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Daily Current Affairs
Arab world’s first probe nears Mars

The first Arab space mission, the UAE's "Hope" probe, is expected to reach Mars' orbit on Tuesday,
making it the first of three spacecraft to arrive at the Red Planet this month. The United Arab Emirates,
China and the United States all launched projects to Mars last July, taking advantage of a period when
the Earth and Mars are nearest. If succesful, the wealthy Gulf state will become the fifth nation to ever
reach Mars—a venture timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE.

Former US Secretary of State George Shultz dies at 100

Former US Secretary of State, George Shultz who significantly shaped foreign policy in the late 20th
Century, has died at the age of 100. He served three former Presidents - Dwight Eisenhower, Richard
Nixon and Ronald Reagan - in various roles. His efforts as America's top diplomat from 1982 to 1989
under the former President Ronald Reagan helped lead to the conclusion of the four decade long Cold
War that began after World War Two.

Daily Current Affairs
Large scale protests continue in Myanmar for 2nd consecutive day after military coup

Large scale protests continue in Myanmar for the second consecutive day after the military take over
of power from the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. A large crowd gathered in
Yangon, known as the commercial capital of Myanmar, to protest against the military takeover. The
protestors demanded restoration of democracy and release of political prisoners including Aung San
Suu Kyi, deposed President Win Myint and other political activists.

Nationwide Corona vaccination launched in Bangladesh

The nationwide vaccination programme against Coronavirus in Bangladesh was launched on Sunday
in Dhaka. According to the Health Ministry, more than 3.25 lakh people have registered for the
vaccinations programme across the country. The vaccination programme has been rolled out at more
than a thousand hospitals and health centres across Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh has
signed an agreement for the purchase of 30 million doses of the Oxford University AstraZeneca vaccine
from the Serum Institute of India (SII). Out of it, 5 million doses arrived in Bangladesh last month. India
also gifted 2 million doses of the vaccine to Bangladesh.

Daily Current Affairs
H-1B visa registration for 2022 to begin on March 9, lottery results to be notified by March 31

In the United States, registration process for the H-1B visa application for the next fiscal year will begin
on March 9 and the successful applicants through a computerised draw of lots would be notified by
March 31. The notification by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) comes a day after
the Biden administration announced that it will continue with the traditional lottery system to issue
the much sought-after work visa to foreign professionals. H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows
US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical
expertise.

India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas 20’ commences in Rajasthan

The India-US joint military exercise "Yudh Abhyas 20" commenced in Mahajan Field Firing Range of
Bikaner district in Rajasthan. This is the 16th edition of annual bilateral joint exercise of both the
armies. It will continue till the 21st of this month. The previous version of the joint exercise was held
at Seattle in the United States. About 250 US and 250 Indian army soldiers are participating in the
exercise. Both the armies will share their war-related techniques, skills and experience with each other
during this exercise.

Daily Current Affairs
Ukraine looking at defence purchases from India

Ukraine is looking to procure some military hardware from India in addition to efforts to deepen its
presence in the Indian defence market, said Yuriv Husyev, General Director of Ukroboronprom, the
umbrella corporation of Ukrainian state defence companies. The two sides will discuss a range of
proposals to take forward bilateral cooperation at the Bilateral Working Group meeting between the
two defence Ministries in April. Ukraine has signed four agreements worth $70 million which includes
sale of new weapons as well as maintenance and upgrades of existing ones in service with the Indian
armed forces.

At least 14 killed in flash flood in India after glacier collapse

 At least 14 people are dead and 150 missing after a piece of a Himalayan glacier fell into a river and
triggered a huge flood in northern India. The floodwaters burst open a dam and a deluge of water
poured through a valley in the state of Uttarakhand. The glacier fell in the Dhauliganga River valley,
causing a huge swell of water destroying everything in its path, submerging a hydroelectric complex
and washing away roads and bridges.

Daily Current Affairs
PM Modi dedicates to nation four infrastructure projects worth Rs 4,700 crore at Haldia in West
Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation four infrastructure projects worth four
thousand and seven hundred crore rupees at Haldia in West Bengal. The Prime Minister laid the
foundation stone of the second Catalytic-Isodewaxing Unit at the Haldia refinery of Indian Oil
Corporation Limited. He also inaugurated three projects including Bharat Petroleum Corporation
Limited, BPCL’s LPG Import Terminal, GAIL’s Dobhi-Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline and NHAI’s four lane
road overbridge cum flyover at Ranichak.

Centre allocates Rs 16,000 cr for PM Fasal Bima Yojana

Government has allocated 16 thousand crore rupees for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for 2021-
22 to boost the safety of farmers' crops. The scheme extends coverage for the entire cropping cycle
from pre-sowing to post-harvest including coverage for losses arising out of prevented sowing and
mid-season adversities. Government had approved this flagship crop insurance scheme, five years
ago, on 13th January 2016.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is globally the largest crop insurance scheme in terms of farmer
participation and 3rd largest in terms of premium. Over five crore 50 lakh farmer applications are
received on year-on-year basis.

Daily Current Affairs
Five-day national horticulture fair begins in Bengaluru

This year’s edition of the five-day national horticulture fair being organized by the Indian Institute of
Horticultural Research (IIHR) will be begin at the Institute’s Hessarghatta campus on the outskirts of
Bengaluru city from Monday. The country’s premier horticulture fair, which is being held both in
physical and virtual formats for the first time, will showcase cutting edge technologies, crop varieties,
pest and disease management practices and processing methods among others.
The fair, which is being held under the theme ‘For start-up and stand-up India’ aims to increase
farmers’ incomes by turning horticulture into a business enterprise especially in the wake of the recent
trend of educated youth taking to farming.

India's coal import rises by 15 per cent in December

The country's coal import rose by 15.1 per cent to 23.63 million tonnes (MT) in December 2020
compared to 20.52 MT in the year-ago month. Non-coking coal imports were at 15.63 MT in December
this fiscal against 14.21 MT in the same month last fiscal. Coking coal imports were at 5.36 MT against
4.47 MT in December 2019-20, according to provisional data compiled by mjunction services.
However, the country's coal import dropped by 13.5 per cent to 160.79 MT in the April-December
period of the ongoing fiscal compared to 185.88 MT in the same period last fiscal.

Daily Current Affairs
NABARD disburses ₹16,500 cr under rural infra fund till Jan 31 this fiscal

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has disbursed ₹16,500 crore
under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) during the current financial year so far (up to
January 31, 2021).Cumulative disbursements under the fund, which was started in 1995 to create
social assets in rural India, stood at ₹3,10,849 crore as on January 31, 2021. Disbursements in financial
year ending 2020 under the ongoing tranches of RIDF aggregated ₹26,266 crore. Under RIDF, low-
cost funds are provided to States to facilitate completion of incomplete rural infrastructure projects.

Import ban on defence products to lift production

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the import ban on 101 defence products
announced last year, to be progressively implemented between 2020 and 2024 as part of the
‘Atmanirmbhar bharat’ drive, will boost domestic production and attract foreign companies to invest
and set their manufacturing facilities in India. The Centre had announced restrictions on import of 101
weapons and military platforms, including artillery guns, assault rifles, sonar systems, and transport
aircraft for which the embargo on imports was planned to be progressively implemented between
2020 and 2024.

Daily Current Affairs
Tennis: Russia drubs Italy to claim ATP Cup

 Russia crushed Italy 2-0 to win the ATP Cup with Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev in red-hot form
leading into the Australian Open. Russia was the only nation in the 12-team event to boast two top-
10 players and they had swept past Japan, Argentina and Germany en route to the decider.

Tennis legend Akhtar Ali passes away

Tennis legend Akhtar Ali, a father figure in Indian tennis, passed away following prolonged illness.
Akhtar was 81 and is survived by his son, current India Davis Cup coach Zeeshan Ali. Akhtar made his
mark in 1955 when he became the National junior champion and reached the junior Wimbledon
semifinals. He represented India in eight Davis Cup ties against Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, Mexico, Japan
and Monaco between 1958 and 1964. He played alongside stalwarts like Ramanathan Krishnan,
Naresh Kumar, Premjit Lall and Jaidip Mukerjea.

Akhtar also played the Wimbledon and French Open. He was winner of the Asian mixed doubles
championship.

Daily Current Affairs
Leon Spinks passes away

Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to
win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight, has died. He was 67. Spinks beat Ali by decision
in a 15-round fight in 1978 to win the title. He was unranked at the time, and picked as an opponent
because Ali was looking for an easy fight.

Drass Red win 13th CEC Cup Ice Hockey Championship

In Kargil Ladakh, Drass Red has won the 13th CEC Cup Ice Hockey Championship beating Hockey Club
Chiktan team in the Final match. The 1st Women CEC Ice Hockey Cup 2021 was lifted by Shakar Chiktan
Team defeating Wakha Mulbekh Team. 32 Men teams and 5 Women Teams participated in the
tournament which was organized by the District Youth Services & Sports.