1.Government Schemes
PM Aatma Nirbhar Swasth Yojana & Mission Poshan 2.0 announced in Budget 2021
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman announced two centrally sponsored schemes- PM Aatma Nirbhar Swasth Yojana & Mission Poshan 2.0 in Union Budget 2021.
PM Aatma Nirbhar Swasth Yojana is to provide support to 17,788 rural & 11,024 urban health & wellness centres.
Mission Poshan 2.0 is launched with the objective of improving nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcome across 112 Aspirational Districts.
2.Summits and Conferences
Education Minister addresses ASEAN India Hackathon
The Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ addressed the ASEAN India Hackathon, inaugurated to strengthen the India and ASEAN ties.
The Hackathon organized online from February 1 to 3, 2021 will provide new opportunities for all 10 ASEAN countries & India to solve their common identified challenges.
The common challenges of the countries are categorized under two themes- “Blue Economy” & “Education”.
Quick Fact: The ASEAN-India Hackathon initiative is undertaken by the Ministry of Education.
3.Economy
Voluntary Vehicle Scrappage Policy proposed in Union Budget 2021
FInance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed for the Voluntary Scrappage Policy during the presentation of Union Budget 2021.
The voluntary vehicle scrappage policy will help to scrap out the unfit and pollution-causing vehicles based on a fitness test.
The new policy will encourage fuel-efficient & environment-friendly vehicles as well as cut India’s huge oil import bills.
Quick Fact: The policy would apply to central & state government-owned vehicles from April 1, 2022.
4.Art and Culture
8th India International Silk Fair begins
The Textiles Minister of India, Smriti Irani has inaugurated the 8th edition of India International Silk Fair virtually.
The five day long event is the biggest silk fair of India being held under one roof of the virtual platform of Indian Silk Export Promotion Council.
India is the 2nd largest producer of SIlk after China and the largest consumer of Silk in the World.
Quick Fact: The cultivation of Silk is called Sericulture.
5.Art and Culture
National Tribal Festival ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ begins
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, a National Tribal Festival at Dilli Haat in INA in the national capital Delhi.
Aadi Mahotsav is a celebration of the spirit of Tribal Culture, Crafts, Cuisine & Commerce & to familiarise people across the country about it.
Around 1000 tribal artisans, artists and chefs from more than 20 states of the country will participate & provide a glimpse of their rich traditional culture in the festival.
6.Person in News
‘The Animals’ Guitarist Hilton Valentine passes away
British band’s ‘The Animals’ guitarist Hilton valentine who created one of the most famous riffs in pop music in the 1960s breathed his last at the age of 77.
Valentine co-founded ‘The Animals’ in Newcastle in 1963 alongside singer Eric Burdon, bassist Chas Chandler, organist Alan Price and drummer John Steel.
The British Band’s version of the blues standard ‘The House of The Rising Sun’ topped the UK and US charts in 1964.
7.National Affairs
Lucknow Metro becomes first to sanitise coaches using UV rays
Lucknow Metro has become the first metro in the country to use Ultraviolet rays to sanitise train coaches in just seven minutes.
LMRC procured UV sanitisation apparatus from an Indian firm in Jaipur, M/s FB TECH, which was certified by DRDO.
The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has taken inspiration from the New York Metro’s experiment to sanitise trains with UV lamp rays.
Quick Fact: Anandiben Patel is the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
8.Sports
BCCI cancels Ranji Trophy 2020-21 for first time in 87 years
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced not to conduct the Ranji Trophy 2020-21.
This is the first time in 87 years that India’s premier first-class cricket national championship will not be held since its inception in 1934-35.
BCCI has decided to conduct the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50-over tournament and Senior Women’s One Day tournament instead of the Ranji Trophy.
Quick Fact: Gujarat based Saurashtra Cricket Team won the Ranji Trophy 2019-20.
