Current Affairs 16th February 2021| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : DAYS

National Productivity Day 2021 : 12 February

• The National Productivity Day is observed every year on February 12 by the National Productivity Council (NPC).
• The main objective of the celebration is to encourage stakeholders in implementing productivity tools and techniques.
• The National Productivity Council celebrates the National Productivity Week from 12 February to 18 February, 2020

About NPC :

• Director General : Arun Kumar Jha
• Headquarters : New Delhi
• It is a national-level organisation that promotes production in India.
• It was established in 1958 by the Ministry of Industry, Government of India. It is an autonomous, multipartite, non-profit organisation and has been registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
• Also, NPC is a constituent of the Tokyo-based Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) that is an Inter-Governmental Body, of which the Government of India is a founding member.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : NATIONAL NEWS

Odisha govt to construct ‘COVID Warrior Memorial’ at Biju Patnaik Park in Bhubaneswar

• Odisha government to construct ‘COVID Warrior Memorial’ at Biju Patnaik Park in Bhubaneswar in recognition of the sacrifice & services rendered by COVID19 warriors who have lost their lives fighting the pandemic.
• More than 60 Covid warriors including health workers in Odisha have succumbed to coronavirus. 19.
• The state government plans to inaugurate the memorial on August 15 2021.
• Last year, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had announced that the martyr status would be accorded to all health personnel and other support services who succumbed to Covid19.
• The state government also announced ₹50 lakh ex-gratia to all health personnel (private and public) and members of all other support services who died of Covid-19.

About Odisha :

• Capital : Bhubaneswar
• Governor : Ganeshi Lal

Lok Sabha Passes Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021

• The Lok Sabha passed the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 by voice vote.
• The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 4, 2021 by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
• It is already in force by way of an Ordinance promul
• It seeks to amend the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 so as to (i) enable automatic stay on awards in certain cases and (ii) specify by regulat

PM to lay foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and development work of Chittaura Lake in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh through video conferencing.
• The event marks the birth anniversary of Maharaja Suheldev.
• UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also be present on the occasion.
• The complete project will include installation of an equestrian statue of Maharaja Suheldev and development of various tourist amenities like cafeteria, guest house and a children’s park

Minority Affairs Ministry organized 26th Hunar Haat in New Delhi

• Minority Affairs Ministry is organising 26th Hunar Haat of indigenous artisans and craftsmen from across the country at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
• More than 600 artisans and craftsmen, including a large number of women artisans, from more than 31 States and Union Territories will participate in the event.
• The Hunar Haat will be organised with the theme of Vocal for Local from 20th February to 1st March this year.
• Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the Hunar Haat is a perfect platform to promote indigenous products of artisans and craftsmen from across the country.
• He said, it has provided employment and employment opportunities to more than five lakh artisans, craftsmen and artists yet.

India to fund USD 50M for restoration of 3 cultural heritage projects in Nepal

• India will provide Nepalese Rupees(NR) 142 million to Nepal for the restoration and conservation of three cultural heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley.
• The three sites are part of cultural heritage projects being taken up by India for post-earthquake conservation and restoration under an MoU signed between the two countries.
• The projects are being implemented under USD 50 million grant assistance committed by India for post-earthquake reconstruction of the cultural heritage sites across eight districts of Nepal.
• The agreements were signed by the Project Director of CLPIU (Building) of National Reconstruction Authority and Contractors for conservation and retrofitting of Seto Machindranath Temple ( Total Cost – NRs 626 million ), construction of Dharamshala at Budhaneelkantha ( Total Cost NRs – 334 million ) and conservation and development of Kumari Home in Lalitpur district ( Total Cost NRs – 456 million ), according to a press release issued by the Indian Embassy.

About Nepal :

• Capital : Kathmandu
• President : Bidya Devi Bhandari
• PM : K.P. Sharma Oli

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

U.S. extends New START nuclear treaty with Russia for 5 years

• The United States extended the nuclear arms control treaty known as the New START with Russia for the next five years.
• The United States took the first step toward making good on that pledge when it extended the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) Treaty with the Russian Federation for five years
• The new strategic arms reduction treaty, was formally signed on April 8, 2010 and after ratification, entered into force on 5 February 2011.
• Blinken added that extending the New START Treaty ensures the US has verifiable limits on Russian ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers until February 5, 2026.
• The agreement also included a five-year extension clause that allowed both nations to extend the pact with approval from both presidents.

About US :

• President : Joe Biden
• Capital : Washington DC

About Russia :.

• President : Vladimir Putin
• Capital : Moscow
• Currency : Russian Ruble

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla : 2-day visit to Moscow

• Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will pay a two-day visit to Moscow on 17th and 18th of February at the invitation of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov.
• The Foreign Secretary will hold the next round of India-Russia Foreign Office Consultations with Deputy Foreign Minister Morgulov, during which the two sides will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the forthcoming high-level exchanges.
• During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will also meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov for an exchange of views on topical issues of regional and international importance.
• He will also deliver a speech on India-Russia relations at the prestigious Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Annual Convention of Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India concluded 

• The Annual Convention of Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) concluded at Kevadia in Gujarat.
• The convention was jointly organized by the Ministry of Tourism and ADTOI with support from Gujarat Tourism. 
• It aimed at building public confidence to travel for the revival of domestic tourism in the country.
• The conference was attended by around 400 delegates comprising ADTOI members from across India, hoteliers, airlines representatives, senior government officials, media-persons among other stakeholders of the tourism industry.

About Gujarat:

• Capital: Gandhinagar
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• Chief minister:Vijay Rupani

West Bengal: Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav – 14th to 28th Feb

• The 11th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is being held between 14th to 28th February at Cooch Behar, Darjeeling and Murshidabad in West Bengal. 
• The inaugural programme is going to take place at Coochbehar.
• Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel will be present in the inauguration.
• All arrangements are in place for hosting the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav at Coochbehar Palace.

About West Bengal:

• Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
• Capital: Kolkata
• Chief minister: Mamata Banerjee

Robotic Spa’ facility inaugurated in Visakhapatnam railway station

• Waltair Division, in its efforts to enhance the passenger amenities at Railway stations, has commissioned another innovative facility called Robotic Spa under Non-fare revenue here at Visakhapatnam railway station.  
• The first of its kind facility at Railway station in East Coast Railway was inaugurated by Divisional Railway Manager, Waltair Chetan Kumar Shrivastava.
• The Robotic Spa comprising Relaxing Chair, Foot massager and Fish pedicure spa gives a pleasant experience to the Rail Customers waiting at Visakhapatnam railway station.
• The motto behind such an innovative model is to facilitate the esteemed rail customers to spend quality time while waiting for trains.

About Andhra Pradesh:

• Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
• Chief minister: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

Capitals:

• Visakhapatnam(executive)
• Amaravati (legislative)
• Kurnool(judicial) 

Punjab becomes 13th State to complete ONOR Card 

• Punjab has become the 13th State in the country to successfully undertake “One Nation One Ration Card system”
• The State has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of one thousand five hundred and sixteen crore rupees through Open Market Borrowings. 
• 12 other States which have completed this reform are Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh.
• The implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System ensures availability of ration to beneficiaries under National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes at any Fair Price Shop across the country.

About Punjab:

• Capital: Chandigarh
• Governor:  P. Singh Badnore
• Chief minister: Amarinder Singh

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

CREDAI, IPPB ink pact to open bank accounts for construction workers

• The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Indian Payments and Postal Bank (IPPB) to facilitate opening of bank accounts for construction workers.
• This labour welfare initiative is aimed at ensuring financial literacy and digital inclusion of construction workers
• At present, around 3 crore workers are engaged in construction activities across real estate projects in the country.
• The pact aims to cover around 10 lakh workers under this initiative in a year.

About CREDAI :

• Establishment : 1999
• Chairman : Jaxay Shah
• Headquarters : New Delhi

About IPPB :

• Establishment : 2018
• Chairman : Pradipta Kumar Bisoi

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS

Mario Draghi sworn in as Italy’s new prime minister

• The former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi has been sworn in as Italy’s prime minister at the head of a unity government
• Draghi,73 year old who formerly served as the head of the European Central Bank.
• Draghi’s predecessor, Giuseppe Conte, resigned only weeks ago after infighting among political groups over his handling of the pandemic.

About Italy :

• President : Sergio Mattarella
• Capital : Rome
• Currency : Euro

Hyd-based Recykal becomes first Indian startup in WEF accelerator program

• Recykal, a digital ‘waste commerce’ solutions provider, has been selected as the first member from India for the World Economic Forum’s Circulars Accelerator programme 2021.
• This programme is led by Accenture along with Ecolab, Schneider Electric and the World Economic Forum, and will connect industry leaders with 17 circular economy entrepreneurs.
• The aim of this programme is to recognise individuals and companies that are making a notable contribution to the circular economy.

About Recykal :

• Founder : Abhay Deshpande
• Head Office : Hyderabad Telangana
• Recykal is India’s first digital waste-commerce company that connects waste generators with waste processors, recyclers and brand owners to ensure efficient waste management.
• The company’s solutions ensure higher rates of waste collection and recycling and in doing so, Recykal has saved significant amounts of water, oil, landfill spaces and trees.
• According to a statement issued by the company, Recykal is channelling over 10,000 metric tons of waste every month and plans to increase this to 2 million metric tons annually by 2025.
• The waste collected from various groups like consumers, businesses, aggregators, and the informal sector are channelised to co-processors, cement kilns and recyclers.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCES 

NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission & Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation kick-start the I-ACE Hackathon, 2021

• AIM and Australia’s national science agency (CSIRO) kick started the India-Australia Circular Economy (I-ACE) Hackathon, 2021.
• The concept of I-ACE joint Hackathon originated in the virtual bilateral summit between the Prime Minister of India and the Hon. Prime Minister of Australia, held on June 4th, 2020 where they committed to joint circular economy innovation initiatives between the two countries.
• I-ACE is supported by the Australian Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER), AIM Atal Incubation Centre network, and various domain experts.
• The total prize pool for the I-ACE Hackathon is around fifty-six lakh rupees altogether. The winners will be felicitated in presence of key Government dignitaries from both the countries.
• AIM and CSIRO are committed towards enabling the youth of their countries to further strengthen the circular economy in both India and Australia.

About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

• The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
• Towards this end, AIM has rolled out a holistic set of programs supporting innovation across various stages of the innovation lifecycle catering to various stakeholders.
• About Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
• The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst, solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BOOKS & AUTHORS

Priyanka Chopra dissects her life in memoir Unfinished

• Former Miss World and actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas created ripples when she announced her memoir titled Unfinished.
• Published by Penguin Random House, the unconventional title hints at the fact that Chopra has many more story-worthy years to live.
• Unfinished looks back on Chopra Jonas’ childhood and teenage years in India and the United States respectively, her return to her homeland where she won a national beauty contest, a pageant, she explains in her book, her acting career, her American TV acting debut on the ABC-TV hit drama Quantico, among other things.
• She also executive produced the film based on the Man Booker Prize-winning book.

Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari turns novelist with Mapping Love

• Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Bareilly Ki Barfi, Panga) has turned novelist with her debut fiction novel, ‘Mapping Love’. 
• The teaser of the novel was released by Rupa Publications.
• Iyer Tiwari, known for acclaimed films like Nil Battey Sannata, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Panga, said it took her three years to bring the book to life.
• Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari  won the best debut director award in 2017 filmfare for nil battey sannata
• In 2018 she won the Best Director for Bareilly Ki Bafri.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Awards for writing competition: High Commission of India, Bangladesh

• The High Commission of India in Dhaka announced the winners of the writing competition on the subject ‘What Liberation means to me’ for the youth of Bangladesh.
• The prize giving ceremony was organised at the High Commission of India in Dhaka.
• The competition received over 1050 submissions from Bangladesh and abroad.
• The Minister of State for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak gave away the prizes as Chief Guest of the function.
• In Category A of Bangla competition, Afsara Tasnim of Dhaka University was adjudged the Champion.
• Farsia Kawsar Chowdhury of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) was given the prize as the first runners up.
• In the English category, Maliha Momtaz Oishi from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College was declared as the Champion while Ipshita Kajuri from North South University was the first runner up.
• In both the categories a total of 14 prizes were given away.
• Champions of each category were awarded with laptops, the first and second runner up received Tabs.  
• Other winners received a smartphone, along with a crest, certificate and book.
• The top essays from each category will be published in Bharat Bichitra magazine of the Indian High Commission, said the Press release issued by the High Commission of India.
• The aim of the competition was to give Bangladeshi youth a platform to show their creativity and share their own understanding and meaning of Liberation.
• The competition was organised jointly by the High Commission of India, Dhaka and Youth Opportunities.

Best novel award for Hareesh’s ‘Meesha’

• S Hareesh’s novel ‘Meesha’, which mixes magic, myth and metaphor into a tale set in Kuttanad, was named the best novel for the year 2019 by Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
• Writer P Valsala and writer-academician N V P Unithiri were selected for the Akademi fellowships, which comprise a cheque of Rs 50,000, a gold plaque and a citation.
• P Raman’s ‘Rathri Pandhradarakku Oru Tharattu’ was selected for the best poem award while Vinoy Thomas’s ‘Ramachi’ received Akademy’s award for the best short story for 2019.
• Sajitha Madathil’s ‘Arangile Matsyagandhikal’ and Jisha Abhinaya’s ‘Eli Eli Lama Sabaktani’ shared the award for the best play.

Daily CA On Feb 14 & 15 :

• In India, the National Women’s Day is observed every year on 13 February. To mark the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, who is also popularly known as ‘The nightingale of India.
• Every year World Radio Day (WRD) is celebrated on 13 February.
• 40 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14, 2019, when their convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in J&K’s Pulwama district.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the party MPs on the occasion of ‘Samarpan Diwas’ to commemorate the contributions of his party’s founder leader Deen Dayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary.
• To strengthen skills training at district level, the skills development ministry launched the Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF) programme nationwide in partnership with nine Indian Institutes of Management across India.
• The three-day famous “Mandu Festival” began at the historic town of Mandu in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh
• The first time in its history, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has opened its UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru for testing satellites developed by the private sector.
• The Finance Ministry will infuse Rs 3,000 crore capital into state-owned general insurance companies during the current quarter in a bid to improve their financial health.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled several key development projects worth 6,100 crore rupees at INS Garuda Naval Air Station at Kochi in Kerala.
• In Puducherry, a campaign has been launched titled “Zero Covid by Feb28” to ensure that there are no COVID-19 cases by the end of February 2021.
• Pakistan conducted a successful training launch of a surface-to-surface cruise missile which can strike targets up to 450 kilometres, 
• Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) will provide $400 million to Maldives to fund Greater Male Connectivity Project.
• The Government of India, the Government of Chhattisgarh and the World Bank signed a $100 million project to develop sustainable production systems.
• Private life insurer Aegon Life Insurance has elevated Satishwar Balakrishnan to the position of managing director and chief executive officer. 
• Tata Motors Limited said that it has appointed Marc Llistosella as chief executive officer and managing director effective 1 July 2021. 
• The slogan of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ by the Prime Minister has given boost to domestic tourism stated Union Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, while inaugurating via video conferencing Kevadia, Gujarat.
• A book titled Turn Around India: 2020- Surmounting Past Legacy’ – creating economic awareness among masses authored by R.P. Gupta was launched by Mr Jual Oram, Hon’ble M.P. & Chairperson Standing Committee on Defence, Government of India.
• Peter Mukerjea has come out with his memoir ‘Starstruck: Confessions of a TV executive’
• The SERB Women Excellence Award was announced on the occasion of International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021.

Daily CA On Feb 16 :

• The National Productivity Day is observed every year on February 12 by the National Productivity Council (NPC).
• Odisha government to construct ‘COVID Warrior Memorial’ at Biju Patnaik Park in Bhubaneswar in recognition of the sacrifice & services rendered by COVID19 warriors who have lost their lives fighting the pandemic.
• The Lok Sabha passed the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 by voice vote.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and development work of Chittaura Lake in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh through video conferencing.
• Minority Affairs Ministry is organising 26th Hunar Haat of indigenous artisans and craftsmen from across the country at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
• India will provide Nepalese Rupees(NR) 142 million to Nepal for the restoration and conservation of three cultural heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley.
• The United States extended the nuclear arms control treaty known as the New START with Russia for the next five years.
• Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will pay a two-day visit to Moscow on 17th and 18th of February at the invitation of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov.
• Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will pay a two-day visit to Moscow on 17th and 18th of February at the invitation of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov.
• The Annual Convention of Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) concluded at Kevadia in Gujarat.
• The 11th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is being held between 14th to 28th February at Cooch Behar, Darjeeling and Murshidabad in West Bengal. 
• Waltair Division, in its efforts to enhance the passenger amenities at Railway stations, has commissioned another innovative facility called Robotic Spa under Non-fare revenue here at Visakhapatnam railway station.  
• Punjab has become the 13th State in the country to successfully undertake “One Nation One Ration Card system”
• The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Indian Payments and Postal Bank (IPPB) to facilitate opening of bank accounts for construction workers.
• The former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi has been sworn in as Italy’s prime minister at the head of a unity government
• Recykal, a digital ‘waste commerce’ solutions provider, has been selected as the first member from India for the World Economic Forum’s Circulars Accelerator programme 2021.
• AIM and Australia’s national science agency (CSIRO) kick started the India-Australia Circular Economy (I-ACE) Hackathon, 2021.
• Former Miss World and actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas created ripples when she announced her memoir titled Unfinished. Published by Penguin Random House, the unconventional title hints at the fact that Chopra has many more story-worthy years to live.
• Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Bareilly Ki Barfi, Panga) has turned novelist with her debut fiction novel, ‘Mapping Love’. The teaser of the novel was released by Rupa Publications.
• The High Commission of India in Dhaka announced the winners of the writing competition on the subject ‘What Liberation means to me’ for the youth of Bangladesh.
• S Hareesh’s novel ‘Meesha’, which mixes magic, myth and metaphor into a tale set in Kuttanad, was named the best novel for the year 2019 by Kerala Sahitya Akademi.