CURRENT AFFAIRS OF

FEBRUARY 2021

DEFENCE

The indigenously built Prabal class missile vessel which is participating in the Naval Defence Exhibition, NAVDEX 21 and International Defence Exhibition, IDEX 21 scheduled from 20 to 25 February 2021 in Abu Dhabi, UAE – INS Pralaya

INS Pralaya was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 18 December 2002. 

Participation of INS Pralaya in NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21, one of the leading international naval and defence exhibitions of the region, is aimed at showcasing the strengths of India’s indigenous ship building, in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’. In addition, participation of an Indian Navy Ship in NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21 also highlights close relations between India and UAE.

THE 16TH EDITION OF INDIA-US JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE BEING HELD AT BIKANER, RAJASTHAN FROM 08 FEB TO 21 FEB 2021 – YUDH ABHYAS

PERSONS

THE GOVERNOR OF TELANGANA WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN THE ADDITIONAL CHARGE AS LT GOVERNOR OF PUDUCHERRY FOLLOWING RESIGNATION OF MS KIRAN BEDI – TAMILISAI SOUNDARARAJAN

Puducherry Government • Lieutenant Governor ---- Tamilisai Soundararajan Additional Charge • Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy • Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar • Director General of Police Balaji Srivastava

THE CONTESTANT FROM TELANGANA WHO HAS BEEN DECLARED THE WINNER OF VLCC FEMINA MISS INDIA WORLD 2020 – MANASI VARANASI While Haryana's Manika Sheokand was declared VLCC Femina Miss Grand India 2020, Uttar Pradesh's Manya Singh was crowned VLCC Femina Miss India 2020 - runner-up.

THE NIGERIAN-AMERICAN ECONOMIST WHO HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO BE THE NEXT AND FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST AFRICAN DIRECTOR GENERAL OF WTO – NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade between nations. It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995, pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been established in 1948. The WTO is the world's largest international economic organization, with 164 member states representing over 96% of global trade and global GDP.

Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland

PLACES

THE CITY IN MADHYA PRADESH WHICH HAS BEEN RENAMED NARMADAPURAM AS ANNOUNCED BY ITS CM SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN –HOSHANGABAD

Narmada is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh. Hoshangabad was so far named after an attacker Hoshang Shah, but will be known after the lifeline Maa Narmada, which is a matter of happiness.

THE STADIUM IN SARDAR PATEL SPORTS COMPLEX, MOTERA, AHMEDABAD ALSO THE LARGEST CRICKET STADIUM IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER – SHRI NARENDRA MODI

The Narendra Modi Stadium, commonly known as the Motera Stadium, is a cricket stadium situated inside the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. As of 2021, it is the largest cricket stadium in the world and the largest stadium in the world, with a seating capacity of 132,000 spectators. It is owned by the Gujarat Cricket Association and is a venue for Test, ODI, and T20I cricket matches.

THE INDIAN CITY WHICH HAS BECOME THE ONLY CITY IN INDIA TO BE RECOGNISED AS TREE CITY OF THE WORLD ALONG WITH 119 CITIES FROM 63 COUNTRIES BY ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION AND FAO – HYDERABADThe United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are the countries with the maximum cities featured on the list, with 38, 15 and 11 cities, respectively.

Founded by John Rosenow in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. It was founded in October 1945. It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.

THE PLACES IN WEST BENGAL WHERE THE ELEVENTH EDITION OF RASHTRIYA SANSKRITI MAHOTSAV IS BEING HELD FROM 14 TO 28 FEBRUARY 2021 – COOCH BEHAR, DARJEELING AND MURSHIDABAD

The Governor of West Bengal Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar in the presence of Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel will inaugurate the 11th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav

THE AIRPORT IN UTTAR PRADESH WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN LICENSE TO OPERATE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS THUS MAKING IT THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN THE STATE – KUSHINAGAR

THE COUNTRY WHICH HAS EMERGED AS INDIA’S LARGEST TRADE PARTNER IN THE YEAR 2020 THEREBY REPLACING UNITED STATES IN THE TOP POSITION – CHINA

THE COUNTRY WHICH HAS REJOINED THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT TWO YEARS AFTER IT HAD WITHDRAWN FROM IT IN 2019 – USA

President Joe Biden reentered the United States in the Paris Agreement, as he had promised to do.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.Adopted by nearly 200 countries in the French capital on 12 December 2015, it came into force on 4 November 2016. The deal united all the world's nations - for the first time - in a single agreement on tackling global warming and cutting greenhouse-gas emissions.

THE CITY IN WHICH INDIA’S FIRST WETLAND CENTRE NAMED CENTRE FOR WETLAND CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED ON WORLD WETLANDS DAY – CHENNAI

On the occasion of Wetland Conservation Day on February 2, 2021, India established its first centre for wetland conservation in Chennai. The wetlands occupy around 4.6% of the country’s landmass.

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season.

SPORTS

THE INDIAN CRICKETER WHO HAS ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT FROM ALL FORMS OF THE GAME – YUSUF PATHAN

He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm offbreak bowler. 

THE PLACE IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR WHERE THE 2ND KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES WERE INAUGURATED BY THE PM SHRI NARENDRA MODI – GULMARG

THE TABLE TENNIS PLAYER FROM TAMIL NADU WHO HAS WON THE 82ND SENIOR NATIONAL TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP MENS' TITLE DEFEATING ANTHONY AMALRAJ IN THE FINALS – SARATH KAMAL

THE TABLE TENNIS PLAYER FROM DELHI WHO HAS WON THE 82ND SENIOR NATIONAL TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP DEFEATING REETH RISHYA IN THE FINALS IN PANCHKULA – MANIKA BATRA

THE TEAM WHICH HAS WON THE 12TH EDITION OF SYED MUSHTAQ ALI TROPHY 2021 CRICKET TOURNAMENT DEFEATING BARODA IN THE FINALS AT AHMEDABAD – TAMIL NADU

2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was the twelfth edition of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a Twenty20  Cicket competition that was played in India. It started on 10 January 2021, with the final taking place on 31 January 2021. Karnataka were the defending champions.

THEMES

THE THEME OF NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY OBSERVED ON 28 FEBRUARY 2021 TO MARK THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SIR CV RAMAN – FUTURE OF STI: IMPACTS ON EDUCATION, SKILLS, AND WORK

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was an Indian physicist known mainly for his work in the field of light scattering. With his student K. S. Krishnan, he discovered that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes wavelength and amplitude. This phenomenon was a new type of scattering of light and was subsequently termed as the Raman effect (Raman scattering). Raman won the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics and was the first Asian person to receive a Nobel Prize in any branch of science.

THEME OF WORLD THINKING DAY OBSERVED ON 22 FEB 2021 BY WORLD ASSOCIATION OF GIRL GUIDES AND GIRL SCOUTS – PEACEBUILDING

A Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. 

THE THEME OF WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2021 HELD ONLINE FROM 10 TO 12 FEBRUARY 2021 – REDEFINING OUR COMMON FUTURE: SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL

THE SLOGAN FOR AERO INDIA 2021, THE BIENNIAL AIR SHOW HELD IN BENGALURU FROM 03 TO 05 FEBRUARY 2021 – THE RUNWAY TO A BILLION OPPORTUNITIESAero India ShowAero India exhibition is organized every alternate year. It is one of the major exhibition for aerospace and defence industries with a public air show. It enables industry professional to gain market insights, announce new developments and gain media coverage. Aero India offers a unique platform to international aviation sector to bolster business.

MISCELLANEOUS

THE INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM (SIMILAR TO WHATSAPP) LAUNCHED BY NATIONAL INFORMATICS CENTRE, GOVT OF INDIA IS NAMED – SANDES

EIU DEMOCRACY INDEX 2020

Released by Economic Intelligence Unit

Rank Country Rank Country

1. Norway 53. India2. Iceland 68. Sri Lanka3. Sweden 76. Bangladesh4. New Zealand 84. Bhutan5. Canada 105. Pakistan

Note: India has slipped 2 positions from its ranking in 2019

BUDGET 2021-22The Budget proposals for 2021-22 rest on 6 pillars :

1. Health and Wellbeing2. Physical & Financial Capital, and Infrastructure3. Inclusive Development for Aspirational India4. Reinvigorating Human Capital5. Innovation and R&D6. Minimum Government and Maximum Governance

HIGHLIGHTS

1. A new scheme, titled PM Atma Nirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana, to be launched to develop primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.

2. Jal Jeevan Mission (URBAN) designed to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all 4,378 statutory towns in accordance with SDG Goal- 6.

3. 100 new Sainik Schools to be set up

4. 750 Eklavya schools to be set up in tribal areas

5. Proposal to set up a Central University in Ladakh

6. Vehicle scrapping policy to phase out old and unfit vehicles.

7. 100% electrification of Railways to be completed by 2023

8. Metro services announced in 27 cities.

9. National Hydrogen Mission to be launched to generate hydrogen from green power sources

10. No IT filing for people above 75 years who get pension and earn interest from deposits

11. DEPOSIT INSURANCE INCREASED FROM RS 1 LAKH TO RS 5 LAKH FOR BANK DEPOSITORS

12. TWO PSU BANK AND ONE GENERAL INSURANCE FIRM TO BE DISINVESTED THIS YEAR

13. AN IPO OF LIC TO DEBUT THIS FISCAL

14. A PORTAL TO BE LAUNCHED TO MAINTAIN INFORMATION ON GIG WORKERS AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

15. SOCIAL SECURITY TO BE EXTENDED TO GIG AND PLATFORM WORKERS

IMPORTANT DAYS OF FEBRUARY

World Wetlands Day: 02 February 2021 Designated by: Ramsar Convention Secretariat Theme: Wetlands and Water First Observed in: 1997

World Cancer Day: 04 February 2021 Designated by: Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Theme: I am and I Will (for 2020-21) First Observed in: 2000

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation: 06 February 2021 Designated by: U.N.O. First Observed in: 2013 Theme: No Time for Global Inaction, Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation

Safer Internet Day: 09 February 2021 Designated by: European Union Theme: Together for a better internet First Observed in: 2004

World Pulses Day: 10 February 2021 Designated by: U.N.O. First Observed in: 2020 Theme: Nutritious Seeds for a Sustainable Future

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 11 February 2021 Designated by: U.N.O. First Observed in: 2016 Theme: Women scientists at the forefront of fight against COVID-19

World Radio Day: 13 February 2021Designated by: UNESCOTheme: New World New RadioFirst Observed in: 2013

World Day of Social Justice: 20 February 2021 Designated by: UN General Assembly First Observed in: 2008

International Mother Language Day: 21 February 2021Designated by: UN General AssemblyTheme: Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and societyFirst Observed in: 2008

Rare Disease Day: 29 February 2021 (Last day of February)Designated by: European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS)Theme: Rare is many. Rare is strong. Rare is proud!First Observed in: 2008

DADA SAHEB PHALKE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS 2021

Best Actor (Female) – Deepika Padukone, Chhapaak

Best Actor (Male) – Akshay Kumar, Laxmii

Critic’s Best Actress – Kiara Advani, Guilty

CRITIC’S BEST ACTOR – SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT

BEST FILM – TANHAJI: THE UNSUNG WARRIOR

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM – PARASITE

MOST VERSATILE ACTOR – KAY KAY MENON

BEST DIRECTOR – ANURAG BASU, LUDO

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – VIKRANT MASSEY, CHHAPAAK

BEST ACTRESS IN SUPPORTING ROLE – RADHIKA MADAN

BEST ACTOR IN COMIC ROLE – KUNAL KEMMU, LOOTCASE

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2021Title Winner Runner-upMen’s Singles Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Daniil Medvedev (Russia)Women’s Singles Naomi Osaka (Japan) Jennifer Brady (USA)Men’s Doubles Ivan Dodig (Croatia) and Filip Polasek(Slovakia) Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (UK)Women’s Doubles Elise Mertens (Belgium) and Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova Mixed Doubles Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) and Rajeev Ram (USA) Samantha Stosur and MatthewEbden (Australia)

BOOKS IN NEWS

THE LITTLE BOOK OF ENCOURAGEMENT BY DALAI LAMA

BY MANY A HAPPY ACCIDENT: RECOLLECTIONS OF LIFE BY MOHAMMAD HAMID ANSARI (FORMER VICEPRESIDENT)

UNFINISHED BY PRIYANKA CHOPRA