Daily Current Affairs: February 23, 2021

Daily Current Affairs (February 23, 2021) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness, Static GK, and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness, and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.

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National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated important Oil & Gas projects and Engineering Colleges in Assam

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation INDMAX Unit at Indian Oil’s Bongaigaon Refinery, Oil India Limited’s Secondary Tank Farm at Madhuban, Dibrugarh, and a Gas Compressor Station at Hebeda village, Makum, Tinsukia in Assam.
• He also inaugurated the Dhemaji Engineering College and laid the foundation stone for Sualkuchi Engineering College in Assam.

Assam      

• Capital: Dispur
• Chief Minister: SarbanandaSonowal
• Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
• National Parks: Orang National Park, Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Nameri National Park, Dehing Patkai Wls.

10^th National Awards for Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals & Downstream Plastics Processing Industries’

• Union Minister of Chemical & Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda presented the 10^th National Awards for Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals & Downstream Plastics Processing Industry to the awardees in the presence of Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (IC), Chemicals & Fertilisers, at the function at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
• The award is aimed at felicitating and recognising the innovative efforts of renowned scientists, researchers, and industrialists in the broad areas of Polymer Science and Technologies.

Karnataka to host the second Khelo India University Games 2021

• Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has announced that the second Khelo India University Games will be hosted by Karnataka. Khelo India University Games — The largest university games in the country scheduled later this year will be held in Bengaluru in partnership with the Association of Indian Universities.

Karnataka         

• Capital: Bengaluru
• Chief Minister: S. Yeddyurappa
• Governor: VajubhaiVala
• National Park: Anshi NP, Kudremukh NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates DRDO skill development centre for Fire Safety Training in Uttar Pradesh

• Union Minister Rajnath Singh has virtually inaugurated the Skill Development Centre (SDC) for Fire Safety Training of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Pilkhuwa in Uttar Pradesh.
• The facility was created by the Centre for Fire, Explosive, and Environment Safety (CFEES), a Delhi based DRDO laboratory. It is aimed at developing trained human resources, fire safety technology, and products to save precious human lives and valued assets.
• The first of its kind in India, the SDC has been created by adopting state of the art technology and setting up simulation systems for validation of fire at a realistic scale in order to meet the challenges and enhance the skills of defence fire service personnel and combatants from the Armed Forces.

Uttar Pradesh           

• Capital: Lucknow
• Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• National Park: Dudhwa National Park (Tiger Reserve)
• Zoological park: Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Prani Udyan (Gorakhpur), Kanpur Zoological Park, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal headed the 54^th Meeting of the Council of IITs

• Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ chaired the 54^th meeting of the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) through virtual mode. Minister of State for Education Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre and Secretary of Higher Education Amit Khare was also present in the meeting.
• Ramesh Pokhriyal also urged IITs to adopt the One IIT – One Thrust Area approach based on local needs. Digital Transformation using Blockchain, AI, ML, and Cloud Computing at IITs also came up for discussion during the meeting.

12 companies selected for the prestigious National Technology Awards 2020 for commercialisation of innovative indigenous technologies

• A total of 12 companies have been selected for the National Technology Awards 2020 for the commercialisation of successful commercialisation of innovative indigenous technologies.
• The awards were given by the Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of the Government of India functioning under the Department of Science & Technology for the year 2019-20.
• They have been selected under three categories,e. indigenous technologies, MSME, and start-ups. These awards conferred to various industries provides a platform of recognition to Indian industries and their technology provider, who have worked as a team, to bring innovation to the market and contributed to the vision of “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.”

Ayodhya airport of Uttar Pradesh to be named after Lord Ram

• The under-construction airport in Ayodhya will be named Maryada Purushottam Sriram Airport, Ayodhya, after Lord Ram and a provision of 101 crore has been made for it in the budget presented in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Besides the provision for the Ayodhya airport, which will subsequently be made an international airport.

Uttar Pradesh           

• Capital: Lucknow
• Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• National Park: Dudhwa National Park (Tiger Reserve)
• Zoological park: Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Prani Udyan (Gorakhpur), Kanpur Zoological Park, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 50 SFURTI clusters in 18 states for supporting artisans in traditional crafts

• Union Minister for MSME, Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated 50 artisan-based SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries) clusters, spread over 18 States.
• The Government of India has funded an amount of around Rs. 85 crore for the development of these 50 clusters. Over 42,000 artisans have been supported in the traditional segments of muslin, khadi, coir, handicraft, handlooms, woodcraft, leather, pottery, carpet weaving, bamboo, agro-processing, tea.

President Ram Nath Kovind attended the 3^rd convocation ceremony of the Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar

• President Ram Nath Kovind attended the 3^rd convocation ceremony of the Central University of Gujarat at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The President delivered the convocation address and conferred degrees and medals to the passing out students.

Gujarat                     

• Capital: Gandhinagar
• Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• National Park: Blackbuck NP, Vansda NP, Gir Forest NP, Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch.

India’s first digital university to be set up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

• Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (KUDSIT) (also known as Digital University Kerala), the 15^th university in the State, formally came into being at Technocity in Mangalapuram of Thiruvananthapuram district.
• The university had been entrusted with spearheading the State’s Digital Transformation Mission meant to ensure all sections enjoyed the benefits of digital advancements.
• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presided over the function, where Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is also the Chancellor of the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (KUDSIT), unveiled the varsity plaque.

Kerala

• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan.

WE HUB inks an MoU with Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute to promote entrepreneurship

• India’s first and only state-led incubator, WE HUB by the Government of Telangana, to foster and promote women entrepreneurship, signed an MoU with Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) to boost the entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem.
• The MoU will have a pre-incubation program for 60 aspiring entrepreneurs from Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir(J&K), catering to 30 from each state.

Tripura gets the first-of-its-kind road constructed using non-recyclable plastic waste

• In a first-ever initiative in Tripura, the state has started using non-recyclable plastic waste in the construction of roads to reduce plastic waste and make the environment plastic-free.
• Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb stated that this is for the first time in Tripura that waste plastic was collected, recycled and used in constructing a 680-meter–long

Tripura                      

• Capital: Agartala
• Chief Minister: Biplab Kumar Deb
• Governor: Ramesh Bais.

IKEA signs an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh Government to invest Rs. 5,500 crore in Noida

• Swedish furniture giant IKEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh Government for sealing an investment deal of 5,500 crore in the coming five years to generate employment for thousands of people in the state.
• The company will be developing shopping malls, hotels, offices, and retail areas in 5 lakh sq. ft. IKEA will shell out 850 crores for the land purchase, which will accrue Rs. 56 crore revenue in the form of stamp duty in Noida.
• The MoU was signed virtually at the CM’s residence in Lucknow in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Uttar Pradesh           

• Capital: Lucknow
• Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• National Park: Dudhwa National Park (Tiger Reserve)
• Zoological park: Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Prani Udyan (Gorakhpur), Kanpur Zoological Park, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden.

International News

India signs Free Trade and Investment Agreement with Mauritius

• India signed a Free Trade and Investment Agreement (FTA) with Mauritius, the first with any country in Africa. It was also the first time since 2011 that India was signing a free trade pact with any country.
• It was signed in the presence of Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and the Union External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar. It will come into effect from March 2021.

India signed a $ 68 million project with World Bank to improve the quality of education in Nagaland

• India and World Bank signed a $ 68 million project to enhance the governance of schools across Nagaland as well as to improve teaching practices and learning environments in select schools.
• The $ 68 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a final maturity of 5 years, including a grace period of five years.
• The agreement was signed by Mohapatra on behalf of the Government of India; Shanavas C, Principal Director, Department of School Education on behalf of the Government of Nagaland; and Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, India, on behalf of the World Bank.

World Bank:

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• President: David Malpass.

Banking and Economy

HSBC raises India’s GDP forecast to 11.2% from 9% for FY22

• British multinational investment bank and financial services holding company, HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) has raised their growth forecasts from 9 per cent to 2 per cent for the coming fiscal year 2021-22 (FY22). The GDP forecast of India by HSBC for FY21 remains -6.3 per cent, as projected earlier.

India Ratings revises outlook on the overall banking sector to stable for FY22

• India Ratings and Research has revised its outlook on the overall banking sector to stable for FY22 (2021-22) from It also expects that overall stressed assets (GNPA and restructured) could increase 30 per cent for the banking system.
• Ind-Ra estimates GNPAs at 8 per cent in the current fiscal, 10.1 per cent next fiscal and stressed assets at 10.9 per cent. Banks have also strengthened their financials by raising capital and building provision buffers.

Acquisitions and Mergers

BYJU’s acquires Edtech firm Scholr for about Rs. 18 crores

• Online education start-up BYJU’s is set to acquire Mumbai-based ed-tech firm Scholr for about 18 crores. Scholr is an AI-enabled online education company founded by IIT, IIM, ISB, and BITS-Pilani alumni.
• Scholr provides video solutions for class 6 to 10 students to solve their doubts via Android and iOS apps. Students are required to click and upload pictures of their queries to find instant solutions across subjects including Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

MCEME and Ordnance Factory Medak sign agreement for designing indigenous ATRV

• The Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), Secunderabad and Ordnance Factory Medak (OFM) have signed an Academic and Technical Linkage agreement for designing an indigenous Armoured Tracked Repair Vehicle (ATRV).
• Lieutenant General TSA Narayanan, AVSM (Ati Vishisht Seva Medal), Commandant MCEME & Alok Prasad, General Manager, OFMK were present during the event.

Amazon partners with the Directorate General Resettlement to hire ex-servicemen

• Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) to provide ex-service personnel jobs for the e-commerce firm in the country.
• Under the MoU, Amazon India would continue to create career opportunities for the ex-service personnel who had served the country.

CCI approves the acquisition of Tata Communications Limited by Panatone Finvest Limited

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition by Panatone Finvest Limited of Tata Communications Limited (TCL) under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
• The proposed combination envisages the proposed acquisition of such shareholding not exceeding 26.12%  by the acquirer in the target.
• As a result of the proposed combination, the Acquirer Group would increase its shareholding from 48.87% to such shareholding not exceeding 74.99%

Science and Technology

DRDO conducts two successful launches of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile

• The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful launches of the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM). The launches were carried out from a static vertical launcher from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
• VL-SRSAM is meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges, including sea-skimming targets.
• The missiles were tested for minimum and maximum VL-SRSAM with Weapon Control System (WCS) were deployed during the trials.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) delivers the 100^th K9 Vajra howitzer to the Indian Army

• Army Chief General Manoj Naravane flagged off the 100^th K9 Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzer built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its armoured system complex at Hazira, Gujarat.
• Larsen and Toubro (L&T) has supplied 100 units of indigenously made K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52 caliber self-propelled guns under the contract awarded in May 2017, ahead of its schedule.

CSIR-CMERI unveils the Outdoor Air Purifier at its residential campus

• CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur unveiled the CSIR-CMERI developed Outdoor Air Purifier at its residential campus in Durgapur, West Bengal. Harish Hirani, Director of CSIR-CMERI, stated that air pollution due to industries and automobile is the major cause of concern these days.
• Indoor air cleaners and purifiers are available in the market, but it is an outdoor one that has a radial range of 5 meters. With its help, air pollution can be reduced by 50%, depending on the environment and pollution level.

IIT Kanpur scientists develop washable adhesive and related products

• Scientists from IIT Kanpur have developed a sticky mat that takes away dust from a contacting surface, ensuring a clean, hygienic, healthy, and refreshing atmosphere at our homes, offices, hospitals, and laboratories.
• The mat is a low-cost one and remains washable and usable over many cycles.

Appointments

Srikanth Balachandran appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of OneWeb

• OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network owned by the UK Government, Bharti Global, and other strategic investors, has announced the appointment of Srikanth Balachandran as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
• He joins from Bharti Global, where he was CFO since October 2018, and prior to that, was CFO of Bharti Airtel for seven years.

Anil Kumar Jha appointed as the new Chairman of Jindal Power Limited

• Mining industry veteran and former Coal India Limited Chairman, Anil Kumar Jha has been appointed as the new Chairman of Jindal Power Limited, a subsidiary of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL).
• He started his career with Coal India as a Junior Executive (Trainee) at Topa Colliery in Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in 1983 and joined Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) as CMD on November 1, 2015.

Books and Authors

Vice President releases ‘Maverick Messiah’, a political biography of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao

• Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, paid glowing tributes to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, late NT Rama Rao and released a political biography ‘Maverick Messiah’ which was authored by senior journalist Ramesh Kandula.

Sports News

India’s women’s contingent finishes at the top in the 30^th Adriatic Pearl Tournament held in Budva, Montenegro

• Indian women boxers secured two more gold medals on the final day of the 30^th Adriatic Pearl Tournament in Budva, Montenegro, to conclude their successful outing while securing the 1 position in the medals tally.
• Babyrojisana Chanu (51 kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (69 kg) clinched gold medals and Lucky Rana secured silver as Indian women emerged as the top team with 10 medals (five gold, three silver, and two bronze).
• Uzbekistan (2 gold) and Czech Republic (1 gold) ended at the second and third positions, respectively.

Tech Mahindra signs Viswanathan Anand to mentor Global Chess League

• Tech Mahindra Limited has signed Viswanathan Anand, five-time World chess champion, as the mentor for the phygital (physical and digital) Global Chess League.
• The teams will comprise a mix of titled women and men players along with juniors and wildcard entrants playing each other in a round-robin format.

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Daily Current Affairs Quiz – February 23, 2021