Current Affairs February 2021 Contents Topics Page No. 1. Art and Culture 2-11 2. Polity and Governance 12-18 3. Environment & Ecology 19-29 4. Economy 30-61 5. Science and Technology 62-73 6. Social Issues 74-76 7. International Relations 77-87 8. Government Schemes 88-94 9. Miscellaneous 95-105 2 | Current Affairs – February, 2021 1 Art and Culture Madhya Pradesh Government Organises Kamdani: “Raag-Bhopali” Exhibition ♦ This is lighter needlework done on more Why in the news? lightweight materials such as scarves, veils, The Madhya Pradesh Government is organizing the and caps. ‘Raag-Bhopali’ exhibition to promote Zari-Zardozi Mina work: crafts of Bhopal. ♦ It is called because it is similar to enamel Important Points: work. ● The exhibition will be organized at Gauhar ♦ The embroidery is done in gold. Mahal in Bhopal. Ramateertham Temple ● This will give impetus to the ‘Ek Zila- Ek Why in the news? Shilp’ campaign of Madhya Pradesh. A 400-year-old idol of Lord Rama has been van- ● The main zari production Centre is Bhopal, dalised at the Ramateertham temple in Andhra Madhya Pradesh. Pradesh’s Vizianagaram. ● Embroidery done with metal thread is called This has given rise to political unrest in Andhra kalabattu and forms zari. Pradesh. ● Here, the metal ingots are melted into a metal rod called pasa, which is beaten to obtain a certain length after processing. ● Then pull it through a steel plate with holes to make it into a wire, and then perform the Tarkashi process to make it thin through a rubber and diamond mold. ● The last stage is called badla, where the wires are flattened and twisted with silk or cotton thread to form Kasab or kalabattu. Types of Zari Work: Zardozi: ♦ This is a heavy and delicate embroidery Important Points: work, using various gold threads, spangles, ● Ramateertham temple is a 16th-century temple. beads and gota. ● The temple is 12 kilometres away from Vizian- agaram. ♦ They are used to decorate wedding outfits, ● Ramateertham is one of the sacred places of heavy coats, cushions, curtains, etc. traditional communication with Lord Rama. B-121, AC, Mansrover Garden Opp. to Kriti nagar Police Station, New Delhi-110015 Mob.- 9958159667, 9818733402, 9667663402, Ph: 011-41421363 E-mail: [email protected], website:[email protected] 3 | Current Affairs – February, 2021 ● The famous ancient temple of Ramachandra such as processing and weaving. Swamy can be found here. ● South India is the leading silk producing area ● The idols of Lord Ramachandra Swamy, Sita of the country and is also known for its famous and Lakshmana in Silver kavachas can be seen silk weaving enclaves like Kancheepuram, at this temple. Dharmavaram, Arni, etc. Eri Silk of Assam Other varieties of Silk: Why in the news? 1. Mulberry silk: The Assam government will provide khadi shirt, ♦ Among these four kinds, the mulberry silk eri shawl and eri stole to Grade IV employees contributes to more than 80% of the silk in a phased manner, in a move to pay tributes to produced in the country. Mahatma Gandhi and his movement for Khadi. ♦ Except for mulberry, other non-mulberry Important Points: varieties of silks are wild silks, known as ● Eri silk is also known as endi or errandi in vanya silks. India. 2. Tasar silk: ● Around forty percent of Eri Silk is produced ♦ Its two varieties are Oak Tasar & Tropical in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Bihar, Tasar. Orrisa, Karnataka, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand. ♦ It is primarily produced in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, ● Eri silk comes from the caterpillar of Samia Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maha- cynthia ricini, found in northeast India and rashtra. some parts of China, Japan. ● The name “eri” is derived from the Assamese 3. Muga silk: word “era”, which means “castor”, as the silk- ♦ An exclusive specialty of Assam, the Muga worm feeds on castor plants. silk is one of the rarest silks produced in ● In Assam, there are various techniques of the world. This silk is produced by the hand-spinning used for the eri silk. Its yarn larva of a silkworm named Assam silkmoth has a very characteristic and ever-changing (Antheraea assamensis). thickness. 4. Eri silk: ● Before the silk can be spun, the moth has ♦ It comes from the silkworm Philosomia to leave the cocoon. The empty cocoons are ricini that feeds mostly on the leaves of washed, boiled and dried and are ready for the castor plant, Ricinus communis. spinning. ● This ‘peace silk’ is, therefore, a very popular Risa: Traditional Garment of Tripura fibre among vegans and Buddhists. Why in the news? ● Eri silk is also known as the silk of the poor. The government of Tripura is planning to promote Sericulture: Risa textiles as the signature textile of Tripura at ● Sericulture is the cultivation of silk through the national level. rearing of silkworm. Important Points: ● It is an agro-based industry. ● Risa is a handwoven cloth used by the state’s ● It involves the raising of food plants for silk- indigenous communities. worm, rearing of silkworm for production of ● The traditional Tripuri female attire comprises cocoons, reeling and spinning of cocoon for three parts — Risa, Rignai and Rikutu. production of yarn etc. for value added benefits ● Risa is used as a female upper garment, and B-121, AC, Mansrover Garden Opp. to Kriti nagar Police Station, New Delhi-110015 Mob.- 9958159667, 9818733402, 9667663402, Ph: 011-41421363 E-mail: [email protected], website:[email protected] 4 | Current Affairs – February, 2021 also as headgear, a stole, or a present to express Puja by tribal communities, a turban by men respect. during weddings and festivals, a cummerbund ● As an upper garment, it is wrapped around the over the dhoti, a head scarf by young girls and torso twice. boys, and a muffler during winters. ● It is also used as a makeshift hanger to hold an infant on the mother’s backs. ● It is presented as a mark of honour to distin- guished recipients. ● It is common in almost all 19 indigenous tribal communities of Tripura. However, each com- munity has its own designs. Loin loom: ● The loin loom or the back strap loom is an ingeniously simple device. Most of the parts are made from bamboo and wood. ● It is called loin loom or back strap loom because ● Rignai is primarily worn as the lower garment the warp yarns are stretched between two par- and literally translates into ‘to wear’. It can be allel bamboos, and the bamboo at one end is understood as an indigenous variety of the sari fixed to a wooden stick or branch driven into of mainland India. the ground, and the bamboo at the other end is held firm by means of a strap worn around the ● Rituku is mainly used as a wrap, or like a lower back of the woman weaver. ‘chunri’ or a ‘pallu’ of the Indian saree. It is also used to cover the head of newly married Narayana Guru: Tripuri women. Why in the news? ● These all three types of garments were tradition- Recently, the Vice President of India has virtually ally handwoven. Handloom remains an integral launched the book Not Many, But One (Two part of the Tripuri household, even with the Volumes), an English translation of poems of Sree advent of powerloom-manufactured garments. Narayana Gurudev by Prof G.K. Sasidharan. ● The garment is made in handloom or loin looms at homes. Usually, only one or two pieces are prepared in a month. Most of this art is handed down through generations. However, many of the designs were lost with the passage of time, and only a few remain. Cultural Significance of Risa: ● Risa also has a host of crucial, social and reli- gious utilities. ● Adolescent Tripuri girls are first given a risa to wear in an event called Risa Sormani, at age 12 to 14. ● It is used in religious festivals such as Garia B-121, AC, Mansrover Garden Opp. to Kriti nagar Police Station, New Delhi-110015 Mob.- 9958159667, 9818733402, 9667663402, Ph: 011-41421363 E-mail: [email protected], website:[email protected] 5 | Current Affairs – February, 2021 Important Points: poems and underlined the unity that lies beneath ● During the launching, the Vice President the world’s apparent diversity. suggested that the Indian worldview of ● For Narayana Gurudev, there is only “One Caste, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The whole world One Religion, One God for All” (Oru Jathi, Oru is one family)’ can show the way for the Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu)”. contemporary problems facing humanity. ● He published 45 works in Malayalam, Sanskrit ● In a global context where the social fabric of and Tamil languages which include Atmo- many countries and communities are being padesa Śatakam, a hundred-verse spiritual poem eroded by hatred, violence, bigotry, sectarian- and Daiva Dasakam, a universal prayer in ten ism and other divisive tendencies, the age-old Indian philosophy of ‘Universal Oneness’ has verses. a special relevance. Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25): Sree Narayana Guru: ● It was a social protest in erstwhile Travancore ● Narayana Guru (1855–1928) was a multifaceted against untouchability and caste discrimination genius, a great Maharshi, an eloquent proponent in Hindu society of Kerala. of Advaita philosophy, a talented poet, social reformer and a great metaphysician. ● Sree Narayana Guru involved himself with the Vaikom Satyagraha and extended much ● He was born into a family that belonged to the Ezhava caste and was considered ‘avarna’ co-operation. according to the social mores of the time. Shri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam: ● He led a reform movement against the injustice ● It is an Indian spiritual organization that was in the caste-ridden society of Kerala in order formally founded by Dr.