NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Aam Aadmi Party's Shelly Oberoi wins
Delhi Mayor elections: Aam Aadmi
Party's Shelly Oberoi has defeated BJP candidate Rekha Gupta to
become the new Delhi Mayor. She received 150 votes while Rekha Gupta got
116 seats. She also becomes Delhi's first woman mayor in 10 years. The
election was held after the Supreme Court ruled out the possibility of
nominated members participating in the voting process. In Delhi MCD polls, the AAP
had bagged 134 seats, BJP got 104 seats, and Congress bagged nine seats.
2. ICAR develops wheat variety to beat
the heat: Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR) has developed a new wheat variety called HD-3385. It
can overcome the challenges arising out due to changes in weather
patterns and rising heat levels. It is amenable to early sowing,
escaping the impact of heat spikes, and can be harvested before March's end. Recently,
the Centre announced to set up of a committee to monitor the situation arising
from the increase in temperatures and its impact on the current wheat crop.
3. Kerala HC becomes first to publish
judgements in regional language: The Kerala High Court has become the first high
court in the country to publish judgments in the regional language. On February
21 (International Mother Language Day), Kerala published two of its recent
judgments in Malayalam. The judgments in Malayalam were uploaded on
the court's website just below the English version. The Kerala High Court
made use of SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuwad Software ) tool to
translate the judgments. CJ of Kerala HC: S. Manikumar
4. Namami Gange Executive Committee
approves 9 projects: The Namami
Gange Executive Committee, headed by NMCG Director General G. Asok
Kumar, has approved nine Projects, worth over 1,200 crore rupees for
Pollution abatement in Ganga Basin and Ghat Development.
Out of these
projects, seven pertain to the abatement of pollution in the Ganga Basin
and two to ghat development. The decision was taken during the 47th
meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga
(NMCG).
5. JP Nadda launches book 'Modi: Shaping
a Global order in flux': BJP national president, JP Nadda has launched a book "Modi:
Shaping a Global Order in Flux" in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
The book
is forewarded by S. Jaishankar ( Union External Affairs
Minister) and edited by Sujan Chinoy, Vijay Chauthaiwala, and Uttam
Kumar Sinha. Over 23 chapters, the book features write-ups by the
likes of Amitabh Kant (former CEO of NITI Aayog), Chauthaiwale, Chinoy, Anurag
Saxena, Amish Tripathi, and D.B. Venkatesh Varma (former diplomat).
6. Nitin Gadkari lays foundation stone
of the world’s largest and unique Divyang Park: Union
Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has laid the
Foundation Stone of the world’s largest and unique Divyang Park – Anubhuti
Inclusive Park in Nagpur, Maharashtra. This park is being developed keeping in
mind the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build an inclusive society. Instead
of sympathy, this park will show empathy, hence this park has been named
Anubhuti Divyang Park. The park will have adapted facilities for all 21 types
of disabilities like touch and smell garden, hydrotherapy unit, water therapy,
independent room for mentally challenged children, and mother. In 2016, the
central government passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act for the
rights of persons with disabilities.
7. Rajesh Rai appointed new CMD of
Indian Telephone Industries (ITI): The Union government has
appointed Rajesh Rai as the new Chairman and Managing Director
(CMD) of Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) for a period of five years. Prior to
assuming charge as CMD in ITI, he served as general manager (admin) of Mahanagar
Telphone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), Mumbai. ITI Limited is a government-owned company in
the telecommunications technology segment established as a departmental factory
in 1948. It has manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, Naini, Rae Bareli,
Mankapur, and Palakkad.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Cabinet approves Air Services
agreement between India and Guyana: Union Cabinet has approved the signing Air Services Agreement
between India and Guyana. This agreement will come into force after the
exchange of diplomatic notes between parties. Aim: To enable a framework
for the provision of air services between the two countries Indians have a
sizeable presence in Guyana and are the largest ethnic group comprising about
40% of the population. It will provide an enabling environment for
enhanced and seamless connectivity.
2. University of Auckland, Tata
Memorial Hospital sign MoU for cancer care: Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) and Waipapa
Taumata Rau (Auckland University) signed an MoU to engage
in long-term cooperation in cancer care. TMH is the most renowned cancer
care hospital and research center in India. Initial projects envisaged for
the partnership include a digital platform:
For clinical
trials to track study-related activities for patients, investigators, and
regulators To make outpatient clinics more efficient To enhance
prescription medicine safety
3. Asia Economic Dialogue 2023 begins
in Pune: An annual flagship event of the
External Affairs Ministry on Geo-economics, Asia Economic Dialogue is
being conducted in Pune, Maharashtra from 23 -25 February 2023. This event
is being co-hosted in collaboration with Pune International Centre. Theme
2023: Asia and the Emerging World Order The Dialogue also discusses themes
such as Global Growth Prospects, How the Global South Will Shape the G20 Agenda
and the Metaverse.
4. 18th UIC World Security Congress
organized by Railway Protection Force: The 18th World
Security Congress 2023 commenced in Jaipur, the pink city of India. The
International Union of Railways, Paris and Railway Protection Force are jointly
organizing the 3-day Conference. Theme 2023- Railway Security Strategy:
Responses and Vision for Future The World Security Congress is a globally
recognized security platform. The Union International Des Chemins (UIC) or
International Union of Railways was established in 1922.
5. 22 February – World Scout Day: World
Scout Day is observed every year on 22 February. It is the birth
anniversary of Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of scouting and is also his
wife Olave Baden-Powell’s birth anniversary. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides/Girl
Scouts and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) also
celebrate the day as World Thinking Day across the world. The Scouting movement
began in the United Kingdom in 1907, more than a century ago.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Aishwary Pratap wins gold in men's
50m rifle 3 positions competition, ISSF: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar has secured
the gold medal in the men's individual 50m rifle 3 positions competition
at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. In the event, he defeated Alexander
Schmirl from Austria by 16-6. With this gold, India topped the medal tally with
four gold and Hungary at second. 10m air rifle mixed team: Rudrankksh
Balasaheb Patil and R Narmada Nithin 10m air pistol mixed team: Varun
Tomar and Rhythm Sangwan Men's 10m air rifle: Rudrankksh Patil
2. Dmitry Dmitruk appointed as new
coach of Indian boxing team: Veteran boxing
coach Dmitry Dmitruk was roped in by the Boxing Federation of
India (BFI) as India’s foreign coach on a two-year contract. Renowned coach
Dmitruk was known for his work with the Irish national team and its youth teams
in the past. He served as the high-performance coach in Ireland for the last 12
years. He will work with both men and women boxers alongside the Indian
coaches, including men’s chief coach C.A. Kuttappa and women’s head coach
Bhaskar Bhatt.
3. Rudrankksh Patil won gold in 10m Air
Rifle at ISSF World Cup 2023: Rudrankksh
Patil has won the gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle competition
of the ISSF Shooting World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. He defeated Germany’s
Maximilian Ulbrich in the gold medal match by 16-8. Varun Tomar also won the
bronze medal in the men’s 10m air pistol event. Rhythm Sangwan won the 10m Air
Pistol mixed team competition at the event.
4. Carlos Alcaraz won Argentina Open
title 2023: The World No. 2 tennis player, Carlos
Alcaraz defeated Cameron Norrie in the final to win the Argentina
Open title 2023. He became the first Spaniard to win the Argentina Open tennis
title since Rafael Nadal in 2015. He also became the highest-ranked winner in
tournament history. Casper Ruud, who won the competition in 2020 at the age of
21, was the youngest winner prior to Alcaraz.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. HDFC Bank, Lulu Exchange sign to
enhance cross-border payments: HDFC
Bank has signed an MoU with the UAE-based Lulu Exchange to
strengthen the cross-border payments between India and the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) region. In the beginning, the expertise and
regulatory framework of Lulu Exchange would be utilized to launch a
digital inward remittance service - 'RemitNow2India'. It will allow UAE
individuals resident to send money to any bank account in India via IMPS and
NEFT through HDFC digital banking channels.
2. SBI allows Bhim-based real-time
payment with Singapore: The State
Bank of India has partnered with PayNow (Singapore Payment
System) for cross-border payments. The facility is offered
through SBI's Bhim SBIPay mobile application. This partnership will
allow fund transfers from India to Singapore through registered
mobile numbers, and from Singapore to India using the UPI ID. This initiative
will boost the digitization initiatives, providing an easy, seamless cross-border
payment facility to users. SBI chairman: Dinesh Khara
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. INS Nireekshak awarded on-the-spot
Navy chief Unit Citation for salvage ops: In a
first for the Indian Navy, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Harikumar
awarded an ‘on the spot’ Unit Citation to INS Nireekshak in Kochi. Reason: For deep sea diving and
undertaking salvage operations under the most challenging circumstances He also awarded commendations to the crew involved in
the salvage operation. INS Nireekshak: It is a Dive Support and Submarine Rescue
Vessel of the Indian Navy. It was built in 1985 by Mazgaon Shipbuilders.
2. Veteran CPI-M Leader TK Rangarajan receives Lifetime
Achievement Award: A veteran CPI-M leader, T K
Rangarajan has been honored with the Sansad Ratna Lifetime
Achievement Award 2023. Thirteen MPs were nominated for the Sansad Ratna
Awards 2023. The 13th edition of the award ceremony will be held on March 25 in
New Delhi. Sansad Ratna Awards: It was instituted in
2010 and inspired by the teachings of former President APJ Abdul
Kalam. It recognizes and felicitates the top-performing MPs based
on their work in the apex legislative body
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