Tuesday 23 February 2021
GK Update of twenty first and twenty second February 2021 masking the next information headlines: Australian Open 2021, Lakshadweep, Paris Climate Agreement, Smart Anganwadis, Skill college of jap India.
National News
1. Prakash Javadekar inaugurates Atal Paryavaran Bhavan in Lakshadweep
- The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, inaugurated the Atal Paryavaran Bhavan at Lakshadweep. Prakash Javadekar is on a four-day official go to to Lakshadweep from February 19 to 22, 2021.
- During the go to, the minister attended high-level conferences with the Secretaries of varied departments within the Lakshadweep administration, participated in varied official programmes at Suheli, Kadmat and Bangaram islands.
- The minister may even consider the most important progressive initiatives of the Union Territory’s Forest and Environment Department, in order that Lakshadweep undergoes complete improvement, with out compromising it’s dedication to nature.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Lakshadweep Capital: Kavaratti.
- Lakshadweep Administrator: Praful Patel.
International News
2. United States formally re-joins Paris Climate Agreement
- The United States has formally rejoined the Paris Agreement, beneath the Presidency of US President Joe Biden. Earlier, in November 2020, the US had formally exited the settlement on the order of then-President Donald Trump.
- The landmark Paris local weather settlement was signed in 2015, as per which international locations are anticipated to reinforce their commitments to curb greenhouse fuel emissions each 5 years. The targets of the worldwide pact are to restrict world warming to nicely beneath 2°C and pursue efforts to restrict it to 1.5°C.
State News
3. Kerala Government sanctions Rs. 9 crore to construct 48 ‘Smart’ Anganwadis
- The state authorities of Kerala has sanctioned Rs. 9 crores to construct ‘smart anganwadis’, by changing the traditional anganwadis into “smart” constructions with higher facilities. The state Department of Women and Child Development has given permission for 48 anganwadis within the state to assemble new buildings beneath the Smart Anganwadi scheme.
- These sensible anganwadis are being designed and constructed as a part of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
- These ‘smart anganwadis’ will present early childhood care by making the power extra child-friendly to nurture the psychological and bodily improvement of youngsters.
- It is anticipated to have varied facilities, starting from research corridor, kitchen, eating space, storeroom, artistic zone, backyard to swimming pool and out of doors play space as per the supply of land.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Kerala CM: Pinarayi Vijayan.
- Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.
4. Assam CM lays basis of first ability college of jap India
- The Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal has laid the muse of the first ability college of jap India in Darrang district in Assam. The state-of-the-art ability college could be constructed with a monetary outlay of Rs 1,000 crore.
- It will impart coaching to over 10,000 college students in 12 disciplines. The college is anticipated to be accomplished by 2026. It may have “understandings” with international locations like Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Japan, England.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Assam CM: Sarbananda Sonowal.
- Assam Governor: Jagdish Mukhi.
Economy News
5. S&P Global Ratings: India to be amongst fastest-growing rising economies in FY22
- The S&P Global Ratings has projected that India will probably be one of many fastest-growing rising market economies within the fiscal 12 months 2021-22, with a GDP development price of 10 per cent.
- The steady good efficiency by the agriculture sector, flattening of COVID-19 an infection curve, pickup in authorities spending and the just lately launched price range are a few of the elements for the optimistic development prospect of the nation.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- S&P Global Ratings Headquarters: New York, United States.
- President of S&P Global Ratings: John Berisford.
Defence News
6. L&T delivers one centesimal K9 Vajra howitzer to Indian Army
- Army Chief Gen Manoj Naravane has flagged off the one centesimal K9 Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzer constructed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its armoured system advanced at Hazira in Gujarat. L&T had accomplished the supply of all of the howitzers beneath the contract awarded in May 2017 forward of schedule.
- The K9 Vajra programme concerned the supply of 100 howitzers with related engineering assist package deal masking spares, system documentation and coaching. It additionally includes the upkeep switch of know-how to a military base workshop to assist the howitzers all through their operational life cycle.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- L&T CEO: S. N. Subrahmanyan.
- L&T Founded: 7 February 1938.
- L&T Headquarters: Mumbai.
- L&T Chairman: Anil Manibhai Naik.
7. Indian And Indonesian Navies Conduct PASSEX Exercise
- The Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy carried out the Passage Exercise (PASSEX) on February 18, 2021, within the Arabian Sea.
- The army train between the navies of each international locations goals to reinforce operational interoperability and total cooperation amongst them. Indian naval ship INS Talwar and the Indonesian Navy’s multirole corvette KRI Bung Tomo participated within the train.
Agreements News
8. India & Ethiopia Sign Agreements On Visa Facilitation and Leather Technology
- India and Ethiopia signed two agreements associated to visa facilitation and leather-based know-how. The Ethiopia Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen is on a 4-day go to to India to carry helpful and productive discussions on a spread of bilateral and regional points.
- During the course of conferences, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Ethiopian minister Hassen agreed to increase India and Ethiopia bilateral agenda particularly defence, financial, S&T, digital and cultural cooperation.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Ethiopia Capital: Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia Currency: Ethiopian Birr.
Ethiopia President: Sahle-Work Zewde.
Ethiopia Prime minister: Abiy Ahmed.
9. Indian Oil indicators pact with Greenstat Norway for hydrogen gas
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has signed a Statement of Intent with Greenstat Hydrogen India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Greenstat Norway, to arrange a Centre of Excellence on Hydrogen.
- Under this affiliation, a Center of Excellence on Hydrogen (CoE-H) together with CCUS and Fuel Cells, could be developed for clear power by IndianOil and M/s Greenstat in cooperation with Indo-Norwegian Hydrogen Cluster firms/organizations.
- Facilitate switch and sharing of know-how, know-how and expertise via the inexperienced Hydrogen worth chain and different related applied sciences together with hydrogen storage and gas cells.
- CoE-H will probably be a car for selling R&D tasks in Green and Blue Hydrogen between Norwegian and Indian R&D establishments/universities.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited Chairman: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya.
10. India & Maldives signal 5 offers to spice up infrastructure
- External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar was on a two-day official go to to the archipelago nation the Maldives to evaluate bilateral ties and improvement cooperation. During this go to, Mr S Jaishankar handed over 1 lakh further doses of the made-in-India COVID-19 vaccine to the Maldives.
- With this, the whole Covid vaccine doses gifted by India for the Maldives reaches two lakh. Jaishankar additionally supplied a $40-million line of credit score (LoC) to assist the event of sports activities infrastructure within the Maldives.
- Amendatory Agreement to repurpose an older EXIM Bank of India Line of Credit of USD 25 million for Road Devt.
- Letter of Intent between EXIM Bank and native authorities for financing a housing mission of 2000 items in Hulhumale.
- MoU on grant funding USD 0.5 million for a fish processing plant in Kendhikulhudhoo within the northern Maldives.
- MoU on capability constructing and change of content material and experience between Prasar Bharati and Public State Media, Maldives.
- MoU on sustainable city improvement between MoHUA and Ministry of nationwide planning, housing and infrastructure, Maldives.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- President of the Maldives: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
- Capital of Maldives: Male; Currency of the Maldives: Maldivian Rufiyaa.
Important Days
11. World Thinking Day: 22 February
- World Thinking Day, initially generally known as Thinking Day, is well known yearly on 22 February by all Girl Scouts, Girl Guides and different woman teams worldwide.
- The day is noticed to consider fellow brothers and sisters all over the world, handle their considerations and perceive the true which means of guiding.
- The theme for World Thinking Day 2021 is peacebuilding. Peacebuilding is on the coronary heart of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting and is as very important and related right now as for the final 100 years.
- By finishing the steps within the Stand Together For Peace exercise pack, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts will; Stand Strong, Stand up and Stand Together for peacebuilding.
12. International Mother Language Day: 21 February
- The International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is noticed yearly on 21 February to lift consciousness concerning linguistic and cultural range and to advertise multilingualism.
- The theme of the Day this 12 months, “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society”.
- International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. The UN General Assembly welcomed the proclamation of the day in its decision of 2002.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.
- UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.
- UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.
Sports News
13. Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka wins Australian Open 2021
- In tennis, Japan’s Naomi Osaka gained her fourth Grand Slam title on February 20, 2021, after she beat American Jennifer Brady within the ladies’s singles sport of the Australian Open ultimate 2021.
- The 4 Grand Slam title for Osaka comes two Australian Open titles (2021 and 2019) and two US Open title (2018 and 2020). In Men’s singles ultimate, Novak Djokovic claimed his ninth Australian Open crown and the 18th Major Grand Slam total, as he defeated Daniil Medvedev.
Winners of Australian Open 2021:
- Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) defeated Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
- Women’s Singles: Naomi Osaka (Japan) defeated Jennifer Brady (US)
- Men’s Doubles: Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Filip Polášek (Slovakia )defeated Rajeev Ram (US) and Joe Salisbury (UK)
- Women’s Doubles: Elise Mertens (Belgium) and Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) defeated Barbora Krejčíková (Czech Republic) and Kateřina Siniaková(Czech Republic )
- Mixed Doubles: Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) and Rajeev Ram of the US defeated the Australian pair of Samantha Stosur and Matthew Ebden.
Books and authors News
14. Vice President releases ‘Maverick Messiah’, a political biography on NTR
- Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has launched “Maveric Messiah”, a political biography on former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao authored by senior journalist Ramesh Kandula.
- NTR was ranked among the many high pioneers of ‘alternative politics’. His entry into politics and ‘dramatic’ success inside about 9 months of floating a regional social gathering gave a brand new route to nationwide politics.