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The government has sharply slashed the rates on all small savings instruments for the first quarter of 2021-22.
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Comment
Indian Army Formally Closes Down Military Farms.
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promised to implement Article 244 (A) of the Constitution to safeguard the interests of the people in Assam’s tribal-majority districts.
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How is it different from the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution?
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog launched AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations, Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship), an initiative to promote and support science-based deep-tech start-ups & ventures across India.
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The nomination process for this year’s Prime Minister’s Yoga Awards (PMYA) will begin from 30/03/2021, with the last date for the submission of the entries being 30/04/2021.
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In recognition of the continuing adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic on certain service sectors, the Government has now extended the scope of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) through introduction of ECLGS 3.0.
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The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry announced extension of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) of Government of India.
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The India-Mauritius CECPA will enter into force on 01 April 2021.
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The Ministry of Jal Shakti has decided to use sensor-based IoT devices to effectively monitor the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in more than six lakh villages.
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The Union Cabinet has approved the Central Sector Scheme – “Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)” with an outlay of Rs. 10900 crore.
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DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Rajinikanth after he has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2019.
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Important Info :
Dadasaheb Phalke?
LIGHT WEIGHT BULLET PROOF JACKET
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO and DMSRDE Kanpur for developing a Light Weight Bullet Proof Jacket.
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KARGIL ZANSKAR ROAD
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways has approved a 780 Crore rupees project for upgradation of Kargil Zanskar road.
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HARYANA’S AMENDED RULES OF PROCEDURE, CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Haryana has amended several provisions under its Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Legislative Assembly of the state.
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BAIKAL-GVD
Russian scientists launched one of the world’s biggest underwater neutrino telescopes called the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector) in the waters of Lake Baikail, the world’s deepest lake situated in Siberia.
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Important Info :
Lake Baikal
MyNEP2020
Union Education Minister launched the “MyNEP2020” Platform of NCTE Web Portal.
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JOINT LOGISTICS NODE (JLN)
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat operationalised and dedicated to the Armed forces the 3rd Joint Logistics Node (JLN) in Mumbai.
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MATERNAL DEATHS
The failure of the health system to cope with COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase in maternal deaths and stillbirths, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health journal.
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JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION (JCPOA)
The U.S. and Iran said that they would begin negotiations through intermediaries next week to try to get both countries back into an accord limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, nearly three years after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal.
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NEW EMISSION NORMS FOR COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS
The government has pushed back deadlines for coal-fired power plants to adopt new emission norms by up to three years, and allowed utilities that miss the new target to continue operating after paying a penalty, according to a notice.
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WATERGATE SCANDAL
G Gordon Liddy, the former FBI agent and Republican adviser who was widely considered the mastermind behind the 1972 Watergate break-in, died at the age of 90.
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BIMSETC
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has said that India remains committed to further building the momentum of regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework. He said this while delivering a statement at the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually.
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HARMONISED SYSTEM OF NOMENCLATURE (HSN) CODE
Government has made mandatory that a GST taxpayer having turnover of more than 5 crore rupees in the preceding financial year will have to furnish 6 digits Harmonised System of Nomenclature HSN Code, or Service Accounting Code, SAC from April 1, 2021 on the invoices issued for supplies of taxable goods and services.
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COMMITTEES ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
Central Government has constituted three expert committees to review the existing rules and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards, pertaining to factories, docks and construction work.
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ALL-INDIA SURVEY OF MIGRANT WORKERS
Government of India launched the All-India Survey of Migrant Workers and All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey.
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All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey
ARMY WAR COLLEGE
The Army War College (AWC), Mhow celebrated its Golden Jubilee today to mark 50 glorious years of its inception as the premier training institute of Indian Army.
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GOOD FRIDAY
Good Friday was observed on April 2, 2021.
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NAXALISM
Five security personnel were killed and more than 12 injured in an encounter with Maoists in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.
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Important Info :
Sukma district?
DECISION REVIEW SYSTEM (DRS)
The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) cricket committee has made changes to the way lbws will be decided under the Decision Review System (DRS).
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Important Info :
What necessitated the review?
DIGITAL RMB
China in February 2021 launched the latest round of pilot trials of its new digital currency, with reported plans of a major roll-out by the end of the year and ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February 2022.
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How is it different from an e-wallet?
Important Info :
Significance
H-1B VISA RULE
USA President Joe Biden has allowed a Trump-era H-1B visa rule to expire.
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Important Info :
Statistics
INFLATION TARGETING
On the last day of the financial year 2020-21, the Finance Ministry announced that the inflation target for the five years between April 2021 and March 2026 will remain unchanged at 4%, with an upper tolerance level of 6% and a lower tolerance level of 2%.
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SOFT SIGNAL PROTOCOL
The soft signal protocol for outfield catches, which was in the news during the India-England series, was not adjudicated on in the recent meeting of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) cricket committee.
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NATIONAL POLICY FOR RARE DISEASES, 2021
Union Health Minister approved the “National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021” on 30th March 2021.
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ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that India has achieved a landmark milestone in road construction by building more highways than any other countries in the last financial year.
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BE THE BRAND AMBASSADOR OF TRIBES INDIA; BE A ‘FRIEND’ OF TRIBES INDIA CONTEST
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED) has launched two interesting competitions, Be the Brand Ambassador of Tribes India and Be a ‘Friend’ of TRIBES INDIA Contest in association with MyGov.in, the citizen-government engagement platform.
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DALIT POLITICS IN TAMIL NADU
Mainstream political parties in Tamil Nadu are going the extra mile to accommodate Dalit icons, and are receptive to Dalit concerns. These parties are wary of an independent Dalit political identity, and would prefer to subsume them using a mixture of co-option, corruption and at times coercion.
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JORDAN
In a marked flare-up in tensions within Jordan’s royal household, Prince Hamzah bin Al Hussein, the former crown prince and half-brother of ruling monarch Abdullah, has reportedly been placed under house arrest as part of a crackdown on critics.
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RAFALE
India will receive another 8 to 9 Rafale jets from France by mid-May, with some expected later this month, completing the first squadron of the fighters in the Indian Air Force (IAF), according to a defence official.
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NAXALISM
Since the 2010 Chintalnar massacre, the Dantewada-Sukma-Bijapur axis has claimed the lives of more than 175 security force personnel, besides several civilians.
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DIGVIJAYSINH ZALA
Former Union Environment Minister and MLA from Gujarat’s Wankaner Digvijaysinh Zala passed away at the age of 88.
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SANKALP SE SIDDH
TRIFED under Ministry of Tribal Affairs has now launched “Sankalp se Siddhi” – Village and Digital Connect Drive.
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E-COURTS PROJECT
The eCommittee Supreme Court has prepared the draft vision document for Phase III of the eCourts Project under the auspices of the Supreme court of India.
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URANUS
Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun is reflecting X-rays, says a new study by scientists.
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Important Info :
Do you know?
INGENUITY (HELICOPTER)
In another major success for the US space agency NASA, its Mars helicopter Ingenuity has been dropped on the surface of the Red Planet ahead of its historic first flight scheduled for April 11.
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FOREST FIRES
Uttarakhand has witnessed over 1,000 incidents of forest fire over the last six months, including 45 in the last 24 hours alone, and has reached out to the Centre for helicopters and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
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Important Info :
How prone to fire are India’s forests?
SANATANA DHARMA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the passing away of Geeta Press President Radheshyam Khemka. Mr. Modi said Radheshyam Khemka took Sanatan literature to the masses.
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INS VIRAAT
INS Viraat, the Navy’s decommissioned aircraft carrier, has become the “private property” of a ship-breaker who has already torn down 40% of its body, chiefly for scrap, the Supreme Court told a private company, that wants to turn the vessel into a maritime museum-cum-adventure centre.
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Important Info :
Do you know?
CHENAB BRIDGE
The Prime Minister has lauded the completion of Arch closure of the Chenab Bridge, World’s highest Railway Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir by Indian Railways.
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TRIBUNALS REFORMS (RATIONALISATION AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) ORDINANCE, 2021
The President of India has promulgated the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021, by which the appellate authorities under nine Acts have been done away with and the right to hear appeals under the statute has been conferred to High Courts.
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CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (CBI)
The Supreme Court told the government that interim appointments to the post of CBI Director cannot go on.
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Important Info :
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)?
SADABAHAR
Shrikishan Suman (55 years), a farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, has developed an innovative mango variety which is a regular and round-the-year dwarf variety of mango called Sadabahar, which is resistant to most major diseases and common mango disorders.
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INTEGRATED HEALTH INFORMATION PLATFORM (IHIP)
The Union Minister of Health, Harsh Vardhan launched the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
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CHAFF TECHNOLOGY
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard the naval ships against enemy missile attack.
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LA PEROUSE
Indian Navy Ships INS Satpura and INS Kiltan along with P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating, for the first time; in multi-lateral maritime exercise La Pérouse, being conducted in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region from 05 to 07 April 2021.
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SPICES BOARD INDIA
Spices Board India and UNDP India’s Accelerator Lab signed a MoU, with the aim to build a blockchain based traceability interface for Indian spices to enhance transparency in supply chain and trade.
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Important Info :
About Spices Board?
GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT
India has fallen 28 places in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, and is now one of the worst performers in South Asia, trailing behind neighbours Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
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INS VIRAAT
INS Viraat, the Navy’s decommissioned aircraft carrier, has become the “private property” of a ship-breaker who has already torn down 40% of its body, chiefly for scrap, the Supreme Court told a private company, that wants to turn the vessel into a maritime museum-cum-adventure centre.
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Important Info :
Do you know?
CHENAB BRIDGE
The Prime Minister has lauded the completion of Arch closure of the Chenab Bridge, World’s highest Railway Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir by Indian Railways.
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TRIBUNALS REFORMS (RATIONALISATION AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) ORDINANCE, 2021
The President of India has promulgated the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021, by which the appellate authorities under nine Acts have been done away with and the right to hear appeals under the statute has been conferred to High Courts.
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CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (CBI)
The Supreme Court told the government that interim appointments to the post of CBI Director cannot go on.
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Important Info :
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)?
SADABAHAR
Shrikishan Suman (55 years), a farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, has developed an innovative mango variety which is a regular and round-the-year dwarf variety of mango called Sadabahar, which is resistant to most major diseases and common mango disorders.
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INTEGRATED HEALTH INFORMATION PLATFORM (IHIP)
The Union Minister of Health, Harsh Vardhan launched the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
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CHAFF TECHNOLOGY
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard the naval ships against enemy missile attack.
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LA PEROUSE
Indian Navy Ships INS Satpura and INS Kiltan along with P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating, for the first time; in multi-lateral maritime exercise La Pérouse, being conducted in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region from 05 to 07 April 2021.
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SPICES BOARD INDIA
Spices Board India and UNDP India’s Accelerator Lab signed a MoU, with the aim to build a blockchain based traceability interface for Indian spices to enhance transparency in supply chain and trade.
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Important Info :
About Spices Board?
GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT
India has fallen 28 places in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, and is now one of the worst performers in South Asia, trailing behind neighbours Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
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MONETARY POLICY
The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep its short term lending rate or the repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent, in line with market expectations.
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Measures for liquidity announced
PLI SCHEME ‘NATIONAL PROGRAMME ON HIGH EFFICIENCY SOLAR PV MODULES’
The Union Cabinet has approved the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s proposal for implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme ‘National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV (Photo Voltic) Modules’ for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in high efficiency solar PV modules with an outlay of Rs.4,500 crore.
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The outcomes/ benefits expected from the scheme are as follows:
E9 PARTNERSHIP
Minister for Education (India) addressed the consultation meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries on E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education.
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PLI SCHEME FOR WHITE GOODS (AIR CONDITIONERS AND LED LIGHTS)
The Union Cabinet approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 6,238 crore.
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Important Info :
White goods?
HAREKRUSHNA MAHTAB
Prime Minister Modi will release the Hindi translation of the book ‘Odisha Itihaas’ written by ‘Utkal Keshari’ Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab on 9th April 2021.
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Important Info :
About the Author
NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (NIA)
Former police officer and “encounter specialist” Pradeep Sharma was called by NIA for questioning in connection with the Mukesh Ambani terror scare case.
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Important Info :
National Investigative Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019
‘LAB ON WHEELS’ PROGRAMME
Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia has inaugurated Delhi Technological University’s ‘Lab on Wheels’ programme.
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VACCINES FOR ANIMALS
The ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh transferred the Technology – CSF and Sheep Pox Vaccines to M/s Hester Biosciences through Agrinnovate India Limited.
Live Attenuated Indigenous CSF Cell Culture Vaccine (IVRI-CSF-BS):
Important Info :
Indigenous Live Attenuated Sheep Pox Vaccine [SPPV Srin 38/00]:
INS SARVEKSHAK
INS Sarvekshak, a hydrographic survey ship, is on a deployment to Mauritius for undertaking joint hydrographic surveys along with their Mauritian counterparts.
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INDIA – JAPAN RELATIONS
The Union Cabinet is apprised of a MoU signed between National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Dept of Space, Government of India and Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan for Academic and Research Cooperation and Exchange in November, 2020.
Objectives
Background
INDIA – JAPAN RELATIONS
The Union Cabinet is apprised of a MoU signed between National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Dept of Space, Government of India and Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan for Academic and Research Cooperation and Exchange in November, 2020.
Objectives
Background
B.1.617
The “double mutant” virus that scientists had flagged last month as having a bearing on the spread of the pandemic in India, has a formal scientific classification: B.1.617.
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Muon g–2
Newly published results of an international experiment hint at the possibility of new physics governing the laws of nature.
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What is the Standard Model?
Muon g–2 experiment
What quantity was measured?
TRIBUNALS REFORMS (RATIONALISATION AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) ORDINANCE, 2021
The Government of India by an ordinance abolished the Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), which heard appeals by filmmakers seeking certification for their films.
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Important Info :
Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT)
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES ACQUISITION PROGRAMME (G-SAP)
RBI Governor has announced Government Securities Acquisition Programme (G-SAP), through which it will purchase government securities worth Rs 1 lakh crore in the first quarter of FY22.
Benefits of this Programme:
NET-ZERO GOAL
John Kerry, the US President’s Special Envoy on Climate, is currently on a three-day visit to India. One of the objectives of Kerry’s visit is to explore whether India can agree to the possibility of pledging itself to a 2050 net-zero goal.
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Significance of net-zero goal by 2050
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India’s objections
CIVIL DEFENCE VOLUNTEERS
From being lauded for their work during the pandemic to facing allegations of high-handedness, the role of the civil defence volunteers in the national capital has come under intense scrutiny in the recent past.
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Important Info :
Who are civil defence volunteers?
INDIA – SEYCHELLES RELATIONS
PM Modi and Seychelles President jointly inaugurate several Indian projects in Seychelles.
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Important Info :
Do you know?
COPYRIGHT (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2021
The Government of India has notified Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
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INDIAN NATIONAL YOUNG ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (INYAS)
INYAS has launched a multipronged nationwide mass awareness campaign to bust myths about Covid 19 vaccination programme. The campaign will be carried out through COVACNEWS android-based mobile app.
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DRONES
Drone use permission granted to Central Mine Planning and Design Institute for coalfield survey.
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RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS
The Supreme Court said that people are free to choose their religion, even as it lashed out at a petition claiming there is mass religious conversion happening “by hook or by crook” across the country.
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FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATION (FONOP)
India has protested the U.S. decision to conduct a patrol in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the western Indian Ocean, rejecting the U.S.’s claim that its domestic maritime law was in violation of international law.
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2001 MARS ODYSSEY
NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft marks 20 years of mapping red planet.
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IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BIODIVERSITY
Many animals and plants unique to the world’s most scenic natural places face extinction if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, according to a new study published in the journal Biological Conservation.
Key findings:
ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ODR)
NITI Aayog—in association with Agami and Omidyar Network India and with the support of ICICI Bank, Ashoka Innovators for the Public, Trilegal, Dalberg, Dvara, NIPFP—will launch the first-of-its kind Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) handbook in India.
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POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR SCHEDULED CASTES
Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment reviewed the progress of the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes in the last financial year.
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NanoSniffer
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched NanoSniffer, the world’s first Microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector (ETD).
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PRE-PACKAGED INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION PROCESS (PPIRP)
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 promulgated on 4th April, 2021 provides for pre-packaged insolvency resolution process (PPIRP) for corporate debtors classified as micro, small and medium enterprises.
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HARICHAND THAKUR
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid homage to Harichand Thakur on his Jayanti.
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Important Info :
Matua?
INDIA-NETHERLANDS VIRTUAL SUMMIT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands held a Virtual Summit.
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DOLPHINS
The population of dolphins in Chilika, India’s largest brackish water lake, and along the Odisha coast has doubled this year compared with last year.
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OPEC
The price of Brent crude has fallen under $63 per barrel from a high of $70 per barrel in early March. A recent resurgence in Covid-19 infections coupled with a decision by OPEC+ (a keep producers’ block) to increase crude oil production has contributed to a fall in crude oil prices.
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MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD
Cairo’s Criminal Court (in Egypt) sentenced Mahmoud Ezzat to life imprisonment for murder and terrorism charges. Ezzat is the senior leader of the now outlawed organisation called the Muslim Brotherhood.
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LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
Researchers from IIT Guwahati have developed a technique to improve the performance of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which power most of the portable devices used today.
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Disadvantages
Important Info :
Alternatives to Li-ion batteries
ADVANCED ANTIQUITIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AAMS)
The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology (DAA) of the Goa government inaugurated the Advanced Antiquities Management System on March 30 that it claimed was the first such system in the country for storage of antiquities.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Young people have hurled bricks, fireworks and gasoline bombs at police and set hijacked cars and a bus on fire during a week of violence on the streets of Northern Ireland.
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KHELO INDIA STATE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ROWING DISCIPLINE
Union Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs inaugurated Khelo India State Centre of Excellence for Rowing discipline at the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council Water Sports Academy in Srinagar.
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WORLD HOMOEOPATHY DAY (WHD)
A two-day convention on ‘Homoeopathy – Roadmap for Integrative Medicine’ was inaugurated at New Delhi.
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FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA (FCI)
Farmers under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha recently opened a front against the FCI by staging protests outside the agency’s godowns and offices calling it ‘FCI Bachao Diwas’.
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THWAITES GLACIER
Researchers at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg are now saying that fears related to the melting of Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier are worse than previously thought, owing to the supply of warm water flowing underneath at a rate underestimated in the past.
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Important Info :
‘LOST GOLDEN CITY’ IN EGYPT
Egypt announced the discovery of what is being touted as the most important find since the unearthing of King Tutankhamun’s tomb almost 100 years ago.
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NOURA AL-MATROUSHI
The United Arab Emirates named the next two astronauts for its space programme, including the country’s first woman astronaut.
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UAE space programme
Important Info :
Another notable Personalities
LILAVATI AWARDS
Union Minister of Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ presented the AICTE Lilavati Awards 2020 on women empowerment to the winners.
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Important Info :
Background
UMNGOT RIVER
Stiff resistance from at least 12 villages in Meghalaya has cast a cloud on a 210 MW hydroelectric project on Umngot, considered India’s clearest river.
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Important Info :
Recent protests
BEGGING
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and four States to file their response within three weeks on a plea seeking a direction to repeal the provisions criminalising begging.
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IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMME
Iran has started up advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges in a breach of its undertakings under a troubled 2015 nuclear deal, days after the start of talks on rescuing the accord.
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Important Info :
Vienna Talks
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ENGINEERING AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE (NEERI)
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has divested Rakesh Kumar, Director, National Environment Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI) in Nagpur of his post and transferred him to its headquarters in Delhi after allegations of corruption surfaced against him.
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Functions:
TERROR FINANCING
Extortion money paid to a terrorist organisation to protect one’s business is not terror funding, the Supreme Court has said in a judgment.
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TLR 7/8
The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), a Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) lab helped in the development of key molecule for Covaxin, the indigenous vaccine developed by the city-based Bharat Biotech International Limited.
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KHUJLI GHAR
Some villages in Nagaland are trying to revive a traditional form of punishment that seeks to check crime with an itch in time.
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SURYAKIRAN AEROBATIC TEAM (SKAT)
The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) will perform at an airshow at the Galle Face in Colombo from March 3 to 5 as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF).
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TUNI
The Metropolitan Magistrate Court (Railway Court) has served summons on 40 persons reportedly involved in the arson at the Tuni railway station in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in January 2016.
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GLOBAL ASSOCIATION FOR PHYSICIANS OF INDIAN ORIGIN (GAPIO)
Union Minister for Health addressed the Global Indian Physicians Congress, organized by the Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), through video conference.
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COMMON SURNAME
A section of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has signalled its opposition to changing a law that forces married couples to have the same surname.
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Important Info :
PIXXEL INDIA’S ANAND SATELLITE
PSLV-C51 mission was supposed to carry a satellite from Pixxel India, one of the several new start-ups. But eventually the satellite could not be part of the launch.
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LATERAL ENTRY
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) issued an advertisement seeking applications “from talented and motivated Indian nationals willing to contribute towards nation building” for three posts of Joint Secretary and 27 of Director in central government Departments.
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MARITIME INDIA SUMMIT 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’ on 2nd March via video conferencing.
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CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN GAMING
Government has decided to form Centre of Excellence in gaming and other related areas in collaboration with IIT Bombay.
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FARMER PRODUCER ORGANIZATIONS (FPOs)
Union Ministers for Agriculture celebrated the first anniversary of the Central Sector Scheme on “Formation & Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)”.
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CHIEF OF INTEGRATED DEFENCE STAFF TO CHAIRMAN CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE (CISC)
Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain took over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) on 02 Mar 2021.
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LAND PORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (LPAI)
The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) celebrated its 9th Foundation Day today at its Headquarter in New Delhi.
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NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT (NFSA), 2013
The NITI Aayog recently circulated a discussion paper on a proposed revision in the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
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What has the NITI Aayog proposed?
MOBILE TRAIN RADIO COMMUNICATION (MTRC)
Mobile Train Radio Communication (MTRC) System has been commissioned in Western Railway Trains in Mumbai.
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SUGAMYA BHARAT APP
Union Minister for Social justice and Empowerment will virtually launch “Sugamya Bharat App”
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SWACHHTA SAARTHI FELLOWSHIP
The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India under its “Waste to Wealth” Mission launched the “Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship”
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POMPEII
Archaeologists working at Pompeii have announced the discovery of a large ceremonial chariot, found with four wheels, its iron components, bronze and tin decorations, mineralised wood remains, and imprints of organic materials.
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PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB)
Jaideep Bhatnagar has taken over today as Principal Director General, Press Information Bureau.
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GEORGE’S ORTHODOX CHURCH
The centuries-old St. George’s Orthodox Church at Cheppad in Kerala faced demolition for widening of National Highway 66, but is now set to become a Centrally-protected monument of national importance with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recognition.
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CENTRAL REVENUES CONTROL LABORATORY (CRCL)
Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL), New Delhi was recognized as a Regional Customs Laboratory (RCL) of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) for Asia-Pacific Region.
About:
EXERCISE DESERT FLAG VI
The Indian Air Force is participating for the first time in Exercise Desert Flag along with air forces of United Arab Emirates, United States of America, France, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Bahrain.
About:
UDAIPUR SCIENCE CENTRE
The Udaipur Science Centre, at Udaipur, Tripura was dedicated to the people by the Governor of Tripura.
About:
Important Info :
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1951
Registration of political parties is governed by the provisions of section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
About:
Important Info :
Recent development:
MARITIME INDIA SUMMIT 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’.
Key highlights of the summit:
BETTER THAN CASH ALLIANCE
The Government of India, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and UN-based Better Than Cash Alliance hosted Merchant Digitization Summit 2021: Towards AatmaNirbhar (Self Reliance) Bharat with special focus on Himalayan Regions, North East Regions and Aspirational Districts of India.
About:
NAG RIVER
The Nag River Pollution Abatement Project has been approved at a cost of Rs. 2,117.54 crores.
About:
PRASHAD SCHEME
Union Minister for Tourism virtually laid the Foundation Stone for the project “Development of Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple, Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh” approved under PRASHAD Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.
About:
CAFE REGULATIONS
Union Minister for Road Transport looked into request by carmakers from the Society of India Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) to postpone implementation of BS 6 CAFÉ Phase II regulations to April 1st 2024, on the grounds that the industry is still recovering from the impact of COVID.
About:
FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2021: DEMOCRACY UNDER SIEGE
Freedoms in India have reduced, according to a report from a U.S. thinktank, Freedom House, resulting in India being classified as ‘partly free’.
About:
SEBI CALLS FOR MECHANISM TO PREVENT MARKET ABUSE
SEBI asked stock exchanges, clearing corporations and depositories to put in place a code of conduct and institutional mechanism to prevent fraud or market abuse by them and their designated persons.
About:
WORLD HEARING DAY
WHO is celebrating the world hearing day.
About:
Indian scenario
HURUN GLOBAL RICH LIST 2021
The world added 607 new billionaires, or more than three billionaires in two days, while India added 55 new billionaires, or more than one billionaire every week, in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, as per the 10th edition of Hurun Global Rich List 2021.
About:
NEGEV LIGHT MACHINE GUNS (LMGs)
The Army will begin inducting the first lot of 6,000 new Light Machine Guns (LMG) from Israel, with frontline troops on the borders set to receive them later this month.
About:
SANSAD TV
After nearly two years of work, the merger of the Lok Sabha TV (LSTV) and the Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) has been finalised and will be replaced by Sansad TV.
About:
HIMALAYAN SEROW
Himalayan serow was spotted in the Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam. It was spotted close to the border with Bhutan in Manas’s Bansbari-Mathanguri forest.
About:
KARNATAKA’S ENGINEERING RESEARCH POLICY
Karnataka launched the country’s maiden Engineering Research & Development (ER&D) Policy to raise its contribution to the sector in the country to 45% in the next five year.
About:
SPECTRUM AUCTION
The telecom spectrum auctions concluded after bidding for a day and a half, with the Centre garnering ₹77,814.8 crore in revenues.
About:
SRI LANKA’S WEST CONTAINER TERMINAL (WCT) PROJECT
Sri Lanka said it will develop the West Container Terminal (WCT) at the Colombo Port, along with India and Japan.
About:
QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2021
As many as 25 courses by Indian universities have figured in the top 100 globally, according to QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Important Info :
SIMLIPAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE
The Simlipal forest reserve area frequently witnesses forest fires during dry weather conditions. A fire which started in the biosphere reserve area in February and has been raging for nearly a week now, was finally brought under control.
About:
Similipal, which derives its name from ‘Simul’ (silk cotton) tree, is a national park and a tiger reserve situated in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
Similipal and the adjoining areas, comprising 5,569 sq km, was declared a biosphere reserve by the Government of India on June 22, 1994, and lies in the eastern end of the eastern ghat.
This protected area is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009.
MUNICIPAL PERFORMANCE INDEX (MPI) 2020
Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs announced the release of the final rankings of Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020.
About:
EASE OF LIVING INDEX (EoLI) 2020
Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs announced the release of the final rankings of Ease of Living Index (EoLI) 2020.
About:
CSIR FLORICULTURE MISSION
Recently, CSIR Floriculture Mission has been approved for implementation in 21 States/UTs wherein available knowledgebase in CSIR Institutes will be utilized and leveraged to help Indian farmers and industry re-position itself to meet the import requirements.
About:
CSIR’s Societal Portal?
NH – 248BB
The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways reviewed the progress of India’s First Grade Separated Urban Expressway, Dwarka Expressway (NH – 248BB).
About:
Key highlights:
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYAS
Union Education Minister announced opening of two new Kendriya Vidyalayas, one each in the state of Karnataka and Punjab.
About:
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
BAO-DHAAN
In a major boost to India’s rice exports potential, the first consignment of ‘red rice’ was flagged off to the USA.
About:
Important Info :
CERAWeek
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award at the Cambridge Energy Research Associates Week (CERAWeek) 2021 on 5th March via video conferencing.
About CERAWeek
About the Award
SHRAVAN
Department of ENT, Command Hospital, Southern Command, Pune celebrated the World Hearing Week from 24 February 2021 to 03 March 2021 to commemorate the World Hearing Day at ‘SHRAVAN’
About:
BLACK-BROWED BABBLER
Long-Lost Babbler Bird Documented in Borneo for the First Time in Over 170 Years. The Bird was last recorded between 1843 and 1848, when a scientist collected the first and only museum specimen.
About:
Borneo?
TEA GARDEN WORKERS IN ASSAM
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited tea gardens in Assam. One of the five promises Priyanka announced if Congress comes to power was increasing the per day wage of tea garden workers to Rs 365.
About:
INCOME TAX RETURNS
The latest government data shows a 6.6 per cent contraction in the number of income tax returns (ITRs) filed by individuals earning up to Rs 50 lakh in financial year 2019-20.
About:
QAnon
Some of former US President Donald Trump’s followers, who believe in the QAnon conspiracy, thought that he will return to power on March 4. Last year, the FBI said fringe political conspiracy theories including QAnon are a domestic threat.
About:
HARYANA’S QUOTA LAW
Haryana government notified a new law that requires 75% of private sector jobs in the state, up to a specified salary slab, reserved for local candidate.
About:
Legal issues in such laws
GAIRSAIN
A year after announcing Gairsain in Chamoli district as the summer capital of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister declared in the state assembly the town as a new administrative division of the state, a third commissionerate after Kumaon and Garhwal.
About:
FIRST STRATEGIC, COUNTER-TERRORISM DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDIA-NIGERIA
The National Security Adviser (NSA) of Nigeria visited New Delhi for the First Strategic and Counter-Terrorism Dialogue between India and Nigeria at the level of NSA.
About:
Important Info :
INDIAN MEDICINES PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION LIMITED (IMPCL)
Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL) has entered into a tie up with the Government e-Market (GeM) portal for selling its products online.
About:
Important Info :
NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO COMMEMORATE 75 YEARS OF INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE
The Government has constituted a National Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.
About:
Important Info :
12th March
INDIA – SWEDEN VIRTUAL SUMMIT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Sweden H.E. Stefan Löfven held a Virtual Summit where they discussed bilateral issues and other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
About:
SHADOWPAD
On March 3, Maharashtra Power Minister announced that a State Cyber Cell probe had found 14 Trojan horses in the servers of the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company. These malwares had the potential to disrupt power distribution in the State.
About:
What is ShadowPad?
UR
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, spiritual leader of most of the world’s Shia Muslims, told Pope Francis in a historic meeting in Iraq that the country’s Christians should live in “peace”.
About:
GAHIRMATHA MARINE SANCTUARY
A three-member panel constituted by the Orissa High Court made a field trip to the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary here and assessed the measures taken for the conservation of endangered olive ridley sea turtles.
About:
OVERSEAS CITIZENS OF INDIA (OCI)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reiterated through a gazette notification that OCI cardholders can lay claim to “only NRI (Non Resident Indian) quota seats” in educational institutions based on all-India entrance tests such as NEET, JEE (Mains), JEE (Advanced) or other such all-India professional tests.
About:
N S LAKSHMINARAYANA BHATTA
Noted Kannada poet, critic and translator N S Lakshminarayana Bhatta died at the age of 84.
About:
TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY DESK, CYBERABAD
In what is claimed to be the first-of-its-kind gender inclusive community policing initiative in the country, the Cyberabad police inaugurated a ‘Transgender Community Desk’ at Gachibowli Police Station in Rangareddy district, Telangana.
About:
NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA (NSD)
The government is actively considering giving the Institute of National Importance tag to the National School of Drama (NSD), as well as re-developing its campus in Delhi, NSD Society chairman and actor Paresh Rawal said.
About:
Do you know?
ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (EVMs)
The use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in some booths of the Paravur Assembly constituency in Ernakulam, Kerala is etched in the electoral history as they were introduced in the constituency in the 1982 polling, a first in the country.
About:
DRAFT COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PLAN (CZMP)
The draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) prepared by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai has met with criticism in Goa from locals, environmentalists and political parties.
About:
Important Info :
Goa scenario
INDIA SCIENCE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (ISRF)
Forty scholars from six countries have been awarded with the opportunity to carry out their research in Indian Institutes and Universities using state of the art facilities in these places.
About:
CHINESE DAM ON BRAHMAPUTRA
A draft of China’s new Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), which is set to be formally approved on March 11, 2021, has given the green light for the first dams to be built on the lower reaches of Yarlung Zangbo river, as the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet before it flows into India.
About:
Important Info :
M.T. SWARNA KRISHNA
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has flagged off an all-woman crew onboard Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) vessel m.t. Swarna Krishna, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said.
About:
SANAʽA
A Saudi-led military coalition mounted air strikes on Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital Sana’a after it intercepted 10 drones launched by the Iran-backed rebels.
About:
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
International Women’s Day 2021 is being celebrated on 8th of March with theme #ChooseToChallenge. It indicates that a “challenged world is an alert world, and from challenge comes change”.
About:
AIRBAGS
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a Gazette notification regarding mandatory provision of an airbag for passengers seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver.
About:
What are airbags?
Implications of this decision
Some of the other safety features in automobiles are:
ALI BOUMENDJEL
In a move aimed at improving its relations with former colony Algeria, France has admitted that its soldiers tortured and killed the Algerian lawyer and freedom fighter Ali Boumendjel, whose death in 1957 had until now been covered up as a suicide.
About:
Important Info :
Algeria?
STUDENTS ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF INDIA (SIMI)
Over 19 years after they were arrested, the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Surat has acquitted all 127 persons accused of “promoting a banned organisation”, the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in 2001.
About:
CALM2
In Australia, Leading scientists and medical experts are calling for the pardon of convicted child killer Kathleen Folbigg after a recent study showed that her victims — four of her children — may have died of natural causes.
About:
SINGORGARH FORT
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone for the conservation works of Singorgarh Fort in Madhya Pradesh. The President also inaugurated the newly carved Jabalpur Circle of Archaeological Survey of India.
About:
AGROFORESTRY IN THE SILK SECTOR
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed a MoU with the Central Silk Board on a convergence model for the implementation of Agroforestry in the silk sector under the ongoing Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme.
About:
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF)
50% CAP ON QUOTA
The Supreme Court decided to examine whether its nearly three-decade-old judgment which fixed reservation for the marginalised and the poor in government jobs and educational institutions at 50% needs a relook.
About:
Maratha quota law
DRINKING WATER
According to information provided to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources, Only half of government schools and anganwadis have tap water supply, despite a 100-day campaign for 100% coverage being launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry in October 2020.
About:
DEVARA KAADU
A boy was killed in a tiger attack at Belluru village in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu (Coorg) district, Karnataka. the Forest Department team has tracked the animal to a sacred grove or devara kaadu.
About:
SCHEMES OF WCD MINISTRY
For effective implementation of various schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, all major schemes of the Ministry have been classified under 3 umbrella schemes viz. Mission Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti.
Schemes included under the Umbrella Scheme are as follows:
AZADI KA AMRUT MAHOTSAV
The Prime Minister Modi led National Committee to commemorate 75 years of independence, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav held its first meeting.
About:
PROGRAMMES TO PROMOTE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Following below are the Programmes launched by Government to promote women entrepreneurship across the country.
About:
HELPLINE 139
Indian Railway announced integrated Rail Madad Helpline number “139” for all type of queries/complaints/assistance during travel.
About:
SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TOWARDS AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION (SATAT) SCHEME
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas informed Lok Sabha about SATAT scheme.
About:
WORLD HERITAGE SITES
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism informed Lok Sabha about the Declaration Of World Heritage Sites By UNESCO.
About:
TRISHUL MILITARY AIRBASE
Minister of Civil Aviation flagged off the first flight from Delhi to the newly upgraded Trishul Military Airbase, Bareilly Airport, Uttar Pradesh.
About:
MAITRI SETU
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Maitri Setu’ between India and Bangladesh.
About:
INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENT REGULATOR
The Supreme Court asked the government to explain why it had not set up an “independent environment regulator” to oversee green clearances.
About:
‘DESHBHAKTI’ BUDGET
Finance Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday presented a ₹69,000 crore ‘Deshbhakti Budget’ for the 2021-22 fiscal, replete with provisions seeking to inspire patriotism in the run-up to the 75th Independence Day, free COVID-19 vaccination, and a vision for “India at 2047”.
About:
AGRICULTURE VOLTAGE TECHNOLOGY
Union Minister of Agriculture informed Lok Sabha about the Agriculture Voltage Technology.
About:
AMMUNITION CUM TORPEDO CUM MISSILE (ACTCM)
A contract for construction & delivery of Eleven Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barges has been concluded with M/s Suryadipta Projects Private Limited, Thane, an MSME on 05 March 2021.
About:
FUEL CELL BASED AIR INDEPENDENT PROPULSION (AIP) SYSTEM
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved an important milestone in the development of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System by proving the land-based prototype on 8 March 2021.
About:
MOBILISING ELECTRIC VEHICLE FINANCING IN INDIA
NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) India released a new report ‘Mobilising Electric Vehicle Financing in India’.
About:
UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES PREVENTION ACT
There has been over 72% increase in the number of persons arrested under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities [Prevention] Act) in 2019 compared to year 2015, data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the Lok Sabha show.
About:
Important Info :
NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (NSAP)
The Centre must increase the “meagre” pensions provided for poor senior citizens, widows and disabled people, said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development in its report submitted to the Lok Sabha.
About:
Important Info :
UDUPI RAMACHANDRA RAO
Google is celebrating the 89th birthday of renowned Indian professor and scientist Udupi Ramachandra Rao, remembered by many as “India’s Satellite Man.” The doodle features a sketch of Professor Rao with a background of the Earth and shooting stars.
About:
Awards:
IT (INTERMEDIARY GUIDELINES AND DIGITAL MEDIA ETHICS CODE) RULES, 2021
The Kerala High Court restrained the Centre from taking coercive action against Live Law Media Private Ltd., which owns a legal news portal, for not complying with Part III of the new IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Arguments by Petition:
ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021
The Parliament gave its nod to the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with Rajya Sabha passing it. The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill last month.
About:
NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI LAWS (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) SECOND (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021
The Parliament has passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with Lok Sabha approving it. Rajya Sabha had already passed the bill last month.
About:
FLOATING SOLAR POWER PLANT, RAMAGUNDAM
The country’s biggest floating solar power plant till date, by generation capacity, which is being developed by the NTPC in the reservoir of its thermal plant at Ramagundam in Peddapalli district, Telangana, is set to be commissioned by May-June next.
About:
MSME
Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises inaugurated two technology centres at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, three extension centres of big technological centres and seven mobile Udyam Express.
About:
DUSTLIK
The India – Uzbekistan joint military exercise “DUSTLIK II” commenced in Foreign Training Node Chaubatia, Ranikhet (Uttarakhand). It will continue till 19th March 2021.
About:
INS KARANJ
Indian Navy’s third stealth Scorpene class Submarine INS Karanj has been commissioned at the Naval Dockyard Mumbai through a formal commissioning ceremony.
About:
KING BHUMIBOL WORLD SOIL DAY – 2020 AWARD
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) received the prestigious “King Bhumibol World Soil Day – 2020 Award” of FAO.
About:
PRADHAN MANTRI SWASTHYA SURAKSHA NIDHI (PMSSN)
The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN) as a single non-lapsable reserve fund for share of Health from the proceeds of Health and Education Cess levied under Section 136-b of Finance Act, 2007.
Salient features of the PMSSN
HERATH FESTIVAL
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on the occasion of Herath festival.
About:
QUAD
PM Modi will attend the first Quad Summit on March 12, 2021.
About:
INDIA – JAPAN SPACE TIES
Indian and Japanese space agencies reviewed cooperation in earth observation, lunar cooperation and satellite navigation, and also agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in “space situational awareness and professional exchange programme”.
About:
Space collaboration with other countries
SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Kindle version of Swami Chidbhavanandaji’s Bhagavad Gita.
About:
BAMIYAN BUDDHAS
Twenty years after being blasted out of Afghanistan’s rugged central highlands, one of the country’s famed Buddha statues made a brief virtual return as a three-dimensional projection filled the alcove that hosted the statue for centuries.
About:
The legacy of the Bamiyan Buddhas:
The significance of Bamiyan:
MENSTRUATION TABOO
In a public interest litigation, the Gujarat High Court passed an order proposing nine guidelines that the state should follow to end menstruation taboo and discriminatory practices pertaining to it.
About:
Judgements in the recent past pertaining to menstruation
GENOME MAPPING IN INDIAN OCEAN
Scientists from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Panaji onboard its research vessel Sindhu Sadhana will spend the next three months traversing the course of over 10,000 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean on a research project to reveal the internal working of the body of the ocean at a cellular level.
About:
TRUSTED TELECOM RULES
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has amended the licensing conditions for telecom companies to include defence and national security as parameters when purchasing ‘trusted telecom products’ and sourcing equipment from ‘trusted telecom equipment sources’.
About:
Background:
INNER-LINE PERMIT (ILP) SYSTEM
The Uttarakhand government, in a recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, had sought withdrawal of “inner-line permit” (ILP) system in Niti Valley of Chamoli district and Nelang Valley of Uttarkashi district for better border management and expansion of tourism in villages located there.
About:
TIRATH SINGH RAWAT
Tirath Singh Rawat has been sworn in as the new Uttarakhand chief minister. The 56-year-old MP from Pauri replaced Trivendra Singh Rawat who stepped down from the post.
Key constitutional provisions for CMs:
SHRAMIK KALYAN PORTAL
Indian Railways ensures 100% compliance of payment of minimum wages to contract workers through e-application Shramik Kalyan Portal.
About:
GANDHI’S DANDI MARCH
On the 91st anniversary of the historic salt march led by Mahatma Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off a symbolic 386-kilometre ‘Dandi march’, following the same route.
About:
Why did Gandhi call for the Dandi March?
STATE ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
The Supreme Court held that independent persons and not bureaucrats should be appointed State Election Commissioners.
About:
Article 243K?
MERA RATION MOBILE APP
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched Mera Ration Mobile App for the benefit of those ration card holders who move to new places in search of livelihood.
About:
AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV (INDIA@75)
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the ‘Padyatra’ (Freedom March) from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad and inaugurated the curtain raiser activities of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (India@75).
About:
LGBTIQ FREEDOM ZONE
In a resolution adopted, the European Parliament symbolically declared European Union, the entire 27-member bloc as an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone” – the acronym meaning lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer.
About:
2001 FO32
On March 21, the largest asteroid predicted to pass by Earth in 2021 will be at its closest. It is called 2001 FO32.
About:
High Speed:
MOBILE INTEGRATED NETWORK TERMINAL (MINT) SYSTEMS
The Indian Army is in the process of procuring Mobile Integrated Network Terminal (MINT) systems under Make II Category of DAP 2020.
About:
BRICS CONTACT GROUP ON ECONOMIC AND TRADE ISSUES (CGETI)
The BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) leads held their first meeting under India’s Chairship from 9-11 March 2021.
About:
Important Info :
AYYA VAIKUNDA SWAMIKAL
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects to Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal – a great thinker and social reformer of the 19th century – on his birth anniversary.
About:
MENINGITIS
World Health Assembly endorses the 1st ever resolution on meningitis prevention and control.
About:
Sri Lanka will soon ban the burkha or face veil, a Cabinet Minister said, as he announced the Rajapaksa administration’s latest policy decision impacting the minority Muslim community.
About:
Burial rights
BAMBOOSA BAMBOS
The “gregarious flowering of bamboo” inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) may pose a threat to wildlife in the Nilgiri biosphere, a major tiger and elephant habitat.
About:
Recent development
Important Info :
PLACES OF WORSHIP (SPECIAL PROVISION) ACT, 1991
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau called the Supreme Court notice to the government seeking a response on the PIL petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provision) Act, 1991, “unfortunate”.
About:
HONG KONG
The National People’s Congress (NPC) of China, the ceremonial legislature in Beijing, on March 11 approved what it called “a decision on improving Hong Kong’s electoral system”.
How does the new NPC amendment change Hong Kong’s political system?
MARTIAN BLUEBERRIES
According to a recent research paper, Martian ‘blueberries’ find a parallel on Earth.
About:
Recent development
WATER QUALITY TESTING FRAMEWORK
Citizens can now get the water quality in their taps tested at reasonable rates, as part of a monitoring framework rolled out by the Centre’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission.
About:
ZO PEOPLE
A Mizoram-based group representing the Zo indigenous people of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar has petitioned President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose sanctions on military-ruled Myanmar.
About:
Important Info :
AT1 BONDS
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has slapped restrictions on mutual fund (MF) investments in additional tier-1 (AT1) bonds.
What are AT1 bonds?
What action has been taken by the Sebi recently?
GLOBAL CENTRE FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
The World Health Organisation announced that it will set up a Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India.
About:
Reason for SEBI action
AEG12
A mosquito protein, called AEG12, strongly inhibits the family of viruses that cause yellow fever, dengue, West Nile, and Zika, and also weakly inhibits coronaviruses, according to scientists at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their collaborators.
About:
UK’S TURING SCHEME FOR STUDENTS
Having left the European Union’s flagship Erasmus scholarship programme after Brexit, the UK launched its own replacement called the Turing scheme to enable UK students to study abroad.
About:
INDEX MONITORING CELL (IMC)
Pointing out that the right to dissent should be the central focus of press freedom, independent journalist P. Sainath struck a dissenting note in the report submitted by the Index Monitoring Cell (IMC).
About:
Recommendations of report
View of P Sainath
COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Center has dissolved the Commission for Air Quality Management.
About:
PANEL ON MYTHICAL SARASVATI RIVER
The Centre has reconstituted an advisory committee to chalk out a plan for studying the mythical Sarasvati river for the next two years, after the earlier panel’s term ended in 2019.
About:
NewSpace India Limited
The NewSpace India Limited, a subsidiary company under the Department of Space will own and operate capital intensive space assets of ISRO as part of the space reforms process initiated in June last year.
About:
Key facts
COMOROS
Indian Navy Ship Jalashwa arrived at port of Anjouan in Comoros with one thousand metric tonnes of rice. This highlights the exemplary ties between India and Comoros within the framework of PM Modi’s vision of SAGAR ( Security and Growth for all in the Indian Ocean Region).
About:
ALL INDIA TOURIST VEHICLES AUTHORIZATION AND PERMIT RULES, 2021
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced a new scheme, under which any tourist vehicle operator may apply for an “All India Tourist Authorization/Permit” through online mode.
About:
LACHIT BORPHUKAN
Opposition parties in poll-bound Assam slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for referring to 17th century Ahom general Lachit Borphukan as a freedom fighter
About:
Criticism by opposition parties of Modi:
OTPRMS CERTIFICATES
Union Education Minister announced that in order to ensure hassle free access to verified Online Teacher Pupil Registration Management System (OTPRMS) Certificates, the Ministry of Education has decided to link the certificates with DigiLocker.
About:
OVER 60% OBC, SC POSTS VACANT IN IIMS
More than half of the faculty positions reserved for the OBCs in Central institutions of higher education are vacant while about 40% of those reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes also remain unfilled, Education Minister told the Lok Sabha.
About:
GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) moved a Bill in the Lok Sabha in which it proposed that the “government” in the National Capital Territory of Delhi meant the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi.
About:
Do you know?
GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD
The Supreme Court intervened on behalf of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustards over the birds falling dead after colliding with power lines running through their dwindling natural habitats in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
About:
Recent development:
NOTA
The Supreme Court asked the Centre and the Election Commission of India to respond to a plea that fresh elections should be conducted in constituencies where the highest number of votes polled are NOTA (None Of The Above).
About:
None of the Above (NOTA)?
ARMS IMPORTS
Arms imports decreased by 33% between 2011–15 and 2016–20 while India continues to remain the second largest arms importer after Saudi Arabia, according to a report from Swedish think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
India arms imports
Pakistan imports?
PROJECT RE-HAB
A pilot project launched in Kodagu, Karnataka entails installing bee boxes along the periphery of the forest and the villages with the belief that the elephants will not venture anywhere close to the bees and thus avoid transgressing into human landscape. This idea stems from the elephants’ proven fear of the bees.
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NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF FOOD TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND MANAGEMENT BILL, 2019
The Rajya Sabha passed the National Institutes of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019.
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BARALACHA
For the first time ever, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started work on reopening the crucial Baralacha Pass in Himachal Pradesh much before schedule to restore connectivity to Leh in Ladakh.
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BHAONA
The Congress in Assam has tweaked Bhaona for a political statement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens.
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KUNHIRAMAN NAIR
Guru Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair, a recipient of Padma Shri, died at the age of 104.
About:
Awards and honors
AIR POLLUTION
A report on Global air pollution was released from IQ Air, a Swiss air quality technology company specialising in protection against airborne pollutants, and developing air quality monitoring and air cleaning products.
Key findings:
RULE CURVE
The Supreme Court said the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary will be “personally responsible” and “appropriate action” will be taken on failure to give information on the ‘rule curve’ for the Mullaperiyar dam to the Supreme Court-appointed Supervisory Committee.
About:
Mullaperiyar Dam?
WORLD ENERGY TRANSITIONS OUTLOOK: 1.5°C PATHWAY
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released the World Energy Transitions Outlook report.
Key highlights of the report:
Important Info :
DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTION (DFI)
The Union Cabinet has cleared a Bill to set up a government-owned development finance institution (DFI) with initial paid-up capital of Rs 20,000 crore.
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CENSUS
The provisional data for the latest Census and National Population Register (NPR) will be available before the Lok Sabha election in 2024, according to information provided by the Union Home Ministry to a parliamentary committee.
About:
Aadhaar
MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2020
The Rajya Sabha passed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 that increases the time period within which an abortion may be carried out. The Bill was passed in March last year in the Lok Sabha.
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ORUNUDOI SCHEME
The Orunudoi scheme, with women as its primary target group, is perhaps the most popular one announced by BJP ahead of the Assam Assembly elections.
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Who is eligible?
THE JHARKHAND STATE EMPLOYMENT OF LOCAL CANDIDATES BILL, 2021
The Jharkhand government announced 75% reservation in private sector jobs with a salary of up to Rs 30,000 for locals.
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RCE OF COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME FOR STRENGTHENING OF TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH AND SIKKIM
The Union Cabinet has approved the Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission & Distribution in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs. 9129 crore.
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HANDICRAFTS AND HANDLOOMS EXPORT CORPORATION OF INDIA LIMITED (HHEC)
The Union Cabinet has approved the closure of Handicrafts and Handlooms Export Corporation of India Limited (HHEC), a Government of India undertaking under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles.
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STOP TB PARTNERSHIP BOARD
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare has been appointed Chairman of the Stop TB Partnership Board.
About:
Important Info :
AMICI CURIAE
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta made a strong appeal to the Supreme Court to frame guidelines to rein in lawyers appointed as the court’s amici curiae in various cases, especially sensitive ones.
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APPROPRIATION BILL
The Lok Sabha cleared the Appropriation Bill 2021-22, allowing the Central government to draw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for its operational requirements and implementation of various programmes.
About
Guillotine
Important Info :
Finance Bill
DE-NOTIFIED TRIBES (DNT)
Minister of for Social Justice and Empowerment informed Rajya Sabha about initiatives for development of Nomadic Tribes.
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ILO REPORT ON INDIAN WORKERS
The ILO report titled ‘Global Wage Report 2020-21: Wages and minimum wages in the time of COVID-19’ was recently released.
About:
Important Info :
Code on Wages, 2019
INTER-STATE MIGRANT WORKERS
Minister for Labour & Employment informed Rajya Sabha about initiatives for Safety of Inter-State Migrant Workers.
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TELEMEDICINE
Govt. of India’s National Telemedicine Service – eSanjeevani has crossed another milestone by completing 3 million (30 lakh) consultations.
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KASHMIRI PANDITS
Ministry for Home Affairs informed Rajya Sabha about the Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir Valley.
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FIRST VIRTUAL TRADE FAIR (VTF) BY APEDA
First Virtual Trade Fair (VTF) organised by APEDA to boost exports potential of India’s agricultural and processed food products during COVID19 pandemic drew huge response from participants, exporters and buyers from countries.
About:
Important Info :
Do you know?
BALANCE SHEETS OF POLITICAL PARTIES
According to a report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), BJP tops in declared assets.
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BIHAR LOKAYUKTA (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021
The Bihar Assembly passed the Bihar Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that proposes to punish people filing false cases before the anti- corruption ombudsman body to prevent any waste of time or misuse of the institution.
Background:
Salient features:
Important Info :
Criticism:
JOHN MAGUFULI
Tanzania was in mourning over the sudden death of President John Magufuli, an authoritarian leader and COVID-19 sceptic.
About:
Important Info :
Tanzania?
PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE
Social housing architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, founders of French studio Lacaton & Vassal, have been named the 2021 winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
About:
Important Info :
Pritzker Architecture Prize:
TEACHERS CONTESTING ELECTIONS
The Supreme Court stayed a Kerala High Court decision barring aided school teachers and non-teaching staff from contesting Assembly elections or engaging in political activities.
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TEACHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (TEIs)
Azim Premji University released the First volume on teachers & teacher education. It explore the landscape of Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) in the country, corruption in private TEIs, the support system needed for teachers and the problem of those who are on contract.
Key findings of report:
SUPPLEMENTARY DEMAND FOR GRANTS
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the supplementary demand for grants (second batch for 2020-21).
What happens if the government needs to spend additional money during the year?
THE INSURANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021
The Rajya Sabha passed the Insurance Amendment Bill, 2021 which increases the maximum foreign investment allowed in an insurance company from 49% to 74%.
About:
Foreign investment:
Investment of assets:
ROAD TRANSPORT
India will implement a GPS-based toll collection system and do away with all toll booths within a year, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari informed the Lok Sabha.
GPS-based toll collection system:
Vehicle Scrapping Policy:
ELECTORAL BONDS
Chief Justice of India agreed to urgently hear a plea by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms to stay the sale of a new set of electoral bonds on April 1, before the Assembly elections in crucial States such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Arguments by petition:
Important Info :
Arguments by Government:
SAAMAR CAMPAIGN
The Jharkhand government announced the launch of SAAMAR (Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anemia Reduction) campaign to tackle malnutrition in the state.
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DIATOM TEST
The Maharashtra (ATS) relied on a forensic test known as diatom tests for leads in the alleged murder case of Mansukh Hiran.
About:
Important Info :
Science behind the diatom test
ALUMINIUM-AIR BATTERY
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. has entered into a joint venture with Israel-based battery technology startup Phinergy to develop aluminium-air technology based battery systems for electric vehicles and stationary storage, as well as hydrogen storage solutions.
About:
Benefits
Important Info :
Concerns
IMPACT OF COVID ON POVERTY
India’s middle class may have shrunk by a third due to 2020’s pandemic-driven recession, while the number of poor people — earning less than ₹150 per day — more than doubled, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center.
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GĀYATRĪ MANTRA
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has funded a clinical trial at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, to determine if the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra, a religious hymn, and performing the Yoga practice of pranayama, can aid the quality of recovery as well as cure COVID-19 quicker in a subset of patients.
About:
Important Info :
Gāyatrī Mantra?
TIGER
Six tigers — four adults and two sub-adults — have been unaccounted for since March 2020 in the Ranthambore tiger sanctuary, Rajasthan. However, State forest officials are not willing to label them “missing” and denied reports that they may have been poached.
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GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX
Union Minister for Agriculture questioned in the Rajya Sabha the methodology and data accuracy of the Global Hunger Index (GHI) report, which has placed India at 94th among 107 countries in 2020.
About:
NFHS-4 vs CNNS of 2017-18
MMDR AMENDMENT BILL
Lok Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021 to streamline the renewal of the auction process for minerals and coal mining rights.
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THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED CASTES) ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021
The Lok Sabha passed The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that seeks to put seven castes under one nomenclature of “Devendrakula Vellalars” with some exceptions for some of the castes in certain districts of Tamil Nadu.
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GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND
More than 150 sq. km. of land is being made available for Phase I of a NITI Aayog-piloted ‘holistic’ and ‘sustainable’ vision for Great Nicobar Island, the southernmost in the Andaman and Nicobar group.
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HELIUM
India imports helium for its needs, and with the U.S. appearing set to cut off exports of helium since 2021, Indian industry stands to lose out heavily.
About:
U.S. and Helium
JAAPI, XORAI AND GAMOSA
As the polling date draws closer, decorative jaapis (field hats), hand-woven gamosas and bell-metal xorais are making frequent appearances in Assam.
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ANANGPAL II
The government has recently formed a committee to popularise the legacy of 11th-century Tomar king, Anangpal II.
About:
Important Info :
Maharaja Anangpal II Memorial Committee
KHADI MUJIB JACKETS
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has supplied 100 custom-designed “Mujib Jackets” that will be the attire of dignitaries during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Bangladesh on March 26 & 27.
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MEDICINE PRICE CONTROL
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the price of 81 medicines, including off-patent anti-diabetic drugs, helping to pass on the benefits of patent expiry to patients.
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Important Info :
INAS 310
Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 310, The Cobras, a maritime reconnaissance squadron of the Indian Navy based at Goa is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee on 21 March 2021.
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GRAM UJALA
Union Minister of Power launched the GRAM UJALA programme in Arrah, Bihar.
About:
Carbon Credit
Significance
LABOUR SURVEYS
The Labour Bureau and Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) signed a service level agreement for providing technical and manpower support to Labour Bureau in the conduct of All India Surveys on Migrant Workers & All India Quarterly Establishment based Employment Survey (AQEES).
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MILAN-2T
Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for supply of 4,960 MILAN-2T Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) to Indian Army at a cost of Rs 1,188 crore.
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NATIONAL AGRI-FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE (NABI)
Union Minister of Science & technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the new Advanced High Resolution Microscopy Facility at National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI).
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USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN
The birth anniversary of world-famous shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan was observed on March 21, 2021.
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WORLD SPARROW DAY
World Sparrow Day was observed on March 20.
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NATIONAL BANK FOR FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT BILL, 2021
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will introduce the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha.
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NEW NAGAR VAN SCHEME
Union Environment Minister has said that the new Nagar Van Scheme will help in creation of Urban forests in the cities.
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WHITSUN REEF
The Philippines government has claimed that around 220 Chinese boats have been spotted at a reef in the South China Sea waters controlled by Manila.
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The United Nations observes March 21 as the International Day of Forests, commemorating the green cover around the world and reiterating its importance.
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COVISHIELD
The government has decided to increase the interval between the first and second doses of Covishield to up to eight weeks in its ongoing vaccination drive against Covid-19.
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NATIONAL FILM AWARDS
The Jury for the 67th National Film Awards announced the winners for the year 2019. The announcement of the awards was delayed by almost a year because of the pandemic.
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Important Info :
GANDHI PEACE PRIZE
Gandhi Peace Prize for the Year 2019 and 2020 were announced.
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Important Info :
DRAFT PLAN FOR DISTRICT-WISE EXPORT PROMOTION
The government has readied a draft district-wise export promotion plan for 451 districts in the country after identifying products and services with export potential in 725 districts, Commerce Secretary said.
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GANGA QUEST
Ganga Quest 2021, an online competitive quiz was launched.
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UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR PROJECT SERVICES (UNOPS)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) entered into a partnership with the Government of Denmark to support the Union Government’s flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Mission in Uttar Pradesh.
About:
Important Info :
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)?
‘BULDHANA PATTERN’ FOR WATER CONSERVATION
Minister for Jal Shakti informed Rajya Sabha about the ‘Buldhana Pattern’ for water conservation.
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BILL NELSON
US President Joe Biden has nominated former Senator Bill Nelson to serve as the 14th NASA Administrator.
About:
Important Info :
Bhavya Lal?
WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY FORUM 2021
Telecom Minister Sanjay Dhotre represented India at the World Summit on Information Society Forum 2021.
About:
Indian scenario:
BAN ON BIKE RALLIES
The Election Commission ordered a ban on bike rallies 72 hours before polling and on the day of voting itself in the Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Assembly elections, citing instances of “anti-social elements” on bikes intimidating voters.
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UNHRC VOTE ON SRI LANKA
India abstained from a crucial vote on Sri Lanka’s rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
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Important Info :
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHRC)?
PERMANENT INDUS COMMISSION
After a gap of more than two and half years Indian and Pakistani delegations began the 116th Meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission.
About:
Recent meeting:
Important Info :
National Day of Pakistan?
SIXTH SCHEDULE
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Lok Sabha that “presently, there is no proposal to implement panchayat system in Sixth Schedule areas of Assam”.
About:
Important Info :
Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019?
HYDERABAD SISTERS
Eminent Carnatic vocalist and guru Lalitha died due to cardiac arrest. She was 70.
About:
#FreedomPineapple CAMPAIGN
Ties between China and Taiwan, which have historically been rocky over issues such as sovereignty, foreign relations and military build-up, are now being tested by pineapples.
About:
Important Info :
The larger dispute between Taiwan and China
PAROSMIA
Some people may experience parosmia as a symptom of COVID-19.
About:
Important Info :
Causes:
PRANIT
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a central PSU under Ministry of Power has established an e-Tendering Portal-PRANIT.
About:
NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION (NHM)
The Union Cabinet was apprised on the progress under National Health Mission (NHM) during FY 2019-20.
The Cabinet noted that NHM has envisaged new Initiatives in 2019-20 as:
Important Info :
Targets under it:
WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY
World Tuberculosis Day is being observed on 24th March, 2021 to raise public awareness about TB.
About:
Important Info :
UIGHURS
In a coordinated move, the European Union, the US, Britain, and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese officials and entities, for human rights abuses against Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province. The sanctions from EU, UK and Canada include travel bans and freezing of assets.
Significance:
Important Info :
Background:
CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA (CJI)
Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde has recommended Justice N.V. Ramana, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as the next top judge.
About:
Appointment of CJI:
‘DOUBLE MUTANT’ CORONAVIRUS VARIANT
A unique “double mutant” coronavirus variant — with a combination of mutations not seen anywhere else in the world — has been found in India, the Union Health Ministry said.
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ZABARWAN RANGE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked everyone to visit tulip garden, located at the foothills of Zabarwan range in Jammu and Kashmir.
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NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ALLIED AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS BILL, 2021
The Lok Sabha cleared the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals Bill, 2021. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha last week.
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CBSE ROLLS OUT ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
The Central Board of Secondary Education has rolled out a new assessment framework for Classes 6-10 in English, Maths and Science in collaboration with the British Council.
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Timeline:
INDIA TB REPORT
In 2020, there were 18.05 tuberculosis notifications, which was a fall of 24% from 2019 due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic, according to the India TB report released by the Health Ministry.
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SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION COMPANIES (SPACs)
Earlier this month, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an investor alert, which was the first warning of sorts, when it came to or special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).
About:
Important Info :
Indian scenario:
SUEZ CANAL
The Suez Canal, a critical shipping artery that connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas through Egypt, has been blocked after a large cargo ship ran aground while passing through it, bringing traffic on the busy trade route to a halt.
About:
Important Info :
Why is the Suez Canal blocked?
SHIGMO
With a rise in Covid-19 cases in Goa, questions are being raised over the scale of celebrations for the annual Shigmotsav.
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TIGER RELOCATION PROJECT
Recently, Sundari — a tigress shifted as part of India’s first inter-state translocation project in 2018 from Madhya Pradesh to Odisha — returned home.
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JUDICIAL VACANCIES
The Supreme Court asked the government to clarify on the status of 55 recommendations made by the Collegium for judicial appointments to High Courts six months to nearly a year-and-a-half ago.
About:
Important Info :
Appointment of Judges
WOMEN IN ARMED FORCES
The Supreme Court held that the Army’s “selective” evaluation process discriminates against and disproportionately affects women short service commission officers seeking permanent commission.
About:
Important Info :
Supreme court judgement of February 2020
INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL OF YOGA
AYUSH Ministry has set up an interdisciplinary team of experts to explore the potential of Yoga as a productivity enhancing tool for the population.
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‘MICE ROADSHOW – MEET IN INDIA’; CHHATRASAL CONVENTION CENTRE
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh will inaugurate the ‘Chhatrasal Convention Centre at Khajuraho developed under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism.
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100+ CURRICULUM BASED COMIC BOOKS
Union Minister of Education launched 100+ comic books created by teachers and students of CBSE schools and curated by NCERT on 24th March 2021.
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CENTRAL SCRUTINY CENTRE (CSC); IEPFA MOBILE APP
Union Minister for Corporate Affairs launched Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC) and Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s (IEPFA) Mobile App — two tech-enabled initiatives by Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC)
Important Info :
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s (IEPFA) Mobile App
2nd TRANCHE OF COMMERCIAL COAL MINING
India launched its 2nd Tranche of auction for commercial coal mining offering 67 mines for sale of coal. Union Coal Minister launched the auction process.
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Important Info :
Rolling auction?
CLIMATE DATA SERVICE PORTAL
India Meteorological Department celebrated World Meteorological Day on 23rd March, 2021. Dr. M. Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Science inaugurated Climate Data Services Portal of IMD on this occasion.
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YAMUNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Yamuna International Airport sign LoA for civil aviation security.
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UNITAR
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed gratitude to UN Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR). UNITAR has commended India’s remarkable progress in reducing the premature mortality from Non-Communicable Diseases.
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RTI REJECTIONS
The Centre has only rejected 4.3% of all Right to Information (RTI) requests in 2019-20, the lowest ever rate, according to the Central Information Commission’s annual report.
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Important Info :
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
With $200 billion of India’s trade flows with Europe, North America and South America at risk due to the blockage of the Suez Canal, the Department of Commerce is planning re-routing shipments through the Cape of Good Hope.
About:
Cape Agulhas
NISAR
NASA and ISRO are collaborating on developing a satellite called NISAR, which will detect movements of the planet’s surface as small as 0.4 inches over areas about half the size of a tennis court.
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TIGRAY
Eritrea will pull its troops out of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, said. It is a potential breakthrough in a drawn-out conflict that has seen atrocities carried out against civilians.
About:
Recent conflict:
MAHARASHTRA BHUSHAN AWARD
Legendary singer Asha Bhosle will be presented the Maharashtra Bhushan award for the year 2020, the State government’s highest honour.
About:
Important Info :
INDIAN BEAMLINE PROJECT
The third phase of the Indian beamline project, a facility for materials research set up under India-Japan Scientific and Technological Cooperation, was initiated on March 23, 2021, with special focus on industrial application research.
About:
TRIBAL TB INITIATIVE
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched ‘Tribal TB Initiative’ in pursuit of TB Mukt Bharat.
About:
NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME (NCAP)
In the presence of Union Minister of Environment the MoU was signed by representatives of State Pollution Control Boards, Urban Local Bodies and Institutes of Repute for 132 identified cities for implementation of city specific action plans under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
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INDO-KOREAN FRIENDSHIP PARK
India’s First Indo-Korean Friendship Park was jointly inaugurated by Mr Suh Wook, Minister of National Defence, Republic of Korea and Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri, at Delhi Cantonment on 26 March 2021.
About:
INDO-KOREAN FRIENDSHIP PARK
India’s First Indo-Korean Friendship Park was jointly inaugurated by Mr Suh Wook, Minister of National Defence, Republic of Korea and Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri, at Delhi Cantonment on 26 March 2021.
About:
EXIT POLL
Election Commission of India, in exercise of the powers under sub-section(1) of Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 has notified the period between 7:00A.M on 27th March, 2021 (Saturday) and 7.30 PM on 29thApril, 2021 (Thursday), as the period during which exit polls are banned.
About:
Important Info :
UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING
India delivered on its promise of 2,00,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) worldwide, sending a shipment bound for Copenhagen.
UN Peacekeeping:
HYPNEA INDICA; HYPNEA BULLATA
Two new species of seaweed have been discovered by a group of marine biologists from Central University of Punjab, Bathinda.
About:
CHINA, IRAN SIGN 25-YEAR ‘STRATEGIC PACT’
China and Iran signed what was described as a 25-year “strategic cooperation pact”.
About:
Background: Nuclear Deal and Sanctions
Important Info :
China and West Asia
MOITREE
On the occasion of the birth centenary of the founding father of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, renowned vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty has composed a new Raag named ‘Moitree’ as a tribute to the Bangabandhu.
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INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS
India and Bangladesh signed 5 MoUs in the fields of Disaster Management, trade, NCC, ICT and setting up of sports facilities during the official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh.
About:
During the visit a number of announcements were made.
Important Info :
Places visited
RESOLUTION 46/L1
India abstained from voting on a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that makes a wide-ranging and damaging commentary on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.
About:
Important Info :
Comment
CRYPTOCURRENCY
The corporate affairs ministry has announced companies will have to disclose any holding or dealings in cryptocurrencies or virtual currencies in their financial statements filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC).
About:
Important Info :
View of Government on Cryptocurrency
BIHAR SPECIAL ARMED POLICE BILL, 2021
The Opposition in Bihar has called a statewide bandh on March 26 to protest the passed of the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021 by the Bihar Assembly.
About:
PRODUCTION-LINKED INCENTIVE (PLI) SCHEME FOR MANUFACTURING OF MOBILE PHONES
The Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) has written letters to the NITI Aayog to consider declaring 2020-21 as zero year for production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing of mobile phones.
About:
Important Info :
How does 2020-21 being considered as zero year help cellphone makers?
INDIAN RHINOCEROS
With the BJP frequently invoking Assam’s world-famous one-horned rhino to connect with the people of the state, the animal has now become a part of poll rhetoric, with promises to save “the pride of Assam”.
About:
Important Info :
JUDICIAL REVIEW
A public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court by Wasim Rizvi seeking declaration of 26 verses of the Quran as unconstitutional, non-effective and non- functional on the ground that these promote extremism and terrorism.
Power of judicial review:
Important Info :
Reaction to the petition
POLLING AGENTS
The Election Commission’s recent decision to change the rules for appointing polling agents has sparked off a debate in West Bengal.
Who is a polling agent?
What is the role of a polling agent?
Important Info :
New regulations:
UNIFORM CIVIL CODE (UCC)
Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde lauded Goa’s Uniform Civil Code, and encouraged “intellectuals” indulging in “academic talk” to visit the state to learn more about it. Earlier in September 2019, the Supreme Court had described Goa as a “shining example” with a Uniform Civil Code.
About:
Directive Principles of State Policy
Important Info :
Does India not already have a uniform code in civil matters?
HEART OF ASIA – ISTANBUL PROCESS (HoA-IP)
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar reached Dushanbe on a three-day visit to Tajikistan. He will attend the 9th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process on Afghanistan.
About:
Important Info :
Recent conference
ROLE OF MICRO FORESTS IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined the role of micro forests in minimising the havoc caused by cyclones in coastal areas.
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INTERNATIONAL RANGER AWARD
Union Minister for Environment has congratulated Mahinder Giri, range officer of Rajaji Tiger Reserve for being the only ranger from Asia to win the prestigious International Ranger Award for his contribution towards conservation.
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PROROGATION
President Ram Nath Kovind has prorogued the fifth session of 17th Lok Sabha. The session had commenced on 29th January. President also prorogued the Rajya Sabha. The House was adjourned sine die on 25th of this month.
About:
Important Info :
Effects of prorogation on different categories of business pending before the House
EXAM WARRIORS
PM Modi unveils new version of ‘Exam Warriors’ to make them stress free before examinations.
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SABARMATI RIVER FRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, in its draft budget for 2021-22, has set aside Rs 1,050 crore for the Sabarmati River Front Development phase 2, work on which is to begin soon.
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Important Info :
Sabarmati river?
NACADUBA SINHALA RAMASWAMII SADASIVAN
A group of lepidopterists have found a new butterfly species in India.
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Important Info :
CULEX MOSQUITOES
With the change in season and rise in temperature, culex or common house mosquitoes have made a reappearance across Delhi.
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DUST WINDS
Dust-laden winds swept Delhi on Tuesday, pushing the air quality into the poor category and increasing the concentration of coarse particles in the air.
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Reason for Dust Winds in Delhi
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN INDIA’S HEALTHCARE SECTOR
NITI Aayog Releases Report ‘Investment Opportunities in India’s Healthcare Sector’.
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DIGHA & KANKARBAGH SEWAGE PROJECTS
Financing agreements for developing STPs and Sewerage network for Digha and Kankarbagh zones of Patna were signed between DK Sewage Project Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of VA Tech Wahagh) and PFS.
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WORLD IMMUNISATION AND LOGISTICS SUMMIT
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare digitally participated in a panel discussion on vaccine production and distribution across Asia at the “World Immunisation and Logistics Summit”.
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HOPE Consortium?
ĀNANDAM: THE CENTER FOR HAPPINESS
Union Education Minister inaugurates Ānandam: The Center for Happiness in IIM Jammu, to help students live a stress-free life.
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VAJRA PRAHAR 2021
The 11th edition of Indo-US Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR was conducted at Special Forces Training School located at Bakloh, HP in March 2021.
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PHALTAN-PUNE DEMU TRAIN
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar flagged off DEMU train from Phaltan to Pune via Lonand on 30.3.2021 through video conferencing.
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Important Info :
DEMU trains?
LIGHT UTILITY HELICOPTER (LUH)
The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) received the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the Indian Army from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC).
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JAMTARA
A library movement developed in a short span of time in Jharkhand’s Jamtara district is receiving a steady flow of students.
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GUIDELINES FOR FLOATING STRUCTURES
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued the guidelines for floating structures with a vision to set up world-class floating infrastructure all along the coastline in the upcoming projects.
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Significance:
INDIA-BAHRAIN JOINT WORKING GROUP ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
The 1st meeting of the Joint Working Group in the field of Renewable Energy between India and the Kingdom of Bahrain was held in virtual format.
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MK III ADVANCED LIGHT HELICOPTERS (ALH)
The Indian Navy received three “made in India” Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) from the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The helicopters are customised for coastal security.
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GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that it will give small investors direct access to its government securities trading platform.
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ROHINI COMMISSION
The Centre has extended the tenure of The Commission to Examine Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) headed by Justice G Rohini, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. The commission now has until July 31 to submit its report.
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DENMARK’S ARTIFICIAL ENERGY ISLAND PROJECT
The Danish government approved a plan to build an artificial island in the North Sea as part of its effort to switch to green energy.
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PROUD BOYS
Canada has announced that it will be designating the US-based far-right group ‘Proud Boys’ as a terrorist entity in an attempt to crack down on “ideologically motivated violent extremism” in the country.
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SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY OBSERVATORY (SKAO) PROJECT
A global collaboration for the world’s largest radio telescope took formal shape with the constitution of an Intergovernmental Council.
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The NITI Aayog has commissioned a study that seeks to examine the “unintended economic consequences” of judicial decisions that have hindered and stalled big-ticket projects on environmental grounds
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TRANS FATS
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has amended its rules to cap trans-fatty acids (TFAs) in food products, just weeks after it tightened the norms for oils and fats.
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GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND TECH PLATFORMS
The Centre has issued notice to Twitter after the micro-blogging site restored more than 250 accounts that had been suspended earlier on the government’s ‘legal demand’.
Indian Law:
ONE-PERSON COMPANIES (OPCs)
In her Budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced measures to ease norms on setting up one-person companies (OPCs).
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Budget 2021 proposals:
KA-226T UTILITY HELICOPTERS
The total indigenous content of the Ka-226T utility helicopters, to be jointly manufactured locally by India and Russia with Transfer of Technology (ToT), is between 27%-33%, said Chairman and MD of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) R. Madhavan.
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GENERAL K.S. THIMAYYA
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Gen. Thimayya Museum at Madikeri in Karnataka’s Kodagu district.
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THE PREVENTION OF INSULTS TO NATIONAL HONOUR ACT, 1971
Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district have booked the mother and brother of a farmer who had died during the farmers’ agitation in Delhi, under The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, after his body was allegedly draped in the national flag.
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CURRENCY SWAP
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) settled a $400 million currency swap facility from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), meeting the terms that the two countries had agreed upon.
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1st INDIA-EU HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT
The 1st High Level Dialogue (HLD), co-chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and the European Union Executive Vice-President & Trade Commissioner Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, was held on 5th February 2021.
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STARTUP INDIA SEED FUND SCHEME (SISFS)
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) has been approved for the period of next four years starting from 2021-22.
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JOSHIMATH
Glacier breaks off at Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on 7 February 2021, causing flash flood in Dhauliganga River, devastating the Dhauliganga Dam and endangering people.
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“Nai Roshni”, a scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women by Ministry of Minority affairs is being implemented across India.
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MEASURES FOR POPULATION CONTROL
The Government has been implementing the National Family Planning Program which provides voluntary and informed choices to the beneficiaries through a target free approach with the objective of checking population increase in the country.
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The Prime Minister Modi visited Haldia, West Bengal and dedicated to the nation the LPG import terminal, 348 km Dobhi – Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline section, which is part of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project.
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CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN KALAHANDI FOR SOYABEAN
The Union Minister of Agriculture informed Rajya Sabha about the setting up a Central Research Institute in Kalahandi for Soyabean.
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MEDICINAL PLANTS
Ministry of AYUSH informed Parliament about Medicinal plants.
Ministry of AYUSH is presently implementing following schemes:
NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS/HOSTELS
The Ministry of Education has decided to name residential schools/ hostels funded under Samagra Shiksha of MoE, as “Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose residential schools/hostels”.
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PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA (PMFBY)
To boost the safety of farmers’ crops and ensure maximum benefit of crop insurance reaches to farmers, the Government of India has allocated Rs 16000 crores for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for the fiscal year 2021-22.
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INDUSTRIAL PARKS
Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed Rajya Sabha about Industrial parks and industries in the country.
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EINSTEINIUM
A team of scientists at the Berkeley Lab has reported some of the properties of element 99 in the periodic table called “Einsteinium”, named after Albert Einstein.
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WORLD’S SMALLEST REPTILE
A chameleon discovered in the island country of Madagascar by scientists from Germany and Madagascar may be the world’s smallest adult reptile. The discovery has been reported in the journal Scientific Reports.
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AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION
Government of India informed Parliament about the initiatives to Promote Farm Mechanization.
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NORD STREAM 2 PIPELINE
In a development that could ratchet up tensions between the United States and Germany, the consortium building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has said that it has resumed work on the controversial project.
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DHEKIAJULI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the historic “martyr” town of Dhekiajuli in Assam, to lay the foundation stone for two medical colleges and launch a road and highway project.
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WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 on 10th February.
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UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
The U.S. announced plans to reengage with the much-maligned UN Human Rights Council that former President Donald Trump withdrew from almost three years ago.
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Functions:
CULTURAL HERITAGE OF INDIA
Minister of Culture and Tourism informed Parliament about the Measures taken by Government to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural heritage of India.
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ATP–CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (JATP – CoE)
DRDO signed a MoU with Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru for creation of JATP–Center of Excellence (JATP – CoE) in the premises of IISc to expand the scope and objective of existing Joint Advanced Technology Program.
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GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOODS (GLOFs)
A glacier break is suspected to have caused the flash floods in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli.
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LALANDAR [SHATOOT] DAM
A signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] for the construction of the Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam in Afghanistan took place over VTC on 9 February 2021.
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GUJARAT’S TWO-CHILD POLICY
Three candidates from the Municipal Corporations of Vadodara and Rajkot were disqualified on Monday under the two-child policy in place in the state for candidates. The nominations were challenged because each candidate had three children.
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INCREASING GLACIAL LAKES
Recent flash flood incident in Uttarakhand is another warning of the dangers that a Himalayan state like Uttarakhand faces from natural processes like landslides, snow avalanches cloudbursts or lake bursts.
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PRE AND POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP SCHEMES
Department of Social Justice & Empowerment informed Lok Sabha about the Modifications in Pre and Post Matric Scholarship Schemes.
The scheme wise important changes introduced are as follows:
ROAD ACCIDENTS
Union Minister for Road Transport has called for all-round efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that deaths due to road accidents are reduced by 50% by 2025.
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NATIONAL MONSOON MISSION
Minister of Earth Science informed Rajya Sabha about National Monsoon Mission.
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Following are the targets of Monsoon Mission:
NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE FOR MAKHANA
Union Minister of Agriculture informed Lok Sabha about National Research Centre for Makhana.
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LITHIUM
Atomic Minerals Directorate issues a clarification on media reports about Lithium Reserves in Karnataka.
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NATIONAL AYUSH MISSION (NAM)
Central Government is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through States/UTs for development and promotion of AYUSH systems of medicine including Ayurvedic system.
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The Mission inter-alia makes following provisions for promotion of AYUSH systems including Ayurvedic system:
MAJOR PORT AUTHORITIES BILL, 2020
Parliament passed the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020. Now the Bill will go to the President of India for his assent.
The salient features of the Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 are as under:
AMBEDKAR SOCIAL INNOVATION AND INCUBATION MISSION
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India has launched Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) under Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) on 30th September 2020.
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MIGRANT LABOUR
NITI Aayog has constituted a sub-group to prepare a National Action Plan for Migrant Workers.
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WORLD PULSES DAY
Union Agriculture Minister graces the occasion as chief guest on World Pulses Day.
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BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY FERTILIZERS CORPORATION LIMITED (BVFCL)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs accorded approval to the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Namrup (Assam) to sustain operations of it’s urea manufacturing units.
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KOO APP
Days After the Centre asked Twitter to “suspend or block” nearly 1,200 accounts, citing “misinformation and provocative content” on the farmers’ protest, several ministers and departments of the Union government have started flocking on Koo App — a homemade version of the social networking platform.
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UAE HOPE MISSION
The United Arab Emirates’ first mission to Mars entered the orbit of the red planet, seven months after the Emirati-built ‘Hope Probe’ was launched from Tanegashima in Japan.
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PRIVATISATION OF BANKS
The Union Budget has announced the privatisation of two public sector banks (in addition to IDBI Bank) and one general insurance company in the upcoming fiscal.
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KOCH RAJBANGSHIS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Assam and West Bengal, where he will address a community vital to upcoming Assembly elections in both states — the Koch Rajbongshis.
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Capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in connection with its three-year investigation in the co-location case.
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TAPOVAN DAM
Rescue operations resumed at the NTPC’s Tapovan hydel project tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, where about 35 workers were trapped after a snow avalanche triggered flash floods.
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VIJAYANAGARA DISTRICT
The Karnataka government issued a notification demarcating boundaries of the newly-formed Vijayanagara district.
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INDIA-AUSTRALIA CIRCULAR ECONOMY (I-ACE) HACKATHON, 2021
With the goal to enable talented innovative students and start-ups from Australia and India to address common national issues through innovative technology solutions, About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Australia’s national science agency (CSIRO) kick started the India-Australia Circular Economy (I-ACE) Hackathon, 2021.
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The four key themes for the hackathon are as follows:
SEAWEEDS MISSION
Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has launched a Seaweed Mission for commercial farming of seaweeds and its processing for value addition towards boosting national economy.
The Mission envisages the following activities:
SAKSHAM (SHRAMIK SHAKTI MANCH)
Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has launched SAKSHAM (Shramik Shakti Manch).
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INDIA’S FIRST CNG TRACTOR
India’s first-ever diesel Tractor, converted to CNG, will be formally launched by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways on February 12, 2021.
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The conversion, carried out jointly by Rawmatt Techno Solutions & Tomasetto Achille India, will help farmers increase their income, by lowering costs, and help to create job opportunities in rural India.
The more specific benefits of converting the Tractor to CNG for a farmer are :
MOVCDNER SCHEME
Prime Minister Modi initiated a scheme for development of commercial organic farming in the region during 2015 which later became to be known as “Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region” (MOVCDNER).
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WORLD UNANI DAY
World Unani Day was celebrated on February 11, 2021 to spread awareness about health care delivery through Unani system of medicine through its preventive and curative philosophy.
Hakim Ajmal Khan:
Important Info :
UDYANOTSAV
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, will open the annual “Udyanotsav” of Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 12, 2021. The Mughal Gardens will remain open for the general public from February 13, 2021 to March 21, 2021.
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The Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, is flanked by the iconic Mughal gardens — spread over 15 acres.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN & YOUNG GIRLS IN SCIENCE
On the International Day of Women & Young Girls in Science, Ministry of Women & Child Development in association with Ministry of Education and MyGov, Ministry of Electronics and Information technology launched an online campaign.
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THOLPAVAKOOTHU
For the first time, Tholpavakkoothu, the famous shadow leather puppets will tell stories of the epic Ramayana with the help of robots.
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INTER-CASTE MARRIAGES
Educated youngsters are showing the way forward to reduce caste and community tensions in India by tying the knot in inter-marriages, the Supreme Court said in a recent judgment.
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EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CAUSES IRREVERSIBLE CHANGES TO DNA
A study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru has debunked the assumption that damage to health from excessive consumption of alcohol can be reversed if one stops drinking.
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ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 2021
Lok Sabha today gave its nod to Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2021.
ABout:
HILSA
It has been reported that an old project to facilitate the movement of hilsa upstream along the Ganga to its spawning grounds of yore may come to fruition this year.
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Farakka Barrage Lock
ALPINE STYLE MOUNTAINEERING
The disappearance of three established international mountaineers while attempting to scale the world’s second highest peak, K2, in winter has spotlighted the extreme version of the sport – winter climbing.
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AC-III ECONOMY CLASS
Earlier this week, the prototype of a new rail travel class, AC-III Economy, was finalised for oscillation trails at the Indian Railways’ Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in Lucknow.
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CHILD BEGGARS
Union Minister of Women and Child Development informed Lok Sabha about the steps related to Child Beggars.
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SWAMI DAYANAND SARASWATI
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar paid tributes to Swami Dayanand Saraswati on his birth anniversary on February 12, 2021.
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WORLD RADIO DAY (WRD)
World Radio Day (WRD) is being observed on February 13.
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NETWIRE
Activist Rona Wilson, who has been imprisoned since June 2018 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case, filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on proceedings against him.
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What is NetWire?
VEMBANAD LAKE
Authorities have initiated preliminary steps to demolish the illegally constructed villas of Kapico Kerala Resorts Private Limited on Nediyathuruthu island in Vembanad Lake.
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MARIO DRAGHI
Former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi known as “Super Mario” was formally sworn in as Italy’s new Prime Minister, against the backdrop of the deadly coronavirus pandemic and a crippling recession.
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DETAILED GENOME MAP OF MALARIA VECTOR
Scientists have unveiled the detailed genome of the malaria mosquito vector, revealing thousands of new genes vital for the development of genetic control strategies of disease transmission.
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SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT THE WORKPLACE
The Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship launched the “Skill training on Gender Sensitisation and Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) at the workplace”.
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MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP (MGNF)
The Union Minister of Skill Development rolled out the Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF).
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SANKALP (SKILLS ACQUISITION AND KNOWLEDGE AWARENESS FOR LIVELIHOOD PROMOTION)
The Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship chaired a function ‘Transforming skilling through strategic partnerships under SANKALP’.
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MUSHAIRA
Union Ministry of Minority Affairs will organise “Mushaira” on the theme of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” in New Delhi on 20th February 2021 where renowned poets of the country will present their couplet.
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RASHTRIYA SANSKRITI MAHOTSAV
11th edition of ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ to be inaugurated on 14th February, 2021 at Cooch Behar Palace at Cooch Behar in West Bengal.
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BL Lacertae
Indian Astronomers have reported one of the strongest flares from a feeding supermassive black hole or blazar called BL Lacertae.
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MANDARIN DUCK
Floating in the Maguri - Motapung beel (or wetland) in Assam’s Tinsukia district for over a week is the spectacular and rare Mandarin duck. First spotted on February 8 by Madhab Gogoi, the duck has since become the star of the wetland.
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ARJUN MAIN BATTLE TANK (MK-1A)
Prime Minister Modi handed over the indigenously developed Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A) to the Indian Army at a ceremony in Chennai. The army will get 118 units of the Main Battle Tank, indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by CVRDE and DRDO along with 15 academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs.
Timeline:
Features:
STEEL IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued orders that all steel – whether produced from ore, billets, pellets or melting of scrap - would be allowed to be used for National Highway construction, as long as it meets the standards required for specific grades of steel.
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KOTIA CLUSTER
Andhra Pradesh held panchayat elections in three villages in the Kotia cluster, which is at the centre of a dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. This is the first time Andhra has held panchayat polls in any of these villages.
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CATALONIA
Spain's Catalonia voted in an election overshadowed by the pandemic and which Madrid hopes will unseat the region's ruling separatists more than three years after a failed bid to break away from Spain. The vote in the wealthy north-eastern region could see a high level of abstentions as Spain battles a third wave of coronavirus infections.
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CHITTAURA LAKE
Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of development work of Chittaura Lake on 16th February 2021.
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MAHARAJA SUHELDEV
Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial on 16th February 2021.
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PM VISIT TO TAMIL NADU
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several key projects at Chennai.
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SAGARIKA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stone of various projects in Kochi, Kerala
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SKILL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) informed Rajya Sabha about the Status of Skilled Youths in India.
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LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE
Proposals for tourism and port development in the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands have conservationists worried over the fate of some of the most important nesting populations of the Giant Leatherback turtle in this part of the Indian Ocean.
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Budget 2021:
NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has chosen Nigeria’s former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its first female and first African leader, handing her the task of restoring trust in a rules-based global trading system.
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GEO-SPATIAL SECTOR IN INDIA
The Ministry of Science and Technology Monday released new guidelines for the Geo-spatial sector in India, which deregulates existing protocol and liberalises the sector to a more competitive field.
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DIESEL AND PETROL PRICES
Diesel and petrol prices have hit record highs across the country, with petrol touching Rs 89 per litre in Delhi, and diesel reaching a new high of Rs 86.30 per litre in Mumbai.
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BASANT PANCHAMI / SARASWATI PUJA
Basant Panchami and Saraswati Puja are being celebrated in different parts of the country.
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SANDES
The National Informatics Centre has launched an instant messaging platform called Sandes on the lines of WhatsApp.
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DEVENDRA KULA VELLALAR COMMUNITY
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has said that the reports appearing in media about delisting of Devendra Kula Vellalar community from SC soon are completely misinformed.
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OIL & GAS PROJECTS IN TAMIL NADU
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation of key projects of the oil & gas sector in Tamil Nadu on 17th February 2021.
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AJMER SHARIF DARGAH
The Prime Minister Modi has handed over a Chadar that would be offered at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on the 809th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.
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AJAY MATHUR
International Solar Alliance (ISA) has announced Dr. Ajay Mathur as its new Director General following his election at the first special assembly of ISA members.
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ARTICLE 153 IN THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Dr. Kiran Bedi has been removed from the post of Puducherry Lieutenant Governor. Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan has been given additional charge as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
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E-CHHAWANI
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh launched E-Chhawani portal and mobile app in New Delhi on February 16, 2021.
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MARS MISSIONS
Two more rovers — NASA’s Perseverance and China’s Tianwen-1 — are set to land on Mars on February 18 and in May 2021 respectively.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover
Tianwen-1
TECHNOGRAHIS
An Enrolment Module for TECHNOGRAHIS, has been launched by The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
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PILOT PEY JAL SURVEKSHAN
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a Pilot Pey Jal Survekshan under Jal Jeevan Mission- Urban, JJM-U.
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SAHAJ MARG
The Prime Minister addressed the event organized to commemorate 75 years of Shri Ram Chandra Mission.
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RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN KRIDA STHAL
The President of India inaugurated the Rashtrapati Bhavan Krida Sthal (renovated Football Ground and Basketball Court) in the President’s Estate on February 16, 2021.
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BRIDGES IN ASSAM
Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of Dhubri Phulbari Bridge and perform Bhumi Pujan for construction of Majuli Bridge Assam on 18th February 2021.
Dhubri Phulbari Bridge
Majuli Bridge
MAHABAHU-BRAHMAPUTRA
Prime Minister Modi will launch the ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ in Assam on 18th February 2021.
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COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (CECPA)
The Union Cabinet has approved signing of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius.
The salient features of India-Mauritius CECPA are as follows:
BAIL
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted transit anticipatory bail to Shantanu Shivlal Muluk in the Greta Thunberg toolkit case registered by the Delhi Police in connection with the ongoing protests against the three farm laws.
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NATIONAL HYDROGEN MISSION
India has announced a National Hydrogen Mission. The proposal in the Budget will be followed up with a mission draft over the next couple of months.
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PLI SCHEME FOR TELECOM AND NETWORKING PRODUCTS
The Union Cabinet has approved Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 12,195 crore.
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JUVENILE JUSTICE
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development to amend the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 to introduce measures for strengthening Child Protection set-up to ensure best interest of children.
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WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT ARUVIKKARA
Prime Minister will inaugurate the 75 MLD (million litres per day) Water Treatment Plant at Aruvikkara in Kerala.
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SMART ROADS PROJECT
Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Smart Roads Project in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
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INTEGRATED COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE
Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Integrated Command and Control Centre at Thiruvananthapuram, kerala.
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KASARAGOD SOLAR POWER PROJECT
Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the 50 MW Kasaragod Solar Power Project in kerala.
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PUGALUR - THRISSUR POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT
Prime Minister will inaugurate the 320 KV Pugalur (Tamil Nadu) - Thrissur (Kerala) power transmission project.
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GREENPEACE ANALYSIS OF COST TO THE ECONOMY DUE TO AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution claimed approximately 54,000 lives in Delhi in 2020, according to a Greenpeace Southeast Asia analysis of cost to the economy due to air pollution.
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Cost Estimator
HUMAN CHALLENGE TRIALS
The UK is set to conduct the first COVID-19 human challenge trials (HCT) within a month from now.
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LIC IPO
Decks are being cleared systematically for the mega listing of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), India’s largest financial institution with assets of over Rs 32 lakh crore.
What has SEBI done to smoothen the LIC IPO process?
MSP GUIDELINES FOR SUGAR MILLS
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution issued separate guidelines for sugar mills and cane commissioners in regards to sale of sugar below the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of Rs 3,100/- per quintal.
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DELIMITATION COMMISSION
Delimitation Commission chaired by Retd. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai held a meeting in New Delhi with the Associate Members from Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, for seeking their suggestion on the process of delimitation in respect of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
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ALL INDIA SURVEYS
Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar launched Software Applications and instruction manuals with questionnaires for five All India Surveys on Labour.
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ASIA ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT AWARD-2020
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has received the Asia Environmental Enforcement Award-2020 awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
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Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB):
PARIKSHA PE CHARCHA 2021
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will interact online with students, teachers and parents all over the world during ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2021’.
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GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING OF NITI AAYOG
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the sixth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on 20th February 2021.
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TREE CITIES OF THE WORLD
Hyderabad has won a green contest among cities in India, and emerged one of the ‘Tree Cities of the World’.
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PERSEVERANCE ROVER
The shadow of NASA’s Perseverance rover was seen on the surface of Mars as it landed on the planet. With this, NASA is set to become the first space agency to fly a drone in the atmosphere of another planet.
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ANASTASIA
After 15 months, Anand Fernandes, a Mumbai sailor returned home. He was a crew member on the cargo ship Anastasia, which was stranded at a Chinese port due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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SHINNYU VILLAGE
Mon District Administration in collaboration with Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) completed the electrification of Shinnyu village under Mon district in Nagaland using solar power.
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RAILWAY PROJECTS IN WEST BENGAL
Union Minister of Railways, dedicated to the Nation series of Projects for development of Railway Infrastructure in West Bengal.
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‘GO ELECTRIC’ CAMPAIGN
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways launched the “Go Electric” Campaign to spread awareness on the benefits of e-mobility and EV Charging Infrastructure as well as electric cooking in India.
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SHAURYANJALI' PROGRAMME
The Union Home Minister attended the 'Shauryanjali' programme, organized to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
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Rash Behari Bose:
HELINA; DHRUVASTRA
Joint User Trials for the helicopter-launched version of the Nag anti-tank guided missile, ‘Helina’, and its Air Force variant ‘Dhruvastra’ have been carried out from Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) platform in desert ranges.
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INS PRALAYA
Indian Naval Ship Pralaya arrived at Abu Dhabi, UAE to participate in the NAVDEX 21 (Naval Defence Exhibition) and IDEX 21 (International Defence Exhibition), scheduled from 20 to 25 February 2021.
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TROPEX 21
Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff presided over the debrief of TROPEX-21 (Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise) at Kochi.
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Background:
DRONES FOR AGRICULTURE
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted conditional exemption for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) usage to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW).
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GOVERNING COUNCIL
The sixth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog was held today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing.
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AYESHA AZIZ
Ayesha Aziz is emerging as a role model for Kashmir women.
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CENTRE FOR DNA FINGERPRINTING AND DIAGNOSTICS (CDFD)
Vice President of India paid a visit to Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) in Hyderabad. He also inaugurated a Paediatric Rare Genetic Disorders Laboratory.
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TWIN OTTER-300 AIRCRAFT
The Ahmedabad-Kevadia seaplane returned from the Maldives on February 16 after a two-week maintenance tour at its home country. This was the third major suspension since its launch on October 31, 2020.
Why does the aircraft fly to Maldives?
GIG ECONOMY WORKERS
The UK Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers were to be considered workers and not freelance contractors, thereby making them eligible for all employment related benefits such as minimum wage, annual leaves, and insurance.
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DEATH PENALTY
On February 18, the 12-year-old son of Shabnam, a death row convict from Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha, appealed to President Ram Nath Kovind to “forgive” his mother.
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Legal options still available with Shabnam
SPUTNIK V
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has approached India’s apex drug regulatory body for emergency approval of Sputnik V.
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FOOTWEAR SIZING SYSTEM
By next year, India could have its own ‘Footwear Sizing System’, which will hopefully remove some of the confusion involved in buying shoes of ‘EU’, ‘UK’ or ‘US’ sizes, especially online.
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SAKA NANKANA SAHIB
The centenary of Sri Nankana Sahib massacre, which is popularly known as Saka Nankana Sahib, is being marked in an event there on February 21 this year.
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‘POPULATION VERSUS PLANET’ CONFERENCE
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare participated in WION and Zee Media’s ‘Population versus Planet’ Conference which is a part of its year-long campaign called 'Mission Sustainability: Population Vs Planet'.
Key highlights:
CARBON WATCH
Chandigarh became the first state or Union Territory in India to launch Carbon Watch, a mobile application to assess the carbon footprint of an individual.
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Important Info :
UNEMPLOYMENT
One of the top Twitter trends over the past few hours has been “#modi_rojgar_do”. The hashtag essentially asks Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide more employment.
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INDIA-MALDIVES RELATION
India and Maldives signed agreements on wide range of domains including fish processing, public broadcasting, sustainable urban development, road infrastructure and housing.
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RBI OMBUDSMAN SCHEMES
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Annual Report of the Ombudsman Schemes for the year 2019-20.
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Key highlights of the report:
LAXMI VILAS PALACE
Hearing arguments on the preservation of Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, a Gaekwadi heritage structure, the Gujarat High Court Chief Justice recalled a similar judgment by Allahabad High Court.
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JB EKKA COMMITTEE
The Assam government announced that the wage of tea garden workers will be increased from Rs 167 to Rs 217 per day. Although the tea garden managements pay the wages, the government fixes it.
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Important Info :
RAILWAY PROJECTS IN WEST BENGAL
The Union Minister of Railways dedicated to the Nation various infrastructure development and passenger amenity related works in North Bengal area.
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INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY
The Vice President Venkaiah Naidu celebrated the International Mother Language Day.
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Important Info :
Need to preserve indigenous languages:
SYAMA PRASAD MOOKERJEE INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at IIT Kharagpur on 23rd February 2021.
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GURU RAVIDAS
President Ram Nath Kovind said India's constitutional values of social justice, freedom, equality and fraternity are in line with Guru Ravidas's philosophy of life. He said this while addressing 'Shri Guru Ravidas Vishva Mahapeeth Rashtriya Adhiveshan in New Delhi.
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Important Info :
Key teachings:
IIT COUNCIL
The IIT Council has set up committees to look at greater autonomy for the elite institutions, in line with the National Education Policy recommendations, as well as reform of the academic Senate, grooming faculty to head the IITs, and innovative funding mechanisms.
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NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD)
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that India has become the first country in the world to identify the need for action for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
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VERTICAL LAUNCH SHORT RANGE SURFACE TO AIR MISSILE (VL-SRSAM)
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful launches of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM).
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DUTCH INDIAN WATER ALLIANCE FOR LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (DIWALI)
In order to find solutions for water related challenges a platform called DIWALI has been developed in which India and Netherlands could participate for designing solution for water challenges.
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CENTRAL ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION (CERC)
Pravas Kumar Singh took oath as Member of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).
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BIMA JYOTI
Life Insurance Corporation of India has introduced LIC’s Bima Jyoti a Non-Linked, Non-Participating, Individual, Savings Plan, which offers an attractive combination of protection and savings.
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SFURTI CLUSTERS
Union Minister for MSME inaugurated 50 artisan - based SFURTI clusters, spread over 18 States.
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PROJECTS IN ASSAM
PM Modi inaugurated important Oil & Gas projects and Engineering Colleges in Assam.
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DEVASTHAL TELESCOPE
The world-class 3.6 meter optical telescope set up at Devasthal has assumed global importance for observing a number of time-critical cosmic explosive events such as Gamma Ray Bursts and Supernovae.
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PAGRI SAMBHAAL MOVEMENT
As part of the ongoing farmers’ protest, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) is celebrating February 23 as ‘Pagri Sambhal Diwas’, where it has asked supporters across the globe to wear a green pagri/dupatta and post their pictures on social media, with the hashtag ‘Go green for farmers’.
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SMARTCODE PLATFORM
Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched SmartCode Platform.
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Cadmium (Cd) doped Silver Antimony Telluride (AgSbTe2)
Scientists have found a new Lead (Pb) free material which can efficiently convert waste heat to power our small home equipment and automobiles.
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NATIONAL AWARDS FOR TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION IN PETROCHEMICALS & DOWNSTREAM PLASTICS PROCESSING INDUSTRY
Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers presented the 10th National Awards for Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals & Downstream Plastics Processing Industry to the Awardees.
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KHELA HOBE
Over the last few days, Trinamool Congress as well as BJP leaders across the West Bengal ahead of the Assembly polls, have been raising the ‘khela hobe’ slogan.
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LEH AS EXAM CENTRE FOR CIVIL SERVICES CANDIDATES
In a first of its kind the Union Public Service Commission UPSC has opened a new centre for the Civil Services Examination, in Leh for the candidates from Union Territory Ladakh.
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CENTRAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE COUNCIL
The 22nd Meeting of the Central Employment Guarantee Council was held on 23.02.2021 under the Chairmanship of Union Minister of Rural Development.
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DRAFT NATIONAL MIGRANT LABOUR POLICY
NITI Aayog has prepared a draft national migrant labour policy.
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NATIONAL URBAN DIGITAL MISSION (NUDM)
The National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM) has been launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
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INDIA URBAN DATA EXCHANGE (IUDX)
Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX).
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PRODUCTION LINKED INCENTIVE SCHEME FOR PHARMACEUTICALS
The Union Cabinet has approved Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals over a period of Financial Year 2020-21 to 2028-29.
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Category of Goods:
The scheme shall cover pharmaceutical goods under three categories as mentioned below:
PRODUCTION LINKED INCENTIVE SCHEME FOR IT HARDWARE
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for IT Hardware.
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EMBARGO LIFTED ON GRANT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS TO PRIVATE BANKS
The Government has lifted the embargo on private sector banks (only a few were permitted earlier) for the conduct of Government-related banking transactions such as taxes and other revenue payment facilities, pension payments, small savings schemes, etc.
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CONSPIRACY
In granting bail to 22-year-old climate change activist Disha Ravi on Tuesday, the trial court in Delhi rejected the Delhi Police charge that she was part of a “larger conspiracy” to incite violence in the national capital on January 26.
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KODOKUSHI, KAROSHI AND HIKIKOMORI
Earlier this month, Japan appointed a Minister of Loneliness after the country’s suicide rate went up for tHe first time in 11 years.
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COURT ETIQUETTE
The debate around court etiquette in India was triggered again on February 23 after a Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde objected to a petitioner addressing judges as “Your Honour”.
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JAWS OF LIFE
Golfing legend Tiger Woods was involved in a major car accident in Southern California with multiple injuries.
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KARBI INSURGENCY
Over 1,000 militants of five militant groups of Karbi Anglong district ceremonially laid down arms at an event in Guwahati in the presence of Assam Chief Minister.
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HOUSEWORK COMPENSATION
In a landmark judgment delivered weeks after China enforced its new civil code, a divorce court in Beijing has ordered a man to compensate his ex-wife for the housework she did during five years of marriage.
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Comment over the ruling
NARENDRA MODI STADIUM
Motera cricket stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium, has been renamed from Sardar Patel Stadium to Narendra Modi Stadium.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (INTERMEDIARY GUIDELINES AND DIGITAL MEDIA ETHICS CODE) RULES 2021
Government has notified Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
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Salient features
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN COIMBATORE
PM Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stone of various development projects in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
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LPG TRANSPORTATION THROUGH INLAND WATERWAYS
Now LPG can be transported through Inland Waterways. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed an MoU with MOL (Asia Oceania) Pte. Ltd for transportation of LPG through barges on National Waterways-1 and National Waterways-2.
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Significance Of Project
GLOBAL BIO-INDIA 2021
To showcase the strength and opportunities of the India’s biotechnology sector at national level and to the global community, the second edition of Global Bio-India will be organised from 1-3 March 2021 on digital platform.
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SWACHH ICONIC PLACES
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti has announced the selection of the 12 iconic sites under Phase IV of Swachh Iconic Places (SIP).
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The places are:
CITY INNOVATION EXCHANGE (CiX) PLATFORM
The City Innovation Exchange (CiX) platform was launched by Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
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MAHAMRITYUNJAYA TEMPLE
Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the consecration ceremony of Mahamrityunjaya temple in Naugaon, Assam.
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INTEGRATED BAMBOO TREATMENT PLANT
Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) inaugurated the latest technology Integrated Bamboo Treatment Plant in the premises of North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) in Byrnihat near Guwahati.
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Other initiatives in the field of Bamboo
NDIA TOY FAIR
Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate The India Toy Fair 2021 on 27th February.
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2nd KHELO INDIA NATIONAL WINTER GAMES
Prime Minister Modi will deliver the inaugural address at the 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games on 26th February 2021.
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CAUVERY-VELLARU-VAIGAI-GUNDAR LINK SCHEME
Terming Tamil Nadu’s decision to utilise surplus water in the Cauvery basin ‘illegal’, Karnataka would approach the Supreme Court for a legal recourse.
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SECOND ADVANCE ESTIMATES OF NATIONAL INCOME, 2020-21
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the Second Advance Estimates of National Income, 2020-21 at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices.
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PURNAGIRI TEMPLE
Railway Minister flagged off Tanakpur (Uttarakhand)-Delhi Junction Special train. The train will connect Tanakpur with the national capital and bring socio-economic development in the region while pilgrims visiting Purnagiri temple will be benefitted with improved connectivity.
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COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA (CCI)
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs inaugurated the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) Regional Office (South) in Chennai.
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E-DAAKHIL PORTAL
E-Daakhil portal for Consumer grievance redressal is now operational in 15 States/UTs. Department of Consumer Affairs is now proactively following up with the states to launch e-filing portal at their ends.
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BOND YIELD
Rising yields on government securities or bonds in the United States and India have triggered concern over the negative impact on other asset classes, especially stock markets, and even gold.
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COVAX
Ghana has become the first country in the world to receive a shipment of coronavirus vaccines under the COVAX program.
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CHURMOSQUAGOGUE
In the heart of Berlin, a new sacred building is coming up with the aim of bringing Christians, Jews and Muslims to a single place of worship.
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CARACAL
The National Board for Wildlife and Union Ministry of Environment included the caracal, a medium-sized wildcat found in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, in the list of critically endangered species.
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SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA
Minister of Rural development inaugurated Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021 at Noida Haat.
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CHANNAPATTANA TOY MAKERS
The Channapattana toy makers thanked Prime Minister Modi for his support to the Indian toy makers.
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LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY (LDC)
The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has recommended graduation of Bangladesh from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC) as it fulfilled the eligibility criteria in terms of per capita income, human assets and economic and environmental vulnerability.
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Impact:
BIR CHILARAY
Shukladhwaja (1510–1571 AD), or more popularly Bir Chilaray, was the younger brother of Nara Narayan, the king of the Kamata Kingdom in present day assam in the 16th century.
PAKISTAN TO REMAIN ON FATF ‘GREY LIST’
Global money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided to keep Pakistan on its terrorism financing “grey list”.
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Important Info :
SWATI MOHAN
The world witnessed the historic landing of NASA's Perseverance Rover, the most advanced astrobiology laboratory ever sent to another world.
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BLOCKING OF CONTENT
Union Government clarified that no new provision has been made with regard to Blocking of Content in the recently issued Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules.
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AMAZONIA-1 SATELLITE
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch Amazonia-1 satellite of Brazil and 18 Co-passenger satellites through PSLVC51 rocket from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on February 28, 2021.
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NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY
National Science Day is being observed on 28th of February.
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MAGHA PURNIMA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Magh Purnima.
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SAHITYA AKADEMI FELLOWSHIP
A distinguished scholar, writer, translator and critic, Professor Velcheru Narayana Rao has been elected honorary fellow of Sahitya Akademi.
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