Government of Tamil Nadu Department of Employment and Training Course : Competitive Exam Subject : Current Affairs Topic : Current Affairs - February 2021 © Copyright The Department of Employment and Training has prepared the Competitive Exams study material in the form of e-content for the benefit of Competitive Exam aspirants and it is being uploaded in this Virtual Learning Portal. This e-content study material is the sole property of the Department of Employment and Training. No one (either an individual or an institution) is allowed to make copy or reproduce the matter in any form. The trespassers will be prosecuted under the Indian Copyright Act. It is a cost-free service provided to the job seekers who are preparing for the Competitive Exams. Director, Department of Employment and Training. CONTENTS HISTORY 01 19 POLITICAL SCIENCE GEOGRAPHY 21 22 ECONOMICS SCIENCE 27 NATIONAL–DIARY OF EVENT 32 INTERNATIONAL 42 AFFAIRS TAMILNADU AFFAIRS 44 56 PRACTICE QUESTIONS 1. 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 Indian Coast Guard 1, 1977, by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India. 1-02-2021 celebrates its 45th ▪ It operates under the Ministry of 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 Wetlands Day 2-02-2021 World Wetlands Day 2021 is ‘Wetlands and Water’. ▪ On November 3, 2011, UNESCO decided during its 36th conference that a day will be dedicated to 13-02-2021 World Radio day the humble radio and its importance in the forever growing world. ▪ As the world marks International Mother Language Day - February 21, vice president and Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu urged everyone to promote the use of their mother tongues. ▪ The 2021 theme is “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society”. International Mother 21-02-2021 ▪ Since 2000, the United Nations Educational, Language Day Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has led the world in celebrating languages with a view to promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. ▪ About 200 Indian languages are facing extinction and the UNESCO has expressed concern over one world language becoming extinct every two weeks. 2 | Current Affairs, February - 2021 Date Day Theme / Remark ▪ When: Central Excise Day is celebrated every year on February 24 in India. ▪ Objective: to encourage the employees of excise department in carrying out the central excise duty 24-02-2021 Central Excise Day in a better way. ▪ The Central Excise Day is also celebrated to commemorate the Central Excise and Salt Act, which was enacted on February 24, 1944. ▪ Theme- 2021 - “Future of STI: Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work”. ▪ Purpose – To commemorate the discovery of 28-02-2021 National Science Day Raman effect. ▪ Indian physicist Sir C V Raman discovered the Raman effect on 28 February 1928 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for it. 1.2 DEFENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY AND TERRORISM Tejas Mark II to roll out next year interoperability between the two armies and ▪ A more potent version of the indigenous will focus on counter-terrorism operations Tejas multi-role combat jet featuring a much under the United Nations mandate. powerful engine, greater load-carrying ▪ As part of military-to-military exchange capability and next-generation electronic programmes, U.S. Army troops will be warfare system is expected to be rolled out arriving in India on February 5 for the 16th next year and its first high-speed trials will edition of Exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ with Indian start in 2023. Army troops. ▪ Tejas Mark II is likely to roll out by August- ▪ The bilateral training exercise will be September of 2022. After that, the first flight conducted at the Foreign Training Node at will take some time. The first high-speed trial Mahajan Field Firing Ranges. of the jet will start in 2023 and we expect the Defense (MSME) production to start somewhere around 2025. ▪ A three-day defence expo, which will see the Indo-U.S. joint military exercise ‘Yudh participation of more than 400 micro, small, Abhyas’ to begin in Rajasthan on and medium enterprises (MSMEs), will be February 8 held between March 19 and 21 at the Chennai Trade centre ▪ The exercise near the India-Pakistan ▪ The expo is being organised by Swatantra border aims at enhancing cooperation and Foundation, a Chennai based policy research interoperability between the two armies and and advocacy institution, and the Aerospace will focus on counter-terrorism operations Industry Development Association of Tamil under the United Nations mandate Nadull (AIDAT). ▪ The 16th edition of Indo-U.S. joint military ▪ The ‘Defence Expo Empowering MSME ‘21’ exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ will be held in is aimed at connecting MSMEs with end Rajasthan between February 8 and 21. users in the defence services, Indian defence ▪ The exercise near the India-Pakistan manufacturing majors and the various R&D border aims at enhancing cooperation and institutions under the DRDO and DPSUs 2 www.vetriias.com HISTORY | 3 MSME ‘Yudh Abhyas’ begins in Rajasthan ▪ Headquarters: New Delhi ▪ The 16th edition of the Indo-US joint military ▪ Founded: 2007 training exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ commenced ▪ Ministers responsible: Nitin Gadkari, Cabinet at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in the Minister, Pradap Chandra Sarangi, Minister of western sector of Rajasthan. State INS Virat Robust stance led to stability at border: ▪ The Supreme Court stopped further Rajnath dismantling of decommissioned aircraft ▪ India’s robust stance, immediate and calibrated carrier INS Virat. response and its soldiers’ unrelenting spirit ▪ It served in the British Navy as HMS Hermes on the border led to the stabilisation of the from November 1959 to April 1984 and after situation and showed the resolve to defend its sovereignty and integrity. refurbishment, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. ▪ “The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence Ministers’ conclave would reinforce the ▪ The centaur-class aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, relevance of the region and its continued was in service with the Indian Navy for 29 importance for stakeholders, from the years before being decommissioned in March perspective of trade, security and freedom or 2017. navigation,”. China and India Border issue ▪ The deal for 83 LCA for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to cost around `47,000 crore is set to be ▪ The rising footprint of China in India’s signed at Aero India. neighborhood and its attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along India’s disputed Rs 48,000 crore Tejas aircraft deal to be borders have created an environment of signed confrontation and mutual distrust. ▪ The government is set to formally seal on ▪ Army chief- General Manoj Naravane. February 3 the Rs 48,000 crore deal to procure 83 Tejas light combat aircraft from state-run PM hands over Arjun Mk-1A tank to aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Army Limited for the Indian Air Force. ▪ The Arjun Mk-1A has superior firepower, 34 CRPf women personnel join CoBRA high mobility, excellent protection and crew force comfort, with 14 major upgrades from Arjun ▪ 34 Women personnel of the Central Reserve Mk1.It also uses indigenous ammunition. Police Force (CRPF) on Saturday joined National Security Advisor of India- Ajit the Commando Battalion for Resolute Doval Action (CoBRA), the elite CRPF component specializing in jungle warfare and counter- Naxal operations. 100th K-9 Vajra ▪ The chosen women personnel from the 6 ▪ Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane Mahila Battalions of CRPF will undergo a flagged off the 100th K-9 Vajra tracked self- strenuous CoBRA pre-induction training of 3 propelled howitzer from a production facility months. of its maker Larsen and Toubro at Hazira near ▪ The Central Reserve Police Force (cRPF) for Surat. the first time inducted 34 women commandos in its elite Commando Battalion for Resolute ICG ship C-453 commissioned Action (CoBRA) lunit, which was raised in ▪ Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICG) C-453, 2009. the 17th of the 18 Interceptor Boats being www.vetriias.com 3 4 | Current Affairs, February - 2021 indigenously built by Larsen & Toubro Ltd., ▪ The military exercise between the navies of was commissioned in Chennai. ICGS C-453, both the countries, aims to enhance operational the 27.80-m-long interceptor boat with a interoperability and overall cooperation displacement of 105 tonnes and a maximum among them. speed of 45 knots (85 kmph) is capable of ▪ Indian naval ship INS Talwar and Indonesian undertaking multifarious tasks, including Navy’s multirole corvette KRI Bung Tomo surveillance, interdiction, closecoast patrol participated in the exercise. and search and rescue. Indian Army celebrates historic 1971 Indian Navy Ship Pralaya Participates war victory in NAVDEX 21 ▪ Serving members of India’s Armed Forces ▪ The Indian Naval Ship Pralaya reached Abu and war veterans took part in ‘Swarnim Dhabi in UAE to participate in the Naval Vijay Run’, an event held by the Indian Army Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX 21) and Headquarters Dakshin Bharat Area. The run International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 21) was held as a part of the year-long celebration from February 20 to 25, 2021. of 50th anniversary year of victory in the 1971 ▪ NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21 is one of the leading Indo-Pak war. The historic military victory is international naval and defence exhibitions of being celebrated with much fanfare all across the region. the country as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ (Golden Anti-Tank Guided Missile Systems Jubilee Year of Victory). ‘Helina’ and ‘Dhruvastra’ ▪ Over 700 participants from across age groups ▪ The Defence Research and Development ran the under three distance categories - 2km, Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out 5 km and 10 km.