NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM
Modi inaugurates and lays foundation stone of key power and urban sector
projects in Kerala: Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of key
projects in the state of Kerala via video conference. Projects inaugurated
includes:
(1) 320 KV Pugalur- Thrissur power
transmission project, built at a cost of Rs 5,070 crore. The project is a
Voltage Source Convertor (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Project
and has India”s first HVDC link featuring state-of-the-art VSC technology.
(2) 50 MW Kasaragod Solar Power Project,
developed under the National Solar Energy Mission
(3) 75 MLD (million litres per day) Water
Treatment Plant at Aruvikkara under the AMRUT Mission.
(4) Apart from this, PM laid the foundation
stone of Integrated Command and Control Centre and Smart Roads Project in
Thiruvananthapuram.
2.
Prime Minister launches ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ initiative in Assam: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has virtually launched ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ initiative in
Assam. He laid the foundation stone for the DhubriPhulbariBridge. PM also
perform the bhumi puja for the construction of Majuli Bridge in Assam. PM has
announced the details stated that the landmark day in the development journey
for Assam as Mahabahu-Brahmaputra initiative is going to be launched.
About Mahabahu-Brahmaputra
initiative:
Mahabahu-Brahmaputra initiative is going to be marked with the inauguration of
the Ro-Pax vessel operations. The Ro-Pax vessel operations will be launched in
between the Neamatighat&Majuli, Dhubri-Hatsingimari and North-South
Guwahati. This initiative also includes the inauguration of the Inland Water
Transport Terminal at Jogighopa. The initiative will also be marked with the
inauguration of various tourist jetties at four locations in order to promote
the river tourism and employment across the state.
Note: Assam CM: SarbanandaSonowal; Assam
Governor: JagdishMukhi.
3.
‘Snakepedia’ mobile app launched in Kerala: A team of scientists, doctors and
photographers in Kerala have launched a mobile application named “Snakepedia”
that will present all relevant information on snakes, to help the public as
well as doctors in treating snake bites.
About the app: The main aim of
the app is to help the public identify snakes, avail proper treatment on time
for snakebites, bust myths about snakes, and protect snakes as well as
snakebite victims. The android mobile application documents information on
snakes with the help of pictures, infographics and podcasts and analyses its
first aid, treatment, myths and superstitions.
Note: Kerala CM: PinarayiVijayan; Kerala
Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.
4.
Odisha Govt announced Development Package for MaaSamaleswari Shrine: The state
government of Odisha, under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has launched the
development work for the SAMALEI Project (Samaleswari Temple Area Management
and Local Economy Initiatives), to offer the divine experience to tourists
& devotees. The project involves the development of 108 acres of land in
& around the 16th-century shrine of MaaSamaleswari, the presiding deity of
western Odisha.Odisha Government has announced a package of Rs 200-crore for
2021-22 fiscal for the implementation of the project. The project will be
implemented under MoSarkar5T and will focus on the beautification of the temple
& economic development of local people. It will include the development of
amenities for devotees inside the 12-acre temple premises and development of
four tall heritage welcome gates.
Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen
Patnaik; Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar; Odisha Governor: Ganeshi Lal.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1.
India-Australia circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE): The Prime
Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the valedictory function of the India
Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE) via videoconferencing. A circular
economy implies reusing waste back into the production cycle to make new
products instead of wasting such materials with embedded resources. The I-ACE
was jointly organized by Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Government of
India and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO),
Australia. More than 200 participants in 39 teams from India and 33 teams from
Australia took part.
Four key themes for the hackathon: (1) Innovation in
packaging reducing packaging waste; (2) Innovation in food supply chains
avoiding waste; (3) Creating opportunities for plastic waste reduction; (4)
Recycling critical energy metals and e-waste.
Objective: To enable the
students and startups/MSMEs of both nations in fostering innovative solutions
for the development of a circular economy across the food system value chain
with the aim of increasing the long-term health and resilience of our planet,
through innovative technology solutions. I-ACE aims to accelerate the
development of young and promising students and startups/MSMEs working towards
the creation of a sustainable future.
Note: Prime Minister of Australia: Scott
Morrison; The currency of Australia: Australian dollar; Capital of Australia:
Canberra.
2.
Perseverance rover has successfully landed on Mars: The NASA
Perseverance rover safely landed on Mars after its 292.5 million-mile journey
from Earth. The rover has been on a nearly 300 million-mile journey since it
left Earth more than 6 months ago. Perseverance and her teams lived up to the
namesake, overcoming the challenges of preparing for the journey’s final stages
during a pandemic. The attitude control system is responsible for pointing the
rover in the direction it needs to be and also helps figure out where the
spacecraft is oriented in space.
Indian-American named Dr Swati Mohan, who
first confirmed that the rover had survived a particularly tricky plunge into
the Martian atmosphere. Mohan, who successfully spearheaded the development of
attitude control and the landing system for the rover, was among the team of
scientists behind the historic mission.
Note: Acting Administrator of NASA: Steve
Jurczyk; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; NASA Founded: 1
October 1958.
3.
World Thinking Day: 22th February: World Thinking Day, originally known as
Thinking Day, is celebrated annually on 22 February by all Girl Scouts, Girl
Guides and other girl groups worldwide. The day is observed to think about
fellow brothers and sisters around the world, address their concerns and
understand the true meaning of guiding. The theme for World Thinking Day 2021
is peacebuilding. Peacebuilding is at the heart of Girl Guiding and Girl
Scouting and is as vital and relevant today as for the last 100 years. By
completing the steps in the Stand Together For Peace activity pack, Girl Guides
and Girl Scouts will; Stand Strong, Stand up and Stand Together for
peacebuilding.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
ManikaBatra Wins Singles Title at 82nd National Table Tennis Championship: India’s top-ranked
table tennis player ManikaBatra beat Reeth Rishya, 4-2, in the women’s singles
final, to win the 82nd Senior National Table Tennis Championship, at the Tau
Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula, Haryana. It was Manika’s second Nationals
title. She won her maiden national title in 2015 in Hyderabad.
2. Sri
Lanka pacer Dhammika Prasad quits international cricket: Sri Lanka fast
bowler Dhammika Prasad has announced his retirement from international cricket.
He represented Sri Lanka in 25 Tests and 24 ODIs, bagging 75 and 32 wickets
respectively. He also played alone T20 International against Australia in 2011.
Prasad last played a Test match in October 2015 against the West Indies.
3.
South Africa’s Faf du Plessis retires from Test cricket: Former captain of
South Africa, Faf du Plessis has announced his retirement from Test cricket.
The 36-year-old made his Test debut in November 2012 and played a total of 69
games in the longest format. He scored 4163 runs in his Test career, at an
average of 40.02, with 10 centuries and 21 fifties.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Hyundai Develops Ultimate Mobility Vehicle ‘TIGER X-1’: Hyundai Motor
Company has launched a Transformer-like robocar dubbed as TIGER X-1, that can
travel over the most challenging terrains on the Earth as well as on other
planets. TIGER stands for Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot, and
the X-1 denotes its experimental status. Key Features:
(1) The Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV)
TIGER is being developed by Hyundai in partnership with Autodesk and
Sundberg-Ferar.
(2) Tiger is designed as a battery-electric
vehicle, comprising of a small pod with four wheels on extendable legs. it will
be able to operate as either a four-wheel-drive vehicle or four-legged walking
robot.
(3) The vehicle is unscrewed, meaning that
its, main use will be to carry payloads over remote and inaccessible locations,
and not the people
(4) It will help in search and rescue,
scientific research, military, or exploratory missions (even on new planets).
Note: Hyundai Motor Company Founder: Chung Ju-Yung;
Hyundai Motor Company Founded: 29 December 1967, Seoul, South Korea.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Hyderabad Recognised as ‘2020 Tree City of the World’: Telangana’s
capital, Hyderabad has been recognized as a 2020 Tree City of World, by the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Arbor Day
Foundation, for its commitment to growing and maintaining urban forests.
Hyderabad is the only city from India to have been recognized as a Tree City,
to date. With this recognition, it has joined a network of like-minded global
cities that recognise the importance of trees in building healthy, resilient
and happy cities. 2020 Tree Cities of the world recognition is the second year
of the programme, which features 120 cities from 63 countries. Most of the
cities were from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Note: Food and Agriculture Organization
Head: Qu Dongyu; Food and Agriculture Organization Headquarters: Rome, Italy;
Food and Agriculture Organization Established: 16 October 1945.
DEFENCE
1.
Indian Navy Ship Pralaya Participates in NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21: Indian Naval Ship
Pralaya reached Abu Dhabi in UAE to participate in the Naval Defence Exhibition
(NAVDEX 21) and International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 21) from February 20 to
25, 2021. NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21 is one of the leading international naval and
defence exhibitions of the region. Participation of INS Pralaya will showcase
the strengths of India’s indigenous shipbuilding, in line with the Hon’ble
Prime Minister’s vision of ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’.
Key Features of INS Pralaya: It is the second ship of the indigenously
built Prabal Class Missile Vessels, built indigenously at Goa Shipyard Limited.
The ship was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 18 December 2002 to perform a
wide variety of surface warfare missions. The 56 m longship, displacing about
560 T is capable of speeds in excess of 35 knots. It is fitted with an
impressive array of weapons and sensors, like 76.2 mm medium range gun, 30 mm
close-range guns, chaff launchers and long-range surface to surface missiles.
Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh; Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950.
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