Currents affairs

• Nepal government awards hydropower project to 's Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam: The government of Nepal announced that it has granted the contract for the construction of the lower Arun Hydro Project of 679 MW to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam- SJVN of India.

As per the Investment Board of Nepal release, a meeting of IBN on January 29, 2021, made the decision of awarding the contract to an Indian company under the BOOT model- Build, Own, Operate

. The release added that the meeting which was chaired by the Prime Minister of Nepal KP Oli decided to go for the developer company based on an assessment of the listed companies that were selected through an international bidding process.

• World Wetlands Day 2021:

World Wetlands Day is commemorate to highlight the importance of wetlands as a source of freshwater and encourages action to restore them and stop their loss. This day is celebrated around the world on 02 February, in every year since 1997.

 2021 Theme- Wetland and Water”

•Myanmar military Tatmadaw seized power in Myanmar:

Myanmar military has seized power in the country. Myanmar military Tatmadaw today seized power from the civilian government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi. The military arrested Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other senior leaders. Tatmadaw announced that the country has been put under emergency for one year. It appointed Vice President Myint Swe as the acting President and all powers have been transferred to the Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing.

•Nobel Prize-winner Paul J. Crutzen, has passed away:

Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul J. Crutzen, has passed away at his 87 age. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995, jointly with Mario J. Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland, for their work in atmospheric chemistry. Crutzen had discovered that nitrogen pollution was capable of destroying ozone in the atmosphere in 1970.

•Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu will be done:

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that a multipurpose seaweed park in Tamil Nadu will be established. Fisher folk who involved in seaweed collection in the state have no facilities for production and processing of seaweed.

 As per the finance minister statement, the government is going to create large-scale facilities in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.  This proposal is part of the Union government’s Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI).

•FDI limit will increase from 49% to 74%:

In Union Budget 2021-22, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Government will amend the Insurance Act, 1938 to increase the permissible FDI. As per the minster statement, FDI limit will increase from 49% to 74% and allow foreign ownership and control with safeguards.

• Chandi Prasad Mohanty appointed as Vice Chief of the Army Staff:

Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty, assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. Lt Gen CP Mohanty takes over the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from Lt Gen SK Saini who superannuated on 31 January 2021 after completing four decades of illustrious career in the Army.