1.Sports
MS Dhoni named Captain of both ICC Men’s ODI and T20I Team of the Decade
Indian-skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been named ‘Captain of ICC Men’s ODI & T20I Team of the Decade’ by ICC.
Dhoni was the captain of the Indian squad which had won the ICC ODI World Cup in 2011.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were also featured on the ‘ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Decade’ with Indian having most number of spots in the team of the Decade.
Quick Fact: The motto of International Cricket Council (ICC) is “Cricket for good”.
2.Defense
Myanmar commissions submarine INS Sindhuvir gifted by India
Myanmar formally commissioned INS Sindhuvir as UMS Minye Theinkhathu into its Navy.
The Myanmar Navy commissioned the submarine on the occasion of its 73rd anniversary.
INS Sindhuvir is the first submarine to be acquired by the Myanmar Navy and it was handed over by India to the country in October 2020.
Quick Fact: The nickname of the Myanmar Navy is ‘Tatmadaw Yay’.
3.National Affairs
 India to replace UK as fifth-biggest economy in 2025
UK-based think-tank, the Centre for Economics and Business Research has said that Indian economy will overtake the UK to become the fifth largest economy in 2025.
India had overtaken the UK in 2019 to become the fifth largest economy in the world but has been relegated to 6th spot in 2020.
The organisation forecasts that the Indian economy will expand by 9 percent in 2021 and another 7 percent in 2022.
4. National Affairs
PM flags off India’s first driverless train on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off India’s first ever fully-automated driverless train service on the Magenta Line of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)
With the commencement of driverless trains on Magenta Line, DMRC will enter the elite league of 7% of the world’s Metro networks which can operate without drivers.
Another major corridor of Delhi Metro, a 57-km long Pink Line will also have driverless operations by mid-2021.
5.Polity and Governance
Physical verification of business premises mandatory for GST registration
Government has introduced mandatory physical verification of business premises for the purposes of obtaining GST registration to control the menace of GST fake invoice frauds.
The move for mandatory physical verification was recommended by GST Council’s Law committee.
A nationwide drive against fake GST invoices has led to the arrest of 164 fraudsters including five CAs over the past few months.
6.National Affairs
Bihar wins Digital India Award 2020 in pandemic category
The government of Bihar has won the Digital India Awards, instituted by the central government for innovative steps in e-governance.
Bihar government transferred financial assistance directly to the accounts of 21 lakh stranded migrant workers outside Bihar through ‘Bihar Sahayata Mobile App’.
Digital India Awards instituted under the aegis of the National Portal of India, serve the purpose of bringing forth innovative digital solutions.
Quick Fact: Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar.
7.National Affairs
First Phase of Dry run for Coronavirus vaccination begins in four states
The dry run for COVID-19 vaccination has begun in four states of India- Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Assam.
The aim of the exercise is to identify challenges and make required changes in the plan making the final process foolproof.
The focus of the dry run will be on management of any possible adverse events following immunisation.
8.Defense
Indian & Vietnamese Navy conclude two-day naval exercise PASSEX
Indian & Vietnamese Navy concluded the two-day naval passage exercise PASSEX in the South China Sea.
The exercise was conducted in an effort to boost maritime cooperation between the two counties.
INS Kiltan reached Vietnam’s Nha Rong Port in Ho CHI Minh City carrying humanitarian assistance delivering 15 tons of relief material under Mission Sagar-III.
Quick Fact: The motto of Indian Navy is ‘May the Lord of Water be auspicious unto us’.
