NATIONAL NEWS

Conference of Ministers of North-Eastern States

• On 28 February 2022, The Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will chair a Regional Conference of Ministers of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), rural water supply and sanitation department of the North-Eastern States at Guwahati, Assam.
• The regional conference will focus on important issues relating to implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
• In line with the ‘Post Union Budget 2022 – Leaving No Citizen Behind’ held on 23 February the union minister will be setting the roadmap for the North-Eastern States.
• In the Union Budget 2022-23 fund allocated for JJM has been increased from Rs 45,000 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 60,000 crore in 2022-23 and for SBM(G) Rs.7,192 crore have been allocated.
• Har Ghar Jal is a flagship programme of the Government of India being implemented in partnership with States/ UTs, ehich aims to providing tap water connection to every rural household in the country by 2024.
• Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim aim to achieve Har Ghar Jal in 2022.
• Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland aim to achieve in 2023.
• Assam aims to meet the goal in 2024.

Top state in Overall Installed Renewable Capacity

• Tamil Nadu has achieved the top position in overall installed renewable energy capacity in the country replacing Karnataka reported by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Tamil Nadu has been one of the early proponents of clean energy and is at the forefront of India’s clean energy transition.
• As of January 31, 2022, Tamil Nadu’s total installed renewable capacity is 15,914 MW as compared to Karnataka’s total clean energy capacity of 15,795 MW.
• In total rooftop solar installations Gujarat secured first position accounted for 1,679 MW.

400 MW Solar Project in Upper Kinnaur by SJVN

• State-owned SJVN announced Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has approved development of 400 MW solar park by the company at Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.
• According to a company statement, an in-principle approval has been granted by the ministry for development of this project under Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks of its solar park scheme.
• SJVN is a joint venture of the government of India and the government of Himachal Pradesh.
• SJVN Limited is the solar power park developer in Himachal Pradesh under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power.

Bhasha Certificate Selfie Campaign

• On 25 February 2022, Ministry of Education launched a campaign ‘Bhasha Certificate Selfie to encourage cultural diversity and promote multilingualism and to boost the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

• It was launched to commemorate the International Mother Language Day on 21 February 2022.
• Bhasha Certificate Selfie initiative aims to promote the Bhasha Sangam mobile app, developed by the Ministry of Education and MyGov India.
• It will promote people to upload their selfies with the certificate from their social media accounts using the hashtag #BhashaCertificateSelfie.
• The certificate is authorized by the Ministry of Education.
• Bhasha Sangam mobile app was launched by Minister of Education and Skill Development Shri Dharmendra Pradhan while commemorating Rashtriya Ekta Diwas which is celebrated on October 31 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Bhasha Sangam mobile app was available in 22 scheduled Indian languages developed by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Government to Setup First IIT Outside India

• As per the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as a part of the India signed on 18 February 2022 – UAE trade deal The Government of India (GoI) is set to establish the First Indian Institute of Technology in Dubai.

• The 24th IIT in UAE will be the first to be established outside India.
• At present there are 23 IITs in India governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961.
• The meeting was led by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on the Indian side and UEA was represented by UEA’s Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri and Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi

Joint Hydro Development Committee

• During the 9th meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Working Group meeting on Power Sector Cooperation, Nepal and India have agreed to form a Joint Hydro Development Committee.
• The two sides have signed an agreement to explore the development of viable hydropower projects in the Himalayan nation with a focus on storage.
• The JWG meeting was co-chaired by Alok Kumar, Power Secretary, Government of India and Devendra Karki Energy Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Government of Nepal.
• The two-country agreed to build more of cross-border power transmission infrastructure, power trade under respective domestic regulations and policy framework, and capacity building assistance as Nepal became an energy surplus country ever since the 456MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project came into full operation in August 2021.

BANKING

NDB to Open Office in Gift City

• New Development Bank (NDB) will become the first multilateral agency to open an office in the Gujarat International Finance Tech City (Gift).
• Anil Kishora, NDB vice president representing India said the multilateral agency will take all requisite steps to make the Indian office operational by the middle of May 2022.

• To support crucial infrastructure projects in India NDB partners with newly launched National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID).

About NDB

• HQ: China.

• President: Marcos Prado Troyjo.

BUSINESS NEWS

Investment in Data Industry

• The Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekar has announced that the Centre has set a target of 300 billion dollars investment in the Data Industry in 2025.
• State Governments including states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu who are open to investment-related infrastructure will be benefited if they have a proactive role with the Union Government.
• NASSCOM, ASSOCHAM, IT Hardware manufacturers and Data Centre software and Cloud Tool developers also participated in the meeting.
• The Ministry of Information and technology will collaborate with Data centre developers, operators and cloud service providers to prepare the National Cloud policy.

SPORTS

Moscow Wushu Stars Championship

• 15-year-old Indian from Srinagar Sadia Tariq won a gold medal in Moscow Wushu Stars Championship, which is being held from February 22 to 28.

• She defeated opponents from Kazakhstan, Czech Republic and Russia on her way to win gold medal.
• Moscow Wushu Stars Championship is the approved Training event and Competition of the Sports Authority of India.

Mexican Open Title

• The 35-year-old Spaniard Rafael Nadal defeated British player Cameron Norrie to win the Mexican Open title.
• He defeated Norrie in straight sets by 6-4, 6-4.
• This was his 91st Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) title.
• He has also won his third title in 2022.
• The Mexican Open is an ATP 500-level tournament played on hard courts.

DEFENCE NEWS

EXERCISE DHARMA GUARDIAN-2022

• A joint military exercise, “EX DHARMA GUARDIAN-2022”, between India and Japan will be conducted at Foreign Training Node, Belagavi, Karnataka from 27 February 2022 to 10 March 2022.
• This year marks 3^rd edition.
• It is an annual military training event conducted in India since 2018.
• “Exercise Dharma Guardian” will enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces to boost the bilateral relations between the two nations.
• The 15^th Battalion the MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY Regiment of the Indian Army and 30^th Infantry Regiment of Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) are participating in the exercise.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

CEO of National e-Governance Division (NeGD)

• Digital India Corporation CEO Abhishek Singh was appointed as CEO of new National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
• The 1995-batch IAS officer from Nagaland cadre will hold the position in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.

IMPORTANT DAY

National Protein Day 2022

• National Protein Day is observed every year on February 27 in order to raise awareness on the importance of an essential nutrient like protein.
• This year marks the 3^rd edition.
• Theme of the year 2022 is ‘Food Futurism’.
• The theme is aimed at bringing food scientists, nutrition experts and biologists to discuss food science and its role in protein sufficiency and food security in India.
• A national level public health initiative called Right to Protein launched India’s first Protein Day to sensitize and educate people on the benefits of consuming protein-rich food.

World NGO Day 2022

• World NGO Day is celebrated every year on February 27 to recognize, celebrate and honour non-government organizations who contribute their time and effort in making society a better place to live in.
• World NGO Day is celebrated in more than 89 countries and over six continents.
• World NGO Day was established on 27 February 2014 and was officially celebrated by the United Nations General Assembly.

National Science Day

• National Science Day is observed every year on 28th February.

• This day celebrated to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by Indian Physicist Sir C.V. Raman for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.
• This year the theme of the National Science Day is “Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for Sustainable Future”.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on this Science Day, has urged all the families to definitely start with small efforts to develop a scientific temperament in their children.