Author: Shivali Varshney, Vidhyarthi Darpan

NATIONAL NEWS 

India’s Goa Shipyard Ltd delivered the 5th vessel ICGS ‘Saksham’ 

India’s Goa Shipyard Ltd delivered the 5th and final vessel of the 5 Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vehicle (CGOPV) Project ahead of contractual schedule. The vessel was named ICGS ‘Saksham’. The point to be underlined- all 5 vessels have been delivered before time to the Indian Coast Guard. The contract for 5 CGOPVs was signed by GSL with the Ministry of Defence on 26 August 2016. All the five CGOPVs will be the most advanced patrol vessels in service with the coast guard. Also, the 2,400 tonnes vessels are fitted with additional features including quick response boats for rescue and anti-piracy and gunnery simulators. The hull is designed to provide fuel efficiency, crew comfort and enhanced sea keeping qualities. With computerised control systems, they are the most advanced patrol vessels in service with the Coast Guard. It has an indigenous content of about 70% and weighs around 2400 tonnes.

SEBI restructured Advisory Committee on Investor Protection and Education Fund

Securities and Exchange Board of India has restructured its advisory committee on Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF), under the chairmanship of G Mahalingam. The advisory committee on IPEF is an eight-member committee that will take G Mahalingam, former Whole Time Member of SEBI, as its new Chairperson. Members of Committee: Vijay Kumar Venkataraman, Mrin Agarwal, A Balasubramanian, M G Parameswaran, GP Garg, N Hariharan and Jayanta Jash. In 2013, the committee was established by the SEBI to find out ways and means to best utilize the investor protection and education fund. Earlier the committee was headed by Abraham Koshy, former professor of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), Gujarat. The committee is mandated to recommend investor education and protection activities for the utilization of the SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF).

A new book titled “India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons” authored by Rajiv Bhatia

Ambassador Rajiv Kumar Bhatia, a Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies Programme at Gateway House, has authored a new book (his 3rd book) titled “India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons” which explores the emergence and assertion of Africa as a significant actor and stakeholder in global affairs and the transformation of the relationship between India and Africa. The book also provides a detailed exploration of India–the Africa partnership in all its critical dimensions. The book describes the historical backdrop and shared colonial past to focus on and contextualise the evolution of the India – Africa engagement.

National Women’s Day of India 2022

Indian National Women’s Day is observed every year on 13 February to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu. This year Nation celebrates its 143rd Birth Anniversary. She was born on February 13, 1879. She was famous for her nickname ‘Nightingale of India’ or ‘Bharat Kokila’ because of her poems. Sarojini Naidu is well-known across the globe for her contributions to literature. Sarojini Naidu, born in Hyderabad and educated in Cambridge was the powerful face of Women in the Indian Independence struggle. Anti-imperialistic, Universal Suffragist, Women rights activist Mrs. Naidu paved the path for women’s movements in India. Indian Nightangle Sarojini Naidu shines both as an activist and as a poet. Sarojini Naidu was one of the forefront leaders who led the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement. For Women’s Rights, suffrage and representation in organizations and assemblies she established the Women’s India Association in 1917.

National Productivity Day observed on 13th February 2022

National Productivity Day is observed every year in India on February 12. The objective of the National Productivity Council is to stimulate and promote productivity and quality consciousness across all sectors in the country. The main observance of the day is to encourage all stakeholders in the implementation of productivity tools and techniques with contemporary relevant themes. The day is celebrated by the National Productivity Council (NPC) to promote productivity culture in India. National Productivity Council (NPC) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Government of India is a premier institution for propagating productivity movement in India. NPC works for providing solutions towards accelerating productivity, enhancing competitiveness, increasing productivity.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Indonesia to buy Rafale fighter jets, as US approves F-15 plan

Indonesia – an archipelago of 17,000 islands – is modernising its military amid increasing maritime and regional challenges. Indonesia is moving to upgrade its ageing airforce fleet with multi-billion-dollar orders for advanced fighters jets from France and the United States, amid increasing tension I the Asia Pacific. The agreement for 42 French Rafale fighters was announced as Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto met his French counterpart Florence Parly in Jakarta. Subianto confirmed a deal had been struck for the purchase of the planes, with a contract signed on Thursday in relation to the first six. France’s defence ministry said the contract for the 42 aircraft and their weapons was worth $8.1bn. Indonesia may also acquire two Scorpene diesel-electric attack submarines. Meanwhile, the Biden administration also approved the $13.9bn sale of the F-15 advanced fighter jets, engines and related equipment, including munitions and communications systems to Indonesia. The deal follows a mid-December trip to Jakarta by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who lauded close US-Indonesia ties despite human rights concerns that have delayed previous arms sales to the country.

NASA telescope detects high-energy light from Jupiter; could help solve this mystery

NASA says that the light detected by the telescope is X-ray radiation and is also the highest-energy light ever detected from a planet in the solar system. In a historic first, NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) space observatory has detected the highest-energy light ever emerging from Jupiter. According to NASA, the light detected by the telescope is X-ray radiation and is also the highest-energy light ever detected from a solar system planet other than Earth. The agency says that the new findings would answer why Ulysses, a joint mission between NASA and ESA, was unable to detect the X-rays when it flew past Jupiter in 1992. However, it is worth noting that it is not the first instance of X-ray detection from Jupiter. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, as well as the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton observatory, had previously made detections although they were low in energy.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

NABARD launched ‘JIVA Programme’ to promote natural farming

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched the ‘JIVA programme’ to promote natural farming under its existing watershed and wadi programmes in 11 states. To effectively implement the principles of agroecology long-term sustainability and transform the pre-existing social and natural capital towards efficient farming. JIVA is an agroecology-based programme, an amalgamation of several projects under the watershed programme of NABARD and will be implemented in 11 states covering five agroecological zones, which are in ecologically fragile and rain-fed areas.

India to help Sri Lanka launch its version of Aadhaar Card

India has agreed to provide a grant to Sri Lanka to implement a ‘Unitary Digital Identity framework’, apparently modelled on the Aadhaar card. The Rajapaksa government will prioritise the implementation of the Framework as a national-level programme. The initiative follows bilateral talks between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa & Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2019.

Telangana govt tie-up with British Council to expand higher education 

The Government of Telangana and the British Council, an international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, have signed a 3-year MoU to renew the partnership in education, English and arts. To facilitate research between institutions and assist to expand higher education globally, to offer global opportunities for the youth of Telangana. Under the extended 3-year MoU, the British Council has also signed an agreement with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) to work closely to engineer new partnerships between universities, research institutions and centres of excellence in the UK and in Telangana.

N Chandrasekaran reappointed as Chairman of Tata Sons

The board of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd has approved the re-appointment of N Chandrasekaran as the Executive Chairman of the company for the second five years term. Chandrasekaran’s current tenure as the chairman was to expire at the end of February 2022. He joined the board of Tata Sons in 2016 and took over the role as Chairman in 2017. Chandrasekaran’s tenure in the last five years saw several mergers and acquisitions by the group in the steel, aviation and digital sectors and a complete exit from the cellular telephony industry. One of the first tasks of Chandra, as he is popularly known, was to get rid of Tata Teleservices which lost around Rs 60,000 crore in paying back bank loans apart from paying the AGR dues till date. Tatas sold the mobile phone business to Bharti Airtel while retaining debt and other liabilities of the company.

India ranked 46th in EIU’s Democracy Index

India has ranked 46th position in the 2021 Democracy Index’s global ranking, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit. With the highest score of 9.75, Norway topped the Democracy Index 2021 by Economist Intelligence. The list was published on February 10, 2022. India scored 6.91 to rank 46th on the list. Our neighbour Pakistan has been placed further below in the hybrid regime with a rank of 104.

India’s Goa Shipyard Ltd delivered the 5th vessel ICGS ‘Saksham’ 

India’s Goa Shipyard Ltd delivered the 5th and final vessel of the 5 Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vehicle (CGOPV) Project ahead of contractual schedule. The vessel was named ICGS ‘Saksham’. The point to be underlined- all 5 vessels have been delivered before time to the Indian Coast Guard. The contract for 5 CGOPVs was signed by GSL with the Ministry of Defence on 26 August 2016. All the five CGOPVs will be the most advanced patrol vessels in service with the coast guard. Also, the 2,400 tonnes vessels are fitted with additional features including quick response boats for rescue and anti-piracy and gunnery simulators. The hull is designed to provide fuel efficiency, crew comfort and enhanced sea keeping qualities. With computerised control systems, they are the most advanced patrol vessels in service with the Coast Guard. It has an indigenous content of about 70% and weighs around 2400 tonnes.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

World Radio Day celebrated on 13 February

World Radio Day is celebrated on 13 February each year to recognize radio as a powerful medium, which brings people together from every corner of the globe, to promote diversity and help build a more peaceful and inclusive world. The day was Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD).

Nobel-Winning Co-Discoverer of H.I.V Luc Montagnier passes away

Luc Montagnier, a French virologist who shared a Nobel Prize in 2008 for discovering the virus that causes AIDS, passed away. He was 89. The discovery of H.I.V. began in Paris on Jan. 3, 1983. That was the day that Dr. Montagnier (pronounced mon-tan-YAY), who directed the Viral Oncology Unit at the Pasteur Institute, received a piece of the lymph node that had been removed from a 33-year-old man with AIDS.

Biden and Putin will talk Saturday as US warns Americans to leave Ukraine in 48 hours over fears of Russian attack

President Joe Biden plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, a person familiar with the matter said, as the US warns Russia could attack Ukraine using bombs and missiles at any moment. The high-stakes talks come at what US officials describe as a critical juncture in the ongoing crisis. A significant increase of Russian ground forces and military assets have surrounded Ukraine, and Putin could decide at any moment to activate them into a deadly invasion. He hasn’t decided whether to act, the White House said Friday. But that has not stopped American officials from dramatically increasing their warnings an attack is now a distinct possibility and could occur swiftly. Biden’s phone conversation with Putin – scheduled for 11 a.m. ET Saturday, according to the Kremlin – will be his first since the end of December. Since then, the number of Russian troops near Ukraine has increased and the prospects of an invasion have increased, according to American intelligence assessments. Putin has also engaged a series of Western leaders in talks that have so far appeared fruitless in defusing the situation. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Friday accused Western countries and the media is spreading a large-scale disinformation campaign, which promotes the thesis about an allegedly impending Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Surat to be India’s 1st Bullet Train Station

Gujarat’s Business hub Surat is all set to be India’s 1st Bullet Train Station as per the details shared by the Ministry of Railways. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is being managed by National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) at the cost of Rs 1 lakh crore of which Rs 88,000 crores will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Station Construction project is expected to be completed by December 2024.

IRMS:  Centre unifies 8 existing services of Indian Railways

The Central Government has issued a gazette notification announcing the unification of 8 Existing Services of Indian Railways under one banner of IRMS – Indian Railways Management Service. According to the official gazette notification, a total of 8 Existing Services of the national transporter Indian Railways is being combined to create the IRMS.

RailTel wins ICAI Award

RailTel has won the ICAI Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the year 2020-21 in the Public Sector Entities Category. The ICAI award was presented to the awardees by Union Minister Jitendra Singh at a ceremony held in New Delhi. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a premier accounting body of India.

4th Quad Foreign Ministers Meet 2022

On 11th February 2022, Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the Fourth Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting held at Melbourne – Australia. At the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, EAM Jaishankar called for a free and open Indo-pacific and urged member nations to work towards ensuring a rule-based international order.

IPL Auction 2022 – Where and How to Watch Live Streaming

The biggest sporting extravaganza is all set to get rolling with the IPL 2022 Mega Auction which will be held on 12th and 13th February 2022. The Mega IPL Auction 2022 will see some bidding war between 10 major teams over the next two days during which 590 short-listed players will go under the hammer transforming existing franchises as well as the creation of new squads.

Karnataka HC asks students not to wear ‘religious things’ till matter’s disposal

The Karnataka High Court on February 10, 2022 asked students not to wear religious things till the disposal of the matter. This came after the court heard petitions challenging the ban on hijab in colleges. The HC bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi said that it will pass an order directing the reopening of colleges and asked students not to insist on wearing religious things till the disposal of the matter. The court said that peace and tranquillity must be restored. A single bench of the High Court comprising of Justice Krishna S Dixit had yesterday referred the petitions filed by Muslim girl students to a larger bench. The Hijab row began in January 2022 when some girl students at the Government Girls PU college in Udupi district in Karnataka alleged that they were denied entry into the college for wearing Hijab.

Overall COVID situation optimistic, India cannot lower guard: Niti Aayog Member Dr. VK Paul.

Niti Aayog Member Dr. VK Paul said on February 10, 2022 that the overall COVID-19 situation in the country is optimistic, but India cannot lower its guard. Dr. Paul while addressing a press conference said that though the overall COVID-19 situation is very optimistic, some states including Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram are still reporting a large number of cases. He stressed that we cannot lower our guard and emphasised on the need to stay vigilant. He does that the world doesn’t know everything about this virus and this isn’t the end of the virus.

Cryptocurrency very big threat for financial stability: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said on February 10, 2022 that cryptocurrency is a very big threat to the country’s macroeconomic and financial stability. He said that cryptocurrency or currency which have currency like character will undermine the RBI ability to deal with issues of financial stability. He further cautioned investors putting their money in cryptocurrency, saying that they should keep in mind that they are doing it at their own risk. He further shared that the RBI digital rupee will be launched in 2022-23 but did not give any timeline for the launch.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

World Unani Day observed on 11 February 2022

World Unani Day is observed on February 11 every year to mark the birth anniversary of “Hakim Ajmal Khan”, an eminent Indian Unani physician. The first Unani Day was celebrated in 2017 at the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM), Hyderabad. The main objective is to spread the awareness in masses and action about healthcare delivery through the Unani system of medicine worldwide through its preventive and curative philosophy. Hakim Ajmal Khan was an eminent Indian Unani physician who was a versatile genius, a great scholar, a social reformer, a noted freedom fighter, an Unani medical educationist and founder of scientific research in Unani System of Medicine. He was one of the founders of the Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 11 February

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed globally on 11 February. The 7th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly, taking place on 11 February 2022, aims to recognize the role of women and girls in science, not only as beneficiaries but also as agents of change, including in view of accelerating progress towards the achievement of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The Day is implemented by UNESCO and UN-Women in collaboration with institutions and civil society partners that aim to promote women and girls in science. The 2022 theme of the Day is “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us”.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

India’s first Biomass-based hydrogen plant to be built in Madhya Pradesh

 India’s first commercial biomass-based hydrogen plant will be built in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. The biomass-based hydrogen plant is expected to produce a tonne of hydrogen every day. It is also expected to produce biochar and methane. It will be constructed with an investment of Rs 24 crore.

Earthquake hits J&K, no casualty reported

A light intensity earthquake measuring 3.8 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Jammu and Kashmir earlier on February 10, 2022. There was no report of any casualty or damage to property. The epicentre of the earthquake was Gulgit-Baltistan region 20 km inside the earth’s crust. Kashmir Valley is located on an earthquake prone region where tremors have wreacked havoc in the past.

J&K signs pact with New Zealand to transform sheep farming sector

Jammu and Kashmir government has signed a pact with New Zealand for transforming sheep farming sector. The objective of the agreement will be to improve farmers’ remuneration, transfer of technology in research and development and marketing and value addition of J&K sheep products. The agreement was signed between the two sides virtually in the presence of LG Manoj Sinha and Navin Choudhary, principal secretary of agriculture production and farmers welfare department animal.

Tiger deaths increased to 127 in 2021, as per state report

 The number of deaths of Tigers in the country has risen to 127 in 2021, in comparison to 106 in 2020, as per reports from the states.  Madhya Pradesh reported the maximum number of deaths with 42 deaths, followed by Maharashtra with 27 deaths, Karnataka with 15 and Uttar Pradesh with 9. As per the report from the state, the Tiger deaths increased in the previous year due to various reasons including infighting, electrocution, poaching and old age. The number of tiger deaths in 2019 was 96.

RBI Monetary Policy: RBI keeps Repo Rate unchanged at 4.0 per cent 

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das kept the repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent for the 10th consecutive time while maintaining an ‘accommodative stance’ as long as necessary. The reverse repo rate will continue to be 3.35 per cent. Reserve Bank of India conducted the 6th and the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting for 2021-22 between February 8-10, 2022. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Russia to hold military drills in Black Sea

Russia plans to hold military drills in Black Sea. The nation had announced last month that its navy would stage a sweeping set of exercises involving all its fleets in January and February in the region, ranging from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Six Russian warships arrived in the Black Sea earlier on February 10th, near the Crimean Peninsula Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014 for the naval drills. It is the latest show of strength by Russia amid a surge of military activity during a standoff with the West over Ukraine.

Iran welcomes US sanctions relief but says it’s too little.

Iran’s foreign minister on Saturday welcomed US sanctions relief intended to entice Iran back to the 2015 nuclear deal, but called it insufficient. On Friday, the Biden administration restored some sanctions relief to Iran’s atomic program as world powers and the Islamic Republic continue talks aimed at salvaging the languishing agreement. Lifting some sanctions in a real and objective manner could be interpreted as the good will that Americans talk about, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told reporters. However, he said the move is not sufficient.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

ISRO launches an earth observation satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch radar imaging satellite EOS-04 on February 14, 2022. The satellite has been designed to provide high-quality images under all weather conditions. It will be launched aboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C52) at 05:59 hours on February 14th from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

Gujarat Titans new name of Ahmedabad IPL team.

Gujarat Titans is the new name of the Ahmedabad IPL franchise. The team will be led by Hardik Pandya. The Ahmedabad IPL Team was bought by CVC Capital Partners for Rs 5635 Crores. The other new IPL team this time is Lucknow, which will be called Lucknow Super Giants. 

India’s National Single Window System

Jammu & Kashmir has become the first Union Territory to be integrated with the National Single Window System (NSWS). The NSWS is a digital platform that has been built as an advisory guide to help investors identify and apply for approvals as per their business requirements. Till now, 14 states have been integrated with the portal.

 

Oscars 2022: Indian documentary nominated in Best Documentary Feature category

The complete list of nominations for the 94th Academy Awards has been released. Indian documentary ‘Writing with Fire’ has been nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category, becoming India’s first independent production to make it to the final nomination in this category. The Power of the God leads the nomination with 12 nominations including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch.The documentary is made by Delhi-based filmmakers Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh. It chronicles the rise of Khabar Lahariya, India’s first and only newspaper run by Dalit women. This is India’s 1st independent production to make it to the final nomination in this category. 

Next Covid variant likely to be more infectious

WHO warned recently that the next COVID-19 variant will be more transmissible and perhaps even more deadly than its predecessors. The international organisation, while warning against complacency, said that Omicron will not be the last variant of COVID-19.

Earth is expected to be hit by Solar eruptions today

The Earth is set to be hit by a fresh solar eruption on February 9-10, 2022. This could trigger a geomagnetic storm, as per researchers.  According to the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences (CESS), Earth will be impacted by the moderate geomagnetic storm in the range 451-615 kilometres per second from February 9 to February 10. The Indian time of the geomagnetic storm is 11.18 am on February 9 to 3.23 pm on February 10. The impact is unlikely to be very hazardous, CESS said on Twitter.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Sonata Software tie-up with Microsoft for its launch of ‘Microsoft Cloud’

A global IT Services, and Technology Solutions Company, Sonata Software has announced its partnership with Microsoft for its launch of ‘Microsoft Cloud for Retail’. The company has been a partner with Microsoft for over three decades. The ‘Microsoft Cloud for Retail’ collaboration is expected to further strengthen the relationship. Sonata Software delivers solutions for retailers worldwide, leveraging world-class IPs, in-house migration and modernisation tools. The partnership with Microsoft Cloud for Retail will further enhance our capabilities, with its emphasis on leveraging data, elevating the shopping experience, building real-time, sustainable supply chains, and empowering store associates. The Sonata Connected Retail solution is available through Microsoft AppSource. Sonata Software is a Microsoft Gold Partner and is a member of the Microsoft Inner Circle for Business Applications. 

US approves $100 million support deal with Taiwan to boost missile defense systems against China.

The Biden administration has approved a $100 million support contract with Taiwan aimed at boosting the island’s missile defense systems as it faces increasing pressure from China. The State Department announced the engineering and maintenance agreement on Monday as China plays host to the 2022 Winter Olympics, an event filled with nationalist fervor that some fear could escalate after the Games into an attempt to take Taiwan by force. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province, has not ruled out the use of force to unify the island with the mainland and has in recent months escalated fighter jet flights over Taiwanese airspace. The support agreement is meant to help Taiwan maintain its existing air-defense missiles and advanced U.S.-made Patriot missiles that Taiwan is acquiring. Taiwan’s defense ministry tweeted its thanks to the U.S. for the agreement’s approval.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Aadhaar not mandatory for COVID-19.

Aadhaar card details are not mandatory for COVID-19 vaccination, the central government informed the Supreme Court on February 7, 2022. This came after the Supreme Court, while hearing a PIL, asked the authorities not to insist on asking for Aadhaar card details from people in order to get vaccinated. 

Reimagining Museums Global Summit 2022

The first-of-its-kind Global Summit –‘Reimagining Museums in India’ will be held on February 15-16, 2022. The summit aims to bring together experts from across the world to share best global practices for museum development and management, understanding the current needs of Museums in India and developing a blueprint for renewal of Indian museums.

Gautam Adani to become Asia’s richest person

Gautam Adani is ranked 10th among the world’s richest people with a net worth of $88.5B in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He has overtaken Mukesh Ambani to become Asia’s richest person. The RIL Chairman is ranked 11th with $87.9B net worth. 

BCCI launch women’s IPL in 2023

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah informed that the board plans to launch a full-fledged women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) in the next year. The women’s IPL will be on the same lines as men’s IPL. Currently, a three-team Women’s T20 Challenge is staged alongside men’s IPL. It will soon be expanded to include more teams and players. 

Praveen Kumar Sobti passes away at 74

Praveen Kumar Sobti, popular for essaying the role of Bheem in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, passed away on February 7, 2022. The 74-year-old was a four-time Asian Games medalist and he has also represented India in two Olympic Games. He was awarded the Arjuna Award for his accomplishments in hammer and discus throw.

RBI begins 3-day monetary policy meeting 

The Reserve Bank of India has begun its three-day deliberations to decide the bank’s next monetary policy keeping in mind the Budget 2022-23 announcements and inflationary concerns and evolving geo-political situation. The six-member RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by RBI  Governor Shaktikanta Das will announce the policy resolution on February 10, 2022.  The meeting was scheduled to start on February 7th but was postponed by a day in view with Maharashtra’s public holiday declaration on February 7 to mourn the death of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.

Scientists develop new technology to detect SARS-CoV-2 

A team of scientists has developed a new technology platform to detect SARS-CoV-2 through fluorescent light. The technology can also be used to detect other DNA/RNA pathogens including Zika. HIV, Ebola, influenza, HCV, Zika, bacteria and other mutating/evolving pathogens. The technology platform will enable fluorometric detection of pathogens by measurement of fluorescent light emitted.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Dubai plans to cut carbon emissions 30 percent by 2030.

Dubai plans to cut carbon emissions by 30 percent by the end of year 2030. This was announced by the Emirate’s government on February 6, 2022. The plan is part of a broader strategy to achieve carbon emission neutrality by 2050. Dubai is a major regional business, financial and logistics hub. It is the second-largest and wealthiest Emirate, after oil-rich Abu Dhabi.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal announces retirement

Veteran Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal has announced to retire from international cricket, after Sri Lanka’s upcoming tour of India. The 34-year-old right-arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman aim to join the English county club Derbyshire after retirement. The Derbyshire County Cricket Club has signed up Lakmal on a two-year contract. Lakmal has represented Sri Lanka in 165 international matches across formats, in his international career spanning over 12 years.

NASA will retire International Space Station in 2031

According to NASA, the International Space Station will continue its operation until 2031 and then crash into an uninhabited area in the Pacific Ocean known as Point Nemo. It will be replaced with three free-flying space stations to continue the work after ISS’s retirement. NASA also selected Houston-based Axiom Space to provide the ISS’s first commercial module.

China wins AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 Football Tournament

China PR (People’s Republic) defeated South Korea (Korea Republic), 3-2, to win the AFC Women`s Asian Cup India 2022 final title at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. This is the record-extending 9th AFC Women`s Asian Cup title won by China. India is hosting the 20th edition of the football AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 from January 20, 2022, to February 06, 2022. China now qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand.