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16th & 17th February 2021 Current Affairs

 


GK Update of sixteenth and seventeenth February 2021 protecting the next information headlines: e-Chhawani, Pahela Phagun, International Solar Alliance, Urban Co-operative Banks, Marching Contingent Trophy-2021.

National News

1. Rajnath Singh launches e-Chhawani portal for on-line civic providers to Cantt Boards

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh not too long ago launched an internet portal ‘e-Chhawani’ and cellular app, to facilitate ‘ease of living’ and ‘ease of doing’ for the residents of the Cantonment Boards throughout the nation.
  • The ‘e-Chhawani’ portal will present on-line municipal providers to greater than 20 lakh residents throughout all 62 Cantonment Boards of India whereas sitting at dwelling.
  • The residents of cantonment areas can register their complaints relating to civic points and even get their paperwork like commerce licence, sewerage connectivity purposes via the portal
  • Jointly been developed by eGov Foundation, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE), and National Informatics Centre (NIC).
  • A cantonment board is a civic administration physique in India underneath management of the Ministry of Defence. It takes care of necessary duties equivalent to the supply of public well being, water provide, sanitation, main schooling, and avenue lighting and so forth.

International News

2. ‘Pahela Phagun’ spring competition celebrated in Bangladesh

  • The first day of the spring known as ‘Pahela Phagun’ was celebrated in Dhaka, Bangladesh regardless of the continued shadow of Corona pandemic within the nation. Cultural organisations held programmes at totally different venues within the metropolis to herald the start of the spring. Programmes had been held on the Suhrawardy Udyan, Nandan Manch of Shilpakala Academy and a number of other different places.
  • The Jatiya Basanta Utsab Udjapan Parishad organized the programme on the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Young ladies carrying yellow saris and youth wearing ‘Punjabis’ took half within the festivity.
  • The programme featured dance and musical performances. The conventional programme of ‘Basanta Utsab’ on the Fine Arts school in Dhaka college was cancelled since academic establishments have been closed until Feb. 28 by the federal government as a result of Corona pandemic.

Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:

  • Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina; Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka.
  • President of Bangladesh: Abdul Hamid.

3. China Overtakes the US as Largest Trading Partner of European Union

  • The People’s Republic of China has overtaken the United States (US) as the largest buying and selling accomplice of the European Union (EU) in 2020, in keeping with the info by the European Union statistics company, Eurostat.
  • Britain, which left the European Union in 2020, was the third-largest buying and selling accomplice for the bloc, behind China and the United States.
  • The commerce quantity of the EU with China reached 586 billion euros ($711 billion) in 2020, in comparison with 555 billion euros ($673 billion) for the US. Bilateral commerce with the UK reached 444.7 billion euros.
  • The EU exports to China rose by 2.2 per cent to 202.5 billion euros whereas imports from China elevated by 5.6 per cent to 383.5 billion euros.
  • Similarly, EU exports to the United States fell by 13.2 per cent in the identical interval and imports by 8.2 per cent.
  • Exports to the UK fell by 13.2 per cent, whereas imports dropped by 13.9 per cent.

Appointments News

4. Ajay Mathur elected new DG at particular meeting of ISA

  • The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has introduced Dr Ajay Mathur as its new Director-General following his election on the first particular meeting of ISA members. Dr Mathur replaces Mr Upendra Tripathy, who has served as Director-General for the reason that ISA was based in 2015.
  • ISA speed up the demand for and use of secure, sustainable, and inexpensive photo voltaic power for all. It goals to mobilize over $1 trillion USD of funding into photo voltaic initiatives by 2030 via targeted advocacy, coverage and regulatory assist, capability constructing, and overcoming perceived funding obstacles.

Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:

  • International Solar Alliance  Headquarters: Gurugram.
  • International Solar Alliance  Founded: 30 November 2015.
  • International Solar AllianceFounded: Paris, France.

5. Justice Puligoru Venkata Sanjay Kumar sworn-in as Chief Justice of Manipur HC

  • Justice Puligoru Venkata Sanjay Kumar has been sworn-in because the Chief Justice of Manipur High Court at Raj Bhavan, Imphal. He was appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur by the President of India. Prior to this, he served as a Judge within the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:

  • Chief Minister of Manipur: N. Biren Singh; Governor: Najma Heptulla.

6. Preeti Sinha appointed to go the United Nations Capital Development Fund

  • The UN Capital Development Fund has appointed Indian-origin funding and improvement banker Preeti Sinha as its Executive Secretary, the best management rank within the establishment. She succeeds Judith Karl.
  • He will work with a deal with offering micro-finance help to ladies, youth, small and medium-sized enterprises in under-served communities.
  • The New York-based United Nations Capital Development Fund is an autonomous UN group affiliated with UNDP. It was established in 1966.
  • The authentic mandate of UNCDF: to help growing international locations within the improvement of their economies by supplementing current sources of capital help via grants and loans.
  • The organisation offers micro-finance entry to the 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) of the world, to assist them unlock the complete potential of private and non-private finance.

Banking News

7. RBI constitutes 8-member professional panel for strengthening Urban Co-operative Banks

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted an eight-member professional committee on Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) to look at points and recommend a street map for strengthening the sector. The committee will probably be chaired by the previous RBI Deputy Governor N. S. Vishwanathan
  • Assess the regulatory measures taken by the RBI and different authorities in respect of UCBs and their influence during the last 5 years to establish key constraints and enablers in fulfilment of their socio-economic goal.
  • Review the present regulatory strategy and suggest appropriate measures to strengthen the sector.
  • Suggest efficient measures for quicker rehabilitation and backbone of UCBs and assess the potential for consolidation within the sector

Other members

  • Harsh Kumar Bhanwala: Former Chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) ,
  • Mukund Chitale: Chartered Accountant
  • NC Muniyappa and RN Joshi: retired Indian Administrative Service officers
  • MS Sriram: IIM Bengaluru Professor
  • Jyotindra Mehta: President of the National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies
  • Neeraj Nigam: Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Department of Regulation, RBI

Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:

  • RBI twenty fifth Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

Awards News

8. Delhi Police receives Best Marching Contingent Trophy-2021

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh introduced the trophies of finest marching contingents of the Republic Day Parade 2021 in New Delhi on February 15, 2021.
  • Jat Regimental Centre bagged the trophy of finest marching contingent among the many Tri-Services whereas Delhi Police was adjudged as the perfect marching contingent among the many Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and different auxiliary providers.

9. Theodore Baskaran gained Sanctuary Lifetime Service Award 2020

  • S. Theodore Baskaran who’s a author, a historian, a naturalist and an activist has gained the Sanctuary Lifetime Service Award, 2020. The award was instituted by the Sanctuary Nature Foundation.
  • Theodore Baskaran was chosen for the award within the mild of his dedication to the wildlife conservation. He gained the award for his writing prowess in English and Tamil contributing in the direction of the conservation discourse. He was additionally chosen for the award within the backdrop of inspiring the younger naturalists.
  • Some of his books within the English language include- Dance of the Sarus: Essays of a Wandering Naturalist; Book of Indian Dogs and A Day with the Shama: Essays on Nature.

Sports News

10. Assam authorities appoints Hima Das as DSP

  • Star sprinter Hima Das has been appointed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police by the Assam authorities.
  • The 21-year-old from Assam, generally known as ‘Dhing Express’ referring to the city close to her native village, is at the moment coaching on the NIS-Patiala and will probably be aiming to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics because the athletics calendar begins in a number of days.
  • The reigning world junior 400m champion, who gained a silver in ladies’s 400m within the 2018 Asian Games, was additionally a part of the gold-winning ladies’s 400m relay and combined 400m relay quartets within the quadrennial occasion in Jakarta.

11. Naman Ojha publicizes retirement from all types of cricket

  • Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha has introduced his retirement, from all codecs of cricket. He made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in 2000-01.
  • The 37-year-old from Madhya Pradesh holds the report for probably the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper within the Ranji Trophy. He has additionally represented India in all three codecs, that includes in a single Test, one ODI and two T20 Internationals.

Obituaries News

12. Indo-Pak War Veteran retired Major General BK Mahapatra passes away

  • War veteran Major General (retired) Basant Kumar Mahapatra, who had participated in main battles together with the 1962 Indo-China battle, and 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan battle, has handed away.
  • Hailing from Bhubaneswar in Odisha, Mahapatra was commissioned into armoured corps (Tanks) of the Indian Army as a Combat Officer and was popularly generally known as ‘Tank Man’. He was conferred with the celebrated Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).

13. Former Bihar-Jharkhand Governor & Jurist M Rama Jois, passes away

  • Noted jurist and a former Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand, Justice (Retd.) M. Rama Jois has handed away. The former Rajya Sabha MP, had additionally served because the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court. He was additionally a senior advocate within the Supreme Court of India.

Miscellaneous News

14. IIT Bombay launches fundraising marketing campaign ‘Cherish IIT Bombay 2021’

  • IIT Bombay has launched its first-ever annual fundraising marketing campaign in India, Cherish IIT Bombay 2021. As per data shared by the IIT, the funds will probably be used for the creation of world-class laboratory complexes, modernization of lecture halls and continuation of awards to draw and retain school.
  • The donations made to IIT Bombay by company our bodies and people are 100% tax-deductible underneath part 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act.

15. Kanchoth competition celebrated throughout J&K”s Chenab valley

  • The historic Kanchoth competition, an emblem of historic Nag tradition, was noticed with non secular fervour and gaiety throughout the Chenab valley area of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The competition is well known by locals, primarily Nag followers who imagine that on at the present time of Gouri Tritiya, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati obtained married and the latter insisted on a throne fabricated from snow as her marriage ceremony reward.
  • The competition is well known by locals, primarily Nag followers who imagine that on at the present time of Gouri Tritiya, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati obtained married and the latter insisted on a throne fabricated from snow as her marriage ceremony reward.

Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:

  • Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir: Manoj Sinha.

16. eleventh Edition of ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ inaugurated in WestBengal

  • The Governor of West Bengal, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the eleventh Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav at Cooch Behar Palace at West Bengal.
  • The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Culture, organised underneath the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme, since 2015, to have a good time the thought of unity in variety. The occasion was inaugurated within the presence of Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel.

Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:

  • West Bengal Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar.
  • West Bengal Capital: Kolkata.
  • West Bengal CM: Mamata Banerjee.
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