Today Current Affairs for Competitive Exams - Current Affairs 2021 Online

ORIX and Teesta Urja deal completed  Freight figures continue to maintain the high momentum in terms of loading, earning and  Japan’s financial services firm ORIX Corp. speed. and Greenko Energy Holdings have  On a month to month basis, up to 28 February concluded a deal for the investment of $980 2021, Indian Railways loading was 112.25 million in Greenko. million tonnes, which is almost 10 per cent  This is the single largest foreign investment higher compared to loading up to the same transaction in India’s clean energy space. period in 2020.  Greenko has also completed the acquisition of 40% stake in Teesta Urja Ltd, which is GST collections up by 7 % to Rs 1.13 lakh cr setting up the 1.2 GW hydropower project in  The gross GST revenue collected in February North Sikkim, for $250 million. 2021 is 1 lakh 13 thousand 143 crore rupees. Last date for filing of GST returns extended  Out of this amount, CGST is 21 thousand 92 crore rupees, SGST is 27 thousand 273 crore,  Finance Ministry has extended the due date IGST is 55 thousand 253 crore and Cess is for furnishing the annual returns GSTR-9 and 9,525 crore rupees. GSTR-9C for the financial year 2019-20 to 31  The government has settled 22 thousand 398 March 2021. crore rupees to CGST and 17 thousand 534  The due date was extended with the approval crore to SGST from IGST as regular of the Election Commission of India. settlement  Earlier the government had extended the due date of furnishing the Annual Returns from SBI reduces home loan interest rates to 6.7 % 31st December 2020 to 28th of February,  State Bank of India has reduced home loan 2021. interest rates to 6.7 per cent. One in four will be living with hearing loss  The interest rate of 6.70% will be charged for loans up to Rs. 75 lakhs and 6.75 per cent for  One in four people, nearly 2.5 billion people loans above Rs. 75 lakhs. worldwide, will be living with some degree of  The interest concession is based on the loan hearing loss by 2050, warned the World amount and CIBIL score of the borrower. Health Organization.  The offer will be available till 31 Mar 2021 and  The first World Report on Hearing was the lender is also given a 100% waiver on the released on 2 March 2021 ahead of World processing fee. Hearing Day on 3rd March 2021.  As per the report at least 700 million of these Chhattisgarh CM presents budget people will require access to ear and hearing care and other rehabilitation services.  In Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel presented the budget for the next Railways surpasses 2020's freight loading fiscal on 1 March 2021.  The budget is Rs. 97,106 crores.  Indian Railways on 28 Feb 2021 surpassed  In his budget speech, the CM announced to 2020's cumulative freight loading for the same raise a special police force named “Bastar corresponding period.

1 | P a g e

Tigers’ in all the seven districts of the tribal  UAE envoy Mohamed Al Khaja delivered his Bastar division. credentials to Israeli President Reuven  The budget proposes to construct 104 roads Rivlin in Jerusalem on 1 Mar'21. and 116 bridges in the Maoist affected rural  UAE was the 1st country to agree to establish areas. full diplomatic relations with the Jewish state under the Abraham Accords. IT Dept set up Control Room in Guwahati Paperless annual budget presented in MP  In Assam, in order to curb the use of black money for electoral purposes and prevent  Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish monetary inducement by any person or Devda present a paperless state annual parties in the State Assembly polls, the budget on 2 March 2021 in the legislative Investigation Wing of Income-Tax Assembly. Department, Guwahati has set up a Control  Along with this, the app related to the budget Room. was also launched.  Any complaint regarding the movement of  Through this app, people will be able to cash and valuables can be shared by the download information about Madhya vigilant citizens by contacting the number: Pradesh's budget on their mobiles. 1800-345-3582.  The budget this time comprises suggestions Mizoram CM Zoramthanga presents budget from the citizens also.  Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who UK cruise ships scrapped in Gujarat also holds the portfolio of Finance  On the world's largest ship graveyard in Minister, presented the budget for the next Alang, Gujarat, 2 UK cruise ships The Marco financial year on 1 March 2021. Polo and the Magellan got scrapped.  The budget presented with an outlay of  They were sold in an auction to buyers 11,148.89 crore rupees, is a zero-deficit outside the UK but later were sold as scrap budget and has not imposed any new taxes. for double its price.  In the budget, Rs 4,077.29 cr has been  An investigation found that at least 13 other allocated for the social services sector - which ships, linked to the UK had arrived at the is 36.57% of the total budget. scrapping beaches of India, Pakistan, and 2 villages in Ladakh get mobile connectivity Bangladesh since the start of 2020.  In the eastern Ladakh region, zero border Fresh survey of a new railway line villages are now getting better connectivity.  A fresh survey of Jagadhari-Paonta Sahib  Merak and Khakted villages on the southern new railway line would be conducted with a side of Pangong Tso got mobile connectivity focus on freight expected from industrial area on 1 March 2021. Paonta Sahib very soon.  Under operation Sadbhavana, the Army laid  The study would also be carried out to OFC cable to establish mobile connectivity. examine if the Kalka-Shimla track could be  BSNL provided the equipment and Chuchul strengthened to improve the speed of the Councillor Konchok Stanzin provided Solar trains. power systems to the project.  New Coaches of Kalka-Shimla Railway would be designed and manufactured to enhance Israel receives first ever UAE ambassador the tourism experience.  Israel's President formally received the first- Education Minister chairs a review meeting ever ambassador from the UAE, following the 2020's historic agreement between the  Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal countries to normalize ties. Nishank chaired a review meeting on

2 | P a g e

Rashtriya Ucchtar Shiksha Abhiyan, RUSA in  BJP MP from Khandwa, Nand Kumar Singh New Delhi on 1 March 2021. Chauhan passed away in March 2021.  Secretary of Higher Education Department  He had tested positive for COVID-19 on 11 Amit Khare along with senior officials of the Jan 2021 and was undergoing treatment in Ministry attended the meeting. Delhi.  He asked the officials to draw plans on  Nandkumar Singh Chauhan represented the educating additional 3.5 crore students to Khandwa constituency of Madhya Pradesh. increase the gross enrolment ratio to 50% by  The leader started his political career in 1978 2035. from the Shahpur Municipal Council and was later elected as a member of the Madhya BPCL to sell stake in Numaligarh refinery Pradesh Assembly.  Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) board Field assessment of Swachh Survekshan -2021 has approved the sale of its 61.65% stake in Numaligarh refinery for ₹9,875 cr.  Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry launched  The consortium of OIL and Engineers India the field assessment of Swachh Survekshan - Ltd will acquire 49% and the rest 13.65% will 2021 on 1 March 2021. be sold to the government of Assam.  This will be the sixth edition of the annual  Numaligarh Refinery is looking to expand its cleanliness survey. refining capacity from 3 mn tonnes per annum  Swachh Survekshan was introduced in 2016 to 9 million tonnes a year at an investment as a competitive framework to encourage of ₹22,594 cr. cities to improve the status of urban sanitation while encouraging large scale citizen Maritime India Summit-2021 inaugurated participation.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 3rd Governing Council Meeting of the BIS the Maritime India Summit-2021 on 2 March 2021.  Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on 1  The three-day Summit will be held till 4 March March 2021 presided at the third Governing 2021. Council Meeting of the Bureau of Indian  It is being organized by the Ministry of Ports, Standards. Shipping and Waterways on a virtual platform  The process of making Indian Standards and www.maritimeindiasummit.in. their implementation with BIS officials, senior  The Summit will visualize a roadmap for officials from different Ministries or Regulators India's Maritime sector for the next decade. were reviewed in the meeting.  It was emphasized in the meeting that there “Sugamya Bharat App” launched should be One Nation, One Standard.  Minister for Social justice and Empowerment Madagascar to get 1000 mt rice, 1L HCQ tablets Thaawarchand Gehlot launched the “Sugamya Bharat App” and a handbook  India is sending a consignment of 1,000 entitled “Access - The Photo Digest” on 2 metric tonnes of rice and 1 lakh tablets of March 2021. HCQ to Madagascar.  Sugamya Bharat App is a means for  This is in response to the urgent appeal made sensitizing and enhancing accessibility. by Madagascar for international solidarity and  It provides five main features. assistance to deal with the crisis in South  The fifth feature is a special feature meant Madagascar due to severe drought. only for Divyangjan for COVID-related issues.  INS Jalashwa with the food & medical assistance will leave on 3 March'21 and will BJP MP Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan passes away reach there by 21 to 24 of March'21. Real-Time Monitoring System of Toll Plazas 3 | P a g e

 Union Minister for Road Transport and  Councillor Kargil Town, Haji Muhammad Highways Nitin Gadkari launched the Real- Abass Adulpa inaugurated the first Pradhan Time Monitoring System of Toll Plazas at a Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi (PMBJA) function in New Delhi on 1 March 2021. Kendra at District Hospital Kargil on 1 March  The monitoring system will measure the ‘Daily 2021. Congestion Index’ for each plaza as well as  This event marks the celebration of the the overall congestion across the national Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2021. highway network.  Jan Aushadhi Kendra will facilitate the  It will also provide real-time details of high common people by ensuring the availability of peak hours’ traffic at toll plazas. medicines at affordable prices. 1 March: 45th Civil Accounts Day Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship launched  The 45th Civil Accounts Day was celebrated  The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser in New Delhi on 1 March 2021. to the Government of India under its Waste to  Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the Wealth Mission has launched the Swachhta Chief Guest of the event. Saarthi Fellowship.  This annual event was celebrated for the first  The Fellowship was launched to recognize time by virtual mode and was enthusiastically the students, community workers or Self-Help attended by Indian Civil Accounts Service Groups and municipal or sanitary workers ICAS officers and staff of the Civil Accounts who are engaged in tackling the challenge of Organisation. waste management, scientifically and sustainably. Training programmes for FPOs launched A.B. Singh to take over as FOC  Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala and  Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh has Kailash Choudhary inaugurated professional assumed the office of Command of the training programmes designed and developed (ENC) at Eastern for CEOs, Board of Directors, Accountants of Naval Command headquarters in FPOs on 1 March 2021. Visakhapatnam.  The programme was launched on the  He took charge as Flag Officer Commanding- occasion of the anniversary of the scheme in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of Eastern Naval titled ‘Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Command from Vice Admiral . Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)’.  Atul Kumar Jain has been transferred to New Delhi to assume charge as the Chief of 3rd Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrations begin .  The third Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrations 58,000 bank correspondents Sakhi appointed began from 1 March 2021.  The week-long celebrations will go on  At least 58,000 Bank Correspondent (BC) till 7th March 2021. Sakhis have been appointed in UP under the  As a part of the celebration, Jan Aushadhi "Ek Gram Panchayat Ek Banking Kendras conducted Health Check-up Camps Correspondent" scheme. across the country.  Through these, promotion and awareness of  Jan Aushadhi Divas (Generic Medicine Day) various financial inclusion products along with is observed every year on March 07 to create banking facilities will be carried out in the awareness about the use of generic future. medicines.  For providing banking facilities in the villages, the state has been divided into 27,628 Sub Kargil gets 1st PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra Service Areas (SSA).

4 | P a g e

V.P. Joy: Kerala's new Chief Secretary SBI General ties-up with Indian Overseas Bank  Senior bureaucrat V. P. Joy has taken charge  SBI General Insurance has tied-up with Indian as the Chief Secretary of Kerala, replacing Overseas Bank (IOB) for a bancassurance Vishwas Mehta who has retired from the post. partnership for selling its non-life products.  Joy, a 1987 batch IAS officer from Kerala  Through the alliance, SBI General will offer a cadre, was Officer on Special Duty in the rank range of general insurance solutions and of Additional Chief Secretary before being innovative products to IOB customers. selected as the Chief Secretary of Kerala.  Chennai-headquartered IOB has over 3,200  Joy was also serving as the Secretary, branches across the country and also has an Coordination, Central Secretariat. overseas presence. Indian Women's League to be held in Odisha Manpreet Vohra: India's HC to Australia  Odisha will host the 2020-’21 Hero Indian  Manpreet Vohra has been appointed as the Women’s League. next High Commissioner to Australia.  This was announced by the All India Football  He is presently serving as the Ambassador of Federation on 28 Feb 2021. India to Mexico.  The dates for the tournament are yet to be  Manpreet Vohra is a 1988 batch Indian finalised and will be announced soon. Foreign Service officer.  India is scheduled to host the AFC Women’s  He is expected to take up the assignment Asian Cup in the year 2022 which will be shortly. followed by the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2022. Life imprisonment to food adulterators Jaideep: Principal Director General, PIB  Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved a Penal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2021  Jaideep Bhatnagar has taken over as to give life imprisonment to food adulterators Principal Director General, Press Information on 26 February 2021. Bureau.  State's Home Minister Narottam Mishra  He is an officer of the Indian Information informed about it. Service batch of 1986.  In December 2019, an awareness rally was  He has earlier served in Doordarshan News held in Bhopal to fight the menace of and as Head of the Commercial, Sales and adulteration. Marketing Division of Doordarshan.  The rally saw the participation of people of all  He has also served as Prasar Bharati Special age groups. Correspondent West Asia covering twenty countries. FM Nirmala Sitharaman attends G20 meet Sterlite Tech bags $100 million deals for 5G  Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated virtually in  Telecom equipment manufacturer Sterlite the First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Technologies Ltd (STL) has won orders worth Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the $100 million in the Middle East and Africa, Italian Presidency on 26 Feb 2021. involving setting up a network and  She discussed policy actions for infrastructure for 5G wireless service. transformative and equitable recovery.  With the new deals, the company’s order  The other issues included global economic book stands at a record Rs 11,300 crore. outlook, financial sector issues, financial  STL’s end-to-end solutions enable customers inclusion, etc. to build 5G hyper-scale networks at a fast pace. Recognition of GFI restored by Sports Ministry

5 | P a g e

 Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has  Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated every decided to restore the recognition of the year on 1 March. Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) as a  It aims at highlighting the urgent need to take National Sports Federation (NSF). action to end the inequalities surrounding  The recognition has been granted for the income, sex, age, health status, occupation, period till 31st December 2021. disability, sexual orientation, drug use, gender  Sudhir Mittal and Kaushik Bidiwala have been identity, race, class, ethnicity and religion that elected as President and Treasurer are prevalent around the world. respectively for the term 2019- 2023.  The symbol for Zero Discrimination Day is a butterfly. Zero Discrimination Day: 1 March

Attempt Daily Current Affairs Quiz

6 | P a g e