NATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi inaugurates ‘Maitri Setu’ between India & Bangladesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Maitri Setu’ between India and Bangladesh along with other infrastructural projects in Tripura.
- ‘Maitri Setu’, which spans 1.9 kilometres joining Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh, has been built over the Feni river which flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh.
- The name of the bridge symbolises the growing bilateral relations and friendly ties between India and Bangladesh.
A centre of excellence for the dairy sector will be set up in Rajasthan in collaboration with Denmark. Denmark Ambassador Freddy Svane discussed the idea at a meeting with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
- Svane said to provide better facilities to cattle rearers, full cooperation will be given in making available the Denmark's expertise in the field of dairy science and technology to Rajasthan.
The Border Roads Orgnisation (BRO) is constructing a 200-ft bailey bridge in 26 days at deluge-affected Chamoli area in Uttarakhand to re-establish connectivity with Niti border.
- BRO swung into action for rescue and rehabilitation work at Chamoli by inducting more than 100 vehicles, equipment and plants which include about 15 earth moving machinery like hydraulic excavators, dozers, JCBs and wheel loaders.
- It has also air inducted critical equipment with the help of Indian Air Force. Almost 200 personnel of 21 BRTF of Project Shivalik have been deployed for rescue and rehabilitation purposes.
The Odisha government has cleared a proposal for a separate Mission Shakti department that would exclusively work for around 70 lakh rural women associated with nearly six lakh women self-help groups (SHGs) created under the Mission Shakti movement.
- Odisha will be the first state to have an exclusive department for the SHGs.
- Separate administrative department for the Mission Shaki will further help in focussing more on rural women that aims for economic empowerment of the rural women.
First Forest Healing centre of the country was inaugurated at Ranikhet in Kalika, Uttarakhand.
- The forest healing centre has been developed by the Research Wing of Uttarakhand Forest Department after research on healing properties of the forests and its revitalizing impact on overall health and well being. It is spread over an area of around 13 acres.
- It draws inspiration from Japanese technique of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) and ancient Indian traditions and that basic theme is, "be silent, go slow, think less and feel more."
In what is claimed to be the first-of-its-kind gender inclusive community policing initiative in the country, Cyberabad police inaugurated a ‘Transgender Community Desk’ at Gachibowli police station.
- The desk will be managed by a police liaison officer and a transgender person who is designated as community coordinator.
- It will be the focal point for all grievance redressal among transgender community in Cyberabad Commissionerate. The desk will provide support to file cases in offences related to violence or discrimination against any transgender person.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan has launched two new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in Karnataka and Punjab.
- The new KVs will be opened in Sadalaga, Belagavi, Karnataka and KV IIT Ropar, Punjab. With the introduction of these two new Kendriya Vidyalayas in Karnataka and Punjab, the total number of KVs has increased to 1,247.
- The Kendriya Vidyalaya will start functioning from Class 1 to Class 5 initially from the academic year 2021-22. The admission process to this Kendriya Vidyalaya in Karnataka and Punjab will be as per the schedule prescribed for the upcoming academic session.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Among developing countries India an “overperformer” in frontier tech, says UN body
India is the biggest “overperformer” in frontier technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) to name a few, according to a new country-readiness index released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
- The UNCTAD report said the index spotlights developing countries that perform better on frontier technologies than their per capita GDPs would suggest.
- According to an index of 158 countries in UNCTAD’s Technology and Innovation Report 2021,India actual index ranking was 43, while the estimated one based on per capita income was 108. Hence, India had overperformed by 65 ranking positions. It was followed by the Philippines, which overperformed by 57 ranking positions.
- The United States, Switzerland and the United Kingdom were best prepared for frontier technologies. Most of the best-prepared countries were from Europe, except the Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United States. Some transition economies, such as Russia, also performed well on the index.China, at position 25, and India performed well for R&D.
At least 10 million more girls are at a risk of being forced into marriage due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a new analysis by United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
- Even before the pandemic, as many as 100 million girls were at the risk of child marriage in the next decade, despite significant reductions in several countries in recent years.
- The proportion of young women who were married as children had declined in the last decade — to 20 per cent from 25 per cent — the equivalent of some 25 million marriages averted.
- School closures, job losses and increased economic insecurity, the interruption of support services for families and parental deaths due to the pandemic put the most vulnerable girls at increased risk of child marriage, the report titled COVID-19: A threat to progress against child marriage.
BANKING & FINANCE
Sebi cancels Sahara India Financial Corp's registration as sub-brokerMarkets regulator Sebi cancelled the certificate of registration of Sahara India Financial Corporation Ltd as a sub-broker citing its failure to fulfill the "fit and proper" criteria.
- The regulator had appointed a designated authority in 2018 to enquire whether Sahara India Financial violated provisions of Intermediaries Regulations.
- According to the designated authority’s report, considering the antecedents of Subrata Roy Sahara and the various judicial pronouncements against him and other group companies of Sahara, it is determined that Sahara India Financial (noticee) is not a “fit and proper person” to continue as a sub-broker in the securities market.
With a vision to promote nano-entrepreneurship amongst youth in the financial services sector, National Skill Development Corporation announced its collaboration with SahiPay -- an Android based integrated platform developed by Manipal Business solutions (MBS) to promote digital enablement and financial inclusion in the country.
- The partnership aims to facilitate skilling of youth in digital financial services and provide them with an opportunity to explore self-employment for sustainable livelihood.
To support women entrepreneurs, HDFC Bank announced the launch of mentoring programme 'SmartUp Unnati'.
- Under this, senior women leaders from HDFC Bank with expertise spanning domains will mentor women entrepreneurs in helping them achieve their goals over the next one year.
- This programme is available only to exist customers. 'SmartUp Unnati' will initially target more than 3,000 women entrepreneurs associated with the bank's SmartUp programme.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
GSDP estimated to contract 5.6% in Delhi: Lt guvThe Delhi economy is estimated to suffer a contraction of 5.6 per cent in the gross state domestic product (GSDP) in the current financial year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Lt Governor Anil Baijal said.
- The government has undertaken various steps to handle the crisis and job losses due to the pandemic.
- He outlined the measures taken by the Delhi government in dealing with the pandemic, such as raising number of hospital beds, setting up of plasma bank and home isolation.
Marking the importance of “International Women’s Day", Google India kick-started a new web platform 'Women Will' to empower Indian women.
- This platform will provide its support to 1 million rural women in India to become entrepreneurs.
- This web portal can be accessed in English and Hindi languages. It will offer guidance to the aspiring women in villages to turn their interest or a hobby like beauty services, tailoring, home tuition, food processing, into the business. It will also be providing guidance to manage and promote the business.
APPOINTMENTS
Kotak Mahindra Bank appoints agricultural economist Ashok Gulati as additional directorPrivate sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank appointed agricultural economist Ashok Gulati as additional independent director on its board for a term of five years, effective 6th March, 2021, subject to the approval of the Members of the Bank.
- Gulati is currently the Infosys Chair Professor for Agriculture at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
- He was also on the Central Board of Directors of Reserve Bank of India and Board of Directors of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). He is currently a Member of the Tenth Audit Advisory Board of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX).
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Frontier Gandhi’s autobiography released in EnglishFirst published in Pashto in 1983, the autobiography of freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, fondly known as Bacha Khan or Badshah Khan, is now out in English, announced publishing house Roli Books.
- The book, titled "The Frontier Gandhi: My Life and Struggle", is translated by former Pakistani civil servant and author Imitiaz Ahmad Sahibzada.
- This is the "first time" that Khan's autobiography is available in English.
A biography of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which has been translated by Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from English to Assamese, was released recently.
- Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal released the book titled “Amit Shah aru Agragami BJP”
OBITUARIES
Former Rajasthan governor Anshuman Singh passes awayFormer Rajasthan Governor Anshuman Singh passed away at the age of 86 due to some health ailments.
- Anshuman Singh was a retired Justice who served as the Governor of Rajasthan from January, 1999 till 2003
- Anshuman Singh was a retired Justice who served as the Governor of Rajasthan from January, 1999 till 2003. He was born in 1935 in Allahabad and pursued arts and law.He was also appointed as the governor of Gujarat state in 1998.
Noted Kannada poet, critic and translator NS Lakshminarayana Bhatta died in Bengaluru. He was 84-years old and was suffering with age related ailments.
- He had translated about 50 famous sonnets of William Shakespeare (Suneeta), the poetry of TS Elliot and works of the noted poet William Butler Yeats (Chinnada Hakki) into Kannada. He had also translated several other prominent English literary works into Kannada.
- A recipient of Karnataka Sahitya Akademi award and Kannada Rajyotsava Award among others, his popular works include Thaye ninna madilali.
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