VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE TNPSC Current Affairs FEBRUARY - 2021 An ISO 9001 : 2015 Institution | Providing Excellence Since 2011 Head Office Old No.52, New No.1, 9th Street, F Block, 1st Avenue Main Road, (Near Istha siddhi Vinayakar Temple), Anna Nagar East – 600102. Phone: 044-2626 5326 | 98844 72636 | 98844 21666 | 98844 32666 Branches SALEM KOVAI No.189/1, Meyanoor Road, Near ARRS Multiplex, (Near Salem New No.347, D.S.Complex (3rd floor), Nehru Street,Near Gandhipuram bus Stand), Opp. Venkateshwara Complex, Salem - 636004. 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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmit- ted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, will be responsible for the loss and may be punished for compensation under copyright act. INDEX 01 - 11 HISTORY 01 . Important Days . Defence National Security and Terrorism . World Organisations – Pacts and Summits . Eminent Persons . Sports and Games . Awards & Honours . Latest Historical Events . Cultural Panaroma . India & its Neighbours . Appointments – Who is who? 12 12 - 14 POLITICAL SCIENCE .Problems in Conduct of Public Elections .Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility 15 GEOGRAPHY 15 .Policy on Environment and Ecology 16 - 20 ECONOMICS .New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector 16 21 21 - 25 SCIENCE .Latest Inventions in Science & Technology . Latest Discoveries on Health Science . Mass Media & Communication 26 26 NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENTS 35 35 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 37 TAMIL NADU AFFAIRS 37 VETRII'S CURRENT AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY - 2021 Important Days History 1.1 Important Days Date Day Theme / Remark The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is celebrating its 45th Raising Day on 01 February 2021. The ICG was formally established on February 1, 1977, by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India. Indian Coast Guard It operates under the Ministry of 1-02-2021 celebrates its 45th Defence. Raising Day With just 7 surface platforms in 1978, ICG currently comprise of 156 ships and 62 aircraft in its inventory and is likely to achieve targeted force levels of 200 surface platforms and 80 aircraft by 2025. The international theme for World 2-02-2021 World Wetlands Day Wetlands Day 2021 is ‘Wetlands and Water’. On November 3, 2011, UNESCO decided during its 36th conference that 13-02-2021 World Radio day a day will be dedicated to the humble radio and its importance in the forever growing world. VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE 1 Defence, National Security and Terrorism VETRII'S CURRENT AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY - 2021 1.2 Defence, National Security As part of military-to-military exchange programmes, U.S. Army troops will be and Terrorism arriving in India on February 5 for the 16th edition of Exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ with Indian Army troops. Tejas Mark II to roll out next year The bilateral training exercise will be A more potent version of the indigenous conducted at the Foreign Training Node Tejas multi-role combat jet featuring a at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges. much powerful engine, greater load- carrying capability and next-generation Defense (MSME) electronic warfare system is expected to A three-day defence expo, which will see be rolled out next year and its first high- the participation of more than 400 micro, speed trials will start in 2023. small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Tejas Mark II is likely to roll out by will be held between March 19 and 21 at August-September of 2022. After that, the Chennai Trade centre the first flight will take some time. The The expo is being organised by Swatantra first high-speed trial of the jet will start Foundation, a Chennai based policy in 2023 and we expect the production to research and advocacy institution, and start somewhere around 2025. the Aerospace Industry Development Association of Tamil Nadull (AIDAT). Indo-U.S. joint military exercise The ‘Defence Expo Empowering MSME ‘Yudh Abhyas’ to begin in Rajasthan ‘21’ is aimed at connecting MSMEs with on February 8 end users in the defence services, Indian The exercise near the India-Pakistan defence manufacturing majors and the border aims at enhancing cooperation various R&D institutions under the and interoperability between the two DRDO and DPSUs armies and will focus on counter- terrorism operations under the United MSME Nations mandate Headquarters: New Delhi The 16th edition of Indo-U.S. joint Founded: 2007 military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ will be Ministers responsible: Nitin Gadkari, held in Rajasthan between February 8 Cabinet Minister, Pradap Chandra and 21. Sarangi, Minister of State The exercise near the India-Pakistan border aims at enhancing cooperation Robust stance led to stability at and interoperability between the two border: Rajnath armies and will focus on counter- India’s robust stance, immediate and terrorism operations under the United calibrated response and its soldiers’ Nations mandate. unrelenting spirit on the border led to the stabilisation of the situation and showed 2 VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE VETRII'S CURRENT AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY - 2021 Defence, National Security and Terrorism the resolve to defend its sovereignty and ‘Yudh Abhyas’ begins in Rajasthan integrity. The 16th edition of the Indo-US joint “The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence military training exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ Ministers’ conclave would reinforce the commenced at the Mahajan Field Firing relevance of the region and its continued Ranges in the western sector of Rajasthan. importance for stakeholders, from the perspective of trade, security and INS Virat freedom or navigation,”. The Supreme Court stopped further The deal for 83 LCA for the Indian Air dismantling of decommissioned aircraft Force (IAF) to cost around `47,000 crore is carrier INS Virat. set to be signed at Aero India. It served in the British Navy as HMS Hermes from November 1959 to April Rs 48,000 crore Tejas aircraft deal to 1984 and after refurbishment, was be signed commissioned into the Indian Navy. The government is set to formally The centaur-class aircraft carrier, seal on February 3 the Rs 48,000 crore INS Viraat, was in service with the deal to procure 83 Tejas light combat Indian Navy for 29 years before being aircraft from state-run aerospace major decommissioned in March 2017. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force. China and India Border issue The rising footprint of China in India’s 34 CRPf women personnel join CoBRA neighborhood and its attempts to force unilaterally alter the status quo along 34 Women personnel of the Central India’s disputed borders have created an Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Saturday environment of confrontation and mutual joined the Commando Battalion for distrust. Resolute Action (CoBRA), the elite CRPF Army chief- Gen¬eral Manoj Naravane. component specializing in jungle warfare and counter-Naxal operations. PM hands over Arjun Mk-1A tank to The chosen women personnel from the 6 Army Mahila Battalions of CRPF will undergo a The Arjun Mk¬1A has su¬perior strenuous CoBRA pre-induction training firepower, high mobility, excellent of 3 months. protection and crew comfort, with 14 The Central Reserve Police Force (cRPF) major upgrades from Arjun Mk¬1.It also for the first time inducted 34 women uses indige¬nous ammunition. commandos in its elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) National Security Advisor of India- lunit, which was raised in 2009. Ajit Doval VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE 3 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits VETRII'S CURRENT AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY - 2021 1.3 World Organisations – 1.4 Eminent Persons Pacts and Summits Modi praises Solo effort at lake clean- up World Organization (UN Human Rights Council) The untiring efforts of a 69-year-old man, paralysed below his knees, towards U.S. to rejoin UN human rights forum cleaning up Vembanad Lake, have earned The U.S. announced plans to reengage recognition from the highest office of the with the much maligned UN Human country. Rights Council In this month’s edition of this radio UN Human Rights Council programme, Mann Ki Baat, Prime It is an inter-governmental body within Minister Narendra Modi hailed the the United Nations system made up of 47 commitment of S. Rajappan, a differently States. abled man from Kaippuzhamuttu, near It was founded in 2006 as a substitute to Kumarakom, Kottayam.