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❖ It was initially published in Arts and Culture Chennai for two years after which the publication operation was

Prabuddha bharata: shifted to Almora town of Uttarakhand. The place of

publication was again moved in April 1899 to the Advaita Ashrama and the journal has been publishing from there ever since.

Pattachitra:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed the 125th anniversary celebrations of the ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ journal. The event was being organized by the Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati in Uttarakhand.

About Prabuddha Bharata: Pattachitra or Patachitra ( Patta means ❖ ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ is a special cloth and Chitra means picture in Sanskrit) journal, closely associated with term generally used for the traditional, Swami Vivekananda himself. It is a cloth-based scroll painting. This art form is monthly journal of the based in the states of West Bengal and Ramakrishna Order which was Odisha. It is known for the intricate details started by Swami Vivekananda. and the mythological narratives and ❖ It has been in publication since folktales inscribed in it. All colours used in 1896. It is regarded as a significant the Paintings are natural. medium for spreading the message of India’s ancient spiritual wisdom. This art form in Bengal tradition is is It carries articles on social sciences centred around Kalighat (in Kolkata). The and humanities comprising theme is Not much devotional. historical, psychological, cultural While in Odisha tradition, it is centred and social sciences themes. around Puri. Almost all of the Chitrakar ❖ Several prominent people such as community hails from a small village in Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Netaji Subhas Puri district called Raghurajpur. These Chandra Sister Nivedita, Sri paintings are based on Hindu mythology Aurobindo and the first Vice and specially inspired by Jagannath and President of India Shri Sarvepalli Vaishnava sect. Radhakrishnan have contributed their writings towards the journal The pattachitra paintings of Odisha are in the fields of history, social issues, divided into three categories based on the psychology, Indian culture etc. medium. They are as folows:

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1. Paintings on cloth or ‘Patta Chitra’ Textiles and sponsored by 2. Paintings on walls or ‘Bhitti Chitra’ Department of Commerce. 3. Paintings on the palm leaf or “Tala India is the 2nd largest producer of Patra Chitra’ Silk after China. India has long history of silk Recently, during his Mann ki Baat production and is the largest programme, the Prime Minister cited the consumer of silk across the world. example of Bhagyashree Sahu, young Around 97% of the raw mulberry student from Rourkela in Odisha for her silk is produced in five states keen interest in 'Pattachitra' painting. namely, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, GI Tag: The Geographical indication (GI) of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and West Patachitra is registered differently in both Bengal. the states because style and motif of the India is the only country in the paintings in both the state are different. world which produces all the four major varieties of silk i.e. Mulberry, Patachitra of Odisha is registered as Orissa Eri, Tassar, and Muga. Pattachitra while that of West Bengal is registered as Bengal Patachitra. History: The cultivation of silk or Sericulture dates back to the Indus valley India International Silk Fair: Civilization between 2450 BC to 2000 BC. In the Harappa and Chanhu-daro sericulture was employing wild silk threads from the native silkworm species. Indus silks were obtained from species called Antheraea and Philosamia (eri silk).

India has around 11 Geographical The 8th India International Silk Fair was Indications (GI) such as Pochampally Ikat, recently inaugurated by the Union Textiles Kanchipuram Silk, Muga Silk, Chanderpaul Minister of India, Smriti Zubin Irani, Silk, Mysore Silk, Salem Silk, Arni virtually. Silk,Champa Silk, Bhagalpur Silk, Banaras Brocade and Sarees etc. Highlights: Pandit Bhimsen Joshi: The fair is considered to be India’s biggest silk fair. It was held under one roof on Indian Silk Export Promotion Council’s virtual platform from 31st January to 4th February 2021. India International Silk Fair is the

Sourcing Fair for silk and silk blend products organised by the Indian Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (1922 –2011) Silk Export Promotion Council was an Indian vocalist from Karnataka, in under the aegis of Ministry of the Hindustani classical tradition.

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He belongs to the Kirana gharana tradition of Hindustani Classical Music.

He is known for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajans and abhangs).

Bhimsen Joshi was instrumental in Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently organising the Sawai Gandharva Music inaugurated the Chauri Chaura centenary Festival annually, as homage to his guru, celebrations at Chauri Chaura in Pandit Sawai Gandharva. Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. He inaugurated the event through video conferencing on His first live performance was in 1941, when February 4, 2021. The day marks 100 years he was only 19. His first album of of the ‘Chauri Chaura’ incident, a landmark devotional songs was released by HMV in event in the country’s fight for 1942. independence. He is remembered for his famous ragas PM Modi also released a postal stamp including Shuddha Kalyan, Miyan Ki Todi, dedicated to mark the beginning of Puriya Dhanashri, Multani, Bhimpalasi, centenary celebrations of the Chauri Darbari, Malkauns, Yaman, Asavari Todi, Chaura incident. Miyan Ki Malhar and others. History: The Chauri Chaura incident took In 1998, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak place on 4 February 1922 at Chauri Chaura Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the Gorakhpur district of the United conferred by Sangeet Natak Akademi. Province (modern Uttar Pradesh) in British He received the Bharat Ratna in 2009. India.

Recently, the year-long Birth Centenary In this, a large group of protesters celebrations of doyen of music Pandit participating in the Non-cooperation Bhimsen Joshi began on February 4, 2021. movement, clashed with police who opened fire. In retaliation the protestors Information and Broadcasting Minister attacked and set fire to a police station, Prakash Javadekar announced that the killing all the policemen inside. prestigious Akashvani Music Festival has been renamed after Bharat Ratna Pandit The incident led to the death of three Bhimsen Joshi. civilians and 22 policemen.

He made this announcement at a Pandit Mahatma Gandhi, who was strictly against Bhimsen Joshi Centenary Commemorative violence, halted the non-co-operation function which was organized in Pune. movement on the national level on 12 February 1922, after this tragic incident. Chauri Chaura Centenary: Aadi Mahotsav:

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A maiden contingent of 34 CRPF women personnel was recently inducted into its The Vice President of India Shri M. specialized jungle warfare commando force Venkaiah Naidu recently inaugurated the CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute National Tribal Festival “Aadi Mahotsav” at Action). Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi. The contingent would now be deployed in The Aadi Mahotsav 2021 is being organized the anti-naxal operations grid of India. from February 1-15, 2021. A ceremony was held to mark the The festival aims to familiarize the people induction of women contingent in with the rich and diverse craft, the culture Kadarpur village wherein the chosen of the tribal communities across the women personnel performed combat drills. country, in one place. The members of the 34 CRPF women The Aadi Mahotsav – A Celebration of the personnel contingents have been chosen Spirit of Tribal Culture, Crafts, Cuisine and from the 6 all-women battalions of CRPF. Commerce – is an annual initiative being organized by TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal About CoBRA: CoBRA is a special Affairs since 2017. operation unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of India. The At the festival there will be a display and operation unit is skilled in the guerrilla sale of tribal art and craft, medicine & tactics and jungle warfare. healers, cuisine and folk performances. The battalions are one of the most The event will witness the participation of experienced and successful law around 1000 tribal artisans, artists and enforcement units. It is deployed to tackle chefs from more than 20 States of the the insurgent groups who are engaged in country who will provide a glimpse of their asymmetrical warfare. rich traditional culture. It established in the year 2009 to counter

Defence the Naxalite problem. Currently, there are ten battalions of CoBRA.

First womenNational team of CoBRA commando The commandos of the CoBRA are required unit: to be mentally and physically tough.

The battalions, until now, were an all-male 50 New Kendriya unit. For the first time, a contingent of Vidyalaya to be setup through the country www.civilserviceindia.com

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women personnel has been inducted into The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) recently it. celebrated its 45th Raising Day on 1st February 2021. CRPF: It refers to the Central Reserve police Force. The CRPF is largest Central The Indian Coast Guard was formally Armed Police Force in India. established on 1st February 1977, by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of It was established as the Crown India. It operates under the Ministry of Representative’s Police in July 1939. After Defence (MoD). Indian Independence, it was renamed as CRPF in accordance with the CRPF Act. Since its inception in 1978, ICG has grown from operating seven surface platforms in It functions under the authority of the 1978 to operating 156 ships and 62 aircraft Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),of the as on date. It is the fourth largest Coast Government of India (GoI) MHA is Guard in the world and is slated to have currently headed by Amit Shah. 200 surface platforms and 80 aircraft by Besides law and order and counter- 2025. insurgency duties, the CRPF has played an The ICG through its tireless pursuits of increasingly large role in India's general excellence has established itself as a elections. reliable force that responds with alacrity to Its motto is Service and Loyalty. The situations impinging on the Security of the current Director-General (DG) of CRPF is A Coastline, Safety of the Seafaring P Maheshwari. Community and Coastal Populace.

First Women Battalion of CRPF: The first Despite the restrictions imposed by the battalion of CRPF numbered 88, was raised ‘COVID-19’ pandemic, Indian Coast Guard this day in 1986 at a CRPF base in Delhi. has maintained 24x7 vigils in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), by deploying about An all-women brass band of CRPF was also 50 ships and 12 aircraft daily. commissioned during the ceremony that was held to mark the 35th Raising Day The deterrence at sea and coordinated air anniversary of the first women’s battalion surveillance by the service enabled seizure of CRPF. of contraband worth about 1,500 Crore rupees and apprehension of more than 10 CRPF also raised an all-women pipe band foreign fishing boats with 80 miscreants in the year 2012. illegally operating in the Indian EEZ alone last year. 45th Rising Day of ICG: The Coast Guard became the first force to deploy women officers in operational roles on board ships.

Deputy Commandant Kanchan Jadhav from the Mumbai regional headquarters is among the seven women officers who were

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trained to operate air-cushion vehicles popularly known as hovercraft.

The moto of IGC is Vayam “Vayam Rakshamah” meaning “We Protect”.

The Coast Guard works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, the Department of Fisheries, the Department The 16th edition of Indo-US joint military of Revenue (Customs) and the Central and exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ recently began in State police forces. Rajasthan from 8th February and it will be concluded in 21st February 2021. The Director General of IGC is Krishnaswamy Natrajan, PTM, TM, and The exercise is being held near the India- Additional Director General is Krupa Ram Pakistan border. Nautiyal, PTM, TM. The main aim of the exercise is to enhance Ghaznavi: the cooperation and interoperability between the armies of India and USA. The exercise will also focus on the counter- terrorism operation in accordance with the mandate of United Nations.

The bilateral training exercise of the two armies is being held at the Foreign Training Node in the Mahajan Field Firing

Ranges. Pakistan successfully test-fired its nuclear- capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile The Indian Army in ‘Yudh Abhyas’ is being called Ghaznavi. represented by the 11th battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, who are part of the The missile was test fired on 3rd February South Western Command while the United 2021. States Army delegation is represented by the 2nd battalion troops, 3rd Infantry About Gaznav: The ballistic missile has a Regiment of 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat striking capability of up to 290 km. Team, along with the respective brigade It was launched to mark the culmination headquarters. of Annual Field Training Exercise of Army About Yudh Abhyas: Yudh Abhyas between Strategic Forces Command. two armies is held since 2004. The exercise Missile Ghaznavi can deliver the nuclear has been designed to promote the and conventional warheads up to a range cooperation between both the armies. of 290 km. Both the sides share their training Yudh Abhyas: techniques, their culture and build the joint operating skills.

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Significance of the Exercise: The Yudh ❖ Sharing of the resources available in Abhyas between the Indian and the US the Indian Defence Shipyards for army in significant with respect to the design and shipbuilding. security challenges, like terrorism, faced by ❖ Sharing of Indian ports with both the nations of global terrorism. friendly nations. ❖ Sharing of the Information to The exercise not only signifies the key role increase the awareness in maritime that India plays into the Indo-Pacific domain. region but it is also significant with respect ❖ Maritime surveillance and to the recent development on the northern cooperation. border with China. ❖ Marine Pollution Response Indian Ocean Region Defence Activities. Ministers’ Conclave: ❖ Information sharing towards the increased maritime domain awareness. ❖ Development of technologies and capabilities to harness the marine resources. ❖ Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

The conclave witnessed the participation of The Indian Ocean Region Defence 18 countries. Among them, the Defence Ministers’ Conclave was hosted by India on Ministers of 4 countries Comoros, Iran February 4, 2021. Maldives and Madagascar took part in the conclave. Six High Commissioners or The event took place in the backdrop of Ambassadors participated from 6 countries Aero India 2021 which is the largest Aero namely Australia, Kenya, Myanmar, show of Asia. The Conclave was organized Kuwait, Mauritius and Seychelles. From 10 under the theme: "Enhanced Peace, countries, the service Chief participated Security, and Cooperation in the Indian besides, the Defence Secretary of Sudan. Ocean". About: The Indian Ocean Region Defence The event started with the welcome Ministers’ Conclave is an initiative to address of the Defence Secretary and the promote dialogue in an economic, Defence Ministers of various Indian Ocean institutional, and cooperative environment Region Countries. The concluding remarks that can help in fostering the development were given by the Union Defence Minister of stability, peace, and prosperity in the Rajnath Singh. Indian Ocean Region. This conclave was organized with the objective of addressing the issues related to : Economics

❖ The Defence Industry co-operation Rama Mohan Rao Amara: among the participating countries. ironment

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central government has paved the way for the innovative system of mass transport, which could soon be replicated across the country.

Highlights:

❖ To be adopted for the first time in the country in Maharashtra’s SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd (SBI Nashik, MetroNeo is a comfortable, Card) has recently appointed Rama Mohan rapid, energy-efficient and less Rao Amara as its Managing Director (MD) noisy transport medium. and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a ❖ The central government recently period of two years. urged all state governments to Rao is a veteran banker, with a successful consider using MetroNeo career spanning over 29 years at SBI, the technology in their tier-2 and tier-3 credit card company. Prior to taking charge cities. ❖ at SBI Card, he was the Chief General The MetroNeo service consists of Manager, SBI Bhopal Circle. electric bus coaches – their lengths varying from 18 to 25 metres – with Mr. Rao replaces Ashwini Kumar Tewari, a carrying capacity of 200 to 300 who has been appointed as the Managing passengers at a time. Director of State Bank of India (SBI). ❖ The buses will have rubber tyres and draw power from an overhead SBI Card: SBI Cards & Payment Services electric wire with 600-750 V DC Ltd., previously known as SBI Cards, is a supply, similar to railways or trams. payment solutions provider in India. It is ❖ The buses will be air-conditioned, the country’s largest pure play credit card with automatic door closing issuer. SBI Card was launched in October system, level boarding, comfortable 1998 by the State Bank of India (SBI), seats, passenger announcement India's largest bank, and GE Capital. SBI system, and an information system Card is headquartered in Gurgaon, with electronic display. Haryana. ❖ The stations will be similar to other MetroNeo: Metro rail stations. They will have a staircase, lift and escalators with passenger information display. The station entry and exit will be provided on both sides of the road.

Union Budget 2021-2022:

By making a sizeable budgetary allocation for MetroNeo in the Union Budget, the

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of Budget 2015-16 which were to materialize during the AmrutMahotsav of 2022, on the 75th year of our Independence. They too resonate with this vision of AatmaNirbharta

The Budget proposals for 2021-22 rest on 6 pillars. The Union Budget 2021-2022 was presented by the Finance Minister Smt. 1. Health and Wellbeing Nirmala Sitharaman on 1st February 2020. 2. Physical & Financial Capital, and It is the first budget of this new decade and Infrastructure also a digital one in the backdrop of 3. Inclusive Development for unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. She is only Aspirational India the second woman in the history of 4. Reinvigorating Human Capital Independent India to present the Union 5. Innovation and R&D Budget. Ms. Sitharaman has also presented 6. Minimum Government and the General Budget Maximum Governance

2019-20 in 2019. The first woman was Smt. The highlights of this year’s budget: Indira Gandhi who presented the Union Budget. In 1970, she presented the Union Health and Sanitation: Budget of India for 1970-71, after she took ❖ An allocation of ₹69,000 crore for briefly over the finance portfolio. the health sector. ❖ Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman carried the A new scheme, titled PM Atma budget documents in a ‘Bahi Khata’ Nirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana, to (traditional Indian ledger), a red parcel like be launched to develop primary, bag with a key hole on the emblem, secondary and tertiary healthcare ❖ breaking the age-old tradition of carrying a Mission POSHAN 2.0 to improve briefcase. nutritional outcomes across 112 aspirational districts Laying a vision for AatmaNirbhar Bharat, ❖ Operationalisation of 17 new public she said that this was an expression of 130 health units at points of entry crore Indians who have full confidence in ❖ Modernising of existing health their capabilities and skills. units at 32 airports, 15 seaports and land ports She said that Budget proposals will further ❖ Expand Jan Aushadhi scheme to strengthen the Sankalp of Nation First, provide for all hospitals under Doubling Farmer’s Income, Strong Ayushman Bharat by 2025. Infrastructure, Healthy India, Good ❖ Jal Jeevan Mission Urban aimed at Governance, Opportunities for youth, better water supply nationwide Education for All, Women Empowerment, ❖ Strengthening of Urban Swachh and Inclusive Development among others. Bharat Mission Additionally, also on the path to fast- Infrastructure: implementation are the thirteen promises

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❖ Budget proposes to provide ₹1.7 ❖ A multipurpose seaweed park to be lakh crore for transport established in Tamil Nadu infrastructure in 2021 ❖ Five major fishing hubs, including ❖ Vehicle scrapping policy to phase Chennai, Kochi and Paradip, to be out old and unfit vehicles – all developed vehicles to undergo fitness test in automated fitness centres every 20 Education: years (personal vehicles), every 15 ❖ ₹99,300 crore for education sector years (commercial vehicles) in 2021 and about ₹3,000 crore for ❖ Highway and road works skill development. announced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, ❖ 100 new Sainik Schools to be set up West Bengal and Assam ❖ 750 Eklavya schools to be set up in ❖ National Asset Monetising Pipeline tribal areas launched to monitor asset ❖ A Central University to come up in monetisation process Ladakh ❖ National Rail Plan created to bring a future ready Railway system by Employment: 2030 ❖ Margin capital required for loans ❖ 100% electrification of Railways to via Stand-up India scheme reduced be completed by 2023 from 25% to 15% for SCs, STs and ❖ 100 more airports will be developed women by 2024 to support UDAN. ❖ A portal to be launched to maintain ❖ Metro services announced in 27 information on gig workers and cities, plus additional allocations construction workers for Kochi Metro, Chennai Metro ❖ Social security to be extended to gig Phase 2, Bengaluru Metro Phase 2A and platform workers and B, Nashik and Nagpur Metros ❖ National Hydrogen Mission to be Tax: launched to generate hydrogen from green power sources ❖ No IT filing for people above 75 ❖ Recycling capacity of ports to be years who get pension and earn doubled by 2024 interest from deposits ❖ Gas pipeline project to be set up in ❖ Reopening window for IT Jammu and Kashmir assessment cases reduced from 6 to ❖ Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana 3 years. However, in case of serious (LPG scheme) to be extended to tax evasion cases (Rs. 50 lakh or cover 1 crore more beneficiaries more), it can go up to 10 years ❖ Affordable housing projects to get a Agriculture: tax holiday for one year ❖ Compliance burden of small trusts ❖ Agriculture infrastructure fund to whose annual receipts does not be made available for APMCs for exceed Rs. 5 crore to be eased augmenting their infrastructure ❖ Duty of copper scrap and Naphtha ❖ 1,000 more Mandis to be integrated reduced to 2.5% respectively into the E-NAM market place

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❖ Duty on solar inverters raised from ❖ Two PSU bank and one general 5% to 20%, and on solar lanterns insurance firm to be disinvested from 5% to 15% this year ❖ Custom duty on gold and silver to ❖ An IPO of LIC to debut this fiscal be rationalized

❖ All nylon products charged with 5% Environment customs duty ❖ Tunnel boring machines to attract customs duty of 7% World Wetland Day: ❖ Customs duty on cotton raised from 0 to 10% ❖ Agriculture infrastructure and development cess proposed on certain items including urea, apples, crude soyabean and sunflower oil, crude palm oil, kabuli The World Wetlands Day is celebrated on chana and peas 2nd February every year to raise global Economy and Finance: awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. ❖ Fiscal deficit stands at 9.5% of the GDP; estimated to be 6.8% in 2021- This day also marks the date of the 22 adoption of the Convention on Wetlands ❖ Proposal to allow States to raise on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of borrowings up to 4% of GSDP this Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. year The theme for World Wetlands Day 2021 is ❖ A Unified Securities Market Code 'Wetlands and Water'. It emphasizes the to be created, consolidating importance of wetlands as a "source of provisions of the Sebi Act, freshwater and encourages action to Depositories Act, and two other restore them and stop their loss". laws ❖ Proposal to increase FDI limit from This year's theme for World Wetlands Day 49% to 74% is most significant as the UN Decades of ❖ An asset reconstruction company Ocean Science and Ecosystem Restoration will be set up to take over stressed begins in 2021. loans ❖ Deposit insurance increased from What are wetlands? Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for bank Wetlands are land areas that are saturated depositors or flooded with water either permanently ❖ Proposal to decriminalise Limited or seasonally. Inland wetlands include Liability Partnership Act of 2008 marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, ❖ Strategic sale of BPCL, IDBI Bank, floodplains, and swamps. Coastal wetlands Air India to be completed include saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, and even coral reefs.

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Fishponds, rice paddies, and saltpans are The aim of the Ramsar list is to develop human-made wetlands. and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the Wetlands are found in all countries across conservation of global biological diversity climatic zones - from the polar regions to and for sustaining human life through the tropical belts and from high altitudes to maintenance of their ecosystem coastal areas and the arid and dry deserts. components, processes and benefits. Importance of Wetlands: Groundhog Day: Wetlands are some of the world's most fragile and sensitive ecosystems supporting unique habitats for plants and animals, and providing livelihoods to millions of people across the world. Wetlands are also amazing at capturing and storing carbon.

Wetlands are protected places under Groundhog Day is a popular North UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2nd. It is an There are over 2,400 protected wetlands annual tradition in which a groundhog across the world. predicts whether winter will continue or Wetlands in India: give way to spring soon.

As of December 2020, there are 42 This year, the groundhog, called recognized Ramsar sites in India. “Punxsutawney Phil”, has predicted a longer winter. According to WWF-India, wetlands are one of the most threatened of all ecosystems in Groundhog: The groundhog is also known India. The Country's wetlands have been as a woodchuck. damaged due to loss of vegetation, It is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, salinization, excessive inundation, water belonging to the group of large ground pollution, invasive species, excessive squirrels known as marmots. It's scientific development, and road building. name is Marmota monax. The Ramsar Convention: It was signed on 2nd February, 1971. It is one of the oldest It is a lowland creature of North America. It is found through much of the eastern inter-governmental accords signed by United States, across Canada and into member countries. Its main objective is to preserve the ecological character of their Alaska. wetlands of international importance. It is added in the "Least Concern" status by ICUN. It is named after Ramsar, the Iranian city where the treaty was signed. Places chosen Most people probably know the groundhog for conservation under it are given the tag as a weather prognosticator; however, ‘Ramsar site’. those predictions are a mixed bag.

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Note: Groundhog Day became more Ministry of Earth Sciences, IMD, Indian popular after a 1993 film of the same name Space Research Organization (ISRO) and starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). As per the North American tradition, if on February 2, the day is sunny and the The IMD, ISRO and DRDO already have groundhog emerges from its burrow and their units in Balasore. sees its own shadow, it is said to predict six Features of the Thunderstorm Research more weeks of winter. Testbed: On the other hand, if the day is cloudy and the animal’s shadow can’t be seen, it is The testbed will have several observational taken to be a sign of milder weather in the networks, radar, a full-fledged observatory, following weeks, indicating an early spring auto-station, wind profiler and a microwave radiometer. season.

Need for Testbed:

Thunderstorm Research Testbed: There is a need to set up the testbed to predict the thunderstorm and save life because every year, during the months of April to June, many lives are lost in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha because of lightning strikes. On an average, more than 350 people are killed in Odisha because of lightning strikes. As per a

report, in the span of nine years (till 2020), The IMD (India Metorogical Department) 3218 people have died due to lightning. is set to establish the first thunderstorm research testbed of India in Balasore, India Meteorological Department (IMD): Odisha. IMD is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India (GoI). The main objective of establishing a It is the principal agency responsible for Testbed is to minimalize the human meteorological observations, weather fatalities and loss of property because of forecasting and seismology. It was founded the lightning strikes in 1875 and is headquartered in New Delhi. It functions under the Ministry of Earth This announcement was made by IMD Sciences. The current serving DG Director-General Dr Mrutyunjay (Director-General) of IMD is Dr Mohapatra. He also announced that a first- Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. of-its-kind monsoon testbed is also being planned near Bhopal. Both the projects are Note: Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra is often in the planning stage and detailed project nick-named as ‘Cyclone Man of India’ reports are being made. because of his accurate prediction of cyclones in Indian subcontinent. The thunderstorm testbed will be established in a collaboration between the Energy Island:

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The artificial island in the North Sea will be equal to the size of the 18 football fields (120,000sq m). This island will be linked to hundreds of offshore wind turbines so as to supply power to the households. Furthermore, the The Government of Denmark has recently abundance of offshore wind energy approved a project to build the world’s first can be used to produce climate- energy island. The energy island will be friendly fuels for shipping, aviation, constructed in the North Sea. heavy industries, or heavy-duty vehicles. The decision to build the energy island was taken in the backdrop of the European Note: Denmark is currently the largest oil Union’s (EU) plan to transform its producer in the EU, and it is the biggest electricity system to rely on the renewable producer worldwide to establish a final energy and to increase its offshore wind phase-out date so far. capacity 25 times by 2050. Kaliveli Wetlands: Key facts:

The project is the largest construction project to be undertaken in Denmark’s history with an estimated cost of around 210 billion Danish crowns. It will be constructed 80 kms off

the west coast of Denmark. The energy island will be The Villupuram district administration surrounded by the wind turbines recently issued the first declaration under and it will have an initial capacity the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The of 3 gigawatts. The country has declaration was issued in a bid to declare planned to make the energy island Kaliveli wetlands as a bird sanctuary. operational by 2033. The decision is highly appreciated by the The energy island will produce and Forest Department officials and store enough green energy to meet conservationists as it will help in their the electricity needs of three efforts to protect this wetland that remains million households in European a safe haven for diverse flora and fauna. countries. The first declaration was issued under the The hub will strengthen the Section 18 of the Wildlife Protection Act, integration of Europe’s power grids 1972. and increase renewable electricity production necessary for a climate- Kaliveli wetlands: The Kaliveli Wetlands is neutral Europe. the second-largest brackish water lake in South India. The first largest is the Pulicat

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lake. The wetlands are ecologically ASEAN India Hackathon 2021: important.

It is located close to Marakkanam on the East Coast Road of the Kaliveli Lake. It is spread over an expanse of 670 sq.km of catchment area. The Kaliveli Lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal through the Uppukalli Creek and the Edayanthittu sanctuary.

The Southern part of the wetland was The Union Education Minister, Shri declared a reserved land in the year 2001. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ recently Note: The faunal diversity of Tamilnadu addressed ASEAN-India Hackathon 2021. includes 165 species of fresh water Pisces, The Hacathon is launched by Associan of 76 species ofAmphibians, 177 species of South Asian Nation (ASEAN) in reptiles, 454 species of birds and 187 partnership with Ministry of Education species of mammals. (MoE). The main objective of this Hackathon is Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is an Act passed economic development through by the Parliament of India on August 21, collaboration in education, science and 1972, and later implemented on 9 technology, exchange of thoughtful September 1972. This Act was enacted for leadership works. the protection of plants, birds and animal The ASEAN-India Hackathon is an species. initiative taken by MoE on the clarion call of PM Modi during the India-Singapore The Wildlife Protection Act is an umbrella Act to protect wild animals and plants. hackathon in the year 2019. This Act includes provisions for protection The 10 ASEAN countries who participated of plants and animals, hunting, harvesting in this event are Indonesia, Malaysia, and various other ancillary matters Myanmar, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, connected thereto. It has 6 schedules Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand and Phillipines. which extend to all over India. Each country's Nodal Agency participated Under this Act, various kinds of penalties in the Hackathon. India's Nodal Agency is are also laid down for the violation of the MoE's Innovaion Cell & All India Council laws contained therein. This Act contains for Technical Education. 66 sections and six schedules. The 36 hour Hackathon is being organized Before this Act was enacted there were very online from February 1 to 3, 2021. few national parks. Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal while addressing the Hackathon highlighted the following: National

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❖ The ASEAN-INDIA Hackathon was Fellowships exclusively for ASEAN inaugurated to further strengthen citizens. the India and ASEAN ties. ❖ Furthermore, the National ❖ The Hackathon would provide a Education Policy 2020 would also unique opportunity to for all bring opportunities for India as well ASEAN countries and India to solve the entire world. their common identified challenges ❖ As per Sanskrit philosophy " that are categorized under two Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" meaning themes namely the “Blue Economy” " The world is one family", the and “Education”, thus providing an event will play a positive role in the opportunity to take forward their ASEAN region and the world. economic and cultural ties through ASEAN: It refers to the Association of their collaboration in education, Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN is a science and technology. ❖ The hackathon would be an regional intergovernmental organization enactment of six fundamental and it comprises of 10 countries in virtues of our civilization. They are Southeast Asia. It was created on 8 August dialogue, respect, peace, 1967 by 5 countries namely Malaysia, cooperation, prosperity and Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and innovation. Thailand. The ASEAN Secretariat is located ❖ The background and the at Jakarta, Indonesia. It was created with foundation of the India-ASEAN an aim to promote intergovernmental relations lies in the shared beliefs, cooperation. The organization also religions, and culture. India is the facilitates political, economic, military, largest democratic and the educational, security, and socio-cultural demographic country of the region. integration among its members as well as Therefore, India being the largest in other countries in Asia. ASEAN has been democratic and demographic India’s utmost priority under its Act East country of the region has moral Policy. The 10 member countries are responsibility to lead the ASEAN Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, community. In this context he Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, mentioned that India has been Myanmar (Burma), Laos extending support to ASEAN India and Sri Lanka: countries by providing Covid vaccines. ❖ India and ASEAN also share the strong academic and research ties. Various Indian universities such as IIT-Delhi and Tezpur University host students from the ASEAN partner countries. ❖ The Government of India (GoI) has also launched 1000 ASEAN PhD After strong opposition from trade unions across the country, Sri Lanka has

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unilaterally pulled out of a 2019 agreement with India and Japan for developing the strategic East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port.

Earlier, in 2019, India and Sri Lanka signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) for “co-operation on economic projects”. The MoU did not mention the Eastern The Hindi word 'Aatmanirbharta', meaning Container Terminal, but India and Sri self-reliance has been named as its Hindi Lanka had already been in discussion for word of the year 2020 by the Oxford its development and operation. Languages.

Even though, India and Sri Lanka have The word 'aatmanirbharta' was chosen as it seemingly friendly ties and much cultural “validated the day-to-day achievements of affinity and people-to-people contact, the the countless Indians who dealt with and relationship is complex. survived the perils of a pandemic”.

The reason for this complexity is that the It was chosen by an advisory panel of majority Sinhala-Buddhist public opinion is language experts comprising Imogen layered with the memory of Indian Foxell, Poonam Nigam Sahay and Kritika intervention in the ethnic conflict. Agrawal. Therefore, unlike Chinese projects, big Background: The Oxford Hindi World of projects by India have always faced the Year in 2019 was Samvidhaan as the opposition in Sri Lanka. panelists felt that in 2019, the abrogation of What is the importance of ECT for India? Article 370 and the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri ❖ For India, the ECT deal was Masjid dispute brought attention to the important as about 60% to 70% of Constitution. transhipment that takes place through it is India-linked. The other previous Hindi words were Nari ❖ The ECT is also considered more Shakti in 2018 and in 2017 it was Aadhaar. strategic than any other in Oxford Word of the Year: Oxford’s Word of Colombo Port. the Year is a word or an expression that has ❖ It is located next to the Colombo attracted a great deal of interest in the International Container Terminal preceding year. (CICT) project, a joint venture between China Merchants Port For 2020, Oxford Languages has not Holdings Company Ltd. and SLPA. chosen a single word in English since they believe that the year cannot be summed up Aatmanirbharta: using one single word.

Therefore, this year they have released a report titled, “Words of an Unprecedented Year” in which they have analyzed themes

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such as COVID-19 and terms related to it ❖ In the meeting that took place in a such as lockdown, social distancing, Black cordial and friendly atmosphere, it Lives Matter etc. was agreed to hold the next round of JWG meetings at mutually The previous English words of the year in convenient dates, which will be 2019, was “climate emergency”, in 2018 it decided through diplomatic was “toxic” and in 2017 it was channels. “Youthquake”. ❖ Both sides also agreed to forge India and Bahrain: deeper engagement in capacity building and focused cooperation between concerned agencies as well as the private sector of the two countries in this sector, particularly in the field of solar, wind and clean hydrogen.

Bahrain: Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a sovereign state in the Persian The 1st meeting of the Joint Working Gulf. Group between India and Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of Renewable Energy The island nation is situated between the held virtually on February 4, 2021. Qatari peninsula and the north eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, The island nation The meeting was held for promoting comprises a small archipelago made up of bilateral cooperation in the field of 51 natural islands and an additional 33 Renewable Energy. artificial islands, centered around Bahrain The Bahraini delegation was led by H.E. Island which makes up around 83 percent Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza who is the of the country's landmass. President of Sustainable Energy Authority The Capital of Bahrain is Manama. while the Indian delegation was led by E. Mr. Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale the Joint The currency used here is Bahraini dinar. Secretary of the Ministry of New & The current King of Bahrain is Hamad bin Renewable Energy. Isa Al Khalifa.

The meeting was also attended by the H.E. Sub-categorization of OBCs: Sh. Piyush Srivastava who is the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Background: A MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between India and Bahrain was signed in July 2018 for promoting bilateral cooperation in the field of

Renewable Energy.

Highlights:

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The Union Cabinet has recently approved constitutional status to the National an extension to the commission appointed Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). to examine sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes. Provisions for Reservation in India for OBC: The commission headed by Justice G Rohini, former Chief Justice of Delhi High The Kalelkar Commission set up in 1953, Court now has until July 31 to submit its for the first time identified the backward classes other than the Scheduled Castes report. (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at the Sub-Categorization of OBCs: Sub- national level. categorization of OBCs means creating categories within OBCs for reservation. The Mandal Commission Report of 1980 estimated the OBC population at 52% and Need for Sub-Categorization: classified 1,257 communities as backward class .It recommended an increase in ❖ OBCs are granted 27% reservation existing quotas from 22.5% to 49.5% which in jobs and education under the to include the OBCs. central government. ❖ In September 2020, a Constitution The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, Bench of the Supreme Court 2018 provided constitutional status to the reopened the legal debate on sub- National Commission for Backward Classes categorization of Scheduled Castes (NCBC), which was previously a statutory and Scheduled Tribes for body under the Ministry of Social Justice reservations. and Empowerment. ❖ The debate arises out of the perception that only a few affluent International communities among the over 2,600 included in the Central List of OBCs have secured a major part of Myanmar coup: this 27% reservation.

❖ The argument for sub- categorisation — or creating categories within OBCs for reservation — is that it would ensure “equitable distribution” of representation among all OBC communities. The military of Myanmar recently staged a coup on 1st February, 2021, detaining de To examine this, The Rohini Commission facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and was constituted under Article 340 of the declaring it had taken control of the Constitution, headed by Justice (Retd.) country for one year under a state of Smt. G. Rohini in October, 2017. emergency. Note: Before the Rohini Commission was The intervention came after weeks of rising set up, the Centre had granted tensions between the military, which ruled

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the country for nearly five decades, and the civilian government. The army alleged that the recent landslide election win by Ms. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) was marred by fraud.

The military declared, via its own television channel, a one-year state of emergency. The UK, from 2 February 2021 is opening a The new army regime announced the special visa scheme that will allow lakhs of establishment of a new State Hong Kong (HK) residents a chance to Administrative Council which will be migrate and eventually apply for British headed by the Army Chief General Min citizenship. Aung Hlaing. It comprises of total 11 members. Out of the 11 members the eight Visas will be issued to those in Hong Kong members are from the military itself. who hold a British National (Overseas) passport and their immediate dependents, Tatmadaw said that it has reinstated all the and will offer a fast track to UK citizenship. judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts in the region and states. Applicants who get the visa can live and work in the UK for 5 years, after which they The developments triggered a quick apply for settlement. Twelve months after response from the United States and this, they can apply for citizenship. Australia, with both calling for the release of detained NLD leaders and the The move by UK is considered to be the restoration of democracy. most generous welcoming of foreign workers since the entry of new EU citizens United State President Joe Biden raised the in 2004 — when 10 countries were added to threat of new sanctions, with the UN and the bloc– at a time when the UK was also a UK also condemning the coup. member.

Myanmar: Myanmar officially the Republic The move comes few months after China of the Union of Myanma was formerly implemented a sweeping national security known as Burma. It is a Southeast Asian law over the former British colony, taking nation of more than 100 ethnic groups. It is aim at pro-democracy protests that had bordered by Bangladesh and India to its captured global attention since 2019. northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and Thailand to its east and southeast, and the New START Nuclear Arms Control Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to its Treaty: south and southwest. The capital of Naypyitaw. The currency used here Burmese kyat.

UK Special Visa Scheme for Hong Kong Residents:

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The United States recently extended the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) nuclear arms control treaty with Russia for five years. The move was announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

This move seeks to make the world safer as an unconstrained nuclear competition would endanger everyone. New York Governor has recently signed a bill repealing a controversial law known as President Joe Biden and his Russian the “Walking While Trans” ban. The law President Vladimir Putin reportedly has been widely criticized for discussed it by phone a week ago, and disproportionately discriminating against subsequently Mr Putin signed it into law transgender people of colour. on Friday. ‘Walking While Trans’ ban is the colloquial The treaty had been set to lapse on 5 name for a law, which was originally passed February, as the Trump administration had in 1976 with the intention of prohibiting refused to approve the extension. loitering for the purpose of prostitution. Now the pact has been extended to 5th The law is widely criticized for its February 2026. vagueness as it allows New York police to About: New START (Strategic Arms arrest or apprehend someone walking on Reduction Treaty) is a is a nuclear arms the street if they suspect that they are sex reduction treaty between the United States workers. and the Russian Federation with the formal While the law is mostly used against name of Measures for the Further women, several men too, have been Reduction and Limitation of Strategic arrested or detained merely because police Offensive Arms. It was signed on 8 April suspected that they were “loitering for the 2010 in Prague. The treaty went into effect purpose of prostitution”. in 2011. Under this treaty, it limits United States and Russia to deploying no more But the law is known for disproportionately than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads each impacting trans women, especially trans and it also imposes restrictions on the women of colour. Between 2012 and 2015, at land- and submarine-based missiles and least 85% of those arrested under the law bombers to deliver them. were Black or Latino people and in 2019 alone, 91% of people arrested under the law Walking While Trans’ Ban: belonged to these two groups, and around 80% identified as women.

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation:

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Proud Boys:

International Day of Zero Tolerance for

Female is observed on 6 February anually across the globe. Canada has recently announced that it will be designating the US-based far-right This day is sponsored by the United group ‘Proud Boys’ as a terrorist entity in Nations for their efforts to eradicate female an attempt to crack down on “ideologically genital mutilation. motivated violent extremism” in the It was first held in 2003. country.

This year theme of International Day of The move comes after members of the Zero Tolerance for Female 2021 is "No Time Proud Boys were found to have played for Global Inaction: Unite, Fund, and Act integral roles in the US Capitol to End Female Genital Mutilation". insurrection last month.

The main purpose of observing this day is With this, the all-male neo-fascist group to promote the elimination of female will be added to a lengthy list of genital mutilation, coordinated and international terrorist organizations, that systematic efforts are needed, and they includes ISIS, Al Qaeda and al-Shabab. must engage whole communities and focus About Proud Boys: on human rights, gender equality, sexual education and attention to the needs of The Proud Boys is an all-male neo-fascist women and girls who suffer from its group. It was founded in 2016 by Vice consequences. Media co-founder and Canadian-British right-wing activist Gavin McInnes. About FMG: Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that According to the Southern Poverty Law involve altering or injuring the female Centre, this group is known for their “anti- genitalia for non-medical reasons and is Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric”. recognized internationally as a violation of According to the Anti-Defamation League the human rights, the health and the (ADL), the group is also known for anti- integrity of girls and women. Girls who transgender, anti-immigration and anti- undergo female genital mutilation face Semitic views. short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, The members of this group usually don a and difficulty in passing urine, as well as fixed uniform of red ‘Make America Great long-term consequences for their sexual Again’ caps from Trump’s 2016 presidential and reproductive health, mental health and campaign and black and yellow polo shirts. even death.

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Proud Boys have also been associated with The funding for e-Vidhan is provided by other far-right gatherings and protest the MoPA and technical support by marches that have turned violent, such as Ministry of Electronics and Information the infamous ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Technology (MeitY). Charlottesville, North Carolina in 2017. The funding of NeVA is on the pattern of Central Sponsored Scheme i.e. 60:40; and India Polity 90:10 for North East & hilly States and 100% for UTs.

National e-Vidhan (NeVA) Project: The main aim of this project is to bring all the legislatures of the country together, in one platform thereby creating a massive data depository without having the complexity of multiple applications.

In addition, live webcasting of Rajya Sabha TV and Lok Sabha TVs is also available on Meghalaya State Assembly Speaker Metbah this application. Doordarshan has already Lygdoh recently visited Arunachal Pradesh been enabled with provision to incorporate Legislative Assembly Secretariat in Itanagar similar facility in respect of State to get first-hand information about the Legislatures. National e-Vidhan project implemented in the Assembly. He was there on his two day Budget 2021-22: Minimum Government, visit. Maximum Governance:

Arunachal Assembly is the first in the northeast and third in the country to have successfully implemented the ambitious NeVA project. e-Vidhan: It is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) and it comes under the Digital India Programme. Ministry of The Union Minister for Finance & Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) is the ‘Nodal Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Ministry’ for its implementation in all the recently presented the Union Budget 2021- 31 States/UTs with Legislatures. 22 in Parliament. It is the first budget of this new decade and also a digital one in The project enables e-Assembly or the backdrop of unprecedented COVID-19 paperless assembly, which is a concept crisis. involving of electronic means to facilitate the work of Assembly. It enables While presenting the Union Budget 2021-22 automation of entire law making process, in Parliament, the Union Minister for tracking of decisions and documents, Finance outlined the plans for reforms in sharing of information. one of the 6 pillars of the budget i.e. of

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Minimum Government, Maximum The Rajya Sabha Chairman, M. Venkaiah Governance. Naidu, recently warned MPs against using the mobile phones to record the Key Higlights: proceedings of the House. He said that • The forthcoming Census could be unauthorised recordings and its circulation the first digital census in the history on social media are a breach of of India and has been allocated Rs. Parliamentary privilege and it would be 3,768 crore in the year 2021-2022. considered as contempt of the House. He even asked the media who started • It is proposed to set up a telecasting the clips to stop doing the same Conciliation Mechanism and mandate its use for quick resolution since “it is not authorized”. He further added that the media could be “liable for of contractual disputes to increase consequences”. ease of doing business, which inturn will instill confidence in The reason for this action was because private investors and contractors. some of the opposition MPs used their • To bring about transparency, mobile phones to record the disruption in efficiency and governance reforms proceedings which was over the farmer’s in the nursing profession, The protest and the farm bills. These videos National Nursing and Midwifery were then shared on social media and it Commission Bill will be introduced was telecasted on television channels as by the government for passing. well. • It is also proposed to take further measures to rationalize the As per the Parliamentary rules, the usage of functioning of Tribunals. mobile phones within Rajya Sabha • The Centre will give a grant of Rs. chambers is not allowed. 300 crore to the Government of Goa Rajya Sabha: The Rajya Sabha or Council of for celebrating the diamond jubilee States is the upper house of the bicameral year of the state’s liberation from Parliament of India. It is a permanent body Portuguese rule. and is not subject to dissolution. At present • It also proposed to provide Rs. 1,000 the Rajya Sabha has a maximum crores for the welfare of Tea membership of 245, of which 233 are workers especially women and their elected by the legislatures of the states and children in Assam and West union territories using single transferable Bengal. A special scheme will be votes through Open Ballot while the devised for the same. President has the power to appoint 12 Parliament Proceedings: members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services. The Upper House was founded on 3 April 1952 by the Constituent Assembly of India. It is headquartered in New Delhi. Its Chairperson is Venkaiah Naidu.

Persons in News

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• P Subramanian (posthumously; Trade & Industry) R Pappammal: • Dr Thiruvenkadam Veeraraghavan (posthumously; Medicine) • K Kesavasamy (Arts) • Solomon Pappaiah (Literature) • Bombay Jayashri Ramnath (Art) • KC Sivasankar (posthumous; Art) • Marachi Subburaman (social work) • Sridhar Vembu (Trade and She is a 105 year old organic farmer from Industry) Coimbatore who has been conferred the AR Rahman: Padma awards. She is possibly the oldest living recipients from the list is 105-year- old who has been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri.

Pappammal is from a family of agriculturists. She owns a 2.5-acre farm in her village. She used to grow lentils such as horse gram and green gram but now she Oscar Award-winning music director was mostly grows bananas. Over the years, she recently presented the fourth edition of the has worked closely with Tamil Nadu Alert Being Awards 2020 by the NGO for Agricultural University. She would travel his Good Samaritan work. AR Rahman was alone to their many farmers’ meets and presented the ‘Alert Being ICON Award’ as implement all that she learned. She also an individual had a stint as a councillor of the Thekkampatti panchayat in 1959. She also Along with him, social activist from attends several village functions where they Saidapet Hari Krishnan were among the 14 seek her blessings. people who were presented the award.

Eleven other people from various fields in The Alert Being Icon Award for an Tamil Nadu have been conferred the organization was presented to the Biocon Padma awards. The folowing are the Foundation founded by Kiran Mazumdar- highest civilian award Padma Vibhushan Shaw. awardees: Thirty COVID-19 warriors were honoured • Late playback singer SP with Alert Being Covid Frontline Warrior Balasubramanyam, for their contribution during the pandemic. • Subbu Arumugam (Art) • P Anitha (Sports) AR Rahman: Allahrakha Rahmanthe known professionally as A. R. Rahman is an • KC Sivasankar (posthumously; Indian composer, musician, singer, and Arts) music producer who works predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films. His original

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name was A.S. Dileep Kumar. He was the leader of the Gelug or “Yellow Hat” school son of a Tamil film composer. In 2010, the of Tibetan Buddhism. Indian government awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third-highest During the 1959 Tibetan uprising, the Dalai civilian award. Among Rahman's awards Lama escaped to India, where he currently are 6 National Film Awards, 2 Academy lives in exile while remaining the most Awards, 2 Grammy Awards, a BAFTA important spiritual leader of Tibet. Award, a Golden Globe Award, 15 Filmfare The Dalai Lama advocates for the welfare Awards and17 Filmfare Awards South. of Tibetans while continuing to call for the Dalai Lama: Middle Way Approach to negotiations with China for the autonomy of Tibet and the protection of Tibetan culture, including for the religious rights of Tibetans.

The Dalai Lama is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded in 1989, and the US Congressional Gold Medal in 2006.

Time magazine named the Dalai Lama one of the "Children of Mahatma Gandhi" and He is a Tibetan spiritual leader who Gandhi's spiritual heir to nonviolence. recently launched his new book “The Little Book of Encouragement”. The book has S.N. Subrahmanyan: been edited by Renuka Singh and published by Penguin Random House.

The Little Book of Encouragement comprises of 130 quotes related to - how to deal with the new realities of the panic- stricken world, combat rising extremism, polarity and climate change besides Dalai Lama’s views on Tibet. The Ministry of Labor and Employment has About Dalai Lama: His spiritual name recently appointed Shri S.N. Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Subrahmanyan, CEO and Managing Tenzin Gyatso, known as Tenzin Gyatso Director, L&T Ltd, as Chairman of the was born in Lhamo Dhondup on 6 July National Safety Council for a period of 1935. He is the current 14th Dalai Lama, the three years. highest spiritual leader of Tibet. The Dalai Lama is considered to be the successor The NSC will assist DGFASLI in re-writing tulkus who are considered a living the regulations governing OSH in the Bodhisattva, an emanation of country which have not been updated for Avalokiteśvara. over 50 years. The NSC will also be involved in framing the scheme for third Dalai Lama title has been given by the party audit and certification under the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual OSH Code.

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The NSC is already working on establishments’ safety rating based on their OSH readiness and performance, which can be extended through the country and linked to the inspection system.

About National Safety Council: The NSC was established by The Ministry of Labour Praveen Sinha, a 1988-batch Gujarat cadre of the Government of India (GoI) in 1966. IPS officer has recently been appointed as It is a non-profit tripartite body registered as the interim director of the CBI (Central under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 Bureau of Investigation), with immediate and the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950. effect on 3rd February 2021.

It was to initiate, develop and maintain He was chosen by The Appointments voluntary campaigns on Safety, Health and Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime the Environment at the national level. Minister Narendra Modi.

It is headquartered in Navi Mumbai. He has been appointed by The Department of Personnel and Training, run by Its activities include organizing and Personnel Ministry, in place of the carrying out specialized training programs incumbent chief Rishi Kumar Shukla, and courses, conferences, seminars and whose tenure came to an end on 3rd workshops; conducting consultancy February 2021. studies, such as safety audits, safety levels, hazard evaluation and risk assessments; He is currently an additional director at designing and developing HSE promotional Central Bureau of Investigation, the materials and publications; promote premier investigating agency of India. He Organizations to celebrate and observe shall look after the duties of Director various campagins, such as National Safety Central Bureau of Investigation till the Day and Week, Fire Service Week, World appointment of new director Central Environment Day and Road Safety Week. Bureau of Investigation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Its Board of Governors consists of members from the government, employers’ organizations and trade union organizations. The chairperson of the NSC Places in news is appointed by the government and is usually a prominent industrialist. Maharashtra: Praveen Sinha:

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Centre for Legal Policy and How India Lives. The rankings of the states are based on publicly available data of different government entities on the four pillars of justice delivery which are police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid.

The first edition of IJR was released in 2019. Maharashtra is a state in the western Little Andaman: peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It was formed on 1 May 1960 by merging the western and south-western parts of the Bombay State, Berar and Vidarbha, and the north-western parts of the Hyderabad State and splitting Saurashtra (in present-day Gujarat) by the States Reorganisation Act. Its capital is Mumbai. The Chief Minister The little Andaman is the part of the Little and the Governor of Maharashtra are Andaman Group. This is the fourth largest Uddhav Thackeray and Bhagat Singh island in Andamans and is at about a Koshyari respectively. distance of 120 Kilometers by sea from the Recently, Maharashtra has retained its top Port Blair. It is famous for its main village rank in the second edition of the India and the largest settlement on the island Justice Report (IJR) – 2020, which is India’s called Hut Bay also known as the Kwate-tu- only ranking of states on delivery of Justice kwage. The island is home to Onge Tribes to people. apart from other multilingual settlers of Bengali, Telugu, Tamil and Ranchi Maharashtra retained its number one communities. position among 18 large and mid -sized states (with a population of over one crore Recently, NITI Aayog (Think tank of India) each). has released its plan for Little Andaman named as “Sustainable Development of Tamil Nadu and Telangana were second Little Andaman Island Vision Document”. and third respectively in the same category. It has been planned for the sustainable and Among the 7 small states (where the holistic development of the island in population is less than one crore each), Andaman and Nicobar. Tripura has topped the list followed by Sikkim and Goa. The Little Andaman is a 680 sq km fragile Island in the Andaman in the Andaman About IJR: The India Justice Report (IJR) is and Nicobar group. The fragile an initiative of Tata Trusts in collaboration environment of the Island has raised alarm with Centre for Social Justice, Common among conservationists. Cause, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, DAKSH, TISS–Prayas, Vidhi

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The Prime Minister, Modi also declared in Andaman & Nicobar Islands: The Andaman the year 2020 that the Andaman and and Nicobar Islands is a Union territory of Nicobar Islands will be developed as a India comprising 572 islands of which 37 “maritime and start-up hub”. The are inhabited, are a group of islands at the document by NITI Aayog has been juncture of the Bay of Bengal and the formulated in that context only. Andaman Sea. The Andaman Sea lies to the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west. The As per the document, the new little territory's capital is the city of Port Blair. Andaman will be built through a new greenfield coastal city. This city will be The territory is divided into three districts: developed as a free trade zone. It has Nicobar District with Car Nicobar as planned to develop the city as a free trade capital, South Andaman district with Port zone. It will also compete with Singapore Blair as capital and North and Middle and Hong Kong. Andaman district with Mayabunder as capital. The islands host the Andaman and The developmental plan has been divided Nicobar Command, the only tri-service into three zones: geographical command of the Indian Zone 1: It is being developed as the Armed Forces. The current Lieutenant monetary district and is spread over 102 sq Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Island km in the east coast of Little Andaman. It is Admiral D K Joshi. would also comprise of medi metropolis West Bengal: and can embody an aerocity, tourism and hospital district.

Zone 2: It is a leisure zone that is spread over 85 sq km of pristine forest. It would comprise of movie metropolis, a residential district and a tourism Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Zone 3: It would be a nature zone and spread over 52 sq km of pristine forest. West Bengal is a state in eastern India. It The main Purpose of the Government is: lies between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal. It borders Bangladesh in the east, • To invest in the strategic location and Nepal and Bhutan in the north. and natural features of the island It also borders the Indian states of Odisha, because this island is critical for Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, and Assam. The India’s security in the Indian Ocean state capital is Kolkata. It was established Region (IOR). on 26 January 1950. The current Chief • To provide a better infrastructure Minister and Governor of West Bengal are and connectivity to the island that Mamta Banerjee and Jagdeep Dhankhar will, in turn, help India to enhance respectively. its military and naval strength in the islands.

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Recently, West Bengal's Chief Minister local governments as per the 74th Mamata Banerjee, who became the first Constitutional Amendment Act. woman to present the West Bengal Budget, has announced the setting up of ‘Netaji Union Territories are governed by the Battalion’ in Kolkata Police department in Union Government. The current Chief the coming months. Minister and Governor of Delhi are Arvind Kejriwal and Anil Baijal respectively. She had to present the West Bengal Budget Recently, Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind 2021 as Finance Minister Amit Mitra has been placed ‘under medical supervision’. Kejriwal launched the ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign. The campaign was launched to In 2002, she had become the first woman promote the use of electric vehicles. to present the Union Railways Budget. The CM appealed to people to buy such While proposing a budget of Rs 2,99,688 vehicles to combat pollution in the city. crore for 2021-22, she said that there would also be an Azad Hind Bhawan in all the He also appealed the big companies, districts besides the formation of Netaji market association, delivery chains, malls & State Planning Commission (similar to Niti Cinemas and resident welfare associations Aayog) in West Bengal. to promote the use of electric vehicles.

Earlier, she had announced to set up He further appealed them to set up the 'Narayani battalion', 'Gorkha battalion' and charging stations in their respective 'Jangalmahal battalion', considering the premises. sentiments and struggle of Narayani sena, He highlighted that his government will Gorkhas and tribal people in Bengal. hire only electric vehicles for various New Delhi: purposes in the next six weeks. Aim: The main aim of the ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign is to create the awareness regarding the advantages of using electric vehicles and also raise the awareness about how it can help in combating the air pollution in Delhi and making Delhi clean and pollution-free.

Electric Vehicle Policy of Delhi: Under its It is an urban district located in the city of electric vehicle policy, the Delhi Delhi. New Delhi officially the National government has planned extensive Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), is a city subsidies on purchase of electric two- and a union territory of India. wheelers and four-wheelers, besides waiving road tax and registration charges. It serves as the capital of India is the seat of the State Government of Delhi and the The government has also issued tenders for Government of India, as well as the city or setting up 100 charging stations across the city.

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The government has fixed an ambitious Guidelines for Floating Structure: target of 25% electric vehicles among total vehicle registrations in Delhi by 2024.

Note: Ever since the electric vehicle policy was launched, over 6,000 electric vehicles have been sold out.

India Policy

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Budget 2021-22: recently issued the draft guidelines for technical specifications of floating structures.

The ministry aims to deploy world-class floating infrastructure all along the coastline in the upcoming projects as per the provisions contained in the guidelines.

The guidelines sets out various technical Education Sector: Union Finance Minister aspects for implementation of Floating Nirmala Sitaraman along with other Jetties or Platforms for Marinas, Fishing schemes mentioned a few key reforms for Harbours or Fish landing centers, Minor the Education Sector in the country in the Harbors, Waterdromes and such other Union Budget for 2021-22. similar facilities in coastal areas, estuaries, waterways, rivers and reservoirs. Key highlights: These guidelines may also be suitably ▪ The budget proposes Qualitative utilized for floating pontoons or platforms Strengthening of 15,000 Schools to in various waterborne systems and floating include all components of National wave attenuators or breakwaters for Minor Education Policy (NEP). Harbors or Fish Landing facilities. ▪ It proposes to set up 100 new Sainik Schools in partnership with Floating structure because of its inherent NGOs/private schools/states. advantages is an attractive solution and it ▪ It also proposes to set up a Higher is being promoted by the Ministry of Ports, Education Commission of India as Shipping and Waterways. an umbrella body having 4 separate What is a floating Jetty? vehicles for standard setting, accreditation, regulation, and Floating Jetties also known as the Floating funding. Docks is a platform or ramp supported by ▪ A Central University is to be set up pontoons and is usually joined to the shore in Leh, for providing accessible with a gangway. It can be submerged under higher education in Ladakh. a vessel and then raised.

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The benefits of floating jetties over the the current Minister responsible for the conventional quay and fixed concrete Ministry of Shipping is Mansukh L. structures are as follows: Mandaviya, Minister of State (Independent Charge). ▪ It is a cost-effective solution and much cheaper than conventional MoU between MOHUA- Zomato under structures price. the PM SVANidhi: ▪ Setting up of floating structures is much faster as compared to conventional jetties. Usually, floating structures can be built in 6- 8 months as compared to 24 months for conventional structures. ▪ Its environmental impact is minimal. ▪ Expansions are easily feasible due to modular construction The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs techniques. (MOHUA) and Zomato have signed a MoU ▪ It is easily transportable in case of (Memorandum of Understanding) under reconfiguring of the port. the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s ▪ It provides constant freeboard AtmaNibhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme between jetties and boats. to empower street food vendors with digital technology. Ministry of Shipping: The Ministry of Shipping is a branch of the Government of MoHUA has partenered with Zomato for India (GoI). It is the apex body for home delivery of street food in six cities. formulation and administration of the rules Under the MoU, it was decided to onboard and regulations and laws relating to the street food vendors on the food-tech shipping. platform of Zomato. This would help the It was founded in 2018. Maritime transport street food vendors to access online the is a critical infrastructure for the social and thousands of consumers and help these economic development of a country. vendors to grow their businesses.

It represents the pace, structure and As per the MoU, initially MoHUA and pattern of development of water transport Zomato will run a pilot program by on- in the country. boarding 300 vendors across six cities namely - Bhopal, Nagpur, Patna, Ludhiana, The Ministry of Shipping encompasses the Raipur and Vadodara. shipping and port sectors which include shipbuilding and repair, major ports, The street vendors will be empowered with national waterways and inland water the PAN and FSSAI transport. The ministry has been entrusted They will also be given training on with the responsibility to formulate technology & partner app usage, menu policies and programmes on these subjects and their implementation.

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digitization % pricing and hygiene & the country. The web portal was jointly packaging. launched by the Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Jal Shakti Minister MoHUA and Zomato plan to expand this Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of initiative across the country in phases on State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria, the successful completion of the project. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, The MoHUA also launched the Mobile Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh. Application for PMSVANidhi se Samriddhi- Key Highlights: Socio-economic profiling of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries and their families to link ▪ Gobardhan is an important them to various Central government component of Swachh Bharat Schemes. The application will assist city Mission Phase-2 for organic solid officials to collect the door-to-door data. waste management. ▪ The scheme is aimed not only at Note: Earlier, on October 5, 2020, in it a supporting the villages to manage first of its kind initiative, MoHUA had biodegradable and cattle waste but signed a MoU with Swiggy to take street also help in increasing the income food business online under PM SVANidhi of the farmers. Scheme. ▪ The mission is used for the organic PM SVANidhi Scheme: This scheme was solid waste management. launched on June 01, 2020. It was launched ▪ After the introduction of the in order to provide the affordable working Gobardhan scheme, the disposal of capital loan to street vendors. The scheme cattle dung waste has become was launched to help vendors to resume possible. The scheme will also help their livelihoods that were affected due to to achieve the goal of Open Covid-19 lockdown. It seeks to benefit over Defecation-Free (ODF) Plus which 50 lakh Street Vendors. The scheme in turn will prove to be a major step provides the vendors a collateral free loan towards increasing cleanliness. of up to Rs. 10,000, of one year. ▪ In addition to achieving the ODF++ target, the Gobardhan scheme will Unified Web Portal for Monitoring also be helpful in getting ethanol, Progress of GOBARDHAN Activities: bio-diesel, and compressed bio-fuel in the upcoming years.

GOBAR-DHAN scheme: GOBAR-DHAN stands for Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources – DHAN scheme. The scheme was launched by Ministry of Jal Shakti (earlier known a Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation).

A unified web portal has recently been It is being implemented as part of the launched to promote GOBAR-DHAN Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). Scheme and monitor its activities across Department of Drinking Water and

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Sanitation will work with all the other Vehicle scrapping policy: stakeholders to implement Gobardhan, a unified approach across village.

The scheme focuses on keeping the villages clean, increasing the income of rural households. It also seeks to generate energy like compost, biogas and bio-CNG from cattle waste . Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on It will prove highly beneficial for India as it February 1, 2021 announced a voluntary is home to the highest cattle population in 'vehicle scrapping policy' in her budget the world (around 300 million in number) speech at the Parliament. The policy aims which produces around 3 million tonnes of to phase out old vehicles and reduce dung. It will encourage farmers to consider vehicular pollution. The finance minister dung and other waste not just as waste but also announced fitness tests for personal as a source of income. vehicles after 20 years. Gobardhan programme will prove to be a The vehicle scrapping policy will come into milestone for a Clean India. effect from April 1, 2021. Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin): This Presenting the Budget for 2021-22 in mission comprises of the two main Parliament, the FM said that the personal components in order to create clean vehicles will have to undergo fitness tests villages. They are: in automated centres after 20 years while 1. Creating open defecation free commercial vehicles will undergo the test (ODF) villages. after 15 years. This will help in encouraging 2. Managing solid and liquid waste in fuel efficiency, environment friendly villages. vehicles, thereby reducing vehicular pollution and oil import bill. Under the scheme, 3.5 lakh villages, 374 districts and 16 States or Union Territories According to Union Transport Minister of the country have been declared ODF till Nitin Gadkari, the scrapping of the vehicles date. will help reduce the population of old and defective vehicles, lead to a 25-30 percent Thus, the stage is set for ODF-plus reduction in vehicular air pollutants and activities, including measures to enhance improve road safety. Further, the recycled Solid and Liquid Waste Management materials like plastic, steel and copper (SLWM). could be reused and thus reduce costs of The GOBARDHAN scheme is also an vehicles. element under the ODF-plus strategy. This policy has already been approved by the government.

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Science and Technology In its first launch, the rocket carried three payloads including, a metal alloy which is

designed to lessen vibrations, a CubeSat Stardust 1.0: prototype which was built by high school students, and a CubeSat that was procured from software company Rocket Insights.

BluShift: It is an aerospace company based in Maine, US. The startup was founded in the year 2014 and has received grants from the Maine Technology Institute and NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program as it embarks on The launch vehicle Stardust 1.0 was a quest to become the 'Uber for space.' recently launched from Loring Commerce This company is involved in developing the Centre in Maine, US, a former military rockets powered by bio-derived fuels. It base. was manufacturing the Stardust 1.0 launch The launch of the vehicle is significant as it vehicle since 2014. has become the first-ever commercial The company is also developing other space launch powered entirely by biofuel. rockets such as Stardust Gen. 2, Starless In addition it is also the first-ever Rouge, and Red Dwarf. commercial launch for the US State Maine. Biofuel: Biofuel is the fuel produced About Stardust 1.0: through the contemporary processes from The rocket is manufactured by biomass which can directly be converted Maine-based aerospace company into liquid fuels. bluShift. It can be used as transportation fuels. It is It is totally is non-toxic for the not produced by the usual slow geological environment as opposed to processes of formation of fossil fuels like traditionally used rocket fuels. oil. The launch vehicle is suitable for student and budget payloads. The two most common kinds of biofuels in It is 20 feet in height and use today are ethanol and biodiesel. approximately 250 kg in weight. It can carry a maximum payload They both represent the first generation of mass of 8 kg. biofuel technology. These rockets will help to launch Biodiesel is produced by combining alcohol small satellites called cubesats into with new and used vegetable oils, animal space in a way that is relatively fats, or recycled cooking grease while cheaper than using traditional Ethanol is renewable and made from rocket fuel and is less toxic for the different kinds of plant materials. environment.

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MCA21 Version 3.0: A team of researchers led by David Baker, who is the professor of biochemistry and director of the Institute for Protein Design at UW Medicine, have recently created a new protein-based biosensor that will detect the Corona Virus.

The protein-based biosensors will detect the proteins that make up the pandemic India’s Union Finance Minister Nirmala coronavirus. It would also help in detecting Sitharaman in her Budget 2021 speech has the antibodies against it. The biosensor will proposed the usage of Artificial Intelligence glow when mixed with components of the (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Data virus or specific COVID-19 which in turn Analytics for the Ministry of Corporate will enable the faster and more widespread Affairs (MCA). testing. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs will Bhavya Lal: launch the data Analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning driven MCA21 Version 3.0. by October 2021 in the financial year 2020-21.

The MCA21 version 3.0 system is the Mission Mode e-Governance project of India.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs Indian-American Bhavya Lal was recently highlighted that the new MCA-21 V 3.0 will appointed by NASA as the Acting Chief of have features of the additional modules for Staff of the US space agency. e-Adjudication, e-Consultation and Compliance Management. She will be responsible for the day-to-day operations at NASA’s headquarters and will All these features are aimed at improving work towards shaping the strategic the authenticity and comprehensiveness of direction of the space agency. corporate Earlier, she served as a member of the It may also make the current registrar of Biden Presidential Transition Agency companies (RoC) appear obsolete. Review Team for the agency and oversaw the agency’s transition under the New protein based Biosensors: administration of President Joe Biden.

NASA: It is an acronym for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace

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research. NASA was established in 1958, been proposed that will digitise the wealth succeeding the National Advisory of governance-and-policy related Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). It is knowledge on the Internet and be made headquartered in Washington, D.C., available in major Indian languages. United States. The Administrator of NASA is Jim Bridenstine and the Deputy Indias’ Space Sector: New Space India Administrator of NASA is James Morhard. Limited (NSIL), a PSU under the Department of Space, will execute the Budget 2021-22 - Science and PSLV-CS51 launch, carrying the Amazonia Technology: Satellite from Brazil, along with a few smaller Indian satellites.

Four Indian astronauts are also being trained on Generic Space Flight aspects, in Russia for the Gaganyaan Mission, slated to be launched for December 2021.

Deep Ocean Mission: To better understand To strengthen the overall research the realm of Oceans Smt. Sitharaman ecosystem of the country, the Union proposed to launch a Deep Ocean Mission Budget FY 2021-22 announced a slew of with a budget outlay of more than Rs 4,000 new initiatives to boost Innovation and crores, over five years. R&D in the country. While presenting the Vaccine Maitri Initiative: Budget in Parliament today, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, proposed initiatives covering digital payments, space sector and deep ocean explorations.

The key highlights of the initiatives are as follows:

National Research Foundation: The It is an initiative launched by India to gift Finance Minister proposed an outlay of Rs COVID-19 vaccines to neighbouring 50,000 crore, spread over five years, for countries. Under this initiative, Sri Lanka National Research Foundation. and Bahrain have recently received the COVID-19 vaccines from India. Boost to digital payments: Rs 1,500 crore has been proposed for a scheme that will The Vaccine Maitri initiative was launched provide financial incentive to promote by India on January 20 to gift COVID-19 digital modes of payment and further boost vaccines to neighbouring countries. digital transactions. About the initiative: National Language Translation Mission (NTLM): A new initiative called National Sri Lanka has received 5 lakh Covid-19 Language Translation Mission (NTLM) has vaccines from India and consignment of

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vaccines has also been sent to Bahrain. The male lizard dubbed Brookesia nana or country will receive 10,800 vaccines as a nano-chameleon is merely 13.5 mm (0.53 part of the “Vaccine Maitri” initiative. inches) long. This is the smallest of all the roughly 11,500 known species of reptiles. Before Sri Lanka and Bahrain, under this initiative, India has already delivered over 5 The researchers believe the male million doses to 7 countries in the chameleon could be the tiniest reptile on neighbourhood. the planet.

The 7 countries are- Sports 1. Nepal (1 million vaccines) 2. Bangladesh (2 million vaccines) 3. The Maldives (100,000 vaccines) RYSK Scheme: 4. Bhutan (150,000 vaccines) 5. Myanmar (1.5 million vaccines) 6. Mauritius (100,000 vaccines) 7. Seychelles (50,000 vaccines)

Commercial supplies of Covishield have also been sent to Morocco, Brazil, (2 million doses each), and Bangladesh (5 million doses). It refers to the Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme. RYSK The COVID-19 vaccination programme scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the started in India on January 16, 2021, with Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and has the two approved vaccines (Emergency- been continuing since 12th Five Year Plan. use) – Covaxin and Covishield. The budget allocation of the scheme RYSK In phase 1, health workers are being for the year 2020-21 is Rs.486.48 Crores. vaccinated followed by people who are above the age of 50 years. The Scheme aims to develop the personality and leadership qualities of the Sunflower seed-sized chameleon: youth and to engage them in nation building activities.

The beneficiaries of this scheme are the youth in the age-group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of ‘youth’ in the National Youth Policy, 2014. Similarly, in case of programme components specifically A team of scientists have recently found a meant for the adolescents, the age-group is sunflower seed-sized subspecies of a 10-19 years. chameleon in Madagascar. RYSK is an umbrella scheme. The scientists discovered two miniature lizards, one male and the other female. The

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The 7 sub-schemes under scheme RYSK River, Ice Hockey, snow sculpture and are: ethnic food festival.

• Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth festival (NYKS). introduced as an annual event in Zanskar • National Youth Corps (NYC). to showcase its potential in adventure • National Programme for Youth and tourism and sports. Adolescent Development (NPYAD). Nitish Singh: • International Cooperation (IC). • Youth Hostels (YH). • Assistance to Scouting and Guiding Organisations • National Discipline Scheme (NDS) • National Young Leaders Programme (NYLP).

Khelo India Zanskar: Mountaineer Nitish Singh from Gorakhpur, UP, On 72nd Republic Day, made India proud by hoisting the Indian National Flag from the topmost point of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. He now plans to scale top 7 highest peaks.

About MT. Kilimanjaro: Mount Kilimanjaro The 13 day long Khelo India Zanskar is around 5,895 metres above sea level, and winter sports and youth festival recently it is also the highest single free-standing concluded at Zanskar Valley of the Union mountain in the world. It is the world’s Territory of Ladakh. fourth most topographically prominent The festival was organized to showcase peak potential in adventure tourism and sports Merv Hughes: and aims to open a new arena in Ladakh for adventure and economy. It is one of the biggest events that has been organised to promote winter tourism in Ladakh.

The 13 day long festival which started on January 18th concluded on Saturday, January 30th 2021. The festival was organized by the Ladakh UT He is a former right-arm fast bowler who Administration to promote Zanskar as has recently been inducted into the winter tourists' destination. Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

The main features of the festival were Ice The 59-year-old played 53 Tests and 33 Climbing, trekking on frozen Zanskar ODIs for Australia in a career spanning

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from 1985 to 1994, during which he 2. Rifle captured 212 Test wickets and 38 ODI 3. Trap wickets. 4. Skeet

His career-best figures of 8-87 against the List of Medal Winners from India: West Indies at the WACA in 1988 included the final wicket of a hat-trick spread across Gold three separate overs, two innings and two ❖ Saurabh Chaudhary – men’s 10m air different days. pistol ❖ In 2005, Hughes became a selector for the Divyansh Singh Panwar- men’s 10m Australian cricket team, a role he would air rifle ❖ hold through until 2010. Kynan Chenai – men’s trap ❖ Rajeshwari Kumari – women’s trap Hughes has worked as a national selector, bowling coach and broadcaster since Silver retirement ❖ Arjun Babuta – men’s 10m air rifle ❖ Asian Online Shooting Championship: Shreyasi Singh – women’s trap Bronze

❖ Manu Bhaker – women’s 10m air pistol ❖ Sarabjot Singh – men’s 10m air pistol ❖ Deepak Kumar – men’s 10m air rifle

❖ Prithviraj Tondaiman – men’s trap India's 24-member shooting contingent has ❖ Manish Keer – women’s trap topped the medals tally in the first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy: Asian Online Shooting Championship, organised by Kuwait Shooting Federation.

The Indian squad won total 11 medals, which included four gold medals, two silver and five bronze medals.

274 shooters from 22 Asian countries took part in the competition. Tamil Nadu recently won the beat the Syed The Asian Online Shooting Championship Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy 2020-21 by beating are the first Formal met for the Indian Baroda in the finals. shooters after the pandemic. The tournament was the 12th edition of The championships took place for 4 events. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It was played at Sardar Patel Stadium (Motera Stadium), They are: Ahmedabad. 1. Pistol

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The Player of the match title was won by Root reached the feat in some style, as he Manimaran Siddharth (Tamil Nadu) who whacked R Ashwin over the long-on fence, picked 4 wickets, conceding 20 runs. making him the first-ever player to complete a double-century in his 100th Tamil Nadu team was lead by Dinesh Test appearance. Karthik (captain). Meanwhile, Root's incredible feat also saw This is the second Syed Mushtaq Ali him becoming the English captain with the Trophy (SMAT) title for Tamil Nadu and highest individual score in India. their first title in 13 years. The previous highest score by a batsman The team claimed their first SMAT title in playing his 100th Test was 184 by former 2006-07, that too under Karthik’s Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, also captaincy. against India in Bengaluru (March 2005).

Recent News: India and Bengal pacer Ajay Singh: Ashoke Dinda recently announced retirement from all formats of cricket.

He has featured in 13 ODIs and nine T20Is for India and had switched to Goa from Bengal earlier this season.

The 36-year-old last played in the recently- concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Ajay Singh who is also the chairman of Spicejet airlines has been re-elected as the president of Boxing Federation of India Joe Root: (BFI).

He defeated former Sports Minister of Maharashtra Ashish Shelar in a high-profile contest to get re-elected as president of Boxing Federation India for a second term.

Hemanta Kumar Kalita was elected secretary, beating C.V. Raje.

He is the England cricket team captain As for his second tenure, Singh said that who has Root became the first batsman to BFI would work towards developing boxing score a double hundred in his 100th Test. at the grassroot level and conducting more open championships. He also promised a Leading the side from the front, Joe Root stronger sports science back-up for boxers completed his 5th double century in the and focus on women's boxing. ongoing Test between India and England in Chennai. About BFI: Boxing Federation India (BFI) was established on February 25, 1949. It is headquartered in New Delhi.

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