Today Current Affairs for Competitive Exams - Current Affairs 2021 Online - Testbook.com

Today Current Affairs for Competitive
       Exams - Current Affairs 2021 Online
Maruti and IIM Bangalore to nurture startups         One of the famous tourist destinations in the
                                                      country, Leh is all set for a near 100 crore
 Maruti Suzuki India Limited and                     rupees holistic development.
  IIM Bangalore will jointly nurture and mentor
                                                     A team of consultants from the Tourism
  26 startups in the mobility sector through up
                                                      Ministry visited Leh for spot inspection on
  to a nine-month-long incubation program.
                                                      254Feb 2021.
 The selected startups will undergo a three-
                                                     Leh has been shortlisted under the National
  month pre-incubation journey during which
                                                      Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
  they will be engaged in various peer-to-peer
                                                      Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)
  learning activities.
                                                      scheme.
 The incubation program will help the startups
  become large scale businesses.                    50 FPOs linked to Unified Market Platform
Infrastructure FY22 outlook rises to stable          In Karnataka, 50 Farmer Producer
                                                      Organisations, FPOs supported by NABARD
 Credit rating agency India Ratings and              were linked to Unified Market Platform of
  Research has revised its overall infrastructure     Rashtriya e-Market Services in Bengaluru on
  sector outlook to stable for FY22 from              25 Feb'21.
  negative in 2020.
                                                     These FPOs will now be accessible by 44,000
 Some sectors, such as airports and wind             traders registered across 162 markets trading
  power, will continue with a negative outlook,       in agricultural commodities.
  as signs of demand recovery are scarce on
                                                     The online e-market platform has helped
  the ground.
                                                      trading of 81 million metric tonnes of
 The traction in InvITs (infrastructure              agricultural commodities.
  investment trusts) is expected to rise by about
  Rs 850 bn in roads.                               Retirement age of government employees raised
Uttama Lahiri selected for TATA Fellowship           In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Edappadi K.
                                                      Palananiswami has announced that the
 In Gujarat, Professor Uttama Lahiri, Associate      retirement age of state government
  Professor of Electrical Engineering at IIT          employees has been increased from 59 to 60
  Gandhinagar has been selected for the TATA          years.
  Innovation Fellowship for 2020-21.
                                                     The order would be applicable to employees
 She received the award from Union Minister          of government-aided schools, legal and
  of Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan          constitutional bodies, etc.
  on 26 February 2021.
                                                     All those who were in service and those who
 The award includes a monthly fellowship             would retire on 31 May 2021, would be
  amount and a contingency grant for three            covered under the announcement.
  years.
                                                    Dynamic testing of prototype train conducted
Leh all set for Rs 100 cr holistic development
                                                     The Mumbai Metropolitan Region
                                                      Development Authority (MMRDA) conducted

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dynamic testing of prototype train at Charkop        India and Pakistan armies have agreed to
  Depot before its actual trial run.                    cease firing along the Line of Control (LoC)
 Commissioner of MMRDA R. A. Rajeev                    from midnight of February 24-25, 2021.
  flagged off the Prototype Metro Train on 25          The Director Generals of Military Operations
  Feb 2021.                                             of the two countries agreed to observe a
 The MMRDA has announced to begin trial                ceasefire to maintain peace along LoC.
  runs on the Metro Line 2A Dahisar to D.N.            Amid heightened tensions along the LoC and
  Nagar, Andheri and Line 7 Andheri East to             LAC in 2020, this is the first such contract
  Dahisar East from March 2021.                         between India and Pakistan.
2nd Khelo India National Winter Games                 Brazil signs contract with Bharat Biotech
 PM Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural             Health Ministry of Brazil signed a contract to
  address at the 2nd Khelo India National               purchase 20 million doses of Covaxin vaccine
  Winter Games on 26 Feb 2021. through video            made by India's Bharat Biotech, on 25 Feb
  conferencing.                                         2021.
 The games will begin on 27 Feb 2021 and will         The first 8 million doses are expected to arrive
  continue till 2 March 2021.                           in March 2021.
 The sports activities will include alpine skiing,    Meanwhile, Brazil reported 1,541 new
  nordic ski, snowboarding, ski mountaineering,         COVID-19 deaths on 25 Feb 2021, the
  ice hockey, ice skating, etc.                         second-highest daily death toll ever since the
 27 states and UTs are participating in the            pandemic began, taking total fatalities to
  games.                                                251,498.
Pakistan to be on FATF Grey list till June'21         Jaishankar meets Uzbekistan counterpart
 The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has           India and Uzbekistan on 25 Feb 2021, agreed
  decided to keep Pakistan on its terrorism             to strengthen multilateral cooperation.
  financing Greylist.                                  Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz
 The FATF is an inter-governmental body set            Kamilov and External Affairs Minister Dr. S.
  up in 1989 to combat money laundering,                Jaishankar discussed the bilateral relations
  terror financing, and other related threats to        concerning both nations.
  the international financial system.                  Kamilov also discussed development,
 Currently, it has 39 members.                         defense, connectivity, trade, and culture.
 Pakistan has been on the Grey list since June        Both the leaders also exchanged views on the
  2018.                                                 Afghanistan situation.
Australia passes a new law                            Centre announces guidelines for OTT
 Australia has passed a world-first law aimed         The Centre has announced guidelines and
  at making Google and Facebook pay for news            digital media ethics code for Over The Top
  content on their platforms.                           (OTT), online streaming, and social media
 The amended legislation - the News Media              platforms.
  Bargaining Code - was passed by Australia's          The social media platforms have to appoint a
  House of Representatives on 25 Feb 2021               Chief Compliance Officer of complaints, Nodal
  after going through the Senate.                       Contact person, and a Resident Grievance
 The news code encourages tech giants and              officer.
  news organizations to negotiate payment              Information and Broadcasting Minister
  deals between themselves.                             Prakash Javadekar announced a three-tier
                                                        mechanism for their regulation.
Ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan
                                                      Sites selected under Swachh Iconic Places
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 Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation,       The Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Central
  Ministry of Jal Shakti has announced the            Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs have
  selection of 12 iconic sites under Phase IV of      signed an MoU for the exchange of data for
  Swachh Iconic Places.                               enhancing the ease of doing business in India
 These sites include Ajanta Caves, Sanchi            and improve overall regulatory enforcement.
  Stupa, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Jaisalmer Fort,           The MoU was signed by Joint Secretary,
  Ramdevra, Golconda Fort, Konark Sun                 Ministry of Corporate Affairs Manoj Pandey
  Temple, etc.                                        and Additional Director General, CBIC B. B.
 The initiative aims at improving the sanitation     Gupta.
  and cleanliness standards at and around the
                                                    India-USA Executive Steering Group meet
  sites.
                                                     The 24th edition of the India-USA Executive
Indian Railways to reactivate facility of UTS
                                                      Steering Group meeting was held at New
 Indian Railways has decided to reactivate the       Delhi from 22nd to 24th February 2021.
  facility of UTS ON MOBILE App in zones             The forum is an Army to Army engagement
  where unreserved train services are                 that meets every year alternately in India and
  reintroduced.                                       the US to discuss Army to Army cooperation.
 This is being done to decongest ticket             Major General Daniel McDaniel, Deputy
  booking counters and to ensure smooth               Commanding General, US Army Pacific was
  compliance with social distancing norms.            the Head of delegation from the US side.
 This facility may also be reintroduced on non-
                                                    President rule imposed in Puducherry
  suburban sections of zonal Railways.
                                                     In the UT of Puducherry, the president rule
India, Ireland held consultations
                                                      was imposed following the fall of the
 India and Ireland held bilateral consultations      Congress DMK alliance govt led by CM
  on the UN Security Council issues on 25 Feb         Narayanasamy.
  2021 via video conference.                         After imposition of president rule, the
 The Irish delegation was led by Gerard              administration of the UT can not be carried
  Keown, UN Director and Head of UN Security          out in accordance with the provisions of the
  Council Task Team, Department of Foreign            govt of Union Territories Act 1963.
  Affairs and Trade, and also included Ireland's     It suspends the operation until the constitution
  Ambassador to India.                                of the 15th Legislative Assembly of
 Joint Secretary (UNP and Summits) Prakash           Puducherry.
  Gupta led the Indian delegation.
                                                    UP: Fastest to implement PM Kisan scheme
IWAI inks pact with MOL
                                                     Uttar Pradesh received an award for the
 An MoU was signed between the Inland                fastest implementation of Pradhan Mantri
  Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the         Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana on 24 Feb'21.
  MOL (Asia Oceania) Ltd for transportation of       It has been awarded in the category of fastest
  Liquefied Natural Gas through barges on             take off in year 2020-21.
  National Waterways-1 and 2.                        More than 27110 crores have been
 IWAI will provide support for, facilitating the     transferred in the accounts of farmers of the
  handling of LPG cargo on IWAI terminals or          state under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna.
  Multimodal Terminals at Haldia, Sahibganj          PM Kisan scheme is run under the Ministry for
  and Varanasi.                                       Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
 MOL Group is the world's largest gas carrier
                                                    Himachal Pradesh's ‘e-Parivahan Vyavstha’
  company.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs, CBIC sign MoU
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 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram                Partner Programme', to provide technology
  Thakur launched ‘e-Parivahan Vyavstha’ of              and digital engineering solutions for Airbus'
  the State Transport Department on 25                   Skywise platform.
  February 2021.                                        More than 130 airlines across the world are
 It aims to provide faceless services to the            already connected to Airbus' Skywise
  people of the State regarding Driving                  platform.
  Licence/Registration Certificates/Permits etc.        The platform plays a crucial role in enabling
 Previously, the state government had                   and accelerating the digital transformation of
  also started various digital initiatives like e-       the aviation sector.
  Vidhan Sabha, e-Budget and e-Cabinet.
                                                       Glenmark receives an award from govt of India
Manipur CM launches PM FME Scheme
                                                        Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical
 Manipur CM N. Biren Singh has launched the             company, received the 'India Pharma
  Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food             Innovation of the Year' award, as part of the
  Processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme.                India Pharma and India Medical Device
 The PM FME Scheme aims to provide                      Awards 2021, on 25 Feb 2021.
  financial, technical and business support to          The prestigious award was conferred by the
  micro food processing units, Farmer Producer           Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP),
  Organizations and Self Help Groups.                    Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
 The scheme will also promote One District             This is the fourth time Glenmark has won an
  One Product to get more benefit.                       award from the Government of India.
2nd edition of Global Bio-India                        Technology Innovation Hub inaugurated
 The second edition of Global Bio-India will be        Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur has
  organized from 1st to 3rd March 2021.                  inaugurated Technology Innovation Hub
 The theme for 2021 is "Transforming Lives"             developed with an investment of Rs 110 crore
  with the tagline "Biosciences to Bioeconom".           at IIT Mandi.
 Global Bio-India is co-organised by the               He presided over the 12th Foundation Day
  Department of Biotechnology along with its             programme of IIT Mandi held on February 24,
  Public Sector Undertaking BIRAC, industry              2021.
  association CII, Association of Biotechnology         An MoU was also signed between the district
  Led Enterprises and Invest India.                      administration and IIT Mandi in presence of
                                                         the CM for development and deployment of
India’s first Toy Fair                                   Landslide Monitoring System in Mandi.
 India’s first Toy Fair will be held virtually from   Women's Commando Force inaugurated
  February 27 to March 2, 2021.
 It is the first-ever digitally accessible             Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh
  exhibition.                                            Rawat inaugurated the Women's Commando
 It will provide an opportunity to explore and          Force and Smart Cheetah Police of
  buy a variety of toys from over 1,000                  Uttarakhand on 24 Feb 2021.
  exhibitors across states and union territories.       He also honoured Commando Instructor Shifu
 Toy Fair is a visionary initiative that                Shaurya Bhardwaj and Military Officer Rubina
  will reduce the dependence of toys on foreign          Korky.
  markets.                                              Uttarakhand has become the fourth state in
                                                         the country where a squad of women
Airbus selects L&T Technology Services                   commandos has been added to the police
 L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has been                department.
  selected by Airbus, as part of the 'Skywise          Poet Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri passes away

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 Eminent Malayalam poet, Vedic scholar and          Anjali Bhardwaj gets US anti-corruption award
  academician Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri
  passed away in February 2021.                       Right to Information activist Anjali Bhardwaj
                                                       has been honoured by the US with the newly-
 His collections of poems include Ujjayiniyile
                                                       constituted International Anti-Corruption
  Raappakalukal, Charulatha,
                                                       Champions Award.
  Bhoomigeethangal, Pranayageethangal etc.
                                                      She is the founder of the Satark Nagrik
 He was conferred with Padma Shri in 2014.
                                                       Sangathan, a Delhi-based citizens’ group
 He is also a recipient of several literary
                                                       working to promote accountability and
  honours including the Kendra Sahitya
                                                       transparency in government functioning.
  Akademi, Kerala Sahity Akademi, etc.
                                                      Besides her, the award recipients also
Foxconn to form EV partnership with Fisker             included Ardian Dvorani of Albania, etc.
 Foxconn Technology Group will develop an           Mumbai’s undersea tunnel: The first in India
  electric vehicle with Fisker Inc.
                                                      Mumbai will be home to India’s first undersea
 The car will be built by Foxconn, targeted at
                                                       tunnel by 2023.
  multiple markets including North America,
                                                      The twin tunnels, which have a length of 2.07
  Europe, China and India, and sold under the
                                                       km of which a kilometre will be under the sea,
  Fisker brand.
                                                       are being built as part of the Mumbai Coastal
 Production is set to start in the fourth quarter
                                                       Road Project.
  of 2023.
                                                      The project is a 10.58-km stretch starting from
 The company is expected to build more than
                                                       the Marine Drive promenade to the Worli-end
  250,000 vehicles annually for the Fisker
                                                       of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
  partnership.
                                                     NITI Aayog’s policy on migrant workers
Punjab to amend Prisons Act
                                                      NITI Aayog, along with a working subgroup of
 The Punjab government has decided to
                                                       officials and members of civil society, has
  amend the Prisons Act for more stringent
                                                       prepared a draft national migrant labour
  punishments to deter inmates from
                                                       policy.
  committing offences like escaping from
                                                      The draft describes two approaches to policy
  prison.
                                                       design: one focussed on cash transfers,
 A Bill to bring in the necessary changes will
                                                       special quotas, and reservations, and the
  be introduced in the Budget Session of
                                                       other which enhances the agency and
  Punjab Vidhan Sabha, scheduled to begin on
                                                       capability of the community.
  March 1, 2021.
 A section 52-A(1) has been amended with            Japan appoints Minister of Loneliness
  imprisonment of not less than three years.
                                                      In a bid to tackle the rise in suicide rates,
Kabir Bedi's memoir to be released in April            Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has
                                                       appointed Tetsushi Sakamoto as its first-ever
 Veteran actor Kabir Bedi's memoir will be            Minister for Loneliness.
  published this April 2021.
                                                      Besides this, Sakamoto is also in charge of
 It is titled 'Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional     managing the nation's falling birth rate and
  Journey of an Actor'.                                strengthening regional economies.
 It will take readers through the highs and lows     The Japanese government has also created
  of Bedi's professional and personal life.            an isolation/ loneliness countermeasures
 Bedi's career spans three continents in three        office.
  mediums: film, television and theatre.
 He has acted in over 65 Hindi movies,
  including 'Main Hoon Na'.

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