaya Gadde 18. Best Actress in Television Series: Surbhi Chandna ● UK’s Finance Minister: Rishi Sunak 19. Best Actor in Television Series: Dheeraj Dhoopar ● Instacart founder and CEO: Apoorva Mehta 20. Performer of the Year: Nora Fatehi ● Get Us PPE executive director and doctor: Shikha 21. Outstanding Contribution to Film Industry: Gupta Dharmendra ● Founder of nonprofit Upsolve’s: Rohan Pavuluri 22. Outstanding Contribution to Literature in Indian Cinema: Chetan Bhagat 16. Telangana’s capital, Hyderabad has been recognized as a '2020 Tree City of World', by the United Nations

19. US President Biden's administration named Anjali 5. South Korea has got the first rank in the latest Bharadwaj for International Anti-Corruption Champions Bloomberg Innovation Index. Award.  Singapore and Switzerland got second and third ● She is the founder of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan rank in the latest Bloomberg Innovation Index. (SNS), a citizens’ group which promotes  Germany’s rank in the index declined to the fourth transparency and accountability in government position. Germany ranked first . and encourage the active participation of citizens.  China is ranked at 16th place.  India’s rank has improved in Bloomberg Innovation 20. Hyderabad has been recognized as a ’2020 Tree City Index 2021. It appeared in the top 50 for the first of the World’ by the United Nations Food and Agriculture time since 2016. Organization and the Arbor Day Foundation. 6. Google was the top mobile publisher all over the world in January 2021, as per the report by Sensor Tower, a market insights provider for the global app economy. MOU’s, AGREEMENTS  The most downloaded non-gaming app all over the world in January 2021 was Telegram. India 1. Maharashtra tops justiceATIONAL delivery in 2nd edition of the accounted for the largest number of downloads of India Justice Report 2020 ( an initiative of Tata Trust) Telegram. followed by Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab and Kerala.  TikTok was the second most downloaded. (In  Rajasthan is on the top position in the Prisons December 2020, TikTok was the most downloaded category. app).  Himachal Pradesh is on the top position among  Signal, Facebook, and WhatsApp were also small states in Prisons category. included in the top five.  Only 29 percent of Judges in India are Women.

7. India accounts for 11% of global deaths in road 2. India will emerge as the second most resilient accidents as per the World Bank report. economy in 2021, as per the International Economic

Resilience (IER) Rank, released by industry body, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI). ● Topped by : Germany SPORTS ● South Korea : 3rd position. 1. The Board of ControlATIONAL for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ● India’s real GDP growth rate is projected to be the decided not to conduct the Ranji Trophy in 2020-21. highest in the year 2021 among the top-10 leading economies in the world, at 11.5%. 2. Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah appointed as new President of the Asian Cricket Council 3. India’s position has slipped by two places to be placed (AAC). at 53rd spot in the 2020 Democracy Index, from among ● He is the youngest person ever to be appointed to 167 countries. the office. ● India is placed under the ‘flawed democracy’ ● ACC is responsible for organizing the Asia Cup category. tournaments. ● Democracy Index is the global ranking released by Asian Cricket Council The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a UK based ● Founded: 19 September 1983. company that provides a snapshot of the current ● Headquarters: Colombo, Sri Lanka. state of democracy worldwide. ● Chairman: Amitabh Choudhary. ● Norway (topped), Iceland(2nd) , Sweden(3rd) , New Zealand(4th) and Canada(5th). 3. Hima Das has been appointed as a Deputy The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU): Superintendent of Police by the Assam government. ● Headquarters: London, United Kingdom. ● The 21-year-old from Assam, known as ‘Dhing ● Founded : 1946. Express’ referring to the town near her native ● Parent organization: Economist Group. village. ● She is world junior 400m champion, who won a 4. India has been ranked 10th in the Asia Pacific silver in women’s 400m in the 2018 Asian Games. Personalised Health Index 2020, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). 4. Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha has  Singapore has bagged top position in the Asia announced his retirement, from all formats of cricket. Pacific Personalised Health Index 2020. ● He made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh  Taiwan and Japan are on 2nd and 3rd position in 2000-01. respectively.

12. Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma became the sixth ● Record : most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in the Indian and third pacer from the country to take 300 Ranji Trophy. wickets in Test cricket.

 Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev 5. Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Kiren Rijiju (434), Ravichandran Ashwin (377), Harbhajan launched a breakthrough Reference Material for use in Singh (417), Zaheer Khan (311). chemical testing in the field of anti-doping.

● Reference material jointly synthesised by the 13. South-African all-rounder Chris Morris becomes IPL’s National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) and most expensive player at the Indian Premier League (IPL) National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and 2021 auction in Chennai. Research (NIPER), Guwahati. ● Rajasthan Royals went all-out for the South African

all-rounder Morris, buying him for a 6. India top medals tally at first 'Asian Online Shooting whopping INR 16.25 crore. Championship' organised by Kuwait Shooting Federation.

● Gold Medal Winners from INDIA: 14. South Africa’s Faf du Plessis retires from Test  Saurabh Chaudhary – men’s 10m air pistol cricket.  Divyansh Singh Panwar- men’s 10m air ● Former captain of South Africa, Faf du Plessis has rifle announced his retirement from Test cricket.  Kynan Chenai – men’s trap ● The 36-year-old made his Test debut in  Rajeshwari Kumari – women’s trap November 2012 and played a total of 69 games in ● Silver Medal Winners from INDIA: the longest format.  Arjun Babuta – men’s 10m air rifle ● He scored 4163 runs in his Test career, at an  Shreyasi Singh – women’s trap average of 40.02, with 10 centuries and 21 fifties. ● Bronze Medal Winners from INDIA:

 Manu Bhaker – women’s 10m air pistol 15. The IPL Franchise, Kings XI Punjab has formally been  Sarabjot Singh – men’s 10m air pistol renamed as Punjab Kings ahead of the Indian Premier  Deepak Kumar – men’s 10m air rifle League auction.  Prithviraj Tondaiman – men’s trap ● The side is currently led by batsman KL  Manish Keer – women’s trap Rahul, with former Indian captain Anil Kumble as its head coach. 7. Tamil Nadu beat Baroda to claim Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy at Sardar Patel Stadium (Motera Stadium), 16. India’s top-ranked table tennis player Manika Ahmedabad. Batra beat Reeth Rishya, 4-2, in the women’s singles final, to win the 82nd Senior National Table Tennis 8. Former right-arm fast bowler Merv Hughes has been Championship, at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex inducted into the 'Australian Cricket Hall of Fame'. in Panchkula, Haryana. ● It was Manika’s second Nationals title. She won her 9. 36-year-old right-handed pacer Ashok Dinda, maiden national title in 2015 in Hyderabad. announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. 17. Sri Lanka fast bowler Dhammika Prasad has announced 10. Joe Root becomes the first player in history to score his retirement from international cricket. a double century in his 100th Test match. ● He represented Sri Lanka in 25 Tests and 24 ODIs, ● Root also surpassed former Pakistan captain bagging 75 and 32 wickets respectively. Inzamam-Ul-Haq as the player with the highest ● He also played alone T20 International against individual score playing the 100th Test match of Australia in 2011. Prasad last played a Test match his career. in October 2015 against the West Indies. ● Inzamam had hit 184 against India in a Test match

in Bengaluru in 2005, which Pakistan had won by 18. Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka wins Australian 168 runs. Open 2021.

Winners of Australian Open 2021: 11. The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has ● Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) defeated won the inaugural 'ICC Player of the Month award 2021'. Daniil Medvedev (Russia) ● First bowler Shabnim Ismail of South Africa has ● Women’s Singles: Naomi Osaka (Japan) defeated been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Jennifer Brady (US) Month following her performances across three Men’s Doubles: Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Filip ODIs and two T20Is in January 2021. ● Polášek (Slovakia )defeated Rajeev Ram (US) and

Joe Salisbury (UK)

● Women’s Doubles: Elise Mertens (Belgium) and Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) defeated Barbora IMPORTANT DAYS Krejčíková (Czech Republic) and Kateřina Indian Coast Guard RaisingATIONAL Day: 1st February. Siniaková(Czech Republic ) ● Mixed Doubles: Barbora Krejcikova (Czech World Wetlands Day: 2nd February. Republic) and Rajeev Ram of the US defeated the ● Theme: ‘Wetlands and Water’. Australian pair of Samantha Stosur and Matthew Ebden. World Cancer Day: 4th February. ● Theme: ‘I Am And I Will’. 19. The second edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2021, is scheduled to be held in Karnataka. International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital ● The KIUG-2021 will be hosted by JAIN (Deemed- Mutilation: 6th February. to-be University), Bengaluru, in partnership with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). World Pulses Day: 10th February ● Theme : “Nutritious Seeds for a Sustainable 20. President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the Future,” newly revamped Motera cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, which has been renamed the Narendra Modi Stadium. World Unani Day: 11th February ● The biggest cricket stadium in the world will hold ● This day is celebrated every year to mark the birth its first international match, with the newly anniversary of great Unani scholar and social renovated Sardar Patel Stadium to host the third reformer Hakim Ajmal Khan. Test between India and England. Both India and ● Hakim Ajmal Khan was an eminent Indian Unani England had a forgettable outing in their last pink- physician who was a versatile genius, a great ball outings. scholar, a social reformer, a noted freedom ● The stadium was first opened in the fighter, an Unani medical educationist and founder early 1980s but has recently been rebuilt and now of scientific research in Unani System of Medicine. has a seating capacity of 110,000. He was one of the founders of the Jamia Millia ● Motera currently is the biggest cricket stadium in Islamia in New Delhi. the world in terms of capacity. ● The last time when India played a cricket match at International Day of Women and Girls in Science : 11th Motera was way back in 2014. February  The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium (former ● Theme : “Women Scientists at the forefront of Rungrado May Day Stadium) in North Korea is the the fight against COVID-19”. world’s largest stadium. Melbourne Cricket Ground is the second-largest cricket stadium in Samarpan Diwas : 11th February the world. ● Deen Dayal Upadhyay Death Anniversary. ● Deendayal Upadhyaya was an Indian politician and 21. Dushyant Chautala has been re-elected as thinker of right-wing Hindutva ideology espoused the President of Table Tennis Federation of India by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and leader (TTFI) for a period of four years. of the political party Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the Table Tennis Federation of India forerunner of Bharatiya Janata Party. ● Headquarters: New Delhi. ● Founded: 1926. National Productivity Day : 12th February 22. Former India international and Karnataka captain, R ● The day is celebrated by the National Productivity Vinay Kumar announced retirement from all forms of Council (NPC) to promote productivity culture in cricket. India. ● R Vinay Kumar called as “Davangere Express” ● Director-General of National Productivity Council: ● He scored 3311 runs including two centuries and Arun Kumar Jha. 17 half-centuries. National Productivity Council of India 23. Manika Batra has won the women’s singles title in the ● Established: 1958. 82nd Senior National Table Tennis Championships in ● HQ: New Delhi Panchkula. She defeated Reeth Rishya in the finals. National Women’s Day : 13th February 24. Yusuf Pathan announces retirement from all forms of ● In India, this day is observed to commemorate the cricket. 142nd birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu. ● He was part of the Indian team that won the ICC ● She was born on February 13, 1879. T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. selfxpert©2021 F e b ’ 21 P a g e 21 | 29 Feb| 2021 Current Affairs

● The day is celebrated to commemorate the ● She was famous for her nickname ‘Nightingale of legislation of the Central Excise and Salt act on India’ or ‘Bharat Kokila’ because of her poems. 24 February 1944. ● Sarojini Naidu was not only a freedom fighter, but ● Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Custom: she also became the first woman governor of M. Ajit Kumar. the United Provinces, the present Uttar Pradesh Headquarters of Central Board of Excise and in 1947. ● Custom: New Delhi. ● She was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. ● Central Board of Excise and Custom Founded: 1 ● She was the first Indian woman President of the January 1964. Indian National Congress. She presided over the

1925 Kanpur session of INC. World NGO Day: 27th February

World Radio Day: 13th February National Science Day : 28th February ● Theme : “New World, New Radio”. ● Theme for 2021: ‘ Future of STI: Impact on UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France. ● Education and Work’ ● UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay. ● National Science Day is celebrated to remember ● UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945. the announcement of the discovery of Raman ● United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. Effect by Sir C.V. Raman on 28 February 1928. ● Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of ● When light passes through a transparent material, the United Nations. the wavelength and amplitude of some deflected light change; this is called Raman scattering and is a consequence of the Raman Effect. Sir C.V. th World Day of Social Justice : 20 February Raman worked on inelastic scattering of light by ● World Day of Social Justice is celebrated annually molecules. all over the world on 20 February. ● Theme : “A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy”. BOOKS & AUTHORS ● Headquarters of International Labour 1. Tibetan spiritual leader,ATIONAL the Dalai Lama, has authored Organization: Geneva, Switzerland. a new book, “The Little Book of Encouragement”. ● Director-General of International Labour Organization: Guy Ryder. 2. Canadian Olympian sprinter Andre De Grasse is writing ● International Labour Organization Founded: 1919. a book named "Race With Me!" for children. It is a picture book. World Pangolin Day 2021: 20th February ● World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the “Third 3. Hunter Biden : ‘Beautiful Things’ Saturday of February” every year. In 2021, the annual World Pangolin Day is being celebrated 4. Priyanka Chopra Jonas : “Unfinished: A Memoir” on 20 February 2020. It marks the 10th edition of the event. 5. Meghna Pant’ : “The Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Good ● The day aims to raise awareness about these News” unique mammals and speed up conservation efforts. Pangolin numbers are rapidly declining 6. Peter Mukerjea : ‘Starstruck: Confessions of a TV in Asia and Africa. Executive’

International Mother Language Day: 21st February 7. Sangeet Paul Choudhary : “Platform Scale: For a Post- ● Theme : “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion Pandemic World” in education and society”. ● UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France. 8. M Hamid Ansari : ‘By Many a Happy Accident: ● UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay. Recollections of a Life’ ● UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945. ● Mohammad Hamid Ansari was the Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for two World Thinking Day: 22nd February consecutive terms from 2007 to 2017. ● Theme : peacebuilding. 9. RP Gupta : ‘Turn Around India: 2020- Surmounting Central Excise Day: 24th February Past Legacy’ ● The day is being celebrated to honour the service ● a book on creating economic awareness among of the Central Board of Excise and Custom masses. (CBEC) to the country. ● The book is launched by Jual Oram.

● He was known as the “father of the 10. Irwin Allan Sealy’s new novel : ‘ASOCA: A Sutra’ nation” because he led the Pacific archipelago to an imagined memoir of Ashoka The Great. independence from Australia in 1975.

11. Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu : ‘Maverick Messiah’, a political biography on N.T. Rama Rao, former HISTORY Andha CM. P M Narendra Modi has inauguratedATIONAL the centenary 12. Home Minister Amit Shah : ‘Rashtra Pratham – 82 celebrations of the Chauri Chaura incident on February varshon ki Swarnim Gatha’ on glorious history of CRPF 4. since its raising in 1939. ● February 4, 2021 marks 100 years of the ‘Chauri Chaura’ incident, a landmark event in the 13. Veteran actor Kabir Bedi :”Stories I Must Tell: An country’s fight for independence. Actor’s Emotional Journey” ● PM Modi also released a postal stamp dedicated to the Chauri Chaura incident, to mark the beginning 14. “The Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Good News” - of the event. upcoming book of Meghna Pant.  Chauri Chaura is a town in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh.  On 4th February, 1922, this town witnessed a OBITUARIES violent incident - a large crowd of peasants set on fire a police station that killed 22 policemen. 1. Nobel Prize Winner ChemistATIONAL Paul Crutzen Passes away.  Due to this incident Mahatma Gandhi called off

the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22). 2. Pioneering US actress Cicely Tyson passes away.  On 12th February, 1922, the satyagraha

(movement) was formally suspended. 2. Oscar-winning Canadian actor Christopher Plummer

passes away. President paid homage to Dr. Zakir Hussain on his birth

anniversary. 3. Indian tennis great Akhtar Ali passes away. Dr. Zakir Hussain:

4. Founder of Rang Vidushak, Padma Shri Bansi Kaul  He was born on 8 February 1897. Passed away.  He was the third President of India. ● He was awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi  Served as President from 13 May 1967 to 3 May Award in 1995 and Padma Shri in 2014. He 1969. received Rashtriya Kalidas Samman for the year  He was the co-founder of Jamia Milia Islamia. 2016–17.  The first Muslim President of India .  The first President to die in office. 5. Bollywood actor Rajiv Kapoor passes away.  Received Bharat Ratna in 1963.

6. Indo-Pak War Veteran retired Major General BK Mahapatra passes away. The birth anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati has been celebrated across the nation on 12 February. 7. Former Bihar-Jharkhand Governor & Jurist M Rama Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj: Jois, passes away.  Its founder, Dayananda Saraswati or Mulshankar (1824-1883) 8. Former Union Minister Captain Satish Sharma passes  The first Arya Samaj unit was formally set up by away. him at Bombay in 1875 and later the headquarters of the Samaj were established at Lahore. 9. Former TRAI Chairman Rahul Khullar passes away.  He emphasized the doctrine of Karma and Reincarnation . 10. Renowned Malayalam poet, the priest and  He was against the caste system, idol worship, and academician Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri, has passed untouchability.  Dayananda’s views were published in his famous away. work, Satyarth Prakash (The True Exposition). ● He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2014, for his contribution to the world of Malayalam  He took inspiration from the Vedas and considered literature for decades. them to be ‘India’s Rock of Ages’, the infallible and the true original seed of Hinduism. 11. The first prime minister of Papua New  He gave the slogan “Back to the Vedas”. Guinea, Michael Somare has passed away.  Teacher/Guru : a blind teacher named Swami Virajananda in Mathura. selfxpert©2021 F e b ’ 21 P a g e 23 | 29 Feb| 2021 Current Affairs

 The main cause for the declining rainfall is-  The nucleus for this movement was provided by o Increase in the Indian Ocean temperature the Dayananda Anglo-Vedic (D.A.V.) schools, o Deforestation in the region established first at Lahore in 1886, which sought to o Conversion of forestlands and vegetation emphasise the importance of Western education. area to croplands areas  Swami Shraddhanand started the Gurukul at  Due to change in rainfall pattern Jhum cultivation Hardwar in 1902 to impart education in the or shifting cultivation has decreased, which traditional framework. impacted the livelihoods of the people of the  The work of the Swami after his death was carried region. forward by Lala Hansraj, Pandit Gurudutt,Lala  Northeast India is one of the most biodiversity-rich Lajpat Rai and Swami Shraddhanand, among regions of the world. It is one of the biodiversity others. hotspots of the world.

 The change in the rainfall pattern can be stopped The whole nation celebrated the Birth Anniversary of with solid water management strategies, Ramakrishna Paramhansa on 18 February. Afforestation, etc. Ramakrishna Paramhansa:  Mawsynram is a town in Meghalaya. It is the  He was born on 18 February 1836 in the village of wettest place on Earth. Kamarpukur near Kolkata.

 His original name was Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya.  He was one of the greatest saints of modern India. He was well versed in the Puranas, the Ramayana, POLITY the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana. Jammu and Kashmir ReorganisationATIONAL (Amendment) Bill,  Swami Vivekananda was the chief disciple of 2021 has been introduced in Rajya Sabha by Minister of Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He founded the State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy. Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.  Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment)

Ordinance was promulgated by President last GEOGRAPHY month to merge the J & K cadre of Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and The glacier burst took placeATIONAL at the Rishiganga power Indian Forest Service with AGMUT cadre. project after a portion of Nanda Devi glacier broke off in  AGMUT means Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, Tapovan area of Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli and Union Territory district on 7th February morning. ● Bursting of Nanda Devi glacier led to the flooding Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 has been passed in Rajya of Dhauliganga River near Rishiganga Power Sabha for regulation, operation and planning of major Project at Raini village in Tapovan area of Chamoli ports in India. district, Uttarakhand.  The bill will provide greater autonomy to major ● Massive flooding due to glacier burst swept away ports and replace Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. 13.2 MW Rishiganga hydropower project near Joshimath. Kiran Bedi, the Lt-Governor of Puducherry, removed ● Massive flooding partially destroyed 520 MW from the top position. NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project on the  ( Additional charge given to : Tamilisai Dhauliganga River. Soundararajan, the Governor of Telangana, till a ● Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers meet at permanent replacement will be announced). Vishnuprayag. Joshimath is a town along the banks  Kiran Bedi is the first female IPS officer of India. of River Alaknanda. ● Nanda Devi (7817 metres) is the third highest peak Article 239 states that each Union Territory shall be of the Himalayas in India after Kanchenjunga (8598 administered through an Administrator appointed by metres) and Nanga Parbat (8126 metres). the President. Uttarakhand  Lieutenant Governor: ● Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat.  Appointed by the President. ● Governor : Baby Rani Maurya.  Term : five years.  Lt. governors are responsible for the According to a study by researchers, it has been found administration of Union territories. that there is a declining trend of rainfall at Cherrapunji and nearby areas. The Union Cabinet has approved to dissolve  Data shows that from 1973-2019 the annual rainfall the Puducherry Assembly and impose President’s rule in has declined by 0.42 mm per decade in the regions the Union Territory, of Agartala, Cherrapunji, Guwahati, Kailashahar, Pasighat, Shillong and Silchar.

Legislative Council: ● following the resignation of the Chief Minister, V  Article 169 of the Constitution of India deals with Narayanasamy, whose government lost majority the Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in power in the assembly. States. ● The decision was taken as no party claimed to  Article 171, the Legislative Council of a state shall form a government, following which, Lieutenant not have more than one-third of the total strength Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan had of the State Assembly, and not less than 40 recommended President’s Rule. members. ● Prior to this, the President’s rule was imposed in  The members of the Legislative Council are either Puducherry between March and July in 1991 when nominated by the Governor of the state or are the JD-DMK coalition government fell. indirectly elected. President Rule:  The Chairman of the Legislative Council is elected Article 356 of the Constitution of India gives the among its members. He acts as a presiding officer President of India the power to impose President of the Council. Rule in a state or Union territory on the advice of  The members of the Legislative Council are the Union Council of Ministers. elected for six years.  The president rule must be approved by the

houses of parliament within two months. President rule is imposed after considering the following conditions: ECONOMY  If the President is satisfied that the 1. RBI Monetary Policy: ATIONALPolicy Rate unchanged government of state government cannot be The key decisions taken in the Monetary Policy carried on in accordance with the provisions Committee meeting are: of this Constitution.  Policy Repo Rate: 4.00%  If no party claims to form government in the state.  Reverse Repo Rate: 3.35% Marginal Standing Facility Rate: 4.25%  If a state fails to comply with the direction  given by the center.  Bank Rate: 4.25%  CRR: 3% Justice Puligoru Venkata Sanjay Kumar has been sworn-  SLR: 18.00% in as the Chief Justice of Manipur High Court at Raj ● Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata. Bhavan, Imphal. ● RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikanta Das ● Chief Minister of Manipur: N. Biren Singh; ● Headquarters: Mumbai Governor: Najma Heptulla. Chief Justice of High Court: 2. The New Development Bank (NDB) has committed to  Appointment: The President appoints the Chief invest USD 100 million (Rs 727.6 crore), into the National Justice of the High Court after consultation with Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF) Fund the Chief Justice of India and the governor of the of Funds (FoF). state. NIIFL  Tenure: A Chief Justice of High Court holds the ● MD & CEO : Sujoy Bose. office until he completes the age of 62 years. ● Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.  Qualification: New Development Bank o He should be a citizen of India. Chairperson : Anton Siluanov (Russia). o He should have held a judicial office in ● Headquarters: Shanghai, China. India’s territory for ten years or have been an advocate of a high court for ten 3. The global forecasting firm Oxford Economics has years. revised India’s economic growth projection for the  Oath: The oath is administered by the governor of Calendar year 2021 to 10.2 %. the state or Lieutenant Governor in Union Territories or a person appointed by the President. 4. The State Bank of India’s (SBI) Economic Research Department has revised GDP estimates of India for FY21 JDS’s Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Basarvaraj to contract 7.0%. Horatti elected as Chairman of Karnataka Legislative ● Earlier this was estimated GDP at -7.4%. The SBI Council. Research Report has retained its GDP forecast for  At present, six states of India have a legislative FY22 at 11 per cent. council. These states are- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka.

● For FY22 (2021-22), ICRA's considerable rebound 5. The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) will in India’s economic growth to 10.5%. provide USD 400 million to the Maldives through Line of ● ICRA Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana. Credit (LoC) to fund the Greater Male Connectivity ● ICRA Non-Executive Chairman and Director: Arun Project. Duggal. Ex-Im Bank of India ● CEO: David Rasquinha. 12. US based rating agency Moody’s projects India’s GDP ● Founded: 1 January 1982. to contract 7% in FY21. ● Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra. ● Headquarters of Moody’s: NewYork, United States.

6. India’s growth would bounce back to 10.4% in the 13. National Payments Corporation of India upcoming fiscal according to India Ratings and Research (NPCI) announced, UPI AutoPay has now gone live (Ind-Ra). on Gaana. India Ratings and Research National Payments Corporation of India ● MD & CEO of: Rohit Karan Sawhney. ● MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe. ● IHeadquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra. ● Headquarters: Mumbai. ● Founded: 2008. 7. India’s GDP growth projected at 10.5 percent by RBI for Financial Year 2022, In the last bi-monthly monetary policy meet.

The California-based global digital payment platform SCIENCE & TECH. Payal to shut domestic payments service in India from 1. Engineering college studenATIONALts in Hubballi, Karnataka April 1. have come up with a robot 'Maya' that has been PayPal programmed to assist customers. ● Founded: December 1998. ● It will serve in banks and speaks in many regional ● Headquarter : California, United States. languages. ● CEO: Dan Schulman.

2. NASA Selects SpaceX to launch its SPHEREx Mission. 8. The S&P Global Ratings has projected that India will be NASA one of the fastest-growing emerging market economies in ● Headquarters: Washington D.C., United States. the fiscal year 2021-22, with a GDP growth rate of 10 per ● Founded: 1 October 1958. cent.

● S&P Global Ratings Headquarters: New York, 3. The newly constituted Square Kilometre Array United States. Observatory (SKAO) Council has approved the establishment of the world’s largest radio telescope. 9. HSBC Raises India’s GDP Forecast for FY22 to 11.2%. ● The telescope will enable astronomers to monitor ● The 2020-21 GDP forecast of India by HSBC the sky in unprecedented detail and survey the remains -6.3 per cent, as projected earlier. entire sky much faster than any system currently HSBC in existence. ● CEO: Noel Quinn. ● Radio telescopes, unlike optical telescopes, can ● Headquarters: London, United Kingdom. detect invisible gas and reveal areas of space that ● Founder: Thomas Sutherland. may be obscured by cosmic dust. ● Founded: 3 March 1865, Hong Kong 4. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is 10. NSO expects the Indian economy to contract by 8% in developing a futuristic high altitude pseudo satellite to 2020-21 strengthen the country’s military strike capabilities, is a ● The GDP growth of India during 2020-21 is first of its kind project in the world. estimated to contract 8 per cent, as per the ● The technology has been named Combined Air second advanced estimates projected by Teaming System (CATS). the National Statistical Office (NSO). ● It will have a manned aircraft (will be known as ● This was 4.9 per cent in 2019-20. NSO had mother ship), operating from far away, and four projected a GDP contraction of 7.7 per cent in its autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles known as first advance estimate. CATS Warrior.

11. India’s rating agency, ICRA has projected the Indian economy to contract 7% in the current fiscal (FY21).

5. UAE’s first mars mission, ‘Hope Probe,’ was launched 10. India becomes the first country in the world to give from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan in July 2020. It importance to the cure of NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty has now entered the orbit of Mars after seven months. Liver Disease). In 2020 mars mission launched are:  India has become the first country to identify the Mission Name Country/ Objective need for tackling Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Organisation Disease. Perseverance NASA To search for signs  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is due to of ancient life on the accumulation of extra fat in liver cells that is Mars. Tianwen-1 China To conduct survey not caused by alcohol. of the planet  The more severe form of NAFLD is called non- Hope Probe UAE To study Mars alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Climate dynamics 11. Hyundai Motor Company has launched a Transformer- 6. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has like robocar named as The Ultimate Mobility Vehicle announced to set up the India's first ‘Thunderstorm (UMV) TIGER X-1, that can travel over the most Research Testbed’ of the country at Odisha’s Balasore challenging terrains on the Earth as well as on other district. planets. ● objective : to minimalise human fatalities and loss ● TIGER stands for Transforming Intelligent Ground of property due to lightning strikes. Excursion Robot, and the X-1 denotes its ● The facility will be established in a collaboration experimental status. between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Hyundai Motor Company IMD, DRDO and ISRO. ● Founder: Chung Ju-Yung. India Meteorological Department (IMD) ● Founded: 29 December 1967, Seoul, South Korea. ● Director-General: Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. ● Founded: 1875. 12. CSIR-CMERI-Centre of Excellence for Farm Machinery ● Headquarters: Mausam Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New has developed a Solar Biodiesel Hybrid Minigrid system of Delhi 50kW peak capacity.  It will provide 24X7 power supply to Center for 7. IIT Madras-incubated Pi Beam launches PiMo e-bike ( Excellence in Farm Machinery (COEFM) in Electric Bike), cost at Rs 30,000. Ludhiana. ● The electric vehicle offers ‘Battery Swapping’, meaning that the drained battery can 13. The NASA Perseverance rover safely landed on Mars be exchanged for a fully charged one at designated after its 292.5 million-mile journey from Earth. locations. NASA ● The battery can charge faster than a smartphone ● Headquarters : Washington D.C., United States. and comes with a range of 50 km. ● Founded: 1 October 1958.

8. Indian astronomers detect huge optical flare in black 14. A space supply ship, Cygnus NG-15 cargo dubbed hole ‘BL Lacertae’. as ‘S.S. Katherine Johnson has been named in honour of ● Minister of Science and Technology: Dr Harsh Katherine Johnson, a Black NASA mathematician. Vardhan. ● She played a critical role in the success of the first U.S. crewed spaceflight, Mercury-Atlas 6 Mission. 9. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has opened its UR Rao Satellite Centre for testing satellites developed by the private sector for the first time in its history. ● Two satellites, developed by the Indian startups SpaceKidz India and Pixxel (incorporated as Sygyzy) were tested at the UR Rao Satellite Centre. ● Both these two companies will also test their engines at the Sriharikota spaceport and Thiruvananthapuram rocket centre in coming days. ● ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan. ● Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka. ● Established: 15 August 1969.

● During the festival, the state culture and tourism ARTS & CULTURE minister Usha Thakur inaugurated the newly Union Agriculture MinisterATIONAL Narendra Singh Tomar constructed Dino Adventure Park and Fossils inaugurated Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021 at Noida Haat, Museum in Mandu and construction of Astro Park Delhi. building at a cost of Rs 59 lakh. Mandu: The Govt. of India launched Official Website of 'The India ● also known as ‘The City of Joy’ and Shadiabad. Toy Fair,2021' ● located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. ● The official website for India Toy Fair-2021 ● Mandu is mainly known for the love story of Sultan is www.theindiatoyfair.in Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. ● The website and online registration were ● Baz Bahadur’s Palace, Rewa Kund, Jahaz Mahal, inaugurated on February 11, 2021, jointly by Hindola Mahal, etc. are some prominent historical ● Union Education Minister, Dr Ramesh places of Mandu. Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, The Dinosaur Park: ● Union Minister of Textiles, Smt. Smriti ● It is the first modern fossil park in India which Zubin Irani and has 24 eggs and other fossils of dinosaurs on ● Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, display. Shri Piyush Goyal The 47th Khajuraho Dance Festival celebrated The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh which is based on the Welfare, Kailash Choudhry has inaugurated 5 day long Indian classical dance tradition. event, the National Horticulture Fair (NHF)  There are 8 Indian classical dances- Bharatnatyam, 2021 in Bengaluru. Odissi, Sattriya, Kathak, Kathakali, Manipuri, ● Organiser: The Indian Institute of Horticultural Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi. Research (IIHR), from February 8 to February 12 at Khajuraho Group of Monuments: its IIHR campus situated in Hesaraghatta,  It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Bengaluru.  The temples at Khajuraho were built during the ● Theme : ‘Horticulture for Start-Up and Stand-Up Chandella dynasty. India’.  These temples belong to two different religions- ● IIHR is a subsidiary of ICAR. Hinduism and Jainism. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)  These temples are built in the Nagara style of ● Founded: 16 July 1929. temple architecture and are famous for their ● Headquarters : New Delhi. erotic sculptures.

● Director : Trilochan Mohapatra. The Governor of West Bengal, Shri Jagdeep

Dhankhar inaugurated the 11th 'Rashtriya Sanskriti Government to rename Akashvani Music Festival after Mahotsav' at Cooch Behar Palace at West Bengal. the name of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is a flagship  From now on, Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan will be ● programme of the Ministry of Culture, organised known as Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Akashvani Sangeet under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme, Sammelan. since 2015, to celebrate the idea of unity in  Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was awarded Bharat Ratna in diversity. 2009. ● The event was inaugurated in the presence of  Pandit Sawai Gandharva was his guru. Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism,

Shri Prahlad Singh Patel. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the 26th West Bengal edition of ‘Hunar Haat’ in New Delhi. ● Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar. ● Theme of “Vocal for Local”. More than 600 artisans and craftsmen from more than 31 states ● Capital: Kolkata. and UTs are participating. ● CM: Mamata Banerjee. ● Aim: to provide employment and employment opportunities to 7,50,000 artisans by organising 75 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered a Hunar Haats by 2022, when India will celebrate its Buddhist monastery in the Hazaribagh district of 75 years of Independence. Jharkhand.  Almost 900 years old monastery was buried under The three-day famous “Mandu Festival” began at the a mound in a village of Jharkhand. historic town of Mandu in Dhar district of Madhya  Two months earlier, an ancient Buddhist shrine Pradesh on February 13, 2021. was discovered buried under a similar mound, 100 meters away from the existing site.

Artifacts obtained from excavation:  Four Stone statues of deity Tara in Varad Mudra and six statues of Buddha in Bhumisparsa Mudra.  A sculpture that appears to be of Shaivite deity Maheswari- with coiled crown and chakra.  Nagri script (previous version of Devnagri) on a Tara Statue.  Deity Tara’s statue indicates that the site was an important centre of Vajrayana Buddhism.  Varad Mudra- Gesture of hand showing dispensing of boons  Bhumisparsa Mudra- Gesture of hand showing five fingers of right hand towards the earth symbolising the Buddha’s enlightenment Vajrayana is a sect of Buddhism:  flourished in India from 6th to 11th century.  It is also known as Tantric Buddhism.

The Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the National Tribal Festival “Aadi Mahotsav” at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi. ● The Aadi Mahotsav 2021 is being organized from February 1-15, 2021. ● The festival aims to familiarise the people with the rich and diverse craft, the culture of the tribal communities across the country, in one place.

Experts of the Geological Survey of India have discovered a fossil of world’s ‘oldest animal’ in Bhimbetka caves in Madhya Pradesh. ● It has been found on the roof of ‘Auditorium Cave’. ● It could be the first-ever fossil of ‘Dickinsonia’, the Earth’s ‘oldest animal, in India. ● The fossil is 17 inches long and it can help scientists in finding many answers about the evolution of life. Bhimbetka rock shelters: ● It is located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. ● It exhibits the earliest traces of human life in India. ● It is famous for the prehistoric and Mesolithic period paintings. ● The Bhimbetka rock shelters were discovered by V S Wakankar. ● It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.