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2021
February 2021
Current affairs
www.helloscholar.in
February 2021 Current Affairs
©helloscholar
Government Schemes ............................ 1 will bring investment of more than
COVID19.................................................... 5 ₹3,000 crore and generate huge direct
and indirect employment and taxes
National .................................................... 7
both.
Appointments ........................................ 37
Awards..................................................... 41 The core component of this scheme is to
offset the huge import of telecom
Dates ........................................................ 43
equipment worth more than Rs. 50
Economy ................................................. 46 thousand crores and reinforce it with
International .......................................... 54 ‚Made in India‛ products both for
Military .................................................... 58 domestic markets and exports.
Ranking ................................................... 60 The main features of this scheme are
Sports ...................................................... 62
o The scheme outlay is Rs.
Technology ............................................. 62
12,195 Crores over five
years.
o The eligibility for the
Government Schemes
scheme will be subject to
achievement of a
Production Linked Incentive (PLI)
minimum threshold of
Scheme for Telecom and Networking
cumulative incremental
Products
investment and
incremental sales of
The Cabinet has approved the
manufactured goods net
Production Linked Incentive (PLI)
of taxes.
Scheme for Telecom and Networking
o Financial Year 2019-20
Products. This approval comes in wake
shall be treated as the
of very encouraging success of PLI
Base Year for computation
related to Mobile and component
of cumulative incremental
manufacturing, which was announced in
sales of manufactured
April 2020. All major mobile component
goods net of taxes.
manufacturers of world are expanding
o The incentive structure will
their powerful footprints in India by
be as below: –
making investments, leading to exports
and giving jobs to thousands of Indians.
Year Year Year Year Year
1 2 3 4 5
This scheme will lead to incremental
production of around ₹2.4 Lakh Crores MSME 7% 7% 6% 5% 4%
with exports of around ₹2 Lakh Crores Others 6% 6% 5% 5% 4%
over 5 years. It is expected that scheme
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o Minimum Investment Central Guarantee Fund Scheme for
threshold for MSME has Educational Loans (CGFSEL) scheme
been kept at Rs. 10 Crores
and for others at Rs. 100 Central Guarantee Fund Scheme for
Crores. Educational Loans (CGFSEL)
o Once qualified, the
The Ministry of HRD has launched
investor will be
Central Government scheme of Interest
incentivized up to 20 times
Subsidy on educational loans for
of minimum investment
economically weaker sections of the
threshold enabling them
society. For this scheme, the students
to utilize their unused
capacity. should secured admission to any
o The Scheme will be of the approved courses after
operational from 1st April Class XII, in technical and
2021.
professional streams from
recognized institutes in India
only.
Pey Jal Survekshan under Jal Jeevan should belong to Economically
Mission Weaker Section (EWS) with an
annual gross family income not
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs exceeding Rs.4.50 Lakh.
has launched a Pilot project – Pey Jal
The other features of the scheme are
Survekshan under Jal Jeevan Mission
as follow:
(Urban).
Subsidy for loan amount up to
It will be conducted in cities to ascertain
Rs.7.50 Lakhs (even if loan is
equitable distribution of water, reuse of
more than Rs.7.50 Lakhs).
wastewater and mapping of water
Student to submit proof of
bodies.
income from the competent
It will be initially conducted in 10 cities authority appointed by the state
like Agra, Badlapur, Bhubaneswar, government.
Churu, Kochi, Madurai, Patiala, Rohtak, Scheme applicable for
Surat and Tumkur disbursements from the academic
year 2009 (even if the loan was
It will provide universal coverage of sanctioned earlier).
water supply to all households through Subsidy for the course and
functional taps. moratorium period only.
Student will be eligible for
interest subsidy only once either
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for the first undergraduate Jalabhishekam campaign Madhya
degree course or the post Pradesh
graduate degree / diploma
course in India. Jalabhishekam campaign was started by
Madhya Pradesh during COVID times.
Padho Pardesh Scheme
Around 57000 water structures were
This Scheme provides interest subsidy created via MNREGA scheme. It worked
on educational loans for overseas with aim – ‘water for every farm and
studies for the students belonging to work for every hand’. This will help in the
the minority communities. betterment of the villages.
The students should satisfy the following
parameters: These water structures cost over Rs.
2,000 crore and will irrigate 2.50 lakh
1. Secured admission to higher hectares of land without submerging an
studies abroad viz. Masters, M. inch of land.
Phil and Ph.D. levels only.
2. The student belongs to the
Economically Weaker Section
(EWS) of Minority communities Gold Monetization Scheme
with an annual gross family
income not exceeding Rs.6 Lakh. Revamped Gold Deposit Scheme (R-
3. The student has to submit GDS) i.e. Gold Monetization Scheme is
income certificate issued by in the nature of a fixed deposit in gold.
authorized officers appointed by The customers can deposit their idle
the respective State Governments gold under R- GDS which will provide
4. Subsidy is available for interest them safety, interest earnings and a lot
charged on the loan amount more.
disbursed during a financial year
Features
5. Available for course and
moratorium period only ✔ To mobilize the idle gold in the
6. The scheme is applicable for country and put it into productive use.
higher studies abroad.
7. The students obtaining benefits ✔ To provide the customers an
under this scheme shall not be opportunity to earn interest income on
given interest subsidy if he gives their idle gold holdings.
up Indian Citizenship during the
tenure of the loan. ✔ Short Term Bank Deposit (STBD) :
Tenure 1 to 3 years
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✔ Medium Term Government Deposit ✔ The Bonds will be denominated in
(MTGD) : Tenure: 5-7 years. multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic
unit of 1 gram.
✔ Long Term Government Deposit
(LTGD) Tenure 12-15 years. ✔ The tenor of the Bond will be for a
period of 8 years with exit option in
✔ The deposit will be accepted by the 5th, 6th and 7th year, to be exercised
Bank on behalf of the Central on the interest payment dates.
Government.
✔ Minimum permissible investment will
✔ Deposit Quantity Minimum : 30 gms be 1 gram of gold. The maximum limit
(gross) of subscribed shall be 4 KG for
individual, 4 Kg for HUF and 20 Kg for
✔ Deposit Quantity Maximum: No Limit
trusts and similar entities per fiscal year
(April-March) notified by the
✔ Nomination Facility is available for
Government from time to time. In case
deposits in single names in individual
of joint holding, the investment limit of
capacity.
4 KG will be applied to the first applicant
✔ Depositor will have option to receive only.
payment of simple interest annually or
✔ Price of Bond will be fixed in Indian
cumulative interest (compounding
Rupees on the basis of simple average
annually) on maturity. The option to be
of closing price of gold of 999 purity
exercised at the time of deposit.
published by the India Bullion and
Jewellers Association Limited (IBJA)
for the last 3 business days of the
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme week preceding the subscription period.
The redemption price will be in Indian
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme was Rupees based on simple average of
launched by Govt in November 2015, closing price of gold of 999 purity of
under Gold Monetisation Scheme� . previous 3 working days published by
Under the scheme, the issues are made IBJA.
open for subscription in tranches by RBI
✔ Payment for the Bonds will be
in consultation with GOI.
through cash payment (up to a
Features maximum of Rs. 20,000/-) or demand
draft or cheque or electronic banking.
✔ To be issued by Reserve Bank India
on behalf of the Government of India. ✔ The Gold Bonds will be issued as
Government of India Stocks under
Government Security Act, 2006. The
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investors will be issued a Holding Causes of Infant mortality –
Certificate for the same. The Bonds are
eligible for conversion into Demat form. Birth defects.
Preterm birth and low birth
✔ The investors will be compensated at weight.
a fixed rate of 2.50 per cent per annum Maternal pregnancy
payable semi-annually on the nominal complications.
value. Sudden infant death syndrome.
Injuries (e.g., suffocation).
✔ Bonds can be used as collateral for
loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to India’s�infant�mortality�rate�(IMR)�was�
be set equal to ordinary gold loan 32 in 2018, according to data released
mandated by the Reserve Bank from by the Registrar General of India. In
time to time. The lien on the bond shall 1971, it was 129. This shows IMR has
be marked in the depository by the improved significantly. Madhya Pradesh
authorised banks. had the worst IMR in the country at 48
while Nagaland had the best at 4.
Har Ghar Pani, Har Ghar Safai scheme
'SAANS' campaign
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder
The health department in Madhya Singh has virtually launched the ‘Har
Pradesh has launched the Social Ghar Pani, Har Ghar Safai’ mission as
Awareness and Action to Neutralise part of the government’s campaign to
Pneumonia� Successfully� (‘SAANS’) accomplish the goal of 100 per cent
campaign with the aim of reducing potable piped water supply in all rural
infant mortality due to pneumonia. households. The scheme is being
Around 4,000 Health and Wellness funded by the World Bank, Jal Jeevan
Centres have been set up in Madhya Mission of GoI, NABARD, and State
Pradesh for this purpose. Budget.
Infant mortality
Infant mortality is the death of an COVID19
infant before his or her first birthday.
The infant mortality rate is the number Brazil to purchase 20 million doses of
of infant deaths for every 1,000 live Covaxin vaccine
births.
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Health Ministry of Brazil signed a federal buildings for the next five days.
contract to purchase 20 million doses of He exhorted Americans to wear masks
Covaxin vaccine made by India’s Bharat and take other steps to prevent the
Biotech. The first 8 million doses is spread of the virus. He pointed out the
expected to arrive in March. death toll from the pandemic is higher
than the number of U.S. service
Total deaths in Brazil due to COVID-19 members killed in battle during World
increased to 251,498. It has total War I, World War II and the Vietnam
registered 10,390,461 cases. War combined.
The U.S., with about 4 per cent of the
world’s population, has recorded 25 per
India shipped covid19 vaccine to cent of the COVID-19 cases and 20 per
Africa
cent of the fatalities.
India has started shipping COVID-19
vaccines to Africa under the COVAX
facility. Last month, the MEA announced More than 1 crore 19 lakh COVID
that India plans to supply one crore or vaccine doses administered in country
10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 so far
lakh to United Nations health workers
under GAVI’s COVAX facility. Union Health Ministry said that more
than one crore 19 lakh COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, vaccine doses have been administered
abbreviated as COVAX, is a global to the beneficiaries so far. These include
initiative aimed at equitable access to 64,71,047 health care workers who have
COVID-19 vaccines led by the Global taken the 1st dose and 13,21 ,635 health
Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, care workers who have taken the 2nd
the World Health Organisation (WHO), dose. A total of 41,14,710 frontline
the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness workers have taken the 1st dose of the
Innovations and others. vaccine. A total of 1,61,840 vaccine
doses were given till 6 p.m. today, the
39th day of nationwide COVID-19
vaccination.
5 lac deaths in USA due to COVID
There are 12 States and Union
The USA recorded its 500,000th COVID- Territories, in which the first dose has
19 death. President Joe Biden held a been administered to more than 75 per
moment of silence and a candle-lighting cent of the registered health care
ceremony at the White House and workers. Active cases are now less than
ordered American flags lowered at
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1.5 lakh which is 1.34 per cent of total It is the first project of any Indian
cases and cumulative positivity rate is company producing Electrical vehicles in
5.19 per cent and it is declining. Two the international market. It will focus on
States – Maharashtra and Kerala account manufacturing two-wheelers, three-
for 75 per cent of total active cases in wheelers, and electric bicycles.
the country.
Global Bio-India
Israel launches Green Pass
The second edition of Global Bio-India
In Israel, people who have taken both will be organised from 1st to 3rd March.
Pfizer vaccine shots and who have The theme for this year is –
recovered from the virus get a ‚Green Transforming lives and tag line
Pass‛ certificate in the form of a QR Biosciences to Bioeconomy.
code or printout for people without
smart phones. The pass allows entry to Global Bio-India is one of the largest
gyms, swimming pools, hotels, biotechnology stakeholders’
entertainment venues and sporting conglomerates that is being co-
events. organised by the Department of
Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and
Businesses caught breaking the rules will Technology along with its Public Sector
be fined and the government is Undertaking, Biotechnology Industry
threatening to jail Israelis who forge Research Assistance Council, BIRAC in
green passes. Around half of Israel’s 9 partnership with industry association CII,
million residents have gotten at least Association of Biotechnology Led
one shot of vaccine. Enterprises and Invest India.
Global Bio-India 2021 is expected to
have representatives from more than 50
National countries with Switzerland being the
Indian company to setup electric
partner country and Karnataka as its
vehicle plant in Bangladesh
state partner till date.
An Indian company Omega Seiki will set The Biotechnology sector has emerged
up an electric vehicle plant in as an integral part of the Indian
Bangladesh. economy over the past few decades, and
the Government of India is playing a
The manufacturing unit will be set up
transformative and catalytic role in
near Dhaka with an investment of Rs.
100 crore.
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building a USD 150 billion bio-economy The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime
by 2025. Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has
approved Production Linked Incentive
The sector is recognized as one of the (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals over a
key drivers for India to achieve its USD 5 period of Financial Year 2020-21 to
trillion target. The first edition of Global 2028-29.
Bio-India 2019 at New Delhi was a huge
success that saw participation from over The Scheme will benefit domestic
25 plus countries. manufacturers, help in creating
employment and is expected to
contribute to the availability of wider
range of affordable medicines for
India� to� be� world’s� third� largest� civil� consumers.
aviation market
The scheme is expected to promote the
Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh production of high value products in the
Puri said in India Aircraft Leasing summit country and increase the value addition
that within a very short period of time, in exports. Total incremental sales of
India will be world’s third biggest civil Rs.2,94,000 crore and total incremental
aviation sector globally in overall terms. exports of Rs.1,96,000 crore are
estimated during six years from 2022-23
India plans to have 2000 aircrafts in
to 2027-28.
Indian sky in near future.
The scheme is expected to generate
Top 5 largest aviation markets –
employment for both skilled and un-
US skilled personnel, estimated at 20,000
China direct and 80,000 indirect jobs as a
UK result of growth in the sector.
Spain
It is expected to promote innovation for
India
development of complex and high-tech
India will be the world’s third largest air products including products of
travel market by 2024 when it overtakes emerging therapies and in-vitro
UK. The number of flyers globally could Diagnostic Devices as also self-reliance
double to 8.2 billion in 2037. in important drugs. It is also expected to
improve accessibility and affordability of
medical products including orphan
drugs to the Indian population. The
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme is also expected to bring in
Scheme for Pharmaceuticals
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investment of Rs.15,000 crore in the (c) Group C: Rs 1,750 crore.
pharmaceutical sector.
The scheme shall cover
The manufacturers of pharmaceutical pharmaceutical goods under three
goods registered in India will be categories as mentioned below:
grouped based on their Global
(a) Category 1
Manufacturing Revenue (GMR) to
ensure wider applicability of the scheme Biopharmaceuticals; Complex generic
across the pharmaceutical industry and drugs; Patented drugs or drugs nearing
at the same time meetthe objectives of patent expiry; Cell based or gene
the scheme. The qualifying criteria for therapy drugs; Orphan drugs; Special
the three groups of applicants will be as emptycapsules like HPMC, Pullulan,
follows- enteric etc.; Complex excipients; Phyto-
pharmaceuticals: Other drugs as
(a) Group A: Applicants having Global
approved.
Manufacturing Revenue (FY 2019-20) of
pharmaceutical goods more than or (b)Category 2
equal to Rs 5,000 crore.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients / Key
(b) Group B: Applicants having Global Starting Materials / Drug Intermediates.
Manufacturing Revenue (FY 2019-20) of
pharmaceutical goods between Rs 500 (c)Category 3 (Drugs not covered
(inclusive) crore and Rs 5,000 crore. under Category 1 and Category 2)
(c) Group C: Applicants having Global Repurposed drugs; Auto immune drugs,
Manufacturing Revenue (FY 2019-20) of anti-cancer drugs, anti-diabetic drugs,
pharmaceutical goods less than Rs 500 anti-infective drugs, cardiovascular
crore. A sub-group for MSME industry drugs, psychotropic drugs and anti-
will be made within this group, given retroviral drugs; In vitro diagnostic
their specific challenges and devices; Other drugs as approved; Other
circumstances. drugs not manufactured in India.
The total quantum of incentive (inclusive Rate of incentive will be 10% (of
of administrative expenditure) under the incremental sales value) for Category 1
scheme is about Rs 15,000 crore. The and Category 2 products for first four
incentive allocation among the Target years, 8% for the fifth year and 6% for
Groups is as follows: the sixth year of production under the
scheme.
(a) Group A: Rs 11,000 crore.
Rate of incentive will be 5% (of
(b) Group B: Rs 2,250 crore. incremental sales value) for Category 3
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products for first four years, 4% for the The Scheme shall, extend an incentive of
fifth year and 3% for the sixth year of 4% to 2% / 1% on net incremental sales
production under the scheme. (over base year i.e. 2019-20) of goods
manufactured in India and covered
Indian pharmaceutical industry is 3rd under the target segment, to eligible
largest in the world by volume and is companies, for a period of four (4) years.
worth USD 40 billion in terms of value.
The country contributes 3.5% of total The total cost of the proposed scheme is
drugs and medicines exported globally. approximately Rs.7,350 crore over 4
India exports pharmaceuticals to more years, which includes an incentive outlay
than 200 countries and territories of Rs.7,325 crore and administrative
including highly regulated markets such charges of Rs.25 crore.
as USA, UK, European Union, Canada
etc. India has a complete ecosystem for The scheme will enhance the
the development and manufacturing of development of electronics ecosystem in
pharmaceuticals with companies having the country. India will be well positioned
state of the art facilities and highly as a global hub for Electronics System
skilled/technical manpower. The country Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) on
also has a number of renowned account of integration with global value
pharmaceutical educational and chains, thereby becoming a destination
research institutes and a robust support for IT Hardware exports. The scheme has
of allied industries. an employment generation potential of
over 1,80,000 (direct and indirect) over 4
years.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Currently, the laptop and tablet demand
Scheme for IT Hardware in India is largely met through imports
valued at USD 4.21 billion and USD 0.41
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime billion respectively in 2019-20. The
Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has market for IT Hardware is dominated by
approved the Production Linked 6-7 companies globally which account
Incentive (PLI) Scheme for IT Hardware. for about 70% of the world’s market
The scheme proposes production linked share. These companies are able to
incentive to boost domestic exploit large economies of scale to
manufacturing and attract large compete in global markets. It is
investments in the value chain of IT imperative that these companies expand
Hardware. The Target Segments under their operations in India and make it a
the proposed Scheme include Laptops, major destination for manufacturing of
Tablets, All-in-One PCs and Servers. IT Hardware.
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Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom World's largest cricket stadium -
Teaching and Resources Project Motera stadium
The Centre, Nagaland government and The President of India – Ram Nath
the World Bank have signed a 68 million Kovind and union home minister – Amit
dollar project to enhance the Shah will inaugurate the world’s biggest
governance of schools across Nagaland cricket stadium – Motera Stadium on 24
as well as to improve teaching practices February.
and learning environments in select
schools. Motera stadium is spread over 63 acres
land. It has seating capacity for 1,32,000
The ‚Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom spectators. The total stadium area is
Teaching and Resources Project‛ will 2,38,714 square metres, which is
improve classroom instruction; create equivalent to 32 Olympic size soccer
opportunities for the professional fields.
development of teachers. The stadium has 11 pitches using red
soil and black soil.
It will also build technology systems to
provide students and teachers with It is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is
more access to blended and online the largest cricket stadium in the world
learning as well as allow better and the second largest stadium overall.
monitoring of policies and programs. It is also known as Sardar Patel Stadium.
Rungrado 1st of May Stadium located in
Pyongyang, North Korea is the largest
stadium in the world.
Purushottam Sriram Airport, Ayodhya
The stadium was constructed in 1983
The under-construction airport in and was first renovated in 2006. In 2015,
Ayodhya will be named Maryada the stadium was closed and rebuilt by
Purushottam Sriram Airport, Ayodhya. It February 2020, with an estimated cost of
will be named after Lord Ram and a ₹800 crore (US$110 million).
provision of Rs 101 crore has been made
for it in the budget presented in the
Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
Bihar Budget
The budget also provides for Rs 2,000
crore for increasing the number of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore
airstrips at Jewar Airport from 2 to 6. Prasad presented an annual budget of 2
lakh 18 thousand 303 crore rupees for
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the state . He asserted that the India and Mauritius have signed
government will now push the women Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
workforce to the grassroots to ensure and Partnership Agreement (CECPA).
gender parity. This is the first trade Agreement signed
by India with a country in Africa. The
Bihar has laid out provisions to award Agreement is a limited agreement,
25,000 rupees to girls who pass which will cover Trade in Goods, Rules of
intermediate exams. Government will Origin, Trade in Services, Technical
also award 50,000 rupees to those who Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and
complete their bachelor’s degree. Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Dispute
Talking to the media after the budget Settlement, Movement of Natural
was tabled, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Persons, Telecom, Financial Services,
Kumar said that more than 20 lakh jobs Customs Procedures and Cooperation in
will be created in the state for youths. other areas.
He also said that an all-new sports
university will be established in Bihar.
AIIB provides USD 304 million loan to
Assam
Russian Scientists have detected first
case of transmission of Avian Flu to Union Government and the Asian
humans Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
signed a loan agreement for a 304
Russia has said that its scientists have million dollar Assam Intra-State
detected the first case of transmission of Transmission System Enhancement
the H5N8 strain of Avian Flu to humans. Project to improve reliability, capacity
Highly contagious strain H5N8 is lethal and security of the power transmission
for birds but it has never been reported network in the State of Assam.
before to have spread to humans.
The project aims to strengthen Assam’s
H5N8 is a subtype of the Influenza A electricity transmission system by
virus and is highly lethal to wild birds constructing 10 transmission substations
and poultry. H5N8 is typically not and laying transmission lines, upgrading
associated with humans. 15 existing substations and providing
technical assistance to support project
implementation. The total estimated
India and Mauritius sign cost of the project is USD 365 million of
Comprehensive Economic which USD 304 million will be financed
Cooperation and Partnership by the AIIB.
Agreement
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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the
Council of Scientific and Industrial
India becomes 1st country in world to Research (CSIR) have signed a
identify need for action for Non- memorandum of understanding to
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease support the development, conduct and
promotion of health research in the
India has become the first country in the country.
world to identify the need for action for
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. The According to the MoU, areas of research
abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver collaboration would include genetic
in the absence of secondary causes of diseases that impact infant and neonatal
fatty liver is a serious health concern as mortality; new diagnostics and devices
it encompasses a spectrum of liver for infectious disease and environmental
abnormalities. surveillance; development of cost-
effective processes for drug, vaccines,
biologics, and diagnostics
manufacturing; novel microbiome-
State Bank of Sikkim now under RBI directed foods; socio-economic impact
control of science and technological tools; and
other areas of health and development.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
brought State Bank of Sikkim under its
regulatory purview. State Bank of Sikkim
is a state owned banking institution Rajya Sabha Chairman urges 8
headquartered at Gangtok, Sikkim, India. parliamentary committees to ensure
50 per cent attendance
The Bank operates within the jurisdiction
of the State of Sikkim and in addition to The functioning of the eight Department
banking services, State Bank of Sikkim Related Parliamentary Standing
handles treasury functions of State Committees of Rajya Sabha has
Government of Sikkim. It was improved substantially over that of the
established in 1968 and has 52 previous two years.
branches.
Attendance has increased by 15 percent
and more than 16 percent improvement
has been observed in the average
CSIR and Bill & Melinda Gates duration of meetings since their
Foundation sign MoU in area of reconstitution in September, 2019.
health research
Rajya Sabha Chairman M.Venkaiah
Naidu urged the Chairmen and
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members of the 8 Committees to ensure IIT Gandhinagar is the only IIT in the
50 percent attendance in the meetings country which is running such a centre
of these Committees. for creative learning. The centre is
inculcating scientific temperament
He also asked them to target a among students and teachers by
minimum duration of two and half hours developing a range of scientific and
per meeting. educational toys.
Since September 2017, the 8 Th Toy fair is expected to help in
Committees of Rajya Sabha have held a changing the attitude of parents as well
total of 355 meetings including 134 in as teachers towards toys.
2017-18, 49 in 2018-19 and 172 since
September, 2019.
These committees are reconstituted in Railways to be fully electrified in
September every year by the Chairman Bengal
of Rajya Sabha. Each Committee has 10
members from Rajya Sabha and 21 from Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has said
Lok Sabha. Attendance of 11 of the 31 that railways will be fully electrified in
members of each committee constitutes three years in West Bengal.
the quorum.
Recently, the section from New
The 8 committees of Rajya Sabha have Jalpaiguri to New Coochbehar (126
average attendance of close to 50 Kilometers) was electrified. This section
percent in 172 meetings held since is vital for train movement towards
September, 2019. northeastern states.
This indicates 15 percent increase over
the average attendance of 42.90 percent
for the previous two years. Hoshangabad city in Madhya Pradesh
will be renamed as Narmadapuram
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj
National Toy Fair Singh Chouhan has announced that
Hoshangabad city would be renamed as
The first-ever National Toy Fair will be Narmadapuram.
organized from 27th February to 2nd
March virtually. IIT Gandhinagar based He made the announcement during the
Centre for Creative Learning (CCL) will Narmada Jayanti programme held in
showcase its unique 75 toy creations in Hoshangabad.
the fair.
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Hoshangabad is named after Hoshang in Nepal at a total cost of Nepali Rupees
Shah – the first ruler of Malwa. 518 million.
Hoshangabad district was part of the
Nerbudda (Narmada) Division of the Of the six schools, four including Kanti
Central Provinces and Berar, which Bhairab Secondary School, Champa Devi
became the state of Madhya Bharat Secondary School, Dhapasi Secondary
(later Madhya Pradesh) after India’s School and Bishnu Devi Secondary
independence in 1947. School are located in Kathmandu district
and remaining two Siddheshwar
Hoshang Shah had also destroyed Secondary School and Harisiddhi
temples, and constructed mosques in Secondary School are located in Kavre
their places. Apart from temples, he had district.
also destroyed other infrastructure, like
earthen dams built on Betwa river by
Raja Bhoj. He had demolished the dams
to destroy the massive water reservoir Maa Samaleswari
known as Bhopal Lakes built by Raja
Bhoj to store water. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
announced a Rs 200-crore package for
The Hoshangabad town, the the development of the 16th-century
headquarter of Hoshangabad district, is shrine of Maa Samaleswari. The
already also known as Narmadapuram SAMALEI (Samaleswari Temple Area
among the locals. This is because the Management and Local Economy
district lies in the valley of Narmada Initiatives) project will be implemented
river. The town located on the south during the 2021-22 fiscal.
bank of the river.
Samleswari Temple is a Hindu temple in
The locals in the area had been Sambalpur, Western Odisha, dedicated
demanding that Hoshangabad should to the goddess known as ‘Samleswari’.
be renamed Narmadapuram.
It envisages construction of –
a km-long walkway for
India, Nepal sign MoU for ‘parikrama’
reconstruction of six secondary separate entry and exit gates
schools in Himalayan Nation emergency facilities for the
temple office
India and Nepal signed a Memorandum interpretation centre and
of Understanding (MoU) for the preservation of Gopalji Math
reconstruction of six secondary schools besides accommodation
parking facilities
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toilets sewerage, urban transport, parks to
information kiosks and donation people.
centres
Housing will be developed for
servitors
a 30- metre-wide road will be Sexual harassment
constructed from the temple to
Harassment
the Mahanadi Gate Road.
According to a 2016 survey by charity
Action Aid UK that polled 502 women
living across Indian cities, nearly four out
of five of them faced harassment in
Kasaragod Solar Power Project public places, from ‚staring, insults to
wolf-whistling‛.
Prime Minister will inaugurate 50 MW
Kasaragod Solar Power Project in kerala. A 2011 survey by Jagori and UN Women
on sexual harassment in Delhi, noted
It has been developed under the that nearly 51.4 per cent of women
National Solar Energy Mission. reported public buses to be the most
common public place for harassment.
The Central Government has granted
around Rs. 280 crores for the For many women, public transport is the
development of project. only means to travel. These incidents
happen mainly due to overcrowding.
A 2020 study on sexual harassment in
Water Treatment Plant in Kerala public places by Michigan State
University researcher Mahesh K Nalla,
Prime Minister will inaugurate the 75 which surveyed men and women in
MLD (million litres per day) Water various parts of Delhi, found that only
Treatment Plant at Aruvikkara in Kerala. 38.1 per cent of the victims and 42. 2 per
cent of the offenders were aware of the
It is being built under the AMRUT laws against sexual harassment.
Mission and will boost supply of
drinking water. Why�women�don’t�complain?
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Delay in legal process
Transformation (AMRUT) was launched Inefficient justice delivery system
in 2015 with the aim of providing basic Hostile attitude of police
civic amenities like water supply, Threat from the harasser.
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Constraints that may be imposed Telangana Governor Tamilisai
upon them by their families in the Soundararajan has been given additional
name of safety and protection. charge as Lieutenant Governor of
Girls may be forced to quit their Puducherry.
jobs, education, restrict
movement outside of the home. This is due to a political crisis in the
Puducherry Assembly after several
Powers of women Congress legislators resigned ahead of
the elections due this year.
If a woman wants to report against
sexual harassment, she can lodge an FIR One of the possible reasons of Bedi’s
with the police. The woman can also removal could be that she had a bitter
report the crime to the women’s helpline relationship with the Congress leaders
of her city. who recently quit the party and joined
the BJP.
If the police refuse to file FIR, firstly she
can write an application to the judicial Now just ahead of an assembly election
magistrate under Section 156(3) of CrPC, in Puducherry, the Congress has blamed
who will then direct the police to lodge Kiran Bedi for the political crisis it is
the FIR and commence an investigation. facing. Four MLAs have resigned.
Secondly, if a woman has sufficient
evidence to prove the incident then she The effective strength of the 33-member
can file a complaint case under Section house has been reduced to 28 with the
191(a) CrPC. Thirdly, a woman can ruling and Opposition factions having 14
directly approach the High Court of the members each on their sides.
concerned state under the purview of
A delegation of the ruling alliance
inherent powers vested to the court by
recently met President Ram Nath Kovind
Section 482 CrPC. Fourthly a woman can
demanding removal of Kiran Bedi as Lt
directly approach the Superintendent of
Governor.
Police under Section 154(3) CrPC.
There is also news that even BJP leaders
and a few other Opposition MLAs are
opposed to Kiran Bedi. Some of the
Kiran Bedi sacked from the post of
governor of Puducherry ruling alliance MLAs are ready to join
BJP if Kiran Bedi is sacked.
Former IPS Officer, Kiran Bedi has been
removed from the post of Puducherry’s
Lieutenant Governor. Dickinsonia - one of the rarest fossils
in the world
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Dickinsonia, one of the rarest fossils spotted the leaf-like impression 11-feet
in the world, has been discovered in above the ground.
Madhya� Pradesh’s� Bhimbetka� rock�
shelters, about 40 kms away from the The Bhimbetka rock shelters were found
city of Bhopal. by VS Wakankar 64 years ago. Since
then, many researchers have visited the
site. However, the dickinsonia fossil
remained undetected.
Road Accidents Report by World Bank
Dickinsonia is an extinct genus of basal According to a report by The World
animal that lived during the late Bank (Traffic Crash Injuries And
Ediacaran period in what is now Disabilities: The Burden on India
Australia, Russia and Ukraine. The fossils Society), India accounts for 11 per cent
are known only in the form of imprints of the global death in road accidents.
and casts in sandstone beds. India has just 1 per cent of the world’s
vehicles but the death rate is the highest
in the world. India accounts for about
4.5 lakh road crashes per year. Out of
this, 1.5 lakh people die. This is equal to
53 road crashes every hour and death of
1 person every 4 minutes.
Dickinsonia dates back to 570 million ☑ In the last decade, 13 lakh people
years. Dickinsonia fossils found in other died and another 50 lakh got injured in
parts of the world exceeded 4 feet in India.
length. But the one found in Bhimbetka
is 17 inches long. ☑ The report estimates the crash
costs at Rs 5.96 lakh crore or 3.14 per
The fossil was hidden in plain sight and cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
was discovered by chance when two The road crash and serious injury cost
experts from the Geological Survey of estimate at 7.5 per cent of India’s GDP
India (GSI) were exploring Bhimbetka or Rs 12.9 lakh crore for 2016.
ahead of the 36th International
Geological Congress. The experts ☑ A recent study commissioned by
the Ministry of Road Transport and
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Highways (MoRTH) estimates the socio- aspirants have been selected for training
economic costs of road crashes at Rs in the first phase.
1,47,114 crore in India. This is equivalent
to 0.77 per cent of the country’s GDP. Under the Abhyuday Coaching Scheme
candidates will get high-level guidance
☑ 76.2 per cent of people who are regarding examination and interview by
killed in road crashes are in their prime skilled mentors including IAS, IPS, IFS,
working-age – 18-45 years. PCS , PPS and other state-level officers.
Retired officers would also be called for
☑ Globally, road traffic injuries (RTIs) the training of aspirants for better
are the eighth leading cause of death. management. Under this scheme,
candidates preparing for UPSC, UPPCS,
☑ There could be a saving of Rs 90
Subordinate Services, Banking Services,
lakh per person by preventing deaths
NEET, NDA, CDS TET exam including
and reducing injuries to minor ones in
others will be benefited.
such incidents.
The road crash fatality rate is three times
higher in low-income countries Department of Science and
compared to high-income countries. The Technology and Ministry of Earth
report said that daily wage workers and Sciences
workers employed as casual labourers in
informal activities are more prone to be The Union Government has increased
defined as vulnerable compared to the budget of Department of Science
workers engaged in regular activities. and Technology and Ministry of Earth
Sciences by 30 per cent as compared to
the revised estimate of 2020-21.
An allocation of Rs 16,695 crore has
been given for the two ministries which
Abhyudaya Yojana
will add thrust to India’s remarkable,
accelerated growth in the fields of
The Uttar Pradesh Government has
Science and Technology.
started a free training programme for
aspirants of various competitive Over Rs 50 thousand crore have been
examinations under ‘Abhyudaya allocated for National Research
Yojana’. Foundation. A Deep Ocean Mission will
be launched with a budget outlay of
More than five lakh candidates have
over Rs four thousand crore. For better
done their registration and 50 thousand
synergies among research and
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development institutions, umbrella Madhya Pradesh hosted the famous
structures will be set up in nine cities. Mandu Festival on February 13-14. The
Khajuraho Dance Festival 2021 is also
The National Research Foundation (NRF) scheduled to be held from February 20
will be an independent society and it will to 26 in Khajuraho.
build on existing national strengths in
research and innovation. It will fill gaps Handicrafts related to handmade art
in the current research and education were displayed in the Mandu Utsav to
ecosystem to augment India’s research encourage ‘vocal for locals’. Dino
and innovation achievements. Adventure Park & Fossils Museum were
also inaugurated. The Dinosaur Park is
The NRF will fund research proposals the country’s first modern fossil park
from across the academic, research and which has 24 eggs and other fossils of
innovation landscape to promote dinosaurs on display. The park also
outstanding research in applied, pure, provides information related to life of
and social sciences. dinosaurs.
Maharaja Suheldev Development Earthquake in Delhi
project
An earthquake of 6.3 magnitude was
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the felt across northwest India on Friday
foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev night. The epicentre of this Earthquake
Memorial and Maharaja Suheldev was in Tajikistan. The epicentre was in
Development project. He dedicated to the Hindu Kush Himalayan region where
the public Maharaja Suheldev State the Indo Australian plate is colliding with
Medical College (Baharaich). the Eurasian plate. It’s seismically highly
active area. The tremors were felt across
King Suheldev was an icon of the
Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab,
Rajbhar community. He had defeated
Haryana and Delhi NCR.
and killed the Ghaznavid general Ghazi
Saiyyad Salar Masud in a battle on the
banks of the Chittora lake in Bahraich in
1033.
Mandu Festival
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The distance between
earthquake’s epicentre in
Afghanistan and Delhi is 1,115
kilometres.
Tajikistan location
Aftershocks
Smaller aftershocks are possible but the
source is very far so its unlikely to
impact us.
Earthquakes and India
8. Around 965 earthquakes with 3
Details and more magnitude were
recorded in the Delhi-NCR alone
The earthquake occurred at the in 2020.
depth of 91.6km and its epicentre 9. Last year, the Dehradun-based
was located 35km west of Wadia Institute of Himalayan
Murghab town in Tajikistan. It Geology said the frequent
occurred at 10:31pm (local time). earthquakes reported in the
Delhi-NCR region are due to the
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release of strain energy. This crore will be considered as micro
energy has been accumulated enterprises.
due to northward movement of Businesses with investment up to
the Indian tectonic plate and its Rs 10 crore and turnover up to Rs
collision with the Eurasian plate. 50 crore will be considered as
small enterprises.
Businesses with investment up to
Rs 20 crore and turnover up to Rs
Indian and Eurasian Plate 100 crore will be considered as
medium enterprises.
What is an Earthquake?
New Development Bank to invest
Over one crore MSMEs registered in $100 million in NIIF Fund of Funds
country over period of 5 years
National Investment and
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Infrastructure Fund Ltd (NIIFL) has
Minister Nitin Gadkari said that as per announced that New Development Bank
Udyog Aadhaar Portal a total of one (NDB) has committed to invest $ 100
crore two lakh 32 thousand 468 MSMEs million into the NIIF Fund of Funds (FoF).
were registered between 2015 to June
2020. Set up in 2018 to provide homegrown
Indian private equity fund managers
New definition of micro, small and access to an India-focused institutional
medium enterprises (MSMEs) investor, the FoF has secured $ 800
million in commitments from
Under the new definition, the
Government of India (GoI), Asian
distinction between
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
manufacturing and services
and Asian Development Bank (ADB) in
enterprises has been eliminated.
addition to NDB. Further, it has made
The investment size criteria for
commitments to four funds aggregating
each category – micro, small and
over Rs 2,750 crore so far.
medium – has been hiked to
bring more companies under the NIIFL is a collaborative investment
definition of MSME. platform for international and Indian
Additional criteria of turnover has investors, anchored by the Indian
been included to the definition of government. It invests across asset
MSMEs. classes such as infrastructure, private
Firms with investment up to Rs 1 equity and other diversified sectors in
crore and turnover up to Rs 5
Monthly Current Affairs – www.helloscholar.in 22February 2021 Current Affairs
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India, with the objective to generate Kudligi, Hagaribommana halli, Kotturu,
attractive risk-adjusted returns for its Hoovina Hadagali, and Harapanahalli are
investors. the other five taluks.
Ballari district will have five taluks-
Ballari, Kurugodu, Siraguppa, Kampli,
Fifth Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu and Sanduru. Ballari taluk will remain its
headquarters.
Following the Centre’s approval, Tamil
Nadu government passed an order for On November 18 last year, the state
creating the fifth tiger reserve in the cabinet had given in principle approval
state and the 51st in the country. The for creation of Vijayanagara district. The
Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger plan for a new Vijayanagar district was
Reserve will span the forests of first officially mooted by Chief Minister
Megamalai wildlife sanctuary and Yediyurappa in September 2019, when
Srivilliputhur grizzled squirrel wildlife Singh was a disqualified legislator.
sanctuary spread across the districts of
Theni, Virudhunagar and Madurai.
The 100,000-hectare area is home to a India Energy Outlook
range of mammals and bird species and
more than a dozen tigers. ‚Tigers from In recent years, India has brought
the neighbouring Periyar Tiger Reserve electricity connections to hundreds of
and Anamalai Tiger Reserve regions can millions of its citizens; promoted the
find significant habitats and breeding in adoption of highly-efficient LED lighting
the terrains of Megamalai and by most households; and prompted a
Srivilliputhur which are largely massive expansion in renewable sources
uninhabited‛ and could ‚offer excellent of energy, led by solar power.
genetic exchange grounds‛.
The gains for Indian citizens and their
quality of life have been tangible.
However, the Covid-19 crisis has
31st district of Karrnataka complicated efforts to resolve other
pressing problems. These include a lack
Karnataka got its 31st district with the of reliable electricity supply for many
state government on Monday issuing an consumers; a continued reliance on solid
official gazette notification carving out a biomass, mainly firewood, as a cooking
new Vijayanagara district from Ballari. fuel for some 660 million people;
The new district will have six taluks and financially ailing electricity distribution
Hosapete will be its headquarters. companies, and air quality that has
Monthly Current Affairs – www.helloscholar.in 23February 2021 Current Affairs
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made Indian cities among the most Scenario. As things stand, solar accounts
polluted in the world. for less than 4% of India’s electricity
generation, and coal close to 70%. By
India is the world’s third-largest energy 2040, they converge in the low 30%s in
consuming country, thanks to rising the STEPS, and this switch is even more
incomes and improving standards of rapid in other scenarios. This dramatic
living. Energy use has doubled since turnaround is driven by India’s policy
2000, with 80% of demand still being ambitions, notably the target to reach
met by coal, oil and solid biomass. On a 450 GW of renewable capacity by 2030,
per capita basis, India’s energy use and and the extraordinary cost-
emissions are less than half the world competitiveness of solar, which out-
average, as are other key indicators such competes existing coal-fired power by
as vehicle ownership, steel and cement 2030 even when paired with battery
output. storage.
Over the coming years, millions of
Indian households are set to buy new
appliances, air conditioning units and Annual Report of the Ombudsman
vehicles. India will soon become the Schemes
world’s most populous country, adding
the equivalent of a city the size of Los The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Angeles to its urban population each released the Annual Report of the
year. To meet growth in electricity Ombudsman Schemes for the year
demand over the next twenty years, 2019-20. There was an increase of
India will need to add a power system around 65 per cent in the receipt of
the size of the European Union to what complaints out of which almost 92 per
it has now. cent have been disposed of.
Prior to the global pandemic, India’s RBI has three Ombudsmen –
energy demand was projected to
increase by almost 50% between 2019 1. Banking
and 2030, but growth over this period is 2. Non-Banking Finance Company
now closer to 35% in the STEPS, and (i.e. NBFC)
25% in the Delayed Recovery Scenario. 3. digital transactions
Solar power is set for explosive growth As per the RBI’s report, all three received
in India, matching coal’s share in the in total 3,30,543 complaints in 19-20 as
Indian power generation mix within two compared to 2,00,362 in 18-19. Banking
decades in the STEPS – or even sooner Ombudsman received major complaints
in the Sustainable Development regarding ATM & Debit Cards, Mobile &
Electronic Banking while NBFC’s
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Ombudsmen received most complaints
about non-observance of regulatory
guidelines, lack of transparency in Odisha’s� Balasore� will� get� the�
contract/ loan agreement and levy of country’s� first� thunderstorm� research�
charges without notice. testbed
Digital Transactions Ombudsmen Odisha’s Balasore will get the country’s
received most complaints about fund first thunderstorm research testbed. The
transfer. RBI has taken various measures objective of setting up the thunderstorm
for creating awareness among various testbed is to minimalise human fatalities
stakeholders to minimise the grievances. and loss of property due to lightning
strikes.
As announced in the Monetary Policy
Statement last week, the three IMD Director-General Dr. Mrutyunjay
Ombudsman Schemes are being Mohapatra also revealed that a first-of-
merged and integrated into a single its-kind monsoon testbed is also being
scheme which will be rolled out starting planned near Bhopal.
from June this year.
The thunderstorm testbed will be
established in a collaboration between
the Ministry of Earth Sciences, IMD,
National horticulture fair Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space
This year’s edition of the five-day Research Organisation (ISRO). Mr.
national horticulture fair being Mohapatra, often referred to as the
organized by the Indian Institute of ‘Cyclone Man of India’ for his accurate
Horticultural Research (IIHR) was held at prediction of cyclones in the Indian
the Institute’s Hessarghatta campus on subcontinent, pointed out that many
the outskirts of Bengaluru city. lives are lost in Odisha, West Bengal,
Bihar and Jharkhand due to lightning
The country’s premier horticulture fair,
strikes every year between April and
which is being held both in physical and
June.
virtual formats for the first time, will
showcase cutting edge technologies,
crop varieties, pest and disease
management practices and processing ICC announces BYJU'S as global
methods among others. partner until
Theme – ‘For start-up and stand-up The International Cricket Council (ICC)
India’ aims to increase farmers’. has announced Indian edu-tech
Monthly Current Affairs – www.helloscholar.in 25February 2021 Current Affairs
©helloscholar
company BYJU’S as its global partner Renewable Energy and the Ministry of
from 2021 to 2023. The three-year Earth Sciences are key partners of the
agreement will see BYJU’S partner all ICC summit.
events over the period, including the
forthcoming men’s T20 World Cup in
India and the women’s World Cup in
New Zealand. UP govt announces 16-digit Unicode
to identify landholdings
The Uttar Pradesh government has
introduced a system of issuing a unique
16-digit Unicode to mark all kinds of
World Sustainable Development landholdings in the state. Every piece of
Summit land in the state will have its own unique
identity from now onwards that would
Prime Minister Narendra Modi check cases of land disputes and save
inaugurated the World Sustainable people from falling into the trap of
Development Summit 2021. The theme fraudsters.
of the summit is ‘Redefining Our
Common Future: Safe and Secure The revenue department will be issuing
Environment for All’. the Unicode for marking all kinds of
agricultural, residential and commercial
The 20th edition of The Energy and land and a person will now be able to
Resources Institute’s (TERI) flagship know the details of the land with a
event- the World Sustainable single click. The Unicode number of
Development Summit, will be held the land will be 16 digits with the first
online from 10th to 12th February. The six digits based on the population of
summit will bring together a wide the land, the next 4 digits
number of governments, business determining the unique identity of
leaders, academicians, climate scientists, the land. The digits from 11 to 14 will
youth and the civil society in the fight be the number of the division of the
against climate change. Energy and land. The last 2 digits will have the
industry transition, adaptation and details of the category, through which,
resilience, nature based solutions, the agricultural, residential and
climate finance, circular economy, clean commercial land will be identified.
oceans and air pollution, are amongst
the range of topics to be discussed
during the summit. The Ministry of
Gen. Thimayya Memorial Museum
Environment, Forests and Climate
Change, the Ministry of New and
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©helloscholar
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated depth of 500 metres and it is planned to
Gen. Thimayya Memorial Museum at supply 24 hours free power to 10
Madikeri in Kodagu district, Karnataka. neighbouring villages which are not
General K.S. Thimayya served as the connected with the northern grid for
Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961 power supply.
and his ancestral house ‘Sunny Side’ has
been renovated and converted into a The second Phase is proposed for
museum. The museum showcases deeper and lateral exploration of
memorabilia, including weapons and geothermal reservoirs by drilling optimal
military uniforms, and houses a battle number of wells and setting up of a
tank at the entrance in addition to a higher capacity demo plant in Ladakh.
fighter jet, MiG 21, both of which were The second phase will be the Research
used in the 1971 war. and Development stage or
demonstration of the project.
In the third phase, it is planned to
India's first geothermal power project promote joint ventures and commercial
to be established at Puga village of projects. Puga has a potential of more
eastern Ladakh than 100 mw of geothermal energies.
India’s first geothermal power project
will be established at Puga village of
What is the reason of flood in
eastern Ladakh. India’s first ever
Uttarakhand?
geothermal power project, known as
Geothermal Field Development
A glacier broke in Uttarakhand’s
Project is planned to commission by the
Chamoli district and resulted in an
end of 2022.
avalanche and huge floods in the
The tripartite MOU was signed between Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers.
ONGC Energy, LAHDC, Leh and the
Power Department of UT Ladakh. Puga
has been identified as the hotspot of
geothermal energy in the country by the
scientists.
In the first phase of the pilot project,
one megawatt (MW) power generation
capacity will be generated. In the first
phase, the pilot project implemented by
the ONGC-OEC will explore within the
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