1.Sports
Assam Rifles Public School launched as Khelo India Sports School
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju launched the Assam Rifles Public School as a Khelo India Sports School.
The school located in Shillong is the first Khelo India Sports School in the North-East.
The main objective of Khelo India Sports School is to integrate sports with education.
Quick Fact: There are nine Khelo India Sports Schools in India.
2.Environment
IMD releases Statement on Climate of India during 2020
According to the Statement on Climate of India 2020 released by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), 2020 was the eighth warmest year since 1901.
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were the hardest-hit states due to adverse weather reporting 350 deaths due to severe thunderstorms in these regions.
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the Global mean surface temperature anomaly was recorded as +1.2 degrees celsius.
Quick Fact: IMD operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
3.Science and Technology
India to construct the largest Floating Solar Energy Project in the world
The Government of India is to construct the largest Floating Solar Energy Project in the World at Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada River.
The project is to have floating solar panels of 600 megawatts of power generation capacity.
The International Finance Corporation and World Bank are to provide financial assistance to the project.
Quick Fact: Â International Finance Corporation is headquartered in Washington D.C., United States.
4.Environment
Government launches 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica
The Ministry of Earth Sciences recently launched the 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica.
The expedition will take a team of 40 members to Antarctica focussing on ocean observations, climate change, geology, and return by April 2021.
Ice class vessel MV Vasiliy Golovin has been deployed for the expedition to Antarctica.
Quick Fact: Dakshin Gangotri was the first permanent settlement of India in Antarctica(1983).
5.National Affairs
Government to initiate Sagarmala Seaplane Services Projects
The Government of India is to initiate the project of Sagarmala Seaplane Services on selected routes in the country.
The Sagarmala seaplane services are being implemented by the Ministry of Sports, Shipping, and Waterways.
Operating under the ‘Udan Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’ Scheme, the project aims to provide air connectivity to tourists, religious, remote, and unexplored locations near water bodies.
6.Miscellaneous
Argentine filmmaker Pablo Cesar to head 51st IFFI’s International Jury
The International Jury for the 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India has been announced featuring eminent filmmakers from around the world.
The Jury will comprise Pablo Cesar(Argentina) as the Chairman, Prasanna Vithanage (Sri Lanka), Abu Bakr Shawky (Austria), Priyadarshan (India) & Rubaiyat Hossain (Bangladesh).
Pablo Cesar contributed to African cinema by making the critically acclaimed films, Equinox, the Garden of the Roses, Los dioses de agua, and many more.
7.National Affairs
PM Modi dedicates Kochi-Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline to India
PM Narendra Modi has dedicated the ‘Kochi-Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline’ to the nation through video conferencing.
The dedication is part of the journey to move towards ‘One Nation One Gas Grid’.
The 450-kilometer long natural gas pipeline by GAIL between Kochi (Kerala) and Mangaluru (Karnataka).
Quick Fact: The full form of GAIL is ‘Gas Authority of India Limited’.
8.Summits and Conferences
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade organizes Udyog Manthan
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry has organized ‘Udyog Manthan’.
Udyog Manthan is a marathon of focussed sector-specific webinars for promoting Quality and Productivity in the Indian Industry.
The webinar has been launched in association with the Quality Council of India, the National Productivity Council, and Industry bodies.
