Current Affairs 02nd March 2021| Current Affairs News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DAYS

Zero Discrimination Day: 01 March

• The Zero Discrimination Day is held every year on 1 March.
• Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day celebrated by the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations.
• The day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014, and was launched by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé on 27 February of that year with a major event in Beijing
• The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout all of the member countries of the UN. 
• Theme of Zero Discrimination Day 2021: End Inequalities

Civil Accounts Day – Observed on Mar 01

• The 45th Civil Accounts Day was celebrated in New Delhi.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the Chief Guest of the event.
• Comptroller and Auditor General G.C. Murmu, Expenditure Secretary Dr T. V. Somanathan and Controller General of Accounts Soma Roy Burman were present on the occasion among others.
• This annual event was celebrated for the first time by virtual mode and was enthusiastically attended by Indian Civil Accounts Service ICAS officers and staff of the Civil Accounts Organization.
• Ms Sitharaman expressed her appreciation for the service for keeping government expenditure going even during the most challenging time.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : NATIONAL NEWS

City Innovation Exchange (CiX) Launched for Fostering Innovation in Urban Ecosystem

• The City Innovation Exchange (CiX) platform was launched by Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs at an online event.
• The platform will be a significant addition to the growing innovation ecosystem of India and focuses on fostering innovative practices in cities.
• The City Innovation Exchange (CiX) will connect cities to innovators across the national ecosystem to design innovative solutions for their pressing challenges.
• The platform will ease the discovery, design & validation of solutions through a robust, transparent and user centric process that will reduce barriers for innovators and cities to discover fitting solutions.
• The Platform has more than 400 start-ups, 100 smart cities, more than 150 challenges statements and over 215 solutions at the time of launch.

Jal Shakti Ministry announces 12 iconic sites for transforming them into Swachh Tourist Destinations

• Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has announced the selection of twelve iconic sites under Phase IV of Swachh Iconic Places.
• These sites include Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Jaisalmer Fort and Ramdevra in Rajasthan, Golconda Fort in Telangana and Konark Sun Temple in Odisha.
• Chandigarh’s Rock Garden, Jammu and Kashmir’s Dal Lake, Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura, Agra Fort in Uttar Pradesh and Kalighat Temple in West Bengal are the other sites.
• The initiative aims at enhancing the experience of both domestic and foreign visitors by improving the sanitation and cleanliness standards at and around the sites.

Khadi, Village Industry Commission’s e-Market Portal registers over one crore turnover in eight months

• Khadi and Village Industry Commission’s e-Market Portal has registered a gross turnover of over one crore 10 lakh rupees in just eight months of its launch.
• Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari lauded Khadi’s successful e-commerce venture.
• This portal has provided a wide marketing platform for various Khadi and village industry products to a larger population.
• Online orders have been received from all 31 States and Union Territories including the far-flung Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir among others.

About KVIC :

• Founded : 1956
• Headquarters : Mumbai
• Chairperson : Vinai Kumar Saxena
• Comes under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Dr. Harsh Vardhan mark National Science Day function 

• Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan highlighted how science technology and innovation (STI) would impact our future in education, skills and functioning in the post-pandemic world.
• He was addressing the National Science Day (NSD) function through video-conferencing from Imphal, Manipur.
• Awards to science communicators and women scientists were also conferred on the occasion.
• National Science Day is celebrated to commemorate the discovery of Raman Effect on this day every year.
• Dr Vardhan said that 30 percent increase in this year’s  budget of Ministry of Science and  Technology and Earth Sciences put together for the year 2021-22 would provide stimulus to Science and Technology infrastructure resources in the country.
• He said,  in view of last year’s challenges thrown by the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme of the National Science Day 2021, ‘Future of STI: Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work,’ becomes all the more important.

PM highlights need to take science forward with mantra of ‘Lab to Land’

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that there is a lot of contribution of the power of science in the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Campaign’.
• He emphasized that the nation has to move science forward with the mantra of ‘Lab to Land’.
• He cited the example of Chintala Venkat Reddy from Hyderabad who developed breeds of wheat and rice that specially contained vitamin D. Mr Modi also mentioned Urugen Futsog of Ladakh who is growing about 20 crops organically there.
• The Prime Minister also touched upon the subject of examinations.
• He said like every year, this year too there will be a ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ in March.
• He requested all exam warriors, parents and teachers to share their experiences and tips on MyGov platform and Narendra Modi app

Consumer Affairs Ministry had launched Mobile App, and now it’s step up

• Government has said that monitoring and predictive analysis of prices of essential commodities has taken a giant step forward in India Mobile App for price monitoring of 22 essential commodities.
• The Consumer Affairs Ministry had launched this Mobile App last month to improve the quality of prices data for reporting daily prices by the price reporting centers.
• The App is providing effective real time information about retail and wholesale prices from 127 locations across the country. 
• The Ministry said, price reporting through Mobile App ensures reporting from the market location as data are geo-tagged thereby displaying the location from where price data are reported.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh begins first academic session of MBBS at GMC, Doda

• Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the first academic session of MBBS students at Government Medical College, Doda in Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir for the 2020-21 batch.
• Congratulating the students of the first batch of MBBS starting at GMC, Doda, the Minister described it as a historic moment and welcomed development.
• He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan for the initiative to set up world class health infrastructure in the Union Territory by building five new Medical colleges.
• Singh said, Udhampur-Doda is the only parliamentary constituency in India which has three Government Medical Colleges.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Russia launches first Arctic-monitoring satellite 

• Russia has successfully launched its first satellite to monitor the Arctic’s climate and environment.
• A Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the “Arktika-M” satellite on board blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan
• The creation of a satellite system in highly elliptical orbits is necessary for information collection to solve operational meteorology and hydrology problems, and monitoring the climate and environment in the Arctic region
• The Arktika-M will provide round-the-clock continuous monitoring of the northern territory of Russia and the seas of the Arctic Ocean.
• The satellite will be able to transmit overview images of the Earth’s northern polar region and the adjacent areas at least every 15-30 minutes.

About Russia :

• President : Vladimir Putin
• Capital : Moscow
• Currency : Russian ruble

Pakistan to remain on FATF ‘greylist’

• Global money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided to keep Pakistan on its terrorism financing “grey list”.
• FATF said Islamabad should demonstrate effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions against all 1267 and 1373 designated terrorists.
• The FATF is an inter-governmental body set up in 1989 to combat money laundering, terror financing and other related threats to the international financial system.
• Currently, it has 39 members. Pakistan has been on the grey list since June 2018.

About Financial Action Task Force :

• Headquarters : Paris, France
• President : marcus pleyer
• Founded : 1989

India, Brazil will continue to work together in advance our space collaboration

• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has congratulated Foreign Minister of Brazil Ernesto Araújo for successful launch of Amazonia-1 on ISRO’s PSLVC51 Mission.
• Dr Jaishankar said, India and Brazil will continue to work to further advance our space collaboration.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

J&K: 2-day long 6th Technology Exhibition cum Seed Sale Mela Inaugurated by LG Manoj Sinha 

• In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha who is also the Chancellor of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) inaugurated a 2-day long 6th Technology Exhibition cum Seed Sale Mela on the theme “Shaping the Future Farming for Better Returns” at Shalimar campus of the University in Srinagar.
• The Lt. Governor inspected around 200 stalls showcasing a variety of products and technologies developed in the field of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Agroforestry, Agri-Engineering, and other related fields.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated major healthcare projects in Imphal 

• The Union Minister of Health Harsh Vardhan arrived in Manipur.
• The Minister will also attend the National Science Day Celebration to be held at Imphal.
• Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan who arrived in Imphal is going to inaugurate major healthcare projects taken up at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS)
• These projects include a new 3 Tesla MRI Machine in the newly constructed MRI Block, a 100 bedded capacity PG ladies Hostel, a new Neuro-Surgery ICU and a new block of College of Nursing.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

Federal Bank will launch credit cards in next few months

• Federal Bankis set to launch credit cards in coming months and remains bullish about growth opportunities on the retail portfolio.
• “We are in the process of getting into credit cards. In a couple of monthsfrom now, we will be there,” said Shalini Warrier, Executive Director, Federal Bank.

Paytm steers India’s digital payments – 1.2 billion monthly transactions

• Digital financial services firm Paytm said it achieved over 2 billion monthly transactions on its platform, driven by growth in offline payments and financial services.
• “We have been promoting all digital payment methods giving multiple choices to consumers that have helped us in consolidating our leadership position.
• In fact, a large percentage of our users who started their digital journey with Paytm, have now adopted & embraced our financial services,” Narendra Yadav, Paytm vice-president, said.

SBI General Insurance sign bancassurance pact with IOB 

• SBI General Insuranceand Indian Overseas Bank have signed a bancassurance agreement for distribution of non-life offerings.
• “Through the alliance, SBI General will offer a range of general insurance solutions and innovative products to IOB customers

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Principal Scientific Adviser of GOI launched Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship

• Announcing the fellowships, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan said, India is a diverse cultural wonder with our practices and lifestyle being confronted by many environmental challenges.
• The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India under its Waste to Wealth Mission has launched the Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship to recognize students, community workers or Self-Help Groups, SHGs and municipal or sanitary workers who are engaged in tackling the enormous challenge of waste management, scientifically and sustainably.
• The Waste to Wealth Mission is one of the nine national missions of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council, PM-STIAC.
• Targeted to encourage community participation, the Swachhta Saarthi Fellowships invites applications from students and community workers who have done previous work or are currently engaged in waste management activities, including awareness campaigns, surveys and studies.
• There are three categories of awards under the fellowships.
• Category-A is Open to School students from 9th to 12th Standards engaged in waste management community work, Category-B is Open to College students (UG, PG, Research Students) engaged in waste management community work and Category-C is open to citizens working in the community and through SHGs, municipal or sanitary workers working beyond specifications of their job requirement or deions.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT NEWS

UN appointed Indian economist Ligia Noronha as Assistant Secretary-General 

• United Nations Secretary-General António Guterreshas announced the appointment of Ligia Noronha of India as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme.
• Noronha is an economist with over 30 years of international experience in the field of sustainable development.
• She has worked since 2014 as Director of UNEP’s Economy Division based in Nairobi, leading UNEP’s work on climate mitigation and energy transitions on inclusive green economies, sustainable consumption and production as well as on trade and sustainable finance.

Economic Affairs Secretary gets additional charge of Dept of Revenue

• Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs Tarun Bajaj has been given additional charge of Department of Revenue.
• He has been given additional charge after superannuation of Revenue Secretary Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey. 

Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar takes oath as Western Naval Command Chief

• Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar took charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-In-Chief of Western Naval Command. 
• He took the charge from C. Ajit Kumar in a ceremony at the Command Post of Headquarters, Western Naval Command, Mumbai.
• On assuming command Vice Admiral Hari Kumar laid a wreath at the Gaurav Stambh monument.

Central Bank appointed Matam Venkata Rao as MD & CEO 

• Public-sector lender Canara Bank said its Executive Director Matam Venkata Rao has been appointed as the new MD & CEO of Central Bank of India.
• The central government through a gazette notification on February 26, 2021 has appointed Matam Venkata Rao, Executive Director, Canara Bank, as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in Central Bank of India for a period of three years, Canara Bank said in a regulatory filing.

Anindya Basu appointed as KPMG in India National Managing Partner

• KPMG in India appoints Anindya Basu as National Managing Partner.
• KPMG in India has appointed Anindya Basu as National Managing Partner of the firm.
• He will be based out of Gurugram.
• Previously, Anindya was the Senior Managing Director & Country Head for Accenture in India for five years.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

Health Minister lauds contributions of medical professionals in pandemic

• Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has virtually addressed the Global Indian Physicians Congress, organised by the Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), through video conference.
• Vardhan expressed his appreciation to GAPIO which since its inception in 2011 has endeavoured to bring 1.4 million physicians of Indian-origin across the world on a single platform to facilitate exchange of knowledge, skills and research.

About GAPIO :

• GAPIO stands to empower physicians of Indian origin to achieve highest professional standards, to provide affordable good quality healthcare, to contribute to local and regional community development and thereby help to reduce health inequalities and alleviate suffering globally.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOUR

Chadwick Boseman bags Golden Globe award posthumously 

• Late American actor Chadwick Bosemanhas been awarded the prestigious Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama.
• The actor wonthe Golden Globe posthumously for his performance as Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
• The awardwas accepted by his late wife Taylor Simone Ledward on his behalf.

CERAWeek global energy and environment leadership award received by PM Narendra Modi 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the CERAWeek global energy and environment leadership award during an annual international energy conference next week.
• The prime minister will also deliver the keynote address at the CERAWeek Conference-2021, which will be held virtually from March 1 to 5, its organiser.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU’S

Cochin Port and FTWZ, signs MoU for Cryogenic Warehouse, Aviation Fuel Terminal

• As part of the Maritime India Summit 2021, Cochin Port Trust has signed three MoU’s for developing a Free Trade Warehousing Zone, Cryogenic Warehous and Aviation Fuel Terminal.
• The FTWZ, proposed at Vallarpadam at an estimated cost of 85 crore, will facilitate storing, handling and rendering value-added services to both dry and cold storage of cargo and help generate jobs to at least 50 persons.

Port Trust signs MoUs worth Rs 30,000 crore 

• The Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) has signed MoUs worth about Rs 30,000 crore with port-led industries and government agencies ahead of the Maritime India Summit 2021, which will be held in virtual mode from March 2.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

Indian men’s skeet team wins bronze in ISSF World Cup

• The Indian trio of Mairaj Ahmed Khan, Angad Vir Singh Bajwa and Gurjoat Khangura won the bronze medal in men’s skeet team event at the International Shooting Sport Federation tournament (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Cairo.
• The Indians defeated the Kazakhstan team of David Pochivalov, Eduard Yechshenko and Alexandr Mukhamediyev 6-2 in the bronze medal match on the third competition day of the International Shooting Sport Federation tournament.

About ISSF :

• Headquarters : Munich, Germany
• President : Vladimir Lisin
• Founded : 1907
• Membership : 150 regions

Daily CA On Feb 28 & Mar 01 :

• World NGO Day is commemorated on 27th February every year across the world.
• Rare Disease Day is held on the last day of February every year to raise awareness of rare diseases.
• Every year, National Science Day is celebrated on February 28, to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir CV Raman, back in 1928
• Protein Day is an annual awareness day observed on February 27th, that aims to rally towards the mission of protein awareness and sufficiency in India.
• Chenab bridge, the world’s tallest railway bridge over Chenab River in Kouri area, will achieve another engineering milestone.
• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced that UPI AutoPay has now gone live on Gaana.
• Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the new guidelines for social media intermediaries, OTT platforms and Digital Media will bring uniformity among all in the field of media.
• Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021 at Noida Haat.
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation, DGCA has allowed domestic flight operators to give concessions in ticket prices to travellers who carry no baggage or only cabin baggage.
• An Indian company Omega Seiki will set up an electric vehicle plant in Bangladesh.
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched 5 online services of the Women and Child Development Department and Mission Shakti.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to develop the MSME ecosystem in the State.
• In Kerala, amid the Covid-19 pandemic the devotees will take part in the Attukal pongala from their homes.
• In Gujarat, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patellaunched ‘Gujarat Budget’ mobile application at Gandhinagar.  
• Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan laid the foundation stone of Mon Medical College covering 30 acres of land at District Hospital Mon, Nagaland.
• The growth in India’s real GDP during 2020-21 is estimated at -8 percent as compared to the growth rate of 4.0 per cent in 2019-20.
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has directed all general and health insurance companies to mandatorily offer a standard personal accident insurance policy by 1 April, 2021.
• Private lenders HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank have initiated exchanges that they have invested in Ferbine Private Limited.
• The ‘E-Daakhil’ portal for consumer grievance redressal is now operational in 15 states and Union Territories (UTs). 
• Sharad Goklani has been appointed as President & CTO at AU Small Finance Bank.
• State Bank of India has tied up with JPMorgan to use the US bank’s blockchain technology to speed up overseas transactions.
• Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has participated virtually in the First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the Italian Presidency to discuss policy actions for transformative and equitable recovery.
• Yusuf Pathan, former India all-rounder, announced his retirement from all formats of cricket.
• Pacer Vinay Kumar announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
• Renowned Malayalam poet, priest and academician Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri died on. He was 81 years old.
• Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea’s first prime minister, who played a major role in leading the country to independence from Australia, died  in Port Moresby, the capital. He was 84.

Daily CA On March 02 :

• The Zero Discrimination Day is held every year on 1 March.Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day celebrated by the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations.
• The 45th Civil Accounts Day was celebrated in New Delhi.
• The City Innovation Exchange (CiX) platform was launched by Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs at an online event.
• Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has announced the selection of twelve iconic sites under Phase IV of Swachh Iconic Places.
• Khadi and Village Industry Commission’s e-Market Portal has registered a gross turnover of over one crore 10 lakh rupees in just eight months of its launch.
• Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan highlighted how science technology and innovation (STI) would impact our future in education, skills and functioning in the post-pandemic world.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that there is a lot of contribution of the power of science in the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Campaign’.
• Government has said that monitoring and predictive analysis of prices of essential commodities has taken a giant step forward in India Mobile App for price monitoring of 22 essential commodities.
• Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the first academic session of MBBS students at Government Medical College, Doda in Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir for the 2020-21 batch.
• Russia has successfully launched its first satellite to monitor the Arctic’s climate and environment.
• Global money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided to keep Pakistan on its terrorism financing “grey list”.
• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has congratulated Foreign Minister of Brazil Ernesto Araújo for successful launch of Amazonia-1 on ISRO’s PSLVC51 Mission.
• In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha who is also the Chancellor of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) inaugurated a 2-day long 6th Technology Exhibition cum Seed Sale Mela on the theme “Shaping the Future Farming for Better Returns” at Shalimar campus of the University in Srinagar.
• The Union Minister of Health Harsh Vardhan arrived in Manipur.
• Federal Bankis set to launch credit cards in coming months and remains bullish about growth opportunities on the retail portfolio.
• Digital financial services firm Paytm said it achieved over 2 billion monthly transactions on its platform, driven by growth in offline payments and financial services.
• SBI General Insuranceand Indian Overseas Bank have signed a bancassurance agreement for distribution of non-life offerings.
• Announcing the fellowships, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan said, India is a diverse cultural wonder with our practices and lifestyle being confronted by many environmental challenges.
• United Nations Secretary-General António Guterreshas announced the appointment of Ligia Noronha of India as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme.
• Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs Tarun Bajaj has been given additional charge of Department of Revenue.
• Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar took charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-In-Chief of Western Naval Command. 
• Public-sector lender Canara Bank said its Executive Director Matam Venkata Rao has been appointed as the new MD & CEO of Central Bank of India.
• KPMG in India appoints Anindya Basu as National Managing Partner.
• Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has virtually addressed the Global Indian Physicians Congress, organised by the Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), through video conference.
• Late American actor Chadwick Bosemanhas been awarded the prestigious Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the CERAWeek global energy and environment leadership award during an annual international energy conference next week.
• As part of the Maritime India Summit 2021, Cochin Port Trust has signed three MoU’s for developing a Free Trade Warehousing Zone, Cryogenic Warehous and Aviation Fuel Terminal.
• The Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) has signed MoUs worth about Rs 30,000 crore with port-led industries and government agencies ahead of the Maritime India Summit 2021, which will be held in virtual mode from March 2.
• The Indian trio of Mairaj Ahmed Khan, Angad Vir Singh Bajwa and Gurjoat Khangura won the bronze medal in men’s skeet team event at the International Shooting Sport Federation tournament (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup in Cairo.