Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 February 2021

Topic: Important Days

1.  World Thinking Day is annually celebrated on 22 February.

• World Thinking Day is a special day celebrated annually on 22 February and “peacebuilding” is the theme for World Thinking Day 2021.
• As per the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Thinking Day is a day of international friendship and a fundraising opportunity for girl guides and girl scouts in 150 countries.
• Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, as well as Scout and Guide organizations all over the world, celebrate it.
• 22 February was selected because it is the birthday of two famous personalities mentioned below.
  • Robert Baden Powell (R. B. Powell): He is the founder of Boy Scout movement. He was the first Chief Scout.
  • Olave Baden Powell: She was the wife of R. B. Powell and first Chief Guide for Britain.
• World Thinking Day is celebrated since 1926. It was earlier known as Thinking Day.
• World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts every year selects a theme for World Thinking Day. It was founded in 1928. It is headquartered in London.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

2. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CSIR signed an MoU to promote research in the field of Health.

• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to promote research in the field of health in India.
• The main focus of this MoU will be on the development and testing of new preventions and therapies. It will help in solving the major health issues of India and developing countries.
• Under this MoU, both sides will collaborate in various fields. These fields are:
  • Genetic diseases that impact infant and neonatal mortality
  • Diagnostics and devices for infectious disease
  • Development of cost-effective process of manufacturing the drug, vaccine and diagnostics
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): It was established on September 26, 1942. It is India’s largest research and development organization. Its current Director-General is Shekhar C Mande. It has 38 laboratories in India.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: It was launched in 2000. It is an American private foundation founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It is the largest private foundation in the world.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

3. Jewar Airport in UP to be developed as Asia’s biggest airport.

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that the state government is planning to develop Jewar Airport as Asia’s biggest airport.
• The state government has allocated Rs. 2,000 crore in its budget 2021-22.
• The number of runways of the Jewar Airport has been increased from two to six.
• Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has been appointed as the implementing agency for the Jewar Airport on behalf of the state government.
• Noida International Airport (NIAL), a special agency floated by the government, is managing and operating the project.
• The airport will be developed in PPP mode and is expected to be completed by 2023.
• Ayodhya Airport, which is under construction, will be named Maryada Purushottam Sriram Airport.
• Rs. 101 crores have been allocated for the Ayodhya airport under the budget 2021-22.
• Ayodhya Airport will be made an international airport.

Topic: Sports

4. Second Khelo India University Games to be held in Karnataka.

• Kiren Rijiju, Union Sports Minister, has announced that Karnataka would host the 2^nd Khelo India University Games. 
• Bengaluru will host the 2021 Khelo India University Games in partnership with the Association of Indian Universities. 
• Jain University of Bengaluru will host a maximum number of events. 
• Yogasana and Mallakhamb have been added in the second edition of University Games. 
• Kiren Rijiju also inaugurated four new sporting facilities at the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru campus. 
• Khelo India University Games:
  • It is a multi-sport event which is organized by the Sports Authority of India, and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with the Association of Indian Universities, Indian Olympic Association and National Sports Federation.
  • It is the largest University level sports event. 
  • The first edition of the Khelo India University games was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in 2020.
  • Panjab University emerged as the winner in the first edition of the University Games. 
  • Khelo India University Games is held for the Under-25 age group. 

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. MSME Minister inaugurated SFURTI clusters to promote traditional craft.

• Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated 50 artisan-based SFURTI clusters spread across 18 states.
• It will support 42000 artisans involved in traditional industries of muslin, khadi, coir, handicraft, handlooms, woodcraft, leather, etc.
• The Minister emphasized the need for a web portal for traditional products. He also discussed the improvement in the design of traditional products and the formation of more clusters.
• At present, 371 clusters have been approved by the government in which only 82 are functional. The government aims to help at least 1 cluster in each district.

• Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) scheme:
  • The revamped SFURTI scheme was started on 1st August 2014 by the Ministry of MSMEs for promoting Traditional Industries.
  • The main objective is to organise traditional industries and artisans into clusters to make them competitive and increase their income.
  • It provides support to clusters through various Facilitation Centers (CFCs).

Topic: Defence

6. DRDO successfully launched Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM).

• The Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM), indigenously developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully launched from the coast of Odisha.
• It has been indigenously developed by the DRDO for the Indian Navy. It will help in neutralising those aerial threats, which can avoid radar system.
• During the test launch, the missile has been tested for or minimum and maximum range, and flight path and vehicle performance parameters were also monitored.
• The launch was carried out from a static vertical launcher from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the Odisha Coast.
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
  • It was established in 1958. It is involved in developing critical defense technologies and products to meet the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • It works under the Ministry of Defence. It has a network of 52 laboratories in the country.
  • G. Sateesh Reddy is the current chairman and Headquarters is located in New Delhi.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

7. India ink a pact with Maldives for a $50 million defence Line of Credit.

• India signed a $50 million defence Line of Credit Agreement to boost the maritime capabilities of Maldives.
• The Finance Ministry of Maldives and the Export-Import Bank of India have signed this agreement.
• India and Maldives also signed an agreement for the UTF Harbour Project. The agreement will help in enhancing the capability of the Maldivian Coast Guard.
• Under the UTF Harbour Project agreement, India will develop a Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard Harbour at Sifvaru.
• The agreement has been signed under India’s commitment to provide support and cooperation in enhancing the capability of the Maldives Defence Forces in maritime surveillance.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

8. India becomes the first country in the world to give importance to the cure of NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease).

• Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has issued procedural guidelines for linking NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases) with NPCDS (National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke).
• India has become the first country to identify the need for tackling Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is due to the accumulation of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. The more severe form of NAFLD is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
• According to a study, NAFLD is present in 9% to 32% of the general population in India. People with type 2 diabetes and obese are more prone to NAFLD. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in NAFLD.
• The main objective of integrating NAFLD with NPCDCS is to prevent and control it with the given below measures:
  • Through behaviour and lifestyle changes
  • By early diagnosis and management of NAFLD
  • Capacity building for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD at various level of Health care

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

9. Asia Economic Dialogue 2021 will begin on 26 February.

• The Asia Economic Dialogue 2021 will be organised by the Pune International Centre and the Ministry of External Affairs. It is scheduled to be held from 26 to 28 February.
• The External Affairs Ministers of India, Japan, Australia, Maldives, Mauritius and Bhutan will participate in this meet.
• The theme of the conference will be ‘The post-COVID global trade and finance dynamics’.
• The conference sessions will be organised on various issues such as resilient global growth in the post-pandemic world, Global finance in the post-COVID world and building reliable global chains.
• Asia Economic Dialogue is a platform for Asian countries to discuss trade, finance, and other issues.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

10. Chandigarh launched India’s first Carbon Watch to assess the carbon footprint.

• India’s first Carbon Watch has been launched by the Environment and Forest department of Chandigarh. It is a mobile application for assessing carbon footprint.
• It assesses the amount of carbon dioxide emission due to an individual into the atmosphere. It also suggests ways to reduce the carbon footprint at an individual level. It provides information about the national and world average of the emission.
• For using this app a person has to provide detail in four category- Water, Energy, Waste Generation and Transport (Vehicular movement). The app analyses the given data and then calculate the carbon footprint of an individual. 
• A Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with all the activities of a person, corporation, building, etc. It includes all direct as well as indirect emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

11. UP government presented first paperless budget for FY 2021-22.

• Uttar Pradesh government presented its biggest-ever budget of Rs 5,50,270 crores for FY 2021-22. It is the first paperless budget of the UP government.
• The Budget has focused on making Uttar Pradesh self-reliant. It is presented by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna. 
• The Uttar Government had presented the budget of around 5.12 lakh crore rupees for the FY 2020-21. 
• Major details of the Budget:
  • Around Rs 27,500 crores have been allocated for new schemes. 
  • Atmanirbhar Krishak Samanvit Vikas Yojna has been launched for the welfare of the farmers of the state.
  • 700 crores have been allocated for irrigation facilities and loan will be given to farmers at a low rate of interest. Around 1500 solar pumps will be set up in the state.
  • 100 crore has been allocated for the nutrition of girl child and 32 crores for the establishment of Mahila Shakti Kendras.
  • A sum of 101 croreS has been given for the development of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Airport at Ayodhya.
  • Under Mahila Samarthya Yojana, financial assistance will be provided to destitute women.
  • Free tablets will be given to eligible students under the Abhyudaya Scheme.